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The Last Breath of Peace
In the deep quiet of the Whispering Wood, Sorin has made a life out of being forgotten. That silence shatters when a dying Elven messenger collapses at his door, carrying a sealed warning meant for a king who may already be too late to listen. Hunted by fanatics, shadowed by ancient powers, and burdened with a message that could change the fate of realms, Sorin must decide what kind of man he will be when the world demands a voice.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2026
About the author
Lewis J. Sutcliffe
3 books12 followersLewis J. Sutcliffe is a fantasy author from Yorkshire, named after Lewis from the Inspector Morse novels by Colin Dexter. His work blends mythic world-building, morally complex characters, and the high stakes of epic fantasy with a grounded, human core.
His debut, launches the Thaneweave saga.
His debut, launches the Thaneweave saga.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
A moody, brilliant novella.
Disclaimer: I am listed as editor of this book, but this review is from before that. And my love for this book is unabashedly pure. I have witnesses.
This book is a moody one. And Lord knows I love a moody read. That said, as I love them so much, I am also extra nitpicky with them.
It's fair to say that even being nitpicky as I was, The Last Breath of Peace came to me in nearly a publishable state.
I was ensnared, caught, spellbound with the opening paragraph.
The Whispering Wood had a voice of its own. Not one that spoke in words, but in the hush between them; a murmur that moved with the wind through black pine and silver birch. A song older than kingdoms.
It's an amazing start, and it sets the tone that he will skillfully maintain through the entire book. Not a small feat, when your opening salvo is this strong.
Lewis then proceeded to present to us little pieces of the puzzle that we find in the main book.
All through the eyes of Sorin, our main character. A simple woodsman, that lives in the aforementioned Whispering Woods. Someone who lives and breathes his little rituals of the day. Those that keep him grounded and away from the pain and hurt of his memories.
Until fate strikes, as it always does.
From that point on, we embark in a journey where you're shown the weight of life and choices. The price of madness and blood.
And the early whispers of dark and sinister things who lurk at the edges of the abyss.
It's a moody journey [as I've said before], full of banger lines, and commentary about war, death, life and mercy and their cost.
It serves as perfect appetizer to Bound by Silver and Blood, since it has enough links and connections to it that will enhance the experience of the main book.
Lewis' pen in this novella strikes a great balance between morose and moody, without falling into a deep and dark and depressing abyss. For Sorin and his travel companion, Kaelen, are a brilliant pair, despite their differences.
Keep your eyes peeled for when this gorgeous novella comes out.
You'll enjoy it thoroughly.
4.8⭐️
Disclaimer: I am listed as editor of this book, but this review is from before that. And my love for this book is unabashedly pure. I have witnesses.
This book is a moody one. And Lord knows I love a moody read. That said, as I love them so much, I am also extra nitpicky with them.
It's fair to say that even being nitpicky as I was, The Last Breath of Peace came to me in nearly a publishable state.
I was ensnared, caught, spellbound with the opening paragraph.
The Whispering Wood had a voice of its own. Not one that spoke in words, but in the hush between them; a murmur that moved with the wind through black pine and silver birch. A song older than kingdoms.
It's an amazing start, and it sets the tone that he will skillfully maintain through the entire book. Not a small feat, when your opening salvo is this strong.
Lewis then proceeded to present to us little pieces of the puzzle that we find in the main book.
All through the eyes of Sorin, our main character. A simple woodsman, that lives in the aforementioned Whispering Woods. Someone who lives and breathes his little rituals of the day. Those that keep him grounded and away from the pain and hurt of his memories.
Until fate strikes, as it always does.
From that point on, we embark in a journey where you're shown the weight of life and choices. The price of madness and blood.
And the early whispers of dark and sinister things who lurk at the edges of the abyss.
It's a moody journey [as I've said before], full of banger lines, and commentary about war, death, life and mercy and their cost.
It serves as perfect appetizer to Bound by Silver and Blood, since it has enough links and connections to it that will enhance the experience of the main book.
Lewis' pen in this novella strikes a great balance between morose and moody, without falling into a deep and dark and depressing abyss. For Sorin and his travel companion, Kaelen, are a brilliant pair, despite their differences.
Keep your eyes peeled for when this gorgeous novella comes out.
You'll enjoy it thoroughly.
4.8⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
An impressive debut novella from start to finish, The Last Breath of Peace begins to interlace threads of a greater narrative to come in the Thaneweave series; humanity amidst corruption and a reluctant hero trying to fight for what's right in a world that turns a blind eye.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read this whole novella in one day whilst at work, cramming in pages between customers because I couldn’t tear myself away from it (hopefully my managers aren’t reading this XD).
