"Prior weaves a fully realized world in this rich fantasy, from history, political structure, and family life to work, food, drinking (lots of drinking), and romance." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Carnifex is a masterpiece of sword and sorcery storytelling. A visceral yet thoughtful epic." -- Bookwraiths Reviews
"Gritty, tense, and brutally tragic. High quality storytelling with great characters and a relentless plot." -- Mitchell Hogan, author of A Crucible of Souls and Aurealis Award winner.
For more than a thousand years, the dwarves have hidden away from the world in their ravine city of Arx Gravis.
Governed by an inflexible council whose sole aim is to avoid the errors of the past, the defining virtue of their society is that nothing should ever change.
But when the Scriptorium is broken into, and Ravine Guard Carnifex Thane sees a homunculus fleeing the scene of the crime, events are set in motion that will ensure nothing will ever be the same again.
Deception and death are coming to Arx Gravis.
The riddles that preceded Carnifex’s birth crystalize into a horrifying fate that inexorably closes in.
But it is in blood that legends are born, and redemption is seeded in the gravest of sins.
For Carnifex is destined to become the Ravine Butcher, before even that grim appellation is forever lost, along with everything that once defined him.
The long-awaited Nameless Dwarf origins novel, and the start of a brand new series, Legends of the Nameless Dwarf, Carnifex by D.P. Prior is a welcome addition to the sword and sorcery tradition that spawned R.E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, Fritz Lieber, and Lin Carter, and it picks up right where the heroic fantasy of David Gemmell left off. With tight point of view, complex characterization, and an abundance of horror, bloodshed, and the relentless march of an uncaring fate, it also carries the hallmarks of modern day grimdark that readers of Joe Abercrombie and George R.R. Martin are familiar with.
Carnifex has been ranked as high as number 7 in the overall Amazon Kindle store, and number 1 in Epic Fantasy and Sword and Sorcery.
It is the flagship of the bestselling series Legends of the Nameless Dwarf. Carnifex has been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews, Black Gate Maazine, Bookwraiths Reviews, and Smash Dragons. The audiobook of Carnifex was narrated by Paul Woodson.
Since its launch in January 2016, Carnifex has sold thousands of copies in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
As the other five Black Cloaks fumbled for their swords, Carnifex threw himself among them. They were quick to react and tried to grapple him to the ground. He crashed his head into a nose, felt it split. Wrenching his arm away from a grab, he lashed out, caught one of them on the jaw. Someone got him in a chokehold. Carnifex spluttered and swooned. A Black Cloak hit him in the stomach, but he tensed his abs, then kicked the shogger in the fruits. He reached behind for the Black Cloak on his back, shifted his weight, and slammed him into the ground. A fist caught him in the mouth, and he spat out blood. A flash of silver came at his heart. He caught the wrist of the dwarf holding the sword and cracked the shogger’s head round with a hook.
Lucius shrieked.
Carnifex craned his neck, glimpsed his brother backing up, slipping on the marble. The walls either side of Lucius blurred, and two assassins in concealer cloaks launched themselves at him. One grabbed him either side, and they dragged him kicking and screaming toward the seethers.
“Lucius!” Carnifex cried.
He punched, kicked, blocked, and shoved with such ferocity, he broke clear of his attackers and ran toward his brother.
The assassins glanced back at him, and one of them gave a sickening grin as they edged Lucius closer to the pit.
“No!” Carnifex cried.
He came off the steps and skated across the marble floor, perfectly balanced, perfectly in control. He could reach them. He was going to reach—
With staggering speed, the golems jerked to life and stepped into his path, forming a wall between him and the assassins dragging Lucius. He hit at full tilt. Pain lanced through his shoulder.
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Dutch
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Finnish
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French
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Translated by Cécile Bénédic
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German
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Greek
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Hindi
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Irish
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Italian
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Japanese
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Norwegian
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Ary Bruno Gomes Filho
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Author review: Great to work with. Fast, accurate translation. |
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Marco Andana
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Author review: Excellent translation, promptly completed. |
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Swedish
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Unavailable for translation.
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