Publisher:
Createspace

Publication Date:
05/25/2015

Copyright Date:
N/A

ISBN:
9781512369854

Binding:
Paperback

U.S. SRP:
11.99

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Cayneian

By Aaron Dennis

IR_Star-black
IR Rating:
3.5
CAYNEIAN is a rich and enjoyable tale for those who like horror fantasy, although the author gets carried away with action scenes after a point. Not recommended for those sensitive to bloodshed.
In another world lies the accursed island of Volgunther, originally inhabited by a people called the Cayne who unleashed an immortal daemon and gained immense power. Though the civilization disappeared and the daemon sealed deep underground. Dysart, a descendant of Cayneians, has returned to defeat the Daemon once and for all.

In another world lies the accursed island of Volgunther, originally inhabited by a people called the Cayne. The Cayne unleashed an immortal daemon named Salamandrus and, by practicing his dark ritual of Sang Daemanus, gained immense power. However, their civilization disappeared and the daemon was later sealed deep underground. All explorers reaching the island find it a desolate place in which Salamandrus’s magic keeps most people barely alive, suffering, and unable to depart the island. Dysart, a descendant of Cayneianswho long ago escaped Volgunther, has arrived to defeat Salamandrus once and for all.

Author Aaron Dennis has crafted an intriguingly lurid setting with a solid group of archetypal fantasy characters. Dysart, the protagonist, is a likable antihero–invoking demonic power through blood runes despite the fact that he is fighting against daemons. In addition, there is a fire magician, a thief, an order of paladins, and a magical priestess. The sexes are treated equally and there is one gay character. On their way to reaching Salamandrus, they fight a variety of lesser daemons, who take such forms as animated skeletons, frog-men, and other monstrous biformed creatures.

The writing style is not unique, but it does the job of effectively narrating this gloomy and macabre story. Readers with weak stomachs should turn away, as there is continuous gore and a few scenes of intense sexual violence. However, fans of the horror genre will be quite pleased. The ending is gratifying and clever.

The story has one major detriment. Although there is constant action, after a while the author overindulges in it. The heroes encounter and gruesomely battle one type of monster after another, again and again and again. After a while, jaded readers will find the long descriptions of fighting and slaughter to be monotonous, rather than sharing the author’s excitement. More intermittent scenes for character development and a few less daemon encounters would have tempered this.

CAYNEIAN is a rich and enjoyable tale for those who like horror fantasy, although the author gets carried away with action scenes after a point. Not recommended for those sensitive to bloodshed.

Reviewed by Christopher James Dubey for IndieReader.

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