Hello, reader!

Today, I’m bringing you an unique blog tour post. It’s a review and a spotlight in one! These are two books from a dark fantasy series that deals with some fascinating concepts. The World Marker Parable by Luke Tarzian is the book that kicks off the Adjacent Monsters series and it definitely got me thinking! But I won’t just be sharing my thoughts on this first book, I’ll also be spotlighting the next book in the series, The World Breaker Requiem. I wish I had had time to read both books, but I’m glad I could at least squeeze in one!

Before I get further into the post, I must thank  Dave @ The Write Reads and all of the crew for giving me a spot on this tour. I also want to thank the author for providing me with a free e-book in exchange for an honest review! It is, as always, much appreciated and all opinions written in my review are my own.

Alright, now let’s get to the post!

---

---

---

Guilt will always call you back…

Rhona is a faithful servant of the country Jémoon and a woman in love. Everything changes when her beloved sets the ravenous Vulture goddess loose upon the land. Forced to execute the woman she loves for committing treason, Rhona discovers a profound correlation between morality and truth. A connection that might save her people or annihilate them all.

You are a lie…

Varésh Lúm-talé is many things, most of all a genocidal liar. A falsity searching for the Phoenix goddess whom he believes can help him rectify his atrocities. Such an undertaking is an arduous one for a man with missing memories and a conscience set on rending him from inside out. A man whose journey leads to Hang-Dead Forest and a meeting with a Vulture goddess who is not entirely as she seems.

---

This dark fantasy was a short, quick read that certainly worked itself into my head and made me think. We follow two main characters, Rhona and Varésh. Rhona is a loyal servant of her god, The Raven. So loyal that she is willing to kill the woman she loves because she dared to defy her god. Varésh is a man with missing memories and a guilty conscious. As the tale unfolds, their stories become intertwined in the most interesting of ways.

I’m not gonna lie, I was utterly confused for most of this story, lol. This is an intricate world that Luke Tarzian has built and I found it fascinating. At the same time, though, I felt like a lot of information was dumped on me all at once and it was hard to try and piece it all together. That was mostly because every chapter brought new information that changed how I looked at the old information that I was still trying to hash out. Knowing how the story ends, I can’t help but wonder if that was done on purpose to keep the reader as confused as our two main characters.

I will say, though, even though I was confused for most of this short book, I found myself completely taken in by the characters. I wanted to know more about them, their gods, and what the heck was going on in their world. I was intrigued by Rhona and her struggles with faith. I wanted to know more about Varésh and his background as an Architect. Luke Tarzian certainly created some fascinating characters, which is what made me get more invested in the story.

Overall, I think this book could have benefitted from being longer. There is just so much to this world that felt like it was important to know, but couldn’t be fleshed out due to the length of the story. Again, I’m not 100% if that was done on purpose to keep the reader feeling as lost and confused as the main characters. If so, mission accomplished! I still enjoyed my time reading this because I found the characters intriguing, but I dunno if this kind of high concept fantasy is my cup of tea. It’s a fast read, though, and I would suggest checking it out if you’re looking for a fantasy that leans heavily towards the weird side.

Star rating:

---

---

Prince of Woe…

Avaria Norrith is the adopted heir to the Ariathan throne. But that means little to a man who, for the better part of fifteen years, has sought and failed to earn his mother’s love. Fueled by pride and envy, Avaria seeks the means to prove himself and cast away his mental chains. When he’s tasked with the recreation of The Raven’s Rage he sees his chance, for with the infamous blade he can rewrite history and start anew.

Daughter of the Mountain…

Erath has not felt sunlight for a century. Not since Ariath condemned her people to a life of darkness with their misuse of The Raven’s Rage. But when an old friend comes seeking the remnants of the ancient sword, Erath cannot contain her curiosity and resolves to lend her aid. Is it true—can history be revised? Can her people be reclaimed?

Toll the Hounds…

They are hungry—and they are here

---

Author Links

Website::Twitter::Goodreads

Luke Tarzian was born in Bucharest, Romania. His parents made the extremely poor choice of adopting him less than six months into his life. As such, he’s resided primarily in the United States and currently lives in California with his wife and their twin daughters. Somehow, they tolerate him.

Unfortunately, he can also be found online and, to the dismay of his clients, also functions as a cover artist for independent authors.