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Twinborn Trilogy #2
Aethersmith
War has come to Veydrus.
As Kyrus Hinterdale and Brannis Solaran work to understand the intricacies of their Twinborn connection, they must also analyze and unravel the game Jinzan and Denrick played to get a step ahead of them. While planning a war, and coming to terms with Juliana’s impending wedding to Iridan, Brannis knows that he needs to feed Kyrus more advanced magical knowledge and training if they ever hope to keep the Kadrin empire from destruction.
However, just as plans are starting to come together, a spell of Kyrus’ goes very wrong, and the two find themselves in an even bigger dilemma than ever. With the help of other Twinborn, they struggle to gain the upper hand in the war, and set everything back as it should be.
As Kyrus Hinterdale and Brannis Solaran work to understand the intricacies of their Twinborn connection, they must also analyze and unravel the game Jinzan and Denrick played to get a step ahead of them. While planning a war, and coming to terms with Juliana’s impending wedding to Iridan, Brannis knows that he needs to feed Kyrus more advanced magical knowledge and training if they ever hope to keep the Kadrin empire from destruction.
However, just as plans are starting to come together, a spell of Kyrus’ goes very wrong, and the two find themselves in an even bigger dilemma than ever. With the help of other Twinborn, they struggle to gain the upper hand in the war, and set everything back as it should be.
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2013
48 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Morin
192 books611 followersI am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 26, 2013
In full disclosure I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Holy crap this book is even more amazing than book one of the series! How is that even possible? The concept is original and just like book one it is perfectly executed.
There are a lot more twinborns in this book. The plot is more complex than the first book, with multiple story threads, points of views and plot. The truly amazing thing about all this it that even though it is complex, with so much going on, it really should make the reader’s head explode, but the author is so talented at explaining what is happening it rarely gets confusing or hard to follow. Not only does the author explain the story in such a way that it is easy to follow, but it is done in a natural way and it doesn’t feel like an explanation.
About the only time it could get confusing, was a result of having so many twinborns I had a hard time remembering who some of the secondary character’s twin was. They were usually named but sometimes I found I would need more detail to help me remember exactly who they were, especially early on. But this really was only a minor problem and for the most part the extra twins made the story even more interesting.
The descriptions are once again perfect, they are of high detail, allowing the reader to visualise the amazing worlds in the story, but not to the extent that it slows down the pacing or becomes boring.
The pacing and balance of the story was better than the first. Because of the nature of the first book, which was primarily focused on the Brannis/Kyrus point-of-view, and only switched when one of them fell asleep, it would occasionally spend too much time on action or too much time on a slower plot point then was natural. But because of all the extra characters in this book, this didn’t happen and the flow was much better.
The characters are once again fantastic, they have amazing but believable personalities. With the strengthening bond between Brannis and Kyrus their personalities begin to merge. But they still manage to remain individuals. The thoughts each character has, and the emotions they have are amongst some of the strongest writing in this amazing book.
Just like the first book, no-one is completely good or evil, they are much more complex than that. The good people have bad traits or sometimes do bad things, and the evil characters have good traits and sometimes do good things. Just like real-life, no-one see’s themselves as evil. Also there are plenty of people who you are left uncertain whether they are good or evil.
There are a couple of love triangles going on (possible better described as a love square), this is made even more complex as some of the characters involved are twinborns and share at least some of the feelings of their twin.
There are many very clever and well thought out ideas, some of them are large pieces of complex plot, but others are small details that help make the story more realistic and its characters more believable.
As well as Brannis and Kyrus personalities merging, their two worlds also are starting to blend. Magic is becoming more prominent in Kyrus’s home and technology is more prevalent in Brannis’s world. The two blended in such a way that there are things that incorporate ideas from both worlds (such as flying ships)
Sometimes it was clear what path a plot point would lead, but it was still exciting to read about as you want to find out exactly what happens once it gets there.
This book is even bigger than it appears, the edition I read had 445 page, but it also has a fairly small print and so much happens in this story it easily feels like a book with twice as many pages, but in a good way.
The book has a more epic feel to it, and you get to see more what is happening in the two worlds.
The book does continue the plot from the last one, and does develop the series wide story leaving some plot open for the final book in the series. But it doesn’t suffer with the normal ‘middle book’ problems, and is a strong story in its own right and doesn’t leave too many threads open.
One of my few real criticisms for this one was that at one point the characters are able to send messages to their twins while awake. This seemed inconsistent with the first book and most of the second and it wasn’t how I had perceived how the two worlds worked.
If you enjoyed the first book then you will love this book as well. It is even better (and I thought book one was close to perfection.) The story is more complex but the author skillfully writes it in such a way that it is never confusing. How he was able to keep up with everything while he was writing without leaving massive plot holes or without his head exploding I will probably never know. The characters expand and continue to impress on every level. The concept is original, something hard to do these days with any fantasy novel. I am eagerly awaiting the final book in the series, but also a little sad, because once I’ve read it this amazing series will be over. I really hope the author has more great ideas, either for the two worlds featured in this series or a new one.
Holy crap this book is even more amazing than book one of the series! How is that even possible? The concept is original and just like book one it is perfectly executed.
There are a lot more twinborns in this book. The plot is more complex than the first book, with multiple story threads, points of views and plot. The truly amazing thing about all this it that even though it is complex, with so much going on, it really should make the reader’s head explode, but the author is so talented at explaining what is happening it rarely gets confusing or hard to follow. Not only does the author explain the story in such a way that it is easy to follow, but it is done in a natural way and it doesn’t feel like an explanation.
About the only time it could get confusing, was a result of having so many twinborns I had a hard time remembering who some of the secondary character’s twin was. They were usually named but sometimes I found I would need more detail to help me remember exactly who they were, especially early on. But this really was only a minor problem and for the most part the extra twins made the story even more interesting.
The descriptions are once again perfect, they are of high detail, allowing the reader to visualise the amazing worlds in the story, but not to the extent that it slows down the pacing or becomes boring.
The pacing and balance of the story was better than the first. Because of the nature of the first book, which was primarily focused on the Brannis/Kyrus point-of-view, and only switched when one of them fell asleep, it would occasionally spend too much time on action or too much time on a slower plot point then was natural. But because of all the extra characters in this book, this didn’t happen and the flow was much better.
The characters are once again fantastic, they have amazing but believable personalities. With the strengthening bond between Brannis and Kyrus their personalities begin to merge. But they still manage to remain individuals. The thoughts each character has, and the emotions they have are amongst some of the strongest writing in this amazing book.
Just like the first book, no-one is completely good or evil, they are much more complex than that. The good people have bad traits or sometimes do bad things, and the evil characters have good traits and sometimes do good things. Just like real-life, no-one see’s themselves as evil. Also there are plenty of people who you are left uncertain whether they are good or evil.
There are a couple of love triangles going on (possible better described as a love square), this is made even more complex as some of the characters involved are twinborns and share at least some of the feelings of their twin.
There are many very clever and well thought out ideas, some of them are large pieces of complex plot, but others are small details that help make the story more realistic and its characters more believable.
As well as Brannis and Kyrus personalities merging, their two worlds also are starting to blend. Magic is becoming more prominent in Kyrus’s home and technology is more prevalent in Brannis’s world. The two blended in such a way that there are things that incorporate ideas from both worlds (such as flying ships)
Sometimes it was clear what path a plot point would lead, but it was still exciting to read about as you want to find out exactly what happens once it gets there.
This book is even bigger than it appears, the edition I read had 445 page, but it also has a fairly small print and so much happens in this story it easily feels like a book with twice as many pages, but in a good way.
The book has a more epic feel to it, and you get to see more what is happening in the two worlds.
The book does continue the plot from the last one, and does develop the series wide story leaving some plot open for the final book in the series. But it doesn’t suffer with the normal ‘middle book’ problems, and is a strong story in its own right and doesn’t leave too many threads open.
One of my few real criticisms for this one was that at one point the characters are able to send messages to their twins while awake. This seemed inconsistent with the first book and most of the second and it wasn’t how I had perceived how the two worlds worked.
If you enjoyed the first book then you will love this book as well. It is even better (and I thought book one was close to perfection.) The story is more complex but the author skillfully writes it in such a way that it is never confusing. How he was able to keep up with everything while he was writing without leaving massive plot holes or without his head exploding I will probably never know. The characters expand and continue to impress on every level. The concept is original, something hard to do these days with any fantasy novel. I am eagerly awaiting the final book in the series, but also a little sad, because once I’ve read it this amazing series will be over. I really hope the author has more great ideas, either for the two worlds featured in this series or a new one.
July 2, 2013
Loved this book. I sometimes find myself frustrated by books with many points of view, but I am really enjoying it here. Can't wait to find out how it ends.
August 7, 2014
After declaring Firehurler the best independently published fantasy book I've ever read, you can imagine I came to its sequel, Aethersmith, with lofty expectations. Were they matched?
Well, yes actually, they were.
The story picks up exactly where it left off, and the quality of prose hasn't dipped from the climactic ending of Firehurler. Morin has found his feet as a writer and while he doesn't set the world on fire in that regard he knows how to weave a good tale and how to prevent his own words from getting in the way of expressing said tale.
I likened Firehurler to the classics of the genre from the 70s and 80s. The Gemmell and Feist and Brooks and Eddings of the world. This is more of the same and a much needed respite from the dark and moody cloak and dagger of modern fantasy.
While its roots lie in traditional fantasy, it refrains from moral absolutism in the best way possible, leaving you as a reader to make your own determinations about the motivations of the characters. It was about half way through reading this that I genuinely started to empathise with Jinzan Fehr in a way I hadn't previously in the series.
When it comes to characters, Morin is superb. The ever-dominating presence of Rashan Solaran is a delight to read, and the unique twinborn concept allows a character to be two people at once. Brannis/Kyrus is our protagonist for the most part but there are other interesting pairings that might surprise you along the way.
What should be the book's major selling point can also be to its detriment at times, as Morin struggles with the grandiosity of having so many points of view. This led to a period of confusion as the book started to heat up but it is a forgiveable error given the quality of the story told.
The tale is more complex than that of Firehurler, with the ramifications of Rashan's rise now being challenged, albeit not openly, by both the enemy nation and his own subjects.
Iridan cuts a tragic figure in this tale, and his is a steady descent that culminates in dire circumstances. He is forced into marrying the love of his best friend Brannis, a woman who has no interest in him.
My favourite plot line was that of Brannis and Kyrus, but I cannot elucidate further without spoiling it. Sufficed to say the nature of being twinborn is fully explored and it's delightful to see it unfold.
One of the biggest problems with Aethersmith is that it suffers from middle book syndrome. The majority of the world-building has been done by Firehurler and to combat that Morin has introduced more points of view. Unfortunately he can't draw the tale to a satisfying conclusion because that has been left for the third volume.
I could go on for days about the various characters and their cleverly intertwined stories, but sufficed to say if you've come to this review as a fan of Firehurler and are wondering if the sequel is worth the price then yes, yes it is.
Aethersmith, despite being the middle book the series, serves its purpose and does so with aplomb. There's a twin of J.S. Morin on some other world who is a best-selling fantasy author. I only hope he can emulate that man's achievements because based on the strength of this work, he deserves it.
Well, yes actually, they were.
The story picks up exactly where it left off, and the quality of prose hasn't dipped from the climactic ending of Firehurler. Morin has found his feet as a writer and while he doesn't set the world on fire in that regard he knows how to weave a good tale and how to prevent his own words from getting in the way of expressing said tale.
I likened Firehurler to the classics of the genre from the 70s and 80s. The Gemmell and Feist and Brooks and Eddings of the world. This is more of the same and a much needed respite from the dark and moody cloak and dagger of modern fantasy.
While its roots lie in traditional fantasy, it refrains from moral absolutism in the best way possible, leaving you as a reader to make your own determinations about the motivations of the characters. It was about half way through reading this that I genuinely started to empathise with Jinzan Fehr in a way I hadn't previously in the series.
When it comes to characters, Morin is superb. The ever-dominating presence of Rashan Solaran is a delight to read, and the unique twinborn concept allows a character to be two people at once. Brannis/Kyrus is our protagonist for the most part but there are other interesting pairings that might surprise you along the way.
What should be the book's major selling point can also be to its detriment at times, as Morin struggles with the grandiosity of having so many points of view. This led to a period of confusion as the book started to heat up but it is a forgiveable error given the quality of the story told.
The tale is more complex than that of Firehurler, with the ramifications of Rashan's rise now being challenged, albeit not openly, by both the enemy nation and his own subjects.
Iridan cuts a tragic figure in this tale, and his is a steady descent that culminates in dire circumstances. He is forced into marrying the love of his best friend Brannis, a woman who has no interest in him.
My favourite plot line was that of Brannis and Kyrus, but I cannot elucidate further without spoiling it. Sufficed to say the nature of being twinborn is fully explored and it's delightful to see it unfold.
One of the biggest problems with Aethersmith is that it suffers from middle book syndrome. The majority of the world-building has been done by Firehurler and to combat that Morin has introduced more points of view. Unfortunately he can't draw the tale to a satisfying conclusion because that has been left for the third volume.
I could go on for days about the various characters and their cleverly intertwined stories, but sufficed to say if you've come to this review as a fan of Firehurler and are wondering if the sequel is worth the price then yes, yes it is.
Aethersmith, despite being the middle book the series, serves its purpose and does so with aplomb. There's a twin of J.S. Morin on some other world who is a best-selling fantasy author. I only hope he can emulate that man's achievements because based on the strength of this work, he deserves it.
June 3, 2020
Aethersmith was beautifully written. JS Morin really envelops you in this world. Every word draws you in and makes you feel like you are there. I absolutely loved this book. So much better than the first book. It didn't take that long for me to get into it. There were so many more twinborns in this. Even though there were many more viewpoints and it got confusing, it was still such a great read! I cant wait to finish the last book in this series.
June 2, 2013
Aethersmith is a great second book from the trilogy continuing all the intrigue from Firehurler. The reader gets to explore more of both worlds as the story weaves itself through new lands in each world. As I had hoped, more characters are revealed to be twins. Some of the twins are new characters but others are already familiar. There is alway the question, Who else might be a twin?
As with Firehurler, the detail of Aethersmith envelopes the reader in two worlds that seem very real, and characters that seem more like friends. Very well written. I couldn't stop reading. I can't wait for more!
As with Firehurler, the detail of Aethersmith envelopes the reader in two worlds that seem very real, and characters that seem more like friends. Very well written. I couldn't stop reading. I can't wait for more!
June 5, 2013
I sat down and read through it in 2 days! I can't wait for the last book to come out!
December 5, 2015
I'm really enjoying the twinborn idea
July 4, 2019
I found myself uninterested, unaffected, and full of boredom listening to this second book in the series. Nothing actually happened in this book over than the characters understanding their Twinborn identity. Characters from the last book, plots from the last book, and even character development from the last book never transferred over to this book. I failed to grasp why this book was written. Was it written so that we could get to know the characters better while following their day to day life? Where is the mystery, the depth, the details? Over and over again chapters and sections ended with people bedding each other, is that the only way a day can end in this world? Please use your magic, use your characters, your weapons, your armor, your grand idea! What makes me so mad about this series so far is that there is soooooo much potential to it and yet at every turn, nothing happens. Even the ending account of someone being affected in a major way in the story happened in a flash and ended in a pointless way. . . ohhhhh if only this book reached its full potential! If only. . . . .
February 26, 2020
The concept of twin born is amazing concept of two individuals born of the same source living on two different worlds, parallel lives but not really, one of world and magic one of science, loved the first book lots of action and adventure but takes a bit to understand the switching back and forth between worlds and individuals but loved it. Book 2 brought us further into the world of twin borns and gave me so much insight looking forward to book 3 .Please read this book so worth it
September 15, 2019
Superbly written masterpiece. I thought that this book would not be as good as the first seeing that the whole twinborn premise was no longer new and surprising, however the author managed to deliver quite a few surprises and twists I had not seen coming and this was a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read.
Really looking forward to book 3.
Really looking forward to book 3.
May 27, 2020
Started out a bit hard to get into, but the world/s flesh out well as the story continues.. And I really enjoyed the hardships of the characters. .the intrigue and flip flops of information from one world to the other.
February 17, 2022
Wow!
Occasionally you head will spin trying to keep straight who is who but its all worth it in the end. If you enjoy well developed characters and a fast-paced story this is for you.
Occasionally you head will spin trying to keep straight who is who but its all worth it in the end. If you enjoy well developed characters and a fast-paced story this is for you.
April 5, 2023
This book is full of plot twists. It is very well done and leaves you guessing as to what will happen next. It has a fast pace that doesn't cause you to get bored or wish for more action. Along with that, it shows more character growth and explains more about how being twinborn works.
January 19, 2024
The plot is compelling and mutifacited, but i found that Kyrus and Brannis's story was my favorite to follow as the world's conflict flowed like a river to the sea of war.
This trilogy is long but so worth the read. It's a truly unique world build. I love the magical structure.
This trilogy is long but so worth the read. It's a truly unique world build. I love the magical structure.
November 19, 2017
Druhý díl je poněkud jiný než první, ale pořád nepředvídatelný a zajímavý. Není bez chyb, zvlášť postav je až moc, ale celkově velmi dobré.
April 3, 2018
Incredible. I couldnt put this down!
Another great installment in this excellent series. The characters are developing further and the plot is thickening, I just love it. On to book #3!
Another great installment in this excellent series. The characters are developing further and the plot is thickening, I just love it. On to book #3!
March 4, 2019
Meh. I didn't realize it was possible to jump the shark in fantasy, but there you have it.
March 5, 2019
I really like this world - looking forward to reading the rest of the book.
December 13, 2019
Another excellent installment.
July 17, 2022
These books have been a pleasant surprise. I've sometimes found it difficult to keep all the characters straight, but I'm interested in finding out how it all ends.
May 9, 2025
I like the characters but found myself taking a lot of breaks getting through this series.
January 19, 2014
Second in this fantasy trilogy. Not as compelling as the first, and probably hard to get into if you haven’t read the first, but as I was already hooked by the first installment, I pushed on through this one to find out what would happen to the range of characters that I’ve grown interested in, and the range of conflicts they’re experiencing. The first book was more about the concept of the twinborn—two hero characters, Kyrus and Brannis, who live each other’s life experience in their separate, very different worlds each night when they sleep—and how they come to share knowledge to help each other succeed, also affecting cultural, political, and social changes in their respective societies in the process.
In this book, we shift to a more complex intellectual framework to evaluate and comprehend what’s going on. We become aware of several more cases of twinborn between these two worlds, some pairings just awakening to their connections, others so advanced they merge in their minds and speech to the point of almost working as one individual in both places. Some are adept enough to make the connection for a bit even while awake and at will, and much of the plot revolves around characters forming alliances with other twinborn they discover to advance their causes in one world by plotting and using advantages in the other.
This already elaborate plot construct goes even deeper when Kyrus uses his incredible but unrealized and largely untrained Source power to switch places with Brannis—so now on top of everything else they must impersonate each other, even while having different skills and abilities. At least they’re both really nice guys—so we as readers have no moral dilemma, rooting for both to succeed, even while we come to see that many other characters are not who or what they seem on the surface, and there are ambiguities aplenty about whom or whom not to trust as wars intensify, internal plots for coup d’etats develop, and there are several jealous and possessive women—and men—characters trying to obtain their love interest in one world by manipulations in the other. I am looking forward to book three for what sort of resolutions will be offered.
In this book, we shift to a more complex intellectual framework to evaluate and comprehend what’s going on. We become aware of several more cases of twinborn between these two worlds, some pairings just awakening to their connections, others so advanced they merge in their minds and speech to the point of almost working as one individual in both places. Some are adept enough to make the connection for a bit even while awake and at will, and much of the plot revolves around characters forming alliances with other twinborn they discover to advance their causes in one world by plotting and using advantages in the other.
This already elaborate plot construct goes even deeper when Kyrus uses his incredible but unrealized and largely untrained Source power to switch places with Brannis—so now on top of everything else they must impersonate each other, even while having different skills and abilities. At least they’re both really nice guys—so we as readers have no moral dilemma, rooting for both to succeed, even while we come to see that many other characters are not who or what they seem on the surface, and there are ambiguities aplenty about whom or whom not to trust as wars intensify, internal plots for coup d’etats develop, and there are several jealous and possessive women—and men—characters trying to obtain their love interest in one world by manipulations in the other. I am looking forward to book three for what sort of resolutions will be offered.
December 29, 2013
The second book in the Twinborn Trilogy was a very good book although I believe the first book was better. The second book in a trilogy suffers sometimes since the world building and intrigue has already been shaped and a true conclusion to the story won’t happen until the next book. This book has a bit of that as well.
Overall the story was good and the characters continue their development. Many new characters are introduced in the first half that add a much deeper level to the plot although I personally found that a few too many were introduced. You never really care about the new people, other than Soria possibly, as much as the original characters in the first book. Brannis and Kyrus are still my favourites by far and I really want to see how their story finishes up. The plot and war definitely heat up in the second book and the twinborn combinations make things interesting.
The magic system and work of the sorcerers is something I’ve really enjoyed in this series although I think Rashan was made far too powerful. I understand the need to make him powerful and the most feared man on the planet but you almost wonder why Kadrin even needs an army with his ability to appear anywhere he want and defeat all enemies with ease. Even the most powerful sorcerers know their limits but Rashan was created so far above the normal magical limits that it borders on ridiculous at times.
The first book contained a little mystery - largely with how the twinborn stuff worked and with Rashan’s appearance. There wasn’t as much intrigue on a macro level but the second book does have more of this which I enjoyed. Secret plots and mysteries are a great driver of interest for me and the second book improved in this area.
Certainly looking forward to the final book!
4/5
Overall the story was good and the characters continue their development. Many new characters are introduced in the first half that add a much deeper level to the plot although I personally found that a few too many were introduced. You never really care about the new people, other than Soria possibly, as much as the original characters in the first book. Brannis and Kyrus are still my favourites by far and I really want to see how their story finishes up. The plot and war definitely heat up in the second book and the twinborn combinations make things interesting.
The magic system and work of the sorcerers is something I’ve really enjoyed in this series although I think Rashan was made far too powerful. I understand the need to make him powerful and the most feared man on the planet but you almost wonder why Kadrin even needs an army with his ability to appear anywhere he want and defeat all enemies with ease. Even the most powerful sorcerers know their limits but Rashan was created so far above the normal magical limits that it borders on ridiculous at times.
The first book contained a little mystery - largely with how the twinborn stuff worked and with Rashan’s appearance. There wasn’t as much intrigue on a macro level but the second book does have more of this which I enjoyed. Secret plots and mysteries are a great driver of interest for me and the second book improved in this area.
Certainly looking forward to the final book!
4/5
August 13, 2015
I won't mince words, this was better than Firehurler. I liked Firehurler so much that I didn't think it was possible for the middle book of a trilogy to be better than the first, but JS Morin has done it.
I'm not going to jinx him by comparing his world to that of any other, but my advice is that you make up your own mind. I have and I'll tell that so far it compares favorably with the first two novels of any writer of speculative fiction I've ever read. Since I have been reading such books since about 1955, I've read a lot of them.
I won't declare a single episode my favorite because there are too many to count - and I don't/won't ruin one for you by revealing any Spoilers.
For the two books and one short story I've read of Morin's, the following holds true:
1. The man can tell a story! So far the characters have been very well thought out, the plot is strong and consistant and events move logically.
2. The characters feel real. While they may be in the author's universe, you know someone who acts like Morin's characters.
3. The characters are adults and real, except for the characters who are children, tween or teens, but the are also real.
4. The characters do what same aged people do. Adults drink, make fools of themselves, act nobley, have affairs and all that goes along with living and dying. BUT, the stories don't read like some salacious romance novels.
5. The publication has way too many frustrating, nagging errors. As to where when how with too from as missing, transposed or used incorrectly. I am going to talk with Mr. Morin on Goodreads and ask why. Maybe Word doesn't communicate with the publication formats used to get your work online.
My next read will be the next in this series.
I guess that's the bottom line. I'm willing to pay for Mr. Morin's books.
I'm not going to jinx him by comparing his world to that of any other, but my advice is that you make up your own mind. I have and I'll tell that so far it compares favorably with the first two novels of any writer of speculative fiction I've ever read. Since I have been reading such books since about 1955, I've read a lot of them.
I won't declare a single episode my favorite because there are too many to count - and I don't/won't ruin one for you by revealing any Spoilers.
For the two books and one short story I've read of Morin's, the following holds true:
1. The man can tell a story! So far the characters have been very well thought out, the plot is strong and consistant and events move logically.
2. The characters feel real. While they may be in the author's universe, you know someone who acts like Morin's characters.
3. The characters are adults and real, except for the characters who are children, tween or teens, but the are also real.
4. The characters do what same aged people do. Adults drink, make fools of themselves, act nobley, have affairs and all that goes along with living and dying. BUT, the stories don't read like some salacious romance novels.
5. The publication has way too many frustrating, nagging errors. As to where when how with too from as missing, transposed or used incorrectly. I am going to talk with Mr. Morin on Goodreads and ask why. Maybe Word doesn't communicate with the publication formats used to get your work online.
My next read will be the next in this series.
I guess that's the bottom line. I'm willing to pay for Mr. Morin's books.
April 21, 2014
Aethersmith - Book 2 of the Twinborn Trilogy by J.S. Morin is a fast paced, action packed fantasy adventure that will keep you on your toes. This book will appeal to both the adult and YA fantasy readers.
The author did an excellent job of developing a storyline that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let you go. The story is full of twist and turns and never gets boring. At the same time the book is easy to follow and keep up with if you pay attention.
I like the way J.S. Morin develops his characters in this second volume of the trilogy. You can see the personality and strength of each character blossom and grow. The characters are real to life and easy to identify with.
I really enjoyed reading Aethersmith by J.S. Morin and I highly recommend this book to all readers.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
The author did an excellent job of developing a storyline that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let you go. The story is full of twist and turns and never gets boring. At the same time the book is easy to follow and keep up with if you pay attention.
I like the way J.S. Morin develops his characters in this second volume of the trilogy. You can see the personality and strength of each character blossom and grow. The characters are real to life and easy to identify with.
I really enjoyed reading Aethersmith by J.S. Morin and I highly recommend this book to all readers.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
January 26, 2021
I enjoyed this book, choosing to start reading over other activities. It is easy reading fun with interesting characters and an intriguing mystery. It's not deep philosophy or high literature but it is well written and has relatable moments and characters I enjoyed getting to know more.
July 23, 2014
Defo up there with the great fantasy reads of the past 10-20 years...same with book 1 and 3
January 20, 2015
another fantastic book, can't wait to read the last book!
November 27, 2013
Starts slowly, but when it picks up speed it's wonderful. Loved it!
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