Petrik's Favorites Archives

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.”

…

Read More Read More

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.

…

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

October 25, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Genre: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy

Pages: 336 pages (Paperback edition)

Publish date: 5th November 2024 by Ace (US) & Hodderscape (UK)

The Teller of Small Fortunes could become the new benchmark for cozy fantasy novel. …

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Devils (The Devils, #1) by Joe Abercrombie

October 2, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

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

Cover art by Will Staehle

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Devils (Book #1)

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Historical Fantasy

Pages: 512 pages (Paperback edition)

Word Count: 213,000 words

Publish date: 6th May 2025 by Gollancz & Tor Books (US)

I fully realize this book is not out until May 2025, but so far, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is the best fantasy book I’ve read this year. It’s devilishly brilliant.

‘No matter how you fight, you can’t beat time. It lays low every empire, topples every tyrant.’

…

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Narrow Road Between Desires (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #0.5) by Patrick Rothfuss

September 23, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Nate Taylor

The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Kingkiller Chronicle (Book #0.5 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy

Pages: 240 pages (Hardcover edition)

Word Count: 40,000 words

Publish date: 14th November 2023 by DAW Books and Gollancz

The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss is a potentially rewarding expansion to the already whimsical and beautiful novella, The Lightning Tree. …

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) by Ken Follett

July 20, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Kingsbridge (Book #1 of 5)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 992 pages (Hardcover edition)

Word Count: 410,000 words

Publish date: October 1989 by Macmillan …

Read More Read More

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

May 27, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Eshpur

Deathless by Rob J. Hayes

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

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

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 196 pages (Kindle edition)

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

Deathless was, unbelievably, even better than Demon; this is an intense and dark political epic fantasy done right.

”It takes more than one person to birth a conspiracy. “

…

Read More Read More

Book Review: Disquiet Gods (The Sun Eater, #6) by Christopher Ruocchio

April 25, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on Disquiet Gods

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

Cover art illustrated by Kieran Yanner

Disquiet Gods by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #6 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Word Count: 290,000 words

Pages: 704 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 2nd April 2024 by DAW Books (US) & Head of Zeus (UK)

This book… What a penultimate installment. Disquiet Gods is a festival of epic science fantasy masterwork cranked to maximum level. …

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Witchwood Crown (The Last King of Osten Ard, #1) by Tad Williams

April 18, 2024 Petrik Leo Comments 0 Comment

Cover art illustrated by Michael Whelan

The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Last King of Osten Ard (Book #1 of 4), The Osten Ard Saga (Book #4 of 7)

Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Pages: 736 pages (Hardcover edition)

Word Count: 350,000 words

Published: 27th June 2017 by DAW Books (US) & Hodder (UK)

It is with a heart of joy I proclaim The Witchwood Crown as an exquisite return to the world of Osten Ard.

“You have a fine voice. Remember that music is a noble charge, even a dangerous charge, because it can pierce a man’s heart when a spear or arrow cannot.”

…

Read More Read More