‘I dislike how slow paced most epic fantasy books are.’ I argued when someone asked me to recommend a good epic fantasy. At least that was my point of view before reading Knights of Malsdon, also an epic fantasy. Surprisingly, it is very fast-paced, thankfully, not dwelling too much on the intricacies of world building.
If you enjoy the cerebral aspects of the war as well as the dark details of it, together with magic and the concept of destiny, you will surely enjoy Knights of Malsdon.
Spoiler-Free Plot of Knights of Malsdon
In the thriving island of Malsdon, tales are spoken of a wicked mage named Matriarch Delilah, who killed many during the Mage Wars. It has been long since she was last seen alive, but her cruel witchcraft is still feared.
In the south of Malsdon, Lord Darius of the House of Leo rules over the verdant Emerald Meadows. His loyalty to King Theo draws him and his brave son Xavier into a deadly battle with the barbarians. Soon they are thrust into a political intrigue set up by the Graw brothers of the Iron Coast, which will cause a domino effect by destroying the fragile peace of Malsdon.
Meanwhile, a dark ancient force has been rising to power, one that will challenge the throne itself, and kill anyone who dares to stand in its way.
Armed with sheer courage and with the purest of hearts, Xavier will lead his knights into many battles that will decide the fate of Malsdon. Along the journey, his loyal friends and magical beasts will accompany him, making sure that the future of their loved ones is secured and the malicious threat to the island is wiped out once and for all. However, evil will not be easy to get rid of.
In book one of the new fantasy series Knights of Malsdon, epic wars are fought and powerful magic is unleashed. But would it be enough to let the truth prevail?
My Take on Knights of Malsdon
What a truly wild ride this was!
From the very first few pages of the book, you will witness deadly battles, raging magic, and conspiracies that will make you wide-eyed and pumped full of adrenaline. I suggest you keep your shield and sword nearby just in case you also have to fight when the horns of battle sound, because it gets pretty rough in there real quick!
One of the many things I liked about this book is how fast-paced it is; it’s literally a page-turner.
I’m not much of a fan of the slow pacing that seems to be the norm for many epic fantasy and high fantasy series, so I was pleasantly surprised that Knights of Malsdon didn’t hold back on the plot in favor of complex world-building.
I also appreciated the powerful characters in the book, specifically Xavier and his Gigas lions.
I especially liked how wars don’t overwhelm Nash’s female characters – they expertly take on leadership roles for entire armies, fight for Malsdon, and give a very hard time to others. I loved all of that.
Especially River Silverlight. When she charges in with all her silver-hair glory and her battalion of archers, you’re sure that the enemy holds no chance against her.
I have my purpose, and each of you must find yours and fight for it with all your heart!
Moreover, there’s a fair bit of everything in the book – wars and politics, magic and swordsmanship, family and love – but it’s also very gritty and deals with the theme of war realistically.
On the contrary, I was a little dismayed by the fact that many characters follow the typical archetypes of the hero, the villain, and the supporting, and even get similar fates. I would have loved to see conflicting ideologies among characters of a similar moral standing.
Anyhow, it still felt refreshing to witness the good vs evil magical wars, thanks to the loveable characters.
The author has a great writing style. He cuts straight to the point and uses minimum fluff, sometimes focusing on the introspective as well as the sensory details.
The longer we stay here, the more I use my powers, the more I feel myself turning into the very thing I have to destroy. I feel so lost. I can’t recall the sight of the emerald-green grass of the Meadows nor the sound of the forest as it awakes with the sunrise.
For fans of the wars in Game of Thrones and The Stormlight Archive, Knights of Malsdon is a raging whirlwind of battle strategies, political scheming, and epic character-building. Not meant for the light-hearted, this soon-to-be epic fantasy series is one of its own kind in the genre of military fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic violence, death of loved ones, beheadings, mutilation of body parts. No language concerns or sexual content. Appropriate for 18+ although younger audiences might also appreciate this work.
About The Author Of Knights of Malsdon
N.K. Nash grew up in East London with a deep love for storytelling and a fascination with fantasy and science fiction.
As a child, he filled notebooks with short stories inspired by the books and films he immersed himself in.
Now the author of the Knights of Malsdon series, Nicholas weaves epic tales of adventure and intrigue, crafting immersive worlds that spark the imagination. His work reflects a lifelong passion for exploring the extraordinary fantasy worlds through the written word.
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