by Dyrk Ashton
ART OF WAR: ANTHOLOGY FOR CHARITY
Includes “Valkyrie Rain,” a short backstory in the world of The Paternus Trilogy that takes place during the great battle of Ragnarok. Forty of your favorite fantasy authors contributed to this anthology. All proceeds go to Doctors without Borders.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photograph by Lee Fearnside
Dyrk Ashton is a Midwestern boy who spent some time in Hollywood. He teaches film, geeks out on movies and books, and writes about regular folks and their trouble with monsters.
WHAT IS PATERNUS?
Ashton’s debut has been called Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Epic Fantasy and Dark Fantasy, as well as Mythic Fiction and New Weird Fiction, but on one thing readers agree, “Paternus stands out from the crowd” (Bookworm Blues). Josiah Bancroft, acclaimed author of Senlin Ascends, says, “There’s just something wondrous and wide-eyed about Ashton’s flouting of convention and genre ... The result is almost giddy.” “I think part of its charm,” claims fantasy reviewer Tom Owens, “is that it doesn’t really care about being pigeon-holed.” Author Steven Kelliher says Paternus is “one of the most singularly inventive, creative and exciting works of fiction I have had the pleasure of reading.” According to blogger Phil Charles R, Paternus has “some of the brilliance of Gaiman’s American Gods, detail of Tolkien’s Silmarillion, and plenty of identity all its own.”
Join the conversation and see if you agree:
“A wild romp through every religion, myth and culture, uniting them all in some sort of late night Urban Fantasy pan-dimensional smackdown ... Paternus brings it on.” -Pornokitsch
“A war of the gods unlike any you've read. Highly recommended!” -Michael R. Fletcher
“This is urban fantasy done right. Not a sparkly vampire or shirtless werewolf in sight, and the pace! Don't make plans to do anything else once you start reading this.” -Graham Austin-King
“Spectacularly entertaining and meticulously-crafted ... an exciting tale of myths and monsters in modern-day society.” -Laura M. Hughes
“One of the most singularly inventive, creative and exciting works of fiction I have had the pleasure of reading.” -Steven Kelliher
“Bold contemporary fantasy in the mythic tradition of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, with graphic novel pacing and colorful ensemble.” -Vince Moore
“A rip-roaring tour de force.” -T. O. Munro
“I was blown away with this book ... An adventure that you're going to have to read to believe.” -Maegan Provan
“Grips you in a Gollum-like throttle and doesn't let go." -Timandra Whitecastle
“Storytelling at it's best. A must read if you love myths, legends, lore and excitement.” -Fairy Tale Access
“Cinematic on a grand scale ... A surprisingly phenomenal debut.” -David Walters (on MightyThorsJRS)
“So gripping that I couldn’t stop reading ... Dyrk is the king of action. His fight sequences reminded me of movie frames ... I loved it.” -The Bohemian Mind at Work
“Terrifying characters and true heroes, sacrifice, defeat and victory. And the pace never lets up.” -G. R. Matthews
“American Gods without the whimsy and more psycho scary things.” -Charles Phipps
“Engaging. Compelling. Evocative. I urge you to read it.” Peter Tr, Booknest.eu
“Exciting and excellently written.” -Fantasy Literature
“A wonderful book, forged in the deepest recesses of the human imagination.” -Michael Easton
“A great big mythological smoothie of awesome!” -Kristen Reads Too Much
“I love the sheer level of detail that went into crafting the mythos.” -Bibliotropic
“The action is fluid, visceral, and the suspense is cranked up again and again ... I can’t recommend this book highly enough.” -House Valerius
“A fast read, action packed.” -SFBookReview
“Paternus is fantastic ... Perfectly timed and very well written.” -Burkhead’s Books and Bad Reviews
“Thrilling to the end ... Ashton is an amazing story-teller.” -AudioBookReviewer
“A story for the ages ... I really loved this book.” -Kaladin Stark's SFF Reviews
“Ashton is one of the best authors out there ... If there's one book you must read this month it's Paternus.” -DarkMondays
“Perhaps the craziest story I’ve ever read, and I mean that in a good way ... A wondrously creative and well-realized story that turns the world’s mythology on its head ... I’m officially a fan.” -Shawn King
“Myth and legend manifesting itself, for real, in modern day ... A smashing debut.” -J. P. Ashman
“This book became real good, real fast, all the way through to the end. I am eagerly awaiting the next!” -Travis Peck
“I had a big smile on my face ... The pacing is frenetic with barely a moment’s breath from once the action begins till you put the book down at the end.” -Fantasy According to Tom
“Paternus is a rollicking ride of epic proportions.” -T. L. Greylock
“A fast-paced book with a twisting plot and fantastic suspense! Great for anyone into mythology. An excellent adventure!” -M. L. Spencer
“Brilliantly written ... I recommend Paternus whole-heartedly.” -Daniel Potter
“Amazing stuff here for those who love fantasy and mythology ... Brilliant.” -Sara Dobi-Bauer
“Truly imaginative... The descriptions are rich, the characters are fun, and the villains are vile ... Beautifully done!” -Joleene Naylor
“A world-building marvel.” -A. Dale Triplett
“Ashton weaves together mythology, evolution, geology, and alternate universes, while still writing characters easy to relate to. I was sucked in from the start ... eagerly looking for the next one, and anything else Ashton writes!” -William C. Tracy
“A truly epic work.” -David E. Miller
“I’m staggered that it’s Dyrk Ashton’s debut novel ... Some of the brilliance of Gaiman’s American Gods, the detail of Tolkien’s Silmarillion, and plenty of identity all its own.” -Phil Charles R
“Absolutely thrilling! ... I could not put this book down.” -Charles McGarry
“High action, fascinating mythology and world, and surprises on every page ... Lots of bloody awesome ... the likes of which you haven't read before.” -D. Thourson Palmer