Mike Shel

Barrowlands

C. J. Daley 

This is an Iconoclasts prequel novella (can you see where I’m at this March?) and another Podium Audio that’s currently included on audible. This is a real short one, probably bordering right on the line of what you’d consider a novella. It’s almost the length of a prologue in a lot of fantasy novel. 

With this one being so short, it kind of lacks all descriptors. Not much in the way of world building or lore, which typically isn’t always a bad thing. However in this one, it’s solely a single story, almost a single instance. It goes right from introductions to the climax, and that left me wanting. I guess the thought process is it entices you just enough to pick up the first book…

The story follows some seedy characters as they treasure hunt in the Barrowlands, which cannot be entered without permission…needless to say these guys don’t have it. The climax takes place in a tomb, which I thought felt more The Mummy (1999)–think the scarabs in the wall—than Lara Croft. I was definitely digging that!

The covers of the series intrigue me, but I’m not sure I’ll continue just yet.