What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadow Sword #1
The 19th Bladesman
His duty is to die young, but fate has something far more lethal in mind
If Kaell breaks, the kingdom breaks with him. And prophecy says the 19th Bladesman will break ...
The Bonded Warrior ...
Kill. Die young. That's what a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods does. Without expecting praise from the man who trained him to survive this centuries-old, malignant war against the inhuman followers of an invincible lord. But Kaell wants more. More of Val Arques' attention, his approval. Just more.
The fire dancer ...
Ice lord, spy, Heath never loses a fire dance. Yet he longs to know that thrill of danger down his spine as he kills for his god, to fight a warrior who might, just might be better than him.
The broken ...
Val Arques is a bladesman of formidable power entrusted not only with Kaell's life but with the truth that will destroy him. Banished to a grim outpost of this doomed kingdom of sorcery, poetry and treachery, he cannot afford to care about the young warrior. For love means loss. And Val Arques has a shameful secret ...
A kingdom on the edge of chaos ...
As a vengeful god escapes his ancient prison and Kaell is drawn into his web of deception, even Val Arques can't protect him from the dark prophecy awaiting him. Because you can't flee fate unless you're willing to do the unthinkable.
Duty and love collide in this powerful epic fantasy about shattering loss, betrayal and the price of power.
2019 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards gold medal winner for epic fantasy.
Winner of the 2019 CIPA EVVY award, fairytale/folklore/mythology
National Indie Excellence Awards finalist
2018 Foreward Indies finalist for fantasy
If Kaell breaks, the kingdom breaks with him. And prophecy says the 19th Bladesman will break ...
The Bonded Warrior ...
Kill. Die young. That's what a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods does. Without expecting praise from the man who trained him to survive this centuries-old, malignant war against the inhuman followers of an invincible lord. But Kaell wants more. More of Val Arques' attention, his approval. Just more.
The fire dancer ...
Ice lord, spy, Heath never loses a fire dance. Yet he longs to know that thrill of danger down his spine as he kills for his god, to fight a warrior who might, just might be better than him.
The broken ...
Val Arques is a bladesman of formidable power entrusted not only with Kaell's life but with the truth that will destroy him. Banished to a grim outpost of this doomed kingdom of sorcery, poetry and treachery, he cannot afford to care about the young warrior. For love means loss. And Val Arques has a shameful secret ...
A kingdom on the edge of chaos ...
As a vengeful god escapes his ancient prison and Kaell is drawn into his web of deception, even Val Arques can't protect him from the dark prophecy awaiting him. Because you can't flee fate unless you're willing to do the unthinkable.
Duty and love collide in this powerful epic fantasy about shattering loss, betrayal and the price of power.
2019 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards gold medal winner for epic fantasy.
Winner of the 2019 CIPA EVVY award, fairytale/folklore/mythology
National Indie Excellence Awards finalist
2018 Foreward Indies finalist for fantasy
633 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2018
341 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Hartland
6 books27 followersS.J. Hartland is an emerging epic fantasy writer, journalist, and fencer who watches too much TV, spent too many holidays wandering around remote castles, and loves everything medieval.
She is a University of Queensland and Securities Institute of Australia graduate. Susan now calls the Darling Downs, Queensland, home, where she lives with two mad but lovely dogs, Lily and Coffee.
She loves hearing from readers, even if it's to say that she's much too mean to Kaell! She's on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/the19thblade... or email Susan at writersjhartland@gmail.com.
She is a University of Queensland and Securities Institute of Australia graduate. Susan now calls the Darling Downs, Queensland, home, where she lives with two mad but lovely dogs, Lily and Coffee.
She loves hearing from readers, even if it's to say that she's much too mean to Kaell! She's on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/the19thblade... or email Susan at writersjhartland@gmail.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 31, 2018
The 19th Bladesman is a tremendous work of fantasy and sorcery. Set in a world where numerous forces vie for power, among them kings, lords, priestesses, ghouls, gods, and swordsmen. Beyond the castle intrigue are ancient powers moving pieces around like pawns on a chessboard, ancient grudges, and bloodlines. Bonds of loyalty and fealty are tested. Loyalty to kings, loyalty to myths, loyalty to family. Great feats of swordplay are mixed with seductions of princes and princesses.
Don’t expect to immediately know all the players and what they want. That will take time to develop in this tale. And, don’t be surprised if the unexpected occurs and the story flips on you.
This fantasy tale is epic in scale and magnificent in structure. All the characters are complex. And, the storylines equally complex. Excellent job in creating a new world.
It’s the story of the world’s greatest swordsman, of a power hungry king, of ghouls sweeping down from the passes with a taste for human flesh, of ancient prophecies, and magical beings, of invincibility, of immortality, and of flaws, weaknesses, things and people that can be exploited.
And, best of all, there’s another volume in this story coming out next year.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.
Don’t expect to immediately know all the players and what they want. That will take time to develop in this tale. And, don’t be surprised if the unexpected occurs and the story flips on you.
This fantasy tale is epic in scale and magnificent in structure. All the characters are complex. And, the storylines equally complex. Excellent job in creating a new world.
It’s the story of the world’s greatest swordsman, of a power hungry king, of ghouls sweeping down from the passes with a taste for human flesh, of ancient prophecies, and magical beings, of invincibility, of immortality, and of flaws, weaknesses, things and people that can be exploited.
And, best of all, there’s another volume in this story coming out next year.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.
September 26, 2019
7/10
THE 19TH BLADESMAN began as a really intriguing and captivating story for me. An ancient prophecy foretells that a bladesman will emerge as the only savior of the realm when it is ultimately threatened by a mad god bent on annihilation. Sounds cool right? Maybe a little tropey in some respects but the first few chapters piqued my interest and it seemed like the plot was different enough in some respects to separate itself from the usual fantasy books of this style.
Main character Kaell has been trained from a very young age to be the unbeatable force that could vanquish the banished god and save the entire kingdom from destruction. Kaell is aware of his role in what is to come but really only cares about one thing, and that is gaining the approval of his tutor and master swordsman Val Arques who he idolizes. Arques has a difficult time trying to impress upon Kaell just how important he is to the future of the realm and its people.
As Kaell is gradually brought up to speed in his training, we see that he has become quite adept in his gifts and at the cusp of being ready to embark on the long journey that will bring him face to face with the event in his life that he was made for. But the evil forces on the opposite side have ideas of their own as plans are put into motion that call for the assassination of Kaell before he can even get to the eventual day of reckoning..
Along the way there will be much that Kaell discovers about himself and about the prophesy that was initiated upon his birth. Will Kaell be strong enough both physically and mentally to fulfill his destiny as the 19th Bladesman? Or will he be thwarted and the kingdom thrown into an age of darkness never seen before in its history. Much will be revealed in this absorbing sword and sorcery tale.
I guess the way I would sum up this book in a couple of words is wasted potential. When I initially began reading THE 19TH BLADESMAN I thought that this could be one of my favorites, if not THE favorite to be a semi-final pick. Unfortunately it became confusing around the middle chapters for me. A bunch of characters are introduced (maybe too many) and not enough time was spent moving the story forward for the important ones. I found myself getting sucked into certain chapters and passages, only to be sidetracked by a few chapters of tangential filler before coming back to the main story arc again.
Having said that, I didn't think it was a bad book by any stretch. In fact I did enjoy it for the most part. Hartland's writing is strong and she paints some really cool pictures with words. There are a number of action scenes that are done particularly well and that I found myself totally enthralled by. It just lacked a bit of focus that could be attributed to the fact that this is a hefty book with regard to page count.
There is much about the THE 19TH BLADESMAN that will appeal to many fantasy readers in my opinion. This is not a book that you should shy away from just because it didn't work fully for me. Impressive writing, action scenes aplenty, and a nice story involving an ancient prophecy make this a solid fantasy book that deserves checking out. I enjoyed it enough to definitely want to read book 2 when it is released and revisit this world.
THE 19TH BLADESMAN began as a really intriguing and captivating story for me. An ancient prophecy foretells that a bladesman will emerge as the only savior of the realm when it is ultimately threatened by a mad god bent on annihilation. Sounds cool right? Maybe a little tropey in some respects but the first few chapters piqued my interest and it seemed like the plot was different enough in some respects to separate itself from the usual fantasy books of this style.
Main character Kaell has been trained from a very young age to be the unbeatable force that could vanquish the banished god and save the entire kingdom from destruction. Kaell is aware of his role in what is to come but really only cares about one thing, and that is gaining the approval of his tutor and master swordsman Val Arques who he idolizes. Arques has a difficult time trying to impress upon Kaell just how important he is to the future of the realm and its people.
As Kaell is gradually brought up to speed in his training, we see that he has become quite adept in his gifts and at the cusp of being ready to embark on the long journey that will bring him face to face with the event in his life that he was made for. But the evil forces on the opposite side have ideas of their own as plans are put into motion that call for the assassination of Kaell before he can even get to the eventual day of reckoning..
Along the way there will be much that Kaell discovers about himself and about the prophesy that was initiated upon his birth. Will Kaell be strong enough both physically and mentally to fulfill his destiny as the 19th Bladesman? Or will he be thwarted and the kingdom thrown into an age of darkness never seen before in its history. Much will be revealed in this absorbing sword and sorcery tale.
I guess the way I would sum up this book in a couple of words is wasted potential. When I initially began reading THE 19TH BLADESMAN I thought that this could be one of my favorites, if not THE favorite to be a semi-final pick. Unfortunately it became confusing around the middle chapters for me. A bunch of characters are introduced (maybe too many) and not enough time was spent moving the story forward for the important ones. I found myself getting sucked into certain chapters and passages, only to be sidetracked by a few chapters of tangential filler before coming back to the main story arc again.
Having said that, I didn't think it was a bad book by any stretch. In fact I did enjoy it for the most part. Hartland's writing is strong and she paints some really cool pictures with words. There are a number of action scenes that are done particularly well and that I found myself totally enthralled by. It just lacked a bit of focus that could be attributed to the fact that this is a hefty book with regard to page count.
There is much about the THE 19TH BLADESMAN that will appeal to many fantasy readers in my opinion. This is not a book that you should shy away from just because it didn't work fully for me. Impressive writing, action scenes aplenty, and a nice story involving an ancient prophecy make this a solid fantasy book that deserves checking out. I enjoyed it enough to definitely want to read book 2 when it is released and revisit this world.
March 12, 2020
3.5 stars
I'm so glad I gave this book another chance, I definitely enjoyed it a lot more after reading a cute romance! I can't be the only one that needs to alternate between romance and fantasy to enjoy both, right? 😂
Throughout The 19th Bladesman we follow multiple perspectives, a bonded warrior whose destiny is to die young, a cursed and hurted man who's afraid to love, a fire dancer who's trying to use ancient magic and a general who's trying to save his people. When all of these stories got together and we finally made some connections, it was extremely interesting to say the least.
These main characters were fleshed out and unique, I liked each of their personalities and how different they were, still I lacked that deep connection that I usually feel towards my favorite characters. On the other hand, the secondary ones weren't so well crafted, to this day I don't know who was the king and who his uncle and there was another man involved with a similar name that I never grasped what was his role in the situation. Thankfully, they didn't play that big of a role except to make the plot move foward, but it still made me confused.
From chapter one we are trown into this world and it's been such a long time since I read a high fantasy book, it took me a while to get use to this new world and figure all the information out because we didn't really get a grasp of the world before the plot starting taking shape. That's the reason why I started it, I had to put it down and read something not so demanding, then I restarted it and I was with a fresh mind so it was easier to get into.
Regarding the format of this book, I have to mention that the chapters' lenght vary drastically from one to the other. Some chapters were too long while others really short and since I'm one of those people who prefers to finish reading when finishing the chapter I really felt the difference and it made me enjoy the book a little bit less.
All in all, I'm interested enough in the second book but I'm not dying to get it, there's a difference there.
I'm so glad I gave this book another chance, I definitely enjoyed it a lot more after reading a cute romance! I can't be the only one that needs to alternate between romance and fantasy to enjoy both, right? 😂
Throughout The 19th Bladesman we follow multiple perspectives, a bonded warrior whose destiny is to die young, a cursed and hurted man who's afraid to love, a fire dancer who's trying to use ancient magic and a general who's trying to save his people. When all of these stories got together and we finally made some connections, it was extremely interesting to say the least.
These main characters were fleshed out and unique, I liked each of their personalities and how different they were, still I lacked that deep connection that I usually feel towards my favorite characters. On the other hand, the secondary ones weren't so well crafted, to this day I don't know who was the king and who his uncle and there was another man involved with a similar name that I never grasped what was his role in the situation. Thankfully, they didn't play that big of a role except to make the plot move foward, but it still made me confused.
From chapter one we are trown into this world and it's been such a long time since I read a high fantasy book, it took me a while to get use to this new world and figure all the information out because we didn't really get a grasp of the world before the plot starting taking shape. That's the reason why I started it, I had to put it down and read something not so demanding, then I restarted it and I was with a fresh mind so it was easier to get into.
Regarding the format of this book, I have to mention that the chapters' lenght vary drastically from one to the other. Some chapters were too long while others really short and since I'm one of those people who prefers to finish reading when finishing the chapter I really felt the difference and it made me enjoy the book a little bit less.
All in all, I'm interested enough in the second book but I'm not dying to get it, there's a difference there.
December 14, 2019
This had such a strong start. The story was full of the fun tropey stuff I love- prophecies, intrigue plots and some fun characters.
Kaell bonded warrior to the God Khir (it’s said he’ll die young to save the people) when we first meet Kaell, he is just a plucky kid and pretty adorable. We catch up to him again later as a young man who has trained his whole life for his duty as a bonded warrior. He is a remarkable fighter, strong and knows his duty. There is a bit of that arrogance that comes with his age, and being exceptional at everything he does, but Kaell, has just enough doubts and fears combined with a longing for the approval and love of his mentor Vraymorg (whom he thinks of as a father) to soften what could have been a brash and annoying personality. I was pretty sold on this character and his journey.
Vraymorg- Kaell’s mentor and guardian. He has a distant personality and keeps people at arms length, afraid to get close and lose more people he cares about, including Kaell.
I enjoyed the relationship between mentor and student and hoped for the barrier to break down and for them to have more of a father and son type of relationship, before it was too late for them to understand each other.
***
This is an ambitious story at over six hundred pages and there is a lot to take in. I did like where it looked like the plot was going with the prophecy, and there was also an inventive plan involving a kidnapping with which the demands that were to be met by the kidnappers had far reaching repercussions. These are kind of interconnected and I don’t want to spoil anything, so I will just say I loved how much more complicated it became than what it started out as.
Around the halfway mark though the story becomes a little unfocused. There were added characters and their schemes twining through and complicating an already complicated story with more twistiness.
This might have worked for me better if it had been a linear story, and there had been less jumping the timeline to fill in the peripheral characters backstories and information for later events that have already happened. Especially since it didn’t build any tension for those events or characters, we were just getting the details filled in. It just gave the story a messy feel.
The rest though, was a lot of fun. There are some great action scenes, lots of interesting ideas and Kaell has won himself a little spot in my heart. The story is worth checking out those reasons alone.
spfbo score 4.5/10
Go here to find out more about SPFBO contest and to find links to all the participating bloggers/authors and reviews!
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Go here for the collective reviews of our spfbo team
https://starlitbook.com/2019/12/12/sp...
Kaell bonded warrior to the God Khir (it’s said he’ll die young to save the people) when we first meet Kaell, he is just a plucky kid and pretty adorable. We catch up to him again later as a young man who has trained his whole life for his duty as a bonded warrior. He is a remarkable fighter, strong and knows his duty. There is a bit of that arrogance that comes with his age, and being exceptional at everything he does, but Kaell, has just enough doubts and fears combined with a longing for the approval and love of his mentor Vraymorg (whom he thinks of as a father) to soften what could have been a brash and annoying personality. I was pretty sold on this character and his journey.
Vraymorg- Kaell’s mentor and guardian. He has a distant personality and keeps people at arms length, afraid to get close and lose more people he cares about, including Kaell.
I enjoyed the relationship between mentor and student and hoped for the barrier to break down and for them to have more of a father and son type of relationship, before it was too late for them to understand each other.
***
This is an ambitious story at over six hundred pages and there is a lot to take in. I did like where it looked like the plot was going with the prophecy, and there was also an inventive plan involving a kidnapping with which the demands that were to be met by the kidnappers had far reaching repercussions. These are kind of interconnected and I don’t want to spoil anything, so I will just say I loved how much more complicated it became than what it started out as.
Around the halfway mark though the story becomes a little unfocused. There were added characters and their schemes twining through and complicating an already complicated story with more twistiness.
This might have worked for me better if it had been a linear story, and there had been less jumping the timeline to fill in the peripheral characters backstories and information for later events that have already happened. Especially since it didn’t build any tension for those events or characters, we were just getting the details filled in. It just gave the story a messy feel.
The rest though, was a lot of fun. There are some great action scenes, lots of interesting ideas and Kaell has won himself a little spot in my heart. The story is worth checking out those reasons alone.
spfbo score 4.5/10
Go here to find out more about SPFBO contest and to find links to all the participating bloggers/authors and reviews!
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Go here for the collective reviews of our spfbo team
https://starlitbook.com/2019/12/12/sp...
June 21, 2019
***REMEMBER I DON'T USE STARS ON MY BLOG ANYMORE***
It isn't harsh. It isn't even criticism. It is a credit to the writing craft, truly. We all have those characters in our head. You know the characters I'm talking about. And stop right there. I'm not talking about Kaz. That boy can take care of himself. So, quit it.
Characters that we fall in love with. Characters we want to take care of, bring home and make chicken soup for because the author does nothing but TORTURE THEM THROUGHOUT MOST OF, IF NOT AN ENTIRE BOOK. AND IT RIPS US APART! But then again, that is the sign of great writing, is it not? If we feel that strongly about the fate of a character that shows an investment in the character, the plot and the fate of what is to come.
Full Review On Novellives.Com
It isn't harsh. It isn't even criticism. It is a credit to the writing craft, truly. We all have those characters in our head. You know the characters I'm talking about. And stop right there. I'm not talking about Kaz. That boy can take care of himself. So, quit it.
Characters that we fall in love with. Characters we want to take care of, bring home and make chicken soup for because the author does nothing but TORTURE THEM THROUGHOUT MOST OF, IF NOT AN ENTIRE BOOK. AND IT RIPS US APART! But then again, that is the sign of great writing, is it not? If we feel that strongly about the fate of a character that shows an investment in the character, the plot and the fate of what is to come.
Full Review On Novellives.Com
Want to read
May 26, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/26/2019)! 🎁
June 30, 2019
A few niggling plot holes, but an extremely well written and interesting book. I'm looking forward to the next.
This should be a finalist for SPFBO5.
This should be a finalist for SPFBO5.
January 11, 2019
Reviewed by Debjani Ghosh for Readers' Favorite
Kaell is a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods and can fight for them alone. Bonded warriors are doomed to die young as they are trained to fight the monstrous, blood-sucking ghouls. But Kaell doesn't fear for his life. All he wants is his Lord's love. However, Lord Vraymorg is unwilling to acknowledge his feelings towards Kaell for love means pain. But Kaell is also the “19th Bladesman” prophesied to bring down a banished God. When this foul god escapes from his prison, what havoc shall he wreak? Can Kaell thwart him? Because “if Kaell breaks, the kingdom breaks with him”. The 19th Bladesman, the first book in the Shadow Sword series, by S. J. Hartland is a remarkable fantasy novel.
S. J. Hartland has created a magnificent world in this epic fantasy tome. However, don’t let the book’s length deter you from picking it up. The captivating storyline ensured that I made short work of it in a week. Due to fantastic worldbuilding aided by a delicate balance between showing and telling and a brisk pace, I was completely immersed in The 19th Bladesman. All the characters, right from the protagonist to even the ordinary soldier, are engaging and memorable. Everyone's motives for their actions are intriguing whether you agree with them or not. Every character has depth, and almost all are gray. Seemingly ethical ones do treacherous acts in the name of duty, while the villains perform kind deeds which tug at your heart. Further, the action scenes are splendid. I could visualize every parry and hear every clank of the clashing swords. Twists abound in this novel; the plot thickens with every page, but I found no difficulty in following it. The multiple points of view enrich this novel by showcasing the thoughts of every major player in Hartland’s world. The first book, with an unexpected ending, allows only a glimpse into this complex world, and I am already eager for more. The Shadow Sword series is a welcome new addition to the fantasy genre, and I recommend it to every fantasy fan.
My Blog
Kaell is a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods and can fight for them alone. Bonded warriors are doomed to die young as they are trained to fight the monstrous, blood-sucking ghouls. But Kaell doesn't fear for his life. All he wants is his Lord's love. However, Lord Vraymorg is unwilling to acknowledge his feelings towards Kaell for love means pain. But Kaell is also the “19th Bladesman” prophesied to bring down a banished God. When this foul god escapes from his prison, what havoc shall he wreak? Can Kaell thwart him? Because “if Kaell breaks, the kingdom breaks with him”. The 19th Bladesman, the first book in the Shadow Sword series, by S. J. Hartland is a remarkable fantasy novel.
S. J. Hartland has created a magnificent world in this epic fantasy tome. However, don’t let the book’s length deter you from picking it up. The captivating storyline ensured that I made short work of it in a week. Due to fantastic worldbuilding aided by a delicate balance between showing and telling and a brisk pace, I was completely immersed in The 19th Bladesman. All the characters, right from the protagonist to even the ordinary soldier, are engaging and memorable. Everyone's motives for their actions are intriguing whether you agree with them or not. Every character has depth, and almost all are gray. Seemingly ethical ones do treacherous acts in the name of duty, while the villains perform kind deeds which tug at your heart. Further, the action scenes are splendid. I could visualize every parry and hear every clank of the clashing swords. Twists abound in this novel; the plot thickens with every page, but I found no difficulty in following it. The multiple points of view enrich this novel by showcasing the thoughts of every major player in Hartland’s world. The first book, with an unexpected ending, allows only a glimpse into this complex world, and I am already eager for more. The Shadow Sword series is a welcome new addition to the fantasy genre, and I recommend it to every fantasy fan.
My Blog
November 2, 2020
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I just could not follow the story, with the jumping of the timeline making it totally disjointed.
The characters lacked depth and I could not relate or empathise with them,
Poorly written and a total waste of time in my opinion.
I just could not follow the story, with the jumping of the timeline making it totally disjointed.
The characters lacked depth and I could not relate or empathise with them,
Poorly written and a total waste of time in my opinion.
January 7, 2019
“The ancient lords did not build this fortress to accommodate a queen.’
Australian author S.J. Hartland is a journalist, former AAP finance editor and foil fencer with a fascination for obscure castles and is obsessed with anything medieval. THE 19th BLADESMAN is the first novel in her Shadow Sword series and her literary debut.
Capturing the flavor and the reader’s attention in the opening paragraphs is quite necessary in epic fantasies: charge into another time and realm and yet make the characters involved people about whom we care. Hartland manages this challenge with aplomb – ‘Archers tugged bowstrings back to their ears. Warriors drew swords in a clatter of iron as they ringed armed riders protecting the woman who had vowed to take this land by storm. Every bowman, every bladesman looked to their lord on the castle walk, willing his hand to fall. So tempting to drop his arm. So easy to snatch up his sword and unleash the rage carefully shackled within. Slaughter her guards, take her captive—and call it duty. But a heartbeat before seizing the blade at his hip, Vraymorg reined in his yearning. Unseemly for a lord, self-indulgent even, to desire bloodshed. Embrace it. But anger filled the hollow place within and he feared who he was without it. “Well, where is he?” A rider at the woman’s side shouted up at the guard walk. Wind whipped auburn hair across a surly, young face Vraymorg at once disliked. “Where is this fiendish bladesman whose deeds maudlin poets spin into legend, this terrible lord of the abyss? Cowering in the shadows? Show yourself, Vraymorg.” Vraymorg. Yes, they called him that. But it was just a name to hide his secrets. They called him lord, too. Lord of these mountains where wind brawled with frosted grass and a bleak sky curved to a rusted horizon. Lord of this gaunt, grey, iron-gated castle. Its lord? An ugly laugh soured his throat. No. Its prisoner—though the nauseating poets, the singers wandering from hall to hall with their crystal voices did not know it. A captive of wretched duty, of shame who belonged in this dismal, repellent fortress.’
Hartland offers a terse synopsis of the complex plot that will serve the reader well as the series expands: ‘His duty is to die young, but fate has something far more lethal in mind. If Kaell breaks, the kingdom breaks with him. And prophecy says the 19th Bladesman will break ...The Bonded Warrior …Kill. Die young. That’s what a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods does. Without expecting praise from the man who trained him to survive this centuries-old, malignant war against the inhuman followers of an invincible lord. But Kaell wants more. More of Val Arques’ attention, his approval. Just more. The fire dancer …Ice lord, spy, Heath never loses a fire dance. Yet he longs to know that thrill of danger down his spine as he kills for his god, to fight a warrior who might, just might be better than him. The broken …Val Arques is a bladesman of formidable power entrusted not only with Kaell’s life but with the truth that will destroy him. Banished to a grim outpost of this doomed kingdom of sorcery, poetry and treachery, he cannot afford to care about the young warrior. For love means loss. And Val Arques has a shameful secret ...A kingdom on the edge of chaos …As a vengeful god escapes his ancient prison and Kaell is drawn into his web of deception, even Val Arques can’t protect him from the dark prophecy awaiting him. Because you can’t flee fate unless you’re willing to do the unthinkable. Duty and love collide in this powerful epic fantasy about shattering loss, betrayal and the price of power.’
The book is long but the action is so rapid fire that the pages fly. S.J. Hartland has a solid beginning to what appears to be a successful series.
Australian author S.J. Hartland is a journalist, former AAP finance editor and foil fencer with a fascination for obscure castles and is obsessed with anything medieval. THE 19th BLADESMAN is the first novel in her Shadow Sword series and her literary debut.
Capturing the flavor and the reader’s attention in the opening paragraphs is quite necessary in epic fantasies: charge into another time and realm and yet make the characters involved people about whom we care. Hartland manages this challenge with aplomb – ‘Archers tugged bowstrings back to their ears. Warriors drew swords in a clatter of iron as they ringed armed riders protecting the woman who had vowed to take this land by storm. Every bowman, every bladesman looked to their lord on the castle walk, willing his hand to fall. So tempting to drop his arm. So easy to snatch up his sword and unleash the rage carefully shackled within. Slaughter her guards, take her captive—and call it duty. But a heartbeat before seizing the blade at his hip, Vraymorg reined in his yearning. Unseemly for a lord, self-indulgent even, to desire bloodshed. Embrace it. But anger filled the hollow place within and he feared who he was without it. “Well, where is he?” A rider at the woman’s side shouted up at the guard walk. Wind whipped auburn hair across a surly, young face Vraymorg at once disliked. “Where is this fiendish bladesman whose deeds maudlin poets spin into legend, this terrible lord of the abyss? Cowering in the shadows? Show yourself, Vraymorg.” Vraymorg. Yes, they called him that. But it was just a name to hide his secrets. They called him lord, too. Lord of these mountains where wind brawled with frosted grass and a bleak sky curved to a rusted horizon. Lord of this gaunt, grey, iron-gated castle. Its lord? An ugly laugh soured his throat. No. Its prisoner—though the nauseating poets, the singers wandering from hall to hall with their crystal voices did not know it. A captive of wretched duty, of shame who belonged in this dismal, repellent fortress.’
Hartland offers a terse synopsis of the complex plot that will serve the reader well as the series expands: ‘His duty is to die young, but fate has something far more lethal in mind. If Kaell breaks, the kingdom breaks with him. And prophecy says the 19th Bladesman will break ...The Bonded Warrior …Kill. Die young. That’s what a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods does. Without expecting praise from the man who trained him to survive this centuries-old, malignant war against the inhuman followers of an invincible lord. But Kaell wants more. More of Val Arques’ attention, his approval. Just more. The fire dancer …Ice lord, spy, Heath never loses a fire dance. Yet he longs to know that thrill of danger down his spine as he kills for his god, to fight a warrior who might, just might be better than him. The broken …Val Arques is a bladesman of formidable power entrusted not only with Kaell’s life but with the truth that will destroy him. Banished to a grim outpost of this doomed kingdom of sorcery, poetry and treachery, he cannot afford to care about the young warrior. For love means loss. And Val Arques has a shameful secret ...A kingdom on the edge of chaos …As a vengeful god escapes his ancient prison and Kaell is drawn into his web of deception, even Val Arques can’t protect him from the dark prophecy awaiting him. Because you can’t flee fate unless you’re willing to do the unthinkable. Duty and love collide in this powerful epic fantasy about shattering loss, betrayal and the price of power.’
The book is long but the action is so rapid fire that the pages fly. S.J. Hartland has a solid beginning to what appears to be a successful series.
