The Obsidian Tower

The Obsidian Tower is the first book in a new epic fantasy series set in the same world as Swords and Fire but about 150 years later???and once again, Melissa Caruso has written a book I found nearly impossible to put down!

It did take me a little longer to become completely absorbed in this one than any of the author's other books, but it ended up being the most riveting book I've read in quite some time with stakes that just keep getting higher and higher. Best of all, I found myself continuing to think about it after I did manage to put it down???there are a lot of mysteries and questions to ponder, and I can hardly wait to learn more in the next book.

Full Review on My Website

The mages of Vaskandar have the power to give life to their land and to their kingdoms. Ryxander of Gloamingard is cursed with broken magic that takes life and destroys all that she touches. In order to save her kingdom from an unfathomable threat, Ryx must use her weakness to her advantage whilst holding off a cavalcade of determined interlopers.

I had a really fun time with this book. Each page crackles with magic. Caruso's writing flows well and moves the narrative forward at a swift pace with a steady stream of action and court intrigue throughout. The world of Eruvia is nicely fleshed out, as well. It helps that Caruso has already written a trilogy in this setting, but she lays out the conflicts, local histories, and magic systems in a clear and digestible way for a new reader.

Ryx is a worthy protagonist with very obvious flaws to overcome. Her humanity and search for connection keep her relatable and easy to root for. While the book's ending does not offer much closure, there's enough magic in the pages of The Obsidian Tower to bring me back for book number two.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.

Overview: A slow political story with high stakes and good characters in an intriguing fantasy setting.

More Details: I found this story increasingly frustrating to the extent that I just wanted it to be finished (the sign of a bad book) - yet I couldn't put it down and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it (the sign of an excellent book). So I'm confused. Do I hate or love this book?

• The Pros: The characters were great, the Rookery characters were fascinating the "Rookery Gang" were a total bunch of likable but unique characters that I really wanted to find out more about and basically just wanted to spend time with and get to know. The main character Ryx was likable enough that you cared about her, but never felt like a cardboard cut-out “good guy”, she felt believable, flawed, yet very sympathetic. Even the secondary characters were very interesting and I would like to have found out more about them.

The world was very interesting, the (Ravenloftish) Witch Lord and Land system and the Republican Empire are like a siren call - I just want to find out more about this world and the history that made it this way.

• The Cons: It is frustratingly slow and very political. For the first half of the book I was thinking “Wow, this book just keeps adding foreshadowing and raising the stakes, when this kicks off it is going to be epic!” Except of course it doesn't kick off. OK I know there are a couple of big scenes in the Shrike Lord's hall and the final showdown with Grandmother which are breathtaking, and this is book 1 of 3 - but given that 95% of the book is essentially political maneuvering and backstabbing I was starting to just wish that anything would happen just invade or open the gate already! Unleash armageddon! At least I won't have to sit through another meeting!.

If this was Lord of the Rings, the story would start at the opening of the Council of Elrond, and the Council would sit around arguing and threatening to invade each other for the entire first book, while becoming increasingly nervous about that giant flaming eye that keeps getting bigger...but not nervous enough to actually agree to do anything about anything.

I think this analogy highlights my two biggest frustrations. Firstly, in LotR they go on a Very Long Walk. Lots of people make fun of that, but I loved getting to see the world. In this book we get to know some (very interesting) rooms very well, and that's pretty much it. Secondly this book is essentially about a bunch of nations having endless meetings and being unable to unite even when the negotiators are fully aware that failure to do so will result in the death of millions and the possible downfall of civilisation.

I guess I'd already read that story in the news that morning.

• On Balance: As frustrating as I found the book I'm still giving it four stars, which if you hover over the star thingy when rating a book you'll find means “Really Liked It”. That is because this is a story that it really well told. The characters, the setting, the plot - excellent. Yes the way it was told isn't my thing - I basically hate political stories - but even though this was the kind of story I hate, this author got me to read the whole darn thing and strongly consider reading the sequel. The author is that good! If she can get me that engaged in the sort of story I hate - this thing must be mind blowing for someone who enjoys political stories.... and those characters are just great.

So I'm still confused about my feelings for this book, but one thing I'm sure of is that this is an author who really knows how to write!

The Obsidian Tower starts out strong with intriguing world building and a narrative voice of Ryx (1st POV) that's comfortable and easy to get acquainted with.

Ryx has flawed magic, instead of nurturing living things (like her bloodline), she kills anything she touches. With her magic out of control, and ‘useless', she works hard to fulfill her duty as the warden of the black tower in different ways: as a diplomath.

War is knocking on the doors, her grandmother's, the witch lord of the domain is missing, and Ryx is under high pressure to keep everyone from meddling with the tower. That is essentially this book.

I like the worldbuilding and would have loved for Caruso to show me more layers of the magic.

I like that sexuality and gender identity is not a thing to be questioned in this universe. (This is a really nice direction in newly published fantasy).

There's a big chunk in the middle that's heavy with long political discussions... and that's not my cup of tea. I wish the balance between action and negotiation meetings were different, more action, more focus on the characters' soul-searching, much less politics.