The Hammer of Fate by G.N Gudgion ( The Rune Song 1) – book review

Here is my review of this fantasy inspired by Viking magic

Adelais was raised in the far north, learning stories of the old gods and the skill of weaving runes into magic. Now, she is locked in a convent far from home, forced to kneel to a foreign god.
When inquisitors arrive with plans to torture an innocent man, Adelais cannot stand by. She aids an attack to free the prisoner and joins the raiders as they flee into the night.
Her new companions are the last of the Guardians—once a powerful holy order, now ragged fugitives, hunted almost to extinction.
The knights carry a secret treasure, precious and powerful enough to shape kingdoms. Their pursuers, desperate to possess it, will crush any who stand in their way.
Nowhere is safe—in city or chateau, on the road or in the wilds. And even disguised as a boy, Adelais draws attention wherever she goes. Is she angel or demon, priestess or witch?
Adelais must summon all her courage and all her memories of the old gods’ magic as the noose tightens around her and a thunderous final reckoning approach.

Thank you NetGalley and @secondskybooks for a copy of my book

Review

Here is my review of Hammer of Fate by G N Gudgion Viking inspired epic fantasy with medieval undertones and fans of epic fantasy will enjoy this.

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence – Book review

Here is my review of the The Book That Wouldn’t Burn( Book 1 of the Library Trilogy) by Mark Lawrence- epic fantasy that will appeal to anyone who love libraries and books.

A boy has lived his whole life trapped within a vast library, older than empires and larger than cities.
A girl has spent hers in a tiny settlement out on the Dust where nightmares stalk and no one goes.
The world has never even noticed them. That’s about to change.
Their stories spiral around each other, across worlds and time. This is a tale of truth and lies and hearts, and the blurring of one into another. A journey on which knowledge erodes certainty, and on which, though the pen may be mightier than the sword, blood will be spilled and cities burned.

Review

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence will appeal to anyone who loves books. This epic fantasy is the book in The Library Trilogy.

Read more: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence – Book review

I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.

This book has so much to love- strong and interesting characters, lush world-building, and libraries with magical doors leading to other worlds. Liviria is a young girl and outcast who lives in the dust  but whose life is destroyed by the Sabbers. She ends up being moved to a city and allocated to the free-thinking Yute to learn and work with books. One day in the depths of the library, she meets Evar who is looking for someone.

The world Liviria lives is alien and yet relatable- we have leaders who spin the truth and discriminate against people who look different but a world with automated librarians and magical portals.

I found the book a little slow at times and struggled with the length of the book, it does pick up towards the middle with some really amazing plot reveals. But I imagine that many readers will love the attention to description and the atmosphere.

Content warning

Death of children

Perfect for Fans of

The Starless Sea, or anyone who loves books about books and libraries.

Tinderbox by W A Simpson- blog tour and book review

I’m so pleased to be part of the Random Things Tours for Tinderbox by W A Simpson- epic fantasy with an inspired reference to fairy tale.

Isbet returns home to find the witch who raised her murdered and her prized possession, the Tinderbox stolen. She discovers a common man has used it to seize the throne. The same who conquered Prince Bram’s kingdom. Isbet’s goals are vengeance and reclaim the Box. For Bram, it is to free his homeland. When they are summoned to an underground kingdom, they must set aside their personal desires as they learn dark fey are bringing an ancient source of magic back to life. If they cannot halt the rise of the old magic, it will tear apart the Riven Isles.

Review

 Tinderbox by W A Simpson is the epic fantasy for you if you enjoy reading about conflicted witches, captured Princes, underground realms and a villain corrupted by magic.