A review by milos_dumbraci
Malice by John Gwynne

4.0

Excellent classical-type (tolkienesque) fantasy, but with very good modern writing (for example the good are obviously good and the evil clearly evil, no grimdark here, but they all have very good and reasonable reasons for their choice). I enjoyed it very much and will start right away at the sequels. It starts slow and rather confusing (too many similar kingdoms with similar intrigues and too many similar characters, some almost identical), but in the second half it goes into a full and fascinating rumble. I absolutely loved in the second half how plots start to connect (often unexpectedly and with good guys on the bad side and bad guys on the good one). What I did not love were the too classical feeling, the too similar kingdoms and characters and, especially, the ending, which felt rushed (to provide a loud bang) and not that believable. Highly recommended, still.