Kagen the Damned

A Novel

By: Jonathan Maberry

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 20 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Kagen the Damned marks the first installment of an exciting new series of dark epic fantasy novels from bestselling author Jonathan Maberry.

Sworn by Oath

Kagen Vale is the trusted and feared captain of the palace guard, charged with protection of the royal children of the Silver Empire. But one night, Kagen is drugged and the entire imperial family is killed, leaving the empire in ruins.

Abandoned by the Gods

Haunted and broken, Kagen is abandoned by his gods and damned forever. He becomes a wanderer, trying to take down as many of his enemies as possible while plotting to assassinate the usurper, the deadly Witch-king of Hakkia. While all around him magic—long banished from the world—returns in strange and terrifying ways.

Fueled by Rage

To exact his vengeance, Kagen must venture into strange lands, battle bizarre and terrifying creatures, and gather allies for a suicide mission into the heart of the Witch-king’s empire.

Kings and gods will fear him.

Kagen the Damned

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2022 Jonathan Maberry (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Excellent fantasy!

Jonathan Mayberry is one of my favorite authors and this book definitely shows why. The world and characters are well developed, and noone is perfect or perfectly evil, except maybe the king who would become a god and open the gates of the underworld.

I love how he makes you think. Use your reason and logic instead of just, "this is what I was taught." Yes, try thinking for yourself.

This may be my favorite Ray Porter narrative yet.

awesome new series

loved this book can't wait for the next. I love just about anything from johnathan Mayberry. Ray porter voice is perfect for the role of Kagen.

All Hail. Kagen. the Damned!

I haven't read a fantasy novel in a very long time...Kagen and Jonathan Maberry have brought me back into the fold with a brutal, strong embrace. I can't wait for book two!

Oh wow!

This was an amazing adventure. Looking forward to what is next. I had some reservations about the book after reading some reviews...glad I didn't listen to those. Sit back and enjoy, it is a fun story.

Maberry's Fantasy Foray Does Not Dissapoint

Fans of Maberry will be rewarded with the action-packed plot and compelling characters they've come to expect; lovers of fantasy will find plenty of good old fashioned sword and sorcery wrapped in a story that yet manages to be an engaging and fresh addition to the genre; fans of cosmic horror will find familiar figures depicted in new and interesting ways; and, as always, Ray Porter demonstrates why he's the GOAT of audiobook narrators.

Fantasy with a slight Sci Fi edge

First of all narration was AMAZING love his voice. Second i Love how it was heavy in the fantasy lane but he sprinkled incorporated the possibility of other worlds. What if our gods were from another star system that’s been dead for centuries?

rough start

ok. so, I started this book in May, and got three chapters in. I hated it. wrote down in my reading log that "even the great Ray Porter couldnt save this Damned book"...

then, I found a BookTok that was discussing crossover genres, and how it was difficult to combine Horror and Fantasy.
Fantasy is exactly that, fantastical... the generally unbelievable. Fairies, Magic, strange far away lands... and we can enjoy that. Horror needs an aspect of the believable in order to ground you in the moment, making the monsters more impossible.

and combining those two, normally doesn't work.

here though... it works well.

next book coming right up.

not the normal book from Johnathan Maberry

but still a good story better than game of thrones in my opinion not that I didn't like game of thrones I just think this is better than book one of game of thrones

Damned Good!

An excellent start to a new series. A new character that is destined to take his place among the greats of fantasy. Kagen is a well developed hero, and his supporting cast has great promise. I am looking forward to the next installment.
And of course a wonderful story is made all the better with the always amazing Ray Porter. January cannot come soon enough.

Great New Fantasy

I pre-ordered this and forgot I did. I glad I got to finish this over the weekend while doing spring yard work and the like. Full disclosure, the Joe Ledger stuff from Mayberry is some of my favorite so I was hoping this would be more of the same.

it wasn't. I did not quite get the connection to the main character as with Ledger but there was still a connection. This world is easy to adapt to and adopt as it based on ours (obviously midevil times) with multiple gods. It includes a conquering army early in the book and all things that go along with it. Our main character, Kagen doesn't stand for this and protects and prevents these acts when possible.

Yes, it's a bit dark. A group of nations were taken by force by a nation that does not have good intentions. Due to this, the tone seemed right. If you are looking for fluffy bunnies, this is not for you. if you are looking for what perhaps would be fairly accurate depiction of war during midevil times with magic reawakening, then this is for you.

Overall, I'll be looking forward to the next book. Good job Mayberry.