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A Hero's Return #1
The Last War Wizard
The war is over. But peace? That’s a whole new battlefield.
For seven years, I fought monsters and nightmares across the continent as one of the kingdom’s last war wizards, forged in fire and blood. I’ve buried comrades, burned enemies to ash, and become something feared by both man and beast.
Now at last, I’m going home. Back to my family. Back to a promise I swore I’d keep.
But the town I left behind didn’t survive the war unscathed. A dark shadow has fallen over it, threatening to destroy anyone that stands in its way.
With a vagabond elven princess and a beautiful barmaid at my side, I’ll have to reclaim my home—and rebuild everything they tried to take from me.
Even if that means going to war one more time.
For seven years, I fought monsters and nightmares across the continent as one of the kingdom’s last war wizards, forged in fire and blood. I’ve buried comrades, burned enemies to ash, and become something feared by both man and beast.
Now at last, I’m going home. Back to my family. Back to a promise I swore I’d keep.
But the town I left behind didn’t survive the war unscathed. A dark shadow has fallen over it, threatening to destroy anyone that stands in its way.
With a vagabond elven princess and a beautiful barmaid at my side, I’ll have to reclaim my home—and rebuild everything they tried to take from me.
Even if that means going to war one more time.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2025
436 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 27, 2025
This book was a bit below average for a haremlit story.
The MC is a former war wizard on his way home from the conclusion of the war. On the way, he encounters slavers, and rescues a fairly young elven woman who decides he is her man. He fights it tooth and nail, to the point that he's pretty damn obnoxious about it. One of my least favorite romance tropes is the "he's so badly traumatized by that he won't let himself love anyone, but that one spunky woman breaks through is jerkish behavior to get to his gooey core." Well, that trope is on full display, and it really makes the MC sound like a tool. I never liked him throughout the book, even when he finally gets over himself.
The harem is only one lover, but the second is queued up and raring to go. The sex scenes are numerous in the last third of the book, since the elf is practically a nymphomaniac on the MC. The elf is just ok, the human barmaid and childhood friend is not bad, but we don't get enough of her to really get a feel for her. She's had a long standing crush on the MC, so she's also raring to go. This is one of those "The MC puts in zero effort and ends up with a harem" deals.
There's supposed to be two more books in the series, but I won't be reading them.
The MC is a former war wizard on his way home from the conclusion of the war. On the way, he encounters slavers, and rescues a fairly young elven woman who decides he is her man. He fights it tooth and nail, to the point that he's pretty damn obnoxious about it. One of my least favorite romance tropes is the "he's so badly traumatized by that he won't let himself love anyone, but that one spunky woman breaks through is jerkish behavior to get to his gooey core." Well, that trope is on full display, and it really makes the MC sound like a tool. I never liked him throughout the book, even when he finally gets over himself.
The harem is only one lover, but the second is queued up and raring to go. The sex scenes are numerous in the last third of the book, since the elf is practically a nymphomaniac on the MC. The elf is just ok, the human barmaid and childhood friend is not bad, but we don't get enough of her to really get a feel for her. She's had a long standing crush on the MC, so she's also raring to go. This is one of those "The MC puts in zero effort and ends up with a harem" deals.
There's supposed to be two more books in the series, but I won't be reading them.
December 2, 2025
Lame main character. Author does a horrible job at showing instead of telling. He claims the MC is tough and brooding but he is more whining and mopey.
August 18, 2025
Surprisingly decent; I'm looking forward to the next book when it releases.
The main premise is a decent trope I'm fond of and doesn't show up that often: The war is over, and a powerful veteran moves to a small town to retire or recover; he has to overcome psychological scars from the conflict, but also has an opportunity to apply the skills and power gained from that conflict to assist locals. (There's no doubt a pithy name for it, but whatever.) It's very similar to the starting premise of Master Class (which I liked a lot), or even Domestication (which I didn't care for, but for unrelated reasons).
Beyond that, it's just a decent story; reconnecting with old neighbours, trying to heal the scars of war (internal and external), building relationships, solving conflicts, etc. This iteration is a bit more conflict-driven and high stakes rather than being a chill slice of life.
The writing is, perhaps, the weak point. The prose isn't particularly tight; it rambles at times, the pacing is uneven, and the entire thing could probably use a pass from a good editor to try and make it more focused.
It's not going to be a story for everyone, but if the blurb (and my review) makes it sound like something you might enjoy, give it a shot. It's quite decent for what it is.
The main premise is a decent trope I'm fond of and doesn't show up that often: The war is over, and a powerful veteran moves to a small town to retire or recover; he has to overcome psychological scars from the conflict, but also has an opportunity to apply the skills and power gained from that conflict to assist locals. (There's no doubt a pithy name for it, but whatever.) It's very similar to the starting premise of Master Class (which I liked a lot), or even Domestication (which I didn't care for, but for unrelated reasons).
Beyond that, it's just a decent story; reconnecting with old neighbours, trying to heal the scars of war (internal and external), building relationships, solving conflicts, etc. This iteration is a bit more conflict-driven and high stakes rather than being a chill slice of life.
The writing is, perhaps, the weak point. The prose isn't particularly tight; it rambles at times, the pacing is uneven, and the entire thing could probably use a pass from a good editor to try and make it more focused.
It's not going to be a story for everyone, but if the blurb (and my review) makes it sound like something you might enjoy, give it a shot. It's quite decent for what it is.
June 29, 2025
Could be interesting, but too many holes
The story and world are interesting, but there are just way too many plot holes.
First I want to acknowledge that I almost didn’t finish this book. The MC started out at such a raging tool that I genuinely wanted someone to off him. I get the whole “war shock” thing and everything, but he was just being such a scumbag. Fortunately he started getting better in the end, but he still comes across and kind of unlikable.
There are huge glaring holes in the story. First, he is apparently broke but he was an elite war wizard. No kingdom is going to not pay their elite soldiers, especially ones who can apparently fight an entire army. Second, he always talks about the huge, sometimes weeks long, fights he was part of; however, he seems to “almost be out” in his cores after every fight! How does he have the power to fight for weeks at a time but suddenly he’s almost tapped out after every engagement?!?
Honestly it just came across as really unfinished. Also I am pretty sure there’s a (!) in the story at one point which is a prompt used in AI writing.
The story and world are interesting, but there are just way too many plot holes.
First I want to acknowledge that I almost didn’t finish this book. The MC started out at such a raging tool that I genuinely wanted someone to off him. I get the whole “war shock” thing and everything, but he was just being such a scumbag. Fortunately he started getting better in the end, but he still comes across and kind of unlikable.
There are huge glaring holes in the story. First, he is apparently broke but he was an elite war wizard. No kingdom is going to not pay their elite soldiers, especially ones who can apparently fight an entire army. Second, he always talks about the huge, sometimes weeks long, fights he was part of; however, he seems to “almost be out” in his cores after every fight! How does he have the power to fight for weeks at a time but suddenly he’s almost tapped out after every engagement?!?
Honestly it just came across as really unfinished. Also I am pretty sure there’s a (!) in the story at one point which is a prompt used in AI writing.
July 8, 2025
I'd give it 3.5 stars. The MC is a very dull boy. He's supposed to be 25 but due to his involvement in the war he aged a bit more, maturing him, but it also completely broke him. He doesn't express himself, barely says anything, and in general does nothing to warrant specific female attention. The author tries desperately to address this by explaining his baggage and one POV of Serena and how she felt about him, but none of it adds up. It's too contrived, such that it brought me out of the story. Actually, all of the characters are rather boring except Serena. No one else has a personality.
The plot itself was decent and kept me engaged, but nothing to write home about. I don't know if I'll read the next one.
The plot itself was decent and kept me engaged, but nothing to write home about. I don't know if I'll read the next one.
July 7, 2025
This is a fantasy world harem lit. I bailed at the 50% point, because the main character is a douche and the author is good but not good enough to pull off an enjoyable story with that MC.
Big fantasy war is over, MC is a war wizard whose magic is for fighting, he mustered out and is going home, and encounter bandits and slavers, and his hometown is in trouble, and he picks up women...
As I said, the writing is good for this type of story. But the author chose to make the MC such a tool and so stupid about it that it spoils the read.
Big fantasy war is over, MC is a war wizard whose magic is for fighting, he mustered out and is going home, and encounter bandits and slavers, and his hometown is in trouble, and he picks up women...
As I said, the writing is good for this type of story. But the author chose to make the MC such a tool and so stupid about it that it spoils the read.
August 13, 2025
Boring and childish
The story feels like it was written by 14 year-old boy with delusions of grandeur.... That's never talk to a girl in his entire life. The dialog is absolutely immature and it's not how adults would speak to 1 another nor how they would act if they had been in a war like this guy did the main character I mean this book is just pathetic it was a slog to finally finish it.
The story feels like it was written by 14 year-old boy with delusions of grandeur.... That's never talk to a girl in his entire life. The dialog is absolutely immature and it's not how adults would speak to 1 another nor how they would act if they had been in a war like this guy did the main character I mean this book is just pathetic it was a slog to finally finish it.
July 22, 2025
A very intriguing fantasy adventure!!!
I knew this would be a well written fantasy adventure with lots of interesting characters!!! What I hadn't expected was so many twists and turns throughout the story which really made this a great beginning!!! The ending was a definite surprise and I can't wait to see what happens next!!!
I knew this would be a well written fantasy adventure with lots of interesting characters!!! What I hadn't expected was so many twists and turns throughout the story which really made this a great beginning!!! The ending was a definite surprise and I can't wait to see what happens next!!!
June 19, 2025
It's one of the best Landon/Shane books yet
I already love all the books from this author, and this one is no exception, great deep characters, and a very good setting and story. I can't wait for the next one.
I already love all the books from this author, and this one is no exception, great deep characters, and a very good setting and story. I can't wait for the next one.
January 14, 2026
A great opening tale!
This story starts fast and maintains an excellent pace, with a fun twist to end the first book. Truly enjoyable characters, that you’ll enjoy. Looking forward to the next book.
This story starts fast and maintains an excellent pace, with a fun twist to end the first book. Truly enjoyable characters, that you’ll enjoy. Looking forward to the next book.
June 19, 2025
sometimes redemption is pushy and is going to help you one way or another.
July 4, 2025
Quick read
Pretty good read. Interesting magic framework, stays consistent. Got a kick out of the characters. Epilogue is pretty good as well
Pretty good read. Interesting magic framework, stays consistent. Got a kick out of the characters. Epilogue is pretty good as well
August 4, 2025
Very fun
Lots of fun. A good mix of romance and a good story. Dialogue could feel a little odd at times but still enjoyable.
Lots of fun. A good mix of romance and a good story. Dialogue could feel a little odd at times but still enjoyable.
September 2, 2025
Serena single-handedly carries this trilogy on her slender elven shoulders.
October 3, 2025
A fun read
Thought I'd give this book a try and found it to be a fun read with some funny moments. I'll try book two and see if it keeps up the humour.
Thought I'd give this book a try and found it to be a fun read with some funny moments. I'll try book two and see if it keeps up the humour.
December 23, 2025
So, first, this was better than many similar books, but only because they are often really, really bad. This one had some promise, it just needed an editor and to make a couple of changes.
The storyline would have worked, battle hardened soldier comes home after fighting for his country for seven years, finds his hometown in ruin and plagued by bandits and other trouble. I liked where the story was going, this badass from the war is going to clean up the town, drive out the baddies, and then make out with his dead best-friends sister like a champion. The problem was that along the way, the main character meets Serena, who torpedos the book mere pages after we first meet her. Serena is not a real person, she is a shallow, annoying, unfunny and uninteresting caricature of a woman. No one acts like her in real life, and if they did every man who knew her would run away as fast as they could not matter how attractive she was.
Serena also doesnt just fall for the main character after he rescues her because he is big, bad, and dripping with masculinity. Instead, the author throws in some nonsense about how elves owe a life debt and how if its a woman who owes it, she repays the debt sexually. It was so stupid that it killed any idea of romance as well destroying any hope of immersion or escapism into the story.
Finally, the book really needed an editor or the author to run through it one more time and fix the wording. Too often sentences were repeated in the same paragraph or the same words were used too closely together. The names of some of the places in the fictional world also made me roll my eyes. The Moon Forest Kingdom sounds like its from Super Mario Odyssey.
The storyline would have worked, battle hardened soldier comes home after fighting for his country for seven years, finds his hometown in ruin and plagued by bandits and other trouble. I liked where the story was going, this badass from the war is going to clean up the town, drive out the baddies, and then make out with his dead best-friends sister like a champion. The problem was that along the way, the main character meets Serena, who torpedos the book mere pages after we first meet her. Serena is not a real person, she is a shallow, annoying, unfunny and uninteresting caricature of a woman. No one acts like her in real life, and if they did every man who knew her would run away as fast as they could not matter how attractive she was.
Serena also doesnt just fall for the main character after he rescues her because he is big, bad, and dripping with masculinity. Instead, the author throws in some nonsense about how elves owe a life debt and how if its a woman who owes it, she repays the debt sexually. It was so stupid that it killed any idea of romance as well destroying any hope of immersion or escapism into the story.
Finally, the book really needed an editor or the author to run through it one more time and fix the wording. Too often sentences were repeated in the same paragraph or the same words were used too closely together. The names of some of the places in the fictional world also made me roll my eyes. The Moon Forest Kingdom sounds like its from Super Mario Odyssey.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews