Review: This is a review for an ARC I received from the publisher.

Plot: What a ride! Kagen the Damned deserves high marks for an epic adult fantasy. I couldn’t put it down. The engaging plot and unpredictable twists kept me turning the pages. Author Maberry, a well-seasoned author, knows how to weave a colorful tale of vengeance and betrayal. Kagen’s story is brutal, graphic, heartbreaking, and devastating. The vivid descriptions will make you cringe and detest the Witch King as much as the captain of the palace guard does. Each chapter, each character’s point of view, added so much depth to the story. The pacing was fantastic. At times, I found the world building a bit confusing. Modern day terms and references slipped into the dialogue and plot. Perhaps the answer will reveal itself in the next installment.

Characters: The Witch King is definitely the most vicious being I have ever crossed in literature. His cruel actions knotted my stomach, and his sorceress, who dabbles in necromancy, scared the heck out of me. Kagen is the morally grey character you constantly cheer for and Tuke is the friend we all need in our lives.

Writing: Author Mayberry has perfected the ability to reel the reader into a new world. From chapter one, I was hooked. No, the text was not without its faults, but the non-stop drama helped me overlook little speed bumps I encountered here and there. Epic fantasy usually intimidates me. Luckily, Kagen the Damned eases the reader into a complex world.

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the sequel. Book one leaves you on a huge cliffhanger. I need book two…now. This is an excellent starter for those who are looking to branch out into epic adult fantasy.

Triggers/Warnings: graphic violence, adult language, adult content,
Plot: 4/5
Pacing: 5/5
Escapism Factor: 4/5
Emotional Connection: 4/5
Character Development: 4/5

Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Completed Read: November 2021

I have enjoyed other books by this author and I liked this one too. I loved the world building and the immersion into the story. I cannot wait to read more.

Yet another fantasy tale where magic is illegal. But that all changes.

The Hero Kagen, has failed on many accounts. He failed to protect the Empress’ children. He failed to defend the Silver Empire. He failed to prevent the death of his parents. He even failed to keep a horse he stole. But he’s not the only person failing at stuff. Someone has failed to kill Kagen. And now a lot of people are hunting him down.

The book is rather slow (for my taste) for the first 50%, but after that it is quite fast paced and intriguing, including images of gods fighting in the sky.

With so many mysteries and unexplained events, it’s safe to say, I will be reading the next book.


The speech Lady Kestral gives after conquering the Silver Empire is a bit too long and explanatory.

I thought it was redundant for the Historian to be interviewed twice, and also for such a huge emphasis to be put on ‘writing history for the winners”, as if that couldn’t be obvious in fewer words.

Jonathan Maberry is mostly known for his horror books, His Pine Deep trilogy is one of my favorite scary series and I recommend everyone who loves a creepy and spooky read give a try. So when I heard that he had also written a fantasy series, and fantasy being my very favorite genre to read, it's like the best of both worlds collided and I couldn't wait to settle down with it. I wasn't disappointed as Maberry delivers one of the most exciting and entertaining epic fantasy debuts that I have read in quite some time. If you love a bit of treachery and political intrigue, Kagen the Damned will be right up your alley. This one had me up late quite a few nights and kept my attention as every chapter was incredibly intriguing and engrossing. Give this one a try if you claim at all to be a fantasy fan. Highly recommended and I can't wait to read future books in this series!

I don't feel right shredding this like I normally would, if it had been out for ten years already. Instead, I will simply give a quick menu of things you can expect to find in this story, so that you can judge for yourself whether you'll enjoy it or not:

• Remember the "I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep" speech from Name of the Wind? Kagen is not nearly as dramatic as Kvothe (and neither does he deserve to be) but there is a core of him that loves this vibe. The prose occasionally breaks out with a NotW rash of self-aware grandiosity as well.

• "Gods of [insert thing]." A third of the dialogue is someone exclaiming or better yet, breathing this.

• Relationships? There is one friendship that consists of Kagen and another dude swearing at each other and exchanging lots of penis humor. That's about it.

• The ratio of rape scenes to sex scenes is about 50/50, and the amount of both is "kind of a lot."

• Special Honorable Mention: entering the cursed tower and having sex with evil vampire faerie woman, but instead of draining Kagen's lifeblood as she has done to all others over the centuries, she helps with the quest and lets him leave. Kagen, after all? He's special.

• Island of sexually liberated Cthulhu-worshippers.

• So much violence and gore. It's weird how some stories are able to infuse so much shock and horror into something as simple as a slap, and then there are books like this where someone being gang-raped to death and their body mutilated happens a LOT and it's yawn-worthy.

I came so close to DNF-ing this, only sheer stubborn will pulled me through. That, and the Cthulhu subplot. I did want to find out what the hell was going on with that, and honestly I'm still not sure what happened.

This is ideal for fans of Game of Thrones!! I This was good, but was a little slow at time. Overall, I liked the world-building and the plot in this one!

By. The Gods. Of The Pit.

This book. Holy. Hell. It's been a while since a book grabbed me by the throat and took off running. This one did that and more.
The opening is harsh. Kagen's world comes crashing down and you /weep/ for him, for what he goes through.
Miri & Ryssa, are heartbreakingly innocent and it's terrifying experiencing things through their eyes.
But the book is amazing.
Grab a stiff drink and settle in for a long night, this isn't a book to put down.

As to the ending: When do I get the second book?

Thank you NetGalley SO much for letting me have the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

WOW WOW WOW! This book is a freaking masterpiece, and deserves to be in a museum. The plot, the writing, the characters left my mouth gaping and me like a squealing toddler. I loved every single second of this world, and how wish it was a bit longer, because i feel like I’m left all starved especially towards the end. I didn’t want this book to be finished.

WOW, this is a book I would definitely recommend to someone who loves Game of Thrones and Jay Kristoff. The utter violence and the brilliance of the revenge. I loved it! Perfect to read during October!

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

If you like The Witcher or Game of Thrones then you will love Kagen the Damned! This book had me hooked from the first few pages! It is an epic fantasy like I’ve never read! Kagen is such a unique MC who I am rooting for! I haven’t read a book yet where the villain literally scared the crap out of me, but alas the Witch King does! This book isn’t one where you can easily guess what happens next!

The world building in this book is like no other that I’ve read ! Mayberry is so descriptive with the locations and different cultures in this book.

I could not put this book down! I’ve literally been telling everyone about this book!

I was invited by the publisher to read Kagen the Damned.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press/St Martin's Griffin for allowing me to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really like Jonathan Maberry's writing. It's creative, fantastical, and unapologetically violent. I don't normally read his style of books but I've read Rot & Ruin when it came out years ago and liked the series.

The MC Kagen is beautifully developed and the world building is wonderous and cinematic. I will say that there was a slowness to the pacing of the story which is okay but it did drag at times.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Empire of the Vampire and/or The Name of the Wind.

4.5 stars