The Damned King

Reviews

"The uncertainties of a traumatized society provide the thematic underpinning for The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson. An eclectic cast of characters traverse a war-ravaged kingdom as Anderson's cleverly constructed plot winds its way towards a truly unexpected denouement. Rich in action and intrigue, this fantasy adventure with a Scottish flavor is sure to please fans of David Gemmell."—Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author on The Lost War

“Excellent - full of great characters, tense action scenes and truly surprising twists. A highly recommended read.”

—James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost on The Lost War “Strikingly intense … immersive and thoroughly compelling.”—SFX on The Lost War “Compelling and entertaining … inventive and fun.”—SciFiNow on The Lost War

"Justin’s book reads like you’ve been dropped in the middle of a classic fantasy adventure, full of familiar elements twisted to be terrifying again - and then ramps up the tension to distract you from the sucker punch he’s been planning all along. Exquisite."

—Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Sword Defiant on The Lost War

“A fantastic read. A twist which is just magnificent. It’s an exceptional book and I can’t recommend it enough.”

—Steve McHugh, author of The Last Raven on The Lost War "A blistering tale packed with action and adventure."—Evening News on The Lost War "Enjoyable and high-energy."—Kirkus "The Lost War is full of exciting action, but the interpersonal relationships of the party are even more compelling. This tightly plotted magical odyssey, which was originally self-published, will be a hit with fans of grimdark fantasy like Joe Abercrombie’s Half a War or Nicholas Eames’ Kings of the Wyld"—Booklist "The classic adventure tale is made all the more enjoyable by the baffling mystery that simmers beneath the surface, and the stunning climax throws a wrench in all preconceived notions and stretches the bounds of imagination ... This exciting novel manifests as fierce and fresh epic fantasy with DnD undertones. Perfect for fans of Anthony Ryan."—Library Journal "[A] gripping epic ... Anderson’s talent at crafting memorable characters will whet appetites for the sequel. Raymond Feist fans will be especially enthralled."—Publishers Weekly "I know that fantasy readers will gobble this and the remaining books in the series up. I am already eagerly awaiting The Bitter Crown ... Even those who don’t necessarily count fantasy as their favorite genre will enjoy The Lost War for its witty banter and strong mystery vibes with an excellent twist at the end. I highly recommend it to everyone."—Cosmic Circus "There’s a lot of The Lost War that feels like a sort of high-end Dungeons and Dragons game ... The battle sequences are descriptive and thrilling, and the larger hints at the world that once existed ... add richness and texture."—Paste Magazine "This is one of the most memorable books I've had the pleasure of reading. From the characters to the plot and the world each one of these were outstanding ... One of the most compelling, entertaining, intriguing, thrilling, fast paced and absolutely brilliant first book in a series that I've ever read. It'll keep you at the edge of your seat during the whole book. An absolutely outstanding first book in The Eidyn Saga. I highly recommend it."—Fantasy Book Critic "The Lost War starts out as a dark sword and sorcery fantasy quest, but becomes something much more powerful by the end. With this book, Justin Lee Anderson firmly establishes himself as a unique voice in the fantasy landscape. If the sequel to The Lost War were out, I would’ve started reading it already. This is a full, epic quest, but it is also only the beginning of a promising new fantasy saga."—Winter Is Coming "Filled with well-worn tropes and classic adventurer archetypes – Anderson’s skillful execution left me completely charmed. . . . Anderson does a fantastic job developing unique dynamics between the party members that vault the book beyond the sum of its parts. And it all builds up to a massive twist at the end that completely upends your understanding of what you’ve read."—Polygon Expand reviews