Review: The Rest to the Gods by Joshua Walker
“There is a joy to be found down every path, Nichia. The teachings I was raised on do not give me belief. But the quest for joy in this life of ours does. One cannot exist without the other.”
Blurb:
On the peak of the Mountain Pass, the Four-Front War takes its final breaths.
The walls are closing in.
The allies are dwindling.
The last front is on its knees.
The Rest to the Gods is a prequel novella in The Song of the Sleepers, an epic fantasy series by Australian fantasy author Joshua Walker.
Review:
Strap in for this high stakes fantasy debut from indie author, Josh Walker! Don’t let the size of this prequel novella fool you, ‘The Rest to the Gods’ is action packed and full of beautifully flushed out characters, unique magic systems, and amazing world building in the land of Q’ara.
The story follows a young woman named Nischia, who is a Sleeper that is able to control a power granted only to some. The book shifts between two timelines- the present, in which Nischia has been assigned to a battlement camp that is struggling to control their last defensible position against an oncoming enemy; and the past, where we learn more about Nischia’s childhood and the turmoils she has faced.
Walker’s character building is fascinating. He not only makes characters you feel a deep amount of empathy for, but also introduces unique races gives this book an extra layer of distinctness. He has also introduced a magic system of which I personally have never seen. There is a lot of amazing lore setup that I’m sure will come into play in the next series installment.
The book never lets up for a second. Pacing is smooth and before you know it, you will be finishing the last chapter and wanting more. I deeply enjoyed TRTTG not only because it was a enthralling read, but because it was a fresh and unique story that clearly has an immense amount of love and dedication put into it. This book is perfect for fans of Wheel of Time or The Licanius Trilogy.
Walker is definitely an author to keep your eye on! I can’t wait for book one, “An Exile of Water & Gold” in June 2024.
