I very much appreciate being gifted this copy of Wheel of the Infinite, and the opportunity to read & review it. Thanks to the publisher. I love that Martha Wells' backworks are getting republished, and with revised editions. She's a truly talented writer.

You can always trust Wells to write diverse and well-rounded characters, and to explore the ramifications of magic in her fantasy worlds. This one's got a genuinely kick-ass middle aged woman at its centre, who also gets a love interest, but(!) the romance doesn't feel forced and doesn't distract from the story.

Unfortunately, I mixed up some characters who became integral to the end plot which meant the end didn't strike with full force. Can't be sure whether that was my lack of attention or, potentially, the characters weren't well introduced or well-defined, causing them to become interchangeable in my mind.

I would have benefited from a demonstration of exactly what could go wrong if the Rite to remake the world went astray, perhaps in a vision. To just trust that the Rite always has to go exactly right, and that it does in fact remake the world felt a stretch too far to have to believe. I especially didn't get a sense why a 100-year anniversary would be higher stakes than the annual ones if they're both doing the same thing. I would have loved to see how the Wheel was discovered in the first place, and how the Rites came to be. (How, exactly, does a society learn that they have to remake the world every year?)

I was surprised that this was a standalone though -- it felt like it had more love to give for the world and its characters. Regardless, a solid read.

Martha Wells has been on my list to pick up for a while now and Wheel of the Infinite did not disappoint, I will definitely be reading more of her works in the future.

Wheel of the Infinite is a standalone fantasy set in a world brought to life by beautiful and well-placed description and worldbuilding. We follow the stories of Maskelle and Rian as they are brought together by a chance encounter, wherein Rian joins Maskelle as she returns to Duvalpore for the first time since she was exiled. Together, they must solve the problem of the Wheel of the Infinite and the dark storm that is appearing upon it before the culmination of the 100 year rite.

With inspirations from the likes of Buddhism and southeast Asian cultures, Wells presents a fascinating world and magic system that stands out in a genre full of medieval Europe-styled settings. Her main characters are both well-developed and both POVs are strong and highly enjoyable, as is the relationship that the two have with one another and the other characters. I particularly enjoyed how mature and generally acerbic Maskelle could be. To top it all off, the plot is structured so, so well, leaving enough mystery in the beginning to leave you wondering what would happen next, and everything coming together in the end in a very satisfying way.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for making the DRC for the newly updated and revised edition available to me. All opinions are my own.

This was an intriguing political fantasy novel that explores complicated relationships between various factions in society. The main intrigue involves the titular ancient religious artifact, which could cause the world to collapse. It's also a classic story of destiny and self discovery, as the main character comes into her own after a time in exile. I enjoyed the setting and main character, and the intersections of magic and religion were interesting, but found there to be too many side characters to keep straight and thought the romance side plot detracted from the main story. It's still worth the read for fans of Martha Wells' other fantasy novels.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for a copy of this book for an honest review!
I received the revised version of this book and haven't read the original, so I am not sure what was changed or what is different between the two. However, I still enjoyed this book and the incredible creativity of the characters, world, and magic system.
It is slower in pace than I am used to reading, and I was not sure if I would enjoy this book initially, but it surprised me! I was glad to continue, and the characters' backgrounds were intriguing.
This is my 1st Martha Wells book, and it was a great introduction to her work as I have wanted to read the Murderbot series; I am so glad to begin those soon!

I posted my review on Amazon, so I will add a link once Amazon approves my review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC.

It's so hard to describe what this book is, it's like a epic fantasy condensed into a single volume, yet still able to have the complex worldbuilding and conflicts that reach from the individual characters to the wider spiritual system of this world. I loved the main characters, didn't mind the instalove as much as I normally would. It helps that they're both grown adults with a whole life lived before meeting each other. I'm glad that the success of the Murderbot Diaries is drawing more attention to Martha Wells' earlier works because it's entirely deserved, she's a incredibly gifted writer.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7072150648

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/218902d1-2b9c-4605-8d77-4f4cfece5fe4

Check out this review of Wheel of the Infinite on Fable. https://fable.co/review/1f5cfeda-f53f-43ae-8891-5eafc31a8b20/share

Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells is the story of Maskelle, a priest who is not on great terms with her god, but is returning to the religious center on command of her superior. If the proper rituals are not completed, the world will change and life as they know it will be transformed. She's traveling with a troupe of actors and puppeteers who are interested in freeing their possessed puppet. And, along the way, Maskelle meets Rian on a side trip to procure some medical herbs for one of the acting troupe.

I enjoyed the book a great deal, as I have everything I've read by Wells. The religious aspects were plausible, given the world they lived on, and the world building was well done and well-integrated, so that it did not take over the novel. The story kept me engaged throughout with enough twists and turns to keep me engaged

This is wide ranging in world building and focus which I happen to love. She connects the world with her main focus very well in her writing and I think that's very commendable. This was a very well written fantasy with some intriguing characters and a world filled with mystery and great fantasy!

This was so fun! Martha Wells once again has pulled me in with lovable, flawed characters, a beautifully crafted fantasy world, and a mystery to be solved.

Similar to Witch King, Wells throws us directly into the story, leaving us to gather information in order to catch up with our protagonist. Wells’ method of worldbuilding, giving you just enough to follow the story and unveiling more details as you get to know the characters better and the plot unspools, feels so natural to me with no dense exposition or info-dumping. This world felt so rich, with each of the different nations’ geography, religion, and culture feeling unique and fleshed out.

The characters were my favorite part of this story, with our stubborn, funny, and powerful protagonist Maskelle and her dynamic with the reserved, sarcastic, and loyal Rian. I also enjoyed the dynamics of their traveling companions and the mutual exasperation between them.

I thought the overall plotting was very well measured until the end, where some elements became too convoluted and I lost track of the urgency of each mission. That said, the ending was still satisfying and I enjoyed the unspooling of the mystery.

I love Martha Wells’ writing and look forward to all of her future projects! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of the republished version.

This was my first Martha Wells novel but it won’t be my last! Epic world building that while it’s complex, Wells delivers with ease. Well fleshed out characters that are likable and resilient and an epic sci-fi fantasy adventure.

I will say it took me a minute and several times picking this one up to get into it. It kind of starts off ready to run but I was confused and not vibing with it at first. Once I read the first few chapters, the story started to intrigue me. Definitely worth the read I think for Martha Wells fans.

This was a really nice read! I found that Wells has a particular ability to dive into world building and, if you are not familiar with the universe in which the story takes place, you discover the world bit by bit and piece by piece. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters, and also really enjoyed the fact we got a main character that isn't necessarily a teenager anymore, and I enjoyed watching her banter with her travelling companions and slowly learning more about her and her companions through their interactions. The only reason it is not a 5 star for me is because the pacing was just a bit too slow, and I found it a bit hard to keep my attention on the book and the plot the entire time!

I have wanted to enjoy Martha Wells book and have struggled with her full length ones. It is hard to put my finger on why this is, and it is probably personal taste more than anything. I would still recommend them to anyone interested. The writing is very well done. Her characters are unique and interesting. But somewhere along the way I am always waiting for something interesting to happen that takes too long to materialize.

Ahoy there matey! This standalone novel was originally published in 2000.  Tor Books has released a revised and updated version.  The story follows Maskelle, a high priestess in exile.  She is traveling incognito as a seer with an acting troupe back to her home city of Duvalpore.  On the way, she helps rescue exiled warrior Rian, who in thanks becomes her bodyguard.

There are many elements that I loved about this novel.  One is that the majority of characters are older.  It was lovely to have characters who have life experience and have failed but are generally good people.  Secondly, the background of these characters are revealed in bits and pieces as the novel progresses.  It does not get in the way of the plot but unfolds naturally.  It added a bit of mystery and delight with each revealed piece.  And, thirdly, I absolutely loved the world building.  The magic structure and way the city was laid out was fascinating.  It is complex and thought provoking.

Maskelle is a fabulous protagonist with a sense of humor.  Her snark helped liven the more serious moments.  I also ended up enjoying Rian and the acting troupe too.  The relationships developed were lovely to read about.  Even the light romance was wonderful (and I don't say that often) and had no angst.  The ending had me smiling.  I know this is a standalone but I honestly would read more set in this fascinating world.  Arrrr!

4.5 rounded up

I started my Martha Wells journey with All Systems Red and the finished off that series ranking it as one of my new favorites. I went in to Wheel of The Infinite with high expectations.
While Wheel of The Infinite was well written it is a completely different genre and also written at a completely different pace. High fantasy usually does tend to lean more towards a slow pace but it took me by surprise because I was used to her faster pace books.
The main characters are fascinating and I enjoyed their journey and the world building.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy.

I unfortunately did not read the original, so I won't be able to make a comparison in regard to that. Regarding the story itself, I enjoy how it still reads as early 2000s fiction, the prose is consistent with that time period and so is the way that the story is structured.

The Wheel of the Infinite is Martha Wells' fourth novel; for each she has discovered totally different but equally intriguing and exotic worlds. The Celestial Empire, with its great Temple City of Duvalpore, is in some ways the most fully realised. The first half of the book, Maskelle's journey with a troupe of actors and puppeteers through the jungle rains to Duvalpore, is a masterly evocation of all the senses. The rain, the heat, and the mud; the tension, the danger, and the fear; are palpable.

Maskelle was once the Voice of the Adversary, one of the most revered of the high priesthood of the Empire. Then she committed a great crime, and was dishonoured and exiled, but for some reason has been called back to Duvalpore by the Celestial One himself, and is travelling secretly in the company of the actors. By accident, she meets and rescues Rian, a master swordsman from a distant land, who is himself exiled, and who attaches himself to her as bodyguard. Though much younger, he becomes her lover.

Every year a ritual in the Temple City renews the world through the making of the image of the Wheel of the Infinite. The one hundred year ritual now underway is vastly more important than the usual yearly one, but a black storm has appeared in the image, and although it is repaired each day, each morning it reappears. The Celestial One fears that only Maskelle can discover the cause of the disturbance and save the world from destruction.

Maskelle is an attractive and acerbic character, and Rian makes an excellent foil. The use of the troupe of actors as a backdrop is an ingenious invention. An acting troupe was also used to advantage in the author's first book, The Element of Fire, but this time Wells has more fully exploited the potential. She seems to have left the door open to further adventures with Maskelle and Rian in this intriguing world; I look forward hopefully to meeting them again.

My first Martha Wells fantasy. The concept and world building were great, but the ending was confusing and felt out of place. I have since started reading Witch King and love that one!

A dynamic and sprawling fantasy world with inter dimensional connections and spiritual guardians lies in the hands of a jaded ex-priestess and a reluctant bodyguard. Martha Wells again creates a detailed world using a small space. I really liked our main characters, the detailed setting, and the complex magical system. This is a rerelease and is available again in all formats.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.