This history is an important part of the story, and over the course of the book the readers get to learn more and more about the pantheon of gods in Hessa’s world, both those new and those much more ancient. This was in part due to the amazing amount of world building that Long did, and despite the main bulk of the book taking place in a relatively small corner of this world it felt like a very big universe, one where you could get lost for hours exploring the history and lore. One of the things that surprised me most about Hall of Smoke was that despite the length of an average novel (400 pages) it really managed to pack the content in, and it at times felt like reading a book twice the length. Now one of the last remaining Eangi priests Hessa sets out to finish her mission and kill this mysterious traveller but she soon discovers that there is much more going on than she could ever have imagined, and god both new and ancient are awakening across the land. This was not just a simple raid, but the exodus of thousands of Algatt, fleeing their home in the wake of a rival force. READ MORE: The Witchling’s Girl (Helena Coggan) – Book Review By the time Hessa returns home she finds the village in flames and her family dead. Unfortunately for Hessa, whilst she’s up the mountain her village comes under attack from the Algatt, a tribe of raiders from the country to the north. The book begins with her having to travel to her goddess’ temple to pray for forgiveness for failing to carry out the assassination of a strange traveller that she was instructed to make by Eang herself. The story follows Hessa, a young warrior priestess of Eang. Luckily, this is a book that you can judge by its cover, as the content inside is just as bold, and beautiful as the artwork on the front, and is a book that I had a hell of a good time reading. I know the saying is that you should never judge a book by its cover, and as someone who reads a lot of books I know that’s good advice however, I dare anyone to look at the cover for Hall of Smoke and not want a copy.

Hall of smoke hm long