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The Four Pillars #2
Temple of No God
After a brutal war between the gods, Hessa – High Priestess of the Eangen – has brokered a fragile peace. Through great sacrifice, she has forged an alliance between warring tribes and introduced her people to the true god.
But a new threat is growing across the southern border. In the remnants of the once-great Arpa Empire, three factions are vying for the imperial throne, and the vast well of raw magical power only accessible to the Arpa Emperor. Already beating back former Arpa legionaries at her borders, Hessa knows she cannot let this chance slip by. She must intervene, for the safety of her people.
With the peace she has sacrificed so much for at stake, Hessa must venture into the heart of enemy territory, where warring Arpa factions are not the only danger she must face. A sinister new cult is on the rise, one with the power to suck the life from everything it touches. With enemies on every side and her fragile alliance beginning to waver, Hessa must decide who to trust – no matter what it may cost her…
But a new threat is growing across the southern border. In the remnants of the once-great Arpa Empire, three factions are vying for the imperial throne, and the vast well of raw magical power only accessible to the Arpa Emperor. Already beating back former Arpa legionaries at her borders, Hessa knows she cannot let this chance slip by. She must intervene, for the safety of her people.
With the peace she has sacrificed so much for at stake, Hessa must venture into the heart of enemy territory, where warring Arpa factions are not the only danger she must face. A sinister new cult is on the rise, one with the power to suck the life from everything it touches. With enemies on every side and her fragile alliance beginning to waver, Hessa must decide who to trust – no matter what it may cost her…
341 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2022
65 people are currently reading
4466 people want to read
About the author
H.M. Long
11 books1,101 followersHannah (H. M.) Long is a Canadian fantasy author. She inhabits a ramshackle cabin in Ontario with her family, but she can often be spotted snooping about museums or wandering the Alps.
Hannah writes for Titan Books and is the author of the Four Pillars Quartet (Hall of Smoke), the Winter Sea Trilogy (Dark Water Daughter), the Entwined Duology (2026/27), Ashmarked (2027), and more.
For the latest updates, follow Hannah on TikTok (@hmlongbooks), Instagram (@hmlongbooks), and Twitter (@hannah_m_long).
Hannah writes for Titan Books and is the author of the Four Pillars Quartet (Hall of Smoke), the Winter Sea Trilogy (Dark Water Daughter), the Entwined Duology (2026/27), Ashmarked (2027), and more.
For the latest updates, follow Hannah on TikTok (@hmlongbooks), Instagram (@hmlongbooks), and Twitter (@hannah_m_long).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
February 7, 2023
Welcome back to the world of HALL OF SMOKE! (CWs and FYIs below)
TEMPLE OF NO GOD HAS:
A crumbling empire
A priestess with an army
A fallen deity
A vast power, waiting to be attained
An adorable canine companion
Dark magic
This novel is set ten years after the events of HALL OF SMOKE, featuring an older, grumpier, and more powerful Hessa. Though this book can technically be read on its own, I personally recommend readers pick up Hall of Smoke before delving into Temple of No God, and to consider them a duology within the broader Hall of Smoke world.
Content warnings: Gore, violence, self-harm (blood sacrifice)
Romance/Spice: Minimal, with implied sexuality. Temple of No God features a practical arranged partnership and is not a romance.
Feel free to drop any questions here or on my author profile!
TEMPLE OF NO GOD HAS:
A crumbling empire
A priestess with an army
A fallen deity
A vast power, waiting to be attained
An adorable canine companion
Dark magic
This novel is set ten years after the events of HALL OF SMOKE, featuring an older, grumpier, and more powerful Hessa. Though this book can technically be read on its own, I personally recommend readers pick up Hall of Smoke before delving into Temple of No God, and to consider them a duology within the broader Hall of Smoke world.
Content warnings: Gore, violence, self-harm (blood sacrifice)
Romance/Spice: Minimal, with implied sexuality. Temple of No God features a practical arranged partnership and is not a romance.
Feel free to drop any questions here or on my author profile!
October 5, 2021
Long certainly made her entrance known with Hall of Smoke, but with Temple of No God, she solidifies herself as one of the great new voices in epic fantasy.
Temple of No God is a story about adventure, war, and godly strife, but at its heart, it is also a poetic yet action-packed exploration of grief, longing, and obligation. Bold characters, shocking twists, and heart-pounding action will keep you turning pages long after "lights out."
Temple of No God is a story about adventure, war, and godly strife, but at its heart, it is also a poetic yet action-packed exploration of grief, longing, and obligation. Bold characters, shocking twists, and heart-pounding action will keep you turning pages long after "lights out."
November 12, 2021
I liked this one. It had some really cool worldbuilding that reminded me of playing the Witcher games. There's a feeling of dark, monstrous things waiting in the bushes and caves, stalking the mortal world through ancient portals or trapped in rotting prisons.
Definitely worth checking out if you fancy some Norse-inspired fantasy, a strong and conflicted main character, and a world full of deep and mysterious lore.
3.5 stars.
Definitely worth checking out if you fancy some Norse-inspired fantasy, a strong and conflicted main character, and a world full of deep and mysterious lore.
3.5 stars.
February 24, 2023
Overall Rating : B+
Very fast-paced but done well.
RTC!
Very fast-paced but done well.
RTC!
January 26, 2022
3.5 stars
Temple of No God is the sequel to Hall of Smoke, a Norse inspired epic following Hessa, a priestess of the war godess. After forging a fragile peace in book one, a new threat is growing and Hessa must travel into enemy territory where warring factions, sinster cults and dangerous magic may threaten everything.
I remember liking book one but not loving it and I think I have pretty similar feelings with this one! There were a lot of elements I enjoyed and I liked seeing Hessa a little bit older, wiser, more mature and taking on more of a leadership role but I think something holds me back from completely loving it.
I am a bit of a sucker for relationships where it is an arranaged marriage and they are sort of reluctant allies to begin with but then slowly realise they care about each other and start to fall in love and that book delivers on this trope in a very satisfying but subtle way.
I liked the atmosphere of the book - I love the barren, perishingly cold landscape and all the worldbuilding details really transport you and create a vivid, richly imagined world. I also really like the prose, it's very sophisticated whilst still being easy to read and enjoy.
I think the thing that holds me back from loving this series more is that I'm not super attatched to the characters, nothing about them is particularly special or standout to me. The book is also pretty fast paced and sometimes I wish it was a little slower but I do think the author does a good job of balancing the action and battle scenes with intrigue and interactions with the deities.
In conclusion I think if you enjoyed book 1 you will really like this - it is a worthy sequel and I don't have the best memories of book one haha (as in I can't remember much not it was bad) but I think I enjoyed book 2 a little bit more!!
Temple of No God is the sequel to Hall of Smoke, a Norse inspired epic following Hessa, a priestess of the war godess. After forging a fragile peace in book one, a new threat is growing and Hessa must travel into enemy territory where warring factions, sinster cults and dangerous magic may threaten everything.
I remember liking book one but not loving it and I think I have pretty similar feelings with this one! There were a lot of elements I enjoyed and I liked seeing Hessa a little bit older, wiser, more mature and taking on more of a leadership role but I think something holds me back from completely loving it.
I am a bit of a sucker for relationships where it is an arranaged marriage and they are sort of reluctant allies to begin with but then slowly realise they care about each other and start to fall in love and that book delivers on this trope in a very satisfying but subtle way.
I liked the atmosphere of the book - I love the barren, perishingly cold landscape and all the worldbuilding details really transport you and create a vivid, richly imagined world. I also really like the prose, it's very sophisticated whilst still being easy to read and enjoy.
I think the thing that holds me back from loving this series more is that I'm not super attatched to the characters, nothing about them is particularly special or standout to me. The book is also pretty fast paced and sometimes I wish it was a little slower but I do think the author does a good job of balancing the action and battle scenes with intrigue and interactions with the deities.
In conclusion I think if you enjoyed book 1 you will really like this - it is a worthy sequel and I don't have the best memories of book one haha (as in I can't remember much not it was bad) but I think I enjoyed book 2 a little bit more!!
July 22, 2022
A solid read that had the potential (and the ingredients!) to be perfect for me. I still enjoy Hessa as a main character and the world remains perfect - especially the other world, the world of the gods. But there still was something missing for me.
I received an arc of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received an arc of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2022
This book builds more of the world we see in Hall of Smoke, and I adore it! The action, the tension between Hessa and her new husband, the raised stakes—this story is full of adventure and intrigue.
Contains:
-Violence
Contains:
-Violence
January 25, 2022
Happy UK release day! It releases Feb 1st in the US.
Thank you to Titan Books for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
CAWPILE Rating: 7.29 (4 Stars)
After enjoying the first book in this world, Hall of Smoke, I was excited to read its companion! (You don't need to read HoS before ToNG)
You can tell from this book that H.M. Long has really found their footing with their writing and within the wider fantasy genre. I felt that Hessa was a little flat in Hall of Smoke and didn't really fit the description she was given--a warrior priestess--but in this book she more than lived up to it. As this book takes ten years in the future after a war of the Gods she has had a lot of time to grow, and when she is thrust into an equally scary and life-threatening situation she only gets better.
This book had such a fantastic plot that surprised me at many points through the plot twists as Hessa had to grapple with who to trust. The tensions were consistently high, which in turn led to some amazingly written and exciting battle scenes where Hessa got to shine as a warrior. She is such a fierce and loyal person who just wants what is best for friends, family and the wider community. She also has wonderful chemistry with the side characters which is always a plus.
As I said, the plot of this book is fantastic. The empire is in the midst of a political tensions as three factions vie for a new, unclaimed power and because of this we got to see a new God and their cult. I was delighted to see a cult in a fantasy book as they're super intriguing--and the author did not let me down. I wish cults were more widely used in the fantasy genre, particularly after the wild things they did to try and secure power in this book. There was also an event that occurred toward the end of the book which involved the cult that raised tensions tenfold and I had to stop reading to process it. There's always this subtle feeling that something is about to go wrong and the pay off for it was worth it. Trust is definitely the main theme in this book and the reader is left second-guessing who to trust along with Hessa, which only added to the feeling that something wrong is about to occur at any moment.
Despite this, I did have a few quips with the book. The first one being the world and its atmosphere, I am one who loves descriptions and from things I've seen online the author aimed to create this hilly, foresty world but I could never really envision the places all that way as I felt there was a general lack of description. I wouldn't say this is a bad thing as lots of world descriptions are not to everyone's tastes, but I just wished for a little more. My second issue was to do with the pacing. I will say that this book was paced and plotted better than Hall of Smoke, however, I felt that some parts of this book were quite rushed to the point that it felt a little unbelievable. I know the author wanted to get to the exciting climax but I feel that a few extra scenes in some places would've helped the book without damaging the tensions.
Overall, I felt that Temple of No God was a fantastic sequel and I will most definitely be reading the next two companion novels set in this world that are set to be published in 2023 and 2024. Fingers crossed I can get more ARC's!
Thank you to Titan Books for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
CAWPILE Rating: 7.29 (4 Stars)
After enjoying the first book in this world, Hall of Smoke, I was excited to read its companion! (You don't need to read HoS before ToNG)
You can tell from this book that H.M. Long has really found their footing with their writing and within the wider fantasy genre. I felt that Hessa was a little flat in Hall of Smoke and didn't really fit the description she was given--a warrior priestess--but in this book she more than lived up to it. As this book takes ten years in the future after a war of the Gods she has had a lot of time to grow, and when she is thrust into an equally scary and life-threatening situation she only gets better.
This book had such a fantastic plot that surprised me at many points through the plot twists as Hessa had to grapple with who to trust. The tensions were consistently high, which in turn led to some amazingly written and exciting battle scenes where Hessa got to shine as a warrior. She is such a fierce and loyal person who just wants what is best for friends, family and the wider community. She also has wonderful chemistry with the side characters which is always a plus.
As I said, the plot of this book is fantastic. The empire is in the midst of a political tensions as three factions vie for a new, unclaimed power and because of this we got to see a new God and their cult. I was delighted to see a cult in a fantasy book as they're super intriguing--and the author did not let me down. I wish cults were more widely used in the fantasy genre, particularly after the wild things they did to try and secure power in this book. There was also an event that occurred toward the end of the book which involved the cult that raised tensions tenfold and I had to stop reading to process it. There's always this subtle feeling that something is about to go wrong and the pay off for it was worth it. Trust is definitely the main theme in this book and the reader is left second-guessing who to trust along with Hessa, which only added to the feeling that something wrong is about to occur at any moment.
Despite this, I did have a few quips with the book. The first one being the world and its atmosphere, I am one who loves descriptions and from things I've seen online the author aimed to create this hilly, foresty world but I could never really envision the places all that way as I felt there was a general lack of description. I wouldn't say this is a bad thing as lots of world descriptions are not to everyone's tastes, but I just wished for a little more. My second issue was to do with the pacing. I will say that this book was paced and plotted better than Hall of Smoke, however, I felt that some parts of this book were quite rushed to the point that it felt a little unbelievable. I know the author wanted to get to the exciting climax but I feel that a few extra scenes in some places would've helped the book without damaging the tensions.
Overall, I felt that Temple of No God was a fantastic sequel and I will most definitely be reading the next two companion novels set in this world that are set to be published in 2023 and 2024. Fingers crossed I can get more ARC's!
November 7, 2023
This has so many aspects that I normally love in my books but for some reason, I really struggle to connect and stay engaged .
I like the atmosphere and the Norse elements but just didn't click with the pacing or any characters.
I can see why for some, these books would be their perfect 5 star book. Just unfortunately for me, not the case
I like the atmosphere and the Norse elements but just didn't click with the pacing or any characters.
I can see why for some, these books would be their perfect 5 star book. Just unfortunately for me, not the case
January 26, 2022
H.M. Long’s sophomore novel, Temple of No God, follows up on 2021’s Hall of Smoke, though it is billed by the publisher as a standalone novel in the same world rather than a sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed both books – I loved Hall of Smoke’s approach to the concept of deities and Long’s detailed world building, as well as Hessa’s unusual character as a warrior priestess. To me, Temple of No God feels more like a delayed sequel rather than a true standalone novel in the same world. I would have struggled to understand many of the references made to details in the world building – which is one of Long’s greatest strengths as a writer – if I had not read Hall of Smoke before diving into Temple of No God. Thus, I would recommend treating them as a series and reading in order if you can.
Temple of No God sets in a dozen or so years after the end of the first book, and while Hessa is still our main focus, her life has changed quite a bit. She is married – again – to Imnir, an Algatt and High Priest of Thvynder, a relationship that is ultimately at the centre of this story. They live in more of a political alliance than a truly romantic relationship when we meet them. The world is still changed due to the events at the end of Hall of Smoke, the relations between Gods and Men irrevocably changed after Hessa slew Eang, the Goddess she had been dedicated to. Temple significantly expands the scope of the world by having Hessa, Imnir and their companions travel to the Arpa Empire to the south where a dangerous cult is rising and various factions are vying for political dominance.
The story is once again full of action, drama, strongly written characters with depth and nuance and, of course, fabulous world building and interactions with the divine. Hessa is both impulsive and capable of great forethought, and as a warrior priestess, she is a wonderful and unusual leading character. Set in a Viking-inspired secondary world, Long’s novels are epic fantasy at its best, combining quests with a good dash of grittiness but also heart and charm and always putting the characters and their relationships at the centre of the stories. Very much a recommended read.
Temple of No God sets in a dozen or so years after the end of the first book, and while Hessa is still our main focus, her life has changed quite a bit. She is married – again – to Imnir, an Algatt and High Priest of Thvynder, a relationship that is ultimately at the centre of this story. They live in more of a political alliance than a truly romantic relationship when we meet them. The world is still changed due to the events at the end of Hall of Smoke, the relations between Gods and Men irrevocably changed after Hessa slew Eang, the Goddess she had been dedicated to. Temple significantly expands the scope of the world by having Hessa, Imnir and their companions travel to the Arpa Empire to the south where a dangerous cult is rising and various factions are vying for political dominance.
The story is once again full of action, drama, strongly written characters with depth and nuance and, of course, fabulous world building and interactions with the divine. Hessa is both impulsive and capable of great forethought, and as a warrior priestess, she is a wonderful and unusual leading character. Set in a Viking-inspired secondary world, Long’s novels are epic fantasy at its best, combining quests with a good dash of grittiness but also heart and charm and always putting the characters and their relationships at the centre of the stories. Very much a recommended read.
January 17, 2022
Great return to the world first seen in Hall of Smoke. A fascinating world and lead character with added intrigue magic and battles - Long is quickly showing themselves a name to watch
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
December 28, 2021
3,5*
In my review for Hall of Smoke I wrote about how I had a feeling as I was reading that author has a such a firm grip on these characters and world she created she can write countless pages more about it. Hence, I wasn't very surprised by the news of more books set in Algatt, Eangen and the northern territories of the Arpa Empire. For a story focused primarily on a journey of one character it was simply too rich; too history and mythology heavy to be left alone like that.
So, yes, Hessa is once again wrapped up in wars between Gods and establishing the new Emperor, while leading her own people. Emperor to be wants Hessa to crown him and act as a his bodyguard against new, sinter cult of Larun, mysterious deity whose priests seem to draw deadly powers from unknown source. Thwynder and Omaskat have different agenda in mind and Hessa is the most important piece of all of their plans.
First things first: I know that author wrote that this is a stand-alone novel and you don't have to read HoS before this one. I wouldn't necessarily agree with this, because the story may be set years after the events of HoS, but it references many events and characters from first book, and newcomers may be lost. There is a glossary at the end of book that helps, but for better understanding of the world I would recommend you read Hall of Smoke.
Another reason for my recommendation is so that you can witness how far has Hessa come from that wide-eyed, clueless human who was used by Eang, her goddess, to do her dirty work and other powerful character she came across. This is a more mature Hessa, one who has came to peace about her place in the world and who fights for betterment of Eangan and other tribes first, not Gods. It's interesting because Hessa as a High Priestess has a direct contact and a blessing of Thwynder, one of the old deities she helped establishing, but she is not his servant in the way she was with Eang. Last book was all about her inner doubts about absolutes of her goddess and it's an interesting contrast. So, she is closer than ever to her God, but more her own person than she was before. So her own conflict and doubts she had in previous book made this Hessa. This self-assurance reflects in her interaction with other characters in the position of power, because she is more cunning. She was a fierce warrior priestess in previous book as well, but she really shines in this one. She gained an almost mythological reputation and her powers only feed into it, so others watch her with awe and look up to her. Still a warrior we know her to be, but more epic.
The only conflict Hessa has is actually letting go her grief and deciding on her second husband Imnir. It's a complicated relationship that started as a practical solution for their people, but with a potential to be more. Considering where the plot leads and revelation at the end, their marriage adds another layer to story and raises the stakes.
Plot was more forward and faster, but I enjoyed the character development of HoS more. I just love when authors destroy everything their main character believed in and then build them again. Long loves writing introspective passages and there was just not that much inner turmoil for Hessa in ToNG, or it's not as riveting.
Other reason for my rating is that I am not a fan when it turns out that motive of female character(s) is jealousy over a man. For some reason, in this world with powerful warrior priestesses and goddesses, I was just annoyed that insecurities of this type we've only seen with them.
All in all, it was fun to be back in this world. I am looking forward to next book in the series, because I am sure Gods will find the way to mess it all up for Hessa's people again. :)
Thank you to NetGalley, Titan Books and H.M. Long for an advanced copy of this book. This doesn't affect my review and all opinions are my own.
In my review for Hall of Smoke I wrote about how I had a feeling as I was reading that author has a such a firm grip on these characters and world she created she can write countless pages more about it. Hence, I wasn't very surprised by the news of more books set in Algatt, Eangen and the northern territories of the Arpa Empire. For a story focused primarily on a journey of one character it was simply too rich; too history and mythology heavy to be left alone like that.
So, yes, Hessa is once again wrapped up in wars between Gods and establishing the new Emperor, while leading her own people. Emperor to be wants Hessa to crown him and act as a his bodyguard against new, sinter cult of Larun, mysterious deity whose priests seem to draw deadly powers from unknown source. Thwynder and Omaskat have different agenda in mind and Hessa is the most important piece of all of their plans.
First things first: I know that author wrote that this is a stand-alone novel and you don't have to read HoS before this one. I wouldn't necessarily agree with this, because the story may be set years after the events of HoS, but it references many events and characters from first book, and newcomers may be lost. There is a glossary at the end of book that helps, but for better understanding of the world I would recommend you read Hall of Smoke.
Another reason for my recommendation is so that you can witness how far has Hessa come from that wide-eyed, clueless human who was used by Eang, her goddess, to do her dirty work and other powerful character she came across. This is a more mature Hessa, one who has came to peace about her place in the world and who fights for betterment of Eangan and other tribes first, not Gods. It's interesting because Hessa as a High Priestess has a direct contact and a blessing of Thwynder, one of the old deities she helped establishing, but she is not his servant in the way she was with Eang. Last book was all about her inner doubts about absolutes of her goddess and it's an interesting contrast. So, she is closer than ever to her God, but more her own person than she was before. So her own conflict and doubts she had in previous book made this Hessa. This self-assurance reflects in her interaction with other characters in the position of power, because she is more cunning. She was a fierce warrior priestess in previous book as well, but she really shines in this one. She gained an almost mythological reputation and her powers only feed into it, so others watch her with awe and look up to her. Still a warrior we know her to be, but more epic.
The only conflict Hessa has is actually letting go her grief and deciding on her second husband Imnir. It's a complicated relationship that started as a practical solution for their people, but with a potential to be more. Considering where the plot leads and revelation at the end, their marriage adds another layer to story and raises the stakes.
Plot was more forward and faster, but I enjoyed the character development of HoS more. I just love when authors destroy everything their main character believed in and then build them again. Long loves writing introspective passages and there was just not that much inner turmoil for Hessa in ToNG, or it's not as riveting.
Other reason for my rating is that I am not a fan when it turns out that motive of female character(s) is jealousy over a man. For some reason, in this world with powerful warrior priestesses and goddesses, I was just annoyed that insecurities of this type we've only seen with them.
All in all, it was fun to be back in this world. I am looking forward to next book in the series, because I am sure Gods will find the way to mess it all up for Hessa's people again. :)
Thank you to NetGalley, Titan Books and H.M. Long for an advanced copy of this book. This doesn't affect my review and all opinions are my own.
February 9, 2022
Since reading Hall of Smoke, I was terribly excited to read the sequel, Temple of No God. Not only because I've enjoyed reading about Hessa and the gods in the past, but also because H.M. Long's writing style immerses the reader directly into the world. Due to delivery issues of the physical copy, I initially thought I would have to wait forever to dive into the TONG. But Hannah was kind enough to provide Reader's Table with the audiobook, so we didn't have to wait any longer to continue the story (thanks again!!!!).
TONG is really a stand-alone novel in its own way. It takes place many years after HOS and we meet an older, more mature, and fierce Hessa who must face a crumbling empire to protect her people. I enjoyed reading more about the Arpa, their empire, and the gods. Somehow the author manages to come up with creative names every time - Mircea and Odacer were my favorites! With TONG, I somehow couldn't shake the thought that the Arpa people and gods were a bit inspired by the Romans, but that may just be because Apharnum, Nivarium, etc. sound very Latin. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of Hessa and Imnir's relationship. But in the end, I found it beneficial to the plot. As in HOS, I wasn't sure at some points how the story would continue, but one of the twists ended up entertaining me quite a bit. I really enjoyed the description of the landscape, the final fight scene between Hessa and Frir, and the moth as the "animal of the book". Now that I have finished the audiobook, I can't shake the thought that the next installment will be about Thray and or Vistic. I would definitely like to read more about Thray, because she caught my interest! I personally thought the audiobook was good, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed the book a lot more. So I can't wait to read it again once my copy arrives!
TONG is really a stand-alone novel in its own way. It takes place many years after HOS and we meet an older, more mature, and fierce Hessa who must face a crumbling empire to protect her people. I enjoyed reading more about the Arpa, their empire, and the gods. Somehow the author manages to come up with creative names every time - Mircea and Odacer were my favorites! With TONG, I somehow couldn't shake the thought that the Arpa people and gods were a bit inspired by the Romans, but that may just be because Apharnum, Nivarium, etc. sound very Latin. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of Hessa and Imnir's relationship. But in the end, I found it beneficial to the plot. As in HOS, I wasn't sure at some points how the story would continue, but one of the twists ended up entertaining me quite a bit. I really enjoyed the description of the landscape, the final fight scene between Hessa and Frir, and the moth as the "animal of the book". Now that I have finished the audiobook, I can't shake the thought that the next installment will be about Thray and or Vistic. I would definitely like to read more about Thray, because she caught my interest! I personally thought the audiobook was good, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed the book a lot more. So I can't wait to read it again once my copy arrives!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2022
I absolutely loved Hall of Smoke. It was one of my favorite reads of 2021 and probably of all time. I loved that it was a single-POV fantasy story with very little romance. I loved the lush natural settings, the mystical magic and mythology, and of course, the characters, especially Hessa and Nisien. Although I didn't love it quite as much as HoS, this book brought more of that with a slightly different tone.
Years after the conclusion to Hall of Smoke, much of the story takes place in Arpa rather than the North. For me, this was wonderful because we got to explore and immerse ourselves in new places but also a little bit of a bummer because, well, I really loved the mountains, lakes and wildlife of the north. Nonetheless, Hannah clearly spends a lot of time outdoors because she paints beautiful pictures of the landscapes from the large-scale to the small. She hits a very sweet, perfect spot with her writing. It's descriptive enough to evoke vivid imagery without being painful purple prose.
On the whole, I thought it was pretty fast-paced with more action and battles than the first. For those who thought Hall of Smoke was a slower journey book, they may love this. Action and battles are never my favorite content and it was a bit too fast-paced at times for my tastes, but, well, Hessa is a warrior priestess so it's not a surprise. The battles were spread out and interspersed throughout other scenes that made it a balanced read with a lot of highs and lows and mysteries along the way.
I thought the larger cast of characters was detrimental to how well each was fleshed out versus the first book. We had less of a chance to get to know them amid all the action. It felt less intimate and lacked the warmth of friendship and introspection from the first book. However, I should not compare a book to its predecessor and this is a different story. Hessa does have a lot more people to care about, and be responsible for, in her new role so it totally makes sense in context, and the (complicated) relationship with Imnir did get a lot of attention even though I wasn't all that into it.
Overall, while it didn't grip me quite as much as Hall of Smoke, this book was suffused with nature and magic (hello two of my favorite things!), more animals (owls and Nui!) with a strong and empathetic female character who struggles with choosing the right path for herself and her people. The ending was incredible and I look forward to more.
Years after the conclusion to Hall of Smoke, much of the story takes place in Arpa rather than the North. For me, this was wonderful because we got to explore and immerse ourselves in new places but also a little bit of a bummer because, well, I really loved the mountains, lakes and wildlife of the north. Nonetheless, Hannah clearly spends a lot of time outdoors because she paints beautiful pictures of the landscapes from the large-scale to the small. She hits a very sweet, perfect spot with her writing. It's descriptive enough to evoke vivid imagery without being painful purple prose.
On the whole, I thought it was pretty fast-paced with more action and battles than the first. For those who thought Hall of Smoke was a slower journey book, they may love this. Action and battles are never my favorite content and it was a bit too fast-paced at times for my tastes, but, well, Hessa is a warrior priestess so it's not a surprise. The battles were spread out and interspersed throughout other scenes that made it a balanced read with a lot of highs and lows and mysteries along the way.
I thought the larger cast of characters was detrimental to how well each was fleshed out versus the first book. We had less of a chance to get to know them amid all the action. It felt less intimate and lacked the warmth of friendship and introspection from the first book. However, I should not compare a book to its predecessor and this is a different story. Hessa does have a lot more people to care about, and be responsible for, in her new role so it totally makes sense in context, and the (complicated) relationship with Imnir did get a lot of attention even though I wasn't all that into it.
Overall, while it didn't grip me quite as much as Hall of Smoke, this book was suffused with nature and magic (hello two of my favorite things!), more animals (owls and Nui!) with a strong and empathetic female character who struggles with choosing the right path for herself and her people. The ending was incredible and I look forward to more.
December 19, 2021
Temple of No God (Hall of Smoke #2)
Plot:
After a brutal war between the gods, Hessa – High Priestess of the Eangen – has brokered a fragile peace. Through great sacrifice, she has forged an alliance between warring tribes and introduced her people to the true god.
But a new threat is growing across the southern border. In the remnants of the once-great Arpa Empire, three factions are vying for the imperial throne, and the vast well of raw magical power only accessible to the Arpa Emperor. Already beating back former Arpa legionaries at her borders, Hessa knows she cannot let this chance slip by. She must intervene, for the safety of her people.
Writing:
As it was in HOS, the writing is stunning. The pacing is perfect, the action scenes are ferocious which makes the tender moments even more touching. I didn't ever feel bored, though I knew the eventual destination, I had no idea how to journey would play out.
Loved:
@hmlong has an amazing ability to humanise her characters, though we follow a God like warrior priestess into battle, we see relatable human concerns for starting a family and saving relationships. Something a lot of people have or will struggle with.
Favourite part:
I could include so many things but ...spoilers. Nui the dog was a great edition, something I didn't realise was missing from Hall of Smoke. My absolute favourite part was seeing Hessa become a better leader and Priestess than her old God, truly putting her people first.
Plot:
After a brutal war between the gods, Hessa – High Priestess of the Eangen – has brokered a fragile peace. Through great sacrifice, she has forged an alliance between warring tribes and introduced her people to the true god.
But a new threat is growing across the southern border. In the remnants of the once-great Arpa Empire, three factions are vying for the imperial throne, and the vast well of raw magical power only accessible to the Arpa Emperor. Already beating back former Arpa legionaries at her borders, Hessa knows she cannot let this chance slip by. She must intervene, for the safety of her people.
Writing:
As it was in HOS, the writing is stunning. The pacing is perfect, the action scenes are ferocious which makes the tender moments even more touching. I didn't ever feel bored, though I knew the eventual destination, I had no idea how to journey would play out.
Loved:
@hmlong has an amazing ability to humanise her characters, though we follow a God like warrior priestess into battle, we see relatable human concerns for starting a family and saving relationships. Something a lot of people have or will struggle with.
Favourite part:
I could include so many things but ...spoilers. Nui the dog was a great edition, something I didn't realise was missing from Hall of Smoke. My absolute favourite part was seeing Hessa become a better leader and Priestess than her old God, truly putting her people first.
February 8, 2022
Temple of No God is an awesome sequel to Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long. I got a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. You can read my full Temple of No God review over at https://valthura.com/earc-review-h-m-.... A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book, it was a pleasure!
Set several years after the great war that led to Thvynder’s appearance, Hessa sets out on a perilous journey that will set her up against a deadly cult with magic that sucks the life out of everything. She’ll be faced with a choice – crown or kill the up-and-coming emperor of the once-great Arpa Empire.
Accompanied by her husband (the result of a political, loveless marriage) and a whole host of powerful companions, Hessa marches on in an effort to preserve the fragile peace she and her people enjoy. All the while trying to salvage what remains of her relationship with her husband. Temple of No God is a story of perseverance and overcoming loss, of growth and change, and finding hope again. It was an incredibly pleasant book, even if it starts a bit slow and has some trouble with pacing. Definitely a recommended read for fans of high fantasy and rich lore.
Set several years after the great war that led to Thvynder’s appearance, Hessa sets out on a perilous journey that will set her up against a deadly cult with magic that sucks the life out of everything. She’ll be faced with a choice – crown or kill the up-and-coming emperor of the once-great Arpa Empire.
Accompanied by her husband (the result of a political, loveless marriage) and a whole host of powerful companions, Hessa marches on in an effort to preserve the fragile peace she and her people enjoy. All the while trying to salvage what remains of her relationship with her husband. Temple of No God is a story of perseverance and overcoming loss, of growth and change, and finding hope again. It was an incredibly pleasant book, even if it starts a bit slow and has some trouble with pacing. Definitely a recommended read for fans of high fantasy and rich lore.
June 23, 2023
3.5⭐️
April 23, 2024
4.5⭐
What a delight to read a book with a 30-year-old and badass heroine (rather than a teenager who learns the way of the sword in a week)
What a delight to read a book with a 30-year-old and badass heroine (rather than a teenager who learns the way of the sword in a week)
November 4, 2025
Meglio del precedente per le relazioni tra la protagonista e gli altri personaggio, peggio a livello di trama.
March 2, 2022
What a fantastic series @hmlongbooks has created. This is a standalone sequel to Hall of Smoke but I was very glad to have read HOS first. Finding ourselves again with our fierce Hessa, familiar characters, world and lore is super satisfying. The story, told from Hessa’s POV, is rich and lush, filled with many heartwarming moments (I love the pre-battle rituals), and balanced out perfectly with harsh and brutal elements. This book has bite!! And lotsa magic, battles, and plot twists! It was complex and totally captivating and i loved it. Looking forward to book 3.
September 4, 2024
The perfect sequel!
May 3, 2022
Actual Rating: 4.5
‘It promised satiety. It promised strength.
It promised power.’
If you enjoyed ‘Hall Of Smoke’ then I think it’s pretty safe to say that you’ll also cherish ‘Temple Of No God’. If you’ve yet to read the former of these two books I highly recommend starting with that one however; although classified as a companion rather than a sequel novel ‘Temple Of No God’ contains a lot of spoilers for ‘Hall Of Smoke’ within its pages so please do bear that in mind if you’re new to the authors work.
There’s something deeply immersive about H.M. Long’s writing, world building and characters. It’s easy to get sucked into the world that the author’s created and find yourself holding certain characters close to your heart. There’s lots of action, magic and Godly involvement for fans of fantasy and honestly never a dull moment over the course of this novel. It’s set in the sort of vivid fantasy land that I adore and contains a surprising mix of brutality and emotion, conflict and companionship, love and animosity and so much more. The major threats within this book were well crafted and downright chilling at times. There were also little clues to certain revelations over the course of the novel but never in an overtly obvious way. In truth I wasn’t entirely sure how this book would end. So all I’ll say is that it was satisfying...although you can discover whether that’s in a good or bad way for yourself.
Character wise I’m in awe of what H.M. Long has managed to do. Everyone is well crafted, vivid and realistic. They have strengths, weaknesses, histories and personalities all of their own. Our central character, Hessa, manages to simultaneously contain so much heart, feeling, fierceness and even moments of brutality. The ties she feels to those around her are incredibly well portrayed. Returning characters were fascinating to follow and there were a few intriguing new additions to the cast too. Although I will admit that I was surprised that a couple of individuals weren’t featured in this novel a little more. I can see why they weren’t, as this is another journey seen through Hessa’s eyes, but I’m curious about some individuals from book one regardless.
Altogether I thoroughly recommend ‘Temple Of No God’. It’s a vivid and immerse fantasy novel set in a compelling, complex and well crafted world. Its cast is superb and I can honestly say that I don’t think there’s a single member of it that I wouldn’t be intrigued to learn more about. Although, as I said earlier, I do strongly advice reading ‘Hall Of Smoke’ before this one if you haven’t already done so.
‘It promised satiety. It promised strength.
It promised power.’
If you enjoyed ‘Hall Of Smoke’ then I think it’s pretty safe to say that you’ll also cherish ‘Temple Of No God’. If you’ve yet to read the former of these two books I highly recommend starting with that one however; although classified as a companion rather than a sequel novel ‘Temple Of No God’ contains a lot of spoilers for ‘Hall Of Smoke’ within its pages so please do bear that in mind if you’re new to the authors work.
There’s something deeply immersive about H.M. Long’s writing, world building and characters. It’s easy to get sucked into the world that the author’s created and find yourself holding certain characters close to your heart. There’s lots of action, magic and Godly involvement for fans of fantasy and honestly never a dull moment over the course of this novel. It’s set in the sort of vivid fantasy land that I adore and contains a surprising mix of brutality and emotion, conflict and companionship, love and animosity and so much more. The major threats within this book were well crafted and downright chilling at times. There were also little clues to certain revelations over the course of the novel but never in an overtly obvious way. In truth I wasn’t entirely sure how this book would end. So all I’ll say is that it was satisfying...although you can discover whether that’s in a good or bad way for yourself.
Character wise I’m in awe of what H.M. Long has managed to do. Everyone is well crafted, vivid and realistic. They have strengths, weaknesses, histories and personalities all of their own. Our central character, Hessa, manages to simultaneously contain so much heart, feeling, fierceness and even moments of brutality. The ties she feels to those around her are incredibly well portrayed. Returning characters were fascinating to follow and there were a few intriguing new additions to the cast too. Although I will admit that I was surprised that a couple of individuals weren’t featured in this novel a little more. I can see why they weren’t, as this is another journey seen through Hessa’s eyes, but I’m curious about some individuals from book one regardless.
Altogether I thoroughly recommend ‘Temple Of No God’. It’s a vivid and immerse fantasy novel set in a compelling, complex and well crafted world. Its cast is superb and I can honestly say that I don’t think there’s a single member of it that I wouldn’t be intrigued to learn more about. Although, as I said earlier, I do strongly advice reading ‘Hall Of Smoke’ before this one if you haven’t already done so.
December 1, 2021
Its 10 years after the events of Hall of Smoke and Hessa is still the baddest warrior high priestess you ever met. Now remarried, the head of one big clan of ex warring clans, infamously magical and brutal and leading her group of priests on missions around the peninsula... she's just trying to live her life when an almighty threat threatens to ruin the peace she's tried to so hard to broker.
So I read book 1 as an ARC and absolutely adored it, shouted about it on booksta (@trippingontales !) and when u found out book 2 was a thing INSTANTLY jumped on getting it as an ARC and then a preorder. Basically I love this world and I love Hessa. I think shes empathetic and a fighter and a woman who just wants what is right for her and her people. She wants as much peace as a warrior priestess could ever want and its just Not. Happening.
The writing in this book was great, the story in general moved quite fast even though there was not a huge amount going on but that isn't to say the quiet moments with Hessa being a real person trying to deal with awful situations and trying to learn from past mistakes weren't great. She really grew between books 1 and 2 and i really appreciated that we got flashbacks, it really helped to fill the gap!
Plus, I love a badass warrior woman fighting scene and this one *deliveredddd* I was v happy with this one, I wish it was longer though!
So I read book 1 as an ARC and absolutely adored it, shouted about it on booksta (@trippingontales !) and when u found out book 2 was a thing INSTANTLY jumped on getting it as an ARC and then a preorder. Basically I love this world and I love Hessa. I think shes empathetic and a fighter and a woman who just wants what is right for her and her people. She wants as much peace as a warrior priestess could ever want and its just Not. Happening.
The writing in this book was great, the story in general moved quite fast even though there was not a huge amount going on but that isn't to say the quiet moments with Hessa being a real person trying to deal with awful situations and trying to learn from past mistakes weren't great. She really grew between books 1 and 2 and i really appreciated that we got flashbacks, it really helped to fill the gap!
Plus, I love a badass warrior woman fighting scene and this one *deliveredddd* I was v happy with this one, I wish it was longer though!
February 12, 2022
It should be illegal for a book to be this good.
January 1, 2022
Temple of No God was a good read. It would have been a great read if one part of it was either changed or omitted.
I have received this book in exchange for an honest review, thank you Titan Books and NetGalley for the opportunity.
I have my own blog now, so please do pay it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
──────────────────
I only became an ARC reader in January 2021. And my first read ARC ever was Hall of Smoke, which was one incredible experience. Learning that there is more to the story now, and a further expansion to come later was brilliant. In turn, I stalked the accounts of both the author and the publisher till Temple of No God became available. To which, I was lucky to get an approval for the ARC.
The plot this time deals with another big choice that will affect their lives moving forward. Like last time though, there is still a discussion of the fascinating themes of worship, faith and devotion. Hessa is now tasked of settling an internal strife in Arpa, while trying to get the best possible outcome for her people. Technically, this sounds doable, but considering the many outsider elements she has to deal with, mortals and higher beings, makes it a much difficult choice.
Once again, I’m taken back to this inspired Norse world, while seeing a much older Hessa navigate it. The main difference to see here, is that it’s no longer a solo journey. She has allies, people to take care of, friends, one very weird dog and many other duties. To me, this was fantastic to read about, because I really enjoy seeing the culture H. M. Long created here.
The rituals (so to speak) before battle, how different countries perceive their warriors, new sayings based on earlier events… While I happen to be a fan of info dumps, I do appreciate this more subtle approach as well. The brutality of the battles, is another aspect I really enjoy. Any depiction anywhere of a Norsemen is bloody, gory and vicious, to name a few elements and I got that part of it here.
The thing that makes it better is the connection to the in-verse Gods. Or rather, the magic they bring with them. It’s always more interesting when it’s not a single type of magic, in my humble opinion, and there are quite a few to see in this series. Never before seen ones in this book as well. Temple of No God details a different side to the conflict this time along though, but overall, that aspect of it remains consistent.
Which reminds me, that I seem to have a weird connection with this series and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. I was playing the game while reading the first book, and I revisited it again while reading this book to play the newly released crossover between it and an earlier game in the franchise. Considering that they both handle Norsemen in a way, I could easily see the similarities and that was fun in another way entirely.
Alongside all of this however, the one thing that really made it a better read was Hessa herself. She’s incredibly logical as a main character, isn’t primarily governed by her emotional side and is now much more powerful than she used to be. This shift in her personality from the average naïve war-priestess I started out with to the badass priestess she is now, was simply brilliant.
With her, there are more characters to meet, old and new. I wouldn’t say that they were all memorable name wise, as I did go back to the glossary several times to read back on who was who. For those not in the immediate vicinity or I haven’t seen past the first few chapters mind you. To better clarify on this point, the events are etched in my mind, it’s just the people responsible who got jumbled up sometimes.
But overall, I really enjoyed being around them, especially Uspa and Thray.
When taking all of this in, this book has many many elements that I personally enjoyed reading about. However, I still couldn’t get over how much the “alliance she forged” between the northern tribes actually ruins this book for me. She knows it’s not a good thing, dear friends know it’s not a good thing, the other party knows it’s not a good thing.
Yet, it doesn’t stop.
It’s continuously a point of discussion for, in my humble opinion, no good reason. Nothing good comes out of it. Hessa’s unbelievably logical approach to it, is always brushed to the side in the end for some reason I have failed to see. Before it goes back to this continuous cycle of gaslighting that I loathed with every fiber of my being. Adding “tragic backstories or situations” doesn’t justify anything, not in this fictional world and not in the real one either.
Especially if, the other party is an edgy pathetic idiot with zero redeeming qualities for 95% of the narrative. There are more than enough conflicts in the series. This one, feels cheap in comparison and was not needed whatsoever.
Ultimately, I enjoyed myself quite a bit and many elements in the book. I did wish for the omission, or at least the complete change of that one thing. But overall, it was still a good experience. I can’t wait to come back to the series for the next installments and/or see what else the author could come up with. The next work is seemingly a nautical fantasy duology with witches, dark magic and pirates… and that sounds amazing!
I have received this book in exchange for an honest review, thank you Titan Books and NetGalley for the opportunity.
I have my own blog now, so please do pay it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
──────────────────
I only became an ARC reader in January 2021. And my first read ARC ever was Hall of Smoke, which was one incredible experience. Learning that there is more to the story now, and a further expansion to come later was brilliant. In turn, I stalked the accounts of both the author and the publisher till Temple of No God became available. To which, I was lucky to get an approval for the ARC.
The plot this time deals with another big choice that will affect their lives moving forward. Like last time though, there is still a discussion of the fascinating themes of worship, faith and devotion. Hessa is now tasked of settling an internal strife in Arpa, while trying to get the best possible outcome for her people. Technically, this sounds doable, but considering the many outsider elements she has to deal with, mortals and higher beings, makes it a much difficult choice.
Once again, I’m taken back to this inspired Norse world, while seeing a much older Hessa navigate it. The main difference to see here, is that it’s no longer a solo journey. She has allies, people to take care of, friends, one very weird dog and many other duties. To me, this was fantastic to read about, because I really enjoy seeing the culture H. M. Long created here.
The rituals (so to speak) before battle, how different countries perceive their warriors, new sayings based on earlier events… While I happen to be a fan of info dumps, I do appreciate this more subtle approach as well. The brutality of the battles, is another aspect I really enjoy. Any depiction anywhere of a Norsemen is bloody, gory and vicious, to name a few elements and I got that part of it here.
The thing that makes it better is the connection to the in-verse Gods. Or rather, the magic they bring with them. It’s always more interesting when it’s not a single type of magic, in my humble opinion, and there are quite a few to see in this series. Never before seen ones in this book as well. Temple of No God details a different side to the conflict this time along though, but overall, that aspect of it remains consistent.
Which reminds me, that I seem to have a weird connection with this series and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. I was playing the game while reading the first book, and I revisited it again while reading this book to play the newly released crossover between it and an earlier game in the franchise. Considering that they both handle Norsemen in a way, I could easily see the similarities and that was fun in another way entirely.
Alongside all of this however, the one thing that really made it a better read was Hessa herself. She’s incredibly logical as a main character, isn’t primarily governed by her emotional side and is now much more powerful than she used to be. This shift in her personality from the average naïve war-priestess I started out with to the badass priestess she is now, was simply brilliant.
With her, there are more characters to meet, old and new. I wouldn’t say that they were all memorable name wise, as I did go back to the glossary several times to read back on who was who. For those not in the immediate vicinity or I haven’t seen past the first few chapters mind you. To better clarify on this point, the events are etched in my mind, it’s just the people responsible who got jumbled up sometimes.
But overall, I really enjoyed being around them, especially Uspa and Thray.
When taking all of this in, this book has many many elements that I personally enjoyed reading about. However, I still couldn’t get over how much the “alliance she forged” between the northern tribes actually ruins this book for me. She knows it’s not a good thing, dear friends know it’s not a good thing, the other party knows it’s not a good thing.
Yet, it doesn’t stop.
It’s continuously a point of discussion for, in my humble opinion, no good reason. Nothing good comes out of it. Hessa’s unbelievably logical approach to it, is always brushed to the side in the end for some reason I have failed to see. Before it goes back to this continuous cycle of gaslighting that I loathed with every fiber of my being. Adding “tragic backstories or situations” doesn’t justify anything, not in this fictional world and not in the real one either.
Especially if, the other party is an edgy pathetic idiot with zero redeeming qualities for 95% of the narrative. There are more than enough conflicts in the series. This one, feels cheap in comparison and was not needed whatsoever.
Ultimately, I enjoyed myself quite a bit and many elements in the book. I did wish for the omission, or at least the complete change of that one thing. But overall, it was still a good experience. I can’t wait to come back to the series for the next installments and/or see what else the author could come up with. The next work is seemingly a nautical fantasy duology with witches, dark magic and pirates… and that sounds amazing!
January 31, 2022
We return to a world of ancient gods and fierce warriors, of towering snow-cloaked mountains and winding sun-kissed deltas, of false deities and power-hungry priests and ambitious immortals in Temple of No God.
Thank you to Titan Books (and Ellie) for sending me an arc of this book in return for an honest review!
I was beyond excited to get my hands on this sequel to Hall of Smoke, a viking inspired adult fantasy I thoroughly enjoyed reading, almost exactly a year ago as it happens.
Hessa’s story picks up a few years after the events of Hall of Smoke.
Our warrior priestess has forged peace between the warring northern tribes but when an offer arrives on her doorstep from the crumbling Arpa Empire, she can't refuse.
And so begins a journey into new and dangerous lands.
A meandering and winding plot is something I've come to expect from Long’s writing but this is by no means a negative.
As with HoS, the story unfurls strand by strand, painting a world in shades of brutal and beautiful at the same time.
The southern lands and magics were gorgeously rendered and a delightfully stark contrast to Hessa’s home in the forested frozen north.
We meet new character’s on this journey, Uspa being my absolute favorite, read it and you’ll know why.
The emotional turmoil and difficult decisions Hessa had to deal with as she navigated this foreign and often barbaric land, left me heartstore more than once but lent so much growth to this already wonderfully complex heroine.
I do wish we’d seen more of Hessa’s close circle of Eangen and Algatt priests and priestesses but I hold out hope they may be expanded on in the third companion book!
Foreshadowing is something Long writes flawlessly, sliding in tiny moments and phrases that, if you pay proper attention, all fit together perfectly when the reveal moments arrive.
And my goddess, there were some dramatic twists and reveals!
As with HoS the action sequences were impactful and brilliantly written and a certain finale fight made my gamer heart very happy.
Overall this was an excellent sequel, full of intrigue and treachery, blood and blades and did I mention a very cute doggo who I would kill to protect?
Thank you to Titan Books (and Ellie) for sending me an arc of this book in return for an honest review!
I was beyond excited to get my hands on this sequel to Hall of Smoke, a viking inspired adult fantasy I thoroughly enjoyed reading, almost exactly a year ago as it happens.
Hessa’s story picks up a few years after the events of Hall of Smoke.
Our warrior priestess has forged peace between the warring northern tribes but when an offer arrives on her doorstep from the crumbling Arpa Empire, she can't refuse.
And so begins a journey into new and dangerous lands.
A meandering and winding plot is something I've come to expect from Long’s writing but this is by no means a negative.
As with HoS, the story unfurls strand by strand, painting a world in shades of brutal and beautiful at the same time.
The southern lands and magics were gorgeously rendered and a delightfully stark contrast to Hessa’s home in the forested frozen north.
We meet new character’s on this journey, Uspa being my absolute favorite, read it and you’ll know why.
The emotional turmoil and difficult decisions Hessa had to deal with as she navigated this foreign and often barbaric land, left me heartstore more than once but lent so much growth to this already wonderfully complex heroine.
I do wish we’d seen more of Hessa’s close circle of Eangen and Algatt priests and priestesses but I hold out hope they may be expanded on in the third companion book!
Foreshadowing is something Long writes flawlessly, sliding in tiny moments and phrases that, if you pay proper attention, all fit together perfectly when the reveal moments arrive.
And my goddess, there were some dramatic twists and reveals!
As with HoS the action sequences were impactful and brilliantly written and a certain finale fight made my gamer heart very happy.
Overall this was an excellent sequel, full of intrigue and treachery, blood and blades and did I mention a very cute doggo who I would kill to protect?
January 29, 2022
Temple of No God by H.M. Long
Length: 432 Pages
Genres: Fantasy
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
A special thanks to Netgalley and Titan Books for an ARC of this book!
Trigger Warnings for Violence, Blood and Gore
Hall of Smoke, the first book in this series by H.M. Long, was one of my favorites of 2021, so I was thrilled when I got the chance to receive an ARC of the second book via Netgalley! While I did love catching up with Hessa, Nisien, and Estavius, I wasn't as enthralled by this sequel as I was hoping.
Hessa is now thirty, a High Priestess of the resurrected God Thyvinder, and married to a High Priest of an enemy tribe in the hopes of bringing their people together. She is older, wiser, and even more deadly than before. After the Upheaval, Rome-inspired Arpa is in turmoil; not only do they have no Emperor, their Gods are dead, leaving their souls with no one to shepherd them to the afterlife. Castor, a nefarious legionary from the first book, has made a reappearance and been tasked by pretender to the Arpa throne, Bresius, to find Hessa and ask her to join their cause. Being a High Priestess, she is one of the only people who can enter the Penumbra, this world's Mount Olympus for the Arpa Gods, and touch the Blood of Eiohe, which gives the Emperor his power and extraordinarily long life.
She agrees, and is once again thrown into the center of dangerous divine machinations, some that may change the very course of the world she fought so hard to make better.
I expected to love this one as much as the last, and while much of the ride was enjoyable, there were also parts that seemed monotonous -- the majority of the book involves travelling across Arpa and getting into several fights with the mysterious Laru, priests of a new and dangerous God working against Hessa and company. The worldbuilding is dense and so well done and is probably one of the most original and fun fantasy worlds I've encountered, and definitely stands out amongst all the legions of fantasies inspired by Medieval Europe. Honestly, I was expecting more of the previous characters, like Sixnit and her two children, Vistic and Thray, who I felt had the most potential for new stories, to be involved, and was a little disappointed they only had a scene or two. I'm excited to see where Hessa goes next, but Hall of Smoke still stands as the best so far in this series. Pick up Temple of No God if you're like me and want more of this breathtaking world and mythology.
For more reviews visit my blog!
Length: 432 Pages
Genres: Fantasy
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
A special thanks to Netgalley and Titan Books for an ARC of this book!
Trigger Warnings for Violence, Blood and Gore
Hall of Smoke, the first book in this series by H.M. Long, was one of my favorites of 2021, so I was thrilled when I got the chance to receive an ARC of the second book via Netgalley! While I did love catching up with Hessa, Nisien, and Estavius, I wasn't as enthralled by this sequel as I was hoping.
Hessa is now thirty, a High Priestess of the resurrected God Thyvinder, and married to a High Priest of an enemy tribe in the hopes of bringing their people together. She is older, wiser, and even more deadly than before. After the Upheaval, Rome-inspired Arpa is in turmoil; not only do they have no Emperor, their Gods are dead, leaving their souls with no one to shepherd them to the afterlife. Castor, a nefarious legionary from the first book, has made a reappearance and been tasked by pretender to the Arpa throne, Bresius, to find Hessa and ask her to join their cause. Being a High Priestess, she is one of the only people who can enter the Penumbra, this world's Mount Olympus for the Arpa Gods, and touch the Blood of Eiohe, which gives the Emperor his power and extraordinarily long life.
She agrees, and is once again thrown into the center of dangerous divine machinations, some that may change the very course of the world she fought so hard to make better.
I expected to love this one as much as the last, and while much of the ride was enjoyable, there were also parts that seemed monotonous -- the majority of the book involves travelling across Arpa and getting into several fights with the mysterious Laru, priests of a new and dangerous God working against Hessa and company. The worldbuilding is dense and so well done and is probably one of the most original and fun fantasy worlds I've encountered, and definitely stands out amongst all the legions of fantasies inspired by Medieval Europe. Honestly, I was expecting more of the previous characters, like Sixnit and her two children, Vistic and Thray, who I felt had the most potential for new stories, to be involved, and was a little disappointed they only had a scene or two. I'm excited to see where Hessa goes next, but Hall of Smoke still stands as the best so far in this series. Pick up Temple of No God if you're like me and want more of this breathtaking world and mythology.
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January 24, 2022
This book was very different from the first one but still felt the same in several ways. Hessa is very much the badass that has grown into her power. She isn’t as naive as the first book which I appreciate. The pace of the book is slow which is similar to the first one mostly because of the way the story unfolds. I think it will do well as an audiobook for this reason. My only major complaint is that the story takes place 10 years in the future from the last book and that most of Hessa and Imnir’s relationship happened off page. I had a terrible time connecting or caring about them together. I personally felt either the book needed the romance better written into it or left out entirely.
Thanks Netgalley for this ARC!
Thanks Netgalley for this ARC!
February 27, 2023
Picking up roughly a decade after the events in Book 1, there's a new threat for Hessa to face down in order to salvage the crumbling empire. A threat that will force unlikely alliances if she hopes to unite the kingdom' s and bring peace to the land once again.
One of my favorite aspects was the continued character arc for Hessa as she plays reluctant hero while also trying to accept what she thinks she wants - that being the ability to somewhat settle down and carve out the fulfilling life she sees as her path. While we get a bit more depth with the secondary characters in this book, vs what we saw in book one, the focus here is still very clearly on Hessa and her journey.
Long's approach to the world building is a delight, keeping the feel of EPIC fantasy while never getting bogged down in the typical info-dumps of information we see so often. As a result the world feels at once lived in AND shrouded in mystery. We get the history of just those involved in this story, not of the entire world, which keeps the pacing fast - a unique trait in an epic fantasy style book.
As I said in my review for Hall of Smoke, beware of a bit of plot armor for Hessa - nothing drastic but it is there. I really picked up on the feel of the video games that inspired the author in part, not only due to the feel of the world and characters, but in the way that the light plot armor felt a bit like characters in a game leveling up or discovering that special artifact that gives a power boost just when it's needed most. It didn't dampen my enjoyment of the story at all, but I can understand how for some it might, so something to be aware of if that sort of thing bothers you.
In the end I felt so satisfied with the reading experience from the first 2 books and it totally rekindled my love of the fantasy genre in a way that I didn't even realize was kind of just simmering on the back burner until I read this series.
One of my favorite aspects was the continued character arc for Hessa as she plays reluctant hero while also trying to accept what she thinks she wants - that being the ability to somewhat settle down and carve out the fulfilling life she sees as her path. While we get a bit more depth with the secondary characters in this book, vs what we saw in book one, the focus here is still very clearly on Hessa and her journey.
Long's approach to the world building is a delight, keeping the feel of EPIC fantasy while never getting bogged down in the typical info-dumps of information we see so often. As a result the world feels at once lived in AND shrouded in mystery. We get the history of just those involved in this story, not of the entire world, which keeps the pacing fast - a unique trait in an epic fantasy style book.
As I said in my review for Hall of Smoke, beware of a bit of plot armor for Hessa - nothing drastic but it is there. I really picked up on the feel of the video games that inspired the author in part, not only due to the feel of the world and characters, but in the way that the light plot armor felt a bit like characters in a game leveling up or discovering that special artifact that gives a power boost just when it's needed most. It didn't dampen my enjoyment of the story at all, but I can understand how for some it might, so something to be aware of if that sort of thing bothers you.
In the end I felt so satisfied with the reading experience from the first 2 books and it totally rekindled my love of the fantasy genre in a way that I didn't even realize was kind of just simmering on the back burner until I read this series.
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