Blog Listing
- @Number71
- Beauty In Ruins
- Best Fantasy Books HQ
- Bitten By Books
- Booknest
- Bookworm Blues
- Charlotte's Library
- Civilian Reader
- Critical Mass
- Curated Fantasy Books
- Dark Wolf's Fantasy Reviews
- Everything is Nice
- Falcata Times
- Fantasy & SciFi Lovin' News & Reviews
- Fantasy Cafe
- Fantasy Literature
- Gold Not Glittering
- GoodKindles
- Grimdark Magazine
- Hellnotes
- io9
- Jabberwock
- Jeff VanderMeer
- King of the Nerds
- Layers of Thought
- Lynn's Book Blog
- Neth Space
- Novel Notions
- Omnivoracious
- Only The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
- Pyr-O-Mania
- Realms Of My Mind
- Rob's Blog O' Stuff
- Rockstarlit Bookasylum
- SciFiChick.com
- Smorgasbord Fantasia
- Speculative Book Review
- Stainless Steel Droppings
- Tez Says
- The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.
- The B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog
- The Bibliosanctum
- The Book Smugglers
- The Fantasy Hive
- The Fantasy Inn
- The Nocturnal Library
- The OF Blog
- The Qwillery
- The Speculative Scotsman
- The Vinciolo Journal
- The Wertzone
- Thoughts Stained With Ink
- Tip the Wink
- Tor.com
- Val's Random Comments
- Voyager Books
- Walker of Worlds
- Whatever
- Whispers & Wonder
Blog Archive
-
▼
2023
(62)
-
▼
March
(14)
- Interview: A.C. Cobble, author of the Wahrheit series
- EXCLUSIVE COVER REVEAL + Q&A: Truth Of Crowns by C...
- World Running Down by Al Hess (Reviewed by Shazzie)
- SPFBO 8 Finalist Review: Mysterious Ways by Abbie ...
- SPFBO Finalist interview: Abbie Evans
- Book review: The Fisherman by John Langan
- The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan (Reviewed by ...
- Orphan Planet by Rex Burke (Reviewed by Shazzie)
- Book review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
- A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Ha...
- Review: THE FAITHLESS by C.L. Clark
- The Housekeepers by Alex Hay (Reviewed by Shazzie)
- Review: Emperor of Ruin by Django Wexler
- Cover Reveal: Orphan Planet by Rex Burke
-
►
February
(21)
- SPFBO 8 Finalist review: A Song for The Void by An...
- SPFBO Finalist interview: Andrew C. Piazza, the Au...
- Review: Rubicon by J.S. Dewes
- Book review: Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen
- My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine (Reviewed...
- Independence: A Novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakarun...
- The Battle That Was Lost by Micheal S. Jackson (Re...
- Review: The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
- Book review: Paradox Bound by Peter Clines
- Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim (Reviewed by Shazzie)
- SPFBO 8 Finalist Review: A Touch of Light by Thiag...
- SPFBO Interview: Thiago Abdalla, the author of A T...
- THE EIDOLON by K.D. Edwards - Review
- Cover Reveal: Chasm by Stacey McEwan
- The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakr...
- Graphic novel: My Life Among Humans by Jed McGowan
- The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan - Review
- GIVEAWAY: The Severing Son by Vaughn Roycroft
-
▼
March
(14)
Book Links: Find links to buy the books here
INTERVIEW
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! Welcome back to the Fantasy Book Critic, and I hope you’re having a good start to your year. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your ongoing series, WAHREIT?
Hello and thank you for having me! I’m AC Cobble, author of the Benjamin Ashwood, Cartographer, King’s Ranger, and Wahrheit series! They’re all what I think of as pretty classic epic fantasy. Think small parties going on big adventures, traveling expansive worlds, and facing impossible odds. I draw a lot of inspiration from 80’s and 90’s era epic fantasy that I grew up reading, as well as from personal experiences. If you pay close attention, you can see where some of my worldbuilding is taken from real places. My favorite hobby is travel, so my characters are always on the move! I also find ideas in history, modern politics, science, and other fields. As they say, truth is stranger than fiction, so why not use it!
In Wahrheit, the loose genesis of the story was the German 30 Years’ War. It began in 1618, and in parts of Germany, 60% of the population died off because of the conflict. It was mostly a civil war, though foreign powers were drawn in generally to their regret. Religious, political, and economic differences were all drivers. Basically, it was a horrible mess! But… what if there had been magic and dragons? That’s where I started, but Wahrheit has grown into something quite different. This series is certainly not a historical fiction or alternate version, but the roots of the story should give you an idea of where I’m going.
And while there are big battles, political intrigue, themes relevant to the modern age, and world-spanning conflicts, the books are focused on a small handful of characters and their personal journeys. From peasant to spy to dragon knight to queen, how do people deal with what is happening around them? If you like big stakes, political intrigue, adventure, and witty banter, this series is for you! Conspiracy, Book 1 in the series is out, and Revenge Book 2 is coming March 21st!
If you had to summarize the premise of your upcoming book REVENGE in five words or less, what would you say?
Conspiracy successful, cost was high.
Five words?? I write epic fantasy!! Grr. Let me try again.
Title is spoiler, people die.
In the same vein, what three adjectives would you choose to describe the WAHREIT series?
Epic, intriguing, adventure.
This is not your debut series. How would you say the way you approach your writing has changed over all this time, and what themes and ideas will always be a part of your books?
Yes, so this is my fourth series, and Revenge will be my seventeenth book. I like to think they keep getting better! I’ve got some really dedicated fans to my older books, but the reviews are actually better on this series, so hopefully I’m doing something right. When I think about what’s improved, or if not improved at least changed, it’s that I’ve acquired a lot more confidence in what I’m doing. On some levels, it’s basic grammar. I spent a lot of time on the first books learning how to effectively communicate, knowing the grammar rules so my writing was clear, and figuring out when to break them so it was interesting. On a deeper level, I’m also more confident with my storytelling. I’ve wrapped up several series, so I know I can do it again, and that encourages me to take bigger risks.
The nuts and bolts come easier, I trust my gut on structure of the overall story, and I’m comfortable creating threads, knowing I have the ability to tie them off. That lets me focus a lot more on building in themes that are relevant to the story, and to our modern lives. Truth, for example, is a key theme in Wahrheit. Which matters more, truth or belief? And how can political leaders use the power of “truth” to their own advantage? It’s a topical theme, but outside our modern context still an interesting exploration in a fantasy setting. My confidence also gives me a chance to gamble a little on story choices which push the reader in unexpected directions. I think that’s what people are responding to in recent reviews. The stories are most importantly fun, but they resonate on other levels and take you to unexpected places.
Big, epic, adventure books have been a part of the fantasy shelves for decades, and while they occupy a large section any SFF shelves, there are other kinds that are now also as popular. What keeps you attracted to writing these, and could you tell us something about your early influences, as well as the books you loved growing up?
Do you have any authorial goals that you’d like to tell us about?
Thank you for answering all these questions! If there is one thing you’d like our readers to take away from this interview, what would it be?
Official Author Website
Pre-order Truth Of Crowns over HERE
CDA: Thanks for having me! I’m a big fan of y’all’s blog. You really give so much to the fantasy community.
Q] Why did you choose to go the self-published route with Truth Of Crowns?
Q] Let’s talk about how Truth of Crowns came to fruition? What was your inspiration for this fantasy story?
Q] With Truth of Crowns being the first book of a series, what can you reveal about your plans for the series (number of books)? Is there a series title?
Q] For someone who has not read any of your novels, how would you describe the type of stories that you write?
Pre-order Truth Of Crowns over HERE
Eogan Grey has a secret that will see him killed. He is the heir to the Horned Crown of Dagdar, and he secretly married a woman forbidden to him – the crown princess of the Holy Queendom of Corice. When duty called, they went their separate ways. Years passed. Now, whispers of revolution haunt their respective realms, threatening to end a decade’s peace. As the tides of politics shift, Eogan receives news that the princess is betrothed to another man. Can he abide that?
Caught in a conspiracy of cursed children, machiavellian monarchs, riotous rebels, and iconoclastic immortals, Eogan must contend with the cost of secrets – his enemies’, his allies’, and his own.
The Fishermab by John Langan Review
Official Author Website
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: The Justice of Kings, the first in a new epic fantasy trilogy, follows the tale of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice – a detective, judge and executioner all in one. As he unravels a web of secrets and lies, Vonvalt discovers a plot that might destroy his order once and for all – and bring down the entire Empire.
As an Emperor's Justice, Sir Konrad Vonvalt always has the last word. His duty is to uphold the law of the empire using whatever tools he has at his disposal: whether it's his blade, the arcane secrets passed down from Justice to Justice, or his wealth of knowledge of the laws of the empire. But usually his reputation as one of the most revered—and hated—Justices is enough to get most any job done.
When Vonvalt investigates the murder of a noblewoman, he finds his authority being challenged like never before. As the simple case becomes more complex and convoluted, he begins to pull at the threads that unravel a conspiracy that could see an end to all Justices, and a beginning to lawless chaos across the empire.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Richard Swan’s The Justice of Kings is a finely tuned fantasy read that will delight readers of SFF in all the best ways. It slowly builds its palpable sense of ethereal tension until, with the climax, all hell breaks loose. The growing level of intrigue throughout the book does not distract from the character centred approach and holding these two in tension was very effective for most of the book.
Justice of Kings shocked me in all the best ways, being a rare read that not only met the richly deserved hype, but vastly surpassed it. For the full review, stick around below.
‘It is a strange thing to think that the end of the Empire of the Wolf, and all the death and devastation that came with it, traced its long roots back to the tiny and insignificant village of Rill’
Thus opens the esteemed Empire of the Wolf trilogy with a fantastic first line full of intrigue and foreboding. We are thrust into a Germanic inspired world, which although not unique in the realm of fantasy, is given enough flair by Swan to set itself apart, especially with the central focus on justice, the law and jurisprudence.
The prose I found to be an effective mix of style, without holding back the story and the key information needed for the reader to be enveloped within the tale. One such description that struck me was a reference to ship masts as a ‘forest’ which I found an incredibly inventive way of describing such a scene.
The voice of Helena is so distinctive throughout, and just compels you to keep reading. I would argue its quite a bold choice to use Helena as the entry point into this world rather than Vonvalt, which might’ve been the case in a different, more traditional narrative.
But who are these enigmatic characters you ask? Well, the book is really about the exploits of Sir Konrad Vonavalt, Justice to the King, and his apprentice Helena, along with his assistant Bressinger, and the town sheriff Sir Radomir who joins their crew in the investigation.
Whilst out exploring the Empire and responding to the needs of justice within it, Vonvalt, Helena and the gang find themselves drawn into wider conspiracies which threaten the continuation of the Empire. What begins as a small-town murder mystery soon becomes a symbol of something greater; an revolution which won’t just engulf the Empire itself, but also into many realms beyond.
There’s almost a wild west feel to the book. At its heart it’s a murder mystery but more than that, it’s a character mystery. Vonvalt is fairly enigmatic, rarely revealing his true self to even Helena, which makes the point at which the cracks do start to show all the more terrifying. He is also pragmatic, as a justice he only says the necessary. His singular focus is on the law and meting it out in proper fashion, and his discussions of jurisprudence with Helena were really interesting to read, as well as rather telling.
Helena herself is an unreliable narrator, also giving us future insights as she narrates the tale through reflections on what is now her past. She is a troubled young woman, torn between her duty to Vonvalt, and discovering what her heart truly desires. This is all she has known since Vonvalt took her under his wing, but as the investigation continues she starts to question what she truly desires. Her narration is fascinatingly revealing and really allows us to dive deep into her fears, creating a vastly compelling character arc. Seeing Vonvalt through her eyes is also a really intriguing way of showing us character; we see through the lens that she does and that in itself is rather revealing. My only critique would be that the forewarning of Helena works at some points, whilst at others it feels a little too on the nose with fairly consistent reminders of the Empire’s fate.
