Summary

Divinity’s Twilight: Rebirth by Chritopher Russell releases September 22, 2020.

A world consumed by war . . .
An ancient evil resurrected . . .
A millennia old bargain comes due . . .

When two blades clash, the third will fall, and the fate of all will be jeopardized. To save Lozaria, the failures of the past must be atoned for by a new generation of heroes. The time has come for mortals to cast off sight and, in doing so, truly come to see . . .

Victory is never absolute.

Seven centuries ago, the forces of order won the Illyriite War on the plains of Har’muth. Darmatus and Rabban Aurelian slew their elder brother, Sarcon, the despotic architect of the conflict, then sacrificed themselves to banish the cataclysmic vortex opened with his dying breath. The first advent of the Oblivion Well was thwarted. Even without their vanished gods, the seven races of Lozaria proved themselves capable of safeguarding their world.

Or so the story goes. 

The year is now 697 A.B.H (After the Battle of Har’muth). Though war itself remains much the same, the weapons with which it is waged have evolved. Airships bearing powerful cannons ply the skies, reducing the influence of mages and their spells. Long range communication has brought far flung regions of Lozaria closer than ever before. At the center of this technological revolution are the three Terran states of Darmatia, Rabban, and Sarconia, who have fought a near ceaseless campaign of 700 years in an attempt to best each other. The roots of their enmity lie buried beneath the wasteland of Har’muth, a place all three nations consider best forgotten. 

However, an ancient power sealed within Har’muth has not forgotten them, and the descendants of those who fought on that field must now take a stand to rectify the mistakes of the past. 

Book Link: https://www.christopherrussellauthor.com

Review

“…kindness breaks this cycle of despair. By aiding others—regardless of what they’ve done, or the acts they’ve committed, and without expecting anything in return—we show them that there’s still good in this world. That there’s still hope for a better tomorrow. And, though it may sound hollow since it’s just me saying this, if enough of these tiny acts of kindness pile up, we really can change the world.”

Divinity’s Twilight starts off with the worlds longest prologue.  But don’t skip it!! It helps build the foundation and understanding of the events that create the main conflict in the book.  You are immediately thrust into the Illyriite War on the plains of Har’muth.  There are three brothers who have very different ideas of how the world should progress.  Rabban believes in technology; Darmatus believes in education and enlightenment; Sarcon believes in brute force. The followers of these three brothers believe their way is the only right way, so when the book zooms ahead 700 years later, these three factions are still in conflict. 

”…why do men fight? Because we’re all protecting different dreams.  We fight because you are you and I am me. What I cherish is not what you cherish, and what I cherish may require what you cherish to fall by the wayside.”

The ragamuffin cast of characters struggles with the balance of duty and patriotism, trust and rivalry.  One seeks revenge.  Another seeks redemption.  One seeks purpose.  They complement each other well and bring depth to the storyline. The story unfolds from each POV, which can feel a little overwhelming at times.

This book is EPIC.  It’s full of all the things I love in this type of fantasy book –  a mix of magic, technology, religion and sci-fi with characters that are deep and interesting. I also love books with dual timelines and he achieves this with the use of flashbacks.  It’s hard to believe this is his first book!  The world-building, culture, characters and plot are all very ambitious.  But by the end I was fully invested now I want more.  

If you want to read it for yourself, head over to my Instagram page where I’m hosting a giveaway. Thank you to Storygram Tours and Christopher Russell for providing a copy of the book to read and review, as well as hosting this giveaway.

To read more of Momma Leighellen’s reviews, check out some of my other blog posts here!