THE ETERNITY GATE

Temple helper Seyo aspires to become a priestess though she believes her soul is stained.

In a nation of lightbearers, Seyo is immune to fire, “an unholy ability no amount of confessions could cover.” Flouting temple rules can lead nowhere good; her highborn friends can’t protect her. But even cautious Seyo never imagined that entering the Heart, the forbidden network of caves beneath Laijon, would unearth an ancient lie that could bring about the end of her world. The narration is the story’s weakest element, often jumping around, with context given too late, although the plot unwinds at an engaging pace once it finds its feet. Seyo is a detached narrator: retiring and passive, though remarkably resourceful when her increasingly dire circumstances demand it. She constantly waffles, often to the detriment of others and herself, which may frustrate some readers although it’s refreshing to see a protagonist who is allowed to fail due to consistently developed flaws. The supporting characters are more dynamic, gradually revealing the depths of their inner lives through the limited lens of Seyo’s perspective. The worldbuilding is strong, and the mythology, politics, history, and geography of the world are richly developed. The nations of this world—Laijon, Ai’Biro, Pirthyia, Nazak, and Vedoa—are distinct in culture, and their citizens are diverse in physical appearance. Unfortunately, some of the racial descriptions and vocabulary used are problematic.

Slow but relentless, tensely atmospheric.