"Realm Breaker" by Victoria Aveyard

Realm Breaker (May 4, 2021) by Victoria Aveyard.

*This is the first novel in a series.*

A squire who survived (Andry Trelland, age 17), an immortal weighted with guilt (Domacridhan), an assassin seemingly heartless (Sorasa Sarn, an Amhara), a sorceress beyond age (Valtik) and the daughter of a pirate (Corayne an-Amarat, also 17 years). Two more are picked up along the way, because Valtik says, “And we must be seven.” They find an unrelenting bounty hunter (Sigil) and a master forger (Charlon “Charlie” Armont). They are a radically diverse group, but they are the Companions of the Realm, as the first group was almost entirely slain. They’re up against Taristan, a descendant of Old Cor who wasn’t known to exist, Ronin, his red wizard, and the Ashlander creatures, “beings half-alive, driven mad by torment.” Taristan and Ronin serve the Torn King of Asunder. What Waits. Among other names. Taristan and Ronin want to rip Spindles open again; the Companions want to close them up. Taristan has poison in his heart and a Spindleblade that he shouldn’t possess. Not to be counted out is Erida, the 19-year-old Queen of Galland, part of Allward. She seems sympathetic toward Andry’s trauma, but her heart desires power and conquest. Can a motley group of Companions, from all regions of the realm, survive the desperate journey to save the Ward (Allward)? Will Corayne accept that she is of Corblood … Spindleblood?

            Worlds that are not set in our own always have the potential for great intrigue in my mind, as the author has free reign for that world. Allward is easily intriguing, and there’s a nicely detailed map in the hardcover format. However, there’s so much to this world that so little of it is explained in great detail, even with the YA novel counting in at over 560 pages. That aside, this story has a fantastically diverse cast, not only in terms of color, but also the roles that women inhabit (e.g. assassin, bounty hunter, pirate). The inclusivity is refreshing. The expansive realm that is Allward is riddled with high-stakes action, sweeping danger and a cast of characters that are complex and imperfect (like us, except we don’t have to battle the icky, rot-smelling kraken). “Realm Breaker” is full of darkness, but it is exciting. There will be death, and there will be poison, but it’s an epic adventure, a high fantasy. These characters aren’t heroes, but they’re the Ward’s only hope. If you want epic fantasy, read this. They be breaking realms here!