Morgan Quaid’s “The Seven Hungers: Rise of the Crimson King” is a robust addition to the urban fantasy genre, offering a narrative that is as dark and intricate as it is enthralling. The tale of Ambrose Drake, a censured Crown sorcerer, unfolds with a blend of sorcery and suspense that is both innovative and reminiscent of the genre’s greats. Quaid’s world-building is commendable, crafting a universe where the supernatural coexists with the mundane in a manner that is believable and immersive. The character development is one of the book’s strongest points. Drake, with his flawed yet endearing persona, is a character that resonates with the reader, his sarcasm and wit providing levity in the midst of the novel’s darker themes. The dynamic between Drake and his ex-lover, Agent Karen Winter, adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, enriching the story with emotional depth. The plot itself is a whirlwind of action and mystery, with each chapter peeling back another layer of the multifaceted world Quaid has created. While the novel is not without its minor flaws—occasionally the pacing stumbles or the dialogue feels contrived—the overall experience is a positive one. “The Seven Hungers: Rise of the Crimson King” is a book that will satisfy fans of the genre while also appealing to newcomers. It earns a solid four out of five stars for its engaging plot, well-crafted characters, and its successful melding of fantasy, horror, and action.
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WOW! I was intrigued by the first chapter, and as I travelled along with Drake and Rook, I could see that the pair were more than friends but they were a pair who had known each other through good times and bad times, and I could not decide with whom I was more afraid! I was annoyed to find that there is a book two, and that I will not get to read the next. ( )

For me this was a mind-bending tale with enough imagery to keep me busy for the entire book. Total fantasy with some horror thrown in. Imagining so many different levels and worlds BELOW our own and populating them with all kinds of creatures stretched my mind as I read it. The level that had been taken over by the Crimson King, where everything was covered in a red mist or growth, was particularly captivating. I wasn't sure if I was grossed out or fascinated or both. Overall, this book definitely kept my attention, through all the struggles of the characters and the bizarre worlds they went through to protect and defend the earth we live on. And we don't even know they exist. ( )

Haven't even finished this one and I love it already, Had a heck of a time putting it down once I started reading. Its wonderfully well developed and the monsters are enough to give you nightmares. Snarky lead with other equally snarky characters. I have no idea where this goes and i really don't care......its that good. I'm gonna be sorry to finish it. Will keep on the lookout for others from this writer...what an imagination! ( )

"Sure, there’s a lot of dark shit out there, but there’s also a whole mess of excitement and fun. It’s all about how you look at it.” The Seven Hungers starts off with a description of Ambrose, the main character, having his arm broken by a tentacle creature. (Let this serve as a warning to those who don’t enjoy gore!) This very much sets the scene for the rest of the book which brilliantly blends urban fantasy and horror to create a story that holds your attention to the very end.
I immediately liked Ambrose, a censured sorcerer, and the last and the least of his line, which I feel is so important in these kinds of books. The suspense just does not hit the same if you can’t connect with the main character, or at least care about their plight. His thoughts provide welcome humour in the tense situations he finds himself in. I enjoyed the fact that he could not use magic to solve all his problems. This creates what is clearly a different way of thinking for him, one that he has clearly started to grow over the years, and the author captures this mood so well. The wonderful blend between strength and defeat and the desire to just use magic already, even though it is forbidden. Especially when magic could make his life threatening job so much easier. No wonder he’s willing to travel halfway around the world for a mysterious (and presumably dangerous) mission to get his powers back. I will add that his treatment of Janus, a rather anxious and magically limited boy who was sent on this crazy mission on his first day, makes me a little uncomfortable.
While a little vague at times, I loved the world building. I think that the vagueness compliments the mood that the author was trying to create in this world, and definitely helps to avoid the info dumps that can easily happen in such books. And yet, you still have enough information to understand the world. Ambrose feeds in bits of pieces of his training when relevant, allowing the reader to better understand how this world works. At times the descriptions definitely feel like they have a Dungeons and Dragons inspired background, but remain unique and memorable as their own thing.
Maybe a bit nitpicky, but I had a few minor issues with this book. There are one or two minor errors that slipped through editing (at least in the version I read,although these may have been fixed since) but these do not detrat from the enjoyment of the story in any significant way. I was also a little confused at the start of the novel as Ambrose could use a mind tether on a mundane family to keep them unaware of the fight happening around them, but could not use magic to protect himself or to get rid of the beast he was fighting or even to heal the injuries he got during the job. The line between what he is and is not allowed to do seems a little fuzzy. While this is explained a little further later, I do find it odd that he can do more to others than he can to himself. A little more detail of the structure of the limitations would have been very welcome.
Another flaw is the continued references to past events which are never fully explained. While this does help make the characters feel more real (they had lives before the start of the story), it is taken too far. Ambrose clearly had an important journey before the start of the book, being the only sorcerer having visited the Seventh Hunger. The book also often refers to other emergences of the Hungers (this is far less troubling, although detail would be appreciated). At times the book feels like a sequel rather than the first book in a series. I hope that this will be remedied in future books (or maybe even a prequel???).
This is an enjoyable book that I would definitely recommend to others. While it crosses several genres, it doesn’t lean too heavily into any of them so it can be enjoyed by a wide range of people. It can draw in those who enjoy a genre without excluding those who dislike it (although I still probably wouldn’t recommend it to someone who hates it). While it definitely has horror elements, for example, the tone remains relatively light with plenty of jokes. And while the world has magic, this is not always the focus while Ambrose is fighting the fantastical beasts he encounters. There is also a massive mystery element as Ambrose and the rest of his team try to figure out how to prevent the brewing diasater and save Brisbane, and the rest of the world. ( )