seeds of war

Seeds of War (goodreads) is a high-fantasy book of returning gods,  morally gray characters, and a little bit of politicking.

     The book’s strength lies in its characters, all of whom are varying degrees of internal moral complexity, from mercenary lords, to false prophets, and pseudo mob-bosses. Most of them, and this is their strength, land well, hitting the balance of likability and rootability while maintaining that edge of brutality or dirt that makes them interesting to follow, and allows them to navigate the world in dynamic ways. Of the three pov stories, Gimlore’s is probably the strongest as her story, and the dangers afflicting it, are the most immediate and personal. I found one of the stories, Orberesis’s, hard to invest in, but this is more due to personal taste more than any significant failing from the author; I struggle to invest where I cannot trust the main character.

     The prose and general writing of this indie-fantasy book is solid, delivering various impactful or tense moments, and effectively constructing both action scenes and visuals. The smoke-smiths in particular felt ‘visually’ cool to me, and the method of their creation is enjoyably tactile and fantastical.

     For those looking for those interested in a gritty high-fantasy book with complex characters, this is probably a book you’ll like.

    If I’ve managed to spark your interest, check out Joao F. Silva on StoryGraph or brave the wilds of his website.