It isn’t that the writing or the story is overly dense, there just are a lot of different POV characters and an even larger cast of characters beyond that. There were times when this book was a bit hard to follow. I picked this book up very early in the year after hearing rave reviews from several trusted sources, but it sat staring at me from my book cart for months because of the slightly intimidating size and because of the even more intimidating fact that it started a series of four big books! That said, I was determined to start the series before the year ended and I am glad that I finally did! Meanwhile, King Aquilus works to form an alliance with all of the kings and their realms to fight the bigger foes that endanger them, but politics do not run smoothly and the fights between realms, against pirates and giants, and against future trials bring heavy losses. As he begins to train, he is one of many who will be needed to fight in the greatest of all wars. Dangers long thought gone have begun to stir again and a black sun is prophesied to rise bringing all sorts of change.Ĭorban is a young boy who has long yearned to be old enough to train as a warrior under the king’s command. It is a world with a long history of war, between men, between kingdoms, and between men and giants. this.The dead and wounded from the glade had been bound to horses and led slowly out of the Baglun, a rider sent ahead to fetch Brina and any other healers that could make it to the fortress that night.MALICE by John Gwynne is the start of The Faithful and the Fallen fantasy series. He remembered Evnis shouting at him in the glade and knew he had to do.

Dark clouds sat on the horizon and a strong, sharp wind was swirling about him.Glancing down at the bundle of fur nestled in the crook of his arm, he sighed.

I don’t think it’s been used since Ard’s reign.’‘How’d you know ’bout it, then?’‘Brina told me.’‘That witch?’ spluttered Farrell.‘She’s a healer,’ Corban muttered distractedly. ‘If you invoke it then your grievance can only be judged by the king.’‘Asroth’s teeth, I’ve never ’eard of that before,’ whistled Farrell, spitting food everywhere.‘As I said, it’s an ancient law. Farrell was the only one that had actually spoken to him since he climbed into the wain, although all of the others were listening avidly to their conversation.‘It’s an ancient law,’ said Corban. “All of them were eyeing him – or more accurately, the bundle of fur that poked out from under his arm – with varying degrees of curiosity and caution.

Malice by john gwynne