Sundering

The Keepers of Midgate #2

by R.M. Krogman

Mindless. Violent. Uncurable.

The madness ravages port cities across the Middle Gate.

No one has the courage to face it but the self-proclaimed king of Mirat. He must embrace his destiny as the only one capable of destroying the madness, not only for Mirat but for the world.

But another claims his birthright and his magic. Shipwrecked and diverted from returning home, Konan finds new dragons, new friendship, and new skills as he awaits his chance for escape. But his grief threatens to shatter his purpose, for what good is a kingdom with an empty throne beside him?

The dark epic fantasy The Keepers of Midgate continues as their powers grow, the madness escalates, and the wars above and below the ocean waste lives on every side.

About the Series

The Keepers of Midgate is a dark epic fantasy set in a world pulsing with magic, violence, and a spreading plague of madness. The world spans land and sea, from dusty deserts of Fire to the deepest ocean trenches, from snowy mountains and vast plains to the glorious sky above. Dragons and humans gifted by the elements find their limits tested and their worlds shattered as they battle a growing evil. Only by their sacrifice might they stop the madness. The Keepers of Midgate is a story of friendship and love, belonging and worthiness, and heartbreak. 

Genres: Fantasy

776 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 11, 2024

About the author

Rebecca M. Krogman is an epic and dark fantasy author from Iowa, USA.

She writes most of her stories in Midgate, a medieval-inspired world of magic, mermaids, and wyverns, with settings spanning two continents and the sea between. Her work is best known for its deep characterization, emotional and sometimes tragic scenes that leave a mark, and elaborate world-building. When she's not writing about Midgate, she dabbles in dark fairy tale retellings and cookbooks. She will never apologize for describing a tree, as she finds trees to be fascinating and far more alive than they get credit for.

Reviews

[Liz Fully Booked · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll start this review by saying this book is HUGE! But the reason it’s so big is because it’s an amazingly detailed fantasy book. The amount of world building in it is phenomenal, the character development extensive, character interaction so intricate. This awesome book has magic, dragons, political machinations, a complex plot that has all the character’s storylines from book one finally coming together, and what a plot that is!

Despite its length, I really enjoyed this book and didn’t want it to end. I was so immersed in the storyline, that when it ended, I missed the characters. I could go on and on, but I will sum it up by saying, terrific book, Rebecca! Your writing is fantastic, and I’m really looking forward to book three.

If you love epic high fantasy books, this series is for you. Highly recommend.

I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[GG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This is the second book and I am so impressed by it! Excuse the gushing.

Multiple PoVs and all the cultures! I don’t know how Author Krogman kept all of them straight and sprinkled in bits and pieces so they made a coherent whole and… wow. The index in the back helps though.

All those different stories from book 1 that were kind of coming together? They do that here. I really enjoyed the take on magic and the different angles that shone through here. It’s not all one culture, one race centric. And there’s grit. It’s not all smiley faces and locomotives – there are some deep, dark subject dives here and yes, there will be loss and grief as well. But there is striving for a better way too. Besides… dragons!

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next (hint, hint). The only beef I have is the ending as it's thoroughly a cliffhanger.

More, please.

[Deborah Svensson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an epic story and series! The story unfolds through each character’s tale in bits and pieces, slowly forming how the story connects with the main characters. The individuals and different parts of the world are so well developed, it just draws the reader in, continually drawing the reader deeper and deeper into each character’s story. I am drawn to Konan’s tale above all and eagerly await to slowly learn more about his past. The story has some dark moments and hurt to imagine those events, but it just adds to the tale and reasons behind many actions. I eagerly await more in this series.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I discover a book that I know I will read again, it's pure gold. This book has everything in it and more. It left me breathless. It was thrilling, raw and utterly unforgettable. I hope Book 3 isn't too far behind because I ache to know what is coming next.

[Marena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of our three groups of characters, two are fighting injustice and one is trying to find a cure for the Madness that is spreading beyond Kitra into other counties. Konan, Lyra, and Reylin are learning more ways to use their magic. Taiyuki is doing all she can to protect the dragons and her home. Thordrin is still being Thordrin.

There is much to this story and at no point are you bored, you just want more. Konan is still my hero and I want justice for him. The end was a shocking cliffhanger so please J M don't take too long to finish. This is by far my favorite series of the year.

[Alyssia Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, does this series get even better. Liberation was one of those books that will undoubtedly make it's way onto my end of year hall of fame, however Sundering takes everything that it had and builds on it. It's convoluted and multi-threaded, but woven together in such a way that it's never confusing. The five different narrative threads from the first book start coming together, but never quite in the way you'd imagine. And it's darker by far at points, with characters diving into their own flaws and making some really, really bad choices along the way, yet there's a depth and power here that means it doesn't get bogged down in the darkness even as it forces you to confront it.

As with the first novel, the character building here is phenomenal. The characters build and grow as the novel progresses, making choices for good or ill and having to live with the consequences. The different narrative threads begin to intertwine, even as some of the characters seem to be perched on the precipice of destruction. They are all very, very human (or myr), and you laugh with them, cry with them and sometimes want to bash their heads against a brick wall so they wake up and smell the sea salt. There's love, honour, justice, friendship and hope here. There's also betrayal, abuse, manoeuvring, hatred, grief and fear. There's decades old secrets lingering in the background. There's naivety and wishful thinking and all the messy stokes of humanity.

And all of this is placed within a hugely scoped world, with different races and politics, magic at the very heart of the world-building, built into the foundations along with carefully constructed politics and alliances. For some characters, the world closes around them. For others, it opens up into entirely new areas. It's exceptionally done, switching between characters and places frequently yet never feeling as though it flitted. There's a depth here that truly immerses you in the world before you.

All in all, this is an excellent continuation to the series and I'm only sulking because the next book isn't released yet.

[Starfallow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting to read this since I finished the first book and it did not disappoint! Once again the variety of viewpoints and the mix of cultures kept me engaged. I could not stop reading. The book was a perfect break from the stress of college exams and kept me company on the ten hour drive from campus back home. I love the way all the stories in book one came together, with Konan and Thordrin meeting Taiyuki and It’tholl and having to work to gain their trust. With Reylin meeting Taiyuki all the individual threads introduced in book one started blending making the large world Krogman crafted seem far smaller. It also brought the conflict to life, making the madness seem all more threatening. My favorite chapters were Lyra’s. I loved watching her grow into her magic and loved watching her learn the magic of the Gates. The concept of the Gates is one of the most interesting I have read, and I loved exploring them and the possibility of what they can be used to accomplish. This book was a wonderful way to start the summer and I cannot wait for book three.

[Andrew Platten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liberation was excellent, and Sundering takes things to the next level.

Where many second books in a series falter, Sundering does the opposite—it shifts gears and accelerates. This is epic high fantasy done right! It's raw and unflinching, and the characters and relationships I grew attached to are tested, transformed, and sometimes suffer in truly heart-wrenching ways. Amid the intensity, there are moments of happiness and humor that, if I weren’t so dang manly, I might admit brought a tear to my eye.

Rebecca Krogman masterfully weaves surprises that, in hindsight, were quietly building all along. She keeps readers cleverly distracted until just the right moment to deliver twists that land with stunning impact.

While longer works aren’t for everyone, if you enjoy losing yourself in the expansive storytelling of Sanderson, Jordan, or Rothfuss, this series is a must-read. I truly believe time will show Rebecca Krogman belongs in their league.

[Colleen Villasenor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me awake at night. There were many nights that I couldn't stop reading. This is a chonky book but worth the time invested. The various storylines proceed separately and intertwine. I love the dragons and the characters are depicted so well. It's easy to love them and hate them. I appreciated that even the best characters were usually flawed. The magic system is element-based and well-thought-out. This book is not a light fairytale. It is dark and gritty. There is racism, violence, and abuse. There is betrayal and political intrigue. But there are also some tender moments. I was completely engaged in the characters and their plights. It is well-written, but pay attention to the trigger warnings. It ends on a serious cliffhanger, so I eagerly await the next book.

[Jonathan Van Crumpet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scope of this book is immense. The world, the races, the magic; so much detail has gone into every part that it might seem overwhelming, if not for the common thread running throughout - the fight against injustice.

The three groups of main characters are all progressing magically and emotionally, which made me feel more invested in them. I identified with their struggles and celebrated on the few occasions when things went well for them.

It's a big, dark book with big, dark themes. Politics, racism, betrayal, lots of death and an ending that hit me like a baseball bat to the face.

Just wow.

[Nevaeh Ruegger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read why this book is perfect at Nevy's Bookshelf