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Master of Sorrows

(The Silent Gods #1)

Justin Travis Call (Goodreads Author)

3.91 · Rating details · 1,093 ratings · 332 reviews

You have heard the story before - of a young boy, orphaned through tragic circumstances, raised by a wise old man, who comes to a fuller knowledge of his magic and uses it to fight the great evil that threatens his world.

But what if the boy hero and the malevolent, threatening taint were one and the same?

What if the boy slowly came to realize he was the reincarnation of an ...more

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Kindle Edition, 448 pages

Published February 21st 2019 by Gollancz

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· 1,093 ratings · 332 reviews

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Feb 01, 2019 Sean Barrs rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-star-reads, fantasy, review-copies, reviewed-for-fantasy-book-review

This is a very strong dark fantasy debut that will appeal directly to fans of The Poppy War and The Name of the Wind. It’s intense, mystical and brutal.

The novel is Asian inspired, depicting a fighting academy that has an eastern quality to it. The masters who rule their and teach their ways despise the use of magic and hoard it in their secret vault to protect the world from its effects. They hunt and kill magic users and will gladly slay an infant at birth if they bare the taint of magic. Th This is a very strong dark fantasy debut that will appeal directly to fans of The Poppy War and The Name of the Wind. It’s intense, mystical and brutal.

The novel is Asian inspired, depicting a fighting academy that has an eastern quality to it. The masters who rule their and teach their ways despise the use of magic and hoard it in their secret vault to protect the world from its effects. They hunt and kill magic users and will gladly slay an infant at birth if they bare the taint of magic. They are an order that appear benevolent but have many dark secrets they hide from the boys they claim to train for the benefit of humanity.

Driving the plot is a strong undercurrent of destiny and dark magic. Our hero (Annev) is being hunted by dark forces. Dark gods want him; they want to use him for the power he can channel. He lives in secret at the academy training to become an avatar of the order. The masters have no idea that one of their enemies is in plain sight. And this made the novel quite tense in points, there were several close moments when Annev’s identity was almost revealed. Such a thing would mean his banishment from the place he calls home. The story took several unexpected directions, so I was certain this reveal could happen at any time.

Fans of The Poppy War will, undoubtably, really appreciate this one. Both novels begin in a training academy, but slowly burst out into the real world as death approaches quickly. I really do recommend trying this if you like R.F Kuang’s writing. Justin Travis Calls’ novel is much darker from the outset, though he uses the school trope just as effectively. And I really liked how quickly the book moved forward, it didn’t mess around as the story constantly developed as more elements were added in. It also contains a very dark and dramatic prologue, which I couldn’t wait to find more about. And when the reveals came, I wasn’t disappointed.

As a protagonist, Annev is the archetypal reluctant hero. He is unaware of his potential. His greatest strength is his ability to question and to think independently aside from the brainwashing that occurs at the academy (similar to Kvothe’s ingenuity.) This allows him to succeed time and time again where he would potentially fail because he has not yet fully come to trust his own physical abilities. It also makes the action quite interesting as the characters begin to work together as a unit rather than as independent warriors. And I think as friendships and trust grows across books, this could become much stronger. He is quite a compelling character, genuine and honest, so it becomes hard not to root for him. It will be intriguing to see what the dark magic he possesses does to his personality as it begins to manifest itself more strongly.

For now though this is the beginnings of a new and exciting fantasy series that kept throwing surprises my way – a solid 8.5/10.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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Feb 25, 2019 James Tivendale rated it it was amazing

Shelves: freecopy, fantasy

I received an uncorrected proof copy of Master of Sorrows in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Justin Call and Gollancz.

The narrative begins as we are introduced to the 17-year-old acolyte Annev. He is aiming to progress to the desired status of an Avatar of Judgement in this educational environment. The atmosphere he lives within, the classes he frequents and seminars he attends are to help him achieve this, whilst also being aided by the influence of his guardian Sodar and a varied I received an uncorrected proof copy of Master of Sorrows in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Justin Call and Gollancz.

The narrative begins as we are introduced to the 17-year-old acolyte Annev. He is aiming to progress to the desired status of an Avatar of Judgement in this educational environment. The atmosphere he lives within, the classes he frequents and seminars he attends are to help him achieve this, whilst also being aided by the influence of his guardian Sodar and a varied group of teachers. The issue is that to achieve the status of an Avatar of Judgement, a trainee needs to pass a test simply known as a judgment (or testing day). Annev is yet to pass, although his skills, knowledge and intellect outweigh his peers'. Tomorrow is his last chance. Annev and his two best friends, Titus and Therin normally work together but this hasn't aided any of our trio so far. This is the last chance to become an Avatar. One position remains plus many individuals who already own that status do not wish for Annev or his pals to achieve that sort of recognition. Still... the one final position remains. If unsuccessful these characters will become stewards (little more than servants) to the masters and the avatars and their rights as members of the academy are reduced sevenfold. The fact that Annev will not be allowed to marry his sweetheart is just one example.

In similar fashion to The Name of the Wind, The Magician's Guild and The Poppy War, we have a sort of hero of destiny, an educational establishment, bullies, colourful tutors, and character-defining hardship environmental experiences. Unlike the magic schools of the aforementioned, this is an anti-magic college. The students are trained as warriors (a' la Blood Song) taught swordsmanship, stealth, lockpicking, and other arts of infiltration. Individuals, as an avatar or a master of Chaenbalu, well, their main goal is to find magical artefacts. Taking them from evil individuals who would use them for nefarious purposes or to recoup them from others who are bewildered and unaware of the effects of said rods or magical adornments.

The history of the Gods, in a series known as The Silent Gods, is interesting. It is predominantly presented in a prologue bible-esque fashion at the start of each 'part'. I am normally bored and honestly riled at the nonsense of these sections in fantasy but they worked exquisitely well here. We're introduced to three Gods who were a family. One of which was a hero in how he cared for his family but is criminalised to the world in a sense that is arguably not his fault. Who is the real villain? This ARC had the status "What if you were destined to be the villain" as Jen Lyons' debut similarly stated, "What if you weren't the hero." I dislike taglines like this in both books. So misleading and I guess trying to appeal to the grimdark era of fantasy.

Anyway, one of the finest aspects of this novel is the amazing characters however, my statements about all are not glowing as you will see. Annev is a brilliant protagonist. Sodar is amazing and confusingly mysteriously mentor that a hero of generations really needs. I can happily say that there are about 15-20 brilliantly constructed creations here. Two issues, however. I did not care about anything to do with Annev's love and I believe that is only a tool to see what happens in the next book... and Fyn, although a stunning character, who I liked a lot, and one I can't wait to follow next, his progression did not seem organic. It seemed a bit too neat and tidy to help the narrative's progression.

SPOILER UNTIL I SAY OTHERWISE...

Annev reminded me about one of my favourite characters in fantasy over the last 3 years, Girton Club-Foot (Age of Assassins). Both are disabled. Both are probably by far the best at what they do but are looked down upon. Especially in this novel, anybody with a disability is known as a son a Keos - who in my mind, is a God who did everything right, but it criminalised. I guess we'll find out more about this in the next two novels.

END...

Master of Shadows - in our world where everyone is scared about where the next read is coming from and when, and hoping we don't have to wait a decade for the next book - works perfectly as a standalone. Yes, I do want to read the next entry and there are about three loose threads that I can't wait to grip onto in #2.

This novel features tragic and sad deaths, utter betrayals, twisty-turny-twisty-turns, phenomenal weapons, and well depicted disabled individuals. The world is gigantic but in this entry, we are mainly focused on Chaenelau and the neighbouring forest. There are many books that this is similar to but in my mind, this is so much better than The Name of The Wind. This is phenomenal. Exquisite. It shows other novels how tropes should be worked to appear new and better than what has come before. ...more

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Jan 15, 2019 TS Chan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: re-read, arc-review-copy, physical-owned

ARC received from the publisher, Gollancz, in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

Master of Sorrows was a remarkable debut which I simply cannot put down.

This book recalled so much about what I loved about classic epic fantasy and yet felt modern. The author has quoted David Eddings as his earliest favourite. Having read and loved Eddings' works myself, I can definitely see the influences from The Belgariad in this book; a prophecy, Gods and a coming-of-age tale of a young man destined for ...more

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Nov 13, 2019 Hamad rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-reads, adult-books, e-books, good-covers, fantasy, paperbacks

This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷

Actual Rating: 4.25 stars

“It is wise to fear what we do not understand.”

I am not sure that this review will do this book justice, I fell into a reviewing spiral and it took me many months to finally catch up with all the reviews that I need to write. I read this in May so I forgot some of the details but I did not forget that I enjoyed the book so much!

I am starting with the cover just because my mom commented on how good it looks and she us ...more

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Jan 27, 2019 Nils | nilsreviewsit rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Master of Sorrows by Justin Travis Call is the first book in the Silent Gods series, and I’m pleased to say it was an admirable start. This book was very reminiscent of the earlier classic fantasy books that I used to read from such authors as David Eddings. The Belgariad by Eddings was one of my favourite series and I can certainly see many influences from that in this book such as; a prophecy, warring gods and a young unlikely hero. However, Call managed to put a modern twist to the narrative, Master of Sorrows by Justin Travis Call is the first book in the Silent Gods series, and I’m pleased to say it was an admirable start. This book was very reminiscent of the earlier classic fantasy books that I used to read from such authors as David Eddings. The Belgariad by Eddings was one of my favourite series and I can certainly see many influences from that in this book such as; a prophecy, warring gods and a young unlikely hero. However, Call managed to put a modern twist to the narrative, which I was glad to see. I’d been craving to read something that was nostalgic and charming and this book did the trick.

In brief, this first book tells the story of our main protagonist, Annev; a young orphan at an Academy that trains its students to retrieve magical artefacts which have been outlawed by the religious institution. Under the surface though, Annev hides a secret deformity, he can use forbidden magic, and a prophecy states his coming will either break the world or save it. Which path will he choose?

Although the magical school trope has been used time and time again, I still found this setting and plot extremely fun and entertaining. As Annev faced trials to become an Avatar, which would lead him to be sent on artefact retrieval missions, he faced bullies, betrayal and the infatuation of young love along the way. He also faced a choice between following his trusted and fatherly-like tutor Sodar, or following his own path.

Annev was not your typical perfect at everything type of character; he was naive, angsty, flawed and often goddamn foolish. There were times when I wanted to slap him across the face to make him see sense; especially when he was pining after his beloved Myjun. I’m not a fan of romance in books, so this part of the narrative was not my favourite, but I could see that it reflected the experience of first love. However, there were other times when I was proud to see him think rationally and weigh up his options with some maturity. I felt he was a great rounded character and his coming of age portrayal was done realistically; I mean who hasn’t made mistakes or been naive in their youth?

My favourite parts of Master of Sorrows lied within the world building. Most of the story is told from the POV of Annev, but there was a prologue and other breaks throughout that told the history and religious lore of the Gods. Here I could see fantastic use of Norse Mythology had influenced many of the ideas in the book. There was the Staff of Odar which only the worthy could wield, and the Hammer of Keos which could create malicious creatures. I also enjoyed how the stigma of deformities was reflected in the narrative. Any deformity was seen as a sign of a follower of Keos, the corrupted fallen God, and therefore any person with the slightest impairment was either killed or shunned. I appreciated how all this was weaved into the story and there were no large sections of info dumping.

Overall this book exceeded my expectations time and time again, especially towards the end, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

Thank you to Gollancz for providing me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Feb 17, 2020 C.G. Drews rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, read-2020, disability, epic-fantasy

I've been on such an epic fantasy kick lately, devouring IT ALL, and so this came at the perfect time for me to be so into the story! It's thickly epic and has harsh magic schools, forests of monsters, complex god lore, and a protagonist who manages to be affable and completely badass. It's quite a thick beast, but I found it really easy and accessible to read. The characters are mostly teens so it's a good crossover from YA to adult fantasy. It also plays a bit with some good ol' fantasy tropes I've been on such an epic fantasy kick lately, devouring IT ALL, and so this came at the perfect time for me to be so into the story! It's thickly epic and has harsh magic schools, forests of monsters, complex god lore, and a protagonist who manages to be affable and completely badass. It's quite a thick beast, but I found it really easy and accessible to read. The characters are mostly teens so it's a good crossover from YA to adult fantasy. It also plays a bit with some good ol' fantasy tropes, so it managed to be both homey and fresh.

The magic school setting was both intriguing and dark. It was a pretty harsh school, with a headmaster no one could please, ruled by strict and suffocating religion. They train pupils to become avatars, who then are sent on missions to retrieve magical artefacts to stow in the school's deep catacombs. Because magic is evil. Worse, anyone with a disability is labeled a "child of Keos" and sentenced to die. Their thinking is suffocating and so dependent on hive mind and lack of education. Sound familiar? Ah yes. OUR MEDIEVAL HISTORY. (Minus, well, the magic sadly. Wish we had some.) I really enjoyed the magic system and this version of wizard wands, plus the intriguing magical objects they kept using!

I also really liked the disability rep. Annev, our narrator, has one arm and uses a magic prosthetic! He has a some inner hate towards his disability to work towards (and I always flinch at phrases like "overcoming your disability" but I think that only happened once), but he absolutely didn't get why he was hated for having one arm. How did that make him an evil worshipper of an evil god?! And his mentor, Sodar, was 100% his advocate and ally. It was just nice to see disability rep that affected the character but the only reason he hid it was to stay alive. NOT that he was ashamed or hated himself. :')

I am so here for the characters too. Annev was so kind, such a fierce Hufflepuff. He was all for not letting friends be left behind, protecting the weak, finding ways around backwards-thinking rules, and also a tactician and strategist! He HANDLED bullies. He was so soft and loving with his mentor Sodar (oh wow, I love reading books where male characters are tender to each other). Aaaand okay Annev was also such a dumbass at times ("I love her! Don't tell me what to do!") but he was seventeen and I get his nonsense. 😂

I also really was intrigued by Fyn, but the end (bully with an excellent character arc) and wanted to know more about the other boys. There is only one girl, who was very much just there as a love interest, which is unfortunate, but hoping for more in the sequel.

A compelling read that asks "what makes a monster", and fills your mind with god lore, magical theory, epic enchanted weapons, and characters you can't help but root for. ...more

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Oct 02, 2019 Adam rated it it was amazing

Re-read update: Oct 13, 2020: Since I'm about to start a pre-ARC of the sequel, I thought it would be a good idea to re-read Master of Sorrows to have all of the material fresh in my head. We're just scratching the surface of a story with massive scope in lore, religion, locations, and carefully constructed rune-based magic systems. I was expecting all that upon revisiting this book. What I wasn't expecting was to pick up all the nuance, the subtle foreshadowing and the clicking of so many piece ...more

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Dec 19, 2018 Mary S. R. marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy, dark, adult

You have heard the story before—of a young boy, orphaned through tragic circumstances, raised by a wise old man, who comes to a fuller knowledge of his magic and uses it to fight the great evil that threatens his world.

But what if the boy hero and the malevolent, threatening taint were one and the same?

Um, THANK YOU???? The hero that could be the villain and the villain that could be the hero is what I need in every. single. book.

Unlike his classmates who were stolen as infants from the capital ...more

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Apr 06, 2020 Nicholas Eames rated it it was amazing

I did the audiobook for this one, and loved it.

While a few things tripped me up in the beginning (an occasionally "whining" tone from the main character and what felt like a long "here's what the gods did" exposition scene) I really, really enjoyed this book.

About halfway through I listened to a podcast interview with Travis which I think helped frame a lot things for me. First, the "gods" scene that irked me actually served a very important purpose, because it's mirrored later on from a differ I did the audiobook for this one, and loved it.

While a few things tripped me up in the beginning (an occasionally "whining" tone from the main character and what felt like a long "here's what the gods did" exposition scene) I really, really enjoyed this book.

About halfway through I listened to a podcast interview with Travis which I think helped frame a lot things for me. First, the "gods" scene that irked me actually served a very important purpose, because it's mirrored later on from a differing perspective that makes you realize that scripture (surprise!) is an unreliable narrator. Secondly, Travis mentioned that the whole book takes place over a few days, which made me realize (belatedly) that we really don't leave Annev's side from the beginning of the story to till the end. It makes for an intense, intimate story, and while I'm glad not EVERY book does this I certainly enjoyed it here.

The writing itself is fantastic, and the world feels rich with lore. We're given some tantalizing hints as to what sort of epic battles and awful foes lay in store.

The best part for me was the evolution of the main character. While the story spans only a few days, he goes through A LOT during that time, and I'm looking forward to seeing him evolve further in future books. Annev FEELS like the teenage boy he is, which can be infuriating at times (especially when hormones are involved!), but it does the story a great service, I think, to make him this way, because it'll make the person he eventually becomes feel like someone whose character development has been earned tooth and nail.

Also, the narrator was fantastic. Will I be glad when the boys in the book grow up a bit and lose that "winging" tone? Sure. But his voices were amazing and the tone he set was enthralling from beginning to end.

Lastly, bonus points for magic swords, magic cloaks, magic armour, and magic in general.

This book is undoubtedly a slow burn (with an "explosion" at the end), but it's a great beginning to what I think will be a journey worth taking. ...more

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Mar 16, 2019 Dannii Elle rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantastic-fabrications

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

The synopsis begun thus:

"You have heard the story before - of a young boy, orphaned through tragic circumstances, raised by a wise old man, who comes to a fuller knowledge of his magic and uses it to fight the great evil that threatens his world."

But from the very first page I knew this was a book unlike any other I had encountered before.

Many elements remained that are a prerequisite for what I consider a stellar fantasy novel - a complex magic system, a fantastical ac Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

The synopsis begun thus:

"You have heard the story before - of a young boy, orphaned through tragic circumstances, raised by a wise old man, who comes to a fuller knowledge of his magic and uses it to fight the great evil that threatens his world."

But from the very first page I knew this was a book unlike any other I had encountered before.

Many elements remained that are a prerequisite for what I consider a stellar fantasy novel - a complex magic system, a fantastical academy, religious and/or cultural politics, a scheming and self-serving hierarchy - but all this was interwoven with something entirely the author's own.

This is one of the few fantasy novels I have read where magic is a despised element. Usually it is deeply revered and harnessed. Here it is forbidden and neglected. Yet still ever-present. This creates an immediate bond between the reader and the central character, as we are invited to share a secret from the very prologue. This bond was only ever built upon and I felt, very quickly, how ardently I wished to protect Annev, our young, misguided, and foolhardy yet pure, brave, and relentlessly honest eyes into this world.

The town, that much of this novel is centred around, is an isolated one. It is largely self-sufficient and keeps its inhabitants blind to the wider world. Annev's entire life has been structured by the beliefs of the academy's master, who rules it, and much of his misguided notions, of what is right and wrong, stem from his direction. He is fortunate, however, to have another master schooling him. But this other individual is harbouring dark secrets that make Annev question the soundness of his instruction and just what mysteries are lurking in the past of all those around him.

As Annev navigates his way through his final trials at the academy, the political weathers outside of the town are continuing to darken and I am excited to see where they will take him in the coming series instalments.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Justin Travis Call , and the publisher, Gollancz, for this opportunity. ...more

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Apr 07, 2018 Justin Call marked it as to-read · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

This is my book. I rather liked writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Some things that may be helpful to know about this novel, its accompanying series, and my writing process:

(1) This is crossover fiction – both Adult Epic Fantasy and YA Fantasy. That's a feature (not a flaw); it's meant to appeal to both teens and adults. Tough cookies if you don't like that, but there it is. I tried to write something that both my 13-year-old self and my 30-year-old self would enjoy. I succeeded in doing t This is my book. I rather liked writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Some things that may be helpful to know about this novel, its accompanying series, and my writing process:

(1) This is crossover fiction – both Adult Epic Fantasy and YA Fantasy. That's a feature (not a flaw); it's meant to appeal to both teens and adults. Tough cookies if you don't like that, but there it is. I tried to write something that both my 13-year-old self and my 30-year-old self would enjoy. I succeeded in doing that, but whether or not the book appeals to you can only be discovered in the reading.

(2) This book doesn't just drop you into things – it eases you in. It gives you time to learn the world and assemble your knowledge of the world like pieces of a puzzle. Like climbing a mountain one step at a time and then clearing the summit. Some people will call that a "slow burn" and then in the next breath will either praise my novel or curse it for that same effect. That's fine. For myself, I never felt like Master of Sorrows was a "slow burn" because the protagonist moves from one challenge to another with only a few small breaks allowing him to process events. The last third in particular moves at more of a thriller pacing ... but I get it. I understand why many have called it a slow burn and I think the comparison to similar books is merited (The Name of the Wind is the most common of those comparisons, which I am flattered by).

(3) Despite marketing language, Master of Sorrows is not actually about a hero becoming the dark lord – because that's the pitch for the *series* (not the first volume of the series). So what is Master of Sorrows? I'll let you decide for yourself, though I've tried to be as honest as possible by saying it is the "origin story" for a dark lord. Enjoy that journey (as ponderous as it may seem), because the series as a whole is about exploring that arc. If, however, you are expecting the main character to become a villain by the end of the first book ... well, let's just say I warned you against that expectation. Perhaps that's a spoiler, but I don't care. I'd rather have someone slightly less excited to read my book than have the grumpy reader finish my book and feel I didn't meet their expectations. I promise if you stick with the series, though, everyone will eventually get what they wanted. Trust in the writing – trust in the trajectory of the story and my ability to tell it correctly with the right pacing – and all will be well.

(4) Master of Sorrows is the first book in a tetralogy called The Silent Gods ... but I have other books planned (assuming that tetralogy does well). In fact, I have 12 books planned in total (three distinct arcs framed within three sets of four books), but I won't get to tell those other stories unless the first tetralogy does well – so if you like these books, please tell your friends, your foes, and anyone else that respects your opinion as a reader. I've noticed the book does especially well with teens and new adults (as intended), but it's also enjoyed by older, veteran readers. Help spread the word and I'll reward my readers with more books. Fair?

(5) I play with tropes in my fantasy novels. In doing so, I try to evoke the same feelings I had when reading classic fantasy from my teens and twenties. I also like to play with those tropes and (hopefully) introduce some new themes that are fresh and modern. That sometimes makes my books a little dark (even a little cynical), but my writing is also tinged with hope. Ed McDonald has called this type of writing "Grimheart" (a close relative of the more nihilistic "Grimdark" genre), and I rather like it. You can call it what you like – Dark Fantasy, Grimheart, Grimlight, Epic Fantasy – but it's all the same to me. I'm just trying to tell a good story the best way I know how, one that pays homage to what's come before while adding something uniquely my own. So far, I think I'm succeeding ... but you can judge for yourself. Whatever you do, don't think for a moment that I'm blind to the tropes I've chosen to use. They serve a purpose and are conscious choices. If you still don't like them, well that's fine. You can't please everybody.

(6) I love chatting with readers, especially those with questions or queries about things hinted at within the series. If you ask me questions about the series, I'll almost always answer them in private (and usually in public, too, though I'll be more conscious of spoilers). It's a joy for me to hear from readers who enjoyed my stories, so don't be shy about reaching out. Likewise, I don't mind being tagged if you write a good review or blog post about my writing. Don't be an ass-hat and tag me for a negative review, though (I'll usually find those on my own and will only choose to read them when I'm feeling especially thick-skinned or masochistic). If you want to contact me about a Q&A or doing an interview or something, I'm also open to those queries. The best way to reach me is on Twitter @Justin_T_Call. ...more

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Jan 29, 2020 Lucia rated it did not like it

Shelves: fantasy, dnf

DNF at 26%

(but since I spent 10 days of my life reading that much of this book, you can bet I am rating it even though I did not finish it)

Sadly, Master of Sorrows did not touch the right buttons for me. It all comes down to the fact that this book reads very slowly. Normally, I wouldn't mind if writing is good and characters are fascinating. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Not only main character Annev is boring and super annoying but also there is none world-building. This unfortunate co ...more

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Jun 24, 2019 Fares rated it liked it

I need to gather my thoughts to review this.

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Jan 18, 2019 Hiu Gregg rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-releases, arcs

I’ve had my eye on Master of Sorrows for quite a while. The whole concept of a hero destined to become the villain, and the struggle of fighting against that “destiny”… that’s the sort of thing that speaks to me.

But y’know, for a book about a boy destined to become The Great Evil, this is a remarkably relaxing read. There’s a lot of stuff in here that feels familiar, as though it’s pulling from or influenced by classic epic fantasies. And yet it feels fresh. It’s just familiar enough to get you I’ve had my eye on Master of Sorrows for quite a while. The whole concept of a hero destined to become the villain, and the struggle of fighting against that “destiny”… that’s the sort of thing that speaks to me.

But y’know, for a book about a boy destined to become The Great Evil, this is a remarkably relaxing read. There’s a lot of stuff in here that feels familiar, as though it’s pulling from or influenced by classic epic fantasies. And yet it feels fresh. It’s just familiar enough to get you comfortable and just original enough to be enjoyable.

The world is fascinating, and though the book is a little info-dumpy in places, I can imagine a lot of readers will enjoy losing themselves in discussion and speculation about the lore. To simplify things a bit (a lot), there were two gods who cast down a third god named Keos. Through various faux-biblical interludes, we learn that in this world (or at least in the secluded village of Chaenbalu) those who are disfigured or disabled are considered “cursed”, and therefore agents of Keos.

This prejudice runs to the extent that in the prologue, a baby born with no arm past his elbow is sentenced to death. Along with his parents. The baby survives and becomes our protagonist — Annev.

Annev is a very idealistic character. Adopted and brought up by the local priest, Sodar, he divides his time between serving as Sodar’s deacon and training to become a warrior thief — an “avatar” — at Chaenbalu’s academy. He is forced to keep his arm a secret through the use of a magical prosthetic, and in turn forced to keep that a secret because, well… magic is evil. Actually, that seems to be the purpose of the Academy: to hunt down and bring back magical artifacts to be locked up.

But where the Academy encourages individual achievement and almost vilifies friendship (along with everything else, it seems), Annev believes otherwise. Throughout the book, Annev’s sense of right and wrong is challenged, and he has to do some real soul-searching to decide whether to follow his own moral compass or that of his society. The looming threat of his supposedly evil destiny lends a certain gravity to these scenes, and adds an interesting twist to an otherwise familiar coming-of-age tale.

This story is a slow burner. While it is laden with promises of an epic scale, it takes its time getting to that point. We spend a lot of time exploring just what kind of person Annev is, and that pays off with a more satisfying character-arc. The characters as a whole are a bit more Sanderson than Hobb, leaning more to the simple-yet-relatable side rather than more complex and flawed.

In terms of writing, Call’s style is quite relaxed and digestible. It’s very easy to fly through the pages, and honestly I devoured this book in far fewer sittings than I was expecting.

I do have one pretty major criticism, though. While there is a good core of supporting characters, there’s really only one important, recurring character in this book that’s a woman, and she’s Annev’s love interest. Now, there is some in-world justification for this: Annev spends his days either training under Sodar or at the all-boys Academy, so he isn’t really going to run into many women all that often… But that explanation only stretches so far, and does nothing for the readers who expect to see women in their fiction. There is some indication that this won’t be the case in future books, so hopefully this will improve in the sequels.

But looking beyond that, I really did enjoy this book as a whole. I found it to be a wonderful mix of the old and the new, and the ending had me begging for just one… more… chapter. I’m very impressed with Justin Call’s debut, and I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

If you’re a fan of coming-of-age stories, magic schools, and the idea of what’s right and what’s wrong, then Master of Sorrows is the book for you. ...more

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Mar 15, 2019 Atlas rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy, adult-fiction, audiobook

Every master has an apprenticeship

* *
2 / 5

The premise of Master of Sorrows was intriguing: a boy missing an arm in a world where those with physical scars and “deformities” are presumed to be worshipers of the dark god, with forbidden magic and a secret quest. But mostly I picked it up because I read a review that compared it to The Poppy War. The Poppy War was a dark, compelling, haunting and disturbing masterpiece. It literally haunts me sometimes. Master of Sorrows was nothing like The Poppy ...more

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Feb 11, 2019 Mike Everest Evans rated it it was amazing

Shelves: debut, heroic-fantasy, epic-fantasy

Full review originally posted on http://fantasy-hive.co.uk/

The Good: Destiny and dark magic, a fresh take on time-honoured tropes, a world brimming with history, belief and ideals, action sequences that dare to be different, and a plot filled with secrets and surprises.

The Bad: Bit of a slow burner at the start, and some of the early dialogues felt a bit like exposition (albeit necessary when covering this much world-building), but both are worth the pay off.

The Ugly Truth: A modern take on the ...more

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May 03, 2019 Jeremy Jackson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Man, I needed that. The breath of air you get from MoS is both fresh and nostalgic at once; fast-paced and compelling, it reads like a classic fantasy without feeling derivative. It harkens to Earthsea and Name of the Wind, but its world is wholly original. We glimpse intimations of its grander scope, and the promised twist--that the Chosen One is prophesied to be an instrument of darkness instead of good--is tantalizingly alluded to, but never realized. I assume this development will be expound ...more

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Jun 09, 2020 Hasna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020, fantasy

It has got elements I like:

•High Fantasy blended with mythology
•Complex magic system
•Internal politics and secrets
•Magical creatures
•Master-apprentice trope, this was very well done.
•Protagonist with a disability

But, it was slow paced for my taste. Couldn't get into it in the first half, it was more YAish. Second half took a turn and got darker, pace improved as well. The main character made some questionable decisions which irked me. The idea of a traditional hero descending towards a darker p ...more

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Apr 06, 2020 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020, arc-bk-netgalley, ebk-kindle

This book is a captivating dark fantasy, set in a world where having magic is a curse and a proof of evil. There are not a lot of books where magic is prohibited, and I like to read them. Other than the fact I was imagining that Annev was 19-20 years old instead or 17, because let's face it, he knew too much stuff for his age, I have nothing negative to say about this book. It is a whirlwind of action, magic, teens being teens (tw for bullying) and it's SO GOOD.

The second book of this series wil ...more

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Mar 09, 2019 Izzie rated it liked it

Shelves: arcs, epic-fantasy, ebooks

I enjoyed Master of Sorrows, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of the series has in store - however something just felt a little flat, so for now I'm giving it 3.5 which I might up to four stars when I write a full review.

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Mar 27, 2019 Kirsti rated it it was ok

Shelves: owned

This SOUNDED on paper like something I'd really enjoy, but in reality it was far from the case. I felt like this was too long, too drawn out and by the end I couldn't wait to finish. The funny thing is, there was plenty of action in the mean time; probably too much. Annev is always competing, fighting, discovering and the whole thing felt exhausting. At first, I was waiting for him to FINALLY achieve his life goal of becoming an avatar. (view spoiler) ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Liv | Books to Liv by rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: remarkable-hero, young-adult, thought-provoking, mythology

Rating: 4.5 stars
HEA: (view spoiler)[ Not yet (hide spoiler)]

“I feared that knowing we might leave one day would stop you pursuing your dreams. Boys need dreams. When you become an old man like me, you exchange them for hope, and then spend your hopes on others’ dreams.”

Reading this book was a delightful experience. I knew it was about a young boy, Annev, born with a missing arm, that lived in a secret village where its citizens believed that deformities were the unmistakable mark of Rating: 4.5 stars
HEA: (view spoiler)[ Not yet (hide spoiler)]

“I feared that knowing we might leave one day would stop you pursuing your dreams. Boys need dreams. When you become an old man like me, you exchange them for hope, and then spend your hopes on others’ dreams.”

Reading this book was a delightful experience. I knew it was about a young boy, Annev, born with a missing arm, that lived in a secret village where its citizens believed that deformities were the unmistakable mark of an evil god. I knew it was about an Academy, where Annev trained to become an Avatar, a title that would give him permission to go searching for magical artefacts and lock them away. I knew it was about ancient gods and prejudice… But the dark undertones that Call delivered with his stunning prose... were unexpected and utterly fascinating.

I loved, loved, Annev: I found him realistic, believable and tridimensional in his genuiness. I loved Sodar, his mentor, who dedicated part of his life to protect the boy and train him.
I loved the world building, how everything was depicted: I loved the many entries that referred to ancient books and different translations of them. I loved how much thought the author put into creating a magical system that was indeed refreshing and unique.

But above all, what really pulled me in was Call’s ability to write the most powerful dialogues. Where faith, obsession, manipulation and freedom were all used and discussed thoroughly.

“It’s in your nature, Ainnevog. Like the ring-snake, you change your surroundings to suit your needs. You may act as if you belong, but your actions prove you are not part of this tree. Instead you are a divisive element that seeks to cripple what I worked very hard to cultivate.”

The only thing I would like to see in the next instalment is a proper appendix, with all the lists of gods and magical roles 😍.
The ending? Pure perfection. The rise of a villain? Count me in.
4.5 stars.

P.s. I’m very well aware of the absence of important female characters in this book, besides Annev’s love interest, Miyun. But I found myself not caring about this aspect, because I think the author’s choice was due to the academic environment of the first instalment, nothing else.

Thank you Gollancz for gifting me this copy in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more

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Oct 10, 2019 Maja Ingrid rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, fantasy

4-4,5 stars

“But what if the boy hero and the malevolent, threatening taint were one and the same? What if the boy slowly came to realize he was the reincarnation of an evil god? Would he save the world . . . or destroy it?” was what caught my interest when this book came. I’ve found I like that kind of stuff. While the book wasn't exactly what I expected, it was certainly a blast to read. And Annev was a gem to follow. I first thought he was around 15-ish, and not 17, because at times he does ac 4-4,5 stars

“But what if the boy hero and the malevolent, threatening taint were one and the same? What if the boy slowly came to realize he was the reincarnation of an evil god? Would he save the world . . . or destroy it?” was what caught my interest when this book came. I’ve found I like that kind of stuff. While the book wasn't exactly what I expected, it was certainly a blast to read. And Annev was a gem to follow. I first thought he was around 15-ish, and not 17, because at times he does act a bit younger than his age. Still a precious bean though.

The other characters I also liked a lot. Titus was a too precious little cinnamon roll to deserve to live in a such a harsh place. I love the sweet, innocent and naive characters that you just want to wrap in bubblewrap and protect against all evil. I also liked that Fyn and Annev grew to, maybe not be friends, but accept each other. While I love me some mortal enemies á la Kvothe and Ambrose (I live for those kind of relationship) I also love when that bad enemies grow to be friends. Sodar was your typical old af and secretive mentor. You always love them. I never really cared for Myjun after it showed how brainwashed she was by her father/the academy's belief about people with lost limbs or having scars were children of Keos. I prayed Annev would ditch her ass but knew he wouldn't and it would all end up in heartbreak.

World-building and setting was really cool. A school hidden in the middle of a dark, dangerous forest. Kids stolen as infants to be trained to steal magical artifacts. While it have those common fantasy tropes: magic school and all that comes with that, coming of age story, prophecies about destiny, it's a real fun read. It also made me very happy seeing Eddings was one of Call's influences. While I haven't read Eddings in like 13 years, he's one of my roots when it comes to fantasy.

Also some super random thing, I think the gilded details on the cover is slightly out of sync with the pattern underneath on my edition. Not sure if it was intentional, I doubt it. It gives it a blurry effect, but it also looks kind of cool.

Super excited for book two! ...more

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Feb 19, 2019 Vanessa B. ☽♡ rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-reads, netgalley

Master of Sorrows was a great debut by Justin Travis Calls. It is a dark fantasy that reminded of some other classic fantasy books, such as The Name of the Wind.

The book tells the story of Annev, an orphan who studies at the Academy in order to become an Avatar. Avatars are tasked with finding magical objects and hiding them from the world, in order to protect it from their corruption He is also hiding his identity and power. When he was born he was missing a hand, which was a sign that he is a ...more

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Mar 17, 2020 Jessie Sedai of the Black Ajah🥀🐍 rated it it was amazing

Thank you, Mr. Justin T Call, for restoring my faith in the notion that the epic fantasy subgenre is the single greatest literary device ever created.

I don't throw around the term "masterpiece" often, and for good reason, I mean c'mon, who am I to make that kind of call? I'm not a scholar. I have no English literature degree. I'm just a quiet, average girl wearing way too much cat hair who's addicted to fantasizing about living in a magical world where there's no modern day plumbing or Mallomars Thank you, Mr. Justin T Call, for restoring my faith in the notion that the epic fantasy subgenre is the single greatest literary device ever created.

I don't throw around the term "masterpiece" often, and for good reason, I mean c'mon, who am I to make that kind of call? I'm not a scholar. I have no English literature degree. I'm just a quiet, average girl wearing way too much cat hair who's addicted to fantasizing about living in a magical world where there's no modern day plumbing or Mallomars for some stupid reason.

With whatever shred of credibility I have on this platform, I implore you to hear me out - I truly believe that this is the greatest introduction of a fantasy series since Brandon Sanderson's Way of Kings.

Does that mean it's for everyone? No, probably not. It's a dense read, it tends to "info-dump" in some chapters. There are a couple of extraneous stories about mythology that aren't quite necessary to enjoying the main story. Reading other reviews, it seems like this is its biggest pitfall. As a seasoned epic fantasy fan, this didn't bother me as much, since the info dumping felt natural contextually and wasn't a blatant fourth wall breaking lecture to the reader.

The rest of this story is pure brilliance. It's fast paced, exciting, beautifully crafted, and completely enthralling. I haven't had a book generate a physical reaction in me in a very long time. I was pacing around the room, holding my head in my hands. There was one time in a particularly upsetting scene that I put the book down and just covered my eyes like it would somehow help me process my grief. This book gets at your core if you are patient enough to get invested.

This story resonates with the same spirit as Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. A boy with a seemingly predictable, secluded life, under the guidance of a father who isn't a father, finds out he is fated for something greater and must outrun dark forces seeking him out. Don't let the tropey premise fool you, this is refreshingly unique. The magic artifact system is interesting and the use of prosthetics as a way for the main character to protect himself against the stigma of having a deformity as a sign of evil was something I've never seen done before. The villains, both human and non-human, were sinister and haunting and well-developed. The story tackles the idea of justice and betrayal, retribution, grief, forgiveness, all the emotional heavy hitters. And it does it effectively and with amazing characterization.

I can't give enough praise to this. I hope you don't believe me and decide to read it for yourself.

Thank you to netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Yuli Atta rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: physical-tbr

This started out well enough and it was actually interesting to me for a long time. However, as I didn't see the plot progressing for 300 pages I gradually lost interest. I got to a point where I skipped 40 pages and I didn't miss a thing.

The first 240 pages are awfully repetitive and could've been cut in half. It's exactly the kind of thind I personally don't like reading about and I feel like I played myself dirty by trying a book that was so obviously not my cup of tea. However, I was willing ...more

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Dec 11, 2019 Melike rated it it was ok

Shelves: netgalley, fantasy, 2019

I just could not get into this book, I found pages and pages of fighting and violence endlessly boring. I was relieved when I finished. I am bummed because I was expecting something different based on other reviews I read.

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Nov 06, 2019 Catherine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 5-stars

"There are two trails here, lad. One you know and one you don't. If you want to learn somethin' worth knowin', which do you think you should follow?"

Magic, action, Gods and prophesies: Master of Sorrows is an amazing debut from a new voice in adult fantasy. I was like many people hooked by the summary: "But what if the boy hero and the malevolent, threatening taint were one and the same?" I mean, the hero of the book could be the villain? I'm sold. Still, I didn't expect to be so hooked. I had a "There are two trails here, lad. One you know and one you don't. If you want to learn somethin' worth knowin', which do you think you should follow?"

Magic, action, Gods and prophesies: Master of Sorrows is an amazing debut from a new voice in adult fantasy. I was like many people hooked by the summary: "But what if the boy hero and the malevolent, threatening taint were one and the same?" I mean, the hero of the book could be the villain? I'm sold. Still, I didn't expect to be so hooked. I had a very hard time putting this book down: while I didn't get into the story right at the beginning, once I got into it I didn't wanna leave. There are so many new fantasy novels, all compared to what are considered the masters of epic fantasy, that Justin Travis Call could have gone unnoticed or ended up being just another name between thousands.

What made the difference is that he took all that's great in fantasy, but managed to write a unique book with his own voice. I know there are comparisons between his Annev and Rothfuss' Kvothe (which I understand), but please don't go into this book expecting a similar novel to The Name of the Wind. I love this book, it's one of my favorite fantasy novels, but the authors are different, the story is different and the main protagonist is different. I honestly think it would be a disservice to this book to compare it to any novel very loved by most fantasy readers. Justin Travis Call has the potential to become one of those authors someday (it entirely depends on what he's gonna come up with the next few years), but not because he's the next *insert name*.

Master of Sorrows is dark fantasy at its finest, with a great writing (I had to keep myself from writing too many updates with book quotes) and a compelling story, with a solid world-building (element essential to any fantasy novel). The author obviously knows what he's doing here, which makes me confident for the next books in the series. While there isn't any moment when nothing happens, the story doesn't escalate too quickly either: we're introduced to this universe and to the characters at a very good pace. As for our main character, Annev, we meet him while he's training at the Academy, a place where they're taught magic to be evil. But not only...

This book offers an amazing disability representation. While my own disability isn't physical, I'm recognized as a disabled adult since a few years and I've been talking with many other people suffering from all sorts of disabilities, physical or like me, mental (sometimes both). If you're suffering from any kind of disability, physical or not, this huge part of the book is gonna break your heart and make you so glad at the same time. I'll admit that I did cry, and I'd like to thank the author for this representation, so rare even today. There's an important conversation between Annev and his mentor, Sodar, making the parallel between magic and disability, since they're both considered evil. And are we entirely in a fantasy universe when we read this? What are called "deformities" are also considered evil. Scars, for example. Again, this part isn't really fantasy, is it? Right, we're not called "evil", but how is society looking at us? If you're disabled, this is gonna be a tough read for you, but like I said, it will also be an amazing one. Trust me on this.

Since I mentioned Sodar, another amazing part was the relationship between Annev and his mentor. I don't think I could have gotten enough of their interactions. Annev and the others all got a great character development: once again, the author knows what he's doing here. There's nothing coming out of nowhere, there are what could be seen as small scenes being part of that character growth. As for the characters you want to throw out the window, they don't get to be a cliché either and are written very well too (which is why you want to throw them out the window, otherwise you wouldn't care). You might be wondering about possible romance: yes, there's a girl Annev loves, Myjun. But if you worry romance is taking too much of the storyline, have no fear. The main relationship is between Annev, the main character, and his mentor Sodar.

The only complaint I have is that the ending was too good and left me just as hooked as I was during the entire book. That epilogue... Why is that a complaint? Well, because I have to wait for the next book. More seriously, I can't wait to see what the author is gonna do next, but after that debut I have high expectations - no pressure. ...more

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Feb 19, 2020 Christi M rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, fantasy

So many thoughts rolling around in my head in regards to this epic fantasy story that I don’t know where to begin. Too many, in fact.

Master of Sorrows follows a boy named Annev who attends the Academy where he is attempting to get promoted to Avatar of Judgment. To do so, he must win the Testing Day contest against his other classmates as well as friends. This is the last Testing Day he will be permitted to take part in. Failing to win means becoming a servant to the others and to make it worse, So many thoughts rolling around in my head in regards to this epic fantasy story that I don’t know where to begin. Too many, in fact.

Master of Sorrows follows a boy named Annev who attends the Academy where he is attempting to get promoted to Avatar of Judgment. To do so, he must win the Testing Day contest against his other classmates as well as friends. This is the last Testing Day he will be permitted to take part in. Failing to win means becoming a servant to the others and to make it worse, it is also the last Testing Day for two of his close friends as well.

With the Testing Day as the major plot line in the first half of the book, the author also uses the events surrounding this as a way introduce you to the protagonist/antagonists, religious structure and most importantly religious politics and prejudices. The leaders of the Academy and townspeople all believe that sons of Keos are cursed and are considered evil. They are identified when they are born with a deformity and are immediately killed. If somehow an individual isn’t discovered at birth then what awaits for them is being stoned to death once they are discovered. Annev was born without an arm past his elbow. He’s been able to keep it hidden for 17 years through the use of a special glove, but being found out is one of his greatest fears.

As you might expect with any epic fantasy story, there is a lot of lore/knowledge information within this first book that can sometimes slow the story down a little at times. However, I was surprised by how much I liked the sections about the gods (Keos and his siblings). I usually skip or fast-read those sections, but instead found the sibling relationships and responses to certain events rather interesting.

Overall, Master of Sorrows is an enjoyable epic fantasy read with a beautiful cover too. As I read through the story, I found that the characters and their different choices and decisions was one of my favorite parts and not just Annev’s story. Of course, the decision Annev makes in determining the content of his own character and what he believes in is one of the best aspects of the book. The Masters at the Academy see the world in black and white, but Sodor, Annev’s mentor, has slowly been teaching Annev to think for himself and watching the progression within Annev is one of the many highlights of the story. But choices other characters made was just as intriguing.

While reading I came to the conclusion that this might make a decent fantasy book club read. There are a lot of opportunities for points of discussion – from the gods and the religious politics to the Testing Day contest there’s no shortage of topics to bring up.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.me. ...more

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Oct 24, 2019 Kal ★ Reader Voracious marked it as not-now · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-anticipated, debut-author, from-author

Dreams really do come true! I was sent a beautiful and personalized copy by the author for review in advance of the book's publication in the US! Now does anyone know where I can buy a blacklight?

10/24/19: Bummed I have to wait until February 2020 for it to come out in the US, but super excited for this one!

...wait. Is this what it's like to not benefit from my privilege?

Blog | Twitter | Pinterest

...more

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About Justin Travis Call

Justin Travis Call

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Justin Call graduated from Harvard University in 2012 with an ALM in Literature and Creative Writing. He has studied fantasy literature for almost two decades and is the author of Master of Sorrows, Book 1 of The Silent Gods tetralogy. Justin is also the CEO of Broomstick Monkey Games and co-designer of the games Imperial Harvest, Royal Strawberries, Royal Scum, and 8 Kingdoms. He currently lives ...more