This was overall a decent read. Unfortunately in an age where Fantasy is really shining, books really need to stand out to grab readers- especially for a series as they are commitments. The plot was interesting and you can tell that Skovron is a seasoned writer. I felt that the characters fell flat, had there been more to them I likely would have given 4 stars.

There wasn't much character development. My main issue with them though is that the motivations are either unclear or feel trite. None of their actions made sense to me and I ultimately struggled to connect with them. As a reader, fleshed out characters are the most important aspect of a novel and in this, The Ranger of Marzanna missed the mark.

As to setting and plot, I do feel that the world building wasn't in-depth but still contributed immensely to the story. I enjoyed the plot, the pacing was usually on point but at times it felt like it sped by too quickly.

Overall I enjoyed the premise and folklore aspect, but the characters did leave me wanting more.

While the concept was promising, something about the pacing and language was just off. I felt like I was told a lot of information instead of shown it and I just couldn’t find a connection to the characters. I wish we had been able to see more of the rituals and history of the rangers, or even Sonya’s trials. I didn’t find either sibling very likable, so it didn’t create the tension the book needed.

This was SO GOOD.

I loved this story and the characters. I felt like it was beautifully paced for an epic fantasy and its characters were developed expertly. I loved the lore of the Rangers and how they give a piece away everytime they ask a boon from the goddess or die. And the assignment of rangers to different animals was such a different and interesting idea I was thoroughly entertained! I love that Sonya was overpowered but she made mistakes. She wasn't perfect, she ended up really screwing up a couple of times and she isn't vigilant to the shady politics that could spell trouble later on. I love how she almost felt like a time traveler, like she didn't quite fit into the culture of the world she was inhabiting. Something about her manner of speech felt very modern and was a little wacky, but it was also super funny. When she told the villain at the climax of the story that his "moustache was bad" I was bent over laughing.

I loved how the trajectory of the story for Sebastion led him further and further into the darkness but the changes were so subtle that I couldn't see it coming until it was too late for him. It was really interesting to be in the head of the impending villain, but on paper it almost seems like he had it all going in the right direction. All it took was a push and a nudge from bad people to throw him off. And the arc with Galina was wonderfully done, it really connected the dots and let the ending come to fruition in a believable way.

All in all, thoroughly enjoyable! I can't wait to read what happens next!

Thank you to netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really wanted to like The Ranger of Marzanna, but unfortunately, due to its simplistic writing and unbelievable characters and dialogue, I barely made it to the 50% mark of the book. And I actually wanted to stop reading at 8%. Though The Ranger of Marzanna has some great ideas, namely surrounding its Ranger, Sonya, and the goddess of death she serves, as well as two siblings on opposite sides of religion and war, there simply isn’t enough complexity in the characters or the world to make it worth a read.

“It was said that with each ‘gift’ of the Lady, a Ranger became less human, both in body and in mind.”

Not too surprisingly, my favorite part of the novel pertains to Sonya, who decorates the gorgeous cover. Sonya is one of the last Rangers of Marzanna. In ancient times, there were many more rangers, who were well-known, revered and respected. Recently, they defended the Izomoroz people from the invading empire and when they failed to prevent the invasion, were exterminated and the worship of their goddess, Lady Marzanna, outlawed. Sonya, of course, grows up under the tutelage of one of the last rangers (who just so happens to work for her father), learning how to hunt, give thanks to the Ranger’s goddess of death, commune with horses, and also to fight in battles extremely well. But there’s a catch, Sonya must give up parts of her humanity in service to her goddess of death, Lady Marzanna, whether she wants to or not. I think this is a really interesting concept, but sadly, like the rest of the book, it isn’t pulled off well.


Sonya is portrayed to be a free-thinking, clever, independent, feminist character. She’s not a typical heroine. The novel makes sure to tell readers in a cringeworthy scene where she discusses premarital sex with her friend, that she’s not a virgin. In fact, she acts confused by the whole marriage and no premarital sex thing that is prevalent in her world in attempt to blatantly demonstrate that she’s not like other women who let society dictate their sexual pleasure. Upon reading this, all I could think was that it was very clearly a man writing this scene in which Sonya asks her virgin male friend who is interested in her why he doesn’t believe in premarital sex as they cuddle together for warmth in the tundra. It's quite the choice to make Sonya's sexual history a topic when we know so little about the character's background and she has so little development.


The rest of the time, when the novel isn’t overly concerned with her sexual history, Sonya slaughters men without a second-thought, and fights for what she believes in without any second thoughts. But she’s not very likable or convincing--having virtually no worries--and seems to be good at literally everything. Everyone who meets her immediately likes her, despite the fact that she has no trouble murdering people or serving a goddess of death. I also thought it very odd that her father, who was willing to die in order to prevent his son, Sebastian from using his magical powers and being drafted into the military, was okay with his daughter becoming a member of an outlawed sect, when most women are doing typical things like sewing, dancing, or reading. It didn’t make any sense to me. Neither did her supposed famous Ranger bond with her horse, Peppercorn, which only amounts to her talking to her horse and treating her more like a dog or cat than livestock or transportation. What a huge letdown this supposed “bond” was for my inner horse-lover. (If you want to read a fantasy novel with decent bonds between horses and their riders, check out the Green Rider series by Kristen Britain instead).

But what was worse than any of this, is Sebastian and the rest of the family being completely unaffected by their father’s death, which happens immediately in the novel. There is no time to get to know the family, their lifestyle, their backgrounds, their personalities or anything. In the blink of an eye, Sebastian’s father is murdered by the Empire’s soldiers and taken to their capital city. Sebastian waits maybe two whole seconds before enlisting in the army of the man who ordered his father killed for keeping their son from enlisting in the armed services. We are told repeatedly that Sebastian’s mother is grieving, and she actually tells us that she feels like she lost a limb with her husband’s death, but she immediately buys new dresses, takes up a lover and her old noble maiden name, and begins scheming politically. So what we are shown is very different from what the author tells the reader, creating a very baffling and ubiquitous disconnect in his story that grows frustrating from the very beginning of The Ranger of Marzanna.

“‘Oho!’ Velikhov sat up. ‘A quest, is it? Perilous adventure? Travel to distant and dangerous lands?’”

This disconnect extends to the rest of the story too. The writing is very basic. The dialogue is often very cheesy and oversimplified, with characters just stating things outright to tell the reader constantly. I cannot believe the things that came out of the characters’ mouths. To top it off, there is not much time spent on character development, world-building, or anything else--except descriptions of gore. I am still stunned by how detailed the descriptions of violence were in comparison to the rest of the novel, which almost reads like a list of soap-operatic actions happening in very quick succession. It is unbelievable to me that at one point  I read that Sebastian had supposedly been in his new military home for a month. It felt like minutes. In that small amount of time, he was for some reason promoted twice, engaged, and given a battalion to order around despite having absolutely zero experience. 

 It certainly does not help matters that Sebastian does not have to struggle at all to use his magical powers. There is no intense training or failures, he just tries and succeeds at blowing everyone’s minds as soon as he starts trying to use the abilities he was never before even allowed to practice during his lifetime. Plus, readers have no idea how this magic even works--other than that the military slapped a diamond into Sebastian’s hands for him to use as a conduit for some reason and he is suddenly magically able to rip up the earth as a warfare technique. 

“He felt at once that this was no frivolous noble, but someone who thought and felt things deeply. Perhaps even as deeply as him.”

But honestly, I do not even want to see Sebastian struggle. I do not care for him or any of the other characters. They are more archetypes than actual well-developed characters that read like what the author thinks his characters should be like, rather than fleshed out, flawed humans on paper. Unfortunately, that makes them very unbelievable and boring. It doesn’t help that what we do know about the characters is mainly just told to readers, rather than shown. And as I said before, what we are told, doesn’t even add up to what we are shown. Another example of this is being told Sebastian is a very sensitive boy, who loves reading poetry and nature, and "feels things keenly," but we never actually see him doing any of these things or taking things hard before we are told this about his character! In the beginning of the novel, we are told he thinks his sister is crazy for spending all of that time in the woods, and we never see him reading, or bonding with animals, or gardening or anything remotely like his sudden sensitive description. And we certainly don’t see him depressed or feeling guilty after his father’s death. Instead, he immediately signs up in the magical military and learns how to destroy the earth in battle. We are told this rips him up inside, but never see it--all we see is him practicing more magical destruction and getting promoted constantly, and never protesting. There’s just no continuity in the novel and it requires so much suspension of disbelief just to read it. 

And though The Ranger of Marzanna promises an epic conflict between siblings, there is not really much of a conflict between them at all. At least, up until the point I read, there is only one brief disagreement between Sebastian and Sonya and a few references to Sonya thinking Sebastian was “bratty” etc., and then the two went their separate ways again, disregarding each other and their fundamental differences in beliefs. Maybe they will have a confrontation later on, but as the two siblings barely had anything to do with each other, I couldn’t picture any fight being emotional or climactic. Even with the promise of Sonya’s superhuman ranger powers and Sebastian’s magical abilities that might make a fight somewhat interesting, it just wasn’t enough to keep me going through the novel.

Neither was the very skimpy world building of The Ranger of Marzanna. It takes place in a fantasy world inspired by Eastern Europe. But the setting and culture isn’t really delved into. There isn’t anything to it other than the cold winter that the characters were already adapted to and the Russian-sounding phrases the author sprinkles in. I also feel the Eastern European phrases like “babushka” did not necessarily fit in with the name of the people--the Izomoroz--and even their goddess Marzanna. I am certainly not an authority on anything Eastern European or slavic, but the novel simply didn’t give me enough information to make the culture or setting feel real or vital to the magic, the story, or the characters. It did not make me believe in this world or become fully engrossed in it.

Ultimately, The Ranger of Marzanna is definitely not for me. When I read the description, I was picturing an epic fantasy with complex, conflicted characters on opposite sides of a war, and lots of world-building. I was picturing something more along the lines of a Brandon Sanderson novel. Sadly, though The Ranger of Marzanna has some good ideas, such as the rangers giving up their humanity for powers, the execution of these ideas wasn’t good enough to keep me reading. Combined with flat characters, cheesy dialogue, little explanation of the world and its magic systems, I couldn’t stick out the book, though I tried. Perhaps those new to the fantasy series will enjoy the novel’s faster-paced story, but those familiar with the genre will surely find it lacking.

I received an advance copy of the book from NetGalley.

<i>The Ranger of Marzanna</i> is a Russian-inspired epic fantasy that pitches two gifted siblings against each other, with the fate of an empire on the line. Sonya is the title character, the Ranger. Her strong connection to the Death goddess gives her incredible sensory skills, plus the opportunity to make some pretty dark bargains. The empire thought they killed all Rangers a generation before, but now Sonya is back to deliver vengeance. Then there's her younger brother, Sebastian. He's a powerful elemental wizard who has been sheltered--with very good reason--by their parents, but once the empire has hold of him, they train him to be his utmost: a weapon.

But then... then! There is Galina, the best character of all. She comes across as a shy teenage bookworm. She connects to Sebastian through a love of poetry and the classics. As he begins to take an increasingly dark path, her own true nature emerges.

I'm left wanting a book that is all Galina, because the two actual main characters left me feeling frustrated throughout the book. Mind you, this story has a lot of innovative twists going. Usually armies of the undead are a bad thing, but here, the rebels want to recruit whatever help they can get, living or dead. The Russian-inspired setting is fun, too, and the bitter chill really comes across. But Sonya as a character is just not the kind of person I want to be around. She's flippant and impulsive, sometimes outright stupid but still gets what she wants. She makes major sacrifices to her goddess but unfortunately they don't feel like sacrifices. Sebastian is an easy character to pity as he gets manipulated--the teenager is just so oblivious, it hurts--but I was baffled that the army recruited him then let him... train himself. I get that there are almost no wizards, but he has no oversight at all, and then he's quickly given a command over troops. The only helpful info he gets late in the plot is from a book that Galina gives him.

Also, I was REALLY EXCITED that Sonya had a horse named Peppercorn that she had a powerful bond with. I was totally there for some mystical horse adventures, but then Peppercorn was left with a village to fatten up for much of the novel.

Overall, a good book, but I just didn't feel like everything came together to sufficiently wow me in the end.

I was a big fan of the Empire of Storms, Skovron’s trilogy set in the isles surrounding New Laven, starring two young lovers: Hope and Red. In Ranger of Marzanna we’re back in an interesting, unique and well-built world, following two main leads: this time a brother and sister combo. What you should understand about Marzanna is that while it begins with door busting action, the story quickly settles down into a political thriller. The characters were less than relatable, given the surprisingly cold and callous behavior of Sebastian and his mother. Though colder still might be the POV of Sonya—Sebastian’s sister, the Ranger. It was a bit of a surprise after the beginning, and I persevered through the first 160 pages before giving this up. It was just too slow, too cold, and too boring for me.

I am a fan of Jon Skovron's series Empire of Storms and I was looking forward to a new series by him.

The first thing I have to admit is that cover is spectacular. The plot and world building was impressive, although it was slow paced at times. It's a story about a brother and sister standing on opposing sides. One of them standing with the Empire that killed their father, and the other determined to destroy it.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

The Ranger of Marzanna follows the conflicts and trials facing Sonya and Sebastian, already distant siblings, who are further alienated from one another by the political intrigues of their time. As division in the land increases to its breaking point and the pair find themselves on opposing sides, Sebastian and Sonya soon discover that their division has the ability to determine the fate of not only their family, but also of the empire itself.

While this novel is set in a world richly imagined and expertly described, it was difficult to become invested in the story or its characters. Most, if not all, of the characters come across as manipulative, cold, and ruthless. That being the case, it was nearly impossible to feel an attachment to them. That, coupled with the slow pace of the novel (particularly in the middle), made for a difficult read that was a struggle to remain engaged with.

Rating: 6.5/10

The Ranger of Marzanna is a story about imperialism and a people uniting against a dictatorship. That is the backdrop for a story that on the surface is a sibling rivalry: a powerful magician who has chosen to fight for the Empire, and his God-chosen sister who has decided to lead an uprising. They each take their own path, with the impetus being that eventually they are going to meet on the battlefield and will have to make tough decisions.

For me, this book has two big bright spots, the first being the cover. It is absolutely amazing, from the color scheme to the tone and the artwork itself, the publisher killed it. There is so much intrigue wrapped into it that I would have probably purchased a copy myself had I walked by it on a shelf in a store, knowing nothing about the book itself. That is a huge compliment, as I am not often that impulsive.

The second part of the book that I really enjoyed was Sonya’s character. She is a total badass, living life her way and making her own rules. Sonya eats what she wants, sleeps where she wants, beds who she wants. She is a Ranger of Marzanna (the only one left after they were eradicated during the war, as far as we know), and her skills are unsurpassed. A good portion of this book is Sonya going around the Empire kicking asses and not apologizing for it. Sonya carries this book, and I really enjoyed her journey.

There were parts of the plot that did not connect so much with me. Sebastian’s story felt rushed to me, and with him being the second main piece that was half the book that I did not really get into. In fact, there were a lot of pieces of the book that, in my opinion, were kind of skimmed over and not developed as much as I would have liked. There was so much more to explore, and I think the story would have benefitted from going in-depth on some topics. Sebastian is the only magician or wizard in the story. Why? There must be a reason. The Goddess of Winter and Death makes an appearance, but what of the other Gods? Or is there only the one? I think there is a possibility this is looked at more closely in Book 2 of the Series, but I think adding a little explanation into this book would have created more anticipation for that part of the story that is to come. I look forward to reading the second book in the series, and hopefully having some of these questions answered.

Overall, I found the Ranger of Marzanna to be a decent read with a few major flaws that took me out of the story too often. If you are into badass female leads, I recommend this book to you, as Sonya makes it all worth it.

After his father is murdered by imperial Aureumian soldiers, Sebastian and his mother are taken to Gogoleth where he is persuaded to join the Aureumian army stationed in his homeland of Izmoroz. As an elemental wizard, the Aureumian commander sees him as vastly useful as they anticipate a Spring invasion by the Uaine. Despite being half Izmorozian and half Aureumian, Sebastian's loyalties become aligned to the Aureumians. But Sebastian has an older sister, one of the last remaining Rangers of Marzanna who protect Izmoroz, Sonya, who will do everything in her power to liberate her homeland as she serves a goddess of death. Even if it means allying herself with an enemy nation.

I quite enjoy stories about siblings, both when they're at odds with each other and when they work together, so I was intrigued by this book. I was also really curious about who, exactly, Sonya was intent on recruiting, as well as how a confrontation between brother and sister would go. This turned out to be not exactly what I had expected, but was different in a way I really liked.

The Characters: A Charming Main Cast

I found the characters to be interesting and quite representative of their respective culture, which really helped to showcase the world building. At the same time, things seemed a little too easy for them. Their decisions were quick, their actions were decisive, there was little stewing around about what to do. It felt more like they were being pulled along by the story.

However, I was charmed by most of the main cast. Despite the fact that they just embodied their cultures, they were fun and meshed well with each other. I did love that, at the end, so many of them were revealed as having ulterior motives, indicating there's more to them than what was presented at first. I look forward to what the next book has to offer about them and their schemes and machinations.

I most enjoyed Sonya, Jorge, and Blaine, who represented 3 different cultures. Their differences were fun to see as they interacted and became friends. I think the only thing that bothered me about them was the romantic undertones to their relationships with each other. It felt unnecessary and distracting, and a bit out of place. But Sonya was a lot of fun. She always seemed good-natured and in high spirits, even in serious situations. I also found her unique speech pattern to be refreshing and just as much fun as her. Jorge was adorable as his religion holds him to strict rules. He did seem a bit prudish, but it somehow just made him more charming. Blaine was interesting and almost as fun as Sonya. We don't get to know him quite as well, but I got the feeling there might not have been much more to get to know about him. He seemed to be refreshingly upfront, and a typical brash young warrior.

As for Sebastian and his intended Galina, an Izmorozian noblewoman in Gogoleth, I understood their relationship completely, but felt my heart aligning more with Galina. Just as Sebastian and Sonya became divided over their loyalties, so too did this young couple, though I was surprised by the turns it took. While I was charmed by Galina's bookish nature and quiet intelligence, I quickly came to be equally un-charmed by Sebastian. He just seemed young and impressionable, which made him a blind follower in every area of his life. He never seemed to stop and think about anything other than himself and his magic. I do hope that he grows up in the next book as there were signs of uncertainty in his path, but I'm afraid he might be eternally young, stupid, and angry.

The Setting: Based on Eastern European Folktales

The last fantasy I read was very typically Eurocentric, so, I expected more of the same from this one as the book description didn't indicate anything otherwise. In a way, I was right, but I was thrilled it was also quite different. The author is of Polish descent and several reviews note the book is based on Polish and Russian folklore. I definitely got a strong War and Peace vibe from this book, especially reading about the nobility's mannerisms and speech patterns. I found it delightful, charming, and quite different from a lot of the fantasy I have read over the years.

When the story opens, there's a great deal of snow mentioned. At first, I was a little confused because I'm used to things like trees, dirt, and little to no snow. But then I started to get an Eastern European vibe and it all finally made sense. I very much enjoyed immersing myself in Izmoroz. It seems too snowy and cold for my tastes, but I could easily imagine the small villages and towns as well as Gogoleth. It was both charming and depressing, especially as the vast divide between life in Gogoleth and the small villages was starkly apparent. I even found the tundra to be quite interesting!

This book introduced not only an interesting world in terms of setting where most of it is snowy instead of woodsy (though there's a fair amount of woods), but also in culture. I really liked that it reminded me of War and Peace, especially in terms of the high society in Gogoleth. It felt a little stilted and formal at first, but, once I acclimated, I found I really enjoyed it and loved being immersed in this world.

I'd like to also mention that the Uaine have a very Celtic feel to them in terms of their speech patterns and their society. I found them to be quite boisterous and a complete counterpoint to the more stuffy Izmorozians. As I really enjoy all things Celtic, I loved that this book brought together my enjoyment of that culture as well as my fondness for War and Peace.

The Plot: Always Moving, Sometimes at a Gallop

I loved that this story moved along at a very nice clip. It never seemed to lag, but did seem to leap at times. There were gaps that the reader is left to fill in based on prior information as well as what happened after. I didn't find it too troubling, but the jumps and then the lack of ever really mentioning it again were a little puzzling. It almost felt as though chunks of this story had been cut out and the edges not quite seamlessly sewn together.

Still, I found myself unwilling to put this book down. The author knew just when to end a chapter and when to switch viewpoints. It definitely kept me reading to find out how everyone's plans would turn out and how the clash between the siblings would go. I wouldn't call this fast-paced, but it did move along at a good canter.

The one thing that bothered me was the violence and goriness. Of course, it did involve someone serving a death goddess, so it made sense, but it was a little too gross for me. At the same time, I have read worse, and recently, but I was taken aback by just how peppered throughout the book it was. Still, it could have been worse, though it did help to highlight a bit of Izmorozian and Ranger culture.

I really enjoyed the story of siblings being on opposite sides, though there was still some feeling of love between them. It wasn't as heart-wrenching as I would have liked, but it provided enough for me to feel like they were siblings. I liked that the story followed them equally and really showed how different their paths were as well as how they progressed to where they were when they came face to face after quite some time apart.

Overall: Never Boring

This book has plenty of fun characters and interesting cultures. It moves at a good pace that never seemed to bore me. There were hints of broader intentions and some intrigue, but I felt it was more focused on the action than the subtleties. Still, it was a good introduction to the series and I have high hopes for the next book.

Thank you to Angela Man from Orbit for a free e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's an ok story, not overly compelling. The standout element is the world building, with its Eastern European influences. However, it was very slow, and the characters aren't particularly memorable. This is a decent effort, but in comparison to some of the other fantasy I've read, it doesn't really stand out.

Much like the author’s Empire of Storms series (you should read those too) this is a fast paced adventure that never really slows down. Focused on a pair of siblings that land on opposite sides of a war you are drawn into the mud and cold of a northern winter. It’s an exciting story.
My only complaint about the books is the brother is a bit of an idiot and far more childish than. he should be. It seemed to me like he was far more childish than a 16 year old would be raised on a farm in a low tech society. His family appeared to have a single farm hand and lived on his mother’s indifferent cooking but I felt like he has zero awareness that likely many of his neighbors went to bed hungry each winter. And I felt like he was less acquainted with all the work a farm would take than I was as a modern middle class suburban kid helping in my frugal mother’s kitchen garden... His sister’s behavior made sense in the context of the magic worked on her.
Aside from that one character complaint I had a grand time reading this and look forward to book two. If you’re looking for some light escapism to read right now this would be an excellent choice l

War and Peace meets Game of Thrones, but don’t worry, it’s only 500 pages.

Raised on a rural estate, Sonya and Sebastian never saw eye to eye. Sonya took after their father - wild and often disappearing into the wilds for months at a time - while her younger brother practiced small elemental magics in the secret of their home. Still, when Sonya returned home to find her family had been assaulted by imperial soldiers, she vowed to save her captive brother. But where Sonya sees oppression, Sebastian finds only benevolence, and even the last Ranger of Marzanna can’t save her brother from the seduction of an empire that’s given him everything he never knew he wanted. Outraged, Sonya must find other allies to fight the empire, but is any army enough to fight the wizard Sebastian has become?

If you find yourself struggling with this book, try and stick it out until Chapter 20. Nothing in particular happens at that point, but that's how long it took me to really get into the story. Sebastian takes the narrative into the snares and games of high society, whereas Sonya’s path follows rugged adventure and mystic lore. It was as if Tolstoy and Austen sat down to write a novel, then realized they’d signed off every third chapter to George Martin. This melding of two worlds is probably a large part of why it took me so long to get into the story. But once I’d settled in, I began enjoying its quirks. Trite passages became humorous, the dialogue came more naturally, and I finally started looking forward to turning pages.

The Ranger of Marzanna is epic fantasy, but with a subtle self-awareness of its overblown tropes. It took me a while to come to terms with how the characters carried out their roles in an over-the-top fashion, yet in full sincerity. Tragically innocent Sebastian, the scheming officers, the reverent peasants - they are so ignorant, so self-serving, so reverential that I stop questioning why they’re like that and accept that’s the role they want to play.

Sonya is the one character who subverts trope expectations. Her cheerful sass contrasts nicely with the brooding often associated with rangers (i.e. Halt in Ranger’s Apprentice, or Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings film adaptation). As the last servant of Lady Marzanna, goddess of death, Sonya’s no stranger to all things grim and melancholy. She just compensates with a wide smile and a cocksure swagger reminiscent of Celaena Sardothien.

This book promised a brother-sister conflict, and I was pleased by how it delivered on that premise. Between them, Sonya and Sebastian fought through disillusion, and made excuse after excuse to believe the other wasn’t evil, but in the end they didn’t let blood compromise their convictions. Too often, this complexity is overlooked in favor of blinding love or consuming betrayal. I appreciated Sonya and Sebastian stumbling through a middle ground.

It wasn’t always an easy read, but this would make an awesome tv show.

**Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC**

Between the beautiful cover art and the intriguing book description, this was a no brainer for me to request. I always love stories about warrior women, and the fact that it was based on Russian folklore is just the cream on top. I was definitely getting some "The Bear and the Nightingale" vibes off this, which couldn't have been more of an inducement since I'm still in mourning that that trilogy ended...like more than a year ago now. Get over it! Sadly, however, this book wasn't quite that. There were some strengths to it, but not quite what I was looking for, in the end.

Sonya is in training to be a Ranger, a member of an elite fighting force. In pursuit of this goal, she travels around the countryside attempting to help her people against the doings of the invading imperial soldiers. While away, however, her family is attacked and her father killed. Her brother, however, a powerful sorcerer-in-training, survives and begins to make a new life for himself, one that sides with the very people who murdered their father. Now these two siblings find themselves on very different paths, paths that will eventually intersect to devastating effect.

So, to start with a few things I liked. I did like the Russian/Ukranian influences on the culture, location, and folklore of the story. The elemental magic system was also interesting enough. It's not a super new concept, but I felt like the author put enough new twists into how it all works to keep it from feeling flat. I particularly liked the cult-like religion that followed Marzanna and the sacrifices that were required of those who committed themselves to her path (as we see through Sonya's story.) But, sadly, I had a really hard time connecting to either of the two main characters, and I felt like the pacing and writing of the story weren't helping matters out.

First, Sonya. I did end up liking her half of the story better than her brother's, but again this was mostly due to the intriguing concept of having to give up parts of oneself to become a full follower of Marzanna. However, even in this part of the story, I didn't feel like the author truly explored this concept completely. In many ways, it mostly just made Sonya less likable. She starts out incredibly bad-ass and so some of her struggles then appear out of character. But at the same time, growth for the character comes out of these moments, but never felt like it was really being applied completely. It's hard to get at exactly what my problem was. I think maybe it was just that the actual character herself felt too flimsy to hold up the more grand adventure she was supposed to be having. And by the time we got to some of the darker portions of her tale, the part where readers have to begin questioning her actions and motives, it's too late to really feel invested enough in it all.

As for Sebastian, I didn't like him from the start, and it didn't get any better as we went along. In the very first chapter we meet him, his father his killed and he and his mother are shipped back to the capitol city. His entire inner thought process of these events was summed up with an actual line saying that he didn't really get along with his father that much so that must be why he's not really grieving. From there, it just got worse as he literally teams up with the very people who killed his father and pretty much goes "meh" about the idea that his powers are now going to be used against his own people. There simply wasn't enough (or any!) real conflict shown between Sebastian and his father to justify to bewildering turn for his character. Sebastian is either a sociopath who can't care about others or an outright villain. Neither are likable. It's especially confusing as he's presented in a way that makes it clear that the author expects you to sympathize with him and read him as an equal protagonist. I just didn't get it, and what I did get, I didn't like.

I also felt like the writing and pacing of story were just a bit off. The characters spoke in a very YA manner, but this didn't mesh well with the super violent descriptions that came with the action scenes. What's more, the author had an unfortunate habit of info-dumping in his dialogue making it read as unnatural and stiff. Overall, I was pretty disappointed by this book. I know that the author has a fairly popular series already published, so I'm not sure if this was an aberration or whether this story just didn't mesh with me specifically. If you are a fan of his other work and want to give this one a shot, don't forget to enter the giveaway for an ARC copy of this book!

Rating 6: The two unlikable protagonists were too much for me to get past.

Thank you so much to Orbit Books via NetGalley for the e-ARC of The Ranger of Marzanna by Jon Skovron. The book was provided in exchange for an honest review and all opinions are my own.

I was looking for some awesome new fantasy books to review this spring and summer and couldn't resist this title based off of my favorite thing ever...horses on the cover. An other-worldly looking woman on a gorgeous horse, plus a description based off Russian and Polish legends did it for me. I also love sibling rivalries and was not disappointed.

The plot is interesting and the story is well paced. It may be 528 pages but did not feel that long and at times it was hard to put down. The chapters mostly alternated between Sonya and Sebastian, the siblings on either side of this war, and the chapters from other characters advanced things as well. I like books that don't repeat themselves.

The world building was fantastic with architecture, climate, food, morale, and religion of both the conquerors and the conquered described in fine detail. The nobility and the peasants both had their turn and I understood the larger motivations of the citizenry. I also loved the Uaine as a bunch of partying war bands - fucking and alcohol and necromancers, Oh my!!! The army of the dead was so cool, so well done. It all seemed.......... Too easy though.

I liked the family relationships described throughout the book. Each main character gets to examine their relationship with their parents while finding their own footing. Yes parents have lives, yes they have sex lives and friends and personalities and I think it was great that this theme kept coming out. Above all else the young characters may have made some bad decisions but they were always encouraged to do what THEY thought was right.

I also liked the characters well enough, Sonya is funny and awkward but also a Ranger, ready to whip around and murder a crew of soldiers. Jorge is funny too and I liked that while the other characters picked at his religion, he stood strong on his morals. Sebastian is just a little duped twit and Elgin Mordha and Blaine might have been my favorite side characters. Galina and Sebastien's mom seemed like hollow shells... I didn't understand their motives.

Most of my issues with this book were that I didn't think the character's motivations made sense. Things were too easy. Why would Jorge just drop his life's work? Why would Sebastian just run off and turn into a murderous twit under the tutelage of the man who killed his father? Even Sonja seemed misguided at times. I think a lot of the young naivete here is setting the stage for a ton of intrigue and betrayal in book 2, which I am totally ready for. The end pointed to a lot of tables turning and I think these characters are going to have a lot of hard lessons to learn.

The Sonya and Peppercorn relationship didnt let me down either, but I want more Ranger horses in book 2 😉

I did enjoy the book and would recommend to fantasy fans. It's not an amazing stand out novel, but a solid one. I am on board for the second book when it's time.

Updated review to include blog link! https://onereadingnurse.com/2020/04/14/arc-review-the-ranger-of-marzanna-by-jon-skovron/

Skovron throws readers right into the story of a family torn apart in a fantasy world closely resembling 19th century Russia, were it under the rule of a still extant Roman Empire.

The opening draws readers in with context clues about the world and teasing glimpses of characters who seem at first glance to be fairly stock: proud and cold mother figure, weak-willed son with martial ambitions, free-spirited wild magician daughter who knows better. To be fair, these main characters do remain more or less in those character types throughout the book, but as additional characters are added, significant depth is added to the story which, for all its length, is a very quick read by virtue of being hard to put down.

At first the story seems predictable, with the characters I outlined above behaving as one might expect someone with their temperament to behave after soldiers barge into the house, kill the pater familias, and forcibly remove two thirds of the family to the capital so that the magically gifted son can put his talents to use for the glory of the Aureumian Empire. An aggressive superior officer pushes Sebastian to magical acts of increasing brutality while his mother stays, well, mum, and his new fiancee tries to gentle him by reminding him of the common poetical ground they found early in their courtship. Meanwhile, Sonya, the titular Ranger of Marzanna, is a young woman who pledged herself to a death goddess and has set herself to overthrowing Aureumian rule in their country, Izmoroz.

Galina, Sebastian’s aforementioned fiancee, is a delight, and the decisions she ends up making throughout the book make her one of its most interesting characters, although she’s probably also the excuse Sebastian will offer for all the terrible things I anticipate will happen in subsequent books. Jorge, the pseudo-Spanish sidekick Sonya picks up by accident, is also a great addition to the story, providing an outsider’s view for the odder parts of Sonya’s bargain with her goddess as well as simply being an oft-ignored voice of reason and dry humor. There are also some pseudo-Scots with some very interesting magic and linguistically confusing accents (though, to be fair, I’ve no idea what a Scot trying to speak Russian would sound like to a native Russian speaker).

For all that I’ve written a great deal about the characters, it is really the setting that sold me on this book. Skovron clearly did his homework as far as describing what life would be like in this era (though I cannot speak to the linguistic choices or the nomenclature, as I do not have any Russian, myself). It gives very strong Anna Karenina vibes when dealing with the city and the soldiers. The countryside, for all that the townsfolk do engage in some traditionally Russian activities, like banya, seem a bit more generic. Nevertheless, after seeing what Russia looks like in this world and having an idea of Rome and maybe Scotland(?) with some hints of what’s probably Spain, I am definitely looking forward to the next book, which I’m hoping will expand beyond the borders of Izmoroz. That said, my favorite part of the book is how bargaining with the goddess Marzanna works for her Rangers. It appeals to me very strongly.

Finally, my apologies for not naming any of the countries properly. The only name that really sticks in my head is Aureum (which I believe translates to something about golden-ness), and the reason for that is because I hear words in my head when I read and the word “Aureumian” poses a stumbling block every time I encounter it. I do not like that at all. Izmoroz is a name I prefer to linger over and taste each time it comes up, murmuring it aloud and trying to darken the vowels to a properly Russian sound. Again, I have no Russian, so it’s an approximation, but still.

This is a solid opening to a series that I expect will improve as it goes. I’m looking forward to reading the next book, and to adding this one to my library of print books once it becomes available.

The Ranger of Marzanna first drew me in with the beautiful cover and title I knew would have a winter/death goddess and it turned out to be everything I love in one book. Polish/Russian inspired world full of magic (elemental magic, animal like powers, and my favorite necromancy!) scheming nobles, bad-ass fighters, lots of betrayals, a people's revolution against rampant imperialism, complex characters and tangled dynamics between them. A fast pace with plenty of action had me turning pages until the nail-biting finale. The only downside is that I'm in for a wait to get my hands on the sequel. This is my first time reading Jon Skovron and I'll be checking out his other works while I wait for The Queen of Izmoroz.

Why I wanted to read it: It features a complex sibling relationship, and I’m curious whether the Empire can be simultaneously saved and destroyed.

Why it didn't work for me:
- The narrative: Readers are told facts, not shown them. This happens even with the characters' thoughts. For example, when characters receive news, they'll think through the logical implications of the news; they don't react or show what it means to them personally (at least, not right away).
- Couldn't connect with the characters: Sonya and Sebastian have strong convictions that force them on opposing paths; this provides an opportunity for character complexities. However, the focus is on their differences; little to nothing is given for the reader to sympathize with their situation.
- Dialogue heavy: Sebastian learns something he didn't think his sister capable of. His reaction? To talk it out with the person. (view spoiler)
- Generic visuals: Characters are shown doing basic actions like getting up from a table. The context would have been strengthened by appealing to other senses and by providing visuals that reveal the characters' personalities and unique traits.

Content (first 20% of the book)
- Multiple POVs: Sonya (sister), Sebastian (brother), Irina (mother), Jorge (apothecary apprentice), child (beginning, seems like a one-time POV)
- Killing and death (some details)

DNF @20%

This book was another disappointing one for me. I love epic fantasy, but it just felt like this one was focusing on all the wrong things. I’m not gonna do another long rant, but there were a few things in particular that ruined the read for me.

First off, the dialogue. Now, I recognize, it’s hard to walk the fine line between formal and stilted dialogue. This book definitely hit the stilted dialogue. And the other thing, so much of what the characters did just didn’t make sense. Nothing bothered me more than Sebastian’s choice to join the empire. LIKE THEY MURDERED HIS FATHER! Why the fuck is he joining them? I would be down to watch him be like “okay, yeah I’m gonna pretend to be for the Empire, and then slowly over time he’s converted. Cool. That would work. But this was very much like “Oh, I can be a hero? GREAT I'M IN. I FORGIVE YOU FOR MURDERING MY FATHER." Basically I didn’t buy it. So those were the big things that bothered me. And a general, I just didn’t give a fuck about the characters.

Again, I’m not gonna recommend this book to anyone. I frankly don’t know who it would appeal to. I think readers of epic fantasy would be a little disappointed.

This review will go live on my blog on April 7, 2020

Jon Skrovron is one of those authors that present you with interesting plot summaries for books, but when you open them they end up being not what you think.

Case being this book: this book is a very, very tough book to get through because unfortunately the biggest flaw it has is having a fantasy setting where the characters have modern tone and the women aren't really written like women. In fact, everyone just has the same quality of characteristics that you're a bit stumped that the book has a vast array of different characters.

I also find the plotting of this book very ... broken, not fluid. I like my stories to give me a fluid description of a scene or a thought of a character. I just found the writing very clunky and or underdeveloped.

Unfortunately, being that I've had issues with the author prior, and was unaware that this was his book, I know quite well that I'm not a fan of his and unfortunately having a different genre to his stories is not going to help me enjoy his stories.