Editorial Reviews of the book
The Ever Fiend is a fantastic (pun intended) first showing from debuting author Randy Ellefson, starting off the Talon Stormbringer series with a bang. Our anti-hero lead is an enigmatic and charismatic rogue so surrounded by darker shades of black you can’t help but cheer for his sly antics and wry demeanor when it shows itself. Not quite a comedic lead, not a Poe-faced and dour “dark” anti-hero type that sadly populates the fantasy genre, Talon is a balanced character that can pull the story along on his personality alone. Luckily for Talon, the story doesn’t need the help – it’s a fun, creative world full of just-as-interesting people to deal with, and stab in the back when possible, of course, not to mention the awesome magic wielded by and against the cast.
Randy Ellefson has really made himself a name to watch with this title as his debut. With strong writing and strong characters, this is a strong introduction to Talon Stormbringer and what to expect in his upcoming series. This is a wholly professional product with a beautiful cover and a great amount of care taken on the piece throughout. It’s great to see a fantasy read with this amount of love poured into it, with the skill and know-how to make it gleam. A stand-out for dark fantasy, Talon Stormbringer brings the thunder in his first proper outing. Let’s hope to see more of his adventures and misadventures very, very soon!
Randy Ellefson bio
Author and world building strategist Randy Ellefson has written fantasy fiction and created fictional worlds since the 1980s. In addition to authoring the most detailed world building books available, he’s the founder and lead instructor at World Building University, blogs regularly on the subject, and hosts a popular podcast. The Writer’s of the Future contest has recognized his writing three times.