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God Tokens | Book 1: Phelen the Cycle
A lost prince, a rising tyranny, and the return of ancient magic will test three heroes bound by fate.
With the king of Talacharn succumbing to sickness, the Three Patriarchs have seized both religious and profane power. They will stop at nothing to cement their rule—even if it means killing innocents.
Danial wants nothing to do with destiny. But when the young merchant Reydon arrives in the mountain hamlet of Elm, claiming Danial is the lost twin of Talacharn’s crown prince, everything changes. As Danial’s God Token erupts with an impossible power, refusing the call becomes far more dangerous than answering it.
Alongside Reydon, who is fleeing the massacre of his family, and Erin the Herbwise, whose own God Token has begun to stir, Danial is pulled into a world of rival Patriarchs, mass disappearances, and forbidden lore.
Every step towards the truth draws Danial and Reydon closer together… and deeper into a struggle that will demand impossible choices.
The Patriarchs blame the mysterious disappearances—now pushing the kingdom to the brink of collapse—on ‘heathen influence’. The Old Gods whisper cryptic warnings. And deep beneath it all, the truths engraved on Danial’s and Erin’s Tokens begin to awaken.
But in the shadows of power, a far more dangerous force is watching… And the strange magic growing inside Danial may be the key to toppling the kingdom’s most ruthless enemy.
This book is for fans of Robin Hobb’s Farseer Saga and Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive, with echoes of Hailey Turner’s Infernal War Trilogy and the works of Alexandra Rowland.
With the king of Talacharn succumbing to sickness, the Three Patriarchs have seized both religious and profane power. They will stop at nothing to cement their rule—even if it means killing innocents.
Danial wants nothing to do with destiny. But when the young merchant Reydon arrives in the mountain hamlet of Elm, claiming Danial is the lost twin of Talacharn’s crown prince, everything changes. As Danial’s God Token erupts with an impossible power, refusing the call becomes far more dangerous than answering it.
Alongside Reydon, who is fleeing the massacre of his family, and Erin the Herbwise, whose own God Token has begun to stir, Danial is pulled into a world of rival Patriarchs, mass disappearances, and forbidden lore.
Every step towards the truth draws Danial and Reydon closer together… and deeper into a struggle that will demand impossible choices.
The Patriarchs blame the mysterious disappearances—now pushing the kingdom to the brink of collapse—on ‘heathen influence’. The Old Gods whisper cryptic warnings. And deep beneath it all, the truths engraved on Danial’s and Erin’s Tokens begin to awaken.
But in the shadows of power, a far more dangerous force is watching… And the strange magic growing inside Danial may be the key to toppling the kingdom’s most ruthless enemy.
This book is for fans of Robin Hobb’s Farseer Saga and Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive, with echoes of Hailey Turner’s Infernal War Trilogy and the works of Alexandra Rowland.
- GenresFantasy
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2026
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Emily Bellman
4 books9 followersEmily Bellman is a historical fiction and fantasy writer. Her debut novel is The 11th Code, Parts 1 & 2. Although she ended up working in marketing, she has always found herself intrigued by stories that explore unconventional love, address criticism regarding those who use religion to oppress and harm people, and portray women who really don’t need saving (by men).
Emily currently lives in Germany (you can probably find her exploring various castle ruins, churches, and museums across Europe).
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Emily currently lives in Germany (you can probably find her exploring various castle ruins, churches, and museums across Europe).
--------
Sign up to my newsletter for free reads and the latest updates: https://subscribepage.io/nOqp3o
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 4, 2026
This was a good read and left me interested in where these characters are going next. While still borrowing some pretty standard fantasy tropes, the characters are interesting and watching their growth was enjoyable. It is a good start to a series where we find our protagonists picked up out of their relatively normal lives and becoming the people that will begin their heroic journey in the next book. I will definitely be interested in the next installment of this series.
February 23, 2026
⭐️4/5⭐️
I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for a review :)
As this is an ARC, I’m going to be a little bit (very) picky, but I will say off the top that this was a very interesting story and I did enjoy reading it. I'm likely to purchase a physical copy as well 🩷
At its heart, this book addresses the greed that festers alongside power. A sickness that spreads, and kills, and lies… So that the powerful people can pretend that they're invincible. When that power stops satisfying, the greed grows, and with it comes a greater darkness.
Unchecked power and unquestioning followers… It's easy to draw parallels to real-world issues and other popular historical tales.
Our three main characters, Reydon, Danial, and Erin, each have their own secrets and their own flaws. As the story progresses, we see their relationships both ebb and wane, and seeds of distrust are sown between them all. But at their heart, they're something of a family.
MILD spoilers:
I’ll go into some depth about the beginning of the book, because I think it’s important to establish good characters. First impressions and all.
Reydon’s introduction is very good. It establishes his motivation and his general character well. It’s just a few pages, but we learn a lot about him and the kind of person he is– caring, kind, and driven; he cares about his family deeply. And then, of course, we can see his raw grief and rage.
As the first section of the book, it acts as a great hook with a vivid sense of urgency that is sure to get the reader invested.
Danial’s introduction is not as exciting as Reydon’s, but it also piques the reader’s curiosity with the mystery surrounding his God Token and his arrival in Elm.
It is hard to get a read on Danial in the beginning. He seems impatient. Honored as he may be to be chosen to assume his father’s position on the Council, he doesn’t seem particularly thrilled about it. Likewise, he doesn’t seem very excited about his sister’s wedding until the actual event itself occurs. He does seem like a reasonably kind person, and we see him interact with his family positively and he certainly helps out, but he also runs off to go see Erin– who, it turns out, is his girlfriend– as soon as he can.
Also, this is not important to the story, but when Danial’s oldest sister is introduced, it is very done briefly. However, we do learn that she has “large breasts” and “soft, round hips.” This may help us visualize her, but it seemed an odd choice of words, especially considering we’re following Danial’s perspective in this scene, and he’s her brother.
I thought that Erin’s introduction started off… Odd. The first page of her intro started with her talking to herbs, which establishes her affinity for ‘mousefur,’ but felt strange. It took until we learned about her feelings about her own God Token that I got a sense of real depth in her character, which is certainly excusable seeing as it took only a couple of pages– however, it still felt a little off.
On this subject, her feelings about her God Token are complicated. As it’s introduced, it seems like her emotions bounce around quite a bit. At first, she’s praying to the God that chose her; then, she’s sort of annoyed about it, and “[gives] her God Token a dismissive flick;” and then she’s sort of okay with it again. In this moment, as she’s preparing to have sex with Danial, this moment with her token feels a bit clunky or forced. Later on, her feelings about her Token are explored more. It definitely feels better later on.
It’s still hard to get a good read on Danial in Erin’s intro chapter. He comes to Erin’s house and kisses her, but then he’ll grunt dismissively. He’s tired, but then he’s suddenly got plenty of energy when the prospect of sex comes up. And then leading up to the sex itself, it’s acknowledged that they should be getting back to help set up for Danial’s sister’s wedding, but they’d rather have sex. Erin decides that this is a good time to tell him she wants to have kids, and he seems thrilled, and then they have sex in a pile of hay. Luckily, this detour doesn't amount to them being late.
All in all, I thought the introduction of these three was pretty solid. Reydon & Danial's individual circumstances make them more intriguing than Erin, and I did find myself more drawn to them as a result. Some of the things I thought were a little off about Danial and Erin in the beginning made a lot more sense as the story went on.
~
I'd rather not go into major spoilers for the later book, but I'll try to highlight things I liked about the writing as well as things I didn't like so much. There are still spoilers ahead, though.
First, the perspective changes. We get to see from Danial's perspective, Erin's perspective, Reydon's- though Reydon's perspective is limited- Aidan's perspective (the king), Neev's perspective (the Queen), and the Patriarch of Strategy's perspective as well. I generally like this-- it helps connect with the individual characters and see a bigger picture. Aidan and Neev's perspectives were especially interesting to me. Neev is a badass. I don't really like Aidan, but he seems at least reasonable, and the POV he provided really humanized him and helped me like the royal family a bit more.
However, there are times that I think we definitely should've been witnessing the story through a different character. Like at the Golden Mare, Reydon learns something incredibly important, but we don't get to see the point that he actually learns this. He just fills Danial in afterwards. And this happens a lot.
Likewise, it feels like sometimes the other characters are forgotten, or put on the back burner. I'd have liked to see more/longer interactions between the characters one-on-one. They need to interact more thoroughly and deeply on the page. It could be argued that they got to know each other very well on their journey and we just didn't get to read about it… But I really would have liked to read about it. The relationships often feel very surface level, and while one character is doing something, the other characters almost seem forgotten. Erin argues with the priest in town- neither Danial nor Reydon stop her. The mysterious guy in the jail? No reaction from Reydon. Danial discovers magic? Reydon hardly acknowledges it. What happened to Leaf's bench? Danial doesn't want to talk about it, and Erin drops it immediately. Reydon doesn't even know, and Danial doesn't tell him. We, as the reader, can imagine what might be going through the other characters' heads as important things happen, but as we don't really get to read it, it's hard to know. The poignant moments needed more time and acknowledgement from the characters.
All the journeying starts to drag, even very early on. There's a long time where they're just walking or sitting, and it's drawn out by flowery descriptions of the landscape and the foliage. It's certainly /good writing,/ but it gets bland. There are odd time skips, too. As the trio are traveling, there's a skip of six days where the time spent is hardly described at all except that they don't talk much.
I will say, again, the imagery is very well-written, but sometimes it's just too much.
They also get hurt sometimes, but then they're pretty much fine and we don't hear about any hindrances from those injuries later. I guess they just got really lucky?
~
After about page 300, I became deeply invested. I think that the writing gets better as the book goes on. Perhaps it is because there is so much action towards the end, but it doesn't feel rushed like some of the earlier moments and it doesn't drag like some of the traveling. Many of the little things not addressed earlier in the story come to a very nice conclusion, and we get to see some well-written emotional moments that made me smile. (And there were also moments where I was horrified. Poor Reydon...) Erin's character finally has a breakthrough and I connected with her especially at the end. There are still some moments I'd have liked to read more about, but Bellman did (I think) a very good job bringing the story to what feels like a natural break before the second book.
I feel like I've spent a lot of time complaining, but I really did enjoy reading this book. Reydon's character is my favorite. He reminds me a bit of Astarion (or maybe Gale?) from Baldur's Gate.
I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out in book 2. I'd really like to see more of Reydon's perspective, and some more in-depth exploration of their emotions.
To the author: Thank you for the story! Keep writing. I'll keep an eye out for updates :)
An edit from a week after I finished this book: I'm still thinking about it, like, daily.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for a review :)
As this is an ARC, I’m going to be a little bit (very) picky, but I will say off the top that this was a very interesting story and I did enjoy reading it. I'm likely to purchase a physical copy as well 🩷
At its heart, this book addresses the greed that festers alongside power. A sickness that spreads, and kills, and lies… So that the powerful people can pretend that they're invincible. When that power stops satisfying, the greed grows, and with it comes a greater darkness.
Unchecked power and unquestioning followers… It's easy to draw parallels to real-world issues and other popular historical tales.
Our three main characters, Reydon, Danial, and Erin, each have their own secrets and their own flaws. As the story progresses, we see their relationships both ebb and wane, and seeds of distrust are sown between them all. But at their heart, they're something of a family.
MILD spoilers:
I’ll go into some depth about the beginning of the book, because I think it’s important to establish good characters. First impressions and all.
Reydon’s introduction is very good. It establishes his motivation and his general character well. It’s just a few pages, but we learn a lot about him and the kind of person he is– caring, kind, and driven; he cares about his family deeply. And then, of course, we can see his raw grief and rage.
As the first section of the book, it acts as a great hook with a vivid sense of urgency that is sure to get the reader invested.
Danial’s introduction is not as exciting as Reydon’s, but it also piques the reader’s curiosity with the mystery surrounding his God Token and his arrival in Elm.
It is hard to get a read on Danial in the beginning. He seems impatient. Honored as he may be to be chosen to assume his father’s position on the Council, he doesn’t seem particularly thrilled about it. Likewise, he doesn’t seem very excited about his sister’s wedding until the actual event itself occurs. He does seem like a reasonably kind person, and we see him interact with his family positively and he certainly helps out, but he also runs off to go see Erin– who, it turns out, is his girlfriend– as soon as he can.
Also, this is not important to the story, but when Danial’s oldest sister is introduced, it is very done briefly. However, we do learn that she has “large breasts” and “soft, round hips.” This may help us visualize her, but it seemed an odd choice of words, especially considering we’re following Danial’s perspective in this scene, and he’s her brother.
I thought that Erin’s introduction started off… Odd. The first page of her intro started with her talking to herbs, which establishes her affinity for ‘mousefur,’ but felt strange. It took until we learned about her feelings about her own God Token that I got a sense of real depth in her character, which is certainly excusable seeing as it took only a couple of pages– however, it still felt a little off.
On this subject, her feelings about her God Token are complicated. As it’s introduced, it seems like her emotions bounce around quite a bit. At first, she’s praying to the God that chose her; then, she’s sort of annoyed about it, and “[gives] her God Token a dismissive flick;” and then she’s sort of okay with it again. In this moment, as she’s preparing to have sex with Danial, this moment with her token feels a bit clunky or forced. Later on, her feelings about her Token are explored more. It definitely feels better later on.
It’s still hard to get a good read on Danial in Erin’s intro chapter. He comes to Erin’s house and kisses her, but then he’ll grunt dismissively. He’s tired, but then he’s suddenly got plenty of energy when the prospect of sex comes up. And then leading up to the sex itself, it’s acknowledged that they should be getting back to help set up for Danial’s sister’s wedding, but they’d rather have sex. Erin decides that this is a good time to tell him she wants to have kids, and he seems thrilled, and then they have sex in a pile of hay. Luckily, this detour doesn't amount to them being late.
All in all, I thought the introduction of these three was pretty solid. Reydon & Danial's individual circumstances make them more intriguing than Erin, and I did find myself more drawn to them as a result. Some of the things I thought were a little off about Danial and Erin in the beginning made a lot more sense as the story went on.
~
I'd rather not go into major spoilers for the later book, but I'll try to highlight things I liked about the writing as well as things I didn't like so much. There are still spoilers ahead, though.
First, the perspective changes. We get to see from Danial's perspective, Erin's perspective, Reydon's- though Reydon's perspective is limited- Aidan's perspective (the king), Neev's perspective (the Queen), and the Patriarch of Strategy's perspective as well. I generally like this-- it helps connect with the individual characters and see a bigger picture. Aidan and Neev's perspectives were especially interesting to me. Neev is a badass. I don't really like Aidan, but he seems at least reasonable, and the POV he provided really humanized him and helped me like the royal family a bit more.
However, there are times that I think we definitely should've been witnessing the story through a different character. Like at the Golden Mare, Reydon learns something incredibly important, but we don't get to see the point that he actually learns this. He just fills Danial in afterwards. And this happens a lot.
Likewise, it feels like sometimes the other characters are forgotten, or put on the back burner. I'd have liked to see more/longer interactions between the characters one-on-one. They need to interact more thoroughly and deeply on the page. It could be argued that they got to know each other very well on their journey and we just didn't get to read about it… But I really would have liked to read about it. The relationships often feel very surface level, and while one character is doing something, the other characters almost seem forgotten. Erin argues with the priest in town- neither Danial nor Reydon stop her. The mysterious guy in the jail? No reaction from Reydon. Danial discovers magic? Reydon hardly acknowledges it. What happened to Leaf's bench? Danial doesn't want to talk about it, and Erin drops it immediately. Reydon doesn't even know, and Danial doesn't tell him. We, as the reader, can imagine what might be going through the other characters' heads as important things happen, but as we don't really get to read it, it's hard to know. The poignant moments needed more time and acknowledgement from the characters.
All the journeying starts to drag, even very early on. There's a long time where they're just walking or sitting, and it's drawn out by flowery descriptions of the landscape and the foliage. It's certainly /good writing,/ but it gets bland. There are odd time skips, too. As the trio are traveling, there's a skip of six days where the time spent is hardly described at all except that they don't talk much.
I will say, again, the imagery is very well-written, but sometimes it's just too much.
They also get hurt sometimes, but then they're pretty much fine and we don't hear about any hindrances from those injuries later. I guess they just got really lucky?
~
After about page 300, I became deeply invested. I think that the writing gets better as the book goes on. Perhaps it is because there is so much action towards the end, but it doesn't feel rushed like some of the earlier moments and it doesn't drag like some of the traveling. Many of the little things not addressed earlier in the story come to a very nice conclusion, and we get to see some well-written emotional moments that made me smile. (And there were also moments where I was horrified. Poor Reydon...) Erin's character finally has a breakthrough and I connected with her especially at the end. There are still some moments I'd have liked to read more about, but Bellman did (I think) a very good job bringing the story to what feels like a natural break before the second book.
I feel like I've spent a lot of time complaining, but I really did enjoy reading this book. Reydon's character is my favorite. He reminds me a bit of Astarion (or maybe Gale?) from Baldur's Gate.
I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out in book 2. I'd really like to see more of Reydon's perspective, and some more in-depth exploration of their emotions.
To the author: Thank you for the story! Keep writing. I'll keep an eye out for updates :)
An edit from a week after I finished this book: I'm still thinking about it, like, daily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was defiantly surprised how much I liked this book. They book started in the world of saving a world that is ruled by the religion of The One God and the old religion is evil and needs to be stamped out. Each individual who believes in the old religion has these God Tokens. Each token is special to one particular God or Goddess and have 3 attributes that relate to that person and they need to find out what they mean.
Danial and Erin lives in the mountain region and practice the old religion and are promised to each other. One day a stranger, Reydon, arrives claiming that Danial is the long lost twin of the crown prince and the rulers of their kingdom. Danial knows he was adopted and has always wanted to find his birth parents to ask why they gave him up. On the flip side the ruling family and country is deeply controlled by the religion of The One God. This concerns many people also many people have mysteriously disappeared due to a mysterious person.
Along the way Danial and Reydon start to feel attracted to each other even though they fight it.
I liked this book has very little spice and if there is its closed door and focuses more on the plot of the story. The book does end of a cliffhanger and I cannot wait for book 2.
Thank you Emily Bellman for the ARC Copy for my honest review.
Danial and Erin lives in the mountain region and practice the old religion and are promised to each other. One day a stranger, Reydon, arrives claiming that Danial is the long lost twin of the crown prince and the rulers of their kingdom. Danial knows he was adopted and has always wanted to find his birth parents to ask why they gave him up. On the flip side the ruling family and country is deeply controlled by the religion of The One God. This concerns many people also many people have mysteriously disappeared due to a mysterious person.
Along the way Danial and Reydon start to feel attracted to each other even though they fight it.
I liked this book has very little spice and if there is its closed door and focuses more on the plot of the story. The book does end of a cliffhanger and I cannot wait for book 2.
Thank you Emily Bellman for the ARC Copy for my honest review.
January 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, far more than I originally thought I would. When I picked it up, I didn't actually realize it was an epic fantasy, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Epic fantasy tends to fall into a pitfall in the first book, where there is a lot of traveling and very little story progression. I'm actually so happy to say this book didn't fall into that trap. Yes, there was a lot of traveling, but there was also a lot of character growth and a lot happening in the interim. There weren't long stretches of travel that served only to fill up the book.
I also loved the characters. I think that Daniel, Erin, and Reydon were brilliant characters. They are truly flawed characters who work through their problems and continue to grow. The supporting cast is also amazing, and I hate to say it, but I am so curious about Lander.
I do feel like the book was a little fast-paced at times, but it wasn't anything too terrible. Certain explanations were glossed over, but I have a feeling that's because the reveal is coming in the next book, and the information was pertinent to the characters at the time, just not to the readers. Now, while I say certain parts were fast-paced, I do think the entire book itself was paced really well.
I am super excited for the next installment of this and I truly hope that people find as much enjoyment out of the book as I did.
I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I also loved the characters. I think that Daniel, Erin, and Reydon were brilliant characters. They are truly flawed characters who work through their problems and continue to grow. The supporting cast is also amazing, and I hate to say it, but I am so curious about Lander.
I do feel like the book was a little fast-paced at times, but it wasn't anything too terrible. Certain explanations were glossed over, but I have a feeling that's because the reveal is coming in the next book, and the information was pertinent to the characters at the time, just not to the readers. Now, while I say certain parts were fast-paced, I do think the entire book itself was paced really well.
I am super excited for the next installment of this and I truly hope that people find as much enjoyment out of the book as I did.
I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2026
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will start by saying I really enjoyed the author’s narrative style. The story flows smoothly throughout, making it easier to digest the vast amount of world-building this book contains. Although I did find the fast pace in the end left me wanting the characters to have more time to unpack everything happening to them and what was going on in the world. That being said, I loved the characters, and I loved the world-building. Loved the manifestation of the gods and all the twists and turns discovered along the way. I feel like there were so many details laid out to breathe life into this world, and yet, so much left to discover going into book two, that it has me wanting to pick it up immediately to find out what happens. I’m just sad it isn’t out yet to do just that!
I recommend this book if you’re a fan of fantasy with a dash of romance and plenty of self-discovery.
I will start by saying I really enjoyed the author’s narrative style. The story flows smoothly throughout, making it easier to digest the vast amount of world-building this book contains. Although I did find the fast pace in the end left me wanting the characters to have more time to unpack everything happening to them and what was going on in the world. That being said, I loved the characters, and I loved the world-building. Loved the manifestation of the gods and all the twists and turns discovered along the way. I feel like there were so many details laid out to breathe life into this world, and yet, so much left to discover going into book two, that it has me wanting to pick it up immediately to find out what happens. I’m just sad it isn’t out yet to do just that!
I recommend this book if you’re a fan of fantasy with a dash of romance and plenty of self-discovery.
January 21, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
God Tokens is the first book in the epic YA fantasy series, Phelen the Cycle. This is not really a romance, or even a romantasy. It’s focus is more on the adventure as Reydon, Danial, and Erin enter the world and have encounters with guards, assassins, innkeepers, and queens. There are side plots related to the church Patriarchs dealing with the ongoing and incurable illness suffered by the king, the royal succession, their plots against one another, and their deals with a dark power that has led to a plague of mysterious and growing disappearances throughout the kingdom.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
God Tokens is the first book in the epic YA fantasy series, Phelen the Cycle. This is not really a romance, or even a romantasy. It’s focus is more on the adventure as Reydon, Danial, and Erin enter the world and have encounters with guards, assassins, innkeepers, and queens. There are side plots related to the church Patriarchs dealing with the ongoing and incurable illness suffered by the king, the royal succession, their plots against one another, and their deals with a dark power that has led to a plague of mysterious and growing disappearances throughout the kingdom.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc review
Amazing book, got into the story from the start.
Characters seem real and likeable. You can easily get attached to them.
World building seemed very interesting. I really enjoyed going through all of the lore about gods and history.
Amazing book, got into the story from the start.
Characters seem real and likeable. You can easily get attached to them.
World building seemed very interesting. I really enjoyed going through all of the lore about gods and history.
February 3, 2026
3.5ish rounded up
I got this thanks to netgalley but it is on kindle unlimited🙂↕️
I picked it up on a whim because it sounded interesting and I enjoyed it more than I was expecting. I think it was a nice build up for what is to come and I definitely want to know how the story will progress.
At times erin did get on my nerves 😭 but towards the end the characters definitely grow and change in a less annoying way sksksk.
In regards to the writing some moments I did feel like they dragged on a little for my liking and some descriptions of what was going on felt lengthy but that’s a me thing 😅
I got this thanks to netgalley but it is on kindle unlimited🙂↕️
I picked it up on a whim because it sounded interesting and I enjoyed it more than I was expecting. I think it was a nice build up for what is to come and I definitely want to know how the story will progress.
At times erin did get on my nerves 😭 but towards the end the characters definitely grow and change in a less annoying way sksksk.
In regards to the writing some moments I did feel like they dragged on a little for my liking and some descriptions of what was going on felt lengthy but that’s a me thing 😅
March 14, 2026
grateful to NetGalley, the Author and Publishers for granting me this e-ARC!
this was very interesting and conflicting read. i think where it really shines is the characters and their motivations. they feel real, flawed, and genuinely human-easy to care about and relatively easier to root for. the dialogue and interpersonal dynamics give the story a very personable feel, like you're spending time with people rather than just reading about them,and that alone carried me through a lot of the book.
that said, the storyline itself is interesting and full of promise, with strong world-building ideas and a concept that unfortunately did not hit as hard as they should. this story, for some reason, never quite becomes as gripping as it wants you to think it is. there's reasonable tension on paper, but the execution sometimes softens the impact, making certain moments feel less urgent and not as exciting as they should.
the biggest drawback for me is the pacing and structure, which felt quite odd. some sections drag when they could have been tighter, while others rush past moments that deserved more space to breathe; this was especially evident in the more romantic scenes. the overall flow of the story is slightly uneven, which affected the immersion and roughly impacted the evocative aspects of the writing.
generally, this is still a solid, enjoyable epic read with a lot of heart. i’m excited to follow this series!
this was very interesting and conflicting read. i think where it really shines is the characters and their motivations. they feel real, flawed, and genuinely human-easy to care about and relatively easier to root for. the dialogue and interpersonal dynamics give the story a very personable feel, like you're spending time with people rather than just reading about them,and that alone carried me through a lot of the book.
that said, the storyline itself is interesting and full of promise, with strong world-building ideas and a concept that unfortunately did not hit as hard as they should. this story, for some reason, never quite becomes as gripping as it wants you to think it is. there's reasonable tension on paper, but the execution sometimes softens the impact, making certain moments feel less urgent and not as exciting as they should.
the biggest drawback for me is the pacing and structure, which felt quite odd. some sections drag when they could have been tighter, while others rush past moments that deserved more space to breathe; this was especially evident in the more romantic scenes. the overall flow of the story is slightly uneven, which affected the immersion and roughly impacted the evocative aspects of the writing.
generally, this is still a solid, enjoyable epic read with a lot of heart. i’m excited to follow this series!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC-Review! (4,5 of 5 Stars)
I was on the edge of my chair at the halfway mark, wanting the second book already next to me, as a way to soothe myself that I can just go on reading and not wait. But alas. I will have to wait and keep my eyes open.
Given that I partly had to drag myself away from this book to actually do chores and get some food, says how gripping this was for me. My fingers itched to pick it back up and return to see what was coming next.
At the evening of his sister's wedding Danial is faced by a stranger, a merchant named Reydon, who came into the mountain village from the Lowlands. And he insists that Danial has to leave his home, that he is the Twin of the Crown-Prince of the Kingdom of Talacharn. Lost son of the sick King. With Erin the herbwise - healer,spiritual guide and priestess of their gods, as well as his best friend and fiancée - he very reluctantly goes. To find answers and to find a way to protect his village from being eradicated by the Patriachs of the Triseklesia. But it all becomes bigger, there is another, more dangerous force around that is a danger than the most powerful men in the kingdom and their agenda to convert all to their church and faith. People vanish never to be seen again. And Reydon's past is always nipping at their heels.
The quality of the writing is amazing. The sentences flow, the characters have their own clear voice and I could sink into the world. On occasion I got a bit turned around with who god was which one again but nothing that ripped me out of the immersion. I personally am not sure what to think of the middle where a new character is introduced with an extensive backstory. Personally I think I would have liked it if that had stayed more hidden until later in the series, maybe. But that hardly took away from my enjoyment or the great writing. The worldbuilding is neatly woven into the story and I am fascinated by the magic. The theology certainly peaked my interest - both of the Old God's and of the One God. I am incredibly curious to hear more about the Triseklesia, their dogmas and so on. As well as with the Old Gods. I do admit the theology discussion in one of the Chapters is one of my favorite structural moments.
The characters are amazingly fleshed out, flawed and carry themselves so greatly through it all.
Erin has a special spot in my heart for many reasons. A strong girl with a temper, and I can see parts of myself in her, which is why I sometimes wanted to kick her a bit. Danial is one amazing reluctant hero and I loved to read how he was growing more and more into who he is. And how Erin's and his relationship evolves. I am a big fan of this relationship development.
Reydon is my favorite of the trio, he is now my son of disaster and control, and I was hooked on him right away. One chapter certainly threw me around emotionally on that aspect and I love the book for this. A book that brings me to bargaining stage is a good book in my eyes.
When it comes to the adversaries I am hooked on their plotting and the careful maneuvering they make. While also being allowed to get a look at some of their emotions and thoughts. Their own struggles. I like an opponent that I can still empathize with.
The plot is a gripping one of tension and is carried by the characters, their relationships and how they evolve due to challenges they face and pressure they are put under. Not everything goes well and there is a friction that does not easily vanish by just one talk.
It goes into the difference of faith and religion - something I am very much interested in and fascinated by myself. And this is in my eyes where the story shines very strongly.
It also goes about How tolerance isn't as easy as we think it is. That change isn't a one time thing but a long process. How nothing is easy, that white and black aren't that often the way the world actually is, and that there is never just one answer or one way to do something or to exist. And that relationships can be very, very difficult but that it doesn't make them any less meaningful.
"They gave her a measure of courage, but she was not strong enough to investigate their truth, lest she might end up the destroyer of her own hope."
I was on the edge of my chair at the halfway mark, wanting the second book already next to me, as a way to soothe myself that I can just go on reading and not wait. But alas. I will have to wait and keep my eyes open.
Given that I partly had to drag myself away from this book to actually do chores and get some food, says how gripping this was for me. My fingers itched to pick it back up and return to see what was coming next.
At the evening of his sister's wedding Danial is faced by a stranger, a merchant named Reydon, who came into the mountain village from the Lowlands. And he insists that Danial has to leave his home, that he is the Twin of the Crown-Prince of the Kingdom of Talacharn. Lost son of the sick King. With Erin the herbwise - healer,spiritual guide and priestess of their gods, as well as his best friend and fiancée - he very reluctantly goes. To find answers and to find a way to protect his village from being eradicated by the Patriachs of the Triseklesia. But it all becomes bigger, there is another, more dangerous force around that is a danger than the most powerful men in the kingdom and their agenda to convert all to their church and faith. People vanish never to be seen again. And Reydon's past is always nipping at their heels.
The quality of the writing is amazing. The sentences flow, the characters have their own clear voice and I could sink into the world. On occasion I got a bit turned around with who god was which one again but nothing that ripped me out of the immersion. I personally am not sure what to think of the middle where a new character is introduced with an extensive backstory. Personally I think I would have liked it if that had stayed more hidden until later in the series, maybe. But that hardly took away from my enjoyment or the great writing. The worldbuilding is neatly woven into the story and I am fascinated by the magic. The theology certainly peaked my interest - both of the Old God's and of the One God. I am incredibly curious to hear more about the Triseklesia, their dogmas and so on. As well as with the Old Gods. I do admit the theology discussion in one of the Chapters is one of my favorite structural moments.
The characters are amazingly fleshed out, flawed and carry themselves so greatly through it all.
Erin has a special spot in my heart for many reasons. A strong girl with a temper, and I can see parts of myself in her, which is why I sometimes wanted to kick her a bit. Danial is one amazing reluctant hero and I loved to read how he was growing more and more into who he is. And how Erin's and his relationship evolves. I am a big fan of this relationship development.
Reydon is my favorite of the trio, he is now my son of disaster and control, and I was hooked on him right away. One chapter certainly threw me around emotionally on that aspect and I love the book for this. A book that brings me to bargaining stage is a good book in my eyes.
When it comes to the adversaries I am hooked on their plotting and the careful maneuvering they make. While also being allowed to get a look at some of their emotions and thoughts. Their own struggles. I like an opponent that I can still empathize with.
The plot is a gripping one of tension and is carried by the characters, their relationships and how they evolve due to challenges they face and pressure they are put under. Not everything goes well and there is a friction that does not easily vanish by just one talk.
It goes into the difference of faith and religion - something I am very much interested in and fascinated by myself. And this is in my eyes where the story shines very strongly.
It also goes about How tolerance isn't as easy as we think it is. That change isn't a one time thing but a long process. How nothing is easy, that white and black aren't that often the way the world actually is, and that there is never just one answer or one way to do something or to exist. And that relationships can be very, very difficult but that it doesn't make them any less meaningful.
"They gave her a measure of courage, but she was not strong enough to investigate their truth, lest she might end up the destroyer of her own hope."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Emily Bellman for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
God Tokens Book 1: Phelen the Cycle by Emily Bellman took me straight into a world where the old gods still whisper through the trees, and a quiet young man is pulled from the comfort of his village into a tangle of ancient schemes, secrets, and the kind of politics that no one ever really talks about openly.
There is a crackle in the air right from the opening, a sense of waiting, as if something is always about to happen, but never quite does until the last possible moment. I could almost feel the tension between the characters, that hush before the storm, with their nerves stretched tight. Bellman knows how to let us settle into unease, always giving us enough time to feel the weight of it before letting us breathe again, only to tighten things once more.
This story is pure epic fantasy, not simply because of its gods and quests, but because myth clings to the very bones of the world. Still, it is not all about fate or prophecy. Bellman is interested in how belief itself shapes lives, how the gifts and burdens handed down by the gods twist people into forms they never expected. The familiar tropes are here—hidden bloodlines, long journeys—but she turns them over, pays more attention to the strain of faith and the mess that comes with power.
The characters, at first, seem to follow the paths I thought I knew, but they are changed slowly, as water wears away stone, until I realised they had become something else altogether. It never feels forced. What I found most striking was the way Bellman balances the pull of the gods with the messy, honest bonds between people. The story keeps circling back to the question of how much of our striving for freedom is just a shadow of the gods’ own stories, played out again and again.
I was taken with the treatment of faith here. It is not only a comfort, but a trap as well. The book returns often to the way shared stories hold communities together, yet those same tales can strangle anyone who does not quite fit. There are times when the politics twist themselves into knots, and I lost my way a little, but the relationships always seemed to draw the threads back together.
The pace begins gently, with time enough to sink into the world, and that patience is rewarded. When all the different parts finally come together, it feels wholly earned. There was a patch, somewhere in the middle, where the plot grew a bit tangled and I lost track, but soon enough Bellman brought the pieces back into place.
By the end, I found myself thinking about how loyalty and fate rarely move in step with each other, and how our choices grind against the weight of all that was decided before we were born. The story feels like a living myth, yet there is a warmth to it, a sense that these lives are real and not just figures in an old tale.
For those who enjoy sprawling casts, divine plots, and a world that feels built from the ground up, as in The Will of the Many, there is so much here to enjoy. If you are after a single hero travelling a lonely road, though, you will not find that here.
MY WEBSITE.
Read all my reviews.
Thank you Netgalley and Emily Bellman for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
God Tokens Book 1: Phelen the Cycle by Emily Bellman took me straight into a world where the old gods still whisper through the trees, and a quiet young man is pulled from the comfort of his village into a tangle of ancient schemes, secrets, and the kind of politics that no one ever really talks about openly.
There is a crackle in the air right from the opening, a sense of waiting, as if something is always about to happen, but never quite does until the last possible moment. I could almost feel the tension between the characters, that hush before the storm, with their nerves stretched tight. Bellman knows how to let us settle into unease, always giving us enough time to feel the weight of it before letting us breathe again, only to tighten things once more.
This story is pure epic fantasy, not simply because of its gods and quests, but because myth clings to the very bones of the world. Still, it is not all about fate or prophecy. Bellman is interested in how belief itself shapes lives, how the gifts and burdens handed down by the gods twist people into forms they never expected. The familiar tropes are here—hidden bloodlines, long journeys—but she turns them over, pays more attention to the strain of faith and the mess that comes with power.
The characters, at first, seem to follow the paths I thought I knew, but they are changed slowly, as water wears away stone, until I realised they had become something else altogether. It never feels forced. What I found most striking was the way Bellman balances the pull of the gods with the messy, honest bonds between people. The story keeps circling back to the question of how much of our striving for freedom is just a shadow of the gods’ own stories, played out again and again.
I was taken with the treatment of faith here. It is not only a comfort, but a trap as well. The book returns often to the way shared stories hold communities together, yet those same tales can strangle anyone who does not quite fit. There are times when the politics twist themselves into knots, and I lost my way a little, but the relationships always seemed to draw the threads back together.
The pace begins gently, with time enough to sink into the world, and that patience is rewarded. When all the different parts finally come together, it feels wholly earned. There was a patch, somewhere in the middle, where the plot grew a bit tangled and I lost track, but soon enough Bellman brought the pieces back into place.
By the end, I found myself thinking about how loyalty and fate rarely move in step with each other, and how our choices grind against the weight of all that was decided before we were born. The story feels like a living myth, yet there is a warmth to it, a sense that these lives are real and not just figures in an old tale.
For those who enjoy sprawling casts, divine plots, and a world that feels built from the ground up, as in The Will of the Many, there is so much here to enjoy. If you are after a single hero travelling a lonely road, though, you will not find that here.
MY WEBSITE.
Read all my reviews.
March 10, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Emily Bellman for the eArc
As much as I would love to give this book a higher rating, unfortunately this wasn't for me for a number of reasons.
I genuinly didn't like any of the protagonists for most of the story. Raydon's backstory is tragic, but it's barely dipped into throughout until the last fourth of the book. What could have been a great introduction to his motivations for wanting to stage a revolt, instead gets pushed aside to cement him as a vain flirt. It doesn't make sense that Danial and Erin would follow him with what little information they're given. For the first half of the story Danial's motivation is simply "my birthmother gave me up, I'm angry and I want to say it to her face", and only much later does he start to question his emerging powers and attraction to Raydon and gain more depth as a character. Erin's is "I want to know why people abandoned my gods, I'm angry and I don't want to know anymore, I want to go home" - followed by an excesive amount of nagging verbaly/non-verbaly, which quite quickly turned me away from her altogether.
The love triangle didn't work for me either, as the romantic chemistry between Danial and Erin was barely present beyond "childhood friends, inevitably engaged", and the budding attraction between Danial and Raydon had very little to go on other than "things are stirring in my pants for some reason".
The biggest one though is that the book takes an exceptionally long time to introduce any of its story, endear me to its protagonists or give me a hint to "the big bad" I'd want to cheer the protagonist on to fight against. The best way to describe it is that the book felt like a drama series that uses 13+ episodes to give barely there hints to what's going on, heaps of misguided jealousy, and drawn out scenes with background characters, until you get a big reveal in the double episode season finale and a cliffhanger. I had to read this book in intervals because there wasn't enough to motivate me.
The only character through which I felt I was given any insight to motivations, lore or reasoning for the book's plot, was Bonnaha Lander, Patriarch of Strategy (the full name used almost every time he's mentioned, in case you forget). And those parts were unfortunately dry and tedious, or just frustrating. Not even at the very end do we get any information about "the big bad"; Lander reveals it to the main characters in two separate conversations that both fade to black, and when the character actually introduce themselves in the epilouge we still don't get to know anything!
All in all it wasn't until the last fourth of the book I actually felt the story and protagonists were going somewhere exciting and enjoyed reading - regretably this payoff isn't enough to encourage reading the next installments in me.
As much as I would love to give this book a higher rating, unfortunately this wasn't for me for a number of reasons.
I genuinly didn't like any of the protagonists for most of the story. Raydon's backstory is tragic, but it's barely dipped into throughout until the last fourth of the book. What could have been a great introduction to his motivations for wanting to stage a revolt, instead gets pushed aside to cement him as a vain flirt. It doesn't make sense that Danial and Erin would follow him with what little information they're given. For the first half of the story Danial's motivation is simply "my birthmother gave me up, I'm angry and I want to say it to her face", and only much later does he start to question his emerging powers and attraction to Raydon and gain more depth as a character. Erin's is "I want to know why people abandoned my gods, I'm angry and I don't want to know anymore, I want to go home" - followed by an excesive amount of nagging verbaly/non-verbaly, which quite quickly turned me away from her altogether.
The love triangle didn't work for me either, as the romantic chemistry between Danial and Erin was barely present beyond "childhood friends, inevitably engaged", and the budding attraction between Danial and Raydon had very little to go on other than "things are stirring in my pants for some reason".
The biggest one though is that the book takes an exceptionally long time to introduce any of its story, endear me to its protagonists or give me a hint to "the big bad" I'd want to cheer the protagonist on to fight against. The best way to describe it is that the book felt like a drama series that uses 13+ episodes to give barely there hints to what's going on, heaps of misguided jealousy, and drawn out scenes with background characters, until you get a big reveal in the double episode season finale and a cliffhanger. I had to read this book in intervals because there wasn't enough to motivate me.
The only character through which I felt I was given any insight to motivations, lore or reasoning for the book's plot, was Bonnaha Lander, Patriarch of Strategy (the full name used almost every time he's mentioned, in case you forget). And those parts were unfortunately dry and tedious, or just frustrating. Not even at the very end do we get any information about "the big bad"; Lander reveals it to the main characters in two separate conversations that both fade to black, and when the character actually introduce themselves in the epilouge we still don't get to know anything!
All in all it wasn't until the last fourth of the book I actually felt the story and protagonists were going somewhere exciting and enjoyed reading - regretably this payoff isn't enough to encourage reading the next installments in me.
ugh
February 18, 2026First, huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher (...methinks it's self-published, so, HUGE shout-out to the author as well!) for the chance to read this book.
Now...
DNF - PG 130
Why?
Unfortunately, for what I was hoping would be a fun new fantasy series with queer characters, it turned into a right mess.
So, what I liked:
The world building is interesting. I think the got tokens themselves are FUN, though they didn't really seem to matter. Granted, I only read about 130 pages, but one god token seems much like the next. The may be plot relevant, but, like...which god token you have doesn't seem to matter. Which I kind of found a shame.
Beyond that, it was a fairly standard fantasy setting (which, I actually appreciated). So...
My issues:
Danail. Almost entirely with a side of Erin and a small dash of Reydon.
So, for what I've actually read, I liked Reydon. He is emotionally aware, open and vibrant. Which is why is sucks that we are hardly in his head for...pretty much all of what I read.
Erin is...wishywashy and forgettable (unfortunately, it looks like for plot reasons).
Danail is...kind of emotionally constipated and bland.
So, not having the best luck and also having a...sinking sensation as to where the story was headed, I skipped ahead. (Yeah, I don't recommend it and only do it when I am about 100% certain I am dropping the book and NEED to have a confirmation or denial before that point.) I found this little gem on literally the first page I stopped at.
'They would have to talk about this, all three of them. Kissing Reydon hadn't been fair to Erin, and Danail vaguely wondered why she hadn't brought it up yet. And what of Reydon? He had responded eagerly. Did he want this again? Did he want more?
Do I want more?'
...
If you know me at all you know there are some things I don't move on from, I can't look past, and cheating is one of them.
This is - honestly - so much worse than what I was expecting to find. I thought I'd come across a 'Erin went back home, romance dissolved, but...hmm...Reydon is....hmm...' and instead I get cheating and ... considering if he wants to do it again.
Bleh.
This review has been cross posted between The Storygraph, Goodreads and NetGalley.
Now...
DNF - PG 130
Why?
Unfortunately, for what I was hoping would be a fun new fantasy series with queer characters, it turned into a right mess.
So, what I liked:
The world building is interesting. I think the got tokens themselves are FUN, though they didn't really seem to matter. Granted, I only read about 130 pages, but one god token seems much like the next. The may be plot relevant, but, like...which god token you have doesn't seem to matter. Which I kind of found a shame.
Beyond that, it was a fairly standard fantasy setting (which, I actually appreciated). So...
My issues:
Danail. Almost entirely with a side of Erin and a small dash of Reydon.
So, for what I've actually read, I liked Reydon. He is emotionally aware, open and vibrant. Which is why is sucks that we are hardly in his head for...pretty much all of what I read.
Erin is...wishywashy and forgettable (unfortunately, it looks like for plot reasons).
Danail is...kind of emotionally constipated and bland.
So, not having the best luck and also having a...sinking sensation as to where the story was headed, I skipped ahead. (Yeah, I don't recommend it and only do it when I am about 100% certain I am dropping the book and NEED to have a confirmation or denial before that point.) I found this little gem on literally the first page I stopped at.
'They would have to talk about this, all three of them. Kissing Reydon hadn't been fair to Erin, and Danail vaguely wondered why she hadn't brought it up yet. And what of Reydon? He had responded eagerly. Did he want this again? Did he want more?
Do I want more?'
...
If you know me at all you know there are some things I don't move on from, I can't look past, and cheating is one of them.
This is - honestly - so much worse than what I was expecting to find. I thought I'd come across a 'Erin went back home, romance dissolved, but...hmm...Reydon is....hmm...' and instead I get cheating and ... considering if he wants to do it again.
Bleh.
This review has been cross posted between The Storygraph, Goodreads and NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A well-crafted overarching plot and an intricate power game involving gods and religion in the middle of it!
The Kingdom of Talacharn is becoming closer and closer to a theocracy: since the One God's chosen 3 men (the first Patriarchs) stopped the Plague, its newly founded organized religion (the Eklesia - the Byzantine/Orthodox influence is obvious here) cemented itself in the land and started pushing the Old Gods to the sidelines, using proselytization and violence alike.
Now, hundreds of years later, the King is sick and the Patriarchs are about to complete their power grab - while desperate to keep their darkest secret hidden.
The first book of God Tokens focuses on the journey of the prince's lost brother, Danial, who grew up in a remote mountain village worshiping the Old Gods, his fiancee Erin the Herbwise, the future healer and spiritual leader of the village, who will discover that women face a different reality under the One God's Eklesia and Reydon, the last remnant of a merchant family murdered by the Patriarchs to conceal their secret. The point of view also alternates to the kingdom's capital.
The worldbuilding is immaculate, artfully binding the natural and the supernatural together. The messages on some philosophical and political topics is also spot on. It took me a while to get interested in our main trio, they are a bit rough at the beginning where Danial and Erin see the world through the "secluded village" lense.
The finale preapres the reader for what's next to come in the trilogy, with unlikely alliances forming and new pathways opening.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
The Kingdom of Talacharn is becoming closer and closer to a theocracy: since the One God's chosen 3 men (the first Patriarchs) stopped the Plague, its newly founded organized religion (the Eklesia - the Byzantine/Orthodox influence is obvious here) cemented itself in the land and started pushing the Old Gods to the sidelines, using proselytization and violence alike.
Now, hundreds of years later, the King is sick and the Patriarchs are about to complete their power grab - while desperate to keep their darkest secret hidden.
The first book of God Tokens focuses on the journey of the prince's lost brother, Danial, who grew up in a remote mountain village worshiping the Old Gods, his fiancee Erin the Herbwise, the future healer and spiritual leader of the village, who will discover that women face a different reality under the One God's Eklesia and Reydon, the last remnant of a merchant family murdered by the Patriarchs to conceal their secret. The point of view also alternates to the kingdom's capital.
The worldbuilding is immaculate, artfully binding the natural and the supernatural together. The messages on some philosophical and political topics is also spot on. It took me a while to get interested in our main trio, they are a bit rough at the beginning where Danial and Erin see the world through the "secluded village" lense.
The finale preapres the reader for what's next to come in the trilogy, with unlikely alliances forming and new pathways opening.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It's clear the author put a lot of thought into their world and how it works, but they tried to stuff -- I think -- too much into too few pages. (I mean, this is only 432 page book!) The characters never really grow beyond the tropes assigned to them, and the pace has them all but running from place to place to place with no time to sit and reflect on what's going on around them.
One of my biggest issues is that so many key scenes, such as Reydon learning a secret about his family, isn't told from his POV, but Danial's, instead. Erin having her hair cut off isn't told from her POV, and while it's clear that the loss of her hair is affecting her, the scene is from Danial's POV, and he doesn't really care.
The author really ought to do a little research into how horses work if they're going to use them in books; why would a man keep a horse in its bridle for days -- or weeks? A single horse pulling a tinker's wagon isn't likely to be cantering through narrow city streets. Small things, yes, but they speak to a lack of horse knowledge that has me going "Neigh!"
The plot and the world building were strong enough that I might grab book 2 when it comes out, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this book just yet as it's mostly setup.
One of my biggest issues is that so many key scenes, such as Reydon learning a secret about his family, isn't told from his POV, but Danial's, instead. Erin having her hair cut off isn't told from her POV, and while it's clear that the loss of her hair is affecting her, the scene is from Danial's POV, and he doesn't really care.
The author really ought to do a little research into how horses work if they're going to use them in books; why would a man keep a horse in its bridle for days -- or weeks? A single horse pulling a tinker's wagon isn't likely to be cantering through narrow city streets. Small things, yes, but they speak to a lack of horse knowledge that has me going "Neigh!"
The plot and the world building were strong enough that I might grab book 2 when it comes out, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this book just yet as it's mostly setup.
March 11, 2026
Absolutely loved it. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
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