In The Altar of My Fate, by Michael R. Schultheiss, we follow a warrior named Rosteval and a slave-girl named Ghaitta. Through a fascinating series of events, the two find themselves connected via the altar of an ancient Shaper race. The pair grows both in character and in their relationship with destiny while Cat-Eye Pon proves to be instrumental in their journey. Their destiny is to defeat an ancient god named Haldua. Author, Michael R. Schultheiss, has given readers a novel that is an epic narrative describing an incredibly vast world and steeped in exceptional character development.

While the novel contains many positives that every fantasy reader will enjoy, if you are not used to the typical stages of a fantasy, the structure of Schultheiss’s novel can take some getting used to. The plot can, at times, appear to be a sort of fetch quest–moving the characters from one location to another to retrieve a single bit of knowledge or an item. While this is a standard plot device for works of fantasy, the novel can drag slightly because of this technique.

Schultheiss attempts to break up some of the longer stretches of narrative with detailed backstories and interesting dialogue, but the novel seems more heavily focused on the fetch quest aspects of the plot. As I read, I noted that the plot slows at times and then picks up speed. I was, however, able  to gain a better understanding of this hyper-detailed world. Schultheiss has managed to create various styles of characters–all fascinating in their own ways. Readers will enjoy the journey as the plot builds toward meeting the antagonist. This journey is one well-earned–not cliched as some works in the fantasy genre tend to be.

Overall, Schultheiss’s novel is an excellent addition to the fantasy genre. The characters are well-written, trope-subverting, and the stakes in the story are believable. It is quite a long read but enjoyable the entire way through–only seeming to slow in a few spots. I recommend Schultheiss’s work to any fan of the epic fantasy genre who are looking to explore a new author who is adept at character development and intensely focused on a detailed plot from start to finish.

Pages: 488 | ASIN : B09P6WWK9X