Paul S. Lavender
"A Grimdark Terry Pratchett" - Damien Black (Author of Devil's Night Dawning)
Monsters are on the rise and gods walk the streets of Ashen Falls in seven stories that serve as a prelude to The Eighth God.
Melress and The Fading Man
A young half-elven boy is kidnapped by a children's nursery rhyme.
The Dove's Head Inn
Someone wants to get their hands on The Dove's loot, but they have to get past two bouncers to do it.
Melress Investigates
Something is killing residents of Ashen Falls, and a young Melress is found standing next to a body. Can the battle mage find the real culprit?
The Scarecrow
It's a foggy night in Ashen Falls, and soon monsters walk the streets led by a man with one thing on his mind - revenge!
Now with 3 more stories that increase the book by over 100%!!!
The Black Bastle
Melress and Beatrice stumble upon a nest of bandits.
The Wedge 'O Cheese
Why is everyone in Ashen Falls avoiding this triangular cheese shop? One street urchin is keen to find out.
Pock and Cock vs. The Necromantic Circle
Not all elves are happy about the rise of humans and half-elves...and tonight they are going to do something about it!
All cover art is supplied by BetiBup33 and more like it can be found at https://thebookcoverdesigner.com/designers/betibup33/
5.0 out of 5 stars A Troubled City.
ByGod of Gnomeson 11 July 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
A great collection of short stories from the world brought to you in the Eighth God - Orcslayer. Set in Ashen Falls, the stories involve some of the key players of the mother book...... I knew there was more to the bouncers Cock (get your mind out of the gutter) and his brother Pock. Don't be like me....read this before you do the Eighth God.....but either way treat yourself and read both
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4.0 out of 5 stars If Guy Ritchie decided to write grimdark fantasy fiction, I have a feeling it would look like this...
ByPoseidonon 18 September 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
Lavender's four short stories are by turns gruesome and funny, replete with the good old English dry sense of humour. Set in the fictional city of Ashen Falls, they connect a motley of protagonists, my favourites being the brothers Cock and Pock, a pair of warrior-wizards who seem to be moonlighting as bouncers at their local pub.
These stories carry a mixture of horror and humour with a fair dollop of blood and guts and some fast-paced zany fight scenes - but then what can you expect when a necromancer rocks up into town and the local elvish nightwatchman turns out to be a psycho killer? This book had several quirky ideas that I liked, including a magic system that ages those who use it and an enchanted throwing star that takes on a life of its own as it tries to decapitate our two (not so) heroic bouncers.
I thought this was an enjoyable read that manages to be light-hearted yet dark at the same time. Plus it's not often you see short stories or black comedy in the fantasy genre, so this was a good effort all around.
