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The Mortal Techniques #3
Spirits of Vengeance
He'll die as many times as it takes.
The Ipian Empire was once a land that welcomed dragons and spirits alike, but a century of war and bloodshed saw them all but vanish. Now, the lost things are returning and the Onryo have gathered. Five legendary spirits with mysterious powers, bent on freeing an ancient evil that would wreak havoc on humanity.
Haruto swore his soul to the God of Death for the chance to hunt down the vengeful ghost of his wife. Now an onmyoji, he’s tasked by the Imperial Throne to hunt down monsters and malicious spirits. But he knows not all spirits are evil and not all deserve the peace of the sword.
Kira is a student at Heiwa, an academy for children with dangerous techniques. But she has a secret, she’s not like the other students. When the school is attacked, she flees with one of the tutors, determined to hide both from those who would kill her, and those who would use her.
As a plague of spirits sweeps across the land, the Onryo leave a bloody trail for Haruto to follow. But who’s hunting who?
The Mortal Techniques novels are a series of stand-alone stories that can be read entirely independently, set in the award-winning Mortal Techniques universe.
The Ipian Empire was once a land that welcomed dragons and spirits alike, but a century of war and bloodshed saw them all but vanish. Now, the lost things are returning and the Onryo have gathered. Five legendary spirits with mysterious powers, bent on freeing an ancient evil that would wreak havoc on humanity.
Haruto swore his soul to the God of Death for the chance to hunt down the vengeful ghost of his wife. Now an onmyoji, he’s tasked by the Imperial Throne to hunt down monsters and malicious spirits. But he knows not all spirits are evil and not all deserve the peace of the sword.
Kira is a student at Heiwa, an academy for children with dangerous techniques. But she has a secret, she’s not like the other students. When the school is attacked, she flees with one of the tutors, determined to hide both from those who would kill her, and those who would use her.
As a plague of spirits sweeps across the land, the Onryo leave a bloody trail for Haruto to follow. But who’s hunting who?
The Mortal Techniques novels are a series of stand-alone stories that can be read entirely independently, set in the award-winning Mortal Techniques universe.
552 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2021
65 people are currently reading
2836 people want to read
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
44 books1,844 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
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October 3, 2021
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Rob J. Hayes has done it. He has created a novel that surpassed Never Die; Spirits of Vengeance is not only my favorite novel in the Mortal Techniques series, but it is also Hayes’s best work so far.
Two things first. First, Hayes isn’t the singular person that excels here. The duo of Felix Ortiz (cover artist) and Shawn T. King (cover designer) made a return once again, and I have to say that Spirits of Vengeance is Ortiz’s finest cover art so far. It’s shocking, I know; Ortiz has blessed self-published fantasy with a lot of striking cover arts, and he constantly improves himself. Second, because I know this question will be asked, Mortal Techniques is a series of standalone novels with connection to each other, so can you read Spirits of Vengeance without reading Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit? The answer to that question is yes and no, and I will elaborate more on these in my review below.
The Ipian Empire was once a land that welcomed dragons and spirits, but a century of war and bloodshed has changed the situation drastically. Now, the Onryo are gathering. Five legendary spirits with mysterious power are fully determined to free an ancient evil that would destroy humanity. The story in Spirits of Vengeance follows Haruto, an immortal Onmyoji that has sworn his soul to the God of Death to hunt down the vengeful ghost of his wife. He’s accompanied by Shiki (his companion spirit) and Guang, and Haruto ends up having another mission: to avenge Tian's (Guang's son) death. On their journey, Haruto and Guang’s fate intertwined with Kira, a student at Heiwa—an academy for students with dangerous powers—and Yanmei, one of Kira’s tutors who genuinely cares and wants to protect Kira. Vengeance—as you can probably guess from the premise—is one of the key themes of this novel, but you would be mistaken if you think that this is the only driving force of the plot. Spirits of Vengeance is, by far, the biggest book in the series so far; it’s twice the length of Never Die. I do believe that this longer page count allows Hayes to include more themes—kindness, redemption, the bravery to do good, consequences, parenthood, and found family–effectively through his characters.
I’m gladly impressed by the characterizations of the four main characters. I’ve mentioned that I enjoyed reading Pawn’s Gambit, but I didn’t find the characters in Pawn’s Gambit to be as distinctive and compelling as the characters in Never Die. Fortunately, that’s not the case here; the four main characters in Spirits of Vengeance were a total delight to read, and the four of them are up there with Itami Cho—my favorite character in Never Die. Yes, all four of them. Out of all of his books that I’ve read, Haruto, Guang, Kira, and Yanmei are, in my opinion, some of Hayes’s most well-crafted characters so far. *whispers* Oh sorry, yes Shiki, you too.
Haruto is a character that reminded me a lot of Manji from Blade of the Immortal by Hiroaki Samura. His life as an immortal doesn’t mean that it comes with a lot of happiness; it’s the other way around. Haruto suffered a lot throughout his long life. But despite that, he never stops trying to do good. Even though the rule dictates that he should get paid for his job as an onmyoji, Haruto never really cares about money. There are reasons behind his actions, there are reasons behind him becoming an onmyoji, and I felt more invested with Haruto; the same notion applied to the other three main characters. Guang’s friendship with Haruto and their understanding of each other were subtle and wholesome. I’m a sucker for redemption theme done well, and this theme was especially evident in Haruto, Guang, and Yanmei; they’re all trying to be a better person than their past selves.
Regarding Yanmei, there’s something you should know. She’s indeed the same Yanmei as the one in Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit. Yanmei was a supporting character in the previous two installments, but she’s one of the main characters here. I don’t think it’s mandatory to read the previous two books to enjoy the main story of this novel, but if you’ve read them, you’d definitely get more out of her character’s development. And my god, what a development it was. I’ve mentioned the friendship between Haruto and Guang, but there’s also Yanmei’s relationship with Kira; it’s easily one of my favorite elements of the novel. Out of the four main characters, Kira was the only one that underwent training montage—on the usage of qi—sequences, and she faced harsh internal conflicts surrounding her identity and ability. As I mentioned earlier, I loved all the main characters, and Kira is obviously included in the equation, too. The progression of her story and characterizations were stellar, and it’s satisfying to witness Hayes’s creativity in utilizing Kira’s ability to manipulate mirrors and reflections. This ability is similar to Haku from Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. The bond this band of misfits, or found family, has continuously gets stronger with each page; it’s so rewarding.
One of the things I loved about Never Die other than the characterizations were the breathtaking anime-style actions and world-building. This was less prevalent in Pawn’s Gambit; it was one of the reasons why I liked Pawn’s Gambit less. However, Spirits of Vengeance combined the awesomeness of Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit together into one package. The action sequences here reminded me of Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) and other shonen anime. The inferno produced by the clash of flames was cinematic; the deadly crimson blade unleashed left a lingering effect on each scene; each battle against the onryos was always devastating and instantly immersive. There were three memorable battle scenes, all of them were bloody magnificent, and the final 15% of the book was the biggest—and most superb—of them all.
Hayes deserves applause for the amount of research he did for this novel. Orochi, onryo, onmyoji, dragons, ungaikyo, tengu, buruburu, yokai, and so many more were integrated properly into the world-building. Every setting the characters visited felt so vivid in my imagination; the snowy landscape, the lively or desolated cities, the claustrophobic mine, the awe-inspiring Graveyard of Swords. There were a few sections where each paragraph seemed to shift to a different perspective, but somehow this made the storytelling even better. The author’s prose keeps on getting better with each book, and this is extensively proven through “the story within a story” that Hayes employed in Spirits of Vengeance. Seriously, every part that involved Guang telling a story—about the Wailing Woman, the Gilded Crone, the Tale of Nightsong, the Herald of Bones, and more—were quite likely my favorite parts of the entire novel. It’s brilliant.
Before I end this review, let me elaborate upon the question of whether you can read Spirit of Vengeance without reading the previous installments in the series or not. Here’s the thing, I do think it’s totally possible to enjoy the main story without missing the key points that made this novel so good. However, if you’re the type of reader who wants to experience every single Easter Eggs and background, it will be hugely beneficial for you to read Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit first. Unlike Pawn’s Gambit, this novel has more references and relation to the past installments. I’ve talked about Yanmei as a recurring character, but there’s also the legend of Century Blade—Itami Cho’s master—and Flaming Fist that appeared in Never Die. It’s something for you to consider. Mortal Techniques is a series of connecting standalone novels; each installment has a new storyline and main cast that will earn your attention without reading the previous books, but they’re all connected with each other. Lastly, I’m reading the eARC edition of this book. There will be a hardcover edition—probably upon release date—and this hardcover edition will feature several exclusive interior artworks done by Stas Borodin. One of the examples:
My expectations towards this novel were incredibly high, and Hayes met them, even exceeded them on many fronts. Equally explosive, emotional, and pulse-pounding, Spirits of Vengeance successfully delivered an exceptional narrative brimming with staggering impact. This is, undoubtedly, Hayes’s best book so far in his career. I’ve mentioned before that Hayes is creating something special with this series, and I stand by my words. Rest assured, this isn’t the end of Mortal Techniques. Hayes is likely building towards a Mortal Techniques style Ragnarok event with the series, and I look forward to following the journey to reach that destination. I absolutely loved Spirits of Vengeance; it’s an amazing book. And now the curse of waiting for the next installment begins again.
Official release date: 28th September 2021
You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Devin, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Element, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Jennifer, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Shaad, Summer, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
Rob J. Hayes has done it. He has created a novel that surpassed Never Die; Spirits of Vengeance is not only my favorite novel in the Mortal Techniques series, but it is also Hayes’s best work so far.
“Wanting it is a start… You also have to act. To try. Otherwise, it’s nothing more than an empty promise.”
Two things first. First, Hayes isn’t the singular person that excels here. The duo of Felix Ortiz (cover artist) and Shawn T. King (cover designer) made a return once again, and I have to say that Spirits of Vengeance is Ortiz’s finest cover art so far. It’s shocking, I know; Ortiz has blessed self-published fantasy with a lot of striking cover arts, and he constantly improves himself. Second, because I know this question will be asked, Mortal Techniques is a series of standalone novels with connection to each other, so can you read Spirits of Vengeance without reading Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit? The answer to that question is yes and no, and I will elaborate more on these in my review below.
“Oaths and vows should never be taken lightly. There is power in a promise that goes beyond the words. They bind our souls to a purpose, and failure can rend a person in two as surely as any blade.”
The Ipian Empire was once a land that welcomed dragons and spirits, but a century of war and bloodshed has changed the situation drastically. Now, the Onryo are gathering. Five legendary spirits with mysterious power are fully determined to free an ancient evil that would destroy humanity. The story in Spirits of Vengeance follows Haruto, an immortal Onmyoji that has sworn his soul to the God of Death to hunt down the vengeful ghost of his wife. He’s accompanied by Shiki (his companion spirit) and Guang, and Haruto ends up having another mission: to avenge Tian's (Guang's son) death. On their journey, Haruto and Guang’s fate intertwined with Kira, a student at Heiwa—an academy for students with dangerous powers—and Yanmei, one of Kira’s tutors who genuinely cares and wants to protect Kira. Vengeance—as you can probably guess from the premise—is one of the key themes of this novel, but you would be mistaken if you think that this is the only driving force of the plot. Spirits of Vengeance is, by far, the biggest book in the series so far; it’s twice the length of Never Die. I do believe that this longer page count allows Hayes to include more themes—kindness, redemption, the bravery to do good, consequences, parenthood, and found family–effectively through his characters.
“We children of bandits make excuses for our parents when we’re young. We have to because we don’t know how else to exist. They’re our parents and they’re supposed to love us and we’re supposed to love them. So we make excuses. We reason away the things we know they do. We make excuses for them, even when they won’t make those excuses for themselves. Even when they don’t think they need to.”
