The Yoga of Strength (The Yoga Trilogy #1) by Andrew Marc Rowe

The Yoga of Strength (The Yoga Trilogy #1) Reviews

• 
  Rinaldo

  3.9/5
  
  This review is a part of
  TBRindr initiated by Weatherwax Report. I received a copy of this book in exchange to an honest review.
  
  Super mixed feelings about this. In its core, The Yoga of Strength follows the story of Andrew Cardiff, a Squire and a wastrel who undergoes spiritual and magical encounters to be a Knight and a better person. Growing up bullied and despised by his father, his brother, and his peer, Andrew must shake off the chips on his shoulders to survive, and possibly save the kingdom from sinister conspiracies.
  
  Of Lust and Love
  In overall, I quite enjoyed the story and the prose (which for some readers might be too purple). I also particularly dig the hermeneutic and yogic themes on Self, Love, Unity, and Separation. Rowe described Bhagavad Gita as one of the major inspirations/elements in this book and I can see where he's coming from. There are resemblances to how Krishna teaches and guides Arjuna in the eve of Bharatayuddha; a spiritual guidance to build conviction, to love others, and to be a better person.
  
  On other hand, this book is not without issues. Its handling of female characters is problematic at times. Almost all female characters are seen as objects of lust and desire by the protagonist, including a major villain. The first 2/3 of the books is also weirdly fixated on prostitution and arousals in loin whenever women are in proximity. In general I don't have problems with sexual content, but when the female body parts and sexual elements are constantly referenced, it feels gratuitous and distracting.
  
  The only exceptions to the sexual fixations are the protagonist's mother and a goddess, but even the lines get blurred sometimes with the protagonist's mother issues, as he seeks his mother's qualities in women. Even further, 'motherly coddling' is seen as a detriment that hinders the protagonist from his growth.
  
  The handling of homosexuality is also troublesome. When a character discovers about his sexuality thanks to coercion/rape, the protagonist suggests him to 'learn about love' from it. While there are later discussions and attempts to clarify that sexuality shouldn't be used as a measure for sin or even quality of an individual, the depiction of sexual coercion and homosexuality is still awkward to say the least.
  
  Eclectic Worldbuilding and Personal Growth
  In terms of worldbuilding, I can see that Rowe put a lot of effort and thoughts in crafting the world of Clovir. However, the constant references to real world mythology (e.g. Christ-man, Buddha-man, Odin's day, Kronos, Athena, Ouroboros, etc), technology (backpedal, electricity, barometer), and jargons (persona non grata, que sera sera) always broke my immersion. Although by the end of the book I could see how the real world references (particularly cross-cultural mythology) support the ideas of Yoga, Unity, and Separation, personally I would still prefer if Rowe had built his own mythology and pantheon, since he clearly is competent in doing so.
  
  For instance, if you know me, I am not the biggest fan of faux-Medieval setting with Knights and Kings, but Rowe managed to make it work with his prose and interesting tidbits of lore and history. Like how he built Atika as a mixture of South America and South Asia with jaguars and Vanara (monkey people/tribe from Ramayana) abound. And as I mentioned above, thanks to his stylish prose and intriguing plot, I was never once bored when reading this. This book has that page-flipping factor that keeps you going for more.
  
  There are rough patches here and there, however, in regards to Andrew's growth as a character. There are major interferences from external elements, and as a result, some growths feel undeserved. Early chapters also can be hard to read, since Andrew is petulant and whiny on that stage, ridden with a lot of mental issues. This part may turn some readers off, but I suppose I was in the right mental state and headspace when I was reading this. I have been in similar rough spot like Andrew, and I could understand the guilt and shame that tortures him.
  
  The depiction of his mercurial relationship and opinion toward his father and brother also can be a bit too extreme to be believable, since he breaks to tears of hatred in one scene, but he thinks how he loves them in the next couple of paragraphs. I guess this is Rowe's attempt to depict complex love-hate relationships from an unreliable narrator's POV, but at some parts the extremity makes it immersion-breaking.
  
  Despite those rough patches, the overall character growth is quite compelling in the hindsight. The changes in Andrew's character are gradual enough to be believable. He reflects a lot on his own journey, and by the end of the book you can see that he is confronting people and problems from his past, growing to be a better person in the process. I like that some issues are not totally resolved, but still properly addressed and acknowledged, especially since there will be two more books to come.
  
  Conclusion
  Despite its problematic issues, The Yoga of Strength is still an eclectic and compelling read about personal growth and spirituality. With several more rounds of edit and sensitivity reading, this could have been a 4.5 stars material for me.
  
  Go give it a try if you like Medieval Knights and Kingdoms with healthy dose of mysticism and spirituality.
• 
  Casey White

  I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
  
  Full review here!
  
  The pros:
  
  - Yoga had a very unique style of writing, which was executed in a very consistent fashion. As such, the book as a whole felt very coherent in terms of story and tone.
  
  - The story really did draw me in, and there were twists and turns that caught me off guard. In a good way!
  
  The cons:
  
  - The beginning of the book was shaky in that it went to such lengths to establish that Andrew is a failure that it made him pretty unlikeable to me. I enjoyed the book much more once the main storyline had begun and the novel moved off the self-pitying kick.
  
  - Characters felt wildly unpredictable, and there was no consistency to any of the relationships. They'd change their views and behavior towards other characters on a whim. It felt as though character arcs that should have taken multiple books to explore were being shoved into a few chapters.
  
  - At times, it felt like the book was trying too hard to fit the "game of thrones" niche of blood and boobs. Characters would say and do things that felt out of place, just so that these elements could be brought back in.
  
  - Towards the end, I felt a little overwhelmed by the number of names and places being thrown at me. It was a bit hard to keep track of, while not totally unmanageable yet.
  
  Final thoughts: I felt that Yoga was a heavily stylized high fantasy novel, which executes that style pretty well. It was enjoyable in its own right, if that style is one that you can get along with. As with any book, I think it has places it can improve, but I enjoyed the read-through and would read other books by this author.
• 
  Nicholas Hale

  5/5
  
  I had a chance to read author Andrew Marc Rowe's debut novel "Yoga of Strength" when I obtained an ARC after we met on the reddit thread for the giveaway of my own book. We exchanged messages and I was intrigued by the title of his book, but what piqued my interest the most was its description as "Game of Thrones" meets "Bhagavad Gita". It seemed an odd pairing to describe a book with. But a few chapters in, I understood how appropriate its title was.
  
  
  *What's the book about?*
  
  The protagonist, Andrew Cardiff, is a self professed coward. The story itself has innocuous beginnings with the afore mentioned wastrel second son of a noble family preparing for a knighting ceremony. All he wants is to be free from the expectations that his family and his standing in society demand of him. He has never truly excelled at anything martial and by the time the book begins, he has extremely low self worth and is resigned to a life of disappointing everyone.
  
  An uninterested, cowardly Andrew is pulled into the thick of the political troubles ailing his kingdom when it decides to lend a hand to an ally in need. At first it seems like he's simply getting dragged along by a current much larger than him - one that he has no hope of changing the flow of. What follows however, as Andrew begins to learn the difference between Fate and Destiny, is one of the best growth of character I have read in fantasy.
  
  
  *What's the book REALLY about?*
  
  At its core, the book is an exploration into the true, underlying nature of strength - not raw talent or knowledge, but blood, toil, sweat and perseverance- the things that make heroes what they are not just in a fantasy world but even in real life.
  
  And that is where I feel the book truly shines - Andrew's growth is extremely believable and relatable. It's also very gradual. I say that in a separate sentence to emphasize how realistic it makes the character, in spite of it being a fantasy book - Because that's how strength is attained. Andrew doesn't have "one" life changing experience after which he simply decides to become a hero. Instead he faces a series of trials and tribulations, overcomes each one and grows in confidence as he learns the value of perseverance. You can feel him getting stronger and more confident through each chapter.
  
  His temptations to take the easy path will be familiar to every reader, and his choices are inspiring.
  
  
  *Overall*
  
  The plot is never predictable at any point. I know that phrase is overused, but there are several twists in the book are just impossible to foresee.
  While Andrew's growth is gradual, it's definitely not slow. The prose in the book is top tier and Andrew's (The author) command of vocabulary is pretty impressive.
  
  I've said this before, but my favorite part of the book is it's exploration into strength and courage.
  
  But that's not the only part of the book I liked. Personally, I love world building, and Andrew manages to build a rich world with diverse cultures and well thought-out principles for magic. The history of the world is also rich with events stretching back thousands of years continuing to influence the present-day world.
  
  On the whole, this book is a definite "must read" from me.
  
• 
  Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature)

  Find this review at
  Forever Lost in Literature!
  
  The Yoga of Strength was a highly enjoyable and unexpected read. It's also another great book that I was asked to read courtesy of the TBRindr service and once again I am reminded of why I enjoy being a part of that community so much! I love fantasy with unique characters and an engaging storyline, and that is exactly what I got with this book.
  
  One of the first things I noticed about this book was the prose, which had a bit of a 'purple prose; feel to it in terms of description and style, which I thought added a vibrant, engaging layer of personality to the story and I enjoyed it immensely. However, if this isn't something you enjoy, then I can see where it could be divisive among different readers depending on their preferred style.
  
  The main protagonist, Andrew, is not someone who 'has it all' in any sense of the word. From the very beginning of the story, he is introduced to us as someone who is out of shape, a bit on the lazy side, and generally not someone who would be recognized for his hard work and uncomplaining nature. Andrew is someone who sort of knows that he disappoints his family and others around him and has essentially accepted that as who he is and thus acts in the same manner. The best thing about Andrew and this book, however, is his character growth throughout the story, an area in which I think Rowe did a really great job developing. There were a few places where Andrew's personality felt a bit out of place and inconsistent, but these areas were minimal and I found the overall picture of his growth gradual and realistic. It isn't development that happens overnight, but is rather very believable overall and I really liked that.
  
  The world-building and magic system were other areas that I think Rowe did a good job of creating, as they were both things that I actively enjoyed and was interested in learning more about. One of the factors that I use to judge the world-building/magic system of a book is whether or not I had the desire to learn more about--and I definitely did in this book. Although it wasn't overly expansive, there is enough shared about the general culture and history to have just enough to fully enjoy the story and had some great diverse elements that stood out and made this book a step above average. The only thing about the world that I didn't fully understand was the mix of fantasy terms and a medieval-esque world with some more modern terminology and references. If Rowe's intent was to create this mash-up of sorts, then he did it really well and I have no complaints, but I just wasn't exactly sure what overall setting and world Rowe was going for in regards to this. Other than that, I really don't have any complaints about the world!
  
  As the story progresses, we begin to learn that the 'strength' mentioned in the title is not just about physical strength. In order to be successful, Andrew has to discover more than just his own physical strength, a lesson that I always like to read and that Rowe conveyed smoothly. In addition to strength, Andrew is able to learn a variety of other new things about himself and others that adds even more emotional depth and intrigue to this book.
  
  Overall, I've given The Yoga of Strength 3.75 stars. If you're looking for another great fantasy, be sure to give this a shot!
• 
  Thyago

  A solid book that offers a lot of character development in a very wholesome (yet complex) way. I particularly liked how the author decided to openly tackle issues like homossexuality and addiction, incorporating them naturally into the story. Andrew is a very relatable main character, going through mental issues that many of us have faced, and being with him as he discovers, despite his own rooted beliefs abotu himself, his own strength is a very endearing journey.
• 
  Anna K. Scott

  I received a copy from the author.
  
  This is a fantasy book which takes a look at the meaning of strength, of courage, of doing what's right no matter how hard it is.
  
  We start off with a seemingly unlikely protagonist for such a theme: Andrew Cardiff, long-time squire, self-described lazy, cynical glutton. He looks on everyone and everything with a jaded eye, seeing the worst intentions in the nicest gestures. Despite painting himself as thoroughly unlikeable, it's hard not to sympathise and understand his thoughts. I doubt there are many who haven't had at least moments of insecurity, making him much more relatable than an always-confident hero. I wanted to see him grow, and I wasn't disappointed.
  
  He is called to service as a Knight of the Yellow Order, something which he dreads yet deep down desires. He anticipates his failure as a fighter but goes along with it for the sake of his father. Yet a close encounter with a jaguar and a stranger, the night before the Order are due to sail to give aid to their ally Erifracia, opens up a whole new world for Andrew. The world of magic, secrets, Destiny, Chaos and Order. Desite his cynical nature, he'd always hoped there was something more to life than being overshadowed by his perfect older brother, but this new world is full of danger. Andrew comes up against a necromancer, a servant of a dark god, security guards, a treacherous plot, and the wrath of his father. He faces demons, both within and without.
  
  Time and again Andrew is offered the easy way out, and must choose whether to do what is right or give in to temptation. All of this action is told in first person, by a narrator with an exceptional eye for detail and colourful phrasing. His descriptions of places and people are vivid, his insults equally so. There is humour, and introspection too. As he grows in strength, Andrew begins to look at memories from his childhood in a new light, finding new meaning, letting go of past hurts. The title sounds somewhat like a self help meditation manual... and yet, I can't say it's not apt. There are many moments to make Andrew, and the reader, question the meaning of life and happiness, and of course Strength. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
• 
  David Lynch

  The Yoga of Strength was recommended to me by a friend. I was intrigued, and visited Andrew Marc Rowe’s website, where I read about how the story came to be. The strong opening hooked me, and I was drawn into the world that Andrew had created. The action of the story was balanced with important messages and reflections on the human condition. Having recently done some reading around mindfulness and the vision of the Dalai Lama, this book was a welcomed addition to my library.
• 
  Guadalupe Herrera

  Finding Strength
  
  I find it a nice contrast that Andrew Cardiff, the main character, is on his way to becoming a knight but is a huge coward. Then, he is thrown into a world foreign to him with magic and mystical beings. As a reader, it was interesting to see the situations Andrew is put through. I love and appreciate the fast-paced nature of the plot, the descriptive details of the environment and events. Even if it is a plot that has been done before (coward turned hero), it is still nice to see just how it is that he gets there. How he uses his cowardice to turn it into strength. I am grateful that this in only the first book in the series because I want to continue reading more of these books. There is a relatable aspect to this tale because I feel we can all be scared of something or shy away from certain things. I would recommend it to anyone. I truly enjoyed this book.
• 
  Celeste

  “The Yoga of Strength” is a fantasy novel written by Andrew Marc Rowe. It is the first book in the epic series “The Yoga Trilogy”. I must confess that I bought this book led by a wrong idea regarding its content and topic. It turned to be completely the opposite of what I thought it would be and I am really happy that this happened. This book is amazing. Its protagonist, Andrew Cardiff, is weak and a coward but he will change after his encounter with a being from another world. Will he change and become the hero the world needs?
  I am fascinated by the world the writer created in this novel. It portrays mysterious and compelling characters, clever and well-developed dialogues and detailed descriptions of settings and events. The argument unfolds at a fast pace and the twists and turns in the plot make them compelling and thrilling. I recommend it.
  
• 
  Alfredo R

  A wonderful fantasy!
  
  Do not get tricked by the title! “The Yoga of Strength” is NOT a book about the well-known sport. However, the story inside this book can be somehow compared to the effects of doing Yoga: it is entertaining, challenging for the mind but achievable, and, most importantly, it helped me to forget about everyday life, focus on the task of reading and reflect on human life.
  
  This all seems like a lot for a book, but I must say that this literary work written by Andrew Marc Rowe, is an unforgettable and unique fantasy.
  
  I would recommend this story to both young teenagers and adults, because it contains a rich plot full of ups and downs. It also contains entertaining language which is easy to understand.
  
  Seriously, this fantasy is a must for my online library!
  
• 
  CarlitasFox

  A very enticing novel
  What a story! After reading the first lines from the foreword I was glued to the pages. ” The Yoga of Strength” is the first book in a trilogy written by Andrew Marc Rowe. It is a book where anything can happen - from bloody encounters to strange mystics; It kept me at the edge of my seat. Even though there are some instances of strong, gloomy, and touching scenes throughout the story, I liked it! It was enticing. Apart from that, I liked the author´s writing style and the use of a vast amount of descriptive vocabulary. I learned new words and expressions.
  It is a dark and fantasy book with lots of twisted turns that will hold your attention all through. I highly recommend it to young readers of dark fantasies.
  
  
• 
  Sol Tyty

  Author Andrew Rowe has done an amazing job here with his debut novel The Yoga of Strength: a Fable. He has been able to pen a great first instalment of a Yoga trilogy.
  The book is definitely a page-turner, thus fast-paced. The plot revolves around a self-tormented landowner and how he managed to face his fears. The events are richly descriptive and easy to follow and humor is also present in the narrative. Its content is a concoction of mythology,
  yogic philosophy, fantasy and intrigue.
  This book has made me question the true meaning of life when I have never asked that question before. I thought I knew it! It is a great pick for any type of adult reader.
• 
  ELISABET

  I had the expectation of a technical book but I found a good fable that includes Yoga philosophy. I believe that Yoga is a discipline that everyone should know about. I would recommend this book to my friends because maybe, we can practice together. First of all, the cover called my attention but the content is valuable. It is not a short book, but I am grateful for reading it part by part.
  
  This is the first book of a quite original trilogy. It is set in medieval times and tells the story of a coward knight, Andrew Cardiff. Due to an unlucky event, he travels to another fantasy world and returns from it cursed, too. That will be the beginning of the pursuit of his strength.