Absolutely loved book one, Gods of Wyrdwood, so I had to dive straight into book two. Warlords of Wyrdwood throws us right into the thick of it, back Absolutely loved book one, Gods of Wyrdwood, so I had to dive straight into book two. Warlords of Wyrdwood throws us right into the thick of it, back with the cast of characters (those who survived) who are now facing the dire consequences of the finale of the previous instalment....
In classic Barker fashion, nothing can be taken for granted in this story. Heroes become villains, villains become heroes, the story goes in completely different directions than expected yet the journey is still incredibly satisfying. It is truly an original fantasy series and it feels so fresh and organic in how it does not play into any of the fantasy conventions.
I cannot say anything else at risk of spoiling book one, but Warlords of Wyrdwood is as gripping as book one. It is crazy, with the forest particularly feeling like its own character. R. J. Barker shows just how creative he is, and ties this crazy story in with a lot of heart as well....more
I have the honour of interviewing Papa John Gwynne and R.J. Barker at Leeds Waterstones, so I picked up Gods of the Wyrdwood. I thoroughly enjoyed TheI have the honour of interviewing Papa John Gwynne and R.J. Barker at Leeds Waterstones, so I picked up Gods of the Wyrdwood. I thoroughly enjoyed The Tide Child trilogy, so it was great to be back in Barker's immersive style that thrusts us into a very different world from the one we know. The secrets of the setting are slowly revealed, and I absolutely love that feeling of learning as you continue, crafting a sense of mysticism to the fantastical that not many can do better than Barker.
Gods of the Wyrdwood is an excellent first instalment to a fantasy series. It is dark, it is brutal and it is original. The setting feels alive. The characters conflicted, with our central character, Cahan, the obvious standout. His hidden past threatens to reveal itself, and he may have to draw on the part of him he promised to leave behind... just to survive.
This series continues to live up to its hype. It is truly addictive. I really thought the novelty of this LitRPG would start to wear off, but it reallThis series continues to live up to its hype. It is truly addictive. I really thought the novelty of this LitRPG would start to wear off, but it really hasn't! Matt Dinniman displays such creativity to keep it fresh and opens up new angles of the story to maintain its incredible entertainment factor. We now have clubs, markets, quests and more, alongside the growing character relationships and higher stakes.
Carl's Doomsday Scenario took the story in a very different direction from what I was expecting. After the initial rush, it did for the first time feel like it lost a bit of drive, but that was quickly regained and we set off onto a whole different kind of rollercoaster, with quests, more characters and even more craziness that strikes a brilliant balance of being manic, but not too over-the-top that is lost the tension.
Cannot wait for book 3. I have a feeling that is where this is really going to kick off, despite thoroughly enjoying these first two instalments!
This is what modern epic fantasy should be! One of the best books I have ever read. The Daughters' War perfectly balances an intimate heart with an epic backdrop. From the standout characters to the warfare to the world we are thrown into, it is truly unique. In every way, this is a masterpiece.
In The Daughter's War we follow Galva as she, and her three brothers, are part of a new army that has been formed from a variety of countries and regions. This force must under all circumstances halt the seemingly unstoppable advance of the goblin armies. This seems even more unlikely the more you learn, as we see that the majority of this army are the dregs of society. They have been forced to pull on the old and young, as most of those in their prime are now dead. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Galva falls into one of these gambles. She is part of a group of 'war corvids' which are basically a mix of ostriches and ravens that have been bred specifically for war. These huge, powerful, clever creatures may represent a new hope in the war, but that hope is small, and can only be achieved as their guardians, including Galva, keep them alive and under control.
This is going to be a review of superlatives. Galva is one of the best leading characters I've ever had the pleasure of following. The war corvids are some of the best animal companions I've come across. The goblins are beyond terrifying. The world feels gritty and real and immersive. The surrounding cast leap off of the page. And the prose is just lyrical. It sucks you in and makes you really feel what it going on, whether that be the purity of a character exchange, the chaos of battle, the terror of death, the pain of grief and beyond.
After hearing Papa John Gwynne and my brother, Ed, rave about The Daughter's War, I knew I had to pick it up ASAP! And boy am I so glad I did. They were both right. This is truly epic fantasy, with huge armies, creatures bred for war, goblins, magic and more. But, it is also gritty and dark and grounded to a whole new level from most books I have read. It really is the perfect blend of fantasy and realism.
I have to dedicate a few words to the goblins. Do not let your previous conceptions of goblins cloud your judgement. These are not your usual goblins. These are nasty, built for war, brutal, terrifying goblins that are intelligent and horrifying. You feel scared when they are on the page, and for good reason. I cannot think of another creature in a fantasy tale that makes as much of an impression.
At the risk of repeating myself, The Daughter's War is, in my mind, as close to perfect as you can get. We have characters we love, and we have villains we hate, but all the characters feel so natural and organic. The tension is palpable, the twists make you gasp, the losses bring a tear to your eye, the action makes your heart thump, and when you close that final page, you are embraced by the bitter-sweet book hangover. It is a rare experience, and one I have treasured.
I've heard a lot about Dungeon BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
I've heard a lot about Dungeon Crawler Carl, and it lived up to the hype! It is a ball of mindless fun that is entertaining throughout with some of the most random ideas and events you will find in speculative fiction. But, also amongst the anarchy, there are moments of heart that keep you hooked and engaged on a layer beyond just wanting to see more crazy creatures and hear more of Princess Donut (the cat) talking...
This is a whirlwind of a ride. I thought it would lose its novelty of the video game, reality show set-up about halfway-through, but it kept its edge, with Matt Dinniman gradually adding breadcrumbs of information throughout to keep you enthralled.
Also, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. There are so many sound effects and extra details, to the level that transforms this into a real listening experience.
Received an advance copy of The Land of the Living and the Dead from the publisher in return for an honest review
I am NOT OKAY after that ending...
WelReceived an advance copy of The Land of the Living and the Dead from the publisher in return for an honest review
I am NOT OKAY after that ending...
Well, the first two instalments are brilliant, but The Land of the Living and the Dead still stands head-and-shoulders over them. This is a masterful conclusion to a truly unique historical fantasy series that gives us an epic lens into Irish mythology and Irish history whilst expertly giving us an intimate story as well that we can invest and find ourselves to be truly moved in.
With The Land of the Living and the Dead we jump back into early 11th century Ireland, as its stability hangs on a thread. A level of peace has been achieved, but how long will this last? There are always those seeking power, especially when the Fomorians are closer than ever to finding the hidden strongholds of the Descendants….
The Land of the Living and the Dead takes the stakes to a whole new level. You feel the dire consequences of actions and events as they unfold, and these pages carry such a punch with them. Lawless provides a story that is moving and heartwarming, but also shocking and heartbreaking. It is such a rollercoaster of emotions, from heartfelt reunions and moments of truth to betrayals and deceit, this is a book that will MOVE you.
Whilst still prioritising political machinations and character interactions, there is far more action in this third instalment, and wow is it done well. From ambushes to skirmishes to duels to large battles, all are executed so well, but also in a way where you really feel the weight of each conflict. Also, the off-screen battles carry more weight than I can think of in any other series. You really feel the fate of our characters could change at any second.
Something particularly unique to the Gael Song series is the equal light shone on the villains as well as the heroes. You understand the reasons and motivations for each perspective you follow, so there are not villains for villains sake. Each is a fully-fleshed out character with their own dreams and ambitions.
This is a truly masterful conclusion to the Gael Song trilogy, and I cannot wait to find out what happens in the next era of the conflict between the Fomorians and the Descendants. I am not okay after the end of this book, and need time to recover….
Finished my second Natalie Haynes book! I had a few issues with A Thousand Ships, but I really enjoyed Natalie Haynes' writinMy 50th read of 2024!
Finished my second Natalie Haynes book! I had a few issues with A Thousand Ships, but I really enjoyed Natalie Haynes' writing style, so I had high hopes for her other projects. I thought A Thousand Ships was a bit stretched with the sheer amount of PoV's, so I thought a more limited scope will give me a great read, hence why I chose to dive into Stone Blind.
I had no idea what Stone Blind followed, other than that it was a Greek Mythological retelling. If I had thought more about the title, I would soon have guessed what it is about. Stone in greek myth, surely it is Medusa? It is! As soon as I found that out, I was even more fascinated. Medusa is one of the most famous mythological figures, yet I cannot think of any representation that characterises her beyond the fight with Perseus.
Stone Blind does a great job of following immortals such as the Gods, and mortals such as Pursues. We have a great representation of characters, with a brilliant range of tone and emotion as well. The relationships and interactions between the Olympians can be hilarious, but somehow simultaneously horrifying, as their childish behaviour has severe ramifications for humanity, yet seems like nothing to them. In this way, Natalie Haynes expertly contends her deeper messages without forcing them down the throat of the reader.
Haynes is a great writer, with smooth, often lyrical, prose that is easy to binge. I felt immersed in the world of Ancient Greece, and also in the settings from Olympus, to the deep seas of Poseidon and more, and this was largely down to Haynes' style, which just clicks to me.
Stone Blind was a really solid read that hooked me. Everything was well executed. Whilst I still did not feel that extra level of attachment so a specific character, I was still invested in this unique and fresh Greek Retelling.
Just finished this most recent BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Just finished this most recent Pat Barker release. I adored The Silence of the Girls and The Women of Troy, and I have told many people that the first of this series is one of the greatest books to have ever been written, in my opinion.
So, it would be fair to say I went into this third instalment of the series with high expectations....
The Voyage Home almost feels like a standalone. We have some characters from the previous instalments, but I would say you can read this without having dived into The Silence of the Girls (although I highly recommend it, as it is one of the BEST BOOKS EVER). For me, I was quite relieved, as The Women of Troy provided such a fitting ending for so many characters, but on the flip side it meant The Voyage Home had a lot of work to invest me in a new set of characters.
Whilst I was invested and enjoyed this read, especially with Pat Barker's wonderful prose once again being present, I feel it was a victim of my extremely high expectations. There weren't any of those moments I remember from the previous two instalments, which are still vivid in my mind despite my reading them years ago now. But, it is unfair to compare to brilliant, exceptional books, so I do know I was unfair to The Voyage Home, but I could not avoid it.
Still a good read, with the final third being crafted and put together magnificently, but I would push the previous two instalments far, far more.
Shauna Lawless once again showsBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Shauna Lawless once again shows herself to be an author who can do it all. We are immersed into a truly unique setting that brilliantly blends the gritty history and fascinating mythology of 11th century Ireland, with a generous dose of political intrigue along the way.
Finally dived into this second instalment of the Gael Song trilogy, just before the final book is released next month! Loved book 1 and also the two prequel novellas. Now The Words of Kings and Prophets joins that group.
Once again Shauna Lawless expertly crafts character and tension. As she weaves the different arcs and plot lines together, you feel so tense, as characters cross paths, secrets are revealed and some remain hidden. This is a truly living and breathing world, with mystery lurking around every corner. Many questions are answered, but so many more are asked, so I really cannot wait to turn to book 3, The Land of the Living and the Dead, in September! So glad now that I waited until now to read book 2, as I won't have to wait long to finish this journey!
Gael Song is just a fantastically written series, within which Shauna Lawless consistently shows herself to be a writer of great talent. I will read whatever she puts out into the world.
Over the last few months I haveBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Over the last few months I have been making a conscious effort to pick up books that have been on my TBR for months and years. The latest to join that group is Ariadne....
Ariadne has an ethereal writing style that sucks you in. I really enjoyed the approach Jennifer Saint took of not revealing anymore than needed, so that right away I was on edge, but did not know what directions this would take, despite obviously knowing some events that would take place, as they do in Greek Mythology.
I really enjoyed the beginning phase, as the characters were standout and the crafting of tone and atmosphere was excellent. As we reached the next phase, for me the characters, especially the villainous ones, fell a bit flat as it felt they had one defining characteristic and nothing more to them. However, I also really enjoyed the final act. I know for sure, because I felt moved, and Saint ended Ariadne very poignantly.
I finally dived back into The BBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
I finally dived back into The Bound and the Broken. In this novella, Ryan Cahill instantly reminded me what a page-turning author he is, as we follow one of my favourite characters of the series, Dayne.
This is a story with a crazy amount of action, but Cahill finds a way to create a compelling relationship between action and character growth, so that we are invested in the big and small events unfolding. From epic battles, assassinations to a TERRIFYING final sequence, Cahill displays his ability to write the whole scope of action. We see some characters reappear from previous instalments, but I also really enjoyed the new characters. But, of course, the highlight of The Exile is Dayne. The more of him the better!
I have been provided access to Dreams of Sorrow by Head of Zeus via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
Absolutely loved the first novella and tI have been provided access to Dreams of Sorrow by Head of Zeus via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
Absolutely loved the first novella and the first instalment of Gael Song, so of course I was excited to see if Shauna Lawless was going to make this 3/3 for me.
In short, she did!
Senna is a great, compelling younger character who is suddenly thrown into a whole new world, as she discovers she has unique abilities, and must instantly leave behind all that she knows, including the man she loves.
We have a great mix of new and familiar characters, so you can read this to enhance your Gael Song experience, or to dive into after reading just the first novella of the series. In just a short page count, we are provided a compelling, engaging read that had an incredible finale....more
Picked this up once I heard it won SPFBO this year, and felt even more excited to dive in once I heard the unique premise that places it into the rarePicked this up once I heard it won SPFBO this year, and felt even more excited to dive in once I heard the unique premise that places it into the rarely seen 'detective fantasy' subgenre. It took about twenty or so pages to settle into the world and writing style, but after that it flew by. Really brilliant storytelling that expertly adds layers and layers to craft a complex and engaging series of mysteries.
It was absolutely riveting, and I finished this in a day. It has quite a large cast of key characters, about a dozen, so the depth ti them was limited by the page count. But Stang did a great job making each character unique and vivid to the reader within just a few pages of meeting them.
I loved the mysteries, as we search for a monster as well as a murderer, amongst ghosts, Malformed and more. I'll definitely be reading more by Morgan Stang.
I recommend this as a palette cleanser to all fantasy readers!
Needed a palette cleanser in audiobook format, so where better to turn to than the prequel to Legends & Lattes, narrated by Travis Baldree himself!
WanNeeded a palette cleanser in audiobook format, so where better to turn to than the prequel to Legends & Lattes, narrated by Travis Baldree himself!
Want some cosy fantasy? The this is for you. We follow the orc, Viv, from Legends & Lattes once again as she discovers coffee for the first time, and also spends a lot of time with books... two things you don't usually see when the main character is an orc mercenary .
The prose is smooth, the dialogue witty, the characters distinct. It is most definitely not epic, but there are still high stakes in the intimate story we are given, and this offers a satisfying ending to an engaging read. It really does freshen the reading experience because of how random and different it is.
If you enjoyed Legends & Lattes, you will really enjoy this. If you need a palette cleanser, then I think this is for you as well!...more
"'More powerful gods than you hBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
"'More powerful gods than you have made me offers, Ennerast,' said Kissen, 'and I killed them just the same.'”
I was immediately intrigued when I saw the awesome title, and heard the great premise. I mean, Godkiller must surely be one of the best fantasy titles out there!
This is a very well-written book with a core cast of unique characters. The relationship between our Godkiller, Kissen, and Inara is one of the highlights of this story. It witnesses real growth, with breadcrumbs that allow us to gradually learn more about their past whilst keeping the reader engaged.
“You are not welcome here, Godkiller”
Whilst the pace lost a bit of its drive around the middle of the book, it does not last long. This is quite short for a fantasy book, but contains a lot for its size. Great world building in a unique setting, clear and effective prose, a brilliant premise and twists throughout. A very solid beginning to the Fallen Gods series that I think has something for most readers out there.
Katherine Arden proved herself to be a brilliant writer with The Winternight Trilogy. It has been a few years since I finished Winter of the Witch, soKatherine Arden proved herself to be a brilliant writer with The Winternight Trilogy. It has been a few years since I finished Winter of the Witch, so of course I have been so excited to pick up her very recent release, The Warm Hands of Ghosts. Love the title, sounds like a great premise, with the backdrop of World War One for a story that flirts with fantasy and history throughout, leaving the reader often unsure of what is reality, and what is imagined.....
The Warm Hands of Ghosts did not quite live up to my expectations, but I am still glad that I read it. Because I loved her first trilogy so much, I put very high hopes on this. The reality did not hit those lofty heights, but it is still an engaging, moving story with a diverse cast of characters who feel real and vivid. There was a lull in the second third in my opinion, but overall I would say the story had a good drive, with moments of great tension, and the beginning was really great. Had me hooked very quickly, which is a feat by itself....more
Finally found a time where I caBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Finally found a time where I can give Return to Edan the attention it deserves! The first two books in this series are brilliant. Seriously impressive works that blend classic and modern fantasy with compelling characters, an epic plot and smooth, effective prose.
Well, Return to Edan lives up to its predecessors and finishes off The Edan Trilogy brilliantly. Twists and turns along the way. Satisfying moments. Great building of tension. Epic action sequences, as well as powerful moments between our characters during the slow moments.
In Return to Edan, Philip Chase shows his skill at crafting a wide range of characters, not only making them immediately distinctive, but also keeping them intriguing and engaging throughout the entire story.
Sebastien de Castell does it agBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Sebastien de Castell does it again!
I think this is the 11th book I have read by Sebastien de Castell, so it is the 11th time he has delivered a riveting, engaging, witty read with sharp characters and a plot full of surprises and revelations....more
Once again Shauna Lawless weaves the threads of reality and mythology into a story brilliantly.
Set around a centuOne of the best novellas I have read!
Once again Shauna Lawless weaves the threads of reality and mythology into a story brilliantly.
Set around a century before the events that take place in Gael Song, we see many familiar characters at a younger age, as well as an assortment of new characters as well. Often in prequels, it is the new characters that suffer, as the focus is on those the reader is already familiar with. That is not the case here. Figures such as Ciarán immediately had a strong presence.
I loved the history that was explored here, with the ancestors of many key characters of Gael Song being present, as well as seeing the early days of the decline of magic in the Fomorians and the Descendant.
This is a great novella. With smooth prose, vivid characters and a concise, engaging story, I highly recommend Dreams of Fire, no matter where you are in Gael Song, even if you have not dived into the series yet.
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