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Lands of the Firstborn #3
The Sword Triumphant
Gareth Hanrahan's acclaimed epic fantasy series of dark myth, daring warriors and bloodthirsty vengeance concludes with The Sword Triumphant.
"Tell the Lammergeier that Blaise has need of him for one last service. Tell him to bring his sword."
In his youth, Aelfric slew the Dark Lord and saved the world, only to find out, many years later that his heroic deeds had served only to preserve the corrupt rule of the Erlking. As keeper of the dread sword Spellbreaker, Aelfric was drawn into a desperate rebellion against the immortal elf who had been secretly manipulating humanity since the dawn of time.
When it was done, he left the sword and the title of hero behind and went home. His tale should have been over.
Decades have passed. But when a figure from his past brings a cryptic message from one of the Nine, it seems the Lammergier is needed again. Does the old hero have one last quest left in him? Can his broken sword be reforged - and at what cost?
"A powerful epic fantasy finale." ― Library Journal
Praise for the Lands of the Firstborn
"A treat for all fantasy fans . . . . It’s an absolute blast.” ― Justin Lee Anderson, author of The Lost War
"In the tradition of Tolkien and Eddings, with a richly detailed narrative, well-drawn characters, epic battles, and political and religious intrigues, Hanrahan's outstanding first outing in the Lands of the Firstborn series will thrill fantasy readers—who will anxiously await the next book." ― Booklist (starred review)
"This novel has the potential to become a fan-favorite among those who appreciate vast and eloquent epic fantasy. Readers will enjoy the unique twists, absorbing intrigue, and endearing characters." ― Library Journal
"I will buy any novel that Gareth Hanrahan ever writes." ― The Fantasy Inn
For more from Gareth Hanrahan, check
Lands of the Firstborn
The Sword Defiant
The Sword Unbound
The Sword Triumphant
The Black Iron Legacy
The Gutter Prayer
The Shadow Saint
The Broken God
"Tell the Lammergeier that Blaise has need of him for one last service. Tell him to bring his sword."
In his youth, Aelfric slew the Dark Lord and saved the world, only to find out, many years later that his heroic deeds had served only to preserve the corrupt rule of the Erlking. As keeper of the dread sword Spellbreaker, Aelfric was drawn into a desperate rebellion against the immortal elf who had been secretly manipulating humanity since the dawn of time.
When it was done, he left the sword and the title of hero behind and went home. His tale should have been over.
Decades have passed. But when a figure from his past brings a cryptic message from one of the Nine, it seems the Lammergier is needed again. Does the old hero have one last quest left in him? Can his broken sword be reforged - and at what cost?
"A powerful epic fantasy finale." ― Library Journal
Praise for the Lands of the Firstborn
"A treat for all fantasy fans . . . . It’s an absolute blast.” ― Justin Lee Anderson, author of The Lost War
"In the tradition of Tolkien and Eddings, with a richly detailed narrative, well-drawn characters, epic battles, and political and religious intrigues, Hanrahan's outstanding first outing in the Lands of the Firstborn series will thrill fantasy readers—who will anxiously await the next book." ― Booklist (starred review)
"This novel has the potential to become a fan-favorite among those who appreciate vast and eloquent epic fantasy. Readers will enjoy the unique twists, absorbing intrigue, and endearing characters." ― Library Journal
"I will buy any novel that Gareth Hanrahan ever writes." ― The Fantasy Inn
For more from Gareth Hanrahan, check
Lands of the Firstborn
The Sword Defiant
The Sword Unbound
The Sword Triumphant
The Black Iron Legacy
The Gutter Prayer
The Shadow Saint
The Broken God
556 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2025
39 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 16, 2026
My favourite out of the three, simply brilliant!! The second one was a little rough, so I was expecting this one to be more in line with the first, but it blew that one out of the water too.
My eyes were glued to every page, particularly in the first third which was the most captivating. There's just something about an aging hero living his daily life, dealing with bad knees, before getting summoned for one final quest.
The pacing was perfect, and so was the addition of a few new faces that fit right in with the old ones. I loved them all, and wouldn't mind a spinoff in the future.
The way the plot was wrapped up was immensely satisfying, even if the ending itself wasn't exactly "happy", but I feel very content (I say, as I'm holding back tears).
And I absolutely lovedddd that our beloved got own PoV, we really needed that, you don't even know how much.
I know I got a few people to pick this up, but now I need even more of you to give this series a chance!!! It's worth it, I promise.
My eyes were glued to every page, particularly in the first third which was the most captivating. There's just something about an aging hero living his daily life, dealing with bad knees, before getting summoned for one final quest.
The pacing was perfect, and so was the addition of a few new faces that fit right in with the old ones. I loved them all, and wouldn't mind a spinoff in the future.
The way the plot was wrapped up was immensely satisfying, even if the ending itself wasn't exactly "happy", but I feel very content (I say, as I'm holding back tears).
And I absolutely lovedddd that our beloved got own PoV, we really needed that, you don't even know how much.
I know I got a few people to pick this up, but now I need even more of you to give this series a chance!!! It's worth it, I promise.
June 14, 2025
Felt my knees not being as young as they once were often reading "The Sword Triumphant" by Gareth Hanrahan. This concludes the Firstborn Trilogy and it is a damn fine conclusion.
Slaying Lord Bone with the Nine saved the world, for a bit at least. But the world keeps going. 20 years after that Aelfric shattered the magic of the Erlking and broke his hold on humanity. Leaving Spellbreaker behind. 20 years after that "just Alf" is getting by, minding the farm while his sister tries to heal the land and train others with the Earthpower. At least until a vampire with the message "Tell the Lammergeier that Blaise has need of him for one last service. Tell him to bring his sword." And so it must end.
Reasons to read:
-Tired people haunted by past deeds forced to deal with the youths who don't know how it really is
-A POV I was not expecting
-Stories having a habit of getting away from their subject
-Things coming to a close
-Just a fantastic world and machinations
Cons:
-My knees
Slaying Lord Bone with the Nine saved the world, for a bit at least. But the world keeps going. 20 years after that Aelfric shattered the magic of the Erlking and broke his hold on humanity. Leaving Spellbreaker behind. 20 years after that "just Alf" is getting by, minding the farm while his sister tries to heal the land and train others with the Earthpower. At least until a vampire with the message "Tell the Lammergeier that Blaise has need of him for one last service. Tell him to bring his sword." And so it must end.
Reasons to read:
-Tired people haunted by past deeds forced to deal with the youths who don't know how it really is
-A POV I was not expecting
-Stories having a habit of getting away from their subject
-Things coming to a close
-Just a fantastic world and machinations
Cons:
-My knees
September 1, 2025
Ow. Ow. Ow. I'll take you last of all, Aelfric Lammergeier.
A beautiful book, a painful ending, time's wheel continuing on and the tale outliving its heroes. May the Nine be remembered forever as they were, young and strong and friends forged on the Road to vanquish darkness.
The ending of this book, story slipping into tale and into saga and the narration shifting to match, was so heartrending I almost forgot about sword divorce court in the first third of the story that had me in stitches.
A beautiful book, a painful ending, time's wheel continuing on and the tale outliving its heroes. May the Nine be remembered forever as they were, young and strong and friends forged on the Road to vanquish darkness.
The ending of this book, story slipping into tale and into saga and the narration shifting to match, was so heartrending I almost forgot about sword divorce court in the first third of the story that had me in stitches.
September 4, 2025
This is a fantastic ending to a great trilogy. I liked how the story started off quite intimately before opening up. It felt like the best bits from the previous books which lead to a satisfying ending.
Alf and the sword are brilliant characters, and it was nice to have a hero feeling their age. The different POV chapters were also well done. The world building as always was amazing. The musing on stories and how they change/are used was also very interesting.
I'm very excited to see what Gareth does next (although all I really want is the next Black Iron Legacy book!)
Alf and the sword are brilliant characters, and it was nice to have a hero feeling their age. The different POV chapters were also well done. The world building as always was amazing. The musing on stories and how they change/are used was also very interesting.
I'm very excited to see what Gareth does next (although all I really want is the next Black Iron Legacy book!)
April 14, 2025
Oh so bittersweet, but worth it!
I just finished The Sword Triumphant and… I'm in turmoil. Gareth Hanrahan has done it again. This trilogy (Lands of the Firstborn) proves just that.
This third book is an amazing and rich conclusion to a series that started strong with The Sword Defiant, followed by The Sword Unbound. Our reluctant hero and friend Aelfric, once upon a time saved the world and killed the big bad - but that was decades ago. He is now called back into this turmoil as one last "hoorah", giving us the satisfactory ending we needed.
The world building by Hanrahan is very immersive, I felt as if I was tagging along and making my own observations as we proceeded. The story has all the strange creatures, dark magic and a (back)talking sword.. with might I say, slight attitude problem.
If you’ve been on this journey since The Sword Defiant, I think you’ll find this finale incredibly satisfying. If you haven’t started this adventure yet, give it a try! I actually re-read the first two and have to update my Goodreads on those two.. but had to let you all know how amazing this journey was!
Hanrahan gave me everything I desire in my literary adventures and I've ordered his other trilogy - starting with Gutter Prayer in the Black Iron Legacy Trilogy as well!
Thank you to Netgalley, Gareth Hanrahan and Orbit Books for this bitter yet sweet conclusion to my adventure!
I just finished The Sword Triumphant and… I'm in turmoil. Gareth Hanrahan has done it again. This trilogy (Lands of the Firstborn) proves just that.
This third book is an amazing and rich conclusion to a series that started strong with The Sword Defiant, followed by The Sword Unbound. Our reluctant hero and friend Aelfric, once upon a time saved the world and killed the big bad - but that was decades ago. He is now called back into this turmoil as one last "hoorah", giving us the satisfactory ending we needed.
The world building by Hanrahan is very immersive, I felt as if I was tagging along and making my own observations as we proceeded. The story has all the strange creatures, dark magic and a (back)talking sword.. with might I say, slight attitude problem.
If you’ve been on this journey since The Sword Defiant, I think you’ll find this finale incredibly satisfying. If you haven’t started this adventure yet, give it a try! I actually re-read the first two and have to update my Goodreads on those two.. but had to let you all know how amazing this journey was!
Hanrahan gave me everything I desire in my literary adventures and I've ordered his other trilogy - starting with Gutter Prayer in the Black Iron Legacy Trilogy as well!
Thank you to Netgalley, Gareth Hanrahan and Orbit Books for this bitter yet sweet conclusion to my adventure!
June 6, 2025
This will be something of a review of the trilogy. In short: it's fantastic.
This final volume does a great job of giving us closure on the range of thread and characters we've met over the series. Which is no mean feat, the second book struggled a little under the weight of its plotting but this final volume deftly picks each up and brings it home.
I love how the series plays with and subverts the tropes of fantasy roleplay but is much much more than just that. I think what I adore most is the characters and their relationships, in particular between Alf and the sword but tbh between almost every character.
If you enjoy epic fantasy fiction this is a must-read. I think this final volume is perhaps the best in the trilogy but they're all good (even if the second has a little too much going on in places).
Gar remains a must buy author for me.
This final volume does a great job of giving us closure on the range of thread and characters we've met over the series. Which is no mean feat, the second book struggled a little under the weight of its plotting but this final volume deftly picks each up and brings it home.
I love how the series plays with and subverts the tropes of fantasy roleplay but is much much more than just that. I think what I adore most is the characters and their relationships, in particular between Alf and the sword but tbh between almost every character.
If you enjoy epic fantasy fiction this is a must-read. I think this final volume is perhaps the best in the trilogy but they're all good (even if the second has a little too much going on in places).
Gar remains a must buy author for me.
July 31, 2025
Hanrahan once again proves why he's one of my absolute favourite authors. Nobody creates fantasy worlds like him, plus he has mastered the very difficult skill of answering mysteries in a way that is equally or more compelling than the mystery itself.
In this one, as with the previous two in the series, we get treated to fresh spins on old cliches, mixed with incredibly cool original ideas, stirred together in a story I never wanted to put down.
Based on the blurb I believe this is the last book of the series - though there are certainly a few threads that can still be spun off I would say. Regardless, whether it's another Firstborn story, or something new (or even a return to the Black Iron Legacy setting?) I eagerly await Hanrahan's next book.
In this one, as with the previous two in the series, we get treated to fresh spins on old cliches, mixed with incredibly cool original ideas, stirred together in a story I never wanted to put down.
Based on the blurb I believe this is the last book of the series - though there are certainly a few threads that can still be spun off I would say. Regardless, whether it's another Firstborn story, or something new (or even a return to the Black Iron Legacy setting?) I eagerly await Hanrahan's next book.
December 13, 2025
This was a good conclusion to a great series about aging adventurers who have to save the world again and again and again, about familial ties, about what we owe the dead and the living.
May 7, 2025
A phenomenal ending to an epic series!
Many years after their last battle, Alf and Olva are much older and enjoying their quiet lives. But, nothing lasts forever.
Alf receives a message from Blaise asking for his help and to bring the Sword.
He thought Blaise was dead. Even if it's a trick, he has to go. For the Nine.
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and now it moves to one of my favorites of the year.
I loved being back in this world with these characters. Alf, Olva, Spellbreaker. I also liked a lot of the new additions. Cerlyse, Perdia and Jon.
I loved this book! If you read fantasy, please read this series. It is very underrated in my opinion.
Thank you to Net Galley and Orbit for an early copy.
Many years after their last battle, Alf and Olva are much older and enjoying their quiet lives. But, nothing lasts forever.
Alf receives a message from Blaise asking for his help and to bring the Sword.
He thought Blaise was dead. Even if it's a trick, he has to go. For the Nine.
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and now it moves to one of my favorites of the year.
I loved being back in this world with these characters. Alf, Olva, Spellbreaker. I also liked a lot of the new additions. Cerlyse, Perdia and Jon.
I loved this book! If you read fantasy, please read this series. It is very underrated in my opinion.
Thank you to Net Galley and Orbit for an early copy.
June 5, 2025
One of the best endings to a trilogy I’ve ever read…. What a read.
August 1, 2025
underrated
This whole series is underrated and under read. Great writing, great story and a solid ending. Four more words required.
This whole series is underrated and under read. Great writing, great story and a solid ending. Four more words required.
September 21, 2025
Few authors have left such an impression on me across so short a span of books. Hanrahan's love for Tolkien is fiercely authentic, and bleeds freely across the page. This work never once struck me as a copycat or an attempt to ride coattails, but as glorious homage to an artist who emboldened and inspired us all.
Hanrahan wields his own voice. He painstakingly sculpts his own beauty. He mercilessly belts his own horrors. His characters are strong and storied, living legends written in bold, chasing their own noble echoes in circles and circles. Grit and resignation war with light and hope for the future, and the stakes are felt from the loftiest star-cradled elf tower to the most backwater farming village.
I can't sing praises high enough for this trilogy. My only possible complaint would be with his editing team. There were quite a number of misspellings scattered throughout these works, but overall they were definitely worth enduring!
Hanrahan wields his own voice. He painstakingly sculpts his own beauty. He mercilessly belts his own horrors. His characters are strong and storied, living legends written in bold, chasing their own noble echoes in circles and circles. Grit and resignation war with light and hope for the future, and the stakes are felt from the loftiest star-cradled elf tower to the most backwater farming village.
I can't sing praises high enough for this trilogy. My only possible complaint would be with his editing team. There were quite a number of misspellings scattered throughout these works, but overall they were definitely worth enduring!
November 22, 2025
Great end to the trilogy. One of the best series I have read!
September 1, 2025
It is often hard to say that a third book in a series is better than the first two… but this was my favorite of all three! It was an incredible mix of new and old characters, all with one final quest to save the world again. There were so many twists and turns that kept me wanting to turn the page! This trilogy is one that I would no doubt read again in the future!!!! Thanks to the author Gareth Hanrahan for creating such an incredible world to dive into through reading!
