The City Stained Red - (Bring Down Heaven) by Sam Sykes (Paperback)

About the Book

"A long-exiled living god arises. A city begins to break apart at the seams. Lenk and his battle-scarred companions have come to Cier'Djaal in search of Miron Evanhands, a wealthy priest who contracted them to eradicate demons --- and then vanished before paying for the job. But hunting Miron down might be tougher than even these weary adventurers can handle as two unstoppable religious armies move towards all-out war, tensions rise within the capital's cultural melting pot, and demons begin to pour from the shadows... And Khoth Kapira, the long-banished living god, has seen his chance to return and regain dominion over the world. Now all that prevents the city from tearing itself apart in carnage are Lenk, Kataria, a savage human-hating warrior, Denaos, a dangerous rogue, Asper, a healer priestess, Dreadaeleon, a young wizard, and Gariath, one of the last of the dragonmen"--

Book Synopsis

Step up to the gates.

After years in the wilds, Lenk and his companions have come to the city that serves as the world's beating heart.

The great charnel house where men die surer than any wilderness. They've come to claim payment for creatures slain, blood spilled at the behest of a powerful holy man.

And Lenk has come to lay down his sword for good.

But this is no place to escape demons.

Review Quotes

"Action fantasy with soul-albeit a small, dirty, funny soul."--Brent Weeks

"An entertaining blend of classic adventure and inventive inspiration."--Juliet E. McKenna, author of The Thief's Gamble

"Excitement, vivacity, and sly wit... simply impossible not to enjoy."--RT Book Reviews (4.5 Stars)

"Insouciant, unrepentant and irrepressible adventurers in a powder keg of a city. And that's just how the story begins."--Robin Hobb

"Playful language, distinctly drawn characters, and a cavalcade of action."--SF Signal

"Sam Sykes continues to reinvent the fantasy adventuring party in a vibrant world of rude magic and good intentions gone bad. Bold and exuberant, never cynical, Sykes fights the good fight on behalf of rich fantasy that nonetheless refuses to apologize for being kick-ass fun."--Scott Lynch

"Sykes has put the fun back in fantasy with fantastical creatures and a lovable crew of malcontents. The City Stained Red is like David Eddings meets Conan the Barbarian."--Brian McClellan, author of Promise of Blood

"This brash, prolific wordsmith has a natural eloquence that grabbed my attention and refused to let go."--Locus

About the Author

Sam Sykes -- author, citizen, mammal -- has written extensively over the years, penning An Affinity for Steel, the Bring Down Heaven trilogy, Brave Chef Brianna, and now The Grave of Empires trilogy. At the time of this writing, no one has been able to definitively prove or disprove that he has fought a bear.