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The Seven Swords #1
A Pilgrimage of Swords
ENTER THE EXECRATION,
WHERE THE DAMNED AND THE DESPERATE
COME TO PRAY TO THE MAD GOD…
It is two hundred years since the deity known as the Absolved went mad and destroyed the Kingdom of Alnachim, transforming it into the Execration, a blasted wasteland filled with nameless terrors. For decades, desperate souls have made pilgrimage to the centre of this cursed land to seek the Mad God’s favour, their fate always unknown.
Now a veteran warrior known only as Pilgrim, armed with a fabled blade inhabited by the soul of a taunting demon, must join with six others to make the last journey to the heart of the Execration. Allied with a youthful priest, a beast-charmer, a duplicitous scholar, an effete actor and two exiled lovers, Pilgrim must survive madness, malevolent spirits, unnatural monsters and the ever-present risk of treachery, all so that the Mad God might hear his prayer and, perhaps, grant redemption. But can sins such as his ever be forgiven?
WHERE THE DAMNED AND THE DESPERATE
COME TO PRAY TO THE MAD GOD…
It is two hundred years since the deity known as the Absolved went mad and destroyed the Kingdom of Alnachim, transforming it into the Execration, a blasted wasteland filled with nameless terrors. For decades, desperate souls have made pilgrimage to the centre of this cursed land to seek the Mad God’s favour, their fate always unknown.
Now a veteran warrior known only as Pilgrim, armed with a fabled blade inhabited by the soul of a taunting demon, must join with six others to make the last journey to the heart of the Execration. Allied with a youthful priest, a beast-charmer, a duplicitous scholar, an effete actor and two exiled lovers, Pilgrim must survive madness, malevolent spirits, unnatural monsters and the ever-present risk of treachery, all so that the Mad God might hear his prayer and, perhaps, grant redemption. But can sins such as his ever be forgiven?
109 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2019
333 people are currently reading
5394 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Ryan
87 books9,932 followersAnthony Ryan was born in Scotland in 1970 but spent much of his adult life living and working in London. After a long career in the British Civil Service he took up writing full time after the success of his first novel Blood Song, Book One of the Raven’s Shadow trilogy. He has a degree in history, and his interests include art, science and the unending quest for the perfect pint of real ale.
For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com
For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
April 19, 2019
ARC provided by the publisher—Subterranean Press—in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 stars
Anthony Ryan is back with a brand new novella in a completely new world.
It’s been two hundred years since the Kingdom of Alnachim was destroyed by The Mad God. Alnachim, now called the Execration, has become a wasteland full of monsters and terrors. For decades, pilgrimages to reach the center of the Execration were made by desperate people so they can meet the Mad God and have their wish granted; none ever returned. The story follows Pilgrim, a veteran warrior with an unknown past, and his six companions as they attempt a pilgrimage to have his wish for redemption granted.
I don’t have a lot of things to say regarding A Pilgrimage of Swords because of its small size. This novella was great and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I, however, truly wish this was a full standalone novel; there’s so much room for incredible developments here. This is a quest-based story accompanied with a variety of unique characters in an intriguing post-apocalyptic world, I also found Ryan’s writing in this book to be one of the best he has done so far; in my opinion, adding more pages to this story would’ve benefited the book more rather than leaving it as a novella. Other than Pilgrim and one or two other characters, the rest of the characters didn’t receive enough—understandably—development because of the small pages count of the book. I found it a bit difficult for me to empathize with a lot of them because there’s no background exploration or what each of the character’s purpose in the pilgrimage was. I didn't know this was a novella (and short stories/novella very rarely works for me) when I requested for it so the blame fully lies with me.
That being said, I do think that A Pilgrimage of Swords was a great quest-based fantasy novella and I would recommend it for those of you who are looking for a short read in the genre. Seeing Ryan’s continuous improvement in writing and storytelling makes me excited to read more of his future work.
Official release date: September 30th, 2019
You can pre-order the book from: Subterranean Press
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
3.5/5 stars
Anthony Ryan is back with a brand new novella in a completely new world.
It’s been two hundred years since the Kingdom of Alnachim was destroyed by The Mad God. Alnachim, now called the Execration, has become a wasteland full of monsters and terrors. For decades, pilgrimages to reach the center of the Execration were made by desperate people so they can meet the Mad God and have their wish granted; none ever returned. The story follows Pilgrim, a veteran warrior with an unknown past, and his six companions as they attempt a pilgrimage to have his wish for redemption granted.
“Is it a crime for a god to destroy what he made?”
“Perhaps not. But to destroy all those who lived under his protection certainly is.”
I don’t have a lot of things to say regarding A Pilgrimage of Swords because of its small size. This novella was great and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I, however, truly wish this was a full standalone novel; there’s so much room for incredible developments here. This is a quest-based story accompanied with a variety of unique characters in an intriguing post-apocalyptic world, I also found Ryan’s writing in this book to be one of the best he has done so far; in my opinion, adding more pages to this story would’ve benefited the book more rather than leaving it as a novella. Other than Pilgrim and one or two other characters, the rest of the characters didn’t receive enough—understandably—development because of the small pages count of the book. I found it a bit difficult for me to empathize with a lot of them because there’s no background exploration or what each of the character’s purpose in the pilgrimage was. I didn't know this was a novella (and short stories/novella very rarely works for me) when I requested for it so the blame fully lies with me.
“Perfection is an impossibility,” Book said, a quotation from the Injunctions of the First Risen. “It is through our imperfections that we come to know ourselves.”
That being said, I do think that A Pilgrimage of Swords was a great quest-based fantasy novella and I would recommend it for those of you who are looking for a short read in the genre. Seeing Ryan’s continuous improvement in writing and storytelling makes me excited to read more of his future work.
Official release date: September 30th, 2019
You can pre-order the book from: Subterranean Press
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
September 10, 2025
Check out my Booktube channel at: The Obsessive Bookseller
Pilgrimage of Swords is a breathtaking start to another amazing world from Anthony Ryan.
I think Ryan has a split personality in his writing. One Ryan loves to tell adventurous novels with expansive world building and the sorts of discoveries that leave you in awe and wonder at what you’ve just experienced. This is very much the case with Draconius Memoria (my all-time favorite series). The other Ryan gives you deep, slow-burn character novels where the focus is almost completely on a single POV making his way in the world, as with Blood Song and Pariah. Pilgrimage of Swords falls into the latter category. Even though it’s a novella, he managed to cram a great deal of exploration and discovery within, and I can’t wait to see what sort of cool things we’re going to come across next!
I really didn’t think there would be enough substance in such a short book to win me over, but I was wrong – it was really good. The only thing that perhaps suffered is that I didn’t feel I had enough time to get to know all of the side characters, and even continued to mix a couple of them up until the very end of the book. They didn’t seem particularly fleshed out (or is it flushed out? I could make a case for both words, lol) and after finishing the book, I can sort of see why. But I could’ve gone for a few extra pages establishing character because then I may have felt more invested when stuff started happening to them.
What I liked most about the novella is how most of the cool things about this series were revealed gradually, providing a huge payoff at the end that instantly hooked me into wanting to read on. It seems like many books start out telling you exactly what the characters are struggling with and give you a road map on how they’re going to fix it. This novella is a beautifully written showcase on how to show readers rather than tell them the point of your story. I continue to hold this author in very high regard.
Recommendations: this could actually be a great introduction to Ryan’s works if you haven’t tried him yet. If you love stories with expansive world-building as much as I do, then this one is a must-read! I feel like he’s only just scratched the surface on what this new world has to offer, and what I’ve seen so far is epic!
Thank you to my Patrons: Filipe, Dave, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, and Katrin! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
Pilgrimage of Swords is a breathtaking start to another amazing world from Anthony Ryan.
I think Ryan has a split personality in his writing. One Ryan loves to tell adventurous novels with expansive world building and the sorts of discoveries that leave you in awe and wonder at what you’ve just experienced. This is very much the case with Draconius Memoria (my all-time favorite series). The other Ryan gives you deep, slow-burn character novels where the focus is almost completely on a single POV making his way in the world, as with Blood Song and Pariah. Pilgrimage of Swords falls into the latter category. Even though it’s a novella, he managed to cram a great deal of exploration and discovery within, and I can’t wait to see what sort of cool things we’re going to come across next!
I really didn’t think there would be enough substance in such a short book to win me over, but I was wrong – it was really good. The only thing that perhaps suffered is that I didn’t feel I had enough time to get to know all of the side characters, and even continued to mix a couple of them up until the very end of the book. They didn’t seem particularly fleshed out (or is it flushed out? I could make a case for both words, lol) and after finishing the book, I can sort of see why. But I could’ve gone for a few extra pages establishing character because then I may have felt more invested when stuff started happening to them.
What I liked most about the novella is how most of the cool things about this series were revealed gradually, providing a huge payoff at the end that instantly hooked me into wanting to read on. It seems like many books start out telling you exactly what the characters are struggling with and give you a road map on how they’re going to fix it. This novella is a beautifully written showcase on how to show readers rather than tell them the point of your story. I continue to hold this author in very high regard.
Recommendations: this could actually be a great introduction to Ryan’s works if you haven’t tried him yet. If you love stories with expansive world-building as much as I do, then this one is a must-read! I feel like he’s only just scratched the surface on what this new world has to offer, and what I’ve seen so far is epic!
Thank you to my Patrons: Filipe, Dave, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, and Katrin! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
August 23, 2019
Amazing novella. Full review to come.
May 15, 2023
3.5
“Proceed only if you are willing to be judged”.
No saben la de años que esta novela (la cual yo pensaba que contenía 500 páginas) se encontraba en mi carpeta de lecturas). Pero mi sorpresa al tener 90 páginas me indujo a subir puestos, añadido al hecho que estoy leyendo cada vez más en inglés.
“You said they derserved their fate. But then you would know that best of all, would you not, my liege.
En cuanto al nivel de idioma, yo lo encuadro en un B2-C1 por varias razones: en primer lugar, nos encontramos ante un mundo de fantasía semi complejo junto con su vocabulario especifico creado por el autor, la prosa del autor no es ligera, sino que enriquece sus escritos para hacerlo mucho más realista y por último utiliza bastantes verbos-vocabulario específicos de la fantasía. Mi consejo es que si estás empezando a leer en inglés, no tomes este tipo de lectura, sino cuando ya estés más suelto. En mi caso, no lo voy a negar, me costó, aparte por el vocabulario sino por la densidad de la trama, a pesar de eso, si lo lees lento y con calma, se hace amena la lectura.
“They say the Mad God can’t hide abide a kindly soul”.
Por otro lado, en cuanto al argumento no deja de ser igual al de otros libros de fantasía o concretamente de este género de fantasía medieval-oscura. Me explico un viaje una peregrinación y los personajes tipo de fantasía: el mago, el guerrero, el sacerdote entre otros y juntos afrontan peligros. Sin embargo, el autor ha sabido llevarlo bien y hacer de la historia interesante, sobre todo por su forma de escribir.
“And know that the Crucible’s judgement is merciless. ”
En estas noventas páginas no consigues engancharte del todo a la historia, al menos yo. Me han gustado los personajes, pero no fascinado, sin embargo, luego reflexiono sobre el hecho que es solo una primera parte, un primer acto y que a partir de ahí seguramente se verá un desarrollo más claro de los personajes y sus historias.
En conclusión, totalmente recomendado porque tiene mucho potencial.
“Is it a crime for a god to destroy what he made?”
“Proceed only if you are willing to be judged”.
No saben la de años que esta novela (la cual yo pensaba que contenía 500 páginas) se encontraba en mi carpeta de lecturas). Pero mi sorpresa al tener 90 páginas me indujo a subir puestos, añadido al hecho que estoy leyendo cada vez más en inglés.
“You said they derserved their fate. But then you would know that best of all, would you not, my liege.
En cuanto al nivel de idioma, yo lo encuadro en un B2-C1 por varias razones: en primer lugar, nos encontramos ante un mundo de fantasía semi complejo junto con su vocabulario especifico creado por el autor, la prosa del autor no es ligera, sino que enriquece sus escritos para hacerlo mucho más realista y por último utiliza bastantes verbos-vocabulario específicos de la fantasía. Mi consejo es que si estás empezando a leer en inglés, no tomes este tipo de lectura, sino cuando ya estés más suelto. En mi caso, no lo voy a negar, me costó, aparte por el vocabulario sino por la densidad de la trama, a pesar de eso, si lo lees lento y con calma, se hace amena la lectura.
“They say the Mad God can’t hide abide a kindly soul”.
Por otro lado, en cuanto al argumento no deja de ser igual al de otros libros de fantasía o concretamente de este género de fantasía medieval-oscura. Me explico un viaje una peregrinación y los personajes tipo de fantasía: el mago, el guerrero, el sacerdote entre otros y juntos afrontan peligros. Sin embargo, el autor ha sabido llevarlo bien y hacer de la historia interesante, sobre todo por su forma de escribir.
“And know that the Crucible’s judgement is merciless. ”
En estas noventas páginas no consigues engancharte del todo a la historia, al menos yo. Me han gustado los personajes, pero no fascinado, sin embargo, luego reflexiono sobre el hecho que es solo una primera parte, un primer acto y que a partir de ahí seguramente se verá un desarrollo más claro de los personajes y sus historias.
En conclusión, totalmente recomendado porque tiene mucho potencial.
“Is it a crime for a god to destroy what he made?”
September 13, 2019
3.5 stars. This is my first experience with Anthony Ryan. I don’t expect it to be the last. This novella isn’t bad, but it’s one of those times where honestly, I just wanted more. I wanted to know more about the world, more about Pilgrim and his intrepid band of… Pilgrims..
In A Pilgrimage of Swords, we follow a man called Pilgrim and his cursed sword on a trip across the wastelands to make a prayer to the Mad God. It’s a very difficult and dangerous journey, and few are ever known to have come back from it alive.
The reader understands that Pilgrim has a dark past, but as we travel we also come to understand that Pilgrim isn’t a bad guy, he’s trying to do right by the people he believes are innocent. His character is a lot of fun. He has a few lines that made me laugh out loud.
