Thorns of War

The Smokesmiths #2

by João F. Silva

One breath. One jump. One death.

The Known World is in peril once again. Old grudges are made anew and settled only on the battlefield, with threads of smoke flowing in the air.

Gimlore saved her town and her family, and she has even learned that trusting people may not always be a bad thing. But with ancient powers stirring, her whole world is shaken again, and the pains of the past come back stronger than ever.

Rednow's retirement plan was successful but didn't last long. He is both in the eye of the storm, and the storm itself. Blessed or cursed by powers he wants to reject, he questions whether the faith everyone seems to deposit in him is even warranted. After all, he's still just an old man with bad lungs.

Orberesis blossoms under the tutelage of a new master and awakens ancient, forgotten arts. He rose from thief to the impersonator of a god, and now true divinity might just be well within his grasp.

Genres: Fantasy

469 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2024

About the author

Get a FREE copy of RUINS OF SMOKE, a prequel novella from the epic fantasy series The Smokesmiths, by joining João's mailing list: www.joaofsilva.net

João F. Silva was born in a small town in Portugal but now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with his wife and feline co-worker/boss. His debut novel Seeds of War won the Best Indie Debut of 2023 at the FanFiAddict Awards. His short fiction was published in Grimdark Magazine and Haven Speculative.

Reviews

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine

João F. Silva is back and better than ever in Thorns of War, a mind bending sequel that takes the visionary Smokesmiths series to incredible new heights. Equal parts action-packed and introspective, this story is a surprisingly brutal punch to the gut in all the best ways.

Thorns of War picks up a couple of weeks after the explosive ending of Seeds of War, continuing the harrowing tale of all our favourite, and not so favourite, broken and lost souls. The stakes are higher than ever before, and soon nothing and no one is proven to be safe when caught in a war led by the whims of the gods.

Now, it had been a while since I had read book 1, so I was quite nervous to see how I would fare getting back into this world without doing a re-read first. Luckily, Silva has graced us all with a brilliant ‘The Story So Far’ section (thank all that is holy), though I’d dare to say that I wouldn’t even have needed that after all. Silva eases the reader back into the world with effortless grace, and it took me exactly one page to remember why I loved this story so much in the first place.

Honestly, I don’t want to disregard the brilliance of Seeds of War, but there is simply no denying that Thorns of War is just a step up in every single way imaginable. The scope of the story and world (or should I say worlds?) expand exponentially without it feeling overwhelming, the lore deepens in the most enticing ways, the complex characters and their unconventional interpersonal relationships become even more compelling, and epicness honestly just drips off the page as smoke magic is being wielded in new and jaw-dropping ways.

Compared to its predecessor, there is a bit more action in the early stages of this novel, but overall it is still a deliciously slow-burn and character-driven narrative. Especially Gimlore and Solvi’s tumultuous journeys in Thorns of War really pulled on my heartstrings, and I was not ready for the heartache I would feel for them. Themes of motherhood, trauma, loss, grief, guilt, regret, redemption, and healing are explored in such a painfully raw yet beautifully tender way through their eyes, giving this story a level of emotional depth that I was not ready for, yet welcomed with open arms.

I do have to admit that I was not as emotionally invested in the other POV characters featured in Thorns of War, especially the more minor and newly introduced ones, but that does not mean that their perspectives were any less compelling. The revelations in Rednow and Orberesis’ storylines were truly riveting, and their unexpected personal developments honestly fascinated and frightened me in equal measure.

Yes, I wanted to strangle Orberesis (who will make damn sure you got the memo that he is ‘GoD HimSeLf’) more times than is probably healthy. And yes, some of the magical battle sequences in here were so ethereal and high concept that my brain started to crack a bit, but at the same time I was also just revelling in the epicness of it all. Aside from E.J. Doble’s Blood and Steel Saga, I can think of no other story that has tackled themes of divinity, morality, and mental manipulation in such a uniquely captivating way, and I am truly in awe of Silva’s incredible imagination.

Moreover, I really appreciate that this story is so refreshingly diverse, especially for a dark fantasy. We’ve got a casually queer-normative world, middle-aged characters who kick ass, brutally honest mental health representation, dysfunctional but loving family dynamics, and plenty of diverse races and cultures who are accepted without judgement; this is the future of fantasy.

Safe to say, Silva has done it again. All the simmering tension slowly built up to a truly transcendent and catastrophic climax sequence that shocked me to my core and shattered any and all expectations I had about this world and story. And all the seeds that were planted in both book 1 and the prequel novella, Ruins of Smoke (which I would say is mandatory reading at this point in the series), are now truly blossoming to their full potential, which only makes me more excited about the vision that Silva has for this epic series.

So, if you have not yet gotten a taste of Silva’s excitingly wild imagination and exceptionally strong storytelling skills, then you are sorely missing out. To all those who like their fantasy to be dark, gritty, inventive, mind-bending, diverse, emotional, and surprisingly heartfelt, please do yourself a favour and check out The Smokesmiths series now; I promise you won’t regret it.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[James Harwood-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pawns used in an ancient conflict. Humanity struggling to persevere. Beneath the fearsome smoke lie the fires of our souls.

A blitz of action & incredible magic that dazzle throughout. Well written characters pull at the readers emotions across their plights.

Great sequel! Thanks to the author for this ARC!

[Teone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and even greater characters.
I couldn't choose my favourite if I had to.
Please Mr. Silva, don't let us wait too long for the third book.

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

Thorns of War is the second novel in the grimdark series The Smokesmiths, written by João F. Silva; picking after the ending of Seeds of War, Heleronde is enjoying of brief moments of peace. The free city established by Gimlore is an alternative for those that wish to start a new life, and Rednow is enjoying of his retirement plant; that's until the old grudges between gods come back and set it as the center of the perfect storm.

The Old One has tricks under the sleeve, and uses Orberesis as his avatar to unleash chaos over Heleronde, as the first step to recover the control over the world, while trying to eliminate the Essence. However, both Gimlore and Rednow manage to flee from Heleronde, starting really different paths, but with a common target: stopping Orberesis and his power craving.
Gimlore will confront the hardest pain a mother can experience, and her path will take her to the Two Nations, where Orberesis is making contacts to gather an army; however, the god will play his cards faster, putting Gimlore in a situation that she swore not to repeat.
Rednow, in the company of Pinesy, will travel to the land of the Builders, unwillingly becoming part of the Essence's schemes, a position that will unleash new smokesmith powers on him. Gathering an army of smokesmiths, he will prepare for the last stand against Orberesis' plans.

A sequel that puts us into the action from the beginning, but without losing the focus on those characters that lead the plot; we will get more snippets of their past, and see how they are pushed towards the limit by powers they cannot comprehend, which are fighting their own ancient war. Gimlore's arc could be called the more mundane one, but it is well intertwined with our two other characters, which are on the opposite sides of the conflict.

The world is expanded in the same ways the characters have been developed; probably an experience that also is richer if you have previously read Ruins of Smoke (my recommendation is to read the novella as the bridge between Seeds and Thorns). It is especially interesting when the Builders and their mythology are exposed in the eyes of the reader.

Thorns of War is the sequel that Seeds of War deserved; smart and well written, it further develops the characters while giving us an epic story with many emotional moments. I'm really curious to see how Silva continues the series in the next books!

[Charles Cavendish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well he's only gone and done it. João has delivered a supercharged tour de force and very worthy successor to Seeds of War.

Once I have digested the story properly a full review will be forthcoming, but my initial thoughts are..

This is a world undergoing violent change and so are the characters within the story. Its a wild ride but one that has tremendous heart and moments of tenderness. But don't fear there are a host of fearsome creatures and awesome battles to get your teeth into as well.

This one is going straight to the top of my best books of 2024 and will take some beating

My full review is up on the FanFiAddict website - https://fanfiaddict.com/book-review-t...

[Joseph Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Seeds of War, the first book in João F. Silva’s Smokemiths series, was one of my favorite reads of 2023, and its sequel, Thorns of War, more than lives up to the heights set by its predecessor. Featuring pulse-pounding action, memorable characters, and wonderfully unique twists on genre tropes, Thorns of War not only kicks Middle Book Syndrome to the curb, but also firmly places the Smokesmiths series amongst the best currently ongoing fantasy series.

Picking up shortly after the explosive battle at the end of the previous book, Thorns of War opens with days of hard-won peace. Gimlore is basking in the success of leading the defense of her town, while Rednow the Blood Collector is content in training Gimlore’s children in the ways of the Smokesmiths as their surrogate uncle. Naturally, peace does not last long, and it does not take long for war to bare its thorns – and for the God Himself, Orberesis, to make his bloody return.

When I say peace does not last long, I mean it – it’s gone in an instant. Silva pulls no punches right out of the gate, ripping peace from our hands and our heroes’ hands before any of us have a chance to bask in it properly. These opening moments are emotionally compelling and powerful, and in some instances downright shocking – in all the best ways. It grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go until the equally powerful conclusion, and along the way you feel all the same blows as the characters – all the calls for vengeance, all the anger, all the grief. The unique cast shines here just as they did in the previous book, but this time with an additional emotional weight that was not as immediately present before.

And these characters are only elevated all the more by the cool twists on a genre staple: a character “chosen” by the gods. At the end of Seeds, we were introduced to the Old One and the Essence, who have been whispering in certain characters’ ears. Silva takes this trope and turns it on its head, toeing the line to question whether powers granted by the gods are a blessing or a curse, if the relationship between the gods and the characters they inhabit are symbiotic or parasitic, and if the result of such power is worth the price. These questions help create a strong thread connecting the various action sequences, all the while forcing the reader to wonder who could stand against such power, and who could maintain their humanity when forced to hold it.

All this helps build upon the already fascinating smoke magic introduced in the first book while also expanding upon some of the more incredible aspects of the system, like the smoke riders introduced in the prequel novella Ruins of Smoke. It’s a testament to Silva’s abilities as a writer that something as absurd on paper as “undead smoke skeletons” ends up as badass as it does in-universe. When the smokesmiths comes out to play, the battles in Thorns of War end up all the more enthralling, especially when the smoke magic system is as dangerous to the user as it is to their target – another favorite twist of mine.

While Thorns of War is not perfect, its flaws are few, and they largely center around the pacing, which is at times a bit too fast. The early stages of the novel, while emotionally gripping, move at lightning speed to the point of getting a bit of whiplash. It felt as though the first twenty percent or so of the book was a rush to get everyone in their starting positions for the remainder, and likewise, some of the arcs surrounding the secondary characters wound up a bit too rapid and unfulfilling. That said, the pacing for the remaining eighty percent is rock-solid, and once Thorns gets its feet on the ground (or its skeleton smoke in the air or something like that), it remains steady the rest of the way.

Simply put, Thorns of War is an excellent sequel. It takes all the fascinating and unique aspects of Seeds of War and builds off of it perfectly, creating an instant page-turner that will grip you right from square one, rip out your skeleton, and send it dancing in the smoke in all the right(?) ways.

(That last bit is a good thing, trust me and just go read it.)

[Sean Halpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author was kind enough to send me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book of pain, a book of loss, and a book of ever growing ambition by Joao, and some characters.

Gimlore goes thru the ringer in this book, there is no other way to phrase it. She really goes thru some shit, and handles it in her way.

Rednow becomes something new, that I won't go into further detail about due to spoiler reasons. But I do suggest reading ruins of smoke (which you can get for free by subbing to Joaos newsletter) but he goes thru a lot of trauma, both external and especially internal.

Orb I can't say a ton about other than the fact I feel kinda bad for him at this point in the story. He's way in over his head.

Keyron, Solvi and the rest of the tertiary characters were all given more screen time, and the book shines that much brighter.

The battles are epic, and mind bending, but I will leave that to you to explore for yourself because Joao really cranked it up to 11 when it came to the action in this book.

No sophomore slump with this one, folks.

One breath. One jump. One death.

[K.D. Marchesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Beta Read Review*

Thorns of War just sucks you in from page one, the characters are captivating, the emotions are high and you cannot help but need to know everything about this world.

Silva really ramps it up in book two and has you on the edge of your seat. The characters get deeper, the plot gets thicker and the magic is just .. phenomenal. I really had trouble putting this book down! The last 150 pages went in a fever dream that I wish I could experience again.

That ending though! João is just going to get better and better at his craft, an author to keep on your radar for sure!

[Ojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review up at https://littafi.com/all-book-reviews/...

[Scott | Scottsforayintofiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review - Thorns of War

Rating 9/10 ⭐️

I shouldn’t be surprised by now but I freaking loved this book.

Before I gush about this book, I should start by thanking João for kindly sending me a copy of his book read and give my honest opinion on.

Seeds of War was one of my favourite books of 2023 and have been waiting patiently for book 2.

It’s been a year since I read Seeds of War and I have to give Joãa big thank you for providing a story so far recap at the beginning of this book. This really helped me with remembering the key points from Seeds of War but also get me very excited to dive into Thorns of War.

Somehow João has managed to take everything I loved from Seeds of War and add a little smoke to it (see what I did there) and produce a book significantly better than its predecessor.

Right off the bat we’re throw into chaos and action. Thorns of War picks up a few weeks post the explosive ending of Seeds of War and we go on a rollercoaster ride with our characters from there.

I have to say the action was so good and the details put into this book made me very invested in the outcome of the characters very quickly.

For the most part the pacing was really good, it was a slow burn from a storyline perspective but when the action kicked off, the pace picked up massively.

My only negative about this book would be that I thought a few chapters were a little rushed, for example, when key characters that got separated come back together we just got a few lines.

I would’ve preferred something more in-depth, I believe the family dynamics of the characters is a fundamental part of this story and skipping over this wasn’t to my liking.

Apart from that I loved it.

The absolute shining star from book 1 was the quality of the diverse characters. Again, João has managed to build the characterisation so well. The character growth was superb, a few characters go through some tragic situations and João makes you feel the suffering along side them.

What I truly loved in this book is the expansion on the magic and lore. I loved the smoke magic from Seeds of War, but in this book João we really get to understand the strength and limitations of this power.

Book 2 of the Smokesmith is a powerful sophomore entry to this series. This is a book where you can expect a blend of brilliant awesome action, complex characters and an awesome magic system.

I highly recommend this series.

[FantasyBookNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorns of War is the second book in Joấo F. Silva’s The Smokesmiths.

The book starts shortly after the events of book one. As we start book one, we enter into a time of relative peace. Gimlore is continuing to establish her role as leader and Rednow is happy and content with his agrarian retirement, planting crops, tilling the land and hopefully training Gimolore’s terrible twosome.

However, peace is fragile, and De Silva rips that rug from under the reader’s feet in a short space of time.
In this second instalment of The Smokesmith’s, De Silva really ups the game and throws the reader into the action in a short space of time.

Not only do we pick up on Gimlore and Rednow, we also pick up on Orberesis’s story as he now comes to grips with new situation that he found himself at the end of book one. De Silva explores the philosophy of his godhood and brings a more human slant to the concept of chosen ones and the divine and the effect that they have on their followers.

I must say that Thorns of War is quite an improvement on Seeds of War. For me , it felt that De Silva seemed more comfortable with his writing in this one, which shows throughout the book. I am not saying that I didn’t like Seeds of War, because I did, but for me it did have its problems. One of these was pacing. The first book was more of a slow burn with the emphasis on a more character driven story (which can sometimes be a problem for me). However, it felt that in Thorns of War, De Silva had got the balance right with character and plot, which led to a more satisfying book.

Another thing that I enjoyed was how De Silva used familiar tropes, particularly ones associated with epic fantasy and managed to use them in an original way, mainly by giving them a more humanistic feel.

Furthemore, there were a lot more plot reveals in this book which kept the hooks in throughout the story at regular intervals rather than attempting to determine where the story was going, which I kind of did in the first book.

It seemed in the Thorns of War that De Silva capitalised and built on all the stuff that he had set up in the first book which ultimately gave it a more rounded story.
Thorns of War is a great sequel and builds on the first one brilliantly. It catapults the story to new highs and I can’t wait to see where this book goes next.

[Ethan Weissel · Rating 2 out of 5]

After enjoying the first book in the series but having some grievances this really fell flat. I feel like all the problems that I did have with the first book were made worse here and I was less willing to give leeway.

the pacing is all off, characters motivations and emotions feel like they can change on a dime and have very little consistency and unfortunately the world building that was promising in the first book caved and the world by the end of the books feel awfully small and unlived in.

I am curious about how the book ended, thats the only major positive I'll give as even though I didnt like this I am curious to see how the series progresses

[Ariana Weldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews

Months after Thorns of War came out I was finally able to sit down and read it. It picks up exactly where we left off, so that was a problem because I had left it for ages but no worries we dive back in. João thankfully does a Story So Far section which is always hugely appreciated.

You should already know, despite the ending of Seeds of War, this will not be a “Oh it’s nice everybody beat Orberesis, now we can rebuild and live our lives.” We cannot have nice things. What we can have are new monsters but they’re more sort of…displaced spooky guys, rather than like evil. Anyway, they’re called Lantern horns and they’re really creepy.

Thanks to them and Orbersis, our cast of characters is completely fractured. Terrible for them, great for the world building we get to see as a result. We still follow Orberesis, Rednow, and Gimlore, but the people surrounding them shift a bit.

Now, I said from the start of this book it’s hard being Gimlore, and knowing João, this meant that it was gonna get way worse for her. (And it did!) Admittedly, I didn’t really care for Gimlore in the first book but I actually really enjoyed her this time. I found that I was a lot more engaged with her story and character. I also really loved her relationship, or non-relationship…let’s just go with situationship…I really loved her situationship with Keryon.

Keryon, I probably would have described him as ‘beige’ prior to finishing this book, but he kind of wowed me in a number of ways. He’s far more interesting than I previously thought, and there is a lot more to his character than expected. I’m really looking forward to seeing him individually but, again, also his situationship with Gimlore. She’s going to have to come to terms with her feelings sooner or later. I mean, generally it’s a lot of feelings for Gimlore. Just so much goes wrong for her. I suppose when you’re dealing with your entire town destroyed, being imprisoned, [redacted series of events that would be spoilers], and being separated from literally everyone you know, there’s probably not a lot of time for romance.

“What do you mean ‘completely separated’?” I said the cast was completely fractured, didn’t I.

While we follow Gimlore and Keryon through their travels of a terrible time, we also follow Rednow and others. I’m conscious not to say too much on the others, lest it spoil the fun for anyone. So let’s just say it includes our good friend Pinesy, who ends up quite crucial to the fight that is going to go down between our mysterious presences that like to live in people’s heads. He doesn’t actually do much himself but it’s through his character we get taken to the Builders. The Builders are super interesting and add another layer of surrounding politics and history to the world building. I actually have a lot of questions and curiosity about them. They are just wholly unsurprised when Rednow rocks up with The Essence chattering away in his head. Actually, people seem to take a lot of Rednow’s arc pretty well all things considered. But anyway!

Thorns is action packed throughout but it’s really this fight between our two mysterious presences that it’s all leading up to. And without giving too much away, I have absolutely no idea how João is writing himself out of this one. The politics between the other nations of The Known World are expanded on, then fragmented, character relationships are shifted in every direction, and the magic keeps growing. Like I said, no idea how João is going to figure this out for what I am expecting to be a powerhouse finale. I do know that if anything happens to Nork, I will absolutely throw down.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series Seeds of War by Joao Silva when it was an entry in the SPFBO competition. I loved it and have been wanting to get back to the series but Mt. TBR has been a struggle to climb. As the end of 2024 approached I was hearing some chatter about Seeds of War in the discussion for best read (rightfully so.) This lit a fire under me and I ended up knocking out both the short story and novella prequel as the year came to an end.

Thorns of War was placed on my January TBR and I'm so glad I got to it when I did. As much as I enjoyed book one, I think I liked book two even more. I would highly recommend reading at least the prequel Ruins of Smoke before diving into this. Understanding that history as it relates to the current story I felt really added to the connection I had here.

The pacing within Thorns of War was nicely done. I felt this book read very smoothly as it didn't take me but a few days reading off and on to get through it. This could be party due to the fact of how much I enjoyed it and picked it up as often as I could. The version I read on my Kindle seemed very well polished without many editing errors that I noticed. There are a lot of characters which means a lot of character names which I had no troubles with either.

The last thing I'll mention as it relates to pacing is the reading environment or theme. Almost this entire read had me hanging onto just that tiniest bit of hope that the author continued to provide. There is a sense of dread from one moment to the next but we just barely seem to get through each moment. Again, this type of suspense made this quite the page turner for me.

The world development took another leap in book two. The world that was introduced to us in the first book continued to expand to new regions, atmosphere, races, cultures, religions and powers. On top of that Joao continues to paint pictures of this fantastic world in a way that I easily lose my self in.

The character development of book two is simply insane. Without trying to give to much away in the form of spoilers we have some really good twists as it relates to some characters in Thorns of War and the growth of Gimlore, Keryone, Rednow, Solvi and so many other characters was quite impressive to me. I'm usually happy if we see this kind of growth from a single character let alone a cast of them. We had some really good new characters introduced in the second book as well.

In the end, if you like your fantasy on the darker side of things and haven't checked out this series yet, you really need to. If you already read book one, get your hands on Ruins of Smoke, get amped up and get Thorns of War added to your must read in 2025.

[Jeremy Schwab · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Breath. One Jump. One Death.

Wow, one Jump into this sprawling, action filled, bloody follow up to Seeds of War and it will leave you breathless and your emotions dead! Silva not only matched the hype of following up an amazing start to his series...but managed to exceed every aspect and build a story we probably aren't ready for, but for the love of the gods we want!! Thorns of War is nothing short of🔥

We are dropped in right after the ending events of Seeds (what an ending it was) and get right back into the action we come to expect. However this entry in the Smokesmiths Saga does slow the pace throughout the book...and boy does it work! With more detail into the world, lore, characters and struggle, Silva outdoes himself and creates an amazing addition to the building story and conflict brewing for our returning MC's...along with a few of our fan favorite secondary characters that see more time in the lime light. These characters are fleshed out with much more personality and demand your attention and emotion. Those that were secondary thoughts in book 1 are front and center here and have become must read chapters that has our hearts racing!

Our three mains from the beginning, Gilmore, Rednow and Orbersis still run this Saga and man we couldn't ask for a better arc for each in Thorns! The trials, loss, growth, grief and grit of these three are a true testament to the depths of Silva's writing and creativity. With a epic build up throughout this book, leading to a brutal and mind-blowing climatic showdown that should have us all asking...how do you top that, and for God sakes when will we see it!!?? With the heavy weight match we got at the end, I need answers and I need them now! REDNOW!!!!

Weather you've been reading this series, or you are just now coming across it...don't hesitate to experience the Smoke and everything that hides within! I can say without a doubt, you haven't experienced a story quite like this, take a Breath...make the Jump...embrace the Death!

Thorns of War is a must read for all and most likely a top read for many in 2024! Burn the seeds, take the breath and find the monster within! 4.5⭐ 📚🔥

[Matt Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thorns of War is the second novel in The Smokesmiths, a series by Joao F. Silva. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a honest review.

This second novel is the third instalment in the series and is set a matter of weeks after the conclusion of The Seeds of War, following the battle at Heleronde.

We continue following our three protagonists on their individual but interwoven stories. We are also introduced to some secondary characters that add real value and depth.

The main protagonists are well developed, and they have clear yet unique voices, which is essential in a novel such as this which rotates between multiple points of view.

The author continues to adds further layers to the Smokesmith lore, and we see greater development of world building within this book specifically from a geographical perspective.

One of the main elements which differentiates this from the first book is the inclusion of Gods, this escalation of the story feels very appropriate.

The relationship between the Gods and their subjects is really one of the main strands of the book. The author uses this to pose some interesting questions about religion more widely.

As with the previous novel I think the author has paced this story extremely well, as a reader I was completely engaged and genuinely surprised how quickly I completed the book.

Thorns of War is an intricately woven dark fantasy story, which includes gritty character arcs, political intrigue and significant religious questioning.

This is all brought together in the kind of epic crescendo we are coming to expect from Joao F. Silva. Highly Recommended!

[Jonathan Mayers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorns of War is the sequel to Seeds of War, part of The Smokesmiths series. Whilst Seeds of War had a few flaws with regards to spelling and grammatical issues and pacing that could have been dealt with a little better, I really enjoyed it (as well as the prequel novella, Ruins of Smoke) and the world that Silva developed, so I was looking forward to Thorns of War.

Going in, I was worried that the pacing was going to drag at the beginning again (without spoiling too much from the first book, it just felt like that would be the natural course following its events), so I was pleasantly surprised with how things kicked off. There certainly were a few chapters of scene-setting and reintroducing the reader to the characters, but the peace, inevitably, did not last long. Silva raised the stakes early on which helped to create an even darker tone than the first book. The first act was full of tense moments and shocks, and I was pretty much transfixed.

The rest of the book was entertaining and a lot of fun to read, but I felt that the second and third acts didn’t reach the heights of the first act (not figuratively, anyway – physically, they certainly did!). In contrast to the first book, Thorns of War started off explosively, meandered a little but had some great action scenes, but then I felt that the climax didn’t hit me. There was a huge build up to a war, and Silva did a fantastic job with increasing the tension and anticipation for it. But then…and I will try not to spoil anything…a stupid decision was made by a character, and it just felt out of place to me, in turn dampening the rest of the book. Chaos and carnage followed, naturally, but once I finished the book, I found myself thinking a lot about the first act than the rest of it.

I must preface this next paragraph by writing that I received an ARC of Thorns of War from Silva, and that its accompanying message stated that the book has been edited but unproofed, but unfortunately there were quite a lot of typos and grammatical errors. I generally try to let these pass by but it got to a point where they were quite distracting. Sometimes there were repeating words, missing words or incorrect prepositions. There were also instances of things being repeated over and over again – I think it was to make sure that the reader understood why a character would be feeling a certain way, or what their motivations were, but I would have appreciated if the reader could be trusted a little more (especially with the excellent ‘the story so far’ section that Silva included at the beginning of the book). I hope that the final published version will eradicate these errors, but I worry as I purchased a published version (not an ARC) of Seeds of War last year and there were similar issues with that. I just felt there could have been a bit more of a polish (but, as I mentioned, let’s hope these are cleared up in time for its release!).

Back to a big positive for the book (and perhaps the strongest aspect of it): the characterisation. Silva excels in this. The three POVs from Seeds of War have been fleshed out a lot more, as well as some of the secondary characters. In the first book, I found Rednow to not be a particularly unique character – an old fighter with a troubled past, which I’ve seen before in many books. But in Thorns of War, he goes through a huge development which I didn’t see coming, and by the end of the book he ended up being my favourite POV. His chapters were fun, intriguing and full of warmth, despite the tough events he’s had to go through.

Overall, Thorns of War is an ambitious and entertaining book. The magic system is interesting and it’s exciting to see what powers characters get from breathing in the smoke from herbs. Whilst there are a few things that I wish could be improved, I had a lot of fun with Thorns of War and look forward to the next entry in The Smokesmiths.

Thank you to João F. Silva for providing me with an eARC of Thorns of War in exchange for an honest review.

[Morgan Shank · Rating 4 out of 5]

João F. Silva's second entry in the Smokesmiths' series doesn't hold back. After the events of the second novel, you might have guessed the scope of where the sequel might be headed...but I bet you'd STILL be surprised.

Silva's first novel hints at the powers to come, and here, they explode onto the battlefield in full-force. All your favorite characters wrestle with literal world-changing events as themes of genocide, war, loss, and trauma are explored.

This book may be safely deemed "grimdark" in that the characters continue to wrestle through moral quandaries and crisis related to war. There were only a few characters I might have labeled "heroes"...and by the novel's end, you might not like where they ended up!

Speaking of endings...this one is heavy. The stakes are raised unbelievably high for book three, and Silva clearly has something big up his sleeve. Don't read this book if you like happy, nice novels where all your characters survive intact and the happily ever after is attained.

This novel's conclusion might upset you...and I can't thank Silva enough for daring to end it as he did!

[Joebot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found family. Overthrowing monarchies. Gods existing in shades of gray.

This, like book one last year, hit hard for me. The amount of plot, action, and emotion that Joao is able to fit into 414 pages....top tier skill. The POV cast grew in this one in nothing but good ways.

Love this story. Love these characters. Love this setting. Love this series. Love this author.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this sequel to book 1, raised the stakes a lot and I am interested on where things will go from here. Would definitely recommend

[Ross MacBaisey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great continuation of the series! Tons of fun. Team Gilmore forever

[Vinay Badri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empire Strikes Back with a side of Dagger & Coin

I received an ARC of the book from the author & my thoughts below reflect my honest feelings about the book

Escalation is the name of the game in this thrilling second installment of the Smokesmith Saga. Cosmic conflicts erupt side by side with at-ground character conflicts with no character truly being spared pain - even the on-paper bad guys. This is truly an outstanding sequel that goes from strength to strength right from the get-go.


Second books often almost serve as place-holders. while also following certain templates of storytelling. The world gets expanded, and characters find newer conflicts while the ending typically adheres to the "Night is Darkest before the Dawn" adage. Thorns of War adheres to it almost faithfully but it's never boring or predictable. The sheer intensity of the book makes for a relentless read. The status quo is almost immediately and violently disrupted and characters are uprooted to face their failures and demons.


Gimlore, ascendant at the end of book 1, gets dragged down literally and figuratively and has to figure out a way to get past losses. Rednow looking forward to a peaceful retired life gets anything but that. Orberesis remains the most intriguing character in this series - weak, easily manipulated, and housing a god. Suffering from grandeur of self-delusion, he is also the worst kind of liar - the one who believes his own lies.

“Perhaps wishing for peace had been a tad naive of him”

Character work drives this series - the internal conflict raging along with the rapidly escalating external world-changing conflict. None of this however comes at the cost of plot. The pacing is absolutely scintillating which makes the book insanely unputdownable. You don't even realize and within no time, you are at 40%. The storytelling element in this book is so strong that its only late in the game the author brings back attention to the driving plot element of the first book

“Fighting had given her everything she had but it also had taken so much away”

On the flip side, this breathless pace gives the logistics a bit of a Game of Thrones Season 7 feel. Time seems to be a bit of a fluid concept and sometimes some characters experience time differently than the reader (something I faced in Dune 2 as well)

“The lamb forgets its loyalty to the shepherd when presented with greener pastures”

As befits a second book, the ending is suitably apocalyptic and hopeless for our leads. Hope exists in pockets specifically the way Rednow approaches the conflict. The emergence of a key supporting character elevated into a PoV in this book and the character's development also holds promise.

Thorns of War is truly the Empire Strikes Back of this series and absolutely elevates the series in terms of character development and plot. The third book promises to be a banger and can't come soon enough.

Rating - 4 monstrous beings on 5

[Jord MiddleofNowhere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted on SFF Insiders website:

https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/revi...

Thorns of War is a thrilling sequel that has one of my favorite magic systems that has been written. The smoke magic from the initial Seeds of War is something that is extremely visual and a powerful type of magic that elicits chills as they come into the battlefield. The sequel brings the return of the characters that I thoroughly enjoyed, a little while after the epic conclusion of the first novel. The author doesn’t waste time in upping the stakes and getting the reader back into the thick of a world that is being torn apart from two warring god-like entities. The characters really make the stakes come to life, pulling on the emotions of the reader, hoping to see them accomplish the things that they want to do.

The strength of the novel definitely are the characters. Each of them take a turn as the highlight of who I wanted to stay focused on. It was a little different from the first novel as it is much more evident of how the actions of one character influences what happens with another. There is the addition of a couple more POV characters in this novel that provide a breath of fresh air in adding another layer of intrigue and wonder. The one thing that pulled me out of the novel consistently was the time jumps. It was not explicitly explained how much time had passed when jumping from a point of view to another. These jumps, for one reason or another, hit me differently than I would normally expect. I honestly believe this is more of a personal issue rather than a major issue of the novel. It did not take long for me to get back into the story. I did not find the story to suck me in as much as the first one, but it was still a great continuation to the whole story. I think that readers that are able to read them back to back will find it an extremely enjoyable adventure.

The author has created something that is truly epic in scope and brings it to life in a brilliant and exciting way. The stakes are much higher and it is easier to see where the story is going with all of the characters being moved to different areas and learning more abilities. Some of the characters really grow in surprising ways and can become new favorites very quickly. There are also some incredibly heart wrenching moments that occur in the novel that will leave readers in a state of shock. Once again, the smoke magic plays a part, but did seem to be a little less involved than in the first one. But when it makes an appearance, it is definitely worth the wait. This novel is a worthy sequel and one that readers and fans of the first novel will not be disappointed by.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!

[Nick Procter · Rating 5 out of 5]

After massively enjoying Seeds of War and the prequel novella Ruins of Smoke, I was eagerly anticipating Thorns of War and I'm delighted to say it proved to be even more epic than its predecessors.

Somehow, Silva has outdone himself in not only upping the ante in this sequel but also raising the bar with his excellent wordsmithing.

With Seeds, I suspected The Smokesmiths was going to become one of the outstanding fantasy series of our time. After finishing Thorns, I now know it is.

The Known World is an imaginative and engrossing setting, populated by rival powers and exotic creatures, and laying the groundwork for a gripping multi-layered tale of political scheming, ancient lore, feuding, manipulative gods, awesome magic and dysfunctional people doing their best to survive in a harsh world.

The scope is huge and impressive but what's even more impressive is how the focus on character delivers the emotional connections and impact to leave you breathless amid all the smoke magic action and devastation.

The nuanced and captivating characters are extraordinary in every sense. Firstly, for not being moulded from the standard ye olde fantasy tropes of yesteryear. These are people with all the quirks, issues, qualities, conditions and backgrounds real life throws at us. And secondly, they're extraordinary for how they uniquely deal with their situations; their predicaments, traumas and opportunities.

It's a slice of real life hardship, angst, snark, grit, determination, weakness, regret, greed, guilt, loyalty, redemption and bravery in a fantastical setting.

Silva is equally adept at handling the complex relationships between these fascinating characters - the raw anger, the love, the tenderness, as well as their internal conflict as they face challenge after challenge - as he is at writing searingly hot battle sequences.

And it's this storytelling mastery which makes the results absolutely spellbinding.

I was dancing on hot coals every step of the way with the characters as they faced everything this brutally ingenious author threw at them.

If you love epic, dark fantasy with innovative magic, terrifying beasts, complex, diverse and compelling characters, lashings of breathtaking combat and high emotional intensity, The Smokesmiths series is for you.

I received a digital advance reader copy of Thorns Of War and this is a voluntary, honest review.

[Marco Landi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stelle
Il primo romanzo di Silva mi era piaciuto ma mancava di qualcosa.. La trama non era troppo epica, e il sistema magico del fumo non troppo sfruttato.. però presentava un Worldbuilding molto creativo e nell' insieme mi era piaciuto..

Ecco, in questo secondo volume arriva la trama grande ed epica, con le divinità che fanno i capricci, e il sistema magico finalmente da il via a combattimenti grafici davvero impattanti!! Secondo me doveroso aver prima letto la novella prequel, perché aiuta a capire molto.. mi è piaciuto soprattutto il fatto che il sistema magico del fumo da poteri diversi a seconda della persona, ma che ha anche effetti collaterali enormi.. Troppo fumo e i polmoni collassano, malattie, limitazioni e invalidità.. originale..

Ci sono pochi momenti morti, forse nella parte centrale c'è un po' troppa preparazione alla battaglia finale che sa un po' di classica costruzione, ma comunque ci sono diversi avvenimenti interessanti..
Croce e delizia del tutto è il modo rapido con cui si avvicendano gli avvenimenti: se da un lato questo dà brio, evitando momenti morti e velocizzando le cose, dall'altro a volte ho avuto l impressione che le cose si evolvessero in modo un po' precipitoso e poco naturale, un po' forzato..

Ho trovato però non solo la scrittura di Silva maturata, ma anche i suoi personaggi.. mi sono piaciuti davvero tutti.. molto umani, imperfetti, tridimensionali e ognuno tratteggiato molto bene.. anche i secondari.. tra i miei preferiti Nork e Nosema.. e uno in particolare ha l evoluzione più assurda e micidiale che un personaggio possa avere..

