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A review by lwadz
Palom by L.L. McNeil
5.0
A great follow up to L.L McNeil's debut novel Moroda, the story picks up right where the first one finished. Whilst Moroda was all about grand conflict, battles and action scenes, Palom is a much more measured affair. Palom is a brilliant exploration of the immediate aftermath of the conflict and the damage it inflicts not just physically but also mentally on our heroes. This is a much neglected area in the fantasy genre where it can sometimes feel like characters can die at the authors whim, and are not given any further consideration, or any reaction from the other characters. In Palom there is a real sense of survivors guilt and a feeling of PTSD which is very delicately explored. As such the characters motivations throughout the second book feel realistic.
Although Palom is slower, it doesn't drag. The action scenes scattered throughout are engaging, and after the ending of Moroda, the stakes feel high. I was pleasantly surprised, as Palom was not one of the characters I particularly connected with in the first novel. I was glad to find out more of his backstory, and in doing so I now look forward to seeing where the next book will take him. Palom lays the groundwork well for the third novel, establishing an intriguing mythology and new antagonist. I can't wait for the next novel!
Although Palom is slower, it doesn't drag. The action scenes scattered throughout are engaging, and after the ending of Moroda, the stakes feel high. I was pleasantly surprised, as Palom was not one of the characters I particularly connected with in the first novel. I was glad to find out more of his backstory, and in doing so I now look forward to seeing where the next book will take him. Palom lays the groundwork well for the third novel, establishing an intriguing mythology and new antagonist. I can't wait for the next novel!