A Sanctum of Swords

An Embers of the Past Series Novel

Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
473 Pages
Reviewed on 05/15/2024
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

A Sanctum of Swords: Embers Edition is penned by author John Malone in the epic fantasy, adventure, and interpersonal drama genres, and is part of the Embers of the Past series. The work is intended for young adult readers. This thrilling adventure delves into a world ravaged by cataclysm, where mortals rebuild amidst the lurking threat of ancient evil. In the era of the Ascension of Kings, war and treachery abound as kingdoms and cults vie for power, while the Sanctum Queen plots to unleash darkness upon the realm by summoning twin patron goddesses. Only a small group of nine unlikely heroes can thwart the impending catastrophe and prevent the destruction of civilization.

Author John Malone crafts a truly epic journey into a fantastical world teeming with magic, danger, and intrigue, and I was hooked right from the first page. Malone's vivid world-building is a standout feature from cover to cover, not only in the descriptive, cinematic detail of this sweeping fantasy world but also in the logic and social structure behind the attitudes of the characters, making them all the more realistically situated within the world itself. These richly developed characters draw readers deeper into the story with compelling, unique dialogue that characterizes our heroes and tells us so much about them without ever having to spoon-feed us the information. The looming threat of the Twin Deities of the Void bubbles away with great pacing, urgency, and tension, and the moral dilemmas that the heroes face are suitably complex for the YA audience and enjoyably thought-provoking. Overall, A Sanctum of Swords is a thrilling adventure that I would highly recommend to YA fantasy fans everywhere.