Fantasy Archives - Novel Notions

Book Review: Illuminary (The Sceptre and the Stylus, #1) by Chawna Schroeder

April 30, 2025 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I’ve been eagerly anticipating Illuminary since it was first announced. A Little Princess is one of my favorite books of all time, so the idea of a fantasy reimagining of that classic story was immediately appealing to me. While I could absolutely see and feel that inspiration in this series opener, it never felt derivative in any way. Illuminary is a refreshingly unique tale, packed with more action and adventure and faith than I expected to find. …

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

April 21, 2025 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

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: Embergold by Rachelle Nelson

April 8, 2025 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

Embergold by Rachelle Nelson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve been eagerly anticipating Embergold since I first read the synopsis, which I found utterly captivating:

Fire dreamed of water, but the first sip would be its last.
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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: Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson

March 4, 2025 Celeste Comments 0 Comment

Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Truth Cursed was billed to me as Black Widow by way of Ella Enchanted, and that description honestly isn’t far off. The opening paragraph immediately put me in mind of Ella Enchanted, both in tone and in the condition of our main character. Also, while I’ve never read the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger, I have a feeling this novel would scratch that same itch. There was mystery and suspense and intrigue, with a dash of romance thrown in. Honesty was contrasted with open communication, appreciation for one’s abilities contrasted with acceptance of oneself. But while there were some important themes, couched subtly within the story, it was the story itself and the development of its characters that kept me turning the pages. It was such a fun, romp of a tale. …

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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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