Synopsis

The Blood that Burns the Winter Snow is a short story set in the world of The Bound and The Broken.

Vars Bryer is a man of The Glade. He loves his wife, feels at peace in his home, and would give the air in his lungs to keep his children safe. But the past has finally found him, and it cares little for the wants and desires of men.

Review

The Blood that Burns the Winter Snow is a short story set in the world of The Bound and the Broken. It tells a quick tale of Vars Bryer, Calen’s father. Fans of The Bound and the Broken series have been waiting for more information about Vars for a long time and although this won’t fully satiate that desire, it will give the reader a better idea of the type of man that Vars is, along with a few tidbits from his mysterious past.

I really enjoyed this one and by the time I was done with this around 5000 word short story all I could think was that I wanted to know more. I wanted to see more quiet, heartfelt moments with Vars and his family. I wanted to see and hear more of his backstory, the man he used to be, and see him become the man we know as Calen, Ella, and Haem’s father. I can’t wait to discover more!

I wish this book was longer, just like I wished The Fall was longer. Cahill has this way of gripping you from the very first page. It may be his way of writing such emotionally complex characters. It may be the exciting action sequences. It could just be that I love the entire world of The Bound and the Broken. But ultimately, I think the reason I want more is that Cahill writes with such natural and genuine heart. The type of writing that makes you believe that things could get better. That things will get better even in the midst of hard things or even when we feel like we’re in utter darkness. So I keep reading, because these books give me hope. I think the world could use a lot more of that.

5) The Ice (The Bound and the Broken #3.5) by Ryan Cahill

“The Ice is a visceral, fast paced, and emotionally impactful masterpiece. In my reading experience, no one writes novellas as good as Ryan Cahill.“

4) The Slain Divine (Vagrants Gods #3) by David Dalglish

“The Vagrant Gods trilogy has been excellent all the way through and The Slain Divine was no exception to that rule.”

3) Lightbringer (Red Rising #6) by Pierce Brown

Light Bringer made me run the gamut of emotions from rage all the way to joy and back again. I was so happy with that.”

2) The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell

“The Malevolent Seven is a march through mayhem. A unique mix of murderous mages, polymorphic angels, cunning demons, found family, and much more.”

1) The Will of the Many (The Hierarchy #1) by James Islington

“The Will of the Many is hands down my favorite book of the year. A masterful combination of mystery, action, and suspense set in a uniquely immersive world that captivated me from the very first page.”

Book Info:

Book Title: When Shadows Grow Tall
Series: Cycles of Night Trilogy #1
Page Count: 344 pages
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Publication Date: August 1, 2024
Preorder Link: Amazon

Book Blurb

In the Grasp, a realm on the threshold of enlightenment, the dactyli guard the fading embers of their ancient brotherhood, dedicated to the pursuit of absolute truth. Lovelace and Gunnar, two of the order’s last rangers, find themselves on the precipice of a changing world. When the order faces a fatal threat from within, Lovelace and Gunnar embark on a dangerous ranging where they discover more than the welfare of the order is at stake: a rogue dactyli named Alev amasses an army of those he calls the Burned Ones, mercenaries wielding elemental forces. Lovelace and Gunnar are forced to grapple with the unimaginable implications.

Meanwhile, the Grasp languishes under the oppressive rule of Osbert, who exploits the recent advent of the printing press to smoor the fires of budding enlightenment. A young woman named Kylene undertakes a journey to find her missing father, a prominent printer wanted for sedition. Her path leads her to the kapnobatai, a mysterious group of outcasts with whom Kylene takes up refuge and the mantle of her father’s fight for freedom.

In the mountains of Droch Fhortan, Lovelace and Gunnar encounter a feral young woman, Cora. Her mere existence uproots an age-old belief and puts to ground a new truth: magic can be awakened, magic can be taught. As their paths intertwine, a shared purpose emerges—to expose Osbert’s tyranny, thwart Alev’s dangerous plot, and rekindle the flame of enlightenment. So begins the battle for the minds of the Graspish people, and a quest for the heart of magic itself.

And without further ado….the cover!

Cover Artist – Tricia Newell
Cover Designer – Design Deluxe

Author Bio & Links:

Maressa Voss lives with her husband and son in California, between the mountains and the sea. She holds a degree in Classics from UCSB with an emphasis in Language and Literature. When Shadows Grow Tall is her debut novel, forthcoming July 26th, 2024 with Roundfire Books, an imprint of Collective Ink, previously John Hunt Publishing. She is currently working on “writing what she knows” with a dys/utopian novel set in a near-future alternative Southern California.

Links: https://www.maressavoss.com/
Twitter: @maressa_kate
Instagram: @maressakate 

Synopsis

The Everlorn Empire’s grip on Thanet is tighter than ever. The God-Incarnate himself has arrived on its shores to crush the struggling rebellion and carry out his final, sinister plan: he will sacrifice the entire island in order to rise, reincarnated from its ashes. 

The rebellion is struggling to separate allies from enemies, and to figure out a way to stop the slow destruction of everything and everyone they care for. Meanwhile, Cyrus is disappearing deeper beneath the vicious mask of the “Vagrant”. Under the mantel of the legendary assassin, he may be strong enough to take down the Empire, but at what cost?

Review

“War doesn’t let us write our own stories.”

Thank you so much to David Dalglish and Orbit Books for this extremely early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I have been a hype man for this series for a while because it doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. The Vagrant Gods trilogy has been excellent all the way through and The Slain Divine was no exception to that rule.

David Dalglish ended this series in such a satisfying way that both made sense and hit me in my feels a couple times.

What I found most fascinating throughout this series is the character growth, both personal and physical, of Cyrus Lathan. I loved seeing Cyrus grow from a scared, abandoned princeling to the embodiment of the Vagrant. There is an emotional complexity to Cyrus that was so relatable and compelling. Who couldn’t relate to wanting to be more than you are. To overcoming fears and fighting for what you believe is right? Who can’t relate to the fallibility of humanity even when intentions are initially pure? Cyrus is a fantastic character and one I will remember for a long time.

“There was once a kind young man who spent his nights reading in the library,” she said. “One who was scared of crowds, and who barely knew how to dance. Sleep came to him rarely, and when it did, he dreamed of his parents, and their loss. This man cherished his friends above all else…..That man is still in there,” she said. “I trust in him. I believe in him. He is wounded, broken, and afraid, but he is alive.”

Another of my favorite characters from this series was Mari. She is a god-whisperer who can take the form of slain gods to fight against the Everlorn Empire. Mari is fierce and caring. She is bold, kind, and gentle. With Mari, Dalglish was able to show the complexity of a normal person. That we are all made up of many different parts. Just because Mari is a woman doesn’t mean she can’t be a warrior. Just because she is a warrior doesn’t mean she can’t have a sensitive and caring heart. Just because she is empathetic doesn’t mean she can’t hate her enemies or boldly call the people she cares about out on their crap. Mari is a fantastic character in that she can be all these things and it only makes her feel all the more real and relatable.

All the other characters are very well done. I would be hard pressed to find a character that I didn’t enjoy on some level, whether protagonist or antagonist. However, I will stop there talking about specific characters so as not to make this review overly long.

“I take gods into my flesh, and within me, they break. Who are you compared to them?”

Dalglish’s signature action sequences are on full display here. For an author who says that he really doesn’t like writing this type of scene, Dalglish does a spectacular job at making them epic every time. Not only the swordplay, but the powers on display are all so cool and add a ton to the fun and epic-ness of each battle. Each scene matters and the stakes are always high. I couldn’t ask for more.

There was a twist at the end of this story that I did not fully see coming and I absolutely love how it played out. I also really enjoyed that the ending felt conclusive while leaving plenty of room for a continuation if the author decides to continue the story in this world. I sure hope he does!

I loved this concluding book and I love this trilogy. A story of found family and the love they share. A tale of hope in the darkest of night, of joy amid the horrors of the world. Deeply moving and patently epic, The Vagrant Gods is not a series you want to miss!

Book Info

Book Title: The Slain Divine
Series: The Vagrant Gods #3
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Page Count: 528 pages
Release Date: January 9, 2024
Preorder Link: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/david-dalglish/the-slain-divine/9780759557161/

Blurb for Book 1, The Bladed Faith

A usurped prince prepares to take up the mantle of a deadly assassin and reclaim his kingdom, his people, and his slain gods in this epic fantasy from a USA Today bestselling author.

Cyrus was only twelve years old when his gods were slain, his country invaded, and his parents—the king and queen—beheaded in front of him. Held prisoner in the invader’s court for years, Cyrus is suddenly given a chance to escape and claim his revenge when a mysterious group of revolutionaries comes looking for a figurehead. They need a hero to strike fear into the hearts of the imperial and to inspire and unite the people. They need someone to take up the skull mask and swords and to become the legendary “Vagrant”—an unparalleled hero and assassin of otherworldly skill. 

But all is not as it seems. Creating the illusion of a hero is the work of many, and Cyrus will soon discover the true price of his vengeance. 

And now without further ado, check out the gorgeous cover art including the full spread for The Slain Divine below!

Artist/Designer Info and Links

Illustrated by Chase Stone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasestone_art/
Website: https://www.chasestoneart.com/)

Designed by Lauren Panepinto
TW: https://twitter.com/Planetpinto
IG: https://www.instagram.com/planetpinto/
Website: http://www.laurenpanepinto.com/

Author Bio & Links

David Dalglish currently lives in Myrtle Beach with his wife, Samantha, and daughters, Morgan, Katherine, and Alyssa. He graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 2006 with a degree in mathematics and currently spends his free time tanking dungeons for his wife and daughter in Final Fantasy XIV.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatdalglishguy
Website: https://ddalglish.com/wp/

And that’s a wrap! Make sure to preorder The Slain Divine, the excellent final book in one of my very favorite series!

Synopsis

In Epheria, you are the predators. Here, you are the prey.

Almost four hundred years have passed since the fall of The Order. Four hundred years since the empire rose. Four hundred years since the last dragon egg hatched.

In the icy wasteland of Valacia, Aeson Virandr searches for the one thing that could turn the tide of war: hope.

But there is a reason no soul has ever returned from Valacia.

Hope comes at a cost, one that can only be paid in blood.

Review

Thank you so much to Ryan Cahill for this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Ice is a visceral, fast paced, and emotionally impactful masterpiece. In my reading experience, no one writes novellas as good as Ryan Cahill.

I don’t know why I’m surprised that Cahill once again knocked it out of the park. This 6th book and 3rd novella in The Bound and the Broken series was everything I hoped it would be and more.

“Pain doesn’t make you weak, Ihvon. It makes you human. Sometimes the only thing that reminds me I’m still human is how much everything hurts.”

My favorite thing about The Ice was the character development we got from having a book that is solely from Aeson’s perspective. When we see Aeson in the full length novels we only see bits and pieces of his personality through other character’s perspectives and opinions of him as the Aeson that is able to put aside everything else for the sake of their rebellion. He is shown primarily as hard, angry, and stubborn. Emotionally detached from the death and destruction around him.

I must admit before this book I was not a big Aeson fan. I felt like I understood his desire for revenge and justice, for the empire to crumble. But there were times I really didn’t like his methods of meeting his aims and just plain didn’t like his personality at all. Through the events of The Ice we see a different side of Aeson. The reader is shown an emotionally vulnerable side that made me empathize with him a lot more. I feel like I now fully understand him. A man that is truly broken, but keeps fighting anyway. A man that would give anything for his sons and for the cause of the rebellion, even if he can get lost in that sometimes. This book made Aeson so much more relatable and even a bit more likable for me.

“I don’t want hope. I just want the people I care for to stop dying.”

What most impresses me about Cahill’s ability to write novellas is that he manages to make you care about characters that were either briefly or never mentioned previously in the series. In just a short amount of pages I specifically came to care for Verma and Malari very much. So although I knew Aeson, Erik, and Dahlen would all survive because this is a novella set in the past, the stakes were still high because I was worried about characters that could easily be classified as side characters. No one besides the main trio felt safe, and even then I worried about the psychological effects for them from this trip.

I also really enjoyed the few cameos we get from well known characters from the main novels. That was a fun treat that I hadn’t really expected. Specifically Ihvon’s short scene was heartbreaking and made me tear up. And of course Belina was being, well Belina.

“Don’t give them your life, give them your wrath. Make them pay in blood.”

I also really enjoyed the existential terror that came from the monsters and mysterious attackers that inhabited the land of Valacia. Cahill pulled no punches in the utter brutality that Aeson’s crew faced in that icy land. I was honestly surprised at how ruthless these attacks were. The plot had a constant threat of danger to it that left me tense and worried about who would die next.

I don’t know what else I can say to praise this book. This may well be the best book that Cahill has written to date. I was so happy to go back to Epheria and The Ice has me so excited for book 4, Of Empires and Dust!

What fantasy reader hasn’t imagined themselves soaring above the clouds on the back of a beautiful and majestic dragon. Having a bond with a creature that inspires awe and terror has been the dream of many. Not to mention the added bonus of the ability to rain down fire and death on your enemies.

I’ve compiled a list of 30 books/series that feature Dragonriders in some capacity. Each book/series’ cover is hyperlinked to their individual Goodreads page to easily add these books to your list.

There are 17 Adult Fantasy selections along with 13 that are Young Adult/Middle Grade. That’s the beauty of this list, there’s something here for all ages. I hope you, your friends, your family, and whoever else you love to recommend books to will enjoy this list and the books contained within it. Happy reading!

Adult Fantasy

Songs of Chaos by Michael R Miller

Holt Cook was never meant to be a dragon rider. He has always served the Order Hall of the Crag dutifully, keeping their kitchen pots clean.

Until he discovers a dark secret: dragons do not tolerate weakness among their kin, killing the young they deem flawed. Moved by pity, Holt defies the Order, rescues a doomed egg and vows to protect the blind dragon within.

But the Scourge is rising. Undead hordes roam the land, spreading the blight and leaving destruction in their wake. The dragon riders are being slaughtered and betrayal lurks in the shadows.

Holt has one chance to survive. He must cultivate the mysterious power of his dragon’s magical core. A unique energy which may tip the balance in the battles to come, and prove to the world that a servant is worthy after all.

The Bound and the Broken by Ryan Cahill

Born in fire. Tempered in blood.

Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the south squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North.

In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving—a test of courage and skill that not all survive. But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries.

There is no prophecy. His coming was not foretold. He bleeds like any man, and bleed he will.

Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

How can one girl save an entire world?

To the nobles who live in Benden Weyr, Lessa is nothing but a ragged kitchen girl. For most of her life she has survived by serving those who betrayed her father and took over his lands. Now the time has come for Lessa to shed her disguise—and take back her stolen birthright.

But everything changes when she meets a queen dragon. The bond they share will be deep and last forever. It will protect them when, for the first time in centuries, Lessa’s world is threatened by Thread, an evil substance that falls like rain and destroys everything it touches. Dragons and their Riders once protected the planet from Thread, but there are very few of them left these days. Now brave Lessa must risk her life, and the life of her beloved dragon, to save her beautiful world.

The Echoes Saga by Philip C Quaintrell

The echoes of fate, a prophecy uttered unto the world a thousand years ago, cannot be denied.

Mankind has lorded over the land of Illian for a thousand years, building on the ruins left by the elves, as if it were their birthright. A thousand years is a long time for an immortal race to see the truth of things, a truth that has remained unsaid for a millennium – elves are superior. They are faster, stronger and connected to the magical realm in a way that man could never grasp. Illian should belong to them.

Unaware of the shadow that looms in the east, the six kingdoms of man are fractured, unallied, and clawing at each other’s gates for more power. This isn’t just war set to ravage the land, but a slaughter – the world of man cannot hope to survive.

Thrown into the heart of this war is a man known by many names; an Outlander of the wilds, an assassin, a ranger. Asher was born a thousand years ago, to a life he doesn’t remember. Forty years of brutal training and killing for money has beaten the earliest years of his life away, leaving his ties to the oldest of evils a mystery to all.

Dragon of Ash & Stars by H. Leighton Dickson

Stormfall is a dragon born with a coat the colour of a starry night. When a violent storm strikes his island aerie, he is carried on hurricane winds into the complicated and sometimes cruel world of men. There, his journey takes him from fisher dragon to farmer, pit-fighting dragon to warrior, each step leading him closer to a remarkable destiny. But war is coming to the land of Remus and with it, a crossroads for the Night Dragon and the young soul-boy he allows on his back. How far is Stormfall willing to go in a war that is not his own?

Temeraire by Naomi Novik

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors ride mighty fighting dragons, bred for size or speed. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes the precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future – and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature.

Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.

The Empyrean by Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

The Roots of Chaos by Samantha Shannon

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

The Rainwild Chronicles by Robin Hobb

The serpents, guided by the dragon Tintaglia, came from the sea to fight the Rain Wild River where they can reclaim their ancestral hatching grounds.

But the fledglings that are hatched from the cocoons are the dragons of old. Flightless and dangerous, they are a danger to all and must be moved.

Thymara, a Rain Wilder, answers the call to become a dragon keeper and accompany them upriver.

Their destination is the legendary Elderling city of Kelsingra, but no one knows if it’s real.

Rivenworld by M L Spencer

Aram Raythe has the power to challenge the gods. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Aram thinks he’s nothing but a misfit from a small fishing village in a dark corner of the world. As far as Aram knows, he has nothing, with hardly a possession to his name other than a desire to make friends and be accepted by those around him, which is something he’s never known. But Aram is more. Much, much more.

Unknown to him, Aram bears within him a gift so old and rare that many people would kill him for it, and there are others who would twist him to use for their own sinister purposes. These magics are so potent that Aram earns a place at an academy for warrior mages training to earn for themselves the greatest place of honor among the armies of men: dragon riders.

Aram will have to fight for respect by becoming not just a dragon rider, but a Champion, the caliber of mage that hasn’t existed in the world for hundreds of years. And the land needs a Champion. Because when a dark god out of ancient myth arises to threaten the world of magic, it is Aram the world will turn to in its hour of need.

The Dragonwalker by D. K. Holmberg

A war fought a thousand years ago removed the destructive threat of dragons, allowing fire mages to use the magic stored within their bones to protect the empire for millennia. The empire has known a fragile peace, held together by that ancient magic.

Fes has always longed for stability. Raised within the slums of the empire, taught to steal and hurt others to make his way, when he’s discovered by the emperor’s chief fire mage, he’s given a chance to use his particular gift for gathering lost dragon relics to become something more.

An encounter with a priest in possession of a dragon bone reveals the existence of a new power that threatens to return the long dead dragons to the world. Chased by the dangerous enemies, Fes travels into the bleak lands of the Dragon Plains before others can reach it. If he survives, what he discovers means the continued safety of the empire and a promise of wealth and freedom. If he fails, the deadly power of the dragons might return.

Yet, with a growing and unexplainable magic within him, it’s the promise of understanding who he truly is that might be the most valuable, only it’s the same power that leaves him with questions some within the empire don’t want answered.

The Book of the Holt by Bradley P Beaulieu

Lorelei Aurelius is the smartest inquisitor in the mountain city of Ancris. When a mysterious tip leads her to a clandestine meeting between the Church and the hated Red Knives, she uncovers a plot that threatens not only her home but the empire itself.

The trail leads her to Rylan Holbrooke, a notorious thief posing as a dragon singer. Rylan came to Ancris to solve the very same mystery she stumbled onto. Knowing his incarceration could lead to the Red Knives’ achieving their goals, Lorelei makes a fateful she frees him.

Now branded as traitors, the two flee the city on dragonback. In the massive forest known as the Holt, they discover something terrible. The Red Knives are planning to awaken a powerful demigod in the holiest shrine in Ancris, and for some reason the Church is willing to allow it. It forces their return to Ancris, where the unlikely allies must rally the very people who’ve vowed to capture them before it’s too late.

Explore the mountain city of Ancris, where fast-paced adventure and intrigue abound. in this new offering from the author of the acclaimed Song of the Shattered Sands series

The Chain Breaker by D. K. Holmberg

Trained to kill from a young age, Gavin Lorren finally escaped that life. No more killing innocents. No more working alone. The jobs are still dangerous, but at least he can choose. Now an old friend has invited him to the city of Yoran where the work is plentiful. The Roasted Dragon tavern is rough but cozy. The regulars are seedy but welcoming. The owner Jessica is fond of him. It’s almost too good to be true.

His good fortune is fleeting. Gavin finds himself facing a new enemy, fast and deadly El’aras warriors—an ancient race with innate magical talent. By the time he learns sorcery is involved, he’s in too deep. To succeed, he’ll have to uncover parts of his past that he’d hoped to forget.

It will take an assassin without equal to survive. It will take the Chain Breaker.

The Remembered War by Robert Vane

Dragons are slaves.

Using stolen magic, the human Kingdom of Rolm has risen to power on the backs of the world’s most formidable predator, but that is about to change. Bayloo is the first of the free dragons. Born into slavery, his shackled mind has awoken to find a human giving him orders and his race enthralled to an evil king. The world shall now face the rage of dragons.

Experience a fearsome struggle of magic and cunning between humans and dragons, where victory will determine the fate of the world.

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne.

At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.

Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear.

Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

The Legend of Huma by Richard A Knaak

“To the West Huma rode, to the High Clerist’s Tower,
On the back of the Silver Dragon
And the path of their flight crossed over a desolate country
where the dead walked only, mouthing the names of dragons.”

For the first time in the best-selling Dragonlance Saga, here is The Legend of Huma, fabled Hero of the Lance: his mysterious origins and his Oath to the Measure; treachery among the Knights of Solamnia; his love for the Silver Dragon; the fated showdown between the Queen of Darkness and the forces of Paladine.

Only fragments of Huma’s story survived the Cataclysm of Krynn…until now.

A Targaryen History by George R. R. Martin

With all the fire and fury fans have come to expect from internationally bestselling author George R. R. Martin, this is the first volume of the definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros.

Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire and Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.

What really happened during the Dance of the Dragons? Why did it become so deadly to visit Valyria after the Doom? What is the origin of Daenerys’s three dragon eggs? These are but a few of the questions answered in this essential chronicle, as related by a learned maester of the Citadel and featuring more than eighty all-new black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley. Readers have glimpsed small parts of this narrative in such volumes as The World of Ice & Fire, but now, for the first time, the full tapestry of Targaryen history is revealed.

With all the scope and grandeur of Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Fire and Blood is the ultimate game of thrones, giving readers a whole new appreciation for the dynamic, often bloody, and always fascinating history of Westeros.

Young Adult/Middle Grade Fantasy

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

Dragon School by Sarah K L Wilson

No one is too broken to soar.

Sixteen-Year-Old Amel is disabled and rejected by society. A burden to her family and ignored by her peers. Amel travels to Dragon School for one last chance. If she can find a place among the courageous Dragon Riders, she can hold her head high.

If she fails… she’ll die.

But what Amel didn’t expect was Raolcan. When this empathetic dragon chooses her to changes everything. Will it be enough when Amel takes her final test?

Dragon School is the epic Dragon Rider Series you don’t want to miss. Combining dramatic dragon battles, Breath-taking adventures, Magical Creatures, and heart-pounding suspense, this tale will warm your heart and keep you flipping pages.

The Aurelian Cycle by Rosaria Munda

Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone–even the lowborn–a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.

Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn’t be more different. Annie’s lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee’s aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.

With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he’s come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.

Dragon Jousters by Mercedes Lackey

Vetch was an Altan serf working the land which had once been his family’s farm. Young and slight, Vetch would have died of overwork, exposure, and starvation if not for the anger which was his only real sustenance–anger that he had lost his home and family in a war of conquest waged by the dragon-riding Jousters of Tia. Tia had usurped nearly halt of Alta’s lands and enslaved or killed many of Vetch’s countrymen. Sometimes it seemed that his entire cruel fate revolved around dragons and the Jousters who rode them. But his fate changed forever the day he first saw a dragon.

From its narrow, golden, large-eyed head, to its pointed emerald ears, to the magnificent blue wings, the dragon was a thing of multicolored, jeweled beauty, slim and supple and quite as large as the shed it perched on. Vetch, almost failed to notice the Jouster who stood beside him. “I need a boy,” the rider had said, and suddenly Vetch found himself lifted above the earth and transported by dragon-back to a different world.

Vetch was to be trained as a dragon-boy, and he hardly believed his luck. The compound seemed like paradise: he could eat until he was full, and all he had to do was care for his Jouster’s dragon, Kashet.

It didn’t take long for Vetch to realize that Kashet was special–for unlike other dragons, Kashet was gentle by nature and did not need the tranquilizing tala plant to make her tracttable. Vetch became determined to learn the secret of how Kashet had been tamed. For if Kashet could be tamed, perhaps Vetch could tame a dragon of his own. And if he could, then he might be able to escape and bring the secret of dragon-taming back to his homeland of Alta. That secret might prove to be the key to Alta’s liberation.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb?

Join his adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons–and becomes a hero. This action-packed, hilarious, and perfectly illustrated novel is a modern classic beloved by millions across the globe.

Heartstone by Elle Katharine White

A debut historical fantasy that recasts Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice in an imaginative world of wyverns, dragons, and the warriors who fight alongside them against the monsters that threaten the kingdom: gryphons, direwolves, lamias, banshees, and lindworms.

They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.

Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she’s already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again.

Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn’t expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers . . . something far more sinister than gryphons.

It’s a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she’s never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart.

Elle Katharine White infuses elements of Austen’s beloved novel with her own brand of magic, crafting a modern epic fantasy that conjures a familiar yet wondrously unique new world.

Dragon Riders of Elantia by Jessica Drake

Kickass heroines. Fire-breathing dragons. Epic adventures. Your thrill ride awaits in this brand new dragon rider series, for fans of Eragon and Dragon Riders of Pern!

Zara Kenrook has never wanted to be ordinary. Abandoned at an orphanage, destined for a life in the slums, she’s clawed her way to the top and made herself a name as one of the best treasure hunters in Elantia.

But Zara hasn’t gotten to where she is without making enemies, and when one of them calls in a debt, her entire livelihood is thrown into peril. Suddenly, Zara is faced with two impossible choices—break into a dragon rider’s home and steal a priceless artifact, or lose the career she’s worked so hard to build.

Luckily, Zara has some experience pulling off heists, and she’s never been one to back down from a challenge. But when the object she tries to steal turns out to be a dragon egg, her whole world changes. For this particular dragon is about to hatch, and once it lays its fiery eyes on Zara, her life will never be the same.

Ragond’s Witch Hunter by Ava Richardson

At sixteen, Yanna Gray is part of her family’s Virginia based witch hunting enterprise, helping rid Earth of anything—and anyone—magic. But her militant life goes south when an enchanted amulet goes missing. Before Yanna can reclaim the artifact, the thief opens an interdimensional portal flinging Yanna into a frightening magical world.

Ragond is straight out of the forbidden fairy tales Yanna once read. Mythical creatures, witches, and mages live in harmony with humans. Here, all she’s grown up believing is turned on its head—especially when she discovers her own magical abilities.

Without access to a portal to Earth, Yanna is invited to shelter at Stonehaven—the training ground for witches, mages, and dragon riders—where she discovers true friendship, camaraderie, and a surprising bond with an ancient dragon. But all too quickly, Yanna’s magic-hunting past catches up to her.

Now, to save her friends and the dragon who partnered with her, Yanna must decide what she believes and who to trust.

Or her past might become Ragond’s downfall.

The Dragon Guard by Jada Fisher

In a world full of darkness, the light of the sun is the only thing that can keep the Dark at bay. And dragons are the only thing that can protect the light.

Tennegan Felter (Ten) is a humble servant in Epoch Sol, a beacon of light in a world full of darkness. Her deepest desire is to serve the city she loves and defend it from the creatures of the Dark that live all around. The only way to do that is to join the Dragon Guard. There’s one big problem, though. She is a mere servant and faces near insurmountable odds just to get in. And then she has to pass all the tests. Can Ten prove her doubters wrong, overcome all the obstacles, and earn her way into the Dragon Guard?

Trial by Fire is the first book in the epic Dragon Guard fantasy adventure. If you enjoy magical worlds and unforgettable characters, you don’t want to miss this epic adventure from bestselling author Jada Fisher.

Rise of the Dragon Riders by Ava Richardson

Cora knows her grandmother’s stories of the noble dragon riders by heart, even though most people consider them just a myth. But for Cora, the legends are a pleasant distraction from her concern for her ailing father, and the enormous debt they owe to the king’s garrison.

Desperate to help her father, Cora becomes a scale scavenger, risking life and limb by entering the territory of the deadly, feral dragons to gather the highly valuable scales. But her first attempt nearly ends in tragedy when she’s trapped by an angry dragon. They are both stunned when she unlocks the secret of communicating with him.

As Cora and the dragon, Alaric, grow closer, they uncover more secrets from the kingdom’s past. There was a dark conclusion to the dragon rider legacy, brought about by a malicious force that sought power at any cost. That force still holds the kingdom in thrall—and has no intention of allowing the dragon riders to rise again.

Can Cora and Alaric reignite a legend from the past, before it’s too late?

