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Never Die: Epic Sword & Sorcery (The Mortal Techniques) Kindle Edition

by Rob J. Hayes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,267 ratings
Winner of the 2019 BookNest award.

Ein is on a mission from God... The God of Death.

Time is up for the Emperor of Ten Kings and it falls to Ein, an eight-year-old boy, to render the judgement of the reaper. He can't do it alone, but luckily the world is full of travelling heroes. There's only one catch: In order to serve him, they must first die.

Never Die is a stand alone story set in the award-winning Mortal Techniques universe. It’s a wuxia adventure filled with samurai, shinigami, heroes, and vengeful spirits.
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  1. Part of series
    The Mortal Techniques
  2. Print length
    346 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 29, 2019
  5. File size
    4.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
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  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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From the Publisher

The Mortal Techniques

Classic Sword & Sorcery Adventure

The Mortal Techniques is a series of standalone sword & sorcery adventures, inspired by martial art films, mythology, and classic adventure novels.

The Mortal Techniques

Whispering Blade Vs Flaming Fist

Yokai

Map of Hosa

Never Die
Pawn's Gambit
Spirits of Vengeance
Blood Brothers Beyond
The Century Blade
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Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,267
4.5 out of 5 stars 452
4.7 out of 5 stars 279
4.5 out of 5 stars 58
4.0 out of 5 stars 203
Price $3.99 $3.99 $3.99 $2.99 $0.99
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Glorious, heroic, inspiring, brutal, at times hilarious, but most of all incredibly unforgettable!" - Petrik Leo
"The Seven Samurai meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." - Dyrk Ashton, author of Paternus
"Dynasty Warriors meets Guardians of the Galaxy." - The Fantasy Hive
"An anime and manga inspired action romp!" - Cameron Johnston, author of the Traitor God
"It's like Mortal Kombat and Dynasty Warriors had a book baby!" - Calvin, Amazon reviewer

From the Author

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy my love letter to martial arts films, anime, and video games. I had a blast writing it, and there's more from this world on the way! - RobYou can find me on:Facebook: facebook.com/TheHeresyWithinWebsite: robjhayes.co.ukTwitter: @RoboftheHayesAmazon author page: amazon.com/Rob-J-Hayes/e/B00JF0YJL2

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07K7WM7TP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rob J. Hayes (January 29, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 29, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,267 ratings

About the author

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Rob J. Hayes

Rob J. Hayes

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Having served in a hundred different offices as a keyboard monkey Rob J. Hayes finally decided to follow his life long passion of daydreaming. After writing a small horde's worth of short stories, he released his debut dark fantasy trilogy "The Ties that Bind" in 2013 as an indie publication and followed it up with the steampunk caper "It Takes a Thief to Catch a Sunrise" in 2014.

In 2017 he released his piratical duology, Best Laid Plans, and in 2018 the first book, Where Loyalties Lie won Mark Lawrence's Self Published Fantasy Blog Off.

Rob has now tried his hand at Science-Fiction (Drones, 2018) and Military Fantasy (City of Kings, 2018), and even East-Asian influenced fantasy (Never Die, 2019).

"One of self publishing's rising stars" - Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns

"Hayes spins a tale like a wushu master spins a kick - with deft speed, grace, and bone-crushing impact." - Dyrk Ashton, author of Paternus

“Books like this deserve to be read by all lovers of fantasy. It’s got just about everything you could ask for in the genre; and a few things you’d never think to ask.” – Filip, BookNest.eu

“Hayes writes some of the darkest and most brutal fiction around." - Fantasy Book Review

“Rob J. Hayes remains one of the best writers of grimdark fantasy around and should always be mentioned with Erikson, Lawrence, Abercrombie, and Morgan. He is a master of making compelling and memorable characters that always capture your attention.” – BookNest

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,267 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this sword and sorcery novella for its detailed and interesting fights, with one review noting an enjoyable twist at the end. The writing style is compared to a kung Fu movie, and customers appreciate how the characters are made distinct through their unique talents. Moreover, the book features lots of Asian-inspired fantasy elements, particularly Japanese mythology, and maintains a fast pace throughout. Customers find the novella entertaining, with one review highlighting its masterful rhythm of humor, and they appreciate its concise length.

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59 customers mention "Action story"51 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the action story of the book, with detailed and interesting fights throughout, and one customer noting an enjoyable twist at the end.

"...It's a story of second chances, and choosing the legacy we decide to leave behind, shining light on the fact that villains can indeed become heroes...." Read more

"...I thought she was a cool character with an interesting backstory, and I rooted quite hard for her to win the day. I also really liked Bingwei Ma...." Read more

"...Not sure. Hard to pinpoint. The action sequences were above average, but I've read much better. And many much worse, too...." Read more

"...The magic systems and lore were fascinating, the settings well wrought, and enough character development to make me care about the story from the..." Read more

48 customers mention "Writing style"45 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting it reads like a kung Fu movie, with one customer highlighting its beautiful descriptions.

"...cast of characters Hayes has created, each so distinct and beautifully crafted...." Read more

"...I thought it was well written, and had a rather unique idea presented, which reminded me in ways of many of my favorite anime, video games, movies,..." Read more

"...And, overall, it was good. Very good, but not great. It's a breath of fresh air, however. And not 500-1000 pages long, either. And I appreciate that...." Read more

"...I'm impressed with Hayes as an author and will read more of his books...." Read more

32 customers mention "Character development"28 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them lovable and fun to make distinct, with one customer noting they are understandable in their emotions.

"...In addition to tremendous characters, I thought it was brilliant how the environment plays a direct role in the action that is encountered throughout..." Read more

"...I really liked Itami Cho. I thought she was a cool character with an interesting backstory, and I rooted quite hard for her to win the day...." Read more

"...and lore were fascinating, the settings well wrought, and enough character development to make me care about the story from the start...." Read more

"...The characters all feel distinct from each other and some of the banter between them is often laugh out loud hilarious...." Read more

30 customers mention "Enjoyment"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very entertaining, particularly appreciating its fascinating world. One customer notes that the story flows along in a masterful rhythm of humor.

"...I had so much fun reading Never Die and was genuinely sorry I had to turn the final page, as I wouldn't mind spending some more time in this..." Read more

"...Part legend, part quest, part motley-crew, this book never failed to entertain...." Read more

"...I wasn't disappointed at all. The world was intriguing, the characters were great and the battle descriptions were amazing!..." Read more

"...without giving it away until the time is ripe, and it is very satisfying to the reader when we feel all the building blocks fall into place to let..." Read more

17 customers mention "Asian influences"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's Asian influences, featuring Japanese mythology and Shonen anime elements, with one customer noting how the Asian setting feels natural to the story.

"...With strong Japanese influence and use of different myths and folklore, I was completely consumed right from the start, and I can honestly say that..." Read more

"...that Hayes exhibits is especially interesting as well, with an Asian inspired setting that seems to draw more from pop culture than real history,..." Read more

"...With shades of epic fantasy, action-packed sequences as well as East Asian mythology, Never Die is a fantastic amalgamation that solidly underscores..." Read more

"...Accompanying us on this thrilling ride is a cast of colourful and lovable heroes...." Read more

13 customers mention "Pacing"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, describing it as well-paced and quick, with one customer noting the fast-paced fights.

"...So, all told, this was a short, quick, and engaging romp through a world that I imagined as feudal Japan...." Read more

"...The tone and pacing were perfect, and Hayes manages to pull it all together in a satisfying conclusion...." Read more

"...The ending however certainly made up for that. It was fast-paced with shocking twist and turns that forced me to keep on reading...." Read more

"...All of this makes for a quick and very entertaining read." Read more

9 customers mention "Uniqueness"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book unique and interesting, with one customer noting its clever concept and another appreciating its different flair.

"...the amazingly diverse cast of characters Hayes has created, each so distinct and beautifully crafted...." Read more

"...I thought it was well written, and had a rather unique idea presented, which reminded me in ways of many of my favorite anime, video games, movies,..." Read more

"...Artist Felix Ortiz & designer Shawn King have come up with something unique and wondrous...." Read more

"...Interesting sounding plot? CHECK. Interesting cover? CHECK. Felix did a wonderful job on this one...." Read more

5 customers mention "Length"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's length, noting that it isn't particularly long.

"...So, all told, this was a short, quick, and engaging romp through a world that I imagined as feudal Japan...." Read more

"...It's a breath of fresh air, however. And not 500-1000 pages long, either. And I appreciate that. But I felt tired of reading this about 60% through...." Read more

"...The prologue of the story is short, dark and reads "Itami Cho woke to the screams of her own death. She remembered it all!"..." Read more

"...I had heard a lot of good things with this one. It was a nice short one so tossed it into the rotation this month. I wasn't disappointed at all...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Justine
    5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling whirlwind of an adventure!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    "What starts with a whisper, must end with a roar."

    Ein has been given a task by a god of death: gather heroes of legend to end the life of the Emperor of Ten Kings. However, in order to do so, he must kill his companions to bind them to his cause and carry out his will. As they venture across Hosa towards the city of Jieshu, the seat of the Emperor, these heroes not only have to battle each other’s egos, but also dangerous creatures of myth that bar their path. Gathering aid and allies along the way, will they be able to complete a task that has been deemed impossible?

    Holy hell, was this a thrilling whirlwind of an adventure! With action that begins in chapter one, and literally does not abate until the final page, it became almost impossible for me to put this book down. At its core, Never Die is a story of life and death, vengeance and justice, and of the oaths, ideals, and morals we as mankind hold dear in our hearts. It's a story of second chances, and choosing the legacy we decide to leave behind, shining light on the fact that villains can indeed become heroes. Friendship and camaraderie are some of the lighter aspects, added in just the right amounts at just the right times, that add an airy tone to the otherwise heavy content. With strong Japanese influence and use of different myths and folklore, I was completely consumed right from the start, and I can honestly say that I have yet to read anything quite like this.

    There simply isn't any other way to begin discussing Never Die without first introducing the amazingly diverse cast of characters Hayes has created, each so distinct and beautifully crafted. Ein, a mysterious boy and collector of heroes, who we really don't know much about, other than he was set forth on a path of death by a shinigami. Itami Cho, The Whispering Blade, reserved and renowned Shintei swordswoman, oath taker and oath breaker. Zhihao Cheng (my favorite!), The Emerald Wind, bandit and self-proclaimed villain, who doesn't believe one act of goodness can cleanse him of a lifetime of depravity. Chen Lu, Iron Gut, seeker of glory, and famous for skin as tough as steel with an ample belly that can withstand almost anything. Bingwei Ma, The Master of Sun Valley, undefeated unarmed wushu master who refuses to take a life. Roi Astara, Death's Echo, leper and crackshot that fights from afar and kills for the greater good. With a relatively large cast for a standalone story, the author skillfully breathes life into each of these characters. Shifting focus per chapter, accompanied by a slightly different tone, we're given insight into the characters' personalities, wants, and needs without things being explicitly clarified. As each hero joins the team, it's easy to sense the change in dynamics, and as time continues there's a real sense of companionship that develops, despite their egos, paving the way for welcomed banter, humor, and profound loyalty.

    In addition to tremendous characters, I thought it was brilliant how the environment plays a direct role in the action that is encountered throughout. This isn’t just a tale where the heroes are beset by bandits or soldiers along their journey, but instead are barraged by a whole variety of monstrous spirits that seem at home in the settings they're happened upon, progressively becoming more dangerous: vengeful lesser yokai slithering through the bamboo forests in the dead of night, a horrifying mizuchi with its countless eel heads barreling its way downriver, mythical hulking oni stomping through the great forest of Qing. The lands of Hosa are larger-than-life, and the threats hidden within are nothing less. The nail biting action is intense and never ceases; the fights well-chronicled, visceral, and best described as hyper-violent, chock full of plumes of blood and dismemberment. Upon reaching the city of Jieshu, we learn of the greatest threat to the people of Hosa, and the final battle is nothing but epic and heroic.

    "There were monsters in the world, Cho knew that well enough, but none were nearly so monstrous as man."

    I don't think I can truly express how much I love this book without accidentally spewing spoilers, so I'll just finish this off by saying the ending is exactly how it should be. The final chapters had me at the edge of my seat and the revelations that are finally revealed are done so with perfection. I had so much fun reading Never Die and was genuinely sorry I had to turn the final page, as I wouldn't mind spending some more time in this mystical world Hayes has created. There is some room for more building, so I'll keep my fingers crossed in hopes that I'm able to return here someday! If you're looking for a brutal and entertaining adventure, look no further - this is the one you want. I highly recommend.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • superstardrifter
    4.0 out of 5 stars Really engaging with lots of action.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Never Die is the story of Ein, who is an 8-year-old boy who was brought back to life by a shinigami and given a mission. He is to kill the emperor of the land, who is quite evil. He’s grown up (to this point, anyway) on stories that his father told him of the heroes of the land, and he knows that if he’s going to do this, he’s not going to be able to do it alone, so he goes out looking for some heroes.

    Of course, in order for them to join with him, they have to die first.

    Ein was given the power to resurrect a person once. Those resurrected are then bound to him. They can’t get too far away from them or they’ll start to die again, and food and drink taste like ash. They’re only mostly alive. If they complete this mission, the shinigami has promised that they’ll get their lives back.

    First to be recruited is Itami Cho, a swordswoman known as The Whispering Blade. She carries two katanas with her, only one of which she ever draws. She also has a sort of shout attack that she uses which works as a sort of knockback.

    Then The Emerald Wind is recruited, and he is… well he’s a bandit. A legendary bandit who uses hooked swords. He’s usually kind of wondering how he got roped into joining this group.

    Then there is Iron Gut Chen, who has, as his name suggests, a gut that is pretty impervious to anything, like poisons. He also has skin like iron, which can’t be cut by blades.

    Next up is Death’s Echo, the only living member of the group. He’s a leper, and is fairly near death. He is hoping that Ein can bring him back to life when he dies of his disease. He’s an assassin, and a fantastic shot with a rifle.

    Lastly, there is Bingwei Ma, a master of unarmed combat, who has never lost a fight in his entire life.

    Once this ragtag group of heroes is assembled, it’s time to head towards Wu, where the Emperor of Ten Kings resides, and take him down. Shenanigans ensue!~

    This was an engaging story, which flowed pretty well. I thought it was well written, and had a rather unique idea presented, which reminded me in ways of many of my favorite anime, video games, movies, and what have you. I had no problems imagining Ein and his group, or some of the things that they ran into on their adventure. It had some twists and turns that I did not at all see coming, and the action scenes were well done and easy to visualize.

    I ended up liking some of the characters quite a lot. I really liked Itami Cho. I thought she was a cool character with an interesting backstory, and I rooted quite hard for her to win the day. I also really liked Bingwei Ma. I started out not really liking The Emerald Wind but by the end of the book he was one of my favorite characters in it.

    So, all told, this was a short, quick, and engaging romp through a world that I imagined as feudal Japan. Princess Mononoke, but with more dying and less animals, I guess? Maybe Princess Mononoke and Inuyasha with way more swearing and death? :D :D :D
    4 people found this helpful
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  • King Reviewer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Never Die Almost Died...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    ...for me at least. I've been eyeballing this novel for a few years now, and finally decided to see if this author was all that and a bucket of chicken.

    I love Asian-influenced fantasy, but they are few and far between. I loved classic old B&W samurai movies from the 60's and 70's, as well as instant 90's anime movies like Ninja Scroll and only early Rurouni Kenshin.

    Then, also in the 90's, I discovered great books like The Ninja, by Eric Lustbader. And one Asian fantasy series I can't recall the name of.

    Now, we have English author Rob J. Hayes making waves in the indie publishing world. And so, here I am, having finally finished his first in a stand-alone trilogy.

    And, overall, it was good. Very good, but not great. It's a breath of fresh air, however. And not 500-1000 pages long, either. And I appreciate that. But I felt tired of reading this about 60% through. I love the classic 'rally the team' type books and movies, from The Magnificent Seven to Seven Samurai.

    Hayes' novel is pretty solid in character-driven, world-building prose...to a point. And there's plenty of action - which I prefer. But after over half the book, getting the team together started to wane. The overall story is pretty basic and simplistic, but perhaps a bit too much? Not sure. Hard to pinpoint.

    The action sequences were above average, but I've read much better. And many much worse, too. Hayes is somewhere in between.

    The ending wasn't your typical ending, and I have to applaud that. But maybe my years of longing for this, reading all the high praise, I was expecting more flesh and bones to the story.

    This would make a better visual anime than a book, methinks.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another great SPFBO read!
    Reviewed in Australia on December 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This isn’t the type of fantasy I would normally read, but it’s another by one of my fellow SPFBO finalists, so I picked it up. And while it’s not quite my usual cup of tea - a motley group of half-dead heroes on a quest to kill an evil emperor, almost anime or comic style - I really enjoyed it. I think that’s mainly down to the excellent writing, which keeps you engaged all the way through. The pacing is excellent and there’s never a dull moment. There are a lot of fighting/battle scenes though, so be warned if you don’t like too much gore in your books. I think my favourite part of the whole book was the interaction and banter between the group of heroes - very entertaining!! And that ending... I loved it. If you like books about heroes on quests that aren’t too long, I highly recommend this
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  • soumya
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great self-published fantasy.
    Reviewed in India on July 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very well written fantasy adventure, with lots of perfectly choreographed action. A page turner in the true sense, with some good character development as well. Really feels like you are playing an RPG. There are a few proofing errors in the book, it does not affect the experience. Maybe these could be corrected in the next edition.
    Report
  • Gary
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant martial arts fantasy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book has it all, a story that moves along at a great pace, never letting up. Duels between warriors that are all done exceptionally well. Beautifully laid out locations.

    And of course, let's not forget the incredible cast of characters, all fascinating in their own ways and, of course, all of them absolute bad arses!

    Loved the plot twist at the end, I had my suspicions, but the reveal was pleasantly satisfying.
    Report
  • without overthinking
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
    Reviewed in Germany on May 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    What a cool and fun journey this book was.
    It's rather short but nevertheless it contains so much, lots of great characters, action, humor, in a very imaginative stand-alone story.
    Of course, that, because the plot is set in a world very often visited by fantasy works – ancient Asia – it got and follow some tropes, mythology, legends, and manga type action scenes, but it's done in a very elegant and entertaining way.

    I can confirm what 99% of the reviews claim, it does have a great ending, it will leave you thinking about it and in the clues that you did or did not catch throughout the book, it can also be a little speculative, I believe that each person will look at it with a few differences.
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  • Bradley R Parent
    5.0 out of 5 stars Never Die Book
    Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great book a must read you will enjoy, I did.
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