Review: Hall of Bones (The Brotherhood of The Eagle Book 1) by Tim Hardie

If you are into epic fantasy done right, then this week you are in for a treat. I recently read Hall of bones by Tim Hardie, which is an introduction to what I believe is going to be a marvelous fantasy series.   

 

In the remote land of Laskar,  the seven ruling clans have vied with each other for power for over a century. The son of the Reavesburg Clan Chief, Rothgar, has been groomed all his life for a role supporting his elder brother, Jorik, in leading their kingdom when their father’s time finally comes to an end.

However, the rulers of their greatest rivals, the Vorund Clan, are in the grip of something older and far darker. They have been conquered by evil, a remnant from the time when the gods warred with one another and the world of Amuran collapsed into the Fallen Age.

Everything is about to change …

The first book in The Brotherhood of the Eagle series, Hall of Bones begins a tale of epic fantasy, magic and intrigue.

Review

Hall of bones is a novel with great cast of characters and epic world building. Upon reading the synopsis of this novel, I knew that I had to pick this one up.  A story about clans fighting each other, is something that I am always on a look out for. And after reading this book I can proudly say that it is one of the best epic fantasy novels that I have read in 2021.

You can think of Hall of bones as when viking meets a lighter version of game of thrones. Told from Rothgar's point of view, this story is sort of a coming of age story with loads of politics, epic fighting sequences, dark evil elements which add an all new flavour to the story, and intense plot. 

I was totally invested in this book from the first few pages. And one of the main elements that really drew me in was the world building.  I feel the most important element of any epic fantasy book is the world that it is set in. The world building does set a book apart and gives life to the story. Laskar is a land that is deep seated in history, and mythology. The mythological stories that build this world, set the story apart. Laskar does not feel like a fictional world, it feels real and an old place that has seen a a lot of wars and blood shed in it's time.The world building in Hall of bones is very nuanced and the way it's been written about, paints a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

The other elements were the writing of the fighting sequences and characters. The fighting sequence are well written and feel so real, as if you are literally witnessing them first hand. At times they become a little gory, but what is a fight if it does not have goriness and violence in it. Coming to the characters, I felt this story has well rounded and developed cast of characters. They range from ones who are full of wisdom, and ones that are down right evil. One character that I admired the most was Etta. A lady full of wisdom and loyalty. She is one of those people whose advice will never go wrong.     

The plot of the book is well paced and keeps the reader engaged till the end. It involves elements of politics which add more flavour to the story and make it thrilling. Every piece of history and mythology, ensures that the plot is well informed. Even though there are a few sub-plots, still the story does not derail from the main plot. There are multiple twists and turns that would keep the reader guessing what is going to happen. It's easy to follow and keeps the reader engaged throughout.

Hall of bones is one of those books that needs to be enjoyed with a cup of tea and a comfy chair. It's one of those books that has great story telling. Once you start reading it, you will immerse you in this world where clans collide and gods fight. 

I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

 

Download you copy

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(Also, available in kindle unlimited)

 

Connect with the author

 
Twitter - https://twitter.com/timhardieauthor?lang=en
Facebook - @Tim.Hardie.Author
Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/Tim.Hardie.Author.Public/ (business account)
Website - www.timhardieauthor.co.uk

 

 

 

If you have read hall of bones, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. Also, I would love to get more recommendation of epic fantasy books. Add them to the comments section below.

 

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Review: Keys of the Origin ( The Scions of balance #1) by Melissa A. Joy

In a world where ancient races still dwell, the events of an age-old prophecy begin to stir. 

From the pages of an antique tome, there is much the ancients themselves have yet to learn.

The time has come for the Keys of the Origin to play their part in restoring balance to Aeldynn; but how will their choices affect the outcome?

Two young men; one a righteous law-abiding servant to the people, the other a distinguished outlaw, don’t yet realise they are to play a part in a foretold bid for the future of Aeldynn. 

Fate leads them down a road they would never have dreamed of following; a road that leads them into a struggle to bring the world back into a state of balance from the precipice of madness and desolation. 

It is not only Zehn and Larkh who are fated to take on the malevolent forces of Aeldynn; there are others who must join with them as they are coaxed into the embrace of the ancient Nays and the fabled Drahknyr, who are also entangled in the masterful puppeteering of a renegade sorceress hell bent on reviving the greatest threat of all.

I was hooked to this story from the first page itself. I loved how the author built the entire world. I especially loved the way she explains about the different factions of humans in this world and how their power are connect to one single source. One of the notable elements was when one of the factions, namely Nays, were allowed to speak in their own language. It made them a lot more interesting. 

This is an epic fantasy novel and first in the series. It is a very well realised and detailed fantasy story, which follows multiple characters that are well rounded and relatable. I very much enjoyed the chemistry that each character shares with the others in the story. In particular I loved how Mey supported Larkh. 

There are multiple sub plots lines which feed into one epic plot. The plot is well paced. Further, I appreciated how the author interweaves lores in the story. It never felt forced. It flowed very smoothly into the main storyline, and gave the reader enough knowledge in order to connect to the fantasy world.

Another thing that was very interesting is the way the magic elements work in this world. Every faction in this world does not have the same magical powers. The way these factions use their powers is also different. There are very intricate details in the story that make it impossible for a reader to put it down. 

The ending was a cliffhanger which is very satisfying and tempting enough to pick up the next book in the series. 

Even though I loved this book, there were certain things that would have made my reading experience a little more easier and enjoyable. Firstly, the fact that the translations of the Nay’s language was given at the back, made me jump from one page to another while reading a sub- plot. I would have loved if the translation were right next to the language, or the Nay’s dialogues. Secondly, since there are multiple characters in this book, a glossary of all the characters would have been helpful.

In conclusion, I loved this book and would recommend it to all the epic fantasy lovers out their. As far as my rating for this book is concerned, I would rate it a 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Get your copy at Amazon

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