The dawn of a new year brings with it the promise of new adventures and discoveries, and what better way to kick off 2024 than with an enchanting Fantasy Book Haul! As an avid reader and a devoted fantasy enthusiast, my heart races with excitement at the thought of delving into realms unknown, guided by the pages of fantastical worlds waiting to be explored. Each book holds the promise of adventure, and as I turn the pages, I know that I am not merely reading a story but embarking on a grand odyssey through the realms of imagination.
Devin Eveson is a Soulkeeper, traveling through remote villages as a priest and healer. But when a mysterious black water washes over the world, the veil is torn, flooding the land with ancient magic and forgotten races. And not all the creatures that have reawakened remember humanity fondly. As the land grows increasingly dangerous and chaotic, Soulkeepers are turning up dead. Devin must set aside his words of peace and accept his new role: slayer of monsters and protector of the human race.
Dalglish’s unique ability to create a sense of awe and wonder within his narratives is especially Just a few days ago, I concluded my enthralling journey through David Dalglish’s Vagrant Gods series, and I find myself utterly fascinated by the author’s ability to craft a world of such grandeur. It is a world that not only exudes epicness but also manages to evoke a distinct video game ambiance. For those craving epic battles akin to the god-like encounters in Elden Ring, my detailed review is a must-read. Having bid farewell to the Vagrant Gods series, my thirst for Dalglish’s storytelling prowess remained unquenched. The prospect of immersing myself in a tale centered around a priest/healer was particularly appealing, especially as someone who often assumes the role of a healer in video games.
In a daring and deadly heist, thieves have made away with an artifact of terrible power—the death mask of Louis Charbon. Made by a master craftsman, it is imbued with the spirit of a monster from history, a serial murderer who terrorized the city. Now Charbon is loose once more, killing from beyond the grave. But these murders are different from before, not simply random but the work of a deliberate mind probing for answers to a sinister question. It is up to Krona Hirvath and her fellow Regulators to enter the mind of madness to stop this insatiable killer while facing the terrible truths left in his wake.
In the past year, I stumbled upon a newfound love for horror novels, and when blended with fantasy elements, this genre became an even more enticing realm for me. Eager to explore the spine-chilling and fantastical fusion, I embarked on a quest to find the perfect book. Fortunately, my trusted bookstore, Otherland in Berlin, recommended a title that has ignited my anticipation to unparalleled heights.
Cahan du Nahare is known as the forester – a humble man who can nonetheless navigate the dangerous Wyrdwood like no-one else. But once he was more. Once he was a warrior. Udinny serves the goddess of the lost, a goddess of the small and helpless. When she ventures into the Wyrdwood to find a missing child, Cahan will be her guide. But in a land at war, in a forest full of monsters – Cahan will need to choose between his past life and the one he leads now – and his choice will have consequences for his entire world.
I’ve harbored a long-standing desire to delve into the works of Matthew Ward, but the sheer heft of A story set in a dangerous forest? Do I really need to say more?
The Ruin of All Witches tells the dark, real-life folktale of witch-hunting in a remote Massachusetts plantation. These were the turbulent beginnings of colonial America, when English settlers’ dreams of love and liberty, of founding a ‘city on a hill’, gave way to paranoia and terror, enmity and rage. Drawing on uniquely rich, previously neglected source material, Malcolm Gaskill brings to life a New World existence steeped in the divine and the diabolic, in curses and enchantments, and precariously balanced between life and death.
The medieval witch trials have always fascinated me. Women condemned to the flames for unjust and often religious reasons? It’s a perplexing chapter in our history that begs to be understood. What unfolded in our past that led to such dark and harrowing events?
Lore has been living by her wits since she was a child, running poisons for the cartel that took her in, avoiding the attention of the law, and keeping her illicit affinity for death magic a secret. When a job goes wrong and Lore is captured by the Sainted King’s warrior-monks, she expects death. But King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening – or face the pyre. Thrust into a lavish court where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted, Lore must navigate an intricate web of politics, religion, and forbidden romance and solve the King’s mystery. A mystery more dangerous and twisted than Lore can even imagine.
A Confession time: Romantasy has never been my cup of tea. Every foray into the genre left me pondering the sanity of its enthusiasts. Sorry for the cheeky but honest remark! 😄 However, this book has piqued my interest for two compelling reasons – a Gothic setting and Necromancy. Maybe it’s time to set aside preconceptions and give new things a chance?
Curious minds want to know: among these gems, which one is tugging at your literary heartstrings? Or is there a particular book you’re dying to read a review about? Spill the tea in the comments below!
The Reading Stray 
Ouhhh i would go with the ruin of all witches!!!
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This looks like a very interesting and diverse haul! I totally get your point on romantasy. I see that it is very hyped at the moment, but personally I prefer fantasy itself or fantasy with some romance on the side. It just has to be integrated well into the story. Romantasy though, I will leave that to BookTok.
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