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Legendary #1
A Study in Scarlet Swords: A Dark Epic Fantasy Adventure
★★★★★ "A dark sweeping tale filled with monsters, magic…and a bloody prophecy."
In the cursed swamps of Rotmoor, a new terror has risen.
They are called the Red Folk—blood-soaked specters that rise from the mire without warning, slaughtering without mercy, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake. No sword can stop them. No prayer can protect you. Something old has returned. And it hungers.
Hardened monster hunter Theron Ward never runs from a fight. But when he and his battle-worn companions encounter Baron Ulrich Sturm—a broken man plagued by visions of a monstrous warlock named Vonlych—they are pulled into a hunt that may already be lost.
As they descend into a land of haunted ruins and forgotten horrors, betrayal festers in the shadows. Prophecies collide. Madness takes root. And the truth beneath the blood-soaked soil may doom them all.
A blade in the dark. Blood in the water. The hunt begins.
Perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, The Witcher, and grimdark fantasy filled with brutal action, tragic magic, and heroes on the edge of damnation.
Includes a full cast of unforgettable antiheroes—a flame-wielding wizard, a cursed crusader, a scarred monster hunter, a tormented alchemist, a fearless shieldmaiden, an unerring archer—locked in a quest that may damn them all.
Read A Study in Scarlet Swords now—free in Kindle Unlimited.
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Praise for Dylan
"An epic tale"— Library Journal
"Clever and well-written...The characters and setting of Fire and Sword immediately evoke similarities with the iconic The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski and the First Law series by Joe Abercrombie."— Grimdark Magazine
In the cursed swamps of Rotmoor, a new terror has risen.
They are called the Red Folk—blood-soaked specters that rise from the mire without warning, slaughtering without mercy, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake. No sword can stop them. No prayer can protect you. Something old has returned. And it hungers.
Hardened monster hunter Theron Ward never runs from a fight. But when he and his battle-worn companions encounter Baron Ulrich Sturm—a broken man plagued by visions of a monstrous warlock named Vonlych—they are pulled into a hunt that may already be lost.
As they descend into a land of haunted ruins and forgotten horrors, betrayal festers in the shadows. Prophecies collide. Madness takes root. And the truth beneath the blood-soaked soil may doom them all.
A blade in the dark. Blood in the water. The hunt begins.
Perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, The Witcher, and grimdark fantasy filled with brutal action, tragic magic, and heroes on the edge of damnation.
Includes a full cast of unforgettable antiheroes—a flame-wielding wizard, a cursed crusader, a scarred monster hunter, a tormented alchemist, a fearless shieldmaiden, an unerring archer—locked in a quest that may damn them all.
Read A Study in Scarlet Swords now—free in Kindle Unlimited.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Praise for Dylan
"An epic tale"— Library Journal
"Clever and well-written...The characters and setting of Fire and Sword immediately evoke similarities with the iconic The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski and the First Law series by Joe Abercrombie."— Grimdark Magazine
493 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 19, 2025
24 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Dylan Doose
16 books75 followersDylan Doose is the author of the Legendary and Sword & Sorcery series. He writes full-time in his home by the lake in Southern Ontario.
When he's not writing, he's reading or watching his favorite science fiction, fantasy, or horror story (of which there are many) play out.
Inspired by classics like Conan the Barbarian and modern masterpieces like Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself, Dylan Doose delivers enjoyable, fast-paced, page-turning grimdark fantasy that is not for the faint of heart.
When he's not writing, he's reading or watching his favorite science fiction, fantasy, or horror story (of which there are many) play out.
Inspired by classics like Conan the Barbarian and modern masterpieces like Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself, Dylan Doose delivers enjoyable, fast-paced, page-turning grimdark fantasy that is not for the faint of heart.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 6, 2025
I really enjoyed reading "A Study in Scarlet Swords" by Dylan Doose! It really delivers in the dark fantasy department; the prologue is dark and gloomy, presaging a menacing threat to the characters involved.
I like how you meet the band of monster hunters (Theron and his crew) sort of in medias res but through context you get to know more about them and their background.
Also the battles are great and the antagonists are glorious in their terribleness. Sorcery and steel combine for epic standoffs and characters are complex enough to not seem like mere fantasy cardboard cutouts.
I must say, it wasn't until I reached the note at the end that I realized this builds off a previous series. I felt a bit blindsided by this but honestly if I had done 45 seconds of research on Doose I would have discovered this, so I'm not holding this against the author.
All in all, great read, I highly recommend to dark fantasy fans!
Thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
I like how you meet the band of monster hunters (Theron and his crew) sort of in medias res but through context you get to know more about them and their background.
Also the battles are great and the antagonists are glorious in their terribleness. Sorcery and steel combine for epic standoffs and characters are complex enough to not seem like mere fantasy cardboard cutouts.
I must say, it wasn't until I reached the note at the end that I realized this builds off a previous series. I felt a bit blindsided by this but honestly if I had done 45 seconds of research on Doose I would have discovered this, so I'm not holding this against the author.
All in all, great read, I highly recommend to dark fantasy fans!
Thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
February 27, 2025
A dark sweeping tale filled with monsters, magic, heros and a bloody prophecy. Who can not be drawn to a world of Monsters vs Monster Hunters? The battles are extraordinarily, the characters are intense, and the whole tale will draw you in until you feel a part of this amazing fantasy world. To say I couldn't put it down would be an understatement. I highly recommend it to fans of the fantasy genre, even those who have not yet read dark fantasy. It will grab you and not let go.
January 29, 2025
Great Dark Fantasy!
This story encompasses everything that makes a great fantasy. We have heroes, of different races and different skills, we have major battles, and of course, prophecy. This story is very well written and pulled me in from the beginning. I highly recommend this story to all fantasy lovers!
This story encompasses everything that makes a great fantasy. We have heroes, of different races and different skills, we have major battles, and of course, prophecy. This story is very well written and pulled me in from the beginning. I highly recommend this story to all fantasy lovers!
March 12, 2025
“A Study In Scarlet Swords” is a wonderful dark fantasy that I had issues putting down once I started. The battles, the prophecy, the diversity amongst the characters – I loved every page! I can’t wait to read the other works of Dylan Doose and highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 1, 2025
This is a terrific read! Lots of battles, great characters with an assortment of abilities. Definitely a page turner from the beginning. Great imagination and storytelling.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 15, 2025
It was a very interesting story with some characters with a good build. The story is told at a very fast pace, but it can be followed without problems.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews