I need to give a very big thank you to The Nerd Fam for getting the eARC Oblivion’s Hymn into my hands. October has been a hectic month, but I knew this was a book I needed to read. The gorgeous cover certainly drew my eye, but it was the promise of a unique magic system and Sapphic romance that made me certain. It had me entranced the whole way through.

Oblivion’s Hymn is officially out October 28th. It is the first installment in the new Divine Songs series.

Summary:

Echo the shapeshifting musician has been friends with Rhienne the dreamwalker nearly the entirety of their lives. They were even raised under the same roof. It’s no wonder they trust each other before all others. In fact, neither of them is willing to be vulnerable with anyone else. Unfortunately, now that they’ve been separated for a few years, they’re less comfortable with even that much. Neither of them can look fully upon their own face in the mirror. How could they present themselves to a friend who remembers them before all the mistakes?

In a world where secret police swarm and magic is the result of making bargains, they’ve both made deals they aren’t proud of. Then again, neither is sure they would undo the transaction if they could. It would be an unlikely option, anyway. The gods they dealt with aren’t known to be forgiving.

My Thoughts:

This book was remarkably healing and nourishing in lots of unexpected ways. There’s a relatability in the conflicting self-images the main characters have. The visions they had of the future when they were younger do not match the lives they are living in the present. In some ways it appears even further beyond reach than it did then. At the same time they are grieving the losses of their youth and possibilities, they are learning to celebrate the path they walked instead and where it has brought them. It’s exactly the kind of nuance I love seeing in characters beginning to explore their journey of aging.

I also liked seeing how each character’s relationship with their self affected the relationships they were able to form with others. This was true for both moral and immoral characters, for gods and mortals alike. At the same time, forming bonds and communities proves a potent way to strengthen that sense of self. Characters have to first dare to be themselves before others can accept them for what they are. Still, it’s a risk to present outside the accepted norms.

It’s always a breath of fresh air when the discrimination I read about in a fantasy setting is based only on traits that don’t exist in our world. While Echo and Rhienne’s world is far from perfect, no one raises an eyebrow at same-sex relationships or gender-neutral pronouns.

I really enjoyed this read and I’m eagerly looking forward to book two of the Divine Songs series.

Content Warnings: Anxiety and Panic Disorders, Sexual Content, Swearing, Blood, Self-Injury, Parent Loss, Grief, Suicidal Thoughts & Attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Religious Bigotry, Discrimination, Secret Police, Kidnapping, Capital Punishment, Body Dysmorphia, Graphic Depictions of Violence & Injury, Gun Violence

After I Finished Oblivion’s Hymn

I’ve got one more ARC on my TBR list that will be coming out this month on Halloween. It’s yet another that I can thank The Nerd Fam for. They’ve given me quite a few incredible reads this month. This one is a dark fantasy filled with deadly trials and dangerous temptations. Even more enticingly (for me), it’s also inspired by Welsh mythology. I’ve barely started, but I really think this one’s going to be fun.

My next review will be for Daughter of Stone by B.A. Pepper.