The Price of Fear by Miles Lyon

Blurb:

For a Godless like Azreal the Wretched, peace might be a more profitable time, but it’s no less bloody…

A decade into the armistice with Inath, the North, once united against invasion, finds itself a divided kingdom. Azreal – an infamous mage of the Northern military – operates in his native land as a contract killer, employed to hunt traitors by a king who is squabbling against his would-be usurpers.

But when the completion of his latest bounty unveils a foreign plot to dethrone the North altogether, Azreal is the only one who can cross the border and respond in kind…

Or he would have been, until betrayal at the final moment resulted in his killing of the wrong man and capture by those that he’s spent half his life fighting.

Now, imprisoned and awaiting his execution for the murder of an Inathian crown prince, Azreal finds himself across the interrogation table from Anamira Lestrade. A career criminal investigator, Ana is tasked with extracting the truth behind the assassination or dying in failure – linking the two through one last story that could stave off both their gruesome ends.

Possessed of few friends, countless enemies, magic blades that feast on his emotions, and the haunting rumors of how he won his name, Azreal the Wretched’s narrative pits him against traitorous conspiracy, brutal magical feuds, and broken promises of love. And if there is any hope of making it out alive at its end, he’ll need to conquer the price it cost him to paint the tale red:

Fear.

Review:

The realm of grimdark fantasy welcomes another heavy-hitter, featuring unforgiving magic and carcasses on every corner. Judging by the spectacular cover, I anticipated a heaping scoop of grit and gore with The Price of Fear… and Miles Lyon delivered a veritable buffet.

Our protagonist is Azreal the Wretched, a northerner wielding terrifying magic, and one of the infamous ‘godless’ — elite mages that elicit copious amounts of fear and dread with but a whisper of their name. It’s enough to get any fan of grimdark riled up for a thrilling read.

“But fear is a hell of a thing. Its power lies specifically in its irrationality. It’s deceptive, the way shadows are deceptive — always there but only looming when there’s enough light to create them.”

Lyon’s debut takes inspiration from many of the genre greats, but manages to deliver a uniquely riveting experience, with the volume cranked up to eleven. The atmosphere is tense, reminiscent of Malazan with its larger-than-life characters and scope of events. The magic incorporates various emotions, sounds, and other unique elements specific to each character.

As the title implies, each system of magic comes with a price. In this grimdark epic, nothing is free. Not an insult, not a rumour, nor a seemingly insubstantial use of magical abilities. With each use, the characters are inflicted with a heavy cost, ranging across a variety of life-draining consequences. The anxiety and trepidation are palpable as a reader, through a myriad of harrowing elements that make this such a gripping, adrenaline-fuelled read.

“But what is love, if not action in the absence of reason? If not perseverance in the face of sense?”

The narrative is bolstered by quality prose, offering thought-provoking questions and descriptive, poetic richness that carries a signature grimdark rawness and grit. Readers will surely be offered the chance to indulge in this descriptive richness, and Lyon does well to halt the flow before reaching the borders of tedium.

Beneath the layers of plot intrigue and character work is a history and lore that reaches vast depths, and I’m sure will rise steadily to the surface as the series continues. The Godless are an intriguing lot, and each suffers the burden of their magic in unique ways. The scene has been set for an epic conflict which promises even more violence, betrayal, and blood-drenched sorrow to come. The glory days may have passed for these characters, but more are about to be forged in what has now become a highly anticipated sequel!

The Price of Fear is an outstanding debut, and The Wretched Trilogy is well on its way to becoming a staple within the grimdark fantasy sphere. Fans of Abercrombie, Erikson, and List will likely find a new favourite here to grace their shelves.

The Price of Fear is available February 24, 2026.