Oblivion’s Hymn by A.J. Peterson

Epic Fantasy, Adventure Fantasy

Check it out if you’re a fan of: D&D-inspired worldbuilding, action-packed quests, hopeful/cozy fantasy, whimsical worlds, messy main characters, ride-or-die friendships, mercurial gods, ragtag crews

What’s the story?

Shapeshifter Echo made a bargain with a god to become a famous bard, but when Echo didn’t uphold her end of the deal, he took her singing voice away. Rhienne’s lust for power has got her into hot water one too many times, and her long-con scheme to steal some powerful magic has gone awry. On an adventure that takes them across a perilous fantastical realm, onto an airship, into pocket dimensions, and (perhaps most nerve-wracking of all) back to the little hometown where they grew up together, best friends Echo and Rhienne face impossible odds. They have to confront their pasts to try to change their destinies and undo their mistakes… all while defying the plans of the meddling gods.

Tell me more!

Oblivion’s Hymn is a super fun read, a chaotic page-turner of a romp through a whimsical world with a plot full of surprises. This is a cozy, hopeful adventure fantasy that feels like a D&D campaign, featuring messy characters just trying their best, lots of encounters with capricious magical beings, and an emotional thread that holds it all together. I loved the way it explored the friendship between two women who grew up together and always had each other’s back, but who have also grown apart in different directions and need to rediscover each other again. They have to work together and face the things they’ve tried to bury, if they want to stand a chance against the very gods that trapped them.

This book had a bunch of fun stuff I enjoy: a plot packed with quests, a ragtag crew suddenly faced with a high-stakes mission, flawed and messy characters winging it against ridiculous odds, and a heartwarming character journey that explores friendship and family. (There’s a delightful dash of sapphic romance with a side character as well, although the friendship between the two MCs is very much the central relationship throughout). This book would make a great buddy read to share with a friend or two.

Series or standalone? This is Book 1 of a planned trilogy, but the story that’s told in this book is complete and wraps up all the main character arcs. The setup for the next book mainly comes in the epilogue, which hints at where the larger, world-level story could go next.

Available in ebook & paperback

The sequel, Exodus’s Chorus, is coming in 2026

Author website: https://www.ajpeterson.com/
Author IG: https://www.instagram.com/cozywritingdragon/

Add on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234572752-oblivion-s-hymn

About Ren: Ren Hutchings is a speculative fiction writer, writing mentor, editor, and lifelong SFF fan. She loves pop science, unexplained mysteries, 90s music, collecting outdated electronics, and pondering about alternate universes. Most of what she writes involves space, time, history, and/or uncanny liminal places. Ren is the author of twisty sci-fi books including Under Fortunate Stars and An Unbreakable World (Solaris Books) and The Legend Liminal (Stars and Sabers), as well as short fiction. You can find Ren online at renhutchings.com, and on social media as @voidcricket.