The Wonder Lands War

by Peter Darbyshire

300 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

The author of the Book of Cross supernatural thriller series (The Mona Lisa Sacrifice, The Dead Hamlets, The Apocalypse Ark) as well as the books Has the World Ended Yet?, The Warhol Gang and Please.

Reviews

[Zilla Novikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced novel that moves from country to country and literary reference to reference as Cross flees incoming angels with the dubious aid of somewhat trustworthy Fae. When your allies are Faerie, who needs enemies, but he's certainly got plenty of those to choose between...
An urban fantasy that reminds me of reading Jim Butcher or Tanya Huff. Bonus points because, like Tanya Huff, he's Canadian, for those of you who like to see urban fantasy coming from Canadian authors and presses.

[Gillian Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Wonder Lands War seriously disrupted my sleep patterns for a couple of weeks, which is about the highest compliment I can pay a book. This fourth instalment in the series by Peter Darbyshire is a rollicking, chaotic, funny escape into a world of angels, gorgons, faery, and characters from the literary canon (though cannon is more apt) reimagined. It's both fantastical and fantastic, and definitely not just for those who like genre fiction. Netflix are you listening? I recommend the whole series.

[Kimmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wonder Lands War is bold, strange, and beautiful. A wild mix of myth and apocalyptic fantasy that rewards readers who love ambitious storytelling. It’s both a thrilling adventure and, in many ways, a love letter to literature itself.

Recommended for fans of genre-blending fantasy and anyone who enjoys stories that feel like stepping through a portal into something dark, wondrous, and entirely original.

Grateful for the opportunity to read and review this arc!