BOOK ONE OF BLOODSOUNDER’S ARC
All Empires crumble. All Empires die.
Many tales are told of the Syldoon Empire and its fearsome soldiers, who are known throughout the world for their treachery and atrocities. Some say that the Syldoon eat virgins and babies, or perhaps their own mothers. Arkamondos, a bookish young scribe, suspects that the Syldoon’s dire reputation may have grown in the retelling, but he’s about to find out for himself.
Hired to chronicle the exploits of a band of rugged Syldoon warriors, Arki finds himself both frightened and fascinated by the men's enigmatic leader, Captain Braylar Killcoin. A secretive, mercurial figure haunted by the memories of those he’s killed with his deadly flail, Braylar has already disposed of at least one impertinent scribe. And Arki might be next.
Archiving the mundane doings of millers and merchants was tedious, but at least it was safe. As Arki heads off on a mysterious mission into parts unknown, in the company of the coarse, bloody-minded Syldoon, he is promised a chance to finally record an historic adventure well worth the telling, but first he must survive the experience! A gripping military fantasy in the tradition of Glen Cook, Scourge of the Betrayer explores the brutal politics of Empire. And the searing impact of violence and dark magic on a man’s soul.
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Reviews and Accolades
“One of the most unique fantasy reading experiences I’ve had… it isn’t reinterpreting old genre conventions, but finding entirely new pathways... I can’t wait to read whatever’s next for Jeff Salyards. His debut can’t be considered anything but a tremendous success.”
—Staffer’s Book Review
“A genuinely terrific fantasy debut. There’s a complex world with its own set of rules and prejudices, a big shadowy epic that’s building in the background and, most of all, a story built around a unique perspective.”
—Pornokitsch
“Bottom line is if you like the Black Company then the Bloodsounder’s Arc is a series that you should seek out...”
—The Mad Hatter’s Book Review
“In my experience, it is a rare occasion when a fantasy debut not only lives up to the hype, but exceeds my own expectations and manages to bring something new and fresh to the table. Jeff Salyards’ debut, Scourge of the Betrayer, does just that. This is one hell of a debut, and I can’t wait for the next installment in this series. Highly recommended.”
—Battle Hymns
“It was one of my favorite reads of the year. If you do choose to read Scourge of the Betrayer, laugh at the crassness, grimace at the gruesome but don’t forget to appreciate the skill laying under it all.”
—WordTipping
“Jeff Salyards…does as much or more in 255 taut pages of Scourge of the Betrayer than a lot of fantasy veterans manage in 500… Scourge of the Betrayer is the sort of joyous, confident debut the genre needs to see much, much more of.”
—SF Reviews.net
“All in all, Scourge of the Betrayer is a tale of startling violence told through one of the most unique protagonists I've seen in recent memory. Salyards draws a world full of dark atmosphere, complex and richly drawn characters, and more mystery than James Patterson's back catalog... [An] excellent start to a promising series.”
—52 Book Reviews
“If Salyards can keep up this level of quality with the rest of the series, he’ll be a major player in the field.”
—Adventures Fantastic
“Scourge of the Betrayer is a literary appetizer that will undoubtedly captivate anyone who enjoys fantasy, be it epic fantasy, adventure fantasy, military fantasy, etc. If you’re a fan of Cook’s Black Company, or GRRM’s A Song of Ice and Fire, or of classic fantasy sagas like Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser and Moorcock’s Elric, this is a debut novel that is, like Jagger said, ‘what you need.’”
—Paul Goat Allen, B&N.com
“Scourge of the Betrayer by Jeff Salyards is my Debut of the Year and Fantasy of the Year. It is also one of the finest debuts I have ever read, instantly converting me into a fan and follower.”
—Nick Sharps, SF Signal
“Scourge of the Betrayer offers an interesting twist on the military fantasy pattern… If you’re in the mood for a solid gritty fantasy, give Scourge of the Betrayer a try.”
—Stefan Raets, Tor.com
“Scourge of the Betrayer has been making the rounds in the blog-o-sphere and for good reason… The writing's great, great characters, great ending that really ramps things up... I am now highly anticipating book two in the Bloodsounder's Arc.”
—Only the Best Science Fiction & Fantasy
“Scourge of the Betrayer is fraught with danger and deception. The conflicts are extremely personal. The violence is brutal and terrifying... [A] significant contender for the Sword & Sorcery throne.”
—Elitist Book Reviews
“Engaging... If you are a fan of dark, military fantasy you can’t go wrong with Scourge of the Betrayer.”
—King of the Nerds!!!
“If ever you want to read something totally outside of the box, Jeff Salyards’ debut should be your first stop.”
—The Founding Fields
“...an amazing example of Fantasy done right.”
—A Daily Dose of R&R
“...really impressed... I am eager for more of Jeff Salyards’ writing.”
—The Grimdark Review
Top 10 Fantasy Releases of 2012, Paul Goat Allen, BN.com
Top 10 Favourite Debuts of 2012, A Fantastical Librarian
Top 5 Books of 2012, Battle Hymns
Best Debut of 2012 and Best Fantasy Novel of 2012, The Bookish Mafia
#5 Debut of 2012, Staffer’s Book Review
Best of 2012, Elitist Book Reviews
Top 10 Debut Novels of 2012, Fantasy Book Critic
Best New Author/Fantasy Debut, A Fantasy Reader
Top 3 Reads of 2012, WordTipping
Top 5 Books of 2012, Fantastical Imaginations
Favorite Books Read in 2012, Courtney Schafer
Highlights of 2012, Dark Wolf’s Fantasy Review