John Edgell

The ending of Seed of the Defiled earned its thunder….. I thought I was ready for a big earnest fantasy quest and then this book went there, immediately and repeatedly, and I had to sit up straighter.
The names nearly defeated me at first. Truly. My brain was doing gymnastics. But then Kander happened, and Thaxindar happened, and suddenly I was emotionally invested in a street boy stealing bread like my whole evening depended on it.
This is darker than I expected, but not in that smug grim show more way where everything is misery because the author wants applause for being bleak. The evil here feels ugly on purpose. It makes the goodness matter more. Patrexna broke my heart. Zwindra surprised me the most, I think. She starts as sharp edges and survival, and then somehow she became one of the people I was quietly checking on in every scene.
The middle is a lot. A lot of journey, a lot of danger, a lot of people with names I had to reread. I almost drifted. I did not drift. Like I said, The ending earned its thunder. show less

Seed of the Defiled by John Edgell is an engaging fantasy that quickly pulls you into its richly imagined world. The story balances action, mystery, and character development, making it easy to stay invested from beginning to end. I liked the detailed world-building and the moral complexity woven throughout the plot. The characters felt believable, with strengths and flaws that made their journeys compelling. Fans of epic fantasy will enjoy the twists, immersive setting, and steady pacing. show more It's a great read that leaves you eager to see what happens next. show less

I read this collection of ghost stories when I was in my early teens and, despite the fact I'd been reading adult ghost and horror stories all my life, this actually had a few tales that scared me at night. Possibly because some are in a modern, very real world and incorporating people who were guiltless into horrible, frightening situations - which meant you could easily see yourself in these. Other stories were not so great - it is a bit of a mixed bag - but I liked this so much I stole it show more from the primary school library forty years ago... sorry, school... show less

Seed of the Defiled is an imaginative fantasy adventure that combines epic world-building with themes of courage, faith, and redemption. John Edgell crafts a richly detailed realm filled with political intrigue, dangerous quests, and memorable characters whose personal struggles add emotional depth to the story. The evolving relationship between Kander and Xzwindra, along with the high-stakes mission to save their kingdom, keeps the narrative engaging from beginning to end. Packed with show more surprising creatures, suspenseful challenges, and meaningful reflections on choice and hope, this novel offers an enjoyable journey for readers who appreciate character-driven fantasy with spiritual undertones and imaginative storytelling. show less