First There Was War

by E.A. Rayner

For what can one do, when the powers that once forged this earth now seek to destroy it?

Teolyn has spent a life fighting battles on multiple fronts. Heir to an estate she wants no part of, daughter to a father she should have killed when she had the chance, denizen of a world that waged war against the Gods—and won.

When a violent coup leaves her for dead, salvation comes in the form of a stranger from a broken land. He brings dire news: the Gods are scheming, and the world teeters on the brink of annihilation. Before Teo can dismiss him as mad, a dangerous encounter with his pursuer awakens something ancient within:

The power to wield living stone.

It is a gift that comes with the bonus of an unwelcome voice inside her head, and the attention of deadly forces that have spent centuries ensuring such abilities remain buried—along with the women who once wielded them.

Hunted and outmatched, Teo gathers an unlikely band: a grieving scholar, a foul-mouthed mercenary, and a powerful stranger whose appetite for chemical oblivion rivals his mysterious past. Together, they journey across a vast and fractured empire toward the reclusive God of War, whose tragic history may hold the answers Teo desperately seeks.

But as time runs short, one thing becomes clear: this newfound power may not be a gift at all—but rather the key that is so desperately sought by those who wish to end it all.

Genres: Fantasy

534 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2025

Reviews

[E.A. Rayner]

This is my book. Big fan. But I just re-read The Greenbone Saga and it was an exercise in humility. It's good to remain objective about these sorts of things.

Thank you in advance to my arc readers!

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author(!) for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

‘If payment boils down to a dick-measuring contest of grief, then allow me to unfurl my colossal shaft of dead friends and family, thwack it on the proverbial scales and demand that my fortune be paid in full and quick smart.’

Teo finds a man bleeding out in her barn and thinks little of it, until he implodes a room full of men (to defend her, mind) with as little effort as sneezing. As it happens, the unnamed man has the powers of a god, although so does his pursuer, who just punched a hole through his stomach. Now the denizens of their small town are tearing each other to shreds, and Teo and her best friend Huw must flee with the strange man, somehow caught up in an oncoming apocalypse of godly proportions. Oh, and Teo can turn her skin to stone. That’s a thing that happened.

I’m obsessed with this book, it’s too good. Every few pages I was highlighting a phrase, or sending friends a snippet, or simply just squealing into my own hands about how much fun I was having.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a lover of epic fantasy, and a pantheon of gods meddling with the poor mortals is pretty much my kryptonite. But the worldbuilding and traumatised immortals aren’t even the jewels of this book. The prose… the prose!! It’s delicious. It’s beautiful and vivid, switching effortlessly between poetic imagery and crude wit. Every character is laugh-out-loud hilarious, and every anguish is so devastating it shattered my heart.

Teo, Huw, Filiki and their good pal Skabby make for a wonderful motley crew. Teo and Huw’s lifelong friendship is instantly believable, with their inside jokes and their intimate knowledge of each other (not like that you weirdo!). The gods themselves are filled to the brim with the dreadful heartwrenching grief of an impossible unending life, cursed to see everyone they’ve ever loved wither and die before their eyes. There was no character, protagonist or antagonist, that I didn’t enjoy reading about.

The overall worldbuilding is subtle and perfectly paced, you only realise halfway through the book that you’re worrying they haven’t absorbed enough heat to get through the nightfrost, and then you immediately question where that vaguely intelligent thought came from. I’m supposed to include criticisms in my reviews to keep them balanced, so I’ll be honest, the one thing I didn’t follow (which is almost certainly my own fault) was where all the towns, cities, countries were, and pretty much all the stuff about why Joy hates the gods to begin with… I was having too much fun to be worrying about long-past wars.

If you like epic fantasy, gods who are human and awful to each other, enjoy laughing, and reading some of the best-formed sentences I’ve had the pleasure to read, you’ll enjoy this book. There’s even a tiny bit of eldritch horror, just as a treat.

5 stars; E. A. Rayner, I’m already desperate for the next one.

She tried flexing her fingers, seeking any kind of comfort, and brushed Filiki’s hand. The God, apparently so removed from mortal fears that he’d forgotten their weight, misconstrued her intent and attempted to thumb-wrestle her.

[Rynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Victoria Editing Netgalley Co-Op and Netgalley for this ARC.

Wow. After having blazed through First There Was War, I find I have no words to describe the experience.
Having felt a little cautious at what the summary promised, nothing prepared me for the world that E. A. Rayner built.

We primarily follow the POV of Teolyn (Teo), a plain character that doesn't have a lot of brains to inform her choices, but that's what her friend Huw is for. However, the opening sequence introduces us to the Gods in the world and their tainted personalities that wreak havoc on humanity. Flashing forwards and backwards in time, we learn about the despair of the Gods and what exactly motivates them after having lived for a thousand years. Teo, is unfortunately thrust into the middle of their mental instability and forced to deal with the aftermath.

