Hiding from your demons only makes them stronger...but the quest to face your demons might just make you one of them.
Hiding from your demons only makes them stronger...but the quest to face your demons might just make you one of them.
Dark fantasy, Epic, Wizards & witches
Twenty-four-year-old Liam is a traumatized warrior in a paradise free of war. He works his high-rise job. He is safe, comfortable, and free of suffering. For years, the portals to the brutal and magical world of Erentyr, where Liam came from, have been sealed, civilization protected. All that Liam wants is to live a normal life, to forget about his family's slaughter in Erentyr before he escaped. But soon he learns that one of his family members is still alive. Flush with terror but clinging to hope, Liam illegally returns to Erentyr's savage but Fairywild beauty. Once there, however, he finds that much more than fear and hope has awakened in him…
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I was deeply invested, and it surprised me in the best way. This book was amazingly different from the fantasies I’ve been reading lately, and it’s a breath of fresh air with a unique plot, storyline, and characters. The world-building was good - and I’m picky! The magic systems were intriguing, and I loved the character development. I really felt a deep connection to them; they were realistic, vulnerable, and strong. There is some romance, but it’s a subplot and necessary for the rich character development. It’s done very well, as was most of this book. This is perfectly appropriate for YA and adult readers. I really could not put it down, and I highly recommend it to any fantasy fan. I can’t wait to see what the next book holds! ~ Dove Snow (Reviewer), Netgalley
It was easy to connect with Liam and root for his success. ~ Filipa Roque (Reviewer), Thoughts on Timeless Tales
A standout in the genre, compelling, and rich in lore. Perfect for YA/NA fans. ~ Susana Imaginário, Author of Wyrd Gods
The blurb of this book kept me intrigued and wanting to find out what would happen next. Liam was a very interesting and gripping character who developed throughout the book. The writing style kept me gripped to the book. The story developed very nicely to a point where I couldn't wait to find out the ending. And I really enjoyed the ending. ~ Harriet Foster (Reviewer) , Netgalley
I really, really enjoyed this book! The story of Liam and Mia’s journey through Erentyr was really well written, and the magic system in this world was really cool! If you enjoy high fantasy with a fun magic system, you should definitely check out this book when it is released next year on April 1st, 2025! 5 out of 5 stars ~ Stephanie Milner (Reviewer), Netgalley
The author's background in psychology really shone through in this novel. It was a really interesting fantasy world to have something like that prominent, and it really added to the characters overall. The cover really sums up what we are getting into here: a futuristic-looking city with an open portal into someplace more medieval. Absolutely stunning. ~ Cortney Babcock (Reviewer), Netgalley
I really loved the world-building, in which we are thrust into Erentyr's bizarre land, where giants, gnomes, and other weird things coexist. I had a good time reading this, and you will, too. 5 out of 5 stars ~ Anders Mikkel (Reviewer), Netgalley
Erik D. Goodwyn has written a fascinating story that engrossed me from start to end. A part of me didn't want to put this book down, but at the same time, I tried to draw this story out as I didn't want it to end. It is a solid start to a new fantasy series, and I am looking forward to seeing where the characters go from here. I love the mixture of the modern hi-tech world and a classic medieval fantasy place mixed with faerie. The pacing was great, and it was super easy to read. ~ Zanny Taylor (Reviewer), Netgalley
I have always been interested in what it would be like to visit a fantasy world as an adult or child and what effect that would have on you years later. I was delighted to stumble upon this book and get swept up in the adventures and trials of the main character, who once lived in such a magical world in his youth and still feels its call despite how it haunts him. I found this fascinating and would like to read more from the author. ~ James Umbarger (Reviewer) , Netgalley
I found the note from the publisher section for this really interesting and actually found that the author's background really came through in the writing. This was a great fantasy read! ~ Melanie Allman (Reviewer), Netgalley
Strong characters and engrossing worldbuilding...beautiful, sad, whimsical, and dark. ~ Ruth, Books and Business
Blends traditional fantasy with sci-fi elements with effortless ease. Its subtle exploration of trauma adds a deeper level of meaning, creating a captivating narrative. ~ José, José's Amazing Worlds
An awesome book...A true epic fantasy gem with a profound structure. ~ Dragana Favre, Author of Dreamscapes of Belonging
Epic and Magical! Highly recommended! ~ Liz, Cozy Books with Liz
A delicious lesson of the human capacity to continue onward, wrapped in an adventure of trauma and triumph. ~ Aster Jowell, The Wax Quill
Strong worldbuilding and plot, with a nuanced main character. ~ Alex DeRadke, Netgalley
A solid new fantasy that that blends honor, magic, the fae, and two different worlds, you may want to explore this book! ~ Jim Scriven, Fantasy for the Ages
I loved this book...Goodwyn’s King of the Forgotten Darkness maps the lands of heroic quest and enchantment known to C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, Philip Pullman, Ursula Le Guin, and J. K. Rowling. We follow Liam who has been severed from his love, his fate, his imagination and his home. Can he find his way back into the world of terror and delight, of magic, of creatures that prophesy and dragons that promise annihilation or deep being? With a blend of Celtic culture and fantasy so sinuous it enters our dreams, King of the Forgotten Darkness reads like a key to a new series as gripping as it is revelatory. For surely The Forgotten Darkness is our own. ~ Susan Rowland (PhD) Author The Sacred Well Murders and The Alchemy Fire Murder
