The first book in the trilogy drew me in and I was eager to see the rest of it through. I’ve got mixed thoughts though.

The characters made this for me from the beginning and that has continued throughout the series. Whether that’s the original characters we set off with, or the newcomers we’ve been introduced to along the way. All are complicated men with tortured histories and backstories make compelling reading as they are broken, remade, and broken again.

This is where I’ve dropped from five stars to four, though. The pacing of the book feels dragged – for the first half, if not more, we go through ten years’ worth of torture as one character is destroyed. We spend a lot of time with him, or with the others lamenting his capture, and it made the book feel slow. There was no action, no change in pace or even tension. It did create a mood, but it made me feel the length of the book rather than being swept up as I had previously.

I don’t know what I expected from the end but it felt there was a lack of closure. After everything these characters have been through, I wanted something more to finish off with.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this series. The intrigue and mystery, the multiple layers to each character, the alliances and betrayals… all has created a gripping world and an engaging story. If you’re looking for an epic fantasy series, I’d definitely recommend this trilogy!

I loved this very much! The characters, the actions and even the plot itself! Very inspiring for my own book too!

i hadn't read the first two books in the series but I did enjoy reading this, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the plot.

This is the third installment of this wonderful series. It has everything I love. The action was never stopped. S. J. Hartland's writing style was beautiful and vivid. She created a very detailed world and it gets better in every book. I think this series will definitely a must read.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Exactly how a fantasy book should be written - non-stop action, sword fights, ghouls, gods and everything else needed for building a fantastic fantasy world. I absolutely loved the book (and the 2 previous ones). Will definitely read anything else by this author! I received an ARC and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

"The Sword Brotherhood" is the third book in Hartland's Shadow Sword series, an epic fantasy of swords and spells and kingdoms and loyalty and betrayal and immortality. Of the three thus far published books in the series (a fourth one is on its way), this one is the most well-crafted, most complete, and easiest to follow.

It's a violent epic that forms a complete arc, beginning with a world where a bloodthirsty God Archanon and his bloodlusting ghoul-army have bewitched the king and moved into the kingdom. This is an all-powerful, unstoppable monstrosity, who has as his task domination of the known world by sword or by sensuous attraction.

Standing against him are a handful of brave swordsmen, the Brotherhood, holding steady with the decade-long absence of the real King, the Seer King, Roaran, who has disappeared into a woman's body and then centuries into the past. But, his body has been gifted by an Ice Princess to the fell god Archanon and the flesh is calling across the centuries for his soul and if Archanon gets a hold of him there is no torture too perverse, no pain that will be withheld as Archanon breaks the Seer King's body and spirit and bends him to Archanon's will.

Long years of captivity and torture to the blood and the lust of Archanon are all but unendurable. Evil may only have been hinted at in other sword and sorcery books, but here it's on full display. But, there are still some faint forces of freedom alive making a Last and final stand in abandoned castles and forts.

A terrific sword and sorcery epic that traces a final series of battles in a long war against evil incarnate. Some of the heroes of the previous two books can be found here like the ageless Val and the Varee Dannon. But there are Aldo new heroes who take center stage. Well-written, absorbing, and impossible to put down.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

A good independent fantasy story. It might not achieve the same level of well know author and some tropes might be bit of déjà-vu or clichés, but this is definitely entertaining and fun to read. It’s also very cheap, I was surprise by the price when I look for it at the bottom of the page. Small investment that will let you on for some hours of pleasure. Money worth.