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The Reverence Chosen
A noblebright epic fantasy full of profound thoughts on the beauty of human dignity
With the reconquest of the nation of Nademan, some light has returned to the world of Icilia. The Quest of Freedom has been victorious in the first part of their war against the Blood-soaked Sorcerer, and now they look to the second.
But just as Lucian, Malika, Elian, Arista, and Kyros finally finish their preparations, a scream echoes through the night. A sign that the protections around Icilia’s most sacred places, the athar mountains of Asfiya, are breaking. And soon after arrives the news that the Blood-soaked Sorcerer is coming — with an army vast enough to blacken the plains.
Rushing west, the Quest finds a nation on the brink of madness. The hallowed cities are too filthy to endure, and the people they have come to save are more than lost — they are cruel themselves. Yet the Quest must save them — all of them — before the enemy reaches Asfiya. For, if they fail in the least degree, the cost will be in the currency of souls.
With such high stakes and such little time, they cannot escape the Does even the Divine truly possess the power to defeat the encroaching darkness?
Amena Jamali continues on her literary career with a haunting new adult fantasy tale of found family, strong heroines, and gentle heroes that ponders the meaning of human dignity amid a clash of absolute good and absolute evil. Fans of The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Eragon will savor this story of redemption, mercy, and hope in the darkest of times.
Please remember that this series contains multiple references to mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and post-traumatic flashbacks, and to traumatic topics such as executions, cannibalism, slavery, devastating hunger, disturbing scenes of uncleanliness, grievous wounds and diseases, rape, and violence of numerous forms, including the last six of these directed toward children. No explicit language is ever used, and the prose is thoughtful and respectful, but the references may still be triggering for some readers. Please see amenajamali.com/trigger-warnings for additional details.
With the reconquest of the nation of Nademan, some light has returned to the world of Icilia. The Quest of Freedom has been victorious in the first part of their war against the Blood-soaked Sorcerer, and now they look to the second.
But just as Lucian, Malika, Elian, Arista, and Kyros finally finish their preparations, a scream echoes through the night. A sign that the protections around Icilia’s most sacred places, the athar mountains of Asfiya, are breaking. And soon after arrives the news that the Blood-soaked Sorcerer is coming — with an army vast enough to blacken the plains.
Rushing west, the Quest finds a nation on the brink of madness. The hallowed cities are too filthy to endure, and the people they have come to save are more than lost — they are cruel themselves. Yet the Quest must save them — all of them — before the enemy reaches Asfiya. For, if they fail in the least degree, the cost will be in the currency of souls.
With such high stakes and such little time, they cannot escape the Does even the Divine truly possess the power to defeat the encroaching darkness?
Amena Jamali continues on her literary career with a haunting new adult fantasy tale of found family, strong heroines, and gentle heroes that ponders the meaning of human dignity amid a clash of absolute good and absolute evil. Fans of The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Eragon will savor this story of redemption, mercy, and hope in the darkest of times.
Please remember that this series contains multiple references to mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and post-traumatic flashbacks, and to traumatic topics such as executions, cannibalism, slavery, devastating hunger, disturbing scenes of uncleanliness, grievous wounds and diseases, rape, and violence of numerous forms, including the last six of these directed toward children. No explicit language is ever used, and the prose is thoughtful and respectful, but the references may still be triggering for some readers. Please see amenajamali.com/trigger-warnings for additional details.
710 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2024
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Amena Jamali
10 books42 followersAmena Jamali lives a life animated by the coolness of shrewd logic, the vibrancy of ambitious passion, and the exaltedness of deep morals and philosophy. Her lenses of choice for viewing the world are faith, gratitude, empathy, love, and clear-sighted rationale and strategy. She is many things: devout Muslim, dutiful daughter, patriotic American, thoughtful political activist in the making, blossoming cybersecurity professional, and—not least of all—a writer of epic fantasy.
That last, her epic fantasy writings, holds the essence of all of her hopes, ponderings, and dreams, the substance of her musings about philosophy, and the explorations of her ideas about politics. As her writing evidences, she cares deeply about the power of truth, respectful and reverent discourse, and the formation of a truly inclusive and empowering society that values free choice and the pursuit of virtue for all.
Because of what this story means to her, it is her wish that her books are found to be a source of hope and enlightenment. She prays that every reader falls in love with her characters, as she has, and that their story sets her readers free.
To learn more about Amena’s books and to connect with her, please visit www.amenajamali.com. There one may find links to the social media platforms that Amena uses, a form for subscribing to her newsletter, and bonus chapters!
That last, her epic fantasy writings, holds the essence of all of her hopes, ponderings, and dreams, the substance of her musings about philosophy, and the explorations of her ideas about politics. As her writing evidences, she cares deeply about the power of truth, respectful and reverent discourse, and the formation of a truly inclusive and empowering society that values free choice and the pursuit of virtue for all.
Because of what this story means to her, it is her wish that her books are found to be a source of hope and enlightenment. She prays that every reader falls in love with her characters, as she has, and that their story sets her readers free.
To learn more about Amena’s books and to connect with her, please visit www.amenajamali.com. There one may find links to the social media platforms that Amena uses, a form for subscribing to her newsletter, and bonus chapters!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 17, 2025
The Reverence Chosen swept me off my feet and straight into the wildly imaginative realm of Amena Jamali’s Icilia, where four wounded yet determined twenty-somethings are only just beginning to grow into their powers as they learn to understand the depth of their leader’s esteem. Jamali’s Lucian and his Potentates are the perfect embodiment of chosen family, and one of the most beautiful aspects of their relationship is that they give and receive affection so freely. Platonic kisses “I love you”s exchanged between two men? The lawful good leader weeping openly? Yes please! In general, I find it wholly refreshing to read about characters who feel so deeply and show their emotions to one another so openly.
Everything in this novel feels intentionally crafted, and the breadth and depth of the lore as well as the intricacies of the setting are nothing short of astounding. In a novel of this length, with world building this rich, one might expect some tedious infodumping, but Jamali skillfully selects the right scenes to dwell on while skipping what’s non-essential and working with flash-forwards, flash-backs and flashes between different POVs. This way, the lore continues to enrich the reader’s understanding of the plot without bogging it down. There’s no infodumping in this brick-sized novel — a rare and remarkable feat.
I usually skim or skip the battle scenes in high fantasy novels because I can’t follow them anyway — but I found myself clinging to every word in Jamali’s action sequences (of which there are many) because she has a knack for building tension and maintaining momentum, even across multiple settings and points of view. I am in awe of Jamali’s ability to set up battle plans like interlocking mosaics of dominoes, and following their cascading effect as they finally toppled was truly rewarding. I particularly enjoyed the fact that all of the main and supporting characters have their own signature fighting style, with battle mechanics I’ve never encountered in any other fantasy novel before. I didn’t think I could be captivated by this sort of thing, but here we are.
Lastly, I should mention that there are descriptions of, as well as allusions to, extreme gratuitous violence in this novel. Nevertheless, if my kids decide to pick up these books in elementary school, I won’t stop them. The horrendous impact of disregarding the value of life is what Jamali centers throughout her novels. The disability rep is fantastic, and while her books don’t offer any cheap and easy fixes of the “wow thanks, I’m cured” variety, Jamali’s novel offers hope to the sufferers of chronic pain and trauma by showing the powerful impact of an accepting and accommodating community.
Amena Jamali has become an auto-buy author for me, and I’m grateful to have the discovered the Potentates of the Second Quest, who have captured my heart with their dignity and devotion to being the light in abject darkness.
Everything in this novel feels intentionally crafted, and the breadth and depth of the lore as well as the intricacies of the setting are nothing short of astounding. In a novel of this length, with world building this rich, one might expect some tedious infodumping, but Jamali skillfully selects the right scenes to dwell on while skipping what’s non-essential and working with flash-forwards, flash-backs and flashes between different POVs. This way, the lore continues to enrich the reader’s understanding of the plot without bogging it down. There’s no infodumping in this brick-sized novel — a rare and remarkable feat.
I usually skim or skip the battle scenes in high fantasy novels because I can’t follow them anyway — but I found myself clinging to every word in Jamali’s action sequences (of which there are many) because she has a knack for building tension and maintaining momentum, even across multiple settings and points of view. I am in awe of Jamali’s ability to set up battle plans like interlocking mosaics of dominoes, and following their cascading effect as they finally toppled was truly rewarding. I particularly enjoyed the fact that all of the main and supporting characters have their own signature fighting style, with battle mechanics I’ve never encountered in any other fantasy novel before. I didn’t think I could be captivated by this sort of thing, but here we are.
Lastly, I should mention that there are descriptions of, as well as allusions to, extreme gratuitous violence in this novel. Nevertheless, if my kids decide to pick up these books in elementary school, I won’t stop them. The horrendous impact of disregarding the value of life is what Jamali centers throughout her novels. The disability rep is fantastic, and while her books don’t offer any cheap and easy fixes of the “wow thanks, I’m cured” variety, Jamali’s novel offers hope to the sufferers of chronic pain and trauma by showing the powerful impact of an accepting and accommodating community.
Amena Jamali has become an auto-buy author for me, and I’m grateful to have the discovered the Potentates of the Second Quest, who have captured my heart with their dignity and devotion to being the light in abject darkness.
May 8, 2024
The Reverence Chosen by Amena Jamali
Having read the prequel and first book in this poignant epic fantasy series, I knew to expect a vast scope, tender platonic scenes between characters, and a powerful story of faith pitted against despair, and true goodness against nightmarish evil. This book delivers all of that and more!
While in the last bookI struggled to pinpoint my favorite character from the cast of unique and inspiring heroes, in this one I was drawn constantly to Elian. Elian who suffers heartbreak, loneliness, and despair — yet he uses these things to serve others rather than give in and give up. There are several scenes in particular that warmed me through and brought a tear to my eye. The way music plays a part in this book (and the series) is very special.
Along with the beautiful, healing, uplifting moments, there are many moments of darkness and doubt, and of the ugliness and brutality of war. I confess, there are several gruesome scenes I had to skim over or skip entirely. Sensitive readers, tread carefully. I respect and value the author’s efforts to showcase what true evil looks like, and to do with it care, but it was still too much at points for me. Read the triggers at the front of the book carefully before proceeding.
The writing is lovely, and many times, truly profound. At its heart, The Reverence Chosen is a story of finding and keeping faith in the darkest hour, and of the power of healing found in forgiveness and mercy. A worthy second installment in a smart, sweeping, ambitious tale for readers who enjoy faith-focused fantasy on a grand scale.
Having read the prequel and first book in this poignant epic fantasy series, I knew to expect a vast scope, tender platonic scenes between characters, and a powerful story of faith pitted against despair, and true goodness against nightmarish evil. This book delivers all of that and more!
While in the last bookI struggled to pinpoint my favorite character from the cast of unique and inspiring heroes, in this one I was drawn constantly to Elian. Elian who suffers heartbreak, loneliness, and despair — yet he uses these things to serve others rather than give in and give up. There are several scenes in particular that warmed me through and brought a tear to my eye. The way music plays a part in this book (and the series) is very special.
Along with the beautiful, healing, uplifting moments, there are many moments of darkness and doubt, and of the ugliness and brutality of war. I confess, there are several gruesome scenes I had to skim over or skip entirely. Sensitive readers, tread carefully. I respect and value the author’s efforts to showcase what true evil looks like, and to do with it care, but it was still too much at points for me. Read the triggers at the front of the book carefully before proceeding.
The writing is lovely, and many times, truly profound. At its heart, The Reverence Chosen is a story of finding and keeping faith in the darkest hour, and of the power of healing found in forgiveness and mercy. A worthy second installment in a smart, sweeping, ambitious tale for readers who enjoy faith-focused fantasy on a grand scale.
May 26, 2024
*Disclaimer: I am the author of this book.*
The Reverence Chosen, Book Two, feels like almost more of an accomplishment than The Bell Tolling, Book One. This seven-hundred-page tome took three years to write and edit — three years full of doubt, guilt, and heart-wrenching anguish — and hope. With every completed chapter, my hope rose a little higher than someday I would see the whole book completed, and as a whole the experience greatly refined my writing, my skills as a storyteller, and my confidence as an author. I hope the completion of this book is a sign that the rest of my series will also come to fruition.
The Reverence Chosen is epic fantasy, with sweeping vistas, crumbling ruins, high stake battles, and grand swirls of magic. It is intense with drama, both personal and communal, and resplendent with growth, both that of individuals and that of nations. And through every scene and every action is the perfume of the heroes and their people learning the meaning of human dignity, the value of every soul, and the grandeur of choice. That last, choice, is the theme of themes for this book. Every person, from the villains to the average citizens to the Divine Itself, has choices to make in this book, and the threads of those choices together weave a tale of power, virtue, and tears that is full of faith and feminist at the same time. It is a story meant to be enjoyed slowly, with every chapter tasted, touched, and witnessed, until all of it forms a clear impression in the reader’s mind.
Thus are my hopes for The Reverence Chosen, a story born from the deepest places of my heart, and thus are the experiences I invite every potential reader to share with me.
The Reverence Chosen, Book Two, feels like almost more of an accomplishment than The Bell Tolling, Book One. This seven-hundred-page tome took three years to write and edit — three years full of doubt, guilt, and heart-wrenching anguish — and hope. With every completed chapter, my hope rose a little higher than someday I would see the whole book completed, and as a whole the experience greatly refined my writing, my skills as a storyteller, and my confidence as an author. I hope the completion of this book is a sign that the rest of my series will also come to fruition.
The Reverence Chosen is epic fantasy, with sweeping vistas, crumbling ruins, high stake battles, and grand swirls of magic. It is intense with drama, both personal and communal, and resplendent with growth, both that of individuals and that of nations. And through every scene and every action is the perfume of the heroes and their people learning the meaning of human dignity, the value of every soul, and the grandeur of choice. That last, choice, is the theme of themes for this book. Every person, from the villains to the average citizens to the Divine Itself, has choices to make in this book, and the threads of those choices together weave a tale of power, virtue, and tears that is full of faith and feminist at the same time. It is a story meant to be enjoyed slowly, with every chapter tasted, touched, and witnessed, until all of it forms a clear impression in the reader’s mind.
Thus are my hopes for The Reverence Chosen, a story born from the deepest places of my heart, and thus are the experiences I invite every potential reader to share with me.
May 10, 2024
An excellent sequel!
Lots of action, new heroes and villains, expansion of the world, and a strong emotional core.
The scope of the story expands as our heroes continue their reconquest, and as we see both more of Icilia and more of the threat posed by the Blood-Soaked Sorcerer.
We also learn more about the history of some of our heroes. All of these elements work together to make a cohesive and satisfying story.
Lots of action, new heroes and villains, expansion of the world, and a strong emotional core.
The scope of the story expands as our heroes continue their reconquest, and as we see both more of Icilia and more of the threat posed by the Blood-Soaked Sorcerer.
We also learn more about the history of some of our heroes. All of these elements work together to make a cohesive and satisfying story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews