The Sword Defiant

In the Lands of the Firstborn series, Gareth Hanrahan's debut novel, The Sword Defiant, is an epic tale of daring warriors, living weapons, and bloodthirsty vengeance. It is a love letter to roleplaying games, Tolkien, and epic fantasy and is set in a world of dark myth and dangerous prophecy. The book is highly recommended by critics, who praise Hanrahan's ability to create fantasy worlds that feel alive.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Hanrahan's remarkable debut in the Lands of the Firstborn series is sure to captivate fantasy enthusiasts. Booklist, in a starred review, praised the book, stating, "THE SWORD CARES NOT WHO IT CUTS." Many years ago, Sir Aelfric and his nine companions embarked on a perilous journey to save the world, seizing the Dark Lord's cursed weapons and his dreaded city of Necrad. However, the task was just the beginning.

Now, as the keeper of the cursed sword Spellbreaker, Aelfric finds himself facing a new and terrifying threat. He seeks the nine heroes once again, but they are no longer the eager adventurers they once were. Yesterday's heroes have become weary leaders, and some have succumbed to the darkness, transforming into monstrous beings.

If there's one thing Aelfric knows, it's slaying monsters. Even if they used to be his friends.

Set in a world of dark myth and dangerous prophecy, The Sword Defiant launches an epic tale of daring warriors, living weapons, and bloodthirsty vengeance. The front runner for my book of the year. . . . The Sword Defiant is a love letter to roleplaying games, to Tolkien, to what epic fantasy has meant to me throughout my life. I adored this book from the first page to the last. Hanrahan has taken the best of the old, the best of the past two decades, and then brought it screaming into the modern era. Fans of Gemmell and Abercrombie need this on their shelves.

Ed McDonald, author of Blackwing, praised the book, stating, "Both a love letter and evolution of the epic fantasy novel. . . . The Sword Defiant is an epic tale of how no world stands still forever. Highly recommended!"

Run Along the Shelves praised Hanrahan's ability to create fantasy worlds that feel alive, stating, "Hanrahan is one of the best in the business at creating fantasy worlds that feel alive. I'll read any book that Gareth Hanrahan writes."

The Fantasy Inn also praised Hanrahan's writing, stating, "Hanrahan is one of the most exciting new voices in fantasy. His debut novel, The Sword Defiant, is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy."

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 127 x 197 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780356516530