James Nicoll Reviews

In When the Goddess Wakes , the final book of the Ring-Sworn trilogy, Howard Andrew Jones returns to the five realms of the Dendressi to conclude his heroic, adventure-filled epic fantasy trilogy. 

The Naor hordes have been driven from the walls, but the Dendressi forces are scattered and fragmented, and their gravest threat lies before them. For their queen has slain the ruling council and fled with the magical artifacts known as the hearthstones, and she is only a few days from turning them to her mad ends. 

The Altenerai corps has suffered grievous casualties, and Elenai’s hearthstone and her source of sorcerous power has been shattered. She and her friends have no choice but to join with the most unlikely of allies. 

Their goal: to find the queen’s hiding place and somehow stop her before she wakes the goddess who will destroy them all… 

Praised for his ability to write modern epic fantasy that engrosses and entertains, Howard Andrews Jones delivers a finale to his trilogy that reveals the dark secrets and resolves the mysteries and conflicts introduced in the first two books of this series.

A diverse team of broken, diminished former criminals get back together to solve the mystery of their last, disastrous mission and to rescue a missing and much-changed comrade… but they’re not the only ones in pursuit of the secret at the heart of the planet Dimmuborgir. The highly-evolved AI of the universe have their own agenda and will do whatever it takes to keep humans from ever controlling the universe again. This band of dangerous women, half-clone and half-machine, must battle their own traumas and a universe of sapient ageships who want them dead, in order to settle their affairs once and for all. 

Cassandra Khaw’s debut novel is a page-turning exploration of humans and machines that is perfect for readers of Ann Leckie, Ursula Le Guin, and Kameron Hurley.

An end must be made — and soon. 

The future of the people hangs in the balance as Lanyon continues her journey north. She must find the Storm Lair, home of the Inyomere Siddél, where she’ll have one more chance to slay the great spirit of storm. But her journey grows ever more perilous and strange, and even her devoted companions cannot keep her safe. 

Bennek, meanwhile, has been taken south to Habaddon. Through Lanyon’s magic he has survived terrible injury, yet he still needs time to heal. But time is short — and Siddél is resolved to destroy Habaddon. As the great Inyomere sends ever more arowl south towards the city, Bennek finds himself swept up in a relentlessly brutal war. 

Never before have the people warred against the people.Bennek senses change flooding the world. Dread weighs on him, and he fears what is to come. But Jahallon sees hope. Gifted with foresight, Jahallon is certain it won’t be much longer before Lanyon returns, bringing the talisman with her. Determined to distract and weaken Lanyon’s enemies before they have a chance to waylay her, he launches a great offensive against both the Inyomere Siddél and the sorcerer Édan.With his growing skills, Bennek serves at Jahallon’s side, directing Habaddon’s army-but his skills are not enough to contend against Édan, while Siddél remains an even greater enemy. All the while, time is running short.Days of Storm is the riveting conclusion to The Wild Trilogy.