Cover art by: Mansik Yang
Mother of Learning: ARC 3 by Domagoj Kurmaić
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Mother of Learning (Book #3 of 4)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Web novel
Pages: 743 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 6th September 2022 by Wraithmarked Creative (Indie)
Mother of Learning has been one heck of an entertaining ride, and the beginning of the end is here. …
This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on The Dragonbone Chair.
Cover art illustrated by Donato Giancola
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn (Book #1 of 3), The Osten Ard Saga (Book #1 of 7)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Classic Fantasy
Pages: 703 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 288,700 words
Published: 25th October 1988 by DAW Books
Incredible. The Dragonbone Chair is an absolutely brilliant transition from classic to modern epic fantasy.
“When you stopped to think about it, he reflected, there weren’t many things in life one truly needed. To want too much was worse than greed: it was stupidity—a waste of precious time and effort.”
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Marc Simonetti
Nolyn by Michael J. Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Rise and Fall (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 480 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 3rd August 2021 by Grim Oak Press (Self-published)
Nolyn was an engaging military fantasy and murder mystery novel in the world of Elan. But this is not designed for newcomers to the world of Elan.
“An empty house is a lonely place, an oversized coffin with furniture and windows.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit Books—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by Sasha Vinogradova
Cover design by Lauren Panepinto
The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Drowning Empire (Book #3 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 624 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 20th April 2023 by Orbit Books
In the words of Mephi, The Bone Shard War was a very good and satisfying conclusion.
“Popularity doesn’t make a thing less valid. On the contrary, I’d argue that the book is popular because the proverbs ring true to so many.”
Cover art by: Mansik Yang
Mother of Learning: ARC 2 by Domagoj Kurmaić
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Mother of Learning (Book #2 of 4)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Web novel
Pages: 644 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 1st December 2021 by Wraithmarked Creative (Indie)
Mother of Learning: ARC 2 by nobody103 or Domagoj Kurmaic was as good as the first volume. It almost completely topped ARC 1 that I read last month. …
Cover art by: Melanie Delon
A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Wheel of Time (Book #7 of 14)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 902 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 15th May 1996 by Tor Books
Phaw! I can’t believe I’m finally halfway through The Wheel of Time. And the slog begins here. Phaw!
“Wounds to the pride are remembered long after wounds to the flesh.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit Books—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by Sasha Vinogradova
Cover design by Lauren Panepinto
The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Drowning Empire (Book #2 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 560 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 23rd November 2021 by Orbit Books
The Bone Shard Emperor is a compelling sequel with a focus on politics and character development.
“Old men always think they know better than everyone else, even when the world has long since changed around them.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Saga Press—in exchange for an honest review.
The Will of the Many by James Islington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Hierarchy (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Science Fantasy
Pages: 640 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 240,000 words
Published: 23rd May 2023 by Saga Press
This is not an exaggeration. The Will of the Many by James Islington is the best fantasy book with a magical school trope I’ve ever read since The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
“The power to protect is the highest of responsibilities… When a man is given it, his duty is not only to the people he thinks are worthy.”
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Kyra Gregory
The Way of Edan by Philip Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: The Edan Trilogy (Book #1 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 539 pages (Kindle edition)
Published: 21st March 2023 by Philip Chase (Self-Published)
In The Way of Edan, Philip Chase has weaved a lyrical fantasy debut that will highly appeal to fans of classic and modern fantasy.
“The old tales take us to faraway times and places, but they’re also where we come from. They tell us how we got here.”
ARC provided by the publisher—Tordotcom—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by: Jaime Jones
Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 160 pages (Hardcover edition)
Published: 11st April 2023 by Tordotcom
Judging this by my novella standards, Untethered Sky is one of the best standalone novellas I’ve read.
“We cannot know the price others pay for their good fortune.”