Stephen Aryan created an amazing universe that has everything to grow bigger!
It's historical fiction with a beautifully developed story and political environment through the eyes of four characters - POV.
It presented itself at a slow pace without failing to guide the reader into different emotions. 
I am very excited for the next book in this Nightingale and the Falcon series.

It's 1260, Persia, as Hulagu Khan continues to ensure the legacy of his grandfather and continue the expansion of the Mongol Empire. In violence, Hulagu conquers Persia crushing local leaders and brave warriors. Kaivon, a Persian general, hates Hulagu but realises the best way pf getting revenge is to infiltrate the Khan's inner circle and destroy it from the inside out while the Khan's new wife Kokochin discovers her own method of rebellion within a secret organisation of female assassins. And closer to home, Hulagu's son Temujin struggles to meet his father's expectations but then discovers a magical gift that could change everything.

This is a book that tries to unpack a lot of history, and tell it in a fast-paced, informative way and I think in many ways it does it really well. The Mongol Empire is a very fascinating, and violent time in human history and I think to try and explain it all in one book is an impossible feat. But this look at the grandsons of the original Genghis Khan, and what his legacy meant for them and the mere ferioucness of the Mongol warriors was enlightening in itself.

I think for me, for some reason I can't quite pinpoint, there was just something missing in this book. And seeing all the other 5-star reviews out there, I'm thinking it must be a me problem rather than the book itself. When it comes to historic fantasy, I'm prepared to take it slow and really fall into the world I'm reading from the history to the characters and that didn't quite happen for me with this one. I think I didn't get on with the pacing of this book, the jumping around of characters and everything felt a little rushed and too easy at times. I would have liked a lot more detail about many things from the travels between cities for Kaivon and the Mongol troops, to Kokochin's training with Layla (and their relationship that went from 0-100 in the space of a sentence). I wanted to really get to know the characters and I really feel like I didn't have the time to appreciate them and who they really were and what drove them (other than revenge and hatred for Hulagu).

I actually think I would have preferred if this book slowed all the way down and only followed Kaivon and Kokochin as people attempting to take down Hulagu and the Ilkhanate from the inside. I actually feel, for me, Temujin's story took away from the interesting chapters that were Kaivon and Kokochin and the magical element in this story left me slightly confused as well (though I know it's historical fantasy so it would be removing the fantasy element but I'm okay with that).

Hulagu's chapters actually felt obsolete because everything we learned about him/from him we could have learned from Kaivon and it would be more fun seeing him from Kaivon and Kokochin's perspective only.

I found this to be easy reading though - and the paperback I had was lovely and floppy which made the reading experience more enjoyable. I still liked this book, and enjoyed my reading experience - I was just disappointed that I didn't get more out of it like I wanted to.

This is such an incredible fantasy novel! So unique and riveting. Historical fantasy is one of my favorite subgenres, especially when I am not entirely familiar with the historical material. Temujin was definitely my favorite character.

The world building was fascinating. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Amazingly immersive account of a little explored piece of history. A rich and vivid world with a wide cast of impeccably written characters. Can't wait for the next

This is billed as historical fantasy, but there are virtually no fantastical elements until about the 80% mark and even then it’s a very minor plot thread.

It’s about the Mongol invasion of Persia circa 1260 and other parts of what we now call the Middle East. There are five POV characters: Hulagu Khan, leader of the Ilkhanate part of the Mongol empire; Temujin, his pacifistic son; Kokochin, Mongol princess and Hulagu’s newest wife / war prize; Kaivon, a captured Persian general; and The Twelve, the leaders of a secret female resistance group. I know very little about the Mongol empire — in Katherine Arden’s Winternight trilogy, the dissolution of the Golden Horde circa 1480 and the subsequent emergence of Moscow as a regional power is a minor plot point — and I really enjoyed the historical aspects of the novel and cross-checking them against Wikipedia.

The author is clearly sympathetic to the oppressed peoples and not the colonizers; the book just felt… very much written by a man. Its hard for me to articulate why I felt this way, because while war is a traditional focus of men, I’ve read other fiction about war (e.g., She Who Became the Sun, written by a nonbinary author) that didn’t feel this way.

The writing itself was also surprisingly amateur for someone who’s evidently an established author. Overall, this just do it for me.

The Judas Blossom is the first installment in an all new series from Stephen Aryan which reimagines the invasion of Persia by the Mongolian Empire. We follow four main characters: Hulagu, grandson of Genghis Khan, is determined to see his grandfather’s vision of the Mongol Empire come to life, at any cost. Temujin Khan, Hulagu’s youngest son, has always been a disappointment to his father, but when he discovers a power he never imagined possible, he could become his father’s secret weapon. Kokochin is the last of her tribe and is forced into marriage with Hulagu. Determined to find a purpose for herself, she finds a path to power she did not think possible. And finally Kaivon, a Persian rebel whose only thought is revenge for his people. When he saves Hulagu’s life and becomes a General in his army, he knows the best way to destroy the empire is from inside.

The Judas Blossom is completely unlike anything I’ve read before. I knew virtually nothing about the Mongol Empire so it was absolutely fascinating to read a story set in this time period. Aryan does an incredible job bringing the sights and sounds of 1260 Persia to life and the story felt incredibly well-researched. I was completely glued to this story – this is my first book from Stephen Aryan and I found it to be so well paced with plenty of riveting moments that kept me coming back for more.

Aryan has created some truly fascinating characters in this book and I found each point of view to be so compelling. Temujin and Kokochin were probably my favourites but I was desperate to know where the story was going to take all of them and I cannot wait to see where the story goes in books two and three. Each character felt really well crafted and I loved seeing the journey that they all went on. This story is full of scheming and intrigue with everyone plotting for their own gain. The magic element was also woven into the story really well and I am looking forward to seeing more of that in the rest of the series.

The Judas Blossom is an incredibly tense and gripping historical fantasy tale. If you’re looking for a dark and bloody story with fascinating characters then this one is definitely not to be missed.

I had a bit of a strange experience with this book. I liked it and I enjoyed it. The historical aspect to it was very interesting, as I didn't know much about this period, and it reads as a very good court drama, with factions vying for political gain and back-stabbing galore. It is rich and complex, with quite a lot of characters (there is a character list at the back, which might help to keep everyone in order).

So, what's the problem? Well, I found myself sympathising with the main "baddy" more than the rebels opposing him. In this case, the "baddy" is a oppressive dictator who flies into murderous rages, viciously murdering all around him and I still was rooting for him over the rebels. Yes, all the characters are morally grey and all make dubious decisions. I just felt that Hulagu came across more sympathically than those that oppose him, especially Kaivon. I don't know if it was the authors intention but it came across as a bit...odd.

In all, I did enjoy The Judas Blossom and would consider carrying on with the series.

First of all I want to say thank you to Netgalley and the publishers as I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

Not my usual go to but what an epic fantasy book! Set in Persia in 1260 following 4 key figures and their treacherous journeys throughout the heart of the war.

Had pulled my interest so much that it made me go away and do my own research of that time period and Mongolian culture.

Recently, I've finished reading The Judas Blossom by Stephen Aryan. It was my first book by this author and I'll definitely want to dive into more of their works.
I've had a copy of it from Netgalley, but I've decided to also buy an audiobook. The narrator is great!

This book is historical fantasy and it's inspired by Persia in 13th century. We are following the characters involved in Mongol expansion. I wasn't sure if I'm gonna get involved into a story in such a setting but I definitely did!
We follow the story from a few different points of view, but I've found each one to be interesting. The pacing was really good in my opinion, and even if the magic doesn't play a huge part in the book (at least the first chunk), I really enjoyed it. We uncover it with our characters and that added to the suspense and magical feel. I also really really liked the portrayal of how different characters think and what their motivations are. I've really gotten emotionally invested.

Even though the setting is way different, it had a similar feel to me as The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless. I'm seeing that historical fantasy is a genre I'm really enjoying and I want to read more from it! I really like that you can learn about the history in a fun way.

I can't wait for the next part of the series, but the first one was already really really good! I'll probably try to grab a copy from The Broken Binding, as that's a book that definitely deserved a special edition.

It was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me.

✨ Books with similar vibes / if you liked one, I recommend the other: The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for granting me access to an e-arc.

I DNFed this after reading around 30%. I think I gave it a fair shot but the writing is very dry and I wasn't able to connect with the story at the moment.

I can maybe give this another go, if I can get an audiobook at hand.

This book was a lot of fun! It follows four POVs, all co-mingled around Hulegu, a grandson of Genghis, and his quest to subdue the middle East. The twist here is that all the POVs (besides Hulegu's) are trying to prevent him, one way or another.

I really liked three of the POVs, particularly Hulegu's which dealt with the political and cultural politics back in Mongolia with his brothers as well as his desire to fulfill his grandfather's wishes. Kaivon's POV was also really good; a Persian general turned bodyguard for Hulegu who wishes to undermine him.

Where this book fell apart for me is almost everything to do with the fourth POV; Temujin. Temujin is one of Hulegu's sons and the one that everyone hates. My first issue is that people's views of Hulegu felt a bit too modern or...not Mongolian enough? They hate him because he's fat. Okay. I am not an expert on Mongolia but Kublai Khan is in this book and a few decades later he is supposedly very large and it's not treated as a big problem. There's also a rumor that Subutai was fat, even if it's untrue the evidence suggests this wouldn't be a big issue with the Mongols. The second reason they hate him is because he's not a fighter. This again feels like someone trying to think of WHY a strong warrior would hate their son and not considering cultural context. If this was Genghis's generation or before, sure. But Genghis' whole thing was finding uses for people that suited their talents. His brother Temuge was not a good fighter, but was a highly trusted administrator and counsellor in the khanate. So everything to do with why Temujin was utterly rejected just fell flat for me.

Beyond that, I found his internal struggle to just be not very compelling. He flips switches on his father on a dime and his sensibilities feel so modern that it's jarring. Finally, most of his story doesn't get started until near the very end; he basically spins his wheels until 80% into this book, and even then, he is basically just training. I'm sure there was a way to bring this forward or make his storyline more dynamic in this book.

Kokachin's storyline also had a lot of training, but it has way more going on to keep it interesting. Temujin's just didn't do it for me.

I will read the sequel though; the combat and political stuff in this book was good, and the set-up seems over.

This book was a lot of fun! It follows four POVs, all co-mingled around Hulegu, a grandson of Genghis, and his quest to subdue the middle East. The twist here is that all the POVs (besides Hulegu's) are trying to prevent him, one way or another.

I really liked three of the POVs, particularly Hulegu's which dealt with the political and cultural politics back in Mongolia with his brothers as well as his desire to fulfill his grandfather's wishes. Kaivon's POV was also really good; a Persian general turned bodyguard for Hulegu who wishes to undermine him.

Where this book fell apart for me is almost everything to do with the fourth POV; Temujin. Temujin is one of Hulegu's sons and the one that everyone hates. My first issue is that people's views of Hulegu felt a bit too modern or...not Mongolian enough? They hate him because he's fat. Okay. I am not an expert on Mongolia but Kublai Khan is in this book and a few decades later he is supposedly very large and it's not treated as a big problem. There's also a rumor that Subutai was fat, even if it's untrue the evidence suggests this wouldn't be a big issue with the Mongols. The second reason they hate him is because he's not a fighter. This again feels like someone trying to think of WHY a strong warrior would hate their son and not considering cultural context. If this was Genghis's generation or before, sure. But Genghis' whole thing was finding uses for people that suited their talents. His brother Temuge was not a good fighter, but was a highly trusted administrator and counsellor in the khanate. So everything to do with why Temujin was utterly rejected just fell flat for me.

Beyond that, I found his internal struggle to just be not very compelling. He flips switches on his father on a dime and his sensibilities feel so modern that it's jarring. Finally, most of his story doesn't get started until near the very end; he basically spins his wheels until 80% into this book, and even then, he is basically just training. I'm sure there was a way to bring this forward or make his storyline more dynamic in this book.

Kokachin's storyline also had a lot of training, but it has way more going on to keep it interesting. Temujin's just didn't do it for me.

I will read the sequel though; the combat and political stuff in this book was good, and the set-up seems over.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I love that this is based on Mongolian culture, which is something I have not seen a lot in fantasy. There was a good balance of character development and plot. The story is very ambitious, and while I loved it, I wish it had been a bit longer.

I coudn't get into another series by this author, but the writing style was so different in this one that it made ALL the difference!

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

Perfectly combining epic fantasy with historical fact, you are left with such a sense of the magic of world history. Set across the tumultuous land of the Eurasian steppe and the Mongolian Empire, sieges raged and battle won or lost mean hundred or thousands of lives spilled before the legendary, inescapeable wave that is the Mongol invasion. Genghis Khan, the great leader. The Khan who united the tribes and created the dream of a Mongol world. A promise so great that even after his death - his sons continue his dream. But political tension reigns between his three sons.

The POVs throughout were perfectly balanced. Sowing information like a network with each chapter. You never know more than the characters, but you know all the pieces that are in play. Timujin, Genghis Khans grandson. Son of the great warrior Hulgai. timujin is not a warrior. He is something else entirely. Disgusted by the wanton barbaric behaviour that is encourage within his circle, he seeks his place in other areas. An outcast because of his mixed blood, and the death of his mother at birth, Timujin may find something he has never dreamed of.

Epic Fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia
Historical Fantasy
Multiple POVs
First in a series

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in 1260, Persia during the continuous expansion of the Mongol Empire, the book cycles between multiple characters’ POVs, each with their own reasonings for supporting or despising the invasion. The characters’ growth and purposes are explored by the end of book one. In the first half of the book, I quickly forgot that this was also a fantasy book because it read so much like historical fiction and I don’t really mind since I like historical fiction, just something that readers need to consider. This is a fast-paced and well written story for which I am excitedly awaiting the second instalment.

Trigger warnings: Military violence and war themes.

Admittedly I don't usually read a lot of historical fiction and have never encountered this period of history so I was really going in blind to this book! Stephen Aryan creates such a vivid picture of this time period it's impossible to not be sucked into it! The multiple perspectives really show the complexity of this story but you never get lost! Seeing the pieces come together is so satisfying as you see the perspectives merge. My favourite character development has to be Kokochin and The House of Grace but I really enjoyed all the perspectives! I can't wait for the next book!

I received this book as an ARC via Netgalley and was asked to participate in the Book Blog Tour on Instagram, so here's my review of The Judas Blossom written by Stephen Aryan.

First of all, I wanted to read this book because of the beautiful cover. But don't let that deceive you, because the things that happen in this book aren't always as pretty.

The story is set around four main characters: Hulagu (the Khan), Kokochin (the Blue Princess and one of the Khans wives), Temujin Khan (one of the Khans sons) and Kaivon (a Persian rebel). The story is being told out of all of their perspectives, which makes the story easier to read. I thought it was quite a heavy story because of all the historical things and I thought the variation in point of views was really refreshing and made it easier to understand all of it.

I was gladly surprised about the fact that this book was about the Mongolian Empire, since this isn't really a topic that is populair. I enjoyed reading it, and definitely have learned more about it. I thought the character development of two of the four characters was reaaallly well done: Kokochin and Temujin. They both start out as seemingly simple-minded persons but their character develops so well due to the circumstances. I was really rooting for these two! I hope to read more about them in the future.

In my opinion Hulagu and Kaivon were the same in the beginning and in the end of the story. That's okay though, it suited their roles. I loved the idea of the Twelve as a secret organisation and hope to read more about them too.

I think the worldbuilding was exercised beautifully. Often times I really felt like I was there. The story does contain some trigger warnings because there's a lot of references to war and thus to violence. Also a lot of torture and angry and vicious men.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and I think Aryan has done a great job putting the Mongolian Empire on the map. I gave the book 4 stars.

Preliminary 5-star review. Will post a full review and adjust the rating accordingly after I finish the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.