If you enjoy epic fantasy, I would strongly recommend this book to you. The Gathering Dark is the beginning of a saga that begins with a young man who must learn to grow up much faster than most. It seems like the weight of the world is placed on our hero’s shoulders when he sets out on a mysterious quest, but he is not alone on this adventure.

The best (and maybe the worst) part of this book is that its part of a much bigger picture. I mentioned earlier that this is the beginning of a saga so it’s a little bit slow in the first part of the book but that’s to be expected. There is so much to set up here—not just because its part of a series but because its an epic fantasy. You have world-building, characterization, and careful pacing all bundled beneath excellent writing and a complex storyline.

As someone who read through every single Game of Thrones novel, I can firmly say I enjoy epic fantasy involving magic, knights, and a challenging quest which tests our protagonist. I definitely enjoyed the idea of knights and adventure but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be doing this book justice if I left it at that. The writing is done well and the set up of the story guides you through each event and introduction seamlessly. Although it felt a little slow in the beginning, I did not feel like I was being dragged along—nor did I feel like any parts were rushed or skimmed over. This is a book you will want to pay attention to; the concepts and characters are all important and eventually connect at some point in the story. Since this is a saga, you’ll want to keep the details of each book in mind from one novel to the next so pay attention while you read this! There is meaning within each word, there is a purpose to each sentence and a there is a hidden message to be found in each paragraph.

If you like big adventures and strong characters, I highly recommend this book. If you’re looking for a story that will keep you reading from cover to cover, this is definitely your new read. I look forward to the rest of this series and I can’t wait to see what Armstrong comes up with next. This is certainly a ride but it’s also a well layered story that has so much to offer.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*