Old Phuul

Can a Necromancer save a dying world?

The Viiminian Empire rots from within, its dominion mere walking corpses and fading memory. Everyone knows its glory is gone. Everyone except Rhea Phuul.

Confronted with the painful decay of the once-mighty Empire, Rhea has taken up the mantle of the Eternals: the restoration of her society and its ancient faith. Only when long-forgotten duties are carried out might the Empire again find renewal.

But Rhea must convince the people of Tuonako to heed an outsider of no great lineage. Her fiance’s family bring prestige, but they also bring age-old enemies. Rhea is no schemer. But her greatest foe, even more than the grim-faced Establishment and its shadow-stalking Inquisition, may lie deep within her own mind.

Content Warnings: Assault, Death, Sex (Necrophilia), Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Natural Disasters, Terminal illness, Torture

Tropes: Ancient Secrets, Old Gods, Paying The Price, Karma’s A Bitch, Antihero, Missing Person, Corrupt Government (Obvs), Found Purpose, Asylum Escape, Morally Grey Choices,

If you are a retailer and wish to stock this title, please get in touch with us for our discount rates and return terms.

Full Sell Sheet: Download PDF Here (Coming Soon)
Author: Daniel Stride
Category: Dark Fantasy
Release Date: November 2016

Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-913117-27-6
Pages: TBC

Format: eBook
ISBN: 978-1-913117-28-3

With Thanks To:

BBeBooks Thailand (Formatting)
Venetia Jackson (Cover Design)
Sara-Jayne Slack (Editing)
Clare Stevens (Proofreading)

Interested in reviewing this book (or one of our others?) check out our Book Reviewers Page!

Far and away the strongest aspect of Wise Phuul, for me, was the world. The cultures, histories, traditions, and taboos all have an authentic and multi-layered feel that lends credibility and nuance to the story. The political machinations and interplay of the various powers and forces within the world are a major driving point for the plot. The characters are believable and compelling, with a wide and diverse range of personalities, and the writing is clever and insightful. […] It’s an excellent introduction to a world that I hope to explore again in the future.

– Mark McCabe, author of The Heart of Night Saga

A fun story that throws the reader right into the midst of things, with no introduction, info-dumps, or hand-holding offered. It gets right to the story, and lets the characters lead us on our way. Magic, faith, and politics all play a part in a book that’s far more complex than I expected. The story itself is a bit different from the usual epic fantasy narrative, with Phuul providing an intimate view of a conflict he’s neither destined nor equipped to shape. I liked the characters here, the word-building, and (perhaps most importantly) the necromantic aspects. Not just window dressing, the dead are an integral part of the world and its story. It’s a gritty world and a gritty story, with some genuine drama and tension, but there’s also ample humor to keep it from getting too bogged down in gloom.

– Beauty in Ruins, Top Fantasy Amazon Reviewer

I’m not usually much of a fantasy reader, but I enjoyed Wise Phuul, not least for its excellent and evocative writing. The characters are well drawn – especially the title character – and suitably likeable or unlikeable. This not a book for fans of non-stop action, but readers who enjoy a more reflective read will enjoy it for the adventure, and for its very well realised and interesting world and characters.

– Lila Richards, Amazon Verified Purchase