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  • Ruin

Ruin

The Faithful and the Fallen #3 / 4
by John Gwynne
Ruin (The Faithful and the Fallen #3) by John Gwynne
★ 8.42 / 7
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David Gemmell Legend Award nominee 2016.

The Banished Lands are engulfed in war and chaos. The cunning Queen Rhin has conquered the west and High King Nathair has the cauldron, most powerful of the seven treasures. At his back stands the scheming Calidus and a warband of the Kadoshim, dread demons of the Otherworld. They plan to bring Asroth and his host of the Fallen into the world of flesh, but to do so they need the seven treasures. Nathair has been deceived but now he knows the truth. He has choices to make, choices that will determine the fate of the Banished Lands.

Elsewhere the flame of resistance is growing - Queen Edana finds allies in the swamps of Ardan. Maquin is loose in Tenebral, hunted by Lykos and his corsairs. Here he will witness the birth of a rebellion in Nathair's own realm.

Corban has been swept along by the tide of war. He has suffered, lost loved ones, sought only safety from the darkness. But he will run no more. He has seen the face of evil and he has set his will to fight it. The question is, how? With a disparate band gathered about him - his family, friends, giants, fanatical warriors, an angel and a talking crow he begins the journey to Drassil, the fabled fortress hidden deep in the heart of Forn Forest. For in Drassil lies the spear of Skald, one of the seven treasures, and here it is prophesied that the Bright Star will stand against the Black Sun.

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FantasyEpic FantasyHigh Fantasy
Release date: July 11, 2015

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John Gwynne

John Gwynne

In the world of epic fantasy, few voices echo with as much raw heart and thunder as John Gwynne’s. His stories aren’t just told—they're lived through the grit of the battlefield, the quiet strength of loyalty, and the blood-oath bonds of family. With every book, he builds worlds forged in ancient myth and sharpened by very human truths: courage, loss, honor, and vengeance. It's not surprising that his novels, including The Faithful and the Fallen, Of Blood and Bone, and The Bloodsworn Saga, have carved a place among modern fantasy’s most beloved sagas.

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But behind the battle cries and berserker rage lives a man whose own life pulses with as much color and grit as the pages he writes. Born in Singapore while his father served in the Royal Air Force, John grew up traveling the world before settling on the windswept south coast of the UK. There, between the sea breeze and the clang of mail armor (yes, he’s a Viking re-enactor), his imagination took root.

John’s writing is grounded in his love of Norse mythology and the timeless themes of fate, faith, and found family. His prose is visceral yet lyrical, often dancing between heartbreak and hope. It's no coincidence that fans often say they feel every sword strike, every betrayal, and every quiet, sacred moment in his books. These aren’t just epic fantasies—they’re emotional epics.

Before he was a full-time author, John wore many hats: university lecturer, soap factory worker, rock ’n’ roll bassist. But it’s the role of father and shield brother that shapes much of his storytelling. He writes surrounded by the warm chaos of family life—three sons, a daughter, several dogs, a horse, and, famously, a lamb who thinks she’s one of the pack.

His debut novel Malice didn’t just introduce readers to a new world—it stormed into the genre, winning the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut. Since then, his readership has grown into a loyal warband, eagerly awaiting each new clash of gods, monsters, and mortals.

In 2021, John's life took a devastating turn with the loss of his daughter, Harriett. He stepped away from writing to grieve, but when he returned, it was with a renewed sense of purpose—channeling love, sorrow, and resilience into The Fury of the Gods, a finale that now holds deeper meaning for him and for readers who have walked beside his characters through every triumph and tragedy.

As John once said, “Fantasy is the mirror we hold to the soul.” In his case, that mirror reflects a storyteller whose tales are as fierce and tender as life itself.

The Faithful and the Fallen

The Faithful and the Fallen consists of four books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Main series The Banished Lands

Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen #1)
★ 9.08 / 12
Valour (The Faithful and the Fallen #2)
★ 8.64 / 11
Ruin (The Faithful and the Fallen #3)
★ 8.42 / 7
Wrath (The Faithful and the Fallen #4)
★ 9.80 / 5


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