I read the Expanse novels at 60 pp/hr. This book is so deftly written and easy to read that I may have read it faster. It holds an interesting world with unending lore. It crafts characters with excellent development and motivations that breathe life into them. The story was action packed and surprising which is always refreshing. Three cheers for Anthony Ryan and this series! On to the next sword!

This is a pretty quick read, just over 100 pages. In this book we are introduced to a disparate group of people on a quest over a magical waste land. All of the members are travelling on the quest for one thing, to have their prayer answered by a somewhat mythical entity known as the Mad God. They all will need each other to survive across the waste land, but the catch is that only one of their prayers will be answered. The main character is known throughout the book as the Pilgrim, though that isn't his real name. He is somewhat of a mysterious character as for much of the book all we really know about him is that he is much much older than he appears, is a very great warrior, and carries a cursed sword. It isn't until the final pages that we know his real story, though many things can be guessed at before then. All in all a good read, although a little dark, not quite up to Mr. Ryan's best work, but still very good.

I really enjoyed every bit of this novella. It started quick. Before you know it, we are introduced to a small a group of people, who have sacrificed much to get to this point. Each character was written so well. I had no difficulties imagining each one from the start. I find it usually takes me awhile to get the hang of who's who in most books. Each kept me curious about the lives they led, before embarking on a path that would lead them to the lands of the Mad God. They all are clear on the knowledge that this is most assuredly going to be a one way trip.

They will be led by a priest, to seek out the Mad God, with an expectation that only one person shall be granted a wish. They travel through a land changed, with the unnatural taking many forms.

It moves along to a satisfying end, an ending that filled me up. Although it was short, at no point did I feel like things were being rushed. Imaginative and refreshing, I'm glad I finally started it, and an even more excited to start, The Krakens Tooth, which is book two.

Has to be said that the covers of this series have become some of my favorite fantasy covers. Great job by Steven Brand, brought the characters to life and will be more aware of books that he has narrated before.

For what it's worth, this story reminded me at times of Hyperion, which is a bit more on the sci-fi side of things, but it's real quality work and I will be happy to recommend.

So this was my first ever book by Anthony Ryan, and honestly starting out with a novella was probably a bad choice on my part, as I wasn't super impressed with this.

I enjoy novellas, they are usually a good break from large series, and I can get through them in an hour or two, but this took me 3 days to read, a lot of this was due to it doing nothing to call me back to it to keep reading it. I would just stop and forget about it, it wasn't able to hold my attention for even an hour.

It felt very rushed, not the writing style, but the story. You follow a group of people who are on a journey to met the Mad God and have one of their prayers answered. The journey felt rushed, almost as if I was watching it in fast forward. There were 7 characters in total but it was hard to really get attached to any since all the interactions were very little or very quick., so in the occurrence of death or injury, I wasn't really upset or bothered by it, it was just kind of meh, and when backgrounds were given, it still just left me with a very uninterested feeling.

I was also expecting more talking swords, since that's how others sold this to me, but I don't blame the author for that, that's just bad recommendations on those other peoples parts. I like the talking sword, its a fun take and I always enjoy a good talking inanimate object, but I won't lie I did crave more.

It clearly ended with the idea of continuing the story, since what I take away as the pivotal story plot devices happened the end of the story, which again felt very rushed and anticlimactic. There just wasn't enough attachment built for me to really care. I don't seldom say a story would be better flushed out, but I think this is one of those moments were a fully flushed approach would have suited it better, at least for me.

I'll keep an eye out for more in the series, I did like the talking sword bit so if there are more of those I want to see that.

This is only an 80 page novella, that felt a bit more like a prologue of a story rather than the first book of a novella sized series, but I must say, this was good! There was slight action that typically ends within the same page or the next throughout as the characters make their treacherous pilgrimage to pray to the Mad God. The brutality of this story picks up later, and I was thrilled to see that it did in fact pick up more than what it had. I was worried that the little bits of action was all we were going to see, but Ryan saved the best for last with a great finish.

There was a lot of secrecy and eventual revelation of a character or two, and while this does sort of hinder character building, it helped with the story telling and I loved that aspect of how Ryan was able to give a story of characters and not knowing anyone or their motivations other than some basic misdirect information. It really kept me engaged to see if anything would be revealed and who they were. On top of that, there’s a talking sword imbued with a demon and a pet hyena! DID I JUST SAY TALKING SWORD IMBUED WITH A DEMON?!?! YEP!

“Bleed them enough and they’ll die, the voice confirmed. But I doubt they’ll all bleed so easily.”

The narration by Steven Brand was pretty terrific, he had a few voices that reminded me a bit of a couple film Icons, such as Ian McShane and Rufus Sewell as well as one that sounded like Manu Bennett. Hearing those voices definitely made me dig deeper into the story as it played out.

I was hoping I would like this, and while I had some reservations at first, I have to say this turned out to be a really good story and I plan to continue reading about The Seven Swords!

Great quick book, good story, characters were cool, need more. Thanks looking forward to book 2. Wish the book was longer but refreshing to find a good writer.

I only wish this series was a single book or a proper epic fantasy. Anthony Ryan is a truly gifted story teller!

I recommend this to anyone who appreciates Ryan or great fantasy. Fast-going story, engaging throughout. Cool characters and setting, hinting at a sequel or spin-off.

Fans of Roger Zelazny, Michael Shea and Michael Moorcock will likely enjoy this short but intense start to the Seven Swords series. Sword and Sorcery stories saturate our culture, but sadly, most tend to be weak and derivative. Ryan's work uses some familliar tropes, but he manages to infuse his characters and plot with fresh energy that keeps the reader fully engaged. I really enjoyed the first book and I'm on board for the rest of the series. I will be seeking out the rest of Mr Ryan's stories.

I read it in a matter of hours ,excited to read the whole series..I just wish the book was longer

Received the following day after ordering. At least equally as good as service from Amazon uk. Would definitely use again!

Action packed and quite readable.

And yes, my mistake, I should have realized this « book » is 80-ish pages long, but I feel swindled. Won’t be buying any more books from this publisher nor probably from this author.

Sehr gut geschrieben, ein neues geniales Buch von Anthony Ryan in einer faszinierenden Fantasy Welt. Leider zu kurz. Zudem nicht für Kinder geeignet.