Review originally posted at BooksOfMyHeart.net.
This was a new-to-me author in Evan Winter and narrator in Prentice Onayemi. I decided to try something new. I needed a fresh voice in this crazy world we’re currently living in. Boy did I get it. I had a great time with this world.
Tau Tafari, an Omehi commoner, is the main character of this story. He lives in a world where he is a low caste. The nobles are larger, faster and more athletic than the lessers, like Tau. But lessers still fight, but often die in the war. They are the fodder and sent out to die in large numbers. The nobles fight too, but it isn’t as much of a death sentence. Even the women fight, but in a different way. Some women have the ability to tap into the powers of the goddess. Not only can some control dragons, others are able to pour power into a select few of the nobles to make them something akin to a colossus.
Tau is a lesser who has nothing but vengeance on his mind. He doesn’t care if he is a lesser. He is willing to put in the work to overcome the fact he is smaller, slower and less athletic than the nobles he wants to kill in revenge for the betrayal he feels.
I’m not usually a huge fan of war stories, but this book, which starts out at a slower pace than I normally read, but I was still unable to stop listening. I just loved Tau and his passion to be a better warrior. I also really enjoyed his friendship with the other trainees. I also like his relationship with a powerful gifted girl from his town, Zuri.
I’m very eager to get to the next book, which the book is out now, but I have to wait for the audiobook. I’ve never read a book that was an African fantasy. It does make me want to see how much is based on African mythology. It was a very fun epic fantasy that should be bigger than it currently is. I hope that more people give this book a chance. It was a really fun ride.
Narration (5 stars)
Not only was Even Winter a new-to-me author, but Prentice Onayemi was a new-to-me narrator. He too, did not disappoint with his narration of this story. I really enjoyed the cast of voices he creates for each of these characters. There isn’t a large cast of women in this book, but he does a good job with the voices of women that he tackles. There is a much larger cast of men and they all have unique voices that truly match each character’s personality. I look forward to listening to more from this narrator.