Why I picked up this book:

I found this novella buried in an email filled with freebie books. The first thing that drew me to it was the amazing cover art. Rain, night, dreariness, and a lone soul with a sword. What more could any grimdark lover ask for? Although I downloaded it right away, it was another month before I was able to pick up the story. This is the first book I’ve read by Jacob Peppers.

This review may contain spoilers.

What I loved:

Aaron’s character is amazing. Hardened, complex, but there’s a quiet dignity to everything he does, despite his prickly personality. From the moment he walked into Benjin’s tavern to the very last line, I wanted to be on an adventure with this character.
Areas needing a touch of refinement:

Grinner was the only character that felt a bit obscure. He’s this badass crime boss, but when he makes his appearance, he’s just very calm about everything. Almost placid. I think I would have liked to see a darker, more villainous streak out of this guy.

Overall:

This was a fantastic story, and the perfect length for a late-night read. For any readers that are on the fence about stepping from fantasy into a grimdark world, this is a perfect introduction. I enjoyed Peppers’ work immensely and can’t wait to follow Aaron Envelar in his next adventure.