Eclipse of the Eternal: The Odyssey of Valerian Kross by Joseph Farr [Book Review]
This book was requested by the author to be reviewed. I did not receive any financial compensation for this review. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Summary
“In a world where the lines between right and wrong are blurred by war, Valerian’s journey is not just one of physical battles but also an internal struggle with faith, duty, and morality. The novel masterfully combines historical accuracy with a rich, imaginative narrative, bringing to life the brutal realities of medieval warfare and the complexities of human nature.
Joseph Farr’s skillful storytelling immerses readers in a vividly depicted era, making “Eclipse of the Eternal” a must-read for fans of historical fiction and dark fantasy. The book is a testament to the timeless themes of courage, honor, and the enduring human spirit.”
Review
It’s been quite a while since I’ve done a review at the request of a newer author but when I saw dark romance, I was pretty excited! The summary had me incredibly intrigued and some of the reviews on Amazon gave me even more curiosity. I’m definitely glad that I found the time to give this a read.
First, I absolutely devoured this book! It was like 520 pages (PDF/Kindle edition) and it felt a little daunting when you think a lot of romance books are 200-300 pages. I was like, “What the heck is going to happen for that many pages?” Well, a lot!
Additionally, this was a FFM book for the most part and while I usually can’t stand those kinds, this one worked because it was vampires and the kind of dynamic going on so if that’s not your thing, don’t let that immediately turn you off!
A slow start into a page turner!
So with how the book started, I’m not going to lie I was worried it was going to a really slow book. It really was setting the scene with Valerian, who he was and what made him into who he was. I want to clarify by what I mean slow here. When you think a romance book, they really do move and get through the story because the purpose is…well…the smut. This book to me felt more like dark fantasy with some dark erotic romance mixed in so the slow start absolutely worked because the story was a lot more than just smut.
Think a little bit Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter books where there is absolutely that good stuff, but there is such a deep story that some massive chunks have nothing but story progression. This is kind of what was going on here! I just had to recalibrate my mind after a few of my reads recently.
A story of fighting your true nature to be something more.
Because of the set up with who Valerian was, the rest of the story once he turned into a made sense. The story really followed him through his beginning years in the vampire world. It wasn’t like other vampire books I’ve read as it seems the rules of existence and changing into a vampire were different, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Because of what Valerian was as a human, with all the honor, he didn’t like what he had become and wanted to find another way. The book followed him through lust, death, betrayal, anger and a personal journey. I truly enjoyed reading his journey and how intricate it was and it constantly kept you guessing! It was a different kind of take on a vampire story.
The smut was good!
So, I want to also directly call this out because I know when people hear erotic romance and a male author they are like 👀. I mean I absolutely get it based on some of the books I’ve read, but I’ve also read so many male authors who have done an amazing job too. But I do feel some posts on Instagram and such have perpetuated a bit of a negative stereotype. But I will say I was very impressed and Joseph did an incredible job. All that stuff really did feel hypnotic and highly sensual. I felt that Joseph was able to accurately portray those kind of relations for vampires – sensual, violent, intense!
He was eloquent in his words, how he described things and generally the progression of scenes so I’d give them a solid 4 out of 5 star and a good 3 out of 5 on the spice level! Only giving it a 3 and not a 4 because the story was so much more than that. The spices scenes were a good 4 out of 5, but since there was a lot more to the book, overall the book spice was 3/5. But gotdaymnnnn – that nun scene. I was NOT ready! I’d say this was absolutely dark romance – vampire does adult stuff with a person and person ends up dead. But compared to some other books out there, this was fairly tame by far as a lot of those scenes were pretty “tame”.
The writing was eloquent & unexpected.
Joseph’s writing was quite unexpected. He used very eloquent words that was reminiscent of some more classic literature I felt and he creatively described and set the scenes. He really tried to capture the time period that the book was set, around the 1200’s, through the journal entries of Valerian at the end of chapters, kind of summing up what happened in the characters own POV. Additionally, he also was able to quite decently make you feel like you transported to the wars during this time period and help you connect with Valerian, understand him and then better connect with his journey.
Additionally, the dynamics that he created between the three main characters kept you guessing. You were really unsure until towards the end who was going to do what, and what could happen.
Overall a very enjoyable vampire romance that transports you to the past.
I thoroughly enjoyed Eclipse of the Eternal. Once I got over the initial concern that it was going to be a slow read, and once Valerian changed, the book was a page turner. I was curious what was going to happen, what his journey was going to be, and what the two females in his sphere who were constantly going back and forth through jealously and vying for his attention would do next! Joseph very creatively set the scene and it was a unique story telling the transition of a vampire who had a moral compass like a true arrow.
I give this a solid 4/5 stars and if you’re looking for a slightly different read, this is worth your time!
About the Author
Joseph Farr, renowned as a virtuoso in Dark Fantasy and Historical Fiction, has enthralled audiences with his groundbreaking debut, “Eclipse of the Eternal.” This success was further amplified in his “Ebon Blade Saga,” a quartet of fantasy novels set in the richly conceived World of Mythas.
Originating from a quaint town in West Virginia, Joseph’s formative years in the 1970s and 80s were deeply immersed in the legendary tales of King Arthur, the galactic odyssey of Star Wars, and the transformative theories of Joseph Campbell. These eclectic inspirations kindled a fire in his imagination, propelling him toward the fantastical realms of popular role-playing games and the art of weaving stories.
Joseph’s academic endeavors in history, theology, psychology, comparative mythology, and sociology have profoundly shaped his literary craft. His adept fusion of these varied disciplines enables him to forge narratives that are not only richly imaginative and engaging but also resonate with the complexities of the human spirit. His works are a testament to his skill in interlacing the strands of historical lore and fantastical elements, creating enthralling worlds where history and fantasy intermingle seamlessly.
Presently settled in the peaceful countryside of West Virginia, Joseph pursues his literary aspirations alongside his daughter and their devoted dog, Deogee. He delves into the more
obscure facets of fantasy and historical fiction in this idyllic haven. His creations transcend mere storytelling; they are profound explorations of the human psyche, venturing into the intricate layers of psychology and the elusive shadows lurking within the human soul. Joseph Farr is more than a raconteur; he is a masterful architect of imaginary worlds, crafting tales that captivate, challenge, and stimulate introspection, etching an indelible mark on the consciousness of his readers.
