Calling and Cull (Blessed Epoch, #5) (2024)

This series keeps getting better and better. This book is a bit shorter than previous installments, but still does a great job of advancing the story. And boy how it advanced! We get a whole new (additional) cast of characters from a whole new world. I love how this book brought everyone together.

All the mechenations and separate plot strings from the previous books are finally converging, and so far it is a wild ride. Secrets are finally revealed, but a whole new set of questions crops up by the end.

This book had a lot less sex and romance than previous books in the series. Even though I am a total smut slu*t, I really didn't miss it here. I am so much more invested in the plot and challenges the characters must face than their romantic relationships. As always, this book keeps you wondering whether Yarrow will finally crack, and what will happen if/when he finally does. After this book, I am wondering more and more whether he will end up being the ultimate tragic character or somehow find peace in the end.

I also have a little more forgiveness for the left turn that was the last book. While I don't think we needed quite so much back story for Ovtavian, this book made it clear that he is an important character. Since his story was still a lovely read, I guess I will get over having to read a book without much Yarrow or Sasha.

So. When do we get the next book? I would think it is probably going to be the last in the series, but who knows? In fact please indulge my mini-rant about authors joining the Dreamspinner family. They all seem to stop writing blogs, giving updates, and providing information about what they are working on! I think Dreamspinner has done a great job of grabbing the best mm authors out there and (hopefully) giving them the ability to reach a larger audience. However the paucity of info from the authors is frustrating! Why not provide them blog space to keep the fans updated and interested like they did before joining Dreamspinner? (not sure if this actually applies to August or not... Just needed to rant since I can find absolutely zero info about the next book in what has become one of my favorite series... I know. Obnoxious, greedy fan here...).

Anyway, five stars for such an amazing world with fantastic characters and a wonderful story.

“Revenge, lust, ambition, pride, and self-will are too often exalted as the gods of man's idolatry; while holiness, peace, contentment, and humility are viewed as unworthy of a serious thought.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

'Calling and the Cull' by August Li is the fifth book of the ‘Blessed Epoch’ series. It begins approximately ten years after the previous book ended. The war is over, but the truce is tenuous. Knowing that the armies of the thirteen goddesses is growing and King Garith's Blessed Epoch is in danger of being taken by force, Octavian Rose and his lover, D'Aurlian, travel to the Twenty Nine to seek out Yarrow's advice about how to proceed.

When Octavian and his men get to Yarrow's domain, they are somewhat shocked at first at the life they find in this magical near paradise. With its carefree people, relaxed sexual activities, and its intrinsic beauty it is not difficult to see why anyone would feel like they are in paradise and why they would never want to leave. Still, they are not sure how anxious Yarrow will be to see them. Surprisingly, Yarrow welcomes them with open arms. When Octavian tells them about what's happening with the goddesses, it throws Yarrow into a fit of rage that only his lover, Sasha, can diminish. Yarrow despises the goddesses who, although powerful, are not immortal beings at all, but women who have gained so much knowledge and magic, stolen from their husband. He abhors that people still worship these “whor*s” as he calls them and has pledged to destroy them all and heal the pure magic polluted by these beings.

Octavian isn't the only person who has come to support Yarrow in his quest to overcome the goddesses and their followers. His lovers, Duncan and Sasha, are there, and later they are also joined by others. Yarrow doesn't adhere to King Garith's truce or any of the rules his cousin has given. He has also warned the Johmatran ships to stay away from his islands. Partly to test Octavian's loyalty, he asks him and his men to help the Emiri raid the ship to discover what they are carrying. When word of the attack comes to King Garith, he has no choice but to demand that Yarrow come in person to face the charges. The results of this meeting only cause more trouble, putting King Garith in an impossible position: attack the Twenty Nine or face civil war between his army and that of the temple. With a heavy heart, he gives the order to invade. This is what Yarrow and his followers are expecting and prepare for as much as they can.

This volume answers as many questions as it raises in the continuation of this epic tale. The world building continues to be fantastic; the familiar characters and on-going plots are well wrought, along with new characters and circ*mstances being seamlessly woven into the action. There's no way I can do justice to the story in the space allotted in this review. There are so many new characters, relationships, information, and understanding that it would take several pages even to scratch the surface. This is definitely not a stand-alone book. Fans of the series will love it. Since there is so much knowledge gained from the previous books, those of you new to the series would be lost without first catching up. Thanks, Gus, for offering me another awesome part of one of my favorite high fantasy stories ever!

NOTE: This book was provided by DSP Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

Oh, I adored this book from start to finish. The writing is truly top-notch and even improved on the previous books in my opinion.

We're entering spoiler territory here though:

I wanted to strangle Marly and Thane after the battle for the Twety-Nine. Seriously, I know that children don't want to be left out but this was indescribably foolish and reckless. How Thane can like someone so hotheaded is beyond my comprehension.

The tension in the book was sublime and I was geniuely worried at times as to the fate waiting our protagonists (I resisted the urge to skip to the end to check). Thalil is scheming as usual and I actuall enjoyed his interation with Pherara. If there were works discussing evil virtues in literature they'd be poster children. At least there is one goddess who isn't a complete and utter bitch. By the by, isn't it ironic that the goddess of war and battle is the first to be defeated?

If there is one thing I would criticize it would be Cothryn.

You know, I really wondered about her triade. To quote Sander:

"At the world. At the world that dismisses her on account of what's between her legs. It doesn't make much sense."

No, it doesn't. Indeed, the more I think about it the less sense it makes. The entire world is ruled by thirteeen women with unimaginable powers. I struggle to think of a single moment were Cothryn was ever dismised by any stretch of imagination. Or any other woman for that matter. She's got her husband practically wrapped around her little finger and now she's complaining that people are "dismissing" her? When was she ever dismissed? The vast majority of powerful and influential players in the world shown to us are women. Duncan and Garrith are practically pandering to their respective wives whims, rarely denying them anything. Garrith in particular has absolutely no control, either he's being manipulated by the priestesses, his mother or his wife. I can't remember him doing anything he wasn't coerced into doing by any other party period. The fact that despite the relevation he continues to unconditionally love his son only futher makes me feel bad for him.

And yes, yes it does make a catastrophically bad impression when a supposed ruler, man or woman, sends mommy on an errand to fix a mess.

And let's not forget how Cothryn manipulates Yarrow while he's extremely emotinally vulnerable into conceiving a child with her, all for the sake of her political machinations, together with yet ANOTHER woman Yarrow trusted above all else. Oh, and the reason Ducan has to marry his wife (which is what put Yarrow in such a state to begin with) is because YET ANOTHER woman used her political influence to force Garith to order the marriage.

So really, her complaints about how much it sucks to be a woman in this world ring extremely hollow when the vast majority of power, both magical and political in the world is held by women! In fact, her and her mother-in-laws plans went well, almost cartoonishly perfect, over the span of three books with only Thane being lost at sea throwing a wrench in their plans, and that is at best temporary.

Luckily the section is extremely short and doesn't further distract from the rest of the story. In fact, the only reason why I zero in on it is because it's the only part in the entire book I found to be less than stellar. The quality of writing has noticeably improved and I can hardly wait to buy the next volumne.