Author : João F. Silva
Book : Thorns of War
/Fantasy/
Publication date : May 5, 2024
Blurb:
One breath. One jump. One death.
The Known World is in peril once again. Old grudges are made anew and settled only on the battlefield, with threads of smoke flowing in the air.
Gimlore saved her town and her family, and she has even learned that trusting people may not always be a bad thing. But with ancient powers stirring, her whole world is shaken again, and the pains of the past come back stronger than ever.
Rednow's retirement plan was successful but didn't last long. He is both in the eye of the storm, and the storm itself. Blessed or cursed by powers he wants to reject, he questions whether the faith everyone seems to deposit in him is even warranted. After all, he's still just an old man with bad lungs.
Orberesis blossoms under the tutelage of a new master and awakens ancient, forgotten arts. He rose from thief to the impersonator of a god, and now true divinity might just be well within his grasp.
My thoughts:
I have to start with that - I loved Seeds of War and I loved Thorns of War even more!
Let me say that more books should have such a cool Bestiary at the start, and it helps imagine more clearly all the cool beast we encounter in the book. Furthermore, a helpful summary of the story so far (but definitely should read Seeds of War AND Ruins of Smoke for a full experience!)
A quiet start where we get the chance to follow the outcome of everything that happened to our character in the first book,
In Thorns of War the writing style is even better, and I love how natural the conversations between the characters feel and the way he continues to build the world around them.
This installment is grittier with more suffering for our characters, not only physically but mentally. Combined with the absolutely epic battles, beasts, power and gods, it creates nothing short of an addictive world to immerse into.
To be honest, my favorite and captivating thing is that the characters are not pristine perfect and exactly their flaws and stumbles makes them feel closer to the reader and alive.
With the rate at which João raises the level of his storytelling, he gained a loyal reader in my humble persona.