Shadowblack by Sebastian de Castell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Spellslinger (Book 2 of 6)
Genre: Fantasy, YA fantasy
Published: 5th October 2017 by Hot Key Books (UK) and 21st August 2018 by Orbit (US)
Enjoyable and engaging, Shadowblack was an excellent sequel which builds on the characters and the intriguing world they live in.
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.”
Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Shane Schofield (Book 1)
Genre: High-octane action thriller
I don’t usually write nor post reviews for thrillers, but Ice Station was way too entertaining and exhilarating for me not to put it out there.
The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Last Kingdom (Book #8 of 13)
Genre: Historical fiction
Pages: 353 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 23rd October 2014 by HarperCollins
The Empty Throne was an improvement over The Pagan Lord, and it somehow felt refreshing despite its formulaic structure.
“I wondered why the gods no longer came to earth. It would make belief so much easier.”
The Tyrant’s Law by Daniel Abraham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Dagger and the Coin (Book #3 of 5)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 512 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 14th May 2013 by Orbit
There’s no doubt for me that this was another great read, but I also have to admit that I didn’t enjoy this one as much as The King’s Blood.
“Knowing something another man wanted to know was a kind of power. Maybe the best kind.”
Cover art illustrated by: Dale Halvorsen
Interior card art illustrated by Sam Hadley
Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Spellslinger (Book #1 of 6)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 416 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 4th May 2017 by Hot Key Books
Spellslinger is a highly entertaining and engrossing start to this hexalogy.
Normally when I see a promising sounding book and notice that it is YA, I immediately lower my expectations for it as I have not always had the best experience with the genre. That has steadily changed over the last few years though, as more and more YA books have surprised me. When Spellslinger quietly showed up on my radar, though, I had no such reservations. I love Sebastien de Castell’s writing that much and will give him the benefit of the doubt any day of the week, and I am thrilled to say that it did not betray my trust in the least.
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A Numbers Game by RJ Dark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars.
Genre: Mystery, crime
Published: 4th June 2021 by Wavesback (Indie)
A Numbers Game was an enjoyable mystery read that has great emotions and the hallmarks of RJ Barker’s humour.
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, Orbit Books, in exchange for an honest review.
The Shadow of the Gods was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. I adored both The Faithful and the Fallen and Of Blood and Bone in their entirety, and I couldn’t wait to see what new world Gwynne was going to create outside of the Banished Lands, which until this point had served as the setting for every novel he’s penned. And he didn’t disappoint. The Norse-inspired Vigrið is a fantastic setting, one I’m sure will only become more and more interesting as the series progresses. However, as with his previous series, the setting and premise might draw a reader in, but the characters are what keeps said reader invested. …
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Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Last Kingdom (Book #6 of 13)
Genre: Historical fiction
Pages: 357 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 29th September 2011 by HarperCollins
This was not as good as Season 3 of the TV series, but Cornwell successfully delivered a fitting conclusion to the first part of the series. …
The Legend of Eli Monpress by Rachel Aaron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Legend of Eli Monpress (Books #1-3 of 5)
Genre: Fantasy, high fantasy
Published: February 2012 by Orbit (UK and US)
Rachel Aaron’s debut fantasy series, The Legend of Eli Monpress, was so addictively entertaining and fun that I blasted through all three books in the first omnibus in just four days.