Master of Sorrows

Master of Sorrows by Justin T. Call, 562 pages

At 17 years old and nearing the end of his schooling, Annev is on his last chance to prove himself to his schoolmasters and become an avatar. Competition is fierce, as only one of the remaining acolytes can become an avatar, and even those of his age who have already achieved the role are able to compete as spoilers. With enemies among his masters and his peers and the love of the beautiful Myjun on the line, Annev is determined to win this time. But Sodar, the priest who took Annev in and has been teaching Annev magic on the sly (using magic is grounds for execution), may not be so keen on Annev's ambitions. Something is up here, and it's up to Annev to reconcile it with his ambitions.

The first book in what will undoubtedly be a sweeping trilogy, Master of Sorrows sets the scene for the complex creation of a dark lord that is destined to ruin the world. But who's to say what's truly good and truly evil? I enjoyed this nuanced origin story, and I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series. I'd recommend it to fans of Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles, seeing as they've had (and will continue to have) a long wait for the next book in that series.