Loved this. A truly excellent finale to a wonderful trilogy. Gritty and heartbreaking, this is a novel that grabs you and sweeps you along to its emotLoved this. A truly excellent finale to a wonderful trilogy. Gritty and heartbreaking, this is a novel that grabs you and sweeps you along to its emotional and bittersweet ending. A must read....more
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of The Desert Prince prior to release via Harper Collins. This has not altered my review or thoughts on the storyI was lucky enough to receive a copy of The Desert Prince prior to release via Harper Collins. This has not altered my review or thoughts on the story.
The Desert Prince is a class act. Wonderful storytelling, flawed and believable characters and a ratcheting of tension that has you reading well into the dark hours. This is a must read....more
Every now and then I delve into graphic novels, which I have enjoyed so much since my childhood. Really loved going back into the Marvel world in thisEvery now and then I delve into graphic novels, which I have enjoyed so much since my childhood. Really loved going back into the Marvel world in this case. Iron Fist is such a great character....more
“Confidence before the nobility. Humility before the people. Books had a strange way of making themselves useful in your life, words sprouting up when“Confidence before the nobility. Humility before the people. Books had a strange way of making themselves useful in your life, words sprouting up when you least expected them.”
A smartly-crafted tale of Machiavellian politics, privilege and power, driven by a fantastically nuanced, flawed protagonist and wrapped in sharp, lyrical prose.
The Councillor by E. J. Beaton is politically driven fantasy with fantastic prose. A great debut that adds something fresh to the genre....more
Oh my word, what a book Empire of the Vampire is. Gripping, terrifying and visceral, this is that rare beast of a tale that rips your heart from your Oh my word, what a book Empire of the Vampire is. Gripping, terrifying and visceral, this is that rare beast of a tale that rips your heart from your chest, stamps on it and leaves you wanting more. Characters you love and hate, a world that feels hauntingly real, and an adventure that grabs you and does not let go, this book is destined for the Fantasy Hall of Fame. I loved it.
Kings of the Wyld is a rollicking, page-turning, edge-of-your-seat road trip of a book. Great characters, loveable rogues that I genuinely cared aboutKings of the Wyld is a rollicking, page-turning, edge-of-your-seat road trip of a book. Great characters, loveable rogues that I genuinely cared about and all manner of fantastical monsters. All spiced with a sly sense of humour that had me smiling throughout.
I read Kings of the Wyld a few years ago now and absolutely adored it. Since then, two of my boys have joined the bandwagon and also loved this story. In the time that has passed I still fondly remember the wonderful band of characters that Nicholas Eames created. In my mind that is the mark of a great book.
Definitely one of the best reads of mine in recent years. It is a fun and serious story essentially driven by friendship that is written in an effective and powerful way. I think one of the many things that makes this book distinctive is that not only fantasy readers will enjoy it, but I believe that many who do not frequently delve into the genre will also gain a lot from Kings of the Wyld.
“Among them is a renegade king, he who sired five royal heirs without ever unzipping his pants. A man to whom time has imparted great wisdom and an even greater waistline, whose thoughtless courage is rivalled only by his unquenchable thirst."
It was so funny and hilarious, but what set it apart for me was its character and heart.
I finished Salem's Lot last night. It was as brilliant and tense as I remember from my childhood. There is a reason why King is one of the bestsellingI finished Salem's Lot last night. It was as brilliant and tense as I remember from my childhood. There is a reason why King is one of the bestselling authors of all time......more
Wow, I loved this. Set in an Asian-inspired world with echoes of ancient China and the Mongol Empire this is a tale that hits all the right spots. ImaWow, I loved this. Set in an Asian-inspired world with echoes of ancient China and the Mongol Empire this is a tale that hits all the right spots. Imaginative world building that feels historically authentic with a sprinkling of the fantastical, captivating, believable characters, and a pace that builds perfectly to a heart-pounding finale. There's a lot to love here. Highly recommended....more
“I am an old fool, but I know that a man so loved by some and hated by others must be a man who was true to his heart.”
So I've recently finished readi“I am an old fool, but I know that a man so loved by some and hated by others must be a man who was true to his heart.”
So I've recently finished reading Camelot by Giles Kristian, his sequel to the epic Lancelot. Wow, what a wonderful book.
Beautifully evocative and bone-crunchingly bloody, filled with characters I loved and hated, all conveyed in lyrical prose and edged with the sense of hope and tragedy that is essential for any retelling of the Arthurian tale. It was fabulous to go back to 5th Century Briton and dive into the fray again. Highly recommended.
For any lover of historical fiction or the Arthurian legend, this is for you....more
A TIME OF COURAGE is officially out now in the UK and US! The seventh and final book in The Banished Lands is here and it is a massive moment for me. A TIME OF COURAGE is officially out now in the UK and US! The seventh and final book in The Banished Lands is here and it is a massive moment for me. I have loved writing about the characters in The Banished Lands and hope you enjoy it. Truth and courage.
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The cover to A Time of Courage has been released. I hope you like it!
This is quite a moment for me, seeing the cover art for what is in effect the culmination of seven books and the end of 150 years history of the Banished Lands.
I'm thrilled with how this cover came out, and overjoyed at the level of detail the amazing Paul Young has put into it... There are numerous elements in this cover that make my inner-geek extremely happy - the long axe with norse runes that spell 'The Final Battle,' the stars on shields - readers of my books will know what that means. Warrior-angels and demons, a certain dapple-grey winged warrior with a seax in each fist, a white bear......more
“The wiser a man is, the more he stands ready to be educated.”
I'm useless at updating what I have read on Goodreads, as my sons constantly tell me. Bu“The wiser a man is, the more he stands ready to be educated.”
I'm useless at updating what I have read on Goodreads, as my sons constantly tell me. But here's an attempt to rectify that slightly.
I finished A Little Hatred over a year ago and of course, loved it. Joe Abercrombie is a master at what he does. From the humour, to characters, to plot. He is such a distinct writer, and someone that I know will always put out books I will love and devour. One of my favourite authors, and A Little Hatred shows me once again why he is. If you haven't already, you should dive into his works, starting with The Blade Itself....more
A big thank-you to Orbit for sending this my way. It's the first book I've read by R.J. Barker - an author I've been meaning to read for ages, as I'veA big thank-you to Orbit for sending this my way. It's the first book I've read by R.J. Barker - an author I've been meaning to read for ages, as I've heard great things, but we all know what the TBR MOUNTAINS are like, they just keep on growing.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first taste of RJ Barker's writing. THE BONE SHIPS is a whole lot of swashbuckling awesomeness, with intelligent, organic world-building and deeply likeable characters. Reminiscent of Patrick O'Brian, which can only ever be a compliment, this was a sea-fairing tale with heart, and one that picked me up and swept me along. There was a point where I could not stop reading, where I found myself thinking about the story during my day, and looking forward to when I would get back to reading it.
This won't be the last R.J. Barker book I read. Highly recommended.
I think Black Oris might have been my favourite character....more
Here is a link to a wonderful discussion of Wrath that I was invited to join. Thank you to Petrik, Abby, Allen, Philip and Alex for sharing your thougHere is a link to a wonderful discussion of Wrath that I was invited to join. Thank you to Petrik, Abby, Allen, Philip and Alex for sharing your thoughts on The Faithful and the Fallen. Truth and Courage! Wrath - Discussion...more
Really looking forward to joining a chat with Alan, Petrik, Abby, Alex and Philip about Wrath in a few days. If you want to catch up on their BookTubeReally looking forward to joining a chat with Alan, Petrik, Abby, Alex and Philip about Wrath in a few days. If you want to catch up on their BookTube chat on Ruin, the link is here. They have videos discussing Malice and Valour already.
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