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Emaneska #4
Dead Stars - Part Two
North, is where the battle will take place.
North, is where Farden must go.
But to death, to glory, or to both?
The Arka have chosen their champion, and now he must lead them to the top of the world - The Spine, where the black mountains belch fire, and where the battle against cataclysm will take place upon the ice.
As they travel north in a warship clad in iron, the Krauslung they leave behind is crumbling. Not under the onslaught of the girl and her daemons, but from within, under the force of greed and poisonous ambition. It seems there are too many battles to fight.
Now, with the Sirens silent, the frozen north in uproar, and the responsibility mounting, Emaneska's champion must face a choice. Can he tread the tunnels of Hel to save the world? To save a woman more ghost than alive? To claim the armour he has always longed for? For salvation lies in the hands of a Knight fifteen-hundred years dead, and in the red-gold armour of a certain mage.
Salvation lies with Scalussen.
North, is where Farden must go.
But to death, to glory, or to both?
The Arka have chosen their champion, and now he must lead them to the top of the world - The Spine, where the black mountains belch fire, and where the battle against cataclysm will take place upon the ice.
As they travel north in a warship clad in iron, the Krauslung they leave behind is crumbling. Not under the onslaught of the girl and her daemons, but from within, under the force of greed and poisonous ambition. It seems there are too many battles to fight.
Now, with the Sirens silent, the frozen north in uproar, and the responsibility mounting, Emaneska's champion must face a choice. Can he tread the tunnels of Hel to save the world? To save a woman more ghost than alive? To claim the armour he has always longed for? For salvation lies in the hands of a Knight fifteen-hundred years dead, and in the red-gold armour of a certain mage.
Salvation lies with Scalussen.
544 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2013
90 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
Ben Galley
51 books852 followersBen Galley is a British author of dark and epic fantasy books who currently hails from Vancouver, Canada. Since publishing his debut Emaneska Series, Ben has released the award-winning weird western Scarlet Star Trilogy and standalone The Heart of Stone, the critically-acclaimed Chasing Graves Trilogy, and the new Scalussen Chronicles.
When he isn’t conjuring up strange new stories or arguing the finer points of magic systems and dragon anatomy, Ben explores the Canadian wilds, sips Scotch single malts, and snowboards very, very badly. One day he hopes to haunt an epic treehouse in the mountains.
Find all of Ben’s books or join his Discord and Patreon at: www.linktr.ee/bengalley
When he isn’t conjuring up strange new stories or arguing the finer points of magic systems and dragon anatomy, Ben explores the Canadian wilds, sips Scotch single malts, and snowboards very, very badly. One day he hopes to haunt an epic treehouse in the mountains.
Find all of Ben’s books or join his Discord and Patreon at: www.linktr.ee/bengalley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 20, 2020
Having read part 1 of Dead Stars I was expecting this to be the end of this series, but I was wrong.
There are one or two flaws in this book. I won't go into detail as there will likely be those among you who will want to read the whole series, however many books it turns out to be.
There was too much description again for me. Added to that, Galley brings politics into it too and that is an instant turn-off for me.
I was expecting a grand finale but what I got felt rather weak and just seemed to be setting up for another book in the series that I thought was finishing with this book.
All in all, some good ideas but this series isn't for me. I will give Chasing Graves a try at some point to see if that suits me better.
Thanks for reading.
There are one or two flaws in this book. I won't go into detail as there will likely be those among you who will want to read the whole series, however many books it turns out to be.
There was too much description again for me. Added to that, Galley brings politics into it too and that is an instant turn-off for me.
I was expecting a grand finale but what I got felt rather weak and just seemed to be setting up for another book in the series that I thought was finishing with this book.
All in all, some good ideas but this series isn't for me. I will give Chasing Graves a try at some point to see if that suits me better.
Thanks for reading.
April 19, 2022
A good completion to the Emaneska series. I really enjoyed Farden's journey. Can't wait to read more of Ben Galley's work in the future.
Actual Rating: 4 stars ****
Actual Rating: 4 stars ****
August 16, 2024
2.5/5
I feel like I read the same book 4 times.
The first time was cool and entertaining but the plot in all the books follows the same pattern time and again just changing some characters for others, not giving female characters a single scene they earned and focusing on the fucking asshole MC that everyone seems to rely on and all the girls are in love with.
And this last book borders on ridiculous sometimes. Makes absolutely no sense some of the decisions taken by some characters.
I did like the idea, the world building, the norse mythology touch, the monsters and creatures. If only it had good characters and the plot didn't have holes badly covered all over.
I feel like I read the same book 4 times.
The first time was cool and entertaining but the plot in all the books follows the same pattern time and again just changing some characters for others, not giving female characters a single scene they earned and focusing on the fucking asshole MC that everyone seems to rely on and all the girls are in love with.
And this last book borders on ridiculous sometimes. Makes absolutely no sense some of the decisions taken by some characters.
I did like the idea, the world building, the norse mythology touch, the monsters and creatures. If only it had good characters and the plot didn't have holes badly covered all over.
December 28, 2023
This one was kind of difficult for me. It was definitely better than Dead Stars, Part One, but sadly for me, that's not necessarily a ringing endorsement because I really didn't have a great time with that one. I felt that the experience I had with book three really tainted the experience I had with book four, so book four wasn't a great book for me, but it was more because of book three than book four (and I apologise if that makes no sense at all!).
I had such a roller coaster of experience with these books, not a roller coaster of emotions, but literally my thoughts on book one were great, my thoughts on book two were possibly even better, book three was a real dip, and then book four was up again, but I was still feeling that low from book three so it really did taint my experience.
Here, we had more of the same from the first two books, so it was back to familiar settings, familiar characters, everything was all back. But the damage had been done as far as my enjoyment goes, and I felt that I was no longer invested in the characters, I didn't really care for them the way that I did in the first two books. So it was really disappointing for me, especially to end the series, where you want to go out on a high. Sadly for me and Emeneska, that just didn’t happen.
I had such a roller coaster of experience with these books, not a roller coaster of emotions, but literally my thoughts on book one were great, my thoughts on book two were possibly even better, book three was a real dip, and then book four was up again, but I was still feeling that low from book three so it really did taint my experience.
Here, we had more of the same from the first two books, so it was back to familiar settings, familiar characters, everything was all back. But the damage had been done as far as my enjoyment goes, and I felt that I was no longer invested in the characters, I didn't really care for them the way that I did in the first two books. So it was really disappointing for me, especially to end the series, where you want to go out on a high. Sadly for me and Emeneska, that just didn’t happen.
June 23, 2013
This book is AMAZING. I've loved every page of the four book Emaneska series by the wonderfully talented young author, Mr Ben Galley. I'm so glad I stumbled on this fantasy series by accident by walking into Waterstones in Southampton and seeing the first book "The Written", I was hooked almost immediately by the main character, Farden, a Mage, a written. So deep, so scarred by his experiences, someone you can identify with.
Well on to a review of this final book "Dead Stars, part two", following the terrible battle for Krauslung between Samara (Farden's daughter) and her daemons and the twin Arkmages, the blind Durnus and Farden's Uncle Tyrfing. Elessi now married to Modren, under Mage is fatally wounded by deamon touch. Farden assisted by his uncle and a band of written must travel to the frozen North in an iron clad ship called Waveblade to seek many things, the Sirens are mysteriously silent...magick emanating from the North is getting stronger and where the battle lines will be drawn against the coming cataclysm. Can Farden seek help in Hel, the underworld of the dead to save Elessi and can the location of the fabled scalussen armour be located which would make Farden almost invincible against the daemon hordes?
Get ready for a roller coaster ride of a story. Completely absorbing, addictive, thrilling, a page turner of a tale of dark fantasy, blood and evil, gods and daemons.
This book and series deserves more than five stars. If you love fantasy, you HAVE to read this series! Ben Galley is an author to watch for in the future and I shall happily read all of his future books.
Well on to a review of this final book "Dead Stars, part two", following the terrible battle for Krauslung between Samara (Farden's daughter) and her daemons and the twin Arkmages, the blind Durnus and Farden's Uncle Tyrfing. Elessi now married to Modren, under Mage is fatally wounded by deamon touch. Farden assisted by his uncle and a band of written must travel to the frozen North in an iron clad ship called Waveblade to seek many things, the Sirens are mysteriously silent...magick emanating from the North is getting stronger and where the battle lines will be drawn against the coming cataclysm. Can Farden seek help in Hel, the underworld of the dead to save Elessi and can the location of the fabled scalussen armour be located which would make Farden almost invincible against the daemon hordes?
Get ready for a roller coaster ride of a story. Completely absorbing, addictive, thrilling, a page turner of a tale of dark fantasy, blood and evil, gods and daemons.
This book and series deserves more than five stars. If you love fantasy, you HAVE to read this series! Ben Galley is an author to watch for in the future and I shall happily read all of his future books.
November 13, 2018
A satisfying conclusion to the series, although Galley left it open ended, and hence there are possibilities of more stories in the world of Emaneska. Galley himself has said that he would perhaps write another series in Emaneska, but, it's due for some other time. I enjoyed this more than the part 1 of the book, mainly because of the setting, character development, the thrilling plot, and the bloody action.
The events start right after the end of part 1. Modren's wife Elessi is in a daemon injured coma, and Farden's daughter is going to the north to the apex point of the world in order to bring back the daemons from the void. Krauslaung itself is in turmoil due to greed, and corruption of the council members led by the Marble Copse. Tyrfing, Farden, and the gods Heimdal and Loki venture into the north in a warship in order to stop the catastrophe that's about to happen. Meanwhile, the Sirens are silent and their stronghold is captured by the northern clans. A lot of events take place in the story, but, Galley manages to integrate it all into his plot without losing any momentum.
Farden is learning to accept the burden of saving the world once again. His magic hasn't come back yet, and he is searching for other pieces of the fabled Scaulussen armour. We here get to know how the armour and its legendary knights came into being, and how one of them is still alive somewhere. Farden and Tyrfing along with Loki ventures into Hel, the realm of the dead in order to bring back Elessi's soul. I have to say that Galley's worlbuilding is to be applauded in this regard. We get to see the realm of Hel in its full morose splendor. Loki is upto his own agendas again, and, it's difficult to know what is he playing at. His motives are vague at best, and Galley didn't bother to make it clear.
There are talking whales in this book, and they sing. I was delighted by this. The whole crew of the ship in this book is a jolly lot, and Roiks made me laugh with his fun attitude and boisterous stories. The Gods remain only as bystanders, without getting to the real fight. I was feeling pity for Samara at the end, and, when Farden confronts her with the truth, it's poignant and I could relate to the situation. That was well written. Galley however left the situation at Krauslaung unsolved which was a let down for me, but, not much. I missed the dragon Brightshow here. The fight at the end was a blast, with magic, dragons, daemons, and beasts clashing in a chaotic whirlwind of battle. It was pretty graphic. I was expecting to see a grand confrontation between Farden and Orion, but, it ended short in an unexpected manner. But, it was all a big boom.
I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the epic adventure and magic of Emaneska. Galley improved his craft with each books, though there are some ups and downs. His writing is descriptive, and dense sometimes. He has a sense of humour and a little dark tone that suits my mood just well. I'm glad I read the series, and hope that Galley produces more epic fantasies soon enough. I will read his other books, and heard highly of a certain Golem. Perhaps I would go to an adventure with the Golem, who knows. I'll miss the dragons though.
The events start right after the end of part 1. Modren's wife Elessi is in a daemon injured coma, and Farden's daughter is going to the north to the apex point of the world in order to bring back the daemons from the void. Krauslaung itself is in turmoil due to greed, and corruption of the council members led by the Marble Copse. Tyrfing, Farden, and the gods Heimdal and Loki venture into the north in a warship in order to stop the catastrophe that's about to happen. Meanwhile, the Sirens are silent and their stronghold is captured by the northern clans. A lot of events take place in the story, but, Galley manages to integrate it all into his plot without losing any momentum.
Farden is learning to accept the burden of saving the world once again. His magic hasn't come back yet, and he is searching for other pieces of the fabled Scaulussen armour. We here get to know how the armour and its legendary knights came into being, and how one of them is still alive somewhere. Farden and Tyrfing along with Loki ventures into Hel, the realm of the dead in order to bring back Elessi's soul. I have to say that Galley's worlbuilding is to be applauded in this regard. We get to see the realm of Hel in its full morose splendor. Loki is upto his own agendas again, and, it's difficult to know what is he playing at. His motives are vague at best, and Galley didn't bother to make it clear.
There are talking whales in this book, and they sing. I was delighted by this. The whole crew of the ship in this book is a jolly lot, and Roiks made me laugh with his fun attitude and boisterous stories. The Gods remain only as bystanders, without getting to the real fight. I was feeling pity for Samara at the end, and, when Farden confronts her with the truth, it's poignant and I could relate to the situation. That was well written. Galley however left the situation at Krauslaung unsolved which was a let down for me, but, not much. I missed the dragon Brightshow here. The fight at the end was a blast, with magic, dragons, daemons, and beasts clashing in a chaotic whirlwind of battle. It was pretty graphic. I was expecting to see a grand confrontation between Farden and Orion, but, it ended short in an unexpected manner. But, it was all a big boom.
I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the epic adventure and magic of Emaneska. Galley improved his craft with each books, though there are some ups and downs. His writing is descriptive, and dense sometimes. He has a sense of humour and a little dark tone that suits my mood just well. I'm glad I read the series, and hope that Galley produces more epic fantasies soon enough. I will read his other books, and heard highly of a certain Golem. Perhaps I would go to an adventure with the Golem, who knows. I'll miss the dragons though.
June 13, 2023
a fun journey
Overall I really enjoyed this tale. In the previous book I was disheartened that Farden was laid so low. For me his self pity lasted too long. But now in this book his banter and confidence returned and made for a much better story.
There are many cool creatures here like the dragons and orcas. Durnus remains my favorite character. There is good action buildup to the final battle. But the conclusion isn’t quite resolved. Storylines are left open for more to come.
Overall I really enjoyed this tale. In the previous book I was disheartened that Farden was laid so low. For me his self pity lasted too long. But now in this book his banter and confidence returned and made for a much better story.
There are many cool creatures here like the dragons and orcas. Durnus remains my favorite character. There is good action buildup to the final battle. But the conclusion isn’t quite resolved. Storylines are left open for more to come.
March 5, 2019
I absolutely loved this series, I tried to make it last because I knew it was going to end, well end it has and I enjoyed every minute, it has everything you'd want in a high action fantasy. But don't take my word for it, just read it!
October 13, 2018
This fourth book brings the Emaneska series to an exciting, action-packed finale, replete with heroism and tragedy in equal measures. I was engaged right the way through, and wanted to see how Farden, Durnus (possibly one of my favourite fantasy 'wise master' characters) and Tyrfing fared against the machiavellian Barkhart and the demonic lieutenants Valefor and Hokus.
I was also pleased to see the return of Eyrum, Lerel and the rest of the Sirens and their dragon counterparts, as the heroes returned north, this time seeking the ancient city of Scalussen in the Spine of the World, beyond the uttermost reaches of frozen Nelska. Galley's sweeping world lost none of its momentum as it catapulted me into the other side, where the underworld goddess Hel sparred with her trickster brother Loki (who reveals his true colours in this book) and bargained with our heroes for Elessi's very soul.
I will say that the typos crept back into this book, and the turn of phrase wasn't quite as inspired as in its predecessor - but overall the prose was still of a high standard, and its descriptive flourishes put plenty of tepid trad authors to shame. Also, I didn't feel so invested in Elessi and Modren - I didn't really care about them as much as I felt the author wanted me to, but I had plenty to keep me occupied wondering whether Farden, Tyrfing and Durnus would be destroyed or enhanced by their own destinies (no spoilers on this).
All in all, I would thoroughly recommend the Emaneska series as a rollicking good action-packed sword & sorcery that put me in mind of Michael Moorcock. Galley has done a fine job spearheading the self-publishing revolution, and I do hope at some point he finds time to copy edit this debut series to the perfection it merits.
I'm now eagerly awaiting the Scalussen Chronicles, which Emaneska's not entirely conclusive ending tantalisingly offers up as a distinct possibility...
I was also pleased to see the return of Eyrum, Lerel and the rest of the Sirens and their dragon counterparts, as the heroes returned north, this time seeking the ancient city of Scalussen in the Spine of the World, beyond the uttermost reaches of frozen Nelska. Galley's sweeping world lost none of its momentum as it catapulted me into the other side, where the underworld goddess Hel sparred with her trickster brother Loki (who reveals his true colours in this book) and bargained with our heroes for Elessi's very soul.
I will say that the typos crept back into this book, and the turn of phrase wasn't quite as inspired as in its predecessor - but overall the prose was still of a high standard, and its descriptive flourishes put plenty of tepid trad authors to shame. Also, I didn't feel so invested in Elessi and Modren - I didn't really care about them as much as I felt the author wanted me to, but I had plenty to keep me occupied wondering whether Farden, Tyrfing and Durnus would be destroyed or enhanced by their own destinies (no spoilers on this).
All in all, I would thoroughly recommend the Emaneska series as a rollicking good action-packed sword & sorcery that put me in mind of Michael Moorcock. Galley has done a fine job spearheading the self-publishing revolution, and I do hope at some point he finds time to copy edit this debut series to the perfection it merits.
I'm now eagerly awaiting the Scalussen Chronicles, which Emaneska's not entirely conclusive ending tantalisingly offers up as a distinct possibility...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2013
A riveting finale to the Emaneska series, fast paced, action packed with some wonderful characters. This is a highly recommended dark fantasy series littered with magick, tattooed mages, daemons, dragons and Gods in an epic battle of good versus evil.
If you've not read any of this series the first & second novels, The Written & Pale Kings are both available on Kindle for an excellent price and its well worth following the flawed hero as he battles both himself and the insurmountable odds thrown at him.
My review for The Written is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
If you've not read Dead Stars Part 1 then this first section of the review contains big spoilers .
The story resumes immediately after the chaotic climax to Dead Stars Part 1 of which the ending is definitely worth talking about as Samara summons 3 daemons down from the sky and they begin to wreak havoc at Modren and Elessi's wedding.
The Arkmages and the Written answer with spells of white ice shards and lightening, concentrating on one adversary they join together and throw everything they can muster at the daemon but in the end it was not the weight of spells that did for the daemon but a simple wine barrel. As he tripped over it and crashed into the spire, the screams spurred the mages on until the daemon and the spire are destroyed. Farden wreathed in utter fury and patience long gone is unable to use his magick but this major disadvantage doesn't stop him confronting one of the two remaining foes, the daemon hesitates and disappears spitting the words Godsblood at Farden and his armour.
Elessi is unconscious poisoned by the touch of the daemon, Farden is the only one who can save her and Loki gets a taste of what may come as he feels the power of a departing soul.
After escaping amid the chaos, Samara and Lilleth head North over the mountains to be met by the surviving daemons Hokus & Valfor, the North is where the magick is strongest and they must travel there to complete the spell again. Samara believes Farden to be the man who killed her father and on seeing him her determination to fulfil the prophecies and lies that Lilleth has told her increases tenfold.
Farden, Tyrfing and the surviving Written travel across the sea to the home of the Sirens seeking information on the daemon touched wound of Elessi, Farden begins to train, to recapture his fitness but his magick is still gone for the time being.
The daemons have travelled far and wide sowing their treacherous seeds with promises of power, breeding discontent amongst the rulers of Krauslung and the Sirens. The political manoeuvring is an interesting element to the plot as plans to dispose the Arkmages of Krauslung gather speed and the Sirens offer help to their fellow dragons of the Northern clan as traitors gather.
The story of Farden shows a character who is intensely stubborn, headstrong and single minded when given purpose. He blames his magic for all his problems and resorts to the drug Nevermar to banish it, he blames himself for the problems caused by the battle of the Pale Kings and the birth of his daughter and to solve this he disappears from Krauslung for 15 years. When the God Loki brings him back he finally takes responsibility for saving the daemon touched Elessi and facing the coming onslaught but he will do it his way, retrieving something long lost and travelling where only the dead may go. As with Part 1 the relationship between Loki & Farden is at times tense and fraught with potential violence, the God even learns how to cheat at cards and most of the time, just pissing Farden off seems to be his ultimate goal.
Running alongside the events in Emaneska is the story of Korrin from over 1500 years ago, now incredibly skilled in warfare, Korrin and the chosen nine receive a gift to aid them in their coming battles against tyrants and evil kings. Gifts of legend that are still sought even now. As with any series you enjoy that touches on the past to aid in the plot, I always feel there's more to tell and a bigger story or prelude novel could be produced, I guess that's testament to the skill of the writer and the self published Author Ben Galley is an extremely skilful story teller.
If you've not read any of this series the first & second novels, The Written & Pale Kings are both available on Kindle for an excellent price and its well worth following the flawed hero as he battles both himself and the insurmountable odds thrown at him.
My review for The Written is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
If you've not read Dead Stars Part 1 then this first section of the review contains big spoilers .
The story resumes immediately after the chaotic climax to Dead Stars Part 1 of which the ending is definitely worth talking about as Samara summons 3 daemons down from the sky and they begin to wreak havoc at Modren and Elessi's wedding.
The Arkmages and the Written answer with spells of white ice shards and lightening, concentrating on one adversary they join together and throw everything they can muster at the daemon but in the end it was not the weight of spells that did for the daemon but a simple wine barrel. As he tripped over it and crashed into the spire, the screams spurred the mages on until the daemon and the spire are destroyed. Farden wreathed in utter fury and patience long gone is unable to use his magick but this major disadvantage doesn't stop him confronting one of the two remaining foes, the daemon hesitates and disappears spitting the words Godsblood at Farden and his armour.
Elessi is unconscious poisoned by the touch of the daemon, Farden is the only one who can save her and Loki gets a taste of what may come as he feels the power of a departing soul.
After escaping amid the chaos, Samara and Lilleth head North over the mountains to be met by the surviving daemons Hokus & Valfor, the North is where the magick is strongest and they must travel there to complete the spell again. Samara believes Farden to be the man who killed her father and on seeing him her determination to fulfil the prophecies and lies that Lilleth has told her increases tenfold.
Farden, Tyrfing and the surviving Written travel across the sea to the home of the Sirens seeking information on the daemon touched wound of Elessi, Farden begins to train, to recapture his fitness but his magick is still gone for the time being.
The daemons have travelled far and wide sowing their treacherous seeds with promises of power, breeding discontent amongst the rulers of Krauslung and the Sirens. The political manoeuvring is an interesting element to the plot as plans to dispose the Arkmages of Krauslung gather speed and the Sirens offer help to their fellow dragons of the Northern clan as traitors gather.
The story of Farden shows a character who is intensely stubborn, headstrong and single minded when given purpose. He blames his magic for all his problems and resorts to the drug Nevermar to banish it, he blames himself for the problems caused by the battle of the Pale Kings and the birth of his daughter and to solve this he disappears from Krauslung for 15 years. When the God Loki brings him back he finally takes responsibility for saving the daemon touched Elessi and facing the coming onslaught but he will do it his way, retrieving something long lost and travelling where only the dead may go. As with Part 1 the relationship between Loki & Farden is at times tense and fraught with potential violence, the God even learns how to cheat at cards and most of the time, just pissing Farden off seems to be his ultimate goal.
Running alongside the events in Emaneska is the story of Korrin from over 1500 years ago, now incredibly skilled in warfare, Korrin and the chosen nine receive a gift to aid them in their coming battles against tyrants and evil kings. Gifts of legend that are still sought even now. As with any series you enjoy that touches on the past to aid in the plot, I always feel there's more to tell and a bigger story or prelude novel could be produced, I guess that's testament to the skill of the writer and the self published Author Ben Galley is an extremely skilful story teller.
June 5, 2013
So now that I've come to the end of the Emaneska series I can give my final thoughts.
Bloody Brilliant.
The characters are fantastic! The Siren race feels like it has existed along side the standard elves and dwarves of so many years. The protagonist is one of the realest feeling characters of any fantasy book I've read, adding a few twists on the archetypal hero. The supporting characters are excellent, the final battle is truly Epic and the story had me grinning like a baboon in places.
The only downside, in my opinion, is that the book ended on a note that screams sequel and yet there isn't one. And although the final battle really is epic, I wish there had been more.
I rated this whole series 5 out of 5, I've spent the last 3 days reading Dead Stars Part 1&2 instead of revising for my exam tomorrow so it would have to have been good. Having read all the books on kindle I'm now going to get them all as hard copies. The cover artwork deserves a place on my shelves and I know a few people who would love to borrow my copy.
Bloody Brilliant.
The characters are fantastic! The Siren race feels like it has existed along side the standard elves and dwarves of so many years. The protagonist is one of the realest feeling characters of any fantasy book I've read, adding a few twists on the archetypal hero. The supporting characters are excellent, the final battle is truly Epic and the story had me grinning like a baboon in places.
The only downside, in my opinion, is that the book ended on a note that screams sequel and yet there isn't one. And although the final battle really is epic, I wish there had been more.
I rated this whole series 5 out of 5, I've spent the last 3 days reading Dead Stars Part 1&2 instead of revising for my exam tomorrow so it would have to have been good. Having read all the books on kindle I'm now going to get them all as hard copies. The cover artwork deserves a place on my shelves and I know a few people who would love to borrow my copy.
October 24, 2013
A good read, with some pretty epic scenes. Sadly, it is suffering a bit from the lack of imagination where the gods are concerned. If you are not writing actual norse mythology (like the Iron Druid Chronicles, for example), don't steal some of their gods for your world. Or at least change their names to make it less obvious.
The book has both a satisfying and an unsatisfying ending. The ending itself is epic, but while the immediate plots have been resolved, there are still some important plot arcs that have not been explored .
All in all, it was a good read, but will probably not stay with me for very long.
The book has both a satisfying and an unsatisfying ending. The ending itself is epic, but while the immediate plots have been resolved, there are still some important plot arcs that have not been explored .
All in all, it was a good read, but will probably not stay with me for very long.
June 11, 2023
What?! Farden on boats?!
This is truly the end of an amazing 4 novel series by Ben Galley. Farden's development goes even further in this conclusion and the ending actually brought a tear to my eye.
Well done, Ben. I'm so glad I've read this series and once again, gonna be investing in the special editions for each book.
4.5/5
This is truly the end of an amazing 4 novel series by Ben Galley. Farden's development goes even further in this conclusion and the ending actually brought a tear to my eye.
Well done, Ben. I'm so glad I've read this series and once again, gonna be investing in the special editions for each book.
4.5/5
May 14, 2013
Awesome! This is a fantastic book to end one of the best fantasy series I have read, ever! My only disappointment is that the Emaneska series has come to an end.
May 8, 2021
I was finally able to return to finishing Dead Stars Part 2 after quite a few months of it getting lost in the shuffle on my kindle. While I'm glad I've now finished it, I can't help but wonder if there's something to the fact that I'd lost it and not been spurred to find it again for so long...
As with the rest of the Emaneska series, there are some really great ideas going on. It's a fantastic world, with some very interesting characters. Where the issues arise tend to lean more towards the plot.
First, the political intrigue. The subplots involving Malvus and his scheming really seemed to drag the story down. I found myself wanting to skip those parts, but didn't in case of any necessary info. This occurred in both parts 1 and 2 of the Dead Stars books, which leaves me wishing that perhaps more had been cut so that the two books could have been combined into one would have worked better? I don't know.
Also, and this is entirely personal taste, but I was dissatisfied with the ending. There is so much build up regarding one character, and when their time to enter the fray finally comes, it's cut short immediately and the character is just ended right there. I was expecting something in the epilogue to hint at a reverasal of some kind, but no. There are hints to other characters and plots to come, but in regards to the part I'm speaking of, it was just snuffed out and really anticlimactic.
But, having said that, it is still a good bookend to the overall saga (Pale Kings being my personal favourite part) that you gotta read for the full experience.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
As with the rest of the Emaneska series, there are some really great ideas going on. It's a fantastic world, with some very interesting characters. Where the issues arise tend to lean more towards the plot.
First, the political intrigue. The subplots involving Malvus and his scheming really seemed to drag the story down. I found myself wanting to skip those parts, but didn't in case of any necessary info. This occurred in both parts 1 and 2 of the Dead Stars books, which leaves me wishing that perhaps more had been cut so that the two books could have been combined into one would have worked better? I don't know.
Also, and this is entirely personal taste, but I was dissatisfied with the ending. There is so much build up regarding one character, and when their time to enter the fray finally comes, it's cut short immediately and the character is just ended right there. I was expecting something in the epilogue to hint at a reverasal of some kind, but no. There are hints to other characters and plots to come, but in regards to the part I'm speaking of, it was just snuffed out and really anticlimactic.
But, having said that, it is still a good bookend to the overall saga (Pale Kings being my personal favourite part) that you gotta read for the full experience.
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
June 29, 2023
While there is some deeply compelling stuff to be found here, I felt as though all of this series' best ideas are ultimately buried under Farden's personal journey which I still just wasn't able to connect with.
PLOT/TONE
I think starting with the plot makes the most sense for this entry since it is the aspect of the book that I came in with the most expectations for. After not being fully satisfied with how things went in DEAD STARS PART ONE, I was hoping for the second part of this epic story to deliver an explosive final conflict between Farden's allies and the daemonic forces summoned by Samara. While there are definitely some action-packed scenes where good and evil collide, this conflict is largely reserved for brief battle scenes during the book's final act. Instead, the bulk of the narrative sees Farden assembling a team to try to rescue Elessi from the clutches of death. I'd initially assumed the simple setup would serve as a temporary side quest where Farden would rediscover his old self while chasing down this MacGuffin. As it turns out, his mission takes multiple twists and turns and ultimately takes center stage for pretty much the entirety of the book. While we do check in with Samara and Lilith from time to time and I found their quieter moments really interesting, I felt like it was a huge shame that they spent so much time just wandering the wilderness and only collide with the main cast toward the end. The political coup in Krauslung was also quite interesting, but this was again overshadowed by the plot to save Elessi. Loki's plotline is a little less buried given how closely he sticks around Farden, but the true nature of his scheme is never really revealed as it is seemingly being saved for another book. I was also less enthusiastic about the flashback sequences from the distant past. It wasn't totally clear to me how Korrin became so drastically different from the character we knew previously (other than maybe the "absolute power corrupts absolutely" concept) and overall, I just felt like the Scalussen Nine were a far less interesting version of The Knights Radiant from THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE.
CHARACTERS
The biggest part of why the plot probably did not land for me is that I just don't really like Farden. I don't necessarily hate him, it's just that there is nothing about him that I connect with and I felt as though the rest of the cast uplifts him in a way that his actions don't really deserve. That's a rather harsh opinion to be sure, but after all the problems he's created, all the horrible things he did while in exile, and his habit of whining about how hard his life is or getting snappy whenever someone calls him out made him a very hard sell for me as a hero. I do get that the idea is that he's a deeply flawed individual with some serious vices and self-destructive tendencies, I just didn't feel that he had enough redeeming qualities to balance things out. Him and Tyrfing continue to have a somewhat inconsistent relationship and I didn't really get why both of them were so outwardly cruel towards Loki. Sure, Loki is kind of that guy in the group that likes to stir the pot a bit, but I felt like it was the cruelty and disrepect shown towards him that ultimately drives him down his less than savory path. I'm not sure if I was supposed to like and sympathize with Loki more than Farden, but I can say that I definitely did. Lerel, Samara, Lilith, and the introduction of the goddess Hel made for a much stronger female presence this time around and I found myself genuinely invested in their arcs. Elessi being MIA for most of the story was mostly a net-positive for me though the lack of chemistry or tenderness between her and Farden in previous books made it difficult for me to feel too invested in his mission to save her. The fact that this quest takes so long also meant that Farden's internal journey of "finding himself" once again was prolonged much longer than I wanted it to be. To end on a positive note, Illios is still a precious treasure and the dragons are all still awesome.
SETTING/WORLD
Overall, the landscape of Emaneska is still one of the series' strongest points for me. This time around, we get even more worldbuilding by way of travelling to the frosty northern regions where both the dragons and men are far more savage and the terrain is much less forgiving. After the dragons being absent from the previous book, it was nice to see that side of the world play a significant part again. I liked the more nautical aspect of this book more than I thought I would as well. I don't read a ton of nautical fantasy and I wouldn't necessarily say that this would fall fully into that subgenre, but I liked the aspect of sailing from one location to another as well as the moments where the gang are just interacting on the ship. The more mythological aspects are where I really got hyped up though. There isn't a whole ton of lore added in terms of the nature of the gods or the daemons, but what nuggets we do get are pretty interesting. Galley's depiction of the Norse underworld is strikingly grotesque in a way that felt true to the myths while also also being surprising and fresh. I really just ate all of this up as well as any of the more cosmic tidbits we got, but I was also left feeling a little confused about how much this was really supposed to connect to the Norse myths as we know them. The book's epilogues seem to promise even more expansion of these elements, though I don't think I will necessarily be diving right into the other series that is set in this world.
THE EBOOK/AUDIOBOOK
I mainly consumed this story via the audio format, largely just due to having another busy month and wanting to be able to fit this in amid a lot of travel. There isn't much more I can really say on the quality of the audiobook or it's narrator. It's technically well produced, but the performance itself didn't do a whole lot for me. The one thing I will say is that Tyrfing's voice is distinctly less grating this time around, which was a huge relief considering how much he factors into the story.
CONCLUSION
DEAD STARS PART TWO is largely a victim of my own misaligned expectations and inability to connect with Farden on a level that I needed to in order for his hero's journey to land. If you've been absolutely loving the series so far, then I think you will like this conclusion well enough. If you have been more lukewarm on it until now, or more hot and cold like me, then this may or may not be a satisfying end to the Emaneska quartet for you.
(+) Beatufully described scenery and some interesting locals, including some mythological locations.
(+) The supporting cast remains one stronger points of the series for me.
(+) There are some short, but exciting action scenes
(+) The female characers are much more interesting this time around thanks to Lilith, Samara, Leral and Hel overtaking this part of the cast.
(-) I felt as though the majority of the story was focused on a side quest and that the ultimate showdown with Samara was hasty, anticlimactic, and empty.
(-) The most interesting concepts and subplots are either buried by Farden's adventure or left open ended to serve as teases for future books set in this world.
(-) I left feeling confused about how this series really connects to Norse Mythology (or if it is really meant to).
(-) The flashback scenes and Korrin's character development didn't land super well for me.
(-) Farden still isn't a character that I could connect with in the way that I needed.
(-) The audio is technically sound and Tyrfing's voice is MUCH better, but this still not a performance that I'd particularly recommend.
(-) An ending that didn't really satisfy me.
(-) A barrage MCU-style epilogue scenes that hint at the future of the universe left me feeling kind of cheated.
PLOT/TONE
I think starting with the plot makes the most sense for this entry since it is the aspect of the book that I came in with the most expectations for. After not being fully satisfied with how things went in DEAD STARS PART ONE, I was hoping for the second part of this epic story to deliver an explosive final conflict between Farden's allies and the daemonic forces summoned by Samara. While there are definitely some action-packed scenes where good and evil collide, this conflict is largely reserved for brief battle scenes during the book's final act. Instead, the bulk of the narrative sees Farden assembling a team to try to rescue Elessi from the clutches of death. I'd initially assumed the simple setup would serve as a temporary side quest where Farden would rediscover his old self while chasing down this MacGuffin. As it turns out, his mission takes multiple twists and turns and ultimately takes center stage for pretty much the entirety of the book. While we do check in with Samara and Lilith from time to time and I found their quieter moments really interesting, I felt like it was a huge shame that they spent so much time just wandering the wilderness and only collide with the main cast toward the end. The political coup in Krauslung was also quite interesting, but this was again overshadowed by the plot to save Elessi. Loki's plotline is a little less buried given how closely he sticks around Farden, but the true nature of his scheme is never really revealed as it is seemingly being saved for another book. I was also less enthusiastic about the flashback sequences from the distant past. It wasn't totally clear to me how Korrin became so drastically different from the character we knew previously (other than maybe the "absolute power corrupts absolutely" concept) and overall, I just felt like the Scalussen Nine were a far less interesting version of The Knights Radiant from THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE.
CHARACTERS
The biggest part of why the plot probably did not land for me is that I just don't really like Farden. I don't necessarily hate him, it's just that there is nothing about him that I connect with and I felt as though the rest of the cast uplifts him in a way that his actions don't really deserve. That's a rather harsh opinion to be sure, but after all the problems he's created, all the horrible things he did while in exile, and his habit of whining about how hard his life is or getting snappy whenever someone calls him out made him a very hard sell for me as a hero. I do get that the idea is that he's a deeply flawed individual with some serious vices and self-destructive tendencies, I just didn't feel that he had enough redeeming qualities to balance things out. Him and Tyrfing continue to have a somewhat inconsistent relationship and I didn't really get why both of them were so outwardly cruel towards Loki. Sure, Loki is kind of that guy in the group that likes to stir the pot a bit, but I felt like it was the cruelty and disrepect shown towards him that ultimately drives him down his less than savory path. I'm not sure if I was supposed to like and sympathize with Loki more than Farden, but I can say that I definitely did. Lerel, Samara, Lilith, and the introduction of the goddess Hel made for a much stronger female presence this time around and I found myself genuinely invested in their arcs. Elessi being MIA for most of the story was mostly a net-positive for me though the lack of chemistry or tenderness between her and Farden in previous books made it difficult for me to feel too invested in his mission to save her. The fact that this quest takes so long also meant that Farden's internal journey of "finding himself" once again was prolonged much longer than I wanted it to be. To end on a positive note, Illios is still a precious treasure and the dragons are all still awesome.
SETTING/WORLD
Overall, the landscape of Emaneska is still one of the series' strongest points for me. This time around, we get even more worldbuilding by way of travelling to the frosty northern regions where both the dragons and men are far more savage and the terrain is much less forgiving. After the dragons being absent from the previous book, it was nice to see that side of the world play a significant part again. I liked the more nautical aspect of this book more than I thought I would as well. I don't read a ton of nautical fantasy and I wouldn't necessarily say that this would fall fully into that subgenre, but I liked the aspect of sailing from one location to another as well as the moments where the gang are just interacting on the ship. The more mythological aspects are where I really got hyped up though. There isn't a whole ton of lore added in terms of the nature of the gods or the daemons, but what nuggets we do get are pretty interesting. Galley's depiction of the Norse underworld is strikingly grotesque in a way that felt true to the myths while also also being surprising and fresh. I really just ate all of this up as well as any of the more cosmic tidbits we got, but I was also left feeling a little confused about how much this was really supposed to connect to the Norse myths as we know them. The book's epilogues seem to promise even more expansion of these elements, though I don't think I will necessarily be diving right into the other series that is set in this world.
THE EBOOK/AUDIOBOOK
I mainly consumed this story via the audio format, largely just due to having another busy month and wanting to be able to fit this in amid a lot of travel. There isn't much more I can really say on the quality of the audiobook or it's narrator. It's technically well produced, but the performance itself didn't do a whole lot for me. The one thing I will say is that Tyrfing's voice is distinctly less grating this time around, which was a huge relief considering how much he factors into the story.
CONCLUSION
DEAD STARS PART TWO is largely a victim of my own misaligned expectations and inability to connect with Farden on a level that I needed to in order for his hero's journey to land. If you've been absolutely loving the series so far, then I think you will like this conclusion well enough. If you have been more lukewarm on it until now, or more hot and cold like me, then this may or may not be a satisfying end to the Emaneska quartet for you.
(+) Beatufully described scenery and some interesting locals, including some mythological locations.
(+) The supporting cast remains one stronger points of the series for me.
(+) There are some short, but exciting action scenes
(+) The female characers are much more interesting this time around thanks to Lilith, Samara, Leral and Hel overtaking this part of the cast.
(-) I felt as though the majority of the story was focused on a side quest and that the ultimate showdown with Samara was hasty, anticlimactic, and empty.
(-) The most interesting concepts and subplots are either buried by Farden's adventure or left open ended to serve as teases for future books set in this world.
(-) I left feeling confused about how this series really connects to Norse Mythology (or if it is really meant to).
(-) The flashback scenes and Korrin's character development didn't land super well for me.
(-) Farden still isn't a character that I could connect with in the way that I needed.
(-) The audio is technically sound and Tyrfing's voice is MUCH better, but this still not a performance that I'd particularly recommend.
(-) An ending that didn't really satisfy me.
(-) A barrage MCU-style epilogue scenes that hint at the future of the universe left me feeling kind of cheated.
February 8, 2016
I finished this book a little while ago, but I wanted to take some time to let it sink in before writing a review. This book has a lot going for it, a lot to enjoy, but in the end I found it less satisfying than, perhaps it could have been.
This book picks up just after the end of Part 1 and the aftermath of the demon assault. Farden is still Farden; angry, bitter, and still suffering the effects of 15 years of nevermar use. While he slowly is regaining his confidence and strength, for the most part magic seems beyond him.
Farden, and the characters in general, are the strong points of the whole series, this book included. His interactions with his family and friends after his long absence; the distrust, hurt feelings, self-esteem issues, anger and pity, all ring true to me. Farden has to learn to trust himself, and those around him have to decide whether or not they should trust him as well.
To me, in the Dead Stars novels, there are two main storylines: Farden's daughter and the prophesy of the return of demons, and Farden's own journey of redemption. Ben, I thought, decided to end the book focusing on the resolution of one of these while really blowing over the other. I thought the ending seemed really rushed in that regard, with showdowns that had seemingly been building for a while passing in a blink.
Finally, don't expect all the minor storylines to be wrapped up. There were so many loose ends left at the end of the book, and while Ben may be returning to Emaneska in the future, it won't be for a while, which is slightly maddening to any video game completionists out there who have to have everything ticked off at 100% completed.
All that being said, the storyline that DOES get the full treatment IS very satisfying, if a little predictable. I hope Ben does get back to Emaneska in the near future, but in any case, I will look forward to his new work.
This book picks up just after the end of Part 1 and the aftermath of the demon assault. Farden is still Farden; angry, bitter, and still suffering the effects of 15 years of nevermar use. While he slowly is regaining his confidence and strength, for the most part magic seems beyond him.
Farden, and the characters in general, are the strong points of the whole series, this book included. His interactions with his family and friends after his long absence; the distrust, hurt feelings, self-esteem issues, anger and pity, all ring true to me. Farden has to learn to trust himself, and those around him have to decide whether or not they should trust him as well.
To me, in the Dead Stars novels, there are two main storylines: Farden's daughter and the prophesy of the return of demons, and Farden's own journey of redemption. Ben, I thought, decided to end the book focusing on the resolution of one of these while really blowing over the other. I thought the ending seemed really rushed in that regard, with showdowns that had seemingly been building for a while passing in a blink.
Finally, don't expect all the minor storylines to be wrapped up. There were so many loose ends left at the end of the book, and while Ben may be returning to Emaneska in the future, it won't be for a while, which is slightly maddening to any video game completionists out there who have to have everything ticked off at 100% completed.
All that being said, the storyline that DOES get the full treatment IS very satisfying, if a little predictable. I hope Ben does get back to Emaneska in the near future, but in any case, I will look forward to his new work.
June 19, 2013
I feel bad rating this one so poorly, but I really didn't enjoy it at all.
I thought the first book in the series was not great but not bad, and a worthy first offering.
I thought the second book in the series suffered from too many characters, but had an OK story that kept my interest.
I thought the third book in the series had really good writing, got rid of a lot of useless characters, and focused on an interesting story for about 2/3 of the book, but kind of lost steam at the end. If the author had focused all his attention on this book as a standalone novel it would have been pretty good yarn about a killer-for-hire's redemption.
This one...wow. Too many characters, incomprehensible changes in pacing and conflict, deus ex machina resolution to everything, no satisfactory character arc for the main character. I have trouble believing the same person wrote this book. The first three weren't great, but they weren't bad either. This one was *bad.* I'm still not entirely sure what happened or why I should care.
I think the author rushed the last installment out the door, because he really isn't this sloppy with his previous works. It was not bad enough for him to wind up on my "never read again list." I hope for his next story he tries for a standalone novel with no sequel that focuses closely on one or two characters. His prose is good and his dialogue is acceptable, and with a couple good characters and no confusing mess of supporting cast Galley could offer a really good story.
I wish him the best of luck since his forays into the world of self publishing are always interesting. Even though I really disliked this last installment, I will check out his next release.
I plan on doing an in-depth review of all four novels at a later date.
I thought the first book in the series was not great but not bad, and a worthy first offering.
I thought the second book in the series suffered from too many characters, but had an OK story that kept my interest.
I thought the third book in the series had really good writing, got rid of a lot of useless characters, and focused on an interesting story for about 2/3 of the book, but kind of lost steam at the end. If the author had focused all his attention on this book as a standalone novel it would have been pretty good yarn about a killer-for-hire's redemption.
This one...wow. Too many characters, incomprehensible changes in pacing and conflict, deus ex machina resolution to everything, no satisfactory character arc for the main character. I have trouble believing the same person wrote this book. The first three weren't great, but they weren't bad either. This one was *bad.* I'm still not entirely sure what happened or why I should care.
I think the author rushed the last installment out the door, because he really isn't this sloppy with his previous works. It was not bad enough for him to wind up on my "never read again list." I hope for his next story he tries for a standalone novel with no sequel that focuses closely on one or two characters. His prose is good and his dialogue is acceptable, and with a couple good characters and no confusing mess of supporting cast Galley could offer a really good story.
I wish him the best of luck since his forays into the world of self publishing are always interesting. Even though I really disliked this last installment, I will check out his next release.
I plan on doing an in-depth review of all four novels at a later date.
July 7, 2013
Satisfying conclusion to the Emaneska series while leaving just a few loose ends in case the author ever wants to return. I really enjoyed this series. The characters were compelling, the story line was interesting, and I was often surprised by certain plot twists. I have to say the last third of the book is so action packed that I stayed up until 1AM to finish it.
The only critique I have, and in my eyes this is minor, is that the manuscripts for these books need a proofreader. There were some typos scattered through the books that should have been caught before publication. Now the writing style and over all quality of writing was excellent, but I'm sure there's some readers that would snub their nose at these books due to these errors. However, don't let this stop you from reading this series, it really is phenomenal.
The only critique I have, and in my eyes this is minor, is that the manuscripts for these books need a proofreader. There were some typos scattered through the books that should have been caught before publication. Now the writing style and over all quality of writing was excellent, but I'm sure there's some readers that would snub their nose at these books due to these errors. However, don't let this stop you from reading this series, it really is phenomenal.
January 28, 2017
Satisfying ending, though there are a lot of loose threads - perhaps he intends to write more books in the series? I hope so, and I'd buy them.
October 19, 2016
What more can i say!!!!
I can't believe the saga has come to an end, so invested I was with the character and the storyline. And yet with the way the story end I have my fingers cross for a surprising more stories to come!!!
Thanks Ben for sharing this journey with us!!!
I can't believe the saga has come to an end, so invested I was with the character and the storyline. And yet with the way the story end I have my fingers cross for a surprising more stories to come!!!
Thanks Ben for sharing this journey with us!!!
July 20, 2013
Basically some good ideas but quality of writing variable. Unsatisfying end to an odd series.
September 10, 2024
Death Star two was a fantastic finish to a series!! best book in the series in my opinion , from the middle of book three to the end of book four is the thriller I new it could be 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🙃
March 22, 2018
Farden,still without his magick, together with his brave uncle Tyrfing and also his other loyal friends board an Iron clad ship and go north to where the last great battle will be fought against his almighty daughter Samara. He also has a quest to find the answer which will bring Elessi (who lies in a deathly coma) back to life and also to find the Scallussen armour which will protect him against anything and everything. While travelling through the ice in the frozen north they surprisingly find a new ally, and while Samara and the Deamons and the army they have amassed find their way to the mountains of the Spine, Farden finds himself in the world of the dead where he discovers the Grimsayer (a great tome which notes everyone who has ever passed through all of time) and he believes will save Elessi. He has to bargain with Hel who is the guardian and protector of the dead. She is also, as we learn, the sister of Loki, the young god who has become cunning and treacherous and travels with Farden.
Searching through the underworld he eventually finds the Scalussen armour and with its protection emerges into the battle which is already raging and finally faces Samara.
So ends the Emaneska series which I have thoroughly enjoyed although I do think Part Four could have been a couple of hundred pages less. We already new what was going to happen because we were prepared in Part Three, so the two books could have been combined into one and given possibly six hundred pages rather than a thousand to read but this is nitpicking and I apologise for that. That is my only reason for a 4. Nevertheless a cracking series.
Searching through the underworld he eventually finds the Scalussen armour and with its protection emerges into the battle which is already raging and finally faces Samara.
So ends the Emaneska series which I have thoroughly enjoyed although I do think Part Four could have been a couple of hundred pages less. We already new what was going to happen because we were prepared in Part Three, so the two books could have been combined into one and given possibly six hundred pages rather than a thousand to read but this is nitpicking and I apologise for that. That is my only reason for a 4. Nevertheless a cracking series.
January 20, 2023
Book Review - Dead Stars Part 2
So we come to the end of the Emaneska Series.
I’ve had such a great time with this series in the main. Book 1 & 2 were fantastic with book 3 being good.
Book 4 was on a similar trend to book 3. It was a good book but not what I was expecting.
Dead Star Part 2 is the 4th and final book in the Emaneska series and you’re like me I was thinking this book was set up to deliver a definitive ending. Unfortunately I didn’t get that, this book felt to me like a stepping stone to another book/series.
This book spent so word count building up different characters that didn’t move this story forward.
Again this lead me to the though that Ben was laying the ground work for future books, unfortunately this distracted me from the main story.
Did you get a conclusion, yes, but I just felt it was lacking from the big finale you would expect from a final book.
You still get all the great things from the previous books, great magic, mythical creatures plus daemons/gods and some very detailed action scenes.
Taking the book in isolation it was a great 4 star read, so please if you’re thinking of checking out this series, I would still recommend it.
Ben has more books out set in the same world I will be checking them out in the near future maybe some of the extended plot points will be seen there.
Rating 7/10 ⭐️
So we come to the end of the Emaneska Series.
I’ve had such a great time with this series in the main. Book 1 & 2 were fantastic with book 3 being good.
Book 4 was on a similar trend to book 3. It was a good book but not what I was expecting.
Dead Star Part 2 is the 4th and final book in the Emaneska series and you’re like me I was thinking this book was set up to deliver a definitive ending. Unfortunately I didn’t get that, this book felt to me like a stepping stone to another book/series.
This book spent so word count building up different characters that didn’t move this story forward.
Again this lead me to the though that Ben was laying the ground work for future books, unfortunately this distracted me from the main story.
Did you get a conclusion, yes, but I just felt it was lacking from the big finale you would expect from a final book.
You still get all the great things from the previous books, great magic, mythical creatures plus daemons/gods and some very detailed action scenes.
Taking the book in isolation it was a great 4 star read, so please if you’re thinking of checking out this series, I would still recommend it.
Ben has more books out set in the same world I will be checking them out in the near future maybe some of the extended plot points will be seen there.
Rating 7/10 ⭐️
September 14, 2025
i skipped book 3, and boy am i glad i did. i barely got through book 2 and i knew could not do two more, but i was curious about what would happen to the world and its characters (even though by this time i barely cared). so i read a few reviews that summarized book 3 and then dove into this one.
and honestly, i don’t even know if those summaries were necessary. a lot of people wrote that and i can tell you that without even reading it i was not one bit lost and wished i could skip half the chapters in this one as well.
the problem though lies with the fact that i didn’t dislike most of the characters, and i don’t mind the world, i just found it so frustratingly slow. and not cozy slow. like i-couldn’t-even-keep-my-eyes-open slow. this whole series could’ve been two books in my opinion.
and maybe that’s just the weakness of self-publishing: no editing for grammar, spelling, or common sense, and apparently no trimming of superfluous material.
and honestly, i don’t even know if those summaries were necessary. a lot of people wrote that and i can tell you that without even reading it i was not one bit lost and wished i could skip half the chapters in this one as well.
the problem though lies with the fact that i didn’t dislike most of the characters, and i don’t mind the world, i just found it so frustratingly slow. and not cozy slow. like i-couldn’t-even-keep-my-eyes-open slow. this whole series could’ve been two books in my opinion.
and maybe that’s just the weakness of self-publishing: no editing for grammar, spelling, or common sense, and apparently no trimming of superfluous material.
March 20, 2023
Great ending to the series. Really thought Galley tied up a lot of ends very neatly, and I finished the book feeling satisfied and also excited for more from the world of Emaneska. At this point, if youre this far along, youre gonna read this book regardless, but know it does not dissapoint. I do feel like there was less magic and fighting in this book and a lot more story telling, but I didn't notice it throughout - i typically like my fight scenes and whatnot, but there was a lot of really interesting side quests n things throughout this one that didnt detract from the reading experience.
March 2, 2019
Absolutely fantastic
Can’t remember if I starred all the books, if not sorry - they all get 5*. Absolutely no point starting with this book it’s the last one. Buy them all and start st the beginning then lose a few days as you read them all, non- stop. Looking forward, very much, to whatever Ben Galley dreams up next - it’s bound to be interesting.
Can’t remember if I starred all the books, if not sorry - they all get 5*. Absolutely no point starting with this book it’s the last one. Buy them all and start st the beginning then lose a few days as you read them all, non- stop. Looking forward, very much, to whatever Ben Galley dreams up next - it’s bound to be interesting.
May 16, 2019
Fantastic story! All of it.
So well written , could hardly put the book(s) down. And yet, I was dreading the end, because then it would be over.
So you can imagine my joy when I heard from the author himself no less that there's more of Emaneska to be read!
Also, give him a follow, he's a very nice guy. And better yet, READ HIS BOOKS 😉
So well written , could hardly put the book(s) down. And yet, I was dreading the end, because then it would be over.
So you can imagine my joy when I heard from the author himself no less that there's more of Emaneska to be read!
Also, give him a follow, he's a very nice guy. And better yet, READ HIS BOOKS 😉
May 10, 2020
Fantastic finish! Great series, magik, mages, werewolves, vampires, dragons, gods, demons, love, hate, trust, regret, sadness, joy and practically everything else. It's taken me an age to get through all four books, what with life and that, but every opportunity was taken and I was totally invested in Farden! Thank you Ben Galley!
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