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The Fifth Yanai #1
Metanoia
The Fifth Yanai is a story of the value of free will, the triumph of love, and the fight to live life on one's own terms. Metanoia is the first installment.
In a world ravaged by famine, kindhearted Cultist Ohkai lives in the wilderness serving his Gods, when he is sent from his Sect on a Calling of divine origin. He travels into the heart of a society that opposes the very existence of his kind. But what he expected to be a simple test of his devotion will bring him face to face with his greatest rival - a Temple assassin. When the life of a friend is in danger, Ohkai must risk not only discovery, but his life, to save his friend and fulfill his Calling.
Velyr is a ruthless Temple assassin trained for one thing - to fulfill the will of the Gods. Sent to eliminate a target in the township of Obeaon, he encounters an unexpected obstacle in the form of a Cultist who claims to serve his same Gods - blasphemy on the lips of his enemy. When he nearly loses his life only to be saved by the embodiment of what he hates most, Velyr begins to question everything he's been taught to believe.
An unlikely connection forms between cultist and assassin, and little do they know their meeting was fated, meant to be something more than they - or even their all-knowing Gods - could have ever foreseen.
In a world ravaged by famine, kindhearted Cultist Ohkai lives in the wilderness serving his Gods, when he is sent from his Sect on a Calling of divine origin. He travels into the heart of a society that opposes the very existence of his kind. But what he expected to be a simple test of his devotion will bring him face to face with his greatest rival - a Temple assassin. When the life of a friend is in danger, Ohkai must risk not only discovery, but his life, to save his friend and fulfill his Calling.
Velyr is a ruthless Temple assassin trained for one thing - to fulfill the will of the Gods. Sent to eliminate a target in the township of Obeaon, he encounters an unexpected obstacle in the form of a Cultist who claims to serve his same Gods - blasphemy on the lips of his enemy. When he nearly loses his life only to be saved by the embodiment of what he hates most, Velyr begins to question everything he's been taught to believe.
An unlikely connection forms between cultist and assassin, and little do they know their meeting was fated, meant to be something more than they - or even their all-knowing Gods - could have ever foreseen.
452 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2021
8 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Juniper Lake Fitzgerald
7 books34 followersAuthor of LGBTQ+ Dark Fantasy & Gothic tales. Illustrative artist specializing in the striking, moody, and atmospheric. Haunting the halls in the dead of night.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 29, 2023
(Update 2023: METANOIA the SECOND EDITION is now in print and shall be the only available edition going forth. Exceptions apply to the first edition audiobook. For the most accurate, up to date, and edited version of METANOIA, please see the print/ebook second edition.)
Well, here I am, the author, reviewing my own book on Goodreads.
There are a lot of things I could say about this debut, this story, the journey it and I have been on, and all the wonderful people I've met as a result.
But to put it simply - I see METANOIA as a beginning.
I realize now more than ever, that this series will not only be the tale of my beloved characters on their road to truth, but the journal of my growth as a writer.
I hope you'll continue to join me.
Well, here I am, the author, reviewing my own book on Goodreads.
There are a lot of things I could say about this debut, this story, the journey it and I have been on, and all the wonderful people I've met as a result.
But to put it simply - I see METANOIA as a beginning.
I realize now more than ever, that this series will not only be the tale of my beloved characters on their road to truth, but the journal of my growth as a writer.
I hope you'll continue to join me.
May 1, 2022
Metanoia is a book I would 100% recommend to someone as an introduction to dark fantasy and feel confident that they would enjoy it.
This book's world is bleak and the themes are very dark. These characters live under an unfair rule and extremely harsh conditions. They go through it over and over, but there's also a constant sense of wonder and joy throughout this story that just soothes any hopelessness threatening to creep in while reading. Some things do feel very hopeless, especially in light of revelations I won't spoil here, but there's always the sense that the things these characters cherish, the bonds they share, their love and their joy is worth saving, is worth fighting for. That simple pleasures shared with a small group of dear friends can carry someone through so much and make even a harsh existence feel worthwhile.
In the end I'm left with a deep feeling of fondness for this story and these characters as well as immeasurable dread for what lies ahead in the sequel. True unspeakable dread. And I cannot wait to find out what happens for better or worse.
This book's world is bleak and the themes are very dark. These characters live under an unfair rule and extremely harsh conditions. They go through it over and over, but there's also a constant sense of wonder and joy throughout this story that just soothes any hopelessness threatening to creep in while reading. Some things do feel very hopeless, especially in light of revelations I won't spoil here, but there's always the sense that the things these characters cherish, the bonds they share, their love and their joy is worth saving, is worth fighting for. That simple pleasures shared with a small group of dear friends can carry someone through so much and make even a harsh existence feel worthwhile.
In the end I'm left with a deep feeling of fondness for this story and these characters as well as immeasurable dread for what lies ahead in the sequel. True unspeakable dread. And I cannot wait to find out what happens for better or worse.
October 20, 2021
Dark fantasy is normally not the first genre I gravitate toward, but I enjoyed this book a lot! Ohkai and Velyr are both alluring characters. The design of the world building is fantastic and it's evident Fitzgerald put a huge amount of thought into the lore of this world. Devotees and newcomers to the genre will want to add this to their TBR!
September 11, 2022
Hey guys, it’s time for another review from team Weatherdrifter. This book was originally in Kristen’s pile but she’s currently in the midst of a career change as well as selling a house while also moving out of state. I’ve taken this book from her pile to give her a bit of relief and here’s what I thought!
So I picked this one because it’s quite a chonk, and the synopsis made it sound complicated and dense — I was not deceived. This is a more intricate book with many different POVs and moving pieces to the plot. Something this ambitious easily could have flopped, but I think it stayed on it’s feet.
The book focuses on two sects/religions that do not play nicely with each one another. There’s a “main religion” referenced as the Temple, and that’s the religion that most folks believe. Then there’s an off set “cult”, and those people experience a varied level of acceptance in society, from warily accepted, to socially shunned, to hunted down and killed. You never really know what you’re going to get which makes being identified as a Cult/Sect member dangerous.
We get a POV both from the within the ‘Cult’ aka the Sect, and a foil POV, an assassin from the Temple who’s mission is to kill members of the Cult. There are other side POVs but these two people are the crux of the plot/theme which only becomes more obvious as the story progresses.
Ohkai is a ‘cultist’ and he gets visited by his gods all the time, much more than most people. When the gods pay visit to their disciples it’s referred to as a “calling”, and they are generally given tasks to complete, or messages, or something like that. Some disciples only get a few callings a year, while Ohkai is basically harassed. Ohkai is devout, he always corrects people for cursing the gods or speaking blasphemy — it’s hard not to be pious when the gods make you levitate, lol. Of his companions he’ s the more serious one while Loba is more care free. Loba is a side POV and I never really totally invested in his story since I felt like we didn’t get a ton of page time with him. He was fine enough, he’s meant to be the more jokester of the pair and their relationship grows and develops and changes all the way through to the end. The two of them care a lot about each other and that’s pretty clear from the start.
Then we have Velyr, he’s from the Temple and he’s sent to go kill random cultists that the Temple wants dead for one reason or another. He started training as a young kid. Growing up without parents, he was formed into the assassin he is today by the Temple and he’s never really given his allegiance much thought. There’s been nothing to challenge it so far. He’s never given an explanation to his instructions, just do this and shut the fuck up. Velyr is extremely sheltered, almost too much so to be believable sometimes. The Temple frowns on fraternization but he should at least know what it is his roommates are doing with the women they pick up at the taverns. His inner thoughts seem confused as to what they could be doing to make that much noise, and even if you don’t partake surely at some point you’ve got to figure it out? He’s just very naïve and also super dangerous, it’s a weird mix. He’s probably got the most dynamic character arc, he changes quite a bit from the start to the end. His growth and change was almost a little too fast for me. His whole world and perspective changes. I mostly bought it, it felt just a touch rushed. The experiences he went through were extreme and those can be formative, but he did a 180 when maybe a 90 would make more sense, and then later on do the full about-face, if that makes any sense at all.
The narrative prose was enjoyable, and for the most part I enjoyed the dialogue. There were a few times were it stood out to me as a bit unnatural and sounded a bit more like what you’d write down rather than what you’d speak, if that makes sense. But overall I felt it flowed pretty naturally. There’s a fair bit of cursing in this, and by the end there’s a bit o’ violence as well, so I wouldn’t recommend this for people looking for a lighter read.
The world building worked well for me when it was adequately explained. The nuances and motivations between the two factions of religions made sense and was clearly laid out. I felt like they both were built up and had depth to them — even if the Temple strayed into the excessively evil at points. The temple were brutal and callous even to their own kind, discarding the bodies of temple trainees as if they were worth nothing. I did like how the magic worked, there are limits and it’s possible to drop dead on the spot by using up all of your stores at once. Magic was prevalent throughout the story, it showed up in the first chapter and had a moderate presence throughout. I wouldn’t call it overwhelming for people who don’t like to be smothered with it. There were neat aspects like telepathy and a lot of mystery regarding the gods and what their intentions are for their disciples.
All that said, I felt there was a bit of an island effect. I knew a lot about certain topics and almost nothing about other really important aspects of the world. I know almost nothing outside of the cities this took place in as far other kingdoms, other cities, what the world looks like, or even within the cities this took place how they are governed, who governs them, and the economy is fairly vague, just things like that. I may have just missed things, but there are words like “ozone” used to describe smells when I’m not sure how this society would know about that — but who knows, they might. There was an underlying scientific attitude throughout the book, for instance, Ohkai took interest in some natural history books explaining the taxonomy of amphibians, or something like that. Electricity and static discharge were referenced as well, but it’s unclear to me how much they know and how they came to know it, like, just how far their technology has brought them and how far they take the scientific method. There are vague references to lost plants and animals species that people hope will one day come back. There are references to medicinal plants that won’t sprout — so it’s vaguely dystopian but I didn’t even learn that until like 70% through and I don’t recall an explanation as to why everything is changing.