However, I just felt like there wasn’t enough “room” in this short book (128 pages) to get the details I really wanted. I felt like we were skipping from locale to locale without really knowing why or developing the characters enough to really care about them.
As the book goes on, we do get snippets of information here and there about why each of the pilgrims has embarked on this journey, and by the end of it I did care about a few of them. Still, it was a little frustrating when I could see there was easily enough story here to explore a full length novel about the characters and this world, and felt like this novella was a tease.
The ending was really fantastic though, and the action scenes were exciting and well written. If Ryan decided to write a full length novel about Pilgrim, I’d definitely pick it up, and the ending seems to leave that possibility open.
I do think it’s worth picking up as it can be read in just a couple hours. Thank you to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for review.
A Pilgrimage of Swords releases on September 30, 2019 and can be found on GoodReads or preordered on Amazon.
In A Pilgrimage of Swords, we follow a man called Pilgrim and his cursed sword on a trip across the wastelands to make a prayer to the Mad God. It’s a very difficult and dangerous journey, and few are ever known to have come back from it alive.
The reader understands that Pilgrim has a dark past, but as we travel we also come to understand that Pilgrim isn’t a bad guy, he’s trying to do right by the people he believes are innocent. His character is a lot of fun. He has a few lines that made me laugh out loud.
However, I just felt like there wasn’t enough “room” in this short book (128 pages) to get the details I really wanted. I felt like we were skipping from locale to locale without really knowing why or developing the characters enough to really care about them.
As the book goes on, we do get snippets of information here and there about why each of the pilgrims has embarked on this journey, and by the end of it I did care about a few of them. Still, it was a little frustrating when I could see there was easily enough story here to explore a full length novel about the characters and this world, and felt like this novella was a tease.
The ending was really fantastic though, and the action scenes were exciting and well written. If Ryan decided to write a full length novel about Pilgrim, I’d definitely pick it up, and the ending seems to leave that possibility open.
I do think it’s worth picking up as it can be read in just a couple hours. Thank you to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for review.
A Pilgrimage of Swords releases on September 30, 2019 and can be found on GoodReads or preordered on Amazon.
March 20, 2024
What a great start!!! This just proves Anthony Ryan is one of the best
May 26, 2023
[ENG/ESP]
“Proceed only if you are willing to be judged”
I got to this reading without knowing anything, beyond the synopsis and a good recommendation (thank you, Elena), so I did not know what to expect. I didn't think the synopsis was going to be told, even if it was a very powerful starting point. Basically a divine figure called The absolved one day went mad and destroyed his kingdom of Alnachim, leaving it a desert and populated with nameless terrors. But the plot is not about this, because we follow a man called Pilgrim on his pilgrimage (forgive the redundancy) to the temple of the Mad God to ask him for a favor. Along with him will go other characters with their own requests.
I have to say that this premise reminded me very powerfully of the plot of Hyperion, at least in part. There's a lot less character development here, and a lot more action. This pilgrimage is going to be fraught with problems almost from the beginning, and it will not leave them until the end. The downside of being so short is that it barely scratches the surface with the characters, and you care little about what happens to them, except for the main character.
The warrior will see it all, and in seeing he will change you, for to know unalloyed truth is to be changed. That is why the Absolved named him the Crucible.”
I liked the author's way of writing a lot, also having read it in the original English version I know that it does not lose with the translation. But what I liked the most is that for a book that begins a saga, it gives many answers, it doesn't just focus on the adventure, but we know a lot of things when it ends. And what it leaves prepared for the future seems interesting, so I will have to continue reading and see what happens later. I would also like to read the origin of this story, although what happened is known here, I think it is a bit vague and could be used for a story of its own.
It has been a very good read, but with its little things that subtract a bit.
Is it a crime for a god to destroy what he made?”
----------------------------------------------
“Proceed only if you are willing to be judged”
He llegado a esta lectura sin conocer nada, más allá de la sinopsis y de una buena recomendación (gracias, Elena), por lo que no sabía bien qué esperar. No creía que la sinopsis fuese a ser contada, aunque fuera un punto de partida muy potente. Básicamente una figura divina llamada El Absuelto un día enloqueció y destruyó su reino de Alnachim, dejando aquello como un desierto y poblado de terrores sin nombre. Pero la trama no va de esto, sino que seguimos a un hombre al que llaman Peregrino en su peregrinaje (valga la reduncancia) al templo del Dios loco para pedirle un favor. Junto a él irán otros personajes con sus propias peticiones.
He de decir que esa premisa me recordó muy poderosamente a la trama de Hyperion, al menos en parte. Pero aquí hay mucho menos desarrollo de personajes, y bastante más acción. Este peregrinaje va a estar cargado de problemas casi desde el inicio, y no los dejará hasta el final. La pega de ser tan corto es que apenas araña la superficie con los personajes, y te importa poco lo que les vaya pasando, salvo al personaje principal.
The warrior will see it all, and in seeing he will change you, for to know unalloyed truth is to be changed. That is why the Absolved named him the Crucible.”
La forma de escribir del autor me ha gustado bastante, además habiéndolo leído en versión original en inglés sé que no pierde con la traducción. Pero lo que más me ha gustado es que para ser un libro inicio de saga, da muchas respuestas, no se queda sólo en el planteamiento de la aventura, sino que sabemos muchas cosas cuando acaba. Y lo que deja planteado a futuro parece interesante, así que habrá que seguir leyendo y ver qué pasa más adelante. Aunque también me gustaría leer el origen de esta historia, aunque aquí se sabe lo que ocurrió, creo que queda un poco vago y podría dar para una historia propia.
Ha sido una muy buena lectura, pero con sus pequeñas cosillas que le restan un poco.
Is it a crime for a god to destroy what he made?”
“Proceed only if you are willing to be judged”
I got to this reading without knowing anything, beyond the synopsis and a good recommendation (thank you, Elena), so I did not know what to expect. I didn't think the synopsis was going to be told, even if it was a very powerful starting point. Basically a divine figure called The absolved one day went mad and destroyed his kingdom of Alnachim, leaving it a desert and populated with nameless terrors. But the plot is not about this, because we follow a man called Pilgrim on his pilgrimage (forgive the redundancy) to the temple of the Mad God to ask him for a favor. Along with him will go other characters with their own requests.
I have to say that this premise reminded me very powerfully of the plot of Hyperion, at least in part. There's a lot less character development here, and a lot more action. This pilgrimage is going to be fraught with problems almost from the beginning, and it will not leave them until the end. The downside of being so short is that it barely scratches the surface with the characters, and you care little about what happens to them, except for the main character.
The warrior will see it all, and in seeing he will change you, for to know unalloyed truth is to be changed. That is why the Absolved named him the Crucible.”
I liked the author's way of writing a lot, also having read it in the original English version I know that it does not lose with the translation. But what I liked the most is that for a book that begins a saga, it gives many answers, it doesn't just focus on the adventure, but we know a lot of things when it ends. And what it leaves prepared for the future seems interesting, so I will have to continue reading and see what happens later. I would also like to read the origin of this story, although what happened is known here, I think it is a bit vague and could be used for a story of its own.
It has been a very good read, but with its little things that subtract a bit.
Is it a crime for a god to destroy what he made?”
----------------------------------------------
“Proceed only if you are willing to be judged”
He llegado a esta lectura sin conocer nada, más allá de la sinopsis y de una buena recomendación (gracias, Elena), por lo que no sabía bien qué esperar. No creía que la sinopsis fuese a ser contada, aunque fuera un punto de partida muy potente. Básicamente una figura divina llamada El Absuelto un día enloqueció y destruyó su reino de Alnachim, dejando aquello como un desierto y poblado de terrores sin nombre. Pero la trama no va de esto, sino que seguimos a un hombre al que llaman Peregrino en su peregrinaje (valga la reduncancia) al templo del Dios loco para pedirle un favor. Junto a él irán otros personajes con sus propias peticiones.
He de decir que esa premisa me recordó muy poderosamente a la trama de Hyperion, al menos en parte. Pero aquí hay mucho menos desarrollo de personajes, y bastante más acción. Este peregrinaje va a estar cargado de problemas casi desde el inicio, y no los dejará hasta el final. La pega de ser tan corto es que apenas araña la superficie con los personajes, y te importa poco lo que les vaya pasando, salvo al personaje principal.
The warrior will see it all, and in seeing he will change you, for to know unalloyed truth is to be changed. That is why the Absolved named him the Crucible.”
La forma de escribir del autor me ha gustado bastante, además habiéndolo leído en versión original en inglés sé que no pierde con la traducción. Pero lo que más me ha gustado es que para ser un libro inicio de saga, da muchas respuestas, no se queda sólo en el planteamiento de la aventura, sino que sabemos muchas cosas cuando acaba. Y lo que deja planteado a futuro parece interesante, así que habrá que seguir leyendo y ver qué pasa más adelante. Aunque también me gustaría leer el origen de esta historia, aunque aquí se sabe lo que ocurrió, creo que queda un poco vago y podría dar para una historia propia.
Ha sido una muy buena lectura, pero con sus pequeñas cosillas que le restan un poco.
Is it a crime for a god to destroy what he made?”
Want to read
October 25, 2019This hardcover is numbered 496 of 1000 produced and is signed by Anthony Ryan
September 21, 2023
The plot revolves around a group of very different people on said pilgrimage to a so called mad god. The story is fast paced full of wonderful imagination inspiring places and creatures.
I can’t comment on the characters much as they have no backstory to speak of at the moment. Not much is given away about their thoughts, feelings etc, it’s as if some of them just appeared out of thin air..
There’s a lot that can be expanded upon here with characters and the overall plot. Perhaps this will be addressed in future books in the series..?
Even though this book was short I still found it very enjoyable to read, it has a really good ending which left me wanting to read the next straight away. Another great story by Mr. Ryan..
I can’t comment on the characters much as they have no backstory to speak of at the moment. Not much is given away about their thoughts, feelings etc, it’s as if some of them just appeared out of thin air..
There’s a lot that can be expanded upon here with characters and the overall plot. Perhaps this will be addressed in future books in the series..?
Even though this book was short I still found it very enjoyable to read, it has a really good ending which left me wanting to read the next straight away. Another great story by Mr. Ryan..
April 3, 2021
The reason I decided to pick up this book is very simple: the sequel to this book is called The Kraken's Tooth. And I love the Kraken. This story comes first though and I have to admit, this was not what I was expecting.
The cast is on a pilgrimage, a quest to find The Mad God. Finding The Mad God means they can get their wishes granted. To get to him, they need to work together. But only one can get their wish granted in the end.
A gritty and dark atmospheric beginning grabbed me from the get-go. The plot is a quest, pretty straight forward yet gripping every step of the way. The writing itself is strong and really helped set the dark tone of the story. The main character is mysterious and intriguing, though the rest of the cast is a bit forgettable. All in all, a fantastic short read.
The cast is on a pilgrimage, a quest to find The Mad God. Finding The Mad God means they can get their wishes granted. To get to him, they need to work together. But only one can get their wish granted in the end.
A gritty and dark atmospheric beginning grabbed me from the get-go. The plot is a quest, pretty straight forward yet gripping every step of the way. The writing itself is strong and really helped set the dark tone of the story. The main character is mysterious and intriguing, though the rest of the cast is a bit forgettable. All in all, a fantastic short read.
August 28, 2019
Short stories are always tough because there is a limited time to establish characters, build a world and make the reader care.
Anthony Ryan does a fabulous job of this in the fast-paced novella "A Pilgrimage of Swords" which introduces a dark and gritty fantasy world that instantly captured my attention, and characters that I can't help but want more of.
Ryan is at the top of his game with this one and I can't help but be impressed.
Anthony Ryan does a fabulous job of this in the fast-paced novella "A Pilgrimage of Swords" which introduces a dark and gritty fantasy world that instantly captured my attention, and characters that I can't help but want more of.
Ryan is at the top of his game with this one and I can't help but be impressed.
August 19, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis
It is two hundred years since the deity known as the Absolved went mad and destroyed the Kingdom of Alnachim, transforming it into the Execration, a blasted wasteland filled with nameless terrors. For decades, desperate souls have made pilgrimage to the centre of this cursed land to seek the Mad God’s favour, their fate always unknown.
Now a veteran warrior known only as Pilgrim, armed with a fabled blade inhabited by the soul of a taunting demon, must join with six others to make the last journey to the heart of the Execration. Allied with a youthful priest, a beast-charmer, a duplicitous scholar, an effete actor and two exiled lovers, Pilgrim must survive madness, malevolent spirits, unnatural monsters and the ever-present risk of treachery, all so that the Mad God might hear his prayer and, perhaps, grant redemption. But can sins such as his ever be forgiven?
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of A Pilgrimage of Swords in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novella.
This was actually my first experience with Anthony Ryan’s writing, even though I have all of the books in his previous two (2) series [Raven’s Shadow & Draconis Memoria]. Though I have been blogging for a few years, I am still way behind on several authors and series, but I am slowly making my way through them as I clear out ARCs. Maybe I’ll catch up eventually (NOT). This stems from reading and reviewing so many genres *shrugs*.
A Pilgrimage of Swords may be a short, quick read, but for what it lacks in pages and words, it makes up for in fantastic storytelling. This novella gave me sort of a (and please, bear with me on this) Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone ending feel with the trials and tribulations of our characters along their pilgrimage, but mixed with the world-building and characters of Peter Newman’s The Vagrant.
Like I said, bear with me. It is an odd comparison, but it makes 100% sense to me; except this story is much more latter than the former. It is as close to grimdark as you can get without devoting yourself to gods of brutality and gore.
While this novella shows off Ryan’s ability to write such a great story in so few pages, it leaves me with the difficult job of writing an extended review. I could see myself rating APoS 5-stars if it were expanded upon, fleshing out the characters a little more and gifting us the pleasure of emotionally connecting with them. But all in all, there is plenty of hack’n’slash and fantasy goodness to go around that I think anyone that is a fan of Ryan, let alone the fantasy genre as a whole, will immensely enjoy.
Synopsis
It is two hundred years since the deity known as the Absolved went mad and destroyed the Kingdom of Alnachim, transforming it into the Execration, a blasted wasteland filled with nameless terrors. For decades, desperate souls have made pilgrimage to the centre of this cursed land to seek the Mad God’s favour, their fate always unknown.
