The Tower of the Tyrant

by J.T. Greathouse

A LAND DIVIDED. A HISTORY INKED IN BLOOD. ONE SORCERESS'S QUEST FOR ANSWERS.

The world beyond the City of the Wise is fraught with danger. But Fola, a talented sorceress who has left the safety of its walls, is unconcerned. She's on the hunt for magical remnants left behind by the First Folk - ancient beings who are but the whisper of a memory. Only by finding them might she uncover the secret to their power and a way to pull the riven lands out of the darkness.

Danger lies ahead for Fola, however she feels about it. And when events conspire to drag her into a cursed kingdom to investigate the death of its king, she's soon faced by threats from both the living and the dead.

Fola will need to rely on her wits, her magic and her unlikely friends if she's going to survive. But there is always hope, no matter how dark things get. And three things remain true, above all else.

Fellowship is stronger than isolation.

The past will come back to haunt you.

Nothing stays secret forever.

A fantasy epic of breathtaking scope, this is a rich standalone adventure for fans of Geralt and Ciri in The Witcher, for those who loved the mystery of The Tainted Cup and The Raven Scholar, or for anyone looking to recapture the magic of The Wheel of Time.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Adult, Magic, Audiobook

588 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2025

About the author

J.T. Greathouse is the BFA-nominated author of the Pact & Pattern trilogy. His short fiction has appeared, often as Jeremy A. TeGrotenhuis, in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Writers of the Future 34, Deep Magic, Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show, and elsewhere. In addition to writing, he has worked as an ESL teacher in Taipei, as a bookseller, and as a high school teacher. He currently lives in Spokane, Washington with his wife Hannah, two cats, and several overflowing bookshelves.

Reviews

[Alex Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly unputdownable. My first, and very worthy, 5* of 2026.

I was very apprehensive about The Tower of the Tyrant because it was the first epic fantasy book I received from Fairyloot, and I have a relatively low level of trust with their fantasy books.

I very much stand corrected.

The Tower of the Tyrant is a genuine, standalone, epic fantasy. It is magical, with fae and fiends, Gods and mysticism. There are warring kingdoms, treacherous plots to overthrown monarchy, and an exploration of the church vs. state. Woven into this, there are themes of found family, and love, which are all tied perfectly together in a multi-character POV narrative that at no point feels lost, confusing or dense.

If you're a fan of either the female-led and magical Blood Over Bright Haven, or the fantasy questing of The Witcher, then this is for you.

JT Greathouse is building a world that is engrossing, magical, and epic.

It does such a good job of portraying the best and worst of humanity, and that often ignorance, and the inherent values that we hold, are what blind us in the end.

A well-written, immersive fantasy that has the scope to become a huge, multi-faceted world in future books set within this universe.

This was a pleasant, and genuinely enjoyable read, and I feel I've started my reading exceptionally strong this year thanks to it.

5.0/5.0 - no notes

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy books that make you think and ponder and philosophise will always be something I’m drawn to.

Fola is a sorceress from the City of the Wise where no suffering or true death exists. She is travelling to further her research in the disappeared First Folk.
This leads her to investigate the death of a king in a cursed kingdom. To save the kingdom and Prince from a haunting and a looming invasion, Fola navigates political intrigue among the living and confront threats from both the living and the dead.

Without real suffering, could anyone know real comfort? Could mortalkind develop a real capacity to care for one another?

This isn’t centered on just Fola though, we also get her wonder and capacity for hope and compassion contrasted with Llewyn, a gwyddien, One Born of Trees, who carries the shadows with him, a power given in return for obedience to the Grey Lady.
When he rescues a young girl, he soon becomes a father figure to her and must reckon with danger, fear, and what makes a family.

I haven’t even mentioned the Mortal Church that is trying to rid the world of magic. Or the four-armed guard who escorts Fola, or Fola’s bird called Frog who carries her soul.

All demand justice, but when pressed, few can define it. Blood for blood, a life for a life? Pain returned in kind? But can we collect every drop of spilled blood in measuring cups, to ensure repayment in full, and no more? Have we some definite measure for pain, that we may return to the criminal only as much as he meted out? To say nothing of assigning guilt.

The intriguing cast of characters means that we can see varying outlooks on the world.
What happens when you have someone who has been sacrificed over and over for others collide with someone who comes from a place where obligation, power, money doesn’t exist?

The magic system is also interesting where belief fuels your power. Whilst the ramifications of this were only touched on, I am sure we will get more in future instalments.

There were so many quotes of wisdom, or ideas that will linger. That’s what I always enjoy about more challenging fantasy.

For the comfortable to be kind was simple. Far more challenging–far better–to find comfort among the wretched.

According to the author’s note, this series will consist of:
Standalone novels connected by setting and common themes, only loosely bound together by plot, and only occasionally (even accidentally) by character.

Whilst I did have a few questions left and felt cheated by a time jump to the epilogue, I did find it fairly satisfying.

Arc gifted by Orion.

Bookstagram
Tiktok

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A haunting grows from a tangle of twisted roots. The deepest reach into layers of a forgotten past, long overwritten by more useful stories, believed myth by all but those whose histories drip with pain and rage as they pass from elder's mouth to child's ear.
The shallowest reach into fresher soil, drawing from injustices still in living, mortal memory. Two pains - old and new - that feed one into the other until the tree sprouts and horror reigns.”

When the King of Parwys falls to his death from his castle tower, fear of a haunting grips the lands. Fola is a sorceress scholar, her home is the fabled City of the Wise, a place where starvation, disease and even death no longer exist. Yet Fola has left the City to travel the Wider World in search of much needed knowledge of the First Folk, beings whose magic could bring the City’s utopia to all the lands. Her search leads her to Parwys where ghosts and wraiths have wreaked havoc, a soon-to-be crowned prince is at his wits end and the Mortal Church offers salvation but at the cost of eradicating magic and seizing control. What Fola actually finds at Parwys is a young girl with extraordinary powers that may hold the key to everything or the destruction of all.

The Tower of the Tyrant by JT Greathouse is a dark fantasy standalone which masterfully fuses together sword and sorcery with philosophy and myth to create quite a special tale.

I have seen The Tower of the Tyrant compared to The Witcher, The Tainted Cup and Wheel of Time and though it may take base elements from each of these, Greathouse brilliantly crafts a unique mystery in its own right. This is a standalone that is rich and complex with an abundance of history, myth and religion at play. Is this an easy read? No, the opening is quite challenging as we are thrown into the middle of this world and I feel it takes time to get to grips with the magic systems, its many uses and the various magical beings included. We also slowly discover a war emerging between different factions, most notably between the Mortal Church and those who are non-human or can wield magic, but also between Parwys and its neighbouring lands who are on the brink of civil war. Once you get past the hundred page mark the story comes together, the sheer depth impressed me and I was entirely gripped. I did notice an influence of Welsh mythology and a nod to names of places in Wales throughout, which I found fascinating but I will say as I am not Welsh, I cannot tell how well or accurately they were portrayed. In short; this is a novel that takes many epic fantasy staples such as a war between magic and mortal but within its exploration delivers a story full of hidden depths, mythology and wonderfully complex characters.

“Benevolence is often a glamour cast over cruelty. What better justification for a singular evil than the greater good? What comfort is it to the wretched that their suffering serves some higher purpose?”

During the first few chapters, the most prominent character we meet is Fola, our sorceress, on a mission to study the souls of the undead. Fola is a pacifist and through her journey of the Wider World she has shown us that commerce and commodity, violence and hardship is not experienced within her City and so much of what she sees horrifies her. Though she can wield magic through her staff, paperspells and pen, she doesn’t use that advantage to kill others… well she tries her hardest not to until she really needs to. Her character is mostly driven by her scholarly pursuits to uncover the secrets of the First Folk and with that knowledge being able to make the world beyond the City’s walls a better place. That’s not to say Fola is completely selfless either as her pride also drives her to proving her discoveries right so she may see those who have scorned her along the way proved wrong. Fola and her four armed mercenary, Colm, have an interesting relationship throughout which I enjoyed seeing develop, but it is when her morality and beliefs were called into question and tested that I found Fola even more captivating because I thoroughly appreciated understanding her views. Of course I loved learning more about her abilities too and her rather useful familiar, Frog! (He’s not a frog though!)

There are many other characters and POVs in this novel, yet my favourites by far were Llewyn and Siwan whose father/daughter relationship was portrayed with so much heart and raw emotion. Greathouse cleverly gives us their backstory in a chapter that takes readers back to 1181 when Siwan was a child let down by the one person who should have protected her, and Llewyn becomes the father that she deserved, one who would protect her at all costs. The pair do have a strenuous relationship because of Llewyn’s protectiveness but knowing that his intentions were founded from his own childhood trauma and his need to give Siwan a safer life than he ever had, made their relationship all the more special and heartfelt. However, there were other reasons why these characters captured me and here I’ll give an honourable mention to Afanan, another fantastic sorceress who wielded magic through gem stones and had formed a family of magical beings into a traveling troupe which Llewyn and Siwan belonged to. The troupe put on historical plays which actually became a very significant element to the story and their preparation for performances and their easy banter with one another was such a nice light relief from the much darker story. This of course reveals that both Siwan and Llewyn are not human, which is undoubtedly another reason why I was drawn to them.

“History defines us. Memories, unearthed and patched together.
A story we tell about ourselves, about others, about the world. A forgotten moment, a fact denied, can twist that story away from truth - away from who we are, and who we could be, in the light of honesty.
But a moment remembered, a truth unearthed - even one hard and sharp with pain - can create wondrous possibilities. To make
amends.To be better.”

The overriding theme throughout Tower of the Tyrant was that every being deserves to live, no matter how “monstrous” they may appear. Greathouse explores this in some fantastic ways and as I often do with philosophical themes I loved being able to see different sides of the argument. The Mortal Church with their doctrine and their beliefs of superiority were master manipulators, skilled at bringing cities under their rule by eradicating magic and causing the genocide of magical beings. Though I disliked Torin’s character, he showed well the mindset each of their order have endorsed to believe they are the greater good, that they are saving mortal lives from being enthralled or destroyed by evil or supernatural forces. Which is believable when living in a world of fae, fiends, ghosts and wraiths, as you can kind of see the threat there. Nevertheless those on the side of every being deserves to live believed it was in lack of understanding, knowledge and ignorance that was the real threat. Another good point. Then Greathouse explored the theme of history being rewritten in such a remarkable way, illustrating the generational effect that had on the kingdom which ultimately led to a very explosive ending.

The Tower of the Tyrant is for those looking for an epic fantasy with some added depth, emotion and thought-provoking themes. It is an absolutely riveting read from a storyteller who knows his craft.

ARC provided by Harry at Gollancz in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy. All quotes used are taken from an early ARC and our subject to change upon publication.

The Tower of the Tyrant is not released until 6th November 2025

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

The Tower of the Tyrant is a dark epic fantasy standalone novel, written by J.T. Greathouse published by Gollancz. A brilliant and ambitious proposal that masterfully puts together elements from the sword and sorcery genre with more profound philosophical and political implications, all inside a rich and well-fleshed world; a fusion between the classic and the modern that results in a really intelligent novel that challenges the reader, inviting them to also lose themselves inside its pages.

Fola is a sorceress from the City of the Wise, a utopia where no suffering exists; she's travelling further across the world trying to learn more about the First Folk, which she thinks is the key to expand the utopia to other places. A search that brings her to the Kingdom of Parwys, a land that fears a haunting after the death of its King; saving Parwys from the haunting and the possible invasion of the Mortal Church, a faction that opposes the City of the Wise and that tries to bring the countries under its religion, Fola will need to navigate the political intrigue among the living and confront threats from many places.
The complexity will only grow as she crosses paths with the mysterious Siwan and her protective father Llewyn; Siwan's own nature looks to be implicated in the haunting, but that's not the only secret that everybody is keeping.

Greathouse develops the story through mainly three POVs. Firstly, we have the aforementioned Fola, a sorceress from the City of the Wise; a pacifist that is learning much about the world by experiencing those terrifying sensations that are not present in the City. She's mostly driven by her genuine scholar interest, trying to understand the First Folk magic in order to bring that utopia upon other parts of the world. She's protected by a four armed mercenary, Colm; their relationship is quite interesting to see as the reader, especially as we see Fola's struggles with him, trying to balance between the patronage and her feelings. An extremely well-fleshed character that also grows as we advance in her story.
The second main point of view follows Siwan and her adoptive father Llewyn; we even get to see the really emotive moment when he promised to protect her. The communication between both is a bit difficult due to how protective Llewyn, but the intentions were pure; it's a pair of characters whose relationship fondly reminds me of Ciri and Geralt. They are accompanied by a troupe that acts as a sort of found family for them, taking care of Siwan and loving her; while those secondaries are not as relevant, Greathouse imbued all of them of deep enough to stay with you after closing the book.
Finally, the third POV follows Thorin, an inquisitor from the Mortal Church, leading their efforts to gain power over Parwys; a stubborn man who acts with his faith at the center, trying to bring what he thinks is the correct path for a nation. While he acts as the villain, or more or less, you can even get why he's acting like that, and honestly, I appreciated how well portrayed he was by the author.
In general, Greathouse puts great care into developing the characters in this book, multifaceted pieces on the chessboard that Parwys has become.

The worldbuilding is excellent, a rich and vast world (and full of in-novel history, helping to make this novel feel as a singular moment in the vast timeline of the world) that serves as the scenario for our play; a Kingdom where multiple factions are trying to advance its agenda. With the initial premise, Greathouse takes the opportunity to explore philosophical notions such as how everything deserves to exist, independently of its appearance/nature, and the nature of history as a mutable thing that is constantly rewritten, many times hiding the truth behind lies that are used to enthrone a group; there's much to think after reading this novel. We could also say that the Mortal Church's approach is a great alegorism of how religion has been used to opress people against their own interests.
The pacing is excellent, as we are organically introduced to many of the small details of the world without ever breaking the immersion; I found myself devouring it in a few days, because you are always wanting to know more.

The Tower of the Tyrant is an excellent novel, a proposal that brilliantly mixes the epic and philosophical elements together to deliver a kind of unique mystery that encloses a bigger plot, all with deeply nuanced characters. J.T. Greathouse goes straight onto my auto-read list, and honestly, can't wait to read the next standalone set in this world.

[Ryan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to beta read this book and have since seen the final product. As it says right there at the top, I think J.T. Greathouse is a modern master of the genre, blending intelligent prose with classic epicness in a new and exciting way. My full blurb:

You can tell Greathouse is a master by looking at the sheer scope of this book. Few authors could weave a haunted nation, a wandering mage, a hot dude with four arms, a fiend-invested girl, and a tortured priest into a coherent story, let alone one so compelling. You'll be itching for the next puzzle-piece in the epic worldbuilding mystery, and applauding as it all comes together.

[★ alice ☆]

I tried and failed to reach the 100th page but knew from the first 3 chapters this book was not for me. The writing style is nice but heavy, which does a disservice to the narrative's already slow pace. Since it's a standalone novel, I admit I didn't feel like pushing through past the first few chapters once I saw how many pages it took just to describe simple actions.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tower of the Tyrant is a dark fantasy standalone mostly set in the haunted kingdom of Parwys. Before he is even crowned king, Prince Owyn is already tormented by the same wraiths that drove his father to take his own life. Fola, a magician and researcher studying the lost ancient First Folk, follows her investigations to Parwys to better understand the kingdom’s haunting. There she meets Llewyn, a fae-changed monster hunter, and his young ward who carries within her a strange confluence of powers unlike anything Fola has encountered before. Meanwhile, templar of the Mortal Church Torin sees an opportunity to influence a young king and purge Parwys of magic and the lingering influence of the First Folk. As these factions converge, Fola must decide how far she is willing to go to uncover the truth behind Parwys’s hauntings and the secrets buried in its past.

While I liked the book overall, I had a hard time fully connecting with it, and I can’t quite explain why. For much of the first half I felt like I was simply following the story rather than truly engaging with the characters. I suspect the biggest issue is that the novel tries to juggle too many ideas within the confines of a single standalone. Because of that, several plotlines and themes feel like they needed more space to breathe; with more room for development, many of the book’s elements could have landed even more strongly.

That said, the novel does contain several standout moments, particularly in the latter half. One quiet midpoint scene in which a wraith watches his family mourn him was genuinely moving and made me appreciate the book more than I had up to that point. Another highlight is the major reveal involving a conjured memory that exposes the root of the haunting; it perfectly captures the devastating emotional weight and spectacle the moment demands. The final quarter of the novel is especially strong: emotionally intense, fast-paced, and dramatically satisfying, with an ending that resolves the story well while revealing the outcome in a teasing, almost oblique way.

Fola, the primary protagonist within the ensemble cast, is likable, but I wanted more reasons to feel invested in her journey. I did enjoy her romance with her four-armed bodyguard, which added a fun and unexpected dynamic. Llewyn was another standout character, with a rich and painful history that informs the way he acts as a father figure to the ward he rescues. I’ll admit that Torin initially had me on guard because I’m rarely fond of religious zealots as antagonists, but he wasn’t quite as bad as I was anticipating. Finally, Crown Prince Owyn and his former best friend Ifan have a relationship with a lot of emotional potential, though I found myself wondering: are they meant to be read as romantic? The narrative seemed to hint in that direction without ever stating it outright, and I do wish it had.

The Tower of the Tyrant is a dark fantasy standalone that takes its time to build, but its haunting atmosphere and explosive final act ultimately deliver.

[ThatBookish_deviant · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

“Her intent, now, was only to escape the whirlpool of violence this place had become, not to save the kingdom from itself. That she would leave to other folk of the Greenwood who saw the sickness and fought for a cure. A fever of horrors to burn out the infection of brutal history, long denied and left to fester.”

[Stacey Markle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may have to try this again with the physical book. I feel like I lost the plot along the way and then just couldn't pick it back up to enjoy it.

[Henni (hshouldbereading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe the author has achieved something marvellous here! To write a fantasy standalone of epic proportions, with multiple POV characters that are conflicted and complicated in their own right while still being relatable and inspiring to the reader, to build a grand world with complicated politics, a deep and long history, and different layers of magics, and to put it all into one coherent story that enthrals the reader from the beginning, is certainly no small feat.

Some flee from ghosts. Others, by curiosity, or ambition, or an alchemy of the two, are drawn to them.
Fola was both.

We mainly follow Fola, a sorceress from The City of the Wise, on her quest to find wraiths to understand the mysterious First Folk better. Her academic pursuit is expertly interwoven with other POVs that slowly reveal the bigger picture: there is evil at work in this world and while some try to combat that evil, some may want to take advantage of it. The author explores themes of guilt, corruption, the unending pursuit of knowledge, the meaning of life, generosity and greed, found family and friends you make along the way in this grand and magical story. I especially liked the exploration of different kinds of druidic magic – something I have rarely seen in fantasy books lately!

A haunting grows from a tangle of twisted roots. The deepest reach into layers of a forgotten past, long overwritten by more useful stories, believed myth by all but those whose histories drip with pain and rage as they pass from elder’s mouth to child’s ear. The shallowest reach into fresher soil, drawing from injustices still in living, mortal memory. Two pains – old and new – that feed one into the other until the tree sprouts and horror reigns.

The writing is sophisticated and appropriate for the ambitious worldbuilding. I quite enjoyed reading this book, and I am left wanting to read more of this author and in this world. I certainly see some opportunities to explore this world and some of these characters further! I hope this book quickly grows into a modern fantasy classic and we can see more works from J. T. Greathouse.

My gratitude goes out to the Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley UK for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. This book was on my most-wanted reading list for 2025- having already preordered the Broken Binding special edition - so I’m beyond thrilled to have gotten early access!

[Joshua Strank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this book was incredible! From the magic system to the found family elements to the multi POVs all being connected together into this one story! The quest aspect was refreshing for me and I loved it a lot (I’m new to higher fantasy and i definitely think quests are my scene) I loved fola especially she’s definitely a standout character for me! Overall the books was filled with heart emotions and just some great characters and a world that i want more from ! Cannot wait to read more by this author and also more of this genre

[Vanessa Hermanns · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars — I LOVED this book. Like, genuinely, deeply, truly, loved it.

First of all: our FMC, Fola, is 46 years old. Forty. Six. And she is hands down one of the best female main characters I’ve ever read. Her depth, her history, her strength, her grief, her complexity, it all felt so real and so earned. I cannot overstate how refreshing it was to follow a heroine with this much lived experience behind her because she’s twice the age of the average FMC I’m normally reading about.

I picked this up completely on a whim (the Fairyloot edition was so gorgeous I couldn’t resist), and I am SO glad I did. This is the kind of story that sneaks up on you and then refuses to let go. The world-building is thicc without being overwhelming, the character development is exquisite, and the writing itself was phenomenal. Truly epic fantasy at its finest.

The epilogue made me cry like pms week. The emotional payoff was so well earned and so powerful that I know this is a story I’ll be thinking about for months.

If you love epic fantasy with incredible storytelling, expansive world-building, and characters going through the human experience, even though they aren’t really even human, do NOT sleep on this book. I’m telling you! Let’s cry together.

One of my favorite reads this year!

[Sarah Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. This was in short, fantastic. Whilst it is harder for standalones to immerse the reader in the world within the pages this book does so excellently, I absolutely loved the depth to the characters and the world building. The plot and the pacing were also very good, and I could not put the book down for the last third! Highly recommend this author to all fans of epic fantasy, this really has the feel of a classic in the making.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No pain inflicted on the world ever ends. It can be quieted. Smothered. But always an ember, a last breath, remains. In the hearts of those who remember. In the anguished spirits of the dead.”

Wow what a story. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around everything I just read.

In this epic fantasy, Greathouse grapples with the concept of justice, what it really means and for whom. I was enraptured with Fola and the characters in this book. I loved the diverse cast and the relationships forged between each one. The plot dragged at times, but each chapter felt earned and the contemplative thoughts of each character added to the story.

I wish this were a duology or trilogy as I’d love to return to this world and follow Fola and her friends through another adventure.

[Celia_natsu · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 - DNF at 40%

It just did not click. I could not get into the story, I did not felt involved with the characters. The pacing was sluggish, especially for a stand alone. The plot was still very blurry at 40%, and again for a stand alone I just did not expect that kind of pacing.
However the writing is very good. And the worldbuilding, if a bit ambitious (in my opinion) for a stand alone, was very well done. A nice vibe of the Witcher for the monsters part.
A miss for me unfortunately.

[fem – femsbookshelf(f) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this was good.

I loved the world and the concept of the story enough. It just took a while before it clicked? It’s a very slowburn sort of fantasy and I don’t think the characters were enough to sort of carry the story before things started exploding. It’s a solid standalone, but I feel like it could have used a bit more depth, a bit more action or a bit more character explorations.

[L'encre de la magie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25 ⭐

[Ryan Bartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

[Vidumavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

On paper, this book is everything I should enjoy. It's Epic Fantasy, a kingdom based on Arthuriana and the stakes these characters face are high. But for me it never clicked.

Maybe it was the pacing? Maybe I was in the wrong headspace. But the set up is long. Really long. As in, for me it felt like the story really started around like page 350, before that we were establishing world and introducing characters.

But the worldbuilding is great. It's the reason I stuck with it to the end. I love, love, love when myth and legend and reality are very different things. And here Greathouse made that distinction one of the main turning points. Myths change facts, and in this case, thats a big problem. The Mortal Church also made me truly angry (especially because Torin is a vile little man hiding behind religion) for its ignorance and the hate is spews because of it. It's truly relevant today.

The characters were a bit hit and miss. Suprisingly, the standout was Torin for how truly vile he was. Hate that man. Llewyn's POV's I enjoyed, mainly for hoe he was coming to term with what happened to him and how he projected that onto Siwan. And the gwyddien thing is just cool and I want to know more about that and the Grey Lady. Fola was the weakest POV character, even if she was the most 'central'. She's not terrible or anything, just a little flat.

And I truly, truly hope that final chapter makes her remember.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️
For an author who has previously written a trilogy I found brimming with an unexpected font of well written characters, interesting magic, and explosive plot this standalone novel was severely lacking in all of those categories. It felt like the author resented that he previously wrote a trilogy and took 3 books to capture what he believed he could do in a single entry. Unfortunately, he proved with Tower of the Tyrant that this was not the case. In trying to write a complete plot for this story the author sacrificed every other aspect that made his previous work so remarkable just to churn out this sophomoric slump of mediocrity. I believed JT Greathouse would be an auto buy author for me, but with this entry landing well short of the minimal effort I anticipate this won’t be the case moving forward.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting grows from a tangle of twisted roots. The deepest reach into layers of a forgotten past, long overwritten by more useful stories, believed myth by all but those whose histories drip with pain and rage as they pass from elder's mouth to child's ear.

I'm always in awe when an author manages to fit the scope of a multi-book saga into a single volume. The Tower of the Tyrant delivers everything I enjoy in epic fantasy: an adventurous quest, detailed world-building, and a diverse, intriguing magic system. I was excited to learn that the author plans to write more standalones in this universe, because I finished the book with countless questions and the desire to explore more of this world.

We follow several characters whose stories turn out to be connected in unexpected ways. The author does a brilliant job intertwining their arcs, and it was so fun to watch everything click into place by the end. It did take me a while to get into the story as we're dropped straight into it with very few explanations, and I needed time to find my footing. There are no large info-dumps, which I appreciated, but it does take some patience to get a handle on the various plot threads.

The main quest follows Fola, a sorceress from the utopian City of the Wise, whose journey leads her to the Kingdom of Parwys after hearing rumours of a haunting. It took me some time to warm up to Fola, and she's also the perfect example of what I struggled with most: while the characters are fascinating, I never quite connected with them on an emotional level. I enjoyed their storylines, but there were very few characters I truly cared about.

Fola's upbringing in Thaumedony, a city so utopian most believe it doesn't exist, gives her a worldview very different from the people she encounters. I did find her a bit naive at times, especially considering she had already been travelling outside the city for a while and should have adjusted more to life beyond the City of the Wise. There's a small romantic subplot with Colm, a four-armed mercenary. I would have loved to see more of Fola's familiar Frog, who mostly stays in the background.

"Benevolence is often a glamour cast over cruelty. What better justification for a singular evil than the greater good? What comfort is it to the wretched that their suffering serves some higher purpose?"

Thaumedony looms constantly over the story, mentioned so many times that I eventually found myself frustrated because I desperately wanted to see this legendary place for myself. I believe the next standalone book will be set there, but part of me thinks starting the series in Thaumedony might have worked better given how central it becomes. I'm really interested to learn more about the magic of the First Folk, the construction of the city, and the mysterious tree and birds that play such important roles.

J.T. Greathouse has created an impressively detailed world, and I can easily imagine many more novels set in its different corners. In The Tower of the Tyrant, we spent most of our time in the Kingdom of Parwys, a place with plenty to uncover! One of the POVs follows Owyn, who is about to be crowned king after his father commits suicide, apparently driven mad by vengeful ghosts.

The haunting itself is a thread that carries through the entire story. It's such an interesting element, connecting various character arcs and gradually revealing the darker parts of Parwys' history. The narrative also raises interesting historical and philosophical questions that added real depth to the story.

He wasted so much time in pointless arguments with the foolish and ill informed who nonetheless thought their perspective as valuable and needed as those of folk who bloody well knew their business.

Another perspective follows Llewyn and the Silver Lake Troupe. While I wasn't overly invested in Llewyn's story, I loved the found-family dynamic of the troupe and the care they show for Siwan, who becomes a key figure in the story. The "father/daughter" dynamic between Llewyn and Siwan is particularly well done, and I fully understood her frustration over his overprotectiveness. I would have loved even more time with the troupe, especially Afanan, who was such an intriguing character that I'd happily read an entire story about her.

Llewyn is a gwyddien, which seems to tie Welsh mythology into the book in a way I really enjoyed. The storyline involving the Grey Lady was interesting and demonstrates how many mythologies and beings come together in this world: the fae, fiends, the First Folk, and more. I constantly found myself wanting to learn more.

Torin, an anakriarch of the Mortal Church, brings yet another worldview into the story. His religion is on a crusade against anything considered pagan. His POV was the one I struggled with most as he is an incredibly unlikeable antagonist. But credit where it's due: the author portrays him and his beliefs exceptionally well. It's fascinating and unsettling to see how Torin justifies every action through his faith. His chapters add a complex layer of religious conflict to the book.

Choices ripple outwards - even made in ignorance, or with little thought beyond instinct in the whirling tumult of battle. They shape moments, lives, histories. All we can do is make an honest accounting of them after the fact, and try to learn from that honesty.

The chapter headers, drawn from letters, religious texts, and other documents, add even more depth to the world-building. I adore complex world-building, so this was right up my alley. The magic system is just as compelling, full of different traditions and abilities that make the world feel alive. There are many unanswered questions by the end, but that felt intentional.

It took me a while to fully get into the story, and the beginning felt a bit slow, which can happen with such a large cast. I also wasn't a huge fan of the ending. The final scene was fantastic, but the lead-up felt rushed, and I would have liked a more detailed ending before saying goodbye to these characters.

In the end, Tower of the Tyrant impressed me on many fronts. I didn't expect the story to be quite this complex. The historical, political, and religious layers make it stand out, and the world-building and magic system are equally impressive. The pacing at the beginning could have been smoother and I struggled at times to connect with the characters, but I still had a wonderful time with the book. I love when a story makes you think and invites you to question things. A strong recommendation for anyone who enjoys rich, epic fantasy.

The wider world held its fair share of darkness, but that only made what lights there were shine all the brighter. Llewyn had sacrificed everything for a child whose own father would have traded her away. For the comfortable to be kind was simple. Far more challenging - far better - to find comfort among the wretched.

⇢ 4,5 stars

[Nick Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Orion Publishing Group - Gollancz for the opportunity to read this ARC

“The Tower of the Tyrant” beautifully incorporates Welsh references and language, adding a rich cultural layer to the narrative which you don’t often see. As a Welsh person, I greatly appreciated seeing my country represented and loved picking up on the subtle nods.

The magic system is particularly impressive, showcasing Greathouse’s creativity and attention to detail. However, the novel’s multiple points of view can be a bit overwhelming, and some readers might find the plot lacking a solid direction.

I would have liked to have seen the magic system explored a bit more, it had its moments but I don’t feel it was used to its full potential.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the book offers an engaging and immersive experience. The stand out star is the animal companion, and I would love further stories exploring these creatures and where they come from.

[Riley Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tower of the Tyrant delivers an epic, immersive fantasy that leans hard into what the genre does best: expansive world-building, layered magic systems, and morally complicated power struggles. From the outset, I was pulled into a world teeming with fae and fiends, meddling gods, and a deep current of mysticism that permeates every choice and consequence.

What really stood out to me was the treacherous, slow-burn plot to overthrow the kingdom. Nothing feels simple or clean—alliances are fragile, motivations are murky, and every move carries political weight. The book’s exploration of church versus state, governance, and competing philosophies adds real intellectual depth, grounding the magic and mythology in very human questions about power, belief, and control.

The portrayal of humanity is especially sharp: noble and self-sacrificing one moment, cruel and self-serving the next. It’s an unflinching look at people at both their best and their worst, which gives the story emotional gravity beyond the swords and spells.

While the pacing occasionally slows and some threads could have been tightened, the scope, ambition, and thematic richness more than make up for it. This is a fantasy that rewards readers who love complex worlds, philosophical undercurrents, and morally gray storytelling—and it left me eager to see where the story climbs next.

[Kat in Stacks · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Arc Book, with no spoilers**

First off, thank you Edelweiss and J.T.Greathouse for letting me read this novel prior to publication.

Overall, the book is a very well done entry into the world of Fantasy, however; the multiple POV's was just not my cup of tea and made me enjoy the novel less at parts. The lore and world building was fantastic and felt like a genuine fantasy novel I read.

My biggest issue would have to be the multiple POV's throughout the novel, while some I enjoyed ( Llewyn was by far the best POV in the whole story) while others ( the individual from the mortal church and at times Fola's POV) felt flat and could have easily been reduced in chapters or skipped altogether.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tower of the Tyrant is a solid and immersive fantasy read, with sharp worldbuilding and multiple POVs. The story follows a sorceress on a journey to uncover the secrets of the First Folk, weaving together magic, politics and layered character dynamics along the way. Overall, I enjoyed it, though the pacing dragged a bit at times. But If you like layered intrigue, morally gray choices, and a story that takes its time to build tension, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

[Meg V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great worldbuilding and the different POVs really worked well to show the conflicts in the story. The ending felt good, but also somehow unsatisfying because of how things played out for everyone.

[Beatrix Brückner · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the world building, but nothing else really

[Mubanga Jumbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good epic fantasy but sometimes I do struggle to get into them but THIS ONE?!?!!! I was hooked from the start, I even forgot I was reading!! It’s so nostalgic and very reminiscent of the old folktales everyone has grown up with!!

[Jinny · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐2.5 stars⭐

I received this book in my Fairyloot Epic Fantasy subscription. It's a standalone novel and I was very excited to dig into a sweeping tale set in a vast world. After reading this, however, I think this book wasn't for me. It wasn't a bad book, but neither do I think it was a good book.

The Tower of the Tyrant has 3rd person POVs from a variety of characters, but mainly the sorceress Fola, a gwyddion/fae (maybe I spelled that wrong) named Llweyn , and a fanatical templar named Thorin. This is one of those stories where all the characters have different goals and plotlines, but they all eventually converge in the end. The main thing is, though, that Fola is investigating a mysterious haunting in the kingdom of Parwys. At its center seems to be this young girl named Siwan, who is the adopted daughter/ward of Llweyn.

I think the story was just too slow for me. Very slow. I felt like I read a thousand pages (but this book is not a thousand pages; my copy is 571 pages). Characters' thoughts and feelings were often explained and elaborated on, sometimes repeatedly, and I feel like that ate up a lot of the word count. Because of that, I also felt like the book was holding my hand, walking me through all the characters' motivations behind their every action, and I wish the book just trusted me, the reader, to do some of that dot-connecting on my own.

If written in a different style, perhaps I would have clicked with the book better. It is by no means a bad book. I think the story is well thought out and the characters were unique and interesting. The writing was beautiful too. I just could not get over how incredibly slow it was. I would often take a break of one or two days, before picking it up again.

Be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint. It's not a page turner.

[laura ᥫ᭡。]

"for those who loved the mystery of The Tainted Cup" i'm sat.