Forse mi sono mancati un po' di colpi di scena durante lo sviluppo.. e le motivazioni dell Antico le ho trovate un pochino deboli a tratti con la fissazione con i Corni di Lanterna... ma il finale è davvero spettacolare!!! La trovata finale unica, da sicuramente una mezza stella in più, e spazza via le incertezze e apre a un proseguo di saga davvero pieno di possibilità interessanti!!!

[Yusuf Alaradi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal. The character work improved from the first book as it displayed changes in character dynamics without forgoing who the person truly is. I felt connected to the cast way more. Even when it’s a character I dislike, I can’t help but pity and understand them. The books characters are all broken in some way or another yet we are drawn into their struggles and end up rooting for them. Even the gods themselves have depth and complexity which makes me doubt a lot of the events in the books as each perspective is biased in its own right. His representation of grief felt so real as it wasn’t just a glossed over thing and permeated the story throughout pivotal points to show the profound impact the loss caused. A lot of the story circles around found family and between all the grit and gore, there are moments of wholesomeness which are like a breath of fresh air. We get to see more of the world and some politicking but not in such an extent as the first book which was fine and accentuated the need for haste in the book. I don’t usually pay attention to fights in books as I get lost, but the writing and depiction of battle along with the magic system kept me engaged completely that I devoured every single word. My one gripe would be the unfortunate issue with how some character deaths were spoiled for me before starting the book as I was browsing through the dramatis personae and some characters who survived the first book were marked as deceased. But that was not a big deal as it was very early on that I got over it quickly and got caught up in this spectacular story :)


Thank you João Silva for this series and I’m looking forward to reading more :D

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Empire Strikes Back" of the Smokesmiths Saga. Intensity picks up, stakes are raised.

Silva does not hold back any punches as what these characters (and this world) are forced to deal with. Gimlore especially is put through a living hell. But a common theme of these books is togetherness and unity, and it is especially rewarding to see the heart that some of these characters display. I'm looking at Keryon, Solvi, Merie, and Nork (the latter gets his own POV this book), their unique relationships with Gimlore, Rednow, and each other- the payoff there was excellent. The last few sentences of the book certainly displays heart, and that exact moment was my favorite of the book.

Oberesis is an interesting character, set up to be a chosen avatar against that of Rednow (The Old One vs. The Essence). Oberesis reminds me of Nathair from The Faithful and the Fallen. He's not a sociopathic villain, in fact he does look down on traditional values of villainy. Oberesis is also being controlled, even dating back to the intense headaches from the first book. However, Oberesis lacks the courage or true motivation to stand up to his role in the unfolding situation, hence my Nathair comparison.

One final note- Silva improves a lot on his prose from the first book. I really enjoyed "Seeds of War", but that would've been regarded as the main weakness. This is not a problem here for this book, Silva is rapidly improving in his writing style.

This is a good series, by an emerging author. More people are learning about how great all of this is. I'm eagerly awaiting the third (and final?) book of The Smokesmiths, it's going to be one helluva ending.

(Reviewed an early ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review)

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start with that - I loved Seeds of War and I loved Thorns of War even more!
Let me say that more books should have such a cool Bestiary at the start, and it helps imagine more clearly all the cool beast we encounter in the book. Furthermore, a helpful summary of the story so far (but definitely should read Seeds of War AND Ruins of Smoke for a full experience!)
A quiet start where we get the chance to follow the outcome of everything that happened to our character in the first book,
In Thorns of War the writing style is even better, and I love how natural the conversations between the characters feel and the way he continues to build the world around them.
This installment is grittier with more suffering for our characters, not only physically but mentally. Combined with the absolutely epic battles, beasts, power and gods, it creates nothing short of an addictive world to immerse into.
To be honest, my favorite and captivating thing is that the characters are not pristine perfect and exactly their flaws and stumbles makes them feel closer to the reader and alive.
With the rate at which João raises the level of his storytelling, he gained a loyal reader in my humble persona.

[Donna Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

ARC provided by the author.

Thorns of War was one of my most anticipated books to be released this year and it most definitely lived up to all my expectations!! Not only did the story go in directions that were so intriguing, but the character work throughout makes this book a real winner. As the battle between the Old One and the Essence continues, our characters are forced to deal with shifting loyalties, new creatures, battles, deaths and grief. The inner battles that many of the characters work through in the story are a highlight and for me the journey that both Gimlore and Solvi go through are so wonderfully written and add so much heart to the entire story. I also loved that several of the side characters in book 1 get significant time here and have such a large impact on the events that occur. Orberesis is certainly developing into one of the most complex characters that you most definitely want to smack upside the head!! I would love to say I have a clue where this is heading after THAT ending......but I am so excited to see where all of this is going in the next book!!

[E.J. J Doble · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐

After thoroughly enjoying Seeds of War - with a nail biting finale that seemed to tear the fabric of the world apart at the seams - I was concerned about whether the sequel would be able to ascend to those same dizzying heights. And so, when Silva offered out advanced copies to review, I leapt at the chance to try it out - and although being a very different book to its predecessor, Thorns of War is a standout sequel that culminated with perfect design. The characters were weathered but hopeful; the dialogue was free flowing (although suffered with "one-swear-word-ness" towards the second half); the world and concepts were expansive and captivating; the build to the finale, although slowing up in the middle portion, produced a fantastic payoff; and the scene that has been set for the next installment leaves the doors wide open in all the right ways. I thoroughly enjoyed the book overall, and can't wait to see what Silva does next!