The Unspoken Name is a wonderful book and I know it's something I will love. For some reason it wasn't working for me at the moment yet despite that I know when I'm in the right head space I'll love. I definitely recommend this one and if you're excited get read for it to live up to the hype.

The Unspoken Name is an utterly captivating epic coming-of-age fantasy novel from a debut author who has immediately landed on my auto-buy list. The premise of an orc priestess destined to be her cult's sacrifice who is instead swept away by a dashing ambitious wizard and trained to be his deadly right hand is bold and exciting, but I wasn't prepared for how thoroughly this would enthrall me. It's an early contender for my favorite read of 2020 and highly likely to top many other's lists as well!

A. K. Larkwood has crafted a refreshingly original story which is predominantly fantasy-inspired but also incorporates space opera elements in its immersive and evocative world-building. Csorwe is an Oshaaru (what pop culture would call 'orcs') who resides at the House of Silence with priestesses and acolytes who serve the Unspoken One, a bloodthirsty old god who provides power and knowledge for the price of a blood sacrifice every fourteen years. As Csorwe hovers on the precipice of the shrine where she is to give up her life, Belthandros Sethennai intercedes to give her the option of fleeing with him - and having doubts about the destiny she was groomed for, she accepts.

---
"Are you afraid?" said Sethennai.
She swallowed. She couldn't bring herself to nod.
"Nothing in this world has earned the power to frighten you, Csorwe," he said. "You have looked your foretold death in the face and turned from it in defiance. Nothing in this world or any other deserves your fear."
---

Csorwe's life dramatically changes from a quiet, peaceful temple existence to being embroiled in one madcap adventure after another in a series of different worlds connected by the Maze of Echoes, which one can access via Gates and journey through on foot or by mazeship. The author doles out enough information to ensure the reader understands what is happening, but leaves out the exact mechanics and allows us to fill in the blanks. The audience is genre-savvy enough that we don't need to be bogged down in pages of theory and discussion on how exactly the Maze works or what the ships look like, we can simply accept that these concepts exist and move on. What's more interesting are the myriad of new worlds that Csorwe explores from the frantic market town of Grey Hook, blessedly normal with its bustling trade, to the dead zone of Echentyr filled with ancient corpses of its original serpent inhabitants, to forbidding fortresses and beautiful luxurious cities and wintry decaying worlds where the dead may rise. Each locale springs to mind vividly through the author's effortless atmospheric writing, placing us alongside the characters in whatever new escapade they're embarking on.

As unique and beautiful as the world-building is in this book, the characterization is on a whole other level. We witness Csorwe at the start as a scared fourteen-year old who is unworldly and helpless to fend for herself, then gathering her courage and hurtling herself into the unknown where she hones her skills, learning new languages, fighting and sword-craft to better serve Sethennai and aid him in retaking his city and locating a famed magical artifact. Finally she comes into her own as she begins to experience her own desires and conflicting motivations, where she must determine the strength of her loyalty and willingness to adhere to Sethennai's agenda and measure it against her newfound goals and affections.

---
"I thought we were on the same side."
That wasn't how it worked, of course. She was on Sethennai's side. His enemies were her enemies. It didn't work the other way.
---

The author never takes the easy way out, which could've been done by making Sethennai turn out to be a corrupt wizard and freeing Csorwe of her duty to him. It's a common enough trope that the Evil Mentor has dedicated TV Tropes page, but that would've robbed the story of its complicated character dynamics and emotional turmoil. In fact, there really isn't a Big Bad villain in this book, which is a delightful choice because that so often truncates storytelling possibilities - instead The Unspoken Name has a few antagonists whom Csorwe may despise or clash with, but will end up reluctantly allying with if the circumstances warrant it! Nobody is plain evil here, they all just have different goals and cultural influences that dictate their actions and make their decisions seem acceptable, which may not be the case from Csorwe's perspective.

Talasseres Charossa and Oranna are both complex characters who are given room and development to shine throughout this story; they constantly move in and out of Csorwe's orbit, often rattling or undermining her, occasionally surprisingly aiding her, but while she is our protagonist, their worldviews are given equal weight and consideration instead of being mocked or dismissed. Some of the book's most emotional and exciting moments come from these characters being honored with their own arc alongside our heroine. Besides which, they're just plain fun to read about, never missing an opportunity to verbally joust with Csorwe when they appear on page.

---
"Look, we have to stay together," she said.
"Wow, gross," said Tal.
"I mean it. We shouldn't lose sight of each other."
"Oh, yeah, imagine if you got dragged off into some kind of skeleton murder hole, I'd hate that."
---

I've saved the best for last, that being Shuthmili, a Qarsazhi mage indoctrinated into their Church with a sinister fate lying in wait once she passes her trials. While there isn't an exact correlation between her and Csorwe's positions in their respective cults, Csorwe feels a kinship with Shuthmili and yearns to offer her the same choice that she herself was once given - follow one's faith despite the personal consequences or seize the chance for freedom with all the danger and hope that comes with it. There is a wonderful thematic elegance with Csorwe finding herself in this position!

Shuthmili is another compelling character whose thoughts and dreams are given prominence in a well-written arc and while she doesn't appear til nearly halfway through the story, she makes an indelible impact. There are books with multiple protagonist POVs who aren't served as well as the secondary characters here! Because of her upbringing in which she was taught to be composed and rational, lest her magical powers overwhelm and corrupt her, Shuthmili is quietly reserved and resigned to her fate as being for the greater good. Once she encounters Csorwe, who alternately challenges and supports her, Shuthmili begins to acknowledge her own wistfully suppressed ambitions and contemplate a life beyond being tethered to the Church if she only had the courage and conviction to break free.

Their slow-burn romance is the stuff of dreams, I've yearned for a good sapphic romance in speculative fiction and it feels like this has materialized into existence just for me. This is an #OwnVoices romance as well, which is even better! The dynamic between Csorwe and Shuthmili is beautifully developed as the young women awkwardly haltingly interact for the first time on separate missions at the Hollow Monument, then fight in battle by each other's side and wind up joining forces for their mutual benefit. Their friendship teetering into eventual romance is wonderfully portrayed and will have readers holding their breath at each tender, vulnerable moment between them.

A highly recommended read, this will thrill all fantasy lovers with its combination of elaborate world-building, diverse compelling characters with brilliantly developed arcs and exciting action-packed storyline.

I didn't know anything about this book until i saw it on netgalley but the synopsis was just so appealing. I loved that book, it is a right high fantasy, written by a women and it's a debut ?! The characters had so much depth and I truly cared for them. The story was amazing and i just can't wait to go back to that world !

This is a tale worthy of warriors male and female.Creatures with tusks and a great fighting spirit. A ritual human sacrifice of what we assume is a Virgin girl of fourteen. A House of Silence that serves The Unspoken One,and a girl who the Unspoken uses to convey his wishes to those who visit and live at the House of Silence. Csorwe’s is preparing to be the next sacrifice when a Pilgrim visits and offers her a chance at a different path. So begins the episodic adventure of Sethenni and Csorwe . Sethenni is part sorcerer,part magician, philosopher,and warrior. It is his quest to be restored to his former status and better his enemy Olthaaros who had taken his city. As a warrior tale this is one that young readers will enjoy it has surprises when you least expect them and moments of real humor.

Once I saw that stunning cover, I didn't think twice of requesting it. Anything inside such a poignant wrap should be nothing short of amazing. And how right I am! As an emerging genre, LGBT literature is surely in need of classical works like these.
If you love that blurb, then let me tell you, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Spanning more than four hundred pages, the novel covers multiple universes with impeccable skill and even after the last page, I wished for more. There is one more book on the way since it is part of a duology and before you ask, no, this doesn't end in a cliffhanger.
Narrated mainly through Csorwe's perspective, the story follows her life from a sacrificial bride to a warrior. Indebted to Sethennai for her new life she is bent on procuring the Reliquary of Pentravesse, the most renowned mage who had somehow achieved a union with his deity. What follows is a tale of adventure where new love blossoms, destinies rewritten and some secrets are revealed.
What keeps us constantly at the edge is the way good and bad fluctuates constantly as each character, especially Csorwe, Oranna and Shuthmili, make their own choices, altering their fates. Well, that almost summarises the crux of this story; our life is our own to live and shape. We definitely have a choice, but whether we are brave enough to grab it at the opportune moment seals our destinies. Highly recommended!

The Unspoken Name opens A.K. Larkwood's unusual new fantasy series, The Serpent Gates.

Its lead is Orc priestess Csorwe, 'the Chosen Bride of the Unspoken One'. She has been raised from childhood in the House of Silence to eventually enter the Shrine, and become the god's next sacrifice.

Csorwe avoids this dire fate with the help of wizard Belthandros Sethennai, who trains her to be his assassin/fixer, a role in which she excels.

Csorwe eventually has to choose between loyalty to Sethennai, and to Shuthmili, a powerful Adept, whose life (like Csorwe's) has always been controlled by others.

Interesting book. A lot of potential and a diverse, inclusive cast of characters. The pacing threw me off a bit at times and caused me to not connect as much with the characters. I am also, admittedly, not a huge fan of the priestess/religion driven plot lines so this might not have been my cup of tea to begin with. I think many fantasy fans will absolutely fall for this story, though. I could hardly believe this was a debut book because the writing itself was so polished.

The Unspoken Name has everything I love in fantasy books: badass female assassins, a smouldering f/f slow burn romance, a self-destructive gay who just wants to be loved, and a chance to become a martyr for a god ... and then deciding to join the villain for a life of pleasure and rebellion instead. 

If you love fantasy novels as much as I do, then The Unspoken Name will be your new favourite read of 2020. Yes, it's only February but I'm calling it. I got the pleasure to read this book late last year and here I am, months later, still thinking about it, so trust me when I say you will too. 

This book is the first in a new fantasy series about a young orc priestess named Csorwe -- yes, this book has orcs! -- who has been chosen as a sacrifice to her god, the Unspoken One. But on the day of her death, a mysterious magician named Belthandros Sethennai offers her a choice: stay and die, or leave with him and become his learned assassin. Csorwe chooses to live and gets swept up in a years-long adventure to find the fabled Reliquary of Pentravesse, a magical item said to contain unfathomable knowledge by the long-dead scholar Pentravesse and his patron snake goddess. 

The Unspoken Name's plot is immense and grandiose, but it never becomes overwhelming or confusing and I can merit that to Larkwood's beautiful writing. She has this incredible ability to explain worldbuilding that features dead gods, complicated magic systems, spaceships and traveling through different worlds in such a compelling way. A high fantasy story and a space opera in one? Yes please! I am so thoroughly impressed by the fantastic worldbuilding and genre-bending in this book and will definitely be picking up anything Larkwood writes in the future.  

But my favourite element of The Unspoken Name is definitely the characters. I am a real sucker for queer characters, self-destructive characters, ambitious characters, and characters who learn that they deserve more than the scraps they've been given, and this book that and more in spades. Cswore was a remarkable main character and her journey from an innocent child to warrior assassin is developed so wonderfully and epically. After being saved by Sethennai, she dedicates her life to him out of a sense of misplaced loyalty and has to slowly undo that learned behaviour. Loyalty and faithfulness play a bit part in The Unspoken Name, particularly in regard to how the person you swore your allegiance to might not be the person you always thought they were. 

My absolute favourite character in this novel is Talasseres Charossa and I guarantee by the end of the book he will be your favourite too. Tal is the second main character in this novel who also owes his allegiance to Sethennai, but he and Csorwe hate each other. Tal  spends a majority of the novel searching for happiness, but finds that's hard to come by when you have an awful personality and enjoy manipulating people. But don't be too hard on Tal! His character development, like Csorwe, is perfectly written and he grows as a person. I mean, he's still an asshole by the end of the book, but that only makes me love him more. 

The Unspoken Name is a genre-bending novel with incredible worldbuilding to be sure, but its also a character-driven novel in the sense that the characters' interactions really drive the plot forward. The dynamic between all the characters -- Csorwe, Tal, Sethennai, Shuthmili and Oranna -- is captivating and has you reading more and more chapters, long past your bedtime. I adored the slow-burn relationship between Csorwe and Shuthmili: at first, the girls are too awkward to understand how to discuss their feelings, but their relationship eventually develops sweetly. 

If you're a lover of fantasy or sci-fi, I highly recommend you pick up this glorious novel. It features a wonderful cast of queer characters, characters beginning to question everything about their lives and trying to forge a new path, and some of the most unique worldbuilding I've come across. I guess the only question I have is: when's book two coming out?

TW: blood, fighting/violence, hallucinations,

I feel like I say this at the beginning of every SFF book I've ever read, but this has amazing world building. This universe, all of the cities and worlds, are connected by Gates or portals. These worlds are unique, but would all fall into what you would consider "fantasy" places. Don't expect them to go through a gate and end up on a space station. All Gates lead into the "Maze," this dark, mountainous place where people have access to every Gate. Also, everyone is an orc, which, as someone who has never reads adult fantasy, I've never encountered, but more on that later.

I also really enjoyed that this book had an emphasis on religion, with many of the characters having some connection to a god, none of which were similar to another one.

The story begins when Csorwe is 14 and slated to be sacrificed to an old god for the religion she has always been a part of. She’s offered an out at the last second in the form of a mage offering an apprenticeship and takes it. We follow her as the mage teaches her the finer points of a sword and she becomes his right-hand woman.

I really enjoyed these characters. We really see Csorwe grow and change throughout the book. Other characters were less dynamic or just less interesting to me.

The f/f romance was a subplot that kicked in halfway through the novel, but I really enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel very connected the story or characters. It may have been in part because I haven’t ever read a fantasy with no humans, but there was just a feeling of being disconnected.

I enjoyed the story and Csorwe, but it didn’t make a big impact on me. I’m sure people who read more adult fantasy will enjoy it more.

Much like Queen of the Conquered back in December, I feel like I’m reading against the grain of popular opinion on The Unspoken Name. I didn’t hate it, not by any stretch, but I also didn’t love it either. Instead, I came away from it sort of . . . well, feeling like it was simply a book that passed through my eyes, but which left no impression on my thoughts or my emotions.

I know I’m going to take flak for this, and I apologize in advance to those who are offended, but A.K. Larkwood’s debut reminded me of what I remember of YA novels back in my school days . . . or perhaps a better comparison would be to some of the lesser Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance books of that same era. Bland, safe, and inconsequential. It had some entertainment value, and offered some decent escapism, but I never once felt any sort of dramatic tension, and I failed to form an emotional connection with any of the characters.

Part of the problem for me was the narrative style. This is very much a book that tells rather than shows, a technique that fails to engage me every time. While it does get better as the book progresses, it’s so heavy on the telling at the start that I very nearly abandoned it. It’s also a book that’s largely episodic, jumping from ‘cool’ scene to ‘big’ scene, without any of the connective planning, travelling, training, or general downtime where characters are so often developed through their ordinary struggles. Another issue for me was the simplicity and superficiality of the overall word-building. There’s this cool sort of universe of gates and gods, but no cohesive map to explain how and why it all fits together.

Then there’s the issue of race, and I honestly don’t know whether that’s a failing, or whether it’s part of some deliberate statement to be applauded. This is a story about Orcs. We’re told that. We’re regularly reminded they have tusks. We’re even reminded about skin color from time to time. But, otherwise, they’re just generic humans, with nothing notable or cultural to define them or set them apart. Finally, sticking with the characters, there’s the romance aspect, which I was initially excited about, but which had me rolling my eyes at how, well, immature it was.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll admit that I skimmed most of the last 100 pages, and stopped paying close attention long before that. I did finish it, which says something, but ask me about it in a month, or even a week, and I doubt I’ll remember much beyond character names. I likely could have dealt with the narrative style if the characters had been stronger, or overlooked with the flatness of the characters if the narrative had been stronger but, for me, The Unspoken Name was less unspoken and more unremembered.

This was such a unique, fascinating read. It already had my heart with the LGBT love story, though I was wary going in because I don't actually care for orcs. Well, I'm going to have to revise that opinion, because the way that Larkwood writes them makes them absolutely fascinating. The romance was just the right amount of amazing and sweet, the worldbuilding unfurled in fascinating ways, and I found myself wishing for more by the time I got to the last page. This is definitely a fantasy that shouldn't be missed.

This is the story of Csorwe, a young girl who has been raised to be wed to a god, a day that will also mark her death. On that day she is rescued by Sethennai, a wizard whose aims are his own and seldom visible to others. Csorwe is trained as his swordswoman and follows without question the orders that Sethennai gives her. On the trail of a rare relic, events happen that cause Csorwe to question her life. Not knowing who to trust, she must make decisions that could cause her life to flip upside-down.

Author A. K. Larkwood has created a world that is unique and imaginative. It is a place where religion and magic mesh when appropriate and the different races collide. The mode of traveling is novel and presents ideas that are refreshing. Ms. Larkwood’s efforts at world building is her five-star element.

The strong characterizations of Csorwe, Qanwa Zhiyouri, and to some extent Sethennai, offered pleasing depth to the book. I would have liked to have seen more from Shuthmili and Tal, especially when it felt like Csorwe’s personality was an extension of their actions. The focus on these last three characters definitely gave the book a YA feel.

For those who object to coarse language, there are enough f-bombs and other words to cause you to lay this book aside. Personally, the words themselves don’t upset me, though I found them to be overused and not entirely important to characterizations or the plot. Tal’s continuous use of profanity was unlike anyone else in the book (including others of his race), causing me to question his authenticity as a character living within the confines of the book.

Overall, a good read. I had feared a cliffhanger ending, but Ms. Larkwood did provide an ending to the current adventures while leaving the door for the next installment. Overall, a solid four stars.

My thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Tor Books for an advance electronic copy of this title.

An orc-inspired, wizard infested fantasy novel, you say?

Hold on, let me:

1.) Pause my World of Warcraft raid.

2.) Put away my Magic the Gathering deck.

3.) Tell my Dungeon Master to GTFO.

Because I know what I'm doing for the foreseeable future and it involves devouring this book from start to finish.

And what a wild ride it was. What a completely innovative, unique, entertaining roller coaster. I will admit the first 30% had me nervous - it was a little unstructured, a little meandering. And then we cut to 5 years later, the second act, and it's like breath of life just completely animated the world for me. The characters came alive, and I was engrossed in their stories. I realized that the first part was necessary, it was building the groundwork for what was to come. It set the baseline, so that the growth of the characters was more apparent and we could appreciate how far they had come.

Csorwe starts the story as a child, with the mindset of a child who knows that she will die as a sacrifice to her cult's god, the Unspoken. She is whisked away by a passing wizard, the mysterious Sethennai, who promises a chance at freedom in exchange for her service. She is suddenly no longer a child-bride to a hungry god, she is her own person with a fate of her own choosing employed as a mercenary to a powerful politician. This overarching theme, of fate and choice and self-identity, crops up throughout the book as Csorwe grows up. She meets Shuthmili, an overpowered mage indoctrinated into a church that will use her abilities to keep her enslaved for life. They will tether her consciousness to the consciousness of other mages to create one hive-mind super battlemage. Suddenly Csorwe is torn between the duties she has to her savior and the compulsion to save this girl from a fate of sacrifice in the name of religion that she's all too familiar with.

There are no hackneyed tropes or predictable outcomes to be found here. This was completely, 100% unique and despite it being fantasy world, had a surprisingly realistic, grounded tone. Gods walk the earth and speak through vessels to prophesize to pilgrims, the dead walk as revenants and serve necromancer lords, entire universes crumble like dying stars set against desolate wastelands. But it tackles things that hit home - villains become friends, friends become villains, because circumstances change, things aren't always cut and dry. Morality is murky grey, and the characters are anything but perfect. They make choices that hurt the ones they love, but their flaws round them out and give dimension.

Fans of high fantasy, rejoice! This is a must read for 2020.

"By the touch of thy hand shall the black lotus bloom
Thus shall we know thee, handmaid of desolation
By the corruption of the seas
By the fading of all things
Thy name shall be forsaken and thou be my bride
Thus spake the Nameless One upon the plains of dust
from The Book of Unmaking"

A.K Larkwood's debut novel, The Unspoken Name, the first novel in The Serpent's Gate series, is all about choice. There is absolute power in hitting bottom; you have faced death, the end, and come out on the other side. After that, the world is open to you choice-wise.

"You have looked your foretold death in the face and turned from it in defiance. Nothing in this world or any other deserves your fear."

This is one of the main aspects of the lead protagonist Csorwe, and I think of The Unspoken Name in general. This story delves deeply into the nature of what choice actually is. Are our actions in this world truly choices? Or do we choose to do things based on what is expected of us?

Larkwood's debut novel, the first of a grand new series aptly named The Serpents Gates stars the character Cswore. Csorwe is in a lot of ways unoriginal, at least at first. She grows up in what I can only think of as a cult where every 14 years, a girl child that has been groomed to become the bride of a god is devoured in sacrifice to appease the god. The first 14 years of her life have been entirely without choice. Choice, as a concept, is a wholly foreign concept. Csorwe has been brainwashed her entire life. This great honor that has been bestowed upon her by this wrathful god.

Her life's only meaning is in its death. In the last hour of her life, she is approached by the wizard Sethennai, a wizard, he offers her a choice, "serve me, and I will save you. Don't and accept your fate." Csorwe, having never been offered a choice in anything, she is offered what could be the most pivotal choice of her life. She accepts life and defies a god. She takes her young life and runs for it. Sethennai needs Cswore to restore his position as ruler of a great city named Tlaanthothe. It is difficult as a reader to make the connection as to why Csorwe, basically a babe in the ways of the world, is essential in this great wizard's quest to gain his city back. Especially since, again, Cswore is groomed as an assassin and bodyguard, and it takes years to get her ready. And, still, what looks like a choice and an opportunity to live her life finally on her own terms is not what she thinks it is. She is bound to Sethennai by obligation and her honor.

The narrative The Unspoken Name has two plot arcs. It is almost as if two novels were joined together, each could have stood on their own as a book in the series. The first arc is of Cswore's escape, education, abduction, and finally, assistance in Sethennai's quest of restoring his position as ruler of Tlaanthothe. This arc is exciting and encompasses the first 30 or so percent of the story. After this arc concludes, we jump forward five years. Cswore and Talasseres, who is a fascinating side character and is both Cswore's foil and companion for much of the novel, are on the hunt for the Reliquary of Pentravesse for Sethennai. The Reliquary is an object of mystical and religious importance that Sethennai and Oranna are both searching for. Anyone who obtains the Reliquary will gain knowledge of the Pentravesse. A source of high power. Sethennai and Oranna are brutal and efficient characters in very different ways. Each stops at nothing to achieve their own goals. While Sethennai behaves like a razor blade cutting into and removing things in his search for the Reliquary, Oranna acts much like a cudgel and bashes into things and people with brutal raw force. Both Tal and Cswore get in the crossfire.

Another integral part of the second arc in The Unspoken Name is the developing romantic relationship that occurs. It becomes a complete expression of choice. The choice to live, to love, to die, and to protect. All vital and singular expressions of Cswore's budding ability to make choices for her self and her future. Her choices, Whether it burns the world down or not, it is her choices to make. It helped create a strong second half to this book that saved the pace and brought the full reader speeding into the conclusion.

"The desert called the Speechless Sea was of black sand, scattered with shards of volcanic glass that sparkled like the stars. A chain of hills emerged from this desert, as though the night sky was punctured by a row of vertebrae. Built on these was the city of Tlaanthothe."

World-building in this story is exceptional, although occasionally, it is just a little bit murky. The setting of this story is a series of worlds, an almost infinite amount of them, that are accessed through gates. Each setting is entirely different culturally and geographically. It is a heady mix of ever-shifting landscapes that are a serious nod to writer's A.K Larkwood's imagination. The part that was a bit murky to me was the character's physical attributes. Csorwe is described as having tusks. Unless other descriptions are given, Cswore is immediately orc-like. The same goes for Sethennai. He is described as having pointed ears, which immediately makes me think of an elf. Maybe this is a function of my fantasy context from reading other books. But, it seemed like a missed opportunity for more complicated and exciting physical characteristics of the characters.

Is the power of choice enough to build a substantial epic series around?
The answer is a resounding, yes!

Choice is one of the most primal things humans can make. Your choices make or break your future. This debut novel is excellent and worth reading, even if it is just for the world-building alone. Is it perfect? No, there are plotting problems, and as I mentioned above, issues with suspended disbelief. But it is a great book that ended on a high note. This, in turn, will lead to the second book in the series perfectly. You should absolutely check out this debut novel and jump into this world.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

The Unspoken Name is a promising debut fantasy novel, which excels at lore, world-building, relationships, and its themes. I was immediately sucked into this novel by its dark depiction of the Shrine of the Unspoken One and its Chosen Bride, main character, Csorwe. 


“The girl leads the calf to the altar and they cut its throat. The blood runs black in the dim spring light. It splashes on the frozen stone and flows into the vessel. She takes the bowl of blood. She climbs the steps to the Shrine. She is never seen again.”

I was invested in Csorwe, an orc priestess, from the get go. As the Chosen Bride and vessel to the Unspoken One, she has been marked for death her whole life. I was floored when she bravely decided to cast aside the indoctrinations of the Unspoken One that called for her to become a sacrifice and bravely set out into the world to live her stolen life. Leaving behind the Unspoken One, Csorwe finds herself a new god in the mysterious wizard of Belthandros Sethennai. He trains her to become his assassin and spy as he seeks to not only reclaim his city from an usurper, but also to locate a mythical item known as the Reliquary of Pentravesse. 

“The secret of greatness is to know when you should risk the wrath of god.”

Disappointingly, we do not see much of Csorwe’s growth as a character during these years of training. The Unspoken Name is regrettably filled with time-skips and whole years go by with only mentions of what Cswore endured to become Sethennai’s feared right hand man and shadow. The author tells us she joined a band of mercenaries and found belonging and strength there, but we are sadly not invited along for this or other moments of Csorwe’s growth as not only as an assassin, but also as a character. 

“From the old crooks and soldiers who were her tutors, she learned about the hungers that live in the heart of every city, and was educated in the threat, the promise, and the scientific accomplishment of violence.”

But worst of all, when the novel final reaches the present day, I felt like I didn’t really know Csorwe or any of the characters. It was like Csorwe was my child that grew up somewhere else and when she returned I was met with a stranger and with nothing but tales of her fearsome reputation and very little of the actual person who committed those deeds.  The Unspoken Name grossly underestimates Csorwe’s value as an actual character and does her and the readers an injustice by developing her “off-screen,” rendering her a pale imitation of her fully-fleshed contemporaries such as Throne of Glass’s Celaena Sardothien. 


The Unspoken Name fails to realize that I would have happily read an entire novel on Csorwe’s training and her transformation from priestess marked for death to an actual agent of death in control of her own future Then, I would have loved to see her in action in a sequel dedicated to her search for the mysterious Reliquary of Pentravesse. Instead, the Csorwe we are given is little more than a plot device, and an empty shell. It was disheartening to see a character who had the bravery to cast aside the meaning of her life to become nothing more than the literal tool of the man who spurred her into taking this action. Her quest for the Reliquary and every thing else is just at the behest of Sethennai, so it is hard to feel invested in anything Csorwe does. 

“If a man breaks his sword on something it was not made to be cut he can only blame himself….Csorwe, you are my sharpest edge. We will repair you.”

That is until she meets Shuthmilii, Qarsazhi mage, who is an absolute boss. Author Larkwood does a great job of creating a natural feeling relationship, which started as nothing more than kindred spirits and sparks into something more. It is this relationship that spurs Csorwe to make her own choices for the first time, finally breathes some much needed life into an otherwise emotionless character--and most importantly--teaches her that there is more to life than death. Csorwe is simply at her best and most lifelike when she is with Shuthmili or doing something for her sake. This is the best representation of LGBT+ romance I have read, perhaps ever, let alone in a high fantasy novel. 

'No, but my life is mine,' said Shuthmilli. 'Mine to spend, mine to burn, mine to waste. Mine to give away.' 

It does not feel like the LGBT+ romances were thrown into The Unspoken Name simply for the sake of representation or to sell books to an underrepresented audience, but rather these romances enrich not only the characters and our understanding of them, but also the events of the entire novel. These romances just feel authentic. I absolutely loved how Larkwood presented the romances of all of her characters, whether LGBT+ or straight, as completely commonplace and not as an awakening that needed to be explained or justified to either the readers or the rest of the characters--the feelings of all the characters are simply accepted at face value and that’s beautiful. 


The author also excels at setting a scene. Throughout the Unspoken Name, I often got chills picturing what she described. Whether Larkwaood was describing the labyrinthian Maze that connected the worlds, the undead that walked the earth again due to the necromancers, magical battles, or the remnants of a world struck by the wrath of a God--it is a striking tableau. All magical battles should read like Larkwood’s:

“Csorwe had seen and committed enough violence that she no longer expected to be impressive or exciting, but the two wizards in combat were like nothing she had ever witnessed. Each man moved like a spark, and raised dust in terrible shapes around him: waves and claws and kites of dust, great beasts of dust that warred in the upper air. The whole room crackled, filling with the smell of hot metal. Csorwe’s surviving teeth buzzed in her skull, and blood seeped from the root of the gold tusk.”


Similarly, Larkwood manages to weave coherent themes throughout The Unspoken Name. Her characters consistently face their own mortality and their recognition that they are okay with it--they recognize that there are things much worse than death, such as not having a choice. This realization that there are fates much worse than death is a very interesting technique to bond together unlikely characters, creating believable alliances rooted in the singular belief that life, no matter how short, is worth living. 


And The Unspoken Name, even with its lacking character development and iffy pacing, is worth reading for not only these beautiful themes, but also its vibrant descriptions of its world and the  magic romances within it. I would happily return to this world again and await the next entry in the series.

Even though I finished this book over a week ago, I had to let it sit for awhile before I could write the review that it deserves. The Unspoken Name was just that good.

Whenever I play roleplaying games, whether tabletop or virtual, I tend to gravitate toward the orc characters. I find them fascinating and a bit underappreciated so when I heard there was a book featuring them I was immediately intrigued. Especially because it focuses so much on female orcs (who definitely don't get as much time in the spotlight as I think they deserve).

This book was an incredibly strong debut, setting us up for what I hope are future books within this universe. It was a meaty text that fully immerses you within the incredible fantasy world Larkwood created. There was so much to love here- compelling characters, interesting plot lines, wondrous descriptions, and a lot of magic to boot. The fluidity of sexuality was a strong point as well and I'm glad that it wasn't even something that was purposely mentioned. Rather, that's just how it was.

At first you think the story is about Csorwe escaping a brutal sacrificial fate and learning to live with the mysterious wizard who rescued her. His motives for freeing her aren't really clear at first, but it must have something to do with his quest for a magical item that will help restore his kingdom to him. Yet, as we continue following Csorwe's path, the story keeps changing. It almost felt like there were several books in one within these pages, just when you think you know what's going on the tale takes a turn.

The Unspoken Name is easily one of the best books I've read in recent months and I truly hope that this isn't the last we see of Csorwe and the orcs. I'm definitely a fan and will happily read more within this fantastical, mindblowing universe.

Full review to come on my blog closer to publication.

"There was no point cultivating the friendship of a Chosen Bride...they understood that it was no good getting fond of the pig before the season of butchery."

I’m very conflicted about this one. Each time I thought to put it down and never pick it back up again, the book would throw a curveball on me and I couldn’t keep my eyes off the page.

The book follows the priestess orc, Csorwe, the chosen sacrifice to her god, who is convinced by a wizard to come with him to eventually be his servant, spy, and assassin. This book then spirals into a science fiction, space opera high-fantasy with religious necromancy and leviathan-like monsters added in to taste. Which is all good and dandy if you had at least 600 pages to really give the world it’s depth. This book only had less than 500. This book also spans almost 10 years in Csorwe’s life and most of it is rushed over. The first 30% of this book is a montage of her training and that's all good for a movie, but in a book I wanted to see her development in detail. I wanted to see her be the spy assassin. Instead it's all told not shown in a very choppy way, which really bugged me.

I however did find much to like in this book, especially in the world building. The gods, the magic system, the people, and the way the world operates, though not explained fully, were really cool. I also really like the book's humor.

"Csorwe had spent a lifetime readying herself to die, not to talk to strangers."

"Psamag really should have done the decent thing and pushed you out of a window.”

"Chatting over coffee always made her feel like she was trying to cut a cake with a hammer."

And my personal favorite from my favorite person:

"“If I pissed in the corner,” muttered Tal, “do you think all twelve thousand ghosts would haunt my dick forever?”

Another thing I really liked was the switch in POV wasn't exclusive to just the protagonists. Everybody got their turn. Which is a rare thing to see nowadays. The switch in POVs didn't feel jarring or a waste of space either, they had their purposes.

So I guess I liked it (?), and if you like high fantasy I would recommend giving it a go.

4.5 STARS

"Unspoken and Unspeakable One, Knight of Abyss, Overseer of the Eaten Worlds, praise and reverence unto your Chosen Bride. May she intercede for us."

What an exceptional debut! The Unspoken Name is difficult to summarize; the story is an ambitious blend of epic high fantasy and space opera/science fiction, which will tickle the fancy of fans of both tremendously. From the very beginning, I got the vibe that this book would be the lovechild of the writing styles and world building of Brandon Sanderson and Ken Follett. How an author can take so many aspects of my favorite genres and include a storytelling format in league with the giants in the writing industry is beyond me, but Larkwood has done just that. There is a lot of story packed into just shy of 500 pages and it's very dark overall, but there is action and gore galore, while also including a steady balance of thought provoking thematic elements surrounding the choices we make and the outcomes that they produce. If you enjoy a new take on a familiar tale, please consider picking this one up. I enjoyed it so much that I'll be purchasing a finished hardcover for my personal collection!

"This is me, in two weeks' time. Here I am, walking up to the Shrine. This is the end. This is how it will feel at the end. Thy name shall be forsaken and thou shalt be my bride."

4.5 STARS


In Csorwe's world, there is a simple truth: trust no one.


Csorwe thought she knew how she would die: as a sacrifice to the Unspoken One, only fourteen years old. Instead, she took the chance to escape, to see the broader world, and discovered that not everything beyond the House of Silence is safe. There is magic, there is travel through inter-dimensional gates, there is the power of gods other than her own. And, of course, there is violence, something she becomes intimately familiar with as the right-hand assassin for the powerful wizard who rescued her from death.

But most importantly, the world is dangerous in all its forms, and Csorwe learns to rely on her own skills. It's the only way to stay alive when there are divinities that want you dead.


"The secret of greatness is to know when you should risk the wrath of a god."


The Unspoken Name has a particular talent for chasing a theme to the ends of the earth. Chief among themes, though, is the question of what you owe to whom, be they god or mortal being. It's a call and response kind of dance, challenging what the characters think they know and answering with a broader truth, then rinse and repeat. Best of all, it shows up often with the gods of Csorwe's world, powerful beings that can alter and destroy worlds if provided with the proper conduit. Again and again, I found myself engrossed in this conflict between mortal and immortal, and I loved every second of it. I've never made a secret of how much I enjoy mortal beings standing up to the all-powerful and everlasting. There's joy to be had in watching them do that. In watching them win, especially. 

And where Csorwe is concerned, challenging higher powers isn't about doing the right thing for the universe. It's about doing the right thing for herself, for her employer, for the people she holds near and dear to her heart. Who needs noble intentions when you can get paid and keep your friends in positions of power, when you can fulfill your purpose?


No one is particularly good, and it makes them fascinating in every way.


This, I think, is one of the things that compounds how interesting the mortal-immortal conflict tends to be. As much as I love a good story with a righteous resolution and a world healing from past trauma, The Unspoken Name goes an entirely different route, placing characters over entire worlds. No one is challenging gods for the good of all. They're doing it for themselves at the end of the day.

But does this make them selfish? Impossible to have any empathy for? Hardly! With a cast this complex, it brings out the messy, complicated, human aspects of each character, even those who aren't strictly human. Csorwe, for one, is an assassin, clever and brutal, and devoted to the wizard who helped her escape her fated death at the shrine of the Unspoken One. She mixes an incredible sense of devotion with an unwillingness to jeopardize her missions, even if that means sparing a life.

You also have Tal, furious and crass. He and Csorwe barely get along, for petty reasons and good reasons alike, and he has nothing on his mind except securing the love and favor of Sethennai, his and Csorwe's shared employer. At first, it's hard to hold much love for him, because he is remarkably coarse and self-centered. But it's not without reason, and not without change. (Also, you kind of have to love him sometimes; he's smart enough to accomplish incredible things, and impulsive enough to have it blow up in his face with impressive comedic flair.)

I could probably go on at length about every single character, between their features and flaws, because that's how The Unspoken Name operates. No one's perfect, but damn if they aren't doing their best with what they've got.


Mix in an expansive series of worlds, and you end up with true magic.


In addition to the outstanding character development, The Unspoken Name also delivers on its world-building. The Gates that facilitate travel between worlds promise exploration and mystery alike, while the many divine powers populating the pages pose an uncanny, watchful threat. Nothing is untouched by the magical elements of the world, even those characters who are unable to actually bend magic to their will.


And at the end of the day? Who can say no to the buff orc lady and her magic girlfriend?


As long as you're willing to get past a slower start loaded with thematic preparations, The Unspoken Name will not disappoint. Its cast is full of life and vigor (with a dash of ill-advised impulse), its worlds are many and ripe for the exploration, and Csorwe and her love interest are basically the ideal goth girlfriends. Seriously, they're so good and pretty much peak fantasy power couple. Buff assassin orc in love with one of the world's most powerful mages? Hell yeah, pal!

Add in the threat of divine intervention (and the promise of divine power), plus a steaming heap of questions about how much you owe anyone for stepping into your life, and who you are without those people, and you end up with a near perfect book that's not afraid to get its hands dirty.

If The Unspoken Name sounds like a title for you, it comes out February 11th, 2020! That leaves a little over a week to submit your pre-orders, and after that, it'll be loose on the world. At which point you all can ponder with me over where future installments in the Serpent's Gate series might lead... 👀🐍


CW: animal death, violence, torture, graphic injury, self-harm, gore, body horror, loss of a loved one

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 10am EST, 2/3/2020.]

The Unspoken Name is hands down one of the best fantasy novels I've read. The world is expansive and lush, the characters are well rounded and the action and magic is so fun!

It had all the things I love like complex magic, ancient forgotten civilizations, portals, multiple connected worlds, old gods, reanimated corpses and oh! It's so gay! Like all the main characters are not straight it's great! The romance it just * chefs kiss * I didn't know how much I needed a story with a grumpy orc sword lesbian and her wizard girl friend.

Tal is my chaotic disaster trash son and he makes every scene he's in so much more entertaining. He's such a mess, every time he showed up my reactions were either "oh no! this bastard is back" and "aw pity boy :("

Overall, it's amazing! Read it already!!!