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The Dawnless Night Series #1
Winds of Strife
“They burned me and mine. I'm not done until I burn them and theirs in return.”
Witch-hunts have plagued the kingdom of Olyanath for decades. Thousands were slain due to the king’s paranoia of women who practice Senspiritic magic.
No more.
Nye and his companions have seen enough of murder and misogyny.
Fifteen years have passed since he joined the witch-hunters, and now, at long last, an opportunity to destroy them from the inside reveals itself.
An opportunity to overthrow the king and end his reign of cruelty.
But fifteen years of pretense have taken a toll. The strive for vengeance has steered Nye toward a path of violence and villainy. His hands are stained by the blood of countless innocents, his heart is scorched by grief, and his sanity hangs by a thread.
Even if he can kill the king and see this revolution through, it may not suffice to purge the voices from his head.
Witch-hunts have plagued the kingdom of Olyanath for decades. Thousands were slain due to the king’s paranoia of women who practice Senspiritic magic.
No more.
Nye and his companions have seen enough of murder and misogyny.
Fifteen years have passed since he joined the witch-hunters, and now, at long last, an opportunity to destroy them from the inside reveals itself.
An opportunity to overthrow the king and end his reign of cruelty.
But fifteen years of pretense have taken a toll. The strive for vengeance has steered Nye toward a path of violence and villainy. His hands are stained by the blood of countless innocents, his heart is scorched by grief, and his sanity hangs by a thread.
Even if he can kill the king and see this revolution through, it may not suffice to purge the voices from his head.
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First published November 6, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 27, 2021
Winds of Strife is the first book in the Dawnless Night fantasy series, a fantasy I would definitely say is more on the darker side of the spectrum.
If you are a reader who has any specific triggers, there are definitely quite a few to be aware of when reading this book: mental disorders/illness, violence, abusive relationships.
We follow a cast of characters who have a variety of agendas this story introduces and explores. Witch hunts, those who would rebel, a king who has built a kingdom upon lies - but what is really amazing about this world is its magic. In fact, to be very honest, I focused so intensely on this magic system and learning it that I sort of didn't care about the characters. The magic system of Olyanath is based on EMOTIONS - how they can be harnassed and used - what all the uses ARE - the color of the auras - just absolutely fascinating and complex. Conveniently, the author put charts for each of the emotions at the start of the chapters for readers to refer to as needed. This is a dark fantasy, but as a lover of the horror genre as well - I very much enjoyed this fantasy that bordered on the border of horror.
Now I say I didn't pay much attention to the characters - I did, a touch. I AM going to reread this book in a month or so and do a better job of analyzing the characters. I favored Diane the most, followed by Grin....and, by unpopular opinion, Nye. Nye is very polarizing - he is abusive, suffers from a mental disorder (I have some theories on this) and does some very terrible things. Here's the thing though - he serves a purpose and I firmly believe his purpose fit exactly as it should in this narrative. It was what was required and I am very much interested to see what happens in the next book in this series.
I really enjoy books that cause me to think over what I read for days - supposing the reasons and driving forces behind characters and theories, predictions for what it is to come.
Once I reread this one, I'll be back to update. :D
If you are a reader who has any specific triggers, there are definitely quite a few to be aware of when reading this book: mental disorders/illness, violence, abusive relationships.
We follow a cast of characters who have a variety of agendas this story introduces and explores. Witch hunts, those who would rebel, a king who has built a kingdom upon lies - but what is really amazing about this world is its magic. In fact, to be very honest, I focused so intensely on this magic system and learning it that I sort of didn't care about the characters. The magic system of Olyanath is based on EMOTIONS - how they can be harnassed and used - what all the uses ARE - the color of the auras - just absolutely fascinating and complex. Conveniently, the author put charts for each of the emotions at the start of the chapters for readers to refer to as needed. This is a dark fantasy, but as a lover of the horror genre as well - I very much enjoyed this fantasy that bordered on the border of horror.
Now I say I didn't pay much attention to the characters - I did, a touch. I AM going to reread this book in a month or so and do a better job of analyzing the characters. I favored Diane the most, followed by Grin....and, by unpopular opinion, Nye. Nye is very polarizing - he is abusive, suffers from a mental disorder (I have some theories on this) and does some very terrible things. Here's the thing though - he serves a purpose and I firmly believe his purpose fit exactly as it should in this narrative. It was what was required and I am very much interested to see what happens in the next book in this series.
I really enjoy books that cause me to think over what I read for days - supposing the reasons and driving forces behind characters and theories, predictions for what it is to come.
Once I reread this one, I'll be back to update. :D
September 29, 2021
4.5 rounding up to 5 stars.
The author sent me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my goodness!!!! What a debut!!!! I am so unbelievably impressed!!! This book has one of the coolest magic systems that felt very reminiscent of Sanderson’s magic, but still unique in its own right! The world-building was beautifully woven throughout and the character work was spectacular! The characters (a lot of them) are extremely morally gray and imperfect. Our main character in particular is abusive, so be forewarned of that going into this. It is nothing overly graphic or gratuitous, but it is there. However, even though all the characters were very gray, they were also very complex and I thought very well-written. The action scenes were fantastic and the pacing was great! The only critique I’d have is I thought Nye and Ivy’s story was a bit rushed and some dialogue was a little clunky, but honestly I had such an awesome time with this book that I don’t even mind it at all! I can’t wait to recommend this one on the channel!
The author sent me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my goodness!!!! What a debut!!!! I am so unbelievably impressed!!! This book has one of the coolest magic systems that felt very reminiscent of Sanderson’s magic, but still unique in its own right! The world-building was beautifully woven throughout and the character work was spectacular! The characters (a lot of them) are extremely morally gray and imperfect. Our main character in particular is abusive, so be forewarned of that going into this. It is nothing overly graphic or gratuitous, but it is there. However, even though all the characters were very gray, they were also very complex and I thought very well-written. The action scenes were fantastic and the pacing was great! The only critique I’d have is I thought Nye and Ivy’s story was a bit rushed and some dialogue was a little clunky, but honestly I had such an awesome time with this book that I don’t even mind it at all! I can’t wait to recommend this one on the channel!
July 2, 2021
.“Evil actions will make you an evil person, whether of righteous intent or not.”
When U.G. Gutman reached out to me about reviewing his book, I was immediately intrigued. Firstly, would you look at that cover? It is absolutely stunning! Moreover, I had seen Book Born’s YouTube review on this book previously, so I was interested in seeing how I would feel about this book.
Firstly, let’s talk about what I loved about this book. The magic system is definitely the highlight of this story. Gutman has created an incredibly ambitious and complex magic system that is based on emotions. There are a range of different powers with clear limits. Moreover, using magic can cause psychological effects on the user. If you are looking for a book with a complex and hard magic system, then it is worth checking out this book.
I also loved the themes in this book. Gutman critically analyses the effect of sexism and the corruption of power. Moreover, this book looks at themes such as loyalty, revenge and manipulation, all of which are handled quite well. I especially enjoyed seeing the psychological effects on the protagonist Nye and how he struggled with madness throughout the book.
Although the magic system is a highlight, it is also one of the main drawbacks of this book. Due to the magic system being so complex, Gutman very frequently reiterates how this system works. Although I understand why Gutman keeps mentioning how the magic system works, it became quite tedious to read. It would have been much more effective if the first book only focused on 5-6 of the powers in this magic system, so it would have been easier for the reader to follow the story. This would also allow Gutman not to repeat how everything works so frequently.
Moreover, I would have wanted to learn more about this world. While the magic system is well fleshed out, the reader is not introduced to many different cultures, villages, landscapes or religions. After reading this book, I cannot picture what this world looks or feels like, which is unfortunate.
However, I would still recommend fantasy readers to pick up this book and make up their own minds. Gutman has created an ambitious and interesting story that I know some readers will love. Especially if you enjoy a hard magic system then this book should be up your alley. The way Gutman handles complex themes also make this book stand out. I am therefore giving this book a solid 3-star rating.
.3 / 5 stars
A special thanks to U.G. Gutman for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
When U.G. Gutman reached out to me about reviewing his book, I was immediately intrigued. Firstly, would you look at that cover? It is absolutely stunning! Moreover, I had seen Book Born’s YouTube review on this book previously, so I was interested in seeing how I would feel about this book.
Firstly, let’s talk about what I loved about this book. The magic system is definitely the highlight of this story. Gutman has created an incredibly ambitious and complex magic system that is based on emotions. There are a range of different powers with clear limits. Moreover, using magic can cause psychological effects on the user. If you are looking for a book with a complex and hard magic system, then it is worth checking out this book.
I also loved the themes in this book. Gutman critically analyses the effect of sexism and the corruption of power. Moreover, this book looks at themes such as loyalty, revenge and manipulation, all of which are handled quite well. I especially enjoyed seeing the psychological effects on the protagonist Nye and how he struggled with madness throughout the book.
Although the magic system is a highlight, it is also one of the main drawbacks of this book. Due to the magic system being so complex, Gutman very frequently reiterates how this system works. Although I understand why Gutman keeps mentioning how the magic system works, it became quite tedious to read. It would have been much more effective if the first book only focused on 5-6 of the powers in this magic system, so it would have been easier for the reader to follow the story. This would also allow Gutman not to repeat how everything works so frequently.
Moreover, I would have wanted to learn more about this world. While the magic system is well fleshed out, the reader is not introduced to many different cultures, villages, landscapes or religions. After reading this book, I cannot picture what this world looks or feels like, which is unfortunate.
However, I would still recommend fantasy readers to pick up this book and make up their own minds. Gutman has created an ambitious and interesting story that I know some readers will love. Especially if you enjoy a hard magic system then this book should be up your alley. The way Gutman handles complex themes also make this book stand out. I am therefore giving this book a solid 3-star rating.
.3 / 5 stars
A special thanks to U.G. Gutman for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2022
Actual rating; 4.5
TWs: mental disorders, gaslighting, death and dark topics in general.
Video review here!
So... what a debut we have here. And what a great way for you to get into dark fantasy.
We are going to be following Nye, infiltrated in a group called the Sun Harbingers, and you now what? They hunt women who practice sensepirity (the magic of this world) and he is going to take them down from the inside.
Winds of Strife has one of the best opening prologues that I've seen in a long time. It'll suck in completely from page one (special mention to the epilogue too because now I need book 2). And from there you will follow Nye and a bunch of other POVs as they try to either kill witches or prevent the hunting.
As I just said we follow a good chunk of characters, but I will have to point that Nye is a hell of a grey character. He is abusive, manipulative and ruthless. He will do anything to get his revenge and destroy the Sun Harbingers, basically the only important thing to him is the end, not the means. And yet I still liked following him because deep down you know he is right (yes it is complicated). Special mentions to Ivy and Diane who were also fantastic characters.
Basically, if you like morally grey characters you will love this.
Now for sensespirity... I LOVED THE MAGIC SYSTEM. It is complex and complicated and fascinating to learn more about. It is based on the use of emotions and how to harvest them. Each of them comes with a gain but also a cost. For example harvesting Calm will give you a shield but it will also make you less empathetic. (also if you harvest hatred it might kill you). It is worth reading the book just for the magic system alone.
The only two things I would nit pick is the love story, which I felt it was a bit rushed (though I can understand why it might feel like that). And the fact that I want more external world building, gimme more!
Overall I highly recommend this one for any fantasy reader, you are in for a treat!
TWs: mental disorders, gaslighting, death and dark topics in general.
Video review here!
So... what a debut we have here. And what a great way for you to get into dark fantasy.
We are going to be following Nye, infiltrated in a group called the Sun Harbingers, and you now what? They hunt women who practice sensepirity (the magic of this world) and he is going to take them down from the inside.
Winds of Strife has one of the best opening prologues that I've seen in a long time. It'll suck in completely from page one (special mention to the epilogue too because now I need book 2). And from there you will follow Nye and a bunch of other POVs as they try to either kill witches or prevent the hunting.
As I just said we follow a good chunk of characters, but I will have to point that Nye is a hell of a grey character. He is abusive, manipulative and ruthless. He will do anything to get his revenge and destroy the Sun Harbingers, basically the only important thing to him is the end, not the means. And yet I still liked following him because deep down you know he is right (yes it is complicated). Special mentions to Ivy and Diane who were also fantastic characters.
Basically, if you like morally grey characters you will love this.
Now for sensespirity... I LOVED THE MAGIC SYSTEM. It is complex and complicated and fascinating to learn more about. It is based on the use of emotions and how to harvest them. Each of them comes with a gain but also a cost. For example harvesting Calm will give you a shield but it will also make you less empathetic. (also if you harvest hatred it might kill you). It is worth reading the book just for the magic system alone.
The only two things I would nit pick is the love story, which I felt it was a bit rushed (though I can understand why it might feel like that). And the fact that I want more external world building, gimme more!
Overall I highly recommend this one for any fantasy reader, you are in for a treat!
November 8, 2020
Before you start, know that this is a book of promises. Take my word - the author takes care of the payoff.
TRIGGER WARNING: The book tackles sensitive topics, such as mental disorders, violence, manipulation, and sexual abuse.
I'm not sure I know where to start when talking about this book. It made me laugh, shiver, and sit on the floor in tears. It gave me regret, guilt, and disappointment, and then it gave me hope. Saying that I enjoyed reading it would be a serious understatement - once the main plotlines kicked off, I just couldn't stop flipping the pages.
That being said, the author does take his time with the beginning, especially when it comes to making the plot transition between planning and execution. The slow plot progression is something that might turn away a certain number of readers, but believe me - once it starts, it does not disappoint. Lots of promises are made in the beginning, lots of seeds planted, and the payoff is spectacular. I believe it would be fair to say that having a slow beginning did not harm the book, at least in my opinion - it made me appreciate the reveals and twists even more after I've seen the setup.
Speaking of setup and payoff, the novel starts in a more-less familiar fantasy setting, presenting itself as potentially disastrous, drowning in cliches, or at least I thought so after the first two chapters. I was sure I knew where it was going, but it turned out that I had no idea - Gutman created a beautiful balance between the borrowed and the new, giving some of the common tropes a fresh look. The ending was in the sweet spot - clean enough for a reader to feel satisfied, but leaving enough questions open for discussion until the sequels are published.
More general praise goes to the way the book is written - the sentences are clear and not too long, and the dialogue is done so well that I can definitely imagine merchandise packed with characters' quotes (I hope that the author takes a note after reading this comment and that he's a fan of hoodies).
The magic system is emotion-based: using Senspirity, people can harness powers by summoning emotions tied to said powers. Every Senspiritic emotion has both perks and downsides, and slowly discovering how each of them works was quite a joyful experience. Senspirity also plays an important role in the premise - women who practice Senspirity are dehumanized, hunted by a group of male Senspiriters (ironic, huh?) called the Sun Harbingers. I liked the way the author tackled misogyny, but this subplot was not my favorite as I found some of the other ones way more personal and relatable. However, I can see how readers with different backgrounds might enjoy it a lot more than I did.
Now that everything else was mentioned, let me get to the best aspect of this book - the characters.
The size of the cast is neither super small nor too big, and there are around 10 POVs in the book, so by the end of the last chapter, I felt like I got to know the important characters extremely well. All major characters felt like real humans, with their own goals and motivations, and I haven't noticed a single time something they did was written solely to move the plot. They all have something to lose, and no one makes it out alive, healthy, and without consequences. So, let's talk about some of them:
Nye wants vengeance, and he doesn't care much about the means that will bring him there. His motivation is clear (even though I didn't like it), and almost everything he does is influenced by one specific event in his past. After the traumatic experience he had as a teenager, Nye struggles to maintain sanity as he seeks a way to deal with the consequences. This trauma, although scarring, provides him with the ability not many Senspiriters have, which helps Nye infiltrate the Sun Harbingers, the very same people that left permanent marks on his body, mind, and heart. In a nutshell, Nye is a horrible human, but an incredibly written character.
Ivy is witty, curious, and incredibly wholesome. She's definitely not your average princess, but she doesn't punch you in the face with it either - she's just herself, not asking for attention, and that has a certain type of charm that made me enjoy reading her chapters. Apart from being incredibly down-to-earth for a member of the royal family, she also happens to be a chosen one (double bad luck, if you ask me). To be completely honest, I am usually not a fan of chosen ones. This one, however, is not only there to do what she has to do - she's competent and compelling, a powerful being not yet aware of her abilities. It's clear that book 1 is just the beginning of her story, and I can't wait to see where the author will take it. Could be terrible, could be amazing - we can only wait and see.
Apart from these two characters around which the story revolves, we also get to meet Kerak, the Head of the Sun Harbingers (spoiler alert - you'll love to hate him), King Alliddar (who seems 2D at the beginning but, of course, turns out to be much more complex than what we see from Nye's perspective), and two groups of people whose chapters I looked forward to every time I picked the book up.
First, I want to tell you about the group of women living with Nye. If I were to reveal how they got there, you probably wouldn't believe me, so better check it out yourself. In this house of tragedy, everyone's life was shattered because of the Sun Harbingers. Four very different women, sharing a similar kind of burden, have a choice in front of themselves - will they help Nye get what he wants so desperately? Will they use their own Senspiritic powers, risking their lives rebelling against the powerful witch-hunting order? The answers might surprise you.
Finally, let me introduce you to the squad specialized in killing Harbingers. This group shares with us thoughts on morals and guilt, dealing with the ever more relevant topic of toxic relationships. The main character in the squad is Glitter, who struggles to find the right way to be a sister and a girlfriend, petrified by her own Senspiritic powers. When I first read about Glitter, I hated her, but then she reached a breaking point and, well, I was left speechless and in tears. Her arc is brutal, beautiful, and heartbreaking, and I can't wait to see where it will go in the future.
All in all, this is one of the best books I've read in the last couple of years. It gave me everything I wanted and so much more, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out. Fantasy readers, clear up your TBRs - you need space for this book.
And please - please - trust the author. You won't regret it.
TRIGGER WARNING: The book tackles sensitive topics, such as mental disorders, violence, manipulation, and sexual abuse.
I'm not sure I know where to start when talking about this book. It made me laugh, shiver, and sit on the floor in tears. It gave me regret, guilt, and disappointment, and then it gave me hope. Saying that I enjoyed reading it would be a serious understatement - once the main plotlines kicked off, I just couldn't stop flipping the pages.
That being said, the author does take his time with the beginning, especially when it comes to making the plot transition between planning and execution. The slow plot progression is something that might turn away a certain number of readers, but believe me - once it starts, it does not disappoint. Lots of promises are made in the beginning, lots of seeds planted, and the payoff is spectacular. I believe it would be fair to say that having a slow beginning did not harm the book, at least in my opinion - it made me appreciate the reveals and twists even more after I've seen the setup.
Speaking of setup and payoff, the novel starts in a more-less familiar fantasy setting, presenting itself as potentially disastrous, drowning in cliches, or at least I thought so after the first two chapters. I was sure I knew where it was going, but it turned out that I had no idea - Gutman created a beautiful balance between the borrowed and the new, giving some of the common tropes a fresh look. The ending was in the sweet spot - clean enough for a reader to feel satisfied, but leaving enough questions open for discussion until the sequels are published.
More general praise goes to the way the book is written - the sentences are clear and not too long, and the dialogue is done so well that I can definitely imagine merchandise packed with characters' quotes (I hope that the author takes a note after reading this comment and that he's a fan of hoodies).
The magic system is emotion-based: using Senspirity, people can harness powers by summoning emotions tied to said powers. Every Senspiritic emotion has both perks and downsides, and slowly discovering how each of them works was quite a joyful experience. Senspirity also plays an important role in the premise - women who practice Senspirity are dehumanized, hunted by a group of male Senspiriters (ironic, huh?) called the Sun Harbingers. I liked the way the author tackled misogyny, but this subplot was not my favorite as I found some of the other ones way more personal and relatable. However, I can see how readers with different backgrounds might enjoy it a lot more than I did.
Now that everything else was mentioned, let me get to the best aspect of this book - the characters.
The size of the cast is neither super small nor too big, and there are around 10 POVs in the book, so by the end of the last chapter, I felt like I got to know the important characters extremely well. All major characters felt like real humans, with their own goals and motivations, and I haven't noticed a single time something they did was written solely to move the plot. They all have something to lose, and no one makes it out alive, healthy, and without consequences. So, let's talk about some of them:
Nye wants vengeance, and he doesn't care much about the means that will bring him there. His motivation is clear (even though I didn't like it), and almost everything he does is influenced by one specific event in his past. After the traumatic experience he had as a teenager, Nye struggles to maintain sanity as he seeks a way to deal with the consequences. This trauma, although scarring, provides him with the ability not many Senspiriters have, which helps Nye infiltrate the Sun Harbingers, the very same people that left permanent marks on his body, mind, and heart. In a nutshell, Nye is a horrible human, but an incredibly written character.
Ivy is witty, curious, and incredibly wholesome. She's definitely not your average princess, but she doesn't punch you in the face with it either - she's just herself, not asking for attention, and that has a certain type of charm that made me enjoy reading her chapters. Apart from being incredibly down-to-earth for a member of the royal family, she also happens to be a chosen one (double bad luck, if you ask me). To be completely honest, I am usually not a fan of chosen ones. This one, however, is not only there to do what she has to do - she's competent and compelling, a powerful being not yet aware of her abilities. It's clear that book 1 is just the beginning of her story, and I can't wait to see where the author will take it. Could be terrible, could be amazing - we can only wait and see.
Apart from these two characters around which the story revolves, we also get to meet Kerak, the Head of the Sun Harbingers (spoiler alert - you'll love to hate him), King Alliddar (who seems 2D at the beginning but, of course, turns out to be much more complex than what we see from Nye's perspective), and two groups of people whose chapters I looked forward to every time I picked the book up.
First, I want to tell you about the group of women living with Nye. If I were to reveal how they got there, you probably wouldn't believe me, so better check it out yourself. In this house of tragedy, everyone's life was shattered because of the Sun Harbingers. Four very different women, sharing a similar kind of burden, have a choice in front of themselves - will they help Nye get what he wants so desperately? Will they use their own Senspiritic powers, risking their lives rebelling against the powerful witch-hunting order? The answers might surprise you.
Finally, let me introduce you to the squad specialized in killing Harbingers. This group shares with us thoughts on morals and guilt, dealing with the ever more relevant topic of toxic relationships. The main character in the squad is Glitter, who struggles to find the right way to be a sister and a girlfriend, petrified by her own Senspiritic powers. When I first read about Glitter, I hated her, but then she reached a breaking point and, well, I was left speechless and in tears. Her arc is brutal, beautiful, and heartbreaking, and I can't wait to see where it will go in the future.
All in all, this is one of the best books I've read in the last couple of years. It gave me everything I wanted and so much more, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out. Fantasy readers, clear up your TBRs - you need space for this book.
And please - please - trust the author. You won't regret it.
September 5, 2021
I am a little late writing my review here. Winds of Strife is a great debut for an author whose career I look forward to following very closely. The Story we get here is one of madness, darkness, and the struggle to be better. Nye is a character that you want to root for but struggle with to justify his actions. I supposed my biggest suggestion to all is that If you are looking for a book that tackles emotional, mental, and physical abuse through the eyes of fantasy look no further.
In this book, we deal with many issues on morality and if the ends do justify the means. The magic system alone is unique and well developed. The characters are well fleshed out and highly dynamic and there is a little something for everyone in this story. Overall this was a solid 4/5. I really enjoyed this book. I have the physical and the Audio. With a fantastic narrator and high quilty physical copies. Any way you consume Winds of Strife promises to be an enjoyable experience.
In this book, we deal with many issues on morality and if the ends do justify the means. The magic system alone is unique and well developed. The characters are well fleshed out and highly dynamic and there is a little something for everyone in this story. Overall this was a solid 4/5. I really enjoyed this book. I have the physical and the Audio. With a fantastic narrator and high quilty physical copies. Any way you consume Winds of Strife promises to be an enjoyable experience.
March 15, 2022
Major trigger warnings for physical and emotional abuse, especially gaslighting.
You can find my full review here: https://youtu.be/btqTEgOf9zM
This is a well paced story with plenty of action. The magic system is like nothing I've seen before. The main character manages to simultaneously be the hero, victim, and villain. I initially thought I wasn't going to like the book based on the trigger warnings at the very beginning of the book, but it didn't take long to get to the point where I couldn't put the story down.
Rating of 82/100
You can find my full review here: https://youtu.be/btqTEgOf9zM
This is a well paced story with plenty of action. The magic system is like nothing I've seen before. The main character manages to simultaneously be the hero, victim, and villain. I initially thought I wasn't going to like the book based on the trigger warnings at the very beginning of the book, but it didn't take long to get to the point where I couldn't put the story down.
Rating of 82/100
July 25, 2022
Full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxRFh...
Interview with U. G. Gutman (spoiler free):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKmzW...
Interview with U. G. Gutman (spoilers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny2F_...
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to the author!
> 4/5
What a debut!
Winds of Strife proved to be a promising first installment from the very first pages. The beginning is excellent, and the story doesn't disappoint.
The plot takes it time, and I usually have a problem with slow burns as I can be very impatient. But here I wasn't bored one bit. In fact, every time I had to put down the book, all I wanted was to crawl back under my blanket and keep reading. It hooks you that way.
The world building, though nothing we haven't seen before, works very well.
The magic system is probably my favorite thing here. I was confused about how it could work at first, but it actually all made sense. I thought it was quite original, too.
I appreciate how easy it was to get into the story. I was never overly confused. Everything was very well introduced while also keeping room for suspense and plot twists. The good writing helped as well. The short explanations outside the chapters were a good idea, as they helped me recall details mentioned inside the story and help me understand the magic better.
My complaints basically revolve around the characters, especially one of them that I found incredibly... problematic. I won't go into detail here as there is too much to say (I'm making a video review on my YouTube channel for that) but I struggled to get attached to most of them. The good thing about them though is that most of them are morally gray, which I appreciate since it makes them more realistic.
I took a whole star out of my rating because of stuff that made me upset (again, I'll explain it in my upcoming video), but let it not discourage you from grabbing this book. I realize that my reactions are mostly due to my own personal experiences, and it doesn't mean the book is bad. I'm actually curious to see if more people will have the same opinions as mine, or if not, why? So definitely give it a try.
Waiting for book 2!
Interview with U. G. Gutman (spoiler free):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKmzW...
Interview with U. G. Gutman (spoilers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny2F_...
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to the author!
> 4/5
What a debut!
Winds of Strife proved to be a promising first installment from the very first pages. The beginning is excellent, and the story doesn't disappoint.
The plot takes it time, and I usually have a problem with slow burns as I can be very impatient. But here I wasn't bored one bit. In fact, every time I had to put down the book, all I wanted was to crawl back under my blanket and keep reading. It hooks you that way.
The world building, though nothing we haven't seen before, works very well.
The magic system is probably my favorite thing here. I was confused about how it could work at first, but it actually all made sense. I thought it was quite original, too.
I appreciate how easy it was to get into the story. I was never overly confused. Everything was very well introduced while also keeping room for suspense and plot twists. The good writing helped as well. The short explanations outside the chapters were a good idea, as they helped me recall details mentioned inside the story and help me understand the magic better.
My complaints basically revolve around the characters, especially one of them that I found incredibly... problematic. I won't go into detail here as there is too much to say (I'm making a video review on my YouTube channel for that) but I struggled to get attached to most of them. The good thing about them though is that most of them are morally gray, which I appreciate since it makes them more realistic.
I took a whole star out of my rating because of stuff that made me upset (again, I'll explain it in my upcoming video), but let it not discourage you from grabbing this book. I realize that my reactions are mostly due to my own personal experiences, and it doesn't mean the book is bad. I'm actually curious to see if more people will have the same opinions as mine, or if not, why? So definitely give it a try.
Waiting for book 2!
November 15, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was one of those books I’d been looking forward to for such a long time and I really love the cover of it. One of the reasons I really wanted to read it was to see whether I enjoyed it enough to pick up a copy so I could have that cover in my collection.
Taking up the recommendation of a couple of different people, I listened to the audiobook. There was one little thing that I had an issue with, which was a character called Glitter who was abbreviated by her friends to Glit, and it just didn't quite sound right. It didn't sound like a “G” in enough of the instances that I heard it, so that was a little bit off-putting for me. But outside of that, the narration was absolutely fine.
The story itself though, I just couldn't get into. I don't know what it was, and I’ve tried since finishing the book to put my finger on it and find out why it was that I didn't just gel with this book, but I still have no idea. The overall concept of it, the worldbuilding the characters, etc. were all fine. Together though, for whatever reason, it just didn't work for me.
The writing was absolutely fine but not every story is going to click with you and this is just one that didn't click with me as much as I wanted it to.
This was one of those books I’d been looking forward to for such a long time and I really love the cover of it. One of the reasons I really wanted to read it was to see whether I enjoyed it enough to pick up a copy so I could have that cover in my collection.
Taking up the recommendation of a couple of different people, I listened to the audiobook. There was one little thing that I had an issue with, which was a character called Glitter who was abbreviated by her friends to Glit, and it just didn't quite sound right. It didn't sound like a “G” in enough of the instances that I heard it, so that was a little bit off-putting for me. But outside of that, the narration was absolutely fine.
The story itself though, I just couldn't get into. I don't know what it was, and I’ve tried since finishing the book to put my finger on it and find out why it was that I didn't just gel with this book, but I still have no idea. The overall concept of it, the worldbuilding the characters, etc. were all fine. Together though, for whatever reason, it just didn't work for me.
The writing was absolutely fine but not every story is going to click with you and this is just one that didn't click with me as much as I wanted it to.
March 26, 2021
Amazing book. The emotional roller-coaster was executed in a very exciting way, and I can't wait for book 2! As far as first books go, I think this is one of the best that I have ever read. Gripping from start to end!
February 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. It wasn't something I read about before, especially in fantasy genre. I've come across morally grey characters, but not interlaced with topic of domestic abuse.
Magic system is really cool, emotion-based, it feels developed and I like that it has drawbacks too. Theme of abuse and insanity is very much at the forefront but super well incorporated in the world and the magic.
I'm interested in reading the sequel!
Magic system is really cool, emotion-based, it feels developed and I like that it has drawbacks too. Theme of abuse and insanity is very much at the forefront but super well incorporated in the world and the magic.
I'm interested in reading the sequel!
October 1, 2022
I had the best time with this book! It is fast paced with a super cool magic system and some interesting characters. At times I felt like some POVs were a little unnecessary and repetitive, but overall this was a ton of fun! I would recommend this to fans of hard magic systems and a wide cast of characters.
If you want my full thoughts, check out this vlog on my YT channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4TAG...
If you want my full thoughts, check out this vlog on my YT channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4TAG...
February 3, 2021
Winds of Strife was a worthwhile read and the best novel I've read so far this year.
July 5, 2021
Sometimes life is both black and white. People tell you it’s static on a spectrum somewhere in between. But I tell you, it’s black and white at the same time.
First I want to thank the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. That being said, this was a really interesting reading experience for me. Some of my thoughts/feelings I don’t think will be fully solidified until reading the second installment in this series, and I am going to do my best to explain why that is. CW: physically and emotionally abusive relationships, mental disorders, and reference to character’s abusive childhood
What is this book about?
This book is very much grim-dark fantasy. The introduction sets up a chosen one storyline as we are introduced to the issue that the nights are slowly growing longer in Olyanath and nobody can figure out why, but a baby has been born who is supposed to change that. However, after the introduction we switch gears and jump into the story that we follow for the majority of the book. Women practicing Senspirity, which is the magic system of the story, are branded as witches and are hunted and killed for their “evil” ways while the male practitioners of Senspirity are able to practice freely as they please. Nye is one of the elite witch hunters of the king who has made it his mission to destroy the system from the inside and make Olyanath safe for women again as an act of vengeance for his past. He continues to hunt the witches, but he often doesn’t kill their entire family as is expected of him, and he slowly amasses a small group of survivors that share his common goal: kill the king and allow women to practice Senspirity.
We don’t just follow Nye, we also have the perspectives of Ivy, the princess; Diane, Grin, and Lylin, some of his conspirators; Glitter, a rogue assassin witch; and several other smaller POVs along the way.
What I Liked
* The magic system in this world was very well-crafted. Senspirity is a hard magic system that requires users to harness their emotions to give them different abilities. Some people are able to master multiple different emotions, and some specialize in one or two of them. However, there is a difference between feeling the emotion and harnessing it, which is why the whole population isn’t walking around with special abilities. Something that I really appreciated was that there are downsides that come with harnessing each emotion.
* The plot and the world are very intriguing! I was personally more interested in Ivy, the princess, and the encroaching Night, but I still found the plot to kill the king interesting to read about. I am assuming that Ivy and the Night will take more of a center stage in the second book.
* I appreciated that while the world is incredibly misogynistic, it is clearly identified by essentially all the POV characters as problematic. Also, while the MC Nye is particularly problematic, he isn’t the only problematic character, and there is a female POV character who does some of the same questionable things that Nye does, right down to the emotional manipulation and abuse of her partner. I kind of appreciated that we see those similarities because I feel it’s not often that you get those parallels in the same book to kind of look at and examine your own reactions to the same actions on a character of a different gender. I personally enjoyed reading from Glitter’s perspective much more than Nye’s because she was much more sarcastic and humorous, but it didn’t make her any more likable if that makes sense.
* It’s kind of a small thing, but the cover art is absolutely stunning! Honestly, I just shut the book and admired it from time to time!
What I Didn’t Like/Am Unsure Of
- I think that there were some ways in which the story could have been condensed. While the magic system was fascinating, at a certain point there was a lot of repetition to remind us of different pieces of it. (This is a complaint that I have of Allomancy descriptions in Mistborn as well, so this may be a ME thing). So this didn't really detract from my enjoyment at all, just led to skimming a few sections. There were also sections where I noticed there was more telling rather than showing of different things like emotions and motivations, so it was very dialogue heavy at times. Again, this doesn’t really detract from my enjoyment of a work as long as the story is strong enough, and in this case it was. While I noticed it at different points throughout this book, it didn’t make it difficult to read, and I expect that this is something that will become less of an issue as the author continues to write.
- I struggled a lot with the way that physical abuse and emotional manipulation between partners was portrayed in this. It was interesting because I felt like it was being condemned in the black and white text on the page, but the way that it was handled within the story at times almost implicitly accepted it and attempted to justify it, which I didn’t care for. The characters who were being abused seemed to collectively say with both their actions and words at different points, “well it’s alright because past trauma and grief overwhelms him and such,” and it was somewhat maddening to read that. I believe at the end there was an attempt to show some movement past that mentality with one of the characters, but I’m not sure if that’s actually where that is going, so I honestly will have to see how the portrayal of this issue plays out in the next book. But I would strongly caution anyone who has any triggers around this subject to avoid this book.
- The other thing that I really struggled with was the portrayal of Nye’s Madness. He has an inner voice that is slowly asserting more and more control over him as the story progresses. I sort of wondered at different places throughout the story at how this was being handled, especially in conjunction with the physical abuse issues, but the Author’s Note at the end made me rather wary. While I applaud the integration of mental health into fantasy stories, I am not sure how this storyline will be handled moving forward based on that note, and it could go somewhere really great, or somewhere that I would not be a big fan of.
So these were my two main issues, but they are both things that I think will be addressed further in the next book and that will hopefully solidify my opinions on their handling.
- The last thing that bothered me is silly and very minor, but Lylin did NOT act like a 12 year old girl in my experience. Every time her age was referenced I felt a bit shocked. Overall it didn't impact the overarching storyline very much, but her individual arc and the thoughts that she was entertaining towards her whole entire situation were rather unbelievable to me.
Overall, I feel like this book was very solid debut and set up a really interesting world with some characters that I am intrigued about, even if I don’t particularly like them that much. I think for much of the book, it was solidly in the 3 stars/Solid range for me and started creeping up into the 4 stars/Really Enjoyed It range towards the end, putting it at a very respectable 3.5 stars! I think that it has the potential to change into a solid 4 star or 3 star depending on how the different storylines I identified end up playing out.
First I want to thank the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. That being said, this was a really interesting reading experience for me. Some of my thoughts/feelings I don’t think will be fully solidified until reading the second installment in this series, and I am going to do my best to explain why that is. CW: physically and emotionally abusive relationships, mental disorders, and reference to character’s abusive childhood
What is this book about?
This book is very much grim-dark fantasy. The introduction sets up a chosen one storyline as we are introduced to the issue that the nights are slowly growing longer in Olyanath and nobody can figure out why, but a baby has been born who is supposed to change that. However, after the introduction we switch gears and jump into the story that we follow for the majority of the book. Women practicing Senspirity, which is the magic system of the story, are branded as witches and are hunted and killed for their “evil” ways while the male practitioners of Senspirity are able to practice freely as they please. Nye is one of the elite witch hunters of the king who has made it his mission to destroy the system from the inside and make Olyanath safe for women again as an act of vengeance for his past. He continues to hunt the witches, but he often doesn’t kill their entire family as is expected of him, and he slowly amasses a small group of survivors that share his common goal: kill the king and allow women to practice Senspirity.
We don’t just follow Nye, we also have the perspectives of Ivy, the princess; Diane, Grin, and Lylin, some of his conspirators; Glitter, a rogue assassin witch; and several other smaller POVs along the way.
What I Liked
* The magic system in this world was very well-crafted. Senspirity is a hard magic system that requires users to harness their emotions to give them different abilities. Some people are able to master multiple different emotions, and some specialize in one or two of them. However, there is a difference between feeling the emotion and harnessing it, which is why the whole population isn’t walking around with special abilities. Something that I really appreciated was that there are downsides that come with harnessing each emotion.
* The plot and the world are very intriguing! I was personally more interested in Ivy, the princess, and the encroaching Night, but I still found the plot to kill the king interesting to read about. I am assuming that Ivy and the Night will take more of a center stage in the second book.
* I appreciated that while the world is incredibly misogynistic, it is clearly identified by essentially all the POV characters as problematic. Also, while the MC Nye is particularly problematic, he isn’t the only problematic character, and there is a female POV character who does some of the same questionable things that Nye does, right down to the emotional manipulation and abuse of her partner. I kind of appreciated that we see those similarities because I feel it’s not often that you get those parallels in the same book to kind of look at and examine your own reactions to the same actions on a character of a different gender. I personally enjoyed reading from Glitter’s perspective much more than Nye’s because she was much more sarcastic and humorous, but it didn’t make her any more likable if that makes sense.
* It’s kind of a small thing, but the cover art is absolutely stunning! Honestly, I just shut the book and admired it from time to time!
What I Didn’t Like/Am Unsure Of
- I think that there were some ways in which the story could have been condensed. While the magic system was fascinating, at a certain point there was a lot of repetition to remind us of different pieces of it. (This is a complaint that I have of Allomancy descriptions in Mistborn as well, so this may be a ME thing). So this didn't really detract from my enjoyment at all, just led to skimming a few sections. There were also sections where I noticed there was more telling rather than showing of different things like emotions and motivations, so it was very dialogue heavy at times. Again, this doesn’t really detract from my enjoyment of a work as long as the story is strong enough, and in this case it was. While I noticed it at different points throughout this book, it didn’t make it difficult to read, and I expect that this is something that will become less of an issue as the author continues to write.
- I struggled a lot with the way that physical abuse and emotional manipulation between partners was portrayed in this. It was interesting because I felt like it was being condemned in the black and white text on the page, but the way that it was handled within the story at times almost implicitly accepted it and attempted to justify it, which I didn’t care for. The characters who were being abused seemed to collectively say with both their actions and words at different points, “well it’s alright because past trauma and grief overwhelms him and such,” and it was somewhat maddening to read that. I believe at the end there was an attempt to show some movement past that mentality with one of the characters, but I’m not sure if that’s actually where that is going, so I honestly will have to see how the portrayal of this issue plays out in the next book. But I would strongly caution anyone who has any triggers around this subject to avoid this book.
- The other thing that I really struggled with was the portrayal of Nye’s Madness. He has an inner voice that is slowly asserting more and more control over him as the story progresses. I sort of wondered at different places throughout the story at how this was being handled, especially in conjunction with the physical abuse issues, but the Author’s Note at the end made me rather wary. While I applaud the integration of mental health into fantasy stories, I am not sure how this storyline will be handled moving forward based on that note, and it could go somewhere really great, or somewhere that I would not be a big fan of.
So these were my two main issues, but they are both things that I think will be addressed further in the next book and that will hopefully solidify my opinions on their handling.
- The last thing that bothered me is silly and very minor, but Lylin did NOT act like a 12 year old girl in my experience. Every time her age was referenced I felt a bit shocked. Overall it didn't impact the overarching storyline very much, but her individual arc and the thoughts that she was entertaining towards her whole entire situation were rather unbelievable to me.
Overall, I feel like this book was very solid debut and set up a really interesting world with some characters that I am intrigued about, even if I don’t particularly like them that much. I think for much of the book, it was solidly in the 3 stars/Solid range for me and started creeping up into the 4 stars/Really Enjoyed It range towards the end, putting it at a very respectable 3.5 stars! I think that it has the potential to change into a solid 4 star or 3 star depending on how the different storylines I identified end up playing out.
August 28, 2021
What a debut!!
Firstly, the cover is stunning and I would buy it purely for it to look pretty on my shelf... In fact I did haha.
I was hooked from the prelogue. It's the best opening I've read in a while and really sets the scene for the rest of the book.
I can't wait to see where Uri takes this series.
Winds of Strife is the first in the Dawnless Night series and debut by U.G Gutman and Wow! What a debut it is. A fantastic read for lovers of complex but easily understandable magic systems and lovers of dark fantasy (it is quite dark).
Please look up trigger warnings if you have them to ensure this is for you. In saying that though, Gutman has written some dark topics and scenes with such care. I have had many conversations around this and we have all agreed that the care taken with these topics was acknowledged and appreciated. The characters are for the most part all morally grey. They are flawed and do wicked things but aren't necessarily bad. Gutman doesn't pussyfoot around the manipulation and abuse in these pages or tell you that it's bad. He simply states what is and leaves it to the reader to decide who they do and don't like. I appreciate nothing was spoon fed to us though I did find myself conflicted at times for sympathising with particular characters.
I felt like this dark fantasy had a lot of depth in character, world building and MAGIC SYSTEM (it was soooo great!!) I don't want to say too much about the MS because I found it so fun to discover myself and don't want to ruin it for anyone else.
Ok I'm waffling now. Bottom line of this review...
READ THIS F*CKING BOOK :D
Firstly, the cover is stunning and I would buy it purely for it to look pretty on my shelf... In fact I did haha.
I was hooked from the prelogue. It's the best opening I've read in a while and really sets the scene for the rest of the book.
I can't wait to see where Uri takes this series.
Winds of Strife is the first in the Dawnless Night series and debut by U.G Gutman and Wow! What a debut it is. A fantastic read for lovers of complex but easily understandable magic systems and lovers of dark fantasy (it is quite dark).
Please look up trigger warnings if you have them to ensure this is for you. In saying that though, Gutman has written some dark topics and scenes with such care. I have had many conversations around this and we have all agreed that the care taken with these topics was acknowledged and appreciated. The characters are for the most part all morally grey. They are flawed and do wicked things but aren't necessarily bad. Gutman doesn't pussyfoot around the manipulation and abuse in these pages or tell you that it's bad. He simply states what is and leaves it to the reader to decide who they do and don't like. I appreciate nothing was spoon fed to us though I did find myself conflicted at times for sympathising with particular characters.
I felt like this dark fantasy had a lot of depth in character, world building and MAGIC SYSTEM (it was soooo great!!) I don't want to say too much about the MS because I found it so fun to discover myself and don't want to ruin it for anyone else.
Ok I'm waffling now. Bottom line of this review...
READ THIS F*CKING BOOK :D
January 26, 2021
Slight trigger warning for domestic abuse (physical and emotional), but not too graphic.
This was ... interesting. It's a pretty decent grimdark fantasy with an interesting magic system. The world is very very misogynistic and got pretty annoying, but I do appreciate that it's framed as a bad thing and I hope "fixing" it will be an end goal for the series. My reactions to characters range from "OH MY GOD I'M PUNTING THIS ASSHAT OFF A CLIFF AND THEN DRAGGING HIM BACK UP TO TOSS HIM INTO A VOLCANO AND THEN FISHING HIM OUT TO HAVE HIM EATEN BY TINY ANTS" to "Yeah, I guess they're fine". That's not to say the characters aren't decently written - they're dark people and they fit in with the world, but they aren't really portrayed as heroes. I do think that Ivy tends to come off a bit as a Mary Sue, but she doesn't really do much in the book so I guess I won't really care until later books.
4/5 stars - I hate Nye so much damn it.
This was ... interesting. It's a pretty decent grimdark fantasy with an interesting magic system. The world is very very misogynistic and got pretty annoying, but I do appreciate that it's framed as a bad thing and I hope "fixing" it will be an end goal for the series. My reactions to characters range from "OH MY GOD I'M PUNTING THIS ASSHAT OFF A CLIFF AND THEN DRAGGING HIM BACK UP TO TOSS HIM INTO A VOLCANO AND THEN FISHING HIM OUT TO HAVE HIM EATEN BY TINY ANTS" to "Yeah, I guess they're fine". That's not to say the characters aren't decently written - they're dark people and they fit in with the world, but they aren't really portrayed as heroes. I do think that Ivy tends to come off a bit as a Mary Sue, but she doesn't really do much in the book so I guess I won't really care until later books.
4/5 stars - I hate Nye so much damn it.
April 16, 2021
I'm a little angry right now for plot reasons (so that's a compliment in this case) and it might show. Cause FUUUUUUUCK
The magic system is really cool though, that was the first thing that got me in the book. The more I learned about it, the pros and cons and risks and connections between feelings and whatnot, the better it became. The take on Love is creepy as shit btw. The whole book is a morally dark grey clusterfuck and I had a great time.
Random rant time
Since Confusion is such a common weapon for Mesmers, why aren't Harbringers more prepared for it? I mean it would still work a few times given the Mesmers know their shit and all, it just hit me that even experienced Harbringers seemed unprepared for it. Like why don't they just go 'what they're doing now doesn't make sense because they are actively trying to Confuse me'. Idk. Cool concept though.
The confitax thing is kinda funny to me. I mean harnessing Confidence to run errands real fucking fast? Idk. It makes perfect sense and I love that it's a thing it's just also funny. Sorry if you have low self esteem you can't be a taxi.
This is (as far as I'm aware) a debut, and despite a couple things I felt could have been better it's definitely a strong start in my opinion. I will be reading the next ones whenever the Awareness wills it. For now I'm gonna go set something on fire.
The magic system is really cool though, that was the first thing that got me in the book. The more I learned about it, the pros and cons and risks and connections between feelings and whatnot, the better it became. The take on Love is creepy as shit btw. The whole book is a morally dark grey clusterfuck and I had a great time.
Random rant time
Since Confusion is such a common weapon for Mesmers, why aren't Harbringers more prepared for it? I mean it would still work a few times given the Mesmers know their shit and all, it just hit me that even experienced Harbringers seemed unprepared for it. Like why don't they just go 'what they're doing now doesn't make sense because they are actively trying to Confuse me'. Idk. Cool concept though.
The confitax thing is kinda funny to me. I mean harnessing Confidence to run errands real fucking fast? Idk. It makes perfect sense and I love that it's a thing it's just also funny. Sorry if you have low self esteem you can't be a taxi.
This is (as far as I'm aware) a debut, and despite a couple things I felt could have been better it's definitely a strong start in my opinion. I will be reading the next ones whenever the Awareness wills it. For now I'm gonna go set something on fire.
March 19, 2021
Very nice book
May 6, 2021
This is a fantasy book set in a world where the night is becoming longer and longer. It follows multiple morally grey characters with questionable values, and even though its hard to root the characters, they are written extremely well. It has an amazing emotion based magic system called senspirity. Even though it has a slow start it picks up later and completely takes you into the world. The worldbuilding is really detailed and just like any good book, there's an aura of mystery to it which will slowly be reveal later books I hope. There's so many interesting plot lines and I'm excited to see where they will lead to in the sequel.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 14, 2021DNF at 50%. It wasn't for me. Maybe it'll get better in the 2nd half, but I have to give up on this now. I didn't connect with the magic system or the characters, and for a book about the fight against misogyny, it centered too much around an abusive male protagonist. The intention of this book is in no way bad, but it doesn't come forward enough in its execution.
August 2, 2021
Wonderful... Magical and outlandis Winds of Strife by U. G. Gutman runs around the domain of Olayanath which is located in Huravoth, in magical world the night is longer than day and keeps getting longer. King believes that a witch is responsible for that, so he is running a crusade of killing every women. This is one of the best works of Gutman, an extremely engrossing tale. Gutman’s forte lies in using bizarre instances, simple but soul touching dialogues, interesting & quirky characters, to weave a magical tale. This novel is no different and is an absolutely crazy ride. If you’re picking this book, you should expect all this, and more. What I love about Gutman, is that the story almost always takes you beyond the normal bounds of human reality, into some sort of an alternate world where metaphysical magic happens!
For people who are new to Gutman’s style of writing, they might find a lot of events really random. And yes, they are random at times. Not denying that bit. But maybe, that’s the whole charm of his writing, where certain things happen which are totally unexpected.
This was my first U. G. Gutman book, which took me to this spellbinding outlandish adventure. Oh, and you really need to read it more than once, not that you'll necessarily understand it any better but the beautifully complex intricacies become more apparent.
A magnificently bewildering achievement... Brilliantly conceived, bold in its surreal scope, magical and driven by a furious plot... Exuberant storytelling
The more you read it , the more you love it.
Highly Recommended!
For people who are new to Gutman’s style of writing, they might find a lot of events really random. And yes, they are random at times. Not denying that bit. But maybe, that’s the whole charm of his writing, where certain things happen which are totally unexpected.
This was my first U. G. Gutman book, which took me to this spellbinding outlandish adventure. Oh, and you really need to read it more than once, not that you'll necessarily understand it any better but the beautifully complex intricacies become more apparent.
A magnificently bewildering achievement... Brilliantly conceived, bold in its surreal scope, magical and driven by a furious plot... Exuberant storytelling
The more you read it , the more you love it.
Highly Recommended!
September 26, 2022
I have a whole video where I read this book and review it in depth on my YouTube channel. You can find it here https://youtu.be/1XGAQWVSQKw
Winds of Strife took me by surprise with the deep discussions on what makes a morally grey character, what fear does to someone, how things affect the world and so many more. I truly just wasn't expecting this story to be so deep. And I'm very happy it was. It reminded me of why I love The Poppy War, Rage Of Dragons and Nomads Of The Sea (by Coby Zucker).
I do think the writing wasn't as technically strong as it could be but was swept away in my enjoyment. The magic system is unique, I did struggle with wanting to know more bounds. As I'm a big fan of super hard magic systems. But loved the idea of harnessing emotions into real power.
I enjoyed the arcs our characters went on and just really had a fun time with this one. I'm excited for more to read it and discuss/theorize for next books!
Winds of Strife took me by surprise with the deep discussions on what makes a morally grey character, what fear does to someone, how things affect the world and so many more. I truly just wasn't expecting this story to be so deep. And I'm very happy it was. It reminded me of why I love The Poppy War, Rage Of Dragons and Nomads Of The Sea (by Coby Zucker).
I do think the writing wasn't as technically strong as it could be but was swept away in my enjoyment. The magic system is unique, I did struggle with wanting to know more bounds. As I'm a big fan of super hard magic systems. But loved the idea of harnessing emotions into real power.
I enjoyed the arcs our characters went on and just really had a fun time with this one. I'm excited for more to read it and discuss/theorize for next books!
May 12, 2021
Um. Wow.
The first thing that really grabbed me in this book was the magic system. The emotion-based magic is so interesting, and the interplay and risk between different emotions is so intriguing. Love now terrifies me because of this book-
The cast of characters (especially women) in this book is outstanding. Every character is fleshed out so much differently than the others, and seeing their separate journeys and focus is also amazing.
Humor. Something rarely seen in fantasy. However. This book has it. It comes unexpectedly, but I laughed every time. I’m still laughing about cows and confitaxes.
This is an amazing book (a debut) but honestly, I won’t confine it to “an amazing debut”. This is just an amazing book, and I’m so glad I picked it up.
The first thing that really grabbed me in this book was the magic system. The emotion-based magic is so interesting, and the interplay and risk between different emotions is so intriguing. Love now terrifies me because of this book-
The cast of characters (especially women) in this book is outstanding. Every character is fleshed out so much differently than the others, and seeing their separate journeys and focus is also amazing.
Humor. Something rarely seen in fantasy. However. This book has it. It comes unexpectedly, but I laughed every time. I’m still laughing about cows and confitaxes.
This is an amazing book (a debut) but honestly, I won’t confine it to “an amazing debut”. This is just an amazing book, and I’m so glad I picked it up.
November 10, 2020
TL:DR - I enjoyed this book much more then I thought i would.
Before we begin - some technical details.
The book will be published in January,and will be available soon on Amazon to pre-order.
It's the first book in the "Dawnless Night Trilogy".
I'd rate it PG13, containing violence and some mentions of sex, but not graphic.
Full disclosure - I received an ARC for this. Uri is a facebook friend of mine and we talked before and after I got the book.
That said, all the opinions about the book are, of course, mine.
This out of the way, let's talk about the book.
What is it?
The story happens in a world called "Huravoth" (from the Hebrew word hurvoth = desolations/ruins) and as you can guess it's not a place you want to move to. A few centuries before the story, a gigantic tsunami - The Mazriv - caused severe geographic and economical changes in the land by devastating and drowning most of the world.
Additionally, it appears that since The Mazriv, the nights keep getting longer.
The magic system is tied with emotions and it's one of the coolest things in the book in my opinion - Senspirity is controlling one's emotions and harnessing them for different powers. (For example - Confidence makes you fast, Anger gives you control of fire, Care allows you to heal fast and to "see" others who use these powers).
The magic system is very Sanderson-like in that it has rules and limitations and you can always keep up with what the characters can or cannot do.
The entire story happens in a city-state called Olyanath where the king Alliddar tries to stop the night from getting longer by managing a group of Senspirity-users called "The Sun Harbingers", whose goal is to kill witches (women who use Senspirity). He justifies this by saying a witch is responsible for the belonging of the night.
Like you can expect from a high fantasy novel, there's a decent cast of characters, I'll talk briefly about some of the main ones:
Nye - the main character – when we first see him he looks like yet another horrible Sun Harbinger, second only to their leader in kill count, but when we get to know a little better we see that his goals are not what you'd expect of Sun Harbingers.
Ivy - the mysterious daughter of the king and probably the biggest threat to the world. She lives under very controlled terms to make sure she can't learn to use Senspirity cause if she does, she might destroy the world.
Glitter - A witch whose expert in using Calm (which shields the user from anything that might harm her and prevents her from harming others). She's a part of a gang who hunts and kills Sun Harbingers however they can.
There's a lot more, those are just the main and the most interesting ones.
The plot is probably the weakest side of the book. It takes a while to ignite and it doesn't really begin until halfway through the book, can't say more because spoilers.
What I thought?
Worldbuilding - I loved it very much, even though it's not super original the execution of the post-apocalyptic world trying to recover is excellent. The threat of a Dawnless Night is present across the entire book even though it is not a main concern in the first book plotwise.
The magic system is very cool and clear, reminds me of other magic systems that I love (Sanderson inspiration is very present).
Characters - none of them is your classic fantasy hero that always does what needs to be done while maintaining a clean conscience. Most are grayer, and even black sometimes. Personally I very much love the realistic approach to characters in modern fantasy and I loved those characters, despite their imperfections and sometime straight-up evilness (is that a word?).
Plot - Like I said, it's the weakest part, it's easy to see that the author invested in the world and characters in the first part, and that hurts the plot, but it wasn't bad. It took a little while, but after it started it was great and the climax is totally worth the wait.
Before I finish - I admit I approached this with low expectations. After all, it is a first novel, of a non-English native speaker author who writes in English. The book easily surpassed my expectations and I intend to read the sequel when it's out. Very recommended if what I wrote here sounds interesting to you.
The one star missing is mostly some nitpicks I had with this book for me 4 stars is a really good score.
Before we begin - some technical details.
The book will be published in January,and will be available soon on Amazon to pre-order.
It's the first book in the "Dawnless Night Trilogy".
I'd rate it PG13, containing violence and some mentions of sex, but not graphic.
Full disclosure - I received an ARC for this. Uri is a facebook friend of mine and we talked before and after I got the book.
That said, all the opinions about the book are, of course, mine.
This out of the way, let's talk about the book.
What is it?
The story happens in a world called "Huravoth" (from the Hebrew word hurvoth = desolations/ruins) and as you can guess it's not a place you want to move to. A few centuries before the story, a gigantic tsunami - The Mazriv - caused severe geographic and economical changes in the land by devastating and drowning most of the world.
Additionally, it appears that since The Mazriv, the nights keep getting longer.
The magic system is tied with emotions and it's one of the coolest things in the book in my opinion - Senspirity is controlling one's emotions and harnessing them for different powers. (For example - Confidence makes you fast, Anger gives you control of fire, Care allows you to heal fast and to "see" others who use these powers).
The magic system is very Sanderson-like in that it has rules and limitations and you can always keep up with what the characters can or cannot do.
The entire story happens in a city-state called Olyanath where the king Alliddar tries to stop the night from getting longer by managing a group of Senspirity-users called "The Sun Harbingers", whose goal is to kill witches (women who use Senspirity). He justifies this by saying a witch is responsible for the belonging of the night.
Like you can expect from a high fantasy novel, there's a decent cast of characters, I'll talk briefly about some of the main ones:
Nye - the main character – when we first see him he looks like yet another horrible Sun Harbinger, second only to their leader in kill count, but when we get to know a little better we see that his goals are not what you'd expect of Sun Harbingers.
Ivy - the mysterious daughter of the king and probably the biggest threat to the world. She lives under very controlled terms to make sure she can't learn to use Senspirity cause if she does, she might destroy the world.
Glitter - A witch whose expert in using Calm (which shields the user from anything that might harm her and prevents her from harming others). She's a part of a gang who hunts and kills Sun Harbingers however they can.
There's a lot more, those are just the main and the most interesting ones.
The plot is probably the weakest side of the book. It takes a while to ignite and it doesn't really begin until halfway through the book, can't say more because spoilers.
What I thought?
Worldbuilding - I loved it very much, even though it's not super original the execution of the post-apocalyptic world trying to recover is excellent. The threat of a Dawnless Night is present across the entire book even though it is not a main concern in the first book plotwise.
The magic system is very cool and clear, reminds me of other magic systems that I love (Sanderson inspiration is very present).
Characters - none of them is your classic fantasy hero that always does what needs to be done while maintaining a clean conscience. Most are grayer, and even black sometimes. Personally I very much love the realistic approach to characters in modern fantasy and I loved those characters, despite their imperfections and sometime straight-up evilness (is that a word?).
Plot - Like I said, it's the weakest part, it's easy to see that the author invested in the world and characters in the first part, and that hurts the plot, but it wasn't bad. It took a little while, but after it started it was great and the climax is totally worth the wait.
Before I finish - I admit I approached this with low expectations. After all, it is a first novel, of a non-English native speaker author who writes in English. The book easily surpassed my expectations and I intend to read the sequel when it's out. Very recommended if what I wrote here sounds interesting to you.
The one star missing is mostly some nitpicks I had with this book for me 4 stars is a really good score.
December 14, 2021
This is an intriguing one! The novel begins with a conflict that is deeply engraved onto the hearts and minds of the main and other characters’ futures and creates a great way to lure a reader in. Written with an aura of mystery, it automatically becomes a page-turner. The premise of the novel isn’t necessarily new, a world of wronged characters due to oppression, mainly women, but the presentation and wayfinding solutions offer a sharp allure in terms of writing, a unique magic system, and distinctive tools utilized to guide the flow of the narrative.
Unlike a fast read, vital attention to detail is needed beyond the enjoyment factor and requires some investment here. The magic structure herein used is very unique. It is based on emotions where characters can harness powers by summoning emotions and they come at a price and consequence. This system is nicely visualized with charts of emotions, senspiritic powers, and auralogy maps along the way as the reader learns more and more about the characters, their motives, and abilities. This is the part one can refer back to when characters see or feel things in others but it isn’t necessarily clearly spelled out for the reader. A bit like rock, paper, scissors, some emotions can be overwritten one way or the other, and emotions are channeled into spells and shields. Much thought is given to the darker emotions like hate and the subtle differences on how to combat each of them.
In the world of Winds of Strife that Gutman created, women aren’t allowed to practice Senspirity. They are dehumanized and hunted by Senspiriters like the Harbingers. Yet, in this world, the nights are getting longer as a witch's spell has been cast, one that flooded most of the civilization before. Nye, one of the main characters, is feeding off of an event from his youth and plays a double role in the aid and defense on both sides of the factions to follow his own agenda. He is plagued by what has been done to him and his family, yet, to infiltrate the source, he is to keep the king’s daughter from finding out she has senspirit abilities while at the same time, he is mingling with the resistance of women, fighting the Harbingers who have caused him such trauma. Nye is a character that is worth analyzing as his struggles lie deep. This being a novel based on emotions, Nye’s state, especially towards the end is one of delusion, paralyzed by his own demons and insanity has been well imagined in his struggle. Looking back at the cover of the novel, it is clearly shown right there, the struggle with the darker side of Nye’s personality. He isn’t necessarily a likable character, but one interesting to follow, especially from a psychological point of view.
“With no separation between the conscious and the subconscious, you attain similar clarity for both. You may hear phantom voices sometimes but, curiously, it comes with unprecedented control of your emotions.”
The group of the resistance woman was a nice touch to this novel. Glitter is a fantastic, sort of bubbly character, and the relationship among the women armed like sisters is great to read about. Diane was one I wanted to figure out more and I think there was room given for the reader to interpret some of the connections between the characters. It isn’t all written out to satisfy, but let the reader make decisions about what characters they are drawn to. The mix and variety of all together allow for diverse and dynamic emotions, relationships, and spells to find a place in this novel.
The author’s insight into cognitive behavior was well utilized in writing such a uniquely crafted novel combined with a love for fantasy. The Winds of Strife comes in with a strong gust in its sails, dark, sharp, and well imagined.
I recommend it for readers who are fascinated with the dynamics of emotions, manipulation, and tools drawn from the roots of psychology.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
All opinions are my own.
Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
As well as the SPFBO7 judges thoughts from the Fantasy Hive, I am taking part in this year.
The Fantasy Hive
Unlike a fast read, vital attention to detail is needed beyond the enjoyment factor and requires some investment here. The magic structure herein used is very unique. It is based on emotions where characters can harness powers by summoning emotions and they come at a price and consequence. This system is nicely visualized with charts of emotions, senspiritic powers, and auralogy maps along the way as the reader learns more and more about the characters, their motives, and abilities. This is the part one can refer back to when characters see or feel things in others but it isn’t necessarily clearly spelled out for the reader. A bit like rock, paper, scissors, some emotions can be overwritten one way or the other, and emotions are channeled into spells and shields. Much thought is given to the darker emotions like hate and the subtle differences on how to combat each of them.
In the world of Winds of Strife that Gutman created, women aren’t allowed to practice Senspirity. They are dehumanized and hunted by Senspiriters like the Harbingers. Yet, in this world, the nights are getting longer as a witch's spell has been cast, one that flooded most of the civilization before. Nye, one of the main characters, is feeding off of an event from his youth and plays a double role in the aid and defense on both sides of the factions to follow his own agenda. He is plagued by what has been done to him and his family, yet, to infiltrate the source, he is to keep the king’s daughter from finding out she has senspirit abilities while at the same time, he is mingling with the resistance of women, fighting the Harbingers who have caused him such trauma. Nye is a character that is worth analyzing as his struggles lie deep. This being a novel based on emotions, Nye’s state, especially towards the end is one of delusion, paralyzed by his own demons and insanity has been well imagined in his struggle. Looking back at the cover of the novel, it is clearly shown right there, the struggle with the darker side of Nye’s personality. He isn’t necessarily a likable character, but one interesting to follow, especially from a psychological point of view.
