A Dance of Burning Blades

Quotes

"A Song of Legends Lost is stunning and vividly told, an incredible blend of tech and magic in a world where the characters are rediscovering the truth. It is impossible not to be swept away, to yearn as hard as the characters do, to feel both dread and joy as the events unfold. Ayinde is a master storyteller."

"A truly excellent debut, with a genuinely fascinating magic system, engaging characters and deep worldbuilding. A fantastic read."

"A relentlessly gripping, glorious epic fantasy - the exhilarating must-read fantasy debut of 2025." 
 

‘An epic tale of conflict, betrayal, and intrigue . . . M.H. Ayinde weaves a rich and engrossing story through a unique and fascinating world.’ 

"A hugely ambitious science-fantasy epic, a whirlwind debut of ferocious talent and compulsive storytelling that lifts you up from the first page and never lets go. It's joyous from end to end - and highly recommended!"

"Ayinde storms into the fantasy genre with a triumphant shout of a novel, and takes no prisoners. Ayinde invokes the storied tradition of epic fantasy whilst giving it a glorious new twist."

"Intricate and imaginative, A Song of Legends Lost is a masterpiece of storytelling, where every secret begets a deeper, more pressing mystery. Ayinde's world is both ancient and new, satisfying but moreish, poisonous yet oh so delicious - a book fulfilling wishes you never knew you'd made."

"M.H. Ayinde has layered a cast of instantly-compelling characters and a gripping plot over a setting that blends fantasy and sci-fi in fascinating ways."

"Every now and then I read a book that reminds me why I fell in love with fantasy. A Song of Legends Lost is such a book! Ayinde has crafted a masterpiece bursting with imagination, feeling, and just sheer awesomeness. I had a ton of fun reading this and I know readers will too."

"A brilliantly original, genre-busting science fantasy epic. It blends a seemingly ancient world with spiritual magic and mysterious technology into a sprawling landscape of societal injustice and widespread conspiracy. The mysteries unravel at a gripping pace in a rich and elegant world. I've never seen anything like this before and I love it!" – Justin Lee Anderson, author of The Lost War

"Offers you everything you could possibly wish for from epic fantasy. You will gasp, you will cry, and most of all, you will not stop turning the pages."
– Annabel Campbell, author of The Outcast Mage
 
“A Song of Legends Lost is what I want to point to when we talk about why modern fantasy is so good. Do not miss this one." – Jen Williams, British Fantasy Award winner

"A Song of Legends Lost absolutely delivers on the promise of adventure. It’s a fantasy of epic proportions, with an expansive world and complex characters that inhabit it. [A] sweeping and impressive debut." – Christina Orlando, Reactor Magazine

“An epic tale of ancestral summoning, complicated families and forbidden magic in the Nine Lands, rich with hidden histories, kinetic battles and immersive, Africa-inspired worldbuilding. It's Game of Thrones meets Jagun Jagun by way of Final Fantasy with a healthy dose of something new and unique that is entirely Ayinde's own!" – Wole Talabi, Author of Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon

“M. H. Ayinde’s debut promises grand revelations, cutthroat intrigue, and desperate conflict, all in service of an ending fated to be as satisfying and definitive as the pressing in place of the final piece of an elaborate puzzle.” – Evan Winter, author of Rage of Dragons