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Category: Petrik’s Reviews

Book Review: The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #1) by Tad Williams

Book Review: The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #1) by Tad Williams

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This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on The Dragonbone Chair.

Cover art illustrated by Donato Giancola

The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn (Book #1 of 3), The Osten Ard Saga (Book #1 of 7)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Classic Fantasy

Pages: 703 pages (Hardcover edition)

Word Count: 288,700 words

Published: 25th October 1988 by DAW Books

Incredible. The Dragonbone Chair is an absolutely brilliant transition from classic to modern epic fantasy.

“When you stopped to think about it, he reflected, there weren’t many things in life one truly needed. To want too much was worse than greed: it was stupidity—a waste of precious time and effort.”

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Book Review: Nolyn (The Rise and Fall, #1) by Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Nolyn (The Rise and Fall, #1) by Michael J. Sullivan

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Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti

Nolyn by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Rise and Fall (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 480 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 3rd August 2021 by Grim Oak Press (Self-published)

Nolyn was an engaging military fantasy and murder mystery novel in the world of Elan. But this is not designed for newcomers to the world of Elan.

“An empty house is a lonely place, an oversized coffin with furniture and windows.”

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Book Review: The Severing Son (The Sundered Nation, #1) by Vaughn Roycroft

Book Review: The Severing Son (The Sundered Nation, #1) by Vaughn Roycroft

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Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book cover

Cover art by John Anthony di Giovanni

The Severing Son by Vaughn Roycroft

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Sundered Nation (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Historical Fantasy

Pages: 538 pages (Paperback edition)

Published: 18th October 2022 by Avalon Cottage Publishing (Self-published)

The Severing Son is a fast-paced modern fantasy debut with great actions and nodes to classic fantasy tropes. …

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Book Review: The Bone Shard War (The Drowning Empire, #3) by Andrea Stewart

Book Review: The Bone Shard War (The Drowning Empire, #3) by Andrea Stewart

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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 War by Andrea Stewart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Drowning Empire (Book #3 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 624 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 20th April 2023 by Orbit Books

In the words of Mephi, The Bone Shard War was a very good and satisfying conclusion.

“Popularity doesn’t make a thing less valid. On the contrary, I’d argue that the book is popular because the proverbs ring true to so many.”

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Book Review: A Touch of Light (The Ashes of Avarin, #1) by Thiago Abdalla

Book Review: A Touch of Light (The Ashes of Avarin, #1) by Thiago Abdalla

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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. …

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Book Review: Mother of Learning ARC 2 by nobody103 or Domagoj Kurmaic

Book Review: Mother of Learning ARC 2 by nobody103 or Domagoj Kurmaic

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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. …

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Book Review: A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time, #7) by Robert Jordan

Book Review: A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time, #7) by Robert Jordan

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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.”

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Book Review: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

Book Review: The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

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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.”

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Book Review: The Bone Shard Emperor (The Drowning Empire, #2) by Andrea Stewart

Book Review: The Bone Shard Emperor (The Drowning Empire, #2) by Andrea Stewart

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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.”

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Book Review: The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1) by James Islington

Book Review: The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1) by James Islington

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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.”

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