Lord of a Shattered Land

Chronicles of Hanuvar, Book 1

By: Howard Andrew Jones

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

Length: 21 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A VAST EMPIRE'S GREATEST FOE. A CONQUERED PEOPLE'S LAST HOPE. HIS NAME IS HANUVAR, AND HE WILL SET HIS PEOPLE FREE!

The Dervan Empire has at last triumphed over Volanus, putting the great city to the torch, its treasures looted, temples defiled, and fields sown with salt. What little remains of Volanus is scattered across the empire, its wealth plundered and its survivors sold into slavery. It is an absolute victory for the Dervans in every way but one.

Hanuvar, last and greatest general of Volanus, still lives. He now travels the length of the Dervan Empire that conquered his homeland, driven by a singular purpose—to find what remains of his people who were carried into slavery across the empire, and free them from subjugation by any means necessary.

Against the might of a vast empire, he had only an aging sword arm, a lifetime of hard-won wisdom, and the greatest military mind in the world, set upon a single goal. No matter what the empire musters against him, no matter what man or monster stands in his way, from the empire's festering capital to its furthest outposts, Hanuvar would find his people, every last one of them.

And he would set them free.

©2023 Howard Andrew Jones (P)2024 Tantor

The best fantasy novel of the decade, now in audio.

Years from now fantasy readers will measure the sword and sorcery genre by a new standard: before Hanuvar and after Hanuvar.

This book has everything that makes a great fantasy novel. A memorable well written hero on a quest to save his people from slavery. White knuckle action that will leave you on the edge of your seat. End up brilliantly realized world that will leave you begging for more.

LORD OF A SHATTERED LAND is an easy contender for one of the best fantasy novels of the decade and in time will be recognized as a classic of the genre.

Fantasy has its next great hero, and Hanuvar is his name!

If there is a small complaint? The narrator was fine, but this merits a much more dramatic reading than was delivered. Maybe a full cast adaptation.

A GREAT new sword and sorcery from THIS century?!

SURPRISE, here's the audio to a book that's been out for a little while now, and I couldn't be more delighted.

Howard Andrew Jones, fantasy author of multiple Pathfinder Tales (check those out), the epic, *finished* Ringsworn Trilogy and more, has triumphantly returned to the weird, epic poem-like in scope, savage, militant, mystical storytelling that was once so popular back in Robert E. Howard's time known as sword and sorcery. He actually wrote a couple Dabir and Asim historical heroic fantasy novels, as well as some short fiction involving the characters as well.

Here, he brings to the forefront a character named Hanuvar, a general, or former general, who commanded the military of a once-great nation, but who has since lost everything to his name. Everything but his name, really. A name that sends a quake of fear through those who know it, especially his enemies. He's a wise leader, a grizzled warrior, and also a kind and caring person who once knew fatherhood and other kindred familiarity in a long-lost life. In comparison to other similar sword and sorcery heroes, most notably Conan, I would say it's nice experiencing a story about an older veteran of war, which we got few glimpses of with Howard's famous barbarian. We got a good look with Druss in David Gemmell's Legend, but also brief. I feel like there is an unexplored era of heroism that Howard smartly takes advantage of here. Hanuvar is still no slouch, though, in older age. He's still as fast and cunning, knowledgeable as the legends say he was in his youth. He quickly resolves genuine challenges and complex problems with stratagem and intellect. A veritable ancient James Bond of sorts. He is a well-rounded character with fascinating inner-workings that make him memorable and meaningful to read about. Howard's fast-paced and above-average prose makes it more entertaining to breezily float from page to page, and easy to understand when listening. I think if this had come out when Conan Lancer paperbacks were popular, it could have started a wildfire in founding more sword and sorcery fiction, as did Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by Fritz Leiber and others.

Kevin T. Collins was the man for the job to do the narration. He has a great cadence, knows how to handle multiple voices, brings further meaning out of already entertaining material. As the voice of the evil Griffith from Berserk, I can easily get behind his voicing war hero Hanuvar and others in this somewhat different kind of story. There is a lot of heart, a lot of tragedy, a lot of action, bonds built, bonds broken, threats and rumors of war, and one man hungry for justice--but not necessarily a classic vengeance. He just wants peace for his people.


Truly a modern gem of sword and sorcery, right up there with the Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden (another historical heroic sword and sorcery about a viking-like orc!). I recommend this wholeheartedly. Give it a whirl, and then backlog the rest of Howard's work, you won't be disappointed.