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The Book of the Holt #2
A God of Countless Guises
The thrilling sequel to award-winning author Bradley P. Beaulieu's epic fantasy series, The Book of the Holt.
In the wake of the great battle at Ancris, Rylan and Lorelei must deal with the aftermath of the destroyed capital and the knowledge that Faedryn, the imprisoned trickster god who has been plotting his escape for centuries, is growing ever closer to freedom.
While Lorelei hopes to stop Faedryn before it's too late, the trail she's following has grown cold and Rylan is too busy with his own problems to help. News has leaked about the powerful artifact he stole, the one Faedryn desperately needs, and now everyone in the empire, from the dragon legions to the ruthless Red Knives, are hunting him. But Rylan soon discovers there's something worse than being caught – losing the shard altogether.
As Lorelei and Rylan struggle to undo the damage he caused, they learn that Faedryn gained his power by taking part in a deadly, twisted contest created by the elder gods and that it may resume even if they do manage to keep Faedryn imprisoned.
In the wake of the great battle at Ancris, Rylan and Lorelei must deal with the aftermath of the destroyed capital and the knowledge that Faedryn, the imprisoned trickster god who has been plotting his escape for centuries, is growing ever closer to freedom.
While Lorelei hopes to stop Faedryn before it's too late, the trail she's following has grown cold and Rylan is too busy with his own problems to help. News has leaked about the powerful artifact he stole, the one Faedryn desperately needs, and now everyone in the empire, from the dragon legions to the ruthless Red Knives, are hunting him. But Rylan soon discovers there's something worse than being caught – losing the shard altogether.
As Lorelei and Rylan struggle to undo the damage he caused, they learn that Faedryn gained his power by taking part in a deadly, twisted contest created by the elder gods and that it may resume even if they do manage to keep Faedryn imprisoned.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2026
6 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Bradley P. Beaulieu
62 books1,303 followersBradley P. Beaulieu began writing his first fantasy novel in college, but life eventually intervened. As time went on, though, Brad realized that his love of writing and telling tales wasn't going to just slink quietly into the night. The drive to write came back full force in the early 2000s, at which point Brad dedicated himself to the craft, writing and learning under the guidance of writers like Nancy Kress, Joe Haldeman, Tim Powers, Holly Black, and many more.
Brad and his novels have garnered many accolades including two Hotties—the Debut of the Year and Best New Voice—on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, a Gemmell Morningstar Award nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo and more:
* Top Ten Book and Debut of the Year for 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Best New Voice of 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
* 2011 Gemmell Morningstar Award Nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Ranting Dragon's Best of 2011
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Mad Hatter's Best of 2011
* Top Five Book for 2012 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Straits of Galahesh
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on Staffer's Book Review
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on The Ranting Dragon
* 2013 Most Anticipated for The Flames of Shadam Khoreh on The Ranting Dragon
Brad continues to work on his next projects, including an Arabian Nights epic fantasy and a Norse-inspired middle grade series. He also runs the highly successful science fiction & fantasy podcast, Speculate, which can be found at speculatesf.com.
Novels
THE LAYS OF ANUSKAYA
* The Winds of Khalakovo
* The Straits of Galahesh
* The Flames of Shadam Khoreh
Short Story Collections
* Lest Our Passage Be Forgotten & Other Stories
Novellas
* Strata (with Stephen Gaskell)
Contact Information
Website: www.quillings.com
Twitter: @bbeaulieu
Facebook: facebook.com/bradley.p.beaulieu
Brad and his novels have garnered many accolades including two Hotties—the Debut of the Year and Best New Voice—on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, a Gemmell Morningstar Award nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo and more:
* Top Ten Book and Debut of the Year for 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Best New Voice of 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
* 2011 Gemmell Morningstar Award Nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Ranting Dragon's Best of 2011
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Mad Hatter's Best of 2011
* Top Five Book for 2012 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Straits of Galahesh
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on Staffer's Book Review
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on The Ranting Dragon
* 2013 Most Anticipated for The Flames of Shadam Khoreh on The Ranting Dragon
Brad continues to work on his next projects, including an Arabian Nights epic fantasy and a Norse-inspired middle grade series. He also runs the highly successful science fiction & fantasy podcast, Speculate, which can be found at speculatesf.com.
Novels
THE LAYS OF ANUSKAYA
* The Winds of Khalakovo
* The Straits of Galahesh
* The Flames of Shadam Khoreh
Short Story Collections
* Lest Our Passage Be Forgotten & Other Stories
Novellas
* Strata (with Stephen Gaskell)
Contact Information
Website: www.quillings.com
Twitter: @bbeaulieu
Facebook: facebook.com/bradley.p.beaulieu
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 13, 2025
A God of Countless Guises is the sequel to the epic The Dragons of Deepwood Fen and contiues what makes the series really enjoyable- dragons galore, political intrigue, ancient magics, plenty of plot twists and wonderful worldbuilding. It continues from where the last book left off: Rylan is in hiding as news of Strages' shard spreads, Azariah seeks to make up for his actions, Lorelei seeks the truth about Faedryn and the paragons and Rhiannon learns the secrets of the hidden city of Gonsalond.
I particularly liked all of the characters in this book, even more so than in book 1. Each was really relatable and loveable in their own way and I really appreciate their growth throughout the series. We also got even more dragon action in this book than the last and I absolutely loved that! I really liked how the dragons were written: definitely not human but with strong intelligence and compassion that made their bonds with their riders really heartwarming. I also found all of the different abilities and dragon types really fun to read about, especially during the fight scenes! I'd definitely bond with a silver dragon if I could. I also really liked the further exploration of the druin magic in this book, it feels really classic fantasy and mysterious and I can't wait to see more of it as the series continues. I did find the political elements a bit less interesting than the dragons and wider mysteries of the plot but they helped to ground the world and make it feel real, which many epic fantasies often lack.
However, the issues that I had with the first book still were very present in this one. The pace was very slow, which isn't necesarily a bad thing but it ended up boring me a bit in the beginning, with Lorelei investigating and Rylan on the run feeling a little like a repeat of the first book. Despite the first book ending with a promise of high stakes, the plot doesn't really get going until around the halfway mark and this meant that I did struggle to keep returning to the book after a while. Overall, the narrative was carried by my investment in the characters and my interest in their growth but I would have appreciated something else to keep me engaged. I also would have preferred a little more depth in terms of the empire and its effects on the Holt. I really liked the moral greyness of the Red Knives, but the empire throughout the book was kind of painted in the light of 'oh well only these people in it are bad and the rest is good :)' which didn't really sit right with me, I would have preferred a deeper exploration of its complexities.
But that said, I did enjoy this book and I'll likely be picking up the next one in the series! I'd definitely reccommend checking the series out if you're a fan of epic fantasy with plenty of political intrigue, dragons, loveable but morally grey characters and aren't put off by a slow pace.
I particularly liked all of the characters in this book, even more so than in book 1. Each was really relatable and loveable in their own way and I really appreciate their growth throughout the series. We also got even more dragon action in this book than the last and I absolutely loved that! I really liked how the dragons were written: definitely not human but with strong intelligence and compassion that made their bonds with their riders really heartwarming. I also found all of the different abilities and dragon types really fun to read about, especially during the fight scenes! I'd definitely bond with a silver dragon if I could. I also really liked the further exploration of the druin magic in this book, it feels really classic fantasy and mysterious and I can't wait to see more of it as the series continues. I did find the political elements a bit less interesting than the dragons and wider mysteries of the plot but they helped to ground the world and make it feel real, which many epic fantasies often lack.
However, the issues that I had with the first book still were very present in this one. The pace was very slow, which isn't necesarily a bad thing but it ended up boring me a bit in the beginning, with Lorelei investigating and Rylan on the run feeling a little like a repeat of the first book. Despite the first book ending with a promise of high stakes, the plot doesn't really get going until around the halfway mark and this meant that I did struggle to keep returning to the book after a while. Overall, the narrative was carried by my investment in the characters and my interest in their growth but I would have appreciated something else to keep me engaged. I also would have preferred a little more depth in terms of the empire and its effects on the Holt. I really liked the moral greyness of the Red Knives, but the empire throughout the book was kind of painted in the light of 'oh well only these people in it are bad and the rest is good :)' which didn't really sit right with me, I would have preferred a deeper exploration of its complexities.
But that said, I did enjoy this book and I'll likely be picking up the next one in the series! I'd definitely reccommend checking the series out if you're a fan of epic fantasy with plenty of political intrigue, dragons, loveable but morally grey characters and aren't put off by a slow pace.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Head of Zeus for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
She was a woman of logic and science, a woman who liked to know what she was getting into, but the bramble felt strange and unknowable. She was terrified.
Rylan & Lorelai may have taken one step towards saving the world, but there’s so much quest left to go. Once again off on their own adventures, after a short time skip, Rylan is on the run with Strages’ shard trying to keep it out of evil’s - but really anyone’s - clutches, and Lorelai is trying to work out just how Faedryn is causing the havoc that he is. Throw in Rhiannon and Maladox in Gonsalond with the Seven, Azariah coming back from the brink of death, and Skylar doing what she can alongside her father to keep the Quintarchs on track, there’s a lot to keep track of. And just who is Alra, really?
