Press Reviews

• FANTASY BOOK REVIEW

  Guaranteed already, this will be one of the best books I will read this year.

• SF AND F REVIEWS

  An impressive work of fantasy, and one I think we'll be hearing more about. Highly recommended.

• Elspeth Cooper, author of THE SONGS OF THE EARTH

  Vivid characters, visceral combat and a twist of an ending that I really should have seen coming and didn't (wizards are bastards and here's the proof). Brilliant use of magic as technology, too, like lightbulbs and water heaters. Excellent gender representation . . . Suffice to say, I bloody loved it and I am officially an Ed McDonald fan. He deserves to go far.

• Elspeth Cooper, author of THE SONGS OF THE EARTH

  Vivid characters, visceral combat and a twist of an ending that I really should have seen coming and didn't (wizards are bastards and here's the proof). Brilliant use of magic as technology, too, like lightbulbs and water heaters. Excellent gender representation . . . Suffice to say, I bloody loved it and I am officially an Ed McDonald fan. He deserves to go far.

• THE BOOK BAG

  Ed McDonald is an author to watch out for. I don't say things like this lightly. I read a lot of fantasy, and I don't hesitate to say that this will be one of the biggest fantasy debuts of the year. McDonald has given us the first instalment of what looks to be a very interesting series.

• SFF WORLD

  A very impressive debut, with complex characters and an imaginative setting that does much to impress the reader.

• Adrian Selby, author of Snakewood

  I heartily recommend this.

• STARBURST

  Overall, Blackwing is a fast paced novel that is likely to become a classic within the genre. It can be read as a self-contained story, but with a clear opening for the series to continue. This is the best debut novel in the genre this year. A joy to read.

• Fantasy Book Critic

  Ed McDonald has taken something old and made it new... it's epic.

• RAPTURE IN BOOKS

  A new author who, in my opinion, with this one book is going to blast onto the fantasy scene and prove that there is new talent out there.

• SF BOOK

  Blackwing is a book that surprised me more than any other has so far this year. It's the debut of Ed McDonald and boy what a way to make an entrance.

• I SHOULD READ THAT

  Freaking fantastic!

• Tom Lloyd, author of the Twilight Reign series.

  A cracking read - hugely entertaining, brutal but with real heart too.

• SciFiNow

  A real fantastical page-turner.

• SFX MAGAZINE

  Their story moves at an (ahem) spellbinding pace.

• BOOKNEST

  Blackwing is one of the greatest fantasy books I've read in my life. Perfect in every possible way. Ed McDonald is on a par with Joe Abercrombie and Brandon Sanderson. Cast aside whatever you're reading and start Blackwing instead.

• SF CROWSNEST

  I was completely hooked. It was viscerally real and the adventure kept coming.

• LYNNS BOOKS

  A thoroughly engrossing read, I could barely put it down, I loved it and I want more.

• BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY

  The reader takes an action-filled rampage through defense to attack, from injury to sorcery, faith to naivety and reality in what truly is a phenomenal start to a unique new series.

• COVER TO COVER

  If you like fantasy at all, then you simply must read Blackwing.

• THE BOOK BUNDLE

  This is dark, gritty fantasy, and it's been executed perfectly.

• Edward Cox, author of The Relic Guild

  Gritty and immersive, Blackwing is a hugely enjoyable tale

• Gavin Smith, author of The Age of Scorpio

  Blackwing walks the line between post-apocalyptic fiction and fantasy, but still manages to inject a sense of wonder amongst all the grit. I hope Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch aren't resting on their laurels because there's a new blade in town

• MORNING STAR

  Fabulously inventive and at times horrifyingly funny and action packed.

• MARK LAWRENCE

  Dark, twisty and excellent... Grimdark with heart.