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mxsallybend's review
4.0
This is a book I honestly lost track of, always keeping in my back pocket as my next read, following that next release-date review. It's inexcusable that I made David and Martin wait so long, especially since I enjoyed the first book so much. That said, it was well worth the wait.
Fulk and Naiyar are back at the heart of this tale, but so is a young boy named Sorrow - the lone survivor of a slaughtered tribe, hunted by knights, sorcerers, and pirates alike because of his unique powers. Once again, the world building is exceptional here, building upon the twin cultures of the first book, and adding even more depth to the world. There's no info dumping here, no long passages of exposition, just a natural reveal and explanation of things that feels natural to the reader. There's a scene midway through, where Naiyar talks of an elephant constellation changing, and it's such a simple, natural conversation, it's almost easy to miss just how much is being said.
Like the first, it's a heavy read, often very dark at times (although with moments of humor). There were so many occasions where I expected a last-minute reprieve, or a bit of deus ex machina to save the day, but Pilling and Bolton don't let their characters off easy. It's not just that they're not above tormenting their characters (and don't shy away from killing them, when the story demands it), but they're honest about the brutalities of war, including the "houses and shops looted; dead-eyed women brutally raped over and over; children slaughtered in the street."
What struck me most about this second volume, however, was the sheer narrative strength. Forget the tropes and the formulas, this is a story that stands on its own, challenging the reader at every turn, offering more than a few genuine surprises, and paying off with a perfect climax.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Fulk and Naiyar are back at the heart of this tale, but so is a young boy named Sorrow - the lone survivor of a slaughtered tribe, hunted by knights, sorcerers, and pirates alike because of his unique powers. Once again, the world building is exceptional here, building upon the twin cultures of the first book, and adding even more depth to the world. There's no info dumping here, no long passages of exposition, just a natural reveal and explanation of things that feels natural to the reader. There's a scene midway through, where Naiyar talks of an elephant constellation changing, and it's such a simple, natural conversation, it's almost easy to miss just how much is being said.
Like the first, it's a heavy read, often very dark at times (although with moments of humor). There were so many occasions where I expected a last-minute reprieve, or a bit of deus ex machina to save the day, but Pilling and Bolton don't let their characters off easy. It's not just that they're not above tormenting their characters (and don't shy away from killing them, when the story demands it), but they're honest about the brutalities of war, including the "houses and shops looted; dead-eyed women brutally raped over and over; children slaughtered in the street."
What struck me most about this second volume, however, was the sheer narrative strength. Forget the tropes and the formulas, this is a story that stands on its own, challenging the reader at every turn, offering more than a few genuine surprises, and paying off with a perfect climax.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the authors in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.
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