Preview Review: "When the Heavens Fall" by Marc Turner

Disclaimer: I was given a free advanced preview of this book from NetGalley/the publisher (Tor) in exchange for an honest review. My opinion remains as forthright as ever.

To Be Released: May 19th

This will be a fairly short review, as so far there isn't much to discuss, since I only got to read the first five chapters, but they went by quickly. I saw this advertised on NetGalley being for 'fans of Patrick Rothfuss', and decided to request it, since I'm a bit of a superfan of his (I stalk him on all social media platforms, and weep over the fact Doors of Stone doesn't appear to be coming soon enough). Although I was getting a mild Rothfuss vibe, it's too soon to tell if I will love it as well as my precious, the Kingkiller Chronicle.

The Plot: (As Seen on Goodreads)
'The first of an epic swords & sorcery fantasy series for fans of Patrick Rothfuss, When the Heavens Fall features gritty characters, deadly magic, and meddlesome gods.
'If you pick a fight with Shroud, the Lord of the Dead, you had better make sure you end up on the winning side, else death will mark only the beginning of your suffering.
'A book that gives its wielder power over the dead has been stolen from a fellowship of mages that has kept the powerful relic dormant for centuries. The thief, a crafty, power-hungry necromancer, intends to use the Book of Lost Souls to resurrect an ancient race and challenge Shroud for dominion of the underworld. Shroud counters by sending his most formidable servants to seize the artifact at all cost.
'However, the god is not the only one interested in the Book, and a host of other forces converge, drawn by the powerful magic that has been unleashed. Among them is a reluctant Guardian who is commissioned by the Emperor to find the stolen Book, a troubled prince who battles enemies both personal and political, and a young girl of great power, whose past uniquely prepares her for an encounter with Shroud. The greatest threat to each of their quests lies not in the horror of an undead army but in the risk of betrayal from those closest to them. Each of their decisions comes at a personal cost and will not only affect them, but also determine the fate of their entire empire.'

As far as I have read at this point, I can't say I love any of the characters, but I do seem to have some favorites. As usual, the heroines are soaking up all the love, although one is annoying the hell out of me with her use of 'sirrah'. Luker is another who annoys me, but mostly because I keep internally bullying him in my head (you're such a looker, Luker!). They have all proven their valiant fighting skills, but I tend to look for a little more in my protagonists than their physical strength. But, as I've said, it's hard to judge a book on the first few chapters, especially with epic fantasy (which often keeps you guessing about motivations, etc. until the final page of the book).

The first five chapters of When the Heavens Fall have me intrigued. Although I have no idea how I'll feel about the whole book, because the little I read made me yell at my Kindle when I came to the end of the last chapter (Not Really a Spoiler: it ended on a cliffhanger- make sure you buy/borrow the entire book before reading), I feel it's very promising. I can't recommend it yet entirely, but I put my stamp of approval on the first five chapters, and hope the book will live up to my expectations whenever I manage to snag the completed edition.

Preview Edition Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an excellent beginning that makes one want the whole tamale.

Content: So far, just blood and guts, with a touch of meddlesome gods/magicians.

Chapter Count: I've read the first five!