Obsidian: Awakening – Guest Review

Sometimes you come across a book that you love so much that you want to shout about it whenever you can! I have read a few books like that – most recently, The Count of Monet Cristo (review) and the upcoming review of The Thirteen Hour by Trudie Skies is going to be one of them too – but today, I have a special post where I am collaborating with author Julia L. Robertson and she is sharing about one of her favourite indie books – Obsidian: Awakening by Sienna Frost. Let’s hear from her.

---

Obsidian: Awakening by Sienna Frost

Guest Review by Julia L. Robertson

I first happened upon Obsidian while perusing a popular writers’ forum, skimming through a thread entitled “What happened in the most recent chapter of your book?” While reading through all the various summaries and chapter synopses, there was one in particular that caught my eye. The author described a chapter in which one of her characters—a Bharavi woman—is not-so-fondly reminiscing on the day she met her husband, an event that occurred in the middle of a war after he had brutally murdered her entire family. It struck me, that unlike so many other stories of a similar vein, this relationship was not overly-romanticized nor written in a way to emphasize the erotic potential of such stark power disparities, but rather, depicted the unflinching truth of what so often happens to women in the midst of violent conflicts. But what further intrigued me was just how masterfully her character handles the situation, which would have understandably left most women petrified. In the tent of an enemy commander, among the ruins of her former homeland, with rape not only imminent, but almost guaranteed, the Bharavi refuses to give in to intimidation. In the ensuing scene, she demonstrates herself to be the warlord’s equal not only in pride and bravery, but in intellect as well, holding her own in a verbal parley as he tries to persuade her into giving up the secret location of a strategic city in exchange for her peoples’ freedom. Even when faced with the prospect of being thrown out to his soldiers, she refuses. As a proud tribeswoman of militaristic desert nomads, she would rather suffer than submit to an enemy who would divide up her home into a series of trade routes to be secured for the benefit of his nation. “It is the price of freedom you will never understand as long as your people cower behind walls and abandon all their pride for the comfort of the city and the meaningless wealth it gives,” she says. “You can cage an animal until it feels content and call it an offering of peace and protection, but that is not who we will ever allow ourselves to be… You speak of freedom when you have no clue what it truly means. That is why you have never been able to conquer the White Desert, why you never will.” It was right at that moment that I, along with the Salar of Rasharwi, fell madly in love. 

The best way I can think to describe this book is A Song of Fire and Ice set in the Middle East. The writing is beautiful, the characters complicated, the plot brimming with adventure and political intrigue. Masterfully weaving together multiple perspectives, Sienna Frost unflinchingly explores the darker aspects of human nature, the complexity of interpersonal relationships and the brutal, agonizing choices they are forced to make for love, honor, and loyalty. The characters who weave together such a complex, narrative tapestry include Hasheem, a male prostitute-turned-assassin, kidnapped from the White Desert as a child and enslaved among his enemies in The Black Tower. Zahara, who shares a similar fate as the favorite wife of the Salar of Rasharwi, a man she has sworn to one day kill. Then there is Lasura, their son, torn between the conflicting machinations of both his parents. On the other side of the equation is Djari, the daughter of a tribal chieftain, spurred by duty to marry a man of her father’s choosing despite her growing feelings for Hasheem. True to the pre-modern societies from which the author drew inspiration, the characters are often forced by fate, birth, and other external circumstances to disregard their personal desires and attachments for the sake of survival or honor. This especially comes as a shock to anyone who, like me, grew up in a hyper-individualistic Western culture, where the idea of forfeiting personal happiness to satisfy needs of the community runs counter to every popular narrative. But that is exactly what makes moral scope of the story so refreshing: each character is keenly aware that every choice they make is a meaningful one, the consequences of which will resonate far beyond their own individual lives. Though the desert societies might be delineated by Black and White, the moral character of each individual is anything but. Even some of the more “villainous” characters force the reader to question their own preconceived notions of good or bad, right or wrong. There is no one is this book who can genuinely be called “the hero.” All of the characters are flawed, all the relationships fraught, all of the conflicts too nuanced to easily pick sides. 

What I love most about Obsidian is the writing, which is deep and thought-provoking throughout, perfecting capturing the respective personality of each character and the mood of each scene with effortless eloquence. With worldbuilding so thorough and immersive, and supernatural elements so understated and subtly woven in, it is quite easy at times to forget you are reading a fantasy novel. The more caught up you get in the political intrigues of the Black and White deserts, the more it feels like the history of a real country enmeshed within the biographies of the people who shaped it. And no wonder, considering that author is a well-traveled woman herself, who has visited many of the locales upon which her settings are based. As one might expect of novel with so many characters, the pacing is a bit slower, characterized by occasional bursts of action between more leisurely scenes of scathing political intrigue. The latter, however, is often more exciting than the former, building up to something big and always surprising the reader with the outcome. It might be too slow for some, especially if one is use to more fast-paced, action-packed stories within the fantasy genre. But while other books of its kind may provide instant gratification to someone looking for a quick fix, Obsidian reads more like a lovingly-crafted work of art to be appreciated and savored with every page turned. It is a full-course meal as opposed to a fast food drive-through. A night of lovemaking as opposed to a quick Tinder fling. As is the case with both aforementioned examples, every moment of build-up is worth it once you finally reach the climax. 

Needless to say, this work delves into difficult subject matter and is not for those seeking a more light-hearted read. As one might expect of any candid depiction of war, there is rape, slavery, abuse, and widespread slaughter on both sides. However, through all the brutality shines moments of heroism, self-sacrifice, love, and genuine devotion. This is one of the best indie novels I’ve ever read and certainly the most deserving of attention. I highly recommend it to anyone in search of a fantasy novel as deep and thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

---

Interested? Find this book on Indie Story Geek, Goodreads and Amazon.

Many thanks to Julia for bringing this book to my attention and being willing to share it on Armed with A Book. You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and learn more about her latest books on her website.

Cover image: Photo by Tim de Groot on Unsplash