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kiess_nyx's review
4.0
I was reading this book and the first book at the same time because the author contacted me to review this one.
She told me it did not matter whether I read the first one or not it would not matter but I like a challenge.
One thing I noticed was that Aza's mum, Kaia story was more interesting than her.
The first book managed to rope me in from the first line the second manged to do it after five chapters.
The pacing was all over the place. I felt that the beginning was slow and then it picked up for a while, then the middle dragged on and the end felt rushed.
I enjoyed seeing the father-daughter dynamics between Aza and Klaus. I was always smiling when reading about them.
The plot was fairly good and the author did I great job.
The cover was also beautiful.
All in all, this is a book I would recommend to many people. I might even buy it even though I have some misier attitudes.
I received an advanced reader copy from the author. I thank her heartily for the opportunity.
She told me it did not matter whether I read the first one or not it would not matter but I like a challenge.
One thing I noticed was that Aza's mum, Kaia story was more interesting than her.
The first book managed to rope me in from the first line the second manged to do it after five chapters.
The pacing was all over the place. I felt that the beginning was slow and then it picked up for a while, then the middle dragged on and the end felt rushed.
I enjoyed seeing the father-daughter dynamics between Aza and Klaus. I was always smiling when reading about them.
The plot was fairly good and the author did I great job.
The cover was also beautiful.
All in all, this is a book I would recommend to many people. I might even buy it even though I have some misier attitudes.
I received an advanced reader copy from the author. I thank her heartily for the opportunity.
onebookmore's review
5.0
Idriel’s Children is the second book in the Odriel’s Heir series, but it takes place eighteen years after the conclusion of the first book and can easily be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book in the series, but I’m eager to now, as I really enjoyed this one! It’s immersive and entertaining, and I loved the world-building, the epic journey, and the characters.
The story follows Aza, the daughter of the heroes in the first book. Aza has inherited her father’s shadow abilities and wants to learn more about it. An unexpected attack and the threat of more propel Aza, with a small group of allies, to journey to find answers about the Shadow Plane, these new monsters and threats, and their connection to each other. Their quest is riddled with danger, and old and new enemies threaten them at every turn. As Aza falls deeper and deeper into the Shadow Plane, will she be able to defeat her enemies and save all that she holds dear?
Ava is a brave and determined protagonist who is relentless in her pursuits. She is a sixteen year old with a lot of responsibility, and she can be quite stubborn, especially when she is trying to protect those she cares about. She has a tendency to keep people at a distance or push them away, especially when she is feeling vulnerable. She has a twin brother Zephyr who is the Dragon Heir, and I love their relationship. They have a great sibling bond, and I’m hoping there will be more of Zephyr in the next book, as this book focused mainly on Aza’s journey, and Zephyr wasn’t part of that. The snippets of Zephyr in this book are intriguing, and I want to learn more about him and his journey as the next Dragon Heir.
Makeo is one of my favorite characters in the book and a wonderful balance to Aza. They are childhood friends, and there is a bit of a romance between the two, which I enjoyed. Where Aza is a bit impulsive, Makeo is more rational and patient. A cursed man, he has a unique perspective on life, and he is wise beyond his years.
Other characters that journey with Aza include Shadmundar and Witt, both of whom are fantastic additions to the story. I love Shadmundar’s sarcastic wit, and Witt is one of the most loyal and upbeat friends a person could ask for. His optimism and magnificent cooking are endearing, and his friendship is true. As a group, this foursome makes a great team, and they complement each other well. I have to say, I was totally invested in these characters and became so emotionally invested in their stories.
In addition to the compelling characters, the plot and setting are developed and detailed and so engrossing! The way that the author describes everything and develops the world and characters is so well done. I also love the fantasy elements – the magic, curses, unique creatures and settings, and more – it all makes for an engrossing read.
Another unique part of the novel is The Shadow Plane which is fascinating and alarming at the same time. It is so well-described and is definitely a place that I would want to avoid. However, Aza knows that the Shadow Plane is the key to everything, and she is inexplicably drawn to it. She knows if she can master her abilities and further understand the complexities of the Shadow Plane, she could end the battle between good and evil. On top of that, Ava is not only trying to defeat new evils but also ones that have returned from the dead. They are all ruthless and vicious, and between them and the dangerous terrain and journey, Aza’s life is in constant danger.
This is a suspenseful and action-packed fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I’m so thankful to Hayley Reese Chow for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to read more of the series!
The story follows Aza, the daughter of the heroes in the first book. Aza has inherited her father’s shadow abilities and wants to learn more about it. An unexpected attack and the threat of more propel Aza, with a small group of allies, to journey to find answers about the Shadow Plane, these new monsters and threats, and their connection to each other. Their quest is riddled with danger, and old and new enemies threaten them at every turn. As Aza falls deeper and deeper into the Shadow Plane, will she be able to defeat her enemies and save all that she holds dear?
Ava is a brave and determined protagonist who is relentless in her pursuits. She is a sixteen year old with a lot of responsibility, and she can be quite stubborn, especially when she is trying to protect those she cares about. She has a tendency to keep people at a distance or push them away, especially when she is feeling vulnerable. She has a twin brother Zephyr who is the Dragon Heir, and I love their relationship. They have a great sibling bond, and I’m hoping there will be more of Zephyr in the next book, as this book focused mainly on Aza’s journey, and Zephyr wasn’t part of that. The snippets of Zephyr in this book are intriguing, and I want to learn more about him and his journey as the next Dragon Heir.
Makeo is one of my favorite characters in the book and a wonderful balance to Aza. They are childhood friends, and there is a bit of a romance between the two, which I enjoyed. Where Aza is a bit impulsive, Makeo is more rational and patient. A cursed man, he has a unique perspective on life, and he is wise beyond his years.
Other characters that journey with Aza include Shadmundar and Witt, both of whom are fantastic additions to the story. I love Shadmundar’s sarcastic wit, and Witt is one of the most loyal and upbeat friends a person could ask for. His optimism and magnificent cooking are endearing, and his friendship is true. As a group, this foursome makes a great team, and they complement each other well. I have to say, I was totally invested in these characters and became so emotionally invested in their stories.
In addition to the compelling characters, the plot and setting are developed and detailed and so engrossing! The way that the author describes everything and develops the world and characters is so well done. I also love the fantasy elements – the magic, curses, unique creatures and settings, and more – it all makes for an engrossing read.
Another unique part of the novel is The Shadow Plane which is fascinating and alarming at the same time. It is so well-described and is definitely a place that I would want to avoid. However, Aza knows that the Shadow Plane is the key to everything, and she is inexplicably drawn to it. She knows if she can master her abilities and further understand the complexities of the Shadow Plane, she could end the battle between good and evil. On top of that, Ava is not only trying to defeat new evils but also ones that have returned from the dead. They are all ruthless and vicious, and between them and the dangerous terrain and journey, Aza’s life is in constant danger.
This is a suspenseful and action-packed fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I’m so thankful to Hayley Reese Chow for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to read more of the series!
msbookworld's review
3.0
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not in any way impact my thoughts or opinions
Having just finished Odriel's Heirs, I really liked seeing some of the characters from that book make an appearance in Idriel's Children. In particular, it was nice to see Klaus and Kaia as adults. And Shad was hilarious as always. Plus I liked meeting Makeo, who was both a great friend and love interest to Aza.
Overall though, I did not really enjoy this book. I found the lack of proper world building more daunting in this book than the first. It almost felt like the author expected us to be aware of the ins and outs of this world even though it was never discussed. I also found Aza to be an unlikeable protagonist. Despite the justifications provided for her actions, more often than not she presented herself like a spoiled brat in my opinion.
What bothered me the most about this book was how similar the overall plot was to Odriel's Heirs. I felt like the same themes were explored in this one and Aza and Makeo's journey was almost exactly the same as Kaia and Klaus.
