Book Review: Temple of No God

Spoiler Alert: This is book 2 of the series. If you haven’t read the previous novel, there may be spoilers for events in book one. If you wish to see my review for the first book, click here.

Hessa has been the leader and high priest of her people for ten years now. Life under Tyvander’s guidance has become normal even if it isn’t exactly peaceful. When a visitor comes to her village on behalf of an arpa aspiring to be their new emperor, the world becomes uncertain once again. Maybe there is still more to happen in the higher realm, even when there are no gods to worship.

H. M. Long’s second installment in the Four Pillar series, Temple of No God, brings back Hessa’s new world under the true gods. After ten years, she is approached by an Arpa man claiming to want her help placing a new emperor on the Arpa throne. She is unsure what a new leader will do for the Arpa nation and if it is smart to help them. Yet, she will do as her god commands, even if that means venturing into the heart of her enemy’s lands.

Once again, H. M. Long has shown how excellent her writing is with this new adventure. Her style is both sophisticated and descriptive while remaining easy to read and understand. As Hessa journeys through new lands, it is easy to imagine the world’s scenery. The mature wording and sentence structure captures the imagination and draws the reader in. Her style also connects the reader with the main character. Even though the narration is from a third person perspective, it is easy to understand Hessa’s feelings and emotions. Long’s writing style keeps the reader engaged and interested throughout the novel.

The world in this novel continues to expand and change from the first novel. The cultures of different peoples have changed within the ten year time gap which makes them fresh and interesting. The mythology has also evolved and progressed even with a much smaller pantheon. The novel depicts the kind of god Tyvander is and how he treats the people under him. The remaining Miri also have their own roles to play, many of which may surprise the reader. Long’s world still has much to be explored and discovered.

As for the characters, all of them are excellent. Hessa, as the main character, is rightfully the focus of this novel. She is imperfect, but she is very relatable. In this book, she is struggling with tough relationships and the hardships of being a leader over others. She humbly recognizes her mistakes or her part in a current problem. She is strong in both strength and principles. Hessa never compromises on what she thinks is right even to the gods themselves. Plus, she cares about all peoples, even her enemies. Hessa is a great main character with her relatability and her compassion that leaves the reader wanting to see where she goes next.