Take a photo of a barcode or cover
joeri81 's review for:
The Providence of Fire
by Brian Staveley
The second book in the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne has been a superb read; the fact that it took me almost a month to finish didn’t have anything to do with the book itself. It is mostly linked to my baby son who didn’t give me much opportunity to read the past month. I guess this comes with the 'job' of being a parent.
After finishing the first book, one I liked but didn't love, I hoped that the next book would provide a more satisfying read. And 'The Providence of Fire' really did!
The writing was already good in the first book and Staveley didn't relent in the second book. He brought everything I hoped for to the table; better fleshed out characters, a more compelling storyline for eacht of the POV's and better world building (not that it was bad in the first book, but I thought Staveley didn't give me enough at the time to be convinced).
This second book picks up the storylines after the first book; Adare is still in Annur after she has learned the identity of the real killer of her father. She only sees one remaining solution to her predicament and leaves Annur in order to find solace in the sons of flame.
In the meantime Kaden en Valyn are deciding on their next steps. They set out together in search of the Kenta, the portals that need to bring Kaden to the Ishien in the hope that they can help him in his fight against the Csistriim. Valyn will join him with his wing to make sure he'll arrive safely, and set out to Annur afterwards. But with the possibility of other wings at their tail, it won't be an easy mission.
The outset of the story proves more intruiging than before. While the first book did have an interesting start, I felt that only Valyn's storyline delivered for the most part. The POV's of Kaden and Adare were mostly inferior and it left me with a huge feeling that a lot was set-up for the next book. The first book lacked a fully developed story. This is no longer the case in the second book; the story has become much more interesting. Stavely adds more intruige and intensity to the story from the start.
With this come also more and better world building. The first book left me a bit wanting for more on this point as well, but now that the scope of the story broadens, Staveley also adds to the world. We get more insights into the Kenta, the Ishien, The sons of Flame, the Urghul, gods and goddesses ... there's a whole history linked to this world and Staveley really starts to show what's behind all this.
Further Stavely has also worked hard on the characterization and we gradually start to learn more about many of the side characters. They become actual characters now; Talal, Laith, Gwenna, Annick, Triste, ... a good evolution in the story and according to me also linked for a large part to the fact that the story has broadend up more.
Conclusion:
In the end I can say that the second book has known a great evolution over the first. The great writing was already there, but now we also get a better story, better fleshed out characters and better world building. A very good book!!!
Rating: 8.3/10
After finishing the first book, one I liked but didn't love, I hoped that the next book would provide a more satisfying read. And 'The Providence of Fire' really did!
The writing was already good in the first book and Staveley didn't relent in the second book. He brought everything I hoped for to the table; better fleshed out characters, a more compelling storyline for eacht of the POV's and better world building (not that it was bad in the first book, but I thought Staveley didn't give me enough at the time to be convinced).
This second book picks up the storylines after the first book; Adare is still in Annur after she has learned the identity of the real killer of her father. She only sees one remaining solution to her predicament and leaves Annur in order to find solace in the sons of flame.
In the meantime Kaden en Valyn are deciding on their next steps. They set out together in search of the Kenta, the portals that need to bring Kaden to the Ishien in the hope that they can help him in his fight against the Csistriim. Valyn will join him with his wing to make sure he'll arrive safely, and set out to Annur afterwards. But with the possibility of other wings at their tail, it won't be an easy mission.
The outset of the story proves more intruiging than before. While the first book did have an interesting start, I felt that only Valyn's storyline delivered for the most part. The POV's of Kaden and Adare were mostly inferior and it left me with a huge feeling that a lot was set-up for the next book. The first book lacked a fully developed story. This is no longer the case in the second book; the story has become much more interesting. Stavely adds more intruige and intensity to the story from the start.
With this come also more and better world building. The first book left me a bit wanting for more on this point as well, but now that the scope of the story broadens, Staveley also adds to the world. We get more insights into the Kenta, the Ishien, The sons of Flame, the Urghul, gods and goddesses ... there's a whole history linked to this world and Staveley really starts to show what's behind all this.
Further Stavely has also worked hard on the characterization and we gradually start to learn more about many of the side characters. They become actual characters now; Talal, Laith, Gwenna, Annick, Triste, ... a good evolution in the story and according to me also linked for a large part to the fact that the story has broadend up more.
Conclusion:
In the end I can say that the second book has known a great evolution over the first. The great writing was already there, but now we also get a better story, better fleshed out characters and better world building. A very good book!!!
Rating: 8.3/10