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Sword of Otrim #1
The Sword of Otrim
THE SWORD OF OTRIM
Fighting the barbarian hordes for Queen Philipa of Idessa, Otrim—a fierce yet contemplative warrior— hadn’t considered that his true enemy might be closer than he suspects. Completing the campaign against the Korreti infidels and returning home victorious is his ultimate goal. When he is challenged on the battlefield, the bronzed warrior must quickly determine where his ultimate loyalty lies.
The Sword of Otrim is an epic fantasy in five episodes. With every tale, the story unfolds until Otrim, at last, points his warhorse home. Will he stand before the Queen he serves a hero or rogue? And what of the fate of his three closest friends? Will those who live by the sword, die by it as well?
Note: The Sword of Otrim is a complete epic fantasy novel. It contains three previously publish novellas: A Promise of Glory, A Trumpet for Battle, and A Lesson in War. Two new, never before published novellas complete the story arc.
About the Author: Lyndon Perry writes a variety of speculative fiction, from fantasy and science fiction to mystery and spiritual thriller. In this epic fantasy, he taps the spirit of battle and intrigue reminiscent of classic sword and sorcery.
Fighting the barbarian hordes for Queen Philipa of Idessa, Otrim—a fierce yet contemplative warrior— hadn’t considered that his true enemy might be closer than he suspects. Completing the campaign against the Korreti infidels and returning home victorious is his ultimate goal. When he is challenged on the battlefield, the bronzed warrior must quickly determine where his ultimate loyalty lies.
The Sword of Otrim is an epic fantasy in five episodes. With every tale, the story unfolds until Otrim, at last, points his warhorse home. Will he stand before the Queen he serves a hero or rogue? And what of the fate of his three closest friends? Will those who live by the sword, die by it as well?
Note: The Sword of Otrim is a complete epic fantasy novel. It contains three previously publish novellas: A Promise of Glory, A Trumpet for Battle, and A Lesson in War. Two new, never before published novellas complete the story arc.
About the Author: Lyndon Perry writes a variety of speculative fiction, from fantasy and science fiction to mystery and spiritual thriller. In this epic fantasy, he taps the spirit of battle and intrigue reminiscent of classic sword and sorcery.
- GenresFantasy
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Lyndon Perry
80 books120 followersLyndon Perry is a former pastor, current husband, and grateful father of two. He enjoys dark roast coffee, herds cats on the side, and used to teach middle grade English.
He also runs Tule Fog Press at www.TuleFogPress.com, an indie publisher helping readers and authors find each other in various genres, including mystery, thriller, fantasy, science fiction, and more.
He also runs Tule Fog Press at www.TuleFogPress.com, an indie publisher helping readers and authors find each other in various genres, including mystery, thriller, fantasy, science fiction, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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September 12, 2024I wrote this, so won't review it. But I think it's pretty good. (grin)
September 16, 2024
This novel— actually a collection of several novellas later joined together within a framing narrative— turned out to be a clean, streamlined one. Here we have no characters with shades of grey. Protagonists and antagonists are all drawn in broad strokes of black and white and red. Since the writing was very simple and fast-paced, I could gallop with the hero towards his destiny— irrespective of the dangers lurking around the path.
But, there were issues.
1. The swift violence and tactical moves accompanying the beginning of the book had been replaced by tedious intrigues, unnecessary introspections, and endless deliberations pretty soon. Perhaps the author intended to increase the tension. But with such plain black and white characters, there can be no tension. We were left with only astonishment at the stupidity of our protagonist who kept being heroically noble and sticking to his texts. The novel actually ended with judgements being passed by a regal court— can you imagine!
2. Unlike Howard and other greats, the author has felt the need to punctuate his work with sermons and words of wisdom befitting a morality play. Otrim is also rather strictly monotheistic, continuously reminding his poor companions anout scriptures and texts. Is this, and any subsequent saga of Otrim, going to gently remind us to refresh our studies in Abrahamic texts? I shudder at the thought.
This was a charming (an adjective not usually used to describe sword & sorcery works) and fast read, with vibrant characters and quick pace. I sincerely hope that the author would try to relieve his hero from having a wooden suppository pushed through his posterior in future adventures, making his sagas more accessible to lesser mortals like us.
Otherwise, recommended.
But, there were issues.
1. The swift violence and tactical moves accompanying the beginning of the book had been replaced by tedious intrigues, unnecessary introspections, and endless deliberations pretty soon. Perhaps the author intended to increase the tension. But with such plain black and white characters, there can be no tension. We were left with only astonishment at the stupidity of our protagonist who kept being heroically noble and sticking to his texts. The novel actually ended with judgements being passed by a regal court— can you imagine!
2. Unlike Howard and other greats, the author has felt the need to punctuate his work with sermons and words of wisdom befitting a morality play. Otrim is also rather strictly monotheistic, continuously reminding his poor companions anout scriptures and texts. Is this, and any subsequent saga of Otrim, going to gently remind us to refresh our studies in Abrahamic texts? I shudder at the thought.
This was a charming (an adjective not usually used to describe sword & sorcery works) and fast read, with vibrant characters and quick pace. I sincerely hope that the author would try to relieve his hero from having a wooden suppository pushed through his posterior in future adventures, making his sagas more accessible to lesser mortals like us.
Otherwise, recommended.
October 28, 2025
Otrim: barbarian-turned-believer. A man who would "not only run the devil through, but offer him sage advice with every thrust". Mr. Perry put the work in to give us a landscape of civilized war and budding hope among strenuous circumstances, as well as a cast of characters with depth, especially among Otrim's motley crew of friends. Some enemies become friends, some allies were never committed, lovers ebb and flow, youth and age battle each other and pair together, and some vipers deserve more than they get. I know not if there is more on Otrim and friends but I hope so.
A Call To Arms.
A Promise of Glory.
A Trumpet for Battle.
A Lesson in War.
A Sword for Otrim.
A Call To Arms.
A Promise of Glory.
A Trumpet for Battle.
A Lesson in War.
A Sword for Otrim.
November 1, 2020
My 13 year old son read The Sword of Otrim and loved it. It's hard to get words out of him, but when I asked him what star rating he would give it, he said a solid 4 stars. When I told him there were planned sequels, he was excited to hear that.
March 16, 2021
Epic, encouraging, engrossing novel of battle & intrigue
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel weaving battle, bravery and belief (faith) together in the epic and gallant life of Sir Otrim.
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel weaving battle, bravery and belief (faith) together in the epic and gallant life of Sir Otrim.
April 7, 2023
A solid fantasy with a unique character and a nonconventional structure. In his back cover blurb, the author refers to this book as "epic fantasy," but I'd probably just call it heroic fantasy. It doesn't have the epic scope of something like the Lord of the Rings or George RR Martin's big fantasy series, nor does it have the sorcery in it to fit into Sword & Sorcery. It's more of a realistic fantasy story set in an invented historical period, probably right here on Earth (although the writer never specifies).
The uniqueness of the main character, "Otrim," is that he is a morally upright hero in a genre dominated more by anti-heroes, or at least those whose moral code comes strictly from within rather than without. Otrim is a follower of the "Master." Although little detail is given to the Master, it seems likely the term represents a kind of Jesus figure. An interesting aspect of Otrim is how he is described as a "barbarian," but is surely the most civilized of all the characters in the book. That is not to say he is weak. He has great passion and a talent for war, but he keeps those passions under tight reign and uses them in service of others rather than himself. Readers who like to see basic goodness in their heroes would certainly enjoy this book. No cursing or bad language, for example.
In an afterword, the author talks about the nonconventional structure of the book, which was originally constructed in several parts and then put together. I couldn't find any "seams," though, so the book seems all part of the same tale with a through line leading clearly from beginning to end.
The story has quite a lot of action and battlefield description and some very good supporting characters. I much enjoyed the read.
The uniqueness of the main character, "Otrim," is that he is a morally upright hero in a genre dominated more by anti-heroes, or at least those whose moral code comes strictly from within rather than without. Otrim is a follower of the "Master." Although little detail is given to the Master, it seems likely the term represents a kind of Jesus figure. An interesting aspect of Otrim is how he is described as a "barbarian," but is surely the most civilized of all the characters in the book. That is not to say he is weak. He has great passion and a talent for war, but he keeps those passions under tight reign and uses them in service of others rather than himself. Readers who like to see basic goodness in their heroes would certainly enjoy this book. No cursing or bad language, for example.
In an afterword, the author talks about the nonconventional structure of the book, which was originally constructed in several parts and then put together. I couldn't find any "seams," though, so the book seems all part of the same tale with a through line leading clearly from beginning to end.
The story has quite a lot of action and battlefield description and some very good supporting characters. I much enjoyed the read.
February 24, 2025
While the writing itself was decent, the main character is extremely boring. He acts like an idiot, everything just happens to work itself out, and then he talks to everyone in a superior tone. Supremely uninteresting. At least it was short.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews