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A review by mvvelde
Temple of No God by H.M. Long
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Happy (UK) publication day to Temple of No God!
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H.M. Long's Hall of Smoke was such a great journey, and I could not wait to get my hands on the next installment in the world. Temple of No God did not disappoint!
Taking place a decade after Hall of Smoke, Temple of No God once again centered the journey of Hessa, the slayer of Eang and follower of Thvynder. Since the last time we saw her, she has ascended to High Priestess, made decisions that fostered a level of peace with some, and continued on the legacy of pillaging the villages of others. But news of a new god rising to power in Arpa--and with the support of warring clans nonetheless--has come about.
It was really enjoyable to read Long's writing style. There was a perfect mix of wit or humor in dialogue, and the balance of Hessa's personal journey with the drama and uncertainties outside of her control. I enjoyed Hessa's character arc and growth since Hall of Smoke, and thought that the flashbacks were a nice literary way to fill in the gap of years. The foreshadowing was well done, and the ending a complete surprise! It was a joy to reach it all unfold and piece together.
It didn't greatly affect my reading experience, but I will say that I forgot some of the lore and events of Hall of Smoke (read in Jan 2021). This is where the map and glossary were especially helpful, but they also make Temple of No God book readable as a stand alone.
Truly, I cannot wait for the sequel to see where H.M. Long takes us next in the world of Hall of Smoke. I would especially recommend Temple of No God to those who generally enjoy fantasy, are interested in Norse- & viking-inspired lands, or those who enjoyed book one and want to see what Hessa is up to next.
4.5/5 stars for Temple of No God! Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for the ARC in exchange for my review.
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H.M. Long's Hall of Smoke was such a great journey, and I could not wait to get my hands on the next installment in the world. Temple of No God did not disappoint!
Taking place a decade after Hall of Smoke, Temple of No God once again centered the journey of Hessa, the slayer of Eang and follower of Thvynder. Since the last time we saw her, she has ascended to High Priestess, made decisions that fostered a level of peace with some, and continued on the legacy of pillaging the villages of others. But news of a new god rising to power in Arpa--and with the support of warring clans nonetheless--has come about.
It was really enjoyable to read Long's writing style. There was a perfect mix of wit or humor in dialogue, and the balance of Hessa's personal journey with the drama and uncertainties outside of her control. I enjoyed Hessa's character arc and growth since Hall of Smoke, and thought that the flashbacks were a nice literary way to fill in the gap of years. The foreshadowing was well done, and the ending a complete surprise! It was a joy to reach it all unfold and piece together.
It didn't greatly affect my reading experience, but I will say that I forgot some of the lore and events of Hall of Smoke (read in Jan 2021). This is where the map and glossary were especially helpful, but they also make Temple of No God book readable as a stand alone.
Truly, I cannot wait for the sequel to see where H.M. Long takes us next in the world of Hall of Smoke. I would especially recommend Temple of No God to those who generally enjoy fantasy, are interested in Norse- & viking-inspired lands, or those who enjoyed book one and want to see what Hessa is up to next.
4.5/5 stars for Temple of No God! Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for the ARC in exchange for my review.