An heir with something to prove, a queen and her people fleeing an unknown darkness, and a girl battling the odds to achieve her dream. As their stories began to weave together I got hooked!

The world-building felt well thought out and I loved the role of the Diviners with the blend of science/logic/mysticism they use.

This was a great start to a series, and I'll be looking out for the next book to see what's in store for these characters.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book, it was really well written with very relatable characters. It has multiple POV’s which start to overlap at the end setting a good foundation for book 2. It has heavy world building which I loved and gave a game of thrones vibes! I will definitely be continuing this series and I highly recommend this book! I’m giving it a 4.5 stars rating.

One thing I wish James Maxwell would do would be to start each chapter with a heading of who’s pov it was based on since not all the chapters had the characters name on the first page.

I can’t wait to see what happens next with Bethany’s new assignment and how she will handle what is expected from her from all the other characters that are connected to her!

Thank you NetGalley for the free book for my honest review! I also reviewed it on Goodreads but was unable to find a link to copy with my profile @ prob_ably_reading. I will add another review on Fable as well!

James Maxwell books are like a comfy blanket. You know you’re going to get good world building, interesting characters, and a plot that moves. This book follows a seamstress that is trying to become a diviner, the crown prince that is trying to hold his position, and a queen that will do anything to protect her people. There are underlying threats for each, but are still interconnected. Each will make decisions that could upend the Eternal Empire. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for an honest review

Blood and Empire

✨ High Fantasy
🌍 Heavy World Building
👥 Multiple POV
🗡️ Game of Thrones vibes

This was my first high fantasy since Game of Thrones. My preferred genre leans more towards Romantsy. But wow! What a journey!
Immersive world building, political intrigue and some fantastic characters made this an easy 5 star read for me!

I think it’s important to note that similarly to GOT you have to expect the first book is laying the groundwork and introducing you to that world and the characters, so it did feel a bit difficult at first to push through and I did have to go double check and reread some parts, but once you get to the 50% mark you can not put this down! I am so excited for the sequel and I will absolutely be snagging a copy when it’s published

The star rating is something I had to think about a lot. My enjoyment fluctuated almost from chapter to chapter, and while the second half of the book is considerably stronger, it all fell flat due to an unsatisfying ending.

Let’s start with a few basics though. The description makes it look like this story is about Bethany. Along with her you also get POVs of three other characters following separate but converging paths. This was unexpected as they aren’t mentioned at all in the blurb on the back. Ironically, I have enjoyed the chapters of these characters more than Bethany’s. So who else are you getting? Power hungry prince Julian, the son of emperor; Zhuana, queen of “civilized barbarians” and ex-soldier Lord Kendrick. If you are looking for strong female characters that do not feel like Mary Sues then you will like both Bethany and Zhuana.

The writing was highly readable and very light on fantasy lingo, but still immersive. I felt that James Maxwell is at his best when he slows down and zooms in on a specific scene or character. Descriptions of the gateways, clothes, duels and inner dialogues were among my favorite moments. Whenever we got a bird’s eye view of events or had to catch up on what happened to characters between chapters it just felt rushed and lacking.

So why the two stars?

Unfortunately, I think this book has an identity issue. What was it supposed to be? It’s supposed to be Book 1, but what you get is Part 1 of Book 1. Prologue, setup, character background, lots of promises of more exciting things to come and none of it actually takes place in this book.
Imagine you are reading the first Harry Potter book and just as he arrives at Hogwarts the book ends. Katniss Everdeen finally stepping into the arena… aaand scene. Paul Atreides breathes in the air of Arrakis and that’s it. What you read until these points in these other stories is entertaining but is it enough?
And if you agree with me that that’s where these stories truly begin then you’ll understand my feelings about this book.

Another thing, I have expected to visit different places in this fantasy world, it’s the gateway saga after all. There is a beautiful map at the beginning of the book but it’s a map of places you won’t visit. You are not really shown much beyond the gate itself.
I felt like I have flown around the world. At night. And never left the airplane. The moment I touched down on the runway I immediately turned around and left to the next destination.

I think there is a lot of untapped potential here and that this can work once more installments in the series are out and you can just continue reading. As it stands now, this book only delivers a promise of more exciting things to come. Whether that is enough everyone needs to decide for themselves, but I think it’s fair to point it out to potential readers.

Thank you to Everlast Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blood and Empire by James Maxwell is a solid read with a rich and immersive world. The worldbuilding is detailed and the plot is engaging, with plenty of political intrigue and action that kept me hooked really the whole time! The characters are well-crafted, though some felt more developed than others. Some of the friendships felt a little rushed. The magic system is unique and adds an interesting layer to the story, however!

One standout character is Queen Zhuana, whose strength and determination are truly inspiring. Bethany's perspective on the travel-based magic system of Divination is fascinating, though her character remains somewhat enigmatic. Julian is a mixed bag; his portrayal swings between being weak and easily manipulated to showing strong ambition.

