
Release date: September 27 2025
Publisher: Indie
Pages: 574
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Source: The author kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Synopsis
Divine remnants are hoarded, stolen, and killed for.
These items grant powerful magics to those with the strength to wield them.
The war of the gods has passed, leaving Midgard without direction, but vengeance and the battle for control has just begun.
A berserker of the Raven must protect her magical items from those bent on stealing them while a Wolf warrior renounces her clan to pursue the impossible—harnessing the magics of the Dragon. A thief of the Wolf is led astray and will never regain what is taken from him. They protect their own, claim what they can, and rise to power in waves of glory.
But when a mysterious new clan emerges seeking to conquer all, the Ravens and Wolves must safeguard their divine remains or destroy each other.
The resulting war will determine the fate of each clan as they succumb to the hunger of the Dragon and the forbidden runes.
Review
R. M. Schultz is back with a new Norse-inspired fantasy, and I could not put it down.
The story follows rival clans as they attempt to control the remnants of their dead gods. Each seeks glory, but will they be strong enough to claim the power they desire? When a mysterious new clan appears, the Ravens and the Wolves must protect their divine remnants or risk losing everything.
This is my fourth book from R. M. Schultz, and I think it’s my favourite yet. This is an incredibly compelling grimdark tale, and it felt much darker than The Forged and the Fallen series. I absolutely loved the Norse-inspired world, and the level of detail in the worldbuilding was superb. I thought it felt so unique and intricate – very different to other Norse mythology books I’ve read in the past. The magic is really interesting, and I liked seeing the different types of magic the clans could wield. The magic system felt well-developed, and I am looking forward to seeing more of it in book two.
Schultz writes really gripping and compelling battle scenes, and that was especially true in this book. There is plenty of action and more than a few moments that had me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well-crafted, and though I liked all the protagonists, I found Märren’s storyline to be particularly compelling. Overall, this was a brilliant book that I found hard to put down, and if you’re a fan of books like John Gwynne’s Bloodsworn Saga, this is one you definitely don’t want to miss. I cannot wait to see where Schultz takes the story in book two!


Selitha is the last of the Valkyr. She was once known as Star Hammer, the legendary warrior, but now she is content with her quiet life with her husband and children. Until one day a group comes to her home and begs for her help – their children have been stolen and their village torn apart. Selitha has no choice but to help them. As she embarks on her deadly quest to save the children, she discovers the Terrors that she thought long gone might not be quite as vanquished as she thinks.
The Whisper of Stars is a beautifully written fantasy tale that follows three prisoners who are sent to live on Solovetsky Island. Katya is attempting to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death and the secret message she left her about Stenka Razin’s rebellion. Dima is an aristocrat hoping to do something meaningful to help the Russians’ revolt against the tyranny they face, and Natasha is a spy sent to get close to Katya, but she has her own reasons for wanting to get close to Katya. Can the three work together to solve the mysteries surrounding Razin’s rebellion and the history of Solovetsky Island?


Virelai’s Hoard is a fun and entertaining swashbuckling fantasy tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story follows con artist Riley and her rat companion as she tricks her way on board the infamous pirate ship, the Moonshadow. Captained by the mysterious Calla Nymeris, the crew is on their way to find a treasure that should not exist. Their quest is fraught with danger, and not everyone is going to make it back alive.
The Second Death of Locke is a beautiful and addictive fantasy book that I could not put down. The story follows Grey Flynn – Grey is a Hand who acts as a well for her mage, Kier. Without her, Kier can’t do magic, and the two are inseparable. When Kier and Grey are sent on a mission to escort the lost heir of Locke to safety, the team knows this mission is going to be fraught with danger, because not only must they keep this mysterious heir alive, they also have to protect their deepest secret – that Grey is actually the lost heir of Locke.
Michael S. Jackson is back with the next installment in the Ringlander series and if you’re looking for an engaging, coming of age fantasy adventure, this is a series you absolutely need to add to your TBR.
Ascension is the newest release from A Dowry in Blood author S. T. Gibson and the second book in Gibson’s Summoner’s Circle series. Picking up after the events of Evocation, we follow Rhys as he tries to come to grips with his new role as High Priest. Things don’t go quite to plan, and Rhys finds himself with quite a lot on his shoulders. He is supported by his wife, Moira, and boyfriend David, but Rhus is determined to be an outstanding High Priest at any cost, even if that means biting off more than he can chew.
The Vengeance is a swashbuckling fantasy adventure that follows Morgane, daughter of the pirate captain Anna-Marie. Her ship is the Vengeance and they are known to attack and destroy ships from the Four Chains Trading Company at any opportunity. When Morgane’s mother is fatally wounded during one such attack, she reveals the truth to Morgane – she is not her mother but her aunt. This sets Morgane on a quest to France, to find her real family and what happened to them. What Morgane finds will be darker and more dangerous than she ever thought possible.
The Pawns of Havoc is a gripping fantasy novella that follows mercenary Cork as he’s sent on another job – but this one isn’t his typical kind of job. He’s been tasked by the Winn to find a convoy in the Frozen Lands, destroy it, and leave only one survivor. Cork might be Winn himself, but he knows he can’t trust them. Forced to team up with an archer named Arabella and a criminal named Nessa, Cork must find a way to complete the job, stay out of the Winn’s political games, and keep Arabella and Nessa in line – what could possibly go wrong?
Lord Grimdark is back with a new book, and it’s a wild ride.