Synopsis:

When Jon Thurman and his family of smugglers get entangled in a manhunt for a godkiller they are forced out of hiding to face off against corrupt leaders and evil immortals. This will lead to learning things about their past that Jon would rather keep secret. 

Review:

Remnant is a flintlock fantasy that is full of action scenes and deep character moments. This is a multi POV story with a strong and daring female perspective as well. The writing feels influenced by the writing of Brandon Sanderson while also having a slightly darker feel as well. The author does not hold your hand but expects you to keep up as you are thrown into a unique fantasy world with multiple fantasy races and interesting magic. 

Something that I personally appreciated about this story was that while it wasn’t a Christian fantasy book, the author masterfully weaves Christian themes throughout the story as the protagonists have a deeply rooted faith in The Sovereign. Below is a quote that stood out to me concerned the acceptance of suffering:

“You know Sovereign’s grace is sufficient for your sins?” “Yes.” She patted his hand. “It is also sufficient for your suffering.”

Remnant asks the question whether scattered remnants of a once unified land can come together against an unrelenting evil?

Synopsis

Their brother is dead but nothing will stop the remaining Blood Brothers from risking it all to honor Subaru’s last request and secure his place in Heaven. Everything from dangerous bandits to powerful spirits will try to stop them from completing their mission. 

Review

Time changes many things, but some things never changes as The Blood Brothers find out in this fun and endearing short story.  Rob J. Hayes has done it again with this short but full tale of the overcoming power of brotherhood and friendship. 

I have loved Rob’s writing ever since I first read Never Die two years ago and once again he delivers with this master class in how to write characters that are both relatable and awesome. I am a character first reader and Blood Brothers Beyond hits all the best notes in a very short time. 

Filled with the best of what the Mortal Techniques series has always offered, Rob introduces us to new characters and creatures that all come together well on this journey. Rob also does a thoughtful job as he explores grief in a way that will resonate with readers. 

If you have loved the other entries in The Mortal Techniques series or are new to Rob’s writing I think you will find something to love in this Kung fu inspired fantasy novella. 

This has been a fantastic year of reading for me. I have no doubts that I have found not only favorites on the year but all time favorites as well. The vast majority of my reading is in the fantasy genre but as you will see reflected in this list, other genres make their way into my favorite reads from time to time. So now without further ado, here are my favorite reads of 2024:

Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

This was a fantastic conclusion to the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. Filled with satisfying character arcs and emotional moments, this book is sure to knock your socks off. This book contains some of the best twists and surprises I’ve read, which is why it was one of my favorite reads of this year. 

Of War and Ruin by Ryan Cahill

Of War and Ruin is book three in Ryan Cahill’s series The Bound and The Broken. This was an absolutely epic and action packed adventure full of emotional moments and dragons. Set in a world where a dark lord and powerful empire have ruled for hundreds of years, we follow a group of rebels set on personal revenge and overcoming their oppressors.

Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb

If Robin Hobb does anything better than almost anyone, it’s writing amazing characters. If you have followed Fitz’s story up to this point you will agree that he can be irritating and make frustrating decisions. Yet in spite of the frustrations you still feel deeply connected to him, and never as much as in this story. Even though there are more books in the Realm of The Elderlings after this, it still somehow feels like a satisfying conclusion.

Wrath by John Gwynne

Wrath was the concluding installment of The Faithful and The Fallen series by John Gwynne. It’s interesting how this series gets better with each book until you come to this masterpiece that is Wrath. This series contains some of the best character journeys and arcs that I’ve come across. It also contains one of the best twists of the chosen one trope that I’ve read. If you are looking for a book that will both inspire and wreck you, I highly recommend Wrath.

Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon

I mainly read fantasy, but every so often a non SFF book takes me by storm. A Boy’s Life was that book for me this year. I’ve already stated how I’m a fool for great character work but another way to my reader’s heart is a good coming of age story. Throw in a big mystery set in the 1950s following a boy, his family and friends over the course of a wild year and you have Boy’s Life. This story is told from the perspective of a young boy who sees things through his young understanding so some things that seem magical at the time may have a real world explanation. This was a nostalgic, emotional and fun read. 

Synopsis

God-Speaker Alvir Einarson couldn’t save everyone. Alvir enjoys traveling the country side doing the work of God-Speaker. Helping people physically and spiritually is the most important thing to him. But deep in the Forest of Broken Trolls something threatens to destroy everything Alvir loves and gods he serves. Trollgrave is a standalone Norse fantasy that will keep you turning the pages.

Review

Trollgrave is a stand alone fantasy novel. It is Norse fantasy through and through from its longboats to its god-cursed forest. The author does a great job building a world that any reader can fully immerse themselves in. This story was written in first person present tense, which at times can be challenging for some readers but worked very well in my opinion.

I especially enjoyed the characters in this story. Whether exploring family dynamics or the interpersonal relationships between outlaws. Bradshaw writes well rounded characters that draws on many emotions. The main character Alvir battles himself with personal forgiveness and self-worth as well as his relationship with the gods he’s so passionate about serving. Trollgrave also includes struggles with personal prejudices and what it looks like to overcome those prejudices.

If you are a fan of interesting magic that gives an intimate glimpse not only into the one using it but also in those being affected by it, I believe you will find this intriguing. This is recommended for anyone who loves Norse fantasy that feels classic as well as modern at times.

Cosmic Widow is a standalone spy-fi adventure in the Agent Renault series.

Book Synopsis:

A deadly race to recover a priceless portrait.

When the legendary Cosmic Widow vanishes from the galaxy’s premiere art museum, Agent Lilline Renault delves into a shadowy underworld to hunt down the missing masterpiece.

Her only clue: the thief’s enigmatic calling card. Following a scant trail of evidence, Lilline crosses paths with shady art dealers, eccentric university professors, and elusive forgers in a tangled search for the stolen work of art.

But the robber’s end game is more sinister than mere theft. Sleeping secrets stir inside the Cosmic Widow… If they wake, an arcane mystery locked away for ages could spell disaster across the stars.

Author Bio:

Jonathan Nevair is a science fiction writer and educator originally from Long Island, NY. After two decades in the classroom, he finally got up the nerve to write fiction. His character-driven space operas and spy-fi thrillers have been nominated for multiple awards, including the National Fantasy Fan Federation Laureate Award (Stellar Instinct) and the Indie Ink Awards (Wind Tide and Stellar Instinct). Jati’s Wager was a 2022 Indie Ink Awards finalist and runner-up for the category, Writing the Future We Need: Nonbinary Representation. His short fiction is published in sci-fi journals, including Simultaneous Times.

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Jonathan lives in southeastern PA with his wife and rambunctious mountain feist, Cricket. When not writing and teaching, he spends his time chasing his dog through the woods and stargazing with dreams of walking in space.

https://www.jonathannevair.com/

Artist info for MIBLArt:

https://miblart.com/portfolio/

Cosmic Widow is set to be released in November of 2024!

Synopsis

Orin is a sworn protector. As a stalwart member of the Griffin Guard, he’s proud to protect the kingdom against a dreaded nation of orcs. But when the fires of war burn bright from the north, his entire squadron falls to deadly wyvern riders, leaving the devastated Orin bloody and alone. Orin teams up with a local huntsman’s family. He and his new friends must push themselves past their limits to face mysterious dangers and ancient magics. Shocked to discover the orcs’ secret weapon, the lone guardian’s last chance to save his home could require the ultimate sacrifice.

Review

Z.S. Diamanti does a great job of introducing us to his world in this first book of his series. This is a story that is full from cover to cover with unique magic as well as fantasy style creatures. Pretty much all of the usual fantasy races, plus a couple of extra, are highlighted in this story. 

We get to experience the world of Finlestia through the eyes of several POV characters including humans, dwarfs, elves, and orcs. This gives a wide view of the world and allows us to see things from the perspectives of different fantasy cultures. At times I felt that there may have been too many POV characters leading to a disruption of the flow of the story, but as the story progressed it became more evident why that decision was made. Diamanti brings the story to a satisfying conclusion while also setting up anticipation for the next book, Stone and Tide. 

I am a huge fan of classic epic fantasy. Stone and Sky checks all the boxes that makes epic fantasy such an enjoyable genre. There is also the added bonus of this being clean fantasy that anyone in the family can enjoy. 

Blurb
Don’t kill the messengers.

Gen wants nothing more than to travel, serve her king, and hit things with her sword. Working as an envoy is the perfect job until the king sends her into war-torn enemy territory along with her friend, Cordyn, to deliver vital military intelligence to an allied nation. Cordyn’s the worst kind of libertine: brash, arrogant, and on the run from half the husbands in the kingdom, and though normally Gen would enjoy the excitement of traveling with him, she knows she’ll have to clean up his messes on the journey, even as they encounter enemy troops, bandits, and a mage with revenge on his mind.

As the mission spirals out of control, and they learn of an ominous enemy plot that threatens their safety and that of the companions they meet along the way, they must decide what matters more: their mission or their friends.

A rollicking fantasy adventure for fans of Nicholas Eames and Michael J. Sullivan.

Meet The Author

Dave Lawson lives in Oklahoma with his wife and their energetic dog, Rowena. He received an MFA in Fiction Writing from the New School, and has published some literary fiction. The Envoys of War is his first novel. In a past life, he was surely a pirate.

Artist

https://miblart.com/

Rating: 8.5/10

Synopsis

Levort Aatra is a down on his luck prospector on the planet Tayoxe. While scavenging the wastes of the abandoned world, he discovers a mysterious starship and stakes his claim on it thinking it will be his ticket to a better life. Little does he know, he just put a big target on his back.

Levort is about to embark on a journey through the stars that will introduce him to many alien friends and enemies as well as bring him face to face with what lies beyond.

Book Review

Down Below Beyond was a fun and exciting ride through the galaxy. It’s full of multi-planetary adventures and has a huge cast of unique alien characters that you will enjoy discovering. In the book Bruno provides a detailed chart of the galaxy as well as fun artwork of each of the alien characters introduced in the book which I greatly appreciated. 

Down Below Beyond is a fast paced story as the action began almost at the outset of the book. There is no shortage of great characters in the book and I appreciate the quality of the writing of the characters as you can see multiple levels in the main cast.  They seem to be personable and fully realized. My only critique of Down Below Beyond was that at times the dialogue seemed a bit forced and unnatural but this seemed to be corrected the further into the story I went. I also really enjoyed the humor that was used as it was a refreshing touch in the midst of some intense scenes. The humor and serious moments were balanced quite well. 

Fans of both Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy should enjoy Down Below Beyond because of its epic space action as well as featuring a close knit team of heroic characters who are working together against an empirical force attempting to dominate the galaxy. 

About The Author

Rob is a fantasy author based in the UK. A degree in archaeology and a fascination with British history has led him to create a world of his own in which to spin tales and create adventures.

Blurb

The release date for Demon’s Tear will be announced on a later date. The author is thinking early Summer of this year.

Synopsis

Ingvar Darelle, a sworn soldier for his country, wants to live a quiet and peaceful life with his family and the woman that he loves. Circumstances, however, seem to stand in the way of his dream. 

Faced by the schemes of those with power, fractured relationships, and problems with his family’s estate, Ingvar must fight for what he loves and the life that he desires to have. 

Book Review

I think the best way to describe A Path of Blades is Historical Fantasy. Certain parts of this books felt like I was reading Bernard Cornwell which was great for this reviewer. There is not much magic or mythical animals to talk about but there are elves! With all of the fantasy that I read, this was a refreshing break from traditional fantasy and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store in the future. 

A Path of Blades was one of my favorite indie reads of 2023. With in depth character study and development, R.E. Sanders has put together a magnificent stand alone fantasy novel. You will find yourself experiencing joy and sorrow with Ingvar as he fights for what he loves. 

If you are looking for a quick read stand alone that is light on fantasy but a beautiful story you should consider reading A Path of Blades.