Review: Son Of The First, by N.S. Armstrong

I'm so excited to share my review of N.S. Armstrong's debut, coming of age, paranormal-fantasy SON OF THE FIRST.

Disclaimer: N.S. Armstrong and I are both part of the WH,WN Community. However, I voluntarily offered to review Son of the First, and all opinions are my own.

With that out of the way… I came in expecting a laugh-out-loud paranormal romp, but got a whole lot more!

As I said above, me and N.S. Armstrong are both part of the WH,WN Community, and I've heard excerpts from their book on multiple occasions, as well as discussing plot details with N.S. Armstrong. So, going into Son of The First, I had high expectations, and let me tell you, this book exceeded my expectations.

I knew from the excerpts N.S. Armstrong had read, this book was going to be hilarious, and it was. There were multiple laugh-out-loud moments, including such gems as: "Oh, Leviathan's tits, I'm tired."

Knowing N.S. Armstrong, it's impossible not to read his book in his distinctive northern accent, and that's how the main character Alyx sounds in my head!

Speaking of Alyx, what a great protagonist. He was instantly likeable, with just the right level of vulnerability. I'm sure we've all been in Alyx's place at least once -- unsure of ourselves and our place in the world. He was easy to relate to, and I very quickly found myself rooting for him and wanting him to succeed.

Sometimes, when the main character is so strong, the secondary characters may feel underdeveloped, but this isn't the case in Son Of The First. In fact, I'd go so far as saying there are actually three main characters or at least this is how it's presented in the book, with both Alyx's 'biological' mother -- the queen of demons, Lilith, and Alyx's best friend and leader of the hellhounds Brie, both being point-of-view characters too.

And the strong characters don't stop there. There's Alyx's adoptive mom, Sherry who always has a cigarette and cup of coffee in hand, an unlikely alley revealed later in the book, and a surprising villain. 

Each character is written with care and a distinct personality, even Alyx's trusty feline companion Beryl. As I said to a friend who just started the book, "Honestly all the characters are so likeable."

Along with a strong cast of characters is the incredible world-building, where N.S. Armstrong puts their own spin on demonology, and angelic beings, describing the hellscape in intricate, vivid details. Though this book isn't a horror, there are some truly chilling moments, especially near the start. 

There's even a hint of romance, as we're introduced to Alyx's biological father, and later, a certain someone catches Alyx's eye. ;)

The action scenes are fantastic, and so descriptive that you almost feel as though you're in battle there with the characters.

Then came the part of the story I wasn't expecting -- the heart! Even though Son of The First is full of funny quips and paranormal intrigue, I did not expect to find a heartwarming tale of love and unconditional support at its core. But as Alyx embraced his true self, and set aside his insecurities, that's what I uncovered.

As I finished the book, I was left with a sense of well-being, knowing as long as you surround yourself with people who love you, anything is possible, and I think that's a wonderful message for N.S. Armstrong to leave his readers with!

I cannot wait to see what N.S. Armstrong has planned for the next book in the series. I will be waiting for it with baited-breath. 

You know a book is amazing when you plough through it in just two days. N.S Armstrong’s SON OF THE FIRST was a fantastic read -- five stars!

Teasers From Son of the First

About Son of the First

Hell Hath No Fury Like a Man Finding Himself... in Hell

Alyx Archer never planned to go to Hell—he was more of a "fashion degree and fabulous dresses" kind of guy.

All Alyx wanted was to ace his classes and design outfits with his best friend, Brie. Instead, his life is upturned by a demon attack on campus, and by Brie effortlessly ripping said demon to shreds. Turns out, Brie isn’t your average BFF, she’s the Queen of the Hounds of Hell.

To top it all off, the woman who raised him isn’t his real mum. His actual mother? The legendary Lilith. Cue identity crisis.

Now, instead of worrying about grades and fabric swatches, Alyx is getting dragged down to Hell (literally) by someone Lilith would rather smite than see on her doorstep.

With Hell’s worst creatures on his tail and a whole heap of trust issues, Alyx realises he’s on his own.

Can he master his newfound powers, trust in himself, and claw His way back to sanity? Or will Hell's fiery drama get the best of him?