Once again I’m starting a review of a Bradley Beaulieu book reminding myself not to immediately compare it to Shattered Sands. Don’t do it. Don’t. And yet… Fortunately The Book of the Holt echoes one of my favourite features of that series - and many of my favourite fantasy novels - the gods you revere are actually very human, and painfully fallible.
Book 1 (Dragons of Deepwood Fen) was a slow and extensive introduction to the world and the major players, while A God of Countless Guises expands that kernel of awareness to a much vaster array of characters and depth of history. My favourite of the new characters had to be what we saw of the Seven: I have a particular portion of my heart set aside for the fantastically unhinged Moth.
Similarly to Dragons, it is definitely a marathon not a sprint, although I would say this one improved a little on the pacing issues from the first. It is somewhat inevitable for the narrative to feel slow when switching between so many POV characters, but I do think there was potential for this to pick up a little, or maybe see less of certain characters until later on.
All the strengths from my review of Dragons continued, especially the aforementioned actual creatures. I can’t say with any certainty that I have any idea what each colour of dragon does, still, but they’re such a delight when they’re on page and any airborne combat was always a fun read.
I do still believe that the Rylan/Lorelai romance angle felt lacking and a little forced at the start, but eventually when they started interacting again I got into it. The fault for this I think lies in the first book, that more groundwork could have been laid there. But it certainly does start to pay off here!
This is veering into a waffle now rather than a coherent review so I will try to wrap it up. It’s hard to specify what I enjoyed about this book without huge spoilers, but trust me when I say that it is worth a read for an incredibly complex world with some very intriguing history. I can’t wait for the next one to find out more about what has really been going on. Forgiving a few pacing issues, definitely epic fantasy at its best, and a very hearty 4 stars from me.
”Through lashing wind and crashing wave, we sail without lament. For the fury of storm and wind and wave will one day soon be spent.”
She was a woman of logic and science, a woman who liked to know what she was getting into, but the bramble felt strange and unknowable. She was terrified.
Rylan & Lorelai may have taken one step towards saving the world, but there’s so much quest left to go. Once again off on their own adventures, after a short time skip, Rylan is on the run with Strages’ shard trying to keep it out of evil’s - but really anyone’s - clutches, and Lorelai is trying to work out just how Faedryn is causing the havoc that he is. Throw in Rhiannon and Maladox in Gonsalond with the Seven, Azariah coming back from the brink of death, and Skylar doing what she can alongside her father to keep the Quintarchs on track, there’s a lot to keep track of. And just who is Alra, really?
Once again I’m starting a review of a Bradley Beaulieu book reminding myself not to immediately compare it to Shattered Sands. Don’t do it. Don’t. And yet… Fortunately The Book of the Holt echoes one of my favourite features of that series - and many of my favourite fantasy novels - the gods you revere are actually very human, and painfully fallible.
Book 1 (Dragons of Deepwood Fen) was a slow and extensive introduction to the world and the major players, while A God of Countless Guises expands that kernel of awareness to a much vaster array of characters and depth of history. My favourite of the new characters had to be what we saw of the Seven: I have a particular portion of my heart set aside for the fantastically unhinged Moth.
Similarly to Dragons, it is definitely a marathon not a sprint, although I would say this one improved a little on the pacing issues from the first. It is somewhat inevitable for the narrative to feel slow when switching between so many POV characters, but I do think there was potential for this to pick up a little, or maybe see less of certain characters until later on.
All the strengths from my review of Dragons continued, especially the aforementioned actual creatures. I can’t say with any certainty that I have any idea what each colour of dragon does, still, but they’re such a delight when they’re on page and any airborne combat was always a fun read.
I do still believe that the Rylan/Lorelai romance angle felt lacking and a little forced at the start, but eventually when they started interacting again I got into it. The fault for this I think lies in the first book, that more groundwork could have been laid there. But it certainly does start to pay off here!
This is veering into a waffle now rather than a coherent review so I will try to wrap it up. It’s hard to specify what I enjoyed about this book without huge spoilers, but trust me when I say that it is worth a read for an incredibly complex world with some very intriguing history. I can’t wait for the next one to find out more about what has really been going on. Forgiving a few pacing issues, definitely epic fantasy at its best, and a very hearty 4 stars from me.
”Through lashing wind and crashing wave, we sail without lament. For the fury of storm and wind and wave will one day soon be spent.”
