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Haelend's Ballad
“Some call me Murderer, others call me Lord. I've been called Savior and Enslaver. But no one has ever called me Child.”
A young man signs his own death warrant when he joins an already failing militia. A teenage girl is haunted by her childhood abuse and begins to crave the very things she hates. A childless mother finds herself on the run as a convicted murderer. Yet they are all unaware that their own fates are tied to a young orphan who has drowned and come back to life in a foreign land where he will be the death of everyone he meets.
Hælend’s Ballad is a tale about what happens when men and women from two colliding cultures realize they may not be on the right side. Heroes are villains. The persecuted are oppressors. And when rumors begin to spread that the world is dying, the darkness of their own hearts betrays them.
A young man signs his own death warrant when he joins an already failing militia. A teenage girl is haunted by her childhood abuse and begins to crave the very things she hates. A childless mother finds herself on the run as a convicted murderer. Yet they are all unaware that their own fates are tied to a young orphan who has drowned and come back to life in a foreign land where he will be the death of everyone he meets.
Hælend’s Ballad is a tale about what happens when men and women from two colliding cultures realize they may not be on the right side. Heroes are villains. The persecuted are oppressors. And when rumors begin to spread that the world is dying, the darkness of their own hearts betrays them.
775 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2021
22 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Ian V. Conrey
1 book40 followersIan Conrey is both a teacher and student of history and theology, who actively fights against human trafficking and is working toward an M.A. in Religion. In his free time, he enjoys reading biographies and ancient mythology, discovering early American folk songs, and exploring the Cohutta Wilderness. He lives with his wife and three children in the North Georgia mountains.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 3, 2021
Conrey’s spellbinding debut is marked with darkness, individual struggles, and political intrigue.
It’s been sixteen years since Sunder was invaded by brutal forces of Daecland. After losing his father to a brutal ambush, the young Arnon Greystrom is forced to take on his father’s role as a Dark Horse. But the enemy forces are too large and strong. Geoffrey, a husband and father, is tired of constant uncertainty and bloodshed but joins the militia to fulfil his duty toward his motherland. The gentle and vulnerable Eirun finds herself on the run after accidentally killing her master. With their fates tied to Soren, a young orphan, who has drowned and come back to life in a foreign land, they all are led on a whirlwind journey into unknown.
Conrey’s fantasy world is morbidly gripping and enriched by darkness, intrigue, and poignant emotions and enlivened by bloody action. Conrey adeptly weaves the political upheaval around his large cast of intriguing characters into the love and loss in their lives. He does a first-rate job of propelling the plot along while simultaneously revealing the layers of his protagonists’ troubled backstories. The relationship between his various characters is sketched with precision and skill, and the crisp, evocative prose and expert pacing elevate this above most other dark fantasy novels. Along the way, Conrey delves into complex themes of abuse, violence against children and women, honor, integrity, duty, responsibility, and power of forgiveness. There is plenty of violence and bloodshed, making it unsuitable for the faint of heart. Gritty and well-constructed, this makes a rich treat for lovers of dark fantasy.
It’s been sixteen years since Sunder was invaded by brutal forces of Daecland. After losing his father to a brutal ambush, the young Arnon Greystrom is forced to take on his father’s role as a Dark Horse. But the enemy forces are too large and strong. Geoffrey, a husband and father, is tired of constant uncertainty and bloodshed but joins the militia to fulfil his duty toward his motherland. The gentle and vulnerable Eirun finds herself on the run after accidentally killing her master. With their fates tied to Soren, a young orphan, who has drowned and come back to life in a foreign land, they all are led on a whirlwind journey into unknown.
Conrey’s fantasy world is morbidly gripping and enriched by darkness, intrigue, and poignant emotions and enlivened by bloody action. Conrey adeptly weaves the political upheaval around his large cast of intriguing characters into the love and loss in their lives. He does a first-rate job of propelling the plot along while simultaneously revealing the layers of his protagonists’ troubled backstories. The relationship between his various characters is sketched with precision and skill, and the crisp, evocative prose and expert pacing elevate this above most other dark fantasy novels. Along the way, Conrey delves into complex themes of abuse, violence against children and women, honor, integrity, duty, responsibility, and power of forgiveness. There is plenty of violence and bloodshed, making it unsuitable for the faint of heart. Gritty and well-constructed, this makes a rich treat for lovers of dark fantasy.
July 13, 2021
A complex and highly-developed dark fantasy novel with great characters, Haelend's Ballad reminded me of reading an epic, tragic Greek writing full of heroism, tragedy, love, loss, intrigue and fantastic battle scenes. It is long (approx 800 pages), but for a reader who likes to feel immersed in new worlds and really understand the depth and lives of characters, this book is a recommended read. I agree with other reviews that say this book deserves focus and attention - it's not a quick read. However, it pulls you in and keeps you engaged throughout, and I really enjoyed the ending. I read the author bio and feel his own passion for history and theology really resonated in his writing as he touched on many themes such as violence against women and children and forgiveness and inner strength. Highly recommend if you're looking for a long novel that will keep you engaged (reminded me of Tolkin or even Wilbur Smith in length and style (though Smith not dark fantasy). 5/5 stars!
July 9, 2021
Thank you netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a review
I was unfortunately a bit disappointed by this book. We dive straight into the plot, with a lot of characters introduced, and it's hard to understand how the universe works. I was a bit lost at first. The prose itself is good, but I struggled to get invested in the plot or to really like the characters.
There's a lot of things happening so this could have been 2 books, or one book with a little bit less of description or events.
Big TW for Violence against children
Strong gender roles, I'm getting tired of seeing this in fantasy books bcse if you can create a new universe, you can create one that doesn't follow the same rules in term of gender
I was unfortunately a bit disappointed by this book. We dive straight into the plot, with a lot of characters introduced, and it's hard to understand how the universe works. I was a bit lost at first. The prose itself is good, but I struggled to get invested in the plot or to really like the characters.
There's a lot of things happening so this could have been 2 books, or one book with a little bit less of description or events.
Big TW for Violence against children
Strong gender roles, I'm getting tired of seeing this in fantasy books bcse if you can create a new universe, you can create one that doesn't follow the same rules in term of gender
January 11, 2022
Haelend’s Ballad by Ian Conrey is an epic fantasy in both length and quality. This book does not read like a debut, rather a well-crafted classic on par with the works of J. R. R. Tolkien or Stephen R. Donaldson. The world-building is every bit as meticulous, the history every bit as rich, and the story every bit as sophisticated.
The story takes place in a time where the people of Sunder have long been the suffering oppressed under Daecish colonization and now plan to fight to take back their land. They believe Sunder’s Bane is fast approaching, a prophesied day of reckoning. As these events unfold, there are flashes of comedic relief along with tender, touching moments, but it is a largely grim tale that does not shy away from dark and violent scenes. I would warn the faint of heart this may not be the book for you.
Throughout the saga, Conrey weaves the lives of his vast cast of characters together to show a broken world and lost people. Heroes doubt themselves and their purpose, women struggle to survive lives burned to ash by loss and abuse, and even children lose the light of their innocence to the darkness of a brutal life. This book shows human nature in all its facets: its courage, its selfishness, its capacity for forgiveness, and its capacity for cruelness. Each character is flawed but worthy of empathy, as they keep fighting and hoping and trying only to get knocked down again and again. The heart can’t help but bleed for these very true-to-life characters, and more than once moments brought me to tears.
What makes Haelend’s Ballad beautiful is how all the ugliness leads up to a beautiful conclusion that binds everything together with a powerful message grounded in Christian ideals. With faith, the light will out, and hope overcomes all. The final pages are nothing short of profound, and this read will be one to return to again and again to garner new and deeper understanding of its many messages and themes. Haelend’s Ballad is a triumph, and I can’t wait to see what Conrey comes up with next.
The story takes place in a time where the people of Sunder have long been the suffering oppressed under Daecish colonization and now plan to fight to take back their land. They believe Sunder’s Bane is fast approaching, a prophesied day of reckoning. As these events unfold, there are flashes of comedic relief along with tender, touching moments, but it is a largely grim tale that does not shy away from dark and violent scenes. I would warn the faint of heart this may not be the book for you.
Throughout the saga, Conrey weaves the lives of his vast cast of characters together to show a broken world and lost people. Heroes doubt themselves and their purpose, women struggle to survive lives burned to ash by loss and abuse, and even children lose the light of their innocence to the darkness of a brutal life. This book shows human nature in all its facets: its courage, its selfishness, its capacity for forgiveness, and its capacity for cruelness. Each character is flawed but worthy of empathy, as they keep fighting and hoping and trying only to get knocked down again and again. The heart can’t help but bleed for these very true-to-life characters, and more than once moments brought me to tears.
What makes Haelend’s Ballad beautiful is how all the ugliness leads up to a beautiful conclusion that binds everything together with a powerful message grounded in Christian ideals. With faith, the light will out, and hope overcomes all. The final pages are nothing short of profound, and this read will be one to return to again and again to garner new and deeper understanding of its many messages and themes. Haelend’s Ballad is a triumph, and I can’t wait to see what Conrey comes up with next.
June 7, 2021
Beautiful, gripping, dark, and complex tale of epic proportions. Upon hearing about the basic genre of the book, I knew that I would be enthralled. What I didn't realize, however, is how much this would grip me and wrench me from the inside. I'll start by giving my overall thoughts. I absolutely love the 2 time periods that this book weaves together. The "steampunk" late 1800's and the Middle Ages fantasy world have been 2 of my favorite things for many years. So, a book that perfectly brings these 2 worlds together in such a unique way was already going to be a win for me. Mr. Conrey does a phenomenal job of weaving in several complex storylines without leaving the reader dizzy and confused. He also does not shy away from deep character development and individual struggles. As someone who is fascinated with the human psyche, I love when authors give time to let their characters develop and grow without just shoving them through a story. This book is incredibly complex with characters, but simple to follow. It is no secret the book is approaching 800 pages, which is long. It is this length, however that allows for the depth of complex character development. My favorite part about this tale (the length and characters), is maybe it’s only downfall, and yet also its biggest strength - yes, I know that was whacky. 800 pages means there is plenty of time to develop the complex characters and show their individual struggle. It also means that there are 800 pages that you need to remember and keep the storyline straight. This is where Mr. Conrey really shines. As complex as this 800-page novel is, I never once felt like I was lost or needing to go back and re-read something because it was so important. I was gifted the opportunity to have maybe missed some cool things while not missing any of the key story. This brings me to the only possible negative thing (which for me is totally a positive thing) I can say and that is simply that the book is so long and will be prime for taking a second read at some point soon to gather some of the many little details that I may have missed. I state this as a negative simply because I know for some people they don't enjoy the necessity of going back over a long book to read it again. For me I can’t wait to gather more and more details of this amazing story.
Now let me shift gears and get a little personal. I have spent 10 years working with abuse victims, especially teen victims. As a society this issue is massively overlooked and even more specifically, in our churches and "Christian culture" this issue is often completely ignored. Worse yet, many times in our Christian circles I have seen these young girls blamed and mentally abused for the physical and sexual abuse that they have endured. I have seen them blamed, mistreated, and bore the brunt of their own shame, because the ignorance that surrounds this issue. I would be remiss if I did not take the time to say a huge thank you to Mr. Conrey and how he handles this. I hope that If you read this book and you have abuse in your past that this is part of the healing process for you. I pray that you will find a group of true Christ followers who are able to walk through those horrors with you and be part of your healing. Mr. Conrey does such an amazing job not only highlighting these issues in the context of his book but also providing some insight for people to learn how they might help. He does this by shedding light on how the world sees these victims and trying to just be a part of changing that scenery. Thank you for handling this delicate issue with such dignity.
Overall, this is a 5/5 without a doubt. I can't want to read it again and discover even more depth and character intrigue. Thank you for the time you took to make this such a success. You will not be disappointed by reading this book. Matter of fact you will come away changed, moved and ready to see the world in a different way for the good.
Now let me shift gears and get a little personal. I have spent 10 years working with abuse victims, especially teen victims. As a society this issue is massively overlooked and even more specifically, in our churches and "Christian culture" this issue is often completely ignored. Worse yet, many times in our Christian circles I have seen these young girls blamed and mentally abused for the physical and sexual abuse that they have endured. I have seen them blamed, mistreated, and bore the brunt of their own shame, because the ignorance that surrounds this issue. I would be remiss if I did not take the time to say a huge thank you to Mr. Conrey and how he handles this. I hope that If you read this book and you have abuse in your past that this is part of the healing process for you. I pray that you will find a group of true Christ followers who are able to walk through those horrors with you and be part of your healing. Mr. Conrey does such an amazing job not only highlighting these issues in the context of his book but also providing some insight for people to learn how they might help. He does this by shedding light on how the world sees these victims and trying to just be a part of changing that scenery. Thank you for handling this delicate issue with such dignity.
Overall, this is a 5/5 without a doubt. I can't want to read it again and discover even more depth and character intrigue. Thank you for the time you took to make this such a success. You will not be disappointed by reading this book. Matter of fact you will come away changed, moved and ready to see the world in a different way for the good.
July 21, 2021
Hælend’s Ballad is truly one of my favorite books I have read in a long time. The book is really big, not only in length but in depth. Conrey takes his time developing every character and building the world around them in great detail. There are a lot of characters and plots to follow and there were times I got lost. But in the end, every single plot connected so beautifully that I wouldn’t want it any other way. I got excited for characters when I noticed plots were starting to connect and I felt like a part of their world.
No matter how many intense fight scenes there were, my absolute favorite moments in the entire book were the conversations the characters had questioning Theos (God). The questions about suffering and questioning if religion is true are something we all have done. Conrey answers these real Theological questions in such a way that it helps me better understand religion outside of just a fantasy novel. Without trying to be a book specifically written for Christians, it answers some of the most important questions and debates that Christians have.
Of course, this book won’t be for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone just casually reading or wanting a light-hearted book. This book is very gruesome but in the best way possible. The fight scenes are very detailed and paint a vivid, bloody image in your mind. I completely understand that the amount of detail will be too much for some people; both because it’s so gruesome and because the plots can be hard to follow in the beginning.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got to a point I would be thinking about the characters and what was going on throughout my day. Now that I’ve finished the book, I miss this world I would visit every night and the characters I grew to cherish. Hælends Ballad is now one of my favorite fantasy novels. I loved the twist of incorporating steampunk in such a well-known genre of fantasy. I truly believe this is a book you could read two or three times and still be finding new things to love. I couldn’t recommend this book enough for any fantasy lovers looking for a new world to get lost in.
No matter how many intense fight scenes there were, my absolute favorite moments in the entire book were the conversations the characters had questioning Theos (God). The questions about suffering and questioning if religion is true are something we all have done. Conrey answers these real Theological questions in such a way that it helps me better understand religion outside of just a fantasy novel. Without trying to be a book specifically written for Christians, it answers some of the most important questions and debates that Christians have.
Of course, this book won’t be for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone just casually reading or wanting a light-hearted book. This book is very gruesome but in the best way possible. The fight scenes are very detailed and paint a vivid, bloody image in your mind. I completely understand that the amount of detail will be too much for some people; both because it’s so gruesome and because the plots can be hard to follow in the beginning.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got to a point I would be thinking about the characters and what was going on throughout my day. Now that I’ve finished the book, I miss this world I would visit every night and the characters I grew to cherish. Hælends Ballad is now one of my favorite fantasy novels. I loved the twist of incorporating steampunk in such a well-known genre of fantasy. I truly believe this is a book you could read two or three times and still be finding new things to love. I couldn’t recommend this book enough for any fantasy lovers looking for a new world to get lost in.
December 6, 2021
A sophisticated tale of humanity hidden behind simple, ballad-like prose that carries you along like a bedtime story, leading you into the deep, dark woods to be eaten by monsters before you can scream. This grim dark, multiple POV fantasy features an ambitiously large cast of humans of all shapes, sizes, and ages, all of whom will make you look at your seemingly harmless neighbors and wonder if they’re hiding something in the basement. These “ordinary” individuals are thrown together into a world that’s coming to an end, and Ian Conrey doesn’t hold back on showing you what “ordinary” humans are capable of doing to survive. This is not a pleasant or a light read. It’s a book that’s meant to disturb and give us all a wake up call.
Haelend’s Ballad, in many ways, reads like a newspaper featuring the crimes and tragic deaths of people you happen to know, leaving you with an aftertaste of something disturbing that keeps you searching for more, like following bad news without knowing why. And while you may not be pulled along for how much you love the characters (many will die before you get to know them that well), you’ll be pulled along by the sense that all these mini stories will eventually come together in the end to deliver a message worth listening to. What that message is, you will have to read and answer for yourself.
If you need an uplifting story full of hope to escape to a better world, this is not one of them. This is a book for those of us who are willing to face the world and humanity with all its ugliness in order to find peace and meaning in life even when hope is scarce. As a series lover, I would give it 4.5* for the fact that I believe I will enjoy spending more time with a cast and world this large than what a single book can offer, but for those who love a stand-alone story that concludes in itself, I think the book serves its purpose as well as it possibly can which is not at all easy to do given the scope of things. All in all, a triumphant debut I’d recommend to any lover of grim dark fantasy looking for something different written by an author who doesn’t stay behind fences.
Haelend’s Ballad, in many ways, reads like a newspaper featuring the crimes and tragic deaths of people you happen to know, leaving you with an aftertaste of something disturbing that keeps you searching for more, like following bad news without knowing why. And while you may not be pulled along for how much you love the characters (many will die before you get to know them that well), you’ll be pulled along by the sense that all these mini stories will eventually come together in the end to deliver a message worth listening to. What that message is, you will have to read and answer for yourself.
If you need an uplifting story full of hope to escape to a better world, this is not one of them. This is a book for those of us who are willing to face the world and humanity with all its ugliness in order to find peace and meaning in life even when hope is scarce. As a series lover, I would give it 4.5* for the fact that I believe I will enjoy spending more time with a cast and world this large than what a single book can offer, but for those who love a stand-alone story that concludes in itself, I think the book serves its purpose as well as it possibly can which is not at all easy to do given the scope of things. All in all, a triumphant debut I’d recommend to any lover of grim dark fantasy looking for something different written by an author who doesn’t stay behind fences.
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August 16, 2024I received a complementary copy of HAELEND’S BALLAD by Ian V. Conrey for the purpose of reviewing it for #SPFBOX for the team created by Cassidy @coverswithcassidy.
HAELEND’S BALLAD is a grimdark steampunk fantasy with two different cultures at war. The story follows a host of characters from different walks of life. As the book opens, we are following Arnon, a young man who’s father is killed. Arnon goes to join the militia his father belonged to, joining in with a movement against the people occupying his land.
We meet Soren who is a young orphan boy just looking for love and a place to belong. When his chance at a life outside of the orphanage is destroyed, he finds himself tossed into a river for dead. When he comes back to life he is on a foreign shore, once again trying to find his way in the world. We follow many people all fighting for what they believe is right, but they must begin to recognize that not everything is as they believed and that ideas might need to change.
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I was very intrigued by the blend of darkness and steampunk fantasy that this book promised and I think that it did deliver that. I wasn’t sure I’d personally classify it as grimdark in my mind in the beginning as I think this book initially made an effort to hold onto more morality and hope than I have come to expect in grimdark, thought it certainly is dark for the majority of they book. Trigger warnings for child abuse, rape, suicide, violence, war, and many more dark topics.
This is a book that follows a very large cast of characters. In general, I think that the main characters of the story are well defined and well laid out. I could see the clear character development over the space of the novel. In particular Arnon goes through quite the process of beginning in a pretty innocent position to having to face a world full of violence, loss, and brutal disappointments.
Soren was one of my favorite points of view to follow because there are so many questions surrounding his character. He has very limited knowledge about himself, but we see other characters reacting to him through Soren’s eyes and I found it very interesting trying to piece together the truth. Many of the people he encounters draw comparisons between him and the titular Haelend’s Ballad and the prophesy it contains. Once we finally got to read the ballad ourselves it was fun to review how it seemed to match what we knew from the book.
With the sheer number of characters, many of them having POV portions of their own, there were characters I enjoyed more than others. I think those that were more concerned with family and protecting people drew my attention more than those concerned more with battle. I am not a big reader of military type fantasy and I think that played into things a bit for me. I think that some of the secondary characters who weren’t featured quite as often were not as fleshed out as our main POVs as well.
I think the plot was well done for what it wanted to accomplish and I think the pacing was on the slow side but in a deliberate and steady sort of way. This is the type of book that puts you straight into the story without a lot of setup or hand holding, so it did take me a bit to fully figure out where the plot was heading. I would say that this book felt more character than plot driven. The ending brings things about that I didn’t entirely expect and I could have used a bit more in the way of concrete answers.
Because we had so many characters with their own backstories and agendas, there were a few times where I had to remind myself who was who and what was what, but overall I think the author did well at putting in reminders of what was important. I think that with the back and forth between POVs, we revised each perspective often enough to keep the reader well engaged.
The world building in this book was very interesting. I really liked that this is a world where they use ballads to pass along histories. I thought that the conversations around colonization were well done. I appreciated that the author acknowledged at one point that even as the Daecish have come in and colonized the local people, they weren’t the original inhabitants themselves and maybe they were once the colonizors.
All that said, I did have some issues with the world building. In the beginning we hear about various elements of the mythology around Haelen’s Ballad without getting a lot of details. There are debates between characters about the coming of the alphyns and wyrms, but it isn’t until later in the book that we get any description of what these creatures are. As someone really drawn in by world building, I do wish that we had discovered more about the different cultures and the creatures of the world earlier on in the book.
I thought that the writing itself was really well done. The prose reminded me of various classic fantasy tales. It wasn’t something I necessarily felt like I could fly through, but rather something I wanted to take some time sitting down to read. The author is really well skilled as setting a gruesome battle scene while also getting into the thoughts and feelings of his characters. The author does deliver some messages about violence and character and morals which were woven well into the story.
When it comes to enjoyment, this wasn’t entirely a “me” type of book and as such it wasn’t one that full drew me in. While I did connect well to some of the characters in particular and look forward to reading their POV chapters, the general battle and political maneuvering didn’t really connect for me. It is a book that I think will do well with an audience more interested in books with a very classical and military fantasy feel paired with the grimdark subgenre.
HAELEND’S BALLAD is a grimdark steampunk fantasy with two different cultures at war. The story follows a host of characters from different walks of life. As the book opens, we are following Arnon, a young man who’s father is killed. Arnon goes to join the militia his father belonged to, joining in with a movement against the people occupying his land.
We meet Soren who is a young orphan boy just looking for love and a place to belong. When his chance at a life outside of the orphanage is destroyed, he finds himself tossed into a river for dead. When he comes back to life he is on a foreign shore, once again trying to find his way in the world. We follow many people all fighting for what they believe is right, but they must begin to recognize that not everything is as they believed and that ideas might need to change.
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I was very intrigued by the blend of darkness and steampunk fantasy that this book promised and I think that it did deliver that. I wasn’t sure I’d personally classify it as grimdark in my mind in the beginning as I think this book initially made an effort to hold onto more morality and hope than I have come to expect in grimdark, thought it certainly is dark for the majority of they book. Trigger warnings for child abuse, rape, suicide, violence, war, and many more dark topics.
This is a book that follows a very large cast of characters. In general, I think that the main characters of the story are well defined and well laid out. I could see the clear character development over the space of the novel. In particular Arnon goes through quite the process of beginning in a pretty innocent position to having to face a world full of violence, loss, and brutal disappointments.
Soren was one of my favorite points of view to follow because there are so many questions surrounding his character. He has very limited knowledge about himself, but we see other characters reacting to him through Soren’s eyes and I found it very interesting trying to piece together the truth. Many of the people he encounters draw comparisons between him and the titular Haelend’s Ballad and the prophesy it contains. Once we finally got to read the ballad ourselves it was fun to review how it seemed to match what we knew from the book.
With the sheer number of characters, many of them having POV portions of their own, there were characters I enjoyed more than others. I think those that were more concerned with family and protecting people drew my attention more than those concerned more with battle. I am not a big reader of military type fantasy and I think that played into things a bit for me. I think that some of the secondary characters who weren’t featured quite as often were not as fleshed out as our main POVs as well.
I think the plot was well done for what it wanted to accomplish and I think the pacing was on the slow side but in a deliberate and steady sort of way. This is the type of book that puts you straight into the story without a lot of setup or hand holding, so it did take me a bit to fully figure out where the plot was heading. I would say that this book felt more character than plot driven. The ending brings things about that I didn’t entirely expect and I could have used a bit more in the way of concrete answers.
Because we had so many characters with their own backstories and agendas, there were a few times where I had to remind myself who was who and what was what, but overall I think the author did well at putting in reminders of what was important. I think that with the back and forth between POVs, we revised each perspective often enough to keep the reader well engaged.
The world building in this book was very interesting. I really liked that this is a world where they use ballads to pass along histories. I thought that the conversations around colonization were well done. I appreciated that the author acknowledged at one point that even as the Daecish have come in and colonized the local people, they weren’t the original inhabitants themselves and maybe they were once the colonizors.
All that said, I did have some issues with the world building. In the beginning we hear about various elements of the mythology around Haelen’s Ballad without getting a lot of details. There are debates between characters about the coming of the alphyns and wyrms, but it isn’t until later in the book that we get any description of what these creatures are. As someone really drawn in by world building, I do wish that we had discovered more about the different cultures and the creatures of the world earlier on in the book.
I thought that the writing itself was really well done. The prose reminded me of various classic fantasy tales. It wasn’t something I necessarily felt like I could fly through, but rather something I wanted to take some time sitting down to read. The author is really well skilled as setting a gruesome battle scene while also getting into the thoughts and feelings of his characters. The author does deliver some messages about violence and character and morals which were woven well into the story.
When it comes to enjoyment, this wasn’t entirely a “me” type of book and as such it wasn’t one that full drew me in. While I did connect well to some of the characters in particular and look forward to reading their POV chapters, the general battle and political maneuvering didn’t really connect for me. It is a book that I think will do well with an audience more interested in books with a very classical and military fantasy feel paired with the grimdark subgenre.
December 12, 2021
This epic debt novel by Ian Conrey is a must-read for lovers of dark fantasy!
The Celtic Island, brimming with mythical mystery, was home for the Sunderians but overtaken by the Colonialists of Daecland. After years of fleeing, isolation, and dwindling resources, Sunderian survivalists form an army, Dark Horses, to take back their homeland—or at least the city of Everwind.
In Daecland, a young orphan's tragedy transforms him into a figure fulfilling a Sunderian scripture's prophecy. Men question their loyalties to their people and their religions. Women rise above abuse and ashes, attempting to rebuild a broken world. It's a downward spiral of war-torn cities and untimely deaths with glimmers of comedic relief, hope, forgiveness and love. Conrey seemlessly weaves the tangible with the supernatural as this character-driven novel dives deep into soul-provoking themes. As the mythical truths erupt through the physical realities, this dark fantasy transforms into a story of forgiveness and redemption. The darkest shadows give way to the brightest of truths.
Readers develop empathy for both the poor and the wealthy, the conqueror and the victim, the Native and the Colonialist through the varied and vast array of characters. Like a fantasy series told over the three or more seasons, or a Dickinson tale, this book reads like a polished classic. It's beautifully crafted prose in a unique voice, with hints of Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis, and Greek Mythology, will captivate the both the adventure-loving and philosophical reader, alike.
The Celtic Island, brimming with mythical mystery, was home for the Sunderians but overtaken by the Colonialists of Daecland. After years of fleeing, isolation, and dwindling resources, Sunderian survivalists form an army, Dark Horses, to take back their homeland—or at least the city of Everwind.
In Daecland, a young orphan's tragedy transforms him into a figure fulfilling a Sunderian scripture's prophecy. Men question their loyalties to their people and their religions. Women rise above abuse and ashes, attempting to rebuild a broken world. It's a downward spiral of war-torn cities and untimely deaths with glimmers of comedic relief, hope, forgiveness and love. Conrey seemlessly weaves the tangible with the supernatural as this character-driven novel dives deep into soul-provoking themes. As the mythical truths erupt through the physical realities, this dark fantasy transforms into a story of forgiveness and redemption. The darkest shadows give way to the brightest of truths.
Readers develop empathy for both the poor and the wealthy, the conqueror and the victim, the Native and the Colonialist through the varied and vast array of characters. Like a fantasy series told over the three or more seasons, or a Dickinson tale, this book reads like a polished classic. It's beautifully crafted prose in a unique voice, with hints of Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis, and Greek Mythology, will captivate the both the adventure-loving and philosophical reader, alike.
July 24, 2021
"Haelend's Ballas": 4⭐
(Unpaid Review: thank you to @netgalley, @ianvconrey and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review).
Did you also get some major Atlantis vibes just by looking at that cover? Yes? Then, you definitely need to read this book.
Ian V. Conrey wrote this amazing, dark, gripping fantasy story that reminds you of a greek tragedy, full of great characters and dramatic scenes. Must be noted: this book needs a lot of focus and attention to get through, for its writing is not easy. For me, it makes it the more appealing.
This needs to be more hyped! What an absolute thrill it was to get immersed in a whole new world full of important themes such as violence against women! Totally recommend!
(Unpaid Review: thank you to @netgalley, @ianvconrey and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review).
Did you also get some major Atlantis vibes just by looking at that cover? Yes? Then, you definitely need to read this book.
Ian V. Conrey wrote this amazing, dark, gripping fantasy story that reminds you of a greek tragedy, full of great characters and dramatic scenes. Must be noted: this book needs a lot of focus and attention to get through, for its writing is not easy. For me, it makes it the more appealing.
This needs to be more hyped! What an absolute thrill it was to get immersed in a whole new world full of important themes such as violence against women! Totally recommend!
June 26, 2021
Ian Conrey has masterfully written a work of art.
Do NOT let the size of this book deter you from picking it up, because once you have begun prepare yourself for late nights and procrastination to all other obligations. Conrey has managed to portray the wickedness of our world in gory detail through this dark fiction. His description of pain and suffering is so tangible it's impossible not to feel sympathy/empathy for these characters. At times I found myself laughing and celebrating with characters, and in a turn crying and hurting as I was reminded of a familiar sinful, fallen, and broken world.
Haelands Ballad rivals all other traditional stories in which there are clear "good" guys and "bad" guys. In this tale, the reader is reminded that no human is good, and that there is only One Who is truly Good. The temptations and trials the characters face are events we must admit and struggle through ourselves. It was refreshing and convicting to read a fictional tale that depicted the world and human condition so well.
Through the writing style I was often reminded of the countless hours I have spent reading C. S. Lewis or Tolkien. Conrey is just as clever, intriguing, and captivating through his story telling.
I hope to see more works from this author in the future!
Do NOT let the size of this book deter you from picking it up, because once you have begun prepare yourself for late nights and procrastination to all other obligations. Conrey has managed to portray the wickedness of our world in gory detail through this dark fiction. His description of pain and suffering is so tangible it's impossible not to feel sympathy/empathy for these characters. At times I found myself laughing and celebrating with characters, and in a turn crying and hurting as I was reminded of a familiar sinful, fallen, and broken world.
Haelands Ballad rivals all other traditional stories in which there are clear "good" guys and "bad" guys. In this tale, the reader is reminded that no human is good, and that there is only One Who is truly Good. The temptations and trials the characters face are events we must admit and struggle through ourselves. It was refreshing and convicting to read a fictional tale that depicted the world and human condition so well.
Through the writing style I was often reminded of the countless hours I have spent reading C. S. Lewis or Tolkien. Conrey is just as clever, intriguing, and captivating through his story telling.
I hope to see more works from this author in the future!
Read
October 3, 2022Editorial Reviews for Haelend's Ballad
"A powerful inspection of moral, ethical, and spiritual paths, readers receive a fine story that embraces and contrasts dark appetites, terrible memories, and beauty alike . . . Hælend's Ballad [is] a compelling force to contend with." -D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
"A sprawling, character-driven fantasy novel with an unforgettable new world for readers to explore, high-fantasy fans will not be disappointed with this masterfully imagined realm. The world-building is unique and detailed, and the patient style of storytelling is engrossing, drawing readers ever deeper into the drama, giving the prose the epic quality of Tolkien. The nuanced descriptive tapestry makes the reading experience effortless - a true escape. Hælend's Ballad is an impressive, immersive, and impeccably penned tale." -Self-Publishing Review
"A triumphant debut . . . Conrey's fantasy world is morbidly gripping and enriched by darkness, intrigue, and poignant emotions and enlivened by bloody action . . . Gritty and well-constructed, this makes a rich treat for lovers of dark fantasy." -The Prairies Book Review
"A captivating story with something new and exciting in each chapter. The story explores an intriguing link between actions and consequences. Children and sensitive readers may be uncomfortable with some shocking scenes, but mature audiences will be engrossed in this epic fantasy novel." -Literary Titan
"[With] mythos and histories that at once feel both familiar and new, cultural values and a political landscape that both divide and unite its people, and lofty hopes for the future threatened by the prophetic promises of the past . . . you've got an unforgettable reading adventure that you wouldn't mind going through again and falling in love with anew . . . Haelend's Ballad is an epic." -Nina Satomi, Reedsy Discovery
"A powerful inspection of moral, ethical, and spiritual paths, readers receive a fine story that embraces and contrasts dark appetites, terrible memories, and beauty alike . . . Hælend's Ballad [is] a compelling force to contend with." -D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
"A sprawling, character-driven fantasy novel with an unforgettable new world for readers to explore, high-fantasy fans will not be disappointed with this masterfully imagined realm. The world-building is unique and detailed, and the patient style of storytelling is engrossing, drawing readers ever deeper into the drama, giving the prose the epic quality of Tolkien. The nuanced descriptive tapestry makes the reading experience effortless - a true escape. Hælend's Ballad is an impressive, immersive, and impeccably penned tale." -Self-Publishing Review
"A triumphant debut . . . Conrey's fantasy world is morbidly gripping and enriched by darkness, intrigue, and poignant emotions and enlivened by bloody action . . . Gritty and well-constructed, this makes a rich treat for lovers of dark fantasy." -The Prairies Book Review
"A captivating story with something new and exciting in each chapter. The story explores an intriguing link between actions and consequences. Children and sensitive readers may be uncomfortable with some shocking scenes, but mature audiences will be engrossed in this epic fantasy novel." -Literary Titan
"[With] mythos and histories that at once feel both familiar and new, cultural values and a political landscape that both divide and unite its people, and lofty hopes for the future threatened by the prophetic promises of the past . . . you've got an unforgettable reading adventure that you wouldn't mind going through again and falling in love with anew . . . Haelend's Ballad is an epic." -Nina Satomi, Reedsy Discovery
January 4, 2022
I can start by saying that this was the first book in years that gave me genuine hope for the future. Beyond that...it's hard to know how to add much more.
This book is simply real. We walk through real struggles of depression, hopelessness, anger, ambition, and self-pity alongside each character, reminding us that no one is perfect and that everyone sometimes struggles to place one foot before the other. As someone who has personally has wrestled with depression, I found that many of the characters and their conversations truly resonated with me, reminding me that, if nothing else, I am not the only one who sometimes feels like a pendulum swinging between moods.
Indeed, the entire story bounces from the high seasons to the low seasons and back again, covering every territory and sparing readers none of the details. As a result, readers encounter a story that reminds them that it's OK to hurt, and that the painful seasons might even be preparing us for something beyond our imagining, something bigger than ourselves that reminds us of our intrinsic value. And for Ian to accomplish all this through a fantasy story of beautifully imagined landscapes, fresh cultures, and unique folklore? That makes for a debut novel that's hard to beat.
My thanks to Ian for a tremendous read, and I'm looking forward to more.
This book is simply real. We walk through real struggles of depression, hopelessness, anger, ambition, and self-pity alongside each character, reminding us that no one is perfect and that everyone sometimes struggles to place one foot before the other. As someone who has personally has wrestled with depression, I found that many of the characters and their conversations truly resonated with me, reminding me that, if nothing else, I am not the only one who sometimes feels like a pendulum swinging between moods.
Indeed, the entire story bounces from the high seasons to the low seasons and back again, covering every territory and sparing readers none of the details. As a result, readers encounter a story that reminds them that it's OK to hurt, and that the painful seasons might even be preparing us for something beyond our imagining, something bigger than ourselves that reminds us of our intrinsic value. And for Ian to accomplish all this through a fantasy story of beautifully imagined landscapes, fresh cultures, and unique folklore? That makes for a debut novel that's hard to beat.
My thanks to Ian for a tremendous read, and I'm looking forward to more.
August 23, 2021
This is a thick book, both in your hands and in your conscience. Haelend's Ballad anchors fathoms deep into the nitty-gritty details, and gives you all that you need to savor the characters, the story, the world-building. High fantasy told at a dark level, it journeys into harrowing themes, diving deep into the human condition. Conrey's prose is atmospheric and gorgeous, and his story-telling is certainly full of adventure and twists and turns; but most of all, great depth of character is exposed. Haelend's Ballad is entirely unique and tells the story from multiple POV's, and in this way is a trailblazer of a book. Those who love Shadow of the Wind or the grit and detail of George RR Martin will love this, too; but Conrey digs even deeper into haunting themes, especially in the character of Eirun. Her weakness and trauma delves deep into the human condition in a way that will break your heart; in a mind-expanding way, in a good way, in a way that reminds us to be forgiving. There is much shadow and grief within the pages, but also, Hope.
July 23, 2022
This book was one of the first fiction novels I’ve picked up after several years of mental and physical exhaustion kept me from enjoying the practice of reading. Ian’s writing style is reminiscent of the classic fantasy novels with a readability that is multigenerational. Not shying away from dark and heavy matters of the heart and soul, Conrey weaves a tale that will entrance you and resonate with anyone who has longed for glorious purpose and experienced brokenness and sorrow. In lieu of black and white simplicity, Conrey’s character development brings an allegorical mosaic to the table, causing readers to find sympathies and disdain for each account, extending even to the natural introspection prompted of readers as they relate to the enterprise of hero and villain alike. Reading this book has been a profound experience and an absolute privilege, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
June 23, 2021
This was a good book, I enjoyed reading it, though the book could have been shorter or in different volumes
Thank you Netgalley for a copy.
My rating ✯ 3 stars ✯
Thank you Netgalley for a copy.
My rating ✯ 3 stars ✯
March 12, 2022
Brutal, tragic, and ultimately compelling. A worthy fantasy epic to add to your shelf.
August 16, 2021
EXCELLENT BOOK! PLEASE READ FULL REVIEW! NO SPOILERS!
Ian Conrey's Haelend's Ballad definitely falls into the fantasy genre, but as most avid readers know, this could mean a lot of different things. Is it the wands and magic like the Harry Potter series, or perhaps ones that feel more akin to DND, such as Robert Jordan or David Eddings? Perhaps, it is similar to Brandon Sanderson's books or instead the classics of Tolkien or C.S. Lewis' Narnia?
One of the best attributes Haelend's Ballad has going for it is that it feels truly unique in the Fantasy genre. But why is it unique; perhaps a different magic system, unique world or races, or tantalizing cliff hangars? This book holds its uniqueness in its characters to a degree I am unfamiliar with most novels. I've read many classics and many modern fantasy books, but Haelend's Ballad stands out due to its unrelenting realism of evil and darkness within the world and ourselves.
The Author tackles issues in our society, past, present, and future, as well as issues we struggle with. It's a fantasy story more about realization of the characters and our own flaws and the difficulty these present with many spiritual connections metaphors, poems, and allusions. This is how it differs: instead of a grand fantasy story with supplemental character growth, relationships, and struggles, the book offers these as the main focus and the fantasy story builds itself around the characters.
It is definitely more of a steampunk as far as fantasy elements, but as I mentioned earlier, it doesn't fit into the norm of this or other fantasy genres because it stands unique. The book is written from the view of multiple characters, which strengthens its purpose of uniquely relating the struggles of these characters with other characters and the world around them. This also helps in the pacing of the book because after a chapter ends with a character you really love and want to know more about, another chapter begins with a previous character, and you can't wait to continue their story. In short, I couldn't put it down when I did get the chance to read it, usually reading 75-150 pages in a session.
This book will move you! Maybe you are really tough, and sob stories don't or romances don't get any emotional response out of you, but in some way this book will. There are just various situations of joy, pain, betrayal, love, strength, weakness, etc. for you not to relate to one of them. I personally got very angry with characters, even with the author, not because the book was bad, but because I hated the evil that was all too real. At the same time, feelings of adventure or joy with friends was also felt and desired to be preserved.
Lastly, I haven't picked up a fantasy book in sometime that I actually couldn't put down, that I couldn't just predict or feel bored by the same story elements, that truly reawakened and reignited my spark of envious reading in some few years, but I am very glad to say that Ian Conrey's Haeland's Ballad did just this; invigorating, unrelenting, exciting, emotional, and reflective! Truly a great book!
Ian Conrey's Haelend's Ballad definitely falls into the fantasy genre, but as most avid readers know, this could mean a lot of different things. Is it the wands and magic like the Harry Potter series, or perhaps ones that feel more akin to DND, such as Robert Jordan or David Eddings? Perhaps, it is similar to Brandon Sanderson's books or instead the classics of Tolkien or C.S. Lewis' Narnia?
One of the best attributes Haelend's Ballad has going for it is that it feels truly unique in the Fantasy genre. But why is it unique; perhaps a different magic system, unique world or races, or tantalizing cliff hangars? This book holds its uniqueness in its characters to a degree I am unfamiliar with most novels. I've read many classics and many modern fantasy books, but Haelend's Ballad stands out due to its unrelenting realism of evil and darkness within the world and ourselves.
The Author tackles issues in our society, past, present, and future, as well as issues we struggle with. It's a fantasy story more about realization of the characters and our own flaws and the difficulty these present with many spiritual connections metaphors, poems, and allusions. This is how it differs: instead of a grand fantasy story with supplemental character growth, relationships, and struggles, the book offers these as the main focus and the fantasy story builds itself around the characters.
It is definitely more of a steampunk as far as fantasy elements, but as I mentioned earlier, it doesn't fit into the norm of this or other fantasy genres because it stands unique. The book is written from the view of multiple characters, which strengthens its purpose of uniquely relating the struggles of these characters with other characters and the world around them. This also helps in the pacing of the book because after a chapter ends with a character you really love and want to know more about, another chapter begins with a previous character, and you can't wait to continue their story. In short, I couldn't put it down when I did get the chance to read it, usually reading 75-150 pages in a session.
This book will move you! Maybe you are really tough, and sob stories don't or romances don't get any emotional response out of you, but in some way this book will. There are just various situations of joy, pain, betrayal, love, strength, weakness, etc. for you not to relate to one of them. I personally got very angry with characters, even with the author, not because the book was bad, but because I hated the evil that was all too real. At the same time, feelings of adventure or joy with friends was also felt and desired to be preserved.
Lastly, I haven't picked up a fantasy book in sometime that I actually couldn't put down, that I couldn't just predict or feel bored by the same story elements, that truly reawakened and reignited my spark of envious reading in some few years, but I am very glad to say that Ian Conrey's Haeland's Ballad did just this; invigorating, unrelenting, exciting, emotional, and reflective! Truly a great book!
November 30, 2021
Haelend’s Ballad is an epic fantasy novel that drops readers into the middle of a war between the kingdoms of Daecland and Sunder. I feel like the story is influenced by colonial establishments, as seen in the etiquettes and ways of thinking of wealthy colonists. However, the clandestine movement, Silent Hither, and the dark horses are also making headway in Sunder, working hard to retrieve their land from the pale-faced Daecish. In the midst of the brutal wars and their horrifying repercussions, the harbinger of the long-sung events in Haelend’s Ballad, the apocalypse of evil, and the resurrection of the world are starting to emerge. The men at war who lust after influence are ignorant of the bitter day of reckoning that awaits them, accompanied by the bane of all evil.
With the author’s knowledge and experience in history & theology, and interest in ancient mythology, he has effectively used those subjects to flesh out the essential elements of Haelend’s Ballad. Religious contemplation is prevalent in the story as we see the characters in the novel, in times of confusion and crisis, question, contemplate and request the existence and grace of God.
The novel creates vivid images of war and its hideous consequences for everyone. I also liked the realistic portrayal of the picture of a country in the shackles of colonizers, with only the wealthy enjoying the evolution of their homeland. While depicting the barter system, invasions, and wars, it has also portrayed the dawning of technological advancements, such as the printing press, camera lens, steam engine, and voltaic power.
I was a bit confused at first as there was a large number of things to take in; events, characters, town. So as not to get confused later amid the eruption of complex plot twists, I had to note the names of characters and their towns. The map of Everwind and the World at the beginning of the book, however, amazed me and helped me visualize the kingdoms to a great extent.
While Haelend’s Ballad does not give the reader all the details upfront, as the story progresses the many characters and their interconnected fate reveal a deep backstory. I appreciated the details used to setup scenes whether it was the children in the orphanages or the violence and gore of war.
Haelend’s Ballad is a captivating story with something new and exciting in each chapter. The story explores an intriguing link between actions and consequences. Children and sensitive readers may be uncomfortable with some shocking scenes, but mature audiences will be engrossed in this epic fantasy novel.
With the author’s knowledge and experience in history & theology, and interest in ancient mythology, he has effectively used those subjects to flesh out the essential elements of Haelend’s Ballad. Religious contemplation is prevalent in the story as we see the characters in the novel, in times of confusion and crisis, question, contemplate and request the existence and grace of God.
The novel creates vivid images of war and its hideous consequences for everyone. I also liked the realistic portrayal of the picture of a country in the shackles of colonizers, with only the wealthy enjoying the evolution of their homeland. While depicting the barter system, invasions, and wars, it has also portrayed the dawning of technological advancements, such as the printing press, camera lens, steam engine, and voltaic power.
I was a bit confused at first as there was a large number of things to take in; events, characters, town. So as not to get confused later amid the eruption of complex plot twists, I had to note the names of characters and their towns. The map of Everwind and the World at the beginning of the book, however, amazed me and helped me visualize the kingdoms to a great extent.
While Haelend’s Ballad does not give the reader all the details upfront, as the story progresses the many characters and their interconnected fate reveal a deep backstory. I appreciated the details used to setup scenes whether it was the children in the orphanages or the violence and gore of war.
Haelend’s Ballad is a captivating story with something new and exciting in each chapter. The story explores an intriguing link between actions and consequences. Children and sensitive readers may be uncomfortable with some shocking scenes, but mature audiences will be engrossed in this epic fantasy novel.
December 8, 2021
Within the pages of Haelend’s Ballad is a fantasy world meticulously created by author Ian Conrey. The print version weighs in at a hefty 800 pages, which certainly qualifies this to be designated a saga.
Inside this world, readers will find a hint of steampunk, a taste of history and a solid dose of adventure. The land of Sunder has been overtaken by the Daecish, a nation of people well versed in technology. The natives of Sunder are forced to fight in Daecland’s wars with other countries, in addition to having to work in the mines.
What makes this story unique is there are multiple storylines in play, with something different in each chapter. That technique kept me awake several nights when I kept telling myself I would only read one more chapter. I had to keep reading for an update. The story also gets high marks for character development. Not only are there main characters for Sunder, but the author also includes Daecish characters to highlight their perspectives.
Amidst the conflict, there is also talk of the Day of Reckoning led by Sunder’s Bane, as described in Haelend’s Ballad. To the Sunderians, the Ballad is much like the Bible is to Christians. From a reader’s perspective, both sides of the conflict are presented. In the process, the author illustrates that sometimes life isn’t always black and white. Heroes can also be villains.
The conclusion is nothing short of sheer brilliance. Not only was it unexpected, but it provided a cohesive band linking all of the storylines. While seemingly unrelated, all of the events that happened earlier in the story led to the grand finale. Author Ian Conrey proved his imagination could create a world worth sharing with readers. Since this was his debut novel, I’m looking forward to seeing what is next.
This review was published by Novels Alive.
Inside this world, readers will find a hint of steampunk, a taste of history and a solid dose of adventure. The land of Sunder has been overtaken by the Daecish, a nation of people well versed in technology. The natives of Sunder are forced to fight in Daecland’s wars with other countries, in addition to having to work in the mines.
What makes this story unique is there are multiple storylines in play, with something different in each chapter. That technique kept me awake several nights when I kept telling myself I would only read one more chapter. I had to keep reading for an update. The story also gets high marks for character development. Not only are there main characters for Sunder, but the author also includes Daecish characters to highlight their perspectives.
Amidst the conflict, there is also talk of the Day of Reckoning led by Sunder’s Bane, as described in Haelend’s Ballad. To the Sunderians, the Ballad is much like the Bible is to Christians. From a reader’s perspective, both sides of the conflict are presented. In the process, the author illustrates that sometimes life isn’t always black and white. Heroes can also be villains.
The conclusion is nothing short of sheer brilliance. Not only was it unexpected, but it provided a cohesive band linking all of the storylines. While seemingly unrelated, all of the events that happened earlier in the story led to the grand finale. Author Ian Conrey proved his imagination could create a world worth sharing with readers. Since this was his debut novel, I’m looking forward to seeing what is next.
This review was published by Novels Alive.
May 6, 2023
A piece of art. I can not believe this is a debut.
From the start, I was captivated by the characters and this vast new world that Ian has created. It’s rife with struggle, pain, and monsters, but also so full of hope and determination. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this book up, but this exceeded anything I ever imagined. This is for sure one of my favorites read to-date. I cried, I laughed, I gasped out loud and had to recollect myself a few times, and I’m sure my husband is about tired of me talking about it. Lol. I am a slow reader but I took this book with me everywhere I went so that I could steal a few words or pages when I could, and I lost so many hours of sleep (which was undoubtedly worth it). But there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel in this dark story, and I was thankful for it because I loved (almost) everyone in it. xD
The story of Sören and Eirún was the hardest on my heart. I had such a soft spot for that poor baby (ok he was like ten but that’s still a baby) and his sweet mother. They put me through a whole rollercoaster-and-a-half of grief. The monsters were really an integral part of the amazingness of this story, too; I can not wait to see an illustrated version hopefully one day in the future. *crossing fingers* I know most readers don’t like movie adaptations but this would be a fantastic movie as well. 🤩
I do not subscribe to any particular religious beliefs, myself, but Haeland’s Ballad, I thought, was an interesting take on the nature and purpose of human weakness, pain, and suffering, and how there might be more to look forward to beyond this current life in the next. Very well done.
***TW: very graphic violence, religious themes, and mentions of SA. Lots of gore, blood, murder, people being swallowed whole, dismembered, and bodies desecrated.**
From the start, I was captivated by the characters and this vast new world that Ian has created. It’s rife with struggle, pain, and monsters, but also so full of hope and determination. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this book up, but this exceeded anything I ever imagined. This is for sure one of my favorites read to-date. I cried, I laughed, I gasped out loud and had to recollect myself a few times, and I’m sure my husband is about tired of me talking about it. Lol. I am a slow reader but I took this book with me everywhere I went so that I could steal a few words or pages when I could, and I lost so many hours of sleep (which was undoubtedly worth it). But there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel in this dark story, and I was thankful for it because I loved (almost) everyone in it. xD
The story of Sören and Eirún was the hardest on my heart. I had such a soft spot for that poor baby (ok he was like ten but that’s still a baby) and his sweet mother. They put me through a whole rollercoaster-and-a-half of grief. The monsters were really an integral part of the amazingness of this story, too; I can not wait to see an illustrated version hopefully one day in the future. *crossing fingers* I know most readers don’t like movie adaptations but this would be a fantastic movie as well. 🤩
I do not subscribe to any particular religious beliefs, myself, but Haeland’s Ballad, I thought, was an interesting take on the nature and purpose of human weakness, pain, and suffering, and how there might be more to look forward to beyond this current life in the next. Very well done.
***TW: very graphic violence, religious themes, and mentions of SA. Lots of gore, blood, murder, people being swallowed whole, dismembered, and bodies desecrated.**
February 6, 2022
A beautiful, endearing yet dark story.
The novel timelines run through the perspective of number of different characters, and that’s probably one of the best aspects of the book. Not only their stories are intriguing and unpredictable, but also each of the characters is unique. More importantly, characters are not staying the same as the story goes, but they develop within it. Their experiences change them, some for better, other not so much.
Haelend’s Ballad touches on many difficult subjects, and while I enjoyed all of them, there are 3 that are really worth highlighting. First one would be human strive for power (reading Galvin’s character going through that process reminded me a lot of Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’). Second one is the way people try to explain their worse doing for the greatest of society. There are many places in the book you can find it, but I believe “Site 3” for the drafted and conversations between those who were involved in running it shows it best. Finally, probably the most important topic is faith. Seen from many perspectives, the story presents ability to change through genuine regret and forgiveness.
The climate of the Haelend’s Ballad is dark, violent and full of struggles, yet it is (as mentioned in the first line) one of the most beautiful stories that I read. The emotions in it are real. Pain, fear, hope, missing someone / something… The characters were brilliantly developed to represent it all. The ending is really visual and emotional (reminded me a lot of The Chronicles of Narnia just in the version for adults).
I definitely recommend this book for a fantasy readers wishing to get lost in the dark world with the hope and light awaiting at the end of the tunnel.
The novel timelines run through the perspective of number of different characters, and that’s probably one of the best aspects of the book. Not only their stories are intriguing and unpredictable, but also each of the characters is unique. More importantly, characters are not staying the same as the story goes, but they develop within it. Their experiences change them, some for better, other not so much.
Haelend’s Ballad touches on many difficult subjects, and while I enjoyed all of them, there are 3 that are really worth highlighting. First one would be human strive for power (reading Galvin’s character going through that process reminded me a lot of Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’). Second one is the way people try to explain their worse doing for the greatest of society. There are many places in the book you can find it, but I believe “Site 3” for the drafted and conversations between those who were involved in running it shows it best. Finally, probably the most important topic is faith. Seen from many perspectives, the story presents ability to change through genuine regret and forgiveness.
The climate of the Haelend’s Ballad is dark, violent and full of struggles, yet it is (as mentioned in the first line) one of the most beautiful stories that I read. The emotions in it are real. Pain, fear, hope, missing someone / something… The characters were brilliantly developed to represent it all. The ending is really visual and emotional (reminded me a lot of The Chronicles of Narnia just in the version for adults).
I definitely recommend this book for a fantasy readers wishing to get lost in the dark world with the hope and light awaiting at the end of the tunnel.
July 5, 2021
This book is amazing. There were so many different levels to it and if you love a book with a bunch of different characters like I do, then you will enjoy this one. I found it a bit confusing at the start because it followed many characters that seemed as though they had nothing to do with each other, but as the story goes on it makes much more sense as to how everything ties together. I did find that this book had a lot of information, which is definitely not a bad thing, it just meant that for me I had to take breaks to take everything in before moving on. I was worried at the beginning that there would be too much to remember and it would be difficult to follow, but I found that it was very well done and I could remember everything that needed to be remembered fairly easily. The book seemed quite daunting because of how long it was but I was never bored while reading it and actually really enjoyed the length. I found that since it was so long it helped me to grow more attached to the characters and the story. I definitely want to re read in the future because I think that even with a re read I would still get so much out of it. I would say that this book is definitely not a light read and does require a fair bit of attention, so I did end up having to re read certain chapters to take it in. Overall this is a very well written book and I would recommend it to any lover of the fantasy genre.
October 2, 2021
This one is not for the faint of heart. This well-written debut novel follows several different protagonists navigating life in some of the darkest days their countries have ever seen. The genre is high-fantasy, with stories that sweep you across vast and varied landscapes. As the stories of each character unfolds, the pictures of the strange cities and wilderness they each traverse are painted clearly for the reader.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book with technically competent writing, beautiful storytelling, and deep truths that will echo in your heart long after you finish reading. I am confident that if your heart yearns for more than the oppressive darkness that seems to grow blacker in our world each day, you will find Haelend’s Ballad to be a great source of inspiration and light in dark places. I read the last few chapters with tears and breathless excitement.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book with technically competent writing, beautiful storytelling, and deep truths that will echo in your heart long after you finish reading. I am confident that if your heart yearns for more than the oppressive darkness that seems to grow blacker in our world each day, you will find Haelend’s Ballad to be a great source of inspiration and light in dark places. I read the last few chapters with tears and breathless excitement.
February 18, 2022
(Review contains spoilers).
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Ian, for this opportunity!
Rating breakdown:
• World-building: 1★
• Characters (cast & development): 0.5★
• Plot: 1★
• Themes: 0.5★
• Prose: 1★
Final rating: 4/5
The World-Building
With fantasy books, it's pretty common to lament a certain slow pace at the beginning. But I don't feel like Haelend's Ballad contained too much exposure. The beginning of the book will describe places and characters, the machinery and the knowledge found in Daecland. This is necessary as the country is far ahead, compared to Sunder, which they control despite the differences in culture and people's looks. I thought the world-building was clever in the sense that the author doesn't go through lengthy paragraphs to talk about the trees and whatnot. He will mention lenses or steam or scientific progress when a character is not used to it... or afraid of it!
The world of Haelend's Ballad reminded me of Piltover for those of you who have watched Arcane, but with a clear Victorian feel, mixed with elements found in Victor Hugo's novels.
The Characters
What I loved about this book was the multi-POV. It's a turnoff for many readers nowadays, but I reckon fans of classic fantasy will love it. Conrey's cast is so huge that it's impossible for you not to find someone you truly enjoy following in their adventures. I absolutely loved Eilívur, Hrunting, Geirleif (or at least his antics), to name a few. Every character talks in their own way, has their own mannerisms and obsessions. Even those I couldn't connect with, such as Eirún, had their good moments. The cast of this book is fully three-dimensional, and I think it's fantastic how they all come from different places but end up in the same web of events.
Now, there are a few things I didn't enjoy about some characters. It's important to note that in Haelend's Ballad's world, gender roles are predominant. The men lead, kill, and get killed. The women take care of other women or children, and they're always the victims of some abuse. I'm surprised there's not one character that sticks out and doesn't follow that pattern. At first, I thought Adelyne would be that character because she was really active for the Dark Horses. But once she completed her task, she joined the other women and moped for the rest of the book.
Gender roles or not, there's one thing men and women have in common, and it's just how easily they succumb to either depression or suicide ideation. Whether it's about something important or trivial, the characters are extremely dramatic, no matter how old they are. For example, I saw a pattern with Arnon, Adelyne, and Eirún. The moment things could look grim, they don't have any problem thinking that maybe dying would be better. And I can understand that everyone's got their fair share of trauma, but all three protagonists with a similar train of thoughts?
The Plot
Summarizing Haelend's Ballad's plot can be tricky. This is a story featuring so many POVs that one could put more emphasis on the conflict between Daecland and Sunder or on the prophecy about Sunder's Bane. But I think what's truly at stake here is how the characters, who either believe in a cause or a god, can see past that. How they can remain true to themselves. I knew from the beginning that this wouldn't end prettily because it's impossible for them to see the bigger picture among so much chaos. However, the ride was entertaining.
In fact, I didn't know what would happen to Eirún until the very end. There are twists I didn't see coming, such as Hrunting's capture or what Egbert did to his caretaker. While this novel is long, I think it works. There's one promise at the beginning, and it's Haelend's Ballad coming to life. And it does.
The Themes
This book is very religion-driven, but not in a way that makes you push it away. As a non-religious person, I had no problem reading it. Some characters are very much into it and will explain in great detail why they are. However, it happens within a clear context that serves the plot.
I think what I like, although it also upsets me, is the trauma depiction. In particular, Adelyne's. Her father was a complete waste of space who raped her when she was small. And later on, she finds the same form of abuse around Fletcher, another waste of space who makes money out of prostitutes. Adelyne is the definition of the whole: "victims always find abusers because it's all they know." But I think what upset me the most was that Adelyne was so adamant in thinking she loved Arnon, and she spends so much time around Sarah, who is the only pool of common sense in this book sometimes, and yet... She can't trust either of them.
Adelyne doesn't take Sarah's advice. She cannot trust the son of a hunter to bring her food. She can't even wait for him for two weeks in times of war. I felt her relapses into prostitution were too fast, too back-to-back, and instead of making me feel bad for her, it made me eye-roll.
The Prose
Ian V. Conrey's writing style is mature and poised, but also accessible. There's a tendency to use the passive voice in action scenes, which I appreciated. Often, authors think a scene is more gripping and immersive in the active voice, but the passive one puts a lot more emphasis on the action instead of the person performing that action. Sometimes, the author repeats an idea or a feeling he already mentioned in a previous paragraph, but I noticed it happened mostly in Arnon's POV or Adelyne's. Considering they're both very young, it makes sense for them to be repetitive.
The writing flowed very well overall, and it astounds me to know that this is Conrey's debut. He writes like someone who's been publishing for years now.
Haelend's Ballad is a book I definitely recommend to fans of classic fantasy.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Ian, for this opportunity!
Rating breakdown:
• World-building: 1★
• Characters (cast & development): 0.5★
• Plot: 1★
• Themes: 0.5★
• Prose: 1★
Final rating: 4/5
The World-Building
With fantasy books, it's pretty common to lament a certain slow pace at the beginning. But I don't feel like Haelend's Ballad contained too much exposure. The beginning of the book will describe places and characters, the machinery and the knowledge found in Daecland. This is necessary as the country is far ahead, compared to Sunder, which they control despite the differences in culture and people's looks. I thought the world-building was clever in the sense that the author doesn't go through lengthy paragraphs to talk about the trees and whatnot. He will mention lenses or steam or scientific progress when a character is not used to it... or afraid of it!
The world of Haelend's Ballad reminded me of Piltover for those of you who have watched Arcane, but with a clear Victorian feel, mixed with elements found in Victor Hugo's novels.
The Characters
What I loved about this book was the multi-POV. It's a turnoff for many readers nowadays, but I reckon fans of classic fantasy will love it. Conrey's cast is so huge that it's impossible for you not to find someone you truly enjoy following in their adventures. I absolutely loved Eilívur, Hrunting, Geirleif (or at least his antics), to name a few. Every character talks in their own way, has their own mannerisms and obsessions. Even those I couldn't connect with, such as Eirún, had their good moments. The cast of this book is fully three-dimensional, and I think it's fantastic how they all come from different places but end up in the same web of events.
Now, there are a few things I didn't enjoy about some characters. It's important to note that in Haelend's Ballad's world, gender roles are predominant. The men lead, kill, and get killed. The women take care of other women or children, and they're always the victims of some abuse. I'm surprised there's not one character that sticks out and doesn't follow that pattern. At first, I thought Adelyne would be that character because she was really active for the Dark Horses. But once she completed her task, she joined the other women and moped for the rest of the book.
Gender roles or not, there's one thing men and women have in common, and it's just how easily they succumb to either depression or suicide ideation. Whether it's about something important or trivial, the characters are extremely dramatic, no matter how old they are. For example, I saw a pattern with Arnon, Adelyne, and Eirún. The moment things could look grim, they don't have any problem thinking that maybe dying would be better. And I can understand that everyone's got their fair share of trauma, but all three protagonists with a similar train of thoughts?
The Plot
Summarizing Haelend's Ballad's plot can be tricky. This is a story featuring so many POVs that one could put more emphasis on the conflict between Daecland and Sunder or on the prophecy about Sunder's Bane. But I think what's truly at stake here is how the characters, who either believe in a cause or a god, can see past that. How they can remain true to themselves. I knew from the beginning that this wouldn't end prettily because it's impossible for them to see the bigger picture among so much chaos. However, the ride was entertaining.
In fact, I didn't know what would happen to Eirún until the very end. There are twists I didn't see coming, such as Hrunting's capture or what Egbert did to his caretaker. While this novel is long, I think it works. There's one promise at the beginning, and it's Haelend's Ballad coming to life. And it does.
The Themes
This book is very religion-driven, but not in a way that makes you push it away. As a non-religious person, I had no problem reading it. Some characters are very much into it and will explain in great detail why they are. However, it happens within a clear context that serves the plot.
I think what I like, although it also upsets me, is the trauma depiction. In particular, Adelyne's. Her father was a complete waste of space who raped her when she was small. And later on, she finds the same form of abuse around Fletcher, another waste of space who makes money out of prostitutes. Adelyne is the definition of the whole: "victims always find abusers because it's all they know." But I think what upset me the most was that Adelyne was so adamant in thinking she loved Arnon, and she spends so much time around Sarah, who is the only pool of common sense in this book sometimes, and yet... She can't trust either of them.
Adelyne doesn't take Sarah's advice. She cannot trust the son of a hunter to bring her food. She can't even wait for him for two weeks in times of war. I felt her relapses into prostitution were too fast, too back-to-back, and instead of making me feel bad for her, it made me eye-roll.
The Prose
Ian V. Conrey's writing style is mature and poised, but also accessible. There's a tendency to use the passive voice in action scenes, which I appreciated. Often, authors think a scene is more gripping and immersive in the active voice, but the passive one puts a lot more emphasis on the action instead of the person performing that action. Sometimes, the author repeats an idea or a feeling he already mentioned in a previous paragraph, but I noticed it happened mostly in Arnon's POV or Adelyne's. Considering they're both very young, it makes sense for them to be repetitive.
The writing flowed very well overall, and it astounds me to know that this is Conrey's debut. He writes like someone who's been publishing for years now.
Haelend's Ballad is a book I definitely recommend to fans of classic fantasy.
December 4, 2021
To be honest with you all, I spent a lot of time wrestling with what to write here but when it comes down to it what really matters is that you understand how great it is. From interesting characters to huge yet descriptive and immersive world building. I'm a huge fan of the genre and I'm not exaggerating when I say this is now one of my favorite fantasy novels. Mr. Conrey is certainly a rising star and now is the time to jump on his rocket to the moon and follow what will certainly be an incredible career.
April 24, 2022
“It’s the ballads that capture not only the past but the hearts and desires of those who shaped it.”
I’ve been developing quite an interest in epic fantasies of late, and have been fortunate enough to read ones with a variety of flavors and themes. I have loved each one of them, but none has ever challenged, and eventually satisfied the very core of my values and faith—both as a reader and a writer—as this one has.
One of the things I shy away from when it comes to epic fantasies, aside from its length, is the number of characters I will have to keep up with. I’ve always felt like I would get confused and soon forget who is who and which is which. Curiously though, this was never a problem while reading Ian V. Conrey’s Hælend’s Ballad .
It is hard enough to create characters to populate a lengthy tale of such epic proportions (and disproportions), but it is harder still to make each one of them be their own person—a feat that, as far as I’m concerned, Mr. Conrey has achieved. It does take some commitment on the reader’s part to follow along and keep tabs of the characters—who they are, which side they’re on and what they stand for—but it is definitely a committed time well spent and ultimately well satisfied in the end. Not to mention that once you get started reading, the story has a tendency to just flow smoothly—like a movie—with each scene seasoned with just the right amount of descriptions and backstories, and always given much more life by realistic dialogues and peeks into the characters’ internal struggles, so familiar that they resonate with the personal thoughts and questions that we may not even be aware we have about our values, our faiths, and our very lives.
And although the story is excellently structured, nothing is ever perfect with what goes on in each reaction, realization and revelation that unfold. Constantly, you will find characters that do things impulsively, driven by their rawest emotions, their deepest, darkest fears. And just as constantly, you will find them internally torn by their conscience, struggling to find justifications for their actions, questioning their values, and seeking for forgiveness they don’t even feel like they deserve. It is these powerful struggles that make the characters alive, that make them stick to our minds long after we’ve finished the book, because we find ourselves in them. We learn to accept and understand ourselves more because of them.
Add to this a world that’s fully formed, with mythos and histories that at once feel both familiar and new, cultural values and a political landscape that both divide and unite its people, and lofty hopes for the future threatened by the prophetic promises of the past, and you’ve got an unforgettable reading adventure that you wouldn’t mind going through again and falling in love with anew.
I have been searching for a good Christian fantasy to add to my library and mention as one of the best ones that influenced the stories I hope to be writing in the future. Hælend’s Ballad is an epic way to start that collection.
Thank you Mr. Ian V. Conrey and Reedsy Discovery for the opportunity to read and review this book. ♥
August 17, 2021
The book is definitely character-driven, even with the first few introductory chapters. We get chapters from many character perspectives, even side ones, but no matter if they're shorter or longer, they also serve the plot and leave reveals that are essential. Each of the main characters has a story that can feel close to any reader, and it's amazing that the story is so emotionally driven that you follow each and everyone's perspective. There are also intriguing themes like the price of honor and sacrifice, as well as the struggle to grow to one's self through suffering, enslavement and abuse which are the things we all struggle with in real life. Thee book offers also very interesting and detailed world-building, which also makes you want to get deeper into the dramatic exposition of each one's tale. Overall, quite and intriguing read!
November 15, 2021
Had no idea what this book was about and even after reading a few chapters was unsure what exactly this story was about. Did not care for the religious tones of the story really either. Not that I disliked them but if want to read about this much theology type stuff I would pick up a book about that subject. I don't know if most people will mind that or find that this is something they can enjoy. This did remind of me some other books where they based it in a fantasy world but the story is more or less about Christianity based ideas. The writing itself was simple, straightforward and easy enough to read. The characters were flawed for the most part but none really turned me off from not reading this story. There is some discussion of mental health which did seem interesting but then also how that interacts with faith I think. I don't think this something I would have picked up if I knew what the story was and where it lead. Certainly not a bad book and one that I didn't hate or anything but I think some people will like it more than others is all.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for something different to read.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for something different to read.
July 23, 2022
This book is very thought out and reads well. It is a book that flows and he did a great job with imagery and explanation of characters. It is hard to put down once you begin reading! I really enjoyed this book. It is a bit lengthy and intimidating because of the size, but it is worth it! The book brings you into the story and gets you hooked in with the characters.
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