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Fallen Light
384 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2026
About the author
Z. R. Coffin
1 book2 followersWhen I was a kid, my father introduced me to the original Star Wars trilogy (Return of the Jedi was my favorite), Lord of the Rings, and World of Warcraft. So began my obsession with sci-fi and fantasy. I took to writing stories as a kid (mostly about dragons), and have since graduated to developing fantasy worlds that continue to surprise me as they take on a life of their own.
When I'm not writing, you can find me playing Magic: the Gathering, practicing martial arts, or starting my 20,000th playthrough of Skyrim. I live in Upstate New York with my beautiful wife and my cuddly orange cat.
When I'm not writing, you can find me playing Magic: the Gathering, practicing martial arts, or starting my 20,000th playthrough of Skyrim. I live in Upstate New York with my beautiful wife and my cuddly orange cat.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 28, 2026
An excellent first book by a promising writer, though cliffhanger beware.
TL; DR: A high stakes high fantasy crafted out of a world that’s just getting its engine running, Fallen Light promises and delivers is epic fashion, combining magic, subterfuge, and heart for an enjoyable experience with the promise of more to come.
This really was a good first book. In the style of writers like Drew Hayes and with a touch of Dean Koontz snark, Fallen Light is a promising first book from a first time writer. While not entirely the stereotype of a high fantasy novel, the book boasts an impressive world that I was dying to know more about (I’m a sucker for end-of-book glossaries hint hint) and the third act is a rip-roaring time that I blasted through in about twenty minutes. Obviously, as a first time writer still finding his voice, everyone is going to find something they take issue with, but ZRC has the making of an exceptional world-builder and a fantastic writer.
Characters: I liked them more than I thought I would. Perhaps this is my one issue with the “new writer” that I mentioned before. I like snark and I like teasing, but ~cheeky~ responses don’t do it for me. It’s not my cup of tea when it comes to showcasing love, but the relationship between Alison and Isaac is plenty realistic because of it. The other characters certainly make themselves known too; Margaret is certainly present and Sigmund is likely to be the fan favorite, but I really enjoyed Jane myself, even if she wasn’t front and center for too long.
Setting: The world is colorful and alive and I couldn’t be happier with it. High fantasy isn’t my normal go-to, but it was easy to digest and I feel like I simultaneously wanted to know more without feeling overwhelmed by random information. (Also highly recommend looking at the map in the beginning if you lose your way)
Story: I can’t talk too much about this without spoilers, but young man is trained by older people far wiser than him while they search for artifacts is a pretty tried and true method that doesn’t go wrong here, so I can’t complain too much. Also, the third act is fantastic; even if you’re questioning yourself for the first bit, it’s worth it to get to the end, I promise.
Writing: Villainy is well-established and doesn’t rely on some convoluted set of morals or decisions that force you to wrap your mind around something incomprehensible, it’s a pleasant experience in that regard too. There are still the usual growing pins that exist with any first time publishing writer: a couple of info dumps here and there, some pieces of the story that cut off too soon or jump around too much, but none of it is unpleasant enough to detract from the story, and honestly, that’s often the biggest goal when it comes to the writing quality, so props for that.
I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next book in the series, and I encourage others to do the same. FL is a pretty quick read (in spite of my reading time, I was a bit busy) and it’s easy enough to grab off kindle unlimited or a physical copy, so I do highly recommend. Congrats to ZRC on a good first book that’s enjoyable, engaging, and a solid start to a promising new series.
4.7 🌟
TL; DR: A high stakes high fantasy crafted out of a world that’s just getting its engine running, Fallen Light promises and delivers is epic fashion, combining magic, subterfuge, and heart for an enjoyable experience with the promise of more to come.
This really was a good first book. In the style of writers like Drew Hayes and with a touch of Dean Koontz snark, Fallen Light is a promising first book from a first time writer. While not entirely the stereotype of a high fantasy novel, the book boasts an impressive world that I was dying to know more about (I’m a sucker for end-of-book glossaries hint hint) and the third act is a rip-roaring time that I blasted through in about twenty minutes. Obviously, as a first time writer still finding his voice, everyone is going to find something they take issue with, but ZRC has the making of an exceptional world-builder and a fantastic writer.
Characters: I liked them more than I thought I would. Perhaps this is my one issue with the “new writer” that I mentioned before. I like snark and I like teasing, but ~cheeky~ responses don’t do it for me. It’s not my cup of tea when it comes to showcasing love, but the relationship between Alison and Isaac is plenty realistic because of it. The other characters certainly make themselves known too; Margaret is certainly present and Sigmund is likely to be the fan favorite, but I really enjoyed Jane myself, even if she wasn’t front and center for too long.
Setting: The world is colorful and alive and I couldn’t be happier with it. High fantasy isn’t my normal go-to, but it was easy to digest and I feel like I simultaneously wanted to know more without feeling overwhelmed by random information. (Also highly recommend looking at the map in the beginning if you lose your way)
Story: I can’t talk too much about this without spoilers, but young man is trained by older people far wiser than him while they search for artifacts is a pretty tried and true method that doesn’t go wrong here, so I can’t complain too much. Also, the third act is fantastic; even if you’re questioning yourself for the first bit, it’s worth it to get to the end, I promise.
Writing: Villainy is well-established and doesn’t rely on some convoluted set of morals or decisions that force you to wrap your mind around something incomprehensible, it’s a pleasant experience in that regard too. There are still the usual growing pins that exist with any first time publishing writer: a couple of info dumps here and there, some pieces of the story that cut off too soon or jump around too much, but none of it is unpleasant enough to detract from the story, and honestly, that’s often the biggest goal when it comes to the writing quality, so props for that.
I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next book in the series, and I encourage others to do the same. FL is a pretty quick read (in spite of my reading time, I was a bit busy) and it’s easy enough to grab off kindle unlimited or a physical copy, so I do highly recommend. Congrats to ZRC on a good first book that’s enjoyable, engaging, and a solid start to a promising new series.
4.7 🌟
March 10, 2026
Fallen Light by Z. R. Coffin is an intricate story surrounding magic and demons and spells and fighting and family, and commitment and so much more ..... have I got your attention ??
In Fallen Light readers are introduced to Jack Grey and his family. Jack is an Arcanist (and more) whose prime purpose is to guard magical tools and train others to collect and protect. Isaac and Alison are two members of his extended family that he is training. And Isaac is going to be competing in the Magician's Trials to obtain the Magician's title and power.
However, right before he leaves to compete, he goes on a mission with Alison and Sigmund to the Temple to obtain an artifact. Unfortunately, no one knows what doing that will unleash and that everyone will be fighting for their lives to protect what Jack has been working at for thousands of years.
In Fallen Light there are a lot of characters, different levels and kinds of magic, and a few storylines to follow. It may seem like a lot at first but once you get into the heart of the book, you soon realize you are completely lost in the story and do not want to leave or have it end. But don't worry Coffin knows how to end the story setting up the second book in this Saga.
In Fallen Light readers are introduced to Jack Grey and his family. Jack is an Arcanist (and more) whose prime purpose is to guard magical tools and train others to collect and protect. Isaac and Alison are two members of his extended family that he is training. And Isaac is going to be competing in the Magician's Trials to obtain the Magician's title and power.
However, right before he leaves to compete, he goes on a mission with Alison and Sigmund to the Temple to obtain an artifact. Unfortunately, no one knows what doing that will unleash and that everyone will be fighting for their lives to protect what Jack has been working at for thousands of years.
In Fallen Light there are a lot of characters, different levels and kinds of magic, and a few storylines to follow. It may seem like a lot at first but once you get into the heart of the book, you soon realize you are completely lost in the story and do not want to leave or have it end. But don't worry Coffin knows how to end the story setting up the second book in this Saga.
October 20, 2026
Fallen Light was a really enjoyable read. I liked the way the story combines magic, family loyalty, and mystery in a way that kept me curious about what would happen next. Isaac’s journey starts with what seems like a straightforward mission, but things quickly become much more complicated when betrayal enters the picture.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was the idea that someone within the Grey family might be working against them. It added an extra layer of tension because it made me question who could actually be trusted. The ancient history and the war that was supposed to have ended thousands of years ago also gave the story a sense of scale beyond Isaac’s personal struggles.
Overall, this book has a lot to offer readers who enjoy fantasy stories with hidden agendas, powerful artifacts, and mysteries that gradually unfold. I found the premise intriguing, and I’d be interested in seeing more of this world. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy fantasy with a good mix of action and suspense!
One thing I particularly enjoyed was the idea that someone within the Grey family might be working against them. It added an extra layer of tension because it made me question who could actually be trusted. The ancient history and the war that was supposed to have ended thousands of years ago also gave the story a sense of scale beyond Isaac’s personal struggles.
Overall, this book has a lot to offer readers who enjoy fantasy stories with hidden agendas, powerful artifacts, and mysteries that gradually unfold. I found the premise intriguing, and I’d be interested in seeing more of this world. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy fantasy with a good mix of action and suspense!
March 10, 2026
I normally love all things urban fantasy, but this was my first epic fantasy book, and I just fell in love with it. The characters all have their own personalities that make them so easy to love (or hate). I found myself wanting to know more of their back stories and what would happen to them later on. This book offers everything from an interesting new world to explore, an inventive magic system, and characters you'll laugh and cry over. Highly recommend this book and excited to read the rest of the series!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews