Rating: 10/10
Synopsis:
Now that Relos Var’s plans have been revealed and demons are free to rampage across the empire, the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies—and the end of the world—is closer than ever.
To buy time for humanity, Kihrin needs to convince the king of the Manol vané to perform an ancient ritual which will strip the entire race of their immortality, but it’s a ritual which certain vané will do anything to prevent. Including assassinating the messengers.
Worse, Kihrin must come to terms with the horrifying possibility that his connection to the king of demons, Vol Karoth, is growing steadily in strength.
How can he hope to save anyone when he might turn out to be the greatest threat of them all?
Review
Thank you to Tor UK, Jamie-Lee Nardone and Stephen Haskins for providing me an ARC of this book.
This book is quite the book indeed. Imagine. A fantasy book that takes on the concept of an different dimensions and mind-boggling past lives that make a central connection all the way across this novel. It is a book that is slower paced within the fantasy genre. I think this series is perfect for the reader that loves indepth intrigues and complexity. I will admit, I too however got confused in the wildly well made labyrinth of political intrigues that stretch for thousands of years. I’m talking about Kihrin’s past life, Janel’s past life, the Goddess of Death’s son past life! There so much plot and intrigue involved that I am impressed that Jenn managed to keep all of this in a very restrained style. I did however point out that that there’s so much lore in this book, it’s like a bible of stories. Every new strand you find in this tree, has a story.
There is a story upon a story, a story upon a story, that I believe is the strength of this series, and yet it could also be a weakness. Why? Because you discover so many unhidden secrets that you feel – well. What is the point of having the characters go through such a traumatic experience when you uncover that there’s more hidden? Why more senseless death? Why can’t Gods fix everything they’re given? These sorts of questions will rise into your mind when you read this. You’ll be figuring out such stuff…that you will be mind-blown. You will feel transcended. This book has a lot of spiritualness and Gods and mad stuff. It has dragons, it has more fights than ever before.
And sometimes, are the so-called Gods really our beloved heroes? (I’ve just given a hint. You’ll figure this out). What makes them so different the demons of the afterlife? What is the afterlife you might even question? What is the old women’s role in all of this? Of the various Gods and Goddesses involved? There are so many questions to be asked. The plot was huge and immense, and it has taken me a while to process it. But if I were to summarise it in a way that it won’t spoil the story: Threat – Islands with Metallic structures – Rituals – Secrets of past stories and chemistry between characters that you know that they just need to do it. And I’m thinking Janel, Kihrin, and Theraeth all need a life that is free from all this nonsense. The ending will surprise you. That’s all I’m gonna say.
And I feel so much sadness for Kihrin’s parents. Therin who I have really begun to grow attached too needs a redemption arc. His mother as well. Janel’s mother. All of the fights, everything, all this big epic battles and dragons and stuff….what does it boil down too? A fight between Gods that were once human? All three characters are affected by the woes of their past and trying to remember their past lives. If I were in this story, I would abandon this world and never look to come back. So much backstory is involved…it makes me sad and smile at the same time because you know things will get better. Things can get better. Things will get better. There’s always a hope of light at the end of the day in this world of darkness.
This is…indeed, the Memory of Souls. I figure this could be a planet where humans colonised, forgot about their whole identity, and then created Gods. Grizzt and Relos Var make quite the cunning characters, including Talon. There’s so much to think about.
The Memory of Souls intrigued me…now I feel as if I have transcended above time.
I think I’ll leave it at that.
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