Really enjoyed reading this Tolkienesque tale about love, honour and war.
The characters had a lot of depth and the story was just the right amount of adventurous to be a cozy read.
I really like reading books written by multiple authors. This was not an exception here as well. The picturesque writing, detailed character sketches and the constant pace of the narrative kept this story interesting for me. I would love to read more by these authors.

I really loved this book! The fantasy world was very well written and the plot was well thought out. And the romance was so good!

From the first page I knew that I was going to enjoy this book. It’s a very rich fantasy world, with a lot of very interesting and loveable characters.

There’s found family and a wholesome slow burn romance; Alternating povs kept this fast paced and entertaining throughout.

I have to point out that I love when I’m reading a new fantasy world and it’s just queer…there’s no need to talk about it being a ‘thing’; It’s not political or debated in anyway at all, it just exists. More of this in 2025 please!

I did find that towards the latter half, the flow of the story became a little bit choppy. However, I was reeled back in by the the incredible imagery of battle and an ending that had me kicking my feet!

I absolutely will be continuing on with this trilogy, and can’t wait for the next instalment to be released!

I could not put this story down. I stayed up so late to be able to finish it. It was an incredible story of love, loss, and growth!

A pretty standard romantasy book following a princess and her guard. The writing style of Courtney and Clarke was decent and easy to follow, however there were aspects of the character development and character types that I struggled to logically understand in the circumstances.

Oh, this was really good. Fellow fantasy lovers will love this!
What to expect:
• elves, goblins, humans, & the corrupted
• high stakes / good vs. evil
• charming, noble knights
• strong & fierce fmc
• funny, lovable, & diverse group of main & side characters (disability & LGBTQIA+ rep)
• a sweet romance aspect that will leave you wanting more
I can't wait to see where book 2 takes us!

I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did. I felt it wasn’t giving the Lord of the Rings vibes everyone was saying but I was getting D&D feelings from it. I think it just fell a bit flat for me and think it’s more of a fine tuning thing. I didn’t feel like I was really connecting with the character and I found Olaf’s dialogue quite frustrating, this could be though that I felt they were trying to put a Scottish twang to some words with some phrases used and they weren’t written how they would be said. There’s nothing really wrong in particular with the book just think for me personally it just missed the mark.

Probably one of the easiest 5 star reads I’ve come across in a while. It was such an immersive tale, with loveable characters and a great, enchanting plot. It was so beautifully written, with each characters’ arc developing naturally as the story unfolded. 💛

In the Name of Honor is a very traditional fantasy novel with all of your typical roles; the knight, the princess, the guard, the royals and the great evil.

Had the opportunity to read the Arc of this book and I loved the experience. Such a good book!! I will definitely be reading the next books.

Grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC. I can safely say I enjoyed it. It was quite a traditional fantasy novel- with Kaleela’s FMC character a delight to read. Although, I’ll caveat that this fantasy’s book plot wasn’t anything different to the regular fantasy books that I’ve read. Perhaps I’ve just read too many recently though.

Thanks to NetGalley & Shadow Spark Publishing for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest opinion.

1 star feels too harsh so I bumped it up to two for the premise and initial description of this book but I was incredibly disappointed with the execution - it just felt very....bland, I couldn’t bring myself to care about any of the characters or the overarching story. It had all the makings of a terrific fantasy series but I feel that this book is a mishmash of ingredients from previous epic fantasy's that have come before it (LOTR, ASoIaF, Wheel of Time etc). I struggled through this book which in all honesty I should have DNF'd.
This was all tell and no show, the main characters were flat and actually a bit lifeless. Olaf was supposed to be 25 but spoke down to the main MC as though he were 50 something. The main MC had no personality, he had a lot of honour though as we kept being told, and the main FC was haughty and innocent at the same time. There were too many descriptions of throne rooms and suits of armour and not any actual story development.

I always enjoy the POV style layout of fantasy books but this one felt strenuous with certain characters, we were not left guessing about the ‘bad guys’ motives either as we had a front row seat to that through a characters POV which I’m guessing this was supposed to build tension but the writing style let it down.

Also the names felt wholly ridiculous to me (and that’s hilarious coming from someone who reads a lot of fantasy) Dimitar???

All in all, not terrible but it feels done so many times before and could do with a better writing style.

I feel absolutely terrible, but after much consideration I DNFed this book at @49%

In The Name of Honor is a very ambitious fantasy book that draws clear inspiration from some of my epic fantasy favourites. The prelude was very promising and it sounded right up my alley. This debut novel had so much potential and it’s obvious that the authors worked really hard on it. It seems to check all the right boxes for epic fantasy, but ultimately, it fell flat for me.

The plot is definitely interesting but in the end everything seemed to be straight out from an epic fantasy novel checklist while missing something special or different to make it stand out: The world and plot was no different from any other epic fantasy book and the characters, ultimately, felt flat, almost one dimensional, like caricatures of what they should be like. It felt like there was a lot of telling instead of showing. There’s a lot of “Character X felt this" but no actual display of emotions or actions. The dialogue felt scripted in a lot of instances and the situations usually predictable, leaving very little for the reader to work out for themselves.

Sadly, this book really didn’t work for me. But if you’d like a typical epic fantasy with lower stakes, or a comfort read, maybe it’s worth to pick this one up.

I was very excited about this book, but something as simple as not being able to send it to my Kindle really ruined the experience for me. I will be picking the book up in the future, and look forward to being able to read it then.

The book description certainly draws you in, but the book itself isn’t what I was expecting. I feel there was a lot missing from the book in a lot of parts and in others there was way too much.
The characters felt flat, not relatable at all. I don’t know… their interactions did not feel natural. There was so much background missing… at times what they were doing just didn’t fit with the rest of the story or it felt too expected.
I really wish I had enjoyed this more but sadly I skipped through a lot simply because it wasn’t getting to the point.

When King Kahled is captured after trying to save his friend and fellow king Conrad from corruptors, the evil forces of the world, his daughter and the knights tasked with protecting her in his absence set out to save him instead. Along the way they encounter an eternally cloaked mute thief, goblins, elves, and dragons in their quest to save their king. Dimitar, one of Kahleds knights must also grapple with his growing feelings for Kaleela, princess and daughter of Kahled, who is at the same time processing meeting her elven maternal family for the first time.

This was cute. I don’t know if I’d necessarily equate it to the lord of the rings but it’s definitely inspired by it, if in nothing but the orcs. In my opinion, the stakes didn’t seem high enough. No harm actually felt permanent. Not that I want any of the companions to die, but someone should have to make an impact.

Thank you to the Authors and Netgalley for the ARC! Sorry I'm a bit late on the review...

This book was a lil bit Lord of the Rings, a lil bit DnD with it's own unique spin and a lot of heart. This story was masterfully crafted, pieces falling together from the beginning to create a supremely satisfying ending. The last half was nearly impossible to put down, the battles an fight scenes made my heart race, and the romance was so sweet!

I loved reading this. It was a very classic feeling fantasy quest style story and there were many times I felt myself drawing parallels between DnD and stories I grew up with like Lord of the Rings. In terms of writing style, the Collins' have very direct way of phrasing things and there were times that I wish I was shown more than told, but it was never to the point where I thought it took away from the story.

In terms of characters, I felt they were all fairly likeable if a bit predictable. They fill classic fantasy archetypes which, while unsurprising, add to the feel that this is a classic fantasy novel. Of all of the characters we meet, I loved Ral the most and enjoyed watching Willem grow more comfortable around the group. I also appreciated the natural way different sexualities and people with disabilities were portrayed and fit into the world.

Finally, I LOVED that, while this is a series, this book felt like it had a definite ending and didn't leave us on a massive cliffhanger. The main conflict of the book was resolved, but the promise of greater, related threats, still loomed on the horizon to line up a sequel while giving us closure. I can't begin to describe how more I love this about the ending of this book.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley.

"In the Name of Honor" by Courtney & Clarke Collins is a traditional fantasy novel. Introducing readers to a world filled with familiar archetypes: a strong female protagonist, a valiant knight, and a touch of comic relief. The narrative follows Princess Kaleela and her loyal guardsman, Dimitar, as they embark on a character building journey to rescue her father from malevolent forces known as the Corrupted.

While the story offers a comforting familiarity reminiscent of classic fantasy tales, it occasionally treads too closely to well-worn tropes, leading to moments that feel derivative. For instance, certain scenes echo iconic moments from established works, which might diminish their impact for seasoned fantasy readers.

The writing style leans towards a younger audience, often telling rather than showing, which can hinder deeper immersion into the world and its characters. However, the book shines in its inclusive world-building, presenting a diverse cast that reflects various gender identities and backgrounds, adding a refreshing layer to the genre.

In summary, "In the Name of Honor" is a commendable debut that, despite its reliance on familiar fantasy elements, offers an inclusive and heartfelt adventure. It's a suitable read for those seeking a light, traditional fantasy journey, though it may not fully satisfy readers looking for innovative storytelling.

I enjoyed the idea of this book and the beginning of it certainly pulled me in.
Pretty quickly though, it felt like two different voices were writing it (it looks like two authors are listed, and it definitely felt like I could tell the difference). The writing and dialogue would kind of switch back and forth from more high fantasy/proper and casual/modern writing.
I also wish there was more detail on basically everything. We got a lot of “this is how it is” instead of getting much of any backstory or reasons why. More detail and depth honestly may have made up for the writing style switching.
I did DNF around 65% after trying my best to finish before the archive date. The writing and storyline were just a little too back and forth and predictable for my personal preference!

Absolutely devoured this book! As a fan of high fantasy, Tolkien-esque books, this one did that genre so well! I really enjoyed the plot, world building, and characters in this novel. The found family aspect and sprinkles of romance also were perfectly placed throughout. I definitely recommend this book!