What do you think?
Rate this book
Form and Void #3
The Sea Rises
The epic conclusion to a new trilogy from one of the most exciting voices in British fantasy. The glass breaks, the sword falls, the sea rises. Ages end and the sea rises. As the sea rises, so too does the old world. Lord Marius Cyclone faces an unimaginable danger. The mighty legions of Santago Cyclone – known as the Bloodied Harp – and King Oliver Dawn Claw will be upon the Dark Harbour in less than a day, and truce seems impossible, even as the end of the world of Form creeps ever nearer. But the tide waits for no man. Marius has only one choice if his people are to survive: flight, into the Void. All the while, a primal power awakens. The Sunken God has lived through many ages and watched countless civilisations rise and fall. And he will not let his quarry flee without a fight.
- GenresFantasy
455 pages, Paperback
Published March 7, 2023
About the author
A.J. Smith
8 books312 followersWriting is the only thing I do that doesn't make me feel like I should be doing something else.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 17, 2022
To recap; The Sea Wolves, sort of Viking invaders, have met their match and are forced to flee before the forces of the Sunken God, who is now fully awake and looking for breakfast. Some of the sea wolf clans have been taken in by the propaganda (some things never change) and have joined forces with the fishy deity. Other peoples, commanded by Marius Cyclone, are former enemies who have now aligned themselves with the Sea Wolves. A mysterious stranger opens a portal for the people to escape through into another realm he created, where they will be safe. All they need to do is survive long enough to get there.
This book, like the others, is divided into two threads forming roughly half of the story each. Adeline Brand is still alive and is now the leader of all the surviving Sea Wolf forces. She is forced to fight a retreating action against both the traitor Sea Wolves and the fish men of the Sunken God, who wants to destroy them all. The second thread follows Lord Marius Cyclone as he too tries to stay alive and lead his forces to the portal while being hotly pursued.
I was a bit lukewarm in my appraisal of the first two volumes, but this volume is great! It’s as if the author was saving all his best until last. The writing, the plot, the characters, the action and all that important stuff just comes together in one near-perfect storm of a book.
It’s a page turner right from the start, there’s a cliffhanger at the end of every section that fits the flow of the narrative. I don’t know how the author made me care about these gruff Viking-types who go around hitting everything with sharp bits of metal, but that’s what happened. I have to say, and I hope the author doesn’t mind, but the pacing and action sequences reminded me of David Gemmell’s works.
The ending comes all too soon and is just about perfect. It ends the book and the whole trilogy with heart, style and just a little sadness. And then the author sneaks in an epilogue which reveals something I’ll admit I didn’t see coming.
This book, like the others, is divided into two threads forming roughly half of the story each. Adeline Brand is still alive and is now the leader of all the surviving Sea Wolf forces. She is forced to fight a retreating action against both the traitor Sea Wolves and the fish men of the Sunken God, who wants to destroy them all. The second thread follows Lord Marius Cyclone as he too tries to stay alive and lead his forces to the portal while being hotly pursued.
I was a bit lukewarm in my appraisal of the first two volumes, but this volume is great! It’s as if the author was saving all his best until last. The writing, the plot, the characters, the action and all that important stuff just comes together in one near-perfect storm of a book.
It’s a page turner right from the start, there’s a cliffhanger at the end of every section that fits the flow of the narrative. I don’t know how the author made me care about these gruff Viking-types who go around hitting everything with sharp bits of metal, but that’s what happened. I have to say, and I hope the author doesn’t mind, but the pacing and action sequences reminded me of David Gemmell’s works.
The ending comes all too soon and is just about perfect. It ends the book and the whole trilogy with heart, style and just a little sadness. And then the author sneaks in an epilogue which reveals something I’ll admit I didn’t see coming.
March 6, 2024
The end is upon them. Otherworldly forces press their influence amongst its inhabitants.
The valiant, courageous & proud….flee.
An incredible epic conclusion! Surprising twists & riveting action. Tough as nails characters & massively addictive. Awesome series.
The valiant, courageous & proud….flee.
An incredible epic conclusion! Surprising twists & riveting action. Tough as nails characters & massively addictive. Awesome series.
March 15, 2022
Thanks, Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read and review!
This is the third book of a series, from which I still haven't read the first two installments. Reading it as a standalone isn't the best idea, but I still enjoyed the book. The narrative offered a very rich world-building and action-packed plot as well intriguing magic system. Definitely recommend the book to everyone who prefers dark fantasy! I'll have to check the first two books as well!
This is the third book of a series, from which I still haven't read the first two installments. Reading it as a standalone isn't the best idea, but I still enjoyed the book. The narrative offered a very rich world-building and action-packed plot as well intriguing magic system. Definitely recommend the book to everyone who prefers dark fantasy! I'll have to check the first two books as well!
March 19, 2022
This the last book in this excellent series and the best one so far. It was time to say goodbye to this world and these characters I loved.
The world building is as fascinating and even more expanded, the storytelling excellent, and the humour helped to lighten the dark fantasy plot.
I can't wait to read other books by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The world building is as fascinating and even more expanded, the storytelling excellent, and the humour helped to lighten the dark fantasy plot.
I can't wait to read other books by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
April 9, 2023
Loved it. As an ending to this trilogy, I found this very satisfying. Good lord I adore this mans books. Why is he not up there with Joe Abercrombie as one of the best authors currently in fantasy i can not understand. I hope there is more novels in the Form & Void & Long War worlds to come. Mashing these worlds togther holds so much promise. This is the good shit right here!
March 25, 2022
An excellent end to an excellent series. Can't wait to see what A.J. Smith writes next as the Long War grinds on.
February 2, 2026
Started and finished date – 02.01.26 to 05.01.26.
My rating – Three Stars.
I had really mixed felling about this book, I really enjoyed the world building, the setting of the book and the atmosphere but I found the rest of the book to be just okay. The cover of book was simple but stunning, and the cover of the book is one of my favourite books covers also I think the colour palette at was used on the cover of book was great. The writing in the book was fine, and the writing took some time to get use to also the ending of book was okay. I found book to be okay conclusion to the series, but I think author could have come up with a better ending to series. The setting of the book was great, and it was well written also I think author did a great setting up the setting of the book. The atmosphere in the book was pretty good, and I think it was my favourite part of book. I found the world building in the book to great, and I think the action in the book was well written.
The plot of the book was gripping, and it did keep me on my toes, but I found the plot to be full of Info dumping and the plot of book was bit boring. I think humour in the book was okay, but it could be better and I think the dialogue in the book was fine and it was easy to follow but dialogue was very average. I think both the friendships and relationships between characters was okay but it definitely to be flash out bit more. I think found the paced in the book was well structured and steady paced. The characters in the book were both messy and I found the characters to be hard to connect.
My rating – Three Stars.
I had really mixed felling about this book, I really enjoyed the world building, the setting of the book and the atmosphere but I found the rest of the book to be just okay. The cover of book was simple but stunning, and the cover of the book is one of my favourite books covers also I think the colour palette at was used on the cover of book was great. The writing in the book was fine, and the writing took some time to get use to also the ending of book was okay. I found book to be okay conclusion to the series, but I think author could have come up with a better ending to series. The setting of the book was great, and it was well written also I think author did a great setting up the setting of the book. The atmosphere in the book was pretty good, and I think it was my favourite part of book. I found the world building in the book to great, and I think the action in the book was well written.
The plot of the book was gripping, and it did keep me on my toes, but I found the plot to be full of Info dumping and the plot of book was bit boring. I think humour in the book was okay, but it could be better and I think the dialogue in the book was fine and it was easy to follow but dialogue was very average. I think both the friendships and relationships between characters was okay but it definitely to be flash out bit more. I think found the paced in the book was well structured and steady paced. The characters in the book were both messy and I found the characters to be hard to connect.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews