Just as the cover of the book says; 'think you know Misery? Think again' because holy shit this Misery is one for the books. Blackwing follows Captain Rynalt Galharrow, as he and his band of misfits take up the task to journey to Misery - but only when the pay is good. But things take a swift turn when a figure from Galharrow's past arrives and must be protected, but why?

Truly, Blackwing started off amazing, to start at the heart of Misery - the land of destruction, the creation of a battle many years ago against the Deep Kings - WOW! The narrative being first person through Captain Galharrow was intriguing. He is ruthless, savage, but deep down he has a past full of death and destruction that he wants to leave behind for good! Tnat and Nenn were amazing, as Galharrow's loyal , together they are a force to be wreckoned with, especially Nenn - BADASS. The Tanaza siblings were prestige but smart and loyal. Ezabeth Tanaza has a special ability but far worse is the knowledge she carried that could very well lead to another war against the Deep Kings.

Ed McDonald successfully created creatures to fear! From the Darling, who is the creepiest, and don't get me started on the Bride *shudders*. The plot was engaging and the setting/world hella intense and intriguing. I only wish there was more on the nameless - especially Crowfoot but damn intriguing. If the Deep Kings made an earlier appearance it would have been great, but they still managed to shake fear but that is not the last we see of them.

Blackwing is a stunning and unique debut novel. The fantasy is top notch and managed to transport me to Misery, or the battlefront. I cannot wait to see what is next in store for Rynalt Galharrow and co because their battling days are far from over and Galharrow deserves the closure and peace that is rightfully his! Read this debut novel and learn what Misery truly means.

An amazing debut novel. Blackwing is both terrifying and enthralling. A fascinating world, likeable characters, and addictive action. I literally could not put it down.

It was fascinating reading Godblind (Anna Stephens, review copy from Harper Voyager) and Blackwing (Ed McDonald, Gollancz) closely together. There are a lot of similiarities between both novels, but quite a few differences too.

Godblind features two warring civilisations. Rilpor, a largely peaceful, but still militarised kingdom is bordered to the West by the Mireces, a blood-thirsty alliance of tribes. Each worships two gods (one male, one female), but while one is peaceful and preaches redemption, the other thrives on violence and human sacrifice. Centuries before, the gods were thrust behind the veil, but the red cultists are plotting to tear the veil through the blood-shed of war, enabling the Red Gods to walk the world again.

In Blackwing, the existential terror lies to the East. The Misery is a warped and shifting landscape filled with mutated creatures and monsters that has been occupied by twelve evil immortals. Set against it is a city-state that controls the Engine, the only weapon capable of damaging the Deep Kings and their twisted troops. A weapon built by one of the twelve immortals set against them. Although stalemate has reigned for many years, there are concerning signs that the Deep Kings are mustering for invasion.

Ryhalt Galharrow is the titular Blackwing, a soldier marked by one of his gods and regularly tasked to undertake mysterious quests for little reward. As the novel progresses, his background as a battle-scarred noble who has turned his back on his heritage begins to emerge. Godblind features Dom Templeson, a warrior who is also a seer, with a portal in his head that he uses to communicate with his gods. He works as a Watcher, guarding Rilpor's Western border. Galharrow is cynical and self-reflective, where Dom mostly reacts, perpetually seeking to escape his role as seer.

Chance encounters prompted by their gods are the jumping off points for both novels. Galharrow is sent to one of the forts in the edge of the Misery which is shortly going to come under attack. His job is to save a particular person, who turns out to be his former fiancee, now a powerful magic-wielder key to repelling the forthcoming invasion. Dom receives a vision telling him to go to a particular place. There he finds Rillirin, an escaped Mireces slave, and saves her from her pursuers. She turns out to be the killer of the last Mireces king and the brother of the new one.

Both books are classic grimdark, featuring a high body count and lots of violence. Both use it to illustrate the horror of the enemy, but where Blackwing uses it to show the horror and darkness of war, Godblind veers close to torture-porn at times, glorying in showing the full horrors of Mireces rites.

I would also give Blackwing the edge in its world-building. The magic-system built on the use of light is fresh, but has a realistic industry supporting it. An industry that is subject to corruption, relies on the exploitation of workers and ties the kingdom together in its focus on battling the Deep Kings. McDonald's gods are clearly playing a long game. They are frequently absent and use humans as pawns in their centuries-long battles. By contrast, it's unclear to me how the largely agrarian country of Rilpor can manage to support a large standing army that doesn't appear to do much most of the time, or why its small towns and cities remain loyal to the throne, beyond that it's there.

While both are very enjoyable books, Blackwing just feels as if it has a bit more depth, more nuance and and greater maturity to it than Godblind.

Blackwing: 4*

Godblind: 3*

Simply put, the best fantasy book I have read this year. Debut aside, it's everything I wanted in a fantasy story and some! I'm now eagerly awaiting book two which Ed McDonald assured me is coming when I met him to get the copy I bought signed.

Full review coming soon.

2017 has been a stellar year for debuts, and Blackwing continues this tradition in spades. Excellent world-building, beautifully dark prose, grim action, genuine mystery, unique adversaries, and a clever turn on magic combine to tell this dark tale of sacrifice, love, loss, and standing up against insurmountable odds.

McDonald has a knack for landing the perfect metaphor or simile at the right moment. I found myself highlighting a sharp turn of phrase nearly every chapter. There are a few scenes of action, though the majority of the book (told from a first-person perspective) consist of the MC investigating, thinking, working things out, and trying to unravel several mysteries. The prose was compelling and kept my attention rapt throughout, even when events slowed down for a spell or two.

The brandy-swiggling, cigar-chomping, scarred and grizzled lead character feels like someone I've met before, but the setting of the story is what sets it apart from other grimdark fantasy novels of its ilk. The entire book takes place either inside a city, or just beyond its gates in a bent-reality, evil and ever-shifting badland called the Misery. This literal gods-forsaken land mass is a result of a powerful magic event that temporarily stopped the encroachment of the malevolent Deep Kings from invading and wiping out the humans. Unfortunately, a side effect of this event also wiped out two other major human cities in its wake. The Nameless were responsible for this catastrophic event, and the war between them and the Deep Kings is eternal, going back untold centuries. It is a war of god-like creatures of unimaginable power, but they are currently in a stalemate due to the threat of a Nameless-created weapon held by the humans to keep the Deep Kings and their army of formerly-human monsters at bay.

As the story progresses, we learn that humans are quite insignificant to the plans and whims of these eternal enemies, with thousands of lives on both sides sacrificed without a second thought. But our MC has a secret - he is a Blackwing, one of a very elite group of soldiers with direct ties to a Nameless. His past starts to catch up with him, and all hell starts to break loose.

It's a lot to take in, and the story goes quite a bit deeper than that, but I never found myself lost or confused - the twists and reveals came fast and furious, and I did not see many of them coming.

This is an exciting, unforgiving, and mysterious world, and although some major events are wrapped up by the end of the book, there are quite a few interesting arc that should carry over into future entries in this series. I'm very much looking forward to reading what's next.

Easily categorized as adult fantasy, this grimdark novel really hits all the sweet spots. You have a voul-mouthed protagonist struggling to properly outline his morals and ethics, bringing to light numerous concepts and thoughts about age, experience, and what it ultimately means to be true to oneself. What will you risk to make the world a slightly better place? Who would you kill, maim...or save?

McDonald has written something very special. His debut novel knocked my socks off as this brutal and miserable world came to life with the author's vivid imagination. McDonald makes good use of steampunk elements and brings a new twist to the realm of fantasy, using every idea out there and making it his own.

His characters are hard-asses, dirty, and foul of the most wretched kind.

I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Ed McDonald delivers a great grimdark debut. His main protagonist is a Charles Bronson type with a heart that braves a world somewhere between fantasy, Mad Max and italo-western.
For a full in-depth video review, check out this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_EyL1ciaG0

“Some men are born to charm ladies and spread their irresponsible seed across the land. Some exist to create the great works of art that inspire dreams and drive creativity for generations. Others are born to till the fields, put bread on the table, and raise their sons to till the fields, put bread on the table, raise sons of their own. I was born to end lives.”

2017 appears to just be the year for amazing debut fantasy novels, and Blackwing by Ed McDonald was no exception. This book is already released in Europe, but doesn’t drop for us Americans until October 3rd, but you definitely want to put this on your pre-order list if you’re a fantasy fan.

Blackwing is a super unique novel that isn’t afraid to talk about dark themes. I never felt like Blackwing was too much, but you should probably know going in that many people do consider this grimdark. Also, trigger warnings for suicide, war themes, and graphic violence. But, again, I don’t think it’s anything too brutal, and I never felt overwhelmed by any of the dark themes.

“I’m Blackwing Captain Ryhalt Galharrow. I’m here to beat the living shit out of you until you tell me what I need to know.”

This is a post apocalyptic story following a bounty hunter, Ryhalt Galharrow, AKA: Blackwing, who is constantly running away from his past. He also has a very magical arrangement with a Nameless, which aren’t Gods, but they are pretty close to it. This arrangement is also constantly haunting him, because he never knows when he will be called upon for a quest.

Well, that’s how this story truly gets started, and Blackwing receives a quest that not only seems impossible, but also forces him to look his past straight in the face. Blackwing is quickly tangled up into a a much bigger mission where the fate of human existence depends on him helping solve a problem that seems unsolvable.

Basically, the humans live in fear of the Dhojaran forces and the Darlings, who were once human and now turned into magical beings by the Deep Kings. All of these forces live in the Misery alongside ghosts and other magical, yet terrifying, beings.

“The blasts that had created that stalemate had left their scars deep in the earth. Nobody and nothing moved out there in the poisoned lands of the Misery”

There are now outposts where soldiers are constantly on the lookout for the Deep Kings and their armies. Many years ago, the Deep Kings tried to take over the rest of human existence, but a magical weapon unleashed a fury like no other, and now its presence keeps the humans feeling safe and the Deep Kings feeling weary to try another attack. That is, until there is talk circulating that the weapon may not be in function anymore.

In this world, some humans are Spinners, who are like sorcerers and able to make Phos from the powers of the three moons, which help them produce magic. Talents are a lesser type of sorcerer, who are still able to produce Phos, but for Spinners and others to use. And the magic that the Spinners and Talents use is always at a cost. Many go mad, and are killed or tucked away in asylums. Talents are also treated terribly and forced to work at mills, where they are just harvested for their Pho production.

This book constantly talks about and touches on the three moons in their sky:

➽Rioque – Red
➽Clada – Blue
➽Eala – Gold

These moons also play a huge part in this book, because of the Spinners and Talents that are drawing power from them, but I predict these moons will play an even bigger part in this world and story in later installments.

I touched upon this earlier, but there are six Nameless who could possibly help Blackwing against the Dhojaran forces, and they were pretty much my favorite part of this story:

➽Crowfoot – Has the pact with Blackwing.
➽Nall – Vanished. Also, made the powerful weapon that keeps the Deep Kings at bay.
➽Cold – Presumed dead.
➽Songlope – Presumed dead.
➽Shallowgrave – Vanished and is a complete mystery.
➽The Lady of Waves – Never seems to leave the island of Pyre. But, like, I am so in love with the mystery about this Nameless. I’d love to read an entire book just about her and what is going on on her island.

I loved the mystery behind all the Nameless, and I cannot wait to read more books in this series just to find out all of their secrets. It is also pretty apparent that they are going to play a much bigger role in this series, and I’m completely ready to learn any and everything about them. Also, give me all the information on Saravor, the Fixer, because I’m already obsessed with his entire situation.

This story is action packed and moves so very fast that the book feels impossible to put down. Like I said above, the world is so unique and has such a Mad Max feels to it. I completely adored it all, and the characters are just as amazing, too.

“The great mistake of man is to believe that other men can live up to the ideals that we set them.”

Plus, the prose of this novel, especially in juxtaposition of this cruel world, is absolutely beautiful. I was so impressed with the writing in this, and I couldn’t believe all the quotes I had tabbed once I finished. Not only is this a fast paced thrilling story, but it’s written absolutely lyrically.

And this book is so funny. It’s hard to make me actually laugh in a book, but this book actually made my sides hurt at times. The banter is just the perfect combination of witty and humorous, that is very reminiscent of Sebastien de Castell’s Greatcoats, especially during many of the fighting scenes. And if you’ve been following my reviews for a while now you will know that comparing anything to Sebastien de Castell means that I love it completely.

This book also excelled in female representation. The two strongest fighters on the good side of this war are both women. Woman are soldiers, Princes, and godlike deities in this world. They are all strong, brave, and rather fearless if I do say so myself. The female representation in Blackwing is amazingly portrayed.

And Ed McDonald even gives us a little sexual representation, because there is also a gay side character that I instantly fell completely in love with. It was said, known, and accepted that he was gay without question or contestation. And the entire society that is built in this book feels very gender neutral and I was completely living for it.

Also, the main female character has severe scarring all over her body, and I was living for the body positive representation that Ed McDonald wrote. Like, he did what Colleen Hoover in November 9 could not, and he did it seamlessly and completely beautifully. And seeing things like that in Fantasy? Rare and beautiful and I completely applaud this debut author for incorporating all of these amazing and important themes.

Seriously, Blackwing has it all, and I’m still in somewhat disbelief that this is Ed McDonald’s debut novel. I also expect nothing but great things for everything else he has in store for us surround this world. The plot is unique, the world building is incredible, the characters are fantastic, the representation is important, and the writing is nothing short of gorgeous. Blackwing is a must read in 2017 for Fantasy lovers, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

“Back behind where my heart should have been, I harboured a fury hotter than any pile of burning literature could ever produce, a rage born of fear and pain and longing. I needed to see a head roll across the floor, and I needed it to be his.”

Here's a strong contender for book of the year, if ever there was one!

Firstly, the world building and rules of magic are amazing. It's actually not that far from Cthulu Armageddon in this regard, but it takes it a step further and adds an almost steampunk element to it. The conventions of magic in any fantasy book are really important to me, they have to be consistent and they have to make sense, between the magic, gods and supernatural beings, I was enthralled.

McDonald's writing style is amazing, I find my attention usually strays during fighting action sequences but he managed to keep me fully engaged at all times.

My favourite part of this book was the friendship between Ryhalt, the protagonist, and Nenn, his second in command. It's depressing that this is even noteworthy, but it's a friendship between a man and a woman that is based entirely on respect and loyalty. Nenn is a warrior and a mercenary, the only thing that gets between her and a payday is helping her friends, 'the right' thing is irrelevant when the odds are that you'll die at the end of the day so the depth of their devotion to one another is really moving, especially in the absence of any squishy feelings.

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in fantasy novels, it's the first book in an upcoming series and is guaranteed to blow your mind!

This is a hard one as I feel I should have enjoyed it more than I did and I really can't pinpoint why I didn't. It tells the story of Galharrow, a drunken captain of Blackwing and his fight to save the republic from the Deep Kings. There are some great elements at play - good magic system in terms of the light spinners, although I thought the raven tattoo coming out of the arm was something I've seen before. There is a real steampunk vibe, with the great engine and the light stored up in battery coils. There were some good characters and interesting villains and it has a good plot that moves well. I think maybe that one problem was that it tried to do too much. It could be a little bit confusing at times trying to piece together all of the various characters and why they mattered and there was a lot happening all at once. Why then did I get a bit bored? I honestly can't say. What I do know is that any fans of Joe Abercrombie should give this one a read. It didn't quite work for me, but I'm pretty sure that there are those who will love it.

This was a difficult book for me to rate, there is a huge amount of detail and also a lot of things I liked about it, but then some things that left me frustrated. The characters on the whole were well described, my initial thoughts on the main protagonist and narrator, Galharrow, was that he was arrogant and pompous, but as the story unfolded and more was discovered my opinion changed, thinking him to be tenacious and steadfast. The other human characters were equally hard and rugged due to the post-apocalyptic style of the setting, living on the edge of the Misery, a desolate wasteland inhabited by a number of strange and terrifying creatures, sorcerers, wizards and god-like beings. These creatures I found to be less well described and at times slightly confusing. When the main defence system goes down. it is responsible for keeping the things that live in the Misery staying in there, it is then up Galharrow and his band of men / mercenaries to help try to save the city.

On the whole I enjoyed this book, but the erratic pace of it and not fully understanding some of the aspects took the edge of it for me, also the lack of description for the creatures in the Misery. On the plus side the magic, action and human characters were well described.

I think this would appeal to readers of YA Fantasy and Adult Fantasy genres, with a little bit of a horror steam punk feel to it. Also made me think a little of Frank Herbert and Dune.

I will be keeping my eye out for Book 2 as there were things I enjoyed.

I wish to express my thanks to Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group and Gollancz for allowing me a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

This was the best book I've read in a while!

This was a very mature book, from a debut author. The world was very rich and the characters were well defined, and above all, interesting. When you're introducing a lot of new concepts, creatures etc. and the world is very different, it can be hard for the reader to get acclimatized. Some authors look to introduce a lot of backstory and explanations, which can make the story be very slow. I like the way this book unfolded, just enough backstory to get you involved, but the pace and tempo were good.

The story was dense, with some interesting ideas on magic and combat and a few twists and turns. Above all, the story felt original, which we all know is tough with so many cliches out there in scifi an fantasy books.

The book kept a great pace throughout, building to a conclusion that was more of a reveal of a broader story, which was great. The story is setup well, for a broader and richer epic.

Dive into this book and you'll be well rewarded with a great story and you'll lose hours of your time! I finished the book in a little over 2 days, and I was hooked throughout.

When two godly forces collide, when both are cruel and don’t give a shit about humans, when you are forced to take a side, you choose the lesser evil.

The story starts with action already taking place and events happening. After trying to capture a few sympathizers who ran to the Misery, Ryhalt Galharrow receives a surprising call from his master, a Nameless called Crowfoot. After years of paying him little attention, he gives him a new mission. Vague and impossible to predict. He ends up meeting someone that he held dear a lifetime ago. It doesn’t stop there. After their last defeat, the Deep Kings retreated to their home at the East. However, at last, they made their move and sent a small army of their twisted creatures, the drudges. Only 2 Nameless are left. Meanwhile, there are 6 Deep Kings. Bad odds. But at least, the Engine that stopped them years ago is still standing. However, there are many hidden secrets, buried waiting for someone to discover them. Once revealed they’ll change everything Gallharrow has ever known.

The world McDonald weaved a very rich and creative world. The Misery was easily my favorite: “only three kinds of people willingly enter the Misery: the desperate, the stupid and the greedy”. Dangerous and rotten to the core, it was the barrier between the humans land, and the east, where the Deep Kings come from. You can find all kind of creatures in the misery. The dead air, the cracked sky, everything about it is so bizarre. The author’s imagination is very vast not only because of the world he created but also the magic. The Spinners use phos (like light) from the 3 moons to draw power but that’s only a small part of the magic system. It’s better to discover it by yourself.

While I can’t say that this book is fast paced, it certainly isn’t slow either. The real battle mainly takes place at the last 25% of the book, something is always going on. Thus, world-building and the actions intertwine throughout the whole book in a way that will not get you neither bored nor confused. To be honest, it did get a bit repetitive sometimes but I didn’t mind it. Moreover, the politics were something to admire. Even humans are, of course, corrupted. I would’ve liked to learn more about the Nameless, the Deep Kings, and the princes but I guess we have to leave something to learn in the sequel.

The characters were real, fun, and badass. I loved Nenn and Ezabeth. Ed McDonald created likable badass women. Both are flawed but you’ll like them for it. Nenn a strong fighter without a nose was just awesome. Ezabeth, noble but selfless, smart and also capable, she’ll play a huge role in the turn of events. Gallharrow came a long way from the start. He was a drunk who would do anything for money. A cold blooded veteran who went through too much to care anymore, he'd strike you at first as an anti-hero. However, soon enough, you'll realize that he’s more than just this façade. This book was told from his pov (1st person) but have no fear, it fitted perfectly with the book.

One thing I didn’t like was the romance. I don’t think it was necessary and honestly, the dialogues between Ezabeth and Gallharrow were sometimes awkward and just. I know that it serves the plot but I just couldn’t see the chemistry or even wish to see them together.
This is a great debut, best I’ve read so far this year. I enjoyed Blackwing quite a lot but I wish I'd taken my time reading it because I felt forced to finish it quickly since the publication date was on 27 july and I started it on 26.

It featured dark but not too dark events, politics, a bit of humor, lovable characters, and an original world. Ed McDonald created an outstanding story that I highly recommend for all the fantasy lovers out there. I will definitely be reading the sequel as soon as it comes out even though this book didn't end with a cliffhanger.

Wowzers. Bloody hell. Fuck yeah! Honestly, I don’t have anything other than expletive laden exclamations right now. One of the Deep Kings in this book must have cut out my tongue and fed it to the Misery, because Blackwing has left me speechless. Yet even if words are failing me right now, there’s a lot of well-deserved buzz for this book. After reading Liis’ *stunning* review, I just knew I *had to* read it- and by some miracle I was able to get hold of it.

Well, it would be more accurate to say that this book got hold of me- it grabbed me by the throat and throttled me with an intense plot straight away. The reader is flung head first into the Misery and explosive action before you can say “shit there’s a Darling!” (you’ll find out what that is when you read it- no spoilers from me- but trust me that’s what you’ll think). Somehow, as the story winds on, it manages to crank up that initial tension, bit by bit, building to an epic conclusion that no one could predict. Seriously, if you want a well spun tale you’ve come to the right place. Not one thread of Blackwing is out of place- it is an exquisite tapestry of twisted, inventive, mindboggling magic! There’s nothing you can do with a book like this other than step back and admire the view. And if I sound possessed- that’s cos I’m still in its thrall.

One of the most spellbinding things about here is easily the writing. I could wax lyrical about how beautiful every inch of this book is- but what really got to me was how strikingly distinctive the voice was- so much so that the main character leapt off the page. Don’t ask me how, but that grouchy, wry tone will charm the pants off you. I was chuckling along with his backhanded remarks (“standard fortress stuff” teehee), eagerly awaiting where his tale would lead and by the end of the story I wanted to take him out for a pint… Until I remembered he wasn’t real.

And that was just the thing- I left reality behind when I read Blackwing. Atmospheric and creepy, wading into this world was a treat in its own right. Layer upon layer of nameless wonder had me totally absorbed. Even though the palate for this world was suitably grim and gutsy, it felt surprisingly vibrant, and, most importantly, *different*. Rarely do I find any book that feels as new as this fresh-faced fantasy.

There was more to it than that though. Full of broken, scarred and near-ruined characters this story was to its core about humanity. Speaking of heartache and hinting at redemption, the hidden depths sold me more than anything else. No doubt, this book took me too some pretty dark places- but in the end it was so dark it was an uplifting read.

Rating: 5/5 bananas

Released on: 27th July so be sure to snag a copy here!

https://lynns-books.com/2017/07/20/blackwing-1-ravens-mark-by-ed-mcdonald/
I think I can say with a good degree of confidence that Blackwing will be on my end of year list of favourite reads. This was so good it’s given me a whole new bout of faith in grimdark, which, I confess, I was becoming a little jaded with just recently. Why did I love this? I’m not really sure I can’t explain to be honest, other than this is a book that is rounded. It has plenty of action and yet has taken the time to establish the roots of some excellent world building. It has characters that feel familiar, they’re maybe not breaking the mould, but you will end up liking them with all their flaws. It has surprises that really do surprise but more than that it manages to achieve a balance that keeps you teetering on a knife edge between hope and despair and for that I raise my glass to Mr McDonald.

This is a world where past wars have left a grim reminder of the price of super weapons. Many years ago The Nameless (long lived, powerful sorcerers) and the Deep Kings (immortal and almost Gods would be my best description) went to war. As a result the sorcerers unleashed their super power, Nall’s Engine. Killing vast swathes of innocents and blighting a huge expanse of land (known with good reason as The Misery) in the process they succeeded in killing one of the Kings, stopping the war and holding off future attacks by the mere threat The weapon posed. The Kings are immortal though, they have patience and they haven’t really given up, they’re simply biding their time and gathering strength, waiting for weaknesses to be exposed.

The Misery is a haunted and poisonous wasteland full of dark magic, teeming with ghosts and inhabited by the strangest and deadliest critters. Spending more than a couple of days under its brooding skies is enough to give the most battle hardened a case of the violent shakes and a need for alcohol in sufficient quantities to induce otherwise unattainable sleep. But, more than that, The Misery is almost like a character in itself with its constantly changing landscape, deadly terrain and unnavigable skies it certainly is a fascinating place to read about although I wouldn’t personally want to pay it a visit. Cowardly am I.

At the start of the story we make the acquaintance of Captain Galharrow as he heads into The Misery with his team of mercenaries in search of his latest bounty. That is until he receives a mission from one of the Sorcerors. Galharrow is in service to Crowfoot and one does not ignore a sorceror’s demands, therefore he and his team find themselves crossing part of The Misery to one of the outlying forts where they will pick up a young woman and return her to the safety of the City. The woman in question turns out to be a blast from the Captain’s past and the two of them are about to be thrown together in pursuit of a conspiracy that will threaten the lives of everyone outside The Misery..

in terms of characters. The story is told through Galharrow’s POV and this is definitely one of the strong points to the book. There is much more to Galharrow than at first meets the eye. He’s an intriguing fellow. A cynical veteran who isn’t afraid to do what’s necessary to survive and yet he also displays a touching display of loyalty to his band of reprobates. He’s plagued by memories that eventually help to bring together a portrait of his difficult past and it hasn’t always been pretty and to all extents he’s a man who has given up hope of anything better. Much more than that though, he’s interesting. A conflicted character who firmly gets you on his side and during the course of the book will have you glued to the page with his exploits and smiling to yourself at his sarcastic banter. The supporting cast are also excellent, my favourite being Nenn.

The plot is fast moving and unpredictable. Every time I made a stab at second guessing the outcome or thinking where the story would go next I was pretty much, on all but one occasion, wrong. There are battles and fights and plenty of magic and the creativity on display is excellent. I’m not going to elaborate too much, the author has come up with a whole host of evil doers such as Darlings, Brides and, my personal favourite, Gillings that are creepy, nasty or plain revolting. Yes, there is bloodshed but not enough to steal the show and although the battle scenes are brutal they don’t feel too overwhelmingly so.

Finally, I felt the world building was really strong. I got a good feel for the places involved and the political hierarchy involved. I loved that this has an almost mediaeval feel but one that also feels strangely more advanced with gunfire and lighting provided by energy sourced from one of the moons. We have Spinners, who seem to be able to work with the energy drawn from the moon and use it more physically and then a lesser version known as Talents who are treated terribly and live their lives like slaves working day in and out drawing threads of power to feed the master weapon. I look forward to seeing how the world develops in further instalments, maybe travelling further afield and maybe broaching a little more on the history of the Sorcerors and Kings and why they went to war.

All told I have no criticisms to level at Blackwing, it was a thoroughly engrossing read, I could barely put it down, I loved it and I want more. I can’t recommend it enough basically. Do yourself a favour and read it.

I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

A rather great start to a grimdark series set in a hellish world, full of monsters and gods that are far from benevolent.

Blackwing, despite belonging to the fantasy genre, is usually as down to earth as possible. Magic is sparse and difficult to perform; our main character is a hardened soldier, but even he sees a swordfight with 5 people as sure death; and there are very few good people left in the quasi-postapocalyptic land. McDonald strives to achieve a gritty tone without reducing his novel to a caricature of "dark fantasy" and he succeds on almost every turn.

Valengrad is beset by Misery, a vast man-made desert where even breathin hurts and nothing is certain, neither time nor space. From beyond Misery, the Deep Kings are coming, actual immortal gods, bringing destruction and slavery with them. And it seems like Valengrad's only hope may have been futile all along, so only captain Galharrow, marked by one of the "good" gods Crowfoot, and his band of misfits have a chance to at least hold off the assault long enough for people to evacuate.

Anyone, who has read enough fantasy, will recognize some familiar tropes and enjoy how McDonald turns them on their head to make the book feel fresh and engaging. The action is almost always with small stakes, as none of our characters are capable of actually killing the gods or slaying entire hordes of the Drudge, and this careful balance of conflict presentation, where the world is ending, but our characters may still make it out, pushes the reader to embrace the suspense and actually root for the protagonists, instead of yawning and leafing through the pages, because "Of course the world won't end, there are three books after this". Here, half of the world is already gone and, while humanity will always prevail, the heroes are in very real danger, as they are not really the Chosen Ones or some form of high royalty.

The constant pressure of time and the advancing enemy keeps the pace quick and the events surprising, even when McDonald borrows some of the cooler twists from other fantasy stories. The only sour spot for me was the inclusion of the old "But are these two factions just two sides of the same coin?!", which did not need to be explained, as anybody who has read that far into the book already knows just how unlikeable every single god is in the world of 'Blackwing'

This series may just become "the next big thing", so hop on this train while you can, the ride is really worth it.

With some books, you know you are in for a heck of a ride within the first few paragraphs. Blackwing grabbed me so fast; after the first page, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put this book down.

I was right.

Magical evil children. A land that is deadlier than any foe. Spinning light from the moon. Explosions. Bloodshed. Expletives. Loss. Humour. And a God that rips himself out of the protagonist’s arm in the form of a bird whenever he feels like offering some deep and meaningful advice such as “Get her out” (N.B: our hero has no idea who she is or where he is supposed to be getting her out from!).

This book literally has it all!

Ryhalt Galharrow used to be one of the nobility, the cream, the one who can afford to buy their commission. But that is in the past. Now he is a mercenary, scrapping together a living while waiting for orders from his master, Crowfoot, one of the Nameless that is so far beyond human understanding that even Galharrow has no idea what he may do.

Galharrow is the exact type of reluctant hero that we all love. He pretends he doesn’t care: he does. He pretends he doesn’t love: he does, all too deeply. This man is built of layers and as the novel progresses, we slowly get glimpses of the man underneath, of who he could have been and who he ended up being and why. His dry-wit and lack of respect for authority makes him a highly entertaining character.

Galharrow is confronted with his past in the form of Ezabeth Tanza, a highly accomplished Spinner whose power seems to outstrip everyone else’s. She is condemned as mad when she announces their only defence against the Deep Kings is a fake and doesn’t work. Galharrow helps her – and has no idea why.

The characters are all complicated and deep and their relationships grow and develop to reflect that. Nenn hates Ezabeth but it is clear she would die for Galharrow, and he for her. Dantry proved himself, not only to Galharrow but to himself as well. Ezabeth remains a mystery for the majority of the novel, but she is a woman of power and strength of will – no wonder she captured Galharrow’s heart and never let him go.

The world created is a complicated one, with Nameless and Deep Kings waging war: both Gods, yet neither Gods. McDonald makes it work though – you figure out as you go what is going on. Despite the complexities, you’re never left feeling you don’t know where you are.

This book is not one for the squeamish, or the ones offended by swearing. It is dark and gritty, with people exploding, burning, being eaten alive or losing limbs on quite a regular basis. But it is humorous, entertaining and gripping from beginning to end.

I’ve read over forty books this year. This one may have just topped them all. Go! Go and read!

Fantasy friends, you simply must read this book. Blackwing is delivered in first person- Galharrow, of course. That means a front seat spectacle through the eyes and heart of larger than life character full of spirit and hurt and pent up anger. He has more booze than blood in his veins but fight and life has not left him.

Blackwing also has the perfect balance in between character depth and action. There is tons of action in this book. Tons of it and it’s all easy to follow no matter how mind bending at times. And not a single infodump with all those pie covered fingers! Everything is delivered and revealed at just the right time, in the right setting.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, one of my favorites of 2017, a do-not-miss-this kind of book, the ‘I underlined about 6294635385 sentences‘ kind of book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This started out really strong for me & I thought it was going to be a solid 4-5 star read. It was gritty, dark and very different to other fantasy books I've read and I was loving it. But then I was starting to get confused about Nall's Engine and it was lessening my enjoyment of the book.
I would have liked more from Nenn and Tnota - they were probably my favourite characters in the book, so when their appearances became less and less I was losing interest slightly.
I did enjoy the horror and sci-fi aspects of this though. The creepy creatures that appear and the way Ed McDonald described Misery made this world really interesting and different to others I've read about, and I'd really like to see how Misery would be portrayed in a movie or TV show.

Overall, I did enjoy this because it was unique, had an interesting magic system and was chock full of action and gore, but I did lose interest towards the end and wanted more scenes with the side characters.

As an avid fantasy reader, I can't wait to grab a new authors work and see where it takes me whether its a world of extraordinary other humanoids, top notch magic hurling or just plain heroism and there are times when all of them blend together to make something truly spectacular.

Here in this book by Ed, the reader is treated to a principle character who is brusk, cynical against life and of course also drawn by duty to help defend the last bastion of his people. Its well written, has some cracking prose and all round delivered a story that also brought into it elements of danger, political double dealing alongside a desperate stand against those who would see them defeated.

Its real edge of the seat stuff and when added to the possibility of future outings the reader is surely in for one hell of a ride. A cracking debut.