I have often mentioned that I don’t always have the best relationship with historical fantasy. I often find it a very frustrating genre to read, mostly because I find myself being a little too nitpicky. Then again, I’m often like that with historical fiction as well. Thankfully, I didn’t have those feelings of frustration whilst reading The Judas Blossom.

I don’t know much about the Middle East during the Thirteenth Century, which may be why I liked it so much. I wasn’t picking holes in the history because I didn’t know it. Maybe that’s what I need in my historical fantasy, no prior knowledge. I recognised the name Khublai Khan but that’s only from the Coleridge poem.

There are several POVs, Hulagu Khan, a Warlord and grandson of Ghengis Khan, his disappointment of a son, Temujin, his new wife, Kokochin and Kaivon, a rebel who wants to destroy the Mongols but finds himself working for Hulagu. I enjoyed all the POVs, there’s a lot of plotting and politicking involved in many of the chapters and I always love a bit of plotting. Kaivon wants to bring down the Mongols and Kokochin is out for revenge so there is plenty of it going around. I think my favourite POV was probably Temujin. I really liked where his storyline headed over the course of the novel and he really interests me as a character. Kokochin and Kaivon were also excellent to read and I feel like Kokochin, especially had a lot of growth over the course of the story.

Like I said at the beginning, The Judas Blossom is set in a geographical region that I know very little about but Aryan manages to bring it to life in an easy to understand way. It’s very clearly presented so that the reader never feels lost or confused, and by that I mostly mean me. I’ve always enjoyed Aryan’s writing style, it’s very easy to get on with and I can always understand what’s going on.

I found The Judas Blossom to be a very entertaining read. I enjoyed the characters, even though I won’t be sad if Hugalu ends up being brutally murdered. The characters are interesting and sympathetic even when they’re doing things that are rather morally dubious. There’s plenty of action to balance out the immense amount of plotting and the magic element is subtle but intriguing. The novel ends in a very interesting place which sets up the next book perfectly and leaves the reader wanting to know just what happens next.

Also, just on a shallow note, the cover is bloody gorgeous.

It is often rare that you get a novel that encompasses one of the most brutal time periods in all of history, and showcases the grandeur of the Mongol Empire in all of its glory. The historical cast of this overwhelming story are brought alive in ways that you instantly develop a connection with them. Many of these characters, from Hulagu Khan down to his son, Temujin, Doquz, his mistress and Karion, the Persian General who unwillingly serves under them. This is a world where the Mongols are showing signs of decline, but they cannot be under-estimated. The Mongols destroyed city after city, village after village and then quickly rebuilt what they could to act as if no one had ever heard of it. Their reputation for brutality was well deserved. But then, there have been many Empires that have done the same.

The rich worldbuilding is a result of the immense research that must have been taken by Stephen Aryan. Every character from the main cast to the small character felt unique. Each having their own personalities and traits. Many have their own motives. An underlying theme however exists: All are scared of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. And civil war is teetering now that Subotai, the greatest general of Genghis Khan has passed away. To serve the Khan is to show your loyalty, and pay tribute. But to show disloyalty and plot behind the scenes is even more difficult. The brutal siege of Baghdad is depicted in a blunt manner, and I appreciate the author for showcasing the fact that Baghdad had been a great city, a city that was the wealth of knowledge, the patron of the Islamic World under the Abbasaids. What happened on that fateful day, is a disgrace to mankind itself. One could compare it to the fall of Carthage, the fall of Corinth, the sack of Babylon and the destruction of Persepolis itself. There is a reason you will begin to fear the Mongol Army.

Conn Iggulden wrote an epic series based on the Mongol Empire a long time back. I would definitely compare this to it. This is Iggulden’s style of writing. And while there are fantastical elements shown in this, I am pleased to see the elements of spirituality and magic combined together. The novel illustrates many points of views, from Mongol Concubines to showcasing a huge female cast, being the wives of the Great Khan, who carry gravitas and a willingness to navigate through the court of Mongol Imperial Power. You will get attached to characters, and then there may be moments where you will come to despise them. But this was the Middle Ages after all. I can’t include everything in this review because this novel encompasses a vast multicultural world of ethnicities that once existed. Now they are gone. There is a story: Freedom. That’s what this novel is about.

This is the beginning of an epic series that will unsheathe the light of a forgotten world that has not existed in millennia. A world in which the Mongols, the Persians, the Franks, and the Mamluks of Egypt shall clash with each other. A story that will want you on your side. It only remains to be open once you open this book. I am thoroughly impressed. A 10/10 from me!

I have posted review links to Amazon and Waterstones and am awaiting confirmation

“One day, our country will be free”

All empires fall. It happened to the Greeks and the Romans. This is the story of the Mongols as well. One day, it will happen...

I reached this book with high hope and so happy wasn't disappointing. Iran in the time after the Mogul war, how they fight for their freedom in secret!

After reading this book, my expectations for the next ones have increased significantly. The story has been built up, and I hope to see an even better storyline and plot. However, I have a personal issue with connecting to characters in stories with multiple narrators, especially when they do terrible things, It's hard for me to believe that they are not inherently bad people:

Hulagu, the grandson of Genghis Khan and ruler of the Ilkhanate, aims to make true his grandfather's wish by governing the entire world through force.

Temujin, the youngest son of Hulagu Khan, may not excel as a soldier, but he discovers his prowess in the realms of books and meditation.

Kokochin the newest Hulagu wife, finds her love and passion in the street of Iran, she must make a decision about what is going to do with her life and where her loyalty lies.

Kaivon is an Iranian general who was defeated in the war against conquered people but not at heart. Everything should be destroyed from the inside.

The Twelve are a group of hidden women, who all hated the Mongols, when the north of Persia had been conquered, many of their friends and families were murdered or disappeared, and they plan to stop them with dirty and hidden plans. "The House of Grace would make the Mongols regret invading Persia."

These are only the main characters, they are many and almost all of them are liars and intelligent in their ways, if weren't that, violent for sure!

“Every mortal will taste death. But only some will taste life.”– Rumi

The story took place in the years 1260 and 1261 mostly in Tabriz, though we have plots in Iraq, the Mongol Empire, and Shiraz.
It took me by surprise the tale as history, I have always been fond of historical fantasy, what is more intriguing than history (which we all know is always a lie) with magic?

My huge thanks to Angry Robot via NetGalley for giving me a chance to read The Judas Blossom, Book One of The Nightingale and the Falcon by Stephen Aryan, I tried to have given my honest review, but as you may know, I don't have a chance every day to read a fantasy set in my country with characters in my name, don't I? :))

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The Judas Blossom is a great historical fantasy, though it is quite light on the fantasy aspect.
Set in medieval Persia / Central Asia in the period of the expansion of the Mongolian Empire, it felt a lot like Game of Thrones meets She Who Became The Sun. The pace is slower than in many current fantasy books, there are various POVs, it's quite plot driven and it feels like a puzzle coming together through the different POVs and settings.
The way the story was crafted was so good, there was a good balance of characters on side of the Mongolian Empire and characters being oppressed by them / fighting back against their rule. It helped paint a very rounded picture of a time period that is not often represented in mainstream media.
I really enjoyed the different characters and the great variety, it added a lot to the story.

I'm used to reading more character-driven stories, so I personally didn't feel as immersed in the story as I'm used to, but I still think the author did a great job at including a lot of characterization and making them feel pretty fleshed out, considering how many POVs there were in a 400 pages book.

The pace was a bit too slow for me and I wish the book had a clearer objective towards the end, I think it could have profited off having a bigger climax. I did really like the very end though, and the little cliffhanger has me very intrigued for the sequel.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fantasy, even if there is not a lot of magic.

Historical Fantasy always offers me the double joy of reading an interesting story and of learning something about aspects of the past I knew little or nothing about: in the case of The Judas Blossom, that past is represented by the westward expansion of the Mongol empire in the 13th Century.

Hulagu Kahn, grandson of the famous Genghis, is carrying forward his ancestor’s dream of an all-encompassing empire, and as we meet him he’s in the process of completing the conquest of Persia: unfazed by the attacks of the guild of the Assassins, bent on stopping his advance, he pursues his grand plan with ruthless efficiency, conquering city after city, each success culminating with the unleashing of his soldiers on the hapless inhabitants in a frenzy of murder and pillage. His one disappointment comes from the youngest of his sons, Temujin, whose warlike instinct are practically non-existent: trying to earn his father’s attention and respect, Temujin embarks on a quest that will lead him to wield an unexpected power that will ultimately test his mettle as a man.

Kaivon is a Persian general, angry at the defeat of his people but at the same time conscious that rebelling against the invading Mongol army would be a hopeless task. With an unexpected flash of intuition, Kaivon understands that such a mighty foe could be destroyed only from within, so he chooses to attach himself to Hulagu’s army and bide his time until he will find the proverbial chink in the armor of his enemy.

And finally, Kokochin is a young Mongol princess whose tribe has been utterly obliterated for refusing to obey the ruling Kahn: sold into slavery, she’s now the latest among Hulagu’s wives and at first she seems resigned to her fate, until she finds herself drawn into something bigger than herself and quite worthwhile, a means of getting revenge against Hulagu for all of her losses.

I completely (and happily) lost myself in The Judas Blossom, one of those well-balanced novels where plot and characterization blend seamlessly into a page-turning story of intrigue, politics and personal journeys that feel vivid and cinematic - and quite compelling, despite the brutal, unforgiving background depicted here, one where conquest and destruction are the rule of the day and stop at nothing to achieve the dream of an empire encompassing all the known world. There are several sections where the readers are made privy of the consequences of conquest: streets littered with debris and rotting corpses, beautiful homes or works of art wantonly destroyed by the ravaging conquerors, the worst of humanity exposed there for all to see.

The Mongols might be the main protagonists of the story here, but they are certainly not the heroes, nor is their leader Hulagu: if at first one might sympathize with him, targeted by assassins on one side and supported by faithful subordinates or by his loving “war wife” (the one who always follows him on campaigns) on the other, once we see him through other people’s eyes that image changes drastically. He is a man given to murderous fits of rage and possessed by the unyielding determination of fulfilling his grandfather’s dream, and to that end he’s ready to sacrifice everything and everyone. It’s in his dealings with his son Temujin that his worst qualities come to the fore, at the same time highlighting Temujin’s struggle to find his own way in a world where he does not fit. The young man’s journey is a heartbreaking one, because he does everything in his power to try and gain the recognition - if not the affection - of his father, and once he seems to find something that might prove his value (a threat that introduces the only element of magic in the story) he finally understands that he’s only a tool, and that his quest is a fruitless one. The moment when he decides to “never again to seek his father’s approval” is a poignantly touching one, and it also made me eager to see where this newfound realization will take this character next.

General Kaivon is a man divided: on one side he wants revenge for his people’s defeat and submission to the Mongol horde, on the other he’s fascinated by Hulagu’s determination, and his unstoppable drive. Kaivon plays a very dangerous game, and one that forces him to terrible compromises when he must play the part of the aggressor against people like his own, but at the same time he enjoys the cat-and-mouse strategy in which he’s able to sabotage the Kahn’s plans while acting the part of the faithful retainer. The role of the double agent is indeed a precarious one, particularly where Hulagu’s famous temper is concerned, and several of the passages where Kaivon plays out his schemes kept me on edge from start to finish: it will be interesting to see how - and how far - his plan will take him…

Princess Kokochin gained my sympathy from page one: alone and destitute, with few prospects aside being one of the many playthings for the Kahn, she discovers an unexpected way of finding her own path and exacting revenge for her lost family. I liked to see how daring she could be, and also how stubborn in pursuing her goals or defying the constrictions of her role and status, and I admired her composure in the dealings with Guyuk, the Kahn’s first wife and ruthless manager of his affairs. All of the main female characters in The Judas Blossom are strong, determined women who manage to promote their own agency in a male-dominated world, their best representation being the mysterious Twelve, a group of highly-placed conspirators who work in secret to thwart the Mongol aggression.

There are many layers in this novel, from the personal journeys of the various characters to the depiction of war and conquest to the political agendas and power posturing that create a vivid, vibrant world built on historical foundations and reinforced with engrossing fictional narrative: for such a large-scope story it turned out to be a compelling, well-paced read that ended with a huge twist which left me eager to know what will happen next. Highly recommended.

Title: The Judas Blossom
Author: Stephen Aryan
Publisher: Angry Robot
Publishing Date: July 11, 2023
Pages: 400
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

I need to start off by stating HOW excited I was to receive an ARC by Stephen Aryan! I am a huge fan and am so honoured that I got this opportunity to read and review The Judas Blossom!
This book is set in 1260 during the Mongol Empire rule of Genghis Khan. The plot is based around Hulagu, who is determined to create a single empire to rule the world.
There is multiple POVs, which I love because it really gets all sides of the story and really gives the reader a much broader sense of the world and the plot.
As someone who was introduced to Aryan with the Age of Darkness trilogy, this book surprisingly had little to no magic! Which I actually somewhat expected due to the plot/theme of the book. So even though I enjoy Ayran’s magical books, I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction-esque style as well!
Clearly Aryan did his research for this book, and I highly respect authors that really dig into history and lore. That dedication is very commendable.
Overall, loved the book and can’t wait to read more from Stephen Aryan and The Nightingale and the Falcon series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for sending this book for review consideration! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to angry boots for this arc
Loved it and so excited for the tour!

It was just a amazing read !

4 STARS

While my knowledge of the time period is very much nonexistent, it is obvious that a lot of research went into this book. It is so well done that the fact that I don't know anything about actual historical events did not take away from the story. This world is filled with different people and cultures, and they were all very well portrayed, both in the visual aspects and the people themselves. The magic system is very intriguing, and the readers are learning about it together with the characters. There is very little magic in this book, as it is obviously setting the story and the world up for future books, but that did not take away from it, it actually made me enjoy it more.

As there are multiple POVs, the dynamics and flow of the story change often. This book is a character based one, and while the plot is simple and straight to the point (war, that is it), the way that the characters have to deal with it is what makes this book amazing. I would say that this whole book is one big "plot" twist because I never knew what to expect. While some moments were more shocking than others, there was still no way to predict where anything will go!

The writing style is very engaging. It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did, it was amazing! Everything is very well written - the world, action, politics, character development,... I became a fan of the author and will definitely read more of his work.

For a book to be good, character depth and development need to be well written, and this book brings it! This book gave me everything I could've asked for from the characters. And with so many different POVs it never once got mixed together. Each character had their own pace, flow, and tone. The POV characters are not the only ones that are interesting and well written. All the side characters had just as much depth as the main ones. The author knows how to write good characters, and that is very obvious.


CONCLUSION

This is the PERFECT first book in the series. The plot, the characters, the magic, and the world itself, everything is so engaging and interesting. It is a bit of a slow start for something that feels like it will become an epic fantasy series. I can't wait for the rest of the books to come out to see where everything will go.

I do enjoy reading historical Asian fantasy. I don't know much about the Mongolian Empire but this book made me want to read more about them. It took a while to get into the book but once the foundation is set, it was difficult to put this book down.

The intrigue was well written and it is fascinating to read how you can topple an empire from within. I loved the reading from various character's POV and I can't wait to read the next volume.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.

Judas blossom takes place in 1260, Persian. The height of the Mongolian empire.
We get four main viewpoints in this story, each uniquely interesting and varied, and together give greater insight into the story.
1:Grandson of Genghis Khan - Hulagu. Who is determined to rule the entire world through violence.
2: His son - Temujin - desperate to prove his worth to his father
3:one of Hulagu's wives - Kokochin. Seeking more purpose in life than her position offers
4: A former Persian general - Kaivon. Looking for way to destroy the empire but currently under Hulagu's service.

Each of these viewpoints is so engaging, I was captivated and loved every one. Each also with their own secondary characters, motivations and goals. I felt I understood everyone by the end, and felt their joys and sorrowd at certain events and behaviours. That's not to say I agreed with everyone's motives, but I understood them - no matter how frustrating it may seem!
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While this is a fantasy, and there are beautiful elements of magic woven throughout. Ultimately this book is heavy on the historical side, and I really enjoyed that, the balance between historical, political and slow building magical tension.
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Stephen Aryan has written an in-depth story, but one that flows so easily the pages slipped away beneath me as I wanted to see what happened - the book was over before I even realise! I can't wait to see where this goes in the future

If you are history buff, you will be used to the fact that in recounting events from the near or distant past facts should take precedence over almost anything else, which is right and just and precisely what good history telling should do (this comes with the caveat that subjectivity can be hard to divorce from historical objectivity and is always in play in even the most balanced of accounts).

Having said that, what sometimes feel lacking when you're reading the history of any epoch, no matter how fascinating the facts on the ground may be, is what sort of people the main figures in any historical period were like; that's not a criticism of historical accounts, simply an acknowledgement that even when we have personal entries from the people concerned, it's next-to-near impossible to know the real people in play.

Personal accounts are, after all, really just highly polished personal PR, with those penning them all too aware that history will use their words to advance and explain who they were as a person.

Still, imprecise though the act of assigning personality to historical fact may be, there's something immensely fascinating about any writer, especially as one as talented as Stephen Aryan (The Coward, The Warrior), tackling a period of history and bringing alive the many players who shaped and propelled it.

In his new novel, The Judas Blossom, which forms the first entry in his The Nightingale and the Falcon series, Aryan dives deep into the vibrantly arresting characters at the heart of the Mongol Empire's invasion of Persia in the 1260s.

It was, like so many period of conquest and subjugation but particularly so in the case of the Mongols who were not known for taking any prisoners and often raised cities to the ground, killing all the inhabitants in their pursuit of land, power and influence, a bloody and terrible period in which centuries-old societal structures were rent asunder and political certainties tossed to the wind in a wholesale ending of the established order.

In his telling of the great tumultuous change of this violently transformative period, which saw the Mongol Empire get as far as the eastern borders of Europe, Aryan focuses on one of the rulers of the khanates which made up the Empire, Hulagu Khan, a man who presided over the Ilkhanate that bestrode much of what we now refer to as the Middle East.

At the time The Judas Blossom opens, Hulagu, ruling from the northern Persian city of Tabriz, is working hard both to cement Mongol rule of a bruised and bloodied Persia, which resents its fall from imperial grace and its new status as a subjugated land, and to push the boundaries of empire still further into Syria, and the Holy Lands which, naturally enough, are resisting the Khan's quest to rule over all the known world in league with his brothers and cousins.

His is a thankless role in many respects, with little time to enjoy the fruits of victory thanks to ongoing campaigns of war, ongoing infighting over who should be the Great Khan or supreme ruler of the Mongol Empire, and political maneuvering both within and without his court.

He is joined in this utterly immersive and richly-told story by a number of key dissident figures, chief among them Kavion, a onetime Persian general who accepts a role working in Hulagu's military hierarchy with the aim of enacting revenge from within, and Princess Kokochin who is the last of her tribe (all murdered by the Mongols) and ostensibly the khan's newest wife, but who increasingly finds herself chafing under the suffocating restrictions of what should feel like good fortune but which feels more like an existential curse.

Finally, and perhaps most interestingly, is Hulagu's son Temujin who goes from timid progeny of a great warrior who is failing to make his mark as a ruler-to-be to some who taps into mystical powers so great, there's a real chance he could play a pivotal role in where the Mongol Empire goes next and the form it takes.

There are countless more smaller plays involved too, all of which added a rich humanity to The Judas Blossom and to the historical period it covers which comes ever more fulsomely alive the more we read about what motivates these people and why it is they act as they do against the backdrop of one of the great upheavals in human history.

What makes The Judas Blossom such a fantastically arresting read is how it serves up the history of the Mongol Empire, much of its factually based, in such a real and living fashion.

Any idea that history could be boring is banished completely and absolutely as this skillfully wrought recounting of the period takes into the hearts and minds, with vivacity and tangible empathy, of people who are no longer names in an historical recount but rather characters whose motivations and drivers feel very accessible and knowable.

Aryan doesn't try to paint any particular group in any kind of light, preferring to let the actions of people speak for themselves, and they do in stark and volubly entrancing tones, and at the end, it's the innate humanity of every character, for good or ill, that really brings the story alive.

Overall, The Judas Blossom is a towering piece of involving and affecting historical writing that reminds us that while history may feel remote at times, it is the work of living, breathing, flesh-and-blood people who are as fallible as the rest of us and who, in their admittedly imagined humanity, make mistakes, experience triumphs, all while being driven by the need to make their mark on history for a host of reasons which, by book's end, they are most assuredly on their way to doing in ways that will assuredly reshape history even more than it already has been.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing this ARC.
So I found the Judas Blossom to be a interesting story. It wasn’t great to the point where I was hooked but it was enough for me keep going out of a sense of curiosity. So there are three main POVs, Temujin, Kaivon and Kokochin. Out of these three, I found Temujin was the one I liked the best. To me he had more of the deep characterization that I enjoy. I was invested in his struggles and his relationship with his father. I also felt that he had the most character development. Seeing that development was one of the best highlights for me in this book. The other two weren’t bad but they didn’t feel like they had the same depth to me. Like for Kaivon, I felt it was too easy for him especially considering the position that he is in and what he wants to do.
As a person that loves to read history, I thought that the author did a good job in crafting a story within the confines of the history of that time period. All in all, I thought this novel was a nice read and I’m interested enough to read the sequel when it comes out.

Thank you to Angry Robot and Stephen Aryan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book so much that I was only halfway through when I picked up the special edition by TBB for my bookshelf. The story takes place in 13th-century Mongolia during the time of conquering and expansion under the descendants of Genghis Khan. I have never read a historical fiction set in this time period and it really felt like it came alive in the writing.

As others have mentioned, the fantasy element in the story is quite light in the first book but is set up to further explore in book 2. The magic system is interesting and I can't wait to see how it comes more into play in book 2.

I can't say enough of how excited I am for book 2 already!

Set in 13th century Persia, The Judas Blossom is a slightly fantastical reimagining of the tumultuous Mongol Empire expansion. We see this story through multiple viewpoints. Hulagu Khan, grandson to Genghis, works tirelessly and violently to increase the size of the empire. His youngest son Temujin fails at every task to which he’s assigned, but the boy has unexpected depths. Hulagu’s newest wife Kokochin tries to find her place in the empire. And finally, Kaivon, a Persian rebel, tries to disrupt the Mongols from the inside. Each one of the protagonists (along with some side characters) has the power to shape (or ruin) the empire.

Many reviews already praise the book’s epic feel. Agreed 100%. There are epic battles a plenty and world-altering events. While it starts fairly slowly, it builds as each character’s story gets more complex and more dangerous. This is clearly the start to an epic series though, so while this is a great start, there’s very little satisfaction. It’s also more of a historical fiction than a fantasy, but there’s plenty of foreshadowing that magical elements will become more important in later volumes.

The setting is unusual— I can’t think of any other fantasies set in the Mongol Empire other than Elizabeth Bear’s Range of Ghosts. It’s a fascinating period of history that gives ample room for modern storytelling and complex characters. Hulagu commits great violence, and the book doesn’t sugarcoat this how he impacts innocent people. I especially like how the author fleshed out Princess Kokochin into a character with agency.

Perhaps on the downside, I’m a little sad that the book doesn’t include more descriptions to transport us to this period and distinguish it even more from typical Western fantasy. For example, it stays away from some memorable imagery associated with the siege of Baghdad, like the sultan being crushed to death in a rolled up carpet or the river running red from blood and black with ink from the treasured library. To be fair, there’s a minor reference to the latter (“The water had been stained a dark red from all of the blood and the muddy banks were black”), but it invokes such a scene I wanted more!

Recommended for historical fantasy lovers.

A story of the empire of the mongols with a tiny slither of fantasy

I’m not a massive historial reader. I like some books and the history but I find the books that stick too close to the history I find are slow meandering and at times boring

This was and wasn’t the case

There wasn’t much distinctive character differences between the 3 main characters but it didn’t stop my enjoyment

Arryan didn’t pull punches. This story is brutal.
Oh how I hate Hulagu. So much.

The prose was a bit meh. I found it okay with no real engagement or drive to pull me into the story. However I was determined to stick it out and I’m glad I did

The story picked up around the 60% mark. This isn’t to say there wasn’t a story or Hook before but the story really stood on its legs by that point. Characters were doing things and I was interested to read more.
I do wish that feeling was with me through the whole book and some of the scenes and character arcs could have been brought forward in the story. Temujin storyline for instance. While the most interesting I would have liked to see more of his arc earlier on.

There was also an issue with the pacing. It jumped a lot, some scenes were rushed and there was little room for character moments. It felt as if the author was trying to cram so much into only so little word count.

I’m glad I read this. The ending struck it for me And as a historical fantasy (the fantasy being very little) it was enjoyable and I was never lost. I know little about this particular history

The Judas Blossom is one of those books I struggle to put into words because it’s set a new bar for me.

I love high fantasy and I love historical fantasy, and this book delivers something between the two that just works. Maybe it’s because I’m not as well versed of the history of this time period that it felt so fresh, but I never found myself confused or overwhelmed. Aryan threads the needle well in giving you context without turning it into an essay, while also leaving space for readers to take away something new.

4 POVs can be a lot to manage. Thankfully, each one is engaging and enjoyable. The characters don’t overstay their welcome on the page and I never felt like a single story wasn’t weighed equally among the others. The action hits that sweet spot of just enough without bulking up the page, and the dialogue is quick and flows naturally. The dynamics woven create such beautiful layers that you want to peel back and just relish in what you’re reading. I took my time with this book and I don’t regret it in the slightest. I loved being so engaged with four unique characters as they were moving towards a central plot point.

This book makes me feel something. It makes me engaged. I walked away wanting to know more about the history and I think that demonstrates just how strong the foundation is that Aryan has written.

If you want the flavour and beats of epic fantasy in a new historical setting, then The Judas Blossom will not disappoint. This has placed Aryan on my list of auto-buy authors.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Angry Robot for the eARC. I can hardly wait for the next one!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

While I enjoyed this book, I did have trouble getting into it and the slow pace had me bored at times. It was definitely well written, and the characters were interesting and fleshed out. Unfortunately, I did notice a few typos, but I’m expecting those were fixed before it was published. Epic fantasy isn’t really my thing, so I can’t say if this is a unique story, but the non-European setting has me suspicious that it probably is. Overall, any epic fantasy readers will love this, and even though this wasn’t my favourite book, I’d still be interested in the sequel.

The fall of the Mongol Empire is not a period of history with which I am familiar.
But it did not matter, because this was historical fantasy done right.
Aryan did an excellent job with setting the scene for this book. Within the first two or three chapters you really had all you needed to know about the politics and war of the time.

It is Persia, 1260, and the current ruler of the Mongol Empire has died. Civil war is on the horizon as the Khan brothers, grandsons of the great Genghis Khan, must decide who shall rule next, and continue their expansion.

The story followed 4 main POVs, and honestly I could not choose between them as to which storyline was best.
Hulagu Khan, grandson of Genghis, leads his armies while his brothers swabble over the ruling of the empire. His story is littered with violence, frustration and betrayal. It worked well to show the brutality and savage nature of those in charge at the time.
His son, Temujin (a fictional character I believe), is everything the other Khans are not. He is more adept with books and learning than the violence and warfare his family is known for. Through him almost immediately we get a sense of the inner workings of the Empire, how tightly and efficiently it is run beaurocratically. But his life changes as ancient arts and magics begin to surface, and he find himself dragged into the war in a way he does not want.
Kokochin, the last of the tribe, is forced to be one of Hulagu's many wives. As she weaves her way through the court politics of the time, she uncovers schemes and truths that are set to bring the Empire to its knees.
And finally Kaivon, the rebel. A Persian determined to kill the Khans for what they have done. His story was tragic and kept me on the edge of my seat. Through good luck and seemingly betraying his own values, he earns a place at Hulagu's side, determined to bring down the monster from within.

"The war against them is not over. It will never be over, until they have been driven from Persia, but this time it will not be fought with swords and fire."
For a book about one of the bloodiest Empire's in history, this story follows threads of subtle, less violent resistance. Plots that have been planned over time and that slowly circle the neck of the Empire in this book, ready to be pulled tight in the next one.

What was a really solid bit of work by Aryan was skating that fine line of providing enough historical context to understand what is happening in the world of this book, but not getting bogged down in too much description/lecturing. Everything we were told unfolded naturally and organically, often as character such a Kokochin were learning about the life of the court, or Kaivon was remarking on changes under the Mongol regime.

This book was fast-paced, well crafted, and an excellent addition to the bookcase of any historical fantasy fan.
If you enjoyed books like Ryan's Covenant of Steel, Iggulden's Conqueror series or Liu's Dandelion Dynasty, then this will be a book you are going to love.

This book really crept up on me.

The Judas Blossom really takes its time to introduce you to the characters and every POV was so well balanced that I didn’t even really have a favorite as it usually goes with stuff like this. Not once did I find myself wanting to get to the other character faster. I also appreciated how effortlessly the distinguishing details were slipped in and made it so I never had to consult the character list.

While I wasn’t fully sold on everyone’s motivations at the beginning, especially with the two relationships that came to be, once the plot really started to unravel it just sucked me in completely. The intricacies of different characters working to undermine each other were so well done and intriguing. Hulagu’s POV just spiced everything up in comparison, and it might’ve been my favorite had it not been for Kaivon’s.

The sieges and battles (which are very hit or miss for me) were so interesting in their logistics and details that were written in I would’ve never considered otherwise. I can’t remember the last time a book made me this intrigued with warfare. If you told me I’d be this riveted by a historical fantasy with just the seeds of the fantasy, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are.

This is an excellent first part to a series I have a feeling I’ll enjoy immensely.

Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

An outstanding story right from page one to the final sentence. Everything is so well crafted, from the characters, to the different cultures represented and the inclusion of historical figures and events. It's the first book in a new trilogy set in the 13th century and features several grandsons of Genghis Khan. The Mongol empire has spread across Asia, Europe and after subduing Persia, is on the move south towards Jerusalem. A number of the POV's are from tribes or cultures destroyed by the Khans and now they work to pick up the pieces of their lives and fight to help their peoples survive. Kokochin is the last of her tribe and she has been gifted as a new bride to Hulagu Khan, while Kaivon, a former Persian general looks to take revenge on Hulagu. There are rebel factions, secret societies and clashes between the existing Khanates that all weave together to make a truly fascinating tale.
It really is like having the curtain drawn back on an intriguing time period while also throwing in a magical fantasy element to add to the already building tension throughout the story. You not only get the grand strategy of the Ilkhanate to spread across the world, but you see how individuals in these conquered cities are impacted. Stephen has written a truly gripping story and I think it will very much appeal to fans of both fantasy and historical fiction!!!