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rhimaguire's review
4.0
i liked this one better than the first book. the story felt more cohesive, less all over the place with the plot largely taking place in one location. longer chapters meant i could get a good feel for the characters and actually get to know them and their motivations. tara and gilda are bad bitches. got the final book from the library, so keen to jump into that and see where this story goes!
observantraven's review
5.0
Review coming soon...Last year when I read the first book in the series, Godblind I was utterly blown by it. Due to this when I was able to get my hands on a digital review copy of Darksoul I was very excited to start reading it and to be able to traverse this world again.
Upon cracking open that initial page of Darksoul I was met with a bang as Rilporin is under siege and what a scene that was to start the book off on, little did I know that things weren’t going to stop there as the entire book revolves around the siege of Rilporin. If someone was to say to me, read this book about the consistent siege of a city I would probably be a bit dubious about. This is because I can imagine it would be very hard to do this without having the book become boring or have pacing issues. This however was certainly not an issue in Darksoul as Anna Stephens has managed to create a scene of consistent dread, tension and brutality throughout this book without it ever dropping the pace and flow of the book. In all the years I have read fantasy the only time I have ever come across siege stories and scenes as brilliant and epic as these was when I read the siege of Gondor and siege of Helms Deep in The Lord of the Rings, it is literally that brilliant and epic in scale.
The brilliance of Darksoul doesn’t stop there because not only has Anna Stephens crafted an amazing story to keep us hooked but the characters of this world are some of the most grim, brutal and lovable characters I have ever come across in a grim dark book. Without going into to much detail I can remember one scene in particular where a soldier is fighting against on coming soldiers and they find themselves on the receiving end of an arrow, to which one of the main characters proceeds to chastise them about, it was at this time I found myself laughing and still do when I think about. This scene was only one of many memorable scenes that I experienced in this book and I think if a book as dark and grim as this can produce something like this then it is something truly great.
Over the last few years I have increasingly read more and more grimdark fantasy and Darksoul is the grimiest of grim. It has some of the most brutal, bloodiest and dark scenes / characters I have ever came across in one book but at the same time you find yourself wanting more and more of it.
On a quick side note….DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO ANY CHARACTERS!!! Yes it is that grim and dark.
Darksoul has not only smashed my expectations of it being a fantastic book but has smashed me through a wall with an axe to the head. Anna Stephens is a true talent of the grimdark genre, last year she created something truly wonderful with Godblind and this year she has given us something even more brilliant with Darksoul. I am truly excited to see what she has in store for us in the sequel.
Upon cracking open that initial page of Darksoul I was met with a bang as Rilporin is under siege and what a scene that was to start the book off on, little did I know that things weren’t going to stop there as the entire book revolves around the siege of Rilporin. If someone was to say to me, read this book about the consistent siege of a city I would probably be a bit dubious about. This is because I can imagine it would be very hard to do this without having the book become boring or have pacing issues. This however was certainly not an issue in Darksoul as Anna Stephens has managed to create a scene of consistent dread, tension and brutality throughout this book without it ever dropping the pace and flow of the book. In all the years I have read fantasy the only time I have ever come across siege stories and scenes as brilliant and epic as these was when I read the siege of Gondor and siege of Helms Deep in The Lord of the Rings, it is literally that brilliant and epic in scale.
The brilliance of Darksoul doesn’t stop there because not only has Anna Stephens crafted an amazing story to keep us hooked but the characters of this world are some of the most grim, brutal and lovable characters I have ever come across in a grim dark book. Without going into to much detail I can remember one scene in particular where a soldier is fighting against on coming soldiers and they find themselves on the receiving end of an arrow, to which one of the main characters proceeds to chastise them about, it was at this time I found myself laughing and still do when I think about. This scene was only one of many memorable scenes that I experienced in this book and I think if a book as dark and grim as this can produce something like this then it is something truly great.
Over the last few years I have increasingly read more and more grimdark fantasy and Darksoul is the grimiest of grim. It has some of the most brutal, bloodiest and dark scenes / characters I have ever came across in one book but at the same time you find yourself wanting more and more of it.
On a quick side note….DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO ANY CHARACTERS!!! Yes it is that grim and dark.
Darksoul has not only smashed my expectations of it being a fantastic book but has smashed me through a wall with an axe to the head. Anna Stephens is a true talent of the grimdark genre, last year she created something truly wonderful with Godblind and this year she has given us something even more brilliant with Darksoul. I am truly excited to see what she has in store for us in the sequel.
spellboundbybooks's review against another edition
5.0
Non stop action and adrenaline from start to finish! I do not exagerrate. Darksoul covers the siege and battle for Rilporin. And no-one is safe. I have run the gamut of emotions from shock and awe to anger and heartbreak. Throw in some astonishing moments of exhilaration and I can tell you I am absolutely exhausted! What a ride!
Go and read this I dare you!
EDIT: I just finished my re-read and I 100% stand by my review. Absolutely bloody brilliant! I'm finally going to start the last book in the trilogy tomorrow and I can't wait! I'd start it now if it wasn't 1.30 in the morning!!!
Go and read this I dare you!
EDIT: I just finished my re-read and I 100% stand by my review. Absolutely bloody brilliant! I'm finally going to start the last book in the trilogy tomorrow and I can't wait! I'd start it now if it wasn't 1.30 in the morning!!!
tien's review
4.0
Wow...
This trilogy is definitely NOT for the faint-hearted
It is one of the most gory, bloody, and violent books I've ever read! I must say that this installment is all about the siege of Rilporin and battles abound throughout the book so you'd expect blood but after that one traumatic event in book 1, I thought we were kinda safe. There is no mercy to be had!
Yet... I WILL read the final book. I need to know that Light prevails!
This trilogy is definitely NOT for the faint-hearted
It is one of the most gory, bloody, and violent books I've ever read! I must say that this installment is all about the siege of Rilporin and battles abound throughout the book so you'd expect blood but after that one traumatic event in book 1, I thought we were kinda safe. There is no mercy to be had!
Yet... I WILL read the final book. I need to know that Light prevails!
melluvsbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
yoda32's review
5.0
My heart shattered and came back to life throughout this book and honestly? I don’t think that’s ever happened!!
Loved this. Review to come.
Loved this. Review to come.
rosienreads's review
4.0
Summary
Darksoul is the sequel to Anna Stephens’ 2017 novel Godblind. It picks up shortly after the cruel cliff-hanger ending of the first book and revolves almost primarily around the siege of Rilporin. It follows the characters we came to love (and hate) from Godblind, from both sides as the fight for the Kingdom of Rilpor comes to a head, characters start to step into their destinies and the Red Gods gain strength.
Plot
Whereas Godblind was fairly widespread, Darksoul ups the anti by creating a more claustrophobic, more tension-filled atmosphere with its focus primarily on the siege. Indeed, the entire novel takes place around Rilporin, between the two sides. We see the Mireces as they fight to break the walls, take the city, and worship their Red Gods through torture and death. We see Commander Korridam desperately trying to keep the city alive, the battle raging while also having to deal with the palace politics as Prince Rivil, heir to the throne, stands on the other side of the all. With the entire focus on the siege, the pacing is done so that you are constantly gripped with bursts of action mixed in with a few breather breaks, but also with enough variation to keep the interest alive as the siege wears on. There are certainly a few shocking moments, particularly where the gods of this world are involved, and the nature of the series where no-one is truly safe really keeps you on your toes.
Characters
One of the main driving forces of these novels are the characters. There is a large cast of PoV characters and even more on the side that it is difficult to keep up with who everyone is at times. With the array of PoV characters, and the shift in tone of the story, a few do get more page time than others. Rillirin, for example, is rarely seen in this book, despite being a large part of Godblind, whereas Crys gets to be more center-stage. The equal focus on the Mireces and those defending Rilporin ensures that the mix of characters is always interesting and you never know who is going to come out on top. In particular, I really liked how Anna Stephens captured the flawed humanity of every character – no single one is perfect, and each are driven by different things, be it the throne, love for a fellow soldier or even divine madness. Each character has to make difficult choices and face the consequences.
Final Thoughts
Darksoul really captures war. It is dark, there are deaths aplenty and, even though there is a clear ‘good side’, there is no guarantee that they will win. If anything, while the book focuses on the siege, it is more about the characters than anything else. It brings them into an environment where there is very little room to hide and forces them to grow in ways which will have unknown effects on the events in the next book. It does very much have the middle-book feel to it and I think it does the job of taking what happened in Godblind and lining it up ready for the third book. The series so far is rich and alive and I cannot wait, but also live partially in dread, to see what will unfold in the third and, I believe, final book in the series.
My feet are on the path.
Darksoul is the sequel to Anna Stephens’ 2017 novel Godblind. It picks up shortly after the cruel cliff-hanger ending of the first book and revolves almost primarily around the siege of Rilporin. It follows the characters we came to love (and hate) from Godblind, from both sides as the fight for the Kingdom of Rilpor comes to a head, characters start to step into their destinies and the Red Gods gain strength.
Plot
Whereas Godblind was fairly widespread, Darksoul ups the anti by creating a more claustrophobic, more tension-filled atmosphere with its focus primarily on the siege. Indeed, the entire novel takes place around Rilporin, between the two sides. We see the Mireces as they fight to break the walls, take the city, and worship their Red Gods through torture and death. We see Commander Korridam desperately trying to keep the city alive, the battle raging while also having to deal with the palace politics as Prince Rivil, heir to the throne, stands on the other side of the all. With the entire focus on the siege, the pacing is done so that you are constantly gripped with bursts of action mixed in with a few breather breaks, but also with enough variation to keep the interest alive as the siege wears on. There are certainly a few shocking moments, particularly where the gods of this world are involved, and the nature of the series where no-one is truly safe really keeps you on your toes.
Characters
One of the main driving forces of these novels are the characters. There is a large cast of PoV characters and even more on the side that it is difficult to keep up with who everyone is at times. With the array of PoV characters, and the shift in tone of the story, a few do get more page time than others. Rillirin, for example, is rarely seen in this book, despite being a large part of Godblind, whereas Crys gets to be more center-stage. The equal focus on the Mireces and those defending Rilporin ensures that the mix of characters is always interesting and you never know who is going to come out on top. In particular, I really liked how Anna Stephens captured the flawed humanity of every character – no single one is perfect, and each are driven by different things, be it the throne, love for a fellow soldier or even divine madness. Each character has to make difficult choices and face the consequences.
Final Thoughts
Darksoul really captures war. It is dark, there are deaths aplenty and, even though there is a clear ‘good side’, there is no guarantee that they will win. If anything, while the book focuses on the siege, it is more about the characters than anything else. It brings them into an environment where there is very little room to hide and forces them to grow in ways which will have unknown effects on the events in the next book. It does very much have the middle-book feel to it and I think it does the job of taking what happened in Godblind and lining it up ready for the third book. The series so far is rich and alive and I cannot wait, but also live partially in dread, to see what will unfold in the third and, I believe, final book in the series.
My feet are on the path.
rowena_m_andrews's review
5.0
I was emotionally compromised after finishing this one. I honestly couldn't put it down, and I was rooting for so many people throughout it, and in different ways. Very much looking forward to the next one.
**
Full review now up: https://beneathathousandskies.com/2020/05/25/book-review-darksoul-godblind-2-anna-stephens/
**
Full review now up: https://beneathathousandskies.com/2020/05/25/book-review-darksoul-godblind-2-anna-stephens/
annarella's review
5.0
An amazing and gripping fantasy book, a great discovery!
I loved everything in this book that is engaging, enthralling and a real page turner.
I didn't read the previous instalment but I will surely add it to my TBR list.
It was a great reading experience.
I loved everything from the world building to the characters, from the style of writing to the turns in the plot.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC
I loved everything in this book that is engaging, enthralling and a real page turner.
I didn't read the previous instalment but I will surely add it to my TBR list.
It was a great reading experience.
I loved everything from the world building to the characters, from the style of writing to the turns in the plot.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
'Darksoul' is the compelling and eagerly anticipated sequel to 'Godblind', and as this begins exactly where the previous book concluded, I recommend reading it before you start this one, it will leave you rather perplexed otherwise as it doesn't work as a standalone. If you thought 'Godblind' was a fantastic read, then let me tell you - this is even better! This is an action-packed journey that will stay with me a long time.
The brutal, gory and evocative battle scenes continue in this novel, as do the plentiful twisty and turns and the unpredictability of the plot. Stephens is adept at creating amazing characters that you really care about and are invested in, but not all of them will escape the story alive so be preparared as the conclusion is bittersweet. There is so much to love here that I found I couldn't put it down. The author has expertly crafted every aspect of the plot creating a wonderfully immersive reading experience. As with a lot of books in the genre, there are good guys and bad guys facing off against each other, so you not only have characters to cheer for but also ones that you'll love to hate! The narrative seems to flow much better in this book as opposed to the previous one, leading to the reader becoming properly engaged in the story much earlier on. The worldbuilding deserves a special mention as it is simply spectacular, and I was actually really sad to leave it. I look forward to returning to the kingdom of Rilpor in the concluding book, 'Bloodchild', set to be released in August 2019.
Many thanks to HarperVoyager for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The brutal, gory and evocative battle scenes continue in this novel, as do the plentiful twisty and turns and the unpredictability of the plot. Stephens is adept at creating amazing characters that you really care about and are invested in, but not all of them will escape the story alive so be preparared as the conclusion is bittersweet. There is so much to love here that I found I couldn't put it down. The author has expertly crafted every aspect of the plot creating a wonderfully immersive reading experience. As with a lot of books in the genre, there are good guys and bad guys facing off against each other, so you not only have characters to cheer for but also ones that you'll love to hate! The narrative seems to flow much better in this book as opposed to the previous one, leading to the reader becoming properly engaged in the story much earlier on. The worldbuilding deserves a special mention as it is simply spectacular, and I was actually really sad to leave it. I look forward to returning to the kingdom of Rilpor in the concluding book, 'Bloodchild', set to be released in August 2019.
Many thanks to HarperVoyager for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.