First There Was War takes its time setting up the world and letting us breathe as well as get to know the main vehicle in which we will be traversing the story. When the action finally kicks off, the humor rolls in too to keep you going through the bleakness. E.A Rayner has such a unique way with words, I could not stop laughing throughout and reading select quotes out loud to my partner. I will warn that the humor isn't for everyone, but hot damn I don't think I could forget the majority of the jokes in this book. I might reread it for the humor alone.

The ending is spectacular and shows that Teo is way out of her depths for what is to come. I feel that First There Was War is much better to go in with no expectations, as it is a fantastic gem. I'm just hoping there will be a physical edition of this book as I really loved it and am already looking forward to the sequel!

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find myself at a loss for words that could possibly sum up how much I adored this book. From the start I was absolutely locked in.

Sometimes a book just comes across your lap (don't teo) that just feels like a lost friend, a chunk of your mind missing. Rayner does an absolute fantastic job weaving a believable fantasy world seen through the curious eyes of someone experiencing it for the first time with you. Her detailed descriptions of every single different land you go through is nothing short of amazing.

Teo's self perseverance shines through this book and I enjoyed every minute of her curiosity as she navigated literally everything life has to throw at her. Her connection to those around her never feels surface level, she is made whole by her experiences but still comes out with the eagerness of a cocker spaniel (compliment I swear.)

It's not often you get books that demand of their gods, whether that is the demand of insanity, humanity, or humility. With all their ego's laid out in front of you each one feels complex in their own personal battle with immortality. It's a breathe of fresh fucking air.

This is going to go down as one of my favourite books in the last 5 years, and as a debut author I hope Rayner is incredibly proud of the world she has built. I also hope she's working on that sequel as I type this, or I will go mad myself. From one call center kid to another, abuse the away button and write like hell.

P.S. Huw is a very beautiful man, will he wear wigs?

[B.Z. Norohna · Rating 5 out of 5]

EArc provided courtesy of NetGalley
4.75 (5 is for comfort books sorry)
The sequel to this is going to be an autobuy for me. I loved the magic system, and can't wait to know more in the sequel.
But the most important part was that none of the characters are by any means perfect, they were all deeply human even the gods because they tried (mostly).

[Bojana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing ARC for review.
First There Was War is an ambitious debut that, at the same time, feels both overly vast and insufficiently developed. While the story starts strong with intriguing and immersive world-building that intertwines gods, hidden powers, and the impending end of the world—elements I happily lost myself in—character dynamics and a slow-burning tension with little payoff, left me feeling… well, a bit underwhelmed. It feels like a symptom of taking too large a bite, where trying to cover too much ground leads to underdeveloped details. As much as I adored the world-building, I think it left another important elements—which give a different, but equally vital flavor to the story—lacking. Therein lies the big contradiction of my rating: I adore aspect of world-building and I wouldn't change it a bit, but at the same time, it was probably a downfall of the elements I didn’t enjoy.
First of all, going in, I expected a traditional fantasy setting. Instead, I got a science fantasy amalgam, with advanced technology popping up where I least expected it. As a huge fan of epic fantasy, where pre-industrial worlds carry a sense of wonder and escapism, I was left a bit disoriented by the introduction of these technological elements. While this may appeal to readers who enjoy genre-blending, it felt mismatched with the tone I was expecting.
Teo, the main protagonist, is an unlikely hero of plain appearance, troubled past, and plenty of emotional baggage – all promising ingredients for forming strong emotional attachment to the hero! However, I feel like Teo’s complexities weren’t developed and explored deeply enough to make that happen. Her decision to join the quest, in my opinion, is not substantially grounded, leaving her actions feeling more reactive than driven by a strong inner urge or goal. This made it difficult for me to invest in her story. The rest of the cast feels like archetypal fantasy quest characters, which wouldn’t be a problem if they grow out of their molds, which they didn’t; we have a mysterious and enigmatic leader with a touch of otherworldly knowledge, a loyal but socially awkward best friend, a loose-tongued gruff. And while I didn’t expect huge character development given their two-week journey, it was hard to emotionally connect with them, leaving me indifferent to their struggles or victories. Honan, the God of War, was the only character who truly stood out to me. His character development felt real—I could see him evolve, his troubled past made him more believable, and I could empathize with him, even though he is supposed to be the most feared and detested of the gods. Since his was one of only two points of view (the other being Teo’s), I couldn’t help but wonder if chapters from other characters perspectives might have enriched the narrative, adding some much-needed depth
The plot starts with a solid premise but eventually loses its way under the weight of unnecessary detours and a lack of compelling, character-driven conflict. The story meanders through predictable turns, and by the time the slow build-up finally reaches its peak, the payoff feels anticlimactic. The feeling that the story was holding back for sequels—leaving me with unresolved questions—kept bugging me in the last half of the book. The writing itself is competent, though some inconsistencies tripped me up. I admit I tend to be more critical when reviewing, and maybe I would’ve let some things slide if I were just reading for fun. That said, I think a little more editing (which I hope has happened after I received my ARC) could have sharpened the overall execution.
Ultimately, the book had potential, but it didn’t quite stick the landing. The world-building? Intriguing. The mix of high fantasy and advanced technology? Not my cup of tea. The characters? Had promise, but lacked the depth to really pull me in. The pacing? More slow burn than thrilling ride. Overall, I believe this might be better suited for a YA audience, despite some darker themes. It could work well for younger readers, offering a mix of adventure, moral dilemmas, and gods who themselves are lost in the world.


"All life ever comes down to is a series of choices, and at times, those choices must be weighed. The smart option is not always the honorable option."

[Shahriar Emil · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were many things that worked really well for this book, but those things did not happen too often, and when they did, they didn't last too long, and you are left wanting more. 😩

Yet, it was enough to keep me turning the page to follow Teo's journey along with her motley crew. Teo is a wholesome yet rageful character, and I was rooting for her all the way. You really feel her suffering and her rage, and her innate desire to protect. I do wish we got more introspection from her with a lot more depth, and how that affects or influence her world view, and the decisions she makes.

There were also some really cool concepts at play, and it was interesting to see layers of the world revealed bit at a time. The spine was undoubtedly my favorite concept of the world, and I really hope we get to learn more about it in the next book, and yes, I will most likely pick up the next book as well.

The biggest challenge faced by this book is the ever elusive 'good pacing'. I wanted things to happen because when they did it was damn awesome. Things did happen but they were also overshadowed by the time spent on learning about one location or the next. Things happening were not proportionally appropriate to justify the world-building done for those locations. I wish we saw more character interactions not just with the crew but with rest of the world because the book really shines in those moments, and it needed more of it!

It's a 4/4.5 out of 5 for me.

PS: the last 15% of the book was almost perfect.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book! I thought the prose was very lyrical and well written. The descriptions did a great job of setting up the world, and the world itself was rich. I specifically liked getting to see the individual gods step into their own characterization as the novel progressed.

The characters were very fun, and I found myself laughing out loud at multiple parts throughout my read. Each character's relationship with the female lead, Teo, was unique, and it was really fun to see different shades of her personality come out as she interacted with the people around her.

In terms of overall plot, I thought the concept was great. The idea of racing against time and seemingly all powerful beings while also just trying to survive your environment in order to save the world from an apocalypse - a massive undertaking. And because of the detail put into this novel, it felt like a massive undertaking to step into this world.

I honestly liken the level of description in First There Was War to that of Lord of The Rings. It's such a full world that it was easy to spend a lot of page time fleshing out everything that the characters are taking in. But there were times when, as a reader, I really just wanted the story to move forward. That is the reason this was only a 3 star read for me. That being said, I KNOW there are going to be so many readers that eat up this writing style. Even though I didn't fall head over heels, I can objectively say I think many many readers will love this book.

[Jamie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

First There Was War by E.A. Rayner is a dark fantasy brimming with action, adventure, humor, and heartbreak. This gripping tale pulls you in from the first page, making it a must-read for all fantasy lovers.

The worldbuilding is easy to follow, yet richly detailed, immersing you in a beautifully crafted setting without ever feeling overwhelming. Rayner’s vivid descriptions make it easy to picture every scene, bringing the story to life effortlessly.

The characters are complex and compelling, each with their own unique motivations. I especially enjoyed how Honan’s past was told in between the main storyline, adding depth and emotional weight to the narrative.

If you're looking for a fantasy that delivers on both heart-pounding action and heartfelt moments, First There Was War is an excellent choice!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and E.A. Rayner for this ARC.

[Samantha Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The imagery in this book alone should make it really good to certain readers. The set peices were fantastic and the story within a story was really great. Both POVs were unique and really set up the world to be gritty and dark and full of blood. If you have a weak stomach I suggest maybe skipping this one. Teo's POV had a lot of vulgar language and was less serious than Honans. I liked his chapters more just because I did feel like his story was more interesting and was way more serious and Teo just felt like she was vulgar for shock value. The world building and mythology make up for her ridiculous language though. If you like Gideon the ninth you will probably like this. Thanks Netgalley for an early copy.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful debut fantasy read featuring unique world-building and prose, alongside a cast of characters with many layers to explore. Full review to come when it’s not 2am and I have time to properly organize my thoughts.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of blood, female rage and dark humour. Good book! To the author: how dare you do my man dirty like that.

[Daniel Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Gets 4.5 from me. Shades of Joe Abercrombie, Dan Abnett in its dark grittiness and a constant level of humour (some classic one-liners) that reminds me of Terry Pratchett. The protagonists all have weaknesses, faults and suffer significant failures, but the idea that a physically and mentally repressed minority, when offered the power to fight back in spades and seizes that chance is so realistic. The moral impact is very human, not only physically (the fight scenes are first class), but also the later mental stress that comes with the knowledge of one’s actions.

The class act is the characterisation of the War God. A beautifully written study on a severely flawed individual, persecuted by powers hiding in plain sight, emotionally stunted and a terrible force he tries (and fails) to control. His family is as weird and conflicted as himself, they also happen to be a race of super beings that is forced to interact with and control humankind. Until humans, with their appetite for carnage and destruction, ensure that all well laid and monstrous plans must be modified on contact with the enemy.

I don’t often get the pleasure of walking past a bookshop and seeing the latest from an author (Iain Banks rip) waiting to be gleefully snatched up, but the next book is on my list of must reads. Thanks Eliza for making me an Arc reader, I always knew your talent at storytelling would create a great book.

[Lillian Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d like to thank the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to arc read this book.


I have no words.

This book was absolutely amazing! It’s one of the most original books I’ve read in a long time. The story, writing, and characters are all so good. The world building was understandable yet extensive. The story was wasn’t too fast or too slow at any point and makes you want to keep reading after each chapter.

The characters have unique personalities you’ll fall in love with. One of my favorite things about this book is that they all have their own flaws and aren’t made to seem perfect in any way. Teo, is small, not particularly the sharpest tool in the shed, but is brave and fiercely loyal. Hew isn’t a fighter and has his own demons, but is crazy smart. Now, Filiki is a harder one to share my opinions about. (Vague spoilers ahead.) I love that he seems to love humanity and clearly wants to save it, but sometimes it feels false? I also love learning each of the gods personalities and flaws. Every single person, even the gods, seem like real people instead of idols.

I cannot wait for the next one!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Provided:

I’m a simple man, I see fruits being used as a descriptor for a certain body part, I perk up. Aside from this, this was a great book, sure some of the twist in the story I could see coming but how we got to that point was an enjoyable ride that kept pulling me forward. Journey before destination and all that.

Teolyn is an amazing character that remained constant throughout, and growth felt natural to the story and progression. The scale of the story I was surprised to be bigger than I expected. I look forward to see how the series comes together.

Small gripe I had, some of the jokes felt just an smidge overdone. The type of joke that is like “Back up” “they did not back up.”

But still 5/5… or a perfect 5/7

[Wini Fara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks again for an ARC copy!

If you liked the "Percy Jackson" series but wanted something more adult, then I would recommend this series for you.

I had a lot of fun with this book. The characters felt distinguished from one another and I was able to clearly imagine each of them. I was also easily able to imagine the scenes and world building rather well. The story is well placed and written with some humor (mostly dirty jokes). I think that would be my only complaint. The use of dirty jokes and cussing felt a bit over saturated at times and would sometimes undermine the seriousness of the situation. Other than that small complaint, I thought the book was great and would recommend it for mature readers who like some dirty humor in their books.

[Kaitlyn Raasveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read. There were so many awesome things that happened and the story had my attention from the first chapter. I loved the characters and I fell in love with the world. Such a good story and I hope there are more.

[Feyfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book - I found it a phenomenal ride the entire way through! This book had me all over the place for feelings, I was invested, I was laughing, and there were a few moments where I was deeply moved by what happened (I can't say because: spoilers.)

I was really impressed by the pantheon, the lore and oh my lord: the prose! It's just so beautiful and descriptive. The wit of the characters often had me giggling at the page (it was just brilliant, slightly crude.)

I feel that people who have issues with violence might find this book hard to get through- there is a lot of violence in this book. This book is also long-ish but I think that's par for course on most books these days.

This was a fantastic story and I am invested for more in the series. If someone can get down with huge world building, imperfect characters, crudeness and violence, this is a win. I also loved that there is no insta love in this book, there's no insanely perfect main character (actually I dare say the entire cast is so deeply flawed it's what makes them so damn amazing..). I love how Teo and Huw are so devoted to each other (besties, yo!) and the Gods in this book (I'm looking at you H & F) are so amazing. There's such a difference in the tone/atmosphere from the different p.o.v chapters too. Loved that.

Have the next book out soon please.

**I did notice a couple small errors with words in the copy I read, but that didn't detract from the story at all in my opinion

[Stephen Maturin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great start to what I suspect will be a terrific fantasy series. Rayner eschews the typical tropes of the genre and manages to make a potent brew of medieval world building, a bit of Victorian steam punk and some so far inexplicable science fiction ( which I think will be explicated later in the series). Gods (but the older type of fallible gods- fighting amongst themselves and being generally juvenile and irritating), heroes who absolutely do not want to be heroes, and a reasonable leavening of grim humour. I look forward to the next installment.