this really wasn't for me. i gave it a good try and read over 20% of the book but i couldn't get into it. please note that as i didn't finish the book i haven't left any reviews on any other platform

This is an extremely long book 500 pages.

At times it dragged, feeling repetitive.

There are only so many fights you can read about.

The characters are entertaining, although the lack of main female characters is a definite negative.

One in the story.

In two minds whether to read the second book in the series.

This book has a really slow start and a very slow build up. The fight scenes (of which there are many) are stunningly written and so visual that it was easy to imagine watching them. The story in between however felt a bit lackluster until we actually got to the school which is over 50% of the way through the book. I liked the twist at the end. Will probably read the others to see where the story goes.

The Combat Codes presents a gripping debut in a unique world where nations resolve conflicts through unarmed combat instead of war, featuring elite fighters known as Grievar Knights. The story centers on Murray Pearson, a retired Knight, and Cego, a promising young fighter discovered in underground arenas.

Darwin's expertise in martial arts shines through the meticulously choreographed fight scenes, which are both intense and realistic. The philosophical aspects of martial arts are well-explored, adding depth to the narrative. However, the plot drags in the first half, with a significant twist only emerging near the end. The repetition of training school tropes and a lack of gritty stakes may disappoint some readers. Female representation is also notably sparse.

Despite these issues, the world-building, inspired by both sci-fi and fantasy elements, is exceptional, reminiscent of the Final Fantasy games. The dynamic between Murray and Cego is a highlight, though their relationship could be further developed in future installments. Fans of martial arts and philosophical discussions will find much to enjoy, while those seeking high-stakes conflicts may find the story lacking.

The Combat Codes is a promising start to a series that blends the spirit of classic martial arts films with a fresh, speculative twist. It's a must-read for martial arts enthusiasts, though it may leave grimdark fans wanting more.

I requested this one a while ago as I really liked the sound of it but I've definitely been avoiding it. I think this is a me problem as I can see it's well loved.

I've tried to pick it up but I just don't think it's for me.

I'm so sorry and I feel super bad so giving it three stars on here.

I really enjoyed combat codes. I do understand how people are undecided about whether it sits in fantasy or Sci fi but to me I don't care I really liked that the author trains in martial arts and brought that in to his book... I'm excited to get book 2

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me at around 150 pages - for me, there just wasn't enough explation of the world or the magic system so I had no idea what was happening.

I also found the main character to be quite confusing as he's described as being a child but comes across like a much older character who already has firm world beliefs.

I tried both the physical and the audio for this and had the same issue with both

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this title in exchange for this honest review.

Read this during a slump and i remeber really enjoying parts of it, but i just couldnt get into it. I might give it another chance further down the line.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book by Net Galley, Little Brown Books UK and the author, in exchange for an honest review. Apologies for my delay in providing feedback.

The Combat Codes is a genuine triumph in terms of a mentor -student narrative SFF story. In a world where armies are a thing of the past, now the powers that be use the race of the Grievar to settle their nations' differences in hand-to-hand combat.

These types of books can often get bogged down in training montages and exposition dumps, but not here. Darwin does a fantastic job of teaching you the rules of the world and building the character's backstories all while keeping the right level of intrigue and conveying some phenomenal battle scenes.

You can tell this author has such experience in martial arts. Every action that the characters make during a fight has purpose. The thought processes they make in the intense one-on-one fights are so intricate and detailed. Visualisation is not an issue. I felt like I was in the circle myself. (NB I would not fair well if I was lol)

Cego is such an interesting character. Well trained and thoughtful, but never ranges into Gary Stu territory. His background is really interesting and I found myself wanting more. There was a twist at the end that I'm eager to see play out in the next book. Just the right amount of mystery, hints and detail required to keep the reader engaged.

Murray is also one of the better mentors I've read in SFF. He's a hardened veteran who is on a mission to uncover the secrets and political manoeuvring of his superiors. Really fascinating stuff and his coaching of Cego is heartfelt and earnest.

Finally, the fantasy elements in this book are subtle and also quite fresh. The spectrals are something I almost glossed over in the beginning but by the end you really start to see their influence on the world.

In summary, a really enjoyable read. Dark world, great action and complex characters. A far from one dimensional. Glad to see this series getting the publishing and promotion it deserves. Fans of Red Rising, Green Bone Saga and Fight Club will enjoy it, no doubt.

Bring on book 2!!!

