Wrath - John Gwynne

Events are coming to a climax in the Banished Lands, as the war reaches new heights. King Nathair has taken control of the fortress at Drassil and three of the Seven Treasures are in his possession. And together with Calidus and his ally Queen Rhin, Nathair will do anything to obtain the remaining Treasures. With all seven under his command, he can open a portal to the Otherworld. Then Asroth and his demon-horde will finally break into the Banished Lands and become flesh.

Meanwhile Corban has been taken prisoner by the Jotun, warrior giants who ride their enormous bears into battle. His warband scattered, Corban must make new allies if he hopes to survive. But can he bond with competing factions of warlike giants? Somehow he must, if he's to counter the threat Nathair represents.

His life hangs in the balance - and with it, the fate of the Banished Lands. 

My thoughts:

For some reason, I have a hard time keeping track of everyone in this series. I have no idea why, yes there are a lot of people there, but hey I have read fantasy series with even more characters. So what makes it so? In previous books, I looked at the character sheet a lot, but I learned that for some reason I just can not remember so I went with the flow. And that worked well, who cares from exactly where that guy came. I know if I like him or not, if he is bad or not. That is what matters. 

Now I make it sound like there are too many characters but do not worry. I honestly do not know what I can't remember names here.

Better jump back into the story now. There are a LOT of battles. The whole book is one big battle after another. Stuff is going down. Baddies need to be taken down, evil ones to be banished, and the war won.

The end came rather quickly though, I kind of wanted to know more, even though all lose threads came together nicely. But it's always hard to let a world go.

Oh and I so love PBs more, wow this book was big and heavy, that is hardback for ya ;)

Cover
They are too similar

Hardcover, 672 pages
Published November 17th 2016 by Tor
The Faithful and the Fallen #4
Fantasy
Library

Review and Giveaway: Ruin - John Gwynne

First I will start with the giveaway :)

Giveaway

1 autographed copy of Ruin

1. Open to everyone in the universe

2. Ends July 21st

3. To enter just comment :)

And now on to the review

The Banished Lands are engulfed in war and chaos. The cunning Queen Rhin has conquered the west and High King Nathair has the cauldron, most powerful of the seven treasures. At his back stands the scheming Calidus and a warband of the Kadoshim, dread demons of the Otherworld. They plan to bring Asroth and his host of the Fallen into the world of flesh, but to do so they need the seven treasures. Nathair has been deceived but now he knows the truth. He has choices to make, choices that will determine the fate of the Banished Lands.

Elsewhere the flame of resistance is growing - Queen Edana finds allies in the swamps of Ardan. Maquin is loose in Tenebral, hunted by Lykos and his corsairs. Here he will witness the birth of a rebellion in Nathair's own realm.

Corban has been swept along by the tide of war. He has suffered, lost loved ones, sought only safety from the darkness. But he will run no more. He has seen the face of evil and he has set his will to fight it. The question is, how? With a disparate band gathered about him - his family, friends, giants, fanatical warriors, an angel and a talking crow he begins the journey to Drassil, the fabled fortress hidden deep in the heart of Forn Forest. For in Drassil lies the spear of Skald, one of the seven treasures, and here it is prophesied that the Bright Star will stand against the Black Sun. 

My thoughts:

I so should have checked if this one was the last one or not, I was all, they are not going to make it! Oh there is one more book. Well that explains it, and then noooooo! I want the next book now!! Nooooooo!

Let's try to make this simple. We have Corban, a young hero who is told he will save the world. And I have enjoyed his road, slowly he has gained his confidence. Then there is Naithan, who also has been told he will save the world. I do loathe him, but so far it has not been his fault. He is the bad guy, he just does not know it. Except he learned so in the last book so now he really is bad,

Then there is Jael, who took a kingdom by force and I hate him. Lykos, who has a kingdom in his hand and wants to crush it. Jeradis, a seemingly good guy who thinks he is following the good guy, but he is not. That breaks my heart because he is good.

And now some of the good ones. Edana, a queen in exile trying to stay alive. Meican and Fidele running from Lykos. Yes, there are a lot of people in this book. It's one big book after all. I remember  reading book 1 and checking who was who a lot, but I when I got into it it was easy. 

There are good guys, there are bad guys, and then there are good guys who are bad guys. There are liars, and manipulators. It's not black and white, there is a lot of grey in this book.

As for the story. Many are running for the lives, or trying to find allies. While others kill and pillage, and crush those not following them. And slowly it is shown that the story itself is not black and white either. I went all whaat?! That was one big surprise.

The end then. It was pretty brutal, hopeless and sure one big cliffie. I have no idea how the book 4 will turn out now. That was one big ending. He sure know how to throw a punch, or a hundred!

Conclusion:

I look forward to book 4, I am biting my nails to find out what will happen to them all.

Cover

the details are prettier in rl

Hardcover, 672 pages
Published July 16th 2015 by Tor UK/Panmacmillan
The Faithful and the Fallen #3
Fantasy
For review

Valour - John Gwynne

The Banished Lands are torn by war as the army of High King Nathair sweeps the realm challenging all who oppose his holy crusade. Allied with the manipulative Queen Rhin of Cambren, there are few who can stand against him. But Rhin is playing her own games and has her eyes on a far greater prize ...

Left for dead - her kin have fled and her country is overrun with enemies - Cywen fights to survive. But any chance of escape is futile once Nathair and his disquieting advisor Calidus realize who she is. They have no intention of letting such a prize slip from their grasp. For she may be their one chance at killing the biggest threat to their power. Meanwhile, the young warrior Corban flees from his conquered homeland with his exiled companions, heading for the only place that may offer them sanctuary. But to get there they must travel through Cambren, avoiding warbands, giants and the vicious wolven of the mountains. And all the while Corban struggles to become the man that everyone believes him to be - the Bright Star and saviour of the Banished Lands. 

Embroiled in struggles for power and survival, the mortal world is unaware of the greatest threat of all. In the Otherworld, dark forces scheme to bring a host of the Fallen into the world of flesh to end the war with the Faithful, once and for all.

My thoughts:

I do think I enjoyed this one more than book 1 *checks book 1* I definitely did. That one was good, and this was better. I love when that happens.

Though I did have the same problem as in book 1, so many characters. I am used to many characters but here for some reason I kept checking who is who, but then I told myself to go with the flow and  that worked perfectly. So if you are afraid of many POVs, then this is so not the book for you. If a silly thing like many POVs is nothing, then this is so the book for you. It kept my attention all the way through. I read it in a day after all.

Those many Povs then. Well, there is Corban, Bright Star, who who shall fight the Black Sun. Right now just a confused young man on the run with his mother, a princess, soldiers and other friends.

Cywen, his sister was left behind in the conquered city. And she has her own battles to fight. I really grew to like her in this one. She has spirit.

Veradis, ack Veradis. You are on the wrong side!! I want him to see the truth. He has a good heart and thinks he is doing the right thing. But he is fooled by a friend.

Nathair the king who thinks he is Bright Star. Aye I loved that twist. He thinks he is doing good and fighting to unite the lands. So they all can fight the bad guy. But, he is the bad guy! He is slaughtering innocent men, women and children, all while believing his is the prophesied. How can I hate him when he is the biggest fool of them all? Ok I still hate him, but still.

Then we have fighters, kings, giants, all trying to stay alive as the world is falling apart. As kingdom after kingdom is conquered. And it looks dark, how could it not? The bad side is winning cos they are fooled, while the good side is slaughtered. 

An interesting world, a good plot and I am looking forward to the next book. *checks* No word of the release date, noooo.

Conclusion;
Definitely go read this book.

Cover

meh

Hardcover, 640 pages
Published March 27th 2014 by Tor Books
The Faithful and the Fallen #2
Fantasy
Library

Review: Malice - John Gwynne

The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed in battle. An uneasy peace reigns, but now giants stir once more, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of gigantic worms. Those who can still read the signs see a prophecy realised: sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. 

Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors and yearns to join them, determined that he will make his family proud. It is only when everything he knows is threatened that he discovers the true cost of becoming a man.

As the Kings look to their borders, and priests beg answers from the Gods, only a chosen few know that the fate of the world will be decided between two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. And with their coming will be a war to end all wars.

My thoughts:

The book was not easy getting into to. I was bored at first, then the many POVs had me confused. They kept on coming and before I knew one character another one was thrown at me. I do not have a problem with many characters, I just need to know who they all are and what they do first. But somewhere along the lines the book grew interesting, I started to like and hate people. Sure it took a while and that is why it's getting a 3 instead of a 4. Because in the end it was really good, the plot thickened and I wanted book 2. And there is no word out on book 2. I am dying here, I need to know certain things. It was so good! (edit, word on book 2 is spring 2014, yay).

Right, should I tell you about all the POVS? Eh, well some, there was Corban, the typical young boy who must find his fate (and I sure want to know too!). His sister who wants to fight. There is a prince thinking he will save all. A lawless man in the woods. A king's nephew who is dealing with a troublesome cousin. A man rising in the ranks of his prince. Let's see was that all? I can't say too much because certain plots, oh they were good. I kept wondering, thinking I had it, and the twists that I guessed were juicy.

He sure spun a good web. I wish some of the characters will see the truth and the rest I hope will burn. Aye, just like one should feel in a good book.

Conclusion:

So a difficult beginning paved way to a great debut. I hope the next book comes out soon

Cover

Eh

Paperback, 628 pages
Published July 4th 2013 by Tor (first published December 6th 2012)
The Faithful and the Fallen #1
Fantasy
Own