This book is doing everything I want epic fantasy to do right now.

The world is rich, the history deep, the magic layered. The queernorm setting, the cultural influences, the complexity of the politics and family ties- it’s all baked in with care and intention, never feeling like it’s there for show.

Every POV in this book brought something distinct and engaging, and their arcs build in ways that feel satisfying. Even the pacing, which often gets wobbly in multi-POV epics, felt tight and purposeful throughout.

Part two introduces new characters, and usually that’s the kind of shift that pulls me out of a story for a bit, especially when I’m already attached to other characters. But here, the transition was seamless. The new storyline pulled me in immediately, and by the end, the way all the threads wove together was impressive.

Also, the epilogues absolutely delivered one of my favorite things... offering brief, tantalizing glimpses into other POVs that answer some lingering questions while also planting seeds for what’s clearly coming next.

I need a lot more epic fantasy that looks like this, feels like this, and dares to do this much.

5 stars
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Special thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press/S&S for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

While this is a solid fantasy entry, it does fall into debut author syndrome of being overtold and overwritten. There are far too many characters POVs to follow and every situation seems to need to be told from too many different angles. It is all painfully earnest to the point where I would put the book down and then not want to pick it up again because it just didn't captivate. The author definitely has talent but restraint and listening to a more critical editor is warranted here.

Story: In a land where certain individuals can call upon the spirit of their ancestors to defend them, wars are fought and battles lost through this powerful magic. From slum dwellers to princes, the centuries old war is about to change as our characters learn more about the powerful realm from which the ancestors emerge.

Right off the bat, I felt disappointed in the wholesale use (randomly) of various Earth cultures: from Aztec to Scottish highlands it was all too familiar. It felt very unrealistic and honestly rather lazy. That would have been annoying enough but the characters themselves were surprisingly uninteresting. I found I didn't really want to read any one character's perspective because I wasn't getting into (or behind) any of them. It isn't that they weren't well written or didn't have unique personalities; rather, I wasn't given a lot of reason to like them. And with so many, there should at least be one or two whose storylines I could get into and want to see how they developed.

The problem of uninteresting/unlikable characters was compounded with a very flat and straightforward storytelling. Like the characters, it was very disenfranchising and one note- no highs or lows just uninspiring. There is a constant theme of confusion that should be endearing and make the characters/plot nuanced but instead just made the read a slog. I found it harder and harder to continue the books, especially after the midway point, because of the dreariness.

I can't help but feel this is just a case of being cooked too long - an issue that comes up with so many debut works. The story just get overworked and bland and doesn't grab as well as it should. Too many unneeded POVs and situations that could have been excised for a more streamlined and interesting read. I hope for growth with this author because there is talent there. But this is not a series I will be continuing. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

A high fantasy epic that contains ancient gods, long-term wars, and rebellion.

Book Stats:
📖: 592 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit
Format: Physical ARC
Series: Book 1 of The Invoker Trilogy

Themes:
🎵 : Rebellion and War
🎵: Having faith in yourself

Representation:
🥀: Multiple pre-colonial cultures
🥀: Black cast

Tropes:
💗: Crime families
💗: Technology as magic
💗: Queer normative world


🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.

Short Synopsis:
A generations long war of being fought and a final stand is being made. Ancestral gods may be summoned to intervene. But will they create more chaos than help?!

General Thoughts:
This is a high fantasy epic that has cinematic battle scenes and ancient gods. Despite having a high number of POVs (5) it managed to be refreshing and easy to follow. Ancient monsters and creative plot twists kept be engaged despite dragging a tag in the middle for me.

The characters really shined for me in this novel. They all felt relatable and easy to root for. Temi was a personal favorite as she felt very layered and personable. I enjoyed her particular storyline the most.

The battle scenes were movie quality and action packed. I enjoyed glee they lasted more than a few paragraphs and made the reader feel like they were watching everything unfold.

Overall, I enjoyed this first installment and can't wait for the next release.

Disclaimer: I read this book via physical ARC from orbit. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4.25 stars!

I thought this was a fantastic debut. The story was interesting, majority of the lore dumps felt organic as we follow different individuals learning about their own hidden history/culture. And the characters are very well written, while I didn't necessarily like certain POV's, I thought that they were still well done, and unique to each other which can always be difficult with a story like this.

A Song of Legends Lost by A.H. Ayinde
Release date: June 3, 2025
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy | Epic High Fantasy
Length: 560 pages
Rating: 5

Thank you @Sagapress for sending one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year (and my favorite debut!)
What a debut! I was intrigued by the premise of A Song of Legends Lost, but after seeing @shonnareads' glowing review, I knew I had to pick it up. Ayinde takes her time crafting the world and developing the characters, but the payoff is absolutely worth it.

The story begins in a kingdom once ruled by the Scathed people, until their greyblood servants rebelled and slaughtered them. King Ahiki and his warlords reclaimed the realm by defeating the rebels and forcing them into the Feverlands. Now, thousands of years later, attacks from the greybloods are met with resistance from the invoker clans—noble warriors who summon their ancestors to fight alongside them in battle. But the war has dragged on too long. A general draft is called to take the fight to the Feverlands and finally defeat the greybloods—an effort that seems destined to fail.

A Song of Legends Lost draws deeply from African and Filipino cultures, blending science fiction and fantasy in a way I haven't seen since The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. The story unfolds from multiple POVs—five, I believe—and Ayinde introduces each one gradually, so it never feels overwhelming. I enjoyed every single POV, which is no small feat. Each perspective is morally gray, leaving you constantly questioning who to root for. This kept me guessing and fully engaged throughout. The concept of invoking ancestors to gain their abilities was fascinating, and the touch of technology woven into the narrative has me eager to learn more in the next book.

Once the world-building settled, I was completely hooked and found myself staying up until 2 a.m. finishing the book. And whatever you do, do not skip the epilogues. I know some people do, but trust me—you'll miss out on some serious revelations if you do.

If you’re looking for an epic fantasy that dares to be different, this debut offers a rich and thoughtful take on the genre. A Song of Legends Lost blends ancestral magic, fractured politics, and the remnants of a fallen world into something bold, ambitious, and emotionally resonant.

The story centers on Temi, a girl gifted with the ability to call upon an ancestral spirit in battle. Her powers are both awe-inspiring and intimate, setting the tone for a world shaped by history and memory. The magic system is one of the book’s strongest elements, rooted in ancestral legacy and spiritual strength. It feels weighty, lived-in, and powerful without needing flash or spectacle.

Ayinde’s worldbuilding is deep, textured, and unapologetically complex. The influence of African folklore and post-apocalyptic tech weaves together into a setting that feels fresh and meaningful. The political tensions between city-states and the ancient powers at play create a layered conflict that asks you to pay close attention.

There are multiple POVs and time shifts, and while this structure adds scope and nuance, it can also pull you away from the character you’re most emotionally invested in. Temi’s arc, in particular, takes a back seat midway through, and that shift frustrated me a little because I wanted to more focus on her journey. The pacing dips in spots too, especially when the story zooms out to show the broader world.

But what Ayinde builds here is impressive. It is not just an introduction to a world or characters. It feels like the beginning of something significant. This is the kind of book that rewards attention and reflection.

It is not a fast read, but it is a rewarding one. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with rich lore, ancestral guardian spirits, complex power struggles, and a touch of sci-fi remnants, this is worth adding to your shelf.

I had such high hopes for this debut high fantasy, and it even started out strong, with confident writing and interesting characters.

My issue is with the pacing and world-building, which were sloooow. Each section of the book introduced new characters whose perspectives we follow, without going back to previously introduced characters. It seemed like each chapter also introduced new secondary characters who bring key information or otherwise play an important role, but which mostly added to my confusion.

The main conflict of the story is also developed equally slowly; by the halfway point, I still wasn’t entirely sure who the main “villain” of the story was. It seemed like there was something bigger going on about a group of “god-like” creatures trying to interfere with the human world, and there are more and more revelations about cover-ups and things not being as they seem–but these revelations assume that things were clear to the reader beforehand, which they weren’t really.

The strong writing in the opening scene had piqued my interest enough in the characters and the world to keep going even as my interest started to wane. Unfortunately, characters I wish I could have followed for longer were the ones that appeared only in one section of the book, and have yet to make a reappearance.

I still think this is one of the stronger BIPOC fantasy debuts I’ve read recently, and I may come back to this someday, potentially in a different format. As of now, though, A SONG OF LEGENDS LOST very much has “series opener” vibes for me: lots of meticulous, and at times obtuse, setup for a world full of potential, but less forward momentum than I like in my reads.

A Song of Legends Lost is an epic debut fantasy novel combining advanced technology and ancestral magic. This multi-POV story has a diverse cast with thrilling stories and strong character identities. The world building is immersive and the plot has countless twists and turns. Every time I thought I finally figured out what was happening, everything would get turned upside down on its head. A Song of Legends Lost was a refreshingly unique and exhilarating story, and I cannot WAIT to see where the series goes!

Rating: 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley, Saga Press, and M. H. Ayinde for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This gets an easy 5-star rating.

The worldbuilding, unique magic system, and vivid writing brought this story to life!

This is an epic fantasy with a vast cast of characters; at times, I did lose track of who was who, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of reading this tale. I thought it would take me forever to read, but the pacing and sheer content of the story kept me engaged and made me fly through the chapters. I often held late-night reading sessions because I didn't want to put it down. I would love to see how this would translate on the screen, particularly when reading the descriptions of those with tech magic, the Greybloods, and the conjuring of spirits. This would be a fantastic movie!

I plan to reread this in December to close out the year. I enjoyed this world.

Thank you to Netgalley, Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press, and M. H. Ayinde for the ARC of this imaginative and vast world that is A Song of Legends Lost.

I am leaving this honest opinion voluntarily.

3.75 ⭐ A Song of Legends Lost is a new high fantasy with ancestral spirit magic, technology, and politics. The world building is unique and I was left wondering who is truly the enemy?? My unpopular opinion is that I simply didn't feel invested in or connected to the characters. While parts of the story were interesting, my interest wasn't truly piqued until the last 2 chapters. For a book that's 600+ pages, that's a lot to get through before feeling genuine interest. I didn't want to DNF it though because parts of the story were interesting at different times. I would've liked more explanation about how the tech and magic worked, but maybe that'll be for book two. I'm curious enough to continue the series as I really want to know more about the grey bloods and tech/magic.

There were some great storylines in this book, but I personally found that the multiple POVs made it more difficult for me to enjoy the book. It took me away from storylines that I was getting invested in, and also made it difficult to pick up where the story had previously left off. There are just so many characters and so much world building occurring, I had to hyper focus or I would get lost. And this is coming from someone who enjoys epic fantasy.

This was really unique, both in world and characters. The worldbuilding was so imersive. It was a little gory for my tastes at parts but thats a preference thing.

I really enjoyed this book! The magic system and world building were both executed really well. There were a lot of characters, but not too many that I got confused. My only issue is that the book is sooooo long. I felt like some of it could have been cut out. Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the earc.

⭐️4.25⭐️

This story is set in the Nine Lands, where warriors of noble blood can summon their ancestors to fight alongside them in battle. While the kingdom moves forward with war plans that seem set to fail against the nation’s longstanding enemy, the greybloods, a commoner without noble blood accidentally invokes a spirit that could change the course of the battle and everything they’ve been taught about the kingdom’s hierarchy.

Wow, this was one hell of a debut! This book had so many amazing elements that I found so refreshing in an epic fantasy story. First, there is absolutely no romance, and where some may find this to be a turnoff, I absolutely loved this because it gave more focus to the action and world building. Speaking of, the world building is dense, but it’s so well done. I loved how Ayinde perfectly blends fantasy with science fiction to create such a unique world that feels both futuristic but still archaic.

The themes of this one are great. I loved how I struggled to identify who I could trust while reading this story. It still isn’t clear to me who the good guys are, and I love that I still have so many questions, it makes me excited to keep reading! I also didn’t mind the multiple POVs, and I loved how they all connected in the end. I do wish a few characters had some screen time though, because I really wanted to know what happened to them, but I am assuming we will find out as the story continues.

Overall, this was a fantastic start to an epic fantasy series. This book felt a bit nostalgic for me and reminded me of the old school Final Fantasy games mixed with the newer game Horizon Zero Dawn. It also felt reminiscent of Shaman King, which was my favorite anime as a kid, so I really enjoyed this! I recommend checking this out if you enjoyed any of these too!

A special thanks to Saga Press, NetGalley, and M. H. Ayinde for the ARC of this fantastic debut in exchange for my honest review!

I tried HARD to get into this one, unfortunately the multiple POVs really did not work for me as I was only invested in one. I do think it was well written but this is on an indefinite hold at 45%

The worldbuilding is this unique tale is absolutely amazing! Five stars all the way.

I will say, give yourself some time to figure out who’s who, because the sheer number of characters will probably make your head spin at first…but it gets easier. I read the cast of characters list at the beginning and understood almost nothing, so I recommend checking back periodically to read that and also look at the map provided to help you deduce who and where.

I’m always really excited when I find a new fantasy author, and M.H. Ayinde is a very exciting find!

It’s better to go into this one blind and let the story take you along with it. Like I mentioned, it’s very unique.

Go read this!

Thanks to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for an eARC! All opinions are my own.

ARC provided to me by Saga Press #NetGalley

**We love a slow burn. This is an epic fantasy story that doesn't have any romance story lines? You've got my attention.**

The story is set in the Nine Lands where the noble families invoke their ancestors to protect the lands from the Greybloods in a war that has been fought for centuries.

What are the greybloods? Everyone has been taught that the greybloods were an abomination created by the Scathed. The greybloods turned on the Scathed, wiped them out, and now are terrorizing the Nine Lands. But is that really true? The greybloods are drawn to something call techwork, magical items with various different uses, that the people of the Nine Lands have been taught are dangerous. But are they? Only if you don't know how to use it. Are the noble families the only people who can invoke? There's a lot of questions that get asked in this book. What's evident is that the victors have done a lot of revisionist history when it comes to the war, invoking ancestors, techwork, greybloods...you name it.

The story is told through five different points of view: Jinao, the "soulbarren" son of the Mizito clan; Boleo, a morally gray monk; Temi, a "lowblood" girl and manages to invoke an ancestor (but not her own); Runt, another "lowblood" girl who is given a necklace that contains the Cloistered (there's a lot going on there); and Elari, a warrior trying to find out what happened to her husband.

There is a lot going on in this book and much of it is very fascinating. This felt like set up for what happens in the second book of the series. I want to see where the author takes this series.

I'm battling with myself on what rating to give this series debut...I'm leaning between 3 and 4 stars. It's not perfect. It hints at the answers and let's us know that the Ahiki have not been completely honest in what has happened...But I am still intrigued. 3.5 stars it is (since Goodreads doesn't do half stars, we'll go with 4).

♡ Thank you @sagapressbooks for the ARC! #sagasayscrew

Read if you love:
• Morally ambiguous characters
• Ancient cultures + advanced tech
• Multi dimensional worlds

There will be elements of a futuristic society blended with ritualistic ancient ceremonies steeped in legend and lore.

Although we get at 5 POVs, they are introduced only a couple at a time, which means I never got lost and could appreciate the buildup.

This world is both rich and different from the typical euro-centric fantasy. I really loved the world building, the culture, and the tech wielding!

I do wish we learned more about how the tech worked, but perhaps this will be revealed in the sequel.

The clans are hierarchical; only the chosen ones from 9 families can channel ancestral magic and call ancestors into the living mortal plane.

Even at the end I found myself wondering... which side is the good guys?! The level of grayness is equal parts tantalizing and frustrating.. and also reflective of real life.

The epilogue left my jaw hanging! I def recommend checking this one out for a very unique fantasy debut. A great setup to what will undoubtedly be an epic saga!

A strong start to an epic fantasy series! The world-building is rich, the ancestral magic and sci-fi elements are a unique mix, and the multiple POVs keep the story moving, though it can be a bit overwhelming at times. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with high stakes and layered lore, this one’s worth picking up.

If you love epic fantasy with a mix of character & plot driven story… I recommend picking this up. It does lean more character heavy but this book left me very intrigued by the world, the prophecies, and the sci-fi tech. I was also left questioning intentions with each character and wondering where the story will go next. I love the ancestral magic, the ancient relic magic system, and the theme of deconstructing what they believe to be true, reclaiming what was lost, and of course rebellion. A wonderful debut!