Review of ~ Tasha Suri – Empire of Sand

8/10

I received an uncorrected proof copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Tasha Suri and Orbit Books.

In Empire of Sand, the original and excellent South Asian influenced fantasy debut of Tasha Suri’s we follow the action of Mehr who is an illegitimate but highborn daughter of a governor of the Ambham Empire. It begins when a Daiva which is sort of a winged and taloned spirit invades the castle and infiltrates Mehr’s younger sister’s room, who is terrified as a young child would be.

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Review of ~ Nicholas Eames – Bloody Rose (The Band #2)

8.5/10

I received an advanced review copy of the well sought after Bloody Rose from Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Nicholas Eames and the awesome Nazia.

Even Eames himself said that the success of Kings of the Wyld was like a guillotine to his neck. Metaphorically of course. With an exceptional, original award-winning debut there will always be doubts about where to go next and if it can be better. I’m happy to say Bloody Rose blows Golden Gabe, Moog, and Slowhand’s adventures out of the water!

Review of ~ RJ Barker – King of Assassins (The Wounded Kingdom #3)

9/10

I received an advanced copy of Kings of Assassins in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to RJ Barker and Nazia and Jenni at Orbit. *This may contain slight spoilers for the trilogy*

Well, The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. Where should I start? I can safely say in the (almost) two years I have been reviewing that this is my favourite trilogy that I have read that was released in that timeframe. I was the first person to review Age of Assassins, one of the first to review Blood of Assassins, and I had a to-be-read quota of thirty books as of last Friday. That was until King of Assassins ended up on my doorstep. Everything else took a back seat and I devoured this exquisite mystery, magic and assassin-tinged fantasy conclusion in two days.

Review of ~ Rob J. Hayes – City of Kings

8.5/10

I received an advanced reader copy of City of Kings in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Rob J. Hayes for the opportunity.

After having thoroughly enjoyed Hayes’ Best Laid Plans duology I jumped at the chance to read City of Kings early – which is set in the same world. The action here follows the events of Hayes’ The Ties That Bind trilogy and features many characters from those books. That being said though it acts as a complete standalone. I’ve not yet read the previous trilogy but still found City of Kings to be a fast-paced and thrilling grimdark adventure with intense levels of brutality.

Review of ~ Peter Newman – The Deathless

8.5/10

I received an advanced reader copy of The Deathless in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Peter Newman and Harper Voyager for the opportunity.

Newman’s first entry into a new fantasy series presents a world with floating castles which are connected by roads of crystal alongside which human settlements are erected. These Godsroads are safe passages between the floating fortresses of the great houses. Covering most of the created environment is The Wilds – a macabre and terrifying forested area full of unspeakable horrors, extreme darkness, shifting trees, and creatures such as the infamous Scurrying Corpseman and Whispercages. Certain segments of the narrative that were set in The Wilds were truly intense and felt like a nightmare right out of a Brother’s Grimm fairy tale. 

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!

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.