Valor

If Malice was the promise, Valor is the payoff. The second book in John Gwynne’s The Faithful and the Fallen series takes the strong foundation laid in the first volume and builds on it with confidence, scope, and a sense of purpose that makes it impossible to put down. Here, the world truly opens up. The conflict hinted at in Malice starts to unfold on a grander stage, and Gwynne doesn’t hold back. We’re treated to more points of view, and while that might sound like it would dilute the story, it actually does the opposite. Characters who were smaller players in the first book step into the spotlight, and not one of them feels like filler. Each perspective adds weight to the larger tapestry of war, betrayal, and loyalty, giving us a sense of how vast this struggle really is. And then there’s the action. If Malice showed that Gwynne could write a fight scene, Valor proves he’s a master of them. His battles have a cinematic clarity to them--brutal without ever being gratuitous, and always grounded in character. You don’t just watch the clash of swords; you feel the cost of every strike, the desperation in every charge, and the triumph or heartbreak that follows. Gwynne’s prose remains sharp and engaging, balancing clean readability with moments of lyrical power, especially when the story leans into its mythology. And that mythology--which was intriguing in book one--truly comes alive here. Gods, prophecies, and ancient grudges become more than background flavor; they feel like forces actively shaping the world and the choices of the people in it. What makes Valor so satisfying is how seamlessly it combines that bigger picture with deeply human storytelling. The stakes are higher, the battles larger, the betrayals sharper, but Gwynne never loses sight of the characters at the heart of it all. In short: if Malice made you a fan, Valor will make you a believer. It’s bigger, bolder, and somehow even better. Five stars, without hesitation. This is epic fantasy firing on all cylinders.

I was marginally enthusiastic about Malice, the first volume in this series by John Gwynne. It was pretty conventional, as epic fantasy goes, and perhaps too long with too much time spent on worldbuilding. But it picked up enough at the end that I wanted to continue, so I went ahead and bought this book, too. I think I like this better than book 1, and am looking forward to book 3 coming out in the fall. I feel like there was more action this time, though I will admit some of the battles started to run together. The writing style was about the same as the last and I can't honestly think of much to say about it. I suppose that means the author didn't have any annoying (to me) habits with respect to his use of words. I have mixed feelings regarding the sense of danger in the book. The good guys (at least the main POV ones) tend to make it out of battles relatively unharmed. It's more a question of which of their allies or which side character will die. Because there are quite a lot of deaths in this book, but they tend not to be POV characters (so not reaching George R.R. Martin territory just yet), with a few notable exceptions. And perhaps because they're not POV characters, we're not as moved by them. Also it kinds of seems like there are new people to fill in the gaps left by the ones who depart. Then again, that's to be expected in this type of book. Second books in a series often have a lot of problems. I think this is actually an improvement on book 1, though, and I like that we are getting a taste of what is presumably going to be the final conflict. Key players from both sides meet (though their subsequent separation is a bit too convenient in some instances). Another thing that is done well in this book (as opposed to some others I have read lately) is that the geopolitical conflict is nicely worked into the overall good-versus-evil story arc. Kingdoms are being fought over, alliances are being made and broken, various parties are manipulating and/or being deceived. But it all fits. (As opposed to Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle, where the last 2-3 books have been expounding on a foreign culture at length without advancing the plot...) That is not to say there isn't anything that should be cut. I find that the character Maquin's storyline is a bit unbalanced. I find him to be sympathetic and to have more of a point than Kastell's storyline in book 1 (Kastell is a young nobleman Maquin has been charged with guarding). But there is a *lot* of internal monologue regarding his personal quest for revenge. He ends up as a pit fighter at one point (like a Roman gladiator, for simplicity's sake). And there is much discussion about how he abstains from excess. And so forth. It starts to get repetitive. But some of Maquin's parts are done well -- the number of pit fights described in detail is just about right. Also done well is a storyline with Fidele (mother of Nathair, leader of one of the two great forces being gathered) in the second half of the book. We get just enough of the negatives to really sympathize with her plight, without it being overdone. Much of Corban's (the hero, basically) storyline is that of running -- either to get away from pursuers, or to the rescue of someone who has been captured. Thankfully we are not treated to endless descriptions of nights in the woods. (On the other hand, we are treated to many, many descriptions of battles...) This is somewhat balanced by Corban's thoughts about coming to terms with a prophecy about him. I think his reaction is suitable for someone his approximate age, with his background. MInor spoilers in this paragraph, but not related to the main plot (at least not yet). Veradis is another POV character who returns (he's Nathair's battlechief, basically). As is Cywen, Corban's sister. I predict an actual romance between the two of them in book 3 or later. Because nearly every scene with one of them in it mentions dreamy thoughts about the other. Veradis isn't so important, overall, in this book. His parts could have been taken by nearly any one of Nathair's battle leaders. He often wasn't even with Nathair. He seems to be in this book solely to remind us that (1) he exists, (2) he has a thing for Cywen, and (3) this is speculation but I think he is supposed to be having doubts about Nathair and I suspect he will change sides at some point in the future. So he is kind of predictable. He was better in book 1. But I think he has some potential, some further room for growth, so we will see. Cywen, on the other hand, changes very little from book 1. I will say, I am actually interested in some of the side characters. Many are complex, with appropriate flaws and conflicting loyalties. I think the level of character development, at least for the viewpoint characters, is quite good. Some of the villains are a little one-dimensional (Jael, Rhin, and even Nathair at this point). But at least there are several of them, and they are capable of being manipulated and/or defeated or at least suffering setbacks, so they are not all-powerful baddies. It gives a sense of a more even conflict, not something one-sided, and that does make for a better story. In the end, I found myself wanting to read this despite the flaws I mentioned above. I thought the pace was decent for about 2/3 of the book (spread about, not limited to the beginning or end). I thought many of the characters were well-developed. I thought it was an improvement on book 1, and it definitely left me looking forward to book 3, which I think I'm going to go pre-order now.

Let me begin by saying that The Faithful and the Fallen has become one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. Without a doubt, Valor has sealed that feeling for me. This book was an incredible second installment and is one of the best follow-up books I've ever read. This series follows the progress of the God-War that is waging between Asroth and Elyon. Malice, (the first book in this series) opens with the reader entering the Banished Lands thousands of years after the original war between the gods. This war ended in The Scourging, which had a devastating impact on the landscape and the Giant race. As we begin our adventure, we are following the course of events that will culminate in a war between two avatars of the Gods and their followers. Valor continues that adventure by taking us further into the giant and god lore that explains the magic systems and further develops the events of this war. Character development abounds and you find more people to love and hate as their stories unfold. Valor is extremely plot driven and each chapter is filled with action or a strong progression in the story. Although there are multiple POV's in the telling of these stories, I never feel lost. John Gwynne does a fantastic job of giving us just the right amount of information without excessive wordiness or "info dumps". We learn what we need to learn through dialogue, battles, characters internal dialogue, and dream sequences. There are heart-pounding battle scenes, moments of humor, and heart-wrenching points of loss and grief. This is a book that will make you FEEL. I will confess that I shed a tear during the very last chapter of this book. Gwynne's writing is so incredibly descriptive (but again maintaining that balance of not becoming overly descriptive), that there were times this book felt like a movie in my mind. I plan to begin Ruin immediately because I MUST have it read by the time Wrath is released. If you are looking for an engaging, swift-paced, plot-driven story, pick up this series. If you want to read about characters you can really connect with (whether through love or hate), pick up this series. If you want an epic fantasy series with superb world building, a fresh magic system, and lots of interesting animals/beasts, pick up this series. In short: pick up this series.

An amazing sequel by John Gwynne. I am really enjoying this series and I am so glad I finally decided to read it. I wish I would have read this earlier, but better now than never. Valor continues where Malice left off. Corban and his friends are trying to find safety but war is everywhere and continues to follow them. Nathair continues to bring war everywhere he goes and his sword is Veradis. Veradis is undyingly loyal to Nathair and cannot see beyond protecting Nathair. There is a lot more in Valor about Asroth and Elyon and the role their champions play. Corban is finally having to learn about this spiritual warfare as well. There are a lot of the same point-of-views as before. Corban, Veradis, Cywen, Camlin and Maquin. But there are also some new views such as Coralen, Tukul, Fidele, Lykos, and Uthas. There are other as well, but these are the most occurring. I honestly enjoyed all the point-of-views. It is nice getting all the different sides of the story and each character is adding to the overall story. There is never a dull moment. I also enjoyed the addition of the new characters, as Gwynne is able to give each character its own unique story and purpose. I do not want to get into any spoilers with the story, but there is a lot of fighting that occurs and unfortunately it feels like the good guys are constantly one step behind. It feel as though Valor is a continuation of the build-up of Malice where the good sides are dwindling, but there is also the beginnings of resistances being formed. I am just waiting for the good guys to strike a killing blow. 😊 But I am enjoying the group that Corban is building. The bonds are being formed with Corban and his group and I love how loyal they all are to each other. Each of his friends continues to grow with him and it is enjoyable to get to see the growth. I am excited to see what is going to happen in Ruin, but if the title is anything to go by.. I am a little nervous. If you haven’t given this series a try yet, I definitely recommend, as it a fast paced, exciting, high fantasy read. I absolutely wish I would have started sooner.

This is a series review, as I read the books a while ago, and I see them as one story anyway. I had a little trouble getting into Malice (book 1). It seemed a little slow in the beginning. But I liked the writing, and felt a good story was underway. I was right. These books are not ultra-high end, Lord of the Rings type books which are studied and taught in literature classes. But of course not all books need to be EPIC MASTERPIECES FOR THE AGES! The stories are very good. Some reviewers have mentioned that the characters are derivative. It seems like that at first, but they do grow into very unique characters I cared about. There are some stock plot lines, which are tough to avoid (try to think up a story in your head - chances are it's been written many times). But as with the characters, they find their own voices pretty quickly. Beyond anything else, I can say that I simply enjoyed reading the books, and looked forward to reading them, and I'll read them again.I think people overlook that element far too frequently in reviews, instead choosing to hyper focus on the details. The stories in the books are exciting adventures, occurring in great Fantasy locations: castles, dungeons, deep forests, mountains, swamps etc. The writing is convincing and the world building is solid. The descriptions of the locations are very deftly written, in my humble opinion. I'd like to visit the world, but in quieter times. There are animal companions. Dogs wolves and ravens. I know..."Really, another wolf / raven / dog companion?" I've read a fair view animal companion books. But I love animals, and I love the human / animal bond found both in literature and life. I personally feel that it is more natural to have animal companion(s) that to not. Most of your friends and family have animal companions (I don't care for the word pet), don't they? If you like fantasy, give Malice a shot, and stick with it a bit. You will be pleasantly surprised. Great conflict, gray characters, and a few who don't know they are gray. The action picks up soon, and really doesn't lag. You can read all about the details in other reviews. Lastly, John Gwynne is a nice man. That matters to me. "Like" him on Facebook and ask him a question (sorry John, you are a busy man!). He'll answer. And he's a pretty quick writer. The fourth book of the series is done, and I believe he's just completed book 1 of a new series, which I'll read. That's a $10 check (after the publisher's cut) you can cash right now, John. Postscript: G I A N T S. And plenty of them. Smashing, stomping G I A N T S!

This is very much a good vs evil type series. It's a lesser version ASOIAF. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if this series went Hollywood one day. Malice, while good was a bit slow, but it sets everything up for the other 3 books. When I read Valor I felt it was still a bit slow in the beginning but picks up very quickly. I am currently reading book 3 right now. The one thing I do not like, and I have a feeling its going to happen in this series is how evil always prevails right up to the end of the last book. All the good characters die off early, and the ones who survive are struggling just to find a place to rest their heads. It can be irritating because it makes the book predictable. I hope this all changes. Oh and I think Gwynne decided that every living soul on the Banished Lands must have a scar running down their face. It seems like every new character that he introduces has some kind of scar running either down or across their faces.

Valor,Book 2 in this series was just as good as the first book, Malice. The primary characters were never in one place for very long. Book 1 seemed to introduce the world in different places and spend a little time in each, especially with Corban. Book 2, everyone seemed to be on the move. Some were the hunters, some were the hunted. And many times those roles changed unexpectedly as surprises in the story arcs sprang up. But this allowed John Gwynne to describe a lot of the terrain between the larger kingdoms and do more world building, which I really enjoyed. There were several new characters introduced that quickly became integral to the story and quick favorites of mine. There were also characters that were secondary or lightly introduced in book one that became fully fleshed out in this book. Much like the first book, there were also characters who wont make to Ruin, book 3. To avoid any spoilers, I'll just leave it at that. John Gwynne really does a great job breathing life into his characters and making you root for them or hope they find the pointy end of a weapon soon. The story moves along really well and I like the pacing of how big reveals were introduced and then handled by the characters. With as many characters as there are in this story, I think he does a good job with making sure all have arcs that are addressed. Some get more attention than others, of course, but none seemed to stay flat that were important to the story. I'm stopping my review here because I just finished Valor and I want to start reading Ruin right away. I've found this to be a fun and engaging series.

Great book. Great series overall. Classic Fantasy with some newish elements. Great story and character development. In fact the character development and characterization of different characters struggle with right and wrong was impressive. Really captured the human condition well. Good action and pacing. Overall a really enjoyable read! PS - Adding this same note to all 4 books as it applies equally across the series.

Like Malice before it, Valour has something oddly nostalgic and familiar about it. It still retains the same endearing character growth that made me enjoy its predecessor, and still managed to captivate me all throughout its 650 odd pages. Unlike Malice, this book picks up right away, seeing the action stretch from start to finish through various plotlines. Where in its predecessor, the battles, big and small, were mostly confined to a few plotlines and the final parts of the story, here we pick up right from the climactic finale of Malice and everybody is getting into more tussles than they'd like to. And it is a blast! While protagonist Corban comes to terms with new revelations and the loss of those dear to him, as their party of refugees is hunted across kingdoms, Maquin of the Gadre proves his valour in unexpected ways, with his back to the wall. Veradis, meanwhile, feels growing discomfort with his king and friend's choice of allies. Camlin, in turn, learns trust and friendship from those he least expected to befriend. New point of view characters join in, both fresh and recurring faces, among them the fiery Coralen and Tukul, a Jehar master waiting for the Seren Disglair. The cast stays diverse and interesting, and switching viewing angles within plotlines offer greater depth for all around. Both Coralen and Tukul were a joy to follow, whether through their eyes or those of Corban and co. Camlin especially appealed, and I was greatly satisfied by his character arc's progression in Valour. Things get serious in this installment, and the days of Corban's peaceful life are numbered. Kingdoms fall, nooses close tight as Asroth's servants and their influence grow. This novel was far bleaker than its predecessor in many ways, and yet it still maintained an upright tone full of warmth and hope where it could. The bonds of friendship and family are tested time and again, but there is valour in loyalty and trust. For every desperate moment, there is a gleam of hope in other places. I appreciate that greatly. While Valour stays about as predictable as Malice before it, and had me guess the outcomes of various plot arcs way ahead of the game, I still can't bring myself to fault it for that. It just works, and being able to see a character grow along expected lines that mesh with your own thoughts of what would make for exciting scenes down the line, is satisfying. It makes a lot of sense where certain characters end up at the end of the road, and it makes them feel internally consistent in their morals and beliefs. The supernatural and magical elements take a step towards the center of the stage, developing quite a bit from the first book. It still remains mostly supportive elemental magic (still no fireballs being flung!), which fits the setting well. That does not mean that its use is not spectacular at times, but it keeps the world grounded overall. Being halfway through the series now, I honestly think that The Faithful and the Fallen has the potential to go down as a genre classic in a time where many authors seem intent on reinventing the sword and sorcery. If Ruin and the upcoming Wrath can maintain the series' strong characters, setting and themes til the end, then my library, and hopefully those of many others, will be all the richer for it.

So far after reading the first three books, John Gwynn has not failed to keep me interested. The characters are not flat, each have their own distinct personalities and mannerisms. The plot is rife with intrigue, action, scandal, betrayal, and all manner of medieval fantasy. What really enticed me over Game of Thrones, which I think would be the closest comparison to this book, is that there is much, MUCH less long drawn-out conversations about someone's father and that father's army, and his daughter's marriage and on and on and on. Also, although the book is not like GOT, where the writing is meant to be realistic in terms of main characters dying, good does not always win, etc., it does not have lack in the heart-string-pulling department; plenty of bad things happen, and the skill is in making it look as if good cannot win, even if you think you know they will. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the previous elements, or someone who has read the GOT books and needs something else to be addicted to.

uno de mis libros favoritos no decepciona en nada me encantó

the first volume was better because inexpected. this one is a little bit sad, but I can't stop reading it. I'm looking forward to read the last one!!

This second instalment is no doubt superior than the first book malice. — extremely engaging and a classic page turner. Very difficult to put this book down once you get hold of the events and characters. —- At multiple occasions, it gave me strong game of thrones vibes. Infact some scenes/subplots seemed like they were straight out of game of thrones. But these similarities only added to my enjoyment level. — The only struggle that readers might have while reading this series is keeping up with the huge cast of characters. It was so confusing that I had to go through the character glossary again and again. Also , I must add that the names of most of the characters sounded alike ( for ex- rath and dath, camlin,corban,conall,coralen, maquin and meical ) Such similar sounding character names may add to your confusion .