Before the massacre at Nariin, Enebish was one of the greatest warriors in the Sky King’s Imperial Army: a rare and dangerous Night Spinner, blessed with the ability to control the threads of darkness. Now, she is known as Enebish the Destroyer―a monster and murderer, banished to a monastery for losing control of her power and annihilating a merchant caravan.

Guilt stricken and scarred, Enebish tries to be grateful for her sanctuary, until her adoptive sister, Imperial Army commander Ghoa, returns from the war front with a tantalizing offer. If Enebish can capture the notorious criminal, Temujin, whose band of rebels has been seizing army supply wagons, not only will her crimes be pardoned, she will be reinstated as a warrior.

Enebish eagerly accepts. But as she hunts Temujin across the tundra, she discovers the tides of war have shifted, and the supplies he’s stealing are the only thing keeping thousands of shepherds from starving. Torn between duty and conscience, Enebish must decide whether to put her trust in the charismatic rebel or her beloved sister. No matter who she chooses, an even greater enemy is advancing, ready to bring the empire to its knees.

Out February 2020

391 Pages

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

I hate books that claim to be retellings and really aren’t. I also have issues with fantasy books that have poorly constructed world-building and a magic system and when the book reads like you’re suppose to know these things just cuz, well yanno, it’s a fantasy genre book.

Fantasy books must have background, must have world-building, must have a religious system/magic system and/or an ecommerce system. Some have a legal system for breaking magic rules; others, have a religious system where magic is used only for it… Regardless of the choice, more is always expected. If warriors are present, then there should be great fighting scenes; so when a warrior commits a crime and is banished with monks… sorry? How is that a punishment for the crimes this Protagonist committed? Frankly, it would be like putting a sexual predator in a brothel? I don’t know, I just thought this odd.

When reading this book, I expected all the things that made up the fantasy genre books. What I got was maybe 25% of that. Fantasy books are not necessarily character-driven, nor are they plot-driven. What you find is they are both, pushed forward by all those other great aspects expected in this genre. I wanted more world-building, magic system reveals, religious system components that made sense and better action and fight scenes. I expected a limping soldier to carry that limp forward, not miraculously be cured of her injuries just like that. Of course, this is an editing issue that wasn’t caught.

I’m glad the magic used had limits, but why was this? Why really? Why only some had this magic but only a few?

Characters were developed nicely, but at times appeared two-dimensional and not fully rounded. Great use of humor and interactions between characters. As for the plot… oh boy, when writing a series, when outlining say the first book of that series, all plot issues by the end of the book should be reconciled. The story can continue into the next even by picking up from the previous, but plot and sub-plot issues must be resolved/reconciled by the end of the book, be it the first, third or seventh. I found many sub-plot issues leading off into the abyss of words, never to return again to be wrapped up by the end.

This is frustrating for me because the story idea is good and has so much potential. I guess I’ll read the next and see if many of my unanswered questions are resolved.

I gave this book: