David J. Normoyle

This book was provided to me free of charge, and I am reviewing it voluntarily.

The Cruel Path is a prequel to Normoyle’s The Narrowing Path Trilogy, and it does exactly what a true prequel should do, it made me want to read the trilogy. The story follows three brothers before and during the “Green Path”, a trial designed to weed out the weak so that the limited resources of the city can be dedicated to the survival of the strong and cunning. Unfortunately, only two survivors are allowed, so even if they all prove themselves worthy, one of the brothers still has to die.
Normoyle does an excellent job of making the most of a short story/novella. His characters are fleshed out, a back story is provided, and the world building is sufficient to help the reader understand the basic conundrum. I liked this story very much, and look forward to reading more by this author.… (mais)

a solid follow up to an intriguing beginning!

Societies develop in different ways. On Arcandis, an outpost of Earth, communities had been formed under the threat of the Infernam, a condition of extreme heat visited once every six years, as the planet Helion passes within orbit. Actions are driven or tempered by the Infernam, that time when the planet burns so hot that all outside are scorched and die horribly. Only those who can secure a place in The Refuge survive. That place is earned and held by trial, by belonging, by bribery, by any means possible.
It's been three years since Bowe earned a place for the Bellingers when he survived the testing time on The Green Path [The Narrowing Path].
He has not carved out the place for the Bellingers he had thought to. The Bellangers do not have an empire and hope of returning them to their original place is fading. Other family's are looking to displace them.
His latest venture looks to fail spectacularly. On that note it looks like Bowe's pack of card will come tumbling down. His realization that he has squandered the three years he'd had is slow to register.
Barely escaping with his life ahead of the Dulnato, his enemy from the Path, of the Grenier family, Bowe flees from the city after meeting with Coensaw the leader of the Guild, a powerful underbelly group in the society. Bowe runs into bandits and takes refuge as a scribe in a farming community where he begins to see things that might aid his cause. Then there's the invading army from Jarind led by Washima. This group from the neighbouring country were so shocked by the way Arcandis society works and it's way of dealing with the Infernam they took up arms to free the Aarcandis people from tyranny. The Arcandis people feel differently. They want self determination, not others making war on their our land. Theirs is the choice for their way of life. It is not for others to invade and make that decision for them.
Once more Bowe takes a hand in the game of harmony, albeit belatedly, and decides on a course of action.

A NetGalley ARC… (mais)

I just couldn't get into this story. I love mythology, and know the Greek and Norse tales well. This was basically a rough re-telling of the most well known of these with an odd story of a college student trying to avoid life interspersed. I found the main character to be more irritating and unlikeable than anything. With no good explanation or description of WHY we should want to care about him and his dreams/hallucinations/dissociative fantasies, I found that I just didn't care what happened to him. I'm not sure that the inclusion of the whole "fight with a local drug lord" was really a good choice. It came off as a disconnected and uninteresting tale.… (mais)

...'perhaps we are all monsters, those of us who walk the Green Path'...

Poignant and stark, with moments of joy, this dystopian novella sets the background for survival, death and what is to come thirty years hence in The Narrowing Path. This is a glimpse into the history of Arcandis and The Refuge through the eyes of Ealnor, one of three brothers.
Teenage boys, those selected from the hierarchy of Arcandis society must walk the Green Path, and survive it. If they survive they will be future leaders.--the ascor. They will be amongst the chosen, certain of refuge when the surface of Arcandis becomes intolerable unto death. However the struggle will be ongoing, lasting a lifetime. There is always some one wanting to take your place.
The Triplets, brothers, have been (unusually) raised together as comrades, rather than potential enemies competing against each other for survival.
Sorani, Frodan and Ealnor. They 'watched out for each other,...cared for each other, and...loved each other.' In a society that uses anyone they can to scramble, crawl or kill to get to the top of the heap, this is a rare thing. Only two of the brothers will be able to go forward, to be tested by the Green Path. Certainly the verse from John 15:13, 'Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends,' springs to mind. This is exactly what one of the brothers contrives to do. However this leaves at least one of the brothers racked with remorse and guilt.
Having previously read and enjoyed immensely The Narrowing Path, in The Cruel Path we are offered another insight into this harsh society; presented as it is against the strength of love.
At the time of writing it's free on Amazon. Certainly can't beat that price!

A NetGalley ARC… (mais)