Book One in the Silent Gods tetralogy (that’s a four-book series to you and me), Justin Call’s Master of Sorrows offers a clever take on a tried-and-tested fantasy trope. In the hidden village of Chaenbalu, orphan Annev de Breth trains hard to earn his place amongst the warrior-thieves of the Academy. In a society which abhors both magic and physical impurity of any kind, however, Annev – born with only one hand and mentored by a somewhat mysterious priest-slash-magician – finds himself pulled in different directions by conflicting loyalties. As his last chance to become an Avatar looms large, Annev faces a choice which might determine the shape of his life to come.
So far so every-other-fantasy, right? That’s the point, really – it’s a deliberate attempt to take well-used archetypes and themes, including a complex set of mythological and theological rules and histories, and turn them in a different direction to usual. There’s a lot here which will feel comfortable and familiar to fantasy fans (in a good way) – the young protagonist and his friends, the troublesome rivals getting in the way, the conflicting authority figures and the character-building trials, not to mention a wildly imaginative world with richly detailed systems of magic and mythology. At this early stage in the series Annev’s purpose is hinted at more than overtly discussed, but it’s clear right from the beginning that there’s an interesting darkness to his origins, his protector and the role he’s ‘meant’ to play – with a heavy emphasis on his conflicted opinions on what his destiny should be.
If Annev’s destiny is a little less clear-cut than the usual ‘rise from adversity to become the chosen one of good’ archetype, essentially that’s because he’s being lined up within the impressively well-developed (if a little confusing, at times) mythology/theology of this world as being aligned more with the ‘evil’ side of things. It’s not hugely explored in this book – presumably there’s more to come later in the series – but it’s an interesting idea and it folds nicely into the beautifully real-feeling world that’s on offer here. There’s a lot of worldbuilding to process, complete with satisfying, well thought-out systems for both magic and the Academy’s anti-magic structures, with plenty of secrets and details hinted at but not fully revealed as well as an impressive sense of scale to the world. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s all good stuff.
Crucially, the vivid worldbuilding is complemented by genuinely engaging characters with agency, believable motivations and interesting dynamics. Whether with his protector/mentor Sodar, his friends, or his rivals in the Academy, the story is driven by Annev’s relationships and the way his hopes and dreams are challenged, and the choices they lead him into making. For the most part it’s plotted well, with some brilliant, inventive set-pieces mixed in with the character drama, although some of the characters’ decision-making can at times feel like a bit of a stretch, as though it’s driven more by plot requirements than believable characterisation. That being said, it’s all written in a clear, engaging style and if you don’t mind a lot of information to process and some convenient plotting then there’s an awful lot to enjoy in a story which lingers in the mind (in a very good way) and kicks off a series that’s full of potential.
Many thanks to Gollancz and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for this review.
