This novella takes place before the first novel in the Raven Son series and will make more sense if you’ve read the first novel but can stand alone. It starts as a sort of vignette from the life of Otchigen and see a man whose anger is starting to eat away at him. I really enjoyed learning more of his character arc. I also got a better sense of Voran, Lebia, and Mirnian from this and I’m looking forward to reading the next book with this in mind.

What I like most about this series is that Kotar is not afraid to have characters who doubt and fail. They come to realize the consequences their choices and thoughts on their loved ones and the world around them. Though difficult, there is always a choice to act for others, to deny oneself. Despite their weaknesses, they (and us) are not doomed to be weak forever. We can always choose the good, and that starts by fighting the evil in our hearts.

Kotar wrote a Writer’s Manifesto a while back that talks in part about the transformative role of fantasy in changing us and challenging us. This is my measure of good fiction and fantasy, but I’m always very pleased when an author can do it without it feeling forced and Kotar consistently does that with this series.