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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Battle for Crossroads by J.P. Coffman follows Bourdain of Ikvia, whose parents died during an expedition tied to forgotten ruins. Carrying his mother’s journal and his father’s sword, he leaves the city to seek records in Sovaran and hires on as a guard with Garron’s caravan for passage. His journey intersects with warnings from the druid Dain and the investigator Elea of Light’s End, who track rising Beastman movement linked to damaged cairns in Dreadflower Forest. These reports point toward Crossroads, a fortified river city built over an ancient seal beneath the Temple of Gwain. As commanders marshal militias and engineers prepare the ramps and bridges, Bourdain is assigned to the defense, holding the approaches long enough for Elea to reinforce the ward below ground.
Battle for Crossroads by J.P. Coffman is book one in The Arkencrest Chronicles, and what a way to kick off a fantasy series! This is a long novel, but Coffman does not waste a single page, and every turn of the plot has its place in the full arc. I adore Elea, who demonstrates her courage in charges, such as riding into Dreadflower Forest alone. All the characters are fleshed out. At Tide’s Watch, Commander Havlar’s holding of the city reshapes the supply routes, scouting, and he is sent forward to Crossroads. In combat, Batso’s traps and Bourdain’s rotating lines, Devra's taking command of the ramps, and Braggo forcing an audience with King Furion when protocol fails, demonstrate who they truly are. The world-building is spectacular, from forest paths that channel enemy movement and river crossings dictating defence. As part of a larger saga, this novel affirms Coffman’s command of long-form storytelling, and I look forward to book two.
