Book Review: Lunarmancer by Jake Bennett

10/07/2025Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, noir, Surreal Fiction, Young Adult1 Comment

Book Details:

Author: Jake Bennett
Release Date: July 10, 2023
~~Series~~:
Genre: Young Adult, Epic Fantasy
Format: E-book
Pages: 436 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Reika is a changeling, a human girl brought up in a kind community of Metazoans, a sapient
zoomorphic species who migrated from a distant land long ago. She works as a servant at the
King’s citadel.
But all this changes when Reika and her friends Melito and Tabitha—royal guards
at the citadel—are attacked by rebel Metazoans led by the fearsome sorcerer Magnus. Facing
death, Reika’s true nature is revealed by the light of the full moon; a dormant power is
awakened, and Reika’s destiny changes forever.

In order to heal the darkness awoken in Reika’s soul, and to escape the machinations of
powerful foes, she will need allies. Thus begins an epic journey spanning multiple continents
and cultures, through magical and material perils, and even bending the fabric of time itself…
Lunarmancer is the debut YA fantasy-epic by Jake Bennett, a novel that marries the brilliant
ensemble casts of Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy with Tolkien’s luscious world-building.

Review

Lunarmancer by Jake Bennett is a sweeping, richly imagined fantasy epic that blends classic genre tropes like magic academies, prophecies, chosen ones, with a surprisingly intimate emotional core. What begins as a tale of self-discovery rapidly unfolds into a sprawling, multi-threaded saga of war, identity, loss, and resilience.

At the heart of it is Reika, a former servant girl grappling with a curse that transforms her into somethign she never imagined. Her journey is full of pain, sacrifice, and moments of profound inner reckoning. As a reader, and especially as a developmental editor, I was struck by the way Bennett threads psychological realism into a fantastical framework. Reika’s arc isn’t just a magical evolution; it’s a deeply human coming-of-age shaped by trauma, survival, and rediscovered agency.

What impressed me most is how author Bennett manages to juggle a vast ensemble cast including Junayd, Kenzuo, Lief, Destrian, and so many others, without losing narrative focus. Each character, even those on the margins, feels fully rendered with complex motivations and believable flaws. Thankfully, the villainy isn’t cartoonish and the heroes aren’t infallible. It’s this grey-toned morality that adds gravitas to the story, grounding its epic battles and magical lore in real emotional stakes.

The world-building is elaborate and detailed, perhaps a touch overwhelming at times, especially with terms like Dragelve Consortium, Somnium Carcerem, and Ferrum Champions flying fast and a bit too early (for me personally), but readers who love rich lore will find much to feast on. There’s a real sense of history behind every location, political alliance, and magical artifact.

Stylistically, the prose leans towards cinematic, with fast-paced scenes punctuated with high-octane action. But where author Bennett shines is in quieter moments, like a quiet conversation under moonlight, that give the narrative its soul.

What keeps this book from being a full 5 stars is pacing: there are moments where exposition threatens to bog down the emotional momentum, and the sheer number of locations and lore elements can be disorienting. That said, it’s a minor flaw in what is otherwise an impressively ambitious debut.

For readers of Brandon Sanderson, Tamora Pierce, or Fullmetal Alchemist, Lunarmancer will feel both nostalgic and refreshingly bold. It’s a tale of found family, inherited power, and the subtle, unglamorous courage it takes to choose your own path, even when fate has already written your story.

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Book Review: A Dance to Wake a Dragon by Richard Pratt

26/04/2025coming-of-age, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Magic, Magic Realism, Magic/Elementals, Mythic Fantasy, steampunk, Surreal Fiction3 Comments

Book Details:

Author: Richard Pratt
Release Date: September 1, 2024
~~Series~~:
Genre: Classic fantasy, Epic Journey, Coming-of-age, Hidden Legends, Magical Realism, Folklore-Inspired Fantasy
Format: E-book
Pages: 229 pages
Publisher: Earnshaw Books
Blurb:
Can you save the world with a dance? Can you call dragons with music? And can you do this when no-one believes that such things exist or are possible?
The dragons of Tianya guard the balance between the forces of order and randomness, of heaven and earth, and when things are stable, no-one remembers they exist. But any disturbance can create tragedy, and only the mysterious dance to wake the dragon, performed at the ancient site of Zamai, can save the world. And the only person who knows the dance in this new age is Shengli.

Shengli lives in a remote village with her friends, her dog companion, and a wise old neighbour who is one of the last in Tianya to understand the ancient ways. She embarks on a dangerous mission, with her friends and the mysterious Renzi, to perform the dance at Zamai and the journey offers trials and tests that demand courage, cunning, and comradeship.
With echoes of Lewis, Tolkein, and Pullman, but with a wholly original voice, this is a classic quest adventure in a fresh setting that explores contemporary themes in a timeless format.

Review

A Dance to Wake a Dragon by Richard Pratt is a beautiful, lyrical, and utterly heartwarming fantasy adventure that swept me away from the very first page. Reading it felt like stepping into a snow-laden, otherworldly village where ancient traditions, stubborn young hearts, and mystical forces weave together into an extremely powerful narrative.

At the heart of the story is Shengli, a spirited, brave girl who dances not just for joy but, ultimately, to save her world. Through her friendship with her clever fox-like dog Boken (who’s now one of my favorite fictional animal companions!) and the bonds she shares with her village and friends, Shengli’s journey is about hope and honoring the wisdom of the past in a world eager to forget it.

The writing is tender yet intelligent, laced with whimsical humor (especially through Boken’s delightful “conversations”) and thoughtful insights. Author Pratt’s prose has that rare timeless quality which reads like a classic fable but remains fresh and vibrant.

There’s a subtle depth running beneath the playful surface, about cycles of life, the price of forgetting our roots, and the small acts of bravery that change the world. I also loved how the book gently critiques modern cynicism without being preachy and simply lets the magic of tradition speak for itself.

If I had any tiny critique, it would be that the beginning meanders slightly (though charmingly) before the main quest kicks into motion, but honestly, I didn’t mind spending extra time in Shengli’s snow-covered world.

If you’re looking for a heartful, exquisitely written fantasy full of dancing, dragons, and characters you’ll miss long after the book is over, A Dance to Wake a Dragon is pure magic. It’s the kind of story that feels like a warm fire on a winter night: comforting, glowing, and unforgettable.

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Book Review: Δrakon by Wallace Knucker

16/04/202216/04/2022Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Wallace KnuckerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Wallace Knucker
Release Date: 31st March 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Format: E-book
Pages: 392 pages
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
Blurb:
Dragons were powerful and formidable warriors, they could use fire very differently than the warriors of the fire. It was like they could command the element, like fire was part of them. The scariest thing about them though, was their real form. Just a handful of people had seen it and survived long enough to tell the story.

The only thing I know about this form is that it was giving them tremendous speed and power beyond any imagination and that just a look at it was enough to make your blood freeze in your veins.
When war began among humans and dragons, our annihilation was certain. At the last battle, one hundred thousand humans, with the help of the elves, faced two thousand of those monsters. The magic of the elves combined with the sheer will and determination of the warriors led to victory. This was the battle in which dragons were wiped from existence.

Review

Δrakon by Wallace Knucker is an enthralling new epic fantasy novel featuring **drumrolls** DRAGONS!!

I was sold on the D-word alone as I am a big-time fan of the creatures, but the fact that this book was based on the concept of their extinction, which is obviously re-imagined, had me by the throat! And I am so glad that this book did not disappoint. On the contrary, it proved to be a pretty great read!

The writing was great, the characterisation really good and the execution of the plot and the magic system was simply outstanding! The tension graph of the book had me sitting at the edge of my seat through most of the book. The story had a great flow and I was able to finish the book in one sitting – which says a lot about how good the book was.

I would strongly recommend this book to all fans of the fantasy genre and to those who especially love reading about dragons (with some elves and the elven magic system thrown in.)

