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Silvers #2
The Song of the Orphans
After their world collapsed in a sheet of white light, everything and everyone were gone—except for Hannah and Amanda Given. Saved from destruction by three fearsome and powerful beings, the Given sisters found themselves on a strange new Earth where restaurants move through the air like flying saucers and the fabric of time is manipulated by common household appliances. There, they were joined by four other survivors: a sarcastic cartoonist, a shy teenage girl, a brilliant young Australian, and a troubled ex-prodigy. Hunted by enemies they never knew they had, and afflicted with temporal abilities they never wanted, the sisters and their companions began a cross-country journey to find the one man who could save them.
Now, only months after being pursued across the country by government forces and the Gothams—a renegade group with similar powers—the Silvers discover that their purpose on this unfamiliar earth may be to prevent its complete annihilation. With continually shifting alliances and the future in jeopardy, the Silvers realize that their only hope for survival is to locate the other refugees—whether they can be trusted or not.
Now, only months after being pursued across the country by government forces and the Gothams—a renegade group with similar powers—the Silvers discover that their purpose on this unfamiliar earth may be to prevent its complete annihilation. With continually shifting alliances and the future in jeopardy, the Silvers realize that their only hope for survival is to locate the other refugees—whether they can be trusted or not.
752 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2017
113 people are currently reading
1764 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Price
4 books392 followersDaniel Price is the author of The Flight of the Silvers, The Song of the Orphans, and Slick, the first of which was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction Novel in 2014.
His latest novel, The War of the Givens, was published by Penguin Random House/Dutton in March 2024.
He lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with his partner Nancy (also a Goodreads author) and her wonderful kids. You can learn more about him and his books at his author site.
His latest novel, The War of the Givens, was published by Penguin Random House/Dutton in March 2024.
He lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with his partner Nancy (also a Goodreads author) and her wonderful kids. You can learn more about him and his books at his author site.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
March 8, 2017
Update: March 7, 2017:
Alrighty folks, I can finally tell you all my secret: I'VE ALREADY READ THE SONG OF THE ORPHANS! And, you will not be disappointed with the second installment of the Silvers trilogy. It is a non-stop adventure with new characters who will cling to your heart, new settings that'll make you wish it were real (hint: The Gothams), and one or two plot twists that'll make you hate everything and want to reread The Flight of the Silvers pronto.
Speaking of which, Daniel Price has created a Badly Drawn Recap of Silvers to get you ready for Song of the Orphans hitting stores on July 4 (yeah, Freedom).
You'll learn so much more about the characters, like why Future-Mia can be so angry, how far the Givens sisters can push their talents, and possibly the motivation behind the mysterious Pelletiers' actions. There'll be fights on floating restaurants, imprisonment for someone, love and broken hearts, Doctor Who references, an important song and an ingenious way of getting a message out to others.
Below is a collection of gifs that appropriately relates my emotions as I read this fantastic book.
So many emotions Seriously, you're going to love Song of the Orphans. It's certainly going to be one of my favorites of 2017, and I fully expect it to be one of yours too.
So, Daniel Price, I expect you to begin work on the third installment immediately.
Below are my updates I wrote well before I read the book. I leave them here for fun.
May 25, 2015:
Cookie Monster and I areimpatiently waiting for The Song of the Orphans.
Update: September 10, 2015:
Hermione has joined in the waiting.
Update: January 13, 2016:
Without The Song of the Orphans to read, Sherlock is starting to get a little bored.
Update: April 28, 2016:
Guys, there's been a development!
Update: December 15, 2016:
We have a cover and release date!!!
Alrighty folks, I can finally tell you all my secret: I'VE ALREADY READ THE SONG OF THE ORPHANS! And, you will not be disappointed with the second installment of the Silvers trilogy. It is a non-stop adventure with new characters who will cling to your heart, new settings that'll make you wish it were real (hint: The Gothams), and one or two plot twists that'll make you hate everything and want to reread The Flight of the Silvers pronto.
Speaking of which, Daniel Price has created a Badly Drawn Recap of Silvers to get you ready for Song of the Orphans hitting stores on July 4 (yeah, Freedom).
You'll learn so much more about the characters, like why Future-Mia can be so angry, how far the Givens sisters can push their talents, and possibly the motivation behind the mysterious Pelletiers' actions. There'll be fights on floating restaurants, imprisonment for someone, love and broken hearts, Doctor Who references, an important song and an ingenious way of getting a message out to others.
Below is a collection of gifs that appropriately relates my emotions as I read this fantastic book.
So many emotions Seriously, you're going to love Song of the Orphans. It's certainly going to be one of my favorites of 2017, and I fully expect it to be one of yours too.
So, Daniel Price, I expect you to begin work on the third installment immediately.
Below are my updates I wrote well before I read the book. I leave them here for fun.
May 25, 2015:
Cookie Monster and I are
Update: September 10, 2015:
Hermione has joined in the waiting.
Update: January 13, 2016:
Without The Song of the Orphans to read, Sherlock is starting to get a little bored.
Update: April 28, 2016:
Guys, there's been a development!
Update: December 15, 2016:
We have a cover and release date!!!
July 7, 2017
It was a mere coincidence when I stumbled upon „The Flight of the Silvers“ back in 2013. It must have been a rather random retweet on Twitter and the book only caught my attention because I found the cover quite nice and the rainbow effect of the shiny silver dust jacket looked pretty cool – as you might know I always fall easily for pretty books. So I went to Goodreads, looked up some details of the book and read the blurb and just a few minutes later I had already pre-ordered the title which at that time wouldn’t come out until another few weeks. I was really excited for the book, however I tried to keep my expectations low since both the publisher Blue Rider Press and the author Daniel Price were completely unknown to me and I somehow saw nobody else talking about the book. And as much as I was intrigued by the description I had to admit that it also sounded pretty crazy and I was secretly a bit afraid that „The Flight of the Silvers“ might turn out to be a completely disaster – especially since I’m far away from being a hardcore science fiction fan but I actually do like wrecking my brain with a thought-provoking time travel story from time to time because I like playing around in my head with all the „what ifs“.
How I once stumbled upon a little gem of science fiction
When the book finally arrived I immediately started reading and it only took me the first few pages of the prologue to get me completely hooked. I had been a little bit worried that it might take the story a while to develop and pick up some speed because „The Flight of the Silvers“ was quite a massive book with more than 600 pages but on the first 30 pages I already witnessed a dramatic car accident with weird alien lifesavers, the shocking destruction of our planet Earth and the complete extinction of mankind – well, „complete“ except for six lucky (or unlucky, depending on the events that were supposed to follow…) survivors that suddenly woke up on an alternate Earth and discovered that they had suddenly developed some really cool and impressive talents but also that they had just as unexpectedly become persons of interests that were hunted down by several different parties with different intentions – some of them good but most of them not.
Six ordinary people in an extraordinary world
I flew through the pages and was amazed by Daniel Price’s worldbuilding which made this alternate earth setting with all it’s time-manipulation stuff, psychic superpowers, flying restaurants and the like completely believable without being a boring physics lecture that you could only understand if you had a Harvard degree. I also loved the characters (well, most of them, since a certain someone named Amanda Given was a real pain in the ass for me) who were just six completely normal people with lots of flaws who had suddenly become some kind of superheroes, lab rats for a dubious bunch of scientists and targets for everyone on this alternate Earth who didn’t like that six aliens with special abilities uninvitedly showed up on their planet and accidentally caused a lot of chaos.
Getting in touch with the author
I couldn’t help sharing my excitement through various status updates on Goodreads and Twitter and suddenly got a reply from Daniel Price himself who let me know that he was happy that I apparently enjoyed reading his novel. Besides making me a bit nervous in a „Oh my God the author of the book I’m currently reading is reading my thoughts about his book“ way it also made me even more excited about the book because I still considered myself a blogging rookie and it must have been the first time I actually got in contact with an author. Fortunately I immensely enjoyed „The Flight of the Silvers“ until the end and didn’t have to pretend still liking it and when I was done I knew that I had found a new favorite book of mine. I also hadn’t known that the book was the beginning of a series so that I was super curious how the story would continue and wanted to read the next one right away. Sadly I had to realize that it would still take the author some time to write the second book and I could also read between the lines that it wasn’t even 100% sure that he would be able to publish the whole series since „The Flight of the Silvers“ was only his second novel and being a rather unknown author he had to hope that his book would be successful enough.
Let the book pushing begin!
I was lucky that I managed to push „The Flight of the Silvers“ on Crini, one of my book blogging friends, who loved the book just as much as I did and so we made it our mutual goal to make as many people as possible read the novel so that we would have more people to discuss it with but also to do our part in ensuring that the Silvers series would live long enough to see its ending. We teamed up for some blog events like read-alongs, giveaways and even a „Flight of the Silvers“ game, knowing that we had found a little gem that deserved much more attention. Through this we also intensified the communication with Daniel Price who supported us a lot, answered our questions and kept us posted about his progress with the sequel. All this made „The Flight of the Silvers“ a real special book for me and sometimes it was really hard to be patient while desperately waiting for a release date of book two.
Three years of waiting are finally over!
Now that day has finally come and „The Song of the Orphans“ is out for everyone to read and the book is not only just as amazing as the first one, it’s even better! It’s also even more massive than the first one and comes with almost 750 pages now but be assured that not a single one of them is only even slightly boring. The story of the sequel sets in about six months after the events of „The Flight of the Silvers“ and once again it only takes the prologue to immediately pull you into the story (if you’ve already read the preview in the paperback edition of book 1 then you know exactly what I mean…). The six Silvers we already know from the first book (the sisters Hannah and Amanda Given, cartoonist Zack, (ex-)alcoholic Theo, Australian Nerd David and the insecure teenager Mia) once again have to face several serious problems: first of all they need to stop their new home planet from suffering the same fate as their old Earth and based on what they know so far they only have a short time left to do so and they’re also probably the only ones who can prevent the Cataclysm. Unfortunately the people known as the Gothams – natives of the parallel universe with similar abilities as the Silvers that derive from a catastrophic event in the planet’s past – think that it’s the Silvers who triggered the upcoming Cataclysm and that the only way to stop the apocalypse is to kill them. And of course the Gothams are not the only ones who are working against the Silvers since there’s still the Domestic Protections agency, Alt-America’s version of the FBI, who still have some unfinished business with the Givens and their friends.
Some long-awaited answers and many new questions
That’s already all I want to say about the story of „The Song of the Orphans“ since everything else would be a spoiler and the plot is too complex anyway to give it a short summary that does the story justice. For those who have been impatiently waiting for answers to all the many questions that the first book raised (and let’s face the truth, who didn’t have tons of questions after all that went down in „The Flight of the Silvers“) it’s probably most important if Daniel Price finally delivers at least some of the most pressing answers and thankfully he does. Of course you don’t get to see the whole picture and there will be dozens of new questions because there’s still going to be a third book but you’ll get much more information about the Gothams, you’ll meet other people from the Silvers’ home world and probably the most interesting part is what you’ll learn about the Pelletiers, the three weird beings who brought the Silvers to this new world in the first place.
Epic action scenes
While „The Flight of the Silvers“ in some parts felt like a road trip because the Silvers were on a wild chase for a big part of the novel the second book is a bit more stationary but that doesn’t mean that you don’t get to see any action. In fact „The Song of the Orphans“ almost felt like living through two or three huge and epic action scenes that led you through the story. If you’re not that much into action scenes (I for myself have a hard time staying focussed when I read too much action without a break) then be assured that these parts are very well-written and do a lot to continue the storyline. There are often multiple dramatic events happening at the same time so that you don’t even get a chance to get bored.
Complex personalities and relationships
However there’s still enough time for character development and while Daniel Price already did a good job in „The Flight of the Silvers“ and made his protagonists very complex and with interesting personalities you’ll learn even more about the Silvers in this one, especially regarding their relationships which play a huge role in the plot of the sequel. Don’t worry, „The Song of the Orphans“ didn’t suddenly became a space opera or some other kind of annoying romance but you should know that coupling plays an important role in the storyline. Personally I would have liked a little bit less relationship issues in this book but it’s definitely necessary to drive the plot forward.
A little bit of criticism…
Overall „The Song of the Orphans“ is exactly the kind of sequel I’ve been hoping for. You get even more epic parallel world action than in the first book and the story is even more complex and fascinating, especially what concerns the Pelletiers and their plan and motives. I already liked (almost, sorry Amanda…) all the characters in „The Flight of the Silvers“ but they grew on me even more and I really liked the new characters that joined the Silvers on their mission. The only things that bothered me a little bit were the already mentioned very strong focus on relationships and the fact that I sometimes had the impression that especially the Silvers had sometimes grown a bit too powerful which in my opinion made it a bit too easy once or twice to escape dangerous situations. Also I felt that Amanda was left out a bit compared to the other characters and after what I’ve said about her after the first book I still can’t believe that I’m actually complaining about that…
There’s always more to discover
If you’ve read the first book a while ago already and are unsure if you need to re-read it before you start the sequel then you might be interested in the plot summary Daniel Price wrote himself where he wraps up everything important that had happened so far in a very helpful and highly amusing way. And let me also tell you that you probably want to re-read „The Flight of the Silvers“ AFTER you’ve finished „The Song of the Orphans“ because there are some twists that let you see everything in a whole new light. And this is one of the many reasons why I love the Silvers series so much: It’s perfect if you just want an action-packed and mind-blowing science fiction adventure but it’s even more fantastic for readers who like to re-read because with every read you always find more little details that help you understand the story and it’s fun to go through the story again with the new knowledge and look for clues you might have missed the first time.
The fantastic sequel I’ve been waiting for
So if you’re only the tiniest bit interested in science fiction, time travel, parallel worlds, great worldbuilding, deep characters, epic action scenes and complex stories then do yourself a favor and go get „The Flight of the Silvers“ and „The Song of the Orphans“ right away and dive into a world that will keep you hooked from the first minute – trust me, you won’t regret it.
How I once stumbled upon a little gem of science fiction
When the book finally arrived I immediately started reading and it only took me the first few pages of the prologue to get me completely hooked. I had been a little bit worried that it might take the story a while to develop and pick up some speed because „The Flight of the Silvers“ was quite a massive book with more than 600 pages but on the first 30 pages I already witnessed a dramatic car accident with weird alien lifesavers, the shocking destruction of our planet Earth and the complete extinction of mankind – well, „complete“ except for six lucky (or unlucky, depending on the events that were supposed to follow…) survivors that suddenly woke up on an alternate Earth and discovered that they had suddenly developed some really cool and impressive talents but also that they had just as unexpectedly become persons of interests that were hunted down by several different parties with different intentions – some of them good but most of them not.
Six ordinary people in an extraordinary world
I flew through the pages and was amazed by Daniel Price’s worldbuilding which made this alternate earth setting with all it’s time-manipulation stuff, psychic superpowers, flying restaurants and the like completely believable without being a boring physics lecture that you could only understand if you had a Harvard degree. I also loved the characters (well, most of them, since a certain someone named Amanda Given was a real pain in the ass for me) who were just six completely normal people with lots of flaws who had suddenly become some kind of superheroes, lab rats for a dubious bunch of scientists and targets for everyone on this alternate Earth who didn’t like that six aliens with special abilities uninvitedly showed up on their planet and accidentally caused a lot of chaos.
Getting in touch with the author
I couldn’t help sharing my excitement through various status updates on Goodreads and Twitter and suddenly got a reply from Daniel Price himself who let me know that he was happy that I apparently enjoyed reading his novel. Besides making me a bit nervous in a „Oh my God the author of the book I’m currently reading is reading my thoughts about his book“ way it also made me even more excited about the book because I still considered myself a blogging rookie and it must have been the first time I actually got in contact with an author. Fortunately I immensely enjoyed „The Flight of the Silvers“ until the end and didn’t have to pretend still liking it and when I was done I knew that I had found a new favorite book of mine. I also hadn’t known that the book was the beginning of a series so that I was super curious how the story would continue and wanted to read the next one right away. Sadly I had to realize that it would still take the author some time to write the second book and I could also read between the lines that it wasn’t even 100% sure that he would be able to publish the whole series since „The Flight of the Silvers“ was only his second novel and being a rather unknown author he had to hope that his book would be successful enough.
Let the book pushing begin!
I was lucky that I managed to push „The Flight of the Silvers“ on Crini, one of my book blogging friends, who loved the book just as much as I did and so we made it our mutual goal to make as many people as possible read the novel so that we would have more people to discuss it with but also to do our part in ensuring that the Silvers series would live long enough to see its ending. We teamed up for some blog events like read-alongs, giveaways and even a „Flight of the Silvers“ game, knowing that we had found a little gem that deserved much more attention. Through this we also intensified the communication with Daniel Price who supported us a lot, answered our questions and kept us posted about his progress with the sequel. All this made „The Flight of the Silvers“ a real special book for me and sometimes it was really hard to be patient while desperately waiting for a release date of book two.
Three years of waiting are finally over!
Now that day has finally come and „The Song of the Orphans“ is out for everyone to read and the book is not only just as amazing as the first one, it’s even better! It’s also even more massive than the first one and comes with almost 750 pages now but be assured that not a single one of them is only even slightly boring. The story of the sequel sets in about six months after the events of „The Flight of the Silvers“ and once again it only takes the prologue to immediately pull you into the story (if you’ve already read the preview in the paperback edition of book 1 then you know exactly what I mean…). The six Silvers we already know from the first book (the sisters Hannah and Amanda Given, cartoonist Zack, (ex-)alcoholic Theo, Australian Nerd David and the insecure teenager Mia) once again have to face several serious problems: first of all they need to stop their new home planet from suffering the same fate as their old Earth and based on what they know so far they only have a short time left to do so and they’re also probably the only ones who can prevent the Cataclysm. Unfortunately the people known as the Gothams – natives of the parallel universe with similar abilities as the Silvers that derive from a catastrophic event in the planet’s past – think that it’s the Silvers who triggered the upcoming Cataclysm and that the only way to stop the apocalypse is to kill them. And of course the Gothams are not the only ones who are working against the Silvers since there’s still the Domestic Protections agency, Alt-America’s version of the FBI, who still have some unfinished business with the Givens and their friends.
Some long-awaited answers and many new questions
That’s already all I want to say about the story of „The Song of the Orphans“ since everything else would be a spoiler and the plot is too complex anyway to give it a short summary that does the story justice. For those who have been impatiently waiting for answers to all the many questions that the first book raised (and let’s face the truth, who didn’t have tons of questions after all that went down in „The Flight of the Silvers“) it’s probably most important if Daniel Price finally delivers at least some of the most pressing answers and thankfully he does. Of course you don’t get to see the whole picture and there will be dozens of new questions because there’s still going to be a third book but you’ll get much more information about the Gothams, you’ll meet other people from the Silvers’ home world and probably the most interesting part is what you’ll learn about the Pelletiers, the three weird beings who brought the Silvers to this new world in the first place.
Epic action scenes
While „The Flight of the Silvers“ in some parts felt like a road trip because the Silvers were on a wild chase for a big part of the novel the second book is a bit more stationary but that doesn’t mean that you don’t get to see any action. In fact „The Song of the Orphans“ almost felt like living through two or three huge and epic action scenes that led you through the story. If you’re not that much into action scenes (I for myself have a hard time staying focussed when I read too much action without a break) then be assured that these parts are very well-written and do a lot to continue the storyline. There are often multiple dramatic events happening at the same time so that you don’t even get a chance to get bored.
Complex personalities and relationships
However there’s still enough time for character development and while Daniel Price already did a good job in „The Flight of the Silvers“ and made his protagonists very complex and with interesting personalities you’ll learn even more about the Silvers in this one, especially regarding their relationships which play a huge role in the plot of the sequel. Don’t worry, „The Song of the Orphans“ didn’t suddenly became a space opera or some other kind of annoying romance but you should know that coupling plays an important role in the storyline. Personally I would have liked a little bit less relationship issues in this book but it’s definitely necessary to drive the plot forward.
A little bit of criticism…
Overall „The Song of the Orphans“ is exactly the kind of sequel I’ve been hoping for. You get even more epic parallel world action than in the first book and the story is even more complex and fascinating, especially what concerns the Pelletiers and their plan and motives. I already liked (almost, sorry Amanda…) all the characters in „The Flight of the Silvers“ but they grew on me even more and I really liked the new characters that joined the Silvers on their mission. The only things that bothered me a little bit were the already mentioned very strong focus on relationships and the fact that I sometimes had the impression that especially the Silvers had sometimes grown a bit too powerful which in my opinion made it a bit too easy once or twice to escape dangerous situations. Also I felt that Amanda was left out a bit compared to the other characters and after what I’ve said about her after the first book I still can’t believe that I’m actually complaining about that…
There’s always more to discover
If you’ve read the first book a while ago already and are unsure if you need to re-read it before you start the sequel then you might be interested in the plot summary Daniel Price wrote himself where he wraps up everything important that had happened so far in a very helpful and highly amusing way. And let me also tell you that you probably want to re-read „The Flight of the Silvers“ AFTER you’ve finished „The Song of the Orphans“ because there are some twists that let you see everything in a whole new light. And this is one of the many reasons why I love the Silvers series so much: It’s perfect if you just want an action-packed and mind-blowing science fiction adventure but it’s even more fantastic for readers who like to re-read because with every read you always find more little details that help you understand the story and it’s fun to go through the story again with the new knowledge and look for clues you might have missed the first time.
The fantastic sequel I’ve been waiting for
So if you’re only the tiniest bit interested in science fiction, time travel, parallel worlds, great worldbuilding, deep characters, epic action scenes and complex stories then do yourself a favor and go get „The Flight of the Silvers“ and „The Song of the Orphans“ right away and dive into a world that will keep you hooked from the first minute – trust me, you won’t regret it.
March 27, 2017
Damn, that was good! 752 pages and I wasn't bored for a single one of them. Daniel Price has outdone himself with this book, solidifying Silvers as one of the best sci-fi series out there. I already loved the first book, but this one takes the series to a whole new level. I can't wait to find out what happens next to this great group of characters. (Or maybe I don't want to know.)
December 22, 2017
This book is a sequel to The Flight of the Silvers and cannot be read, if you want to understand anything, without having read book 1. I loved book 1 because of its originality - superhumans all bending different elements of time, intrigue involving the bigger purpose, and character development.
Volume 2 was more of the same, a lot more of the same, rather too much of the same. It was too much of the same light banter without any depth and too much of the same uninteresting struggles for the super special Silvers (whom to date, whom to fight, what to do). In a second book with over 700 pages, I would have expected a lot more progress and character development. Instead, the Silvers never made it past bare survival. There was no strategy or plan to defeat the Pelletiers or save the world. They were still rats in a maze, reacting to circumstances around them, and that made the pages drag as there was nothing to root for.
Many reviewers of The Flight of the Silvers criticized it for its overuse of deus ex machina to get its characters out of trouble. They should expect spades of that in this book as well. While it did resolve some of the mysteries presented in book one, the reveals were lackluster. To me, they didn't offer any more food for thought, introduce new ideas/commentary on the human condition, or challenge old ideas, like other books in science fiction. This book was full of action and fight scenes. It can still be fun for people who like the lighter side of science fiction, more along the lines of the TV show Heroes. But it wasn't what I was hoping for after book 1.
Volume 2 was more of the same, a lot more of the same, rather too much of the same. It was too much of the same light banter without any depth and too much of the same uninteresting struggles for the super special Silvers (whom to date, whom to fight, what to do). In a second book with over 700 pages, I would have expected a lot more progress and character development. Instead, the Silvers never made it past bare survival. There was no strategy or plan to defeat the Pelletiers or save the world. They were still rats in a maze, reacting to circumstances around them, and that made the pages drag as there was nothing to root for.
Many reviewers of The Flight of the Silvers criticized it for its overuse of deus ex machina to get its characters out of trouble. They should expect spades of that in this book as well. While it did resolve some of the mysteries presented in book one, the reveals were lackluster. To me, they didn't offer any more food for thought, introduce new ideas/commentary on the human condition, or challenge old ideas, like other books in science fiction. This book was full of action and fight scenes. It can still be fun for people who like the lighter side of science fiction, more along the lines of the TV show Heroes. But it wasn't what I was hoping for after book 1.
July 1, 2017
Damn. So many feelings. I don't know how I'm going to write an actual review for this book. And I'm really not looking forward to the wait for book three.
April 29, 2024
Thanks to Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book.
These Silvers books give me the worst book hangovers. I enjoy reading them so much and they are difficult to put down, so I tear through them and feel lost when they are finished. I wish I had temporal powers of my own to ease the wait between books. If I had more willpower I would've waited until the series was finished to read all the books together - but couldn't do it - the books are just to compelling to me to wait.
The Song of the Orphans is the follow up to the first book Flight of the Silvers, which really should be read first (if you have read it and need a refresher, Price has a nice recap on his website: http://danielprice.info/category/recap/). In the first book we meet the Silvers, a random group of people who were saved by a mysterious trio at the end of their world and transported to an alternate Earth. They adjust to their new circumstances and newly found abilities while escaping others who are intent on doing them harm. I found the ideas original and engaging and the plotting well done to balance action and the world building. I thought the book held up on the second reading and I loved it just as much the second time around. I was anxious to see where the story went and if the second book could maintain the freshness and momentum of the first book.
The Song of the Orphans picks up six months after the end of the first book. We are quickly caught up and jump right in to the action. And there is a lot of action - at some points too much for my taste and the book risked becoming repetitive: battle scene, however will they escape, oh they do it, repeat. But just as I was getting a little nervous after the first big battle, Price throws in some good plot twists and turns that advance the story and keep it interesting (no spoilers, but one of these is quite the game changer and should make rereading the books very interesting with this new piece of knowledge). By the end I was completely swept up again with the Silvers and dying to see where the story goes from here. I like that we got some answers and understanding, yet enough new information and plotlines to take the story in unexpected directions and set up what I anticipate will be an exciting conclusion.
April 2024
I reread this book in anticipation of the release of the final book of the trilogy. I'm glad I read it because I had forgotten a lot of details. It was fun to reread both the first book and this book knowing the twist from The Song of the Orphans. I again enjoyed this book and the interesting world it presents.
These Silvers books give me the worst book hangovers. I enjoy reading them so much and they are difficult to put down, so I tear through them and feel lost when they are finished. I wish I had temporal powers of my own to ease the wait between books. If I had more willpower I would've waited until the series was finished to read all the books together - but couldn't do it - the books are just to compelling to me to wait.
The Song of the Orphans is the follow up to the first book Flight of the Silvers, which really should be read first (if you have read it and need a refresher, Price has a nice recap on his website: http://danielprice.info/category/recap/). In the first book we meet the Silvers, a random group of people who were saved by a mysterious trio at the end of their world and transported to an alternate Earth. They adjust to their new circumstances and newly found abilities while escaping others who are intent on doing them harm. I found the ideas original and engaging and the plotting well done to balance action and the world building. I thought the book held up on the second reading and I loved it just as much the second time around. I was anxious to see where the story went and if the second book could maintain the freshness and momentum of the first book.
The Song of the Orphans picks up six months after the end of the first book. We are quickly caught up and jump right in to the action. And there is a lot of action - at some points too much for my taste and the book risked becoming repetitive: battle scene, however will they escape, oh they do it, repeat. But just as I was getting a little nervous after the first big battle, Price throws in some good plot twists and turns that advance the story and keep it interesting (no spoilers, but one of these is quite the game changer and should make rereading the books very interesting with this new piece of knowledge). By the end I was completely swept up again with the Silvers and dying to see where the story goes from here. I like that we got some answers and understanding, yet enough new information and plotlines to take the story in unexpected directions and set up what I anticipate will be an exciting conclusion.
April 2024
I reread this book in anticipation of the release of the final book of the trilogy. I'm glad I read it because I had forgotten a lot of details. It was fun to reread both the first book and this book knowing the twist from The Song of the Orphans. I again enjoyed this book and the interesting world it presents.
February 5, 2019
Wow, talk about a great read. I bought this for $2 and it clocks in at just over 700 pages. A gripping dystopian with two sisters as the MC's. Action, intrigue, fantasy, everything I like about a can't put down book. Daniel Price has a gift for writing stories that stick with you. I hadn't read book one but he filled in the gaps beautifully. If you're looking for a book that you won't be able to put down, not even to sleep, The Song of the Orphans is it! Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5+ stars
My Rating: 5+ stars
May 22, 2017
It's been several years since Daniel Price's first novel in the Silvers series landed, but thankfully The Song of the Orphans remains pretty accessible, and the author catches readers up to speed in short order. If you need a refresher on what happened in 2014's The Flight of the Silvers, Price has you covered on his website, where he has published A Badly-Drawn Recap and a few other helpful guides to remind you of all the things you may have forgotten in the last three years.
The Song of the Orphans picks up a short time after the conclusion of Silvers #1, and with one hell of a hook. The titular Orphans (the sole survivors of our doomed planet, who were transplanted to an alternate Earth) arrive in a movie theater via portal...each of them dead, dead, dead. And yet, simultaneously, these very same Orphans are stomping around New York as wanted fugitives. So, what the heck is going on here?! Price lays out several tantalizing possibilities over the course of his multiverse superhero saga - time travel? clones? something else? - with all roads leading back to the enigmatic, nefarious (or are they?!), and vicious Pelletiers.
Clocking in at 750 pages, Price delivers a King-sized doorstopper epic of superhuman proportions. This sucker is jam-packed with X-Men by way of Fringe action scenes, each one carefully crafted and massive in scope. One of the neat things, and without spoiling anything, is how Price stages each of his large set pieces, and then makes them even larger, and the doubles that again. The dude has clearly plotted the heck out of this series, and I'd wager he's spent more than a few sleepless nights crafting power sets and character sheets for each of his super-powered heroes and villians, and how he can best use their abilities to generate conflict, defeat, reversals, and victories. And like a good Dungeon Master, Price doesn't let any of his players off easy. There's a constant escalation to each of the events that occur within these pages, and there's always a massive toll in the end, both physical and emotional. And when you've got some characters who can heal others and wind back the clock, this isn't always an easy thing to pull off.
In addition to the huge action scenes, Price devotes plenty of space to the characters and their developing dramas and emerging relationships. There's plenty of surprises to be had on the people front, too, particularly as dynamics shift and change, or continue to adapt, to the strange new world the Orphans find themselves in.
The wait-time may between books may have been a bit rough for us fans of the first Silvers novel, but having spent plenty of time as a Dark Tower junkie and reader of George R.R. Martin, the three year gap wasn't all that bad, all things considered. Hugely cinematic, and packed to the rafters with fight scenes and conflict galore, The Songs of the Orphans was well worth the wait. Fans will be pleased to take another trip to AltAmerica, but now begins the wait for book three. I shall wait patiently, or at least try to.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the author and publisher via NetGalley.]
The Song of the Orphans picks up a short time after the conclusion of Silvers #1, and with one hell of a hook. The titular Orphans (the sole survivors of our doomed planet, who were transplanted to an alternate Earth) arrive in a movie theater via portal...each of them dead, dead, dead. And yet, simultaneously, these very same Orphans are stomping around New York as wanted fugitives. So, what the heck is going on here?! Price lays out several tantalizing possibilities over the course of his multiverse superhero saga - time travel? clones? something else? - with all roads leading back to the enigmatic, nefarious (or are they?!), and vicious Pelletiers.
Clocking in at 750 pages, Price delivers a King-sized doorstopper epic of superhuman proportions. This sucker is jam-packed with X-Men by way of Fringe action scenes, each one carefully crafted and massive in scope. One of the neat things, and without spoiling anything, is how Price stages each of his large set pieces, and then makes them even larger, and the doubles that again. The dude has clearly plotted the heck out of this series, and I'd wager he's spent more than a few sleepless nights crafting power sets and character sheets for each of his super-powered heroes and villians, and how he can best use their abilities to generate conflict, defeat, reversals, and victories. And like a good Dungeon Master, Price doesn't let any of his players off easy. There's a constant escalation to each of the events that occur within these pages, and there's always a massive toll in the end, both physical and emotional. And when you've got some characters who can heal others and wind back the clock, this isn't always an easy thing to pull off.
In addition to the huge action scenes, Price devotes plenty of space to the characters and their developing dramas and emerging relationships. There's plenty of surprises to be had on the people front, too, particularly as dynamics shift and change, or continue to adapt, to the strange new world the Orphans find themselves in.
The wait-time may between books may have been a bit rough for us fans of the first Silvers novel, but having spent plenty of time as a Dark Tower junkie and reader of George R.R. Martin, the three year gap wasn't all that bad, all things considered. Hugely cinematic, and packed to the rafters with fight scenes and conflict galore, The Songs of the Orphans was well worth the wait. Fans will be pleased to take another trip to AltAmerica, but now begins the wait for book three. I shall wait patiently, or at least try to.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the author and publisher via NetGalley.]
July 3, 2017
I loved this sequel. I think it was a factor my emotional attachment to the characters, loving the new ones, and, in general, the plot blowing my mind. I maintain my previous observation and say that the characters and plot are by far my favorite.
This story had a lot of ups and downs, filled with MEGA twists. The plot takes us even more of an emotional journey than the first, if I thought that was even possible. For this, I am in awe of Price for this fantastic story arch.
The characters are as lovable as before and they grow. Mia was the star of this book for me, because a lot of questions were answered, and she goes through a ton of growing. But then again, the multiple POV of the book, always makes me hesitant to pick a favorite.
I am already dreading the long wait till the next, but I am so excited to see what happens!!!
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from First to Read.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
This story had a lot of ups and downs, filled with MEGA twists. The plot takes us even more of an emotional journey than the first, if I thought that was even possible. For this, I am in awe of Price for this fantastic story arch.
The characters are as lovable as before and they grow. Mia was the star of this book for me, because a lot of questions were answered, and she goes through a ton of growing. But then again, the multiple POV of the book, always makes me hesitant to pick a favorite.
I am already dreading the long wait till the next, but I am so excited to see what happens!!!
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from First to Read.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
July 5, 2017
I discovered The Flight of the Silvers a few years ago, at my local public library, and absolutely loved it. Ever since then, I've been waiting for the sequel, The Song of the Orphans, which came out yesterday. In preparation for the arrival of the sequel, I reread the first one, and loved it just as much as the first time I read it. So I'm happy to say, I was not disappointed by The Song of the Orphans! I thought it was a tremendously good read. I got the book yesterday, on its release date, and finished it today: an absolutely absorbing read, that I could not put down!
One very personal detail I was very excited about: the presence of a minor character named Sean Howell, which was the name of my late brother who died almost exactly four years ago. The name of the character was not a coincidence. My other brother tweeted the author of the Silvers books a few years ago, just to tell him how much he loved the book, and happened to mention that he though our late brother Sean would have loved it too. So Daniel Price very kindly said he would name a character in the book after our brother, which he did! I was so excited to get half-way through the book to stumble upon two characters with the last name Howell, one of whom was indeed named "Sean Howell."
One very personal detail I was very excited about: the presence of a minor character named Sean Howell, which was the name of my late brother who died almost exactly four years ago. The name of the character was not a coincidence. My other brother tweeted the author of the Silvers books a few years ago, just to tell him how much he loved the book, and happened to mention that he though our late brother Sean would have loved it too. So Daniel Price very kindly said he would name a character in the book after our brother, which he did! I was so excited to get half-way through the book to stumble upon two characters with the last name Howell, one of whom was indeed named "Sean Howell."
June 20, 2017
I won a copy of this book a Goodreads giveaway and to be honest I am not normally a fan of science fiction but somehow this book really caught my attention. It took me about half a day to finish the whole thing, that's how much I liked it. I didn't read the first book but I didn't find myself at a disadvantage that much. I was very much able to infer what I needed to know from the first book.
July 5, 2017
http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/out-...
Science fiction lends itself particularly well to the creation of a book series. Building a world over the span of multiple books allows for the environmental thoroughness in which so much sci-fi thrives.
Author Daniel Price laid the foundation for quite a world indeed in 2014’s “The Flight of the Silvers,” creating an alternate America where time itself served as a natural resource – and where a handful of refugees from the utter destruction of their (and our) Earth discover their own unique connections to the powers of this new place.
The second book in the Silvers series is “The Song of the Orphans” (Blue Rider Press, $30). The adventure continues for the survivors as they struggle to find their place in this new world, dealing with friends who are enemies and adversaries that become allies. All the while desperately searching for a way to help their new home avoid the fate of the old one.
Six months have passed since the Silvers arrived in AltAmerica. Hannah, Amanda, Zack, Theo, Mia and David are quickly gaining new mastery of their temporal abilities. And they need every bit of it; they’re surrounded by potential foes – the shadowy government agency tasked with their destruction, the native-born chronokinetics (known as Gothams) whose underground existence is threatened with exposure, the sinister time-benders of the Pelletier family whose motives are as mysterious as their actions are deadly – all with their own vendettas.
But Theo – the augur of the bunch – might be the only person who can steer the world toward the singular possible future that doesn’t end in utter annihilation in just a few short years. There are those who seek to help the Silvers – exiled Gotham Peter, government agent Melissa – but for the most part, the world (and the vast majority of the most powerful people in it) are against them.
Even when they learn that they aren’t the only survivors of their world – they hook up with a musician named Jonathan and a high-functioning autistic teen named Heath who have been making it on their own since their escape. They join in the effort to bring the rest of their Earth’s people together.
However, being pulled in all directions at once is unsustainable. Something’s got to give, and when it does, the fate of the world itself is at stake.
“The Song of the Orphans” is very much a second book – and I mean that in the most complimentary way. The meticulous detail of Price’s fictional Earth is such that context is fairly important; while there’s enough narrative oomph and contextual exposition to make reading this one without reading “TFotS” doable, there’s obvious benefit to experiencing “Orphans” as a second chapter rather than a beginning.
That isn’t to give short shrift to Price’s character work – he’s juggling a good-sized cast and finding effective ways to lend depth to all of them. The evolution of that cast and the development of secondary and tertiary relationship dimensions has created a vivid sense of character and a bright view of how and why these people have entangled.
And lest we forget, there’s a lovely cleverness here. Price wears his pop culture sensibilities and sense of humor on his sleeve - and he’s unafraid to lean into either. The music of the Beatles plays a key role in the story, for instance. And he engages in occasional wordplay that makes me chuckle while simultaneously wondering if I should groan. An example: at one point, an oddly-shaped path between buildings is referred to as a “Salvadored alley” and I laughed for two solid minutes.
“The Song of the Orphans” is a sharp, smart piece of science-fiction. Price has not only recaptured the grand scale of Book One, but expanded upon it. It’s a narrative that unspools cinematically in the mind’s eye; there’s a visual acuity at work here that is wonderful and rare.
Here’s hoping that the wait for Book Three will be a short one. After all, the world is running out of time.
Science fiction lends itself particularly well to the creation of a book series. Building a world over the span of multiple books allows for the environmental thoroughness in which so much sci-fi thrives.
Author Daniel Price laid the foundation for quite a world indeed in 2014’s “The Flight of the Silvers,” creating an alternate America where time itself served as a natural resource – and where a handful of refugees from the utter destruction of their (and our) Earth discover their own unique connections to the powers of this new place.
The second book in the Silvers series is “The Song of the Orphans” (Blue Rider Press, $30). The adventure continues for the survivors as they struggle to find their place in this new world, dealing with friends who are enemies and adversaries that become allies. All the while desperately searching for a way to help their new home avoid the fate of the old one.
Six months have passed since the Silvers arrived in AltAmerica. Hannah, Amanda, Zack, Theo, Mia and David are quickly gaining new mastery of their temporal abilities. And they need every bit of it; they’re surrounded by potential foes – the shadowy government agency tasked with their destruction, the native-born chronokinetics (known as Gothams) whose underground existence is threatened with exposure, the sinister time-benders of the Pelletier family whose motives are as mysterious as their actions are deadly – all with their own vendettas.
But Theo – the augur of the bunch – might be the only person who can steer the world toward the singular possible future that doesn’t end in utter annihilation in just a few short years. There are those who seek to help the Silvers – exiled Gotham Peter, government agent Melissa – but for the most part, the world (and the vast majority of the most powerful people in it) are against them.
Even when they learn that they aren’t the only survivors of their world – they hook up with a musician named Jonathan and a high-functioning autistic teen named Heath who have been making it on their own since their escape. They join in the effort to bring the rest of their Earth’s people together.
However, being pulled in all directions at once is unsustainable. Something’s got to give, and when it does, the fate of the world itself is at stake.
“The Song of the Orphans” is very much a second book – and I mean that in the most complimentary way. The meticulous detail of Price’s fictional Earth is such that context is fairly important; while there’s enough narrative oomph and contextual exposition to make reading this one without reading “TFotS” doable, there’s obvious benefit to experiencing “Orphans” as a second chapter rather than a beginning.
That isn’t to give short shrift to Price’s character work – he’s juggling a good-sized cast and finding effective ways to lend depth to all of them. The evolution of that cast and the development of secondary and tertiary relationship dimensions has created a vivid sense of character and a bright view of how and why these people have entangled.
And lest we forget, there’s a lovely cleverness here. Price wears his pop culture sensibilities and sense of humor on his sleeve - and he’s unafraid to lean into either. The music of the Beatles plays a key role in the story, for instance. And he engages in occasional wordplay that makes me chuckle while simultaneously wondering if I should groan. An example: at one point, an oddly-shaped path between buildings is referred to as a “Salvadored alley” and I laughed for two solid minutes.
“The Song of the Orphans” is a sharp, smart piece of science-fiction. Price has not only recaptured the grand scale of Book One, but expanded upon it. It’s a narrative that unspools cinematically in the mind’s eye; there’s a visual acuity at work here that is wonderful and rare.
Here’s hoping that the wait for Book Three will be a short one. After all, the world is running out of time.
July 10, 2017
Few authors can make me feel so much for such a wide cast of main characters. And after all these years of waiting upon finishing the first volume of the Silvers saga, this one immediately felt like a family reunion.
All the more reason for that ultimate treason to hurt that much more.
Mr. Price, you've done it yet again. You've expanded on the original, shown some of the cards purposely left face down at the end of the first volume while leaving a tantalizing number of questions yet unanswered. The villains felt ominous, both the godlike Pelletiers as well as the most mundane ones. You've even crafted enemies both despicable and pitiful (oh, Gemma...) deserving of both scorn and sorrow. And you even brought back my favorite looper! (He's still an irredeemable bastard whose murderous antics I'm feeling won't end well at all, but alas).
It's a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations, all wrapped up in amazing character growth and cinematic action (seriously, some of the pages seemed to pop out from my Kindle straight into a holographic lumivision show). The non stop obstacles thrown at our heroes who keep prevailing make every victory into a whooping shout, every moment of peace to be savored at its fullest and every new danger into an incredibly tense narrative that you just can't put down.
Now it's time to wait yet again, for that final chapter of the Silvers saga. For Ioni's true agenda to be revealed. For the Pelletiers to get what's coming to them. For the start of a new world, be it at the expense or upon the expansion of an old one. For Amanda, Hannah, Zack, Theo, Mia, Heath, Peter, the rest of the Gothams, the whole population of Altamerica and beyond.
And for that bullet to eventually find its mark.
All the more reason for that ultimate treason to hurt that much more.
Mr. Price, you've done it yet again. You've expanded on the original, shown some of the cards purposely left face down at the end of the first volume while leaving a tantalizing number of questions yet unanswered. The villains felt ominous, both the godlike Pelletiers as well as the most mundane ones. You've even crafted enemies both despicable and pitiful (oh, Gemma...) deserving of both scorn and sorrow. And you even brought back my favorite looper! (He's still an irredeemable bastard whose murderous antics I'm feeling won't end well at all, but alas).
It's a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations, all wrapped up in amazing character growth and cinematic action (seriously, some of the pages seemed to pop out from my Kindle straight into a holographic lumivision show). The non stop obstacles thrown at our heroes who keep prevailing make every victory into a whooping shout, every moment of peace to be savored at its fullest and every new danger into an incredibly tense narrative that you just can't put down.
Now it's time to wait yet again, for that final chapter of the Silvers saga. For Ioni's true agenda to be revealed. For the Pelletiers to get what's coming to them. For the start of a new world, be it at the expense or upon the expansion of an old one. For Amanda, Hannah, Zack, Theo, Mia, Heath, Peter, the rest of the Gothams, the whole population of Altamerica and beyond.
And for that bullet to eventually find its mark.
Want to read
January 7, 2016I've gotta say, I am beyond excited to see even more of this world in this next book! Keep up the good work Daniel!
July 9, 2017
Good grief, this 700+ page book took nearly 6 days to read from start to finish. Admittedly, I was juggling about 15 different things during that period of time, but still. Fortunately, this is yet another book that managed to fend off dull moments with a barrage of wit, drama, and action-packed scenarios, leaving me biting my nails (figuratively) and frantically turning pages (literally).
The Song of the Orphans begins with an unusual scenario – Integrity is investigating the death of the Silvers in a movie theater. Now you may wonder (just briefly) how this could have happened if we’re to spend the next 700 pages reading about these very same people. I certainly did, but it quickly becomes clear that this is a Pelletier ploy to keep the government off the trail of their projects, the precious Silvers. This was a great introduction to the new “bad guy” that the Silvers will face and set the tone for their future dealings with Integrity. The whole story isn’t so simple as to have a single plot line though, because the characters are working out their relationship with the Gothams, reaching out to other groups (Golds, Coppers, etc.), as well as figuring out how to save this world from the same fate as their own. There’s so much going on that you really can’t miss a single sentence, otherwise you may miss out on something significant
I still think the characters are great and truly make the story stand out. The Silvers will throat-punch anyone that might harm one of their own and ask questions later. The two Golds that are added to the fold quickly become just as loved and protected as the others, especially to Hannah. The Pelletiers are fleshed out a bit more and their motives for saving the 99 “breachers” become much more clear. It was about time too, because their motives weren’t clear previously and were doled out in cryptic sentences. Also, did I mention the traitor/sleeper in the group? Oh yeah, one of our dearly beloved characters is actually a Pelletier in disguise. That really came as a surprise to me and trying to figure out who it was as the book progressed was SO MUCH FUN. I kept waffling back and forth about who I thought it was and in the end the person was one of the people I had suspected!!!
I felt that The Song of the Orphans was a strong sequel that I hope will lead to a mind-blowingly awesome third book. Things changed significantly from the first to last page and yeah, that sounds like an obvious statement, but the direction the Silvers were headed in seems to have changed. It sounds like an all-out war against the Pelletiers now! If you have the time or inclination to check out two whopping books chock full of portals, augers, and defiant characters you really should check out Daniel Price’s books.
The Song of the Orphans begins with an unusual scenario – Integrity is investigating the death of the Silvers in a movie theater. Now you may wonder (just briefly) how this could have happened if we’re to spend the next 700 pages reading about these very same people. I certainly did, but it quickly becomes clear that this is a Pelletier ploy to keep the government off the trail of their projects, the precious Silvers. This was a great introduction to the new “bad guy” that the Silvers will face and set the tone for their future dealings with Integrity. The whole story isn’t so simple as to have a single plot line though, because the characters are working out their relationship with the Gothams, reaching out to other groups (Golds, Coppers, etc.), as well as figuring out how to save this world from the same fate as their own. There’s so much going on that you really can’t miss a single sentence, otherwise you may miss out on something significant
I still think the characters are great and truly make the story stand out. The Silvers will throat-punch anyone that might harm one of their own and ask questions later. The two Golds that are added to the fold quickly become just as loved and protected as the others, especially to Hannah. The Pelletiers are fleshed out a bit more and their motives for saving the 99 “breachers” become much more clear. It was about time too, because their motives weren’t clear previously and were doled out in cryptic sentences. Also, did I mention the traitor/sleeper in the group? Oh yeah, one of our dearly beloved characters is actually a Pelletier in disguise. That really came as a surprise to me and trying to figure out who it was as the book progressed was SO MUCH FUN. I kept waffling back and forth about who I thought it was and in the end the person was one of the people I had suspected!!!
I felt that The Song of the Orphans was a strong sequel that I hope will lead to a mind-blowingly awesome third book. Things changed significantly from the first to last page and yeah, that sounds like an obvious statement, but the direction the Silvers were headed in seems to have changed. It sounds like an all-out war against the Pelletiers now! If you have the time or inclination to check out two whopping books chock full of portals, augers, and defiant characters you really should check out Daniel Price’s books.
July 27, 2017
Have you ever felt there’s not much difference between a bracelet and a manacle? If so, you’ll appreciate the situation of the Silvers, a silver-bracelet clad group stranded in an alternate world after the destruction of our own earth. They’re in AltAmerican through the intervention of a family of scientists, who now want to control their fate. These scientists, the Pelletiers, who come from the far-future, saved selected individuals from earth and transported them to another, similar earth. Individuals from earth, also known as Orphans, are resettled s in different new cities. Each geographic group is distinguished by the material of bracelet that the Pelletiers gave them. All the members have special powers, activated by the cataclysm that destroyed our earth, but no one has the broad range of powers that the Pelletiers do.
It doesn’t sound so bad to get a silver bracelet, and be saved from death, but the Pelletier family aren’t altruists. To them, earth’s survivors are just pawns in an ultimate game, there to serve the goal of the Pelletiers. As Semerjean Pelletier says to one of the Silvers, “Think about the future. Be someone I need.” You’ll find out Semerjean needs, and how the Silvers are expected to help, before the seven-hundred odd pages are over.
To use one of the original terms that Price coined for his series, it does become somewhat of a fustercluck for the Silvers. Not only do our orphaned earthlings have to deal with the Pelletiers, there’s also AltAmerica’s equivalent of the NSA, a police force called Integrity. Plus a crazed guy called Rander Evans, and a group of AltAmericans, also with special powers, who don’t trust the Silvers. There’s also an enemy disguised as a friend, and a friend who is mistaken for an enemy. Estranged children and romantic pairings lend an emotional component to the complicated politics.
Put all these ingredients in a blender, pulse and spin, and you have a whirling, frenetic, exotic refreshment. Original and substantive, Song of the Orphans is a book to read for long lazy summer days.
While the Song of the Orphans is the second book in the series, and not intended as a stand-alone, I was able to follow the plot after immersing myself in the first chapters.
It doesn’t sound so bad to get a silver bracelet, and be saved from death, but the Pelletier family aren’t altruists. To them, earth’s survivors are just pawns in an ultimate game, there to serve the goal of the Pelletiers. As Semerjean Pelletier says to one of the Silvers, “Think about the future. Be someone I need.” You’ll find out Semerjean needs, and how the Silvers are expected to help, before the seven-hundred odd pages are over.
To use one of the original terms that Price coined for his series, it does become somewhat of a fustercluck for the Silvers. Not only do our orphaned earthlings have to deal with the Pelletiers, there’s also AltAmerica’s equivalent of the NSA, a police force called Integrity. Plus a crazed guy called Rander Evans, and a group of AltAmericans, also with special powers, who don’t trust the Silvers. There’s also an enemy disguised as a friend, and a friend who is mistaken for an enemy. Estranged children and romantic pairings lend an emotional component to the complicated politics.
Put all these ingredients in a blender, pulse and spin, and you have a whirling, frenetic, exotic refreshment. Original and substantive, Song of the Orphans is a book to read for long lazy summer days.
While the Song of the Orphans is the second book in the series, and not intended as a stand-alone, I was able to follow the plot after immersing myself in the first chapters.
July 15, 2017
I was initially interested in this book simply due to the story being comprised of some intriguing characters being sent to an abstract Earth and given awesome powers. I found the description to be a bit strange as well, but I don't mind books that follow an unnatural order, as long as the happenings don't get utterly ridiculous and carried away. Thus, I just had to give it a chance, even though I rarely find a science fiction book that I can actually bring myself to finish. Its sheer size was a bit daunting, too, but it was a challenge I was willing to face.
Although I had not read the first book in the series, I was able to read a handy-dandy recap of it here. The summary was both informative and humorous in its abbreviation of the important events of the first book. (The pictures were also appreciated.)
It is evident that the second book takes place about half a year after the happenings of book one. I honestly had no problem becoming engrossed in the story. The Given sisters and the other Silvers are thrust into facing the harsh realities that this new world possesses, such as its imminent demise and many parties trying to work against them. However, some of the most interesting aspects of the story involve the introduction of more information regarding the Pelletiers. These three beings are definitely fascinating and I just had to learn more about them! But of course, there are so many more questions that come along that MUST BE ANSWERED!
I also fell in love with the story because I pretty much enjoy anything that reminds me of X-men, and the action scenes and powers in this book were right on par with my favorite group of mutants. Character development was acknowledged and nothing fell flat. To me, the writing was not sloppy or difficult to follow, rather it was extremely well though-out and crafted with immense precision and beauty. My mind was pretty much blown by how amazing this story was!
Congratulations Mr. Price! You have officially gained a fan and loyal reader. However, my only disappointment is that I must now wait for the next installment.
For more reviews like this, you can visit: http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/
Although I had not read the first book in the series, I was able to read a handy-dandy recap of it here. The summary was both informative and humorous in its abbreviation of the important events of the first book. (The pictures were also appreciated.)
It is evident that the second book takes place about half a year after the happenings of book one. I honestly had no problem becoming engrossed in the story. The Given sisters and the other Silvers are thrust into facing the harsh realities that this new world possesses, such as its imminent demise and many parties trying to work against them. However, some of the most interesting aspects of the story involve the introduction of more information regarding the Pelletiers. These three beings are definitely fascinating and I just had to learn more about them! But of course, there are so many more questions that come along that MUST BE ANSWERED!
I also fell in love with the story because I pretty much enjoy anything that reminds me of X-men, and the action scenes and powers in this book were right on par with my favorite group of mutants. Character development was acknowledged and nothing fell flat. To me, the writing was not sloppy or difficult to follow, rather it was extremely well though-out and crafted with immense precision and beauty. My mind was pretty much blown by how amazing this story was!
Congratulations Mr. Price! You have officially gained a fan and loyal reader. However, my only disappointment is that I must now wait for the next installment.
For more reviews like this, you can visit: http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/
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August 1, 2017First of all, this is a middle book, and as it starts in medias res after the accelerating events of the previous, The Flight of the Silvers, new readers should really, really not begin here.
The six ‘Silvers’ (so named for the bracelets put on them by three mystery people before their/our? Timeline is destroyed in the opening chapter of the previous book) are again thrown into the middle of action, starting on the very first page.
The story is very complex, with a large cast, and several timelines, plus all the emotional crises our main characters go through as they progress from the ordinary people of the first book to considerably powerful people in this. Who are being chased with intent to kill.
This book I thought was a cut above the first—for one thing, younger sister Hannah was no longer identified repeatedly by the size of her boobs. Yay!
They have to stop their new Timeline suffering the same fate as their old one, but they are racing the clock. They may be the only ones who can prevent total cataclysm, but they have so much to learn as well as dangers to dodge.
Unfortunately the people known as the Gothams – natives of the parallel universe with powers similar to those of the Silvers – believe the Silvers are at fault for triggering said cataclysm. Therefore to stop the disaster, they must kill the Silvers.
And of course the Gothams are not the only ones who are working against the Silvers. There’s still the creepy alt-FBI, and oh yes, the mysterious three whose motivations may or may not be understood as events accelerate toward crisis, and leave us freefalling until the next book.
Copy provided by NetGalley
The six ‘Silvers’ (so named for the bracelets put on them by three mystery people before their/our? Timeline is destroyed in the opening chapter of the previous book) are again thrown into the middle of action, starting on the very first page.
The story is very complex, with a large cast, and several timelines, plus all the emotional crises our main characters go through as they progress from the ordinary people of the first book to considerably powerful people in this. Who are being chased with intent to kill.
This book I thought was a cut above the first—for one thing, younger sister Hannah was no longer identified repeatedly by the size of her boobs. Yay!
They have to stop their new Timeline suffering the same fate as their old one, but they are racing the clock. They may be the only ones who can prevent total cataclysm, but they have so much to learn as well as dangers to dodge.
Unfortunately the people known as the Gothams – natives of the parallel universe with powers similar to those of the Silvers – believe the Silvers are at fault for triggering said cataclysm. Therefore to stop the disaster, they must kill the Silvers.
And of course the Gothams are not the only ones who are working against the Silvers. There’s still the creepy alt-FBI, and oh yes, the mysterious three whose motivations may or may not be understood as events accelerate toward crisis, and leave us freefalling until the next book.
Copy provided by NetGalley
August 27, 2019
Mr. Price continues to impress me with his work on this series. I love the innovative thinking that brings this world to life. Let me explain: he has crafted a sci-fi world that incorporates tropes that most authors choose to deal with singularly. In this book, and its predecessor, we have characters that are involved in superpowers, issues of time (but not necessarily time travel), and parallel universes. The fact that Price incorporates all of these elements into a single story is impressive in and of itself. The actual story is quite breathtaking. Literally. I find I have to pause and catch my breath when the characters do in the text. Each action sequence is virtually piled on the next and one might think there would be no time for world-building or character development, but there is plenty of both. Certainly, I have my favorites among the cast of characters. I actually talked my 16 yo daughter in giving this text a try when she turned to me over the summer and asked, "Mom, what do I read next?" As a high school English teacher, I hesitated suggesting it fearing that it might prove to be frustrating with the multiple threads (ha!-you'll only laugh at that if you've read it) and 3rd person POV. In fact, she was so intrigued with the story that she said she was able to overcome that teen aversion to anything but first person POV. I love that because it means I made a good choice to suggest it and that she is maturing as a reader. I was on the receiving end of quite a few discussions of authorial choice and predictive thinking. Mother/daughter interaction that isn't contentious? Yes, please. We cannot wait for the next book!
July 10, 2017
So you thought you enjoyed Flight of the Silvers... then you will LOVE this sequel.
The author has taken all the good things from FOTS (the intricate world-building, the character development), left the not-as-good stuff behind (the less said...), tightened up the flow, and came up with a sequel that is, in my mind, at least as good if not better than the original.
As the Silvers continue to struggle to adapt to their new world, new friends enter their lives, but enemies both old and new nip at their heels. Not all is what it seems, and the gang has to navigate dangerous paths - often unsure of whom they can trust.
SOTO if full of rollicking action, however the evolution of each Silver is what drives the story forward. They all get their moment in the sun, but Hannah and Mia get some major upgrades and really come into their own. Still, the story is nowhere near being all talk and feelings - there are fights and surprises that will keep you guessing until the very end.
DISCLOSURE: I am privileged to be one of the author's beta readers. All I can say is that he would be the first to confirm that I would not pull my punches if I thought he landed a turkey, and trust readers to make their own judgment.
The author has taken all the good things from FOTS (the intricate world-building, the character development), left the not-as-good stuff behind (the less said...), tightened up the flow, and came up with a sequel that is, in my mind, at least as good if not better than the original.
As the Silvers continue to struggle to adapt to their new world, new friends enter their lives, but enemies both old and new nip at their heels. Not all is what it seems, and the gang has to navigate dangerous paths - often unsure of whom they can trust.
SOTO if full of rollicking action, however the evolution of each Silver is what drives the story forward. They all get their moment in the sun, but Hannah and Mia get some major upgrades and really come into their own. Still, the story is nowhere near being all talk and feelings - there are fights and surprises that will keep you guessing until the very end.
