I cant believe i haven’t found this author sooner! The world building and magic development is impeccable. An absolute page turner. The intensity of and TENSION this book has between all these characters *chefs kiss*. MORE PLEASE!!!

The Death Wizard Chronicles by Jim Melvin Volume One contains the first two books in the series, which journeys through the compelling magical world of Triken: Alive with demons, dragons, and strange new creatures.
In Book One, we follow the adventures of the seemingly all-powerful Torg – Death Knower and King of the Tugars, on a mission to abolish the insidious sorcerer Invictus before he destroys all of Triken. Book Two follows the torment of Laylah, sister to Invictus, who is determined to escape her fate.
These books are intended for mature readers, with brief plot points of a sexual nature and monstrous horror elements from our villains. Still, it is interlaced and balanced with emotionally heartfelt moments throughout from our protagonists.
Book One instantly immerses us in this strange new world as we follow Torg - the pacing is fast and action-packed, but there are moments later to relax and enjoy exploring the rich fantasy world Jim has created. The characters are well developed and varied, with sensitivities for each addressed as we learn more about them. I found the amount of world-building, names and numerous references to places and the ancient language slowed my enjoyment in the early scenes, but this was quickly overcome as the story unfolded, and I became used to the author's style and inventiveness.
Book Two brings in a new protagonist - Laylah, sister of Invictus. Fair warning here - the subject of incest is a huge plot point but delivered more in the style of the ancient Greek gods and less of a sexual nature, ensuring we understand how truly twisted Invictus is. I found this book more enjoyable as it opened up the world of Triken and introduced a female lead. It also added interesting new characters and built on the magical systems. While not as action-packed as book one (in the beginning), the character's dilemma gave enough excitement and drama to want to keep page turning.
Overall, this fantasy adventure feels like one of the classics. Yet the concepts, world, and magic systems, especially that of the Death Knower, felt refreshingly new and thought-provoking for a fantasy reader. While the author has expressed this would be for fans of Game of Thrones, I would place it for people who enjoyed The Rift War sagas and wanted a faster Shannara Chronicles: it also has moments of humour, depth of emotion and characters that would be at home in Vox Machina, but it definitely leans on the darker fantasy elements found in books like The Sword of Truth series.
I am looking forward to continuing the saga and recommend those looking for a classic, dark fantasy adventure to give the Death Wizard Chronicles a read. I would also like to thank Jim Melvin for allowing me to ARC read his work.

Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Death Wizard chronicles have been previously released but now that rights have gone back to author, he has decided to edit it and release it. This book continues the first two books of the series, volume 2 and 3 are to come later this year.

If you like magic, dragons, wizards, demons, vampires, fated love and many other monsters then this is the book for you. Torg is a death wizard who has ruled over his people in peace for a thousand years. A threat to all the free people of Triken has emerged the evil wizard Invictus, who has self styled himself as a god. Invictus imprisons Torg is a pit of depair that carved out of a frozen mountain. Will Torg escape.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a bit of a punt but I’m glad I took a chance and read it. The book has some dark themes but the author doesn’t dwell on these and instead these are used to shape the plot rather than overwhelm it. This was a really well written book and that ending :( I can’t wait until volumes 2 and 3 are released as I’m really enjoying this series. The author made me care about all of the characters and I am eager to read what comes next. There is a love story but this only part of the plot but overall I really enjoyed the world building and the writing was very descriptive.

I liked that this book began in conflict- it was a good and approachable way to introduce the world and characters while maintaining interest. This main character is different than others in his attitude- I find him to be more confident but that makes him almost humorous in an epic fantasy setting which I enjoyed. Overall an easier fantasy read that still has a unique world and plot.

The Death Wizard Chronicles: Volume 1 immediately pulls you into a richly detailed and often unsettling world where the veil between the living and the dead is thin and actively manipulated. The author has clearly poured significant effort into crafting the history, lore, and intricacies of this realm, particularly concerning the magic surrounding death. From the nuanced understanding of souls to the societal implications of necromancy, the world feels lived-in and substantial, offering a depth that truly captivates. For readers who appreciate immersive world-building, this first volume lays a fantastic foundation, hinting at a vast and complex universe waiting to be explored.
What truly resonated with me was the distinct "spicy Lord of the Rings vibes" emanating from the narrative. While the themes are darker and the magic more focused on mortality, there's a similar sense of ancient power, looming threats, and epic scope hinted at within the intricate world-building. The detailed histories, the potential for sprawling journeys, and the underlying sense of a grand struggle against encroaching darkness evoke that classic fantasy feel, albeit with a decidedly more macabre and edgy twist.

This book gave me Game of Thrones and Lord of The Rings vibes.
At first, it was hard to get into, because it was different from the books I usually read. But the pace picked up fast, the story becoming more and more interesting with each page.
I didn’t like how long the chapters were, but it is a personal preference.
The main character, Torg, the Death Wizard is a beautifully written protagonist, I liked how his character evolved throughout the book, growing more complicated while facing the choices he had to make.
I really liked Mala, the main antagonist because she isn’t evil for the sake of it, she has a rich backstory that explores how she became corrupted and why she’s bent on destruction.
I also liked Laylah, a fierce warrior and Torg’s love interest. Their relationship adds more depth to the story, especially since both of them are scarred by their past.
Everything, the plot, the romance, the backstories of the characters are beautifully written and make a perfect book.