One month has passed since the death of Lady Vinya. Since the night sky went black in the sudden disappearance of the Moon.
In the aftermath of the vanishing, the scales of the Balance have been disrupted and angered, the dark repercussions felt from the ruined lands of the Outerworld to the floating island home of the gods. Only now do the gods of Illyria stir, their period of mourning coming to a close as they call for a grand tournament. One that will decide the next Hand--a god worthy and powerful enough to pull the Moon back onto this plane. Of the contenders for the Throne, one is a malevolent prince of the Sun, another a twenty-armed inventor, and the third a disgraced father.
But when thirteen-year-old Ionikus Reaves--Guardian of the gods and one-third child of the late Lady Vinya--is forced to volunteer as a competitor, Ion discovers this tournament and the gods who called for it aren't what they seem. For as he battles his way through the abandoned cities of the Outerworld, forced to fight for a Throne he doesn't want, Ion soon realizes he's not just a contender. But a pawn in a vicious game of the gods', where at the end, victory could mean death. And the destruction of the Moon itself.
What a fantastic sequel to the Iron Jawed Boy, I found it to be just as good as the first; if not better. This book didn’t have the Percy Jackson feel about it like at the beginning of the first book either. The second instalment, picks up a month later from the previous book, where Ion is thrown unwilling into the competition to become the new Hand of The Moon. Even though it is shorter than the first, it is still fast paced, packed full with plenty of action, underhanded sneaky plots and the return and introduction to plenty of Gods; making it once again a page turner. Of course there was another unexpected ending, not going to spoil it by saying what happens this time. Again delightfully surprised how easy it was to read and can't wait to read the third instalment.
"I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review".
I was contacted by the author and he sent me a pdf file to read for a honest review The second book in the series is just as good as the first. This book delves more into Ion's past lives and we see alliances break so to speak and learn dark truths. Also you get to see more Gods/Goddesses that were not discussed in the first book. This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book thanks for the opportunity.
Wow the first book was good and I like it a lot, this book was better and I loved it! We are back with Ion his sister and the other Guardians as we visit the Island home of the Illyrian Gods so the new hand of the moon can be chosen. Lady Vinya Goddess of the moon and Ion’s mother has been killed and that leaves her throne open and the moon gone. A month after the end of book one we get to see the battle for the throne of the moon and of course Ion is in the middle of it. How should the new God/Goddess be chosen but by a tournament of course, to see who is worthy to summon back the moon and restore the balance it’s absence has all but destroyed.
Action packed and yet plenty of wonderfully done world building this second book in the series keeps you reading way past your bedtime (at least it did for me, 4am O.o) The descriptions of the Gods and their surroundings made me feel like I was watching them in a movie (which I’d love to actually see what these Gods look like not to mention that island)
I’d also like to state that Nikolas Lee is master at twist endings I didn’t see any of it coming and though it ended on a cliff hanger it wasn't so drastic that I’ll be tearing my hair out waiting for book three, which lets face it I really can’t wait for. (This is why I usually don’t read a book series till it’s finished or about to be lol)
I Highly recommend this book to anyone who like fantasy and adventure.
I was a huge fan of the first book and was more than happy when the second one came out. It had only been a month since I read the first book and I missed Ion and the other guardians, having them back was amazing!! I couldn't finish this book fast enough and then when I finally had finished it I wished I could have erased it from memory and read it again.
Once more The world Nikolas had made is absolutely amazing, and captivating. the book ended with the Lady Vinya (Goddess of the moon) being killed! However not before dropping the fact that she's Ions mother! But now the throne is empty and someone has to fill it! So why not make it a sport and full on gladiator it and make it a tournament! And then why not put the son (Ion) of the past moon goddess- who already fells horrible for making this whole mess in the first place- right in the middle of it? Its a perfect combination of humor and grit that is a pure pleasure to read.
And just as the first book this one leaves you wanting more! so much more I just wish the whole series was out already cause I'm very impatient when it comes to a great book. I have recommend this series to several of my friends who all enjoy it just as much as I do I can't wait to see where Ion and his friends end up!!
Again, words cannot begin to describe how much I love this series. The author gave me the second book do an honest review just as he did for the first, and I am thoroughly impressed. The story keeps you on your toes trying to figure out what will happen next. At the end of a chapter, you want to continue because of the cliff hangers
Speaking of cliff hangers OMG the end of the book idek what to say. I'm in shock and confused. I had to read the last chapter again to make sure I read it right but holy cow. I don't know if I can wait for the next book. I NEED IT NOWWWWWWW
anyways this is a phenomenal book that people of all ages can read and enjoy. Definitely worth the five stars, if not more.
So Ion is found motherless... twice, and one was a God! The God of the moon and her throne now stands empty and someone must fill it!
I adore this second installment in the Iron-Jawed Boy series! We get to know the main characters more and meet new gods that add such viggar to the storyline. How many ways can one Guardian be pulled? These gods are testing those limits and the whole time we find ourselves cheering for him to do the right thing.
A great read, I wish it had been longer but that is only because the story just grabbed and held my attention the whole way. I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens to our little hero next!
The Iron-Jawed Boy is a fun romp through a brand new fantasy world. Lee smoothly introduced Ion, and his supporting characters, while creating a very unique world order.
I haven't read #1 yet, but plan on going back to see how the series is built from the ground up. And I'll definitely go for #3. Thankfully I don't feel like I missed too much by not reading the first installment (I might find out otherwise once I do), but for anyone who does as I did and start in the middle then you should be good to go.
This is a quick read, so curl up with it on a cold wintry day and enjoy.
I received this book yet again from the awesome author in exchange for a book review. I absolutely loved the sequel. I felt it was a little bit more faster paced than the first one. There were so many moments where I just had to stop reading because I was so shocked at what happened. I was glad we found out more about Ion's history as a guardian and also Lillian is a bad ass and I love her. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
wow. ths was a fantastc sequel to the iron jawed boy. That ending though- Ion better have a bloody good planand reason to justify what he has gone and done. I got pretty annoyed with the illyrians; it's so hard to know who to trust in this series. Just when you think you know who is good, they turn out to have slaughtered masses of people. However, this series has me totally enthralled and I can't wait for the next one.
Yet, another hit, with the Iron Jawed Boy series! I loved this one like I did with the first book. Nikolas has done an amazing job, with creating worlds and creatures to imagine. I loved the cliff hanger and I need more, Ion is an amazing character just trying to stay alive and do good. I cannot wait to see where his next adventure takes him!
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really LOVE this book! It kept me questioning on what was going to happen next! The ending absolutely surprised me! I can't wait for the next book to come out in the series! An absolute must read! :D
Absolutely amazing yet again I loved the first book and now the second on just made it even better. Can't wait for the third one because it left me wanting more. Love the fighting and the conflict.
Wooooow, I loved the first book in this series but this sequel definitely gets a lot darker.
Ion is such a great, well rounded character and I love following his story. If there's anything you can count on Ion doing, it's being good and making good decisions. Though, like any flawed character, he has his moments of weakness and messes up.
In this sequel, Ion and the other Guardians go to Illyria, home of the Gods, so that Othum can help settle the problem of there being no "Hand of the Moon". They decide to host a competition to choose someone to fit it. Ion and Lillian, the blood Guardian, are also chosen to participate.
Ion's sister, Oceanus, is of course incredibly jealous. I didn't understand her jealousy and her actions toward Ion seemed very exaggerated and childish which is out of her character on top of her being the elder sibling. Other than a few scenes, she's not around at all, which I think is pretty sad because this could be a kick-ass sibling oriented story.
There's something significant missing in this book though, there's not a lot of connection even though there are a LOT of characters. I really wish I knew what was going on with Vasheer. I was about to ask if he had a God complex but he is a god.. He seems to be your typical, one-faced villain and there's no real depth behind it, I never felt any real danger from him or the other contenders in the competition.
I really, really loved the depth into Ion's background/history though and his past lives. I like that he's having real problems to face with his powers and control. I hope that he's able to best anyone who doubts him in the future of the series.
I'd definitely recommend picking up these books if you're into action and an easy to get along with main character. Ion is super cool, has super cool powers and is incredibly adaptive and brilliant.
This series MUST be read in order! The first book is The Iron-Jawed Boy (Book 1, Sky Guardian Chronicles).
Ion is reunited with his father and is grieving the death of both of his mothers. (Vinya carried him to term for his mother who would have lost him without Divine intervention) If that isn't enough his sister Oceanus is incredibly jealous that he is part Illyrian God. Hallucinations plague Ionikus... of a bald young boy with gray eyes calling him a murderer. On top of all that are the extra patrols brought on by the loss of the moon which distorts the Balance towards evil making humans do bad things instead of good. It is not a good start to the second year of Ion's Guardian training... How much worse can it possibly get?
This was an awesome sequel with more hidden plots revealed and more action than the last. Just when you think you know who to trust ... hehe. The past and even the present are mysteries that need to be solved to see the whole picture but every time you think you know everything... Surprise! This is an action packed adventure full of suspense and intrigue that will satisfy mythology and fantasy fans alike. The characters are vivid and unique breathing life into their post apocalyptic world. I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out!!!
***This series is suitable for young adult through adult readers
This book was given to me by the author, In exchange for an honest rating and review. Sooo, without further dang adieu!
Let me start by saying that Nikolas Lee is a friggen' genius. His characters are all so well written, and the world they live in; Oh. My. Gods... I n c r e d i b l e. I especially loved the thought of colorful glowing trees. I LOVE trees. I love climbing them, I love admiring and taking pictures of them. And I love colorful things. Like, where can I get me some colorful glowing trees?
The action scenes in this book were great. I rooted enthusiastically for Ion and Lillian, and actually "BOO'd" out loud when they lost.
Oh yeah, and those creepy little kids that Ion kept seeing? Those kids gave me the chills, dude. *Shudders*
Overall, I give it 4 & 1/2 out of 5 stars, And I am really looking forward to the next book!! :)
Oh wow! I loved this book just as much (if not more) than the first one! It was so un-put-downable that I read the entire thing in two sittings :)
The plot of the 'Hand of the Moon' is incredible. The story is so fast paced and wonderfully written, so it was really easy to read and get lost in.
I'm enjoying seeing how Ion's character is developing as he's growing up and finding out more about the previous Sky Guardians. It was great to be introduced to the rest of the Illyrian Gods and the world that they live in. I'm so glad that Lillian played a larger role in this book and it was wonderful to see her character develop and grow. I'd still love to hear more about Theo as I kind of feel like I don't know enough about his background or who he really is.
The twists in the last few chapters were so unexpected but brilliant! And I'm so glad that Solara was back. She's such an awesomely evil character :) I can't wait to see what happens next in Ion's journey. These end of book cliffhangers are really cruel Nikolas!! (hehe :p)
I got this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book was well written and interesting. I feel like this book was written for a slightly older audience in the first book, where some aspects felt childish. It was full of political maneuvering and the corruption that comes with power, as the Illyrian gods fight to determine who will be the next hand of the moon. You see many power-plays between the characters as they try to win the contest to become the hand of the moon. Ion and Lillian, both Guardians were entered into the contest shocking the population of Illyria, and Ion was threatened by several gods to try to ensure the outcome that they wanted for the competition. There were several twists throughout the book and it had a very shocking ending.
I would recommend this series to teens and young adults who are interested in futuristic ideas and supernatural powers. I am looking forward to the third book in the series.
Ahhh these books. Lee sent me a copy to read right after I read the first and I am so glad.... It's like he's supporting my new addiction problem... These stories are so good. There are so many twists that you didn't see coming. Not as much happened in this one as opposed to the first, but it was still awesome. The tournament was incredible! And the person I wanted to win the entire time did! HAHA! (I love it when the things I want to happen actually happen in books) annnnnd the ending.... If there is one thing that I have a huge love/hate relationship with it's these endings.... They're so good and suck you in, and you turn the page hoping for another chapter..... but nope. It leaves you hanging... In a good way, like trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, you want it to hurry up and get here but at the same time you want to revel in the awesomeness and anticipation of what's to come.... Ugh so good, I want more!
Another amazing book but Nikolas Lee. Ionikus Reeves is volunteered as a contender for the Throne of the Moon that was vacated after the Moon Goddess's death. The competition is filled with many obstacles that allow Ion to test his powers and try out new weather formations not previously tried by Ion. He meets all of the Illyrian Gods and learns of his past lives as well, which surprised me!
Lee has once again done such an amazing job at writing characters who keep the reader interested and kept me anxious biting my nails as I waited to see who would take the Throne of the Moon. He ends on such a huge cliffhanger that I hope he is writing the third installment of The Iron-Jawed Boy as quickly as he possibly can.
I received a copy of the first book from the author and since I enjoyed that so much Nik also gave me an electronic copy of this too in exchange for a review.
This is the second book in The Iron-jawed boy series and I think it was even better than the first. II would definitely recommend reading them in order however as this picks up right where the last one finished.
In this book we get to learn more about Ion and are introduced to the Gods and Goddesses of Illryia. This book contains so many twists, just when you think you know and understand a character, something else is revealed and you have to rethink everything. By the end I just didn't know who to trust!
The ending left me shouting out loud at Ion. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Plot wise a definite improvement over the first book, structure was tighter, obvious echoes of the Goblet of Fire. I have to confess I really loved the character design for the Illyrian gods, from the sewn shut mouth of Adalantis to the rotating cloud of lenses of Thoman to the golden mask of Helia, well thought out and conveyed. Sometimes you just wanted to shake Ion but that is fine, heroes don't have to be perfect, and I pretty much felt the same about Harry Potter in the Order of the Phoenix. I shall continue to read the series but hope for some increase in length to allow a little more depth of characterisation of the guardians.
I thought this book was great because it was full of adventure and action.This book is about a boy named Ionkius Reaves has to go on a heartbreaking exciting adventure.He watches his friend Lillian go through a awsome changed.His bosses or the gods have a contest for the one who has the moon.My favorite character was Lillian because she can control every muscle and blood she could even adjust hers making her levatate. My favorte moment was when oceanus and Ion got in a fight with soloara and spike.
I was given this book for an honest review! Nikolas you've done it again!
Absolutely loved this second book in the series! It draws you in within the first number of pages, it's fast paced, easy to read and has a great unique storyline. Love the friendships and growth of the characters and how much ion is learning and growing.. extremely action packed and the ending another OMG moment!! Can't wait for the next book!!!!!
Nikolas Lee sent me a PDF copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic sequel! This book certainly did not disappoint. Ion is back with new challenges and new people to meet. There's surprises around every corner and it keeps you wanting more.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Just like in the first book, I loved the characters. This book was shorter, but it was still amazing. I feel like this one was shorter because the first one did all the setting up and this one could get right to the story. I love books that get right to the story. Also, I love the fact that I never saw the ending coming.
Ion is now a guardian and learning the ways of the guardians. He is also still living with the guilt of both his mother's deaths. As he is learning to deal with this life goes on and they still have to replace the moon lord. Somehow he ends up in the games to be the moon lord. Great book!! Don't like the cliffhanger though!
I enjoyed the lightness of book one, which introduces us to Ion and the pantheon of the Illyrians. Book two adds to the intrigue and shifts the story unexpectedly, growing more intense and interesting. I'm anxious to know what happens next and whether Ion's journey is fatedly sealed or just beginning.