A masterpiece of a story about hope, resistance and fellowship." |
An epic fantasy series full of crunching revolutionary action, twisted magic, and hard choices in dark times.
The war is over. The enemy won. Jia's people learned the hard way that there are no second chances. The Egril, their ancient enemy, struck with magic so devastating that Jia's armies were wiped out. Now terror reigns in the streets, and friend turns on friend just to live another day. Somehow Tinnstra - a deserter, a failure, nothing but a coward - survived. She wants no more than to hide from the chaos. But dragged into a desperate plot to retake Jia, surrounded by people willing to do anything to win the fight, this time Tinnstra will need to do more than hide. If Jia is to get a second chance after all, this time she will need to be a hero. With all the grit of Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence and Ed McDonald, this is fantasy with the sharpest of edges. |
PRAISE FOR WE ARE THE DEAD
Likely the next Game of Thrones, and the best book I've read in several years. Erikson, Martin and Rothfuss are going to have to shove over and make room at the bar . . . I can't think how to tone down my enthusiasm ― Glen Cook, author of The Black Company
Like Tarantino crossed with David Gemmell . . . Absolutely splendid. Shackle has come up with something really special here ― Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones
Hooked from page one, We Are the Dead rattles along with the pace of a runaway bullet train. Original, engaging, flawed but very-human characters draw us into a world rent by war, a world of brutal occupation, tarnished honour and devastating magics. This is a powerful debut and Shackle is an author to watch ― Gavin Smith, author of The Bastard Legion
A masterpiece of a story about hope, resistance and fellowship ― The Book Bag
An adventure that's rich in darkness and bloodshed. ― SFX MAGAZINE
Fans of Joe Abercrombie and R.F. Kuang are sure to find something to love here ― Fantasy Hive
We Are the Dead is a staggering, marvellous and gripping fantasy debut ― Grimdark Magazine
A barnstorming book of ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances - great fun and very entertaining ― Tom Lloyd, author of Stranger of Tempest
Gripping, grim and glorious ― Mark Stay, author of The End of Magic
An utter masterpiece ― Where There's Ink There's Paper
We Are the Dead is awesome. Memorable characters. One of the most sadistic villains I've ever encountered. Tightly woven action scenes that feel like something you'd see in a Micheal Mann film. I was gripped and loving it the entire time ― Brian Naslund, author of Blood of an Exile
An easy 5 stars from me . . . The tension ratchets up nicely as the best laid plans fall apart and people struggle to survive. The world building and characters fit together flawlessly ― Cameron Johnston, author of The Traitor God
A fantastic, enthralling debut. Imagine if Akira Kurosawa and Joe Abercrombie wrote a fantasy thriller with a pace that moves at the speed of light ― Jeremy Szal, author of Stormblood
A fantastic story with unique characters that draw you in and don't let you go ― Justin Call, author of Master of Sorrows
PRAISE FOR A FOOL'S HOPE
This is my most favourite book I have read in 2020. And this series is on the way to turning into one of my absolute favourites ― Lily Reads
A Fool's Hope is one of the best fantasy novels of the year. Shackle has outdone himself by crafting such a heart-hammering sequel, and I'll go as far as saying that it's one of the best middle-book installments I've ever read ― Novel Notions
Epic and horrific, wonderful and depressing, exhilarating and distressing and truly a must-read for all fans of the genre . . . A Fool's Hope is probably my favourite book of the year ― The Chronicler
Brutal, emotional and utterly gripping, it was an absolute rollercoaster of a book ― Bibliophile Book Club
Holy shit - this book! ― The Book In Hand
One of the most exciting and fresh fantasy series around ― Benny Books
It's incredible ― The Swordsmith
A Fool's Hope is a most excellent follow up to We Are the Dead, and one of the best books I've read this year. Sekanowari is here and gods help anyone who gets caught up in the chaos and mayhem that follows in its wake ― Starlit Book
Shackle is not one to shy away from curveballs, blood and betrayals . . . a triumph of a second book ― Under the Radar SFF Books
PRAISE FOR UNTIL THE LAST
There are moments of great prose, great action, and scenes that come alive and fill you with shock and awe, horror, and emotional arcs . . . A great conclusion to the Last War series ― Al Al Hambra Book Reviews
One of my favorite fantasy series ever ― Out of This World Reviews
A great conclusion to the Last War series ― FanFiAddict
An action-packed and thrilling concluding volume from the beginning to the end ― Novel Notions
This is fantasy at its best ― Fantasy Book Nerd
A stunningly amazing series ― Queen's Book Asylum
Fantasy Faction's Best SFF of 2023
Fast-paced action and great characters, wrapped in a story you just can’t put down. Until the Last doesn’t pull any punches while hitting those fun-as-hell buttons, delivering a finale that is a worthy-end to the series - StarLit Reviews
Best SFF release of 2023 - Brothers Gwynne
Mike Shackle's The Last War is required reading for any true fantasy fan as far as I'm concerned. The entire trilogy just kicks so much ass and is teeming with dark magic, brutal battles scenes, and characters that you can really connect with. - Out Of This World SFF
Likely the next Game of Thrones, and the best book I've read in several years. Erikson, Martin and Rothfuss are going to have to shove over and make room at the bar . . . I can't think how to tone down my enthusiasm ― Glen Cook, author of The Black Company
Like Tarantino crossed with David Gemmell . . . Absolutely splendid. Shackle has come up with something really special here ― Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones
Hooked from page one, We Are the Dead rattles along with the pace of a runaway bullet train. Original, engaging, flawed but very-human characters draw us into a world rent by war, a world of brutal occupation, tarnished honour and devastating magics. This is a powerful debut and Shackle is an author to watch ― Gavin Smith, author of The Bastard Legion
A masterpiece of a story about hope, resistance and fellowship ― The Book Bag
An adventure that's rich in darkness and bloodshed. ― SFX MAGAZINE
Fans of Joe Abercrombie and R.F. Kuang are sure to find something to love here ― Fantasy Hive
We Are the Dead is a staggering, marvellous and gripping fantasy debut ― Grimdark Magazine
A barnstorming book of ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances - great fun and very entertaining ― Tom Lloyd, author of Stranger of Tempest
Gripping, grim and glorious ― Mark Stay, author of The End of Magic
An utter masterpiece ― Where There's Ink There's Paper
We Are the Dead is awesome. Memorable characters. One of the most sadistic villains I've ever encountered. Tightly woven action scenes that feel like something you'd see in a Micheal Mann film. I was gripped and loving it the entire time ― Brian Naslund, author of Blood of an Exile
An easy 5 stars from me . . . The tension ratchets up nicely as the best laid plans fall apart and people struggle to survive. The world building and characters fit together flawlessly ― Cameron Johnston, author of The Traitor God
A fantastic, enthralling debut. Imagine if Akira Kurosawa and Joe Abercrombie wrote a fantasy thriller with a pace that moves at the speed of light ― Jeremy Szal, author of Stormblood
A fantastic story with unique characters that draw you in and don't let you go ― Justin Call, author of Master of Sorrows
PRAISE FOR A FOOL'S HOPE
This is my most favourite book I have read in 2020. And this series is on the way to turning into one of my absolute favourites ― Lily Reads
A Fool's Hope is one of the best fantasy novels of the year. Shackle has outdone himself by crafting such a heart-hammering sequel, and I'll go as far as saying that it's one of the best middle-book installments I've ever read ― Novel Notions
Epic and horrific, wonderful and depressing, exhilarating and distressing and truly a must-read for all fans of the genre . . . A Fool's Hope is probably my favourite book of the year ― The Chronicler
Brutal, emotional and utterly gripping, it was an absolute rollercoaster of a book ― Bibliophile Book Club
Holy shit - this book! ― The Book In Hand
One of the most exciting and fresh fantasy series around ― Benny Books
It's incredible ― The Swordsmith
A Fool's Hope is a most excellent follow up to We Are the Dead, and one of the best books I've read this year. Sekanowari is here and gods help anyone who gets caught up in the chaos and mayhem that follows in its wake ― Starlit Book
Shackle is not one to shy away from curveballs, blood and betrayals . . . a triumph of a second book ― Under the Radar SFF Books
PRAISE FOR UNTIL THE LAST
There are moments of great prose, great action, and scenes that come alive and fill you with shock and awe, horror, and emotional arcs . . . A great conclusion to the Last War series ― Al Al Hambra Book Reviews
One of my favorite fantasy series ever ― Out of This World Reviews
A great conclusion to the Last War series ― FanFiAddict
An action-packed and thrilling concluding volume from the beginning to the end ― Novel Notions
This is fantasy at its best ― Fantasy Book Nerd
A stunningly amazing series ― Queen's Book Asylum
Fantasy Faction's Best SFF of 2023
Fast-paced action and great characters, wrapped in a story you just can’t put down. Until the Last doesn’t pull any punches while hitting those fun-as-hell buttons, delivering a finale that is a worthy-end to the series - StarLit Reviews
Best SFF release of 2023 - Brothers Gwynne
Mike Shackle's The Last War is required reading for any true fantasy fan as far as I'm concerned. The entire trilogy just kicks so much ass and is teeming with dark magic, brutal battles scenes, and characters that you can really connect with. - Out Of This World SFF
