Chaos Awakens Trilogy

By: Heath Pfaff

Narrated by: Paul J. McSorley

Having two of his fingers cut off at an early age hadn't done much to make Xandrith an agreeable fellow. Besides marking him as a pariah and having him shunned by even his own family, it had also hurt. A lot. Being stripped of a few of his fingers and cast out of the Order of Mages had left him bitter and angry, but if there was any consolation to be had it was that he was doing rather well in his new line of work. While perforating people for money might not have been the most noble of callings, it was quite lucrative. Well, it had been quite lucrative.

In a conspiracy of fate seemingly beyond his control, Xan soon finds himself facing a dilemma of conscience, and that isn't something he's familiar with. One dilemma leads to another, and before long the mage-turned-assassin finds himself performing more and more honorable deeds. Worse yet, without even attempting to do so he manages to acquire friends and to develop a sense of compassion.

As Xan struggles with his burgeoning humanity, a terrible darkness begins to wake in the world. The Order of Mages, once an overbearing power of control, seems to be losing its grip as a terrifying doom of their own creation rises in the north. As if that isn't enough, the horror brought upon the world by the folly of the mages may be only the precursor to something far more sinister.

©2014 Heath Pfaff (P)2015 Heath Pfaff

You will be left awake after reading this

I love fantasy and I adore horror, and this has elements of both genres in it. What I love is that it "stars" a cast out mage who turns to assassination to survive, and somewhere along the way he begins to develop compassion and build a group of friends. Each book deals with an issue caused by the order of mages, and as the danger looms bad things happens to our reluctant hero. This guy is like John Maclaine from die hard, the more you beat him the tougher he gets. Book two deals more with his apprectice, but when he reappears in book three you will really be sorry he shows back up. Things have not gone in his favor.

The only negative is that the ending was a little predictable, but that can be forgiven for everthing else that you get in the rest of the series. The series is fantasy, but the horror tones are there, and I could see it getting flipped into a Horror trilogy flavored with fantasy. It owrks either way. The action and blood really flies and by the end you will be breathing hard from excitement.

Oh, and lemme tell ya about Paul J. McSorley. He elevates this whole series with just some intonations, a mastery of voices, and an inner Metronome that speeds up or slows down instinctively as needed. Good narrators like him are a rare gem.

Get this book and get chills.

Read it now!!

Interesting & derivative

Pfaff's plot interests but McSorely reads carelessly, like a TV anchor or radio announcer personality

good story

Well done. Well narrated.  will be looking forward to the next from this author. You should buy this book.

Good book with a good narrator.

I found the protagonist likable his constant struggle between what he is and what he wants to be is interesting. I liked that he has a darker view of the world and is not trying g to save everyone he comes across. towards the end of the book he acts more like a traditional hero but by then he is dealing with his increasing mental instability and guilt which is also quite interesting. overall it was a good investment of 30+hours.

This is a really good "read"

I really enjoyed the main characters Rogue personality, very charming and witty and a very dark world. at the end of the book he gets a little grimdark , but it pulls itself out of that with a satisfying ending.