A review by ethanzo
The Pale City by Marshall J. Moore

5.0

I had been in a bit of a reading slump lately, so after having followed Marshall J. Moore, for quite some time, I finally decided I had to read his work, and that was one of the best decisions I could have made. From the first chapter, I was fully invested in the world he created. I loved the dynamics of morality, spirituality, and loyalty seen throughout the book, and I felt like I could truly immerse myself in the clearly well researched and developed world of the book. Everything about this book felt intentional and offered a unique perspective on what it means to live and die and to protect and serve the ideals an individual upholds. Cassius was such a refreshing main character, making it easy to follow along with him narratively and root for him against the impossible odds and challenges he faced. I found myself not only in love with Cassius as a main character but with the entirety of the cast. The villains were believable, and the conflict was gripping. The pacing of the story was perfect, in my opinion, and I loved the direction the narrative went. I loved the personal conflicts Cassius faced just as much as the main conflict and found myself questioning what I would do in his situation. The magic system was so well done, and I think the representation it brought to the story was extremely refreshing and done expertly. Any expectations I had going into the book were shattered in the best way possible, and I am more than ecstatic to continue on with the other books in the trilogy. I just know that when I finish them, I'll be so distraught, I already love these characters so much, and I know I'll miss them immensely. Please, if you are able, pick up this book. It really solidified my love of epic fantasy, and I couldn't recommend it enough.