OVER THE BREADTH OF THE EARTH

Feuerstack’s fantasy sequel finds an angel and a demon using combat skills and deception to survive an unremitting war between Heaven and Hell.

Demonic Commander Schizophrenia, aka Schitz, leads soldiers of Hell into battle with angels. A Divine Dictum has long restricted the fighting to the Mortal Realm and only during human wars. This installment opens during the American Civil War as angels and demons possess mortal bodies for combat. Military strategy, however, isn’t the only thing concerning Schitz or, for that matter, the angels’ Supreme Commander Lord Zinc II. They have specific enemies they want to kill, and there are adversaries that target each commander. Neither Heaven nor Hell is a clear victor by the early 20th century, and World War II threatens to destroy everyone in the Celestial and Mortal Realms. So Schitz and Zinc finally meet up and make a deal that centers more on mutual survival than on victory. It’s a dangerous endeavor that they need to keep under wraps, and it entails occasional betrayals. Feuerstack’s sophomore installment picks up right where Over the Broad Earth (2021) left off, with angels and demons either talking about or directly engaging in battle. Fortunately, the story dives further into the two leads’ emotional journeys; Zinc falls in love (again), and Schitz craves revenge after an angel kills someone he loves. Moreover, the extensive, ever changing cast experiences such shocks as sudden deaths and a brazen Divine Dictum violation. As in the preceding novel, the author ably weaves in real-world history, from the atomic bomb to the war in Vietnam, and Tedmon’s artwork, as in the previous book, is radiant; her crisp, bold lines showcase the evolution of military weapons and vehicles over the years. Although this story brings readers into the 21st century, the ending suggests another sequel on the horizon.

Celestial beings clash and persevere in this worthy, absorbing follow-up.