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Book Review: Into the Undercastle (The Shadow Arcanist Trilogy #1) by Alexander Dawnrider

18/03/202218/03/2022Alexander Dawnrider, Epic Fantasy, FantasyLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Alexander Dawnrider
Release Date: 31st January 2022
Series: The Shadow Arcanist (Book #1)
Genre: Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Format: E-book
Pages: 406 pages
Publisher: Dawnrider Press
Blurb:
A kingdom in peril. A forbidden stronghold. An unimaginable horror.
For centuries, the northern kingdom has faced constant attacks from hostile creatures in the surrounding wilderness. The population has dwindled to a few hundred, and an army of savage humanoids threatens to wipe Talidith out forever.

Their only hope is the Undercastle, a subterranean fortress built long ago to protect the people during an invasion. But it has been sealed by a mad king, and entry is punishable by death.
The young fisherman Aedan, along with his father, must retreat with the rest of the population to the Undercastle to wait out the invasion, hoping for help from the outside. But when their presence releases an evil from another realm, it threatens to destroy not only what is left of Talidith, but the entire world.

Review

Into The Undercastle by Alexander Dawnrider is the first book in the epic fantasy series, The Shadow Arcanist.

I absolutely loved this book; right from brilliant concept and great plotting to amazing characterisation and heart-thumping tension, this book had everything that I had expected from it and more! The storyline is superb and keeps one engaged with its various twists and turns the whole time. I am now eagerly awaiting the release of the second book in this series (and then the next one!) as I cannot wait to see what happens after the ending!

I will strongly recommend this book to all fantasy readers as this book has so much going for it. This amazing book will definitely entertain and engage you right from the beginning to the very end!

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Book Review: Strands of Existence 1: Island Girl by Aino Lahteva

08/12/202008/12/2020Aino Lahteva, Epic Fantasy, FantasyLeave a Comment

Author: Aino Lahteva
Release Date: 26th August 2020
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Strands Of Existence (Book #1)
Format: E-book
Pages: 272 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:

*New linguistically revised version*

As an opportunist, Istrae yearns to get off her home island and visit Kerth, the City of Light and Abundance. Her preferred method of travel, however, didn’t include drowning. And she didn’t expect the city to be so dirty. Her memories are as broken as her body. She begins to piece them together with the help of a spirit bound to a statue and an ambitious army captain called Rime she enjoys teasing.

As Rime guides Istrae in her new life, it becomes evident the rigid rules of society and the city’s Temple do not welcome those who seek to shake the established rules, which is something Istrae is incapable of resisting.

Book Review

Island Girl by Aino Lahteva is the first book in the new epic fantasy series Strands Of Existence. It is a very fresh take on fantasy grounded in religious beliefs and I was really surprised by the realistic feel of this amazing fantasy world.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the characterisation, the world-building was superb and the concept and plot were great too. The only problem that I can point out, and that too if I am being extremely picky, is that the dialogues felt a little different at some places. But that wasn’t a big issue because I am aware that this is a book by an author whose first language is not English, so for that alone, I’d like to compliment the author. Other than that the writing was pretty impressive and I was really enthralled by this amazing book.

I would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy lovers and to those who are looking to explore a fantasy series by a promising new author.

You can also read this review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Book Review: Oddity Of The Magicus Eye: Mokuura (Part #2) by Patrick Malum

06/11/201907/11/2019Epic Fantasy, Patrick Malum, Science-Fiction Fantasy, Serial, Short-Stories, Space Fantasy2 Comments

Author: Patrick Malum
Release Date: 18th October 2019
Genre: Science-Fiction Fantasy, Young Adult, Space Fantasy, Serials,
Series: Oddity Of The Magicus Eye (Part #2)
Edition: E-book
Pages: 96
Publisher:
Blurb:
The epic space fantasy serial continues!

Following the events of PATTERNS, the two children of Etheron are in terrible danger. A dark force swells in the heights of the Forty-Ninth Council, putting the galaxy in turmoil. The fate of everyone depends on one broken man.

ODDITY OF THE MAGICUS EYE is a monthly space fantasy from exciting new author, Patrick Malum. Be sure to first check out Part 1, also available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, and visit the official Oddity website for more.

REVIEW

★★★★

Oddity Of The Magicus Eye: Mokuura by Patrick Malum is the second episode in the serialised epic fantasy series Oddity Of The Magicus Eye and the sequel to Oddity Of The Magicus Eye: Patterns (Part #1).

This book was every bit as fun as the first one and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from start to end. The book picked up where the last one left off and the reader is thrust into the action-filled world of Etheron. I enjoyed the plot as well as the narration and felt that my connections with the main characters deepened quite a bit as I read this part. So I have a lot of hopes and expectation from the next instalment in this series.

The best part about this episode-based series is that the author doesn’t repeat the plot points over and over again as is normally the case in book series. Being short episodes it is a given that either the reader is keeping up with the release of all parts and reading them monthly, or reading in all in one go, so there’s no unnecessary narration dedicated to the ‘catching-up’ of the earlier part(s).

I’d again recommend this book as well as the series so far to all space-fantasy, epic fantasy and sci-fi readers.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: Heaven’s Silhouette by Melissa Lynn Herold

21/09/201901/10/2019Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, High fantasy, Magic Realism, Melissa Lynn Herold3 Comments

Author: Melissa Lynn Herold
Release Date: 17th September 2019
Genre: High Fantasy, Magic Realism
Series: Iyarri Chronicles (Book #1)
Edition: E-book
Pages: 400
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Blurb:
When I was little, other children called me a monster. A painting proved them right.

A lifetime of cruel taunts and heartbreak has taught Aurelia to hide, to not get too close to anyone. A painter and gallery docent, her only solace is in the art that can’t stare back. When a new piece arrives, depicting an angelic figure who shares the physical features she’s always thought of as monstrous, Aurelia searches for the artist, determined to get the answers her mother has long refused to provide.

But she isn’t the only one searching. There are others who want the artist—and the truth—silenced. Aurelia is attacked by figures from the painting, fierce warriors with wings and sharpened blades. Shaken and bloody, she manages to escape with her life but finds herself hunted by the Iyarri, who are anything but angels. As she comes to terms with her connection to them, Aurelia is drawn deeper into the heart of a millennia-old struggle. If she’s not careful, the consequences will tear her body, her heart, and the Iyarri in two.

REVIEW

★★★★

Heaven’s Silhouette by Melissa Lynn Herold is a new fantasy series about angels but with a twist. This book marks the beginning of the Iyarri series.

The story is well developed and was narrated nicely. I was drawn into the story right from the very start where we are introduced to Au \relia and the heart of the story, i.e., Aurelia is not like other kids; she is different. And it was after reading the prologue that I knew I was in for a good story. And after that, the book delivered as expected – an original fantasy world.

Even though the concept of angels has already been used many times in various books and series, like Penryn And The End Of Days series by Susan Ee (which BTW is my absolute favourite series when it comes to the fallen angel fantasy trope), I still enjoyed this book mostly because of the concept of Iyarri where they are winged beings who take cover in the angel-mythology. So although it might not initially feel that way, but this book’s concept is nothing like the other books with a similar theme. It is nothing like the books that I’ve read.

The world-building in this book is good, it wasn’t entirely fantastic but it wasn’t all bad either. Though we don’t get to explore the Iyarri world in any particular detail, I won’t be judging the entire series right now as that might be an intentional step by the author and this is just the first book, so we’ll see about it in the next books.

One thing needs a special mention here is the language. Now I know we have epic fantasy series like ASOIAF by GRRM with fully-fleshed out languages, but once in a while, I do appreciate not having to deal with a lot of newly-conceived-language jargon. I love it when fantasy authors add a sprinkling of a handful of words from a new language throughout the book in a way that it is easy for the reader to pick it up on their own. That’s exactly what author Melissa did in this book and I am very thankful to her for that.

So so moving on… the writing was simple and fluid. It made the book a very quick read in spite of it being 400 pages plus. The tension and conflicts in the story kept me engrossed into the book from start to end and I ended up finishing this book in only 3 days. And now I am eagerly waiting for the next book in this series to come out so that I can read more and explore this new and exciting world further.

If you are a fantasy fan then you should definitely give this book a read!

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: Holy Sister (Book Of The Ancestor #3) by Mark Lawrence

17/09/201916/09/2019Action, Dark Fantasy, Dystopian, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, High fantasy, Mark Lawrence, Speculative-FictionLeave a Comment

Author: Mark Lawrence
Release Date: 3rd April 2018
Genre: High Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Dystopian
Series: Book Of The Ancestor (Book #3)
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 352
Publisher: Harper-Voyager
Blurb:
They came against her as a child. Now they face the woman.

