Summary:
Factions rise — Zeal ignites — Bells toll
Hanen and Rallia Clouw find themselves between power hungry factions and must choose which tools to take up to reach their goals.
With the Rotha revealed to be a thinking, breathing being, Katiam Borreau must tread carefully and choose her allies wisely.
Ousted from their western holdings, the Paladins of the Hammer retreat to the west to face new and old intrigue set against them.
Made the unwitting messenger of dark gods, Seriah Yaledít seeks solace in the road, fleeing from blind panic gnawing at her mind.
Dark tools forged, scale weights measured, cities made pawns of those in power, and the secrets of heresies long past come fully into the light to cast their dark shadows on everything.
All would be heroes must give their lives,
Or be made illustration—
For those who’ve still to come and try,
To fall or rise,
Above their station.
Gloves of Eons is Volume Three of the Kallattian Saga, the Epic Fantasy series from Andrew D Meredith
Review:
Gloves of Eons by Andrew D Meredith breathlessly whisks us back into Kallattai where we are greeted by familiar faces celebrating the new year. After the events of Bone Shroud, Meredith could be forgiven for taking a step back, but instead, he leaps forward with the narrative. And as is the custom of the holiday we open with in this installment, we can do nothing but say “Begin!”
The worldbuilding and scale of Deathless Beast and Bone Shroud are once again on display, and we are taken deeper into this world that is by now familiar. That isn’t to say we are experts in it or that we have seen everything Kallattai has to offer. At every turn, Andrew Meredith gives us another morsel of culture, politics, or religion.
Gloves of Eons is at its best when it is answering questions from the first books and moving the narrative onward and upward. The development of the characters and their interwoven histories remains rewarding and complicated. From the stalwart Jined to the calculating Hanen, everyone has changed throughout this saga, and I can’t wait to see how their stories continue when Book 4 releases.
This is a deep series with fascinating lore and deep history. I think too, that I would read The Fleeting World prequel novella between Bone Shroud and Gloves of Eons to get more insight into the larger picture of exactly how these pieces fit together. Context matters and there are several conversations in this work that I think benefit from that added weight.
Andrew continues to evolve as an author, but here we see him at his most Meredith: cozy moments, moral quandaries, ruminations on the nature of faith, and questions about our obligations to each other. I don’t want to spoil the book, but I found the epilogues to be of particular interest. There were several places this book managed to surprise me, and by the end, I was floored. In many ways, it feels as though there has been a veil over my eyes, and with a flourish, Andrew Meredith has shown me the true scale of things.
This is where I confess I may have failed as a reader. At this point the world and lore are massive. I had some technical difficulties with Spotify during my audiobook listen-through (it kept losing my place), and I’m now of the opinion I probably need to sit down and read a physical copy of book 4 when it comes out for this and other reasons.
The list of locations and characters in this series is massive, and I found myself wishing that I could consult one of the handy glossaries or maps in the book during my morning commute. Everywhere we turn is another character giving insight into a detail of the world, and it was difficult for me to keep track of within the context of how I read it—25 minutes at a time without regard for chapter breaks.
This is no slight on Andrew’s work. His world is big, unique, and endlessly fascinating. It deserves to be studied under a focused lens rather than fitting it in on my morning commute while I drive and gulp down the coffee necessary for me to stay alive. I plan on doing a reread of this series sometime before book 4, and I’m wondering what details I will pick up the next time. And that’s the beauty of this work: I don’t think I’ve fully gone down the rabbit hole.
If you are a fan of dense epics like the Wheel of Time or The Stormlight Archive, I think this book will scratch the itch of high stakes and fantastic worldbuilding. It is well worth the time investment. Believe me. Every time I read a Meredith book I find at least a handful of moments where my jaw drops in awe, and this was no exception.
I think I said in a previous review that Andrew Meredith is an indie author who is giving trad a run for its money, and I stand by that. His work is insightful and he continues to push his boundaries as a writer. His work is impressive and his commitment to his craft is laudable.
Start his books now so you can be one of those who say you knew about him before he blew up.