Fantasy Book Critic: Windborn by Alex S. Bradshaw

He has always been a fan of epic stories (as well as dinosaurs and cake) so it came as no surprise to anyone that he went on to study Classics and Ancient History at university.

Now Alex has turned his hand to making epic stories of his own.

FORMAT: Published by Amber Feather Publishing on April 28, 2021 | 562 Pages | Cover design by Raph Herrera Molotan

OVERVIEW: Windborn is Alex Bradshaw's debut novel, and it is an intriguing first work. Its main character, Edda Gretasdottir, has much more to offer than just a shield and ax. All she wanted out of life was a farm and freedom from her clan's oppressive chieftain. She got killed instead.

Okay, not really, but it's complicated. What matters is that she got superpowers in the process. She didn't ask for them, but now that she has them, she's going to use them to get revenge. Her narrative is fueled by rage. Her short temper gets her embroiled in something much, much bigger, and more dangerous than this, though.

Windborn has a lot of coolness to offer and display. With its Norse superheroes using elemental powers to wreak havoc and win battles, and Edda's internal turmoil the book is never lacking action, adventure, intrigue, and suspense. It's packed with fights and, truth be told, I could do with less of them. Especially that Edda's getting from one brawl into another got slightly repetitive in the middle part. Luckily, Bradshaw balances things with her struggles with grief. She tries to find her place in the world after becoming the Windborn, not an easy task when everything goes wrong with your life.

I liked the supporting characters - both regular people and Windborn with varying superpowers. I found them well-rounded, compelling, and likable. The prose is strong and the structure clear. The narrative rarely ventures into the dark realm of info-dumping, and the story moves at a steady pace. Definitely a plus.

Windborn is consistently well-written, entertaining, and held aloft by cool ideas, immersive setting, and compelling characters.