Review by Booklist Review
Winter's debut draws on his South African heritage to craft a unique military fantasy. The story begins with a fierce battle between the Chosen, who came across the sea to find a new home, and the Hedeni, natives who consider them invaders. Both sides wield magic during combat and while the Chosen's control of dragons gives them an advantage, it leads to the beginning of a seemingly unending war. Almost two centuries later, the conflict continues but the Chosen have gained territory and established a nation for their caste-driven society. Males from every class aspire to become warriors, to defend the nation and serve their queen. All except Tau, a Commoner who trains with a Noble's son to appease his father, but has no plans to join the military himself. When his beloved Da is slain by an uncaring Noble, Tau vows to become the greatest warrior the Chosen have ever seen. His ambition is not to fight the Hedeni he plans to defy caste expectations and is willing to face other-worldly demons to enhance his martial prowess. The fast-paced action will have readers eager to follow Tau into the next book of this captivating epic.--Lucy Lockley Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Winters's stunning debut fantasy epic is rich in complex characters and a well-wrought world with both European and African influences. Tau Tafari is a common boy of the Omehi people, whose society is strictly divided by class. When his father is murdered needlessly to assuage the ego of an offended noble, Tau vows to take advantage of the only opportunity his class is given and become an Ihashe in the Omehian military. Tau's determination wins him a spot as an initiate, though most of the other initiates have far greater skill. Desperate to improve himself, Tau breaches the underworld, Isihogo, with the help of his lover, Zuri, a young woman training to become an Enervator (those with the ability to siphon power from the underworld during battle). While his physical body remains untouched, Tau's soul is free to spar with the demons that stalk Isihogo, and this twisted training changes him far more than he expects. Winter's secondary characters support his hero's story and amplify its themes of brotherhood, but it is Tau himself, far more nuanced than a simple underdog, who will move readers to eagerly seek the next volume. This impressive series launch holds tremendous promise. Agent: Erin Malone, William Morris Endeavor. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by Library Journal Review
Almost 200 years ago, the Omehi fled the Cull for a new peninsula, where they battled those already living there, the Xiddeen, with their Guardians--dragons--to take control. Now, the war continues. The Omehi are strictly divided by class, with Commons, Nobles, plus the treasured and powerful Gifted. One Common boy, Tau Tafari, loses his father when he is killed because of Tau's victory against a Noble in a fight. Tau vows revenge on those who caused his father's death and begins training as a Common soldier, an Ihashe. To become better than his skilled opponents, Tau uses every piece of knowledge, determination, and hatred to forge a path to the feet of his father's killers, even as he faces changes to his world, his culture, and the unending war that has shaped the Omehi and their power. Tau is a near-unsympathetic protagonist, as his single-minded vendetta affects those around him, but readers will be mesmerized by the worldbuilding, class barriers, and magic that shape the story into a powerful tale. VERDICT Winter's debut will draw strong comparisons to George R.R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson, and the strong African influences and ties create a singular, exciting epic with intriguing characters and culture. Readers will be clamoring for the next installment.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The swords-and-sorcery genre deepens its presence on the African continent with this rough, tough page-turner replete with demons, dragons, and really bad dreams.To the grand parade of brooding swashbucklers and formidable warriors striding along the thoroughfares of epic fantasy, one can now add the name of Tau Solarin. As this saga opens, Tau is a novice swordsman who hails from a rural village called Fief Kerem in a coastal corner of a mythic ancient Africa where the Omehi, or Chosen, people live in ongoing, centurieslong conflict against the Hedeni. Among the Omehi, caste divisions are strictly defined and often brutally enforced. And young Tau, who refers to himself as "High Common," is still considered a "Lesser" even by friends who are placed in the higher "Noble" stratum. Even after Nobles and Lessers band together to fight Hedeni marauders and dragons, they battle among themselves for status and honor. And when Tau's father steps in to fight in his son's place and is killed under a Noble's command, Tau vows revenge on all who abetted the murder. Exiled from Kerem, Tau finds his way into a military academy, where his physical prowess and intense diligence soon separate him from other recruits. In the midst of his training, Tau reconnects with his childhood love, Zuri, now among the so-called "Gifted" caste of mystic warriors who help Omehi soldiers fight the Hedeni. What Tau learns from her about magic enhances his considerable virtuosity in combat. The further Tau gets into his warrior identity, the more chaotic and complicated the world around him becomes. Gradually his burning desire for vengeance is all but overpowered by a nascent yearning to bring lasting peace to his battle-scarred land. Winter's debut novel, already a self-published cult sensation among fantasy fans, is rife with vividly orchestrated battle sequences, whether the fights are between two people or vast armies. And the action is unrelenting, at times even overpowering. Sometimes you wish Tau and his comrades would take longer breaks between both mock and real battles. The relative novelty of this saga's African setting will draw comparisons with Marlon James' Black Leopard, Red Wolf, though Winter's novel is less stylistically ambitious and more formulaic.Hardcore fantasy fans will find this an absorbing, fast-paced table-setter. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