November 6, 2020
Absolutely loved this book so much so that I have just brought the next two books in the series. A gripping adventure story with lots of twists and betrayals. The characters have lots of layers all with their own agendas and secrets. Brilliant well worth a read
Read
May 10, 2019Ahh what a weird one to review, I dnf'd it around the 60% mark. It wasn't a problem with the writing or story, it was actually keeping me pretty intrigued the entire time. The worldbuilding was nice and the multiple pov's were well written and kept up the pace up until I stopped reading it. My first problem was the description of the book kind of deceived me. The "bad guys" in this book are pretty much vampires(I hate vampires), but they were well written and I prefer them over mindless hordes of monsters and demons. Even though I hate vampires the writing and story was still strong enough for me to keep reading, but then the story got to some really weird sex scenes and I usually just skip them but this was relevant to the story so I had to try to read it and skip the weird parts at the same time. The problem was that it went on for ages until I finally decided that this book just wasn't for me. I'll avoid giving it a rating because I can see certain audiences enjoying this seeing how the writing was definitely solid. Like I said it just wasn't for me, but that shouldn't take away from the book because I'm sure others will find things to love about it.
May 28, 2019
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (5/19)
“The 19th Bladesman” is the first book in the Shadow Sword saga, an amazing new epic fantasy series by S.J. Hartland. Epic indeed – this story is first-class fantasy all the way.
As a bonded warrior chosen by the ancient gods, it is Kaell’s duty to protect the kingdom in a centuries-old war. It is also his destiny to die young. But, when an imprisoned ancient god escapes confinement, he draws Kaell into his web of deceit. “The 19th Bladesman” is a tale of epic proportions, where kings, lords, ghouls, warriors, princesses, high priestesses and gods all vie for power and control. Hearts will be broken. Allegiances will falter. New alliances will form. Prophecy says the 19th bladesman will break and bow before his enemy, putting the entire kingdom at risk. Can Kaell escape his fate while remaining loyal to his lord and his gods? Or have they forsaken him?
I have to say I love everything about this story. First of all, the writing is brilliant! Hartland is a natural storyteller and makes it look effortless, weaving a complex layered tale that is polished, sophisticated, engaging, and intoxicating. The author’s voice is distinctive, revealing parts of her own personality through clever subtleties, humor and even poetry! There is also a darker side to her writing in which she also stands out. The absolute brutality in the battle scenes, the torture, the sorcery – all executed with a style that compels the reader eagerly forward. Staggering betrayals will sideswipe readers as unexpected plot twists and ever-changing alliances keep you reading well into the night. The story progresses so rapidly it doesn’t feel at all like a 600+ page read. In fact, I noticed that while I was eager to see where the final pages of this first installment would take me, my reading pace (subconsciously?) slowed and I was more than a bit sad to come to the end.
As captivating as I find the complex world building and plot, the characters really make the story for me. They are well-developed, intriguing and feel genuine to the medieval era. They each battle their own demons. Some struggle with the need for approval, and a longing to be loved, while others push down their emotions and hide behind their duty. Some are selfish, deceptive and calculating, and still others are just pure evil. The genius in these characters is that they are all guaranteed to surprise the reader. Just when you think you know someone the author pulls the rug right out from under you. Hartland does a great job building her characters.
A couple of things I would like to have seen are a list of characters and a map of this fantastical world. I have an almost ritualistic approach to reading a fantasy novel in that I like to study the characters to get a feel for “who’s who” and who I can expect to meet. I also enjoy the visual of a map so I can see the world spread out before me. That said, Hartland does a remarkable job creating memorable characters readers won’t soon forget and guiding the reader to visualize her world through her vivid descriptions.
“The 19th Bladesman” by S.J. Hartland is an exciting beginning to an epic fantasy adventure, certain to climb its way to the top of the fantasy charts. Love, duty, betrayal, adventure, magic, epic battles – this books features the best parts of all these elements. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to “The Last Seer King,” the next book in the Shadow Sword series.
“The 19th Bladesman” is the first book in the Shadow Sword saga, an amazing new epic fantasy series by S.J. Hartland. Epic indeed – this story is first-class fantasy all the way.
As a bonded warrior chosen by the ancient gods, it is Kaell’s duty to protect the kingdom in a centuries-old war. It is also his destiny to die young. But, when an imprisoned ancient god escapes confinement, he draws Kaell into his web of deceit. “The 19th Bladesman” is a tale of epic proportions, where kings, lords, ghouls, warriors, princesses, high priestesses and gods all vie for power and control. Hearts will be broken. Allegiances will falter. New alliances will form. Prophecy says the 19th bladesman will break and bow before his enemy, putting the entire kingdom at risk. Can Kaell escape his fate while remaining loyal to his lord and his gods? Or have they forsaken him?
I have to say I love everything about this story. First of all, the writing is brilliant! Hartland is a natural storyteller and makes it look effortless, weaving a complex layered tale that is polished, sophisticated, engaging, and intoxicating. The author’s voice is distinctive, revealing parts of her own personality through clever subtleties, humor and even poetry! There is also a darker side to her writing in which she also stands out. The absolute brutality in the battle scenes, the torture, the sorcery – all executed with a style that compels the reader eagerly forward. Staggering betrayals will sideswipe readers as unexpected plot twists and ever-changing alliances keep you reading well into the night. The story progresses so rapidly it doesn’t feel at all like a 600+ page read. In fact, I noticed that while I was eager to see where the final pages of this first installment would take me, my reading pace (subconsciously?) slowed and I was more than a bit sad to come to the end.
As captivating as I find the complex world building and plot, the characters really make the story for me. They are well-developed, intriguing and feel genuine to the medieval era. They each battle their own demons. Some struggle with the need for approval, and a longing to be loved, while others push down their emotions and hide behind their duty. Some are selfish, deceptive and calculating, and still others are just pure evil. The genius in these characters is that they are all guaranteed to surprise the reader. Just when you think you know someone the author pulls the rug right out from under you. Hartland does a great job building her characters.
A couple of things I would like to have seen are a list of characters and a map of this fantastical world. I have an almost ritualistic approach to reading a fantasy novel in that I like to study the characters to get a feel for “who’s who” and who I can expect to meet. I also enjoy the visual of a map so I can see the world spread out before me. That said, Hartland does a remarkable job creating memorable characters readers won’t soon forget and guiding the reader to visualize her world through her vivid descriptions.
“The 19th Bladesman” by S.J. Hartland is an exciting beginning to an epic fantasy adventure, certain to climb its way to the top of the fantasy charts. Love, duty, betrayal, adventure, magic, epic battles – this books features the best parts of all these elements. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to “The Last Seer King,” the next book in the Shadow Sword series.
December 31, 2019
An epic fantasy of prophecies and fate, The 19th Bladesman by S.J. Hartland is a tale of a many characters. Hartland does an excellent job of moving the story along, jumping from one character to the next to weave the many threads of intrigue centering around the bonded warrior, Kaell. The young warrior has spent his life training under the tutelage of expert swordsman, Val Arques, who himself has a dark secret. The relationship between these two is complicated but beautiful, well written with deeply human emotions.
But neither one of them is so much human, flawed as they are, their fated paths are long and filled with trials. Slowly the complications of the fates, the whims of the gods, are revealed in a dance of characters, chapter after chapter. The intriguingly complex world is not unveiled immediately; you’ll have to work for it. While names can be a bit confusing, similar as they are through generations of kings, this is not anything new to fantasy readers and should be easy enough to get a handle on in time. Following Kaell on his missions, his parrying and feints, dodges and near death experiences, as he speeds forward toward an inevitable fate is heartbreaking.
