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Falhorne: The World Is Burning
The Order is no more. The Falhorne, ancient champions of the elder gods, have dwindled to no more than a handful of beleaguered warriors.
The skies are darkening over the land of Vinos and persecution of the maligned Old Believers escalates at the hands of both church and state.
As one of the few surviving defenders of a proud tradition, Tagus is among the last of the Vinosian Falhorne when the pogrom comes. His mentor slain, his comrades slaughtered, and his people enslaved, he must begin a quest that will take him into the darkness of his past and a depth of evil beyond anything that he has ever faced.
The skies are darkening over the land of Vinos and persecution of the maligned Old Believers escalates at the hands of both church and state.
As one of the few surviving defenders of a proud tradition, Tagus is among the last of the Vinosian Falhorne when the pogrom comes. His mentor slain, his comrades slaughtered, and his people enslaved, he must begin a quest that will take him into the darkness of his past and a depth of evil beyond anything that he has ever faced.
- GenresFantasy
384 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2022
3 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 20, 2022
Tristan Dineen’s debut novel Falhorne: The World is Burning takes place in a complex, layered world, one with a long and dark history. For full disclosure, I will say I beta-read this novel twice, and have watched it develop into a stunning dark fantasy debut. While its links to real history are unmistakable, Dineen’s world is not ours, but one with its own peoples, gods, beliefs and magic. It is not a kind world, but amidst the darkness of oppression and battle there are individuals, diverse and widespread, who care.
The familiar aspects of fantasy are here, but in Dineen’s hands appear in a new light, against a world skillfully built. At the heart of the book is a religious war, or rather a fight against religious oppression, but there is far more to the book than that. It is bloody in parts, not pulling punches about the price of battle, but there are moments of levity, and tenderness, and love of many kinds that lighten the narrative.
An impressive debut, and for fantasy readers, worthy of your time. The sequel will be out later in 2022, I understand, so Dineen isn’t making you wait years to continue the story – which is definitely a plus these days!
The familiar aspects of fantasy are here, but in Dineen’s hands appear in a new light, against a world skillfully built. At the heart of the book is a religious war, or rather a fight against religious oppression, but there is far more to the book than that. It is bloody in parts, not pulling punches about the price of battle, but there are moments of levity, and tenderness, and love of many kinds that lighten the narrative.
An impressive debut, and for fantasy readers, worthy of your time. The sequel will be out later in 2022, I understand, so Dineen isn’t making you wait years to continue the story – which is definitely a plus these days!
February 19, 2024
I received a copy of this book for a review so here we go.
The story was mostly told in view point of a couple Tagus a warrior and his wife Corrie a healer, they were likable and interesting in their own ways. The plot was fast paced and action packed, don't like to say too much as it gives plot points away. The main story is focused on the conflict of a war between the Folhorne and other minority groups being prosecuted and enslaved by the ruling powers of the church and state, Overall an enjoyable but dark and slightly violent read.
The story was mostly told in view point of a couple Tagus a warrior and his wife Corrie a healer, they were likable and interesting in their own ways. The plot was fast paced and action packed, don't like to say too much as it gives plot points away. The main story is focused on the conflict of a war between the Folhorne and other minority groups being prosecuted and enslaved by the ruling powers of the church and state, Overall an enjoyable but dark and slightly violent read.
April 16, 2023
World Building!
What a fantastic story that is filled with a rich history and an abundance of intriguing characters. I find fantasy writing to be one of the more complex forms of writing, so I have a great appreciation for anyone that is able to create an entire complex world and bring it to life. The map Mr. Dineen has created is beautiful and I love the world building that moves at a very steady pace. I highly recommend this book to anyone that’s a fan of the fantasy genre and overall a fan of good story telling. Great job!
What a fantastic story that is filled with a rich history and an abundance of intriguing characters. I find fantasy writing to be one of the more complex forms of writing, so I have a great appreciation for anyone that is able to create an entire complex world and bring it to life. The map Mr. Dineen has created is beautiful and I love the world building that moves at a very steady pace. I highly recommend this book to anyone that’s a fan of the fantasy genre and overall a fan of good story telling. Great job!
February 20, 2024
It is a captivating book about the fight against exploitation and oppression in Vinos.
The characters are all interesting and the development of the main character Tagus is compelling.
It is a deeply political book but not in your face about it. I highly recommend progressive minded people who like fantasy to read this book!
The characters are all interesting and the development of the main character Tagus is compelling.
It is a deeply political book but not in your face about it. I highly recommend progressive minded people who like fantasy to read this book!
June 9, 2024
It took nearly six months to finish this book but it was pretty worth it. A high fantasy book with an impressive amount of worldbuilding (REALLY impressive worldbuilding). The action scenes were descriptive enough that you could picture them in your mind, as if watching a movie. The characters were real and complex, with inner lives that got more complicated as plot went on. The racism and class disparity and the after-effects of war were done wonderfully.
It was, admittedly, really slow pace wise. It wasn't until almost half the book was finished that the plot really picked. The descriptions ran too long. The way the information regarding the world had been given could've been fixed - it did feel like getting a fictional history lesson in multiple chapters. Despite all this, a wonderful fantasy read.
It was, admittedly, really slow pace wise. It wasn't until almost half the book was finished that the plot really picked. The descriptions ran too long. The way the information regarding the world had been given could've been fixed - it did feel like getting a fictional history lesson in multiple chapters. Despite all this, a wonderful fantasy read.
August 27, 2025
I’ll be honest, I almost gave up on this book. It took until around chapter 7 for me to feel truly invested. But once it clicked, I was hooked, and I’m so glad I didn’t set it aside.
The world is richly built with its own histories, cultures, and lore, and while that depth means the pacing starts slow, it also makes the story incredibly immersive. The plot is layered and intricate, with multiple threads weaving into a bigger whole. Tagus is a character I really grew to care about, and the supporting cast, ranging from ordinary people to those who wield strange magics and truly formidable villains, makes the stakes feel all the more real.
By the end, I loved it and couldn’t wait to start book two. If you enjoy epic fantasy with deep worldbuilding and characters worth following, this is a series to dive into. Just stick with it past the opening; it’s worth it.
The world is richly built with its own histories, cultures, and lore, and while that depth means the pacing starts slow, it also makes the story incredibly immersive. The plot is layered and intricate, with multiple threads weaving into a bigger whole. Tagus is a character I really grew to care about, and the supporting cast, ranging from ordinary people to those who wield strange magics and truly formidable villains, makes the stakes feel all the more real.
By the end, I loved it and couldn’t wait to start book two. If you enjoy epic fantasy with deep worldbuilding and characters worth following, this is a series to dive into. Just stick with it past the opening; it’s worth it.
January 11, 2024
Although if I am being honest the book was a little difficult for me to follow as it was too descriptive for few pages and it started with a war, I start to get that it was important to establish the history. Tagus has seen the war, survive it and yet in present day scenario we see the treatment of his people.
The book let you dive into a rich story and the characters are engaging as you feel yourself invested.
Someone who is writing for the first time, this was a commendable thing to build an entire world and present it with such details.
The book let you dive into a rich story and the characters are engaging as you feel yourself invested.
Someone who is writing for the first time, this was a commendable thing to build an entire world and present it with such details.
June 18, 2024
"Falhorne: The World Is Burning" by Tristan Dineen is a gripping dark fantasy novel set in the land of Vinos. The once mighty Falhorne, champions of the elder gods, are nearly extinct. Tagus, one of the last surviving warriors, faces a grim reality as the persecution of Old Believers intensifies. With his mentor killed and his comrades decimated, Tagus embarks on a harrowing quest into his past and against an unparalleled evil. Dineen weaves a compelling tale of resilience and defiance, exploring themes of tradition, faith, and survival in a world on the brink of darkness.
May 26, 2023
The Last Falhorne" is a gripping tale set in the land of Vinos, where Tagus, one of the few surviving defenders of the Falhorne order, embarks on a quest for justice and redemption after witnessing the destruction of his comrades and the enslavement of his people. The story delves into the depths of evil and oppression while showcasing a richly crafted world filled with darkness and turmoil.
A great read.
A great read.
January 21, 2024
For someone who is not a fantasy reader .. I fell in love with that book .. it takes you to another world .. I give it to Tristan and his brilliant imagination for creating such a complex world with its own rules and gods .. also I loved the map at the beginning of the book , you will find yourself going back and trace the map , you will feel like your being engaged with the story and the events .. I feel lucky I have been given the chance to read this exciting novel
April 6, 2024
This is a wonderful, high fantasy story that I totally got lost in. I would say that fans of Tolkien, Rothfus, Sanderson, and George R. R. Martin will be a fan of this story. I feel like for me I could read this book over and over again and I would learn something new every time I reread it. Thank you Book Tasters and thank you so much Tristan Dineen for sending me a copy of your book. I'm excited to start the second book!!
December 12, 2023
This was a dark fantasy novel, and the first in a duology.
I felt the author created a world for the reader, and brought the characters to life vividly within it. There were times when I could picture the story taking place, as I was reading. There was some dramatic imagery, and it was somewhat gory at times, but I felt myself escaping into this story's world, and I did enjoy reading it.
I felt the author created a world for the reader, and brought the characters to life vividly within it. There were times when I could picture the story taking place, as I was reading. There was some dramatic imagery, and it was somewhat gory at times, but I felt myself escaping into this story's world, and I did enjoy reading it.
January 31, 2024
It's safe to say that the book is more captivating than my course book which were hard to focus on because of how the plot evolved the entire time. Highlighting the effects of oppression and exploitation really reminded me about the current issues the real world faces and lets face it, politics and fantasy is a good combination.
May 30, 2024
This debut novel has it all . magic ,system ,beliefs ,heroes ,villains all.
The order has fallen. Now the real battle begins. loyalty is tested.
The biggest problem in fantasy novels is world building. This novel captures so well the emotions of people is that we are linking these peoples with our known one's.
I am looking forward to read the next one.
Good read
The order has fallen. Now the real battle begins. loyalty is tested.
The biggest problem in fantasy novels is world building. This novel captures so well the emotions of people is that we are linking these peoples with our known one's.
I am looking forward to read the next one.
Good read
April 15, 2023
This is an epic fantasy novel with a dark and intense storyline, world-building and mythology, and a theme of good versus evil. The character development and conflict is engaging and thrilling.
December 23, 2023
What a fantastic story is this.. Fill with dark history .. This fantasy book hooked me with the plot...
I'm in love with the characters... I loved it...
I'm in love with the characters... I loved it...
Read
February 6, 2024This is a fantasy novel with a dark storyline, world building and mythology and that showcases good versus evil. The map in the beginning was a very good idêa. Such an interesting read
May 15, 2025
A fallen order, a haunted hero, and a world on the brink — this is epic fantasy at its finest. Perfect for fans of The Witcher or The First Law. Can't wait for the next installment!
September 28, 2023
I find it intimidating to start a new fantasy series because I know that I’ll need to learn a whole new world with its geography, politics, society, laws of science, and possibly magic. With FALHORNE: THE WORLD IS BURNING, Tristan Dineen eased me into his world of Vinos in the Prologue through an exciting, ferocious battle with familiar yet distinct weapons and tactics. From there, Dineen carried me through an intriguing story about the Falhorne—a group of sidelined warriors—who seek to maintain the peace in troubled Fiore City where a tenuous political treaty keeps the wealthy aristocrats and religious leaders in power with the support of greedy merchants but at the mercy of the lower-class workers.
Dineen weaves a beautiful personal story of redemption through his protagonist, Tagus, who struggles to find purpose as a warrior in a world of politics and bureaucracy. Corruption and greed eat away at the values and laws of the city and Tagus, with his leader Vitus and the few remaining Falhorne, are forced to fight for justice against political and religious forces that are only interested in acquiring more power and control with ruthless manipulation and violence.
Back to the world building. Dineen has created a world that is not of our Earth history but familiar enough in geography, language, and customs to feel like medieval Roman culture, though there are clear differences that make the historical and societal details unique from ours. And he introduces enough mystical species and magic to elevate to the fantastical without compromising the political and social context.
His heroes are rich and distinct, filled with degrees of honour, sympathy, and physical prowess while his villains are slimy and devious enough to despise (like many of our political leaders). I came to genuinely feel the oppression and hopelessness in characters who fight for honour while surrounded by forces of corruption and superior political strength. And there’s a thread of a nifty, sometimes gruesome murder mystery throughout the larger story.
I was most impressed with Dineen’s writing style, which reminded me of George R.R. Martin. Dineen writes in a classical tradition with eloquent turns of phrase and an elaborate vocabulary, while maintaining clear character motives, strong plot elements of suspense, pathos, and danger, and intricate relationships between friends, lovers, allies, and enemies. I found myself barrelling through the last half of the book, eager for a resolution while new twists and threats accumulated. I’m confident in Dineen’s craftsmanship to believe that the sequel, FALHORNE: DARK DAWN, will resolve the many loose ends and enrich this highly satisfying fantasy world that I’m thrilled to have visited.
Dineen weaves a beautiful personal story of redemption through his protagonist, Tagus, who struggles to find purpose as a warrior in a world of politics and bureaucracy. Corruption and greed eat away at the values and laws of the city and Tagus, with his leader Vitus and the few remaining Falhorne, are forced to fight for justice against political and religious forces that are only interested in acquiring more power and control with ruthless manipulation and violence.
Back to the world building. Dineen has created a world that is not of our Earth history but familiar enough in geography, language, and customs to feel like medieval Roman culture, though there are clear differences that make the historical and societal details unique from ours. And he introduces enough mystical species and magic to elevate to the fantastical without compromising the political and social context.
His heroes are rich and distinct, filled with degrees of honour, sympathy, and physical prowess while his villains are slimy and devious enough to despise (like many of our political leaders). I came to genuinely feel the oppression and hopelessness in characters who fight for honour while surrounded by forces of corruption and superior political strength. And there’s a thread of a nifty, sometimes gruesome murder mystery throughout the larger story.
I was most impressed with Dineen’s writing style, which reminded me of George R.R. Martin. Dineen writes in a classical tradition with eloquent turns of phrase and an elaborate vocabulary, while maintaining clear character motives, strong plot elements of suspense, pathos, and danger, and intricate relationships between friends, lovers, allies, and enemies. I found myself barrelling through the last half of the book, eager for a resolution while new twists and threats accumulated. I’m confident in Dineen’s craftsmanship to believe that the sequel, FALHORNE: DARK DAWN, will resolve the many loose ends and enrich this highly satisfying fantasy world that I’m thrilled to have visited.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews