I cried during the first and last chapter of the book (and a few times in between), that's probably all you need to know about how fast I got attached to the characters. I was honestly not expecting that to happen so quickly, but I'm glad it did.

I ended up loving this book and not wanting it to end, I also took my sweet time with it, but a part of that was because the pacing was so slow.

This is a very character driven story, so in the grand scheme of things I don't mind that not much was going on, because we got to know the characters very well. But yeah, if you're expecting to breeze through it, it might not be so easy.

We have two main characters, Alf and his sister Olva. Alf is one of The Nine, heroes who saved the world once upon a time. He's getting old and ends up on a new quest to gather his fellow heroes and fight another sort of evil that's rising on the horizon.

Meanwhile Olva is a mother who's on a quest to save her son who went in search of his uncle Alf. She never set out to be a hero, but hey, neither did Alf when he started.

Alf's PoV was more interesting to read, but I liked reading Olva's too.

I love both of them and literally every single character in the book, I'm not exaggerating. I feel like they were all fleshed out and Gareth Hanrahan made me care about each of them as if they were the main characters. How??? Who knows.

But I have to single out the talking sword, Spellbreaker. It was so funny, I knew I was going to like it from the moment it spoke. It's possibly my favourite character, next to Cu (who's described as a "suspicious dog" in the character list at the start of the book, I thought that was funny too).

The world building is tied with the characters as the best thing in the book, it's well developed and I could imagine everything clearly.

Now let's talk about the ending. I was hoping that something like that would happen, but I didn't predict it. For how detailed the rest of the book was, I think we could've used a tiny bit more explanation as to how it happened, before the jump, but I also think it's clear enough to understand.

And the ending ending, like the very last page...how do you expect me to be calm after that? I must now what happens next!!! This is cruel!!!

To tie into that, because so much was built in this book, I'm sure the next one(s) will be even more exiting. I can't wait.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Years ago, nine heroes came together to defeat a dark power. After many battles, the heroes prevailed and the dark lord was over thrown. The Sword Defiant is set after the battles are over, a good few decades after, in fact. The heroes have all settled down into new roles, until one of them is called back with the discovery that the tomb of the villain they defeated the first time around has been broken into.

The plot here is really split into two separate strands: Alf who is investigating the tomb’s reopening and his sister, Olva, who is following after her son as he ends up kidnapped for reasons unknown. These two characters are the principal points of view for the story. Their plot lines unfold in parallel until they eventually converge towards the end of the novel. Both the characters are very much interesting and enjoyable for me with Olva's character getting a bit more points because i like a character who is searching for a missed relative trope.

The world building is superb especially the city of Naclad which is almost a character in itself. Olva’s journey takes us to other parts of the world which form a vivid contrast to the grim city of Necrad. There are sections where the narrative dragged and it was expected on a big book like this but it soon picked up and mostly, I was completely carried away by the story.

That said, though, I would definitely still recommend this one. It was compelling and interesting, reasonably fast paced, while still giving you enough on the worldbuilding front. One I’ll be keeping an eye out for sequels of.

Years ago, nine heroes came together to defeat a dark power. After many battles, the heroes prevailed and the dark lord was over thrown. In LOTR, Aragorn rules happily for 100 years, Frodo sails off into the west and everyone else lives happily ever after. But would it have been as easy as that?
In The Sword Defiant, Gareth Hanrahan takes this as his starting point. The eight surviving companions are given the rule of the city of Nacrad and form its council. However, that was years go and now things are stirring.
Sir Aelfric, one time mercenary turned knight, receives a warning that something dark is beginning to threaten the land and so travels back to Nacrad to consult with his former companions. He carries the enchanted sword, Spellbreaker, that formerly belonged to the Dark lord. He finds that his companions are strangely distant, either absent completely or too involved with their own concerns to be worried about governing the city. To add to this, the body of Lord Bone has been removed from its tomb.
At the same time, Alf’s sister Olva is also on a journey to Nacrad. Her son Derwyn has left home to find his uncle and maybe adventure too and she is on a mission to fetch him back.
These two characters are the principal points of view for the story. Their plot lines unfold in parallel until they eventually converge towards the end of the novel. Alf is very much the more charismatic character of the two. He was a farm boy and tries not to think too much about things but just do what has to be done. He is good at slaying monsters and could have just ended up being a generic hero character but he comes across as more than that. Part of this is due to the sword which definitely has a mind of its own and there is humour in the exchanges between the two of them.
Olva’s character is less colourful but her story line is important and her journey takes us to other parts of the world which form a vivid contrast to the grim city of Necrad.
The book is full of everything that you would expect from an epic fantasy novel. The traditional races are present, the Elves are a bit aloof and full of themselves and the dwarves are as down to earth as they could be. There are twists though which keep the characters fresh and not just stock stereotypes. The elves have a worrying tendency to vampirism and there is a race of created beings called Vatlings who are born in huge vats under the city.
The world building is superb especially the city of Naclad which is almost a character in itself. I loved the description of how it looked when it rained and everything became a sickly green colour. I always love a novel involving political infighting and The Sword Defiant has plenty of that. Alf doesn’t really know who he can trust and neither does the reader.
Frequently, groups of companions on a quest become a sort of found family. Here, Alf finds that this family is becoming fragmented. However, actual family and especially children, are an important part of the story. A child runs away, a daughter is killed and an elf child is mortally wounded. All of these are key plot points for the story and the question of what someone would do to save their child is an important one throughout the book.
This is a long book and it’s difficult to write a review that really does it justice. There are sections where the narrative dragged but it soon picked up and mostly, I was completely carried away by the story.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Little Brown Book Group for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next and hope that it isn’t too long.
s is usually the ending of a fantasy novel but here, Gareth Hanrahan takes it as his starting point.

I started The Sword Defiant immediately after finishing The Shadow Saint, a book which I have to confess to not getting along with. So, I was a little concerned that I might not enjoy this one. Happily, that was not the case.

The Sword Defiant is set after the battles are over, a good few decades after, in fact. The heroes have all settled down into new roles, until one of them is called back with the discovery that the tomb of the villain they defeated the first time around has been broken into.

Putting it bluntly, the reason I enjoyed this one a whole lot more than The Shadow Saint came down to the use of past tense instead of present. I couldn’t really explain what it is about present tense that doesn’t work for me with fantasy in particular, but it grated on me a lot while reading. So, I have to admit, I let out a big sigh of relief when it turned out this book was in past tense.

The plot here is really split into two separate strands: Alf who is investigating the tomb’s reopening and his sister, Olva, who is following after her son as he ends up kidnapped for reasons unknown (until the end that is). I have to admit, Olva’s storyline was the one that kept me more interested, especially her dynamic with Bor. Yes, they got separated about a third through and Bor didn’t really show up again (boo!), but they were the most interesting to me. I hope book two will have him still, although the ending was pretty ambiguous. Alf, in comparison, while interesting enough, didn’t quite have the pull of Olva.

I think that’s why, emotionally, I didn’t have much invested in this book. It was exciting and all, the worldbuilding was great, and the ending made me very intrigued to see where it would go next, but I just wasn’t quite emotionally invested in it. Now, if you were to tell me there’s a Bor and Olva reunion coming later on… You would very much have my attention there, but for now, it was a book I enjoyed a lot but didn’t quite love.

That said, though, I would definitely still recommend this one. It was compelling and interesting, reasonably fast paced, while still giving you enough on the worldbuilding front. One I’ll be keeping an eye out for sequels of, I feel.

It was GRRM who famously said that for him the sentence: "And Aragorn ruled wisely and well for 100 years" was not enough and that he wanted to know exactly how he managed to rule well; all the ugly details.
And we know why. It's those details and decisions rulers have to make what challenges their moral fiber and previously established sanctity of their character that was undeniable when they were fighting to overthrow evil.
Gareth Hanrahan's inspiration for this novel was noticeable right away: love and appreciation for Tolkien were neither subtle nor shy. It's a love letter to classic fantasy and its father, the adventure and the fellowship, epic and triumphant despite the odds. And with that basis, he poses the same question GRRM did: what happens after the great evil is defeated?
Hence, this story starts where most fantasy stories end. There was a group of nine heroes who fought for years and managed to defeat Lord Bone and his army of shadowy creatures, Witch elves and chimeras. And yes, there was the paladin and the priest, the elf and the dwarf, the thief and the wildling, the mage and the changeling in the Nine. But or main character is Aelfric of Mulladale, called Alf by those who know him and Lammergeier by those who know of him as the hero who slayed the Bone Lord. Following the well-established formula of fellowship/the band of heroes who unite against the villain, Alf is the strong and silent guy who carries large weapon and charges first into the battle. He has no time nor understanding for larger plot or villain's reasoning, he just needs someone to point him to what he needs to kill. After years of aimless traveling he is summoned by one of the Nine, priestess Jan, and given a task to go back to Necrad, Lord Bone's former seat of rule and a place of his last stand because they sense there is something bad coming up.
Necrad as whole is probably my favorite thing in this book. To those who are familiar with Hanarahan's career as game-designer or his previous trilogy, The Gutter Prayer his ability depict a creepy, monstrous magical city will come as no surprise. From magical towers, to oppressing atmosphere and ever-present grey miasma and stink. From creepy abandoned palaces haunted by wraiths to Pits were unimaginable horrors dwell- one of them, I am pretty sure was a nod to Ludwig, the Accursed himself. This is a creepy looking city, but it's not what got me so intrigued. Per original agreement of the Nine, Alf is in charge of Lord Bone's sentient sword, the Spellbreaker who talks to him, has attitude and generally tries to lure him to the dark side. Each of them has given some kind of responsibility to fix Lord Bone's misdeeds and govern the city of Necrad and it's the questions and difficulties of what to do with it that's actually amazing. What to do with Witch Elves who fought on the side of Lord Bone in the war who still live in the city and are they under the authority of Wood Elves or not? Beast changeling Lath and Alf with the demon sword were in charge of cleaning up Pits from Lord Bone's experiments because they are not knowledgeable about more complex things like magical tomes he left behind or who should be controlling the port. As much as they are suited for it, the never-ending killing and danger took a toll on them which made Alf run away and Lath lose his mind. Things like that, questions that are raised, how solving one problem creates another and so on. It is incredibly well thought version of GRRM's question about Aragorn I was enthralled with. Different classes of heroes can assemble around common goal, but once that's achieved it's differences that become the problem and they are sometimes insurmountable. That was brilliant.

There were some things I was not as enamored with. Having read his previous novels, I know that world-building and imagination is where Hanrahan's strength lies. But it also affects his characterization because it's inevitably in the background of his worlds. Alf sometimes sounds one-note and it's not the trait of his character class, because Eames did something similar with Clay Cooper in Kings of the Wyld and did it better. For a character everything revolves around, Alf's reactions to bad news and good news were kind of same and I wish author explored his ptsd more. The most memorable thing about Alf's pov is his sword who has more of a character for a piece of steel than Alf or some of the other members of Nine and that says a lot. Beside Alf, there is also another pov from his sister Olva who lived her entire life in Mulladale and has to travel to Necrad to look for her son who went to look for his famous uncle. She is there to show the opposite character who wants a normal and quiet life, and is not looking for adventure, constantly scared and worried for her life and life of her son. Olva is not exciting to begin within, but she was not meant to be.
The plot, when it was not deconstruction of tropes- which, most of the time, it really was- was rather straightforward and exactly what you think it would be leading exactly where you think it will. The Elven lands- the Isle of Dawn parts were a fun take on fae as was the Death who, after some deliberating, I have to say sounds pretty reasonable compared to some other figures.

All in all, pretty exciting beginning of a series that was small in scope- mostly focused on Necrad and the surroundings, but the ending hints of trouble brewing on a larger scale. Can't wait to read what Spellbreaker has to say about it. :)

I love a good adventure fantasy that does what it says on the tin. And this is exactly that. It's also quite dark, which I love. Enjoyed the writing and I'm curious to read what this author does next.

Magic, fantasy, great evil and a talking sword. Count me in! The world and concept building here is phenomonal and i hope this book takes off as i loved it. The slower pacing doesnt drag but more draws you in slowly and keeps it ticking over. The characters feel really in depth and it gives you the feeling of our tired worn-out hero and the range of emotions felt throughout are so varied and well done. Absolutely loved it, cant wait for the next one

The Nine saved this world. Yet they too fell to their misdeeds. I have visited cities made of bone, of mortals and elves living side by side, with enmity between them. I saw the fall of the Nine in my very own eyes, to reflect upon the question: What does it mean to be a hero? The Sword Defiant strongly evoked such emotions in me, for it engrossed me in a story that made me want to learn more about this world's lore. Yet this novel had the typical fantasy setting that has somewhat turned me off in recent readings. Still, at the same time, the characters within this novel had such endearing personalities that I was never once suspicious of anything that could have broken that harmony.

There are characters I grew to love: Spellbreaker. The sword that knows all, and is not evil in my opinion. No one is evil within this story for events far greater than them dictate how the world will run. How the fate of destiny spins the webs of men's fates. How the weary leaders of the Nine were once filled with hope and spirit to crush Lord Bone. Only to find that once the end comes, the means of it are never truly justified. What would happen if you crushed the boss of a video game, only to find bigger and better bosses to fight against you? Would you not feel weary? Would you not feel exhausted? That's what I felt Alf was going through throughout the entire novel. Reliving the stories of the past, only to want alive again and feel a sense of purpose. His other favorite companion was Gundam, that dwarven man who had a heart of gold. That's all I'll say about him. Olva became a favorite of mine, for reasons best left unsaid.

The story was well written in a way that I became immersed in every aspect. No moment left me unsatisfied, instead every single moment of the story kept me reading on and on. The world itself is the story. The Nine is the world itself. The legends and tales written about them and before, illustrate Gareth's rich ability to infuse a world with life and wonder, grim and dark. A world filled with endearing characters that will leave a mark on you for the test of time, a world filled with story and song, with heroes and villains, and epic stakes and conflicts. This novel really has made me a fan of Hanrahan's work, and I look forward to joining the Nine in book 2 of this epic journey. My personal request would be in the series, to make Spellbreaker free. I think that's a good start.

The Nine Shall Rule This World, or Rue it.

Courage and righteousness offer no protection against a blade. A good man dies as easy as an evil one, the brave soul as easily as the coward. The sword cares not who it cuts. - Spellbreaker - the cursed black sword.
A fabulous start to a new series, this book has it all, prophecy, quests, magic, monsters, and a talking sword!
If you like dark fantasy with great world building, then I recommend this.

The evil sentient sword storyline has been used before but I really struggle to find a better telling of it than this gloriously gory and bloody book, there is lot of world and character building (thank you for that) a lot of lore and even more bad language 😳 a great story and very much a worthy read indeed