Fantasy lovers, I’ve found your next favorite book, and probably series. This book is amazing, and it is interconnected to a series of other books by other authors in a shared world. And, I for one, can’t wait to see what else the world has to offer.

About the Book

When an attempt is made on the life of Ashara, Keeper of Yurr, his young, hapless advisor Edvar must uncover and stop those behind it.

With enemies in the capital city and the belligerent Tesh, Keeper of neighbouring nation Karrabar stirring trouble in the Borderlands, can Edvar hold together Ashara’s brittle reign?

The troubles ripple throughout Yurr, affecting an ancient race of people known as the Amast, who in their time of utmost need, turn to pariah Isy for salvation. Rejected by society, kith and kin, can Isy guide the Amast to safety during the greatest turmoil Yurr has known since the War of the Damned?

Pariah’s Lament will take you on a rollercoaster of an adventure ‘that will keep you spellbound as you traverse the world alongside Isy and Edvar’ (Books Behind The Title). And along the way you’ll experience ‘intense fighting scenes, a little romance and flawed characters’ (Sarah Lillian Books).

If you love to explore fantasy worlds, this book won’t disappoint. Part of a shared universe populated by other authors, the setting in Pariah’s Lament has proven a huge hit with readers, with some praising the ‘insane level of detail’ (The Book Suite) and vividness of its descriptions.

My Thoughts

I could not put this down. For some reason, I’ve tricked myself in recent years into thinking I don’t like fantasy. Or I was reading some bad fantasy. I don’t know. But I’m always a little hesitant when I pick up a fantasy book. But I loved this so much. It has definitely made me want to explore this world that the story is a part of some more and connect with the characters as well.

I really love this concept of a shared world. It was actually something my friends and I considered doing in high school, but they weren’t actually writers and we lost touch. I’m so glad that these writers stuck with it though because I’m so excited I got to read this book! Frequently I’m not too fond of main characters, but I adored Isy. She is strong, independent, and fierce. Despite a horrible home life growing up, she flourishes with the life she’s been given. I am so excited to see what happens to her next! I also adored Kora and Edvar. I’ve never been a “monster romance” kind of girl, but I hope I wasn’t the only person in the world who read this and had a little bit of a Kora/Isy ship going.

The one thing about high fantasy that always gets me is the world-building. I do not like it when writers dump all the information on you at once, and this author didn’t. He weaved it in as we went, and it was seamless. It did leave me a little confused sometimes, though. For example, I’m not entirely sure if the two fighting countries were like different species of people, and if Kora’s people were as well. Or if they were all just different flavors of humanoid people? But, that’s okay.

The storytelling kept me turning pages all day. We had a bit of a sick weekend, and that gave me extra time to read. And I soaked up every minute. Frequently a book like this would take me a long time to read because high fantasy can be dense, but this was easy to read. I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me on this tour, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Who’s It For?

If you love fantasy, you will love this book. If you cut your teeth on Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and “A Wrinkle in Time.” Also, if you’re into tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, you’ll also probably enjoy this book.

Content Warnings: Violence, War, Racism/Xenophobia/Specism, Child Abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, and More. This is not meant to be a complete list of all subjects an individual may find triggering.

About the Author

Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales often explore real-world issues, zooming in on his characters and their troubles.

His short fiction has been widely published, with one story adapted for BBC radio. And his debut novel, an epic fantasy called Pariah’s Lament, was published by Of Metal and Magic Publishing in March 2021.

Richie also hosts the podcast The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, a venture inspired by the requests of readers of his acclaimed craft book, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook.

When not writing, Richie works as an editor and digital marketer and teaches creative writing both online and in his home city of Liverpool.

Most nights you can find him up into the early hours scribbling away or watching the NBA.

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