“With no separation between the conscious and the subconscious, you attain similar clarity for both. You may hear phantom voices sometimes but, curiously, it comes with unprecedented control of your emotions.”
The group of the resistance woman was a nice touch to this novel. Glitter is a fantastic, sort of bubbly character, and the relationship among the women armed like sisters is great to read about. Diane was one I wanted to figure out more and I think there was room given for the reader to interpret some of the connections between the characters. It isn’t all written out to satisfy, but let the reader make decisions about what characters they are drawn to. The mix and variety of all together allow for diverse and dynamic emotions, relationships, and spells to find a place in this novel.
The author’s insight into cognitive behavior was well utilized in writing such a uniquely crafted novel combined with a love for fantasy. The Winds of Strife comes in with a strong gust in its sails, dark, sharp, and well imagined.
I recommend it for readers who are fascinated with the dynamics of emotions, manipulation, and tools drawn from the roots of psychology.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
All opinions are my own.
Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
As well as the SPFBO7 judges thoughts from the Fantasy Hive, I am taking part in this year.
The Fantasy Hive
July 30, 2021
Excellent doubt book, it has its flaws, but the world-building and crazy magic system (obviously influenced by Sanderson), in addition to the grimdark vibe, make the book worth the ride. This book deals with certain heavy topics such as mental illness and abuse, very thought-provoking but not meant to be read by all readers. If you like Sanderson's magic system and writing style with a grimdark, feel this book is for you!
February 18, 2021
I enjoy the book at lot. The story was interesting even thought it had slow beginning but after a bit the story really picks up the pace. I like the magic system and I haven`t read any like it so it was really fun to read about it and see how it works and effects characters. Characters some I like, some I didn`t but I like how the main one is struggling with madness and insanity inside of him.
July 9, 2023
{3.5 rounded up} This was a very promising book, with various elements reminiscent of Mistborn {an elaborate magic system}, Waterworld {submerged areas} and Six of crows {groups of outlaws} along with various familiar tropes such as the expected savior etc. Some detailing were very ingratiating such as various phrasing and expressions to better reflect the lore and history, but in other areas {avoiding spoilers,but let's say impact on flora and the food system..} it was somewhat lacking. Additional elements, which if used more sparingly would enrich the story and the perspective of certain characters, but as the story continued were heavily employed {intentionally by design} and unfortunately created some mind blowing experience. In general I have found it to be quite interesting, though there were certain leaps and points, which made me wonder.
The book is written as the first in a series, not hiding the various threads left open for both the upcoming arc-plot, nor for the past lore which will surely be explored.
Trigger warning for physical and mental abuse \ issues.
The book is written as the first in a series, not hiding the various threads left open for both the upcoming arc-plot, nor for the past lore which will surely be explored.
Trigger warning for physical and mental abuse \ issues.
February 1, 2021
I think I might have just been reading this at a really bad time and just couldn't get into it as much as I hoped to. I'll need to give this a re-read another time when I'm in a better headspace
June 13, 2021
First, I'd like to thank the author himself for being kind enough to send me a copy of his book! This fact will not affect my review, however, and I'll be very honest and unbiased as I proceed to dive into my thoughts.
Winds of Strife is a very original and ambitious book. It's set in a world where due to sexism, women are dubbed as witches for practising Senspirity - whilst men are allowed to practise the art. It very much has a feel of a fantasy take on the witch hunts from our own history. The magic system is rooted in emotions and thus adds a strangely psychological element to the story. Feeling becomes power. I don't think I've ever read anything that's done anything similar in concept before. Not only that, it very much resembles Allomancy from Mistborn, in how different emotions are grouped and how certain emotion users are classified. Some emotions work similarly to some of the metals used in Allomancy too, but overall, the two magic systems still feel distinctive enough to be their own thing.
Whilst I didn't exactly hate Nye as a protagonist, I didn't love him either. The concept of him being mad was right up my alley. My favourite characters are usually the eccentric and insane types. So in theory, I should have loved Nye - if only it wasn't for his violent side. Nye is very much a broken man, gone beyond the reaches of sanity. Luckily, there are plenty of other characters, including a large cast of empowered women. This felt appropriate considering the feminist mission Nye and his gang were campaigning for. Glitter wasn't as bad as Nye but I equally couldn't bring myself to like her. Kerak was just a bit sleazy and hot-blooded. Ivy - now Ivy had real potential. I think I liked her the most, purely because I felt like she was a double edged sword of hope and chaos. Beautiful but terrifying at the same time. I don't know if we'll ever see her character blossom to her full potential, but that's the bit that I was looking forward to. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a mix of morally grey and evil characters.
I'd also quickly like to mention Ivy and Nye's relationship. I'm a sucker for tragic love stories, they are my ultimate weakness! At times, I could feel Nyvy? Ivye? going in a direction where it could have scratched that itch for me, but after that ending, I'm no longer sure whether that option is on the table.
The two biggest issues I had with the novel was the sheer abundance of the magic system being over-explained and too much dialogue. The excess dialogue bothered me because it made everything feel more tell than show, which in itself is a fairy common problem for newer authors. I felt like a lot of the conversations could have been condensed into one or two paragraphs, rather than spanning several pages. That being said, it could come down to taste too - maybe I'm a reader who enjoys description more. Secondly, the repetition of the magic system really wore me out. It often went back to points we had already learned and felt pointless to me. It became less info dumpy towards the end though, so it definitely showed signs of improvement! In addition, I felt like the plot could have been bigger overall. The pacing was on the slower side, since it was taken up by lectures on magic. Ideally, I would have liked more happening in general. The world was huge, with rich history, but we didn't get to see much of it.
In the end, this turned out to be a good read. My enjoyment did waver at the beginning and I had some frustrations with certain things, true. It could have used a heavier editing hand in my opinion. The epilogue also left me, as Glitter would have put it 'Platified'. Concerned would be how I'd describe my feelings about the future of the characters and the world. I definitely think that the author shows great potential, and will continue to grow with each book. It's not outright obvious where the story is going, and I applaud Gutman for not taking the predictable routes.
Winds of Strife is a very original and ambitious book. It's set in a world where due to sexism, women are dubbed as witches for practising Senspirity - whilst men are allowed to practise the art. It very much has a feel of a fantasy take on the witch hunts from our own history. The magic system is rooted in emotions and thus adds a strangely psychological element to the story. Feeling becomes power. I don't think I've ever read anything that's done anything similar in concept before. Not only that, it very much resembles Allomancy from Mistborn, in how different emotions are grouped and how certain emotion users are classified. Some emotions work similarly to some of the metals used in Allomancy too, but overall, the two magic systems still feel distinctive enough to be their own thing.
Whilst I didn't exactly hate Nye as a protagonist, I didn't love him either. The concept of him being mad was right up my alley. My favourite characters are usually the eccentric and insane types. So in theory, I should have loved Nye - if only it wasn't for his violent side. Nye is very much a broken man, gone beyond the reaches of sanity. Luckily, there are plenty of other characters, including a large cast of empowered women. This felt appropriate considering the feminist mission Nye and his gang were campaigning for. Glitter wasn't as bad as Nye but I equally couldn't bring myself to like her. Kerak was just a bit sleazy and hot-blooded. Ivy - now Ivy had real potential. I think I liked her the most, purely because I felt like she was a double edged sword of hope and chaos. Beautiful but terrifying at the same time. I don't know if we'll ever see her character blossom to her full potential, but that's the bit that I was looking forward to. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a mix of morally grey and evil characters.
I'd also quickly like to mention Ivy and Nye's relationship. I'm a sucker for tragic love stories, they are my ultimate weakness! At times, I could feel Nyvy? Ivye? going in a direction where it could have scratched that itch for me, but after that ending, I'm no longer sure whether that option is on the table.
The two biggest issues I had with the novel was the sheer abundance of the magic system being over-explained and too much dialogue. The excess dialogue bothered me because it made everything feel more tell than show, which in itself is a fairy common problem for newer authors. I felt like a lot of the conversations could have been condensed into one or two paragraphs, rather than spanning several pages. That being said, it could come down to taste too - maybe I'm a reader who enjoys description more. Secondly, the repetition of the magic system really wore me out. It often went back to points we had already learned and felt pointless to me. It became less info dumpy towards the end though, so it definitely showed signs of improvement! In addition, I felt like the plot could have been bigger overall. The pacing was on the slower side, since it was taken up by lectures on magic. Ideally, I would have liked more happening in general. The world was huge, with rich history, but we didn't get to see much of it.
In the end, this turned out to be a good read. My enjoyment did waver at the beginning and I had some frustrations with certain things, true. It could have used a heavier editing hand in my opinion. The epilogue also left me, as Glitter would have put it 'Platified'. Concerned would be how I'd describe my feelings about the future of the characters and the world. I definitely think that the author shows great potential, and will continue to grow with each book. It's not outright obvious where the story is going, and I applaud Gutman for not taking the predictable routes.
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