Baen Lord of a Shattered Land

This is an intriguing new novel by Howard Andrew Jones that focuses on the hero Hanuvar. It is set in a fantasy world based on the Roman/Greek world just after the second Punic War (after Carthage was conquered). The main character is unique for sword and sorcery. Hanuvar's people, the Volani, have been defeated, and how Hanuvar comports himself in light of this hopeless situation is the basis of many of the stories. This is not just good fantasy and sword and sorcery, it's just good fiction. Hanuvar is an aspirational character, always acting in realistic ways that surprise, inspire, and move the reader. He is not a wooden superhero at all but an enigma, a compelling psychological and even spiritual study (think Marcus Aurelius and his *Meditations,* or the various other Stoic philosophers). This novel will not only entertain you with great characters, excellent worldbuilding, adventures, sorcerers, monsters, fantasy battle, and eldritch horrors. It might do more. Hanging out with Hanuvar, witnessing his example, just might make you a better human being too.

Lord Of A Shattered Land marks a new era in the sword and sorcery genre. As much as I love the genre, it has been littered with copies of Robert Howard’s Conan.Hanuvar is clearly a different kind of S&S hero. He’s motivated by saving his people rather than plunder, like so many other protagonists. He’s clever, educated and always has a plan. Also, this isn’t a cookie-cutter quasi European setting. It takes place in a fictional version of the ancient Mediterranean, which I found refreshing.This novel is told through short stories, with each leading into the next. This makes for a fun reading experience with no “transition chapters” needed.If you love fantasy with wild adventures and bizarre monsters, this is for you. If you love stories in Ancient Greece or Rome, this is for you!

A refreshing format compared to usual bloated fantasy books. Interesting characters, simple plots with hint of bigger things to come . Looking to read the next book in the series and perhaps more war tactics since that is what made Hannibal famous.

I've read a few of Howard's short stories, but I'd never delved into his longer forms of fiction. So glad I did. Monsters, magic, dark gods, villains and heroes... this book really hit that sword & sorcery spot I've been craving.In Lord of a Shattered Land, we find Hanuvar, a general of Volanus thought to be long dead after the destruction of his home and the defeat of his people, very much alive and seeking to rescue as many of his countrymen from slavery as he can.I loved how episodic each chapter was. Sometimes we see Hanuvar battling pirates, sometimes it's monsters, but it's all for the greater good of his people. He is a killer, but a noble killer at that. The world building was a standout for me. The action was a close second. And the imagery not far behind. All three are key ingredients to a great tale of sword & sorcery.Don't pass this book up, especially if you're a fan of the genre.

Howard Andrew Jones has been writing sword-and-sorcery with a new edge for more than a decade. This may be his best book yet: a novel made up of short adventure fantasies that each tell a story, though all of them fit into a bigger story.The setting is a world like ours, in a way, except that monsters and magic are real. (In our world, we just have the monsters. Check the news for details.) In Hanuvar's world, an empire like Rome has destroyed an empire like Carthage. Hanuvar (who is like Hannibal in some ways) was the great general of his people, and survived the death of his homeland. His mission is to reunite the scattered survivors of his nation and bring them to a new home.It's great stuff. If you want more HAJ and can't wait for the sequel (THE CITY OF MARBLE AND BLOOD) to come out, I strongly recommend that you track down his tales of Dabir & Asim--historical fantasies crossed with mysteries, set in the fabled realm of Harun al-Rashid. The Ring-Sworn Trilogy is also pretty great.