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A review by skycrane
The Thousand Names by Django Wexler
5.0
I consider military fantasy to be one of my guilty pleasures, since it tends to be a pulpy genre, heavy on stereotypes and lacking in depth. I'd rate this book a tier or two higher than the typical example. The pacing and action is excellent, but there's also a lot of emphasis on character. You really get to know Winter and Marcus.
For the most part, The Thousands Names is about a single military campaign. The puppet king of Khandar has been overthrown by religious fanatics, and the Vordanai Colonial Regiment chased to the sea. Even with reinforcements, they're vastly outnumbered, facing a determined enemy with the support of the populace and superior knowledge of the territory. So there are some lively, harsh, and engaging depictions of flintlock-and-bayonet battles. But there's also a deeper plot, involving forbidden magic, ancient secrets, and power struggles within Vordan and Khandar alike.
For the most part, The Thousands Names is about a single military campaign. The puppet king of Khandar has been overthrown by religious fanatics, and the Vordanai Colonial Regiment chased to the sea. Even with reinforcements, they're vastly outnumbered, facing a determined enemy with the support of the populace and superior knowledge of the territory. So there are some lively, harsh, and engaging depictions of flintlock-and-bayonet battles. But there's also a deeper plot, involving forbidden magic, ancient secrets, and power struggles within Vordan and Khandar alike.