562 ratings | 148 reviews | avg rating:3.58

Matthew’s Year In Books

Matthew’s 2025 Year in Books

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Matthew Zorich

Goodreads Author

Born

in North East Ohio, The United States

Website

https://www.raccooncountypress.com/

Twitter

MatthewZorich

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

Member Since

November 2010

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/matthewzorich

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Matthew Zorich is an Ohio-based author specializing in fiction writing leaning into the fantasy genre. He has always been an avid reader, and his obsession turned to writing. He graduated college with a degree in journalism from The University of Akron. Comics, novels, and periodicals lay all over his house while several cats, his two teenagers, and his incredible wife put up with his book hoarding.
Along with reading, writing, and reviewing books, he appreciates hiking and a fine bourbon while gaming with his friends. His fantasy trilogy includes Bastards of Liberty and Maiden of Storms and is currently writing the ending Union of Steel.

11 posts
Matthew Zorich's Blog

Conspiracy of Crows Trilogy Update.

Hello!

It's time for a writing check-in! Union of Steel, book three in the Conspiracy of Crows trilogy, has officially hit 100,000 words. As for the scope of the novel, this is part one. I plan to complete part two, expanding this epic fantasy to be the largest of the three books.

This is an early draft, and I need to pause now to perform a world-building edit.

For the next few months, it will be r Read more of this blog post »

2 likes · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 26, 2025 12:06 • Tags: fantasy

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Combine Editions
Matthew Zorich’s books

Average rating: 4.08 · 40 ratings · 30 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors

	Bastards of Liberty (The Conspiracy of Crows, #1) 4.06 avg rating — 32 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Maiden of Storms (The Conspiracy of Crows, #2) 4.57 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2025 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Elegantly Wasted did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Series by Matthew Zorich

The Conspiracy of Crows (2 books)
by

Matthew Zorich (Goodreads Author)

4.15 avg rating — 39 ratings

Matthew is Currently Reading

Matthew Zorich is currently reading

Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1)

by Pierce Brown (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, 1st-person, political, pop-fiction, space-opera, young-adult, scifi

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Jun 08, 2026 02:18PM

Matthew Zorich is currently reading

The Traitors We Are (Crown and Tide, #1)

by Michael Roberti (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: grimdark, fantasy, sword-and-board, currently-reading, 3rd-person, best-seller, noble-bright

read in August 2023

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Matthew Zorich said: " Michael Roberti’s “The Traitors We Are” is a multiple-POV fantasy novel based on a world where writing disappears once the author dies. The book provides high magic mixed with gritty undertones, political intrigue, and world-building woven through th Michael Roberti’s “The Traitors We Are” is a multiple-POV fantasy novel based on a world where writing disappears once the author dies. The book provides high magic mixed with gritty undertones, political intrigue, and world-building woven through the book. The plot revolves around peace negotiations between two warring parties and evolves into conspiracies on a much grander scale. Witches, court intrigue, and questions stalk the edges of this fantasy novel, giving me shades of grimdark, epic, and military fantasy.

The three main POVs, siblings Cael and Merily Oberlan, are part of a loose confederation called the Reach. At the same time, Emil Trenstinen, a noble, is part of the conquering/colonizing Harfal faction that bears the brunt of the story and book.

Still, other POVs mingled throughout the fantasy novel, fleshing out the conflict between the two main parties, but as my reading continued, there became so many more plot points sprinkled on top of the two main antagonist groups, The Reach and Harfel.

The story twists and entertains between the three POVs throughout the book as the author provides multiple perspectives of the same events. This part of the writing offers glimpses of what is to come but leaves the reader pushing to unwind the knots Mr. Roberti has twisted for them. All the POVs felt human and genuine in their actions and motivations.

The Reach’s culture feels alive and thick with lore and history, and Harfal’s culture is there, but it will be more fleshed out as the book series expands. I’ve only spoken of two main groups portrayed in this book, as several other factions are at play, including merchants, mobsters, and a group that, as I found, holds more power than most will understand until the end of the book. The intrigue and politics drove me to continue to read, and the character growth carried on in each chapter.

Mr. Roberti’s action sequences are page-turning and well done, with detail and emotion, and there are multiple times when I enjoyed the prose making a note of a sentence or quote. I could feel the inspiration of the book series from A Song of Fire and Ice and The First Law Trilogy come alive in the prose and characters. The small group of soldiers attacking a group of witches (spell casters) as they burnt soldiers alive was fascinating and intense.

The pacing was excellent, and I looked for more moments in my day to consume another chapter. The last fourth of the book spins out of control, leaving me ready for the next book as I cheered for my favorite characters, POVs from the Reach. It’s what I want from a fantasy novel: engagement, connection, and the odd sense of loving and hating the villains in a book and feeling slightly guilty about it. When I finished my reading, I knew I wanted more. How does this whole writing disappearing come about and wait? Who is that character plotting to conquer everything? I now have to wait for the follow-up, and Mr. Roberti can’t write fast enough for me.

I recommend “The Traitors We Are” to any fantasy reader for its spinning plot, POV-style writing, and character growth. The cover is intriguing, and the mirror quality of it plays into the conspiracies that remain inside the book. Pick it up if you are in the mood for an indie fantasy that hits those military and conspiracy vibes that mixes character development and world-building well and know there is more on the way. ...more "

Sep 26, 2023 04:04PM · see review

Matthew Zorich is currently reading

Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #1)

by Matt Dinniman (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 08, 2026 02:17PM

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Matthew Zorich is currently reading Red Rising (Red Rising Saga, #1) by Pierce Brown (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 08, 2026 02:18PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Red Rising by Pierce Brown <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Matthew Zorich started reading The Traitors We Are (Crown and Tide, #1) by Michael Roberti (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 08, 2026 02:18PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Traitors We Are by Michael Roberti. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Traitors We Are by Michael Roberti <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Matthew Zorich is currently reading Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #1) by Matt Dinniman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 08, 2026 02:17PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Matthew Zorich rated a book really liked it Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Rating- 85 Four Starts **** out of 5 Written Review is pending Guide 5 Stars 100 -90 All time Classic, a must read & must own 4 Stars 89- 80 Grand, get it, read it, enjoy 3 Stars 79- 70 Well rounded and worth a read 2 Stars 69 -60 An ok book, not for me, co ...more
Jun 08, 2026 02:14PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Matthew Zorich rated a book really liked it Standoff At Sundown: A Western Action and Adventure Series (Jake McCall Book 1) (Jake McCall Western Series) by Jim Woods	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Written Review Pending Short, sharp, and horse whip smart, full of action. Rating- 84 -4 Stars 5 Stars 100 -90 All time Classic, a must read & must own 4 Stars 89- 80 Grand, get it, read it, enjoy 3 Stars 79- 70 Well rounded and worth a read 2 Stars 69 -60 ...more
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Matthew Zorich rated a book liked it Fatemarked (The Fatemarked Epic, #1) by David Estes (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Written Review in progress Rating- 80 Four Stars 5 Stars 100 -90 All time Classic, a must read & must own 4 Stars 89- 80 Grand, get it, read it, enjoy 3 Stars 79- 70 Well rounded and worth a read 2 Stars 69 -60 An ok book, not for me, could be for you. 1 Sta ...more
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Matthew Zorich rated a book it was ok Remain by Nicholas Sparks (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A 1st- and 3rd-person POV romance mystery that felt robotic and light on plot. I am unsure of the direction Mr. Shyamalan was attempting to take, other than providing tired ideas from one of his movies with a 'I see dead people' plot. I can't blame M ...more
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Matthew Zorich rated a book liked it Fatemarked (The Fatemarked Epic, #1) by David Estes (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Written Review in progress Rating- 80 Four Stars 5 Stars 100 -90 All time Classic, a must read & must own 4 Stars 89- 80 Grand, get it, read it, enjoy 3 Stars 79- 70 Well rounded and worth a read 2 Stars 69 -60 An ok book, not for me, could be for you. 1 Sta ...more
May 28, 2026 05:41PM · like · see review
Matthew Zorich rated a book it was ok Remain by Nicholas Sparks (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A 1st- and 3rd-person POV romance mystery that felt robotic and light on plot. I am unsure of the direction Mr. Shyamalan was attempting to take, other than providing tired ideas from one of his movies with a 'I see dead people' plot. I can't blame M ...more
May 28, 2026 05:40PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Remain by Nicholas Sparks. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Remain by Nicholas Sparks <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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More of Matthew's books…

Quotes by Matthew Zorich (?)

“We are lost; waiting tables at Denny's or forgetting ourselves stripping on poles, or working at a coffee shop misplaced in history or slowly dying on the inside as a secretary or landscaping lawns out of desperation working jobs with no futures, like bartending. The next generation of teachers, historians, lawyers, police officers and civil engineers work at this bar because the money can not be passed up, when you’re drowning in debt. The world brings us to our knees and we service it because it nourishes us just enough to get by. We are tired and we don't understand why. We, the over educated searching for happiness at the bottom of the bottle.”
― Matthew Zorich, Elegantly Wasted

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“You’ll know when to take revenge. It may take years, but you’ll know,” the old woman whispered. “You kept to the old ways, yes, you and your family. You did. I know who you prayed to: Jupitor, who gives us light and day; Sif, bringer of the harvest, change, and death; yes, and Striobog. During the winters here in our hills, he smiled at us. But you know who I see in you? Judith. You are a child of Judith, bringer of rain, growth, lightning, and storms. Let her guide you through this terrible time.”
― Matthew Zorich, Bastards of Liberty

tags: fantasy, grimdark-fantasy, historical-fantasy

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Matthew’s Quotes

“Don't judge it. Just write it. Don't judge it. It's not for you to judge it.

Interview in Esquire Magazine 10/10”
― Philip Roth

tags: esquire, writing

12 likes

“The ordeal is part of the commitment"

Esquire Interview 10/10”
― Philip Roth

tags: esquire, writing

3 likes

“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”
― Ernest Hemingway

tags: truth, writing, writing-advice

4193 likes

“I believe that mankind's destiny lies in the stars. I believe that candy really did taste better when I was a kid, that it's aerodynamically impossible for a bumble bee to fly, that light is a wave and a particle, that there's a cat in a box somewhere who's alive and dead at the same time (although if they don't ever open the box to feed it it'll eventually just be two different kinds of dead), and that there are stars in the universe billions of years older than the universe itself.”
― Neil Gaiman

tags: belief

9130 likes