Master of Sorrows

A lot can happen in a few days. Just ask Ainnevog (just call him Annev), a deacon acolyte in the tiny, remote village of Chaenbalu. One minute, Annev is juggling duties at the Church with his mentor while training for his final shot at passing the grueling Avatar test. The next minute, he discovers he’s being hunted by a fallen evil god bent on destroying his entire bloodline. Annev learns that he is doomed to stay hidden in his village or he and everyone he knows will be annihilated. And if he somehow happens to survive for long enough, it is prophesized that he will eventually break the world. For some reason, this doesn’t have a positive effect on his love life. Poor kid. These predicaments are but a ripple in the tsunami of a story known as Master of Sorrows, Justin Call’s first book of his Silent Gods saga.

Annev is a struggling teenager with no family, raised by an old priest who has mentored him from birth. He excels at his physical challenges while training with the other boys in the town’s Academy, but his altruism is holding him back from advancement. Annev has both friends and enemies, both of which make his life difficult, but this week is his last chance to take a mysterious Avatar test before he graduates. One must be an Avatar to do anything with their life, including court and marry a woman, become gainfully employed, or even leave town. The boys who fail the test become stewards and remain that way for life.

Although there are only three or four days that pass during this book, there are an absurd number of events jam-packed in the story that allows for Annev to evolve and mature in ways that feel earned instead of rushed. Early on, Annev’s cleverness and physical prowess leads to cockiness and immaturity, but as major events are revealed, and he learns more about his place in the world, he starts to struggle with his own morality and loss of control. Some of the strongest scenes in the story are seeing how he teeters between acts of strong leadership and acts of pure malice.

One highlight to note is how Call resolves situations when many of his characters are at odds, and they formulate plans to outsmart each other. But all of Call’s characters are intelligent, so they usually guess their opponent’s intentions quickly, no matter how clever, and it’s gratifying to see that the author gives as much mental acumen to his antagonists as he does to his central characters. This also applies to all major and minor characters in the story; each are treated with care and respect, each are fully developed and fleshed out, and it’s another testament to Call’s meticulous dedication to breathing life and lore into this world where it feels like no area was neglected, and each component of its construction was thoroughly developed.

The lore that supports this story is nothing short of outstanding and echoes Sanderson’s Cosmere universe in terms of history and complexity. Not bad for a book that takes place almost entirely within a small village and its surrounding forest. Call has mentioned that he spends hours on the phone every other weekend with his map illustrator, talking about the layout of his world, discussing the environment, the history of the continent, and the geographic plans for future volumes of the next three to potentially eleven books. I get the sense that Call has written more background history and behind-the-scenes world-building material than the published book we hold in our hands. As this series gains more traction in the years ahead, I could easily see wiki pages, dedicated subreddits, glyph interpretations, and many other fan-created discussion boards attempting to theorize and disseminate all of its mysteries.

Reading Master of Sorrows is instantly entertaining, but it also lays the groundwork for something massively rewarding in the years ahead. It is a balanced mix of palpable action, inventive revelations, and flawed characters. It is respectful of the reader’s intelligence and is impressive as it is ambitious. This is the start of a truly epic dark fantasy saga that is well worth jumping into on the ground floor. 9.3 / 10

For all lovers of epic fantasy - make sure you have a comfortable seat and plenty of time with no interruptions because you are not going to want to stop once you start. This is a remarkable novel; even more impressive when you discover it is Call's debut novel. Annev is raised in a small village geared to the training of Avatars and Masters of Judgement, seekers, and warriors who venture out into the world to track down and confiscate or steal magical artifacts for safekeeping. An ancient war between Gods and men has left the world suspicious of magic and the items magically created for anyone to use are potentially dangerous - or so the party line goes. Nothing is ever as it seems, as Annev fights for his right to move up the ranks and become an Avatar with his friends, hiding his own dark secrets which are under constant threat of discovery. Annev's journey to find his place in the world and discover the truth behind his own story is set against a remarkable world.

It is clear throughout the story that Call has spent an incredible amount of time building his world and creating the backstory of the Gods, the magic system and the societies which inhabit the world. While this first book is mostly restricted to Annev's home village, as he fights to discover his place in the world, it is clear there is much more to be revealed. The intricate systems and world that lies beyond the confines of his village are tantalizing. While there is no rest in the action of the novel, the end will leave you longing for the next installment of the adventure and the wonders yet to be discovered. The complexity and thoroughness of Call's new epic world is a delight for all fantasy fans.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will be available in stores on February 25th, 2020.

I can sum up this book in one word: incredible. I am in awe of Justin T. Call’s writing. I opened the book and was immediately drawn into the story. I got major Name of the Wind vibes, which is high praise indeed.

Where should I start? Well, first off, the storytelling is masterful. There wasn’t a single misstep through the whole book. This book follows Annev as he learns who he is, both in a magical sense, and a moral one. Much like Name of the Wind, the book takes its time setting the tone for all that follows. And what follows is fantasy at its finest.

The solid foundation is what took this book a step above many other fantasies I’ve read. Each little tidbit mentioned fits like a puzzle piece, making a full picture. The trials at the beginning of the book were so interesting to read. I loved seeing Annev make decisions regarding his treatment of others. Would he betray them to get ahead? I’ll leave it to you, Reader, to find out.

I loved Sodar. He tried so hard to raise and protect Annev. He made mistakes and chose to be reticent when openness might have served him better, but that’s part of what made him so fascinating. He’s such a realistic character. Although, really, all the characters were utterly believable.

The world building was excellent, the characters fantastic, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes as it continues in the sequel. Basically-wow.

Grab this book the second you’re able to.

I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did. I have been excited by the summary of a book many times lately just to find myself disappointed in the actual book. But this one... I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it! Without any spoilers, the book only takes place over a few days BUT it’s still an amazing story!

Please check out this review and others on www.grimdarkmagazine.com or my personal blog www.beforewegoblog.com

I received a copy of this from the author and publisher in exchange for my open and honest review.

Master of Sorrows by Justin Travis Call is the book I have been waiting for all year. Ainnevog, let’s call him Annev, is a boy with a simple but not easy path before him. He works as a deacon at a school and also takes classes to become an avatar there. An avatar is one who goes out into the world, finds magical items, and brings them back to the school so that they can be safely stored away. In the world that Call has created, magic use is verboten. If one is found to be using magic or has the magic gift, they are flayed alive and stoned. Passing the Avatar of Judgement classes and final tests for Annev is an all-consuming endeavor. Only the best can become an avatar. While taking his classes, Annev also studies and is guided by the school’s priest and father figure, Sodar. How will Annev balance the two halves of his life? The public half, avatar trainee and rule-follower with the secret half, magic-user, and possibly as a destined hero. That is the crux of the story, duality.

Furthermore, to add to the duality of the plot, Annev is on the precipice of manhood. Of coming into his own and knowing who he is. But, as it stands, he is not quite a boy nor a man.

Master of Shadows is in the style of Patrick Rothfuss’s epic Name of the Wind and Pierce Browns Red Rising series. They all share similar trajectories. A boy, from dubious circumstances, is thrust into a world they can not quite understand, in Master of Shadows‘ case, an anti-magic school. This boy is destined for greater things but is hampered on all sides by morally grey characters. I say they share similar trajectories, but there is nothing bland or hackneyed in Master of Shadows.

The plotting and backstory of Master of Shadows are tightly done and rich in history. Annev comes from a world of gods, precisely three major ones – all siblings. Odar, Lumea, and Keos. Two of the gods, Odar and Lumea, are still culturally and spiritually revered by the public. But the other god, Keos, is considered the betrayer. Those who are born disabled are said to have been touched by Keos. They are considered to be in Keos’s favor and are immediately put to death. But in Annev’s case, as he was born without a left hand, instead of death, he was saved and raised by Sodar. This becomes another part of the duality and line that Annev must walk. He is the antithesis of everything an Avatar of Judgement is, yet he battles and struggles to excel and achieve an Avatar position, all while hiding his disability.

One of the detractors of the story, there are very few, is the love interest between Annev and Myjun. Watching from the position of a reader, one can look at a relationship like Annev’s and Myjun’s and think it is incredibly unrealistic and sometimes silly. Annev makes buffoonish decisions that made me want to shake him. But isn’t that what it is like when you are 17? You make stupid choices because your body is going berzerk with hormones. As much as I cringed when reading about Annev’s mooning, it is a realistic detail. Annev needs to experience things like love, loss, and betrayal on his narrative path so that he is a full and round character. This relationship is something that an older and wiser Annev in later books can pull and learn from. Also, the exposition of the story in some parts was lengthy. This is necessary due to the humongous back story and cultural context that Annev’s character exists in. Sometimes, I wanted to get back to the action, but these chapters are necessary.

One of the significant strengths of the story aside from the tight plot was the relationship between Sodar and Annev. Sodar is not all that he seems. He was living a double life; one as a priest to the students the other as scholar and magic-user. The later he keeps hidden to all but Annev, whom he has raised from a baby and trusts. Sodar is the stern father figure character that attempts to guide Annev to his destiny while similarly protect him from the details of it. They have an easiness between them that has developed throughout their shared lives and is a testament to Call’s writing skills that this came off effortless. I believed in their relationship, and it presented no false notes to me.

Another major strength in this story is the tense action sequences. They flowed like water from scene to scene and are some of the best I have read. Whether Annev is battling wild contraptions in his bid for a position as an avatar or fighting Feurog’s (creatures that are made of metals, stones, and flesh), the pulse racing, edge of your seat intensity kept me reading into the late hours.

The first narrative arc for Annev is done, but his story is far from over. Master of Shadows can be read as a stand-alone novel if one desires; however, the outcome was a bit of a cliffhanger that and had me yearning for more. I want to know where this story is going. I want to more about Annev and about who accompanies him on the next part of his journey.

I hate that it hasn’t been written yet!

Master of Sorrows is one of the best books I have read this year and a perfect example of grimdark fantasy. It isn’t overly mired in negativity or cruelness. The rawer parts of grimdark and epic fantasy are there, but this story is tinged with hope in the best possible way. It is riveting, exciting, and one that is going to stick with me for a while.

I cannot wait to read the next one, solid five-star novel, and I highly recommend it.

For a fantasy novel, I'm pretty impressed that this is a debut. The world building in this story was incredible. The plot was interesting and engaging. It suffers a bit from the typical adult high fantasy books being really long trend, but was an enjoyable read none the less

Quite surprised that this is Justin T Call ‘s debut novel. Extremely well written epic fantasy. This is the story of Annev.He is not who he thought he was and trying to hide things about himself while he struggles to deal with everything going in around him.Fascinating yet solid world building.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC

Master of Sorrows by Justin Travis Call
Published by Gollancz, on February 21,

This book was received from the Author,Justin Travis Call and Publisher, Gollancz,
in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

❝“So which is it?” Tosan said, glaring at him. “Are you a lying fool… or are you stupid?” Rhetorical or not, Annev didn’t have an answer for that – he didn’t see how kindness could be stupid, and he wouldn’t apologise for it.”❞


Get ready to fasten your seats belts, bookish epic fantasy lovers
- make sure you have a comfortable seat and plenty of time with no interruptions because you are not going to want to stop once you start.
This is a stunning impressive debut novel, by Justin T. Call

Annev is a struggling teenager with no family connections, he is being raised by an old priest, who has mentored him from birth. raised in a small village geared to the training of Avatars and Masters of Judgement, seekers, and warriors. Their task is to venture out into the world to track down and confiscate or steal magical artifacts for safekeeping. An ancient war between Gods and men has left the world suspicious of all magic and magically created items.
It is said that magic and magical artifacts are potentially dangerous. Or at least that everyone has been told, but nothing is ever as it seems. Annev must fights for his right to move up the ranks and become an Avatar along with his friends.
He has dedicated duties at the Church with his mentor, while also training for his final shot at passing the grueling Avatar test. If this isn’t enough on his plate, now he discovers he’s being hunted by a fallen evil god bent on destroying his entire bloodline.
The book is very character driven and Annev, is battling inner turmoil whileb trying to decide what his integrity is worth.
Intricately complex world building enough to be fascinating but not at all confusing, the magic system was so interesting and was different to most I’ve seen before. The mythologies were also well developed and I honestly just loved it. It’s fast paced and I struggled to put it down in all honesty! We’re told the story from Annev’s POV, with interesting chapters on the history of the gods at the beginning of each ‘Part’ of the book which was masterfully done.

The author catapults you into this epic fantasy, that you can tell the author has meticulously spent an incredible amount of time creating amazing world. Richly detailed and creating intriguing backstories of the Gods, the magic system and the societies which inhabit the world. While this first book is mostly restricted to Annev's home village, as he fights to discover his place in the world. The reader gets a glimpse that there is much more to be revealed. A riveting intricate systems of the world that lies beyond the confines of his village are tantalizing and inviting to explore. The complexity and thoroughness of Call's new epic world is a delight for all fantasy fans. Impressive action, addictive packed novel, with a stellar ending that will leave you longing for the next installment in incredible engaging stunning series.


❝What if you were destined to be a villain?❞
I honestly LOVED this book so much. A dark fantasy to rival Name of the Wind, Annev faces adversity and his own destiny. I was hooked in straight away and could not put this book down. The world building was on FIRE and I can’t wait to read more from this series.

Slow burn, but worth the wait.

"You have heard the story before—of a young boy, orphaned through tragic circumstances, raised by a wise old man, who comes to a fuller knowledge of his magic and uses it to fight the great evil that threatens his world."

Once every year or so, I buckle down, pick an epic fantasy book to get lost in; Master of Sorrows seemed like a great fit for the end of 2019.
I was all too pleased to read it. The description reminded me of several of my favorite books of the past (Wicked, The KingKiller Chronicles, ect...) so I jumped in and was not disappointed.
Although a cliche ; a teen having to choose which destiny to choose, people around him trying to stare him one way or the other, an epic journey ensues for them to discover who they really are, Master of Sorrows does a great job in taking this cliche and running with it, making it its own.
I was completely immersed in the world, and invested in the main character.
Being the first in the series, Master of Sorrow focuses on the backstory of the characters, the world and what is to come. It weaves a tale any reader can get woven into themselves - a tale worth reading. Skillfully written with a steady pace, this is a must read for any Epic Fantasy lover. I look forward to reading the second installment and continuing Annev's story to see his choice in the end and hoe he got there.

This book was incredible! You'd never know that it was a debut novel. The world building was awesome, the characters were multi-dimensional. The only downfall was it was initially a somewhat slow moving book, but that wasn't entirely unexpected given that it's a first book in a series and that time without much action was needed to understand the world. I will definitely be looking for book 2 when it comes out!

A fantastic world and a fantastic read. I could not put the book down at all! It reminded me of Harry Potter a little, the world was really well built and characters were easily read!

Annev is teenage boy training to become an Avatar, which only a select few have the privilege of becoming to retrieve magical artifacts. However, he has a secret that can prevent him from reaching his goal, turn the villagers against him and could even get him killed. As Annev gets closer to to becoming a Master Avatar, he finds out about his origin and that some very dangerous people are looking for him, putting everyone and everything he cares about at risk.

I'm not really one for epic fantasies but both the cover and the summary had me intrigued and I was not disappointed. The characters each had their struggles to overcome and the world created for this book was fascinating to learn about; all the magical creatures and the history of the world were well thought out. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It has been a long time since I have been moved by a somewhat dense fantasy novel.. but Justin Call managed exactly that. In fact, its density slowed my reading pace, but I was never bored. I was engrossed in every word.. every description.. every tale shared.. new and old.

I find, it's very easy in novels similar to this one, for the author's to lose my interest. They allow themselves to get so caught up in focusing on the world they're creating.. how and why it's different.. that they bog down the pages with excessive details. Don't get me wrong.. I love details. But there's such a thing as packing too much into a page too.

Call doesn't do that. Oh.. he gives you plenty of information. He offers enough to dig down inside and eat at you with worry over the characters' paths.. collisions you can see (or think you can see) coming.. and crises of conscience.. but he knows where and when to deliver it. He trickles those bits of information throughout his story with a skill I rarely see in modern writers. He finesses them.

The story is filled with foreboding and tragedy.. love and loss.. and not always in the ways you would expect. His characters grow and change, sometimes for the better.. others.. not so much. Some of them seem to waver on the verge of something great or horrible.. and surprise.. surprise.. not all of them take the same turns.

I loved this book. I'm not an emotional person really.. but it brought tears to my eyes at least once. It's not fast paced, it moves with the trepidation of it's main character.. young Annev, like it too.. is unsure what it will become. But every step is worth following.. and I cannot wait for the next book..

Welcome to the world of “Dark Magic” with a brand new tale which is highly recommended to “Poppy War” fans because the training parts in academy and cruel, bloody, mind blowing fighting parts reminded me of those series so much!

We’re introduced a new, fresh, reluctant protagonist, Annev, a hero with dark powers, firstly has no idea how to use and control them. Dark Gods demands him as a reflector of dark magic but he only wants to be trained and learn how to be an avatar at the academy. He keeps his identity as a secret from his masters but too many times he gets too close to be caught or reveal it. Mostly he is suspicious character, who doesn’t obey everything he’s told so it is good for him not to be biased easily like the other students and he has still clear judgment about the people around him and the special hierarchy of master community. But they had no idea their enemy is standing in front of them. They’re getting closer to catch him but he luckily finds a way to deceive them.

As we continue to devour the pages we get stumbled with more direction changes, surprises and twist so the progression of the story is getting darker, more thrilling and more vulgar tones. So this book is not for everybody. You cannot say I didn't warn you!

At first when I saw the longevity, I was easily terrified and if I didn’t get it as an ARC COPY, I should happily use it as one of my book dumbbells for my combat training (Don’t ask me why I’m doing that kind of exercise! I just love it! That’s all! I never insisted that I was normal person!) and skip it, put them at my tbr list longer than Great Wall of China.But the progression and development of the story is direct, moving, fast paced and intriguing and if you’re fan of darker, twisty turns, big shocks, betrayals, deaths, big fights, epic wars, this will be a great fit for your expectations.

So far I don’t know how long I will have to wait for the sequel but first book was remarkable, different, exciting, severe, mind blowing and I think I’ll never say no to get my hands on another journey!

I cut one star because some parts of the book are wilder, bloodier, more disturbing for my taste. But I truly enjoyed the characterization, world building and revelation so yes it is one of the promising reads of 2020!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sharing this amazing ARC COPY in exchange my honest review. And congrats to Justin T. Call for creating such a viciously intriguing , exciting work.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review.

I gave this novel 4/5 stars.

Master of Sorrows by Justin T. Call is the debut epic fantasy novel in what is going to be, in my opinion, an incredible series. This beginning book follows young Annev, an acolyte in training to become an avatar at the Academy in the small village of Chaenbalu. He also works with his mentor, Sodar, who is training him in the ways of deaconship and, in secret, magic. It is Annev's dream to gain that title of avatar and continue his studies at the Academy... and win the favor of the Elder's daughter, Myjun; the alternative is to lead a life of stewardship.

But Annev is not an ordinary acolyte at the academy. Not only does he possess magic, but he was born with no left arm past his elbow - a physical mark of the dark god, Keos. This is a secret hidden by a magical prosthetic, that, if revealed, could have him killed. It's impossible for Annev to be just a mere avatar-in-training. He is destined for so much more.

This book has everything I am a sucker for: secret magic, private academies, prophecies, the "we hate each other but we have to work together and get along for the mission" trope, and all of the works that make a good fantasy story. The world building was fantastic and well explained, along with the world's history. Although a little "info-dumpy" at times, those sections read very well and were interesting. I didn't get bored reading them.

I think Call did a good job highlighting Annev's desire to be a "normal" avatar and the reality that he isn't, and never will be. This causes a lot of anguish in Annev and in his relationships. Even though this story is set over only a few days, you can see the beginnings of major change in him. The book is set up in a way where you don't know if Annev is going to be the hero or the villain of the overall story; after this book I still don't know what Call's plan is for him.

This story definitely has a slow burn beginning, but for me personally I didn't struggle too much to get invested in the book. There is a lot that is set up before the story actually begins, but most of it felt necessary. Sure, there were some parts that didn't HAVE to be in the story and just added to the word count, but I didn't think they felt out of place either. However, if you are someone who struggles with slow beginnings, I can't say if you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Another area of critique that I have seen in other reviews and I hesitantly agree with is the female representation in this story. The witwomen were very exciting to me and I thought would contribute more. But Myjun is the only female we really have interaction with, and that is because of her relationship with Annev. I say that I hesitantly agree because the setting of Master of Sorrows is an all-boys academy. Logically, that would mean there are no women. The lack of female characters didn't feel purposeful because of that. I do hope that there are more female characters in the upcoming books though.

I plan on purchasing Master of Sorrows when it is released in the U.S. and fully intend to continue with this series. I have high hopes for the story line. Reading this first novel I could tell just how much planning and research has gone into it. The end of Master of Sorrows is the foundation for a great storyline outside of the academy my Chaenbalu. I can't wait for what comes next.

Recommended: Sure
For a super fast-paced story with lots of high intensity fighting, for an interesting world of gods and magic, be ready for some "lore" moments where you read sections from the gospel to understand everything

Thoughts:
I have a lot to say about this one so here are the bullet points:

- Annev is an idiot
- The relationship between Annev and Myjun is confusingly weak
- The end leaves a lot of questions open; like so many that I wish there were a few more answers to give a strong reason to read the next book
- The lore-building around the gods is amazing and fascinating
- There is non-stop action and important moments in this; you won't be bored
- I want more magic!!!

I think I can easily sum my overall answer as I like the world, and I don't like Annev. Annev annoys me as a character with his inconsistency and willful idiocy. The amount of times he would say he had decided and fully committed to a plan only to say two sentences later that there was no way he could follow through with that plan just about gave me whiplash. I can forgive some of his idiocy in chalking it up to "he's a teenage boy," but basically see everything relating to Myjun for further examples of how annoying he is. Overall he seems like a fairly weak-minded person, who is easily swayed by others' words and actions.

Smaller issues arose in here that took me out of the story. I had to work hard to suspend disbelief at times, like the fact that only about three days passed in terms of the story, and in those three days Annev slept for maybe 3 or 4 hours. That would be rough for anyone, but in his case he was doing constant high-intensity running around and fighting, life-or-death stuff, so how the hell is he not falling down tired?! Apparently the twist is that Annev is actually Jack Bauer.

The 'romance' between Annev and Myjun was weird. Ignoring how Annev acknowledges his many bad ideas and just chooses to stick his head in the sand about them, it all seemed to come out of nowhere and really intensely, too. From what we get in the story, they can hardly ever talk to or see each other and have only been "courting" for like 6 months. Myjun may have become the most interesting character in the last few chapters though, and I will probably pick up the second book JUST to see what happens with all that craziness at the end.

The end. Man. I'm fine with not giving everything away, but there are still so many questions and unexplained aspects that it didn't really have a lot of pull to read the next book. The events we end on, and presumably would pick up on, were pretty mild and we have no idea what they matter. I wanted more of a Big Reveal kind of moment so that you're blown away and hooked and cannot wait to see more now that you know The Secret.

Ok. I know that sounds like a lot of me listing out so many things that I disliked or that annoyed me, and honestly even I'm surprised by how much I had given how much I did actually enjoy reading this. I loved the interesting side characters, and I wish some of them had more of a starring or lasting role. I loved that any time I had to stop reading it was a bad time to stop reading, because there's always something exciting or important going on. You will not be bored at any point in this, I promise! I loved the elaborate belief system that's woven in through everything, and the larger-than-life humans who end up getting sucked into it. (Wait, are they all human though?) I love magic, and I love the idea of things like sharp air, and shadepools. I want more of that, which seems like it will be coming in the second book, and that is why I'll likely continue with this series. The worst thing about reading an ARC is that not only do you have to wait until the next book is published, you have to wait until the first book is published.

Thanks to NetGalley and Justin Call for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale, although there were some significant formatting errors on my Kindle.

Annev was clever, independent, and flawed. His stubbornness leads to his ultimate downfall. However, this is a necessary catalyst to propel Annev into his destiny (which is not yet complete or clear).

I loved the intrigue. I have lots of unanswered questions. I want to know the answers.

I am having a hard time writing the review for this one. This book was good. It had great world building. It also felt long and often times too descriptive. There were a whole lot of characters to the point that it was hard to keep track of them and it took away from the story. I am giving it a four star because it kept me engaged and there were some scenes ( I am looking at you wood witch!) that I will never get out of my head! I think that this could have easily been a five star for me if it wasn't quite so wordy!

I enjoyed much about this book including the world building, but was ultimately disappointed about a few things. First, I never felt like the main character, Annev, was really 17 years old. Based on descriptions in the book and the dialogue, I thought he was closer to 12 or 13. This kept making it hard for me to believe that he was really in love rather than it being a crush. I also thought the descriptions of the fight scenes were excessive. I really didn't need a blow-by-blow account of every single fight that happened in this book. I will most likely be reading the next book because there were aspects of this that I really did enjoy.

**A full review will be added to NetGalley, Goodreads, my blog, and Amazon closer to publication in February!**

Master of Sorrows and is ambitious and inventive story about a boy who must learn to handle a dark secret that could have dire consequences from those around him if they ever found out. I was enthralled with Call's story the entire time and absolutely loved how much detail and effort he obviously put into developing the world, magic system, and each and every character. This story seems to take a lot of trope-like elements and turn them into new ideas and an entirely new narrative that I really appreciated. Annev himself is a compelling character to follow and I had a fantastic time following his development.

Overall, four stars from me! I can't wait to read the next book!

Let me start by saying that I loved everything about this book. I even loved the way I loathed certain characters because if I really hate them that much, I know they are written well and I’m 100% invested.

Summary: In the beginning, Gods created the world, magic and its people. These siblings’ names are Odar, Lumea and Keos. Their falling out began over a poor gift received during a holiday. Keos spiraled and became known as the evil one. (A lot of violence and betrayal comes into play)

Annev lives in a world where deformities are seen as a mark of Keos (evil) and any magical ability or artifact have been outlawed by The Academy for the same reasons. The Academy is a religious institution (Odar) that trains Avatars from birth to retrieve artifacts and eliminate threats to the order. Unfortunately for Annev, he was born here and has both a deformity and magical abilities. He’s only survived this long because of a priest named Sodar (has many secrets). Annev faces many trails, literally and figuratively, throughout this story, creating more and more problems that result in suspenseful and shocking outcomes.

Tropes: There are many tropes that are used in this book that are not done like they usually are so it is refreshing and entertaining. Example: The boarding school trope is used and admittedly one of my favorites. Two paths metaphor. Annev’s entire life is based off of this. It’s constructed well though, and isn’t cliché in the slightest. Also, the use of the Phoenix in this book is really interesting and I enjoyed it, but I don’t want to give more details because it would be a huge spoiler. There are more, but these are my favorites.

Plot/World-building: The story is so complex, but well written. There are no plot holes or confusion at any point. Everything used is necessary to further the plot. It is intricately woven together and comes full circle. The pacing is also good. The story is broken up into several parts with a scene beforehand to give insight into what is about to happen. The scenes are excerpts from the Book of Odar, manuscripts, translations or prophecies. Not only are they used for pacing, but also world-building. The details in the scenes are beyond great because something might not seem important, but later it comes with a big reveal. These scenes provide a backstory for the Gods and foreshadow how they are connected to Annev and his future. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the Hand of Keos bit was one of my favorite parts of the world-building. For me, having a detailed backstory and building the world and the characters’ relationships make the book so much more engaging. I know some complain, but for me, I feel more invested and it makes me more emotional towards the love, loss, betrayal, anger, etc. The battle scenes were an epic roller coaster of emotions, death and gore. I had my Kindle so close to my face and I didn’t even realize it because I couldn’t read fast enough.

Characters: Annev is the main protagonist, trying to find his way in a world that is 100% against him, minus a few friends. He is intelligent, versatile, strong-willed, caring and very naïve. He is 17, so the last bit is to be expected because towards the end he has some stunning realizations and is growing more into a man. However, I wanted to scream at him for acting so childish sometimes, but without those missteps we wouldn’t have a story, so…

Sodar. I loved him. The secretive, warrior priest, caring father figure.

Eldest of Ancients, Tosan, a hypocritical jerk. Leader of the Academy and on the bad end of Karma. Praise Keos.

Myjun is Tosan’s prejudice as hell daughter and main love interest. I hated this girl more than I can put into words; however, I am excited to see how her story unfolds with the ending she was given.

There are many side characters that also have well-developed character arcs and I’m really excited to see where the next book takes us.

Things that I loved the most in no specific order:

1. Avatar trials.

2. Annev and the Peddler in the woods

3. Epic fight scene near the end

4. Training/conversation between Annev and Sodar

5. World-building: Gods, magic system, religions, prejudices, metaphors etc.

6. Writing style: fluid, pacing is excellent. Serious, brutal, but also made me laugh

7. So many more things.

This is supposed to be 4 books and then 8 more after. I’m definitely going to be sticking with this for the next 12ish years.

*Side note: this cover is gorgeous and there are maps inside. I love a good map.

Justin Travis Call's new novel, Master of Sorrows, is a fast-paced read about a new fantasy world. The plot stems around Annev, who dreams of becoming an avatar (a group of skilled men who travel the world collecting magical artifacts and securing them at the academy where he's being trained). Of all the people in Annev's class, he is probably the single best potential avatar, but he keeps failing the final exam because he has a tendency of trying to play by his own rules and not the expectations of The Academy.

Part of Annev's moral compass comes from his intense relationship with Sodar, the village priest (who has more tricks and lies up his sleeve than anyone can guess). Sodar has taught (and protected) Annev since he was born. In Annev's world, anyone born with a physical impairment is perceived as cursed and both the infant and her or his parents are killed. When Annev was born, he was born without one arm, so while his parents were killed for having the one-armed child, Sodar had saved Annev. Of course, one of the main questions that is answered within the book is why. Using a magical prosthetic, Annev has lived his entire life knowing that he's just one accident away from his dark secret being exposed to the world. Will he become an Avatar? Will his secret get exposed? Why did Sodar spare his life? These and so many other questions are answered in this exciting new first novel in The Silent Gods series.

I definitely look forward to seeing what the rest of this series brings for Annev and his friends. I want to thank the publisher for the opportunity to preview a copy of this prior to publication. Even though I received the book from the publisher, my review is competely my own.

***ARC received from Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

The synopsis poses you the question, what if our hero and the threat of evil were one and the same? How will our hero chose, guided both by those that want to protect him and the world and influenced by the hate he experiences and the evil that wants to use him. Master of Sorrows sets up what is bound to be a long sweeping fantasy story that stumbles at times but ultimately sticks the landing on the start of something that could be amazing.

The book starts out really strong, telling of the birth of a young baby missing a hand, setting up the main conflict of the first book. Of those that wish to see the baby killed and those that have waited for the coming of the vessel. Its a tried and true fantasy element and works just as well here as it does in other stories. Before getting into the meat of the story we get the back story of the gods, Keos, Odar and Lumea or at least the start of the back story. They are woven throughout the story giving back story as needed to progress the many story as needed. I have always loved these elements of a fantasy novel, that don't try to overwhelm you too much at one time, instead work them in so that they fit into the story itself.

The main part of the book follows Annev as he attends school preparing for his final exam to move from Acolyte to Avatar. I liked Annev well enough even if at times he and the other younger characters felt a little too juvenile to me with their behavior. It didn't detract from the overall story but when the behavior popped up it stuck out more than it should have. There is also an animosity between Annev and some of the other characters that never felt fully fleshed out. By the end we know why Kenton hates him, but I never really got the same with Fyn. Its mostly just nitpicking things on my part, same with the romance. I understand why Annev is enamored with Myjun, but it never really feels returned. The romance just felt tacked on to lead up to something bigger in the end. Its a trapping that fantasy novels sometimes fall into, this one if victim of that, but I like where it ended. I want to see how it plays.

One of my favorite things about this book is the way it treats magic and deformities, particularly magic which is usually seen as something you quest for not something that people actively work against. Annev is raised to hide the deformity he was born with, how it affects how he thinks of himself and his motivations are driven by it. It will be interesting to see how it if further explored as the series continues.

My biggest issue was pacing, the book started out strong but the time spent in the village and academy really dragged. The book suffers from being stuck in one place for far too long but begins to pick up once Annev leaves from the first time. But its the trapping of a fantasy novel that clearly has a much bigger story to tell, being stuck getting through the initial set up to the bigger parts that are waiting in the next books.

A strong start to a new series that I look forward to reading more of.

I LOVED THIS.

I plan to write a more full review soon and post it on my blog, but I had to come share briefly just how much I enjoyed Master of Sorrows by Justin T. Call.

I can't believe this is a debut novel. The world that Call has built is equal parts complex and beautiful, nuanced and thrilling. The plot is fast-paced and the characters are deep and relatable. I didn't personally connect with the romance as much as I did the rest of the world, but I can hardly complain given that I was riveted to this story until the end.

Can't wait to spread the love for this one. All Epic Fantasy lovers- check this one out now.

My Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed each of the 448 pages of this book. Justin T. Call has begun building a truly fascinating world here, and it was a true joy to learn a little about it here.

The way that the people of Chaenbalu view people who are physically imperfect is actually an established trope within the fantasy genre (think of Tyrion in GoT [aside: there is a really fantastic article from a 2016 issue of Disability Studies Quarterly written by Colleen Elaine Donnelly titled Re-visioning Negative Archetypes of Disability and Deformity in Fantasy: Wicked, Maleficent, and Game of Thrones, which is 100% worth reading if your into this stuff – I cited it in a scholarly article I’m currently shopping. It’s really good stuff.], many Bond villains, Shakespeare’s Richard III, etc. you get the point, right?).

The thing that I love about Call’s handling of this trope is that he leads the reader toward the idea that this sort of thought process is nonsensical. Annev does hide his own deformity, but he is also one of the few people in his village to not look down upon others who are visibly marked. Even the girl he loves shares the general populace’s views on these matters – something which Annev feels more and more disturbed by as time goes on.

Despite the book’s length, the story of Master of Sorrows is actually told at a breakneck speed – the entirety of the book takes place over the course of a few very significant days in Annev’s life. In this very short period a remarkable amount of change happens in his life. He learns about his own past, something of the world outside Chaenbalu, all sorts of prophecy and lore, and plenty of new information about people he knows and loves. Essentially his entire world is flip-turned upside down.

There’s so much going on that I found myself pleasantly surprised that Call was able to not only keep everything straight and moving at a consistent speed, but that he was able to pull me as a reader through it all without a hitch. I never had to pause and look back at previous pages to try and figure out just how the hell we got to where we were. In a story that is working on such a grand scale, I think that is a pretty great accomplishment. He’s a hell of a writer – I’ll just leave it at that.

What I particularly enjoyed about Master of Sorrows is the way Call began to lay the groundwork for something that already feels epic in scope. This books reads like the kind of grand, sweeping tale that will keep me coming back book after book. I find myself not even married to a particular outcome for Annev as yet, but no matter how things turn out for him, I have found that I definitely want to stick around for it!

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Am I going to buy this book? Yes. Am I sad that personalized hardcovers are sold out on his website? 100% super-sad. I really loved this story, and as mentioned above, I’m really looking forward to the next installment, Master Artificer, which I know from his really well-designed web page is in it’s completed first draft phase.

I really enjoyed this!

The premise is appealing, and the story itself was fascinating. I absolutely adore school/academy settings in fantasy books, and this one did not disappoint. I also really love morally-gray characters, which populate a lot of this world. I'm anxious to see where the story goes next.

Will definitely be picking up a copy once it's out!

This book was received as an ARC from Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

My time was totally invested in this book because of the dark twist of being destined for the Avatar, Criminal life. The paths crossed and the secrets of burdens. The feeling of belonging, destined for one path but trained in another. The tension and drama all throughout the book got my jaw to drop wide open and my heart to almost stop completely for almost 15 minutes. Annev was in predicament throughout the entire book discovering and accepting who he really is. I believe our teen book club and young readers will be receptive to the familiarity of this book and I know will have a lot of discussions as well.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Master of Sorrows is the debut from Justin T. Call and it is spectacular, I was completely absorbed from page one! This book has everything you need in it magic, swords, betrayal, dark secrets, and of course the prophecy.

I can’t get over how well-crafted this novel is. There is so much lore and back story hidden here and its easily given to you with out feeling like its just a huge info dump. There are passages that are from the history books teaching about the gods of the land. Which I thought was a great way to give the back story without hurting the narrative.

The host of characters here is wonderful and its easy to follow and to get behind the main character Annev, whose POV is used for the entire story. According to prophecy he is to be a villain, but his upbringing has him fighting against that. I really enjoyed his character and spent enough time in his thoughts to understand his outlook and his desire to fight against the prophecy.

Justin’s writing style is very easy to read and is very engaging, you will find yourself reading more in a sitting than you realized. I truly had a hard time putting this one down at the end of reading sessions.

In short this was a blast to read and I highly recommend it to all.

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Silent Gods series. I got an eGalley for this from NetGalley to review.

Story (4/5): This is a pretty typical type of fantasy story. Our main protagonist, Annev, has been trained by a secret society, the Academy, that “recovers” illegal magical artifacts from people in order to keep people safe from these artifacts. Annev was raised by a priest who has been like a father figure to him. Unfortunately, Annev is one of the few who can also perform the very magic that is forbidden and ends up torn between the severe beliefs of the Academy and the worldly beliefs of the priest who raised him.

The story moved pretty slow, although I liked the idea behind. Annev is destined to be a destroyer but, because of how he was raised, he is much more compassionate than his fellow Academy members. It’s an interesting conundrum.

Characters (5/5): I thought the characters were the high point of this story. All the characters are very well done and likable, even the side characters. The characters meant to be “evil” have enough depth that you can understand where they are coming from as well. I enjoyed the partnerships Annev had both with the priest and with some of his fellow classmates.

Setting (4/5): The secluded village where the Academy is located is a pretty typical setting. I enjoyed when our characters ventured out of the city towards the end of the story and encountered more interesting and deadly terrains.

Writing Style (4/5): This book is well written and easy to read. The writing flows well and the dialogue is witty. My only complaint is how slow things move. When you look back at the story you realize very little actually happened until pretty late in the book. Despite this I did enjoy getting to know Annev and the village he lives in.

Summary (4/5): This is a well done fantasy that I enjoyed. It was a bit of a slow read for me; both in pacing and in how long it took me to read it. However, I enjoyed the characters and story a lot and am curious to see where this story is going. Even though it was slow, I continued to enjoy it and never wanted to set this aside or stop reading it. I plan on continuing with the series.

Welcome to Chaenbalu, where a deformity earns you and your family a death sentence, because clearly that means you're the spawn of The Great Evil God.

This story follows Annev, a 17 year old boy found in such a circumstance as he is born into the world without his lower left arm. I quite enjoyed as we learned more about the Gods and the magic system, and how they battle against Annev and his driven dream to become an Avatar of Judgement.

Master of Sorrows really kept me reading. It was well worth all my groggy mornings! I was constantly left wanting more, eager to turn page after page. I found the conveying of facts a bit awkward at the beginning, the information being knowledge that Annev should have already known or asked some time before, but I otherwise thoroughly enjoyed it and found it a fun read! I knew I would love it from the goodreads summary alone. And the fact that it arrived to me extremely fast. It was a sign from the Gods.

I am honestly shocked this is a debut fantasy novel. The pacing was perfect, the setting rich, the tone laid out perfectly. For this being Justin T. Call's very first book, it's nothing short of surprising. Usually you walk into debut fantasy books worried you'll run into a ton of info dump, and over explanation of the small things and just generally getting bogged down.

Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this one early! I enjoyed it immensely.

Review cross posted!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Admittedly, I found myself a little at odds with what drew me to the book and what I actually found. When I first read the book’s description on Netgalley, I actually hoped it would turn out to be more of a villain origin story, but it was less that and more classic high fantasy. Which, honestly, I have no problem with.

The world building was done in a way that was both familiar and different, and I enjoyed how much the author played with what characters think they know, and the differing beliefs between them. It was also great to try to predict how certain characters would react when they found out certain secrets, and whether or not they would change their opinions.

I’m really on the fence about Annev, I think he was generally well-done—a believable 17yo, with specific wants, and who is so very distracted by a pretty girl. But I just had trouble really connecting with him. Regardless of this lack of connection on my part, I did still get a little invested in him, and at every point, I could still understand his decisions—even the fucking terrible decisions. But yeah, I was definitely sitting there going “fuck, he’s gonna do the thing.” And lo… he did the thing.

And my final praise for this book is for the writing itself. It was so easy to get sucked into the world and swept away to the point where I forgot that I was reading, and that was just fantastic! It was clear that there was some depth to the world, and there was just the perfect amount of information given that I was able to make some predictions, get invested in the world and really get lost in the story.

I’m so eager to see where the next books go and I’m thrilled with some of the things that were set up at the end of this book!

Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone who loves high or epic fantasy!

(This review will go live at the included link on Feb 11, 2020)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

At first, although the synopsis sounded interesting, I was worried that this would be a "chosen one to defeat all evil and stop all sin who suddenly has magic powers and can do incredible feats for no damn reason, with no real story line except for a ton of fast paced death defying stunts that he manages to get out of with nothing but a torn up map, a lucky rabbit foot his great grandfather made and a rusty spoon."

Thank god and Justin T. Call that I was wrong! I truly enjoyed getting sucked into this story line, and it is amazing that this is his debut novel with the way he built this world and its history. The story keeps you guessing throughout, and gives away just enough information to keep you satisfied and yet formulate even more questions. Seeing Annev go through so much in such a short time, and seeing him battle between the traditions and life that he grew up with in the Academy vs the morality Sodar instilled in him as he raised him was fascinating.

I am already eagerly awaiting the next installment, and would highly recommend giving this book a shot.

Summary: Annev wants nothing more than to become an Avatar, basically an Academy-trained thief who retrieves magical artifacts. But he has a secret that, if revealed, would absolutely spell his death. The only member of the Academy who lives with an outside mentor, he also trains to be a priest, but it only brings the different ideologies each brings into conflict. Annev, though is good at almost everything and, by being incredibly smart, he manages to achieve his goal, just in time for his small, hidden village to be attacked and his secret revealed.

Described as the story of a young man destined to become a dark lord, I couldn't resist it. It's the beginning of a series, and I'm intrigued to see how it goes and how Annev's journey into becoming a bad guy goes, but I can't say I was completely satisfied in this first chapter of that journey. I know every dark lord has a start, but I had a hard time reconciling the idea of a dark lord with Annev's characterization in this book. Of course, I see bits and pieces where the darkness can creep in, but he still just feels so overwhelmingly good that I can't quite see the next, or any future, step.

The Characters: Amazingly Consistent

I must say I was quite impressed with the characterizations in this book. The characters felt like they were living and breathing. Even the minor characters were given their own lives, and it was so easy to think of them moving around and living while the story was unfolding. The main characters were given individual histories and personalities and watching them clash and harmonize was fascinating.

At the same time, Annev was so interesting, so complex that most of the other characters, while interesting on their own, paled next to him. That might be because the reader is really put into his head so he's more understandable, though. It just made everyone else more predictable and sometimes feeling like they were only there to support Annev's descent into becoming a dark lord.

What I loved the most was how consistent the characterizations were. Sometimes it'll feel like characters act out of character for the sake of the story, but it didn't feel at all like that in this book. Every character had their own motivations and personality and how they would react in any given situation. I was pleased that they were all so incredibly consistent, even when a different choice to be a bit off character would have done them well. It also made the relationships between the characters feel more authentic, more life-like, and much more interesting.

The Setting: A Magically Hidden Village

Most of the story is centered around the small, magically hidden village Chaenbalu. There isn't much more described beyond it or the woods it's nestled in, which felt completely unearthly and quite frightening, making it the perfect place to hide a hidden village. The reader is offered hints of the wider world, and I can't help but feel really curious about it. Since this is Annev's journey to becoming a dark lord and there were hints about leaving the village, I'm hoping that the next book will take the reader beyond the woods.

The village was quite interesting. It seemed that no one ever left outside of the Avatars and no one ever really entered. Yet everyone seemed quite happy to never leave the village. It was a close-knit community that closely adhered to the rules laid down by the Academy, but, at the beginning of the book, how their society functioned was a little confusing. Still, it seemed very quaint, small enough for everyone to know everyone, large enough for it to not feel confining. Or, at least, no one seemed restless, except Annev.

The Academy itself felt most interesting. It seemed to be governed separately from the rest of the village and almost seemed as though you entered and never really came out. Some members of that particular society weren't even allowed to leave the Academy walls. It had its own structure and hierarchy, which kept it functional, but also seemed a bit in the dark ages. Still, there was so much to it that I felt I could explore it forever and still not see everything.

The Plot: An Opening Chapter

I think of this as the opening chapter of a dark lord's life. After all, the series is supposed to be about a young man who is destined to be a dark lord. I struggled to see the connection between Annev and dark lord, though. Certainly, there were bits and pieces that gave me flashes of insight, and I can certainly understand Annev's frustration and wariness, but I still have a hard time seeing how he will become said dark lord. Boiled down, this is just the start of Annev's life, his life as it leads up to a tipping point, where we can see warring ideologies that shape his thinking, where we can see a point where he had everything and then lost it all.

What really blew me away, though, was the intricate mythology behind the story and the world. It was really breathtaking and beautiful and masterfully woven throughout the book. I can't say for sure if I enjoyed Annev's story or the mythology more.

This was a relatively slow moving book. The reader is given detail after detail to make the world and story as rich as possible, but it did make the story quite long, especially since a lot happens, but it felt like only one plot point in the greater story was hit. I did like that the slow pace really gave me insight into Annev and his background and that the story felt more character-driven, but I sometimes wished it would pick up now and then.

Overall: A Fascinating Fantasy

This is an interesting slow-moving fantasy with a unique concept. It has a fascinating world complete with a rich mythology, intriguingly complex characters just starting to find their paths, and a unique story that promises to be more interesting further down the line. The only thing that still bothers me is that I can't reconcile Annev with a dark lord, but I look forward to seeing how his journey proceeds in that direction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a great start to an epic fantasy!

It's the first in a series, and follows a young man who has ties to an ancient god and his magic, even though he denies it. This is understandable, seeing as how the god is, um, the dark one.⁣
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The mythology of the world is very robust, and this has all the trappings of a great epic adventure. ⁣
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I think it does get slow a little in some parts, but the story and the secrets unfold in layers like an onion, and kept me turning the pages. I can't wait for the next book!⁣
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What a whirlwind. If I had the schedule for it, I likely would have read this in one sitting. If Annev doesn't need sleep neither do I.

In short, this story follows Annev, a young man raised in a secret village, hidden from the world. Why is it hidden, you may ask. This less-than-benevolent village is home to an academy that "reaps" (read: "steals") infants from the arms of their family in order to raise them as fighters and thieves, destined to steal magical artifacts to hide away in the Academy's Vault of Damnation. But Annev is not like the other young men who were reaped as children for the Academy. He's an imposter placed among the acolytes as an infant, and he harbors a secret that would have him destroyed if ever discovered. Sounds intriguing, right?

This is a true high fantasy with epic world-building. The world-building is this book's strong suit, and that's saying a lot given that it contains a lot of my favorite tropes: meddling gods, comings-of-age, insular cults, brutal reckonings. Both the history and mythology of this world are very important to the story and you can tell. The history spans hundreds, thousands, of years before the events of the book and we often get direct quotes from the various holy texts of this world. With each passage we get more and more vital context to the story and the life of Annev.

In contrast, time progresses very slowly in this book. I'm talking very slow. Like, less than half a week in 600+ pages slow. That is not to say that the pacing is slow, quite the opposite, think Kiefer Sutherland's 24. I do think the hourly play-by-play did come at the sacrifice of some other elements of the book; namely character-building. A lot of the characters followed typical high fantasy formulations, the wise mentor, the well-meaning friend, the redeemable bully. But I'm too confident in the direction of this series and the author's skill at subverting expectations to write off the characters. I think they have potential to grow into true individuals, which you can even see happening at the end of this installment.

I think this series looks promising! There has been so much set-up that I'm really excited to see what the author does with the next two books in the series. I think it could go so many directions. Just the possibilities will definitely have me continuing with the future installments.

From the very first pages, it’s clear that Master of Sorrows is going to play with tropes and turn plenty of fantasy stand-bys on their heads. Justin T. Call gives us a wonderfully paced story that feels at once classic and fresh. There will be plenty that feels familiar to fans of the genre, but almost all of those familiar tropes are done in a new or unique or upside-down way that keeps you turning the pages. And there are plenty of pages to turn! Clocking in at over 600 pages, the novel manages to feel like a much quicker read.

I think Master of Sorrows reads much more quickly than you might expect for a novel of its length partially because Call does something that is all too rare in epic fantasy: he uses only one viewpoint character. This helps to keep the story tightly plotted and moving, without expanding ever outward. It also means that we come to know and love the main character, Annev, and experience his ups and downs without those being interrupted by other perspectives. Call uses all of this to wonderful effect and he deserves mountains of praise for it. In fact, Annev himself is one of the other big strengths of this novel. You care about him from the first page and that carries through to the last. In many ways Call’s story is character-driven epic fantasy, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. There’s also some wonderful character development for the side characters. Another major strength is the magic system, which involves spells and runes, but also incredibly powerful artefacts. It all comes together in very intuitive ways that area also fairly unique. That’s good, because magic plays a big role in this story, and as a result it’s important for it to feel natural and bring something fresh to the story. There’s also the whole subverting tropes element of the story. This is absolutely a coming-of-age tale, but with a twist. It uses the village boy trope, but with a twist (instead of longing to leave the village, this village boy wants to stay!). There are elements of the magic school subgenre, but with some important twists. There’s a chosen one! But it’s not quite like any other chosen one story I’ve ever read. Call does an incredible job of twisting and subverting tropes in ways that are fun and sometimes make you sit back and just sort of shake your head when you realize what he’s doing. It’s impressive work all around and makes for an entertaining read for those new to fantasy, or the grizzled veteran who has read it all before.

There were some small things here and there that didn’t quite connect with me, but my biggest complaint about the novel has to do with one of the tropes that Call is subverting. Don’t get me wrong, I love how he’s flipping tropes on their heads. Without giving too much detail, in most instances of the village boy trope, the boy wants to leave his village and see the wider world, go off adventuring, etc, etc. In this story, Annev doesn’t want to leave his village and does everything he possibly can to avoid that fate. What I never understood was why, given the circumstances he finds himself in, he wants to remain. It makes some sense at the beginning of the novel, but as the story progresses and Annev learns more about himself and the academy he attends, it seems like the height of foolishness. His motivations in that regard never seemed quite strong enough to me, perhaps more like the story was driving the character there, rather than the other way around. This ended up being more a niggling in the back of my mind, rather than something that ruined the whole story for me.

Master of Sorrows is a wonderfully fun and inventive character-drive epic fantasy. It subverts tropes and brings fresh ideas to the genre at nearly every turn. It will appeal especially to those who are familiar with the subgenre and want something that feels familiar and yet new. It’s also sure to appeal to those new to the genre looking for an engaging read. I’m looking forward to the next installment!

8.8/10

4.4/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing

I cannot get over the anxiety this book gave me. It was such a roller coaster read. It was intriguing, fun, and dark. The sheer panic and anger I felt during this book is what made it such a fantastic read. I had so many things I wanted to put into this review and now all my thoughts elude me. The ending was just one punch in the gut after another and has left me thoroughly desperate for more.

Title: Master of Sorrows
Author: Justin Call
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

Annev de Breth isn’t like the other students in his class. Seventeen years ago, in the village of Chaenbalu, he was believed to executed for the taint he was born with—proven by his partially-missing arm—and raised by those who killed his parents. Now he’s struggling to become one of the Academy’s warrior-thieves, along with all the other boys who were stolen from their families years ago.

And Annev doesn’t know his own history.

Raised by his priestly mentor, who doesn’t believe magic is bad—unlike those surrounding him, who believe it evil—and with his missing arm disguised, Annev struggles with remaining true to himself and his friends—or stepping into his future as a master at the Academy. Will he do as the masters ask, betraying his friends and murdering a man to prove his abilities, or will he finally learn the truth of who he is?

While Master of Sorrows had some cliched elements—a young orphan raised by a wise mentor who has secret magical abilities—it’s actually a unique take on this trope. Annev is a conflicted character, and he struggles with this conflict between his childhood dreams of becoming one of the Academy’s masters and what his mentor teaches him throughout the book. The friendships are real and believable, and the action just worked for me, making this a book I finished in one sitting.

Justin Call has been making up stories since he was five. Master of Sorrows is his debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)

“Enjoy what remains of your childhood, because tomorrow will rob us of the things we take for granted today.”

Synopsis: Ainnevog (Annev to his friends and family) is many things: a deacon in the small, secret village of Chaenbalu; an acolyte Avatar, who will be tasked with retrieval of dangerous artifacts scattered across the continent; and most importantly, heir to a prophecy that will break the world. Are we born good or evil, or do we have autonomy over our fate? Annev will have to find out, and the fate of everyone he knows and loves depends on the answers he finds.

I'll come clean: I've actually had a copy of this book since the UK release. The problem is, the copy I received was so beautiful, I didn't want to risk damaging it in any way! I'd had my eye on this one for some time leading up to its release, as 1) I like to support new writers, 2) the premise seemed interesting, and 3) LOOK at this gorgeous thing! My problem in these circumstances is that as a collector, I am hesitant to damage any such copies. Yes, books are there to be read, but the ones who generally give this advice probably won't be bending the spines of their prize pieces, right? My policy therefore has typically been to wait for a paperback and buy that too so I can actually read it. As one can imagine, this requires a fair amount of patience (which I do not always have). I've recently rediscovered my Kindle Paper-white (e-reader), and this allows me to snag digital copies from Amazon or, as is the case here, an ARC copy from Netgalley for review purposes. Huzzah! Since this title will be having its US release on February 25/2020, I shifted my schedule around to make sure this review hits first.

Thematically, Master of Sorrows makes use of a few very well-known fantasy tropes: the Wizarding School and the Chosen One; contrary to what is usually seen, however, Call manages to inverse both of these tropes. Rather than a Harry Potter-esque school of wonders, those enrolled as acolytes to become Avatars are instead taught all manner of combat and skullduggery. One could call this an "anti-wizarding school", as the entire purpose of the organization is to rid the world of magical artifacts (which are deemed to be unequivocally evil). There is certainly a fair amount of underlying criticism directed towards blind faith, and much of Annev's internal struggle revolves around his innate desire for autonomy and truth wrestling with a desire to fit in, which would require he compromise his principles. I feel Call did a great job of summarizing that internal struggle which plagues each and every one of us at some point in our young lives (hell, even later in our careers!).

The inversion of the "Chosen One" trope is also interesting, as it brings up some "nature vs nurture" discussion, and even questions the idea of Agency. The typical use of the trope is for a protagonist who is fated to bring everything to a desirable resolution; everything revolves around them, and nobody else can solve the problem. Call's inversion is that our protagonist is prophesied to be the opposite: a blight on the planet who will end all, unless they are squashed with all due haste. What makes Annev intriguing is his refusal to simply accept his role in this; his struggles with his worst feelings and desires is refreshing when compared to the stereotypical paragons of virtue one often sees in fantasy protagonists. Another trope which Call subverts quite effectively is that of the grand adventure. In such stories, the protagonist has lived in a small village all their lives, and wants nothing more than to leave it on an adventure, to get out and see the world. Brilliantly, Annev wants absolutely nothing to with any of this! He would rather stay in his little town, settle down with his sweetheart, and never leave.

Call has done an amazing job with his world-building. The setting is rich and detailed, and it is clear that he is still holding on to much, much more than he presented to us in his debut novel, and I am looking forward to learning more in the sequels. That said, I feel as though the pacing of the story was a bit awkward; the entire text takes place within the span of only a few days, and the reader is introduced to an enormous amount of lore in this short period of time. I absolutely do not mind being dragged along blind for a bit when reading a story; part of the joy is in the gradual discovery! That said, it can be a bit much at times, and a little bit more explanation of these critical elements would be welcome. The Academy gets more screen time than it merits, in my opinion. Also, while this may have been entirely intentional, I found many of the characters there to be wholly unlikable. The entire concept of how the Academy is run is ludicrous; why must a failed acolyte become a steward, specifically? Additionally, why in the world is everyone so cruel to them? One would think that if this Academy is such an honorable and important place, then even the stewards would be treated with a fair amount of respect. I suspect this was a way of introducing stakes beyond "disappointment", but it was something I struggled with. To be clear: I found the text highly enjoyable, and this was my sole sticking point!

Once one gets through the slower first part of the text, things pick up quite rapidly, and the true narrative comes barreling in. Secrets are slowly revealed, and the excellent development of our protagonist begins to come through. I thoroughly enjoyed the mythology of the story, with its tales of gods and the implied bad turn which was done to Keos. I've always been a lover of myths from all cultures, and Call has introduced a wonderful one in this series. It is rich in detail, and does an excellent job of explaining the world we are reading about: why things are structured as they are, why deformities are so stigmatized, why the village is kept secret at all... everything fits neatly in this framework. There is a great deal of flavor in this setting, and I am sincerely looking forward to getting more of it.

Overall, Call has done a great job with his debut novel. While there are some (in my opinion ) pacing issues, I feel like he truly sticks the landing. It's a fantasy story leaning towards the "grim-dark" side of things, but without all the things I am used to seeing in that genre. It's a complete subversion of many tropes, and a refreshing new story for one to become engrossed in. Justin Call is an author to watch, and I strongly suspect that the sequel (Master Artificer) will smooth out those rough patches quite well. Make sure to give it a try!

Happy reading!

The world-building in MASTER OF SORROWS is fantastic, it's characters complex, and the plot gripping. I didn't expect to be attached to this story, but from the first page, I was unable to put it down. It's been so long since I've read a book that's made me feel this passionate about it! A gem of a debut I would recommend to anyone wanting a taste of darkness in a richly vivid and immersive world.

Once I started Master of Sorrows I was hooked. This debut adult fantasy starts with a bang and doesn't stop. The story takes place over only a few days, weaving in a fascinating mythology and brutal world. The premise reminds me of The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons with a main character you're told is destined to be the destruction of their world. But reading the book the main character, Annev, seems a good person, with the confidence of a teenager who thinks they have the world figured out. He disregards advice from teachers and mentors to his own despair in this first installment and I can't wait to see where he goes from here.

An engaging and dark YA fantasy with an intricately complicated world, and highly developed religion/mythology system. I really enjoyed it and will definitely pick up the sequel.

So many thoughts rolling around in my head in regards to this epic fantasy story that I don’t know where to begin. Too many, in fact.

Master of Sorrows follows a boy named Annev who attends the Academy where he is attempting to get promoted to Avatar of Judgment. To do so, he must win the Testing Day contest against his other classmates as well as friends. This is the last Testing Day he will be permitted to take part in. Failing to win means becoming a servant to the others and to make it worse, it is also the last Testing Day for two of his close friends as well.

With the Testing Day as the major plot line in the first half of the book, the author also uses the events surrounding this as a way introduce you to the protagonist/antagonists, religious structure and most importantly religious politics and prejudices. The leaders of the Academy and townspeople all believe that sons of Keos are cursed and are considered evil. They are identified when they are born with a deformity and are immediately killed. If somehow an individual isn’t discovered at birth then what awaits for them is being stoned to death once they are discovered. Annev was born without an arm past his elbow. He’s been able to keep it hidden for 17 years through the use of a special glove, but being found out is one of his greatest fears.

As you might expect with any epic fantasy story, there is a lot of lore/knowledge information within this first book that can sometimes slow the story down a little at times. However, I was surprised by how much I liked the sections about the gods (Keos and his siblings). I usually skip or fast-read those sections, but instead found the sibling relationships and responses to certain events rather interesting.

Overall, Master of Sorrows is an enjoyable epic fantasy read with a beautiful cover too. As I read through the story, I found that the characters and their different choices and decisions was one of my favorite parts and not just Annev’s story. Of course, the decision Annev makes in determining the content of his own character and what he believes in is one of the best aspects of the book. The Masters at the Academy see the world in black and white, but Sodor, Annev’s mentor, has slowly been teaching Annev to think for himself and watching the progression within Annev is one of the many highlights of the story. But choices other characters made was just as intriguing.

While reading I came to the conclusion that this might make a decent fantasy book club read. There are a lot of opportunities for points of discussion – from the gods and the religious politics to the Testing Day contest there’s no shortage of topics to bring up.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Master of Sorrows by Justin Call was summarized as what would happen if the "chosen one" wasn't chosen for good but for the dark side. That plus the school setting had me hooked. These two tropes are ones I can never get enough of. And I liked the subversion of it too.

I loved this book. Within the first few pages, I was hooked! I just kept finding excuses to read it. I loved following Annev's journey. The book is so compelling. I loved the world building that is subtly handled. I never felt that the book was info dumpy. I also loved the characters. I never felt confused by the large cast of characters, they all had distinct personalities. This book at times gave me Harry Potter feelings, at time Book of the Ancestor feelings and also Realm of the Elderling feelings. Some of my favorite series ever.But this series isn't a copycat at all! I really enjoyed the plot and was surprised a couple times at paths taken. I can't wait for the next book to come out and will definitely be buying a copy for my dad because I know he'll love it too!

4.5

My first 5-star read of the year!
From what I can see on Goodreads, this is Call’s first book, and he hits the nail on the head. He uses one of my favorite themes, “orphan goes to an elite boarding school,” but unlike other most other fantasy stories, magic is abhorred and avoided. Annev, the protagonist, attends a school that trains “avatars” to seek and retrieve magical artifacts so they can be locked up and can never be used again. This strange community also detests deformity, and babies born with any less-than-perfect presentations are deemed unfit to live, as they are embodiments of the evil god Keos. Annev is in the lion’s den, living under their noses with a magical arm, as he was born without one.
In addition to my favorite theme, Call packs in action, rivalry, monsters, and a light dose of romance. What truly fascinated me was the pacing of the book. This tome clocks in at 448 pages, and upon seeing that, one would think this book spans across ages. Maybe a band of allies go on a quest that spans the author-spun universe drawn in map form at the beginning of the book. Maybe someone fights a dragon. But no. This book only spans about four days. Four days. We get every minute of Annev’s adventure. An exact third of the book is only one day of the four. That was the best day I’ve ever read.
I cannot wait to read the next in the series!
Here’s to my first 5-star!!

Before we go any further can we talk about this cover?! It is gorgeous! Okay, now I'm ready to move on to the heart of it - the story!

A rich and epic tale for young and old, Master Of Sorrows is one of the most exciting new fantasy series I have had the pleasure of reading in some time.

The tiny village of Chaenbalu is hidden to others, nestled amidst the forests. In this village is a young man is dreaming of a future he was never meant to have. Born with only one arm, the baby - Annev, was was meant to be executed because he was seen as the child of an evil one armed deity. Instead, he was secretly returned to the village and raised by the local priest and taught forbidden magic. Thanks to a magical prosthetic, he attends the local academy with the other boys his age, and trains as a fighter and warrior. Nobody in the village, save for the priest who raised him, knows about his deformity.

When the dark forces hunting him start to close in, the opposing forces of his upbringing, training and destiny collide, and he is forced to make difficult decisions the results of which have enormous impact. Everything he ever thought he knew about anybody - including himself, is called into question.

The book does not open with a bang, but it did keep my interest as it laid a foundation worthy of all that was yet to come - and there was so much more to come in this book alone, let alone the remaining books planned for the series. Once the foundation was laid for this story, the rising action kept me white knuckling my Kindle the rest of the way.

The story contained all the classic elements of an epic fantasy - Good vs. Evil, moral dilemma, internal struggle, a battle against all odds, loyalty, rivalry, and self discovery, but somehow Call has breathed new life into the standard tropes and formulas.

This book felt fresh, new, and exciting. The magic system was original and well structured. While magic is usually revered in books, in this story while it is not an unknown element, it is not well received by the people of the village, with most magic considered sinister. The world building is on point, giving the reader a carefully crafted and consistent framework with which to view the events of the story. The characters were well developed and ranged from those I loved, to those I loved to hate, and some that were harder to define fell in-between. I loved that Call chose to write the story not without a love interest for the main character, but without clouding the story with an overbearing romance plot.

The year is young, yet I feel safe in saying that this book will make my list of favorite books of 2020. I am looking forward to the next book in the series - Master Artificer (first draft complete) due to release in the UK in February 2021 according to Call's website, and North American markets some time (hopefully soon) after that.

Happy Reading,
Christine

I received Master of Sorrows from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Master of Sorrows is fast-paced, complex fantasy at its best.

This book has been marketed as a story about a hero who is destined to become the dark lord. What I experienced with this story, however, was something far deeper, more complex and more rewarding to the reader.
Master of Sorrows is the beginning of what is planned to be a tetralogy, with the possibility of more books after that. We are introduced, early on, to Ainnevogg (or Annev for short), and his mentor, Sodar. The basic foundation the story is set on is that Annev was saved by Sodar when he was a baby, and kept “safe” in the village of Chaenbalu. We get to know Annev when he is a teenager, attending the local academy in hopes of becoming an Avatar. Avatars act as agents for the academy, sent out into the world to retrieve magical artifacts, which are then locked away in the Vault of Damnation because magic is believed to be evil. Initially, we follow Annev through his trials at the academy, but things quickly take a turn when he is provided a rather disturbing mission from one of the academy’s Ancients (basically the guys in charge). I wont go any further into the plot for fear of spoiling things for you, but suffice it to say this book is one hell of a ride!
One of the most interesting things about Master of Sorrows was the culture within Chaenbalu and the academy itself. This village is virtually closed off to the rest of the world. The people who live there are quite prejudice against anyone who is deformed, disabled, and anyone who can use magic. Those who are deformed or disabled, and those who can use magic are seen as children of Keos. Keos is an evil god, so being considered his child isn’t exactly a good thing.
Annev was born with one arm. This, coupled with what we know of the “dark lord” prophesy create very interesting circumstances as the story progresses, especially given the prejudices the village holds against those like Annev. He is able to hide his deformity with the help of the priest, Sodar, but there is always that concern he will be discovered.
You cant have epic fantasy without excellent world building. It is obvious early on that Justin T Call has poured a ton of time, heart and passion into his fantasy world. As I read through the pages of Master of Sorrows I felt transported into this world, which is brimming with fascinating history, old magics, strange monsters, complex characters, and seemingly silent gods. This book is the epic fantasy enthusiast’s dream! What is equally impressive is how Call builds his world within this book. It is not uncommon to find a good amount of exposition in fantasy novels, especially during early volumes, in order to build the world for the reader. With Master of Sorrows, I felt the worldbuilding was masterfully weaved into the plot from page 1. In doing this, Call was able to build this world for us while simultaneously moving the plot forward. And wow does the plot move!
This is the fastest paced fantasy novel I have ever read. Chapters are short enough to give you the “just one more chapter” bug, but long enough to provide the detail necessary in an epic fantasy novel. The writing is clear, concise and provides fantastic imagery of what Justin wants us to see, leaving just enough room to allow our imaginations to do the rest. I have read a few reviews that describe Master of Sorrows as a slow burn, and I just don’t see it that way. I was absolutely hooked from page 1, and found myself, quite literally, unable to put the book down. None of this would have been possible without the excellent worldbuilding and interesting, complex characters. Each character has their own personality and their own motivations. Perhaps, what I liked best was the fact that pretty much every character was gray in their moral nature. Justin brings us into the troubled mind of Annev with each new page, and I found it fascinating and absolutely enthralling. This book was just so great!! So great that the digital Netgalley copy wasn’t enough, and I had to go out and buy the hardcover. Did you see that cover art?!!!
I have had a great year of reading so far (Book of the Ancestor trilogy and Ninth House just to name a couple), but Master of Sorrows may take the throne as my book of the year. It is early still, but this book just clicked perfectly with me. Justin T Call is a fantastic writer. The book is written in a way that it is easy to pick up, much in the way Brandon Sanderson’s books are. Actually, if I had to compare Justin to a well-established author, it would be Brandon Sanderson. The depth of the characters and the world absolutely rival Sanderson’s works. I think Justin T Call is going to be a headliner, and I am so glad I was able to jump in on the ground floor. I cant wait for book 2, and I cant wait to see what this fantastic author does with the rest of his career, which I expect will be long and fruitful. I highly recommend Master of Sorrows. This is a book that will likely stay with me for the rest of my life.

First thing first: I loved this book and couldn't put it down as it was enthralling, fast paced and entertaining.
I think the writer did a very good job in turning some tropes that are present in a lot of fantasy books in something new and exciting.
There's not a lot I can say, there's no review that will give the pleasure and the excitement that this book can give you.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you, Mr. Justin T Call, for re-affirming my belief that epic fantasy is the best literary genre of all.

I think this book was sheer brilliance. My enjoyment of it was to the level of what I feel when I read any of Brandon Sanderson or Robert Jordan's works. It was complex and beautiful but still fast-paced and dense with characterization and context.

Bravo. What a rollercoaster ride this was. 5 big stars all the way. I CANNOT wait to read the next installment.

Review: 5 Stars

Master of Sorrows is a book that I picked up because I had heard good things about it, but I was initially inclined to pass this book by, but I’m really glad that I didn’t. Master of Sorrows had so many fantasy elements that I absolutely love. It had a magical school setting, a political system filled with injustice and prejudice and so much more. I am so grateful that I gave this book a chance because I wound up really loving the story and these characters.

Master of Sorrows was a character driven novel and it’s characters really found their way into my heart. Annev was such a great character to read about and I could really relate to him. He fought so hard for his dreams and against his destiny and his struggles were so easy to empathize with. The relationship between Annev and Sodar was one that I was so emotionally invested in, Several of their conversations brought tears to my eyes. Sodar was a great mentor and father figure and was one of my favorite characters to read about. I also loved reading about Annev and his friends Titus and Therin. The group of friends was fun to read about, but what I loved most of all was how loyal Annev was to them. The rivalry between Annev and Fyn also provided endless entertainment as they tried to best one another.

This was definitely more of a character driven fantasy than a plot driven one, but the plot was still really interesting. Throughout the book Annev and his friends tried to become avatars and had to go through many trials both in and out of school. Annev’s journey to become an avatar was full of hard decisions, yet he never sacrificed his morality and beliefs for his dreams. I was so emotionally invested in this story that I kept wanting to shake Annev as he made decisions that I didn’t agree with. The writing was so fantastic that I felt like I was watching a movie as I read this book because I could clearly visualize everything that was happening. I expected very little of this book and it wound up being absolutely incredible. I can’t believe I almost didn’t read this one!

I loved the way that the world building came into play with the plot as the history of the world melded with the future for humanity. There is still so much more to come in this world, but this series opener really helps the reader understand the scope of the problem that this magical world is facing. I think there could have been a bit more world building in this installment and I hope that book two explores the world and magic a bit more than this installment did, but regardless I was so invested in this journey.

I read this book months ago and I can still vividly remember most of it. The characters just got to my heart, the writing was spectacular and the plot was so cool. Master of Sorrows was filled with characters that I love and this first installment has me dying for more in the series. I loved reading about Annev and I really related with him. I am glad that I gave this book a chance and I really need more of Annev’s story as soon as possible!

I enjoyed reading Master of Sorrows and can't wait for the next installment. The author has written a world as rich in lore and magic as John Gwynne and Trudi Cannavan. The protagonist doesn't take himself too seriously nor is he a complete push-over and, even with his secret deformity, pushes through every obstacle thrown at him.

Master of Sorrows was a remarkable debut which I simply couldn't put down. It is a dark fantasy.
The writing was really good and the action scenes amazing. What I liked the most was the world building, especially the story of the three gods Odar, Lumea and Keos, their powers and magical weapons and artifacts.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series!

This was a fun, if dark, read. I enjoyed both the story and the complexity of the characters. Most fantasy readers will enjoy this.

This is by far one of my favorite fantasy books from 2020. I loved everything in this book: Characters, duels, environment and the development of the plot.
Even though we know from the beginning what is going to happen during the book, it is still very intriguing and exciting to read it from Justin's pen.

I wanted to apologize about the late review, I had a rough year and forgot to update the reading. Thank you so much for the ARC, I loved it and I'm looking forward to enjoy more books by Justin!