The book description certainly draws you in, but the book itself isn’t what I was expecting. I feel there was a lot missing from the book in a lot of parts and in others there was way too much.
The characters felt flat, not relatable at all. I don’t know… their interactions did not feel natural. There was so much background missing… at times what they were doing just didn’t fit with the rest of the story or it felt too expected.
I really wish I had enjoyed this more but sadly I skipped through a lot simply because it wasn’t getting to the point.

When King Kahled is captured after trying to save his friend and fellow king Conrad from corruptors, the evil forces of the world, his daughter and the knights tasked with protecting her in his absence set out to save him instead. Along the way they encounter an eternally cloaked mute thief, goblins, elves, and dragons in their quest to save their king. Dimitar, one of Kahleds knights must also grapple with his growing feelings for Kaleela, princess and daughter of Kahled, who is at the same time processing meeting her elven maternal family for the first time.

This was cute. I don’t know if I’d necessarily equate it to the lord of the rings but it’s definitely inspired by it, if in nothing but the orcs. In my opinion, the stakes didn’t seem high enough. No harm actually felt permanent. Not that I want any of the companions to die, but someone should have to make an impact.

Thank you to the Authors and Netgalley for the ARC! Sorry I'm a bit late on the review...

This book was a lil bit Lord of the Rings, a lil bit DnD with it's own unique spin and a lot of heart. This story was masterfully crafted, pieces falling together from the beginning to create a supremely satisfying ending. The last half was nearly impossible to put down, the battles an fight scenes made my heart race, and the romance was so sweet!

I loved reading this. It was a very classic feeling fantasy quest style story and there were many times I felt myself drawing parallels between DnD and stories I grew up with like Lord of the Rings. In terms of writing style, the Collins' have very direct way of phrasing things and there were times that I wish I was shown more than told, but it was never to the point where I thought it took away from the story.

In terms of characters, I felt they were all fairly likeable if a bit predictable. They fill classic fantasy archetypes which, while unsurprising, add to the feel that this is a classic fantasy novel. Of all of the characters we meet, I loved Ral the most and enjoyed watching Willem grow more comfortable around the group. I also appreciated the natural way different sexualities and people with disabilities were portrayed and fit into the world.

Finally, I LOVED that, while this is a series, this book felt like it had a definite ending and didn't leave us on a massive cliffhanger. The main conflict of the book was resolved, but the promise of greater, related threats, still loomed on the horizon to line up a sequel while giving us closure. I can't begin to describe how more I love this about the ending of this book.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley.

"In the Name of Honor" by Courtney & Clarke Collins is a traditional fantasy novel. Introducing readers to a world filled with familiar archetypes: a strong female protagonist, a valiant knight, and a touch of comic relief. The narrative follows Princess Kaleela and her loyal guardsman, Dimitar, as they embark on a character building journey to rescue her father from malevolent forces known as the Corrupted.

While the story offers a comforting familiarity reminiscent of classic fantasy tales, it occasionally treads too closely to well-worn tropes, leading to moments that feel derivative. For instance, certain scenes echo iconic moments from established works, which might diminish their impact for seasoned fantasy readers.

The writing style leans towards a younger audience, often telling rather than showing, which can hinder deeper immersion into the world and its characters. However, the book shines in its inclusive world-building, presenting a diverse cast that reflects various gender identities and backgrounds, adding a refreshing layer to the genre.

In summary, "In the Name of Honor" is a commendable debut that, despite its reliance on familiar fantasy elements, offers an inclusive and heartfelt adventure. It's a suitable read for those seeking a light, traditional fantasy journey, though it may not fully satisfy readers looking for innovative storytelling.

I enjoyed the idea of this book and the beginning of it certainly pulled me in.
Pretty quickly though, it felt like two different voices were writing it (it looks like two authors are listed, and it definitely felt like I could tell the difference). The writing and dialogue would kind of switch back and forth from more high fantasy/proper and casual/modern writing.
I also wish there was more detail on basically everything. We got a lot of “this is how it is” instead of getting much of any backstory or reasons why. More detail and depth honestly may have made up for the writing style switching.
I did DNF around 65% after trying my best to finish before the archive date. The writing and storyline were just a little too back and forth and predictable for my personal preference!

Absolutely devoured this book! As a fan of high fantasy, Tolkien-esque books, this one did that genre so well! I really enjoyed the plot, world building, and characters in this novel. The found family aspect and sprinkles of romance also were perfectly placed throughout. I definitely recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this book overall. I definitely found it to be more YA than adult, but I loved that it was very traditional fantasy. It had all of the characters you would expect: strong FMC who doesn’t know she is stunningly beautiful, humble & heroic knight on a mission that obviously runs counterintuitive to hers, and the jester/comedic relief best friend. I appreciated the modern twist on this traditional story by having the character list be diverse and inclusive. Actually included in the story, and not just thrown away by the plot, there were different races, genders, sexualities, and ability.

I think the only complaint I’ve seen with this book is that it feels recycled from Lord of the Rings, but I am a new reader - getting really invested around 2019 - and I’ve never read those books or seen those movies. Therefore, the idea of an Elven Princess was exceptionally fun and unique. In a world of fae, we have returned to elves.

The inclusion of a slow burn romance is always good for me, and I love seeing a romantic book where the two MCs aren’t trying to kill each other. This wasn’t a slow burn that makes me mad. Instead, I found myself begging them to just kiss kiss kiss!!!! I feel like I could tell this was written by a couple who yearns, but I still found the author’s voice to be clear and consistent throughout. I’m sure that was aided by the differing POVs (which I also love!).

Great choice for any fantasy reader!

In The Name of Honor is an very ambitious fantasy book that draws clear inspiration from The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time. While this familiarity may appeal to fans of classic fantasy, it also makes the story feel derivative. The world itself, though filled with potential, lacks the depth of immersive worldbuilding that could have made it stand out.

One of the novel’s strengths is its short, fast-paced chapters, which make for an easy and engaging read. The moments involving the monstrous creatures and their enigmatic king are particularly intriguing, adding an eerie tension that keeps the reader invested. The fight scenes can be difficult to follow, with action sequences that sometimes feel vague due to a lack of strong descriptive verbs. Similarly, there are long stretches without dialogue, which can slow the pacing.

In terms of characters, Ral stands out as the most fascinating, with a distinct personality and a well-developed backstory that is info-bombed in one single chapter. On the other hand, Dimitar is a difficult protagonist to connect with, and his chapters often felt like annoying to get through. Olaf, while a more enjoyable character, has an accent that feels inconsistent, especially given that he and Dimitar share the same upbringing. Kaleela, our other main character and romantic interest, lacks defining traits beyond being beautiful, stubborn, and resembling her mother, making her feel one-dimensional.

The Corrupted, the book’s monsters who are under the command of our villain and share a hive-mind, have an interesting but somewhat inconsistent presence. Initially described as nearly unbeatable in a past war, they now seem much easier to defeat, which lessens their menace.
Additionally, the role of servants in the story is nearly invisible, existing only to provide for the main characters without any real presence of their own.

On the plus side: diversity! This book features a gay couple (though one of them dies early on), Olaf as a pansexual character, a physical disability (though it is very quickly dealt with) and Master Karn, who is indifferent to gender. These elements could have been explored with more depth to feel meaningful.

The novel builds toward an action-packed finale, but the ending itself lacks a satisfying payoff. The final battle unfolds as expected—good triumphs over evil—but with the hint that not all threats are truly vanquished, setting up the next book in the series.

While In The Name of Honor has some engaging moments and a few standout characters, it struggles with originality, worldbuilding, and pacing. Fans of traditional fantasy who need a comfort read may enjoy this.

Rating: 2 stars out of 5.

Interesting and twisty, the world building was so unique and fun. At times a bit overcomplicated and it dragged but it was worth wading through. Absolutely loved it!

While the plot had interesting moments it felt very stiff and forced. The writing felt like it was trying too hard to be high fantasy and it was somewhat predictable.

I’m not really sure why I stuck with it and didn’t DNF this one. I certainly thought about it quite a bit. At some point I think I’d just put too much time into it to give up.

In the Name of Honor isn’t bad exactly. It’s more… unnecessary? The story isn’t new or unique, the characters fulfil the necessary tropes. There’s an eleven princess, a loyal knight servant, the lovable oaf sidekick. There’s danger and adventure and even romance. But the writing just did not do it for me. Everything is so vague it feels like it’s been filtered. Sometimes even the characters seemed to only be saying or doing what was expected because it was expected. There was no emotion or depth and I didn’t connect to any of the characters or their suffering.

Everything seemed fairly wrapped up at the end of the book, though it’s apparently supposed to be the start to a series? It’s probably not one I’ll continue with, regardless.

Thank you to Shadow Spark Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

I feel really bad for DNFing this book, because it has a lot of promising qualities. Sadly, this book is just overall not worked out enough for these qualities to shine, which is why I stopped reading at 53%.

I picked up this book because the plot seemed like something I would like. An elven princess on a quest with her guardsman, going to save her father from a corrupted creature? Count me in! Sadly, the book drags and drags and I felt like most of what I read was filler and didn't really have any influence on the over-arching plot at all.

The characters also felt very flat and without any distinct personality. We get a lot of "Dimitar/Kaleela felt" but no actual display of emotions or actions. This was a big issue through the book, where it was a lot of telling but no actual showing. The lack of this and the lack of dialogue (we went entire pages without any talking), made me really struggle with the book and is the biggest reason that I don't feel like I want to finish it.

3..5
Thank you to the publishers and to Collins for allowing me to read this novel early.

This novel is an easy read for fans of tabletop role-playing games, Lord of the Rings, and all high fantasy. It takes the classic high fantasy structure and traditional party build of a great D&D game and puts it into a beautifully written world.

The characters fall into classic archetypes, but they have standout moments that truly bring this book to life.

The story starts quite slowly, and it takes a moment to get into, but by the time you reach part two, you’re fully immersed in the Green Lands and Blackburn.

The authors have a gift for description. Every time they set a scene, it’s very well-rounded and easy to imagine the space, which is a nice touch in a fantasy world.

Final thoughts:

I wish the authors had focused more on the friendly relationships between characters over any romantic subplots.
Not every fantasy novel needs to have romance especially if it feels forced.

I did enjoy the fact that there were queer and non-binary characters. I love that this is becoming something you just see in fantasy. It’s very inclusive, and as a queer reader, it always makes me feel more connected to a world to see characters similar to myself.


Full review is posted on Goodreads, spoilers were removed from this review.

This epic fantasy novel weaves themes of vengeance, intergenerational healing, and sacrifice, delivering a captivating narrative and unforgettable characters. The storytelling evokes traditional fantasy tales, featuring brave knights, princely half-elves, devoted friends, heart-wrenching choices, and an engaging love story, all while offering a contemporary perspective.

Despite being debut authors, they have succeeded in creating an incredibly rich world, brimming with intricate details and populated by unique and complex characters who stand out thanks to their distinct and multifaceted personalities.

Undoubtedly, the writing is one of the book’s strengths, as it builds tension and keeps readers hooked, leaving them eager to discover what will happen in the next installment of this trilogy. All in all, an excellent way to launch a career in the fantasy genre.

A guard who dreams about becoming a knight is made to guard the half-elven princess all the while she is grieving the death of one father while the other has gone off to face a deadly creature... together they journey to save the king. Dimitar dreams about being promoted to a knight, but after his latest mission where he delivers the news to the king that the other king has been killed and that the Corrupted creatures are back.... the king gives him the duty of protecting his daughter while he goes to face the creature. Dimitar isn't exactly happy he's been made a guard to the half-elven princess Kaleela and she is absolutely not happy that her father has left her and not let her join him in his war mission. But when more news comes both Kaleela and Dimitar must work together and find more allies as they go to protect the king and face off against deadly creatures. I hate to be the one to say this but this one was a big miss for me. I was intrigued by the premise and the cover is stunning... but the actual book was so boring and the characters felt flat. I would have probably had a better time if this was a movie, but as a book I just felt myself getting bored and putting the book down constantly. I wasn't in the characters and honestly didn't really care about their journey at all. Sadly this one did not work for me, but if you like fantasy books that kind of feel like a lowstakes dnd campaign, maybe give this a go?

Release Date: January 27, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Shadow Spark Publishing for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

DNF @ 10%. I just could not get into this story. The characters were flat and boring and the premise didn't interestvme once I started diving in. Thankcyou to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my review.

This was a solid 3 stars for me. I really didn’t start getting into it until around 25% through the book, and even then there were times I flew through chapters and others that dragged for me - which is why I rated like I did.
The world building was beautiful and thorough but I truly ended up loving the characters; especially Ral! I also appreciated the different POVs which made the story so multidimensional.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Collins’ for the opportunity to read this book!

Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley, and the Collins for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

4 stars / 4.25 stars

This is a high fantasy book that feels LOTR-esque while still remaining new and fresh with its worldbuilding. I wouldn’t say it's cozy, but because of the quest and the 4 characters we’re following (guardsman, thief, a princess, and the guardsman’s best friend)… it feels like the type of book I would enjoy between longer, bleaker series.


I was gripped from the first chapter and it was the type of book I needed at the time. Though it has all the classic fantasy tropes we love, Collins includes lots of representation that I think most books in this category lack (ex. was very intrigued in how sign language was written into the story). This made me feel more seen and attached to the characters of this world.


I LOVED Olaf and Ral and wish they had more POV chapters! I did enjoy Dimitar and Kaleela’s chapters, but I wish the romance didn’t take as much page time in their POVs. I’m usually a sucker for romantic subplot, but I think it could’ve slow-burned a little more. At the very least, there shouldn’t been more angst in regards to their stations even if Khaled wouldn’t supported them regardless 🙂


Another thing to note… the plot kinda dragged in the middle. There were times where I felt like the characters were bouncing from place to place very conveniently. Though there was urgency, I think the plot could’ve done with more intimate character moments or depth to the backstories of Dimitar or Olaf. This might be something that will be expanded on in Book 2.


This is one of the few stories that does found family well. I loved seeing Dimitar’s growth and willingness to change his opinion on Ral. All 4 characters had lovely moments with each other and were not just contained to their prior relationships. I need more Ral x Kaleela x Dimitar in Book 2!!

First of all, I'd like to thank the ARC! It was truly a pleasure to read your work of fiction.
In The Name Of Honor is a great fantasy book with many actions, twists and turns, and heartwarming relationships. At first, I thought this book's gonna be too slow-paced for me. But as I read more and more pages, I realized I was completely wrong. I adore books with great world-building, and In The Name Of Honor has a clever and nice world-building that I love. It was so creative with the unique creatures and the whole war storyline. My favorite part was about the Reclamation War's story, it was so interesting!
The other thing I admired was the elaborate relationships between the characters. I loved Kaleela and Dimitar together so much, but my favorite relationship was Olaf and Dimitar's. Their brotherhood was just so beautiful. For me, they were like the other half of each other in every situation. Speaking of Olaf, making his speaking different from the others was so creative! That made him special, and he had my heart the whole book.
And I'd love to remark that I loved that Ral had a disability. And the whole background story of his. I just love Ral so much that's all I can say.
I try to write everything in a nutshell in this paragraph: I'm looking forward to reading other books from Courtney and Clarke Collins, especially from this universe. I want to know more about things such as Conrad and Khaled's friendship, the Reclamation War era, and about everything! Overall, I loved In The Name of Honor, and I hope I get the chance to read other stories from this world.