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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Oss'stera by Ross Hightower and Deb Heim is the third book in the Spirit Song: Rebels Rising epic fantasy series. In book one, Argren Blue, Alar leads Oss’stera against the Vollen Empire, questioning their efforts after repeated failures until a witch’s mission to infiltrate an Inquisition stronghold forces a confrontation with greater consequences. In book two, Desulti, after meeting a Desulti assassin, Tove leaves her tribe to train as their first Alle’oss recruit, soon discovering the group’s hidden purpose may endanger her life and the rebellion she supports. Now, Alar leads the Oss’stera rebels against the Vollen Empire’s repression of the Alle’oss. With Scilla and Ukrit, he plans to infiltrate an elite art event, steal a noble’s treasure, and escape undetected. Using his ability as a realm walker, Alar hopes to secure funding for the rebellion while avoiding capture and execution.
In Oss’stera by Ross Hightower and Deb Heim, the writing is wonderful in its point of view shifts, matching the careful construction of a world fractured by shifting alliances and ideological enforcement. I love the ties between political and cultural forces, such as the Desulti Order’s maneuvers and the Inquisition’s pursuit of Alle’oss artists, which is a brilliantly unique element that elevates institutions and belief systems as genuine forces of disruption. Art is not mere ornament but a source of disruption, with creative expression prompting accusations of treason. A single painting can trigger a raid, and this isn’t ornamental worldbuilding; it’s central to how power operates. There is romance and some surprises, and overall, Hightower and Heim deliver another solid installment that holds up under the pressure of its huge ambition, and levels up the series. Very highly recommended.