Not every warrior needs a sword to win a war. Sometimes, it’s a mind sharpened by hardship, a bow strung tighter than expected, and the patience to wait for the wind to shift. In Raptor’s Revenge, Jim Malloy crafts a medieval world where skill is forged not just in fire and steel but in strategy, endurance, and the stubborn refusal to give in.
At the centre of the novel is Thomas Fallon—Blade, as he becomes known—a character who sidesteps the usual crusader archetype. He doesn’t lust for battle, glory, or titles. What makes him compelling is his strange mix of humility and brilliance. He builds things, watches closely, listens more than he speaks. Through him, the book feels less like a history retold and more like a forgotten legend someone finally decided to whisper back to life.
Blade’s story isn’t about destiny or divine favour—it’s about grit, resourcefulness, and human connection. He rescues a baby on the battlefield. He invents a bow with the potential to change everything. And yet, the book never drifts into the magical. It stays grounded in plausibility, drawing on the kind of realism that feels both comforting and urgent.
Alongside Blade is Elizabeth, a young woman whose intelligence is her greatest form of resistance. There’s no fantasy in her life—just the quiet courage of someone who learns the rules of a game designed to keep her out, then plays them better than those who wrote them. Their relationship is not built on longing glances or scripted chemistry but on the slow, mutual recognition of another capable mind. It’s refreshing, and it gives the novel a moral weight: connection rooted in respect, not rescue.
Malloy’s writing leans old-school—descriptive, deliberate, and layered. It gives the book a feeling of timelessness, as though you could almost imagine it being read aloud in the great hall of a crumbling castle. The pace doesn’t rush. It builds, waits, watches. And that might not be for everyone. But for readers who want to settle in and let a story work on them slowly, it’s a rewarding experience.
This isn’t a novel where dragons fly or magic saves the day. But it’s full of the kind of wonder that doesn’t need enchantment—just well-drawn characters making hard choices with care and conviction. If you’re looking for a story that doesn’t just fill time but gives it back to you richer, Raptor’s Revenge may be the book you didn’t know you were waiting for. Five stars.
Excellence in Literature Award
The Excellence in Literature Award is a tribute to the timeless power of storytelling. We recognise works that transcend fleeting trends—books that resonate deeply and linger long after the final page. Whether bold and boundary-breaking or quietly powerful, these stories reflect true literary excellence.
This award encompasses a wide literary landscape—from genre fiction to poetic reflections, from contemporary gems to historical epics. At its heart, it celebrates writers who demonstrate mastery, originality, and the ability to connect with readers on a meaningful level.
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