The Scoundrel’s Blade by Alkiviadis E. Halkioti

An epic fantasy adventure, The Scoundrel’s Blade by Alkiviadis E. Halkiotis is an excellent opening installment of the Chronicles of an Outcast series. In a classic hero’s journey, the story follows Avathar as he tries to find his place in a world that was torn apart in a great war between Gods and Demons. As Avathar struggles to learn who he is, he will also learn more about the war that changed his world, and how he fits into the bigger mystery of the seemingly endless battle between good and evil. Coming in at over 500 pages, Halkioti’s novel establishes a rich, multifeatured world, without dragging the story down with minutiae, and a compelling central protagonist who brings a rare degree of emotion to the story, which rivals classic works. Though fairly long for a first installment, the narrative moves quickly with no wasted words, despite the author taking careful time with character and scene development. For fans of action-oriented, spiritual-tinged dark fantasy, this new series is one to watch.