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Scarlet Odyssey #2
Requiem Moon
Salo must journey into the heart of darkness to find his way back home in the next epic book of C. T. Rwizi’s debut series.
Salo’s queen has finally accepted his desire to be a mystic despite taboos concerning men’s use of magic. But her acceptance is not support; it is strategy.
Under a disguise of the queen’s making, Salo enters Jungle City as a pilgrim to the Red Temple, only to find a magical barrier barring his entrance. Left at the mercy of the warring political factions that run the city, Salo faces a series of obstacles wrought by an unseen hand, knowing he cannot return home without completing his pilgrimage.
But Isa, King of the Saire clan, has her own plans for Salo. She needs his help to extract the Covenant Diamond from the Red Temple’s inner sanctum—an artifact with the power to end her tribe’s divisions, prevent a genocide, and even save herself from her fate. His new task in hand, Salo navigates a cursed maze of invisible authority—and when he encounters shocking revelations about the power residing in the depths of the undercity, he must wield his magic to finally bring the truth about his world’s history to light.
Salo’s queen has finally accepted his desire to be a mystic despite taboos concerning men’s use of magic. But her acceptance is not support; it is strategy.
Under a disguise of the queen’s making, Salo enters Jungle City as a pilgrim to the Red Temple, only to find a magical barrier barring his entrance. Left at the mercy of the warring political factions that run the city, Salo faces a series of obstacles wrought by an unseen hand, knowing he cannot return home without completing his pilgrimage.
But Isa, King of the Saire clan, has her own plans for Salo. She needs his help to extract the Covenant Diamond from the Red Temple’s inner sanctum—an artifact with the power to end her tribe’s divisions, prevent a genocide, and even save herself from her fate. His new task in hand, Salo navigates a cursed maze of invisible authority—and when he encounters shocking revelations about the power residing in the depths of the undercity, he must wield his magic to finally bring the truth about his world’s history to light.
603 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2021
183 people are currently reading
1057 people want to read
About the author
C.T. Rwizi
6 books341 followersC. T. Rwizi was born in Zimbabwe, grew up in Swaziland, finished high school in Costa Rica, and got a BA in government at Dartmouth College in the United States. He currently lives in South Africa with his family, and enjoys playing video games, taking long runs, and spending way too much time lurking on Reddit. He is a self-professed lover of synthwave.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 20, 2021
I'm pretty shocked why the "Scarlett Odyssey" Saga isn’t a bestseller yet! Readers seriously should be cheering, shouting on the rooftops, agonizing over the devastating ending of this second installment and suspense-nailbiting over whether or not there will ever be a continuation, a third book… Because although Requiem Moon seriously offers everything a fantasy reader’s heart desires, it ends on a nasty cliffhanger and we demand a sequel.
Having finally gotten his status as a male mystic confirmed by the Yerezi Queen, Salo and his crew - she-warrior Ilapara, young atmech Tuk and finally Alinata, a gorgeous Asazi in the service of the said queen - finally make it to Yonte Saire, the Jungle City, where he is supposed to complete a pilgrimage to the Red Temple as well as act as a sort of spy. Through a series of magical obstacles, they find themselves unable to reach the destination of their pilgrimage and also to leave the place. His path eventually and finally crosses with King Isa and her cousin Jomo, the two remaining survivors of the massacred royal Saire family, who want to push their own agenda: to the end of uniting their tribe and preventing a genocide they need Salo’s skills to extract the powerful Covenant Diamond in the Red Temple.
The biggest strength of the second installment of the Scarlet Odyssey series is also its greatest weakness; it is jam-packed! From fantastic but brutal gladiator fights, a messy rebellion, chosen-one-moments and personality crises, conversations with gods, very interesting twists, to lots and lots and lots and lots of royal plots and intrigues and more… Sometimes it can really feel like an overkill on the good stuff.
On the other hand, among an abundance of gnarled storylines you will find perfectly fleshed out characters, major AND minor, that are easy to be interested in and so you will always keep up; I truly root for every single one of them and in the second book I had even more to enjoy thanks to the dapper warrior Kamali and the dreamy cameo appearances of Salo’s childhood friend from the first book; Niko. The little flirtations between Jomo and Ilapara were heavenly (“Here was a woman who had an eye for bullshit.”) and the character Jomo was in general a highlight for me ("Jomo still hasn’t gotten used to the metallic timbre the pendant adds to the mystic’s voice. He wonders what his own voice sounds like on the other end of the enchantment.”) I found that Rwizi wrote much more freely, more humorously in this second book which felt good.
I also thought Salo’s crisis intriguing, his character that we got to know and appreciate in the first book cracking a little, showing weaknesses and inconsistencies, maybe due to the weight of being a male mystic or maybe because of the discoveries concerning his own nature and past... Who knows? But it was certainly a very interesting narrative device to show him through the eyes of the other characters which helps seeing more facettes of his personality.
In the previous book I was fascinated by the aspect of magic becoming so detailed and elaborate that it almost turns into science; and that aspect is even intensified in Requiem Moon (I don't mean to give away spoilers but there are profoundly interesting notions here!). Beside the magic system, the worldbuilding, this time with a greater focus on city life, is extremley succesfully done, rich, spectacular and vivid as ever and even more than before.
As I mentioned above, Requiem Moon's only flaw might be that there are too many intertwining storylines. Yet, it is still an intense and colorful read much worthy of its predecessor. And if you haven't read that one, I think you're missing out and should quickly do so!
Having finally gotten his status as a male mystic confirmed by the Yerezi Queen, Salo and his crew - she-warrior Ilapara, young atmech Tuk and finally Alinata, a gorgeous Asazi in the service of the said queen - finally make it to Yonte Saire, the Jungle City, where he is supposed to complete a pilgrimage to the Red Temple as well as act as a sort of spy. Through a series of magical obstacles, they find themselves unable to reach the destination of their pilgrimage and also to leave the place. His path eventually and finally crosses with King Isa and her cousin Jomo, the two remaining survivors of the massacred royal Saire family, who want to push their own agenda: to the end of uniting their tribe and preventing a genocide they need Salo’s skills to extract the powerful Covenant Diamond in the Red Temple.
The biggest strength of the second installment of the Scarlet Odyssey series is also its greatest weakness; it is jam-packed! From fantastic but brutal gladiator fights, a messy rebellion, chosen-one-moments and personality crises, conversations with gods, very interesting twists, to lots and lots and lots and lots of royal plots and intrigues and more… Sometimes it can really feel like an overkill on the good stuff.
On the other hand, among an abundance of gnarled storylines you will find perfectly fleshed out characters, major AND minor, that are easy to be interested in and so you will always keep up; I truly root for every single one of them and in the second book I had even more to enjoy thanks to the dapper warrior Kamali and the dreamy cameo appearances of Salo’s childhood friend from the first book; Niko. The little flirtations between Jomo and Ilapara were heavenly (“Here was a woman who had an eye for bullshit.”) and the character Jomo was in general a highlight for me ("Jomo still hasn’t gotten used to the metallic timbre the pendant adds to the mystic’s voice. He wonders what his own voice sounds like on the other end of the enchantment.”) I found that Rwizi wrote much more freely, more humorously in this second book which felt good.
I also thought Salo’s crisis intriguing, his character that we got to know and appreciate in the first book cracking a little, showing weaknesses and inconsistencies, maybe due to the weight of being a male mystic or maybe because of the discoveries concerning his own nature and past... Who knows? But it was certainly a very interesting narrative device to show him through the eyes of the other characters which helps seeing more facettes of his personality.
In the previous book I was fascinated by the aspect of magic becoming so detailed and elaborate that it almost turns into science; and that aspect is even intensified in Requiem Moon (I don't mean to give away spoilers but there are profoundly interesting notions here!). Beside the magic system, the worldbuilding, this time with a greater focus on city life, is extremley succesfully done, rich, spectacular and vivid as ever and even more than before.
As I mentioned above, Requiem Moon's only flaw might be that there are too many intertwining storylines. Yet, it is still an intense and colorful read much worthy of its predecessor. And if you haven't read that one, I think you're missing out and should quickly do so!
March 25, 2021
Second book syndrome? C.T. Rwizi doesn't know her. All I can say is that it was absolutely wonderful being back in this world again after finishing Scarlet Odyssey last month.
Anyway, if you have yet to pick up the first book in this series, Scarlet Odyssey, please do. In Scarlet Odyssey, we followed Salo, a male mystic in an African-inspired fantasy world where magic is seen as a women's role, as he journeys across the plains on a pilgrimage to ensure the survival of his tribe. It's got great plot twists, intricate and original worldbuilding, lots of political intrigue, complex characters, and pretty much everything else you could want in a fantasy novel.
Pretty much everything I loved about Scarlet Odyssey, I also loved about this book. Even though unlike the first book, the events of this novel all take place in one city, the worldbuilding did not suffer at all. Rwizi did an excellent job in fleshing out all the different settings within Skytown, and it was so interesting to explore the various ways that magic presents itself in this world. The friendship dynamics in this book between Salo and his group were also great to see, and their banter was perfect for providing moments of levity among the serious events of the book. While I loved getting to see more of the characters I had gotten to know and love in the first book, the new characters that were introduced in this installment were also great and added so much to the story. Rwizi really does an excellent job at creating characters that are so much more complex than you expect when first meeting them.
Another thing Rwizi does excellently in both of the books in this series is intrigue. This book was over 600 pages and at no point could I recall being bored. Not only was the worldbuilding interesting enough to hold my attention, but this book was also filled with plot twists galore and political intrigue that even I (someone who is not particularly drawn to the political aspect of fantasy books) could get invested in. Oh, and just like with book one, the ending has me impatiently awaiting the next installment to this series.
The only thing about this book that I struggled with was that I found some parts to be a bit confusing and difficult to follow. This is a criticism I've seen quite a lot for the first book in this series and I'd have to agree. With all the characters and different types of magic present in this world, it can be difficult to know what's going on at all times.
Nevertheless, the Scarlet Odyssey series is one that I will continue to push in everyone's faces because for all the strengths it has, it is criminally underread.
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thanks!
Anyway, if you have yet to pick up the first book in this series, Scarlet Odyssey, please do. In Scarlet Odyssey, we followed Salo, a male mystic in an African-inspired fantasy world where magic is seen as a women's role, as he journeys across the plains on a pilgrimage to ensure the survival of his tribe. It's got great plot twists, intricate and original worldbuilding, lots of political intrigue, complex characters, and pretty much everything else you could want in a fantasy novel.
Pretty much everything I loved about Scarlet Odyssey, I also loved about this book. Even though unlike the first book, the events of this novel all take place in one city, the worldbuilding did not suffer at all. Rwizi did an excellent job in fleshing out all the different settings within Skytown, and it was so interesting to explore the various ways that magic presents itself in this world. The friendship dynamics in this book between Salo and his group were also great to see, and their banter was perfect for providing moments of levity among the serious events of the book. While I loved getting to see more of the characters I had gotten to know and love in the first book, the new characters that were introduced in this installment were also great and added so much to the story. Rwizi really does an excellent job at creating characters that are so much more complex than you expect when first meeting them.
Another thing Rwizi does excellently in both of the books in this series is intrigue. This book was over 600 pages and at no point could I recall being bored. Not only was the worldbuilding interesting enough to hold my attention, but this book was also filled with plot twists galore and political intrigue that even I (someone who is not particularly drawn to the political aspect of fantasy books) could get invested in. Oh, and just like with book one, the ending has me impatiently awaiting the next installment to this series.
The only thing about this book that I struggled with was that I found some parts to be a bit confusing and difficult to follow. This is a criticism I've seen quite a lot for the first book in this series and I'd have to agree. With all the characters and different types of magic present in this world, it can be difficult to know what's going on at all times.
Nevertheless, the Scarlet Odyssey series is one that I will continue to push in everyone's faces because for all the strengths it has, it is criminally underread.
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thanks!
April 15, 2021
Just an amazing sequel. Truly top notch. C T Rwizi has crafted an amazing world and populated it with amazing characters. I honestly cannot recommend this series enough, it’s become one of my favorites and I’ll definitely pick up any other books by Mr Rwizi.
May 21, 2021
Requiem Moon is an excellent sequel to the first book, Scarlet Odyssey. It is full of adventure, politics, intrigue, and magic that readers would enjoy.
This was a gripping and addictive read! The world-building is richly imagined and complex. Compared to the first book, Requiem Moon is limited to a city yet the author remains creative. He keeps adding dimension to the world that he created. The magic system is more elaborate and detailed. The magic system is more elaborate and detailed. C. T. Rwizi perfectly blends religion, magic, and technology.
It was confusing at first since there is a large cast of characters. Some were even left unnamed yet necessary to the plot. Old and new were introduced and each one was well-fleshed out and intriguing. Everyone has their motivation and goal, adding depth to the story. Some storylines are yet to be developed.
Also, this book has a lot of twists and political intrigue that readers can't help getting invested.
Overall, this book is a pageturner! It kept me spellbound from start to end. Desperately waiting for the third book! *fingers crossed* I have a lot of questions unaswered and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
Thank you, 47North, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of Requiem Moon. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
This was a gripping and addictive read! The world-building is richly imagined and complex. Compared to the first book, Requiem Moon is limited to a city yet the author remains creative. He keeps adding dimension to the world that he created. The magic system is more elaborate and detailed. The magic system is more elaborate and detailed. C. T. Rwizi perfectly blends religion, magic, and technology.
It was confusing at first since there is a large cast of characters. Some were even left unnamed yet necessary to the plot. Old and new were introduced and each one was well-fleshed out and intriguing. Everyone has their motivation and goal, adding depth to the story. Some storylines are yet to be developed.
Also, this book has a lot of twists and political intrigue that readers can't help getting invested.
Overall, this book is a pageturner! It kept me spellbound from start to end. Desperately waiting for the third book! *fingers crossed* I have a lot of questions unaswered and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
Thank you, 47North, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of Requiem Moon. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
June 18, 2021
Oh, C.T. Rwizi...what are you doing to me? I thought we were friends!
If Scarlet Odyssey felt like an African Tolkien (epic journey style fantasy)...then I guess this one would be African GRR Martin. Politics played a huge role in Requiem Moon with all the poison and shades of gray you can imagine. I do love how I only figured out pieces until the last 50 pages or so of the book.
Just like in the first one, the vivid descriptions of the world and the various peoples makes it come alive. It's just visually stunning (in my head) and I would love to see this play out on the big screen.
But seriously, man. Those last 50 pages. Woof. You're not a nice author.
If Scarlet Odyssey felt like an African Tolkien (epic journey style fantasy)...then I guess this one would be African GRR Martin. Politics played a huge role in Requiem Moon with all the poison and shades of gray you can imagine. I do love how I only figured out pieces until the last 50 pages or so of the book.
Just like in the first one, the vivid descriptions of the world and the various peoples makes it come alive. It's just visually stunning (in my head) and I would love to see this play out on the big screen.
But seriously, man. Those last 50 pages. Woof. You're not a nice author.
March 25, 2021
One Sentence Summary: Salo and his friends Tuk, Alinata, and Ilapara have made it to the Jungle City as he's there both a pilgrim to the Red Temple and as an emissary of his queen, but the ruling family is in tatters and plots abound around him, all drawing him in tighter while keeping him blind.
I loved the first book, Scarlet Odyssey, so was eager to get back into this beautiful world. I remembered the first book had such incredible world building that I was surprised at how slowly the story moved. The second book felt like a bit of a reverse in some ways. The world was already set up, so was only expanded on as necessary, and the story had quite a few moving pieces to it. It seemed there was always something happening, but it was hard to follow the story through most of the book. The end, though, was definitely a cliff hanger, so I can't help but have some mixed feelings. I am not a fan of cliff hangers, though I think it's far worse to have one at the end of the first book than at the end of a later book when the reader is already fully engaged with the story.
The Plot: Too Many Threads
Salo, the first Yerezi male mystic, and his friends the foreigner Tuk, an Asazi commanded by the Yerezi queen, and female warrior Ilapara, have made it to the Jungle City so Salo can serve as a pilgrim to the Red Temple and operate as something of a spy for his queen. But they arrive to learn the king is dead and the new king is in hiding at the Red Temple while the prince of another clan has claimed himself prince regent. Thus, the Red Temple is closed to Sal.
Isa, one of two remaining royals, has been crowned king at the Red Temple and her cousin is negotiating her bride price so she can married to the usurper, but she and the mystic running the temple have plans, plans that include and rely heavily on Salo working with them.
As the story twists and turns and plots from many sides turn up, Salo seems to be helpless as he's pulled into all of them, maneuvered and manipulated as he works to try to define his own place in the world as the only one of his kind.
Requiem Moon is all about too many powerful people plotting with and against each other. The simplicity of the Yerezi is gone and Salo and his friends are stuck trying to navigate a huge city with many factions and beliefs, as well as princes angling against each other. At many times, it felt like a soupy mess with so much going on and I often became lost in the individual strands, only to be yanked here and there back into what I thought was the main story. It was a lot of fun to read all the hints at everything going on, at the greater story of the series, though. There just happened to be an almost bewildering amount of smaller arcs underneath it that made it easy to forget the overarching story.
At some point, I wanted to give up on this book. It was not as beautiful as the first book. The writing erred more on the tell side and it all felt a little blunted when I remembered the first book reading so prettily. But there were so many bits and pieces that ended up building to bigger things and more complications all while moving each part of the story forward that I couldn't help wanting to find out what was going on and what was happening with Salo, who was acting very strangely for most of the book.
Honestly, I felt this story really kicked in about 60% of the way through. If you can hang on for 60%, the story definitely picks up and things get really interesting and twisted. I didn't care for the cliff hanger ending, but I'm already invested in the series, so it doesn't bother me as much as if it would have happened after the first book. The last 40% was definitely the best part of the book, but all of it relied on the first 60%.
The Characters: A Mystic and a King
Just as the first book switched perspectives between all the main characters and a few more minor ones, so did Requiem Moon though I felt the focus was more on Salo and Isa. They were both at the heart of everything going around in the city. Which was kind of a let down to me because I found so many of the minor characters to be much more interesting. I wished to get more of their thoughts and their stories.
Salo felt like he was bouncing all over the place in Requiem Moon. His character felt insanely inconsistent. At times, he was quite rude. At others, he seemed almost manic. And still other times he came off as an annoying know-it-all with a confidence completely at odds with the man I had previously gotten to know. What was most interesting, though, was that the chapters from his perspective painted him in a more even keel way and helped to explain the behaviors that everyone else saw. Reading him from his point of view and from that of everyone else was kind of a wild ride.
Isa, on the other hand, was a king who was dealing with her heart being pulled in many different ways. For the first time ever, she's looking at the city as it really functions and is horrified by what's been going on outside of her gilded cage. I liked that she was eager to do something, but it also made her so incredibly naive, despite all of her carefully laid plans and manipulations. She felt a bit at odds with herself. At times, she just had no clue what was going on. At others, she was incredibly brave and headstrong. And at others she was so crafty I could no longer figure out how she could be so naive about the people she ruled.
The Setting: The Jungle City
In the first book, a lot of land was covered as Salo was traveling from the Yerezi Plains to the Jungle City. In Requiem Moon, he and his friends are firmly situated in the Jungle City and are free, relatively speaking, to explore. I loved getting to go deep into the city, literally. There were so many interesting pieces about it, from the various religious beliefs to how the classes are separated.
The Jungle City comes off as being a huge place. I also got the sense of it being busy and heavily populated, but, it being called the Jungle City, I also pictured a sprawling city within a jungle. Other than that, I had a difficult time clearly visualizing the world, which was a bit of a disappointment because I adored the world building in the first book. Still, I did find it to be an interesting city.
There are also many very minor characters who are not named, but who have a hand in the overarching story. They're not necessarily in the Jungle City, or even in the country. It was fascinating because it opened up the world and introduced lands beyond. Whether or not those lands will actually be explored in this series is left to be seen, but I like getting a taste of the difference between these lands.
Overall: Almost Too Much Happening
There is definitely a lot going on in Requiem Moon. I still love the African flavor of it and the characters are interesting, though I wish to have gotten more from some of them. There were times when I felt threads were just completely forgotten in the story and times when there seemed to be everything going on at once. It was a little muddled and a little lackluster, but the last 40% really helped to make up for it. The only thing that really severely bothered me was the cliffhanger ending, but, other than that, it was, overall, a decent read and I'm curious about where the story is going next.
Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I loved the first book, Scarlet Odyssey, so was eager to get back into this beautiful world. I remembered the first book had such incredible world building that I was surprised at how slowly the story moved. The second book felt like a bit of a reverse in some ways. The world was already set up, so was only expanded on as necessary, and the story had quite a few moving pieces to it. It seemed there was always something happening, but it was hard to follow the story through most of the book. The end, though, was definitely a cliff hanger, so I can't help but have some mixed feelings. I am not a fan of cliff hangers, though I think it's far worse to have one at the end of the first book than at the end of a later book when the reader is already fully engaged with the story.
The Plot: Too Many Threads
Salo, the first Yerezi male mystic, and his friends the foreigner Tuk, an Asazi commanded by the Yerezi queen, and female warrior Ilapara, have made it to the Jungle City so Salo can serve as a pilgrim to the Red Temple and operate as something of a spy for his queen. But they arrive to learn the king is dead and the new king is in hiding at the Red Temple while the prince of another clan has claimed himself prince regent. Thus, the Red Temple is closed to Sal.
Isa, one of two remaining royals, has been crowned king at the Red Temple and her cousin is negotiating her bride price so she can married to the usurper, but she and the mystic running the temple have plans, plans that include and rely heavily on Salo working with them.
As the story twists and turns and plots from many sides turn up, Salo seems to be helpless as he's pulled into all of them, maneuvered and manipulated as he works to try to define his own place in the world as the only one of his kind.
Requiem Moon is all about too many powerful people plotting with and against each other. The simplicity of the Yerezi is gone and Salo and his friends are stuck trying to navigate a huge city with many factions and beliefs, as well as princes angling against each other. At many times, it felt like a soupy mess with so much going on and I often became lost in the individual strands, only to be yanked here and there back into what I thought was the main story. It was a lot of fun to read all the hints at everything going on, at the greater story of the series, though. There just happened to be an almost bewildering amount of smaller arcs underneath it that made it easy to forget the overarching story.
At some point, I wanted to give up on this book. It was not as beautiful as the first book. The writing erred more on the tell side and it all felt a little blunted when I remembered the first book reading so prettily. But there were so many bits and pieces that ended up building to bigger things and more complications all while moving each part of the story forward that I couldn't help wanting to find out what was going on and what was happening with Salo, who was acting very strangely for most of the book.
Honestly, I felt this story really kicked in about 60% of the way through. If you can hang on for 60%, the story definitely picks up and things get really interesting and twisted. I didn't care for the cliff hanger ending, but I'm already invested in the series, so it doesn't bother me as much as if it would have happened after the first book. The last 40% was definitely the best part of the book, but all of it relied on the first 60%.
The Characters: A Mystic and a King
Just as the first book switched perspectives between all the main characters and a few more minor ones, so did Requiem Moon though I felt the focus was more on Salo and Isa. They were both at the heart of everything going around in the city. Which was kind of a let down to me because I found so many of the minor characters to be much more interesting. I wished to get more of their thoughts and their stories.
Salo felt like he was bouncing all over the place in Requiem Moon. His character felt insanely inconsistent. At times, he was quite rude. At others, he seemed almost manic. And still other times he came off as an annoying know-it-all with a confidence completely at odds with the man I had previously gotten to know. What was most interesting, though, was that the chapters from his perspective painted him in a more even keel way and helped to explain the behaviors that everyone else saw. Reading him from his point of view and from that of everyone else was kind of a wild ride.
Isa, on the other hand, was a king who was dealing with her heart being pulled in many different ways. For the first time ever, she's looking at the city as it really functions and is horrified by what's been going on outside of her gilded cage. I liked that she was eager to do something, but it also made her so incredibly naive, despite all of her carefully laid plans and manipulations. She felt a bit at odds with herself. At times, she just had no clue what was going on. At others, she was incredibly brave and headstrong. And at others she was so crafty I could no longer figure out how she could be so naive about the people she ruled.
The Setting: The Jungle City
In the first book, a lot of land was covered as Salo was traveling from the Yerezi Plains to the Jungle City. In Requiem Moon, he and his friends are firmly situated in the Jungle City and are free, relatively speaking, to explore. I loved getting to go deep into the city, literally. There were so many interesting pieces about it, from the various religious beliefs to how the classes are separated.
The Jungle City comes off as being a huge place. I also got the sense of it being busy and heavily populated, but, it being called the Jungle City, I also pictured a sprawling city within a jungle. Other than that, I had a difficult time clearly visualizing the world, which was a bit of a disappointment because I adored the world building in the first book. Still, I did find it to be an interesting city.
There are also many very minor characters who are not named, but who have a hand in the overarching story. They're not necessarily in the Jungle City, or even in the country. It was fascinating because it opened up the world and introduced lands beyond. Whether or not those lands will actually be explored in this series is left to be seen, but I like getting a taste of the difference between these lands.
Overall: Almost Too Much Happening
There is definitely a lot going on in Requiem Moon. I still love the African flavor of it and the characters are interesting, though I wish to have gotten more from some of them. There were times when I felt threads were just completely forgotten in the story and times when there seemed to be everything going on at once. It was a little muddled and a little lackluster, but the last 40% really helped to make up for it. The only thing that really severely bothered me was the cliffhanger ending, but, other than that, it was, overall, a decent read and I'm curious about where the story is going next.
Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 12, 2021
Why is this series not getting more attention?! The first one was engrossing but this one ups the ante in every possible way. I appreciate that the author is willing to tackle complex concepts like injustice and not offer pat answers or easy victories. It's impressive that all the myriad characters are subtle and interesting, so the point of view shifts work well, which is a rare achievement. I love all of the characters, Tuksaad in particular. The world building and magic system are unique and impressive. Most importantly, the big revelation in this one is a HUGE moment, so compelling!
January 5, 2024
The world building, characters, magic system...this is by far one of the best fantasy series I've read I'm recommending them to everyone. I also have zero imagination and need these to get popular so I can look at fan art
March 25, 2021
Couldn’t put it down
I really enjoyed the last book and when the new one came out I bought it right away. I read through it in three days, I literally couldn’t stop. The world development is incredible and I hope there are more soon!
I really enjoyed the last book and when the new one came out I bought it right away. I read through it in three days, I literally couldn’t stop. The world development is incredible and I hope there are more soon!
April 20, 2021
This was the most disappointing ending of any book that I have ever read. There are a lot of characters that were introduced in a way that made you feel as if they were part of the overarching story. However, the book ends without providing any closure as to why they were added. The main antagonist of the first book made virtually no appearance in the second book. WHAT HAPPENED TO HER??? What is she doing? Where did she go??? So many stones left unturned here.
The ending of the main character makes the whole saga feel as if it was a waste of time.
The ending of this book felt like one big cliff hanger (much like book one.) However, unlike book one, there is no promise of another book.
The homosexuality in the book was bizarre and off-putting. It's as if it was shoe horned in, without any real reasoning other than the author wanted it there.
I had big hopes for this book after book one in the series. This book was a huge letdown.
The ending of the main character makes the whole saga feel as if it was a waste of time.
The ending of this book felt like one big cliff hanger (much like book one.) However, unlike book one, there is no promise of another book.
The homosexuality in the book was bizarre and off-putting. It's as if it was shoe horned in, without any real reasoning other than the author wanted it there.
I had big hopes for this book after book one in the series. This book was a huge letdown.
March 22, 2021
Requiem Moon is the second novel in C.T. Rwizi's Scarlet Odyssey series, and it is not one for fans to miss.
Salo is on a pilgrimage of sorts. He's finally been accepted as a mystic – despite being male – and has been sent off on a quest. One that will prove to be more lethal and dangerous than his queen let on.
He must enter Jungle City and gain access to the Red Temple. However, simply doing that has embroiled him in a concerning level of politics – many in this city want to use him. If not for Salo's allies, it seems unlikely that he would survive the week.
“You can never mourn them all,” the spirit says, as it always says. “Even you, who has never lived for so long. They are more numerous than the sands of a desert, their tears more plentiful than the waters of this lake. You must accept the truth and let go. Embrace nothingness and know peace.”
Requiem Moon was such a satisfying read! It makes me wish that I could go back in time and read it (for the first time) all over again. I enjoyed it that much. Then again, I've enjoyed Salo's story from the very first page, so there's no real surprise there.
This novel's magical systems are even more complex than the first – something I was not anticipating. I love the combination of magic and technology, creating something that feels both foreign and intuitive. It's fantastic, and I just can't get enough of it.
The same goes for the characters, for that matter. There's a rich cast of characters within Requiem Moon. All of whom have their own goals, plans, or hopes. It seems like every passing minute merely adds to that complexity, rather than taking any away. I can't wait to see what happens in the third novel!
“When you have no good options, you learn to take peace wherever you can find it.”
More than anything, I simply enjoy C.T. Rwizi's writing style. The words seem to come to life on the pages, making for such a compelling adventure. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I wish more than anything that we could see an adaptation of Scarlet Odyssey.
Thanks to 47 North and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Salo is on a pilgrimage of sorts. He's finally been accepted as a mystic – despite being male – and has been sent off on a quest. One that will prove to be more lethal and dangerous than his queen let on.
He must enter Jungle City and gain access to the Red Temple. However, simply doing that has embroiled him in a concerning level of politics – many in this city want to use him. If not for Salo's allies, it seems unlikely that he would survive the week.
“You can never mourn them all,” the spirit says, as it always says. “Even you, who has never lived for so long. They are more numerous than the sands of a desert, their tears more plentiful than the waters of this lake. You must accept the truth and let go. Embrace nothingness and know peace.”
Requiem Moon was such a satisfying read! It makes me wish that I could go back in time and read it (for the first time) all over again. I enjoyed it that much. Then again, I've enjoyed Salo's story from the very first page, so there's no real surprise there.
This novel's magical systems are even more complex than the first – something I was not anticipating. I love the combination of magic and technology, creating something that feels both foreign and intuitive. It's fantastic, and I just can't get enough of it.
The same goes for the characters, for that matter. There's a rich cast of characters within Requiem Moon. All of whom have their own goals, plans, or hopes. It seems like every passing minute merely adds to that complexity, rather than taking any away. I can't wait to see what happens in the third novel!
“When you have no good options, you learn to take peace wherever you can find it.”
More than anything, I simply enjoy C.T. Rwizi's writing style. The words seem to come to life on the pages, making for such a compelling adventure. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I wish more than anything that we could see an adaptation of Scarlet Odyssey.
Thanks to 47 North and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
June 12, 2021
Primeval Fire is a year away and I need it in my hands right now.
When I first picked up Scarlett Odyssey last year, it was a delightful surprise from a book box that had had middling results as far as the books they were sending out. I loved the magic system and the world was so immersive. Rwizi walks a fine line of just dropping you into the story and asking you to swim incredibly well, and I quickly fell in love with the characters and the setting and while it was very much a slow burn of a journey, this book richly rewards the time and effort put into Salo, Ilapara and Tuk's journey in Book One, as well as Isa, the princess forced to step in as king in a country full of dangerous political and magical machinations.
Requiem Moon delivers on a lot of my questions from Book One, only to lead me with even more questions. I love the way all of the intricate layers of the plot come together, how all of the little red threads of fate wind tighter to bring these characters together, as people more powerful than them manipulate them to their favor. While this story has so many POVs, I feel like they were all distinct enough that I never lost track of who I was reading, and they didn't feel pointless. I knew why I needed this particular characters perspective at this particular time. The only time I felt this got slightly tedious was towards the end where the chapters turned into 2-3 page glimpses into the minds of the other characters during one unified experience. At the same time, it made the pacing fly and delivered a really impactful ending, so I'm not too mad about it.
I really enjoyed this book so much (I flew through 600 pages in 2 weeks which is a breakneck pace for me, honestly), and can't wait to see how the trilogy ends.
When I first picked up Scarlett Odyssey last year, it was a delightful surprise from a book box that had had middling results as far as the books they were sending out. I loved the magic system and the world was so immersive. Rwizi walks a fine line of just dropping you into the story and asking you to swim incredibly well, and I quickly fell in love with the characters and the setting and while it was very much a slow burn of a journey, this book richly rewards the time and effort put into Salo, Ilapara and Tuk's journey in Book One, as well as Isa, the princess forced to step in as king in a country full of dangerous political and magical machinations.
Requiem Moon delivers on a lot of my questions from Book One, only to lead me with even more questions. I love the way all of the intricate layers of the plot come together, how all of the little red threads of fate wind tighter to bring these characters together, as people more powerful than them manipulate them to their favor. While this story has so many POVs, I feel like they were all distinct enough that I never lost track of who I was reading, and they didn't feel pointless. I knew why I needed this particular characters perspective at this particular time. The only time I felt this got slightly tedious was towards the end where the chapters turned into 2-3 page glimpses into the minds of the other characters during one unified experience. At the same time, it made the pacing fly and delivered a really impactful ending, so I'm not too mad about it.
I really enjoyed this book so much (I flew through 600 pages in 2 weeks which is a breakneck pace for me, honestly), and can't wait to see how the trilogy ends.
July 25, 2021
This is the second book in a series. I had nominated the first book for the 2021 Hugos in the Best Novel category.
This book continues where the first book left off. The queen has been maneuvered into giving her rival power. She is maneuvering to avoid actually giving him that power. But she needs help. While she is a part of the system, she seems to want to use her power to make the world a better place.
Young Salo is a potentially powerful young magician/wizard who she has persuaded to help her. Salo is an innocent who wants the world to be a better place.
Intertwined within their actions is the tale of a world where tribalism keeps everyone apart and fosters trouble at every turn. The tribes were marked by the gods; literally everyone bears a tattoo that seems to be with them at birth.
The one thing the queen could do would be to eliminate the tribes. Lacking that, perhaps she could just eliminate the marks that make it so easy to discern one tribe member from another. Can she, with Salo's help, make that happen.
Another engrossing tale by C.T. Rwizi set it a world akin to the African nations. He will be on my shortlist for the Astounding Award for the Worldcon. This series will be on my short list for the Best Series Hugo. But this novel will not be on my Best Novel shortlist as it is part of a series.
This book continues where the first book left off. The queen has been maneuvered into giving her rival power. She is maneuvering to avoid actually giving him that power. But she needs help. While she is a part of the system, she seems to want to use her power to make the world a better place.
Young Salo is a potentially powerful young magician/wizard who she has persuaded to help her. Salo is an innocent who wants the world to be a better place.
Intertwined within their actions is the tale of a world where tribalism keeps everyone apart and fosters trouble at every turn. The tribes were marked by the gods; literally everyone bears a tattoo that seems to be with them at birth.
The one thing the queen could do would be to eliminate the tribes. Lacking that, perhaps she could just eliminate the marks that make it so easy to discern one tribe member from another. Can she, with Salo's help, make that happen.
Another engrossing tale by C.T. Rwizi set it a world akin to the African nations. He will be on my shortlist for the Astounding Award for the Worldcon. This series will be on my short list for the Best Series Hugo. But this novel will not be on my Best Novel shortlist as it is part of a series.
May 4, 2021
Disclosure: I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
I was so confused! I was confused when I started the book and I was confused when I finished. From the number of wonderful reviews, I thought I would be engrossed from the start. Unfortunately, I have to assume that you needed to read the first book in order to follow along. I had difficulty following the characters and understanding how they related to each other, how past events related to the present, not to mention how the magic actually worked. The ending was certainly not what I expected.
From the beginning, I felt that I was entering a video game. There is certainly enough magic, spells, charms, magical creatures, battles between good and evil that could keep the gamer entertained and involved. So, if you are a video game developer, please contact this author. Plus, from what I've seen, there are not enough people of color that are the main characters in today's games.
My recommendation is to make sure you read the first book before embarking on this one.
I was so confused! I was confused when I started the book and I was confused when I finished. From the number of wonderful reviews, I thought I would be engrossed from the start. Unfortunately, I have to assume that you needed to read the first book in order to follow along. I had difficulty following the characters and understanding how they related to each other, how past events related to the present, not to mention how the magic actually worked. The ending was certainly not what I expected.
From the beginning, I felt that I was entering a video game. There is certainly enough magic, spells, charms, magical creatures, battles between good and evil that could keep the gamer entertained and involved. So, if you are a video game developer, please contact this author. Plus, from what I've seen, there are not enough people of color that are the main characters in today's games.
My recommendation is to make sure you read the first book before embarking on this one.
May 31, 2022
"Requiem Moon" is full of surprises. There are revelations about the characters, there are revelations about what's really going on at the political and personal level, and there are revelations about the world in which "Requiem Moon" takes place.
C. T. Rwizi definitely continues the African references that were the background for "Scarlet Odyssey," the first book in what appears to be a multi-book series, and he also continues the magical adventures of Musalodi, an inexperienced young mystic with tremendous untapped power. Salo, as he is known, is accompanied by a group of faithful retainers as he navigates the dangerous political waters of Yonte Saire, the dominant city in this part of the world.
At the same time, Isa Andiaye Saire and Jomo Saire, her cousin, are trying to survive after unexpectedly being thrust into positions of great power. Throw in some serious magic, some plot twists and Rwizi's strong writing, and "Requiem Moon" is one of those books you don't want to see end.
I'm ready for the next book right now ...
C. T. Rwizi definitely continues the African references that were the background for "Scarlet Odyssey," the first book in what appears to be a multi-book series, and he also continues the magical adventures of Musalodi, an inexperienced young mystic with tremendous untapped power. Salo, as he is known, is accompanied by a group of faithful retainers as he navigates the dangerous political waters of Yonte Saire, the dominant city in this part of the world.
At the same time, Isa Andiaye Saire and Jomo Saire, her cousin, are trying to survive after unexpectedly being thrust into positions of great power. Throw in some serious magic, some plot twists and Rwizi's strong writing, and "Requiem Moon" is one of those books you don't want to see end.
I'm ready for the next book right now ...
April 2, 2021
Exciting and well structured plot with satisfying reveals
The second book in the Scarlet Odyssey series builds expertly on the first. Although limited to one city, the plot includes an impressive number of twists without feeling rushed or overwhelming. Some may find the number of characters overwhelming, but every character is well fleshed out and their motivations make sense (once they are revealed).
My main criticism is that, while the book can stand as a finale for the series, it also leaves some big plot threads dangling. If you want a satisfying conclusion, maybe wait for the third book.
On the plus side, this book switches gears from a discussion of political wrangling, to a heist, to a battle with the forces of darkness, and back again astonishingly quickly, while still remaining coherent and exciting. An incredible example of a clever story told well.
The second book in the Scarlet Odyssey series builds expertly on the first. Although limited to one city, the plot includes an impressive number of twists without feeling rushed or overwhelming. Some may find the number of characters overwhelming, but every character is well fleshed out and their motivations make sense (once they are revealed).
My main criticism is that, while the book can stand as a finale for the series, it also leaves some big plot threads dangling. If you want a satisfying conclusion, maybe wait for the third book.
On the plus side, this book switches gears from a discussion of political wrangling, to a heist, to a battle with the forces of darkness, and back again astonishingly quickly, while still remaining coherent and exciting. An incredible example of a clever story told well.
February 3, 2023
In comparison to the first book in the series, this is much more character orientated with a plot that revolves around schemes to try and save the Elephant clan from being wiped out following the massacre of the royal family in the last book, schemes that Salo, and his friends become an integral part of.
I found this to be an enthralling read that engaged me on so many levels. The technology, which is powered by magic, the characters, who have both a depth as well as engaging personalities to them, the political and personal scheming that is abundant throughout the novel, and finally the twists and turns in the plot which kept me guessing as to what would happen next.
The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger too, so I am looking forward to reading the last book in the trilogy, which I already own.
I found this to be an enthralling read that engaged me on so many levels. The technology, which is powered by magic, the characters, who have both a depth as well as engaging personalities to them, the political and personal scheming that is abundant throughout the novel, and finally the twists and turns in the plot which kept me guessing as to what would happen next.
The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger too, so I am looking forward to reading the last book in the trilogy, which I already own.
October 25, 2024
Wow! This guy can write. He wove an intricate tale through the African Plains to the Redlands and never skipped a beat. I was a little more comfortable with the African nomenclature this time around which made the reading experience better. By the end of the story, I was thoroughly surprised at the climax and definitely look forward to the third book of the trilogy. The value of friendship vs betrayal and sacrifice was intoxicating to follow. My only slight misgiving about the whole story is the scope and magnitude of the stakes involved. I was so much enjoying the tale when it was about the warring clans and tribal chiefs along with the magic that I was a bit disconcerted when our hero was transported to the heavens to deal with the devil and the gods and creation itself. But Mr. Rwizi has earned my trust enough to see where this all leads.
March 27, 2021
Not guilty of second book syndrome by any stretch. This sequel advances the plot significantly and masterfully while wrapping up its own narrative completely. The world building remains expansive and imaginative despite the smaller scope in terms of location. I especially love the moral greyness of it all; this is not fantasy derived from the Western Christian worldview. Where Pullman wrote a rebuttal, Rwizi is undoing what we think we know about the genre. It is superbly paced and the characters are intricate, each with their own arcs pushed forward completely, some with promises of more still to come. Our "chosen one" is no cliché. This series remains the best new fantasy I have ever read.
August 5, 2022
I read the first book in this series over two years ago and noted then that there were a lot of characters, world-building and moving pieces to keep hold of. I also ended my review saying "...once it all comes together it earns its almost breathless last passages, whilst setting up palace intrigue, hidden agendas and a lead who might accidentally destroy the world. I'll read on. "
I'm glad I did as all the characters are now broadly in the same place, and it remains breathless for much of the book. From heists, to prison escapes and a riot this gets very busy on the ground whilst also broadening its backstory (it was the Universe all along...) A very bold last passage twist leaves me very interested in the final book, and me with a beach holiday to come.
I'm glad I did as all the characters are now broadly in the same place, and it remains breathless for much of the book. From heists, to prison escapes and a riot this gets very busy on the ground whilst also broadening its backstory (it was the Universe all along...) A very bold last passage twist leaves me very interested in the final book, and me with a beach holiday to come.
September 28, 2023
I've enjoyed this series and look forward to finishing the trilogy. Really my only issue was being accidentally spoiled It was a little distracting, which is a shame because that's has to do more with the publisher/marketing department than the book itself. Rwizi writes beautifully and the Afrofuture setting is something that needs to occur more often in fantasy novels.
April 21, 2021
An excellent second chapter in this fantasy series - on par with, perhaps even better than the first one. True, it can be a bit difficult to keep track of all the different characters but the story is so imaginative, detailed and kinetic (I still think of it as Lord of the Rings meets Black Panther!), all of the material relating to magic and technology sure is exciting, and the finale really promises some huge developments in the next book, ending this particular story on a truly tense and dramatic cliffhanger.
May 18, 2021
This is book 2 of an AMAZING series! I'm not a huge Sci-Fi readers and this book hooked me IMMEDIATELY! Such a great read. So much action and drama. I really felt a way after reading this book! It was so good and even FURTHER sucked you into the characters. I haven't been this invested in a fiction series in a while.
The descriptions and clever crafting of the story were awesome. I could rave about this book for months. The worst thing about this book is that it JUST came out, so hope for a third is a long way off.. I waited 2 years for the final season of Game of Thrones... I can wait for this masterpiece to continue. At least, I hope this isn't the end of the series. I would be devastated if there wasn't more to the story.
C.T. Rwizi knocked it out of the park with this one! I HIGHLY recommend reading this and the first book. This one starts of faster than the first book, but neither are boring in anyway.
The descriptions and clever crafting of the story were awesome. I could rave about this book for months. The worst thing about this book is that it JUST came out, so hope for a third is a long way off.. I waited 2 years for the final season of Game of Thrones... I can wait for this masterpiece to continue. At least, I hope this isn't the end of the series. I would be devastated if there wasn't more to the story.
C.T. Rwizi knocked it out of the park with this one! I HIGHLY recommend reading this and the first book. This one starts of faster than the first book, but neither are boring in anyway.
June 2, 2021
Second book letdown? Nope.
Gotta say, this was very good. A fantastic continuation from the first book. Characters developed and the plot line thickened. This story is a little out of my wheelhouse, this is a science fiction novel wrapped up in a fantasy setting, at least that's how I see it. No matter what category you put this in its a fantasticly written story with heart that really makes you feel invested with these characters. Ill be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Gotta say, this was very good. A fantastic continuation from the first book. Characters developed and the plot line thickened. This story is a little out of my wheelhouse, this is a science fiction novel wrapped up in a fantasy setting, at least that's how I see it. No matter what category you put this in its a fantasticly written story with heart that really makes you feel invested with these characters. Ill be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
July 28, 2021
Scintillating Rollercoaster of Fantasy
The second book in the Scarlet Odyssey series sets a fantastical landscape of the Redlands, magic, politics, treachery, love, hate and everything in between. Musalodi becomes a powerful chess piece in the political turmoil that sits in the capital as he does the queens bidding. His friends are each an asset that help him complete his quest. I couldn't put this book down for a minute because I was so anxious to know what comes next! Waiting for the next installment will be very long
The second book in the Scarlet Odyssey series sets a fantastical landscape of the Redlands, magic, politics, treachery, love, hate and everything in between. Musalodi becomes a powerful chess piece in the political turmoil that sits in the capital as he does the queens bidding. His friends are each an asset that help him complete his quest. I couldn't put this book down for a minute because I was so anxious to know what comes next! Waiting for the next installment will be very long
April 24, 2021
Intense
This book picks up right where the first book left off and kept building more and more momentum, ending in a huge finish. It was dark and tragic at points, and I deducted a star for getting preachy several times about a gay character and social justice (twice those sections were so long they pulled me out of the story). The world is truly unique and this book revealed a ton of huge surprises.
This book picks up right where the first book left off and kept building more and more momentum, ending in a huge finish. It was dark and tragic at points, and I deducted a star for getting preachy several times about a gay character and social justice (twice those sections were so long they pulled me out of the story). The world is truly unique and this book revealed a ton of huge surprises.
June 3, 2021
Amazing world and characters
Rwizi has built on his first book to continue what is one of the most amazingly original science-fantasy novels I have ever read. The characters, both heroes and villains, and it is not always easy to tell which is which, are well fleshed out and multidimensional. And the world building is top notch. I wish there was an RPG for the world he has created. I want to run around and explore it more. Cannot wait for the next book.
Rwizi has built on his first book to continue what is one of the most amazingly original science-fantasy novels I have ever read. The characters, both heroes and villains, and it is not always easy to tell which is which, are well fleshed out and multidimensional. And the world building is top notch. I wish there was an RPG for the world he has created. I want to run around and explore it more. Cannot wait for the next book.
February 16, 2025
The second book in a fantasy series always starts out slower than the first, but then gets much wilder in the end! I really enjoy this world and these characters and I don't even mind that the list of characters I'm supposed to keep straight is getting even bigger. They're all interesting! I think this was a nice expansion of the world, everything works and is well thought out. And Salo is definitely always doing to much.
June 25, 2025
decent sequel
Great follow up to the first book. Still a good amount of action, though mostly in the last third of the book. And I found the city setting a bit stale after a while. This entry did give some answers, but also introduced more questions, and it seemed to be missing some key players from the first book without explanation, which I found odd. Still though, onto the third book!
Great follow up to the first book. Still a good amount of action, though mostly in the last third of the book. And I found the city setting a bit stale after a while. This entry did give some answers, but also introduced more questions, and it seemed to be missing some key players from the first book without explanation, which I found odd. Still though, onto the third book!
December 15, 2020
This book is a very solid follow up to the first book in the series. It keeps most of the same shades of suspense. It does add a little more relationship drama and is a little more explicit with that. The pace of the book is very good and creates a strong desire to keep going. Overall an entertaining book and I am left excited to read the next one.
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