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The Nightingale and the Falcon #1
The Judas Blossom
An imaginative and sprawling epic fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire's invasion of Persia, following the lives and treacherous journeys of four key figures in the heart of war.
1260, Persia:
Due to the efforts of the great Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire covers a vast portion of the known world. In the shadow of his grandfather, Hulagu Khan, ruler of the Ilkhanate, is determined to create a single empire that covers the entire world. His method? Violence.
His youngest son, Temujin Khan, struggles to find his place in his father’s bloody rule. After another failure, Temujin is given one last chance to prove himself to Hulagu, who is sure there is a great warrior buried deep inside. But there’s something else rippling under the surface… something far more powerful and dangerous than they could ever imagine…
Reduced to the position of one of Hulagu’s many wives, the famed Blue Princess Kokochin is the last of her tribe. Alone and forgotten in a foreign land, Kokochin is unwilling to spend her days seeking out trivial pursuits. Seeking purpose, she finds herself wandering down a path that grants her more power than a wife of the Khan may be allowed.
Kaivon, the Persian rebel who despises the Mongols for the massacre of his people, thirsts for revenge. However, he knows alone he cannot destroy the empire. When given the opportunity to train under the tutelage of Hulagu, Kaivon must put aside his feelings and risk his life for a chance to destroy the empire that aims to conquer the world.
Family and war collide in this thrilling and bloody reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia.
1260, Persia:
Due to the efforts of the great Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire covers a vast portion of the known world. In the shadow of his grandfather, Hulagu Khan, ruler of the Ilkhanate, is determined to create a single empire that covers the entire world. His method? Violence.
His youngest son, Temujin Khan, struggles to find his place in his father’s bloody rule. After another failure, Temujin is given one last chance to prove himself to Hulagu, who is sure there is a great warrior buried deep inside. But there’s something else rippling under the surface… something far more powerful and dangerous than they could ever imagine…
Reduced to the position of one of Hulagu’s many wives, the famed Blue Princess Kokochin is the last of her tribe. Alone and forgotten in a foreign land, Kokochin is unwilling to spend her days seeking out trivial pursuits. Seeking purpose, she finds herself wandering down a path that grants her more power than a wife of the Khan may be allowed.
Kaivon, the Persian rebel who despises the Mongols for the massacre of his people, thirsts for revenge. However, he knows alone he cannot destroy the empire. When given the opportunity to train under the tutelage of Hulagu, Kaivon must put aside his feelings and risk his life for a chance to destroy the empire that aims to conquer the world.
Family and war collide in this thrilling and bloody reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia.
419 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2023
About the author
Stephen Aryan
19 books693 followersI’m a lifelong fan of fantasy and science fiction. It started with The Hobbit, The Belgariad, the Earthsea books, the Shannara books, DragonLance and then David Gemmell, who was a huge influence on my writing.
My novels include:-
The Nightingale and the Falcon trilogy
The Judas Blossom (July 2023)
The Blood Dimmed Tide (9 July 2024)
The Judas Blossom 3 (July 2025)
The Quest for Heroes duology
-The Coward (June 2021)
- The Warrior (August 2022)
Age of Darkness (first trilogy)
- Battlemage
- Bloodmage
- Chaosmage
Age of Dread (second trilogy)
-Mageborn
-Magefall
-Magebane
A prequel novella to everything, Of Gods and Men, was published in February 2018.
I am represented by Juliet Mushens of Mushens Entertainment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
December 8, 2023
First, the caveats. I received a free copy of this book from my friend Stephen Aryan. I try not to let friendship or free affect my reviews.
The Judas Blossom is book one of The Nightingale and the Falcon. Some people like to know that while some threads will be tied off in this book, others will dangle until the entire tale is complete. At 419 pages, this is a heft but not gargantuan read.
The Judas Blossom will be a five star for readers who enjoy historical fantasy. I will freely admit that the setting for this story is an era that I know very little about, that is, the time of the Khans and the Mongol Empire. The tale is told during the invasion and occupation of Persia by the Mongols.
The varied cast of characters means that the story is told by opposing viewpoints. Not all the grandsons of Genghis Khan are eager to be warriors. A woman given as a reluctant wife has an agenda of her own. Persian fighters are seeking to overthrow the invaders but brothers may be set against brothers as they plot how to do it. Strange and unlikely alliances are formed.
But this is a fantasy, so of course there is magic threaded through the story as well.
Recommended to lovers of historical fantasy.
The Judas Blossom is book one of The Nightingale and the Falcon. Some people like to know that while some threads will be tied off in this book, others will dangle until the entire tale is complete. At 419 pages, this is a heft but not gargantuan read.
The Judas Blossom will be a five star for readers who enjoy historical fantasy. I will freely admit that the setting for this story is an era that I know very little about, that is, the time of the Khans and the Mongol Empire. The tale is told during the invasion and occupation of Persia by the Mongols.
The varied cast of characters means that the story is told by opposing viewpoints. Not all the grandsons of Genghis Khan are eager to be warriors. A woman given as a reluctant wife has an agenda of her own. Persian fighters are seeking to overthrow the invaders but brothers may be set against brothers as they plot how to do it. Strange and unlikely alliances are formed.
But this is a fantasy, so of course there is magic threaded through the story as well.
Recommended to lovers of historical fantasy.
July 12, 2023
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
I would like to begin by saying thank you to Angry Robot and Stephen Aryan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is why I read! A historical fantasy work at the very top of it’s game, and it should be on top of everyone’s reading pile. Characters that feel fresh and authentic, a plot that explores the fate of the Mongol Empire with all of the breathtaking action and twists that you love to see in modern fantasy. An early contender for book of the year.
So, The Judas Blossom is nearly out! I read this fantastic book a few months ago, but now I can talk about it and rave about the quality as much as possible! Fantasy and historical fiction are two of my favourite genres, so naturally it is not a surprise that I get excited when I see a historical fantasy work coming out soon. So, I went into The Judas Blossom with high hopes, and safe to say that it delivered!
I am a character driven reader, so I will talk about them first. We follow a few different POV's throughout this story, usually with snappy chapters that makes sure we are always familiar with the cast, and also meaning that the settings stay fresh as we regularly jump to different locations. I love that we follow characters who hold positions of great power, such as Hulagu, one of the most powerful individuals of the Mongol Empire, and a relation to Genghis Khan himself, to Kokochin, who has had everyone they've ever loved killed by the Mongols, and has now been made to marry with no say in the matter.
These characters each have such drive that feel unique, and often do not directly relate to the main "quest" or plot of this story. I love how this makes them feel authentic, so that when events transpire that drag them into the main story, you feel the consequence and ramifications.
Stephen Aryan in my opinion hits a great balance with historical detail. He gives you enough to feel immersed and interested in the period, but does not go to far as to make you feel overwhelmed. This, accompanied by the David Gemmell-esque stripped back prose, allows The Judas Blossom to feel efficient and natural, so that you can properly engage yourself with the story. As Allen over on The Library of Allenxandria said, Aryan does what a good historical writer should do. He made me want to learn more about the period after I closed the final pages.
This is an epic historical fantasy that makes us privy to large sieges, the campaigns of an empire, and the political machinations of possibly the most powerful army in the world in 1260. With compelling characters, fluid prose and an incredibly interesting story with twists and turns, Stephen Aryan has crafted one of my favourite reads of 2023.
5/5 STARS
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
I would like to begin by saying thank you to Angry Robot and Stephen Aryan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is why I read! A historical fantasy work at the very top of it’s game, and it should be on top of everyone’s reading pile. Characters that feel fresh and authentic, a plot that explores the fate of the Mongol Empire with all of the breathtaking action and twists that you love to see in modern fantasy. An early contender for book of the year.
So, The Judas Blossom is nearly out! I read this fantastic book a few months ago, but now I can talk about it and rave about the quality as much as possible! Fantasy and historical fiction are two of my favourite genres, so naturally it is not a surprise that I get excited when I see a historical fantasy work coming out soon. So, I went into The Judas Blossom with high hopes, and safe to say that it delivered!
I am a character driven reader, so I will talk about them first. We follow a few different POV's throughout this story, usually with snappy chapters that makes sure we are always familiar with the cast, and also meaning that the settings stay fresh as we regularly jump to different locations. I love that we follow characters who hold positions of great power, such as Hulagu, one of the most powerful individuals of the Mongol Empire, and a relation to Genghis Khan himself, to Kokochin, who has had everyone they've ever loved killed by the Mongols, and has now been made to marry with no say in the matter.
These characters each have such drive that feel unique, and often do not directly relate to the main "quest" or plot of this story. I love how this makes them feel authentic, so that when events transpire that drag them into the main story, you feel the consequence and ramifications.
Stephen Aryan in my opinion hits a great balance with historical detail. He gives you enough to feel immersed and interested in the period, but does not go to far as to make you feel overwhelmed. This, accompanied by the David Gemmell-esque stripped back prose, allows The Judas Blossom to feel efficient and natural, so that you can properly engage yourself with the story. As Allen over on The Library of Allenxandria said, Aryan does what a good historical writer should do. He made me want to learn more about the period after I closed the final pages.
This is an epic historical fantasy that makes us privy to large sieges, the campaigns of an empire, and the political machinations of possibly the most powerful army in the world in 1260. With compelling characters, fluid prose and an incredibly interesting story with twists and turns, Stephen Aryan has crafted one of my favourite reads of 2023.
5/5 STARS
May 24, 2023
The Judas Blossom is an ambitious, majestic and brutal historical fantasy read that impresses throughout. The novel skilfully covers an era, areas, and cultures that are not typical with fantasy novels or historical retellings.
Set in the 13th century, we follow four main point of view perspectives: Hulagu (a warlord), Kokochin (one of his many wives), Temujin (a son he is ashamed of), and Kaivon (a Persian General). All of these characters are major influences on whether the Mongol empire's plans to encompass the whole world come to fruition or are derailed. Honestly, there is not a subpar viewpoint in The Judas Blossom. Each individual presents their agendas, ideals, weaknesses, and plans, so the drama and stakes are significantly heightened as the novel progresses. I felt engaged and active as a reader, becoming quite smug seeing events and problems certain players were not privy to. In addition, it was a rewarding experience predicting how affairs could play out, with the many webs of influence and deceit in play.
My advanced review copy of The Judas Blossom was approximately 450 pages long and was brimming with excellent action scenes, sieges, confrontations, barbed verbal exchanges, political intrigue, deception, and cleverness. It is often a violent and unforgiving tale, especially when viewing the action that surrounds Hulagu. There are assassins, political factions, secret societies, and a magic scheme similar to R.R. Virdi's The First Binding. As The Judas Blossom is the first in a series, we learn about how the magic works as the users figure it out themselves, with the true potential and possibilities more likely to appear in the follow-up entries. The magic seems intriguing though and I look forward to witnessing the capabilities further down the line in this epic story.
I picked up The Judas Blossom knowing little about the historical period that it presents. I have no doubt that this is a well-researched and carefully crafted project, that I envisage will delight historians and aficionados who focus on this time period. A couple of nuggets from history such as mentions of Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan made me smile when I acknowledged them and I fell down the Google rabbit hole a couple of times, intrigued to see if certain members of Aryan’s dramatis personae are based on fact or are fictional.
As a work of fiction though, The Judas Blossom is a riveting tale, set in a dynamic world that is equally beautiful and terrifying. It is gripping, the characters are great and there are no filler chapters (which is surprising for epic fantasy and especially the first books in a series). Also, the novel ends in a compelling manner and this has guaranteed that I will read the next release as soon as I can.
I have very little criticism regarding my reading experience. If I had to say something along those lines, occasionally the flow of some passages seemed a little awkward, perhaps ending abruptly where the rhythm didn't quite resonate with me. Even with that considered, The Judas Blossom is an excellent first entry into an exciting new epic fantasy series. The characters, action scenes, political intrigue, and trickery present here will make many grimdark readers extremely happy. - 8.5/10
Review copy from Angry Robot Books and Stephen Aryan in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the 13th century, we follow four main point of view perspectives: Hulagu (a warlord), Kokochin (one of his many wives), Temujin (a son he is ashamed of), and Kaivon (a Persian General). All of these characters are major influences on whether the Mongol empire's plans to encompass the whole world come to fruition or are derailed. Honestly, there is not a subpar viewpoint in The Judas Blossom. Each individual presents their agendas, ideals, weaknesses, and plans, so the drama and stakes are significantly heightened as the novel progresses. I felt engaged and active as a reader, becoming quite smug seeing events and problems certain players were not privy to. In addition, it was a rewarding experience predicting how affairs could play out, with the many webs of influence and deceit in play.
My advanced review copy of The Judas Blossom was approximately 450 pages long and was brimming with excellent action scenes, sieges, confrontations, barbed verbal exchanges, political intrigue, deception, and cleverness. It is often a violent and unforgiving tale, especially when viewing the action that surrounds Hulagu. There are assassins, political factions, secret societies, and a magic scheme similar to R.R. Virdi's The First Binding. As The Judas Blossom is the first in a series, we learn about how the magic works as the users figure it out themselves, with the true potential and possibilities more likely to appear in the follow-up entries. The magic seems intriguing though and I look forward to witnessing the capabilities further down the line in this epic story.
I picked up The Judas Blossom knowing little about the historical period that it presents. I have no doubt that this is a well-researched and carefully crafted project, that I envisage will delight historians and aficionados who focus on this time period. A couple of nuggets from history such as mentions of Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan made me smile when I acknowledged them and I fell down the Google rabbit hole a couple of times, intrigued to see if certain members of Aryan’s dramatis personae are based on fact or are fictional.
As a work of fiction though, The Judas Blossom is a riveting tale, set in a dynamic world that is equally beautiful and terrifying. It is gripping, the characters are great and there are no filler chapters (which is surprising for epic fantasy and especially the first books in a series). Also, the novel ends in a compelling manner and this has guaranteed that I will read the next release as soon as I can.
I have very little criticism regarding my reading experience. If I had to say something along those lines, occasionally the flow of some passages seemed a little awkward, perhaps ending abruptly where the rhythm didn't quite resonate with me. Even with that considered, The Judas Blossom is an excellent first entry into an exciting new epic fantasy series. The characters, action scenes, political intrigue, and trickery present here will make many grimdark readers extremely happy. - 8.5/10
Review copy from Angry Robot Books and Stephen Aryan in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2023
So, I ended up really really enjoying this book. At some point, I realized I kept needing to pick it back up to see what form of betrayal would be pulled unnoticed beneath the noses of the Mongols. But the best compliment I can pay this book is that is did what good historical fiction/fantasy can do and that is it made me want to know more about the subject matter and the time period.
Full review to come.
Many thanks to the author and Angry Robot for the advanced copy.
Full review to come.
Many thanks to the author and Angry Robot for the advanced copy.
July 19, 2023
“One day, our country will be free”
All empires fall. It happened to the Greeks and the Romans. This is the story of the Mongols as well. One day, it will happen...
I reached this book with high hope and so happy wasn't disappointing. Iran in the time after the Mogul war, how they fight for their freedom in secret!
After reading this book, my expectations for the next ones have increased significantly. The story has been built up, and I hope to see an even better storyline and plot. However, I have a personal issue with connecting to characters in stories with multiple narrators, especially when they do terrible things, It's hard for me to believe that they are not inherently bad people:
Hulagu, the grandson of Genghis Khan and ruler of the Ilkhanate, aims to make true his grandfather's wish by governing the entire world through force.
Temujin, the youngest son of Hulagu Khan, may not excel as a soldier, but he discovers his prowess in the realms of books and meditation.
Kokochin the newest Hulagu wife, finds her love and passion in the street of Iran, she must make a decision about what is going to do with her life and where her loyalty lies.
Kaivon is an Iranian general who was defeated in the war against conquered people but not at heart. Everything should be destroyed from the inside.
The Twelve are a group of hidden women, who all hated the Mongols, when the north of Persia had been conquered, many of their friends and families were murdered or disappeared, and they plan to stop them with dirty and hidden plans. "The House of Grace would make the Mongols regret invading Persia."
These are only the main characters, they are many and almost all of them are liars and intelligent in their ways, if weren't that, violent for sure!
“Every mortal will taste death. But only some will taste life.”– Rumi
The story took place in the years 1260 and 1261 mostly in Tabriz, though we have plots in Iraq, the Mongol Empire, and Shiraz.
It took me by surprise the tale as history, I have always been fond of historical fantasy, what is more intriguing than history (which we all know is always a lie) with magic?
My huge thanks to Angry Robot via NetGalley for giving me a chance to read The Judas Blossom, Book One of The Nightingale and the Falcon by Stephen Aryan, I tried to have given my honest review, but as you may know, I don't have a chance every day to read a fantasy set in my country with characters in my name, don't I? :))
All empires fall. It happened to the Greeks and the Romans. This is the story of the Mongols as well. One day, it will happen...
I reached this book with high hope and so happy wasn't disappointing. Iran in the time after the Mogul war, how they fight for their freedom in secret!
After reading this book, my expectations for the next ones have increased significantly. The story has been built up, and I hope to see an even better storyline and plot. However, I have a personal issue with connecting to characters in stories with multiple narrators, especially when they do terrible things, It's hard for me to believe that they are not inherently bad people:
Hulagu, the grandson of Genghis Khan and ruler of the Ilkhanate, aims to make true his grandfather's wish by governing the entire world through force.
Temujin, the youngest son of Hulagu Khan, may not excel as a soldier, but he discovers his prowess in the realms of books and meditation.
Kokochin the newest Hulagu wife, finds her love and passion in the street of Iran, she must make a decision about what is going to do with her life and where her loyalty lies.
Kaivon is an Iranian general who was defeated in the war against conquered people but not at heart. Everything should be destroyed from the inside.
The Twelve are a group of hidden women, who all hated the Mongols, when the north of Persia had been conquered, many of their friends and families were murdered or disappeared, and they plan to stop them with dirty and hidden plans. "The House of Grace would make the Mongols regret invading Persia."
These are only the main characters, they are many and almost all of them are liars and intelligent in their ways, if weren't that, violent for sure!
“Every mortal will taste death. But only some will taste life.”– Rumi
The story took place in the years 1260 and 1261 mostly in Tabriz, though we have plots in Iraq, the Mongol Empire, and Shiraz.
It took me by surprise the tale as history, I have always been fond of historical fantasy, what is more intriguing than history (which we all know is always a lie) with magic?
My huge thanks to Angry Robot via NetGalley for giving me a chance to read The Judas Blossom, Book One of The Nightingale and the Falcon by Stephen Aryan, I tried to have given my honest review, but as you may know, I don't have a chance every day to read a fantasy set in my country with characters in my name, don't I? :))
June 18, 2024
If you want something to last, it needs a solid foundation.
Author Stephen Aryan demonstrated this simple truth by taking the beginning slowly. Readers get a brief introduction to the time period, definition of certain terms and then the author sets about introducing our main characters, with each chapter rotating between their points of view. Historical events are carefully explained and the plot begins to slowly unfurl. I told a couple friends this one starts as a slow burn, but then I realize I read this sucker in three days. Maybe that was just me taking the beginning slow, as it’s been quite a while since I read of the Mongols and their brutal attempt at domination.
Once I reached the 40% mark, I didn’t want to put the book down. Some of our character storylines had crossed over one another, sides were chosen and paths forward had been picked in this tumultuous time. If you’re unfamiliar with the history of the Mongol Empire, don’t refresh yourself - have fun rediscovering it while reading this tale.
History buffs are going to find this artfully reimagined invasion of Persia by the Mongolian Empire a delight. (Albeit a bloody one!) For my fantasy lovers - I would say this one is a bit on the lighter side of magic, but I think it was an excellent decision to do so. Getting the tantalizing tidbits of the magic here and there as the story progressed made it an exciting delight. Now the second book - that one is going to be the one where the magic gets center stage. That’s my prediction anyway.
Towards the end, the pacing of this one is a frenzy of activity - I’m still sitting here equal parts shocked at some things and excited for what others mean for the future of the series.
Another solid top tier read from Aryan. Just as I expected it would be.
Forever grateful to the wonderful Caroline Lambe and Angry Robot Books for graciously providing me with an ARC to read and enjoy in consideration of a review.
Author Stephen Aryan demonstrated this simple truth by taking the beginning slowly. Readers get a brief introduction to the time period, definition of certain terms and then the author sets about introducing our main characters, with each chapter rotating between their points of view. Historical events are carefully explained and the plot begins to slowly unfurl. I told a couple friends this one starts as a slow burn, but then I realize I read this sucker in three days. Maybe that was just me taking the beginning slow, as it’s been quite a while since I read of the Mongols and their brutal attempt at domination.
Once I reached the 40% mark, I didn’t want to put the book down. Some of our character storylines had crossed over one another, sides were chosen and paths forward had been picked in this tumultuous time. If you’re unfamiliar with the history of the Mongol Empire, don’t refresh yourself - have fun rediscovering it while reading this tale.
History buffs are going to find this artfully reimagined invasion of Persia by the Mongolian Empire a delight. (Albeit a bloody one!) For my fantasy lovers - I would say this one is a bit on the lighter side of magic, but I think it was an excellent decision to do so. Getting the tantalizing tidbits of the magic here and there as the story progressed made it an exciting delight. Now the second book - that one is going to be the one where the magic gets center stage. That’s my prediction anyway.
Towards the end, the pacing of this one is a frenzy of activity - I’m still sitting here equal parts shocked at some things and excited for what others mean for the future of the series.
Another solid top tier read from Aryan. Just as I expected it would be.
Forever grateful to the wonderful Caroline Lambe and Angry Robot Books for graciously providing me with an ARC to read and enjoy in consideration of a review.
July 23, 2023
4.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/RTOeOkkD68s
As someone fascinated by Mongolian culture, I was thrilled to read this epic fantasy inspired by this history. I picked up this after finishing a piece of historical fiction based on the life of Genghis Khan so this was the perfect follow up.
Overall I really enjoyed this one. The novel had a good balancing of character development and action. The challenge of rating this novel is that it's clearly the beginning of an ambitious story and it feels unfair to rate it as a standalone. The story is ambitious and I personally felt this first book was too short and too fast to fully flesh out the narrative the way I wanted. I look forward to reading the future entries in this epic fantasy story because we just need more time in this world with the characters.
This novel has received an outstanding amount of early praise and while I affirm its greatness, I encourage readers to go with reasonable expectations. This series has incredibly potential but this is just the start of this epic journey.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/RTOeOkkD68s
As someone fascinated by Mongolian culture, I was thrilled to read this epic fantasy inspired by this history. I picked up this after finishing a piece of historical fiction based on the life of Genghis Khan so this was the perfect follow up.
Overall I really enjoyed this one. The novel had a good balancing of character development and action. The challenge of rating this novel is that it's clearly the beginning of an ambitious story and it feels unfair to rate it as a standalone. The story is ambitious and I personally felt this first book was too short and too fast to fully flesh out the narrative the way I wanted. I look forward to reading the future entries in this epic fantasy story because we just need more time in this world with the characters.
This novel has received an outstanding amount of early praise and while I affirm its greatness, I encourage readers to go with reasonable expectations. This series has incredibly potential but this is just the start of this epic journey.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
April 21, 2023
This is a story which feels epic and exciting from page one when we meet our conqueror, Hulagu Khan, descendant of Ghenghis Khan. The fierceness of the Mongol expansion and empire is brutal and aggressive and Stephen Aryan’s writing conveyed the ambition and the determination in a captivating way.
We follow a cast of 4 viewpoint characters, and lots of other side characters too. They each felt unique and personable, even the most detestable of the bunch, and I didn’t dislike reading any of them.
Temujin is a disappointment to his father for his lack of blood-thirstiness and he is constantly changing careers to try to impress his father. His story felt a little familiar in the longing to please his father, but his decisions for the greater good later in the novel were refreshing and he’s quite a grounded character.
Hulagu Khan is a bit of a demon to be honest and he has to be to lead the armies and conquer the world. He’s determined and unafraid and his rule will be unquestionable if he can just keep his country from civil war. I liked the brutish side of him being softened with a glimpse into his love life too, it made him feel a little more human.
Kokochin is a princess who’s forced to marry Khan but rarely sees him and instead has to find her own direction. She’s cunning and kind and desperate to do something bigger with her life than just be a placid wife, so she uncovers so exciting secrets in her search.
Finally we have Kaivon who is a rebel-turned-ally. His story was one of the more complex with the lies and twists and turns which keep you guessing and I really enjoyed seeing how his grand ambitions may play out.
The magic of this world is mostly done in the background although one of the characters does start to embrace it later on. I enjoyed the ideas of the eternal flame and the people who can utilise it, and I’m intrigued for more insight into that!
The writing here felt engaging and exhilarating, and getting to learn some real history by following a fantastical cast made it an extra fun read. I found the pacing balanced, the plot exciting and I’d recommend this to fans of Ken Liu, David Hair and anyone who wants diversity of cultures in their fantasy.
This story is a grand one, with lots of characters to connect with, history to uncover, magic to behold and drama to unfold. I found myself thinking that it was only the beginning and by the end of the story I knew there would be a lot more to come. I have to say I’m really keen for more in the Nightingale and the Falcon series, and I will be on the watch for more of Aryan’s work!
We follow a cast of 4 viewpoint characters, and lots of other side characters too. They each felt unique and personable, even the most detestable of the bunch, and I didn’t dislike reading any of them.
Temujin is a disappointment to his father for his lack of blood-thirstiness and he is constantly changing careers to try to impress his father. His story felt a little familiar in the longing to please his father, but his decisions for the greater good later in the novel were refreshing and he’s quite a grounded character.
Hulagu Khan is a bit of a demon to be honest and he has to be to lead the armies and conquer the world. He’s determined and unafraid and his rule will be unquestionable if he can just keep his country from civil war. I liked the brutish side of him being softened with a glimpse into his love life too, it made him feel a little more human.
Kokochin is a princess who’s forced to marry Khan but rarely sees him and instead has to find her own direction. She’s cunning and kind and desperate to do something bigger with her life than just be a placid wife, so she uncovers so exciting secrets in her search.
Finally we have Kaivon who is a rebel-turned-ally. His story was one of the more complex with the lies and twists and turns which keep you guessing and I really enjoyed seeing how his grand ambitions may play out.
The magic of this world is mostly done in the background although one of the characters does start to embrace it later on. I enjoyed the ideas of the eternal flame and the people who can utilise it, and I’m intrigued for more insight into that!
The writing here felt engaging and exhilarating, and getting to learn some real history by following a fantastical cast made it an extra fun read. I found the pacing balanced, the plot exciting and I’d recommend this to fans of Ken Liu, David Hair and anyone who wants diversity of cultures in their fantasy.
This story is a grand one, with lots of characters to connect with, history to uncover, magic to behold and drama to unfold. I found myself thinking that it was only the beginning and by the end of the story I knew there would be a lot more to come. I have to say I’m really keen for more in the Nightingale and the Falcon series, and I will be on the watch for more of Aryan’s work!
