Series: The Luminocity Seed#1
Release date: February 1st 2024
Publisher: Endless Equinox
Pages: 603
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

Find your strength in the light, or lose your chains in the darkness.

Three sun gods bathe the city of legends, Luminocity, in their blessed light. The city stands on the decaying ruins of an ancient civilization. Skeletal skyscrapers guard their solemn secrets of forgotten technology and past tragedies.

But under the surface the light dies and shadows began. It is a dark god’s domain, even caged. And he holds his grudges through the eons.

Five fates intertwine, thrown onto the currents of destiny, played like puppets. Will they be able to tear free from their strings?

Laxerion Tama, disowned noble son and heist group mastermind, finds his leisurely life turned upside down. Both his estranged family and an enemy from the past test his strange ability to find lies in the light.

His brother, Val-Gustus Tama, general and golden son, is forced to take responsibility for threats to the city, as war brews on the horizon. Intrigue and betrayal test his resolve and character.

New and outlandish technologies emerge that push the boundaries of morality and the conscience of a young scientist, Ilumi. She arrived in Luminocity from the far north, carrying a dark secret.

A huntress of the depths, Aiana, struggles with her inner demons and the chains of her past.

Dawb, a young urchin struck by grief, searches for monsters prowling the short nights.

And deep down, below all, eldritch things stir in the dark.

Review

Grieving Gold, the first in an all new fantasy series from Daniel McDaniel, centres on five protagonists who live in Luminocity. Laxerion Tama has returned home as his father is gravely ill, but after years of being disowned, Laxerion finds the noble family house is not what it once was. His brother Val-Gustus Tama is doing what he can to uphold the mantle his father leaves behind and must do what he can to protect the city from war. Ilumi is a young scientist newly arrived in Luminocity, but is way more than meets the eye. Aiana is desperate to become a huntress and will do anything to make that dream happen. Finally Dawb is an orphan who spends his days running cons in the streets and seeks revenge for the loss of his best friend.

Grieving Gold is a hugely ambitious tale set in a really fascinating world. McDaniel has conjured a really fascinating world and the world building feels incredibly detailed. The magic system is unique and I really enjoyed getting to know the world and the characters. McDaniel’s writing style is easy to understand, though it did take me a little while to really understand the story and the characters. The book is well paced and I am intrigued to see where the story goes in subsequent books in the series. The story does end on a bit of a cliffhanger so this has definitely made me keen to pick up the next installment. McDaniel does a really good job of weaving fantasy, science fiction, and horror elements into the story. There’s plenty going on to keep the reader hooked and even a few monsters that I definitely wouldn’t want to meet.

Grieving Gold has a wide cast of characters and they’re all really well developed. Each POV felt unique and engaging, though it did take me a little while to get to grips with who was who. I enjoyed all the POVs though I did feel the most compelling ones were Laxerion and Val-Gustus. Grieving Gold is quite a chunky book at just over 600 pages, but the plot moves quickly and there were plenty of times I struggled to put the book down.

Grieving Gold is a compelling and thought-provoking tale, one that fantasy fans will completely fall in love with. If you’re looking for a unique and fresh fantasy series with compelling characters and a unique magic system, this is one you will not want to miss.