Gareth Hanrahan's three-month break from computer programming to concentrate on writing has now lasted fifteen years and counting. He's written more gaming books than he can readily recall, by virtue of the alchemical transmutation of tea and guilt into words. He lives in Ireland with his wife and three children. Follow him on Twitter at @mytholder.
The front runner for my book of the year . . . The Sword Defiant is a love letter to roleplaying games, to Tolkien, to what epic fantasy has been about for me through my whole life. I adored this book from the first page to the last. Hanrahan has taken the best of the old, the best of the last two decades, and then brought it screaming into the modern era. Fans of Gemmell and Abercrombie need this on their shelves -- Ed McDonald, on THE SWORD DEFIANT A gloriously gritty adventure through Hanrahan's astonishing imagination -- Peter McLean, author of PRIEST OF BONES, on THE SWORD DEFIANT Hanrahan's RPG roots are clear, but it's the incredible depth of his imagination that make his world and story unique. He takes traditional characters and settings, throws in his own unique and monstrous creations and builds something completely fresh. Simultaneously familiar and completely original, The Sword Defiant is a treat for all fantasy fans, and especially for RPG players. It's an absolute blast -- Justin Lee Anderson, author of THE LOST WAR, on THE SWORD DEFIANT Hanrahan is one of the best in the business at creating fantasy worlds that feel alive . . . It's a world that takes familiar fantasy archetypes, and turns them into cool characters with big personalities . . . I'll say it again - I'll read any book that Gareth Hanrahan writes -- FANTASY INN on THE SWORD DEFIANT This grim and gritty tale is a solid sequel to The Sword Defiant that raises the stakes and propels the story in cataclysmic fashion . . . a tale of grief and triumph, where the monsters aren't always obvious and people easily turn on those who save the world. It's clever how the book comes full circle towards the end, and the myths of the Erlking add a mystical tone to the intrigue . . . Hanrahan's sword-and-sorcery series is perfect for fans of The Witcher -- LIBRARY JOURNAL on THE SWORD UNBOUND This is everything you could ever want in an engrossing fantasy novel that hits you with one mind-blowing scene after another. Come for the cranky sentient talking sword and legendary heroes of old, stay for the next level worldbuilding, dark magic, and intense scheming/treachery. A one of a kind fantasy and another stunning achievement from Gareth Hanrahan -- OUT OF THIS WORLD SFF on THE SWORD UNBOUND