Synopsis
‘Reminds me of why I became a fantasy enthusiast in the first place’ – Robin Hobb, author of Assassin’s Apprentice
The first novel in John Gwynne’s epic and stirring Of Blood and Bone trilogy.
The Ben-Elim, a race of warrior angels, once vanquished a mighty demon horde. Now they rule the Banished Lands. But their dominion is brutally enforced and their ancient enemy may not be as crushed as they thought.
In the snowbound North, Drem, a trapper, finds mutilated corpses in the forests – a sign of demonic black magic. In the South, Riv, a young, tempestuous soldier, discovers a deadly rift within the Ben-Elim themselves.
Two individuals with two world-changing secrets. But where will they lead? And what role will Drem and Riv play in the Banished Lands’ fate? Difficult choices need to be made. Because in the shadows, demons are gathering, waiting for their time to rise . . .
Continue the heroic fantasy series with A Time of Blood.
‘A truly excellent read . . . Exciting, well-written swords and sorcery’ – Mark Lawrence, author of The Broken Empire
‘John Gwynne is one of the modern masters of heroic fantasy’ – Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time
Of Blood and Bone is set one hundred years after the end of Gwynne's Faithful and the Fallen quartet, and can be read as a standalone series. The trilogy includes A Time of Dread, A Time of Blood and A Time of Courage.
Details
31 July 2025
9781035063390Reviews
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 contrastsRobin Hobb, author of Assassin’s Apprentice
A truly excellent read . . . Exciting, well-written swords and sorcery. Try it on for sizeMark Lawrence, author of The Broken Empire trilogy
John Gwynne is one of the modern masters of heroic fantasyAdrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time
A Time of Dread is marvellous. Gwynne’s writing is superb, delivering not only twists and turns but also nuance and complexitySebastien de Castell, author of The Greatcoats series
