The Damned King

By: Justin Lee Anderson

Narrated by: Justin Lee Anderson

The revolution continues in the thrilling third novel of Justin Lee Anderson’s epic Eidyn Saga, perfect for fans of Anthony Ryan and David Gemmell.

The eternal light keeping demons at bay has been extinguished and Eidyn’s last bastion is under brutal siege. Aranok and his allies draw the final battle lines as the war for the kingdom nears its end. With death threatening from every shadow and truth itself at stake, Eidyn’s defenders must put aside their grudges and come together. But is it possible to save everyone when some prefer the lie?

“An eclectic cast of characters traverse a war-ravaged kingdom as Anderson's cleverly constructed plot winds its way towards a truly unexpected denouement. Rich in action and intrigue, this fantasy adventure with a Scottish flavor is sure to please fans of David Gemmell.” – Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author​

For more from Justin Lee Anderson, check out:

The Lost War
The Bitter Crown

Critic reviews

"The uncertainties of a traumatized society provide the thematic underpinning for The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson. An eclectic cast of characters traverse a war-ravaged kingdom as Anderson's cleverly constructed plot winds its way towards a truly unexpected denouement. Rich in action and intrigue, this fantasy adventure with a Scottish flavor is sure to please fans of David Gemmell."—Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author on The Lost War

“Excellent - full of great characters, tense action scenes and truly surprising twists. A highly recommended read.”

—James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost on The Lost War

“Strikingly intense … immersive and thoroughly compelling.”—SFX on The Lost War

“Compelling and entertaining … inventive and fun.”—SciFiNow on The Lost War

"Justin’s book reads like you’ve been dropped in the middle of a classic fantasy adventure, full of familiar elements twisted to be terrifying again - and then ramps up the tension to distract you from the sucker punch he’s been planning all along. Exquisite."

—Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Sword Defiant on The Lost War

“A fantastic read. A twist which is just magnificent. It’s an exceptional book and I can’t recommend it enough.”

—Steve McHugh, author of The Last Raven on The Lost War

"A blistering tale packed with action and adventure."—Evening News on The Lost War

"Enjoyable and high-energy."—Kirkus

"The Lost War is full of exciting action, but the interpersonal relationships of the party are even more compelling. This tightly plotted magical odyssey, which was originally self-published, will be a hit with fans of grimdark fantasy like Joe Abercrombie’s Half a War or Nicholas Eames’ Kings of the Wyld"—Booklist

"The classic adventure tale is made all the more enjoyable by the baffling mystery that simmers beneath the surface, and the stunning climax throws a wrench in all preconceived notions and stretches the bounds of imagination ... This exciting novel manifests as fierce and fresh epic fantasy with DnD undertones. Perfect for fans of Anthony Ryan."—Library Journal

"[A] gripping epic ... Anderson’s talent at crafting memorable characters will whet appetites for the sequel. Raymond Feist fans will be especially enthralled."—Publishers Weekly

"I know that fantasy readers will gobble this and the remaining books in the series up. I am already eagerly awaiting The Bitter Crown ... Even those who don’t necessarily count fantasy as their favorite genre will enjoy The Lost War for its witty banter and strong mystery vibes with an excellent twist at the end. I highly recommend it to everyone."—Cosmic Circus

Excellent

Im excited to see where the author takes this story. Feels like a prelude to a great ending.

Not For The Week.

Justin Lee Anderson has way with unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing. But with The Damned King you have to wonder, has he gone to far this time? The unexpected this time takes a brutal turn for many of our favorite characters, and some of them won't survive to see if the quest is fulfilled.

This book gets going from the very start with a battle against demons to save the university. It is chaotic and intense, and a rousing start to the book. Unfortunately, all the excitement from the get go leaves much of the middle of the book a little bit meandering. Never fear though, the story concludes with a shocking end that will leave you wondering what in the hell is going on?

The narration from Justin Lee Anderson himself is ok, but I still feel that using a professional narrator would have greatly improved this book. Often characters get muddled as most sound the same, and the voices for women in the book sound cartoonish. It's not bad enough to stop listening, but it distracts you enough to wish the narration was better.

Overall, you have to give it to Anderson for not following the well worn fantasy storyline of heroes who magically escape harm enroute to the eventual triumph of good over evil. Anderson blurs the lines, flips things on their heads, and keeps you guessing. However you have to wonder if just blowing everything up is a little bit of overkill for shock's sake. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the others in the series. Still, I am looking forward to see if our heroes can pull out victory from tragedy in the next installment.

Amazing Read

Great storytelling and excellent pacing. I was completely hooked the entire time. It's intense, it's unforgivable. You're not ready... Enjoy!

Sigh...

Great performance, wonderful writing, fantastic story. Characters you love to love, love to hate, and hate to love. I hate this book...

Wild

Great book but not for the faint of heart. Can’t wait for the next one!