Book Review - SINS OF THE MOTHER by Rob J. Hayes

(Title: Sins of the Mother / Author: Rob J. Hayes / Publisher: Self-Published / Publication Date: May 3, 2022)

Book Blurb

In her darklight the world will burn.

Eskara Helsene is missing. She left her queendom, her friends, her children, even her own name behind. No one has seen the Corpse Queen for a decade.

Someone is murdering Sourcerers, forcing them to reject their magic and opening scars in reality, and monsters from the Other World are pouring through.

When an old acquaintance turns up out of the blue, Eska has no choice but to investigate the murders and the holes in reality. Can she stop the killer before the entire world is consumed? And will the conflict reveal her true nature?

Review

The War Eternal series is truly an outstanding example of amazing storytelling and brilliantly realized magic and worldbuilding. The first three books completed one story arc and this fourth entry, SINS OF THE MOTHER begins a whole new exciting and intriguing fantasy adventure from the wonderful mind of Rob J. Hayes. We begin this tale with Eskara Helsene considerably older, living under an assumed name, and a far cry from her once volatile existence as the Corpse Queen. And yet as we all have come to know, sometimes you can't run from your past. And sometimes your past seeks you out to pull you back into its clutches even when you are determined to put it behind you.

For Eska, it is unavoidable that her past would come back to call on her. I mean, would someone who was once known as the Corpse Queen really be able to just flee and live a tranquil existence anywhere? Especially considering all that she has been through and endured. Plus, that would make for a pretty boring fantasy book, wouldn't it? Well this is by no means a boring fantasy book I'm happy to say and a big part of that has to do with Eska's own story and those who were and still are a big part of her life.

Book four switches gears a bit from the initial trilogy and that's not a bad thing. Time has passed and Eska as with anyone who has a few more years under their belt, is considerably changed from the weapon of war that she was over a decade ago. But the inner strength and determination is still very much there, and when faced with the task of finding those who are hunting down sourcerers she will need every bit of that. It also doesn't hurt that she possesses some of the most devastating magic anyone has ever seen. 

After a gradual buildup to set up where Eska is in her life after her hiatus, things really kick in with a vengeance about halfway through the book and really don't let up at all through to the final page. It was then that I was reminded of how amazing Rob J. Hayes is at writing dizzying battle scenes and darkly-conceived monsters that you wouldn't be able to dream up in your worst nightmares. The Other World truly does contain some of the most grotesque and terrifying beasts imaginable. And the real question that soon arises in this one is will Eska's luck finally run out, or can she pull it all together while also battling her own personal demons.

SINS OF THE MOTHER is another entertaining and riveting fantasy book in what has become a must-read fantasy series in my opinion. The deeper we get into Eska's life and backstory, the more tantalizing secrets are revealed and the more obvious it is that she's one of the most delightfully complex and badass characters ever. The Corpse Queen is aptly named and if you like your characters of the non cookie-cutter variety, you'll find much to enjoy here.

I really enjoyed this book and I believe it took this series in a cool new direction. But Rob J. Hayes has a tendency to write books that aren't predictable in any way, and that is why he's always near the top of my list of favorite authors. You really need to pick up this book if you are looking for something a little different from the usual fantasy fare. There's so much going on and so much creativeness when it comes to this world and these characters. My suggestion is preorder this one now, and while you are waiting go and read the first three books in The War Eternal series. 

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