nope. this was one of those books that wasn't bad, exactly, but wasn't good either. it had the most earnest of intentions maybe, but was ultimately so formula-driven, with its dungeon & dragon created team of adventurers and its surplus of magics, it never quite came to life. and then, towards the end, it flipped the script, sacrificing the integrity of its narrative. first of a series, but i won't be reading any further into it. ( )

The war for Eidyn may be over, but the horrors that follow are just beginning. Locked away in his prison of a castle, Mynygogg is a looming threat to the countryside. The King’s council has been sent to rescue a hidden queen to protect what territory they have stolen from Mynygogg. Among them is Aranok, the king’s advisor and a magic casting draoidh. As they venture towards the queen, Aranok learns that his hometown has been taken over by the blackened. Horrific creatures that spread disease and death by a simple touch. Aranok has the choice to follow his king’s orders or find his family. Heart wins over duty, and Aranok plunges into a journey that will him down a dark road. As the party divides, they will each encounter horrors leftover from the war and none will be the same as they were by the time their journeys end.

When you step into the world of The Lost War, you are enveloped in a rich high fantasy filled with magic, demons, and fantastic storytelling. I was worried at first with the number of main characters in the traveling party, but Justin Lee Anderson gives everyone their time to shine. As the characters struggle to understand the war-torn country, the reader will delve into the mistakes and horror the aftermath of war brings. The past for each character will be split wide open to show what they’ve experienced while fighting for their country, or simply trying to survive.

As I immersed myself in this book, I felt nostalgia at how much the novel felt like the Dragonlance Chronicles. A well-balanced party venturing out to do what they think is right, and never giving up even if there are difficult choices to make. And while there might not be dragons, there are plenty of demons and mutations the characters must face.

I want more of this world. I tore through this novel. Every spare moment I had, I read. There was never a dull moment, never a part where I felt the need to skim because it was useless information. Every word sinks you deeper into Eidyn and its heroes. You laugh, you cry, and you hold your breath as they battle for their belief in a better world. ( )