Cry, Voidbringer - Elaine Ho

If I wanted to write a very short review for the newly-released Cry, Voidbringer I would say this:

ARE WE GETTING A SEQUEL?????

I would leave it here but after finishing this book earlier, I have to talk about it.

Elaine Ho’s debut novel had me screaming, crying (but not throwing up) because the events happening in the book were stressing me out. Hammer is a Faceless, a group of soldiers typically stolen from their families and forced to become weapons. They wear masks and are given marks on their foreheads so everyone knows who they are and where their place is in the world. I’m gonna be honest, I HATED Hammer initially. But that QUICKLY changed not even a third into the book.

I cannot say the same for Viridian. I loved (and still love) Viridian immediately. She is what’s called a “godchild” and may or may not have tremendous power. I adore this child and wanted to protect her with everything I had. Her circumstances were forced onto her and it filled me with rage and sorrow for Viridian.

My rage, though, was all for Khall, the young queen. My god I hate her with the force of a thousand and one suns. And it burned brighter and brighter until the very end of the book. Elaine Ho, bravo. The way this character is written evoked so many emotions out of me and I thank you.

I will say that some of the chapters felt rushed. So much was happening throughout the book that at times it felt like the author was trying to cram as much into it as possible to get to the next thing. Thankfully, that is rare throughout the book. Also, Naias (another character I can’t stand but nowhere near as much as Khall) and her constant “woe is me” attitude drove me NUTS. We get it, you’ve had a tough time. Girl, so has everyone else around you!! You know what, let me calm down. I’m getting heated all over again.

I really wish I could turn back time so I could experience reading this book for the first time again.

Cry, Voidbringer is the first book published by Michael LaBorn’s Left Unread Books, an imprintof Bindery Books. This is the first book I’ve read under Bindery but it definitely will not be the last.

Thank you to Left Unread Books for providing me with an advance copy. Cry, Voidbringer is out now.

Where to buy: The Lit. Bar Loyalty Bookstores Call & Response Books Left Unread Books

Elaine Ho, author of Cry, Voidbringer. Photo courtesy of Azantian Literary Agency.

For more information about the author, please visit here.