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desolation73's review against another edition
5.0
Books and series can only become popular through word of mouth and this might be even more important when a book is self published so readers of this review I implore you to take a chance on this series and go order the first book Illborn. I think most people will be impressed with this guys writing and will be invested in the rest of the series.
Despite both books being quite chunky they both hit around 650 pages, the story doesnt drag , the world building exceptional with most chapters (rather like Allana) seducing you into turning the next page and carrying on to find out what happens next.
Aiduel's Sin will seem like an effortless sequel but thats because Daniel has put so much hard work into these books, his commitment and hard work should be rewarded by more people picking these books up.
Daniel is a humble man if you follow him on twitter he makes the effort to thank almost every single person who has read his books, but the truth is he deserves the recognition that these books are getting and it is us the reader who are privileged to have read his work so please I cannot emphasis this enough give these books a go and lets spread the word about these two amazing books.
Despite both books being quite chunky they both hit around 650 pages, the story doesnt drag , the world building exceptional with most chapters (rather like Allana) seducing you into turning the next page and carrying on to find out what happens next.
Aiduel's Sin will seem like an effortless sequel but thats because Daniel has put so much hard work into these books, his commitment and hard work should be rewarded by more people picking these books up.
Daniel is a humble man if you follow him on twitter he makes the effort to thank almost every single person who has read his books, but the truth is he deserves the recognition that these books are getting and it is us the reader who are privileged to have read his work so please I cannot emphasis this enough give these books a go and lets spread the word about these two amazing books.
_yumitsang_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
readtheblurb's review against another edition
5.0
Aiduel’s Sin is Daniel T. Jackson’s second novel in his Illborn series and an excellent one at that. If you enjoyed Illborn, it goes without question that you should read this. As before, the follow-up to Illborn is all that one can ask for in the perfect fantasy novel, with superb writing, multi-dimensional characters, fast-paced action, politics and a plot that leaves you gagging for more. It’s no surprise that this has already gone down as one of my top reads of 2023 and cemented Jackson as one of my favourite authors of all time.
Imagine that; two books and already a favourite.
After the mind-blowing ending and cliff-hanger in Illborn, it was a tough year of waiting and building high expectations. Luckily for me, this more book than delivered and made up for the wait. Aiduel’s Sin quickly jumps into the action, continuing on with an uneasy post war situation between Andar and the Holy Church. Things look pretty bleak for Andar, now on the receiving end of a huge invasion and it’s quickly clear that things are about to spiral even further out of control. At the same time events occur behind the scenes, setting up events that could potentially be even bigger than an all out war.
As in Illborn, the plot in Aiduel’s Sin is excellent and makes for an intriguing and immersive read, and one that I never struggle to just get back into. However, what really makes Aiduel’s Sin shine is its characters. We follow Allana, Corin, Leanna and Arion as they come to terms with their ever growing power and the mysterious presence behind. What I really enjoyed about Aiduel’s Sin is that these characters cross paths much more and realise what this might potentially mean for them in the future. While Corin is the only one that doesn’t cross paths with the others, it’s clear that his quest is just as important. I also liked the little hint where Arion might have felt his “presence in the west.” While the other three are thrown into the midst of events, Corin tries to find ways to heal Agbeth and find out answers to the presence lurking within her.
Allana, Arion and Leanna on the other hand are much more in the midst of things, unfortunately taking opposing sides, a direction I’m really looking forward to seeing the resolution of! Events quickly spiral out of control between them and take some dark turns, setting up potential explosive events in book three. I cannot stress enough, that if you read fantasy for it’s characters, you’re in the right place. It’s rare to read such multi-dimensional characters, that feel unique, like-able while not being perfect and at the same time leave you cheering them on.
The writing is absolutely excellent and well-paced which made Aiduel’s Sin such an easy and immersive read. It was the perfect balance between world-building, plot and character interaction that just felt so natural and unforced. Action scenes really stood out and were extremely well written. For me what stands out the most is how well Jackson writes a multi-POV story, weaving each characters section together and never breaking the pace.
If you’re reading this review I assume you’ve already read the first book and are possibly trying to decide whether the series holds up and whether you should continue. I can absolutely confirm that this is the case and you most definitely should continue and be ready for another explosive, character driven adventure that will leave you wanting more.
Imagine that; two books and already a favourite.
After the mind-blowing ending and cliff-hanger in Illborn, it was a tough year of waiting and building high expectations. Luckily for me, this more book than delivered and made up for the wait. Aiduel’s Sin quickly jumps into the action, continuing on with an uneasy post war situation between Andar and the Holy Church. Things look pretty bleak for Andar, now on the receiving end of a huge invasion and it’s quickly clear that things are about to spiral even further out of control. At the same time events occur behind the scenes, setting up events that could potentially be even bigger than an all out war.
As in Illborn, the plot in Aiduel’s Sin is excellent and makes for an intriguing and immersive read, and one that I never struggle to just get back into. However, what really makes Aiduel’s Sin shine is its characters. We follow Allana, Corin, Leanna and Arion as they come to terms with their ever growing power and the mysterious presence behind. What I really enjoyed about Aiduel’s Sin is that these characters cross paths much more and realise what this might potentially mean for them in the future. While Corin is the only one that doesn’t cross paths with the others, it’s clear that his quest is just as important. I also liked the little hint where Arion might have felt his “presence in the west.” While the other three are thrown into the midst of events, Corin tries to find ways to heal Agbeth and find out answers to the presence lurking within her.
Allana, Arion and Leanna on the other hand are much more in the midst of things, unfortunately taking opposing sides, a direction I’m really looking forward to seeing the resolution of! Events quickly spiral out of control between them and take some dark turns, setting up potential explosive events in book three. I cannot stress enough, that if you read fantasy for it’s characters, you’re in the right place. It’s rare to read such multi-dimensional characters, that feel unique, like-able while not being perfect and at the same time leave you cheering them on.
The writing is absolutely excellent and well-paced which made Aiduel’s Sin such an easy and immersive read. It was the perfect balance between world-building, plot and character interaction that just felt so natural and unforced. Action scenes really stood out and were extremely well written. For me what stands out the most is how well Jackson writes a multi-POV story, weaving each characters section together and never breaking the pace.
If you’re reading this review I assume you’ve already read the first book and are possibly trying to decide whether the series holds up and whether you should continue. I can absolutely confirm that this is the case and you most definitely should continue and be ready for another explosive, character driven adventure that will leave you wanting more.
chi_a_dika's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bookish_benny's review against another edition
5.0
When you finish an amazing book (like Illborn) you always have that fear that the next book won't live up to the standard created. This is especially true when the next book is the middle book in a series which can sometimes suffer from middle book syndrome. I was a little concerned that Aiduel's Sin wouldn't live up to the dizzying heights that Daniel created with Illborn but I am pleased to say that he has done it again. If you haven't read my spoiler-free review of Illborn yet, you can do so here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4573303030
Aiduel's Sin (AS) takes place approximately 3 1/2 months after the events of Illborn. If you've read Illborn you'll remember the fantastic prologue that featured a man called Caddin Sendromm. Well you'll be pleased to know that AS kicks off with another prologue giving us more time with the mysterious stranger. However, this prologue is set before the events of the prologue in Illborn which gives us a bit more background on Caddin and his story so far.
The characters feel like old acquaintances as we are slowly reintroduced to their current situations, some better than others, and this feels very natural. There isn't any confusion about what has occurred between the stories and this makes getting back into this story quickly, very easy. And it has to be like this. The characters are the life force of this story and it's obvious that Daniel is aware of this as he continues to build on these characters like a master potter creating a prize piece.
As I got back into the lives of Arion, Allana, Corin and Leanna I was immediately captured again by each chapter. The predicaments they find themselves in, sometimes of their own causing, are so naturally created that they never felt shoehorned into it. It's like each situation has been carefully mapped out on a timeline as if Daniel is their God and is planning their lives out for them. It makes for very smooth reading as nothing seems comes across as unnatural, which is quite a feat when there are magic powers flying around in every chapter.
I felt myself caring for each of the characters, wanting them to win, wanting them to be okay. This was particularly interesting with Allana who I couldn't help but feel sorry for no matter how much damage she caused because she was always able to justify it with an "it's me or them" attitude which to be honest, made sense in each situation! The four main characters are all each brilliant but inevitably we all end up having favourites right? I think if there was one person who I was most invested in, it was probably Allana. This shocks me, even as I write it because she is probably the least 'good' character but I found her to be the most interesting and conflicted character. She has little to no faith with church or Aiduel, unlike the other characters who believe in a higher power, and yet she felt the deepest of them.
I loved the new characters that were either brought in to support the main characters on their journeys or were developed further from Illborn. Particularly members of Aiduel's Guards who I found to be as ruthless as any other character despite the fact that they were a sometimes anonymous collection of figures on the pages. They still managed to bring a fear to the page when they were mentioned around certain characters.
There are moments in this book that I didn't see coming either. On a few occasions I felt my draw drop open like a drawbridge or let out an audible swear word as things I thought "he's not going to _______" actually happened in front of my eyes. It raises the tensions and the drama, making the story all the better but never done for a cheap shock factor as each woah moment only ended up infusing the story with more content.
I could probably keep writing this review, telling you that I loved the way Daniel describes the buildings or the trees but it really isn't that dense a prose. Daniel has a very smooth prose that delivers what's needed to carry the story forward while still taking time to layer the story with emotion and intrigue.
It's not just the stories that are unique either. Daniel on Twitter is a very humble person, never going out of his way to brag about his successes but always grateful someone has enjoyed one of his stories with a simple thank you.
It should come with no surprise that I loved this book and think it's fantastic. Daniel has written another brilliant epic fantasy story and has again raised the playing field for epic fantasy authors everywhere while also bringing a huge beacon of light to self publishing as the best epic fantasy self published author currently alive.
The first series I've read where I've given more than one S-Ranks (6/5 stars). Fully deserved.
S-RANK
Aiduel's Sin (AS) takes place approximately 3 1/2 months after the events of Illborn. If you've read Illborn you'll remember the fantastic prologue that featured a man called Caddin Sendromm. Well you'll be pleased to know that AS kicks off with another prologue giving us more time with the mysterious stranger. However, this prologue is set before the events of the prologue in Illborn which gives us a bit more background on Caddin and his story so far.
The characters feel like old acquaintances as we are slowly reintroduced to their current situations, some better than others, and this feels very natural. There isn't any confusion about what has occurred between the stories and this makes getting back into this story quickly, very easy. And it has to be like this. The characters are the life force of this story and it's obvious that Daniel is aware of this as he continues to build on these characters like a master potter creating a prize piece.
As I got back into the lives of Arion, Allana, Corin and Leanna I was immediately captured again by each chapter. The predicaments they find themselves in, sometimes of their own causing, are so naturally created that they never felt shoehorned into it. It's like each situation has been carefully mapped out on a timeline as if Daniel is their God and is planning their lives out for them. It makes for very smooth reading as nothing seems comes across as unnatural, which is quite a feat when there are magic powers flying around in every chapter.
I felt myself caring for each of the characters, wanting them to win, wanting them to be okay. This was particularly interesting with Allana who I couldn't help but feel sorry for no matter how much damage she caused because she was always able to justify it with an "it's me or them" attitude which to be honest, made sense in each situation! The four main characters are all each brilliant but inevitably we all end up having favourites right? I think if there was one person who I was most invested in, it was probably Allana. This shocks me, even as I write it because she is probably the least 'good' character but I found her to be the most interesting and conflicted character. She has little to no faith with church or Aiduel, unlike the other characters who believe in a higher power, and yet she felt the deepest of them.
I loved the new characters that were either brought in to support the main characters on their journeys or were developed further from Illborn. Particularly members of Aiduel's Guards who I found to be as ruthless as any other character despite the fact that they were a sometimes anonymous collection of figures on the pages. They still managed to bring a fear to the page when they were mentioned around certain characters.
There are moments in this book that I didn't see coming either. On a few occasions I felt my draw drop open like a drawbridge or let out an audible swear word as things I thought "he's not going to _______" actually happened in front of my eyes. It raises the tensions and the drama, making the story all the better but never done for a cheap shock factor as each woah moment only ended up infusing the story with more content.
I could probably keep writing this review, telling you that I loved the way Daniel describes the buildings or the trees but it really isn't that dense a prose. Daniel has a very smooth prose that delivers what's needed to carry the story forward while still taking time to layer the story with emotion and intrigue.
It's not just the stories that are unique either. Daniel on Twitter is a very humble person, never going out of his way to brag about his successes but always grateful someone has enjoyed one of his stories with a simple thank you.
It should come with no surprise that I loved this book and think it's fantastic. Daniel has written another brilliant epic fantasy story and has again raised the playing field for epic fantasy authors everywhere while also bringing a huge beacon of light to self publishing as the best epic fantasy self published author currently alive.
The first series I've read where I've given more than one S-Ranks (6/5 stars). Fully deserved.
S-RANK
jntils's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this more than the first novel and am looking forward to the third when it is released. My biggest issue was that with three of the main characters being in either close proximity to each other or experiencing the same events it felt like many of the key scenes were retold multiple times from a different perspective. While it was enjoyable to see a different POV at similar/slightly different times, it led to a lot of repetition and the feeling that not a lot actually happened across multiple chapters. It led me to enjoy Corin's POV much more as he was separate from the others and carried his own storyline.
teeigs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
thewulverslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Aiduel’s Sin by Daniel T. Jackson is the brilliant sequel to Illborn that has grown in scope, complexity and builds upon the story that Daniel has graciously set out so far.
How does the opportunity ever arise for one person to alter the destiny of a world?
As the nations of Angall move closer to a Holy War, the four Illborn are to face momentous challenges, while seeking answers about who they are and what their growing powers mean.
After Arion and Allana are drawn to opposing sides in the coming conflict, their mutual obsession threatens to bring ruin to them both. In Arlais, Leanna finds herself a target of both the Holy Church and of the killers who are closing in on her. And in Karn, Corin must respond to a deadly new peril, whilst coping with the devastating aftermath of the attack on his wife.
How will the choices and actions of the four shape each of their destinies? Only this much is certain; the mysteries of the Gate and of their dreams still await them, and there will be no peace for the Illborn.
I really enjoyed Illborn and was impressed with Daniel and his ability to capture characters and build on a story that is incredibly unique and fast-evolving. Aiduel’s Sin is a great follow-up and even more brutal and action-packed than Illborn. Daniel has successfully grown as a writer and really shines when discussing his character’s and how their actions and consequences have impacted all around the world he has created. I really enjoyed the reveals of the overarching story because that’s been my favourite part of this series so far. There are callbacks to Illborn and I appreciated those with profound excitement when they were revealed.
These characters have been developed and we understand them already but Daniel has written them to be even more interesting and intriguing. As readers, we question the intentions of characters and this speaks to Daniel’s growth as an author here. He’s managed to take these four point-of-view characters and add inner turmoil that has us wondering who the heroes and villains truly are. The character development is appealing with their own motivations but these journeys feel so real and I can’t wait to have them moved further forward in the next instalment.
The story itself is thrown wide open and I enjoy how Daniel builds up to reveals, major events and hints at future plot marks. The action scenes don’t give us time to breathe with stress and tension and the adventures these characters are on is fast-paced and intimate. Daniel’s writing flows wonderfully and makes this an easy read, regardless of its complexity.
Aiduel’s Sin is a step up to an already brilliant series and I devoured this in only a few days. The foreboding tone and the harrowing reveals make this a brilliant book and I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
Aiduel’s Sin by Daniel T. Jackson is the brilliant sequel to Illborn that has grown in scope, complexity and builds upon the story that Daniel has graciously set out so far.
How does the opportunity ever arise for one person to alter the destiny of a world?
As the nations of Angall move closer to a Holy War, the four Illborn are to face momentous challenges, while seeking answers about who they are and what their growing powers mean.
After Arion and Allana are drawn to opposing sides in the coming conflict, their mutual obsession threatens to bring ruin to them both. In Arlais, Leanna finds herself a target of both the Holy Church and of the killers who are closing in on her. And in Karn, Corin must respond to a deadly new peril, whilst coping with the devastating aftermath of the attack on his wife.
How will the choices and actions of the four shape each of their destinies? Only this much is certain; the mysteries of the Gate and of their dreams still await them, and there will be no peace for the Illborn.
I really enjoyed Illborn and was impressed with Daniel and his ability to capture characters and build on a story that is incredibly unique and fast-evolving. Aiduel’s Sin is a great follow-up and even more brutal and action-packed than Illborn. Daniel has successfully grown as a writer and really shines when discussing his character’s and how their actions and consequences have impacted all around the world he has created. I really enjoyed the reveals of the overarching story because that’s been my favourite part of this series so far. There are callbacks to Illborn and I appreciated those with profound excitement when they were revealed.
These characters have been developed and we understand them already but Daniel has written them to be even more interesting and intriguing. As readers, we question the intentions of characters and this speaks to Daniel’s growth as an author here. He’s managed to take these four point-of-view characters and add inner turmoil that has us wondering who the heroes and villains truly are. The character development is appealing with their own motivations but these journeys feel so real and I can’t wait to have them moved further forward in the next instalment.
The story itself is thrown wide open and I enjoy how Daniel builds up to reveals, major events and hints at future plot marks. The action scenes don’t give us time to breathe with stress and tension and the adventures these characters are on is fast-paced and intimate. Daniel’s writing flows wonderfully and makes this an easy read, regardless of its complexity.
Aiduel’s Sin is a step up to an already brilliant series and I devoured this in only a few days. The foreboding tone and the harrowing reveals make this a brilliant book and I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
kevinscorner's review against another edition
5.0
Aiduel’s Sin was fantastic! It delivers the same intensity and action as Illborn with more character depth and a twisty story I did not expect. It also finally answers what it means to be Illborn. Although I did like Illborn slightly more, this was a worthy follow-up that does not at all feel like a middle book.
A man uniting to his people. A woman devoting her life to doing the Lord’s work. A man bringing honor and glory to himself and his family. A woman surviving a harsh world. We return just 3.5 months after the events of the first book and follow the four Illborn as their own actions and destinies bring them towards victory and destruction.
After the triumphant and transcendent tone of Illborn, Aiduel’s Sin manages to knock everything down with a truly devastating story. Cracks are beginning to show in these four relatable characters that were built up in Illborn as what made them great may be exactly what ends up bringing them down as well. There’s battles, betrayals, and death as well as the reveal of a huge secret from the past that changes everything (see title).
You can really tell that Daniel T. Jackson has a vision for where this story is going as he adeptly guides each character and their choices through the events of the book, shaping both a character and event driven narrative. Two characters really came to the forefront for me as favorites, but there may be some bias on my part as their storylines went exactly where I wanted it to go. Meanwhile, the two others frustrated me as one made foolish decision after foolish decision while the other constantly made selfish choices in their own self interest. But each character stayed true to who they were, and I cannot wait to see what the next part of the story brings.
Aiduel’s Sin is the follow-up to Illborn (still the best indie fantasy I have read so far) and delivers an action-packed, character-focused story that lived up to my expectations for a sequel.
*I was provided an eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
A man uniting to his people. A woman devoting her life to doing the Lord’s work. A man bringing honor and glory to himself and his family. A woman surviving a harsh world. We return just 3.5 months after the events of the first book and follow the four Illborn as their own actions and destinies bring them towards victory and destruction.
After the triumphant and transcendent tone of Illborn, Aiduel’s Sin manages to knock everything down with a truly devastating story. Cracks are beginning to show in these four relatable characters that were built up in Illborn as what made them great may be exactly what ends up bringing them down as well. There’s battles, betrayals, and death as well as the reveal of a huge secret from the past that changes everything (see title).
You can really tell that Daniel T. Jackson has a vision for where this story is going as he adeptly guides each character and their choices through the events of the book, shaping both a character and event driven narrative. Two characters really came to the forefront for me as favorites, but there may be some bias on my part as their storylines went exactly where I wanted it to go. Meanwhile, the two others frustrated me as one made foolish decision after foolish decision while the other constantly made selfish choices in their own self interest. But each character stayed true to who they were, and I cannot wait to see what the next part of the story brings.
Aiduel’s Sin is the follow-up to Illborn (still the best indie fantasy I have read so far) and delivers an action-packed, character-focused story that lived up to my expectations for a sequel.
*I was provided an eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
jugglemisterer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75