I really enjoyed this and honestly I'm surprised!
Describing this book to others I've said it's like a fight club where instead of sending armies, nation's send champions to fight instead. It's got almost gladiator arena vibes but has the extra elements of magic and a creepy civilisation of droid like humans. The character writing is fantastic and I think is what made me love this book. For a debut it's incredibly impressive to have such compelling characters. I'd love to learn more about the world going forwards to really expand the scope of the story.

Darwin has the potential to become a new favourite author. This is a fantastic story with great pacing and character. Cannot wait to see what he writes next.

For those of you interested in such things, The Combat Codes was an award nominee in the prestigious SPFBO (Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off) Competition 2020. Books that do well there frequently go on to be picked up by traditional publishers – as happened here.

There is much in this book that is very recognisable in a classic Fantasy story. A young, gifted protagonist who is an underdog and acquires a mentor, who helps him survive in a tough world where he is unfairly targeted. So far, so familiar. Cego makes a convincing young protagonist, who is trying to live by the Combat Codes, in an environment where they are increasingly being side-lined. The world is a brutal one. I loved the fact that Grievars were once free to practice their fighting culture, until they were conquered. And now their culture, their people and their way of live has been overlaid by the new command to fight on behalf of those who need disagreements settled – and that ranges from national border disputes, to quarrels between high-ranking noblemen.

Darwin has managed to add in these extra slices of information about the surrounding world and its culture without unduly holding up the pace. And while our own knowledge is limited by what the two main protagonists know, I’m quite comfortable with that. I enjoyed how additional information regarding the world comes to light during the story – including a doozy of a twist near the end of the book that has me definitely wanting to pick up the next one.

I’ve discussed the worldbuilding and briefly mentioned Cego. But really the book is every bit as much about Murray, who in many ways is the more interesting character. Once famous and lauded as a very successful Knight in the ring, he is now too old and stuck in a job that he is increasingly unhappy with – that of finding youngsters who can fight. But the attrition rate is high and he finds it increasingly hard to bond and encourage youngsters that end up being maimed. It doesn’t help that Murray hits the grog to dull the pain of his damaged body and his inconvenient conscience. Until Cego comes along and, desperate to get him out of the clutches of one of the scummier fight masters who specialises in putting on bouts featuring street kids, agrees to fight one more time. Darwin has us rooting for two battered underdogs very effectively.

However, what makes this one stand out, is the description of the fights. Darwin is a martial arts expert and it shows in the writing of the combats. They are detailed and brutal, though not gratuitous in the depiction of the violence. Overall, I found this an engrossing, riveting read that has me still thinking about this book several days after I’ve finished it. I’ll be definitely getting hold of the next book in the series. Highly recommended for fans of otherworld fantasy with a strong fighting theme. While I obtained an arc of The Combat Codes from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

HOW WAS THIS SO GOOD!?

Okay, I am pretty confident that this is a “right book, right timing” case because I never expected to enjoy this book this much. I absolutely consumed this book!

So what did I love? Firstly, the setting feels super fresh and exciting. We are set in a futuristic, almost sci-fi setting, where conflicts are dealt with through duels – not massive wars. SUCH A COOL IDEA! Secondly, I am a huge fan of a good underdog story and the mentor trope, and this book has both of those tropes. There is just something so satisfying about seeing an underdog overcome seemingly impossible situations. Thirdly, this book is just plain addictive. The pacing is spot on, and you will constantly be rewarded as a reader as you flip through the pages.

Now, I am reasonably sure I would have given this book a lower rating if I had read this book at a different stage in my life. There are many training sequences, and some of the side characters aren’t fleshed out that well. However, I have been nearing a reading slump for a while, and this was precisely what I needed. The Combat Codes is a refreshing, unique, fun and fast-paced novel that hooks you with its brilliant characters and plot twists.

I loved this book, and it was just what I needed.

4.5 / 5 stars

There is a lot going on in The Combat Codes. You might think that it's just people fighting each other MMA style but there is more to this than meets the eye. In fact, it is chockful of tropes but they are merge into a lovely, seamless progression fantasy, Except that it's not really fantasy. Sci-fi with an really cool magic system? But is it magic? *Shrugs*. I'm not sure how to classify it but it works! Some of the most beloved tropes are used well, including an elite school with all the associated trials and tribulations, various training montages, dark technology, mysterious factions, political tensions and found family. It is a lot but none are overdone. Nothing feels forced in just to include it. The author manages to keep all the various parts flowing to produce a glorious whole.

