K. E. Myers

a very solid introduction tale

Revisado: 04-14-25

while missing elements of drama that increase investment via tension, climax, and development, this tale is devoid of any wasted time, plot, or narrative purpose. excited to see what the second has given this grand setup!

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Lancelot's legacy and the desperation of heroes

Revisado: 04-03-25

Great writing doesn't justify a meandering plot, less-interesting main character, and a bit of a bloated page count.

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an amazing 1st half gets upended by a striving 2nd

Revisado: 02-10-25

I loved everything about Lancelot's story until Arthur showed up. Lancelot takes a back seat and while there are moments of amazing beats, they are few and never really payoff what came before. I was devastated by the end.

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phenomenal ending that justified the beginning with a lackluster middle

Revisado: 01-10-25

this book plods and much is spent on setup and establishing, but I'm not sure for what as the third act basically acquires it's own plot. an amazing plot, but separate from much of the other 2/3 of the book. I would've loved to see it integrated more seamlessly but definitely leaves the full experience on the highest of notes.

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reminds me of why I love adventure fantasy

Revisado: 12-01-24

The Lost War was exactly what I was hoping for! It’s rare when a book actually is what it says that it is and therefore I got far more joy out of the reading! Justin Lee Anderson’s writing thoroughly engaged me the entire time and I was left with a huge desire to continue on. I would highly recommend going into this book as blind as one can because I had my plot expectations tampered with because I did too much research. More than anything, The Lost War understands what it wants to be and tells the story really effectively. It isn’t trying to be the next Game of Thrones or Wheel of Time and just invites you to go on an journey with the characters and by the end I was vastly satisfied with my time spent in Eidyn. I highly recommend checking this one out if you’re looking for an adventure-focused fantasy.

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a perfect sequel to 'the lost war'

Revisado: 12-01-24

Everything about this sequel elevated the story that began in The Lost War. It got deeper, it got darker, it became more engrossing, and was brilliantly plotted and placed. It's not slow, but it is methodical. Anderson very intentionally proceeds this story in grueling but necessary ways. I really loved the first, so this sequel was exactly what I'd hoped for.

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possesses similarities to The Witcher' books

Revisado: 07-09-24

Hammer of Fate is a phenomenally engaging character-driven tale that is intrigue-heavy and knows how to utilize narrative elements thoroughly for the entire book. While it may not be the most innovative tale in regards to fun fantasy adventures (action and magic galore), Gudgion excels at writing a story that is utterly engrossing to read. Gudgion’s comparisons to Sapkowski are (actually) definitely warranted and while I appreciate the setup and story more in The Witcher books, I think Gudgion is the better writer who doesn’t punish the reader by including unnecessary tangents and instead uses his skills to payoff intrigue, interest, and investment into the story. I do believe that there are elements that are overdone, specifically with intimate-related aspects and the oppressive religious elements, but the story never truly lost me because of those. A very untraditional fantasy story that is thrilling, surprising, haunting, and effective. I’m very interested to see where it will go from here.

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Wraps up the trilogy well!

Revisado: 07-09-24

Blood of Wolves concludes the Rune Song Trilogy with purposeful intentionality but it fails its own story a bit. I really enjoyed the beginning and ending of this book despite the middle half is a little tedious and uninteresting compared to Hammer of Fate and Runes of Battle. The highlights once again prove to be the characters (specifically the POVs of Taillefer and Gauthier) but Adelais’ storyline is the most uninteresting of the three books. She still has a part to play and we learn and grow with her in a few new ways, much of her storyline feels like filler or rehashing of previous concepts explored. I enjoyed that the dreaded war teased over the last two books finally shows itself but it never really feels as bombastic or exciting as I thought it would.

Regardless of my personal reservations, Gudgion works magic in the way that he implements effective writing, a balance of showing and telling, switching POVs, progression, action and tension. This trilogy was very enjoyable and worthwhile to read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a character-driven book series with deeply historical fantasy aspects.

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An amazing sequel enhanced by incredible narration

Revisado: 06-30-24

While there is much to say about this incredible second book, the main things worth noting are that Gudgion exceeds the fantastic writing quality from book 1 considerably and Matt Addis' equally narrates the words with incredible vigor and effectiveness.

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a detailed analysis of fear with a tedious plot

Revisado: 01-12-24

Having just finished, I’m reminded that Russian literature is significantly different than that of the US. This reminder spurs on gratefulness for the priority put on translating works from other languages & countries so that stories are told from perspectives I wouldn’t be able to have unless intentionality is put forth. The Scar is one such work that I greatly benefitted from reading because of the focus on the subject matter of fear. Which is its strongest aspect without doubt. The focus on the analysis of fear on a person, the exploration of cowardice, what it means to overcome crippling anxiety, are all explored in a depth that feels honoring to those who have deep familiarity with them. In this regard, I deeply appreciated the story for following through with this promise to do this from the synopsis.

The Scar can be described in a great many ways. A low fantasy Crime and Punishment examining the depths of fear and redemption. One man’s pursuit to rage and cower against that which he regrets. A very Russian book with intricate detail in the minutiae of suffering. And probably most plainly, a thorough analysis of character struggle through a fairly low-key set of events. These things are fascinating concepts to explore, but to my surprise, they didn’t afford the emotionally evocative character drama I'd hoped for. It was a great character study, but not the gripping narrative that never let go. While The Scar is definitely something I’d recommend to those looking for something edifying (as if read in a classroom or book club setting), it just didn’t satisfy on the journey as much. There is much to appreciate about the narrative, the writing especially, so I don’t want to leave the impression of low quality. This book is one of great value and merit, it simply falls into the category of classic literature that, while insightful, lacks the narrative proficiently to be a personal favorite.

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