I haven’t quite decided in which readathons and bookclubs I want to participate this year, and I’ve been on the fence about whether or not to join this new readalong from Becca’s Catch-up Bookclub ever since it was announced.
After we completed the #firstlawalong, where we read all the books in Joe Abercombie’s First Law World in August last year – with the very last live show on September 1st – I had expected this book club to be on hiatus until early 2025. But then Becca already announced the new book series the club would focus on in October, with the first book already scheduled for November/December with a live show in early January.

The announced focus for this fourth round of the book club is to read all the books in the Banished Lands World by John Gwynne, nicknamed the #FaithFallAlong.

Although I have been absolutely interested in diving into John Gwynne’s backlist since reading The Shadow of the Gods, I still had to read the third and final book in this Bloodsworn saga and didn’t really feel like diving into another Epic Fantasy before I had finished this one.
But then the announcement for the live show for the first book in this series came along earlier this month and I started to get the itch. I had finished the Bloodsworn saga in the meantime and John Gwynne had only been pushed higher on my TBR. So even though this wasn’t on my immediate TBR and even though I’m still in the middle of plenty of other series that I should be prioritizing, I threw myself into the world of Faitful and the Fallen anyway, and oh my, zero regrets because this was absolutely amazing!

John Gwynne – Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen #1) ★★★★★

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors under King Brenin’s rule, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage.

The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed shields in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land. But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. Then there will be a war to end all wars.

High King Aquilus summons his fellow kings to council, seeking an alliance in this time of need. Some are skeptical, fighting their own border skirmishes against pirates and giants. But prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust.

John Gwynne’s Malice kept me captivated from start to finish. It’s an epic fantasy that explores the timeless struggle between good and evil, but what I loved most about it is how it avoids clear lines. There are no simple boundaries between heroes and villains here. Intentions are murky, deceit abounds, and even the best of characters make choices that set them on a path to disaster. It’s this moral complexity that drew me in, and kept me questioning everyone’s true motives and fates over and over again.

From the beginning, I felt emotionally invested in the characters. Gwynne has an incredible talent for creating characters that you either love with all your heart or despise with equal passion. Each character felt so alive and real, it was impossible not to deeply empathize with their stories. The world is complex and alive, filled with fascinating mythology, lost lore, and obscure prophecies that make every page compelling.

I’ll admit, like many great fantasy books, it took me a while to get into it at first. There are so many characters, all from different places with their own politics and stories, and it can be overwhelming. But once I found my feet, it was completely worth it. The story unfolded into something that felt both familiar and refreshing, a mix of classic epic fantasy with a unique twist that completely captivated me.

I found the writing style engaging and accessible. It was a smooth, easy read, with Gwynne’s dry sense of humor popping up at just the right moments. The short, varied chapters worked perfectly for me, giving a panoramic view of the world and events while keeping the pace fast and the tension high. Betrayal, intrigue, and shocking twists—there’s no shortage of them.

And that ending… wow. It was brutal. Absolutely heartbreaking. I cried and I ranted out loud a few times. I had to take breaks to recover. It was so intense that I had to remind myself to keep breathing. It had been a while since a book had gripped me so much and moved me so emotionally, which shows how deeply I was invested in the story.

Malice may not redefine the genre, but for me it was a five-star experience. Not because it was perfect, but because it completely transported me. It grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. The characters and their struggles still live in my mind, and I can’t wait to start the next book. Some might find this book too familiar or not particularly innovative, but for me it hit all the right notes at the right time. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy, this book is definitely worth a try.

Expand spoilers and theories:

I absolutely loved the family situation for Corban and Cywen. It’s so fresh to see a kind of “chosen one” not be a poor, mistreated individual, but in a truly enviably warm family, surrounded by so many loving people. But it does scare me a little, because they certainly won’t all survive.
We’re clearly being pushed toward the idea that now that Corban has avoided becoming the “Black Sun”, he’s now on his way to becoming the “Bright Star”, but I’m hesitant to think it’ll be that clear-cut. His parents, Gar, and those wise people definitely know something we don’t, but I’m not entirely convinced that Corban will become the “Bright Star” outright. Maybe Asroth will keep trying to win him over, which is why the people around him are so careful with him. Or maybe Corban will be important for someone else to become the “Bright Star”. Or maybe he’s just the “Bright Star” and I just want to make it more complicated than it is, lol. Either way, I’m really intrigued.
I was a little surprised by Rafe’s father’s pathetic and petty behaviour. Teenage boys being bullies is one thing, but a grown man going so hard against a 14/15 year old boy is just so incredibly pathetic. He fucking killed his own dog and was totally prepared to let Corban get mauled, jeez! Epic scene though, with the horse and subsequent naming! Brilliant.
Also a turning point for Vonn (Oh no, Bethan)
I absolutely do not believe for a minute that Gwynne killed both Cywen and Thannon in such a short time! Thannon is definitely dead, we saw his body, so no doubt there. SOBBING! That was so incredibly pointless and unnecessary (and definitely the part of the book where I had to wipe away the most tears). So I’m convinced Cywen will survive her fall, possibly because she’s going to fall on top of that bastard Conall.
Haha, big fan of Brina and her crow Craf. When Corban first heard Craf talk, I thought this was special, that only he and Brina can hear him, but this is not the case.
No, Kastell 🙁 I really enjoyed reading his perspective. Jael, you absolute, vengeful, pathetic bastard! Ugh… Well, okay, we haven’t read that anyone has seen Kastell’s body, but it still doesn’t look good. Boo! Does this mean we won’t see Maquin anymore?? Double boo!
I had a little, not really formed theory in my head that suddenly neither Nathair nor Corban would be important, but that Kastell would become one of the two champions instead, but that will not be it now.
Yeah, there’s little doubt in my head about Nathair. He is clearly the second-choice “Black Sun” for Asroth.
I was suspicious of him from the beginning, thinks he is way too important, thinks way too much of himself. Characters who don’t need to be convinced that they’re the chosen ones usually aren’t really on the good side, lol. He does seem to still believe that the voice he hears is Elyon, but I don’t know how he can justify all of his actions as good. The scene where he was more interested in learning about the ants – how to translate their strategy on the battlefield – and not at all moved by or interested in the fact that those same ants almost ate a child and actually ate a dog was so telling. And yes, I also immediately believe that he killed his father, but I’m curious to hear his justification to himself for that.
Oh, my heart aches a little for Veradis. He clearly has a good heart and the best intentions and wants so badly to believe in Nathair as the “Bright Star”, but I can already see some doubts emerging. The question is whether he’s going to do anything about it. Considering he himself already has to deal with tantrums and fits of rage, I fear that he will sooner be corrupted as well
No way is Calidus one of the Ben Elim. He must have used his earth magic to create the illusion. Is he just a human with evil intentions or is he Kadoshim? I find it crazy that he can deceive the Jehar though, thought they were sort of magical.
Speaking of the Jehar, Gar is clearly one of them. His backstory makes me so curious!
I went to reread those snippets of the prophecy we got. Quite a few revelations.
‘One shall be the Tide, one the Rock in the swirling sea. Before one, storm and shield shall stand; before the other, True-Heart and Black-Heart. Beside one rides the Beloved, beside the other, the Avenging Hand. Behind one, the Sons of the Mighty, the fair Ben-Elim, gathered ’neath the Great Tree. Behind the other, the Unholy, dread Kadoshim, who seek to cross the bridge, force the world to bended knee.’
STORM and SHIELD!! YES! 😀 So Corban is the “Bright Star” after all! (or he will fight for them and his wolf and horse will stand with him). Would Gar be the “Beloved” then, because of his background with the Jehar?
For True-Heart I seem to be thinking Veradis now. For “Black-Heart” and “Avenging Hand” my head goes to Calidus and the giant Alcyon.
But it’s also quite possible we haven’t met some of these characters yet, considering there are three more books in this series, lol.

The live show for this book was last Sunday and it was super interesting to hear everyone’s opinions and theories. Not everyone was equally enthusiastic and, as I also indicated in my review, I can certainly understand the criticism. The book was a bit slow and dense in the beginning, but I didn’t mind it at all. I like slow introductions, it gives everything enough time to sink in and my emotional involvement builds as I go. Why it worked for me in this book, but was less impactful in Assassin’s Apprentice, I attribute entirely to the writing style, which was able to keep me captivated here, while in Hobb it is undoubtedly competent and beautiful, but often also a bit too soothing and long-winded.
The best proof is also that, despite having started this book quite late, I was still ready in time for the live show, with even a day to spare.

People also criticized the characters, that they are not sufficiently physically described, which made it more difficult for them to get involved.
This is something I always find fascinating to hear, how other people experience reading. I never used to think about it, but apparently there is a spectrum of how detailed people can visualize things. I am someone for whom words on paper conjure up very few clear images. Landscapes and buildings work to a certain extent, but never very clearly or in detail, and people don’t show up at all. Pages with descriptive text about someone’s appearance do very little for me, no matter how well it is described, I can’t conjure up a real person in my head. That is also why I am always happy with illustrations/fanart of characters, and I will never be disappointed because they don’t look the way I had imagined. People in books are just vague lines and shapes to me, without clear facial features. And given how emotionally involved I felt with the events in this book, it has also been proven that I don’t need this visual image of someone for that.

Well yeah, I could go on and on, which just goes to show how much I enjoyed this book, lol. But I’m going to wrap it up here! Again, if you have any interest in Epic Fantasy, I highly recommend giving Malice a shot!

Cheers,
Charlotte