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A Time of Dread (Of Blood & Bone Book 1) Kindle Edition

by John Gwynne (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,753 ratings
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Acclaimed epic fantasy author John Gwynne returns with the first book in a new trilogy, perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, and David Gemmell.

"A Time of Dread reminds me of why I became a fantasy enthusiast in the first place." -- Robin Hobb

A race of warrior angels, the Ben-Elim, once vanquished a mighty demon horde. Now they rule the Banished lands, but their peace is brutally enforced.

In the south, hotheaded Riv is desperate to join the Ben-Elim's peacekeeping force, until she unearths a deadly secret.

In the west, the giantess Sig investigates demon sightings and discovers signs of an uprising and black magic.
And in the snowbound north, Drem, a trapper, finds mutilated corpses in the forests. The work of a predator, or something far darker?
It's a time of shifting loyalties and world-changing dangers. Difficult choices need to be made. Because in the shadows, demons are gathering, waiting for their time to rise. . .
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Of Blood & Bone
  2. Print length
    527 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Orbit
  6. Publication date
    February 20, 2018
  7. File size
    5062 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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  1. Sometimes age doesn’t mellow and soften, sometimes it twists and toughens, squeezing all the kindness out of a soul.
    Highlighted by 99 Kindle readers
  2. “What about kind and polite words fixing a disagreement?” Drem wheezed at Olin, his mouth thick with the copper tang of blood, his split nose throbbing, pulsing with his heartbeat. “There’s a time for that,” Olin said. “But sometimes, son, the only answer is blood and steel.”
    Highlighted by 48 Kindle readers
  3. Drem had known better than to argue, knowing how men got that look in their eyes and tilt to their head when a discussion had gone past the facts and somehow turned in their minds into a question of who was cleverest, wisest, strongest, most skilled, whatever.
    Highlighted by 43 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A Time of Dread reminds me of why I became a fantasy enthusiast in the first place. Fantasy can be an escape from reality, but some stories carry the reader to an enhanced reality, a place where the world seems to have brighter colors and sharper contrasts."―Robin Hobb

"The book reminded me in the very best way of the sort of fantasy I loved in years gone by. Exciting, well-written, swords and sorcery. Try it on for size."―Mark Lawrence

"Great evils, conflicted heroes, bloody battles, betrayal, and giants riding battle bears! What's not to love?"―Peter Newman

"I loved A Time of Dread and read it from cover to cover in two days. I couldn't put it down."―Miles Cameron

"Fans of epic fantasy have something to cheer about: A Time of Dread is marvelous. Gwynne's writing is superb, delivering not only twists and turns but also nuance and complexity."―Sebastien de Castell

"An accomplished and rousing tale of heroes and dark deed that fans of epic fantasy will devour."―Tom Lloyd

"A fierce, gripping tale, and one I found hugely enjoyable."―Anna Smith Spark

About the Author

John Gwynne studied and lectured at Brighton University. He's been in a rock 'n' roll band, playing the double bass, traveled the USA, and lived in Canada for a time. He is married with four children and lives in Eastbourne, running a small family business rejuvenating vintage furniture. Malice is his debut novel.



Damian Lynch is a voice talent and Earphones Award-winning narrator.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06XFV83LM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orbit (February 20, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 20, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5062 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 527 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,753 ratings

About the author

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John Gwynne

John Gwynne

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I am the author of epic fantasy series The Faithful and the Fallen, Of Blood and Bone and The Bloodsworn Saga. I’m also a Viking re-enactor and enjoy nothing more than standing in the shield wall with my three sons, who are as passionate about swords and axes as I am (when I’m not stuck in my coat of mail; it’s harder than it looks).

I live on the south coast of the UK with my beautiful wife, three sons and my daughter, and an assortment of animals (at the moment three dogs, a horse and a lamb who thinks she’s a dog).

My dogs think I am their slave.

Malice, my debut novel, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2012 and went on to win the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Debut of 2012. That was a truly wonderful moment, as David Gemmell is a hero of mine and one of the reasons I write.

The following three books in the series – Valour, Ruin and Wrath, were all shortlisted for the David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novels of 2014, 2015 and 2016.

My second series, of Blood and Bone, is set in the Banished Lands, the same world as the first series. Book 1, A Time of Dread, begins 130 years after the events of the first series.

A Time of Courage, book 3 Of Blood and Bone, made the Spiegel Bestseller’s List in Germany.

My latest book, The Shadow of the Gods, book 1 of the Bloodsworn Saga, will be published in May 2021. It is inspired by Norse mythology, Beowulf and Ragnarök.

I am represented by Julie Crisp.

You can find me online at:

https://john-gwynne.com

https://twitter.com/JohnGwynne_

https://www.instagram.com/john_gwynne_author/

https://www.facebook.com/john.gwynne.12

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
3,753 global ratings
Epic Fantasy Tale
5 Stars
Epic Fantasy Tale
To be honest, I was not totally enthralled when I first started the book. It took a bit getting adjusted to the banished lands and the different factions within, but once I did, the story hooked me. The book follows four characters where some are more interesting than others in the beginning. By the end, all four are equally captivating as you jump from character to character. Once it took off I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.
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Top reviews from the United States

Sunstar Siren
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent storytelling
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
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Fast paced, action oriented story-telling with interesting characters.
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Ralph M. Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars I was both hesitant and intrigued that this book would take place 130 years after the events of the initial debut series.
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
I was both hesitant and intrigued that this book would take place 130 years after the events of the initial debut series. After all, there are pros and cons to reading the next installment if your favorite characters are still alive and kicking. On the one hand, you love reading more about a beloved character. On the other, your favorite characters can become stale after a while. John Gwynne handles this well, as some of the characters are still around (ie.. the giants live a long long time, so your favorite giants are still there), and there are refences in the dialog as to what happened to your favorite human characters (as well a certain wolven/hound pair). While I would have liked to hear more specific details of what the long dead human characters had accomplished since the conclusion of the previous series, I'm sure more will be described in detail throughout the next couple of installments. If this book had given more than the few gratuitious tastes than it did, then it probably would have detracted too much from the new characters which are all intriguing in their own right.

Overall, I loved this book. Well written, great story, and you almost always feel engaged. My only criticisms are twofold. First, the PoV chapters are often too short, so the flow of reading can occasionally interrupt you while you're in the mental state of mind to keep reading. The PoV chapters could probably have been combined. So while there would be fewer chapters overall, each chapter would be a longer read but more rewarding to the reader. Second, the couple/few twists are rather predictable early on. I won't describe why as that would require spoilers, but suffice it to say I found it easy to spot 2 of them much sooner than the author probably wished, and a 3rd that while I spotted it early on in the book I was only half correct. Despite those points, this is still one of the better books I've read in the past year, and likely will remain that way for a year or more.

I look forward to the next installment. This book gave me all new great characters to engage in. The new characters and the subsequent character building did not disappoint.
5 people found this helpful
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Paul Andrew Wandless
5.0 out of 5 stars Great new story in the Banished Lands
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2020
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What a great new story John Gwynne has started. I knew there was a time jump and that Corban and the rest of my fave chars would not be the focus of the books anymore. That is probably why I waited so long to finally read this series. Needed some distance before truly saying goodbye to those characters. Corban is truly one of the best characters in all of fantasy, in my opinion.
But...John did an amazing job giving me new characters to meet and get invested with their individual stories. Gwynne's strength is his character building and woven arcs and he doesn't disappoint with creating these new chars. I think it was a great idea for continuity for some to be descendants from the main characters of the Faithful and the Fallen series. This allowed for John to weave in some of what happened in the past 100 years since the end of that series and let us revisit some of those chars through the memories of those still living. So a big thank you to John for finding a way to honor and incorporate them while still being fully focused on the new story.
The first half of the book did a good job introducing new main like Drem, Riv, Bleda and Cullen along with a host of others that feel equally important. It also fleshed out what world was like now and the new threats that were surfacing.
A Time of Dread has the Banished Lands being protected by the Ben-Elim against what seems to be left the Kadoshim. But as usual. All is not what it seems and there are many twists, turns, reveals, surprises and yes...glorious battles, close quarter fighting and unexpected, sad deaths. But it wouldn't be a John Gwynne book if everyone made it out of a fight unscathed or alive and that's what makes his stories so great. You're not always sure who to root for, but you find yourself so invested in the strong character writing, that you're always worried one will get killed. If you've read the Faithful and the Fallen, you know that no one is safe.
This book is a great introduction to this new story and sets the stage well for the rest of the trilogy. I can wait to get started on book 2!
4 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read but bloody as can be. The ending will catch you by surprise. I'm definitely buying th
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
As I mentioned, brilliant book with twists and surprises at every turn. Lots of action and I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this short series.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars A very good fantasy book
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2019
Verified Purchase
After searching online for new fantasy/sci fiction books, I came across the eye-catching cover picture of a flaming sword with the shield wall of an army in the background, an eerie title, and what I assume to a hefty set of characters -which was welcomed- judging by the summary, and I knew this novel was going to be not just a good fantasy story, but an epic one. And I was right.

I very much enjoyed the fluid way John Gwynne writes and transitions from chapter to chapter giving each main character ample amount of time and adding to the overall story. Little by little, from chapter to chapter, things ratchet up, and me being a few chapters away from completing this book, I can't wait to know what is going to happen next.

Wish I would've done my research and read the other Novels -Malice, Valor, Ruin, and Wrath- as they, in way, tie into what takes place in the plot. Though Gwynne does fill in gaps to explain previous characters and events, reading those prevoius novels I'm sure would have enhanced the overall experience of understanding what characters are feeling and truly knowing how much things have changed to the degree that they have in the the current moment this story takes place. This is my only gripe with the novel, but it's a good one, because of how good it is I'm now all in, and have purchased the first novel where I'm assuming everything is introduced, Malice.

This novel has kept me engaged with the way it was written, story and plot, and characters. There's giant bats, wolves, bears, actual giants, angels, demons, feral, and magic everything I could ask for in fantasy genre. Definitely recommend!
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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J Scott L
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story, lots of action
Reviewed in Canada on October 16, 2020
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I haven't finished it yet but I like the writing so much I've already bought the next book in the series, A Time of Blood.
2 people found this helpful
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Barry Mulvany
5.0 out of 5 stars Great opening to the series, it's nice to back in the Banished Lands!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2023
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It's been over a hundred years since the events of the Faithful and the Fallen. Countries and borders have changed, and the Ben-Elim and Kadoshim are both now abroad in the land. The Ben-Elim have made it their purpose to eradicate all the Kadoshim and call on human and giant allies to do this. The Order of the Bright Star, though with a similar purpose, fight their own battles against the Kadoshim, though sometimes allied with the Ben-Elim. Things are relatively stable, though not peaceful, but it soon looks like the Kadoshim are starting to make their own play.

The book is split relatively evenly amongst four POV's: Drem a trapper living in the North with his father Olin; Riv, a trainee White-Wing with the Ben-Elim in Drassil; Bleda a hostage of good behaviour being held in Drassil; and Sig, a giant with the Order of the Bright Star. All are very young except for Sig, who was a minor character in the first series.

I'll be honest I quite enjoyed reading them all which is a great thing and there is usually one POV that I dislike or am not as interested in. Yes Riv is very annoying but her POV contains most of what is going on at Drassil which is integral to the story, though it is expanded upon with Belda's. His is a good contrast as he sees the things that just aren't quite right there, compared to Riv who is a solid believer. Drem is a bit more generic, father and son with a hidden past that gradually comes out over the course of the book but still very well done. Sig's is just brilliant, and has the most ties and nostalgia to the first series.

This is fairly action packed from the word go. It's not non-stop though which is good as there is down time for the reader to get to know the characters better and guess what might be going on. It is still unashamedly heroic fantasy and is all the better for it. Terrible things happen, good people do bad things, but all our main characters are basically decent. I like my morally grey characters as much as the next person but it is sometimes nice to have things simpler. The story is well paced, not rushing, but also leaving you eager to see how it is all going to play out. John Gwynne has never been afraid of killing off characters so be warned, I've a feeling this series is going to be as emotionally devastating as the first one. Overall a great opening and I am very much forward to the next one.
2 people found this helpful
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Malene
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting
Reviewed in France on February 5, 2018
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John Gwynne is a fantastic story teller and the book is really very difficult to put down. As in the Faithful and the Fallen, there are a lot of POV (but not too many) that make the reading very interesting and allow the reader to know more about this world and the stories of the characters.
The battles descriptions are epic and for me there is the right amount of them with description and dialogues which sound very real and natural.
Although it is not necessary, I would suggest to read the Faithful and the Fallen before.
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Glen Davis
4.0 out of 5 stars There's a lot going on here
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2023
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Largely a cracking tale that builds up to quite a dramatic ending.
It has some really good twists and turns. Some good characters, although a hint of coming of age element crept into it, but not enough to spoil it. There's also a bit of a mix of horror thrown in too.
The story has been well set up for whatever happens next.
One person found this helpful
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Michael Dooley
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in Canada on July 5, 2020
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I liked it
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