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Angst #2
Buried in Angst
A little flirting never hurt anyone, right? It takes more than just a new job and a new mount to resolve a midlife crisis, but will the temptation of a younger woman really make it better? Angst had found the adventure he was looking for and got to be the hero, but those days are behind him. To save the ones he loves most, he had to sacrifice his bond with the sword that allowed him to be a hero. Now, Unsel faces a new threat. With the mysterious destruction of a large coastal city, Angst sets out to discover the cause. He soon learns that a war between the Elements is coming, and humans are in the way. It’s hard to fight back when Angst is dying, the removal of his bond to the great sword Chryslaenor slowly killing him. Angst needs a sword to live, but Chryslaenor has been stolen! His friends reluctantly join him on another quest, but where do they start? Rose is missing, Angst’s focus and spirit is broken, he has somehow upset the Elements of Ehrde, and a newcomer wants to overtake the throne. What could make things worse? Perhaps a kiss from Princess Victoria’s younger cousin, Alloria? Buried in Angst is David J. Pedersen’s long awaited sequel to his first fantasy novel, Angst. Join Angst and his friends as they continue… A Midlife Crisis in Medieval Times
- GenresFantasy
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2013
13 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
David J. Pedersen
12 books39 followersDavid J. Pedersen is a native of Racine, WI who resides in Kansas City, MO. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He has worked in sales, management, retail, video and film production, and IT. David has run 2 marathons, climbed several 14,000 foot mountains and marched in Thee University of Wisconsin Marching Band. He is a geek and a fanboy that enjoys carousing, picking on his wife and kids, playing video games, and slowly muddling through his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 29, 2013
There is only one reason I didn't give this a 5 Star review, that's my own expectations. No fault of the author but I was expecting to be laughing through the book as I did with the first book. I did not.
However with reason, this is a much more serious tale, greater dangers faced.Probably more grown up.
Together both books come together to create a tale that begs to be continued - and while this is spoilery - will be. Don't expect a resolution to the greater story. There is another book coming.
David Pedersen is one of my favourite current authors - and certainly the most approachable and engaging online, and this did not disappoint...
although I could have used a few more laughs ...
However with reason, this is a much more serious tale, greater dangers faced.Probably more grown up.
Together both books come together to create a tale that begs to be continued - and while this is spoilery - will be. Don't expect a resolution to the greater story. There is another book coming.
David Pedersen is one of my favourite current authors - and certainly the most approachable and engaging online, and this did not disappoint...
although I could have used a few more laughs ...
June 5, 2013
What a fun adventure! The ending really surprised me and I'm definitely looking forward to the third installment in the series!
April 5, 2020
Fun continues in this next adventure, Angst gets into so much trouble. I love how he tries to do the right thing for everyone, but the future is against him. Can’t wait to see how he fixes this mess.
March 27, 2021
This is the second Angst book, Buried in Angst has more surprises in it, and not like twists and turns (though there are a few of those.) This is not your typical trope filled fantasy.
Pedersen once again takes the well known and gives it a breath of fresh air. Playing with the genre in a way that only someone who truly loves fantasy can. It’s hard to describe just how much these books feel like home for a fantasy reader while also feeling like something completely different. Like staying in an AirB’nB that has the same floor layout as your home but all the furniture is in different places. The book has an air of the unexpected.
Angst defies description in any normal terms of a fantasy hero. He’s middle aged, he’s got marital problems, he’s got bad habits, he’s too friendly with a certain princess, but he’s got a heart of gold and would sacrifice anything for his friends.
The story pivots around the fallout from the first book. The collateral damage that is bound to happen when large magical battles take place aren’t often the subject matter or fantasy novels. Here that collateral damage comes back to bit Angst and Unsel in the behind.
Becoming a hero isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Possible spoilers ahead.
So with all that said, do I still like the book? Yes. If it were billed as a YA novel I might have more of a problem accepting it. This is a book for people in midlife and it’s refreshing to have flawed heros (who are flawed in unexpected ways.) It refreshing to have midlife issues addressed in an epic fantasy story, even if they make me uncomfortable. I haven’t read the 3rd book yet but I am hoping it shows some growth in Angst’s character in this area.
Bottom Line:
A fantasy novel that defies expectations and throws troupes out the window. I’d recommend it for mature readers.
Pedersen once again takes the well known and gives it a breath of fresh air. Playing with the genre in a way that only someone who truly loves fantasy can. It’s hard to describe just how much these books feel like home for a fantasy reader while also feeling like something completely different. Like staying in an AirB’nB that has the same floor layout as your home but all the furniture is in different places. The book has an air of the unexpected.
Angst defies description in any normal terms of a fantasy hero. He’s middle aged, he’s got marital problems, he’s got bad habits, he’s too friendly with a certain princess, but he’s got a heart of gold and would sacrifice anything for his friends.
The story pivots around the fallout from the first book. The collateral damage that is bound to happen when large magical battles take place aren’t often the subject matter or fantasy novels. Here that collateral damage comes back to bit Angst and Unsel in the behind.
Becoming a hero isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Possible spoilers ahead.
