I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a very fun ride. It dragged here and there, but made up for it with the interesting lore and actioned scenes. I felt like the magic system needed some work as Sebastian's powers were not very defined, especially when compared to Marzanna and her Riders. There was something there that felt very concrete and had me disappointed and wishy-washiness of elemental magic. However, the idea that using magic ages you is interesting though it was glossed over and not used to its fullest potential.

There was also a lack of direction for the first half of the story. It spent no time solidifying why Sonya and Sebastian had their stances, as they practically had them from the beginning and spent more time engraving them into their roles. The siblings started separate and were slightly more separate by then, making it feel like there were little to no emotional stakes in the book and that the siblings were just doing whatever for some arbitrary notion they had and never questioned it.

What Sebastian lacked in motivation, his sister Sonya did manage to make up. While it still felt like she was there "just because", she also had the most interesting growth as she becomes more and more ranger. I wished there'd been more focus on the rangers as they were by far the most interesting thing in the book. It was clear that a lot of time was spent on their lore and impact in the world and I wish there had been as much time spent on the characters and their motivations, as while Sonya makes a nice ranger, I'm left questioning why she is one in the first place as at times she seems to be the last person I'd expect to be one as her personality seems so contrary to a lot of the legends. This could be why she makes such a good ranger though it didn't come across clearly in the text. She did serve as a sympathetic lens to view the interesting culture of the rangers and their cold-hearted goddess fo death.

Sebastian is an interesting case of someone wanting to do good and becoming a monster in the process. He does seem to lack some conviction however and I found myself inclined to think that he was a bigger fan of the books Galina was reading than Galina herself at times. Galina, on the other hand, was a major surprise as she went from being a background character to the character with the most conviction. Unlike the siblings I can tell you where and why she stands on the side of the split that she does without saying "just because she's there". Her motivations and role in the story were well thought out and executed.

My final thoughts are that despite the character flaws, this book is amazing. It has an interesting fantasy world with distinct cultures and traditions as well as interesting histories and war tactics. The final battle was a pure joy to read and I have nothing against the writing. The book feels a bit like a set-up for something bigger and I'm all ears for something bigger, especially if there will be more involvement from Marzanna. It was really easy to get lost in the lore and I had vivid pictures in my mind as I read, mostly on the bus and surrounded by blizzards, which may have helped a bit. But all that being said I would recommend this to fantasy nerds who love strong mythologies or those who are looking for something similar, and maybe a bit more sinister, to being a huntress of Artemis. ( )

After his father is murdered by imperial Aureumian soldiers, Sebastian and his mother are taken to Gogoleth where he is persuaded to join the Aureumian army stationed in his homeland of Izmoroz. As an elemental wizard, the Aureumian commander sees him as vastly useful as they anticipate a Spring invasion by the Uaine. Despite being half Izmorozian and half Aureumian, Sebastian's loyalties become aligned to the Aureumians. But Sebastian has an older sister, one of the last remaining Rangers of Marzanna who protect Izmoroz, Sonya, who will do everything in her power to liberate her homeland as she serves a goddess of death. Even if it means allying herself with an enemy nation.

I quite enjoy stories about siblings, both when they're at odds with each other and when they work together, so I was intrigued by this book. I was also really curious about who, exactly, Sonya was intent on recruiting, as well as how a confrontation between brother and sister would go. This turned out to be not exactly what I had expected, but was different in a way I really liked.

The Characters: A Charming Main Cast

I found the characters to be interesting and quite representative of their respective culture, which really helped to showcase the world building. At the same time, things seemed a little too easy for them. Their decisions were quick, their actions were decisive, there was little stewing around about what to do. It felt more like they were being pulled along by the story.

However, I was charmed by most of the main cast. Despite the fact that they just embodied their cultures, they were fun and meshed well with each other. I did love that, at the end, so many of them were revealed as having ulterior motives, indicating there's more to them than what was presented at first. I look forward to what the next book has to offer about them and their schemes and machinations.

I most enjoyed Sonya, Jorge, and Blaine, who represented 3 different cultures. Their differences were fun to see as they interacted and became friends. I think the only thing that bothered me about them was the romantic undertones to their relationships with each other. It felt unnecessary and distracting, and a bit out of place. But Sonya was a lot of fun. She always seemed good-natured and in high spirits, even in serious situations. I also found her unique speech pattern to be refreshing and just as much fun as her. Jorge was adorable as his religion holds him to strict rules. He did seem a bit prudish, but it somehow just made him more charming. Blaine was interesting and almost as fun as Sonya. We don't get to know him quite as well, but I got the feeling there might not have been much more to get to know about him. He seemed to be refreshingly upfront, and a typical brash young warrior.

As for Sebastian and his intended Galina, an Izmorozian noblewoman in Gogoleth, I understood their relationship completely, but felt my heart aligning more with Galina. Just as Sebastian and Sonya became divided over their loyalties, so too did this young couple, though I was surprised by the turns it took. While I was charmed by Galina's bookish nature and quiet intelligence, I quickly came to be equally un-charmed by Sebastian. He just seemed young and impressionable, which made him a blind follower in every area of his life. He never seemed to stop and think about anything other than himself and his magic. I do hope that he grows up in the next book as there were signs of uncertainty in his path, but I'm afraid he might be eternally young, stupid, and angry.

The Setting: Based on Eastern European Folktales

The last fantasy I read was very typically Eurocentric, so, I expected more of the same from this one as the book description didn't indicate anything otherwise. In a way, I was right, but I was thrilled it was also quite different. The author is of Polish descent and several reviews note the book is based on Polish and Russian folklore. I definitely got a strong War and Peace vibe from this book, especially reading about the nobility's mannerisms and speech patterns. I found it delightful, charming, and quite different from a lot of the fantasy I have read over the years.

When the story opens, there's a great deal of snow mentioned. At first, I was a little confused because I'm used to things like trees, dirt, and little to no snow. But then I started to get an Eastern European vibe and it all finally made sense. I very much enjoyed immersing myself in Izmoroz. It seems too snowy and cold for my tastes, but I could easily imagine the small villages and towns as well as Gogoleth. It was both charming and depressing, especially as the vast divide between life in Gogoleth and the small villages was starkly apparent. I even found the tundra to be quite interesting!

This book introduced not only an interesting world in terms of setting where most of it is snowy instead of woodsy (though there's a fair amount of woods), but also in culture. I really liked that it reminded me of War and Peace, especially in terms of the high society in Gogoleth. It felt a little stilted and formal at first, but, once I acclimated, I found I really enjoyed it and loved being immersed in this world.

I'd like to also mention that the Uaine have a very Celtic feel to them in terms of their speech patterns and their society. I found them to be quite boisterous and a complete counterpoint to the more stuffy Izmorozians. As I really enjoy all things Celtic, I loved that this book brought together my enjoyment of that culture as well as my fondness for War and Peace.

The Plot: Always Moving, Sometimes at a Gallop

I loved that this story moved along at a very nice clip. It never seemed to lag, but did seem to leap at times. There were gaps that the reader is left to fill in based on prior information as well as what happened after. I didn't find it too troubling, but the jumps and then the lack of ever really mentioning it again were a little puzzling. It almost felt as though chunks of this story had been cut out and the edges not quite seamlessly sewn together.

Still, I found myself unwilling to put this book down. The author knew just when to end a chapter and when to switch viewpoints. It definitely kept me reading to find out how everyone's plans would turn out and how the clash between the siblings would go. I wouldn't call this fast-paced, but it did move along at a good canter.

The one thing that bothered me was the violence and goriness. Of course, it did involve someone serving a death goddess, so it made sense, but it was a little too gross for me. At the same time, I have read worse, and recently, but I was taken aback by just how peppered throughout the book it was. Still, it could have been worse, though it did help to highlight a bit of Izmorozian and Ranger culture.

I really enjoyed the story of siblings being on opposite sides, though there was still some feeling of love between them. It wasn't as heart-wrenching as I would have liked, but it provided enough for me to feel like they were siblings. I liked that the story followed them equally and really showed how different their paths were as well as how they progressed to where they were when they came face to face after quite some time apart.

Overall: Never Boring

This book has plenty of fun characters and interesting cultures. It moves at a good pace that never seemed to bore me. There were hints of broader intentions and some intrigue, but I felt it was more focused on the action than the subtleties. Still, it was a good introduction to the series and I have high hopes for the next book.

Thank you to Angela Man from Orbit for a free e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. ( )

I received an advance copy of the book from NetGalley.

The Ranger of Marzanna is a Russian-inspired epic fantasy that pitches two gifted siblings against each other, with the fate of an empire on the line. Sonya is the title character, the Ranger. Her strong connection to the Death goddess gives her incredible sensory skills, plus the opportunity to make some pretty dark bargains. The empire thought they killed all Rangers a generation before, but now Sonya is back to deliver vengeance. Then there's her younger brother, Sebastian. He's a powerful elemental wizard who has been sheltered--with very good reason--by their parents, but once the empire has hold of him, they train him to be his utmost: a weapon.

But then... then! There is Galina, the best character of all. She comes across as a shy teenage bookworm. She connects to Sebastian through a love of poetry and the classics. As he begins to take an increasingly dark path, her own true nature emerges.

I'm left wanting a book that is all Galina, because the two actual main characters left me feeling frustrated throughout the book. Mind you, this story has a lot of innovative twists going. Usually armies of the undead are a bad thing, but here, the rebels want to recruit whatever help they can get, living or dead. The Russian-inspired setting is fun, too, and the bitter chill really comes across. But Sonya as a character is just not the kind of person I want to be around. She's flippant and impulsive, sometimes outright stupid but still gets what she wants. She makes major sacrifices to her goddess but unfortunately they don't feel like sacrifices. Sebastian is an easy character to pity as he gets manipulated--the teenager is just so oblivious, it hurts--but I was baffled that the army recruited him then let him... train himself. I get that there are almost no wizards, but he has no oversight at all, and then he's quickly given a command over troops. The only helpful info he gets late in the plot is from a book that Galina gives him.

Also, I was REALLY EXCITED that Sonya had a horse named Peppercorn that she had a powerful bond with. I was totally there for some mystical horse adventures, but then Peppercorn was left with a village to fatten up for much of the novel.

Overall, a good book, but I just didn't feel like everything came together to sufficiently wow me in the end. ( )

The Ranger of Marzanna is the first in The Goddess War series by Jon Skovron. This is a character driven epic fantasy with heavy Slavic influences. The story focuses on a pair of siblings that end up on separate paths after their father is murdered by Imperial soldiers.

The nation of Izmoroz has been conquered by the Aureumian Empire for many years. Sonya Turgenev Portinari - a Ranger and devotee of Marazanna, the goddess of winter and death - has vowed to remove the Empire's influence from Izmoroz and free her country. Coming home after a one of her trips into the wilderness she finds her father has been murdered and her mother and brother abducted. Following their trail to a nearby city Sony is shocked to find her mother, Irina Turgenev Portinari, has returned to her old life as an Izmorozan noble while her brother, Sebastian, has joined the imperial army as a powerful elemental mage. With her family torn apart by the Empire Sonya sets out to find allies in her quest to free her country.

There are a lot of things to like about The Ranger of Marzanna. The worldbuilding is solid. The elemental magic system will be fairly familiar to fantasy fans with just enough changes so it doesn't feel completely stale. More interesting is Marzanna's influence on her followers. A Ranger that receives her blessing is "marked" and begins to change, gaining beastly characteristics of an animal assigned to them by the goddess. I found this aspect fascinating and definitely want to see more of this as the series progresses. There is just enough action mixed in so that the pace remains steady though not breathless like more action oriented books can be.

Sonya is brash and wild, having fully embraced her life as a Ranger. She is determined to protect the land and her countrymen, going to any length necessary to acheive her goal. This takes a surprising turn, bordering on horror elements a times, giving her character a surprising depth. Sebastian is almost her exact opposite. He is a gentle soul, confused by his father's death yet joining the Imperial Army anyway after having been convinced it's the best way to protect his country. He is gradually lead down a path of brutality, not even realizing how badly he's being manipulated by his commanding officer, and continues to deny the atrocities he's committed against the populace. It's an interesting contrast between the two. The supporting cast is great, with the standout being Galina, Sebastian's betrothed. She understands exactly what is happening to Sebastian and tries her best to counteract it, knowing in her heart it's a losing battle. In many ways this makes Galina the most interesting and sympathetic character in the book. I hope she has a larger role in the story to come.

The Ranger of Marzanna is a solid start of a series. I look forward to continuing Sonya and Sebastian's story.

I won a copy of this book in a GoodReads giveaway. Expected publication date is April 21, 2020. ( )