The Broken Cage: Godclads, Book 1

Name: The Broken Cage: Godclads, Book 1
SKU: 73227
Availability: InStock

4.8 | 230 ratings

Price: 48.12

Last update: 06-06-2024

Top reviews from the United States

Riley

Copying my review to spread the good word of this book.

Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024

I simply don't have the words to express how good this story is. I can try to start by saying that I normally read nothing like this on a regular basis. I don't like monster MCs, I don't like gore, I don't like grimdark, I don't tend to like cyberpunk. But I will say, this story has all of that and is so much better for it.

The world building is insanely good. It's immersive, captivating, so incredibly well thought out and I just can't get enough of how rich it is. The expository bits/ epigraphs that are in-universe quotes from books or mem-logs feel like they came from stories that could stand on their own, but we are so lucky that they were lovingly sacrificed for this book.

The power system is unique, expansive, and as someone who reads so many things that have Daos and icons, and other manifestations of concepts of realities, this is up there in terms of sheer scope, solidity, and fun. There was something in it that clicked with me, the yin and yang, the balance of it all. Sublime. Divine, even. And that's not even touching phantasmics and the nether. Just an amazing technomagical device and concept. The jacking (read: hacking in the nether) scenes and the combat therein are fascinating.

The characters are wonderful, full-fleshed (well, maybe not technically fleshed) and each stands out with truly individual voices. I never once felt like generic mook #3 was talking, even when call signs would have made that all too easy. I pity the audiobook narrator if this massive tome gets its chance to shine in that capricious medium. Even the conversations in the aforementioned expository bits seem like entire characters that just don't get to be in the limelight. Outstanding work.

The writing quality control is pretty darned good. There are a few typos, but I've only twigged on maybe a dozen across the entire mammoth amount of reading I've done in this book. So massive shout out to the editor and the author for giving a great product to work with, I assume.

The only criticism I have to offer is that sometimes, when things get really moving, the pacing gets a little frenetic. But by the dead gods, the situation is frenetic! Still superb.

Thank you, OstensibleMammal, for providing some of the best reading I've ever experienced on KU, and for subverting every expectation I had for this story.

I guess I had some of the words after all.

Tammy W

Fantastic World Building. Truly Mindblowing!

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2024

The author has created something brand new here, unlike anything that has come before. I am completely astounded by how imaginative this world is, and yet Book 1 only scratches the surface. As the book progresses, we encounter more of this obscenely rich world. Even though so many new ideas are introduced, it feels like everything fits together perfectly. The descriptive prose is thought-provoking. The characters are fascinating. I just cannot recommend this book enough! Before starting to read the book, I would recommend readers read through the glossary at the end of the book to have some familarity with the terms and concepts introduced in the book.....the book will make more sense this way.

Ghost

Cyberpunk story with excellent worldbuilding

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024

Godclads is providing a unique twist on the cyberpunk genre and progression fantasy, and helping add some diversity to the typical variety of stories in thoses niches.

Style:

The author sticks to a rather verbose style and has a good amount of in-world jargon, however, I think that is part of the story's charm. Love it or hate it I suppose.

If nothing else the story actually has a unique "voice."

From what I hear, the jargon is also part and parcel to the cyberpunk genre. I personally stopped struggling with it a couple arcs in, and which point the occasionally new term becomes pretty easy to pick up. The learning curve may be a little steep for some, sure, but it's worth it.

Grammar:

I see no major issues with grammar, those which are identified are quickly adjusted, and it's quite reasonable for a story with this level of release volume.

Story:

The story really shines in it's worldbuilding, and discussions on the author's discord show that there's a lot of lore sitting in his head, and this really helps New Vultun feel like a living breathing place. There are so many aspects of Idheim's history where I get the feeling the story is barely scratching the surface when referencing big events in the past. It's amazing and show's the setting has really been heavily contemplated.

Character:

Godclads really succeeds in helping you root for a non-human protagonist with a truly alien perspective and let's say, a very unique set of evolving values. There's so many different colorful characters I could talk about but won't go into too much detail due to spoilers:

A monster raised by a surrogate father to be something more, and evolving as a person in the process.

A disgraced soldier who only knows violence, and is drifting through life using her skills against the dregs of society.

A privileged woman with access to very precious knowledge, who was betrayed by the very system and people meant to protect her. Burned as tool in greater machinations, and learning on how to practically manage grievances.

A criminal enforcer who drowns himself in vice, held back by trauma and the lack of mobility and options New Vultun provides to it's lowest classes.

Even minor characters have some pretty interesting backstories, to the point I'm still left wondering about minor characters from epigraphs months later. This once again, makes New Vultun feel very lived in.

I encourage people to give it a try.

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