So with all that said, do I still like the book? Yes. If it were billed as a YA novel I might have more of a problem accepting it. This is a book for people in midlife and it’s refreshing to have flawed heros (who are flawed in unexpected ways.) It refreshing to have midlife issues addressed in an epic fantasy story, even if they make me uncomfortable. I haven’t read the 3rd book yet but I am hoping it shows some growth in Angst’s character in this area.
Bottom Line:
A fantasy novel that defies expectations and throws troupes out the window. I’d recommend it for mature readers.
June 3, 2013
Angst returns and life has not been the sunshine and roses he might have expected after realizing his dreams of becoming a hero of Unsel. In saving those he loved he was forced to separate himself from his magic sword Chryslaenor and it’s killing him. Literally.
If that wasn’t bad enough, a stranger shows up from a recently destroyed coastal city and trouble looms. It soon comes to Angst’s attention that the elements themselves have gone to war. Couple this with his sword being stolen, a friend going missing and the fact that he’s dying and things are bound to be more.. Angsty.
And this title holds especially true in the sequel. While the first book of the series had a lighter tone, the sequel presents a more somber tone. When you consider everything happening to Unsel, Ehrde and even Angst, I suppose that is to be expected. I can’t remember too many laughs, I read a pre-release copy of the book and it’s been a short while but I can remember being very much taken by the story as it rolled out.
It’s a darker fantasy novel than the first book but still satisfying. It’s even better than the first, which is high praise given how much I enjoyed Angst. If you were only interested in Angst due to the comedy, you’ll be disappointed with Buried in Angst. But if you grew to care about Angst, Heather, Victoria, Rose, Tarness, Hector and Dallow then you will be happy to reunite with old friends and learn what has come to pass and what new adventure awaits.
There will be times along the way when you despair for these characters. There will be times when you question what you know. And then you’ll reach the last page and wish to all that is good and holy that Angst 3 comes sooner than Angst 2 did because Buried in Angst ends in a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book. Pedersen has done it again.
If that wasn’t bad enough, a stranger shows up from a recently destroyed coastal city and trouble looms. It soon comes to Angst’s attention that the elements themselves have gone to war. Couple this with his sword being stolen, a friend going missing and the fact that he’s dying and things are bound to be more.. Angsty.
And this title holds especially true in the sequel. While the first book of the series had a lighter tone, the sequel presents a more somber tone. When you consider everything happening to Unsel, Ehrde and even Angst, I suppose that is to be expected. I can’t remember too many laughs, I read a pre-release copy of the book and it’s been a short while but I can remember being very much taken by the story as it rolled out.
It’s a darker fantasy novel than the first book but still satisfying. It’s even better than the first, which is high praise given how much I enjoyed Angst. If you were only interested in Angst due to the comedy, you’ll be disappointed with Buried in Angst. But if you grew to care about Angst, Heather, Victoria, Rose, Tarness, Hector and Dallow then you will be happy to reunite with old friends and learn what has come to pass and what new adventure awaits.
There will be times along the way when you despair for these characters. There will be times when you question what you know. And then you’ll reach the last page and wish to all that is good and holy that Angst 3 comes sooner than Angst 2 did because Buried in Angst ends in a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book. Pedersen has done it again.
October 15, 2014
David J Pederson is a very talented up and coming indie author who knows how to world build and create believable characters. The relationship he has created among the characters of the Angst series is fun and believable.
If you haven’t read the first book then the gist of the story goes like this. Angst is a magic wielder in the kingdom of Unsel. Magic is tolerated, barely, but when his services are needed to save the Kingdom, they count on Angst and his magic wielding companions to go save the day.
The second in the series continues where the first leaves off with a rather down in the dumps Angst, never quite happy with what he’s got. That is until the Kingdom needs his services again and off he goes in an attempt to be a hero again, only things don’t quite go as smooth and hero like as one would expect.
Its fun from start to finish with a slightly darker tone in the second installment of the series and one I recommend to anybody looking for a bit of adventure and a few laughs in a book.
If you haven’t read the first book then the gist of the story goes like this. Angst is a magic wielder in the kingdom of Unsel. Magic is tolerated, barely, but when his services are needed to save the Kingdom, they count on Angst and his magic wielding companions to go save the day.
The second in the series continues where the first leaves off with a rather down in the dumps Angst, never quite happy with what he’s got. That is until the Kingdom needs his services again and off he goes in an attempt to be a hero again, only things don’t quite go as smooth and hero like as one would expect.
Its fun from start to finish with a slightly darker tone in the second installment of the series and one I recommend to anybody looking for a bit of adventure and a few laughs in a book.
May 25, 2013
This is the second book in what I hope continues to be a series. If you have not read the first book then I highly recommend that you do so prior to reading Buried in Angst. There had been a considerable time pass since I read Got Angst and I almost felt a need to go back and re read it, but a little less than a quarter of the way through the book my memory was able to dredge up the finer details of the story line making this book much more fun to read. David Pedersen does an excellent job depriving me of sleep as the book calls to you to read just a little more, then again and again. I highly recommend both of the Angst books and recommend they be read in the proper order.
August 11, 2013
Not quite as good as the first one, but still entertaining.
But don't read it unless you don't mind it stopping in the middle of the story.... I'm feeling Angst over the fact I have to wait for the next book. ;-)
But don't read it unless you don't mind it stopping in the middle of the story.... I'm feeling Angst over the fact I have to wait for the next book. ;-)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews