Praise
I can not wait until my children are older so that they can be brought into the wonderful world that is Russ' mind.
Magic. Creatures. Shape shifters. Flame and Spore. Best part of the read, by the way. With a bunch of interconnected pieces, Russ brings you into this wonderful yet scary post-something world and keeps you there.
Your imagination will run rampant as you are pulled deeper and deeper into this world. A world where trees come to life. Where fire and fungi create the perfect duo to battle, what lies ahead.
I can't wait to see where the author takes this world. If Megan Russ isn't on your bookshelf, what are you waiting for.
I love Megan Russ's short stories, and this was no exception! The world the author creates is truly captivating. My personal favorite in this collection was Black Bark. If you enjoy horror, but are limited on time give this a spin!
This was such a fun read! You get to see the creation of a realm, and meet some amazing characters I can't wait to see more of. Each chapter is like reading a character backstory, some of them dark and creepy, and made me miss playing tabletop D&D, it was awesome! Highly recommend for anyone who loves a good dark fantasy!!
ARC REVIEW FOR - Shattered Peace
If you LOVE games and trials in your D&D style dark fantasy, this book is for you!
Russ introduces us to a group of young monks as they graduate from their academy setting into service of their community. Healers, warriors, and spies, they're a well rounded bunch, but the story centers around Reed and Railen. Reed is a moon elf escaping her past and her family's reputation. Railen is a human born into slavery, trying to make a place for himself in a world that would rather see him dead. Even though they're in their post academy positions, there is a lingering sense of academia in the structure of their settlement. They live alongside the acolytes that are still training, and like one might expect in a martial arts setting, the instructors have high ranking positions in the military side of things.
We get to know the characters through a series of games and trials that hone their skills and help them develop tight bonds ... or push them further apart, depending on ones disposition. But in the background, there's a menace creeping in around them that builds up to an epic ending that kicks off the overall story arc of the series.
ARC REVIEW FOR - Shattered Peace
Yeah I need more! I knew it was gonna be good cause I read Lore, but OMG!! I don't even know what to do with myself right now.