My thanks to Head of Zeus for an advance review copy via NetGalley of ‘The Sword Falls’ by A.J. Smith in exchange for an honest review. It was published in May 2021 and I did buy its ebook edition in the interim. My apologies for the late feedback.

This is Book 2 in the Form and Void trilogy. As it is a continuous story in order to appreciate the setting, characters, and story to date, the first book, ‘The Glass Breaks’ should be read first. As a result, I won’t discuss plot details in order to avoid spoilers for both books.

I was initially drawn to this epic fantasy series by its inclusion of Lovecraftian elements and the presence of pirates and sea lore. For me it’s a winning formula, especially as A.J. Smith’s world-building, characterisation, and storytelling is excellent.

Slight warning that there is salty language though these are Sea Wolves! One character did apologise to another a couple of times for inappropriate language. While it didn’t bother me some readers might take exception.

Book 3, ‘The Sea Rises’, is due in March 2022.

Definitely an outstanding novel and series.

I liked the first book in this series and loved this one. Great world building and characters, a gripping and entertaining plot.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I like the writing style but overall i don't think this story is for me. I just couldn't connect with the story and the fact that the bad guys are giant frogs is a bit weird and threw me off the storyline.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read the first book in this series so I did find it incredibly hard to get into. It took me about 30% until I understood any of what was going on. It also felt really slow at the start of the book. I have read other sequels where you gain this understanding a bit sooner.

The magic system is really different and something I was impressed by. It's quite descriptive and something I can actually visualise. The main characters are also great - in particular their character arcs. The First Fang in particular is a brilliant character and I really enjoyed how she changed throughout the novel.

The world was interesting and the different cultures/societies. The religions and spiritual totems were also really interesting.

The baddies....I really liked the frogspawn idea but I really wish it wasn't frog men. I mean frogs....I just could not get my head around these ridiculous looking creatures and how they were supposed to be terrifying. I liked the ideas of the First Whips and thought they seemed like a great enemy but the sunken men themselves were just too ridiculous for me.

The ARC has a lot of errors and typo's e.g thrown instead of throne, or Mr instead of my. which will hopefully be addressed before publication.

Pros: An interesting magic system and world. Good main character arcs.
Cons: Frogs and sunken men just aren't scary!

A man of the Dawn Claw will be the Always King. It will ever be so. They will always rule… but they will not always lead…

Prince Oliver Dawn Claw, heir to the throne, has been sent to the Silver Parliament, to see if he will be accepted as King, when his father dies.

On his journey to the Silver Parliament, escorted by his allies, Silver Jack and Quinn, he meets the Commander of Falcon’s watch. All three swear their lives to protect the Prince.

But will their vows be enough to protect the future Always King, from corruption that could turn him….?!

Meanwhile, Adeline Brand, the Alpha Wolf, soon to be First Fang, isn’t prepared to wait to be attacked. She assembles a crew of allies. Sea Wolves, kneeling Wolves, Sundered Wolved and Pure Ones. Aboard the Halfdan’s Revenge, Adeline sails through the void, taking the fight to the Sunken God.

Adeline…long ago the Great Phoenix predicted your arrival. Michael of the mountain was told that you would lead us away from spirits. You would take the black dust and lead us towards peace.

But can Adeline escape her own Spirit, The Old Bitch of the Sea, form an unlikely alliance, and save the world of Form?

The book carries on in the same style as the first book. We see through the eyes of the two main characters. Adeline the Alpha Wolf, and this time Oliver Dawn Claw, who replaces Duncan after he died saving Oliver at the Severed Hand in the first book. Personally I like this style of writing. Similar to how John Gwynne writes the Faithful and the Fallen series. I find you get to know the characters more when you spend more time seeing through their eyes. The relationships between Adeline and her allies are extremely believable. Struggling to be taken seriously as the First Fang after killing the previous leader, she relies on old friends who remain close at her side, until she can win over the other Sea Wolves.

I also love how A.J. Smith builds the world through his vivid, flowing descriptions. I could read this all day long! This fantastic descriptive writing continues into the battles towards the end of the book. The Sunken Men attacking Last Port, and Adeline using the Black dust to try to overcome the Sunken Men aboard their depth barges. Smith isn’t afraid of killing off a main character, or vividly describing a captain having his leg amputated. The only issue is I loved these gruesome battles so much, that I wish there were more of them in the book. As well as more time spent in the Void, navigating their way past the strange creatures that live there. I could have happily read chapter after chapter in this world, or in these battles, but these chapters were few and far between.

My only other gripe with this book was the description of the Sunken Men. Big frogs spewing corrosive frogspawn! I really feel Smith could have been more imaginative here, and create a evil foe slightly more frightening than a big frog.

But I am being picky! The Sword Falls was a great second installment of the Form and Void series. The ending twists leave me gagging for the third book Any book that finishes on a cliff hanger that I can’t stop thinking about for days, is a massive success .

4/5

That was so cool! Epic fantasy at is best. I like the characters , the quest was great and the writing was also well done. An author I will keep a close eye on!