August 24, 2025
A worthy end to a fantastic trilogy, this book manages to wrap up the tale of the Nine in epic fashion.
I love Hanrahan’s depiction of Alf and Olva in their older years, and his imagination in talking the tale to places and events I’m certain very few will have anticipated, while still managing to hit all the right notes on the finale of a fantasy trilogy.
I love Hanrahan’s depiction of Alf and Olva in their older years, and his imagination in talking the tale to places and events I’m certain very few will have anticipated, while still managing to hit all the right notes on the finale of a fantasy trilogy.
June 2, 2025
She should say no. She should send those foolish children back to bed. Tell Cerlys to put aside her borrowed armour, tell her that nothing but sorrow and suffering awaited her down the Road. And to drag poor, simple Jon with her? It was utterly foolish. But even if she told them not to go, they’d go. She could see it in their faces – that stupid, stupid courage. That misplaced conviction that they were the special ones, the lucky ones who could outrun fate. She’d seen it in Derwyn, even though the only destinies that had been woven for him were the machinations of Intercessors and the deceits of wizards. There was no destiny, no grand plan, just contested visions. Even Death could admit she was wrong, sometimes.
Absolutely amazing conclusion to one of the best trilogies I've ever read. This series is incredible. If you're a fan of gritty, grimdark, fantasy then you have to read this series.
For people who read the first two and may have thought it was over like I did, well, congratulations because your dream for more just came true.
Absolutely amazing conclusion to one of the best trilogies I've ever read. This series is incredible. If you're a fan of gritty, grimdark, fantasy then you have to read this series.
For people who read the first two and may have thought it was over like I did, well, congratulations because your dream for more just came true.
March 8, 2025
Gareth, you made me cry. What a wonderful end to a wonderful series. Full review to come Kaiju & Gnome in May.
January 8, 2026
Finally a trilogy with a good ending again! After the disappointing endings of the Founders trilogy and the Library trilogy, reading a trilogy with a satisfying ending was a relief. Some open questions remain, like what will happen with Death and what happened to Lath? But overall all the storylines were tied up nicely I felt.
Introducing a whole new set of characters in the third book in a trilogy is a risky choice, but Hanrahan pulls it off. I did find myself caring about these characters. It did help that all the characters either at least had already been mentioned in previous books (Ceremos) or had a strong connection to either Alf or Olva or both (Jon, Perdia and Cerlys), giving me a reason to care about them. With this new party Alf and Olva set down the Road once again. Spellbreaker too, gets some viewpoint chapters in this book (which I don't think he had in previous books?), making clear that he really is a main character in his own right. I loved all the Alf and Spellbreaker scenes, Spellbreaker is so wonderfully sarcastic in everything he says and does. And did I detect a reference to Warbreaker in there somewhere?
I really had hoped that we would get more of the Nine in this book, but as in previous books the deeds of the Nine remain in legend and flashbacks. Laerlyn does join Alf on the Road though, which did give Alf more opportunity to reminisce. In the end I think it is good that we did not get a full resurrection of the Nine and to be fair to the book, the Nine did actually play a pivotal role at the end of the book, giving Laerlyn the strength to do what she had to do.
The central question this whole trilogy tries to answer is "What does it mean to be a hero?". Using different characters to give different perspectives on the answer to this question. In this book for example Idmaer thinks he is a hero, chosen by prophecy to save the world, but committing atrocities across the land to accomplish that. Also it is other people that keep insisting Alf is a hero, but he frequently makes the wrong choice and often only pulls through due to sheer luck (or help from Spellbreaker). It is really quite interesting how hard this series keeps insisting that there are no heroes, that it is all just stories and legends. But at the same time our main characters really do pull off some heroic unlikely deeds. The stories just never tell it exactly as it happened.
This trilogy takes heavy inspiration from Lord of the Rings, but manages to both pay homage to it, as well as criticize its idealised version of heroes. I think I prefer the lotr version though, we need un-ironic tales about heroes, we need to be able to believe that we can be better, that there is still good in this world (Mr. Frodo) and it is worth fighting for.
Introducing a whole new set of characters in the third book in a trilogy is a risky choice, but Hanrahan pulls it off. I did find myself caring about these characters. It did help that all the characters either at least had already been mentioned in previous books (Ceremos) or had a strong connection to either Alf or Olva or both (Jon, Perdia and Cerlys), giving me a reason to care about them. With this new party Alf and Olva set down the Road once again. Spellbreaker too, gets some viewpoint chapters in this book (which I don't think he had in previous books?), making clear that he really is a main character in his own right. I loved all the Alf and Spellbreaker scenes, Spellbreaker is so wonderfully sarcastic in everything he says and does. And did I detect a reference to Warbreaker in there somewhere?
I really had hoped that we would get more of the Nine in this book, but as in previous books the deeds of the Nine remain in legend and flashbacks. Laerlyn does join Alf on the Road though, which did give Alf more opportunity to reminisce. In the end I think it is good that we did not get a full resurrection of the Nine and to be fair to the book, the Nine did actually play a pivotal role at the end of the book, giving Laerlyn the strength to do what she had to do.
The central question this whole trilogy tries to answer is "What does it mean to be a hero?". Using different characters to give different perspectives on the answer to this question. In this book for example Idmaer thinks he is a hero, chosen by prophecy to save the world, but committing atrocities across the land to accomplish that. Also it is other people that keep insisting Alf is a hero, but he frequently makes the wrong choice and often only pulls through due to sheer luck (or help from Spellbreaker). It is really quite interesting how hard this series keeps insisting that there are no heroes, that it is all just stories and legends. But at the same time our main characters really do pull off some heroic unlikely deeds. The stories just never tell it exactly as it happened.
This trilogy takes heavy inspiration from Lord of the Rings, but manages to both pay homage to it, as well as criticize its idealised version of heroes. I think I prefer the lotr version though, we need un-ironic tales about heroes, we need to be able to believe that we can be better, that there is still good in this world (Mr. Frodo) and it is worth fighting for.
July 12, 2025
I loved it! I worried that it was going to be close to impossible to get an ending worthy of such a magnificent adventure story, but it finished off brilliantly!
All 3 books in this series are definitely in my Reread pile!
All 3 books in this series are definitely in my Reread pile!
September 11, 2025
What a journey and a pleasure to go through this trilogy. A story about nostalgia and how it can blind you to the truth of the world around you if you let it. Wonderfully written. I hope this world gets revisited in a sequel or prequel setting.
September 24, 2025
Incredible ending to an incredible story. How this series is not more well known is beyond me. I’m utterly heartbroken to leave these characters now that the series is over, especially Aelfric and Spellbreaker.
July 26, 2025
Very well done conclusion of the series. And the ending(s)? Hats off to Mr. Ryder-Hanrahan, hats off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2025
Go*-da*n this series was good
May 10, 2025
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley.
Score: 3.25/5 (rounded to 3/5)
Since this is an ARC, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
Read this review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions
Gareth Hanrahan’s gritty dark fantasy trilogy, Lands of the Firstborn ends with The Sword Triumphant — a harrowing tale of the trickery of prophecy, the cyclic pointlessness of mortal violence, and the struggle of even the strongest few against the might of fate itself.
I reviewed the previous entry The Sword Unbound, praising it for its unique reworking of the classic Tolkenian fantasy tropes, without forsaking its epic fantasy roots and diving headfirst into low-magic grimdark territory. However, my criticisms of the second entry outweighed that praise. My complaints centered around the over-reliance on trope inversion at the cost of rewarding storytelling, muddy uneven pacing, and a plot that said a lot without doing much to create a cohesive and progressively enjoyable experience.
A twenty-year time jump sees a tired and jaded ( more so than usual) Alfric “Alf”, the dreaded Lammergeier, adopting the easier life after disposing of the titular sword, SpellBreaker, at the end of The Sword Unbound. Along with his sister, Olva Forster, the Widow Queen, they retire to their village, hoping to leave saving the world to other folk, other heroes.
There is no rest for heroes in this world, the wicked, or the wretched. And we have all three in our favored protagonists, so back into the trenches we go.
A new mortal threat rises in the realm of Summerswell, and the witch-elf Skerrise rules the epicenter of dark magic, Necrad, emerging as a tyrant to rival the now-defeated Lord Bone, proving yet again, that evil is never truly ended, and conflict is the nature of life itself. While the mystical Creator Overbeing, the dreaded Erkling, continues to manipulate the events of the Firstborn and the Secondborn from the shadows. It was surprisingly disappointing that, having three antagonists, including two immortal demigods, The Sword Triumphant still lacked the mounting dread of great dark fantasy.
Hanrahan’s tradition of strong side-character development continues in this entry. The Samwise-insert hapless-loyal-oaf-drawn-into-bigger-things Jon, shrewd Cerlys, wanting to prove herself and earn renown to rival the fabled stories of the Nine, the vampire witch-elf Ceremos, his fate entwined with Alf, for better or worse, and Olva’s shapeshifting protege, Perdia, round out our merry gang. In these side-characters, Hanrahan (un)subtly sets up hints of the emergence of a “Nine”, a group of new heroes to fight future evil, thereby reinforcing his core tenet of the cyclic nature of good and evil.
Sadly, as much as I enjoyed the side-characters, our main protagonists, Alf and Olva, are found sorely wanting. Their current iteration dives so deep into self-loathing introspection and endless sighing that it draws most of their chapters and set-pieces to a trudging crawl. The most aggravating parts of this entire series, and criminally overdone in this finale, was taking away from impactful action sequences, grizzly battles, nefarious magic, and other aspects that draw us dark fantasy fans into a book, by resorting instead to the wool-gathering of either Alf or Olva, as they muse (again and again) over the pointlessness of war. While this bleak outlook is a cornerstone of grimdark, other storytellers prefer to evoke that pointlessness via their action set pieces and their grim atmosphere, rather than having their sullen, wrinkled protagonists whine about it constantly. The sword, SpellBreaker, a character unto itself, the indestructible demon-blade to end gods, grows from having a petulant teen in Unbound to a cranky, arrogant, blowhard adolescent in Triumphant.
While The Sword Triumphant corrects some of the wrongs in Unbound and Defiant, many overarching critiques persisted through the series finale. As with the first two books, Triumphant feels more than a smidge too overwrought, self-important, and something that “insists upon itself”. Hanrahan was quite heavy-handed with his messaging, beating us over the head with his central thesis rather than allowing readers to distill his themes through more subtle messaging.
Heavy-handed prose, subdued plot climaxes, thematic sledgehammering, churned through uneven pacing, and paler versions of our lead POV characters yielded a product with bones to be great but lost itself in its own sauce. Lands of the Firstborn is a prime example of “getting high off your own supply”, losing the nuance that elevates this genre of violence and bloody storytelling. Though The Sword Triumphant was a strong ender, the entire series deserved better.
Score: 3.25/5 (rounded to 3/5)
Since this is an ARC, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
Read this review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions
Gareth Hanrahan’s gritty dark fantasy trilogy, Lands of the Firstborn ends with The Sword Triumphant — a harrowing tale of the trickery of prophecy, the cyclic pointlessness of mortal violence, and the struggle of even the strongest few against the might of fate itself.
I reviewed the previous entry The Sword Unbound, praising it for its unique reworking of the classic Tolkenian fantasy tropes, without forsaking its epic fantasy roots and diving headfirst into low-magic grimdark territory. However, my criticisms of the second entry outweighed that praise. My complaints centered around the over-reliance on trope inversion at the cost of rewarding storytelling, muddy uneven pacing, and a plot that said a lot without doing much to create a cohesive and progressively enjoyable experience.
A twenty-year time jump sees a tired and jaded ( more so than usual) Alfric “Alf”, the dreaded Lammergeier, adopting the easier life after disposing of the titular sword, SpellBreaker, at the end of The Sword Unbound. Along with his sister, Olva Forster, the Widow Queen, they retire to their village, hoping to leave saving the world to other folk, other heroes.
There is no rest for heroes in this world, the wicked, or the wretched. And we have all three in our favored protagonists, so back into the trenches we go.
A new mortal threat rises in the realm of Summerswell, and the witch-elf Skerrise rules the epicenter of dark magic, Necrad, emerging as a tyrant to rival the now-defeated Lord Bone, proving yet again, that evil is never truly ended, and conflict is the nature of life itself. While the mystical Creator Overbeing, the dreaded Erkling, continues to manipulate the events of the Firstborn and the Secondborn from the shadows. It was surprisingly disappointing that, having three antagonists, including two immortal demigods, The Sword Triumphant still lacked the mounting dread of great dark fantasy.
Hanrahan’s tradition of strong side-character development continues in this entry. The Samwise-insert hapless-loyal-oaf-drawn-into-bigger-things Jon, shrewd Cerlys, wanting to prove herself and earn renown to rival the fabled stories of the Nine, the vampire witch-elf Ceremos, his fate entwined with Alf, for better or worse, and Olva’s shapeshifting protege, Perdia, round out our merry gang. In these side-characters, Hanrahan (un)subtly sets up hints of the emergence of a “Nine”, a group of new heroes to fight future evil, thereby reinforcing his core tenet of the cyclic nature of good and evil.
Sadly, as much as I enjoyed the side-characters, our main protagonists, Alf and Olva, are found sorely wanting. Their current iteration dives so deep into self-loathing introspection and endless sighing that it draws most of their chapters and set-pieces to a trudging crawl. The most aggravating parts of this entire series, and criminally overdone in this finale, was taking away from impactful action sequences, grizzly battles, nefarious magic, and other aspects that draw us dark fantasy fans into a book, by resorting instead to the wool-gathering of either Alf or Olva, as they muse (again and again) over the pointlessness of war. While this bleak outlook is a cornerstone of grimdark, other storytellers prefer to evoke that pointlessness via their action set pieces and their grim atmosphere, rather than having their sullen, wrinkled protagonists whine about it constantly. The sword, SpellBreaker, a character unto itself, the indestructible demon-blade to end gods, grows from having a petulant teen in Unbound to a cranky, arrogant, blowhard adolescent in Triumphant.
While The Sword Triumphant corrects some of the wrongs in Unbound and Defiant, many overarching critiques persisted through the series finale. As with the first two books, Triumphant feels more than a smidge too overwrought, self-important, and something that “insists upon itself”. Hanrahan was quite heavy-handed with his messaging, beating us over the head with his central thesis rather than allowing readers to distill his themes through more subtle messaging.
Heavy-handed prose, subdued plot climaxes, thematic sledgehammering, churned through uneven pacing, and paler versions of our lead POV characters yielded a product with bones to be great but lost itself in its own sauce. Lands of the Firstborn is a prime example of “getting high off your own supply”, losing the nuance that elevates this genre of violence and bloody storytelling. Though The Sword Triumphant was a strong ender, the entire series deserved better.
October 2, 2025
excellent ending to the series. few things left unanswered questions, but overall, a great book.
October 15, 2025
Just my favourite writer at this point.
March 15, 2025
Back Cover Blurb:
In his youth, Aelfric slew the Dark Lord and saved the world, only to find out, many years later that his heroic deeds had served only to preserve the corrupt rule of the Erlking. As keeper of the dread sword Spellbreaker, Aelfric was drawn into a desperate rebellion against the immortal elf who had been secretly manipulating humanity since the dawn of time.
When it was done, he left the sword and the title of hero behind and went home. His tale should have been over.
Decades have passed. But when a figure from his past brings a cryptic message from one of the Nine, it seems the Lammergier is needed again. Does the old hero have one last quest left in him? Can his broken sword be reforged - and at what cost?
Review:
Gareth Hanrahan is one of those authors who just when you think his imagination and creativity can't get any more mind blowing, proceeds to top himself and leaves you scratching your head as to how one person could hatch such genius stories and worlds. Such was the case with Hanrahan's debut series The Black Iron Legacy, which I believe was one of the most original and genre-defying series I've ever read. But now after finishing the final book in his latest series, Lands of the Firstborn, I have to re-evaluate that assessment because he's done it yet again folks!
THE SWORD TRIUMPHANT is just that, a triumphant conclusion to a trilogy that had me riveted throughout, not being able to focus on anything else in my life as I was completely enraptured with each book. I won't give too much away as this is the third and final entry, but I will try to put into words the elements that made this climax such an outstanding read and by extension, the entire series.
The thing that I love about this series, and it was even more evident in this book, is Hanrahan's willingness to inject non-traditional characters, creatures, locations etc... into the plot without concern about what is usually expected in a fantasy story. I can't tell you how many times I said to myself, "oh no he didn't just do that, DID HE?" And that's part of the reason why his books work so well for me, the unpredictability of just what you are going to get when you sit down to embark on each reading session. It keeps you on your toes and that's really what fantasy should be in my opinion, experiencing something that you almost can't wrap your mind around it's so foreign to any real world way of thinking.
THE SWORD TRIUMPHANT took me through a full spectrum of emotions. I knew that this ending would have heart-wrenching moments, and they were particularly impactful for sure, but there are also times of undeniable courage, hope, and determination which counterbalanced the sad parts wonderfully and make for a truly rewarding read. When the final moments were upon me I found myself caught up in everything that I had gone through with these characters for the past 1500 or so pages. The mark of a great read is just how invested and worried you are as to what the outcome will be in the end. If you don't care about the characters or story one bit, then why go on the journey? Well, I was all in during this last few chapters and I'm still reeling at what Hanrahan delivered in those sequences. Just a masterful way to wrap up a tremendous fantasy epic.
There are authors who just elevate the genre solely by their wit and storytelling prowess. Gareth Hanrahan is one of those authors and honestly if you've never read any of his stuff, you need to get on that. I honestly don't know what is coming next from him but I'm sure it will be another idea that stretches the boundaries of the usual formulas once again. I really can't wait to see what he comes up with. Meanwhile I'll bask in the glow of having read his two published series to date knowing that I've read some of the best that fantasy has to offer.
Oh and by the way, THE SWORD TRIUMPHANT will be released on May 27th from Orbit Books. So get those preorders in now!
In his youth, Aelfric slew the Dark Lord and saved the world, only to find out, many years later that his heroic deeds had served only to preserve the corrupt rule of the Erlking. As keeper of the dread sword Spellbreaker, Aelfric was drawn into a desperate rebellion against the immortal elf who had been secretly manipulating humanity since the dawn of time.
When it was done, he left the sword and the title of hero behind and went home. His tale should have been over.
Decades have passed. But when a figure from his past brings a cryptic message from one of the Nine, it seems the Lammergier is needed again. Does the old hero have one last quest left in him? Can his broken sword be reforged - and at what cost?
Review:
Gareth Hanrahan is one of those authors who just when you think his imagination and creativity can't get any more mind blowing, proceeds to top himself and leaves you scratching your head as to how one person could hatch such genius stories and worlds. Such was the case with Hanrahan's debut series The Black Iron Legacy, which I believe was one of the most original and genre-defying series I've ever read. But now after finishing the final book in his latest series, Lands of the Firstborn, I have to re-evaluate that assessment because he's done it yet again folks!
THE SWORD TRIUMPHANT is just that, a triumphant conclusion to a trilogy that had me riveted throughout, not being able to focus on anything else in my life as I was completely enraptured with each book. I won't give too much away as this is the third and final entry, but I will try to put into words the elements that made this climax such an outstanding read and by extension, the entire series.
The thing that I love about this series, and it was even more evident in this book, is Hanrahan's willingness to inject non-traditional characters, creatures, locations etc... into the plot without concern about what is usually expected in a fantasy story. I can't tell you how many times I said to myself, "oh no he didn't just do that, DID HE?" And that's part of the reason why his books work so well for me, the unpredictability of just what you are going to get when you sit down to embark on each reading session. It keeps you on your toes and that's really what fantasy should be in my opinion, experiencing something that you almost can't wrap your mind around it's so foreign to any real world way of thinking.
THE SWORD TRIUMPHANT took me through a full spectrum of emotions. I knew that this ending would have heart-wrenching moments, and they were particularly impactful for sure, but there are also times of undeniable courage, hope, and determination which counterbalanced the sad parts wonderfully and make for a truly rewarding read. When the final moments were upon me I found myself caught up in everything that I had gone through with these characters for the past 1500 or so pages. The mark of a great read is just how invested and worried you are as to what the outcome will be in the end. If you don't care about the characters or story one bit, then why go on the journey? Well, I was all in during this last few chapters and I'm still reeling at what Hanrahan delivered in those sequences. Just a masterful way to wrap up a tremendous fantasy epic.
There are authors who just elevate the genre solely by their wit and storytelling prowess. Gareth Hanrahan is one of those authors and honestly if you've never read any of his stuff, you need to get on that. I honestly don't know what is coming next from him but I'm sure it will be another idea that stretches the boundaries of the usual formulas once again. I really can't wait to see what he comes up with. Meanwhile I'll bask in the glow of having read his two published series to date knowing that I've read some of the best that fantasy has to offer.
Oh and by the way, THE SWORD TRIUMPHANT will be released on May 27th from Orbit Books. So get those preorders in now!
May 30, 2025
The author has created a world that is a mixture of traditional fantasy and the macabre. In this final novel of the series our reluctant-aging hero Aelfric receives a message from a vampiric boy elf, Ceremos, that the Wailing Tower in Necrad is now open again and what could be a voice from Alf’s friend Blaise, a powerful wizard and former companion, is seeking his help and needs Alf to bring Spellbreaker, a blood-thirsty sentient sword. Once again, Alf is called to liberate Necrad, a city of darkness, elves, and monsters. But Alf is wary of going on another grand adventure at his age and has gotten rid of the cursed sword. He would rather stay on the farm with his sister, the shapeshifter, and live out the rest of his life. After certain events, Alf, his sister once leader of Necrad, and a group of young adventurers, including an apprenticed shapeshifter and a vampiric elf boy are thrust into a quest to find the legendary sword that Alf would rather stay lost and to return to Necrad, to play the hero again.
For me, while I enjoy many of the interesting and colorful characters, what makes this novel and the series for me is Spellbreaker, the talking blood thirsty, back talking sword. Spellbreaker is a complex character. Here we have a sword that literally needs to feed on blood and carnage to live and thrive. It gives the impression of apathy to world events as long as it can live in glory and revenge. It is a very selective sword with whom it will let wield it. It wants to be a loner, but how can it be that when the sword needs someone to wield it to bring it the blood and mayhem it feeds on? Also, the banter between Alf, the reluctant hero, and Spellbreaker is humorous and emotional at times.
My biggest complaint with the novel is with the ending. The final battle while surprising and bittersweet, could have been so much more. The plot of the ending was surprising, but the author’s decision of not writing large battle sequences with these unique characters and instead having the ending mostly told through retellings of what happened was disappointing. This may have been because the length of the novel is already over five hundred pages, but I wanted more actual fight scenes in the novel.
Overall, this was a good fantasy series with some interesting characters and interesting action sequences, but with the ending I was slightly disappointed in how the author ultimately told his tale. I look forward to more novels by this author, and hopefully this is not the last tale of the Spellbreaker.
For me, while I enjoy many of the interesting and colorful characters, what makes this novel and the series for me is Spellbreaker, the talking blood thirsty, back talking sword. Spellbreaker is a complex character. Here we have a sword that literally needs to feed on blood and carnage to live and thrive. It gives the impression of apathy to world events as long as it can live in glory and revenge. It is a very selective sword with whom it will let wield it. It wants to be a loner, but how can it be that when the sword needs someone to wield it to bring it the blood and mayhem it feeds on? Also, the banter between Alf, the reluctant hero, and Spellbreaker is humorous and emotional at times.
My biggest complaint with the novel is with the ending. The final battle while surprising and bittersweet, could have been so much more. The plot of the ending was surprising, but the author’s decision of not writing large battle sequences with these unique characters and instead having the ending mostly told through retellings of what happened was disappointing. This may have been because the length of the novel is already over five hundred pages, but I wanted more actual fight scenes in the novel.
Overall, this was a good fantasy series with some interesting characters and interesting action sequences, but with the ending I was slightly disappointed in how the author ultimately told his tale. I look forward to more novels by this author, and hopefully this is not the last tale of the Spellbreaker.
April 7, 2025
I am someone surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Don’t get me wrong, I love classic fantasy, and it’s always nice to see older characters pulled out of retirement, but with the variety of POV characters and the world building feeling like someone’s TTRPG in book form, I was half expecting a lot of meta humor, some winks and nudges … and instead I got a rather philosophical book about the cycles of violence and the pointlessness of war.
This is the third book in a series though I haven’t read the first two, and I think I had more fun with it because of that. All the callbacks to other characters, mentions of past actions felt like heroes recounting their glory days, and how often those tales aren’t quite the way things really happened — either because the hero forgot or the tale got embroidered to make it more fun to listen to. Going toe to toe with a dragon is fine in a tavern tale or a folk song, but in reality it’s a dragon, something that eats would-be heroes.
For Olva, there’s a lot of emphasis on seeing this new generation make the same mistakes she made when she was their age, unable to stop them or change their minds. For Alf it’s the reality of picking up a weapon again and the obligations of violence and killing. It’s both of them coming face to face with the choices they made years before, and the ones they didn’t. In a way perhaps it would have been better coming to this having read the other two books, to feel the weight of those realizations, of those poignant moments … but that’s not what happened.
The book is well written, well paced, and easy to read. The characters, though, are more archetypal than nuanced, and it’s hard to tell most of them apart. Still, well worth the read if you like thoughtful epic fiction. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
This is the third book in a series though I haven’t read the first two, and I think I had more fun with it because of that. All the callbacks to other characters, mentions of past actions felt like heroes recounting their glory days, and how often those tales aren’t quite the way things really happened — either because the hero forgot or the tale got embroidered to make it more fun to listen to. Going toe to toe with a dragon is fine in a tavern tale or a folk song, but in reality it’s a dragon, something that eats would-be heroes.
For Olva, there’s a lot of emphasis on seeing this new generation make the same mistakes she made when she was their age, unable to stop them or change their minds. For Alf it’s the reality of picking up a weapon again and the obligations of violence and killing. It’s both of them coming face to face with the choices they made years before, and the ones they didn’t. In a way perhaps it would have been better coming to this having read the other two books, to feel the weight of those realizations, of those poignant moments … but that’s not what happened.
The book is well written, well paced, and easy to read. The characters, though, are more archetypal than nuanced, and it’s hard to tell most of them apart. Still, well worth the read if you like thoughtful epic fiction. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
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