Dragonrider Chronicles by Nicole Conway

When Jaevid Broadfeather is given the rare opportunity to become a dragonrider for the king’s army, the 15-year-old boy has no idea that he is part of a conspiracy that will rock the very foundations of the kingdom.

Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless, until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy—a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal. But Jaevid’s case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline. Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a sternly tempered man with a mysterious past, becomes his instructor and immediately takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid’s future.

While struggling through the rigorous physical demands of training, things begin to go awry. Jaevid witnesses the king’s private guards kidnapping Sile in the dead of night. When none of the elder riders are willing to help him, Jaevid begins a dangerous adventure to save his instructor.

Everything Jaevid learned at the academy will now be put to the ultimate test.

The Never Ending War by Martha Carr & Michael Anderle

Girl meets dragon. Girl works to befriend dragon. A large, red, dangerous dragon.

Raven Alby will have to train her new ride and save the dragon’s life…or die trying.

Mix in starting at Fowler Academy as a first year, becoming a stronger mage and oh… people disappearing. It’s all adding up to typical teenager stuff for a young mage.

First lesson Raven will learn? Don’t ever let anything come between a girl and her dragon.

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

A dragon. A boy. A journey.

Firedrake, a brave young dragon, his loyal brownie friend Sorrel and a lonely boy called Ben are united as if by destiny. Together, they embark on a magical journey to find the legendary place where silver dragons can live in peace for ever. With only a curious map and the whispered memories of an old dragon to guide them, they fly across moonlit lands and seas to reach the highest mountains in the world.

Along the way, they discover extraordinary new friends in unlikely places and a courage they never knew they had. Just as well, for the greatest enemy of all is never far behind them – a heartless monster from the past who’s been waiting a very long time to destroy the last dragons on earth.

I want to get ahead in this post by saying that this is NOT a TBR list. I don’t do TBR’s because quite frankly, I never stick to them. My reading is almost completely consumed by what I feel like reading at the time. Mood reader problems.

Anyway, what this post is actually about is a list of books that I am really excited about and I hope my mood reader brain allows me to read sooner rather than later. I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment if you feel the same way about any of these books or if you’ve read them already! Feel free to click on each cover to add the books to your Goodreads list!

So without further ado and in no particular order, here are 5 books I’d like to read by the end of 2023.

1) The Price of Power by Michael Michel

This book immediately caught my attention with the gorgeous cover and interesting premise. However, what really got me excited was the interview (check it out here!) I did with the author where we talked about his writing process when it came to The Price of Power and how that has shaped his world, characters, and story.

Synopsis

Prince Barodane could not hold back the darkness. Not even in himself. He laid an innocent city in its grave and then died a hero.

In his absence, war whispers across the land.

Power-hungry highborn dispatch spies and assassins to the shadows as they maneuver for the throne, while an even greater threat rises in the South. Monsters and cultists flock to the banners of a mad prophet determined to control reality…and then shatter it.

Destiny stalks three to the brink of oblivion.

A dead prince that isn’t actually dead. Barodane buried his shameful past in a stupor of drugs, drink, and crime, and now, he’d rather watch the world fall apart than wear a crown again.

An orphan with hero’s blood who is forced to make a harrowing choice: betray her country or sacrifice her first love.

And a powerful seer who has no choice at all–her grandson must die.

If any of them fails to pay the price…

The cost will be the world’s complete annihilation.

2) The Fury of Kings (The Erland Saga #1) by R. S. Moule

I’ve actually already started this book and am really enjoying it. However, I got distracted by unexpectedly getting a few highly anticipated arcs in a row and haven’t gotten back to it yet. But those arcs are now read, and mostly reviewed, so I hope to get back to this one very soon!

Synopsis

In the shadow of Eryispek—a mountain said to have no summit—a dark power is stirring. Storms rage in the frozen heights. Unexplained disappearances shake the kingdom below. And old enemies are sharpening their swords…

Andrick the Barrelbreaker first led an army at sixteen.

His victories secured the throne of Erland for his brother and shattered the rebellious noble houses in the West. Decades later, a fragile peace still holds.

But when the king’s only son is murdered, Erland is plunged into crisis. The new heir will stop at nothing to secure his claim. The king, maddened by grief, stalks the halls and hidden passages of his keep, growing more unpredictable by the day.

As war and magical disaster loom, Andrick must decide between protecting his family and marching out to serve a brother he barely recognizes.

His children must also choose their destinies.

Training in the practice yard every day, Orsian dreams of fighting beside his father. Now, for the first time, he faces the brutal reality of battle.

And Pherri is haunted by very different dreams—of figures struggling up the mountain, of a voice more chilling than the wind, of blood on the snow. Only she can resist the darkness that waits on the slopes above…

Race through the pages of an epic new series and enter a world of intrigue, battles and destiny that will leave you breathless. The Erland Saga is a classic fantasy adventure, perfect for fans of George R.R. Martin, John Gwynne and Raymond E. Feist.

3) The Bloody Chorus (Impossible Gods #1) by John Marco

Simply put, the synopsis for this sounds so dang intriguing! Especially the part about a magical band of avenging misfits. Also, I heard something about whale dragons. I don’t exactly know what that means, but I need to find out!

Synopsis

Two empires…one in decline, the other ascendant and hungry for conquest…

Upon his father’s mysterious assassination, young Haru reluctantly becomes ruler—Tain—of his once-fearsome island nation. Threatened by a world they once dominated, Haru’s people, the Cryori, struggle with the peace the old Tain championed, nostalgic for the violent glories of their past. But across the ocean, an alliance of old enemies has formed, led by a madman bent on righting old wrongs. Enigmatic and fanatical, Reius decries the Cryori and their living gods, determined to erase their influence and beliefs.

Now Haru must get justice for his murdered father and defend his people from the coming scourge over the sea. Promising his ancient, grieving goddess to kill Reius, he reunites his father’s failed circle of protectors—a magical band of avenging misfits known as the Bloody Chorus.

4) Relic of the Gods (The Echoes Saga #3) by Philip C Quaintrell

This is the third book in the first trilogy of the Echoes Saga (9 books total) and I simply need/want to finish this story arc. I’ve enjoyed my time in this series so far and I want to finish this trilogy to see if I want to continue on with the series as a whole.

Synopsis

The echoes of fate have been heard. After a thousand years, the prophecy has almost come to pass…

The final days of hope have come and gone. The kingdoms of Illian stand on the edge of ruin, threatened by the armies of Valanis. As evil spreads across the land, too few are left to hold the line.

A world away, the children of fire and flame may be the only hope for the realm, but the dragons have been defeated before. Now Verda’s future hangs in the balance.

Reeling from their losses, Asher and his companions journey north, trying to outrun the savage Darkakin. A confrontation awaits the ranger but, even with Paldora’s gem, he dare not challenge Valanis yet.

The days of the Dragorn have come again, and with them, a relic of the gods has been brought into the light. The knowledge of Verda’s true history weighs on Gideon Thorn, and he would see the world rid of the evil that has cursed it from the shadows for so long.

A great change is coming, and a new Age dawns on the horizon. Whether it be the light or the dark that finds victory, one soul will suffer the burden of destiny for all…

5) The Red Palace by June Her

From what I know of this one it is a mix of historical fiction murder mystery and deadly political intrigue (maybe part thriller?) and that sounds like a blast to me!

Synopsis

Joseon (Korea), 1758

There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father’s approval.

But Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics when someone murders four women in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon’s closest friend and mentor. Determined to prove her beloved teacher’s innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation.

In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself as the murderer, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secrets behind the bloodshed.

Welcome to another guest post on Fanfiaddict! Today, we have Noor Al-Shanti, author of Isaree of the Wild Isles and several other fantasy stories set in the same world, talking about the journey that characters go through in fantasy stories. She focuses on talking about the little things that make a story really matter. I really enjoyed reading this one and I hope you do too!

If you like what you see here, as I’m sure you will, why not go ahead and pre-order Isaree of the Wild Isles (Publication date: December 22, 2023)? You can even request an arc of her newest book here! Pre-order links and book information will be included below. Enjoy!

All in the Journey: Food, Survival, and Companionship in a Character-Driven Story

Isaree of the Wild Isles was written based on a very vivid dream I had involving a dragon. I woke up and just knew I had to write that scene. So I looked at the map of my world and tried to figure out where to set it. Writing in a pre-established, already built world with lots of characters, events, settings, and histories already existing behind the map is great, because I had all of that to draw on when I decided to bring that fun, vivid dream onto the page. I just had to choose a setting, name my character, decide where the scene was going to take place and start writing.

This is the first story I’ve written completely without a plan. All I knew was that Isaree was going to be forced to leave her home in the Upland Villages and go on this adventure which would eventually lead her to the Wild Isles and the scene I had dreamed. All the other details would be figured out once Isaree got to them. It was her adventure.

I didn’t care too much about getting to a certain big event or going through certain plot points, all I cared about was writing Isaree’s journey as she flees and tries to find safety. Writing this way allowed me to really focus on the journey itself, on all those little details that make the journey worthwhile. Isaree’s connection with the elders in her village was the first such detail to present itself, from the very beginning of the journey.

the elders of the village had packed them supplies to last several months. They couldn’t carry even half of it, especially if they wanted to make a quick pace, but the aunts and mothers and grandmothers had poured all their love and fears and hopes into making that food.

  ~ From Ch 2 (Isaree of the Wild Isles)

Even though she leaves home, having no idea if she will ever be able to come back, Isaree constantly carries that connection to her village and her family with her.

She realized she was covered in one of the blankets her mother had packed for their journey. She pulled it closer to herself and realized she was no longer freezing cold.

~ From Ch 8 (Isaree of the Wild Isles)

When the village elders decide that Isaree must leave to flee the Sorcerers, who might take her for her magic, she’s not the only one. In fact, she finds herself leading a small group through the wilderness and they build strong connections throughout their journey.

Pakwan stood in front of Isaree and ran her little hand down Isaree’s cheek in an unexpected caress. Isaree was surprised by the gesture. She had not expected wild little Pakwan, who always wanted things to go her way, to have missed her. She pulled the little girl into a hug and sat her on her lap as they ate and talked. Chaarumathi’s cooking tasted like home. Sitting around in this circle, with the twins and Leng and Sirichai and Chaarumathi felt like home.

– From Ch 17 (Isaree of the Wild Isles)

Food was one of the things that reminded them of home, but it also brought them together as a group. It was often over food that they connected with each other on their journey.

“Come on!” Sirichai said. He had already laid out the food on the floor and spread out some cushions for them to sit on. The others came in soon enough, sitting around in a circle, and it was just like those nights hiding out in the caves, and it was strangely homely.

– From Ch 8 (Isaree of the Wild Isles)

They formed their bonds over shared meals and searched for reminders of home in the tastes, the unique spices and herbs that the people in their village used. Food could remind them of home, but it was also key to their survival, out in the wild, on the run. This story ended up being much more focused on other aspects of survival, too, from making fires to keep warm in the widlerness, to deciding if it would be safe to go into a village or trust a certain person.

Isaree didn’t exactly regret her decision to be cautious. She just cursed it with her every breath as they spent hour after hour hiding in little caves along the coast, not daring to breathe, while Sorcerers journeyed back and forth along the road.

~ From Ch 4 (Isaree of the Wild Isles)

Every little decision felt like it could determine their survival, especially for a group of young people from a small village who had never really known how big the outside world could be.

Once they reached the port city, however, they realized that they were unlikely to find either of the two. It was bigger than ten villages. The streets were so noisy Isaree felt difficulty breathing. Everyone seemed to be busy with something. This should be comforting, to know they wouldn’t be watched or asked too many questions, but it did not feel comforting in the least. It was frightening to be among so many people who barely acknowledged their existence.

~ From Ch 3 (Isaree of the Wild Isles)

Isaree and her companions may not be heroes of prophecy or important players in some world-ending plot, but through each step of their journey they become important to each other and grow to love one another. I hope that you will grow to love them too as you follow their adventures.

Book Information & Preorder Links

Title: Isaree of the Wild Isles
Series: Standalone
Page Length: 203 pages
Publication Date: December 22, 2023

Preorder Links: https://books2read.com/isaree

Blurb: Sandwiched between the mighty High Kingdoms and the great Land of Sunsets, the Upland villages did not have much claim to greatness or power. Many of these villages did not even have names. When an army of Sorcerers from the High Kingdoms was mobilized to invade the Land of Sunsets it was these small villages, stuck in the middle, that bore the brunt of that army’s march.

In one of these villages Isaree has just discovered her own magical power, but even dreaming of what this could mean for her is made impossible by the presence of the sorcerous armies. When they hear that the Sorcerers have begun to forcibly take anyone with power, the village elders decide that those most likely to be taken must flee.

In the blink of an eye, Isaree finds herself at the head of a group of runaways, responsible for leading them to safety, with nothing to rely on except her knowledge of the nearby woods and caves and the food that their families have lovingly packed for them.

Isaree and her friends must stick together and survive in a world much bigger than any of them could have imagined. A world full of wars and empires, sorcery and power, and – tucked away in forgotten corners – impossible creatures of legend.

In this vast, frightening world, Isaree must learn not just how to survive, but who she wants to be.

Author Bio & Links

Noor Al-Shanti is the author of the epic fantasy novel Children of the Dead City, the forthcoming novel Isaree of the Wild Isles, and several other fantasy stories set in the same world. She loves world-building, writing multiple POVs, and sneaking fantasy creatures like dragons into her stories. 

Website: https://www.talesfromthecircle.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIronglove

Isaree of the Wild Isles on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/183716708-isaree-of-the-wild-isles

Synopsis

AUDI. VIDE. TACE.

The Catenan Republic – the Hierarchy – may rule the world now, but they do not know everything.

I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus – what they call Will – to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.

I tell them that I belong, and they believe me.

But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart.

And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family.

To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me.

And if the Hierarchy finds out who I truly am, they will kill me.

Review

Thank you to Saga Press for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this has no effect on this review.

The man who is never nervous, never does anything hard. The man who is never nervous, never grows.”

I went into The Will of the Many with relatively high expectations. I had read and really enjoyed The Licanius Trilogy and so I was already really excited for whatever the author was going to do next. When I read the blurb for this book I was pretty certain I was going to love it. I was not disappointed.

The Will of the Many is hands down my favorite book of the year so far. A masterful combination of mystery, action, and suspense set in a uniquely immersive world that captivated me from the very first page.

About 2/3 of The Will of the Many is a school setting. However, even if you are not a fan of “magic school setting” as a trope I think you still have a chance of enjoying this book. Vis may be at the school, and there is of course some brief class and training scenes involved, but the main focus remains on other things. The two things that are really the focus during this part of the story are the overarching plot of the story and character growth. I can’t really go into too many more details without spoilers, but I will say that this was my favorite part of the story.

There is a mystery lurking just out of reach both within and outside the grounds of the school. A secret that is so important that the school administrators would do anything to keep it hidden. Vis constantly puts himself in harm’s way to discover this secret at the urging of his sponsor Ulciscor. He cannot refuse or there will be consequences. This intrigue, constant threat of danger, and mystery had me hooked since it was first talked about roughly 10-15% in to the story. I needed to learn what it is that the school was hiding. I’m so thankful that we at least have some understanding of what it is by the end of the first book, but I also appreciate Islington leaving some of the mystery there to keep me invested while also dropping a new bomb on us right at the very end.

“You hurt any of them,” I say softly, voice shaking, “and on my oath, I will burn you and the Anguis to the ground. No matter the cost.”

I really enjoyed how this story gave me Red Rising vibes, especially thematically and somewhat character wise, while still feeling wholly unique. The magic system and the world itself felt like a breath of fresh air. Both the setting and characters felt so vividly imagined its like I could step through the page and into the world of The Hierarchy. Not that I would want to ever visit this class-based society where if someone in a lower class steps out of line even in the slightest there are dire consequences.

This is a brutal world ruled by the Hierarchy, a pyramidal system of government that makes the people in each higher tier more physically and magically powerful than their subordinates. I found how this particular part of the story is set up fascinating so I won’t spoil it for you going into more detail. Suffice it to say it made for a very compelling piece of worldbuilding that truly had an impact on the story in multiple ways.

There were also some uses of the magic system of this world that took this from straight up epic fantasy to what I would consider to be dark fantasy. It never ventured anywhere near the despair or abject horror of grimdark or fantasy horror, but it absolutely had touches of both intertwined throughout.

And now we get to the characters. Vis is the single POV of this story so we see his character growth the most. We learn more and more of his back story in bits and pieces as the story progresses. Because this story is told in first person we also get to be in Vis’ head for a decent amount of time. When we first meet Vis he is a man fueled by a desire to just survive, to remain invisible to the powers of the Hierarchy. However, as the story progresses we begin to see a different side of Vis. I loved that there were both external forces and internal personal struggles that led to Vis’ growth as a character, similar to how we are able to grow as humans in real life.

If everyone in Class Six is going to try and ignore me, then I’ll just have to make them pay attention.

My favorite part about school settings in general are not the magic or training or anything like that. All are typically interesting to me, but my favorite part is the friends that are made along the way. Vis finds three good friends at the Academy and they are all compelling on their own while also being an integral part of Vis’ growth as a character.

The influence of his friends at the Academy, almost all of whom are of relatively high standing within the Hierarchy, cannot be understated. We see Vis’ priorities start to shift throughout book 1 in large part due to his friends because of how much he cares for them despite their being involved in the society he despises. I found this duality of thought incredibly compelling and its super impressive to me that Islington was able to pull it off in such a believable way.

I am very excited to see where this series will go and I cannot wait for the release of book 2, The Strength of the Few!