The Combat Codes
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4.3 • 39 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
Explosive action, epic battles, and brutal struggles for survival collide in this non-stop, adrenaline fueled science fiction debut.
"That rare book that fully satisfies me as an action fan." – Fonda Lee, author of Jade City
"A book about warriors written by a master of the martial arts, and the mastery shows." – Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons
In a world long ago ravaged by war, the nations have sworn an armistice never to use weapons of mass destruction again. Instead, highly-skilled warriors known as Grievar Knights represent their nations’ interests in hand-to-hand combat.
Murray Pearson was once a famed Knight until he suffered a loss that crippled his homeland — but now he’s on the hunt to discover the next champion.
In underground and ruthless combat rings, an orphaned boy called Cego is making a name for himself. Murray believes Cego has what it takes to thrive in the world's most prestigious combat academy – but first, Cego must prove himself in the vicious arenas of the underworld. And survival isn’t guaranteed.
"Darwin writes violence with the rhythm and surprise of a well-executed sonnet, wedding the smooth grace of choreography with the unflinching brutality of fists breaking bone. The fights are mesmerizing, layered like fascia, twitching and flexing and propelling the story toward a conclusion that both satisfies and opens the door to the next volume." – The New York Times
"Bare-knuckle brilliance." – Jackson Ford, author of The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Martial arts trainer Darwin skillfully deploys his expertise in this impressive debut and series launch to conjure a world where individual hand-to-hand fighting matches have replaced full-scale wars. The Grievar Knights subscribe to the eponymous fighting codes and were founded on the precept, "we fight so the rest shall not have to." Acclaimed former Grievar Knight Murray Pearson now serves as a talent scout for the nation of Ezo, charged with finding young fighters worthy of admission to the Lyceum, an elite combat school. Murray believes he's spotted a generational talent when he sees Cego, a 13-year-old slave, defeat a Grievar Knight in a match, and works to get Cego into the Lyceum. Darwin rounds out Murray and Cego into much more than just skilled combatants, and their developing relationship forms the heart of the story. Darwin's also adept at making blow-by-blow descriptions of bouts vivid and engaging, even for readers with little interest in the martial arts. This is a perfect setup for the next volume and will especially appeal to fans of Pierce Brown's Red Rising series.
