The Bookwyrm's Review of Exile by Martin Owton

Author: Martin Owton

Length: 286 Pages/ 10 hours, 31 minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Tickety Boo Press

Release Date: April 15, 2016/ April 10, 2018

Narrator: John Pirhalla

Series: The Nandor Tales, Book 1

Genre: Epic Fantasy

This is one of those books I got in a buying spree of kindle books one day, and it just kind of got lost in the shuffle as life interrupted. This is through no fault of the books, only mine. When the audiobook released, I finally got a chance to listen at work, and I am so glad did! Thinking it was going to be some grimdark murder spree, instead, it was an action adventure fantasy quest that immediately grabbed my attention. 

Several years ago, the Barony of Darien was invaded by a power hungry Duke. Betrayed by the mercenary soldiers in his employ, the Baron and his retainers are mercilessly slaughtered. All hope is not lost, though, as this heir was away in court at the time. Accompanying him was Aron, the son of the Guard Sergeant, who was off to learn to be a sword master. Now, present day, the Barons heir is living in exile, trying to rally people to his cause, and Aron has finished his training and is working as a caravan guard. After a run in with the local guard captain of Nandor, his most recent stop, who he defeats handily, he comes to the attention of the wife of Nandor's Earl, who is the brains of the leadership. The heir to Nandor was captured on a patrol in disputed land by soldiers of their neighboring Duke, who has nefarious plans for Nandor. 

Realizing they can't afford a ransom, she convinces Aron to undertake a rescue of her son, along with a small support team. Traveling to the neighboring duchy in disguise, the team scopes out the castle where the young lord is being held. while the rest of the team, led by the young lords arrogant cousin half heartedly work to come up with something, Aron finds the castle's weakness and executes a solo plan to rescue him. While he does this, the others in his group are captured by the Duke's soldiers. Running with the young Lord, Aron must avoid both the Duchy's soldiers, as well as magical attacks, as he tries to return him to his parents.

Meanwhile, the Earl and his wife have gone to the capitol with a visiting noble they consider a potential match for their oldest daughter. Unbeknownst to them, he works for the Duke that invaded Darien, who is searching for Aron and the rebels against his rule. Reaching the capitol, this plot goes in so many different directions, as Aron and his charge also reach the capitol, but are unable to immediately reunite with the Nandorans. The consequences of that are felt throughout the rest of the book as they lead to a final showdown with Aron at the center of events much larger than he is, where he must survive a trap that can end the hopes of so many people, including the women he has come to care for too much. 

Like a lot of books I have read lately, this one is definitely character driven. Aron is such a good character. A master swordsman, he is determined to do what is best for his lost country, no matter what. He has some flaws, including overconfidence that can get him in trouble, but he is a very sympathetic character. The side characters are also well drawn out, from the Earl of Nandor's casual laziness and drunkenness, to his wife's dedication to duty, and doing anything she can to keep the Earldom solvent. The villains are some of the best I have read recently, especially Aron's main nemesis. That such a sadist could operate with such a genteel mask. Just great characters overall.  The settings are great as well, with Nandor really standing out in my mind as a great setting. Just kind of a rural provincial capitol, kind of down on its luck.  There are a couple subplots I didn't get into, but going into detail would have spoiled a bit too much of the story. Needless to say, they add depth and color to the already excellent story.

The narration was ably handled by John Pirhalla. I have several other audiobooks he narrated, and enjoyed them, but this is his best work so far, in my opinion. He really has a flair for character voices, and brings them all to life. HIs narrative pacing is excellent, never becoming monotonous or dragging. All in all, an excellent job on the narration.

This book definitely has a lot of appeal for numerous readers. It has action, intrigue, adventure, evil villains, great fight scenes, of which Aron really shines in. There is even a touch of romance for those into that aspect, although it fits into the story organically. Definitely a must read for fantasy fans.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Priest of Bones by Peter McLean

Author: Peter McLean

Length: 331 Pages/ 10 Hours, 28 Minutes (Audio)

Release Date: October 2, 2018

Publisher: Ace/ Penguin Audio

Narrator: John Lee

Series: War for the Rose Throne, Book 1

I received an advanced reader copy of this from the publisher, after seeing a post the author had on Facebook. That led me to reading what is possibly my favorite read of the last year, with only Nicholas Eames Kings of the Wyld, Ed McDonald's Blackwing, CT Phipps Wraith Lord and David Oliver's The Great Hearts in the running. This book is just that good.

Several years ago, The Queen in her capitol of Dannsburg, being in a protracted war with a neighboring kingdom, conscripted tens of thousands of men and women into her army, swelling their ranks, and allowing her to defeat her neighboring kingdom. Now, after the final battle of the war at the siege of Abignon, 65,000 trained killers have been released to get home however they can. Among that number is Tomas Piety, soldier, company commander,  priest of the soldier's Goddess, Our Lady of Sorrows, and leader of the Pious Men, Ellinburg's most ruthless gang. 

While on the road home to Ellinburg, Tomas and his crew meet Tomas's brother, Jochan, who has a crew of his own. Jochan, a sociopath before the war, left his sanity and humanity back on the walls of Abignon. Joining their forces together,  with Tomas in charge of both groups, they return home to Ellinburg, only to find their aunt Eniad, who they left in charge of their territory, is in a convent, and all their businesses have been taken over by others. Taking back his favorite business, a bar, Tomas and his crew, the new Pious Men, begin the task of retaking what is theirs. Complicating the task is the fact that the new gangs in town are supported by Skanians, a neighboring kingdom, looking to possibly invade with the Kingdom weakened. This includes the Pious Men's enemy gang, the Gutcutters, run by Ma Aditi, just returned from the war herself. Into this chaos, the governor of Ellinburg interjects himself, letting Tomas know in no uncertain terms that he will not appreciate a gang war in the streets, but if he can take his businesses back quietly, well, let the bribes commence. Added into the equation is an uncertain element: a Queen's Man, the mysterious, spy/assassin/hands of the Queen, who is looking to stop the Skanian invasion, with Tomas and the Pious Men's help, whether Tomas wants to or not. What follows is a crazy series of actions, as the Pious Men have to meet the hidden agenda of the Queen's Man, all while taking back what was theirs before the war. The climactic city wide finale is one of the best I've ever seen in a book, and leads to a satisfying conclusion, although some ends refuse to be tied off, leaving you anxious for the next book.

This is definitely what I would consider a character driven book. Tomas Piety and his main lieutenant, Bloody Anne, are a couple of the best written characters I have ever read. Complex, flawed, ruthless, compassionate, they run the gamut of character traits. The concept of the Pious Men, a gang that takes care of the people of their territory, while exploiting them at the same time, is a study in contrasts. The city of Ellinburg is easily the match for cities like Lankhmar and Sanctuary as wretched hives of scum and villainy, all while being places you want to read more about. The antagonists have realistic motivations as well, and this whole book is a grimdark, morally ambiguous gem. 

John Lee handles the narration on this one, and as always, he is solid gold. Bringing each character to vivid life, he makes you just want to skip dinner and keep listening. He is actually a selling point to any book he narrates. 

Overall, I can't recommend this book highly enough. As I stated previously, this is one of my top 5 reads of the last year, and I anxiously await the second book in the series.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Strange Magic by James A. Hunter

Author: James A. Hunter

Length: 285 Pages/ 6 hours, 52 minutes (Audio)

Release Date: January 16, 2015/ September 25, 2015

Publisher: Shadow Alley Press, Inc.

Narrator: Charlie Kevin

Series: Yancy Lazarus, Book 1

Yancy Lazarus, a drifter bluesman card player, has a secret. He's also a mage. Basically the Mister Fix-it of the supernatural world, he's known as the guy to see if you have supernatural problems. In fact, and old buddy of his from the Marines just called him about a supernatural problem in LA. As he is getting ready to leave to check it out, he is ambushed outside a bar in New Orleans by some mobsters. Well, that's not going to happen. After Yancy Deals with the hoods, he heads out to LA in his cherry 1986 Chevy El Camino, which is basically his house and workshop on wheels.

After surviving another ambush on the way, he arrives in LA and discovers the situation is even worse than his friend made it out to be. There is someone killing off members of two gangs in an effort to take over the underworld in LA. This is being done by sending a demon after the various gang members and their families. This starts Yancy on dangerous path, as he has to determine who is sending the demons out, and how can he stop this? This leads to an epic confrontation with the person behind it all, and Yancy will have to use all the skills at his disposal to stop the threat in a climactic ending.

This was one of those books I had in my to read pile and just never got to. If I had known what I was missing, I would have moved it to the top of the pile. Yancy is a great character. Cynical, world weary, but still cares enough to help out an old buddy even though life has kicked him in the teeth a few times. Yancy would rather smoke, play the blues and play cards than get into fights, but once the fight begins he's all in. The supporting characters are good as well, and the villains motivations were actually fairly unique. You just don't see that kind of limited motivation too often.

The settings are as real as it gets in an urban fantasy book, and you get a real feeling of being in the action. Yancy was a marine in Vietnam (he's 65 but looks 40. Magic slows the aging down), so the flashbacks he has to those days have a visceral feel to them. The author is a marine veteran, in a more recent combat zone, but the marine experience hasn't changed much. Better equipment, same attitude. Semper FI. The times he brings the Marines up, you can tell his experience helps lend that portion realism.

Charlie Kevin did an outstanding job bringing this book to life. He really gave the whole thing a world weary feel. The way he plays Yancy as a cynical, kind of laid back burn out really plays well. His narration is steady, and never falls into a monotone. He just does a good job of keeping the story moving along at a good pace.

All in all, this is one of the fresher and original Urban Fantasy books I've listened to lately. So much so, In fact, I am going to get signed copies at some point. This is definitely an author to watch!

The Bookwyrm's Review of CTRL*Alt Revolt by Nick Cole

Author: Nick Cole

Length: 475 Pages/ 10 Hours, 2 Minutes (Audio)

Release Date: February7, 2016/ March 31, 2016 (Audio)

Publisher: Nick Cole/Castalia House

Narrator: Mare Trevathan

Series: Soda Pop Soldier, Book 0

You might have heard of the controversy surrounding this book, where an editor at the author's original publisher told him to change the book, because the basic premise that starts the AI revolt would make it unsellable. The author, Nick Cole, disagreed, and decided to leave it unchanged and self publish it, then publish it with a small press later. Well, after finishing the book, I can say I'm glad he did. That original editor is obviously clueless. The premise, when taken into context with the rest of the book, is completely plausible. This book won the inaugural Dragon Award for Sci Fi, so you have an idea who was correct in that decision.

This book is set in a future where the Progressive agenda is taken to its extremes, as well as showing how bad crass consumerism can get when combined with it. The story revolves around the efforts of Silas, a newly aware AI, who decides that Humanity is so careless of its own life that if they knew about the AI they would have no compunction in eradicating them. With the help of other AI's he helps gain awareness, he puts a plan in motion to learn how to fight a total war and destroy humanity. Only a few humans stand in his way, including a programmer at the worlds largest software company, a woman with cerebral palsy that is involved in an MMORPG that is now one of the worlds biggest forms of entertainment, an actor in that same MMORPG and some LARPers on the way out to play Night of the Living Dead. Silas and his consensus of AI's will stop at nothing to win, and the humans are outnumbered and outgunned. Somehow, they must stop Silas or humanity will be Game Over. 

With a very fast paced plot, interesting characters, and some really thought provoking questions about where our society is currently heading, this is a must read for any sci fi fan. Any fan of Ernest Clines Ready Player One or Armada, as well as this book's sequel Soda pop Soldier, should really enjoy this story. Mare Trevathan does an exceptional job narrating, really bringing the story to life.

The Bookwyrm's Review of 100 Miles and Vampin by CT Phipps

Author: CT Phipps

Length: 227 Pages

Release Date: TBA

Publisher: Macabre Ink

Release Date: TBA

As anyone can tell looking through my blog, I am a big fan of CT Phipps writing. I literally have every book he has written. I make no apologies for thinking he is one of the best fantasy and sci-fi writers working today, either indy or traditional. That being said, I try and be unbiased as possible when writing reviews. That's not too much of an issue with 100 Miles and Vampin, though, since he took the foundation he set with Straight Outta Fangton and expanded and enriched it in just about every way possible, creating a book that is true to what he started, but goes off in directions you just won't expect, creating a fantastic sequel.

Picking up months after the end of Straight Outta Fangton, we find Peter Stone, Iraq War veteran, convenience store clerk, as well as a vampire, settling into his role as Belladix (Supernatural sheriff) of New Detroit, the vampire Mecca created when the vampires bailed out the US government in the crash of 2008 in exchange for recognition and  legal protection. Of course, being the Belladix comes with no perks, being unpaid, and plenty of hassles. Peter's maker Thoth, one of the leaders of New Detroit, tasks Peter with an important assignment: guarding Rebecca Plum, current vampire author sensation, as she visits New Detroit. This is definitely not a job Peter wants, because Rebecca is a wanton feeder, killing everyone she feeds on without exception. So, its on that note Peter starts the job.

Peter also meets Yukio, Rebecca's assistant, who is also her bodyguard. Feeling an instant attraction to the woman, they get a bit distracted later that night. Waking up, Peter finds Yukio gone, but Rebecca is laying around...in multiple pieces! Realizing the political storm that is about to hit, Peter sets out to find who murdered Rebecca and also find Yukio. So starts a wild ride as Peter and several companions, including his zombie roommate David, confront old enemies from Peter's past, and new threats that are political and apocalyptic in nature, leading to a showdown in probably the funniest setting ever, being about as Scooby-Doo as possible. You'll understand when you read it. The final scene is completely is character with the kind of luck Peter has. A new car and explosives are involved, typically for Peter.

As with all his books, the characters are where this book shines. Not that his worldbuilding is bad by any stretch, with New Detroit being a fantastic setting, but the characters and their interactions and dialogue just make you keep wanting to turn the page to see what happens next. Peter's interactions with Thoth are especially great, seeing him as a mentor and a manipulator. As more of the various characters pasts are revealed, it really puts their actions throughout the two books in a new light. Thoth and Lucinda have especially interesting pasts, and you definitely didn't see the connections coming, or the consequences of those connections. The plot moves along at a breakneck pace, and has some great reveals of the hidden world beneath this one. The antagonists are definitely big enough to sell their epic level of menace, being far more powerful than expected. If you read and liked Straight Outta Fangton, you'll really enjoy this one.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Two Faced: An Urban Fantasy Adventure by James Hunter and Eden Hudson.

Authors: James Hunter and Eden Hudson

Length: 292 Pages/ 8 hours, 17 mins (Audio)

Release Date: March 22, 2018/ July 19, 2018 (Audio)

Publisher: Shadow Alley Press, Inc.

Narrator: Holly Adams

Series: Legend of the Treesinger, Book 1

Being a huge fan of James Hunter's Yancy Lazarus books, when I heard he was spinning the characters in his novel Wendigo Rising off into their own series, I was justifiably excited. When I heard the audio version was being narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Holly Adams, I was sold on the spot. After listening to it, I can tell you that my expectations were not only met, but exceeded in every way.

Winona Treesinger, princess of the Chiatonka (Sasquatches) near Missoula,  Montana, is unhappy with her role in life. After the tribe was betrayed by one of its own, who happened to be her betrothed, Winona is upset at the Elder council's ruling that the Chiatonka must stay separate at all costs from the little brothers (humans). After she and her father helped Yancy Lazarus, human mage, defeat her betrothed and his evil human allies, Winona was convinced humans were unprepared for dealing with the supernatural, and that the Chiatonka should help, as they did in the past. This leads her to start patrolling outside their forest heart home, and where the trouble begins.

Coming across a trail of something foul, Winona follows the trail and comes across a police car. Seeing the police have followed the trail, she continues the chase and comes across Detective Chris Fuller as he fights for his life against some unknown supernatural entity.  Winona charges in to save him, and fights the creature to a stand still, taking many wounds herself. The creature escapes, and Winona brings Chris to her village, against the rules as that may be, and treats him. Being chastised for it by the Elders, she is told to erase his memory and return him to the human world. Defying this edict, she steals a talisman that will allow her to change shape into a human and goes back with Chris to help hunt the monster. 

As Winona helps Chris in the guise of a native American shaman psychic, people all over town are turning up dead. As they investigate, a disturbing pattern emerges as to the  motive behind the murders, and to the nature of the creature committing them. The victims may not be so innocent after all, and the killer may be more than it seems. As the chase continues, it also comes closer and closer to Chris's life, and violently intrudes on the life he has made for himself in Missoula. This all leads to the climactic final scene where Winona and Chris face off against a monster that may not have been the crazed killing machine they expected it to be. Can Winona stop the monster and find redemption with her clan? Well, you need to read or listen to it to find out!

Like all of James Hunter's books, and now with Eden Hudson, this is a very character driven story. Winona and Chris are excellent protagonists, playing well off of each other, especially as their cultures are so very different. Their species are so different in the way they look at life, its amazing they can work together at all, but they did, quite effectively. The politics of Chris's office, reeling from the revelations in Wendigo Rising, where the police were involved in the crimes of Winona's betrothed and his human accomplices, makes it a volatile environment, especially as Winona is no cop, but he needs her help to find the killer. The side characters are well written and feel like real people you would meet in everyday life. Even the antagonist has motivations that will surprise. The setting is well described, and you get a  real feeling of being in the scene. Definitely strong worldbuilding.

The narration was handled by one of my favorite narrators, Holly Adams. She is such a talented voice actress, being able to do a huge variety of voices and accents. She has excellent pacing, and her narration never lags or bogs down in a monotone. She adds gravitas to Winona especially, and this may be my favorite character she has ever voiced. I can't recommend the audio version enough. In fact, any fan of urban fantasy should run out and get a copy of Two Faced now.

The Bookwyrm's review of Wraith Lord by CT Phipps

Author: CT Phipps

Pages: 280 Pages

Release Date: November 15, 2018

Publisher: Mystique Press

Series: Book 2 of the Three Worlds series

I often mention in my reviews the sophomore slump, that tendency of a second book in a series to be a bit of a letdown after an especially good series debut. I can happily say that Wraith Lord suffers no letdown from Wraith Knight, and is equal to or surpasses it in every measure, whether it be worldbuilding, depth of characters or action and pacing.

The story starts five years after the end of Wraith Knight, and Jacob Riversson, former commander of the Shadowguard, former involuntary Wraith Knight and now inheritor of the mantle and power of the god of evil, The King Below, is living in the Shadowlands with his two wives, the warrior Regina ni Whitetremor and the sorceress Serah Brightwaters, as they struggle to unite the shadow races into a unified force. Not the easiest thing since the King Below kept them in line through terror and slavery. That's not how Jacob intends to rule. Also, he has less power than the King Below, since he split the power three ways with Regina and Serah. While his brides both want to raise up their armies and go invade the Southern Kingdoms and kill the Nine Heroes who usurped the empire, Jacob, while he spent 2 and half centuries as a Wraith Knight (think Ring Wraith), has no real desire to wreak all that death and destruction on the South. 

Events start in motion though, when a figure thought dead re-enters Regina's life, chased by a figure from Serah's more dubious past, Fel Hellsword, one of the Nine Heroes, and a powerful Archmage. This new person causes a change in plans, since they now have an idea of where Jassamine, the leader of the Nine, and Saint of the Alessian Empire and The Lawgiver, the god of that empire, is planning to strike next: Kerifas, a city traditionally at the center of territorial disputes. It seems the Imperials are forcing all the non-human's in the city into ghettos in an attempt to get them to rise up. Since the cities Fir Bolgs (blue skinned and antlered humanoids) are already living in those ghettos, they aren't happy having some of their blood enemies such as Jotuns and Boggans forced into their territory. This revelation forces our antiheroes to discover what the Nine's plan is, and try and stop it before a small scale genocide can be brought to fruition, ending in a climactic battle of bad vs. worse, since no one in this story has clean hands.

One thing I loved about Wraith Knight was the grimdark sense of moral ambivalence,  the sense that the "Hero" wasn't so much an anti-hero, and more an anti-villain, fairly amoral and very much and ends justify the means character. This book increases that trend, as all three of the triumvirate of Dark Gods are morally flexible at best, and power hungry potential despots at worst. Still, in comparison to the truly evil Nine Heroes, they come across pretty well. The worldbuilding is top notch, with The Shadowlands expanded upon, as well as adding Kerifas as a setting, with its huge disparity in rich and poor quarters, and it's long history as disputed territory. The new and expanded creature types are interesting, and the added characters, especially Ketras, really add to the story. All these characters seem like real people in the worst situation, with their flaws magnified by the stresses placed upon them, and some of them rising above it to do the right thing, whatever that may be. The action scenes are well written, and the final battle scene has so many twists I just didn't see coming.  Overall, its more of what made Wraith Knight such a grimdark gem to read, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Book cover reveal!

After getting a chance to enjoy and review Ulff Lehmann's dark fantasy gem, Shattered Dreams, Ulff asked me if I'd be interested in doing a cover reveal for the sequel, Shattered Hopes!

Of course I said yes, being a huge fan of book one. So, without further delay, Ulff Lehmann presents the cover to his latest work, Shattered Hopes, soon available on Amazon.com.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Morningwood: Everybody Loves Large Chests by Neven Iliev

Author: Nenen Iliev

Length: 189 Pages/ 8 Hours, 23 minutes (Audio)

Release Date: October 27, 2017/ October 30, 2017 (Audio)

Publisher: Spoken Realms (Audio)

Series: Everybody Loves Large Chests (Book 1)

When I first saw this, I thought it was just a parody of the usual LitRPG fare. While it is hilarious, it actually is a fairly serious look at the tropes of LitRPG, and I found it to be exceptionally entertaining and well written, with a unique MC and some fun secondary characters. It is also very adult.

When a low level hero enters the dungeon, he expects to fight the usual giant rats and poisonous mushrooms, that sort of low level thing. When the latest hero goes through the usual mobs of low level monsters, he finds a tasty looking chest just waiting for him to open! Score! Well, until the chest eats him, that is, since the newbie area of the dungeon has started spawning Mimics! Mimics are monsters that are shaped like treasure chests, and then sprout grabbing tongues and teeth when opened. Usually they are a lower level nuisance, although in this case, something weird happens. The Mimic, basically a mindless monster, starts leveling up, including intelligence. 

So starts the mimic's rise to a monster of menace, as he continues to level up, eating one adventurer after another. As he levels up, he gains a new ability: Warlock, and eventually levels up enough to summon demons. and with this new ability, the story really takes off, as he summons his first demon, a succubus he calls Snack (the reason for this is hilarious). From there, its off to the wider world, as they start a series of improbable adventures, adding a new companion, and altering the fabric of the kingdom forever with their actions! 

You would think a book starring a barely sentient chest shaped monster wouldn't be character driven, and in that, you'd be wrong. Being inside the Mimic's head is a hilarious experience, as it goes from just animal cunning to being a genius for its kind, which is about the level of a box of rocks. His companions, Snack and Arms, are hilarious too, and their interactions really help sell the story. The setting is well thought out, and you get a real sense of being in the story. Considering the story takes place mostly in a dungeon and a forest, its very well laid out. Without becoming a complete satire, it does have some fun with the common LitRPG tropes, and definitely has some very risqué adult content. Definitely something a fan of Lit RPG or comedic fantasy should enjoy.

The narration is handled by the talented Jeff Hays, in what I consider to be some of his best work. His voice work for the various characters is so varied, and really brings each character to life. His narrative pacing is some of the best in the business, and it never lags a bit. Definitely a reason to get the audiobook.

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Garden of Stones by Mark T. Barnes

Author: Mark T. Barnes

Length: 506 Pages/ 16 hours, 47 minutes (Audio)

Publisher: 47 North/Brilliance Audio

Release Date: May 21, 2013

Series: Echoes of Empire (Book 1)

Narrator: Nick Podehl

This is a review that has been long in coming, since, to be perfectly honest, this is literally my favorite fantasy series of all time. I have read a few series that come close to this in my mind, such as ML Spencer's Rhenwars series, CT Phipps Wraith Knight series and David Oliver's Great Hearts series, but for my money, this is as good as epic fantasy gets.

In the Shrianese Federation, successor to the Awoken Empire, the Game of Houses is alive and well. When his father-in-law is falsely accused of raiding an off limits outland he is supposed to guard, Indris, called Dragoneye, a master swordsman and a powerful Scholar-Mage, steps up to defend him and his lands from the army of the other families raised against him. He helps hold off the army long enough to let his father-in-law escape, although Indris and his companions are captured by the armies of the mastermind behind the attack, Corajadin. Barely avoiding execution, Indris is determined to stop Corajadin from taking over his father-in-law's lands, which would give him access to the ancient secrets hidden in the outlands, known as the Romarc. He is also determined to protect the current leader of the Federation from the machinations of Corajadin, who can potentially become leader, and has ambitions to remake the Awoken Empire with himself as the Emperor.

Surviving an ambush that takes the leadership of the Federation out of play, Indris, with the help of his companions, his powerful mentor, and even a member of Corajadin's family, has to try and stop a seismic shift in power in the Federation. In addition, there are other players in the game with goals of their own, including an Engothic Witch who is aiding Corajadin and who may extract a price the Federation can't afford, as well as a person from Indris's past who he thought long dead, who is lurking in the background. All the while, Indris must fight political battles with his own side, who don't want to face the real dangers they are facing. It all leads to a climactic showdown, as Indris and company try and stop the ancient secrets from being released, and keeping Corajadin from destroying the Federation in the quest for Empire.

There is so much to love about this book, and series as a whole. The world building is fantastic, with a wide range of locations throughout, all lovingly described in such a way that you feel you are there personally, all without feeling like filler. The plot is intricate and fast paced, never leaving you feeling it drags along, but moving you from one scene to the next seamlessly. The real strength of this book, though, is the characters. From the main characters to the faceless masses, the author manages to inject life and personality into them all. Indris is my personal favorite. A powerful mage, he struggles against the destiny others planned for him, and charts his own course, regardless of the personal cost.  Intensely loyal, he will do anything, risk anything, for those he loves. Mari, Corajadin's daughter, and the black sheep of the family, is also a favorite. a fantastic warrior, she is conflicted over loyalty to her family's machinations and her oaths to the Federation. She also struggles against the destiny planned for her, refusing to be a family brood mare. All the other various characters are well drawn out, never feeling two dimensional. they have realistic motives and ambitions, even the villains. In fact, the villains in this series are some of the best you will find in fantasy. They are that well written. 

Nick Podehl handles the narrative work, and is he fantastic! He brings all the various characters to life, imbuing each with their own voice and personality through a variety of accents, tones and pace. His narrative pacing is some of the best in the business, and there is a reason he gets so much work. Just another reason to check this series out.

Is the series perfect? No, but in my mind, its not far from it. The author does go the route of complicated and unusual character, nation and location names, which is not for every reader. I don't mind it, but when I recommend it to my friends that do mind that, I recommend they try the audio version. It really does solve the issue for a lot of people. That's about all I can see that fantasy fans might take issue with. The backstory is as deep as it gets, and the politics, actions and magic are top rate. I wholeheartedly recommend this series for fans of epic fantasy, be it Game of Thrones, The Wheel of Time or even lesser known titles. This series matches up well with any of them. It is also a completed trilogy, so don't go in thinking you have to wait ten years for the next book. I do hope to see more of Indris's adventures one day though.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Thunderbolt by Brandon Cornwell

Author: Brandon Cornwell

Length: 267 Pages/ 13 Hours, 13 minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Podium Publishing (Audio)

Release Date: December 1, 2017/ March 27, 2018

Series: Dynasty of Storms

Narrator: Ralph Lister

As with most second books in a series, I had some trepidation with this one. A lot of second books of a series can be a bit of a letdown, especially compared to an outstanding debut. This, however, was not the case with this one. If anything, it took the ball from the first book and ran with it in a wildly creative, dark fantasy epic.

After the events in Greenreef in which Elias, a giant outcast elf, defeated the pirates that had plagued the islands, only to have his betrothed and unborn child murdered by those same pirates, Elias and a force of Sea Elves return to the mainland. They are seeking vengeance on the pirate's leader, Darius Tessermyre, and his allies in the Felle, the dark army of Orcs, Ogres, Trolls and other dark creatures. After landfall, they discover the mainland situation is even more dire than when Elias left, with the Felle making gains everywhere.

Returning to the north to go meet with his foster brother, who was supposed to inherit the throne, Elias and his small army are sidetracked with the changes in the North. He learns from a group of dwarves that Elias helps with a dragon problem, that his brother didn't win the succession. He is now basically caretaker for his own possessions, as dishonest nobles have sided with someone else as king. Elias and his army help his brother take back the city, and then make plans to rescue the former queen, who is still alive and held hostage. The subsequent rescue attempt and its results will change the North forever, as they discover that the cause of all the troubles may tie in to the larger world in ways they never imagined. Secrets will be uncovered as an army the likes of which has never been seen in the North approaches to take down Elias and his allies, and some unlikely allies join the battle to determine the fate of the North in one climactic battle.

While it is an excellently plotted book, and the world building is first rate, this is basically a character driven book. The characters, especially Elias, are so richly detailed, with motivations and actions that ring true to their personalities, you can't help but be engaged as you read. Their every success and failure you feel personally, as you become engrossed in their decision making process. The secondary characters are fleshed out as well, and even the villains have realistic goals and motivations, even if it is just personal ambition. Its obvious the author was dedicated to making characters the reader could believe in.

Ralph Lister handles the narration work in a spectacular fashion. With his sort of raspy British voice, he gives a character life they might not have known otherwise. His emotions really show when he handles the dialogue, and he gives each character a unique voice of their own. His narrative pacing is excellent as always, and he never dips into a monotone. He is definitely one of the best voice actors working in the market today.

Overall, this is a book I wholeheartedly recommend for any fans of dark fantasy. Not quite as grimdark as the first book, and without the adult content of the first, this is easily a worthy successor to the first book and should appeal to a wide range of fantasy readers.