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A review by wordsofapaige
Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hall of Smoke is a triumph of a debut. It's a gripping fantasy that will reel you in from the first page and never let you go. I flew through this one and finished it within a couple of days (a 400 page fantasy in 2 days?! Yep...) and that is a testament to how incredible this book is.
Hessa is our protagonist. A warrior priestess who loses everything, and is then caught in a tangle of old gods, new gods and demons. She is a strong, independent character who's faith is centre of this story. She's on a quest to win back the trust of her own God, and I loved the character growth through this. She starts off one way and by the end she's questioning her entire life, and her dedication to the Goddess of War. Her loss, her pain and her triumphs are the standout moments of this book. Not only her growth, but the growth of the characters around her are truly something to behold. You'll love some, and hate others. And it is just glorious.
The mythology behind Hall of Smoke is beautifully crafted, and just the right amount of intricate. It's distinctive and so important to the story, and Long has done an incredible job of it. I could read so many books set in this world to learn more about the mythology and history of this land. Every God you meet is distinct, and complicated and problematic in their own way. They're not know-all all-powerful beings and I loved that.
This story takes you for a ride through varied lands, with an incredible cast of characters. It is dazzling and compelling, you will not be able to put this down. H. M. Long is a vibrant new voice in this genre and I can't wait for more from her.
Hall of Smoke is a triumph of a debut. It's a gripping fantasy that will reel you in from the first page and never let you go. I flew through this one and finished it within a couple of days (a 400 page fantasy in 2 days?! Yep...) and that is a testament to how incredible this book is.
Hessa is our protagonist. A warrior priestess who loses everything, and is then caught in a tangle of old gods, new gods and demons. She is a strong, independent character who's faith is centre of this story. She's on a quest to win back the trust of her own God, and I loved the character growth through this. She starts off one way and by the end she's questioning her entire life, and her dedication to the Goddess of War. Her loss, her pain and her triumphs are the standout moments of this book. Not only her growth, but the growth of the characters around her are truly something to behold. You'll love some, and hate others. And it is just glorious.
The mythology behind Hall of Smoke is beautifully crafted, and just the right amount of intricate. It's distinctive and so important to the story, and Long has done an incredible job of it. I could read so many books set in this world to learn more about the mythology and history of this land. Every God you meet is distinct, and complicated and problematic in their own way. They're not know-all all-powerful beings and I loved that.
This story takes you for a ride through varied lands, with an incredible cast of characters. It is dazzling and compelling, you will not be able to put this down. H. M. Long is a vibrant new voice in this genre and I can't wait for more from her.