Once There Were Heroes by Philip C. Quaintrell
Self pub/Indie Gold
This is my first PCQ book and was an impulse buy triggered while scrolling X (Twitter). The synopsis put the work in my sweet spot and it had many high rankings. I didn’t read any reviews. What the heck, why not? The BUY NOW button called out to me. No buyer’s remorse at all, at all.
For plot line details go read another review. This is “epic fantasy” that should be on your reading list. I’ll share a couple of things that impressed the heck out of me.
PCQ enlist what could be considered a crowded cast of prominent characters. Each of them having their own thread in the tale. At times a thread may be woven with that of another or then perhaps left on its own to fulfill it’s purpose as the story advances. With the skill of master craftsman Quaintrell tugs, braids and weaves these threads into a wonderful tapestry. Not once was I disappointed to leave one for another. Seeing them come together was dopamine inducing.
Another device utilized successfully is the flash back. I thought them to be well executed and an integral part in both character dev and world building. Again, I was not disappointed to leave one story track for another when taken to a previous time or back to the present.
Quaintrell’s characters are varied, engaging, loveable, awe inspiring and tragic. The lore and magic system capture the imagination.
His prose style is fluid and pleasurable making it difficult to put the book down.
I do not exaggerate when I say this author easily stands with and may exceed some of the more renowned trad published authors of this genre. If you like Weber, Abercrombie, Weeks, Sanderson, et al. you will love Quaintrell.
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