While the book has many strengths, it does have a few pacing issues and some characters could use more depth. Overall, Blood and Empire was super enjoyable & kept me yearning for more, earning a solid 3.5 stars. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story develops in future installments! Thank you NetGalley & James Maxwell for the ARC!

Blood and Empire
James Maxwell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Looking for an epic fantasy complete with extensive world building and phenomenal plot development? Blood and Empire (The Gateway Saga, Book 1) by James Maxwell checks all the boxes.

The first book in Maxwell’s new series, the gateway saga, shows us a world of political intrigue, an impending darkness looming and follows multiple characters in their unique journey to survive it. This was a breath of fresh air for me with complex world composition and characters with dynamic relationships with consequence. It has the makings of a game of thrones series. While the beginning was a bit slow in plot development- I think the breadth of the world is vast and needed to be established so it’s understandable. This is a 4.5 star read for me and I cannot wait to read the next installment.

Thank you so much to James Maxwell, NetGalley and Everlast Books for the ARC.

Blood and Empire is an excellent start to a new fantasy series. Well paced, great world building and character development. I'm excited to see where this story goes with book 2.

This was my first James Maxwell novel and I picked it up because the description of Blood and Empire sounded like something right up my alley; an epic fantasy with a young student character at the heart of it all.

I've got to admit that the story took some time getting into. By 20%, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading. By 50%, I was curious as to where the story was heading and I found myself thinking about the book when I wasn't reading. By 75%, I was reading on the train platform, on my short commute, even riding the escalators out of the station. I was hooked.

Usually, multiple POVs isn't really my cup of tea, and I was reminded here why I feel that way. Even though I thought that Bethany's story was the one I was going to enjoy the most, I found myself slightly bored during her chapters. Her character is a bit underdeveloped and she is hard to relate to. Her relationship with her friends and her time at school feels a bit shallow, and I feel that the multiple POVs contributed to this.

Also, I found the ending to be a bit... lackluster. I really enjoyed the world and the many characters, but it felt like it was leading up to something bigger and then it simply fizzled out. I do realize that it is setting up the next book really well, but it felt like the payoff wasn't quite there.

Despite these smaller flaws, I did really enjoy the book and I am looking forward to the next installment. I'd give this book a very solid 3.5 stars.

I want to say thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story of an empire that has never fallen, and a rising darkness that holds the potential to change everything.

I really enjoyed this book - epic and expansive worldbuilding, yet easy to follow, with each POV character feeling well-developed and distinct. I especially enjoyed Queen Zhuana's sheer strength and determination to do what was best for the safety of her people no matter what it took. Bethany's POV was incredible as well, I loved learning about the beautifully unique travel-based magic system of Divination alongside her. However I do feel as if there's still an air of mystery about Bethany so far, she was mostly driven by circumstances and I didn't really get a good grasp on who she is as a person and what she truly wants. I'm very conflicted about Julian, my opinion of him would flip flop between chapters, sometimes seeing him as weak and easily manipulated by his wife, sometimes strong and ambitious in his own right.

Overall a distinct new epic fantasy world with lots of political intrigue and a very cool magic system. I'm very excited to find out where this goes next!

Game of Thrones meets Wheel of Time in this first introduction to the city of Everlast and the shifting of forces that tie us to time, change, and each other - in the darkness and in the light. A lowly seamstress with hidden roots in the empire dreams of becoming a Diviner. A misguided prince longing for approval pushes against noble lines to gain power. A legendary knight seeking a simpler life constantly pulled back into the tides of the Dymantine Empire. A rogue queen desperately seeking answers as a strange darkness creeps its way into their world.

Blood and Empire has the perfect mix of world building, character creation, and storytelling at a pace that both demands attention while feeding imagination. James Maxwell put tremendous thought into how the world of The Gateway Saga works - and watching it all click into place was just as beautiful of a journey as following the characters within its lands. The connection I feel between Bethany, Charlton, and Maryam is incredible, and there is also a pull to Zhuana and the tough choices she is having to make with her enemy by her side.

I could not put this down. I devoured every bit of it in 3 days and am on the edge of my seat for more. Looking forward to the release of book 2!

Blood and Empire (The Gateway Saga, Book 1) by James Maxwell is an action-packed fantasy that blends intrigue, adventure, and political drama. With its compelling world-building and fast-paced plot, Maxwell sets the stage for an epic series filled with rich characters and high stakes

This is a solid fantasy book with some epic world building. There are a ton of characters and the story unfolds from different points of view. They are mostly on their own journeys in book 1 but are set up to clash in book 2.

The plot is full of intrigue and behind the scenes maneuvering between the emperor, the heir, a foreign queen, various counselors and advisors, and the regular people. Sadly, nobody is particularly likable and everyone leans more toward villain. Even the primary protagonist, Bethany, isn’t overly exciting. Here’s hoping for some great character development in book 2.

A sweeping epic of an empire on the brink of something, dangerous or good, you don't quite know. Bethany, along with her ageing mother run tailor business and she dreams of being a Diviner, folks who've harnessed the magic of mystical gateways that lead to all reaches of the empire. Julian, the heir to the throne, disliked and scheming to be on top. Zhuanna, a queen in her own right, forced, along with her people, from their homeland in search of a new home to outrun the darkness. And Kendrick Conway, Lord of the realm who values his family over the empire. Such great world building and I cannot wait to read the next book!

I throughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to my customers, and I am looking forwarding to book 2 in the saga.

Overall this book was super enjoyable for me. While it was slower paced the storyline was engaging, the characters were interesting and i enjoyed the uniqueness to the magic system that the author employed. I would strongly recommend this to others and will definitely be reading the second book. Throughout the book we are introduced to multiple main characters and get to experience the story through multiple pov’s. there was a lot of jumping around which took a second to get used to but again overall I really enjoyed it. I’m hoping that the story picks up a bit in the second book, that we get to see some more action and movement of the plot. I would also love to see more interaction between Bethany and Xander and some progression in their storyline.

Wow! I've missed fantasy books like this! 'Blood and Empire' is a fantastic beginning to this new world James Maxwell has crafted; an epic political high fantasy writhe with intrigue!

The reader follows multiple POV's throughout the story, all cleverly interconnecting; a queen and her nation fleeing a great evil, a retired war hero, a prince fighting for his right to be heir to the empire, and an impoverished young diviner in training.

I loved Bethany's character the most. We follow her education at the school of divination, where she is training to become a diviner, a select group of individuals who can traverse the gateways connecting the empire. It was so fascinating and exciting to watch her learn.

Queen Zhuana was a powerful and magnificent character. I can't wait to see more of her in the next book. A specific moment I loved in her POV was with her son Garric and a bunch of children. It was so heartwarming that it brought a tear to my eye. I find myself rooting for each characters POV even though Zhuana is on the opposing side from the rest of them. I look forward to seeing what the resolution for her and her people will be in the future books.

The authors writing style is so vivid and descriptive. There are so many wonderful details that brought this story to life in my mind. I could feel the sensations and the environments the characters were experiencing as if I were experiencing them myself. And what an incredible magic system! I absolutely loved the gateways and the diviners! Bethany reaching her potential was so exciting and magical to read.

Political / high fantasies may not be for some people, however they were my introduction to reading when I was younger, my favourites being Trudi Canavan, Christopher Paolini, and David Eddings. This book sits right up there for me. A fantastic world is being built here, and I feel honoured to have been able to read it early. I loved reading about the inner workings and conflicts of the courts and kingdoms of their world. I will say the pacing was slightly slow at times, but this didn't bother me much as my interest was always held.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this!

*I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for an honest review*

This was a wonderful read. I really enjoyed it. It was a refreshing read. I highly recommend it. 10/10

Bethany wishes to be a diviner and must enroll in order to become.one but this path is dangerous and only a few succeed. Prince Julian is fighting for his crown, the nobles doubt his ability and when faced with an enemy at his border; he must prove his worth. Queen Zhuana escapes a deadly army and disease but just barely, how will she protect her people and overcome those who chase them?

I liked this book, however it took a while for the story to take shape and I feel like this is just the start. It was difficult through most of the book to see where the connectiona were going to be made. How did the story of queen Zhuana meet with a girl from Everlast who is going to school. It was interesting and a new take and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Blood and Empire marks the beginning of best-selling author James Maxwell’s highly anticipated new epic fantasy series, The Gateway Saga—a thrilling story of ambition, sacrifice, and defying fate.

Bethany, a young seamstress, dreams of becoming a diviner—one of the rare individuals able to navigate the enigmatic gateways that bind the empire together. But with no wealth, no formal education, and only her mother to support her, she faces an uncertain future.

That is, until she meets Charlton, a cleric who offers her knowledge and guidance, revealing a world she once thought impossible to reach. But as Bethany’s ambitions attract attention, her past resurfaces when her estranged father returns, forcing her to confront painful truths she’s long avoided.

As the empire faces the threat of invasion and betrayal tears through its highest ranks, Bethany must learn to control both external forces and her own inner turmoil in order to uncover the dark secrets of her bloodline—and ultimately save the empire from its own destruction.

The series is already setting itself up to be a epic story with multiple POV, a darkness that is sweeping the land, killing those in its wake, and multiple MFC who don’t let obstacles stand in their way.

These are my thoughts on Blood and Empire by James Maxwell

The series is already setting itself up to be an epic fantasy story with multiple POV, a darkness that is sweeping the land, killing those in its wake, and multiple MFCs who don’t let obstacles stand in their way.

There is just the right amount of world building without going too overboard that the reader loses interest. Without giving away any spoilers, I also appreciate that one of the main characters doesn’t just get her dream fulfilled right away.

There are multiple POV going on within this book that often switch from chapter to chapter. With multiple POVs, while it does help build each piece of the story, it led to a lack of character development. Hopefully, there will be more character development in the next books because some of the characters, like Bethany and Julian, I kept wanting to know more about them.