Master of Sorrows
2019 • 534 pages

Ratings6

Average rating4.2

15

First things first, this is an impressive debut. Justin Call has created an interesting world, with a well built mythos. Master of Sorrows does an excellent job of setting up this world, even if it focuses on one small village and school. The school setting is a little tropey, but it is interesting enough not to be annoying.

The really interesting aspect of the world really comes in its use of prejudice. In the society set up here, cripples are associated with evil. Anyone with any physical deformity, even received later in life, is considered suspect and in league with evil. The effect of this prejudice is pronounced and almost self-fulfilling in places. The tag line ‘what if you were destined to become the villain' is most likely from this as villainy is not really what I associate with the main protagonist, but he is a cripple from birth.

Ultimately, this story sets up an intriguing future, and I am extremely curious to see where the next book goes.

December 25, 2020Report this review