January 10, 2026
Thank you to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
TW/CW Violence | Death | Murder | Captivity
Back in 2023 I read The Dragons of Deepwood Fen which was an interesting start to a new series but could have used a bit more depth for me. A God of Countless Guises is the sequel and I think I got more of what I wanted in this.
With their being over 2 years between the two books, you can perhaps imagine that I struggled with remembering the plot and characters for a bit. Even with the summary of the first book at the start of the book, I struggled finding my footing at the start. Once I did however, I really enjoyed reading this book.
While in the first book we mostly followed Rylan, in this book we follow him and a few other characters equally. There are a few different story lines. Rylan with the shard who is trying to figure out what to do. Lorelei and Creed who are trying to find out what really happened with their gods in the past. Rhiannon and companion who have found one of the supposed gods and takes them to their hidden city. Azariah who did a lot of bad things in name of Faedryn and wants to make things right. Morraine and Llorn who lead the rebels but who both have different end goals.
As you can see, that is a big cast. But they were all introduced in the first book so we just follow on with their stories. Because there is a lot of set-up in the first book regarding the basics of the gods and these characters, the author can more easily step into the depth in this book. There wasn't a point of view that I hated or I wasn't interested in (well perhaps skylar but because she was attached to Azariah's journey this still was interesting for that). There are a lot of lines woven throughout the story. It isn't just the fighting again Faedryn but the rebels who want to move against the government and the government who doesn't always make the right choices from fear.
But even more, there is the question how right their history and told stories about their gods are. What is true? What is (morally) right? Is Faedryn really the big villain or was there a vicious game played?
This all makes this an excellent installment in the series and I am very curious to see where this is all going.
TW/CW Violence | Death | Murder | Captivity
Back in 2023 I read The Dragons of Deepwood Fen which was an interesting start to a new series but could have used a bit more depth for me. A God of Countless Guises is the sequel and I think I got more of what I wanted in this.
With their being over 2 years between the two books, you can perhaps imagine that I struggled with remembering the plot and characters for a bit. Even with the summary of the first book at the start of the book, I struggled finding my footing at the start. Once I did however, I really enjoyed reading this book.
While in the first book we mostly followed Rylan, in this book we follow him and a few other characters equally. There are a few different story lines. Rylan with the shard who is trying to figure out what to do. Lorelei and Creed who are trying to find out what really happened with their gods in the past. Rhiannon and companion who have found one of the supposed gods and takes them to their hidden city. Azariah who did a lot of bad things in name of Faedryn and wants to make things right. Morraine and Llorn who lead the rebels but who both have different end goals.
As you can see, that is a big cast. But they were all introduced in the first book so we just follow on with their stories. Because there is a lot of set-up in the first book regarding the basics of the gods and these characters, the author can more easily step into the depth in this book. There wasn't a point of view that I hated or I wasn't interested in (well perhaps skylar but because she was attached to Azariah's journey this still was interesting for that). There are a lot of lines woven throughout the story. It isn't just the fighting again Faedryn but the rebels who want to move against the government and the government who doesn't always make the right choices from fear.
But even more, there is the question how right their history and told stories about their gods are. What is true? What is (morally) right? Is Faedryn really the big villain or was there a vicious game played?
This all makes this an excellent installment in the series and I am very curious to see where this is all going.
January 12, 2026
I was so excited to be back in this amazing world with the next chapter in this series.
I love that at the beginning of the book it gives you a recap of what’s happened in the first book so you’re going in refreshed for the next book.
I really enjoyed this book once I got back into the world. It’s written in multiple characters POV’s with several different storylines going on at the same time. I love having the multiple POV’s as I always feel you get a little more depth and understanding from each character. I think my favourite character has to be Lorelei and Rylan as I found myself excited to be reading their POV the most!
The world building is once again a fantastic multi layered world with plenty of Dragons, Politics and of course Magic ✨
The plot did feel slow in several places but it did eventually pick up. I don’t mind the slower pace as there is a lot going on in the books and it gives you time to understand what’s going on.
The big battle scene at the end with the Dragons fighting each other was really good and when the Yeriel’s shard was shattered, it was pretty emotional especially knowing there would be a struggle with the hunger. The need to find out what happened before the ruining is still ongoing. I really enjoyed all the action at the end and there was definitely a lot going on.
I’m excited to see what happens next in this series 😍🔥
Massive thank you to @HeadofZeus for having me on this Tour!
I love that at the beginning of the book it gives you a recap of what’s happened in the first book so you’re going in refreshed for the next book.
I really enjoyed this book once I got back into the world. It’s written in multiple characters POV’s with several different storylines going on at the same time. I love having the multiple POV’s as I always feel you get a little more depth and understanding from each character. I think my favourite character has to be Lorelei and Rylan as I found myself excited to be reading their POV the most!
The world building is once again a fantastic multi layered world with plenty of Dragons, Politics and of course Magic ✨
The plot did feel slow in several places but it did eventually pick up. I don’t mind the slower pace as there is a lot going on in the books and it gives you time to understand what’s going on.
The big battle scene at the end with the Dragons fighting each other was really good and when the Yeriel’s shard was shattered, it was pretty emotional especially knowing there would be a struggle with the hunger. The need to find out what happened before the ruining is still ongoing. I really enjoyed all the action at the end and there was definitely a lot going on.
I’m excited to see what happens next in this series 😍🔥
Massive thank you to @HeadofZeus for having me on this Tour!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars! Outstanding!
I saved reading this book until Christmas holidays because I learned from the first instalment that I would want a few days where I could be totally immersed in this world to fully appreciate it. I love this series, the politics and the world building is so complex and the writing hooks me in and doesn’t let go.
What I loved in particular:
- the dragons. I love that different dragons have different magic and I love the way the bond works in this series. The bond is so close that the rider can see through their dragons eyes and call them to meet them. They also seem a bit cute.
- The world and the magic is varied and detailed. From Azariah’s thralls to the most terrifying creature that has ever been called Marshmallow, I felt every minute of danger was different and exciting.
- I might be in the minority but I love a book with a lot of POVs, I found myself invested in every character but particularly Rylan, Loralei and Rhiannon.
This does have a slower pace but I genuinely don’t mind that in a book like this where the writing is good and there is enough background lore to flesh out slower parts.
A really great series that I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I saved reading this book until Christmas holidays because I learned from the first instalment that I would want a few days where I could be totally immersed in this world to fully appreciate it. I love this series, the politics and the world building is so complex and the writing hooks me in and doesn’t let go.
What I loved in particular:
- the dragons. I love that different dragons have different magic and I love the way the bond works in this series. The bond is so close that the rider can see through their dragons eyes and call them to meet them. They also seem a bit cute.
- The world and the magic is varied and detailed. From Azariah’s thralls to the most terrifying creature that has ever been called Marshmallow, I felt every minute of danger was different and exciting.
- I might be in the minority but I love a book with a lot of POVs, I found myself invested in every character but particularly Rylan, Loralei and Rhiannon.
This does have a slower pace but I genuinely don’t mind that in a book like this where the writing is good and there is enough background lore to flesh out slower parts.
A really great series that I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this ARC.
January 9, 2026
A God of Countless Guises is the sequel to the wonderful The Dragons of Deepwood Fen, and continues what we all loved about book one, dragons, drag ons and more dragons, magic and ancient lore, twists and turns and fantastical, sweeping, magnificent world building.
For me, the pace in parts is on the slower side, but that's not a negative, the slower pace fits just right for those parts of the story, with the pace picking up for the majority and holding your attention to the very end.
All in all, highly entertaining with marvelously descriptive, vivid writing and a magnificent cast of characters that are believable and feel real.
A big 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
For me, the pace in parts is on the slower side, but that's not a negative, the slower pace fits just right for those parts of the story, with the pace picking up for the majority and holding your attention to the very end.
All in all, highly entertaining with marvelously descriptive, vivid writing and a magnificent cast of characters that are believable and feel real.
A big 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
January 11, 2026
I really enjoyed this read!
Action packed from the start I had high hopes for this sequel and Bradley really delivered, I loved how deep and detailed the author went in this new instalment, we get character development and a deeper understanding of how the world around our characters work. There was also some amazing character development we really get to know our mcs during this book, it definitely made them more relatable.
This was a very plot heavy read, but once you get stuck in it’s hard to put down, if you’re looking for a new read that will keep you hooked but also engulf you in a fantasy world you want to live in by the end of it then definitely pick this one up!
Action packed from the start I had high hopes for this sequel and Bradley really delivered, I loved how deep and detailed the author went in this new instalment, we get character development and a deeper understanding of how the world around our characters work. There was also some amazing character development we really get to know our mcs during this book, it definitely made them more relatable.
This was a very plot heavy read, but once you get stuck in it’s hard to put down, if you’re looking for a new read that will keep you hooked but also engulf you in a fantasy world you want to live in by the end of it then definitely pick this one up!
January 15, 2026
This is second Novel in the series and what a great novel it is too. Picking up where the second book finished and giving the reader exactly what we want which is dragons and even more dragons. Lots of twists and turns and excellent world building as you'd expect from this author.
Excellent pacing and a great read. Being on book 3.
Excellent pacing and a great read. Being on book 3.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews