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In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.

Aching God by Mike Shel

2/12/2020

23 Comments

 
I don't recommend books very often because it's rare that I find a title I really enjoyed that doesn't already have a lot of recognition.

But here's one!

Aching God by Mike Shel is a dark fantasy epic full of creeping dread and a fully realized world of adventure with deadly threats lurking around every corner.

If that sounds like your thing, go read it now. 

If it doesn't, allow me a moment to convince you.

Right off the bat, let me start by saying that this is not a lighthearted book and it's obviously not intended for young children. It doesn't go overboard IMO, but it doesn't shy away from frightening or violent elements either. If that bothers you, then this might not be the title for you.

However, this is used by the author to the advantage of the story. The very first scene follows the main character, a retired adventurer, suffering from violent nightmares spawned by an old encounter with the undead.

This story reminded me that zombies used to be scary, and if I lived in a real world where I watched my friends being torn apart by the walking dead, I'd be scarred for life too.

I started off impressed by the life (pardon the pun) Mike Shel breathed into the undead, but as I kept reading, every new development in the story raises the stakes and adds a whole new dimension of danger to the main character's mission.

[Vague story spoilers from here on out! I try not to spoil anything that isn't mentioned in the synopsis or the first few pages of the book, but if you're completely spoiler-averse, be warned.]

You see, there's a cursed artifact that is spreading a plague in the capital. The protagonist, Auric Manteo, is brought out of retirement to return the artifact into the horrifying temple from whence it came. He's haunted by the gruesome death of his previous team and he doesn't want to return, but his only daughter is among those cursed. She will die if the curse isn't lifted.

That's just the premise, but what that doesn't communicate is how dire and desperate the situation feels. Auric isn't sure if returning the cursed artifact will even work, so he's confronting his greatest fear in what's essentially a gamble. But what else is he going to do? His daughter is dying.

Every new element adds realism, depth, and danger to the world. In order to leave the country and go back to this cursed tomb, Auric has to get the permission of the Queen, but the Queen herself may or may not be a god-cursed cannibalistic undead witch.

Traveling to the tomb is a harrowing experience on its own, and even if they arrive safely, they're delivering themselves into the mouth of a bloodthirsty demon-god.

If that doesn't sound awesome to you, then I don't know what to tell you.

-Will

P.S. This is a review of the first book, but the second book is also out and the third (and final) book in the trilogy is out soon! DON'T WAIT! HOP ON THE MIKE SHEL TRAIN TODAY!
23 Comments
Tim the Sword Sage
2/12/2020 12:34:49 pm

Good job Will.

Edit: First!

Reply
Billzy
2/18/2020 10:54:40 am

Wait a moment... how did you edit a comment on here!?!?

Reply
Danillo
2/12/2020 01:08:32 pm

Already reading it from a comment you made on your Facebook page the other day. Pretty good stuff! So far, I'm in the beginning, but there's this creeping sense of dread that only seems to grow with every page. Looking forward to the rest of the book (and the other two!)

Reply
Connor Ludovissy link
2/12/2020 02:10:26 pm

I'll have to check this out. Thanks for sharing.

BTW, just started Elder Empire series and that's a hell of an opening. I'm in.

Reply
Hutch
2/12/2020 03:15:33 pm

Are you starting with the Sea or the Shadows?

Reply
Connor Ludovissy
2/12/2020 05:30:45 pm

The Sea! Though I was planning on reading the first Shadow next.

An annoyance with a wallet
2/13/2020 11:07:47 am

Sounds pretty cool.

I also just Finished of sea and shadow and thought it was excellent. its almost tailor made to my Interests so it inst much of surprise.

though I will be pissed if [blank] is really [blank]

Reply
Andy
2/13/2020 11:41:39 am

Sold, I got it in my queue and will be reading it. Also if I may throw a title for all to check out. You have to read Battle Mage by Peter Flannery. It is a stand alone but this book is a great example of Epic fantasy and has an underdog progression element to it as well.

