The Skald's Black Verse

The Dreadbound Ode, Book 1

By: Jordan Loyal Short

Narrated by: Aaron Smith

Grimdark fantasy with a sci-fi twist!

An isolated village. Conquered by another world. Haunted by a hidden evil. When a soldier’s grisly murder sparks unrest in the tiny hamlet of Skolja, Brohr’s past marks him as the prime suspect. On the run from the Tyrianite Legion, he uncovers an unthinkable secret about the raging spirit that haunts him, and the pact his grandfather struck long ago.

Soon, a dire omen appears in the sky and the hunt for Brohr intensifies. While the brutal occupation of his village devolves into bloodshed, Brohr must unlock the secret magic in his blood and lead the Norn in a last-ditch rebellion.

Behind it all an ancient horror pulls the strings of conqueror and conquered alike. Can Brohr untangle the hidden plot and unite his people before disaster rains down from the sky above?

©2019 Jordan Short (P)2021 Jordan Short

My favorite trilogy!

The characters are great, the writing is incredible, and I love the story! Jordan Loyal Short has something special here, and he found the perfect Narrator in Aaron Smith!

Really interesting dark science fantasy

Really interesting science fantasy with a grimdark style foundation - strong grounding in Norse elements but connected to a galactic scale and empire, mixing magic, fascinating science, and political issues around occupation/colonization in very interesting ways. So refreshing to read a fantasy with science fiction elements that felt tangible and almost gritty. Enjoyed the weight on character experience as well. Looking forward to the next in the series, will definitely continue the series.

I love a good story

To illustrate my review, one chapter that I fondly remember has scenes of a hidden person overhearing evacuation plans, a tense knife throwing competition in a old pub, and a tall creature on a pier. [If that doesn’t interest you, please put down your phone, go look in the mirror, and commit to being a fun person.] The story combines equal parts deep character development, an engrossingly unusual world, and a masterful plot. I love a good story.

Stressed in a good way!

This was an intense and action packed read/listen. Definitely one of those books that requires your full attention, but worth the investment! The world building was fascinating and unique. I really liked that the story was told from the perspective of whichever character was important for that part of the story, and not just the main characters. Obviously, it centered more around the main characters, but there were some medium characters whose perspectives were used to tell the story too. The characters were so well written! It feels like you really get to know them, the good, the bad and the ugly. This isn’t a light read. It’s dark and intense, but in the way that gets you hooked and wanting more! Also, the narrator was fantastic!

Good start, but not much happens

This book sets up a really great, interesting setting for a series. There are some exciting moments in this one, but it’s a tad dry overall. But, it really seems like the next books in the series will be worth a read. This reads like the first part of a Spelljammer DnD campaign. I didn’t love this one, but I think I’ll check out the next one to see if if lives up to its potential.