I really enjoyed this. I love sci-fi, so when you start adding a dystopian society with advanced tech, I get a bit giddy. I would usually bang on about it for hours and this aspect did not disappoint. However, surprisingly, this was not the best part of the story here. For me, the various relationships, good and bad, really shine through and are really emotive. For a book centred around individuals fighting to prevent wars, I was pleasantly surprised at the very human aspects the book focused on. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be following up with Grievar's Blood.

Please see my post for review.

Blog tour - http://ramblingmads.uk/2023/06/15/blog-tour-the-combat-codes-alexander-darwin/

The first book in a trilogy. Set on a world by which disputes are settled by combat rather than war or weapons of mass destruction. Grievar Knights are trained to represent their side in these disputes. Its an interesting concept and there is more to this story than your standard sci-fi combat training theme, there is proper intelligent world building to accompany the story.
Pearson is a washed out Griever tasked with finding new talent to put through the intense training to maybe make it to becoming a knight. Young Cego has a mysterious background but a lot of talent, can Pearson find a way to get him into the programme and can Cego survive it?
Yep, plenty of combat stuff, training and fights and also building a team out of an odd bunch of raw fighters but there is also depth to this. Good fun and I will be reading the next one.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in a world where nations settle their disputes by pitting their best fighters against each other in brutal hand-to-hand bouts, The Combat Codes explores the implications of technological advancements on this ancient art, the lives of the people involved, and wider society. The Combat Codes is by far the most stressful book I’ve read so far this year, but it’s also one of the most enjoyable. This action-packed and violent book is drenched in blood and soaked in glory, with a thrilling and twisty plot that kept me hooked until the bitter end.

The Combat Codes is told from the perspectives of the two main characters, who are both fighters but at different stages of life. Once upon a time, before a loss ended his career, “Mighty” Murray Pearson was a champion fighter - a Grievar Knight. We meet him when he is older, more jaded, and often drunk. Still very much a fighter in spirit, if not in job title, his new role is to find young Grievars to send to the country’s prestigious fighting school to undergo intensive training. Cego, an orphan boy with a mysterious past, is one such young fighter who is discovered by Murray while fighting for his life in a brutal underground combat ring. Murray takes Cego under his wing, and the two form a really wholesome mentor/student relationship.

The world these characters inhabit is inventive and unique, with excellent worldbuilding that I look forward to exploring more of in the sequels. Like any good sci-fi novel, there’s some really cool technology that’s also in parts very sinister and scary. Grievar fights take place in Circles which influence the fighters according to the materials they’re made with, and I thought this was an interesting concept. Grievars also get Flux tattoos to mark key fights and live events, and I would get one in a heartbeat!

The Combat Codes hits all the right sci-fi beats while also feeling fresh and unique; the strong focus on characters makes the reader connect at an emotional level. I really felt for the side characters who suffered in the underground fighting ring Cego was dragged out of, and enjoyed meeting new characters throughout the novel. I am looking forward to reading more of their perspectives in the sequels.

It’s clear that the author really knows his stuff when it comes to martial arts; I’ve never read fight scenes that were described in such intricate detail, and it really helped me visualise what was going on and who was beating the crap out of who (even though lots of it made me wince!). There are also moral lessons and teachings running through the novel that are heavily inspired by teachings from martial arts, and these are treated by the main characters with respect and reverence.

On a personal level, I took up boxing last year, and reading The Combat Codes inspired me to step my ass up and take my training a lot more seriously. I think more about precision and technique than I did before, and I find it a lot easier to motivate myself to go to training and make every punch count. I don’t ever plan on fighting anybody, but I feel like if I did, I would fight with Murray and Cego in mind.

The Combat Codes is like nothing I have ever read before and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

There's a lot to love in this book and i'm sure a lot of people will thoroughly enjoyed it as it's well written, the characters are fleshed and there's an original word building.
I know it's not the right book for me but I appreciated the storytelling and how the classic hero's journey trope is developed in fresh way.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. I liked the book enough to buy it on Kindle.

Set in a world where nations settle their wars through single combat, our protagonist emerges from the slums with aspirations of becoming a knight. In this captivating literary work, the author weaves a tale of profound depth and complexity, delving into the themes of honour, redemption, and the covert machinations that shape society.
This premise alone piqued my interest in seeking an immersive journey.

