A. J. Smith spent twelve years devising The Long War cycle. When not living in the Lands of Ro, he works in secondary education.
'Martin meets Lovecraft ... Fun and refreshingly direct' * SciFiNow * 'Interesting and enticing, deftly sidesteps fantasy cliche and thrusts you towards the next instalment' * SFX * The Black Guard has been described as Martin meets Lovecraft , and doesn't disappoint on either count. With bleak personal stories of loss and hardship, wars between rival nations and a plot to resurrect a dead god, the novel is packed with action and intrigue, 7/10' * Fantasy Faction *