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The Farmer and the Fald
Farmer Bundon never dreamed of fancy.
But when, by chance; in the hedgerows, he discovers a fald’s egg (a dragon’s smaller, uglier cousin) fancy seems to find him regardless. He and his spirited daughter Tyr’Dalka are brought unwillingly into a conflict, where his humble wisdom, her boundless honesty and a cowardly fald must do battle against the more contemptible shadows of human kind; the dark fires of avarice, pride and wrath.
“But there’s no forcing the hearts of the unwilling, lest you lend your hands to conquest. And we’re no conquerors, Tyr. Just a farmer, and his daughter.”
Through talks of destiny and deals with dragons; through the oaths of knights and the riddles of elves, the reluctant and weary family weaves their thread, and lay their humble hands to drawing out the foul poisons of the world, when and wherever they might find them.
And finding that adventures, true adventures, rarely resemble the stories.
This small-scale fantasy novel would be enjoyed by fans of Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Robin Hobb and, of course, Professor Tolkien.
But when, by chance; in the hedgerows, he discovers a fald’s egg (a dragon’s smaller, uglier cousin) fancy seems to find him regardless. He and his spirited daughter Tyr’Dalka are brought unwillingly into a conflict, where his humble wisdom, her boundless honesty and a cowardly fald must do battle against the more contemptible shadows of human kind; the dark fires of avarice, pride and wrath.
“But there’s no forcing the hearts of the unwilling, lest you lend your hands to conquest. And we’re no conquerors, Tyr. Just a farmer, and his daughter.”
Through talks of destiny and deals with dragons; through the oaths of knights and the riddles of elves, the reluctant and weary family weaves their thread, and lay their humble hands to drawing out the foul poisons of the world, when and wherever they might find them.
And finding that adventures, true adventures, rarely resemble the stories.
This small-scale fantasy novel would be enjoyed by fans of Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Robin Hobb and, of course, Professor Tolkien.
- GenresFantasy
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2021
21 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 14, 2025
Wrote this book. Think its great, obviously.
Didn't really intend to review my own book like a little narcissist--but here we are, and I don't know how to delete it.
5 stars. Compelling and intelligent, written by an absolute stud muffin.
Didn't really intend to review my own book like a little narcissist--but here we are, and I don't know how to delete it.
5 stars. Compelling and intelligent, written by an absolute stud muffin.
October 8, 2024
✨The Farmer and the Fald✨
Author: J.R. Leach
Pages: 367
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This. Book.
This book was phenomenal. And I’m telling you now, if you love a pure, top grade fantasy book, you need to pick this up right away. A Tolkien fan you say? Excellent. Add to basket. Next day delivery.
I cannot express to you just how happy, tearful and fully satisfied I was at the end of this book. The storytelling capability of this author is second only to Tolkien himself. The entire time, I imagined myself sat by a campfire, hunched over in the warm glow as a party member told the tale of Tyr’Dalka and her loyal companion Alaria as we passed around a skin of mead. Or sat at a table in a darkened corner of a balmy tavern as the local bard sang tales of the humble farmer and his wild daughter.
I’ve read it twice now and both times felt utterly transported to a time and a place I’ve never existed in but desperately wish I had.
The author does an incredible job of balancing plot progression with world building- taking the time to focus on the details, never shying away from the importance of the seemingly mundane or trivial. Like how evocative describing a good meal, a comfortable home or a warm summer day can truly be for the senses, and how important it is to provoke emotion and empathy through your characters lived experience and the environment they come from. In only a few pages, Farmer Bundons farm feels like home.
And let’s talk about Farmer Bundon for a second. Because I haven’t loved a character quite as much as I loved him in a while. He is the moral fibre of this story and his relationship with his daughter made me feel almost bittersweet. If only all fathers believed so entirely in their daughters. We might have a world in which women understood their worth just as they are instead of in relation to a man. And perhaps if all women had fathers who protected and fought for their daughters so selflessly, it would set the bar for the rest of our lives.
I love this book fiercely… so thank you J.R. Leach
From dance to dirt ❤️✨
Author: J.R. Leach
Pages: 367
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This. Book.
This book was phenomenal. And I’m telling you now, if you love a pure, top grade fantasy book, you need to pick this up right away. A Tolkien fan you say? Excellent. Add to basket. Next day delivery.
I cannot express to you just how happy, tearful and fully satisfied I was at the end of this book. The storytelling capability of this author is second only to Tolkien himself. The entire time, I imagined myself sat by a campfire, hunched over in the warm glow as a party member told the tale of Tyr’Dalka and her loyal companion Alaria as we passed around a skin of mead. Or sat at a table in a darkened corner of a balmy tavern as the local bard sang tales of the humble farmer and his wild daughter.
I’ve read it twice now and both times felt utterly transported to a time and a place I’ve never existed in but desperately wish I had.
The author does an incredible job of balancing plot progression with world building- taking the time to focus on the details, never shying away from the importance of the seemingly mundane or trivial. Like how evocative describing a good meal, a comfortable home or a warm summer day can truly be for the senses, and how important it is to provoke emotion and empathy through your characters lived experience and the environment they come from. In only a few pages, Farmer Bundons farm feels like home.
And let’s talk about Farmer Bundon for a second. Because I haven’t loved a character quite as much as I loved him in a while. He is the moral fibre of this story and his relationship with his daughter made me feel almost bittersweet. If only all fathers believed so entirely in their daughters. We might have a world in which women understood their worth just as they are instead of in relation to a man. And perhaps if all women had fathers who protected and fought for their daughters so selflessly, it would set the bar for the rest of our lives.
I love this book fiercely… so thank you J.R. Leach
From dance to dirt ❤️✨
June 20, 2025
Wow! What a special and magical book this has been indeed! I recall seeing this advertise one day on my Instagram feed and I was immediately drawn to the artwork of the cover. When I read what this book was going to be about, I was totally keen to give it a read. I mean any book about dragons is a win for me anyway, but this author had a unique way to share his story about his particular dragon 'Fald' and boy I wish more books wrote about these mythical creatures. I had the pleasure to read this book on both paperback and audiobook, and each experience has been equally enjoyable. I really hope there will be follow up books for The Farmer and the Fald. It would be cool to even have a historical origin story of Fald's too and how they came to be, and their uniqueness that differentiates them from dragons that we all hear about in other stories.
Anyway. Long story short, I truly and highly recommend this book. Great story, incredible characters, awesome world building - Simply epic!!!
Anyway. Long story short, I truly and highly recommend this book. Great story, incredible characters, awesome world building - Simply epic!!!
June 13, 2025
”Farmer Bundon never dreamed of fancy.”
Wholesome, charming, and intelligent, this is a story spun warmly.
I adored this character-driven fantasy, telling of an honest and humble farmer; his resilient and fierce-hearted daughter; a freelancer knight; and the cowardly fald entwining thier tales (falds being a large, bird-like species, closely associated with dragons).
’The Farmer and the Fald’ is a rare treasure in the fantasy genre, both familiar and cleverly crafted in its world-building. Yet Leach’s talent for storytelling reaches beyond the myths and cultures he has created, into the depth of characters, the rich values, engaging plot, warm lexis, and cherry-picked imagery all found within this novel. It is as wonderfully unique as it is achingly beautiful, nostalgic of classic fantasy.
This adventure is easily my favourite read so far this year, and has earned a place on my top shelf. I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a truly charming and well-spun fantasy adventure, and look forward to more from J.R Leach in future!
