L.B. Graham's Binding of the Blade cycle is an original five-book fantasy series based in part on prophecy from the book of Isaiah. It tells the story of a world called Kirthanin, during the end of its third age. At the beginning of the series, Kirthanin is enjoying a time of tenuous peace, but a dark figure—Malek, Master of the Forge and the betrayer of old—controls Agia Muldonai, the Holy Mountain. Malek's servants are growing bolder and venturing further from their mountain stronghold, and the fragility of Kirthanin's peace is growing ever clearer. When Malek finally invades, it will take the combined forces of "four great peoples," a young prophet, and their full reliance on Allfather himself to stop him.
Throughout the series, the reader will gain knowledge of Kirthanin history and prophecies of its future; meet its leaders, including humans, Great Bear, and dragons; learn of Malek's forces, including the Nolthanim, Black Wolves, Malekim, Grendolai, Vulsutyrim, and Kumatin; travel the entire land of Kirthanin, including all four of its geographical regions; and experience all the seasons. There is plenty of lore, plenty of character building, plenty of action, and plenty of new vocabulary(!) to keep the reader happy!
The Binding of the Blade series has the world-building of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, the heroic tone of Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle, and thematic richness of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. It is distinct from each of these, but has definite similarities to the others.
Did you find this review helpful?