Master of Sorrows

Reviews

“An astonishing first step along a dark descent that readers will want to see to the end.”

“A classic coming-of-age tale meets a hero-to-be adventure with spiraling depth…Call writes a world of deep and profound mythology.”

“Artifacts, ancient secrets, and an aching desire to prove himself force neophyte Annev de Breth to contend with magical forces in Master of Sorrows, the first book in The Silent Gods series from Justin Travis Call…Master of Sorrows is a rousing and imaginative high fantasy novel—a promising beginning to a new series.”

“In Master of Sorrows, the first of a new series, Justin Travis Call asks a question that has been largely missing from high fantasy: What if the orphaned hero and the threat to the world were one and the same? Annev de Breth, a warrior-thief with a past shrouded in mystery, must face this very notion in a novel that turns one of the core fantasy plots on its head. Brutal and intense, this is a book no one will be able to put down.”

“In a world where difference means death, can a boy with a secret find his own path?…Debut novelist Call plunges the reader directly into the action and never lets the pace flag. Even as we learn about the ancient battles, dark prophecies, and mystical assassins that are about to change the course of Annev’s life, the stakes remain appealingly human: Can Annev achieve his goals without betraying his moral code? Will the people he cares about accept him for who he is? A fast-paced, action-packed epic fantasy to sink your teeth into.”

“Game designer Call inverts fantasy tropes…A late-stage reveal and violent climax nicely set up book two.”

“Call’s debut, which kicks off the Silent Gods series, takes its time coming to a boil, but by the final act there is plenty of action and conflict. Readers of Mark Lawrence’s Book of the Ancestor trilogy or Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller Chronicle will appreciate the depiction of a young conflicted hero coming of age in a fantastic school.”

“If you loved Robin Hobb’s Fitz in Assassin’s Apprentice, you’ll love Annev in Justin Call’s Master of Sorrows!"

“A fast-paced and intricate coming-of-age story that shows that villains aren’t born but forged.”

“Master of Sorrows is one of the best books I have read this year and a perfect example of grimdark fantasy. It isn’t overly mired in negativity or cruelness. The rawer parts of grimdark and epic fantasy are there, but this story is tinged with hope in the best possible way. It is riveting, exciting, and one that is going to stick with me for a while.”

“Grim and melancholic, this book is an epic modern dark fantasy that will have you counting down the days until the next release.”

“Reading Master of Sorrows is instantly entertaining, but it also lays the groundwork for something massively rewarding in the years ahead. It is a balanced mix of palpable action, inventive revelations, and flawed characters. It is respectful of the reader’s intelligence and is impressive as it is ambitious. This is the start of a truly epic dark fantasy saga that is well worth jumping into on the ground floor.”

“A modern take on the classic coming-of-age fantasies that embraces its roots amongst the likes of Eddings, Sanderson, Canavan, and Weeks, and dares to reach for the stars and carve out its own destiny.”

“If you’re a fan of coming-of-age stories, magic schools, and the idea of what’s right and what’s wrong, then Master of Sorrows is the book for you.”

“Master of Sorrows is one of the most outstanding beginnings to a fantasy series I have ever read and I almost read this in one sitting. Justin Call’s eye for fantasy is so pure and captivating that I was lost in these pages from the gut-wrenchingly emotional prologue … to the liquid rage finale that left my jaw firmly on the floor.”

“A remarkable debut which I simply cannot put down…Master of Sorrows is a brilliant and riveting tale of having the courage to find and choose one’s path, and it left me wanting more. I recommend this book for lovers of classic epic fantasy looking for a modern voice.”

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