Book Review Archives - Novel Notions

Book Review: An Inkling of Flame (Song of the Damned, #0.5) by Z.B. Steele

March 24, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

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

An Inkling of Flame: A Song of the Damned novella by Z.B. Steele

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Song of the Damned (Book #0.5)

Genre: Fantasy, Grimdark Fantasy

Pages: 89 pages (Paperback edition)

Published: 13th January 2025

An Inkling of Flame by Z.B. Steele does what the title signifies. It shows the burning potential the series has to leave its scorching mark in the genre. …

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Book Review: A Darkness at Sethanon (The Riftwar Saga, #4) by Raymond E. Feist

March 13, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

A Darkness At Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Riftwar Saga (Book #4 of 4), The Riftwar Cycle (Book #4 of 31)

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

Pages: 401 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 7th February 1986

A Darkness at Sethanon successfully provided a climactic final few chapters to The Riftwar Saga trilogy, but as an installment, it is also the weakest book of the trilogy.

“Your destiny is now your own to forge as best as you may.”

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Book Review: Silverthorn (The Riftwar Saga, #3) by Raymond E. Feist

March 5, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Riftwar Saga (Book #3 of 4), The Riftwar Cycle (Book #3 of 31)

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

Pages: 401 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: May 1985

Silverthorn is a different form of adventure in The Riftwar Saga focusing on Arutha and Jimmy more rather than Pug and Tomas.

“Life is problems. Living is solving problems.”

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Book Review: The Left Hand of Darkness (The Hainish Cycle, #4) by Ursula K. Le Guin

March 3, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 1 comment

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone, The Hainish Cycle (Book #4)

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 367 pages (ebook edition)

Word Count: 92,000 words

Publish date: March 1969 by Ace Books

The Left Hand of Darkness is a great example of a book conveying big themes in a small package.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

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Book Review: Herald (Age of the God Eater, #1) by Rob J. Hayes

January 26, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Eshpur

Herald by Rob J. Hayes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Age of the God Eater (Book #1 of 3), The God Eater Saga

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 720 pages (Hardcover edition)

Word Count: 235,000 words

Publish date: 23rd of July 2024 by Rob J. Hayes (Self-Published)

Herald, or the entire God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes, is my pick for the best self-published fantasy books of 2024.

“Books, I have long since learned, can enslave or liberate a person as surely can a sword. But often, with a book, the subject won’t know the difference.”

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Book Review: The Fury of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #3) by John Gwynne

January 20, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by: Marcus Whinney

The Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Bloodsworn Saga (Book #3 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 536 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 22nd October 2024 by Orbit

The moment is here. Another ending from John Gwynne. The Fury of the Gods is the action-packed concluding volume to Gwynne’s—quite likely—most popular series, The Bloodsworn Saga. …

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Book Review: Labyrinth’s Heart (Rook and Rose, #3) by M.A. Carrick

December 28, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Nekro XIII

Labyrinth’s Heart by M.A. Carrick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Rook and Rose (Book #3 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 688 pages (Kindle edition)

Word Count: 220,000 words

Publish date: 15th August 2023 by Orbit

Labyrinth’s Heart provides a satisfying conclusion to every major characters of the Rook and Rose trilogy. …

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Book Review: Empire of Grass (The Last King of Osten Ard, #2) by Tad Williams

December 1, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Michael Whelan

Empire of Grass by Tad Williams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Last King of Osten Ard (Book #2 of 4), The Osten Ard Saga (Book #5 of 7)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 684 pages (Hardcover edition)

Word Count: 319,000 words

Published: 7th May 2019 by DAW Books (US) & Hodder (UK)

Empire of Grass is the darkest entry in the entire Osten Ard Saga by Tad Williams so far, and I feel it is going to be outshined by its sequels.

“You don’t know you’re in a story until someone tells it to you afterward.”

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Book Review: Brothers of the Wind (The Last King of Osten Ard, #0.75) by Tad Williams

November 12, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Jim Tierney

Brothers of the Wind by Tad Williams

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Last King of Osten Ard (#0.75 of 4)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High fantasy

Pages: 276 pages (Kindle edition)

Word count: 104,000 words

Publish date: 2nd November 2021 by DAW (US) & Hodderscape (UK)

Super underrated. Brothers of the Wind is beautifully written, melancholic, and layered with impactful details.

“Duty is honor,” my stern father often used to tell me. “And honor is all.” But I would amend his saying. I have learned that our first duty is to truth, because without truth, honor itself is hollow.

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