Manzakar

The Slave-Soldier #1

by R. Laham

A slave-soldier forged for glory. A kingdom built on stolen magic. A rebellion that could shatter them both.


The Gohari are nomads—pansexual, magic-born, and feared. Under the wrath of Cenk, the god of Anzor, their freedom has been stolen. Their unmatched skills in horsemanship and archery have been twisted into weapons, forging the Manzakars—an unstoppable army of slave-soldiers.


Tikran became a Manzakar to save his starving family, rising through the ranks to become the king’s most celebrated bodyguard. To him, the brotherhood of soldiers meant honor, justice, and glory.


Until the campaigns brought him back to Gohar.
Until he saw his people subjugated, their magic drained to feed Anzor’s power.
Until he realized he was fighting for the enemy.


Now Tikran must choose between loyalty to the crown and the survival of his people. To defy the king could cost him his life. To stay silent could doom a nation.


* Content Warnings: Profanity, violence, torture, pregnancy, rape (off page), abortion (off page), child abuse, homophobia, sexual situations, deadnaming, misgendering

Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, LGBT, Epic Fantasy, Romantasy, Queer, Romance

420 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2025

About the author

I've done everything under the sun—I have a BA in archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania, a law degree from the University from Houston, and have worked as a graphic artist, romance editor, writer, UX designer, frontend developer... the list actually goes on. Yet through all these endeavors, I've always known my true calling was storytelling. I'm a huge nerd and draw my inspiration from actual history and RPGs, particularly video games. I write "approachable" fantasy that is meant to be an escape from all of our real-world trials and tribulations while subtly (and not-so-subtly) challenging the status quo.

Reviews

[Jamedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally on Jamreads

Manzakar is the first book in the epic fantasy series The Slave Soldier, written by R. Laham, and published by Oliver Heber Books. A touching story about exploitation, imperialism and subjugation, with two main characters full of soul and personality, who we will be following since they are sold as children slaves to the kingdom of Anzor after being captured in their Gohar land.

Tikran and Coxani were sold to Anzor as children, trained from young age to become loyal servants to the kingdom; they both aspire to become manzakars, elite slave soldiers being those that fight for Anzor, as their own citizens do not fight. Even if it's a high honour, they are still slaves, used to conduct Anzor's violence and keeping the own Gohari people subjugated; when Tikran sees the brutality of Anzor's occupation during his first campaign, he will have to confront the harsh truth and how they are tools for occupation, having to choose between his position or defending the Gohari people.

Tikran's journey is one of discovery and growth; he's a brave character, but also a bit naïve about how manzakars are used by Anzor until he's on the own Gohar. We could say he's a good man, even when he was a child, trying to help Coxani; but seeing him rebelling against years of indoctrination was the moment that totally sold him into me. Coxani gives also us a POV onto how heavily biased against women is the Anzor's society; she might be a manzakar because of her own work, but she's still expected to be the concubine of another man and have siblings. She's intelligent, but also really stubborn, and honestly, that's what saves her many times.
We have an excellent duo of main characters, with a third in discord, Naran, that is also memorable, playing into the danger when needed, but in a secondary spot in comparison with the other two.

Laham gifts us a marvelous setting, inspired by the Middle East, well detailed and that also serves as a parallel to nowadays conflicts; the author is not afraid of portraying the crude details of war and violence, so let me tell you this is a dark book. We see how the events of the world push our characters towards a more radical stance, as the only way to answer those systemic injustices.
The pacing is a bit irregular for my taste, feeling rushed towards the end, but giving enough time to develop the characters; there's a healthy exploration of different types of romance which adds to the plot.

Manzakar is a great debut, an epic fantasy that is not afraid to portray the crudest aspects of the world, kickstarting a series that also has place for hope. I'm curious to see how the author will continue the series, but definitely, it has my total attention!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feeling about Mazakar --- or, maybe not mixed feelings, but definitely a mixed review. In short, I really did not find much of anything to enjoy in the prose or the style of writing. But, the ideas presented here are so idiosyncratic to what's popular in fantasy and romantasy, that I found myself unable to not enjoy the book, by its end.

OVERALL
I was bored by Chapter 5, 15% in, and I did not feel an ounce of momentum in the plot until Chapter 11, nearly 40% of the way into the book. That is too long. But when the sexy doctor enters the plot? That's when things start to pop off. He isn't even driving the plot, it just seems like the pieces are not done being layed on the board until his arrival. And then, it gets really fun! I was smiling while reading certain passages, and I see a lot of value in this book. The cast of characters is really lovely, and I enjoyed getting to hang out with them.

THE COMPLAINTS
Almost all of the early-book cruft felt unnecessary, to me, which makes it all the worse; there's an absolutely kick ass book inside this book, but instead we get goofy lore dumps over and over. In the very first chapter, we get a POV passage of the slaver. This could be interesting, because the slaver is painted as a likable guy, which is not the treatment that slavers are usually given. But, it seems like the entire point of this passage is that he's conveniently thinking about exposition and world building --- the geography of the setting, who the slaves are and who the slave owners are, and what basic functions the slaves serve in society. This is so frustratingly unnecessary, because we spend the next 10 chapters following the lives of slaves; we are, and I hate to say it, actually shown all of the information that is divulged here, and in much more interesting ways, rendering this entire POV section superfluous. Even just the fact that the slaver is a cool guy is repeatedly displayed later in the book!

There are small unnecessary things too, which kept adding up and frustrating me. We open a chapter with two boys who snuck out of class together to watch soldiers train. This is not their first time doing this. When they are whipped together, it is clear it's not the first time they took this punishment together, and they tease each other over it. So, what am I so bothered by here? This quote:

"It's not fair," Tikran lamented to his best friend, Naran.

I know that this is his best friend! This entire scene exists purely to show me that! Why shove that epithet in? Is the reader stupid? Is the reader going to shut the book immediately if they see a name they don't have immediately contextualized?

BUT I STILL LIKE IT
With all of my complaining, why am I still claiming that this book is saved in the back half? Because, if I have to read one more fantasy book where the author has never read the definition of "feudalism" but the ultimate happily-ever-after is becoming a landed lord or lady; where the author has never imagined that enslaved peoples can save themselves, but glories in the idea of an individual hero becoming a savior; where any righteous rebellion or revolution is narratively doomed due to a moralizing sense that the freedom fighters are too naive, too reckless, too young? I'm going to start burning down MFA programs.

I recently finished Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism, so now I have a capitalist realism hammer and all I ever see are capitalist realism nails. But I felt it in me, reading this book --- how I've been primed to expect that every revolution end in bloody, embarrassing failure. How I kept waiting for the characters to disappoint me. We've written ourselves into a corner where feeling hope is childish; we literally cannot imagine oppressed peoples fighting back and winning.

I want to avoid spoilers, but the reality is that Manzakar imagines a world that very few authors are capable of imagining. You are not getting a carbon copy plot of every other fantasy book you read this year. Convincing you how this book is different is almost impossible without spoilers, because I do not have a single point of comparison. It is, in a word, novel. There is hope here, and a shape of hope that is entirely its own.

So, I have a mixed review. I want more from this author. I want this story to get the prose that it deserves. It's clear that the author has it in them; there are passages and images in this book that are excellent. I actually get the sense that this book would adapt to screen extremely well, and I would love for it to get that treatment.

And I want to know where the story goes from here --- does the malaise of modern capitalist realism set in? Can we imagine a world in which hard fought freedom is preserved?

If you're tired of the BookTok greatest hits, tired of watching romantasy race to the bottom, tired of being disappointed that nothing ever changes and everything only gets worse: I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manzakar is a story about exploitation, villainization, and subjugation. The book follows two children of a nomadic peoples who are sold into slavery as children: Tikran, who is promised greatness and honor if he uses his talents to serve in the oppressing country’s honor guard called the Manzakar, and Coxani, raised to serve as consort and wife who chooses to train as a Manzakar instead. I really enjoyed the themes explored in the book: the oppression and indoctrination of the Gohari people by Anzor is depicted in all of its all too realistic horror: the weaponization of religion, the dehumanization, and the othering of Gohari that allows Anzor to manipulate the Gohari slaves to their side. While I found the themes explored in this book to be quite strong, I did feel that the book often felt bare-bones in its characterization and writing style, especially in the first half.

The book follows three main perspectives: Tikran, an extraordinarily talented youth training to become a Manzakar; Coxani, a young woman who seeks to defy the Anzor and escape the fate of being married and expected to raise children, and Naran, a Manzakar friend of Tikran. The book follows these three through their lives, from the day they are sold to Anzor, through their Manzakar training, and to all that follows. The plot largely centers around Tikran as he grows up and, despite the indoctrination he was raised with, realizes the systematic subjugation of Gohar and how it is harming his people. The book also has strong side characters; my favorite was Damir, a doctor from a third country who accompanies Tikran on much of his journey. I felt that the exploration of systems and methods of oppression was the strongest part of the book. Gohari people are the only ones with access to magic; though few have it, the country as a whole is exploited mercilessly in order to ensure that all with magical Essence serve Anzor. The way the Manzakar are granted status in Anzor and told that they were civilized from their Gohari roots yet also threatened at every moment that they could lose all they have gained if they even consider stepping out of line is compelling. The book shows how the Manzakar can be indoctrinated into Anzor culture, how even Manzakar soldiers can adopt the cruelty of their oppressors. The book also explores complicated identities and backstories in a way that I felt was very well handled. The subject matter of the book is quite serious and many of its depictions are gruesome; yet the book never feels like it resorts to shock value or becomes overwhelming.

The main weakness of this book is that the writing sometimes feels bare-bones or skips over interesting ideas, leaving the book feeling a bit rushed. This is particularly the case in the first ~40-50% of the book. This part largely follows Tikran and Coxani growing up in Anzor and is full of large time skips. The problem is that this section of the book relies largely on telling rather than showing and often tells you about character development rather than showing them. I found it difficult to connect with the characters when we saw them only for snapshots of their lives, and even within those snapshots were told how the characters are instead of shown it. While I did feel that this got better once the book reached the characters were at for the back 50-60% of the book, I do feel that the book suffered on account of this rushed beginning. For example, indoctrination of the Manzakar is a large theme of the book, but we don’t see much of Tikran’s experiences with it. Later in the book, when he begins to understand how the Gohari people are being treated by the Anzor, he wrestles a lot with his stance on the situation in a way that is clearly meant to be central to the book, but it loses impact because we don’t know much about how Tikran feels before the main plot points of the book. This kind of bare-bones storytelling, though focused on the first half of the book, is still a constant throughout it. There are impactful scenes which are told about rather than shown pretty often. The book covers a huge amount of plot, so it makes sense that not everything can be shown in great depth, but I personally would have liked the book to be 100+ pages longer to give the ideas more time to develop. Also, the book has fairly repetitive descriptions—archery is central to the plot but is only really described one way.

Despite that, I did enjoy this book. Though I did not always enjoy the writing style and rushed feeling of the book, I sincerely enjoyed the ideas of the book. To all readers, I would fully encourage you to stick with it after the first half. The writing style settles once the plot gets rolling, and once it does, the plot is strong. Character relationships are complicated and often messy, but I felt they were executed well. I was surprised how much I enjoyed how romantic relationships are explored in this book; though they, too, take a while to feel like they settle in place, its worth it. I am absolutely going to read the next book in this series: I feel like there are a lot of interesting ideas that have been set up and am excited to see how the consequences of this book’s climax play out.

I am giving this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I am rounding up because, despite the book lacking some build-up and description, it absolutely left me invested in seeing what happens next.

[Schmoop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I noticed that this book is tagged as romantasy but I don't agree with description. Sure there are several romance subplots but they are not the focus. This story is first and foremost about living in a society that is built on the exploitation of another people. We follow Tikran, Coxani and Naran as they are trained from a young age to become loyal servants to the kingdom of Anzor after being taken from their native lands of Gohar. They all aspire to becoming manzakars, an elite class of slave soldiers which is the highest honor a Gohari can have and gives them more rights. However, a slave is still a slave and they will never be equal to the Anzori nobles. The Anzori themselves do not fight and have become entirely dependent on their Gohari slaves so in order to control them they indoctrinate slave children with their religion to justify this cruelty. Additionally, the Gohari are the only people who have the Essence or magical abilities within them but only a few have it which makes controlling Gohar even more important to Anzor.

As time passes it becomes increasingly more difficult for Tikran and his friends to accept this. Through Coxani he understands how much worse it is for Gohari women who very rarely become manzakars and are instead trained to become courtesans. Even if they become manzakars they eventually are forced to marry and bear children. During his first campaign into Gohar he witnesses the brutality of the Anzori occupation which stirs him to action despite Naran urging him to be cautious.

I really enjoyed this story for its well crafted world and I think it handled the themes of oppression well. I also liked Tikran's character and seeing how the events around him pushes him towards radicalization. Coxani was also great and her POVs offered us a different perspective and explored the different horrors that Gohari women go through. I'd highly recommend this book and look forward to the sequel.

I got the ARC from NetGalley

[Honey B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

*This review might contain spoilers but I'll try to keep it to a minimum!

After finishing this book, I'm reeling from it all! The politics, the people, the course of events that turn from one fallen domino to like, everything falling at once! I really enjoyed what this book offered, but I'll talk about that after I mention some things I noticed first.

This book offers a lot—and in the beginning of this book, it felt a bit too overwhelming with information. We are thrust into this world of Anzor and Gohar and know nothing, so it makes sense! But we, as readers, see Tikran and Coxani grow up and learn these things about their world—I would've preferred to learn alongside them, spread out more, rather than have large paragraphs of exposition that make me forget where characters are or what they'd been talking about previously.

I wish too that we were able to be closer to the characters, and even the countries themselves, and see more of their inner workings. A lot feels very far away, like I'm seeing things happen through a window or TV, rather than actually being there with the characters. One of the things that I wished we could've seen in the early chapters was Coxani finding books in the library; (I didn't highlight it so bear with me if my memory is foggy) we are told Coxani looks for books and that she finds one that goes against what she's been taught about Gohar's 'saviors', Anzor. I wish we could've seen her in the library, scouring through each shelf, known what the books felt like, what Coxani thought once she finally found what she was looking for after seeing so many Anzor books. And then later in the book, there's a massive battle, and we're told that 200 or so men have died, and Tikran will remember their names, but we don't see Tikran get that information, nor do we as readers really get much to understand just how large that number is, and how devastating. I wish we would've been told about things like...maybe torn heraldic symbols covered in blood and mud, where Tikran didn't know who it belonged to, or limbs poking out from mud and just the dissonance, there. I really wish we had time to sit in that, in the small moments of both living and dying.

In addition, that same thing applies to the romances here. I could see Tikran and Coxani and why they grew close and had the relationship they did, but by the end of the book I was a bit confused about things lol. I don't know where I got it but I was honestly hoping for a quad polycule! It kinda felt like since Coxani wasn't spending time with Tikran anymore, her feelings changed toward the next person she was spending lots of time with, Naran, and before Tikran left for Dilovar, I believe he only spoke to Naran about it being okay for him to woo Coxani. Idk I thought they'd be a throuple LOL and then we met the sexy doctor and I was like ohoho...quad.... But yeah lol that didn't happen. I know Tikran and Coxani weren't exactly official or anything, but then I wish that was more shown, even with something small before Tikran left where they talked about it, because they had gained feelings for each other and I was a bit confused.

And finally, it just irked me a little that there was dialogue that was like "I imagine you'd learn this anyway, so I'll tell you." and "I select some of my closest advisors from my Aslan ranks, and I will hear him out," the king says to his head mage, who knows this information I'm very sure. It just felt odd, because it felt very reader-oriented rather than character-oriented. The reader doesn't exist in most stories, and that type of dialogue/narration pulled me out of the story a bit.

As for the things I loved, UM, THE DOCTOR. He was such a good character, and I loved every second he was on page. The book is slower-paced in the beginning to make sure you have all the info you need for the rest of it, but around chapter 10 and 11, the pace picks up alongside the introduction of my beloved Doctor Damir. I really enjoyed seeing his perspective on things and though he didn't really talk about himself much, it was nice having that bit of Dilovar perspective and how they looked at Anzor. It made the world feel more real, and not just condensed into Anzor and Gohar. I really liked that! I also really liked all that tension he'd bring with his gentle touches hehehehe ANYWAY

And man, after ch 10/11 I began to DEVOUR this book. Everything really does just start free falling and I couldn't get enough. I loved Haydar and his whole arc (WAAAA crying) and Saltanat was super interesting and I liked her parts and her mysterious nature hehe. Things go to hell so quickly, one after the other, and seeing Tikran and those he cares about dealing with everything was a rush right from the start. I love how things came undone, and the consequences and continued, desperate hope throughout really had me on the edge of my seat. The messages here and actions everyone took to get what they wanted felt real, too. I also loved/hated this but I liked the harsh reality of Coxani's situation too, and how cruel the world can be, especially when you have no other choice.

All that to say, I loved what this book set out to say, and I'm grateful it allowed me on for the ride. I'm eager to read the next books in this series and see where things continue to go!

[KMart Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ambitious fantasy that digs into colonialism, imperialism, and the subjugation of marginalized people, but in a way that's accessible and somewhat simplified. This is done through the lens of the Gohari, a nomadic, pansexual, sometimes magic-wielding people forced into slavery by the Kingdom of Anzor. At the center of it all is Tikran, a soldier who rises to become one of Anzor’s most celebrated warriors, only to realize his glory is built on the suffering of his own people.

Some readers have mentioned the slower, less plot-heavy beginning, but honestly, that ended up being my favorite part. The pacing allowed space to get to know the characters a little and absorb their world before the larger plot picked up. My bigger struggle was the ending, which flew by at breakneck speed, glossing over major battles and dramatic turning points that could’ve used more weight. There was also a feeling of both telling and showing to keep things clear. While that made the book easy enough to follow, it sometimes undercut the emotional impact and was a little distracting.

The bones of this story are excellent. The writing can feel clumsy or bare-bones at times, with interesting ideas skipped over just when they’re at their most compelling. The characters, too, had so much potential but occasionally felt a little flat. And yet, despite all that, I was hooked. The representation is fantastic, the world-building thoughtful, and the moral complexity of the cast kept me engaged.

This is one of those books that feels like it just needs polish, but I sincerely enjoyed the ride and will be picking up the next. The story within is strong enough to rise above its flaws, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

Thank you SO much to MTMC tours, OHB, and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[The Magical Quill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, mtmtours, for my review copy of Manzakar by R. Laham. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Manzakar is a story about the MMC, Tikran, and the MFC Coxani and their journey through servitude to their kingdom. Taken as children and placed into roles fit for their gender, they begin to awaken to the injustice placed on themselves and people like them. This story has so much representation. Every person matters, and each character's story shows their uniqueness and their fight to love and be who they want.

The reader journeys with both characters from childhood to adulthood. They experience changes to identity, consciousness, and understanding of the world around them as Tikran and Coxan battle for fundamental rights and freedoms for themselves and their people.

There is a romantic subplot, but it’s not traditional in any way, and it gives the story depth and motivation forward. Love is used as a means of freedom, expression, and even resistance. Love changes and grows in this story and always seems to be more of it than less.

Manzakar is a story that seeks to challenge traditional gender roles and government control of people. It’s a story of resistance, and the author utilizes religion, magic, and world-building to show the intensity of these topics. If you enjoy political intrigue, lgbtq+ representation, magic, intense fighting scenes, and unique characters, Manzakar is for you.

