Is 'Malice' by John Gwynne Worth Reading?

TL;DR

Malice, the first book in John Gwynne's 'Faithful and the Fallen' series, presents a richly imagined world filled with traditional fantasy tropes. The narrative revolves around a pivotal prophecy of a war between good and evil, intertwining the fates of several young protagonists. While the writing is concise and engaging, the extensive cast of characters may pose a challenge for readers to follow.

Transcript

hey there my name is megan and welcome back to my channel [Applause] today i'm going to be doing a spoiler-free review for malice by john gwynn this is book one in his faithful and the fallen epic fantasy quartet but before we go ahead and get on into the review if you are not already subscribed to my channel please go ahead and hit that subscribe ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😫 The banished lands setting resembles medieval Europe, with little technology and a focus on warfare.
• 🤩 The story revolves around a prophecy of an impending god war and the search for the key figures, the Black Sun and the Bright Star.
• ✍️ The writing style of "Malice" is concise and effectively conveys information without excessive wordiness.
• ⌛ The theme of bullying is prevalent but at times feels overdone and unrealistic.
• 📔 The book incorporates traditional fantasy tropes with a unique spin by the author.
• 🌥️ "Malice" introduces a large number of characters, which can be confusing and overwhelming for readers.
• 😒 The use of multiple perspectives, both main and minor, adds depth and complexity to the story.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the setting of "Malice"?

"Malice" is set in the banished lands, a world reminiscent of medieval Europe, with kingdoms ruled by different kings.

Q: What is the main conflict in the story?

The main conflict in "Malice" is the prophecy of an impending god war, with the need to find the Black Sun and the Bright Star to prevent dire consequences for humanity.

Q: Are there any elements of magic in the story?

Magic used to exist in the banished lands but has faded over time. Giants and some humans still possess elemental magic, but it is rare and mostly mythical.

Q: How many point of views are there in the book?

"Malice" has six points of view, with three main characters: Verdis, Castle, and Corbin, and three minor characters: Evinus, Siren, and Camelin.

Q: What tropes are present in the book?

"Malice" incorporates various fantasy tropes, including a coming-of-age story, a prophecy, an evil forest, and a quest to restore lost magic.

Q: What is the writing style like?

The writing style in "Malice" is concise and does not get too wordy. The author effectively conveys necessary information while avoiding excessive descriptions.

Q: How does the author handle the theme of bullying?

The theme of bullying is prevalent in the story, particularly with Corbin and Castle as victims. However, it is at times overdone and unrealistic, detracting from the overall plot.

Q: What is the overall rating of "Malice"?

The reviewer gave "Malice" a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Malice" is the first book in the "Faithful and the Fallen" epic fantasy quartet.

• The story takes place in the banished lands, reminiscent of medieval Europe, with little technology and brutal warfare.

• The plot revolves around a prophecy of an impending god war and the search for the key figures, the Black Sun and the Bright Star.