A Time Of Courage - John Gwynne

So here we are. A Time of Courage.  Conclusion to John Gwynne’s second series set in his Banished Lands universe. As some of you probably remember, I’ve been really excited about Gwynne’s work for years. It has the sort of vivid world building that sucks you into the story, the tightly drawn, human characterisation of protagonists and those that oppose them, and a story that carries that kind of compulsive quality that means reading late into the night is no longer an option as much as it is a necessity.

It’s an absolute pleasure to report that Gwynne has done it again. This is a book which will hit you like an axe to the chest. Each chapter in this journey is filled with revelation, betrayal, bitter defeat, and a wonderful blend of tragic defeat and glorious victory.  Characters - no, people - that you’ve come to feel for, and care about over three books, or six, may finally get what they deserve - one way or the other. The gloves, I am not kidding, are off. This is a crescendo brought to life in the people of this world, in their loves and lives and feuds, fears and victories.

It’s genuinely difficult to talk about the final book in a series without spoilers, but I’m guessing you can tell I really enjoyed it. So a word on logistics: If you’re coming into the third book in the series - yes, this does appear to be the final part of the sequence right now. No, you don’t need to have read both series in this universe in order to appreciate this one. Yes, you should read the other two books in this series, at least, before you come to this one. Or start with the first series anyway.

For those of you that are already here, already invested. Yes. The world is still glorious. The towers of giant-built citadels still scrape the skies. Vile revenants stalk the land in cloaks of mist and violence. Speaking personally, they make my skin crawl, the prose keeping my attention with the grim intensity of razor teeth at the throat. Ancient servants of an ancient creator continue an endless feud, regarding humanity as mildly-helpful idiots at best, chattel and food at worst. But the people soar in that world. The heroes have a fire in them that you can see pouring off the page. They have the flaws and struggles and scars that make us human, for sure. But beneath those is a core of humanity, of decency which makes them  And the antagonists range from the alien, thrillingly malevolent and inscrutably inhuman, to the prosaic; Gwynne’s talent at making atrocious people who are still the heroes of their own story, and for whose journey you can empathise without sympathising, is considerable. Both sides of the coin have emotional heft, and will make you care.

Which is just as well, because the world is ending. The plot is a snappy one, driving up into a rolling boil that left me gasping between chapters. It delivers, one page at a time. Again, no spoilers, but this is an ending that these characters deserve - glorious and real and true. The battles are visceral and bloody, shields slamming together with a force that cracks stars, arrows thrumming through the air with a grace that ends in blood. You won’t be able to look away, and you may not want to. But it works because of the people, because we believe in them, in the world they live in, we believe that they matter.

Truth and Courage are the watchwords, and they’re on display here from the first page to the last. This is a fantastic and fierce work of fantasy, and a marvellous ending to a great series. If you’re wondering if it’s worth seeing through to the end, let me assure you now, the answer is yes.