This was a gritty fantasy that felt like it held your hand throughout. A promising start that needs more work to compete with the vastness of authors but it's doing something different.

I'd like to start this review by saying I am grateful for having been given the opportunity to read this book and be introduced to a new author. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to have the chance to read.

This book begins with the Falcons, a pentacle of sworn knights, there to serve the empire under all circumstances. The knights possess a special Gift which allows them to draw upon power from a special crystal. But after certain events unfold, the knights become renegades on the run.

This was a great book to be introduced to a new fantasy world and to once again dive into adult fantasy. It's been a while since I have explored this genre, having been reading a lot of YA fantasy as of late.

I thought the world building was intriguing, and I saw a lot of links to our world and references to political situations that are relevant to us in present times. I found myself specifically reflecting on the Orders' annihilation of other races and then telling the population a different story as to how these races were wiped out. It was interesting to read.

I also take my hat off to David Hair for addressing issues around gender inequality. I personally believe he hit the nail on the head with how it is in present times. Women have the ability to lead, women are placed in leadership roles, but within those roles, there is still resistance and sexism present.

I found this to be relatable and relevant.

One of the most difficult aspects of this book to get into was the pacing. I found it to be rather slow-paced and took a long time to reach the point, which I think made it slightly less enjoyable for me. I also found it tricky to personally like some of the characters - in particular, Romara. I just didn't find her relatable or likeable a lot of the time.

In saying that, it was a book that grew on me the more I read. I admittedly was not invested at the beginning, but the more I read, the more I enjoyed it.

And the way this one ended - well, of course I have to read book two when it comes out. I can't finish on that clifhanger and not read on!

An enjoyable book and one worth reading.

Thanks, Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read and review! The story is solidly written and I enjoyed it a lot! The character development was handled well and in tune with the story development and enjoyed that ballance. The world-building is also uniquely fleshed out and well crafted by the author! There's action from beginning to end and a lot of key point scenes are happening one after another, so the reader literally can't stop reading. Really intriguing read which doesn't give you a break from start to finish!

Really enjoyed this! I liked the way we know what the individual characters are thinking and I thought all of the characterisation was well done. The world building too was good, though far from unique. Despite much action, I thought the pace was a little slow in places, but this actually didn’t affect my attention as it was a fairly complex story. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the series pans out. I am definitely also intrigued to check out this author’s previous works. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

This is a strong, well-written story. There is a good balance of characters within the story that are complex and understandable and operate within a world that is fleshed out. The plot has a good pace with plenty going on to keep the reader's attention. The magic system is at the story's heart and well-integrated into the plot.

The flow of the story affects the perspective and the point of view is from the person dealing with the situation at that time. This is an interesting mechanism that allows characters to be developed more fully. However, it requires the reader to pay attention as there is a regular shift between first-person reflection and third-person description.

The major limiting factor in the story is that there is just too much going on. There is no real pause in the action. Characters develop and change throughout as a result of what happens to them, so there is little stability.

The book does provide a good read that draws you into the twists and turns of the story

The Burning Land by David Hair is the first book of The Talmont Trilogy and it's recommended to fans of Brandon Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie.

The Burning Land is a great story about the manipulation of the truth, black-and-white seeing of the world, and confrontation with reality. The Falcons, a special order of knights, are honorable mages who are supposed to protect others from evil Vyrs. But what happens when they catch one Vyr alive and they find out that the truth is maybe different and they are the villains?

The plot promises a strong story with a lot of space for character development. However, I did not find the characters real and well-built. They are functional but to me, they seem flat.

The story is quite long, full of action and fight sequences. If you are looking for an epic adventure story with magic battles - this book is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Jo Fletcher Books for an eARC!

Overall I really liked this. It's pretty standard epic fantasy but the chracters are good and the world building is immersive. If you're in the market for a decent chunk of fantasy escapism, give this a try.

David Hair Does it again. Thanks to him and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Short and Sweet that doesn't give much away is my thoughts now...lol I feel like too often I give book reports, rather than reviews. But all in all, I really enjoyed this book!

The Burning Land is a fiery fantasy adventure that blazes with action, magic, and epic battles. Hair's skillful storytelling and well-developed characters immerse readers into a world of danger and destiny. The book's dynamic plot and intense imagery make it a page-turner, leaving you eager for the next installment in this captivating series.