The Wolf's Call

May 27, 2019
Ryan boldly returns to the world of the Raven’s Shadow fantasy trilogy (Blood Song, etc.) with this epic but overextended sequel series launch. After building a reputation for skill in battle and unmatched leadership, Vaelin Al Sorna has chosen the quiet life. But the rumor of war from across the sea is all it takes to bring him out of retirement—that and the knowledge that his lost love, Sherin, is in the grasp of one of the war leaders. Traveling to the realm of Merchant Kings, confronting the evil with whom he shares the title Darkblade, and learning the truth about Sherin are only the start of what makes Vaelin question whether he is strong enough to endure his greatest battle yet. Ryan’s language, often overwritten to the point of obscurity, is the primary road block for this otherwise thrilling deep dive into fantasy warfare. Unseasoned fantasy readers may get lost in a complicated web of action, verbose imagery, and multitudinous characters, but those familiar with Ryan’s work will find this installment immersive as well as highly technical. Agents Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit.

June 1, 2019
In the first installment of Ryan's new fantasy series--essentially a continuation of Vaelin Al Sorna's story from the Raven's Shadow trilogy--the legendary warrior, attempting to live a quiet life in the Northern Reaches of the Unified Realm, is lured across the ocean to the kingdoms of the Far West to save a lost love. Sherin is a healer of great renown whom Vaelin once loved. He sent her to the Far West to keep her safe years earlier, but when he receives word that the tribes of the Iron Steppe have unified under a man named the Darkblade--who considers himself a god--and that Sherin is at the epicenter of an imminent war, he sets off on a quest to find and save her. Accompanying Vaelin are a misfit group of adventurers--including Nortah Al Sendahl, a disgraced nobleman and warrior struggling with his inner demons; Alum Vi Moreska, an immigrant Vaelin freed from slavery; and Ellese, Vaelin's niece and heir to the Fiefdom of Cumbrael, who is found as a stowaway long after the ship has set sail. Once the group reach the Far West, they discover that Sherin--known as the Grace of Heaven to the westerners--has disappeared with the Jade Princess, an ageless woman who lives in a remote temple above the clouds and is mythically powerful. Though the book is characterized by breakneck pacing, deeply developed characters, and impressively intricate plotlines, it's Ryan's (Many Are the Dead, 2018, etc.) subtle focus on vivid worldbuilding (particularly on varied sensory descriptions) that makes this such an immersive read. Although the conclusion is little more than a respite, the nonstop action, richly described setting, and cast of intriguing characters more than make up for it. Readers who enjoy their fantasy fast and furious will find Ryan's latest to be an immensely satisfying, top-notch adventure fantasy.

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July 1, 2019
The start of Ryan's Raven's Blade series finds Vaelin Al Sorna reluctantly dragged from retirement, where he serves Queen Lyrna as Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches. An old enemy reappears, luring Vaelin across the sea to the Far West into the Venerable Kingdom on a mission to rescue Sherin, a woman he loved yet sent away. He teams up with Commander Sho Tsai, whose shared interest in Sherin creates friction as they race across the country to locate their mutual friend, along with the Jade Princess, an immortal singer who has abandoned the High Temple built in her honor. With assistance from a Gifted friend, they use magic to track Sherin and find themselves drawn into a budding war with the Stahlhast, or Steel Horde, fanatics who revere their leader, Kehlbrand Reyerik, Darkblade of the Unseen, as a living god. In the ensuing battles, loyalties are tested, and heartfelt losses propel this band of heroes to new strategies, setting them?and the readers?up for the continuation of this epic adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)