Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Sword of Vengeance by Chris Adams is a thrilling fantasy adventure steeped in betrayal, divine wrath, and the weight of generational grief. Gerald Caelen is a Guardian Knight on a relentless mission to rescue a kidnapped prince and avenge the destruction of his own family at the hands of the treacherous immortal known as Adrian Zartun. With a band of reluctant friends at his side that includes magic users, battle-hardened warriors, and a lethal assassin, Gerald plunges into hostile lands where gods interfere, monsters roam, and ancient prophecies stir. As secrets unfold and loyalties are tested, Gerald must decide what he is willing to sacrifice in a world where justice is elusive and power is always dangerous.

Author Chris Adams has a bold writing style packed with descriptions and atmosphere. He writes with cinematic flair and emotional depth to give both epic fantasy visuals and close-ups of his characters getting down to what makes them tick. What I appreciated most was how the big action moments never overshadow the characters’ internal stakes, and Gerald is a hero burdened by grief whose arc is filled with powerful moments of reflection. The worldbuilding is also expansive and detailed without ever becoming overwhelming, and the characters each bring their own moral complexity to the quest through some cracking dialogue exchanges. This is a story of vengeance, but also of honor, love, and the long road toward healing in the wake of destruction. Overall, Sword of Vengeance is a gripping and emotionally satisfying epic that delivers all the magic, monsters, and meaning you could want, and I highly recommend it to fantasy readers everywhere.