An involving fantasy that offers intriguing worldbuilding, compelling characters, and dramatic action.
A young warrior and a so-called monster join forces against impending catastrophe in this fantasy sequel.
The town of Herta stands at the base of Ácatar, a tall mountain that was once home to a kingdom of black-winged creatures. Centuries ago, they used black magic to conjure a fiery conflagration of molten rock from Ácatar, which destroyed their mountain, the whole continent, and themselves. Legend has it that only one monster survived; it sleeps in the ruined castle at the mountain’s summit guarded by a score of stone soldiers and will someday awaken to again wreak destruction. The Academy in Herta provides grueling training in combat and magic, preparing young fighters to join the Order of the Guardians, which patrols the summit for the day of awakening. Like other new cadets, Keith Naceg dreams of a chance to kill the monster and win glory—and now is the time. Atop Ácatar, the earth trembles and stone warriors are coming to life. But the one they call a monster is Alliezih; she’s been hibernating in her chrysalis for centuries and at last is emerging only to discover that her family, her people, and her kingdom are dead and ruined. Confused, weak, and not yet able to use her wings, she’s attacked by Keith and injured, but he’s overwhelmed by Alliezih’s beauty and hesitates, allowing her to flee. Escaping imprisonment for treason, Keith is even more determined to kill the monster. Alliezih’s equally determined to slay him, but when Keith finds her—she and a little girl have escaped from slavers—they put aside their mutual animosity to face impending volcanic disaster as a hellish portal opens on Mount Ácatar. To avoid destruction, they must discover the truth behind legends and convince the Hertans to trust Alliezih, work together, and defeat the threat.
In her second volume of the Legends of the Blue Forest series, G. tells a well-constructed story in which two points of view at first seem diametrically opposed but then converge in a way that’s essential to the excitingly tense resolution. Both Keith and Alliezih must overcome considerable obstacles in becoming allies. As a soldier, he’s accustomed to following orders but must nevertheless doubt everything he’s been taught to believe. She wakes to find her entire world destroyed and Keith trying to murder her, yet she must trust him. Both show admirable courage, selflessness, and quick resilience. Apart from the quest and romance themes, the novel also delivers a mystery that’s centered on the surprising truth behind the legend of Ácatar. Moreover, magical abilities are well calculated, with appropriate limitations but also characteristics that tie directly to the denouement. Alliezih’s early suffering is somewhat melodramatic, but the tale soon recovers its equilibrium. G.’s book was originally in Spanish. The translation by Soni, in his debut, is usually natural and flowing, although a group of male and female cadets is confusingly referred to as boys.
An involving fantasy that offers intriguing worldbuilding, compelling characters, and dramatic action.Pub Date: Oct. 17, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 142
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
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
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Engrossing worldbuilding, appealing characters, and a sense of humor make this a winning entry in the Sanderson canon.
A fantasy adventure with a sometimes-biting wit.
Tress is an ordinary girl with no thirst to see the world. Charlie is the son of the local duke, but he likes stories more than fencing. When the duke realizes the two teenagers are falling in love, he takes Charlie away to find a suitable wife—and returns with a different young man as his heir. Charlie, meanwhile, has been captured by the mysterious Sorceress who rules the Midnight Sea, which leaves Tress with no choice but to go rescue him. To do that, she’ll have to get off the barren island she’s forbidden to leave, cross the dangerous Verdant Sea, the even more dangerous Crimson Sea, and the totally deadly Midnight Sea, and somehow defeat the unbeatable Sorceress. The seas on Tress’ world are dangerous because they’re not made of water—they’re made of colorful spores that pour down from the world’s 12 stationary moons. Verdant spores explode into fast-growing vines if they get wet, which means inhaling them can be deadly. Crimson and midnight spores are worse. Ships protected by spore-killing silver sail these seas, and it’s Tress’ quest to find a ship and somehow persuade its crew to carry her to a place no ships want to go, to rescue a person nobody cares about but her. Luckily, Tress is kindhearted, resourceful, and curious—which also makes her an appealing heroine. Along her journey, Tress encounters a talking rat, a crew of reluctant pirates, and plenty of danger. Her story is narrated by an unusual cabin boy with a sharp wit. (About one duke, he says, “He’d apparently been quite heroic during those wars; you could tell because a great number of his troops had died, while he lived.”) The overall effect is not unlike The Princess Bride, which Sanderson cites as an inspiration.
Engrossing worldbuilding, appealing characters, and a sense of humor make this a winning entry in the Sanderson canon.Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9781250899651
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2023
SEEN & HEARD
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