We Are The Dead

The bone shattering epic fantasy thriller

By: Mike Shackle

Narrated by: Nicola Bryant

The first book in The Last War series: a debut epic fantasy full of crunching revolutionary action, twisted magic, and hard choices in dark times.

The war is over. The enemy won.

Jia's people learned the hard way that there are no second chances. The Egril, their ancient enemy, struck with magic so devastating that Jia's armies were wiped out. Now terror reigns in the streets, and friend turns on friend just to live another day.

Somehow Tinnstra - a deserter, a failure, nothing but a coward - survived. She wants no more than to hide from the chaos.

But dragged into a desperate plot to retake Jia, surrounded by people willing to do anything to win the fight, this time Tinnstra will need to do more than hide.

If Jia is to get a second chance after all, this time she will need to be a hero.

With all the grit of Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence and Ed McDonald, this is fantasy with the sharpest of edges.

* * * * * * * * * *

'The next Game of Thrones' Glen Cook, author of The Black Company

'Tarantino crossed with David Gemmell' Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones

'A powerful debut' Gavin Smith, author of The Bastard Legion©2019 Mike Shackle

Critic reviews

Likely the next Game of Thrones, and the best book I've read in several years. Erikson, Martin and Rothfuss are going to have to shove over and make room at the bar . . . I can't think how to tone down my enthusiasm

Like Tarantino crossed with David Gemmell . . . Absolutely splendid. Shackle has come up with something really special here

Hooked from page one, We Are the Dead rattles along with the pace of a runaway bullet train. Original, engaging, flawed but very-human characters draw us into a world rent by war, a world of brutal occupation, tarnished honour and devastating magics. This is a powerful debut and Shackle is an author to watch

A masterpiece of a story about hope, resistance and fellowship

An adventure that's rich in darkness and bloodshed.

Fans of Joe Abercrombie and R.F. Kuang are sure to find something to love here

We Are the Dead is a staggering, marvellous and gripping fantasy debut

A barnstorming book of ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances - great fun and very entertaining

Gripping, grim and glorious

An utter masterpiece

We Are the Dead is a fantasy novel that is able to blend the modern trends of dark fantasy with the magical styles of the past

A brutal showstopper of a novel

This is a good fun resistance story, featuring thoroughly horrible, and believable, occupiers

One of the best fantasy debuts in years

We Are the Dead is awesome. Memorable characters. One of the most sadistic villains I've ever encountered. Tightly woven action scenes that feel like something you'd see in a Micheal Mann film. I was gripped and loving it the entire time

An easy 5 stars from me . . . The tension ratchets up nicely as the best laid plans fall apart and people struggle to survive. The world building and characters fit together flawlessly

You can't write a debut novel much better than this

From start to finish this will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is an outstanding debut, you don't want to miss it.

A fantastic, enthralling debut. Imagine if Akira Kuworasawa and Joe Abercrombie wrote a fantasy thriller with a pace that moves at the speed of light

A fantastic story with unique characters that draw you in and don't let you go

A superb opening novel to The Last War series that takes you on a break-neck speed ride of plot twists, bloody battles and pain

Dark, brutal, wonderful

One of the best debuts I've read in ages. Original grimdark fantasy, wonderfully paced

Good Book!

The moments are there but still lacking in some areas. Good enough to keep me going onto the next book.

excellent

a thouroughly entertaining simple story that is well told and is engaging - excellent voice over

Great Book

great book mike shackle is rising star cant wait to reed his new book that all

loved it

i loved this book...the character arcs were amazing, and the plot kept me hooked. highly recommend

Criminally Underrated Gem in a world of Dark Fantasy

The writing is excellent. I’m picky about that. I prefer a well written book over a good plot, or good character development. For a baseline, Robin Hobb has excellent writing and excellent character development but with an overall slower/weaker story. Brandon Sanderson has very very good writing, excellent character development and excellent stories. Leigh Bardugo has average writing, good character development, excellent story). Steven Erickson has excellent writing, excellent character development and good story. These are just my preferences so you’ll understand how i rate this book.
Bad, poor, average, good, very good, excellent.

We are the dead surprised the hell out of me. It is excellently written. Right at the lower boundary of excellent.. like an A-, similar to Joe Abercrombie. Solid descriptions and solid dialogue that don’t leaving you rolling your eyes.

The story… i wasn’t too sure where it was going at first, but the pacing was so good that it kept me engaged. Now that iv finished the book.. i can say the story is on the lower boundary of very good. Solid B.

Character development is very good to excellent. A-

Narration… OH MY GOD, who is Nicola Bryant!?!. Utterly perfect narration in every way. Character voices. Different vocal strain depending on the immediate situation. Clear and precise pronunciation. Perfect speech pacing.. what a joy it was to listen to A++.

The individual parts are superb and their sum is excellent. If Joe Abercrombie is a 100/100, Mike Shackle (for this book), hits right around a 95.. which is somewhat mind blowing.

Be warned.. this is grim dark. It is the grimmest kind of dark (think.. Mark Lawerence kind of dark.. then add an extra splash of ink). I wont spoil anything, but if you’re not ok about the tabooey dark stuff along the lines of murder, rape, torture.. you’ll be ok. Kinda like Richard Morgan (the steel remains).

If you’re still not convinced.. look back at the authors from whom i chose to draw comparisons.. they are all top tier, and masters of their craft. Mike Shackle deserves some praise for this one. ..on to book two…