July 1, 2025
This. Was. Perfect. Beautiful story telling and the perfect pace. I have read so many fast paced fantasy’s this year this I LOVED slowing down in to this cosy fantasy. I laughed and cried and laughed again …. And cried again. I will reread this again in the future for sure. The audiobook is so well narrated. It blows my mind that the author is the narrator and also the illustrator 🙈 I had concerns that perhaps one person could not pull all that off but I need not have feared. So glad I gave this a chance. And I really hope it gets the spot light it deserves.
November 4, 2025
The writing style here wonderfully mimics that of a spoken fairy tale, with repeated lines and a satisfying cyclical structure - people and lines and lessons learned coming back again so that every interaction is meaningful. That being said, I also enjoyed how the cliches of fairy tales were often slightly subverted - the wicked stepmother and step-siblings had a little more depth as characters, for example. The story, like the farmer, is deceptive in it's simplicity, which is to say - simple does not mean shallow. This felt magical to read, and brings the joy of children's fairy tales to a 'grown up' book.
January 10, 2025
I really hope there will be more stories from this world. The characters had such depth that I found myself tearing up at multiple points of the story, including a fairly early point where the protagonist is only days old.
The father, daughter relationship is especially heartwarming. The bond between the farmer and her fald needed no words, and I love that the protagonists love interest did not overshadow the rest of her story. She was more than capable of saving the day without a white knight stepping in.
I am hoping that, as the end of the story does not match the narrators description at the beginning, there will be more stories to come.
However, that is all I will say to prevent any further potential spoilers! Xoxox
The father, daughter relationship is especially heartwarming. The bond between the farmer and her fald needed no words, and I love that the protagonists love interest did not overshadow the rest of her story. She was more than capable of saving the day without a white knight stepping in.
I am hoping that, as the end of the story does not match the narrators description at the beginning, there will be more stories to come.
However, that is all I will say to prevent any further potential spoilers! Xoxox
August 21, 2025
Things I Loved:
~ Straight up, bar Abraxos, this story has my second favourite dragon. Alaria is dragon perfection, the ultimate underdog character arc 💪
The blend of folklore, fable, and fantasy creates such an atmosphere - this reads like a myth unfolding in real time. So good!
~ The writing is lyrical and thoughtful, with a quiet emotional depth that sneaks up on you. I’m not a fan of poetry by itself, but this level of detail was perfect for the story.
~ There were some really well-thought out characters in this, developed just the right amount. I can’t say more without giving it away but there is one bad-to-good character arc in it that I LOVED.
~ Bundon has a heavy Devonian/Somerset accent that reminds me of my farmer neighbour and honestly I couldn’t unsee it, in a good way. He’s a total legend 😂
👎🏼 Things I Didn’t Like:
~ The pacing is quite gentle, especially in the first half. It was a chilled, hobbit-like vibe, but not a full throttle start by any means.
Overall Thoughts:
This is a quietly powerful story that completely caught me off guard when it ramped up in the second half. The author is someone you can tell knows what he’s doing, and the language is thoughtful and really enjoyable to read. It’s not flashy or fast-paced, but it’s overloaded with heart and atmosphere. Who knew a self-published book could deliver so hard? I hope he writes more, sign me up! 👏
🐉 Also, for my dragon fans out there - turns out a calf is a smaller dragon, like a wyvern! Add this to your list if you call yourself a dragon fan 👌
~ Straight up, bar Abraxos, this story has my second favourite dragon. Alaria is dragon perfection, the ultimate underdog character arc 💪
The blend of folklore, fable, and fantasy creates such an atmosphere - this reads like a myth unfolding in real time. So good!
~ The writing is lyrical and thoughtful, with a quiet emotional depth that sneaks up on you. I’m not a fan of poetry by itself, but this level of detail was perfect for the story.
~ There were some really well-thought out characters in this, developed just the right amount. I can’t say more without giving it away but there is one bad-to-good character arc in it that I LOVED.
~ Bundon has a heavy Devonian/Somerset accent that reminds me of my farmer neighbour and honestly I couldn’t unsee it, in a good way. He’s a total legend 😂
👎🏼 Things I Didn’t Like:
~ The pacing is quite gentle, especially in the first half. It was a chilled, hobbit-like vibe, but not a full throttle start by any means.
Overall Thoughts:
This is a quietly powerful story that completely caught me off guard when it ramped up in the second half. The author is someone you can tell knows what he’s doing, and the language is thoughtful and really enjoyable to read. It’s not flashy or fast-paced, but it’s overloaded with heart and atmosphere. Who knew a self-published book could deliver so hard? I hope he writes more, sign me up! 👏
🐉 Also, for my dragon fans out there - turns out a calf is a smaller dragon, like a wyvern! Add this to your list if you call yourself a dragon fan 👌
February 1, 2022
📚THE FARMER AND THE FALD By J R Leach
✨My Rating:-10/10
📚My Review:- Can we all take a moment and appreciate how gorgeous the cover is? Hello dear readers, I hope so you all are doing absolutely fine and healthy. This book is a fantasy fiction tale penned down by the author J R Leach. The book revolves around the farmar Bundon and his encounters with a fald's egg. A fald is considered to be a dragon's smaller and uglier cousin. Bundon and his daughter Tyr'Dalka are bought unwillingly by destiny into a conflict where they had to battle against the more contemptible shadows of human kind. Turn the pages to know what happens next in the story and explore Mr. Bundon's journey in detail. Language and grammer is something to get inspired about, it was easy to understand. I loved the way the plot was getting unfolded with such a great flow. The writing style of the author is simple yet descriptive which helps the readers to connect even more. Being a reader, it took me only few hours to complete these 283 pages. This intriguing fantasy novel is filled with adventures along with unexpected twists and turns that will definitely keep the readers hooked till the extreme end. I would love to read more books by the author. If you are a beginner and looking for some amazing tale to start with the habit of reading, trust me this is a perfect pick for you. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and it's worth spending your precious time.
✨My Rating:-10/10
📚My Review:- Can we all take a moment and appreciate how gorgeous the cover is? Hello dear readers, I hope so you all are doing absolutely fine and healthy. This book is a fantasy fiction tale penned down by the author J R Leach. The book revolves around the farmar Bundon and his encounters with a fald's egg. A fald is considered to be a dragon's smaller and uglier cousin. Bundon and his daughter Tyr'Dalka are bought unwillingly by destiny into a conflict where they had to battle against the more contemptible shadows of human kind. Turn the pages to know what happens next in the story and explore Mr. Bundon's journey in detail. Language and grammer is something to get inspired about, it was easy to understand. I loved the way the plot was getting unfolded with such a great flow. The writing style of the author is simple yet descriptive which helps the readers to connect even more. Being a reader, it took me only few hours to complete these 283 pages. This intriguing fantasy novel is filled with adventures along with unexpected twists and turns that will definitely keep the readers hooked till the extreme end. I would love to read more books by the author. If you are a beginner and looking for some amazing tale to start with the habit of reading, trust me this is a perfect pick for you. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and it's worth spending your precious time.
March 31, 2025
It's not a big story, no, just a few characters, really, pitched in a conflict that builds dramatically, and grows on the reader irresistibly. And yet, it reads like an epic, with high stakes, emotional characters, and compelling storylines. Beautifully written, too, with prose that evokes another age, a time of simple farming villages and royal prerogatives, of unwieldy magic and deceitful motives...and heartfelt quests. There's humor here, too, and heroism, and dastardly evil, spirit and humble heroism.
March 28, 2025
I’ve only just started "The Farmer and the Fald," and it’s already a captivating journey! Farmer Bundon, his spirited daughter Tyr’Dalka, and even a quirky fald bring a refreshing twist to classic fantasy. The imaginative narrative and subtle humor make every page an adventure. I highly recommend this book—if you’re looking for a unique escape, give it a read and join the fun!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews