What do you think?
Rate this book
Black Sleeve: Book One: Arms of Malar
Follow Gammon's journey - once an elite Hunter and member of the Green Sleeves, Gammon has fallen into the shame and exile of being marked a Black Sleeve.
He finds himself in an unlikely alliance among the often treacherous lot of criminal and severed folk to embark on a quest to reclaim his life and love in defiance of the other Sleeves of Malar who have punished him.Gammon comes face-to-face with a far greater threat than the politicians or philosophers in the world of Balor could have imagined!
From the ingenuity of the Bathmore rifles to the sophistication of the Pantheon of Malar, will anyone be powerful enough to stop the armies of the deep?
He finds himself in an unlikely alliance among the often treacherous lot of criminal and severed folk to embark on a quest to reclaim his life and love in defiance of the other Sleeves of Malar who have punished him.Gammon comes face-to-face with a far greater threat than the politicians or philosophers in the world of Balor could have imagined!
From the ingenuity of the Bathmore rifles to the sophistication of the Pantheon of Malar, will anyone be powerful enough to stop the armies of the deep?
547 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2023
4 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 1, 2024
This author did a great job of grasping the audience, building dynamic characters, and creating thrilling action scenes. As a reader who’s never had much interest in fantasy novels Black Sleeve did a great job of reeling me in, keeping me engaged, and wanting to keep reading for hours. Fantastic masterpiece here; can’t wait to read the next in the series!
June 10, 2024
This was a very complex and interesting fantasy! I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next in the series!
December 2, 2025
I found this author by chance. The cover, blurb and title intrigued me so I had to give it a go.
Now, I have the attention span of a squirrel. I tend to struggle with books over 300 pages. This?
I WANTED MORE!
It flowed well. It was intriguing. It had multiple plots and characters but I didn't find it complicated.
Favourite characters had to be:
Boomsheckle, I loved his interactions with Killian and his profession.
Bruce! He's not in it much but I do love sweetie characters. I thought his story was lovely.
I am not going to lie, I do really like Flaye. I just think he is perfect bad guy material. I liked hating him. The idea with multiple Sleeves and the Gillans intrigues me.
I really like the ending. It ends on a cliffhanger but doesn't. It alludes to more, but wraps up this book nicely.
The Sleeves concept is such an amazing idea! Its a very unique concept and I really liked learning how they are earned.
Presto's gift was fascinating and well thought out. Cleetus is just fun! And I look forward to him becoming human again.
This is definitely one of my favourite books this year. I would happily read more from this author
Edit: I have now read this twice. I still like the three I liked, but I now appreciate characters like Hudon and Vance more. Great read, bring on Green Sleeve!
Now, I have the attention span of a squirrel. I tend to struggle with books over 300 pages. This?
I WANTED MORE!
It flowed well. It was intriguing. It had multiple plots and characters but I didn't find it complicated.
Favourite characters had to be:
Boomsheckle, I loved his interactions with Killian and his profession.
Bruce! He's not in it much but I do love sweetie characters. I thought his story was lovely.
I am not going to lie, I do really like Flaye. I just think he is perfect bad guy material. I liked hating him. The idea with multiple Sleeves and the Gillans intrigues me.
I really like the ending. It ends on a cliffhanger but doesn't. It alludes to more, but wraps up this book nicely.
The Sleeves concept is such an amazing idea! Its a very unique concept and I really liked learning how they are earned.
Presto's gift was fascinating and well thought out. Cleetus is just fun! And I look forward to him becoming human again.
This is definitely one of my favourite books this year. I would happily read more from this author
Edit: I have now read this twice. I still like the three I liked, but I now appreciate characters like Hudon and Vance more. Great read, bring on Green Sleeve!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2023
Honestly it was a really good read , I've been in a book rut for a bit now and everything about black sleeve was a breath of fresh air, loved the beginning with Hanniya and him , there interaction reminded me of donkey and shrek when they first met she pestering him and he is just going along for the ride lmao ,
Character delopment is great
The flow is well done, too, well written
I can't wait for book twooooo
Amazing overall
Character delopment is great
The flow is well done, too, well written
I can't wait for book twooooo
Amazing overall
July 11, 2025
In the world of Balor, The Sleeves rule. Silver Sleeves with great wealth. Green Sleevs are great hunters & providers. Blood Sleeves are warriors and protectors. However, Black Sleeves are the criminals or 'sinners' who are outcast from society and permanently banished. In this story, we follow Gammon. Once a noble and beloved man of elite status as a Green Sleeve of Malar, now is cast into the dregs of exile and shamed as a Black Sleeve.
We meet Gammon after 6/7 years of being branded a Black Sleeve and and being on the run, after having escaped the trial for his crime of passion. Lonely and heartbroken, he's wandered the forest these years barely surviving with only thoughts of his sweet, beautiful Via keeping him going. After coming across a tiny village, raided and left in pieces, Gammon finds himself an unlikely group of allies who help kickstart this incredible story of Gammon's odyssey to a new life and possible redemption. Little does he know that he will have to face evil and darkness to take back the life he wants.
Take a seat and buckle up for the ride! Black Sleeve has it all! Magic, monsters, love, political corruption & redemption! You will laugh. You will cry. You will cheer and pump your fist in the air. Then you'll want to throw the book at the wall. But you will love every page of it. Joshua Fordyce does an incredible job with the characters and their development. You'll fall in love with some and despise others with ferocity.
This is a journey you're going to want to take. And the best part?... it's not done. Book 2, Green Sleeve is coming soon!!
We meet Gammon after 6/7 years of being branded a Black Sleeve and and being on the run, after having escaped the trial for his crime of passion. Lonely and heartbroken, he's wandered the forest these years barely surviving with only thoughts of his sweet, beautiful Via keeping him going. After coming across a tiny village, raided and left in pieces, Gammon finds himself an unlikely group of allies who help kickstart this incredible story of Gammon's odyssey to a new life and possible redemption. Little does he know that he will have to face evil and darkness to take back the life he wants.
Take a seat and buckle up for the ride! Black Sleeve has it all! Magic, monsters, love, political corruption & redemption! You will laugh. You will cry. You will cheer and pump your fist in the air. Then you'll want to throw the book at the wall. But you will love every page of it. Joshua Fordyce does an incredible job with the characters and their development. You'll fall in love with some and despise others with ferocity.
This is a journey you're going to want to take. And the best part?... it's not done. Book 2, Green Sleeve is coming soon!!
July 3, 2025
Gammon’s journey from elite Hunter to disgraced outcast is both heartbreaking and exhilarating. The world of Balor is steeped in danger, mystery, and brutal beauty from cunning criminal factions to ancient, looming threats. The lore is deep, the stakes are high, and the action never lets up.
December 28, 2025
4.5
The storylines were all intriguing and suspenseful to keep you reading. Not a new kind of story but a good blend of popular ideas. Definitely looking forward to the second.
The storylines were all intriguing and suspenseful to keep you reading. Not a new kind of story but a good blend of popular ideas. Definitely looking forward to the second.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews