Scan barcode
lunablue12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
3.75
chinarose's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sandygx260's review against another edition
5.0
Dynamite book... I do adore Wendig's over-active imagination.
jesslynh's review against another edition
5.0
Mr. Wendig is a bad, bad man! Sigh. All my GR friends know by now that I abhor a cliffhanger ending, but as much as I hate to say it, this one works. And, boy does this book take 'middle book syndrome' and kick its ass!
I want to go stand over Chucky W. until he gets the next one published, but in the meantime, I highly recommend you get both books in this trilogy. I can't for the life of me figure out why they're so cheap--trust me, you'll get more than your $ worth.
I want to go stand over Chucky W. until he gets the next one published, but in the meantime, I highly recommend you get both books in this trilogy. I can't for the life of me figure out why they're so cheap--trust me, you'll get more than your $ worth.
philibin's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I have such mixed feelings about this one... Have you ever watched a movie, or a television series and think that you want to read the book it was based on? Well this is one of those rare instances where I think a televised series would actually be better than this book. Because, the concept is great! The world-building is amazing. The character growth... well, honestly, it could be better... especially from Chuck Wendig.
Here is my problem with it, and maybe it's on me. I am really bad with names, like famously bad with them. There are a lot of characters in this series, but that's not really the problem. The problem is that the characters each use several names. Sometimes they are called by their first name, others their surname. And sometimes they are called by their title, or their honorific, or their profession. And sometimes by a nickname. So, I think, a series would be easier just to keep track of the people.
To make it somewhat worse... I'm listening to the audiobook version. You'd think that it would be easier since the narrator could change octave, tone, accent, speed, etc... But while this narrator does try to change the voices up a little... he only really changes the men. The women all sound mostly the same and all the adolescents sound the same. Oddly enough, the kids al sound a lot like that annoying kid from Polar Express (I think his name is "Know it all").
I really hate to dunk on this series... I really want to like it. And I have loved everything else I've read by Chuck Wendig. And honestly, if this was on TV, I'd watch it. And will I read the third book? yes, yes I will.
Here is my problem with it, and maybe it's on me. I am really bad with names, like famously bad with them. There are a lot of characters in this series, but that's not really the problem. The problem is that the characters each use several names. Sometimes they are called by their first name, others their surname. And sometimes they are called by their title, or their honorific, or their profession. And sometimes by a nickname. So, I think, a series would be easier just to keep track of the people.
To make it somewhat worse... I'm listening to the audiobook version. You'd think that it would be easier since the narrator could change octave, tone, accent, speed, etc... But while this narrator does try to change the voices up a little... he only really changes the men. The women all sound mostly the same and all the adolescents sound the same. Oddly enough, the kids al sound a lot like that annoying kid from Polar Express (I think his name is "Know it all").
I really hate to dunk on this series... I really want to like it. And I have loved everything else I've read by Chuck Wendig. And honestly, if this was on TV, I'd watch it. And will I read the third book? yes, yes I will.
judascomplex's review against another edition
4.0
Book twooo! I continue to be way too excited to read this trilogy. I’ve waited so long… *sniff*
But particularly after where book one left off, I was particularly interested in what was going to happen next. (Note: spoilers for book one below the cut, because it is literally impossible to talk about book two without giving away pieces of book one.)
Leaving off on the fact that Gwennie was going up to the flotilla after winning the lottery was SUCH a cliffhanger. I mean, aside from the entire Obligation Day disaster. So not only do we have the added complication of Boyland and Wanda, now Gwennie is off in the sky to boot.
However, now that we have a character in the sky (that isn’t Cael’s sister) this means that we finally get to see the Empyrean from their own vantage point. (Kinda.) That over all else I think is my favorite part of this book in particular. We’ve established the way the Heartlanders see the Empyrean, but we don’t get a chance to see them from their own perspective. Particularly with the introduction of Balastair, we start to see the other side of the story. (I adore Balastair. And Erasmus. Sigh.) Winning the Lottery isn’t everything Gwennie was hoping–but she finds very early on that there’s a familiar face on this flotilla, and maybe–just maybe–they’ll be able to help.
