Australian author S.J. Hartland’s debut novel—and first installment of her Shadow Sword saga—is nothing short of an epic fantasy masterwork. – BlueInk Review
Australia has produced some phenomenal fantasy writers in recent decades: Sara Douglass, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Kate Forsyth, and Trudi Canavan, among others. Fantasy fans can now add Hartland to that list. Her story is just that good. – BlueInk Review
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“An engaging and intricate fantasy that delivers plenty of political intrigue.” – Kirkus Reviews
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“An epic fantasy journey into an ancient, fabled world that beckons with echoes of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. A debut novel from an author we’re keeping our eyes on.” – Chanticleer Reviews
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With its superbly developed characters and accomplished prose, The 19th Bladesman is a book to devour…-The Prairies Book Review
“S.J. Hartland writes the kind of action scenes that effortlessly draw the reader in and have them visualizing the flurry of movement in such a masterful way that I have only ever encountered in a handful of authors. However, it is not only the fast-paced, heart-pounding action where the author excels, but the world building is also phenomenal, with clear attention paid to provide a rich culture, society, history, religion and structure. The characters are every bit as deep and complex as the world itself … ” – K.J. Simmill for Readers’ Favorite
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“S.J. Hartland has created a magnificent world in this epic fantasy tome… Due to fantastic world building aided by a delicate balance between showing and telling and a brisk pace, I was completely immersed in The 19th Bladesman. All the characters, right from the protagonist to even the ordinary soldier, are engaging and memorable … Further, the action scenes are splendid. I could visualize every parry and hear every clank of the clashing swords.” – Debjani Ghosh for Readers’ Favorite
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S.J. Hartland weaves a world like a spiderweb–intricate, detailed, beautiful, but deadly–populated with well-developed characters with complex morals, motives, and mettle.” -Laura B., Proofreader, Red Adept Publishing
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The author has taken common fantasy tropes of vampires and twisted them into a new viewpoint – the ghouls are abhorrent, yet follow a lot of common vampiric traits. It’s exciting to see a different interpretation within the fantasy genre. -The International Review of Books
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The 19th Bladesman is a gripping and thoroughly enjoyable first book in what will hopefully be a grand epic high fantasy series in the best tradition.
~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader
An outstanding, towering work of fantasy…PRAIRIES BOOK REVIEW
For readers who love fantasy, this novel is clearly a strong contender for a reader’s attention, in much the same way Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series, or J.R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. Simply put, The Last Seer King by S. J. Hartland is an exciting well-crafted, epic-fantasy worthy of your time. CHANTICLEER BOOK REVIEWS
“A triumphant tale that will certainly appeal to lovers of dense, intricate fantasies with strong characters and fully realized worlds.” KIRKUS REVIEWS
The Last Seer King is filled with magic, wonderful elements of setting and unforgettable characters. A fascinating read, indeed! – Romuald Dzemo for Readers Favorite
A tale filled with action, dark magic, and powerful heroes fighting deadly enemies, The Last Seer King is replete with suspense and told in a style that is atmospheric, in prose that is delightful, and with characters that are real and compelling. What grabbed my attention as I opened the book was the author’s prose. It is filled with vivid descriptions and strong imagery. –
Ruffina Oserio for Readers Favorite
This epic fantasy has so many layers and facets that I thought I would have a hard time concentrating, but it wasn’t something I had to worry about. The author handled everything, kept the pace and the momentum, and ensured that the reader had the best reading experience. Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite
I highly recommend “The Last Seer King” by S.J. Hartland. In fact, do yourself a favor, pick up the entire Shadow Sword series to date. It’s a must-read series for serious fantasy enthusiasts. After spending over 1,200 combined pages with these characters, I still thirst for more and was delighted to learn there are several more installments to come. Thank you for another great adventure, S.J. Hartland. READER VIEWS
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Kaell is a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods and can fight for them alone. Bonded warriors are doomed to die young as they are trained to fight the monstrous, blood-sucking ghouls. But Kaell doe…
debjanisthoughts.wordpress.com
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With its superbly developed characters and accomplished prose, The 19th Bladesman is a book to devour… This massive volume is the first of the three-part Shadow Sword series from S.J. Hartland. In a world of ancient prophecies and magical beings, a line of swordsmen possesses phenomenal powers through their bond with the battle god…
theprairiesbookreview.com
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The 19th Bladesman by S. J. Hartland – Epic Fantasy – Sword & Sorcery Fantasy – Action – Adventure – 5 Stars – Artisan Book Reviews & Promo
artisanbookreviews.com
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This debut novel weaves a tale of gods, ghouls, and forbidden magic. Kaell, ward to Lord Vraymorg and bonded to the god Khir, is a warrior destined to spend his life killing ghouls.
www.kirkusreviews.com
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An epic fantasy of prophecies and fate, The 19th Bladesman by S.J. Hartland is a tale of a many characters. Hartland does an excellent job of moving the story along, jumping from one character to the next to weave the many threads of intrigue centering around the bonded warrior, Kaell.
reedsy.com
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When it comes to sword and sorcery book reviews SJ Hartlands The 19th Bladesman proves a genuine gem of a read and is sure to find favour with genre fans.
bookviralreviews.com
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format available for free.
www.pressreader.com
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The 19th Bladesman is the new fantasy novel by S.J. Hartland
www.newinbooks.com
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THE 19TH BLADESMAN is a gripping and thoroughly enjoyable first book in what will hopefully be a grand epic high fantasy series in the best tradition.
indiereader.com
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“The 19th Bladesman” is a Foreword INDIES finalist in Fantasy (Adult Fiction). “The 19th Bladesman” is an intriguing and emotional fantasy novel that lays the foundation for more epic stories to come. S. J. Hartland’s “The 19th Bladesman” is a coming-of-age fantasy novel that explores loyalty and love through the lens of a…
www.forewordreviews.com
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https://kristamariewrites.com/2019/05/07/book-review-the-19th-bladesman/
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Fans of A Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings will appreciate the spirit of this work and the way Hartland’s words test readers’ limits.
kristamariewrites.com
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Epic sword, sorcery and intrigue continue in The Last Seer King by S. J. Hartland.Book two in the Shadow Sword series finds the last lines of ancient royal blood heading into battle against the Ghoul-God Archanin, who is both loathsome and alluring.
reedsy.com
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https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sj-hartland/the-last-seer-king/
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In this sequel, a lord tries to resurrect a ghoul changeling in a war-ravaged world. A great battle has ended in a kingdom indebted to an array of gods—and where ghouls attack unprotected villages—with an Isles victory.
www.kirkusreviews.com
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When it comes to fantasy novels, one thing is certain, as was famously said in the venerated musical, The Music Man, “You gotta know the territory.” Author S.J. Hartland clearly does. In The Last Seer King, the second volume in her Shadow Sword epic fantasy series, the creates a world with a granular intensity that envelopes the reader from page one.
www.chantireviews.com
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The Last Seer King is a work of epic fantasy fiction penned by author S. J. Hartland and is the second book in the Shadow Sword series. Written for mature audiences due to some violent and sexual content, the story continues the dark fantasy tale where an ensemble cast of powerful heroes are all awakening to their fates and destinies.
readersfavorite.com
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In this third installment of the Shadow Sword series, a centuries-old rivalry continues to threaten a kingdom, weaving the lives of friends and enemies together in a complex tapestry.
www.kirkusreviews.com
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Review Omg, I don’t know how she does it, but I just love them all, her characters are so vivid and complex it’s delightful to read. The story was awesome this time around too, for me she can keep doing more of that if she likes I will come back everytime. A fantastic epic read,…
rincondejoss.wordpress.com
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What can you tell us about your new release, The Last Seer King? The Last Seer King picks up where The 19th Bladesman ended. The Last Seer King is a story of dark magic, obsession, dangerous prophecy, and the redemption found in friendship.
www.newinbooks.com
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