Looking For a Good Book

I admit it, I was drawn to this book by its cover and title. I’ve been reading some Michael Moorcock lately – his protagonists are often part of his ‘Eternal Champion’ arc. And this cover very clearly is inspired by Frazetta and Boris – two fantasy cover artists. So I’m expecting a rip-roaring sword & sorcery style fantasy.  To say I was disappointed would be putting it mildly.

Gilad Anni-Padda is the eternal warrior. He’s cursed with immortality and is the guardian of humanity, putting himself at the front line against some of the darkest, most unnatural creatures that ever slithered out of the earth. But Gilad has been quiet for a very long time but is drawn back into the daylight to take on his eternal conflict. But he doesn’t trust his new allies and his enemies now have his own memories.

When I requested this book, I did not know it was based on a comic (from Valiant) – a comic that I am not at all familiar with.  I also had never read anything by author Ari Marmell. Still … barbarian sword action, right?

I never felt the excitement of battle. The book did not provide the highs and lows of an adventure story as I was expecting. Perhaps it’s my expectations that are at fault. But in my defense, I’m generally willing to start a book over when I recognize that it’s not meeting my preconceived expectations. And I did restart this. Twice. And I couldn’t get into it.

Perhaps it’s that I don’t know the comic. With no backstory to fall back on, I had to rely on what Marmell provides, but here, Marmell jumps around the timeline and just made it more confusing.

Looking for a good book? Sadly, Eternal Warrior by Ari Marmell was just not nearly as exciting as the cover suggests.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

* * * * * *

Eternal Warrior

author: Ari Marmell

series: The Valiant Universe

publisher: Blackstone Publishing, Inc.

ISBN:  9798874748456

paperback, 288 pages