Meanwhile on the ground, Cael is determined to find his way to Gwennie–and Boyland is determined to not make his path easy. Hobos, raiders, the Sleeping Dogs…and all the while Cael has his own problem brewing. One he has no idea how to solve…or if there is a way to do such.
This is the perfect example of what a second portion of a trilogy should be. It expands into more conflict, questioning who the real enemy is, and sets up the ultimate conflicts–the ones we aren’t sure can be solved. As much as I love to believe that regardless of anything, the protagonists will come out fine in the end…I’m not sure what exactly “fine” looks like in this world. I’m not positive that everyone’s going to make it out of this.
And I LOVE it.
There are so few books that really make me question whether or not it’s all going to end the way we want it to. I want Cael and Gwennie to have a happy ending. I want Wanda to find happiness somewhere (else). I want good things for Balastair. I want so many things…and I’m not sure any of them can happen. Any time I can be that in the dark about the ending of a book, I’m pleased.
Besides, the end of this book is an AMAZING cliff-hanger. Talk about not knowing how things are going to turn out.
I’ll keep this one short because NO SPOILERS. Phew.
Rating: **** (Recommended)
But particularly after where book one left off, I was particularly interested in what was going to happen next. (Note: spoilers for book one below the cut, because it is literally impossible to talk about book two without giving away pieces of book one.)
Leaving off on the fact that Gwennie was going up to the flotilla after winning the lottery was SUCH a cliffhanger. I mean, aside from the entire Obligation Day disaster. So not only do we have the added complication of Boyland and Wanda, now Gwennie is off in the sky to boot.
However, now that we have a character in the sky (that isn’t Cael’s sister) this means that we finally get to see the Empyrean from their own vantage point. (Kinda.) That over all else I think is my favorite part of this book in particular. We’ve established the way the Heartlanders see the Empyrean, but we don’t get a chance to see them from their own perspective. Particularly with the introduction of Balastair, we start to see the other side of the story. (I adore Balastair. And Erasmus. Sigh.) Winning the Lottery isn’t everything Gwennie was hoping–but she finds very early on that there’s a familiar face on this flotilla, and maybe–just maybe–they’ll be able to help.
Meanwhile on the ground, Cael is determined to find his way to Gwennie–and Boyland is determined to not make his path easy. Hobos, raiders, the Sleeping Dogs…and all the while Cael has his own problem brewing. One he has no idea how to solve…or if there is a way to do such.
This is the perfect example of what a second portion of a trilogy should be. It expands into more conflict, questioning who the real enemy is, and sets up the ultimate conflicts–the ones we aren’t sure can be solved. As much as I love to believe that regardless of anything, the protagonists will come out fine in the end…I’m not sure what exactly “fine” looks like in this world. I’m not positive that everyone’s going to make it out of this.
And I LOVE it.
There are so few books that really make me question whether or not it’s all going to end the way we want it to. I want Cael and Gwennie to have a happy ending. I want Wanda to find happiness somewhere (else). I want good things for Balastair. I want so many things…and I’m not sure any of them can happen. Any time I can be that in the dark about the ending of a book, I’m pleased.
Besides, the end of this book is an AMAZING cliff-hanger. Talk about not knowing how things are going to turn out.
I’ll keep this one short because NO SPOILERS. Phew.
Rating: **** (Recommended)
dantastic's review
4.0
Cael, Lane, and Rigo head north through the Heartland, looking for the provisions depot, and stumble upon more than they bargain for in the form of a mysterious hobo and the Sleeping Dogs, raiders fighting against the Empyreans. Meanwhile, Gwennie has found that winning the Lottery isn't all it's cracked up to be and wants to escape the flotilla...
I got this from Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley!
Chuck Wendig is one of the few authors I've encountered that knows how to make the second book in a trilogy not suck. Blightborn takes what Chuck established in the first book and turns the knob up a few notches.
Blightborn picks up where Under the Empyrean Sky left off. Cael and his pals are on the run. Gwennie is on the flotilla and sees Cael's sister. Rigo's father, Wanda, and Boyland Barnes Jr. are part of a posse looking for Cael and his pals. Things quickly spiral out of control from there.
I don't want to give away too many of the nuts and bolts of the plot or reveal too much of what happened in the last book. I will say that all the threads of the plot advance quite a bit. The new characters of The Sleeping Dogs, the peregrine, Harrington, Eben, and the Maize Witch are all pretty compelling. Not one of the characters emerged unscathed. Who would have thought Cael's father was so interesting back in the day?
I really like what Wendig seems to be building toward in the Heartland Trilogy. The series reminds me of Black Feathers at some times and The Court of the Air at others, with its ecological themes and cities in the clouds. With the full scope of what the Empyrean is planning, I can't wait for the final book!
Four out of five stars. Get crackin' on the sequel, Chuck!
I got this from Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley!
Chuck Wendig is one of the few authors I've encountered that knows how to make the second book in a trilogy not suck. Blightborn takes what Chuck established in the first book and turns the knob up a few notches.
Blightborn picks up where Under the Empyrean Sky left off. Cael and his pals are on the run. Gwennie is on the flotilla and sees Cael's sister. Rigo's father, Wanda, and Boyland Barnes Jr. are part of a posse looking for Cael and his pals. Things quickly spiral out of control from there.
I don't want to give away too many of the nuts and bolts of the plot or reveal too much of what happened in the last book. I will say that all the threads of the plot advance quite a bit. The new characters of The Sleeping Dogs, the peregrine, Harrington, Eben, and the Maize Witch are all pretty compelling. Not one of the characters emerged unscathed. Who would have thought Cael's father was so interesting back in the day?
I really like what Wendig seems to be building toward in the Heartland Trilogy. The series reminds me of Black Feathers at some times and The Court of the Air at others, with its ecological themes and cities in the clouds. With the full scope of what the Empyrean is planning, I can't wait for the final book!
Four out of five stars. Get crackin' on the sequel, Chuck!
judascomplex's review
4.0
Book twooo! I continue to be way too excited to read this trilogy. I’ve waited so long… *sniff*
But particularly after where book one left off, I was particularly interested in what was going to happen next. (Note: spoilers for book one below the cut, because it is literally impossible to talk about book two without giving away pieces of book one.)
Leaving off on the fact that Gwennie was going up to the flotilla after winning the lottery was SUCH a cliffhanger. I mean, aside from the entire Obligation Day disaster. So not only do we have the added complication of Boyland and Wanda, now Gwennie is off in the sky to boot.
However, now that we have a character in the sky (that isn’t Cael’s sister) this means that we finally get to see the Empyrean from their own vantage point. (Kinda.) That over all else I think is my favorite part of this book in particular. We’ve established the way the Heartlanders see the Empyrean, but we don’t get a chance to see them from their own perspective. Particularly with the introduction of Balastair, we start to see the other side of the story. (I adore Balastair. And Erasmus. Sigh.) Winning the Lottery isn’t everything Gwennie was hoping–but she finds very early on that there’s a familiar face on this flotilla, and maybe–just maybe–they’ll be able to help.
Meanwhile on the ground, Cael is determined to find his way to Gwennie–and Boyland is determined to not make his path easy. Hobos, raiders, the Sleeping Dogs…and all the while Cael has his own problem brewing. One he has no idea how to solve…or if there is a way to do such.
This is the perfect example of what a second portion of a trilogy should be. It expands into more conflict, questioning who the real enemy is, and sets up the ultimate conflicts–the ones we aren’t sure can be solved. As much as I love to believe that regardless of anything, the protagonists will come out fine in the end…I’m not sure what exactly “fine” looks like in this world. I’m not positive that everyone’s going to make it out of this.
And I LOVE it.
There are so few books that really make me question whether or not it’s all going to end the way we want it to. I want Cael and Gwennie to have a happy ending. I want Wanda to find happiness somewhere (else). I want good things for Balastair. I want so many things…and I’m not sure any of them can happen. Any time I can be that in the dark about the ending of a book, I’m pleased.
Besides, the end of this book is an AMAZING cliff-hanger. Talk about not knowing how things are going to turn out.
I’ll keep this one short because NO SPOILERS. Phew.
Rating: **** (Recommended)
But particularly after where book one left off, I was particularly interested in what was going to happen next. (Note: spoilers for book one below the cut, because it is literally impossible to talk about book two without giving away pieces of book one.)
Leaving off on the fact that Gwennie was going up to the flotilla after winning the lottery was SUCH a cliffhanger. I mean, aside from the entire Obligation Day disaster. So not only do we have the added complication of Boyland and Wanda, now Gwennie is off in the sky to boot.
However, now that we have a character in the sky (that isn’t Cael’s sister) this means that we finally get to see the Empyrean from their own vantage point. (Kinda.) That over all else I think is my favorite part of this book in particular. We’ve established the way the Heartlanders see the Empyrean, but we don’t get a chance to see them from their own perspective. Particularly with the introduction of Balastair, we start to see the other side of the story. (I adore Balastair. And Erasmus. Sigh.) Winning the Lottery isn’t everything Gwennie was hoping–but she finds very early on that there’s a familiar face on this flotilla, and maybe–just maybe–they’ll be able to help.
Meanwhile on the ground, Cael is determined to find his way to Gwennie–and Boyland is determined to not make his path easy. Hobos, raiders, the Sleeping Dogs…and all the while Cael has his own problem brewing. One he has no idea how to solve…or if there is a way to do such.
This is the perfect example of what a second portion of a trilogy should be. It expands into more conflict, questioning who the real enemy is, and sets up the ultimate conflicts–the ones we aren’t sure can be solved. As much as I love to believe that regardless of anything, the protagonists will come out fine in the end…I’m not sure what exactly “fine” looks like in this world. I’m not positive that everyone’s going to make it out of this.
And I LOVE it.
There are so few books that really make me question whether or not it’s all going to end the way we want it to. I want Cael and Gwennie to have a happy ending. I want Wanda to find happiness somewhere (else). I want good things for Balastair. I want so many things…and I’m not sure any of them can happen. Any time I can be that in the dark about the ending of a book, I’m pleased.
Besides, the end of this book is an AMAZING cliff-hanger. Talk about not knowing how things are going to turn out.
I’ll keep this one short because NO SPOILERS. Phew.
Rating: **** (Recommended)
simply_sam's review against another edition
4.0
I think this was a solid second book.
We're thrown right back into the story, but the action is now broken up between those on the flotilla and those on the ground hoping to rescue them. I still think the corn is completely bizarre, and in this book we get to take a closer look at the blight, though it is still not really explained. It's just so strange and more than a little horrifying. We learn that life on the flotilla is not all that it is cracked up to be (imagine that!) and that Cael's father has even more secrets up his sleeve. Cael and his cohorts end up teamed up with the rebel group, The Sleeping Dogs, on the ground, all while being pursued by Boyland and his new crew. Meanwhile Gwennie is roped into assisting the rebels in the air with a very reluctant Merelda in tow. The action comes to a head when the rebel group decides it's time for the flotilla to experience life in the Heartland and puts into action a plan to tear it from the sky.
There's a few new faces introduced, a lot of action, and even more creepy plant goodness. I really enjoyed it. I'm interested to see how this story concludes. On to the next one!
Oh, and I just want to add, I listened to the audio version of this book. I think the narrator did a fantastic job with this story (again!). I have limited experience with audio books, though, so I'm not sure how much weight my opinion carries on the matter, but there it is :)
We're thrown right back into the story, but the action is now broken up between those on the flotilla and those on the ground hoping to rescue them. I still think the corn is completely bizarre, and in this book we get to take a closer look at the blight, though it is still not really explained. It's just so strange and more than a little horrifying. We learn that life on the flotilla is not all that it is cracked up to be (imagine that!) and that Cael's father has even more secrets up his sleeve. Cael and his cohorts end up teamed up with the rebel group, The Sleeping Dogs, on the ground, all while being pursued by Boyland and his new crew. Meanwhile Gwennie is roped into assisting the rebels in the air with a very reluctant Merelda in tow. The action comes to a head when the rebel group decides it's time for the flotilla to experience life in the Heartland and puts into action a plan to tear it from the sky.
There's a few new faces introduced, a lot of action, and even more creepy plant goodness. I really enjoyed it. I'm interested to see how this story concludes. On to the next one!
Oh, and I just want to add, I listened to the audio version of this book. I think the narrator did a fantastic job with this story (again!). I have limited experience with audio books, though, so I'm not sure how much weight my opinion carries on the matter, but there it is :)