Esrahaddon - Review
Link to the author's (M. J. Sullivan) personal website
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Type: Book
Tags:
- Average Age of Main Characters (20)
- Length (7 / 10)
Series: The Rise and Fall
Link to Goodreads
Blurb: A hero to some. A villain to many. The truth forever buried.
The man who became known as Esrahaddon is reported to have destroyed the world’s greatest empire—but there are those who believe he saved it. Few individuals are as divisive, but all agree on three facts: He was exiled to the wilderness, hunted by a goblin priestess, and sentenced to death by a god—all before the age of eight. How he managed to survive and why people continued to fear his name a thousand years later has always been a mystery...until now.
Review: Another well told story. The first half especially is an incredible read, with it being a great origin story. Reading about Ezra, Niblik, Mashy, and Hakkabah simply made me happy. The second half admittedly was worse, although still worth reading
I actively disliked how romance was managed in this book. It felt very forced and unnatural, being both unsatisfying to read and adding nothing to the story. Furthermore, similar to other books in this series, the side characters felt somewhat one-dimensional, but were so well incorporated to the story that it wasn't a large issue. A notable exception was Jerish, who's relationship with Ezra was a treat to see evolve. Ultimately it was a satisfying conclusion to the series, and I would still recommend both this book and the series.
See the series review here.