Synopsis
When truth becomes a weapon, who shall wield it?
In the Grasp, a realm on the threshold of enlightenment, the dactyli guard the fading embers of their ancient brotherhood, dedicated to the pursuit of absolute truth. Lovelace and Gunnar are rangers, two of the orders’ last who find themselves on the precipice of a changing world. When the order faces a fatal threat from within, Lovelace and Gunnar embark on a dangerous ranging, whereon they discover that more than the welfare of the order is at stake: a rogue dactyli named Alev amasses an army of those he calls the Burned Ones, mercenaries wielding elemental forces. Lovelace and Gunnar are forced to grapple with the unimaginable implications.
Meanwhile, the Grasp languishes under the oppressive rule of Osbert, who exploits the recent advent of the printing press to smoor the fires of budding enlightenment. A young woman named Kylene undertakes a journey to find her missing father, a prominent printer wanted for sedition. Her path leads her to the kapnobatai, a mysterious group of outcasts with whom Kylene takes up refuge and the mantle of her father’s fight for freedom.
In the mountains of Droch Fhortan, Lovelace and Gunnar encounter a feral young woman, Cora. Her mere existence uproots an age-old belief and puts to ground a new truth: magic can be awakened, magic can be taught. As their paths intertwine, a shared purpose emerges – to expose Osbert’s tyranny, thwart Alev’s dangerous plot, and rekindle the flame of enlightenment.
So begins the battle for the minds of the Graspish people, and a quest for the heart of magic itself.
Review
When Shadows Grow Tall is the stunning fantasy debut from Maressa Voss and the novel was just as pretty as this cover (which is a good thing!)
The blurb itself is what drew me to this novel. I had no expectations going in but I’m glad I did because I am such a fan of the way that Voss writes. I like when novels give you the breathing space to work out things yourself and Voss’ ability to slowly unravel the plot whilst not spoon-feeding you is something I really enjoyed. The writing style itself was heavy but poetic and whilst the start may be hard to understand, Voss guides you through this with ease.
An interesting aspect here is the magic system that is based on the elements – Fire, Earth, Air & Water. These allow for a succinct magic system that can be a tad complex but is entrancing once it gets going. Again, it’s great to see Voss let you work it out for yourself rather than have tons of explaining. There are a lot of unique moments with magic and memories which makes for an absorbing concept that you really need to experience for yourself.
The worldbuilding is excellent and a great foundation to what Voss is creating. Each area, person and interaction is told brilliantly as we journey through many landscapes with these characters. I particularly liked the relationships between certain characters that felt incredibly real.
This is a brilliant debut from Maressa Voss and I’m eager to see what other books hold.
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