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Merynthia's Master
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 5, 2026
This is billed as sword and sorcery, but there’s a pretty hefty amount of romantasy baked into it as well, and I think Saitta excels at both ends of that spectrum. The spice is nice, the violence is exciting, and there’s moments of warmth, humor, and even sweetness throughout.
Two things really stood out for me while reading this. The first was the opening sequence, a botched theft that results in an extended chase through and then under the city of Merynthia. It’s frantic, kinetic, escalates naturally and warmed me up to the protagonist immediately.
The other standout was the authorial voice. It’s very modern in tone, and I know that’s the sort of thing that a lot of fantasy readers dislike, but personally I found it made the book charming as hell. Saitta mostly uses all this charm to fire off some great jokes (and this is another thing that that opening really does well, as that chase, and the back and forth between the narrator and the protagonist during it, is the funniest part of the book). But she also puts some thoughtful insights in to the narrator’s mouth during the book’s second section while Wren is coming in to her own.
I recommend this pretty enthusiastically. It sets out to do a very specific thing, gets that thing done, and gets it done quickly enough to not wear out its welcome. Like I said, charming as hell.
Two things really stood out for me while reading this. The first was the opening sequence, a botched theft that results in an extended chase through and then under the city of Merynthia. It’s frantic, kinetic, escalates naturally and warmed me up to the protagonist immediately.
The other standout was the authorial voice. It’s very modern in tone, and I know that’s the sort of thing that a lot of fantasy readers dislike, but personally I found it made the book charming as hell. Saitta mostly uses all this charm to fire off some great jokes (and this is another thing that that opening really does well, as that chase, and the back and forth between the narrator and the protagonist during it, is the funniest part of the book). But she also puts some thoughtful insights in to the narrator’s mouth during the book’s second section while Wren is coming in to her own.
I recommend this pretty enthusiastically. It sets out to do a very specific thing, gets that thing done, and gets it done quickly enough to not wear out its welcome. Like I said, charming as hell.
May 15, 2026
Bruh this fucking rocks (I wrote it)
May 12, 2026
Classic vibes with a modern sensibility, horny and sweet, there’s something for everyone!
June 25, 2026
An all-around fun read! (Well, aside from the abused urchin episodes, but we need sufficient cause to root for the protagonist, do we not?)
Saitta's prose successfully incorporates the main protagonist's interiority, bodily harms and pleasures, and sensory details and material culture into what is nonetheless a breezily paced novella. The major characters are sympathetic, the setting feels lived-in, and something shaped like a from-rags-to-riches story is better realized as a from-abuse-to-dignity sort of story (as I observed in an interview with the author). While the sword & sorcery stories I read are usually lighter on sex and romance, there's a good case to be made that these elements belong in this "literature of the body" (Eric Williams, New Edge Sword & Sorcery issue #6) just about as much as fighting does. I'm glad I trusted the author and ventured outside the sorts of reading I tend to prefer; the gamble ultimately paid off.
I purchased and read the digital edition; I recall other reviewers mentioning formatting issues early on, but I didn't encounter these. Most likely, these were early hiccups that were then quickly addressed.
Saitta's prose successfully incorporates the main protagonist's interiority, bodily harms and pleasures, and sensory details and material culture into what is nonetheless a breezily paced novella. The major characters are sympathetic, the setting feels lived-in, and something shaped like a from-rags-to-riches story is better realized as a from-abuse-to-dignity sort of story (as I observed in an interview with the author). While the sword & sorcery stories I read are usually lighter on sex and romance, there's a good case to be made that these elements belong in this "literature of the body" (Eric Williams, New Edge Sword & Sorcery issue #6) just about as much as fighting does. I'm glad I trusted the author and ventured outside the sorts of reading I tend to prefer; the gamble ultimately paid off.
I purchased and read the digital edition; I recall other reviewers mentioning formatting issues early on, but I didn't encounter these. Most likely, these were early hiccups that were then quickly addressed.
May 29, 2026
Saitta meets different types of S&S halfway, making this the ideal gateway drug for a new generation of diverse readers coming into the genre. The prose is excellent with beautiful flourishes. The colonized Mediterranean/Near East setting is rich and vibrant and is what keeps me coming back to Saitta's work (I've thoroughly enjoyed her Zeynep and Kawtar stories which have the same feel). There's a clear love for the classics here.
The dialogue at times felt a bit too modern, but this could be a selling point depending on whom you ask. This seems to be what is expected on the Romantic Fantasy side of things. This story is as much modern Romantic Fantasy as it is Classic-styled S&S, which is why it works so well to bring in readers new to the genre. There is a good bit of spice—and while it's not my thing, personally—it is well done and serves the readers who are looking forward to it.
I loved our hero and rooted for them throughout. Their self-actualization is thought-provoking and deep despite the swift page count. Though they are young and searching for meaning, Saitta still delivers on a cunning, decisive, and admirable protagonist.
A great read—perfect for those curious about about modern Sword & Sorcery to meet them halfway.
The dialogue at times felt a bit too modern, but this could be a selling point depending on whom you ask. This seems to be what is expected on the Romantic Fantasy side of things. This story is as much modern Romantic Fantasy as it is Classic-styled S&S, which is why it works so well to bring in readers new to the genre. There is a good bit of spice—and while it's not my thing, personally—it is well done and serves the readers who are looking forward to it.
I loved our hero and rooted for them throughout. Their self-actualization is thought-provoking and deep despite the swift page count. Though they are young and searching for meaning, Saitta still delivers on a cunning, decisive, and admirable protagonist.
A great read—perfect for those curious about about modern Sword & Sorcery to meet them halfway.
June 16, 2026
The characters are endearing, the action exciting, the spice is welcome, and the prose is the strongest Saitta has delivered to date.
Read my full review at Robin Marx's Writing Repository!
Read my full review at Robin Marx's Writing Repository!
April 26, 2026
Luana's an excellent writer. Her prose reminds me of mine, so of course I love it!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews