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The Oracle of Ixic
I was chosen to serve the Goddess.
I gave up everything… but it wasn’t enough.
Now all I have is a power that poisons and a truth no one wants to hear.
I wanted to be a saviour, but I’m not meant to save anyone.
You don’t believe me?
Let me ruin you.
Kadmael, the Oracle of Ixic, sees the Net of Fate, speaks with the authority of the Goddess of Truth, and can twist the fabric of the soul. He has spent his life believing his service is sacred. Then he dares to foretell the Empire’s fall, and his prophecy marks him for death.
Fleeing for his life from the very Empire that once worshipped him, Kadmael is forced to confront the cost of his blind obedience and the possibility that the Gods were never truly on his side.
His only ally is Vittious of Mehera: a warrior prince from the distant north who has little reverence for Gods, prophecy, or the laws of the Empire. His goal is to secure aid for his war-torn homeland, and he will lie, seduce, kill, and even steal a forbidden divine weapon if that is what it takes.
They could hardly be more different, but neither can survive alone. Together, they are drawn across a vast and ancient world of monsters, pirates, and buried secrets—towards a divine reckoning set in motion long before either of them was born.
THE FIRST BOOK IN A DARK FANTASY EPIC OF ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS, DIVINE MAGIC, AND DEFIANCE AGAINST FATE.
I gave up everything… but it wasn’t enough.
Now all I have is a power that poisons and a truth no one wants to hear.
I wanted to be a saviour, but I’m not meant to save anyone.
You don’t believe me?
Let me ruin you.
Kadmael, the Oracle of Ixic, sees the Net of Fate, speaks with the authority of the Goddess of Truth, and can twist the fabric of the soul. He has spent his life believing his service is sacred. Then he dares to foretell the Empire’s fall, and his prophecy marks him for death.
Fleeing for his life from the very Empire that once worshipped him, Kadmael is forced to confront the cost of his blind obedience and the possibility that the Gods were never truly on his side.
His only ally is Vittious of Mehera: a warrior prince from the distant north who has little reverence for Gods, prophecy, or the laws of the Empire. His goal is to secure aid for his war-torn homeland, and he will lie, seduce, kill, and even steal a forbidden divine weapon if that is what it takes.
They could hardly be more different, but neither can survive alone. Together, they are drawn across a vast and ancient world of monsters, pirates, and buried secrets—towards a divine reckoning set in motion long before either of them was born.
THE FIRST BOOK IN A DARK FANTASY EPIC OF ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS, DIVINE MAGIC, AND DEFIANCE AGAINST FATE.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2026
About the author
Alex Xanthe
1 book6 followersDrawing on a lifelong love of mythology and a background in visual storytelling, Alex writes epic, mythic fantasy with psychological depth and cinematic clarity. Her work weaves ancient archetypes with raw, contemporary emotion.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a free advance review copy of this book from the author.
I really enjoyed this book. The unique world and magic were what kept me reading, along with the characters and their struggles. I'm excited for the sequel.
I really enjoyed this book. The unique world and magic were what kept me reading, along with the characters and their struggles. I'm excited for the sequel.
September 17, 2026
I loved the lore and world-building of this book! While I admit the first part read a tad slower for me, the second half had me in a chokehold—I literally read until I finished it at 4 a.m.
It’s on the darker side of high fantasy, however, the humour, the pacing, and the balance between endearing character moments and epic fights never left me bored. I especially enjoyed the two main characters, Kadmael and Vittious. An angsty oracle, a down-on-his-luck prince, and a fated weapon—what more can a girl want? Throw in some action on a ship (which I find rare and interesting) and I was sold.
Watching Kadmael make his baby steps towards growing into his own person after a sheltered life at the temple is like cringing at your past teenage self and, at times, leaves you wanting to spritz him with water like a misbehaving cat. And Vittious, beneath all his bravado and dry humour, feels like a man ready to do anything to achieve his goals.
I find myself rooting for them both, no matter whether they choose the high path or descend further into darkness. Either way, I’m eager for more of this author’s stories—to hear more about the godly emissaries, the dark secrets of the past and find out how our two heroes choose to fight for their causes.
It’s on the darker side of high fantasy, however, the humour, the pacing, and the balance between endearing character moments and epic fights never left me bored. I especially enjoyed the two main characters, Kadmael and Vittious. An angsty oracle, a down-on-his-luck prince, and a fated weapon—what more can a girl want? Throw in some action on a ship (which I find rare and interesting) and I was sold.
Watching Kadmael make his baby steps towards growing into his own person after a sheltered life at the temple is like cringing at your past teenage self and, at times, leaves you wanting to spritz him with water like a misbehaving cat. And Vittious, beneath all his bravado and dry humour, feels like a man ready to do anything to achieve his goals.
I find myself rooting for them both, no matter whether they choose the high path or descend further into darkness. Either way, I’m eager for more of this author’s stories—to hear more about the godly emissaries, the dark secrets of the past and find out how our two heroes choose to fight for their causes.
Did Not Finish
August 5, 2026Could not get into this book. We are following Oracle- who by all accounts is close to his god and has some power. And while being in a position should be one that comes with respect after long years of dedication, this main character is looked down on, talked over, not believed, and
September 27, 2026
Absolutely loved the cover. I wanted to like this book, with sections involving the Oracle that seemed interesting, but unfortunately, I couldn't push past 50%. The characters and plot were flat. The double POV chapters didn't indicate who was speaking, so it took time to figure out based on other details/people around them as to who it was. There were many complex names of places, people and concepts that would have benefitted from contextual background to really anchor the reader, same with main character backgrounds. The love interest seemed misplaced, or without proper context into the main character to understand why he felt that yearning.
I received an advanced readers copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
I received an advanced readers copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
July 10, 2026
This is an ARC review of an advanced copy
I really enjoyed this book. The world felt vast, and the action never stayed in one place for too long. Despite the changing scenery, the story remained coherent because the MCs were always moving toward something.
I enjoyed the humour. There was more of it than I expected, but without it, some scenes might have become too dark, so it worked for me.
The lore deserves a mention as well. I appreciated that the book remained readable despite the many invented terms for soul magic, the different aspects of the soul, the gods, and various magical artefacts. I never felt I had to memorise everything to follow the story, and the glossary at the end was genuinely helpful for me.
My favourite aspect of the book was Kadmael. His flaws were almost painful to watch, but they also made him very interesting for me. I also enjoyed that he was striving to do better, and despite (many) setbacks, ended up better than how he started.
Vittious was also very complex. I have mixed feelings about him, although I understand his motivations perfectly - the book made sure to make him sympathetic. I am hoping that he’d pivot for the better in next books, maybe thanks to Kadmael. Hopefully, thanks to Kadmael ^^
Overall, this book was memorable. It combined an expansive world, compelling characters, dark themes, and plenty of humour into a story that never lost my interest. I’m excited to see what happens to these characters next.
I really enjoyed this book. The world felt vast, and the action never stayed in one place for too long. Despite the changing scenery, the story remained coherent because the MCs were always moving toward something.
I enjoyed the humour. There was more of it than I expected, but without it, some scenes might have become too dark, so it worked for me.
The lore deserves a mention as well. I appreciated that the book remained readable despite the many invented terms for soul magic, the different aspects of the soul, the gods, and various magical artefacts. I never felt I had to memorise everything to follow the story, and the glossary at the end was genuinely helpful for me.
My favourite aspect of the book was Kadmael. His flaws were almost painful to watch, but they also made him very interesting for me. I also enjoyed that he was striving to do better, and despite (many) setbacks, ended up better than how he started.
Vittious was also very complex. I have mixed feelings about him, although I understand his motivations perfectly - the book made sure to make him sympathetic. I am hoping that he’d pivot for the better in next books, maybe thanks to Kadmael. Hopefully, thanks to Kadmael ^^
Overall, this book was memorable. It combined an expansive world, compelling characters, dark themes, and plenty of humour into a story that never lost my interest. I’m excited to see what happens to these characters next.
September 25, 2026
I got this book as an ARC through NetGalley as an intro to how NetGalley works. It sounded interesting but honestly I wasn’t expecting much - I hadn’t heard of the author nor the book.
I was pleasantly surprised. As an avid reader of fantasy, I felt this was a great debut.
The main characters were well written and their relationships were very organic, in particular the main two. Their relationships with some of the side characters occasionally seemed to come out of the blue. The motivation of the main antagonist needed further exploring, though I suspect that will be left to a sequel. The villains were indeed well written otherwise and did give a sense of jeopardy.
The story developed nicely. In some fantasy books the narrative can feel too forced and straightforward. In this book, the narrative evolved in a way that synergised with the various character arcs.
In terms of world-building, there is a solid foundation in the magic system and an introduction to the cultures/civilisations. However I look forward to the sequel where these aspects will hopefully be explored further.
In summary, an easy read with some early exposure to the depth of the world. The author has written the characters well, within a compelling story. Definitely worth the investment.
I was pleasantly surprised. As an avid reader of fantasy, I felt this was a great debut.
The main characters were well written and their relationships were very organic, in particular the main two. Their relationships with some of the side characters occasionally seemed to come out of the blue. The motivation of the main antagonist needed further exploring, though I suspect that will be left to a sequel. The villains were indeed well written otherwise and did give a sense of jeopardy.
The story developed nicely. In some fantasy books the narrative can feel too forced and straightforward. In this book, the narrative evolved in a way that synergised with the various character arcs.
In terms of world-building, there is a solid foundation in the magic system and an introduction to the cultures/civilisations. However I look forward to the sequel where these aspects will hopefully be explored further.
In summary, an easy read with some early exposure to the depth of the world. The author has written the characters well, within a compelling story. Definitely worth the investment.
September 22, 2026
(Received an ARC from the author through BookSirens)
I really enjoyed this book! Alex Xanthe weaves a gripping adventure in this story of Kadmael and Vittious. Both are complex characters who have ghosts in their pasts and impossible dilemmas in the present. Their actions have real consequences in the world, both good and bad, and I often found myself saying "Kadmael nooooo...." as I was reading. (This is both an indicator of my investment in the character and his orientation for terrible-but-inevitable decisions.) I also loved the mythology and world building Alex has created for this book. It is a little heavy at times, so I was grateful for the appendix to understand Kadmael's abilities, the gods, and various locations. My only complaint is the crudeness of the pirate crew that featured heavily in the second half of the book. I got tired of everybody trying to get in everybody's pants, and the dialogue in this section of the story was a little on-the-nose. All-in-all, a delightful beginning to what is sure to be an epic series. Can't wait for book two!
I really enjoyed this book! Alex Xanthe weaves a gripping adventure in this story of Kadmael and Vittious. Both are complex characters who have ghosts in their pasts and impossible dilemmas in the present. Their actions have real consequences in the world, both good and bad, and I often found myself saying "Kadmael nooooo...." as I was reading. (This is both an indicator of my investment in the character and his orientation for terrible-but-inevitable decisions.) I also loved the mythology and world building Alex has created for this book. It is a little heavy at times, so I was grateful for the appendix to understand Kadmael's abilities, the gods, and various locations. My only complaint is the crudeness of the pirate crew that featured heavily in the second half of the book. I got tired of everybody trying to get in everybody's pants, and the dialogue in this section of the story was a little on-the-nose. All-in-all, a delightful beginning to what is sure to be an epic series. Can't wait for book two!
September 15, 2026
I really enjoyed how easy and fast this book was to read. The story is interesting and quite dynamic, with plenty of adventures that keep things moving. There are also some really fun characters, who added a nice bit of humor to the story.
One of my favorite parts was the mythology and the legends about the gods. I liked slowly finding out more about the past and how it connects to what is happening in the present. The book also gives the feeling that there is a much bigger world waiting to be explored, with different places, stories, and cultures, which I found really interesting.
Overall, it was an entertaining and engaging read. It’s easy to get into, the story moves quickly, and it definitely leaves you curious about what might happen next and what else this world has to offer.
One of my favorite parts was the mythology and the legends about the gods. I liked slowly finding out more about the past and how it connects to what is happening in the present. The book also gives the feeling that there is a much bigger world waiting to be explored, with different places, stories, and cultures, which I found really interesting.
Overall, it was an entertaining and engaging read. It’s easy to get into, the story moves quickly, and it definitely leaves you curious about what might happen next and what else this world has to offer.
October 2, 2026
I received an advanced readers copy from the author via Booksirens.
What I liked:
The world building in this book is incredibly detailed. The city of Tzikoumel feels very real and lived in. The culture definitely pulls from a few Mesopotamian cultures which was wonderful to read as I don't see it as often as I would like.
Kadmael is a fantastically complex character and great protagonist. The constant confliction between his religious duty, personal desires, self-doubt and arrogance make him very compelling. His personality is again not one I see very often in fantasy books as a protagonist.
The pacing is very quick, it was not hard for me to quickly read the book. Was it a little too fast? For me personally, yes. However, I think that is a matter of taste. It is very action oriented and I think that a lot of readers will love that there's so much action and excitement.
I love the magic in this book. I think the idea of Kah is very interesting and the way the author writes it is very unique.
Where I struggled:
The book is incredibly dense with lore and characters. In the beginning it was fine as that's something you come to expect from the genre. And whilst concepts came very quickly they were shown through action rather than dialogue. This slipped as the book when on with what felt like rather large paragraphs of characters explaining lore. It felt more like I was reading a non-existent history book than reading a story. A lot of "as you know" or "in my homeland" that stalled the story. Plus there are so so many concepts and characters that it is honestly quite hard to absorb the information you're reading.
Moreover, there is a ridiculous number of characters. The two main characters are well developed. But with everyone else, there are honestly just too many for me to get emotionally invested in anyone .
Weirdly, despite many female characters having powerful roles in the book, they seem very underdeveloped. They almost exclusively seem to serve as sexual devices for the protagonists.
The dialogue feels very stilted to me. I think that was another reason I found it hard to attach to most of the characters in any way. Outside of the crude jokes which could be quite funny at times, there was very little natural sounding conversation.
Overall, I was interested in the book and I think the world is great but I'm not sure I would read a sequel.
What I liked:
The world building in this book is incredibly detailed. The city of Tzikoumel feels very real and lived in. The culture definitely pulls from a few Mesopotamian cultures which was wonderful to read as I don't see it as often as I would like.
Kadmael is a fantastically complex character and great protagonist. The constant confliction between his religious duty, personal desires, self-doubt and arrogance make him very compelling. His personality is again not one I see very often in fantasy books as a protagonist.
The pacing is very quick, it was not hard for me to quickly read the book. Was it a little too fast? For me personally, yes. However, I think that is a matter of taste. It is very action oriented and I think that a lot of readers will love that there's so much action and excitement.
I love the magic in this book. I think the idea of Kah is very interesting and the way the author writes it is very unique.
Where I struggled:
The book is incredibly dense with lore and characters. In the beginning it was fine as that's something you come to expect from the genre. And whilst concepts came very quickly they were shown through action rather than dialogue. This slipped as the book when on with what felt like rather large paragraphs of characters explaining lore. It felt more like I was reading a non-existent history book than reading a story. A lot of "as you know" or "in my homeland" that stalled the story. Plus there are so so many concepts and characters that it is honestly quite hard to absorb the information you're reading.
Moreover, there is a ridiculous number of characters. The two main characters are well developed. But with everyone else, there are honestly just too many for me to get emotionally invested in anyone .
Weirdly, despite many female characters having powerful roles in the book, they seem very underdeveloped. They almost exclusively seem to serve as sexual devices for the protagonists.
The dialogue feels very stilted to me. I think that was another reason I found it hard to attach to most of the characters in any way. Outside of the crude jokes which could be quite funny at times, there was very little natural sounding conversation.
Overall, I was interested in the book and I think the world is great but I'm not sure I would read a sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of The Oracle of Ixic in exchange of honest review.
At the center of this story are Kadmael and Vittious, two very different men who make for an interesting pair. Kadmael was the character who surprised me most. He’s mysterious, deeply flawed, and thrown into an incredibly difficult situation. At first I wasn’t sure what to make of him, but as his journey unfolded, I became increasingly invested. At times I wanted to slap him out of his stupid decisions, and at times I just wanted to give him a hug. (He ended up being my favorite character.)
Vittious is a different story. He comes across as the typical hero who is too-sexy-for-his-shirt, and I’ll admit I almost dismissed him as flat archetype. Oh, was I wrong! There is much more to Vittious than makes the eye. He is hiding a darker side and his motives are not as heroic as it might seem. I quickly realized he was complex than I had initially given him credit for, so I started to enjoy his chapters more and more as the story unfolded.
The story really comes alive when these two are forced to work together to survive. The clash of their contrasting personalities is the most enjoyable parts of the book.
The pacing is quick, with plenty of colorful side characters along the way. The pirates were particular favorites of mine. They were hilarious, disgusting, and strangely endearing.
I also appreciated how the book gradually builds its world and reveals its characters rather than giving everything away at once. By the time I reached the ending, I was fully invested, and the conclusion was both thrilling and satisfying.
Definitely a promising start to the series, and I’m excited to see what happens in book two.
At the center of this story are Kadmael and Vittious, two very different men who make for an interesting pair. Kadmael was the character who surprised me most. He’s mysterious, deeply flawed, and thrown into an incredibly difficult situation. At first I wasn’t sure what to make of him, but as his journey unfolded, I became increasingly invested. At times I wanted to slap him out of his stupid decisions, and at times I just wanted to give him a hug. (He ended up being my favorite character.)
Vittious is a different story. He comes across as the typical hero who is too-sexy-for-his-shirt, and I’ll admit I almost dismissed him as flat archetype. Oh, was I wrong! There is much more to Vittious than makes the eye. He is hiding a darker side and his motives are not as heroic as it might seem. I quickly realized he was complex than I had initially given him credit for, so I started to enjoy his chapters more and more as the story unfolded.
The story really comes alive when these two are forced to work together to survive. The clash of their contrasting personalities is the most enjoyable parts of the book.
The pacing is quick, with plenty of colorful side characters along the way. The pirates were particular favorites of mine. They were hilarious, disgusting, and strangely endearing.
I also appreciated how the book gradually builds its world and reveals its characters rather than giving everything away at once. By the time I reached the ending, I was fully invested, and the conclusion was both thrilling and satisfying.
Definitely a promising start to the series, and I’m excited to see what happens in book two.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A thrilling dark fantasy that had me in a chokehold from start to finish!
The story plunges you into a world of magic and royal intrigue from page one. The world-building is so intricate you feel like these places exist for real. I completely forgot where I really was while reading, I was so engrossed! The twists and turns were so good, and I could never predict what would happen next. It felt like no character was safe.
The MCs are complex individuals whose regular lives are tipped off balance by a prophecy of doom. I enjoyed getting to know them little by little as their regular selves and after, when they have to adapt to their new reality. I can’t wait to see how they’ll grow as the series progresses!
The secondary characters were cool as well, and there were funny moments in their interactions with the MCs that brought light to the dark storyline.
I must admit I’m partial to Vittious and his band of warriors; I enjoyed their interactions the most. Vittious and Kadmael together were also entertaining and making me giggle at times. I’m so excited for what’s next in their story!
The story plunges you into a world of magic and royal intrigue from page one. The world-building is so intricate you feel like these places exist for real. I completely forgot where I really was while reading, I was so engrossed! The twists and turns were so good, and I could never predict what would happen next. It felt like no character was safe.
The MCs are complex individuals whose regular lives are tipped off balance by a prophecy of doom. I enjoyed getting to know them little by little as their regular selves and after, when they have to adapt to their new reality. I can’t wait to see how they’ll grow as the series progresses!
The secondary characters were cool as well, and there were funny moments in their interactions with the MCs that brought light to the dark storyline.
I must admit I’m partial to Vittious and his band of warriors; I enjoyed their interactions the most. Vittious and Kadmael together were also entertaining and making me giggle at times. I’m so excited for what’s next in their story!
Review of advance copy
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book. The magic and world-building are both very good but it’s Kadmael and Vittious that really sold me. Alone they are interesting, together they are the main story. I was glad that I didn’t have to wait too long before they actually met and started interacting. After that, I was constantly wondering if they’ll kill each other before they become friends.
The ending was super cool and I just can’t wait for the sequel!
Great book! I recommend it.
I loved this book. The magic and world-building are both very good but it’s Kadmael and Vittious that really sold me. Alone they are interesting, together they are the main story. I was glad that I didn’t have to wait too long before they actually met and started interacting. After that, I was constantly wondering if they’ll kill each other before they become friends.
The ending was super cool and I just can’t wait for the sequel!
Great book! I recommend it.
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August 17, 2026Thank you to the author and publishing house for this advanced readers copy.
I chose to DNF this book at 40%
I will start with this story has great potential however, I could not get over the flat characters. The plot line was a great idea but felt like it was going no where, and there was an excessive amount of exclamation points. With all of this being said I do stand on the fact that this could be a good series with some tweaking, it just wasn’t for me.
I chose to DNF this book at 40%
I will start with this story has great potential however, I could not get over the flat characters. The plot line was a great idea but felt like it was going no where, and there was an excessive amount of exclamation points. With all of this being said I do stand on the fact that this could be a good series with some tweaking, it just wasn’t for me.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews