Adrian Collins's Blog, page 14

Elevating short stories on YouTube: A Reputation for Prudence by Richard Swan (narrated by Luke Arnold)

In case you missed it in our newsletter announcement, we are starting our YouTube channel afresh and taking a completely new approach. We’ve found what we think is a pretty awesome gap in the short fiction market: on screen narration. And, we’re going to be doing it with screen actors, bringing those extra layers of creativity through voice and screen presence.

Our first video is A Reputation for Prudence by Richard Swan (The Justice of Kings, Grave Empire) originally published in Grimdark Magazine #31. Luke Arnold provided our first performance, and he’s knocked it out of the park. There’s a pretty darn good chance you’ve either read or seen Luke on the silver screen at some point, and I’m so happy he agreed to do our first video.

Luke is the author of the noir fantasy series The Fetch Phillips Archives and co-writer of the graphic novel Essentials. He has performed around the world in roles such as John Silver in Black Sails, and Michael Hutchence in INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. He is also developing his first video game, called Shoot for the Moon, soon to be released on steam.

For me, one of my favourite parts of this first video is where Luke gets right in there and brings an otherworldly beast to life–it’s a pretty epic change up of his voice that sends a shiver down the spine as the story stakes explodes.

If this sounds like it might be your jam, give the video a watch. And if you’d like to see more of them, please give our channel a follow / subscribe to help us grow the channel and keep on creating.

The second video featuring another Aussie actor has already been shot and is currently in editing. Can’t wait to show it to you!

The post Elevating short stories on YouTube: A Reputation for Prudence by Richard Swan (narrated by Luke Arnold) appeared first on Grimdark Magazine.

EXCLUSIVE: Cover Reveal of Anderson Versus Death by Anna Smith Spark

The extraordinarily talented grimdark author Anna Smith Spark, writing in the world of Judge Dredd? Anderson Versus Death jumped on to our reading list the second we heard about it. What an awesome combination. We’re are so excited to bring you an exclusive cover reveal of Anna’s latest work to whet your appetites for when Anderson Versus Death is released by Rebellion on September the 23rd.

Set in early 2102, Anderson Versus Death is the story of Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson. Anderson sacrificed herself to trap the spirit of the terrible Judge Death, holding him in her mind as her fellow Judge Joe Dredd encased her in an impenetrable polymer. Her comatose body was laid in a place of honour in the Justice Department’s famed Hall of Heroes, to be remembered forever for her supreme sacrifice.

For eighteen months, she has lain trapped, sharing her tomb with the monster she defeated. For eighteen months, an epic battle raged silently within the Psi-Judge’s skull, between her and an ancient avatar of hate and decay.

So, here it is:

Exclusive Cover Reveal of Anderson Versus Death by Anna Smith Spark

Not only are we bringing you the cover reveal of Anderson Versus Death, we also have a piece from Smith Spark on what it has meant to her to bring you this highly anticipated novel.

Writing Anderson Versus Death by Anna Smith SparkAuthor Anna Smith Spark

When I was seven years old, I was driven to school every day by my friend Ben’s mum. Ben had an older brother at secondary school who was a massive Judge Dredd fan, and every school day for a year I stared at his school books covered in sketches of Dredd, the Judges’ Badge, the 2000AD logo as quite simply the coolest things I’d ever seen. I’d see the comic in the newsagent when we went to buy sweets on Saturdays, the violent, crazy cover art, look, it’s the guy from Luke’s art folder, how awesome is he? A few years later my dad would buy me back issues from junk shops, market stalls,  school fetes – Grud, those weird old days when junk shops and jumble sales sold piles of old comics and magazines and the idea of collected volumes didn’t exist … of course you never got a complete run of a storyline, only ever read episodes 2, 4 and 5 out of the  six; years later you might stumble on episode 1 and finally get the set-up to a story you vaguely remembered, but you never got the ending beyond assuming ol’ JD won. And even though (because?) they were incomplete and tattered and yellow with age and often had whole key pages missing, I loved the aesthetic and the stories. [Any joker who suggests this incoherence may have influenced my own writing will be cubed].

So 2000AD technically influenced my writing before I ever even read a copy, and once I started reading it shaped me hugely. Not quite a fangirl thing, more like it sums up a whole huge part of my childhood. And thus the person and the writer I’ve become. When I think of my childhood, I see my mum’s silk scarves, street parties in the waste ground, cats stretched by the gas fire, the William Morris wallpaper in my parents’ bedroom, the cherry tree in the school playground in glorious pink bloom … and Judge Dredd.

I remember very strongly, at maybe ten years old, thinking how much fun it must be to write for, and wishing, longing, to write for it myself.

2000AD was grimdark before the term existed. The glorious mixture of left-wing politics, high culture in-jokes and puerile humour. The grottiness of it all! The absurdly OTT violence!  I loved Slaine (oh, do I still love Slaine, top five in my chart of lust at least). I loved Nemesis the Warlock (top three?). Most of all, I fell head-over-heels in love and lust and wonder at two total opposites – the joyful, kind, humane, I-want-to-be-like-her Judge Cass Anderson, Debbie Harry on a motorbike with a heart of gold, a deep intelligence and a deeper compassion for the wretched of this  nightmare world she lives in; and the genuinely-bloody-creepy undead superfiend supradimensional supervillains the Dark Judges. I read Shamballa and felt such pity for Anderson as the only sane person in … possibly the whole comic. I reread and reread and reread Necropolis and Judge Death Lives in a kind of dazed ‘people are allowed to write like this?’ fever dream.

We spent a lot of time on Dartmoor and built up a fine collection of Devonshire sheep skulls. Which always made me think of dear sweet Mortis. And Mortis, I suppose, always make me think of being on Dartmoor with old family friends.

So when more years than I’m telling later I was offered the chance to write The Official Judge Anderson Versus Judge Death Novel … it was like … like … Actually, it wasn’t anything. It was literally a childhood dream come true. Just to see that cover, to see my name beside those words, those images, there’s Anderson looking like the hottest coolest blonde who ever passed Judgment, there’s Death looking positively rampant, there’s the badge, the Lawgiver, the shoulder pads, the helmet … and there’s my name! My drokkin’ name!!!!

I had more fun writing this book than Judge Dredd would possibly consider legal, playing around with form, structure, languages, snot jokes. To be honest, it kind of felt like something I was born to write [see In The Shadow of Their Dying, see the three page grammar-butchering butchery death! scenes in Empires of Dust]. But it was also in some ways the hardest thing I’ve ever written, my responsibility to my childhood self crushing down on me. I have spread my dreams under my feet; / Tread softly because I tread on my dreams.  I can see the tipex doodles on Luke’s art folder flashing before my eyes now, when I was writing the novel I saw them superimposed on every word as I typed.

I hope I’ve done them Justice.

Read Anderson Versus Death by Anna Smith Spark

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INTERVIEW: Taran Matharu

One of the coolest things about reviewing books you love, is when you get to speak more about them with the authors of the books that you love. Grimdark Magazine recently had the chance to catch up with Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Soulbound Saga, Taran Matharu, and talk more about his latest novel The Tainted Khan.

We loved his epic dragon fantasy novels and speaking with him has left us even more excited for the final instalment in this excellent series!

[GdM] Thank you Taran, for taking the time to chat with us about all things The Tainted Khan. For our readers who haven’t yet picked it up, could you give them a teaser of what to expect from the novel?

[TM] The Tainted Khan is a tale of identity, survival, and reclaiming lost heritage. Readers can expect a sweeping journey across the Great Steppe, where Jai must navigate brutal tribal politics and prove himself worthy of his father’s legacy—armed with little more than a soulbonded dragon and a past that few believe. Expect betrayal, battle, training sequences, ancient customs, and moments of tenderness.

[GdM] The Tainted Khan takes place in a different geographic area to the events of Dragon Rider but I found the settings to be very vividly detailed and was fully immersed whilst reading both novels. How much planning for the world have you had to do? What are your real-world inspirations for it?

[TM] Thank you! Imagining the world of the Great Steppe involved a great deal of historical research—aka my favourite form of procrastination haha. I studied the cultural norms and practices of extinct nomadic and pastoral cultures from all over the world, with a special focus on those living on steppes and plains. In particular, the Sithia were inspired by my own ancestors, the Indo-Scythian Saka peoples.

[GdM] The reader learns a lot more about Jai’s people and his family history in The Tainted Khan and the last time you spoke to Grimdark Magazine you said how you were inspired by the life of Atilla the Hun for Jai. Were there any other historical events that you drew from?

[TM] Definitely. Jai’s story mirrors the fate of many royal hostages from ancient history. I drew from the lives of Mithridates of Pontus, Timur, and even the mythologised early life of Genghis Khan. The tribe’s customs also reflect steppe warrior codes, blended with caste systems reminiscent of feudal India. The Tainted tribes are a direct nod to untouchable classes, and the perpetuation of historical injustice.

[GdM] I think it’s safe to say that there is a bit of a dragon renaissance happening in fantasy now. As someone who loves dragon fantasy, I’m all for that. Why did you choose to focus the Soulbound Saga on dragons rather than any of the other creatures who can be soulbound?

[TM] Dragons are the apex symbol of power and majesty. In a world where the soulbound warriors are central, a dragon is the ultimate companion and weapon of war. Of course for Jai, Winter is more than a mount—they share souls, minds, and history.

Dragons are a force for change, and allow an individual to have the greatest impact, both on and off the battlefield. Other soulbound beasts exist—Griffins, Mammoths, Sabreteeth and Manticores for example are formidable—but dragons challenge the status-quo and upend hierarchies. That’s what I needed for this story.

[GdM] What has is been like having a dragon series come out at the same time as some other very big dragon themed novels?

[TM] I try not to invite too much comparison, especially since the current dragon renaissance is closely tied to romantasy—and Fourth Wing in particular. While we share some of the same trappings—dragons, griffins, bonding, military academies—the DNA is very different. The Soulbound Saga is perhaps more rooted in epic fantasy, focusing on identity, survival, and cultural legacy, with romance playing only a subtle role in the broader narrative.

[GdM] Other than the dragons though, what is your favourite animal in the Soulbound Saga? I love the khiro, but that’s because Navi holds a very special place in my heart.

[TM] Navi is absolutely my favourite too. She’s old, scarred, yet unbroken. The khiroi in general were inspired by prehistoric megafauna, woolly rhinos to be specific, but I wanted to give them the stoicism and empathy one might associate more with horses. That being said, if I had to pick a steed of my own, a griffin edges out a khiro—I’d still want to be able to fly!

[GdM] Do you have a favourite character to write?

[TM] Jai was always my favourite character, but what I enjoyed most was exploring Leonid’s past through his diary, and his legacy. He’s certainly the most complex and morally ambiguous character in the series, and his shadow is cast heavily on this book. I can’t say more than that.

Author Taran Matharu – Photo Credit Anita Wong

[GdM] I really loved the magic system within these books, how the mana can pass between two soulbound, its uses, how the cores can change, how the characters have to build up their power etc. What were your inspirations for the magical system?

[TM] I can’t deny that the main inspiration was the Cultivation genre in particular, which I must acknowledge Will White as having popularised in the West, but is very much of Eastern origin. Of course, I had to adapt it to a world of sharing souls with powerful beasts. I also took great inspiration from video games and their impact on the rise of Progression Fantasy, particularly using stored mana as a fuel source for magic.

[GdM] Although Dragon Rider and The Tainted Khan are the first of your books I have read, your writing style really gels with me as a reader. I feel like I’m reading an old favourite even though I’m not. What are your favourite writers or fantasy worlds?

[TM] I must confess, I try not to read too much fantasy when I’m writing, as I do fear accidentally taking too much inspiration from other books in the same space as mine. Consequently, much of my inspiration comes from historical fiction and non-fiction. In particular, Wilbur Smith’s and Bernard Cornwell’s books had the greatest impact on me today and in my formative years as a writer. Growing up, though, I have to acknowledge Redwall as my primary source of fantasy reading—Mossflower is the first book I remember reading, and choosing for myself.

 [GdM] I’m always really curious about different writers’ processes. How does yours work? Do you plot everything out in advance? Or do you wing it as you go? What does a typical writing day look like for you?

[TM]  I tend to have a blurry vision of the book as a whole that is subject to change as I write it and it solidifies in my mind, but with several key milestones that I am writing between…that also sometimes shift too!

[GdM] Are you able to share anything about what is coming next in the series? Are you planning a trilogy, or writing further stories set in this world?

[TM] It’s definitely a trilogy.

[GdM] What are you working on at the moment?

[TM] Absolutely nothing—it’s time for a break! Although I’m playing with the idea of a post-apocalyptic screenplay. Though it may turn into its own standalone novel instead.

[GdM] Taran, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to chat with us. I’m so grateful for the chance to learn more about your writing and this world. I’m excited for the next book in the series, but whilst I’m waiting, do you have any reading recommendations for fans of The Soulbound Saga?

[TM] That is an easy one! I have to recommend these dragon rider series: ‘The Bound and The Broken’ series by Ryan Cahill, the ‘Songs of Chaos’ series by Michael R. Miller, and the ‘A Time of Dragons’ series by Philip C. Quaintrell.

Read The Tainted Khan by Taran Matharu

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REVIEW: Conan the Barbarian #20

Confronted by a hostile shapeshifter, Conan has no choice but to defend himself. Mystified by the invective hurled at him by his assailant, he spares his foe’s life in an attempt to learn the reason for the unprovoked aggression. Zula, as the stranger is named, accuses Conan of being a “servant of the serpent.” In other words, an agent of the cruel Stygian snake god Set. Despite his misgivings, Zula offers Conan the means to cleanse his soul of Set’s influence. He orders Conan to present himself at an ancient monument, where a risky ordeal awaits. As Conan pushes through the dense jungle, it gradually dawns upon him that the stab wound he incurred from a Stygian artifact called the Fangs of the Serpent during his botched heist with the thief Tarnasha (Conan the Barbarian #18) must have marked him with Set’s malign taint.

Part IV of the “Twisting Loyalties” story arc, this issue is appropriately titled “Purged.” Conan the Barbarian #20 both concludes “Twisting Loyalties” and provides more resolution for the two-issue storyline Jim Zub worked on with artist Danica Brine. It also leads directly into the upcoming “Scourge of the Serpent” event. While I prefer self-contained episodic storytelling in the Sword & Sorcery genre and don’t feel a title like Conan the Barbarian demands epic events, crossovers with other heroes, and ongoing continuity, I do think Zub is adept at this sort of comic book storytelling. He drops hints and plants seeds that bear fruit several issues down the line. On the other hand, the “shadow” Conan that appears in this issue feels a little too close to the Black Stone-influenced Conan seen in the “Thrice Marked for Death!” storyline (e.g., Conan the Barbarian #8). Mind control and possession have appeared frequently across multiple arcs in this series to date, affecting both Conan and King Kull (e.g., Conan the Barbarian #9), and perhaps that particular device could use a rest.

Artist Doug Braithwaite continues to shine. From both a narrative and art perspective, the “Frozen Faith” storyline was a disappointment, but these past two issues have given me a much greater appreciation of Braithwaite’s talents. His jungle scenery and wildlife depictions are ultra-detailed and bring the Black Kingdoms to life in a way that wasn’t as pronounced with the Nordheim tundra setting of “Frozen Faith.” His one-on-one fist fights in this two-parter also felt more dynamic and impactful than the mass battles he depicted in “Frozen Faith.”

From a plot perspective, issues #19 and #20 of Conan the Barbarian serve as “the prelude to the prelude,” laying the groundwork for the Free Comic Book Day 2025 issue and the “Scourge of the Serpent” event miniseries to follow. That being said, these two issues benefit from having the right artist paired with the right material to showcase his strengths. A fun story well told.

Read Conan the Barbarian #20 by Jim Zub (W) and Doug Braithwaite (A)

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REVIEW: Mercy: Tears of the Fallen by Chance Dillon

Last Updated on May 14, 2025

Chance Dillon kicks off his brand-new dark epic fantasy series with Mercy: Tears of the Fallen, and it would honestly be the understatement of the century to say that this is one of the most dangerously ambitious and boldly imaginative debuts I have ever read. Come for the rich world building, wicked rune magic and exhilarating action, stay for the deliciously complicated characters, powerful emotional journeys and merciless gut punches that just hurt oh so good. This book is not, as Dillon is so fond of saying, a puppy; it’s an absolute beast of a book with sharp teeth and claws, and it isn’t afraid to show them.

We are thrown headfirst into the vast world of Maetlynd, which has been ravaged by war and is still recovering from the cataclysmic crimson storms that blighted the land, poisoned the waters and turned people mad 34 years ago. Now, the tenuous peace of the newly established Epoch of Unity is becoming ever more fragile, and the fate of the world might just lie in the hands of a fallen hero and a bitter exile, whether they realise it or not. Deadly webs are being spun, ancient conspiracies are unravelling, and threats both old and new, both human and supernatural, are revealed to be lurking around every dark corner.

From the very first page, the Malazan: Book of the Fallen and Elden Ring influences on Mercy: Tears of the Fallen are evidently clear, especially in its ‘sink or swim’ storytelling and its wildly expansive world building. Usually, I tend to get extremely frustrated by these types of dense and intentionally confusing stories, but somehow I was just completely along for the ride here. Yes, I felt like a lost traveller stumbling through a foreign land for the majority of this book, and yes, some aspects remained frustratingly vague the entire way through (especially regarding the Artisans/Martyrs and the ins and outs of the Rune magic), but I have to admit that my curiosity, awe, and excitement way overpowered my sense of overwhelm and intimidation.

What can I say, Dillon just captured my imagination and tickled my curiosity like very few authors can, and I honestly love Mercy: Tears of the Fallen in all its perfectly imperfect uniqueness and unconventionality. So much of this story is just shrouded in the most addictive air of mystery and secrecy, and especially the mystifying blending of history, myth and legend, as well as the suspenseful build-up of the looming threat from the uncharted northern lands of Mersianei had me in an absolute chokehold from start to finish.

But to me, the true beauty of Mercy: Tears of the Fallen is the epic vastness of it all, contained in the intimate perspective of its deeply layered and flawed characters. Even if the character voices could have been a bit stronger and more distinct at times, I absolutely loved that we got to explore this rich world through the eyes of so many different morally gray people with such diverse racial/cultural backgrounds and clashing motivations. No, I didn’t love all of these characters, and no, I am still not entirely sure what some of them are up to exactly (if they even knew it themselves), but that is exactly what made them so morbidly fascinating to follow.

I think a lot of readers will latch onto Alevist and Erevayn the most as they are arguably the true main characters of this tale, and there’s no denying that my broken boys steal the show. Their respective inner conflicts are frighteningly well written, and I loved seeing them (trauma) bond and help each other grow in the most unexpected ways throughout all the wild trials and tribulations that they had to endure. Dillon is not afraid to go down some very dark paths, and the brutally raw exploration of trauma, grief, depression, addiction, morality, the lingering horrors of war, and the insidious influence and devastating cost of vengeance added so much impact and emotional weight to this wickedly epic tale.

But if I am being honest, it was Merin and Dullo who just captured my heart the most with their surprisingly warm personalities and incredibly intriguing backstories, and I would honestly kill for them to get their own spin-off. Now, the rest of the primary and secondary cast maybe paled a bit in comparison to these four powerhouses for me, and I have to admit I didn’t totally believe the development of some interpersonal relationships (especially in the romance department). However, I was somehow still hooked by each storyline, and I really appreciated how Dillon was able to build up the tension and stakes as everyone’s hidden intentions became clearer and their paths started to converge on a collision course of doom and destruction.

If it wasn’t already clear, Mercy: Tears of the Fallen is not exactly a fun, easy breezy read, even if I personally ended up absolutely tearing through the pages. This is a story that challenges the reader, be that because of its unconventional structure, its ‘sink or swim’ storytelling or its heavy content, but I personally think it is a very rewarding read for those who show patience, trust the process and give it the attention it deserves. Sure, the direction of the plot could have been a bit clearer from the start, and sure, the introduction to this epic world with its deep history, rich lore, intricate magic, and many different factions, races and cultures could probably have been a bit smoother to make for a more comfortable reading experience, but as The Archivist so wisely says at the end of the book: “Cheers to danger. Cheers to pain. For without resistance, how do we grow?”.

In a way, Mercy: Tears of the Fallen almost feels like a long, extended prologue to the rest of the Mercy series, but don’t mistake that for me saying that it’s unsatisfying. Especially in the second half of the novel, Dillon just struck the perfect balance between the action, world building and character development for me, and I was deeply impressed with the satisfying convergence of all the different threads being spun in both this book and the prequel short story The Blood Rebellion (which I highly recommend checking out for free on Dillon’s Patreon, both because it might provide some helpful context for the history and magic system, but also because it’s just a banger of a story). Each new shocking revelation and diabolical twist and turn instantly prompted dozens of new burning questions that I desperately need answers to, and the tragically gut wrenching and ominously enticing ending has me desperate for the next instalment already.

There’s no denying that Chance Dillon has taken a huge chance (yes, pun very much intended) by writing such an insanely ambitious debut, but he has already more than proven to me that his ambition was not misplaced. This is one of those richly layered stories that I can see myself coming back to time and time again because of its high re-read value, and I am honestly beyond excited for anything and everything that is yet to come in the Mercy series as I have full faith that Dillon will continue to deliver on all the promising potential here. So, if you like the sound of a truly epic fantasy tale with a strong emotional core that just throws you into the deep end and forces you to either learn to breathe underwater or die trying, then you simply have to give Mercy: Tears of the Fallen a chance.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Mercy: Tears of the Fallen is scheduled for release on July 20th, 2025.

Read Mercy: Tears of the Fallen by Chance Dillon

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REVIEW: The Lie That Binds Them by Matthew Ward

Last Updated on May 15, 2025

Matthew Wards wraps up The Soulfire Saga with an expansive and explosive ending in The Lie That Binds Them. Ward pulls back the veil on his world for some epic twists and reveals, while our favourite characters hold on to hope by their shredded fingernails.

Tyzantia, the last of the free cities is about to fall to the Eternity Queen, and Kat Must flee upon the last rail runner.

Mirzai is the governor of a frontier town, and also the engineer keeping its crumbling infrastructure ticking over. When a redcloak dhow lands with a damaged buoyancy tank, his carefully cultivated peace with the people the redcloaks came to kill puts he and his people in danger.

With the rubble of one city behind him, the Eternity Queen tasks Damant and her council with bringing another of the cities of Kahalad back into the fold. As he turns to leave, the being closest to a goddess in this life, young and powerful, collapses.

As with The Fire Within Them, I enjoyed Ward pulling back the curtains on the wider world he’s created to advance the story. The characters fight and connive and claw their way to survival in the hope of finding a way to defeat the Eternity Queen, all while trying not to become who they fight against. The Eternity Queen is a worthy foe, with plenty of weight behind her character to make sure we don’t get a black and white cardboard cut out. The ending twist to set up the climax was excellent, far-reaching, and eye opening—exactly what you hope for when at the end of a trilogy of doorstoppers.

Ward is a master of building a story that sends you and the cast into the depths of despair—where hope is lost and desperate stakes are all that’s left—and then bringing home an action packed finale. His ability to construct long form story arcs in trilogies across what I can only assume must be over 750,000 words showcased in this trilogy and the Legacy trilogy makes it obvious why Orbit continues to publish these beasts.

From the perspective of what a grimdark fan would like, while this book did lean heavily on helplessness and hopelessness, I don’t think it was as far in our wheelhouse as the previous trilogy. The Lie That Binds Them sits more firmly in the epic dark fantasy genre. Definitely plenty of darkness to get your teeth in to, but not as much moral greyness as I enjoyed in Ward’s previous trilogy.

Swirlingly epic, dark, and at times gut punching sad, The Lie That Binds Them is the epic dark fantasy you need in your life.

Read The Lie That Binds Them by Matthew WardRead on Amazon

The post REVIEW: The Lie That Binds Them by Matthew Ward appeared first on Grimdark Magazine.

The Lie That Binds Them by Matthew Ward

Matthew Wards wraps up The Soulfire Saga with an expansive and explosive ending in The Lie That Binds Them. Ward pulls back the veil on his world for some epic twists and reveals, while our favourite characters hold on to hope by their shredded fingernails.

Tyzantia, the last of the free cities is about to fall to the Eternity Queen, and Kat Must flee upon the last rail runner.

Mirzai is the governor of a frontier town, and also the engineer keeping its crumbling infrastructure ticking over. When a redcloak dhow lands with a damaged buoyancy tank, his carefully cultivated peace with the people the redcloaks came to kill puts he and his people in danger.

With the rubble of one city behind him, the Eternity Queen tasks Damant and her council with bringing another of the cities of Kahalad back into the fold. As he turns to leave, the being closest to a goddess in this life, young and powerful, collapses.

As with The Fire Within Them, I enjoyed Ward pulling back the curtains on the wider world he’s created to advance the story. The characters fight and connive and claw their way to survival in the hope of finding a way to defeat the Eternity Queen, all while trying not to become who they fight against. The Eternity Queen is a worthy foe, with plenty of weight behind her character to make sure we don’t get a black and white cardboard cut out. The ending twist to set up the climax was excellent, far-reaching, and eye opening—exactly what you hope for when at the end of a trilogy of doorstoppers.

Ward is a master of building a story that sends you and the cast into the depths of despair—where hope is lost and desperate stakes are all that’s left—and then bringing home an action packed finale. His ability to construct long form story arcs in trilogies across what I can only assume must be over 750,000 words showcased in this trilogy and the Legacy trilogy makes it obvious why Orbit continues to publish these beasts.

From the perspective of what a grimdark fan would like, while this book did lean heavily on helplessness and hopelessness, I don’t think it was as far in our wheelhouse as the previous trilogy. The Lie That Binds Them sits more firmly in the epic dark fantasy genre. Definitely plenty of darkness to get your teeth in to, but not as much moral greyness as I enjoyed in Ward’s previous trilogy.

Swirlingly epic, dark, and at times gut punching sad, The Lie That Binds Them is the epic dark fantasy you need in your life.

Read The Lie That Binds Them by Matthew WardRead on Amazon

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REVIEW: Clown in a Cornfield

Clown in a Cornfield is a 2025 slasher film directed by Eli Craig (Tucker & Dale vs Evil). The main protagonists are Quinn Maybrook, played by Katie Douglas, and her father, Dr Maybrook, played by Aaron Abrams. The Maybrooks have relocated following the death of Quinn’s mother. It is set in modern day Missouri and, as you might expect, it involves a clown and a cornfield. We are introduced to Frendo the Clown in a murderous cold open (a slasher classic) set decades before the main story. Overall, it is humorous, sufficiently bloody and has a catchy soundtrack.

Like many slashers, the story in Clown in a Cornfield follows a group of conventionally attractive young people. Quinn (Douglas), new in town, makes friends with some delinquents at her high school, despite several people in town telling her to avoid them. The group is made up of Cole (handsome badboy), Janet and Ronnie (bitchy popular girls), and Tucker and Matt (pranksters). Some of the more amusing moments in the movie involve Janet and Ronnie, particularly a scene involving a severed head. A few mildly familiar faces turn up around the town, in particular Kevin Durand as the Mayor and Will Sasso as the Sheriff. I was not familiar with any of the young actors prior to Clown in a Cornfield, but they all played their roles. I look forward to seeing Kate Douglas get some chances in the future.

Eli Craig’s previous two feature films were firmly in horror/comedy territory. (As an aside, I love Tucker & Dale vs Evil.) Clown in a Cornfield is, at its heart, a slasher but it is full of well-timed humour (I legitimately laughed out loud at times) and is firmly tongue-in-cheek. If you prefer your slashers mean, you might want to look elsewhere.

Clown in a Cornfield isn’t a deep film; it doesn’t try to say too much. The motivation behind the killings is a bit of a caricature. It’s hard to imagine it playing out in the real world. However, it is notable how modern the film feels, with repeated use of cruel pranks being recorded and the threat of recordings for bullying purposes (reminds me a bit of Talk to Me).

Now, the violence. Personally, I think the best slashers are when we get to know the core group before they proceed to get murdered one-by-one. Clown in a Cornfield gives us some of that, with Quinn and her friends causing a bit of trouble around town before things go off the rails. Unfortunately, some are given more opportunity than others, and some are a bit two dimensional for my liking. But my biggest complaint is that Frendo doesn’t kill enough people. The film has blood for sure (albeit mostly digital), but give the people what they want: more Frendo!

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REVIEW: The Tainted Khan by Taran Matharu

Taran Matharu returns for the second instalment in his Soulbound Saga, The Tainted Khan. Picking up almost immediately from where Dragon Rider left off, The Tainted Khan is sure to be a hit for epic fantasy fans. It has magic, politics, a quest for freedom, and, most importantly, dragons. The Tainted Khan is only the second of Matharu’s novels I have read, and even though this is a new fantasy world, it is so easy to step into and get lost in the story. It feels like I’m reading an old favourite, even though I’m not, and I can’t wait for what Matharu has in store for the next Soulbound novel.

The reader continues to follow Jai, the last remaining son of Rohan, the former Great Khan. Jai is soulbound to a dragon, Winter, and he dreams that together they will free his people from the yoke of the cruel Sabine Empire. But Jai started The Tainted Khan lost in the grasslands of the Great Steppe and quickly ends up captured by a clan of outcasts, the Tainted, enemies of his people. Jai is not quite as naïve as he was in the first novel, but in the eyes of the Sithians who live in the Great Steppe, he is still a boy – untested and unlikely to be seen as fit to lead his own clan, let alone all of them. Jai is running out of time to prove himself; the Sabine legion is on the move, destroying everything in their path.

I enjoyed my time reading The Tainted Khan. But this isn’t a particularly dark book, even less so than Dragon Rider was. There are a few gory parts and some excellent fight scenes towards the end of the novel, but overall, this is very much an epic fantasy novel rather than a dark fantasy one. The focus of this book is not an escape from slavery or a journey against the odds; in The Tainted Khan, it is all about Jai developing his magical and leadership skills to lead his people. He doesn’t have the luxury of years to finesse these talents, which gives the reader an underlying sense of urgency as Jai treks through the Great Steppe. It did make The Tainted Khan read a little like a bridging novel, but that is true of many second books, and that doesn’t mean it was a bad read. It wasn’t as action-packed as its predecessor. Still, it has set the reader up for a cracking third book, especially after the unexpected cliffhanger that Matharu left the novel on.

As with all second books, the reader should have read Dragon Rider before picking this up, and there is no recap or summary at the beginning of The Tainted Khan. But the action for this novel takes place in a new geographical location, and most of the characters are new, so I think the events of the first novel are more relevant as character development and worldbuilding in general, rather than giving us information essential to understanding what is going on in The Tainted Khan. I thought Matharu’s pacing was superb, the chapters weren’t overly long, and even the slower sections of the novel didn’t feel like they were dragging. I also really enjoyed Matharu’s descriptions of the grasslands of the Great Steppe, its terrain, vegetation, animals, and how the people move through them. It all felt real, and I was immersed in that journey.

The Tainted Khan is a good character-driven epic fantasy, and I enjoy Taran Matharu’s writing style. It works well for me, and I am excited to see where he takes the story in the next Soulbound Saga novel. Thank you very much to Taran Matharu and the team at Harper Voyager for sending Grimdark Magazine an ARC of The Tainted Khan.

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REVIEW: Dance of Shadows by Gourav Mohanty

Epic fantasy fans, rejoice! Gourav Mohanty marches back to the world of Aryavrat in Dance of Shadows, the second book in his impressive debut series, The Raag of Rta. If you haven’t read Sons of Darkness yet, I highly recommend it. The series is uniquely based on the Mahabharata, an Indian Vedic epic poem, and this book pulls even more from the deep, deep well of Indian history. It builds on the first book’s strengths, shores up weaknesses, and stretches into new territory, too. 

Instead of a sequel, Dance of Shadows is a parallel story to Sons of Darkness, taking place in the months between the bloody massacre at Princess Draupadi’s Swayamyar and Krishna’s defeat at the battle of Mathura. I was skeptical, but now I see its necessity. The world, plot, and characters were stretched thin at the end of the first book. This book put more meat on their bones, and introduced characters and background information integral to setting up the final conflict. Now there’s even more momentum going into the series finale, and I ended up enjoying this book even more than the first. 

I love the vivid, nuanced voices in this series. From the jump, I hear them like they’re sitting across from me, sharing a drink, or pressing a knife to my throat. Mati, Karna, and Nala return (luckily my favorites from book one), and the new cast of characters are again strongly characterized: Dantavakra, the rakish younger brother of Shishupel; Marzana, a cunning priestess; and Vahura, a booksmart princess sleuthing out forbidden knowledge to save her sister (and the realm). 

The characters are mostly on the move, which kept a refreshing pace, and between the plots in the Rakshasan Tree City, Magadh, Marzana’s temple, and Nala’s bloody journey with Parshuram, Dance of Shadows illuminated some big questions: what’s the deal with the Unni Ethral death priests? Why did Kalyavan and Bhagadatt betray the emperor to attack Krishna? Who really is the Son of Darkness? By the end, my investment in the first book was totally worth it, with plenty answered and more to chew on. 

The first half of Dance of Shadows is more densely plotted than Sons of Darkness—lore drops, desperate choices, and plot twists galore. There were a few narrative deserts in the first book while the different factions plotted, talked, and plotted. This book is more of a jungle, exploring the lush, dangerous world behind all the spider webs spun in the first book. There’s less politics and more worldbuilding, action, and smaller, intimate storylines while characters machete their way through impossible choices. The stakes are still high, and I lost sleep on many “one more chapter” nights. 

The back half of the book has several extended plot sequences. Mohanty sometimes departed from his bread-and-butter political web spinning and dipped his toe into horror, heist and adventure writing. I overall enjoyed the rollicking mix of genres. A new author, testing his range, and relishing the joy of exploration is a big thumbs-up from me, although they weren’t the strongest sections and spread the character development a bit thin. They may fall flat for other readers, but I was here for it. 

A theme in Dance of Shadows is characters being blackmailed, backed into corners, and forced into impossible decisions. Do they follow their heart? Or sacrifice others to protect themselves? The most compelling tensions, heartbreaks and explosive scenes came when characters chose one or the other, often in surprising–or gruesome–moments of character development. I especially enjoyed Marzana’s story. She’s brilliant, streetsmart, conflicted, and the language in her chapters was often achingly moving. Her and Karna’s perilous romance added a lovely, treacherous flavor. One of my biggest pet peeves is when a romance isn’t believable, and I bought into theirs right away. 

One disappointment is a compliment mixed with a critique. The characters are distinct, complicated and entertaining. Mohanty creates exciting foundations for potential character arcs, with textured expositions for the new characters, and then… what’s the literary equivalent of feeling like you’re about to sneeze? They’re all really good characters, but I kept feeling they were just verging on great. Karna’s new Incredible Hulk-esque dual nature, Nala and Masha’s burgeoning romance, and Dantavakra’s maturation were a few arcs that got lost in the plot and were missed opportunities to me. 

Dance of Shadows isn’t drowning in blood, but it is violent–when it is, you better not be squeamish. Mohanty’s talent for visceral, gut-wrenching imagery (which I wish he used more consistently for immersive descriptions of setting) made my face contort into new, exciting expressions of horrified awe. However, for my storytelling tastes, the jarring Mortal Kombat-style fatalities, one which was truly, truly gruesome, obliterated the emotional resonance that makes character deaths powerful plot devices for me. In this book, horror trumped heartbreak. Regardless, these scenes will make even our grimmest grimdark readers grimace. 

I’m most curious about the female character arcs going forward. By the end of Dance of Shadows, the remaining female characters are primarily motivated by revenge. On one hand, I worry this will reduce their characters to one-dimensional arrows flying towards the hearts of their enemies. On the other hand, the story could complicate the notion of revenge and the characters’ relationship to their vengeance. For example, Nala has a fascinating tension. She must unlock her chakras to unleash their power to take revenge, but in order to unlock them she needs to find acceptance and release her anger—what then will happen to her motivation for revenge? Hopefully the third book capitalizes on these nuanced story opportunities. 

Overall, Dance of Shadows was another win for me. Not a masterpiece, but a solid entry into the annals of epic fantasy, and I suspect this young author may write some masterpieces down the line. But Gourav… please give me more chakra magic in the third book. I’m begging you. Go crazy. I’ve been so patient. 

Shoutout to Micaela Alcaino for the cover art! 

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