Omen: The Stained Sea is the first volume in a well written epic fantasy series aimed at YA/NA readers written by Paul Williams. Released 31st March 2023, it's 266 pages and is available in most formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a sprawling and audacious series starter with intriguing worldbuilding and gratifyingly diverse characters. There are tantalizing glimpses of an intricate underlying mythos and it's clear from the work that the author has used a prodigious amount of time on creating a world that is more than just a backdrop.

It's a three voice alternating PoV and their stories gradually entwine into a cohesive story. The early parts of the book, to about 30% aren't always easy to follow or understand from context, and the author doesn't do any spoon feeding. Although it's not at all derivative, at points the prose and the freefall feeling out of context read, remind me in some ways of R.F. Kuang's Babel (also a thunderously good read).

Four stars. Definitely worth a look, especially for fans of good v. evil epic fantasy. Not a long "doorstop" read, and there's absolutely no "book bloat".

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Author: Paul Carver Williams
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up)

This book had some beautiful world-building and some very interesting concepts. I enjoyed the different POVs, especially when they all intertwined together, but I felt like this book focused too much on world-building and description than on a plotline. I truly did not know what was going on half the time, but I can tell it is building up to something which unfortunately wasn't expounded on in this book (maybe in book two). I found it slow and tedious at points and I struggled to focus, but there were some very intriguing characters that I am interested in where their story leads.

Thank you NetGallery for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The book was published on March 31st and is now available.

For the life of me, could NOT get into this book. DNF at about 8%. Something about it just did not grab me the way I'd hoped.

I loved the world building and character development in this book. Beautiful prose that I wanted to read more of. I really enjoyed getting the 3 different character POVs and how those POVs slowly come together and are interconnected. I think there were moments where I felt like maybe too much time was focused on the prose and not enough on the plot. I needed a bit more to continue to keep me focused. I would like to confine it this series to see what happens.

This book was not for me. I am not saying it is a bad book but it is just not for me. The heavy religious tones and the pacing were tedious and boring. I do thank you for this opportunity and I wish the author well

This book is one to mull over and unpack all the layers of its intricacies. I was slow to start and slow to finish this book, as I normally am with books that are more contemplative. Honestly still sorting out my feelings.

The Great Stuff:
1. World building and characters that just seem so surreal, yet vibrant with very inquisitive ideas--every time I read the word, "haze" in the book, I get this feeling, "how appropriate." The whole world feels like a haze--realities and characters seem to weave into some bigger picture.
2. There are some very wonderful passages that read like an interesting mix of poetry and philosophy, sometimes I'm unsure if it's someone speaking, thinking, or just the author making me feel things.
3. Feels close to what I get when I read Guy Graviel Kay (who I think is simply a master of poetic fictional settings).

The so-so:
1. The characters are very hard to relate to. I do prefer to feel like I'm in a story than from the outside looking in. I understand the intention of having them be representative of concepts rather than actionable figures, but this can get a bit apathetic.
2. Because there are so much dedication to writing well and world building, it seems that the plot could use more grounding to be cohesive and give a sense of forward motion for the reader. At times, I'm unsure where the story is going or if it's going somewhere concrete at all. The characters are busy with their own contemplation and observations. But why and what are they doing with their circumstances? I'm still not sure what the "omen" really is and how it came to be; or why it's the central theme of the book.

All in all, it's a worthy read but not the most seasoned of writing for what it could be yet. In spite of that remark, I'm looking forward to reading what the author writes next.

I may be too old for this book, but it was too hard to get past the first chapter and understand what was going on. Some stories need a set up, especially when starting a new epic.