Yikes! Haven’t updated in a while. Here are reviews for my five-book YA adventure series, “A War of Banes and Demons.” They come from two sources: Kirkus Reviews and The Canadian Review of Materials. These are excerpts. The links for the full reviews are at the bottom of the page.
This is a bit of a brag, but City of Blood and Fire received a ‘starred review’ from Kirkus. I’m told only three or so percent of ‘indie’ books get one of those.
Let’s go!
Reviews for City of Demons (Book 1)
“Smoothly written with a brisk pace and engaging characters, Harkness’ novel builds a believable world that readers will find easy to slip into. The demons are delightfully unique, with different-sized jewels in the skulls of each species that directly correlate to the amount of fear they give off to nearby humans and animals. Meanwhile, the intense battle scenes deliver plenty of action and bloodshed: “The old bane leaned into the shield with all his weight until, with a horrid screech from the demon, the point tore through the leathery skin of its back and dark blood flowed out over the stones of the square.”
This exhilarating adventure will hook readers with its explosive combination of action, danger, and heart.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Dense with details and adventure, with a touch of romance, City of Demons should appeal to readers who enjoy a fantasy tale of growing up fast in a world with monsters and the heroes who fight them. Recommended. – Canadian Review of Materials
Reviews for City of Masks (Book 2)
“Harkness continues to show great skill at building a world that’s both fantastical and impressively immersive. Naturalistic dialogue, fully fleshed-out characters, and Harkness’s novel version of demons make for a quick and compelling read: “one shadow seemed to separate from the others. It became more than shadow. The flickering light illuminated a long, beak-like mouth that split open to display rows of sharp teeth and a questing tongue.” A cliffhanger ending will have readers looking forward to Garet’s future adventures.
Top-notch action and a colorful cast make for a thrilling new series entry.” – Kirkus Reviews
“With detailed battles and adventures, and a touch of romance, City of Masks should appeal to readers who enjoy a fast-moving fantasy tale in a world with monsters, human villains, and the heroes who fight against them. Recommended.” – Canadian Review of Materials
Reviews for City of Sand (Book 3)
“Harkness makes the surprising but smart choice to forefront what might be considered a “side mission” within the overarching arc of the series’ plotline. Letting these side characters assume center stage, and introducing the fascinating characters and culture of the sandwalkers (aka demons), offers readers a broader, more meaningful glimpse into the various cultures and tribes within this carefully built world. Harkness also retains his knack for creating horror and tension while imbuing his characters with depth: “The sandwalker crouched there, trembling. This close to the demon, the fear battered her like a midday sun. She could not raise the bow. Wave after wave of horror called up terrifying memories: and they all came in her mother’s voice.” Fans and newcomers alike will find this a worthy entry in the series.
Epic battles and breathtaking adventure appear alongside a moving exploration of friendship and forgiveness.” – Kirkus Reviews
“With a vivid description of the imaginative Sandwalker culture and life trying to survive in a deadly ocean of sand, Harkness adds varied and interesting characters readers can become involved with and care about. City of Sands should appeal to readers who enjoy a fast-moving fantasy tale in an unfamiliar world filled with monsters, human villains, and the sometimes very flawed heroes. Highly Recommended.” – Canadian Review of Materials
Reviews for City of Shadows (Book 4)
“With his signature electric battle scenes and rich descriptions of even the most twisted creatures, Harkness whips this installment into a frenzy that ends on a whopping cliffhanger. All the individual threads are on the verge of being tied together, which one can only assume will happen during the series’ conclusion in book five. But lovable characters and an adrenaline-pumping plot help make this installment shine all on its own.
A sharp, involving adventure with twists that will keep even regular series readers guessing.” – Kirkus Reviews
“With very human characters, the mystery of the how and why of demons, Harkness adds in the deeper problems of the north with its dragons and a forest filled with suspicious goings on. The tale has varied and very human characters readers can care about. City of Shadows should appeal to readers who enjoy a fast-moving fantasy tale in a world plagued by monsters, human villains, and defended by youthful, very relatable heroes. Recommended.” – Canadian Review of Materials
City of Blood and Fire (Book 5)
“Alongside the rich descriptions and brisk action are explorations of larger themes: good versus evil, the weight of power, and what it means to be human. A bittersweet ending—complete with a shocking banishment and slightly less shocking wedding—provides a fitting conclusion to a saga that still contains the potential for many more adventures.
A smart, fast-paced series finale that ties up loose ends while providing all the action readers have come to expect.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“With City of Blood & Fire being the final book in the series, most loose ends are neatly tied up, and readers’ questions are answered. Recommended.” – Canadian Review of Materials
Full reviews can be found at Kirkus Reviews and The Canadian Review of materials.