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The Agartes Epilogues #1
Jaeth's Eye
"The true story, as always, is in the details."
After a botched job leaves his friend dead, the mercenary Kefier is chased down by former associates for the crime. Already once branded a murderer, fate seems to continue to frown on him when he comes face-to-face with his friend's sister, Sume: a young woman reeling from her own string of bad luck, and the last person he would ever want to confess to. Their lives, unknowingly tangled before they've even met, are now thrown into upheaval as one flees from the past and the other runs to it.
In the meantime, the young, arrogant merchant Ylir takes a special interest in Kefier while he battles with a powerful mage, one whose name has been long forgotten in legend. At the crux of their conflict is a terrible creature with one eye, cast from the womb of a forlorn woman, with powers so immense whoever possesses it holds the key to bring the continent to its knees.
After a botched job leaves his friend dead, the mercenary Kefier is chased down by former associates for the crime. Already once branded a murderer, fate seems to continue to frown on him when he comes face-to-face with his friend's sister, Sume: a young woman reeling from her own string of bad luck, and the last person he would ever want to confess to. Their lives, unknowingly tangled before they've even met, are now thrown into upheaval as one flees from the past and the other runs to it.
In the meantime, the young, arrogant merchant Ylir takes a special interest in Kefier while he battles with a powerful mage, one whose name has been long forgotten in legend. At the crux of their conflict is a terrible creature with one eye, cast from the womb of a forlorn woman, with powers so immense whoever possesses it holds the key to bring the continent to its knees.
374 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 2, 2014
118 people are currently reading
6,503 people want to read
About the author
K.S. Villoso
20Ìýbooks683ÌýfollowersI write character-driven epic fantasy with huge doses of horror, angst, and frustratingly tangled character relationships. You can read more about my work at my website:
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K.S. Villoso was born in a dank hospital on an afternoon in Albay, Philippines, and things have generally been okay since then. After spending most of her childhood in a slum area in Taguig (where she dodged death-defying traffic, ate questionable food, and fell into open-pit sewers more often than one ought to), she and her family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, where they spent the better part of two decades trying to chase the North American Dream. She is now living amidst the forest and mountains with her family, children, and dogs in Anmore, BC.
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K.S. Villoso was born in a dank hospital on an afternoon in Albay, Philippines, and things have generally been okay since then. After spending most of her childhood in a slum area in Taguig (where she dodged death-defying traffic, ate questionable food, and fell into open-pit sewers more often than one ought to), she and her family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, where they spent the better part of two decades trying to chase the North American Dream. She is now living amidst the forest and mountains with her family, children, and dogs in Anmore, BC.
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May 19, 2017I've made a character list to help people keep track of who's who in this series
And a non-comprehensive city/town list
UPDATE: Added a country list
And a non-comprehensive city/town list
UPDATE: Added a country list
May 29, 2017
Edited for more in depth review
This story took me for a ringer, and be prepared to learn a TON of worldbuilding. We're talking Way of Kings info dumps at the beginning, so when you start this book give yourself a decent amount of time to submerse yourself in it to get accustomed to the names of people, places, and religions. This book is overflowing with it and it takes a huge imagination to pull it all together.
The story starts out with with a man named Keifer, and his friend almost father like figure Oji, they are part of a crew that does odd jobs throughout the realm. Oji ends up dying mysteriously, and Keifer is blamed for it. His life is full of turmoil and hardship following the death of his friend and the false accusation that he's the one responsible. He's enslaved, beaten, and constantly on the run.
The woods are full of demons, and they are creeeeepppyyyy as fuck! They are stealing children and slaughtering people along the edges of their realm.
There's no clear hero of the story, or main character, you follow around a bunch of POV's and that's part of the appeal for me. It's not the story of the chosen one, it's more a story of common people which also has appeal to me. Don't get me wrong, I like stories like that but it's nice to have other sorts of stories with different sorts of perspectives.
At first all of the stories and plots don't seem to be connected, but as you go through they begin to overlap and make sense in a more cohesive sort of story. Around the halfway mark as everything is starting to merge and be connected the story really picks up and shit goes down.
I actually had a bit of difficulty at first keeping it all straight, as happens with more complex stories. The author was nice enough to post something on her blog to help people out keep it all straight, man do I wish I had this when I first was reading through it.
This is the first book of a finished trilogy! All you people wanting finished works and are tired of waiting for the next book to come out I recommend this for you!
I gave it 5/5 on goodreads because of the sheer amount of work it must have taken to put this book together. It was obviously well thought out in advance to be this incredibly complex. The characters were in depth and complex not just the plot and world building and it made for a really enjoyable read.
For Bonus points the author is an active member of r/fantasy u/ksvilloso
It's also cheap, another one of those free kindle unlimited books - risk free trial for people who are members, or 2.99 for people who arent. worth the try either way!
for more reviews!
commenteditsharesavehidedeletensfwspoiler
This story took me for a ringer, and be prepared to learn a TON of worldbuilding. We're talking Way of Kings info dumps at the beginning, so when you start this book give yourself a decent amount of time to submerse yourself in it to get accustomed to the names of people, places, and religions. This book is overflowing with it and it takes a huge imagination to pull it all together.
The story starts out with with a man named Keifer, and his friend almost father like figure Oji, they are part of a crew that does odd jobs throughout the realm. Oji ends up dying mysteriously, and Keifer is blamed for it. His life is full of turmoil and hardship following the death of his friend and the false accusation that he's the one responsible. He's enslaved, beaten, and constantly on the run.
The woods are full of demons, and they are creeeeepppyyyy as fuck! They are stealing children and slaughtering people along the edges of their realm.
There's no clear hero of the story, or main character, you follow around a bunch of POV's and that's part of the appeal for me. It's not the story of the chosen one, it's more a story of common people which also has appeal to me. Don't get me wrong, I like stories like that but it's nice to have other sorts of stories with different sorts of perspectives.
At first all of the stories and plots don't seem to be connected, but as you go through they begin to overlap and make sense in a more cohesive sort of story. Around the halfway mark as everything is starting to merge and be connected the story really picks up and shit goes down.
I actually had a bit of difficulty at first keeping it all straight, as happens with more complex stories. The author was nice enough to post something on her blog to help people out keep it all straight, man do I wish I had this when I first was reading through it.
This is the first book of a finished trilogy! All you people wanting finished works and are tired of waiting for the next book to come out I recommend this for you!
I gave it 5/5 on goodreads because of the sheer amount of work it must have taken to put this book together. It was obviously well thought out in advance to be this incredibly complex. The characters were in depth and complex not just the plot and world building and it made for a really enjoyable read.
For Bonus points the author is an active member of r/fantasy u/ksvilloso
It's also cheap, another one of those free kindle unlimited books - risk free trial for people who are members, or 2.99 for people who arent. worth the try either way!
for more reviews!
commenteditsharesavehidedeletensfwspoiler
November 23, 2017
Jaeth’s Eye surprised me. The cover may suggest that the book will be slightly melancholic. I didn’t expect decapitation, violence, blood and the rest of the package we get. And yet that’s what we’re served. Parents, keep your children away from this book!
I believe the author herself mentioned that the idea of the story is that you're following around three minor characters who slowly get involved into a major epic fantasy plot. None of these characters are "heroes" - they just try to survive and react to unfprtunate life circumstances.
The bigger plot is hinted, however, especially in the beginning of the story, it’s difficult to understand where all of this is going. We’re shown some pieces of the puzzle but it’s difficult to connect all the dots until we’re a bit more than halfway through.
The book revolves around three characters. Kefier is running from his past. Ylir has a surprise for us (although I can’t say I didn’t suspect it). Sume is a young girl who sacrificed her freedom to save her stupid brother. My favorite character is Ylir. Sume has her moments, Kefier though is irritating. Side characters, especially Burg and Sapphire are interesting as well.
The story isn’t linear. Most of the fun comes from discovering missing pieces of information. Some readers will dislike author’s choice of telling the story and slow reveal of important facts. Detailed and rich world-building, big cast of the characters we meet require reader’s focus. You can skim through the pages, but you’ll loose important details that pay off later in the storyline.
I believe the author consciously decided to write a book that won’t appeal to many readers. In order to enjoy the story you need to invest some time and effort (plenty of details to remember). Your patience will be rewarded.
Before you get the book, bear in mind that KS Villoso enjoys hurting her characters. Also, if you secretely crave for happy ending or a closure, you won’t get it. What you get instead is an unique take on epic fantasy with excellent and rich world-building and relatable characters. It’s worth noting the book finely embraces diversity between different cultures. Also, the story sets the groundwork for something much bigger. You know dragons, monsters, mages and drama.
I’m definitely interested in reading sequel.
I believe the author herself mentioned that the idea of the story is that you're following around three minor characters who slowly get involved into a major epic fantasy plot. None of these characters are "heroes" - they just try to survive and react to unfprtunate life circumstances.
The bigger plot is hinted, however, especially in the beginning of the story, it’s difficult to understand where all of this is going. We’re shown some pieces of the puzzle but it’s difficult to connect all the dots until we’re a bit more than halfway through.
The book revolves around three characters. Kefier is running from his past. Ylir has a surprise for us (although I can’t say I didn’t suspect it). Sume is a young girl who sacrificed her freedom to save her stupid brother. My favorite character is Ylir. Sume has her moments, Kefier though is irritating. Side characters, especially Burg and Sapphire are interesting as well.
The story isn’t linear. Most of the fun comes from discovering missing pieces of information. Some readers will dislike author’s choice of telling the story and slow reveal of important facts. Detailed and rich world-building, big cast of the characters we meet require reader’s focus. You can skim through the pages, but you’ll loose important details that pay off later in the storyline.
I believe the author consciously decided to write a book that won’t appeal to many readers. In order to enjoy the story you need to invest some time and effort (plenty of details to remember). Your patience will be rewarded.
Before you get the book, bear in mind that KS Villoso enjoys hurting her characters. Also, if you secretely crave for happy ending or a closure, you won’t get it. What you get instead is an unique take on epic fantasy with excellent and rich world-building and relatable characters. It’s worth noting the book finely embraces diversity between different cultures. Also, the story sets the groundwork for something much bigger. You know dragons, monsters, mages and drama.
I’m definitely interested in reading sequel.
June 30, 2015
Jaeth’s Eye is the story of two people, Kefier and Sume, joined by the death of Oji, Kefier’s friend and Sume’s brother, and their separate journeys to discover the reasons behind Oji’s fate.
For Kefier, who has spent the time since Oji’s death on the run from the Boarshind, a company of mercenaries and his former associates who think he murdered Oji, trying to come to grips with the circumstances behind the event and his responsibility for it has driven him to the brink of madness.
For Sume, who doesn’t know of her brother’s demise, trying to discover why Oji is no longer communicating with her, his wife, Hana and son, Dai, leads her to meet and fall in love with Ylir yn Ferral, who is much more than he seems.
The story is well told and intriguing, full of interesting characters, unusual creatures and frightening monsters, much as would be found in any novel of fantasy. It is the first installment of a trilogy, and it is to be expected that the following books will be as fascinating as this one. I would recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy without reservation.
For Kefier, who has spent the time since Oji’s death on the run from the Boarshind, a company of mercenaries and his former associates who think he murdered Oji, trying to come to grips with the circumstances behind the event and his responsibility for it has driven him to the brink of madness.
For Sume, who doesn’t know of her brother’s demise, trying to discover why Oji is no longer communicating with her, his wife, Hana and son, Dai, leads her to meet and fall in love with Ylir yn Ferral, who is much more than he seems.
The story is well told and intriguing, full of interesting characters, unusual creatures and frightening monsters, much as would be found in any novel of fantasy. It is the first installment of a trilogy, and it is to be expected that the following books will be as fascinating as this one. I would recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy without reservation.
June 27, 2017
If you’re looking for a story that will hold your hand and explain everything as it goes, you’re not going to find it here.
This story is told in a way that relies on you to keep up as you follow around characters and live their trials, friendships, loves, and heartbreaks, until you become so involved that you almost forget that there is something in the works underneath it all. It’s a style that doesn’t work without strong characters and an interesting world to keep you invested.
There is a fair bit of a learning curve in the beginning. I’d say the first twenty percent of it I felt like my raft tipped into a swift moving river, I wasn’t sure where they were in relation to one another (there was probably a map but I never look at them) or exactly what was going on. But after awhile the focus narrows down, and more time is spent with just Kefier, Ylir(my favourite) and Sume.
There was a bit of unevenness in the story, and at times (a lot of times) I wished for a bit more clarity, but the characters were so enjoyable to read about, in my mind, that balances out a lot of the roughness.
This book was so full of people, stories, and life, it seemed like it barely scratched the surface of this world and what’s to come in this series. It’s going to be interesting to see where the author takes it.
If you like character stories told in a more relaxed style, in a rich full of life world, (think, Bridge of Birds, The Shadow of the Wind) this book might be your cup of tea.
This story is told in a way that relies on you to keep up as you follow around characters and live their trials, friendships, loves, and heartbreaks, until you become so involved that you almost forget that there is something in the works underneath it all. It’s a style that doesn’t work without strong characters and an interesting world to keep you invested.
There is a fair bit of a learning curve in the beginning. I’d say the first twenty percent of it I felt like my raft tipped into a swift moving river, I wasn’t sure where they were in relation to one another (there was probably a map but I never look at them) or exactly what was going on. But after awhile the focus narrows down, and more time is spent with just Kefier, Ylir(my favourite) and Sume.
There was a bit of unevenness in the story, and at times (a lot of times) I wished for a bit more clarity, but the characters were so enjoyable to read about, in my mind, that balances out a lot of the roughness.
This book was so full of people, stories, and life, it seemed like it barely scratched the surface of this world and what’s to come in this series. It’s going to be interesting to see where the author takes it.
If you like character stories told in a more relaxed style, in a rich full of life world, (think, Bridge of Birds, The Shadow of the Wind) this book might be your cup of tea.
July 2, 2020
This one is a bit hard to judge. The start of the book is probably a 1-2 star for me - the end is a solid 4 star.
This book really does reward patience! In the start you have no idea who is who, where we are and what is even happening. This cionfused state stays until way into the second half of the book. Things are happening that make no sense, or even seem to be a plothole - a lot of things happen off stage. Like in one scene you a character is imprisoned and likely to die - the next chapter has him free as a bird, without any explanation at all.
The end manages to explain all of that and to bring all of the different POV strands together. It all starts to make sense and the bigger picture forms in your head! It was pretty amazing how the author can resolve this much things in such a short time. But I must confess that if I hadn't read this for SPFBO, and tried to finish everything that wasn't "really bad", I would never have made it to that resolution in the end. All the question marks above my head and especially the scenes that seem to make no sense at all would have made me give up way earlier.
So all in all I'll go for a 3* rating.
This book really does reward patience! In the start you have no idea who is who, where we are and what is even happening. This cionfused state stays until way into the second half of the book. Things are happening that make no sense, or even seem to be a plothole - a lot of things happen off stage. Like in one scene you a character is imprisoned and likely to die - the next chapter has him free as a bird, without any explanation at all.
The end manages to explain all of that and to bring all of the different POV strands together. It all starts to make sense and the bigger picture forms in your head! It was pretty amazing how the author can resolve this much things in such a short time. But I must confess that if I hadn't read this for SPFBO, and tried to finish everything that wasn't "really bad", I would never have made it to that resolution in the end. All the question marks above my head and especially the scenes that seem to make no sense at all would have made me give up way earlier.
So all in all I'll go for a 3* rating.
April 3, 2017
This review will cover the entire 3 book series. The author was kind enough to send us a free copy of this series in exchange for an honest review.
Don’t miss this week’s episode covering this series as well!
I’m a little surprised that this series is not at least a little more well known. There is a lot to enjoy with this story.
Probably my favorite things were the interactions between the characters and how expansive and complex the world is. I don’t think this series really did much more than scratch the surface to all the possibilities of what is going on in this universe. Getting to see more of the politics that moves around and reading about some more of the lore of the world is definitely what has me looking forward to reading more work by this author.
The character interactions and relationships built up well and even though I am, as a rule, against love triangles, the one that existed in this story made sense because the relationships built up over time and it the conflict was understandable. Also, I liked all the characters involved!
I am also not much one for battle sequences. I tend to kind of skim over them somewhat but there was a battle scene in the 3rd book that had me on the edge of my seat. There was betrayal, there was desperation, there was a THING that happened at the conclusion of the battle that had me pretty upset. It was just really well done and stands out to me as one of the shining moments of the series.
All that said, the storytelling is not perfect. Mostly this comes down to scenes and happenings that kind of feel like they are missing. The biggest example of this is in the second book, one of the characters gets married and heads of with his bride to another country to take care of something. Their leaving is the end of the chapter and the next goes on to another POV. When we come back to that character again, it has suddenly been 3 years and he has been in prison for most of that time. While the reader does not have to guess at what happened to land him in prison by any means, it was a little jarring to jump so far forward, skipping over a major plot development entirely. I would have liked to experience the ins and outs of how he ended up there.
This happened on a smaller scale a few more times throughout the series. There was also a little lore and history that I wish had kind of been sprinkled throughout the story a little more before the information became directly relevant to the plot. The namesake of the trilogy, Agartes, is largely absent from the series as he is more of a historical figure. Although I got the impression that he was someone of legend, it wasn’t until the 3rd book that it started to become clear why.
Same with Sume’s father. In the first book, her father’s involvement in things that had happened in Jin-Sayeng in the past impacted Sume’s story in the first book. But it was never brought up that he was such an important figure until it was relevant to the story. The problem with this is just that it makes it seem like the story wasn’t planned out when information of this kind regarding history and lore doesn’t come up until it is needed, makes it seem like it was just made up as the story went along. I don’t think that was the case with this story because so much of the rest of the story was obviously painstakingly planned out but it kind of seemed like it at times.
Still, the story was engaging and I liked the characters enough that I was able to look past these things and would recommend the series to fans of high fantasy. It didn’t quite hit my favorites list but I have extremely high hopes for future work by this author.
Don’t miss this week’s episode covering this series as well!
I’m a little surprised that this series is not at least a little more well known. There is a lot to enjoy with this story.
Probably my favorite things were the interactions between the characters and how expansive and complex the world is. I don’t think this series really did much more than scratch the surface to all the possibilities of what is going on in this universe. Getting to see more of the politics that moves around and reading about some more of the lore of the world is definitely what has me looking forward to reading more work by this author.
The character interactions and relationships built up well and even though I am, as a rule, against love triangles, the one that existed in this story made sense because the relationships built up over time and it the conflict was understandable. Also, I liked all the characters involved!
I am also not much one for battle sequences. I tend to kind of skim over them somewhat but there was a battle scene in the 3rd book that had me on the edge of my seat. There was betrayal, there was desperation, there was a THING that happened at the conclusion of the battle that had me pretty upset. It was just really well done and stands out to me as one of the shining moments of the series.
All that said, the storytelling is not perfect. Mostly this comes down to scenes and happenings that kind of feel like they are missing. The biggest example of this is in the second book, one of the characters gets married and heads of with his bride to another country to take care of something. Their leaving is the end of the chapter and the next goes on to another POV. When we come back to that character again, it has suddenly been 3 years and he has been in prison for most of that time. While the reader does not have to guess at what happened to land him in prison by any means, it was a little jarring to jump so far forward, skipping over a major plot development entirely. I would have liked to experience the ins and outs of how he ended up there.
This happened on a smaller scale a few more times throughout the series. There was also a little lore and history that I wish had kind of been sprinkled throughout the story a little more before the information became directly relevant to the plot. The namesake of the trilogy, Agartes, is largely absent from the series as he is more of a historical figure. Although I got the impression that he was someone of legend, it wasn’t until the 3rd book that it started to become clear why.
Same with Sume’s father. In the first book, her father’s involvement in things that had happened in Jin-Sayeng in the past impacted Sume’s story in the first book. But it was never brought up that he was such an important figure until it was relevant to the story. The problem with this is just that it makes it seem like the story wasn’t planned out when information of this kind regarding history and lore doesn’t come up until it is needed, makes it seem like it was just made up as the story went along. I don’t think that was the case with this story because so much of the rest of the story was obviously painstakingly planned out but it kind of seemed like it at times.
Still, the story was engaging and I liked the characters enough that I was able to look past these things and would recommend the series to fans of high fantasy. It didn’t quite hit my favorites list but I have extremely high hopes for future work by this author.
April 5, 2017
Halfway through Jaeth's Eye and I was convinced this book wasn't for me. I was confused, frustrated and starting to give up.
60% in and I found it hard to put down.
So yes, it took me over half way to actually start enjoying the book, but in this case that's not such a bad thing. Because, when I hit the 60% mark, things started to happen. Everything I was confused about started to come together, I started to understand where things were heading, and frustrated as I had been up until that point, I realised that the slow build up and ground work was necessary. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.
And I feel like I must've missed something along the way, because even after finishing the book, I'm still not sure I completely understand what really went on and why everything that happened, did?
Jaeth's Eye is the first book in a fantasy trilogy that revolves around the lives of three characters, and their journey and struggle to keep up with what life throws at them. Keifer is running from his past, Sume has sacrificed her freedom for family, and Ylir is a man who is more than he appears. In your typical fantasy, these would be the minor characters you find in the background, yet here we're seeing from their point of view, whilst the heroes take a backseat. It's ambitious and yet it works well. It was refreshing to read a story told differently, and by those we usually forget are also affected by events.
If there's one thing that stands out about Jaeth's eye, it's the characters. Although at first it felt like there were lots to keep up with and I kept forgetting who was who, after a while I came to really care about a handful of them. I admired Sume greatly for her determination to do anything for her loved ones, as well as Kiefer as he tries to make a new life for himself. The character development is so very well executed and was most likely my favourite aspect of the book.
There's no denying that the world Villoso has created and the plot was incredibly thought out, not to mention fascinating, but with so many names of characters, cultures and places thrown in from the get go, as well as the history, I found it difficult to follow at times. However it was enjoyable getting to know about all of these, and seeing how the different cultures interacted with one another. It's action-packed and adventurous, that's for sure, but I really had to concentrate if I wanted any idea of what was happening.
Saying that, nearer the end when things started tying together, I was constantly ooh-ing and ahh-ing when things clicked, and all the connections made sense. And especially at a particular reveal. The best part of it is that I didn't even see them coming. I was pleasantly surprised, it wasn't predictable once.
I feel like this is one of those books that you have to patient with if you want to get to the good stuff, because here, the ending chapters really are worth the build up.
Jaeth's Eye is a promising first book in The Agartes Epilogues, and part of a trilogy you should watch out for. It's a different take on Fantasy that combines everything you love about the genre. Though it lacks in some areas, it has a lot going for it and I look forward to seeing what's to come for these characters in the next two books, Aina's Breath and Sapphire's Flight (out 5th April 2017!).
3.5*
*I kindly received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
60% in and I found it hard to put down.
So yes, it took me over half way to actually start enjoying the book, but in this case that's not such a bad thing. Because, when I hit the 60% mark, things started to happen. Everything I was confused about started to come together, I started to understand where things were heading, and frustrated as I had been up until that point, I realised that the slow build up and ground work was necessary. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.
And I feel like I must've missed something along the way, because even after finishing the book, I'm still not sure I completely understand what really went on and why everything that happened, did?
Jaeth's Eye is the first book in a fantasy trilogy that revolves around the lives of three characters, and their journey and struggle to keep up with what life throws at them. Keifer is running from his past, Sume has sacrificed her freedom for family, and Ylir is a man who is more than he appears. In your typical fantasy, these would be the minor characters you find in the background, yet here we're seeing from their point of view, whilst the heroes take a backseat. It's ambitious and yet it works well. It was refreshing to read a story told differently, and by those we usually forget are also affected by events.
If there's one thing that stands out about Jaeth's eye, it's the characters. Although at first it felt like there were lots to keep up with and I kept forgetting who was who, after a while I came to really care about a handful of them. I admired Sume greatly for her determination to do anything for her loved ones, as well as Kiefer as he tries to make a new life for himself. The character development is so very well executed and was most likely my favourite aspect of the book.
There's no denying that the world Villoso has created and the plot was incredibly thought out, not to mention fascinating, but with so many names of characters, cultures and places thrown in from the get go, as well as the history, I found it difficult to follow at times. However it was enjoyable getting to know about all of these, and seeing how the different cultures interacted with one another. It's action-packed and adventurous, that's for sure, but I really had to concentrate if I wanted any idea of what was happening.
Saying that, nearer the end when things started tying together, I was constantly ooh-ing and ahh-ing when things clicked, and all the connections made sense. And especially at a particular reveal. The best part of it is that I didn't even see them coming. I was pleasantly surprised, it wasn't predictable once.
I feel like this is one of those books that you have to patient with if you want to get to the good stuff, because here, the ending chapters really are worth the build up.
Jaeth's Eye is a promising first book in The Agartes Epilogues, and part of a trilogy you should watch out for. It's a different take on Fantasy that combines everything you love about the genre. Though it lacks in some areas, it has a lot going for it and I look forward to seeing what's to come for these characters in the next two books, Aina's Breath and Sapphire's Flight (out 5th April 2017!).
3.5*
*I kindly received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
March 26, 2015
The author kindly sent me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. Just "Wow"!
K.S Villoso is a new voice in fantasy that any fan of the genre should be taking note of right now.
Filled with everything you should expect from the genre - and more - "Jaeth's Eye" delivers on so many levels. I have laughed, I have cried... I have leant forward in my seat in expectation of what's coming next.
My expectations were: a good read; a pleasant way to pass a few hours. I got so much more.
Bring on book 2!!
Wow. Just "Wow"!
K.S Villoso is a new voice in fantasy that any fan of the genre should be taking note of right now.
Filled with everything you should expect from the genre - and more - "Jaeth's Eye" delivers on so many levels. I have laughed, I have cried... I have leant forward in my seat in expectation of what's coming next.
My expectations were: a good read; a pleasant way to pass a few hours. I got so much more.
Bring on book 2!!
June 6, 2017
took me a while to get into this one but once I did I really enjoyed it. Bit of an info dump at the beginning but once I did it was really enjoyable. The demons where seriously creepy and I loved that we got quite a few different POVs. I can't wait to pick up the sequel!
December 1, 2017
This is Book 1 in the trilogy The Agartes Epilogues. The author recently made the trilogy available for purchase together as an ebook omnibus, which is how I picked this up. I read Jaeth's Eye as part of the RRAWR monthly read on Reddit's r/fantasy.
I read this book, Jaeth's Eye, just after finishing an ARC of the author's new book, The Wolf of Oren-yaro. The books are set in the same world, but reading them out of order has not posed a problem. I will say, I enjoyed the author's newer work more than I enjoyed reading Jaeth's Eye. The biggest reason I preferred Wolf was that Wolf follows one main character while Jaeth's Eye bounces around several POV characters. I don't mind multi-POV books but in this case I was left pretty confused for the majority of the book. The threads do all come together at the end.
The author has provided a list of the characters which is both slightly spoilery but also incredibly helpful if you're finding yourself confused/having a hard time keeping the players straight in your head. I probably should have given in and used the list while I was reading, if I'd known about it in time! Here's a link to the list:
The characters and their personal storylines are the main strength in the book to me. We basically have three major character threads:
1. Kefier - We meet Kefier as a sort of adjunct to Oji, a mercenary of the Boarshind. Kefier clearly has a troubled past which we're clued into early on, but we don't find out details on it until much, much later. Kefier and Oji seem to have a strong bond, but we lose the Oji side of it early, although Oji's family relationships with Kefier and his wife and son continue to play a huge role in the story. During most of the story Kefier seems to be eternally displaced and roaming around, not sure where he should be or how to get there.
2. Sume and Dai - Sume (Oji's sister) and a seamstress and Dai (Oji's son) are scraping by, especially after Oji's pay stops being sent back to them and they don't know for sure what happened to Oji. Dai's efforts to help provide funds for his small family (mother and aunt) keep leading them into trouble.
3. Ylir - a merchant who is sometimes generous and helpful and other times merciless, he has far-reaching resources and a bunch of aliases. He works for Yn Garr Industries (which often employees the Boarshind for their various enterprises) and seems to be the only one who is close to the somewhat mysterious owner of Yn Garr Industries.
In addition to the personal stories, there's an overarching plot revolving around a creepy beast thing that (I'm guessing) is probably a continuing part of the plot of the trilogy. There's a tinge of a horror story with this beast.
For me this was a slow read, partially because of the multiple POV storylines and partially because I was confused as to who everyone was (especially figuring out some of the aliases). I did like it, but overall I found the author's forthcoming book (The Wolf of Oren-yaro) a much faster and more engaging read. The author does have a knack for character development which I definitely enjoyed!
I read this book, Jaeth's Eye, just after finishing an ARC of the author's new book, The Wolf of Oren-yaro. The books are set in the same world, but reading them out of order has not posed a problem. I will say, I enjoyed the author's newer work more than I enjoyed reading Jaeth's Eye. The biggest reason I preferred Wolf was that Wolf follows one main character while Jaeth's Eye bounces around several POV characters. I don't mind multi-POV books but in this case I was left pretty confused for the majority of the book. The threads do all come together at the end.
The author has provided a list of the characters which is both slightly spoilery but also incredibly helpful if you're finding yourself confused/having a hard time keeping the players straight in your head. I probably should have given in and used the list while I was reading, if I'd known about it in time! Here's a link to the list:
The characters and their personal storylines are the main strength in the book to me. We basically have three major character threads:
1. Kefier - We meet Kefier as a sort of adjunct to Oji, a mercenary of the Boarshind. Kefier clearly has a troubled past which we're clued into early on, but we don't find out details on it until much, much later. Kefier and Oji seem to have a strong bond, but we lose the Oji side of it early, although Oji's family relationships with Kefier and his wife and son continue to play a huge role in the story. During most of the story Kefier seems to be eternally displaced and roaming around, not sure where he should be or how to get there.
2. Sume and Dai - Sume (Oji's sister) and a seamstress and Dai (Oji's son) are scraping by, especially after Oji's pay stops being sent back to them and they don't know for sure what happened to Oji. Dai's efforts to help provide funds for his small family (mother and aunt) keep leading them into trouble.
3. Ylir - a merchant who is sometimes generous and helpful and other times merciless, he has far-reaching resources and a bunch of aliases. He works for Yn Garr Industries (which often employees the Boarshind for their various enterprises) and seems to be the only one who is close to the somewhat mysterious owner of Yn Garr Industries.
In addition to the personal stories, there's an overarching plot revolving around a creepy beast thing that (I'm guessing) is probably a continuing part of the plot of the trilogy. There's a tinge of a horror story with this beast.
For me this was a slow read, partially because of the multiple POV storylines and partially because I was confused as to who everyone was (especially figuring out some of the aliases). I did like it, but overall I found the author's forthcoming book (The Wolf of Oren-yaro) a much faster and more engaging read. The author does have a knack for character development which I definitely enjoyed!
July 10, 2023
Edit:
REREAD: July 2023
4.5 Stars*
I think I appreciate this book way more the second time around. I took my time with this read and really tried to absorb everything given. There's a lot going on in Jaeth's Eye from multiple perspectives. You see more of the world outside of Jin-Sayeng, especially with trade happening between Jinseins and Dageians. You have a backdrop of politics and foreign policy between the two while also having characters from different parts of the world of Agan. The first character, Sume, is a merchant's daughter who grew up in Akki who goes to Fuyyu to earn money since her brother has been unresponsive. Ke-if is a mercenary for the Boarshind and also happens to be an escaped Dageian mage-thrall that was saved by Sume's brother Oji. You also have Ylir, the apprentice and face of Yn Garr Industries which gained prominence with foreign trade opening up. Dai and Hana, Sume's family, also have a couple minor chapters. It is a lot to take in but once you get into it, I think it's absolutely stunning. The political and social intrigue of how characters interact or see each other is great, learning lore of ancient mages, the horror scenes (and there is body horror galore), and the characters make this story great. It takes place over a couple years and sometimes things seem to be at a standstill in some chapters, but you learn something is always being done even if the characters aren't aware of it. I love Villoso's writing so much and how much she pores into Jin-Sayeng and the surrounding areas, the way she writes creatures and the lore of her world. I do have the same sentiment that there may be too many characters to bounce between in this book, but I appreciate it way more now than I did 2 years ago.
____________________________________________________________
2021 Review: I definitely got more into this book after the half way mark and I can’t wait to read the next in the series! I think this book was easier to get into already being familiar with the world that the series is set in! It’s a multiple POV book between characters that seem to be connected by fate. This is set in a time before the events of Wolf of Oren-Yaro, where the agan is heavily present and I love it!! I love the world building, the lore, and the action. But, I feel with the amount of character’s pov and not spending enough time with each - I feel like I didn’t get attached as much to them. I still can’t wait to read the next in the series even with that aspect.
Disclosure: I received Jaeth’s Eye as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
REREAD: July 2023
4.5 Stars*
I think I appreciate this book way more the second time around. I took my time with this read and really tried to absorb everything given. There's a lot going on in Jaeth's Eye from multiple perspectives. You see more of the world outside of Jin-Sayeng, especially with trade happening between Jinseins and Dageians. You have a backdrop of politics and foreign policy between the two while also having characters from different parts of the world of Agan. The first character, Sume, is a merchant's daughter who grew up in Akki who goes to Fuyyu to earn money since her brother has been unresponsive. Ke-if is a mercenary for the Boarshind and also happens to be an escaped Dageian mage-thrall that was saved by Sume's brother Oji. You also have Ylir, the apprentice and face of Yn Garr Industries which gained prominence with foreign trade opening up. Dai and Hana, Sume's family, also have a couple minor chapters. It is a lot to take in but once you get into it, I think it's absolutely stunning. The political and social intrigue of how characters interact or see each other is great, learning lore of ancient mages, the horror scenes (and there is body horror galore), and the characters make this story great. It takes place over a couple years and sometimes things seem to be at a standstill in some chapters, but you learn something is always being done even if the characters aren't aware of it. I love Villoso's writing so much and how much she pores into Jin-Sayeng and the surrounding areas, the way she writes creatures and the lore of her world. I do have the same sentiment that there may be too many characters to bounce between in this book, but I appreciate it way more now than I did 2 years ago.
____________________________________________________________
2021 Review: I definitely got more into this book after the half way mark and I can’t wait to read the next in the series! I think this book was easier to get into already being familiar with the world that the series is set in! It’s a multiple POV book between characters that seem to be connected by fate. This is set in a time before the events of Wolf of Oren-Yaro, where the agan is heavily present and I love it!! I love the world building, the lore, and the action. But, I feel with the amount of character’s pov and not spending enough time with each - I feel like I didn’t get attached as much to them. I still can’t wait to read the next in the series even with that aspect.
Disclosure: I received Jaeth’s Eye as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
October 12, 2016
Okay, wow!
Jaeth's Eye is about a bunch of people in a turbulent world with some supernatural/magical things that are threatening to undo everyone.
Let me try that again.
This book is about Kefier as he struggles to reconcile his past and find his way in life. Or it's about Sume's struggle to care for her family and the sacrifices she makes to achieve that goal. Or maybe it's about Ylir, a man with something to prove to his master and everyone else he's so desperate to manipulate.
The thing is, there's no clear hero in this story. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind this, but there were so many jumps, and the point of view character wasn't always readily apparent - sometimes you just had to guess based on the info. Which got a bit irritating.
The other problem I had with the story was all the cliffhangers and missing information. I'm still not certain how Kefier's partner, Oji, died. I have some idea, but it's not entirely clear. Which may be because there's more story to tell. But by about halfway through the book and the numerous cliffhangers with no idea where the book was going or how it would get there, I got frustrated.
Those nits aside, the world the author created is phenomenal. It's so well thought-out, it could be another planet or an alternate history. There are people and their different gods and customs and speech and rivalries. And the story - what of it I could gather - was rather entrancing. I bled for those characters, so broken, each with their own misery to tell and their own paths to forge.
And some of the reveals were out of this world. The story is so drip-fed, that I didn't make many of the connections that the end pointed out.
So if you like experimental narratives, fully formed worlds that will transport you, and a steady stream of cliff-hangers (or some might call it intrigue), then pick up Jaeth's Eye. :)
Jaeth's Eye is about a bunch of people in a turbulent world with some supernatural/magical things that are threatening to undo everyone.
Let me try that again.
This book is about Kefier as he struggles to reconcile his past and find his way in life. Or it's about Sume's struggle to care for her family and the sacrifices she makes to achieve that goal. Or maybe it's about Ylir, a man with something to prove to his master and everyone else he's so desperate to manipulate.
The thing is, there's no clear hero in this story. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind this, but there were so many jumps, and the point of view character wasn't always readily apparent - sometimes you just had to guess based on the info. Which got a bit irritating.
The other problem I had with the story was all the cliffhangers and missing information. I'm still not certain how Kefier's partner, Oji, died. I have some idea, but it's not entirely clear. Which may be because there's more story to tell. But by about halfway through the book and the numerous cliffhangers with no idea where the book was going or how it would get there, I got frustrated.
Those nits aside, the world the author created is phenomenal. It's so well thought-out, it could be another planet or an alternate history. There are people and their different gods and customs and speech and rivalries. And the story - what of it I could gather - was rather entrancing. I bled for those characters, so broken, each with their own misery to tell and their own paths to forge.
And some of the reveals were out of this world. The story is so drip-fed, that I didn't make many of the connections that the end pointed out.
So if you like experimental narratives, fully formed worlds that will transport you, and a steady stream of cliff-hangers (or some might call it intrigue), then pick up Jaeth's Eye. :)
February 27, 2019
DNF
I went about three-quarters into the book. But, the continuity jumps made it really hard for me to get into it. I don't know if it is because I read it on KU and the book was not edited well. But whatever the reason, it couldn't hold my attention.
I went about three-quarters into the book. But, the continuity jumps made it really hard for me to get into it. I don't know if it is because I read it on KU and the book was not edited well. But whatever the reason, it couldn't hold my attention.
September 11, 2021
For a book that’s not really long, this actually took me two tries. This was set in the same world The Wolf Of Oren-Yaro was set, it was heavy in the world building and had a lot of info dumping especially in the beginning. The large cast of characters also had a hand in my confusion, it was hard to keep track of who all of them were, what’s happening to them etc. Their motives also weren’t very clear to me but it got easier as I read on and became more familiar. It took awhile for their connection to each other to be known, and I was quite surprised. Sume was the POV character I was most invested in because at the very beginning she already had a goal, she had something she wanted to accomplish; I was glad she had more chapters at the second half of the book. The addition of interesting side characters also made reading this quicker and easier.
Similar to Wolf of Oren-Yaro, this was fast and action-packed. Sometimes it felt all over the place, especially with a plot that wasn’t built up for a big chunk of the book so there wasn’t much to follow at the start. But the way things tied together and ended was good in my opinion.
The nod to Philippine myth and culture was also evident, and compelling; nice to see on page. I’d definitely continue this series to know what more is in store for these characters.
Thanks to the publisher for the arc!
Similar to Wolf of Oren-Yaro, this was fast and action-packed. Sometimes it felt all over the place, especially with a plot that wasn’t built up for a big chunk of the book so there wasn’t much to follow at the start. But the way things tied together and ended was good in my opinion.
The nod to Philippine myth and culture was also evident, and compelling; nice to see on page. I’d definitely continue this series to know what more is in store for these characters.
Thanks to the publisher for the arc!
Read
August 5, 2022(NO RATING / DNF)
im so sorry KSV it’s my fault for dropping the book for a whole 3 months and then diving back in without bothering to re read anything but oh my god i literally couldn’t remember a single thing and i forgot this was like HIGH high fantasy.
if you’re really into super fleshed out fantasy worlds with their own races, countries, languages, and deep lore then read these! me personally, i enjoy those books too but usually i don’t � really pay attention to most of the lore� but here i felt like i needed to in order to best understand the story and � i am dumb! so if you’re smart this is gonna be for you
again i am SORRY and im still gonna try to read the wolf of oren yao
im so sorry KSV it’s my fault for dropping the book for a whole 3 months and then diving back in without bothering to re read anything but oh my god i literally couldn’t remember a single thing and i forgot this was like HIGH high fantasy.
if you’re really into super fleshed out fantasy worlds with their own races, countries, languages, and deep lore then read these! me personally, i enjoy those books too but usually i don’t � really pay attention to most of the lore� but here i felt like i needed to in order to best understand the story and � i am dumb! so if you’re smart this is gonna be for you
again i am SORRY and im still gonna try to read the wolf of oren yao
May 9, 2017
This was a different experience for me, and I'm really pleased that I went along for the ride. Jaeth's Eye is a complex world with a massive cast of characters, and it doesn't feel any immediate need to explain itself to the reader - this can be a blessing and a curse, depending on both your inclinations as a reader and how good your memory is (especially the latter). There were times that I was genuinely confused as to what was happening and why - but many of these instances became clear to me later on in the book. Villoso demands a great deal of trust, and for the most part it absolutely pays off - I may have been perplexed at times, but I was always entertained. And that is why I read, after all.
The characters are well written, their motivations make sense and the dialogue is frequently witty and sparkling. Definitely one of the main strengths of the novel, along with its peculiar world full of diverse and alien cultures. There is often a feeling in epic fantasy that the author is making up the world as they go along - not so with Jaeth's Eye. This is a world that the author clearly knows inside out, everything from the races and religions to the cities and cultures feels meticulously planned down to the most minute detail. Should the series take off it would certainly benefit from an encyclopedia or wiki of some kind to keep track of it all.
When the separate strands of the plot and the characters begin to intersect, the novel truly starts to shine (this is around the 60% mark). Some great twists and plenty of excitement. It's remarkably tight and dense in a world of 800+ page doorstops, so if you want an epic fantasy without the bloat, Villoso has you covered.
On the downside, I'd say that it would benefit from some editing. Some scenes are a little unclear, and there's an occasional typo that you pretty much can expect from an indie/self pub. This isn't too big of a deal for me but I know some people struggle with that kind of thing - with that said, I understand that The Agartes Epilogues are undergoing a fresh round of editing as we speak so by the time you come to read this review that may well be taken care of already. Some folks won't have a good time with the Dark Souls style narrative, but that is entirely a matter of personal taste and many will absolutely relish it.
Personally, I had a great time. And given how inexpensive the kindle version is, I'd say it's well worth a shot. :)
The characters are well written, their motivations make sense and the dialogue is frequently witty and sparkling. Definitely one of the main strengths of the novel, along with its peculiar world full of diverse and alien cultures. There is often a feeling in epic fantasy that the author is making up the world as they go along - not so with Jaeth's Eye. This is a world that the author clearly knows inside out, everything from the races and religions to the cities and cultures feels meticulously planned down to the most minute detail. Should the series take off it would certainly benefit from an encyclopedia or wiki of some kind to keep track of it all.
When the separate strands of the plot and the characters begin to intersect, the novel truly starts to shine (this is around the 60% mark). Some great twists and plenty of excitement. It's remarkably tight and dense in a world of 800+ page doorstops, so if you want an epic fantasy without the bloat, Villoso has you covered.
On the downside, I'd say that it would benefit from some editing. Some scenes are a little unclear, and there's an occasional typo that you pretty much can expect from an indie/self pub. This isn't too big of a deal for me but I know some people struggle with that kind of thing - with that said, I understand that The Agartes Epilogues are undergoing a fresh round of editing as we speak so by the time you come to read this review that may well be taken care of already. Some folks won't have a good time with the Dark Souls style narrative, but that is entirely a matter of personal taste and many will absolutely relish it.
Personally, I had a great time. And given how inexpensive the kindle version is, I'd say it's well worth a shot. :)
November 30, 2021
This book is not for casual fans or beginner readers of adult fantasy. The exposition and infodump is a lot to take in. But if you can soldier on, you'll be treated to the K.S. Villoso standard: an adept hand at characters that feel like real, multidimensional people; and themes of rising up against oppression rooted in the women of the masses.
For fans of , this trilogy takes place in the same universe but is set about 40-50 years prior!
Can't wait for the re-release of the second book of this trilogy!
For fans of , this trilogy takes place in the same universe but is set about 40-50 years prior!
Can't wait for the re-release of the second book of this trilogy!
April 6, 2015
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book really surprised me, I wasn't expecting such a rip roaring epic adventure. The world that I was thrust into is full of strange names and fantastic places. I was so pleased to learn that there are another two books to follow as I am not ready to leave these characters behind.
The story is a rich tapestry of adventure, heart break, violence and hope. Well worth a read and definitely a book to read slowly in a quiet corner to relish every last detail that the author has poured into the text.
This book really surprised me, I wasn't expecting such a rip roaring epic adventure. The world that I was thrust into is full of strange names and fantastic places. I was so pleased to learn that there are another two books to follow as I am not ready to leave these characters behind.
The story is a rich tapestry of adventure, heart break, violence and hope. Well worth a read and definitely a book to read slowly in a quiet corner to relish every last detail that the author has poured into the text.
September 1, 2017
3.75
A bit rough around the edges, but shows a good deal of promise. The characters were pretty much all great, and the plot, while it took a while to get going, was entertaining.
The bits that bothered me were the pacing. Things happening very quickly with not enough prose to back them up, which sometimes took a while to figure out. Still, not enough to stop me from finishing the book, and I'll definitely be picking up the second one. Good writing is good writing.
A bit rough around the edges, but shows a good deal of promise. The characters were pretty much all great, and the plot, while it took a while to get going, was entertaining.
The bits that bothered me were the pacing. Things happening very quickly with not enough prose to back them up, which sometimes took a while to figure out. Still, not enough to stop me from finishing the book, and I'll definitely be picking up the second one. Good writing is good writing.
August 23, 2021
This book was originally released several years ago; what I read was an ARC of the upcoming revamped relaunch coming out Aug. 31, 2021.
I first encountered Villoso's writing with her sprawling, complex, beautiful trilogy The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen. I was such a fan of that series, I've been eagerly awaiting the relaunch of her first trilogy (at first called The Agartes Epilogues, now Legacy of the Lost Mage) so that I can revisit this vast world she's created.
Jaeth's Eye starts years before Tali's story, following three primary characters: Sume Kaggawa (who you might recall from that other series), Kefier, and Ylir. Each POV had their own compelling story that showed us different parts of the world, whether it was in Jin-Sayeng or Gaspar. Villoso is always great at giving her books a real sense of place; these feel like real villages, with real inhabitants and history. Her world is steeped in culture and beliefs and delicious-sounding foods. Every part of this world feels fleshed out and real, full of history. I felt the same way about the Bitch Queen series, and it's no less true here. Villoso has clearly worked out a ton of details about this world's geography, its history, the varying cultures across the different countries--it's one of the most well-thought out worlds I've come across in fantasy. Every new tidbit of information we learn rings true.
What I also enjoyed about the POVs was that for at least two of them, their typical experience is so far from the average fantasy trilogy protagonist. They aren't skilled warriors or mages, they aren't royalty wrapped up in political intrigue. They're average people who are just desperately trying to scrape by before getting wrapped up in a mess far beyond their comprehension, reaching back years and years before they were even born. It's refreshing following protagonists that are not inherently "special" whether it's due to their lineage or their innate magical prowess. Not to say that the POVs lack any skills or are not compelling in their own ways, but I liked following people who would perhaps be on the sidelines in a typical fantasy saga. It makes the world feel more grounded and, in a way, it made the stakes feel more real because it's your everyday person facing these challenges and suffering the consequences of actions from people in higher positions of power.
Another thing I love in fantasy books is unique, nasty monsters, and this book certainly delivers on that front. I don't want to say too much for risk of spoilers, but the creature we encounter in this book was truly unsettling and strange. Learning (at least a piece of) its backstory was one of my favorite sections in the book and has me fiending to get a bigger picture in the following books. Villoso has set up something really weird and intriguing, and I have no idea how it's going to develop across the rest of the trilogy.
If I had to name a gripe with this book, it would be that the pacing felt a little off in the first half of the book. It was never boring or anything, but sometimes the timeline got confusing for me; weeks or months would pass by in a blink and it was hard for me to get a sense of time, despite the book being divided by seasons. That's really a minor complaint, though, because the story and characters were engaging from beginning to end and I was never really lost.
Jaeth's Eye is an incredibly promising start to the Legacy of the Lost Mage trilogy. I've seen how ridiculously complex a tale Villoso can weave, and what she's set up here is already promising to be just as tangled (in a good way). I can't wait to watch it unravel.
I first encountered Villoso's writing with her sprawling, complex, beautiful trilogy The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen. I was such a fan of that series, I've been eagerly awaiting the relaunch of her first trilogy (at first called The Agartes Epilogues, now Legacy of the Lost Mage) so that I can revisit this vast world she's created.
Jaeth's Eye starts years before Tali's story, following three primary characters: Sume Kaggawa (who you might recall from that other series), Kefier, and Ylir. Each POV had their own compelling story that showed us different parts of the world, whether it was in Jin-Sayeng or Gaspar. Villoso is always great at giving her books a real sense of place; these feel like real villages, with real inhabitants and history. Her world is steeped in culture and beliefs and delicious-sounding foods. Every part of this world feels fleshed out and real, full of history. I felt the same way about the Bitch Queen series, and it's no less true here. Villoso has clearly worked out a ton of details about this world's geography, its history, the varying cultures across the different countries--it's one of the most well-thought out worlds I've come across in fantasy. Every new tidbit of information we learn rings true.
What I also enjoyed about the POVs was that for at least two of them, their typical experience is so far from the average fantasy trilogy protagonist. They aren't skilled warriors or mages, they aren't royalty wrapped up in political intrigue. They're average people who are just desperately trying to scrape by before getting wrapped up in a mess far beyond their comprehension, reaching back years and years before they were even born. It's refreshing following protagonists that are not inherently "special" whether it's due to their lineage or their innate magical prowess. Not to say that the POVs lack any skills or are not compelling in their own ways, but I liked following people who would perhaps be on the sidelines in a typical fantasy saga. It makes the world feel more grounded and, in a way, it made the stakes feel more real because it's your everyday person facing these challenges and suffering the consequences of actions from people in higher positions of power.
Another thing I love in fantasy books is unique, nasty monsters, and this book certainly delivers on that front. I don't want to say too much for risk of spoilers, but the creature we encounter in this book was truly unsettling and strange. Learning (at least a piece of) its backstory was one of my favorite sections in the book and has me fiending to get a bigger picture in the following books. Villoso has set up something really weird and intriguing, and I have no idea how it's going to develop across the rest of the trilogy.
If I had to name a gripe with this book, it would be that the pacing felt a little off in the first half of the book. It was never boring or anything, but sometimes the timeline got confusing for me; weeks or months would pass by in a blink and it was hard for me to get a sense of time, despite the book being divided by seasons. That's really a minor complaint, though, because the story and characters were engaging from beginning to end and I was never really lost.
Jaeth's Eye is an incredibly promising start to the Legacy of the Lost Mage trilogy. I've seen how ridiculously complex a tale Villoso can weave, and what she's set up here is already promising to be just as tangled (in a good way). I can't wait to watch it unravel.
August 21, 2017
So much drama! If you like stories about family and friendships unexpectedly intersecting across a vast world amidst tumultuous events, which I do, this is definitely worth checking out!
It's difficult to go into much detail without spoiling things, but suffice to say the story appears to begin with two friends, Oji and Kiefer, preparing to leave a life of difficult work. Oji intends to bring Kiefer with him back to meet his family - his wife Hana, his son Dai, and his sister Sume, who will come to play a critical role in the story. But tragedy strikes, and as the tale unfolds it becomes clear that the events of the book are larger than they appear, and were set in motion much earlier by actors who at first aren't even in the picture at all.
Sume is a great character, not given a whole lot of options by society but fiercly protective of her nephew to the point of endangering herself for reasons that nevertheless make a lot of sense; Kiefer is somebody who's repeatedly suffered unfair blows from fate, and it shows in the struggles he has. There's a vast and sometimes confusing world here, but these two characters and a few others really help ground things, especially in how personal and intimate their struggles are.
The narrative structure is quite rewarding here too; at first the disparate story threads are spun out slowly and in a way that can feel confusing, but as the story goes on it becomes clearer and clearer how everything is woven together, and the ultimate payoff in that regard is great. The timeline can feel a bit confusing at times, and there are a few other character and story threads that seem to drop in and out of focus (no doubt to be given more weight in the sequels), but the core journeys the book is interested in really end up brought together in a way I thought was really satisfying, and leaves me wanting to know more about how these characters make their way into the future.
It's difficult to go into much detail without spoiling things, but suffice to say the story appears to begin with two friends, Oji and Kiefer, preparing to leave a life of difficult work. Oji intends to bring Kiefer with him back to meet his family - his wife Hana, his son Dai, and his sister Sume, who will come to play a critical role in the story. But tragedy strikes, and as the tale unfolds it becomes clear that the events of the book are larger than they appear, and were set in motion much earlier by actors who at first aren't even in the picture at all.
Sume is a great character, not given a whole lot of options by society but fiercly protective of her nephew to the point of endangering herself for reasons that nevertheless make a lot of sense; Kiefer is somebody who's repeatedly suffered unfair blows from fate, and it shows in the struggles he has. There's a vast and sometimes confusing world here, but these two characters and a few others really help ground things, especially in how personal and intimate their struggles are.
The narrative structure is quite rewarding here too; at first the disparate story threads are spun out slowly and in a way that can feel confusing, but as the story goes on it becomes clearer and clearer how everything is woven together, and the ultimate payoff in that regard is great. The timeline can feel a bit confusing at times, and there are a few other character and story threads that seem to drop in and out of focus (no doubt to be given more weight in the sequels), but the core journeys the book is interested in really end up brought together in a way I thought was really satisfying, and leaves me wanting to know more about how these characters make their way into the future.
Want to read
September 5, 2023this book is today (8/5/2023) on amazon US!
*
I’ve been wanting to read this author forever!
*
I’ve been wanting to read this author forever!
May 8, 2017
Book Review originally published here:
Jaeth’s Eye is the fast-paced, intriguing start of a fantasy series that will leave you wanting more. Kefier is on the run from people who once were his allies and friends and who now consider him a murderer. He’s aided by an unlikely ally, Ylir, who takes special interest in Kefier and making sure he’s not killed. Various different storylines come together and connect, sometimes in surprising ways, sometimes in ways I could slightly anticipate, forming a rich, multi-layered story that begs to be read.
The characters, complex storylines connecting, all of it reminded me of Game of Thrones � but not in terms of plot, this book is far different from that, but just in the way how all the different storylines just seemed to connect at some point, overlap, cross, and form one bigger story to be told from different perspectives. The characters also remind me of the characters in Game of Thrones, although they’re unique, they do share one common denominator: they’re all flawed, and none of them are true heroes. Not in the way you had Frodo in Lord of the Rings, or Pug in Raymond E. Feist’s celebrated Magician series.
Here, in Jaeth’s Eye, in the Agartes Epilogues, there is no true hero. Instead, there’s a collection of characters, some of them with potentials to be heroes, others with potential to be villains. It’s a much more realistic world we see here. We see characters with ambitions, characters thirsting for vengeance, characters seeking justice.
The storyline is complex, and the world-building is rich and detailed, but equally complex. It’s not the kind of book you can read brainlessly, almost skimming through the pages � no, you have to really keep focused on it. A bonus point for the book was how it embraced diversity between the different cultures in the book and didn’t just focus on one culture.
Recommended to readers who enjoy the more complex, epic fantasy tomes. I, for one, look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Jaeth’s Eye is the fast-paced, intriguing start of a fantasy series that will leave you wanting more. Kefier is on the run from people who once were his allies and friends and who now consider him a murderer. He’s aided by an unlikely ally, Ylir, who takes special interest in Kefier and making sure he’s not killed. Various different storylines come together and connect, sometimes in surprising ways, sometimes in ways I could slightly anticipate, forming a rich, multi-layered story that begs to be read.
The characters, complex storylines connecting, all of it reminded me of Game of Thrones � but not in terms of plot, this book is far different from that, but just in the way how all the different storylines just seemed to connect at some point, overlap, cross, and form one bigger story to be told from different perspectives. The characters also remind me of the characters in Game of Thrones, although they’re unique, they do share one common denominator: they’re all flawed, and none of them are true heroes. Not in the way you had Frodo in Lord of the Rings, or Pug in Raymond E. Feist’s celebrated Magician series.
Here, in Jaeth’s Eye, in the Agartes Epilogues, there is no true hero. Instead, there’s a collection of characters, some of them with potentials to be heroes, others with potential to be villains. It’s a much more realistic world we see here. We see characters with ambitions, characters thirsting for vengeance, characters seeking justice.
The storyline is complex, and the world-building is rich and detailed, but equally complex. It’s not the kind of book you can read brainlessly, almost skimming through the pages � no, you have to really keep focused on it. A bonus point for the book was how it embraced diversity between the different cultures in the book and didn’t just focus on one culture.
Recommended to readers who enjoy the more complex, epic fantasy tomes. I, for one, look forward to reading the next book in the series.
December 26, 2023
"But our lives are not ballads, timed perfectly to tune, a rhyme or a reason to each of our steps. Sometimes, the wind turns, and we go where we are taken. We make do. And there can be joy in that, too, believe it or not. There can be more than we can ever explain"
TEARS IN MY EYES WHAT A BOOK
TEARS IN MY EYES WHAT A BOOK
January 8, 2023
4/5
I love Ms. Villoso's writing and the fact this is a prelude to The Bitch Queen series!! Specifically following Dai Kaggawa (who I did like in the series... crazy to see how his story started and makes sense of how and why acted as he did in the Bitch Queen)
There's quite a few threads in this story but I do think they come together well in the end... ngl I was a bit lost at times but it was easy to get back into it.. We follow multiple characters with scattered interludes in between that at times do jump between past/present/future.
I personally really like Sume and Ke-if's povs... Love the perspective Sume brought as an island girl with big dreams who can't even think of following through with them because of circumstance but ends up in batshit situations regardless.... Ke-if was how the girlies would say, my pathetic little meow meow.... baby girl even....
I did not like Ylir, like he had an interesting perspective sure but I did not like him as a character
The romance is probably the biggest reason I took off a star otherwise I was really enjoying the book, I don't think there was any basis for it really... I'm just like... what was the reason!!!! Why did Sume like him other than the fact that he was the only familiar person and the fact so many people implied she'd have to give herself up to him!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like girl wake up that dudes a bunch of rats in human skin!!!!
I love Ms. Villoso's writing and the fact this is a prelude to The Bitch Queen series!! Specifically following Dai Kaggawa (who I did like in the series... crazy to see how his story started and makes sense of how and why acted as he did in the Bitch Queen)
There's quite a few threads in this story but I do think they come together well in the end... ngl I was a bit lost at times but it was easy to get back into it.. We follow multiple characters with scattered interludes in between that at times do jump between past/present/future.
I personally really like Sume and Ke-if's povs... Love the perspective Sume brought as an island girl with big dreams who can't even think of following through with them because of circumstance but ends up in batshit situations regardless.... Ke-if was how the girlies would say, my pathetic little meow meow.... baby girl even....
I did not like Ylir, like he had an interesting perspective sure but I did not like him as a character
The romance is probably the biggest reason I took off a star otherwise I was really enjoying the book, I don't think there was any basis for it really... I'm just like... what was the reason!!!! Why did Sume like him other than the fact that he was the only familiar person and the fact so many people implied she'd have to give herself up to him!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like girl wake up that dudes a bunch of rats in human skin!!!!
Shelved as 'abandoned-books'
March 29, 2017This was one of those books where I was intrigued by the story when reading but felt no pull to read and as I progressed with my reading I became more and more confused by the storyline and eventually I just had to DNF. I think that was very much a me thing rather than the book, though, because I was interested in the story.
I will say that the characters are the biggest draw in this book. I was really interested in the story of Kefier and what drove him. Seeing his continual struggles and waiting to learn his history was a driving force in this book for me. He wasn't always the most likeable of characters but he was interesting and you wanted to learn more about him and what happened.
Unfortunately, I think the way the book was written led me to lose interest as it was quite ambiguous about time jumps and changes in POV. You realised quickly they occurred but only after reading a couple of paragraphs and that got frustrating.
Reading about this book and what the next few are about does intrigue me and I do think it's a really original world created in these books but unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.
I will say that the characters are the biggest draw in this book. I was really interested in the story of Kefier and what drove him. Seeing his continual struggles and waiting to learn his history was a driving force in this book for me. He wasn't always the most likeable of characters but he was interesting and you wanted to learn more about him and what happened.
Unfortunately, I think the way the book was written led me to lose interest as it was quite ambiguous about time jumps and changes in POV. You realised quickly they occurred but only after reading a couple of paragraphs and that got frustrating.
Reading about this book and what the next few are about does intrigue me and I do think it's a really original world created in these books but unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.
December 17, 2019
This story tore my guts out around the 2nd chapter. It drops you into the deep water from the very beginning, and emotionally, never lets up. Rich worldbuilding, characters you care about (or alternately, who drive you crazy), and an exciting story. Highly recommended for anyone who likes character-driven fantasy, and you can read it as part of an omnibus with all three books in the series.
December 16, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I found this book to be an intriguing fantasy read. At first, I didn't know how the different storylines all fit together... and I'm still not sure how the very first chapter fit in with everything, although it was intriguing and did a good job of drawing me into the book and making me want to learn more.
It was good to see quite a lot of this world and the different cultures there were, though there were several occasions where the story skipped over scenes that were probably important that I felt should have been expanded.
I liked seeing Sume's relationship with her nephew and it was sweet to imagine them as children playing together. Although I did feel some sympathy for Hana, after losing Oji and any money from his work, I didn't much like her by the end of the book. There wasn't enough about her to make her a more sympathetic character.
I didn't like the fact that there were several chapters that slipped into present tense. I felt that was unnecessary and caused me to keep slipping out of the storyline.
I really liked Kefier's character. I found him likable and sympathetic... and it was good to see that there was a lot more depth to him as the storyline went on. I did find Ylis an interesting character, though the switching between different POVs did confuse me, since it wasn't always clear whose head I ended up in.
It was good to learn more about the history/mythology in this book and how it came up during the present time of the book. I did think that Dai was less of a sympathetic character. The first thing with Ylis, I could understand... later on, he just seemed to make even worse choices.
There were some quite creepy moments in this book and some very disturbing imagery. I thought it was interesting to see just how much was going on and that there seemed to be a lot of layers to this book and world. In the future, I'd like to read the next two books in this trilogy.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I found this book to be an intriguing fantasy read. At first, I didn't know how the different storylines all fit together... and I'm still not sure how the very first chapter fit in with everything, although it was intriguing and did a good job of drawing me into the book and making me want to learn more.
It was good to see quite a lot of this world and the different cultures there were, though there were several occasions where the story skipped over scenes that were probably important that I felt should have been expanded.
I liked seeing Sume's relationship with her nephew and it was sweet to imagine them as children playing together. Although I did feel some sympathy for Hana, after losing Oji and any money from his work, I didn't much like her by the end of the book. There wasn't enough about her to make her a more sympathetic character.
I didn't like the fact that there were several chapters that slipped into present tense. I felt that was unnecessary and caused me to keep slipping out of the storyline.
I really liked Kefier's character. I found him likable and sympathetic... and it was good to see that there was a lot more depth to him as the storyline went on. I did find Ylis an interesting character, though the switching between different POVs did confuse me, since it wasn't always clear whose head I ended up in.
It was good to learn more about the history/mythology in this book and how it came up during the present time of the book. I did think that Dai was less of a sympathetic character. The first thing with Ylis, I could understand... later on, he just seemed to make even worse choices.
There were some quite creepy moments in this book and some very disturbing imagery. I thought it was interesting to see just how much was going on and that there seemed to be a lot of layers to this book and world. In the future, I'd like to read the next two books in this trilogy.
November 10, 2017
This originally appeared at .
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There is no doubt in my mind that Villoso had a very clear idea what was going on in these pages -- but as I read, I felt like I was constantly re-evaluating what was going on -- guessing what I was supposed to understand, and what was supposed to be being revealed to me (either where I was or in the future).
Not only did I not understand where I was, I couldn't really tell you until the end how everything tied together and what the overall story was. I didn't get the various cultures/ethnicities, I couldn't tell how the various moves by the characters -- or by those they were talking about -- meant anything.
Now, I liked the characters -- I liked the interactions, and every time that the story moved on I hated it, because I'd have to reorient myself. The characters seem to change almost every time I encountered them.
Glancing around the internet I see that I'm alone in this -- every other reviewer seems to have really dug the way Villoso told the story. Great -- that's a relief. I'd rather that I missed out on something good than the alternative -- that Villoso didn't put out something good.
Well, there's one thing that you cannot convince me belongs in this fantasy world -- dime novels. Nope, that just doesn't fit.
I'm going to give this a three because the individual scenes, the character moments were great -- I just couldn't put the pieces together. Go read someone else's take on the book, it's bound to be better than mine.
Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for this post -- sorry it worked out this way for you, K. S.
---
There is no doubt in my mind that Villoso had a very clear idea what was going on in these pages -- but as I read, I felt like I was constantly re-evaluating what was going on -- guessing what I was supposed to understand, and what was supposed to be being revealed to me (either where I was or in the future).
Not only did I not understand where I was, I couldn't really tell you until the end how everything tied together and what the overall story was. I didn't get the various cultures/ethnicities, I couldn't tell how the various moves by the characters -- or by those they were talking about -- meant anything.
Now, I liked the characters -- I liked the interactions, and every time that the story moved on I hated it, because I'd have to reorient myself. The characters seem to change almost every time I encountered them.
Glancing around the internet I see that I'm alone in this -- every other reviewer seems to have really dug the way Villoso told the story. Great -- that's a relief. I'd rather that I missed out on something good than the alternative -- that Villoso didn't put out something good.
Well, there's one thing that you cannot convince me belongs in this fantasy world -- dime novels. Nope, that just doesn't fit.
I'm going to give this a three because the individual scenes, the character moments were great -- I just couldn't put the pieces together. Go read someone else's take on the book, it's bound to be better than mine.
Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for this post -- sorry it worked out this way for you, K. S.
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