By Justin Call

Gollancz, out now

A baby is born who’s destined to be killed immediately… and that’s just the start of his problems

It’s a facet of human nature that we’re often more interested in the bad guys than we are in the heroes – actors talk about finding more within the roles, because what makes someone turn their back on ordinary morality can be fascinating to explore. Justin Call’s Master of Sorrow, the first in his Silent Gods series, makes it clear from the start that this is the aspect of epic fantasy that is being explored – and there’s a great deal for fans of the genre to enjoy.

Sure, there are various tropes which you can’t avoid, but as with so many novels within the genre, it’s not the trappings that you are drawn in by but what Call does with them. We have an Academy and a student with something to hide; we have a promised one. We also have a dearth of female characters, and while there’s an in-universe reason for it, it does rather stand out – hopefully this is something that Call will address in the later books in the series.

Verdict: There’s quite a bit of frontloaded worldbuilding which may be offputting, and some parts of the first section that perhaps could have been pared back at the editing stage, but this is an enjoyable addition to the bookshelf. 7/10

Paul Simpson