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That Which Follows You Home: A Dark Epic Fantasy Adventure
The Nine Hells have opened.
For centuries, Dún Lorne was a beacon of peace between realms, a place of academic achievement where weavers studied the art of manipulating the threads binding the world together. The mighty citadel sits upon a wellspring of great power. But power corrupts, and the traitorous King Casius has seized control of the citadel, opening a doorway between worlds, starting a war that changes the landscape of Verdalis for centuries. This became known as The Convergence.
If you want terrible monsters, blood-soaked battlefields, vivid thread magic, gut-wrenching loss, and moments of fierce tenderness, grab your copy now. Fans of high-stakes fantasy, portal fiction, and character-driven war stories will be hooked.
The citadel is crumbling.
Kings cross blades.
Monsters flood the earth.
And sometimes what follows you home is the monster within.
For fans of Ryan Cahill’s The Bound And The Broken, Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher, and authors like John Gwynne and Joe Abercrombie.
For centuries, Dún Lorne was a beacon of peace between realms, a place of academic achievement where weavers studied the art of manipulating the threads binding the world together. The mighty citadel sits upon a wellspring of great power. But power corrupts, and the traitorous King Casius has seized control of the citadel, opening a doorway between worlds, starting a war that changes the landscape of Verdalis for centuries. This became known as The Convergence.
If you want terrible monsters, blood-soaked battlefields, vivid thread magic, gut-wrenching loss, and moments of fierce tenderness, grab your copy now. Fans of high-stakes fantasy, portal fiction, and character-driven war stories will be hooked.
The citadel is crumbling.
Kings cross blades.
Monsters flood the earth.
And sometimes what follows you home is the monster within.
For fans of Ryan Cahill’s The Bound And The Broken, Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher, and authors like John Gwynne and Joe Abercrombie.
- GenresDark FantasyFantasy
206 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 7, 2026
5⭐️'s Highly Recommend
One of the best novellas I have ever read!
I NEED more of this world and these amazing characters!
The story is so expansive without feeling overwhelming. What an insanely wild ride.This epic dark fantasy has the perfect pacing and packs an emotional punch for such a short story.
I loved the multiple POV's & timelines, all of which I was equally invested in.
Action-packed & full of entertaining fighting sequences.
I really enjoyed the unique *THREAD* magic, in addition to elemental magic & PORTALS!
This novella has a variety of beasts and creatures. Elves, Vampires & wolfmen are just a few.
Two of the characters go off Monster hunting and that reminded me of the show Supernatural ( which happens to be my favorite). Their duo gave me the best found family vibes and I'd love to see more of them in future stories.
If I had to choose my favorite character it would be Renyart, a Vampire turning over a new leaf. His POV provides us with a romance sub plot. I felt the romance was really well done in such a short amount of time. There is a small amount of spice, but nothing crazy.
A bit of political intrigue is introduced, when we follow the brother of a king and his family who have experienced a great deal of loss. This leads us to some key plot points.
The prose is clear and flowed well with vivid visuals & descriptions. Awesome character work and internal struggles. Josiah balances plot & charatcer driven elements without taking away from either.
Overall this was such a satisfying read that checked off so many boxes for me. Looking forward to more stories from Josiah!
One of the best novellas I have ever read!
I NEED more of this world and these amazing characters!
The story is so expansive without feeling overwhelming. What an insanely wild ride.This epic dark fantasy has the perfect pacing and packs an emotional punch for such a short story.
I loved the multiple POV's & timelines, all of which I was equally invested in.
Action-packed & full of entertaining fighting sequences.
I really enjoyed the unique *THREAD* magic, in addition to elemental magic & PORTALS!
This novella has a variety of beasts and creatures. Elves, Vampires & wolfmen are just a few.
Two of the characters go off Monster hunting and that reminded me of the show Supernatural ( which happens to be my favorite). Their duo gave me the best found family vibes and I'd love to see more of them in future stories.
If I had to choose my favorite character it would be Renyart, a Vampire turning over a new leaf. His POV provides us with a romance sub plot. I felt the romance was really well done in such a short amount of time. There is a small amount of spice, but nothing crazy.
A bit of political intrigue is introduced, when we follow the brother of a king and his family who have experienced a great deal of loss. This leads us to some key plot points.
The prose is clear and flowed well with vivid visuals & descriptions. Awesome character work and internal struggles. Josiah balances plot & charatcer driven elements without taking away from either.
Overall this was such a satisfying read that checked off so many boxes for me. Looking forward to more stories from Josiah!
April 17, 2026
This book has so much goodness in it. I’ll try to narrow down some of my favorite things but there were ton which is genuinely impressive for a 200 page novella. Josiah was able to fit so much into one book but at no point was I overwhelmed or confused. This was just straight action and the perfect amount of heartbreak. A perfect setup to his upcoming series.
Pros:
- the magic systems are really well done. In this book we see 3 different ones. Portal, runes and elemental(?). Elemental is the best way I describe the weaver system here.
- characters. We follow three different POVs and storylines and they were all fantastic. Each one has a different purpose and carries different weight. Blythe and Hjalmar were my favorite and the fight scenes with them were incredible. Ophyr is solider that has had a massive fall from grace and give us insight into what happened after the convergence. Renyart’s storyline gives us a great love story despite having the smallest amount of page time.
- prose. Josiah’s writing is great. He shows so moments where he can really set a scene beautifully but can also dive into the dark side of his style and both are gripping and makes you not want to put the book down. He writes fighting scenes like a pro and is able to capture the “vibe” of each character while they are fighting.
Cons:
- I’m not big on spice and there’s a bit of it here. It’s done really well and it does add to the story but like I said, in general spice is not my favorite
- we do a few pretty significant time jumps towards the end of the book and there’s one where we jump to a new “age.” I wish we got to see a bit more background on that and I think if we got to explore Ophyr’s story a little more we could see how that came about. I’m sure this will be explored more in his book but it felt like a big jump that was only partly explored.
Pros:
- the magic systems are really well done. In this book we see 3 different ones. Portal, runes and elemental(?). Elemental is the best way I describe the weaver system here.
- characters. We follow three different POVs and storylines and they were all fantastic. Each one has a different purpose and carries different weight. Blythe and Hjalmar were my favorite and the fight scenes with them were incredible. Ophyr is solider that has had a massive fall from grace and give us insight into what happened after the convergence. Renyart’s storyline gives us a great love story despite having the smallest amount of page time.
- prose. Josiah’s writing is great. He shows so moments where he can really set a scene beautifully but can also dive into the dark side of his style and both are gripping and makes you not want to put the book down. He writes fighting scenes like a pro and is able to capture the “vibe” of each character while they are fighting.
Cons:
- I’m not big on spice and there’s a bit of it here. It’s done really well and it does add to the story but like I said, in general spice is not my favorite
- we do a few pretty significant time jumps towards the end of the book and there’s one where we jump to a new “age.” I wish we got to see a bit more background on that and I think if we got to explore Ophyr’s story a little more we could see how that came about. I’m sure this will be explored more in his book but it felt like a big jump that was only partly explored.
March 28, 2026
Are you kidding?! A prequel novella debut written in a few months, with SO MUCH packed into it. I was not expecting this and I am now so invested in all of the plot lines. I feel like I just read three books in 200 pages. What an awesome collision of times, places, and creatures leading up to a story that I definitely need.
May 13, 2026
What a fun ride. Blizzard has crafted something truly unique and special here. For a 200 page novella, this book will take you across a huge span of time, and every emotion possible.
Do yourself a favor and read this, so you’re ready when his full-length novel drops soon.
Do yourself a favor and read this, so you’re ready when his full-length novel drops soon.
June 19, 2026
4.5 stars … this is one of the best novellas I’ve read.
That Which Follows You Home is a prequel novella to the Threadbound series and covers a major historical event in this world and the aftermath of this on the lives of 3 characters. It is unlike any novella I’ve read before, and I’m genuinely impressed by how much it managed to achieve in around 200 pages.
The book drops you right in the action of a huge battle from the perspective initially of two of the characters. It is fast-paced and engaging. Through this battle, we get to see the different ways weavers (people who have access to weaving abilities) using threads (e.g. of air, water and earth) to fight. This magic system was an interesting take on elemental magic and there are some threads such as threads of spirit which felt different and intriguing. The battle then introduces so many different creatures and monsters; we have trolls, hellhounds, wolfmen and even vampires. This was honestly just so much fun to read.
The second half of the book definitely feels more character-focused and simpler to follow, but actually some of my favourite character moments were during the battle itself, which is a testament to Josiah Blizzard’s great storytelling. There are themes of belonging, family, friendship/found family, dealing with grief, turning over a new leaf for yourself and even a small romantic subplot. Ophyr, brother of the elvish king, was my favourite POV and I would love to read more from his character. He felt very real and imperfect, at times hilarious and at times infuriating too. There are some time-jumps throughout this second half, so we really get to see the characters grow over time within such a short story.
The last chapter and the epilogue had me wishing this novella was a full-length novel, but I’m excited to see what else the author has planned for this world. I’ve had the great fortune to read an ARC of book 1 of this series (out next month) which is set a few hundred years in the future with different main characters. (PS: it was so great, review to come soon).
Josiah Blizzard is a new auto-buy author for me. If you are hesitating at all, this novella can be found for free on his website and The Heart of Hornwood is only $0.99 on kindle to pre-order! There is really no excuse to miss out on this amazing indie author and series.
That Which Follows You Home is a prequel novella to the Threadbound series and covers a major historical event in this world and the aftermath of this on the lives of 3 characters. It is unlike any novella I’ve read before, and I’m genuinely impressed by how much it managed to achieve in around 200 pages.
The book drops you right in the action of a huge battle from the perspective initially of two of the characters. It is fast-paced and engaging. Through this battle, we get to see the different ways weavers (people who have access to weaving abilities) using threads (e.g. of air, water and earth) to fight. This magic system was an interesting take on elemental magic and there are some threads such as threads of spirit which felt different and intriguing. The battle then introduces so many different creatures and monsters; we have trolls, hellhounds, wolfmen and even vampires. This was honestly just so much fun to read.
The second half of the book definitely feels more character-focused and simpler to follow, but actually some of my favourite character moments were during the battle itself, which is a testament to Josiah Blizzard’s great storytelling. There are themes of belonging, family, friendship/found family, dealing with grief, turning over a new leaf for yourself and even a small romantic subplot. Ophyr, brother of the elvish king, was my favourite POV and I would love to read more from his character. He felt very real and imperfect, at times hilarious and at times infuriating too. There are some time-jumps throughout this second half, so we really get to see the characters grow over time within such a short story.
The last chapter and the epilogue had me wishing this novella was a full-length novel, but I’m excited to see what else the author has planned for this world. I’ve had the great fortune to read an ARC of book 1 of this series (out next month) which is set a few hundred years in the future with different main characters. (PS: it was so great, review to come soon).
Josiah Blizzard is a new auto-buy author for me. If you are hesitating at all, this novella can be found for free on his website and The Heart of Hornwood is only $0.99 on kindle to pre-order! There is really no excuse to miss out on this amazing indie author and series.
May 11, 2026
I just finished That Which Follows You Home by Josiah D. Blizzard, and honestly, I came away from it really surprised. It’s a prequel novella to something bigger, and it’s not something I’d usually pick up on my own. But I’m part of the Hive Tribe Book Club, and this month, it was one of two novellas they picked... so I went in completely blind.
The start was a bit disorienting; Blizzard drops you right into the middle of this massive, epic battle, like you’ve just opened the book at the end of a 700-page fantasy saga. At first, I wasn’t sure what was going on or how the pieces fit in, but once I settled in, it became this intense, emotional ride.
What really stood out to me was Blizzard’s storytelling. At first, Ophyr and Hjalmar are these two characters I barely knew, and I found myself wondering how I was supposed to care about them. But the way Blizzard writes, he reveals who they are slowly, as the battle unfolds... through their conversations, who they look for, and how they react to the chaos. And then, in the midst of the battle, suddenly, new mythical creatures join the fray, drawn from all kinds of different myths and lore. The stakes of the battle suddenly rise, and I found myself caring more and more about these characters as the story went on.
Another thing I loved was this deep desire I had for more, even after a big time jump. There’s a 2 to 300 year gap, and instead of feeling lost, I found myself desperate to know what happened in between. And I think that says so much about Blizzard’s writing; the way he sparks this excitement, not just for the characters we meet, but for everything in between.
If you’re looking for a high-fantasy, grimdark story, this novella is exactly what you need. It’s short, so you can finish it in a day or two; and yet it leaves you so satisfied, but still craving more.
I happily and without hesitation give this a 5/5
The start was a bit disorienting; Blizzard drops you right into the middle of this massive, epic battle, like you’ve just opened the book at the end of a 700-page fantasy saga. At first, I wasn’t sure what was going on or how the pieces fit in, but once I settled in, it became this intense, emotional ride.
What really stood out to me was Blizzard’s storytelling. At first, Ophyr and Hjalmar are these two characters I barely knew, and I found myself wondering how I was supposed to care about them. But the way Blizzard writes, he reveals who they are slowly, as the battle unfolds... through their conversations, who they look for, and how they react to the chaos. And then, in the midst of the battle, suddenly, new mythical creatures join the fray, drawn from all kinds of different myths and lore. The stakes of the battle suddenly rise, and I found myself caring more and more about these characters as the story went on.
Another thing I loved was this deep desire I had for more, even after a big time jump. There’s a 2 to 300 year gap, and instead of feeling lost, I found myself desperate to know what happened in between. And I think that says so much about Blizzard’s writing; the way he sparks this excitement, not just for the characters we meet, but for everything in between.
If you’re looking for a high-fantasy, grimdark story, this novella is exactly what you need. It’s short, so you can finish it in a day or two; and yet it leaves you so satisfied, but still craving more.
I happily and without hesitation give this a 5/5
May 19, 2026
4.5 ⭐
That Which Follows You Home is a prequel novella that sets up how the world of Verdalis became what it is now. It spans just under 200 years of time and follows a cast of characters, with three different POVs it switches from. One of the most impressive aspects of this novella is that it throws you into the thick of battle from the get-go. We’re thrust into a political maelstrom between three armies the reader knows nothing about. And yet, as the carnage begins and each character struggles to survive and fulfill their specific role within the greater scheme of the battle, I quickly became invested in every single character’s fate. By the 25% mark, I was already feeling like I was brothers in arms with all of them and I thought it was a clever way to introduce us to the setting and peoples.
During the battle, portals suddenly open up and all kinds of monsters you can imagine (and even those you can’t) come bursting through which pushes the level of chaos entirely off the scales! Vampires. Wolf-Men. Banshees. Demons. Manticores. Cockatrices…you get the idea. A world that had zero monsters suddenly has all of them and now they have to deal with that. Not to mention that no-one even knows why the portals were opened in the first place.
Once the dust settles, there is so much to do to rebuild but the trust between different factions has been broken. Especially once it becomes clear that not everything that came through the portals deserves to be hunted. In fact, my two favourite characters are not originally from this world and they’re just doing their best to start a life in a new, and very hostile, world. Renyart, a vampire who falls in love with a woman of this world and decides he no longer wants to hunt people for food, is delightful to follow (a favourite among the buddy readers for sure). His POV was equally adorable and devastating. My other fav was Hjalmar, a wolf-man who saves and befriends a man from this world and together they avoid the law, and hunt monsters.
Another really cool part of this story is the magic system based on elemental power threads that can be manipulated. There are also Spirit threads that can be used to communicate mentally. The vibes of this book are a very odd mix of inspirations that felt to me like a crossover between a grimdark Avatar the Last Airbender and The Witcher. Specifically because of the trope of the monster hunter who is hated by the very people they help, which by the way is one of my favourite tropes of all time. From the outside it might sound like there are too many ingredients in this book- soup but I swear, Blizzard made it feel cohesive—yet another feat accomplished by this novella!
Despite the fact that I was fully invested in all the characters, it was clear that this novella’s focus was on breadth and not depth. Its attention is on the world-changing events rather than character moments and there are several huge time jumps where we catch up with our characters years later. There were two specific instances where I thought that I could read a whole book about what happened to these characters during this time gap. To be fair, That Which Follows You Home is not meant to be a saga but a brief history, even though my personal preferences would have loved more day-to-day moments with the fantastic characters Blizzard created. So that’s why I couldn’t give the book a full 5 stars. Regardless, I can’t wait to check out The Heart of Hornwood, book #1 in the Threadbound series, when it releases this July!
That Which Follows You Home is a prequel novella that sets up how the world of Verdalis became what it is now. It spans just under 200 years of time and follows a cast of characters, with three different POVs it switches from. One of the most impressive aspects of this novella is that it throws you into the thick of battle from the get-go. We’re thrust into a political maelstrom between three armies the reader knows nothing about. And yet, as the carnage begins and each character struggles to survive and fulfill their specific role within the greater scheme of the battle, I quickly became invested in every single character’s fate. By the 25% mark, I was already feeling like I was brothers in arms with all of them and I thought it was a clever way to introduce us to the setting and peoples.
During the battle, portals suddenly open up and all kinds of monsters you can imagine (and even those you can’t) come bursting through which pushes the level of chaos entirely off the scales! Vampires. Wolf-Men. Banshees. Demons. Manticores. Cockatrices…you get the idea. A world that had zero monsters suddenly has all of them and now they have to deal with that. Not to mention that no-one even knows why the portals were opened in the first place.
Once the dust settles, there is so much to do to rebuild but the trust between different factions has been broken. Especially once it becomes clear that not everything that came through the portals deserves to be hunted. In fact, my two favourite characters are not originally from this world and they’re just doing their best to start a life in a new, and very hostile, world. Renyart, a vampire who falls in love with a woman of this world and decides he no longer wants to hunt people for food, is delightful to follow (a favourite among the buddy readers for sure). His POV was equally adorable and devastating. My other fav was Hjalmar, a wolf-man who saves and befriends a man from this world and together they avoid the law, and hunt monsters.
Another really cool part of this story is the magic system based on elemental power threads that can be manipulated. There are also Spirit threads that can be used to communicate mentally. The vibes of this book are a very odd mix of inspirations that felt to me like a crossover between a grimdark Avatar the Last Airbender and The Witcher. Specifically because of the trope of the monster hunter who is hated by the very people they help, which by the way is one of my favourite tropes of all time. From the outside it might sound like there are too many ingredients in this book- soup but I swear, Blizzard made it feel cohesive—yet another feat accomplished by this novella!
Despite the fact that I was fully invested in all the characters, it was clear that this novella’s focus was on breadth and not depth. Its attention is on the world-changing events rather than character moments and there are several huge time jumps where we catch up with our characters years later. There were two specific instances where I thought that I could read a whole book about what happened to these characters during this time gap. To be fair, That Which Follows You Home is not meant to be a saga but a brief history, even though my personal preferences would have loved more day-to-day moments with the fantastic characters Blizzard created. So that’s why I couldn’t give the book a full 5 stars. Regardless, I can’t wait to check out The Heart of Hornwood, book #1 in the Threadbound series, when it releases this July!
April 24, 2026
This epic fantasy prequel is a hard one for me to rate. The majority of the first half is very action-heavy, and while it's not by any means badly written, that sort of constant smiting and gore just isn't the thing that hooks me. It's the aftermath of this great battle where the characters and the lore really get to shine.
We open with a great battle where allied kingdoms of elves and men must come together to stop the traitor King Casius from taking over Dún Lorne, the grand academy that houses the source of all magic. Orphyr, brother to the elven king, leads his troops bravely into the fray. Hjalmar, a magic wielding warrior, stands ready beside his band of brothers. Neither of them are prepared for the portals that open, spewing out creatures of nightmares never seen before. They were prepared to fight men, not monsters, and now they must battle both for the safety of all lands. But not all who arrive through the portals are enemies.
The action is very cinematic, choreographed like a big budget action sequence you'd expect in video games or movies. It's brutal, at times slightly visceral. Our two warrior POVs give us different angles on events that explain the reasons why the battle goes the way it does. There is a third POV every so often, and this one confused me for a while as it wasn't part of the melee. He makes sense later on, but isn't so much my thing.
The writing seems pretty accessible, sometimes terse in that boy-book way earlier on before developing a stronger voice. I'm not a fan of modern slang in high fantasy, so some of the dialogue (e.g something "sucks") was a little tricky for me, but it's not too common an occurrence.
Hjalmar's story interested me the most, delving into both lore and companionships. The others varied, but not all characters are supposed to be likeable and it's understandable how they've changed over time. There was a rather graphic sex scene that surprised me as I wasn't expecting that level of... that, in this kind of book.
I found myself enjoying the quieter moments where we got to pick up lore and hints about the characters themselves. This was more prevalent after the battle, and there are several mini chapters covering the months and years that follow and how events have changed them. My only gripe is that there's a big historical event alluded to that gets skipped over, presumably because it's covered in the main series, but I still felt like I was missing something that'd help me make sense of events.
The twist at the end certainly makes for an intriguing hook into that series though. It's enough to make me want to know more.
We open with a great battle where allied kingdoms of elves and men must come together to stop the traitor King Casius from taking over Dún Lorne, the grand academy that houses the source of all magic. Orphyr, brother to the elven king, leads his troops bravely into the fray. Hjalmar, a magic wielding warrior, stands ready beside his band of brothers. Neither of them are prepared for the portals that open, spewing out creatures of nightmares never seen before. They were prepared to fight men, not monsters, and now they must battle both for the safety of all lands. But not all who arrive through the portals are enemies.
The action is very cinematic, choreographed like a big budget action sequence you'd expect in video games or movies. It's brutal, at times slightly visceral. Our two warrior POVs give us different angles on events that explain the reasons why the battle goes the way it does. There is a third POV every so often, and this one confused me for a while as it wasn't part of the melee. He makes sense later on, but isn't so much my thing.
The writing seems pretty accessible, sometimes terse in that boy-book way earlier on before developing a stronger voice. I'm not a fan of modern slang in high fantasy, so some of the dialogue (e.g something "sucks") was a little tricky for me, but it's not too common an occurrence.
Hjalmar's story interested me the most, delving into both lore and companionships. The others varied, but not all characters are supposed to be likeable and it's understandable how they've changed over time. There was a rather graphic sex scene that surprised me as I wasn't expecting that level of... that, in this kind of book.
I found myself enjoying the quieter moments where we got to pick up lore and hints about the characters themselves. This was more prevalent after the battle, and there are several mini chapters covering the months and years that follow and how events have changed them. My only gripe is that there's a big historical event alluded to that gets skipped over, presumably because it's covered in the main series, but I still felt like I was missing something that'd help me make sense of events.
The twist at the end certainly makes for an intriguing hook into that series though. It's enough to make me want to know more.
June 18, 2026
That which follows you home – Josiah D. Blizzard
A Threadbound Novella
Déjenme partir este intento de review con un ¡¡¡Guaaaaaaaau!!!
Esta novela corta comienza con dos capítulos cargados de acción en medio del campo de batalla a través de distintos puntos de vista, con personajes de distintos bandos. Hjalmar, líder de los Valkari; Ophyr, hermano del rey de uno de los reinos; Renyart, un vampiro proveniente de otro mundo.
En medio de la batalla entre los reinos, se abren múltiples portales y criaturas, como el vampiro, caen en este mundo comenzando a enfrentarse a sus seres.
“No, for Hjalmar, he belonged here, in the shield wall beside nervous Gorm and the others. This was his home, and he’d die in it. Beyond battle, it didn’t exist, and he doubted it ever would.”
¿Cómo es vivir en este mundo para un monstruo, que debe soportar la persecución constante? ¿Cómo es vivir a la sombra del rey, olvidado por los tuyos sintiéndote culpable de todo? ¿Y conocer por fin el amor después de una vida de lucha?
Tiene un sistema de magia muy interesante, similar y que te hacen recordar al de Ryan Cahill en su saga “The Bound and The Broken”, junto con magia a partir de las runas, que me hicieron recordar a Pat Rothfuss con la Sigaldría, aunque no solo se imbuyen las cosas con ellas, si no que el usuario debe ser capaz de controlarlas.
“ ‘You’re a disgrace.’ Was that what he was to this city? After all he gave for them, this was how he’d be treated? He wasn’t looking for glory or fortune. He had wealth in abundance. War breeds death, not glory. And because of him his brother was gone.”
@josiahblizzardwrites desarrolla esta grandiosa trama en menos de doscientas páginas, con un estilo trabajado, una prosa exquisita en que pasa de escenarios hermosos al lado más oscuro y visceral.
Mis felicitaciones por este pedazo de libro y ahora sí, a sumergirnos de lleno en “The Heart of Hornwood”, su primera novela en la saga Threadbound.
4,75/5 estrellas
#JosiahDBlizzard #ThatWhichFollowsYouHome #AThreadbound #Fantasy #DarkFantasy #books #libros
A Threadbound Novella
Déjenme partir este intento de review con un ¡¡¡Guaaaaaaaau!!!
Esta novela corta comienza con dos capítulos cargados de acción en medio del campo de batalla a través de distintos puntos de vista, con personajes de distintos bandos. Hjalmar, líder de los Valkari; Ophyr, hermano del rey de uno de los reinos; Renyart, un vampiro proveniente de otro mundo.
En medio de la batalla entre los reinos, se abren múltiples portales y criaturas, como el vampiro, caen en este mundo comenzando a enfrentarse a sus seres.
“No, for Hjalmar, he belonged here, in the shield wall beside nervous Gorm and the others. This was his home, and he’d die in it. Beyond battle, it didn’t exist, and he doubted it ever would.”
¿Cómo es vivir en este mundo para un monstruo, que debe soportar la persecución constante? ¿Cómo es vivir a la sombra del rey, olvidado por los tuyos sintiéndote culpable de todo? ¿Y conocer por fin el amor después de una vida de lucha?
Tiene un sistema de magia muy interesante, similar y que te hacen recordar al de Ryan Cahill en su saga “The Bound and The Broken”, junto con magia a partir de las runas, que me hicieron recordar a Pat Rothfuss con la Sigaldría, aunque no solo se imbuyen las cosas con ellas, si no que el usuario debe ser capaz de controlarlas.
“ ‘You’re a disgrace.’ Was that what he was to this city? After all he gave for them, this was how he’d be treated? He wasn’t looking for glory or fortune. He had wealth in abundance. War breeds death, not glory. And because of him his brother was gone.”
@josiahblizzardwrites desarrolla esta grandiosa trama en menos de doscientas páginas, con un estilo trabajado, una prosa exquisita en que pasa de escenarios hermosos al lado más oscuro y visceral.
Mis felicitaciones por este pedazo de libro y ahora sí, a sumergirnos de lleno en “The Heart of Hornwood”, su primera novela en la saga Threadbound.
4,75/5 estrellas
#JosiahDBlizzard #ThatWhichFollowsYouHome #AThreadbound #Fantasy #DarkFantasy #books #libros
June 26, 2026
This was a weird one for me.
As my first indie read, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The novella was recommended to me by a friend and he sang the title’s praises, eager to hear what I thought. Because of this, I went in with high expectations but, sadly, finished the book feeling confused.
The characters were interesting enough, for a 176 page novella. Hjalmar was my favorite POV, while Blythe was easily my favorite part of this entire experience. However, I found that the other POVs of Ophyr and Renyart did little more than make me roll my eyes.
What I found especially interesting though, was the author’s use of profanity, sex, and vulgarity. I’m no stranger to swear words, but the use of profanity in this story felt forced, out of place and unwelcome. This sentiment also extends itself to the presence of sex in the writing. The “intimate” moments on display were jarring, awkward, and accomplished absolutely nothing, other than making me uncomfortable.
I also felt that there was a gross misuse/abuse of similes and descriptors. The author incessantly described actions and settings by likening them to other objects, places, or characteristics of things. While this is obviously fine to do, I would appreciate it be done in moderation. The constant use of simile and comparison robbed much of the world of its authenticity and originality. At least for me.
Now despite all that, I enjoyed it!
