After narrowly escaping an army of religious zealots, Jinua, Ontiku, and the two new members of their party, Hylas and Aketa, are attacked by a pack of flesh-eating monsters. They're forced to take shelter at Ghost Peak, the sight of a notorious battle between paladins and necromancers centuries ago.
Well, Jinua the paladin calls it a battle. Ontiku the necromancer calls it a genocide.
As the group continues to fracture, they become vulnerable to a dark, deadly force that not even a paladin or demigod with the gifts of gods can fight against. Ontiku and Hylas become the group's only chance of getting out of Ghost Peak alive, assuming the four of them don't kill each other, first.
I am more into this story verse with every novella in this series. Still loving the diverse representation, and so happy with the additional history we learn of their world in this book. Some very tense scenes, some very sad ones, and an overarching theme of "those who forget history". Love that Jinua is learning more of her factions hidden history, and that Ontiku isn't afraid to be like 'look it happened, believe me or don't'.
In the continuing adventures of Jinua, Ontiku, and their new tagalongs Hylas and Aketa. Still searching for the elusive R behind things, they decide to camp in an old abandoned necromancy school, wiped out during the Necromancer War. They quickly find out it's not abandoned at all. Now trapped between a vengeful ghost and oversize predators, what will happen to our unlikely duo and their friends?
Getting to watch this world and its characters advance is a joy. Each novella builds upon the last yet is a satisfying story all of its own. Genuinely a series that I pre-order the moment I can and read the moment I receive it to its end, incredibly glad that so far, I've not had long to wait between installments.
Jinua's development is going well and she has a lot of further growth ahead of her. It was great to get more perspective from other characters. These characters are becoming close personal friends and i can hardly wait to see what happens next.
Alongi's beautifully realized world sucks you in, giving a verdant background to a rich story. Each novella has only added the richness, leaving this reader ever more eager for the next.
The most creepy tale yet, we find our wonderful crew facing down the worst kind of threat. a personal one. Jinua must put everything she knows as truth on the line to face down her newest threat, one that threatens to shake up the very foundation of everything her morals are built upon.
Really good addition to the series! We learned a lot and there was some good character growth as well. This one ended on a satisfying note. Looking forward to the next one!
Digging into the shared history between the Paladins and the Necromancers more deeply struck a chord in me that I had forgotten existed. It was good heartbreak, not bad.