Way of the Argosi

Originally posted on Just Geeking by.

Content warnings:
This book contains scenes of genocide from the start and this is graphically portrayed in detail on page as victims are hunted down, tortured and violently killed. Other scenes are retold from memory in flashbacks by the main character and/or discussed by various characters from either side. These discussions include bigoted language and attitudes, and often include or are aimed at a young girl.

One of the main themes of this book is experimentation using magic to physically and mentally torture the target of the genocide by their enemies. They experiment on a young female child of approximately twelve years old who they kidnap, marking her body with their magic and the experiment show more continues through her teenage years. It is stated on page that they have performed the same experiment on many of her people, but she is the only one to survive their experiments. As a result she suffers from post-traumatic stress, depression and contemplates suicide a few times.

There are scenes of death, violence, ignorance and prejudice throughout, including a village lynch mob seeking to hang a witch.


In the Spellslinger series Ferius is a mysterious woman who turns up and takes a young mage on a wild adventure, introducing him to the ways of the Argosi. But long before that she was a young girl who was introduced to the path by another Argosi, and Way of the Argosi is the story of how Ferius started on that path.

On GoodReads de Castell was asked whether you need to read the Spellslinger series first, and he said that you can read either first. Personally I’m glad I read the Spellslinger series first as I think I would have looked at Ferius in a completely different light if I’d read Way of the Argosi first. She’s one of those characters that it’s better to meet the legend and then fill in the background. There’s also a very significant fact about her identity that we don’t find out until much later in the series, but we know from the onset of Way of the Argosi. Personally I feel knowing that makes a huge difference to the Spellslinger series and how you as a reader will look at things, however, that’s just my two cents.

I always knew that Ferius would have an epic backstory, I just was not prepared for this. Everything that she goes through before she even meets Durral Brown is just so much. It also made perfect sense for her, and I know that sounds extremely vague, but this is a character who never gives up. It’s not an attitude, it’s a way of life to her, almost as if it’s coded into her genetics and after reading this book I can see where she got that spirit from.

It was fantastic to see her getting frustrated with Durral about wanting to learn the Argosi ways the same way Kellen did with her, and that is just one of many “easter eggs” that Spellslinger series fans will notice. I always love to read author’s acknowledgements at the end and I loved that de Castell confirmed the name of a squirrel cat (sadly no, it’s not Reichis as this is a prequel), even though I’m sure I’m not the only person who had already worked out who it was. I loved Durral in the Spellslinger series, so it was brilliant to see more of him, and him teaching a young Ferius. Their relationship is everything I expected, and wanted, and so much more.

Way of the Argosi is a brilliant start to a new duology which stands on its own two feet while also continuing the wonder world and writing style that de Castell created in the Spellslinger series. It’s a different time and the characters are at a different point in their life, so they’re not quite the same people we knew and loved, but it’s the same Argosi doing their thing, and it’s as chaotic and brilliant as always. I will add that I found this book to be a lot darker than the series, which while it did have some dark times and themes did not go where this one went. Please check the content warnings above before picking this one up.

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Sebastien de Castell is one of my favorite authors and this is perhaps his best book, although not necessarily his best known. So smart. So sly. It is a gem.

What an amazing book!!!! Review coming soon!