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Martin Frowd
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Shadow Born (Karnos Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Martin Frowd (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
Zarynn always knew he and his parents were different. In public they professed to worship the Dark King of Hell, like all of their nomadic clan, and obeyed the orders of His Druids. But in secret, they prayed to one of the Gods of Light.
Zarynn’s world changed in his eighth summer, when a Druid on circuit visited his clan’s camp and caught his parents at their forbidden worship. The men of the clan, stirred up by the Druid, took up their spears and slew his parents. And the magic Zarynn had never known he had within him erupted for the first time, striking down the killers. Magic that marked him as abomination in the eyes of the Druids.
Zarynn should have died the next day, stoned to death by the men of the clan, as the Druids mandated for abominations. But instead he was rescued by a stranger from far away with magic of his own. Glaraz looked different and spoke differently from any man Zarynn had ever met. He called himself a necromancer, a master of death and the dead, and he insisted that he had crossed the sea to find and save Zarynn, to take him back to his own home, where he could learn to control his magic at a place called the Black Skull School.
Now Zarynn and his rescuer just need to survive the journey.
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  1. Print length
    274 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    January 2, 2019
  5. File size
    1.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07M6MVHK7
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 2, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 274 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

About the author

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Martin Frowd

Martin Frowd

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Martin Frowd has been writing stories all his life and refining his original science-fantasy world setting for many years, while working a day job as a National Health Service manager. He is currently working on book 6 of the Karnos Chronicles and describes the series as a whole as "dark science fantasy".

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
9 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's characters likable and appreciate its narrative quality, with one describing it as a vivid tale. The pacing receives positive feedback, with customers describing it as an intriguing and darkly uplifting story.

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3 customers mention "Likable characters"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book likable.

"...Glaraz is a fascinating and likeable character, a master necromancer with a host of nasty spells under his belt which he uses to defend himself and..." Read more

"...I loved all the different characters, each had their own personality." Read more

"...Characters are likable, three-dimensional, and grounded in their own disparate cultures and languages...." Read more

3 customers mention "Narrative quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the narrative quality of the book, with one describing it as a vivid tale and another noting its richly-detailed nature.

"...This is a dark and vivid tale, and even when told from Zarynn’s point of view it doesn’t feel like a young adult novel...." Read more

"Lots of great world-building, a very intriguing story, and very well written. I loved all the different characters, each had their own personality." Read more

"...The first in a series, it's a fast-paced, deeply satisfying read...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as an intriguing and darkly uplifting tale, with one customer noting it's a fast-paced epic fantasy that wraps up satisfyingly.

"...reversal of fantasy stereotypes in Shadow Born is a refreshing change from typical fantasy fare: in this world, the druids aren’t guardians of light..." Read more

"Lots of great world-building, a very intriguing story, and very well written. I loved all the different characters, each had their own personality." Read more

"...The story wraps up in a satisfying fashion, but is clearly the first in a series, and sets up a number of intriguing plot threads for future..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Leland
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Darkly Uplifting Tale of a Young Magic User's Rescue from Certain Death
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Eight year old Zarynn is an orphan. His parents were killed for committing the unspeakable heresy of worshiping a deity of light, and Zarynn is slated to be ritually stoned to death for manifesting magical abilities of his own when a dark stranger intervenes to save his life.

    Rescued by the necromancer Glaraz, Zarynn embarks on an epic journey to escape certain death at the hands of the druids that rule the lands his people call home.

    Magical fantasy isn’t usually my go-to genre, but sometimes I find a book in that genre that I really enjoy– and for that reason I’m extremely glad I took a chance on Shadow Born. This is a dark and vivid tale, and even when told from Zarynn’s point of view it doesn’t feel like a young adult novel. While the materials covered isn’t quite grimdark, there are plenty of life or death battles, barely-achieved escapes, and horrific and suspenseful moments.

    What really makes this story stand out, though, is the author’s narrative voice. The sights, smells, and sounds of Zarynn’s world practically jump off the page, and the story flows along at a place that keeps the reader wanting to know what comes next. It’s also clear that a lot of research went into developing the culture, language, and magic systems used in the story.

    The reversal of fantasy stereotypes in Shadow Born is a refreshing change from typical fantasy fare: in this world, the druids aren’t guardians of light and natural order. They worship a dark deity that feeds on misery and suffering, and rule the Twelve Tribes with an iron hand. The heresies of knowledge and open-mindedness are rooted out with lethal strictness.

    Conversely, it was a pleasant surprise to discover a necromancer as the hero of the story. Glaraz is a fascinating and likeable character, a master necromancer with a host of nasty spells under his belt which he uses to defend himself and the children he rescues. It was fun to see spells that shatter bones and explode hearts used to protect the defenseless from harm.

    This darkly uplifting tale of a young magic-user’s rescue from certain death gets an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’ vote from me. I highly recommend you check out Shadow Born if it sounds like your cup of tea!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Margena Adams Holmes
    4.0 out of 5 stars A very intriguing story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of great world-building, a very intriguing story, and very well written. I loved all the different characters, each had their own personality.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A richly-detailed, fast-paced epic fantasy
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Shadow Born is the type of sprawling epic fantasy we simply don't see enough of anymore. Buy this book!

    The first in a series, it's a fast-paced, deeply satisfying read. The world building is broad and multi-layered, resulting in a setting that is soaked in ancient history yet also shrouded in mystery. Characters are likable, three-dimensional, and grounded in their own disparate cultures and languages.

    And the pacing... oh man, the pacing! The whole book moves at a break-neck pace, in a desperate race for the coast and an escape from the soverign territories of the tyrannical druids and their dark god. The story wraps up in a satisfying fashion, but is clearly the first in a series, and sets up a number of intriguing plot threads for future books.

    The sequel is coming in 2020, and I'll absolutely be buying it.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Tim
    5.0 out of 5 stars Now this is how to write volume one.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The world is well crafted and does not rush in on us all at once. The heroes gain flesh and become three dimensional fast. Wisely, the author also lets his main villains gain more than two, but not quite yet three dimensions. Best of all it's exciting. I was quite upset to have to put it down to go to sleep!

    It's truly hard to review this without spoilers

    I became a little bogged down with the conference of the grand villains. I know it had to be there, but I wished it a few Kindle page turns shorter, but that is all I wished to be shorter. It did not detract from the rating nor the enjoyment.

    We have a large cast in this volume, and I feel some of our boy hero's tribe have a part to play yet. I'm not at all sure where this is going, but I know I like where it's been, and I'm looking forward to volume two being as well crafted as volume one.
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  • Claire Buss
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great fantasy debut!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Recap: Glaraz, a necromancer, rescues Zarynn from execution after his powers manifest and must escape from the Druids with his young charge.

    Review: Great world-building, you can really see where the author has spent his time crafting the people, magic and religions. We have quite a large cast of characters which on the whole are clearly defined however all the young boys and men with Z names quickly got confusing. A little over explanatory in places but the backstory was handled well and the magic system is c!ear!y defined. The fight scenes were full of tension and adrenaline. There are multiple races, druids, shapeshifters, wyvern, zombies, a dragon, magic and a ship captained by a dwarf! It's a great first book and one fantasy series readers will enjoy.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Looking forward to reading the second book!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Not quite knowing what to expect, I must say that I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are well developed and presented. The chapters are a good length, the story flows well and keeps the reader curious to continue reading. I am certainly looking forward to reading the second book, find out more about the main character and follow his journey!
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  • Banjospider
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great first volume ... need more now!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book it’s very well written and look forward to more. It certainly sets up an interesting back drop.

    There were a couple of times I got lost in the lore but I think that’s just testament to the fact the author has mapped this out in detail to sit underneath the series. Definitely worth a read.
    Report

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