Amidst this digital age it is maddening to stay abreast of the new books out there. Swords of the Four Winds isn't a new book, it was independently published in 2013, but it is one that should certainly be on your radar. And what an amazing thing it is that an author, half a world away, can share his work with someone like me.

Dariel has a fantastic voice, utilizing an unconventional setting that leaves you craving more. I feel his writing, especially within the first five stories, is equal parts David Gemmell and Harold Lamb, even though Lamb shines throughout.

I became aware of the author when I read The Best of Heroic Fantasy Volume One which features the story “Lord of the Brass Host.” I later learned that the author had this collection filled with stories in a similar vein, and I had to get it.

The book is divided into four sections, each concerning a different hero. Orhan Timur, the Snow Leopard, is the first and I daresay my favorite. He gets the most attention and development with five stories. Pandara the Pirate Prince is featured in two stories. Arios, Soldier in the Ashes of Empire is featured in three stories. Lastly, Datu Buhawi the Whirlwind is only featured in the last story.

The TOC boasts a list of titles that fire the imagination. Take a look:

Orhan Timur: Tales of the Snow Leopard
                Black Titan of Gaikand
                The Unholiness at Zogruthang
                The Sons of Zhulkarnein
                Lord of the Brass Host
                Valley of the Yellow-Eyed King
Pandara: The Pirate Prince
                In the Service of the Serpent King
                Law of the Knife
Arios: Soldier in the Ashes of Empire
                Mountain of the Chained God
                The Key to the Dead
                The Sea Dragon's Blood
Datu Buhawi: Wrath of the Whirlwind
                Track of the Whirlwind

Independently published works are often riddled with typos. Because let's face it, no matter how thorough you are, mistakes happen. Swords of the Four Winds is edited very well with only a few minor typos creeping in towards the end of the book.

So, in closing, this collection will appeal to fans of Howard, Lamb and Gemmell. It delivers a setting that is not often visited in this type of fiction. I'm proud to have a copy on my shelf. And if you encounter Dariel on the Whetstone Discord server be sure to say hello.

Get out there and support small press and indie authors! Sword of the Four Winds is available for Kindle and paperback from Amazon.

Dariel Quiogue’s website: Swashbuckling Planets