Hessa is a priestess to the war goddess Eang, blessed with fearsome powers that the goddess bestowed upon her. When she fails to follow a command given years ago, Hessa is exiled. After murderous raiders attack the village, she is forced to re-evaluate her previously unquestioned beliefs. Hessa must journey to earn the forgiveness of her goddess and save the afterlife of her people. As menacing forces gather to battle for godly power, Hessa cannot rely on her goddess for aid as she attempts to fulfill her destiny.

In a harsh world where the gods are fickle, Hall of Smoke is a creative and new adventure. This is a captivating tale that reaches out and grabs hold of the reader! Hessa is a strong warrior priestess determined to save her people, regardless of any demons or gods that get in her way. One can feel the chill of winter on the back of the neck, hear the crackle of the flames, and Hessa’s determination seeps through the page. I really enjoyed the complex systems of gods and magic paired with vivid descriptions of the surroundings. I was very surprised by some of the twists and turns the story took, it was fantastic! Hall of Smoke is an incredible fantasy debut and I would highly recommend it. Hall of Smoke releases on January 19, 2021. Thank you so much to H.M. Long, Titan Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.