I won’t be naming characters in this review because the mere mention of a character past the first book in Gwynne’s series could be considered a spoiler. A Time of Courage was a very well balanced book and a maelstrom of tactical planning, dark magic, heroism, large scale battles, close quarter combat, emotions and nostalgia. And character-driven readers, rest assured that the relentless pace and the multitude of battles and duels in this book (and in the series as a whole) didn’t prevent Gwynne from writing realistic, genuine characters to root for (or to loathe, there were plenty of those too, and Gwynne wrote them as intricately as he wrote his heroes). Plot-driven kind of readers, have no fear, plot and action weren’t sacrificed for the sake of characterization.
And if we can be called friend, then we are lucky indeed. It’s what we do while we are here that counts. We are born, and we live, and then we die. evil is only a context and a means to tell a very humane, universal and timeless story. For that, I believe that this series as a whole is essentially a story of friendship and resilience. Gwynne pitted formidable foes against a bunch of warriors whose strength doesn’t only depend on their physical and tactical prowess, but most importantly on their bonds, their loyalty, their unflappable beliefs and the extraordinary animals they befriend. If you are not familiar with this series, you should know that the central theme is the eternal battle between light and darkness, between good and evil. There will be blood, and there will be heartbreak, and there will be glory. John Gwynne truly outdid himself in this outstanding finale.īrace yourselves, friends and arm yourselves with courage before embarking on this final ride. Could this book really be on the same level as Wrath, the masterpiece that was the conclusion of the previous quartet? Will I love it as much? Would I feel as much joy, and sorrow and satisfaction? Will I stare at the book, blinking away tears and trying to calm my frantic heart as a beloved character met their end? Will my eyes fly through the pages, during a tension-filled battle or duel, to seek the outcome and make sure my heroes survived? The answers were yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. I have to admit that I went into this final book with a lot of trepidation, in addition to the positive excitement and anticipation.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and the quotes included may have changed in the released copy.Ī Time of Courage is the glorious and bittersweet conclusion of 140 hundred years (or I should probably say 2000 years) worth of bloody history in the Banished Lands! Published: 2nd April 2020 by Pan Macmillan (UK) & 7th April 2020 by Orbit (US)ĪRC provided by the publisher, Pan Macmillan, in exchange for an honest opinion.
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