Now a veteran warrior known only as Pilgrim, armed with a fabled blade inhabited by the soul of a taunting demon, must join with six others to make the last journey to the heart of the Execration. Allied with a youthful priest, a beast-charmer, a duplicitous scholar, an effete actor and two exiled lovers, Pilgrim must survive madness, malevolent spirits, unnatural monsters and the ever-present risk of treachery, all so that the Mad God might hear his prayer and, perhaps, grant redemption. But can sins such as his ever be forgiven?
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of A Pilgrimage of Swords in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novella.
This was actually my first experience with Anthony Ryan’s writing, even though I have all of the books in his previous two (2) series [Raven’s Shadow & Draconis Memoria]. Though I have been blogging for a few years, I am still way behind on several authors and series, but I am slowly making my way through them as I clear out ARCs. Maybe I’ll catch up eventually (NOT). This stems from reading and reviewing so many genres *shrugs*.
A Pilgrimage of Swords may be a short, quick read, but for what it lacks in pages and words, it makes up for in fantastic storytelling. This novella gave me sort of a (and please, bear with me on this) Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone ending feel with the trials and tribulations of our characters along their pilgrimage, but mixed with the world-building and characters of Peter Newman’s The Vagrant.
Like I said, bear with me. It is an odd comparison, but it makes 100% sense to me; except this story is much more latter than the former. It is as close to grimdark as you can get without devoting yourself to gods of brutality and gore.
While this novella shows off Ryan’s ability to write such a great story in so few pages, it leaves me with the difficult job of writing an extended review. I could see myself rating APoS 5-stars if it were expanded upon, fleshing out the characters a little more and gifting us the pleasure of emotionally connecting with them. But all in all, there is plenty of hack’n’slash and fantasy goodness to go around that I think anyone that is a fan of Ryan, let alone the fantasy genre as a whole, will immensely enjoy.
November 8, 2019
7,5/10
Me hice con esta novela corta,debido a que estaba interesado en leer a su autor, pero me daba respeto en meterme en novelas largas de salida, ya que en versión original me cuesta mucho más leer y no siempre disfruto tanto la lectura.
Como test previo, puedo decir que esta novela es bastante interesante, se lee muy bien, quizás las escenas de acción son algo más confusas, pero la trama es de un estilo bastante clásico, aunque el desarrollo y el desenlace son de un tipo más actual, algo que agradezco.
Centrándome un poco más, me ha gustado que todos los personajes de la historia tengan un trasfondo oculto y que su autor sea capaz de resolver todo lo relacionado con ello de forma satisfactoria, recordemos que la novela tiene 100 páginas. El worldbuilding es bastante interesante y te deja con ganas de saber más. Por último, el desenlace va por otros derroteros a los que uno espera, cerrando al final la historia bastante bien.
Creo que no dentro de mucho me lanzaré a leer una novela larga de Ryan, a ver que tal.
Me hice con esta novela corta,debido a que estaba interesado en leer a su autor, pero me daba respeto en meterme en novelas largas de salida, ya que en versión original me cuesta mucho más leer y no siempre disfruto tanto la lectura.
Como test previo, puedo decir que esta novela es bastante interesante, se lee muy bien, quizás las escenas de acción son algo más confusas, pero la trama es de un estilo bastante clásico, aunque el desarrollo y el desenlace son de un tipo más actual, algo que agradezco.
Centrándome un poco más, me ha gustado que todos los personajes de la historia tengan un trasfondo oculto y que su autor sea capaz de resolver todo lo relacionado con ello de forma satisfactoria, recordemos que la novela tiene 100 páginas. El worldbuilding es bastante interesante y te deja con ganas de saber más. Por último, el desenlace va por otros derroteros a los que uno espera, cerrando al final la historia bastante bien.
Creo que no dentro de mucho me lanzaré a leer una novela larga de Ryan, a ver que tal.
June 13, 2021
4/5
I haven't read much more Anthony Ryan since Blood Song, of which I got a kick out of. After being in a bit of a fantasy rut, I wanted to try something short to get me out of my fix and decided on The Seven Sword series (2 published so far with book 3 later this year). This quick review will encompass my thoughts on both parts 1 and 2.
This series is seemingly inspired by the Sword and Sorcery sub genre: a travelling band questing towards a common goal with the main lead being a demon-sword wielding northman with a violent past. Cliché I know but it's a ton of fun because the tropes are executed well and the mystery of 'Pilgrim's' past, the interactions with the talking sword, and the pure adrenaline pumping action of the set pieces all lend towards an entertaining romp.
The main conceit of the series is that there a 'god' that created a massive wasteland in this world and there are various pilgrimages made to request something from said 'god'. The journey is a torturous one with plenty of interaction between creeping beasties or subterfuge within the travelling group. The group are all provided monikers, such as Pilgrim, and this made me think on the same Canterbury Tales-like framing that Hyperion by Dan Simmons had. As the story progresses, it becomes a story to attempt to gather the other 6 demon-haunted swords.
Overall, this was pulp fiction at its finest and a good time was had. Ryan has proven to be a capable writer and I'm looking forward to more of his work.
I haven't read much more Anthony Ryan since Blood Song, of which I got a kick out of. After being in a bit of a fantasy rut, I wanted to try something short to get me out of my fix and decided on The Seven Sword series (2 published so far with book 3 later this year). This quick review will encompass my thoughts on both parts 1 and 2.
This series is seemingly inspired by the Sword and Sorcery sub genre: a travelling band questing towards a common goal with the main lead being a demon-sword wielding northman with a violent past. Cliché I know but it's a ton of fun because the tropes are executed well and the mystery of 'Pilgrim's' past, the interactions with the talking sword, and the pure adrenaline pumping action of the set pieces all lend towards an entertaining romp.
The main conceit of the series is that there a 'god' that created a massive wasteland in this world and there are various pilgrimages made to request something from said 'god'. The journey is a torturous one with plenty of interaction between creeping beasties or subterfuge within the travelling group. The group are all provided monikers, such as Pilgrim, and this made me think on the same Canterbury Tales-like framing that Hyperion by Dan Simmons had. As the story progresses, it becomes a story to attempt to gather the other 6 demon-haunted swords.
Overall, this was pulp fiction at its finest and a good time was had. Ryan has proven to be a capable writer and I'm looking forward to more of his work.
December 28, 2019
A very engrossing novella. I hope to read more from Ryan about this world, full of demons, decaying religions, and impossible landscapes.
Ratings:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ratings:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 3, 2021
My Review for A Pilgrimage of Swords by Anthony Ryan.
My Book Review Blog
“The human consort of the Absolved, ” Book explained. “Said to be the most perfect man ever to grace the earth. The Absolved was smitten at the first glance they shared, as too was Thandril. It’s said their love endured for more than a century, the youth kept youthful by the Absolved’s devotion. But all love fades, as does all beauty.”
So what’s the book about?
A god gone mad destroyed the kingdom of Alnachim, originally full of magical beings and beauty. Now the once beautiful land has been turned into a wasteland inhabited by many ominous grotesque monsters. Yet despite the wounded land, people make pilgrimages in the hope of praying to the god and being heard. The pilgrimage to the centre of the cursed land will be a hurdle for the desperate souls. Pilgrim also wants to seek out the god to find redemption and sets out together with a teenage priest, a beast-charmer, a scholar, as well as an actor and two exiled lovers. The path to answer the prayer to the god is littered with madness and monsters, and yet even in the end it is not granted whether the prayer of the souls will be answered.
Why I wanted to read this series?
One of the first fantasy series I ever read was the Raven’s Shadow series by Anthony Ryan. To this day, it is still one of my favourites, because I was so enthusiastic about this series at the time and since then I have read almost exclusively fantasy. Moreover, just recently I read his Draconis Memoria series and was so excited about the whole idea of that series. The setting, the characters and as always the writing style was exceptionally good and special too. Of course, I had to read this series now as well because I am very excited to see what ideas he came up with. Even though I’m usually not a fan of short books, because simply the stories can’t build up sufficiently in my view, I also wanted to read this series. Of course I bought the signed editions, but because I was afraid of breaking them, I also got it as an eBook.
These aspects attracted me the most while reading.
The world in which the story is set seems like it was created out of a nightmare. While reading, you have an oppressive feeling, almost feel confined and just want to wake up from this nightmare. It is not only the grotesque creatures that contribute to this feeling, but also the story itself. The creatures seem like animals from the real world, only hideously changed, and yet there are many different creatures that you encounter on the way to the final destination. When you think that the world was once full of beautiful wonders, the creatures only seem more grotesque and hideous. But the journey also plays a part in making you feel a little like you’re locked in a nightmare, because these souls are desperate enough to want to walk the path in order to be heard by the god. Each one has his or her own problem as to why they are taking this journey. If one has to walk such a path, one can expect that the persons are poor souls whom nothing can actually help.
This book also seems mysterious because you don’t know at the beginning exactly what the goal of this journey is, why these people have come together, so you are somehow, as Anthony Ryan likes to do, just thrown into the story and have to find out bit by bit how everything is connected with each other. You ask yourself who the individual companions are, why they want to seek out this god, but also who this god actually is, can he really help these people and what do they hope for when they have found the god. At the same time, one hardly learns anything about the people and one always expects that one of these companions will turn out to be an enemy. The fact that the characters don’t say their real names, but give themselves one, makes it even more sinister. The places the companions roam also seem eerie and mysterious, everything is desolate and there seem to be no living creatures, it feels so empty and you want to know why it all happened. This journey reminded me of Diablo II, if anyone knows the game, you know that you always have a destination, but you don’t know the dangers of this journey, you meet strange creatures and you feel alone. Because there is not a soul inhabiting this world either, except in small villages where the rest of humanity stays – and this world seems just as mysterious to me.
Pilgrim was the perfect character to fit into this bleak and fearful world. Because he himself is very secretive and somehow scary. Even the fact that he can communicate with his sword doesn’t make him any more trustworthy. His sword shows Pilgrim’s identity repeatedly, because he is not a hero, but rather the evil one. However, not only does the sword have a demonic existence, we also learn about the demonic atrocities Pilgrim has done in his past. This connection between the sword and the bearer is unique, because on the one hand, they complement each other, but on the other hand, they are also different. For Pilgrim repeatedly reveals that he is not quite the callous person he initially appears to be, but does have a heart.
So what are my final thoughts about it?
I have never read anything so dark by Anthony Ryan and after this book, I have to say that I would like to read more in this direction by him. He manages to build up such a dark, gloomy world in so few pages, adds the right characters who seem mysterious and equally dark and adds eerie creatures, and of course this is paired with a breathtakingly great writing style. This world is so unique, although I know video games that have this flair; I have yet to read a book that could give me this scary and confining feeling. Even if at the beginning you don’t know exactly what the story of this book is about, the end is completely convincing. You learn that it is not only about repentance, but that there is much more behind this journey and the destination. Despite the small number of pages, this story had so much atmosphere that it sweeps you along and you can’t even put the book aside. I really hope that many more books will be written in this world and I’m off to the next volume!
My Book Review Blog
“The human consort of the Absolved, ” Book explained. “Said to be the most perfect man ever to grace the earth. The Absolved was smitten at the first glance they shared, as too was Thandril. It’s said their love endured for more than a century, the youth kept youthful by the Absolved’s devotion. But all love fades, as does all beauty.”
So what’s the book about?
A god gone mad destroyed the kingdom of Alnachim, originally full of magical beings and beauty. Now the once beautiful land has been turned into a wasteland inhabited by many ominous grotesque monsters. Yet despite the wounded land, people make pilgrimages in the hope of praying to the god and being heard. The pilgrimage to the centre of the cursed land will be a hurdle for the desperate souls. Pilgrim also wants to seek out the god to find redemption and sets out together with a teenage priest, a beast-charmer, a scholar, as well as an actor and two exiled lovers. The path to answer the prayer to the god is littered with madness and monsters, and yet even in the end it is not granted whether the prayer of the souls will be answered.
Why I wanted to read this series?
One of the first fantasy series I ever read was the Raven’s Shadow series by Anthony Ryan. To this day, it is still one of my favourites, because I was so enthusiastic about this series at the time and since then I have read almost exclusively fantasy. Moreover, just recently I read his Draconis Memoria series and was so excited about the whole idea of that series. The setting, the characters and as always the writing style was exceptionally good and special too. Of course, I had to read this series now as well because I am very excited to see what ideas he came up with. Even though I’m usually not a fan of short books, because simply the stories can’t build up sufficiently in my view, I also wanted to read this series. Of course I bought the signed editions, but because I was afraid of breaking them, I also got it as an eBook.
These aspects attracted me the most while reading.
The world in which the story is set seems like it was created out of a nightmare. While reading, you have an oppressive feeling, almost feel confined and just want to wake up from this nightmare. It is not only the grotesque creatures that contribute to this feeling, but also the story itself. The creatures seem like animals from the real world, only hideously changed, and yet there are many different creatures that you encounter on the way to the final destination. When you think that the world was once full of beautiful wonders, the creatures only seem more grotesque and hideous. But the journey also plays a part in making you feel a little like you’re locked in a nightmare, because these souls are desperate enough to want to walk the path in order to be heard by the god. Each one has his or her own problem as to why they are taking this journey. If one has to walk such a path, one can expect that the persons are poor souls whom nothing can actually help.
This book also seems mysterious because you don’t know at the beginning exactly what the goal of this journey is, why these people have come together, so you are somehow, as Anthony Ryan likes to do, just thrown into the story and have to find out bit by bit how everything is connected with each other. You ask yourself who the individual companions are, why they want to seek out this god, but also who this god actually is, can he really help these people and what do they hope for when they have found the god. At the same time, one hardly learns anything about the people and one always expects that one of these companions will turn out to be an enemy. The fact that the characters don’t say their real names, but give themselves one, makes it even more sinister. The places the companions roam also seem eerie and mysterious, everything is desolate and there seem to be no living creatures, it feels so empty and you want to know why it all happened. This journey reminded me of Diablo II, if anyone knows the game, you know that you always have a destination, but you don’t know the dangers of this journey, you meet strange creatures and you feel alone. Because there is not a soul inhabiting this world either, except in small villages where the rest of humanity stays – and this world seems just as mysterious to me.
Pilgrim was the perfect character to fit into this bleak and fearful world. Because he himself is very secretive and somehow scary. Even the fact that he can communicate with his sword doesn’t make him any more trustworthy. His sword shows Pilgrim’s identity repeatedly, because he is not a hero, but rather the evil one. However, not only does the sword have a demonic existence, we also learn about the demonic atrocities Pilgrim has done in his past. This connection between the sword and the bearer is unique, because on the one hand, they complement each other, but on the other hand, they are also different. For Pilgrim repeatedly reveals that he is not quite the callous person he initially appears to be, but does have a heart.
So what are my final thoughts about it?
I have never read anything so dark by Anthony Ryan and after this book, I have to say that I would like to read more in this direction by him. He manages to build up such a dark, gloomy world in so few pages, adds the right characters who seem mysterious and equally dark and adds eerie creatures, and of course this is paired with a breathtakingly great writing style. This world is so unique, although I know video games that have this flair; I have yet to read a book that could give me this scary and confining feeling. Even if at the beginning you don’t know exactly what the story of this book is about, the end is completely convincing. You learn that it is not only about repentance, but that there is much more behind this journey and the destination. Despite the small number of pages, this story had so much atmosphere that it sweeps you along and you can’t even put the book aside. I really hope that many more books will be written in this world and I’m off to the next volume!
November 19, 2024
3.75 ⭐️
I picked up this book to get a sense of Anthony Ryan’s writing style before committing to one of his full-length novels, and I was not disappointed. This fast-paced novella worked as an excellent introduction, leaving me curious and eager to explore more of his work.
The novella format can be hit or miss in terms of plot and character development. While a series of novellas can mitigate this challenge, the first book must establish the foundation for what follows—and I think this book accomplished that well. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the characters, and although the world-building was initially confusing, it improved as the story progressed. I assume future books will expand on it further, though I suspect the main focus will remain on the character’s journey rather than creating a deeply layered world.
I picked up this book to get a sense of Anthony Ryan’s writing style before committing to one of his full-length novels, and I was not disappointed. This fast-paced novella worked as an excellent introduction, leaving me curious and eager to explore more of his work.
The novella format can be hit or miss in terms of plot and character development. While a series of novellas can mitigate this challenge, the first book must establish the foundation for what follows—and I think this book accomplished that well. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the characters, and although the world-building was initially confusing, it improved as the story progressed. I assume future books will expand on it further, though I suspect the main focus will remain on the character’s journey rather than creating a deeply layered world.
September 13, 2022
Anthony Ryan is one of my favorite Fantasy writers. This novella is for Ryan's fans and those readers who like stories about a weapon being possessed and wise cracking.
December 2, 2025
Five stars for Anthony Ryan's ability to manage an excellent world building and to develop strong characters in 128 pages.
April 19, 2020
For a Ryan book this is very short but its obviously a novella. Quite simple in comparison but its definitely fun. Would uave loved a more fleshed out version of this. Having only 100 or so pages doesnt allow for much extensive world buidling however I think its more so the characters that dont get a great background. Other than Pilgrim that was it. Would recommend his other work over this but if you want some quick fantasy fun then give it a go
May 25, 2023
4.5/5
Pues me ha encantado.
Es una historia de fantasía oscurita que no se complica innecesariamente y que sorprende al final. Una aventura sencilla, con monstruos y criaturas malignas y un grupo de "héroes" que no lo son tanto jjajja. Ah, y una espada que habla. Qué me gusta a mí una espada que habla, qué risa, os lo juro.
Me ha gustado mucho el universo del libro y tengo ya ganas de seguir con los otros.
Elena, ¡gracias una vez más! ¡Que alguien te lo pague con los números de la lotería!
Pues me ha encantado.
Es una historia de fantasía oscurita que no se complica innecesariamente y que sorprende al final. Una aventura sencilla, con monstruos y criaturas malignas y un grupo de "héroes" que no lo son tanto jjajja. Ah, y una espada que habla. Qué me gusta a mí una espada que habla, qué risa, os lo juro.
Me ha gustado mucho el universo del libro y tengo ya ganas de seguir con los otros.
Elena, ¡gracias una vez más! ¡Que alguien te lo pague con los números de la lotería!
December 20, 2025
"It is two hundred years since the deity known as the Absolved went mad and destroyed the Kingdom of Alnachim, transforming it into the Execration, a blasted wasteland filled with nameless terrors. For decades, desperate souls have made pilgrimage to the centre of this cursed land to seek the Mad God’s favour, their fate always unknown."
The first volume of a well written, fairly bloody fantasy series embarking across a land strewn with whispering ghosts, mutated beasts, Mad Gods and demons.
The first volume of a well written, fairly bloody fantasy series embarking across a land strewn with whispering ghosts, mutated beasts, Mad Gods and demons.
May 31, 2024
Two centuries ago the world changed. A domain ravished. Horrors infested the land. The Mad God reigned. It is time. A pilgrimage begins against fear.
Had a great time with this novella! Dark questing excitement. D&D plus a dash of grimdark. Highly recommend!
Had a great time with this novella! Dark questing excitement. D&D plus a dash of grimdark. Highly recommend!
September 28, 2019
I feel like I have a few of Anthony Ryan's books in my TBR pile for a while now but I've never picked them up. Too many books, too little time... you know? But when I saw his new novella (set up in a new world), I immediately requested an ARC. I was lucky enough to be accepted and now here I am, reviewing it.
A pilgrimage of swords follow Pilgrim, a man with a sword and a voice that talks to him and is asking for blood. We don't know his past or his story but we know he's going to go on a journey to pray to the 'Mad God' and hopefully, be granted a wish. A few people are with him and they all have different ambitions. The path to the Mad God however is full of strange Beasts, monsters and dangerous paths.
Overall, I liked this book especially when there was action. However, it took me a while to figure out what was happening and I was never really into it. I wanted to skim some of the slow/ descriptive paragraphs but the ending was interesting and the way it ended made me want to know more.
(Thank you to the publisher for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
A pilgrimage of swords follow Pilgrim, a man with a sword and a voice that talks to him and is asking for blood. We don't know his past or his story but we know he's going to go on a journey to pray to the 'Mad God' and hopefully, be granted a wish. A few people are with him and they all have different ambitions. The path to the Mad God however is full of strange Beasts, monsters and dangerous paths.
Overall, I liked this book especially when there was action. However, it took me a while to figure out what was happening and I was never really into it. I wanted to skim some of the slow/ descriptive paragraphs but the ending was interesting and the way it ended made me want to know more.
(Thank you to the publisher for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
September 27, 2023
3.5 Stars - My First Anthony Ryan Story
For this and other book (and movie!) reviews, check out: medium.com/@essentialreadingsandrevie...
What's the story about: A band of adventures platonically join up in order to reach a godlike being that may choose to answer one of them a single prayer; peril ensues along the way.
A Pilgrimage of Swords fits every category of adventure-story. It has a quest. There is a band of diverse people with differing skills, histories, and agendas. Danger lurks around every corner and the lands traversed are foreign and unknown. Challenges must be overcome and even though the band is united, each member is in it for their own end. Since the plot gets going in the first chapter, it's an easy balance of learning about each character whilst the quest is underway. I found the intrigue to be the strongest part of the story as you know little of each character and slowly get a picture for what they're aiming to achieve. (Something oddly missing was the complete lack of fun; no humor or lightheartedness pervade any character or situation, but the intrigue makes up for this.) There is a constant mystery as to what may happen next and though there are few slower moments to invest in the characters, the progression is perfect for a short story.
The structure, setup, and plot in this novella is exactly the kind of thing I yearn for more than any other subgenre of fantasy story. That being said, on a technical side, Ryan's writing style is the biggest detractor for me from truly loving it or even deeply enjoying it. Something about the delivery of information is somehow completely devoid of imagery or thematic richness in my mind. I listened and read at the same time and for some reason I could rarely picture what was going on because it came across in such a dry and unadorned manner that felt lacking in any distinction or creative flair. The plot and story were interesting but the writing format seemed incredibly inaccessible, which is a very strange dichotomy to experience.
While I did not love the execution, Ryan's experience with narrative structure showcases itself in this novella. All of the best aspects of adventure fantasy are here: engaging quest, interesting characters, perils and dilemmas, tension, and perfectly matched worldbuilding and progression fitting the length of this novella. I wouldn't say this is a perfect story, but it has enough to warrant a satisfying read when you're looking for something compelling and fun without a lot of commitment. The Witcher short stories (in The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny) showcase a superior balance of fun action, pondering philosophy, and small-scoped personal stories, but I enjoyed this one and hope the series improves and expands upon what works really well in this first entry.
For this and other book (and movie!) reviews, check out: medium.com/@essentialreadingsandrevie...
What's the story about: A band of adventures platonically join up in order to reach a godlike being that may choose to answer one of them a single prayer; peril ensues along the way.
A Pilgrimage of Swords fits every category of adventure-story. It has a quest. There is a band of diverse people with differing skills, histories, and agendas. Danger lurks around every corner and the lands traversed are foreign and unknown. Challenges must be overcome and even though the band is united, each member is in it for their own end. Since the plot gets going in the first chapter, it's an easy balance of learning about each character whilst the quest is underway. I found the intrigue to be the strongest part of the story as you know little of each character and slowly get a picture for what they're aiming to achieve. (Something oddly missing was the complete lack of fun; no humor or lightheartedness pervade any character or situation, but the intrigue makes up for this.) There is a constant mystery as to what may happen next and though there are few slower moments to invest in the characters, the progression is perfect for a short story.
The structure, setup, and plot in this novella is exactly the kind of thing I yearn for more than any other subgenre of fantasy story. That being said, on a technical side, Ryan's writing style is the biggest detractor for me from truly loving it or even deeply enjoying it. Something about the delivery of information is somehow completely devoid of imagery or thematic richness in my mind. I listened and read at the same time and for some reason I could rarely picture what was going on because it came across in such a dry and unadorned manner that felt lacking in any distinction or creative flair. The plot and story were interesting but the writing format seemed incredibly inaccessible, which is a very strange dichotomy to experience.
While I did not love the execution, Ryan's experience with narrative structure showcases itself in this novella. All of the best aspects of adventure fantasy are here: engaging quest, interesting characters, perils and dilemmas, tension, and perfectly matched worldbuilding and progression fitting the length of this novella. I wouldn't say this is a perfect story, but it has enough to warrant a satisfying read when you're looking for something compelling and fun without a lot of commitment. The Witcher short stories (in The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny) showcase a superior balance of fun action, pondering philosophy, and small-scoped personal stories, but I enjoyed this one and hope the series improves and expands upon what works really well in this first entry.
October 12, 2021
1st reading: July 28th 2020 -> 4 stars
2nd reading: October 10th 2021 -> 5 stars
by David Metzger
↠ All I can still say is that this book surprised me that I would love it so much.
↠ It has everything I love in a good high fantasy book. I love the thrills, the adventures, the brave and strong characters.
↠ Everyone has a secret that will be revealed by the end of the story. Many hope for salvation, but of them Pilgrim is the most mysterious character. I still love in him the fact that he puts the interests of others first.
↠ I have to say that I enjoyed second reading more than first reading.
“Perfection is an impossibility. It is through our imperfections that we come to know ourselves.”
{ July 28th 2020 -> 4 stars } Now I’m sure I’ll read the author’s other books as well. This is a very well written short story. It gave me a pleasant reading. All the characters were interesting characters in some way. It’s an exciting and action-packed story. I wouldn’t say for sure it was a unique story, but it was very exciting to read. Pilgrim became my favorite character, I liked his adjuvant intention that he wasn’t selfish. I am really looking forward to the sequel!
2nd reading: October 10th 2021 -> 5 stars
by David Metzger
↠ All I can still say is that this book surprised me that I would love it so much.
↠ It has everything I love in a good high fantasy book. I love the thrills, the adventures, the brave and strong characters.
↠ Everyone has a secret that will be revealed by the end of the story. Many hope for salvation, but of them Pilgrim is the most mysterious character. I still love in him the fact that he puts the interests of others first.
↠ I have to say that I enjoyed second reading more than first reading.
“Perfection is an impossibility. It is through our imperfections that we come to know ourselves.”
{ July 28th 2020 -> 4 stars } Now I’m sure I’ll read the author’s other books as well. This is a very well written short story. It gave me a pleasant reading. All the characters were interesting characters in some way. It’s an exciting and action-packed story. I wouldn’t say for sure it was a unique story, but it was very exciting to read. Pilgrim became my favorite character, I liked his adjuvant intention that he wasn’t selfish. I am really looking forward to the sequel!
May 22, 2020
I find it hard to truly rate and review novellas, especially ones that are a series because there is so little time spent in the world and with the characters. Now with a Pilgrimage of Swords I see so much potential and promise within this world, but I think this would have benefited from being just a tad bit longer so that the characters and the world could have been fleshed out more. I could have seen this being a novel, maybe not a full scale epic but you know what I mean. I was really engaged in the story and I am excited by the foundation Anthony Ryan laid out for us. Eager to see this series play out though and see what Anthony Ryan can achieve with a novella only series!
June 13, 2022
I had forgotten how much story is packed into these novellas! Anthony Ryan brings everything I want in fantasy with every book he writes. These short stories pack a serious punch and I am excited to be rereading them.
January 28, 2024
4 Stars
This is my first book of Anthony Ryan's and will not be my last. Great introduction to a series.
Ryan's world-building is balanced; his writing style is chill and still engrossing.
Great vibes, great action, I liked the ending...and the sword, of course, lol.
This is my first book of Anthony Ryan's and will not be my last. Great introduction to a series.
Ryan's world-building is balanced; his writing style is chill and still engrossing.
Great vibes, great action, I liked the ending...and the sword, of course, lol.
October 29, 2019
A wonderful novella from Ryan, who to his credit has released two solid trilogies to date.
This story is strictly a short quest novel, and Ryan stuffs a great deal into so few pages.
This story is strictly a short quest novel, and Ryan stuffs a great deal into so few pages.
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