TL/DR: An enjoyable read, with engaging and realistic characters.  Despite having some familiar high fantasy elements, the novel avoids the standard fantasy tropes of "Big Setting" and tells a more interesting, very personal tale.

Full Review: This is a review of The Vathiriel Blade by Mark David Brantingham, (aka Ghost on these forums).  This is a review of the Kindle version of the book.  Disclaimer: I know the author, but I did not receive a free copy of the book to review (and if you know me here, you know I say what I think). Being a Literature Major back in the day, I have lots of friends who write novels that are total crap.  This isn't one of them.

This is not a standard Fantasy Genre-Fiction novel.  The setting has some of the familiar elements of Tolkeinian/D&D High Fantasy, but it really does turn the standard tropes on their head.  You're not going to see the endless string of clichés normally present in modern fantasy and especially fantasy RPG fiction.

As far as magic goes, it is present, but not omni-present.  There is some minor use of magic by certain characters, and while allusion is made to powerful magic, the main character is not a wizard.  

Cosmology-wise, the author sticks his neck out a little bit. There is a Christian-type religion and a "Prophecy of the Christ", but it won't be giving you any Narnia flashbacks. Like many others, the setting is one you'd create as a GM. One thing the author does well is make the world seem alive and in motion, without page after page of textbook setting detail.  

The characterization is developed and interesting with detail given to even the minor cast.  The characters are real and flawed, and kind of like a Stephen King novel, they're one of the best parts of the book. The natural interactions of some of the minor characters are good for some humor, but it doesn't feel like inserted "Comedy Relief"; just fun to read.  

The major battle scenes are written well, and brought to mind Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories, if you're familiar with those, but the book isn't breakneck battles from start to finish.  The author takes his time with the characters and things move in motion toward the climax, but it doesn't feel rushed.

There is some intrigue and plotting, but this isn't Game of Thrones, which is good because while there is death, there isn't any torture or misery tourism.  There are larger scale conflicts alluded to in the novel, but the tale the author tells here is an individual, human one.

The novel does stand alone, but it feels like the stage is being set for more novels and stories in this setting.  There are unanswered questions...some might be answered later, but this is an author who lets readers figure things out for themselves.  The phrase you always hear is "show don't tell" but when an author actually accomplishes it, it stands out.

Bottom Line: It's definitely worth the $2.99 on Kindle, or free if you have access to Kindle Unlimited.  The text is DRM-free and can be lent to others.

Sounds interesting, and the review was cogent. Thanks, I'll take a look at this.

I'm only few chapters in, but so far I am engaged. Ghost is definitely aware of genre conventions and how to manipulate them.  Even in the first 30 pages I am feeling he's got a fresh approach. Looking forward to reading the rest.

Good review! I have Kindle Unlimited so will definitely download the one.

Thanks for the kind words.  The response to it has been really amazing.

Thanks for the kind words. The response to the novel has been really amazing.

If you are interested in reading and reviewing The Vathiriel Blade, whether on Amazon or on a blog or right here on theRPGsite, send me the email address associated with your Kindle account and I will gift you a digital copy.  

my email: Mark@Dreoc.com

Here are links to a few recent reviews:

Kirkus Reviews

Jonathan Hicks' Farsight Blogger

Online Book Club

Another review, this one by Online Book Club.

http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=34145

I noticed Damien Walters (of The Guardian and Wired fame) gave it a really good review.

"The Vathiriel Blade is in the top rank of indie published fantasy novels."

"...a new indie published fantasy novel that sets a high bar for the field."

Doing good so far.

The Vathiriel Blade just got a 2017 IPPY Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror E-Book.

Give it a look if you like westerns & fantasy. It's something like Open Range or Unforgiven in a fantasy setting. It's available exclusively on Kindle. DRM is not enabled, so you can legally share it with friends who also have Kindle. It's also available in the Kindle Lending Library, so you can read it for free through that program.

You can preview the first few chapters for free here.

REVIEWS:
  Kirkus
  Damien Walter

I'm running a promotion on Kindle tomorrow - Saturday the 29th.

The Vathiriel Blade will be free to DL all day long.