Review: The Council of Athyzia by D.H. Hoskins

Blurb:

The Osseomancer is finally vanquished, but the work has only just begun.

For a quarter-century, the dark wizard and his undead hordes raged across Jenor, leaving all in terror. Only the combined forces of men, dwarves, and elves, united by their desperation, were able to defeat him and his horrific magic.

Now, the world is battered and broken. Much needs to be rebuilt. And without a common foe, how long can all remain united?

Hoping to maintain such unity, the mage Snorri and his aide Nauveena invite all to a council at the magic academy Athyzia. Nauveena expects such a council to be easy, especially compared to years of war. But soon enough, she learns that politics are more difficult than magic… and more dangerous.

Each member of the council arrives at Athyzia wishing to build a lasting peace, but each has their own idea of what that peace should look like. The elves wish to abolish the bigoted Elf Laws practiced in the realms of men. The dwarves wish to return to their mountain homelands. Others hope to outlaw necromancy or limit the uses of alchemy or simply find security in this new world.

But the Magic of Order — a mysterious cult that has taken power in the east — wishes for something more sinister. The Osseomancer’s magic devastated the world. The Magic of Order claims to offer protection from such magic, but at what cost?

Nauveena assists Snorri in presiding over the council, but soon finds herself bartering votes and forging alliances to protect an already-fragile world. How the council votes will reshape everything, and possibly not for the better.

And the Osseomancer, defeated but not destroyed, may be lying in wait as well, hoping for a chance to return…

The Council of Athyzia weaves together some of the most beloved tropes of fantasy — wizards and witches, elves and dwarves, magic and war, good and evil — into an exciting new context familiar to modern readers and fans of politic dramas and history. Here, a debate is as exciting as a sword fight, and a vote is as tense as a pitched battle.

Review:

Okay, let's dive into "The Council of Athyzia" by D.H. Hoskins. This is a high fantasy story with an interesting setting and concept. I'd say it's primarily a political fantasy, mainly because the story starts where most other stories usually end: after the big battle with the really bad guy. It's a subversion of the typical fantasy trope, where the real challenge isn't defeating the dark lord, but what comes after. It explores the complexities of building a lasting peace in a world scarred by conflict.

The real story of this series begins as all the nations, species, and cultures of this world have to work together to maintain peace and good relationships. The narrative unfolds mostly from the point of view of a woman tasked with staying in the city of Athyzia, a kind of cultural hub for scholars and the like. The world-building centers around this city, which serves as the venue for all the meetings and political maneuvering of this council. Athyzia itself becomes a character, a melting pot of ideologies, traditions, and ancient grudges, where the fate of the world is debated and decided.

A World After the War

The author dedicates a large chunk of the introductory part of the story to describing the arrival of all these different species and races. We see elves, dwarves, and other groups coming in from all over the world—or, well, not all of them, exactly; some decide to send representatives. This isn't just a simple gathering; it's a carefully orchestrated display of power, diplomacy, and reluctant cooperation. Each delegation's arrival is fraught with its own set of protocols, expectations, and hidden agendas. You have the first point of view, and then you meet her mentor, who's the one who actually set up this council and is trying to get all these people to work together.

It's a bit of a slow burn, especially at the beginning, because a significant amount of page count is dedicated to describing all these cultures and the representatives, who also have their own personal relationships, affairs, and grievances. The weight of past conflicts and the uncertainty of the future hang heavy in the air.

The Delicate Balance of Power

You see that the elves are all highbrow; they don't really like anyone and prefer to keep to themselves, viewing themselves as superior and holding onto ancient traditions that set them apart. But they've grudgingly decided to collaborate with everyone else, recognizing the necessity of unity, however distasteful, for the greater good. Then you have the dwarves, who have their own grievances and issues with other kingdoms. Centuries of territorial disputes, economic competition, and cultural misunderstandings have created deep-seated animosity. And then you have humans—regular humans—who have other problems. So, you have regular people, and then you have people with supernatural abilities, and cultures and ways of life that really clash with other cultures. It was a miracle that all of these people were able to work together to defeat the Big Bad Guy. It was incredible that they were able to put aside their differences and all the other struggles they had, these larger political conflicts, to win that world. It's implied in the story that if they had done this sooner, that final war might have been entirely avoided, that he used those conflicts to become stronger. The enemy, in this context, isn't just a generic evil overlord; he's a product of this world's divisions, a manifestation of its inability to unite. It's also heavily implied that this was the last of many wars between all these nations, a cycle of violence that has plagued the land for generations.

The Council Begins

So, they were eventually able to do it, but when the council actually starts, it's really difficult for them to stomach the mere presence of all the others. The air crackles with tension, suspicion, and barely concealed hostility. It's really interesting, but it's also pretty slow. The introductory part—I'd say about 30% of the book—is dedicated to all this, and it's very dialogue-heavy. These aren't just dry political debates; they're passionate, often heated exchanges filled with veiled threats, subtle insults, and the weight of history. You have to properly listen—or rather, read (I say "listen" because sometimes I use Alexa to read books aloud for me). You have to pay close attention to the relationships between all these species and races because if you don't understand those, you'll understand very little of the rest of the story. The nuances of their interactions, the unspoken power dynamics, and the long-simmering resentments are crucial to understanding the challenges they face.

A Slow Burn of Political Intrigue

So, it's a bit of a slow burn, and it's a political story, 100% based on that. The world-building is layered, and the larger conflict is really interesting, but it takes a while for the story to unwind, develop, spread its wings, and actually take flight. The author meticulously constructs this intricate web of alliances and rivalries, revealing the deep-seated historical and cultural factors that shape these interactions. You'd be justified in saying, "This is too much; this is almost boring. I understand very little of it, and I want to get to the meaty part of the story." But it is rewarding if you wait and get to, let's say, the second half of the story. It doesn't change drastically; it never becomes this bombastic action piece because I don't think that's what the author was going for. The focus remains on the intricate dance of diplomacy, the subtle shifts in power, and the constant threat of renewed conflict.

Themes and Reflections

The themes that are developed during the discussions between these species and kingdoms are really interesting. In a way, you can easily see parallels with our own world, with our modern or even recent history. Even if the story isn't heavy-handed, and the author isn't trying to shove any kind of message down your throat, there are some really poignant reflections about the politics of our world and about how the many cultures we have interact, struggle, strive for peace, and try to collaborate. The Council of Athyzia, in all its flawed glory, mirrors the complexities of international relations, the challenges of bridging cultural divides, and the enduring quest for common ground. Many of the themes and things that the book discusses when talking about these species are relevant for us today. It's a good thing that they're discussed in a book because it's a nice way to frame some really interesting conflicts in a safe way. It gives us the ability to reflect on those things from a safe perspective, inside a story that's supposed to be, you know, "for fun."

A Unique Political Drama

But it is for fun, and it's not only for fun. I like the way the author did something really unique here. This isn't your typical fantasy quest or epic battle; it's a deep dive into the art of negotiation, the power of words, and the fragility of peace. I've never heard or read anything quite like this. So yes, I absolutely suggest giving it a try. Give it a fair chance, and try to get to the 50% mark of the book to understand if it works for you. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but if you pass that threshold, you'll see the story becoming much smoother. The initial investment in understanding the world and its players pays off in the latter half, as the political machinations become more intricate and the stakes become increasingly higher.

An Emotional Core

I will say that I would have loved to have more of an emotional core at the beginning of the story, something to anchor the readers in an easier way, to make us care about the protagonist right from the start. The protagonist's initial detachment, while perhaps intentional, can make it difficult to immediately connect with her struggles and motivations. Because you feel a kind of detachment from her point of view, and you wait a good chunk of the story to become more fond of her. It takes a while to understand what's going on with her present drive, with her past, and her relationship with the rest of the story. I would have loved to have better, deeper character work right at the beginning, to help us connect with the story faster. A stronger emotional hook early on could have heightened the sense of urgency and made the reader more invested in the outcome of the council's deliberations. Because there's a lot going on, a lot of talking, a lot of politicking, a lot of scheming, and a lot of betrayal. If you don't have a strong emotional core there, you can easily lose interest in all that. The sheer volume of information and the complexity of the political landscape can be overwhelming without a compelling emotional anchor.

In the end …

And that would be a shame because the world-building is so interesting, and the political conflict is so complex and so worthwhile. The author has created a rich and nuanced world, filled with fascinating cultures, intricate histories, and compelling conflicts. So, I would have loved a stronger emotional connection at the beginning, but alas, the story is compelling in and of itself. As I told you, it is unique, and it is well-developed, especially the second part, that it's worth the risk of finding yourself, for a good chunk of the book (even if the book isn't really that long), asking yourself, "What are we doing? Why are we dwelling on all this politicking? Where is the actual story starting?" It is worth your time, so give it a try!