The Black Guard

The city of Ro Canarn burns. The armies of the Red march upon the northern lords. And the children of a dead god are waking from their long slumber…

Martin meets Lovecraft... Fun and refreshingly direct'

Interesting and enticing, deftly sidesteps fantasy cliche and thrusts you towards the next instalment

The Black Guard has been described as "Martin meets Lovecraft", and doesn't disappoint on either count. With bleak personal stories of loss and hardship, wars between rival nations and a plot to resurrect a dead god, the novel is packed with action and intrigue, 7/10'

A.J. Smith spent twelve years devising The Long War cycle. When not living in the Lands of Ro, he works in secondary education.