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Book Blurb
The Ipian Empire was once a land that welcomed dragons and spirits alike, but a century of war and bloodshed saw them all but vanish. Now, the lost things are returning and the Onryo have gathered. Five legendary spirits with mysterious powers, bent on freeing an ancient evil that would wreak havoc on humanity.
Haruto swore his soul to the God of Death for the chance to hunt down the vengeful ghost of his wife. Now an onmyoji, he's tasked by the Imperial Throne to hunt down monsters and malicious spirits. But he knows not all spirits are evil and not all deserve the peace of the sword.
Kira is a student at Heiwa, an academy for children with dangerous techniques. But she has a secret, she's not like the other students. When the school is attacked, she flees with one of the tutors, determined to hide both from those who would kill her, and those who would use her.
As a plague of spirits sweeps across the land, the Onryo leave a bloody trail for Haruto to follow. But who's hunting who?
Review
I look forward to a new Rob J. Hayes book the same way I look forward to a fine meal or a lovely warm summer day. There's something about both his writing style and the stories that he dreams up that just connect with me in a way that not many others do. So when he reached out to me to let me know that there was a new Mortal Techniques story being released at the end of this month, I salivated as I usually do to get an advance copy. As expected, I loved SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE even more than the previous two books in this series of incredible standalones.
The thing that I admire about this series is that every book is a self-contained story and yet you can still see how they connect in the Mortal Techniques world if you've read the previous installments. But prior knowledge is not a necessity to enjoy this book. SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE takes place roughly 10 years or so after the events that concluded book two, Pawn's Gambit. That book sort of hit the brake pedal after the insane breakneck action of Never Die, but that's not to say that PG wasn't a phenomenal book, it was! I'm just saying that there was slightly more character development, world-building, and history brought forth in the second book. Well, book three shifts gears yet again back to a bit more action and badass combat between those pesky evil spirits (hence the title) and those who dare hunt them.
There was so much that I loved about this book and the thing that stands out still is the gradual suspense and anticipation of the central mystery of what could be causing the spirits to be drawn en masse to Minazuri. I remember not being able to put the book down because I wanted to know the answer so badly. The adventures that Haruto, Guang, and company encounter throughout this swiftly paced book is really worth the journey. And along the way Hayes sprinkles in some of his outstanding trademark dark magic that never fails to make the reader's jaw drop in awe.
I keep seeing some on social media complaining that there are no fantasy books that involve characters who have superpowers akin to what you would see in a Marvel movie. Well, if you are looking to scratch that itch, then look no further than this book and series because not only do the characters possess otherworldly powers, but their weapons do too! Add in the fact that this is also an Asian-inspired fantasy that delves deeply into martial arts techniques, philosophy, and prophecy, and you've got a real winner of a story that entertains in a plethora of ways.
This really is one of my favorite "series" right now and I'm happy to say that Rob J. Hayes has done it again in my mind. He's taken such a refreshing turn with the Mortal Techniques and proven that a story arc doesn't necessarily have to follow one structured path. When you get right down to it, that's also what I find brilliant about these books. Not knowing where the story will lead next and how it all will end up is part of the fun, and Rob J. Hayes just keeps churning out unpredictable and engrossing books that I love and want to read.
If you are looking for a fantasy book and series that doesn't follow the usual tropes, has incredibly intense fighting scenes, an intriguing dark mystery at its core, and characters possessed with some of the coolest magic and powers imaginable, then you need to pick these books up immediately. This one had me completely riveted throughout its mesmerizing 500+ pages and never let me to stop for a breather. I'm so delighted that I was able to step back into this world again and simply will not be able to contain myself until I have the next Mortal Techniques entry in my hands. SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE is due to be released on September 28th, but you can preorder it right now on Amazon!
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