I don't know about this one. On one side, the world building is amazing (over five unique nations with their own languages and cultures) and, on the other, the story gets quite repetitive and boring.

Firstly, I have to admit that I almost DNF'd this book after the first 10%. There was too much information, too many different names and words and going back to the glossary all the time took me out of the story. After I decided to just go with the flow and stop checking things unless I really had to, it got easier to read and the story picked up the pace. I still read slowly because it's just this kind of book that requires your full attention, but the story got more interesting. Especially when we started getting the conqueror's pov.

Still, the book gets quite repetitive after a few chapters. Our hero goes from one place to another, gets in trouble, gets saved, meets people and goes to another place. And the whole book looks like this. The Conqueror's chapters look similar but were more fast-paced.

I admire the author for creating such a big world with so many different cultures and races, but the characters should get some of that creativity too. Meanwhile, our main character Sasharr has zero personality except for being annoying (his behaviour towards his family is awful, and there's the whole "I got a slave as a present and I will keep having sex with her" thing) and he mostly just lets things happen to him. The other characters have one or two defining traits and that's all. There are a lot of them, so maybe they will get more developed in the next book.

Overall, I wouldn't say it's a bad book. If you're looking for an immersive fantasy with a unique world and the classic "before starting an adventure you need to get your team" theme, then it's a story ideal for you.

Every review I read related this book seems like they liked it but for me the initial few chapters had me hooked and after that no matter how hard I tried I couldn't find my way back.

The story started very well, and the character introduction had me but as I kept on reading something kept on failing me and eventually, I dropped the book. I couldn't read it neither I was able to bring my, to start reading it again.

I am giving it 3 stars as it had me on my toes initially and the world building was great promising me the author knows what they want from the story. I apologize if you don't agree with me but still, I am willing to give it a try after some time.

As the second son of a Fudorian farmer, Bimear Sasharr should have lived a normal life doing farm chores, helping sell their produce at the market, and tending their herd of arduors. But Sasharr was far from normal. It started with a strange voice in his head, sharing knowledge of things no child should or could ever know. Sasharr was like as not to shirk his duties, lost in the fables of the heroes of old that voice shared with him. As a youth, those fanciful stories changed in tone, hinting that something greater than a farmer’s life awaited Sasharr. Not long before he turned 18, Sasharr made a terrible discovery that the voice now came with inexplicable magical power. Yet all his life, he’d been told the stories of heroes and how he, too, might become one. After an explosive fight with his elder brother, Sasharr knew it was time to leave his small farming village and chase the stories of heroes.

Sasharr struggles at first to fully embrace the role of prophet, the so-called Ibalgen who harnesses a terrifying power to resurrect a once-great mage meant to defend all Sasharr holds dear in the Battle of Heroes. Despite his misgivings, Sasharr crisscrosses the map following the voice, following the magical pendant he owns, and following his own instincts as he looks for seven fabled allies to help him prepare his world for war. All the while, Sasharr has fantastic visions of the future, of him fighting a great and terrible conqueror named Kigäli Ebarät. Just as Sasharr follows his path to bolster the West against the Battle of Heroes, Kigäli follows a divine path meant to lead his soul to the hallowed halls of his gods and subjugate the heathens of the West. Like Sasharr, he has been gathering seven of his own champions and is determined to use whatever means necessary to secure his legacy.

Legend of the Quill is the first book in The Prophet’s Tale trilogy by Astra Crompton. It’s set in an entirely fictional world that Crompton richly describes in a way that eases the reader into this universe. The combination of descriptive writing and perspective switching seems to effortlessly communicate and reinforce differences in race and culture among the Western countries. The narration is mixed among several characters. The main narration comes first through Sasharr, but there are frequent switches to Kigäli and his journey. There are also occasional chapters told by supporting characters who are meaningfully connected in some way to Sasharr or Kigäli. With Sasharr being the narrator so often and the tone with which they approach their destinies, however, not even hearing some of Kigäli’s origin story was quite enough for me to sustain the idea that there isn’t a strictly good or evil side in this epic tale.

I thought the pacing of the story matched and highlighted Sasharr’s and Kigäli’s development very well. The reader follows Sasharr as he painstakingly ventures around the continent, learning more about his own destiny and what he needs to do to save the Western countries from the conqueror. His progress feels at best like one step forward and one step back, but the book contains two face-to-face meetings between Sasharr and Kigäli–one early on and one at the end of this installment. More than anything, that helped me gauge how much growing Sasharr had done. At the same time, the two or three years covered in this book also highlight the path Kigäli has been following to ensure his own victory. Like any good introduction to a sweeping epic, no matter how good or how powerful Sasharr becomes on his journey, there seems no guarantee of his success.

There is also a bit of romance for Sasharr (and Kigäli, to be fair). As a prophet, he’s had glimpses of the love his future self will have. I thought it was interesting that Sasharr seems to instinctively know when he finally meets the person he will love face-to-face, but even before that, he feels an unnamed attraction to others of the same race as his future lover. Even better (or worse depending on how you like drama), Sasharr has a deep moment of doubt about whether he correctly identified the lover he knew in his prophecies compared to two strikingly similar people he actually meets on the journey. It’s not a huge element of the story and eventually resolved decidedly in one direction, but it was a fun bit of angst and also demonstrates that even the prophet himself may not understand what his visions show him. Kigäli’s own romance may take up far less space on-page, but I thought it was a rare look into a man who’s cultivating a certain reputation, yet takes care with the woman he’ll claim as a lover. It helped add depth to “the bad guy,” even if I didn’t think it really turned him into a sympathetic character. For people sensitive about sexual assault, this may be a scene to skip because the woman Kigäli chooses is an assault survivor and their first time together doesn’t start out entirely consensually.

Overall, Legend of the Quill is a tremendously engrossing read. Fans of magic and heroes’ journeys will love the detailed world building, and the growth Sasharr experiences as he goes from humble farm boy to embracing his role as prophet. The first book is all about Sasharr and Kigäli searching for their seven champions in preparation for the Battle of Heroes. It’s rich with foreshadowing and careful world and character building, Legend of the Quill is a sumptuous read for anyone who enjoys epic stories.

I have mixed feelings around, this book, the writing is at once both beautiful and convoluted, the world intricate but bordered on being too intricate, too much to understand,. The first 20% or so seemed to just drag on and on, not really going anywhere, repeating the same info of world building over and over. Apart from that, it was generally ok, I enjoyed my time.

I needed to read a lengthy glossary before commencing this book, and I would suggest that you tab/bookmark the various glossaries for ease of reference while reading, as I frequently had to refer back to these for translations, pronunciation of characters, details on what an item was when named for the first time, etc. This was the biggest glossary I have ever seen in a fantasy novel (and that is saying something :)).
However, the world is expansive, and the number of languages created for the peoples of the world are numerous, so this is un derstandable. In saying that, this story took a long time to read due to the constant requirements to look up details, so if this is not your thing, then don't start this book....
BUT... the story itself is fascinating and original, the cast of characters is diverse and refreshing, and the imagery evoked of the different lands allows the reader to be fully immersed in the story.
I loved the MMC and his journey. I never felt bored. There was always something new happening, and I found that as soon as I finished a chapter, I wanted to start the next one to see where the cast of characters were, and what was going to happen next. Yes, I am hooked and invested in these people (using the term loosely as most are not human).
Can't wait for the next book to see the outcome of the Battle of Heroes, and to see all the characters growth / descent (pending which side you are rooting for)!
Thank you to Astra Crompton and her team for allowing me to read the ARC! It was greatly appreciated.

To fans of rich world-building, characters with depth, and enthralling adventures; this one is for you. The book starts off with Bimear Sasharr, a young man from a small village with a gift that ostracizes him from the rest of the villagers. Due to a fate that he is unable to avoid, he sets off on a journey to fulfill his duty as the prophet of an ancient prophecy. Astra Crompton has a wonderful way of weaving an intricate story that you have no choice but to become invested in the plot, places, and the characters. There were times where I felt that the time skips were a bit abrupt, but I understand how such a long journey needed to be condensed as to avoid long chapters of traveling with little story progression. With all the characters having such distinct personalities, it is difficult to not take an interest in any of them. Each has a compelling backstory, told with rich narrative. I enjoyed this book dearly, and I eagerly await the next book in the series! Thank you to Astra Crompton, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for sending me this ARC to review.

ARC Reader Review, thank you Astra Crompton for a copy of Legend of the Quill.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
This was an absolutely stunning and incredible read. Legend of the Quill is the epitome of high fantasy, a beautiful magical world that’s so well rounded and developed. I had such an easy time envisioning the story and believing each piece of it. The different cultures, the magic, the creatures - they are all so well written and complex.
I had no idea what to expect going into this book and I was swept away immediately with the story. Having multiple perspectives kept the plot engaging and allowed the world to be immersive and descriptive, while also allowing the reader to “see both sides”. I found the different races to be so well thought out, they had distinct cultures and beliefs with unique histories that were engaging in their own way.
No doubt about it, this was a high fantasy novel, though not for everyone and the trigger warnings are absolutely essential and appreciated. I wouldn’t describe it as having “spice” but there are many mature themes and disturbing scenes. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to everyone, however for other fantasy lovers this is a stunning read. Legend of the Quill is so well written, so beautifully descriptive and captivating, I loved every moment of it.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

If high fantasy, with multiple characters, settings, and POVs that are covered in great detail is your thing, then this is the book for you. Unfortunately, it isn't what I was hoping for, but I can admit that this might be more of a me thing. I also had a hard time getting through this, both for the things I'm about to mention and the length. Fully willing to admit it was partly because of my ADHD.

I think this is a great story that is overly written. The book managed to make me feel that where the book begins was simultaneously too early and too late into the story. Let me explain.

The MC has a voice in his head and has visions that set him apart as an outcast in his small community. When we see the interaction between him and the voice in his head for the first time you wouldn't know that he has lived with this voice in his head and had this ability since he was a young child. The voice speaks as if it has just appeared and he has pretty much zero control of his ability. It's made clear the voice is there to teach him control, but if that is the case why does it appear that he knows nothing as a young adult? He then receives a magical pendant that confirms he is the chosen prophet who will bring about the resurrection of the great mage by seeking the quill (I honestly love this narrative choice for the story and it is why I wanted to read it).

It is made clear that the pendant is almost a living thing and directs the MC where he needs to go. If that is the case, I have to wonder what the point of having the voice in his head appear prior to him getting the gem is needed. I personally think it would have worked better to have the voice appear when he received the gem. Solidifying the gem as a living magical thing and fixing the plot hole of him still being an amateur at his abilities. I also had a hard time relating to the MC because there were too many moments where his immaturity about his situation clashed against the scope of what he was meant to do. There is a way to present this well and I know it could've been done better.

We then switch POVs to other characters. One is the antagonist. I was not a fan of getting his POV, not because I think he is a bad character, but because it removed the tension from finding out he is the villain. The moment the MC and the villain meet in the dungeons carried a lot of weight that was lost when I had already been in this guy's head. Not knowing what he was thinking would have made that scene infinitely better in my opinion. I think keeping a certain mystery around the antagonist would have elevated that character immensely for me.

I did enjoy the deeper interactions between the characters. Those were the highlights of the book and I wish the story had focused more on the intimate moments versus the sprawling epicness of the journey. Honestly, it's those intimate moments that saved the book for me and it's why I'm rating it as I am. I think those scenes were well-written and needed to be showcased more. I understand that this was meant to be this epic high fantasy, but that's not what ultimately drew my interest.

I do not think this needed to be as long as it was. When those character moments weren't happening it became increasingly difficult to get through as my mind would become overwhelmed with all the terminology and lore that was being thrown at me. This happened A LOT and never seemed to stop. I think making the story more concise and focusing more on the characterization, while tightening the lore around the characters would have served it well.

However, I would probably still recommend this book if you are a high fantasy lover. I can admit that this is a genre I normally wouldn't seek out. But this sounded interesting and I wanted to give it a go to see if it would be a different experience. Sad to say it wasn't.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victoria Editing for the ARC in exchange for a review!

This book was a fantastic start to a series! The world building was fantastic and the writing style sucked me in immediately. I really appreciated the amount of work the author put into this book, with the translations, languages, maps, glossaries, etc. The world the book was placed in felt fully fleshed out which made it so enjoyable to read. While there were the usual tropes of an epic fantasy in this book, I did enjoy the twists the author gave to them. I did not find that this was a regular "chosen one" book at all.

I enjoyed reading from the various POVs we were introduced to throughout the story. I especially loved Sasharr as a character and witnessing how he changed throughout the years we spend with him in this one book alone. Reading from the POV of the main antagonist was also a delight to see, and watching how the two sides of the story converge was great. The supporting characters of the book were also well done and I look forward to reading how the group continues to bond throughout the rest of their journey.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!

ARC Review-
“Legend of the Quill” is a high fantasy tale that takes place in Ul-Zaorith, a world intricately crafted with many lands, races, languages, Gods, Goddesses, and also forms of magic. Our main character, Bimear Sasharr, is a young Fudorian man who throughout the story tangos with his destiny as the Ibalgen (savior/hero) and completing the legend of the quill. His main antagonist, Kigäli Ebarät, a Speritanian man is resolved to complete the will of his Goddess at any cost including destroying anyone or anything who tries to get in his way. I love a good underdog story which to me this was, as Sasharr was just a seemingly “average” young man. Throughout the story though, the reader meets many eccentric and fascinating side characters who in one way or another help build the story to its climax. To me, the secondary characters were my favorite as they really added so much depth to the story. The story started off a little slow for me but that’s kind of to be expected in a high fantasy story as the author is laying the groundwork, background, etc., but once the story picked up I was really drawn in to what was going to happen next. I will be checking out book two and look forward to it.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. The worldbuilding and characters were really intriguing, but I really struggled with writing structure. It's choppy in a way that I could not focus on the story as much as I wanted to. I was getting a little confused about point of view, pacing, and setting descriptions.

Legend of the Quill was an ambitious and imaginative world, but certain elements made it difficult to fully engage with the narrative. Specifically the multiple POVs of flat characters and structural/developmental plot points. And two words: Sensitivity Reader.

The plot in essence seems pretty straightforward yet was unnecessarily convoluted, and the protagonist, Sasharr, lacks agency as a spirit frequently guides his actions. While the supporting characters had potential, they could have been further developed. The world building is immersive but occasionally overwhelming. The prose reflects a love for lore, that as an TTRPG person I enjoyed.

However, some depictions of race and character dynamics, particularly regarding the Briandynians and Kägali, raise concerns. While I appreciate and agree that racial injustice/prejudice in a fantasy setting are essential to help readers process their own worlds, the way in which this was done misses the mark for me, and pose problematic to some readers. The protagonist’s perspective in moments of exploitation could also be handled with greater sensitivity.

Despite these challenges, the novel demonstrates a strong creative vision and could offer a more cohesive experience with further refinement.

You start reading Legend of the Quill with exactly 0% knowledge about this universe. The animals and people might remind you of others, but the world is quite unique. It gives you about 3 chapters to settle in, until you're whisked away on the adventure of a lifetime.
This reader wasn't expecting the amount of character depth each character would be given, or the kind of lush and deep lore the author seamlessly integrates into the chapters. By Chapter 7 or 8, I thought I knew where the story was going, and then it took a turn and the character I thought was going to be a staple in the book ended up... not being there anymore. This is when I just couldn't put the book down.
The antagonist has his own chapters, and the reader is given quite a deep dive into their intentions and exactly what victory means to him. The conflicts he has are akin to that of the main protagonist and that just adds fuel to the fire of needing to see where this whole thing is going. He's brutal, but it makes sense that he doesn't like the people of that land, they aren't his people. His entire fleet was destroyed and he's the only one who can carry out his King's decree.
The protagonist is quite a complex character, especially given his prophetic nature. Just when you think you understand his gifts, they betray him or leave him stranded. Just when you think he's learned, he's taken by surprise by something. His personality comes off as a bit bland, but it's easily outweighed by how his path is constantly interrupted by one thing or another. You start realizing if he was anyone else, he wouldn't be as composed as he was, you start believing in him as slowly as he starts believing in himself.
The author takes careful measure to include the classic "Yes, but" and "No, and" formula of fantasy to their story's advantage. You're always left guessing how a conflict or part of the book will go, only to be surprisingly sobered by just how different in ends up being, or how much more screwed over Sasharr ends up. Parts of the story, or conclusions to character arcs end up being quite satisfying, despite the emotional rollercoaster they might have endured.
I found it a breath of fresh air in this day and age of countless general YA adventure stories out there. Astra Crompton has a bright future in this field, and I can't wait to get my grubby eyes on more of their books and the sequel!
Thank you for reading.

The main word I can say is WOW.

This book was amazing. The writing was beautifully done. The way it flowed, and the wording used. It felt elegant.

The characters felt so real and well-rounded. They were believable. Especially the main character. The depth given to him was wonderful.

The world building in this book is also really well-done. It's a different take on some of the more common things I see in fantasy, and I really enjoyed that. It's a nice break from the regular fantasy novels I read, and it was refreshing to read something different.

I enjoyed the switching of POV, and I really liked getting to see things from the antagonist's POV as well. It made it more interesting to me.

I also adored the little illustrations at each chapter heading. It felt like it really added something to it, and I found myself looking forward to seeing them.

Overall, a really fascinating and enjoyable read.

An absolutely fantastic read! The worldbuilding was so well done and the story was so enthralling. The different POVs were done very well, you really get drawn into their stories very easily. It was such a good fantasy book. This book really throws you into the deep end,so it may not be for everyone, but I loved it. Incredibly immersive writing with intriguing characters and beautiful imagery.

This is a true epic adventure, great for readers that love Terry Brooks, Goodkind, and Samantha Shannon but are looking for a twist on the classic genre. Crompton has built a very full and complex world, with ensemble and character development to match. As epic goes, and epic is, expect to work around puzzles and mine-bending concepts, root for the villain at times, and want to scream at the main character, Sasharr. While not my typical genre, I recognize the true depth in this novel, and believe this author will be one to watch.

I enjoy Astra’s imagination.

This book was full of details that made the story so much more colourful. At times I wondered what it would be like to have this made into a movie but realized that the visual would disappoint. From clothing to movement to the physical world there were so many details that it kept me engaged. I often felt I was in the middle of the scene.

The transitions between POV was well done and did not feel jerky. The different POV allowed me to see the good and bad in each character as well as their belief in Sasharr or Kigali and why they would want to join the journey. Understanding the reasons for good and evil allow us to see that things are not always as clear as we think.

At times the story was difficult to follow due to the level of detail and introduction of new language, people or places but once understood the story was enriched.

I look forward to the next two books.

Well done.

This epic adventure fantasy follows Sasharr, a young man chosen to go on a quest to prepare for the Battle of Heroes against a conqueror come from across the sea. To succeed, he must assemble a team of Heroes as well as resurrect the long-dead Great Mage. The themes of choice, destiny, entropy and prophecy are very present throughout.

This book does full immersion so well! I was thrilled to find maps, translations, glossaries and a dramatis personae within. The world-building is done quite slowly and organically, which means that as a reader, the above-mentioned resources are needed to find your footing at the start. This is the kind of world-building that I adore, as it stimulates my puzzle-loving brain; however, I know that it is not for everyone and therefore it is important to know about before jumping in. I would recommend this book to experienced fantasy readers.

It is also obvious that a lot of care was put into this book. The world is fully original: humanoid races and cultures, fauna and flora, gods, and a magic system, all of which don’t feel like they were plucked from another story. As an added bonus, each chapter has unique header illustrations.

I really felt for Sasharr and his journey of self-discovery and confidence. I also truly loved to hate the villain. The ensemble cast was very unique and enjoyable, and I look forward to continuing their adventure in the sequel!

I sometimes struggled with the passing of time; it wasn’t always clear to me how long a certain part of the journey had taken. The story covers a few years, but it felt more like a few months. I also would have liked for the female and non-binary characters to have bigger roles.

Overall, I really enjoyed discovering this carefully built, complex and original world. The writing was quite good, the plot was interesting and the intrigue made it difficult to put down my e-reader.

From the moment I started reading, I was drawn to the world and the intricate plot. The protagonist, Bimear is a compelling character whose journey to save his homeland is inspiriting as well as heartbreaking. I loved how this was written with multiple points of view allowing me to connect with various characters and their personal struggles.
The world building is exceptional, allowing me to immersive myself into this world. The twists and turns in the plot were unexpected and kept me guessing until the very end.
Overall, this is a must-read for fantasy lovers who enjoy complex characters and a well-crafted story. I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series!

DNFed at 27% because I just can't take this anymore.

This was really not good at all. The plot is... I honestly don't know how to describe it. I've been telling people that I've been reading this book, and when they ask me to say what it's about, I've been struggling. It's weird, because on the one hand, this is a simple story about a guy charged with a task by destiny. On the other hand, I barely know what he's trying to do, and I did think he was the Great Mage for a while. I want to talk about characters who aren't Sasharr when describing the plot, somewhat out of spite because he's the only character mentioned on the blurb, but no one else is really worth mentioning. Every character is incredibly flat and doesn't really act like a person. This is perhaps most egregious in Sasharr, our protagonist and perhaps the least interesting character in the novel, considering that he periodically is taken over by a spirit to talk through him and advance the plot. He has so little agency, and his lack of agency isn't handled in an interesting way. Can someone tell me why Sasharr decided to leave home without telling his family? I'm genuinely curious. He did not need to do that, seemed very cut-up that he was doing it, but to my knowledge and understanding, there was absolutely no reason he needed to do that.

The worldbuilding is far too convoluted and complicated for its own good. Crompton tends to introduce a lot of concepts and names all at once. Towards the beginning of the novel, I was inclined to try to remember these, but once they got to the city with the king and some guy began listing the different orders of knights, I could feel my brain shutting off. Additionally, some of the world building details are so insane that it pulled me out of the story entirely. Why is the sky randomly mentioned to be purple? Why has this medieval European flavored society not discovered iron? What? The fact that Crompton writes campaign settings for TTRPGs makes a lot of sense, because all of this feels emblematic of someone writing a book set in the world that they've made for a TTRPG game, but they aren't particularly good at writing a book.

Let's briefly touch on the frankly baffling racial politics of this novel, because there were some moments that made me incredibly uncomfortable. Everything about the Briandynians was very weird. Why on earth was Sasharr vaguely sexually attracted to both Briandynians that he met during the novel, including one that he just rescued from being sex trafficked for a pedophile? What does this add to the story? The constant sexualization of these people by Sasharr's internal monologue really isn't the insightful commentary that it seems to think it is. Kägali having features often associated with POC, having "red" skin, and being described as a "brute" and in similar terms is lazy and plays into stereotypes about non-white men being monstrous. I could tolerate the world building and characters (barely), but this was where I drew the line. The scene with Kholjaiyin in particular was almost my final straw.

To put it lightly, I do not recommend. I am not providing a star rating because I did not finish the book, but I would not give it a high one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.