Heroic Fantasy Quarterly #53, August 2022

“Crown of Azt’nyr” by Mike Adamson

“The Waking Gods” by D.H. Rowe

“The Path of Two Entwined” by Gregory Mele

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

Mighty warriors dwelling in three very different fantasy worlds appear in this issue.

In “Crown of Azt’nyr” by Mike Adamson, the hero encounters a princess, disguised as her servant, kidnapped by ruthless brigands. To escape the wrath of the criminals, they must enter the forbidden temple of the god of a tribe of giant apes.

The setting is a world with multiple moons and a ring of light surrounding the planet, but these exotic concepts are irrelevant to the plot. This violent, fast-paced adventure story is reminiscent of Robert E. Howard’s tales of Conan, and will best please readers fond of old-fashioned yarns of sword and sorcery.

“The Waking Gods” by Daniel Rowe takes place in a world full of islands, similar to the tropical isles of the Pacific. The bold protagonist travels to an island where a gigantic serpent requires human sacrifices. In conversation with the immense snake, the hero learns the truth of the situation and faces unexpected enemies, human and otherwise.

The setting, which seems to be inspired by Polynesian cultures, is the most interesting part of this tale. The serpent is an intriguing creation, more than just a monster, and provides an unexpected twist in the plot. Some readers may be put off by the fact that the protagonist constantly brags about his prowess. This is the author’s first published story, and shows promise for future works.

“The Path of Two Entwined” by Gregory Mele is one of a series of stories set in a fantasy world resembling the pre-Columbian Americas. As the title suggests, two characters come together to battle evil magic.

The plot is much more complicated than I have indicated. The complex background requires a lengthy prologue, and readers unfamiliar with the series are likely to find it difficult to keep track of all the characters and cultures. Previous stories set in the same world have generally been of high quality, so some may discover that the effort is worth the reward.

Victoria Silverwolf is not a mighty warrior.