Book Review | Vultures by Luke Tarzian

Vultures is a story about the balance between law and chaos. There must be a balance, but that balance is tough to maintain. As I understood it, the doors are left wide open for chaos to gain a foothold and takeover in periods of balance. And when that happens, bad things follow.

It is a very complicated world that is hard to understand until you finish the story. This is because the details are drawn out slowly throughout the novel. I noticed small bits and chunks at various junctures that often took me by surprise and made me reevaluate what I thought I knew of the story so far. This world is truly unlike any I’ve read before.

The characters are darkly complex – each with a set of baggage that no one else wants or needs. My favorite character, though, is Serece. Plagued by horrific past deeds that were out of her control and a mother that has disowned her, there is just something about the character that I instantly gravitated towards. I loved reading the chapters where she was featured and wished that I had enjoyed the other chapters and other characters as much.

Overall, the story is a darkly rich fantasy world that, within its pages, explores the deep dark rabbit hole of the mind and all that instability does to it. It is a challenging read, and I felt a great deal hidden within the words and paragraphs went over my head. But, if you enjoy a more cerebral approach to fantasy, then this is a story you will want to take the time to explore.

*Thank you to The Write Reads for my spot on this blog tour.*

About the Book

An enemy slain is not a conflict won…

After decades of war the demon Te Mirkvahíl is dead. But its progeny endure, spilling from the Heart of Mirkúr, sowing death across the land of Ariath. If the people are to finally know peace, the Heart must be destroyed. Theailys An believes he can do just that with The Keepers’ Wrath, an infamous power focus wrought in Ariath’s yesteryears–but the weapon first must be reforged.

War spares no one…

Serece never intended to get involved in Ariath’s war. But history and demons have a way of pulling strings. When she learns Theailys An, a man whom she abhors, bears striking similarity to the first creator of The Keepers’ Wrath, Serece departs her mountain world for Ariath to ascertain the truth.

From patience, hope…

For millennia Behtréal has walked the world alone. Rewriting history to resurrect his people is easier said than done. But Ariath holds the key–soon The Keepers’ Wrath will be remade.

Truth from madness…

As paths converge and a shadow falls across Ariath, one thing becomes increasingly and horrifyingly clear–these events have played out many times before.