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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
amazing second book
Loved this first book and this one so much. It was cool to read concurrent timelines and even though I knew some of what was coming, I was still on the edge of my seat.
Loved this first book and this one so much. It was cool to read concurrent timelines and even though I knew some of what was coming, I was still on the edge of my seat.
Plot and setting are very reminiscent of the Earthsea books, though the writing lacks some of LeGuin's elegance. The female characters are considerably more multifaceted than the male ones, who are each basically avatars of a single purpose that animates everything they do.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
The first book of Amy Harmon's "The First Girl Child", introduced us to a Nordic-inspired world where runes are real and a curse that makes the island kingdom of Saylok suffer from the decrease in births of children. That story was focused on Alba and Bayr and it has its own trials and emotional moments so before continuing to this review as this is a book set to the same world but follows another couple I would recommend reading the first book, before reading this one.
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Nothing prepared me for the excitement I had when I was pre-approved for the ARC. I thank 47North for this and NetGalley. The first book had gutted it me with its emotions the messages it passed and the agony the characters felt. This book was also amazing.
The story is set closely in the same timeline of The First Girl Child and it follows Ghisla, a young child whose songs bring also a taste of magic in them. Running away from her destroyed village in the Northlands she becomes a stowaway in a ship which brings her to Saylok and she is saved by Hod, a young blind boy who has the name of the same blind God in Norse mythology too. As they bond together they both realize that her songs can make Hod actually see and her powers of singing bring her attention to the guardian of Hod who tries to get rid of her...by sending her to the clans, posing as a 'daughter of Saylok', changing Ghisla's name to that of Liis of Saylok.
The story and the plot overlap some events from the first book too and as Liis grows up so does her love for Hod who also experiences his won journey through a world torn by war and politics.
I enjoyed seeing characters I loved again like Dragmar and Ghost the rest of the Daughters and Alba along with Bayr and at least for me what I would love to have would be a series of books about all the daughters. There was a scene with Elayne and Aidan which I would like to experience more.
Again I was torn by Dragmar's love for Ghost and her own torn feelings and I cried over the deeply emotional way Amy Harmon fleshed out these characters so masterfully. Words can not describe how beautifully written this book was.
I can not wait hopefully for another sequel in this series and I would love to see one!
Definitely recommended as Amy Harmon is a masterful writer of making us live through her characters.
The first book of Amy Harmon's "The First Girl Child", introduced us to a Nordic-inspired world where runes are real and a curse that makes the island kingdom of Saylok suffer from the decrease in births of children. That story was focused on Alba and Bayr and it has its own trials and emotional moments so before continuing to this review as this is a book set to the same world but follows another couple I would recommend reading the first book, before reading this one.
-------
Nothing prepared me for the excitement I had when I was pre-approved for the ARC. I thank 47North for this and NetGalley. The first book had gutted it me with its emotions the messages it passed and the agony the characters felt. This book was also amazing.
The story is set closely in the same timeline of The First Girl Child and it follows Ghisla, a young child whose songs bring also a taste of magic in them. Running away from her destroyed village in the Northlands she becomes a stowaway in a ship which brings her to Saylok and she is saved by Hod, a young blind boy who has the name of the same blind God in Norse mythology too. As they bond together they both realize that her songs can make Hod actually see and her powers of singing bring her attention to the guardian of Hod who tries to get rid of her...by sending her to the clans, posing as a 'daughter of Saylok', changing Ghisla's name to that of Liis of Saylok.
The story and the plot overlap some events from the first book too and as Liis grows up so does her love for Hod who also experiences his won journey through a world torn by war and politics.
I enjoyed seeing characters I loved again like Dragmar and Ghost the rest of the Daughters and Alba along with Bayr and at least for me what I would love to have would be a series of books about all the daughters. There was a scene with Elayne and Aidan which I would like to experience more.
Again I was torn by Dragmar's love for Ghost and her own torn feelings and I cried over the deeply emotional way Amy Harmon fleshed out these characters so masterfully. Words can not describe how beautifully written this book was.
I can not wait hopefully for another sequel in this series and I would love to see one!
Definitely recommended as Amy Harmon is a masterful writer of making us live through her characters.
I have yet to read an Amy Harmon book that I did not absolutely love and The Second Blind son did not disappoint. The first book of this duo is the First Girl Child, the first fantasy novel that I read ever. I have not stopped reading fantasy since that book and when I heard that there was a sequel to that book, I couldn't wait to read it. I order this on it's release day and devoured the entire book in just a few days. I had to force myself to stop reading so I could pace myself otherwise I could have read this book in its entirely in one sitting. The Second Blind Son, follows a blind man Hod who finds a fourteen year old girl alone in the sea, singing to herself. Ghisla's entire family and village were destroyed, the only survivor. Not knowing what to do with her, Hod spends the next few days taking care of her until his elder comes back from his trip to find out what he should do with her. This epic tale follows the months and years that follow, the story that rips these two friends apart from one another. I do not know if there will be another book in this series but if there is, I'll get that on release day as well. I love this world and all the characters that Harmon created. My annotated copy of this book is filled with my notes of characters, plot points, and shocking moments but what I tabbed the most was the conversations between Hod and Ghisla, whose love story was just everything.
“You are not cold, Ghisla. Not to me. You are color. You are sound. You are the song on the wind and the hope in my heart.”
I loved this so much. Amy Harmon is a brilliant storyteller and I loved being back in Saylock and seeing familiar characters again. Hod and Ghisla’s story is woven with the events of the first novel and I thought it was so perfectly done. Their love was beautiful and full of emotional moments!! I loved the ending and am happy with how things turned out. 4.5 stars! ✨
I loved this so much. Amy Harmon is a brilliant storyteller and I loved being back in Saylock and seeing familiar characters again. Hod and Ghisla’s story is woven with the events of the first novel and I thought it was so perfectly done. Their love was beautiful and full of emotional moments!! I loved the ending and am happy with how things turned out. 4.5 stars! ✨
What a disappointment! It is a retelling of the first book, from a different POV, only the first bunch of chapters are original (and lovely), the rest is just a known story. I have not loved the first one, reading it twice it's really asking too much to me.
It's been awhile since I read First Girl Child, but I enjoyed this sequel (of sorts; it takes place at the same time). It did drag for me in spots, I think I would have liked it more if it had been shorter. I also can't remember, but it seemed much spicier than the first, there were two scenes that personally made me a little uncomfortable with how descriptive they were (I prefer closed door).
Amy Harmon writes such unique stories. They always suck me in with their inventiveness.
This particular book held me captive as usual, however, I have to admit I found it a little repetitive. It takes place during the exact timeframe as the 1st book in this series. Although it focuses on two different characters, their stories are intertwined with the first book's main protagonists and the events are identical.
I've listened to the audio of both books and highly recommend Rob Shapiro's narration.
This particular book held me captive as usual, however, I have to admit I found it a little repetitive. It takes place during the exact timeframe as the 1st book in this series. Although it focuses on two different characters, their stories are intertwined with the first book's main protagonists and the events are identical.
I've listened to the audio of both books and highly recommend Rob Shapiro's narration.