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The Slayer and the Sphinx #2
The Convict and the Captive
The Adventure Continues! After their close call at the Historian's Tower, Porter, Sarah, and Tick continue on their journey to Jellaska Kob Lertan. But danger and treachery run rampant in the Dwarf City as an old enemy returns to take his revenge on Porter. Now Sarah is expected to testify against him in a court of law, but unfamiliar feelings are beginning to appear in the young sphinx's heart, feelings that will change her and Porter's relationship forever. And unbeknownst to any of them, the Slayers are closing in once more.
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First published September 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 28, 2013
My son and I were very excited when we learned that the sequel to The Slayer and the Sphinx: Book 1 was available for our Kindle. My son read the first book in one night, and his enthusiasm for the story was not disappointed - he all but finished the book the first night he picked it up. I read it shortly after him, and I enjoyed it a great deal. It normally takes me a while to finish books, but it was not hard to read through this action packed fantasy.
Relatively short chapters make it easy to pick up and put down without losing your train of thought. This is important if you, like me, have a pretty hectic schedule.
The Convict and the Captive expands the unique world of Slayer and the Sphinx, bringing the reader deeper into the conflict between the mysterious Mythics and the deadly Slayers.
The writing flows nicely; it is always easy to follow the story, even when you are put into the midst of a chaotic battle. The strange creatures and the magical abilities of the Slayers make these battles truly unpredictable and interesting.
The characters are very unique; I said in my previous review that the author (Adam Bolander) really chose to challenge himself by writing about such untraditional fantasy creatures. He takes up this challenge again in the Convict and the Captive as he continues to tell the tale of a world filled with chimera's, djinn, satyrs, sphinxes, werewolves and many other unusual creatures (hardly your typical choices for fantasy races). More light is shed on certain aspects of the world's history, adding greater perspective to the conflicts that were introduced in the first book. One character that seemed unlikeable suddenly shows the reader a different side of himself, leading to one of the more interesting plot turns in the book.
There is plenty of danger and action in The Convict and the Captive; the battle scenes are truly epic as all the powers of the Mythics are set against the skill and cunning of the Slayers.
While many loose ends from the first book are nicely wrapped up in this sequel, there are plenty of new developments, unexpected alliances and frightful new dangers facing the protagonists. I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series, as I know my son will be also.
Relatively short chapters make it easy to pick up and put down without losing your train of thought. This is important if you, like me, have a pretty hectic schedule.
The Convict and the Captive expands the unique world of Slayer and the Sphinx, bringing the reader deeper into the conflict between the mysterious Mythics and the deadly Slayers.
The writing flows nicely; it is always easy to follow the story, even when you are put into the midst of a chaotic battle. The strange creatures and the magical abilities of the Slayers make these battles truly unpredictable and interesting.
The characters are very unique; I said in my previous review that the author (Adam Bolander) really chose to challenge himself by writing about such untraditional fantasy creatures. He takes up this challenge again in the Convict and the Captive as he continues to tell the tale of a world filled with chimera's, djinn, satyrs, sphinxes, werewolves and many other unusual creatures (hardly your typical choices for fantasy races). More light is shed on certain aspects of the world's history, adding greater perspective to the conflicts that were introduced in the first book. One character that seemed unlikeable suddenly shows the reader a different side of himself, leading to one of the more interesting plot turns in the book.
There is plenty of danger and action in The Convict and the Captive; the battle scenes are truly epic as all the powers of the Mythics are set against the skill and cunning of the Slayers.
While many loose ends from the first book are nicely wrapped up in this sequel, there are plenty of new developments, unexpected alliances and frightful new dangers facing the protagonists. I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series, as I know my son will be also.
May 9, 2014
In this, the sequel to “The Slayer and the Sphinx”, Porter, Sarah the Sphinx, and Tick the chimera have found Jellaska Kob Lertan, one of the sanctuaries of the Mythics, where Sarah’s parents fled to when their home was found and destroyed by the Slayers.
But what happens when your refuge becomes your prison? This is the situation Porter finds himself in, for even though he doesn’t remember, he is still a Slayer in the eyes of Jellaska’s residents. He is taken prisoner and put on trial, over the objections of Sarah and Tick.
However, Sarah’s bravery and relentlessness against the accusations of Azkular the djinn (chief protector of Jellaska), who wants with all of his magical heart to see Porter destroyed, wins the day. That, and the testimony of a very powerful and influential Elf. Porter is freed, and all seems well. For about five minutes…
For Mortoph and the Slayers have found the refuge, and the fighting is deadly as the Mythics defend their home. In the melee, Sarah and Porter are separated, and Porter’s evil side is magically given his own body. He takes Sarah prisoner and flees the sanctuary, Porter and Tick in pursuit.
Thus begins an odyssey, followed by at least three different parties all after their own interests, that will culminate in a whirlwind of betrayal, accusations, revelations, and alliances–and which will lead to even more of the same further down the road.
The last page of a story is always the hardest one to read, especially in a tale as engrossing as this one. Mr. Bolander has kept up the pace of his first book, which means “The Convict and the Captive” was just as hard to put down as “The Slayer and the Sphinx”.
Porter’s merciful side, which his evil counterpart sneers at, is dramatically shown more than once, and in some very surprising situations–and there were plenty of those. Just about every character in this tale showed a good side, at a time when it was most needed. Well, except for Mortoph, who is just plain evil. No getting around that.
Every word is a jewel, every nuance and gesture a treasure. I highly recommend both books in the series, and can hardly wait for the third one, “The Protector and the Peacemaker”. Will Porter and Sarah fulfill the obligations placed on them? Or will Mortoph’s evil rule the future? Only time, and the next book, will tell.
But what happens when your refuge becomes your prison? This is the situation Porter finds himself in, for even though he doesn’t remember, he is still a Slayer in the eyes of Jellaska’s residents. He is taken prisoner and put on trial, over the objections of Sarah and Tick.
However, Sarah’s bravery and relentlessness against the accusations of Azkular the djinn (chief protector of Jellaska), who wants with all of his magical heart to see Porter destroyed, wins the day. That, and the testimony of a very powerful and influential Elf. Porter is freed, and all seems well. For about five minutes…
For Mortoph and the Slayers have found the refuge, and the fighting is deadly as the Mythics defend their home. In the melee, Sarah and Porter are separated, and Porter’s evil side is magically given his own body. He takes Sarah prisoner and flees the sanctuary, Porter and Tick in pursuit.
Thus begins an odyssey, followed by at least three different parties all after their own interests, that will culminate in a whirlwind of betrayal, accusations, revelations, and alliances–and which will lead to even more of the same further down the road.
The last page of a story is always the hardest one to read, especially in a tale as engrossing as this one. Mr. Bolander has kept up the pace of his first book, which means “The Convict and the Captive” was just as hard to put down as “The Slayer and the Sphinx”.
Porter’s merciful side, which his evil counterpart sneers at, is dramatically shown more than once, and in some very surprising situations–and there were plenty of those. Just about every character in this tale showed a good side, at a time when it was most needed. Well, except for Mortoph, who is just plain evil. No getting around that.
Every word is a jewel, every nuance and gesture a treasure. I highly recommend both books in the series, and can hardly wait for the third one, “The Protector and the Peacemaker”. Will Porter and Sarah fulfill the obligations placed on them? Or will Mortoph’s evil rule the future? Only time, and the next book, will tell.
June 15, 2016
(This review may contain spoilers).
It's been a little while since I read the first book in this trilogy, but I found the storyline easy to pick up once more.
Although there was a lot of action in this book, it didn't seem as widespread as book one. I thought it was good that the story was a bit more self-contained... and it made a lot of sense that Porter wasn't trusted, even though I felt a lot of sympathy for him.
While it did make a lot of sense that Porter was considered a threat, I really didn't like Sarah's parents. I did find Misoko an interesting character, though I was a bit disappointed to get very little foreshadowing about her relationship with Sarah. I would have liked to see a bit more in the way of flashbacks... and also more details about why Sarah's parents didn't seem to trust Misoko near their daughter.
I really liked seeing Tick in this book and I thought it was a bit sad to see how he was having to get used to the bad things happening. At the same time, I liked seeing that he was still loyal to Porter... and even though Sarah could have explained things in a better way, I did understand the position she was in and it was good to see her staying loyal to Porter.
