Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

In MT Lynx’s Myths of Endolia: The Ballad of Inyanna Mortseoule, Inyanna is a healer in the Defiance, an army fighting the Empire of Rhyfel. As a member of the Sages Tribe, she channels the Saol, a life-giving energy that enables her to treat wounded soldiers. When a fallen chaplain’s spirit becomes trapped in the Sullied Grounds, a blighted territory inhabited by creatures that devour souls, Lynksha, leader of the Defiance, orders Inyanna to perform rites that will send him onward. Her older sister Narys has disappeared during a scouting mission, leaving their mother, the Regent Mother of Rial’s Pact, desperate for news. As Imperial soldiers advance toward the township, Inyanna must uncover the truth behind the mounting losses before the enemy reaches the people she has sworn to defend.

MT Lynx’s The Ballad of Inyanna Mortseoule is an exceptional epic fantasy, with world-building that shows extraordinary ambition. I’m thoroughly impressed by these superbly drawn characters, particularly Inyanna, whose compassion shines when she confronts a superior dismissing fallen soldiers. Aric, the Regent Healer, is a favorite of mine, with a wonderful devotion to his patients, especially when he interrupts a distressing bedside interrogation. Mirren, a former smuggler, has tremendous backbone, guiding her companions past Imperial patrols. Endolia’s architecture deserves serious praise, particularly the ancient sluiceways beneath Rial’s Pact. The descriptions of the scenery are spectacular. Overblight Canyon’s battle-scarred cliffs have an incredible grandeur, and Castle Folter’s damp corridors secured behind iron grates display the same striking visual imagination. There’s a marvelous sense of discovery in these locations, which is a credit to the author’s creativity. Readers looking for a top-notch deep fantasy are in for a real treat with the Myths of Endolia series. Very highly recommended.