The Coward follows Kell as an adult, the hero and last survivor who stood against the Ice Lich years before. A man who doesn’t consider himself a hero and just wants to move past what he’s survived, he is then called back into service of the king when the weather changes to see if the Ice Lich has returned.

The Coward was such a fun book! It’s not often you get a main character who is a coward, a man who doesn’t want to be a hero and instead just wants to farm and find a wife and live peacefully. Someone who wants to forget what he’s already lived through. This was such a unique take on a fantasy novel, having this grand adventure starting out with someone who does not want to go.

We have a few perspectives throughout the book, which made Kell’s story all the more interesting as you see what’s going on in the world and who is conspiring against him. There is a lot happening throughout the start of the book especially, as Kell starts his adventures and assembles a group of other heroes, as well as seeing a political and religious side to the world and the effects it’s having on his adventure. It did make the start of the book a bit slow as there is so much to be introduced to, but once it picks up, it really gets going.

The ending of the book was fantastic. The build up, the heroes, everything about it just felt perfect. Parts of it came as a bit of a surprise, which was refreshing as well. So much of the this book managed to feel unique while following a timeless fantasy trope of adventuring heroes.

There are some content warnings for the book though, for those readers that need them. Religious fanaticism with implied child abuse and ‘re-education schools’. There is also some violent scenes, and some non consensual advances from some characters. A lot of the scenes are implied though, so if you’re okay with just knowing about it without having to read brutal scenes, you might be able to tolerate those scenes.

I would strongly recommend this one if you’re looking for a new take on fantasy tropes, as this one is such a fun read.

This was a book that I have enjoyed, quite a lot. I had some problems with it, for me it is not perfect but it was a hell of a ride, and I enjoyed every moment of it. And this is quite good, right?
Let’s start with Kell, our main character. I really felt him. This may sound a bit strange, because one of the problems I had with this book was that, even if we have some really interesting characters (and they have a lot of good things going on, but more about them all in a bit) I couldn’t really identify myself with them at 100%. I related with them just up to a point, and this was a bit disappointing, because I love characters driven books and I need to really feel them, and relate to them, so in this respect this book fall a bit short. But nonetheless I really empathized with Kell here, especially in the beginning of the story.

He is a survivor. He was the lucky one. The boy who went with the heroes to kill the Lich, and he was the only one who made it back. But it was not easy. He suffers from PTSD and he is a broken man. But he is also a man that had given a lot to his kingdom. And he does not feel any lingering sense of obligation toward it. And how much I understood him! I know that his idea wasn’t going to pay up, you just know since you have a whole book ahead of you and it just couldn’t go in that direction (even if it would have been a really original book in that case), but I was cheering him all the way while he was trying to disappear and let the kingdom fend for itself. And how much I have hated Gerren!
I think that he was my least favorite character, but not because he is plain or bidimensional. Not at all. He is a really well developed character. But he throw Kell back in a world that he desperately want to evade. Gerren is young, and so green in a lot of ways. And he has a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. What is fair and what isn’t. But life is not always fair. And he has yet to discover it. And for this, I really hated him with a passion for a good chunk of the book. And in the end, I warmed a bit toward him, but he was not my favorite. I would have strangled him!!!!!


But here we have another important thing about the book: Kell is human, just that. The first time he went with the heroes he was exactly like Gerren. He was dumb (young-dumb), he was an idealist, a dreamer and he wanted the world to be a fair place.
His first travel to the North killed not only a lot of his companions but also his youth, his naivete. And it gave him nightmares and regrets. It took a young boy with all life ahead of him, and it spat out a broken man. And Kell does not want to go back to it. He wants to run the farthest possible from it. And if this made him a coward, let’s be so.
But then Gerren happen. And with Gerren other companions join in the merry band. And so Kell is headed again to the North and to the Monster that is coming back. He is not happy about it, but he is resigned. Someone has to do it, and, all things considered, he is the one with the best chances at it. With some help, of course.
Kell is a hero. But it is not your usual hero, he is disillusioned, he is broken, and sure as hell, he doesn’t want to do it. But do it he will. And with him, all his companions show heroism, and again is a sort of heroism that can seem a bit smaller, a bit less legendary but, because of this, more real and more precious.

But let’s go back to the characters. With Gerren and Kell, we have Willow, she is not human and she is quite the mysterious kind of girl. Not only she is an unknown but her whole race is, and we get to discover a little bit while her companions discover something more about her and her race. But, to be honest, I would have liked to know more. They had a really long time to spend together, so I was hoping to discover a little more. But this is just a minor thing, she is a great character, and she would show us what all this is about. And the final discovery, the final twist, was something amazing. Really!
The last hero is another mysterious one. Valhi, the bard. He is human, and he is not quite as mysterious as Willow, that’s true, but he has a lot of surprises and I really wanted to get to know him better.
And, last but not least, we have Britak. She is not one of the heroes on the mission. She is the woman in the shadows who tries to stop our heroes to do their deed. And if, on one hand, I didn’t like her because she is trying her best to rich her goals, and even if this is a commending trait, I didn’t like her goals a bit, on the other, she is really something. She has a plan (or better, a master plan) and she won’t be stopped. She is a woman on a mission, that’s for sure. And even if I find myself at the opposite of her believes and goals, most of the time at least, she is a rare kind of person, because she is a true believer. And even if we are bordering on the fanatic side, she is quite true to herself and to her beliefs. She really lives with the dogma of her religion at heart, and for this, she was a really interesting character.

So, even if I had some problems relating to the characters, I can say without a doubt that they were the best thing of the book, but they were not the only good thing in there. We have an interesting world-building. Nothing over the top, sure, but we have a world worth exploring, and thanks to our characters' trip to the North we get the opportunity to see quite a bit of it. But the second-best thing was the plot. The main part is pretty standard, entertaining, and interesting, I was not bored while reading, but nothing to write home about. But then we have some new discovery and the final twist of all. And… wow! The revelation was pretty big, and it made me really curious to see how the author would play it out, while the final twist made me laugh. And maybe it was bad of me, but it was just too good to be true, even if I think that Kell won’t agree with me.

This was a great book, about the “right” kind of heroes, with an interesting plot and a good pace. I was intrigued by it, and I enjoyed it a lot. And now I just have to wait for the second one to come out!!

Short Version: A really intriguing story that gives new life to tired tropes.

Long version:

I enjoyed this a lot, it played around with some tropes that I’ve been bored with for a while giving them a new lease of life and added some elements like political shenanigans that are very much my cup of tea.

On the surface this is an action fantasy with quests and obstacles and creatures and you can rip through it and have a pretty satisfying read but if you take your time and pay attention to the details, there is an awful lot going on and that for me elevates it.


The Plot: To be honest, the plot is pretty much what you think it’s going to be - a traditional journey quest with a ragtag group who need to work together to overcome obstacles. It’s entertaining if a little repetitive but for me it’s just a vehicle for other elements to provide the magic.

The Setting: The settings were fitting for the story, used nicely to compliment the plot.

The Characters: This is where I think the magic happens. I love how the characters and their interactions mess with the tropes we have come to expect from quest type stories. I liked the inclusion of ailments, both physical and mental and I thought they were handled sensitively. I liked the complexity of the characters and I LOVED The Reverend Mother (obviously she is awful but as a character she is gold.).

The Pace: Solid pacing throughout.

The Prose: I like the way Stephen writes. I like the accessible nature of the writing. I think the dialogue flows naturally and is really quite funny in places without the humour being laboured.

The Ending: Satisfying. I’m intrigued as to where the next book will go.

With a rich world that creates a great sense of grand scale, and piles and piles of heart, Stephen Aryan writes more beautiful terrain and fame thirsty warriors. It makes the adventure a blast and is buoyed by some fantastic enemy creature designs, though these successes are married to a fairly basic and repetitive first half as a story that seems to regularly overstate its own substance.
Personal rating: 3.75
Full review to come on my YouTube channel.

"You can hide from other people, but you can't hide from yourself. I'm proof of that."

Thank you, NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book, and I swear that this review is my honest opinion of the book and not at all biased.

This is my first time reading a Stephen Aryan book, and I am all ready to jump into his backlog, cause this book was fantastic. I already added all his books to my Mt. TBR, which I hope to climb to the top of one day.
The Coward is the first book of the Quest for Heroes duology and it follows Kell Kressia, a hero. He's hardly a hero, though. Last time, he was lucky enough to survive the Ice Leech, uh, sorry, Ice Lich, and other heroes' sacrifices spared his neck and soul. Kell was enjoying a calm life in the countryside, working on a farm, after his first experience with a fatal quest ten years ago. However, the weather is changing, and it is becoming chilly, bringing back the farmer's biggest dread. Bad weather, a bad year, bad harvest, famine, starvation, and death.
Kell receives a notice from the king, directing him to prepare for yet another journey to the Frozen North. Kell, however, is no longer the naive and enthusiastic 17-year-old boy; this Kell has had enough, and ill-luck and a curse hang over his head. Only a fool will risk his life again, and Kell is no fool. But even a hero can't always refuse the King, so Kell started off on his journey with the intention of moving north and eventually escaping someplace to start a new life, under a new name, and finally taste freedom from his bloody past. But things don't always go as planned, as you can't always run away from fear, especially when the horror is an emotion buried deep inside your soul, and now he's accompanied by a few others.
A group of misfits embarked on a journey to the north, unaware of the dangers they would encounter along the route, which would also result in the loss of their beating hearts.
All of the characters were intriguing and unique. Reading about each and every character was a lot of pleasure for me.
The book is written in the second person, and the POVs switch from one character to the next, mostly between Kell and Gerren, but others (except Willow) had a share of their POVs as well. There was no mention of the narrator, which was a little confusing at first, but soon became oddly familiar as we read deeper into the book.
Our rumored, yet experienced hero, Kell, the lone survivor and executioner of the monster residing on Ice, is the first figure we'd bring up while discussing characters. He thought that his survival was largely due to the sacrifices of others and his exceptional luck. He joined the heroes since his mother was sick and their harvest had been harmed by the weather. To live a conventional life and keep his only family secure and happy, he needed money and fame. He was 17 when he accompanied the heroes to the Frozen North; tenacious and determined, he refused to give up even when the heroes pushed him to the limit, making it difficult for a young man. He was afraid, but he kept it hidden from the other heroes and did whatever was required of him. Ten years later, guilt has taken hold of him, but unlike the last time, he is no longer afraid to confront the horrors he had to through years before.
The next, we meet Gerren. A 16-year-old boy, naive and full of pride. He only wanted to become rich and famous since he didn't have anybody to call a friend. He gets determined in proving the bards about Kell wrong and disregarding him after learning about his intention to flee. Even when Kell offered him opportunities to escape, he persevered, and the only reason he wanted to continue on the quest was selfishness. He irritated me at first throughout the novel, but he and Kell quickly became my favorite characters. Even when death was dancing above his head, I admired how he stood with the others. He has a special place in my heart.
Willow, the alfar, with a long lengthy name was mysterious and self kept. (introverted maybe?) She was a mysterious figure who continued peering and examining the surroundings, trying to stomach everything, yet she was constantly on high alert and spoke very little. There's a lot more to her than what's in this book. I'd like to know more about her. She arrived with a certain goal in mind. (You'll figure it out...)
Vahli, the bard, wanted to experience the adventures for himself so he could compose a bad on his own about the legit journey and the struggles and he wanted to escape the casted shadow of Madina. Or was that all about him? I mean, I wouldn't put my life on the line simply to create a saga, right?
Bronwyn, a well-built lady who resembled a warrior, was frustrated that no one could ever be a true challenge for her; no matter what, she always got the better deal. As a result, she struggled to mix with other people, but she always remained out. Again, that was all for her?
Malomir, the king of Summer Isles and the islander with so many underrated stories, joined the group to get away from his loneliness, and yeah, well sure, he was good with using swords.
Britak, the Reverend Mother, and my least favorite character in the entire novel is deserving of all the scorn. She's dumb, dumb, dumb and dumb and disgusting, filled with dumb dead cells. whatever she thinks, and talks and does and aims for is dumb and stupid and ridiculous.
I recently had a lot of church belief-based trope on my plate that I had enough of. The Nun, oh no, sorry, the Reverend Mother, was getting n my nerves and I seriously wanted to knock her down and smack her head. Her beliefs in the church and Shepherd had me shaking my head out of sympathy for that sociopath. I wanted to hurl the book (here; phone) out the window every time I read about her punishing herself for her wrongdoings. (But I won't do that, obviously.) Her punishment was her lifting a stone off the ground but the others had to carry a mountain on their head because of her beliefs. Because of her, it took me a long time to finish this book; her points of view sickened me to the point where I had to put the book down for a few days every time.
Up until part three, there was a bard before each chapter, which was both intriguing and stimulating. I enjoyed the way Aryan weaved the tale together; the language was plain and consistent, and all of my predictions for the ending and twists were completely wrong, which amused me.
I won't say the world-building was intriguing because there weren't many narrations about it, but the journey was simple to picture, as at every step they were forced to confront a hurdle after another. Once they arrived at the Frozen North, everything seemed bizarre and odd, including the weird behavior of the animals and beasts. This was a fantasy and thriller with plenty of action and supernatural elements.
The ending was fabulous but grieve stricken, I never expected this book to be this good when I started to read it. The Coward, I felt, can also stand as a standalone, because it accomplished what it set out to achieve flawlessly. But there are a few unsolved questions: a new life awaiting, a few mysteries to be revealed; which we will hopefully learn about in the next book, and I'd want to learn more about the Chaote. ;p
From Vorans to Maglau, Bears to Garrows, Qalamieren and wraiths, vicious beasts and Ice lich, this tale was fantastic, and I can't wait to read the next book.

17-year-old Kell Kressia set off with 11 famed warriors in the North to kill the Ice Lich, but only he returned. He secured peace for the five kingdoms and gained status as a hero and a celebrity.

10 years later, a threat emerges, and it points that the Ice Lich has returned. Famine is slowly spreading throughout the kingdoms, and Kell is once again called to arms by the King to battle this terror. But is he willing to risk his life again?

------
The Coward is the first book I’ve read by Stephen Aryan and it did not disappoint! I would definitely read his previous works the soonest! It has the classic quest trope with the perfect blend of mystery, humor, and action.

This book is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. It has all the usual elements of fantasy except for one: an unfailing hero instead, we have Kell Kressia - dubbed as a hero, and his deed sung everywhere in the five kingdoms, but in reality - he’s a coward.

The accidental hero trope makes The Coward more interesting as it adds more depth to the protagonist and the plot. it shows how the truth can easily be erased so long as the people will buy the lies being fed.
Kell’s POV showed a different side of being a hero: their inner conflict, and the trauma and nightmares that follow after. He’s a likable and engaging protagonist. I like how practical and realistic he is.

In his journey to save humanity again, Kell has formed a group of misfits: “warriors” seeking glory for themselves. A 17-year-old boy named Gerren; the mysterious bard, Vahli; the Alfar nicknamed as Willow (def not human!); Bronwyn, a famous female warrior; and Malomir, a hunter of beasts and men. Also, Britak, the high priestess of the shepherd is an interesting one. She’s vicious and determined although underdeveloped. She’s a fanatic who’s waging a holy war, and her machinations have set things in motion.

A large chunk of the book was their journey thus building the world fantastically. It’s complex, detailed, and well-written. Religion, secrets, politics, and history are sprinkled throughout thereby making the plot more complex. Stephen Aryan’s writing style is engaging, capturing the readers immediately. The pacing was perfect for the book. It slowly sets the world, tone, and the story, then gradually building up. The action scenes were well-done, most of them occurring in the second half of the book. And wow, that last part, I was not expecting it!

Overall, The Coward is an entertaining read. It’s a slow-burn fantasy filled with adventure, actions, and a well-developed protagonist. Looking forward to the second book. More Willow, please!

Thank you so much, Angry Robot, and Netgalley for the DRC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Received arc from Angry Robot and Netgalley for honest read and review.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read that had me hooked from the beginning.
Centres around Kell Kressia and his journey again to the frozen North to find out if the Ice Lich is real,10 years after he first went.
Really excellent story and I cannot wait to read more in this series.

If you want to read about a reluctant hero and his ragtag bunch of misfits "heroes" on quest to save the world from biting cold and starvation because of vicious monsters, The Coward by Stephen Aryan is the perfect fantasy read for you. This is my first book I read that was written by the author, and I will definitely look forward to his future works.

The story followed Kell Kressia. Ten years ago, he became a legend and a hero after slaying the Ice Lich and saved the world. He was now living a slow, quiet life while his famous saga was sung all over the Five Kingdoms. His peaceful life was disrupted when he was once again summoned by King Bledsoe to go on a quest he already did ten years ago. The cold was creeping south once more which means limited supplies of crops. It was now up to Kell to slay and stop the impending disaster that would fall on the Five Kingdoms. However, Kell had a secret; he was not the hero everyone expected him to be.

There was always something about reluctant heroes that always piqued my interest. A lot of questions kept bugging my mind since it was very common for heroes to seek power ang glory from their adventures. That being said, I really enjoyed the story line. Kell's perspective showed readers what the realities of heroic stories. People tended to put them on high pedestals, but in the end, they were all just humans. Even when the plot seemed to have cliché tropes, this still felt different because of the execution and its conflicts. Moreover, political intrigue and religious fanaticism were also present in plot, making the quest more of a higher risk. Fair amount of battle scenes, even when they were less gory, were well-written. Lastly, the pacing of the story was a little slow at first which was totally okay since this set the mood, characters, as well as the world building.

This novel had amusing set of characters. I liked the parallel between the two characters: Kell and Gerren. Kell saw his seventeen-year-old self to Gerren: he was naïve and seeking glory through this quest. There were also the very charming bard named Vahli, the not-quite-human Willow who had supernatural human strength, the woman warrior Bronwyn known for her prowess, and the king Malomir who possessed both sharp mouth and sword skills. The only minor issue I had was the other characters were not fleshed out as much as I would have liked.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has interesting heroes and a very engaging story. I am looking forward to reading the second book (if there is one; crossed fingers!)

4/5 stars!

Lord of the Rings meets a dark and twisty Fantastic Beast’s. This multiple POV novel will capture your attention as soon as you dive in. Kell Kressia is faced, yet again, with the task of the saving the world. But, heroes aren’t always whole. Follow the story of Kell and his unassuming band of misfits while they save their world.

Kell is summoned by King Bledsoe to save the Five Kingdoms from a mystical presence. Little do they know, in another part of the kingdom…the Reverend Mother, Britak, and King Roebus are plotting against them. The Kingdoms are at odds and the Reverend Mother will do anything to ensure the Shepherd and his 12 Pillars remain in the forefront. She has no time for magic and mysticism.

Six heroes (or maybe fools) embark on this journey. But how many will return?


I really liked this book and Stephen’s writing style. I’m looking forward to continuing the saga.

Summary

Read as an ARC with thanks to Netgalley and Angry Robot for providing a review copy. The Coward, book one in The Quest For Heroes, is out June 8th 2021, from Angry Robot.

Ten years have passed since Kell Kressia sent out on a legendary quest with a band of grizzled fighters to slay the Ice Lich and was the only one to return alive. Now a new terror has arisen in the north, and for a second time, Kell is called upon to battle the forces of darkness. But Kell has a secret. He's not a hero - he was just lucky, and he has no intention of risking his life for anyone.

Review

Through deconstructing the classic fantasy adventure narrative through the lens of PTSD, The Coward examines the genre in an in-depth, emotional, and character-driven way. By forcing our hero Kell Kressia to confront and re-examine his trauma, not only does the story reveal the dissonance between the sagas and reality, but also shows how Kell's public image has been warped and weaponised beyond his control.

Kell is a character who does not want to be on the quest. He intends to turn tail and run at the first opportunity. Returning to a peaceful life, he has only recently obtained after his traumatic experience at the Ice-Lich Castle, even if that means having to leave the country to do so. Having lived through the quest once, out of luck and not skill, he feels no obligation to resolve this new problem. He is also still afraid and traumatised by his first adventure and believes that the first quest has already fulfilled his duty to the kingdom.

However, he is forced to continue the journey by Gerran. Who young and naive wants to be the hero Kell is portrayed as in the sagas. After being confronted by Kell about the foolishness of this desire, how fabricated the saga is compared to the reality Kell lived through, and Kell's intention to turn tail and run, Gerran stubbornly refuses to believe Kell seeing him only as a coward. Setting it up that Kell must continue the quest by sending word ahead of Kell's quest and arrival. Gerran makes it impossible for Kell to slip by and go and live the peaceful life he desires, forcing Kell to relive the quest and the trauma he has been avoiding for ten years.

Aryan creates this wonderful parallel between Gerran and Kell through this. Gerran representing Kell's young self, hot-headed, arrogant, and ill-prepared for the reality of the journey ahead. And Kell, who must now take on the position of the former heroes as leader and mentor — making them truly the heart of the story. Gerran slowly realises that though Kell intended to be a coward, he was never a liar about the realities he faced on the first quest.

However, because so much of the story is focused on the parallels between Kell and Gerran the other characters feel shallower in comparison. Malomir, Bronwyn, Vahli, and Willow don't get much character development till the second half of the story. And their motivations and character development fall within a small set of well-worn tropes — the himbo conflicted about his future; the character that hides all their feelings behind shows of strength; the mysterious bard; and the strange and mostly silent outsider. They have enough depth that you genuinely feel for them as the story begins to break our band of heroes one-by-one. But compared to Kell and Gerran, their character arcs feel shallower. While writing this review, I'd even forgotten about Willow, even though she plays a pivotal role in the climax, and had to add her back in as I proofread.

The two characters who I feel most cheated by them having shallower character development is Reverand Mother Britak and Princess Sigrid. Despite their small screen time, these two orchestrate all conflict outside the main Ice-Lich subplot. But, most of the action happens off-screen. When you finally finish the book, you realise that their POV's were only included to set up the next book. I love how this is executed, especially the last scene with Sigrid and her father's steward Lukas because all the pieces of their plot only come together in their final scenes. However, executing their stories in this manner also makes them feel underrepresented compared to our heroes despite their importance.

Reverend Mother Britak gets enough screen time that you grow to hate her and her vile, vicious, and hypocritical attitude. She and her push to hegemonise the world through the use of her faith deliver this poignant allegory between the real world corruption and abuse of the Christian Church and the fantasy world of The Coward and faith of The Sheppard. But, much of her action happens off-screen through mercenaries and agents of hers.

While she orchestrates a lot of the plot and the wider conflict outside the Ice-Lich's threat because we only hear updates on how her plans are going, it makes the reader feel removed from the conflict she is creating. There is a whole kidnapping a prince subplot that happens primarily off the screen. Because of how much of her plot happens off-screen, her effect as an antagonist is lessened by how Aryan utilises her as a setup for the sequel.

Sigrid too is used mainly as setup for the sequel. This feels incredibly frustrating as you come to realise that she is an essential character in the wider plot but gets very little screen time even compared to Britak her main antagonist. Sigrid, her father, King Bledsoe, and his steward Lukas are instrumental in the public perception of Kell Kressia and serve as the main oppositions to Britak's ambition.

King Bledsoe and Lukas are instrumental in creating the Medina Saga, shaping Kell's image as a hero. And Sigrid is instrumental in orchestrating Kell's involvement in the current quest as well as ensuring Britak's plans are interrupted and thwarted where she can. To them, it does not matter whether Kell succeeds or not because they have already planned for both outcomes. And how they will shape the optics around each result for the benefit of their kingdom. Therefore it's such a shame that Sigrid gets very little attention compared to Kell.

Despite having a sequel set up as part of its plot The Coward is still one complete story that can be read on its own because much of it focuses Kell Kressia's POV and his introspections of the trauma he has lived. And while Britak and Sigrid's feel incomplete without the sequel. Kell's story stands on its own and The Cowards examination of trauma through Kell's and his companion defiantly makes this story worth a read.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a character-driven deconstruction of the classic western fantasy narrative, I implore you to check out The Coward. With a strong parallel between Kell and Gerran to lead the story, a heartfelt look at the realities of the quest narrative, and an intriguing sequel set up, Stephen Aryan's The Coward is a must-read.

First of all thank to Netgalley and Angry Robot for providing me with the copy of this book.
Finally, I finished this beauty. I was so happy to read this book. It's an old school fantasy and I've enjoyed it so much. It's not like others about the brave and great heroes I've read before. Here the heroes bleed and have fear od dying, fear of the beasts and the battles.
The story begins with Kell Kressia, who 10 years ago went to the quest with twelve heroes, and was the one who survived. One day the weather begins to change and the King Bledsoe asks him to go to the North again. Kell accepts, but he know he won't survive this time and he's planning to run with the first opportunity.
But something changes and Kell decide to go to the North with a special company: Garren, a young boy, Willow, an Alfar, Vahli the bard, Malomir, the king of Summer Islands, and Bronwyn.
The story was really interesting. The pacing was just perfect, and I loved so much the characters. I would love to know more about Kell or Vahli. It was a bit disappointing not knowing the full story of some characters, but this is the first book, so maybe we'll see more in the next book.
Also the story about the religion was pretty cool. It reminded me how this subject was treated in Game of Thrones.
I definetly recommend this book to all who lives the old school fantasy with heroes and interesting quests. And I definitely, will read its sequel, because this story makes you want to read more.

I picked up The Coward by Stephen Aryan thinking it was a comedic account of a man who has faked his way into herodom and now has to face the consequences of his cowardice, when the threat he hadn’t actually dealt with returns. I don’t know why the description gave me that notion. The book turned out to be a run-of-the mill epic fantasy that starts a Quest for Heroes trilogy.

Kell is a farmer with a heroic past. He’s the sole survivor of a quest of heroes to kill a creature that has caused the weather to turn cold. His quiet life is interrupted when the weather worsens again, and the king sends him back to the creature’s lair to see if it’s come back. He gathers a group of people, heads to north and does exactly as commanded, heroically saving the day again. The end. There are no cowards, just a few moments of weakness that only make the characters more human.

Despite the baffling name, this is a competent fantasy starter. Narrative flows well, the characters are interesting, and there’s plenty of action. There are several point of view characters in addition to Kell, like Gerret, a young boy joining the quest. He hopes to become a hero too, only to learn that it’s a perilous job. Other members of their small group get an occasional chance to narrate the story too.

The most important side character is the Head Priestess of the Shepherd, the zealot leader of the dominant religion. She’s an old woman fighting to spread the faith at any cost and to prevent age from getting the better of her. She was a creepy character, but her chapters suffered from a lack of a coherent arc. They mostly set the plot for future books, but in the context of this one, they remained a bit pointless. A holy war isn’t original enough an idea to keep my interest either.

While this was a good book, it was much too long. It’s as if authors think that fantasy needs to be epic in length, whereas it should be epic in content. This wasn’t. A large portion of the book was spent on a journey, with the group fighting a monstrous creature after another. Obstacles make a good story, but the scenes were repeating themselves after a while, turning the heroes into mindless butchers. The characters were prone to introspection too, and while it gave them depth, none of it led anywhere, which added to the sense of needless length.

The book ended with a series of out of the blue revelations that hadn’t even been hinted at. I couldn’t help thinking that instead of wasting pages in pointless butchering, the author should’ve used the space in foreshadowing them better. The ending promises interesting times for Kell in subsequent books, but the overall plot isn’t original enough for me to continue with his story.

The Coward is a structured like a well worn classic, a quest to a faraway land to destroy a supernatural menace. Ten years ago, a party of heroes went to the Frozen North to slay a creature known as the Ice Lich. A seventeen year old boy, Kell Kressia, followed them in the journey, and ended up being the sole survivor of their quest. Now it seems the Ice Lich has returned, so Kell is forced to journey to the North once again. It’s unfortunate to say so, but this book failed in both tracing a compelling old school fantasy and being original. I’m really baffled by how plain the story was despite all the fantastic premises. First off, we should follow a coward as he is forced to go on a quest, the problem is Kell is not a coward. Upon reading the book, I assumed Kell was a coward in the sense he had lied about everything. I expected him to be a fake hero that killed everyone in his party and then headed back home with the work unfinished. The story even teases that what the public knows of Kell’s first quest is partial and heavily romanticized, but when the whole story is revealed it only confirms Kell to be brave and noble soul. Kell sins of cowardice only in the sense he is a reluctant hero and would happily live in his small farm for te rest of his life.

Even if the initial premise is not completely fulfilled, this book had still many chances to be a compelling redaction of the quest trope. Aryan however decided to fill the plot with useless scenes, where the reader was supposed to fear for the characters’ safety, but it all fell short and only provided a noisy diversion from the plot.
The problem is that it is established early in the narrative that the only dangerous place in this world in the Frozen North, but characters reach it only at the 60% mark. Before that point we follow them as they travel through the civilized world, where nothing feels threatening apart from the occasional pack of wolves. There are no wars, no clan feuds or otherwise interesting dynamics that could make this part of the travel difficult. Aryan tried very hard to make the journey high stakes, but the lack of impending antagonists made it all the more predictable and boring. Instead of using the journey to make us care for the characters, with their past stories, their true motivations, the growing complicity between them, Aryan made their quest boring and endless.


The characters, as much I liked what Aryan was trying to do, fell flat for me. The most part of the story is told from Kell’s point of view; still he felt like a very generic reluctant hero, with little depth to his true motives. Kell’s companion were just representative of character types. I would be surprised if, when doing a DnD alignment chart, all these people could perfectly fit info a square. The only one with whom Aryan did something interesting was Willow, a non-human character. We never know what she is thinking, she never talks unless asked specific questions, and when she answers it only make sense to her. I think Aryan did a great job in rendering this mysterious character, I could see there was more to her, but the choice to keep her a secret worked really well.
The only other character of notice is Revered Mother Brytak. She was in absolutely the most interesting part of the narrative. If Aryan has just given her a solid plot line, her story could have been the saving grace of The Coward. However, I think Aryan introduced her show the readers that not everyone was positive about Kell’s quest. I was very excited to read about her, but about halfway through the book she never appears anymore, probably because Aryan didn’t know what to do with her.

As a final not, I want to say that I don’t think The Coward should have a sequel. With an Epilogue set some years after, this book works perfectly as a stand-alone. All the important plot lines (in reality, the only important one) were perfectly tied up in this book. We are left with only some very minor loose threads, but I don’t think that’s enough to justify a sequel since there is no foreshadowing of future conflicts.

I have never read anything by Stephen Aryan, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But it's safe to say that he is officially on my radar and I'll be devouring all of his previous work.

The Coward follows Kell Kressia, a farmer who is trying to escape from his hero past. Much to his annoyance, he is summoned by the King and sent off once again to destroy the forces in the North that threaten the kingdoms. Convinced that he survived his first quest by luck and luck alone, he concocts a plan that will hopefully increase his chances of survival. On his way North, he recruits a unique group of warriors willing to risk their life for the sake of glory and fame. But none of them were prepared for the dangers along the way, let alone the actual threat that awaits them beyond the ice.

There was a unique juxtaposition of hero and coward and how easily the line between the two can be blurred. The truth behind a warrior's journey was darkly comedic and depressing all at once. It was also incredibly human, a concept that is often lost in most fantasy novels. Usually the heroes are painted in an infallible light but that is not the case in The Coward. All of the characters made it easy to immerse myself within the story. It felt like I was part of the motley group, sitting around the campfire listening to their stories. I didn't want the story to end, simply because I loved the bond that naturally grew within the group.

The POV chapter shifts were difficult for me to enjoy at first. The political intrigue angle didn't seem to mesh with the main story, but it didn't take long for me to throw that thought out the window. I usually guess where a story is heading early on the book, but I found myself pleasantly surprised when the story kept shifting. It has the perfect blend of action, comedy, and mystery. The ending took me by surprise and not because it was a cliffhanger. It's just one of those endings that's so clever that you almost want to laugh.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for an e-arc copy for review.

This is almost a traditional fantasy story, but the main character who’s supposed to be a monster slaying hero is actually just a lucky coward. That whole twist on the eager farm boy trope is what led me to request this in the first place (that and the pretty cover). I couldn't wait to see what the author would do with this little twist and ultimately, I was delighted with the results.

Kell Kressia was the lone survivor and slayer of the Ice Lich a decade ago and while he may be lauded across the lands as a hero, he feels like anything but. He’s been living out the intervening years on his family farm, tilling the land and sowing his crops, rarely going into town because he just can’t stand the crowds or the attention. The crops aren’t doing so well now, and it’s begun to feel a little, but Kell thinks perhaps it’s just the natural change in weather. Until one of the Kings sends for him and he goes reluctantly to the capitol city for his new mission. He has every intention of making his way north with plenty of money and supplies… and just slipping off into the unknown, never to be heard from again. Until he gets an eager young hanger-on, much like he was ten years ago. He can’t escape his fate (or is it destiny?) so easily now. North he goes with a growing band of companions to see if the source of lingering nightmares has once again returned to the land.

The Coward was what I would consider a classic fantasy story - hero goes to slay a monster - but with the added fun of the hero not wanting to go slay a monster because well, he’s not into dying. I like a reluctant hero and Kell Kressia certainly fits that description. There is more depth to the story than what my brief synopsis explores, so if you like a little bit of kingdom politics then you’ll be pleased to know that’s in the story too. There is a strong religious presence in the kingdoms and they don’t like Kell so much and are determined to have him assassinated. We’ll certainly be seeing more of that in the next book and I’m really looking forward to it!

Overall, I was really pleased with how entertaining The Coward was. The minor characters that get added along the way were fascinating, there was a smidge of romance, a tinge of heartbreak, plenty of action, and so much potential for future books. I’ll definitely be adding Stephen Aryan’s Age of Darkness and Age of Dread trilogies to my audiobook TBR (because that seems to be the only way I can get to older books nowadays).

Book Review
Title: The Coward (Quest for Heroes Book 1) by Stephen Aryan
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
I didn’t know anything about The Coward but the synopsis was intriguing and it reminded me a little of Kings of the Wyld which I adored. We are following Kell Kressia who became famous after slaying the Ice Lich with a band of fighters and he has been spending the last decade in relative peace but it isn’t going to stay that way for very long. From the beginning we get the sense that Kell isn’t a complete honest person about his past but despite this he has managed to become friend with a Choate named Mohan who is a barber, hairdresser and dentist rolled into once despite the Choate begin seen a dangerous race. We get a little of Kell’s past when some traders including Rowaz tan Nadia ask about his past. Kell’s story is mostly told by the barbs about how he removed the Ice Lich’s head with his sword, Slayer but as he reveals small truths we see this wasn’t the whole truth of the adventure. Shortly after this Kell receives a summons from King Bledsoe which he chooses to ignore until the Raven guards come looking for him and drag him into the Capital to answer the summons. Here he comes face to face with the King’s advisor, Lukas who informs him that an envoy from Frostrunner clans has informed Bledsoe of a new threat in the North and Kell knows he is being sent to deal with it. We then switch to the perspective of Reverend Mother Britak who runs the Holy City under King Roebus and teaches the ways of the Shepherd. Britak is trying to manipulate Roebus and she succeeds in a way by telling him that Bledsoe’s popularity will increase if Kell manages to deal with this supposed threat in the North and might challenge the other Kings in order to become High King. Britak has also installed a spy next to the King in the form of his wife and is using her to further manipulate the King even though she isn’t doing a good job of it right now. She has also convinced Roebus to send someone to deal with Kell once and for all which isn’t a good sign for him.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Lukas tells Kell what is going to be asked of him and even offers him a good job and money if he returns and Kell does consider this but he doesn’t really want to go. Lukas obviously sees this and sends a prostitute to him in order to sweeten the deal, but he and the King discuss what they will do in the case they Kell fails and what they will do if he succeeds. King Bledsoe is also very cunning using his age and appearing frail in order to trick and persuade those around him which doesn’t bode well for Kell. As Kell begins his journey North he is planning to use the money from King Bledsoe to begin a new life somewhere else where they won’t look for him. He makes sure to interact with people along the way so that if Bledsoe sends anyway to confirm whether or not Kell is dead, they will learn he had passed through the northern towns. However, while resting in one town before heading on he meets a young boy named, Gerren who wants to come with Kell, the same way Kell joined the heroes all those years before. Kell tries his best to discourage the boy and even tricks him into being left behind but he eventually catches up to Kell and there is nothing he can do to stop the boy from following him which leaves him in an awkward position as he can’t leave like he was planning with Gerren following him but I also believe he wouldn’t leave the boy to die if it came down to it as Kell seems too kind for that. Meanwhile, Britak is reminding me a lot of Glokta from The First Law series with the Inquisition but religion rather than corruption is at the heart of this. Kell eventually manages to get rid of Gerren by tying him up while he leaves, however, Gerren does realise during this conversation that Kell is a coward and has no intentions of going to the North. We also get to see more of Britak sending people to kill Kell which he doesn’t have any knowledge of but she does mention she has sent several assassins over the years to kill him and none have succeeded which is making me question the version of the past Kell is presenting us with and I can’t wait to unravel this mystery.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, Kell is continuing on his journey but soon learns that Gerren sent word ahead to the northern town that he will be coming through making it much harder for him to leave as he planned. In one town he ends up meeting the bard, Vahli again and he also wants to come with Kell to the North so that he can tell the story if something happens up there. This is disturbing to Kell as more people means he can’t escape and he very quickly accepts the fact he is going back to the North. However, during a conversation with Gerren we learn he was cursed by the Ice Lich before he killed her and while he didn’t believe it at first nothing good has happened to Kell since and he knows this curse is the reason. The trio also end up meeting an Alfar, a non-human race that are rarely seen and she wants to come with them too so Kell accepts her into the band because he knows they are going to need more fighters if they are going to survive the journey especially if there is something waiting for them there. I liked the fact that because the Alfar’s name is difficult to pronounce so they take to calling her Willow. In the next town they stop in Kell expects to find some fighters as he has sent word ahead that he will accept them into his growing band, however, many are seeing it as a joke and Kell has to make them see reason. This act draws forth only one person, Bronwyn who from her appearance and what little she says about her accomplishments is a skilled hunter and warrior and will be a good addition to the band which now numbers 5 but Kell knows they need more otherwise they aren’t going to survive. There is an interesting interaction between Vahli and Gerren as Gerren is trying to convince Vahli that Kell is a coward and lair despite Kell telling him it won’t work btu Vahli proves himself to be very capable with a blade which Gerren wasn’t expecting.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, the group are unaware that have been followed by one of the Anointed disguised as a Seith who is going to try and kill Kell. This doesn’t happen because the Anointed is stopped by I believe Vahli but I can’t be sure as the Anointed seems to recognise the person attempting to stop them. When they get back on the road they are stopped by a group of warriors preventing them from going further into the North so the group prepare for a fight. However, they are helped by over a dozen Choate, led by Darvan and they tell Kell they will see them safely across the border but they can’t follow beyond that. Kell is confused why the Choate helped him but we the readers know these Choate were being directed by War General Mohan, who I believe is the same Mohan that Kell knows from back home as he refers to Kell as family. As the enter the Keen lands they are beginning to realise that no one wants to join them except for a madman named Malomir who claims to be the King of the Summer Isles and Kell agrees to let him come if he trains Gerren who has begun to realise the situation he has got himself into. We briefly switch back to Britak and Roebus who have been sent the assassin’s hands as a warning and Roebus believes he is going to be killed but he prevent Britak making any moves against Bledsoe. Back with the group they have to camp out under the stars where Kell is beginning to get to know his band. Willow seems to want to come on the journey to understand humans and the different beasts of the world while Bronwyn is searching for a challenge even attempting to seduce Kell but it doesn’t work. That night Gerren is given first watch when a pack of voren attack, Gerren seems to be in a hopeless situation but the pack are keeping the rest of the band occupied and it seems like this might be the end for him and I hope it isn’t because I am getting attached to this little misfit.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, the group finally arrive in Meer, the last haven they will have before heading out into the frozen North and beyond. There Kell encounters Bomani, who he met the last time he was in Meer and finds it nice to have a familiar face. A lot of the time the group spend in Meer is preparing for their trip further into the North but Gerren is in crisis as he knows coming with Kell was a mistake and wants to return home. Kell explains how he felt the same way when the heroes reached this point and he had to find his own reason for continuing no matter how selfish it was and urges Gerren to do the same to make sure the decision of leaving or staying is entirely his and he isn’t be controlled by anything not even his fear. Gerren spends most of the night thinking over what Kell said to him before making the decision to stay and I have a feeling he will come to regret it soon when he realises the condition they will be living in out on the ice. I did find it very funny that the relationship between Malomir and Bronwyn has changed from fighting to sleeping together as if they needed a physical release for the tension between them. However, it is more than that as both suffer the same sense of isolation and loneliness and it has lessened in both of them since the change was made and even Kell observes that. Before they truly head out on the ice Kell tells them about some of the beasts they may encounter since he is the only one that has been this far north and even the vague mentions of the qalamieren and maglau are terrifying. It was interesting to see the slight shift in the relationship between Kell and Willow and I wouldn’t be unhappy if this developed more of the course of the novel and series.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, the journey into the true frozen north doesn’t begin well for the group as they realise they are being tracked by some ice bears. However, these bears aren’t behaving in the way Kell would expect as they are solitary animals and would only attack humans if they were desperate. These bears appear to be well fed and working together which makes Kell believe that something or someone is controlling them as its reach is long as they have barely crossed the frozen circle. They managed to deal with the bears with relatively few injuries but the very next day they are set upon by a sabre of maglau acting in the very same way. This fight is longer and everyone suffers some injuries even Willow, however, it seems that Gerren and Bronwyn have taken the worst injuries as Gerren’s leg is badly injuries and Bronwyn collapses shortly after the fight. We then switch back to Britak as she is continuing to spread her message across the kingdoms and even continues her plan to kill Kell even if he returns from the north. It is clear to see here that religion and those in high positions of power are the evils ones as Britak is willing it murder, kidnap and torture people in order to get them to come around to her way of thinking while Kell has used nothing except the truth and kind words in order to convince others. Given the situation in the north I have no idea who if anyone is going to come back alive. I hope it is all of them but I have a feeling it would be the same situation with only one survivor and that might be Gerren as it would perfectly mirror Kell’s own past. The group can’t catch a break as shortly after dealing with the maglau they are set upon by a group of qalamieren but these spirits can’t be killed and they don’t have the time or energy to run from them and it seems like the end has come for the group. However, while almost all of the group are drawn into nightmares, Bronwyn is spared because she is injured and Malomir doesn’t seem as affected by them because of his feeling for Bronwyn. Using this advantage, he ties a shirt to his sword before drenching it in oil and setting it aflame which drives back the wraiths and frees the group. They are found shortly after by a Frostrunner clan who looks after them until they have recovered, their spiritual healer also helps bring Bronwyn back with Malomir’s help before they are on the move again. Shortly after they have to cross a frozen lake in order to reach the Lich’s castle but the second they get on the ice a pack of garrow, shark-like creatures being hunting them. While Kell’s sled makes it across, Vahli and Bronwyn’s sleds have not and the garrow are punching holes in the ice everywhere they can. During this battle, Gerren is thrown from the sled onto the ice as the other make it to safety. Even as he begins running, Kell knows he isn’t going to make it so between them they create harnesses as Kell runs back out onto the ice to save the boy who has now lost a finger and is bleeding badly sending the shark into a frenzy. Kell can see from their behaviour they are being controlled as they are injuring themselves to try and get to the group. Kell and Gerren are pulled to safety before the sharks retreat refusing to eat the dead and Kell knows whatever is controlling them desperately doesn’t want them to make it to the Lich’s castle.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, the group have entered the final stretch of their journey and everyone is still alive but I don’t know if their luck is going to hold out as Britak has planned to have Kell and his companions killed if they return to Meer from the North. Britak’s plan are boarding on insane as she has basically created concentration camps to “re-educate” those that don’t believe in the Shepherd. As the group approach the Ice Lich’s castle, Willow claims the castle was made by someone called Govhenna making me think the new evil inside the castle is an Alfar like Willow and that is why she came on the journey to begin with. However, there is another nasty surprise waiting for them at the entrance as the dead heroes have been reanimated and Kell has to kill them all over again. The heroes can’t be killed normally it can only be done by smashing their skulls and it is here we learn that Bronwyn is the daughter of Bron. Even though they win, the victory is hollow as Kell had to watch some of his friends die again, Bronwyn had to kill her own father and Gerren is killed during the battle and it isn’t over yet as they have to find whoever is doing this and stop them which makes me think that not all of them are going to come out of this alive. The final confrontation and the revelations that came after it were amazing but the most brilliant thing about this novel was what happened after Kell returned to the Capital of Algany. I honestly wasn’t expecting the major curveball that Aryan threw at us right at the end but I can honestly say I need the next book right now to find out what happens when Kell eventually learns of the death of King Bledsoe and that he is being married to Princess Sigrid making him the King of Algany to rule together to prevent the uprising of the church. I liked this little twist because we also learn that Kell is royalty in his own right as he is 23rd in line for the Choate throne as the current King and the War General, Mohan are his uncles. I still has so many questions that I need answered but I am going to be reading the rest of Aryan’s work and I have a feeling he is going to become an insta-buy author for me.

The Coward – Stephen Aryan



I was given an advanced copy of this book by the publisher, Angry Robot Books, in order to provide an honest review. Please note this review contains some spoilers.



Stephen Aryan is an English author who has written fantasy books such as the “Age of Darkness” trilogy and the “Age of Dread” trilogy. “The Coward” is the first book in a new duology series. Stephen Aryan was also the winner of the inaugural Hellfest Inferno award in France.



Kell Kressia was a young man when his saga began all those years ago. A foolish young man seeking fame and fortune – to be a hero like those he heard tales of and looked up to. So, like most young men he willing went along with his beloved heroes on a quest that would leave him scarred and changed forever.

Now 10 years later, the events that drew his long-lost famed heroes now draw him back North again. The danger that was lurking in the North many years ago, the danger that he had defeated is back and working their power, and the fear of others through the land.

Kell did not want this, he did not want to be a hero anymore, he was tired and just wanted to be left in peace to live a simple life. But that was not what fate had in store for him. A young man, Gerren, much like himself 10 years ago, is thirsting to prove himself – and much like a young Kell, wants to be a hero.

But Kell wanted to run, run and not face what he feared was lurking in the North. However, young Gerren hatched a plan that saw others joining their quest and venture North with them. Yet, there were many dangers lurking in the shadows and along the path they must travel before the faced the true evil hiding at their final destination. Not everyone who goes will come back alive.

The question that remains is what will our heroes do with the truth that waits for them in the North. Will they release into the world or will they let it remain frozen beneath the ice in peace?



“The Coward” is an engrossing and spell binding fantasy tale about a reluctant hero who must overcome his demons and face his fears if he ever hopes to have the strength to complete this quest and go home to a peaceful life. I loved young Gerren and how innocent he was and felt saddened by the end he was given – though I must admit it was fitting to the thread of his story. Like many of the characters in this story Gerren and Kell are very relatable to the reader and it is easy to emotionally connect with them – hence giving the reader a much more enjoyable experience – speaking to the talent of the author and the quality of their writing. I did quite like the twist at the end and am eager to see what the next chapter in this series has in store.

Any time I start a book for a blog tour I’m always a bit wary even if I choose to be part of the blog tour and thought it was going to be the right book for me.
It’s a sort of state-of-mind that help me to read the book without high expectations and appreciate it.
It happened also with this book even if I joined the blog tour after having read some parts and had high expectations.
I’ve been reading fantasy for decades and I remember when fantasy was a hero starting a quest and a happy-ever-after at the end of the book/series.
Then I discovered Gemmell and his characters, their internal struggle and their mental wounds. I loved those stories and loved those heroes.
When I began this story I felt like when I was reading Gemmell: a hero that struggle with his fame, a man who was broken and doesn’t want to go back to be a hero.
This is just the start as this story is a quest, characters struggling to understand what they want and who they are but it’s also a great story that transcend any possibility of comparing to previous series as there’s plenty going and the author did an excellent job in creating his own mythology and his own type of heroes.
It’s a slow burning story that introduce the reader to a very complex world where climate is changing and there’s the possibility that a powerful supernatural foe is acting again.
There’s a quest to overcome the foe but there’s also plenty of politics that involves kings and religion.
I loved this world and loved the characters.
Kell is a great character. His character is realistic, likeable and you cannot help appreciating his maturity, realism and the empathy toward his comrades in this quest.
The character development is excellent and all the characters are well thought and interesting.
The world building is fascinating, complex and rich of details. You get to know different people, customs and a lot of historical background.
One note about the title: there’s plenty of discussions about what being brave or a coward means. It’s up to you to discover about it.
As said before I’m always a bit wary at the beginning of the book but after the first chapters I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading. This is one of those case when you feel a bit lost at end of the book because you have to go back to reality after having traveller to a fantastic world.
This is the first book I read by Stephen Aryan and won’t surely be the last as he’s a talented storyteller and delivered a gripping and highly entertaining story.
This is the first in a series and there’s a sort of cliffhanger at the end of the book that makes me wish I was able to read the next book soon.
I strongly recommend it if you want to read a well written and fascinating fantasy story.
Many thanks to Angry Robots for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I'm torn on how to rate this book. The story is fun, the characters are neat, the world and monsters are cool, but...The writing is exhausting. The dialogue and action is punctuated by painstakingly over-detailed backstory, context, and inner-monologues that leave nothing to the imagination. Especially once the action finally starts somewhere around 60%, the fight and battle scenes are so long, so detailed, and so very dry.

I also didn't like the overall tone of this book that couldn't decide if it's a boyish adventure tale about bravery and not judging a book by the cover, or a gritty soldier story with rough language and raw details like describing piss trickling through leaves. Nor did I like the antagonist. I think the whole book could have been written without the religious, villainous woman and still gotten the point across about the bad religious fervor vs the factual Shepherd. Her character doesn't feel consistent or properly fleshed out.

I also agree with other reviews that this isn't actually a story about a coward and cowardice. The coward thing is a thing only for the first few chapters, then it's really something else. Rather than being a coward, he's more like a martyr or sacrifice--idk, just not a coward. The author is trying to say something in this book, but he tripped over himself too much. He's too present in the writing rather than letting the story transport the reader.

The twist that is revealed at the end and the set up spoilers for the next book are super cool and clever! Enough to motivate me to read what this author puts out next for Kell Kressia, but man, this was a beast to get through. It really needs another editing and honest beta-reader feedback. I don't know, I both like and really dislike this book. I wish I could more clearly give the writing 1.5 stars and the story itself 3.5 stars.

Kell Kressia is the reluctant hero of the hour, as the enemy he once vanquished rises again. Having fought the mysterious Ice Lich once before and been the only survivor of the band of heroes, he has no intention of putting himself in harm’s way again, but a summons from the king leaves him with little choice. Before long, Kell is inadvertently attracting more adventurers around him and finding that there’s nothing more irritatingly compelling than his own legend.

You could be forgiven for thinking that The Coward, from that setup, will be a comedy. After all, reluctant heroes like the Arthur Dents and Rincewinds of the world tend to go hand in hand with hilarity. That isn’t the case here though, as Kell isn’t so much the coward that the title implies, more a realist. Having been lucky to survive his brush with evil in the first place, he’s under no illusions about what might happen to him should he end up squaring off against it once again. In fact, much of Kell’s “cowardice” is actually linked to what appears to be PTSD, which is certainly an interesting trait to give the main character in a fantasy adventure.

Sadly, that spark of originality risks being snuffed out instantly by the fairly uninspired and frequently very derivative work on display elsewhere. This is (yet) another medieval fantasy world which will feel instantly familiar to readers; in itself, this isn’t necessarily a problem, because there are still plenty of interesting stories that could be told in this kind of setting. However, telling a story that features the Narrow Sea, the Summer Isles, a King in the North and a malign, blue-eyed presence affecting the weather makes it feel an awful lot like Aryan hasn’t been too careful hiding his influences.

How the story actually unfolds doesn’t feel all that inspired either, sadly. Yes, there are moments of action, which are often fairly entertaining, but much of the first half of the book is taken up with Kell and his modest band of warriors journeying between unmemorable towns and villages and occasionally encountering groups of enemies along the way. This unfolds so ploddingly and with such stop start pacing it feels like a narrative synopsis of the work of a rather bored D&D Dungeon Master who has let everything be dictated by random encounters between point A and point B.

Characters come across in a similar “pre-generated for your convenience” kind of a way. There’s the burly woman who just wants to hit things, the charming rogue, the cunning bard and the spooky silent one who is a different species who never really gets explained. Plucky youngster Gerren is the most interesting of the bunch as he’s something of a reflection of Kell at that age, with his desire to seek his fortune with a band of adventurers whilst being totally ignorant of what that really entails. His arc stalls somewhat, however, building up to possible breakthroughs and then just plateauing as it’s lost among the throng of competing character arcs and storylines. It’s symptomatic of the rest of the story really, as there is far more going on here than there needs to be.

Beavering away in the background are various figures pulling the strings, such as the Reverend Mother and assorted royals. For all their scheming and manipulating and the glimpses into the larger implications of their actions, however, they have little to no impact on the central story, and it feels a lot like much of this is just tacked on to pad things out and impart some epic fantasy flavour. Their behaviour is clearly supposed to come across as cunning and devious, but much of their clever subterfuge just comes across as dumb paranoia and weird, irrelevant game playing. Perhaps this is down to the somewhat “unadorned” nature of the prose though - with its lack of artistry and nuance, it’s very hard to take anyone’s Machiavellian scheming at all seriously. It also means the characters have a very matter of fact way of speaking to one another, which does make them sound a little simple.

Ultimately, the few decent action scenes here spice things up, but it’s hard to overlook the flaws in The Coward. The uninspired setting and characters, the dull prose and the uneven pacing - complete with big chunks of exposition clamouring for attention in the final chapters - make it difficult to get excited about more stories set in this world.