The Worth of Scars by Gabriel Farrell
Author : Gabriel Farrell
Book : The Worth of Scars
/ Fantasy /
Publication date : September 28, 2026
Blurb:
A bookworm, a brothel madam, a gangster, an aristocrat, a widow and a war hero walk into an inn – though it turns out there’s nothing funny about what happens next.
For humanity’s ancient enemy the Serafin are rumoured to have returned, and the old man who assembled such an unlikely band believes these misfits might hold the key to defeating them. United only by guilt, trauma, and the machinations of their mysterious patron, together they must journey to the centre of the continent to do battle with gods.
But only by using the Serafin’s own powers do they hold any chance of victory: a magic that has a cost. Corrupted long ago, it condemns those who wield it to become the shunned, self-mutilating sorcerers known as the Scarred.
Each must decide – is that cost worth paying to save the world?
My thoughts:
I can safely say that this book is (as I like to say) the hidden gem of this year!
Let me start with the cover: for some reason, my brain immediately went to Les Misérables because of the similar vibe and brushstrokes, and I love it!
The world-building is brilliant and so spacious, while at the same time not overwhelming, and it easily draws you into this world.
The story is told from multiple POVs, starting from the very beginning of their respective journeys.
Little by little, brick by brick, we witness them changing and growing, with everything they go through shaping their identities until their paths intertwine in the most natural and perfect way.
I have to confess that I'm an impatient reader, and it was a challenge for me at the beginning, but the reward afterwards was absolutely worth it. Looking back, I can see the perfect, solid foundation for these characters.
Another strong and intriguing part was the magic system, and I loved learning about the Scarred, how the use of their magic affects them, and how it shapes their personalities. There’s still much to learn about them, and I’m definitely hooked.
Gritty and dark, but the subtle humour added the perfect amount of levity, balancing out the heavy and darker parts of this book.
So happy that I got to read this gem of a book!
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