I just received a fantasy novel titled "Death's Flow" by Victor Klayin, and I must say, it was an incredible read! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I do apologise for the late review, have been struggling with my health so I hope you understand.

The story begins with a young boy named Zaleck, who is abruptly taken from his home by slavers and held captive for an extended period. During his imprisonment, he meets two fellow captives, Arneth and Vellis, and together they manage to escape. It turns out the slavers targeted Zaleck because he is a flowcaster, and a dark priest is intent on eliminating all flowcasters in the kingdom. Now, Zaleck and his new friends must evade the slavers to survive.

As a criminology student, I find books that explore prison systems and the ethical implications behind them to be both fascinating and essential. Additionally, as someone who is chronically ill, I truly appreciate the representation of an albino character, which is so important.

Overall, "Death's Flow" is a fantastic read! If you enjoy dark fantasy novels rich in character development, this book is definitely worth checking out!

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Who, that likes fantasy, couldn't love this book! It's action from the very first chapter, and keeps it moving with questions answered quickly, that only heighten the excitement that the action brings.

However, new questions & puzzles cause your mind to race & draw you deeper into the story, as the story advances & brings in new action.

The interesting history of.the world quickly ties in the the peculiar types of magic. The system weaves old imagining of powers with a little different twist. The magic is the core of several characters.

Characters is another area this novel shines. The supporting cast to the protagonist shine in personality, with witty banter and a true sense of realistic emotions.

Read this book because it's just an all around great read.

Hooked from the very beginning! I loved how fast paced it was and how the action started from the very first page.

3.5 stars.

Death's Flow written by Victor Klayin is a speculative fantasy story about an albino 'flowcaster' named Zaleck. Joining him regularly are the two powerful characters: Vellis and Arneth.

The first half of the book was really difficult to get into and I really didn't like how whiny and spoilt Zaleck acts. He is a weak and cowardly character and then he just changes. I think that needs some refinement but at the same time there are a lot of people who like that sort of thing. That is not me.

By halfway the pace of the book picks up significantly. We are thrown into an epic adventure as our characters try to stay alive

I think this has immense potential, but that it's bit there yet.

Hence why I can't give it any further stars.

Who knew a book with death in the title could have some of the most wholesome found family dynamics I've ever read about?

Death's Flow is a fantasy novel that really emphasizes found family (aka my favorite trope) and the coincidences that bring them together. I wasn't expecting to find it as wholesome as I did, although there were plenty of parts that almost made me cry too. It was also refreshing to read about a found family that didn't entirely consist of teenagers with questionable backstories and morals, although I do love those too.
The story follows Zaleck, a young, albino farm boy, after he is captured by slavers who intend to deliver him to a priest to complete a dark ritual. He is rescued by two other captives: Arneth, a scholar who can predict (and maybe control) the future, and Vellis, a huntress with a mysterious past. The plot is fast-paced and high-stakes (there's a reason I read it in just over 12 hours), and there's so much emotional weight packed into such a quick story. The ending is satisfying, although I noticed that there might be more books (?), and I would be more than willing to read about where the crew is off to next.
I really, really loved the characters and their dynamics. Arneth reminded me a lot of an older, wiser, balder Jude from There Will Come a Darkness. I liked seeing him interact with Derith, especially once she was dragged into the family. I also wish we got to see more of Keltrak. Vellis was such a cool character, and her dynamic with Zaleck has to be one of my favorites of all time, especially given her backstory. Zal was so sweet, and his character development was incredibly well done. I really enjoyed watching him grow to appreciate Vellis and vice versa.
Death's Flow is a fast-paced, high-stakes fantasy novel about found family, fate, and how the choices we make define us.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4.5/5

This book follows Zalek, a young boy who is taken by slavers and discovers that he holds a dark and dangerous magic. He then must jouney with two companions to figure out who wanted him taken in the first place...

The premise of this book is very interesting, and I think it has great potential, however, I stopped reading this book about 35% of the way through. While the characters had a decent amount of depth and the plot had some interesting premises, I struggled primarily with the language of the dialogue. It felt very much out of sync with the language of the narrative description; namely, it felt very much modern and with a great deal of slang-type words, whereas the narrative description felt very standard for a medieval-style fantasy. Unfortunately, this contradiction in language was very difficult for me and kept pulling me out of the story.

Overall, I think this book would probably suit those looking for a young-to-mid YA audience, which is not what I was expecting when picking up the book.

Sometimes, you’re your own worst enemy…
Zaleck, a young albino farmer’s son from a little backwater town, wakes up not to the comfort of his home, but to the confines of a prison cart. His limbs bound, his voice stolen by a gag, panic mounts as he contemplates his fate, unaware of why he even became a target.
Yet, amidst despair, fate — or perhaps something more arcane — intervenes as he’s freed with the help of two other Arneth and Vellis. Arneth, a scholar belonging to an obscure order of master manipulators, who wields knowledge as well as a sword, and who seems to manipulate fate itself. Vellis, a master markswoman whose prowess with the bow is matched only by the shadows of her past. Her ties to the nobility are as complex as the web of secrecy around her. An ex-soldier, she carries the weight of her skills and the burden of her past, her eyes always on the lookout for the next threat, her hand always steady.
Pursued relentlessly by their captors, in service of a dark priest from the powerful “Death Kingdom”, the trio must fight not only to survive, but also learn to trust and work together, uncovering the true reason for their capture.
Soon, they find they might even be able to hide from the slavers, but they can’t ever outrun the consequences of their actions.

I was very impressed by this debut authors work. This one was full of action, adventure and really interesting and unique characters. Would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy and is looking for something fresh and new!