Fantasy Book Critic: SPFBO Finalist Review - By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: J. L. Odom hails from Oklahoma. After a five year stint in the Marine Corps as an Arabic linguist, she graduated from George Washington University with a degree in International Affairs with an emphasis on Conflict and Security. She lives with her husband and five children wherever it is that the U.S. Army happens to send them. Her hobbies include running, jiu jitsu, and cooking to feed a crowd.

She can be found on Instagram @jlodom.author.

Find J.L. online: website

By Blood, By Salt links: Amazon, Goodreads

ESMAY

Set in an entrancingly rich ancient Middle Eastern inspired world, By Blood, By Salt is a political military fantasy that takes the concept of slow-burn to a whole new level. Come for the immersive desert setting and Arab-flavoured cultures, stay for the dangerously complex enemies to tentative allies dynamics, unexpected underdogs, cutthroat schemes, and bold twists and turns.

Now, By Blood, By Salt is objectively an extremely strong book that honestly had all the makings of a new favourite for me; the cultural world building is so rich and nuanced, the political and religious strife is deliciously tense, the prose is beautifully lyrical and transportive, and the intense inner conflicts of all the characters are so beautifully complex and believably messy. And yet, I unfortunately found myself struggling through the pages, desperately searching for any kind of emotional buy-in.

While I was enamoured with the entrancing atmosphere and the alluring air of danger and intrigue from the very first page, it wasn’t until the 25-30% mark when we travelled into the desert together with Azetla and James to capture the legendary Sahr devil that the plot started to grab me, for a while at least. I loved how Odom built up the tension and suspense, and I found myself morbidly captivated by the terrifyingly realistic way that she captured the dangers and horrors of being sent out on campaign into a strange, hostile land.

However, once the mission was completed and we left the desert again, my interest started to wane more and more with each chapter. Yes, my anthropology and linguistics loving heart was eating up all the culture clashing and the interpersonal conflicts within this diverse cast of characters, though it admittedly took me a frustratingly long time to wrap my head around all the intricacies of this world’s bloody history and its complicated political landscape. To me, the mysterious and enigmatic Sahr devil was easily the most compelling character of the entire story, and I honestly would have loved to spend even more time digging into her intriguing backstory and exploring the tenuous bond between her and her captors, namely Azetla.

Ultimately, I think this is more a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”, because there really is no denying that Odom is a very skilled storyteller. To me, it really shows that By Blood, By Salt is a book that is written straight from the heart, and I think the brutally raw exploration of hard-hitting themes of war, cultural identity, religious zeal, ingrained racism, corruption and ruthless ambition will resonate with a lot of readers. Especially fans of the political and cultural worldbuilding in S.A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad trilogy and Sienna Frost’s Obsidian: Awakening could find much to love here, and I would definitely recommend By Blood, By Salt if you are in the mood for a diverse desert fantasy that is as intricately epic as it is intimately vulnerable.

LUCAS

By Blood, By Salt swaps out epic spell-slinging for sharp character drama and cultural nuance. J.L. Odom takes readers to the desert sands of Maurow, where survival often comes down to how well you navigate politics, prejudices, and your commanding officer’s death glares.

By Blood, By Salt’s protagonist, Azetla, is the ultimate underdog - a debt soldier clinging to his place in a battalion that barely tolerates him. His knack for staying alive and keeping his battalion in one piece is impressive. He’s no chosen hero—just a man who has survived 13 years of bigotry, bad odds, and life-or-death missions. His arc is gritty, and personal; It’s easy to root for him even when he’s making deals with beings he really shouldn’t trust.

Then there’s James Sivolne, the emperor’s bookish, tea-loving brother dragged into rebellion by his friend Wesley, and a mysterious figure you’ll have to discover for yourself. Their dynamic brings a touch of levity and humanity. There are more players here, but don’t expect to fall in love with every character—beyond Azetla, some personalities fade into the background, and you’ll need time to orient yourself in the sea of names.

The book starts slowly. Odom takes her time building the world—the desert setting, inspired by Middle Eastern cultures, is immersive and beautifully rendered. Language, religion, and social hierarchies are detailed, and it requires time, but also gives the story nuance. While the first quarter may feel like a slog, it’s worth(ish) sticking around. Once the battalion hits the desert, the story shifts into higher gear with tense missions, brutal hardships, and strong political intrigue. With that said, even once the action picks up, some sections still feel bogged down, and the slower moments risk losing your attention.

Ultimately, By Blood, By Salt is a good read if you’re willing to wade through its denser parts. It’s not perfect, but its blend of grit, cultural nuance, and character-driven drama is clearly well-thought-out. Just be patient.

OFFICIAL SPFBO SCORE