Release date: May 14 2023
Publisher: Indie-Published
Pages: 87
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Source: I received a copy free from the author
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

Admar’s future is a path paved with broken glass. Each step forward living under Scothean tyranny cuts away another piece of his humanity. Right down to the very bone.

But even a meager life as a miner is better than a pointless death. A sister, a mother, a lover, all lost at the uncaring hands of the Scoths, have left him with nothing but memories and ash for comfort. While stories like his are all too common, they still aren’t enough to stoke rebellion among the oppressed.

If Admar is to find hope amid the brutal occupation of his homeland, he’ll have to question how deep his convictions go. For with every crack of the enemy’s whip, he’ll know torment. With every swipe of their axes, he’ll know suffering. And every moment he refuses to act will drag him further from his destiny.

Maybe there are no more heroes left…or maybe they’re waiting to be made.

Review

War Song is a short novella set forty seven years before the events of The Price of Power. The story follows Admar, a man trying to survive living life under Scothean rule. Everything has been taken from him and Admar has nothing to live for. When Admar finds himself in a slave camp, he sees the spark of rebellion, but will he be able to find the strength to stand up against the Scothean tyrants?

This is my first read from Michael Michel and it absolutely hooked me from beginning to end. It was a dark, bloody, gruesome read and I can definitely see those comparisons to Joe Abercrombie. Michel’s writing was gripping and I was absolutely swept up in the story of Admar and Danath. The story was well paced and the plot was well executed. I ended up reading this in a single sitting and I thought it was an excellent way to be introduced to the world and Michel’s writing. Reading this has definitely made me even more excited to pick up The Price of Power and see where the story will go next.

I really liked the characters in this story and Michel managed to pack tons of character development into such a short number of pages. I loved that despite this being a pretty dark tale, Michel weaves a glimmer of hope throughout the story. If you’re looking for a grimdark fantasy novella with fascinating characters, a bloody rebellion and plenty of action, War Song should absolutely be your next read.