The Last Breath of Peace follows recluse woodsman Sorin who, upon rescuing badly injured elf messenger Kaelen, is drawn into a savage clash between humans and elves. Kaelen carries a warning for the human king, Gregory, imploring him to make peace with the war-hungry elven khans to prevent a violent and bloody campaign that will benefit neither side.
I think what stands out most about this story, at least to me, is the care and authenticity with which it handles its central theme: war, and the realistic brutality of it. This novella doesn’t shy away from how unfair and horrendous war is, and how seemingly pointless and barbaric individual battles can be. It also shines a light on how war sweeps soldiers up, turning them into killing machines no longer able to comprehend their fellow peoples human at all. This is best exemplified with the story’s villain, Prince Oswald, who sees his enemy not as people, but as targets to cut down, as steps on his path to glory. Oswald has blinded himself with his own dogma, and it shows how easy it is for those who are framed as villains to be reduced to less-than-human. It’s a way of justifying war crimes, and it’s starkly prevalent in the present day.
Sorin himself is a compelling protagonist. He’s a bit of a misanthrope (can relate), and just wants to plod through life in his forest home, avoiding people, politics, and war. At first resistant to Kaelen’s plea for aid, he is eventually cajoled into action, though never loses his grip on his seemingly terminal cynicism. He’ll do the right thing, and can understand what the right thing is, but he won’t believe he can make a difference.
Sorin and Kaelen engage in a fair few quite philosophical conversations on their journey. The dialogue perfectly complements the poetic writing style, and I was pleasantly surprised by how lean and tight and punchy these conversations were. This being a novella, there’s only a limited number of words to play with, and the author proves deft at exploring heavy topics in a very efficient manner. Sorin and Kaelen talk about the futility of individual people trying to prevent wars between nations, the importance of the smaller gestures, and how fragile but critical hope can be.
I honestly only have good things to say about this one, because I think it does a stellar job establishing this world and setting up a dark and epic story in the books to come. The epilogue implies Sorin’s part in this isn’t yet over, and I for one cannot wait to see how this all unfolds in the first book of the Thaneweave.
Thank you to the author for my ARC copy :)
The Last Breath of Peace follows recluse woodsman Sorin who, upon rescuing badly injured elf messenger Kaelen, is drawn into a savage clash between humans and elves. Kaelen carries a warning for the human king, Gregory, imploring him to make peace with the war-hungry elven khans to prevent a violent and bloody campaign that will benefit neither side.
I think what stands out most about this story, at least to me, is the care and authenticity with which it handles its central theme: war, and the realistic brutality of it. This novella doesn’t shy away from how unfair and horrendous war is, and how seemingly pointless and barbaric individual battles can be. It also shines a light on how war sweeps soldiers up, turning them into killing machines no longer able to comprehend their fellow peoples human at all. This is best exemplified with the story’s villain, Prince Oswald, who sees his enemy not as people, but as targets to cut down, as steps on his path to glory. Oswald has blinded himself with his own dogma, and it shows how easy it is for those who are framed as villains to be reduced to less-than-human. It’s a way of justifying war crimes, and it’s starkly prevalent in the present day.
Sorin himself is a compelling protagonist. He’s a bit of a misanthrope (can relate), and just wants to plod through life in his forest home, avoiding people, politics, and war. At first resistant to Kaelen’s plea for aid, he is eventually cajoled into action, though never loses his grip on his seemingly terminal cynicism. He’ll do the right thing, and can understand what the right thing is, but he won’t believe he can make a difference.
Sorin and Kaelen engage in a fair few quite philosophical conversations on their journey. The dialogue perfectly complements the poetic writing style, and I was pleasantly surprised by how lean and tight and punchy these conversations were. This being a novella, there’s only a limited number of words to play with, and the author proves deft at exploring heavy topics in a very efficient manner. Sorin and Kaelen talk about the futility of individual people trying to prevent wars between nations, the importance of the smaller gestures, and how fragile but critical hope can be.
I honestly only have good things to say about this one, because I think it does a stellar job establishing this world and setting up a dark and epic story in the books to come. The epilogue implies Sorin’s part in this isn’t yet over, and I for one cannot wait to see how this all unfolds in the first book of the Thaneweave.
Thank you to the author for my ARC copy :)
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Last Breath of Peace is a dark, brooding fantasy that wears its tone with conviction. If you love grimdark stories about the corrupt nature of humanity, the cruelty of power, and a world that refuses to be fair, Sutcliffe is writing directly to you.
Sutcliffe writes landscapes and atmosphere with a beauty and moodiness that draws you deeper into the setting and gives the story a sense of place that feels genuinely immersive. There's a painterly quality to how he renders the natural world that stands out.
The story also makes an interesting choice in depicting humans and elves as adversaries rather than the inevitable allies we see in most fantasy. It's a refreshing inversion that gives the world a different energy and opens up political and cultural tensions that feel distinct from the usual template.
Among the cast, Toldof is easily the standout. He's mysterious, interesting, and speaks in quips and turns of phrase that make every one of his appearances something to look forward to. The ending is also genuinely beautiful, closing the story on a note that resonates emotionally and rewards the reader for the journey.
There are individual lines scattered throughout that truly shine. Phrases like "The age of man will not end in the shade of elven trees" and "It was the sound of destiny losing patience" are the kind of lines that stick with you and show real flashes of talent.
Where the book challenged me was in its prose style. Sutcliffe swings for the fences with nearly every line, and while that ambition produces some genuinely striking moments, the relentlessness of it can flatten the rhythm. When every sentence reaches for the same intensity, the ones that truly deserve to land can get lost in the wall of brightness. The dialogue can also feel stilted at times, leaning toward what the author wants the characters to convey rather than how two people with different backgrounds would naturally speak to each other. Giving some lines room to be simple would let the truly powerful ones hit even harder.
The pacing moves quickly through events that could have benefited from more room to breathe. Slowing down and sitting with the social and emotional fallout of key moments would deepen the impact considerably. These are the kinds of instincts that develop with experience, and the raw ambition on display here suggests Sutcliffe has capacity to grow into something really compelling.
The Last Breath of Peace is a familiar story told with atmospheric conviction and real flashes of brilliance. For readers who love dark, heavy fantasy about the edges of humanity, it delivers on that promise.
Sutcliffe writes landscapes and atmosphere with a beauty and moodiness that draws you deeper into the setting and gives the story a sense of place that feels genuinely immersive. There's a painterly quality to how he renders the natural world that stands out.
The story also makes an interesting choice in depicting humans and elves as adversaries rather than the inevitable allies we see in most fantasy. It's a refreshing inversion that gives the world a different energy and opens up political and cultural tensions that feel distinct from the usual template.
Among the cast, Toldof is easily the standout. He's mysterious, interesting, and speaks in quips and turns of phrase that make every one of his appearances something to look forward to. The ending is also genuinely beautiful, closing the story on a note that resonates emotionally and rewards the reader for the journey.
There are individual lines scattered throughout that truly shine. Phrases like "The age of man will not end in the shade of elven trees" and "It was the sound of destiny losing patience" are the kind of lines that stick with you and show real flashes of talent.
Where the book challenged me was in its prose style. Sutcliffe swings for the fences with nearly every line, and while that ambition produces some genuinely striking moments, the relentlessness of it can flatten the rhythm. When every sentence reaches for the same intensity, the ones that truly deserve to land can get lost in the wall of brightness. The dialogue can also feel stilted at times, leaning toward what the author wants the characters to convey rather than how two people with different backgrounds would naturally speak to each other. Giving some lines room to be simple would let the truly powerful ones hit even harder.
The pacing moves quickly through events that could have benefited from more room to breathe. Slowing down and sitting with the social and emotional fallout of key moments would deepen the impact considerably. These are the kinds of instincts that develop with experience, and the raw ambition on display here suggests Sutcliffe has capacity to grow into something really compelling.
The Last Breath of Peace is a familiar story told with atmospheric conviction and real flashes of brilliance. For readers who love dark, heavy fantasy about the edges of humanity, it delivers on that promise.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A captivating story with expertly crafted prose and a thoroughly constructed world that draws you in with each word.
It has a thoughtful, emotional through-line that adds depth to the narrative and makes you reflect on the actions of the characters.
This is a fantastic novella full of heart and grit by a talented writer lending his skills to the epic fantasy genre.
It has a thoughtful, emotional through-line that adds depth to the narrative and makes you reflect on the actions of the characters.
This is a fantastic novella full of heart and grit by a talented writer lending his skills to the epic fantasy genre.
August 29, 2026
Thank you so much to Lewis J. Sutcliffe for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!
The atmosphere in The Last Breath of Peace is INSANE. It’s dark. It’s moody. It’s a whole experience! I loved the vivid imagery and drama, I really felt sucked into the world.
The ending brought a tear to my eye and the back third of the story I found myself unable to put it down at all. I really enjoyed this book! And I am very thankful for the opportunity to have read it!
