Zack Argyle

Chrys Valerian is a threadweaver, a high general, and soon-to-be father. But to the people of Alchea, he is the Apogee--the man who won the war. When a stranger's prophecy foretells danger to Chrys' child, he must do everything in his power to protect his family--even if the most dangerous enemy is the voice in his own head. To the west, a sheltered girl seeks to find her place in the world. To the south, a young man's life changes after he dies. Together, they will change the world--whether they intend to or not.

Voice of War

C. J. Daley 

This is book 1 of the Threadlight Trilogy and it’s an epic debut. I received a free audio copy for signing up for the author’s newsletter, you should do the same!! Although my iPhone really did not agree with audio on Book Funnel, free is free, and support is support! 

This is a multi-perspective debut in the fantasy word. It definitely teeters between epic and high fantasy. It is absolutely character driven, but the weight of nations/worlds is most definitely in the balance (or about to be). The author definitely created a huge world that still feels small enough to be grounded in realness. From violence and kidnapping, to childbirth, you will see and care about it all. 

The magic in this series, called Threadlight, has to be one of the most intriguing that I’ve read in a good amount of time. Those with the ability to use it can either push or pull threads, which connect everything. It doesn’t sound all that complex or crazy, but to those who can’t use it, the options are endless, and dangerous. 

The writing is good, and frankly much of this is a blast. For a second there I thought this was going to turn into a sort of fantasy detective novel (and there’s still time…). The author uses distinct voices for each character, not just driving the chapters through description alone. 

Personally a 4.5/5*. Worth your money, time, and effort to read. Don’t forget you can sign up for the newsletter. The narrator is insane! Most gravelly voice of all time.

Jeff Speight

Zack Argyle's debut fantasy, Voice of War, is a thrilling ride through a richly imagined world with a compelling cast of unique characters. 

The story follows Chrys Valerian (General in the Great Lord's army and soon-to-be father), Laurel (an over-confident young woman addicted to threadlight), and Alverax (a thief's son who awakens from his own death). The characters are engaging as are their intertwined fates that merge in an action-filled climax. Argyle explores a number of themes throughout the book including the importance of family, the struggles of the disenfranchised within a class system, and how one can become blinded by desire and aspiration, to name a few. 

The magic system is based on threadlight, a force-like magic used by individuals with blue or green eyes, allowing them either push or pull powers that make them somewhat superhuman. Threadlight is seamlessly integrated into the world, running deep into the worldbuilding. 

Other than Alverax's arc starting late in the story (I would have liked to spend more time with him as a character), I found the pace of the storytelling pleasant and Argyle's writing accessible if not elevated. 

Overall, Voice of War is an excellent debut. I will definitely be reading the sequel, Stones of Light, and am looking forward to future works from Argyle. I highly recommend the book to any fantasy fan.

Kerri McDonald

“Wishing. Hoping. They are dangerous words. If you hope for something to be true and it is not, that realization can break you. But until then, while that belief runs warm in your blood, it can drive you to do amazing things.”

Thank you to Storytellers on Tour and the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Voice of War is an epic fantasy that asks what a father would do to protect his child. We follow a few characters in this, but our main protagonist is Chrys. After making a bloody name for himself in war, he is trying to settle down into his new life as a member of the nobility. As a threadweaver and hero of the war, he has been given a position as High General that he takes very seriously. What he really desires is to be able to settle down with his pregnant wife and welcome their child. But then threadweavers start going missing and it’s up to Chrys to find them. This task leads him down a bloody road that threatens his tenuous hold over the dark voice in his head.

Y’all. When I tell you this is an intensely readable book, I am not kidding! The pages just fly by as your drawn into Chrys’ story and the world of story. The writing in this has a way of pulling you along, never letting you go, and making you eager for more. I thought the pacing was well done, with a perfect blend of action, suspense, and light-hearted moments to give you a break from the intensity! This novel definitely kept my interest from page one until the very end.

We all know how much my enjoyment of a story depends on the characters. If they fall flat, then the whole book is usually a no-go, for me. Zack Argyle does an incredible job of writing some wonderfully flawed and complex characters! I found myself cheering their successes and smacking my forehead at some of their… more dubious choices. My favorite character would have to be our main protagonist. Chrys has so many different layers and it made him so compelling. His internal struggle with his darker side is one of my favorite subplots of the entire novel. I think the author did a great job making us feel his anxiety. Laurel, our main female protagonist, is brash and bold and a little obnoxious, but just as well-developed and complex as Chrys, which I appreciated.

Beyond the characters, my second favorite aspect of this book was the world-building. This fantasy realm that the author has created is rich with detail and absolutely fascinating! The magic of threadweaving, the history behind the war, the descriptions of the city of Alchea and the Fairenwild… it all lends itself to making this world feel real and tangible. I will say there were some moments that felt a bit info-dumpy, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.

All of the above aspects considered, this book was very close to getting four stars! But then there was the fatphobia. I didn’t notice it too much at first. There were some offhanded comments about a big man’s jowls flapping as he walked that I was like “Eh, no…” But there is a character we meet later on in the story where the fatphobia shines like a beacon. He lives in a city that is basically run by this villainous man who happens to be fat. And boy does this character remind you about it at every. possible. moment! He even refers to him as “gelatinous” at one point which is just… yikes. It’s like this man’s evil and corruption is tied up with his fatness and it’s… not great. It just rubbed me the wrong way and brought my overall view of this book down.

That being said, this was still a thrilling fantasy that ticked a lot of my boxes. It was fast-paced. It had an interesting magic system. There’s even a bit of political intrigue, which I do love in my fantasy novels! The pacing was excellent, the characters were well-written, and the world-building was top notch. All in all, I had a fun experience reading this novel and am intrigued about the sequel.

Final thoughts: If you’re looking for an epic fantasy that has great world-building, complex characters, and a high-stakes plot, you’re going to enjoy Voice of War! It’s a breathless ride that will leave you wanting more.

Voice of War

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