I think there were definitely some glaring problems in the writing, the tone, and some inconsistencies that I had noticed, but overall I found that the world has plenty of potential. The magic system is interesting, the world is rife with action and the pacing is pleasant. I think that the vision and passion is there, I just hope that the author can follow through.
I look forward to reading the sequel, “The Heart of Hornwood”, later next month and hope to see some growth in the story, the characters, and the writing.
2.5 Stars
As my first indie read, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The novella was recommended to me by a friend and he sang the title’s praises, eager to hear what I thought. Because of this, I went in with high expectations but, sadly, finished the book feeling confused.
The characters were interesting enough, for a 176 page novella. Hjalmar was my favorite POV, while Blythe was easily my favorite part of this entire experience. However, I found that the other POVs of Ophyr and Renyart did little more than make me roll my eyes.
What I found especially interesting though, was the author’s use of profanity, sex, and vulgarity. I’m no stranger to swear words, but the use of profanity in this story felt forced, out of place and unwelcome. This sentiment also extends itself to the presence of sex in the writing. The “intimate” moments on display were jarring, awkward, and accomplished absolutely nothing, other than making me uncomfortable.
I also felt that there was a gross misuse/abuse of similes and descriptors. The author incessantly described actions and settings by likening them to other objects, places, or characteristics of things. While this is obviously fine to do, I would appreciate it be done in moderation. The constant use of simile and comparison robbed much of the world of its authenticity and originality. At least for me.
Now despite all that, I enjoyed it!
I think there were definitely some glaring problems in the writing, the tone, and some inconsistencies that I had noticed, but overall I found that the world has plenty of potential. The magic system is interesting, the world is rife with action and the pacing is pleasant. I think that the vision and passion is there, I just hope that the author can follow through.
I look forward to reading the sequel, “The Heart of Hornwood”, later next month and hope to see some growth in the story, the characters, and the writing.
2.5 Stars
May 6, 2026
This has the potential of a sleeper hit. Novella's have a hard time winning in such a big way, but this joins An Inkling of Flame (ZB Steele) , The Dreamer (Jean Swan) and The Exile (Ryan Cahill) in the ranks of great novellas.
Going in, I knew nothing really about it or the story. It was on my TBR and thats about it.
After the first few pages I have to admit, I felt a little skeptical. Why? Immediately you get dropped into a massive scale conflict, the type of battle you expect to see after you have learned about the players, the sides, the politics and have bonded with the characters. Don't get me wrong, it was cool but I had my doubts.
But then it turned out to be one of the best novellas I have encountered to date.
The book follows three POV's during and through the battle the rips open the portal between worlds allowing an apocalyptic amount of monsters to cross over. Each POV proves to be more compelling than the last. First you have Ophyr, the brother of the King of Silverglade. Next, you have Renyart, a Vampyr sucked into this world through the portal- perhaps getting the fresh start he always dreamt of. Finally you have Hjalmar, a magic weaver of the Valkari.
This story is gripping, action packed, emotional and equally plot and character focused. Reading it the world was established, the characters were on full display and I am attached to each of them, we learn of the magic and we see the underpinnings where this story might start to go.
You know you have a hit on your hands when as I was reading I decided, first, that I needed a special edition bestiary of the aforementioned creatures from the portal, and second, that I need a whole separate series covering the adventures of Hjalmar. You will know why when you read this.
This novella was spectacular. Do not expect me to shut up about this.
Going in, I knew nothing really about it or the story. It was on my TBR and thats about it.
After the first few pages I have to admit, I felt a little skeptical. Why? Immediately you get dropped into a massive scale conflict, the type of battle you expect to see after you have learned about the players, the sides, the politics and have bonded with the characters. Don't get me wrong, it was cool but I had my doubts.
But then it turned out to be one of the best novellas I have encountered to date.
The book follows three POV's during and through the battle the rips open the portal between worlds allowing an apocalyptic amount of monsters to cross over. Each POV proves to be more compelling than the last. First you have Ophyr, the brother of the King of Silverglade. Next, you have Renyart, a Vampyr sucked into this world through the portal- perhaps getting the fresh start he always dreamt of. Finally you have Hjalmar, a magic weaver of the Valkari.
This story is gripping, action packed, emotional and equally plot and character focused. Reading it the world was established, the characters were on full display and I am attached to each of them, we learn of the magic and we see the underpinnings where this story might start to go.
You know you have a hit on your hands when as I was reading I decided, first, that I needed a special edition bestiary of the aforementioned creatures from the portal, and second, that I need a whole separate series covering the adventures of Hjalmar. You will know why when you read this.
This novella was spectacular. Do not expect me to shut up about this.
July 1, 2026
What a fun novella to introduce us to the main story. Fun may not be the right choice of words, but I truly believe Hjalmar and Blythe would call it fun.
First off, I really loved the characters in this book. The moment Renyart enters the story, he quickly becomes very interesting. Especially given his backstory, where he is from in particular. Then there are Hjalmar and Blythe who bring a little comedy to this dark novella, but that’s not to say they don’t go through some serious $4!t… stuff. And then there is Ophyr whom we love and want to feel sorry for, but he chooses to walk in $4!t… stuff.
The character arcs move quickly, this is a novella, but not so fast that we don’t grow with them.
The world is vast and really makes the story enjoyable. It leaves a lot to be desired in a good way. I’m very much looking forward to the series. Book 1 of the Threadbound series comes out, July 21. It’s titled The Heart of Hornwood.
There are monsters and creatures that we grew up to and Josiah builds a world that invites these monsters to come and play and I’m here for it.
Josiah tells this story with a confidence that makes all of it very enjoyable. While he doesn’t bring a prose that makes one swoon, he uses a language that keeps the reader engaged and invested with his characters.
Josiah is an indie author and for a debut novel… you can ask for much more. I was thoroughly entertained, invested and wanting more. I personally am very exited to read more from Josiah Blizzard. He’s got an incredible imagination and has a gift at storytelling.
First off, I really loved the characters in this book. The moment Renyart enters the story, he quickly becomes very interesting. Especially given his backstory, where he is from in particular. Then there are Hjalmar and Blythe who bring a little comedy to this dark novella, but that’s not to say they don’t go through some serious $4!t… stuff. And then there is Ophyr whom we love and want to feel sorry for, but he chooses to walk in $4!t… stuff.
The character arcs move quickly, this is a novella, but not so fast that we don’t grow with them.
The world is vast and really makes the story enjoyable. It leaves a lot to be desired in a good way. I’m very much looking forward to the series. Book 1 of the Threadbound series comes out, July 21. It’s titled The Heart of Hornwood.
There are monsters and creatures that we grew up to and Josiah builds a world that invites these monsters to come and play and I’m here for it.
Josiah tells this story with a confidence that makes all of it very enjoyable. While he doesn’t bring a prose that makes one swoon, he uses a language that keeps the reader engaged and invested with his characters.
Josiah is an indie author and for a debut novel… you can ask for much more. I was thoroughly entertained, invested and wanting more. I personally am very exited to read more from Josiah Blizzard. He’s got an incredible imagination and has a gift at storytelling.
April 15, 2026
That Which Follows You Home is a pull-no-punches prequel novella detailing the collapse of an alliance between three powerful kingdoms while the three POV characters unravel in the aftermath. You are thrown right into the conflict and left to find your bearings amongst the carnage, which is actually quite easy to do thanks to Blizzard's clear writing.
The characters evolve more significantly in the second half of the story, which I found to be the stronger portion, since there's only so much you can do amongst an extended action sequence without time to set up the world, stakes, and characters. Still, Blizzard accomplishes a lot here, particular with his magic and worldbuilding. I don't want to say too much, but suffice it to say that the magic system is extremely intriguing, and there are some incredible possibilities for the Threadbound series in that regard.
Overall, That Which Follows You Home is a dark, violent, and intense introduction to the world of Josiah Blizzard's Threadbound series- and a very promising one. With robust magic, tragic characters, and plenty of conflict to go around, this could be a series to keep an eye on.
The characters evolve more significantly in the second half of the story, which I found to be the stronger portion, since there's only so much you can do amongst an extended action sequence without time to set up the world, stakes, and characters. Still, Blizzard accomplishes a lot here, particular with his magic and worldbuilding. I don't want to say too much, but suffice it to say that the magic system is extremely intriguing, and there are some incredible possibilities for the Threadbound series in that regard.
Overall, That Which Follows You Home is a dark, violent, and intense introduction to the world of Josiah Blizzard's Threadbound series- and a very promising one. With robust magic, tragic characters, and plenty of conflict to go around, this could be a series to keep an eye on.
June 23, 2026
WOW, this is a masterpiece.
Blizzard packed so much into this novella but he somehow made it work. You’re given so much information from all the different POVs, through many different timelines and it all comes out beautifully done.
This is a dark epic fantasy novella with action, thread magic, demons, portals, vampires, elves. There’s found family, and a romance sub-plot with the tiniest bit of spice. There’s grief.
The world building is so well done in such a small amount of time. This novella is less than 200 pages, yet you learn so much about the world. I felt connected to all the characters and felt with them and for them.
There’s so much I loved about this novella and I think the only complaint I have is that I needed more. I need more Renyart, especially. His story was my favorite and I hope there’s more of him (and really everyone else) in the upcoming books. The Hjalmar and Blythe storyline gave me a bit of Witcher vibes, which I loved. Ophyr’s story made me sad.
If you’re thinking about this novella, don’t think twice and give it a try. Blizzard’s writing is something I’ll keep looking forward to and I’m so excited to keep reading the world of Threadbound.
Blizzard packed so much into this novella but he somehow made it work. You’re given so much information from all the different POVs, through many different timelines and it all comes out beautifully done.
This is a dark epic fantasy novella with action, thread magic, demons, portals, vampires, elves. There’s found family, and a romance sub-plot with the tiniest bit of spice. There’s grief.
The world building is so well done in such a small amount of time. This novella is less than 200 pages, yet you learn so much about the world. I felt connected to all the characters and felt with them and for them.
There’s so much I loved about this novella and I think the only complaint I have is that I needed more. I need more Renyart, especially. His story was my favorite and I hope there’s more of him (and really everyone else) in the upcoming books. The Hjalmar and Blythe storyline gave me a bit of Witcher vibes, which I loved. Ophyr’s story made me sad.
If you’re thinking about this novella, don’t think twice and give it a try. Blizzard’s writing is something I’ll keep looking forward to and I’m so excited to keep reading the world of Threadbound.
May 20, 2026
A novella and an introduction to the land of Verdalis. And what a way to introduce a really cool world! You’re thrown into the action in the very first chapter, so make sure you’ve got your shoes tied. If you like a dark fantasy, this will hook you.
There is an absolutely amazing cast of characters introduced here. I am all about complex characters and I get very attached! All of the characters are so different and so intriguing. I was surprised by how complex and magnetic they all were despite the fact that this is only 200ish pages. I would happily read a full length novel about each and every one of them.
The world building here is also quite thorough despite its length. This is a world that seemed like a pretty idyllic place until certain events cast it into darkness. There are lots of time jumps but they are not overwhelming in the slightest and only help to add depth to the world and to the characters.
One thing that I thought was so cool about this novella is that sure, it sets up a world for us, but not just for one storyline. There is the potential for a ton of individual stories. You can’t help but want to dissect it all. All of the characters are having very different experiences in this now corrupt world, and I’m wondering how and if their stories converge.
