In addition to the action segments, these books shine because of the amazing characters, their relationships with each other, whether friendly or utterly bitter, and the presentation of hope – that good will succeed in this very violent and often brutally unfair environment.

Gwynne’s writing is addictive and it’s always so easy to just read one more chapter and then look at the clock and realise it’s four hours later. This is heightened by the way the author often ends point of view chapters with a twist or a bang! This normally occurs when he switches POV scenes to numerous characters who are at the same meeting, event or battle to see different viewpoints which aids to build up the pace and excitement expertly. During the battles it’s is as if I have been given an adrenaline shot – I read at seven-hundred miles an hour and I am sure my heart beats much faster than it normally does. When Gwynne writes I often feel completely like I am part of the world and events. The finale takes up about twenty-five percent of the novel and I’m content to say that it is probably the greatest final battle I have ever read in fantasy. evil” which has been seven books and millennia of history in the making. Especially the final battle, the epic showdown of “good vs. You won’t find many book reviews where the blogger doesn’t comment on how spectacular the fights and skirmishes are that Gwynne writes but what is presented here blows everything that has come previously away.

One aspect exceeds all that the author has written before and that is the incredible battle sequences featured here.

Wrath is one of my top five fantasy books of all time and A Time of Courage is very, very close to hitting those same lofty heights. I will not say too much here regarding the actual storyline here as I don’t wish to spoil anything for people who are yet to read this or those fantasy fans who are yet to discover John’s work. After completing and adoring all of Gwynne’s work I am running out of ways to describe how exceptional a writer he is.

I would like to thank John Gwynne and Tor for the opportunity.Ī Time of Courage is the final entry in the Of Blood and Bone trilogy and the seventh story that takes place in Gwynne’s phenomenal fantasy world The Banished Lands. I received an advanced review copy of A Time of Courage in exchange for an honest review.

A time of courage john gwynne