Wytchfire is full to the brim with epic fantasy. It’s a rich new world for me to explore with several different kinds of people, magic, fantastic history and medieval-type settings, but war, famine, disease, poverty and prejudice have made it into an ugly place. Told from several POVs the threads of this story are slowly woven into the beginnings of a complex tapestry. By the time this first book of the trilogy ends I have a better understanding of where this story is heading. And I have a feeling it’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

The writing is superb. It flows so smoothly and quickly that it took no time at all to be lost in the tale. The characters are well-developed and very real. I felt as if I could glance up and see them standing in front of me. I especially like Rowen, but there are others I like as well. Even the villains are, well, not likeable per se, but they pull me in two directions. At times I loathe them then they do something to make me pause and say, yeah, I can see why they are doing what they are doing. However, what they are doing is pretty darn messed up. So, conflicted much? There are very rarely people who fit into an all or nothing category. People are shades of grey and those are the best characters to read about. They make me think, what would I do if I were them? Could I go that far?

This is an excellent start to a wonderful epic fantasy and I look forward to reading more about Rowen, Silwren, Shade, Fadarah, Aeko and all the others as the next stage in the war begins. Plus, you know, there are swords. What can I say? I have a thing for swords. :D

Wytchfire sucked me in immediately, and long after my family had gone to bed, I was still reading. I paid for it the next day, but the book was totally worth the exhaustion (and I'm a woman who loves her sleep). Wytchfire is fast-paced, engaging, horrifying, and includes elements of magic, complex and exemplary world building, and believable characters you either love or hate. There seems to be no in-between, but maybe that's just me. Michael Meyerhofer's writing style and storytelling is intriguing, unique, and beautiful in the way he immerses you completely within the world of his characters. I felt like I was there, enjoying armchair travel, and that always means a book is a HUGE hit with me. One last thought: Fadarah's "Nightmare" is one I wouldn't want to meet in even my darkest, craziest nightmares. Just the description of this beastly creation chilled me.

Fantasy enthusiasts will love Wytchfire, and I give it 5 stars without the slightest hesitation.

I received 'Wytchfire' as a gift from author Michael Meyerhofer in exchange for a fair review of my own work - and am I ever grateful that I did. Not just that he provided fair critique of my book (I am), but that I got to experience one gem of a novel that I might have otherwise missed.

So what do you get when you take two parts 'Game of Thrones', one part 'Lord of the Rings' and meld them together with a giant helping of superb storytelling? Wytchfire, that's what. While I will admit that I am a SciFi kind of guy, my adolescent days were spent reading a lot of fantasy (Epic, dark, Arthurian, you name it), and as such I was intrigued when Mr. Meyerhofer approached me with this novel. So much so that I bubbled it to the top of my 800+ strong 'To Be Read' list and focused on only it over the past few days (when spare time allowed, of course).

Meyerhofer's literary expertise and colorful world-building make his characters leap off the page, pulling you into the story from the start. I found that when I had to put it down to focus on other things in my life, I was anxious to get back and read further. No small feat as most novels, even the classics, sometimes suffer from drag for the first 50-100 pages. No such problem in Wytchfire thankfully. The author devised an enthralling plot filled with plenty of action, suspense, some clever twists and most importantly - multidimensional characters. After all, a story is nothing without character depth. Kudos to you, Mr. Meyerhofer!

Anyone that has read my reviews knows that I am a notoriously tough cookie, especially when it comes to the 'polish' that an author/editor puts to their finished work. Mistakes slow down stories. But I can say with brimming satisfaction that Wytchfire is one of the most polished novels I've read to date. Nary a mistake to be found, and it flows so organically that the reader doesn't suffer from fatigue after reading its sizeable 353 pages. It became evident to me from the onset of this story that the author has put a lot of time and painstaking effort into the presentation of it, and I applaud him for a job well done.

So congratulations, Mr. Meyerhofer, on being the recipient of my first 5-star rating. Can't wait to read the next installment.

I WAS GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS MANUSCRIPT FOR MY HONEST REVIEW.

First off i promised myself i would not be giving 5 stars as easy as i did last year. I opened this "WORLD" and let me tell you WOW. I honestly thought i was reading a best author because that is where this book belongs. He had so many little things in it that a "new" author should have missed" As Rowan was homeless and walking through his home i could almost smell the grass and trees. I could see it all so beautiful in my mind. I could hear the battle and clinking of weapons and armor in my head. I could imagine how each charter could hang his head or how Jalist Hewn would speak i could so see it as a stout but girly type.

The characters are very very rich. They are awesomely thought out as well as the world. I say well done to this author and i hope he gets on that NEW YORK BEST SELLER LIST. He deserves it.

Man i wish i could have this series on my shelf in paperback. loved loved loved it!!

In his acknowledgements, Meyerhofer refers to himself as a boyhood Tolkein fan. It’s obvious from reading Wytchfire where his inspirations came from by using multiple races that have to band together to fight a strong foe.

While the inspiration is there, Meyerhofer is able to make his own world using a rich history, reluctant heroes and a few surprises along the way

The book is the first of a trilogy and is set up that way. There isn’t a huge cliffhanger at the end, but more of the end of one battle while we know the rest of the war is ready to rage on.

Wytchfire may start off a bit slow, but the action picks up fairly quickly with Meyerhofer not dawdling too long to give the reader background information. He’s able to blend it into the story while continuing with the current action.

One of my favorite parts was the distinction of two strong female characters. They held their own against anyone who confronted them and were layered characters. My only gripe is that they are both, of course, easy on the eyes, which has to be noted by the men looking at them. It’s nice when I read a story where the men and women are described similarly without bringing beauty up when it comes to the women and not even mentioning that aspect when it comes to male characters.

However, Wytchfire is a great read for those who love epic fantasies – as I do. It certainly filled its role and feels like the start of a great adventure.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **