Scan barcode
rachelditty's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Really enjoyed the world-building and magic system in this second book. Could have done without the incest, but other than that I thought this was a really enjoyable read.
There were so many elements that came back from the first book--the windmill in the north being used instead of the hydropower from the river, the idea of Vanima still being a legend despite us seeing it in Watchtower, the dancers coming in to entertain again instead of actually sneaking in to fight.
Kerris was such a good mix of Sorren, Errel, and Ryke. There were times where Kerris would talk about not wanting to go back to Tornor, thinking there was more to life than what he'd known, and I just got emotional because that's what Errel would think. Or when he insisted he wasn't a cheari and didn't want to be a member of that group, which is exactly what Ryke said so much in the first book.
I love that Kerris started out as a scribe for the north, and Josen made it a point to say Sorren's history was scattered because no one took correct notes on her life, and now Kerris gets to travel with the chearas as the only person who knows how to write, so he can take down their history for them. That was a cool full circle moment. I also, as I was reading, really wanted Kerris to make his own decision in the end, because he kept saying things about doing what everyone else wanted, or asking what they wanted of him. When the time came to decide where he wanted to be, he was able to make that choice for himself instead of asking others, and I really liked that.
Part of me disliked that he went with the group, but I also think he would have hated going back to Tornor, and may have gotten lonely becoming a scribe in Kendra-on-the-Delta. Ultimately, this was his best choice, and again, it's very much like Errel and Sorren and what they would have done for themselves.
Overall I really loved this book. There weren't many things I disliked. I'm interested in reading Watchtower again to see what kind of magic Van might have had, since they said he was a patterner, or what other characters might have had if they showed signs. I wonder if Errel with his cards was also a patterner. I miss him. And I miss Ryke. Kerris ALSO didn't know what a firefly was and that just crushed me, it reminded me of Ryke so much. I can't think about Errel and Ryke or I'll explode. The fact that this was set 300 years after Watchtower was both a blessing and a curse, because Errel and Ryke were long dead. I'll scream.
Great second book, but took part of a star off for each sex scene between the brothers. Hated that. Lynn, why did that happen? We didn't need it. I would like to think she did it as an element of discovery and acceptance of the self, since Kerris felt Kel had everything he didn't--a whole body, friends and family, a place in a group, a lover, etc. But I don't know Lynn or her views well enough or what she thought of the addition of that element, so it might just be that she added incest. Who knows.
Some quotes I liked:
"Don't be a fool... Tornor's not the world. Do you love it so well here that you would be anguished to leave?" (p. 16).
"'But [he] never fights.'
'You fight when you're attacked.'" (p. 66).
"This is home, Kerris thought. It did not seem as preposterous as the day before." (p. 105).
"'...your face gets a certain look to it.'
'Like what?'
'Like a closed door.'" (p. 208).
"He'd been seeing ghosts all night. He would not be drawn after shadows." (p. 231).
"It's the people we love best that we cannot save." (p. 245).
"I can't just be the person my teachers wanted me to be. I need to explore--to learn not only what I can do but what I want to do." (p. 249).
"Joy sustained him. Later would do." (P. 275).
There were so many elements that came back from the first book--the windmill in the north being used instead of the hydropower from the river, the idea of Vanima still being a legend despite us seeing it in Watchtower, the dancers coming in to entertain again instead of actually sneaking in to fight.
Kerris was such a good mix of Sorren, Errel, and Ryke. There were times where Kerris would talk about not wanting to go back to Tornor, thinking there was more to life than what he'd known, and I just got emotional because that's what Errel would think. Or when he insisted he wasn't a cheari and didn't want to be a member of that group, which is exactly what Ryke said so much in the first book.
I love that Kerris started out as a scribe for the north, and Josen made it a point to say Sorren's history was scattered because no one took correct notes on her life, and now Kerris gets to travel with the chearas as the only person who knows how to write, so he can take down their history for them. That was a cool full circle moment. I also, as I was reading, really wanted Kerris to make his own decision in the end, because he kept saying things about doing what everyone else wanted, or asking what they wanted of him. When the time came to decide where he wanted to be, he was able to make that choice for himself instead of asking others, and I really liked that.
Part of me disliked that he went with the group, but I also think he would have hated going back to Tornor, and may have gotten lonely becoming a scribe in Kendra-on-the-Delta. Ultimately, this was his best choice, and again, it's very much like Errel and Sorren and what they would have done for themselves.
Overall I really loved this book. There weren't many things I disliked. I'm interested in reading Watchtower again to see what kind of magic Van might have had, since they said he was a patterner, or what other characters might have had if they showed signs. I wonder if Errel with his cards was also a patterner. I miss him. And I miss Ryke. Kerris ALSO didn't know what a firefly was and that just crushed me, it reminded me of Ryke so much. I can't think about Errel and Ryke or I'll explode. The fact that this was set 300 years after Watchtower was both a blessing and a curse, because Errel and Ryke were long dead. I'll scream.
Great second book, but took part of a star off for each sex scene between the brothers. Hated that. Lynn, why did that happen? We didn't need it. I would like to think she did it as an element of discovery and acceptance of the self, since Kerris felt Kel had everything he didn't--a whole body, friends and family, a place in a group, a lover, etc. But I don't know Lynn or her views well enough or what she thought of the addition of that element, so it might just be that she added incest. Who knows.
Some quotes I liked:
"Don't be a fool... Tornor's not the world. Do you love it so well here that you would be anguished to leave?" (p. 16).
"'But [he] never fights.'
'You fight when you're attacked.'" (p. 66).
"This is home, Kerris thought. It did not seem as preposterous as the day before." (p. 105).
"'...your face gets a certain look to it.'
'Like what?'
'Like a closed door.'" (p. 208).
"He'd been seeing ghosts all night. He would not be drawn after shadows." (p. 231).
"It's the people we love best that we cannot save." (p. 245).
"I can't just be the person my teachers wanted me to be. I need to explore--to learn not only what I can do but what I want to do." (p. 249).
"Joy sustained him. Later would do." (P. 275).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Blood, and Death
More...