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andrewdixon1000's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
nclcaitlin's review
3.5
The legendary white drake – believed to be nothing more than a myth – has awoken from its long slumber, with no discernible aim but to burn the world of men to ashes.
Unless Clay can uncover an ancient secret that lies buried beneath the southern ice alongside Hilemore.
Lizanne Lethridge uses her diplomatic status to venture into enemy territory on a quest for a device to save them all.
”The product has stopped flowing and your syndicate is a bloated corpse that hasn’t yet acknowledged its own death. My advice to you is to immediately dissolve all company holdings and form a military alliance with any and all willing to join. Forget profit, forget loss. They no longer have meaning. The White is not done, and it will be coming. Survival is the only currency now.”
Again, I have to ask why Hilemore even has a pov? He adds nothing, especially now he is joined for the most part with Clay.
Lizanne remains my favourite plotting, badass operative. Parts of her story reminded me of Razor’s Edge by Rob J Hayes (think prisons, mines, dens, and criminals).
Diplomacy, it seemed, could be just as aggravatingly complex as espionage.
I was skeptical starting book two and Anthony Ryan tends to start strong and then his narration changes into something not as gripping.
That is not the case with this book 2.
Admittedly, there is a lot more brazen and obvious Marxist themes, yet it fits well within the world he builds. This ability to deconstruct real life complexities in a fantastical setting reminds me of Abercrombie’s writing in The Age of Madness trilogy.
Ryan is also able to construct characters that are complex, selfish, and ambitious, not miraculously changing to fit a plot point or to solve a happy ending. This realistic endeavouring is what I love to see in fantasy.
“Did we ever really share more than a purpose?" he enquired, turning to her with a sad smile. "Was I ever more than a useful convenience?"
Unless Clay can uncover an ancient secret that lies buried beneath the southern ice alongside Hilemore.
Lizanne Lethridge uses her diplomatic status to venture into enemy territory on a quest for a device to save them all.
”The product has stopped flowing and your syndicate is a bloated corpse that hasn’t yet acknowledged its own death. My advice to you is to immediately dissolve all company holdings and form a military alliance with any and all willing to join. Forget profit, forget loss. They no longer have meaning. The White is not done, and it will be coming. Survival is the only currency now.”
Again, I have to ask why Hilemore even has a pov? He adds nothing, especially now he is joined for the most part with Clay.
Lizanne remains my favourite plotting, badass operative. Parts of her story reminded me of Razor’s Edge by Rob J Hayes (think prisons, mines, dens, and criminals).
Diplomacy, it seemed, could be just as aggravatingly complex as espionage.
I was skeptical starting book two and Anthony Ryan tends to start strong and then his narration changes into something not as gripping.
That is not the case with this book 2.
Admittedly, there is a lot more brazen and obvious Marxist themes, yet it fits well within the world he builds. This ability to deconstruct real life complexities in a fantastical setting reminds me of Abercrombie’s writing in The Age of Madness trilogy.
Ryan is also able to construct characters that are complex, selfish, and ambitious, not miraculously changing to fit a plot point or to solve a happy ending. This realistic endeavouring is what I love to see in fantasy.
“Did we ever really share more than a purpose?" he enquired, turning to her with a sad smile. "Was I ever more than a useful convenience?"
heilmjoelk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dylan_harney's review against another edition
4.0
4.5.
Book two manages to avoid the classic mid series slump whilst also setting up for a big finish in book 3.
The addition of another PoV works well to show the reader what's happening on both sides. The new perspective was unexpected but great and feels alien yet relatable.
I felt at times some of the expansive of the powers in this world felt a little convenient but the author clearly planned the series well so everything falls into place quite nicely. Yet I found during the process of the pieces falling some discordance likely tied to the expansion of the powers within the book.
Overall excited for the conclusion.
Book two manages to avoid the classic mid series slump whilst also setting up for a big finish in book 3.
The addition of another PoV works well to show the reader what's happening on both sides. The new perspective was unexpected but great and feels alien yet relatable.
I felt at times some of the expansive of the powers in this world felt a little convenient but the author clearly planned the series well so everything falls into place quite nicely. Yet I found during the process of the pieces falling some discordance likely tied to the expansion of the powers within the book.
Overall excited for the conclusion.
faehistory's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
namulith's review against another edition
4.0
The series continues right where we left off. All characters go on their separate journeys and we get some insights into the army of the White Dragon. Absolutely recommended if you enjoyed the first book.
jackisfast's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed the new perspective and reveals. Found the book dragged a bit at times but looking forward to the next one.
rclyburn's review against another edition
2.0
The last hundred pages kind of dragged for me. I really like what happens with the Empire story line in this book. Opening the book with Sirus's perspective was not conducive to understanding, it would have been more helpful to open with a Lizanne chapter.
gbdub's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25