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TRAJELON

A detailed series entry that lives up to its predecessor.

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An epic-fantasy sequel in which an elven woman strives to protect her people.

Loralíenasa “Loríen” Raia has been preparing to take the elven throne of Evlédíen. If that wasn’t stressful enough, she’s also playing host to an unusual number of human dignitaries. She knows that not all humans are monsters, as she’d thought for most of her life, but it’s hard for her to simply ignore her fear of them, as humans did wipe out most of her people years earlier. It doesn’t help that her guardian, Tomanasíl Maiantar, the Lord Regent of Evlédíen, doesn’t trust or even like them—although he supports her decision to discuss peace with them. Loríen hopes that her friend Naoise Raynesley has been safe since they parted ways, and that he’s succeeded in his quest. But the world of Asrellion, of which Evlédíen is a part, is still not safe, and there’s something strange and hidden going on in her own small corner of it; there are spies in the court, emotional and political manipulations, as well as a case of someone suffering amnesia. If Loríen can’t solve the mysteries and problems facing her, she might lose everything that she and her people have worked so hard for. Bethancourt presents a novel that’s on par with the previous installment, Mornnovin (2019). The worldbuilding remains the star of the show, offering superb cultural details, including the traditional requirements and ceremony that Loríen goes through before and during her coronation. The author’s stylish prose will ease readers into the story, and the precise pacing will consistently keep them engaged. The cast of characters includes some who are easy to love as well as villains that aren’t always initially easy to identify. Fans of epic fantasy will find this series to be to their liking, although they would do well to read the series’ premiere installment first, if they haven’t already.

A detailed series entry that lives up to its predecessor.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: 978-1-73364-803-5

Page Count: 394

Publisher: Dogwood House LLC

Review Posted Online: July 2, 2020

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IRON FLAME

From the Empyrean series , Vol. 2

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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THE HEMLOCK QUEEN

From the Nightshade Crown series , Vol. 2

Dark magic, romance, and divinity.

What do you do when the voice in your head is real?

Lore, Bastian, and Gabe are all still alive following the events in The Foxglove King (2023), despite a ritual meant to take Lore’s life and usher in a new age for the god Apollius. But Lore, determined to live despite—or perhaps because of—her deep and unyielding connection to the magical death force Mortem, is unwilling to be used as a tool. Now that Bastian is no longer prince but Sainted King, Gabe is Priest Exalted, and Lore is the king’s deathwitch, her safety should be secure. The court, however, distrusts Lore and her uncanny powers, and even more dangerous are the gods, leaning ever closer and perhaps not so separate from the world as a thwarted ritual might imply. Bastian has been changing, able to control Spiritum, Mortem’s mirror image, in new and powerful ways, but also acting more erratic and strange. Meanwhile, the voice in Lore’s head is growing louder. To make matters worse, Gabe and Bastian can hardly look at each other, while Lore feels torn between the two of them and in need of both. In the second volume of the Nightshade Crown series, things go from bad to much worse, while a familiar gothic atmosphere looms oppressively around the characters. As Lore strives to keep as many people as safe as possible, others scheme with sinister forces and powerful magic. In a tense and atmospheric installment, Lore moves quickly between heart-pounding romantic encounters and adrenaline-filled moments facing danger and death.

Dark magic, romance, and divinity.

Pub Date: April 9, 2024

ISBN: 9780316435291

Page Count: 480

Publisher: Orbit

Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024

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