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We Are The Dead

The bone shattering epic fantasy thriller

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We Are The Dead

By: Mike Shackle
Narrated by: Nicola Bryant
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About this listen

 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 Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction War & Military War Violent Fantasy

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
All stars
Most relevant
I struggled with this. it's a very violent and depressing story for much of the runtime.

Hard going

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Mike Shackle starts us off with a fantasy setting that may seem like any other, but just as the blurb promises, you're soon thrust into something far darker. It weaves the plot and builds tension over time brilliantly, with an interesting cast of perspective characters. We see genuine character development in all of them as they go on their journeys, and you will catch yourself cheering for people at key moments in their lives.

At times Inglourious Basterds, at times First Law trilogy, but always standing out as its own story. The world-building is a particular strength of this book - it is a land that is in spiritual, cultural and military turmoil. It is as familiar to students of history as it is fantastical.

With an 18 hour length you will get excellent value for your credit.

If you enjoy Abercrombie, Lawrence, or anything else on the grim side of fantasy this is for you.

Nicola Bryant delivers the narrative well, is clear in pronunciation and appropriate in tone/emotion. She was a fine choice for narrator.

If you like grim / dark fantasy, this is essential

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Wasn’t awful but none of the characters gripped me and I was just waiting to get to the end so I could read something else.

We are the dead

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