Overall, I thought this was an impressive debut and I would recommend it to people looking for complex relationships and a plot that gets more epic with scope as it goes along. The ending is definitely a cliff hanger, so this is not a single serve book. In another year this could have been semifinalist material in the high 7’s, but this year my semifinalists hit the 8’s and so this one is a cut despite enjoying my time with it. If this review sounds good to you I encourage you to pick it up
Ratings:
Plot: 12/15
Characters: 11/15
World Building: 11/15
Writing: 12/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 11/15
Enjoyment: 7/10
Final Score: 75/100
So I picked this one because it’s quite a chonk, and the synopsis made it sound complicated and dense — I was not deceived. This is a more intricate book with many different POVs and moving pieces to the plot. Something this ambitious easily could have flopped, but I think it stayed on it’s feet.
The book focuses on two sects/religions that do not play nicely with each one another. There’s a “main religion” referenced as the Temple, and that’s the religion that most folks believe. Then there’s an off set “cult”, and those people experience a varied level of acceptance in society, from warily accepted, to socially shunned, to hunted down and killed. You never really know what you’re going to get which makes being identified as a Cult/Sect member dangerous.
We get a POV both from the within the ‘Cult’ aka the Sect, and a foil POV, an assassin from the Temple who’s mission is to kill members of the Cult. There are other side POVs but these two people are the crux of the plot/theme which only becomes more obvious as the story progresses.
Ohkai is a ‘cultist’ and he gets visited by his gods all the time, much more than most people. When the gods pay visit to their disciples it’s referred to as a “calling”, and they are generally given tasks to complete, or messages, or something like that. Some disciples only get a few callings a year, while Ohkai is basically harassed. Ohkai is devout, he always corrects people for cursing the gods or speaking blasphemy — it’s hard not to be pious when the gods make you levitate, lol. Of his companions he’ s the more serious one while Loba is more care free. Loba is a side POV and I never really totally invested in his story since I felt like we didn’t get a ton of page time with him. He was fine enough, he’s meant to be the more jokester of the pair and their relationship grows and develops and changes all the way through to the end. The two of them care a lot about each other and that’s pretty clear from the start.
Then we have Velyr, he’s from the Temple and he’s sent to go kill random cultists that the Temple wants dead for one reason or another. He started training as a young kid. Growing up without parents, he was formed into the assassin he is today by the Temple and he’s never really given his allegiance much thought. There’s been nothing to challenge it so far. He’s never given an explanation to his instructions, just do this and shut the fuck up. Velyr is extremely sheltered, almost too much so to be believable sometimes. The Temple frowns on fraternization but he should at least know what it is his roommates are doing with the women they pick up at the taverns. His inner thoughts seem confused as to what they could be doing to make that much noise, and even if you don’t partake surely at some point you’ve got to figure it out? He’s just very naïve and also super dangerous, it’s a weird mix. He’s probably got the most dynamic character arc, he changes quite a bit from the start to the end. His growth and change was almost a little too fast for me. His whole world and perspective changes. I mostly bought it, it felt just a touch rushed. The experiences he went through were extreme and those can be formative, but he did a 180 when maybe a 90 would make more sense, and then later on do the full about-face, if that makes any sense at all.
The narrative prose was enjoyable, and for the most part I enjoyed the dialogue. There were a few times were it stood out to me as a bit unnatural and sounded a bit more like what you’d write down rather than what you’d speak, if that makes sense. But overall I felt it flowed pretty naturally. There’s a fair bit of cursing in this, and by the end there’s a bit o’ violence as well, so I wouldn’t recommend this for people looking for a lighter read.
The world building worked well for me when it was adequately explained. The nuances and motivations between the two factions of religions made sense and was clearly laid out. I felt like they both were built up and had depth to them — even if the Temple strayed into the excessively evil at points. The temple were brutal and callous even to their own kind, discarding the bodies of temple trainees as if they were worth nothing. I did like how the magic worked, there are limits and it’s possible to drop dead on the spot by using up all of your stores at once. Magic was prevalent throughout the story, it showed up in the first chapter and had a moderate presence throughout. I wouldn’t call it overwhelming for people who don’t like to be smothered with it. There were neat aspects like telepathy and a lot of mystery regarding the gods and what their intentions are for their disciples.
All that said, I felt there was a bit of an island effect. I knew a lot about certain topics and almost nothing about other really important aspects of the world. I know almost nothing outside of the cities this took place in as far other kingdoms, other cities, what the world looks like, or even within the cities this took place how they are governed, who governs them, and the economy is fairly vague, just things like that. I may have just missed things, but there are words like “ozone” used to describe smells when I’m not sure how this society would know about that — but who knows, they might. There was an underlying scientific attitude throughout the book, for instance, Ohkai took interest in some natural history books explaining the taxonomy of amphibians, or something like that. Electricity and static discharge were referenced as well, but it’s unclear to me how much they know and how they came to know it, like, just how far their technology has brought them and how far they take the scientific method. There are vague references to lost plants and animals species that people hope will one day come back. There are references to medicinal plants that won’t sprout — so it’s vaguely dystopian but I didn’t even learn that until like 70% through and I don’t recall an explanation as to why everything is changing.
Overall, I thought this was an impressive debut and I would recommend it to people looking for complex relationships and a plot that gets more epic with scope as it goes along. The ending is definitely a cliff hanger, so this is not a single serve book. In another year this could have been semifinalist material in the high 7’s, but this year my semifinalists hit the 8’s and so this one is a cut despite enjoying my time with it. If this review sounds good to you I encourage you to pick it up
Ratings:
Plot: 12/15
Characters: 11/15
World Building: 11/15
Writing: 12/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 11/15
Enjoyment: 7/10
Final Score: 75/100
February 20, 2025
Pure dark fantasy filled with a wide cast of lovable characters, seamless world-building, enough mysteries to keep you on your toes, and angst to make your heart break. This book is the foundation for later, darker books and it does so perfectly. I will, however, be removing Velyr from Juniper's custody so that she cannot hurt my baby anymore.
September 26, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed Metanoia. The world and the lore were intriguing, the characters were delightful and unique in their own way and Fitzgerald's attention to detail is simply incredible. We have the start of what is sure to be an exciting dark fantasy unlike any other right here and I am eagerly awaiting the second book.
August 24, 2021
METANOIA is a rich, atmospheric, utterly delightful piece of work. With characters who leap off the page, a twisty plot of intrigue, and all the best tropes bundled into one big found family, METANOIA is a striking start to what will surely be an unforgettable series. I'm completely obsessed.
January 16, 2022
Weeks later and I can still hardly find the words to express my love of this book. The characters, the ideas that are explored... not to mention the lovely illustrations!! Ummm read if you love soft boys, hard boys becoming soft boys, loyal-to-the-death friends (who are also mutually pining for each other while being utterly oblivious), and people being forced to question their fundamental beliefs about their gods and themselves and their place in the world. I have basically not stopped thinking about this book since I read it and cannot recommend it highly enough. (Also special shoutout to my favorite tall sweet protective boy LOBA <3 )
February 28, 2022
Fitzgerald creates a world that is so oppressive that sometimes the only light comes from the hope that lives within the characters themselves. The gods seem callous and cruel, the masters are made in their image, and everyone suffers for their fealty and their faith, no matter how well-intentioned.
And in the middle of all of this is Ohkai who appears to be chosen for some special purpose, but the maddening mystery of it is tangled in his traumatic past, the rather interesting company he comes to keep, and his connection to these strange deities who demand so much suffering.
Th relationship between Ohkai and his bosom chum Loba is truly delightful; the two could not be more diametrically opposite and complementary to one another, and their chemistry is both tension and relief throughout this brooding tale.
Not a fan of the cliffhanger ending (that's a personal thing), but feel rest-assured questions will begin to be answered in the forthcoming sequel. In the meantime, this is a politically complex and well-populated world that you’ll want to take your time exploring.
Have to also say something about assassin Velyr, however. Can’t reveal much because of spoilers, but: warning: if this grumpy killer doesn’t absolutely steal your heart a little, you might be already dead. <3
And in the middle of all of this is Ohkai who appears to be chosen for some special purpose, but the maddening mystery of it is tangled in his traumatic past, the rather interesting company he comes to keep, and his connection to these strange deities who demand so much suffering.
Th relationship between Ohkai and his bosom chum Loba is truly delightful; the two could not be more diametrically opposite and complementary to one another, and their chemistry is both tension and relief throughout this brooding tale.
Not a fan of the cliffhanger ending (that's a personal thing), but feel rest-assured questions will begin to be answered in the forthcoming sequel. In the meantime, this is a politically complex and well-populated world that you’ll want to take your time exploring.
Have to also say something about assassin Velyr, however. Can’t reveal much because of spoilers, but: warning: if this grumpy killer doesn’t absolutely steal your heart a little, you might be already dead. <3
February 27, 2023
4,5 rounding to 5 just for Loba.
Metanoia is hard to describe, it’s both ruthless and surprisingly tender at time. The first half is fast paced and action packed while the second half take time to let you know the characters.
In this apocalyptic world it was somehow reassuring to see how some people would remain good. Loba, Mimon and Ohkai are super sweet and I honestly need to bubble wrap all of them. Velyr is a more nuanced case, he start as an antagonist but I ended caring a lot for his touch starved ass 😭
I’m super intrigued by the ending and I want answers, so I might pick up book 2 sooner than later.
I loved it and I can’t wait for Loba to fight gods
Metanoia is hard to describe, it’s both ruthless and surprisingly tender at time. The first half is fast paced and action packed while the second half take time to let you know the characters.
In this apocalyptic world it was somehow reassuring to see how some people would remain good. Loba, Mimon and Ohkai are super sweet and I honestly need to bubble wrap all of them. Velyr is a more nuanced case, he start as an antagonist but I ended caring a lot for his touch starved ass 😭
I’m super intrigued by the ending and I want answers, so I might pick up book 2 sooner than later.
I loved it and I can’t wait for Loba to fight gods
April 6, 2023
So, the first 1/3rd I was really intrigued by, but a lot of it fell apart for me as the book continued. Mimon was almost unreadable, the pacing was very off, and the plot was weak if at all there. I still like the world building and the fantasy world here is very interesting and fleshed out, but I just didn't have fun reading it and was super disappointed
February 8, 2022
METANOIA is an intriguing dark fantasy with messy, loveable characters that became hard for me to put down. The entire cast really does serve as a bright light in a bleak, well-crafted environment that refuses to pull any punches. I'm looking forward to the next installment and whatever new twists and turns it brings!
(I've also noticed a lot of love for Velyr in the reviews, so I want to declare that I've adopted Ohkai as my new cinnamon roll son. <3)
(I've also noticed a lot of love for Velyr in the reviews, so I want to declare that I've adopted Ohkai as my new cinnamon roll son. <3)
June 21, 2022
Do you ever have one of those books where you wanna shirk all responsibilities so you can read it as much as possible? That was me with Metanoia. Unfortunately, said responsibilities still took priority, and as such I took longer to finish than I’d like. But that in turn left me all the more eager to wind down for the night and read.
Dark fantasy is one of my favorite genres from an aesthetic point, but I usually find myself disappointed by many series I invest in. Too often does it feel like dark fantasy needs to remind you how dark it is with relentless torment every few pages. It becomes crushingly oppressive and miserable to read—that’s not for me. But this isn’t so with Metanoia; it finds that balance between showing you how this world and its people suffer while also giving you reprieve in the form of intrigue or levity.
The strongest part of any story for me is its characters. I can follow a bad plot if I love the characters, but not so much the other way around. That’s not to say Metanoia has a bad story—far from it. But the characters were first and foremost what kept me coming back every night. Ohkai is a beloved bean and a gleam of hope that you wanna protect from the get-go. Loba is an honest, stalwart friend and a little stinker in the most flattering sense of the word. Velyr, while rough at first, has a chapter early on that made me go, “Oh, f**k,” because I knew he’d become a favorite from that point on. Mimon, introduced much later, is an absolute delight and grew on me immediately. And Topal, oh Topal, my heart is especially soft for characters near/at middle age who are both stern yet kind.
I don’t wanna say too much about the plot outside of the synopsis readily available online, as I believe it best to learn as you read. But if I can say anything, it’s that Juniper has created a fascinating, lore-rich world that keeps me invested and hopeful for a better outcome for it and its people. Some might dock a point for the beginning half feeling a tad slow, but that means little to me. If it’s slow but I’m enjoying it, then that’s good. And I absolutely enjoyed the time taken to flesh our the characters and the world. It was proper, necessary build up.
Not often do I find a book that makes me upset that I have to go to bed and be responsible, wishing that I could stay up all night reading. Nor do I find one that so often makes me smile, laugh out loud, or even near the end, tear up. I am blessed that I started reading this after the second book came out, because now I can read it as soon as I’m ready. But I’m also cursed because I know I’ll want the third book immediately after, and for that I’ll have to wait!
A side note; love that Juniper included content warnings at the beginning of the book. There are a couple of themes I find often in dark fantasy that take me from interested to highly wary in a heartbeat, even sometimes losing all interest depending on how those themes are depicted. None of those were present in this book, but seeing that displayed right there in the beginning was a relief and highly appreciated.
Dark fantasy is one of my favorite genres from an aesthetic point, but I usually find myself disappointed by many series I invest in. Too often does it feel like dark fantasy needs to remind you how dark it is with relentless torment every few pages. It becomes crushingly oppressive and miserable to read—that’s not for me. But this isn’t so with Metanoia; it finds that balance between showing you how this world and its people suffer while also giving you reprieve in the form of intrigue or levity.
The strongest part of any story for me is its characters. I can follow a bad plot if I love the characters, but not so much the other way around. That’s not to say Metanoia has a bad story—far from it. But the characters were first and foremost what kept me coming back every night. Ohkai is a beloved bean and a gleam of hope that you wanna protect from the get-go. Loba is an honest, stalwart friend and a little stinker in the most flattering sense of the word. Velyr, while rough at first, has a chapter early on that made me go, “Oh, f**k,” because I knew he’d become a favorite from that point on. Mimon, introduced much later, is an absolute delight and grew on me immediately. And Topal, oh Topal, my heart is especially soft for characters near/at middle age who are both stern yet kind.
I don’t wanna say too much about the plot outside of the synopsis readily available online, as I believe it best to learn as you read. But if I can say anything, it’s that Juniper has created a fascinating, lore-rich world that keeps me invested and hopeful for a better outcome for it and its people. Some might dock a point for the beginning half feeling a tad slow, but that means little to me. If it’s slow but I’m enjoying it, then that’s good. And I absolutely enjoyed the time taken to flesh our the characters and the world. It was proper, necessary build up.
Not often do I find a book that makes me upset that I have to go to bed and be responsible, wishing that I could stay up all night reading. Nor do I find one that so often makes me smile, laugh out loud, or even near the end, tear up. I am blessed that I started reading this after the second book came out, because now I can read it as soon as I’m ready. But I’m also cursed because I know I’ll want the third book immediately after, and for that I’ll have to wait!
A side note; love that Juniper included content warnings at the beginning of the book. There are a couple of themes I find often in dark fantasy that take me from interested to highly wary in a heartbeat, even sometimes losing all interest depending on how those themes are depicted. None of those were present in this book, but seeing that displayed right there in the beginning was a relief and highly appreciated.
April 15, 2023
Metanoia is the first installment in a dark fantasy series about the fight for the future of a famine-ravaged world between two factions of religion. Ohkai is a cultist of the Sect, a rebel fringe that have manifested powers given by their Gods. When he is given a divine Calling, his mission takes him on an intersecting path with Temple assassin Velyr. Velyr was raised to embody the will of their Gods and is sent to kill a prominent radical. When Ohkai and Velyr meet, Velyr’s values are challenged and they discover a connection that make them question everything they have ever believed.
I would not classify this book as a dark fantasy at all. Despite being set in a pretty bleak world, the book is just way too hopeful and cheerful to ever be dark. And I personally appreciated the brightness of the story in spite of its setting. There is also a grumpy+sunshine component between Velyr and Ohkai that I really enjoyed despite there being no romance between them. In fact, the primary “romance” is between Ohkai and his best friend Loba, but it is super vague and only hinted upon that I hesitate to even consider them queer representation. I love found families and there was quite a good one formed here that I would like to see more of.
There is something a bit off about the writing. I thought the transitions between perspectives and characters were often disjointed and jarring as the flow of the narrative was never quite smooth enough. There were a few typos and mistakes that were often enough to be notable. The pacing was fine, but the narrative structure needed some more work so the book can feel less episodic. The prose was also a little too simple for the type of story it is telling, which made it easy to read but lack the lyricism and sophistication that would allow its dark atmosphere and the character’s hopeless situation be more apparent.
Nevertheless, I appreciated what Metanoia was going for and I would definitely check out a sequel.
*I read this as a judge in the first Indie Ink Awards. My rating here may not directly reflect how I scored it there.
I would not classify this book as a dark fantasy at all. Despite being set in a pretty bleak world, the book is just way too hopeful and cheerful to ever be dark. And I personally appreciated the brightness of the story in spite of its setting. There is also a grumpy+sunshine component between Velyr and Ohkai that I really enjoyed despite there being no romance between them. In fact, the primary “romance” is between Ohkai and his best friend Loba, but it is super vague and only hinted upon that I hesitate to even consider them queer representation. I love found families and there was quite a good one formed here that I would like to see more of.
There is something a bit off about the writing. I thought the transitions between perspectives and characters were often disjointed and jarring as the flow of the narrative was never quite smooth enough. There were a few typos and mistakes that were often enough to be notable. The pacing was fine, but the narrative structure needed some more work so the book can feel less episodic. The prose was also a little too simple for the type of story it is telling, which made it easy to read but lack the lyricism and sophistication that would allow its dark atmosphere and the character’s hopeless situation be more apparent.
Nevertheless, I appreciated what Metanoia was going for and I would definitely check out a sequel.
*I read this as a judge in the first Indie Ink Awards. My rating here may not directly reflect how I scored it there.
June 3, 2022
Metanoia is a dark fantasy for sure: the world is bleak, violent, and oppressive. You must conform to the Temple's ways, and questioning their laws can lead to death. But there is a nomadic sect that fights against the Temple's laws, full of people capable of magic and communication with the gods. Branded as heretics, any association with the group could ruin you.
Despite all the darkness in the world, there is a shining light that is the character Ohkai. Somehow, despite it all, he can see the good in people, much to the chagrin of his best friend, Loba.
I really love the characters in this book, and am excited to see more of them. The friendships that grow and develop as the book progresses are probably my favorite parts, and I found myself laughing along with them as they tease each other.
There were some parts that felt long, from probably the 40-60% marks, but it picks up after that, and you find yourself learning quite a bit about the narrative, and asking many questions. Velyr is probably the best part of the book, and I love how he progresses throughout the story. Also, Mimon. 🥺
I found a slew of errors, mostly commas, that pulled me out a bit, but pushing that aside, the narrative and characters shine. Metanoia is worth the read, and I'm wondering how the next part of the story will go.
Despite all the darkness in the world, there is a shining light that is the character Ohkai. Somehow, despite it all, he can see the good in people, much to the chagrin of his best friend, Loba.
I really love the characters in this book, and am excited to see more of them. The friendships that grow and develop as the book progresses are probably my favorite parts, and I found myself laughing along with them as they tease each other.
There were some parts that felt long, from probably the 40-60% marks, but it picks up after that, and you find yourself learning quite a bit about the narrative, and asking many questions. Velyr is probably the best part of the book, and I love how he progresses throughout the story. Also, Mimon. 🥺
I found a slew of errors, mostly commas, that pulled me out a bit, but pushing that aside, the narrative and characters shine. Metanoia is worth the read, and I'm wondering how the next part of the story will go.
July 26, 2024
4,5 rounded up to 5
Metanoia is a rich and dark high fantasy story, setting up an epic world, combining humor into the mix.
While I had some trouble following when POVs or timelines shifted, sometimes overlapping or repeating from a different POV, the characters and world are astounding.
There are two main factions - The Temple, strict and the rulers of the world, having control over most cities, the people depending on them - and The Sect, their antagonist and more of a rebellion, living as nomads.
Both factions claim to be the true servants of the Yanai, the Gods of the world.
The main characters all have their distinct voices and personalities, none of them perfect, which makes them all the more interesting. There's Ohkai, devout to the Yanai, blessed by Them. Loba, his best friend, a big and protective good. And Velyr, a Temple assassin who's never known friendship in his life.
I have to admit, Velyr's my favorite, as I have a soft spot for characters who are just learning to live and enjoy life, having feelings for the first time.
All characters undergo some character development during the journey, doubting what they were taught all their life.
The cliffhanger makes me want to pick up the second book right away to learn more about the Yanai and their true intentions, as well as read more about Ohkai, Loba and Velyr.
Metanoia is a rich and dark high fantasy story, setting up an epic world, combining humor into the mix.
While I had some trouble following when POVs or timelines shifted, sometimes overlapping or repeating from a different POV, the characters and world are astounding.
There are two main factions - The Temple, strict and the rulers of the world, having control over most cities, the people depending on them - and The Sect, their antagonist and more of a rebellion, living as nomads.
Both factions claim to be the true servants of the Yanai, the Gods of the world.
The main characters all have their distinct voices and personalities, none of them perfect, which makes them all the more interesting. There's Ohkai, devout to the Yanai, blessed by Them. Loba, his best friend, a big and protective good. And Velyr, a Temple assassin who's never known friendship in his life.
I have to admit, Velyr's my favorite, as I have a soft spot for characters who are just learning to live and enjoy life, having feelings for the first time.
All characters undergo some character development during the journey, doubting what they were taught all their life.
The cliffhanger makes me want to pick up the second book right away to learn more about the Yanai and their true intentions, as well as read more about Ohkai, Loba and Velyr.
August 15, 2022
I finished this last night and adored it!
It was fascinating to see a story centered around religious conflict where neither side was entirely good or entirely evil(although it does lean pretty heavily toward one side being significantly less evil).
I found Okhai, Loba, and Velyr to be very interesting characters. The different ways they interacted with the world and the people around them was very authentic and their own struggles with their relationships with the Yanai and their religious leaders was such a refreshing change from what I've seen in other fantasy fiction.
I did think the periodic timeline swaps(and Mimon's POV chapters toward the end) were a little disorientating and could have been handled better.
I was a tiny bit annoyed at the major twist, but that's more to do with my personal feelings toward than anything the author did. It was carried off quite well even though it bugged me.
It was fascinating to see a story centered around religious conflict where neither side was entirely good or entirely evil(although it does lean pretty heavily toward one side being significantly less evil).
I found Okhai, Loba, and Velyr to be very interesting characters. The different ways they interacted with the world and the people around them was very authentic and their own struggles with their relationships with the Yanai and their religious leaders was such a refreshing change from what I've seen in other fantasy fiction.
I did think the periodic timeline swaps(and Mimon's POV chapters toward the end) were a little disorientating and could have been handled better.
I was a tiny bit annoyed at the major twist, but that's more to do with my personal feelings toward than anything the author did. It was carried off quite well even though it bugged me.
February 22, 2023
I've been trying to find a review that actually says if there was mm romance in this book.
There is NOT. No steam. No romance. No enemies to lovers. Just unresolved tension and alot of pining.
There is more romance between a lesbian couple.
If you're hoping for a steamy mm romance dark fantasy this ain't it.
That being said as a story just on its own. It's not bad. I like the main MCs. They were well written but Do NOT expect them to hook up. There is no romance in this book.
There were times when I thought something would happen and it just cuts away to another scene in another characters pov.
Overall it's just very meh. Which is a shame because I did like the characters alot.
There is NOT. No steam. No romance. No enemies to lovers. Just unresolved tension and alot of pining.
There is more romance between a lesbian couple.
If you're hoping for a steamy mm romance dark fantasy this ain't it.
That being said as a story just on its own. It's not bad. I like the main MCs. They were well written but Do NOT expect them to hook up. There is no romance in this book.
There were times when I thought something would happen and it just cuts away to another scene in another characters pov.
Overall it's just very meh. Which is a shame because I did like the characters alot.
February 25, 2023
I have another fave. This is so good. It ticks all the boxes for me despite what some would consider this somewhat the run of the mill fantasy fare but there are so many original ideas and elements and such good old plain great writing that it just stands on its own. The world building is nicely done, but it's in the character building that this book shines. Rarely do I go into details of the books I review in terms of plot, etc. I think that a book is a unique experience for every reader and that's why books will never die. This one is a little gem! There are some editing issues, some plot issues, but overall, this story is so well developed and written that I was able to overcome all that. I can't wait to read the sequel.
April 19, 2023
I absolutely adored the dark and intriguing world building which reminded me a bit of the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, only way better because Metanoia has queer characters!
I loved the story twist with Ohkai and Velir, especially the way Velir's character develops thanks to their encounter was really well written and changed the course of the entire story.
The beginning of the book was fast paced and adventure packed, it slowed down a bit in the middle and some elements felt slightly predictable but overall it was a really enjoyable debut novel.
I'll definitely continue reading the series!
I loved the story twist with Ohkai and Velir, especially the way Velir's character develops thanks to their encounter was really well written and changed the course of the entire story.
The beginning of the book was fast paced and adventure packed, it slowed down a bit in the middle and some elements felt slightly predictable but overall it was a really enjoyable debut novel.
I'll definitely continue reading the series!
July 16, 2024
While I enjoyed Metanoia, there just didn't seem to be much actually happening in it. Most of the time was spent traveling back and forth and sitting around talking. It’s definitely a slow burn as far as action goes.
It's a weird feeling... I think one of the only reasons I kept turning pages was to see if any of the build up would actually pay off in this book, but it never really did. And then it just kinda...ended.
The characterizations were done quite well, especially for Loba. I enjoyed the banter between Loba and Ohkai, especially toward the end when it started getting awkward for Loba.
I'll eventually give book two a try to see how the story advances but I think book two will need to do a better job of enticing me if I’m going to stick it out for book three.
It's a weird feeling... I think one of the only reasons I kept turning pages was to see if any of the build up would actually pay off in this book, but it never really did. And then it just kinda...ended.
The characterizations were done quite well, especially for Loba. I enjoyed the banter between Loba and Ohkai, especially toward the end when it started getting awkward for Loba.
I'll eventually give book two a try to see how the story advances but I think book two will need to do a better job of enticing me if I’m going to stick it out for book three.
September 19, 2021
This was an enjoyable dark fantasy featuring incredibly memorable characters and strong world building as well as an original take on magic and gods. The first half of the novel was really well written and very compelling but the ending didn't wrap things up for me as well I'd like. I loved the inner illustrations as well! A wonderful debut!
August 8, 2021
The story is really gripping!! I can't wait to see what happens next in this fascinating world. It keeps you guessing in the best way, and the characters are so likeable.
I found myself caring deeply for everyone really quickly. This book will force you to care. 11/10
I found myself caring deeply for everyone really quickly. This book will force you to care. 11/10
January 9, 2023
A very bleak but fun fantasy! Bleak because the world is on its last leg, fun because the characters are enjoyable to be around! I love the implications at the end, and I can't wait to get to the sequel soon!
January 13, 2023
This book really stayed with me. While reading it, I had a dream about it becoming a TV show. The imagery is so strong, the writing is beautiful, the characters and world are so interesting. This was a solid four stars for me, and I'm really eager to see where the rest of the story goes.
February 25, 2025
I can't think of a single character in this story who isn't three-dimensional and real. I enjoyed this book a lot, especially for the amazing characters. I can't wait to read the sequel!
Full review to come
Full review to come
July 8, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world-building, the characters, and the story all made for a great read, especially if you are into dark stories. Book 2 is on my TBR!
August 8, 2021
Anyone who's a fan of dark fantasy in general should definitely give this a read, its grabs on to you and submerges you into a dark desolate world filled with magic and hardship, I really liked the ending but that's just me....see for yourself! Kudos to the author.
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