Valour

The prose is sharp, the pace works wonderfully well and when added to a whole cast of complex character that bring not only the world in which they inhabit to life but bring their own thoughts and desires to the reader with space to spare. All round, this series is building into one of favourites of the last few years and to have an author who can produce a second book of high quality in good time and schedule shows that this author has a bright future. Great stuff. * Falcata Times *
Valour is hands down, the best fantasy I have read in an age. I thought Providence of Fire might have claimed it, but Valour came swooping in and stole the title … may be becoming one of my all time favourite fantasy series … I’d probably class it with early Eddings, Gemmell and Goodkind, but with more maturity, stronger characters.. And more Omph! (technical term) * Bookfrivolity *
Valour manages to surpass what was already a very strong debut, somehow managing to be even better than Malice … John Gwynne is a writer good enough to create characters you can love, and confident enough to kill them off when the time is right … A great read. Real characters in a well crafted world you can really immerse yourself in to. * Dominish Reviews *
The ‘Chosen-One’ offspring of George R R Martin and J K Rowling, raised on the bedtime stories of Tolkien and whipped into fighting shape by David Gemmell … but still 100% Gwynne … John Gwynne wades in with a depth of world building that’d see most newbie authors flounder. * Written With a Sword Reviews *
I really enjoyed the parts of the story that were set in the Celtic-influenced areas. The settings are beautiful and vivid, and the forests and mountains and castles distinctly brought to my mind the time I’ve spent in Wales and Scotland. * Half Strung Harp Reviews *
A real gem … the traditional good versus evil tale in with very nontraditional twists. * Power and Page Reviews *
Influenced by Gemmell’s Rigante and GRR Martin’s Game of Thrones - two good strands of DNA. Great characters and plot - it gets faster and more fascinating by the page … Highly recommended – Conn Iggulden, author of Empire, on Malice
With all manner of battles, betrayals and revelations. I particularly enjoyed the battle scenes and duels … If it sounds like your thing, then it probably is – Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns, on Malice
It’s exciting when you find a strong new voice ringing out through the halls of fantasy, and John Gwynne hits all the right spots in his epic tale of good vs evil … Gwynne is definitely one to watch – SFX on Malice
Reminds me of why I became a fantasy enthusiast in the first place – Robin Hobb, author of Assassin’s Apprentice, on A Time of Dread
John Gwynne is one of the modern masters of heroic fantasy – Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time
Brilliantly compelling heroic fantasy … kept me reading late into the night – James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost, on A Time of Dread
Visceral, heart-breaking and unputdownable – Jay Kristoff, author of Empire of the Vampire, on The Shadow of the Gods
The stakes are high, the characters are engaging and relatable, and the action is thrilling – SciFiNow on A Time of Dread

John Gwynne studied and lectured at Brighton University. He’s been in a rock ‘n’ roll band, playing the double bass, travelled the USA and lived in Canada for a time. He is married with four children and lives in Eastbourne, running a small family business rejuvenating vintage furniture. His first novel, Malice, won the David Gemmell Morningstar award for best debut fantasy. Valour is his second novel.

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