glimnore 's review for:

The Coward by Stephen Aryan

5.0

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Unexpectedly brilliant. Stephen Aryan's The Coward is a fierce and emotional story of a reluctant hero who must pick up his sword again to finish a quest he started ten years ago. The prose is crisp and efficient. The characters, plot, and worldbuilding are perfectly balanced. Some mysteries still stand, even at the end of the story (but that's what the sequel is for!). And the pacing is spot on; the story knows what it is, does it well, and does not overstay its welcome. The Coward punches above its weight class, avoids many modern gimmicks, and echoes older and more revered classical works. Truly an excellent read!

And out of the sheer respect I have for Aryan...It's time for the sequel.