On the battlefield, blades clash with a murderous screech, arrows fly at terrible heights, and soldiers charge into near-certain peril without even a backward glance. There is something oddly intriguing about a war without guns, relying on the strength and skill required to wield a sword, or the precision needed to aim a bow. The action always feels more intimate, and somehow, the stakes feel greater … especially when characters are at war with literal monsters crawling from the depths of hell. It’s a good thing melee weapons aren’t all they’re armed with.
Readers may leave these magical battlegrounds unscathed, but the same cannot be said for some of the heroes. As they confront tyrannical governments, bloodthirsty armies and, yes, monstrous creatures, you’ll be glad the events of these six novels are locked securely away within the realm of fantasy — but happy to enjoy their tales out of the range of fire.
The Blade Itself
by Joe Abercrombie
After abandoning his post as King Bethod’s champion, infamous barbarian Logen Ninefingers knows he’ll have to battle that warmonger’s henchman along with the North’s growing legion of Shanka, a vicious orc-like race of creatures, if he wants to keep himself alive. Meanwhile, Captain Jezel dan Luther, a selfish noble, has all his energy focused on winning an upcoming fencing tournament that will shower him with glory. Then, there is Glokta, once the shining star of the Southern army but now crippled as a result of torture, who finds himself in the position of Inquisitor and determined to irradicate treason one soul at a time. War is imminent and the fates of these characters intertwine as the wizard Bayaz enters the action, making life all the more difficult for everyone else. Perfect for fans of Game of Thrones.
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Heroes Die
by Matthew Woodring Stover
Hari Kapur Michaelson is one of the Earth’s top entertainers, an actor who becomes the renowned assassin Caine in an alternate dimension known as Overworld. There, in a world filled with magic, he is the ultimate ruthless fighter, but future Earth’s caste system means that, at home, the mega-rich control everything. Even a star like Hari must bow to the Board of Governors on his own planet. When his ex-wife, another actor, goes missing on Overworld, those in power see it as an opportunity to dispose of the Board’s biggest threat: Overworld’s Ankhanan Emperor, who has been spreading ideas that contradict the Board to audiences on Earth. The bait is irresistible for Hari, who still loves his ex-wife, but saving her will require bending to the Board’s every whim … and may cost him his own life.
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Firefanged: Demon in Exile
by Rory Surtain
In the realm of Colivar, there are demons that roam the mountains, emerging from lava-encrusted portals to Hell. Villagers live in mortal danger, and only brave hearts, courageous men and women with preternatural strength and skill, can hunt these demons down and kill them. Here, magic, curses, talismans, sorcery and witchcraft are a necessary part of military strategy. 17-year-old Ara, an orphan, has an uncanny sense of smell and exceptional night vision, which allows him to hunt in the dark. But lately, the forest has become eerily quiet, and the game he hunts has vanished. When his first encounter with a demon leaves him permanently scarred, it ignites a series of terrifying battles. With thorough world-building and vivid, heart-pounding action, readers will be irresistibly engaged. (Read BookTrib’s full review here.)
Blood Song
by Anthony Ryan
As his captors transport him to a duel that will surely end in his death, Vaelin Al Sorna, known as the Hope Killer, recounts his tale to a historian. Abandoned by his father shortly after his mother’s death, Vaelin trains to become a warrior of Faith with the Sixth Order at the age of 10. Surviving years of brutal tests meant to weed out the weak and unworthy, his rage toward his father, Battle Lord to the ruler of the realm, grows. Vaelin has been denied his birthright, but his father’s motives are unclear. Driven to become one of the best warriors the Sixth Order has ever seen, no one could suspect the future in store for Vaelin … a future will change the world entirely. Filled with well-defined characters engaged in bloody battles, this novel is an intriguing and memorable heroic fantasy.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
Scourge of the Betrayer
by Jeff Salyards
The infamous soldiers of the Syldoon Empire strike fear into the hearts of many throughout the world. Widespread tales of their viciousness and cruelty claim that they feast on babies, virgins — even their own mothers — but Arki, a young scribe tasked with chronicling the adventures of one band of Syldoon soldiers is about to find out if the men match the myth. Although this assignment doesn’t come with the safety of his previous jobs documenting the lives of millers and merchants, it does present Arki with the opportunity to chronicle the adventure of a lifetime … if he survives, that is. With his wagon securely attached to these fascinating, albeit frightening, men, Arki must hold on for dear life as they march into brutal, vivid battles. Dark, gritty and well-written, Arki’s adventure with the Syldoon soldiers packs a real punch.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
The Way Into Chaos
by Harry Connolly
The capital city of Peradain is in the midst of preparing for a special festival to welcome a group of special guests, but as the portal opens, it is not the Evening People who step through but a horde of monsters. In an instant, the festival is overrun, the king and queen are slaughtered, and all the city’s defenses are crushed. For years the empire has controlled all magic in the realm, but with the imperial forces destroyed along with the capital city, other territories take the opportunity to seize power for themselves. But they don’t stand a chance against the enemy that obliterated the empire. Their only hope is the last surviving imperial prince. If he can locate a spell with enough power to change the tides of war, they’ll be saved … but such a feat will require stepping into dangerous territory.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Bookshop
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
After abandoning his post as King Bethod’s champion, infamous barbarian Logen Ninefingers knows he’ll have to battle that warmonger’s henchman along with the North’s growing legion of Shanka, a vicious orc-like race of creatures, if he wants to keep himself alive. Meanwhile, Captain Jezel dan Luther, a selfish noble, has all his energy focused on winning an upcoming fencing tournament that will shower him with glory. Then, there is Glokta, once the shining star of the Southern army but now crippled as a result of torture, who finds himself in the position of Inquisitor and determined to irradicate treason one soul at a time. War is imminent and the fates of these characters intertwine as the wizard Bayaz enters the action, making life all the more difficult for everyone else. Perfect for fans of Game of Thrones.
Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover
Hari Kapur Michaelson is one of the Earth’s top entertainers, an actor who becomes the renowned assassin Caine in an alternate dimension known as Overworld. There, in a world filled with magic, he is the ultimate ruthless fighter, but future Earth’s caste system means that, at home, the mega-rich control everything. Even a star like Hari must bow to the Board of Governors on his own planet. When his ex-wife, another actor, goes missing on Overworld, those in power see it as an opportunity to dispose of the Board’s biggest threat: Overworld’s Ankhanan Emperor, who has been spreading ideas that contradict the Board to audiences on Earth. The bait is irresistible for Hari, who still loves his ex-wife, but saving her will require bending to the Board’s every whim … and may cost him his own life.
Firefanged: Demon in Exile by Rory Surtain
In the realm of Colivar, there are demons that roam the mountains, emerging from lava-encrusted portals to Hell. Villagers live in mortal danger, and only brave hearts, courageous men and women with preternatural strength and skill, can hunt these demons down and kill them. Here, magic, curses, talismans, sorcery and witchcraft are a necessary part of military strategy. 17-year-old Ara, an orphan, has an uncanny sense of smell and exceptional night vision, which allows him to hunt in the dark. But lately, the forest has become eerily quiet, and the game he hunts has vanished. When his first encounter with a demon leaves him permanently scarred, it ignites a series of terrifying battles. With thorough world-building and vivid, heart-pounding action, readers will be irresistibly engaged. (Read BookTrib’s full review here.)
Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
As his captors transport him to a duel that will surely end in his death, Vaelin Al Sorna, known as the Hope Killer, recounts his tale to a historian. Abandoned by his father shortly after his mother’s death, Vaelin trains to become a warrior of Faith with the Sixth Order at the age of 10. Surviving years of brutal tests meant to weed out the weak and unworthy, his rage toward his father, Battle Lord to the ruler of the realm, grows. Vaelin has been denied his birthright, but his father’s motives are unclear. Driven to become one of the best warriors the Sixth Order has ever seen, no one could suspect the future in store for Vaelin … a future will change the world entirely. Filled with well-defined characters engaged in bloody battles, this novel is an intriguing and memorable heroic fantasy.
Scourge of the Betrayer by Jeff Salyards
The infamous soldiers of the Syldoon Empire strike fear into the hearts of many throughout the world. Widespread tales of their viciousness and cruelty claim that they feast on babies, virgins — even their own mothers — but Arki, a young scribe tasked with chronicling the adventures of one band of Syldoon soldiers is about to find out if the men match the myth. Although this assignment doesn’t come with the safety of his previous jobs documenting the lives of millers and merchants, it does present Arki with the opportunity to chronicle the adventure of a lifetime … if he survives, that is. With his wagon securely attached to these fascinating, albeit frightening, men, Arki must hold on for dear life as they march into brutal, vivid battles. Dark, gritty and well-written, Arki’s adventure with the Syldoon soldiers packs a real punch.
The Way Into Chaos by Harry Connolly
The capital city of Peradain is in the midst of preparing for a special festival to welcome a group of special guests, but as the portal opens, it is not the Evening People who step through but a horde of monsters. In an instant, the festival is overrun, the king and queen are slaughtered, and all the city’s defenses are crushed. For years the empire has controlled all magic in the realm, but with the imperial forces destroyed along with the capital city, other territories take the opportunity to seize power for themselves. But they don’t stand a chance against the enemy that obliterated the empire. Their only hope is the last surviving imperial prince. If he can locate a spell with enough power to change the tides of war, they’ll be saved … but such a feat will require stepping into dangerous territory.
