Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by: Alejandro Colucci
A Touch of Light by Thiago Abdalla
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Series: The Ashes of Avarin (Book #1 of 4)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 447 pages (Hardback edition)
Published: 1st March 2022 by Thiago Abdalla (Self-Published
A Touch of Light is a confusing and challenging character-driven fantasy debut. …
Cover art by: Mansik Yang
Mother of Learning: ARC 2 by Domagoj Kurmaić
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Mother of Learning (Book #2 of 4)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Web novel
Pages: 644 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 1st December 2021 by Wraithmarked Creative (Indie)
Mother of Learning: ARC 2 by nobody103 or Domagoj Kurmaic was as good as the first volume. It almost completely topped ARC 1 that I read last month. …
Cover art by: Melanie Delon
A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Wheel of Time (Book #7 of 14)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 902 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 15th May 1996 by Tor Books
Phaw! I can’t believe I’m finally halfway through The Wheel of Time. And the slog begins here. Phaw!
“Wounds to the pride are remembered long after wounds to the flesh.”
Cover art by Steve Argyle
The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Science fiction, Portal fantasy
Pages: 420 pages (ebook edition)
Published: 1st April 2023 by Dragonsteel
Sanderson’s experimental and bizarre comedic sci-fi novel with the theme of redemption will be a big hit or miss.
“Your life isn’t unremarkable. You are merely living in the wrong time. Find your Perfect Dimension ™. Embrace your destiny— whether it be to bring Promethean light or exert relentless domination— and travel the dimensions. Become a wizard.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit Books—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by Sasha Vinogradova
Cover design by Lauren Panepinto
The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Drowning Empire (Book #2 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 560 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 23rd November 2021 by Orbit Books
The Bone Shard Emperor is a compelling sequel with a focus on politics and character development.
“Old men always think they know better than everyone else, even when the world has long since changed around them.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Saga Press—in exchange for an honest review.
The Will of the Many by James Islington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Hierarchy (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Science Fantasy
Pages: 640 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 240,000 words
Published: 23rd May 2023 by Saga Press
This is not an exaggeration. The Will of the Many by James Islington is the best fantasy book with a magical school trope I’ve ever read since The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
“The power to protect is the highest of responsibilities… When a man is given it, his duty is not only to the people he thinks are worthy.”
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Kyra Gregory
The Way of Edan by Philip Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Edan Trilogy (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 539 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 21st March 2023 by Philip Chase (Self-Published)
In The Way of Edan, Philip Chase has weaved a lyrical fantasy debut that will highly appeal to fans of classic and modern fantasy.
“The old tales take us to faraway times and places, but they’re also where we come from. They tell us how we got here.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Tordotcom—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by: Jaime Jones
Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 160 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 11st April 2023 by Tordotcom
Judging this by my novella standards, Untethered Sky is one of the best standalone novellas I’ve read.
“We cannot know the price others pay for their good fortune.”
Cover art by: Mansik Yang
Mother of Learning: ARC 1 by Domagoj Kurmaić
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Mother of Learning (Book #1 of 4)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Web novel
Pages: 644 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 1st December 2021 by Wraithmarked Creative (Indie)
Mother of Learning: ARC 1 was a marvelous start to a time-loop fantasy series. It was so damn enjoyable to read. …
Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Tainted Dominion (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Grimdark Fantasy, Murder Mystery, Romance
Pages: 664 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 18th February 2021 by Imburleigh Publishing (Self-Published)
I thought I would end up disliking Legacy of the Brightwash. I was wrong.
“You should still help… Even if you don’t think you’re good at it. The best way to learn something is to not be good at it first.”