The Way of Edan (spoiler free review) by Philip Chase

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[@Girthquake42069]

I think my biggest praise for the Edan trilogy is Phillip Chase is a very smart guy and it shows in his writing. I'm not a big Tolkien-style fantasy guy but he really has a great voice.

[@RedFuryBooks]

Glad you enjoyed this one! I just finished the second book last night and I think some of the things you wanted more of were in the second book. I also enjoyed Chase's writing style - one of the best things of these books in my opinion. Very polished but not overly verbose.

[@moev29]

I love Phillip and I was concerned I wouldn’t like it, but that proved unfounded. It was fun though. I enjoyed it. I need to read the second.

[@seanhalpin87]

Chase is a great writer. I'm due on Philips channel on December 2nd for a discussion about the trilogy as a whole Gotta read prophet of edan and return to edan this coming month to get caught up.

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

I love getting excited for something waiting patiently on my shelf! Awesome review

[@MacScarfield]

I found "Way of Edan" to be a real blast! Loved the many nods to real life history and myths, JRR Tolkien, Ursula Le Guin, Robert Jordan, Lloyd Alexander etc. (+ a troll ⚽🏀s reference from John Gwynne’s “The Bloodsworn Saga”? 😅) The name Dayraven is from "Beowulf":, a Frankish Standard Bearer killed by Beowulf in a “bear-hug” during the Geatish King Hygelac’s Raid on Frisia (North Coast of Modern Day Netherlands). Professor Chase mentioning “Beowulf”: “I’m shocked, shocked I tell you!» 😂! Some other "easter eggs" are Imharr (Imar/Imhar: An Irish male name, and the name for Ivar Boneless (Viking King of Dublin and son of Ragnar Lodbrok) in Irish Chronicles), Urd (one of the Norns, the weavers of fate, «past»/ «origin»: A good name for an old crone!), Guthere (Anglo Saxon form of Gundahar/Gunnar/Gunther: A legendary king of Burgundy in the German Epic Poem "Nibelunglied", the Norse "Volsung" Saga and Richard Wagner's "Ring Cycle", *cue "Ride of the Valkyries"*!), Oswy (Oswiu, a 7th Century Anglo Saxon King of Northumbria), Bagsac (Bagsecg, one of the commanders of the Norse Great Heathen Army), Dragvandil (The name of the Sword to the famous Viking and Skald Egil Skallagrimson from the Icelandic Sagas, as well as a Grimes-tune and a “Final Fantasy” weapon!), Orvandil (Aurvandil 1) Father of Thor’s stepson Ull, gets a frozen toe, which Thor turn into a star, possibly Venus (“the morning star”), Sirius, Rigel or Alcor 2) Jutish King and father of Amleth (Hamlet) in the Danish Chronicle “Gesta Danorum” by Saxo 3) Origin of Tolkien’s Earendel, father of Elrond and the first king of Numenor Elros), Eormenland (Ermanaric, King of the Goths, «Eormenric» in «Beowulf»), Heremod ( 1) Legendary Danish and Anglian King, father of Scyld, ancestor of the Scyldings found in “Beowulf”. 2) Hermod: Son and Messenger of Odin, brother of Balder), Bledla (Bleda, brother of Attila the Hun), Kiriath (Kiryat: Old Testament City, hometown of the Prophet Uriah and temporarily home of the Ark of Covenant), Folcwalda (Folcwald, father of Finn from «Finn and Hengest»: Beowulf/Widseth. «fólcvaldi goða»- «he who rules the host of the Gods» : Epithet of Frøy/Freyr) and Galdor (2 of Tolkien's Elves of Middleearth: A Noldorian Lord at “The Fall of Gandolin” and the Representative of Ciridan of the Grey Havens at Elrond’s Council in Rivendell in "FOTR". The Wizard Galdor in ElLond=Galdor, member of ElRond’s Council as representative of the Grey Havens: I see what the Good Professor did there😉!) And I loved the nods to "Beowulf", "Finn & Hengist", the tale of Kullervo from the "Kalevala" and the heroes Seigfried and Brunhilde from Richard Wagner's "Ring Cycle", in the in-universe story of Wilfar and Aelfscyn! Could not help but think of CCR's "Run through the Jungle" during the Hasumere Campaign, it was Beowulf meeting the Vietnam War! I found the Magic/Religion of Asdralad and of Urd very inspired by the dualism of Taoism found in Le Guin's "Earthsea", but then again, without being a follower or expert of either, both the faiths/philosophies of Taoism and Buddhism have a history of co-existance. Also, the gods of the Torrlonders Original Pantheon turned into saints/heroes, reminded me of the Tuatha De Danann, the Aesir in Snorre Sturlason's "Heimskringa Saga" and the Valar of the Silmarilion. Also the robes of white and yellow of The Way (another callback to Taoism) reminded me as much of Hindu and Buddhist Clergy (as well as the Whitecloaks and Aes Sedai of "The Wheel of Time") as Catholic (I had to try to be my very ecomenical best to not make either transubstantiation or "Temple of Doom" jokes during one scene!) and the shunned stories of Aldmund reminded me of the Islamic "Satanic Verses" (made famous through the novel by Salman Rushdie), the Mormons cleanup of Joseph Smith and "The Da Vinci Code" (as a direct descendant of the builder of Rosslyn Chapel and the Sinclair Clan, I do not support in any way or shape Dan Brown's "claim" that I then is a descendant of Our Lord and Saviour!). As you have noted, the theme of exile/Exiles and melancholic entropy in general is a recurring theme of Anglo-Saxon Poems such as "The Wanderer". "The Sea-farer" and "The Ruin", so again the Professor showing his background!

[@adycardiac698]

Good review…..I’ve read all 3 now and. Cliche to say they get so much better……and what he does with the trilogy concept itself is really different to what you might expect….but you’ll have to find that out for yourself

[@fantasyfanatic6038]

Glad you enjoyed it! I just wrapped up the trilogy last week and it was great!

[@bryson2662]

What's great about the Edan trilogy is that each book is better than the last. I think it's one of the finest meditations on religion. Book one dayraven was fine but he quickly becomes the most interesting character. SPOILERS *Edit after finishing review. I strongly disagree with you about the priests and Earconwald. Earconwald is the only major character in the book I think is actually evil. The 3 main priests are the most interesting and complex group. Bledla whom actually believes he's doing the right thing by spreading the gospel even if it's through not so clean means. He even treats himself the same way with his piety and penance (think of the scene with his self doubt or the self flagellation). Arna, how could you read his story and find him anything less than genuine. He's anti war, he's pro-helping. He sees through the cynicism of Jorumund, He has a history with Galdor and he gives the book to Sequara. Finally Jorumund, my favorite character, this dude is cynical AF but I wouldn't even classify him as evil, not even in book one. He's disillusioned by the way the church has gone and by the promises he felt he was owed when his mother died as a young boy. He's insecure and trying to make the church into a more rational and less superstitious organization which I'm all for. He sees the hypocrisy around him and the contradictions in their texts and wants to do something better. That's an interesting complex character IMO.

[@Talking_Story]

I pick this 1 up next. Probably Saturday. So happy to hear your review!

[@akellerhouse83]

I've read the first two books, and I have the 3rd one waiting for me at home. I think if you liked the first one, you'll like the 2nd one. He introduced some new characters that I wasn't sure about at first. They're still not my favorite, but i think they're necessary. Also the pace of the 2nd one is pretty non-stop. I'm hoping to read the 3rd on in Nov.

[@dinocollins720]

great review!!! Happy for Phillip!!!

[@nanocasablanc2652]

Matt you are a Great Human Being! Inteligentt, good, humble, wise and with a passion for what you do, so you do it great! Keep rising! I see you from Argentina!

[@alexklozano]

I liked the first book, but I wanted more from it. I finished the second book recently, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm looking forward to getting to the third!

[@Indigo_snakes]

Great review Matt :) I really want to give this a shot soon!

[@praetorxyn]

I enjoyed it too. Read it near release, still haven't gotten around to the second book and the third one is about to come out.

[@samm8190]

Hey Matt thanks for the review! I’m glad you enjoyed this book. Would you consider going on Chatting with Nutts or Dear Dr Fantasy? As much as I love your reviews I’d love to hear you talk more in a free format about your reading generally (especially books you read before the channel ie. Malazan, Black Company etc)

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah absolutely, I would love to! I don't really ever get invited to those things though for whatever reason.

[@DanExploresBooks]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews You would have a good time talking with Philip. He is easy to speak to. Glad you liked this one. I began to really like the characters by the end of it. Prophet of Edan was fun. It expands the scale more.

[@laurac56]

I had a hard time with the writing in the first chapter and put it aside to try again another time. Do you think I should try again, or will I find it a struggle throughout? The major issue I had was the use of adjectives. They just didn’t flow naturally. I love Philip too and want to support him. I suppose purchasing the first ebook did that regardless.

[@heidi6281]

Laura I feel the same way to a tee. I have picked it up several times too but keep putting it back down. Some of the conversations feel phony to me ( Day Raven & his fiancé) but I plan to keep trying because I ❤❤❤❤ Philip!!

[@MichaelWayne13]

I've had this book for awhile but damn if I'm not a mood reader. I'll get to it eventually....I hope

[@FIT2BREAD]

just got my copy in the mail. excited to work it in to my reading soon hopefully. very much enjoyed your review of it

[@strangementalitypaperYT]

I loved this one, but it definitely took something out of me to read it. I had to work for my reward so to speak.

[@jan2bratt]

Having just finished The Way of Edan, your review makes me appreciate it more than I did although I disagree with some of your assessments of the characters, such as the king. I will likely continue the series eventually. good review!

[@yelisieimurai]

Matt it’s time to write your own trilogy:)

[@jujubean9063]

Honestly, that was the worst book I’ve read in years. I hated it. I honestly don’t understand how anyone could like it. I rarely give a book below 4 stars. I’m generally easy to please. But this book? God awful. The prose was both simplistic and pretentious. The descriptions were way too descriptive. I don’t need to know how many doors are in a hallway. The plot doesn’t freaking move. He introduces characters throughout the book that are uninteresting. The ridiculous history lesson info dumps are irritating. He describes “bleeding from the anus” which is a description I never needed to hear. This is a 1 star book. I think he’s getting bonus stars for being a nice guy and a KZbinr.