TL;DR Review: Shaolin Monk meets Dungeons and Dragons, with a side order of “holy sh*t this is dark and epic”!
Synopsis:
Evil forces seek to steal the souls of the world. They didn’t bargain on a mystic monk and a feisty witch to get in their way. This is their story.
When the demons came, ransacking his monastery, killing his friends and mentors, Kasai’s mind screamed, “Flee! Run while you can!” But he didn’t. Honor demanded he fight back, no matter the cost or how much he wanted it to be someone else’s problem.
Escaping her doomed village, orphaned and alone, Desdemonia begins a new life in the deep forest. A chance encounter with a young monk sets events in motion which will force her to choose sides; fight for what is right and just or unleash the chaos magic burning in her veins against a world who has turned its back on her.
Enter the archdevil, Sekka of Gathos, hellbent on conquest and lacking but one final piece to guarantee her victory; the soul of the next Ever Hero. Hope will not be enough to stop her or the hordes of demons under her command.
Follow in the footsteps of two unlikely companions, fighting against overwhelming odds in a last-ditch effort to stop Sekka from opening a dreaded Chaos Gate, and with it the doom of the Three Kingdoms.
This dark epic fantasy series is a young adult adventure packed with mysticism, martial arts, elemental magic, occult horror, vengeance, and salvation. It does not disappoint with a full cast of characters including mystic monks, a mad sorcerer, honorable warriors, a witch with an identity crisis, a corrupt duke, a weak king, sinister devils, and a succubus thrown in for good measure. (Everyone loves Sess’thra). Just wait until the Heavenly Host of angels arrive as the series gets on a roll in Book Three: The Divine Fist.
Full Review:
The Chaos Gate is…a lot. And I do mean that in the best way possible!
There is so much going on at once that it can be hard to track it all at first, but once you get a sense of what’s going on, it’s an easy ride to get into.
The story follows multiple POV characters:
Kasai – A young monk-in-training who feels like a nobody, but who finds himself being drawn into ever-greater roles and developing impossible abilities. His is the classic epic fantasy story of a young man discovering he is so much more than he ever believed.
Sekka – A demon queen of Hell who will do anything and rip apart anyone if it means she can return to the mortal world to conquer, as is her right. She was by far my favorite character of the book. She’s cruel, cunning, manipulative, deceitful, and downright wicked. And has a penchant for bathing in the blood and viscera of her victims. Be warned: Sekka’s chapters are replete with shocking and vivid gore that made for such compelling and dark reading.
Shiverrig – A duke who believes it’s his right to rule, and hates the King who is standing in his way. He’s willing to strike a devil’s bargain (literally) to bring about his victory and restore the power he is due.
Another POV character is introduced later on, but for the most part, these three characters are the ones driving the story forward.
And what a story it is!
Kasai’s tale is very much the “Hero’s journey” that we’re all familiar with, except it’s wrapped up in the unique-feeling flavor of a Shaolin-style monk. We see him progressing through his journey to become the hero the realm needs, and get a better sense of the world’s magic system through his eyes.
Sekka’s tale is reminiscent of any Matron Mother of Menzoberranzan, only she has the powers of a demon queen and an entire army of demons and devils to control. It definitely gave me all the “Underdark scheming and manipulation vibes” that I loved about the Drizzt Do’Urden books.
Shivverig feels more Game of Thrones in the way he’s manipulating political events in his attempt to gain power. He is striking a deal with various devils, though, but going into his Faustian bargain intending to use the demon queen only as long as he needs her, then eradicate her so he can be the savior of the mortal world and thus its rightful ruler.
Put together, these three stories create a unique flavor that is immensely enjoyable and an adventure well worth reading.
Be prepared, though: the story takes every opportunity it can to go DARK—a choice I strongly approve of!
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