John Gwynne wrapped up his debut series, The Faithful and the Fallen, with the fourth book of the series, Wrath. It definitely doesn't disappoint.
The bulk of the action in this book takes place in and around the ancient giant fortress of Drassil, deep in the Forn Forest. The forces of Asroth, the demon of darkness, hold Drassil after they took it over in a surprise attack in the third book, Ruin.
The opposing forces that were displaced when Calidus and Nathair attacked Drassil are little more than a small guerrilla band of warriors. Their tactics mostly consist of attacking scouting parties sent from Drassil.
Their biggest issue is that Corban, their Bright Sun, is missing. He wasn't in the fortress when Calidus and Nathair attacked, and his friends, family, and army don't know where he is or whether he is even alive. We find out that he is alive but captured by the Jotun giants, and has been whisked away to the west. He isn't mistreated, but he is certainly a prisoner, and his fate is in doubt. Coralen, Gar, Dath, Farrell, and others decide to track Corban and try to save him.
Corban makes an impression with some Jotun, but during his rescue, the giants start fighting among themselves, with the younger giants rebelling against the millennia-old leaders. Corban and his friends escape during the chaos but are tracked into the forest and attacked. Some younger giants help Corban, and they eventually escape and return to the army in the forest around Drassil.
The Battle of Drassil in Wrath does credit to the build-up developed throughout The Faithful and the Fallen
Several characters have to work through their storylines so everyone can get to the climactic battle. Not only does Corban have to get back to his army, but Edana is still battling Rhin's forces in Ardan. Veradis, who has finally separated himself from his duplicitous childhood friend, Nathair, and is making his way to Drassil, too.
Lothar is still trying to build his road through the dangerous Forn Forest so his army can join Calidus and Nathair. Plus, Calidus is still trying to collect the Seven Treasures needed to open the portal to the underworld and let Asroth enter the world.
There is a lot going on.
As he did in his previous books, Gwynne shows his mastery of pace by swapping out characters' points of view. Readers get perspective from both sides of the conflict, and there is a great picture of what is happening inside and outside Drassil.
The battle itself takes up about 35 percent of the whole bookâabout 250 pages. Gwynne bounces from one character to another as their parts in the battle play out.
One thing about Gwynne. He gives readers an honest battle. Not all of our favorite characters survive. It is absolute war, and it involves men and women of every background, giants, animals, demons, and angels. This is a full, high fantasy type of battle, and there are plenty of casualties.
All the books of this series have been real page-turners, and this one was even more so because the pace and action were quick and constant. The well-developed characters held true to their established selves, the story that had been built was resolved in a mighty, bloody clash, and Gwynne even set up a sequel series that takes place decades later.
This book specifically, and the whole series in general, is what this genre is all about. Heroes, villains, life, death, great storytelling, memorable characters, and plenty of battles.
Gwynne has gained an instant fan who can't wait to read more of his books, both those that take place in the world he established in The Faithful and the Fallen and any other worlds and stories he creates.
If you are a fan of high fantasy with plenty of swords and axes, you will love The Faithful and the Fallen.
Take a look at our reviews for the first three volumes of The Faithful and the Fallen: