Fire Priest (Pawn of the Gods, Book 1) by Stephen Murdoch- Review

Teddyrose@1

6 years ago

Fire Priest (Pawn of the Gods, Book 1) by Stephen Murdoch

Publisher: (Dec 12, 2018)
Category: YA Fantasy. Epic Fantasy. Gateway Fantasy. Alternate Reality, Sword & Sorcery
Tour dates: Mar-May, 2019
ISBN: 978-1916488311
Available in Print and ebook, 304 pages

Description Fire Priest (Pawn of the Gods, Book 1) by Stephen Murdoch

Seventeen-year-old Jack Kulinski is the best mixed martial arts fighter of his generation. So why does fighting scare him so much? In the ring, the sound of swarming bees mysteriously fills his head, and it takes all of his effort to not flee in panic. But when his best friend disappears, and Jack, alone, discovers that he’s been magicked to a terrible land ruled by a murderous god and his violent people, he needs to learn how to face his fears and to fight better than he ever has before.

Review Fire Priest (Pawn of the Gods, Book 1) by Stephen Murdoch

Guest review by Marc R.

I don’t read a lot of fantasy, so when I tell you that I loved this book….well, it really means something.

Stephen Murdoch writes with a lot of skill. Somehow he manages to create a world that is not only compelling and mesmerizing but that is new and interesting. I found myself reading this and realizing that I’d never read anything like it before in my life. Murdoch not only invents this world, but his narration shows you it with a light touch and just enough detail. I didn’t feel bogged down in endless descriptions of fantasy-world trees or animals. He related just enough detail to make the world seem real without over-doing it, which is a rare talent.

The main character of the story, Jack is easy to relate to. A teenage boy who lost his mother at a young age and now has an adversarial relationship with his father. Murdoch shows you the world of the Fire Priests through Jack’s eyes in many ways and that makes it even more creative and interesting. Jack struggles for his life in the world of Tenochtan. He struggles for the life of his best friend, Denny and both struggle against their destiny.

I found this to be kind of a story about becoming a man, even though the circumstances were, err….shall we say a bit far removed from a normal young man’s journey to becoming a man. But I think that take on the book really opened up a different reading experience for me and made it even more enjoyable.

Murdoch’s book combines all of the best elements of a good fantasy novel– world building, a relatable hero, a grandiose character arc– with a modern writing style that left me in awe of his talent.

Five stars all around and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

About Stephen Murdoch

Stephen Murdoch is a writer and investor who lives in England with his wife and three daughters. He is the author of the non-fiction book IQ: A Smart History of a Failed Idea (Wiley, 2007). He has written for various publications, including Newsweek, The Washington Post, and PRI’s Marketplace. The Fire Priest is his first work of fiction. Murdoch is the chairman of two healthcare providers in the UK that provide cutting edge digital and bricks-and-mortar solutions to the mental health sector.

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Giveaway Fire Priest (Pawn of the Gods, Book 1) by Stephen Murdoch

This giveaway is for 3 winners choice of one print or ebook copy of the book, open worldwide. This giveaway ends May 10, 2019, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter onlly.

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