The republic faces annihilation, despite the vigilance of Galharrow’s Blackwings. When a raven tattoo rips itself from his arm to deliver a desperate message, Galharrow and a mysterious noblewoman must investigate a long dead sorcerer’s legacy. But there is a conspiracy within the citadel: traitors, flesh-eaters and the ghosts of the wastelands seek to destroy them, but if they cannot solve the ancient wizard’s paradox, the Deep Kings will walk the earth again, and all will be lost.

The war with the Eastern Empire ended in stalemate some eighty years ago, thanks to Nall’s ‘Engine’, a wizard-crafted weapon so powerful even the Deep Kings feared it. The strike of the Engine created the Misery – a wasteland full of ghosts and corrupted magic that now forms a No Mans Land along the frontier. But when Galharrow investigates a frontier fortress, he discovers complacency bordering on treason: then the walls are stormed, and the Engine fails to launch. Galharrow only escapes because of the preternatural magical power of the noblewoman he was supposed to be protecting. Together, they race to the capital to unmask the traitors and restore the republic’s defences. Far across the Misery a vast army is on the move, as the Empire prepares to call the republic’s bluff.

Blackwing is a novel that is making strides in the fantasy genre and a novel that has been praised highly by fantasy readers as one of the best novels of the year. After reading this novel I can happily say that this really is one of the best novels I’ve read and an incredible, unforgettable fantasy read. Blackwing is a fast-paced, gritty, epic fantasy tale unlike anything I have read before; The novel captured me from the very beginning thanks to the author’s immaculate world building as well as the authors impeccable writing. As I write my review I am finding that I am still shocked from the brilliance that is in between these pages, I need to take a moment and appreciate this novel because it floored me!

Blackwing begins in a strange and deadly wasteland named Misery; Misery is a post-apocalyptic plain which is disturbing, ruthless, unforgiving but also fascinating. The vast scope of the land of Misery is highly unpredictable, it is a land full of grotesque, mutated creatures that instill terror in the hearts of everyone… well, almost everyone. This is the point in the novel where the reader is introduced to the Blackwing Mercenaries; they are the deadliest and most fearsome crew that brave Misery and all the terrifying creatures it holds and this is all I am willing to say about this novel! The plot of this novel is so brilliant that I do not want to spoil it for you lovely readers who hope to read this wonderful book.

The novel’s author Ed McDonald has written a story that is unpredictable and full of intense action, it may be a fantasy novel but it is a story that is so much more than just fantasy. It is novel that features heavily on politics, the inner workings of it and let’s not forget the disputes and betrayal that accompany it. The politics, combined with fantasy, action, monsters and so much more make Blackwing an unforgettable, splendid novel.

McDonald’s writing and storytelling are flawless and very impressive seeing as Blackwing is his debut novel. As a reader, I was surprised and enchanted how he had managed to build an exciting, in-depth and memorable world for his piece of literature so that to me screams talent and makes me fall even more in love with this incredible book. At this point in my review, I wish I had more to write about but the story of Blackwing is so in-depth and brilliant that I do not want to spoil it or give away too much information as this novel is to be read, experienced and felt.

To conclude my thoughts on Blackwing if you are looking for an epic fantasy tale that is unique, full of incredible action as well as a compelling storyline then this novel is for you! This wonderful tale gets Four Stars from me!

Thank you so much for reading book lovers! I really do appreciate it. Please do comment below your thoughts on this novel and whether you could see yourself reading it. Do you adore fantasy novels? How about novels that feature post-apocalyptic lands? Do let me know below as I would love to know what all of you lovely readers are thinking. Thank you once again for reading!