The end of The Last Sun was action packed and hinted at several tantalizing secrets so the follow up entry could make or break the series. The Hanged Man not only fails to disappoint but focuses on the best elements of the first and builds on them. Before the fall of the Lovers' court Max Saint Valentine was contracted to marry Lord Hanged Man. Rune swore an oath to safely deliver Max to his day of majority, age 21 in New Atlantis, which means protecting the fifteen year old from the creepiest of the Arcana. Unfortunately, Lord Hanged Man is very old, very powerful, and has the law on his side. While searching for a legitimate reason to challenge the contract Rune is asked to help find the missing child believed to be abducted by the Hanged Man. Rune and his allies discover the darkest nature of the Arcana and a secret that threatens the fragile peace between New Atlantis and the humans. They have fought evil scions and a legendary lich but a hero can't force the Arcanum to act. It is time for Rune to take his rightful place as the Sun of Atlantis.

The revelation that Atlantis was real might have gone differently if humans hadn't realized that the Atlanteans were also manipulating the politics and economies of the rest of the world. Atlantis had powerful magics, including the godly Arcana with their strange Aspects, but humanity had armies, bombs, and fear on their side. By the time peace was negotiated the Island of Atlantis was uninhabitable, so part of the treaty included an island for them build New Atlantis. Not much else changed. The Arcana are still psychotic power hungry despots and Atlantis is still a dangerous place to live even for Atlanteans. The Arcana of Atlantis were the inspiration for the major arcana in a tarot deck but their Aspects may or may not be related to that concept. Lord Sun might become a ball of sunlight so bright it's literally blinding or appear as a man covered in flames. Lady Judgement on the other hand appears to be spider/woman hybrid descending from a web above the onlooker. It's a combination of personal power, self-awareness, and magical affinity. 

On one side of the River the Sun rules the sky and the Lao people live in eternal summer while on the nothern side the Moon holds sway over the cold forests of the Ugaro tribes. At the end of Tuyo, book one of the series, both peoples fought together to bring down an evil sorcerer. Because the epic battle took place in the Winterlands the Lao too injured to travel back to the River remained with the local tribe who promised to care for them. Surgeon Dedicat Suelen decides he must go and save those soldiers from the healing of ignorant savages. Everyone tries to dissuade him. Surviving in the Winterlands is almost impossible for a young Lao, and Suelen is in his eighth decade. He doesn't speak the language and knows nothing of Ugaro customs. Worst of all he is a Dedicat, one who uses magic to heal and the Ugaro consider all magic to be sorcery and a death sentence. But as a Dedicat he has sworn to heal all those in need and believes he go even if it means his death.

Magic has been banished in the Five Kingdoms for a millennium, except for those in the White Tower. This place is no Hogwart's though, as the tower makes sure to round up anyone who is even loosely accused of using magic and then purges them of the ability. Supposedly the wielders that are purged of their powers are let go to live their lives, but the reality is that none of them are ever heard from again. In response to this existential threat, an underground of wielders has been built up over the years, and they do their best to keep their powers a secret. Some of their diverse powers are stronger than others, but in combination they are capable of some amazing things .This story is told through multiple PoV characters that are involved in this struggle in different ways: Ferrin, a wielder blacksmith who has been captured by the White Tower, Ty, a young boy who keeps his nascent power hidden, Valtor, the head of the White Tower, and Ayrion, the Guardian Protector of the King. 

Each book in the Street Rats of Aramoor series has focused on a different tribe of kids, and it is now time for Wildfire to be front and center. However, the title is also a bit misleading as 80% of the book has nothing to do with Wildfire and it isn't until the very end of the book that it does. The majority of the story follows Ayrion, and a group of Lancers, as they perform a secret mission for the King. They are tasked with rescuing an ambassador and his wife that are both being held hostage by the rival kingdom of Cylmar. This mission takes them on a long, dangerous journey that consumes the majority of the book and Wildfire is not involved in any way until the mission is over and Ayrion returns to Aramoor. That's unfortunate but this is still an entertaining story that moves this series ever closer to the transition point from this prequel series over to Michael Wisehart's main series, The Aldoran Chronicles, where Ayrion is no longer a street rat.

After the events of the first book, the NPCs turned adventurers find themselves on the run. They choose to visit the small town of Briarwillow, hoping to avoid trouble, but of course it wouldn't be much of a story if things worked out that way. The inhabitants of Briarwillow were infected by an illness that seems to have been magically cured, however, something isn't quite right. They decide to leave to go get help when all of the sudden the Paladin in the party can't move. He quickly realizes that his god won't allow him to leave these people in need so he is going to have to stay to try to solve this mystery. However, getting professional help is still the better idea, so it's time to split the party...

Twenty years of peace have lasted for Belleger and Amika after both countries were manipulated into an uneasy alliance by the magisters of the Last Repository. King Bifalt of Belleger and Queen Estie of Amika both navigate their uncomfortable marriage in very different ways and they each do what they can to prepare for the coming war. An ancient enemy, far more powerful than either of their kingdoms, is coming for The Last Repository and it must pass through their realms to get there. King Bifalt focuses his energy on the coming external threat but Queen Estie finds she must divert her attention to issues within Amika that put their alliance at risk. Her father may have abdicated the throne to her, but now it seems that he is up to something. If she doesn't stop him, both kingdoms will surely be lost. Unfortunately, her father is a powerful sorcerer who wields the decimate of lightning and she has no magic of her own with which to counter him. Yet, she must find a way.

If you're in the mood for a grimdark fantasy but would prefer something quick and easy to read, this is the series for you. The Seven Swords is a stands out for its unique settings, elaborate world building, and short format that is reminiscent of Moorcock's books of the late 1970's. This is a harsh unkind world with plenty of gods, magic, and, obviously, swords. Everybody has secrets but none are worse than Guyime's bloody past and the sword that made it possible. He believes his soul is beyond redemption so he's willing to die for a chance to destroy his sword. But the fabled Seven Swords are indestructible by mortal means so he sets off on epic pilgrimage. There is plenty of action, betrayal, and death along the way.

There are six known decimates that are wielded by Sorcerers in both Belleger and Amika, two countries who have been warring with each other for generations. The battles between them have become so bloody that the engagements are known as "hells". Sorcerers on both sides use the six decimates (Fire, Wind, Pestilence, Earthquake, Drought, and Lightning) in these hells, but it is Amika that has the advantage because they have the better sorcerers. Belleger survives by using rifles to out-range the sorcerers; however, they can never gain the upper hand because building reliable rifles is a slow and time consuming process for them. The battles rage on until, in the blink of an eye, all sorcerers in Belleger lose their ability to wield magic. The king quickly becomes desperate because he knows Belleger lacks enough rifles to fend off an Amikan attack without magic, so he opts for a cliché Hail Mary. He sends his son, Prince Bifalt, out on a quest to find a mythical book in an unknown location in order to restore sorcery and save his people. Because, why not?

Viv is an orc babrarian, and after many years of adventuring she is ready to hang up her broadsword to pursue her dream of opening a coffee shop. Ever since she first smelled the gnomish drink she has been making plans and when her final job has her slaying a scavern queen she knows the time has come. According to an obscure legend the heart of a scavern queen will guarantee the success of its owner. Things seem to be going well until one of her old adventuring group comes seeking the heart and stirs up the local crime lord against Viv. Being a shop keeper is certainly more complicated and dangerous than Viv expected, but with help from her friends Legends and Lattes might be a great success.