Prentice Ash

Rage of Lions, Book 1

By: Matt Barron

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Trained as a knight, condemned as a heretic, exiled as a convict, Prentice’s every moment is a struggle just to survive.

The Duke is dead and now Duchess Amelia, his young and inexperienced bride, must rule the Western Reach alone. But when an unknown enemy invades her lands, slaughtering all in their path, her knights are too eager for glory to see the danger.

She must turn to Prentice, a convict, wise in the art of war and the only one she can trust despite the dishonor it brings.

Thrust into the front lines, Prentice must fight to survive not only the violence of the enemy, but the inexperience and foolishness of his own commanders. In the midst of conflict, Prentice will earn the battle name Ash, for no matter how intense the fires of war, even if all burns away, Ash will still remain.

Prentice Ash is a medieval fantasy set in a unique but familiar world full of knights, magic, prophecies, and warfare. If you're a fan of Song of Ice & Fire and Dune, you've found your next favorite listen.

©2022 Matt Barron (P)2023 Podium Audio

Great new series

This was a great audio book! I’m looking forward to more in this series. Can’t wait to read the next one.

Great new series!

This is exactly what you want when looking for a engaging epic fantasy! So excited!

Great read, dark, gritty and fresh!

Really well done, great characters, plot lines, suspense, thrilling scenes. This will be a great series!

Pseudo Historical Fiction, But Good

So the cover might be a bit misleading especially as it looks like it might be a post apocalyptic setting with the two telephone poles in the back. It is not, rather it is a pseudo historical fiction tale that has werewolves, a corrupt church, and people getting punished for having different beliefs.

The story was good, well written, fast paced and I for one will pick up the next book in the series when it comes out. That said there are a few categories that might set people off, so I will make sure to highlight them, so there are no issues.

There are scenes of torture, in particular one where the main character gets lashed 150 times.
Imprisonments, the main character starts off a prisoner and is only implied to have been set free by the end of the book.

If you can get past those points, this is a great story and worth reading, but I feel it would be bad letting people go into this without at least knowing these basics of what to expect.

Fantasy that reads like historical fiction

Interesting main character but would have enjoyed more explanation of his skillset from backstory. The lack thereof interfered with suspension of disbelief

Couldn’t stop listening

The book is a constant ride of either well executed drama or detailed action. The writing style of the author is to be applaud for delivering a well balance of both without sacrificing the pace of the story.

(Slight spoilers)
It’s also refreshing to read Amelia’s parts to see just how difficult it was to be a woman in this time period. Especially with how she’s able to play the court better than most by the end of book

Prentice on the other hand, I loved how the ambition he once held slowly starts to rise once again. Along with his ability to command the loyalty of his other convicts.

Overall if you enjoyed more grounded action and court dramas this is the book for you.

Best book I have read or listened to in a decade

Take Game of Thrones. Now remove the graphic sex, make the good guys actually good, and add Jesus. You are now reading/listening to Rage of Lions. You are finally happy. Congratulations.

Great character building

I loved the story. It was very well written and a prefect performance. You are provided with great character building and a real desire to understand their motives.

I am not someone who enjoys religious agendas in stories but it didn't interfere with the story in too great a manner so it was easy to not pay it too much mind.

My only wish is that the overall world and its "norms" were better explained. Their is talk of other sentient creatures as if it is common knowledge that they exist in the world but most everything else, including the religion, is all based off real human history. It makes it hard to grasp if this is supposed to be an alternate universe or if it is intended to be historical fiction with some serious twists.

All in all, these are simply critics and are not meant to take away from the fact that the story as a whole, in my mind, was fantastic.

Annoying yet enjoyable

First and foremost, this is a Christian story. I am not religious and I don't enjoy being preached to. However, the author isn't preachy. I found myself wondering why I'm okay with all the mythological gods in fantasy novels but not okay with the Christian mythology in this book? What is the difference? After realizing this, I enjoyed the story- for a time. I kept thinking that the main character would be rewarded for his sacrifices and achievements. He is constantly subjugated throughout the story but I knew, just KNEW, that it would all be worth it in the end because that's the whole point of this genre imo! I love the heroic deeds of an underdog, especially when other characters are made to respect them. This never happens and the reader/listener has to suffer along with the protagonist over and over. We bite our tongues and suffer in silence. Maybe this is a Christian thing? I have no idea; I just know I don't like it. I felt extremely annoyed at the end of the story and somewhat deflated. I'm not sorry I listened though...

Good guy finishes last, zero justice

If you enjoy listening to hours of the good guy bowing and scraping and continuously being abused and beat down by his arrogant and condescending "betters". Maybe you'll like this book. The book ends with the main character being in an only slightly better position than when he started. The character that did the worst of the abusing never gets held to account in the slightest. In fact he is richly rewarded! Even the "benevolent" duchess was a POS in my opinion. If I wanted to be pissed off for ten hours straight, I'd watch the news, not listen to a fantasy book!