The Fall of Immortals
One Fallen Immortal will be pursued by mercenaries, the divine, and above all, those he once held dear from his past life. The clashes between these factions will decide who becomes an ally or who’s next. The deep bonds of both friendship and love will be strained, some may even be severed.
How far would you go for the ultimate prize? How much would you be willing to sacrifice? Most of us spend so much time desperately holding on to what little we can. There are also those of us who are ostracized because we choose to walk a path different from our group or community and then for that simple choice, are treated as if we have committed treason. If you were given the opportunity to gain everything you always wanted at the cost of the aforementioned, would you take it? If your answer is yes, I invite you to turn these pages. If you don’t think it’s possible, I challenge you to witness as our champion accomplishes the impossible.
Reviews
Reviewed by: Katie Specht
From rising new fiction novelist I.D.G. Curry comes his first work of fantasy entitled Shogun Of The Heavens: The Fall Of Immortals, Book One. In this story, Curry has created a magnificent fictional world of the gods, set in the depths of the heavens, complete with war and mythological monsters.
Curry’s novel begins as an ominous phenomenon is identified that appears to be approaching the supercontinent that the gods call home. This strange sensation is enough to cause anxiety and tension among the gods, subsequently resulting in many clashes and battles. The fights that follow ultimately determine who are friends and who are foes. Friendships and relationships are put to the ultimate test, and many do not outlive the battles.
Throughout the story, there are many subplots involving various groups of gods. These subplots all flow seamlessly together to create one overall, well-integrated theme representing tension, war and conflict. While all the subplots are awe-inspiring, there is one exceptionally appalling story of deception involving Zeus, Zagreus, and Tithorea while Hera surreptitiously watches the entire encounter.
Curry’s writing is fast-paced, thrilling, and easily keeps the reader entertained throughout the story. There is truly something for everyone in this tale: war and battles, seduction and sensuality, torment and sorrow, and familial conflicts. Readers who prefer more of an action-packed story will appreciate the war and battles that the gods and monsters consistently find themselves fighting throughout the story. Conversely, readers who favor simple stories of familial or romantic love will welcome the intimate relationships that exist between the gods.
As a reader who was not familiar with the world of Greco-Roman gods, I greatly appreciated that Curry included a glossary in the back of the book. This glossary was comprised of important locations, definitions, significant objects, the rules that govern the lives of the gods, and notable gods and groups. This was extremely helpful given the sheer magnitude of details in the story, and I found myself referencing the glossary many times throughout the book.
Quill says: Curry has created what will undoubtedly become a new favorite series for fantasy genre fans with his first installment Shogun Of The Heavens: The Fall Of Immortals, Book One. This dynamic, exciting story of fantasy draws readers in and keeps a strong hold of them until the last page has been turned.
Reviewed by Melissa Suggitt
Fantasy lovers come one, come all. You will not want to miss book one of the Shogun of the
Heavens series by author I.D.G. Curry.
The Fall of Immortals starts off with a literal bang. It sets off a chain of events that will have
readers exclaiming, “Amazons, Camelot, and Zeus, oh my!” We’re definitely not in Kansas
anymore.
Xamir of Eythrope—committing a treasonous act when he steals and uses the Omni-Sphere, a powerful artifact rumored to be in existence since the universe erupted—catapults himself into a new being in a new realm.
As this new being Xauldin (Chaos itself) is struck by Zeus’s lightning upon entry to Gaia and crash lands onto this new planet, so begins a powerful tale of chaos, order, justice, truth, and prophecy. Being hunted by the elite warriors of his home, Xauldin and his incarnations embark on a journey across the continent, encountering a variety of peoples, most borne of old myth. As his power grows and his alliances deepen (or enemies are conquered), there is no shortage of bloody action, conniving politics, the emergence of prophecies, and seamlessly interwoven legends.
Oh, and yes, it is the Zeus you’re thinking of, but this is not the Disney version of Greek mythology. The Fall of Immortals dives into Zeus’s monstrous side, leaving readers to wonder who the real villain of this story may actually end up being?
A love of mythology undoubtedly runs deep in Curry. He has done his research. Each
character, setting, or piece of information pulled from the fabric of myths and legends
is given the proper treatment it deserves and one never overshadows another.
What that means for us as readers is we get to enjoy a full spectrum of familiar fables but in an entirely new and inventive way. It works, too. Fantasy novels require suspension of belief, but this one makes you wish it were, in fact, reality. At times, it’s hard to pull away from the pages and come back to the real world.
As is the case for many fantasy novels, there is heavy worldbuilding which can sometimes seem insurmountable, but I encourage you to push through those first few pages. Once the scene is set, there is no shortage of excitement, enchantment, and drama. The addition of the glossary at the end is invaluable as the story goes on. I admit I referenced it more than a few times throughout and it helped to clarify all of my confusion. Look—some of us have a hard time remembering names. So hats off to the author for including such a comprehensive guide for such a complex story; I for one, appreciated it!
The best word to describe this reading journey is fun. The author takes us on a saga that spans the cosmos and legend itself. Where will he take us next? Book two has a lot to live up to, and I for one, cannot wait for the follow-up.
Reviewed by D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
The Fall of Immortals is the first book in the Shogun of the Heavens fantasy series and tells of gods, kings, cosmic threats, and the playing field of eons of time, during which a power struggle embroils all. Witches, mages, military men and priestesses are only a few of the forces that participate in a struggle instigated by a fallen Immortal and the kings and queens that command power and obedience in this milieu.
I.D.G. Curry writes with descriptive hand and pays particular attention to the moral and ethical dilemmas that evolve from chaos: “For the power in this book to truly belong to a new master, the old one must die. The nature of power is to be taken by those strong enough to keep it. For their sakes, I hope these foolish notions die with you, and the next generation learns from the manner in which you failed yourselves.”
Fantasy readers at first may find themselves challenged by the wealth of characters and the cosmic playground of the gods, which unfolds a different kind of fantasy tale. There is simply much to absorb in the story’s opening chapters, which belays any thought that The Fall of Immortals will be light entertainment reading for those who seek adventure tales set in other universes.
Fast-paced it is; but under the veneer of challenges and confrontations lays an intellectual prowess that compels readers to think about broader themes. These include sacrifices, dangerous choices that hold deadly ramifications for self and community, and the social and political price to be paid for “endeavors that will not have a happy ending.”
The Fall of Immortals unfolds a complex world and plot whereby gods and men lead intersected lives. Each are driven by special interests and forces that would give much to attain their ultimate goals.
Who truly rules? What is a king to a god? When gods and men clash, with romance injected into the plot for further dilemmas, the result is a powerful saga embracing old regimes, new life forces, and the rise of a campaign that embraces Atlantis and the potential for revelation, revision, or disaster.
Curry places a glossary at the conclusion of the book. This might best be skimmed first, by those interested in more quickly and seamlessly immersing themselves in the story. The references include histories of place and people, locations of significance, special terminology, and even objects of significance and a review of the Eythrope Immortal’s rules. Having such elements in mind will lend to a quicker absorption of all the forces at work in this epic story.
Libraries looking for world-building fantasies replete with gods, men, and clashes between different belief systems and special interests will find The Fall of Immortals a recommendation for those who enjoyed Game of Thrones and similar world-building, complex fantasies.
Reviewed by By James Farlow
Shogun of The Heavens: The Fall of Immortals by I.D.G. Curry transports readers into the world of mythology when gods and monsters engaged in phenomenal conflict. A powerful threat moves towards Gaia, and even Zeus feels threatened as he recalls the forewarning of the Sisters of Fate: “The son of a hurricane will disrupt the world’s balance and spread chaos across the heavens.” In the chaos that ensures, the gods as well as powerful beings find themselves enmeshed in conflict, a Fallen Immortal is dogged by mercenaries and he finds himself pursued even by those who once were treasured friends in another life. How far will he go to claim what is rightfully his?
Mythology is reinvented in this hugely imaginative and immersive tale of mortals and Gods, a perfect opening to a series that will enthrall fans of epic fantasy. I.D.G. Curry is a great storyteller who writes in exquisite prose, creating a world that is brimming with magic and characters that are larger-than-life, intriguing, and sophisticated. I adored the way Xauldin is written. Other characters are equally complex and elaborately explored. The prose is descriptive and the author has a terrific way of introducing the characters, from gods like Zeus to the characters like Xara. “Xara’s beauty was the embodiment of desire. Her long, dark dreadlocks hung down to her hips, and her orange eyes complimented her flawless bronze skin.” The cinematic writing and the vivid imagery are elements that ground this narrative, giving readers a unique sense of adventure and taking them to worlds that are exciting to explore. The author skillfully depicts the complex relationships between the characters and successfully balances the emotionally resonant with the frightening.
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