The pacing itself is very consistent, with a nice blend between the overarching storyline of fears for the Empire, and the ongoing investigation complementing each other well for the most part. At times it did start to feel a little like one plotline would be paused in favour of the other, however over time they do begin to converge which helps set things back on track.
The central murder mystery did work as well, with the minor addition that it was incredibly linear, learning the information as our characters did. That’s all well and good, and actually prevents the issue of an easily solvable mystery. However, it did go a little far the other way, as I don’t think anyone could have possibly put it all together until the same time or just before the characters. I do find that a bit of a shame because as a fan of crime books, I do love to involve myself in the investigation as I read, and that couldn’t happen here as much because we were so reliant on the story being doled out to us.
The last 40% of this novel truly was what made it hold a special memory for me, with an absolutely insane turn that I never saw coming. I fear to say too much about this in case I spoil anyone’s journey with this book, but let’s just say I found it to be an incredibly well-balanced genre mashup, which felt very at home in the world Richard had built. Having started book two and seeing this tone influence more of the narrative, it really leaves me with chills and continues to be a constant highlight of this trilogy.
Perhaps the best thing I could say in this review is that this book made me care. I cried and that’s not easy for an author to do with me. The relationship between Vonvalt and Helena is professional but beautiful. Vonvalt puts law above all, but he knows when to be personal.
He's not cold. He just pretends to be. Bressinger and Radomir have much deeper characters than by first appearances. Throughout, Richard weaves these characters inner turmoils into the book and it truly made me grow to care about what happened to them.
The climax of this book leaves us in a suitably exciting position with which to open book two which has just released, whilst still closing all the necessary plotlines in a sufficient manner. There are no major cliffhangers here, but be in no doubt that you will still be compelled to read on!
CONCLUSION: Overall, I can already tell this will be one of my favourite reads of the year after having absolutely bombed through this book. The combination of character and plot driven tension was really exquisite and helped make this book what it was, a rare gem in which the hype was easily surpassed. With book two now in my hands, I’m sure it won’t be long before I return to tell you why this is one of my favourite ongoing series within the fantasy genre right now.
Pre-order Orphan Planet HERE
OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Rex Burke is a SciFi writer based in North Yorkshire, UK.
When he was young, he read every one of those yellow-jacketed Victor Gollancz hardbacks in his local library. He’s sure there are still thrilling SciFi adventures to be told – even if he has to write them himself.
When he’s not writing, he travels – one way or another, he’ll get to the stars, even if it’s just as stardust when his own story is done.
Independence: A Novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Reviewed by Shazzie)
The Battle That Was Lost by Micheal S. Jackson (Reviewed by Matthew Higgins)
Mercifully short careers in food service, interactive television, corporate banking, retail management, and bariatric furniture has led to a much less short career in Higher Education.
FORMAT/INFO: The Eidolon will be self-published on February 28th, 2023. It is 217 pages split over 12 chapters, a prologue and an epilogue. It is told in third person from Max, Quinn, and Anna's POVs. It is available in ebook and audiobook formats.
If you ARE a Tarot Sequence fan, then you're in for a bite-sized treat, full of mystery, explosive magics, and weird creatures. There are POV chapters from each of our three heroes that offer some crucial insights to these characters we've only seen from the outside before. I particularly enjoyed the chapters written from Quinn's point of view, as it was fascinating experiencing what it's like to constantly be experiencing different timelines and knowing that leaving an umbrella at a bus stop could change the course of someone's life. Max is constantly comparing himself to Rune, while Anna, freshly coming into a level of power that dwarfs many adult's, has a bit of an Elle Wood "What, like it's hard?" flare when it comes to difficult magic workings.
CONCLUSION: The Eidolon is a great companion read to The Hourglass Throne. That said, it's a bit of a weird read that essentially has to be read as a companion piece, as it is one piece of a bigger puzzle, and its weight can't really be appreciated on its own. Do I wish the publisher of The Hourglass Throne had let this be part of the original book? Yes. But at least we get to still experience this particular storyline, and even get one or two surprise revelations along the way. (One of which had me shouting "I KNEW IT."). I am certainly looking forward to more adventures from Max, Quinn, and Anna, and seeing how this novella bridges the main series with the other novels set in this universe.
Seal your eyes and sleep,
Still your lips, cease your breath,
Lie where sorrow dares not be,
Free from the hands of death.
Before we take a look at more details, let's take a look at the cover:
Dawsyn’s miraculous escape from the Ledge was just the beginning. In the queens’ dungeon, Dawsyn awaits her execution while reliving the death of her lover, Ryon. There is no hope for mercy.
But hope finds her in the form of rescue by her village friends. On the run and struggling to tame her newly-gained and greatly unstable powers, Dawsyn's journey continues. As she ascends the perilous mountain slopes once again to the Glacian kingdom in a desperate attempt to save those remaining on the Ledge, she discovers a new evil awaiting her. With a contingent of hundreds, she must lead her people way, but she has no way of knowing what will lie ahead, or what might follow behind…
Fighting with her ax and newfound power is arduous enough, but finds she must also battle her feelings of betrayal and hope when those she thought lost forever, may not be gone after all…
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Stacey McEwan is a school teacher by day and fantasy writer by night. A book influencer on multiple platforms, she began writing the bestselling Ledge after book lovers of the internet begged her to share her story ideas. Stacey lives on the Gold Coast, Australia with her husband, two children and one questionable dog. When Stacey isn’t writing, teaching, or making ridiculous tiktoks, you’ll find her playing with her children, reading, annoying her husband, or possibly all three at once. Find Stacey on TikTok and Instagram: @stacebookspace.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Reviewed by Shazzie)
Between 2015 and 2018, Richard self-published "The Art of War Trilogy", a sequence of epic space opera novels, as well as a prequel ("Hadan's Reach") and two spinoff mil-sci-fi novellas ("VIPER One", and "VIPER One: Countervalue", the latter co-authored with George Lockett).
Richard's debut fantasy "Empire of the Wolf" trilogy recently sold to Orbit Books, with the first instalment coming out in February 2022.
Richard currently lives and writes in Sydney, Australia.
It was in pursuit of one such warband when Elan’s host discovered the hidden compound of the Outcast. She’d heard how the former chieftain of the mighty Amalus Clan had been unjustly accused of murdering his rival. How the conflict had begun over a woman. How the Outcast’s son—born of that same woman—perfectly matched the prophecy’s foretelling of the Bringer.
Prophecy aside, it seemed that fate had led Elan into the midst of a legend. Because of a choice made in the heat of battle, Elan found herself bound to an outlaw hunted by friend and foe alike. Whether she believed in the prophecy or not, she found herself entangled with a lone figure who vowed to seek the sort of upheaval that might just change the world.
Could Vahldan, son of the Outcast, truly be the Bringer of Urrinan?
Let's also take a look at what author has to say about what readers can expect from this book, as well as his vision for the series:
I consider The Severing Son to be a character-driven epic tale. For readers who entrust me to guide them, I hope to provide immersion that sweeps them to a legendary time and place. Yes, I aspire to provide an escape, to a world where concepts like honor and duty are more than quaint. But I also aspire to provide the distance to reflect—on what it means to be human, and on humanity. My fondest wish is to leave readers thinking and feeling, even after they’ve finished the final page.
The giveaway is open from 5th February 2023 and will end on 12th February 2023.
- Participants must have a U.S. mailing address.
- The winner will be chosen at random after the giveaway ends, and notified via the Twitter/Instagram.
- Participants must be above 18 years of age, and willing to share their mailing information with the author if they win. This will include a name and a mailing address, and may include a phone number, depending on the shipping method.
- This giveaway is not affiliated with Twitter, Instagram or Blogger in any way.
In order to participate, you may do one or both of the following, each of which constitues a single entry:
- Follow both @FantasyBookCrit and @VaughnRoycroft on Twitter, and retweet the giveaway announcement, so watch the @FantasyBookCritic space!
- Follow both @fantasybookcritic and @vaughnroycroft on Instagram, like and share the giveaway post in your stories. Remember to tag @fantasybookcritic in it.