SPFBO 10 Finalist review: By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom

SPFBO 10: By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom

Welcome to the Final stage of SPFBO 10! As you know, the 10 blogs all picked their champion who advanced into the finals, including ourselves. Check out our SPFBO 10 page for more info! SPFBO 10 ends on April 30th, and so we’ll post our finalist reviews every two weeks or so until then.

Our 1st SPFBO 10 finalist review is for By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom. The order of the reviews within a post will be in alphabetical order.

A quick reminder about how we are proceeding in the Finals: our judges had the freedom to opt out of reading any of the books due to personal interest, time restrictions, unforeseen life events, etc. Our aim is to have at least 4 reviews/scores for each finalist.

Both in the Semi-Final and Final stages we have a DNF rule in place: if a judge reads a book (either semi-finalist or finalist if they didn’t opt out beforehand), they have to read at least 25% of it. If they decide to DNF between 25%-50% they’ll have to give a score but can opt out of writing a review, and if they DNF after 50% (or not) then also have to score AND write a review.

For By Blood, By Salt we have 5 reviews and 5 scores for your reading pleasures.

So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at our first finalist!

Table of Contents

About the Book
Series:Land of Exile #1
Genre:Fantasy
Publisher:self-published
Date of Publishing:May 14, 2024
Pages:374
Book Blurb
By Blood, by Salt by J.L. Odom

Azetla has served the Maurowan Army for thirteen years. There are seven left to pay. A pariah and a debt soldier, he is a commander with no rank, a soldier without citizenship, and wears a sword that it is unlawful for him to either own or use. He has learned to hold his tongue or risk losing everything.

When Azetla’s battalion is sent into the desert to catch a Sahr devil—one of the famously brutal inhabitants of the region—his tenuous position is threatened. He discovers that there is far more to this mission than catching a fiend. For the Emperor of Maurow, it is a way to prove that he fears nothing, not even devils. For the Emperor’s brother, it is a stepping-stone to rebellion. For Azetla it could be deadly either way, as he is cornered into choosing a side in the coming coup.

But the devil that Azetla finds in the desert is not what anyone expects or wants. As the conspiracy against the Emperor becomes entangled with the simmering ambitions of the desert tribes, Azetla must decide if he’s willing to strike a bargain with a devil in order to survive.

Naturally, she is not to be trusted. But then again, neither is he.

Review

Arina

Read: 100%

I have three books to go in my SPFBO 10 reading, and J.L. Odom’s By Blood, By Salt is currently my favorite in the entire competition. Beautiful, evocative writing paired with plentiful worldbuilding and characters with a bite, this first in a series stands out and leaves you parched for more (yes, I did have to make a desert pun).

Azetla is a refugee, a conscript serving the military of a country that despises him and strips his people of human rights. As strife strikes his battalion, he must decide to either take the opportunity to rise or fall behind the risk of losing it all.

Wesley is a newly risen political strategist, hungering for power and military command. Whispering in the ear of the emperor’s own brother, he seeks to elevate his reach and change the course of the empire.

Their paths clash in the unforgiving desert as the empire seeks a legendary demon that will help further ambitions and Azetla’s battalion is appointed to capture it. But legends are not what they sing and there are truths buried deep beneath each of the characters.

Thus begins an intricate and ambitious book, though it does come with some flaws. Odom‘s writing is undeniably beautiful, weaving an evocative narrative that paints the harsh desert landscapes and intricate political machinations vividly. 

However, the dense worldbuilding becomes a bit of a double-edged sword throughout the story. Many of the numerous tribes and locations begin with the same letters, which quickly become overwhelming. After a couple months, I can barely recall which tribe is which or how they relate to the larger story. That said, I appreciate the depth and complexity of the world, which mimics our own in its intricacies.

Where the book truly excels is its characters and the way Odom’s writing stands them out. Azetla is a compelling protagonist—quiet, focused, and thrust into a hostile environment. Wesley’s Machiavellian plot to power provides a fascinating counterpoint, though both characters seem to hit a sort of stasis mid-narrative, which converged in a late plotline that made the narrative feel a bit uneven.

There was one recurring motif of “some of your oppressors are just brainwashed and can in fact see you as human, if they are often enough exposed to your complacency and loyalty”. Though I claim no ill-intent from the author, I sour at that viewpoint towards racial violence.

Yet in other ways, By Blood, By Salt challenges some of the most tired (and most tiring) tropes of desert fantasy. 

While many books in this almost-subgenre reinforce Western-centric narratives of “civilized” heroes vs. “savage” desert dwellers, Odom’s approach felt more nuanced. The depiction of the jinn as something other than terrifying, otherworldly demons—shaped by real-world cultural fears— is a solid step away from conventional portrayals.

Despite its setbacks, By Blood, By Salt stood out to me and I am curious enough to read the next in the series and happy enough to champion its place on the podium.

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Drew

Read: 100%

By Blood, By Salt is set amidst a world where an emperor holds power through a combination of belief, military power and factional infighting. It’s obvious that a great deal of thought has been put into the building of this world; from the religious divisions that often take centre stage to the various desert tribes encountered in the second half of the novel. Yet none of their introductions or explanations felt overly like info-dumping, which is definitely to the novel’s benefit. 

The bulk of the novel is told from the perspective of Azetla, a soldier in one of the empire’s older battalions. While we are given great insight into his thoughts, a lot is also held back due to his constant need to walk a tightrope. Educated and decisive, he has worked his way to being virtually the second-in-command of the battalion, while also being, essentially, a second-class citizen in the empire he serves. Multiple times he is referred to by the derogatory term ‘jackal’ or reminded that merely carrying a sword, let alone giving commands, would be sufficient cause for his immediate execution.

The basis of his exclusion is his religion and the deeply ingrained belief in the inferiority of his race. The latter is brought home especially hard in sections where the POV switches to other characters, those who know and have seen Azetla’s intelligence and competence, and yet cannot shake the inherent irritation and suspicion that he is, in some way, getting above himself. 

While there are several other POV characters, the one who has the second-most page time is Lord Wesley Verris. In many ways, he seems to be a mirror for Azetla. Although untried in combat, he can be as scheming and manipulative as Azetla and although a lord, the view of his lesser bloodline means he is considered almost an outsider at the Imperial court. However, it is his desire to rise above, and his coercion of the Emperor’s younger, impressionable brother, that sets the primary plotline in motion. 

While I found a great deal to enjoy and admire about By Blood, By Salt, there was something that held me back from truly loving it. It is a fairly unrelenting read, with little to leaven the scheming and oppressive atmosphere that the story invokes. Due to that, I feel like this might be a more challenging read for some.

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Jen

Read: 100%

I had some pretty high expectations (and some low ones) for By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom. High, because military fantasy is a genre that I love to pieces, and low because it can also be one of those genres that might have a few soldiers and be called military and we could never see another military aspect the whole book- so I was trying to not be too hopeful about it.

By Blood, By Salt mainly follows Azetla, a debt soldier in the Maurowen Army, along with a few other characters that help round out the story and world. Azetla is a commander in his battalion, but only by the grace of his captain – who recognizes his worth and is willing to bend the rules to allow him to use his talents for their benefits. Outside of his battalion (and even to some degree inside of it) he is considered to be lower than dirt. Azetla is the ultimate underdog and well, I’ve probably mentioned a few hundred times by now just how much I love the underdog characters. Making that the second trope box ticked for me.

By Blood, By Salt abounds with political intrigue, and a complex cultural hierarchy that I’m not going to lie, takes a while to wrap your head around. Sometimes when being introduced to a new world like this, there can be a fair amount you can discard as unimportant, or file away in your head for later, without affecting the pace or feeling like you’re missing anything significant.

But here, I think partly because By Blood, By Salt opens during an important festival to its people, so right off the bat we have this mix of information about the people and its cultures along with a whole lot of very similar sounding names of the tribes. It was a lot to take in all at once and made it harder to decide what I could file away for later.
It did make for a slower start but it does settle. I found I’d read a chapter, go do something and let it meld, then come back and do it again until I felt like I had the gist of the world and people. This is definitely a ymmv situation when it comes to patience while waiting for the pieces to fall together though.

As much as I enjoy a political-intrigue heavy plot, and as interesting as I found the world and its nuances (of which I’m not going to go into the intricacies of either thing because the summary says it better than I could ever) I need good strong characters to get me through. I’m not one of those people who likes sim-based games and to me world-building, without good characters is pretty much the equivalent of a sim game.

Luckily, not only did By Bood, By Salt have a solidly built political-intrigue plot, and a well-realized worldm it also had characters that I found utterly fascinating.

I already professed my love of the underdog Azetla – he’s smart as a whip and plays his cards close to his chest, and I loved that about him.

But the whole cast was made up of everything else I love too. They’re cunning, a little unsure at times, and all very self-aware. Some, I desperately wanted to slap (Wesley was at the top of the list). Others, I wanted to succeed but also slap… The Corr, who is the most fish out of water character, and held my attention every moment he was on the page. He is the least cunning and knows he is out of his depth, he doesn’t have the chaps to be doing what he’s doing, but is willing to go all in, even when it scares the crap out of him.

And finally, The Sahr who is a favourite right behind Azetla, and sometimes even before him. Another underdog in her own way, she was also cunning as all hell, and I loved her.

And lastly, while we get very real looks at these characters as people, their thoughts and plans, I feel like there is just enough mystery left to really let me speculate about story possibilities and nothing makes me want to read on quicker than trying to prove I’m right about something.

I loved the writing, it’s in a style has just enough prettiness to it to really set the stage while also being engaging and smart. It’s lovely. There’s nothing I love more than well-written passages and dialogue.

If you hadn’t gathered from the above, I enjoyed this one a lot. I think I would have picked up the next book immediately if it had been available and that’s not something I ever do.

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Liis

Read: 100%

By Blood, By Salt is exactly the kind of book I love. Incredibly enjoyable and solid prose? Check. A rich plot with political and religious tones? Check. An incredible MC to root for? Check! A pace befitting the story? Check. As my fellow teammates have already described the plot-points above, and the blurb is more than enough to go by for a potential reader, then I will refrain from repetition.

It just never fails, with good books you know from the very start that you’re onto a winner. I LOVED how the intrigue was steadily rolling off the page from get-go. I loved how Odom‘s approach and writing supported the steady advancement of plot, intricately setting everything up for the next destination on this journey. It wasn’t rushed or too overly action-centred, but done with wit and cleverness. The manoeuvering of higher orders, the ill-will of ambitious “articles”, the mystery of unknown… Man, I love me stories like this!

The military aspect was just strong enough to add nuance to the story without being over the top. The political, religious and cultural elements were delivered in perfect balance providing plenty of layers, making this story an absolute delight to devour. It is a brilliant, engaging story with incredible worldbuilding and tons of emotional buy-in. Odom simply knows what she’s writing about and you can feel it off the page.

Azetla is the type of character that, as you get to know him, demands respect. Sure, Odom threw him into some very difficult to stomach situations, racially abusive moments, humiliating moments in which no man should ever be, but the consistency with which his Character (with capital C) was written, demonstrated a solid backbone. But, it’s not only the very respectable characteristic of remaining true to himself in difficult situations that makes Azetla an incredibly strong character, he’s also observant, intelligent and does not kick up an unnecessary fuss when he knows it wouldn’t do him any good. There was essentially not a bad decision made by him, he was clever and cunning and he did it without brawl. Makes you think there’s still more to learn about him, that the plot hasn’t yet really opened up in full… That there’s more to the story.

As someone who LOVES character-driven stories, this one gave me tons of rewards through Azetla. It didn’t hurt that all of the action was a darned good read, too. As the story drew to a conclusion, when I thought the good couldn’t get any better, Odom hinted at a bombshell – at least, I think that’s what it was – making me effectively yearn for the sequel. Luckily, not long to wait! A Haunt for Jackals is set to drop in a little over a month from now. Just… Perfect! 👌

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Tru

Read: 100%

By Blood, By Salt is a Middle Eastern-inspired fantasy with a touch of military fantasy, grimdark, and a whole heap of politics. Right from the start we’re thrown into Azetla’s harsh world of warring tribes and clashing cultures, where poor Azetla is firmly marked as an outsider to his peers. A soldier who serves in his host nation’s army, Azetla and his people are described politically as ‘jackals’ and he breaks numerous social rules by owning a sword and serving his commander. Azetla is no fool though, not to his lot in life, or the political quagmire of his existence, and he’s learned how to navigate his duties and the ongoing hostilities of his city with a leashed tongue. However, when his unit are ordered to travel further into the desert to catch a mysterious entity on behalf of the emperor, and are joined by the emperor’s potentially traitorous brother, Azetla finds himself caught in a political battle that not only has implications for the empire, but his own life.

Thus begins a journey into the desert with a few bloody battles on the way. While most of the story is told from Azetla’s POV, we get a further glimpse into the world and the politics threading together in the background from the POV of the emperor’s brother, his scheming advisor, and a few other characters that help bring the world to life. I really liked Azetla’s character the most, and the grounded way that he handled his situation and pivoted to best improvise when things started going wrong. I wouldn’t say that any of the characters are having a good time in this world, and that’s why I threw ‘grimdark’ in there – the treatment of Azetla and his people is rather quite horrifying, though the various cultures and religions that are introduced each come with their own nuances that make their portrayal feel very real. This is a dry book, even for one set in the desert, with not a shred of humour or happiness to be found.

I’m honestly not usually one for politics-heavy books, because I personally find it hard to keep track of details, and that’s one thing I think readers will struggle with at the start. This book takes its time to lay out its foundations and set the atmosphere just right. It throws a lot at you, and some of the tribes have similar sounding names making it a little harder. That said, the prose absolutely drew me in, and I felt compelled to continue this journey with Azetla. The writing style has a lyrical quality without being overbearing and I did find myself lost in the wonderful writing here.

Our Judgement
Team Queen's Book Asylum's scores for By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom.The scores are the following:
Arina: 7.5
Drew: 7.5
Jen: 9
Liis: 10
Timy: X
Tru: 7.5

Our score for By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom:

Score 8.5/10

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