Series: Eidyn #1
Release date: May 16 2023
Publisher: Orbit Books
Pages: 529
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

The war is over, but peace can be hell.

Demons continue to burn farmlands, violent mercenaries roam the wilds, and a plague is spreading. The country of Eidyn is on its knees.

In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first mage to be named King’s Envoy. And his latest task is to restore an exiled foreign queen to her throne.

The band of allies he assembles each have their own unique skills. But they are strangers to one another, and at every step across the ravaged land, a new threat emerges, lies are revealed, and distrust could destroy everything they are working for. Somehow, Aranok must bring his companions together and uncover the conspiracy that threatens the kingdom—before war returns to the realms again.

Review

Justin Lee Anderson’s The Lost War is a fast-paced, action-packed start to a new fantasy series. The story follows Aranok, the King’s Envoy. While the war might be over and peace might be settling over the Eidyn, the problems are just beginning. There’s a plague spreading across the land, mercenaries attack anyone in their path and demons continue to ravage the farmlands and destroy food supplies. When Aranok is tasked by the King to go and find an exiled foreign queen and return her to her throne, he has no choice but to start out on this dangerous quest alongside a group of allies. As the group travels further across the land they come across a new threat and a conspiracy darker than they could have imagined.

This book had me hooked. The Lost War is a rollercoaster ride of a book, full of action and adventure. It’s an absolutely brilliant opener to a fantasy series and does a terrific job of building this complex and fascinating world. There are plenty of dark, action-filled moments and Anderson’s vivid writing style had the monsters practically leaping off the page. The Lost War is definitely a book I found hard to put down and I’m so intrigued to see where the story will go in the next book in the series.

The story is exceptionally well crafted. There are a few twists that I didn’t see coming and an ending I absolutely did not expect. I loved that the world was inspired by Edinburgh and adored seeing all the place names come up in the story. The magic was really intriguing and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the magic in The Bitter Crown.

Anderson has created some really complex, realistic characters in The Lost War. I grew really attached to them all and I am praying they survive the rest of their adventures. Aranok in particular is fascinating – he’s the King’s Envoy but he’s spent so much time being shunned for his abilities. I similarly really liked Allandria – she kicks ass and she’s not afraid to say how she really feels. The story features a whole host of compelling characters and Anderson does a terrific job of making them come to life.

The Lost War is an epic, addictive story – one you won’t want to look away from. If you’re looking for a new fantasy series that will keep you hooked long into the night, definitely don’t miss the Eidyn Saga.