The ice is advancing, the Corridor narrowing, and the empire is under siege from the Scithrowl in the east and the Durns in the west. Everywhere, the emperor’s armies are in retreat.

Nona faces the final challenges that must be overcome if she is to become a full sister in the order of her choice. But it seems unlikely that Nona and her friends will have time to earn a nun’s habit before war is on their doorstep.

Even a warrior like Nona cannot hope to turn the tide of war.

The shiphearts offer strength that she might use to protect those she loves, but it’s a power that corrupts. A final battle is coming in which she will be torn between friends, unable to save them all. A battle in which her own demons will try to unmake her.

A battle in which hearts will be broken, lovers lost, thrones burned.

REVIEW

★★★★

Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence marks the end to the Book Of Ancestor trilogy and with a gaping emptiness that envelops me every time I finish a series, I have finally managed to review this book (somehow.)

This book served as a good end to this amazing series. It could have definitely done better, but that maybe my bias towards this series so don’t hold it against the series. Most of the questions were answered and the loose ends were tied up pretty well. The ending was apt even though a bit predictable. Just like the other two books in this series, Red Sister and Grey Sister, this book was thoroughly entertaining and full of crazy fighting sequences and intense emotional dramatics.

The characters evolved and the storyline wound its way through various ups and downs, keeping me interested throughout the book. Though, because of my own reluctance to finish this series, I took my own sweet time to finish this book.

Anyway, to know my thoughts further you can watch my YouTube video review for this book here:

Book Review: Grey Sister (Book Of The Ancestor #2) by Mark Lawrence

22/08/201927/08/2019Action, Dark Fantasy, Dystopian, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, High fantasy, Mark Lawrence, Speculative-FictionLeave a Comment

Author: Mark Lawrence
Release Date: 3rd April 2018
Genre: High Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Dystopian
Series: Book Of The Ancestor (Book #2)
Edition: E-book
Pages: 409
Publisher: Harper-Voyager
Blurb:
Second novel in the brilliant series from the bestselling author of Prince of Thorns.

In Mystic Class Nona Grey begins to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the Convent of Sweet Mercy Nona must choose her path and take the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the simple black of a Bride of the Ancestor and a life of prayer and service.

All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the ambition of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a blade, and the vengeance of the empire’s richest lord.

As the world narrows around her, and her enemies attack her through the system she has sworn to, Nona must find her own path despite the competing pull of friendship, revenge, ambition, and loyalty.

And in all this only one thing is certain. There will be blood.

REVIEW

★★★★+1/2

Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence is the sequel to Red Sister and the 2nd book in the trilogy Book Of The Ancestor. It was a great sequel to an amazing book with lots and lots of things that completely blew my mind to bits and many surprises. This was a much darker read as compared to the first one, so it won’t be wrong to say that this book is not for emotionally weak people. I got attached to some characters that were killed in this part and it haunted me for days.

Over all, the tension and pacing in this book were tighter and faster. The action was more and the perils felt more real. I really enjoyed this book and felt that it was a great sequel that took the story ahead in a way it deserved. But in spite of everything good, I still felt that somewhere this book was not the best one in this trilogy. I guess I just loved Red Sister so much that nothing can ever reach that level of awesomeness, not even its own sequels.

Anyway, overall it was a fantastic and well-written book and I enjoyed it a lot so I’d definitely recommend this trilogy to all fantasy readers, especially to those who’ve enjoyed other works by Mark Lawrence.

BookTube:

Book Review: Red Sister (The Book Of Ancestor #1) by Mark Lawrence

05/08/2019Dark Fantasy, Dystopian, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, High fantasy, Mark Lawrence4 Comments

Author: Mark Lawrence
Release Date: 4th April 2017
Genre: High Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Dystopian
Series: The Book Of Ancestor (Book #1)
Edition: E-book
Pages: 482
Publisher: Harper-Voyager
Blurb:
It’s not until you’re broken that you find your sharpest edge

“I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin”

At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.

But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.