Super weak and ill MC shamed by the death of his father stands up against demons, befriends Dragons, slings spells and becomes the Hero the world needs.

Reply
Scott
2/13/2020 02:17:10 pm

I liked Flannery's Battle Mage. Also liked his book First and Only (set in our world, not fantasy).

Have read both of Shel's books and they definitely have an emotional impact. Looking forward to the 3rd.

Reply
Andy
2/20/2020 09:17:32 am

Just finished Aching God, so to be honest first couple of chapters were a bit of a slog. But once the main story line picks up man what a ride. It's like Indiana Jones and the Exorcist, Mike owes you Will cuz I'm a fan and will be starting the next book today.

Restless leg syndrome
2/15/2020 05:23:31 pm

Now that you are getting it down at writing two books at once, I’ll expect the same for cradle. I don’t think anyone would be upset if you busted out two cradle books.

Reply
Will (Not Will)
2/16/2020 07:18:12 pm

Aching God and its sequel are out on Audible. I just picked them up after reading your recommendation.

Also, I just finished both OSAS audio books. I read the books previously, but was caught up all over again as the narrators brought a whole new energy to the characters! Not that I would have expected anything less with Travis and Emily. I have ODAD preordered.

Now only if OKAK was done... Or the next Cradle... Or both of those and on top of it you come out with a brilliant new series... Or two brilliant new series... Why are you reading this... Work harder... Just kidding... You can have a 5 minute break

Reply
The evil one
2/17/2020 03:00:23 pm

Excellent recommendation! Currently listening to it at work.

Reply
J.R. junior juniors jr
2/18/2020 05:52:55 pm

Another book recommendation is the Thousand Li series by Tao Wong. If you are interested in an action-packed novel based on Chinese legend and lore, then this is the book for you.

P.S.
Tao Wong might be the fast writing author ever, he started writing in 2017 and has already published 20 books, so I would not be worried about infrequent updates to the series.

Reply
James
2/18/2020 06:50:21 pm

Will and Tao need to write a book together about “Wight and Wong”

Reply
Eithan Arelius
2/27/2020 01:33:05 pm

LOL! I laughed so hard at that! Also, Will I was checking up on the mailing list short series and was wondering if they were CANON?

Frank
2/18/2020 08:46:56 pm

There is something wrong with you J.R. If you don’t know the difference between wight and Wong.

Reply
bill
2/19/2020 03:04:24 pm

thanks for the recommendation - a lovely, gritty story with some wonderfully ambiguous gods and demons in the world-building

i have snapped up the second book!

Reply
Stephanie
2/20/2020 10:48:15 am

If anyone is looking for more dark fantasy recs, then try One Man: A City of Fallen Gods Novel by Harry Connolly. It's very action packed and some of the situations were so tense for me that I had to take a break. It also has really good characters; they all feel very real with their own histories and the female characters aren't described by their looks any more than the male characters which is great.

Reply
Brian S
2/22/2020 08:25:34 am

You know, I've had it on my kindle for a bit, and read a few pages of it. It didn't really grab me, so I moved on. I mnay have to give it another chance.

I have to agree that One Man, by Harry Connolly, was definately a good read. I"m looking forward to the next book.

Reply
Dallas Gerbrandt
2/22/2020 08:03:59 pm

If we’re all just recommending books here, and y’all need a Wuxia fix in the meantime, I absolutely devoured the Painting the Mists series by Patrick Laplante.

Reply
James
2/26/2020 08:05:53 pm

Will, you’re starting to piss me off, give us a book.

Reply
Stephanie
2/27/2020 12:22:19 pm

You might want to use /s or something to indicate that you're being sarcastic. And I am going to assume you are because Will releases several books a year and is currently writing two at once. I've been waiting nine years for one author to finish his book so I couldn't possibly complain and that guy hasn't said anything about its progress in years.

By the way, thank you Will for giving updates on your books. It makes the wait so much easier.

Reply



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