The Unspoken Name is the first book in a debut series by A.K. Larkwood. Released 11th Feb 2020 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 464 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Occasionally (but distressingly rarely) a new (to me) author comes along in one of my favorite genres and really blows me away. This is one such happy occasion. This combines epic fantasy, incredibly detailed world building that feels real down to details of social convention and interaction, elements of the best SF, a female protagonist who isn't supergirl and too utterly perfect, overarching themes of honor, building a life which defies external expectations, and does so without feeling like a mash of a million unrelated threads trying to be everything to everyone. I also appreciate that this book didn't devolve into a romance, that Csorwe (the young female orc protagonist) was more realistically rendered (apart from being a badass assassin) than a lot of super-protagonists. Early on in the book, she's being taught languages by a succession of tutors and really does grumble like a kid being forced to do unwanted homework.

The plot is wonderfully rich and detailed, the narrative arc is beautifully engineered and for a book of nearly 500 pages, it moves along at a good clip. I never felt that the story dragged or lost my interest. In fact, I stayed up way too late on a couple occasions reading and almost missed my bus stop on my morning commute because I was so absorbed in the story.

I heartily recommend this author and this debut unreservedly. Five stars.

Arc received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 out of 5 stars

This book took everything I loved about fantasy novels and then added twists and turns that elevated the story to new heights. Csorwe was a heroine that I came to love as well as two other characters, Tal and Shuthmili. One thing I really came to enjoy was the romance between Shuthmili and Csorwe. It was a slow build up that felt natural. Especially, when we saw Shuthmili through Csorwe's eyes. Most the other narrators were rather dismissive of Shuthmili's appearance while Csorwe saw Shuthmili in a whole other light.

While I loved the world and the characters there were a few spots here and there that left me disappointed. The main one being that for such a long book there were so many things cut out of the story. I wanted to see more of Csorwe growing up with mercenaries instead of just hearing about it after the fact. Csorwe and Tal had this wonderful relationship full of childish one up man ship that I wanted to see more of. We go from them being complete enemies to being frenemies and I wanted to see that journey. Tal himself was a narrator I wanted to hear more from because his voice was downright hilarious while also being quite heartbreaking.

Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this book and can't wait to see more of Csorwe's story in the next book.

Firstly, thank you Tor, for the e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Unspoken Name by A. K. Larkwood is an action-packed, high fantasy, coming-of-age story (orcs, necromancers, mages, giant snakes, and countless fantasy races!). Csorwe lives in the House of Silence as the Unspoken One’s chosen bride. On her 14th birthday she is to walk into the shrine, never to be seen again. But a mage, on a quest for a lost relic, persuades her to turn away from her god and join him. She leaves the shrine, alive, by his side and sets out on adventure. With training and endless tutors, she becomes his sword hand and together they will reclaim his seat of power. Of course, it doesn’t end there, and Csorwe’s story of adventure continues. At its core, The Unspoken Name is a book about choices and their importance.

You really get three stories for the price of one with The Unspoken Name. Other authors may have drawn out each of Csorwe’s main adventures into its own book, but A. K. Larkwood utilizes every single one of those 464 pages to the max. A lot happens, enough that I questioned how so much happened, but it never felt like too much and it never felt rushed. Her prose is (forgive the genre-related pun) fantastic, and it really drew me into the story. The writing is descriptive and clever. The small pieces of comedy, amid what is often chaos and destruction, were a relief and were really well done.

I really loved that we followed the story of a young female orc. I think it was a refreshing change. Typically, these coming-of-age stories, especially those sold as fantasy, follow men – rogues, mages, swordsmen, but almost always mostly human. It was fun to follow a different type of character through a familiar genre.

Csorwe’s character development is realistic, as are her relationships with the main cast of the book. And I would be remiss not to include the gradual relationship progression between Csorwe and Shuthmili. It was sweet to watch their relationship progress, and to see how these two young women changed for it, developed around it. Like most of what I read, Csorwe’s sexuality wasn’t at the forefront of the book, it was just a part of her character. Because of this, the relationship between the two women isn’t necessarily at the forefront of the story, but it becomes a driving motivation and the story would have been entirely different, with different emotional stakes, without it.

From one SFF lover to another, you should read The Unspoken One. It is a wonderfully well written story, and if you are disappointed you can come fight me about it online (but I’m almost sure that you won’t).

Firstly, I want to thank Tor Books for sending me a finished copy of The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that you give to me.

The Unspoken Name was one of my most anticipated reads of this year so you can imagine my excitement going into this. The synopsis intrigued me so much and the cover is just absolutely beautiful. I had really high hopes for this one .. which I think might have been my problem. This is one of those books that I didn’t love but I definitely didn’t hate. It was okay. Maybe I put too much hope into this one considering it appears to be the first in a series?

The concept of The Unspoken Name I find was very unique. The adult fantasy market is very difficult nowadays with so many new authors and new releases frequently cropping up. A lot of them are almost always the same or very similar and this is something that gets a bit tedious after a while. The Unspoken Name is something that I don’t think you will see in its full form in another book, yes I think little snippets will be similar but on the whole I feel that this is a unique concept that worked very well. The world-building definitely helps the reader become hooked and in a world where anything seems to be able to happen you never know what you are going to encounter next. This concept is something that I really enjoyed about this book.

I think where it fell a bit short for me was the characterisation, I feel that the emotional attachment I like to get with characters just didn’t happen in this book. By no means am I saying that the characters are rubbish, I didn’t dislike them in that way I just did not feel like I was connected to any of them in a way that I really cared what was going to happen to them. This meant that I felt attached from the story and many plot twist, action scene didn’t really have too much of an effect on me. I also feel like whilst it is nice to see an LGBT representation in adult fantasy, this was very underrepresented. It was touched upon a few times but could have easily been missed. I almost felt like it was there for the sake of diversity. I would have loved to have seen this drawn upon a little bit more.

The Unspoken Name was a good book. I enjoyed my time reading it and it is a book that I would recommend. I will be picking up the sequel as I am intrigued to see where A.K. Larkwood goes with it.

3.5/4 stars.

Dark, mysterious and action packed.

If I had anything negative to say about this story, it's that you don't really get a feel for the characters. I didn't end up feeling anything for them, and there are some moments where the reader really should be feeling something for the character, however emotion wasn't conveyed well through the writing. The beginning held so much promise, but it sort of petered out as the story went on, and I really didn't get to latch on to any one character and really root for them.

I did really enjoy the concept of the story, and how in depth the different cultures and belief in their respective deities was. I appreciated that there was such a variety of races and how the worlds were connected.I also enjoyed that there was a LGBTQ aspect to the story as well.

I am torn about how to feel about this book. The plot was intriguing, the world building extensive, and how magic was woven into different religions and gods was fascinating. But there were some things that just didn't click with me.

The world and magic system are so extensive that it almost seemed overwhelming at times. It made the book feel longer than it was because there was so much going on all of the time. I also found I had a hard time caring about the characters. This did not help with the vastness of the world and the variety of characters we meet.

The world was a fascinating one though. The mix of technology and magic made it feel like an urban, high fantasy. I have not read any other books that attempt to blend the two genres and I thought it worked quite well for the story.
Overall I would recommend to anyone who likes high fantasy and lots of world building.

4 of 5 Stars

An Orc maiden, the gods and magic!

Firstly let me say what a fascinating cover! It quite drew me in to this story with Orcs, magicians, portals and strange lands. And let's not forget those gods who always have other plans! A new fantasy saga. What more could I want?
Csorwe is our Orc maiden who knows her future. She is to be the Sacrifice to the Unspoken God. (Ok folks! I had a lot of trouble speaking Csorwe's name. The first part 'Cs', pronounced like the 'ks' in books had me stumped. I never did get the hang of it!)
That aside, when Csorwe choose the path to Life presented to her by the mage Belthandros Sethennai, her world opens up in unexpected ways. I was struck by Sethennai's comment to Csorwe as they left the Unspoken One's Shrine. "The secret of greatness is to know when you should risk the wrath of god.”
It seems this is a path that Sethennai has oft contemplated. Mind you I wouldn't trust Sethennai but then Csorwe has little choice.
Csorwe will train to be Sethennai's sword arm, his right hand Orc person. She has his back. I must admit that Csorwe's unquestioning gratefulness to Sethennai palls a tad. But then what else does she know given her upbringing, her path as the Chosen Bride sacrifice, in the House of Silence priory? She always followed the proscribed path--until now!
Sethennai is determined to return to the city of Tlaanthothe and the powers of his patron, to defeat his enemy Olthaaros. To assist him he seeks a lost reliquary. One with drawback so we are told, “The Reliquary of Pentravesse is said to mark its passage through the world, in the sense that a scythe marks its passage through the grass.” A most uncomforting description!
The beginning chapters had Csorwe finding her feet, as was I, a follower of her journey. I found I wasn't as engaged as I'd hoped. I'd wander off to do something else, like eat whilst muttering 'that name'! It wasn't until later in the book that I found the more compelling elements developing. That's when I became fully engaged. Oh, and I'm still having problems with pronouncing Csorwe's name! It's just not happening!

A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley

The Unspoken Name is an outstanding debut fantasy novel with strong world-building, well-developed characters, and a sweet, slow-burn romance. If you're looking for something fresh in fantasy, be sure to check out The Unspoken Name today!

This book was a great, gripping read and I devoured it despite not usually reading much fantasy. The character felt fresh, the worlds interesting, the romance was a sweet, slow burn. I would have loved a map or some sort of idea of how the worlds fit together (and how they could travel between places so quickly).

The pronounciation guide at the beginning nearly put me off, but I'm so glad I read on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for an ARC copy.

The best fantasy book I have read in a long time. I was immediately sucked into the complex world and always left guessing what would happen next.

Larkwood somehow mixed fantasy and sci-fi with just enough humor and romance to make one incredible story. This book felt way longer that it is really is and I mean that in a good way, I cannot wait to see what the characters get into next in the book!

The Unspoken Name is the first novel in a new epic fantasy series by A.K. Larkwood. It’s also a novel that I’ve been hearing nonstop chatter about – all gushing reviews and commentary. So naturally, I knew that this was going to be a piece worth checking out.

Csorwe has lived her entire life knowing when and where she would die. She grew up knowing that she was the Chosen Bride of the Unspoken One. And that meant that on the day of her fourteenth birthday, she would become a sacrifice to him.

Her birthday came, but the sacrifice did not. For one wonderful wizard walked into her life and offered her a choice. It was the first real choice ever offered to her, and it changed her life forever. Literally.

“The Chosen Bride of the Unspoken One was set apart by protocol, but also by pragmatism. There was no point cultivating the friendship of a Chosen Bride.”

Oh my goodness. I officially understand why everyone was gushing so much about The Unspoken Name. This novel has a lot to offer, not least of which being how unique and thrilling it is! This is a novel unlike any other fantasy series out there, at least not that I’ve seen.

The Serpent’s Gates is the name of the series, and I can already tell that this is going to be an epic fantasy series worth keeping an eye on. If The Unspoken Name is anything to go by (which it is), Larkwood is going to have many more surprises up her sleeves.

The entire premise of this novel is choice. Csorwe had that taken away from her as a child. Only to be handed it back by the hands of a stranger. From that moment onward, her tale was a series of choices. She chose to be free. She chose to follow the wizard who saved her life. She chose to fight.

There’s a powerful message to be found there. And it’s not the only message Larkwood wove into her tale. I think that is why this is such a powerful tale, and why it is speaking to so many readers. This novel (and series) cover a lot of intensely human elements.

The worldbuilding showcased in this novel is extremely impressive. I know that this is A.K. Larkwood’s debut novel – but seriously, keep an eye on her. Her worlds are outstanding, so lush and full of detail. There’s plenty of religions, politics, alliances, lore, and plotting to be found in her works.

Another noteworthy part of this book? It really reads as more of two books blended together. The first half of the book are the scenes I’ve described above; the life Csorwe lived when she intended to be a sacrifice, and then her choice to flee with the wizard and everything that entailed. The second half of the novel jumps forward five years after Csorwe has trained and learned confidence in herself. She is still very much keep on making her own choices, and that leads her to the fray – and to choose her own destiny in regards to love as well.

I’m honestly blown away from The Unspoken One and am already finding myself anxiously looking forward to the sequel in this series because it’s clearly going to be a good one. At least I know I’m waiting in good company.

The description drew me in immediately - fantasy based around the life of an Orc? Mysterious mage? Girl with swords? I'm in. While various descriptions have called Csorwe and her people orc's I appreciate that Larkwood doesn't use the term. Yes, they have various physical similarities to what many people think of as orc's but giving them their own name allows Larkwood to create their world more fully, and Larkwood does just that wonderfully. The world (or worlds) are intriguing, and while we do not know exactly how this multi-world system works, we don't have to. We know, as our protagonists do, how to traverse those worlds, the different threats faced in each one, the various mysteries waiting to be uncovered on another.

A fast-paced adventure that kept me rooting for Csorwe even as I questioned some of her loyalties and choices. There are elements that seem a little flat, or plot points that move too fast to truly feel the characters grew into those choices or romances, but these can be forgiven because the writing and plotting still kept me needing to know what happened next and why. I very much look forward to the next installment in this series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Macmillan, and Tor/Forge for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced eGalley of this book.

What a wonderful surprise of a novel - and a debut one, at that. The story was complex, filled to the brim with action, and very satisfying. From the first page, I knew this was going to be something special. I thought the plot was incredibly unique. I was instantly invested in Csorwe and her journey, and it was a pure delight to watch her learn and grow over the years. Without going into spoiler territory, I will say that I massively enjoyed the arcs of many of the multi-faceted and well-rounded characters. They changed and grew in response to their life experiences, and their motivations were complex. A.K. Larkwood never seemed to take the easy way when it came to her character development. However, I was not as taken with the romance aspect, although it did pick up the plot during the second half of the book. I may be the type of reader that doesn’t appreciate romance in fantasy novels – which I know may be silly and is definitely a subjective opinion. I did like the slow burn and I can appreciate how this romance reflected the independence and self-realization of Csorwe, but I almost wanted to see who she would be without the romantic plotline.

I was at initially put off by what I perceived as a lack of description; for example, I wanted every aspect of the Echo Maze outlined for me – how it looked, how it worked, etc. I even wanted Csorwe’s physical appearance to be thoroughly described beyond what was given. This is likely due to my recent experience with description-heavy high fantasy novels. It’s easy to build a world in my mind when all the pieces are painstakingly laid out for me. However, I quickly realized how my own imagination and creativity filled in the holes I thought I needed filled for me. It gave me the freedom to realize the story in a natural and personalized way. That being said, I do still prefer being shown rather than being told. I feel I would’ve felt more connected to the world and the characters if I had been given more. I did appreciate the frequent use of analogy, which helped strengthen my understanding of this fantasy world by using imagery I could instantly recognize. Truly, it was a fun read and I look forward eagerly to the next installment.

The Unspoken Name was a fascinating premise with some great characters, but despite a plethora of glowing reviews from the rest of the world, the plot just didn’t come through for me.

The premise is a young girl, chosen to be ritual sacrifice, given a chance at the last minute to escape death and become something far greater. A life spent helping, and learning from, a great and powerful wizard. (No. Not the wizard of Oz.) Under his training, she’ll become a warrior, spy, and assassin, though the degree she does any of those things is up for debate.

I was in love with this premise. It showed so much process, but I found it to be full of half-truths. And very quickly, the book becomes about something else completely. But more on that later.

The characters were fantastic. I enjoyed them all. Deep, developed, and all with their own lives and backstories. These weren’t just people waiting in the wings until the novel needed them. However, after getting to know them, they started to do things that completely went against their nature, at least as far as I understood it. Gave me the impression that many of their decisions were based purely on plot development, which made everything feel just a little cardboard.

I usually enjoy when a book can surprise me. This book did that a lot, but not in a good way. Most of twists and turns didn't make sense to me, which as I said above, the characters had something to do with. But also, you're told this book is one thing, and it ends up being another all-together.

With the amount of love this book is getting, I feel like I've missed something. I would suggest you take my review as a grain of salt (or less) and try it out yourself.

First, thank you so much NetGalley, Tor/Forge and Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

The Unspoken Name was a wonderful and unique debut! A good epic fantasy is hard to come by but this novel is giving my some serious Sanderson vibe and I LOVED that. It didn't take long for me to get hooked into this story and I felt as if it never slowed down. There are several fantasy novels that get so sucked into world building and small details, so it was refreshing to have a novel that was a little more on the fast paced side.

The characters within this book are where I get really attached. Each person felt like they had their own distinct voice and I was quickly swept away with all the character relationships. I became emotionally invested in these relationships and felt what these characters were feeling. It was also refreshing to see some representation for the LGBT+ community. We need MORE representation in all books but especially epic fantasy/sci-fi novels.

Speaking of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, this book gave us a unique blend of both which was so fun to experience. That aspect was unlike anything that I have read before and I am HERE FOR IT! All in all, I would definitely recommend this to a friend who was a fan of Sanderson, Martin, or Herbert.

Well, I DNF'd this one about 61%.
The story only slightly alluded to the sexual orientation of main characters up until now and I was hoping it wouldn't become part of the main storyline. Unfortunately, it did.
I personally don't enjoy reading queer romance stories and I wish the synopsis would have let me know before I requested this story through NetGalley that it was indeed part of the book. I don't care if a character is gay or straight and I really don't care for these authors getting on the bandwagon with this.
Since it wasn't part of the synopsis on Amazon, NetGalley, or Goodreads, I requested it and was granted a copy of this book. I think it's part of my duty as a reader to be honest and say why I didn't finish this book.
The story was amazing! The plot was intriguing and the characters and world building were on point - until...

The first time I saw this book, the cover immediately caught my eye! So I researched about it more and decided quickly that it’s the Adult SFF book I’ve been craving for! I mean, come on, a girl runs away from her destiny and becomes an assassin?! It sounds like a high fantasy book that will amaze me.

And oh, boy. I wasn’t wrong.

The Unspoken Name is a glorious story and an epic journey about a girl who learns how to defy her fate, to make her own choices, and to pursue freedom.

My thoughts on The Unspoken Name

It’s hard to discuss The Unspoken Name as if it’s only one book because it doesn’t seem like only one book. The story starts with Csorwe (pronounced as ksor-way) as a 14-year-old girl, ready to sacrifice herself, ready to accept her destiny, because she doesn’t know anything else. She doesn’t think she has any other choice. But lo and behold, she meets Sethennai, a powerful wizard, who tells her she can escape and have a chance at a different life. From there, Csorwe’s long and epic journey starts.

The world-building in this book is vast, expansive. There are many cities, kingdoms, different tribes/races, with different religions and gods. It’s all so unique, and mysterious, and exciting. The pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book also adds more allure to the world, because it’s not just a simple guide on how to pronounce the names of the characters or places. It also gives a glimpse into the various languages they use—how certain letters are pronounced, how certain parts sound. Also, the imagery in this book is just amazing. The author took the readers to various places—from shrines, to mountains, to palaces, to caves, and tombs.

The plot is intricate, the story spans 8 years after all. Since Csorwe’s initial escape, to her training as an assassin and the mage’s shadow, to going on an assignment and meeting someone who made her want to pursue what she wanted (and not what she was told), a lot has happened. And although the various events seem like they’re not related at first, they all interconnect at one point and they all make sense at the end. I loved the plot twists in this book. They’re the kind of plot twists that I should have seen coming, but I didn’t, and they’re just so shockingly good.

