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A review by kerveros
The Riven Kingdom by Karen Miller
4.0
This book is a vast, vast, improvement on the first book. I can see why some other reviewers say the first book isn't necessary, that it could have been told in flashbacks or dreams, but I disagree. You need the history of Zandakar and Hekat from that to make the weight in this one more real, so you can believe and understand Zandakar when he thinks of Ethrea as being weak and easily crushed.
Yes, the main focus here is on Rhian and her fight to become the first Queen of Ethrea, but the undertones are all about Mijak. (And, to be fair, they're far more obvious than undertones so maybe I should class them as a secondary plot?). Without knowing why Zandakar acts as he does, why the destruction that Jones sees in his vision/dream is so dreadful (and lets be fair, what he sees is not the worst of Mijak) you wouldn't understand Hettie's fear, or why the King of T-somethingorother has travelled to Ethrea.
Hekat is sprinkled within this book, and I do think when you see her POV you can see how crazy she has become from that girl in Godspeeker. No longer is she trying to expand the empire for her gods sake, it is to find her son - a fearsome prospect for anyone standing in her way.
I liked the juxtaposition that the god of Mijak is some sort of devil - it means that all of the times in Godspeeker that they destroyed demons and things it was likely they were destroying the God of Ethrea. I still wonder though whose voice it was that Zandakar heard - both when he was in the blood pit and then when he was smiting that country... was it Ethrea's God? Was it planned so that Zandakar could be there to save Rhian?
This book ends on a cliffhanger, which I am more forgiving of in books that form the middle of a series. But honestly, it didn't need to. I *want* to know if Hekat and Zandakar reunite, and if Hekat can see the error of her ways (my opinion: yes and definitely not). I *want* to see how Rhian reacts to the news of the devastation that is heading her way, how she works alongside the other nations to halt the evil of Mijak. I want to see Zandakar strike his brother down (at least, I hope that is what happens!)... so yeah. Looks like I'll be looking into purchasing these on the Kindle then!
As far as the main plot goes... again, as with the first, nothing really groundbreaking.I guessed that Marlan would be abusive and was right, I guessed that Rhian would suceed with surprisingly little trouble and again I was right . Honestly, there is a reason that the bulk of this review is focussed on the subplot... it is just more interesting. Now I have to hope that the third book lives up to the set-up of this one.
Yes, the main focus here is on Rhian and her fight to become the first Queen of Ethrea, but the undertones are all about Mijak. (And, to be fair, they're far more obvious than undertones so maybe I should class them as a secondary plot?). Without knowing why Zandakar acts as he does, why the destruction that Jones sees in his vision/dream is so dreadful (and lets be fair, what he sees is not the worst of Mijak) you wouldn't understand Hettie's fear, or why the King of T-somethingorother has travelled to Ethrea.
Hekat is sprinkled within this book, and I do think when you see her POV you can see how crazy she has become from that girl in Godspeeker. No longer is she trying to expand the empire for her gods sake, it is to find her son - a fearsome prospect for anyone standing in her way.
I liked the juxtaposition that the god of Mijak is some sort of devil - it means that all of the times in Godspeeker that they destroyed demons and things it was likely they were destroying the God of Ethrea. I still wonder though whose voice it was that Zandakar heard - both when he was in the blood pit and then when he was smiting that country... was it Ethrea's God? Was it planned so that Zandakar could be there to save Rhian?
This book ends on a cliffhanger, which I am more forgiving of in books that form the middle of a series. But honestly, it didn't need to. I *want* to know if Hekat and Zandakar reunite, and if Hekat can see the error of her ways (my opinion: yes and definitely not). I *want* to see how Rhian reacts to the news of the devastation that is heading her way, how she works alongside the other nations to halt the evil of Mijak. I want to see Zandakar strike his brother down (at least, I hope that is what happens!)... so yeah. Looks like I'll be looking into purchasing these on the Kindle then!
As far as the main plot goes... again, as with the first, nothing really groundbreaking.