A queer, Maori-inspired fantasy series follows a police officer resurrected to save her city from impending destruction, navigating a world of Weaving powers, gods, and a band of misfits. The story unfolds in a mind-bending narrative with complex characters, intricate world-building, and themes of redemption, history, and the interplay between gods and mortals.

Reader Review Summary

"The Sunforge" is the highly anticipated second installment in Sascha Stronach's groundbreaking Endsong series, and it more than lives up to the promise of its predecessor "The Dawnhounds." This queer, Maori-inspired science fantasy is a mind-bending, genre-defying masterpiece that will leave readers stunned, exhilarated, and desperate for more.

One of the greatest strengths of this book is Stronach's uncompromising vision and willingness to eschew convention. "The Sunforge" does not follow a traditional linear narrative - instead, it gleefully shreds concepts of time, space, perspective and reality itself. Stronach masterfully juggles multiple timelines, storylines that blur the line between the past and present, and characters that transcend a singular form or identity. It's a deliriously audacious creative swing that pays off in spades, drawing the reader into a heady, dreamlike voyage of cosmic scope.

Yet for all its metaphysical mind-bending, "The Sunforge" remains grounded by its rich, emotionally resonant characters. Readers who felt a connection to the vividly-rendered protagonists of "The Dawnhounds" will be rewarded with deeper insight into their struggles, pains and motivations. Stronach doesn't hold back in putting them through the wringer, delivering exquisitely carved moments of heartbreak and catharsis. The fierce found family dynamics and romantic entanglements only grow more complex and compelling.

Underpinning it all is a bravura feat of worldbuilding that expands and deepens the already captivating mythology and cosmology established in the first book. Stronach weaves together science fiction, fantasy, post-colonial themes and indigenous representation into a richly-textured tapestry uniquely her own. From the intricacies of Radovan's harsh industrial landscape to transcendent revelations about the nature of the gods and magic system, every threads adds gravity and wonder. The book's greatest triumph may be its ability to take the utterly alien and make it feel hewn from ancient lore.

It's also a breathtakingly queer narrative that celebrates LGBTQ+ characters and relationships without restraint or compromise. Positive trans representation is given particular focus and tender authenticity. The celebration of diverse identities, experiences and found families is both joyous and integral to the story's fabric.

While "The Sunforge" is dizzying in its ambition and relentless inventiveness, Stronach's talent for evocative prose and gripping action set-pieces keeps the book firmly rooted in visceral thrills. She wields an impeccable command of language and startling turns of phrase, making even metaphysical epiphanies about the nature of reality crackle with poetry and dark whimsy.

Simply put, "The Sunforge" is a stunning, audacious piece of visionary fiction that plants a flag in uncharted artistic territory. It's confounding yet profound, unsettling yet embracing. Readers courageous enough to fully surrender themselves to its chaotic brilliance will be rewarded with a reading experience unlike any other. Stronach seems to be tapping into a pure, primordial creative wellspring - one that promises to reshape the boundaries of modern fantasy and science fiction. Don't miss the chance to be a part of this revolution.