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Obsidian #2
Obsidian: Revelation: Book 2 of the Obsidian Fantasy Series
Don’t plan on taking breaks, and don’t cry for mercy, this book will give you none.
“Uncompromising, relentless, this story rides the razor's edge of hard choices, survival, and delivers with such ferocity, there is no resting space, no kindly moment of respite, and no letup for any of the characters. Love and hate, retribution and bitter cold vengeance collide with the coals of passionate love denied by cultural barriers, as political powers collide, an empire crumbles, and bloody war rides the course of history and tradition.”
— Janny Wurts, author of War of Light and Shadow series,
The continuation of 5 INDIE INK AWARDS WINNER, BBNYA semi-finalist, and one of Grimdark Magazine’s “absolute masterpiece” epic fantasy title, Revelation picks up the relentless journey of seven damaged heroes after the events that turned all their lives upside down, forcing them to carry the irreversible damages of the past as they face the impossible future and dark secrets that emerge to throw the peninsula into further chaos.
For experienced Obsidian readers and survivors of book 1, Obsidian Awakening, ONLY.Finishing book 1, Awakening, first is MANDATORY to understanding book 2.The series cannot be read out of order.All trigger warnings imaginable may apply. If you have survived book 1, you will survive book 2.Due to the devastating nature of this series, an emotional support group is available and open for all readers to join. Details inside all formats and on the author's official website.From Book 1, AwakeningTwenty years after the massacre of the Vilarhiti, the future of the peninsula falls into the hands of its seven victims of a slave male escort turned assassin, a vengeful warlord’s teenage daughter, her secretive oracle brother, the conqueror they must defeat, his captive bride who lives to see him die, their conflicted half blood son, and a mysterious mastermind who makes sure they all dance to his tune.
As Fate demands from them all unimaginable sacrifices in the name of peace and freedom, can they survive each other and save the peninsula from themselves, or will they choose to burn it all down?
“Uncompromising, relentless, this story rides the razor's edge of hard choices, survival, and delivers with such ferocity, there is no resting space, no kindly moment of respite, and no letup for any of the characters. Love and hate, retribution and bitter cold vengeance collide with the coals of passionate love denied by cultural barriers, as political powers collide, an empire crumbles, and bloody war rides the course of history and tradition.”
— Janny Wurts, author of War of Light and Shadow series,
The continuation of 5 INDIE INK AWARDS WINNER, BBNYA semi-finalist, and one of Grimdark Magazine’s “absolute masterpiece” epic fantasy title, Revelation picks up the relentless journey of seven damaged heroes after the events that turned all their lives upside down, forcing them to carry the irreversible damages of the past as they face the impossible future and dark secrets that emerge to throw the peninsula into further chaos.
For experienced Obsidian readers and survivors of book 1, Obsidian Awakening, ONLY.Finishing book 1, Awakening, first is MANDATORY to understanding book 2.The series cannot be read out of order.All trigger warnings imaginable may apply. If you have survived book 1, you will survive book 2.Due to the devastating nature of this series, an emotional support group is available and open for all readers to join. Details inside all formats and on the author's official website.From Book 1, AwakeningTwenty years after the massacre of the Vilarhiti, the future of the peninsula falls into the hands of its seven victims of a slave male escort turned assassin, a vengeful warlord’s teenage daughter, her secretive oracle brother, the conqueror they must defeat, his captive bride who lives to see him die, their conflicted half blood son, and a mysterious mastermind who makes sure they all dance to his tune.
As Fate demands from them all unimaginable sacrifices in the name of peace and freedom, can they survive each other and save the peninsula from themselves, or will they choose to burn it all down?
- GenresFantasy
747 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 25, 2024
About the author
Sienna Frost
9 books71 followersSienna Frost is a mother, a wife, and a traveler who has spent a good ten years writing to entertain only herself and the next two decades sharing her stories online for free. Her previous works have been fan-translated into seven languages and shared around the world. Obsidian is the first book she has decided to publish due to requests from fans who have been following this story on the internet. She does not consider herself a writer. She writes and hopes to find readers who want to share her journey.
Sienna loves to talk to her readers. Visit her on Twitter with this handle: @Siennafrst or on Wattpad.com @siennafrost for more stories from her.
Sienna loves to talk to her readers. Visit her on Twitter with this handle: @Siennafrst or on Wattpad.com @siennafrost for more stories from her.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 22, 2024
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
The sheer audacity of Kajornwan, formerly writing as Sienna Frost, to first publish an absolute masterpiece of a debut novel in Obsidian: Awakening, only to follow that up with a sequel in Obsidian: Revelation that just elevates the entire story to an unparalleled level of grimdark storytelling genius. As the title suggests, this is a sequel full of revelations, but more than that, it’s a sequel of consequences, endurance, trauma, painful growth, tentative hope, love, heartbreak, and just the most exquisite emotional turmoil.
“I come from the desert. My people are prepared to die for something as fragile as honor and pride, however hard that is for a Rashai or a Samarran to understand. You can’t threaten us with death. It doesn’t work that way.”
Now, as much as I gushed in my review of Obsidian: Awakening, there is no denying that it’s quite a slow-burn and boldly unconventional set-up book for the rest of the series. Yet those who have faith in Kajornwan’s vision and show patience and trust in the process (and, you know, those who were strong enough to survive book 1) are rewarded a thousandfold in this sequel. Though, fair warning, that is where Kajornwan’s kindness ends, because the emotional rollercoaster that she puts her characters, and by extension her readers, through in Obsidian: Revelation is absolutely relentless. But dammit, if it doesn’t all just hurt oh so good.
“Sometimes you have to sacrifice one to save a hundred more, or a thousand more. You can’t save victims, not all of them. If you want to change the world, you have to kill the beasts, and you’re going to have to live to do it. Close your ears and eyes if you must. There will be time for retribution, I promise you.”
We pick up roughly a month after the shocking and pivotal events at the end of Obsidian: Awakening, and tensions are now at an all-time high as the war between the Black and White Desert comes ever closer to tearing the entire peninsula apart. But even more so than in book 1, it’s the battles that our seven damaged heroes are fighting in their own minds and the battles of wits and wills between them all that truly drive this entire tragically beautiful trainwreck of a narrative forward.
“Our past is never left behind,” he said. “It makes us who we are at any given time, and it dictates what we do in every situation. If you’re not willing to make peace with your past, then you will never find peace in life. A man who cannot find peace is a monster in disguise.”
The unexpected way that their journeys continued in Obsidian: Revelation probably surprised them just as much as it did me, and I loved how Kajornwan didn’t shy away from showing the heavy impact and devastating consequences of their actions in this sequel. Backstories are unveiled, loyalties shift, schemes unravel, promises are broken, old acquaintances bring new perspectives, bonds are tested beyond belief, and throughout it all we get to know these characters more intimately than I ever thought was possible. Both the most loveable, hateable and mysteriously enigmatic characters just leap off the page, and there were so many moments where I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to hug or strangle them all.
“"Run", he said to the beast, to Fate, to destiny, to the gods who might be listening and the ones that didn’t when his prayers were declined. "Run away or say your prayers. Do it before I count to three. I am the son of Salar Muradi of Rasharwi and the last remaining Bharavi of the Vilarhiti. You do not get to threaten me, here or anywhere, without consequences. Run for your life, motherfucker, before I change my mind. I am the one hunting today, not you."”
For me, the unexpected growth of my favourite snarky half-blood prince Lasura was the absolute highlight of Obsidian: Revelation, not least because he managed to make me cry tears from both hysterical laughter and deep heartache on the same damn page. But honestly, I am not kidding when I say that I could (and would) write an entire essay dissecting every single character and interpersonal relationship in this book. Similarly to in Robin Hobb’s and Joe Abercrombie’s works, you can just feel that Kajornwan understands these characters (or should I say people?) on a deep human level, and the way that she unflinchingly explores themes of mental health, war, cultural identity, the fragility and complexity of parent/child relationships, and the dangerously thin line between love and hate is nothing short of masterful.
“You cannot win your battles without a place to land when you fall, or with a heart that beats for nothing and no one. Love always comes at a price, but it’s what gives us the strength to fight, not our weakness.”
Moreover, it’s wild to me how we’ve got sword fights to the death, a suicide mission of a prison break, an escalating war, and earth-shattering quakes to survive in Obsidian: Revelation, and yet some of the most pulse-pounding scenes are the ones where two characters are simply having a conversation with each other. After all, words are the most dangerous weapons of all, and what hurts more than being cut with secrets, lies, and harsh truths? The sheer number of times that a killer line of dialogue sent shivers down my spine or made me audibly go: “OH SHIT” is honestly not even funny, and I don’t think I have ever highlighted so many profound or hard-hitting quotes before in all my years of reading.
“There are lines that cannot be crossed; things you cannot take from a man and walk out alive. I am that line, and you know it. The entire Salasar knows it. Touch me, and he will give up the throne to see you die.”
The tension and danger truly bleeds off every single page, and whether it was the development of the sick dynamic between Zahara (a.k.a. the most badass bitch queen) and Muradi, the unravelling of Djari and the Sparrow’s bond, the complicated alliance between Lasura and Djari, Deo’s unpredictable scheming, or the forbidden, star-crossed queer romance between Baaku and Nazir, they all just had me in an absolute chokehold. And don’t even get me started on how much I adore the fearsome women in Obsidian: Revelation, the way that they take life by the balls and do anything to survive in a world that is out to get them is honestly beyond inspiring to me.
“The world she lived in hadn’t allowed her to go through life without incident. She hadn’t gotten used to it -no woman could- but one could shut it out sometimes, or simply try to endure.”
Now, I can see how some readers might feel like the unfolding of a few events maybe felt too unbelievably lucky or convenient, but I would personally argue that the level of ‘divine intervention’, if you will, fits perfectly with the larger-than-life legendary quality that permeates every aspect of Kajornwan’s storytelling; there’s this constant sense of dread that larger powers are pulling the strings, and Fate is proven to be an inescapable sadistic bitch time and again. In that way, the Obsidian series reminds me of Guy Gavriel Kay’s or Ken Liu’s low-magic yet entrancingly epic approach to fantasy storytelling, except her skillful prose speaks to my soul in a way that even those masters of their craft have never managed to.
“There would be change, of course, in the pattern of things. That tapestry, after all, had yet to be woven. The gods had plans, yes, but plans changed, and divine beings rarely worked with each other. What was the point of getting visions, anyway, if one couldn’t use them to alter the future? The question was which part of the future to alter, and how it would accommodate his needs.”
There truly isn’t a single scene, sentence or word in this 800+ page chunker that doesn’t carry an incredible amount of weight, tension, and impact, and there are probably another 800 pages worth of content just waiting to be discovered in all the subtext and hidden layers. Obsidian: Revelation is one of those rare books that begs to be savoured and which I actively slowed down to read, both because I didn’t want it to and because I was afraid that it might just end me before getting to the last page.
“I don’t want to die old, safe, and bored with a life story nobody can stretch past a page. I may never be the hero everyone needs, but at least in my own story I can be one. And no good heroes ever run from scars or pain.”
Kajornwan’s relentless storytelling is absolutely not for the faint of heart, but to those who can stomach all the brutality, (sexual) violence, deadly toxicity, and emotional damage, I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. With its rich and breathtaking Middle-Eastern flavoured world building, dynamic cast of damaged and morally questionable heroes, and exceptionally immersive and soul-stirring prose, the Obsidian series is an unmissable and unforgettable emotional journey that just creeps under your skin and will leave you a changed person by the end; it’s not just one of my personal all-time favourites, but I would dare say it’s one of the best, well-crafted and stunningly told stories out there, period.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Obsidian: Revelation is scheduled for release on December 25th, 2024.
The sheer audacity of Kajornwan, formerly writing as Sienna Frost, to first publish an absolute masterpiece of a debut novel in Obsidian: Awakening, only to follow that up with a sequel in Obsidian: Revelation that just elevates the entire story to an unparalleled level of grimdark storytelling genius. As the title suggests, this is a sequel full of revelations, but more than that, it’s a sequel of consequences, endurance, trauma, painful growth, tentative hope, love, heartbreak, and just the most exquisite emotional turmoil.
“I come from the desert. My people are prepared to die for something as fragile as honor and pride, however hard that is for a Rashai or a Samarran to understand. You can’t threaten us with death. It doesn’t work that way.”
Now, as much as I gushed in my review of Obsidian: Awakening, there is no denying that it’s quite a slow-burn and boldly unconventional set-up book for the rest of the series. Yet those who have faith in Kajornwan’s vision and show patience and trust in the process (and, you know, those who were strong enough to survive book 1) are rewarded a thousandfold in this sequel. Though, fair warning, that is where Kajornwan’s kindness ends, because the emotional rollercoaster that she puts her characters, and by extension her readers, through in Obsidian: Revelation is absolutely relentless. But dammit, if it doesn’t all just hurt oh so good.
“Sometimes you have to sacrifice one to save a hundred more, or a thousand more. You can’t save victims, not all of them. If you want to change the world, you have to kill the beasts, and you’re going to have to live to do it. Close your ears and eyes if you must. There will be time for retribution, I promise you.”
We pick up roughly a month after the shocking and pivotal events at the end of Obsidian: Awakening, and tensions are now at an all-time high as the war between the Black and White Desert comes ever closer to tearing the entire peninsula apart. But even more so than in book 1, it’s the battles that our seven damaged heroes are fighting in their own minds and the battles of wits and wills between them all that truly drive this entire tragically beautiful trainwreck of a narrative forward.
“Our past is never left behind,” he said. “It makes us who we are at any given time, and it dictates what we do in every situation. If you’re not willing to make peace with your past, then you will never find peace in life. A man who cannot find peace is a monster in disguise.”
The unexpected way that their journeys continued in Obsidian: Revelation probably surprised them just as much as it did me, and I loved how Kajornwan didn’t shy away from showing the heavy impact and devastating consequences of their actions in this sequel. Backstories are unveiled, loyalties shift, schemes unravel, promises are broken, old acquaintances bring new perspectives, bonds are tested beyond belief, and throughout it all we get to know these characters more intimately than I ever thought was possible. Both the most loveable, hateable and mysteriously enigmatic characters just leap off the page, and there were so many moments where I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to hug or strangle them all.
“"Run", he said to the beast, to Fate, to destiny, to the gods who might be listening and the ones that didn’t when his prayers were declined. "Run away or say your prayers. Do it before I count to three. I am the son of Salar Muradi of Rasharwi and the last remaining Bharavi of the Vilarhiti. You do not get to threaten me, here or anywhere, without consequences. Run for your life, motherfucker, before I change my mind. I am the one hunting today, not you."”
For me, the unexpected growth of my favourite snarky half-blood prince Lasura was the absolute highlight of Obsidian: Revelation, not least because he managed to make me cry tears from both hysterical laughter and deep heartache on the same damn page. But honestly, I am not kidding when I say that I could (and would) write an entire essay dissecting every single character and interpersonal relationship in this book. Similarly to in Robin Hobb’s and Joe Abercrombie’s works, you can just feel that Kajornwan understands these characters (or should I say people?) on a deep human level, and the way that she unflinchingly explores themes of mental health, war, cultural identity, the fragility and complexity of parent/child relationships, and the dangerously thin line between love and hate is nothing short of masterful.
“You cannot win your battles without a place to land when you fall, or with a heart that beats for nothing and no one. Love always comes at a price, but it’s what gives us the strength to fight, not our weakness.”
Moreover, it’s wild to me how we’ve got sword fights to the death, a suicide mission of a prison break, an escalating war, and earth-shattering quakes to survive in Obsidian: Revelation, and yet some of the most pulse-pounding scenes are the ones where two characters are simply having a conversation with each other. After all, words are the most dangerous weapons of all, and what hurts more than being cut with secrets, lies, and harsh truths? The sheer number of times that a killer line of dialogue sent shivers down my spine or made me audibly go: “OH SHIT” is honestly not even funny, and I don’t think I have ever highlighted so many profound or hard-hitting quotes before in all my years of reading.
“There are lines that cannot be crossed; things you cannot take from a man and walk out alive. I am that line, and you know it. The entire Salasar knows it. Touch me, and he will give up the throne to see you die.”
The tension and danger truly bleeds off every single page, and whether it was the development of the sick dynamic between Zahara (a.k.a. the most badass bitch queen) and Muradi, the unravelling of Djari and the Sparrow’s bond, the complicated alliance between Lasura and Djari, Deo’s unpredictable scheming, or the forbidden, star-crossed queer romance between Baaku and Nazir, they all just had me in an absolute chokehold. And don’t even get me started on how much I adore the fearsome women in Obsidian: Revelation, the way that they take life by the balls and do anything to survive in a world that is out to get them is honestly beyond inspiring to me.
“The world she lived in hadn’t allowed her to go through life without incident. She hadn’t gotten used to it -no woman could- but one could shut it out sometimes, or simply try to endure.”
Now, I can see how some readers might feel like the unfolding of a few events maybe felt too unbelievably lucky or convenient, but I would personally argue that the level of ‘divine intervention’, if you will, fits perfectly with the larger-than-life legendary quality that permeates every aspect of Kajornwan’s storytelling; there’s this constant sense of dread that larger powers are pulling the strings, and Fate is proven to be an inescapable sadistic bitch time and again. In that way, the Obsidian series reminds me of Guy Gavriel Kay’s or Ken Liu’s low-magic yet entrancingly epic approach to fantasy storytelling, except her skillful prose speaks to my soul in a way that even those masters of their craft have never managed to.
“There would be change, of course, in the pattern of things. That tapestry, after all, had yet to be woven. The gods had plans, yes, but plans changed, and divine beings rarely worked with each other. What was the point of getting visions, anyway, if one couldn’t use them to alter the future? The question was which part of the future to alter, and how it would accommodate his needs.”
There truly isn’t a single scene, sentence or word in this 800+ page chunker that doesn’t carry an incredible amount of weight, tension, and impact, and there are probably another 800 pages worth of content just waiting to be discovered in all the subtext and hidden layers. Obsidian: Revelation is one of those rare books that begs to be savoured and which I actively slowed down to read, both because I didn’t want it to and because I was afraid that it might just end me before getting to the last page.
“I don’t want to die old, safe, and bored with a life story nobody can stretch past a page. I may never be the hero everyone needs, but at least in my own story I can be one. And no good heroes ever run from scars or pain.”
Kajornwan’s relentless storytelling is absolutely not for the faint of heart, but to those who can stomach all the brutality, (sexual) violence, deadly toxicity, and emotional damage, I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. With its rich and breathtaking Middle-Eastern flavoured world building, dynamic cast of damaged and morally questionable heroes, and exceptionally immersive and soul-stirring prose, the Obsidian series is an unmissable and unforgettable emotional journey that just creeps under your skin and will leave you a changed person by the end; it’s not just one of my personal all-time favourites, but I would dare say it’s one of the best, well-crafted and stunningly told stories out there, period.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Obsidian: Revelation is scheduled for release on December 25th, 2024.
Read
August 31, 2025Uncompromising, relentless, this story rides the razor's edge of hard choices, survival, and delivers with such ferocity, there is no resting space, no kindly moment of respite, and no letup for any of the characters. Love and hate, retribution and bitter cold vengeance collide with the coals of passionate love denied by cultural barriers, as political powers collide, an empire crumbles, and bloody war rides the course of history and tradition.
This is not a comfort read. It is a story of uncompromising ethics instilled by inflexible traditions, roles cut out and raised up for sacrifice, where compromise is made impossible by responsibilities instilled at birth, and by cultural caste and barriers that have ossified beyond hope of change.
All told at a breakneck pace that does not let up from the very first page to the last. Insightful moments with damaged characters whose spirits have been annealed by the most brutal of events, where looking back would shatter the soul, and where going forward, bearing the damages, make the trials the players on both sides vividly spring off the page.
Not for the faint of heart, not for the paste of 'happily ever after' - this is a ferociously passionate story about two cultures in collision - each one seeking to survive, and the brave efforts to find peace after decades of atrocity may end with a war more destructive than all come before.
Don't plan on taking breaks, and don't cry for mercy - this book will give you none.
This is not a comfort read. It is a story of uncompromising ethics instilled by inflexible traditions, roles cut out and raised up for sacrifice, where compromise is made impossible by responsibilities instilled at birth, and by cultural caste and barriers that have ossified beyond hope of change.
All told at a breakneck pace that does not let up from the very first page to the last. Insightful moments with damaged characters whose spirits have been annealed by the most brutal of events, where looking back would shatter the soul, and where going forward, bearing the damages, make the trials the players on both sides vividly spring off the page.
Not for the faint of heart, not for the paste of 'happily ever after' - this is a ferociously passionate story about two cultures in collision - each one seeking to survive, and the brave efforts to find peace after decades of atrocity may end with a war more destructive than all come before.
Don't plan on taking breaks, and don't cry for mercy - this book will give you none.
January 2, 2025
Obsidian: Awakening was one of my favourite reads of 2023 and Revelation is just as fantastic.
Sequels sometimes disappoint me but book 2 in the Obsidian series is an absolute powerhouse, somehow managing to raise the stakes and pack even more emotional intensity as we rejoin the larger-than-life characters in their personal and political battles.
And what a cast of characters it is. Each one is worthy of being the lead in their own series, so complex and fascinating are they in their strengths, weaknesses, flaws, motivations and journeys.
I was so engrossed in not only their current plights but also their backstories, which are variously revealed or hinted at and contribute to who they are now and who they might become.
In fact, four months after reading Revelation, I continue to be obsessed with these people and what fate or their own decisions and actions might have in store for them. I can’t think of any greater testament to how good the book is.
My review of Awakening was almost an essay, an ode to the majesty of what Kajornwan (aka Sienna Frost) had crafted.
I could gush just as much about Revelation but am reining myself in and will just give you just a few reasons why you should discover this series for yourself if you haven’t already done so.
The books are epic in every sense, the inter-personal relationships as dramatic as the battles and political power plays which will decide nations’ futures and sweep you along on this wild and gripping adventure.
Fantasy is synonymous with imaginative settings and Kajornwan’s worldbuilding is awe-inspiring, a beautiful reimagining of real world places and cultures with a mainly Middle-Eastern flavour. It’s a perfect blend of the believable, grounded in locations and history the author is familiar with, and different enough to feel new and exciting.
As with Awakening, the dialogue is razor sharp and the cut-and-thrust of conversations delivers so many killer lines and superb wit. At times, it’s almost as deadly as the excellently-choreographed fight scenes which had my pulse racing as fast as a Valerian stallion.
One combat sequence in particular had me utterly captivated, a duel seen from numerous character viewpoints. It was cinematic in its descriptions and wrung every emotion out of me, which is why we love stories after all.
We read fiction to be entertained, surprised and wowed by the emotional connection with the characters, the worlds they live in and the lives they lead.
Kajornwan achieves that in every sense and with every element of her storytelling skills, weaving a multi-stranded spiderweb of a plot and exploring powerful themes with an extremely impressive scale and depth of understanding of humanity’s triumphs and failings.
But it’s Kajornwan’s exquisite prose which amazes me the most, without which all the other aspects of her writing wouldn’t glow as much as the iridescent light of the tiny sea creatures which enthral one of her characters.
I was constantly spellbound by her magic way with words and Revelation is a joy to read – despite the often brutal content – for the quality of its writing.
Obsidian is shaping up to be a story for the ages, in the grand tradition of the Arabian Nights, and Kajornwan has proved such a revelation to me. I’m convinced she is fated to be a top author for many years to come and I look forward to continuing the journey with her.
* I received an eARC of Obsidian: Revelation and this is a voluntary, honest review.
Sequels sometimes disappoint me but book 2 in the Obsidian series is an absolute powerhouse, somehow managing to raise the stakes and pack even more emotional intensity as we rejoin the larger-than-life characters in their personal and political battles.
And what a cast of characters it is. Each one is worthy of being the lead in their own series, so complex and fascinating are they in their strengths, weaknesses, flaws, motivations and journeys.
I was so engrossed in not only their current plights but also their backstories, which are variously revealed or hinted at and contribute to who they are now and who they might become.
In fact, four months after reading Revelation, I continue to be obsessed with these people and what fate or their own decisions and actions might have in store for them. I can’t think of any greater testament to how good the book is.
My review of Awakening was almost an essay, an ode to the majesty of what Kajornwan (aka Sienna Frost) had crafted.
I could gush just as much about Revelation but am reining myself in and will just give you just a few reasons why you should discover this series for yourself if you haven’t already done so.
The books are epic in every sense, the inter-personal relationships as dramatic as the battles and political power plays which will decide nations’ futures and sweep you along on this wild and gripping adventure.
Fantasy is synonymous with imaginative settings and Kajornwan’s worldbuilding is awe-inspiring, a beautiful reimagining of real world places and cultures with a mainly Middle-Eastern flavour. It’s a perfect blend of the believable, grounded in locations and history the author is familiar with, and different enough to feel new and exciting.
As with Awakening, the dialogue is razor sharp and the cut-and-thrust of conversations delivers so many killer lines and superb wit. At times, it’s almost as deadly as the excellently-choreographed fight scenes which had my pulse racing as fast as a Valerian stallion.
One combat sequence in particular had me utterly captivated, a duel seen from numerous character viewpoints. It was cinematic in its descriptions and wrung every emotion out of me, which is why we love stories after all.
We read fiction to be entertained, surprised and wowed by the emotional connection with the characters, the worlds they live in and the lives they lead.
Kajornwan achieves that in every sense and with every element of her storytelling skills, weaving a multi-stranded spiderweb of a plot and exploring powerful themes with an extremely impressive scale and depth of understanding of humanity’s triumphs and failings.
But it’s Kajornwan’s exquisite prose which amazes me the most, without which all the other aspects of her writing wouldn’t glow as much as the iridescent light of the tiny sea creatures which enthral one of her characters.
I was constantly spellbound by her magic way with words and Revelation is a joy to read – despite the often brutal content – for the quality of its writing.
Obsidian is shaping up to be a story for the ages, in the grand tradition of the Arabian Nights, and Kajornwan has proved such a revelation to me. I’m convinced she is fated to be a top author for many years to come and I look forward to continuing the journey with her.
* I received an eARC of Obsidian: Revelation and this is a voluntary, honest review.
November 15, 2025
This book is the best self-pub SFF book I read in 2025.
For the full list of my fav books I read this year, please see the link below.
https://beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-i...
This book is so astounding that I can GUARANTEE it will become an ALL-TIME Indie fantasy fav!
If I could far exceed allotting the nominal 5-star rating here for this book, I would, it deserves it!
Please see the link below to my YouTube interview with the author and my thoughts on her writing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNAdA...
There is no beginning. There is no end. There is only “Obsidian – Revelation”, Book Two of the “Obsidian” Series.
This is the Alpha and the Omega for me, of the best of what Indie grimdark SFF is all about. Beyond audacious, soul crushingly dark, yet so elegantly beautiful it hurts to breathe, with some of the best prose I’ve ever read, that does not ask for compliance, it just takes you, and doesn’t give you back. A part of my soul remained behind in this book, when I finished reading it.
My favourite author, the iconic Janny Wurts, read this book, praised it highly, and one quote from her Goodreads review of the novel sums up how incredible it is, far better than anything I ever could say: “Don’t plan on taking breaks, and don’t cry for mercy – this book will give you none.”
Stop reading my review here, and just go buy both Book One “Awakening”, this book “Revelation”, and pray you have the strength to wait long enough for the next book in the series to be released.
For the full list of my fav books I read this year, please see the link below.
https://beforewegoblog.com/p-ls-top-i...
This book is so astounding that I can GUARANTEE it will become an ALL-TIME Indie fantasy fav!
If I could far exceed allotting the nominal 5-star rating here for this book, I would, it deserves it!
Please see the link below to my YouTube interview with the author and my thoughts on her writing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNAdA...
There is no beginning. There is no end. There is only “Obsidian – Revelation”, Book Two of the “Obsidian” Series.
This is the Alpha and the Omega for me, of the best of what Indie grimdark SFF is all about. Beyond audacious, soul crushingly dark, yet so elegantly beautiful it hurts to breathe, with some of the best prose I’ve ever read, that does not ask for compliance, it just takes you, and doesn’t give you back. A part of my soul remained behind in this book, when I finished reading it.
My favourite author, the iconic Janny Wurts, read this book, praised it highly, and one quote from her Goodreads review of the novel sums up how incredible it is, far better than anything I ever could say: “Don’t plan on taking breaks, and don’t cry for mercy – this book will give you none.”
Stop reading my review here, and just go buy both Book One “Awakening”, this book “Revelation”, and pray you have the strength to wait long enough for the next book in the series to be released.
January 27, 2025
Well, this lived up to expectations. A brilliant follow up to book one. It had everything and more from book one. More world building and political manoeuvring, but most of all it delivers some of the best character development and complex relationships.
The character arcs are so good here, particularly Muradi's and the Sparrow's.
Characters are put through the emotional wringer and no one is left unscathed.
This is a rollercoaster of emotional damage that delivers some raw and tender moments too.
Really enjoyed this one.
The character arcs are so good here, particularly Muradi's and the Sparrow's.
Characters are put through the emotional wringer and no one is left unscathed.
This is a rollercoaster of emotional damage that delivers some raw and tender moments too.
Really enjoyed this one.
October 5, 2025
Une suite excellente qui m’a donné exactement, voire plus que ce que je voulais. Des complots qui se précisent, des changement d’allégeances, des trahisons, des ennemis qui font la paix le temps d’un instant. Cette autrice maîtrise son intrigue parfaitement et se permet même de laisser ses protagonistes aura farm en sortant des répliques dignes d’être sorties au cinéma.
Je n’oublierais jamais même le jour où cette saga sera terminée, Zaharah et Muradi. L’impact de ce duo sur moi, leurs échanges, leur combat perpétuel pour déterminer celui qui blessera le plus l’autre avec ses mots ou ses mains. Génialissime.
Dans ce tome on s’attend à pleins de choses et on se retrouve à se questionner sur notre vision manichéenne du conflit en jeu. L’autrice dénonce les atrocités de la guerre, nous rappelle que les véritables victimes sont ceux qui ne se battent pas.
C’était incroyable. Hâte de la suite
Je n’oublierais jamais même le jour où cette saga sera terminée, Zaharah et Muradi. L’impact de ce duo sur moi, leurs échanges, leur combat perpétuel pour déterminer celui qui blessera le plus l’autre avec ses mots ou ses mains. Génialissime.
Dans ce tome on s’attend à pleins de choses et on se retrouve à se questionner sur notre vision manichéenne du conflit en jeu. L’autrice dénonce les atrocités de la guerre, nous rappelle que les véritables victimes sont ceux qui ne se battent pas.
C’était incroyable. Hâte de la suite
February 26, 2025
I don't know what more you could ask from a character-driven dark fantasy epic. All the story threads continue from book one (so if you haven't read book one, why peek ahead?) and they all grow more tightly interwoven in this installment.
Frost is building political machinations on a vast scale with multiple parties vying for dominance, and the result is a fascinating blend of history, philosophy, politics, and blood feuding.
If you want any of these mixed in with strong characters, an entire cast of whom you can't help but love for all their brutal flaws and endearing hopes, you've got a solid entry to a great series.
Frost is building political machinations on a vast scale with multiple parties vying for dominance, and the result is a fascinating blend of history, philosophy, politics, and blood feuding.
If you want any of these mixed in with strong characters, an entire cast of whom you can't help but love for all their brutal flaws and endearing hopes, you've got a solid entry to a great series.
October 20, 2025
Love always comes at a price, but it's what gives us the strength to fight, not our weakness.
In my review for Obsidian: Awakening, I said it was an experience. Here in book two, it was that and more - I'm still shook how Sienna Frost was able to take this story to another level.
Very few are writing characters at the level Frost is right now, full stop. While there's plenty of action and the dark tale is exciting, it's the characters that continue to jump off the page.
That coupled with Frost's beautiful prose, it's just a joy to read.
As I said, an experience. An emotional, gritty, unforgiving experience.
I had high expectations going in and Obsidian: Revelation blew them all away. It's criminal that at the time of writing this, there's only 33 ratings on Goodreads. Everyone should read this and I have a new answer for the question "What is the best indie book you've ever read?"
-
9.34/10
5/5 ⭐️
In my review for Obsidian: Awakening, I said it was an experience. Here in book two, it was that and more - I'm still shook how Sienna Frost was able to take this story to another level.
Very few are writing characters at the level Frost is right now, full stop. While there's plenty of action and the dark tale is exciting, it's the characters that continue to jump off the page.
That coupled with Frost's beautiful prose, it's just a joy to read.
As I said, an experience. An emotional, gritty, unforgiving experience.
I had high expectations going in and Obsidian: Revelation blew them all away. It's criminal that at the time of writing this, there's only 33 ratings on Goodreads. Everyone should read this and I have a new answer for the question "What is the best indie book you've ever read?"
-
9.34/10
5/5 ⭐️
March 12, 2026
Wild and intense
If you are a grimdark fantasy fan ready to be challenged at every level, then OBSIDIAN: REVELATION is for you. In this second installment, Kajornwan Cheung writes with a ferocity that smashes your heart and warps your brain.
Forget the tropes. Forget cutesy elves and dwarves. This epic fantasy is rooted in Middle Eastern lore, plunging you into the kind of depravity only humans are capable of. While the first book provided the foundation, this is the ultimate payoff.
Just when you think you’ve found your bearings, the author hits you with a sledgehammer, following one rapid-fire twist with another.
Every character is fleshed out in minute detail, with every emotion rendered in visceral glory. The author leaves nothing to the imagination—you know EXACTLY who is feeling what.
Even as someone who typically avoids the genre, I was completely floored. This is the grimmest of grimdark, yet I couldn't look away. Kajornwan Cheung has crafted a hell of a tale—this is first-class fantasy fiction, plain and simple.
If you are a grimdark fantasy fan ready to be challenged at every level, then OBSIDIAN: REVELATION is for you. In this second installment, Kajornwan Cheung writes with a ferocity that smashes your heart and warps your brain.
Forget the tropes. Forget cutesy elves and dwarves. This epic fantasy is rooted in Middle Eastern lore, plunging you into the kind of depravity only humans are capable of. While the first book provided the foundation, this is the ultimate payoff.
Just when you think you’ve found your bearings, the author hits you with a sledgehammer, following one rapid-fire twist with another.
Every character is fleshed out in minute detail, with every emotion rendered in visceral glory. The author leaves nothing to the imagination—you know EXACTLY who is feeling what.
Even as someone who typically avoids the genre, I was completely floored. This is the grimmest of grimdark, yet I couldn't look away. Kajornwan Cheung has crafted a hell of a tale—this is first-class fantasy fiction, plain and simple.
November 12, 2025
Sienna Frost AKA Kajornwan is a highly innovative writer who has crafted an entire world, based on our own, inhabited by humans who are a little more and a little less than human. They suffer and sacrifice based on a code which values survival over humanity. The result is a masterclass for authors on how to build believable characters who do extraordinary things. The plot is actually quite simple, while the world it takes place in is incredibly complex.
Overall, this creates an experience that is compelling and exciting, while leaving the reader with many thoughts and feelings to ponder. As a writer, it leaves me wondering if I could ever create an original work like this? Of course, the answer is no. Kajornwan is a unique talent, and my style is completely different. I can't wait to see what's next!
Overall, this creates an experience that is compelling and exciting, while leaving the reader with many thoughts and feelings to ponder. As a writer, it leaves me wondering if I could ever create an original work like this? Of course, the answer is no. Kajornwan is a unique talent, and my style is completely different. I can't wait to see what's next!
January 19, 2025
“We’ll survive,” he told her. “Dying is a privilege people like us won’t get for a long time. The gods aren’t that kind. Don’t count on it.”
IT’S A MASTERPIECE
if you love fantasy, Middle Eastern settings, emotional turmoil, scheming, the best character developments and relationships go read this series.
Obsidian:Revelation
Tale by Kajornwan / Sienna Frost
Arabian Dark Mystical Fantasy
We follow 7 heroes who are handpicked by fate as a key to end the war and are to save the peninsula.
Review:
Well, after reading Obsidian: Awakening I never thought I would find a book that would live up to that quality again… until I read the sequel, Obsidian:Revelation.
If I loved following these weirdly loveable yet messed up characters in book 1, I absolutely adored them in book 2. Everything about Sienna’s storytelling is so rich, nuanced and layered, and I just love how every single word carries an intense amount of emotional weight that had me in a complete chokehold the entire way through. And don’t forget the plot that is brimming with so many twists and turns. (With thanks to our mastermind Deo di Amarra)
I am not kidding when I say that there wasn’t a single line in this book that I didn’t enjoy (cue the countless annotations), I have to give it to my boy Lasura for being the absolute highlight of this masterpiece. The duality of his character and his earned journey of growth made me love him so much, not to mention the fact that he is just effortlessly funny with his snarky humour and dry wit.
And a big standing ovation to the WOMEN in this book!!! Zahara, Djari, even Saya… they are all women with balls who don’t take shit from anyone, and I love how resilient, strong and beautifully flawed they all are. Plus, the way that family and love in all their complicated messiness are explored in this sequel is just exceptional, my heart is still in a twist.
I could gush all day, every day, but my words can never do justice to Sienna’s exceptionally rich storytelling, strong character development and immersive worldbuilding.
Whether you think you like fantasy or not, just trust me and read the Obsidian series already. This is the type of story that made me remember why I fell in love with reading in the first place, what a breathtaking masterpiece.
IT’S A MASTERPIECE
if you love fantasy, Middle Eastern settings, emotional turmoil, scheming, the best character developments and relationships go read this series.
Obsidian:Revelation
Tale by Kajornwan / Sienna Frost
Arabian Dark Mystical Fantasy
We follow 7 heroes who are handpicked by fate as a key to end the war and are to save the peninsula.
Review:
Well, after reading Obsidian: Awakening I never thought I would find a book that would live up to that quality again… until I read the sequel, Obsidian:Revelation.
If I loved following these weirdly loveable yet messed up characters in book 1, I absolutely adored them in book 2. Everything about Sienna’s storytelling is so rich, nuanced and layered, and I just love how every single word carries an intense amount of emotional weight that had me in a complete chokehold the entire way through. And don’t forget the plot that is brimming with so many twists and turns. (With thanks to our mastermind Deo di Amarra)
I am not kidding when I say that there wasn’t a single line in this book that I didn’t enjoy (cue the countless annotations), I have to give it to my boy Lasura for being the absolute highlight of this masterpiece. The duality of his character and his earned journey of growth made me love him so much, not to mention the fact that he is just effortlessly funny with his snarky humour and dry wit.
And a big standing ovation to the WOMEN in this book!!! Zahara, Djari, even Saya… they are all women with balls who don’t take shit from anyone, and I love how resilient, strong and beautifully flawed they all are. Plus, the way that family and love in all their complicated messiness are explored in this sequel is just exceptional, my heart is still in a twist.
I could gush all day, every day, but my words can never do justice to Sienna’s exceptionally rich storytelling, strong character development and immersive worldbuilding.
