Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

It's been a hot minute since I've read an adult fantasy (I still gravitate towards young adult fantasy even though I wouldn't categorize myself as a young adult anymore) but I was suddenly in the mood for it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! A great book to end the reading year with.

Even though I knew this was a sizable book before I started reading it, now that I look back on it, A LOT has happened in a short amount of time.
Even though I was fed up with Annev sometimes (especially his infatuation with Myjun), I feel like a lot of those moments were necessary to shape where the story is going in the next books.
There's a lot of death and gore and murder, but it honestly didn't bother me. I'm excited to see where the story is going, as I think the world building, folklore and magic system are really interesting!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an e arc of this book.; I also purchased a hardcover copy for myself.

Unfortunately, this book isn't for me and that is entirely my own fault. I do not like school settings and while I knew this started off being set at a school, I didn't realise how big of a role that would play in the story. This type of storyline just does not hold my attention - I personally would much rather the character learn how to wield their magic whilst out on a quest rather than watching them go through lessons etc.

This is the 4th time I have picked this book up to try and read it and each time I can't get past the 150 page mark so I am admitting defeat which I am very sad about because these books are stunning!

I admit that I was a little reluctant to read a book with a teenage boy protagonist (because, well, he's a teenage boy), but I was absolutely delighted by Master of Sorrows! It's a book that takes the best of classic fantasy -- a young man with a destiny, a wise older mentor, a quest, and loads of magic -- and translates it into something fresh and modern. I particularly enjoyed the worldbuilding and the society that rejects magic as something evil, rather than a force for good.

I can't wait for the second book in the series!

Content warnings: ableism, including use of the word 'cripple' - the ableism is shown negatively in the text, but it is prevalent; violence and injury; murder and death, including major character death.

Master of Sorrows was one of my top fantasy reads of 2019. It's a fresh take on the training school tropes of fantasy, asking: what happens when the training school is teaching all the wrong things? We follow Annev, a young man training at the hidden Academy of Chaenbalu. All he wants is to pass the Test of Judgement, become an Avatar who tracks down dangerous magical artefacts, and marry his sweetheart Myjun - but the Academy's teachings are corrupt. They see all magic as inherently evil, and see all physical disability or injury as signs that a person is touched by the evil god Keos. Annev's mentor and adoptive father Sodar tries to get him to question these teachings, but Annev is desperate to be accepted into the ranks of the Avatars, even though if they knew he'd been born with only one hand, they'd kill him. As the Test of Judgement approaches, the wheels of fate begin to turn and Annev's life is about to be knocked way off course...

This book is so much my cup of tea. I love an academy story, and the first parts of Master of Sorrows serve up a really great take on the tropes of the genre. We have traditional classes that fill us in on aspects of the world-building, and also some really entertaining training exercises - the scene that sold me on the book is an extended stealth exercise that is enormously fun to read. There's a giant, deadly obstacle course, for goodness' sake, like some kind of evil version of CBBC's Raven (perhaps a niche reference. I don't care.)! There's a great sense of dramatic irony as you see Annev struggle with his classes because he can't accept that all magic is evil, and I very much enjoyed the juxtaposition of these classes and Annev's quieter conversations with Sodar - although there's a ton of action (more on this in a bit), this is actually a fairly introspective book. 

The world as a whole has a David Eddings or Robert Jordan vibe, dark and dangerous but not too grim, which makes it the perfect setting for a magic-filled adventure in the classic tradition. The magic system is a real strength of the book, being just "hard" enough for my taste - I love a system that can be learned, but I love it even more when the characters start to find ways around the rules! Though it's a large book, the pace is maintained really well - the chapters are short and there are big set-pieces every so often that really keep the tension up. Things really ramp up in the final section of the book, with one of the coolest assassin action sequences I've read, and a whole lot of questions raised. My content warnings above note the ableism that is featured a lot, and it is worth bearing in mind if it's something you're sensitive to - it's very clear while reading that the Academy is in the wrong in teaching that disability is evil, and the narrative never condones it, but several characters discuss it and outright state ableist views. Part of Annev's journey is overcoming what he's been taught about himself, so go carefully if it's an issue for you - but I felt that he himself was a positive depiction of a disabled hero (though of course, please seek out own voices reviews), and I think the series has a lot of opportunity to build on this book's condemnation of the Academy's views.

Annev himself is a great, relatable main character, and one whom I'm really excited to follow on his journey. I'm not often a fan of a teenage boy protagonist in fantasy fiction, but Annev is a believable and surprisingly likeable one. It's fun to see him mature and start to realise how the world works - he has his moments of being a teenage idiot, but it never gets too annoying, because the story moves along at a real clip. Sodar was one of my favourite characters (I'm a sucker for a kind mentor with a mysterious past), and there were plenty of people I loved to hate among the staff and students of the Academy. The one minor critique I could make is that this world seems very heavily male, but that is due in part to the boys-school setting of the Academy (because of course, as well as ableism and elitism, they're into boys and girls learning different skills...). There's a slight tendency to default to male on side characters, but as the series moves away from the Academy, I think this should improve, as the women we do see are very interesting - I'm actually most excited to see how Myjun develops, after spending most of the book deeply disliking her!

This is very much the first book in a series - I have a feeling it's almost a prologue to Annev's true story. But if you like training school stories, or want a fresh, clever take on a classic fantasy style, this is well worth a read - I loved it just as much on a reread as I did the first time around! I think the next book will also allow the story to really leap forward in terms of character depth - I honestly have no idea where Annev's story is going to go next. I'm so lucky to have an extra early ARC of Master Artificer as I'm so impatient to see what happens! Five out of five cats!

I really wanted to like this one. I even bought a finished paperback as it was so pretty. While I initially liked the story as it started - the world building was really interested and so was the story. I liked the honesty and integrity of the main character and the mystery surrounding his origins and powers, but I'm finding myself less and less interested as I go on. I'm 200 pages in and it feels like nothing much has happened. It's well written, but getting boring. So calling it quits for now.

I know I'm not a natural fan of YA fiction, but I can usually manage to appreciate a well-told and constructed YA story.  Sadly Master of Sorrows by Justin Call isn't it (review copy from Gollancz).  

The premise here is very familiar.  A young orphan (Annev) is raised by a wise old man in a small village cut off from the world.  He goes to school where he has friends and enemies, and competes to graduate and become a magic hunter.  But he is hiding a mysterious secret: a deformity and his ability to do magic.  What Call is trying to do is to subvert some of that classic story by having Annev be the Chosen One of the dark lord, and make him an antihero rather than a classic fantasy hero.  But it just doesn't work. 


The world-building really lets the story down and makes it an unpleasant book to read.  Call has chosen to have the founding principle of his world's religion be the stigmatisation of all disabilities.  Any child born with any disability is immediately marked out as claimed by the dark lord and killed.   Even if Call intends this to signal to the reader that this society is one that we should not be taking as a healthy or a good place, the unremitting structural ableism makes this book a really uncomfortable read. 


The characterisation is also weak.  For reasons that are completely unclear, despite Annev having a disability that he masks with the use of a forbidden magic hand, he is passionate about fitting into a society that would expel him with horror if they realised the truth about him.  For a Chosen One, he is remarkably stupid, regularly making unwise choices, ignoring advice and doing reckless things.  The adults aren't much better.  The teachers at the Academy are two-dimensional caricatures.  And Annev's friends and classmates aren't much better.  With very little effort you could map all of them onto principal characters from Harry Potter.  Except without Hermione, because without exception all of the female characters in the novel are shallow, manipulative and horrible. 


A more skilled writer could do something really interesting and exciting with the idea of a story focusing on the Dark Lord's Chosen One and a society that believes itself to be good but is in urgent need of revolution.  But this is not that book. 


Avoid.

I love this book and can`t wait for the sequel.
Justin Call has built an amazing world even when the reader spends most of the time at the school and the village. With Annev he created a character who I could really connect but sometimes I couldn`t understand his motivation why he wanted to stay that bad in that place. Because when the villagers would find out about his secrets they would kill him instantly. In this world, it is not good to be different or have a disability because this means you are a vessel of evil and should be cleansed of the earth.
But I really think the ending is so mean it is just a big cliff hanger. So if you don`t like that wait until the sequel is out. :D

Trigger warnings for ableism and violence.

This was an enjoyable debut and introduction to a new dark fantasy series. This novel follows Annev who has spend his whole living training at the Academy to become a Master Avatar, someone who will dedicate their lives to receiving and storing magical artefacts. However, Annev only has one last change of gaining his Avatar status and this may be put in jeopardy when he learns the secrets of his past that Sodar, the man who raised him has been keeping from him which may lead him down a path much different than that which he had imagined. One that could lead him to become either a hero or a villain.

As a big lover of morally grey characters I can safely say that I really enjoyed reading from Annev’s point of view and I’m looking forward to seeing how his character arc develops in later books. I also enjoyed seeing the dynamics and relationships between the boys at the Academy.
The world building in this is one of my favourite things about the book and you can tell just how much time Justin Call put into developing it.

Overall, I did enjoy this book however it took me forever to get though. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

Book One in the Silent Gods tetralogy (that’s a four-book series to you and me), Justin Call’s Master of Sorrows offers a clever take on a tried-and-tested fantasy trope. In the hidden village of Chaenbalu, orphan Annev de Breth trains hard to earn his place amongst the warrior-thieves of the Academy. In a society which abhors both magic and physical impurity of any kind, however, Annev – born with only one hand and mentored by a somewhat mysterious priest-slash-magician – finds himself pulled in different directions by conflicting loyalties. As his last chance to become an Avatar looms large, Annev faces a choice which might determine the shape of his life to come.

So far so every-other-fantasy, right? That’s the point, really – it’s a deliberate attempt to take well-used archetypes and themes, including a complex set of mythological and theological rules and histories, and turn them in a different direction to usual. There’s a lot here which will feel comfortable and familiar to fantasy fans (in a good way) – the young protagonist and his friends, the troublesome rivals getting in the way, the conflicting authority figures and the character-building trials, not to mention a wildly imaginative world with richly detailed systems of magic and mythology. At this early stage in the series Annev’s purpose is hinted at more than overtly discussed, but it’s clear right from the beginning that there’s an interesting darkness to his origins, his protector and the role he’s ‘meant’ to play – with a heavy emphasis on his conflicted opinions on what his destiny should be.

If Annev’s destiny is a little less clear-cut than the usual ‘rise from adversity to become the chosen one of good’ archetype, essentially that’s because he’s being lined up within the impressively well-developed (if a little confusing, at times) mythology/theology of this world as being aligned more with the ‘evil’ side of things. It’s not hugely explored in this book – presumably there’s more to come later in the series – but it’s an interesting idea and it folds nicely into the beautifully real-feeling world that’s on offer here. There’s a lot of worldbuilding to process, complete with satisfying, well thought-out systems for both magic and the Academy’s anti-magic structures, with plenty of secrets and details hinted at but not fully revealed as well as an impressive sense of scale to the world. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s all good stuff.

Crucially, the vivid worldbuilding is complemented by genuinely engaging characters with agency, believable motivations and interesting dynamics. Whether with his protector/mentor Sodar, his friends, or his rivals in the Academy, the story is driven by Annev’s relationships and the way his hopes and dreams are challenged, and the choices they lead him into making. For the most part it’s plotted well, with some brilliant, inventive set-pieces mixed in with the character drama, although some of the characters’ decision-making can at times feel like a bit of a stretch, as though it’s driven more by plot requirements than believable characterisation. That being said, it’s all written in a clear, engaging style and if you don’t mind a lot of information to process and some convenient plotting then there’s an awful lot to enjoy in a story which lingers in the mind (in a very good way) and kicks off a series that’s full of potential.

This Fantasy novel is the latest debut here in the UK that is being highly promoted. It has a lot that you may recognise, at least at the start.

Annev de Breth is a child with a destiny, who begins this novel as a crippled baby. This is important to the plot as this is a world where any physical deformation is seen as a result of being a ‘Son of Keos’ and the person is killed. Using magic is seen also as the result of being allied to Keos, and so magicians are hunted down and executed. Any magic artefact found is either stored in the Vault of Damnation at the Academy in Chaenbalu or destroyed by Avatars of Judgement whose purpose is to travel the world locating and destroying such objects.

Annev is hidden away until he is a teenager. The first part of the novel shows him as a trainee Avatar of Judgement at the Academy and raised by Sodan, a strict elderly mentor who promised to look after the boy when his parents died. As is usual in such matters, Annev is well-liked by some students, who are unaware of his disability, but bullied by others, as they go through a series of challenges in preparation for the Test of Judgement, which lead to one student a year being chosen to be an Avatar.

As the beginning of a novel which is the first part of a series, a lot of this part of the book is setting up the scenario, the world and introducing the characters. It’s done pretty well, and you do work things out fairly easily, as it is all based on characteristics that are easy to recognise. Annev is engaging, likeable and often has honourable intentions, his mentor Sodan is strict but good-hearted. Tosan, the Headmaster of the Academy, is stern and hostile, although this may be partly due to Annev holding a flame for his daughter, the beautiful and alluring fellow student Myjun.

This may be just what the reader requires at the start of a novel. However the downside of this is that you can’t help feeling that you’ve read it all before. It also doesn’t really help that the first part of the book seems to portend a great deal – THIS IS IMPORTANT, FOR IMPORTANT THINGS TO COME - whilst fairly mundane things are happening (school, chores, bullying).

It also may not surprise the well-read genre reader that Annev makes it through, though not entirely without individual sacrifice. Much of the story is about the often-opposing struggles between what is right and wrong, and making choices. Sometimes, as in life, the choices made are not the best and much of the book is spent showing the consequences of dealing with such actions.

At this point there is a plot-convenience, when Annev’s success in the Test of Judgement leads to him becoming fast-tracked through the social system. He becomes not an Avatar of Judgement, but a Master Avatar. He is then immediately sent on a dangerous mission to kill someone who has stumbled across the hidden village. There is a reason given, but it does seem rather forced and all too convenient. (Surely you would help a new staff-member to settle in and acclimatise themselves to their new position before sending them off the same day on a dangerous mission?) Whilst I guess that such actions can be seen as an attempt to make Annev fail, it felt more like the resolution of a plot point rather than something that was logical. It is not the only such example in the book.

And it was at this point that I struggled to keep reading. However, it is then that the book became more interesting, as the story started to engage my attention once more.

The last part of the novel makes up for the stodgy first part. There are revelations, not all of which are expected. Friendships are made, tested and lost and there are discoveries that have serious consequences for those involved. The lengthy battle scenes, once begun, are well written and, unlike the training sequences at the beginning of the novel, feel less superfluous. There is an Epilogue which shows that the story has not ended here.

In the hands of another writer such a story could be written as an uplifting one – how a teenager overcomes his challenges to be a better person and create a better world. However, in the end, this takes a different path. To borrow from another famous example, what we read here is not the story of Luke Skywalker but that of Anakin (or perhaps even Rey.) What we are really reading here is not the story of a hero but instead that of an anti-hero.

Master of Sorrows is a solid debut, told with some skill that suggests that this writer has more to offer. Whilst it is clearly a debut novel, there are parts that keep the pages turning, after a humdrum start.  In these times when there are many, many genre books treading similar paths, it is difficult to tell a unique story that follows a different path. Master of Sorrows is a good attempt to be distinct, although its ambition leads to things being a little overstretched in places.

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

The synopsis begun thus:

"You have heard the story before - of a young boy, orphaned through tragic circumstances, raised by a wise old man, who comes to a fuller knowledge of his magic and uses it to fight the great evil that threatens his world."

But from the very first page I knew this was a book unlike any other I had encountered before.

Many elements remained that are a prerequisite for what I consider a stellar fantasy novel - a complex magic system, a fantastical academy, religious and/or cultural politics, a scheming and self-serving hierarchy - but all this was interwoven with something entirely the author's own.

This is one of the few fantasy novels I have read where magic is a despised element. Usually it is deeply revered and harnessed. Here it is forbidden and neglected. Yet still ever-present. This creates an immediate bond between the reader and the central character, as we are invited to share a secret from the very prologue. This bond was only ever built upon and I felt, very quickly, how ardently I wished to protect Annev, our young, misguided, and foolhardy yet pure, brave, and relentlessly honest eyes into this world.

The town, that much of this novel is centred around, is an isolated one. It is largely self-sufficient and keeps its inhabitants blind to the wider world. Annev's entire life has been structured by the beliefs of the academy's master, who rules it, and much of his misguided notions, of what is right and wrong, stem from his direction. He is fortunate, however, to have another master schooling him. But this other individual is harbouring dark secrets that make Annev question the soundness of his instruction and just what mysteries are lurking in the past of all those around him.

