Grim But Not Dark — A Fantasy Book Review of Malice by John Gwynne

Art by Marcus Whinney

Malice by John Gwynne is a down-to-earth exploration of a realistic, historical fantasy setting. Reading this book was interesting. It's slow and dry, but there's such depth to the world and—it's so reverently written—that I still found myself turning one page after another.

First and foremost: It's clear that Gwynne knows his history (and not just because his author photo has him holding a massive sword while wearing medieval garb). There are parallels with medieval norse, celtic and even roman cultures. Beyond this, the world also just feels like a piece of history. This isn't just a coat of medieval paint on a classic fantasy setting. The politics, characters, cultural practices, warfare and technology all ground this book in a time long past.

Everything feels gritty and realistic. The characters talk like they belong in their culture, the magic is abstract, and the world building is matter-of-fact. This "in the trenches" approach makes the reader feel like they are a part of the book... for good and ill.

The characters were the lifeblood. Though, some are stronger than others. Veredis was an instant favorite of mine—with his earnest and eager warrior's heart. Corban took me a bit longer for me to connect with, but I was completely sold when he stubbornly protected the wolven cub who would become Storm. Cyrwen was also a standout. She felt super realistic and likeable as a young girl in such gritty setting.

Other characters fell short for me. Truth be told, I kept having to remind myself who Kastell and Camlin were every time they had a POV chapter. I feel like they could have either been cut or expanded to give them more depth.

The pacing of the book, however, was my biggest gripe. The plot itself was great—offering an interesting, realistic perspective on a classic "chosen one" outline. However, in terms of pacing... It was SO SLOW. I usually don't mind this, but Gwynne's prose is fairly minimal and it felt like nothing really happened for the first 300 pages. However, when it picks up, it really picks up.

(I'm going to venture a sports reference—even though most of us reading this are likely just as big of nerds as I).

Have you ever been watching an uneventful baseball game, but then the losing team ties it in the ninth inning and you're suddenly on the edge of your seat? In the aftermath of that game, all those boring bits are easily forgotten, and it's remembered as thrilling. That's how Malice went for me. It would have been an easy 3/5 star for me, but nearing the halfway mark captured my attention, and the last 100 pages were so worth the journey that it elevated my experience exponentially.

If you like fantasy books with a highly fleshed out setting? This book is for you. If you want an exciting adventure? You might want to look elsewhere. The prose is minimal but skillful, the plot offers new twists on classic tropes, and the characters (most of them) are enjoyable. The world, however, is where this story truly shines. In Malice, Gwynne offers his readers something really engaging if they are in it for the long haul.

-H.