- ASIN: B09YBNQBNQ
- Publication date: April 29, 2022
- Language: English
- Print length: 300 pages
- Genre: Epic Dark Fantasy
The BookViral Review:
Jason Kalinowski’s Sojourns in Vana is a sprawling and battle-driven continuation of his debut novel Vorclaw. Where the first book established the tragic foundations of vengeance and political betrayal, this second installment deepens the stakes with a tale of loyalty, sacrifice, and the corrosive pursuit of power. The result is a dense yet rewarding epic fantasy, steeped in lore and brimming with hard-fought battles.
The story resumes in the wake of Vorclaw’s collapse. General Baltus Blackpool, still consumed by rage over his wife’s death, consolidates his military control and begins dismantling the Council of Twelve. His brilliance and cruelty underscore the fragile nature of alliances, especially when revenge overrides duty. In parallel, Queen Ooktha of the arch-goblins emerges as one of the novel’s most compelling figures. Betrayed and wounded, she clings to power by sacrificing allies, pawns, and even her lover, Leif Foehammer. Her arc captures the devastating allure of vengeance, even as it strips her of humanity.
Much of the narrative’s heart lies with Leif and Bjorn Foehammer, stranded in the frozen north with Dru Blackpool and other companions. Their desperate march through mountains and necropolises, beset by revenants, ghouls, and endless undead, supplies some of the novel’s most gripping sequences. Kalinowski excels in these passages, crafting combat that balances visceral detail with camaraderie and moral tension. Leif’s struggle with his dual heritage—an elf raised by humans—provides momentum, while hints of a hidden past inject mystery into his arc. Bjorn, meanwhile, wrestles with faith and the burden of leadership, his bond with Leif offering an emotional counterpoint to the political cynicism of the wider world.
Structurally, Sojourns in Vana is ambitious. It juggles three interwoven strands: Baltus’s manipulation of Vorclaw’s politics, Ooktha’s fragile schemes, and the perilous northern quest. While the lore is dense—particularly with the inclusion of gods, revenants, and organizations such as the Union of Undead—this detail lends the novel a distinctly tabletop feel reminiscent of Dungeons & Dragons. For some, the abundance of world-building may feel heavy, but for readers who enjoy richly constructed mythologies, it adds depth and texture.
Thematically, the book explores vengeance, betrayal, and fractured family bonds. Baltus’s obsession isolates him from his kin; Ooktha’s betrayals unravel her power base; and the Foehammer brothers’ relationship, tempered by prophecy and bloodshed, anchors the human drama beneath the chaos of war. Even secondary figures, like the assassin Damon Crag or the priest Dru, are granted moments that reveal the toll of endless conflict.
The prose, while efficient, occasionally leans into exposition-heavy passages that slow momentum. Readers new to the series may struggle without the grounding of Vorclaw. Yet Kalinowski’s sincerity shines through. His background as a military veteran gives authenticity to the tactical realism of his battle scenes, which bristle with grit and weight. This grounding prevents the novel from slipping into romanticized fantasy, instead highlighting the brutal costs of war.
In the end, Sojourns in Vana proves a worthy sequel—expanding its world with new layers of political intrigue, dark sorcery, and personal sacrifice. Kalinowski demonstrates a willingness to grapple with complexity, weaving together shifting allegiances, family bonds, and apocalyptic stakes.
Our Verdict: Dense, grim, and richly imagined, Sojourns in Vana rewards patient readers who relish morally complex characters and the high stakes of vengeance-driven war.
It is highly recommended!
