Gotchimus the barbarian traveled far to consult the wizards of the empire. Instead of lending their aid, they ensorcelled him, exploited his strength, and stole his sword. They should not have done that.
Now the barbarian plans to kill every wizard who wronged him, even if that means blending in with their vile society: dressing in finery, taking tea in exclusive clubs, and reserving the best box at the theater.
Oh, he hates it all with the fiery passion of his savage heart, but not as much as he hates these wizards.
Kill All Wizards by Jedediah Berry will be published June 16, 2026. Tor Publishing Group provided an early galley for review. This story is the first in the Barbaric Ledgers series.
This sword and sorcery tale has a different feel right out of the gate (as if the cover did not hint at that). It is a world that blends fantasy with more advanced concepts (trains, mechanical servants, and typeset news). Berry's writing weaves poetic prose, wide worldbuilding, and buddy banter in an interesting way. It reminds me a bit of Dave Sim's long-running Cerebus comic.
I appreciate that Berry chose to publish a shorter work, rather than pad it with additional tangents and subplots that did not fit with this story's arc. It really avoids the saggy-middle that plagues a lot of books.
The cast of characters here were interesting and fun, with plenty of room for growth in future tales. Though this was my first reading of the author's work, I doubt it will be my last. I look forward to more.
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