The character arcs are just wonderful to witness. Take Csorwe for example. She starts as this quiet, feeble girl and grows into a dangerous assassin and learns to really be herself and do what she wants (especially at the end of the book). Another character arc I came to love so much is Tal Charossa. I’m going to be honest and say that I hated his guts for most part of the book. He was annoying, kept butting heads with Csorwe, and was just blinded by his emotions. However, he unlocked some character development by the end of the book, and I really liked that.

Of course, I loved the addition of the romance, too. It’s slow burn, the kind that made me want to jump when they finally got together! It’s not the main aspect of the story, but it definitely changed Csorwe for the better. [kind of a spoiler, but I just want to say that they’re pretty much soft yet badass girlfriends and I love them]

Last but not the least, the writing style and the overall tone of the book is also commendable. It’s mysterious, but also quite humorous in several parts. It’s hard for me to look away from the pages because it’s just so intriguing, and I love how the author inserted humor, whether it be in the characters’ inner thoughts or the current situation.

Overall, The Unspoken Name is such a great read for me! I’m excited to see this book in the wild!

The Unspoken Name is a wonderful book and I know it's something I will love. For some reason it wasn't working for me at the moment yet despite that I know when I'm in the right head space I'll love. I definitely recommend this one and if you're excited get read for it to live up to the hype.

The Unspoken Name is an utterly captivating epic coming-of-age fantasy novel from a debut author who has immediately landed on my auto-buy list. The premise of an orc priestess destined to be her cult's sacrifice who is instead swept away by a dashing ambitious wizard and trained to be his deadly right hand is bold and exciting, but I wasn't prepared for how thoroughly this would enthrall me. It's an early contender for my favorite read of 2020 and highly likely to top many other's lists as well!

A. K. Larkwood has crafted a refreshingly original story which is predominantly fantasy-inspired but also incorporates space opera elements in its immersive and evocative world-building. Csorwe is an Oshaaru (what pop culture would call 'orcs') who resides at the House of Silence with priestesses and acolytes who serve the Unspoken One, a bloodthirsty old god who provides power and knowledge for the price of a blood sacrifice every fourteen years. As Csorwe hovers on the precipice of the shrine where she is to give up her life, Belthandros Sethennai intercedes to give her the option of fleeing with him - and having doubts about the destiny she was groomed for, she accepts.

---
"Are you afraid?" said Sethennai.
She swallowed. She couldn't bring herself to nod.
"Nothing in this world has earned the power to frighten you, Csorwe," he said. "You have looked your foretold death in the face and turned from it in defiance. Nothing in this world or any other deserves your fear."
---

Csorwe's life dramatically changes from a quiet, peaceful temple existence to being embroiled in one madcap adventure after another in a series of different worlds connected by the Maze of Echoes, which one can access via Gates and journey through on foot or by mazeship. The author doles out enough information to ensure the reader understands what is happening, but leaves out the exact mechanics and allows us to fill in the blanks. The audience is genre-savvy enough that we don't need to be bogged down in pages of theory and discussion on how exactly the Maze works or what the ships look like, we can simply accept that these concepts exist and move on. What's more interesting are the myriad of new worlds that Csorwe explores from the frantic market town of Grey Hook, blessedly normal with its bustling trade, to the dead zone of Echentyr filled with ancient corpses of its original serpent inhabitants, to forbidding fortresses and beautiful luxurious cities and wintry decaying worlds where the dead may rise. Each locale springs to mind vividly through the author's effortless atmospheric writing, placing us alongside the characters in whatever new escapade they're embarking on.

As unique and beautiful as the world-building is in this book, the characterization is on a whole other level. We witness Csorwe at the start as a scared fourteen-year old who is unworldly and helpless to fend for herself, then gathering her courage and hurtling herself into the unknown where she hones her skills, learning new languages, fighting and sword-craft to better serve Sethennai and aid him in retaking his city and locating a famed magical artifact. Finally she comes into her own as she begins to experience her own desires and conflicting motivations, where she must determine the strength of her loyalty and willingness to adhere to Sethennai's agenda and measure it against her newfound goals and affections.

---
"I thought we were on the same side."
That wasn't how it worked, of course. She was on Sethennai's side. His enemies were her enemies. It didn't work the other way.
---

The author never takes the easy way out, which could've been done by making Sethennai turn out to be a corrupt wizard and freeing Csorwe of her duty to him. It's a common enough trope that the Evil Mentor has dedicated TV Tropes page, but that would've robbed the story of its complicated character dynamics and emotional turmoil. In fact, there really isn't a Big Bad villain in this book, which is a delightful choice because that so often truncates storytelling possibilities - instead The Unspoken Name has a few antagonists whom Csorwe may despise or clash with, but will end up reluctantly allying with if the circumstances warrant it! Nobody is plain evil here, they all just have different goals and cultural influences that dictate their actions and make their decisions seem acceptable, which may not be the case from Csorwe's perspective.

Talasseres Charossa and Oranna are both complex characters who are given room and development to shine throughout this story; they constantly move in and out of Csorwe's orbit, often rattling or undermining her, occasionally surprisingly aiding her, but while she is our protagonist, their worldviews are given equal weight and consideration instead of being mocked or dismissed. Some of the book's most emotional and exciting moments come from these characters being honored with their own arc alongside our heroine. Besides which, they're just plain fun to read about, never missing an opportunity to verbally joust with Csorwe when they appear on page.

---
"Look, we have to stay together," she said.
"Wow, gross," said Tal.
"I mean it. We shouldn't lose sight of each other."
"Oh, yeah, imagine if you got dragged off into some kind of skeleton murder hole, I'd hate that."
---

I've saved the best for last, that being Shuthmili, a Qarsazhi mage indoctrinated into their Church with a sinister fate lying in wait once she passes her trials. While there isn't an exact correlation between her and Csorwe's positions in their respective cults, Csorwe feels a kinship with Shuthmili and yearns to offer her the same choice that she herself was once given - follow one's faith despite the personal consequences or seize the chance for freedom with all the danger and hope that comes with it. There is a wonderful thematic elegance with Csorwe finding herself in this position!

Shuthmili is another compelling character whose thoughts and dreams are given prominence in a well-written arc and while she doesn't appear til nearly halfway through the story, she makes an indelible impact. There are books with multiple protagonist POVs who aren't served as well as the secondary characters here! Because of her upbringing in which she was taught to be composed and rational, lest her magical powers overwhelm and corrupt her, Shuthmili is quietly reserved and resigned to her fate as being for the greater good. Once she encounters Csorwe, who alternately challenges and supports her, Shuthmili begins to acknowledge her own wistfully suppressed ambitions and contemplate a life beyond being tethered to the Church if she only had the courage and conviction to break free.

Their slow-burn romance is the stuff of dreams, I've yearned for a good sapphic romance in speculative fiction and it feels like this has materialized into existence just for me. This is an #OwnVoices romance as well, which is even better! The dynamic between Csorwe and Shuthmili is beautifully developed as the young women awkwardly haltingly interact for the first time on separate missions at the Hollow Monument, then fight in battle by each other's side and wind up joining forces for their mutual benefit. Their friendship teetering into eventual romance is wonderfully portrayed and will have readers holding their breath at each tender, vulnerable moment between them.

A highly recommended read, this will thrill all fantasy lovers with its combination of elaborate world-building, diverse compelling characters with brilliantly developed arcs and exciting action-packed storyline.

I didn't know anything about this book until i saw it on netgalley but the synopsis was just so appealing. I loved that book, it is a right high fantasy, written by a women and it's a debut ?! The characters had so much depth and I truly cared for them. The story was amazing and i just can't wait to go back to that world !