Hall of Smoke (The Four Pillars)

I loved this book. I feel like I've been waiting years for a book like this! I have never loved first person narratives, but this one swept me away right from the start in that field of poppies.This book is all about the journey, in both the inner and outer world. The setting was magical, mythical and immersed in nature, the descriptions were vivid enough to paint a picture without being overly intricate or boring me while allowing space for my own imagination to build and expand, there was next to no romance and Hessa was an independent woman driven by love for her people and a healthy fear of her goddess and enemies all while questioning her own faith. Hessa was strong and fierce without being abrasive or cruel, while balancing being empathetic to others, doing what she wants and doing what she knows she has to do. The stories and secondary characters were compelling on their own and interwove seamlessly right through to the end.In the afterword, the author shares that the story was meant to have Celtic vibes and I definitely got that, especially with the Roman-like Arpa Empire, but it also definitely had the Viking flavour I keep seeing people talk about, too. It was never too much like any of these historic peoples and places that it never lost it's own original feel or took me out of the world.Honestly, I did not want this book to end and I tried really hard to savor it. I'm super excited to see there's a related book in the works and I hope to see more wonderful stories from H.M. Long in this world she created or another.

I don't generally review books, though I am an avid and voracious reader. However, many of those books have several excellently written reviews to recommend them while this excellent work currently has less than a hundred.This book deserves every keystroke and high praise I can give it. From the very opening lines, I was transported to another world. I sank willingly into its ebbs and flows and hardly came up for air before finishing it.Did you ever walk out of a movie and feel like, in your heart of hearts that you were still there? When I was in highschool Pirates of the Caribbean came out and I went and saw it in theatres. Walking out the first time I felt a big ball of joy and delight in adventure swelling in my chest. It made me want to go out and try something I'd never tried before, dance on top of tables, get into a fight, or kiss someone soundly. This is not a story about pirates or swashbuckling. It's a deep tale of old gods and the people that carry their legends even now, but it gives you that same feeling.Can't say enough good about it. Literary speaking? The historical setting and world-building were so on pointe it was incredible. Plot was brisk without being confusing or convoluted and wasn't predictable. Characters grew and developed and had real motivations for their actions. Voice was consistent and excellently written.You know what? Just try it. It's amazing I don't- I don't know what else to tell you, ok?

Great read, could not put it down, only complaint is I wish it was a bit slower paced and longer, only because Longs ability to paint a picture in your mind with her words was fantastically beautiful!! I wish I could spend more time in this world, which I plan to do in Book 2!!!

Great world building, interesting world, gods, and characters. My biggest hope is that queer characters are introduced in later books, but I will definitely read the whole series regardless. I immediately ordered the next book before even finishing this one!

One of the best books I've read and I have read many! Engaging, great story line and a book you enjoy every word.

TLDR: What you’d expect from a male-lead fantasy, but with a female lead. Most refreshing.I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book but I was pleasantly surprised. The dead wife trope is turned on its head for a dead husband instead. There isn’t a romance at all and the whole book was brimming with battles.The world building was fantastic. The lore and the tangle among the gods, goddesses, and other immortals was a treat to unravel. I also enjoyed the different people’s and their different allegiances and hatreds, which added to the world.The battles were well written and I appreciated the realism that Long gave to certain aspects of the world, such as, what does a woman in the world actually do for that time of the month? I also appreciated that things like that weren’t simply thrown in for no reason but had legitimate plot purposes.Overall a solid 4/5 stars. A great debut novel.

With bleary eyes and a heavy, aching heart, I'm suffering from the most agonizing book hangover. This beautiful beastie seized me from the opening sentence and yanked me into a striking, Viking-esque world of sweeping landscapes, dynamic characters, and deities as volatile as they are powerful.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Many facets on this radiant gem shine ever so brightly, but my absolute favorite is Hessa, our warrior priestess protagonist. Stalwart and just so incredibly good-hearted, I bonded with her immediately. Her stakes. Her pain and suffering and conflicting emotions. I wanted to scoop her up and smother her with love. At three-quarters in, I was already mourning that the book would, in fact, end. I didn't want to tell Hessa goodbye.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Long's prose is lyrical and hypnotizing, her plot enthralling, keeping me up until the wee hours of the morning. But the lack of sleep was completely worth it. What an extraordinary debut!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Do yourself a favor and pick up HALL OF SMOKE pronto! I can't wait to see what H.M. Long writes next!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣And psst. Some wistful advice: Treat this book like a Sunday morning. Treasure it. Savor every sweet, glorious moment because it will end wayyyyyyyy before you're ready.⁣⁣⁣

I loved this book so much !Hessa is an incredible MC and H.M Long's writing is awesome but my favorite thing about this book is without hesitation the worldbuilding : a viking inspired world with unique gods and powers it was perfect.The storytelling is also incredible I had no expectations I didn't know where I was going but yet the finals chapters managed to surprise me.I really loved to follow Hessa journey and I can't wait to see her again in Temple of No GodI recommend this book to fantasy lovers in particular viking's stories fans

I like the premise of the book with the different gods and their blessed peoples. It was a bit confusing when it came to remembering which gods were which and allied with whom. I liked the main character and her drive. It was also refreshing for their to be a lack of romance which was fitting given the main characters storyline. An enjoyable read with a suitably complex main character who is capable but not too 'chosen one' ish

‘Hall of Smoke’ by H.M. long is an impressive fantasy debut with Viking and Norse influences. Its protagonist and narrator is Hessa, an Eangi - a priestess of Eang, the Goddess of War, with the power to turn an enemy's bones to dust with a scream. Terrifying!As the novel opens Hessa has been banished for disobeying an order of her goddess. She has gone to a mountainside to pray for forgiveness.Yet while she is away, raiders attack her village and obliterate the Eangi priesthood. So now Hessa is the last Eangi. As this is an epic fantasy in the pages that follow there is plenty of action, raids and battles, alliances and betrayals, magic and curses, gods and demons. Through it all Hessa strives to win back Eang’s favour. I was quickly drawn into this novel and felt that the world-building was excellent. Hessa relates the tale in the manner of a storyteller as if we are all gathered in a Viking longhouse to thrill to a saga of the gods and warriors. It was a powerful and immersive experience.‘Hall of Smoke’ is a standalone and her next novel, ‘Temple of No God’, will be a standalone sequel set in the same world. I certainly shall be looking forward to it.

Hessa is an admirable heroine, the world building and action are fantastic, and the writing is beautiful. I could feel Hessa's pain and triumpths. Looking forward to more from this author!

This Viking-esque fantasy novel neatly eschews the patriarchal framing of old Norse stories while adroitly capturing their axe-wielding spirit. It held my attention and kept me interested and curious. I’m looking forward to seeing where the rest of the series goes.