Review: The warrior of God and the people of Leij

The Austrian author Alexander Sandmann recently made his debut with his excellent fantasy short novel 'When Stories Died' (you can find more information about it following our review of his second work, 'The Legends of Leij').

As the author himself says, he is an avid Tolkien fan. He does not consider himself to be on a par with Tolkien, but readers might well do so. Like the tales of Middle-earth, his latest epic narrative, 'The Legends of Leij', will linger long in the memory. This is simply because it contains so much that is human.

What happens in 'The Legends of Leij'?

'I have fallen into this world.' This sentence echoes in the mind of a man who suddenly finds himself without any memory, as if after a fall. Fragments of images with lights occasionally drift through his mind, accompanying him for years on end. But he cannot remember. He sets off and ends up in a monastery. There, he is trained as a holy warrior for the 'one true God', fighting for his faith as he travels across the plains.

He almost becomes a legend as the 'Black Rider', whom his former fellow monks regard as the embodiment of evil. Then comes the fateful day on which he frees a captive. He kills her pursuers and takes her back to where she belongs: to Leij, the legendary city of peace and non-violence.

However, Leij has become decadent in many respects. Moreover, it is forced to pay tribute and is defenceless. Non-violence is its creed. Yet those in positions of responsibility remain unaffected by this, driven by a lust for power and corruption. And so begins a convoluted, cruel game centred on Leij.

It's a deeply engaging read that captivates readers

The 'One Who Fell into the World' teaches people to fight. Regarded as the reincarnation of a legendary mythological figure, he is a man with a strange bond to the woman he rescued – a combination of love and purpose. This inescapable relationship is characterised by mutual respect and shrouded in mystery.

Murder, conflict and conspiracy unfold, raising questions. Questions that could easily be asked in our own time and world. How many lives must be sacrificed to save the majority? When – if ever – can murder be justified? And just how calculating can a lover be?

'The Legends of Leij' is an absolutely gripping fantasy novel containing genuinely surprising plot twists. As such, this story contains all the elements one would expect from the genre. It is a deeply satisfying read and comes highly recommended.

My reading recommendation: (Advertising) 'The Legends of Leij' comprises around 285 pages and was published in August 2026. Alexander Sandmann has published his fantasy novel exclusively as an e-book.

The German edition was published under the title 'Die Legenden von Leij', also exclusively as an e-book (you can read our German-language review here).

More books by Alexander Sandmann: Read our review of the fantasy short novel 'When Stories Died' here!

© The review of 'The Legends of Leij', a fantasy novel by Alexander Sandmann, was written by Izabel Comati, 09/2026.