Malice
by John Gwynne
Favorite quote:
“Both the brave man and the coward feel the same. The only difference between them is that the brave man faces his fear, does not run.” ~~ Gar the stablemaster to Corban ben Thannon
What did you find intriguing about this book?
At the time I first found Malice, I was searching for obscure epic fantasy titles avoiding the uber popular ones like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings (the latter which I’ve read and love). After reading it, I decided to wait for the rest of the series to be completed before continuing onto the next book (also at the time, I was having a weird phase where I only started the first book of a series and didn’t finish).
Years passed but Malice stuck with me, resurfacing in my memories every now and again like fog rising up in the dawn; I carried particular characters with me from brave and virtuous to vicious and cowardly. On my second read through I was amazed at what I remember as well as what I didn’t. This is a gritty novel with giants and magic, warriors and prophecy, clashing battle scenes balanced with political maneuverings.
Malice has awesome plot twists, a vast world that the author unfolds and weaves together for his reader, and the ending leaves you wanting to continue the journey to find out how it will ultimately end.
