So far, the best book I’ve read in 2024 is Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien de Castell. The book is a prelude to de Castell’s upcoming Court of Shadows series and a sequel to his excellent Greatcoat novels. Whatever I read next will have a hard time topping this one! The story’s protagonist, Estevar Borros,…
Richard Swan’s The Tyranny of Faith is that rare sequel that outshines its predecessor, The Justice of Kings – which happened to be one of the best books I read last year. Suffice it to say that Swan’s Empire of the Wolf series is becoming one of my favorites. Set in the aftermath of the…
Among the best novels I’ve read in 2023 was The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan. Like me, Swan is a lawyer, and armed with his legal background, he’s crafted a compelling novel about the importance of the rule of law in a sprawling medieval empire on the verge of collapse. Central to the novel…
In addition to exploring new takes on the Arthurian legend, I’m continuing my foray into bestselling fantasy fiction as I contemplate what type of story to write after I complete my Dragon-Myth Cycle series. One book I recently finished and thoroughly enjoyed is Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence. Here’s my review. Prince of Fools,…
With the third novel in my Dragon-Myth Cycle trilogy nearly complete, I’ll soon be turning toward finishing the prequel series that began with The Fae Dealings. The two upcoming novellas may be the closest I come to writing in the realm of Arthurian fiction, so I’ve been reading different takes on the legendary characters who…
The Republic of Thieves, the third installment in Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard series, delves deep into the layered past of Locke Lamora. The novel begins with Locke on death’s door after the events of Red Seas Under Red Skies, until he encounters an unlikely savior – one of the Bondsmagi of Karthain, which sets the entire…
Scott Lynch’s Red Seas Under Red Skies is a worthy follow-up to The Lies of Locke Lamora, a novel I thoroughly enjoyed. In this sequel, Gentlemen Bastards Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of treachery, piracy, and deceit that kept me turning the pages until the novel’s near cliffhanger…
I believe Stephen King is one of the greatest writers of our time. Several of his novels, including The Stand, ‘Salem’s Lot, and Wizard and Glass, are among my all-time favorites. So, when I discovered he had written another fantasy novel titled Fairy Tale, I bought it immediately and dove right in. My review has…
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, the first installment in his Gentleman Bastards series, is arguably the best book I’ve read since George R.R. Martin’s A Storm of Swords. In fact, I venture to say it’s one of the finest pieces of fantasy fiction I’ve had the pleasure of delving into for many…
Of all the fantasy novels I read at the end of last year, A Warrior’s Burden by Jacob Peppers may have been my favorite. My review has been a long time coming, primarily due to the time I’ve spent away from my blog while finishing the third book in the trilogy that began with Enoch’s…
Among the bestselling fantasy fiction I’ve been reading lately is A Forest of Vanity and Valour by A.P. Beswick. The story is a fantasy retelling of the legend of Robin Hood, and it’s quite good. Here’s my review. Vireo Reinhold plays the role of Robert of Locksley in Beswick’s retelling, set in the fictional kingdom…