Review: Grimdark: Tales of Exile by Kyle Fox

A dauntless fallen knight cuts a bloody trail through a blackened world of demonic horror in Grimdark by Kyle Fox, a hellish, sword-swinging work of dark fantasy. Reading like a vivid transcript of an epic RPG dungeon raid, Fox establishes his Tales of Exile series with a savage tone – visceral descriptions that writhe to life in the imagination, coupled with relentless struggle of both the body and mind.

With the progress of each chapter, Jacobus draws closer to the evil that has conquered and ravished his realm, a desperate attempt to eviscerate the plague of demons that has burned his world to ash. This is not merely a physical test of his will, but also a psychological gauntlet, as he is forced to battle innocents who have been transformed into monsters, such as the weaver’s daughter in the new form of a White Widow.

As Jacobus mercilessly cuts his way through the blighted beasts of Hell, the protagonist proves himself to be nearly invincible, now that he has been reunited with his majestic and deadly claymore. This immortal aspect of the character makes him feel larger than life – like Beowulf or Gilgamesh, had their tales been told with more demons and gore. However, this also lowers the stakes, as readers aren’t particularly worried about the survival of this elite warrior, even as his enemies increase in number and size.

He is also tortured by false visions of his wife, whom he had watched die in the past, adding yet another layer of emotional weight and hardship. Jacobus is something of a one-note character, but the flashes of backstory elevate him beyond a stereotypical warrior. Without giving away too much, the final twist of this tale comes as an angelic surprise, and while it does open the possibility for more Tales of Exile novellas, it feels slightly out of place after such a grim and gruesome read.

The writing itself is meticulously chosen, and the author’s vocabulary is a storytelling paintbrush, guiding the reader’s imagination with unusual language and striking turns of phrase. This might be a quick and fast read, but lines like “striding into the glare of leaden skies” will make readers slow down and savor the prose, rather than rushing past narration to reach the bloody brunts of action. A more careful read also helps establish the story – this fallen kingdom was once Jacobus’ home, and the bodies lining the castle walls and the moat were once allies or kin, ultimately making this a story of vengeance.

While most of the language is smooth and powerful, there are some self-referential passages where the narrative voice becomes unclear. At times, it feels like the narration comes directly from Jacobus, while at others the omniscient narrator takes control. That said, these slight inconsistencies don’t detract from the overall impact of this dense, fast-paced read, which is far more about the atmosphere and the action than the nuances of storytelling.

For fans of D&D, fantasy horror, and supernatural action, Kyle Fox is definitely speaking the right language, and has delivered a wildly thrilling novella with this first entry of the Tales of Exile series.