I did like the romance between Sarah and Porter, especially since there were hints of that romance in the first book, but I did feel that the reveal was a little bit over the top. Still, I thought there were some very sweet moments between them... even though I did develop a strong dislike for Joseph during the course of this book.
It was interesting to discover more about the organisation of the Slayers, though I would have found them more interesting if there had been more detail about the main leader's motivations. There was a lot of tension in this book and I was drawn back into the world really quickly and easily.
I didn't really want to, but part of me did feel a bit of sympathy for Other Porter and it was good to get to know more of Porter's past. I'm looking forward to seeing how things will be tied up in book three.
It's been a little while since I read the first book in this trilogy, but I found the storyline easy to pick up once more.
Although there was a lot of action in this book, it didn't seem as widespread as book one. I thought it was good that the story was a bit more self-contained... and it made a lot of sense that Porter wasn't trusted, even though I felt a lot of sympathy for him.
While it did make a lot of sense that Porter was considered a threat, I really didn't like Sarah's parents. I did find Misoko an interesting character, though I was a bit disappointed to get very little foreshadowing about her relationship with Sarah. I would have liked to see a bit more in the way of flashbacks... and also more details about why Sarah's parents didn't seem to trust Misoko near their daughter.
I really liked seeing Tick in this book and I thought it was a bit sad to see how he was having to get used to the bad things happening. At the same time, I liked seeing that he was still loyal to Porter... and even though Sarah could have explained things in a better way, I did understand the position she was in and it was good to see her staying loyal to Porter.
I did like the romance between Sarah and Porter, especially since there were hints of that romance in the first book, but I did feel that the reveal was a little bit over the top. Still, I thought there were some very sweet moments between them... even though I did develop a strong dislike for Joseph during the course of this book.
It was interesting to discover more about the organisation of the Slayers, though I would have found them more interesting if there had been more detail about the main leader's motivations. There was a lot of tension in this book and I was drawn back into the world really quickly and easily.
I didn't really want to, but part of me did feel a bit of sympathy for Other Porter and it was good to get to know more of Porter's past. I'm looking forward to seeing how things will be tied up in book three.
December 6, 2014
The adventure continues for Porter and Sarah. Behind them lay ruins and enemies, but the line between enemy and friend is shaded with gray. Ozzie is closing in, but discovers some disturbing things about himself and the Slayers in the process. Other Porter is conflicted as well, particularly with regard to Sarah. And Porter finds himself caught up in an unexpected rescue mission, a quest to save someone he never thought would need to be rescued.
I found this installment to be excellent, and I loved how a hint of Final Fantasy inspiration glimmers through without turning the story into fan fic. The depth of the story, the complexity of the characters and the humanity glimmering through even those who seem to be on the wrong side all make this a worthy read. I'm also impressed with the action and fight sequences; they are described well without being over done and make you feel like you're there. Compared to book one, book two seems a bit more polished.
On the downside, Porter and Sarah's burgeoning love, while foreshadowed and therefore expected, seems to fall into place a little too easily. Plus, there's a glimmer of love triangle, and perhaps even love quadrangle. I'm not sure this serves much purpose, particularly since it's obvious who Sarah will choose, and a love triangle without purpose is kind of a let down. But, there's one more book, so perhaps it will find a purpose there.
Overall, I really liked this story and would recommend it to fans of fantasy who want something a bit unique. Those who enjoy playing Final Fantasy games might enjoy looking for the glimmers that speak of the author's shared fandom: the combination of magic and technology, the epic nature of the battle of good vs. evil, and the complexity and humanity of the characters, even those that seem bad at first.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
I found this installment to be excellent, and I loved how a hint of Final Fantasy inspiration glimmers through without turning the story into fan fic. The depth of the story, the complexity of the characters and the humanity glimmering through even those who seem to be on the wrong side all make this a worthy read. I'm also impressed with the action and fight sequences; they are described well without being over done and make you feel like you're there. Compared to book one, book two seems a bit more polished.
On the downside, Porter and Sarah's burgeoning love, while foreshadowed and therefore expected, seems to fall into place a little too easily. Plus, there's a glimmer of love triangle, and perhaps even love quadrangle. I'm not sure this serves much purpose, particularly since it's obvious who Sarah will choose, and a love triangle without purpose is kind of a let down. But, there's one more book, so perhaps it will find a purpose there.
Overall, I really liked this story and would recommend it to fans of fantasy who want something a bit unique. Those who enjoy playing Final Fantasy games might enjoy looking for the glimmers that speak of the author's shared fandom: the combination of magic and technology, the epic nature of the battle of good vs. evil, and the complexity and humanity of the characters, even those that seem bad at first.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
October 29, 2014
The Convict and the Captive picks up immediately after the first book, The Slayer and the Sphinx, leaves off.
Porter and Sarah are finally able to reach the secret sanctuary they were heading for in book one...But when they get there, chaos ensues and leaves Sarah and Porter on two different paths.
We again follow Sarah and Porter on yet another quest, but this time, separately, to find each other. At the end of the path, we can only hope one of them doesn't meet their death.
As we follow Porter on his path, we learn more about him, and his past. He meets up with other mythics who help and hinder his journey back to Sarah, and he himself learns more about his past as well.
As past predictions come true, and more are revealed, we see death, and love, old friends and new friends, new mythics and even clones come out of this story.
While I don't think the romance is actually a necessity, for some reason all authors seem to think there must be romance in a book to make it good, so I can't take points off for this. Other than that, there is one glaring question i have for the author, at this point, I can't find an answer to in the book...most people would probably not think twice about it...
All in all i think this is a pretty good sequel to the first book, and the author is definitely on to a good story line. This book doesn't really end in a cliffhanger like the first but does leave you wanting to quickly pick up the third...that being the case...on to the next!
Porter and Sarah are finally able to reach the secret sanctuary they were heading for in book one...But when they get there, chaos ensues and leaves Sarah and Porter on two different paths.
We again follow Sarah and Porter on yet another quest, but this time, separately, to find each other. At the end of the path, we can only hope one of them doesn't meet their death.
As we follow Porter on his path, we learn more about him, and his past. He meets up with other mythics who help and hinder his journey back to Sarah, and he himself learns more about his past as well.
As past predictions come true, and more are revealed, we see death, and love, old friends and new friends, new mythics and even clones come out of this story.
While I don't think the romance is actually a necessity, for some reason all authors seem to think there must be romance in a book to make it good, so I can't take points off for this. Other than that, there is one glaring question i have for the author, at this point, I can't find an answer to in the book...most people would probably not think twice about it...
All in all i think this is a pretty good sequel to the first book, and the author is definitely on to a good story line. This book doesn't really end in a cliffhanger like the first but does leave you wanting to quickly pick up the third...that being the case...on to the next!
October 8, 2014
Torn between a four and five star rating but eventually settled on five stars because I'm not really the target audience but still really enjoyed the book. I was fortunate to be given the first book in the series in exchange for an honest review. At the time I made the point that Adam took a while to find his voice but that the second three quarters of the book took flight.
The second book fulfills that promise in spades. As I said, I believe the target audience is the younger end of young adult, older people like me will still be able to enjoy it, but I owuld have thought younger, strong readers would be entranced and its difficult to believe that reactions from anyone in the right age group won't like it.
So, if you like engaging characters, strong original story-lines and good old fashioned storytelling, then give these books a try.
The second book fulfills that promise in spades. As I said, I believe the target audience is the younger end of young adult, older people like me will still be able to enjoy it, but I owuld have thought younger, strong readers would be entranced and its difficult to believe that reactions from anyone in the right age group won't like it.
So, if you like engaging characters, strong original story-lines and good old fashioned storytelling, then give these books a try.
June 5, 2014
Action, action and more action! Warning, no one is who they appear to be. So many secrets revealed.
I had a very sleepless night because of this book, if only I had a blue flame to eat.
Now on to the final book...
I had a very sleepless night because of this book, if only I had a blue flame to eat.
Now on to the final book...
November 4, 2013
Liked this one even better than the first one. Ready for book 3!
September 29, 2014
Love love love this story!!! I couldn't get enough of it. I really am excited for the chance to read more. This book is amazing. I suggest it to anyone who is a fan of YA books and fantasy. Amazing!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews