The Faithful and the Fallen

The Faithful and the Fallen is an epic fantasy series foretelling an ancient feud between angels and demons, destined to fight their God-War over the Banished Lands. A land inhabited by humans, giants, and all other manner of creatures. The prophecy states that there will be a champion for each side, one known as the Black Sun and the other, the Bright Star. And it is in this Great War that the fate of the world will be decided.

Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors under King Brenin's rule, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king's realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage. As ancient monsters reawaken and the very stones weep blood, Corban's journey from village boy to legendary warrior unfolds across four epic volumes: Malice, Valour, Ruin, and Wrath.

Malice, Gwynne's debut novel, won the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Debut of 2012. The following three books in the series were all shortlisted for the David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novels of 2014, 2015 and 2016. Set in the grounded, lived-in world of the Banished Lands - a realm of stone, mud, and blood-soaked battlefields rather than floating cities - the series masterfully balances intimate character moments with grand-scale warfare.

Kingdoms rise and fall, courts teem with intrigue, brothers betray brothers, and the looming weight of war bears down on every decision. Small feuds give way to vast alliances. Personal vendettas become turning points in the story. Through multiple POV characters, Gwynne weaves together prophecy, political machinations, and personal drama, asking repeatedly: what does it mean to do the right thing when it's the hardest thing to do?

Compared to David Gemmell and George R. R Martin, John Gwynne's first novel Malice was called a 'Hell of a debut' by bestselling author Conn Iggulden, while critics praised Gwynne's vivid, emotional battle scenes that transform combat into "fierce, pure ecstasy" on the page. This is dark fantasy unafraid of character death and real consequences, exploring themes of duty versus morality, faith versus doubt, and fate versus free will with unflinching honesty.

Perfect for readers seeking classic high fantasy with modern sensibilities, visceral combat written by a Viking reenactor, multi-POV epic narratives, prophecy-driven plots grounded in human choices, and stories exploring loyalty, friendship, and the quiet courage it takes to remain kind in a brutal world.