There is an absolutely amazing cast of characters introduced here. I am all about complex characters and I get very attached! All of the characters are so different and so intriguing. I was surprised by how complex and magnetic they all were despite the fact that this is only 200ish pages. I would happily read a full length novel about each and every one of them.
The world building here is also quite thorough despite its length. This is a world that seemed like a pretty idyllic place until certain events cast it into darkness. There are lots of time jumps but they are not overwhelming in the slightest and only help to add depth to the world and to the characters.
One thing that I thought was so cool about this novella is that sure, it sets up a world for us, but not just for one storyline. There is the potential for a ton of individual stories. You can’t help but want to dissect it all. All of the characters are having very different experiences in this now corrupt world, and I’m wondering how and if their stories converge.
March 31, 2026
🌟4.75
Excuse me, Josiah? Where is the next book? I understand this was a novella, but I require more immediately.
For an 180 novella, this thing packs a wallop. You get three POVs from vastly different characters. There is hundreds of years worth of the lore upon which this series is going to be built, I assume anyways. The POV characters along with many side characters are developed well enough to understand them, whether you like how they are acting or not is another story. (I will say, even with Ophyr acting the fool, I’m still a fan at the moment. I get the trauma.) There is a delightful Legolas/Gimli-esque bromance.
The only thing I could have done without are the explicit sexual scenes. I did not realize this novella had them and it may have deterred me from purchasing had I known. I will say, I would have missed out and will just have to skip over said scenes if present in future installments.
So, Josiah, where can I pre-order?
Excuse me, Josiah? Where is the next book? I understand this was a novella, but I require more immediately.
For an 180 novella, this thing packs a wallop. You get three POVs from vastly different characters. There is hundreds of years worth of the lore upon which this series is going to be built, I assume anyways. The POV characters along with many side characters are developed well enough to understand them, whether you like how they are acting or not is another story. (I will say, even with Ophyr acting the fool, I’m still a fan at the moment. I get the trauma.) There is a delightful Legolas/Gimli-esque bromance.
The only thing I could have done without are the explicit sexual scenes. I did not realize this novella had them and it may have deterred me from purchasing had I known. I will say, I would have missed out and will just have to skip over said scenes if present in future installments.
So, Josiah, where can I pre-order?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2026
This Novella is PACKED. Have you read a book and thought “this author tried putting way too much into it”? Because this is a masterclass in adding everything but the kitchen sink and making it WORK.
First of all, we get introduced to quite a few characters right off the bat. And it’s a testament to Blizzard’s writing and character work that he doesn’t need to resort to cheap emotional manipulation in order to invest the reader in the characters. We simply come alongside them during some intense moments and get to see their characters shine through.
This novella spans quite a bit of time using vignettes of each of the main characters and it really is a great teaser and history lesson of the world Blizzard has created.
I especially would love a book dedicated to the monster hunters! But I guess I’ll settle for The Heart of Hornwood next 😋
First of all, we get introduced to quite a few characters right off the bat. And it’s a testament to Blizzard’s writing and character work that he doesn’t need to resort to cheap emotional manipulation in order to invest the reader in the characters. We simply come alongside them during some intense moments and get to see their characters shine through.
This novella spans quite a bit of time using vignettes of each of the main characters and it really is a great teaser and history lesson of the world Blizzard has created.
I especially would love a book dedicated to the monster hunters! But I guess I’ll settle for The Heart of Hornwood next 😋
May 8, 2026
That Which Follows You Home is a haunting descent into a world where evil does not remain buried. Josiah D. Blizzard crafts a dark epic fantasy filled with dread, mystery, and relentless tension as ancient horrors stalk the living long after the battle ends. Rich with atmospheric worldbuilding, brutal choices, and a lingering sense of doom, this adventure grips readers from the first page and refuses to let go. Fans of grimdark fantasy and supernatural horror will find themselves immersed in a chilling journey where survival comes at a terrible cost—and some things, once awakened, will follow you all the way home.
May 6, 2026
A fun, quick-paced read. The novella as a whole is good, but might feel a bit too familiar. Veteran fantasy readers won't be all too surprised, however, there are a few scenes of genuine brilliance that got me curious about future installments. I do acknowledge that I'm the outlier here, but I do read indie to seek novelty and fresh takes. Either way, I sense that there is something intriguing brewing under the surface, so I'd keep an eye out.
March 30, 2026
I’m not really sure I can say what I had expected when given the opportunity to read this new novella. Whatever thy were, I can say I was not let down! I enjoyed the balance between enough character development to find investment in their lives and action to keep the momentum of the story moving. I am definitely looking forward to the first book in the series!
Happy reading.
Happy reading.
May 13, 2026
This book was so much fun to read. It was faced paced, interesting, and built a world in a way that was engaging. The character arcs are so well fleshed out for a short novella and you instantly fall in love with them. The action scenes are well done and draw you into the commotion. As a new author, Josiah knows what he is doing and I cannot wait to read more from this series!
April 27, 2026
Absolute page turner from the start. I loved the characters. Heartbreaking and uplifting and i cannot wait for the first book and where this world is going. The way he writes scenes is incredible!
May 16, 2026
This novella is packed with action from cover to cover. The writing is excellent and the character work is top notch. I'm looking forward to reading more!
June 13, 2026
Excited for the first book in the series to be released! First 1/2 was so heavy action that it was a bit hard to push through but I loved the second 1/2. Very excited to see which characters appear!
June 13, 2026
Very good introduction to a new book universe
July 2, 2026
This was an action-packed read! From page one you’re thrust into an epic battle and the pace rarely eases. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut book and will absolutely be continuing the series!
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