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Dreams of Dust and Steel #2
A Graveyard for Heroes
Treachery looms across the land.
The Scarborn have deposed the once-great Ironlight family. With scores to settle, the lowborn shake rust from their knives and trade allegiances for a promise of blood while the highborn rally their armies.
Namarr’s future rests on a blade’s edge, and the heroes who might save it can no longer hide.
Meanwhile, across the sea, Scothea has already succumbed to revolution.
Fanatics led by the Arrow of Light wrest the throne from an ancient line of kings. Now, their sights are set on a Third Crusade against Namarr. For most, it will be their last.
The pieces are set. The gameboard is chosen.
For those unwilling to play, there’s only one peaceful place left…
The inside of a grave.
The second installment in the Dreams of Dust and Steel series continues with the plight of characters both loved and hated. Perfect for fans of Game of Thrones, Age of Madness, The Five Warrior Angels, and Kings of Paradise.
The Scarborn have deposed the once-great Ironlight family. With scores to settle, the lowborn shake rust from their knives and trade allegiances for a promise of blood while the highborn rally their armies.
Namarr’s future rests on a blade’s edge, and the heroes who might save it can no longer hide.
Meanwhile, across the sea, Scothea has already succumbed to revolution.
Fanatics led by the Arrow of Light wrest the throne from an ancient line of kings. Now, their sights are set on a Third Crusade against Namarr. For most, it will be their last.
The pieces are set. The gameboard is chosen.
For those unwilling to play, there’s only one peaceful place left…
The inside of a grave.
The second installment in the Dreams of Dust and Steel series continues with the plight of characters both loved and hated. Perfect for fans of Game of Thrones, Age of Madness, The Five Warrior Angels, and Kings of Paradise.
607 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2025
84 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
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July 14, 2025
Thank you to authors who provide summaries!
Especially as this is slated to be a five book epic fantasy series.
Ishoa Ironlight, Princess of Namarr, on the run and learning a lot about the ways of the world and herself.
Barodane was one of my favourite perspectives in book one, but unfortunately his chapters slowed down the story. He spent a lot of time wallowing and feeling ashamed.
”You're walking forward, but your head's twisted around. Staring back at what happened. Blind to what could be.”
Thephos, newly Awakened is where most of our world building occurs and I have to admit to still being confused. I liked how he flipped expectations, how he still puts others first despite his awful upbringing.
Surprisingly? My favourite perspective was Zadani - a master cook and head of Marus D’Alzir’s kitchen.
She felt the most real and had the best plot and motivations.
Valka - General of the Scothean legions was my least favourite. A loyal soldier turned for the sake of his daughter.
”The mind, as I see it, is no different than the muscle of a master swordsman. He trains regularly to become stronger, quicker, embedding the memory of movement into his bones so that reflex comes to him without hesitation in the moment of violence. I absorb information as fast and oft as possible to do the same. And then, I relax, trusting my subconscious mind to know answers before my conscious mind ever could."
The problem with such ambitious series is that there will always be characters and storylines you prefer.
Book twos are always extremely difficult to pull off, so I think this was more filler to start pushing for a series climax.
Perhaps my expectations were too high after the high from book one, but I am excited to see where we go next!
Physical arc gifted by author.
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Especially as this is slated to be a five book epic fantasy series.
Ishoa Ironlight, Princess of Namarr, on the run and learning a lot about the ways of the world and herself.
Barodane was one of my favourite perspectives in book one, but unfortunately his chapters slowed down the story. He spent a lot of time wallowing and feeling ashamed.
”You're walking forward, but your head's twisted around. Staring back at what happened. Blind to what could be.”
Thephos, newly Awakened is where most of our world building occurs and I have to admit to still being confused. I liked how he flipped expectations, how he still puts others first despite his awful upbringing.
Surprisingly? My favourite perspective was Zadani - a master cook and head of Marus D’Alzir’s kitchen.
She felt the most real and had the best plot and motivations.
Valka - General of the Scothean legions was my least favourite. A loyal soldier turned for the sake of his daughter.
”The mind, as I see it, is no different than the muscle of a master swordsman. He trains regularly to become stronger, quicker, embedding the memory of movement into his bones so that reflex comes to him without hesitation in the moment of violence. I absorb information as fast and oft as possible to do the same. And then, I relax, trusting my subconscious mind to know answers before my conscious mind ever could."
The problem with such ambitious series is that there will always be characters and storylines you prefer.
Book twos are always extremely difficult to pull off, so I think this was more filler to start pushing for a series climax.
Perhaps my expectations were too high after the high from book one, but I am excited to see where we go next!
Physical arc gifted by author.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
June 10, 2025
There’s a standout scene early in this story when a character attends a funeral and sings a haunting lament over the deceased. Although we never met the departed, the scene brought me near to tears. Powerful, gut-wrenching emotions were laid bare, breathing depth and weight into this grim saga of an empire teetering on the edge of collapse.
This is but one of many examples throughout Michael Michel’s A Graveyard for Heroes that evokes empathy and compassion with characters of varying moral quality. One of the new POVs is a military general from the invading Scothean empire, and while he has committed atrocities under the rule of his king, Michel crafts him in a way where we can fully grasp his conflicts and motivations. Michel shapes his characters with a subtle, deft touch, building lifelike characters and conversations through realistic dialogue, emotion-fueled actions, and questionable decisions.
A Graveyard for Heroes further elevates the series in every way. Similar to book one, The Price of Power, the story uses rich detail, strong character and plot development, and shocking scenes of violence and darkness to tell a slow-burn tale of revolution, responsibility, and vengeance. I found the tale to be increasingly unpredictable, which was an exciting and welcome feeling.
While there is magic in the world, it is limited in its usage, and this helped create a sense of awe when unleashed. This decision pairs well with the methodical nature of the storytelling, but I must stress that at no point did I ever feel the book’s pacing had slowed. Every chapter pushed the plot further, and the characters into more interesting and tighter predicaments.
I must note two additional elements that caught me off guard: first, the usage of music led to some of the story’s most powerful scenes, as Michel’s descriptive prose made me feel like I was attending and listening to these performances live. Second, there were some thoughtful philosophical ideas introduced that helped convince people of a stubborn mindset to quickly change their worldviews. Well-written speeches argued for new approaches to thinking and doing, and I was nodding my head along with the characters in the audience. It speaks volumes to Michel’s ability to approach different mediums and evoke strong responses through his storytelling.
A Graveyard for Heroes succeeds in delivering a compelling, entertaining, and satisfying sequel to The Price of Power. It further raises the stakes while getting the reader to care deeply about the fates of its characters and the direction of where this is all headed. This is a promising and exciting series from a talented and careful author, and I can easily recommend it to fans of dark, thoughtfully crafted, character-driven sagas. I look forward to re-reading both entries before book three arrives in January 2026. Highly recommended.
This is but one of many examples throughout Michael Michel’s A Graveyard for Heroes that evokes empathy and compassion with characters of varying moral quality. One of the new POVs is a military general from the invading Scothean empire, and while he has committed atrocities under the rule of his king, Michel crafts him in a way where we can fully grasp his conflicts and motivations. Michel shapes his characters with a subtle, deft touch, building lifelike characters and conversations through realistic dialogue, emotion-fueled actions, and questionable decisions.
A Graveyard for Heroes further elevates the series in every way. Similar to book one, The Price of Power, the story uses rich detail, strong character and plot development, and shocking scenes of violence and darkness to tell a slow-burn tale of revolution, responsibility, and vengeance. I found the tale to be increasingly unpredictable, which was an exciting and welcome feeling.
While there is magic in the world, it is limited in its usage, and this helped create a sense of awe when unleashed. This decision pairs well with the methodical nature of the storytelling, but I must stress that at no point did I ever feel the book’s pacing had slowed. Every chapter pushed the plot further, and the characters into more interesting and tighter predicaments.
I must note two additional elements that caught me off guard: first, the usage of music led to some of the story’s most powerful scenes, as Michel’s descriptive prose made me feel like I was attending and listening to these performances live. Second, there were some thoughtful philosophical ideas introduced that helped convince people of a stubborn mindset to quickly change their worldviews. Well-written speeches argued for new approaches to thinking and doing, and I was nodding my head along with the characters in the audience. It speaks volumes to Michel’s ability to approach different mediums and evoke strong responses through his storytelling.
A Graveyard for Heroes succeeds in delivering a compelling, entertaining, and satisfying sequel to The Price of Power. It further raises the stakes while getting the reader to care deeply about the fates of its characters and the direction of where this is all headed. This is a promising and exciting series from a talented and careful author, and I can easily recommend it to fans of dark, thoughtfully crafted, character-driven sagas. I look forward to re-reading both entries before book three arrives in January 2026. Highly recommended.
June 13, 2025
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Review of A Graveyard For Heroes
By Michael Michel
In this second installment of the Dreams Of Dust And Steel, which is planned to have five novels, we are thrown right back into the aftermath of the fight at the Ice Maiden’s Keep. The victorious traitors, led by Lodecka Warnock, the leader of the Scarborn, and a cadre of turncoats, have killed most guards and other house’s loyal supporters.
In the turmoil, Ishoa Ironlight, the last known descendant of Danath Ironlight, has managed to escape with her ice tiger, Rakeema, an anjuhtarg, which is a bonded animal protector. But her cousin Arrick, who was gravely injured during the fighting, has found her, and seeks to help protect her. But the severity of his wounds has caught up with him, as well as another. The Fly. You remember him, right? The 7’ tall personal bodyguard to Megalor Bog. But the loyalty of everyone has become suspect. Will he show himself to be friend or foe?
The tension never lets up, as I was taken from the northern cold of Namarr, to the desert sands of Scothea. And here is where we learn about that realm that was repulsed once from the shores of Namarr by Danath Ironlight. Scothea is ruled by a caste system, the foundation of which is built by and on slaves. These are the brutal masters that Danath Ironlight broke the chains of slavery from, and now Scothea has been swept up in a religious fervor brought about by a young boy, Siddaia, “The Arrow of Light”, whose goal is to bring his brand of faith to Namarr.
The new characters introduced to AGFH run the gamut from a cook, a cup bearer, to upper echelons. The seemingly mundane takes on a whole new depth, bringing the players who have been in the background up to now, to the fore. And they all have agendas. Whether for the good of their people, or purely in pursuit of power, the story unfolds like a runaway train.
The descriptive writing never once feels ponderous, in fact it’s some of the most beautiful, brutally tactile, and gritty prose I’ve ever read. Michael Michel gives a master class on immersing the reader in the scenes he crafted. The visceral quality shines through, even when it’s steeped in blood and gore. Which he doesn’t shy away from incorporating.
The other MAJOR thread that ran throughout, is betrayal. And it comes from all quarters, and in the most gut wrenching of ways . I found myself on more than one occasion chucking my tablet across the couch, flinging my arms around like a maniac, and spewing expletives in Michael’s general direction. I mean, COME ON!! Can ONE person do something that isn’t greedy and self serving? And yet, it was too damn good to put down. Each character, each brutal scene, was deliberately, exquisitely wrought.
For example, in a rather desperate moment that Ishoa is central to, this conveys so much. “Moist hunger filled his lecherous gaze, his fat, flaking lips encircling gleaming yellow teeth. It was near enough to make her vomit again.” Visceral as all get out! It induced a bit of a roil in my own stomach..
Then there are the more poignant, that gave me pause as I read. “Knees that had kissed the prayer bench before a thousand altars–that had carried him through a dozen campaigns spanning thirty years–creaked louder than the leather vest under his chain as he rose from the snow dampened duff.” I mean if that doesn’t evoke a picture in perfect clarity, I don’t know what will. Or one of my favorites, “History hung over the room like a strung up carcass, a bloody thing, laid bare.” WHAT?!? But you can imagine it, can’t you? This was written about Gyr Renwood, who is father to Garlenna Renwood, Barodane’s Prosort. He is a character newly introduced, and he is a memorable one. I can see where Garlenna gets her strong moral compass, and her deep sense of duty to a man who has spent years trapped in a drug induced fog of loathing.
Michael Michel takes the grim dark element of fantasy by the scruff, and lets it know who’s the boss. He is a writer of extraordinary talent. He knows just how to create a mood, seemingly effortlessly, yet gives it teeth with a side of a blade to the gut. His writing just truly blows me away. This series, this book, deserves to find its home in your head, long after the last page has been read, and the echo of your shouts has long faded. Read it. Read it NOW.
Review of A Graveyard For Heroes
By Michael Michel
In this second installment of the Dreams Of Dust And Steel, which is planned to have five novels, we are thrown right back into the aftermath of the fight at the Ice Maiden’s Keep. The victorious traitors, led by Lodecka Warnock, the leader of the Scarborn, and a cadre of turncoats, have killed most guards and other house’s loyal supporters.
In the turmoil, Ishoa Ironlight, the last known descendant of Danath Ironlight, has managed to escape with her ice tiger, Rakeema, an anjuhtarg, which is a bonded animal protector. But her cousin Arrick, who was gravely injured during the fighting, has found her, and seeks to help protect her. But the severity of his wounds has caught up with him, as well as another. The Fly. You remember him, right? The 7’ tall personal bodyguard to Megalor Bog. But the loyalty of everyone has become suspect. Will he show himself to be friend or foe?
The tension never lets up, as I was taken from the northern cold of Namarr, to the desert sands of Scothea. And here is where we learn about that realm that was repulsed once from the shores of Namarr by Danath Ironlight. Scothea is ruled by a caste system, the foundation of which is built by and on slaves. These are the brutal masters that Danath Ironlight broke the chains of slavery from, and now Scothea has been swept up in a religious fervor brought about by a young boy, Siddaia, “The Arrow of Light”, whose goal is to bring his brand of faith to Namarr.
The new characters introduced to AGFH run the gamut from a cook, a cup bearer, to upper echelons. The seemingly mundane takes on a whole new depth, bringing the players who have been in the background up to now, to the fore. And they all have agendas. Whether for the good of their people, or purely in pursuit of power, the story unfolds like a runaway train.
The descriptive writing never once feels ponderous, in fact it’s some of the most beautiful, brutally tactile, and gritty prose I’ve ever read. Michael Michel gives a master class on immersing the reader in the scenes he crafted. The visceral quality shines through, even when it’s steeped in blood and gore. Which he doesn’t shy away from incorporating.
The other MAJOR thread that ran throughout, is betrayal. And it comes from all quarters, and in the most gut wrenching of ways . I found myself on more than one occasion chucking my tablet across the couch, flinging my arms around like a maniac, and spewing expletives in Michael’s general direction. I mean, COME ON!! Can ONE person do something that isn’t greedy and self serving? And yet, it was too damn good to put down. Each character, each brutal scene, was deliberately, exquisitely wrought.
For example, in a rather desperate moment that Ishoa is central to, this conveys so much. “Moist hunger filled his lecherous gaze, his fat, flaking lips encircling gleaming yellow teeth. It was near enough to make her vomit again.” Visceral as all get out! It induced a bit of a roil in my own stomach..
Then there are the more poignant, that gave me pause as I read. “Knees that had kissed the prayer bench before a thousand altars–that had carried him through a dozen campaigns spanning thirty years–creaked louder than the leather vest under his chain as he rose from the snow dampened duff.” I mean if that doesn’t evoke a picture in perfect clarity, I don’t know what will. Or one of my favorites, “History hung over the room like a strung up carcass, a bloody thing, laid bare.” WHAT?!? But you can imagine it, can’t you? This was written about Gyr Renwood, who is father to Garlenna Renwood, Barodane’s Prosort. He is a character newly introduced, and he is a memorable one. I can see where Garlenna gets her strong moral compass, and her deep sense of duty to a man who has spent years trapped in a drug induced fog of loathing.
Michael Michel takes the grim dark element of fantasy by the scruff, and lets it know who’s the boss. He is a writer of extraordinary talent. He knows just how to create a mood, seemingly effortlessly, yet gives it teeth with a side of a blade to the gut. His writing just truly blows me away. This series, this book, deserves to find its home in your head, long after the last page has been read, and the echo of your shouts has long faded. Read it. Read it NOW.
May 3, 2025
*I received an eARC of this book*
A Graveyard for Heroes is the second entry into the series that is newly named, Dreams of Dust and Steel. I read The Price of Power (book 1) as well as War Song (.5) back in 2023 and had quite a good time with both of them. I had pretty high expectations for book 2 and I am happy to say that it delivered.
It felt good to be back in this world with Ishoa and Barodane. A Graveyard for Heroes is very much Ishoa Ironlight's book, similar to Barodane in Price of Power. Ishoa shines bright in her search for herself while always fighting against the odds. We also have multiple new characters who enter the chaos, and I enjoyed them all. Zadani in particular really stood out as a unique addition to our cast. I initially found her inclusion a bit out of place, but once her story began, I found I wanted more of her. None of the characters are stale and they all brought a distinct voice to the story. Michel does an amazing job bringing out the best and worst of his characters and really diving inside of them to show us their deepest darkest fears.
The themes of self in this book are potent. Our characters are always soul searching and questioning. Michel has many moments of authorial genius while dealing with our characters and their thoughts. The quotes are endless and somehow all unique. He is a master with a pen. This is something I have seen through all of his books, and I am always in awe of the poetic nature of his prose.
The history of Namarr and its lore is also a high point in the series. There are many questions answered in Graveyard that I had been left with from the previous entries. The plot of the series advances substantially with this book and some of the revelations left my jaw dropped. I found myself thinking about this world countless times throughout the day, excited to get back to the book.
As far as negatives go, I have few. My biggest complaint is that a couple of character point of views disappear after the first half of the book. I had grown attached to them quite a bit. My only other minus is that there was a character missing here, arguably the character cloaked in the most mystery. None of this hurts the story being told but I was a little confused with the choice to exclude the character.
I highly recommend that people pick up this series.
A Graveyard for Heroes is the second entry into the series that is newly named, Dreams of Dust and Steel. I read The Price of Power (book 1) as well as War Song (.5) back in 2023 and had quite a good time with both of them. I had pretty high expectations for book 2 and I am happy to say that it delivered.
It felt good to be back in this world with Ishoa and Barodane. A Graveyard for Heroes is very much Ishoa Ironlight's book, similar to Barodane in Price of Power. Ishoa shines bright in her search for herself while always fighting against the odds. We also have multiple new characters who enter the chaos, and I enjoyed them all. Zadani in particular really stood out as a unique addition to our cast. I initially found her inclusion a bit out of place, but once her story began, I found I wanted more of her. None of the characters are stale and they all brought a distinct voice to the story. Michel does an amazing job bringing out the best and worst of his characters and really diving inside of them to show us their deepest darkest fears.
The themes of self in this book are potent. Our characters are always soul searching and questioning. Michel has many moments of authorial genius while dealing with our characters and their thoughts. The quotes are endless and somehow all unique. He is a master with a pen. This is something I have seen through all of his books, and I am always in awe of the poetic nature of his prose.
The history of Namarr and its lore is also a high point in the series. There are many questions answered in Graveyard that I had been left with from the previous entries. The plot of the series advances substantially with this book and some of the revelations left my jaw dropped. I found myself thinking about this world countless times throughout the day, excited to get back to the book.
As far as negatives go, I have few. My biggest complaint is that a couple of character point of views disappear after the first half of the book. I had grown attached to them quite a bit. My only other minus is that there was a character missing here, arguably the character cloaked in the most mystery. None of this hurts the story being told but I was a little confused with the choice to exclude the character.
I highly recommend that people pick up this series.
June 11, 2025
I absolutely loved The Price of Power, the first book in this series (Dreams of Dust & Steel), and I couldn't wait for the second book to come out. So, I was ecstatic when I got my hands on an e-ARC.
I really enjoy Michael's writing style. It's so descriptive, yet flows so effortlessly. I don't have to worry about getting yanked out of the story by stilted language or awkward dialogue. I can just enjoy the ride.
I also appreciate his characters. To me, they are well fleshed out and avoid being one-dimensional. Barodane was by far my favorite in the first book. It took a little while for him to work up to that position in this second book, but he did it again. I enjoyed Ishoa's POV more in this one, and Thephos' POV held pretty steady for me. The new POVs were pretty good too. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about them at first, but I became pretty invested in their storylines.
The story remains very interesting, with some twists and turns and just the right amount of violence. Michael moves it along at a great pace. It's not necessarily non-stop action, but I never felt like there was a prolonged lull.
I'm excited to be getting the third installment, Banners of Wrath (which will be "degrees of magnitude more epic than book 1 and 2" according to Michael), soon and also the sequel to the prequel (War Song), Death Dance, at some point.
I really enjoy Michael's writing style. It's so descriptive, yet flows so effortlessly. I don't have to worry about getting yanked out of the story by stilted language or awkward dialogue. I can just enjoy the ride.
I also appreciate his characters. To me, they are well fleshed out and avoid being one-dimensional. Barodane was by far my favorite in the first book. It took a little while for him to work up to that position in this second book, but he did it again. I enjoyed Ishoa's POV more in this one, and Thephos' POV held pretty steady for me. The new POVs were pretty good too. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about them at first, but I became pretty invested in their storylines.
The story remains very interesting, with some twists and turns and just the right amount of violence. Michael moves it along at a great pace. It's not necessarily non-stop action, but I never felt like there was a prolonged lull.
I'm excited to be getting the third installment, Banners of Wrath (which will be "degrees of magnitude more epic than book 1 and 2" according to Michael), soon and also the sequel to the prequel (War Song), Death Dance, at some point.
May 20, 2025
Michael Michel is the greatest thing to enter the genre since Steven Erikson and R Scott Bakker! This is the second book of his that makes my top ten all-time favorite list!
***Full Review Coming Soon
***Full Review Coming Soon
June 17, 2025
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
CAVEAT LECTOR
I've yet to write a word of this post, but I'm going to tell you now that I'm going to end up spoiling some things from the first book—there's just no way to talk about this book without it. I will try to keep them vague if I can't avoid them, but they will be there.
But also, why are you reading this post if you haven't read the first book? Read The Price of Power and I predict you'll move on to the rest reflexively (as many of "the rest" are out when you finish, that is).
Still, be careful what you read from here.
WHAT'S A GRAVEYARD FOR HEROES ABOUT?
The first book was very focused—well, as much as you can be with 4 characters/storylines. You saw the impending (or not so impending) collapse of the nation/confederation in the background (to one degree or another) of three of the storylines, but the reader's focus was rarely on that—it was these people getting to know them and their immediate circle. Through them you started to understand the world, its cultures, its history.
In the closing chapters of the book, the first visible domino of the collapse falls over.
In Graveyard, we keep our focus on these characters—but we also see the ongoing collapse, the ongoing treason (and the treason within that movement), and how it's affecting not just the characters we got to know in The Price of Power, but also in others—faces and names new and old.
The story grows grander, our perspective enlarges—and assuming that the pre-Price status quo was as good as it could be, this civilization is in trouble from many sides.
*There are several reasons to believe the system could be better—as every system could be and every character we got to know recognized. But the stability, order, and painfully slow opportunities for reform were there.
THE MISSING CHARACTER?
Of the four characters/groups of characters that were the focus in the first book, one seemed to be almost missing. Not entirely, but so close that it'd be easy to miss.
Unless of course, their name/appearance has changed. I've spent a good amount of time thinking about this, and am pretty sure I've made up my mind about what I think. (at the same time, I'm ready for Michel to show me how I missed something).
Regardless, it's fun to chew on.
THEPHUS
When we saw him last, his fate seemed uncertain. Frankly, I'm even less sure about what's going on with him now. It's as frustrating as it is satisfying to see Michel not giving us all the answers.
While I liked the guy—and felt bad for him—from the time we met him. My respect for him as a person has grown—he's a well-conceived and complex character. Not just complex, he's pretty confusing, too. Moreso to himself than anyone else. I wonder who will figure him out first—the reader or Thephus himself?
Just because his storyline bothers me and leaves me with more questions at the end of every one of his chapters doesn't mean I think him any less. On the contrary, I think that sentence applies to every single chapter he's been featured in since his introduction.
So much is going to make sense to us when we do get answers—and if all we're doing now is piling up the questions, how much more satisfying will it be? Also, the part of this world that Thephus and those like him inhabit is more than intriguing.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A GRAVEYARD FOR HEROES?
This is me speculating here, as my precognition abilities are on the blink right now. But I'm guessing that you can make the case for Books 1 and 2 of Dreams of Dust and Steel serve as a massive prequel for an epic trilogy. To borrow a phrase from the back cover, "The pieces are set. The gameboard is chosen." And now...things are going to really get going.
I can only imagine that as grim as things look here for our heroes...but also, our villains...by the end of book three, they'll all wish that they were back in these events. But man...there's not a lot of positive in this book—at least not plotwise.
There's a whole lot of positive things to say about the writing, storytelling, and characters. So much so that I know I've left off things I've told myself "You gotta mention this." For example, there's a treat for people who miss Tyrion Lannister's personality.
And just because I said prequel—I am not suggesting that these books are skippable. They're not—you'd be robbing yourself of so much. There's a character we meet in this book, for example, on the worst day of her life. She quickly became one of my favorites of the series. I reached out to Michel and was assured that we'd see her again—but based on what we saw here, there's nothing inherent in her story that demands it. He could've closed the door on her and moved on—and it'd have been worth it just to wsee hat we got here. (I'd go into this deeper in a spoiler-rich conversation if anyone is interested).
My point is, the book is full of things that like that—the overall plot and seeing what happens with the characters we already know are the big ticket items. But this world and how Michel is telling its story is so rich, so full of moments that will stay with you, that even if these first to novels are "merely" setting it up for the bigger stuff to come—you want to read them.
This is a fantasy novel, and like most of them, this features some very important fight scenes, as well as a few battle scenes. Frankly, I find the smaller combat scenes more satisfying—and I usually do, that's probably more of a personal taste thing. The larger battle scenes were really well done, and were largely haunting. The one-on-one fights/small group vs. small group/one-on-small group fights were much more satisfying (and somewhat haunting, too). They had me in much more suspense than the others. I audibly reacted to the last one focusing on Ishoa—I think you could see that particular point in her arc coming (either in this book or not), but actually seeing it made me cheer and pump my fist.
I may have shouted at my ereader for what the last page held—especially once I realized it was the last page, and not simply the end of a chapter.
What I'm saying is that once Michel stopped setting up his dominoes and started the reactions, you're going to care. You're going to be reeling. You're going to wonder—"just where is he taking this?" while not caring that much because the ride is so fun.
I don't remember the last time I was this invested in a Fantasy series. I suggest you all hop on board.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
CAVEAT LECTOR
I've yet to write a word of this post, but I'm going to tell you now that I'm going to end up spoiling some things from the first book—there's just no way to talk about this book without it. I will try to keep them vague if I can't avoid them, but they will be there.
But also, why are you reading this post if you haven't read the first book? Read The Price of Power and I predict you'll move on to the rest reflexively (as many of "the rest" are out when you finish, that is).
Still, be careful what you read from here.
WHAT'S A GRAVEYARD FOR HEROES ABOUT?
The first book was very focused—well, as much as you can be with 4 characters/storylines. You saw the impending (or not so impending) collapse of the nation/confederation in the background (to one degree or another) of three of the storylines, but the reader's focus was rarely on that—it was these people getting to know them and their immediate circle. Through them you started to understand the world, its cultures, its history.
In the closing chapters of the book, the first visible domino of the collapse falls over.
In Graveyard, we keep our focus on these characters—but we also see the ongoing collapse, the ongoing treason (and the treason within that movement), and how it's affecting not just the characters we got to know in The Price of Power, but also in others—faces and names new and old.
The story grows grander, our perspective enlarges—and assuming that the pre-Price status quo was as good as it could be, this civilization is in trouble from many sides.
*There are several reasons to believe the system could be better—as every system could be and every character we got to know recognized. But the stability, order, and painfully slow opportunities for reform were there.
THE MISSING CHARACTER?
Of the four characters/groups of characters that were the focus in the first book, one seemed to be almost missing. Not entirely, but so close that it'd be easy to miss.
Unless of course, their name/appearance has changed. I've spent a good amount of time thinking about this, and am pretty sure I've made up my mind about what I think. (at the same time, I'm ready for Michel to show me how I missed something).
Regardless, it's fun to chew on.
THEPHUS
When we saw him last, his fate seemed uncertain. Frankly, I'm even less sure about what's going on with him now. It's as frustrating as it is satisfying to see Michel not giving us all the answers.
While I liked the guy—and felt bad for him—from the time we met him. My respect for him as a person has grown—he's a well-conceived and complex character. Not just complex, he's pretty confusing, too. Moreso to himself than anyone else. I wonder who will figure him out first—the reader or Thephus himself?
Just because his storyline bothers me and leaves me with more questions at the end of every one of his chapters doesn't mean I think him any less. On the contrary, I think that sentence applies to every single chapter he's been featured in since his introduction.
So much is going to make sense to us when we do get answers—and if all we're doing now is piling up the questions, how much more satisfying will it be? Also, the part of this world that Thephus and those like him inhabit is more than intriguing.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A GRAVEYARD FOR HEROES?
This is me speculating here, as my precognition abilities are on the blink right now. But I'm guessing that you can make the case for Books 1 and 2 of Dreams of Dust and Steel serve as a massive prequel for an epic trilogy. To borrow a phrase from the back cover, "The pieces are set. The gameboard is chosen." And now...things are going to really get going.
I can only imagine that as grim as things look here for our heroes...but also, our villains...by the end of book three, they'll all wish that they were back in these events. But man...there's not a lot of positive in this book—at least not plotwise.
There's a whole lot of positive things to say about the writing, storytelling, and characters. So much so that I know I've left off things I've told myself "You gotta mention this." For example, there's a treat for people who miss Tyrion Lannister's personality.
And just because I said prequel—I am not suggesting that these books are skippable. They're not—you'd be robbing yourself of so much. There's a character we meet in this book, for example, on the worst day of her life. She quickly became one of my favorites of the series. I reached out to Michel and was assured that we'd see her again—but based on what we saw here, there's nothing inherent in her story that demands it. He could've closed the door on her and moved on—and it'd have been worth it just to wsee hat we got here. (I'd go into this deeper in a spoiler-rich conversation if anyone is interested).
My point is, the book is full of things that like that—the overall plot and seeing what happens with the characters we already know are the big ticket items. But this world and how Michel is telling its story is so rich, so full of moments that will stay with you, that even if these first to novels are "merely" setting it up for the bigger stuff to come—you want to read them.
This is a fantasy novel, and like most of them, this features some very important fight scenes, as well as a few battle scenes. Frankly, I find the smaller combat scenes more satisfying—and I usually do, that's probably more of a personal taste thing. The larger battle scenes were really well done, and were largely haunting. The one-on-one fights/small group vs. small group/one-on-small group fights were much more satisfying (and somewhat haunting, too). They had me in much more suspense than the others. I audibly reacted to the last one focusing on Ishoa—I think you could see that particular point in her arc coming (either in this book or not), but actually seeing it made me cheer and pump my fist.
I may have shouted at my ereader for what the last page held—especially once I realized it was the last page, and not simply the end of a chapter.
What I'm saying is that once Michel stopped setting up his dominoes and started the reactions, you're going to care. You're going to be reeling. You're going to wonder—"just where is he taking this?" while not caring that much because the ride is so fun.
I don't remember the last time I was this invested in a Fantasy series. I suggest you all hop on board.
February 17, 2026
I’m honestly not even surprised that this ended up being another five star read for me. This series just keeps getting better, and this book completely pulled me right back into the world in the best way.
With every installment, Michael Michel adds more, more characters, more places, more layers, and somehow it never feels overwhelming. It just makes the world feel richer and deeper. I love how each new perspective expands everything, and before you know it, you’re fully immersed. I genuinely feel like I’m on this journey with these characters, watching everything unfold alongside them.
I must admit though….I was pretty confused about the timeline for a while between POVs on this one at first. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to realize certain events were happening at the same time rather than in completely different periods. Once that clicked, everything fell into place. That honestly felt more like a me moment than an issue with the story though.
Other than that, I could not put this book down. The writing is so engaging, the character depth keeps growing, and the world just keeps expanding in a way that makes you want to stay there as long as possible.
Now I’m heading into book three soon and I’m so excited to keep going, but also slightly stressed because this series isn’t finished yet. I already know once I catch up, I’m going to want the next book immediately, and waiting is going to be painful. All this to say…I am completely hooked and not ready to leave this world anytime soon.
Also if you’re about to jump into book 2 from book one and it’s been a while, there is a summary that’s available from the author to catch you back up which is amazing. I’ve never seen that offered before.
With every installment, Michael Michel adds more, more characters, more places, more layers, and somehow it never feels overwhelming. It just makes the world feel richer and deeper. I love how each new perspective expands everything, and before you know it, you’re fully immersed. I genuinely feel like I’m on this journey with these characters, watching everything unfold alongside them.
I must admit though….I was pretty confused about the timeline for a while between POVs on this one at first. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to realize certain events were happening at the same time rather than in completely different periods. Once that clicked, everything fell into place. That honestly felt more like a me moment than an issue with the story though.
Other than that, I could not put this book down. The writing is so engaging, the character depth keeps growing, and the world just keeps expanding in a way that makes you want to stay there as long as possible.
Now I’m heading into book three soon and I’m so excited to keep going, but also slightly stressed because this series isn’t finished yet. I already know once I catch up, I’m going to want the next book immediately, and waiting is going to be painful. All this to say…I am completely hooked and not ready to leave this world anytime soon.
Also if you’re about to jump into book 2 from book one and it’s been a while, there is a summary that’s available from the author to catch you back up which is amazing. I’ve never seen that offered before.
June 19, 2025
As I noted in my review of book one, The Price of Power, it was a slow burn that picked up pace and left you wanting more. Well, here in Michael's second book in the series, A Graveyard for Heroes, is more! Much more. This volume comes at you like a train bursting from a very dark tunnel. It you don't get run down, you are carried along by a cast of characters that will touch you beyond the pages of the book. The past, the present, and future collided for me in three roles. There is Barodane, haunted by a past he has tried to bury. Then there is Thephos, carried along by a present calling with no idea of it impact or end. Finally, Ishoa, who is possessed by a future she will fight to the death for.
It is not often that a second book is equal to or better than the first, but Michael has pulled it off. I believe this is slated for a five book series. I am anxious to see where the stories lead. Can Michel keep up the pace? Will any of these characters survive? Grab your copy and find out.
It is not often that a second book is equal to or better than the first, but Michael has pulled it off. I believe this is slated for a five book series. I am anxious to see where the stories lead. Can Michel keep up the pace? Will any of these characters survive? Grab your copy and find out.
June 12, 2025
I received an ARC for this version of the book. I did not read the original version so this is just a review of this version.
Let me start by saying that I think this is a good story. I haven't read the next book yet, but it feels like this has "middle book syndrome". The first book was really good and this one was not as good. One of the things that make me feel this way is that a few of the POVs from the first book are not in this book and there are new ones that seem disconnected from the story previously read. Those POVs are enjoyable in their own right, but don't quite feel connected to the story in the same way. The author is good at fleshing out their characters. These characters grow and change as the story continues and it feels natural. Being that the genre is Epic Fantasy I know this is supposed to be a slow burn, but I think the pace could be a little faster.
Is this a good continuation of the first story? Yes, for the most part. Other than the feeling of some POVs not feeling connected. Will this story want to make you read the next book? I believe so. I will be continuing on to read the third book.
Let me start by saying that I think this is a good story. I haven't read the next book yet, but it feels like this has "middle book syndrome". The first book was really good and this one was not as good. One of the things that make me feel this way is that a few of the POVs from the first book are not in this book and there are new ones that seem disconnected from the story previously read. Those POVs are enjoyable in their own right, but don't quite feel connected to the story in the same way. The author is good at fleshing out their characters. These characters grow and change as the story continues and it feels natural. Being that the genre is Epic Fantasy I know this is supposed to be a slow burn, but I think the pace could be a little faster.
Is this a good continuation of the first story? Yes, for the most part. Other than the feeling of some POVs not feeling connected. Will this story want to make you read the next book? I believe so. I will be continuing on to read the third book.
June 11, 2025
This sequel is just great!!! Even though Ishoa got me so excited, I have to say that she annoyed me so much because she is just so well written. Tephos was the only character I couldn't relate to much, but by the end of the book you realise that he will play an important role. I loved all the other protagonists and hated the antagonists. Honestly, what more could you want. I can't wait until Michael Michel brings us part 3. A really great fantasy book.
June 27, 2025
Dripping in politics, betrayals, battles, and intrigue, Michael Michel delivers the slow-burn plot of the year with A Graveyard For Heroes, book 2 in Dreams of Dust and Steel.
Namarr is plunged into chaos and it’s crown is left wanting. Following the Scarborn’s betrayal, hope of a unified land has wavered down to few. In the south, a drug-addicted prince Barodane fights to return back to a throne he never should have abandoned. In the east, young Ishoa struggles to survive her families betrayal, squabbling with the politics left in its wake. And in the sacred land beneath Unturrus, Thephos, a new Awakened, looks to hone his power.
Meanwhile, new players have entered the game. Gyr will do anything to uphold his prosort’s creed, even if it means dying for his lord. Zadani, A cook for the D’Alzir family who has lost her husband, works to unravel the conspiratorial mystery that led to his murder. And on the shores of distant Scothea, a boy-priest stirs up religious fanaticism with his miracles, attempting to bring Valka, the only general left who can stand in his way, to heel.
The game is set and the players are on the board, but who will come out victorious is anyone’s guess.
The long-awaited sequel to breakout success The Price of Power by Michael Michel released earlier this month and I’m happy to report that fans of gritty, epic fantasy and indie publishing alike are in for a treat.
Long-held by admirers of Ambecrombie, Martin, Durfee, and Morgan as one of the newest, freshest faces of dark, character driven stories, Michel’s rise to popularity is no accident. Last year, The Price of Power was the first self-pubbed fantasy book that vividly captured my attention. It had expert level line writing, deliciously dark characters who had real problems, real consequences to their actions, and real stakes to their lives. It was a novel that set the stage for an epic story akin to the likes of A Song of Ice and Fire and The Five Warrior Angles, recognized in multiple lists and competitions as a real entrant to the upper echelon of modern fantasy. Indeed, the recent relaunch and re-polish made it even better.
This second entry to the series blows it out of the water.
Everything about A Graveyard For Heroes is pristine. The line-writing is trimmed of any excess. The characters develop into people you know, not just those that exist on the page. The magic, the battles, the betrayals all take pieces of you in exchange for what they leave in memory.
An oft-mentioned praise of Michel’s work is his ability to get into the mind of the POVs he writes. I agree. It’s an exceptional skill, being able to deliver people that feel so real you can touch them, understand their motives, declare them even before you read them across the page.
But what takes this particular book to another level is its pacing.
Namarr is a sprawling country filled with millions of people. Somehow Michel has found a way to condense it to only a handful of tightly-crafted POVs without losing that scope. In my opinion, what makes this work so well is the set up from book one and the slowly evolving plot of book two.
This is not a propulsive, jarring, scene-to-scene book meant to carry itself solely across a couple hundred pages, as is so popular in modern SFF releases. Instead, it aims to burn slowly, almost poetically. It develops keenly, letting each thread linger with you as the tapestry builds, weaving in the POVs so each knot sticks. It does not meander or drag, rather it sits in the pocket for just the right length of time so that each character action, each motivation, bubbles to the surface and drives the plot home.
Taken altogether, it is this pacing, coupled with the immense character work and the resounding authorial voice behind the words, that makes this series so special. And if you embark on this journey, I think you will find the same appreciation as you make your way through the pages.
It’s not often that a book sinks its hooks in and makes me think about reading it again so soon after I’ve put it down, but each entry of Dreams of Dust and Steel has done just that. And I expect all that come next to draw them even deeper into my skin.
Namarr is plunged into chaos and it’s crown is left wanting. Following the Scarborn’s betrayal, hope of a unified land has wavered down to few. In the south, a drug-addicted prince Barodane fights to return back to a throne he never should have abandoned. In the east, young Ishoa struggles to survive her families betrayal, squabbling with the politics left in its wake. And in the sacred land beneath Unturrus, Thephos, a new Awakened, looks to hone his power.
Meanwhile, new players have entered the game. Gyr will do anything to uphold his prosort’s creed, even if it means dying for his lord. Zadani, A cook for the D’Alzir family who has lost her husband, works to unravel the conspiratorial mystery that led to his murder. And on the shores of distant Scothea, a boy-priest stirs up religious fanaticism with his miracles, attempting to bring Valka, the only general left who can stand in his way, to heel.
The game is set and the players are on the board, but who will come out victorious is anyone’s guess.
The long-awaited sequel to breakout success The Price of Power by Michael Michel released earlier this month and I’m happy to report that fans of gritty, epic fantasy and indie publishing alike are in for a treat.
Long-held by admirers of Ambecrombie, Martin, Durfee, and Morgan as one of the newest, freshest faces of dark, character driven stories, Michel’s rise to popularity is no accident. Last year, The Price of Power was the first self-pubbed fantasy book that vividly captured my attention. It had expert level line writing, deliciously dark characters who had real problems, real consequences to their actions, and real stakes to their lives. It was a novel that set the stage for an epic story akin to the likes of A Song of Ice and Fire and The Five Warrior Angles, recognized in multiple lists and competitions as a real entrant to the upper echelon of modern fantasy. Indeed, the recent relaunch and re-polish made it even better.
This second entry to the series blows it out of the water.
Everything about A Graveyard For Heroes is pristine. The line-writing is trimmed of any excess. The characters develop into people you know, not just those that exist on the page. The magic, the battles, the betrayals all take pieces of you in exchange for what they leave in memory.
An oft-mentioned praise of Michel’s work is his ability to get into the mind of the POVs he writes. I agree. It’s an exceptional skill, being able to deliver people that feel so real you can touch them, understand their motives, declare them even before you read them across the page.
But what takes this particular book to another level is its pacing.
Namarr is a sprawling country filled with millions of people. Somehow Michel has found a way to condense it to only a handful of tightly-crafted POVs without losing that scope. In my opinion, what makes this work so well is the set up from book one and the slowly evolving plot of book two.
This is not a propulsive, jarring, scene-to-scene book meant to carry itself solely across a couple hundred pages, as is so popular in modern SFF releases. Instead, it aims to burn slowly, almost poetically. It develops keenly, letting each thread linger with you as the tapestry builds, weaving in the POVs so each knot sticks. It does not meander or drag, rather it sits in the pocket for just the right length of time so that each character action, each motivation, bubbles to the surface and drives the plot home.
Taken altogether, it is this pacing, coupled with the immense character work and the resounding authorial voice behind the words, that makes this series so special. And if you embark on this journey, I think you will find the same appreciation as you make your way through the pages.
It’s not often that a book sinks its hooks in and makes me think about reading it again so soon after I’ve put it down, but each entry of Dreams of Dust and Steel has done just that. And I expect all that come next to draw them even deeper into my skin.
July 1, 2025
TL;DR Review: Ambitious, imaginative, and incredibly compelling. The most epic grimdark world I’ve read since Abercrombie.
Full Review:
Michael Michel returns to fine form in this dark, bloody, and epic world!
The Price of Power was one of my favourite reads of 2023 (when it was originally released), and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel ever since. And let me tell you, A Graveyard for Heroes does not disappoint.
Book 2 kicks off directly in the aftermath of Book 1.
Prince Barodane’s life has been burned to the ground, and he is running, both to escape the enemies hunting him, and attempting to outrun his own conscience. At his side is his loyal friend and proctor Garlenna, who is determined to both drag him to his crown and out of his Pit of self-pity. Their dynamic is so good, the bond between them so strong, and yet even they have a hard time trying to get him out of the depths of despair.
His story is a fascinating look at PTSD and depression and the other downsides of battle. He is also a recovering drug addict who is one bad day away from diving back into his vice, and all we can do is hope that he keeps fighting his own worst nature so he can once again become the prince the world needs him to be.
Meanwhile, Princess Ishoa is fleeing from the destruction of her kingdom, and the road is not a kind place for her. She and her wounded cousin are barely surviving, until they find themselves captured and dragged towards parts, unknown, with no idea whether they’re off to face their execution or find allies.
Her journey is the classic young adult character trying to find their magic and their strength and confidence, but in the dark fantasy world, you know it’s going to take a lot longer and the results may not be what you will expect. Yet, despite her weakness, her strength of character keeps shining through and makes her somebody that you absolutely want to see succeed. But what does that success look like? That’s the interesting thing about this story and something I was quite excited to discover and be surprised by.
We’re also introduced to another character, the general of a kingdom defeated by the child Messiah and his horde. He is forced to choose between his beliefs, protecting his daughter, and standing by his fallen kingdom. His story is much more complex and nuanced, and we are treated to a fascinating exploration of what happens when cultures and faith’s clash.
It’s very hard to accept what the child Messiah says as anything but the truth, and yet we see the dangers of zeal and blind faith, so can the Messiah actually be good? It’s a fascinating quandary that makes his story worth following.
Finally, there is Thephos, the new Awakened, gifted with magic after all of his trials, but with no idea of how to use them or what is the best path to follow. His is a pretty classic, newly discovered magic user story, with all the requisite pulls in varying directions, where he has only to answer to his own conscience and beliefs.
All of the stories are fascinating, and lead to a grand, complex, truly epic world that is so dark and so engaging.
I did find myself wishing for a more cohesive throughline to all of their stories, something to unite them in single purpose, but there was so much about each story that was interesting that I could follow along with no trouble.
A Graveyard for Heroes builds upon what we were introduced to in The Price of Power and expands it even more. This book proves that the world is ambitious and imaginative, and filled with my kind of gritty darkness. It’s shaping up to be one of the most epic fantasy series in recent years, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Full Review:
Michael Michel returns to fine form in this dark, bloody, and epic world!
The Price of Power was one of my favourite reads of 2023 (when it was originally released), and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel ever since. And let me tell you, A Graveyard for Heroes does not disappoint.
Book 2 kicks off directly in the aftermath of Book 1.
Prince Barodane’s life has been burned to the ground, and he is running, both to escape the enemies hunting him, and attempting to outrun his own conscience. At his side is his loyal friend and proctor Garlenna, who is determined to both drag him to his crown and out of his Pit of self-pity. Their dynamic is so good, the bond between them so strong, and yet even they have a hard time trying to get him out of the depths of despair.
His story is a fascinating look at PTSD and depression and the other downsides of battle. He is also a recovering drug addict who is one bad day away from diving back into his vice, and all we can do is hope that he keeps fighting his own worst nature so he can once again become the prince the world needs him to be.
Meanwhile, Princess Ishoa is fleeing from the destruction of her kingdom, and the road is not a kind place for her. She and her wounded cousin are barely surviving, until they find themselves captured and dragged towards parts, unknown, with no idea whether they’re off to face their execution or find allies.
Her journey is the classic young adult character trying to find their magic and their strength and confidence, but in the dark fantasy world, you know it’s going to take a lot longer and the results may not be what you will expect. Yet, despite her weakness, her strength of character keeps shining through and makes her somebody that you absolutely want to see succeed. But what does that success look like? That’s the interesting thing about this story and something I was quite excited to discover and be surprised by.
We’re also introduced to another character, the general of a kingdom defeated by the child Messiah and his horde. He is forced to choose between his beliefs, protecting his daughter, and standing by his fallen kingdom. His story is much more complex and nuanced, and we are treated to a fascinating exploration of what happens when cultures and faith’s clash.
It’s very hard to accept what the child Messiah says as anything but the truth, and yet we see the dangers of zeal and blind faith, so can the Messiah actually be good? It’s a fascinating quandary that makes his story worth following.
Finally, there is Thephos, the new Awakened, gifted with magic after all of his trials, but with no idea of how to use them or what is the best path to follow. His is a pretty classic, newly discovered magic user story, with all the requisite pulls in varying directions, where he has only to answer to his own conscience and beliefs.
All of the stories are fascinating, and lead to a grand, complex, truly epic world that is so dark and so engaging.
I did find myself wishing for a more cohesive throughline to all of their stories, something to unite them in single purpose, but there was so much about each story that was interesting that I could follow along with no trouble.
A Graveyard for Heroes builds upon what we were introduced to in The Price of Power and expands it even more. This book proves that the world is ambitious and imaginative, and filled with my kind of gritty darkness. It’s shaping up to be one of the most epic fantasy series in recent years, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
June 21, 2025
A Graveyard for Hero’s review
Up front - I did receive an e-arc from the author for an honest review, and this is it
Score around 4.6 if the whole book had been like the second half it would have been a 5/5 easi
Having read the first of the Dreams of Dust and Steel series, The Proce of Power not that long ago I was looking forward to this book, but also a little trepedatious of what it might bring, I am very glad to report that this book is an improvement on the first book in pretty much every way, I feel in the second half of the book we see an author starting to find his wings and the prose starts to soar
The book is in 2 parts and it definitely feels like a book of two halves, the first half is a solid 4 to 4.2 out of five, the second half though is a 5 out of 5 for me, this can be evidenced by the time it took me to complete it, While the the first half wasn’t a slog it did take a while, but the second half flew by
It is interesting that one of the main POV characters in the first book is almost totally absent from this volume, instead Michael chooses to focus on the other three main characters and to introduce two new viewpoints, I really think this helps, as one of the things I struggled with in the first book was where the overarching threat was coming from, I think we now start to see this in this volume
The main character POV’s in this book are interesting,
Barodane – Continues to be an engaging character, his journey is one that I am really enjoying reading as he journeys from the dark place we found him in in Book one towards an acceptance of what he must do
Ishoa – Her journey is enthralling, although I do feel very sorry for her as she has gone through the wringer over the course of these two books, but her emotional strength is starting to really show through, and the last section for her really starts to highlight her inner strength
Thephos – The most improved character for me personally, as I really struggled to relate to or understand the character in book one, but his story in this book is much more engaging and with the introduction of a new secondary character into his arc, I am looking forward to where his story is going, I have a few ideas but I suspect Michael will surprise me
Zadani – Probably the weakest story line for me, however that does not mean it is a weak one, just that it didn’t engage me as much as the other ones, I get the motivation behind what she is doing, but my incredulity is stretched a bit on whether she could actually have gotten away with everything she does in the environment she is in, this is one where we will need to see in the next book, as the character is only in the first half of the book
Valka – Watching him go through the wringer emotionally as he is torn between loyalty to the old guard, the possibilities offered by the new regime and his desire to do the best for his family, definitely a brilliant addition to the story
Pro’s
The world building and the revelations about the history of Namarr and Scothea are well written and thought out
In fact the authors prose overall is really engaging and accessible
Con’s
Again I feel there’s an issue with the pacing, the first half feels very slow burn, and then the last 200 pages are jam packed with action and exposition
Overall
An improvement on book 1, and I am now very excited to read book 3 and see whare this story is going, I think the plan is a five book series, so I really hope we don’t get Middle book syndrome, but Michael is promising something grander and more epic than the first 2 books
Up front - I did receive an e-arc from the author for an honest review, and this is it
Score around 4.6 if the whole book had been like the second half it would have been a 5/5 easi
Having read the first of the Dreams of Dust and Steel series, The Proce of Power not that long ago I was looking forward to this book, but also a little trepedatious of what it might bring, I am very glad to report that this book is an improvement on the first book in pretty much every way, I feel in the second half of the book we see an author starting to find his wings and the prose starts to soar
The book is in 2 parts and it definitely feels like a book of two halves, the first half is a solid 4 to 4.2 out of five, the second half though is a 5 out of 5 for me, this can be evidenced by the time it took me to complete it, While the the first half wasn’t a slog it did take a while, but the second half flew by
It is interesting that one of the main POV characters in the first book is almost totally absent from this volume, instead Michael chooses to focus on the other three main characters and to introduce two new viewpoints, I really think this helps, as one of the things I struggled with in the first book was where the overarching threat was coming from, I think we now start to see this in this volume
The main character POV’s in this book are interesting,
Barodane – Continues to be an engaging character, his journey is one that I am really enjoying reading as he journeys from the dark place we found him in in Book one towards an acceptance of what he must do
Ishoa – Her journey is enthralling, although I do feel very sorry for her as she has gone through the wringer over the course of these two books, but her emotional strength is starting to really show through, and the last section for her really starts to highlight her inner strength
Thephos – The most improved character for me personally, as I really struggled to relate to or understand the character in book one, but his story in this book is much more engaging and with the introduction of a new secondary character into his arc, I am looking forward to where his story is going, I have a few ideas but I suspect Michael will surprise me
Zadani – Probably the weakest story line for me, however that does not mean it is a weak one, just that it didn’t engage me as much as the other ones, I get the motivation behind what she is doing, but my incredulity is stretched a bit on whether she could actually have gotten away with everything she does in the environment she is in, this is one where we will need to see in the next book, as the character is only in the first half of the book
Valka – Watching him go through the wringer emotionally as he is torn between loyalty to the old guard, the possibilities offered by the new regime and his desire to do the best for his family, definitely a brilliant addition to the story
Pro’s
The world building and the revelations about the history of Namarr and Scothea are well written and thought out
In fact the authors prose overall is really engaging and accessible
Con’s
Again I feel there’s an issue with the pacing, the first half feels very slow burn, and then the last 200 pages are jam packed with action and exposition
Overall
An improvement on book 1, and I am now very excited to read book 3 and see whare this story is going, I think the plan is a five book series, so I really hope we don’t get Middle book syndrome, but Michael is promising something grander and more epic than the first 2 books
July 9, 2025
{3.75/5}
CW: violence, gore, referenced/attempted r—e, animal cruelty, addiction, loss/death, others.
Thank you to the author for the ARC! “A Graveyard for Heroes” is available now!
I’m calling this one an iceberg book.
Namarr is fracturing. The Ironlight legacy is falling, supported on the fragile back of a child running in fear for her life. A formerly mad prince with no alternative looks to reclaim what he never wanted. A new Awakened struggles to control a power he doesn’t understand. And somewhere far across the sea, a new order rises in the midst of chaos.
Why an iceberg? Because, like an iceberg, this book is interesting and a little intimidating on the surface with a ton of hidden depth to it.
I mentioned it with book 1, but this world is incredibly expansive. There is just so much going on, everywhere, all at the same time, and it *all* has immense weight behind it. Every single character has something to do with the bigger picture, even if it’s not immediately obvious what that might be.
This one took me a little while to get through, though that was predominantly due to traveling and general life chaos. The great thing about this story is that that’s not really a problem; the focus shifts character in almost every chapter, which meant I could read 2-3 each night relatively easily and not get stuck in a never ending cliffhanger of chapter endings. The only downfall to that method would be how many moving parts are occurring at any given point, so you’re going to need to be able to retain the storylines in between if that’s the route you go.
The rotating focus works really well to keep what would otherwise be a behemoth of a book from getting stale and boring along the way. I will say that this one, compared with book 1, did seem to have a lot more ‘hurry up and wait’ moments, but again that could have been on the reader's end of things.
For the most part I enjoyed the characters, though Barodane and Ishoa both had times where they became a little grating for me (maybe it’s a familial trait?). Both are mired in the mistakes and weight of the past, and both are happy to wallow in it and blame life for their inability to move on. Character growth is a major theme though, so I don’t totally hate them by any means.
Overall, a solid second installment for the series, and I’m looking forward to book 3. This is definitely one of those things where you need to allot plenty of time and mental focus to keep up with the story though, and it’s absolutely one of the more involved fantasy series I’ve read, so keep that in mind. If you like sprawling, intricate dark fantasy, this is a good choice. Do be prepared for those themes to be really heavy; check your trigger warnings in advance.
CW: violence, gore, referenced/attempted r—e, animal cruelty, addiction, loss/death, others.
Thank you to the author for the ARC! “A Graveyard for Heroes” is available now!
I’m calling this one an iceberg book.
Namarr is fracturing. The Ironlight legacy is falling, supported on the fragile back of a child running in fear for her life. A formerly mad prince with no alternative looks to reclaim what he never wanted. A new Awakened struggles to control a power he doesn’t understand. And somewhere far across the sea, a new order rises in the midst of chaos.
Why an iceberg? Because, like an iceberg, this book is interesting and a little intimidating on the surface with a ton of hidden depth to it.
I mentioned it with book 1, but this world is incredibly expansive. There is just so much going on, everywhere, all at the same time, and it *all* has immense weight behind it. Every single character has something to do with the bigger picture, even if it’s not immediately obvious what that might be.
This one took me a little while to get through, though that was predominantly due to traveling and general life chaos. The great thing about this story is that that’s not really a problem; the focus shifts character in almost every chapter, which meant I could read 2-3 each night relatively easily and not get stuck in a never ending cliffhanger of chapter endings. The only downfall to that method would be how many moving parts are occurring at any given point, so you’re going to need to be able to retain the storylines in between if that’s the route you go.
The rotating focus works really well to keep what would otherwise be a behemoth of a book from getting stale and boring along the way. I will say that this one, compared with book 1, did seem to have a lot more ‘hurry up and wait’ moments, but again that could have been on the reader's end of things.
For the most part I enjoyed the characters, though Barodane and Ishoa both had times where they became a little grating for me (maybe it’s a familial trait?). Both are mired in the mistakes and weight of the past, and both are happy to wallow in it and blame life for their inability to move on. Character growth is a major theme though, so I don’t totally hate them by any means.
Overall, a solid second installment for the series, and I’m looking forward to book 3. This is definitely one of those things where you need to allot plenty of time and mental focus to keep up with the story though, and it’s absolutely one of the more involved fantasy series I’ve read, so keep that in mind. If you like sprawling, intricate dark fantasy, this is a good choice. Do be prepared for those themes to be really heavy; check your trigger warnings in advance.
June 19, 2025
I read this subsequent to the re-release of the first book, the Price of Power, and was blown away again. This sequel expands on (most) of the PoV characters from the first book, and adds a few new ones. I will admit I was slow to appreciate some of the new characters, but by the end I was amazed at how much I cared about the new additions. They range from Zadani, a cook in the house of a lord, to Ikarai Valka, a famous and respected general across the sea in Scothea. I was especially taken with Valka, as his experience in a nation we have so-far assumed to be wholly evil was fascinating.
I will admit that this book left a few of the returning characters with little to do sometimes and as a result their stories feel stretched thin across the chapters. I think this is a symptom of being a middle book, which occasionally necessitates keeping characters in stasis a bit in order to keep the greater plots moving along at roughly the same speed. I will say that for both characters I felt were affected by this, where they left off leaves me eagerly awaiting the next book to continue their stories.
As with the Price of Power, you'll be reading this one for the characters, and as I mentioned they are uniformly excellent. All of them experience varying degrees of peril and heartbreak throughout the novel, all rendered in a fantastic yet relatable way. One character in particular I had been waiting to make a big move, and they surely delivered towards the end of this book; my jaw was on the floor.
This book does a great job expanding the world and lore a bit, and you meet several characters that had only been referred to by name in the previous volume. I like that we get to see a few fantastical places, whereas in the first book limited itself to typical fantasy villages the magic and deadly mountain of Unturrus. There are no infodumps here; Michel maintains his economical approach to world building, and this expansion in scope feels earned as the character roster grows and our PoV characters travel across the map.
The plotting of A Graveyard for Heroes builds over time to several exciting climaxes. The end of part 1 features some characters imperiled--several of which we will find out the fate of in the next volume (hopefully). Michel focuses on the returning and important characters in the back half, and this really allows for their stories to progress. By the end, and with the reveal of some important plot points, I was again left wanting more from this world and story. I trust Michel to keep this ball rolling in volume three and beyond. For that reason, investing in this series is well worth your time.
I will admit that this book left a few of the returning characters with little to do sometimes and as a result their stories feel stretched thin across the chapters. I think this is a symptom of being a middle book, which occasionally necessitates keeping characters in stasis a bit in order to keep the greater plots moving along at roughly the same speed. I will say that for both characters I felt were affected by this, where they left off leaves me eagerly awaiting the next book to continue their stories.
As with the Price of Power, you'll be reading this one for the characters, and as I mentioned they are uniformly excellent. All of them experience varying degrees of peril and heartbreak throughout the novel, all rendered in a fantastic yet relatable way. One character in particular I had been waiting to make a big move, and they surely delivered towards the end of this book; my jaw was on the floor.
This book does a great job expanding the world and lore a bit, and you meet several characters that had only been referred to by name in the previous volume. I like that we get to see a few fantastical places, whereas in the first book limited itself to typical fantasy villages the magic and deadly mountain of Unturrus. There are no infodumps here; Michel maintains his economical approach to world building, and this expansion in scope feels earned as the character roster grows and our PoV characters travel across the map.
The plotting of A Graveyard for Heroes builds over time to several exciting climaxes. The end of part 1 features some characters imperiled--several of which we will find out the fate of in the next volume (hopefully). Michel focuses on the returning and important characters in the back half, and this really allows for their stories to progress. By the end, and with the reveal of some important plot points, I was again left wanting more from this world and story. I trust Michel to keep this ball rolling in volume three and beyond. For that reason, investing in this series is well worth your time.
May 17, 2025
MICHAEL MICHEL’S DARK EPIC ROARS ALONG WITH THE RAGE OF AN ICE TIGER.
Disclaimer: This is based off of an eARC copy I received in advance of release, in exchange for an honest review.
With the incredible drive generated by The Price Of Power, I knew coming into A Graveyard For Heroes that I would love the book. There wasn’t really a question of that - I trust author Michael Michel’s writing ability too much to think he would deliver anything of bad quality. That said, what was up in the air was how MUCH I would love it.
So I’ll start there - I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as Book One. Which I mean, considering the highs that reached doesn’t really concern me too much. However, there was one issue that lowered my rating in comparison to TPOP and I think it’s worth mentioning.
The pacing of Book Two struggles badly (for me) in the first half. The book is split into Part One and Part Two, with both parts having a list of POVs that they follow. My problem is that Part One had, for me, too many POVs - a couple of them new characters entirely. With the exception of Valka, I just didn’t find myself enjoying the new characters as much. It also felt like with so many perspectives to follow, the book’s momentum was hurt.
Honestly if I was basing this off of Part One alone, my rating would probably be around three stars. Thankfully, as Part Two began, the POVs were pared down to four and the pacing felt like it exploded forward. Suddenly I couldn’t stop turning pages as things happened one after the other. In that regard, if I were basing my rating off of Part Two alone, it would be five stars.
Michel’s character work in particular is where I think he shines brightest, and with fewer perspectives to keep up with it felt like there was now room for that character work to gain its legs.
Personally - and I think intentionally - the highlight of Graveyard is, without a single doubt in my mind, Ishoa. While I still love Barodane and Thephos, Ishoa leapfrogged them to become my favorite character by the end of the book. And the scene towards the end with Rakeema… chills. Absolute cinema? Can I use that here?
All in all, I’m very happy with the way things turned out and cannot wait for Book Three to arrive!
Disclaimer: This is based off of an eARC copy I received in advance of release, in exchange for an honest review.
With the incredible drive generated by The Price Of Power, I knew coming into A Graveyard For Heroes that I would love the book. There wasn’t really a question of that - I trust author Michael Michel’s writing ability too much to think he would deliver anything of bad quality. That said, what was up in the air was how MUCH I would love it.
So I’ll start there - I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as Book One. Which I mean, considering the highs that reached doesn’t really concern me too much. However, there was one issue that lowered my rating in comparison to TPOP and I think it’s worth mentioning.
The pacing of Book Two struggles badly (for me) in the first half. The book is split into Part One and Part Two, with both parts having a list of POVs that they follow. My problem is that Part One had, for me, too many POVs - a couple of them new characters entirely. With the exception of Valka, I just didn’t find myself enjoying the new characters as much. It also felt like with so many perspectives to follow, the book’s momentum was hurt.
Honestly if I was basing this off of Part One alone, my rating would probably be around three stars. Thankfully, as Part Two began, the POVs were pared down to four and the pacing felt like it exploded forward. Suddenly I couldn’t stop turning pages as things happened one after the other. In that regard, if I were basing my rating off of Part Two alone, it would be five stars.
Michel’s character work in particular is where I think he shines brightest, and with fewer perspectives to keep up with it felt like there was now room for that character work to gain its legs.
Personally - and I think intentionally - the highlight of Graveyard is, without a single doubt in my mind, Ishoa. While I still love Barodane and Thephos, Ishoa leapfrogged them to become my favorite character by the end of the book. And the scene towards the end with Rakeema… chills. Absolute cinema? Can I use that here?
All in all, I’m very happy with the way things turned out and cannot wait for Book Three to arrive!
June 23, 2025
He did it again!
Michael Michel stays true to his name and doubles the awesome in the sequel to “The Price of Power”.
Once again I was selected to be an ARC reviewer and I couldn’t be happier. Reading both books back to back made it clear that Michael has a perfect grasp on his writing voice, conveying emotion and excitment steadily throughout the journey without dull moments.
The plot thickens (as you’d expect) but, once again, it never felt overwhelming or with massive blocks of exposition. More and more the storylines seem to converge, with the looming shadow of Unturrus connecting the different threads of this world. His drip-fed worldbuilding is easy to understand, while always leaving some new aspects in the air to look forward to learning about. Michael really has something special here. I won’t be surprised if someone picks his world for a TV adaptation. It really is that good.
I’m left now with the infernal wait, but it won’t be long, and I’ll be sure to quench my curiosity through the amazing Discord community the author has managed to create.
Now, for those who have now finished the Price of Power, some updates on the characters:
Ishoa’s journey takes some crazy turns, taking her through make or break points that turn her growth into something palpable and relatable. Really looking forward to where her story will go.
My boy Thephos REALLY needs a break. Poor dude has been smacked around all his life and this book is no different. But, somehow, I think his luck may be changing.
As for big B Barodane, good to finally see him raise his head head up (even for just a bit) and start confronting his past. It’s never easy, the first step the hardest, so, good on him for finally starting down that path.
And we finally get a good look behind the scenes of what is hapenning in Scothea. And, oh boy, is it spicy!
Can’t wait for the next installment and can’t recommend this series enough. So glad I found this world. Go explore it too!
Michael Michel stays true to his name and doubles the awesome in the sequel to “The Price of Power”.
Once again I was selected to be an ARC reviewer and I couldn’t be happier. Reading both books back to back made it clear that Michael has a perfect grasp on his writing voice, conveying emotion and excitment steadily throughout the journey without dull moments.
The plot thickens (as you’d expect) but, once again, it never felt overwhelming or with massive blocks of exposition. More and more the storylines seem to converge, with the looming shadow of Unturrus connecting the different threads of this world. His drip-fed worldbuilding is easy to understand, while always leaving some new aspects in the air to look forward to learning about. Michael really has something special here. I won’t be surprised if someone picks his world for a TV adaptation. It really is that good.
I’m left now with the infernal wait, but it won’t be long, and I’ll be sure to quench my curiosity through the amazing Discord community the author has managed to create.
Now, for those who have now finished the Price of Power, some updates on the characters:
Ishoa’s journey takes some crazy turns, taking her through make or break points that turn her growth into something palpable and relatable. Really looking forward to where her story will go.
My boy Thephos REALLY needs a break. Poor dude has been smacked around all his life and this book is no different. But, somehow, I think his luck may be changing.
As for big B Barodane, good to finally see him raise his head head up (even for just a bit) and start confronting his past. It’s never easy, the first step the hardest, so, good on him for finally starting down that path.
And we finally get a good look behind the scenes of what is hapenning in Scothea. And, oh boy, is it spicy!
Can’t wait for the next installment and can’t recommend this series enough. So glad I found this world. Go explore it too!
June 12, 2025
Wow! This is an epic book on an epic scale. In this book you re meet all your favourite and some not so favourite characters and how the develop and grow.
The authors writing style has definitely grown and you can see that's he's put a lot of care and thought into the book. It's a much darker more mature book than book 1 and very grim. Honestly it's giving GRRM vibes but much more readable!
At first it was a little slow to get into as we're slowly introduced to the characters and their journeys and lifestyles challengers again,
Whilst you can see that all the characters are on a redemption arc and let's be honest some of them are downright annoying- looking at you Ishoa! As the book develops you see them coming to terms with who they are and what they need.
thephos- the awakened- honestly he's the best, I'm just rooting for him as he's been through so much and he honestly needs to catch a break - I've a feeling in book 3 he's going to have a big part to okay.
Valka dealing with the new lord of the light and struggling with his own faiths and loyalty whilst trying to protect his daughter... honestly who can't relate.
So take the time read this book, savour it and don't rush it and if you've not read book one or the blurb on the authors site before reading this (if you've read book one a while ago), strongly recommend you do that.
I can't wait for book three to see how all the threads at the end of book two start to converge and come together.
The authors writing style has definitely grown and you can see that's he's put a lot of care and thought into the book. It's a much darker more mature book than book 1 and very grim. Honestly it's giving GRRM vibes but much more readable!
At first it was a little slow to get into as we're slowly introduced to the characters and their journeys and lifestyles challengers again,
Whilst you can see that all the characters are on a redemption arc and let's be honest some of them are downright annoying- looking at you Ishoa! As the book develops you see them coming to terms with who they are and what they need.
thephos- the awakened- honestly he's the best, I'm just rooting for him as he's been through so much and he honestly needs to catch a break - I've a feeling in book 3 he's going to have a big part to okay.
Valka dealing with the new lord of the light and struggling with his own faiths and loyalty whilst trying to protect his daughter... honestly who can't relate.
So take the time read this book, savour it and don't rush it and if you've not read book one or the blurb on the authors site before reading this (if you've read book one a while ago), strongly recommend you do that.
I can't wait for book three to see how all the threads at the end of book two start to converge and come together.
June 12, 2025
I loved A Graveyard for Heroes. I like truly epic fantasies with many different points of view and storylines that combine to build up an epic tale, and that is what Michael Michel does with this book.
The characters feel very fleshed out, and we are introduced to even more than we get returning from The Price of Power, while others don't make an appearance, but most likely will in coming books. As a lover of Malazan, I am fine with certain characters taking a book or two until they return, if it fits the story.
Borodane continues to be a favourite character and POV, while Iosha, Garlenna and Thephos get better and better. These are not your two-dimensional characters who shine at all times and beat all opponents with ease. They are flawed, but despite their flaws, they continue to grow.
We also get to see another part of the world with Scothea, a new society and a legion of new interesting characters. Looking forward to how they will interact with those in Namarr.
The book is full of twists and turns, battles, treachery, conspiracies, magics, power struggles and religious struggles. It continues to build upon the world introduced in The Price of Power. It is another stone in the foundation of an epic series. I am excited to see where the story finally ends. A very satisfying read, looking forward to the next one.
The characters feel very fleshed out, and we are introduced to even more than we get returning from The Price of Power, while others don't make an appearance, but most likely will in coming books. As a lover of Malazan, I am fine with certain characters taking a book or two until they return, if it fits the story.
Borodane continues to be a favourite character and POV, while Iosha, Garlenna and Thephos get better and better. These are not your two-dimensional characters who shine at all times and beat all opponents with ease. They are flawed, but despite their flaws, they continue to grow.
We also get to see another part of the world with Scothea, a new society and a legion of new interesting characters. Looking forward to how they will interact with those in Namarr.
The book is full of twists and turns, battles, treachery, conspiracies, magics, power struggles and religious struggles. It continues to build upon the world introduced in The Price of Power. It is another stone in the foundation of an epic series. I am excited to see where the story finally ends. A very satisfying read, looking forward to the next one.
June 23, 2025
This sequel to The Price of Power features the same (and new) incredible characters, gritty, bloody action, and evocative descriptions.
The characters: the returning characters from book one continue their personal arcs and continue to thread in and around each other. The new characters provide interesting points of view that further expand both the world and the conflict(s) of the story. My ultimate favorite is still Barodane, but truly, all of the main characters, as well as many of the side characters, are rich and engaging.
The writing: I love how evocative Michel's writing is, especially during the fight scenes. There's also so many quotes throughout the books that hit SO hard.
Michel has become an instant-read for me. These books have a tendency to grip me by the throat and not let go until I'm done.
The characters: the returning characters from book one continue their personal arcs and continue to thread in and around each other. The new characters provide interesting points of view that further expand both the world and the conflict(s) of the story. My ultimate favorite is still Barodane, but truly, all of the main characters, as well as many of the side characters, are rich and engaging.
The writing: I love how evocative Michel's writing is, especially during the fight scenes. There's also so many quotes throughout the books that hit SO hard.
Michel has become an instant-read for me. These books have a tendency to grip me by the throat and not let go until I'm done.
April 29, 2025
Well-written follow up to "The Price of Power". Michel crafts an interesting world and intriguing story. There are six POV characters here: three of them are from the first book (Barodane, Ishoa, and Thephos). There are three others who are newcomers, those whom I won't go into great detail about, but they all have their purpose, all having their individual stories and character arcs. There's some slight intersection between them, but there's much more to come I figure in future books.
This story is a slow-burn, just as the previous book was. The storylines build themselves up until impactful action nearing the end. Ishoa's plot line was probably the best. There was some wild stuff that went down for all of them, really, but her's had some brilliant plot progressions and plot twists. I believe the author said that this series would have 5 stories. I am looking forward to see how this goes about, as well as how he will come to wrap up these exciting progressions.
(Received an ARC from author in exchange for an honest review)
This story is a slow-burn, just as the previous book was. The storylines build themselves up until impactful action nearing the end. Ishoa's plot line was probably the best. There was some wild stuff that went down for all of them, really, but her's had some brilliant plot progressions and plot twists. I believe the author said that this series would have 5 stories. I am looking forward to see how this goes about, as well as how he will come to wrap up these exciting progressions.
(Received an ARC from author in exchange for an honest review)
November 23, 2025
Wow! My favorite read of the year. Incredible continuation of the story. I loved book 1. Book 2 was better. I never lost interest. The characters are extremely real and will have you frustrated but you love them all the same. Each character grows as the book goes on. I found the growth real and shaped by experiences and trauma. As the characters grow, I felt rewarded and excited because you were with them throughout the mistakes and tribulations. Pick up book one. The best series of the year for me. I can’t wait for book 3. Action packed, twists and turns, and emotionally engaging. New characters are introduced and each character grows on you. Just read this series.
February 10, 2026
I enjoyed this book so much I took it with me everywhere and read it with every spare minute I had.
The action, the betrayals, the suffering, and the blood did not stop. Every page a work of art. The story Michael weaves is magical. This series has been my one exception to my rule of not starting a series before it’s been completed. I simple cannot wait for it to be completed and must be absorbed immediately upon release. Some really well plotted character growth has me believing in a character I once cared nothing for. I have no doubt this series will end up in among my top series of all time.
The action, the betrayals, the suffering, and the blood did not stop. Every page a work of art. The story Michael weaves is magical. This series has been my one exception to my rule of not starting a series before it’s been completed. I simple cannot wait for it to be completed and must be absorbed immediately upon release. Some really well plotted character growth has me believing in a character I once cared nothing for. I have no doubt this series will end up in among my top series of all time.
July 6, 2025
This is just slow burn, epic, dark, gritty fantasy that sucks you in and spits you out desperate for more.
The Price of Power is one of my faves and this next installment just expands on it, with new characters and continued growth from our originals. The plot widens, the dark trials our characters undertake deepen and the stakes keep rising. Beautifully written, atmospheric world building and a deceptively quick read considering it's chonkiness. Excellent time spent, more please!
Thanks to Michael Michel for the arc opportunity and the invite to the Cult, a great place to hang out.
The Price of Power is one of my faves and this next installment just expands on it, with new characters and continued growth from our originals. The plot widens, the dark trials our characters undertake deepen and the stakes keep rising. Beautifully written, atmospheric world building and a deceptively quick read considering it's chonkiness. Excellent time spent, more please!
Thanks to Michael Michel for the arc opportunity and the invite to the Cult, a great place to hang out.
June 22, 2025
This book takes the Price of Power and turns everything you think you know on its head.
The scope is epic the characters are thrust into the worst situations in a dark but often humorous way.
The detail from the author shows you how much care and thought has gone into expanding a world that the first book made you think you understood.
An unputdownable classic that now leaves a void until the final book comes out and we can follow the amazing stories to their conclusion
The scope is epic the characters are thrust into the worst situations in a dark but often humorous way.
The detail from the author shows you how much care and thought has gone into expanding a world that the first book made you think you understood.
An unputdownable classic that now leaves a void until the final book comes out and we can follow the amazing stories to their conclusion
July 16, 2025
Excellent Series
The author is excellent at character development and world building. The story has captured me and is so hard to put down!
The violence is intense. The bad guys are really bad and the good guys are sometimes faced with almost impossible decisions.
Vengeance is a strong topic in this series. Who decides when it is warranted and what extremes are allowed?
This is a wonderfully written book. I look forward to reading more.
The author is excellent at character development and world building. The story has captured me and is so hard to put down!
The violence is intense. The bad guys are really bad and the good guys are sometimes faced with almost impossible decisions.
Vengeance is a strong topic in this series. Who decides when it is warranted and what extremes are allowed?
This is a wonderfully written book. I look forward to reading more.
July 23, 2025
Great second book, the plot thickens nicely
An absolute humdinger of a second book in the series. Multiple characters and plot twists abound. Each individual storyline comes together nicely and it's developing to a, no doubt, climatic conclusion.
Strong elements of grimdark throughout with gritty scenes throughout.
Has all the foundations of a truly epic series and very much looking forward to the next book.
An absolute humdinger of a second book in the series. Multiple characters and plot twists abound. Each individual storyline comes together nicely and it's developing to a, no doubt, climatic conclusion.
Strong elements of grimdark throughout with gritty scenes throughout.
Has all the foundations of a truly epic series and very much looking forward to the next book.
June 22, 2025
Not as good as the first one
Too many character's that I just can't care about. Too many sub plots to follow. So MUCH internal waffling and self doubt and self hatred. The only good part was the princess finally growing up, but having her best Dragga was ridiculous. I had high hopes after reading book one and now i resent the time wasted on this series. Hard pass on the rest.
Too many character's that I just can't care about. Too many sub plots to follow. So MUCH internal waffling and self doubt and self hatred. The only good part was the princess finally growing up, but having her best Dragga was ridiculous. I had high hopes after reading book one and now i resent the time wasted on this series. Hard pass on the rest.
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