The Traitor God by Cameron Johnston is a dark fantasy novel that follows the story of Edrin Walker, a powerful magician and a god killer who has been on the run for the last ten years dodging daemons and debt. When he witnesses his best friend's murder through a magical bond they share, he decides to return to his city of Setharis to avenge his friend's death. The book is set in a society governed by a council of wizards, with a caste system based on magical abilities. The story combines elements of mystery, action-packed magical battles, and a morally grey protagonist navigating a world full of monsters, demons, gods, and titans.

Characters:

The characters are primarily morally ambiguous, with Edrin Walker as the central figure, though supporting characters appear underdeveloped and rely on common tropes.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is immersive, using a first-person perspective that focuses on character thoughts and moral dilemmas, though it sometimes suffers from inconsistencies.

Plot/Storyline:

The story follows Edrin Walker, a magician on a quest for revenge after witnessing his friend's murder, set in a fast-paced world filled with magic and danger.

Setting:

The setting features a city-state governed by wizards, marked by stark social disparities, though it lacks some realism and coherence.

Pacing:

The pacing is consistently fast, providing an exciting, action-driven experience that keeps readers engaged throughout.

Ten wretched years spent fleeing daemons and debt, reduced to a vagabond with little more than the clothes on my back and a set of loaded dice. Every week brought different taverns, different faces, a...

Notes:

Cameron Johnston's debut book is called The Traitor God, part of the Age of Tyranny series.

The book features a dark, action-packed fantasy world with magical battles, monsters, and gods.

The main character, Edrin Walker, is a powerful magician and a 'god killer' seeking revenge.

Edrin shares a psychic bond with his friend, which adds depth to his character.

The magic system is well-developed, posing limitations and dangers to the characters.

The setting includes a society ruled by wizards, creating a unique caste system.

Readers feel the world lacks coherent history and depth despite interesting details.

The book mixes elements of fantasy, crime, and mystery genres.

Despite flaws in character development, the story is engaging and fast-paced.

The narrative is told from Edrin's first-person perspective, with more exposition than dialogue.

There are Lovecraftian themes present throughout the story, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere.

The book explores themes of morality and freedom, but some characters may feel underdeveloped.

The pacing of the story is rapid, keeping readers engaged without dragging.

The second book in the series is titled God of Broken Things, which readers look forward to.

Cameron Johnston is compared to other fantasy authors like Scott Lynch and Terry Pratchett.

The author has garnered a following and is appreciated despite some criticisms.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers may include violence, death, and themes of grief and loss.

From The Publisher:

A city threatened by unimaginable horrors must trust their most hated outcast-or lose everything-in this crushing epic fantasy debut

After ten years on the run, dodging daemons and debt, reviled magician Edrin Walker returns home to avenge the brutal murder of his friend. Lynas had uncovered a terrible secret, something that threatened to devour the entire city. He tried to warn the Arcanum, the sorcerers who rule the city . . .

He failed.

Lynas was skinned alive and Walker felt every cut. Now, nothing will stop him from finding the murderer. Magi, mortals, daemons, and even the gods-Walker will burn them all if he has to. After all, it wouldn't be the first time he's killed a god.

June 2018

Ratings (5)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)
Liked It (1)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (21):

Read It (5)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (13)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

HardboiledNoir

Hated It

3 months

Once again a so called tough man that is routinely quieted by a strong independent woman. Its hard for me to suspend disbelief when this so called vile criminal stops and takes the time to listen a woman with no power over him whatsoever.

Beyond that the story is ok. Mostly dull and trite.

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The Traitor God

Cameron Johnston

Book 1 in the series:Age of Tyranny

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