This was a 3 out of 5 star read for me. I could not immerse myself in the story like I did with Odriel's Heirs and felt like this was a more of a reboot than a sequel.
Having just finished Odriel's Heirs, I really liked seeing some of the characters from that book make an appearance in Idriel's Children. In particular, it was nice to see Klaus and Kaia as adults. And Shad was hilarious as always. Plus I liked meeting Makeo, who was both a great friend and love interest to Aza.
Overall though, I did not really enjoy this book. I found the lack of proper world building more daunting in this book than the first. It almost felt like the author expected us to be aware of the ins and outs of this world even though it was never discussed. I also found Aza to be an unlikeable protagonist. Despite the justifications provided for her actions, more often than not she presented herself like a spoiled brat in my opinion.
What bothered me the most about this book was how similar the overall plot was to Odriel's Heirs. I felt like the same themes were explored in this one and Aza and Makeo's journey was almost exactly the same as Kaia and Klaus.
This was a 3 out of 5 star read for me. I could not immerse myself in the story like I did with Odriel's Heirs and felt like this was a more of a reboot than a sequel.
paperbacktohardback's review
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was a truly amazing read. I was drawn in from the first few pages and immediately intrigued by the 'shadow plane.' Aza immediately became a favourite character for her badass-ness and reminding me so much of my other favourite characters from other books. I hadn't read the previous book before reading this one but I desparately want to go back to that first one to find out more about this fantasy world and about characters within this book and their journey through peril. I truly believe I have now found a new insta-buy author and I am excited to read more of Hayley Reese Chow's work in the future.
This was a truly amazing read. I was drawn in from the first few pages and immediately intrigued by the 'shadow plane.' Aza immediately became a favourite character for her badass-ness and reminding me so much of my other favourite characters from other books. I hadn't read the previous book before reading this one but I desparately want to go back to that first one to find out more about this fantasy world and about characters within this book and their journey through peril. I truly believe I have now found a new insta-buy author and I am excited to read more of Hayley Reese Chow's work in the future.
charliadams's review
adventurous
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
5.0
Idriel’s Children can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first book for the richness of the world build and certain characters. Like book one, there is a lot packed in this book, but yet it did not feel overwhelming. The pacing sometimes slowed down too much, but when it was on point, it kept me on the edge of my seat.
Aza is sixteen and is next in line for the Shadow Heir. The main protagonist, Aza, is stubborn and protective of those she loves, traits picked up by both her parents, but she isolates herself when she feels vulnerable. She sometimes acts her age, whiny and sometimes more mature. I believe it could be the weight she feels on her shoulders, having to live up to her parents’ legacy. Aza is a character who wants to know more, but wants to be shown the easy way and during her journey, she learns there is no easy path. I look forward to seeing more of her journey in the next book.
Makeo is a loveable, patient, and rational character. As a Maldibor, he sees life in a different perspective and possibly contributes to him acting more mature for his age. Makeo is Aza’s anchor, and knows her better than anyone, even herself. The two have known each other since childhood and even though they are not as close as they were, you can sense they may have feelings for each other. I really would like to see Makeo in the next book. He ended up being my favorite, and I felt we did not get as much time with him as we should have.
Shadmundar and Witt are the last two in our little group. Shadmundar, a friend of the family, is as witty as ever. During this journey, though, he is not at his full potential. He is recovering, but still monitors Aza like he did with her parents. Witt Corser is a friend of Aza and her brother Zephyr. Next to Makeo, Witt is another favorite. What came out as annoying to Aza, I found sweet. I felt he had a small crush on Aza, but did not want to lose his friendship with her and Zephyr.
The shadow plane is a new location in this book. The journey Aza sets out on is learning what she could about her powers, beyond her father’s teaching, and the shadow plane and why it is calling her. When she finds a temple and a master to help her, I kind of got a Dr. Strange vibe. Maybe I have watched too many Marvel movies when I was reading this lol. But it was an interesting ride. There were some parts about the shadow plane that were a little confusing, but overall, it was a well-written location. Are we going to see this world again? I would think so.
I enjoyed this book about as much as the first one. I would recommend this to anyone who liked the first one and fantasy. The book was rich in both character and world development.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
rainnbooks's review
4.0
Idriel’s Children is book # 2 in the Odriel's Heirs series and all I want to do now is to read book #1 to find out more about this fantasy kingdom and wait for the next adventure in the series with a spectacular antagonist.
In the story with magus, necromancers, maldibors, and Heirs, the author has created a fantasy world that is quite dazzling. The first part of the story establishes the basic plot that continues from book #1. We get to know that Aza’s parents are Odriel’s Heirs who were instrumental in killing the evil Idriel. But dark forces are on the rise again and with Aza’s parents off to another part of their world, it is left to Aza and her brother Zephyr to help the Maldibors who come calling and request help. Aza is the Heir with the powers of invisibility shadow while Zephyr has inherited his mother’s power of fire. Both of them are ready to help but Aza has her own plans in motion.
This is a YA story so obviously, 16 yr old Aza behaves exactly like how all the teenagers behave. She is stubborn and adamant to a fault and refuses help from her long-time Maldibor friend, Makeo. However, Makeo, Shad the cursed cat, and Witt Croser refuses to leave her alone and accompanies Aza on her journey to understand the voices inside the Shadow plane. The familiar theme of doing everything wrong followed by the realization and then being the savior of the day also runs in this too but I loved it even though I wanted Aza to show some maturity after the first tumble.
There are elements in the story that was particularly fascinating as Aza transports herself to another plane and the mysteries hidden in there were intriguing, to say the least. Aza is herself a kick-ass character, she believes herself to be heartless but her rudeness hides her worry for her friends and I loved that about her. The genuine friendship and love between Makeo and Aza are evident even when she tries to hold herself in without letting her emotions go. Makeo’s calm and solid demeanor offers the perfect foil to all the reckless decisions by Aza. It is however Shad and Witt that had me smiling in the story, Witt especially is just the perfect funny, optimistic, and loyal friend whose positive charm balances the grim setting of the story.
The second part of the book did slow down in pacing but the final part makes up for it, so much that I wanted that climax to be a bit more detailed. The war kind of felt rushed.
Perfect for fans of fantasy, Idriel’s Children can be read as a stand-alone, and the author has left a delicious epilogue getting the readers to crave for the next book in the series. Honestly that few glimpses of the antagonist were too good and I am looking forward to seeing more of her cruelty in the next one.
Kick-ass 4.5 stars ☔☔☔☔
In the story with magus, necromancers, maldibors, and Heirs, the author has created a fantasy world that is quite dazzling. The first part of the story establishes the basic plot that continues from book #1. We get to know that Aza’s parents are Odriel’s Heirs who were instrumental in killing the evil Idriel. But dark forces are on the rise again and with Aza’s parents off to another part of their world, it is left to Aza and her brother Zephyr to help the Maldibors who come calling and request help. Aza is the Heir with the powers of invisibility shadow while Zephyr has inherited his mother’s power of fire. Both of them are ready to help but Aza has her own plans in motion.
This is a YA story so obviously, 16 yr old Aza behaves exactly like how all the teenagers behave. She is stubborn and adamant to a fault and refuses help from her long-time Maldibor friend, Makeo. However, Makeo, Shad the cursed cat, and Witt Croser refuses to leave her alone and accompanies Aza on her journey to understand the voices inside the Shadow plane. The familiar theme of doing everything wrong followed by the realization and then being the savior of the day also runs in this too but I loved it even though I wanted Aza to show some maturity after the first tumble.
There are elements in the story that was particularly fascinating as Aza transports herself to another plane and the mysteries hidden in there were intriguing, to say the least. Aza is herself a kick-ass character, she believes herself to be heartless but her rudeness hides her worry for her friends and I loved that about her. The genuine friendship and love between Makeo and Aza are evident even when she tries to hold herself in without letting her emotions go. Makeo’s calm and solid demeanor offers the perfect foil to all the reckless decisions by Aza. It is however Shad and Witt that had me smiling in the story, Witt especially is just the perfect funny, optimistic, and loyal friend whose positive charm balances the grim setting of the story.
The second part of the book did slow down in pacing but the final part makes up for it, so much that I wanted that climax to be a bit more detailed. The war kind of felt rushed.
Perfect for fans of fantasy, Idriel’s Children can be read as a stand-alone, and the author has left a delicious epilogue getting the readers to crave for the next book in the series. Honestly that few glimpses of the antagonist were too good and I am looking forward to seeing more of her cruelty in the next one.
Kick-ass 4.5 stars ☔☔☔☔
popthebutterfly's review
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Idriel’s Children
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Book Series: Odriel’s Heirs Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy
Publication Date: July 19, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore)
Explanation of CWs: Moderate amounts of violence and gore.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 201
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Aza inherited the power of shadow to rid the land of evil as Odriel’s cold-blooded assassin. With her growing strength, Aza discovers the Shadow Plane—a realm of wraiths where screams haunt the winds, calling to her. Although her father forbids her from entering the dark realm, Aza can’t ignore the beckoning whispers.
When a dangerous new breed of monster attacks, Aza believes the Shadow Plane holds the answers they need to defeat them. With the unwanted help of a snarky cat and a cursed beast, Aza seeks out the monastic Wraith-Called for answers. But the deeper Aza delves into the dark realm, the further she drifts from the world she knows.
As Aza uncovers evils new and old, she must decide if the ends really do justify the means… and how many lives she’s willing to pay.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed the book. The writing is very well done and the story is well plotted. The characters are well developed and the world building is great. It’s a good book for people who like the same chosen one tropey style books.
However, I did feel like this book is very trope-y and predictable. There’s not a lot that doesn’t go on in other books and I felt like the book, while great, didn’t have a special spark that made it unique. The pacing is also slow.
Verdict: It’s good.
Book: Idriel’s Children
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Book Series: Odriel’s Heirs Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy
Publication Date: July 19, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore)
Explanation of CWs: Moderate amounts of violence and gore.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 201
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Aza inherited the power of shadow to rid the land of evil as Odriel’s cold-blooded assassin. With her growing strength, Aza discovers the Shadow Plane—a realm of wraiths where screams haunt the winds, calling to her. Although her father forbids her from entering the dark realm, Aza can’t ignore the beckoning whispers.
When a dangerous new breed of monster attacks, Aza believes the Shadow Plane holds the answers they need to defeat them. With the unwanted help of a snarky cat and a cursed beast, Aza seeks out the monastic Wraith-Called for answers. But the deeper Aza delves into the dark realm, the further she drifts from the world she knows.
As Aza uncovers evils new and old, she must decide if the ends really do justify the means… and how many lives she’s willing to pay.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed the book. The writing is very well done and the story is well plotted. The characters are well developed and the world building is great. It’s a good book for people who like the same chosen one tropey style books.
However, I did feel like this book is very trope-y and predictable. There’s not a lot that doesn’t go on in other books and I felt like the book, while great, didn’t have a special spark that made it unique. The pacing is also slow.
Verdict: It’s good.
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I found Aza rather annoying through a lot of her decisions in the book, but I did enjoy how the story threads came together toward the end. Like the first book, this is really a slow-burn kind of story that picks up quite a ways in.
I might not particularly recommend this one if it was a stand alone, but it did a good job continuing the story from the last book, and definitely raised the tension and need to read the third book by the end!
Thanks to the author for an advance review copy of this book! I have shared my honest opinions in this review.
I might not particularly recommend this one if it was a stand alone, but it did a good job continuing the story from the last book, and definitely raised the tension and need to read the third book by the end!
Thanks to the author for an advance review copy of this book! I have shared my honest opinions in this review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood
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