I've read most of the other Descent novels and I genuinely love them, but this one fell a bit flat for me personally. I wasn't really invested in this cast of characters and I found the pacing a bit too slow. There were noticably elements that were mentioned again and again as if the author didn't trust the reader to remember the first time that Andira was scared of the Tower for example.
Still a solid 3 star read.

I'm still looking forward to future Descent books and I got Waiqar already as an eARC thanks to Aconyte books and Netgalley.

Thank you for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As always, with book tours I want to say I was given access to a copy of this book to review on netgalley by Aconyte Books. My reviews are always a 100% honest and contain my own opinions. #NetGalley #BookTourReview #TheBookNetwork #DavidGuymer #TheTowerofNerek #DescentLegendsofTheDark

The Tower of Nerek is a brilliant fantasy with all the good elements of an RPG on which it is based including characters sometimes disagreeing on the correct course of action. Surely that happens in other people’s sessions right? But putting that aside lets first look at what The Tower of Nerek is about. Nerekhall is a city of paranoia and fear. A city where the harsh and unbending rule of the law is enforced by unfeeling automata called the Ironbound. When Andira Runehand and her Companion, Trenloe the Strong are drawn to the city due to recurring nightmares they soon find themselves caught up in a sinister plot and unable to escape. Both have very different ideas of what it means to be a hero, and both must learn to trust each other if they plan to make it out. For in an uneasy alliance concocts a dark plan in the city’s infamous tower to open a portal and summon a demonic power, the likes of which has never set foot in Terrinoth.

The story is brilliantly crafted and works perfectly in the setting of Descent. The characters are varied and work wonderful together to create banter and a rag tag group of adventures which perfectly captures the RPG setting and creates some brilliant bits of dialogue and interaction. Despite their being a large cast and a lot going on I feel that Guymer manages to keep everything succinctly tied together and on course. If you are used to playing RPGs or reading epic fantasy it definitely won’t be a problem to keep track even the midst of the action. Which is perfection by the way. Guymer’s writing of the action elements is superb and really puts you in the centre of it all. A definite must read for fantasy fans and Decent fans alike. The perfect blend of magic, mayhem and action as well as a memorable characters. I really hope we see more of these characters in the future and continue to expand the world of Descent.

Trenloe and Andira are both heroes and adventurers who have found their paths intertwined as of late. Having traveled to Nerekhall on important business, Andira is adamant that they keep their heads down and avoid any encounters with the law. But Trenloe has a knack for being a hero and, after a dangerous encounter with the city’s Ironbound enforcers, he’s captured and imprisoned. The two soon find themselves embroiled in the secret plans of a cult who hope to bring demons into their world.

I was blown away by this fantasy work! Although it’s set in the world of a strategy board game (Descent: Legends of the Dark), you don’t have to know anything about the game to enjoy this book. Similarly, it is part of a series based on the game, but you don’t need to have read the other books to read this one. I came into this book blind and my enjoyment of it was not diminished by that.

The greatest strengths of this work were the descriptiveness of the author and the worldbuilding. The author included descriptions of everything pertinent without getting bogged down in too many details, which made the characters and the setting feel vibrant and alive. Similarly, the worldbuilding was phenomenal. :ittle mentions of things would be woven into the prose, making the world immersive, easily incorporating lore and history into the plot, and emphasizing the dynamics of the characters. I loved the characters. They were varied and unique and all had such rich backstories and development that they jumped off the page.

There was nothing that I disliked about this book – the plot included a team at odds with each other, memory loss, a demonic cult, a renegade elf, and a betrayal, so what’s not to like? If you enjoy fantasy, read this book! Many thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for allowing me to read and review this work, which will be published on December 20th, 2022. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. The arcane twists kept it interesting, and the characters were not cookie-cutter. Definitely a good read, and well worth the time

Decent enough fantasy story with lots of RPG elements. A good deal of action which I liked and a huge cast of characters. The only criticism I have is I think the scope may have been a bit too big as I got lost at times with the different storylines and locations. But it definitely kept me entertained for quite a few late night reading sessions.

I really enjoyed all the characters, the thrill, the suspense and the whole plot are unforgettable. This book keep me up way past my bedtime it is hard to put down