Review: Sokâr by Ravenna Vale

August 1, 2026

Synopsis:

Within the Endless Dark, a fallen star is worshipped as a goddess within a gilded cage.

Hidden beneath the ruined Surface of Elendria, Krystopolis survives behind immense Shields that shelter it from the brutal Cycles above. Within its latticed towers, power is governed by strict Doctrine—blood magic, ritual, and spectacle designed to keep the Void itself in balance.

Fifty-three years ago, the Resh’Agar—Krystopolis’s immortal god of war—brought a strange girl from the Surface and named her his Sokâr.

The Council called her an ornament.
The People called her a heretic.

Auryn has spent decades learning the city that never wanted her. Watching. Listening. Waiting.

Now she is quietly building influence of her own—spying on the Council, fighting for the forgotten districts, and uncovering the terrible truth behind the rituals that sustain Krystopolis… and devour the man she loves piece by piece.

Walking beside the Resh’Agar is dangerous.
Holding his favor is worse.
And loving him may be the most dangerous choice of all.

As Auryn’s power grows, so do the enemies gathering in the shadows of the city.

Because the Void must remain impartial.

And a Sokâr who begins to change the balance of Krystopolis may bring the entire empire crashing down.

Review:

We return to the world only to learn that Auryn was left to fend for herself for over fifty years in a place, and among people, who do not respect or recognize her in any relevant role. They treat her as unworthy and would prefer her to go into hiding and not interfere with anyone or anything. What a sad place to be. The feeling of loneliness, questioning her own worth, and waiting for him to return to her was so heartbreaking to see. When he finally came back, what a reunion it was. These two have such a special bond, and it was lovely to see how much they care about each other.
Both of them had a role to play, and it wasn’t easy for them to stay true to who they are, and to each other, when everyone around them was constantly challenging them.

This is a book that will occupy your full brain power. It took me a bit to get back into the world again. It is rich, with a large cast of characters, plenty of political plotting, and everyone having their own agenda. In the midst of it all, we have two people simply trying to make it through the day.

The writing style is not what I usually read, but I can appreciate it for what it is. I did wonder at times whether it needed to be quite this long, but that might just be a me problem. While I can absolutely appreciate the detailed storytelling, the pacing didn’t feel completely even throughout.

🌙 Recension: Sokâr (Nine Rivers Odyssey #2) by Ravenna Vale
📚 Genre: Romantasy
📅 Release Date: August 1, 2026
📗 available in various formats
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 752
⭐️ 4/5