The Lost War

Justin Lee Anderson’s sensational epic fantasy debut was voted best self-published fantasy book of the year* and begins a tale of magic, mayhem, and a ragtag group of adventurers who just might be the key to saving their kingdom.

“Excellent – full of great characters, tense action scenes and truly surprising twists. A highly recommended read.” – James Islington

The war is over, but peace can be hell.

Demons continue to burn farmlands, violent mercenaries roam the wilds, and a plague is spreading. The country of Eidyn is on its knees. 

In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first mage to be named King’s Envoy. And his latest task is to restore an exiled foreign queen to her throne.  

The band of allies he assembles each have their own unique skills. But they are strangers to one another, and at every step across the ravaged land, a new threat emerges, lies are revealed, and distrust could destroy everything they are working for. Somehow, Aranok must bring his companions together and uncover the conspiracy that threatens the kingdom—before war returns to the realms again.

​”Rich in action and intrigue, this fantasy adventure is sure to please fans of David Gemmell.” – Anthony Ryan 

“Exquisite.” – Gareth Hanrahan

“Strikingly intense . . . . Immersive and thoroughly compelling.” – SFX

For more from Justin Lee Anderson, check out:

The Eidyn Saga
The Lost War
The Bitter Crown


*Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off

• “The uncertainties of a traumatized society provide the thematic underpinning for The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson. An eclectic cast of characters traverse a war-ravaged kingdom as Anderson's cleverly constructed plot winds its way towards a truly unexpected denouement. Rich in action and intrigue, this fantasy adventure with a Scottish flavor is sure to please fans of David Gemmell.”
  Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
• “Excellent - full of great characters, tense action scenes and truly surprising twists. A highly recommended read.”
  James Islington, author of The Shadow of What was Lost
• "Justin’s book reads like you’ve been dropped in the middle of a classic fantasy adventure, full of familiar elements twisted to be terrifying again - and then ramps up the tension to distract you from the sucker punch he’s been planning all along. Exquisite."
  Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Sword Defiant
• "Enjoyable and high-energy."
  Kirkus
• "The Lost War is full of exciting action, but the interpersonal relationships of the party are even more compelling. This tightly plotted magical odyssey, which was originally self-published, will be a hit with fans of grimdark fantasy like Joe Abercrombie’s Half a War or Nicholas Eames’ Kings of the Wyld"
  Booklist
• "The classic adventure tale is made all the more enjoyable by the baffling mystery that simmers beneath the surface, and the stunning climax throws a wrench in all preconceived notions and stretches the bounds of imagination ... This exciting novel manifests as fierce and fresh epic fantasy with DnD undertones. Perfect for fans of Anthony Ryan."
  Library Journal
• “A fantastic read. A twist which is just magnificent. It’s an exceptional book and I can’t recommend it enough.”
  Steve McHugh, author of The Last Raven
• "[A] gripping epic ... Anderson’s talent at crafting memorable characters will whet appetites for the sequel. Raymond Feist fans will be especially enthralled."
  Publishers Weekly
• “Strikingly intense … immersive and thoroughly compelling.”
  SFX
• “Compelling and entertaining … inventive and fun.”
  SciFiNow
• "A blistering tale packed with action and adventure."
  Evening News
• "I know that fantasy readers will gobble this and the remaining books in the series up. I am already eagerly awaiting The Bitter Crown ... Even those who don’t necessarily count fantasy as their favorite genre will enjoy The Lost War for its witty banter and strong mystery vibes with an excellent twist at the end. I highly recommend it to everyone."
  Cosmic Circus
• "There’s a lot of The Lost War that feels like a sort of high-end Dungeons and Dragons game ... The battle sequences are descriptive and thrilling, and the larger hints at the world that once existed ... add richness and texture."
  Paste Magazine
• "This is one of the most memorable books I've had the pleasure of reading. From the characters to the plot and the world each one of these were outstanding ... One of the most compelling, entertaining, intriguing, thrilling, fast paced and absolutely brilliant first book in a series that I've ever read. It'll keep you at the edge of your seat during the whole book. An absolutely outstanding first book in The Eidyn Saga. I highly recommend it."
  Fantasy Book Critic
• "The Lost War starts out as a dark sword and sorcery fantasy quest, but becomes something much more powerful by the end. With this book, Justin Lee Anderson firmly establishes himself as a unique voice in the fantasy landscape. If the sequel to The Lost War were out, I would’ve started reading it already. This is a full, epic quest, but it is also only the beginning of a promising new fantasy saga."
  Winter Is Coming
• "Filled with well-worn tropes and classic adventurer archetypes – Anderson’s skillful execution left me completely charmed. . . . Anderson does a fantastic job developing unique dynamics between the party members that vault the book beyond the sum of its parts. And it all builds up to a massive twist at the end that completely upends your understanding of what you’ve read."
  Polygon