6/10
In exchange for an honest review, I received a free copy of Tales From Ashen Falls from the author when I met him at BristolCon in 2017. It has taken me a while to get to it which has become an in-joke between myself and the author on certain fantasy forums. Well, 15-months later I finally finished reading it!
Tales From Ashes Falls is a pretty enjoyable humour-tinged grimdark novella (more…)
9/10
“The elders were powerful and dreadful – it was a blessing their days were over. Only a fool, or an insane power-craving… He shook his head once again, this time in exasperation. Ah…”
I received an advanced review copy of Kellanved’s Reach in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Ian C. Esselmont and TransworldBooks/ Penguin Books UK. Before I start the review proper I will quickly state that I am quite lucky as a reviewer because of some of the books I get to read early. Ever so often a book arrives on your doorstep and everything else ceases to exist until a certain novel has been completed. This was one such occasion. I was deep through Mark Lawrence’s Holy Sister and John Gwynne’s A Time of Blood – by far, two of my favourite authors but the works of Erikson and Esslemont, and the world they’ve created is incomparable and the pinnacle of not just fantasy but current literature in general. I had to drop everything and start this immediately. (more…)
8.5/10
I received a review copy of The Tower of the Swallow in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Andrzej Sapkowski and Gollancz. Minor spoilers may follow for this book and the previous entries in the saga.
The narrative begins with a hermit called Vysogota finding what he believes is an injured boy in a forest. It transpires that this young gentleman is actually the girl, Ciri and she is very close to death. The hermit takes her to his shack which is untraceable unless you know it’s there and prays that he can aid her recovery. He was formally a scholar and a medical practitioner which is fortunate. (more…)
8.5/10
Originally posted here. http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/Jenn-Lyons/The-Ruin-of-Kings.html – below are my notes that accompany Emma’s viewpoints. We had many of the same opinions so I thought it was needless to repeat her sentiments.
9/10
I received an uncorrected bound proof copy of The Gutter Prayer in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Gareth Hanrahan and Orbit Books for the opportunity.
Hanrahan’s highly anticipated fantasy debut is a real breath of fresh air. We follow three thieves who are affiliated with the underground Brotherhood. The gang’s leader – Henreil – orders Carillon, Spar and Rat to steal some documentation from the House of Law. Little did the ensemble know that the master of the thieves guild had other plans that evening involving this building and another group of thieves. (more…)
9.5/10
Minor Spoilers May Follow
My adventure with The Witcher novels continues at a breakneck pace as, like the previous books, I devoured this story in two days. This series has shown moments of utter brilliance but with certain plodding and info-dumping sections, it’s never quite ascended to the heights that it truly could have. Until now. So far this is the finest entry and it features everything I love from this series. (more…)
7.5/10
I received a review copy of Bound in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank Mark Lawrence for the opportunity.
Bound is set in between the events of Grey Sister and upcoming novel Holy Sister and clocks in at sixteen thousand words. It’s an excellent bite-sized addition to the already brilliant Book of the Ancestor world that can be devoured in approximately an hour. As it’s a short tale I will just compose a quick mini review. (more…)
