The Unspoken Name by A K Larkwood

The Unspoken Name (The Serpent Gates, #1)

by A. K. Larkwood

'An astounding debut . . . unlike anything I've read before' - Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

Does she owe her life to those planning her death . . .

Csorwe was raised by a death cult steeped in old magic. And on her fourteenth birthday, she’ll be sacrificed to their god. But as she waits for the end, she’s offered a chance to escape her fate. A sorcerer wants her as his assistant, sword-hand and assassin. As this involves her not dying that day, she accepts.

Csorwe spends years living on a knife-edge, helping her master hunt an artefact which could change many worlds. Then comes the day she's been dreading. They encounter Csorwe’s old cult – seeking the same magical object – and Csorwe is forced to reckon with her past. She also meets Shuthmili, the war-mage who’ll change her future.

If she’s to survive, Csorwe must evade her enemies, claim the artefact and stop the death cult once and for all. As she plunges from one danger to the next, the hunt is on . . .

The Unspoken Name by A. K. Larkwood is the incredible first book in The Unspoken Name duology.

Reviewed by ross91 on

3 of 5 stars

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Interesting ideas poorly executed.
I appreciated the world building and the lore, but the characters felt very superficial and I couldn’t care for any of them.
Senthennai could have been a very interesting and complex character but alas the author didn’t really explore his psyche and motivation and at the end of the day he felt like a missing chance.
I’m at least glad that this book has a satisfying ending, so I’m not feeling too bad for not continuing on with this series

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 20 June, 2020: Finished reading
  • 20 June, 2020: Reviewed