Last updated on March 7, 2026
Rising from Dust by Martine Carlsson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A story of romance, adventure and a kingdom at war against terrifying fantasy creatures from Hell! This book kept me hooked from the first page. By far, one of the best fantasy books I have read in a long time. It didn’t read like fantasy at first. I was enjoying the story & suddenly, when the 3 MCs came together, I was thrilled to realise that the fantasy element had been there all along, right from the start but I never even noticed it. Carlsson creates a world that seems so close to our own and yet so different that you can’t help getting drawn into it. Selen, Louis & Lissandro are suffering from amnesia. Four years ago, they awoke in different corners of the kingdom of Trevalden unable to recall their past lives, except their names and skills. Agroln has unleashed an army of Orcs, coupled with a fire-breathing dragon, upon his own people in an attempt to gain control after the death of the King. Carnage prevails in the south of the Trevalden. Louis rides out of the Iron Marches in the hope of fighting for justice. Selen is drawn from the Frozen mountains in the North by a mysterious fire in his heart. Lissandro leaves his dear fishing boat in the Windy Isles to find answers to the visions that trouble him every night. Their paths converge in a strange little tavern that seems to herald their new destiny. They set out together to fight for justice or die for love.
View all my reviews
Tears of Winter by Martine Carlsson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is beyond outstanding storylines, enchanting characters, poignant writing styles, tantalizing romance & mind-blowing plot twists. Like the first book (Rising from Dust), this second installment in the tale of Trevalden is another masterpiece. I can\’t remember the last time I lost myself in a book like this. (Was it the LOTR Trilogy? Or the Dark Tower series?) Do you know that feeling when you\’re reading such a great book that the line between fiction & fact disappears? That\’s how I felt! I was part of the journey with Selen, Louis & Lissandro & the rest. The descriptions of the food, weather, landscape, hazards of the journey, everything was exquisitely detailed.
Aptly titled too! Tears of Winter! This book will make you cry. It reads like a tragedy in an opera. Plus, there\’s a lot of death, violence, abuse, trauma, betrayal, disasters, etc. It begins two years after the first one, on a happy note. Winter is just around the corner. Lissandro comes back to his old friends Louis & Selen in their new city Nysa Serin. Before they can decide how to celebrate Christmas, a mysterious disease strikes the entire country. The three friends must travel on another dangerous journey to find a cure.
Selen was wonderful as usual. Louis made me feel frustrated at times with philosophical interludes. Their romance is swoon-worthy, though. Lissandros character arc reaches a pivotal milestone. All the other characters that travel alongwith them were superbly written.
Lesser fantasy elements than I would have liked. More character-driven plot. But it\’s still top of my list of favorite indie books this year. So nothing less than five stars. Can\’t wait to read the next – Born to Liberty.
If you love epic fantasy then this series is just perfect for you!
View all my reviews
Be First to Comment