I’m a considerably slow reader but these next two have just blown my socks off. I’m reading them in parallel at the moment, and I put one down to read the other one.
First up is The Seventh Cadence by Jim Wilbourne:
Awesome cover. If there was a word to describe it!
Here’s the blurb:
After a supernatural and unforeseen calamity shatters the tentative alliance of the five realms, the Deseran Dominion has returned to take back their homeland and restore their oppressive regime.
As the Dominion readies their troops for invasion, the fate of the entire world rests in the hands of a fugitive scientist, a powerful pacifist, and an unseasoned prince with little to guide them but their own ideals. With the freedom of a kingdom at risk, each must find their place in a world torn asunder.
The Seventh Cadence is a sweeping high fantasy epic of war, found family, and reckoning with fate.
I was expecting good things about this book based on the many positive things I’d heard about it, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. I’m still about halfway through, so I’ll post my final thoughts on my Goodreads review (look for an updated post for that, or follow my twitter at @NCKoussis). But Jim starts off strong and keeps the pace up through the whole book (at least to where I’m up to!). I’m excited to see what’s in store for the rest of the series, as well. There’s apparently going to be 5 core books in the series, so we’re in for the long haul.
Buy the book here!
Next up is A Conspiracy of Ravens by Stephen Hubbard.
There’s something about this cover, while simple, caught my eye. I read the sample, and was blown away.
Here’s the blurb:
Once and an age --
The precipice of war is never more than the width of a blade away. Now, when the legendary assassin known as the Black Rose has slaughtered Baron Dartris Gorsha and all who made up his house, then fled with the nobleman's young daughter, three nations that knew tenuous peace prepare for the brutality of prolonged conflict.
Yet a new and mysterious danger has emerged. The Shrike arrives to offer mercy and vengeance in equal measure to all those with a role to play, bringing cryptic messages from his unnamed master. Underlying his threats is one simple command: Retrieve the daughter of Gorsha.
Three Ravens of Danot — Celnor, Derrigan, and Martyn — are called upon to protect the child, and they seek answers to troubling questions and motivations. Manipulated by their queen, feeling as no more than pawns in the history unfolding around them, they conspire to bring about what they believe is a necessary change to the balance of power.
The secrets of their own shadowed pasts serve to pull at their union, threatening to unmake their pact, and leading them to ask one simple question: Are there roads too entrenched in darkness to allow for redemption?
In a time of growing doom and dread, when long lost magic begins to find a new foothold, Wretches and Kings alike maneuver and scheme as the Codex is inscribed with the fell deeds and heroic sacrifice compelled by a conspiracy of Ravens.
My thoughts:
The prologue starts off strong and keeps you going as you try to unravel all the secrets in store. It’s a well-paced, tight book that keeps that sense of mystery and never overplays its hand. I’m about three-quarters through this one, and it’s building to something big. Incredible to think this is Stephen’s first novel.
Buy it here!
An honorable mention to Zack Argyle’s Threadlight series, who I’ve yet to read, but his covers just look gorgeous.
My TBR is too big…