A dazzling cast brightens this tale of clashing swords and spellcasting.
In this fantasy sequel, a warrior vows to stop, once and for all, ruthless amphibious creatures from attacking a coastal town.
Krell returns from a voyage and docks in Watford on the Kingdom of Baltorc’s southern coast. Beneath this small town’s waters live the sahuagin, “shark-like sea devils,” which periodically come ashore and gorge on humans. Krell is the paladin of ReckNor, the god of the seas and skies. Krell has returned to Watford to answer ReckNor’s call—to help the townspeople withstand the sahuagin’s latest assault. Krell obeys ReckNor, a deity who can speak to Krell in his thoughts, even when he doesn’t understand the reasoning behind his commands. A battle on sand and surf commences, and Krell valiantly defeats the first wave of the sea devils, although further attacks are probable. In the meantime, Krell watches for Cor, a smuggler who’s probably working with the aquatic predators. Cor may have details on the sahuagin that Krell can use to prevent them from ever terrorizing the southern coast again. But hunting the smuggler puts Krell in the path of Dazguroth, the god of rulership and tyranny, who holds sway over demonic minions. Krell is a skilled swordsman, but he’s still learning how to wield his god-gifted magic, and ReckNor may not be able to protect him from every foe. The hero, however, has many allies, from warriors Dahlia and Sheana to Fortis, a tiny dragon. Together they can take on demons, sea devils and, if need be, a tyrannical god.
Cole, after Beginning of Arrogance(2022), packs this second installment with a big, vibrant cast—including humans, orcs, halflings, and more—primarily from Watford, where the action largely unfolds. Krell makes an admirable hero who enjoys rescuing others and treats Fortis not as a pet but a friend. While he tends to ogle or flirt with the women he meets, he clearly has special connections with three of them, Dahlia and Sheana, both warriors, and Verbena, a wizard. Their intricate relationship gets a riveting boost later in the story. Along with the brutal sahuagin, who leave “partially eaten” victims in their wake, villainous beings include a two-headed giant, big-fanged “humanoid bats,” and bodies twisted into the “fiend-warped.” Chiseled prose keeps the narrative humming, even though combat scenes occur infrequently. The final act, however, amps up the action when Krell’s war against the sea devils explodes. In between the violence, Cole squeezes in some much-welcome humor. Krell’s conversations with ReckNor, for example, often lead to amusing exchanges. He can converse in his head but usually replies to the god aloud, either confusing or annoying the people in his vicinity. Likewise, a standard exclamation, apparently, is yelling “ReckNor’s tears!” or “ReckNor’s balls,” etc. Krell doesn’t thwart all of the diabolical baddies he targets, so a third installment is a definite and welcome possibility.
A dazzling cast brightens this tale of clashing swords and spellcasting.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-0228892250
Page Count: 576
Publisher: Tellwell Talent
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An expertly crafted page-turner with unpredictable twists, steamy romance, and magical creatures.
A princess and a gladiator join forces amidst political intrigue and bloody carnage in Robson’s fantasy novel.
For the citizens of the wealthy kingdom of Arrow, the most exciting entertainment can be found in the arena—for the gladiators from the surrounding kingdoms, it’s a relentlessly brutal series of fights to the death. The combatants hope to win enough matches to earn the royal title of “Bloodguard,” which will allow their families to immigrate to Arrow. Leith, a gladiator in his mid-20s, is a skilled fighter driven by his desperation to support his mother and two younger sisters (and by the rage built from years of killing his peers for an audience’s delectation). After killing the arrogant Lord Filip (who challenged him to an impromptu duel) and subsequently emerging victorious in a surprise melee with a group of his peers and a dragon, Leith is getting closer to becoming a Bloodguard. He attracts the attention of Princess Maeve, a 20-year-old healer. Now that her fiance, Lord Filip, is dead, she’s in dire need of a noble spouse so that she can claim the throne when she turns 21. Maeve proposes a deal: She’ll help Leith achieve the Bloodguard status in exchange for his hand in marriage. But as their relationship blossoms, problems arise when royal secrets are revealed and government corruption is exposed. Soon, they’re not just vying for a title and a crown—they’re fighting for their lives. Robson’s novel is an exciting blend of action, palace intrigue, and romance in a high fantasy setting. The story unfolds through the perspectives of Maeve and Leith, who are both compelling and well developed, with flaws, foibles, and distinctive voices. The supporting characters are equally intriguing. Readers will love the richly detailed worldbuilding and combat sequences, as well as the use of snarky, modern language (“Of course the only royal offering me help is one who’s clawing her way to the throne, not already sitting pretty on one. That tracks,” Leith gripes). The book’s thoughtful queer representation and exploration of oppression and exploitation are also noteworthy.
An expertly crafted page-turner with unpredictable twists, steamy romance, and magical creatures.Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9781649374059
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Unrelenting, and not in a good way.
A young Navarrian woman faces even greater challenges in her second year at dragon-riding school.
Violet Sorrengail did all the normal things one would do as a first-year student at Basgiath War College: made new friends, fell in love, and survived multiple assassination attempts. She was also the first rider to ever bond with two dragons: Tairn, a powerful black dragon with a distinguished battle history, and Andarna, a baby dragon too young to carry a rider. At the end of Fourth Wing (2023), Violet and her lover, Xaden Riorson, discovered that Navarre is under attack from wyvern, evil two-legged dragons, and venin, soulless monsters that harvest energy from the ground. Navarrians had always been told that these were monsters of legend and myth, not real creatures dangerously close to breaking through Navarre’s wards and attacking civilian populations. In this overly long sequel, Violet, Xaden, and their dragons are determined to find a way to protect Navarre, despite the fact that the army and government hid the truth about these creatures. Due to the machinations of several traitorous instructors at Basgiath, Xaden and Violet are separated for most of the book—he’s stationed at a distant outpost, leaving her to handle the treacherous, cutthroat world of the war college on her own. Violet is repeatedly threatened by her new vice commandant, a brutal man who wants to silence her. Although Violet and her dragons continue to model extreme bravery, the novel feels repetitive and more than a little sloppy, leaving obvious questions about the world unanswered. The book is full of action and just as full of plot holes, including scenes that are illogical or disconnected from the main narrative. Secondary characters are ignored until a scene requires them to assist Violet or to be killed in the endless violence that plagues their school.
Unrelenting, and not in a good way.Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781649374172
Page Count: 640
Publisher: Red Tower
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2024
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