The Pariah by Anthony Ryan

Book information

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan, book one in The Covenant of Steel series

First published on 24 August 2021 by Orbit

4.5 stars out of 5

One of my favorite fantasy authors tackles a brand new series, low magic and medieval in setting, with many fleshed out characters, religion being that change Alwyn the Scribe’s life.

There are a few mild spoilers in the next lines; read at your own peril!

A few highlights

• This book focuses on leaders that inspire Alwyn and, in my case, the reader

  • Deckin, brutal and strong, inspiring leader trying to take back what the world owes him

  • Sihlda, a clever and warm woman, whose only crime is to have witness the truth

  • Evadine - who gives strong vibes of Joan of Arc as the historical figure inspiration for this character!

• The book has a similar narration tool that Bernard Cornwell used is The Warlord Chronicles

• Magic takes a fourth place here but there is so much potential, with the Caerith as the main wielders and the Sack Witch a complex person who has a lot to offer

  • she also provides a book to Alwyn to further investigate

Tropes/themes that work for me

• Found family is an essential part of this story; Alwyn did not have a family growing up and leaders are partially inspiring him as they provide him with a place to call home

• Incredibly violent story; there are plenty of moments of crude fighting, in all its awfulness.

• I loved how much this book presented different sides of this cruel world

  • Bandits skulking around to survive

  • Harsh prison with minimal changes of survival

  • soldiers fighting in the front line for someone else’s goals