Once I started this book, I was hooked. I clicked with the main characters right away, especially the second POV, and I was immediately intrigued by the world. I flew through it, always eager to see what came next. The switch between POVs worked well, and the short, sharp chapters kept me glued to the pages.
There are three main viewpoints. Caleb is a young man with mobility issues from an old illness, a kind soul on the cusp of big changes. Shem is the mysterious Drifter, badly injured and on the run from things much darker than Caleb first realizes. And Tiberius is the blind Sage, whose perspective ended up being my favorite part of the book. A handful of other names come and go, but it all settles quickly into a clear and manageable cast.
The ending, though, was the most disappointing part for me. Not because of what happens, but because it simply stops. There is no closure, and it feels like I got only half a book. I understand this is the start of a series of novellas, but even so, I expect each installment to have its own arc and a measure of resolution.
Still, I liked the characters a lot, and for such a short book they grew on me remarkably fast. Some are still sketchy and need more fleshing out, but I think that will come in later installments. The dialogue worked especially well. In fact, it stood out to me because so often in indie fantasy it can feel stiff and artificial. Here it flowed naturally. Big plus.
And here’s where the book completely surprised me. I have aphantasia, which means I cannot visualize things in my head. Usually I rely on sounds, smells, or touch to build a scene in my imagination. Descriptions heavy on visuals leave me filling in the blanks with my own senses. But there was one scene introducing a new POV character that pulled me right in. I could feel the world around him, without putting in any effort. That POV turned out to belong to Tiberius, who is blind. And it was handled beautifully. I loved it. Not only because I’ve always had a soft spot for blind characters (two of my grandparents were blind or almost blind, and my own eyesight isn’t great), but because it was written in a way that let me easily connect to the description as a reader. It’s rare for a book to give me that kind of immersion in a scene so quickly; usually it takes a while for me to “feel” my way in.
Worldbuilding is sprinkled in bit by bit. No heavy info dumps, which kept the reading light and fast. At times I even wanted a little more explanation. We get glimpses of different types of magic, some tied to spirit animals (and I am always a sucker for animal companions), and there are flying ships that make the world feel both familiar and fresh. It felt like scratching the surface of something bigger, and I’m curious to see what’s revealed in later books.
Of course, there are flaws. Some moments felt predictable. The first archery scene made me wince as someone who actually practices archery (you don’t “fire” an arrow!), and bows aren’t left strung in storage. Probably won’t bother most readers, but it yanked me out of the story. There was also one line in the middle of a fight scene: “Strangely, he found himself thinking she was prettier when she smiled”, that felt completely out of place and almost silly in the moment. These little slips stood out, but they were balanced by the pacing, the action, the creepiness of the demon that keeps reappearing, and the sense of a bigger mystery unfolding.
Overall, I was really entertained. The characters were engaging, the world was interesting, and the prose flowed smoothly. The blind POV was a genuine highlight and probably the main reason this book will stick with me. The flaws, the abrupt ending, a few clichés, and some technical slips didn’t stop me from enjoying it.
So yes, it has issues, but it also has heart, and it made me excited to see where this story goes next.
Fast, fun, and flawed, with great characters, smooth prose, and one unforgettable blind POV. The ending may have cheated me of closure, but I was still hooked, entertained, and left eager for more.
