high fantasy Archives - Page 17 of 27

Book Review: Hollow Empire (The Poison Wars, #2) by Sam Hawke

November 5, 2020 Petrik Leo Comments 2 comments

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

Cover illustration by: Greg Ruth

Hollow Empire by Sam Hawke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Poison Wars (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Mystery

Pages: 560 pages (US Hardcover)

Published: 26th November 2020 by Bantam Press (UK) & 1st December 2020 by Tor Books (US)

An incredibly well-polished and absorbing sequel; out of all the books and series I’ve read this year, Hollow Empire is quite likely THE sequel that has the most significant improvement in overall quality over its predecessor. …

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Book Review: The Stone Knife (The Songs of the Drowned, #1) by Anna Stephens

October 8, 2020 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

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

Cover illustration by: Stephen Mulcahey

The Stone Knife by Anna Stephens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Songs of the Drowned (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 608 pages (UK Hardback)

Published: 26th November 2020 by Harper Voyager

This was amazing. Great characters, lethal actions, and so much bloodbath; a vampire reading this book would probably find their thirst satiated. …

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Book Review: The Fires of Vengeance (The Burning, #2) by Evan Winter

October 6, 2020 Petrik Leo Comments 2 comments

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

Cover illustration by: Karla Ortiz

The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Burning (Book #2 of 4)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 528 pages (UK Hardback)

Published: 12th November 2020 by Orbit (UK) & 10th November 2020 by Orbit (US)

The Fires of Vengeance is an excellent sequel. If Winter can keep this impressive quality up for the remaining two books, the series is guaranteed to be included in many fantasy reader’s lists of favorite fantasy series. …

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Book Review: The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn (Kingdom of Grit, #1) by Tyler Whitesides

September 29, 2020 TS Chan Comments 0 Comment

ARC received from the publisher, Orbit, in exchange for an honest review.

The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn by Tyler Whitesides

My rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Series: Kingdom of Grit (Book 1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, high fantasy

First published: 15th May 2018 by Orbit (US) & 17th May 2018 by Orbit (UK).

New cover re-release: 20 October 2020 by Orbit (US) & 22nd October 2020 by Orbit (UK).

The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn is a commendable adult fantasy debut, by Tyler Whitesides, that is fun, entertaining and has a unique magic system. …

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Book Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1) by Scott Lynch

September 22, 2020 Petrik Leo Comments 5 comments

Cover illustration by: Benjamin Carre

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Gentleman Bastard (Book #1 of 7)

Genre: Fantasy, High fantasy, Heist Fantasy

Pages: 544 pages (UK Paperback edition)

Published: 1st June 2006 by Gollancz (UK) & 27th June 2006 by Spectra (US)

The Lies of Locke Lamora is a double fuckdamn for me. First, for postponing reading this book for such a long time. Second, Scott Lynch’s capability to successfully craft such an incredible debut exceeded my expectations.

“There’s no freedom quite like the freedom of being constantly underestimated.”

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Book review: A Time of Courage (Of Blood and Bone #3) by John Gwynne

September 21, 2020 Haifa Comments 2 comments

A Time of Courage by John Gwynne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Of Blood and Bone (Book #3 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Published: 2nd April 2020 by Pan Macmillan (UK) & 7th April 2020 by Orbit (US)

ARC provided by the publisher, Pan Macmillan, in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and the quotes included may have changed in the released copy.

A Time of Courage is the glorious and bittersweet conclusion of 140 hundred years (or I should probably say 2000 years) worth of bloody history in the Banished Lands!

I have to admit that I went into this final book with a lot of trepidation, in addition to the positive excitement and anticipation. Could this book really be on the same level as Wrath, the masterpiece that was the conclusion of the previous quartet? Will I love it as much? Would I feel as much joy, and sorrow and satisfaction? Will I stare at the book, blinking away tears and trying to calm my frantic heart as a beloved character met their end? Will my eyes fly through the pages, during a tension-filled battle or duel, to seek the outcome and make sure my heroes survived? The answers were yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. John Gwynne truly outdid himself in this outstanding finale.

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Book Review: The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice, #1) by Mark Lawrence

September 20, 2020 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

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

Cover illustration by: Jason Chan

The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Book of the Ice (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High fantasy

Pages: 480 pages (UK Hardcover edition)

Published: 30th April 2020 by Harper Voyager (UK) & 21st April 2020 by Ace (US)

Great world-building and prose, but I have mixed feelings on the book. …

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Book Review: Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

September 14, 2020 Petrik Leo Comments 5 comments

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

Cover illustration by: John Picacio

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Between Earth and Sky (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High fantasy

Pages: 464 pages

Published: 13th October 2020 by Gallery / Saga Press

Fascinating world-building and riveting narrative. Black Sun was my first venture in Rebecca Roanhorse’s works, and it certainly won’t be the last. …

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Book Review: The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien

August 28, 2020 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lord of the Rings (Book #3 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Classic Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Published: 20th October 1955 by George Allen and Unwin

“For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”

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