Whether you think you like fantasy or not, just trust me and read the Obsidian series already. This is the type of story that made me remember why I fell in love with reading in the first place, what a breathtaking masterpiece.
February 15, 2026
Obsidian Revelation, the sequel to Obsidian Awakening, is another masterpiece from Kajornwan, with gorgeous writing, deeply-drawn characters, political intrigue, dramatic tension, and heart-wrenching moments.
The politics and machinations of this book are done really well. Better than book one, in fact, where it wasn’t as twisty as one would think. There were more surprises for the reader in this one.The characters also all come into their own in this one: Djari fulfills her destiny; Zahara is able to actually be the bad bitch she’s hinted to be; you see Muradi and his past in a whole different light and begin to love him a bit; Lasura is one of the most endearing guys I’ve read about in a long time; and you get a cool new mentor character with a strong moral compass in Akai izr Imami (probably the most morally consistent person you see in this world of gray.) Everything comes together in a big ol’ plot avalanche and the author makes it all work.
Thoughts about good things:
-There is something so damn hilarious and perfect about Djari learning to broaden her horizons a bit and take risks, and in a normal book, this would be Just Fine and we would learn she shouldn’t have been so sheltered, like a Rapunzel or something, but this isn’t a Normal Book so things go to hell.
-I read a review of the first book that mentioned that there didn’t seem to be as much difference in the culture of Rashawri and the White Desert as one would expect. I may agree with that, but book two does discuss in much more detail the difference in outlook: the politics and dealing of the Black Desert versus the straightforward “I say what I mean” of the White Desert, as well as an unflinching dissection of the negatives of the White Desert, where a prideful culture means unnecessary death and an inability to unify against an existential threat. I love that at a certain point, Nazir was just done with this shit.
-Speaking of Nazir—he and Baaku are just perfect. Baaku specifically is such a gorgeous character, deep and introspective, and he makes my heart ache with his unflinching desire to just live. Live hard, and live well. Nazir can be so tragic of a character, being able to See things but not necessarily do anything about it. In book one you see him taking actions based on his being an oracle, but in book two you see the weight of it. And then he states he’s foreseen that he will marry and have two children and be content … but he says in narration that it’s a lie. There is a beautiful melancholy in that.
I said Baaku has the beautiful quotes, but here’s Nazir, deciding to completely rip me the f apart:
“I would go on living without you, to fight my battles without you, and die content without you…But you know…I think I will look for you forever in my tent, at that corner I used to find you waiting, by the table you used to sit, on my bed where we used to lie awake talking. I will look for you for as long as I live. That part of my life will never change. I don’t think it ever would.”
OH MY GAWD.
Onto another star-crossed couple:
-I admire the fact that Zahara is so damned committed to hating Muradi, and it’s right and good and perfect for her character. The modern trend of people falling in love with ‘the bad guy’ (no, there’s no bad or good guys in this book, but let’s look at this from Zahara’s perspective) is a fun fantasy, but sometimes as a reader I want to scream, “he murdered your family, you absolute turnip!” No such problem here with the Obsidian books. Zahara is freaking committed to her hatred—and then she softens, and it is earned. Kajornwan handles this tightrope expertly. Zahara is able to look past the hatred and negotiate for the good of the peninsula—and it’s her (mostly unacknowledged) love for her son that is the catalyst. And then. And then. She’s able to tell her husband she still hates him … but maybe not his alter ego. (This will make sense if you read the book.) And this is the perfect way to have a character kinda sorta realize this man she hates with a passion is someone she might have loved with a passion in a different world, under different circumstances, and acknowledge the years they’ve had together, and acknowledge his love for her, without compromising her integrity and her continued belief that she cannot love a man who destroyed her life. I mean, seriously, well done, especially for an author who likely did not plan out this whole arc in advance (more on that below.)
Thoughts about not-as-good things:
-Karjornwan (formerly writing as Sienna Frost) is a panster. I know this, because she has said so on social media, and I believe in the Afterword of Obsidian Revelation as well. I also know this because there are a few character elements in book 2 of Obsidian that I feel aren’t signposted well enough in book 1.
I love pansters (I’m a methodological panster myself.) I think you can get amazing character interactions and plot twists out of pantsers because it … just … comes out of their mind at the right moment. I do think it hurt slightly, in this book, with the characterization of Lasura (who seemed way more perfect and elegant in book one than the ‘boy who needs to grow into a man’ of book two) and some very spoilery things that happen with Hasheem that weren’t signposted well enough in book one.
I do love Lasura in this book, to be clear. I just wish I had met that Lasura from the very beginning.
I also think the wild things that happen with Hasheem are straight out of an unapologetic pantser’s mind, and although it didn’t quite work for me (not my favorite plot point), I love how unexpected it was. And it sets up some really good character conflict for the eventual book 3.
-Some small grammatical mistakes and word echoes/repetition. I only mention this because the quality of Kajornwan’s prose is so high that those moments stood out. I ain’t gonna judge. You could probably tear into my books and find similar mistakes.
-A few jarring references to novels that I feel like all authors (including me) fall victim to (ex: if this were a romance novel, there would be blah blah, but this isn’t a romance novel, etc). Would be better without it, but I completely understand the impulse.
-Sexual violence descriptions ramped up from book one, and although I don’t mind that it happens in the book, necessarily, I kinda? Sorta? Wish it wasn’t so much. At the same time, Kajornwan is a woman, who writes about women (and men) very well, and she doesn’t shy away from the impact of sexual violence on women. So consider it a content note, but also know it’s not there to titillate or glorify.
-Plot armor. MILD SPOILERS HERE. In book one, there were moments that got me assuming people had died, and then they didn’t die a few chapters later, and I was pleasantly surprised, but that also meant that I was a lot less scared for people going into book two. There were character deaths in book two, and I did fear for everyone, regardless (just not as much,) but when certain characters didn’t die, my reaction was less relief and a little more … “Well, of course. Of course they lived. What did I expect.” Look. I don’t like killing characters. I am very much a soft-hearted writer who likes happy endings. But for a book set in a brutal world where people often die, people need to die.
Again, people did die, so hopefully my saying some didn’t isn’t spoiling the book too much.
Overall:
Honestly, despite what I wrote above, this is probably my favorite read of 2025, and it’s fitting I read it on New Years’ Eve. It’s a better book than the first book, and only in the context of book one did I have some mild quibbles with the consistency between the two, as well as the feel that some of the plot points should have been more brutal than they were, to really hit home in a sequel where everything is ramping up. I also really appreciate that things ended neatly, where there’s very much room for a sequel without leaving readers hanging off a cliff. Five stars.
This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews
The politics and machinations of this book are done really well. Better than book one, in fact, where it wasn’t as twisty as one would think. There were more surprises for the reader in this one.The characters also all come into their own in this one: Djari fulfills her destiny; Zahara is able to actually be the bad bitch she’s hinted to be; you see Muradi and his past in a whole different light and begin to love him a bit; Lasura is one of the most endearing guys I’ve read about in a long time; and you get a cool new mentor character with a strong moral compass in Akai izr Imami (probably the most morally consistent person you see in this world of gray.) Everything comes together in a big ol’ plot avalanche and the author makes it all work.
Thoughts about good things:
-There is something so damn hilarious and perfect about Djari learning to broaden her horizons a bit and take risks, and in a normal book, this would be Just Fine and we would learn she shouldn’t have been so sheltered, like a Rapunzel or something, but this isn’t a Normal Book so things go to hell.
-I read a review of the first book that mentioned that there didn’t seem to be as much difference in the culture of Rashawri and the White Desert as one would expect. I may agree with that, but book two does discuss in much more detail the difference in outlook: the politics and dealing of the Black Desert versus the straightforward “I say what I mean” of the White Desert, as well as an unflinching dissection of the negatives of the White Desert, where a prideful culture means unnecessary death and an inability to unify against an existential threat. I love that at a certain point, Nazir was just done with this shit.
