Blurb:
It has been a thousand years since the last Seed abandoned their duty. The mists are closing in. Finally, the Morning Bell tolls. A new Seed is born, but is it too late?
The rot eats away at mortals. The Witnesses pray so that they may not turn into one of the forgotten. And the constricting mists infect the lands with fear.
But there is more to this tale than just the Elders and their Seeds. Four mortals will have a part to play in Minethria’s fate. A farmer girl with only love in her eyes. A warrior born to the life of a refugee. A highborn stuck between the realm of gods and men. And a woman running into front lines and away from home.
Will the cycle finally be completed? Or will the mist swallow all?
A seed is born and the evil is slain, so doth another cycle commence. Yet the last Seed born hath turned traitor, and the mists, which had been pushed back, returneth.
CONTENT WARNING (can contain minor spoilers): This book is Grimdark. There is a lot of violence, gore, heavy language. It also deals with very heavy themes like realistic representation of disability, has descriptive sexual content, self-harm, mental illness, rape and suicidal ideation.
Review:
There is a lot of hype about this book, and I am here to add to it. It is a world expertly crafted in a way that pulls you in, making you feel as if it truly is a world that has been in place for thousands of years. The conflict is real and visceral as well as being a personal issue for each of the characters that is portrayed within the pages. There are several times where I found myself debating which POV I wanted to see more of. It is a rich blend of characters, each with their own unique voice. The author does an excellent job of making each of them have their moment in the spotlight, all without taking anything away from the other characters. My favorite thing was being able to see the characters in each viewpoint, seeing how a small decision affected the other characters in big ways.
The strength of this novel is something that I never expected to say or really notice in a novel. To me it is the passion that is evident in each word that has been crafted into this huge novel. It is of an intimidating size, but it is a novel that will make you want more and more as each page flashes by in a flash. I was fortunate enough to have a physical copy, and the amount of detail that is evident in the printing is a testament to the passion that the author has poured into this book. I will add my content warning at this stage, as some of the themes can be really dark and the author does not hold back in these instances. It is not just for shock value and plays an integral part to the overall story, but it is something that some readers will not enjoy and should take seriously.
This is a book that will sit in a readers mind for a very long time. There are a number of people who Mr. Ardalan could be compared to, but I believe he has set a mark that makes him stand alone, a true defining moment. It is beautiful, it is jaw dropping, it is a book that will have many talking and thinking even after reading the final words. I eagerly await the second installment, though I will visit this world again with a reread, just so that I can once again become immersed in this beautifully dark world.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
Disclaimer and Content Warning: I received a copy for a fair and honest review. I also want to add the note to take the content warning seriously, especially that of the rape.
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