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adelavmb's review
5.0
English review, followed by the Romanian translation of the review (Recenzie în engleză, urmată de traducerea în română a recenziei)
"In the blood of scales and days of kings,
Will come a boy to save us all.
Let us pray to the gods above, our voices large and small.
For all we fear in the shadows, will be destroyed with light.
Talonsphere will rise from the ground, and bring fire to the night."
"Darkness Rising" is the second book in the "Legends of Marithia" series, and I am delighted to say that it's even better than its prequel.
One of the best things about it is that we get to know the background stories of different characters. For instance, we are presented with Shindar's past, and his life before he had become the "Lord of Darkness", and what his motives behind his evil actions are.
The battle between good and evil continues with Vartan training for the next confrontation with the Forces of Darkness. The huge loss of lives in the Battle of the Elven Woods brings new souls to Shindar, strengthening his power. Veldrenn is destroyed and is being reconstructed, Greenhaven is the territory of a powerful, sly demon, and Talonsphere, the object fated to destroy darkness, is still nowhere to be found.
The book still manages to be full of surprises and unexpected turns of events, like its prequel, but this time in a greater number.
"I can only show you the doors, you must choose one to walk through and discover what you find on the other side."
I have found myself smiling at times, laughing or getting worried for the characters that I have grown to love.
" "These waters are sacred to us and for you to be allowed to swim in these waters is a rare honour. What are you waiting for?"
Vartan turned to look at Trisa.
She winked at him and whispered, "Don't worry young man, I've seen it all before. You have nothing to be shy around me for."
"I wasn't..." began Vartan, his cheeks reddening, "Never mind." "
It made me happy to find out that, like in "Prophecies Awakening", the chapters were preceded by figments of thoughts and feelings of different characters.
"Our destinies are riddled with challenges that have a tendency to ruin well laid plans. Many have attempted to take fate into their own hands and have been unsuccessful in changing it.
Others find that their paths differ from what they have dreamed for themselves. We must be aware that our choices may come back to haunt us later in life, but to trust that is is all part of fate's desing."
The action takes place in pretty much the same places as in the first book of the series, but this time we get an insight into Zhendur, a very interesting location that vampires call "home", a place where they retreat to rest and recover their forces.
It happens rarely to me, but I can say that I liked all the characters. Vartan will get to learn some "new tricks" and will be stronger that ever before, but I'll leave you to discover how by yourselves. In my previous review, I stated that the first book left a bitter taste in my mouth due to certain characters' deaths. To my surprise, not everything was what it seemed to have been. I don't want to spoil this book for you if you haven't read it yet, but I will tell you this: some of them will come back... in a way or another. Not only do they come back, but there are also new characters introduced to us, both good and bad ones, all very important to the story's development. I, for one, hold very dear to my heart two of them: a certain sorceress who is more than what she seemes to be at first, and a demon hunter, both women. In the book, we will be present when they first meet and will witness the development of a special bond between them.
Something that I liked in these books and that I have forgotten to mention in the previous review, was the spells, who have been written in Latin, a language that, though dead, I find to be perfect in this situation.
There really was nothing I can complain about in this book. Everything that was happening felt natural, I felt no events to be "forced" by the author. The characters were great, and their development was clear. I recommend this series to any adult who loves fantasy.
_________________________________________
"În sângele solzilor şi zilele regilor,
Va veni un băiat să ne salveze pe toţi.
Să ne rugăm zeilor de deasupra, cu vocile noastre, mari şi mici.
Căci tot de ce ne temem în umbre va fi distrus cu lumină.
Talonsfera se va ridica din pământ şi va aduce foc nopţii."
„Darkness Rising e a doua carte din seria „Legends of Marithia”, şi sunt încântată să vă spun că e chiar mai bună decât prima.
Una din cele mai bune calităţi ale ei este faptul că aflăm poveştile din spatele diferitelor personaje. De exemplu, ne este prezentat trecutul lui Shindar şi viaţa lui înainte de a deveni „Lordul Întunericului”, şi care sunt motivele din spatele actelor sale malefice.
Bătălia dintre bine şi rău continuă, Vartan antrenându-se pentru următoarea confruntare cu Forţele Întunericului. Enorma pierdere de vieţi din bătălia din Pădurile Elfilor îi aduce noi suflete lui Shindar, întărindu-i puterile. Veldrenn este distrus şi trebuie reconstruit, Greenhaven e teritoriul unui demon puternic şi viclean, iar Talonsfera, obiectul destinat să distrugă întunericul, nu e de găsit.
Cartea reuşeşte să fie plină de surprize şi răsturnări neaşteptate de evenimente, ca şi volumul precedent, doar că de data aceasta în număr mai mare.
„Îţi pot arăta doar uşile, tu trebuie să alegi una prin care să păşeşti şi să descoperi ce se găseşte de cealaltă parte.”
M-am trezit zâmbind, râzând sau îngrijorându-mă pentru personajele pe care am ajuns să le îndrăgesc.
„Aceste ape sunt sacre poentru noi, şi e o rară onoare să îţi fie permis să înoţi în ele. Ce mai aştepţi?
Vartan s-a întors să o privească pe Trisa.
Ea i-a făcut cu ochiul şi i-a şoptit: „Nu-ţi face griji, tinere, am mai văzut şi altă dată. Nu ai de ce să te ruşinezi faţă de mine.”
„Nu m-am...”, a început Vartan, obrajii îmbujorându-i-se, „Las-o baltă!”
M-am bucurat să văd că, la fel ca în „Prophecies Awakening”, capitolele erau precedate de fragmente din gândurile şi sentimentele diferitelor personaje.
„Destinele noastre sunt presărate de provocări care au tendinţa de a strica planurile bine făcute. Mulţi au încercat să-şi ia soarta în mâini şi au eşuat în a o schimba.
Alţii găsesc că drumurile lor diferă de ceea ce au visat pentru ei. Trebuie să fim conştienţi că alegerile noastre ne pot tortura mai târziu în viaţă, dar să avem încredere că totul face parte din planul destinului.”
Acţiunea are loc în cam aceleaşi locuri ca în prima carte a seriei, doar că, de data asta, vom pătrunde în esenţa Zhendurului, o locaţie foarte interesantă pe care vampirii o numesc „casă”, un loc în care se retrag pentru a se odihni şi a-şi reface forţele.
Mi se întâmplă asta rar, dar pot să spun că mi-au plăcut toate personajele. Vartan va învăţa nişte „trucuri noi” şi va fi mai puternic ca niciodată, dar vă las să descoperiţi asta singuri. În recenzia precedentă, am scris că prima carte mi-a lăsat un gust amar din cauza morţii anumitor personaje. Spre surpriza mea, nu totul a fost cum a părut. Nu vreau să vă stric surpriza, dar vă spun că unele din personaje se vor întoarce... într-un fel sau altul. Şi nu numai că se întorc, dar ne sunt introduse şi noi personaje, atât bune cât şi rele, toate importante la dezvoltarea poveştii. Mie, uneia, mi-au căzut dragi la inimă două din aceste personaje: o anumită vrăjitoare care e mai mult decât ceea ce pare la început, şi o vânătoare de demoni. În carte, vom fi prezenţi în momentul în care cele două se întâlnesc şi vom fi martorii formării unei legături speciale între ele.
Ceva ce mi-a plăcut în aceste cărţi şi am uitat să menţionez în recenzia precedentă, este faptul că vrăjile sunt scrise în latină, o limbă care, deşi moartă, mi se pare că se potriveşte perfect.
Chiar nu e nimic de care să mă plâng în legătură cu această carte. Tot ceea ce s-a întâmplat în carte a fost natural, nu am simţit ca anumite evenimente să fie „forţate” de către autor. Personajele sunt grozave, iar evoluţia lor e clară. Recomand această serie tuturor adulţilor iubitori ai genului fantasy.
carladionisio's review
4.0
Opinião em Português no blog Pepita Mágica: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.pt/2015/10/especial-halloween-livro-darkness.html
I received this eBook directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I need to start this review by stating that I love Peter’s writing. I don’t know how to put it exactly, but it’s perfect… it has an incredible melodic and poetry-vibe; everything fits perfectly together and makes sense. Legends of Marithia trilogy is a medieval fantasy world and every word written by Peter feels like it belongs in a medieval fantasy world.
That being said, let’s jump into Darkness Rising, the second instalment of Legends of Marithia trilogy. In this book, we continue to keep up with Vartan’s story, and it includes Kassina, Helenia, Humans, Dragons, Elves, Vampires, and souls.
In my opinion Darkness Rising is as good as Prophecies Awakening, it can maintain the quality of the previous book, but I found some points not as good as I hoped for; it didn’t live up to my expectations, since I loved the first book. First of all, I couldn’t connect with the characters as easily as I did with Prophecies Awakening. Vartan and Kassina (who I loved from the previous book) weren’t so appealing as they were before. And I never exactly liked Helenia – despite the fact that she actually surprised me at the end of Prophecies Awakening, but here she went back to being just meh. I’m not even going to talk about that marriage – way too abrupt and that wedding night just… empty.
Darkness Rising had less action than Prophecies Awakening, except the last part, but everything that happens needed to happen. We’ve learned a lot about Marithia; about some of the characters’ background, and we had the introduction of new important characters as well; about the prophecies and so many other things.
Darkness Rising is a really good book. It’s the middle book of Legends of Marithia trilogy and therefore it has less action, but has a lot of information that is needed to answer some questions from the previous book, but also leaves us intrigued and curious for the next and last book, Talonsphere.
I’m super excited to see how everything is going to end!
I received this eBook directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I need to start this review by stating that I love Peter’s writing. I don’t know how to put it exactly, but it’s perfect… it has an incredible melodic and poetry-vibe; everything fits perfectly together and makes sense. Legends of Marithia trilogy is a medieval fantasy world and every word written by Peter feels like it belongs in a medieval fantasy world.
That being said, let’s jump into Darkness Rising, the second instalment of Legends of Marithia trilogy. In this book, we continue to keep up with Vartan’s story, and it includes Kassina, Helenia, Humans, Dragons, Elves, Vampires, and souls.
In my opinion Darkness Rising is as good as Prophecies Awakening, it can maintain the quality of the previous book, but I found some points not as good as I hoped for; it didn’t live up to my expectations, since I loved the first book. First of all, I couldn’t connect with the characters as easily as I did with Prophecies Awakening. Vartan and Kassina (who I loved from the previous book) weren’t so appealing as they were before. And I never exactly liked Helenia – despite the fact that she actually surprised me at the end of Prophecies Awakening, but here she went back to being just meh. I’m not even going to talk about that marriage – way too abrupt and that wedding night just… empty.
Darkness Rising had less action than Prophecies Awakening, except the last part, but everything that happens needed to happen. We’ve learned a lot about Marithia; about some of the characters’ background, and we had the introduction of new important characters as well; about the prophecies and so many other things.
Darkness Rising is a really good book. It’s the middle book of Legends of Marithia trilogy and therefore it has less action, but has a lot of information that is needed to answer some questions from the previous book, but also leaves us intrigued and curious for the next and last book, Talonsphere.
I’m super excited to see how everything is going to end!
shell74's review
4.0
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
*ebook provided for an honest review*
Book 2 in the Legends of Marithia series is every bit as good as Book 1. I actually enjoyed this portion of the story even more, thanks to the additional details about the characters and events prior to the start of Book 1. The picture becomes more complete for the reader, however you can certainly still enjoy each book as a stand alone novel.
I loved the world the author created...especially Trahoterra, the Island of Dragons. (I know humans aren't allowed there, but maybe an exception could be made?) The characters were still just as intriguing as in the first book and somehow you almost feel empathy towards Shindar and Kassina. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a good fantasy story!
*ebook provided for an honest review*
Book 2 in the Legends of Marithia series is every bit as good as Book 1. I actually enjoyed this portion of the story even more, thanks to the additional details about the characters and events prior to the start of Book 1. The picture becomes more complete for the reader, however you can certainly still enjoy each book as a stand alone novel.
I loved the world the author created...especially Trahoterra, the Island of Dragons. (I know humans aren't allowed there, but maybe an exception could be made?) The characters were still just as intriguing as in the first book and somehow you almost feel empathy towards Shindar and Kassina. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a good fantasy story!
pannonianbookworm's review
4.0
*** I've received fee eBook copy in exchange for an honest review***
This is a second book in Legends of Marithia series. The story picks up where it finished in first book. This series is about world Marithia and all its creatures which are fighting against forces of darkness. There is a war and the story follows how both sides prepare for it and also we found out the history of characters and world.
I liked this book, though I had some issues with it. It had good amount of action and also I liked that I've learned more about characters and how they reached the point in which they're now.
Main character Vartan has grown so much since first book and i was really pleased with his change. He got some new powers and became better sorcerer.
We are introduced to some new characters Yuski and Anakari who transformed this book to whole new level. They brought some things to story that i have never expected to happen. We learn a lot about them and their life until they met Vartan.
Also there are a lot more characters that are important for story. Some of them are new and some of them will leave story at the end.
Again i liked the theme and this epic fantasy. First book from this series has introduced me to this genre and i am so grateful to it.
I really liked the world and all creatures that are in it. I liked that story was written in multiple perspectives and that helped me to understand world more. Also I love history aspects of some characters and i feel like that made me connect to them even more. But i really didn't like new adult aspect to it. I mean it was well written but i just don't fell like it belonged in such action packed story.
Overall i really enjoyed it and i recommend it to everyone who likes good action, adventure and fantasy book.
This is a second book in Legends of Marithia series. The story picks up where it finished in first book. This series is about world Marithia and all its creatures which are fighting against forces of darkness. There is a war and the story follows how both sides prepare for it and also we found out the history of characters and world.
I liked this book, though I had some issues with it. It had good amount of action and also I liked that I've learned more about characters and how they reached the point in which they're now.
Main character Vartan has grown so much since first book and i was really pleased with his change. He got some new powers and became better sorcerer.
We are introduced to some new characters Yuski and Anakari who transformed this book to whole new level. They brought some things to story that i have never expected to happen. We learn a lot about them and their life until they met Vartan.
Also there are a lot more characters that are important for story. Some of them are new and some of them will leave story at the end.
Again i liked the theme and this epic fantasy. First book from this series has introduced me to this genre and i am so grateful to it.
I really liked the world and all creatures that are in it. I liked that story was written in multiple perspectives and that helped me to understand world more. Also I love history aspects of some characters and i feel like that made me connect to them even more. But i really didn't like new adult aspect to it. I mean it was well written but i just don't fell like it belonged in such action packed story.
Overall i really enjoyed it and i recommend it to everyone who likes good action, adventure and fantasy book.
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