Gore, Volume 1 is the first story in a fantasy series by Kane Szoke. Considered a Rage of Morgar, Gore is sidetracked from looking for a girl by a nemesis he thought he'd extinguished. Goredus, a powerful demon, draws Gore into his realm and tortures him with voices of guilt for months. After Gore passes Goredus's test, Goredus gives him a choice to see Frey, a woman Gore loves, or save Morgar. Gore chooses Frey, and Goredus sends him back to Morgar with instructions to eliminate two of his demon brothers. Through a talisman, Goredus can connect with Gore. When Gore returns, he realizes that the Blighted and Mordis the Soul Smith are formidable foes. Gore must try to defeat them, even if it means drawing power from an unfortunate source.

Kane Szoke shows what it would be like to fight demons and know about their presence. Szoke builds Gore's character through flashbacks, and his humanity is revealed slowly. The most painful moments of his life are remembered alongside the losses he endured as he moves through psychological and physical warfare until they are as common as breathing. Gore's internal struggle is the focus of this work, and it lays the groundwork for a successful series. Szoke describes the scenes with brutal details, giving a twofold meaning to the title. The veil between humanity and the supernatural is lifted as readers fall into the plot of this engrossing story. Readers who enjoy young adult fantasy with dark themes will love Gore, Volume 1.

Gore: Volume 1 is an action-packed dark fantasy novella by Kane Szoke. Set in a brutal medieval world, the story follows Gore, a warrior beset by tragedy and bloodshed who seeks atonement for his sins. Born in a torrent of his mother's blood, Gore is a tormented soul, further scarred by the death of his younger sister at the hands of a monstrous demon. Working under the command of his company leader from the Rage of Morgar, Rosh, Gore searches for Frey, a woman he loves who has fallen in the clutches of Goredus, a mass-murdering, sadistic demon. Gore had previously killed Goredus, but he has somehow managed to revive again, and now, he wants Gore to take out his brother Mordis and his army of abominations. Meanwhile, Goredus continues to grow powerful even after death.

If you're a fan of Japanese manga or graphic novels, this short yet riveting novella will be right up your alley. Gore: Volume 1 is a stellar first installment of what promises to be a captivating dark fantasy saga. From the very first page, the reader is dropped into this brutally grim and twisted world featuring demons, fiends, noble warriors with bloodlust, and many other types of monsters. Kane Szoke's worldbuilding is truly remarkable. As a reader, you can't help but feel immersed in the setting. The story is relentlessly bleak, darker than the likes of manga such as Attack on Titan, and closer to something like Berserk. The action scenes are vivid and remain etched in your mind even after you've finished reading. I love dark fantasy tales and felt right at home with this one. Recommended to readers who don't shy away from R-rated antihero stories.