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purringlion's review against another edition
4.0
I was shocked at how amazing this book was. I didn't particularly like Heir of Night but kept reading and it was more than worth it. Gathering of the Lost is incredibly well-realised, something I value above most things in a story. The book is realistic, logical, yet lacks no fantasy elements. I found the characters more and more alive, with most of my prior frowns turned into 'well, now that makes sense' nods. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone with a wish to read quality fantasy.
jesslynh's review
5.0
I was confused by the storyline at first, but finished with a "Wow". I'm loving this series more and more--happy that it will be 4 books instead of a trilogy. I'll also be picking up the writers' 1st work just to see where she started.
Well worth a read for any fantasy fan.
Well worth a read for any fantasy fan.
livarleth's review
5.0
This sequel definitely lives up to the first book. It is beautifully written and it is very difficult to guess what's going to happen. I was surprised every time. And the way it ended just makes me long for the third book. But here I'm unfortunately in for a wait.
blodeuedd's review
4.0
I must say well done. Lowe kept on surprising me and I did not see things coming.
The book is made into different parts. In the first part we meet Tarathan and Jehane from book one. Things are happening in the River country. The darkness are stretching beyond the wall know. The next part is about Carrick, who comes to the country of Emer. More plots and more showings of the Darkswarm. All these things happening are connected, pieces fall into place as I read on. Even if I did wonder where Malian was, there I was on page 300 and she was still not around. But it had to be like that, there are stories to be told and threads to come together. And when I do meet Malian and Kalan for that matter, they are so changed. 5 years have gone by since the fled the Wall. They are older, and in Malian's case, hard and bitter. She has much to deal with and she needs to be strong, but sometimes strong is too close to ruthless.
There are characters from book 1 and new ones to get to know, and at the end I just sat there and thought, no way! Huh. She is like a spider in a web, plots going all directions, but all coming together in the most masterful of ways. There is such thought put into this book.
And I have to mention the world again, the echoes of could be sci-fi. No, there is no technology, this is pure fantasy. But the race of Derai and their enemies are alien to this world. They came to the world from another world, they had raced across the universe fighting each other. And they landed with a big bang that forever changed the countries on this world. Rivers changed, mountains fell. Aliens on a new planet. And I like that echo. Even if it was all brought by magic and such, that echo lingers and makes this world more alien in a way. Like it's out there somewhere, in the vast universe.
And now I want book 3 to see what happens to Malian and the rest I have met in this world. And the more I learn about the enemy, the more alike they seem each other.
The book is made into different parts. In the first part we meet Tarathan and Jehane from book one. Things are happening in the River country. The darkness are stretching beyond the wall know. The next part is about Carrick, who comes to the country of Emer. More plots and more showings of the Darkswarm. All these things happening are connected, pieces fall into place as I read on. Even if I did wonder where Malian was, there I was on page 300 and she was still not around. But it had to be like that, there are stories to be told and threads to come together. And when I do meet Malian and Kalan for that matter, they are so changed. 5 years have gone by since the fled the Wall. They are older, and in Malian's case, hard and bitter. She has much to deal with and she needs to be strong, but sometimes strong is too close to ruthless.
There are characters from book 1 and new ones to get to know, and at the end I just sat there and thought, no way! Huh. She is like a spider in a web, plots going all directions, but all coming together in the most masterful of ways. There is such thought put into this book.
And I have to mention the world again, the echoes of could be sci-fi. No, there is no technology, this is pure fantasy. But the race of Derai and their enemies are alien to this world. They came to the world from another world, they had raced across the universe fighting each other. And they landed with a big bang that forever changed the countries on this world. Rivers changed, mountains fell. Aliens on a new planet. And I like that echo. Even if it was all brought by magic and such, that echo lingers and makes this world more alien in a way. Like it's out there somewhere, in the vast universe.
And now I want book 3 to see what happens to Malian and the rest I have met in this world. And the more I learn about the enemy, the more alike they seem each other.
davidengland's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
charonlrdraws's review against another edition
3.0
Well I was in no hurry to get back into this trilogy and just because a book is around 500 pages doesn't mean its great no, no the extra pages are filler nothing more and hey I couldn't careless about what happened in the end either so hey one more book to go and I'm done with this trilogy and I'll be glad to be done with actually.
This is just one of those types of fantasy books where I just don't care what happens in the end.
A summery for Gathering of the Lost:
Tarathan of Ar and Jehane Mor, ride into the great city of Ij in time for it's grand Festival of Masks. But soon after their arrival they witness a terrible slaughter as their fellow heralds are targeted an assassinated. They must flee for their lives across the city as they discover Swarm agents at work as they attempt to destabilise the entire River Cities network for their own ends. And five years after her great flight from the Derai Wall, Malian remains hidden to those who seek her. But she has not been idle. Her goal is to muster all Derai magic users that have fled into exile rather than face destruction. Only by uniting against the Swarm menace can they hold their own against the dark tide and she has hunted down every rumour of their presence. And she has developed her own powers that the Swarm must learn to respect ? and to fear. For Malian won't see her people fall to a dark tide of twisted magic as demonic forces subvert a way of life.
For a sequel it doesn't really improve on the previous book nope it just drags on and on and on and I was past not caring by the end of this book.
This is just one of those types of fantasy books where I just don't care what happens in the end.
A summery for Gathering of the Lost:
Tarathan of Ar and Jehane Mor, ride into the great city of Ij in time for it's grand Festival of Masks. But soon after their arrival they witness a terrible slaughter as their fellow heralds are targeted an assassinated. They must flee for their lives across the city as they discover Swarm agents at work as they attempt to destabilise the entire River Cities network for their own ends. And five years after her great flight from the Derai Wall, Malian remains hidden to those who seek her. But she has not been idle. Her goal is to muster all Derai magic users that have fled into exile rather than face destruction. Only by uniting against the Swarm menace can they hold their own against the dark tide and she has hunted down every rumour of their presence. And she has developed her own powers that the Swarm must learn to respect ? and to fear. For Malian won't see her people fall to a dark tide of twisted magic as demonic forces subvert a way of life.
For a sequel it doesn't really improve on the previous book nope it just drags on and on and on and I was past not caring by the end of this book.
schomj's review
4.0
I'm not normally a fan of really wordy, slow-moving stories, but I just love the mood that Ms. Lowe is able to create with her words. Her voice really works for me. (I'd supply a quote, but it would take like two pages to get the full effect.)
I also love how she took a pretty standard epic fantasy storyline and still managed to surprise me.
That said, there were some truly distracting and occasionally confusing... not spelling mistakes exactly, but words with extra or missing letters. I'd call them typesetting errors if this book had been released 100 years ago. It's a real shame, whatever the cause, since there are enough of them that it does detract from the story. I probably would have given this 4.5 or 5 stars otherwise.
Still really looking forward to book 3 though!
I also love how she took a pretty standard epic fantasy storyline and still managed to surprise me.
That said, there were some truly distracting and occasionally confusing... not spelling mistakes exactly, but words with extra or missing letters. I'd call them typesetting errors if this book had been released 100 years ago. It's a real shame, whatever the cause, since there are enough of them that it does detract from the story. I probably would have given this 4.5 or 5 stars otherwise.
Still really looking forward to book 3 though!
spellboundbybooks's review against another edition
5.0
Having gotten to know Malian, Kalan and their people; the Derai, in book one, this second installment is all about expanding the world of Haarth. This is such a rich world with so much depth and the author's writing style totally ensnares me and keeps me immersed in the story.
Through the eyes of the heralds Tarathan and Jehane, we get to know the River people and their politics. Through the eyes of Maister Carick, a cartographer, we learn of the Knights of Emer and their society. And finally through Malian and Kalan we learn of the Jhainarians and their magic and we see how the Swarm are trying to infiltrate the world beyond the Wall.
Also this story takes place five years after previous events, and so we see how Malian and Kalan have grown and changed in that time. Being away from the Wall, they both have a deeper understanding of the world of Haarth. I thought their conflicted emotions about the Derai people and what they are trying to accomplish was well written.
I absolutely love this world! There are so many different layers to explore and nothing is ever black and white. While Malian is the fantastic main character, I am fully invested in several different people in here. I also love the tone of gravity that is present in this series. It just makes me feel like I am witnessing EVENTS and I can't get enough of it. I'll be diving right back in to book 3.
Through the eyes of the heralds Tarathan and Jehane, we get to know the River people and their politics. Through the eyes of Maister Carick, a cartographer, we learn of the Knights of Emer and their society. And finally through Malian and Kalan we learn of the Jhainarians and their magic and we see how the Swarm are trying to infiltrate the world beyond the Wall.
Also this story takes place five years after previous events, and so we see how Malian and Kalan have grown and changed in that time. Being away from the Wall, they both have a deeper understanding of the world of Haarth. I thought their conflicted emotions about the Derai people and what they are trying to accomplish was well written.
I absolutely love this world! There are so many different layers to explore and nothing is ever black and white. While Malian is the fantastic main character, I am fully invested in several different people in here. I also love the tone of gravity that is present in this series. It just makes me feel like I am witnessing EVENTS and I can't get enough of it. I'll be diving right back in to book 3.
marktimmony's review
4.0
Awesome world building, beautifully lyrical prose and just the right type of epic fantasy.
I am loving this series from Helen Lowe and really looking forward to what happens next. My only complaint is that it projected as a four book series - already I want more!
I am loving this series from Helen Lowe and really looking forward to what happens next. My only complaint is that it projected as a four book series - already I want more!