Writer Bias aside, I'll try to make this review as honest and objective as possible.
First things out of the way... this is a very dark story that will take some pretty twisted turns. The MC is a villain, and he will commit some atrocities to achieve his goals.
If you aren't a fan of such stories... do not read this book.
Secondly, while this is a Historical Fantasy, I will be taking a lot of creative liberties with the lore and characters of this world. You will find some characters and places that ring historical bells, but do not take any of them as accurate representations of history. Please do not be overly critical about the historical context of this book and just consider it as some sort of alternate reality.
Thirdly, I have tried to make the pacing of the story as fast as possible, and I have succeeded in that regard (to an extent). Still, I believe you need to read a few chapters (5-10) before deciding whether or not it is worth your time or not. It will be preferable for you to read a lot more (maybe Arc 1) to be able to fully grasp the story's essence and its direction, but... some readers might not want to dedicate that much time to this novel.
And that's fine.
Furthermore, I could go on and on about the very good aspects of the story, but I think that is for you to discover. I won't raise or reduce your expectations for the story. Plus, since my bias as the writer will most likely bleed into this review, I will avoid making any absolute declaration regarding the book's quality.
Also note that I mean no disrespect to any person, faction, or religion, etc., mentioned in this book. Due to its nature as a Historical Fantasy (one that takes place in the Middle Ages of Europe), you will see stuff that bear similarity to the real-life history that you know.
DO NOT TAKE THEM LITERALLY!
Finally, this book (as is any work of fiction) is not for everyone.
Some will enjoy it and some won't... which is absolutely fine. If you do not like what you read, it doesn't mean the story is objectively bad. It just might not be the one for you. Please make sure to only criticize the story if it is of objective relevance to the story and not some arbitrary claim that only applies to you.
Stuff like "I didn't like the characters, so this story is bad" is a bad way to review a novel, so please make sure to bring concrete reviews (both positive and negative) if you make a review. I appreciate constructive criticisms, and I also really appreciate support and any feedback you have as readers.
I know it's difficult to trust me, considering how I have so many books that are unfinished, but I really have a strong passion for this one and I hope to finish it one day.
Please follow me on this journey so we can complete it together.
Cheers!
