Serpentus by A J Calvin

A fun read, plenty of action and intriguing, growing, characters.
    The plot is a classic of fantasy where one god leads his minions to try to take over the mortal lands of the followers of the other gods. They, in turn, rally their minions and there is an epic battle.
    However, the twist is in what happens to our main character, Owen. He starts on the “good” side, is captured, placed in a kind of neutral servitude, then forced to join the “evil” side, before finally being rescued, but forever changed.
    We are carried through this story with Owen and a fascinating array of secondary characters, some sympathetic and some hostile. Foremost is Aj’ana, a Murkor (amazing society – well done!) who takes Owen under her wing while he’s in servitude and, through their interactions, teaches him things about himself and others.
    Tessamir is not only Owen’s love interest but a powerful multi-dimensional character on her own. She brings an interesting backstory and is a strong foil against which to play Owen’s growth as well as his weaknesses and strengths.
    There are others, including battle leaders and people who are unhinged by the changes and challenges they are forced to undergo. Each character presents Owen opportunities and difficulties which he (and Tess) must work through, presenting a fresh retelling of the good versus evil war trope.
    Oh, and there is a lot of action!
 Serpentus is a stand-alone novel in the Relics of War universe. Highly recommended!