Cover art illustration by: Patrick Foster
Reaper by Will Wight
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Cradle (Book #10 of 12)
Genre: Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Xianxia
Pages: 465 pages
Published: 2nd November 2021 by Hidden Gnome Publishing (Indie)
Will Wight, I’m so tired of saying this statement on so many books in Cradle, but once again, Reaper is the new best book of the series so far.
“An ant had a better chance of resisting a boot.”
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Magical Realism
Pages: 246 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 15th September 2020 by Bloomsbury
A genre-blending, memorable, and melancholic standalone novel.
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve been looking forward to Empire of the Vampire since the day it was announced. I pre-ordered it as soon as the link to do so went live. So to say that my expectations for this book were high would be a drastic understatement. Which makes it all the more impressive that I found those expectations not only met and surpassed, but completely blown away. I loved everything about this book, and after having loved the Nevernight trilogy fervently, Kristoff’s adult fantasy is something that I will immediately and always purchase.
“We are hope for the hopeless. The fire in the night. We will walk the dark as they do, and they shall know our names and despair. For so long as they burn, we shall be flame. So long as they bleed, we shall be blades. So long as they sin, we shall be saints.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.
Call of the Bone Ships by R.J. Barker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Tide Child (Book #2 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High fantasy
Pages: 482 pages (UK paperback edition)
Published: 24th November 2020 by Orbit
A great sequel that doesn’t shy away from developing the characters through harsh circumstances.
“We are nothing, Shipwife… If we do not try we are nothing. You are right there. Better to lose it all for what is right than to live in fear.”
The Bone Ships by by R.J. Barker
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars.
Series: The Tide Child (Book 2 of 3)
Genre: High-fantasy
Published: November 24, 2020 by Orbit (UK & US)
A superb sequel that elevates the series.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of RJ Barker’s Wounded Kingdom series, and when I recently reread the first book in the Tide Child trilogy I was once again reminded how much I love his stories and I kept on thinking about the story and the characters long after that reread. So when the time came around for myself, TS and Petrik to resume our buddy read with the Call of the Bone Ships I was more than excited to plunge into this world again and I was overjoyed to find that it was every bit as good as I’d hoped.
ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by: Martina Fackova
Cover designed by: Lauren Panepinto
The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Empire of the Wolf (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 432 pages (UK paperback edition)
Published: 22nd February 2022 & 24th February 2022 by Orbit
The Justice of Kings was totally addictive. A truly riveting tale about law, war, morality, and justice.
“Empires are built and maintained with words. Swords are a mere precedent to the quill.”
Charmcaster by Sebastian de Castell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Spellslinger (Book 3 of 6)
Genre: Fantasy, YA fantasy
Published: 17th May 2018 by Hot Key Books (UK) and 18th September 2018 by Orbit (US)
Charmcaster was yet another entertaining and engaging read from Sebastian de Castell.
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Cover art illustration by: Patrick Foster
Bloodline by Will Wight
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Cradle (Book #10 of 12)
Genre: Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Xianxia
Pages: 465 pages
Published: 2nd November 2021 by Hidden Gnome Publishing (Indie)
Will Wight keeps on upping his game; Reaper is the best book of this series so far for me and delivers one hell of a payoff!
You would think that the tenth book in a not yet completed series might be prone to losing some steam, and in many cases, you might be right. Regarding Reaper, the book that takes the Cradle series into double digits, you would be wrong. This is of course only my opinion and is greatly influenced by the spotlight being shone on my favourite character throughout, but that is just one aspect of the story. What makes this better than any other for me, is how much the story focuses on teamwork, and just like this plot, Wight has made all the different parts work together to result in what I believe to be the strongest Cradle entry to date and also the most revelatory.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by: Books Covered
Of Blood And Fire by Ryan Cahill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Bound and the Broken (Book #1 of 4)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 494 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 20th March 2021 by Ryan Cahill (Self-published)
Of Blood and Fire may not bring anything new to the genre, but it’s certainly another great modern take on classic fantasy.
ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.
Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: The Green Bone Saga (Book #3 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Published: 30th November 2021 by Orbit (US) & 2nd December 2021 by Orbit (UK)
Devastatingly brilliant, Jade Legacy is a triumphant finale in Fonda Lee’s emotionally powerful character-driven masterpiece.
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