Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pages: 784
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit books
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Plagued by infighting among the ruling families, the Tressian Republic remains blind to the outside threat posed by the Hadari Empire—their armies stand at the door to the republic.
Josiri Trelan is a political prisoner, caught in the shadow of his mother’s failed rebellion, and wants nothing more than to reignite the rebellion and finish what she started.
His sister, Calenne Trelan, wants nothing more than to be free of the name that brands her as a traitor—even if that means entering into a loveless marriage.
Viktor Akadra, the war hero that stomped out the rebellion started by the Trelan family matriarch, hides a dark secret that could brand him a heretic and cost his life.
But as the threat from the Hadari Empire grows stronger, they’ll be forced to work together, set aside old the past and move forward to protect themselves and their people. But even if they work through the years of bad blood, the cost of victory might demand a price none are prepared to pay.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an eARC of this book**
This book was absolutely stunning. It just had that feeling that makes a good epic. It’s the kind of book that I love to curl up in and read for weeks (hah, I rarely get that opportunity when I read on a schedule), but it is one that I recommended almost immediately to the hubby—who is a notoriously picky reader.
The characters really did it for me, they seemed well-rounded, real, and wonderfully flawed. And all the schemes, it was like there are all these strings and they’re everywhere and oh shit, shit’s gonna hit the fan and as it was all coming together, I didn’t want to stop reading. Absolutely fantastic, and a brilliant handling of dozens of subplots.
Not only was everything brilliantly set up, the writing itself was gorgeous and easy to get lost in. I was so invested right from the beginning—not an easy feat for a nearly 800 page book. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book (holy shit, what a way to end the opening to a trilogy!) and am thrilled to see what else Ward has for us in the coming years.
I fully recommend this book to anyone who loves a dense and thick epic fantasy to get lost and immersed in. It’s definitely been a while since I got this pulled into a book.
To learn more about the author, check out his website: http://thetowerofstars.com/
And to preorder the book click here.
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