All the while, the rest of the world is heading toward chaos. Kingdoms will collide, the lives of men put at risk for foolish, imperceptible wrongs that mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. Ghouls, beautiful human creatures with speed and strength that mimic vampires more than an evil spirit, haunt the hills. But they’ve been extending their reach of late, all in the search for one person, the 19th bonded warrior of Khir. While silly kings prepare for war, they have no idea about the true enemy, preparing to storm their gates.
With Kaell, one ancient god will be released from his prison, and the beliefs of men will be tested. Excitedly, this is only the first book in a series. The writing is exemplary, engrossing and emotive. All the characters have reasons to act as they do, even, and especially, the ‘villain.’ Fans of The Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks, or The First Law novels created by Joe Abercrombie should add the embroiled and battle weary world of the Shadow Sword novels by S.J. Hartland to their shelves. Hartland’s storytelling wraps the reader into the sordid, the sensual, and the gut-wrenching world of The 19th Bladesman.
But neither one of them is so much human, flawed as they are, their fated paths are long and filled with trials. Slowly the complications of the fates, the whims of the gods, are revealed in a dance of characters, chapter after chapter. The intriguingly complex world is not unveiled immediately; you’ll have to work for it. While names can be a bit confusing, similar as they are through generations of kings, this is not anything new to fantasy readers and should be easy enough to get a handle on in time. Following Kaell on his missions, his parrying and feints, dodges and near death experiences, as he speeds forward toward an inevitable fate is heartbreaking.
All the while, the rest of the world is heading toward chaos. Kingdoms will collide, the lives of men put at risk for foolish, imperceptible wrongs that mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. Ghouls, beautiful human creatures with speed and strength that mimic vampires more than an evil spirit, haunt the hills. But they’ve been extending their reach of late, all in the search for one person, the 19th bonded warrior of Khir. While silly kings prepare for war, they have no idea about the true enemy, preparing to storm their gates.
With Kaell, one ancient god will be released from his prison, and the beliefs of men will be tested. Excitedly, this is only the first book in a series. The writing is exemplary, engrossing and emotive. All the characters have reasons to act as they do, even, and especially, the ‘villain.’ Fans of The Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks, or The First Law novels created by Joe Abercrombie should add the embroiled and battle weary world of the Shadow Sword novels by S.J. Hartland to their shelves. Hartland’s storytelling wraps the reader into the sordid, the sensual, and the gut-wrenching world of The 19th Bladesman.
April 28, 2019
Recieved an ARC for an honest review.
I was really excited to read this because the book's premise was so intriguing. With kings, priestesses, magic and swordmen- I devoured this book. (There were some Game of Thrones vibes at the start of the book).
There's alot of depth to the plot and setting which was explained so perfectly. The writing style is so smooth and decadent and works so well with the story. One thing I need in books is character development and this book definitely gave some powerful growth in Kaell's character who just wants the love and acceptance from his guardian.
One thing that bothered me was the size of the book. I don't mind long books but when there are chapters wasted on just trying to drag out the book I get really annoyed. Each chapter was in the POV of a character (there were around 5 different POVs). There were many chapters at the start and middle of the book that were completely useless to the plot such as a few of Heath and Aric chapters.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this book if you like historically set books. And if you liked Game of Thrones you might like this.
Words hold power. Songs. Poetry. They all weave magic of one sort or another.
I was really excited to read this because the book's premise was so intriguing. With kings, priestesses, magic and swordmen- I devoured this book. (There were some Game of Thrones vibes at the start of the book).
There's alot of depth to the plot and setting which was explained so perfectly. The writing style is so smooth and decadent and works so well with the story. One thing I need in books is character development and this book definitely gave some powerful growth in Kaell's character who just wants the love and acceptance from his guardian.
"Even beneath the joy, beneath those times when you laugh together, there's always fear," he whispered. "Because you know maybe not that day, maybe not the next, but one day you'll mourn that child. I can't do this. Love. Mourn. Not with Kaell, not with Philip."
One thing that bothered me was the size of the book. I don't mind long books but when there are chapters wasted on just trying to drag out the book I get really annoyed. Each chapter was in the POV of a character (there were around 5 different POVs). There were many chapters at the start and middle of the book that were completely useless to the plot such as a few of Heath and Aric chapters.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this book if you like historically set books. And if you liked Game of Thrones you might like this.
September 6, 2020
Bloody brilliant.... Where do I start? The intricacies in this novel are amazing. The main plot and subplots are well written. The characters are beautifully developed and change in keeping with the story line. The world in the story is beautifully described and you feel as if you are there. The narration is simply superb,as the author tells the story from the viewpoint of 4 to 5 characters in the third person with scenes brought from the past in memories. Everything adds to the beautifully painted story that the author narrates.
One thing that stood out for me was the exploration of the vulnerabilities, and the relationships between the main characters. The author gives these characters enough breath to be human and breathe, have hearts that feel joy and pain.
It is a long novel at 530 pages but it doesn't remain stagnant. Although complex I wasnt left wondering what was happening and where I was in the story. And whats more there are 2 more novels to read. I am definately purchasing those as I feel the way this story unravels, the story will hold its own, the characters will further develop and the story will just whisk me away further than it has done already.
BUY IT AND READ IT.
I received this book from the author via Voracious Readers only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review.
One thing that stood out for me was the exploration of the vulnerabilities, and the relationships between the main characters. The author gives these characters enough breath to be human and breathe, have hearts that feel joy and pain.
It is a long novel at 530 pages but it doesn't remain stagnant. Although complex I wasnt left wondering what was happening and where I was in the story. And whats more there are 2 more novels to read. I am definately purchasing those as I feel the way this story unravels, the story will hold its own, the characters will further develop and the story will just whisk me away further than it has done already.
BUY IT AND READ IT.
I received this book from the author via Voracious Readers only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review.
June 29, 2019
This was the first book I've read from this author. It was difficult for me to get into in the beginning. The main character, Kaell, is a young bonded warrior. Bonded warriors typically die young because they are bred for one purpose, to kill ghouls. Kaell, by all aspects of the story, was an orphan and taken in by his master, Vraymorg, himself being the first bonded warrior. The relationship between Kaell and Vraymorg is interesting. Kaell wants nothing more than to be loved and treats Vraymorg like the father/master he yearns for. Vraymorg loves Kaell as a son but refuses to show it openly, developing a tension between the two that fuels the story. The story jumps around quite a bit with backstories and can be confusing at times but somehow still keeps the reader turning pages. About three quarters through the book thinks begin to jell and it is enough for me to want to continue the series when the next book is available.
The story is set in a time of castles and lords and the bad guys are primarily ghouls and their god Archinin who is set on killing all humans and capturing Kaell.
A story of loyalty, duty, forbidden trysts, majic and epic battles. Get past the initial confusion of how the story jumps around and you will find yourself drawn into a world of fantasy that keeps you reading. I recommend this to those fantasy readers wanting a good read.
The story is set in a time of castles and lords and the bad guys are primarily ghouls and their god Archinin who is set on killing all humans and capturing Kaell.
A story of loyalty, duty, forbidden trysts, majic and epic battles. Get past the initial confusion of how the story jumps around and you will find yourself drawn into a world of fantasy that keeps you reading. I recommend this to those fantasy readers wanting a good read.
January 10, 2019
The 19th Bladesman is a book about heroes, heroism, duty, and honors. There are also evilness, deceptions, manipulations, love, romance, and other emotions. We have a not-so-good king who misuses his powers for the wrong things. A lord of the mountains who is duty bound to serve the king even if things go against him and several heroes with their own individual qualities. In the midst of all, there is this young boy raised by the lord of the mountains who craves the Lord's praises and wants to be loved and approved by him. The boy knows that he is condemned and so shy away from any relationship.
The book is long and transports you into a different place and time. There are ghouls, magic, sorcery, and of course heroism that duty bounds people and drowns out their natural instinct to love. The book touches your heart and leaves a lingering pain. There are many characters and heroes and each has been given their space to grow and become familiar with the readers. There are very few proofreading mistakes but these can be ignored. In fact, the book reads like an epic with hints for more action and heroism in its sequel. There are still some questions unanswered and mystery unresolved.
The book is long and transports you into a different place and time. There are ghouls, magic, sorcery, and of course heroism that duty bounds people and drowns out their natural instinct to love. The book touches your heart and leaves a lingering pain. There are many characters and heroes and each has been given their space to grow and become familiar with the readers. There are very few proofreading mistakes but these can be ignored. In fact, the book reads like an epic with hints for more action and heroism in its sequel. There are still some questions unanswered and mystery unresolved.
January 12, 2019
In the 19th Bladesman, by S.J. Hartland, Kaell was created to fulfill many prophecies, therefore gifted by the gods to fulfill his destiny. He has conditioned his skill and power to only kill ghouls, but he struggles with the nameless questions that are still unanswered about himself and his fate. Lack of love and approval is the hardest thing he faces and it could be the very entity that places him in the hands of his greatest enemy.
The 19th Bladesman is a novel movies are made from. It is hard to believe this is S.J. Hartland's first novel. The characters are strong and compelling. Written in a medieval time, the plot is both magical and bold. Kaell's fate is both known and unclear which makes this an arcane science fiction novel. I would highly recommend this to those who enjoy action and medieval.
The 19th Bladesman is a novel movies are made from. It is hard to believe this is S.J. Hartland's first novel. The characters are strong and compelling. Written in a medieval time, the plot is both magical and bold. Kaell's fate is both known and unclear which makes this an arcane science fiction novel. I would highly recommend this to those who enjoy action and medieval.
January 17, 2019
As the first book from the Shadow Sword series, The 19th Bladesman brings a lot of information, absolutely necessary to create the new universe we are being introduced to. The story is interesting and brings to the center of the plot the notion of honor and duty while building characters and displaying their interactions and what the future (meaning future books) will bring to them.
S. J. Hartland does a terrific job building and presenting this new kingdom and what is haunting and the way to defend it. There are some questions that remain to be answered and, I’m guessing, will be important in the following books. Characters and their interactions, for me, are the strongest points in here. They present themselves and their relationships as something ever evolving, with multiple layers and depth. A very good first book that definitely caught my interest.
S. J. Hartland does a terrific job building and presenting this new kingdom and what is haunting and the way to defend it. There are some questions that remain to be answered and, I’m guessing, will be important in the following books. Characters and their interactions, for me, are the strongest points in here. They present themselves and their relationships as something ever evolving, with multiple layers and depth. A very good first book that definitely caught my interest.
May 3, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.*
Where to begin? The 19th Bladesman is the start to an epic-fantasy series akin to Malazan: Book of the Fallen, or Sword of Truth. Kaell has been trained as a warrior since childhood, bonded to a war god to fight Ghouls (think wights or vampires). Long ago, a seer-king used dark magic to cast a protection spell to contain the Ghoul God, but now that magic is weakening. Two cousins war over who is the true king. Love and duty will be put to the test as the many sides clash.
I absolutely could not put this book down. Another review had compared it to Game of Thrones, probably due to the chapters being character focused, rather than time/location focused, and the presence of Ghouls. However, that is where the similarities end, as there is always an undercurrent of hope and coincidence doesn't always land in favour of evil. My only negative is that all of the plot points involving female characters happen in bed.
I would definitely recommend reading this book!
Where to begin? The 19th Bladesman is the start to an epic-fantasy series akin to Malazan: Book of the Fallen, or Sword of Truth. Kaell has been trained as a warrior since childhood, bonded to a war god to fight Ghouls (think wights or vampires). Long ago, a seer-king used dark magic to cast a protection spell to contain the Ghoul God, but now that magic is weakening. Two cousins war over who is the true king. Love and duty will be put to the test as the many sides clash.
I absolutely could not put this book down. Another review had compared it to Game of Thrones, probably due to the chapters being character focused, rather than time/location focused, and the presence of Ghouls. However, that is where the similarities end, as there is always an undercurrent of hope and coincidence doesn't always land in favour of evil. My only negative is that all of the plot points involving female characters happen in bed.
I would definitely recommend reading this book!
January 5, 2019
Great book! I enjoyed reading and couldn't stop reading for a long time, even when I had to do other things :)
Thanks to author S.J. Hartland for such an interesting book. After reading the author's biography, I concluded that her hobby influenced on the story, maybe on her original idea.
I found many advantages for myself, they are well described heroes, actions that increase interest with each page, and relationships between characters, also magic and fantasy, which are presented there.
While reading, I experienced the "sea" of emotions, and I really love to do this, I appreciate and like books that can cause such emotions. I always try to find such authors and stories. I believe that only talented authors like S.J. Hartland can write such exciting books as The 19th Bladesman.
I advise everyone, especially fiction fans, to read The 19th Bladesman. You will probably experience new emotions.
Thanks to author S.J. Hartland for such an interesting book. After reading the author's biography, I concluded that her hobby influenced on the story, maybe on her original idea.
I found many advantages for myself, they are well described heroes, actions that increase interest with each page, and relationships between characters, also magic and fantasy, which are presented there.
While reading, I experienced the "sea" of emotions, and I really love to do this, I appreciate and like books that can cause such emotions. I always try to find such authors and stories. I believe that only talented authors like S.J. Hartland can write such exciting books as The 19th Bladesman.
I advise everyone, especially fiction fans, to read The 19th Bladesman. You will probably experience new emotions.
January 10, 2019
The first book in the Shadow Sword series, this story is all about the dilemma when duty and love collide and force an impossible choice. An ancient prophecy proclaims that the 19th Bladesman will be doomed to break and fail. Kaell is that bladesman and he is determined to prove that prophecy wrong and while he’s at it prove to his mentor that he is worthy of Vals respect. The character and worldbuilding by the author is very good. She has built a world full of ghouls who fight for a powerful lord trying to take over the world. The only thing standing in his way is Kaell and in a twist Heath who at first seems to be on his own side. Loyalties and friendship bonds are tested like never before and the stakes (the kingdom) have never been higher. A great adventure full of battles, intrigue and puzzles. And Val’s torment about Kaell is certainly relatable. Great work!
January 8, 2019
The 19th Bladesman (Shadow Sword series Book 1) by S. J. Hartland is the author's first book, but don't let that deter you from reading this gem. This is a fantastic fantasy book with sorcery, magic, and a certain darkness. The characters are deep and sometimes hard to relate to, but perhaps that is part of the story building process here. It's hard to know who is a bad guy vs. who is a good character. They are all intriguing however. The names are great as well, Vraymorg, Rozzen, Kaell, among others. Nonetheless the author has built a compelling fantasy world, and pulls you in right from the start. There are a lot of elements here from battles and spies, to mysticism and various secrets. Battles galore, castles, and everything else you can imagine inhabit this complex book. Perhaps a list of characters in the front of the book would be helpful so that the reader could keep track of things would be helpful. Otherwise, a solid entry into the fantasy genre. Highly recommend.
June 7, 2019
I received a free copy of this book and reviewed voluntarily.
Now what I actually liked the first time about this one was the theme, I liked fantasy and this one sounded pretty epic, and actually it was from the 600 plus pages to the story it was pretty interesting and kept me on edge each time I opened my kindle to read and had me asking myself what was going to happen next.
I loved all of them, Kaell, Heath, Aric, even Val arques, they all were so complex and endearing in his own way, for me they were pretty unique characters with lots of layers and complicated relationships between them.
I'm actually expecting the second installment on this one because the story too, was pretty cool with all the lay out and betrayals and planification so on ahead, it reeled me up with the first chapter until the end.
For me if you like fantasies and epic stories you should give this one a try.
Now what I actually liked the first time about this one was the theme, I liked fantasy and this one sounded pretty epic, and actually it was from the 600 plus pages to the story it was pretty interesting and kept me on edge each time I opened my kindle to read and had me asking myself what was going to happen next.
I loved all of them, Kaell, Heath, Aric, even Val arques, they all were so complex and endearing in his own way, for me they were pretty unique characters with lots of layers and complicated relationships between them.
I'm actually expecting the second installment on this one because the story too, was pretty cool with all the lay out and betrayals and planification so on ahead, it reeled me up with the first chapter until the end.
For me if you like fantasies and epic stories you should give this one a try.
January 11, 2019
Warriors battle for self, life, and more
The 19th Bladesman is the story of Kaell, a warrior trained to battle evil and walk through the fires of hell an survive. This is the first journey of the 19th Bladesman and the cast of characters is developed with relatable personas and great descriptives of the settings that take place. If you enjoy the ancient warrior and mythical fates that may await us, this is the book for you. I enjoyed this story and felt connected from the first page. I recommend you give this one a try and then come back and tell me what you think. A good distraction from the everyday stress of life.
The 19th Bladesman is the story of Kaell, a warrior trained to battle evil and walk through the fires of hell an survive. This is the first journey of the 19th Bladesman and the cast of characters is developed with relatable personas and great descriptives of the settings that take place. If you enjoy the ancient warrior and mythical fates that may await us, this is the book for you. I enjoyed this story and felt connected from the first page. I recommend you give this one a try and then come back and tell me what you think. A good distraction from the everyday stress of life.
January 13, 2019
Kaell's destiny was written in the prophecies. Magic, sorcery, duty and honor fill the pages of this dark fantasy novel. Great character and world building transport you into Kaell's journey to prove the prophecy wrong.
Although long, this was a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone that enjoys a good fantasy novel. It was sad to have the story end knowing the next in the series is still months from completion. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Although long, this was a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone that enjoys a good fantasy novel. It was sad to have the story end knowing the next in the series is still months from completion. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2019
I just spent a huge chunk of time pouring through the first two books in S.J. Hartland’s The Shadow Sword series (The 19th Bladesman & The Last Seer King). They were just too addictively fun to stop. Boy were these a wild ride of incredibly fun reading. I refuse to spoil anything so see the publisher’s blurb for what the stories are about. Just know that they share great writing, great plots and great characters. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. These books definitely deserve it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that each book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend both of them.
December 7, 2018
This is a long book at over 600 pages and so, set yourself a long enough time to be able to read it. It covers the so called 19th Bladesman of the title and the prophecy that accompanies this character. Kaell is a young swordsman, being trained by Varymorg (also known as Val Arques). He was put under Varymorg’s training from a very young age and is being trained to fight for the gods, not any Lord or King. All previous bonded swordsmen have all died young and Kaell expects nothing more. All he wants is Lord Varymorgs approval and attention as he fights against inhuman foes and ghouls ruled by an invincible lord, long thought dead.
Lord Varymorg is a complicated character and you find out more about his past as you read through the book. There is more to his past than you would expect, ut that would be giving information away. Let’s just say, he is a formidable bladesman himself and has been banished to a remote outpost to train the next bladesman. He must also keep his true feelings inside and never allow himself to care for his young charge. To him, love is loss and he can’t cope with any more.
Another character is a fire dancer from the frozen north, Heath and his sister Judith, who is also a great bladesman and works with this sister to find out information and keep an ear out for news, throughout the kingdoms. Listening out for rumblings of war and the prophecy of the 19th Bladesman. He acts more like a spy in the background and a rich man amongst the common, gathering what he can for his kingdom. Finding out what other foes are doing.
They are all facing ghoul attacks and the emergence of a dark and evil god, who aims to break out of his prison, by breaking the 19th Bladesman of the prophecy. If he can do that, then the kingdom will fall and he and his inhuman and evil followers will succeed. Fate is waiting for Kaell and he will have to make his own decision on his actions and his fate. Will he manage to overcome the destiny laid out for him and save the kingdom or will he loose the favour of the gods?
You have to follow the book through and come across a priestess, an evil sidekick, a king and his counsellor more interested in power than their people, Aric and many other interesting characters. There are secrets to be revealed and tragedy to be overcome.
This is an intense read and whilst it deals with evil beings, monsters and war, it is also about the relationships between different characters. The need for love and affection, which all humans require and seek. The wish for peace and a long life. There are complex issues being discussed in a well written fantasy book. Stick with it and you will enjoy the read, as did I.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Lord Varymorg is a complicated character and you find out more about his past as you read through the book. There is more to his past than you would expect, ut that would be giving information away. Let’s just say, he is a formidable bladesman himself and has been banished to a remote outpost to train the next bladesman. He must also keep his true feelings inside and never allow himself to care for his young charge. To him, love is loss and he can’t cope with any more.
Another character is a fire dancer from the frozen north, Heath and his sister Judith, who is also a great bladesman and works with this sister to find out information and keep an ear out for news, throughout the kingdoms. Listening out for rumblings of war and the prophecy of the 19th Bladesman. He acts more like a spy in the background and a rich man amongst the common, gathering what he can for his kingdom. Finding out what other foes are doing.
They are all facing ghoul attacks and the emergence of a dark and evil god, who aims to break out of his prison, by breaking the 19th Bladesman of the prophecy. If he can do that, then the kingdom will fall and he and his inhuman and evil followers will succeed. Fate is waiting for Kaell and he will have to make his own decision on his actions and his fate. Will he manage to overcome the destiny laid out for him and save the kingdom or will he loose the favour of the gods?
You have to follow the book through and come across a priestess, an evil sidekick, a king and his counsellor more interested in power than their people, Aric and many other interesting characters. There are secrets to be revealed and tragedy to be overcome.
This is an intense read and whilst it deals with evil beings, monsters and war, it is also about the relationships between different characters. The need for love and affection, which all humans require and seek. The wish for peace and a long life. There are complex issues being discussed in a well written fantasy book. Stick with it and you will enjoy the read, as did I.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
November 15, 2019
Great intelligent read
I have to say this is one book I really enjoyed and believe it is well deserving of five stars. An epic adventure mirroring that of GOT or Lord of the Rings. Equally satisfying and very well written.
I have to say this is one book I really enjoyed and believe it is well deserving of five stars. An epic adventure mirroring that of GOT or Lord of the Rings. Equally satisfying and very well written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews