This was a really solid and compelling start to a new series with strong world building and morally grey characters. It took me about 50 pages to get into the narrative, but once I did, the plot was gripping throughout. At heart, this is a traditional fantasy, with a young boy as our protagonist who is narrating the story as he looks back on his life, but Alwyn is an interesting character to follow with a definite mean streak that I enjoyed. I liked the use of religion within the plot and the magic, while used sparingly, was impressive when called upon. All in all I enjoyed this book a lot and will be picking up the sequel asap.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Pariah by Anthony Ryan is a gripping epic fantasy tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The novel follows the journey of a lone warrior, cursed by the gods, as he battles his way through a world of magic and monsters. Ryan's world-building is nothing short of astounding, with rich descriptions of mythical creatures and ancient kingdoms. The action sequences are epic, and the stakes are always high. If you're a fan of high fantasy, then Pariah is an absolute must-read. Get ready to be swept away on an epic adventure.

The Pariah is my first experience reading Anthony Ryan and I have to say I was impressed and totally get the hype for this series!

What impressed me the most was there is a real humanity to this book, even fleeting characters are given substance, a conflict in morals, ‘good’ characters performing questionable deeds, ‘bad’ characters given layers that suggest goodness, nothing is simple and no one is simply one thing. Alwyn himself is an especially complex character, he starts the story an aimless outlaw, he ends the book a hero for a greater cause. Throughout his journey Alwyn wrestles between wanting to survive and wanting those around him to survive, 2 goals that often conflict handled with skilled character development. Captain Evadine is also fascinating on the page, the opposite to Alwyn, she appears in the story as a saviour and ends the book with blood essentially (and heavily) on her hands. There are plenty of strong women in this story, in fact that is one of the best parts of this adventure, how many women stand resiliently for their cause in this story, women with their own agency and story.

Anthony Ryan is a master of building atmosphere and setting the scene. You feel the dread, the build up of adrenaline and fear as a battle looms, from the days before to seeing the enemy on the field. The battle scenes themselves are some of the best I’ve read, they’re violent but not gratuitous, they’re descriptive, varied and epic in style. You don’t just know what’s going on, you feel it. You also have the time given to training on weapons and fight techniques in a way that makes these scenes more colourful when it comes to them.

One thing that may not work for everyone is the writing style itself. The Pariah is effectively written as Alwyn telling his story, which makes it engaging and intimate, you as a reader are directly referred to numerous times in a way very much like Jay Kristoff’s EOTV. However in this 4th wall moments sometimes you are brought forwards to Alwyn in the future commenting with the hindsight of knowing what’s to come, for example during a fight scene between characters one is referred to with the line describing him “to this day” by which you instantly know he survives the fight. There are some teases along the line of ‘I didn’t know then how bloody things would get’ ‘I wish I’d known then…’ etc which possibly could be considered a little unnecessary a wink. Yes they’re engaging but are they giving more away than is needed? This book is already engaging and exciting by itself so I’m undecided. That is the only thing I can remotely fault this book for though.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Weirdly, now I’m typing this out, I’m not 100% sure I want it to be a DNF. I got this one off of Netgalley and quickly found myself wishing for a preview function, as it’s precisely the sort of “gritty action that wants you to know just how gritty it is” start that I just bounce right off of. But, there was something intriguing about it. Something that makes me think I should go back and give it another go. It’ll be in a while if I do though as I’ve just completely overdosed on that sort of thing. It’s a nice once in a while thing but the genre is just overrun with it.

First time reading this author. Firstly I love the cover and I really enjoyed Alwyn and some of the other characters. I did however find it a bit slow to get going I also struggled to remember who was who on the ‘titled’ characters as their characteristics were not distinguishable between one another. The list of characters at the beginning was a bit helpful, I would have also liked a map of the different lands. I was given an ARC copy which I was grateful to receive. Undecided whether I will continue with the series.

It is the first novel i read of this author, and It spiked my interest to read the next in the series. The protagonist is engaging, some notorius Robin Hood influences, and the word building és satisfiyng. A fantasy novel with a hard edge and great characters and plot.

Like always Anthony Ryan do amazing job with his art. When I started this series I was wondering if Anthony can write something better then my favorite Draconis saga. Turns out, he can.

Story is not predictable, characters and their development are art itself and those action scenes... For the first part of the book I was feel like one of the Robins Hood companion, of course, without all this fairy tale glimpse.


If you looking for brutal, beautiful written hard fantasy, this book is for you.

I'll add a full review to my site, Amazon and GR within the next week. I've been catching up on a lot of reading having had a break due to several projects.

Thank you for the arc. I already have my special edition copy!

I have never had the pleasure of reading work by this author before and after finishing this book, I definitely need to go and do so. This was a very chonky read at 600ish pages but it was one of those books that once you open it, you find it hard to put down. I didn't want to rush it too much so I had to pace myself.
It is an epic fantasy about Alwyn Scribe who is raised as an outlaw and the plot is thick with betrayals and revenge and plot. The world building is extraordinary and the character building is just as impressive.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next instalment, as well as picking up his other works.

Anthony Ryan has done it again, what a fantastic book and a start to what I think will be a favourite series. This one had a slightly slower, denser start - but as with every book by this author I was pulled into the intricate world he has constructed, and the story that is being told. Alwyn Scribe is a great protagonist and after spending so much time in his POV it feels as though we got to know him very well, and I can't wait to see where he and this series will go in the next installments. Absolutely stunning epic fantasy.

This review may contain mild spoilers.

I had been looking forward to this one since I first saw it being advertised as a 2021 release on Twitter. So, I think that perhaps I was a tad guilty of putting this on a pedestal before ever having read the first word. Although I enjoyed large parts of this, I didn’t enjoy it completely and was left feeling a tad deflated.

One thing I will say is that I enjoyed how this felt more of a real fantasy than a fantastical one. There is magic, but it is more the hedge witch kind of magic and is so infrequent that you often forget it’s there. I enjoy my fantastical fantasy but do like dipping my toes in a more grounded in realism fantasy every now and then, so this was a pleasant surprise.

One of my main issues is purely a personal one. I really enjoyed the outlaw/Robin Hood style set up that Alwyn and the group who took him in had going. Sadly, that felt more like a ‘setting the stage’ style portion of the book rather than anything truly meaningful. A shame, as I had fully hoped to get invested in a tale of vengeful outlaws. There is a whole quest for vengeance, but it seems to dilute over time and never really picks up to the heights that Alwyn promised to himself nearer the start.

I also feel that the mood you’re in will completely effect how you enjoy this book. It is very bleak. There is very little joy in this book for the characters and what little there is often has misery and pain waiting two steps later. I found it difficult to get absorbed for too long after a hard day at work due to this but, as with my earlier issue, this is mainly a personal one.

I enjoyed the religious background created in this but just wish it had taken more of an equal billing in the plot alongside Alwyn’s quest for vengeance. As it is, I feel it took more of driving seat and further added to the dilution of the vengeance plot as the chapters rolled by. I also feel the pacing suffered. I felt from the blurb that I was in for a fast-paced, dark adventure. What I got was a slow-burn dark adventure that never really got past being slow-burn. It always felt ponderous where I felt at times it could have ramped the pacing up a tad.

The dialogue is wonderful throughout, something that, as a writer, I can attest is a very hard thing to achieve. So bravo to the author for that. It always flowed well and sounded natural. I also really enjoyed the action scenes (some of which feature some very grim and inventive imagery).

The Pariah is my first Anthony Ryan book and he started off well by dedicating it to George McDonald Fraser the creator of the ultimate lovable rogue Harry Flashman. Ryan’s hero in this book borrows a lot from Flashy, always in the soup, always out numbered, always out gunned, always with the worst luck and always unwittingly at the centre of world changing events through no fault of his own. Alwyn, son of a faceless whore and raised by a gang of outlaws finds himself pushed along by the tides of fate and his only aim is to survive by any means necessary. This was quite good, Alwyn is fine and just charming enough to be interesting. He does end up following two enigmatic women for no real reason that I could fathom. One of them was good looking but that was about it. It’s always a good looking woman’s fault. Poor motherless boy he just can’t help it. He does however have a perfectly good a sensible female friend who he doesn’t listen too even when she is the only one speaking sense. He didn’t fancy her though so 🤷‍♀️.

I really enjoyed Anthony Ryan's other books but this one was a miss for me. I just wasn't invested in the story and didn't care about what could happen to the characters.

In Pariah, Alwyn Scribe is our main character, our eyes into this world. Alwyn belongs to a Robin Hood-esque band of outlaws who are driven by a leader who is more than what he seems. Quick of mind and hand, Alwyn has a special role within the band, favored by the leader of the band. However, betrayal within the ranks forces a change of circumstance for Alwyn as he now finds himself accepted into a religious band under a messianic leader. Alwyn's life changes and so does the book.

This is a different book from Anthony Ryan. For one, the lead isn't an action hero types - Alwyn isn't averse to violence but its usually the sneaky kind as befits an outlaw. The other element of the character is he is more passive than most lead characters - as in, things happen to him and he reacts to it. People seem to know more about Alwyn than Alwyn himself and that makes for a nice change as we as readers also discover facets and secrets at the same time as Alwyn.

The book almost classically follows the 3 act structure and each act has a strong character for Alwyn to be guided by and each impart their own lessons as the book grows. The book starts off being political with smattering of religion before bringing in religious machinations and finally, the 3rd act intertwines them effectively. The importance of religion and the way to communicate it is one of the best elements in the book and not something that I have seen being employed so well and seamlessly in other books. Magic as an element while used sparingly becomes increasingly important as the book proceeds as well

Friendship, kinship and companionship are central themes that play out over Alwyn through the book. For an outlaw, Alwyn forms a lot of bonds and those are etched well. Some of those transcend into duty and obligations as well. This results in fantastic character growth and is rather wonderfully done through the book.

This isn't a book for everyone. The pace is deliberate and the action is quite minimal, only increasing towards
the end. Also, the way the book ends, its difficult to predict where its likely to go - its not like the kind of book that makes you want the sequel immediately.

Overall, Pariah is a fine book that's completely worth the read

This is a 'focus on the journey, rather than the destination' kind of a story.
We follow Alwyn's life from his perspective and I found the narrative style to be different and interesting.
I enjoyed Anthony Ryan's writing style immensely, but I felt the plot and the characters were a bit lacking in depth and substance.
The World building was good, there aren't many fantastical elements to speak of.
This story is a commentary on religious politics and the fight for the throne.
I think this is more on me than on the book as I was expecting a fantastical story whereas this was political story set up in an imaginary world.

Received arc from Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for honest read and review.
I have read a few of Mr Ryan's books and this was him at his best.
Great story that had me hooked from the beginning with a main character in Alwyn that had me rooting for him from the start.
Alan was such a brilliantly written character,that this book was for me one of his best yet.A great start to what looks like it could be a brilliant series.

Unfortunately, I am deciding to DNF this book at 15%.

I tried reading this book two months ago and struggled a lot with the prose. I often struggle with first-person stories. Therefore, decided to wait for the audiobook release and bought it on Audible. However, once again, I struggled a lot with the prose. I had a difficult time following or enjoying the story. I very rarely DNF books, but since I am worried I will fall into a reading slump, I am deciding to pick up another book. I might come back to this book someday, but for now, it is a DNF.

This book did give me similar vibes as The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlemann. If you enjoy first-person stories with humour, then I can imagine this book would be a great match for you!

A special thanks to Orbit Books for an e-arc. Apologies for not completing this book.

Book: The Pariah
Author: Anthony Ryan
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2021

I received this book as an e-arc, though my review be true and pure.

This book is marmite. Those who like it will love it and those who don't will hate it I think. It has the potential to be a series that gets debated and discussed a lot, with what I envisage to be near religious zeal. I hope the former will outweigh the latter though as I personally loved it.

I wasn't sure at first which way I was falling. Part 1 of 3 is a very slow burning beginning through which we're introduced to the MC, Alwyn Scribe, during the latter days of his life as an outlaw in the band of the infamous Deckin Scarl. I enjoyed this section but was a little frustrated at times by what I felt was a lack of plot progression.

The ending to part 1 and then from part 2 onwards however was worth the wait. By this point we know Alwyn quite well so his choices and the events he's plunged into all become so much more believable and relatable. He presents himself as wanting people to believe he is entirely amoral and roguish but the narrative voice frequently betrays clues to a present where he has eschewed this mantle somewhat.

The basis of the plot feels at once very familiar for anyone with a passing knowledge of British medieval history. Civil war is fermenting, religious zealotry is rife and the common churls are bearing the brunt of the hardship. It's the previously alluded to style of first person narrative that gives us our hook as to why we want to read about these things. Every so often narrator Alwyn will through in a line or two about an event shaped his future (the narrator's present). They are teasers that I am desperate to learn the payoff of.

Can't wait for the next installment.

This is my first Anthony Ryan book and didn't know what to expect. I'm happy I read it because I discovered an excellent author and the gripping start of a new series.
It's a good grim-dark fantasy, a bit brutal at times, but well written and entertaining.
The world building is exceptional and the storytelling excellent.
I can't wait to read the next installment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Pariah follows the main character, Alwyn as we go on his journey from being a young and clever outlaw to a scribe and soldier. Written in first person pov, the story is narrated in a form of a testament. It appears that Alwyn is talking to the readers, which creates a sense of foreboding for the things to come and I absolutely loved it.

The story is very much character driven but maintains a steady pace with the plot. The writing is gorgeous and the world feels familiar but also has a unique quality to it.

But, the characters are what makes this book, especially, Alwyn. He is such a fantastic character. Some of his actions are questionable at best of times but he has got his heart in the right place and cares so deeply for his friends. We get to see some really wonderful friendships in the book. Especially, Alwyn and Toria- I loved how they schemed together and how wholesome their relationship was despite so many hardships and struggles.

Among other things, one of the very important themes of the book is religious fanatiscm and how it influences the people and politics of a country. I think the author did a great job in highlighting this theme in a very nuanced and insightful manner.

There's a lot of hints about the cultures and magic of other countries that didn't get explored in this book so I look forward to seeing how the author expand on it in the future books.

Overall, The Pariah was a fantastic read and if you are looking for a character driven fantasy, this one is worth checking out!!