Storm and Steel

The Book of the Black Earth #2

by Jon Sprunk

An empire at war. Three fates intertwined. The Magician. Horace has destroyed the Temple of the Sun, but now he finds his slave chains have been replaced by bonds of honor, duty, and love. Caught between two women and two cultures, he must contend with deadly forces from the unseen world. The Rebel. Jirom has thrown in his lot with the slave uprising, but his road to freedom becomes ever more dangerous as the rebels expand their campaign against the empire. Even worse, he feels his connection with Emanon slipping away with every blow they strike in the name of freedom. The Spy. Alyra has severed her ties to the underground network that brought her to Akeshia, but she continues the mission on her own. Yet, with Horace’s connection to the queen and the rebellion’s escalation of violence, she finds herself treading a knife’s edge between love and duty. Dark conspiracies bubble to the surface as war and zealotry spread across the empire. Old alliances are shattered, new vendettas are born, and all peoples—citizen and slave alike—must endure the ravages of storm and steel.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Audiobook, Dark Fantasy

479 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2015

About the author

Fantasy author living in central Pennsylvania. I love to travel (especially places with old ruins), watch football (American NFL, not that soccer stuff), drink (rum and coke, preferred), and enjoy life.

Reviews

[Bookwraiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.

My rating is 3.5 stars.

Blood and Iron was a fun sword and sorcery romp, built upon the foundations of a complex, magic-filled fantasy world. While some of the character development disappointed, the novel itself never failed to entertain, flashing glimmers of potential greatness. And in Storm and Steel, Jon Sprunk goes a long way in fulfilling that promise.

Two story lines develop in tandem throughout this novel. One is the continuing journey of the former slave Horace, who ascended to the halls of power in Blood and Iron through the revelation of a magical talent he never suspected he had. Now, his life is one of constant doubt, fueled by his own inner feelings of inadequacies: lack of control over his magic, lack of friends in a hostile court environment, lack of experience handling political situations and lack of understanding regarding his attraction for two very different women (Queen Byleth of Erugash and the western slave Alyra). The second is the tale of Horace’s friend Jirom. This black, homosexual ex-mercenary finds himself neck deep in a slave uprising against Queen Byleth; his every instinct warning him to escape this madness, but his heart demanding that he remain beside Emanon, the man with whom he shares a strong romantic bond, even if it puts him at odds with Horace himself.

For those that loved the immersion of Horace into Akeshian politics and its constant machination, this installment of The Book of the Black Earth will take a bit of getting use to. Here Jon Sprunk spends a great deal of time focusing on Jirom and the slave rebellion, developing the characters, showing their diverse motives, and laying out the growing conflict. A conflict that slowly draws in Horace and takes him away from the royal court, as Queen Byleth orders him to destroy this threat to her reign or find himself without her continued support. But even with that being the case, never fear, because there is still lots of shadowy subversions going on within the Queen’s court and outside of it. Inside, there is a rash of mysterious murders. Without, the Sun Cult priests (Those who escaped Horace’s wrath in book one and fled to neighboring city-state of Akeshia) have gathered allies, planning an invasion of Erugash to cast down Byleth and her puppet wizard. And lingering over everything is a growing sense that there is a diabolical presence pulling the strings of everyone, waiting patiently for the perfect time to reveal itself!

On the whole, this second installment of the series is a better book than its predecessor; Jon Sprunk evolving the characters, the world around them, and introducing a deeper, darker plot that has been simmering right below the surface unnoticed. Now, there really aren’t any black and white characters in the series, only gray. The “heroes” beginning to show moments of true humanity, where they doubt themselves, are callow, selfish even, or ruthlessness, while the “villains” have times of introspection, explaining the reason for their seemingly evil actions and unveiling the desires and plans which drive them forward, even when they wonder if these choices might be wrong. Meanwhile, the world around these people becomes much more diverse, as Akeshia herself is explored, and different members of this fascinating Babylonian/Egyptian-inspired society reveal themselves. And that “deeper, darker plot” is partially unveiled at the end of this novel, promising even higher stakes for Horace and Jirom going forward.

All in all, if you enjoyed Blood and Iron, you definitely need to put this novel on your reading list. Storm and Steel is a great chance to experience a good, old-fashioned, sword and sorcery tour de force; one that perfectly mixes a sweeping fantasy world with non-stop action. And just when you begin to believe that is all it is (As if that weren’t enough!), Jon Sprunk pulls the rug out from under you at the end, unveiling another twist in the tale that leaves you wanting more. For with Storm and Steel, the author has delivered the next stage in the evolution of The Book of the Black Earth, tantalizing readers with the prospects of what is to come.

I received this book from Pyr in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

[Aris Kontyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given it a 4.5 if I could have.
So first of all, warning, SPOILERS

Things I liked:
I enjoyed the scenes with Jirom, he is an awesome character, and watching his relationship with Emanon evolve and go through its own ups and downs.

I enjoyed the fact that Sprunk made it seem like each side had an actual valid point, not that any one side of this was right or wrong.

Horace seemed to develop a lot as a character as he learned more and more about Akeshian culture and learned about the bizarre intricacies of their politics.

Alyra's emotions were so tumultuous as she tried to choose, but she still did what she had to. That is in great contrast to many female characters who always let their emotions rule, but while Alyra's emotions got in the way from time to time, for the most part, she was a very strong, steady character.

Things I HATED:
-extra POVs. Not necessary
-Ubar dying. They could have done it better, like maybe a hostage situation.
-Taking out Byleth's POV. She didn't have as many as I would have liked in Blood and Iron and in this book, she had none.
-The lack of detail regarding Alyra's bisexuality
-Less description of the sexy women outfits lol.... (kidding)

Over all, I loved it. The things I hated were pretty small tbh, the main thing I hated was the lack of Byleth POV and the extra random POVs

[Kelly]

Poor Horace. In Blood and Iron (part one of The Book of the Black Earth) he escaped death only to be tossed in chains. He was freed only to be sucked into the politics and intrigue of the royal court. In saving the life of Queen Byleth, he painted a rather large target on his back, the results of which make up his journey through Storm and Steel. He has drawn the ire of not one, but four separate armies, mad cultists and a powerful sorcerer who must remain unnamed to preserve the surprise. All of this, and he has magical powers he cannot control. His frustration is clear as he becomes little more than flotsam, tossed about by competing tides as the Akeshian Empire is pulled apart.

Alyra fares little better. In seeking to make her life better, Horace has actually made everything more difficult. More than once she has to choose between love and loyalty, which is a theme throughout ‘Storm and Steel’.

Jirom is a stalwart member of one of the four armies – a rebel force made up of former slaves and hired swords. His faith in Horace is sorely tested in Storm and Steel, as is his relationship with Emanon.

It’s difficult to summarise the plot of a sequel without spoiling the first book, but I will try. As I mentioned before, Horace’s actions at the end of Blood and Iron drew just a little bit of attention. He saved the queen, but only so they might face the consequences. Nisus is assembling three armies to move against her, and the slaves want to be free. Imagine that. This fourth army, supplemented by mercenaries, is well placed to take advantage of her problems and distractions.

Horace, Jirom and Alyra continue to duck and weave through this landscape of conspiracy and betrayal, each looking for their own sort of freedom. But each is also the sort of person who feels responsibility for others. Hooray for heroes who are not self-serving! Though, honestly, I did have to wonder why Horace didn’t hoof it for the border when he had the chance. This is why I will never star in novel where anyone else but myself needs saving.

There are a thrilling number of chapters devoted to Jirom in Storm and Steel and I enjoyed his point of view as much as ever. His role in the rebel army is vitally important. Jon Sprunk puts a lot of detail on the page regarding the building of this force, and the many problems that plague any army. The battle scenes are exciting, both from Jirom and Horace’s point of view. I also enjoyed Jirom’s acceptance of his role in everything. Humble is difficult to write, but Sprunk captures it perfectly in Jirom’s not-so-perfect character.

Impending war is not the only problem Queen Byleth has. Her court has some new players, and some of the old ones seem to have switched sides. As if navigating the politics of this brutal empire weren’t hard enough, these shifting alliances play havoc with Horace’s attempts to do what’s right for everyone. At no point is the intrigue so convoluted the reader cannot follow it, however. Sprunk reveals his plot in a pleasing linear fashion that constantly entices forward motion – not so you can figure out what the heck is going on, but so you can find out what’s going to happen next!

Speaking of which, I really want to know what happens next.

The trajectory and conclusion of Storm and Steel is typical for a sequel, or any book in the middle of a series. You need to have read the first book and you’ll be left wanting afterward. It is an immensely satisfying read, however, because of the personal journeys of each of the three main characters. After being pulled this way and that throughout the novel, they each make a definite choice. Their victories are hard won. So, yeah, I really want to know where we go from here. Next title, as yet unnamed, is due out in the Fall of 2016.

Written for SFCrowsnest.

[Ryan Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good book in a good series. I don't quite love it, but it's an enjoyable read. I probably would have enjoyed this one more if I hadn't waited so long to read it. A lot of time passed between reading the first book and the second, so I forgot quite a bit.

There are a lot of good things in here. The world of this story might border on Grimdark, but Sprunk still gives you characters who are trying to be noble despite all the obstacles. There's a lot of good action, especially toward the end.

Rating: 8/10

[Nicole Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Game of Thrones then you are going to love Storm of Steel. This book will; not disappoint you at all. There's a little bit of everything and I could not put it down. In my opinion it was fast paced, and not like other books that drag too much. I'm really looking foward to reading more about this author again.

[Starjun · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 enjoyed it!

[Rusty Dalferes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy this series as a good sword-and-sorcery fantasy with a good set of political machinations in the plotline. I look forward to the third book in the series, and I hear rumors about a fourth about to come out....

The second book in The Book of the Black Earth series has the main characters separated and facing obstacles that are physical, political, and supernatural. Horace is fumbling his way through his job as First Sword for Queen Byleth of Erugash, his loyalties divided between maintaining his position in the Queen's court and wanting to free the slaves that are rebelling against the Queen's rule. Alyra, Horace's love, is caught between her work for the spy network opposed to the Queen and her feelings for Horace. Jirom, the former slave soldier and Horace's friend, has become one of the leaders of the rebellious slave uprising making strikes on military and trade targets throughout the empire. The three main characters work apart, sometimes at cross purposes, but always with the lingering hope that they can work together at some point. Their enemies keep growing in number, including the Queen, who has designs on ruling the entire Empire; the nobles of the other great cities of the Empire, who oppose the Queen and the slaves equally; the sorcerer-priests of the Sun Cult, who oppose everyone who doesn't kowtow to their rigid dogma; and Astaptah, Queen Byleth's mysterious vizier, who has far darker and more nebulous motivations than anyone.

The first two thirds of this book are less action-packed than the first novel, which had the action spread out at regular intervals throughout the story. The political intrigue is heightened, though, so the plot doesn't suffer just because there aren't military or magical battles on every other page. But don't fear: the final third has all the action one might have missed in the first parts and more, and teases a huge shift in the plot in the epilogue. The characters are well crafted, with good development of each one's inner strengths, weaknesses, and fears. Horace has, loses, and seems to regain Alyra with all the attendant confusion such a relationship can present, while Jirom faces similar struggles in his growing relationship with his captain and lover, Emanon (which, intended or not, is "No name" spelled backwards). There's no limit of tension, as all three main characters are constantly in situations in which they face multiple opponents with different ends in mind. The plot moves right along, and is enjoyable. I'm slightly wary of the change introduced in the epilogue, as I'm not sure I want it to transition from a high fantasy story into a George Romero movie, but I've enjoyed the first two books enough to look forward to the rest of the series.

I did have some small issues with the writing and the edit. A good editorial review would have taken care of the missing, misplaced, misspelled, or misused words which, while not rampant, were definitely numerous enough to be noticeable. For the second book in a row, I've noticed the author's overuse of "couple" (without the "of") to indicate "a small indeterminate number" (as in "a couple days," "a couple paces," etc.) -- this happens so often (literally over a hundred times, at least once every 2 or 3 pages) that it's distracting in an unpleasant way. Perhaps it's just me, but when I read a stately and sultry Queen use "a couple months" in dialogue, it pulls me away from her sumptuous palace and lush surroundings and puts her squarely in South Philly ordering a cheese steak while smacking her chewing gum, which sort of ruins the mind-picture for that scene. In general, an author should be extremely wary of overuse of a single word or phrase, especially when the author's chosen form of that word or phrase is not the standard use, or when the word is a vague and inexact descriptor like "couple" or "few." English has more words in its thesaurus than most languages, so there's really no reason to hammer on one over and over.

That said, the read was otherwise pleasant. Apart from those minor foibles, I generally like Sprunk's writing style, and he's got a gift for political plots within a magical setting, with some humor and pathos and inner turmoil thrown in. I give this a solid recommendation for fantasy fans.

I was gifted a copy of the first book in this series, and enjoyed it enough to buy this one on my own, so thanks to Pyr (and my Book Fairy) for putting me on to this series.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was pretty sure how this book was going to go and I was correct. I wanted to know how the main characters Horace, Alyra, and Jirom wound up negotiating their circumstances and this was a satisfactory and believable account of just that. Unfortunately, as in the first of this Black Earth series, the story gets a bit bogged down in description of battles, gore, and military strategy. Those pages were tiresome for me which made the book easy to put down. I'm sure other readers wouldn't see it that way but Black Earth #3 won't be on my "To Read" list.

[Kyle Mclaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good continuation of the series started in Blood and Iron. Horace has been named First Sword, and must now battle the internal politics of the Erugash palace while learning to control abilities. Like Blood and Iron, Storm and Steel follows different story lines around the main characters, Horace, Jirom, and Alyra. The character development was good, but I would highly recommend reading Blood and Iron before picking up Storm and Steel. If you enjoy fantasy, adventure give it a read.

[Brannigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previously published at TheQwillery.com

Storm and Steel is the second book in a gritty fantasy series by Jon Sprunk. Like the first book, the story takes place in a North African-like setting, with plenty of desert scenery. The Akeshian Empire has hints of Egyptian and Babylonian cultural influences. Much like the first book, I have a love-hate relationship with this book. Overall, the plot is well developed and I enjoyed what he put his characters through and how the world building continues to expand. I even liked the few deaths that occurred and felt they helped give a sense of doom to the story.

Two of the areas I feel Sprunk shines in are character development and story pacing. There is some great character development in this second book. The love triangle that was hinted at in the first book is thankfully gone while there is still plenty of romantic tension between the three main characters and their love interests.

One aspect of the character development that I felt Sprunk dropped the ball on was Horace's magical ability. I praised him in the first book by taking it slow and not allowing the hero to develop into a master magician. However, now after reading the second book and seeing Horace continue to seem to have no clue on how to use his magical gift, I'm getting annoyed. He doesn't need to be a master at the arts, but it would be nice if he understood how to control and use his magic with more confidence. I feel like by dragging this one out Sprunk is making Horace turn into a dunce.

I also feel the pacing in the story could use some help. I usually love how Sprunk sprinkles in enough action to keep me reading and excited in between the slower introspective periods, but the beginning of the book just dragged along far too slowly for me. The end is great classic Sprunk, but it seemed a little too late in the game.

Storm and Steel falls flat for me in what was a promising new series. I'm still invested in the characters and the overall plot of the series to read the next book, but I hope the pacing is faster and Horace finally figures out how to use his powers. If you've already read the first book and liked it, I would say continue on with the series as the characters are still great. But, if you haven't started the series, I'd wait to see how book three turns out. Due to the violence, use of adult language and sexual situations, I would recommend it to adults.

[Jasmyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

You must read book one of this series or you will be totally lost. The book picks up shortly after book one ends with Horace, Alyra, and Jirom somehow ending up on all different sides of the politics. Horace finds his loyalties split and his lack of confidence is beginning to effect his Zoana and his ability to use it. I expected a little bit more out of Horace. Throughout much of the story he is just confused and ineffective.

The slave rebellion, led by Jirom and Emanon, is finally gaining ground. But they know that eventually they will have to face their friend Horace. No one is sure how this will end up, but other political powers are set on doing anything and sacrificing anyone to put the revolt down.

Alyra is another character that seemed confused throughout the story. I loved her dedication and how set in her beliefs she was in book one, but she's changed a lot. She rides the fence a lot more often now, while somehow still seeming to be set in her ways. Towards the end I got a glimpse of the book one Alyra coming back and I really hope that carries over into book three.

Once again, Jon Sprunk has given us a very epic tale. We have magic, strange creatures, politics, and empires are competing against each other. Loyalties are not always clear, and you can never be too sure who you friends are. There are epic battles that can destroy cities, and as an empire rises and falls again, I never really knew where it was going to take me next.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/...

[Benjamin · Rating 2 out of 5]

So it was a good book but slower then the last. Also basically everything that happened in the last book he reset. Character relationships and power. So he could have something to fill in the blanks in the second.

Also only half the book was about the main character. I'm all for this new, the story is shared by 5 or 6 characters but ah gee how about u give the lions share to the MAIN CHARACTER?

Also the Author decided to do a complete 160. With the plot and characters he had developed in the pervious book. I feel like I'm reading a rewrite of the pervious one Also he decided to cripple his main character's power, cause he didn't how to write into the story and not only that. But the character himself is way weaker in attitude and conviction. Then he ever was in the pervious book.

Hey Jon Sprunk, usually it takes most writers 3 or 4 books into a series. Before they go limp and start turning there world into garbage and their characters into hippies but you've done it in one, congrats. If you wanna write about how precious human life is and human morality. Then go write another Sense and Sensibility.

[Milan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found it slightly better then the first one, there were still several things that bothered me or didn't sit right.

There were several inconsistencies in the book, and I found some characters dull and unappealing while some plot points could have been handled a lot better. Almost overwhelming and at times unnecessary angst between Horace and Alyra felt a bit forced as well as some decisions made by them or other characters at times felt completely out of character.

Introduction of several new characters and then almost killing all of them off felt a bit silly.

Astapah left an impression in the first novel of being a spider in his web just waiting for a moment to strike and he proved that here, the whole teaching Horace about his powers would have been better if it went for more then one session and one advice giving. Felt like something added just to have them have a scene or two together before pitting them against each other.

Anyway left me intrigued enough that I'll read the next book, but I definitely won't shiver with anticipation awaiting it. Also I don't think I'll find myself rereading this novel or the first one in the series anytime soon.

[SFReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storm and Steel, by Jon Sprunk, is part two of The Book of the Black Earth. Despite not having read part one, and despite having a somewhat slow start, once I got a few chapters into it, things picked up and the story gained enough inertia to pull me along.

There are two main stories here (and several smaller ones): that of the ex-slave Horace Delrosa, and the second of Jirom, a homosexual ex-gladiator and mercenary.

Horace, the former slave, turns out to possess a very powerful and innate ability to work the magical energy of Sprunk's world, called zoanii. When Horace's ability reveals itself to the Queen and her advisers (in part one), he suddenly finds himself a member of Queen Byleth's court, and a powerful and unwelcome one at that. Also present in the court is Alrya, Horace's love interest, with whom he struggles to establish the boundaries of their relationship based on his new status.

Read more at SFReader.com Storm and Steel, by Jon Sprunk

[Clay Kallam · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Storm and Steel” (Pyr, $18, 482 pages), is a sad followup to the somewhat promising "Blood and Iron," the first book in Jon Sprunk’s Book of the Black Earth. Unfortunately, Sprunk quickly ran out of inspiration, and the next two volumes go from bad to worse.

To begin with, one of my pet peeves is for an author to apparently kill off characters and then resuscitate them to create “surprise” and “drama.” In the long run, though, this ploy simply means the reader doesn’t really believe anything the writer says – but that’s not all Sprunk struggles with. He’s mashed up steam punk with ancient Egypt (a non-industrial society manages to build a complex machine with dials and switches and power cables) and thrown in magic, demons and unbelievable decisions (an untrained foreign sailor is made second in command to the queen).

So don’t be fooled by the potential in “Blood and Iron,” the first volume – there are many better books than it or “Storm and Steel” that are more deserving of your hard-earned dollars.

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jon Sprunk puts Horace, his wizard hero, through Storm and Steel (trade from Pyr), continuing his adaption to his new foreign land. Horace had been a smith who put to sea when his wife and children died. Somehow he became part of a western invasion of the desert Akeshian empire, and ennobled when his magical talent was discovered. In the first tale he saved his queen from the cult of the Sun God and helped chase the cultists out ofthe city state of Erugash. Since the empire is made of several city-states united under the Sun God’s cult, it makes sense that three of the cities would send armies. At the same time a Horace is sent to put down a slave revolt, despite his sympathies for the cause. But there’s evil in the heart of Erugash and it doesn’t take much for Horace to be captured. All is lost by the end, but the next tale should set things right. Exciting. Review printed by Philadelphia Weekly Press

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Horace, Alyra, and Jirom, there will come a time in their lives where the decisions they make will determine the rest of their lives. Will Horace finally see how his actions affect the people around him, or will he succumb to being loyal as the queen's First Sword. (It's easy to believe how much Horace loves Alyra, making Byleth's advances comical.) Will Jirom be able to finally find his friend Horace, all the while leading the rebellion's men and keeping his love Emanon alive too? (Personally, I found the acceptance of Jirom's sexuality among his men unbelievable and too accepting. Then again, Jirom is a ruthless fighter that easily scares the crap out of most.) Whether it be by destruction or civil war, the great city of Erugash is up for grabs to the strongest & most cunning. It seems that everyone is out for this prize!

[William Tiwari · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book don't get me wrong, i liked it. Its just that the main characters made horrible choices that annoyed the hell out of me. Take Horus for example: He continues to refuse to do the hard things necessary for his survival and clings to his childish ideal that every situation can be solved without bloodshed, even when said situation is hostile. His continuous refusal to face reality puts him at odds with the Empress when he is ordered to take lives, which of course he doesn't do. This leads to tension between himself the matriarch that literally controls whether he lives or dies. This among other things annoyed me to the point where i had to put the book down for a while.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me on this one.

Horace was is a little annoying in this one. As much as I loved him in the porevious story. He annoyed with his lack of decision making.

This was a good read especially at the end. Astptah is a real bad ass. I hope we see more of him. Along wiht Jirom and Emanom. Two really good characters.

I like the way the story is developing though, even if this story was a little tough to get into until the final third of the book.

All in all, acceptable 2nd offering from the offiering. I ma hoping this goes to a new level in the next installment.

[Anne Monteith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first book and did not care for it but I thought that maybe now I would find something in it that I failed to find when I first picked the series up so I skimmed through the first book again and then started on the second hoping to see what everyone else likes and I failed. The writing is even less smooth here and the character building is subpar. I hate giving one star reviews so I am done with this series!

1 STAR **Receiving this book through Amazon's Vine Program did not influence my rating or review of this book; all opinions are mine.**

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm getting a Black Company feel in some parts of this book. I'm also seeing tropes/plots from another, whose name I can't recall, but it deals with some foreigner, being elevated to the ruling class because he had in his possession/displayed some quality that only the uppers of society was thought to wield.

The ending was so predictable, nothing there surprised me. I saw it coming from a mile away.

This whole book has been a "meh" for me. I probably could have finished it much earlier, but I really was not interested in the story.

2.5/5 Stars

[Ian Yarington · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I went to read the first book I wasn't exactly sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised with it. I like the Egyptian style and feel Sprunk gave to the world and the characters and like I said I was pleasantly surprised. The second book picks right up where the first left off and I didn't feel like missed anything at all and that is important to me because I hate when authors skip ahead in the second or third book. I also love the cliffhanger that he leaves us with in the second book and I think it solidified my reading of book three.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another great book in The Book of the Black Earth series. The book picks right back up and finds Horace as First Sword for Queen Blyleth, Jirom fighting with Emanon and the rebels and Alyra fighting against the empire even though her ties to the spy network is severed. The story is fast-paced and full of action. It's pretty dense, however, and even with the short chapters it still took me awhile to read the book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was ok. More a 3.5 rounded up. There were issues with time in the novel's climax. Too many events happening at once. The author shifts focus between characters a lot, which makes this worse. There was a whole lot of whinning by one of the main characters too. The fact that it goes from high fantasy to zombie apocalypse at the very end was a funny twist. I guess I will look for book 3 in 8-10 months.

[Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action carries on and so does the unfolding tale of larger scheme. Alyra gets stronger/braver.Horace becomes more complex and Jirom/Spartacus type leader. I read the last page with trepidation.... 2017 wait!

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

tempo seemed to slow down from the first book

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! 4.5 stars. Couldn't put it down. Only bad thing is waiting for book three.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! Amazing.