I received a digital pcopy of this book from NetGalley and would like to thank them and the publisher, Orbit Books for granting me a copy.
This medieval epic fantasy is the first work by Anthony Ryan I have read. Told exclusively in first person from the point of view of Alwyn Scribe, a member of Deckin Scarl’s crew of outlaws who make their home in the forest of Albermaine, the world in which this story is set.
Alwyn is telling the story from a time long after it happened.
There is vividly depicted world-building in the descriptions of the forest, Pit Mine and the deadly battlefields and I found myself rereading the beautiful prose used to describe them.
There are also great characters to be found among the band of outlaws. The character of Alwyn undergoes a huge amount of development as he learns to write and transforms into Alwyn Scribe and his role changes enormously by the end of the book.
The pace of this novel is fast and action packed, making it difficult to put down. The action scenes are obviously one of Ryan’s strengths and are expertly choreographed.
The fights and battles are brutal and gory and not for faint-hearted readers.

I received an ARC for in June. It took me an extremely long time to read and I ended up buying it on audio as a deal and finishing it that way. My biggest problem with it is that you absolutely should NOT read the summary of the book. Everything that is mentioned in the summary doesn't happen until 45% through the book and it just crushes momentum. I've seen other reviews say the same thing, so it's definitely not just me that was affected by this. It felt like the entire first 20% felt like it could have been reduced to a prologue or just been done through exposition.

I kept waiting for the actual story to begin. Even after the 45% mark, I never felt like the MC takes an active role in his own story. It's just things that happen to him. The battle/fight scenes were well done, but mostly this book just failed to make any impact on me. I'm reading Bloodsong next month and I'm pretty hopeful that it will be better! 5/10

This was highly enjoyable! I loved the character of Alwyn. Right from the beginning, he captivated me with his clever first-person narration. I love reading about characters who are morally gray or have criminal backgrounds, and while Alwyn had this, he also added another layer. He was fundamentally a good person, but he had to make questionable decisions for his survival. We see him struggle with this, and we see him have a hard time letting go of his personal vengeance for the sake of others.

I was also really impressed with the world that Ryan created, complete with its own fascinating histories, peoples, and religions. I always love when an author spends time developing these elements.

This was my first Ryan, and after the great time I had with this book, I can't wait to read the next one when it comes out! He has a new fan in me!

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

This was the first book by Anthony Ryan that I tried to read. I had two of his other series on my TBR list but figured that authors get better the more they write. This being his newest book I thought it would be really good, given the super intriguing synopsis and that he is such a highly rated author. However, I did not enjoy this book and set it down and picked it back up so many times that I eventually stopped ready about 75% of the way through. I normally don't review books that I DNF'd but seeing that I almost finished it and just could not connect with any of the characters the whole time. The chapters felt very long and it almost felt like two books smashed into one because it was like the main arc was wrapped up about halfway through. The beginning was fairly fast paced and engaging but given that it was a fantasy, I was very surprised that it was told in first person and perhaps that's why it felt like such a slog. I much prefer third person POV in the genre because it makes the world-building so much better in my opinion. I can better visualize things and while reading this (or attempting to read it) and it was very hard for me to actually delve into this world. Overally, I was very disappointed. While the writing was fairly well done, I personally just couldn't bring myself to finish something that I wasn't going to enjoy fully.

I have to say that I have had pretty good luck with Anthony Ryan. I loved Blood Song, then the second book in that series was pretty good. Then I read a ton of reviews telling me to stop at book two, so I did. So, my luck with Mr. Ryan is good.

I will say that The Pariah got off to a slow start for me. There was a lot of information thrown out in the beginning, before the reader has a chance to really understand what is going on. The fact that this entire book is told by one POV, from Alwin Scribe, eventually becomes the thing that settles the book down. This is a book in the fantasy genre, yet there is not a lot of magic that comes through in the beginning. There eventually is a bit of something...supernatural, but it is not the focus of the story...at least not yet.

This story takes us on the journey with a young man - a thief and an outlaw - who doesn't really seem to be anything special. Yet, somehow, as the tale of his life unfolds, we find that he tends to be around quite a bit of important events and important people. THEN, we get hints of something else....that he might be even more important than we know.

So, with no spoilers, I will say that once this story hooked me, it never let go. It is written in a sort of diary entry format. The writer even mentions "dear reader" several times so it is clear that he is writing to give his tale. That helps us -as readers - to follow along on his journey and to also understand that this is HIS point of view, and to take it only as such.

