Review of ~ Jonathan French – The Grey Bastards (The Lost Lands #1)

9/10

I received an advanced reader copy of The Grey Bastards in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Orbit Books and Jonathan French.

In French’s debut release, readers follow Jackal, an attractive half-orc who is a key member of his gang which is known here as a hoof. The hoof is called The Grey Bastards and they operate in similar fashion to how a biker gang might, offering protection to local businesses, riding around their turf, and getting into skirmishes with rival factions but instead of motorcycles, they travel on giant and vicious war hogs. The war hogs are more than just vehicles, they are closer to pets and are incredibly loyal and a huge asset in any conflicts with fully fledged Orcs. One of the hogs is lovingly called Ugfuck!

Advertisements

Review of ~ Phil Tucker – Death March (Euphoria Online #1)

8/10 – To be added to Fantasy Book Review soon.

I received an advanced reader copy of Death March in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Phil Tucker for the opportunity.

Death March, the first entry in the LitRPG Euphoria Online trilogy was my first time reading Tucker’s work although I am familiar with him from the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off. I am also pretty new to this blossoming and booming subgenre of computer game RPG inspired fantasy. Having recently enjoyed Andrew Rowe’s Sufficiently Advanced Magic and the fact that I’m currently replaying The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim it seemed only right that I leapt at the chance to review this story early and carry on with those vibes. 

Review of ~ Alex Perry – The War of Undoing (Kyland Falls #1)

5/10

DNF @ 47%. This is a quick casual review as I didn’t complete The War of Undoing.

This was a difficult one for me as it gave me very mixed feelings.

The writing is tight, neat and the book has no errors that I noticed. The editing seemed pretty top quality too apart from certain chapters that dragged on a bit too much. It’s original and interesting. The prologue was really enticing and sets up the narrative well. The magic system seems pretty well worked mixed into two sorts. Magical capabilities wielded by vumas, and the brotherhood of lightning, and enchanted powerful weapons that are used by humans in this war of the ages. The history seems pretty deep and well worked. Descriptions and the world-building weren’t bad either and Perry created a heightened imagery in the well-crafted environments such as the forest of Hob.

Review of ~ R.F. Kuang – The Poppy War

9.5/10

I received an advanced reader copy of The Poppy War from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank R. F. Kuang and Harper Voyager for this opportunity.

Rin is a war orphan who works at her foster parents’ shop and their main income is created by dealing drugs. Only just into her teenage years, Rin is offered a proposal to marry and bear children for an unattractive gentleman three times her age who has no redeeming qualities. She decides she needs to escape this presented and projected future and her only means of doing this is to study for the Keju – an examination where the top-50 students in the country that pass the test can train at the military educational establishment set in the empire’s capital. Surprising everyone apart from herself she is successful and then whisked away by her tutor to the city and this is where Rin’s adventure really starts. 

Review of ~ Anthony Ryan – Blood Song (Raven’s Shadow #1)

9.5/10

I’ve been reviewing arcs and judging for The Self Published Fantasy Blog Off recently which has taken up most of my time, so it was nice to just be able to choose a book that I owned that I just really wanted to read. I’ll keep this review short and casual as there are many fine examples on Goodreads already. This book had everything that I look for in a fantasy story.

Review of ~ Melissa Caruso – The Defiant Heir (Swords and Fire #2)

8.5/10

I received an advanced copy of The Defiant Heir in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Melissa Caruso and Orbit Books. *Minor Spoilers May Follow*

In the second entry to the Swords and Fire trilogy, we pick up events approximately a month after the finale of The Tethered Mage. Everybody seems pretty content in the world of Eruvia right up until the point that some of the Empire’s Falcons and their Falconers start to turn up murdered. Known as The Serene Empire’s secret weapons the Falcons are the magic wielders ranging from warlocks to alchemists and the Falconers are their protectors. They bind the Falcons magic and can help, train, and unleash them should the need arise. These assassinations create unrest and cause whispers that the Witch Lords in Vaskandar might actually be plotting and preparing to invade far beyond their borders.

Review of ~ Harry Connolly – The Way Into Chaos (The Great Way #1)

7.5/10

I read The Way Into Chaos for the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off as it was promoted to the final stage by Ventureadlaxre.

The city at the heart of the empire was preparing to host a festival full of song, merriment, and martial contests. As the event is about to get underway a swarm of powerful, nimble, and intelligent bearlike beings unexpectedly invade and annihilate the capital. A handful of interesting, important and sometimes opposing characters are fortunately whisked away on a magical sky cart.