The atmosphere in The Last Breath of Peace is INSANE. It’s dark. It’s moody. It’s a whole experience! I loved the vivid imagery and drama, I really felt sucked into the world.
The ending brought a tear to my eye and the back third of the story I found myself unable to put it down at all. I really enjoyed this book! And I am very thankful for the opportunity to have read it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Last Breath of Peace is a prequel novella to Sutcliffe’s upcoming Thaneweave series and is a nice introduction to his world. And while this story does have visceral action, it is more on the cozier side of things because it focuses on one man’s internal dilemma of forsaking one’s isolationist silence for the greater good.
The story is fairly straightforward from a plot perspective: dude self-isolating in a secluded forest has a wounded dude show up at his cabin and wounded dude has an important message for a king about to start a war because he has a murder-happy son.
But where TLBoP really shines is in the small moments between travel where Sorin (isolated dude) and Kaelen (wounded dude) discuss how sitting on one’s hands/keeping one’s tongue silent in the face of oncoming atrocity can soil said one’s soul. I won’t lie, whether Sutcliffe did it on purpose or not, I couldn’t help but see the parallels to a number of horrific things happening in the world today (which I won’t name so this lovely review blog doesn’t get blacklisted or threatened…). As much as we, as people and individuals, would love to have rose-colored glasses on and think one person can’t make a difference, I really did enjoy Kaelen’s fire in insisting the tide will still affect us and we can choose to be on the side of right, but we have to actively make that choice.
On a lighter note, Sorin and Kaelen were excellent foils for one another. Sorin has some history (not fully discussed in depth) and him going from self-imposed isolation from the world to helping Kaelen was some great character growth. And I liked how Sorin does it because he believes in kindness despite wanting to stay out of things. On the other side, Kaelen’s fire comes from his own tortured history, seeing Bad Things™️up close and deciding he can’t stay silent any longer. Their interactions range from antagonistic to agreement, and everything in between. Their growing friendship was awesome and I really liked where they ended up by the end of the novella.
There are a couple other characters, including an ancient watcher as interludes, but overall, this story is about Sorin and Kaelen. The other characters do a great job of being part of S&K’s story but also setting up the greater conflict of the Thaneweave series. Also, the Thaneweave concept is really neat, if only touched on, but similar to other stories (like WoT) there is the belief the world is a tapestry and certain weaves are crucial for the world (in a nutshell).
I did have one niggle and that was the battle scene Sorin and Kaelen fight in. The battle was amazing, the fog and smell of war was visceral as all get out. Sutcliffe nails it and I seriously hope there are many more to come in the later series. That said, it felt a bit out of place in terms of Sorin just deciding to go to war after spending the whole of his existence and novella not wanting to be a part of it and not being a warrior. Believe me, I get the point of why it is included, I just didn’t think it was necessary to his arc. Again, just picking nits here.
The prose of this novella is excellent, there are so many great lines here. Metaphors about the setting or battle that really just evoke emotions. Phrases like:
…the rain came down in sheets so thick they blurred the line between earth and sky.
The clouds dragged their bellies across the horizon, heavy and bruised, throwing pale light over the hills.
The road east wound through the bones of old wars.
Harbingers of doom preparing for a dawn of blood.
Sutcliffe has a way with words that just makes you nod your head like that Robert Redford Jeremiah Johnson GIF.
The Last Breath of Peace is one heck of a debut novella, setting up a greater series that I’m excited to check out. This novella releases on October 27, 2026, get it on your TBRs now, friends!
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
The story is fairly straightforward from a plot perspective: dude self-isolating in a secluded forest has a wounded dude show up at his cabin and wounded dude has an important message for a king about to start a war because he has a murder-happy son.
But where TLBoP really shines is in the small moments between travel where Sorin (isolated dude) and Kaelen (wounded dude) discuss how sitting on one’s hands/keeping one’s tongue silent in the face of oncoming atrocity can soil said one’s soul. I won’t lie, whether Sutcliffe did it on purpose or not, I couldn’t help but see the parallels to a number of horrific things happening in the world today (which I won’t name so this lovely review blog doesn’t get blacklisted or threatened…). As much as we, as people and individuals, would love to have rose-colored glasses on and think one person can’t make a difference, I really did enjoy Kaelen’s fire in insisting the tide will still affect us and we can choose to be on the side of right, but we have to actively make that choice.
On a lighter note, Sorin and Kaelen were excellent foils for one another. Sorin has some history (not fully discussed in depth) and him going from self-imposed isolation from the world to helping Kaelen was some great character growth. And I liked how Sorin does it because he believes in kindness despite wanting to stay out of things. On the other side, Kaelen’s fire comes from his own tortured history, seeing Bad Things™️up close and deciding he can’t stay silent any longer. Their interactions range from antagonistic to agreement, and everything in between. Their growing friendship was awesome and I really liked where they ended up by the end of the novella.
There are a couple other characters, including an ancient watcher as interludes, but overall, this story is about Sorin and Kaelen. The other characters do a great job of being part of S&K’s story but also setting up the greater conflict of the Thaneweave series. Also, the Thaneweave concept is really neat, if only touched on, but similar to other stories (like WoT) there is the belief the world is a tapestry and certain weaves are crucial for the world (in a nutshell).
I did have one niggle and that was the battle scene Sorin and Kaelen fight in. The battle was amazing, the fog and smell of war was visceral as all get out. Sutcliffe nails it and I seriously hope there are many more to come in the later series. That said, it felt a bit out of place in terms of Sorin just deciding to go to war after spending the whole of his existence and novella not wanting to be a part of it and not being a warrior. Believe me, I get the point of why it is included, I just didn’t think it was necessary to his arc. Again, just picking nits here.
The prose of this novella is excellent, there are so many great lines here. Metaphors about the setting or battle that really just evoke emotions. Phrases like:
…the rain came down in sheets so thick they blurred the line between earth and sky.
The clouds dragged their bellies across the horizon, heavy and bruised, throwing pale light over the hills.
The road east wound through the bones of old wars.
Harbingers of doom preparing for a dawn of blood.
Sutcliffe has a way with words that just makes you nod your head like that Robert Redford Jeremiah Johnson GIF.
The Last Breath of Peace is one heck of a debut novella, setting up a greater series that I’m excited to check out. This novella releases on October 27, 2026, get it on your TBRs now, friends!
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Author
As a disclosure, I beta read this novella and book one in the series.
This is a prequel novella and introduction to Lewis J Suttcliffe’s larger world of Vasterim and the Thaneweave. You don’t have to start with this novella to understand book one in the series (which is set for release in November 2026) but it is a wonderful look at Suttcliffe’s writing style and does provide some key moments that will force certain aspects of book one into perspective or give events more weight. HOWEVER, I think you could read this after book one and it would be just as powerful! I bring this up because I’m always curious about the importance of reading order.
I recommend reading this first for best reading experience, but it is not necessary, in my opinion <3
Let’s get into things I loved, and think you will too:
Suttcliffe’s descriptions of nature were so wonderful and moody, they added atmosphere to setting and drew me into the story.
The dynamic, between the main character and his companion, was compelling. There was humor, heartache, and some mystery that accompanied their interactions through out their journey.
We don’t see much of the magic system in this novella, there are moments of magic, but it is not the main focus. Instead we are introduced to an ancient villain and are shown how they infiltrate the world to corrupt it. This is related to how the magic works in this world but is not a direct show of magic wielding, which is shown and explained in book one. I love a good story with lore, and the lack of magic wielding works in this story’s favor, as the focus is sharper on the core story.
-
If you like traditional fantasy, reluctant heroes, and the everyday man doing their best to make the world better add this one to your TBR!
This is a prequel novella and introduction to Lewis J Suttcliffe’s larger world of Vasterim and the Thaneweave. You don’t have to start with this novella to understand book one in the series (which is set for release in November 2026) but it is a wonderful look at Suttcliffe’s writing style and does provide some key moments that will force certain aspects of book one into perspective or give events more weight. HOWEVER, I think you could read this after book one and it would be just as powerful! I bring this up because I’m always curious about the importance of reading order.
I recommend reading this first for best reading experience, but it is not necessary, in my opinion <3
Let’s get into things I loved, and think you will too:
Suttcliffe’s descriptions of nature were so wonderful and moody, they added atmosphere to setting and drew me into the story.
The dynamic, between the main character and his companion, was compelling. There was humor, heartache, and some mystery that accompanied their interactions through out their journey.
We don’t see much of the magic system in this novella, there are moments of magic, but it is not the main focus. Instead we are introduced to an ancient villain and are shown how they infiltrate the world to corrupt it. This is related to how the magic works in this world but is not a direct show of magic wielding, which is shown and explained in book one. I love a good story with lore, and the lack of magic wielding works in this story’s favor, as the focus is sharper on the core story.
-
If you like traditional fantasy, reluctant heroes, and the everyday man doing their best to make the world better add this one to your TBR!
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