Of the eight affinities in Netherdei, Falken is the only follower of Shadow.
Hunted by demonic spirits and imperial forces, Falken must help liberate his fellow cultivators and prepare for all that is to come. His former home, the Ardent Lunar Sect, lies broken, the man he thought of as a father buried in the ruins.
To understand his powers and unlock the secrets of his fabled obsidian sword, Falken is forced to leave the safety of the oubliette. Through tragedies and new horrors, Falken and his friends must venture across the seas to the kingdom of Diyu, the land of ancient cultivators.
But the shadows hide all manner of beasts, and a trickster demon of the Hidden Realm watches Falken’s progress with a covetous eye.
For even the gods don’t want Falken to obtain the Darkest Core…
About the The Darkest Core is the sequel to #1 International Amazon and Audible best-seller, The Shadow Sect. The series is a tale of magicking, cultivation, and fantasy, perfect for fans of The Witcher , and The Last Airbender , and is inspired by the worlds of Xianxia and Wuxia.
Peter Hackshaw is the author of two Amazon #1 Best Sellers: post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi novel, Ever Winter - also available as a multi award-winning audiobook performed by Dan Stevens (Marvel's Legion, Beauty and the Beast, Downton Abbey) and The Shadow Sect, book one of the masterful Western Cultivation/Progression Fantasy series, Netherdei - an international bestseller in 13 categories.
The Darkest Core - Netherdei book two, releases 12th October 2023.
Peter hails from Essex, England and loves Japanese whisky, old pubs, guitars and 8-bit games.
He began writing under a pen-name and developed his craft with a collaborative online Sci-Fi novel and a series of contemporary horror shorts, which featured in #1 Amazon anthologies.
His favourite book of all time is the revenge classic and masterpiece The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
The sequel that we've all been waiting for, and yet another dip into the fantastic world of Netherdei.
Once more Mr Hackshaw delivers an electrifying tale in his own world of cultivation, continuing his unique Western spin on Sects, Pills and the like.
The pacing is great, the characterization is splendid, and the heroes are believable. None more than our young Calder, who we see grow into his role as the leader of this new troupe.
It's always hard to leave a review without spoilers, so I'll just say that if you're seeking Monsters, Demons, Action, and Struggle, then you'll find that all within.
5/5.
And Peter, if you're reading this, then hurry up with the next one. I can't wait for more fabulous instances of the word c***ery.
Our main character Falken does not become OP overnight. He works hard for his advancement, and suffers greatly in the process. It feels natural, not rushed, not brutally slow. You start to see those bad*ss moments where he digs his hole deeper, making even more enemies, but flashes hints of his true power in the process. Falken will become a god, damn the consequences. And boy do I love his grit! The fights were top tier and perfectly described, and there was never really a dull moment. The stakes feel real, with the deaths of characters that actually mattered. Their deaths are not kind, either. Definitely a 5/5 for me. Can’t wait to read the next one in this awesome series!
The magic system in this book is super entertaining, as is the monastic lifestyles of the main characters. I really loved watching Falken grow into a hero.
I'm horrible at reviews, so I rarely post them. As an indie author, though... this author deserves to be discovered. He is working on his world building, but his character development, concepts and ideas are unique and well fleshed out. He has taken familiar ideas, a few less well known plots, and melded them in a way thoroughly enjoyable, and entirely his own. Not even halfway through I was torn between praying that the plot would be resolved because I couldn't stand the suspense, against equal dread that it would end, and I could no longer be part of their adventures. Falker is a scullery boy in a school dedicated to teaching the Arts of the Lunar sect, and in his spare time, he watches, and drills himself to attain those same powers. Unknown to him, however the world has a different journey for him and his singular Cultivations,and after betrayal and slaughter of all he knew, the lone survivors he gathers are required for their singular skills in an ever changing world of which the history books have never spoken. Losing companions, gaining them, and long journeys teach that the world is never black and white, nor is it entirely good nor evil. It's what we make of it, make of ourselves, and our choices along the way.
I read a lot of cultivation novels… this dark fantasy cultivation novel is epic. One of my favorite reads. The plot and powers are amazing. The narration on the audible side is legend tier. I do not take this review lightly. I will say that book one was slow, and book two was more my pace. No bullocks here. If you enjoy dragon heart, divine elements, and cradle (but looking for more romance and dark aspects)… then this friends is something you want to get behind. So mote it be!
This is the 2nd in a series of 3. Unusual for me to read this genre,but I have an interest in the author after his first book Ever Winter. I am certainly looking forward to book 3.
Beautifully written with a good connection from the first book. Many gut-wrenching and heartbreaking scenes that helped Falken blossom (no pun intended) on his path. Great visual descriptions, and the character dynamics were a treat to witness. Fantastic job once again Mr. Hackshaw, and I look forward to the next one!
I had a good time with this one. I honestly can only complain about how long it took to get the book out. But that's not a real complaint, I guess. I await the next book with baited breath.