DISCLOSURE: I am privileged to be one of the author's beta readers. All I can say is that he would be the first to confirm that I would not pull my punches if I thought he landed a turkey, and trust readers to make their own judgment.
July 18, 2017
One of my favorite series I've read in the last few years. The intricacies of this storyline jump off the pages. The plot moves along swiftly, carrying you through to the very end. Almost impossible to put down! The characters are so complex, and their relationships even more so (as is the insanely detailed and intricate world they inhabit). I truly appreciate how much dedication and interest Price puts into the social world of the Silvers. You feel a part of their world.
The Pelletiers are intriguing and beguiling villains, so much so that I would catch myself trying to sympathize with their endeavors. I find myself engrossed in AltAmerica and the Silver's plight: their emotions, obstacles, lessons, abilities, and interactions. I would love to see both books adapted to a graphic novel--the imagery would be beautiful.
I'd highly recommend anyone with an interest in science fiction to take a look at The Flight of the Silvers and the Song of the Orphans. I'll be impatiently awaiting the third installment in the next few years. This book (along with it's prequel) is as phenomenal as it is well written and engrossing!
The Pelletiers are intriguing and beguiling villains, so much so that I would catch myself trying to sympathize with their endeavors. I find myself engrossed in AltAmerica and the Silver's plight: their emotions, obstacles, lessons, abilities, and interactions. I would love to see both books adapted to a graphic novel--the imagery would be beautiful.
I'd highly recommend anyone with an interest in science fiction to take a look at The Flight of the Silvers and the Song of the Orphans. I'll be impatiently awaiting the third installment in the next few years. This book (along with it's prequel) is as phenomenal as it is well written and engrossing!
June 9, 2017
Wow what an amazing 2nd book! Better than the first in it's own unique way! There was so much revealed.. and so much happened between the Silvers and Pelletiers (ok prob slaughtered that name..but hopefully ya know who I'm talking about.. ;). Plus we met "the Gothams" although they hate to be called that. There was romance, betrayal, death.. new people on the scene.. and some like Melissa who came popping up in the nick of time. The biggest mystery left.. is well someone who wears two watches. That's all I will say. That and finding all the scattered colors around the world. So weird how the US is so afraid of foriegners. A lot of prejudice going on, as well as dynamic characters that aren't good or bad.. they are both and doing everything for a reason, or a Dream.. or some have surprised me with their humanity! These guys are fighters to the end though! I will write more, have to think awhile on all I just read. It was a lot to process but a awesome story! Like none I've ever read!
June 3, 2017
Pre-release ebook provided by First to Read.
The Song of the Orphans was such a fun follow-up to The Flight of the Silvers and a great read. The author's plotting and pacing are exemplary, especially over a long middle entry in the trilogy, though the novel's length causes no issues as it reads so well. The roll-over of answers and new questions is continuous, with a good amount of both drama and levity along the way. I really enjoy the Orphans' cultural references and in-jokes as strangers in a strange land. I like how the author keeps the action moving, as in Flight, and always with just the right number of characters in the mix. Most of all, I really enjoy the way the author keeps a balance of conflict and camaraderie throughout the story, and it becomes more and more apparent along the way that everything in the story happens for a reason, even if it's not quite apparent at first glance. I am very much looking forward to the third entry in the series!
The Song of the Orphans was such a fun follow-up to The Flight of the Silvers and a great read. The author's plotting and pacing are exemplary, especially over a long middle entry in the trilogy, though the novel's length causes no issues as it reads so well. The roll-over of answers and new questions is continuous, with a good amount of both drama and levity along the way. I really enjoy the Orphans' cultural references and in-jokes as strangers in a strange land. I like how the author keeps the action moving, as in Flight, and always with just the right number of characters in the mix. Most of all, I really enjoy the way the author keeps a balance of conflict and camaraderie throughout the story, and it becomes more and more apparent along the way that everything in the story happens for a reason, even if it's not quite apparent at first glance. I am very much looking forward to the third entry in the series!
July 6, 2017
Better than the first one.
Please keep in mind that I loved the first book in this series and happily gave it five stars, but I do like this one better. I would give this more than five stars if Goodreads would let me.
The second outing for the Silvers reads much faster than the page count suggests. Now that we are familiar with he characters and their motivations, this book focuses more on the mystery of their predicament and the forces behind it, all while expanding and growing the characters. It was very rewarding to witness the main characters growth from the flawed, normal people to masters of their gifts and true controllers of their surroundings. Mr. Price has done a fantastic job of writing believable and relatable characters.
It will take me a while to process the questions answered and the new ones presented in this, but I am pretty sure I will read this more than once while waiting for the conclusion of the series.
Please keep in mind that I loved the first book in this series and happily gave it five stars, but I do like this one better. I would give this more than five stars if Goodreads would let me.
The second outing for the Silvers reads much faster than the page count suggests. Now that we are familiar with he characters and their motivations, this book focuses more on the mystery of their predicament and the forces behind it, all while expanding and growing the characters. It was very rewarding to witness the main characters growth from the flawed, normal people to masters of their gifts and true controllers of their surroundings. Mr. Price has done a fantastic job of writing believable and relatable characters.
It will take me a while to process the questions answered and the new ones presented in this, but I am pretty sure I will read this more than once while waiting for the conclusion of the series.
February 19, 2019
Another amazing book by Daniel Price!
When I first read The Flight of The Silvers, I was immediately sucked in and blown away. Not only was this unlike anything I had ever read plot wise, but it was incredibly captivating from the first page to the last. I loved it so much that I read it twice. I couldn’t wait for the second book and let me tell you, The Song of the Orphans did not disappoint. While TFOTS built an amazing new world, TSOTO takes that world and goes in depth with character building . There are a lot of characters in this book, yet it’s not hard to keep up with who is who and their personalities. There was some good twists that I never expected. I can’t even wrap my head around how Price worked out all the time bending stuff. I am so impressed. Another 5 star read from Price. I only have one gripe: I can’t wait for the next book! Eh, I’m kidding. I can wait because I know remarkable things take time. I know it will be worth the wait!
When I first read The Flight of The Silvers, I was immediately sucked in and blown away. Not only was this unlike anything I had ever read plot wise, but it was incredibly captivating from the first page to the last. I loved it so much that I read it twice. I couldn’t wait for the second book and let me tell you, The Song of the Orphans did not disappoint. While TFOTS built an amazing new world, TSOTO takes that world and goes in depth with character building . There are a lot of characters in this book, yet it’s not hard to keep up with who is who and their personalities. There was some good twists that I never expected. I can’t even wrap my head around how Price worked out all the time bending stuff. I am so impressed. Another 5 star read from Price. I only have one gripe: I can’t wait for the next book! Eh, I’m kidding. I can wait because I know remarkable things take time. I know it will be worth the wait!
September 19, 2017
What has happened to Daniel Price? This book was such a pleasant surprise. I was one of the ones who had a rocky relationship with Flight of the Silvers, and pretty much the only thing that was keeping me going into Song of the Orphans was the thought of Theo finding the one string and what would be in that string. But I kept waiting for all my complaints from the first book to resurface, and they were nowhere to be found. Just can't get over how much better the writing is than it was in the first book. And the story has gotten way more interesting too!
September 14, 2017
I give very few 5star ratings so don't be offended because I really thought this book was AWESOME. The concept is intriguing and though the sci-fi concepts are complex and something I'd usually glaze over at, the author explains things so succinctly that I bought the whole concept. The characters are believable and likable. Well, most of them... I'm having a bit of Game of Thrones situation here where I can't decide who the good guy is. I love it. Keeps me on my toes. So- please - finish the next book!!!!!
July 20, 2017
I was worried this was going to be too long when I picked it up. It ended WAY TOO FAST!
I am going to keep this short and sweet because all I have to say is, if you haven't read Flight of the Silvers, what is wrong with you? Give your head a shake and go read it, and then read Song of the Orphans right after.
Funny, engaging story, with a wonderful group of characters. Just all out fun from start to finish.
I am going to keep this short and sweet because all I have to say is, if you haven't read Flight of the Silvers, what is wrong with you? Give your head a shake and go read it, and then read Song of the Orphans right after.
Funny, engaging story, with a wonderful group of characters. Just all out fun from start to finish.
July 19, 2017
Damn, it feels good to be reunited with the Silvers.
September 15, 2023
I've never been this excited to read a 700-some page book since Harry Potter. 🤣🩷
This one was soooo beautiful. 🥹🥹🥹 Can't wait for the third book to come out.
This one was soooo beautiful. 🥹🥹🥹 Can't wait for the third book to come out.
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