Hi everyone
Because I loved Stephen Aryan’s Age of Darkness and Age of Dread series, I went ahead and bought both books in his Quest for Heroes series at the same time.
I got both of them from Bol.
"Kell Kressia is a legend, a celebrity, a hero. Aged just seventeen he set out on an epic quest with a band of grizzled fighters to slay the Ice Lich and save the world, but only he returned victorious. The Lich was dead, the ice receded and the Five Kingdoms were safe.
Ten years have passed Kell lives a quiet farmer's life, while stories about his heroism are told in every tavern across the length and breadth of the land. But now a new terror has arisen in the north. Beyond the frozen circle, north of the Frostrunner clans, something has taken up residence in the Lich's abandoned castle. And the ice is beginning to creep south once more.
For the second time, Kell is called upon to take up his famous sword, Slayer, and battle the forces of darkness. But he has a terrible secret that nobody knows. He's not a hero - he was just lucky. Everyone puts their faith in Kell the Legend, but he's a coward who has no intention of risking his life for anyone..."
This was a fun and very entertaining quest-like story.
I loved the idea of these "heroes" discovering who they really are; whether they’re cowards or brave, male or female, human or not. Aryan does such a great job of exploring the difference between legend and reality, especially how society conveniently forgets the flaws of its heroes. It’s a theme that feels so real and relatable, and it added a lot of depth to the story.
One of my favorite tropes is strangers becoming a team, bonding and working together toward a common goal. This book was right up my alley! Watching these characters grow, clash, and eventually trust each other was so satisfying. Aryan’s writing is, as always, easy to read, not too flowery, and very accessible. He has a knack for balancing humor, action, and introspection in a way that keeps the story engaging and fun.
I particularly loved the coward/reluctant hero aspect of Kell’s character. His PTSD and survivor’s guilt were handled really well, it felt authentic and raw, not just tacked on for drama. The characters were all distinct, flawed, and compelling. I loved them all, and it hurt to lose some of them. That’s how you know a story has gotten under your skin, when you care this much about what happens to the characters.
There were only two things that didn’t quite work for me. The first was Britak’s chapters. They felt like a setup for the next book, but in this one, she was rather superfluous. Without her chapters, this could have been a perfect standalone. I’m not particularly compelled to read the next book because of her, especially since the main storyline wraps up so satisfyingly on its own.
The second thing was Willow. I was disappointed by how little we learned about her. It felt like a cheap and easy way to add diversity to the cast by including a non-human character, but without giving her a real backstory or depth it doesn't add but detract from the quality of the book. Willow could have been so much more than just a plot device.
All in all, The Coward was a fantastic read; fun, action-packed, and full of heart.
Have you read the books in the Quest for Heroes series? Did you feel the same way? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy reading!
Helena