From the very beginning, the story adheres to the timeless structure of the hero's journey, a narrative framework that has resonated with audiences throughout history. It is within this framework that we encounter a burnt-out knight, haunted by his own demons, who fortuitously stumbles upon a young prodigy brimming with natural talent and untapped potential.

The hero's journey is reminiscent of literary greats like Pug from Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga, interlaced with shades of the Rage of Dragons. As our young hero embarks on his arduous path, he grapples with the duality of his character, striving to uphold ancient codes of honour while concealing a hidden darkness that yearns for release.

However, the book transcends mere personal struggles, expanding its scope to explore the universal theme of battling one's inner demons. Through the mentor, a former champion teetering on the precipice of his own demise, we witness the poignant struggle to reclaim lost honour and greatness, fighting against the ravages of drink and depression.
The narrative unfolds in a manner that skillfully entwines the protagonist's journey with the enigmatic undercurrents of a secret plot and an oppressive ruling class. These puppet masters, driven by their own agendas, exert an invisible influence that perpetually moulds the world to their whims. The resulting dance of power and manipulation adds layers of intrigue to the narrative, leaving readers guessing even at the final pages.

Furthermore, one cannot overlook the author's choice to depict the knights engaging in combat without the protective armour that has become synonymous with the medieval knight. Instead, they face each other unarmed, evoking images of gladiatorial spectacles in ancient Rome. This departure from convention adds a layer of vulnerability and raw intensity to the battles, heightening the stakes and keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Benefiting from the author's love of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, fight scenes become brutal, raw, and graphic.

While the book adeptly explores the depths of society's dark underbelly, it also celebrates the joys and innocence of childhood, the enduring bonds of friendship, and the dynamics of youthful rivalry. Against the backdrop of a world in constant flux, where destiny hangs in the balance, the author masterfully crafts a tale that resonates with readers profoundly.

In conclusion, this literary offering comes highly recommended for its gripping plot, multi-dimensional characters, and skilful blend of action, emotion, and intrigue. The author has adeptly crafted a captivating tapestry that explores the intricacies of honour, redemption, and the indomitable human spirit. This book is an absolute must for readers yearning for a thought-provoking and engaging read.

A veces las expectativas que tenemos sobre un libro nos juegan malas pasadas, ya que si esperas demasiado a veces una obra normalita puede parecernos peor de lo que es. La campaña publicitaria de The Combat Codes hacía tanto hincapié en las escenas de acción que al menos en mi caso han resultado ser un tanto decepcionantes y eso que era la principal baza del libro.


Alexander Darwin debutó con esta novela autopublicada, pero pronto llamó la atención de una editorial tradicional que compró los derechos, como ya ha sucedido en otras ocasiones con autores muy queridos en este blog, como Becky Chambers y Josiah Bancroft. Estamos ante una novela de ciencia ficción que cumple punto por punto el viaje del héroe, con lo cual no se puede decir que brille por su originalidad. Se hace especial hincapié en los enfrentamientos, empezando por el leit motiv de las escuelas de luchas: “luchamos para que los demás no tengan que hacerlo”. Los enfrentamientos políticos se resuelven en combates unipersonales, por lo que las escuelas de lucha de cada nación resultan de vital importancia. Lo que antes se guiaba por el honor y el respeto a los Códigos de combate ahora se está convirtiendo en una labor mercantilista.

Resulta un poco inocente la representación de este escenario, pero si hacemos de tripas corazón y nos creemos las condiciones, hay algunos detalles que le dan esa pátina de ciencia ficción que salva al libro. Entornos de realidad virtual, elementos que influyen en el estado de ánimo o en la iniciativa de los personajes, recuperaciones casi milagrosas gracias a la avanzada tecnología… No obstante, a mi entender no consiguen compensar la simplicidad extrema de la trama. Una novela se puede considerar como de paso a la madurez sin necesidad de desvestirla de cualquier complejidad.

Respecto a los combates, es cierto que los hay dinámicos y variados, pero en otras ocasiones tuve que parar de leer para buscar información sobre las distintas presas de judo a las que se hacen referencia, siendo neófita en la materia pero con interés por saber cómo se desarrollaba “cinematográficamente” la escena. Para otro lector más avezado, esto nos supondrá ningún impedimento, pero para mí resultó ser una pequeña barrera, otro obstáculo más.

No me es posible recomendar The Combat Codes como lectura si no es para un público determinado que disfrutará mucho más que yo con la narración de las luchas y enfrentamientos del libro.