Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

The Sword to Unite by Peter J Hopkins is an epic tale of valor, courage, and a man’s fight to embrace his fate; it’s a magical story with intense action and a huge conflict. Many years have passed since Azrael — the very incarnation of greed and evil — was ousted from Orford by the ancient King Adalgott. Now, new omens announce his imminent return and this would spell chaos for the whole land. Already at the capital of Wulfstan, things are not looking so good, with rogues on the loose and banditry on the rise. Now Cedric, revealed to be the legitimate heir to the powerful King Adalgott, must unite his people and stand against an enemy that could be invincible. He knows only one weapon can destroy Azrael, a weapon used against him before. Can Cedric find this weapon and use it to save his people? Can he find it in time and does he have what it takes to wield it?

The Sword to Unite is lyrical and engrossingly captivating, a tale of heroes. It is crafted in gorgeous language, with descriptions that render the setting vivid and enticing. For instance, the reader is pulled in powerfully with the description of the setting at the onset of the story as the author captures its characteristics in fluid and beautiful prose:

“Its light danced across the lush alder trees of the nearby forest, the lake glimmered as if it had been transmuted to gold, and the chirps of the songbirds appeared amplified by the star’s warmth. The villagers rested peacefully, the warm wind blowing through their open windows, with only a handful of farmhands tilling the fields and pitching tents. There was nothing architecturally significant save the remainders of an ancient elven statue resting on the edge of the village towards the road. Its visage and inscription had long since been ebbed away from weather and time, with only its sentinel watch over the village remaining.”

There is a lot to love in Peter J Hopkins’ work, including the well-sculpted characters, the well-knit plot, the huge conflict, and the unique storytelling craft. This is one of those books one reads and can’t stop imagining what it would feel like watching the action played out on screen. It’s a real success. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott.