Gann had always felt at peace on the trail, but when he stumbles upon a sword in the deep woods, that peace is yanked from his grasp. Not long after returning home, Gann is attacked by creatures he had only ever dreamt about in his darkest nightmares. They are utterly ruthless as they seek the sword for their master, the First Apostle of Thuun.
The sword is one of power and magic, once belonging to a hero of myth and legend, the Steel Falcon. Only now, the sword’s magic has failed, and a curse has been laid upon the ghost of the fallen hero. According to legend, his spirit shall never pass to the realms beyond the nether unless the sword has been returned to his body’s final resting place.
Thrust upon a quest to rid himself of dangers that now pursue him, Gann, and those brave enough to accompany him, must venture forth and break the curse before they are overtaken by the Apostle of Thuun and his horde.
Sword of the Fallen Hero is an epic fantasy, in the classic style. If you love fantasy you will find enough castles, knights, princess’s, mages, curses, legends and even a dragon to warm your heart. This is the sort of fantasy that will appeal to readers of all ages, there’s nothing “grim-dark” or “spicy” in sight. There is a romantic sub-plot, but it’s wholesome and actually rather sweet. The author has a light touch, there is no long exposition, the world and the characters are revealed as the story unfolds. Our protagonist doesn’t have some prophecy or wise old mentor driving him on to a great destiny, he is a simple lad. He stumbles on the titular sword and does what he always does; tries to do the right thing. He is aided in this by his friends, and really this is a story about courage and friendship. Both are tested to the limit. The characters are young and inexperienced and we watch them grow as they progress to their eventual showdown with the big bad. They really are a likeable bunch and it is easy to root for them. As for the villain, I found his attitude very refreshing. He does what he needs to do as ruthlessly and efficiently as he can, but, at least in the beginning, he doesn’t waste his efforts on being needlessly vindictive or evil. He’d much rather have them all go home and forget about this pesky quest than have to kill them. I had not come across any monsters quite like the “Dreg” before, they are quite horrific, particularly if you have a problem with bugs. There’s plenty of humour too. Its well paced and well told and I will be picking up the second book when my tbr starts obeying the laws of physics.
I just finished Sword of a Fallen Hero by Mike Solano, and I HAD to tell you about it because, wow, what a ride!
If you love fantasy (like me 🙋♂️), this book is going to sweep you off your feet. We’ve got our hometown protagonist—totally not your typical hero, which I love—setting out on this epic journey of self-discovery. You’ll find yourself rooting for him as he digs deep, facing challenges that reveal parts of himself he never knew existed.
And the characters? Absolute gems. He’s got a crew of loyal friends who make the adventure even richer. But the real standout for me? Radish. Yep, Radish. This character gave me total Narnia vibes—nostalgic, magical, and just delightful in all the best ways.
If you’re into mystical worlds, unlikely heroes, and stories that tug at your heartstrings while keeping you on the edge of your seat, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Sword of a Fallen Hero today. You won’t regret it!
Such a fun read. It reads like a dnd campaign. It’s full of action, never a dull moment. The characters and creatures really pop out of the page. Interesting magic concepts. Definitely recommend to anybody interested in a good ole fashioned fantasy story.