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Category: Petrik’s Reviews

Book Review: The Spider’s War (The Dagger and the Coin, #5) by Daniel Abraham

Book Review: The Spider’s War (The Dagger and the Coin, #5) by Daniel Abraham

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The Spider’s War by Daniel Abraham

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Dagger and the Coin (Book #5 of 5)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 519 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 8th March 2016 by Orbit

The best of the series; The Spider’s War is an unconventional and incredibly satisfying conclusion to an underrated fantasy series.

“The world has never been fair. Often beautiful. Sometimes kind when kindness was not deserved. But never fair.”

…

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Book Review: The Fall (The Bound and the Broken, #0.5) by Ryan Cahill

Book Review: The Fall (The Bound and the Broken, #0.5) by Ryan Cahill

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Cover art designed by: Books Covered

The Fall by Ryan Cahill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Bound and the Broken (Book #0.5 of 4)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 95 pages

Published: 1st November 2020 by Ryan Cahill (Self-published)

Wow. I can’t believe this great novella is available for FREE on the author’s website. …

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Book Review: Senlin Ascends (The Books of Babel, #1) by Josiah Bancroft

Book Review: Senlin Ascends (The Books of Babel, #1) by Josiah Bancroft

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This review was written on the 29th of June 2017

Cover art by: Ian Leino

Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Books of Babel (Book #1 of 4)

Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk Fantasy

Pages: 371 pages (US Kindle edition)

Published: 18th February 2013 by Josiah Bancroft (Self-published) & 22nd August 2017 Orbit Books

If you need extra proof that a self-published fantasy can be on par/superior compared to traditionally published fantasy books, Senlin Ascends is it. …

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Book Review: The Wisdom of Crowds (The Age of Madness, #3) by Joe Abercrombie

Book Review: The Wisdom of Crowds (The Age of Madness, #3) by Joe Abercrombie

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ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover illustration by: Tomas Almeida

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Age of Madness (Book #3 of 3), First Law World (Book, #10 of 10)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Grimdark fantasy

Pages: 529 pages (UK Hardback)

Published: 14th September 2021 by Gollancz (UK) & Orbit (US)

Joe Abercrombie is a genius storyteller. The Wisdom of Crowds is one of the best books of the year, a masterfully crafted conclusion to The Age of Madness trilogy.

“What is the point of gathering knowledge if one does not pass it on? What is the point of growing old if one does not try to shape the future?”

…

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Book Review: Aching God (Iconoclasts, #1) by Mike Shel

Book Review: Aching God (Iconoclasts, #1) by Mike Shel

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

Aching God by Mike Shel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Iconoclasts (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 602 pages (Paperback edition)

Published: 9th April 2018 by Mike Shel (Self-published)

Aching God started off nicely and ended great, but I have issues with the overall pacing. …

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Book Review: The Widow’s House (The Dagger and the Coin, #4) by Daniel Abraham

Book Review: The Widow’s House (The Dagger and the Coin, #4) by Daniel Abraham

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The Widow’s House by Daniel Abraham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Dagger and the Coin (Book #4 of 5)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 531 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 5th August 2014 by Orbit

A penultimate installment filled with war, tactics, and intrigues. The stage for the conclusion of the series has been established nicely.

“These are the weapons that greater forces use against each other. Put two boys to fighting each other with sticks, and the boys may come away well or poorly, but the sticks will always be shattered.”

…

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Book Review: Warriors of the Storm (The Last Kingdom, #9) by Bernard Cornwell

Book Review: Warriors of the Storm (The Last Kingdom, #9) by Bernard Cornwell

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Warriors of the Storm by Bernard Cornwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Last Kingdom (Book #9 of 13)

Genre: Historical fiction

Pages: 325 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 8th October 2015 by HarperCollins

Warriors of the Storm has violence, funny moments, and an engaging turn of events. …

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Book Review: Mistress of the Empire (Riftwar: Empire, #3) by Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts

Book Review: Mistress of the Empire (Riftwar: Empire, #3) by Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts

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Mistress of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Riftwar: Empire (Book #3 of 3), The Riftwar Cycle (Book #7 of 31)

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

Pages: 864 pages (UK Paperback edition)

Published: 1st April 1992 by Doubleday

This is the second series I finished this year, and it’s a thrilling and rewarding conclusion to the Riftwar: Empire trilogy.

“Love doesn’t demand; it accepts. It has taken me my life to learn this.”

…

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Book Review: City of Stairs (The Divine Cities, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett

Book Review: City of Stairs (The Divine Cities, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett

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(This is a repost of an old review I wrote in May 2018)

Cover art illustrated by: Sam Weber

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series:The Divine Cities (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Urban fantasy, Post-apocalyptic, Horror

Pages: 452 pages (US paperback edition)

Published: 9th September 2014 by Broadway Books (US) & 2nd April 2015 by Jo Fletcher Books (UK)

A truly wonderful start to a trilogy and one of the most original world-building I’ve ever had the chance to experience in a novel. …

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Book Review: The Pariah (The Covenant of Steel, #1) by Anthony Ryan

Book Review: The Pariah (The Covenant of Steel, #1) by Anthony Ryan

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ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by: Jaime Jones

Cover art designed by: Lauren Panepinto

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Covenant of Steel (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 576 pages (UK Hardcover edition)

Published: 26th August 2021 (UK) & 24th August 2021 (US) by Orbit

I’ve read every novel by Anthony Ryan, and The Pariah just might have his best prose so far.

“When the task is a killing, be quick and make sure of it. Torment is an indulgence. Save it for only the most deserving.”

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