This is also apparently the first book in a trilogy. I honestly have NO earthly idea where this story is going. We have been given certain bread crumbs that let us know that Alwin's journey is going to be long and it's going to be bloody. Even given that, I can't wait to find out what comes next.

That is truly the best reaction to a book, isn't it?

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Anthony Ryan proves again, why he is beloved author. This is a great read from start to finish! AS you read you are immersed in a world of deceit, twist and turns.

Alwyn, is a great character, who is written with depth and detail. The story is medium pace but has some very exciting action.

I CANT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!

Anthony Ryan is one of those authors whose books I almost hate reading because they are so good it’s hard to parse out all the ways they are amazing. I’ve read almost all his books now, and I will say, The Pariah is probably my favorite one he’s written. So, keep that in mind as you read this review. Anthony Ryan is an incredible author, and in this book he takes everything that makes him so amazing and magnifies it.

Honestly, I’ve been a bit burnt out on epic fantasy and grimdark in my free time reading, not because I don’t like the genre, rather because I have been editing a lot of epic fantasy for my day job and it makes reading it feel like work. For that reason, I put off reading Ryan’s newest book for a while. Eventually, however, I saw enough people foaming at the mouth about how wonderful it is, I realized I needed to just read it and see how great it is for myself.

Reader, it’s amazing.

Ryan has a way with writing that captivates me. He’s known for strong worldbuilding and captivatingly created characters, and in both of these respects, I feel like he’s taken his strong points, and really leaned into them. The world was brilliantly created, with every detail perfectly captured and his characters were so real, they breathed on and off the page. These two elements worked together to make The Pariah not just a book that was interesting, but a book that made me feel like I wasn’t reading the story but living it.

If good fantasy is supposed to transport the reader, that’s exactly what this book did. I lived this story while I was reading it. The real world fell away, and I was transported to somewhere else, a dark reality fraught with mystery and drama, personal stories that were woven through a tapestry that felt both familiar and strange.

Alwyn was a character with a powerful voice and a unique perspective. A man with a dark past, and darker experiences, he’s both an outsider and… not. Valuable skills keep him connected to others, and yet he always seems to be hovering on the fringes, not quite accepted, which gives the reader a unique perspective into events. Alwyn always seemed to be gathering more depth and nuance as well, to the point where he was both unpredictable and dazzling, surprising me with, if not his actions, his clarity. It’s rare I see a character in a book that is this fully realized, this cunningly developed, with a voice that is this remarkably memorable.

The plot is masterful as well, twists and turns, hidden elements around each corner. I quickly learned to try not to predict where things were going, because I was always wrong. Where I’d think the plot would go right, Ryan wouldn’t even go left, but rather he’d do something just completely and absolutely unpredictable. I fell in love with the dark notes woven throughout, the intense atmosphere and succulent tension so thick I could taste it. the best way to approach The Pariah is to sit back, and just read the story. Don’t think about it, just read. I tend to read and edit so many books these days, it’s really hard for me to find one I can’t predict, and yet here was one. Almost from cover to cover, I found myself surprised, and I savored that.

The Pariah has a lot of your standard grimdark offerings, gods, churches, power plays, secrets, and Alwyn woven throughout all of it. I am a huge fan of first-person narratives. I love how deeply entrenched they allow the reader to get in the character’s perspective, and that was a big benefit here, making this grimdark story and world really shine. I love grimdark. I even write grimdark. I love the gray morality, and the characters who are often bogged down by pasts that are as dark as the story I’m reading about. Ryan unflinchingly leans into this. Yet the book itself never really felt like something I’ve read before, which I was concerned about when starting it. Through a crafty weaving of Alwyn’s voice, perspective, and the plot itself, The Pariah felt continually new, like he was exploring undiscovered grimdark territory and that newness was something I truly enjoyed.

The ending was great. It had me on the edge of my seat, and answered enough questions to satisfy me, but left doors open for future installments in the series. Honestly, reader, I’m almost mad at Ryan for not having book two ready right away. I mean, the sheer audacity of making me wait. (/sarcasm font)

As you can see, I loved this book. The Pariah hit all my buttons. Fantastic writing, an amazing world, a plot that won’t quit, and an unforgettable character, The Pariah starts out a new fantasy series that is sure to become one of his best, foraging new ground and, at the same time, reminding readers why Anthony Ryan is one of the best epic fantasy authors out there. His skill is unmatched.

The writing was fine enough, I just personally have a hard time connecting to first person POV with a male main character.

I appreciated having Toria and Evadine as female counterparts to the men. However this just wasn’t a fantasy that I typically enjoy.

There’s a way the prose is written where the main character often refers to the reader in real time and that was cool and interesting and made it feel like the main character was narrating and retelling his story to me in real time.

I kind of wish we got to see more of Deckin and the outlaws as actual outlaws but unfortunately we moved on from that group relatively quickly.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

I’ve heard such incredible things about Anthony Ryan’s books that he’s been high on my TBR for ages. Based on other reviews and blurbs from authors (I’ll read anything John Gwynne tells me to read), I really expected this book to grab me by the collar and drag me straight into this incredible and action packed revenge plot. I think going in with that expectation was really detrimental to my overall enjoyment of the story.

Alwyn is a really compelling character and I really enjoyed getting to see his story from the very beginning. He changed so immensely over the course of the book, but I still loved his character every step of the way. Alwyn was constantly put in situations that tested his resolve. Watching the plot slowly unfold as he became just a bit more jaded with each chapter really kept me interested.

I’ve seen other reviewers mention that Anthony Ryan tells his stories through a series of small stories each with their own individual climax, leading to one large payoff at the end. This made so much sense to me when I rad it as there would be these incredible spurts of action, promptly followed by chapters of plot that seemed a bit aimless.

Overall I feel like this read as more of a prequel than anything, and I look forward to seeing how Alwyn’s story continues to progress.

Thank you Orbit Books and Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

This is the first book in The Covenant of Steel series. I had only read one book by this author before and so I was not sure what I was going to get. I really liked it. I have to say I am a fan of Anthony Ryan’s writing style and I foresee myself reading many more of his books in the future.

I have to say that I think that this book has the best opening ever:

“Before killing a man, I always found it calming to regard the trees. Lying on my back in the long grass fringing the King’s Road and gazing at the green and brown matrix above, branches creaking and leaves whispering in the last morning breeze, brought a welcome serenity.”

This book starts off really slow. Is it worth it...Yes… however, if you go into this book looking for an action-packed hugely magical fantasy novel you will be disappointed. This book is a slow-burn medieval-style story that has a focus on religion. To be honest, this book feels more like a historical novel, but that might be due to the fact that this story is written as if you reading someone’s journal. To the point that he actually states “dear reader” a few times. This story is told from the sole perspective of Alwyn Scribe. Alwyn was taken in by a band of outlaws when he was young and they have trained him to be an assassin. Alwyn finds religion and dives in deep. It was interesting watching him combine where his life is at the time and his religious beliefs.

After the ending of this first installment, I can not wait for the next book to come out. If you enjoy character-driven stories then this one is definitely for you.

Review: 4 StarsI’ve had some of Anthony Ryan’s books on my TBR for ages, so when I saw that he was coming out with a new series I requested an ARC. I didn’t really know what to expect with this book and decided to go in pretty bling and right away I knew I was going to love the book. Anthony Ryan’s writing captured me right away and I quickly found myself sinking into this story. The Pariah is a character driven fantasy novel that is full of adventure.I really loved the writing style. The Pariah is told in first person from Alwyn’s point of view as if Alwyn is telling us the story of what happened. A lot of my favorite stories are told in this manner and I always enjoy this style. I really loved Alwyn as a main character. Despite being an outlaw and doing some immoral things at times, he really is a great guy. Alwyn is loyal to his friends and is pretty honorable in comparison to many around him. He is also pretty clever and always scheming and planning. The story takes many twists and turns though, so despite all of Alwyn’s careful planning he often has to just go with the flow.While this is definitely a character driven book there is still plenty of action. So much happens throughout the course of this book that I couldn’t even begin to summarize it all. But at times I did feel like the pacing was slow or inconsistent. I also felt like the plot kind of fell to the backseat. It was more like we followed Alwyn on his journeys and adventures rather than following a clear plot, but since the writing was so good I didn’t really mind that it felt like the book didn’t have a ton of direction.I also have to mention that I really loved the found family vibes I got with the group of main characters. Many characters come and go throughout the novel, but I became really attached to Evadine, Toria and Brewer. All of the characters grew tremendously throughout the story and I am really invested in their stories. I loved Alwyn’s entire character arc, we watch him grow from a boy into a man. In the beginning he idolizes Decklin, but by the end he is his own man making decisions based on what he thinks is right and he is no longer trying to impress anyone.I really enjoyed The Pariah and am so glad I finally got a taste of Anthony Ryan’s writing. I do wish that the plot was done a bit better and that the pacing was a little more consistent, but overall it’s hard to find reasons to complain. There were so many parts of The Pariah that blew me away. I can’t wait to continue the series.

Anthony Ryan trust a different type of story one about treachery, redemption, all told from a first person point of view. Ryan's masterful story telling showed through however if I had a gripe it would be that his usual character development wasn't as noticable but he set it up for a book two so there is still room for improvement. Overall I liked it and would recommend to any fans of Ryan's.

I'm a little on the fence about this one. I felt that the plot is something that grabbed my attention but felt like the characters weren't fully developed and a bit out of sync. I was struggling to finish this one as some points of it were good and others were just so boring. Not sure if this was part of the plan for the series or not but I sure hope the next one picks up the pace a bit and fixes some of the issues that this one had.

“I am a pariah to be shunned by churl and noble alike. this land and his people have no use for me safe to earn an ugly death and and an unmarked grave fighting their wars”

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan is the first book in the Covenant of Steel series. Having been left in the woods as a child(he is the bastard child of a Duke), Alwyn Scribe is saved by Deckin and Lorraine, leaders of a band of outlaws. Alwyn has grown up to become an outlaw and lives together with his fellow thieves in the safety of the forrest in the Albermaine kingdom. However, an act of betrayal sets Alwyn’s sights towards getting justice for those close to him that were killed. In turn, his path alters from being an outlaw to a soldier under the leadership of Lady Evadine who is a noblewoman plagued by visions.

The Pariah is the first book I’ve read by Anthony Ryan and it definitely won’t be the last. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what comes next for Alwyn Scribe. Anthony Ryan’s writing is so detailed that you can picture everything happening in front of your eyes. What really grabbed me in particular were the speeches before battle which could make the hair at the back of your neck stand up. Ryan does superbly in creating a tense atmosphere before and during battle.

“Scum, villains,” she went on. “The wretched dregs of the realm. That is what your comrades think of you. I will not ask if you agree, for I know they are wrong. I know that I would rather stand here with you than alongside the finest knight in all the Covenanted kingdoms of the earth. For I look upon true hearts and true souls. I look upon the true blades of the Covenant”

In terms of the characters, I really like the character of Alwyn Scribe as he was complex, intelligent, and most importantly genuine. He’s just trying to survive the shit life throws at him. The story is told from his POV alone so you really get first insight into what is going through his mind. Especially when it comes to his quest for vengeance on the individuals who killed and betrayed his fellow thieves. Alwyn is an incredibly complex character who I enjoyed learning about. His growth and character development again is very natural and genuine. Alwyn also isn’t a saint and definitely strays over the “erm I don’t think you should’ve done that” line. There are also many great side characters such as Evadine, The Sack Witch, Caerith,Toria, Wilhelm, Deckin, Lorraine, and many more who add to Alwyn’s journey.

When considering the narrative style, The Pariah is incredibly dark and gritty. The life of an outlaw and soldier are not pretty and Anthony Ryan definitely doesn’t sugarcoat that aspect. The depiction of the battles are especially epic and raw. I was genuinely on the edge before the battle scenes and during them.

As a narrator Alwyn was very engaging and the details of what he saw and how he felt were great. I do wish though that we could’ve seen things from the POV of others such as Toria and Evadine. If would’ve been great getting to know what was going on in their minds at key moments. I do hope that we get to see from the POV of others in the next book.

In terms of the world building it’s bloody, dark, and definitely gave me a medieval vibe. Different regions and dukes are competing to see who can reign over whom. Peasants are treated like shit with no regard for their wellbeing. So yeah not everything is sunshine and smiles in the world of the Covenant of Steel. Many of the elements throughout the story include religious elements, political elements, and treasures that were assumed to be myths. The story is partially heavy on the religious elements which in turn goes hand in hand with the political elements. One character in particular draws Alwyn into learning about the religion of focus in the story.

Overall, this was an epic and dark fantasy novel that I really enjoyed. I was pretty nervous about how I’d find it reading an Anthony Ryan novel for the first time but I was pleasantly surprised at how great it was. Alwyn is a really great character but I would like to see from the POV of others! But I’m really excited to see what the second book brings 😊

This is the second book by Anthony Ryan that I've read, the first being Bloodsong. I enjoyed Bloodsong though it took me some time to get through. But I devoured this book so fast. This book is basically a morally gray, self-focused Robin Hood, if I had to describe it.

Alwyn is a delightfully complex character, an outlaw whom the reader can sympathize with and root for. His character development feels really natural, despite the time-jumps here & there.

The minor characters all played an important part, whether it was helping the plot along, being a foil for Alwyn, or simply fleshing out the book more. They were all unique and memorable in their own way, and considering the length of this book, that's a big feat.

Looking forward to the next book!

2.5 stars.
Netgalley ARC provided by Orbit books.

I FINALLY finished this book. I was very much on track to finish it by the release date when I picked it up, but unfortunately, this story just dragged horribly for me and I often found myself bored. I continued reading because this book very much tackles religion through a critical lens from many different angles (which I love in books) and there is a character that is very reminiscent of Joan of Arc (who I have always had a very strong interest in). However, everything else in this book didn't work for me. I didn't find the friendships or character relations to be believable- those who are supposed to be love interests/best friends of our main character in particular. I also struggled to follow the logic of our main character's motivations...I wasn't quite sure why he was making the choices he was making and that left me feeling unmoored for most of the story. There is a side character named Toria who I would much rather had followed rather than our main character to be honest.

I will say the battles were wonderfully written, and the detail is incredible, but I didn't care about the stakes, and thus I didn't care about the end results of said wonderfully written battles.

Overall, I'm very disappointed because I expected to love this, but I do think it would hit the right notes for some people. I am very much a character based reader, but if you aren't, the gritty military aspect and dark themes that many people look for in grimdark stories are absolutely there, and the analysis of religion and society is well done. If you like those themes, I think this may work for you.

Ok so this is my first time reading from Anthony Ryan and I’d heard so many good things about his Raven’s Shadow series, I’m not going to lie my expectations were high for this one. Especially with it being his latest work.
Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy this, just. not as much as I was hoping to!
I think the thing that didn’t really work for me was the main character Alwyn. As the story is told from his perspective alone. I thought he just lacked the depth that I’m looking for in a main character. He didn’t really react to things with much emotion. Although he was betrayed a lot he didn’t really seem to care as much as I thought he should. This could also just be a character trait that maybe just wasn’t for me. The other characters however were really interesting and I would have loved to learn more about them. I think this might have been better for me as a multiple POV book.
Although I enjoyed the world building I feel like there was more mention of magic then there was displays of it. Every now and again I had to remind myself it was a fantasy book and not historical fiction!
I liked the political side to the story and it definitely intrigues me to find out where it will go in the next book.
Also a possible reread now i know more what to expect, I might enjoy it more.
I really like Ryan’s prose and I can definitely see potential for me enjoying some of his other works too.
I gave this one a 3.5 ⭐️. Rounded down to a 3.

A legitimate epic. A character driven story with an impressive lack of love story... honestly, thank you for that.
My only criticism is how many times characters show up later, just convenience or not its a little too easy. Although after the Witch gives Alywn the book, maybe that makes total sense? No, I'm not explaining that, read the book.

This book took me awhile to get into which is odd because the first chapter grabbed me & then somewhere along the way I was not quite following & had to stop, then reread a bit of it. Always was a character that is definitely developing during the first book in the series. I was a little frustrated with his naivete but understood it. Always was essentially raised in a non conventional way by a leader of a feared outlaw group. They are men & women who fear but love the leader. The young Alwyn blindly loves this person because he saves him from living alone in the forest. Older Alwyn now feeling the sting of betrayal from someone else within the outlaw tribe tries to avenge him. This blindness to whom this father figure was in his life really paralyzes him from growing in some ways. Looking forward to seeing him to continue to grow & find the balance between ruthless & grace.

After seeing the cover, I was excited to give this book a read, and I wasn't disappointed.

I loved this little foray into the grimy, darker part of fantasy! A big fan of Scribe and his journey through the book, but I'm probably biased. I'm fond of character who aren't exactly always wholesome. I love betrayal, too, and the vengeance that sometimes follows. I'm also a big fan of Lady Evadine!

Anyone looking for an action sort of fantasy with more "shady" style characters and a whirlwind adventure, this one is a good read.