A Shade of Madness is more that equal to A Touch of Light and Thiago Adballa ups his game to create a worthy and exceptional sequel. I have complete trust in him to bring the story to an amazing conclusion and I can’t wait for what he has in store for us next.
Military Fantasy
Review: The Bleeding Stone (The Spellbinders and the Gunslingers #1) by Joseph John Lee
This is a fantasy novel that is different from typical fantasy novels in all the good ways. It is fascinating, heartbreakingly emotional, exciting, political, and a solidly great book! It will take a reader on a ride while at the same time making them reflect on some of the choices they might personally make in their own lives. It is one that I know will make me think about it for many days into the future.
Review: Conspiracy (Wahrheit #1) by A.C. Cobble
Overall, Conspiracy is a great epic fantasy with a lot of political intrigue. It is a fast paced with some heart pounding action, including dragon knights and gun toting soldiers. I never thought guns and dragons could mix, but this is done in an excellent manner. The story is really brought to life in the audio format by the talented Mr. Travis Baldree. This provides a lot of personality to many of these fascinating characters. Mr. Cobble has provided a solid start to what will be a very interesting series that I look forward to continuing.
Review: The Iron Crown (Dragon Spirits #1) by L.L. MacRae
The Iron Crown lives up to the hype. It reminds me of the epic fantasy novels that I grew up with. The magic is intriguing and creates a world that is fascinating to discover as the pages rapidly turn. It is engaging, exciting, and many other things. It also has a unique take on dragons that makes it a lot of fun to read and to figure out how it all works out in the grand scheme of things. The characters are beautifully flawed, with each having a weakness to either overcome or succumb to.
Review: The Last of the Atalanteans (The Drowned Kingdom Saga #2) by P.L. Stuart
Overall, this is a series that has me invested in every way that it can. I look forward to more bloody conflicts, political intrigues, and seeing how Othrun continues to develop. This is a series that will keep you thinking about it at all times of the day or night. I felt the shock of what had happened and I keep thinking about it, even after finishing it days ago. If you haven’t read what has happened to the Atalanteans, you should.
Review: The Pariah (The Covenant of Steel #1) by Anthony Ryan
The Pariah is a good outlaw tale, full of brutal and bloody violence, and an overall tale of discovery. It is exciting and has a lot of hints of what could be expected in future installments. There is a lot of enjoyment, with a writing prose that is expertly crafted, making for an easy read.
Solace Lost (Pandemonium Rising #1) by Michael Sliter
Solace Lost by Michael Sliter is a grimdark diamond in the rough that I’m surprised I don’t see more people talking about.
Review: The Children of Gods and Fighting Men (Gael Song #1) by Shauna Lawless
Brilliant writing that will leave you thinking about what just happened and what is to come in all of the right ways. I highly recommend this novel for those with ties to Irish history as well as to those who want a great novel with amazing strong female POVs. This is a novel that will resonate with many different types of readers, leaving a taste that will make them crave for more of this series. I eagerly look forward to where it will go.
Review: The Lore of Prometheus by Graham Austin-King
The Lore of Prometheus is an urban fantasy military thriller — think Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops by way of Blake Crouch. It has been very well received and has even won 2020’s inaugural Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award. I will be honest and say that this is a little outside of my typical reading wheelhouse, but I still found it to be quite an enjoyable read.