I applied to get a review copy of the book straight from the author and I was lucky to receive one. Thank you very much for letting me read your book Zack! I also found out that the book is available on audible and bought that one. I can full heartedly recommend getting the audio version of the book, as it is an exceptionally good audiobook.
Book information:
- Author: Zack Argyle
- Date of publication: 19th March 2020
- Genre: Fantasy
- Pages: 356
Book Blurb:
SPFBO Award Finalist for Best Fantasy Book 2020
While preparing for the birth of his first child, Chrys Valerian is tasked with uncovering the group responsible for a series of missing threadweavers–those able to see and manipulate threadlight. With each failure, the dark voice in his head grows louder, begging to be released.
A young girl from a secret city in the center of the Fairenwild veers off course to explore the streets of Alchea. She never expected that her journey would end in chains.
Far in the deserts to the south, a young man’s life changes after he dies.
When Chrys learns who is responsible for the missing threadweavers, they come for him and his family. He must do everything in his power to protect those he loves, even if it means trusting strangers or, worse, the dark voice in his mind.
Together, they will change the world–whether they intend to or not.
taken from goodreads
Review and Recommendation:
My expectations for the book were pretty high as it was a finalist for Best Fantasy Book 2020 in the SPFBO Awards. And my assumptions about the book being to my liking were correct!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book or more precisely I enjoyed listening to the book. The reader, Adam Gold, manages to make the characters come to life. Despite having a really deep voice he is sublimely able to get the women right.
The character with the most impressing reading voice definitely is the Apogee. The Apogee is also my most problematic character as I somehow do not really understand the word in itself. I have a concept of the Apogee but the translation will simply not fit. So in my head that figure/thing is something like a menace or an absolute evil. Next to being difficult the Apogee is also an enigma which hopefully will get solved in Stones of Light. The character connected with it, Chrys or Chrysanthemum, is way easier to figure out and he is a very likable character. At the beginning I expected him to be the real hero of the story. Despite some parts in which he fulfills this role, he still somehow fails and at the end Alvarax dashes in and takes the hero crown off of Chrys.
Next to Alvarax and Chrys the most important character is Laurel. I am not sure I like Laurel. The thing I really like about her is her connection to her chromawolf. Most likely Laurel will play an even bigger role in the following book and I am not sure she will stay on the „good“ side as she is always questioning things and might be tempted to change sides if they give her the answers she is seeking.
The world the story is set in is a complex one, together with its magic system. It might not be something completely new but I really like the idea and the way it is executed.
All in all Zack Argyle wrote a fascinating book. It has an excellent story, likable characters and a well-thought-through magic system and I am really happy that I received an advanced copy of Stones of Light so I can continue on this splendid adventure.
Information on the author can be found on:
