Greg Keyes’ The Wind That Sweeps the Stars is a book that while it has its issues I’d say with pace and structure, is often utterly fascinating thanks to the underlying mythos that serves as the sub-structure of the story. That mythos, combined with several action-packed fight scenes and several engaging and likable characters makes it an easy recommendation despite my few quibbles.

The story itself is relatively simple. We open in a tall tower in the center of an Empire’s fortress capital, where we’re introduce to Yash, just married to Chej — a minor, oft-ignored prince — in a marriage of alliance between the Empire and her homeland of Zeltah. Unbeknownst to Chej, the marriage is a façade, as the Empire has already sent its armies in to conquer Zeltah. What the Empire doesn’t know, however, is that Zeltah has foreseen this, and Yash is not some blushing bride but a weapon of her people, sent into danger to try and kill the nine Tower Masters (powerful sorcerers protected by monsters) and the apparently immortal Emperor himself. All of this becomes clear very early in the book, and the rest of the present-day action unfolds over a single day and night as Yash battles to survive the day and save her people, entangling Chej in her fight against the Empire. The single-day action is interrupted by a series of flashbacks filling in the background story, mostly of Yash but also of Chej, as well as the history of this world and its peoples.

Usually, I like to start with the positives, but here I’m going to switch things up and begin with the few issues I had with the book, mostly because they are greatly outweighed by the positives and I’d rather those are what you carry away from this review. I noted in the introduction that my issues centered around pace and structure, and the two are actually linked. While I enjoyed most of the flashbacks in their own right, they felt a little unbalanced in their importance to story and character, and their placement or timing sometimes felt like they threw the book’s pace off. And if I sometimes wondered if I needed a particular flashback, other times I wished I’d been able to spend more time in one. The concept was fine, mostly they worked, but overall they felt like the execution was just off a bit here and there, like they needed just a little more fine-tuning.

Beyond the flashbacks, the book also suffered from a little bit of plot repetition: Yash enters a tower, confronts its monster and its master, defeats monster and master (not necessarily in that order), Yash moves on to another tower, repeat. I want to stress that it feels just “a little” repetitive.” I did worry at one point that we were going to move through all nine towers one at a time, but Keyes breaks the pattern early enough, and the engagements themselves are well executed and different enough, that the impact is relatively minor.

As for the positives. To follow up on that last point, the fight scenes are vividly and entertainingly detailed: nicely choreographed, always clear in their logistics (often a pet peeve of mine), different enough from each other that while the pattern repeats the details do not. Those shifting details include how Yash enters the tower, how the Masters differ from each other with each having a particular power, how their unique guardian monsters differ, and the ease (or not) with which Yash deals with all these obstacles. One fight scene in particular is absolutely wonderful in how I imagined it, and I’d love to see a cinematic treatment of it, but I won’t ruin it by detailing it here.

The two main characters, Yash and Chej, are both likable and easy to root for but for wholly different reasons. Yash gains our sympathy of course via her fight to save her people, long oppressed and currently being brutally killed in a genocidal attack. The “one-against-many” story also affords an automatic entry into the “root for the underdog” club. Beyond these more structural elements, Keyes also gives us a character who changes throughout the course of the story. As righteous as her task is, as necessary as it is, Yash wrestles with the death and destruction she causes, particularly to those less directly involved in the ill treatment of her people. She has trained to be the weapon of her people but is at times a reluctantly wielded one. Keyes handles this shift in a sophisticated, nuanced fusion, with Yash going back and forth over the issue rather than simply “transforming” from one stance to another due to plot magic.

Chej, meanwhile, wins us over for wholly different reasons. He’s as lost, dismissed, befuddled, and ignored a character as one will see. As one of the Masters tells him: “Why would you have been informed? It would only have given you a chance to botch the whole plan … There are those, Chej, that believe you are worthless in every way. But they overlook how amusing you can be at times.” He has no idea of the Empire’s planned invasion, was entirely unaware of the deceptive nature of his own marriage, is shocked to learn of Yash’s many strengths (let alone her goal to kill the Masters and Emperor), has his own will taken from him, is captured, suffers more than his share of injuries, and holds (or thinks he does) apparently the worst-kept secret in the Empire. But like Yash, he too undergoes a shift as surprising to himself as it is to others, finding an inner strength and an outer calling, and his journey is just as rewarding and heartwarming as Yash’s.

Through the two characters, and the plot of course, we’re introduced to a multiplicity of themes. Imperialism and colonialism are two clear ones given the war, and the description of plans to “kill every last one of those barbarians [and] then move loyal subjects onto those lands.” Identity is another one, explored down multiple paths via multiple characters: Chej’s queerness and Yash’s gender fluidity (literally, as she her body periodically morphs form) are overtly discussed in conversation with Chej confused by Yash’s spectrum and Yash equally confused by the Empire’s view of Chej’s homosexuality as an abomination. The role of women in the Empire is considered through the Emperor’s daughter, also often overtly, this time mostly through interior monologue. Through action as well as dialogue, Keyes also reflects on vengeance and its price, the role of mercy and compassion, justice versus retribution. These create some of the more moving moments in the novel, as well as some of the most lyrically crafted.

As exciting as much of the action is though, as thoughtful and moving as the themes are, and as enjoyable the ride is with our two main characters, I think my favorite element of The Wind That Sweep the Stars is the mythos that lies at its core, which has a strong indigenous people’s echo to it, is built about the idea of place and spirit and stewardship, and drives those themes of mercy and justice. It’s also incorporated into a fascinating backstory of the various people and how they arrived in this world.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Wind That Sweep the Stars, despite the niggling issues noted above. I found it taut, thoughtful, moving at time, exciting at other times, wryly funny at moments, and I would happily have spent more time with the two main characters. While the story absolutely works as a stand-alone, Keyes allows for the possibility of more to come with these two. I for one am hoping that will be the case.

What I read was interesting - but I just couldn’t get into it at this time. I definitely think fans of high fantasy will love this book and would recommend it for that reason.

Yash is a princess, married off to a prince of a larger empire. However, she has secretly been trained for years as an assassin so she can infiltrate the enemy court. When his kingdom invades hers on their wedding night, she must fight her way through the wizards of the court and the spirits they've harnessed in order to save her home.
Unfortunately I only made it about halfway through this before my file expired but I was really enjoying it! I'll definitely have to get a finalized copy so I can finish it.
It had great action and such interesting worldbuilding! The majority of it takes place as Yash infiltrates and assassinates her way through the many sorcerer's towers in the court. It's interspersed with scenes from the past, both "distant" and "near" which show how the spirits came to this world and how Yash grew up.
I also appreciate that Yash is doesn't have to use her sexuality or ~feminine wiles~ as an assassin which is unfortunately something that happens too often in my opinion.
There's also some good diversity in gender and sexuality.

I just finished *The Wind That Sweeps the Stars* by Greg Keyes, and it was such an immersive read! The world-building pulled me in right away, with its rich history, mystical creatures, and a magic system that felt really fresh. Yash, the rogue assassin, totally stole the show for me—I'm a sucker for stories with thieves and warriors, so her journey was a blast to follow. Plus, the relationship between her and Chej was a nice touch, adding depth without overshadowing the action. The plot might sound simple at first— infiltrate the kingdom and take down enemies—but Keyes layered in plenty of twists to keep things exciting.

The story mostly unfolds over one night, but it doesn’t feel rushed. The pacing was spot on, the action sequences were easy to follow, and the lore woven into the narrative, especially through folk tales, really brought the world to life. I also loved the mix of high fantasy elements with a bit of cloak-and-dagger intrigue. If you're into complex world-building with strong characters and a touch of magic, I’d definitely recommend this one. Here's hoping we get more stories from this world!

Greg Keyes is one of my favourite authors so I was so excited to get an ARC of The Wind That Sweeps the Stars. It has all the elements of high fantasy and fully immersed me quickly. I will say that I am a tad biased and Keyes writing and style may not be for everyone. That said I really enjoyed this novel. I love reading about rogues, assassins and thieves particularly so I adored Yash.
The characters are all interesting and I thought well developed. Obviously, Yash was my favourite but all of them stood out and were interesting. The plot itself may sound familiar and somewhat simple, infiltrate the kingdom and take out all who stand in their way but there is a fair bit more added in by Keyes along the way.
If you do enjoy high fantasy with a bit of cloak and dagger attached this one should be a hit for you. As always thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for the e-arc to review. My review is always honest and truthful.

This was a very fast paced assassination fantasy story with a very very detailed mythology and worldbuilding. We meet Yash who is married to a prince of the Empire that it turns out is invading her home country on the night of her wedding but Yash is not just a quiet princess - she is a trained assassin who has come with a mission. She begins her attack on the mages who are using their powers to aid the Empire's army while her husband Chej is a bit stunned that all of this is happening.

There are many action scenes here and a very compelling lead in Yash. The amount of time jumps and lore made the story a bit confusing at times, I would be so engrossed in the action and the scene and then it would cut to a flashback losing me so quickly.

In The Wind that Sweeps the Stars, an arranged marriage that looks to be solely to the benefit of the soon-to-be conquering empire turns out to be a cunning ploy to slip an assassin into the very heart of its power. 'Princess' Yash, our genderfluid assassin, spiritual warrior, and all-around badass, quickly recruits an out-of-his depths Prince Chej (whose wedding night has gone truly off the rails) into the scheme to slay the emperor and the mages that are the key to its military might, and the two begin to gather information and strike out at their enemies. However, what started as a campaign of blades in the dark and rapid subterfuge quickly becomes an all-out chaotic battle that could determine the very fate of the world.

This is a fun read, with some very clear highlights that have to be called out for just how good they were. Yash and Chej have an incredible dynamic, one that starts as kind of comedic and becomes something much more supportive and caring as the two face tougher and tougher odds. The worldbuilding is also fantastic, with a very strong spiritual dynamic and magic that never failed to catch my interest. If there is anything here I didn't like, it was that I just wanted more of the initial subterfuge element that was prevalent in the start of the book, as when things got really chaotic towards the end I felt a little lost from time to time.

Overall, this is a fine addition to any fantasy collection!

3/5 Stars

I was immediately drawn to *The Wind That Sweeps The Stars* by Greg Keyes due to its intriguing premise—a young female assassin, Yash, must infiltrate and overthrow the Emperor from within. Yash's character stands out, not just for her skill but also for her gender fluidity, adding a unique layer to her persona that I found both refreshing and compelling.

However, where the book began to lose me was in its lore. The story frequently jumps back in time to explain the history and mythology of this fantasy world, which, while rich and detailed, felt overwhelming at times. High fantasy enthusiasts might find this aspect more appealing, but for me, it was a bit too dense and distracting from the main narrative.

On the plus side, the fight scenes are superbly written—action-packed and vivid. But despite the thrilling battles, I found the plot to be somewhat repetitive, and delving deeper would risk spoiling the story.

Overall, *The Wind That Sweeps The Stars* is best suited for readers who enjoy poetic writing, complex lore, and don't mind names that are a bit of a tongue-twister. It's a solid read, but it might resonate more with die-hard fans of high fantasy than with casual readers like myself.

This was one of the most confusing and chaotic books I have ever read. What I disliked, deep fantasy lovers will find fascinating, so I do recommend this book to them.

It also seems that there may be another book coming out based on this world with Yash and Chej.

Our female protagonist, Yash, changes—well, she changes sex, and I think she changes her shape, too, but because of the way this book is written, I can't be sure of that. Her 'husband' Chej, is the complete opposite of of Yash. Yash is a fighter, and I admire the fact that she is a strong female/male, but that is about all I admired in this novel.

We have time jumps galore, and some of them are interesting because they explain evolution. Mostly, though, the time jumps are annoying becuase they happen just as you really get into what is happening with Yash and Chej.

There are plenty of fight scenes and enough magic to keep those who are into deep fantasy happy.

There are so many characters that I couldn't keep straight who was a good guy and who wasn't. I stuck with this book, though, because some of it was interesting enough to keep my attention.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Titan Books, the author, and NetGalley.

This was such a fascinating read and right up my alley. The worldbuilding and character development were SO unique and diverse, and I really loved how the author weaved the consequences of environmental destruction, imperialism, and revolution throughout the story.

It was almost jarring (in a good way) to step away after finishing the book (which I did in one setting because the story was truly that gripping) and realize that largely everything happened in the course of one night. It was such an immersive experience reading this book, and I laughed and cried shamelessly.

I really appreciate fantasy literature that not only undergoes the effort of presenting its reader with a new mythology to explore but roots it in relevant and real-life concerns. The consequences of conquest are something we are still grappling with today, and there are no right answers when it comes to the methods of liberation and justice. I loved the way this book explored those themes with both nuance and sensitivity.

Promising start to a new series from fantasy veteran Keyes. I always prefer when Keyes writes traditional fantasy rather than a historical fiction and fantasy blend. I think his writing strength lies more in that realm and it shows itself here. Lots of political maneuvering in this on which is also an added bonus. Definitely give Keyes a go because when he's on his game he can dazzle any fantasy reader.

Such an intriguing world! I loved the worldbuilding in this, with the monsters and the corruption of the spirits. It was so good.

I also love the changing genderfluid (literally) main character, Yash. She's amazing, very compassionate, and so determined.

The beginning of this story just sucked you in from the beginning. It was just so surprising and unexpected.

The only thing was the lore could be a little confusing, at times, along with the magic system. Other than that, a brilliant book that I blasted through.

4.5 stars rounded up

I’ve only read the author’s Elder Scrolls novels many years ago which I really enjoyed so I didn’t know what to expect from The Wind that Sweeps the Stars. I chose to read the book on the strength of the blurb and my fond memories of the Elder Scrolls novels. I enjoyed this book a lot but I found it quite confusing overall. The action scenes were fast often to the detriment of enjoying the book as it felt like I was only starting to get a grip on the plot elements and what character was the focus of the scene before it changed. I did enjoy a lot of the book but found the fast scenes and large number of characters a bit overwhelming at times. The book takes place across a single night which is probably why it was so fast paced and rapid but I felt the pace could have been slowed down a bit. I couldn’t fully enjoy or get behind the book.

I found this book far too confusing. Yes it has fast action scenes and a strong, if not aloof, female protagonist, but, I found it full of chaotic energy and I just could not get into the book fully.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of the ebook for an honest opinion.

I thought this was great! It's the story of a princess who marries a prince of the empire that wants to invade her homeland with the hope that this political marriage will stop them. Except she's a warrior/assassin with magic skills and a bug as a companion and when things don't turn out they way she hoped she plans to kill the eight mages and the emperor who are coordinating the attack!

I loved the characters and, despite the majority of the book being told over one night, the character development is excellent, the magic is great, the action sequences are fantastic and exciting and the lore and world building are really interesting (some of which is told as folk tales).

I would highly recommend it and, whilst it's a standalone, I hope there are more books to come in this world.

In all honesty, this book is wonderful. It's fun, a quick read, and Yash and Chej's dynamic is delightful. I can't say much more without major spoilers, but I loved this book and will eagerly look for the sequels.
However, I must knock off a star for a simple reason. This story is clearly inspired by Mesoamerican/indigenous stories, and there's no sign of them being given credit. Nothing in the acknowledgements, or the blurb that I've seen. It would be prudent to credit them for the inspiration, and to engage a sensitivity reader who knows about indigenous cultures for the rest of the series. It's obvious to a reader who knows anything about indigenous culture, but assuming Keyes is not indigenous himself he's a visitor in someone else's territory.

Interesting concept, a quick pace, and fun characters, this title was a blast to read! Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. This was a fast paced enjoyable read, with the events of the book occurring over a single night. If murder and mayhem are your thing, you will love this! I enjoyed how the lore of the world and Yash's backstory was told gradually at the beginning of chapters instead of info dumping in the middle of the action. I would say though that it was hard to keep track of who everyone was as there were a lot of names to remember as well as other terminology. I think this would have benefitted from a glossary. Finally, I also really liked the dynamic between Yash and Chej, it was a fresh take on the arranged/political marriage troupe.