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The Riven Wyrde Saga #3
Fae: The Sins of the Wyrde
The thrilling conclusion to the Riven Wyrde Saga.
With her king’s plans laid bare, Selena must take drastic steps as the invaders push deeper into Anlan, driven by the schemes of the Sealord. The war between Anlish and Bjornmen rages, even as the fae remain unchecked. Politics is not merely a game for mankind however, and within the fae court ancient plans are coming to fruition, while the armies of the fae are readied in preparation for the purge.
The answers to the mysteries of the Wyrde may already rest with Devin and Obair. Their shocking discovery may hold the key to the Wyrde and the lost secrets of the druids, but the price is higher than anybody could have imagined.
With her king’s plans laid bare, Selena must take drastic steps as the invaders push deeper into Anlan, driven by the schemes of the Sealord. The war between Anlish and Bjornmen rages, even as the fae remain unchecked. Politics is not merely a game for mankind however, and within the fae court ancient plans are coming to fruition, while the armies of the fae are readied in preparation for the purge.
The answers to the mysteries of the Wyrde may already rest with Devin and Obair. Their shocking discovery may hold the key to the Wyrde and the lost secrets of the druids, but the price is higher than anybody could have imagined.
- GenresFantasyFaeEpic Fantasy
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2015
99 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Graham Austin-King
15 books354 followersGraham Austin-King was born in the south of England and weaned on broken swords and half-forgotten spells. A shortage of these forced him to consume fantasy novels at an ever-increasing rate, turning to computers and tabletop gaming between meals.
He experimented with writing at the beginning of an education that meandered through journalism, international relations, and law. To this day he is committed to never allowing those first efforts to reach public eyes.
After spending a decade in Canada, learning what 'cold' really means, and being horrified by poutine, he settled once again in the UK with a seemingly endless horde of children.
To date he is the author of five novels, drawing on a foundation of literary influences ranging from David Eddings to Clive Barker.
Sign up to the spam-free mailing list to hear about upcoming releases and special discounts at http://www.grahamaustin-king.com/read...
Find Graham on facebook at http://on.fb.me/1pMyWmK He loves to chat with readers.
Follow him on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Grayaustin
What others are saying about Graham's books:
"Austin-King's writing is descriptive and layered, full of mystery and tension..." - Sarah Chorn, Bookworm Blues
"The action is great, the suspense is well done and the Fae are truly scary." - Leanne Ellis, Bloody Cake News
"...If you like fantasy books which you can really get stuck into then this one is for you!" - Bodicia, A Woman's Wisdom Blog
"...This is a fantastic fantasy! I loved it!" - Lynn Worton, Book Reviews by Lynn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 5, 2016
What an epic conclusion to the series!
I just finished with this book a few minutes ago - and am still fully in awe.
All plotlines get wrapped up neatly, but there is enough space left open to leave you with some of your own conclusions.
As in the first two books I especially love the character development! They are all very real and believable and different shades of grey. I especially enjoyed the female characters, which was a nice surprise, as they are so often either damsels in distress, or coldhearted killers. In here these were perfectly balanced, and a joy to read.
I actually couldn't say whose POV is my favorite - I never wanted any POV to end, they were all equally interesting and great characters to follow.
The way Austin-King waeves all those lives together, starting with many single strings and braiding them into one strong rope is incredible! When you start this series, you have no idea at all, what all this different people and things might have in common. But the farther you progress, the more "I get it now!" moments you will have.
The second strenght of the book (or rather the whole series) is how fluently it is written. You start to read, and when you look on the clock the next time, you realise it is hours after your bedtime, and you devoured half the book in one long go. There are no longwinded or unneccesarry scenes at all.
Be warned that this series gets darker and grimmer from the end of book one - but it never felt like a gorefest, but fit snuggly into the worldbuilding. Quite some important characters will die, so your adrenaline will spike when your favorite characters are in dangerous situations.
This third book caused all kinds of reactions. Some shocked intakes of breath (and only a slight pounding in the ears reminded me I should actually start breathing again now...), sometimes I was so happy I sat on the couch clapping and grinning like a slightly retarted seal, and at other times I got suckerpunched in the feels. It really was an emotional rollercoaster, and I can only recommend it heartily to anyone who likes fantasy! This has become one of my favorite series very quickly.
I just finished with this book a few minutes ago - and am still fully in awe.
All plotlines get wrapped up neatly, but there is enough space left open to leave you with some of your own conclusions.
As in the first two books I especially love the character development! They are all very real and believable and different shades of grey. I especially enjoyed the female characters, which was a nice surprise, as they are so often either damsels in distress, or coldhearted killers. In here these were perfectly balanced, and a joy to read.
I actually couldn't say whose POV is my favorite - I never wanted any POV to end, they were all equally interesting and great characters to follow.
The way Austin-King waeves all those lives together, starting with many single strings and braiding them into one strong rope is incredible! When you start this series, you have no idea at all, what all this different people and things might have in common. But the farther you progress, the more "I get it now!" moments you will have.
The second strenght of the book (or rather the whole series) is how fluently it is written. You start to read, and when you look on the clock the next time, you realise it is hours after your bedtime, and you devoured half the book in one long go. There are no longwinded or unneccesarry scenes at all.
Be warned that this series gets darker and grimmer from the end of book one - but it never felt like a gorefest, but fit snuggly into the worldbuilding. Quite some important characters will die, so your adrenaline will spike when your favorite characters are in dangerous situations.
This third book caused all kinds of reactions. Some shocked intakes of breath (and only a slight pounding in the ears reminded me I should actually start breathing again now...), sometimes I was so happy I sat on the couch clapping and grinning like a slightly retarted seal, and at other times I got suckerpunched in the feels. It really was an emotional rollercoaster, and I can only recommend it heartily to anyone who likes fantasy! This has become one of my favorite series very quickly.
March 18, 2016
A wonderful ending to a beautiful story! I loved the amount of likeable characters and the good number of strong women among them. I will be on the lookout for new books from this author!
June 21, 2017
I love, love, love this story and the characters.
I didn't want it to end. This is one story I may read again. This is now one of my favorites and now one of my favorite authors. Can't wait to see what else he writes. I love fantasy novels, but I rarely read a series in consecutive order and sometimes I don't finish the series because It's not easy to keep the story and the characters interesting beyond one book. This series I read all the way through and didn't want it to end.
I didn't want it to end. This is one story I may read again. This is now one of my favorites and now one of my favorite authors. Can't wait to see what else he writes. I love fantasy novels, but I rarely read a series in consecutive order and sometimes I don't finish the series because It's not easy to keep the story and the characters interesting beyond one book. This series I read all the way through and didn't want it to end.
October 1, 2018
If you are looking for a dark fairytale trilogy then this is a very good one. I read the omnibus version, which does have a few errors that crept through the editing net but I tend to ignore those if the story grabs me; and this one did.
As the author told me; "Books two and three are my better work." And they do improve as he draws you into his fantasy world of the Fae. There are quite a number of characters in these books and I found it difficult to pick one as a favourite. I liked Kloss. But I also like Devin Gavin and Ylssriss too.
I liked the overall story and it has an ending that doesn't leave you guessing about anything. It does leave opportunities to revisit the world, however, and you can do so in the form of a short story called 'Reaver' if you should so wish.
There is also the brilliant 'Faithless' which I think is his best work so far if you wanted to check that out. (Which is set in a different world from the one of the Fae in this review). Happy reading!
As the author told me; "Books two and three are my better work." And they do improve as he draws you into his fantasy world of the Fae. There are quite a number of characters in these books and I found it difficult to pick one as a favourite. I liked Kloss. But I also like Devin Gavin and Ylssriss too.
I liked the overall story and it has an ending that doesn't leave you guessing about anything. It does leave opportunities to revisit the world, however, and you can do so in the form of a short story called 'Reaver' if you should so wish.
There is also the brilliant 'Faithless' which I think is his best work so far if you wanted to check that out. (Which is set in a different world from the one of the Fae in this review). Happy reading!
April 7, 2017
All in all, great last book of a great fantasy series.
I loved the setting, the characters and the action. Detailed review is on my blog: https://leonahenry.wordpress.com/2016...
I loved the setting, the characters and the action. Detailed review is on my blog: https://leonahenry.wordpress.com/2016...
May 19, 2016
I've talked about Graham Austin King's River Wyrde trilogy before and it's a book series which deserves a good amount of attention. It's a bit schizophrenic, verging from Young Adult adventurism to grimdark brutality, but that's part of the reason I love it.
No one ever said fantasy had to be one thing and it's ability to be many is what guarantees it will always exist. The River Wyrde series began in The Wild Hunt, continued in The Realm of Twilight, and ends here. Is it as good as the others and does it end in a satisfying conclusion? Mostly, yes. Having created a fascinating and entertaining world with a reasonably large cast, Graham Austin-King was bound to leave some questions unanswered.
I suspect some of these have to do with the fact I was really interested in the Church of New Days plotline when it was, nevertheless, nothing but a sideshow to the existing plot. I was interested in the fate of religious peasant Tia, other believers who resisted the Fae, how they would cope with the fact their religion was created by the Fae, and whether or not it was something the enemy had created wholesale or adopted for their own purposes. None of this is addressed in the book.
There's other questions unanswered like the fate of the lands conquered by the Bjornmen, the reign of certain characters, and more but all of this was never going to be as central as the plotline of the Fae's return. In that respect, Fae: The Sins of the Wyrde delivers on what was promised by the title. We get a satisfying and complete resolution to their story arc with the major characters related to them getting their tales told.
The premise for this volume is simple: the Bjornmen and Anglish are both under siege by the Fae. The Fae have stopped holding back and have begun wholesale depopulation of regions thanks to the deranged dreams of their extremist leader. This gives the basis for an unlikely alliance that may be brokered by a character I never expected to see again in Book 1#'s Miriam. When last we saw her, she was being carried off by the fae to a horrific fate. Now an old woman, she has the potential to bridge the gap between two otherwise irreconicable factions.
Overall, I'm quite pleased with the way the book ended. Aside from my issues with uninterested questions, my only real complaints are how some things came a little too easy. At one point, a character says that killing a monarch is easier than imprisoning him and that martyrs are easier to deal with than a living problem. This is such a dumb statement it dramatically undercut my respect for the character's intelligence since it was pretty much historically the exact opposite. Everyone hated Charles the First but his death made him a martyr for absolute monarchs for centuries to come.
On the other hand, I really liked the return of Miriam. She had a fascinating introduction in the first book and seeing her carried off felt like an anticlimax to her story. While wildly unlikely she would survive with her sanity intact through all the Fae's activities, I felt she remained the strong character of the original novel. Likewise, I enjoyed how the characters weren't able to achieve total victories over their enemies but had to make accomadations in the name of peace.
I also give a lot of respect for Graham Austin-King for making a coherent moral from a story which otherwise seemed to be fairly absent an overriding theme. His portrayal of war is atrocities may occur on every side but, ultimately, the vast majority of conflicts end with you having to learn to live with the presence of people after its done. I'm almost saddened the story ends as definitively as it does as I wouldn't mind returning to this world.
In conclusion, you should definitely buy this if you're a fan of the previous volumes. I didn't take to it quite as well as the others but I do think it's a great little story.
8.5/10
No one ever said fantasy had to be one thing and it's ability to be many is what guarantees it will always exist. The River Wyrde series began in The Wild Hunt, continued in The Realm of Twilight, and ends here. Is it as good as the others and does it end in a satisfying conclusion? Mostly, yes. Having created a fascinating and entertaining world with a reasonably large cast, Graham Austin-King was bound to leave some questions unanswered.
I suspect some of these have to do with the fact I was really interested in the Church of New Days plotline when it was, nevertheless, nothing but a sideshow to the existing plot. I was interested in the fate of religious peasant Tia, other believers who resisted the Fae, how they would cope with the fact their religion was created by the Fae, and whether or not it was something the enemy had created wholesale or adopted for their own purposes. None of this is addressed in the book.
There's other questions unanswered like the fate of the lands conquered by the Bjornmen, the reign of certain characters, and more but all of this was never going to be as central as the plotline of the Fae's return. In that respect, Fae: The Sins of the Wyrde delivers on what was promised by the title. We get a satisfying and complete resolution to their story arc with the major characters related to them getting their tales told.
The premise for this volume is simple: the Bjornmen and Anglish are both under siege by the Fae. The Fae have stopped holding back and have begun wholesale depopulation of regions thanks to the deranged dreams of their extremist leader. This gives the basis for an unlikely alliance that may be brokered by a character I never expected to see again in Book 1#'s Miriam. When last we saw her, she was being carried off by the fae to a horrific fate. Now an old woman, she has the potential to bridge the gap between two otherwise irreconicable factions.
Overall, I'm quite pleased with the way the book ended. Aside from my issues with uninterested questions, my only real complaints are how some things came a little too easy. At one point, a character says that killing a monarch is easier than imprisoning him and that martyrs are easier to deal with than a living problem. This is such a dumb statement it dramatically undercut my respect for the character's intelligence since it was pretty much historically the exact opposite. Everyone hated Charles the First but his death made him a martyr for absolute monarchs for centuries to come.
On the other hand, I really liked the return of Miriam. She had a fascinating introduction in the first book and seeing her carried off felt like an anticlimax to her story. While wildly unlikely she would survive with her sanity intact through all the Fae's activities, I felt she remained the strong character of the original novel. Likewise, I enjoyed how the characters weren't able to achieve total victories over their enemies but had to make accomadations in the name of peace.
I also give a lot of respect for Graham Austin-King for making a coherent moral from a story which otherwise seemed to be fairly absent an overriding theme. His portrayal of war is atrocities may occur on every side but, ultimately, the vast majority of conflicts end with you having to learn to live with the presence of people after its done. I'm almost saddened the story ends as definitively as it does as I wouldn't mind returning to this world.
In conclusion, you should definitely buy this if you're a fan of the previous volumes. I didn't take to it quite as well as the others but I do think it's a great little story.
8.5/10
January 19, 2016
Book 3 for me is the best book in the series as you finally have so many questions answered and get to see the culmination of so many plotlines. The author’s writing has also matured and it shows in the delivery of this last volume. This series took a direction that always left me guessing and when finally revealed, the plotlines didn’t disappoint. Fantastic conclusion to a great series. I am looking forward to future works by this author.
May 23, 2019
Full review is here, on my blog!~
This was a great conclusion to the series!
The fae are coming to purge humankind, and the Bjornmen and the Anlish have to put aside their differences and come together to stop them, or else they will be annihilated. But will they be able to put their differences aside long enough? The secret of the Wyrde is finally revealed, and the price to fix it and drive the fae back is more than many would like to pay. Dun dun dunnnnnn.
This was a well written and well paced conclusion to the series. I would certainly call it rather enthralling as well, as I turned on the audiobook and would just listen for hours and hours without it even seeming like any time has passed. There are plenty of ups and downs, twists and turns, and lots of action to keep the story interesting. It also wrapped everything up nicely, leaving character arcs and plot points tied up fairly neatly while still leaving some space in the world for further exploration or imagination.
There were so many good characters to cheer for, but I think that my favorite over the entire series has been Selena, the snarky duchess. She takes absolutely no crap from anyone, and humorously claps back at anyone that tries, and I kind of love her for it. She was one of those characters that I wanted everything for.
Jonny McPherson is a fantastic narrator for this series. He gives each character their own voice, making it very easy to follow along with the story, and has just a pleasant sounding voice in general. I love love love the voice that he gives the fae in this series. It makes them seem so sinister, which only heightens the dark-and-scary fae vibe that this book gives.
So, all told, I really liked this one. It concluded the series in a satisfying manner, and was a great use of a couple of afternoons of listening.
This was a great conclusion to the series!
The fae are coming to purge humankind, and the Bjornmen and the Anlish have to put aside their differences and come together to stop them, or else they will be annihilated. But will they be able to put their differences aside long enough? The secret of the Wyrde is finally revealed, and the price to fix it and drive the fae back is more than many would like to pay. Dun dun dunnnnnn.
This was a well written and well paced conclusion to the series. I would certainly call it rather enthralling as well, as I turned on the audiobook and would just listen for hours and hours without it even seeming like any time has passed. There are plenty of ups and downs, twists and turns, and lots of action to keep the story interesting. It also wrapped everything up nicely, leaving character arcs and plot points tied up fairly neatly while still leaving some space in the world for further exploration or imagination.
There were so many good characters to cheer for, but I think that my favorite over the entire series has been Selena, the snarky duchess. She takes absolutely no crap from anyone, and humorously claps back at anyone that tries, and I kind of love her for it. She was one of those characters that I wanted everything for.
Jonny McPherson is a fantastic narrator for this series. He gives each character their own voice, making it very easy to follow along with the story, and has just a pleasant sounding voice in general. I love love love the voice that he gives the fae in this series. It makes them seem so sinister, which only heightens the dark-and-scary fae vibe that this book gives.
So, all told, I really liked this one. It concluded the series in a satisfying manner, and was a great use of a couple of afternoons of listening.
August 29, 2017
Read the full review at my site https://wp.me/p89tYT-iW
Happy endings only happen in faerie tales, Gavin. In life you need to work for any ending you can get. The happy ones always seem to take their price in tears. Yours or those of another, the price must always be paid.
Introduction
‘The Riven Wyrde Saga’, authored by Graham Austin-King, is his first fantasy series. This saga is a trilogy consisting of ‘Fae – The Wild Hunt’, ‘Fae – The Realm of Twilight’ and ‘Fae – The Sins of the Wyrde’.
The premise of this series is, on the surface, straightforward. The fae (elves, fairies etc.) are real but have been locked off in their own dimension for millennia since they enslaved humanity. And now, they are coming back to exact their revenge on the world. At the same time, pseudo-vikings invade pseudo-england . There are many complex issues addressed here – domestic abuse, rape, religion poverty, power to name a few. Each of these issues have their own threads which intertwine with the main story line.
Recommendation
I recommend ‘The Riven Wyrde Saga’ to fantasy readers. This series has good character arcs, brutal action and a unique take on the fae. It does not shy away from addressing complex issues either.
‘The RIven Wyrde Saga’ has an ensemble cast of characters, each of whom is integral to the story line. Nominally, there are a couple of male characters, Kloss and Devin who could fit in the standard fantasy alpha male mold. But Graham Austin-King has taken the series beyond these two characters. There are strong male and female characters, each of whom could lead a series on their own. Most of them have fully developed character arcs too. Graham Austin-King is great at developing characters (see my review of ‘Faithless‘) and this series is no exception.
Read the full review at my site https://wp.me/p89tYT-iW
Happy endings only happen in faerie tales, Gavin. In life you need to work for any ending you can get. The happy ones always seem to take their price in tears. Yours or those of another, the price must always be paid.
Introduction
‘The Riven Wyrde Saga’, authored by Graham Austin-King, is his first fantasy series. This saga is a trilogy consisting of ‘Fae – The Wild Hunt’, ‘Fae – The Realm of Twilight’ and ‘Fae – The Sins of the Wyrde’.
The premise of this series is, on the surface, straightforward. The fae (elves, fairies etc.) are real but have been locked off in their own dimension for millennia since they enslaved humanity. And now, they are coming back to exact their revenge on the world. At the same time, pseudo-vikings invade pseudo-england . There are many complex issues addressed here – domestic abuse, rape, religion poverty, power to name a few. Each of these issues have their own threads which intertwine with the main story line.
Recommendation
I recommend ‘The Riven Wyrde Saga’ to fantasy readers. This series has good character arcs, brutal action and a unique take on the fae. It does not shy away from addressing complex issues either.
‘The RIven Wyrde Saga’ has an ensemble cast of characters, each of whom is integral to the story line. Nominally, there are a couple of male characters, Kloss and Devin who could fit in the standard fantasy alpha male mold. But Graham Austin-King has taken the series beyond these two characters. There are strong male and female characters, each of whom could lead a series on their own. Most of them have fully developed character arcs too. Graham Austin-King is great at developing characters (see my review of ‘Faithless‘) and this series is no exception.
Read the full review at my site https://wp.me/p89tYT-iW
April 4, 2016
Wow. What a great book! I have to admit- I am sad to see the end.
On the whole this series was just fantastic. I enjoyed so many aspects of it. In a way it has the feel of the little guy/girl comes to greatness trope but on a darker grander scale.
The cast was huge and there were many characters that I cared about-most of them were great women characters.
I liked that this book came full circle back to Miriam, she started it and played a big part at the end. Which I felt was a nice touch.
I have loved the glimpses of the Fae during this series. In this book we get a better understanding of their society but not so much that they lose that inhuman quality. It’s a fine line keeping them feeling dark and scary, without falling into the trap of always having to one-up the last horrible thing they did, which I think was handled pretty well, for the most part.
I have always loved big battle scenes and these were so good! Some of the battle scenes were inspired.
Although there were some events with Miriam that I felt unnecessary, and some things I have questions about (nothing that affects the story as a whole), and one thing, I am hoping is an opening to a whole other story. I do think this was the strongest book of the series. You can see the growth in characters, style, and writing over the three books. I enjoyed this book so much, and this series.
I am a fan. I will definitely be looking for more by this author.
On the whole this series was just fantastic. I enjoyed so many aspects of it. In a way it has the feel of the little guy/girl comes to greatness trope but on a darker grander scale.
The cast was huge and there were many characters that I cared about-most of them were great women characters.
I liked that this book came full circle back to Miriam, she started it and played a big part at the end. Which I felt was a nice touch.
I have loved the glimpses of the Fae during this series. In this book we get a better understanding of their society but not so much that they lose that inhuman quality. It’s a fine line keeping them feeling dark and scary, without falling into the trap of always having to one-up the last horrible thing they did, which I think was handled pretty well, for the most part.
I have always loved big battle scenes and these were so good! Some of the battle scenes were inspired.
Although there were some events with Miriam that I felt unnecessary, and some things I have questions about (nothing that affects the story as a whole), and one thing, I am hoping is an opening to a whole other story. I do think this was the strongest book of the series. You can see the growth in characters, style, and writing over the three books. I enjoyed this book so much, and this series.
I am a fan. I will definitely be looking for more by this author.
December 10, 2015
Review 6*
I received a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review. However, when the book became available to pre-order, I placed my order right away.
This is the third and concluding story in The Riven Wyrde Saga. I absolutely LOVED it!
First off, I would like to say that I absolutely love the covers in this series. I am definitely considering getting them in print too, just so I can look at the beautiful artwork. Each book cover is amazing and the attention to detail by the artist is exquisite.
I normally do a character breakdown in the reviews I write, but there are just too many characters in this book to do one for all of them, so I will just jump straight into my review.
I love dark fantasy novels, and because I really loved the first two books in the series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one!
The story continues from the end of the second book, and is told through several points of view. I loved this, because it gave the story an almost film-like quality. I loved meeting not only the previous characters, but new ones too, who give a different perspective on events. I found myself gripped by horror at the savagery of the Fae. Miriam, Devin's mother, is still alive, but has suffered greatly at the hands of Ileriel, the Fae who captured her. Klöss and the Bjornmen find themselves fighting for their lives, and he makes a decision that could see him hanged as a traitor. Meanwhile, Selena (who happens to be one of my favourite characters) is still dealing with political machinations and bureaucracy of a King who won't lift a finger to help the people of Anlan fight against the Fae. I kept wanting to say to her, "You go girl!". Devin and Obair have a difficult task ahead of them, but could the price for fixing the Wyrde be too high? I thought so, but suggest you read the book to decide for yourself.
There are several twists and turns, not to mention the occasional surprise, that kept me riveted with this tale. Suffice it to say that it is just as intense and enthralling as the first two books. The descriptions of the people and scenes were extremely vivid and I could picture everything in my mind's eye like a movie. In fact, I could see this as a rival to Tolken's "Lord Of The Rings" on the big screen with ease. Unfortunately, I was also left with a few unanswered questions when I reached the end of the book, due to what I perceived as loose ends. However, I don't want to say what those questions are in case I accidentally give away a spoiler. I am sad to say goodbye to this saga, as the characters have become my friends. I do hope that the author visits the land of Anlan and The Barren Isles in the future, even if it's a novella, as I would love to know how everyone is doing.
Graham Austin-King has written an exciting, dark fantasy novel that kept me turning the pages! Although it can be more difficult to better the first book in some cases, the second was a lot better. However, this book is superb! I think that this book is a lot stronger and shows this author's growth in confidence with his characters and storyline. I love his fast paced writing style and the story flowed wonderfully from beginning to end. The characters came alive on the page and felt extremely lifelike. I'm definitely adding this author to my Favourite Authors' list and will read anything else that he writes.
Warning: This is NOT a children's fairy tale! I do not recommend this book to young children or those of a nervous disposition, as there are scenes of violence and gore (battle scenes amongst others) that could be very disturbing to some readers. However, I highly recommend this book to older teens and adults alike if you love dark fantasy novels. - Lynn Worton
I received a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review. However, when the book became available to pre-order, I placed my order right away.
This is the third and concluding story in The Riven Wyrde Saga. I absolutely LOVED it!
First off, I would like to say that I absolutely love the covers in this series. I am definitely considering getting them in print too, just so I can look at the beautiful artwork. Each book cover is amazing and the attention to detail by the artist is exquisite.
I normally do a character breakdown in the reviews I write, but there are just too many characters in this book to do one for all of them, so I will just jump straight into my review.
I love dark fantasy novels, and because I really loved the first two books in the series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one!
The story continues from the end of the second book, and is told through several points of view. I loved this, because it gave the story an almost film-like quality. I loved meeting not only the previous characters, but new ones too, who give a different perspective on events. I found myself gripped by horror at the savagery of the Fae. Miriam, Devin's mother, is still alive, but has suffered greatly at the hands of Ileriel, the Fae who captured her. Klöss and the Bjornmen find themselves fighting for their lives, and he makes a decision that could see him hanged as a traitor. Meanwhile, Selena (who happens to be one of my favourite characters) is still dealing with political machinations and bureaucracy of a King who won't lift a finger to help the people of Anlan fight against the Fae. I kept wanting to say to her, "You go girl!". Devin and Obair have a difficult task ahead of them, but could the price for fixing the Wyrde be too high? I thought so, but suggest you read the book to decide for yourself.
There are several twists and turns, not to mention the occasional surprise, that kept me riveted with this tale. Suffice it to say that it is just as intense and enthralling as the first two books. The descriptions of the people and scenes were extremely vivid and I could picture everything in my mind's eye like a movie. In fact, I could see this as a rival to Tolken's "Lord Of The Rings" on the big screen with ease. Unfortunately, I was also left with a few unanswered questions when I reached the end of the book, due to what I perceived as loose ends. However, I don't want to say what those questions are in case I accidentally give away a spoiler. I am sad to say goodbye to this saga, as the characters have become my friends. I do hope that the author visits the land of Anlan and The Barren Isles in the future, even if it's a novella, as I would love to know how everyone is doing.
Graham Austin-King has written an exciting, dark fantasy novel that kept me turning the pages! Although it can be more difficult to better the first book in some cases, the second was a lot better. However, this book is superb! I think that this book is a lot stronger and shows this author's growth in confidence with his characters and storyline. I love his fast paced writing style and the story flowed wonderfully from beginning to end. The characters came alive on the page and felt extremely lifelike. I'm definitely adding this author to my Favourite Authors' list and will read anything else that he writes.
Warning: This is NOT a children's fairy tale! I do not recommend this book to young children or those of a nervous disposition, as there are scenes of violence and gore (battle scenes amongst others) that could be very disturbing to some readers. However, I highly recommend this book to older teens and adults alike if you love dark fantasy novels. - Lynn Worton
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September 18, 2024I really liked this series. However, this last book, was filled with grammatical errors which made me think that it was translated and the translation was off. One other item about this last book was that it felt rushed. I felt like the storyline was rushed and just developed as well as in the first two installments.
All told though, it was a good series!
All told though, it was a good series!
June 20, 2019
"Ylsriss looked down at the cup she nestled in her lap. “Happy endings only happen in faerie tales, Gavin. In life you need to work for any ending you can get. The happy ones always seem to take their price in tears. Yours or those of another, the price must always be paid.”"
This took me far too long! Fantastic, brilliant, and also incredibly readable, The Riven Wyrd Saga has been a really addictive fantasy adventure, one that I recommend very highly. Do I have any gripes? Not really, I do feel that it felt a little repetitive, and the conclusion felt a little rushed, but the characters, the events, the action, the dialogue: it has been a rich and rewarding ride.
This is my first attempt at reading a self-published author, and Graham Austin-King has really won me over to the prospect of trying books outside the mainstream. He has a fantastic way with words. This work being so accomplished and detailed, I found myself really taken aback by, especially considering this is a debut. One reason for this is due to how strong the characters are. I could have enjoyed this story with basic, cookie cut heroic boys that turn into knights and damsels in distress. The premise has been good enough, I'd have liked it. But every character has been vividly portrayed in their own voice, with much attention to personality, to ways of talking, and the emotional side of the characters has at times moved me almost to tears. I felt scared with these characters! There is none of that "child born to fulfill prophecy" tropiness, but there is in its place absorbing and at times moving character development. We start the series with two nations ready to go to war, only to have to meet in the middle to fight another, mutual enemy, the Fae. So whilst we start off with the obvious villains (who are made relatable due to good writing, we even understand why they are eager to invade another land, so the line between good and bad is blurred, as it is in real life), we also have at times ambiguous good guys. The writing reminded me of the better elements of Robin Hobb, an excellent writer of characters and their interactions with their surroundings and each other. All in all, if the plot draws you in, you ultimately end up staying more for the characters. And that's testament to how good this series is, because the plot is fantastic!
If anyone wants to know why I am being very vague with this book, I already wrote a review of the first novel which went into a little more detail of the basic premise of the series, and I want to keep everything regarding the plot and characters of the final volume hushed up. If you're reading this book, you surely have read the first two volumes.
The Riven Wyrd Saga has been a major highlight of my reading year! It's delighted me, and I am eager to read his other works, of which I already own Faithless.
I long for more from this particular world, but on its own terms, each of the three volumes has built stupendously on the last, with The Sins Of The Wyrd ending the trilogy on a high even greater than the book that started it all, The Wild Hunt.
Fantastic trilogy. I hope the books get further revisions, as I won't lie, the typing errors and grammatical mistakes did get on my nerves. But I forgive all that, because the story was utterly brilliant, and I know for a fact I will revisit this trilogy again.
This took me far too long! Fantastic, brilliant, and also incredibly readable, The Riven Wyrd Saga has been a really addictive fantasy adventure, one that I recommend very highly. Do I have any gripes? Not really, I do feel that it felt a little repetitive, and the conclusion felt a little rushed, but the characters, the events, the action, the dialogue: it has been a rich and rewarding ride.
This is my first attempt at reading a self-published author, and Graham Austin-King has really won me over to the prospect of trying books outside the mainstream. He has a fantastic way with words. This work being so accomplished and detailed, I found myself really taken aback by, especially considering this is a debut. One reason for this is due to how strong the characters are. I could have enjoyed this story with basic, cookie cut heroic boys that turn into knights and damsels in distress. The premise has been good enough, I'd have liked it. But every character has been vividly portrayed in their own voice, with much attention to personality, to ways of talking, and the emotional side of the characters has at times moved me almost to tears. I felt scared with these characters! There is none of that "child born to fulfill prophecy" tropiness, but there is in its place absorbing and at times moving character development. We start the series with two nations ready to go to war, only to have to meet in the middle to fight another, mutual enemy, the Fae. So whilst we start off with the obvious villains (who are made relatable due to good writing, we even understand why they are eager to invade another land, so the line between good and bad is blurred, as it is in real life), we also have at times ambiguous good guys. The writing reminded me of the better elements of Robin Hobb, an excellent writer of characters and their interactions with their surroundings and each other. All in all, if the plot draws you in, you ultimately end up staying more for the characters. And that's testament to how good this series is, because the plot is fantastic!
If anyone wants to know why I am being very vague with this book, I already wrote a review of the first novel which went into a little more detail of the basic premise of the series, and I want to keep everything regarding the plot and characters of the final volume hushed up. If you're reading this book, you surely have read the first two volumes.
The Riven Wyrd Saga has been a major highlight of my reading year! It's delighted me, and I am eager to read his other works, of which I already own Faithless.
I long for more from this particular world, but on its own terms, each of the three volumes has built stupendously on the last, with The Sins Of The Wyrd ending the trilogy on a high even greater than the book that started it all, The Wild Hunt.
Fantastic trilogy. I hope the books get further revisions, as I won't lie, the typing errors and grammatical mistakes did get on my nerves. But I forgive all that, because the story was utterly brilliant, and I know for a fact I will revisit this trilogy again.
April 9, 2021
I wanted to give this book so much more because the story, when you can follow it, is worth the read and actually pretty good. However, the editing is atrocious and distracting. Not only that the author's lines roll along and then you get something like, "you big oaf" that takes you entirely out of the story. The author never found a language or persona for each of his many factions. That said, if you can wade through the three books, the story is unique in fantasy. I'm guessing this was self-published with no editor -- a tragic mistake for such an awesome tale.
June 15, 2016
See my review of the entire saga here:
http://smashdragons.blogspot.com.au/2...
http://smashdragons.blogspot.com.au/2...
April 5, 2023
A thrilling conclusion to the story. I found this final installment to be much more realistic in terms of how people interacted and how relationships formed. The only real issue I had is that a couple storylines are left unresolved. I appreciated seeing how it ended for Ylsriss, but what about Devin and Erinn; Selena and Rhenkin and their baby? It’s alluded that Devin and Erinn end up together, and that Selena does have feelings for Rhenkin, and being queen, will likely get her way and have him as her consort. But does she ever develop that connection to her child she felt she was missing? How do Devin and Erinn fare? What happens between the Bjornmen and the Anlish? I thought it was a great ending, however I do wish we got those definite answers, specifically about Devin seeing as the entire story started with him and Miriam fleeing his abusive father.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 3, 2025Before I dive into the book itself, I have to praise Jonny McPherson for his outstanding performance. He didn’t just narrate—he delivered a full theatrical experience, bringing each character to life in a way that kept me engaged. Honestly, his performance is the main reason I kept listening after the third rape scene.
The Riven Wyrde Saga is a high fantasy series with excellent world-building, strong character development, and a unique magic system. The characters are well-rounded and show meaningful growth throughout the story. The good guys are compelling, and the villains are truly evil, making for a stark but effective contrast.
That said, a major content warning is necessary—there is a lot of rape in this series, and it happens frequently. If that’s a deal-breaker for you, consider yourself warned.
The Riven Wyrde Saga is a high fantasy series with excellent world-building, strong character development, and a unique magic system. The characters are well-rounded and show meaningful growth throughout the story. The good guys are compelling, and the villains are truly evil, making for a stark but effective contrast.
That said, a major content warning is necessary—there is a lot of rape in this series, and it happens frequently. If that’s a deal-breaker for you, consider yourself warned.
May 1, 2023
I liked it in the end, but it was lengthy even as an audio book. Some parts there was just too much explaining and too little time spend on also moving the story onward. I skipped a few chapters falling asleep and not missing out. Usually I find that taking too much time to explain things away makes me lose part of my interest in the story. I wanted more from kloss, but it felt like a big drag there.
I found myself not very interested in the other world. I like portal stories, but i couldn’t get in tune with this one.
Generally it’s a good story, but I feel like the conclusion could’ve been cut several chapters shorter.
I found myself not very interested in the other world. I like portal stories, but i couldn’t get in tune with this one.
Generally it’s a good story, but I feel like the conclusion could’ve been cut several chapters shorter.
June 13, 2019
A fitting and satisfying ending to the Riven Wyrde Saga!
I enjoyed all the different POVs and characters and how their paths came together in the end. The depiction of all the darker parts were really well done. Especially considerig how much bloodshed is involved. It made me realise again how desensitised we readers are and how difficult it is - for an author - to write about war and killing in a way it's realistic enough to still reach to the readers.
The Riven Wyrde did a great job with that and has a good mix of world building, story lines and characters.
I enjoyed all the different POVs and characters and how their paths came together in the end. The depiction of all the darker parts were really well done. Especially considerig how much bloodshed is involved. It made me realise again how desensitised we readers are and how difficult it is - for an author - to write about war and killing in a way it's realistic enough to still reach to the readers.
The Riven Wyrde did a great job with that and has a good mix of world building, story lines and characters.
February 16, 2022
It was exactly as I predicted in my first review. This series went from mediocre to phenomenal. Talk about playing the long game. Every single thread was tied. Every person/thing that I thought "I wonder whatever happened with..." or "... but why?" was answered in full, and then some.
Bells this rang for me:
Strong female characters.
Clever magic system.
Blood/gore.
Unwinnable battles that are actually lost instead of improbable Hail Marys that soothe the soul but defy logic.
Unwinnable battles that are actually won via Hail Marys that soothe the soul but defy logic.
Bells this rang for me:
Strong female characters.
Clever magic system.
Blood/gore.
Unwinnable battles that are actually lost instead of improbable Hail Marys that soothe the soul but defy logic.
Unwinnable battles that are actually won via Hail Marys that soothe the soul but defy logic.
November 1, 2024
Epic Fantasy
A fantasy world with a Viking-type culture at war with a mediaeval-style monarchy, and both faced with an invasion of vengeful Fae. A large and colourful cast, multiple plots, and solid writing that tie all the threads together and achieve resolution over the three volumes make this a very satisfying read. One gripe: will writers and proofreaders please tear themselves away from the spellchecker long enough to realise that "discreet" and "discrete" are different words with totally different meanings?
A fantasy world with a Viking-type culture at war with a mediaeval-style monarchy, and both faced with an invasion of vengeful Fae. A large and colourful cast, multiple plots, and solid writing that tie all the threads together and achieve resolution over the three volumes make this a very satisfying read. One gripe: will writers and proofreaders please tear themselves away from the spellchecker long enough to realise that "discreet" and "discrete" are different words with totally different meanings?
June 18, 2024
This was a fun series to read. Book two in my opinion was the best of the trio. At points in this series the writing seems a bit rushed. Especially at the end of book three. Also the ending could have been so much stronger especially with the character wrap up. One of the main characters throughout the series only gets a very quick comment in regard to their wrap up. Still a fun book though.
August 17, 2017
Great story to get re-acquainted with fantasy
I thought I was all through with this genre. Thankfully kindle unlimited brought me back with these lovely stories. Escape is even better in middle-old-age! Highly recommend for all ages old enough for the 'f-word.'. Let's me know that there's an entire class of stories I have been ignoring.
I thought I was all through with this genre. Thankfully kindle unlimited brought me back with these lovely stories. Escape is even better in middle-old-age! Highly recommend for all ages old enough for the 'f-word.'. Let's me know that there's an entire class of stories I have been ignoring.
December 5, 2017
So, I loved every character, the story, the dialogue, the amount of thought and detail that went into the telling of this story. The author didn't pull punches, he staid honest to the characters and the story. The fae where not from Disney, they were every bit as scary as our ancestors said they were. And for that I thank you very much! I'm a new fan of yours.
July 24, 2021
The war between the Anlish and the Bjornmen is heating up, but alliances against the Fae may be possible. Young noble woman Selena is determined to destroy the Fae, or at least send them back from whence they came, and it seems as if Daevin may just hold the key to restoring the Wyrd- the ancient barrier between worlds.
August 29, 2023
I have submitted this review after listening to the audiobook of this title. (Audible Membership)
The finale of the series, again, a tale across multiple sites, playing the simultaneous events on the same timeline.
I hate to give away a good plot, so it's best to read the tale in the author's own words rather than my poor synapses.
The finale of the series, again, a tale across multiple sites, playing the simultaneous events on the same timeline.
I hate to give away a good plot, so it's best to read the tale in the author's own words rather than my poor synapses.
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October 21, 2024Enjoy the fantasy of the long forgotten children's story books
Read all three and what a surprisingly great read. Found myself engrossed in the entire story and suffered some late night's for it! I adore books that book me from the beginning and find difficult to put down to live my day in the real world and this is definitely one of those.
Read all three and what a surprisingly great read. Found myself engrossed in the entire story and suffered some late night's for it! I adore books that book me from the beginning and find difficult to put down to live my day in the real world and this is definitely one of those.
January 19, 2025
Brilliance
Wow what a fantastically wonderful set of stories that was I started reading book one and have hardly done anything else but devour all three books in this amazingly wonder story.
Plenty of room for follow up books to continue adventure s I can hardly wait
Thank you Graham Austin King .
Wow what a fantastically wonderful set of stories that was I started reading book one and have hardly done anything else but devour all three books in this amazingly wonder story.
Plenty of room for follow up books to continue adventure s I can hardly wait
Thank you Graham Austin King .
December 7, 2025
Excellent tale
I very much enjoyed this series. The tale jumps around a bit and I lost track of some of the characters, but, no big deal. This story is beautifully woven, with compelling, strong main characters, evil antagonists and some wisdom thrown in, as well. Highly recommend.
I very much enjoyed this series. The tale jumps around a bit and I lost track of some of the characters, but, no big deal. This story is beautifully woven, with compelling, strong main characters, evil antagonists and some wisdom thrown in, as well. Highly recommend.
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