Blackwing

Blackwing follows Captain Ryhalt Galharrow, a bounty hunter working for a mysterious entity in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The wasteland sits at the edge of the Republic's frontier, where reality itself has been warped by ancient magic and corrupted by the toxic remnants of old wars. The Engine of Kings, a powerful magic device, keeps the hostile Deep Kings at bay while protecting what remains of civilization. As Galharrow investigates strange occurrences near the border, he becomes entangled in a plot that threatens the Engine's power and the survival of the Republic itself. The novel combines elements of dark fantasy and military fiction, set against the backdrop of a world shaped by centuries of magical warfare. Themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the price of survival emerge through Galharrow's mission and his complex relationship with both human and supernatural powers.

Readers describe Blackwing as a dark fantasy that combines elements of post-apocalyptic and western genres. The book maintains a 4.1/5 rating on Goodreads (17,000+ ratings) and 4.4/5 on Amazon (900+ ratings). Readers highlighted: - Fast-paced, visceral action scenes - The magic system's originality - Noir-style first person narration - The bleak, ash-covered setting - Complex relationships between characters Common criticisms: - Dense worldbuilding that takes time to grasp - Military/political elements that some found confusing - Pacing issues in the middle section - Main character can be unlikeable From reader reviews: "Like if The Gunslinger and Perdido Street Station had a baby" - Goodreads "The magic feels dangerous and comes with real consequences" - Amazon "Takes work to get into but pays off by the end" - Fantasy-Faction forum "Sometimes tries too hard to be grimdark" - r/Fantasy

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🔮 Ed McDonald wrote Blackwing while working as a teacher in East London, often drafting chapters during his lunch breaks. 🗡️ The book's magic system is inspired by medieval gunpowder weapons, with "phos" serving as a mystical parallel to historical blackpowder. 🏰 The Misery, the wasteland setting in Blackwing, was partly influenced by the author's fascination with Chernobyl's exclusion zone. ⚔️ The novel was acquired in a six-figure, three-book deal and has been translated into eight languages. 🦅 The Blackwings themselves were inspired by historical secret police organizations, particularly those of medieval Venice and revolutionary France.