Jou Montfort
joumontfort.bsky.social
Jou Montfort
@joumontfort.bsky.social
Fantasy & Romantasy author, currently working on stories of the Phoenix and the Five Worlds. New book reviews every week, plus original fiction!
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Looking for some #Fantasy to enjoy this weekend? Chapter 11-1 of A CHIME FOR THESE HALLOWED BONES is here! Join in to learn how a #necromancer from Kabarāhira commands a wight.

#Romantasy #readers #serializedfiction #readingcommunity #indieauthor

www.joumontfort.com/tales-of-the...
A Chime for These Hallowed Bones (Chapter 11, Part 1) — Jou Montfort
The day after visiting Tesfaye’s shop, Yadleen rose before sunrise. Rajeev was, predictably, waiting behind the ossuary. She wordlessly beckoned to him and led the way to the townhouse while the city ...
www.joumontfort.com
The #bookreview posts for #ThreshingDay are all drafted and begin releasing this Sunday.

Overall #anthology rating: 2.5/10

While it has good moments, this anthology does more harm than good for the wider canon of the #empyrean .

#fourthwing #readers

www.joumontfort.com/recent-reads...
Focus and Continuity (A Prelude to Threshing Day) — Jou Montfort
Hello, all. Welcome to the semi-official start of the review of Threshing Day, the anthology released by Rebecca Yarros to tide over audiences during the wait from Onyx Storm to Book 4 of The ...
www.joumontfort.com
October 8, 2026 at 12:18 PM
The #FourthWing #BookClub reviews the final chapters of the novel! Let’s get into mangled endings, laughable plot holes, and changing sides because That's Good.

#bookstagram #dragonriders #fantasy

joumontfort.substack.com/p/fourth-win...
FOURTH WING BOOK CLUB: Chapter 36 through Chapter 39 (Part 1)
The following review was originally posted to my author website on December 15th, 2023.
joumontfort.substack.com
October 8, 2026 at 5:57 AM
#ThreshingDay Update
Finished #Sloane and #Aaric . Both are 4/10.
Yarros took characters with immense potential and wasted them. Sloane remains a puppet to serve Violet's story, while Aaric is a puppet to screech the theme.
Full #review Dec 27 ("Sloane") and Jan 3 ("Aaric").
October 6, 2026 at 1:59 AM
The #bookreview of KINGMAKER concludes! This is a book with a static and fairly stereotypical (of their factions) cast, yet their dynamics and the setting still produce rewarding drama.
#BookSky #readersky #readers #bookrecommendation #warhammer40K
www.joumontfort.com/recent-reads...
Kingmaker (An Assassinorum Novel) (Part 3 - Characters & Worldbuilding) — Jou Montfort
Hello, all. Welcome to the conclusion of the Assassinorum: Kingmaker review series. This final part will focus exclusively on the analysis of characters and worldbuilding. If you’d like the overv...
www.joumontfort.com
October 5, 2026 at 8:54 PM
#ThreshingDay Update

Finished #Ridoc (8/10, full #review Dec 13) and #Liam (6/10, full review Dec 20)

These stories are more proof that Yarros CAN write compelling character work and effective plots. It's her constant efforts to embellish and cover up mistakes that derail her.
October 4, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Looking for some #Fantasy to enjoy this weekend? Chapter 11-1 of A CHIME FOR THESE HALLOWED BONES is here! Join in to learn how a #necromancer from Kabarāhira commands a wight.

#Romantasy #readers #serializedfiction #readingcommunity #indieauthor

www.joumontfort.com/tales-of-the...
A Chime for These Hallowed Bones (Chapter 11, Part 1) — Jou Montfort
The day after visiting Tesfaye’s shop, Yadleen rose before sunrise. Rajeev was, predictably, waiting behind the ossuary. She wordlessly beckoned to him and led the way to the townhouse while the city ...
www.joumontfort.com
October 4, 2026 at 1:46 AM
#ThreshingDay Update

Finished #Sawyer . Rating: 7/10

Much like #Mira , the plot is wafer-thin, yet this is another one that is functional as a character study. Also like #Dain , the dialogue scene actually ties into the bonding scene.

Full #review coming 12/06.
October 2, 2026 at 10:38 PM
The dissection of Ch. 33 through 35 continues! Join the #FourthWing #BookClub as we break down how the big pre-climax twist (and its fallout) deal one more cripplingly blow to the intended framing of the characters.

#bookreview #fantasy #dragons

joumontfort.substack.com/p/fourth-win...
FOURTH WING BOOK CLUB: Chapter 33 through Chapter 35 (Part 2)
The following review was originally posted to my author website on December 8th, 2023.
joumontfort.substack.com
October 2, 2026 at 10:16 PM
#THRESHINGDAY Update

Finished #Rhiannon . Rating: 5/10

It's filler. Not good, not bad, and no real story or contribution to the wider narrative. Just pages filled so Yarros could check a box for a Rhiannon story.

Full #review coming 11/29.
October 2, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Recent Reads reviews NEMESIS! Let's return to Rath for an attempt at a dark, political fantasy that lacks the time or character work to stick the landing.
#BookSky #readersky #MTG #readerscommunity #magicthegathering #bookreview
www.joumontfort.com/recent-reads...
Nemesis (Masquerade Cycle, Book 2) — Jou Montfort
Hello, all. Welcome back to our exploration of MTG tie-in fiction and the adventures of the skyship Weatherlight … or, in this case, the adventures of those the Weatherlight left behind. Much li...
www.joumontfort.com
October 2, 2026 at 7:13 AM
#ThreshingDay Update

Finished #Imogen . Rating: 1/10

As with #Garrick, Yarros sees a plot hole from #OnyxStorm and spouts garbled nonsense that doesn't patch it. This time, she goes out of her way to enlarge the hole first.

Full #review arrives 11/22.
October 2, 2026 at 5:17 AM
#ThreshingDay Update:
Finished #Garrick (1/10), #Dain (4/10), and #Bodhi (4/10)
Two deliver strong characters but are ruined by plot holes.
The last is filler.
Full reviews in November.
October 1, 2026 at 1:42 PM
#ThreshingDay Update
Finished #Xaden last night. Rating: 3/10
What began as an engaging character piece that proves Yarros can do better with this character turned into sludge as the story was ripped apart by plot holes incurred by its own internal logic.
Full review Oct. 25th.
September 30, 2026 at 10:56 PM
The #FourthWing #BookClub dissects Ch. 33 through 35! Join in as we dissect a climax that’s not only an abrupt swerve but was also set up so terribly that it was only foreshadowed in the most technical sense.

#bookreview #bookstagram #dragonriders

joumontfort.substack.com/p/fourth-win...
FOURTH WING BOOK CLUB: Chapter 33 through Chapter 35 (Part 1)
The following review was originally posted to my author website on December 8th, 2023.
joumontfort.substack.com
September 30, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Rebecca Yarros wrote a story about a woman in the military … in a setting where, by the story’s own internal logic, women would not be allowed in the military. Join the #FourthWing #BookClub as we dissect this unforced error in #worldbuilding .

joumontfort.substack.com/p/fourth-win...
FOURTH WING BOOK CLUB: Chapter 30 through Chapter 32 (Part 3)
The following review was originally posted to my author website on December 1st, 2023.
joumontfort.substack.com
September 30, 2026 at 10:45 PM
#ThreshingDay Update
Finished #Mira . Rating: 7/10
The plot's wafer-thin, but this is successful as a character piece to restore Mira to her factory settings and give her a narrative voice of her own. More of this in #theempyrean, please, Ms. Yarros.
Full #bookreview Oct 18.
September 30, 2026 at 7:10 AM
#ThreshingDay Update:
Finished #Brennan .
4/10
- Characterization relies on Telling and making others "foolish".
- Many pages wasted to rehash unneeded exposition.
- Hollow memberberries.
The only positive is that Marbh has Terriermon energy. It's endearing.
Full #bookreview 10/12.

#empyrean
September 30, 2026 at 4:58 AM
This week, A CHIME FOR THESE HALLOWED BONES continues with Chapter 11! Now’s a great time to get caught up on the Enemies to Lovers drama so far, whether from Chapter 1 or the latest chapter!

#RomanceReads #Fantasy #Romantasy #serialfiction #readers

www.joumontfort.com/tales-of-the...
A Chime for These Hallowed Bones (Chapter 1) — Jou Montfort
It was just after noon when the graverobber trespassed in Master Baig’s reception hall, bringing with him a sack of human bones. Red clay caked both him and the sack. A fetid reek preceded him, overw...
www.joumontfort.com
September 28, 2026 at 11:33 PM
The #bookreview of KINGMAKER continues with Part 2! Let's discuss the engaging and evolving plot, including one phenomenal twist that more than compensates for another that fell flat.
#BookSky #readersky #readers #imperialknights #bookrecommendation #warhammer40K
www.joumontfort.com/recent-reads...
Kingmaker (An Assassinorum Novel) (Part 2 - Plot) — Jou Montfort
Hello, all. Welcome back to the review of Assassinorum: Kingmaker. This part will specifically be a dissection of the plot. If you are looking for the overview, please see Part 1 . The characte...
www.joumontfort.com
September 28, 2026 at 11:15 PM
The review of Chapters 30 to 32 continues! Join the #FourthWing #BookClub as we dissect how the worldbuilding Yarros rammed in for sex ends up doing yet more damage to the integrity of this setting.

#bookreview #dragonriders #romantasy

joumontfort.substack.com/p/fourth-win...
FOURTH WING BOOK CLUB: Chapter 30 through Chapter 32 (Part 2)
The following review was originally posted to my author website on December 1st, 2023.
joumontfort.substack.com
September 28, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Chapter 3 of MORAL SUPPORT wraps up with Part 2! The source of Gvish's grievance with Bracha is revealed!

Chapter 4 arrives October 23rd!

#indieauthor #fantasy #militaryfantasy #serializedfiction #readers #readingcommunity

www.joumontfort.com/tales-of-the...
Moral Support (Chapter 3, Part 2) — Jou Montfort
Cremation was standard practice for every religion approved by the Inquisition. The red-clad mortuary chaplains only needed Gvish to specify the details. Corporal Saqqaf had requested no special accom...
www.joumontfort.com
September 26, 2026 at 9:07 PM
The #FourthWing #BookClub reaches Chapters 30 through 32! Let’s talk about that … “betrayal” … and how the evidence on the page points towards it being an accident (and how Violet should have figured that out).

#bookreview #fantasy #dragonriders

joumontfort.substack.com/p/fourth-win...
FOURTH WING BOOK CLUB: Chapter 30 through Chapter 32 (Part 1)
The following review was originally posted to my author website on December 1st, 2023.
joumontfort.substack.com
September 26, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Tomorrow, Chapter 3 Part 2 of MORAL SUPPORT arrives! This week, the true nature of Gvish’s grievance with Bracha is revealed. Catch up now on the chapter thus far!

#indieauthor #serializedfiction #MilitaryFantasy #DarkFantasy #readers #ReadingForPleasure

www.joumontfort.com/tales-of-the...
Moral Support (Chapter 3, Part 1) — Jou Montfort
The blood of Private Awan and Corporal Saqqaf stained Bracha’s hands. Any squad could have been assigned to escort Bracha to Fort Jahangir. If not Gvish’s people, someone else’s would have died in th...
www.joumontfort.com
September 24, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Recent Reads reviews MERCADIAN MASQUES! Let's review an escapist adventure with a plot so fast-paced, it's easy to miss the absence of character.
#BookSky #readersky #MTG #readerscommunity #magicthegathering #bookreview
www.joumontfort.com/recent-reads...
Mercadian Masques (Masquerade Cycle, Book 1) — Jou Montfort
Hello, all. Welcome back to our exploration of MTG tie-in fiction and the adventures of the skyship Weatherlight . As mentioned at the end of the Rath and Storm anthology review, the next chronolog...
www.joumontfort.com
September 24, 2026 at 8:03 PM