The Castle and the Cloister

Daughters of Light #1

by Laura E. Weymouth

The first book in a compelling political fantasy duology, for fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and the Farseer trilogy.

Two centuries ago, the kingdom of Honoria’s goddesses were silenced in blood. Now, as the realm’s fragile peace falters, the whims of a king may reignite the engines of war.

At the last remaining cloister of the sun goddess, a young postulant seeks safety for her child but discovers that sanctuary comes at a heavy price. In the castle on the mountain, a queen treads a knife’s edge between loyalty and betrayal, desperate to shape a gentler future. And deep in the mountain’s heart, a blinded priest waits in the darkness, biding his time…

Together, they will risk the wrath of gods and kings – and decide the fate of a kingdom.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook

418 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2026

About the author

Laura Weymouth is a Canadian living in America, and the sixth consecutive generation of her family to immigrate from one country to another. Born and raised in the Niagara region of Ontario, she now lives at the edge of the woods in western New York, along with her husband, three wild-hearted daughters, an unruly garden, and an ever-expanding menagerie of animal friends.

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster Canada for a chance to review this arc!

The Castle & the Cloister is a political fantasy following three characters trying to shape the future of a war shattered continent.

The political aspect of this novel was its success. A lot of thoughts were put into politics & it didn’t feel convoluted. Information was given at a good pace, and made it easy to follow.

Where the novel lost its spark for me was how religion was handled. Maybe it’s on me, but I didn’t expect this story to be so religiously heavy. From an atheist point of view ; I found both religions to be problematic. Unfortunately, it was clear which one was intended as the ‘good’ one vs the ‘bad’ one. I struggled with the narrative in that aspect and would’ve preferred an impartial view.

One aspect I think should’ve been mentioned in the synopsis is how heavily pregnancy/motherhood is present & a major part of this story. I think this would help find its rightful audience.

As for the characters… I did feel that the tone regarding them was cold & lacked depth. Fia was probably the one character that had the most character development. That character did rub me the wrong way at first though because she made me think of every single person that wants you to act like their child is the most important human being on earth while completely disregarding your own. How she disregarded the orphanage babies while only wanting safety for her child was off putting, to be quite honest.

Overall, i honestly think I wasn’t the intended audience for this. If you want to read a political fantasy that has a focus on religion & motherhood - this will be for you!

[Samantha (ladybug.books)]

DNF 8% for now

I don’t want to diss on this book too much because I really didn’t get very far in. But I was not expecting The Castle and the Cloister to be so focused on motherhood and pregnancy which are themes I typically avoid in my fantasy. Early reviews just reinforce that this is much more of a central theme than the marketing suggests.

I may come back to this one later once I see more reviews.

[quillnqueer]

Dryer than eating a cracker first thing in the morning.

[Ashlea Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need the second book of this duology now!
 
The Castle and the Cloister is a beautiful character driven story following 3 different points of view. Full of power struggles, political intrigue, and the power of motherhood. The ending of this book left me in disbelief and hungry for more. 

Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the gifted eARC. 4.5 stars

[Stacey Markle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one! The worldbuilding was probably my favourite part. Laura Weymouth created such an interesting world shaped by war, religion, and the lingering consequences of conquest. I especially liked the contrast between Honoria’s pacifist, matriarchal faith and the much more brutal Inver religion. There’s a lot of history and religious lore woven into the story, and it really made the world feel lived-in. The religious side may be too much for some, it was a stretch for me as someone not particularly religious at all. But it was super interesting so I kept with it and I came to understand both sides a bit better.
I always love multiple POVs. We follow Fia, a young mother seeking sanctuary for herself and her daughter, Ariana, a queen trying to navigate a dangerous court while pushing for peace, and the blinded Inver Priest. I thought having these very different perspectives worked really well because they each have their own motivations, loyalties, and complicated relationships with faith and power.
The plot is very much a slow-burn political fantasy, with court maneuvering, religious tensions, shifting loyalties, and the ever-present threat of war. It’s not a book that relies on constant action, but there is still plenty of tension. I really enjoyed watching the characters make increasingly difficult choices as their personal lives became tangled up with much bigger political and religious conflicts.
The characters were a huge part of what kept me invested. Fia and Ariana in particular were interesting because motherhood isn't just a side element of their stories—it genuinely shapes their motivations and the choices they make. I also appreciated that the characters aren't simply making “good” or “bad” decisions. There are a lot of morally complicated choices, and I was constantly wondering what I would do in their position, especially being a mother myself. I definitely didn't agree with everything that took place!
This is definitely a character-driven fantasy, and I think that’s important to know going in. It takes its time building the world, the religions, the political situation, and the characters, but I thought that slower approach really paid off.
And that ending?! 😩 I knew this was the first book in a duology, but I was still NOT prepared for where it left things. Needless to say, I will be very interested in seeing where book two takes these characters.


Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.

[Beth | Bookwyrm.Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Saga Press for the free book!

✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
The Castle and the Cloister was a heavily political, truly epic historical fantasy that focuses largely on the quiet, visceral sacrifices of motherhood (a criminally underrepresented role in fantasy) and religious practice under oppression.

The character work is immense, with a layered, multi-POV structure that added a lot of nuance to the plot. I really loved how each perspective worked together to build their own unique tension throughout the story. The characters themselves were my favorite part of this book, each having incredible depth, their own distinct background, and clear motivations.

The political web within this story is vast and complicated. I loved how messy everything and everyone became over time, but I would have loved a bit more of that excitement laced throughout the story. The narrative moved at such a deliberately slow pace that it required an immense amount of patience, and felt a bit too weighed down for my personal preference. Many of the dialogue is done as internal monologues, which were drawn out and became a little repetitive for me.

That said, all of these pieces fall into place within the last 25% of the novel, leading me to wholeheartedly proclaim that each meticulous detail is worth it by the end.

Overall, if you’re in the mood for an ultra-slow burning, character driven, historical fantasy with an incredible payoff, I do recommend checking this one out. However, make sure that you have the time and mental energy necessary for a very dense story.

✄----------
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
✄----------


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[Rebekah W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying: excuse me?!? What was the last 20% of this book? I was so nervous I was practically SHAKING. The twists just kept coming, and I felt swept out to sea. And the epilogue?! Mind blown. I am absolutely feral for the next book.

Laura Weymouth actually reached out to me to see if I would be interested in a copy of The Castle and the Cloister, because we both share a deep love of Robin Hobb. Laura has a Q&A at the end of the book where she mentions Hobb as one of her favorite writers for fiercely intelligent, fully immersive worlds. And Laura has done that in her debut adult fantasy novel.

This world Laura had created is intricate and hauntingly beautiful and grotesque but striving for goodness and peace and light. This is a medieval-esque fantasy world with deep religious ties, that every character is using to further their own agenda. You’re going to need to enjoy complex court politics and following multiple povs all doing morally grey things. You’ll enjoy this authors deep devotion to women and children, and how motherhood changes women and their perspectives. You’ll enjoy this if you like a character driven story where motives and clear, where the narrators are unreliable, and where no one is going to behave in the way in which you expect.

This is a high fantasy story. And while there is a small romantic subplot that has left my heart aching, it is not the main plot of the story. Badass women plotting and scheming and doing bad things in the name of the greater good is what it’s all about. Loved this!

[Cori Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, twisty story of religion and politics across four POVs, centring experiences of early motherhood.

This is intricately plotted such that I needed to reread the first few pages just to make sure I had my head around the kingdoms and deities, though I'm not sure if that's the book's own pacing or me whisking through the pages too quickly. However, once I had everything straight, this was deeply satisfying. The POV characters, particularly the two women, were all very different and very grounded. Fia is an absolute force of nature and if I read a better character this year I'll be delighted because she's a phenomenon. Ariana is likewise completely believable in her behaviour and motivation, and I do feel for the two men -- no mean slouches in their own right -- but definitely having to work to keep up in the story.

I am still confused about one plot twist (and rereading that part didn't clear things up) but otherwise cannot wait for the second half of the duology to come out.


Rating: 16/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you so much for del rey for sending me an arc of this to review!

this is an amazing sweeping, epic fantasy filled with politics, religion and finding your true self. we follow three main characters: a bastard priest who has connections to the royal family, a postulant who is trying to complete her vows and a pacifist queen, who has worked in the shadows for the last decade to try keep peace. however, war is brewing on the continent, and it seems that all efforts of keep stability between the different nations is near almost impossible.

i thought this was a fantastic first book! it really set up the world Honoria richly, and infuses the political turmoil with the views of religion and the significance of these goddesses in the world. it was one of those moments were you can see this fragile peace is going to shatter, but laura did a great job at building this tension and keeping me at the edge of my seat at times.

the strong point of this book for me was the characters, and you know how much i love good character work. Fia, Silas and Ariana were all very fleshed out characters, each POV had me engaged in the story and there interactions with each other, this fierce loyalty they had, was wonderful to see. Fia was definitely my favourite: she's headstrong, and will do anything necessary to protect the ones she loves, even if that means making the hard and morally ambiguous decisions. there is a small romantic subplot, which i loved, as it never took away from the overarching plot or message of the story, but kept me on my toes.

without getting into spoiler territory, i fear i do need book 2 like as soon as possible. especially after reading the last few chapters of this book. and that epilogue, i was cheering at one point and then by the end i was like 'OH no i'm sad now'

overall, a really strong introduction to a new epic fantasy world. I would definitely say this is for fans of Robin Hobb, who like a slowburn kind of pace, with the action and stakes coming later on. But i thought the wait was well worth it, and when it did kick off, i found myself unable to put it down

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts a very enjoyable new fantasy series. The setting is the continent, The Hand, split into three waring lands: Honoria, Caervallion and Vesper. Another land, Song Royale sometimes aligns itself with Honoria, sometimes with Caervallion. And there are also the pacifist Corrin people, who are overrun and abused by all.
There are four important gods: the three goddesses of peace (Silith, Raea and Lyria) and the warlike Tyrus.
Most of the action takes place in Inverlyn, Honoria, where Orden Inver is king. His wife, Ariana, is a former soria of a Lyria cloister, and his blinded brother, Silas, a priest of Tyrus. The other main character is Fia, who yearns to be accepted as a soria in the very prosperous cloister of Raea, more for security for herself and her daughter, than a particular religious calling.
Ariana and Fia became friends when tending to the wounded soldiers of a major battle between Honoria and Caervallion. Later, Fia becomes wet nurse to Ariana’s son in Inverlyn. Both women have been set missions by their respective cloisters, but neither are able or willing to fulfil the missions as directed.
The Inver ruling family has always been militant, and has sought to conquer the entire Hand. Orden Inver, under the influence of his wife, appears to be working towards a more peaceful solution. But has he genuinely changed?
Orden and Ariana have gathered the leaders of the factions (except Vesper) in Inverlyn to discuss terms for ending the wars: Afon of Caervallion; Gileta of Song Royale; and the Corrin Arbiter and Arbitress.
The story involves divisions and loyalties within religion, politics and family. It is obvious from the start, who is evil (Afon), but never who is fully good. Apart from Afon, the other characters have their doubts and flaws.
Who will survive?
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.

[daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫.”

The Castle and The Cloister immediately reminded me of Game of Thrones, where the women were honestly the backbone of the entire story. Fia and Ariana are no exception - they gave me strong Cersei and Sansa vibes. I also found it really refreshing how motherhood was embraced in a fantasy novel, as it’s not something you often get to see. Laura’s writing is absolutely incredible as well and had me hooked from start to finish.The Castle and The Cloister proves, once again, that we would, in fact, be better off without men (lol).

the vibes ™:
- strong fmc’s
- motherhood
- religion
- politics

[Amela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Castle & the Cloister was an interesting fantasy with politics, religion, and motherhood at its heart. It reminded me a lot of Priory of the Orange Tree and Game of Thrones with a medieval fantasy setting, constant political machinations, and strong female characters.

We follow Fia, a postulant for the sun goddess, and a new mom, who is just looking for a peaceful place to make a life for her and her daughter. Unfortunately, Fia gets sent to be the wet nurse for the queen, an apostate soria of another goddess, who she knew in her youth. In spite of herself, Fia becomes a strong political ally to the queen, and helps shape the future of the court. This was a slower read that required more focus, but was very interesting and well-woven.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Shelby Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Laura Weymouth is a genius.” ~ A thought I thunk ten times while reading this book.

[Cherie Koh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Castle and the Cloister is a sprawling, hypnotic political fantasy that weaves together religion, motherhood, and an enduring hope for survival and peace. Fia is a new mother who longs for nothing more than an ascetic life within her cloister. But as the threat of war looms, she is plunged into the role of an unlikely political queenmaker, going into the very kingdom that endangers both her and her daughter's safety.

Fia is fiery and stubborn, making her a hilarious presence amid the court's increasingly deadly events. There is also Ariana, apostate queen married to a tyrannical king. Their obsessive relationship is fascinating and grotesque, becoming a fault line that threatens to split the kingdom apart.

Together with a blind priest, they emerge as éminence grises, wielding influence through perceived frailty of their roles. It's this inversion of power that makes the story so captivating, especially against the feckless and violent masculinity that comes easily to men as kings.

Without going into spoilers, the novel is at its strongest when it explores the sacrifices each character makes, forcing them to reckon with selfish desires and morally fraught choices. Fia, bound by her blood prohibition, has to choose violence in the pursuit of peace—an unsettling contradiction that asks whether virtue can survive when reality is often otherwise.

The world is steeped in mysticism and devotion to the gods, yet Weymouth challenges their blind belief by confronting the horrors it can excuse.

If you're looking for a pacey read, this might not be for you. But patience is rewarded by Weymouth's meticulous plotting, as layers of disquieting secrets gradually come to light. It's a gripping political thriller wrapped in fantasy, with a tender thread of love against impossible odds and knowing that achieving something extraordinary always requires risking everything.

[Chloe Heary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know if I finished this book or if it finished me.

I was screaming, crying, throwing the book across the room and cursing Laura E Weymouths name.

10/10 reading experience. Will read again.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fia, a postulant to one of the Beloved Three goddesses, is sent by her order's Matria to be a wet nurse to the new prince. The queen is an old friend of Fia's and so she's soon pulled in to court politics. She's also drawn to the Priest, the King's half-brother, ally to the queen, and, theoretically, the religious leader of the royal family's bloody and fiery god.

These three provide our three points-of-view and we follow each of their struggles to follow their beliefs whilst trying to protect those they love and do what's best for the country.

This is a slower paced fantasy that's heavily character driven with fairly lowkey magic related to the different goddesses.
I've read quite a few books recently that feature a lot of court politics along with religious conflict - usually a more brutal, often misogynistic religion of a conquering force replacing a gentler or more open religion. Although I understand why a lot of those books leaned towards the grimdark, I was glad to have a story with complex political setting and morally grey characters that doesn't feel so dark overall. There's also a very strong thread of motherhood - what someone will do for their children and also the more practical everyday care. (Trigger warnings for pregnancy, birth trauma and stillbirths)

I did occasionally become a little overwhelmed with all the different religions, religious orders, warring or squabbling countries etc, but overall I quite liked the slower pace and wider development of the world.
I enjoyed both Fia and the Priest as characters, I didn't always like them and Fia, in particular can be quite abrasive, but I was always interested in what they were doing and thinking. Ariana might be a divisive character as she struggles with her pacifist beliefs and the consequences of them, but I liked the contrast between the three of them and how they dealt with the world in front of them.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the next story continues to unfold in the next book.

Thanks to Del Rey UK for the netgalley arc to review

[Cate Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Priest did know— Fia had been leaving ever since she arrived.’

When I say that was one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read, I truly truly mean it. Did it take me 3 times as long to read than is normal for me? Yes. Did I care? No.

‘The Castle and The Cloister’ is an incredibly beautiful novel about a young wet nurse, a priest and a queen and the politics of a troubled court and country that twists them all together. It’s such a slow burning and intense tale, each character rich with life and morals that have you questioning who to root for.

Life has been busy for me recently so it wasn’t able to read as quickly as I usually am and this book requires concentration and a lot of peace and quiet - which wasn’t always possible. When I managed to escape to a quiet place, I was thrown into this beautiful world and transported through the words of the author. I literally kept saying out loud how incredible this book was.

Fia, the Priest and Ari were my favourite characters and I will not choose between them - though maybe Fia takes the top place as I was closest to her. Their differing backgrounds and present situations gave so many varying perspectives. This trio is the epitome of morally grey and I was LIVING for it.

I could rhapsodise about this story forever, the beautiful and painful story between the Priest and Fia, the tumultuous relationship between Ariana and her warmongering king, the beautiful presence of motherhood and the pains of mother a child - it was all just so exceptionally written and plotted.

Weymouth is truly an excellent talent, her writing felt like a cosy bed and an open window with a cold breeze all at the same time. I loved every second of this book.

It has just come out, so please show it some love!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Official review: I thought I was in for a character focused, slow, thoughtful adult fantasy. Well, it was character focused, and it was thoughtful, but after the first few chapters, BUCKLE UP.

Laura E. Weymouth has crafted a fantasy like nothing else I’ve ever read. Four characters share POV time: Fia, a mother and postulant who you learn is anything but meek; Ariana, the apostate queen who has held her king back from war by the tips of her fingers but also loves him and its tearing her apart; The Priest, the king’s blind bastard brother who has carved out a sphere of influence for himself while keeping himself safe from this court of vipers; and the king himself, who is so morality chained to his wife it’s crazy.

Everyone has competing political priorities and Fia and Ari sometimes feel against the royal family who are cutthroat and war mongering and also the belief systems of their country as a supposedly pacifist faith is willing to cut corners on violence. But you can feel the author insist IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS. Women are DOING THINGS, making things move and shake and accomplishing seemingly impossible tasks.

It was a tense and extremely compelling roller coaster ride. I read it cover to cover in one afternoon and evening. The reveals were masterful. I don’t want to give much away because you deserve to experience it in living color. But I am so incredibly sat for the sequel. I trust the author to bring the story home in an incredible way.

10 million stars, I hope it sells like gangbusters.

Heat level:
1 on page scene but very short and skimmable.

[Dee Furey · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need to talk about The Castle and the Cloister by Laura E. Weymouth. I had the e-arc from Net Galley and Saga Press and I received the finished paperback from Saga Press so I was able to read this in the paperback. I loved this story. We have three POVs in The Castle and the Cloister, a nursing mother, who is being referred to as a wet nurse and I really hate that term. She is seeking sanctuary for herself and her daughter, but she is sent on a mission to deliver a letter to a queen. Our second POV. She is a peace loving queen, a pacifist and she is married into a kingdom that wages war and she is walking a very fine line politically. The third POV is a blind priest who know more than he should. I love this story, the writing, the world building - it flows organically as the story is told, the characters, the plot - all the political machinations. This story was so well done. 4.5 stars. I absolutely loved it. This is the first book in a planned duology and I cannot wait for book 2. Thank you so much to Net Galley and Saga Press for my advance copies!

[Suki J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone/ Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars.

In a fantasy world where peace is fragile, a postulant from a convent comes to the kingdom's castle to assist the queen who has just given birth to an heir, and who is trying to influence her king towards a better future for the kingdom. Our other main POV is a priest with his own motivations.
I found this to be a very compelling read, with a lot of the focus on the political machinations of these characters, rather than on action. I liked that the politics were complex enough to be interesting but not to the extent that I got confused. I also appreciated how the different religions in the kingdom are woven into the story.
The world was well-fleshed out, and the motivations of the characters made sense within the story.
The book ends on a tantalising note, setting up the sequel nicely, and I'll be very keen to pick it up when it's released.

[_linnslibrary_]

I think the premise and the setting of this book sounded very interesting and promising, and like something I would like. I am very sad to say that I tried very hard to get into the book, but it did not work for me. Since the book is releasing today and I got acess to the audiobook I also tried listening to that for a bit, but it did not help.

This book is very character driven and we follow 3 different people/perspectives. Every chapter is very long and took me very long to get through. Something about the way this book is written just made it terrible slow and I was pretty bored. I think the first 15% used too much time to actually tell me what the book was about. It was slow in a way that I did not really managed to absorbe what I was reading.

I think that if you enjoy slow paced books that are very character driven this book can be for you! Sadly I enjoy a little more fast paced books and I need something to hook me at least when I am 15% in a book.

DNF at 15%.

[Thye DeForest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

For fans of Samantha Shannon is right! Might I also add ‘for fans of Shauna Lawless’? I absolutely adored this one after the first 150 pages or so. It was a little slow to start, but Weymouth has built such a compelling world that once I was into it, there was no getting out. It’s so refreshing to read ‘morally gray’ characters whose conflicts derive almost entirely from the standards they hold themselves to and the belief systems they occupy, rather than guilt over being a bad person! All of them are trying to be good! But their beliefs about what goodness and justice mean and how far they’re willing to go to uphold those ideals get in the way and cloud their judgment! More of that, please!
Fia, of course, was my favorite character, but I think Ariana’s POV was by far the most compelling. And the Priest! So good! Weymouth has such a talent for crafting believable and deeply flawed characters, and illustrates their inner turmoil with prose both lyrical and cutting. The magic system and worldbuilding seem somewhat basic from the description, but I promise you there’s so much more to this book than what the description offers. Push through (and/or relish) the first part of the story, because the payoff is incredible. And the blooded touch? Hello!?

[Milo (if lost, return to hot fictional character)]

thank you Penguin for the physical ARC!

can't wait to read this, also the uk cover is SO PRETTY

[Evie Oliva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rtc in the morning. That ending though, i feel like I've run a marathon. I need book 2 🙏


I have been collecting Weymouth's books since the first one, The Light Between Worlds, was released. Each book has been a different adventure, something unique that I've enjoyed each time I receive a new book by Weymouth to read, and I have LOVED each and every book release. This one, however, is my new favorite. The characters and their motivations, the politics that they have to navigate while trying to make a better world for the future, everything kept my attention engaged while I worked out who to root for and who to watch with a wary eye. The world that Weymouth has built in this story is so detailed and well-crafted and filled with people that could be real, it was hard to sit with their turmoil at moments because I just wanted to swoop in and save them. I knew that in the end, Weymouth would leave me wanting more from this story and I can't wait for the final book to be released.

The Castle & The Cloister is set in the nation of Honoria, conquered two centuries earlier by the Inver clan, who choose to rule with ongoing wars and blood. Honoria's current king is set on a course to start a new war that could mean more pain and loss for Honoria. Honoria used to have their people devoted to pacifist goddesses and certain cloisters still hold to the old beliefs, resisting the changes wrought by the Inver clan. In the sun goddess Raea's cloister, Fia and her daughter are seeking refuge, with Fia determined to give her daughter the safety and security she lacked growing up. But before they can truly be allowed in as part of the cloister, Fia is given a task that takes her into the heart of the kingdom, to the mountain fortress where the Inver king and queen reside, and to the political machinations at work there. In the fortress, Ariana Inver was once a follower of the goddess of the stars but is now the queen. After years trying to keep peace for the nation, Ariana has to find a way to keep her husband from moving forward with his new plans for conquest. In the mountain itself, underneath the fortress, the man known only as the Priest is in charge of keeping the Inver religion. Blinded during an attempt by the king to clear all claims to the throne, the Priest will have to work to find a way to a new future for Honoria, one that might change everything that the people have known. Together, these three will either find a way to bring peace or have the nation dragged into another war.

First of all, the world-building here is so vast and intricate, it felt like something that could have existed once in history. From the way the pacifist goddesses used to keep the nation of Honoria to the way the Inver clan moved in and, well, demolished everything, all of it held my attention, making me feel rage or wonder at different turns in the book. I hated certain characters, I rooted for others, and so much of that was also based in how much this world was made to feel real to the reader. Weymouth focused on the settings described in the title itself, the Castle where the Inver clan keeps their stronghold and then the Cloister, where Fia had hoped to make a life for herself. Two opposing forces bent on changing the other to their own ends. The castle wants to take control of the cloister and for the sake of forcing them to bend to Inver rule, to unite all the people so that Honoria will be a force to contend with when it comes to other nations declaring war against them. The castle also wants all the resources of the land that the cloister keeps under its protection. On the other hand, the cloister is determined to keep the peace, to help all of the people, not just those in Honoria, and the only way that can happen is by trying to curb the murderous tendencies of the king and possibly forging an alliance that both sides can uphold. The world-building also had an interesting religious system in place to further fill in the ways of the Inver clan as opposed to the cloister and their followers.

The fact that the Invers made blood the focus of so much of what they did, even offering blood when they prayed, drove home the fact that they were a brutal force, used to making threats and following through on them. The fact of the matter is that the king himself dispatched most of his siblings and his father in order to gain the throne and these acts proved that he was the best candidate for king because of what the people believed. It felt like everything was settled with some kind of fight to the death scenario and with this being the accepted way of things in the world made it that much more of a hard hitting truth. With the cloister however, they were meant to keep peace and spilling blood was something they were supposed to avoid unless it was meant to heal. It was an intriguing force to oppose the Inver way, the fact that the cloister had its own beliefs that were yes, against the Invers, but at the same time, could be argued that they weren't exactly the best to be in charge either, with their vows and tasks given to postulants, or the women who followed the goddesses in their cloisters. The cloister also had their own methods for doing things that felt difficult to understand, seen with Fia and Ariana and their paths in the book. Weymouth made these people feel real because everyone had their reasons, their beliefs, and neither side was strictly right or wrong. That precarious sense of middle ground for the world, where the leads make their home, is what draws the reader in because if neither side can be wholly in charge, perhaps the next step towards an actual lasting peace would be to find a way they can meld together.

As for the characters, I can honestly say that aside from one secondary character, I was sincerely impressed with every person focused on in this story. I can't even say that I have a favorite because each lead had their own path, their own things that I supported and their own things that I was against. I loved Fia because of the fact that she was a nursing mother, forced to leave her daughter behind for the sake of helping the queen, Ariana, in trying to stop a war from starting. Fia also helped with Ariana in the post-partum recovery, as the start of the book has Ariana giving birth to the new heir of the kingdom. Both of these women are so strong already but to show them in these situations as new mothers adds another layer to their fortitude, showing just how people in all ways of life have to pick themselves up and continue on after one of the most excruciating experiences of their lives. And I appreciated this so much because of the, let's call it, recognition it provided for people who have been in the same position. Ariana is literally bleeding through her clothes but she is putting herself in front of peace talks because she is queen and she hopes to prevent a war.

Both Fia and Ariana were also motivated by their own beliefs, Fia with her neglected childhood and her search for a home and Ariana with her upbringing in a cloister where all she ever knew was her religion and devotion to her goddess which has now been cast aside in her new role as queen to a king whose family history was filled with cruelty and murder. Fia could be cold and calculating but over the course of the book, she slowly comes to realize that the circle of people she cares for has grown and that change means she will take up whatever new role comes for her and make the best of the situations she finds herself in. Ariana has to find a way to reconcile the life she now leads with the beliefs she still holds, as keeping them separate for so long has not done much good for herself or her role as queen. There is also much to say about the Priest, who I felt had been dealt a hard hand in his life and yet managed to be such an intriguing character. I could not have made the life that he had created for himself after what he'd gone through. I would have thought he'd be motivated by revenge but the Priest surprised me by how level-headed he was, how quick he tried to protect people and the way he chose to step up when change was inevitable. His devotion to his new nephew was lovely to see compared to the way the king, Orden, regarded his new son. As for Orden, while I didn't love this character, I did appreciate his devotion to his queen, even though he never truly understood Ariana. I found it interesting that he did everything he could to make her happy, to protect her in his court, and yet at the same time, he loved the way she would show her devotion to him in turn, which came across as an imbalance in the power dynamics of their relationship. Weymouth drew every character with a deft hand, filling them with real world concerns and because of that, every nuance feels earned and respected over the course of the story.

Concerning the plot, it felt straightforward enough at first. Our three leads have to find a way to stop a war before it begins. Their positions in the kingdom and their backgrounds make it difficult to find a true, sure way through to making that a reality. At the same time, Weymouth had so many twists and turns, reveals that made me sit up and reconsider everything that had come before that moment. Various things that were exposed over the course of this story made my jaw drop because in the end, there were so many threads weaving together or being pulled apart that the final picture at the end of the story was not the one I expected to see. Honestly, I'm still sitting here after that epilogue and reconsidering everything that was seen in the book and I'm eyeing the release date like I could somehow make it change to earlier in 2027 because I NEED to know how everything resolves. I'm grateful for the fact that this release is book one of a duology. I don't know if my heart could take waiting years for a series to come to a conclusion.

At the end of the day, this is such a respectable read. I was infinitely impressed with everything Weymouth created here and when my copy arrives, I will be going through it with a fine-toothed comb, just to be sure I grasped everything that was so carefully crafted for this book. For now, I will be trying to find the time to go back and read every other Weymouth book I own while I wait for the conclusion to this book to be released.



Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars!! I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to absolutely LOVE this book. I want to find other readers so we can discuss everything about this book for hours. Read this book for the political intrigue set in a fantasy world and meet a cast of characters that pull at your heartstrings whether or not they are the hero of the story.



My thanks to NetGalley, Saga Press and Laura E. Weymouth for this eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Sara Ratliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I'm not totally settled on how I feel about this book. I enjoyed its prose and the characters. It's a slow political fantasy, and I enjoyed the political maneuvering that dominated the plot.

The story, at least in book 1, has a much smaller scope than I expected. While the events of the book have wide consequences for the larger world, the narrative is very zoomed in on the three main characters and the setting is pretty limited as well. I liked all three main characters a lot, although I found some of the relationships between them better developed than others.

There's a lot of discussion of these characters' and their communities' differing perspectives on violence and martyrdom, and their hypocrisies, that I think sets up an interesting thematic conflict. I'm curious to see if the follow-through in book 2 navigates its nuance in a satisfying way. The cultural perspective on these varying philosophies is a bit weak, in part because the story is so focused on the protagonists that the communities they come from feel a bit flat and underdeveloped. Book 2 in this series probably needs to broaden its perspective and expand the setting significantly. I also hope the next book provides some detail on the magic system and its relationship to the different religions.

This book heavily focuses on motherhood and the postpartum experience. Fia has an infant daughter, and Ariana is in labor at the beginning of the book. The author also has the note at the start about her own postpartum experience and how it contributed to this book. After reading that note, I was surprised by how small a role the children themselves played. They certainly matter to the plot and to the character motivations, but they feel more like plot devices than characters. This isn't a criticism — most of the children involved are infants, but beyond that I found the centering of these women's experiences, informed by their motherhood but not revolving around their relationships with their children, to be a really interesting decision. I enjoyed seeing the lengths Fia would go to in the name of providing a better world for her daughter, and seeing that dedication in the form of political maneuvering and manipulation rather than a traditional martyred mother story.

The Priest is blind and I think this is generally handled well, but some of the mechanics of what he is and is not able to perceive I found confusing, particularly in one very crucial scene. There were a few similar moments where the mechanics of who knew what and who was where were unclear, in a way that muddled a plot line that I believe was supposed to be a dramatic reveal.

Overall I think this was a decent read despite its issues, and I'm leaning toward continuing with the sequel whenever it comes.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Lysandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone (Del Rey) and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this ARC! All opinions are my own.

5/5

Truthfully, if I could give The Castle & the Cloister 6/5 stars, I would. The Castle & the Cloister is a political thriller with a fantasy setting, and it mainly focuses on the machinations of international war diplomacy and the struggles of the royal court and everything that the two encompass. The lore consists mostly of the different religions within the continent, and their own magic and loyalties. The royals involved in the diplomatic struggle all have relations, one way or another, to a different religion, and thirst for the abilities they can gain from controlling the gods and goddesses’ gifts. I don’t want to spoil the complex intricacies of the political plot, so I will only mention that those who enjoyed the Letters of Enchantment Series by Rebecca Ross, The Chronicles of Castellane Series by Cassandra Clare, Elantris and Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison must not skip on this novel. It is equal in quality at all possible levels.

There are four main characters who serve as narrative perspectives within the novel: Fia, Silas, Orden and Ari. Each has an incredible character arc, adding thus more layers to the novel.

I will start by mentioning King Orden. Objectively speaking, he is the hero who managed to overthrow his own family’s former tyrannical rule. He did so through bloodshed, and he is both revered and feared for that. Orden is regarded by others both as the lesser evil and as not cruel enough. His happy ever after with his Queen and Heir is seen as a weakness, and his desire to maintain peace within his realm is regarded by others as naïveté. The tragedy of this hero is that after winning and getting everything he wanted for his country, he is not enough; he is never enough, not for his Queen, not for his brother, not for his people, and all for different reasons. The fact that he cannot pick between one side or the other and tries to find a middle way is ultimately our King’s undoing; he can never satisfy everyone, and even when he tries to do good, he is seen as never enough. Not peaceful enough. Not bloodthirsty enough. Simply not enough. I enjoyed this twist on a character serving as King, seeing how the concept of rule and nobility differs from person to person, all projecting a different image on him, but never the one true to his ultimately chivalrous personality. The undoing of his character is beautifully done, and I enjoyed every moment of it — the author showed masterful writing in constructing Orden.

The Queen, Ari, serves as the trigger of all events in this first novel. Due to the birth of her son, Fia is sent to the castle, due to his love for her, the King acts in uncharacteristic ways to protect her, due to her persistence, Silas acts quietly defiant. She is the centre piece of all the action in this book, and truthfully her existence as the one who controls the narrative both internally and externally is well-done. Ari’s character is both complex and not; she is stuck in a mentality of victimhood and martyrdom, and manages to project a tame and innocent image to others, yet she is ultimately very self-absorbed. Only she can be right, only she can tell right from wrong, only she can view the true value of others, only she can claim life or death. Under the guise of a peaceful nobility, Ari’s character reveals condescension towards even those most loyal towards her. She is always above others, above judgement. The layers of her character unravel as the plot moves forward, like puzzle pieces falling into the right places.

The relationship between Orden and Ari is beautifully tragic; one of the parallels to Letters of Enchantment falls here, for those in the know.

Our main protagonist, Fia, is like the Sun Goddess herself. She burns with passion and persistence, and nothing stands between her and her aim. She is a character who believes that the end justifies the means, and is marvellously observant of the world around her, keen for knowledge and power to protect, and a master manipulator of both words and religion. I absolutely loved her character, and her progression throughout the entire novel. A mother and a practical woman, she is beautiful in all possible ways. She is sadly underestimated by the person she respects most, but her match is found in Silas. He lights the fire within her, brings her out of her shell of isolation, and makes her shine all while being respectful of the limits she sets for him. The mutual yearning of the two was splendid, enchanting and deeply intimate.

Lastly, Silas. The Priest, the King’s brother, the servant of gods he doesn’t believe in. If he has a religion, then it is Fia herself. I wish to speak more of how exquisite his character is, but I would end up spoiling. As such, I can only say he is as noble, royal and gallant as Maia, Raoden and Kitt. Perhaps I should add Faramir to this comparison too, for Silas is the unexpected noble knight in shining armour we all dream of seeing in fantasy novels.

Last, but definitely not least, and perhaps the most magical element of his novel, the prose. Beautiful, elegant, refined and enchanting — its silkiness has something which reminds me of Tolkien, at the very least in the construction of a world so magical it seems shiningly beautiful even at its worst. There’s an organic rhythm, a mixture of metaphors and poetry, all with a different voice depending on the character whose perspective is enhanced. There is a variation of sentences structure wise, the writing having a fluidity adaptable to every kind of scene. Even if everything else were less than perfect (which it is not), the prose itself is so alluring that it would make The Castle & the Cloister worth reading. Excellent work of the author and her editor/s!

Already looking forward to the next volume of this series. I hope everyone who enjoys political fantasy novels will give this a try. This novel is truly a gem.

[kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ✨ The Castle and the Cloister is a political fantasy that feels classic - it features a secondary world, a focus on religion with subtle magic, multi-POV in third person, a romantic subplot, and a slower pace, which I think is important to know going into it. I found it to be very well-written and layered seamlessly with great balance between the interesting world, complex characters and gripping court intrigue, which was the strongest point of the book for me. It explores motherhood, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, devotion, difficult paths and decisions, and how the acts of individuals can alter the course of the future and the political landscape as a whole. I think the strongest theme woven through it all was resilience, and how the hope for a better future is worth the risks.

“𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚? 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙄'𝙢 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢? 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙? 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚, 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧?”

I really enjoyed the characters and their motivations, and how complex all of their dynamics, histories, and realities were and the ways they intertwined. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between the Priest and Fia, and Fia was definitely my favorite character with her stubbornness and brashness, which defied expectations for someone in her position. How she wasn’t always likable or made the best decisions but she is a force to be reckoned with and loves with ferocity, especially as a mother.

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚," 𝙁𝙞𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚. 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚- 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙡𝙡-𝙪𝙨𝙚. "𝙄 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙚."

I think my only issues were that, while I think it was intended to be more epic in scope, overall it felt a bit stifled and narrow to me. I had a hard time envisioning the world beyond the specific scene that was being depicted, if that makes sense, but I’m hoping to see it expand more in the next book. And then with the slower pace, there were times my attention and patience wavered because there wasn’t enough keeping me fully engaged, but I was invested enough to keep wanting to turn the pages and find out what happens. I think I just wanted a little bit more emotional depth and investment.

This was overall a really great read that I think a lot of classic fantasy lovers and fans of political intrigue and maneuvering will enjoy. I would really love to see more male readers pick this one up especially because of the depictions of motherhood, like breastfeeding, bleeding, body changes, the daily struggles and sacrifices, etc. that we don’t typically see in fantasy a lot.

“𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨, 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙨. 𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙, 𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙩. 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩."

Weymouth spent 13 years crafting this story and you can definitely tell in the quality. It was refreshing to read something so fully realized in a time where books are pumped out so fast. I’m looking forward to book 2 in this duology!

My favorite quote:

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪," [he] 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙡𝙮. "𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙥𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜- 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙄'𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩."

Thank you to Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC ✨

[Metaphorosis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews

Summary
Orden Inver, the unexpected heir to his family's bloody lineage, is engaged in two wars at once. The Inver's violent gods are at odds with the peaceful religion of the rest of the land, but Orden's violence is held in check by his wife Ariana, who balances her own desires for peace with love of her husband. When Ariana gives birth, her old friend Fia is manipulated into coming to her aid.

Review
I’m a little conflicted in how I feel about this book. It was very competently put together, but with some important flaws, yet redeemed itself in part toward the end.

Technically, in many ways, it was one of the strongest debut novels I’ve seen. The prose is strong, the characters carefully thought out, the emotional highs and lows well placed, the world credible. There’s a lot that’s good about it, and I can add to that an ending that in many ways supported emotional impact rather than Hollywood happiness.

At the same time time, there were some weaknesses. While the world building is well done – clearly deep, but never piled on as dressing – some aspects needed more balance. For example, there are two opposed religions, but one is clearly depicted as the true and honest religion, while the other is evil and venal. In a book that seems in many ways to strive for accuracy, that kind of black and white delineation rings false. That’s true of some of the characters as well – Ariana in particular, while assigned a few token flaws, is too pure for words, and simply doesn’t fit in a world where everyone makes pragmatic compromises left and right. Her complement, Fia, is more credible, but comes across as remarkably flat for someone making such difficult decisions. I read Fia as being much more in service of the plot than as a fully developed character, which is a serious problem in her role as the story’s hinge pin. The story’s main villain is irritatingly two dimensional. These character weaknesses are all the more unfortunate in a story that so clearly was trying to make them credible. Fia at one point betrays someone for seemingly no other real purpose than to betray them – there’s a given story reason, but it’s a thin reed. A few characters are so incredibly convenient that they undermine the story, with only one given a rationale for being so.

There’s also far too much politics in the story for my taste – realistic, but not interesting, in the same way that Katherine Kurtz’ Deryni stories got off track (and were famously called out by Ursula Le Guin). More troubling to me was a continuing S&M-flavored thread of misogyny and submission that was not at all to my taste. There were quite a few moments that I found genuinely repellent, and not only from the designated villains.

Formatting-wise, it was mildly irritating that it takes a long while to get to the actual story – working past page after page of praise, an author’s note that while interesting should have been an afterword, etc. There were only a few typos that will hopefully have been cleaned up by the time this is published.

While this mostly looks to stand as a complete novel on its own, the final chapter and epilogue say ‘sequel’ in big, flashing letters. It could be interesting, but I do think there’s a risk that story will double down on this one’s flaws. For the time being, if you’re interested in a credible, interesting world with complex but sometimes simply drawn characters, try this out.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.