The Lifetaker
The Life Taker, a debut novel by John Garrett, is a gritty epic fantasy and an explosive way to make a first impression. This story hits the right spots in a different way than the standard fantasy novel. The protagonist, Kurzhon, is hard to like, but someone I find myself rooting for. Garrett creates a wonderfully full and expansive world without over relying on exposition and really shows more than he tells. It is a novel about war that in some ways is more direct and honest than our own histories which occasionally romanticize the horrors of war.
Self admitted by John Garrett, the book is long. Almost 700 pages and I can honestly say it didn’t feel that long. Normally I can break a story, especially longer stories, into parts. I can find big landmarks that normally loosely group a story. Something like: summer, back to school, first semester, Christmas, second semester, climax. It is built into longer books and the genre as a whole. This is not a bad thing, The Life Taker doesn’t do this. You could force it into this box, but the flow doesn’t feel that way. I’m a strong proponent of the idea that there is not a correct length to any story. The Life Taker flowed naturally and progressed fluidly. It didn’t bog down, didn’t slog, and kept me engaged through all 700 pages.
The gritty tale isn’t a kids’ book. Many in the fantasy genera try to write for young adult audience, and while maybe a 17 or 18 year old could read it, I’m not sure they would appreciate it. The Life Taker is grittier than Tolkien and runs closer to Game of Thrones. I commend John for is leaning into the grit. There are some tough chapters and adult themes in this book. It won’t be for everyone. To me, the uncomfortable parts never steps over the line into gore, smut, or poor taste. It is an adult book about war and struggle. It follows a Kurzhon who is the last of a warrior race that lusts for battle. To do that story justice, you must lean into the hard topics and the nature of war. While some may disagree with me on this I think Garret does this without ever stepping over that line. This is an achievement in itself. If he had leaned away from this reality it would have negatively impacted the story.
Finally, Life Taker stands on its own or could be the first book in a series. It perfectly creates a word, antagonists, and our unloveable protagonist Kurzohn. It hooks you from the beginning and follows logical progression for why things happen, does not rely on deus ex machina mechanics, and through actions explores who Kurzhon is and why. Garret leaves important questions unanswered, leaving the reader open to imagining how they themselves would end the story, or they can eagerly await the next installment (or at least what I hope is coming).
To John Garrett, the author of Life Taker, congratulations on creating a gritty gem that I hope more people will discover. Thank you for your work and time and I look forward to the next one.