July 11, 2023
Huge congrats to Stephen Aryan on the publication of this marvellous novel. A historical fantasy at it's finest, focused on the 13th century strife of the huge Mongol Empire. Multi POV, brutal, immersive, everything you want to read in the best of fantasy and the best of historical fiction.
Will and I are also lucky enough to have been quoted inside the book too, so check out our mini-review there!
Will and I are also lucky enough to have been quoted inside the book too, so check out our mini-review there!
April 13, 2023
With The Judas Blossom, Stephen Aryan shows exactly why he’s the 21st Century's David Gemmell. He transports you back in time to when great Khans swept across the world, conquering all in a tale that truly deserves to be called epic. Aryan deftly interweaves grandiose battles with the intimate machinations of power politics as only a true master can. The Game of Khans has begun and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
February 18, 2023
In a word masterful!
Stephen Aryan continues to prove why he is the true
Successor to David Gemmell. Brutal, compelling, and full of heart Judas Blossom is a masterclass in historical fantasy.
Stephen Aryan continues to prove why he is the true
Successor to David Gemmell. Brutal, compelling, and full of heart Judas Blossom is a masterclass in historical fantasy.
July 3, 2023
4.25. Fantastic book. Detailed review to come on my channel soon. Will link here once it’s filmed.
May 23, 2023
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2023/05/22/...
Born from a fascination with the Mongol invasions and conquests that took place during the 13th and 14th centuries, The Judas Blossom vividly reimaginations the birth of history’s largest contiguous empire. Author Stephen Aryan writes in his foreword that while most of the major events in this fantasy novel are historically accurate, he has made some tweaks and liberties to their timing on top of some additional changes to the characters, and that ultimately what he wanted to do was craft a dramatic story. Well, in that goal, I can confidently say he succeeded.
The book follows mainly four characters: Hulagu Khan, grandson of the great Genghis, is now the rule of the Ilkhanate; his youngest son, Temujin, has one last chance to prove his worth before he is shipped out to fight on the front lines; known as the Blue Princess, Kokochin is the last of her tribe and has arrived in a foreign land to join Hulagu’s harem as one of his many wives; and Kaivon is a desperate young Persian rebel who will stop at nothing to get his revenge on the Mongols for the massacre of his people.
As his father faces the challenge of holding together a vast empire, Temujin is trying his best to avoid following in his footsteps as he finds he has no taste for war. But when his latest stint as a tax collector ends in disaster, he is forced onto the warrior’s path to unlock his inner potential. Meanwhile, Kaivon is left to exact vengeance on his own after his group of rebels are routed and his brother abandons him, heading into the heart of enemy territory to attempt a bolder strategy. When an opportunity to apprentice under the fearsome Hulagu Khan himself arises, Kaivon must tread carefully in order not to reveal his plans to bring the empire down from within. Around this time, Kokochin also discovers that, despite being a khan’s wife, she holds practically no status or power. Seeking new meaning to her life, she finds a purpose in training in the fighting arts and espionage.
I’ve always had a love for historical fantasy, and The Judas Blossom provides a breath of fresh air from the more usual offerings of the genre by whisking us off to the time of the Mongol Empire. Readers get to experience a sense of its sweeping magnitude in this epic tale told through the eyes of compelling characters that cover many aspects of life during this period, and my favorite was probably Kokochin, as so little is known about her in history. In this novel, however, Stephen Aryan has made her a fully realized character, complete with her own hopes and ambitions and a charming personality. Admittedly, none of the other characters interested me nearly as much, but perhaps they will have their chance to shine later in the sequels.
Of course, whenever you have tales about conquerors, you also get the tales of the conquered, along with the violence of bloody war which often accompanies these types of stories. Having read the author’s debut Battlemage, I already knew of his ability to write impressive battle sequences, and indeed the ones in The Judas Blossom were no less action-packed. Amidst the challenges of trying to expand and maintain an empire, the Khan and his family have made lots of enemies from within and without, meaning there’s plenty of political intrigue to keep me hooked with multiple threads involving assassins and secret plots to take down the empire. That said, with so many moving parts to keep track of, some of these plotlines can get confusing as times, resulting in several side characters and the story arcs that they’re involved in feeling slightly underdeveloped. Again, I am hoping that later books in the series will remedy that by exploring everything more in depth.
Overall, I have to say that, as the first volume to The Nightingale and the Falcon saga, The Judas Blossom was a fantastic read and my attention is certainly piqued. As with most series openers, there were some expected hurdles related to balancing character and story development, since there were so many elements to introduce. But now, the stage is most certainly set for greater, grander things as history begins to intertwine with the fantastical. Historical fantasy fans will be delighted by The Judas Blossom and the sweeping scope of its narrative that will transport them to a breathtaking world of danger, intrigue, and magic. Seamlessly weaving together intricate world-building, vibrant characters and resonant themes of courage, love, and sacrifice, this novel will leave you mesmerized. I look forward to the sequel!
Born from a fascination with the Mongol invasions and conquests that took place during the 13th and 14th centuries, The Judas Blossom vividly reimaginations the birth of history’s largest contiguous empire. Author Stephen Aryan writes in his foreword that while most of the major events in this fantasy novel are historically accurate, he has made some tweaks and liberties to their timing on top of some additional changes to the characters, and that ultimately what he wanted to do was craft a dramatic story. Well, in that goal, I can confidently say he succeeded.
The book follows mainly four characters: Hulagu Khan, grandson of the great Genghis, is now the rule of the Ilkhanate; his youngest son, Temujin, has one last chance to prove his worth before he is shipped out to fight on the front lines; known as the Blue Princess, Kokochin is the last of her tribe and has arrived in a foreign land to join Hulagu’s harem as one of his many wives; and Kaivon is a desperate young Persian rebel who will stop at nothing to get his revenge on the Mongols for the massacre of his people.
As his father faces the challenge of holding together a vast empire, Temujin is trying his best to avoid following in his footsteps as he finds he has no taste for war. But when his latest stint as a tax collector ends in disaster, he is forced onto the warrior’s path to unlock his inner potential. Meanwhile, Kaivon is left to exact vengeance on his own after his group of rebels are routed and his brother abandons him, heading into the heart of enemy territory to attempt a bolder strategy. When an opportunity to apprentice under the fearsome Hulagu Khan himself arises, Kaivon must tread carefully in order not to reveal his plans to bring the empire down from within. Around this time, Kokochin also discovers that, despite being a khan’s wife, she holds practically no status or power. Seeking new meaning to her life, she finds a purpose in training in the fighting arts and espionage.
I’ve always had a love for historical fantasy, and The Judas Blossom provides a breath of fresh air from the more usual offerings of the genre by whisking us off to the time of the Mongol Empire. Readers get to experience a sense of its sweeping magnitude in this epic tale told through the eyes of compelling characters that cover many aspects of life during this period, and my favorite was probably Kokochin, as so little is known about her in history. In this novel, however, Stephen Aryan has made her a fully realized character, complete with her own hopes and ambitions and a charming personality. Admittedly, none of the other characters interested me nearly as much, but perhaps they will have their chance to shine later in the sequels.
Of course, whenever you have tales about conquerors, you also get the tales of the conquered, along with the violence of bloody war which often accompanies these types of stories. Having read the author’s debut Battlemage, I already knew of his ability to write impressive battle sequences, and indeed the ones in The Judas Blossom were no less action-packed. Amidst the challenges of trying to expand and maintain an empire, the Khan and his family have made lots of enemies from within and without, meaning there’s plenty of political intrigue to keep me hooked with multiple threads involving assassins and secret plots to take down the empire. That said, with so many moving parts to keep track of, some of these plotlines can get confusing as times, resulting in several side characters and the story arcs that they’re involved in feeling slightly underdeveloped. Again, I am hoping that later books in the series will remedy that by exploring everything more in depth.
Overall, I have to say that, as the first volume to The Nightingale and the Falcon saga, The Judas Blossom was a fantastic read and my attention is certainly piqued. As with most series openers, there were some expected hurdles related to balancing character and story development, since there were so many elements to introduce. But now, the stage is most certainly set for greater, grander things as history begins to intertwine with the fantastical. Historical fantasy fans will be delighted by The Judas Blossom and the sweeping scope of its narrative that will transport them to a breathtaking world of danger, intrigue, and magic. Seamlessly weaving together intricate world-building, vibrant characters and resonant themes of courage, love, and sacrifice, this novel will leave you mesmerized. I look forward to the sequel!
July 21, 2023
Review originally on JamReads
The Judas Blossom is an historical fantasy novel that starts The Nightingale and The Falcon series, a reimagining of the Persian Empire story, written by Stephen Aryan, and published by Angry Robot Books. In this new series, we get immersed in the fights and political intrigue that surrounded the Mongol and Persian Empire during the Ilkhanate of Hulagu Khan, grandson of the famous Genghis Khan, whose expansionist ideas still last.
Taking place at the height of the said expansion, we have a character-driven story that follows four different POVs, each one with a different background: first of all, we have the own Hulagu, the general of the armies who using violence as the method it's expanding the Mongol empire through Persian lands; secondly, Temujin Khan, son of Hulagu, a complete disappointment for his father, but determined to live to his father ideas, getting enrolled into the army after his umpteenth failure. In addition to those POVs from the Khan family, Aryan decides to give one to Kokochin, the famous Blue Princess, a rather obscure historical character, the last of her tribe and that becomes one of the wives of Hulagu; and finally, we have Kalvon, a Persian rebel, aware that it's almost impossible to beat the Mongol Empire by the use of military force, decides to take the opportunity of joining as one of the assistants of Hulagu.
Those four POVs are masterfully woven into a compelling story by Aryan, who manages to portray a rather unknown historical period, bordering at many points the frontier between historical fiction and historical fantasy. And a rather dark historical portrait, I must say, as the author is not shy of showing the violence and the destruction that accompanied the Mongolian armies during their conquests.
Pacing is relatively slow, as a big part of the book is used to build solid foundations to create a big story over them. Despite this, I would say that it is a really interesting book to read, as even when building said bases, there is plenty of action and intrigue (especially during the research made by Temujin, and The Twelve inclusion).
I must add that worldbuilding is made with an exquisite tact for foreshadowing details that later will gain relevance, and the research behind the historical aspect of this book is one of his strengths.
Fantastical aspects are marginal, in the style of some other low fantasy stories, such as Game of Thrones, despite I suspect it will become more important in the next books.
If you are looking for an excellent historical fantasy novel, The Judas Blossom is a great starting point. Stephen Aryan has written a marvelous story, and I, personally, can't wait for the second book in The Nightingale and The Falcon series.
The Judas Blossom is an historical fantasy novel that starts The Nightingale and The Falcon series, a reimagining of the Persian Empire story, written by Stephen Aryan, and published by Angry Robot Books. In this new series, we get immersed in the fights and political intrigue that surrounded the Mongol and Persian Empire during the Ilkhanate of Hulagu Khan, grandson of the famous Genghis Khan, whose expansionist ideas still last.
Taking place at the height of the said expansion, we have a character-driven story that follows four different POVs, each one with a different background: first of all, we have the own Hulagu, the general of the armies who using violence as the method it's expanding the Mongol empire through Persian lands; secondly, Temujin Khan, son of Hulagu, a complete disappointment for his father, but determined to live to his father ideas, getting enrolled into the army after his umpteenth failure. In addition to those POVs from the Khan family, Aryan decides to give one to Kokochin, the famous Blue Princess, a rather obscure historical character, the last of her tribe and that becomes one of the wives of Hulagu; and finally, we have Kalvon, a Persian rebel, aware that it's almost impossible to beat the Mongol Empire by the use of military force, decides to take the opportunity of joining as one of the assistants of Hulagu.
Those four POVs are masterfully woven into a compelling story by Aryan, who manages to portray a rather unknown historical period, bordering at many points the frontier between historical fiction and historical fantasy. And a rather dark historical portrait, I must say, as the author is not shy of showing the violence and the destruction that accompanied the Mongolian armies during their conquests.
Pacing is relatively slow, as a big part of the book is used to build solid foundations to create a big story over them. Despite this, I would say that it is a really interesting book to read, as even when building said bases, there is plenty of action and intrigue (especially during the research made by Temujin, and The Twelve inclusion).
I must add that worldbuilding is made with an exquisite tact for foreshadowing details that later will gain relevance, and the research behind the historical aspect of this book is one of his strengths.
Fantastical aspects are marginal, in the style of some other low fantasy stories, such as Game of Thrones, despite I suspect it will become more important in the next books.
If you are looking for an excellent historical fantasy novel, The Judas Blossom is a great starting point. Stephen Aryan has written a marvelous story, and I, personally, can't wait for the second book in The Nightingale and The Falcon series.
September 21, 2023
This book was decent, some really good parts mixed with some not as good for me personally.
It follows four POVs, all co-mingled around Hulegu, a grandson of Genghis, and his quest to subdue the middle East. The twist here is that all the POVs (besides Hulegu's) are trying to prevent him, one way or another. I really liked three of the POVs, particularly Hulegu's which dealt with the political and cultural politics back in Mongolia with his brothers as well as his desire to fulfill his grandfather's wishes.
Kaivon's POV was also really good; a Persian general turned bodyguard for Hulegu who wishes to undermine him. Where this book fell apart for me is almost everything to do with the fourth POV; Temujin.
Temujin is one of Hulegu's sons and the one that everyone hates. My first issue is that people's views of Temujin felt a bit too modern or...not Mongolian enough? They hate him because he's fat. Okay. I am not an expert on Mongolia but Kublai Khan is in this book and a few decades later he is supposedly very large and it's not treated as a big problem. There's also a rumor that Subutai was fat, even if it's untrue the evidence suggests this wouldn't be a big issue with the Mongols. The second reason they hate him is because he's not a fighter. This again feels like someone trying to think of WHY a strong warrior would hate their son and not considering cultural context. If this was Genghis's generation or before, sure. But Genghis' whole thing was finding uses for people that suited their talents. His brother Temuge was not a good fighter, but was a highly trusted administrator and counsellor in the khanate. So everything to do with why Temujin was utterly rejected just fell flat for me.
Beyond that, I found his internal struggle to be not very compelling. He flips switches on his father on a dime and his sensibilities feel so modern that it's jarring. Finally, most of his story doesn't get started until near the very end; he basically spins his wheels until 80% into this book, and even then, he is basically just training. I'm sure there was a way to bring this forward or make his storyline more dynamic in this book. Kokachin's storyline also had a lot of training, but it has way more going on to keep it interesting. Temujin's just didn't do it for me. I will read the sequel though; the combat and political stuff in this book was good, and the set-up seems over.
It follows four POVs, all co-mingled around Hulegu, a grandson of Genghis, and his quest to subdue the middle East. The twist here is that all the POVs (besides Hulegu's) are trying to prevent him, one way or another. I really liked three of the POVs, particularly Hulegu's which dealt with the political and cultural politics back in Mongolia with his brothers as well as his desire to fulfill his grandfather's wishes.
Kaivon's POV was also really good; a Persian general turned bodyguard for Hulegu who wishes to undermine him. Where this book fell apart for me is almost everything to do with the fourth POV; Temujin.
Temujin is one of Hulegu's sons and the one that everyone hates. My first issue is that people's views of Temujin felt a bit too modern or...not Mongolian enough? They hate him because he's fat. Okay. I am not an expert on Mongolia but Kublai Khan is in this book and a few decades later he is supposedly very large and it's not treated as a big problem. There's also a rumor that Subutai was fat, even if it's untrue the evidence suggests this wouldn't be a big issue with the Mongols. The second reason they hate him is because he's not a fighter. This again feels like someone trying to think of WHY a strong warrior would hate their son and not considering cultural context. If this was Genghis's generation or before, sure. But Genghis' whole thing was finding uses for people that suited their talents. His brother Temuge was not a good fighter, but was a highly trusted administrator and counsellor in the khanate. So everything to do with why Temujin was utterly rejected just fell flat for me.
Beyond that, I found his internal struggle to be not very compelling. He flips switches on his father on a dime and his sensibilities feel so modern that it's jarring. Finally, most of his story doesn't get started until near the very end; he basically spins his wheels until 80% into this book, and even then, he is basically just training. I'm sure there was a way to bring this forward or make his storyline more dynamic in this book. Kokachin's storyline also had a lot of training, but it has way more going on to keep it interesting. Temujin's just didn't do it for me. I will read the sequel though; the combat and political stuff in this book was good, and the set-up seems over.
May 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.25
Thank you to Angry Robot for providing me with the physical arc in exchange for a review!!
The Judas Blossom is an epic fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire's invasion of Persia closely following four characters whose lives are deeply affected and interwoven with the fate of the Empire and its encompassing and growing control.
The utter desecration and ruin Aryan describes makes your heart bleed for the displaced, savaged, and beaten people the Mongolian empire leaves in their wake of brutality.
Normally, I am not a fan of battle-heavy books, but Aryan keeps you engaged by using fighting to further characters and their stories, even providing insight into their personalities and morals.
The way the Khan and his people justify their actions is revealingly disgusting. Perhaps I am reading too deeply into it, but it feels reminiscent of crudely justified politics and cultures today.
Temujin was one of my favourite characters to experience his growth. He wants to prove to his father that, although he isn’t a warrior, he is useful through his intellect. Not every problem can be solved with a sword.
Not to mention, Temujin is the one with magic, the one with the power who could turn the tide of the war as he learns more about himself and what he is and is not willing to do.
Kokochin is another fascinating character. A made-slave given as a concubine to the Khan, she explores how she fits into her new life, and how she might influence the world around her. She also has a sapphic relationship which was sweet to read amidst all the bloodshed and misery.
Overall, a thoroughly engrossing read. I can’t wait to read more of what Aryan writes - it is addicting, fast-paced, and wrapped in secrets, cunning, and plans.
If you enjoyed the Dandelion Dynasty, I would recommend this!
Bookstagram
Thank you to Angry Robot for providing me with the physical arc in exchange for a review!!
The Judas Blossom is an epic fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire's invasion of Persia closely following four characters whose lives are deeply affected and interwoven with the fate of the Empire and its encompassing and growing control.
”The war against them is not over. It will never be over, until they have been driven from Persia, but this time it will not be fought with swords and fire.
My country needs time to recover. The people need a chance to heal, but in the meantime, we will creep into every corner. Infiltrate every industry, bank, embassy and place of power.
And then, slowly, ever so slowly, we will begin to squeeze," said Layla, wringing her hands together. "That is how we will reclaim our nation, from the inside."
The utter desecration and ruin Aryan describes makes your heart bleed for the displaced, savaged, and beaten people the Mongolian empire leaves in their wake of brutality.
Normally, I am not a fan of battle-heavy books, but Aryan keeps you engaged by using fighting to further characters and their stories, even providing insight into their personalities and morals.
The way the Khan and his people justify their actions is revealingly disgusting. Perhaps I am reading too deeply into it, but it feels reminiscent of crudely justified politics and cultures today.
"You know the world is a dark and dangerous place. If not us, then someone else will come. Someone less forgiving and more cruel. Maybe the Maluks and their Muslim brothers. Bow to their god or die."
Temujin was one of my favourite characters to experience his growth. He wants to prove to his father that, although he isn’t a warrior, he is useful through his intellect. Not every problem can be solved with a sword.
Not to mention, Temujin is the one with magic, the one with the power who could turn the tide of the war as he learns more about himself and what he is and is not willing to do.
After what Temujin had been made to do, he swore never again to seek his father's approval. Today would mark a change in his life. It just wouldn't be the one his father expected.
All of his life he had fought. For life, when he was born.
Against his siblings to earn his place. For the attention of his father. Against his urges and hunger. Against the emotions that sought to overwhelm him. Against the fear of becoming a man like his father, or someone even worse. Every time he was knocked down, he always got back up again. He never stopped trying.
Kokochin is another fascinating character. A made-slave given as a concubine to the Khan, she explores how she fits into her new life, and how she might influence the world around her. She also has a sapphic relationship which was sweet to read amidst all the bloodshed and misery.
Overall, a thoroughly engrossing read. I can’t wait to read more of what Aryan writes - it is addicting, fast-paced, and wrapped in secrets, cunning, and plans.
If you enjoyed the Dandelion Dynasty, I would recommend this!
Bookstagram
August 12, 2023
A brutal, action-packed historical reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia. Very fast-paced and a real page-turner. Would have liked a bit more character depth and world-building at times, but still one of the best fantasy books I’ve read this year. Will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
Shelved as 'started-will-finish-later'
August 24, 2023Thank you Angry Robot Books for sending me a finished copy! So excited to dive in.
July 11, 2023
This book really crept up on me.
The Judas Blossom really takes its time to introduce you to the characters and every POV was so well balanced that I didn’t even really have a favorite as it usually goes with stuff like this. Not once did I find myself wanting to get to the other character faster. I also appreciated how effortlessly the distinguishing details were slipped in and made it so I never had to consult the character list.
While I wasn’t fully sold on everyone’s motivations at the beginning, especially with the two relationships that came to be, once the plot really started to unravel it just sucked me in completely. The intricacies of different characters working to undermine each other were so well done and intriguing. Hulagu’s POV just spiced everything up in comparison, and it might’ve been my favorite had it not been for Kaivon’s.
The sieges and battles (which are very hit or miss for me) were so interesting in their logistics and details that were written in I would’ve never considered otherwise. I can’t remember the last time a book made me this intrigued with warfare. If you told me I’d be this riveted by a historical fantasy with just the seeds of the fantasy, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are.
This is an excellent first part to a series I have a feeling I’ll enjoy immensely.
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Judas Blossom really takes its time to introduce you to the characters and every POV was so well balanced that I didn’t even really have a favorite as it usually goes with stuff like this. Not once did I find myself wanting to get to the other character faster. I also appreciated how effortlessly the distinguishing details were slipped in and made it so I never had to consult the character list.
While I wasn’t fully sold on everyone’s motivations at the beginning, especially with the two relationships that came to be, once the plot really started to unravel it just sucked me in completely. The intricacies of different characters working to undermine each other were so well done and intriguing. Hulagu’s POV just spiced everything up in comparison, and it might’ve been my favorite had it not been for Kaivon’s.
The sieges and battles (which are very hit or miss for me) were so interesting in their logistics and details that were written in I would’ve never considered otherwise. I can’t remember the last time a book made me this intrigued with warfare. If you told me I’d be this riveted by a historical fantasy with just the seeds of the fantasy, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are.
This is an excellent first part to a series I have a feeling I’ll enjoy immensely.
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 29, 2023
Sorry to Stephen Aryan for the delay in writing this review. It was released when I was on holidays, and I was on deadline before I went away.
Anyway, now I’m back, I’ve more time to write up my reviews of the books that I’ve loved over the last few months.
The Judas Blossom was one of those books!
I mean, it’s a historical fantasy for a start. It’s also set during a period of history that I don’t know much about – which made it doubly exciting to pick up.
And Stephen Aryan didn’t disappoint. His writing is crisp, succinct, and flows beautifully. He evokes the 12th century Mongolian Empire expertly and has crafted several intriguing characters for us to follow.
We have Hulago Khan, the warlord in charge of the Mongolian expansion, and his much-maligned son Tamujin, who must prove himself to his father. There is Kaivon, a Persian warrior, whose homeland has been invaded by the Mongolian Empire, and there is Kokochin, a princess of a fallen Mongolian tribe, who has been forced into an arranged marriage with Hulago. Finally, we have a secret organisation known as The Twelve, who have their own desires and motivations around what they want to happen to the Mongolian Empire.
Thus, we have many perspectives, many reasons for wanting the Mongolian Empire to succeed or fail. For those who like multi-POV epic fantasies, this story is for you, even if you haven’t given historical fantasy a go yet. There is a favourite character for everyone in this story as with any multiple POV’ novel, we have an array of activity. War. Love. Revenge. Subterfuge. Power.
The fantastical elements are introduced gradually, and then it builds over the course of the novel. I do think, however, that we will see it a lot more in the second and third novels. I don’t want to say anymore about this element as it would spoil parts of the novel and one of the character arcs. All I will say is that it’s very intriguing and I’m excited to see what happens next with this plot strand.
I’d say that readers who love David Gemmell for prose and world building will also enjoy this. It has the same page-turning quality as The Rigante series and some excellent battle scenes too.
A top 2023 read for me – highly recommended!
Anyway, now I’m back, I’ve more time to write up my reviews of the books that I’ve loved over the last few months.
The Judas Blossom was one of those books!
I mean, it’s a historical fantasy for a start. It’s also set during a period of history that I don’t know much about – which made it doubly exciting to pick up.
And Stephen Aryan didn’t disappoint. His writing is crisp, succinct, and flows beautifully. He evokes the 12th century Mongolian Empire expertly and has crafted several intriguing characters for us to follow.
We have Hulago Khan, the warlord in charge of the Mongolian expansion, and his much-maligned son Tamujin, who must prove himself to his father. There is Kaivon, a Persian warrior, whose homeland has been invaded by the Mongolian Empire, and there is Kokochin, a princess of a fallen Mongolian tribe, who has been forced into an arranged marriage with Hulago. Finally, we have a secret organisation known as The Twelve, who have their own desires and motivations around what they want to happen to the Mongolian Empire.
Thus, we have many perspectives, many reasons for wanting the Mongolian Empire to succeed or fail. For those who like multi-POV epic fantasies, this story is for you, even if you haven’t given historical fantasy a go yet. There is a favourite character for everyone in this story as with any multiple POV’ novel, we have an array of activity. War. Love. Revenge. Subterfuge. Power.
The fantastical elements are introduced gradually, and then it builds over the course of the novel. I do think, however, that we will see it a lot more in the second and third novels. I don’t want to say anymore about this element as it would spoil parts of the novel and one of the character arcs. All I will say is that it’s very intriguing and I’m excited to see what happens next with this plot strand.
I’d say that readers who love David Gemmell for prose and world building will also enjoy this. It has the same page-turning quality as The Rigante series and some excellent battle scenes too.
A top 2023 read for me – highly recommended!
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
May 12, 2023DNF @ page 163. I always feel bad DNFing ARCs, but so far this book has only frustrated me. I come to fantasy looking for an immersive experience—one that makes me feel like I’m living in a completely different culture. But the narration in this book is so distant and far-removed from the characters’ actual perspectives that I feel almost like I’m reading a textbook. This kind of summary-heavy storytelling can be done successfully—Ken Liu’s Wuxia-inspired The Grace of Kings comes to mind—but it’s not working for me here. I need more details! I don’t want to coast through each scene knowing only the bare minimum!
Also, for a book from an experienced author, at times the writing is…super clunky? (I’m so sorry. Really I am. I really wanted to like this.) This is the first sentence of chapter 3: “Kaivon watched in horror as the last of his people was cut down in the street by the Mongol warriors.” Why do we start with “Kaivon watched,” a filter phrase that distances us from the action that’s supposed to horrify us? Why is the verb passive when it would make just as much sense to describe the Mongol warriors actively cutting down the last of the people? I don’t have enough information to even start picturing the scene until the end of the sentence. There are so many unnecessary words.
My caveat here is that maybe I’m just not the right target audience, and the problem lies with me, not with the book’s ability or inability to accomplish its goals. This is a very action-heavy story, and I’m a very character-driven reader; but I also read a lot of fantasy, and I just couldn’t bring myself to keep going with this one.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC.
Also, for a book from an experienced author, at times the writing is…super clunky? (I’m so sorry. Really I am. I really wanted to like this.) This is the first sentence of chapter 3: “Kaivon watched in horror as the last of his people was cut down in the street by the Mongol warriors.” Why do we start with “Kaivon watched,” a filter phrase that distances us from the action that’s supposed to horrify us? Why is the verb passive when it would make just as much sense to describe the Mongol warriors actively cutting down the last of the people? I don’t have enough information to even start picturing the scene until the end of the sentence. There are so many unnecessary words.
My caveat here is that maybe I’m just not the right target audience, and the problem lies with me, not with the book’s ability or inability to accomplish its goals. This is a very action-heavy story, and I’m a very character-driven reader; but I also read a lot of fantasy, and I just couldn’t bring myself to keep going with this one.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC.
April 8, 2023
RTC... as there is a request to hold off reviews.. but this is most definitely 5 🌟
February 2, 2024
I received a copy of this book from Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review.
It's 1260, Persia, as Hulagu Khan continues to ensure the legacy of his grandfather and continue the expansion of the Mongol Empire. In violence, Hulagu conquers Persia crushing local leaders and brave warriors. Kaivon, a Persian general, hates Hulagu but realises the best way pf getting revenge is to infiltrate the Khan's inner circle and destroy it from the inside out while the Khan's new wife Kokochin discovers her own method of rebellion within a secret organisation of female assassins. And closer to home, Hulagu's son Temujin struggles to meet his father's expectations but then discovers a magical gift that could change everything.
This is a book that tries to unpack a lot of history, and tell it in a fast-paced, informative way and I think in many ways it does it really well. The Mongol Empire is a very fascinating, and violent time in human history and I think to try and explain it all in one book is an impossible feat. But this look at the grandsons of the original Genghis Khan, and what his legacy meant for them and the mere ferioucness of the Mongol warriors was enlightening in itself.
I think for me, for some reason I can't quite pinpoint, there was just something missing in this book. And seeing all the other 5-star reviews out there, I'm thinking it must be a me problem rather than the book itself. When it comes to historic fantasy, I'm prepared to take it slow and really fall into the world I'm reading from the history to the characters and that didn't quite happen for me with this one. I think I didn't get on with the pacing of this book, the jumping around of characters and everything felt a little rushed and too easy at times. I would have liked a lot more detail about many things from the travels between cities for Kaivon and the Mongol troops, to Kokochin's training with Layla (and their relationship that went from 0-100 in the space of a sentence). I wanted to really get to know the characters and I really feel like I didn't have the time to appreciate them and who they really were and what drove them (other than revenge and hatred for Hulagu).
I actually think I would have preferred if this book slowed all the way down and only followed Kaivon and Kokochin as people attempting to take down Hulagu and the Ilkhanate from the inside. I actually feel, for me, Temujin's story took away from the interesting chapters that were Kaivon and Kokochin and the magical element in this story left me slightly confused as well (though I know it's historical fantasy so it would be removing the fantasy element but I'm okay with that).
Hulagu's chapters actually felt obsolete because everything we learned about him/from him we could have learned from Kaivon and it would be more fun seeing him from Kaivon and Kokochin's perspective only.
I found this to be easy reading though - and the paperback I had was lovely and floppy which made the reading experience more enjoyable. I still liked this book, and enjoyed my reading experience - I was just disappointed that I didn't get more out of it like I wanted to.
It's 1260, Persia, as Hulagu Khan continues to ensure the legacy of his grandfather and continue the expansion of the Mongol Empire. In violence, Hulagu conquers Persia crushing local leaders and brave warriors. Kaivon, a Persian general, hates Hulagu but realises the best way pf getting revenge is to infiltrate the Khan's inner circle and destroy it from the inside out while the Khan's new wife Kokochin discovers her own method of rebellion within a secret organisation of female assassins. And closer to home, Hulagu's son Temujin struggles to meet his father's expectations but then discovers a magical gift that could change everything.
This is a book that tries to unpack a lot of history, and tell it in a fast-paced, informative way and I think in many ways it does it really well. The Mongol Empire is a very fascinating, and violent time in human history and I think to try and explain it all in one book is an impossible feat. But this look at the grandsons of the original Genghis Khan, and what his legacy meant for them and the mere ferioucness of the Mongol warriors was enlightening in itself.
I think for me, for some reason I can't quite pinpoint, there was just something missing in this book. And seeing all the other 5-star reviews out there, I'm thinking it must be a me problem rather than the book itself. When it comes to historic fantasy, I'm prepared to take it slow and really fall into the world I'm reading from the history to the characters and that didn't quite happen for me with this one. I think I didn't get on with the pacing of this book, the jumping around of characters and everything felt a little rushed and too easy at times. I would have liked a lot more detail about many things from the travels between cities for Kaivon and the Mongol troops, to Kokochin's training with Layla (and their relationship that went from 0-100 in the space of a sentence). I wanted to really get to know the characters and I really feel like I didn't have the time to appreciate them and who they really were and what drove them (other than revenge and hatred for Hulagu).
I actually think I would have preferred if this book slowed all the way down and only followed Kaivon and Kokochin as people attempting to take down Hulagu and the Ilkhanate from the inside. I actually feel, for me, Temujin's story took away from the interesting chapters that were Kaivon and Kokochin and the magical element in this story left me slightly confused as well (though I know it's historical fantasy so it would be removing the fantasy element but I'm okay with that).
Hulagu's chapters actually felt obsolete because everything we learned about him/from him we could have learned from Kaivon and it would be more fun seeing him from Kaivon and Kokochin's perspective only.
I found this to be easy reading though - and the paperback I had was lovely and floppy which made the reading experience more enjoyable. I still liked this book, and enjoyed my reading experience - I was just disappointed that I didn't get more out of it like I wanted to.
June 29, 2023
Thank you to Angry Robot for a finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
The Judas Blossom is a historical fantasy taking place in the 1260s during the height of the Mongolian Empire. Aryan gives us four main perspectives—Hulagu, the ruler of the Ilkhanate and grandson of Genghis Khan, Temujin, Hulagu’s disappointment of a son, Kokochin, his newest wife, and Kaivon, a former Persian general who is now in Hulagu’s service—and a perspective that serves more as an interlude. Every single POV was engaging and compelling, with each character having a unique perspective on the Mongolian Empire and a specific set of goals and motivation—sometimes these goals align and sometimes they do not. These characters—as well as the prominent secondary characters in their chapters, such as the Empress or a healer in the Mongolian camp—felt very well done and human, such that they were often frustrating but still very understandable.
Aryan’s new series is much heavier on the historical fiction than the fantasy, but there are seeds of magic that are very interesting and have a lot of potential for the future of the series. The way this is written flows so easily that I found I’d read over a hundred pages in a single sitting without even realizing it. I requested this because I love SFF that explores the cost of empire, as well as reading fiction in non-European settings and this did not disappoint in any way. I was very pleasantly surprised with just how much I loved this, and if you are looking for a historical fantasy that is epic in nature but set in our world, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
The Judas Blossom is a historical fantasy taking place in the 1260s during the height of the Mongolian Empire. Aryan gives us four main perspectives—Hulagu, the ruler of the Ilkhanate and grandson of Genghis Khan, Temujin, Hulagu’s disappointment of a son, Kokochin, his newest wife, and Kaivon, a former Persian general who is now in Hulagu’s service—and a perspective that serves more as an interlude. Every single POV was engaging and compelling, with each character having a unique perspective on the Mongolian Empire and a specific set of goals and motivation—sometimes these goals align and sometimes they do not. These characters—as well as the prominent secondary characters in their chapters, such as the Empress or a healer in the Mongolian camp—felt very well done and human, such that they were often frustrating but still very understandable.
Aryan’s new series is much heavier on the historical fiction than the fantasy, but there are seeds of magic that are very interesting and have a lot of potential for the future of the series. The way this is written flows so easily that I found I’d read over a hundred pages in a single sitting without even realizing it. I requested this because I love SFF that explores the cost of empire, as well as reading fiction in non-European settings and this did not disappoint in any way. I was very pleasantly surprised with just how much I loved this, and if you are looking for a historical fantasy that is epic in nature but set in our world, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
October 5, 2023
I enjoyed this work, which is epic, bloody, brutal historical fiction with a big dose of fantasy elements! It has a unique storyline, with some unexpected twists and turns. It definitely had me emotionally invested in the protagonists, and ended on multiple cliffhangers—now I MUST read the sequel when it comes out to see what happens next! I deducted one star for the writing style, which was adequate, but could have been a little more interesting. In the hands of a Conn Iggulden or a Steven Pressfield, this would be a true masterpiece. Still, not bad for a historical fiction/fantasy adventure. 4 stars.
September 6, 2024
What an amazing book! I was contacted by the publisher Angry Robot Books about reviewing this book, and decided to accept a copy and give it a go. I don't know what I was expecting, but I really was not expecting this!
First and foremost, this is a historical fiction book. We are following the Mongol Empire and the Khan descendants who rule the empire. As such, this is a very political book, dealing with governments and politics and empires. I thought that Stephen Aryan did an excellent job not only of explaining the governmental structure, but also of making the intrigue exciting as well.
The book is also very easy to follow. Even though there is a list of names at the back of the book, I didn't need it at all. Aryan just made every single character and plotline stand out, and it just leapt off the page for me.
If you are a fan of history, I think you'll eat this book up. It is simply history come to life! Now, certain events are fudged and obviously some of the story about some of the characters is fake (and the fantasy elements are fake as well), but it makes learning about the Mongol Empire and this period of history so much more exciting!
There are 4 main POV characters: Hulagu Khan, Temujin Khan, Kokochin, and Kaivon. Each story was riveting and exciting throughout. My personal story was actually Hulagu's story, even though he couldb be viewed as the "villain" of the book.
My only complaint is that there were decisions made in Kokochin's storyline that I didn't love. I don't say these were bad decisions because Stephen Aryan actually does an excellent job of explaining why her character makes these decisions. But I personally would have preferred her character to go in another direction.
The fantastical elements here are light....very light. This magic system is incredibly soft and it was so enjoyable for me, who likes soft magic systems. It gets used more and more as the book goes along, and it will definitely play a major factor in book 2, which I will definitely be reading.
Overall, I just loved reading this book. It got me out of a reading slump, and I cannot wait to read more by Stephen Aryan in the future. 9.5 out of 10! Top tier Fantasy book of the year for me!
First and foremost, this is a historical fiction book. We are following the Mongol Empire and the Khan descendants who rule the empire. As such, this is a very political book, dealing with governments and politics and empires. I thought that Stephen Aryan did an excellent job not only of explaining the governmental structure, but also of making the intrigue exciting as well.
The book is also very easy to follow. Even though there is a list of names at the back of the book, I didn't need it at all. Aryan just made every single character and plotline stand out, and it just leapt off the page for me.
If you are a fan of history, I think you'll eat this book up. It is simply history come to life! Now, certain events are fudged and obviously some of the story about some of the characters is fake (and the fantasy elements are fake as well), but it makes learning about the Mongol Empire and this period of history so much more exciting!
There are 4 main POV characters: Hulagu Khan, Temujin Khan, Kokochin, and Kaivon. Each story was riveting and exciting throughout. My personal story was actually Hulagu's story, even though he couldb be viewed as the "villain" of the book.
My only complaint is that there were decisions made in Kokochin's storyline that I didn't love. I don't say these were bad decisions because Stephen Aryan actually does an excellent job of explaining why her character makes these decisions. But I personally would have preferred her character to go in another direction.
The fantastical elements here are light....very light. This magic system is incredibly soft and it was so enjoyable for me, who likes soft magic systems. It gets used more and more as the book goes along, and it will definitely play a major factor in book 2, which I will definitely be reading.
Overall, I just loved reading this book. It got me out of a reading slump, and I cannot wait to read more by Stephen Aryan in the future. 9.5 out of 10! Top tier Fantasy book of the year for me!
February 9, 2024
I believe this book was written for me! Loved it! Brilliantly combining a very interesting time in history with very mysterious magic! Cannot wait for book 2
August 10, 2023
The Judas Blossom is the first in a historical fantasy series reimagining the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia. Set in 1260, it follows four people on very different paths that will either lead to the Mongol Empire’s triumph or defeat. Hulagu Khan is a mighty ruler and warrior, brother to the Great Khan, who wants to fulfill his grandfather Genghis Khan’s dream of a world ruled by the Mongol Empire. Temujin is his weak youngest son who finds a secret power within himself that may finally make his father proud but at a cost. Kokochin is the last member of an enemy Mongol tribe that is gifted to Hulagu as his newest bride and she seeks solace in the arms of a female Persian spy. Kaivon is a surviving general of the defeated Persian army and finds himself in a position to destroy the Mongol empire from within.
I am not big on historical fiction and The Judas Blossom was way more historical than fantasy, but I was completely won over. This was just an excellent, thrilling read with intense action sequences and likable but morally grey characters. I actually had a hard time deciding who I was rooting for because none of them are exactly perfect, but the book made me like each and every one of them despite the terrible things they do. I was genuinely shocked by the twists and turns the characters take.
I enjoyed the heavy political plays, the brutal and bloody battles, and the imperfect characters. And of course, I have a soft spot for Asian fantasies because I support any representation as an Asian myself (although I actually know next to nothing about this specific historical period). There was nothing I didn’t like about the book. It is a deceptively short, quick read with simple yet effective prose. With the ever shifting perspectives each chapter, it never feels long with no character or plotline overstaying its welcome, and the story just speeds along. It is compellingly told and imaginative even with the minimal fantasy elements.
The Judas Blossom is an epic historical fantasy that just delivers.
*I received an early finished copy of the book from Angry Robot books for its book tour.
I am not big on historical fiction and The Judas Blossom was way more historical than fantasy, but I was completely won over. This was just an excellent, thrilling read with intense action sequences and likable but morally grey characters. I actually had a hard time deciding who I was rooting for because none of them are exactly perfect, but the book made me like each and every one of them despite the terrible things they do. I was genuinely shocked by the twists and turns the characters take.
I enjoyed the heavy political plays, the brutal and bloody battles, and the imperfect characters. And of course, I have a soft spot for Asian fantasies because I support any representation as an Asian myself (although I actually know next to nothing about this specific historical period). There was nothing I didn’t like about the book. It is a deceptively short, quick read with simple yet effective prose. With the ever shifting perspectives each chapter, it never feels long with no character or plotline overstaying its welcome, and the story just speeds along. It is compellingly told and imaginative even with the minimal fantasy elements.
The Judas Blossom is an epic historical fantasy that just delivers.
*I received an early finished copy of the book from Angry Robot books for its book tour.
July 9, 2023
Have you ever picked up a fantasy book and got so lost in it you thought you were reading a history book (but a really really good one that keeps you captivating with the stories)? That’s what this book did to me. I went in wanting to know more about this new fantasy world, and through the art of beautiful storytelling mixed with some gorgeous historical fiction, I ended it wanting to know more about this time period I know absolutely nothing about (I HATED history in school).
If a book is great enough to make me want to study the history behind it, then you know it’s a bloody great book. Definitely add this beautiful fantasy read to your summer TBRs.
Thank you to Angry Robot for sending me a proof of this one.
If a book is great enough to make me want to study the history behind it, then you know it’s a bloody great book. Definitely add this beautiful fantasy read to your summer TBRs.
Thank you to Angry Robot for sending me a proof of this one.
December 17, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up. Needed a break from romance so a dark, gritty historical military fantasy sounded just the ticket. First off, I loved that an Iranian author was writing about the history of the Mongol invasion of Persia; most of all, I loved his portrayals of women, and especially the character of Kokochin. I rarely see male authors write lesbians well. She was a complicated character, starting off as the Khan's new wife, her whole family slaughtered, naive and unprepared, until she meets Layla and the rebellion, and comes into her own as a character.
I also loved how the women in this were the characters working behind the scenes to break up the Mongol Empire from within. They were all strong people who used their positions as ruthlessly as the men used theirs. The characters in this were what kept me reading, as well as the fascinating historical period, which I don't see enough of in fiction. The research that went into this was phenomenal.
I also liked the men fighting back against the empire; Temujin in particular was a great character, a man who started off as fat, soft and gentle, craving his bloodthirsty father's approval, but he's got dormant magical powers and fights against toxic male stereotypes of the time.
I struggled with the author's writing style though, or this would have gotten a solid 4 stars. The flow of the pacing was kind of a drag to read. Maybe because there was a lot of telling or over-explaining or passive voice; couldn't quite put my finger on why the prose wasn't compelling enough for me.
The story, the history and the characters were worth staying for though.
I also loved how the women in this were the characters working behind the scenes to break up the Mongol Empire from within. They were all strong people who used their positions as ruthlessly as the men used theirs. The characters in this were what kept me reading, as well as the fascinating historical period, which I don't see enough of in fiction. The research that went into this was phenomenal.
I also liked the men fighting back against the empire; Temujin in particular was a great character, a man who started off as fat, soft and gentle, craving his bloodthirsty father's approval, but he's got dormant magical powers and fights against toxic male stereotypes of the time.
I struggled with the author's writing style though, or this would have gotten a solid 4 stars. The flow of the pacing was kind of a drag to read. Maybe because there was a lot of telling or over-explaining or passive voice; couldn't quite put my finger on why the prose wasn't compelling enough for me.
The story, the history and the characters were worth staying for though.
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