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andreashibly's review
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely a more intense finale of this duology, with tons more of betrayal, world-building, suspense, and unpredictability. Given how the previous book ended, I wasn't sure how everything would come together. Looking back, this book could almost have been read like a standalone. That said, I still found myself engaged, curious, and wanting to see how everything wrapped up. I was very happy to learn more about the mysterious Danae and the conspiracy within the Registry. There were so many plots unfolding around Lucian/Greenshank that I couldn't tell who was on his side until the scene was over. I was guessing until the very end and didn't see the finale coming, but think it was a fitting end to his character. I almost wish the final battle was a little bit longer, because it was an insane level of suspense and danger. The characters were just as rich and layered as in the previous book, though I was hoping for more Juli and more Bastien. This was a great duology with a lot of mystery, world-building, and unique magic. I'm glad to have read it!
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
The concluding book in the fantasy duology that began with "Dust and Light." I enjoyed this book very much. The milieu, which is shared with three other of Carol Berg's books, is darkly dramatic, and I appreciate the thoughtful and unusual depiction of magic. The narrator, Greenshank, is both admirable and likable, and faces an array of formidable obstacles. I particularly liked the moments depicting friendship between Greenshank and other characters, and I think I would have preferred more emphasis on those friendships, and less discussion of the complicated plot points. I would love to read a fifth book in this setting featuring Greenshank or Valen or Osriel or Inek or Bastien or Fix. Hmmm. Carol Berg creates interesting characters!
mamap's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. Lucian de Remini has lost his memory and he will never get it back. I really thought that would ruin the story for me, but I think it worked put well.
Lots of political crap. I like that there are wonderful and good people willing to help just because it is the right thing to do.
Not an easy read, Carol Berg never does anything easy in her books. Sometimes, it's too hard.
Remeni looses his memory, changes the world, and ends up back where he started.
Lots of political crap. I like that there are wonderful and good people willing to help just because it is the right thing to do.
Not an easy read, Carol Berg never does anything easy in her books. Sometimes, it's too hard.
Remeni looses his memory, changes the world, and ends up back where he started.
ljstrain28's review
5.0
I think I'll read anything Carol Berg writes. Seriously, I had no idea how this was going to conclude and I was not disappointed. Really good read!
badmc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Our protagonist continues to suffer in his search for justice and truth. Introspective and full of dread, with lost memory of who he was he has to save lost people from the other world, parley with magical beings, root out corruption, and free his magic from the shackles of manipulators with unknown motives.
Once again, Berg has no mercy for her characters, but we see him grow through the ordeals. The book was quite emotional, and had great villain(s). The middle felt repetitive with all the border crossings, doubt, and evasion, but the book delivered high stakes, and no easy answers. I look forward to new duology where Valen and Aros finally meet, and the war for succesion, as well as faith of magic and relations of humans and other beings gets decided.
Once again, Berg has no mercy for her characters, but we see him grow through the ordeals. The book was quite emotional, and had great villain(s). The middle felt repetitive with all the border crossings, doubt, and evasion, but the book delivered high stakes, and no easy answers. I look forward to new duology where Valen and Aros finally meet, and the war for succesion, as well as faith of magic and relations of humans and other beings gets decided.
aphelia88's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second book in Carol Berg's latest duology, The Sanctuary Duet, which is the sequel to the Lighthouse Duet, also known as The Cartamandua Legacy:
1. [bc:Flesh and Spirit|437790|Flesh and Spirit (Lighthouse, #1)|Carol Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431493610l/437790._SY75_.jpg|426653] 2. [bc:Breath and Bone|1140216|Breath and Bone (Lighthouse, #2)|Carol Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442890367l/1140216._SX50_.jpg|1127505]
You do not necessarily need to read The Lighthouse Duet, Valen's story, before Lucien's story, as the two occur at roughly the same time and will likely converge in another series in the future. But you will be absolutely lost with this one if you don't read the first book:
[bc:Dust and Light|18683282|Dust and Light (The Sanctuary Duet, #1)|Carol Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406461246l/18683282._SY75_.jpg|26522317]
Can the soul survive if memory is lost? Such is the question that plagues Lucian de Remeni-Masson, now an anonymous knight-in-training known only as Greenshanks (all trainees are named after birds until their knighthood).
Seeking the Path of the White Hand - and manipulated by diabolical Curator Damon of the Pureblood Registry - at the end of the last book Lucian entered the ranks of a secretive brotherhood skilled in magical combat who administer justice wherever needed but wipe their presence - and personal memories - away after each quest.
Carol Berg has always been hard on her characters, but Greenshanks' difficulties are nigh-insurmountable. As he advances in his training, strange events and outside forces waken his knowledge of gaps in his memories. Two years at Evanide Fortress with the Equites Cinere, or Knights of the Ashes, has physically transformed him into a fit and competent fighter.
But his trust in the Order is shaken first by an encounter with Morgan, his long-ago lover, and then by his commander falling into a deadly spell trap while looking for answers about Greenshanks' past (no one in the order, save the Archivist and the Knight Commander are supposed to know the identity of acolytes). Someone or something wants Greenshanks aware of his past but unable to access the true memories of it. (At the end of their training, knights can choose to regain their memories - stored in magical cubes in the Archives - and reenter the world or relinquish their memories and be a Knight of the Order.)
Soon, Greenshanks reassembles the facts of his former existence but not the feelings behind it, or the context of his decisions. The tragedy of this is truly devastating. He and Morgan - along with help from his old friend, Coroner Bastien - work together to unravel the terrible truth about Xanchieria, the legendary city long thought lost.
The Cicerons he saved in the last book are there with his sister Juli and they are not alone: over 20,000 Xanchierians have been trapped in the past, bespelled into trees by the silver-garded Danae, maddened from their separation from the Seasons.
This duology is perhaps Berg's most complex work yet, which is saying something. It is subtle, tricky and haunting. All is uncertainty and Damon - as Greenshanks' thinks of him, "The Spider" - is a chilly villain in that you are never sure - even at the very end - if he was wrong or right in his actions. Reasonable evil is absolutely terrifying.
The ending is ambiguous and questions linger. And Aros - who was Lucien and then Greenshanks and now must being a whole new life entirely - is still a stubborn, loyal, honest and truly righteous man, despite the terrible, unthinkable cost that he will carry every day of his life. Aros will no doubt have an important part to play in the future of Navaronne, and I'm greatly looking forward to reading the ending of this series, which is yet to come, when Aros' path must inevitably cross that of Valen's, from the first duology, and the fate of the Kingdom will finally be revealed.
If Berg did decide to end the series here, after both duologies, I will be seriously disappointed!!! I really hope she will continue with this wonderful world, with it's interesting magic, and we have the chance to see what these two very changed characters who have had to make inconceivable sacrifices - Valen and Aros - will become.
Highly recommended!
1. [bc:Flesh and Spirit|437790|Flesh and Spirit (Lighthouse, #1)|Carol Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431493610l/437790._SY75_.jpg|426653] 2. [bc:Breath and Bone|1140216|Breath and Bone (Lighthouse, #2)|Carol Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442890367l/1140216._SX50_.jpg|1127505]
You do not necessarily need to read The Lighthouse Duet, Valen's story, before Lucien's story, as the two occur at roughly the same time and will likely converge in another series in the future. But you will be absolutely lost with this one if you don't read the first book:
[bc:Dust and Light|18683282|Dust and Light (The Sanctuary Duet, #1)|Carol Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406461246l/18683282._SY75_.jpg|26522317]
Can the soul survive if memory is lost? Such is the question that plagues Lucian de Remeni-Masson, now an anonymous knight-in-training known only as Greenshanks (all trainees are named after birds until their knighthood).
Seeking the Path of the White Hand - and manipulated by diabolical Curator Damon of the Pureblood Registry - at the end of the last book Lucian entered the ranks of a secretive brotherhood skilled in magical combat who administer justice wherever needed but wipe their presence - and personal memories - away after each quest.
Carol Berg has always been hard on her characters, but Greenshanks' difficulties are nigh-insurmountable. As he advances in his training, strange events and outside forces waken his knowledge of gaps in his memories. Two years at Evanide Fortress with the Equites Cinere, or Knights of the Ashes, has physically transformed him into a fit and competent fighter.
But his trust in the Order is shaken first by an encounter with Morgan, his long-ago lover, and then by his commander falling into a deadly spell trap while looking for answers about Greenshanks' past (no one in the order, save the Archivist and the Knight Commander are supposed to know the identity of acolytes). Someone or something wants Greenshanks aware of his past but unable to access the true memories of it. (At the end of their training, knights can choose to regain their memories - stored in magical cubes in the Archives - and reenter the world or relinquish their memories and be a Knight of the Order.)
Soon, Greenshanks reassembles the facts of his former existence but not the feelings behind it, or the context of his decisions. The tragedy of this is truly devastating. He and Morgan - along with help from his old friend, Coroner Bastien - work together to unravel the terrible truth about Xanchieria, the legendary city long thought lost.
The Cicerons he saved in the last book are there with his sister Juli and they are not alone: over 20,000 Xanchierians have been trapped in the past, bespelled into trees by the silver-garded Danae, maddened from their separation from the Seasons.
This duology is perhaps Berg's most complex work yet, which is saying something. It is subtle, tricky and haunting. All is uncertainty and Damon - as Greenshanks' thinks of him, "The Spider" - is a chilly villain in that you are never sure - even at the very end - if he was wrong or right in his actions. Reasonable evil is absolutely terrifying.
The ending is ambiguous and questions linger. And Aros - who was Lucien and then Greenshanks and now must being a whole new life entirely - is still a stubborn, loyal, honest and truly righteous man, despite the terrible, unthinkable cost that he will carry every day of his life. Aros will no doubt have an important part to play in the future of Navaronne, and I'm greatly looking forward to reading the ending of this series, which is yet to come, when Aros' path must inevitably cross that of Valen's, from the first duology, and the fate of the Kingdom will finally be revealed.
If Berg did decide to end the series here, after both duologies, I will be seriously disappointed!!! I really hope she will continue with this wonderful world, with it's interesting magic, and we have the chance to see what these two very changed characters who have had to make inconceivable sacrifices - Valen and Aros - will become.
Highly recommended!
writinwater's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25