Sperothen: The Shadowed Accords Book One

by Anthony Aroch

Centuries ago, the world went awry. A pestilence swept the land. Fallow fields were soaked in the blood of the slain as war ravaged the Twin Realms. All was chaos; much was lost. Then one arose, a beacon of hope blessed by the gods. The Suprema. She offered to heal the land and bring peace to those who followed her. From the ashes of destruction, the Hartland was born. No rose under the Suprema’s reign has a thorn, no berry poison. By the Suprema’s grace and mercy, paradise became reality.

In the Hartland, no one is forced to bear the onerous burden of labor. Everyone lives a life of passion, and why wouldn’t they when all their desires are provided for by the Suprema’s grace? Sperothen can think of no place he would rather live. That is, until one day, disaster strikes his small town in the outer ring, and he is forced to flee to survive. Having to leave his home, his family, and all he has ever known, he finds himself in a foreign land. A land imbued with the magic of prenha. A land of suffering and servitude – the Outlands.

Beyond the boundary of the Suprema’s protective reign, Sperothen soon realizes nothing is at it seems…

580 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2022

About the author

Anthony Aroch is a fantasy writer based in San Diego. His debut novel, Sperothen, is the first book in Shadowed Accords.

Reviews

[Kailin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sperothen was captivating from the start and my doubts for finishing this 580-page fantasy novel quickly dispelled. I don't dive into fantasy novels often, as I find them an investment in time and usually a long hold on my brain's capacity to remember made-up names, places and races. Needless to say, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this new book and was hooked from the start by both the story and the writing. Setting descriptions were aptly elaborate, with some room left for your imagination. Character development was fun to watch as more layers of the onion were peeled off chapter by chapter. You find soon find yourself cheering on the good guys and wishing the bad guys were dead. Yes this is a hero's journey, but that doesn't mean you won't get any thrill from it.

I particularly enjoyed the musical references, and the pace of Sperothen was operatic as well as poetic. Sometimes adagio and pensive, but soon followed by some allegro and OMGs. One of my favorite lines were spoken by Bree:

You who walk beneath the emptiness experience such fleeting existences. Born today, chosen tomorrow, numerous offspring the next day. A maelstrom of activity quickly capped by quietus. It is not difficult to ascertain why you walk beneath the emptiness endeavor to accomplish so much in your ephemeral lives. Always seeking, always growing. That is the way of those who walk beneath the emptiness.

When was the last time you sought out something and grew from it? Or set your mind to accomplish a big task and came out wanting to do more? Oh geez, Bree, you're making me rethink my life!

I'd highly recommend Sperothen for your next read - regardless of your affinity to fantasy novels - I think you'll have quite a ride - leaving your world and into the Hartland, and then you'll be like me. Sucked in and waiting for the next book to come out!