I’m gladly impressed by the characterizations of the four main characters. I’ve mentioned that I enjoyed reading Pawn’s Gambit, but I didn’t find the characters in Pawn’s Gambit to be as distinctive and compelling as the characters in Never Die. Fortunately, that’s not the case here; the four main characters in Spirits of Vengeance were a total delight to read, and the four of them are up there with Itami Cho—my favorite character in Never Die. Yes, all four of them. Out of all of his books that I’ve read, Haruto, Guang, Kira, and Yanmei are, in my opinion, some of Hayes’s most well-crafted characters so far. *whispers* Oh sorry, yes Shiki, you too.
“Yokai aren’t evil… Evil isn’t something a person is, it’s a choice a person makes. Yokai are creatures of instinct. It is their nature to seek vengeance. It is why they exist. They are not evil, but anyone who chooses to use them to commit atrocities is evil. Because that is the choice they have made.”
Haruto is a character that reminded me a lot of Manji from Blade of the Immortal by Hiroaki Samura. His life as an immortal doesn’t mean that it comes with a lot of happiness; it’s the other way around. Haruto suffered a lot throughout his long life. But despite that, he never stops trying to do good. Even though the rule dictates that he should get paid for his job as an onmyoji, Haruto never really cares about money. There are reasons behind his actions, there are reasons behind him becoming an onmyoji, and I felt more invested with Haruto; the same notion applied to the other three main characters. Guang’s friendship with Haruto and their understanding of each other were subtle and wholesome. I’m a sucker for redemption theme done well, and this theme was especially evident in Haruto, Guang, and Yanmei; they’re all trying to be a better person than their past selves.
“We live in a world of people passing their pain to others. It shouldn’t be that way.”
Regarding Yanmei, there’s something you should know. She’s indeed the same Yanmei as the one in Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit. Yanmei was a supporting character in the previous two installments, but she’s one of the main characters here. I don’t think it’s mandatory to read the previous two books to enjoy the main story of this novel, but if you’ve read them, you’d definitely get more out of her character’s development. And my god, what a development it was. I’ve mentioned the friendship between Haruto and Guang, but there’s also Yanmei’s relationship with Kira; it’s easily one of my favorite elements of the novel. Out of the four main characters, Kira was the only one that underwent training montage—on the usage of qi—sequences, and she faced harsh internal conflicts surrounding her identity and ability. As I mentioned earlier, I loved all the main characters, and Kira is obviously included in the equation, too. The progression of her story and characterizations were stellar, and it’s satisfying to witness Hayes’s creativity in utilizing Kira’s ability to manipulate mirrors and reflections. This ability is similar to Haku from Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. The bond this band of misfits, or found family, has continuously gets stronger with each page; it’s so rewarding.
“You said being good is about helping others. Even if they don’t think they need it. Being good is lending a hand when someone is in trouble. He can’t win. Not alone.”
One of the things I loved about Never Die other than the characterizations were the breathtaking anime-style actions and world-building. This was less prevalent in Pawn’s Gambit; it was one of the reasons why I liked Pawn’s Gambit less. However, Spirits of Vengeance combined the awesomeness of Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit together into one package. The action sequences here reminded me of Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) and other shonen anime. The inferno produced by the clash of flames was cinematic; the deadly crimson blade unleashed left a lingering effect on each scene; each battle against the onryos was always devastating and instantly immersive. There were three memorable battle scenes, all of them were bloody magnificent, and the final 15% of the book was the biggest—and most superb—of them all.
“Not justice. I am not justice. I am a spirit of vengeance.”
Hayes deserves applause for the amount of research he did for this novel. Orochi, onryo, onmyoji, dragons, ungaikyo, tengu, buruburu, yokai, and so many more were integrated properly into the world-building. Every setting the characters visited felt so vivid in my imagination; the snowy landscape, the lively or desolated cities, the claustrophobic mine, the awe-inspiring Graveyard of Swords. There were a few sections where each paragraph seemed to shift to a different perspective, but somehow this made the storytelling even better. The author’s prose keeps on getting better with each book, and this is extensively proven through “the story within a story” that Hayes employed in Spirits of Vengeance. Seriously, every part that involved Guang telling a story—about the Wailing Woman, the Gilded Crone, the Tale of Nightsong, the Herald of Bones, and more—were quite likely my favorite parts of the entire novel. It’s brilliant.
“Our peoples’ stories. All of our peoples’. Ipian, Hosan, Nash, Cochtan. It might surprise you how many stories we share. And perhaps even more surprising that the lessons hiding in the stories are the same ones told time and time again.”
Before I end this review, let me elaborate upon the question of whether you can read Spirit of Vengeance without reading the previous installments in the series or not. Here’s the thing, I do think it’s totally possible to enjoy the main story without missing the key points that made this novel so good. However, if you’re the type of reader who wants to experience every single Easter Eggs and background, it will be hugely beneficial for you to read Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit first. Unlike Pawn’s Gambit, this novel has more references and relation to the past installments. I’ve talked about Yanmei as a recurring character, but there’s also the legend of Century Blade—Itami Cho’s master—and Flaming Fist that appeared in Never Die. It’s something for you to consider. Mortal Techniques is a series of connecting standalone novels; each installment has a new storyline and main cast that will earn your attention without reading the previous books, but they’re all connected with each other. Lastly, I’m reading the eARC edition of this book. There will be a hardcover edition—probably upon release date—and this hardcover edition will feature several exclusive interior artworks done by Stas Borodin. One of the examples:
My expectations towards this novel were incredibly high, and Hayes met them, even exceeded them on many fronts. Equally explosive, emotional, and pulse-pounding, Spirits of Vengeance successfully delivered an exceptional narrative brimming with staggering impact. This is, undoubtedly, Hayes’s best book so far in his career. I’ve mentioned before that Hayes is creating something special with this series, and I stand by my words. Rest assured, this isn’t the end of Mortal Techniques. Hayes is likely building towards a Mortal Techniques style Ragnarok event with the series, and I look forward to following the journey to reach that destination. I absolutely loved Spirits of Vengeance; it’s an amazing book. And now the curse of waiting for the next installment begins again.
“Hah! Well, that’s life, isn’t it? You don’t ask for a lot of the stuff it throws at you, but you either look at it like a gift or a curse, and then figure out the rest from there.”
Official release date: 28th September 2021
You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Devin, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Element, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Jennifer, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Shaad, Summer, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
September 29, 2021
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Never Die ★★★★★
Pawn’s Gambit ★★★★
Spirits of Vengeance ★★★★ 1/4
Spirits of Vengeance is the third book in the Mortal Technique series which is a series of standalones. There are connections to the previous books and characters that appear in previous book but it can totally work as a standalone with the aforementioned stuff working as Easter eggs.
The story follows Haruto, an Onmyoji who is cursed by the God of Death and whose main job is to hunt the ghost of his wife. Onmyojis are hired to hunt down spirits and are paid for that (Think Witcher). The problem is that there are five legendary and powerful spirits, namely The Onryo who emerged and want to stir trouble and release the most ancient and powerful evil!
I was contacted by Rob to read an ARC of this book and I immediately said yes because Rob is one of my favorite self published authors and one of my highest rated authors overall. I just love his ideas and the way he weaves them into gripping stories. It is no wonder that I loved the prose in this one because it felt atmospheric, funny and formidable!
I first thought the story is going to jump between two different POVs but it turns out that the main characters, Haruto and Kira meets very early in the story so we’re only following one story line. Hayes characterization is always what stands the most in his books, I mean we have an old cursed fighter who is trying to release his wife’s ghost along with his fluffiest yet deadliest companion, an Ungaikyō trying to discover what happened to her. Two old bandits trying to find redemption through different ways.
I loved the characters and I really loved how unique they were. Guang has to be my favorite with his bad poems, fatherly affection, vegetable swearing and most importantly, his story telling. I believe those short stories that he told were a very smart, very good addition to the story and I just couldn’t get enough of them.
The world building is great, I am a fan of Japanese mythology in general so finding it explored in this novel made me happy. I loved discovering different Yokais such as the ungaikyō, jorogumo, Nuppeppo…etc! Also the magic system is very cool and there were some very decent fights that made us explore the different powers of characters.
The pacing is good, I thought the novel is a bit long but maybe because I expected it to be a bit shorter like the first two books. That being said, I wasn’t bored, it is just that I think of the first two books as movies and this one more like a series with side quests! The plot is a bit predictable for me, I predicted most of the major events successfully but I did not see the epilogue coming! It is not necessarily a bad thing because most plots are predictable for me and I thought the foreshadowing was good here and that the way the story headed was one of the best ones, so I did not mind this predictability!
Summary: A very solid entry in the series and it topped the second book for me. The prose, characterizations and world building were all amazing and I really enjoyed the story despite some of its predictability. I am glad I was given a chance to read an early copy and it goes without saying that I am excited for whatever Hayes comes up with next!
“Hah! Well, that’s life, isn’t it? You don’t ask for a lot of the stuff it throws at you, but you either look at it like a gift or a curse, and then figure out the rest from there.”
Never Die ★★★★★
Pawn’s Gambit ★★★★
Spirits of Vengeance ★★★★ 1/4
Spirits of Vengeance is the third book in the Mortal Technique series which is a series of standalones. There are connections to the previous books and characters that appear in previous book but it can totally work as a standalone with the aforementioned stuff working as Easter eggs.
The story follows Haruto, an Onmyoji who is cursed by the God of Death and whose main job is to hunt the ghost of his wife. Onmyojis are hired to hunt down spirits and are paid for that (Think Witcher). The problem is that there are five legendary and powerful spirits, namely The Onryo who emerged and want to stir trouble and release the most ancient and powerful evil!
I was contacted by Rob to read an ARC of this book and I immediately said yes because Rob is one of my favorite self published authors and one of my highest rated authors overall. I just love his ideas and the way he weaves them into gripping stories. It is no wonder that I loved the prose in this one because it felt atmospheric, funny and formidable!
I first thought the story is going to jump between two different POVs but it turns out that the main characters, Haruto and Kira meets very early in the story so we’re only following one story line. Hayes characterization is always what stands the most in his books, I mean we have an old cursed fighter who is trying to release his wife’s ghost along with his fluffiest yet deadliest companion, an Ungaikyō trying to discover what happened to her. Two old bandits trying to find redemption through different ways.
‘If you can’t fight your way out, talk your way out. And if you can’t do that either, start praying’.
I loved the characters and I really loved how unique they were. Guang has to be my favorite with his bad poems, fatherly affection, vegetable swearing and most importantly, his story telling. I believe those short stories that he told were a very smart, very good addition to the story and I just couldn’t get enough of them.
The world building is great, I am a fan of Japanese mythology in general so finding it explored in this novel made me happy. I loved discovering different Yokais such as the ungaikyō, jorogumo, Nuppeppo…etc! Also the magic system is very cool and there were some very decent fights that made us explore the different powers of characters.
The pacing is good, I thought the novel is a bit long but maybe because I expected it to be a bit shorter like the first two books. That being said, I wasn’t bored, it is just that I think of the first two books as movies and this one more like a series with side quests! The plot is a bit predictable for me, I predicted most of the major events successfully but I did not see the epilogue coming! It is not necessarily a bad thing because most plots are predictable for me and I thought the foreshadowing was good here and that the way the story headed was one of the best ones, so I did not mind this predictability!
“We live in a world of people passing their pain to others. It shouldn’t be that way.”
Summary: A very solid entry in the series and it topped the second book for me. The prose, characterizations and world building were all amazing and I really enjoyed the story despite some of its predictability. I am glad I was given a chance to read an early copy and it goes without saying that I am excited for whatever Hayes comes up with next!
September 17, 2021
I look forward to a new Rob J. Hayes book the same way I look forward to a fine meal or a lovely warm summer day. There's something about both his writing style and the stories that he dreams up that just connect with me in a way that not many others do. So when he reached out to me to let me know that there was a new Mortal Techniques story being released at the end of this month, I salivated as I usually do to get an advance copy. As expected, I loved SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE even more than the previous two books in this series of incredible standalones.
The thing that I admire about this series is that every book is a self-contained story and yet you can still see how they connect in the Mortal Techniques world if you've read the previous installments. But prior knowledge is not a necessity to enjoy this book. SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE takes place roughly 10 years or so after the events that concluded book two, Pawn's Gambit. That book sort of hit the brake pedal after the insane breakneck action of Never Die, but that's not to say that PG wasn't a phenomenal book, it was! I'm just saying that there was slightly more character development, world-building, and history brought forth in the second book. Well, book three shifts gears yet again back to a bit more action and badass combat between those pesky evil spirits (hence the title) and those who dare hunt them.
There was so much that I loved about this book and the thing that stands out still is the gradual suspense and anticipation of the central mystery of what could be causing the spirits to be drawn en masse to Minazuri. I remember not being able to put the book down because I wanted to know the answer so badly. The adventures that Haruto, Guang, and company encounter throughout this swiftly paced book is really worth the journey. And along the way Hayes sprinkles in some of his outstanding trademark dark magic that never fails to make the reader's jaw drop in awe.
I keep seeing some on social media complaining that there are no fantasy books that involve characters who have superpowers akin to what you would see in a Marvel movie. Well, if you are looking to scratch that itch, then look no further than this book and series because not only do the characters possess otherworldly powers, but their weapons do too! Add in the fact that this is also an Asian-inspired fantasy that delves deeply into martial arts techniques, philosophy, and prophecy, and you've got a real winner of a story that entertains in a plethora of ways.
This really is one of my favorite "series" right now and I'm happy to say that Rob J. Hayes has done it again in my mind. He's taken such a refreshing turn with the Mortal Techniques and proven that a story arc doesn't necessarily have to follow one structured path. When you get right down to it, that's also what I find brilliant about these books. Not knowing where the story will lead next and how it all will end up is part of the fun, and Rob J. Hayes just keeps churning out unpredictable and engrossing books that I love and want to read.
If you are looking for a fantasy book and series that doesn't follow the usual tropes, has incredibly intense fighting scenes, an intriguing dark mystery at its core, and characters possessed with some of the coolest magic and powers imaginable, then you need to pick these books up immediately. This one had me completely riveted throughout its mesmerizing 500+ pages and never let me to stop for a breather. I'm so delighted that I was able to step back into this world again and simply will not be able to contain myself until I have the next Mortal Techniques entry in my hands.
The thing that I admire about this series is that every book is a self-contained story and yet you can still see how they connect in the Mortal Techniques world if you've read the previous installments. But prior knowledge is not a necessity to enjoy this book. SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE takes place roughly 10 years or so after the events that concluded book two, Pawn's Gambit. That book sort of hit the brake pedal after the insane breakneck action of Never Die, but that's not to say that PG wasn't a phenomenal book, it was! I'm just saying that there was slightly more character development, world-building, and history brought forth in the second book. Well, book three shifts gears yet again back to a bit more action and badass combat between those pesky evil spirits (hence the title) and those who dare hunt them.
There was so much that I loved about this book and the thing that stands out still is the gradual suspense and anticipation of the central mystery of what could be causing the spirits to be drawn en masse to Minazuri. I remember not being able to put the book down because I wanted to know the answer so badly. The adventures that Haruto, Guang, and company encounter throughout this swiftly paced book is really worth the journey. And along the way Hayes sprinkles in some of his outstanding trademark dark magic that never fails to make the reader's jaw drop in awe.
I keep seeing some on social media complaining that there are no fantasy books that involve characters who have superpowers akin to what you would see in a Marvel movie. Well, if you are looking to scratch that itch, then look no further than this book and series because not only do the characters possess otherworldly powers, but their weapons do too! Add in the fact that this is also an Asian-inspired fantasy that delves deeply into martial arts techniques, philosophy, and prophecy, and you've got a real winner of a story that entertains in a plethora of ways.
This really is one of my favorite "series" right now and I'm happy to say that Rob J. Hayes has done it again in my mind. He's taken such a refreshing turn with the Mortal Techniques and proven that a story arc doesn't necessarily have to follow one structured path. When you get right down to it, that's also what I find brilliant about these books. Not knowing where the story will lead next and how it all will end up is part of the fun, and Rob J. Hayes just keeps churning out unpredictable and engrossing books that I love and want to read.
If you are looking for a fantasy book and series that doesn't follow the usual tropes, has incredibly intense fighting scenes, an intriguing dark mystery at its core, and characters possessed with some of the coolest magic and powers imaginable, then you need to pick these books up immediately. This one had me completely riveted throughout its mesmerizing 500+ pages and never let me to stop for a breather. I'm so delighted that I was able to step back into this world again and simply will not be able to contain myself until I have the next Mortal Techniques entry in my hands.
May 18, 2025
4.5/5 RTC
May 10, 2023
What a conclusion. Spirits of Vengeance concludes the Mortal Techniques series and I loved it. Though Never Die is still my favourite 🤭
We follow Haruto and his poet companion Guang as they travel to give peace to Guang’s son’s vengeful spirit. I enjoyed this way more than the second book. Characters from the previous two books made appearances and it was a delight to be reunited with them.
Shiki was adorable 🥰
We follow Haruto and his poet companion Guang as they travel to give peace to Guang’s son’s vengeful spirit. I enjoyed this way more than the second book. Characters from the previous two books made appearances and it was a delight to be reunited with them.
Shiki was adorable 🥰
February 6, 2023
5/5
You'd think I'd be used to the pain by now, wouldn't you?"
Wow. Trying to find the words to say all I want to say about this book.
Haruto is an immortal onmyoji, sworn to seek vengeance on behalf of his wife and bound to the God of Death. Joined by yet another masterfully designed motley crew, Haruto embarks on a quest to destroy evil.
What is so brilliant about this series is the way Rob Hayes builds on each story with pieces of the ones before it. The number of reveals, cameos, and nods to earlier storylines was like catching glimpses of old friends... and enemies.
Intense wuxia and martial arts action sequences give way to moments of friendship, reflection, and past pain in a perfect balance of storytelling. Each character is given space to grow throughout the pages as we uncover layer after layer of their lives and motives. I could go into more details about characters and worldbuilding, but I don't want to take away from the experience you're going to have discovering it for yourself.
This book solidifies the Mortal Techniques' place on my favorite fantasy series list. Rob Hayes is a master storyteller and I cannot wait to read another book in this series.
You'd think I'd be used to the pain by now, wouldn't you?"
Wow. Trying to find the words to say all I want to say about this book.
Haruto is an immortal onmyoji, sworn to seek vengeance on behalf of his wife and bound to the God of Death. Joined by yet another masterfully designed motley crew, Haruto embarks on a quest to destroy evil.
What is so brilliant about this series is the way Rob Hayes builds on each story with pieces of the ones before it. The number of reveals, cameos, and nods to earlier storylines was like catching glimpses of old friends... and enemies.
Intense wuxia and martial arts action sequences give way to moments of friendship, reflection, and past pain in a perfect balance of storytelling. Each character is given space to grow throughout the pages as we uncover layer after layer of their lives and motives. I could go into more details about characters and worldbuilding, but I don't want to take away from the experience you're going to have discovering it for yourself.
This book solidifies the Mortal Techniques' place on my favorite fantasy series list. Rob Hayes is a master storyteller and I cannot wait to read another book in this series.
April 17, 2022
Excellent. It's early in the year but this will almost certainly make my top reads of 2022. The second half of this book was just spectacular. No notes. Found family trope very well done here. The epilogue I was not a fan of, but I am assuming it was necessary for an upcoming book, so I will accept it. While this book will give you a little more from having read the first two Mortal Technique books, especially Pawn's Gambit, 95% of the experience is standalone and so I am comfortable saying this is one of my favorite standalone novels I've ever read. I can't wait to get one of those beautiful hardcovers.
January 25, 2022
You can find more reviews of mine on my blog
Spirits of Vengeance is an exceptional story that is well worth the time you put into it.
It is the third of the Mortal Technique novels. The consistency in writing, characterization, world building and most important—entertainment —, across these three books is outstanding. I have seen some conversations around which story is better; to me this is a moot point. They are all equally wonderful and offer unique perspectives in a shared universe.
So yeah, as the title suggest, this is a book about the need for vengeance (or is it?). Similar to the other novels in this series, it evokes similar feelings and emotions from Japanese classics like the Seven Samurai as well as Westerns like A Fistful of Dollars. The principal characters in this story follow the path pretty much the way you think they would. But this does not feel clichéd, rather it feels more like the comfort food that grandma used to make, with some uniqueness thrown in.
The lore is quite unique and adds to the world that the characters live in. I loved the tales that Guang tells as well as the various kinds of Yokai. The added political turmoil due to the feuding emperors only adds spice to the mix.
So, the book is fantastic. While it is part of the Mortal Techniques series, the stories are stand-alone to a large extent, and you could start with this one. You won't regret it.
You can find more reviews of mine on my blog
Spirits of Vengeance is an exceptional story that is well worth the time you put into it.
It is the third of the Mortal Technique novels. The consistency in writing, characterization, world building and most important—entertainment —, across these three books is outstanding. I have seen some conversations around which story is better; to me this is a moot point. They are all equally wonderful and offer unique perspectives in a shared universe.
So yeah, as the title suggest, this is a book about the need for vengeance (or is it?). Similar to the other novels in this series, it evokes similar feelings and emotions from Japanese classics like the Seven Samurai as well as Westerns like A Fistful of Dollars. The principal characters in this story follow the path pretty much the way you think they would. But this does not feel clichéd, rather it feels more like the comfort food that grandma used to make, with some uniqueness thrown in.
The lore is quite unique and adds to the world that the characters live in. I loved the tales that Guang tells as well as the various kinds of Yokai. The added political turmoil due to the feuding emperors only adds spice to the mix.
So, the book is fantastic. While it is part of the Mortal Techniques series, the stories are stand-alone to a large extent, and you could start with this one. You won't regret it.
You can find more reviews of mine on my blog
July 11, 2022
This review is independent of the Before We Go Blog team's SPFBO8 review. It reflects my personal reading experience only and is not an indicator of the book's standing in the competition.
4.5 stars.
Spirits of Vengeance takes place a wonderfully realized world, populated with intricately crafted characters. As someone who lives in Japan and has married into a Japanese family, I tend to be wary of Japan-based stories as small things that may not bother the average reader can be an annoyance for me- such as cultural inaccuracies or direct translations of words. However, you can tell that Hayes did his research because the depth of the yokai lore explored in this book is very well done. There were changes made to the original stories to fit the Mortal Techniques world, but the alterations are purposeful and add a very interesting twist in most cases. The Ghibli vibes of the character Shiki were also off-the-charts and I was living for it (she is also probably my favorite character in this world thus far).
One of my favorite tropes is found family with chaotic vibes, which requires you to be very attached to the characters, and Hayes pulled that off wonderfully here. I loved our mismatched band of morally grey misfits, and I was invested in everything that happened to them. The villains were also well-developed, multi-faceted, and satisfactorily terrifying; they felt like a true threat. This was a very important factor as we spend a lot of page time in battle scenes, and we need to feel there are actual stakes to each fight. The ending felt a bit rushed to me, but that’s not enough to take away from the fun I had with the rest of the story.
This was my first book in the Mortal Techniques world, but it certainly will not be the last as I plan to read the others in the near future.
4.5 stars.
Spirits of Vengeance takes place a wonderfully realized world, populated with intricately crafted characters. As someone who lives in Japan and has married into a Japanese family, I tend to be wary of Japan-based stories as small things that may not bother the average reader can be an annoyance for me- such as cultural inaccuracies or direct translations of words. However, you can tell that Hayes did his research because the depth of the yokai lore explored in this book is very well done. There were changes made to the original stories to fit the Mortal Techniques world, but the alterations are purposeful and add a very interesting twist in most cases. The Ghibli vibes of the character Shiki were also off-the-charts and I was living for it (she is also probably my favorite character in this world thus far).
One of my favorite tropes is found family with chaotic vibes, which requires you to be very attached to the characters, and Hayes pulled that off wonderfully here. I loved our mismatched band of morally grey misfits, and I was invested in everything that happened to them. The villains were also well-developed, multi-faceted, and satisfactorily terrifying; they felt like a true threat. This was a very important factor as we spend a lot of page time in battle scenes, and we need to feel there are actual stakes to each fight. The ending felt a bit rushed to me, but that’s not enough to take away from the fun I had with the rest of the story.
This was my first book in the Mortal Techniques world, but it certainly will not be the last as I plan to read the others in the near future.
April 20, 2025
5.0 stars—-
An all time favorite, and my favorite Hayes book as of now, I think anyone that can appreciate good storytelling would enjoy this book. Enjoying fantasy helps too, because the magical elements are heavy, but there are stories within this story that I enjoy on their own. Hayes has created something unique with the Mortal Techniques universe where this trilogy and its accompanying novella take place. The villains made this especially enjoyable, and I look forward to rereading this one a few years from now.
This book made me want to read Hayes’ other works, and I started with Along the Razor’s Edge, which didn’t disappoint (I gave it 4 stars).
This book also gave me the confidence to take a chance and helped fund Hayes’s upcoming God Eater Saga, which is described on his website as:
“Set in a world where humans can steal magic and immortality by eating angels.”
Hayes is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, anyone who enjoys fantasy should check him out. I started with “Never Die”, and you can’t go wrong if you start there too.
An all time favorite, and my favorite Hayes book as of now, I think anyone that can appreciate good storytelling would enjoy this book. Enjoying fantasy helps too, because the magical elements are heavy, but there are stories within this story that I enjoy on their own. Hayes has created something unique with the Mortal Techniques universe where this trilogy and its accompanying novella take place. The villains made this especially enjoyable, and I look forward to rereading this one a few years from now.
This book made me want to read Hayes’ other works, and I started with Along the Razor’s Edge, which didn’t disappoint (I gave it 4 stars).
This book also gave me the confidence to take a chance and helped fund Hayes’s upcoming God Eater Saga, which is described on his website as:
“Set in a world where humans can steal magic and immortality by eating angels.”
Hayes is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, anyone who enjoys fantasy should check him out. I started with “Never Die”, and you can’t go wrong if you start there too.
July 14, 2022
Wait, that's how it ended? On another cliff hanger?! Well, I'm assuming there's going to be another book then. I thought this would wrap things up, but it didn't at all.
I absolutely loved this series though. Super good, and the characters are so well written. Almost the whole cast had some personal trauma to overcome and I liked it a lot.
Kira Mirai, the girl trapped in the mirror in the last book went through a long development in this book, trying to figure herself out, and I'm happy where she ended up.
Yanmei, the Flaming Fists daughter, she only appeared briefly in the last book to save Yuu, and she also went through a lot in this book and had a beautiful ending.
Haruto (Nightsong), basically an Asian Geralt, but he had a lot of heart to him. Immortal and constantly getting his ass kicked, but he always found a way to win, and it was always without killing. It was a cool thing to see.
Guang (Blood Dancer), the bad poet, who made four oaths and kept one. The sweating with vegetable names. I loved him. He was a funny character, but also was pretty deep. His one and only fight was pretty sick.
Also, Yuu (Art of War/God of War) showing up at the end of both books to talk about a war with no further explanation is driving me nuts.
I absolutely loved this series though. Super good, and the characters are so well written. Almost the whole cast had some personal trauma to overcome and I liked it a lot.
Kira Mirai, the girl trapped in the mirror in the last book went through a long development in this book, trying to figure herself out, and I'm happy where she ended up.
Yanmei, the Flaming Fists daughter, she only appeared briefly in the last book to save Yuu, and she also went through a lot in this book and had a beautiful ending.
Haruto (Nightsong), basically an Asian Geralt, but he had a lot of heart to him. Immortal and constantly getting his ass kicked, but he always found a way to win, and it was always without killing. It was a cool thing to see.
Guang (Blood Dancer), the bad poet, who made four oaths and kept one. The sweating with vegetable names. I loved him. He was a funny character, but also was pretty deep. His one and only fight was pretty sick.
Also, Yuu (Art of War/God of War) showing up at the end of both books to talk about a war with no further explanation is driving me nuts.
September 28, 2021
Another slab of the good stuff from Rob.
Spirits of Vengeance - simply put, I found it to be a Wuxia take on the Witcher, with a classic tale of cursed immortality thrown in to the mix. Putting it like that might make it sound like I'm saying it's a genre-stapling hash job, but it's absolutely not, it's a mortal techniques novel, which is a stamp of quality alone.
Longer than Rob's previous tale in the series, we have a cast of heroes worthy of a 70s martial arts pulp epic, some recurring (that's part of what I enjoy about this series is the cast interlinkage, excellently done and flows like a fresh 50 blade razor across the arsecheeks. That is to say, smoothly), some new. Characterisation is one of Rob's strong points and again, no disappointments, especially as the book progresses. The story is a straight forward, righteously gruesome affair, and has an absolutely fantastic set of twists to it and some well crafted character development. I'm also pleased that he wrapped up a character arc from the previous book for one I was extremely fond of.
As per, the fight scenes are very well written, intricate and detailed, and as a writer and martial artist myself and one fond of a long ass fight scene, I found them pretty damn inspiring. Also, if you're a fan of Japanese mythology and folklore, you'll no doubt love what Rob has done with it.
All in all, major kudos on this one again. I'm a big fan of this series, and I'm already chomping at the bit for the next.
5 out of 5 yams.
Yam 🍠
Spirits of Vengeance - simply put, I found it to be a Wuxia take on the Witcher, with a classic tale of cursed immortality thrown in to the mix. Putting it like that might make it sound like I'm saying it's a genre-stapling hash job, but it's absolutely not, it's a mortal techniques novel, which is a stamp of quality alone.
Longer than Rob's previous tale in the series, we have a cast of heroes worthy of a 70s martial arts pulp epic, some recurring (that's part of what I enjoy about this series is the cast interlinkage, excellently done and flows like a fresh 50 blade razor across the arsecheeks. That is to say, smoothly), some new. Characterisation is one of Rob's strong points and again, no disappointments, especially as the book progresses. The story is a straight forward, righteously gruesome affair, and has an absolutely fantastic set of twists to it and some well crafted character development. I'm also pleased that he wrapped up a character arc from the previous book for one I was extremely fond of.
As per, the fight scenes are very well written, intricate and detailed, and as a writer and martial artist myself and one fond of a long ass fight scene, I found them pretty damn inspiring. Also, if you're a fan of Japanese mythology and folklore, you'll no doubt love what Rob has done with it.
All in all, major kudos on this one again. I'm a big fan of this series, and I'm already chomping at the bit for the next.
5 out of 5 yams.
Yam 🍠
November 21, 2022
Reread: Really is the best one of the three. Just a fun book, gets lost a few times but really great.
I didn't think I was going to give this book five stars. Towards the beginning I was thinking 3 would be lucky. I didn't really care for or click with the characters at all for a while. The story kind of skipped around a bit. We had pit stops and in world story breaks. Slowly the characters warmed up to me, I began to really love the little stories the poet stopped to tell, and the book crept up to four stars. Then....well it's past midnight and I have to be up early to work tomorrow but I couldn't put this book down. I had really began to love the characters, love the plot, love everything about this book. The ending....well it blew my pants off a few times. There are some things I did not love, part of the ending bugs me but overall it is excellent. Also, it makes me really want to re-read the first two mortal techniques novels, this one pulls so much from them.
Finally, it seems like this series is gearing up for something in the future and I'm excited to see what that is!
I didn't think I was going to give this book five stars. Towards the beginning I was thinking 3 would be lucky. I didn't really care for or click with the characters at all for a while. The story kind of skipped around a bit. We had pit stops and in world story breaks. Slowly the characters warmed up to me, I began to really love the little stories the poet stopped to tell, and the book crept up to four stars. Then....well it's past midnight and I have to be up early to work tomorrow but I couldn't put this book down. I had really began to love the characters, love the plot, love everything about this book. The ending....well it blew my pants off a few times. There are some things I did not love, part of the ending bugs me but overall it is excellent. Also, it makes me really want to re-read the first two mortal techniques novels, this one pulls so much from them.
Finally, it seems like this series is gearing up for something in the future and I'm excited to see what that is!
February 16, 2022
So glad I took my time reading this.
Thought this would be a 4 stars but this is a perfect 5.
Characters, world-building, lore, everything was great.
Thought this would be a 4 stars but this is a perfect 5.
Characters, world-building, lore, everything was great.
October 30, 2021
Great fucking book.
More astute review to come shortly.
More astute review to come shortly.
August 19, 2023
Another great entry in the Mortal Techniques universe. Haruto was a fun character to watch, especially given his relationship with Guang and the deep exploration into this universe's many spirits. Loved the concept of an immortal onmyoiji. I also loved Yanmei and Kira's individual journeys. This story tackled themes of forgiveness and grief and trauma really well. Plus, all the battles and onryo and dragons?! So much fun.
I'd say the book moved slow at times, but it was always interesting, if not a little overlong. There's also a bit of repetition + some rather obvious plot points/cheesy moments, but overall, the book was exactly what I wanted. Fun, easy to read, and an excellent segue between the darker, more heavy books in my tbr.
Also, that ending has me SUPER intrigued, so I can't wait to see what comes next!
I'd say the book moved slow at times, but it was always interesting, if not a little overlong. There's also a bit of repetition + some rather obvious plot points/cheesy moments, but overall, the book was exactly what I wanted. Fun, easy to read, and an excellent segue between the darker, more heavy books in my tbr.
Also, that ending has me SUPER intrigued, so I can't wait to see what comes next!
September 28, 2021
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
Overall rating - 4.5 stars
CLASSIFICATION: Spirits Of Vengeance is a standalone epic fantasy story mixing The Witcher's action sequences with the creepy mythology of The Ring.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Spirits Of Vengeance is the next STANDALONE volume in the Mortal Techniques world and is set a little over a decade after the events of Pawn's Gambit (and over fifteen years after the events of Never Die). This story unlike the previous books is not set in Hosa but the neighboring kingdom of Ipia. The land of snowy winters, Shintei warriors & icy mountains (where the secretive Shintei academy called Sky Hollow is said to be located).
The prologue takes place in the Heiwa academy, a place for children with special abilities or techniques (as they are called in this world). Where they can learn to harness their techniques. It is a special place and the headmaster is Konihashi the Fifth Sage Under Heaven (remember that name, it’s an important one). We are then introduced to Haruto, an immortal Onmyoji (a demon/spirit hunter akin to Geralt the Witcher) who alongside a poet named Guang goes everywhere trying to help the local populace getting rid of Yokai and other pesky spirits. He is constantly destroying his kimonos and only has Guang for company. Guang is an old man who recites horrible poetry, frequently curses using vegetable names (you will find out why before the end) and helps Haruto in his ultimate quest.
The book also re-introduces us to Kira who the readers first met in Pawn's Gambit in a very, very small way. Kira is a unique girl with extra-special abilities and is mentored by Yanmei, her teacher from the Heiwa academy and the person whom she considers as a mother. Yanmei is also a character we have met in the previous titles and here the readers get to see an older & stronger warrior who is on a quest of her own. Yanmei knows more about Kira’s past than she does. However, she doesn’t know how to help her.
Amidst all of this, and powering the main storyline are a group of five Onryo (vengeful, destructive spirits) who are being led by a mysterious entity They are searching for an ancient prison as the contents of that prison might change world (but for the good or worse no one knows). This is the main gist of this epic story awaiting readers within as all of these characters are striving to find out their raison d’etre
The story is very different from Never Die and Pawn's Gambit. This is more of an epic fantasy story and there is a lot more going on within the world as well. The readers get to see a new nation and its problems (like having dual competing royal families who are locked in an internecine conflict spanning decades). The storyline also ties heavily tied into a past pivotal event, which is the focus of the short story The Century Blade. I would really recommend that readers read that short before they read this book. However if you don’t, you will still get a complete story within.
The main thrust of the story is still its characters and this is a special characteristic of Rob J. Hayes. All of his books always feature characters who are brilliantly etched, no matter where they fall on the moral spectrum. In this book we get six-seven POVs and this is really helps in expanding the story. As I mentioned previously this story is more in the epic fantasy vein and it all builds up. This story is all about past regrets and letting go of them. Each of our characters have experienced massive amounts of pain and suffering in their lives and it has lead them to where they are now.
Haruto is immortal but not at peace as he searches for his wife. Kira does not know who/what she is and where she comes from. Guang is furthermore tormented by his past and has sworn several, severe oaths to make the world and himself forget who he was. Yanmei is the one character who is the most heroic but even she cannot escape the wounds on her psyche. Among the Onryo, all of them are conflicted but none more so than Crow who struggles to contain themselves within a physical robe as otherwise they would disparate. The others similar to Crow do not recall any of their past besides the pain that they experienced when they left their human shell and now they inflict all of that and more to whom they meet.
“We live in a world of people passing their pain to others. It shouldn’t be that way.”
There is also a lot going on in the past that has led to the current issues that our main characters face and Rob explores this beautifully throughout the book. Almost everything that happens within this story as well to each of our characters has ties to the past and I loved this aspect of the story. There are quite a few nods to the previous books, which canny readers will spot. There are a lot of stories and past events mentioned within this book and it adds to the richness of the characters and the world. I loved each and every story or legend that was mentioned.
The best past about this book is that it spectacularly combines the action-packed approach of Never Die and the deep, thoughtful characterization of Pawn's Gambit. This book is also nearly double the length of the previous books and this is well spent in giving the reader a well-crafted story that will hold your attention through and through. From the snowcapped mountains, to the different types of spirits that Rob mines Japanese mythology so successfully for. The world presented is a living, breathing one and as previously the readers got the know the land of Hosa, they now are immersed with the land and legends of Ipia.
The action sequences within this story are gory, charismatic and mostly on a personal level. They reminded me of many sequences from Never Die however, the action here is more supernatural and no less brutal. One particular example is the final fight between Haruto and the Onryo master. But possibly the best sequence within this book falls on to the most powerful character of them all Yanmei. It’s an action sequence, which would have made David Gemmell proud and has the same cathartic effect as well. For a Yanmei fanboy like myself, it was better than her fight with the Ticking Clock in Pawn’s Gambit. The author has also enlisted Stas Borden to illustrate a few scenes within the book and they are spectacular to say the least.
For me this book did have a couple of drawbacks, namely that the book’s pace is not that streamlined as its predecessors. This is very much a byproduct of the detailed world-building within the book. There are a lot of stories/legends that are narrated by Guang (mostly) and a few other characters. These might seem unnecessary (at the start) and often slow down the story. However, there is a grand plan at play and they all have a huge payoff in the end. Lastly for me, the way the story ended and with the epilogue revelations, I can’t wait to read what happens next within the world. This is not a drawback but that’s going to be a few years away.
CONCLUSION: Spirits Of Vengeance is a tour de force that brings to an end to the Heroic age of the Mortal Techniques series. It begins with a blast and ends with an explosive finale that upends the world and lands within. This book has it all action, character development, heroic deaths, creepy creatures and most of all a thrilling finale that ties up the story in a spectacular way. I don’t know about you but for me, that’s exactly what I look for in a story.
Overall rating - 4.5 stars
CLASSIFICATION: Spirits Of Vengeance is a standalone epic fantasy story mixing The Witcher's action sequences with the creepy mythology of The Ring.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Spirits Of Vengeance is the next STANDALONE volume in the Mortal Techniques world and is set a little over a decade after the events of Pawn's Gambit (and over fifteen years after the events of Never Die). This story unlike the previous books is not set in Hosa but the neighboring kingdom of Ipia. The land of snowy winters, Shintei warriors & icy mountains (where the secretive Shintei academy called Sky Hollow is said to be located).
The prologue takes place in the Heiwa academy, a place for children with special abilities or techniques (as they are called in this world). Where they can learn to harness their techniques. It is a special place and the headmaster is Konihashi the Fifth Sage Under Heaven (remember that name, it’s an important one). We are then introduced to Haruto, an immortal Onmyoji (a demon/spirit hunter akin to Geralt the Witcher) who alongside a poet named Guang goes everywhere trying to help the local populace getting rid of Yokai and other pesky spirits. He is constantly destroying his kimonos and only has Guang for company. Guang is an old man who recites horrible poetry, frequently curses using vegetable names (you will find out why before the end) and helps Haruto in his ultimate quest.
The book also re-introduces us to Kira who the readers first met in Pawn's Gambit in a very, very small way. Kira is a unique girl with extra-special abilities and is mentored by Yanmei, her teacher from the Heiwa academy and the person whom she considers as a mother. Yanmei is also a character we have met in the previous titles and here the readers get to see an older & stronger warrior who is on a quest of her own. Yanmei knows more about Kira’s past than she does. However, she doesn’t know how to help her.
Amidst all of this, and powering the main storyline are a group of five Onryo (vengeful, destructive spirits) who are being led by a mysterious entity They are searching for an ancient prison as the contents of that prison might change world (but for the good or worse no one knows). This is the main gist of this epic story awaiting readers within as all of these characters are striving to find out their raison d’etre
The story is very different from Never Die and Pawn's Gambit. This is more of an epic fantasy story and there is a lot more going on within the world as well. The readers get to see a new nation and its problems (like having dual competing royal families who are locked in an internecine conflict spanning decades). The storyline also ties heavily tied into a past pivotal event, which is the focus of the short story The Century Blade. I would really recommend that readers read that short before they read this book. However if you don’t, you will still get a complete story within.
The main thrust of the story is still its characters and this is a special characteristic of Rob J. Hayes. All of his books always feature characters who are brilliantly etched, no matter where they fall on the moral spectrum. In this book we get six-seven POVs and this is really helps in expanding the story. As I mentioned previously this story is more in the epic fantasy vein and it all builds up. This story is all about past regrets and letting go of them. Each of our characters have experienced massive amounts of pain and suffering in their lives and it has lead them to where they are now.
Haruto is immortal but not at peace as he searches for his wife. Kira does not know who/what she is and where she comes from. Guang is furthermore tormented by his past and has sworn several, severe oaths to make the world and himself forget who he was. Yanmei is the one character who is the most heroic but even she cannot escape the wounds on her psyche. Among the Onryo, all of them are conflicted but none more so than Crow who struggles to contain themselves within a physical robe as otherwise they would disparate. The others similar to Crow do not recall any of their past besides the pain that they experienced when they left their human shell and now they inflict all of that and more to whom they meet.
“We live in a world of people passing their pain to others. It shouldn’t be that way.”
There is also a lot going on in the past that has led to the current issues that our main characters face and Rob explores this beautifully throughout the book. Almost everything that happens within this story as well to each of our characters has ties to the past and I loved this aspect of the story. There are quite a few nods to the previous books, which canny readers will spot. There are a lot of stories and past events mentioned within this book and it adds to the richness of the characters and the world. I loved each and every story or legend that was mentioned.
The best past about this book is that it spectacularly combines the action-packed approach of Never Die and the deep, thoughtful characterization of Pawn's Gambit. This book is also nearly double the length of the previous books and this is well spent in giving the reader a well-crafted story that will hold your attention through and through. From the snowcapped mountains, to the different types of spirits that Rob mines Japanese mythology so successfully for. The world presented is a living, breathing one and as previously the readers got the know the land of Hosa, they now are immersed with the land and legends of Ipia.
The action sequences within this story are gory, charismatic and mostly on a personal level. They reminded me of many sequences from Never Die however, the action here is more supernatural and no less brutal. One particular example is the final fight between Haruto and the Onryo master. But possibly the best sequence within this book falls on to the most powerful character of them all Yanmei. It’s an action sequence, which would have made David Gemmell proud and has the same cathartic effect as well. For a Yanmei fanboy like myself, it was better than her fight with the Ticking Clock in Pawn’s Gambit. The author has also enlisted Stas Borden to illustrate a few scenes within the book and they are spectacular to say the least.
For me this book did have a couple of drawbacks, namely that the book’s pace is not that streamlined as its predecessors. This is very much a byproduct of the detailed world-building within the book. There are a lot of stories/legends that are narrated by Guang (mostly) and a few other characters. These might seem unnecessary (at the start) and often slow down the story. However, there is a grand plan at play and they all have a huge payoff in the end. Lastly for me, the way the story ended and with the epilogue revelations, I can’t wait to read what happens next within the world. This is not a drawback but that’s going to be a few years away.
CONCLUSION: Spirits Of Vengeance is a tour de force that brings to an end to the Heroic age of the Mortal Techniques series. It begins with a blast and ends with an explosive finale that upends the world and lands within. This book has it all action, character development, heroic deaths, creepy creatures and most of all a thrilling finale that ties up the story in a spectacular way. I don’t know about you but for me, that’s exactly what I look for in a story.
October 9, 2021
An excellent, enjoyable read by a favourite author.
Larger than his two earlier, excellent, books in the Mortal Techniques series, by 200-300 pages. So this has a more epic feel, with a detailed plot involving a powerful ‘spirit hunter’ (an onmyoji), some companions, a lot of spirits, ghosts, demons, etc., and possibly with the future of humanity at stake! It took me a few pages to get into it, to get the measure of the characters and their roles, but with just some patience the story grew on me dramatically from about the 10% mark in the ebook, as it’s details were filled in. From that point I couldn’t let go and it became a truly epic story of high quality. Sometimes violent combat in the Wuxia style, decent banter between the travelling companions and an interesting, somewhat unexpected, ending too.
The Mortal Techniques books are standalone stories. Just some names that carry across books though they can be read independently, and they all have the same Wuxia theme. In fact, most of what I know about Wuxia has come from this author’s work (and maybe the brilliant Sword of Kaigen), as I haven’t really read much involving East Asian martial arts stories and the polytheistic spirit/god/demon world. Even Manga is a stranger to me. So this book was a bit of an education for me as well as a good story, as it has plenty of references to spirits, mostly associated with Japanese mythology.
I was glad of my ebook tablets’s links to online encyclopaedias that filled me in on the spirit types named as I reached them in the story, as well as references to Japanese traditional weapons and clothes. Not critical that you knew the meanings but I was happy for the education on this unknown, to me, mythology.
In summary, let the story build its foundations, soak up the Wuxia vibe, and enjoy a fascinating, martial, East Asian mythological journey. 4.5* rounded up.
Minor note on the ebook production: more small grammatical mistakes than I’m used to seeing (missing indefinite and definite articles, and mistakes on plurals mainly). Didn’t spoil the story though they sometimes jarred on my reading flow.
Larger than his two earlier, excellent, books in the Mortal Techniques series, by 200-300 pages. So this has a more epic feel, with a detailed plot involving a powerful ‘spirit hunter’ (an onmyoji), some companions, a lot of spirits, ghosts, demons, etc., and possibly with the future of humanity at stake! It took me a few pages to get into it, to get the measure of the characters and their roles, but with just some patience the story grew on me dramatically from about the 10% mark in the ebook, as it’s details were filled in. From that point I couldn’t let go and it became a truly epic story of high quality. Sometimes violent combat in the Wuxia style, decent banter between the travelling companions and an interesting, somewhat unexpected, ending too.
The Mortal Techniques books are standalone stories. Just some names that carry across books though they can be read independently, and they all have the same Wuxia theme. In fact, most of what I know about Wuxia has come from this author’s work (and maybe the brilliant Sword of Kaigen), as I haven’t really read much involving East Asian martial arts stories and the polytheistic spirit/god/demon world. Even Manga is a stranger to me. So this book was a bit of an education for me as well as a good story, as it has plenty of references to spirits, mostly associated with Japanese mythology.
I was glad of my ebook tablets’s links to online encyclopaedias that filled me in on the spirit types named as I reached them in the story, as well as references to Japanese traditional weapons and clothes. Not critical that you knew the meanings but I was happy for the education on this unknown, to me, mythology.
In summary, let the story build its foundations, soak up the Wuxia vibe, and enjoy a fascinating, martial, East Asian mythological journey. 4.5* rounded up.
Minor note on the ebook production: more small grammatical mistakes than I’m used to seeing (missing indefinite and definite articles, and mistakes on plurals mainly). Didn’t spoil the story though they sometimes jarred on my reading flow.
February 25, 2022
I’m a little late to the party with this one. Thanks go out to Rob Hayes for the ARC and huge apologies for the delay in this review.
*
The Onryo, powerful spirits, have banded together, led by the Master, looking for the final prison of Orochi, the eight-headed dragon causing Haruto’s personal quest to be sidelined, in hopes of putting a stop to the Onryo’s plans.
*
I had such a good time with Pawn’s Gambit- loved the heck out of that book, so I had to return to this series when I found out Yamrei would be of part this story.
So, this is kind of a mix of the first two books in style. I like this blend a lot- we have our group travelling with lots of action, and the very cool fight scenes, mixed-in with some down-time, to give the characters and world time to grow. The beginning did feel a little slower to get going to me but I think that was more to do with my own impatience for Yanmei to appear.
I never actually read the summary and took this book on the strength of Hayes writing, my love for his last book, and the fact that Yanmei would be part of the story. I assumed she would be the main focus much like Yu was in the last book so it did take me a bit to shift my attention past my expectations- at least until she appeared.
Anyway-
Haruto is an Onmyoji- he travels the land looking to put yokai’s and other spirits to rest. His ultimate goal though is finding his wife’s spirit and releasing her from this world so she can be at peace. He has spent decades looking for her, even pledging himself to a God to accomplish this goal.
He is joined by Guang, a storyteller, and not so great poet. And also by Shiki, Haruto’s companion spirit; a gift from the God he worships and the cutest most kick-ass fluff ball ever. I want a Shiki.
Along the way they pick-up Yanmei and Kira, after the school for gifted children is burnt down. I was really looking forward to seeing Yanmei again and a lot has changed since our first meeting with her, as her fire technique is now slowly killing her with its use.
Surprisingly, as much as I loved Yanmei, she wasn’t the character that caught my heart this time around- it was Kira (we met her in Pawn’s Gambit when she was rescued from her mirror).
Kira is struggling with her identity, as a yokai returned to life. As the world sees her- she isn’t all human but she is not completely a yokai either.
Kira feels like a lost little girl. She is enamoured with all the new things around her and as someone who has had no one to teach her right from wrong, until Yanmei, she is now walking a fine line between the human-side of her and spirit-side, looking to belong and do right by Yanmei, who she loves and respects. A lot of her journey is learning about the world around her and learning to accept who and what she is.
Acceptance of yourself is a theme, and very powerful message throughout the story. All the characters are grappling with making amends for their past-selves, by coming to terms with what they can’t change and how it has shaped them to be the people they are today. And that those mistakes don’t mean they can’t do or be, better people from this point on.
Rob’s characters are a lot of fun and he is clever about his weaving of the story together. Some of the character’s histories gets told through tales by Guang (this reminded me a bit of Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld style) and it’s neat, the way the past stories- which are like folklores that interact with the present, giving you this feeling like you are actually seeing these legends in the making.
I really like and look forward to the way Haye’s plans the sequences to these character’s techniques too. He gives little glimpses throughout the story, planting the seed of what is possible, but not showing all, and even holding in reserve, some of their techniques until the finale. It makes for such exciting fight scenes that don’t feel stale from over-use, while building and growing the character and story. I think this is one of the things that has impressed me the most over the last few books.
Other notes:
I did think there was a couple side-quests that could have been dropped, just to speed up things a little the pacing was a bit up and down but does even out in the last half.
Some fun little easter-eggs to previous books if you have read the others, to catch along the way. I always enjoy that kind of stuff.
My takeaway there will never be a shortage of Yokai for Haruto to put to rest with all the violent ways men can kill one another…
TLDR:
The scene-setting and characters are top-notch. Pacing was a bit off early-on but it’s a minor complaint in this complicated tale of revenge, redemption and forgiveness, all wrapped-up in this very cool mystic-setting. Hayes is turning me into a superfan.
*
The Onryo, powerful spirits, have banded together, led by the Master, looking for the final prison of Orochi, the eight-headed dragon causing Haruto’s personal quest to be sidelined, in hopes of putting a stop to the Onryo’s plans.
*
I had such a good time with Pawn’s Gambit- loved the heck out of that book, so I had to return to this series when I found out Yamrei would be of part this story.
So, this is kind of a mix of the first two books in style. I like this blend a lot- we have our group travelling with lots of action, and the very cool fight scenes, mixed-in with some down-time, to give the characters and world time to grow. The beginning did feel a little slower to get going to me but I think that was more to do with my own impatience for Yanmei to appear.
I never actually read the summary and took this book on the strength of Hayes writing, my love for his last book, and the fact that Yanmei would be part of the story. I assumed she would be the main focus much like Yu was in the last book so it did take me a bit to shift my attention past my expectations- at least until she appeared.
Anyway-
Haruto is an Onmyoji- he travels the land looking to put yokai’s and other spirits to rest. His ultimate goal though is finding his wife’s spirit and releasing her from this world so she can be at peace. He has spent decades looking for her, even pledging himself to a God to accomplish this goal.
He is joined by Guang, a storyteller, and not so great poet. And also by Shiki, Haruto’s companion spirit; a gift from the God he worships and the cutest most kick-ass fluff ball ever. I want a Shiki.
Along the way they pick-up Yanmei and Kira, after the school for gifted children is burnt down. I was really looking forward to seeing Yanmei again and a lot has changed since our first meeting with her, as her fire technique is now slowly killing her with its use.
Surprisingly, as much as I loved Yanmei, she wasn’t the character that caught my heart this time around- it was Kira (we met her in Pawn’s Gambit when she was rescued from her mirror).
Kira is struggling with her identity, as a yokai returned to life. As the world sees her- she isn’t all human but she is not completely a yokai either.
Kira feels like a lost little girl. She is enamoured with all the new things around her and as someone who has had no one to teach her right from wrong, until Yanmei, she is now walking a fine line between the human-side of her and spirit-side, looking to belong and do right by Yanmei, who she loves and respects. A lot of her journey is learning about the world around her and learning to accept who and what she is.
Acceptance of yourself is a theme, and very powerful message throughout the story. All the characters are grappling with making amends for their past-selves, by coming to terms with what they can’t change and how it has shaped them to be the people they are today. And that those mistakes don’t mean they can’t do or be, better people from this point on.
Rob’s characters are a lot of fun and he is clever about his weaving of the story together. Some of the character’s histories gets told through tales by Guang (this reminded me a bit of Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld style) and it’s neat, the way the past stories- which are like folklores that interact with the present, giving you this feeling like you are actually seeing these legends in the making.
I really like and look forward to the way Haye’s plans the sequences to these character’s techniques too. He gives little glimpses throughout the story, planting the seed of what is possible, but not showing all, and even holding in reserve, some of their techniques until the finale. It makes for such exciting fight scenes that don’t feel stale from over-use, while building and growing the character and story. I think this is one of the things that has impressed me the most over the last few books.
Other notes:
I did think there was a couple side-quests that could have been dropped, just to speed up things a little the pacing was a bit up and down but does even out in the last half.
Some fun little easter-eggs to previous books if you have read the others, to catch along the way. I always enjoy that kind of stuff.
My takeaway there will never be a shortage of Yokai for Haruto to put to rest with all the violent ways men can kill one another…
TLDR:
The scene-setting and characters are top-notch. Pacing was a bit off early-on but it’s a minor complaint in this complicated tale of revenge, redemption and forgiveness, all wrapped-up in this very cool mystic-setting. Hayes is turning me into a superfan.
April 22, 2022
5/5 stars. I have loved reading each of the entries in the Mortal Techniques but this one was above the others for sure. I really enjoyed the narrative choices by adding in poetry and short stories it really enhanced the overall experience, especially with the audiobook. The narrator did an incredible job as well, each character really had their own unique voice and their personality reflected in their speaking cadence/tones etc. I think by the third entry in this series of standalones, the world and history have been established and now it's only getting more and more detailed which I really enjoy as a reader.
October 27, 2022
The third and final book in Rob J. Hayes’ Mortal Techniques trilogy. Although each book is a standalone, there are enough details/cameos/Easter eggs/references to the previous books to make it worthwhile reading in order.
It’s another fantastic story, as to be expected by such an experienced writer, although I do think I preferred Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit over Spirits of Vengeance.
We follow Haruto, an immortal “spirit hunter” called an onmyoji. He is tased with hunting down dangerous spirits (yokai), as well as various other monsters that haunt this world. Haruto, however, doesn’t always want to destroy them. Very often, he gives spirits peace, if he can. An incredibly jaded, grumpy, but immensely likeable character, he was fabulous to read about.
He is joined by Chiki, his spirit (which is also a spirit blade), and Guan, an equally grumpy poet with a former dark and dangerous life.
Later on, they’re joined by Kira and Yanmei, who we met in Pawn’s Gambit (and a technique Kira learns was first introduced in Never Die), who have their own demons to fight and overcome. Kira is not quite human, not quite spirit, and Yanmei has been trying to keep her safe. Unfortunately, sometimes suppressing a baser instinct can have devastating consequences.
It felt like the main story didn’t really take off until around 30%, when more stakes became clear as far as the overarching plot is concerned. This centres around several onryo (similar to Kira - part yokai, part human) seeking to release the king of dragons, who was imprisoned many thousands of years prior.
There are an incredible amount of epic battles, an introduction to a plethora of spirits and lore, and some fabulous stories within stories told. At times, I felt like I was watching a Ghibli movie, though somewhat darker.
These fabulous characters grow, change, adapt, and no-one is completely safe, which keeps tensions high throughout.
As with the previous two books, I listened to the audio, which was fabulously narrated by Kim Bretton. The addition of music and sound effects for certain parts brought an extra element of creativity and were thoroughly enjoyable :)
It’s another fantastic story, as to be expected by such an experienced writer, although I do think I preferred Never Die and Pawn’s Gambit over Spirits of Vengeance.
We follow Haruto, an immortal “spirit hunter” called an onmyoji. He is tased with hunting down dangerous spirits (yokai), as well as various other monsters that haunt this world. Haruto, however, doesn’t always want to destroy them. Very often, he gives spirits peace, if he can. An incredibly jaded, grumpy, but immensely likeable character, he was fabulous to read about.
He is joined by Chiki, his spirit (which is also a spirit blade), and Guan, an equally grumpy poet with a former dark and dangerous life.
Later on, they’re joined by Kira and Yanmei, who we met in Pawn’s Gambit (and a technique Kira learns was first introduced in Never Die), who have their own demons to fight and overcome. Kira is not quite human, not quite spirit, and Yanmei has been trying to keep her safe. Unfortunately, sometimes suppressing a baser instinct can have devastating consequences.
It felt like the main story didn’t really take off until around 30%, when more stakes became clear as far as the overarching plot is concerned. This centres around several onryo (similar to Kira - part yokai, part human) seeking to release the king of dragons, who was imprisoned many thousands of years prior.
There are an incredible amount of epic battles, an introduction to a plethora of spirits and lore, and some fabulous stories within stories told. At times, I felt like I was watching a Ghibli movie, though somewhat darker.
These fabulous characters grow, change, adapt, and no-one is completely safe, which keeps tensions high throughout.
As with the previous two books, I listened to the audio, which was fabulously narrated by Kim Bretton. The addition of music and sound effects for certain parts brought an extra element of creativity and were thoroughly enjoyable :)
September 3, 2021
*I was provided an advanced copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Spirits of Vengeance is a fantastic book with a lot of heart, fantastic action, and really cool magic. Every time I pick up one of the Mortal Techniques books, it feels like a breath of fresh air. The world Hayes is crafting here feels different than anything else I've read in the best possible way.
This book revolves around an onmyoji named Haruto who is tasked with moving yokai, who have unfinished business, on from the mortal world. Sometimes this means taking on their burden and seeking vengeance on their behalf, sometimes this means playing hide and seek with them.
This book, while technically standalone and definitely enjoyable without reading the others, really is best read after consuming the other Mortal Techniques stories. Hayes does such a fantastic job of planting little easter eggs and references to other books in this one. Some of which are extremely obvious while others are more subtle but there are a few references to past books that give me chills just thinking about them.
This book benefits from longer length, compared to the other Mortal Techniques books. It's about the length of the previous two books combined. The length of this book really gave all of these characters room to breathe. I got to know all of these characters on a deep level and felt connected to each and every one of them through their relationships with each other. The love that these characters shared was truly heart-warming.
I also feel like it's worth mentioning that my digital review copy isn't enough. I will be picking up a physical copy of this book not only because of the great story by Hayes, but also the fantastic cover by Felix Ortiz. Cover artists don't get enough shout outs and the man is doing some incredible work.
If you've read and enjoyed the other Mortal Techniques novels, this one is a must-read. If you're looking for some atypical fantasy with great action, badass characters, and an ever-expanding world, this series and this book are worth looking into. I highly recommend this one.
Spirits of Vengeance is a fantastic book with a lot of heart, fantastic action, and really cool magic. Every time I pick up one of the Mortal Techniques books, it feels like a breath of fresh air. The world Hayes is crafting here feels different than anything else I've read in the best possible way.
This book revolves around an onmyoji named Haruto who is tasked with moving yokai, who have unfinished business, on from the mortal world. Sometimes this means taking on their burden and seeking vengeance on their behalf, sometimes this means playing hide and seek with them.
This book, while technically standalone and definitely enjoyable without reading the others, really is best read after consuming the other Mortal Techniques stories. Hayes does such a fantastic job of planting little easter eggs and references to other books in this one. Some of which are extremely obvious while others are more subtle but there are a few references to past books that give me chills just thinking about them.
This book benefits from longer length, compared to the other Mortal Techniques books. It's about the length of the previous two books combined. The length of this book really gave all of these characters room to breathe. I got to know all of these characters on a deep level and felt connected to each and every one of them through their relationships with each other. The love that these characters shared was truly heart-warming.
I also feel like it's worth mentioning that my digital review copy isn't enough. I will be picking up a physical copy of this book not only because of the great story by Hayes, but also the fantastic cover by Felix Ortiz. Cover artists don't get enough shout outs and the man is doing some incredible work.
If you've read and enjoyed the other Mortal Techniques novels, this one is a must-read. If you're looking for some atypical fantasy with great action, badass characters, and an ever-expanding world, this series and this book are worth looking into. I highly recommend this one.
December 21, 2023
Oh my - so damn good! I think the best of the Mortal Techniques books. As a longer book, we got some more back story, more time with all the characters, and even some time with the baddies.
Rob J Hayes is now an auto buy author for me 👌
Rob J Hayes is now an auto buy author for me 👌
November 17, 2021
If you are looking for the spiritual successor to The Witcher, then Spirits of Vengeance is the book for you!
This is a dazzling new standalone adventure set in the world of The Mortal Techniques that will satisfy even the most voracious need for well-crafted morally gray characters and cinematic level fight scenes in a land teeming with magic, spirits, and dragons galore. This book- and this entire series of novels if we are being honest- is an absolute must read for 2021! Not only does Spirits of Vengeance earn itself a spot on my list of best books of the year it has also elevated Mortal Techniques to one of my favorite underrated series of all time!
If you’re curious about a suggested reader order, my best recommendation is to go in publication order. Not only does this build up the world and it’s history in chronological order, but there will also be an abundance of subtle nods to characters and events in later books that will absolutely enrich the overall reading experience.
My personal rating for the books in this series so far is as follows:
- Never Die 4.5/5 stars
- Pawn’s Gambit 3.5/5 stars
- Spirits of Vengeance 5/5 stars
This is a dazzling new standalone adventure set in the world of The Mortal Techniques that will satisfy even the most voracious need for well-crafted morally gray characters and cinematic level fight scenes in a land teeming with magic, spirits, and dragons galore. This book- and this entire series of novels if we are being honest- is an absolute must read for 2021! Not only does Spirits of Vengeance earn itself a spot on my list of best books of the year it has also elevated Mortal Techniques to one of my favorite underrated series of all time!
If you’re curious about a suggested reader order, my best recommendation is to go in publication order. Not only does this build up the world and it’s history in chronological order, but there will also be an abundance of subtle nods to characters and events in later books that will absolutely enrich the overall reading experience.
My personal rating for the books in this series so far is as follows:
- Never Die 4.5/5 stars
- Pawn’s Gambit 3.5/5 stars
- Spirits of Vengeance 5/5 stars
August 17, 2021
A review of Spirits of Vengeance
Book 3 of Mortal Techniques
By Rob J. Hayes
*A copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Spirits of Vengeance is an epic fantasy book anchored by a heavy dose of Japanese mythology and folklore, themes of vengeance, sacrifice and redemption as well as four distinct and extremely complex protagonists.
The narrative takes place in a snow covered Ipian Empire that is home to a host of spirits, gods, demons and humans.
The Onmyoji Haruto, an immortal man who travels in search of contracts to rid the land of Yokai, is accompanied by his aging companion Guang, a retired bandit turned poet. Eventually they are joined by monastery teacher Yanmei and her ward and student Kira. They embark on a series of adventures together and along the way I became so attached to each of them I often times had to force myself to slow down or to remember to breath when it got a little too crazy. Yeah, I had a bit of fun with this one.
Vengeance does not drive this book, it really acts as more of a catalyst. Over the course of the story what we witness are four individuals chasing and achieving redemption through their own bravery and self-sacrifice. It’s really quite moving. The heart and tenacity they display in the face countless monstrosities, certain death and physical pain to protect, honour or free someone they love made this book so inspiring to read and hard to finish. I’m talking a heavy dose of instant post-book depression here.
The characters are the best thing about this book but as a Yokai enthusiast I was pleased to see a host of them in the story. I always had one or two Shigeru Mizuki Yokai encyclopedias on hand to visualize the spirits and was always impressed at how well Hayes described and used them. Tengu and dragon also abound, all that’s missing is an Oni or two!
The only thing I’d change about this story is I’d make it longer, add a few adventures in the middle so I can spend more time with my new favorite characters. Seriously, I needed 4000 pages to love Kaladin (of Stormlight Archives) as much as I loved Kira by the end of this book’s 544 pages. The Mortal Techniques are a series of stand-alone books in a shared universe so I’m not sure I’ll ever see any of them again. Also on that note, this was my first MT book and I had no issues so don’t hesitate to jump on here. I will be reading the other two soon as this was beyond excellent.
Lastly I read a good chunk of this while listening to Hans Zimmer’s excellent score for The Last Samurai. It was a perfect pairing and served to heighten the emotions felt throughout the book.
On a five star scale this gets a five all day long!
Book 3 of Mortal Techniques
By Rob J. Hayes
*A copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Spirits of Vengeance is an epic fantasy book anchored by a heavy dose of Japanese mythology and folklore, themes of vengeance, sacrifice and redemption as well as four distinct and extremely complex protagonists.
The narrative takes place in a snow covered Ipian Empire that is home to a host of spirits, gods, demons and humans.
The Onmyoji Haruto, an immortal man who travels in search of contracts to rid the land of Yokai, is accompanied by his aging companion Guang, a retired bandit turned poet. Eventually they are joined by monastery teacher Yanmei and her ward and student Kira. They embark on a series of adventures together and along the way I became so attached to each of them I often times had to force myself to slow down or to remember to breath when it got a little too crazy. Yeah, I had a bit of fun with this one.
Vengeance does not drive this book, it really acts as more of a catalyst. Over the course of the story what we witness are four individuals chasing and achieving redemption through their own bravery and self-sacrifice. It’s really quite moving. The heart and tenacity they display in the face countless monstrosities, certain death and physical pain to protect, honour or free someone they love made this book so inspiring to read and hard to finish. I’m talking a heavy dose of instant post-book depression here.
The characters are the best thing about this book but as a Yokai enthusiast I was pleased to see a host of them in the story. I always had one or two Shigeru Mizuki Yokai encyclopedias on hand to visualize the spirits and was always impressed at how well Hayes described and used them. Tengu and dragon also abound, all that’s missing is an Oni or two!
The only thing I’d change about this story is I’d make it longer, add a few adventures in the middle so I can spend more time with my new favorite characters. Seriously, I needed 4000 pages to love Kaladin (of Stormlight Archives) as much as I loved Kira by the end of this book’s 544 pages. The Mortal Techniques are a series of stand-alone books in a shared universe so I’m not sure I’ll ever see any of them again. Also on that note, this was my first MT book and I had no issues so don’t hesitate to jump on here. I will be reading the other two soon as this was beyond excellent.
Lastly I read a good chunk of this while listening to Hans Zimmer’s excellent score for The Last Samurai. It was a perfect pairing and served to heighten the emotions felt throughout the book.
On a five star scale this gets a five all day long!
January 7, 2024
Another great Mortal Techniques story. You can technically read this as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the other two books first as there are cameos and references from the previous books that add emotional weight to the story.
"Guang always said that immortality was a generous reward for merely hunting yokai, but he had it backwards. Immortality wasn't the reward. It was the price Haruto had to pay."
"Guang always said that immortality was a generous reward for merely hunting yokai, but he had it backwards. Immortality wasn't the reward. It was the price Haruto had to pay."
September 16, 2021
3.5/5
Epic action sequences but thin characters combine for another exciting adventure into this fast, expanding world.
The third Mortal Techniques book time skips about eighty years from Pawn’s Gambit. This is the second time substantial time skip between novels and I believe the world is much stronger for it. It gives the land a chance to grow and change in the decades in between, so although we spend our time with centuries-old immortals, the environment and political landscape is given a fresh coat of paint.
Another advantage of this time skip is getting the chance to learn the fate certain characters at the end of the last book that I didn’t expect to revisit. So although these books are purported to be standalone novels, there is a payoff if read sequentially with a careful eye.
Hayes’ ability to write epic action scenes has always been one of his strongest assets, and they are relentless in this novel. Demonic yokai threatening towns and destroying schools, hunting families and shattering pasts. However, it seemed like more time was given toward developing the nuance of the yokai than the four main characters of the story. I was about 30% through the book and felt a large disconnect between all four of the main cast: the mercenary jerk who refuses to give anyone credit for helping him; a former fighter, turned-mediocre poet, that felt more a comic relief than a fleshed out character; a seemingly half-yokai who doesn’t know or say much about herself; and her caretaker, who knows a lot more, but speaks even less. It was a frustrating start.
The cast was given more room to grow throughout the story but it couldn’t quite recover from the somewhat hollow first act of the story. But make no mistake, the action in Spirits of Vengeance is like napalm in your morning coffee. Fans of Hayes’ first two Mortal Techniques will find lots to love here. And as the story progresses – his longest, yet -- the loose threads are tied together and the many questions start to become answered. But for my tastes, it took a bit too long to get there. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to seeing how the events in the final arc will affect the world in the M.T. volumes ahead.
Epic action sequences but thin characters combine for another exciting adventure into this fast, expanding world.
The third Mortal Techniques book time skips about eighty years from Pawn’s Gambit. This is the second time substantial time skip between novels and I believe the world is much stronger for it. It gives the land a chance to grow and change in the decades in between, so although we spend our time with centuries-old immortals, the environment and political landscape is given a fresh coat of paint.
Another advantage of this time skip is getting the chance to learn the fate certain characters at the end of the last book that I didn’t expect to revisit. So although these books are purported to be standalone novels, there is a payoff if read sequentially with a careful eye.
Hayes’ ability to write epic action scenes has always been one of his strongest assets, and they are relentless in this novel. Demonic yokai threatening towns and destroying schools, hunting families and shattering pasts. However, it seemed like more time was given toward developing the nuance of the yokai than the four main characters of the story. I was about 30% through the book and felt a large disconnect between all four of the main cast: the mercenary jerk who refuses to give anyone credit for helping him; a former fighter, turned-mediocre poet, that felt more a comic relief than a fleshed out character; a seemingly half-yokai who doesn’t know or say much about herself; and her caretaker, who knows a lot more, but speaks even less. It was a frustrating start.
The cast was given more room to grow throughout the story but it couldn’t quite recover from the somewhat hollow first act of the story. But make no mistake, the action in Spirits of Vengeance is like napalm in your morning coffee. Fans of Hayes’ first two Mortal Techniques will find lots to love here. And as the story progresses – his longest, yet -- the loose threads are tied together and the many questions start to become answered. But for my tastes, it took a bit too long to get there. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to seeing how the events in the final arc will affect the world in the M.T. volumes ahead.
August 3, 2021
Brilliant! Another fantastic entry in this series, I actually think this might be the best one yet and what a story you are in for as well. Vengeful spirits, vows of Vengeance, saving lost spirits and a cool magic system as well. A full review will be on my blog soon.
February 4, 2022
The mortal Techniques is still one of my favorites series but sadly I couldn't connect with this one as well as with Pawn's Gabmit.
I have to admit I started reading this in a pretty slumpy part of my year nonetheless it was still great, the characters were amazing, the plot was super entertaining (and sad) and the battle scenes just get better and better. I think the part that took me out of it the most was our love story (which isn't bad, don't get me wrong, but it just didn't work for me).
Haruto is one of this good characters that you can just follow for ages ( and I wish I had a Guang in my life). Also the evolution in the relationship between Guang and Yanmei was just perfect.
As you can probably tell the best part of Spirits of Vengeance was the characters, and probably because I'm a plot driven reader it didn't hook me as much as is predecesor.
I highly recommend this series to everyone, being one of my all time favorites. Just pick them up and have a great ride.
My december wrap up where I talk about Spirits of Vengeance
My gush review for Pawn's Gambit
I have to admit I started reading this in a pretty slumpy part of my year nonetheless it was still great, the characters were amazing, the plot was super entertaining (and sad) and the battle scenes just get better and better. I think the part that took me out of it the most was our love story (which isn't bad, don't get me wrong, but it just didn't work for me).
Haruto is one of this good characters that you can just follow for ages ( and I wish I had a Guang in my life). Also the evolution in the relationship between Guang and Yanmei was just perfect.
As you can probably tell the best part of Spirits of Vengeance was the characters, and probably because I'm a plot driven reader it didn't hook me as much as is predecesor.
I highly recommend this series to everyone, being one of my all time favorites. Just pick them up and have a great ride.
My december wrap up where I talk about Spirits of Vengeance
My gush review for Pawn's Gambit
March 27, 2023
Wow. Where do I start? Maybe with the basics: Spirits of Vengeance is the third book in the Mortal Techniques series but as I’ve said previously, can be read as a standalone. It could be thought of as the fourth book technically as Rob released a short story in this series, The Century Blade: A Mortal Techniques short story, on August 29th which acts as a prequel to some of the story in this book so if you’ve not read either, quickly read that book (29 pages) to give yourself some background knowledge.
“Victory is worth any cost. Defeat is a coin with no value,”
I won’t post any spoilers in this review but you will see some names of characters. These names are either mentioned in the blurb or are seen very early in the story. The story follows a man called Haruto who is an onmyoji. An onmyoji is kind of like a spirit hunter who works in the same kind of way The Witcher does. Haruto has a companion called Guang who is a poet and the two of them stumble across an old lady, Yanmei and a young girl Kira. Together they go on an ever-evolving quest to save the world from five onryo (onryo are half yokai, half human but only one side can exist and these are created when someone has died in an unnatural way) who are intent on releasing an ancient evil upon the world.
Haruto put a hand on Guang’s shoulder. “She said don’t you dare die!”
Guang smiled. “I’m not planning on it you little radish.”
I knew from the cover that this would have some Asian Fantasy elements and that was something I was really up for but when I started reading this book I really didn’t know what else to expect. I’d heard great things about the other two books in the series and so when I saw Rob offer an arc on Twitter I jumped on the chance and promised a review by release date and here we are, over two weeks early.
“I’m willing to suffer a bit of pain if it saves others from worse.”
What Rob has created here is nothing short of scintillating storytelling. The world he has created is one that you can feel come to life around you the further you delve in. Everything is described in perfect detail without being overbearing or info-dumpy. He really sets the scene for Haruto and the others, wherever they go, so that you constantly have a visual image in your head to play alongside the words he has carefully placed onto the pages. The lore of the world, such as the story of The King of Rock and Sky and his Paper Army, will help to make you feel more enveloped into this world as they bring the history, the people and the cultures alive.
“Not justice. I am not justice. I am a spirit of vengeance.”
The characters are the standout attraction in this story. Hands down. They are alive, believable and have real personalities you get to know and enjoy. It’s wonderful. There are great dynamics between them too. Haruto and Guang have a Doctor Strange/Wong relationship. The sarcasm is executed perfectly but the love they have for one another is a permanent undertone so that you can relate to their friendship with one of your own.
“Enough!” Haruto said quickly. “I’ll find some more work. Just… no more poetry, please.”
Kira and Yanmei have a great mother/daughter relationship that evolves as the story does, despite them not being biologically related and what’s interesting is Yanmei and Guang are almost like her parents. Guang and Yanmei using Kira to fill in their own voids respectively, and Kira finding a balance with her unconventional guardians providing her guidance and teachings she hasn’t had before. Yanmei and Guang themselves are almost like an old married couple as they are both atoning for sins. Guang through abstinence by not doing something and Yanmei paying a toll every time she does. It’s really well written stuff.
“Damnit Yanmei, you old fool,” she snarled at herself. “Be faster.”
“Yes!” Guang said as his left knee buckled and he dropped to kneel on the ice. “Please do.”
The characters all have a backstory that is either drip fed inside of believable conversations or is shown in short but fascinating flashbacks. These droplets of information about their history complete their past allowing us to get a complete picture of them without the risk of losing pace or interest in the main story.
Guang laughed. “They make us better, you know. If you let them. Children.”
It’s not just the heroes that are great either. Like most comic books, a hero is only good as his enemies and these are no exception. The ‘villains’ they face are interesting, cool, devious and well crafted. They have their own personalities which at times rival those of our heroes. It then creates it’s own dynamic as you learn about them and their place in the world. I want to talk about this a lot more but it would spoil it.
“This is the only plan.” Kira shook her head. “It’s a really bad plan.”
Rating – S/5 This is an S rank book. If you’ve played games you’ll know what that means and if you don’t well consider it a 6 out of 5. I’ve only given this (in my head) to two other books before – The Hobbit and Ready Player One. This is for those books you recommend to everyone whenever you’re asked if you know any good books. This is for those books you need to have special editions of. This book is nothing short of extraordinary. It made me excited to turn the page and that is special. Rob has created a living breathing world with characters who I felt I knew everything about. It’s a world I can’t wait to get back into and a world I can’t wait for others to explore. I couldn’t put this book down and for good reason. To me this is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I implore you to get a copy when it’s released. I can’t wait to see where Rob is taking this world next. This is what fantasy writers should aspire to and what fantasy readers deserve. Did I mention it’s also self published?
“Victory is worth any cost. Defeat is a coin with no value,”
I won’t post any spoilers in this review but you will see some names of characters. These names are either mentioned in the blurb or are seen very early in the story. The story follows a man called Haruto who is an onmyoji. An onmyoji is kind of like a spirit hunter who works in the same kind of way The Witcher does. Haruto has a companion called Guang who is a poet and the two of them stumble across an old lady, Yanmei and a young girl Kira. Together they go on an ever-evolving quest to save the world from five onryo (onryo are half yokai, half human but only one side can exist and these are created when someone has died in an unnatural way) who are intent on releasing an ancient evil upon the world.
Haruto put a hand on Guang’s shoulder. “She said don’t you dare die!”
Guang smiled. “I’m not planning on it you little radish.”
I knew from the cover that this would have some Asian Fantasy elements and that was something I was really up for but when I started reading this book I really didn’t know what else to expect. I’d heard great things about the other two books in the series and so when I saw Rob offer an arc on Twitter I jumped on the chance and promised a review by release date and here we are, over two weeks early.
“I’m willing to suffer a bit of pain if it saves others from worse.”
What Rob has created here is nothing short of scintillating storytelling. The world he has created is one that you can feel come to life around you the further you delve in. Everything is described in perfect detail without being overbearing or info-dumpy. He really sets the scene for Haruto and the others, wherever they go, so that you constantly have a visual image in your head to play alongside the words he has carefully placed onto the pages. The lore of the world, such as the story of The King of Rock and Sky and his Paper Army, will help to make you feel more enveloped into this world as they bring the history, the people and the cultures alive.
“Not justice. I am not justice. I am a spirit of vengeance.”
The characters are the standout attraction in this story. Hands down. They are alive, believable and have real personalities you get to know and enjoy. It’s wonderful. There are great dynamics between them too. Haruto and Guang have a Doctor Strange/Wong relationship. The sarcasm is executed perfectly but the love they have for one another is a permanent undertone so that you can relate to their friendship with one of your own.
“Enough!” Haruto said quickly. “I’ll find some more work. Just… no more poetry, please.”
Kira and Yanmei have a great mother/daughter relationship that evolves as the story does, despite them not being biologically related and what’s interesting is Yanmei and Guang are almost like her parents. Guang and Yanmei using Kira to fill in their own voids respectively, and Kira finding a balance with her unconventional guardians providing her guidance and teachings she hasn’t had before. Yanmei and Guang themselves are almost like an old married couple as they are both atoning for sins. Guang through abstinence by not doing something and Yanmei paying a toll every time she does. It’s really well written stuff.
“Damnit Yanmei, you old fool,” she snarled at herself. “Be faster.”
“Yes!” Guang said as his left knee buckled and he dropped to kneel on the ice. “Please do.”
The characters all have a backstory that is either drip fed inside of believable conversations or is shown in short but fascinating flashbacks. These droplets of information about their history complete their past allowing us to get a complete picture of them without the risk of losing pace or interest in the main story.
Guang laughed. “They make us better, you know. If you let them. Children.”
It’s not just the heroes that are great either. Like most comic books, a hero is only good as his enemies and these are no exception. The ‘villains’ they face are interesting, cool, devious and well crafted. They have their own personalities which at times rival those of our heroes. It then creates it’s own dynamic as you learn about them and their place in the world. I want to talk about this a lot more but it would spoil it.
“This is the only plan.” Kira shook her head. “It’s a really bad plan.”
Rating – S/5 This is an S rank book. If you’ve played games you’ll know what that means and if you don’t well consider it a 6 out of 5. I’ve only given this (in my head) to two other books before – The Hobbit and Ready Player One. This is for those books you recommend to everyone whenever you’re asked if you know any good books. This is for those books you need to have special editions of. This book is nothing short of extraordinary. It made me excited to turn the page and that is special. Rob has created a living breathing world with characters who I felt I knew everything about. It’s a world I can’t wait to get back into and a world I can’t wait for others to explore. I couldn’t put this book down and for good reason. To me this is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I implore you to get a copy when it’s released. I can’t wait to see where Rob is taking this world next. This is what fantasy writers should aspire to and what fantasy readers deserve. Did I mention it’s also self published?
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