-Speaking of Nazir—he and Baaku are just perfect. Baaku specifically is such a gorgeous character, deep and introspective, and he makes my heart ache with his unflinching desire to just live. Live hard, and live well. Nazir can be so tragic of a character, being able to See things but not necessarily do anything about it. In book one you see him taking actions based on his being an oracle, but in book two you see the weight of it. And then he states he’s foreseen that he will marry and have two children and be content … but he says in narration that it’s a lie. There is a beautiful melancholy in that.
I said Baaku has the beautiful quotes, but here’s Nazir, deciding to completely rip me the f apart:
“I would go on living without you, to fight my battles without you, and die content without you…But you know…I think I will look for you forever in my tent, at that corner I used to find you waiting, by the table you used to sit, on my bed where we used to lie awake talking. I will look for you for as long as I live. That part of my life will never change. I don’t think it ever would.”
OH MY GAWD.
Onto another star-crossed couple:
-I admire the fact that Zahara is so damned committed to hating Muradi, and it’s right and good and perfect for her character. The modern trend of people falling in love with ‘the bad guy’ (no, there’s no bad or good guys in this book, but let’s look at this from Zahara’s perspective) is a fun fantasy, but sometimes as a reader I want to scream, “he murdered your family, you absolute turnip!” No such problem here with the Obsidian books. Zahara is freaking committed to her hatred—and then she softens, and it is earned. Kajornwan handles this tightrope expertly. Zahara is able to look past the hatred and negotiate for the good of the peninsula—and it’s her (mostly unacknowledged) love for her son that is the catalyst. And then. And then. She’s able to tell her husband she still hates him … but maybe not his alter ego. (This will make sense if you read the book.) And this is the perfect way to have a character kinda sorta realize this man she hates with a passion is someone she might have loved with a passion in a different world, under different circumstances, and acknowledge the years they’ve had together, and acknowledge his love for her, without compromising her integrity and her continued belief that she cannot love a man who destroyed her life. I mean, seriously, well done, especially for an author who likely did not plan out this whole arc in advance (more on that below.)
Thoughts about not-as-good things:
-Karjornwan (formerly writing as Sienna Frost) is a panster. I know this, because she has said so on social media, and I believe in the Afterword of Obsidian Revelation as well. I also know this because there are a few character elements in book 2 of Obsidian that I feel aren’t signposted well enough in book 1.
I love pansters (I’m a methodological panster myself.) I think you can get amazing character interactions and plot twists out of pantsers because it … just … comes out of their mind at the right moment. I do think it hurt slightly, in this book, with the characterization of Lasura (who seemed way more perfect and elegant in book one than the ‘boy who needs to grow into a man’ of book two) and some very spoilery things that happen with Hasheem that weren’t signposted well enough in book one.
I do love Lasura in this book, to be clear. I just wish I had met that Lasura from the very beginning.
I also think the wild things that happen with Hasheem are straight out of an unapologetic pantser’s mind, and although it didn’t quite work for me (not my favorite plot point), I love how unexpected it was. And it sets up some really good character conflict for the eventual book 3.
-Some small grammatical mistakes and word echoes/repetition. I only mention this because the quality of Kajornwan’s prose is so high that those moments stood out. I ain’t gonna judge. You could probably tear into my books and find similar mistakes.
-A few jarring references to novels that I feel like all authors (including me) fall victim to (ex: if this were a romance novel, there would be blah blah, but this isn’t a romance novel, etc). Would be better without it, but I completely understand the impulse.
-Sexual violence descriptions ramped up from book one, and although I don’t mind that it happens in the book, necessarily, I kinda? Sorta? Wish it wasn’t so much. At the same time, Kajornwan is a woman, who writes about women (and men) very well, and she doesn’t shy away from the impact of sexual violence on women. So consider it a content note, but also know it’s not there to titillate or glorify.
-Plot armor. MILD SPOILERS HERE. In book one, there were moments that got me assuming people had died, and then they didn’t die a few chapters later, and I was pleasantly surprised, but that also meant that I was a lot less scared for people going into book two. There were character deaths in book two, and I did fear for everyone, regardless (just not as much,) but when certain characters didn’t die, my reaction was less relief and a little more … “Well, of course. Of course they lived. What did I expect.” Look. I don’t like killing characters. I am very much a soft-hearted writer who likes happy endings. But for a book set in a brutal world where people often die, people need to die.
Again, people did die, so hopefully my saying some didn’t isn’t spoiling the book too much.
Overall:
Honestly, despite what I wrote above, this is probably my favorite read of 2025, and it’s fitting I read it on New Years’ Eve. It’s a better book than the first book, and only in the context of book one did I have some mild quibbles with the consistency between the two, as well as the feel that some of the plot points should have been more brutal than they were, to really hit home in a sequel where everything is ramping up. I also really appreciate that things ended neatly, where there’s very much room for a sequel without leaving readers hanging off a cliff. Five stars.
This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews
June 17, 2025
⚠ Spoiler alert: this is the second book of a series. You may find spoilers from book 1. Read Obsidian: Awakening review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Obsidian: Revelation is the second book of the Obsidian series, and it follows directly where the first book ended. Many things changed at the end of book one, which leads the characters to cover new roles and grow out of the figure they built for themselves in Obsidian: Awakening. In this second book, we see the main characters finally meeting, coming across each other, as a common thread decided by gods unravels. We also meet new characters, some of them already legendary.
Nazir, the conflicted and detached oracle, now finds himself at the head of his tribe, dealing with leadership and hard decisions. The weight of responsibilities is heavy on his shoulders, for him that already knows how most things end but finds himself trying to escape the threads of destiny. He assumes reckless behaviours and puts himself in vulnerable positions, to save what it’s his and the people he cares about. Pushed and pulled between politics and free will, he has to decide how much he wants to give up for the Greater Good, and who he doesn’t want to lose. An oracle, the head of a tribe, but still a young man who needs to learn a lot, about himself and his boundaries. Nazir is still one of my favourite characters and I can’t help it 😍
Hasheem, my poor Hasheem. The things he’s been through, poor boy... His childhood and first adolescence had a strong impact on him, leading him to develop a second personality, which is the one we’ve known until now! The real Hasheem is called Rhykal, and he’s much madder at the world than Hasheem. Rhykal suffered uncountable things but he, too, just wants to be loved. Hasheem and Rhykal fight within a single body, two faces of the same story – a soft boy that suffers in silence, and a damaged child who turned into a ferocious killer. For a moment, I thought they were finally going to merge into one – who knows if they eventually will. Rhykal is one of the many Chosen Ones destined to impact the future of the Peninsula forever, to some the only Chosen One. I was really looking forward to see Hasheem with a white zikh, but my hopes can still be fulfilled. Hasheem’s return broke my poor fangirl heart 💔
Djari and Lasura: huge developments on this front. Djari and Lasura get to interact a lot in this second book. The two Chosen Ones, bound by gods and strange occurrences. Their storylines intertwine ever more, drawing a path to a common goal and a common future. Lasura grows out of his role of incapable prince who’d rather go unnoticed. He discovers his path, his power and his intentions. Djari evolves into something beyond her expectations, still enraptured by her sworn sword and who he used to be, but her commitment to him and lack of diplomacy sometimes worsen an already bad situation. And Lasura always fights with Hasheem’s ghost, with the comparison to him, a one-sided rivalry that burns him from the inside for what he cannot have: Djari’s true love.
Muradi, now Ranveer Borkhan, fights to get back his throne in what is the largest part of the plot. Muradi changed, too, leaving aside the tyrant ruler to become a little bit of his older self: a fighter, trying to get back his throne but with a broader view of life, and the Greater Good. He assumes again his old identity, which mirrors Hasheem’s split identity. He gives up all façades of a hard an immovable man, especially with his wife Zahara, who still plays with his feelings and is torn between the old Muradi, whom she hates, and the new Ranveer, whom she admires.
Finally, we have the first PoV of Deo di Amarra. He’s more of a player than an all-knowing, all-seeing man most get to see. And he hides an even more cunning side, a sadistic trait and a huge secret about his real identity – that we still didn’t get to learn.
And the ending, that ending... 😲
Obsidian: Revelation is the second book of the Obsidian series, and it follows directly where the first book ended. Many things changed at the end of book one, which leads the characters to cover new roles and grow out of the figure they built for themselves in Obsidian: Awakening. In this second book, we see the main characters finally meeting, coming across each other, as a common thread decided by gods unravels. We also meet new characters, some of them already legendary.
Nazir, the conflicted and detached oracle, now finds himself at the head of his tribe, dealing with leadership and hard decisions. The weight of responsibilities is heavy on his shoulders, for him that already knows how most things end but finds himself trying to escape the threads of destiny. He assumes reckless behaviours and puts himself in vulnerable positions, to save what it’s his and the people he cares about. Pushed and pulled between politics and free will, he has to decide how much he wants to give up for the Greater Good, and who he doesn’t want to lose. An oracle, the head of a tribe, but still a young man who needs to learn a lot, about himself and his boundaries. Nazir is still one of my favourite characters and I can’t help it 😍
Hasheem, my poor Hasheem. The things he’s been through, poor boy... His childhood and first adolescence had a strong impact on him, leading him to develop a second personality, which is the one we’ve known until now! The real Hasheem is called Rhykal, and he’s much madder at the world than Hasheem. Rhykal suffered uncountable things but he, too, just wants to be loved. Hasheem and Rhykal fight within a single body, two faces of the same story – a soft boy that suffers in silence, and a damaged child who turned into a ferocious killer. For a moment, I thought they were finally going to merge into one – who knows if they eventually will. Rhykal is one of the many Chosen Ones destined to impact the future of the Peninsula forever, to some the only Chosen One. I was really looking forward to see Hasheem with a white zikh, but my hopes can still be fulfilled. Hasheem’s return broke my poor fangirl heart 💔
Djari and Lasura: huge developments on this front. Djari and Lasura get to interact a lot in this second book. The two Chosen Ones, bound by gods and strange occurrences. Their storylines intertwine ever more, drawing a path to a common goal and a common future. Lasura grows out of his role of incapable prince who’d rather go unnoticed. He discovers his path, his power and his intentions. Djari evolves into something beyond her expectations, still enraptured by her sworn sword and who he used to be, but her commitment to him and lack of diplomacy sometimes worsen an already bad situation. And Lasura always fights with Hasheem’s ghost, with the comparison to him, a one-sided rivalry that burns him from the inside for what he cannot have: Djari’s true love.
Muradi, now Ranveer Borkhan, fights to get back his throne in what is the largest part of the plot. Muradi changed, too, leaving aside the tyrant ruler to become a little bit of his older self: a fighter, trying to get back his throne but with a broader view of life, and the Greater Good. He assumes again his old identity, which mirrors Hasheem’s split identity. He gives up all façades of a hard an immovable man, especially with his wife Zahara, who still plays with his feelings and is torn between the old Muradi, whom she hates, and the new Ranveer, whom she admires.
Finally, we have the first PoV of Deo di Amarra. He’s more of a player than an all-knowing, all-seeing man most get to see. And he hides an even more cunning side, a sadistic trait and a huge secret about his real identity – that we still didn’t get to learn.
And the ending, that ending... 😲
December 3, 2024
If I could give this 6 stars, I would!! I received an ARC last August and devoured it within a day. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read (because I like pain and crying about non existent people is my hobby).
It's always delightful when the 2nd book is soooo much better than the 1st one - and I say this with much respect to book 1 because it was possibly one of my best reads last year. Book 2 tied it all perfectly and I love these characters with every beat of my heart and will be chasing this feeling for the rest of my life. ❤️ It was definitely worth the wait!!!
What an ending though!!! I did NOT see that coming DJARI!!!!!! Sometimes I don't know if I want to support her or throttle her.
I cannot wait for the next book and will be missing these characters so much!!!!
Thank you so much Sienna for the ARC and will probably reread 3 more times as I had with book 1. Also will be thinking about Muradi & Zahara every second of every day now. Thank you!!!
As you may notice, I can’t wait to read what you share with us on the next book.
It's always delightful when the 2nd book is soooo much better than the 1st one - and I say this with much respect to book 1 because it was possibly one of my best reads last year. Book 2 tied it all perfectly and I love these characters with every beat of my heart and will be chasing this feeling for the rest of my life. ❤️ It was definitely worth the wait!!!
What an ending though!!! I did NOT see that coming DJARI!!!!!! Sometimes I don't know if I want to support her or throttle her.
I cannot wait for the next book and will be missing these characters so much!!!!
Thank you so much Sienna for the ARC and will probably reread 3 more times as I had with book 1. Also will be thinking about Muradi & Zahara every second of every day now. Thank you!!!
As you may notice, I can’t wait to read what you share with us on the next book.
December 12, 2025
Took me a bit longer than expected to get back to this series. Sorry! Too many books!
Everything I said in my review to Awakening is still true. And as expected it got a lot bigger in scope. There are plans inside plans inside decade long intrigues, colliding with other plans and intrigues. Life in the desert, be it black or white, is still very rough and the number of people losing one or more appendages is quite something. But it all plays out beautifully. There are some action scenes in here, that felt really cinematic to me.
I also really like the dynamics between characters. Take Zahara and Muradi. From the very beginning of Awakening this was not ideal, to put it mildly. But still, under all the hate, there somehow is a lot of respect for each other and maybe even something akin to love between them after the decades they have been together now. And that is just one example of complicated relationship with equal parts of dark and light.
Very good. I will now eagerly await the third book.
Everything I said in my review to Awakening is still true. And as expected it got a lot bigger in scope. There are plans inside plans inside decade long intrigues, colliding with other plans and intrigues. Life in the desert, be it black or white, is still very rough and the number of people losing one or more appendages is quite something. But it all plays out beautifully. There are some action scenes in here, that felt really cinematic to me.
I also really like the dynamics between characters. Take Zahara and Muradi. From the very beginning of Awakening this was not ideal, to put it mildly. But still, under all the hate, there somehow is a lot of respect for each other and maybe even something akin to love between them after the decades they have been together now. And that is just one example of complicated relationship with equal parts of dark and light.
Very good. I will now eagerly await the third book.
March 3, 2025
none of my faves died and that's all that matters tbh. now, but seriously, THIS is how you write a sequel like this was TENSE, heartbreaking, romantic and devastating all at once whehhh what a rollercoaster. I NEED BOOK THREE NOWWWWWW.
ps. what's DEO'S REAL NAMEEEE WHOO ISS HEEE GIVEE ME HIS BACK STORY NOWWWW !!!!
ps. what's DEO'S REAL NAMEEEE WHOO ISS HEEE GIVEE ME HIS BACK STORY NOWWWW !!!!
March 18, 2025
I can’t breathe. The characters and the politics… everything is done so well. Each chapter I’m on my toes, what side will win, who will out-maneuver the other, and no one is safe. The enemies to lovers is actually enemies to lovers. Also, Lasura’s growth from book one is Chef’s kiss and his chapters had me actually laughing out loud and the angst is so real… this is for people who enjoy epic fantasy, political intrigue, and see book one for trigger warnings. I really hope there is a third book and I enjoyed the fan art through the book!
January 3, 2026
epic!
A (long) story which continued from the 1st book and started to pull everything together (even more than the 1st book).
There’s still a way to go and I’ll be checking back for the next instalment.
A (long) story which continued from the 1st book and started to pull everything together (even more than the 1st book).
There’s still a way to go and I’ll be checking back for the next instalment.
November 1, 2025
Une plume addictive, une intrigue qui se complexifie et une atmosphère qui vous happe et vous transporte dans le récit. Et surtout des retournements de situation !
November 17, 2025
Great series!
A great series full of wonderful characters. Definitely worth a read. Can't wait to read what comes next in book 3!
A great series full of wonderful characters. Definitely worth a read. Can't wait to read what comes next in book 3!
November 18, 2025
Amazing read. When the Author said she's exploring complex relations & provoking complex questions..it was never a lie!
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