A Symphony of Stars

The Gods of Men, Book 3

By: Barbara Kloss

Narrated by: Kim Churchill

Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Will Imari fall like every sulaziér before her?

In a desperate attempt to save King Jeric’s life, Imari drew upon the power from the Tree of Wisdom, hidden deep within the forsaken lands of Sol Velor. But Imari could not have known that by doing so, she would also free Zussa—the Great Deceiver—who had been bound between worlds since the beginning of time.

Thus freed, and now using Azir Mubarék as a vessel, Zussa will stop at nothing to exact her final revenge: to unravel the world as it is written.

With Trier destroyed and so many Sol Velorians and Liagé now under Zussa’s employ, it seems the Five Provinces are doomed to Zussa’s insatiable wrath. Jeric and Imari’s only hope is to return to Corinth, to gather whatever fighting men will help, but Jeric hasn’t been home in over two months. He can’t possibly know what awaits him there, or if he still has a throne.

Regardless of what they find, Imari soon comes to understand that her particular gifting as a sulaziér is crucial in their inevitable fight against Zussa. The only problem is that her flute—her talla—is broken, and she can’t channel shah power properly without it. Jeric has miraculously discovered a new talla, but using it might come with a price that Imari is not willing to pay.

©2022 Barbara Kloss (P)2023 Barbara Kloss

Save yourself the tired trite!

I embarked on this whole series a while back and deeply regret it. Any charm from the first book long evaporated in the repetitive, boring and utterly proselytizing tone of the later volumes. Getting through the last one was difficult. I mean no disrespect to people’s religious beliefs, but this books is a badly wrapped advert for female subjugation. Casting the incredibly powerful women only as victims of jealousy, power hunger and utterly unable to attain meaning as anything other than a reflection of a man’s regard. It is just such a shame that an interesting story with a cool magic system devolved into a retelling of the role of Eve in bringing in sin, and the “goodness” of an all knowing creator that teaches us through blood and suffering that we are blessed. Don’t get the book! Save yourself the agony…