Exodus in Blush by Nicholas Rem is an epic fantasy with a gripping plot and a conflict of staggering proportions. The Hummingbird is an incredibly gifted man who once used his gift of altering matter to destroy an entire civilization. He vanishes as eight equally gifted individuals with signs of his power surface — they are called the Cardinals, and the people adore them, placing all their hope in them. But Sakil, the one under the shadow of a bloodthirsty demi-god, is determined to show humanity that they can beat the Hummingbird and he devices an ingenious plan to get the Cardinals directly involved in the fight. But does he know what he is getting into and is he prepared for what lies ahead?

You’ll love the characters — Sakil, Ira, Kevin, Jay, and a host of others. The author creates interesting names for people and important groups, like the Tide. The writing is exotic, gorgeous, and enjoyable, and the author has a turn of phrase that brings a strong sense of originality into the narrative. World building is impeccable and the reader has powerful visuals of locales and vivid images of elements of the setting. The dialogues are not forced, and I loved the fact that the author uses them sparingly, confident in the power of his prose. The humor is unique and it reflects the world of the characters. Nicholas Rem writes scenes that are focused and creates a striking balance in the narrative. The characters feel real, have depth, and each of them plays an enviable role in the story. Exodus in Blush is engaging, cinematic, and a delightful read.

It had only been four years since the Hummingbird's last slaughter, and now rumours of his return are circling, cutting through the communities just as his own Blush does through those he wishes to destroy. There was another rumor too, one that states the Hummingbird mutated a select few, turning them into Cardinals, but this is not a rumor everyone agrees with. Just as 'the truth' is to be revealed, news spreads of the Hummingbird's return, a return marked by a massacre. Davlacé had been almost peaceful until the accusation of the Cardinals' origin emerges, then one turns rogue, massacring all in his path, and starting a change in the people's view of these gifted ones that - in line with the Hummingbird's return - spells trouble. People will need to unite; even if their short-term objectives differ, they need to uncover the truth and it may not be what it seems.

Exodus in Blush is Nicholas Rem's epic fantasy, perhaps with a touch of anime inspiration. It is filled with manipulation, questions, and subplots as well as world and character building. It is easy to lose yourself in the world created, where detail is paid to things from commerce to social status and fickle-minded opinions. Colorful writing with vivid details help you envisage every scene as they unfold and you'll find yourself eager to unravel the truth behind everything. There are characters you'll love, motives you'll question, surprising twists, and enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. There are many layers and much depth to the book, making it bound to satisfy lovers of the epic fantasy genre.

Exodus in Blush is a mid-length fantasy novel by author Nicholas Rem. Focusing on a strong gods and monsters theme, the novel’s central character is Sakil, who is given the powers of a bloodthirsty god in order to do right by humanity. Meanwhile, our villain comes in the form of the dangerous Hummingbird, a man with Thanos-like powers to deconstruct and rebuild any matter, and the Hummingbird has his sights set on murdering entire civilizations. As an answer to this, the Cardinals were created, a set of saviors who could collectively balance Hummingbird’s powers and though the villain slips away, Sakil knows that Hummingbird will return. As humanity becomes complacent under the protection of its Cardinals, Sakil seeks the chance to use his powers to give the humans their own skills for the future war that’s coming.

An initial warning about Exodus in Blush is that the violence and language are extreme enough, in my opinion, that the book veered very much towards fantasy horror. For me, that was an excellent experience, and I enjoyed the no-holds-barred approach to storytelling which Nicholas Rem possesses. Sometimes shocking, sometimes sad, but always entertaining, Exodus in Blush takes a standard ‘fate of the world’ story to a much darker level with its highly lavish descriptions. The concept of the Cardinals, and particularly humanity’s reliant attitude to them, was very well crafted, and I felt very much for Sakil’s predicament, despite some of the more sinister and rough aspects to his character.

Exodus in Blush by Nicholas Rem begins with the death of the Escort which changes the world for the worse. The Hummingbird has used his destructive abilities to slaughter people while the few with power - called the Cardinals - begin to rise, giving people hope again. Sakil sees this as an opportunity like no other, but he has a limited time frame as the Hummingbird is set to return and, if he doesn't act quickly, the Cardinals will rule over humans. Meanwhile, Kevin is sent into a panic when Jay disappears, which coincides with the abduction of Paradox. Jay discovers secrets within the Echoes while Eleanor is determined to fight back, no matter the price.

Nicholas Rem blends together several perspectives in this action-packed fantasy, exploring the idea of humanity. Violence is seen throughout with most of it described as graphic and bloody, but it's never over the top. Each of the characters seems to have an agenda that goes against the other characters, specifically Sakil who has this ultimate plan he's working towards. The pasts of the characters are important, used as the foundation of what shapes them while also providing context to their current situations in the present. Most of the background seems to stem from the specific moments around when the Escort was killed. This not only sets up the disease that ravages the people but also the violence that overcame the world, while also setting the tone for the story, giving it a dark backdrop and an almost melancholy feeling.

This world comes to life, completely immersing you in the lives of these characters and the battle they're fighting. Rem has fun jargon that dives right into the world with terms like the Doubt, the Tide, the Echoes, and the Blush. Each plays a key role in the world. Rem provides layers to the characters which give a better understanding of them. The characters are intriguing, especially the one called Paradox, whose name alone speaks volumes about the role he plays in how the story progresses. Exodus in Blush has magic, violence, and danger in an action-packed fantasy about the fight for survival and humanity.