[woodsy.reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

With themes of religion, slavery, homophobia, oppression, and racial/gender discrimination, Manzakar has as much political intrigue as it does fantasy elements. As a mixed-indigenous woman, I found the story and characters easy to relate to, knowing the oppression my ancestors endured and drawing connections to the expectations still placed on women today.


Manzakar is a thought provoking, emotional, and thrilling read. You form deep connections with the main characters because of their backstory, and empathize with the choices they face and make throughout its entirety. The added elements of magic, cinematic writing and immersive world-building makes this book unputdownable!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Spellbinding Adventure Filled with Courage and Magical Challenges!

Manzakar enthralled me with its dazzling world and unforgettable characters! The gripping tale of resilience and strength captivated my imagination, keeping me on the edge of my seat. This first book in the series masterfully blends adventure and magic. Fantasy lovers must not miss this gem! I highly recommend it!

[g · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSprout for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so, so excited to start this book when I first heard about it. POC main cast, queer societies, gender-nonconforming characters, battling colonization, abolishing slavery, all the good stuff! Sadly, the execution fell short of my expectations.

The writing in general could be improved largely by showing over telling. Lore and infodumps are common throughout the story, framed in dialogue as "As you know, Steve, [worldbuilding info that characters who live in that reality should already know so this dialogue is here just for the reader]." It also suffered from telling over showing so very little felt sensory or tactile. This also goes for the emotions of the characters, so I couldn't feel alongside them as I would have loved to. The pacing was odd since it had some time skips at the start and then kinda dragged later on.

The worldbuilding showed a lot of thought, but (imo) it felt like it missed the mark. The slavery system is laid out to us, and even though the male Gohari Manzakar were still called slaves by the Anzor king, it failed to meaningfully show a difference between the durais and the Anzor noblemen. Male Manzakar are trained to become elite slave-soldiers and are at the top of the military hierarchy, even above the free soldiers, due to their marshal prowess. After completing their service, the male Manzakar are given their own land, allowed to have their own slaves, and if they are able to become a durai (a king's advisor/part of his council), their vote in the king's council has equal weight as those of the Anzor noblemen. The only stipulation seems to be that the male Manzakar are only allowed to marry a female Gohari slave woman, and only after she has completed her 2 year sex slave contract to the Anzori nobleman who has picked her. How does this meaningfully differentiate male Manzakars from the Anzori citizens, or even their aristocrats? These male Manzakar/durais seem to be slaves in who they are allowed to marry only. Tikran, the main star, is even given a trial presided over by the king himself, after killing fellow Manzakar in defense of his Gohari tribe. It's not unprecedented that slaves can get trials but it further undercut the slavery system in the story imo. He may have earned it after finding the shrub that Damir could use to cure the king's son of leprosy, but I still found it to be a very long stretch of my suspension of belief.

I liked that the story treats female Manzakar differently, but there should be some CWs/TWs. Coxani lays out what is expected of Gohari slave women, even a Manzakar like herself. I can see why she developed a cavalier perspective on sex since it's made clear that any Gohari woman shouldn't expect love from her Anzori protector or Gohari husband. What raised my eyebrow a bit was the inclusion of an unwanted pregnancy, abortion, and off-page though recounted rape later on when she was unwillingly married to Nasch. I'm sure other readers may want to filter for these topics.

And the romance? I'm sorry to say that I wasn't kicking my feet for any of them. Coxani seemed like she just wanted sex from a trusted childhood friend/mentor, asked for it, and got it. Good for you, girl! But I didn't see her crushing on Tikran, or falling in love (imo). I know she loves him, but it always felt platonic and only sexual when she wanted to be FWBs. The 2-3 time skips during their training montage may have held the tender moments of infatuation but since it's not on page, I can only guess. The other relationships in the story felt like the characters were hot and in each other's general vicinity. That's natural, sure. But when I see "romantasy/fantasy romance", I want to fall in love alongside the characters! I want to giggle with them when the LI is being cute, or yell at my walls when the tension is getting unbearable. If you had a different experience, I'm happy and envious of you lol. Lastly, the narrative made a point to assure the readers, multiple times, that the main cast were ALL so beautiful that they left broken hearts and beds in their wake. Haydar is hot even though he's a bit older. Yes, even the leper prince was hot after he was cured. All this hotness didn't seem to have a point beyond the superficial so it felt very YA. I wish all this beauty served a narrative purpose or that the characters did something with it but alas.

I think there are seeds of an interesting story in here, but it needed more time to bake. Maybe I'll be in the minority of readers who wished for more. Either way, I'm happy for readers who enjoyed the story and hope for the best for Laham.

[East of Reality · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings for: enslavement, beatings, abortion, murder of children, whipping, rape, torture

It’s an interesting beginning, asking the reader to sympathize with a slaver who buys children and then sells them on to become warriors, slaves, eunuchs and breeding stock. A slaver who visits his favorite merchandise to bring them cookies and catch up with them. A slaver who we’re supposed to feel sorry for when he dies because he was almost a parent to the children he bought and sold. I understand adding nuance to a character, but I’m not certain this was one I liked.

Tikran and Coxie are two of these children, bought by the Manzakar, the king’s elite soldiers, and trained up. Tikran as a warrior, Coxie as a concubine who — in this world — will become the sex toy of a white skinned Anzor man, and then eventually married to dark skinned man of her own race so that she can breed children for him, while still attending the white skinned man’s appetites as he desires, because the Anzor, as figures of power, have every authority over the Gohari.

Instead, Coxie becomes a warrior along with Tikran, and the two of them, through various events and discoveries, realize they’re not really down with this whole enslavement of their people thing. And, of course, things progress from there.

What I really enjoyed with this book is that, while Tikran and Coxie are angry and upset and want to make a change … they’re not the only ones. They’re not the first, the second, or even the third. These two teenagers have been carefully watched and groomed by the real leader of the rebellion in the hopes that they could become the spark to the tinder and firewood he and others have been laying for countless years. I like that. It feels more organic than Tikran and/or Coxie being the first ones, ever, to think that being property is a bad thing.

This world is brutal. Tikran is beaten, burned, whipped, imprisoned; Coxie becomes the wife of a man she hates who rapes her nightly. Her husband is a villain, yes, but he’s also another enslaved Gohari who has been trained all his life to be brutal and cruel, to be selfish and petty and vengeful. He has nuance, while still being a monster. The world building is really the strongest part of this book, showing how easy it is to steal a nation’s children and raise them up as your own fighting force, then forced to turn on their own people in the name of righteousness.

There are queer relationships, mage craft, mysterious sicknesses, spoiled kings and love. Tikran has not only Coxie, but Naran, one of his fellow Manzakar, closer than a brother; Ten there’s Damir, the mysterious doctor who falls in love with Tikran. Coxie loves both Tikran and Naran and while this isn’t a book about polyamorous relationships, none of these characters would feel jealousy if it was. They love one another, trust one another, and live for one another even in the darkest moments.

This is a fun book, and I have hopes that — because it’s called the Slave-Soldier series, there will be more books to look forward to. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Sadia604 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

I feel extremely conflicted about how I feel about this book. One on hand, I appreciate the political messaging in the book, but on the other hand, the execution left much to be desired.

While the two main characters, Tikran and Coxani, were well developed, all the others felt largely ignored in terms of characterisation, and backstory. While I liked Naran and the doctor, especially the doctor, I would’ve loved to see much more of them. Not only to learn more about them, but also because I didn’t particularly understand how or why they fell in love with their given love interests. Even the relationship between Tikran and Coxani felt a bit weird, considering the foundation that was laid out was more familial, and turned into a sexual one very quickly after being reintroduced.

The pacing was another thing I had an issue with. The large time skips in the beginning were lost opportunities to learn more about the Goharis as they were brainwashed and see how they functioned as they were being indoctrinated. This time could also have been used to flesh out Naran and Tikran’s relationship more too as the only platonic relationships I believed were the parental/child ones. There were large portions of the book that I also feel felt a bit pointless and could’ve been replaced with more world building or expanding on the society we were introduced to.

The story was something I liked or disliked particularly. It felt quite predictable which is not necessarily a flaw, but did leave me unexcited to continue reading. However, the writing was very accessible so I feel that depending on personal preference, many will enjoy the plot.

What I liked most about the book was the exploration of slavery the psychological implications of it, as well as resistance to your oppressors, especially in a setting that explicitly centres brown folk. I don't know if I necessarily agree with how it was written as a lot of the plot points flew by quickly and it seemed like everything was attained quickly, but with sequels, these issues could be improved upon. I hope this book gets more traction as while I may have problems with it, it is part of a series that has great potential.

[Ocean Dattani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Setting is definitely my favourite bit of this!! I really enjoyed the 'third space', the idea of fantasy settings with more complex cultural settings than x group is uere y group is there. We have three different cultures, cultural mixing ect. The worldbuilding was well done and I enjoyed how it felt familiar in some ways and not in others.

I also really enjoyed lots of the plot, one twist took me a lil bit by suprise which is rare for me esp in fantasy so yay! The relationships felt real even if as an ace person wayyy too much horny for me XD. Not knocking it down for that ofc, but do be aware its there. The relationships were interesting and I particularly liked the casual queerness contrasting against the society versus 'reasonable sin'. Like the church is too busy being racist to persecute homophobia even if they are homophobic lol.

I liked the way religion was shown as a form of control.

The characters are whete Im a bit mixed? For the first 75% of the book I adored all of them but when it came to the end and character arcs were wrapping up I couldn't help but feel they hadnt changed as much as the narrative thought they had.

For Naran I felt like he remained stable and rebellious throughout, I think a variation in response from our main three wouldve been interesting.

Tirzen was a fantastic character I enjoyed a lot, but I never bought that he ever believed in the propoganda. So him saying 'my life is a lie' and 'everythings changed in the last few weeks' didnt make any sense to me lol. Even when he was a kid he still asked questions, still never truly believed the way I would expect if they did.

It felt more like he thought he could just get by and then realised he couldnt, which is a great arc in of itself. But it wasnt the arc the narrative was trying to tell us it was.

The other characters were great, not much to say. I wasnt sure how I felt about the ending, it felt a little too neat for the situation but I'm looking forward to seeing how they handle the fallout in the second book :). Keeping this spoiler free.

[Nicholas Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I was given a beta copy of the book to read.

When I read the synopsis for Manzakar, I had high hopes for a fantasy story that also includes queer characters. The book did not disappoint! I will try to avoid spoilers below.

The main characters are well-written with so much soul and personality, upping the stakes and emotional aspects especially when the action gets tense. It was a very satisfying experience to go along with Tikran on his journey of discovery, especially as he realizes the injustices in his society that he's been conditioned to defend and uphold. Along the way, you get to meet his friends and allies, like Coxani, who was my personal favorite character. She adds another layer of depth to the story and offers another perspective that weaves well with Tikran's as he starts to question everything.

Manzakar builds a mysterious fantasy world based on real-world medieval/historical aspects. I wanted so much to learn more about some of the other kingdoms/societies that were introduced because there are parallels between how race/religion/war has played a role in our own history. The book manages these complicated concepts and perceptions well to make the setting believable and immersive. As it is in real life, there are some darker aspects of war that the book also handles carefully.

It also explores some of the main characters' sexualities in a very normal and matter-of-fact way, and the relationships and romances in the book are another great part of the story. These moments sometimes added levity and humor while making the characters' motivations and intentions stronger. These moments really put the spotlight back onto the protagonists, making them more lovable.

Manzakar is for anyone who wants to get lost in a new world with a cast of captivating characters trying to make the world better against a corrupt ruling class! I can't wait for a second book to dive back into the realms of Manzakar and to see what Tikran, Coxani, and their friends will do next for their world and loved ones.

[Rebecca Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an early ARC copy.

I really enjoyed Manzakar and would easily recommend it! If you are interested in a book that will take its time with its setting to build its themes and ideas carefully then this is absolutely worth a read.

The setting of the story is very grounded and even the minor fantasy elements are portrayed with a matter of factness that makes the whole world feel real. Characters are shaped by their culture that they live in a very authentic way which further makes the setting and the themes of personal identity strong! As a bit of a history nerd, I particularly like the small details of everyday life which don't borrow from tropes but actual lived history.

Manzakar also handles delicate subject matter such as racism, sexism, gender identity with a deft hand - understanding the nuances of its themes well. It does this without feeling like browbeating or robbing the narrative of any fun. A difficult act that it pulls off wonderfully.

If I had one criticism, it would be I wished there was more. I enjoyed the characters and setting alot, so more time to ‘smell the flowers,’ so to speak, would be appreciated. Although I can hardly level this as a complaint, as I imagine some would find such side content as unneeded padding - so I wont count it against the book.

Overall a great story that resonates well in 2025 that I am looking forward to getting a physical copy to put on my shelf! An easy 5/5!

[Alex Drzewiecki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The level of heartbroken I get when I come across a book I have so much hope and anticipation to be a 5 star but it isn't is unreal.

This book... it has the bones of so so so many things I love. And god, the MESSAGES this story was made for. I wanted to eat that up so bad. I wanted to adore this book. But, unfortunately, all three of those stars pretty much go to the important messages this story is presenting and the skeleton of tropes and themes I love.

The execution of it all, the meat of it, just didn't work for me. I felt bored for a good half or more of the book due to pacing, and both the characters amd relationships between them just did nothing to me. I'm not sure why. Even ignoring the fact that I hate anything that's even remotely a love triangle scenario, I found that I either felt very little chemistry between characters, or one of the characters in the dynamic would do things to make the relationship incredibly frustrating. That, paired with the pacing I struggled with, really took away or distracted from such an important story.

Hopefully these were just very me issues, and others enjoy it a lot more.

[Y.N.]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and author for the eARC

The cover and the back cover hooked me for an adventure in a world inspired by the steppes and central/south west Asia. It's what I got, with grand landscape, nicely thought civilisations and power dynamics. The characters carried their story well enough, though the first half of the book tends to drag a little, as it moves through time, jumping months or years forward. The result is a part of the book working more on telling information and a distance from the characters. Fortunately, the second part of the book is stronger on that aspect, drawing the reader in more easily.

That being said, I wasn't as enthralled as I hoped. The worldbuilding is nice, the message behing the book is very clear (exploitation, villainisation...). But I couldn't connect, and I sometimes felt like the characters' dialogues and reactions were too high and changing for my tastes. I would have liked something that felt more grounded, in a way, less far flung at time. The story itself in good, but I am left wanting another clothing, more intricate, hiding the bones and tropes better.

Still a nice read though.

[Q Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved MANZAKAR, 5/5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For fans of political intrigue, magic, myth and legend, epic battles, court politics, sexy archers on horses, badass skill-sets, awesome costumes, found family, casually queer MC's, flirting and snark.

And what i enjoyed most of all: a non western pov. A story set in a world inspired by West and Central Asia, with a SWANA inspired cast, with queer leads who are comfortable and confident in themselves, this is honestly such a refreshing and exciting prospect for me to read. Like YES FINALLY! At last some delicious f**king food. 🤲🤲

And omg. The cast are delicious. They have stayed on my mind a lot, and I have to say that Tikran, Coxani, and Damir are my faves. But the entire cast is interesting and has depth, I loved delving into their world.

This is a fantasy story with teeth, that packs a punch, both with the world building and the politics of empire, human trafficking and slavery, occupation, imperial fascist regimes, and the people standing up and pushing back. It's a story i really needed right now.

This is the first book in 'The Slave Soldier Series', and im so glad there will be more. Recommended!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tirzah Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC of Manzakar from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Wow, I really enjoyed Manzakar and cannot wait for the next book in this series. My only critique is that I think it could benefit from being a bit longer. It felt like things happened very fast, with time skips briefly taking me out of the story.

I prefer stories where the main character becomes important through their own works, not just being born "The Chosen One" and I think Tikran was a very good example of this. He was guided to become the man he is, but ultimately every important decision is his own. Coxani and Naran are very lovable characters and I loved how their stories tied in well with Tikran's without awkward jealousy subplots when in came to their shared feelings for each other.

Overall, this story is 4.5 stars and will be rounded up to five for Goodreads an Netgalley. I can't wait for the next book (though I recognize that this book hasn't technically come out yet, lol)

[Damien Edwards]

You ever read an unnecessary and boring love triangle and it makes you go "why can't they all just be bisxeual" great news!!!!

The romance is not the main aspect of the story though I found it very enjoyable. Really, this is a story on oppression, colonization, and the ways power can coerce you to turn on your own community. It's also about having your eyes opened to the horrors perpetrated by powerful men and finding the strength to stand against it.

I loved Tikran, I loved his inner struggles, and I loved his bisexual energy. That last one isn't related, I know, I just love bisexual men <3 I also loved the different relationships he had with each other main character. His love (romantic or not) for Coxani, Naran, and Damir shaped his every decision and we love to see that in a revolutionary. This world was so well fleshed out as well, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next!

EDIT: it's come to my attention that the author describes the characters as pansexual not bisexual!

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the type of story that pulls you in slowly and then suddenly you realize you’ve been completely transported.

The worldbuilding is rich without feeling overwhelming. The culture of the Gohari feels lived in and real, with traditions, struggles, and identities that matter to the story instead of just decorating it. I really appreciated the representation woven throughout. Every character has purpose, voice, and agency, which made their victories and heartbreaks hit harder.

Following Tikran and Coxan from childhood into adulthood was one of my favorite parts. Watching them grow, question the world, and fight for their freedom made their journey feel personal. The plot is easy to follow, but never shallow. There’s enough complexity to stay intriguing while still letting you connect deeply with the characters.

[SL McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The action and political intrigue was so well written. So much happened in a relativelty short book. I loved the world building. The differences between the Anzori and Gohari people felt very real. I was captivated by the characters. Tikran is so pure of heart, Coxani is basically a femenist icon, but Naran became my favorite. I loved the Gohari being a fully bisexual society. It seemed so natural.

I couldn't work out where the romance was going in this one, but was pleased with how it all worked out. So hard to discuss that without spoilers!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite reads of the Spring! I love the way the author put careful time into worldbuilding and showing (not just telling) the reader about the environment the characters find themselves in. The rep was great, the characters were layered, and the author's prose was enough to make me a reader for life. Definitely recommend this title!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review; I have not received any compensation from the author, Booksprout, or any other party in exchange for this review.

[Anelru · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC of this book for an honest review and I just loved it. The story immediately hooked me in and I found myself really caring for the characters. The slave system was fascinating and I loved the world. Lots of LGBT rep and some lovely romance mixed in made it such an enjoyable read. There were dark bits but the author made sure it was at a distance so not too dark. I read this book in a day that's all I need to say and I can't wait for the next in the series.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to be a beta reader for this first installment. With a perfect balance of story, action, and drama, I was fully invested in the intertwining storylines along with everything you would expect from an adult fantasy. This story has such rich character development as well, I'm eager to see how the story unfolds in future books!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A multilayered, entertaining, action packed, and gripping story that mixes classic fantasy tropes, LGBTQ themes, romance. A complex world buildind featuring serious themes like oppressione and identity.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and loved the storytelling
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Mappy BookGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the description of this book, I knew I had to add this to my TBR. It sounded interesting and unique - and I will tell you now that it really was. However, I felt that the writing itself could have been better. It didn't draw me in as much as I hoped it would, but parts of it did grab my attention and I couldn't put it down.

[Yesenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book transcends simple warfare, unfolding a narrative of affection, altruism, and the unwavering tenacity of the marginalized. With elaborate world construction and a central figure epitomizing hope, the plot delivers a blend of poignancy and empowerment. Prepare yourself for an enthralling voyage through this captivating escapade!

[Elizabeth Barrett Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

About as subtle as a jackhammer but I kind of loved it anyway.