Vampires and werewolves are present but you wouldn't want to spend Valentine's Day with them. Topless werewolves, sexy vampires, needless love stories that interrupt the drama. Urban fantasy to me is often lame and cliche. This narrative is highly adult in nature so if readers aren't put off by Fi's initial point of view chapters then things will click and then lead us to a hugely dark and potentially dangerous world-defining experience. I'd say half of the first 120 pages reads like it could be a book dedicated to teenagers, but after reading further on I can analyse this was a misconception. They have human qualities, personalities, and relationships but I wouldn't like to cross them. These behemothic beings are half human, half animal, revered Gods and unbelievably powerful. It will switch between Fi and Zeke's 'will they, won't they' relationship that's intertwined with a huge war dog called Mol and an overtly British and loving uncle - and also the Order of the Bull presenting what is simmering behind the gaze of the world with reference to the Gods of myths and legends who may very well have to re-wage a war that's been on and off for centuries. This section, for the first 120 or so pages is what some readers have difficulty with. It starts off pretty slow, almost like Ashton is trying to find his voice. It could be described as brutal urban fantasy, combined with a small amount of YA elements and mixed with all the demons, Gods, and mythological creatures you were too lazy to research at school. Written in third-person present tense, Paternus often reads more like a film script than a novel. Like many, I found out about Ashton and Paternus by following 2016's Self Published Fantasy Blog Off where this book was awarded third place by the panel of recognised and influential bloggers.

I would like to thank Dyrk Ashton and Paternus Books Media for the opportunity. I received a review copy of Paternus in exchange for an honest review.

Paternus books