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Book Review: Winter’s Chill (The Nordic Wars, #2) by Morgan L. Busse

Book Review: Winter’s Chill (The Nordic Wars, #2) by Morgan L. Busse


Winter’s Chill by Morgan L. Busse
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Winter’s Chill picks up right where Winter’s Maiden left off. We continue following Brighid and Kaeden, with occasional secondary perspectives thrown in. Busse takes us to the White City in the southlands, and back to Bear Clan territory in the north. I loved learning more about the Eldaran through Kaeden’s perspective. But even more, I loved exploring the lore and power of the Bear Clan alongside Brighid. While not as tense and fast-paced as its predecessor, Winter’s Chill is just as compelling. The expansion of the world and the growth of the characters made for an engaging reading experience.

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Book Review: Winter’s Maiden (The Nordic Wars, #1) by Morgan L. Busse

Book Review: Winter’s Maiden (The Nordic Wars, #1) by Morgan L. Busse


Winter’s Maiden by Morgan L. Busse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Winter’s Maiden is the first installment in the Nordic Wars, a Norse-inspired fantasy brimming with compelling characters, intense action, and fascinating worldbuilding. Fans of John Gwynne, rejoice! This novel scratches the same itch as Gwynne’s The Faithful and the Fallen in terms of mythos, and his Bloodsworn Saga in terms of setting and characters. I was swept away by this epic tale from start to finish, and I immediately dove into the second installment, Winter’s Chill, as soon as I read the final page.

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Book Review: The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy, #2) by James Islington

Book Review: The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy, #2) by James Islington

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

Cover art by Jaime Jones

The Strength of the Few by James Islington

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Hierarchy (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Science Fantasy

Pages: 736 pages (Hardcover edition)

Word Count: 240,000 words

Published: 11th Novermber 2025 by Saga Press


We’re not at the end of 2025 yet, but I believe The Strength of the Few by James Islington has secured the best fantasy book of the year award. This is the finest sequel I’ve read since Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson and The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu.

“The power to protect is the highest responsibility.”

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Book Review: The Radiant King (Astral Kingdoms, #1) by David Dalglish

Book Review: The Radiant King (Astral Kingdoms, #1) by David Dalglish

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


Cover art by Magali Villeneuve

The Radiant King by David Dalglish

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Astral Kingdoms (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 514 pages (PaperbackEdition)

Word count: 174,000 words

Published: 4th March 2025 by Orbit Books


The Radiant King by David Dalglish is a Berserk inspired epic fantasy book that will become one of Dalglish’s most underrated titles.

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Book Review: Caligo (Sequel to the Nightingale Trilogy) by J.J. Fischer

Book Review: Caligo (Sequel to the Nightingale Trilogy) by J.J. Fischer


Caligo by J.J. Fischer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have a confession to make: I preordered this standalone sequel to the Nightingale Trilogy before I had even started the first book. I was that sure that I would love the series. That bet paid off. It’s not often that every single book in a series is a five-star read, but the Nightingale saga was that for me. And that includes Caligo. This sequel was just as fantastic as the main trilogy, if not even better.

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Book Review: Memoria (The Nightingale Trilogy #3) by J.J. Fischer

Book Review: Memoria (The Nightingale Trilogy #3) by J.J. Fischer


Memoria by J.J. Fischer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely incredible. I was captivated by Calor. I was entranced by Lumen. But it is in Memoria that I found myself the most profoundly moved. Not because it was an excellent story, expertly told. Not because I had fallen in love with the characters and was so deeply invested in their stories. While all of those things were true, and all of them contributed to making this trilogy as wonderful as it is, those components were merely the foundation, the setting of the stage for the Truth that Fischer so brilliantly displayed through this work of fiction.

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Book Review: Lumen (The Nightingale Trilogy #2) by J.J. Fischer

Book Review: Lumen (The Nightingale Trilogy #2) by J.J. Fischer


Lumen by J.J. Fischer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lumen is the second installment in the Nightingale trilogy, and it picks up right where Calor left off. The pace is fast and the tensions are high from the very first page. The cast is still wonderful, and I’m enjoying getting to know them more deeply. Fischer does a wonderful job balancing their strengths against their weaknesses. She also does a lovely job of weaving subtle strands of Greek myth into her world in a way that only serves to deepen the story. There are subtle nods throughout, especially seen in the naming of places and even certain characters.

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Book Review: A Song of Legends Lost (The Invoker, #1) by M.H. Ayinde

Book Review: A Song of Legends Lost (The Invoker, #1) by M.H. Ayinde

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

Cover art by Richard Anderson

A Song of Legends Lost by M.H. Ayinde

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Invoker (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 592 pages

Word count: 189,000 words

Published:  8th April 2025 by Orbit (UK) & 3rd June 2025 by Saga Press (US)


A Song of Legends Lost is a Final Fantasy X inspired debut with magic summons reminiscent of Spirit from Shaman King or Stand from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.

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

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

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

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

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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