As Annev navigates his way through his final trials at the academy, the political weathers outside of the town are continuing to darken and I am excited to see where they will take him in the coming series instalments.

Well, ****. This felt like a book and a half. Yes, at 400+ pages, once I finished it felt like I had read a 800+ page book. Why? Because so much happened Yeeees, I have to admit, for me it sliiiiightly felt infodumpey in a few parts whilst reading but all in all, by the end I felt sated by this first book in The Silent Gods series.
It has been a while since I last read a fantasy title where magic is a big, bloody NO!-NO!. Basically, there is an ‘order’ of Masters who make sure that all of the magical artefacts are collected and hidden away from any kind of use and that anyone who has the marks of being any bit magical (like our protagonist’s missing below elbow arm) would be eliminated pretty much at sight. These are the kind of Masters that kill first and asks questions later. These are the kind of Masters that run the Academy who train young boys (there is also the female equivalent) to protect the world. Quite a black and white world. So- magic=bad, missing limbs=bad. What a **** of an unfair world!
Annev, our young protagonist that I mentioned above, is doubly doomed because not only does he have a missing arm, he has another secret- which shall not be mentioned here. What does this mean for Annev? Well, he doesn’t have a lot of choice but he tries. Tutored by a priestly Master, Annev gets by and his future at the Academy is looking OK. He has one more chance left to pass the test to advance from his Acolyte status to a Master status. He has a chance at a girl – OOoOOOOOOh! But, I mean, you can imagine the dilemmas already with the secrets he has to hide, the secrets even HE doesn’t yet know (but will come to daylight). Plus, if you have a bunch of young men, there will be an abundance of egos and there’s always this one arse who enjoys showing force and power over others.
And thus happens, as scripted, doobies will hit the fan and everything starts to unravel. dun-dun-duuuunnnn…
Master of Sorrows is a solid, strong story that spares no detail. The whole book just made me think: now, this is a book that I feel the author really enjoyed writing. It is a fruit of love and labour! One can tell. It’s methodical and interesting and everything is thought through. A full picture. No confusion. The pace is steady- it stops on certain scenes longer than is really necessary BUT… but, but, but… it is an adventure. And boy, I can only imagine how full on things are going to get in the next instalment! Can’t wait!
The setting was interesting and the conflicts kept rolling the story forward. I was constantly trying to think ahead at the possible scenarios and outcomes following certain scenes and I think I was quite often missing the mark.
Basically, the good fantasy readers over at Goodreads have provided some really good reviews to entice you more expertly on the undertones and inner-workings of Master of Sorrows so do head on over and get the validation you need to give this book a try. I sure am happy and grateful I was approved for this eARC.

WOW WOW WOW!!!

When I read the blurb for this, I was like WOAH. Erm, excuse me, Avatars? Apprenticeships? This book was so much more than that. And I was even more excited since this was approved after i had started rewatching Avatar the Last Airbender too! What a coincidence!

But, do not be fooled this is not the same Avatar of the show- in fact this book was so rich and amazing I cannot wait for the next in the series. Also, it is huge! Although the pacing lacks a little in some places, the wait is sooooo worth it!

Yes- GO READ IT!

Master of Sorrows is a unique and interesting take on a classic fantasy trope, in a richly imagined and well-developed world. A world where all people with physical disabilities or deformities are seen as the manifestation of an evil god - and our main character, Annev, is one of them, but thanks to his tutor he has been able to hide this. I found this really fascinating, and it also made me question the way these people are treated in our society, too. Disabilities are so often underrepresented in literature so it was refreshing to see.

Magic as well is forbidden and frowned upon, and Annev is training to be an Avatar who collects forbidden magical artefacts in order to take them back to the Academy, which is where we spend the vast majority of the novel, though this never felt tired or boring.

I enjoyed the character of Annev, particularly his inner struggles; he was a sympathetic main character and I found myself desperately hoping he would be able to make the right decision without everything going horribly wrong for him. He was realistic as a teenage boy, but one who wanted only to do the right thing, such as when he and his friends are taking the test to be Avatar or when he is faced with the prospect of having to kill a man.

His relationship with his tutor was also touching and I particularly liked their interactions. No characters were perfect, they all had flaws and their own motivations, so that even though the focus of the plot was on Annev, we could understand why certain characters did what they did.

Unfortunately the writing just fell a little flat for me and at times made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story, though I think perhaps that may just be me. Overall I did enjoy it, and look forward to seeing how the worldbuilding develops in book 2 as we move even further away from Chaenbalu and discover more about the complex mythology of the world.

In the end I gave Master of Sorrows 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because it was a fascinating and interesting tale that brought a breath of life into the fantasy genre.

If you’re looking for a new fantasy series to begin then I highly recommend Master of Sorrows, the first book in the Silent Gods series. I wanted to read this as soon as I saw the tagline floating around asking “what if you were destined to be a villain?”. The idea that the main character the reader comes to empathise with and root for might end up being the villain of the story is certainly intriguing and I look forward to following Annev’s journey. Despite this being almost 600 pages, I read it in a couple of sittings as I didn’t want to put it down thanks to the complex characters, good pacing, and fantastic worldbuilding.

Seventeen-year-old Annev is a wonderful main character and deservedly takes centre-stage in this coming-of-age story. The most interesting aspect for me was his disability, which is perceived as shameful by the society in which he lives due to its association with Keos the Fallen. Otherness and disability as a signifier of villainy is a well-worn and damaging trope that I look forward to the author continuing to challenge throughout the series. There were so many memorable characters, particularly Sodar, Fyn and Myjun, that I can’t wait to meet again or hopefully revisit in some way.

The magic system was well-developed and enhanced the plot rather than eclipsing it. I’m a big fan of training scenes and schooling so loved the scenes set at the Academy of Chaenbalu. There’s a fascinating Q&A with the author over on Always Trust In Books exploring why the author made certain decisions and his plan for the rest of the series. This book ends with enough questions that I can’t wait for the sequel and I’m now completely invested in Annev’s journey. If you’re looking for a well-written and refreshing fantasy then I’d highly recommend Master of Sorrows.

Master of Sorrows is a dark and compelling fantasy that's has got me hooked on this series. A major aspect of Master of Sorrows for me is the way that an injury or disability is seen as being different as being evil. This is such a powerful element that is based in our own history. Within several pages of reading Master of Sorrow I had become emotional attached to Annev. When he is going through his tests my heart was racing. I was like an over enthusiastic parent at pitch side. The stories about the religion and why the Gods fell out. I kind of understand Keos being a bit miffed at his present from his siblings and who they dealt with the fallout. Although I wouldn’t go as far as he did with the whole create creature to destroy his siblings followers. Let’s talk about the headmaster and his daughter, both characters from the starts made me wonder. We live this story from Annev POV, but even his rose-tinted glasses couldn’t hide the offish with these characters. They are the type of people your meet and when you leave you say I don’t no why I just don’t like them. The world is interesting incredible interesting, and Master of sorrows just gives us a peep at this world.  I am looking forward to seeing more of the world as Annev continues on his path.My rating for Master of Sorrow is 5 out of 5.

Very interesting storyline and a unique look on religion. A very thought-provoking read. Not to everyone's taste but I quite enjoyed it.

Master of Sorrows was a great debut by Justin Travis Calls. It is a dark fantasy that reminded of some other classic fantasy books, such as The Name of the Wind.

The book tells the story of Annev, an orphan who studies at the Academy in order to become an Avatar. Avatars are tasked with finding magical objects and hiding them from the world, in order to protect it from their corruption He is also hiding his identity and power. When he was born he was missing a hand, which was a sign that he is a Son of Keos like his parents. An Ancient killed his parents and tried to kill him too. Annev was saved by Master Sodar who chose to raise him in secret. At the Academy, we see him fight bullies, work with his friends to win the trials, rather than fight them and question the teachings about magic, not blindly accept them.

The writing was really good and the action scenes amazing. What I liked the most was the world building, especially the story of the three gods Odar, Lumea and Keos, their powers and magical weapons/artefacts. It had a strong influence of the Norse mythology, which I love.

There were a lot of characters in the book, but Annev and Sodar, the main protagonists were very well written. Sodar was a mentor, savior and father figure. He cares about Annev and he doesn't follow the beliefs of the other masters. Annev was the hero of the story. He has a good character, a curious mind that questions everything and he doesn't know his potential. He is genuine and honest, not your typical ''special'' hero, and that makes you like him more.

What I didn't like was that there are too many names, characters and things related to the world building, that I found it difficult to keep up with in the beginning.

In conclusion, this is a very good start to a new fantasy series.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Let us just start by standing and gawping at this beautiful cover! LOOK AT IT! Not only am I in love with the dark teal goal colours, there’s a richness to it where the longer I stare at it, it almost feel like the lines are moving and the phoenix is flying! Even the font…ooft!


This book, in tune with its cover, had a very classic feel to it, a familiarity that helped you fall in and assimilate yourself as part of the story. We start on a dramatic high note full of death destruction and the banishing of evil where we immediately start to see the vast cracks in the system, and then take a smoother step back and really start our story…well Annev’ s story! For it rally is his story, his coming of age, his testing and through his eyes we come to understand the world we’re a part of.

This understanding is key to the book, because more than just a strong fantasy this book had a lot of heart, it was about the morality and development of our characters, what they thought, how it affected their actions and how this was a reflection of others around them. This is one of the enjoyments of having a school/training institution setting where we can spend time building the world and getting to know our characters. And as anyone growing up (even in your 20s) Annev is pulled in multiple direction fighting between his head, his heart and all the opinions of everyone else around him. You know the expression too many cooks in the kitchen makes a bad broth…that but so much more. This made Annev relatable, made him an open character that you rooted for. It also made you shout at him when you knew he was doing something stupid, or couldn’t see clearly through the love fog that surrounded him when he looked at Mijun. But we did this because we were all once him and know that things aren’t going to end well. Especially in this world where the secrets Annev is keeping could get him killed!

Though this is a world where Magic exists, it is seen a negative force, a corruption and tool of only destruction. Anyone with the ability to use magic is seen to consort with the evil God Keos and will be killed. As will anyone with a physical deformity, being tarnished with the same brush as a son of Keos (which is a whole other kettle of fish). Annev as an Acolyte of Faith is training to become an Avatar where he will be sent on missions to retrieve magical artefacts, bring then back to the academy to be locked away in the vault of damnation. Because anything we don’t understand and are scared of should be locked away and marked as evil right? Makes perfect sense! Does anyone else hear the echo of a man on his soapbox in the air? BECAUSE THE DOUBLE STANDARDS HERE! I see you Elder Tossan, I know your game, you can’t hide from us the reader, thou villain! Tossan is one of those nasty characters who believes his own hype…the adder spitting demon into the ears of the nearest pray. Like Annev, whose potential outshines his classmates and who Tossan tries to turn against Annev mentor Sodar just so he can have another puppet to collect all his magical objects for him.

But there’s just one small problem… ANNEV HAS MAGIC AND A DEFORMTY AND AIN’T GONNA TAKE YOUR S*****

Annev has managed to survive this long under the nose of the Academy, but now events are spiralling out of control and we all know that will never end will. For anyone! A darkness is seeping in...what do you do when your hunted by everyone around you!

And then we have the Gods. Give me a world with gods and a mythology and I’m like putty in your hands. I love the fable like qualities to their stories, the creational myths and how this lays on and affects our characters. The beauty in the story of Odar, Lumea and Keos is the balance of power in their relationship and the effect of their fallout, a theme that echoes throughout the book. And the manifestation of a grudge knows no scorn like that of a GOD. And Keos has been holding this grudge for a millennia. Actions have consequences and you just knoooow the vengeful force thats gonna come bite you in the ass. Something that really got me excited was the element of blind belief. Here we have the approved version of events, but wheat happens when, as Sodar did, you start to contest that, adding in new elements from new translations of texts that show a different perspective, a wider more open perspective to our staunchly believed version of events. Can anyone else hear Tossan shouting heresy from the top of a steeple. This continues to widen the cracks and show the gritty negativity that holds for a belief system in Chaenbalu.

We lived in a microcosm in this book, we got to learn and see the world from a fixed location that feels like the tip of an iceberg. We’ve had our knowledge and beliefs challenged and opened and we’ve seen the darkness come in. This lays the perfect foundations to grow this series from and I’m excited and scared to see what will happen next!