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The Moontide Quartet #2
Scarlet Tides
In Scarlet Tides David Hair continues his stunning fantasy epic set in the masterfully crafted world of Urte.
With the Leviathan Bridge now uncovered from the sea, it re-opens the East to the Rondian legions and the Third Crusade ensues in the name of Emperor Constant.
The Rondians are determined to succeed in their latest Crusade and have recruited the strongest and most lethal magi of the Church's Inquisition to lead the way--and to leave nothing but blood and ruins in their wake.
While most of the Rondians have their sights set on gold, one fraction of the Inquisition is set on finding a more important treasure--the Scytale of Corneus. As the source of all magical power, the Scytale is a sure game-changer, and it is imperative that the power-hungry and ruthless Rondians to keep it out of the hands of their enemies if they wish to maintain their growing empire.
Yet, as the Inquisition marches forward, conspiracy to overthrow the new emperor lurks in the shadows in both the East and West.
With the unlikely heroes of Alaron, a failed mage; Ramita, a lowly market maid; and Cymbellea, the daughter of a gypsy set on ending a world of war, Scarlet Tides is an impressive world-building feat that proves that sometimes even weapons and magic cannot overcome the power of love and loyalty.
With the Leviathan Bridge now uncovered from the sea, it re-opens the East to the Rondian legions and the Third Crusade ensues in the name of Emperor Constant.
The Rondians are determined to succeed in their latest Crusade and have recruited the strongest and most lethal magi of the Church's Inquisition to lead the way--and to leave nothing but blood and ruins in their wake.
While most of the Rondians have their sights set on gold, one fraction of the Inquisition is set on finding a more important treasure--the Scytale of Corneus. As the source of all magical power, the Scytale is a sure game-changer, and it is imperative that the power-hungry and ruthless Rondians to keep it out of the hands of their enemies if they wish to maintain their growing empire.
Yet, as the Inquisition marches forward, conspiracy to overthrow the new emperor lurks in the shadows in both the East and West.
With the unlikely heroes of Alaron, a failed mage; Ramita, a lowly market maid; and Cymbellea, the daughter of a gypsy set on ending a world of war, Scarlet Tides is an impressive world-building feat that proves that sometimes even weapons and magic cannot overcome the power of love and loyalty.
704 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
81 people are currently reading
2456 people want to read
About the author
David Hair
47 books535 followersDavid Hair is the author of The Bone Tiki, winner of Best First Novel (Young Adult Fiction section) at the 2010 NZ Post Children's Book Awards. The Bone Tiki and its sequel The Taniwha's Tear are fantasy novels set in New Zealand. David is a New Zealander, who has worked primarily in financial services. He has a degree in History and Classical Studies. He has lived from 2007 to 2010 in New Delhi, India, but usually resides in Wellington, New Zealand. Apart from writing, he is interested in folklore, history, and has a passion for football.
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April 14, 2020
4.5/5 stars
Wow. Scarlet Tides is an awesome sequel. My gratitude goes to Kitty G for recommending this super underrated series.
The Moontide has come, and the clash between East and West begins again. Scarlet Tides is the second book in The Moontide Quartet by David Hair, and it provided a significantly improved reading experience compared to Mage’s Blood. I’m not saying that Mage’s Blood was a weak installment; as I said in my review of the novel, it had a pacing problem caused by tons of info-dump sections in the first half but the second half was engaging. In my opinion, Scarlet Tides was as engaging as the second half of Mage’s Blood and more for almost the entirety of the novel; the info-dump sections that plagued the first book has vanished, and Hair was able to progress the plot and characters. The second book of a trilogy/quartet has an infamous reputation for being treated as a mere platform to make the next book shine; rest assured that this simply wasn’t the case here. I mean it, the social commentary, the deadly fanaticism on religions, and the internal conflicts and characterizations of the large cast of characters were terrifically put on the pages of this huge book.
It’s been months since I’ve read a sprawling epic fantasy series on this scale; there are many characters, the world-building—despite it being similar to our real world—is very detailed. However, what I found to be the most impressive in Hair’s storytelling within this series lies in the compelling characters and their dialogues. Every main character, in a way, has their fates intertwined with one another. I still have two books left in the series to read, and SO MUCH life-changing events have occurred to them already. None of the characters behaved or stayed at the place where their story began. It’s just incredible; I won’t categorize this series as grimdark, but none of them—except for very few characters—are thoroughly good people; most of them have their respective hidden agendas to execute. Scarlet Tides truly deepened the characterizations of the main characters through their genuine chemistry, engaging banter, and dialogues that display palpable tension. The clash of civilizations, culture, religions, and the character’s shifting loyalties was so well-written; I can’t help but found myself hooked by the narrative.
It’s a bit unfortunate that I failed to click with one of the new main POV characters—Ramon’s. I personally think that the last two chapters aside, Ramon’s POV was comparatively uninteresting because his chapters mainly dealt with marching and interacting with newly introduced characters. Thankfully, this was a small thing in the grander scheme of plotlines; the greatness of the other characters definitely made me feel safe to overlook this minor issue.
The maps in this series were very helpful in increasing my immersion in the world of Urte. The cast of characters contained inhabitants from both Yuros and Atiopia, and they constantly moved location; knowing where they’re at and how far they are from each other was beneficial to my reading experience. Here’s a reminder that unlike Mage’s Blood, Scarlet Tides have a glossary section at the end of the novel. If you’ve read the first book, you’ll know that this series rightfully receive the Game of Thrones comparison advertisement; this applied to world-building, a huge list of characters, and Hair’s ruthlessness towards his characters. I haven’t mentioned character’s names except for Ramon in this review to avoid spoilers; Hair is seriously not afraid to torture or kill off his characters if it’s necessary for the plot, and I loved it. The action scenes were already brutal, vicious, violent, and well-written; feeling that no characters are safe from dangers undoubtedly heightened the immense pressure that the characters felt to me.
I have no idea where the story will go from here. Everything is unpredictable, and I’m both excited and scared—once again—to find out the next ordeals that will visit the surviving characters of this series. Scarlet Tides was impelling and filled with superbly written morally ambiguous characters. I’m halfway through the series now, and I’m surprised that this series hasn’t received the attention it deserves. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the remaining two books will be as good as this one, or maybe even better.
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Devin, Hamad, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas.
Wow. Scarlet Tides is an awesome sequel. My gratitude goes to Kitty G for recommending this super underrated series.
The Moontide has come, and the clash between East and West begins again. Scarlet Tides is the second book in The Moontide Quartet by David Hair, and it provided a significantly improved reading experience compared to Mage’s Blood. I’m not saying that Mage’s Blood was a weak installment; as I said in my review of the novel, it had a pacing problem caused by tons of info-dump sections in the first half but the second half was engaging. In my opinion, Scarlet Tides was as engaging as the second half of Mage’s Blood and more for almost the entirety of the novel; the info-dump sections that plagued the first book has vanished, and Hair was able to progress the plot and characters. The second book of a trilogy/quartet has an infamous reputation for being treated as a mere platform to make the next book shine; rest assured that this simply wasn’t the case here. I mean it, the social commentary, the deadly fanaticism on religions, and the internal conflicts and characterizations of the large cast of characters were terrifically put on the pages of this huge book.
“Our own people live in fear of us. There has to be another way. I thought the shihad would be pure, but it’s been corrupted. It’s not holy any more – maybe it never was. How can you find paradise by killing innocent people?”
It’s been months since I’ve read a sprawling epic fantasy series on this scale; there are many characters, the world-building—despite it being similar to our real world—is very detailed. However, what I found to be the most impressive in Hair’s storytelling within this series lies in the compelling characters and their dialogues. Every main character, in a way, has their fates intertwined with one another. I still have two books left in the series to read, and SO MUCH life-changing events have occurred to them already. None of the characters behaved or stayed at the place where their story began. It’s just incredible; I won’t categorize this series as grimdark, but none of them—except for very few characters—are thoroughly good people; most of them have their respective hidden agendas to execute. Scarlet Tides truly deepened the characterizations of the main characters through their genuine chemistry, engaging banter, and dialogues that display palpable tension. The clash of civilizations, culture, religions, and the character’s shifting loyalties was so well-written; I can’t help but found myself hooked by the narrative.
“We are men of principle, and a principle holds true whether writ large or scrowled in a margin. Our word is our bond. If a man cannot be trusted, he is no man.”
It’s a bit unfortunate that I failed to click with one of the new main POV characters—Ramon’s. I personally think that the last two chapters aside, Ramon’s POV was comparatively uninteresting because his chapters mainly dealt with marching and interacting with newly introduced characters. Thankfully, this was a small thing in the grander scheme of plotlines; the greatness of the other characters definitely made me feel safe to overlook this minor issue.
The maps in this series were very helpful in increasing my immersion in the world of Urte. The cast of characters contained inhabitants from both Yuros and Atiopia, and they constantly moved location; knowing where they’re at and how far they are from each other was beneficial to my reading experience. Here’s a reminder that unlike Mage’s Blood, Scarlet Tides have a glossary section at the end of the novel. If you’ve read the first book, you’ll know that this series rightfully receive the Game of Thrones comparison advertisement; this applied to world-building, a huge list of characters, and Hair’s ruthlessness towards his characters. I haven’t mentioned character’s names except for Ramon in this review to avoid spoilers; Hair is seriously not afraid to torture or kill off his characters if it’s necessary for the plot, and I loved it. The action scenes were already brutal, vicious, violent, and well-written; feeling that no characters are safe from dangers undoubtedly heightened the immense pressure that the characters felt to me.
“Men surround themselves with illusions. Most find reality just too hard. Only the great are prepared to deal with what truly is.”
I have no idea where the story will go from here. Everything is unpredictable, and I’m both excited and scared—once again—to find out the next ordeals that will visit the surviving characters of this series. Scarlet Tides was impelling and filled with superbly written morally ambiguous characters. I’m halfway through the series now, and I’m surprised that this series hasn’t received the attention it deserves. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the remaining two books will be as good as this one, or maybe even better.
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Devin, Hamad, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas.
June 14, 2020
“It is only a question of what we achieve in life, and how we meet our end.”
If you want to know why this series is worth your time, just read my review of the previous instalment. The only thing I can add here without going into the details is that Mr Hair manages to avoid all the second book syndromes, maladies, and shortcomings and that he takes the story to an altogether new level.
With going into the details, I can offer you a more meaningful review. “The Scarlet Tides” broadens and deepens the story that started so promisingly in “Mage’s Blood”. We have both, new protagonists, and new undercurrents of the existing plots. Already in the prologue, the author is able to flip several things upside down with one masterful stroke (oh, how I liked that!).
Among the old friends you will see:
Alaron Mercer, a failed mage banned from practicing the gnosis (that is magic) pursues a girl who had broken his heart and then stolen the greatest magical artefact in the world (Cymbellea also has a couple of appearances but I do not count her voice as a meaningful one, at least not in this book). He needs to confront his own limitations and fears, he becomes a Milkson to some seriously dangerous creatures, he matures a bit, and becomes stronger but not an overstated hero. Mr Hair achieved great character development here.
Ramita Meiros, young widow of the world’s greatest mage, pregnant and overwhelmed both by her new enemies and her new powers Ramita is my absolute, unquestionable favourite of the whole series (with Elena Anborn — also a separate POV, you’ll be relieved to know — coming second in this competition) and with each entry, she only grows as a very promising heroine. She is unprepossessing and steadfast at the same time. And despite being only 16, Ramita is anything but young adult female lead you’d normally expect. How very refreshing.
Kazim Makani, a hadishah soldier sworn into the holy war of shihad against the incoming crusade, also gains in “The Scarlet Tides.” You will remember that I hated his guts. Now, as a Souldrinker feeding his magic by devouring other people’s souls he gains unexpected dramatism that his love-stricken ventures sorely lacked. Inner tensions bring darker shades to Kazim and as he faces more and more difficult choices his conveniently black-and-white world gains more hues than he would like. It surprised me how much I have actually enjoyed this journey.
There are also some new perspectives enriching the tale. And while we know these protagonists, it is nice to hear their voices. Among the main ones, Ramon Sensini assigned as a battle mage to a non-combat unit of the Third Crusade is the most fun. Think: a Sicilian mafia representative in the logistic hub of the army, the lucky thirteenth (lol!). What can possibly go wrong with that, eh? Ramon is the character that gains the most depth because he is a stark contrast to the nearly caricatural stereotype from the previous book. With his mystery lineage and family drama hidden behind the devil-may-care facade, Ramon becomes a man with a plan. While a big fat promise of a misfit band of wonders, failed to deliver, this POV was far more interesting than I thought it would be.
Malevorn Andevarion, a newly drafted acolyte of the Inquisition, an ugly rotten soul in a handsome packing is hunting Alaron his hated former classmate. He knows what is at stake and sees his mission as a springboard from greatness. All his POVs are disgusting and repulsive, and if you yearn for formidable antagonists, from his very first entrance, you will love to hate Malevorn.
In general, you should brace yourself for a quite emotional read. Mr Hair is very skilled at viewing in anger, fear, disgust, love, and laughter. You will be clutching your pearls and grinding your teeth, and biting your nails being anxious, exasperated and in love with what is happening in this book. Story lines are progressing rapidly, but the connections are not where we would have anticipated them to go with the protagonists meeting together only to be split again in edge-of-a-cliff sequences and scenes. I had serious fun (in addition to constant heartache, exasperation, and fear that something bad will happen any moment) despite a couple of issues with, not pacing precisely, but the timing of individual arcs.
In this regard, Cera Nesti is the weakest point of the book. Already in the previous instalment, she morphed form a promising mind into a total idiot already. Now this mutation continues as the girl discovers her own carnality which basically reduces her arc to moping around and lusting around. While previously, she was ruling Brochena like a king, shown dedication and intelligence, it all vanished overnight and we ended up with an insecure, silly chit so gullible that everything what happens to her is well deserved. I expect this has been done on purpose, so that we may have a spectacular YA failure who will rise in shine in the books to come. Nonetheless, the comparison with what she used to be, questions plausibility of this scheme. For me Cera is unbearably jarring, especially when compared with Alaron who is arguably her male counterpart of a loser turned hero (we should hope as the hero part is not exactly here yet).
To the contrary, I relished Guvron Gyle’s POV and although it is overbloated with pathos in the end. I must say that the wildest theories flown through the Fantasy Buddy Reads discussions of the book His last-minute rescue made me snort because all this talk about “not being used to non-transactional relationships” belied everything that was between him and Elena and a large portion of the book was build on this premise and exploited precisely this dynamic (including his infatuation with Cera!) so the sudden omg people do care about me and are my friends revelation rang false. Still, Guvron Gyle and his machinations are fun to read provided that you do not mind dirty tricks like bringing to life things that should be dead
Despite it being a huge brick of a book, “The Scarlett Tides” only whetted my appetites. I am dying to continue the adventure. I want to know more about the princess Natia and I hope she will make an appearance soon. I want to see the Scytale in action. Simultaneously, I cannot help but notice that in the moment of writing this, the most popular review of this novel has 30 likes. If that is not an underrated gem then I will eat my hardback copy!
Also in the series:
1. Mage’s Blood ★★★★☆
3. Unholy War ★☆☆☆☆
4. Ascendant’s Rite ★☆☆☆☆
If you want to know why this series is worth your time, just read my review of the previous instalment. The only thing I can add here without going into the details is that Mr Hair manages to avoid all the second book syndromes, maladies, and shortcomings and that he takes the story to an altogether new level.
With going into the details, I can offer you a more meaningful review. “The Scarlet Tides” broadens and deepens the story that started so promisingly in “Mage’s Blood”. We have both, new protagonists, and new undercurrents of the existing plots. Already in the prologue, the author is able to flip several things upside down with one masterful stroke (oh, how I liked that!).
Among the old friends you will see:
Alaron Mercer, a failed mage banned from practicing the gnosis (that is magic) pursues a girl who had broken his heart and then stolen the greatest magical artefact in the world (Cymbellea also has a couple of appearances but I do not count her voice as a meaningful one, at least not in this book). He needs to confront his own limitations and fears, he becomes a Milkson to some seriously dangerous creatures, he matures a bit, and becomes stronger but not an overstated hero. Mr Hair achieved great character development here.
Ramita Meiros, young widow of the world’s greatest mage, pregnant and overwhelmed both by her new enemies and her new powers Ramita is my absolute, unquestionable favourite of the whole series (with Elena Anborn — also a separate POV, you’ll be relieved to know — coming second in this competition) and with each entry, she only grows as a very promising heroine. She is unprepossessing and steadfast at the same time. And despite being only 16, Ramita is anything but young adult female lead you’d normally expect. How very refreshing.
Kazim Makani, a hadishah soldier sworn into the holy war of shihad against the incoming crusade, also gains in “The Scarlet Tides.” You will remember that I hated his guts. Now, as a Souldrinker feeding his magic by devouring other people’s souls he gains unexpected dramatism that his love-stricken ventures sorely lacked. Inner tensions bring darker shades to Kazim and as he faces more and more difficult choices his conveniently black-and-white world gains more hues than he would like. It surprised me how much I have actually enjoyed this journey.
There are also some new perspectives enriching the tale. And while we know these protagonists, it is nice to hear their voices. Among the main ones, Ramon Sensini assigned as a battle mage to a non-combat unit of the Third Crusade is the most fun. Think: a Sicilian mafia representative in the logistic hub of the army, the lucky thirteenth (lol!). What can possibly go wrong with that, eh? Ramon is the character that gains the most depth because he is a stark contrast to the nearly caricatural stereotype from the previous book. With his mystery lineage and family drama hidden behind the devil-may-care facade, Ramon becomes a man with a plan. While a big fat promise of a misfit band of wonders, failed to deliver, this POV was far more interesting than I thought it would be.
Malevorn Andevarion, a newly drafted acolyte of the Inquisition, an ugly rotten soul in a handsome packing is hunting Alaron his hated former classmate. He knows what is at stake and sees his mission as a springboard from greatness. All his POVs are disgusting and repulsive, and if you yearn for formidable antagonists, from his very first entrance, you will love to hate Malevorn.
In general, you should brace yourself for a quite emotional read. Mr Hair is very skilled at viewing in anger, fear, disgust, love, and laughter. You will be clutching your pearls and grinding your teeth, and biting your nails being anxious, exasperated and in love with what is happening in this book. Story lines are progressing rapidly, but the connections are not where we would have anticipated them to go with the protagonists meeting together only to be split again in edge-of-a-cliff sequences and scenes. I had serious fun (in addition to constant heartache, exasperation, and fear that something bad will happen any moment) despite a couple of issues with, not pacing precisely, but the timing of individual arcs.
In this regard, Cera Nesti is the weakest point of the book. Already in the previous instalment, she morphed form a promising mind into a total idiot already. Now this mutation continues as the girl discovers her own carnality which basically reduces her arc to moping around and lusting around. While previously, she was ruling Brochena like a king, shown dedication and intelligence, it all vanished overnight and we ended up with an insecure, silly chit so gullible that everything what happens to her is well deserved. I expect this has been done on purpose, so that we may have a spectacular YA failure who will rise in shine in the books to come. Nonetheless, the comparison with what she used to be, questions plausibility of this scheme. For me Cera is unbearably jarring, especially when compared with Alaron who is arguably her male counterpart of a loser turned hero (we should hope as the hero part is not exactly here yet).
To the contrary, I relished Guvron Gyle’s POV and although it is overbloated with pathos in the end. I must say that the wildest theories flown through the Fantasy Buddy Reads discussions of the book His last-minute rescue made me snort because all this talk about “not being used to non-transactional relationships” belied everything that was between him and Elena and a large portion of the book was build on this premise and exploited precisely this dynamic (including his infatuation with Cera!) so the sudden omg people do care about me and are my friends revelation rang false. Still, Guvron Gyle and his machinations are fun to read provided that you do not mind dirty tricks like bringing to life things that should be dead
Despite it being a huge brick of a book, “The Scarlett Tides” only whetted my appetites. I am dying to continue the adventure. I want to know more about the princess Natia and I hope she will make an appearance soon. I want to see the Scytale in action. Simultaneously, I cannot help but notice that in the moment of writing this, the most popular review of this novel has 30 likes. If that is not an underrated gem then I will eat my hardback copy!
Also in the series:
1. Mage’s Blood ★★★★☆
3. Unholy War ★☆☆☆☆
4. Ascendant’s Rite ★☆☆☆☆
March 14, 2020
The story is intense! This is a very much of a transitional book, so I think it would be almost impossible for me to judge it on its own merit. The majority of the characters are going through hell, giving them plenty of opportunities to make mistakes and either learned and grew from them, or stubbornly dug their heels in and stayed stagnantly the same, something that in this author's world seems to mostly happen to the bad guys. They tend to be a bit simplistic in their evilness, but this is my primary problem with the books and in the context of the story, it really doesn't bother me that much. Can't wait to see where we go from here 👍🙂
December 15, 2015
I loved this and there are so many reasons why. A full review will be coming super soon but suffice to say it's in my top 10 of the year, very near to the top!!!! Marvellous!
--------
Okay, so here is my actual review now that I have had some time overnight to process my thoughts on this pretty incredible series. I don't understand why it's not more 'talked-about' or loved because it's truly a rival to the hype of Game of Thrones in my eyes and I think this is better because David Hair has clearly seen what's worked for Game of Thrones and done things his way within this series that has such a comprehensive world and wonderful set of characters.
My main thing about this book and the reason it's going to be one of the top I've read this year is that I really can't fault it. At no point was I bored or annoyed with anything, I was always loving all of the characters (even the ones you love to hate) and the pacing of the plot is great. The story itself is also really engaging and there's a lot that happens in this book which I wasn't necessarily anticipating happening because it was original, modern and marvellous.
The main few characters from the previous book are expanded upon within this book with more and more of the secondary characters taking up a major important role themselves. I liked this a lot as it meant that we got to see a lot of different areas and scenarios around the world through various pov's.
This storyline takes place right after the ending of book 1 which finishes with the start of the Moontide, an event which happens for 2 years in every 12 and allows the crossing from the continent of Antiopia to Yuros & vice versa. These two continents are separated at all other times by a tumultuous sea so rough it's uncrossable, and so the years leading up to Moontide are spent planning raids and campaigns and seeing political shifts and maneuvering (focus of book 1). During this book we get to see this intensified even further as new races are introduced and new people with power. We see friendships and relationships form and being destroyed, threats and blackmail and horrors along the way. There is a lot of sexual content within this and some moments/scenes which are not exactly 'pleasant' but the story works wonderfully and the scenes which are included are handled really well. It's just pretty much everything I want in a book rolled into one!
I managed to speed my way through this (despite not wanting it to end) and I loved it all. The female characters are some of my all time favourite female characters who are written in fantasy storylines by men (often women seem to write female characters better, naturally) and they are all excellent in their own UNIQUE way, not just carbon copies of one another or stereotypes. I loved seeing the progression of Elena, our battered and put-upon mage, Cera, the young ruler who is alone and struggling, Cym, the hard-eyed gypsy girl who is on a mission, and Ramita, the lady who has the potential to become one of my all time favourite characters at the rate her storyline is going. Each of them is feisty yet sensitive when they need to be and shows really strong backbone and resolve for any and all the situations they are put into. I can't help but to worry over or admire one or all of them at different times of their stories.
I will just say that this is brilliant, and I think everyone should try this series if you like big, epic fantasy because this is a masterwork within the genre. Go now and pick it up and read the first one and then come back and tell me how right I am about the magic and wonder of it! I promise you, it's more than good!
The magic and the races and the various forms and potential that we see in this book is astonishing too. There's so many types of magic and so many manifestations and forms that there's an awful lot you can do, if you know how. I absolutely loved some of the surprises in this and seeing our character interact with the magic was magnificent. I am so excited to see what will happen next.
The world within this is a kind of blend of Western/Eastern cultures. We see places and people who seem similar to what we know in our own reality, and yet this makes it easy to accept the magic and unrealistic elements of this world so much more because we already have those more familiar hand-holds. I think that seeing the two continents as a kind of parallel version of us, with magic, makes this even more exciting to read and consider and that really worked well for me :)
On the whole, this book is pretty exceptional and is probably around the same level as Robin Hobb for me because it's just so wonderful. I am very, very excited to read book #3 & #4 super soon (Yay! It's already a completed series too, another perk!) and I am sure I will equally love them!! :D 5*s of course! Wonderful!!!
--------
Okay, so here is my actual review now that I have had some time overnight to process my thoughts on this pretty incredible series. I don't understand why it's not more 'talked-about' or loved because it's truly a rival to the hype of Game of Thrones in my eyes and I think this is better because David Hair has clearly seen what's worked for Game of Thrones and done things his way within this series that has such a comprehensive world and wonderful set of characters.
My main thing about this book and the reason it's going to be one of the top I've read this year is that I really can't fault it. At no point was I bored or annoyed with anything, I was always loving all of the characters (even the ones you love to hate) and the pacing of the plot is great. The story itself is also really engaging and there's a lot that happens in this book which I wasn't necessarily anticipating happening because it was original, modern and marvellous.
The main few characters from the previous book are expanded upon within this book with more and more of the secondary characters taking up a major important role themselves. I liked this a lot as it meant that we got to see a lot of different areas and scenarios around the world through various pov's.
This storyline takes place right after the ending of book 1 which finishes with the start of the Moontide, an event which happens for 2 years in every 12 and allows the crossing from the continent of Antiopia to Yuros & vice versa. These two continents are separated at all other times by a tumultuous sea so rough it's uncrossable, and so the years leading up to Moontide are spent planning raids and campaigns and seeing political shifts and maneuvering (focus of book 1). During this book we get to see this intensified even further as new races are introduced and new people with power. We see friendships and relationships form and being destroyed, threats and blackmail and horrors along the way. There is a lot of sexual content within this and some moments/scenes which are not exactly 'pleasant' but the story works wonderfully and the scenes which are included are handled really well. It's just pretty much everything I want in a book rolled into one!
I managed to speed my way through this (despite not wanting it to end) and I loved it all. The female characters are some of my all time favourite female characters who are written in fantasy storylines by men (often women seem to write female characters better, naturally) and they are all excellent in their own UNIQUE way, not just carbon copies of one another or stereotypes. I loved seeing the progression of Elena, our battered and put-upon mage, Cera, the young ruler who is alone and struggling, Cym, the hard-eyed gypsy girl who is on a mission, and Ramita, the lady who has the potential to become one of my all time favourite characters at the rate her storyline is going. Each of them is feisty yet sensitive when they need to be and shows really strong backbone and resolve for any and all the situations they are put into. I can't help but to worry over or admire one or all of them at different times of their stories.
I will just say that this is brilliant, and I think everyone should try this series if you like big, epic fantasy because this is a masterwork within the genre. Go now and pick it up and read the first one and then come back and tell me how right I am about the magic and wonder of it! I promise you, it's more than good!
The magic and the races and the various forms and potential that we see in this book is astonishing too. There's so many types of magic and so many manifestations and forms that there's an awful lot you can do, if you know how. I absolutely loved some of the surprises in this and seeing our character interact with the magic was magnificent. I am so excited to see what will happen next.
The world within this is a kind of blend of Western/Eastern cultures. We see places and people who seem similar to what we know in our own reality, and yet this makes it easy to accept the magic and unrealistic elements of this world so much more because we already have those more familiar hand-holds. I think that seeing the two continents as a kind of parallel version of us, with magic, makes this even more exciting to read and consider and that really worked well for me :)
On the whole, this book is pretty exceptional and is probably around the same level as Robin Hobb for me because it's just so wonderful. I am very, very excited to read book #3 & #4 super soon (Yay! It's already a completed series too, another perk!) and I am sure I will equally love them!! :D 5*s of course! Wonderful!!!
April 25, 2015
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/10/17/b...
Open up The Scarlet Tides and the first things you’ll see are several gorgeously illustrated maps depicting the world of the Moontide Quartet. Needless to say, the maps became indispensable to me while I was reading. I’ve never come across a fantasy series with such a comprehensive and detailed approach to world-building. David Hair goes well beyond simply describing the different peoples and places — what he’s created here actually feels like a living, breathing system. These books take place across two huge continents following about half a dozen characters of different creeds and cultures, with the alliances and conflicts that arise between nations forming the basis for multiple threads of the story and driving the plot forward.
Middle books of a series can also be mighty tricky; I’ve had enough disappointing experiences with sequels myself, which makes me understand why some readers would be nervous when approaching them. However, I jumped into The Scarlet Tides with no reservations whatsoever. This series has grown on me, as I stated in my review of the preceding volume, Mage’s Blood. The first book may have been slightly encumbered by a lengthy introduction and a slow build-up as Hair established the players and set the stage, but it all culminated into one explosive climax and conclusion. And I knew we were going to be heading right into the action with book two.
In this sequel, the Moontide is at hand and the mighty Leviathan Bridge now stands open, creating a corridor between the two continents Yuros and Antiopia, which are normally separated by a vast ocean. The last two Moontides have involved lofty ambitions and crusades of conquest, and this one is no different. Rondion legions and the Inquisition’s windships waste no time storming their way across Antiopia, but very few know of a troubling secret eating at the heart of their empire. A very powerful and valuable artifact called the Scytale of Corineus has slipped through Emperor Constant’s fingers, and he has tasked his inquisitors to scour the world searching for the ones who have absconded with it.
Enter Alaron Mercer, a failed mage who had the Scytale in his hands, then lost it to the girl of his dreams who stole the artifact along with his heart. Cymbellea, who believes she knows the best use for the Scytale, has taken it with the intention of delivering it to Antonin Meiros, the most powerful mage in the world. Little does she know, Meiros is dead, leaving his pregnant widow Ramita on the run from his killers. Several more story arcs run in tandem, including the one which follows Ramita’s former lover Kazim, who ends up with the mercenary Elena Anborn after a botched attack on Emperor Constant’s pureblood mages. Polar opposites in political sides and backgrounds, both nevertheless come to realize they may have a common enemy in Gurvon Gyle, the empire’s spymaster. Some comic relief is also provided by Alaron’s former classmate Ramon, whose storyline involves him running a pyramid scheme, all while his legion marches towards battle. Amusing as this is, Ramon’s point of view also gives readers a boots-on-the-ground view of looming war.
Everything and everyone is connected, the vast distances between the some of the characters and the spheres of conflict notwithstanding. And yet, despite of the sheer scale of it, David Hair manages to make his characters and their stories feel deeply intimate and personal. It’s another reason why this world feels so alive, with all its elements working in tune with one another. Nations and their diverse populations are woven into an intricate web of magic and religion, which are two sides of the same coin. Both play a huge part in nearly all the societies, and as more factions emerge from the shadows we see how much more complex the situation can get.
As things heat up, the net tightens and gradually we are starting to see events converge, bringing the various players closer together. We have betrayals, shifting loyalties, unlikely friendships, and even love. With a dramatis personae so large, it’s inevitable some characters will emerge as my favorites. In Mage’s Blood, the top spot went to Ramita, whose touching yet complicated relationship with Antonin Meiros made me enjoy reading her perspective the most. In this book, however, I came to relish the chapters that follow Kazim and Elena. It’s probably not a coincidence that my favorite storyline yet again involves two people from disparate backgrounds who begin at odds with each other, with the hostility turning to understanding, understanding turning to respect, and the respect eventually turning into love. David Hair has an incredible talent for writing these types of dynamic relationships, making them engaging to read without resorting to clichés and cloying platitudes.
He also does a good job giving each perspective character the attention they deserve. Every one of them has an important role to play, and nobody feels left behind or “parked” while something more exciting happens elsewhere. I learned more about the world from each person, whether it be through meeting Ramon’s new friends from faraway lands, or from Alaron’s encounter with a new race of sentient beings with an astounding origin. And before I could fret myself over how everything will come together, the climax converges most of these storylines, serving up a conclusion and epilogue that tie things up quite nicely.
Overall, an excellent follow up to the first novel, continuing the tradition of vivid, dynamic characters and terrific world building. The intriguing storylines kept me glued to the pages. I honestly found it hard to put down, which was how I ended up reading all 700 pages of this in a little more than three days. Readers of epic fantasy should definitely check out this series.
Open up The Scarlet Tides and the first things you’ll see are several gorgeously illustrated maps depicting the world of the Moontide Quartet. Needless to say, the maps became indispensable to me while I was reading. I’ve never come across a fantasy series with such a comprehensive and detailed approach to world-building. David Hair goes well beyond simply describing the different peoples and places — what he’s created here actually feels like a living, breathing system. These books take place across two huge continents following about half a dozen characters of different creeds and cultures, with the alliances and conflicts that arise between nations forming the basis for multiple threads of the story and driving the plot forward.
Middle books of a series can also be mighty tricky; I’ve had enough disappointing experiences with sequels myself, which makes me understand why some readers would be nervous when approaching them. However, I jumped into The Scarlet Tides with no reservations whatsoever. This series has grown on me, as I stated in my review of the preceding volume, Mage’s Blood. The first book may have been slightly encumbered by a lengthy introduction and a slow build-up as Hair established the players and set the stage, but it all culminated into one explosive climax and conclusion. And I knew we were going to be heading right into the action with book two.
In this sequel, the Moontide is at hand and the mighty Leviathan Bridge now stands open, creating a corridor between the two continents Yuros and Antiopia, which are normally separated by a vast ocean. The last two Moontides have involved lofty ambitions and crusades of conquest, and this one is no different. Rondion legions and the Inquisition’s windships waste no time storming their way across Antiopia, but very few know of a troubling secret eating at the heart of their empire. A very powerful and valuable artifact called the Scytale of Corineus has slipped through Emperor Constant’s fingers, and he has tasked his inquisitors to scour the world searching for the ones who have absconded with it.
Enter Alaron Mercer, a failed mage who had the Scytale in his hands, then lost it to the girl of his dreams who stole the artifact along with his heart. Cymbellea, who believes she knows the best use for the Scytale, has taken it with the intention of delivering it to Antonin Meiros, the most powerful mage in the world. Little does she know, Meiros is dead, leaving his pregnant widow Ramita on the run from his killers. Several more story arcs run in tandem, including the one which follows Ramita’s former lover Kazim, who ends up with the mercenary Elena Anborn after a botched attack on Emperor Constant’s pureblood mages. Polar opposites in political sides and backgrounds, both nevertheless come to realize they may have a common enemy in Gurvon Gyle, the empire’s spymaster. Some comic relief is also provided by Alaron’s former classmate Ramon, whose storyline involves him running a pyramid scheme, all while his legion marches towards battle. Amusing as this is, Ramon’s point of view also gives readers a boots-on-the-ground view of looming war.
Everything and everyone is connected, the vast distances between the some of the characters and the spheres of conflict notwithstanding. And yet, despite of the sheer scale of it, David Hair manages to make his characters and their stories feel deeply intimate and personal. It’s another reason why this world feels so alive, with all its elements working in tune with one another. Nations and their diverse populations are woven into an intricate web of magic and religion, which are two sides of the same coin. Both play a huge part in nearly all the societies, and as more factions emerge from the shadows we see how much more complex the situation can get.
As things heat up, the net tightens and gradually we are starting to see events converge, bringing the various players closer together. We have betrayals, shifting loyalties, unlikely friendships, and even love. With a dramatis personae so large, it’s inevitable some characters will emerge as my favorites. In Mage’s Blood, the top spot went to Ramita, whose touching yet complicated relationship with Antonin Meiros made me enjoy reading her perspective the most. In this book, however, I came to relish the chapters that follow Kazim and Elena. It’s probably not a coincidence that my favorite storyline yet again involves two people from disparate backgrounds who begin at odds with each other, with the hostility turning to understanding, understanding turning to respect, and the respect eventually turning into love. David Hair has an incredible talent for writing these types of dynamic relationships, making them engaging to read without resorting to clichés and cloying platitudes.
He also does a good job giving each perspective character the attention they deserve. Every one of them has an important role to play, and nobody feels left behind or “parked” while something more exciting happens elsewhere. I learned more about the world from each person, whether it be through meeting Ramon’s new friends from faraway lands, or from Alaron’s encounter with a new race of sentient beings with an astounding origin. And before I could fret myself over how everything will come together, the climax converges most of these storylines, serving up a conclusion and epilogue that tie things up quite nicely.
Overall, an excellent follow up to the first novel, continuing the tradition of vivid, dynamic characters and terrific world building. The intriguing storylines kept me glued to the pages. I honestly found it hard to put down, which was how I ended up reading all 700 pages of this in a little more than three days. Readers of epic fantasy should definitely check out this series.
March 16, 2017
3.75*'s which is what I gave book one. I do love the historical fiction side of this story building in elements of the crusades along with politics, religious zeal and intrigue with the magic which in itself has a historical fiction origin.
November 1, 2013
I expected to really enjoy The Scarlet Tides as Mage's Blood grew on me quite a lot as time passed, but I did not expect the awesome novel it was, so much so that at least temporarily it jumped to my #1 sff spot of the year and #2 overall - of course time will tell if it will stay there, but The Scarlet Tides has really everything you want in fantasy: excellent world building, superb adventures, hair rising escapes, great characters, very intriguing storylines, narrative momentum, an almost perfect place to end all the 4 main arcs and there were some pages that were so funny that i couldn't stop laughing out loud for a few minutes - overall the book is darkish but more adventure style than "new gritty"
All the main characters shine here though I would say that Ramon's war mage persona - so the view of the crusade from the ground up arc, as of course he is assigned as supporting mage to the worst legion of the army and there to the lowest of the low company, namely the supply one (where of course he corrupts the commanding tribune and they start running a perfect Ponzi scheme with all the army's gold and much more...), while he gets as fellow mages, the incompetent, the stupid, the vain and the ones that annoyed powerful people so:
‘Can we count on them in a fight?’ Ramon asked.
Prenton snorted amiably. ‘A fight? Dear Kore, this is a Crusade, lad, not a war. There’ll be no fighting, only endless days of marching around from ruin to empty ruin. There may be a bit of looting and pillaging thrown in, if we’re lucky. The Keshi don’t fight back. They run and hide.’ He pulled a face. ‘The biggest risk is their God-awful food.’
(while we readers know that this time, well you know what...)
- and Gurvon Gyle's Javon story where his cynicism and "you gotta be realistic" persona are staple new gritty done pitch perfect, were the most directly compelling arcs, but Alaron's saga with quite a few surprises (not least having Malevorn part of the Inquisition posse after him and meeting some strange people in his flight) had its great moments as had the storylines of Ramita, Kazim or Elena (as of course one knew beforehand that she wouldn't remain chained for long)
Here is one quote that illustrates the action part:
"If we can find Gyle, we will kill him before they march,’ Gatoz put in.
‘How will we find him?’ Jamil asked.
‘I will find him,’ Magister Sindon put in, his usually mild voice vehement. ‘I know Gyle, believe me. I have used his services before, and he trusts me.’
********
Sindon turned and made a sign, and the door from which he’d emerged opened again, allowing more hooded figures to enter the courtyard, fanning out as they came. ‘Magister Gyle, we’re so grateful,’ Sindon said, offering his hand.
Sordell saw Gyle go to take the offered hand, when he abruptly froze
****
Sindon’s pupils went wider. The game is up, those eyes said.
It is. Gyle swore softly. And I have too few pieces on the board"
There are a lot of twists and turns too - including double crosses, strange allies, unexpected connections - and I really do not want to spoil the book, so I will just emphasize again that while Mage's Blood takes a while to get going and understand what's what, The Scarlet Tides is how modern epic fantasy should be from the first page and raises the series to the top level of the genre.
One more quote from one of Alaron's close encounters with the Inquistion
"There was nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. He’d landed near a narrow channel that wound from the waterfall above towards the ocean miles to the east, but it was only a few feet deep. He’d dropped his sword as he fell and couldn’t see it anywhere. Brilliant …
Fatalism filled him. There was no way a lowly quarter-blood like him could get out of this. He tried to summon mental images of the people he loved: his parents, Cym, Ramon … Anise – thank Kore I didn’t tell her to wait – and that was about it, really. Not so many to farewell
The venator topped the cliffs and spiralled towards him. He watched it land heavily above Prancer’s body. Its beak dipped and ripped, tearing still-warm flesh from the corpse. The Inquisitor unstrapped his harness, left his lance in its cup and slid to ground. ‘Alaron Mercer, I presume,’ he said ironically. He looked like he might be in his mid-twenties – a half-blood, Alaron guessed, on the basis that he’d not already been overwhelmed. He’d not last much longer though. He had nothing left now, not even a weapon.
He backed away, and the Inquisitor followed him at a leisurely pace. ‘The Crozier wants a word with you,’ he said conversationally, drawing his sword.
************
‘Kore’s blood, you’ve been a nuisance,’ the Inquisitor said, ‘but I’ve got you now.’ Mage-fire blossomed from his left hand and blasted into Alaron’s midriff. His shields failed and his wet clothing sizzled as the energy jolted through him. He curled up, stricken, trying to breathe. The Inquisitor put the sword-point to his throat. Alaron looked along the straight steel blade and wished only to die.
‘I, Acolyte Seldon of the Eighteenth Fist, arrest you in the name of the Inquisition.’
Seldon’s call resounded through the aether and Malevorn rolled his eyes as he followed the call back to the east. Damn. Muttered curses echoed dimly through the aether as the Fist’s mental links conveyed the mix of relief at the finding of their quarry and annoyance at losing the wager.
************
As Alaron stared along Seldon’s blade, watching gnosis-energy crackle along the steel, a dark shape rose behind the Inquisitor..."
All the main characters shine here though I would say that Ramon's war mage persona - so the view of the crusade from the ground up arc, as of course he is assigned as supporting mage to the worst legion of the army and there to the lowest of the low company, namely the supply one (where of course he corrupts the commanding tribune and they start running a perfect Ponzi scheme with all the army's gold and much more...), while he gets as fellow mages, the incompetent, the stupid, the vain and the ones that annoyed powerful people so:
‘Can we count on them in a fight?’ Ramon asked.
Prenton snorted amiably. ‘A fight? Dear Kore, this is a Crusade, lad, not a war. There’ll be no fighting, only endless days of marching around from ruin to empty ruin. There may be a bit of looting and pillaging thrown in, if we’re lucky. The Keshi don’t fight back. They run and hide.’ He pulled a face. ‘The biggest risk is their God-awful food.’
(while we readers know that this time, well you know what...)
- and Gurvon Gyle's Javon story where his cynicism and "you gotta be realistic" persona are staple new gritty done pitch perfect, were the most directly compelling arcs, but Alaron's saga with quite a few surprises (not least having Malevorn part of the Inquisition posse after him and meeting some strange people in his flight) had its great moments as had the storylines of Ramita, Kazim or Elena (as of course one knew beforehand that she wouldn't remain chained for long)
Here is one quote that illustrates the action part:
"If we can find Gyle, we will kill him before they march,’ Gatoz put in.
‘How will we find him?’ Jamil asked.
‘I will find him,’ Magister Sindon put in, his usually mild voice vehement. ‘I know Gyle, believe me. I have used his services before, and he trusts me.’
********
Sindon turned and made a sign, and the door from which he’d emerged opened again, allowing more hooded figures to enter the courtyard, fanning out as they came. ‘Magister Gyle, we’re so grateful,’ Sindon said, offering his hand.
Sordell saw Gyle go to take the offered hand, when he abruptly froze
****
Sindon’s pupils went wider. The game is up, those eyes said.
It is. Gyle swore softly. And I have too few pieces on the board"
There are a lot of twists and turns too - including double crosses, strange allies, unexpected connections - and I really do not want to spoil the book, so I will just emphasize again that while Mage's Blood takes a while to get going and understand what's what, The Scarlet Tides is how modern epic fantasy should be from the first page and raises the series to the top level of the genre.
One more quote from one of Alaron's close encounters with the Inquistion
"There was nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. He’d landed near a narrow channel that wound from the waterfall above towards the ocean miles to the east, but it was only a few feet deep. He’d dropped his sword as he fell and couldn’t see it anywhere. Brilliant …
Fatalism filled him. There was no way a lowly quarter-blood like him could get out of this. He tried to summon mental images of the people he loved: his parents, Cym, Ramon … Anise – thank Kore I didn’t tell her to wait – and that was about it, really. Not so many to farewell
The venator topped the cliffs and spiralled towards him. He watched it land heavily above Prancer’s body. Its beak dipped and ripped, tearing still-warm flesh from the corpse. The Inquisitor unstrapped his harness, left his lance in its cup and slid to ground. ‘Alaron Mercer, I presume,’ he said ironically. He looked like he might be in his mid-twenties – a half-blood, Alaron guessed, on the basis that he’d not already been overwhelmed. He’d not last much longer though. He had nothing left now, not even a weapon.
He backed away, and the Inquisitor followed him at a leisurely pace. ‘The Crozier wants a word with you,’ he said conversationally, drawing his sword.
************
‘Kore’s blood, you’ve been a nuisance,’ the Inquisitor said, ‘but I’ve got you now.’ Mage-fire blossomed from his left hand and blasted into Alaron’s midriff. His shields failed and his wet clothing sizzled as the energy jolted through him. He curled up, stricken, trying to breathe. The Inquisitor put the sword-point to his throat. Alaron looked along the straight steel blade and wished only to die.
‘I, Acolyte Seldon of the Eighteenth Fist, arrest you in the name of the Inquisition.’
Seldon’s call resounded through the aether and Malevorn rolled his eyes as he followed the call back to the east. Damn. Muttered curses echoed dimly through the aether as the Fist’s mental links conveyed the mix of relief at the finding of their quarry and annoyance at losing the wager.
************
As Alaron stared along Seldon’s blade, watching gnosis-energy crackle along the steel, a dark shape rose behind the Inquisitor..."
March 13, 2018
This book was incredibly powerful.
It is action packed, which never hurts. It had character development (finally characters I did not care too much for are important to me); it has plenty of twists.
The story is extremely well written and explained. It is powerful really; it kept my attention locked in.
It is also worth noticing that the audiobook is incredibly good.
I should have started this series a long time ago!
It is action packed, which never hurts. It had character development (finally characters I did not care too much for are important to me); it has plenty of twists.
The story is extremely well written and explained. It is powerful really; it kept my attention locked in.
It is also worth noticing that the audiobook is incredibly good.
I should have started this series a long time ago!
December 22, 2014
Long but rarely boring, a 200 page climax, and improving on everything that made Mage's Blood so good.
http://abitterdraft.com/2014/10/the-s...
It’s no secret to anyone that follows me that I really enjoyed David Hair’s first adult fantasy novel, Mage’s Blood. In fact, I’m pretty sure I read the entire 700-page doorstopper in about 2 days. Hair began what is now one of my favorite (and one of the more underrated) current fantasy series by completely immersing us in a world so similar yet so new that I can’t help but be impressed with The Scarlet Tides. The world of Urte is strikingly similar to our Earth in the Middle Ages – specifically the crusading era.
The western continent of Yuros meets the eastern Antiopia at the Leviathan Bridge, erected by the supremely powerful Ordo Costruo mage Antonin Meiros. The Bridge rises every dozen years during the Moontide, and continuing in the traditions of its last two Moontides, the Rondians of the west amass their legions and embark on a great crusade to the east in the hopes that, like the previous two crusades, they’ll return to Yuros rich (if they return at all) – only this time, the Antiopians are gathering an army to oppose the Rondians in a shihad. East and west clash as our heroes are naturally caught in the middle of it all.
If you’ve read Mage’s Blood, you know where our heroes left off – Ramon is a battlemage in the Thirteenth legion and marching to war in the crusading army, Alaron is on the run and chasing Cymbella, Gurvon’s up to his old politicking tricks, Ramita finds herself in way deeper than she had originally thought, and many more new and recurring characters. Hair continues to excel in worldbuilding, and the gnosis continues to dazzle with its depth and particularly stars in the battles between gnosis wielders.
An issue that some readers had with Mage’s Blood – the fact that the two continents are so similar in many ways despite having been separated prior to the Leviathan Bridge’s construction – is explained very aptly, and if I remember correctly someone asks the exact question. Not only does Hair explore cultural diversities and similarities, but he also explores the harsh realities of war and the crusades in particular. A quote that I found rather poignant was spoken by Kazim Makani:
"How can you find paradise by killing innocent people?"
The original thought or purpose of the crusades was to fight the infidel for God in order to be accepted into paradise, regardless of which side you were on. In reality, the crusades ended up being opportunities for nobles to gain land, money, and power, often heedless of what got in their way. Innocents were killed, villages burned, and lives ruined all in the name of God. Hair delves into this issue with Kazim, who is an assassin fighting for the shihad that begins to question his morals and those of the other shihadists and crusaders who are lost to zeal and greed or some combination of both. Is killing really the way into paradise?
Hair’s The Scarlet Tides continues a fantastic epic fantasy series with a great cast, immersive world, and fascinating system of magic that builds to a stunning several-hundred page conclusion in the vein of Steven Erikson, where everything possible happens to everyone. He improved on everything that made Mage’s Blood so good and added even more oomph to it. I cannot wait to start Unholy War.
Read. This. Series.
http://abitterdraft.com/2014/10/the-s...
It’s no secret to anyone that follows me that I really enjoyed David Hair’s first adult fantasy novel, Mage’s Blood. In fact, I’m pretty sure I read the entire 700-page doorstopper in about 2 days. Hair began what is now one of my favorite (and one of the more underrated) current fantasy series by completely immersing us in a world so similar yet so new that I can’t help but be impressed with The Scarlet Tides. The world of Urte is strikingly similar to our Earth in the Middle Ages – specifically the crusading era.
The western continent of Yuros meets the eastern Antiopia at the Leviathan Bridge, erected by the supremely powerful Ordo Costruo mage Antonin Meiros. The Bridge rises every dozen years during the Moontide, and continuing in the traditions of its last two Moontides, the Rondians of the west amass their legions and embark on a great crusade to the east in the hopes that, like the previous two crusades, they’ll return to Yuros rich (if they return at all) – only this time, the Antiopians are gathering an army to oppose the Rondians in a shihad. East and west clash as our heroes are naturally caught in the middle of it all.
If you’ve read Mage’s Blood, you know where our heroes left off – Ramon is a battlemage in the Thirteenth legion and marching to war in the crusading army, Alaron is on the run and chasing Cymbella, Gurvon’s up to his old politicking tricks, Ramita finds herself in way deeper than she had originally thought, and many more new and recurring characters. Hair continues to excel in worldbuilding, and the gnosis continues to dazzle with its depth and particularly stars in the battles between gnosis wielders.
An issue that some readers had with Mage’s Blood – the fact that the two continents are so similar in many ways despite having been separated prior to the Leviathan Bridge’s construction – is explained very aptly, and if I remember correctly someone asks the exact question. Not only does Hair explore cultural diversities and similarities, but he also explores the harsh realities of war and the crusades in particular. A quote that I found rather poignant was spoken by Kazim Makani:
"How can you find paradise by killing innocent people?"
The original thought or purpose of the crusades was to fight the infidel for God in order to be accepted into paradise, regardless of which side you were on. In reality, the crusades ended up being opportunities for nobles to gain land, money, and power, often heedless of what got in their way. Innocents were killed, villages burned, and lives ruined all in the name of God. Hair delves into this issue with Kazim, who is an assassin fighting for the shihad that begins to question his morals and those of the other shihadists and crusaders who are lost to zeal and greed or some combination of both. Is killing really the way into paradise?
Hair’s The Scarlet Tides continues a fantastic epic fantasy series with a great cast, immersive world, and fascinating system of magic that builds to a stunning several-hundred page conclusion in the vein of Steven Erikson, where everything possible happens to everyone. He improved on everything that made Mage’s Blood so good and added even more oomph to it. I cannot wait to start Unholy War.
Read. This. Series.
February 11, 2017
The best climax I have read since Words of Radiance. So good...so good...
June 22, 2020
I enjoyed this but having seen reviews for the next two books I'm also super nervous to carry on...
July 16, 2024
This is how you write a fantasy sequel.
December 23, 2019
Compared to the first book I found this a struggle to read and was quite dull in places. Hopefully book three is better.
October 1, 2014
Fantasy Review Barn
The Scarlet Tides, second book of the Moontide Quartet by David Hair, fairly non-surprisingly picks up where the first in the series left off. This is both completely obvious and slightly telling; you see I found the second half of the first outing infinitely better than the first. So picking up from that point is obvious from a narrative angle; and also a major plus from the enjoyment side.
The setup is a very familiar one. Pseudo –Europe goes on a crusade against a pseudo-Middle East. Those who dislike a lot of real world parallels will not be thrilled; those willing to immerse themselves in the world anyway will not be disappointed. One of the things that sets this tale apart from some of the others who have borrowed the crusade theme is that it follows both sides of the struggle. From there we see splits and a multitude of different cultures within the factions themselves. No mindless hordes or oversimplification of the ‘Us vs. Them’ theme; there are a lot of different motives at play all over the map. A lot of cultural clashes and fights about values here, some leading to understanding and some…not.
A fine line between epic with a capital E and something a bit more personal follows. On the one hand the cast is huge and it took me a while to reconnect the different names with their story lines. With the alternating PoV style it employed I didn’t see any single PoV a second time until around the hundred page mark. But once it got into its flow this ended up working well; it isn’t that the PoV cast is exceptionally large, rather we get to spend enough time with each character to actually get to know them. While the background cast is huge and at times intimidating the main characters become as familiar as a person can want.
For a book with a big old war in the background of everything that is going on this is surprisingly rarely a war novel; another way it differs from the major titles I would want to compare it to. Instead it is a nice blend of political maneuverings, double dealings, relationship building, and even the boredom of a long march. Magic and its affects make the world a bit more manageable but we are still dealing with a sprawling map with events taking place all over it. Hair plays it right; interweaving some stories with others until they all connect but without forcing improbable coincidences to force the cast into one place.
Complaints are few. It is a very familiar tale though the setting shows that to be by design. No character is one of a kind or even all that memorable; some of that comes from each of them being fairly realistic (in a magic using fantasy kind of way) without the over-the-top caricatures we almost expect from our epic fantasy any more. And on a personal front I find that no matter how good the story is reading seven hundred page bricks turns into a struggle after a while.
The series has been a slow burn so far but some pay off is coming. Obviously this is a series with a plan in place and it will take a war to settle it. A possible hero of the ages has been introduced but I genuinely like the character so I am willing to wait it out. And while Hair hasn’t thrown too many curves at us yet I remain hopeful that the next book is just as compelling as this one. For if it is, watch out, this could turn into a must read series in a hurry.
4 Stars
The Scarlet Tides, second book of the Moontide Quartet by David Hair, fairly non-surprisingly picks up where the first in the series left off. This is both completely obvious and slightly telling; you see I found the second half of the first outing infinitely better than the first. So picking up from that point is obvious from a narrative angle; and also a major plus from the enjoyment side.
The setup is a very familiar one. Pseudo –Europe goes on a crusade against a pseudo-Middle East. Those who dislike a lot of real world parallels will not be thrilled; those willing to immerse themselves in the world anyway will not be disappointed. One of the things that sets this tale apart from some of the others who have borrowed the crusade theme is that it follows both sides of the struggle. From there we see splits and a multitude of different cultures within the factions themselves. No mindless hordes or oversimplification of the ‘Us vs. Them’ theme; there are a lot of different motives at play all over the map. A lot of cultural clashes and fights about values here, some leading to understanding and some…not.
A fine line between epic with a capital E and something a bit more personal follows. On the one hand the cast is huge and it took me a while to reconnect the different names with their story lines. With the alternating PoV style it employed I didn’t see any single PoV a second time until around the hundred page mark. But once it got into its flow this ended up working well; it isn’t that the PoV cast is exceptionally large, rather we get to spend enough time with each character to actually get to know them. While the background cast is huge and at times intimidating the main characters become as familiar as a person can want.
For a book with a big old war in the background of everything that is going on this is surprisingly rarely a war novel; another way it differs from the major titles I would want to compare it to. Instead it is a nice blend of political maneuverings, double dealings, relationship building, and even the boredom of a long march. Magic and its affects make the world a bit more manageable but we are still dealing with a sprawling map with events taking place all over it. Hair plays it right; interweaving some stories with others until they all connect but without forcing improbable coincidences to force the cast into one place.
Complaints are few. It is a very familiar tale though the setting shows that to be by design. No character is one of a kind or even all that memorable; some of that comes from each of them being fairly realistic (in a magic using fantasy kind of way) without the over-the-top caricatures we almost expect from our epic fantasy any more. And on a personal front I find that no matter how good the story is reading seven hundred page bricks turns into a struggle after a while.
The series has been a slow burn so far but some pay off is coming. Obviously this is a series with a plan in place and it will take a war to settle it. A possible hero of the ages has been introduced but I genuinely like the character so I am willing to wait it out. And while Hair hasn’t thrown too many curves at us yet I remain hopeful that the next book is just as compelling as this one. For if it is, watch out, this could turn into a must read series in a hurry.
4 Stars
March 16, 2020
A much better book than the first book. While some elements that I disliked from the first book are still present (namely : the inauthentic cultures, idiotic characters, and the need to explain minutes details of the cultures), I learn to just accept them and try not to let those elements bother me too much.
As I’ve written previously, the only reason I decided to continue with this book was because I appreciated that the author wasn’t afraid to kill off or seriously challenge the protagonists. And this book continues those challenges that each of the main characters have to face. The author also continues to kill off certain seemingly central character(s) that I’d thought would play a prominent role in future installments.
Add to that, the complex, multi-layered and often deadly political games that the different factions decide to play make this book more enjoyable. This book continues and clarifies some of the political stances that certain characters first set up in the previous book. There are also a couple of interesting alliances that I hope will continue to be explored in the third installment.
One other element that I find a bit distasteful is the amount of sex scenes. For some reason, I sometimes feel that the author just has to have sex scenes. Maybe a bit too many time for my taste.
Overall, a much stronger book than the first installment. 3.5 Star.
As I’ve written previously, the only reason I decided to continue with this book was because I appreciated that the author wasn’t afraid to kill off or seriously challenge the protagonists. And this book continues those challenges that each of the main characters have to face. The author also continues to kill off certain seemingly central character(s) that I’d thought would play a prominent role in future installments.
Add to that, the complex, multi-layered and often deadly political games that the different factions decide to play make this book more enjoyable. This book continues and clarifies some of the political stances that certain characters first set up in the previous book. There are also a couple of interesting alliances that I hope will continue to be explored in the third installment.
One other element that I find a bit distasteful is the amount of sex scenes. For some reason, I sometimes feel that the author just has to have sex scenes. Maybe a bit too many time for my taste.
Overall, a much stronger book than the first installment. 3.5 Star.
December 19, 2019
It would be a sad day if the second book was any lesser than the first. It is not in this case. Indeed, it took a step up in quality!! Which you would expect, but it isn't always so. Not always to the detriment either.
Many more timelines of various characters get crossed in this one, some unexpectedly so! There is tremendous growth for some and some severe backtracking for others, the journey taking so many sharp twists and turns, it's hard to fathom how in the world things are going to get to where they're going!! Such is the manner of war, though. It isn't pretty. Or predictable. Or all that glamorous. It's horrible and disgusting and sad when one sits back to think about why it's all coming about to begin with. We aren't satisfied without someone to hate, without some fight to wage against the world like it owes us something.
I learned to love a few more characters than before, and some of my favorites continue to be so!
Let the underdogs soar!!!
Some more mysteries are unveiled, some new fears are established.
This is the only series in a long time that made me WANT To read until my eyes bled. It made me feel like I had to get back to it as quick as possible and I was sad when I couldn't!! It is amazing and worth a look.
Many more timelines of various characters get crossed in this one, some unexpectedly so! There is tremendous growth for some and some severe backtracking for others, the journey taking so many sharp twists and turns, it's hard to fathom how in the world things are going to get to where they're going!! Such is the manner of war, though. It isn't pretty. Or predictable. Or all that glamorous. It's horrible and disgusting and sad when one sits back to think about why it's all coming about to begin with. We aren't satisfied without someone to hate, without some fight to wage against the world like it owes us something.
I learned to love a few more characters than before, and some of my favorites continue to be so!
Let the underdogs soar!!!
Some more mysteries are unveiled, some new fears are established.
This is the only series in a long time that made me WANT To read until my eyes bled. It made me feel like I had to get back to it as quick as possible and I was sad when I couldn't!! It is amazing and worth a look.
November 2, 2018
Don't want to spoil here.
Strong second entry that picks up where book one left off, continuing the characters story, as they go through more cliffhanging twists, and introduce some new characters and further deepening others and their back stories.
Strong second entry that picks up where book one left off, continuing the characters story, as they go through more cliffhanging twists, and introduce some new characters and further deepening others and their back stories.
July 31, 2019
I though this one was excellent. We continue the 3rd Crusade and the main characters from book 1 as we learn about the horrors of the Urte history and current affairs.
July 1, 2020
An amazing sequel with the maximum intensity till the end! Not sure why I put off reading this installment. Love and hate the many likable and unlikeable characters. Ramon Sensini bless his heart, I always look forward to his narratives. Engrossing...unputdownable...fascinating battle sequences!
January 7, 2021
More reviews at undertheradarsffbooks.com
The Moontide has begun and the Leviathan Bridge has been raised from the depths of the sea. The Rondian legions are crossing into Antiopia with reckless abandonment hunting for goods, riches, and blood. David Hair sure knows how to right a sequel that builds in everyway on the success of Mage’s Blood. The epic scope and world-building of this series I consider to be in the top echelon of fantasy authors writing today. This will be a spoiler free review, but I will be touching on certain events in book 1.
The Emperor has declared a holy war against the continent on Antiopia led by the Inquistion’s windships flying the banner of the Sacred Heart, the bright banner of the Church’s darkest sons. The Emperors greatest treasure, the Scytale of Corineus, has gone missing and with it the source of the greatest magical power in all of Urte and the inquisition will stop at nothing to recover the artefact. We follow the same cast of character from Mage’s Blood with a couple of fun new ones as well.
Alaron, a failed mage has found the Scytale of Corineus and he is being viscously hunted by the empire. He eventually comes across wild creatures with magical abilities who were secretly created by the empire in times of war. Elena Mercer is now a prisoner in her own body as everything is being controlled by a magical scarab. Betrayed by the very people she has sworn to protect she must be cunning and swift to escape these tragic events. Ramita, having witnessed the death of her husband by the underground militia of Antiopia, has found herself kidnapped by her childhood friend Kazim. Kazim along with her sister have discover that they are souldrinkers and they can become powerful by killing mages and drinking in their lifeforces once they die. All the while, Ramita is pregnant with twins and she seems to have the whole world on her shoulders.
To say that Scarlet Tides was a nonstop page turn would be the understatement of the century. The pacing was excellent and it just kept me coming back to the story time and time again into the late hours of the morning. You will not be able to guess half the shocking moments that David Hair has up his sleeve in this triumph of a doorstopper. The magic in this world continues to build upon the already deeply thought and well constructed system brought to us in Mage’s Blood. Whether you are a reader who loves: worldbuilding, characters, or magic systems the Moontide Quartet is the series for you! Being in the mild of a Malazan Book of the Fallen reread, Steven Erikson fans will find plenty to enjoy in this world.
This series I can safely put in my top five most under rated fantasy series available for purchase today. I can not conceivably find any logical explanation for this but to each there own and it will make you feel that much better when you dig into this hidden gem. David Hair has done it again and you should join in the holy Crusade!
Cheers!
The Moontide has begun and the Leviathan Bridge has been raised from the depths of the sea. The Rondian legions are crossing into Antiopia with reckless abandonment hunting for goods, riches, and blood. David Hair sure knows how to right a sequel that builds in everyway on the success of Mage’s Blood. The epic scope and world-building of this series I consider to be in the top echelon of fantasy authors writing today. This will be a spoiler free review, but I will be touching on certain events in book 1.
The Emperor has declared a holy war against the continent on Antiopia led by the Inquistion’s windships flying the banner of the Sacred Heart, the bright banner of the Church’s darkest sons. The Emperors greatest treasure, the Scytale of Corineus, has gone missing and with it the source of the greatest magical power in all of Urte and the inquisition will stop at nothing to recover the artefact. We follow the same cast of character from Mage’s Blood with a couple of fun new ones as well.
Alaron, a failed mage has found the Scytale of Corineus and he is being viscously hunted by the empire. He eventually comes across wild creatures with magical abilities who were secretly created by the empire in times of war. Elena Mercer is now a prisoner in her own body as everything is being controlled by a magical scarab. Betrayed by the very people she has sworn to protect she must be cunning and swift to escape these tragic events. Ramita, having witnessed the death of her husband by the underground militia of Antiopia, has found herself kidnapped by her childhood friend Kazim. Kazim along with her sister have discover that they are souldrinkers and they can become powerful by killing mages and drinking in their lifeforces once they die. All the while, Ramita is pregnant with twins and she seems to have the whole world on her shoulders.
To say that Scarlet Tides was a nonstop page turn would be the understatement of the century. The pacing was excellent and it just kept me coming back to the story time and time again into the late hours of the morning. You will not be able to guess half the shocking moments that David Hair has up his sleeve in this triumph of a doorstopper. The magic in this world continues to build upon the already deeply thought and well constructed system brought to us in Mage’s Blood. Whether you are a reader who loves: worldbuilding, characters, or magic systems the Moontide Quartet is the series for you! Being in the mild of a Malazan Book of the Fallen reread, Steven Erikson fans will find plenty to enjoy in this world.
This series I can safely put in my top five most under rated fantasy series available for purchase today. I can not conceivably find any logical explanation for this but to each there own and it will make you feel that much better when you dig into this hidden gem. David Hair has done it again and you should join in the holy Crusade!
Cheers!
August 2, 2014
"The Scarlet Tides" by David Hair is a fantastic romp in fantasy fiction. Magic, betrayal, conquering kingdoms, falling kingdoms, assassinations, moral conflict, lack of morals, and flying carpets. One cannot go wrong when they add a flying carpet to their story.
While "Mage's Blood" was very slow in getting to the meat of the story David Hair was wanting to tell, by the end of the book the story became an engrossing page turning tale of conspiracies, murder, failure and redemption. "The Scarlet Tides" picks up right where it left off without the slow start.
David Hair's world building is excellent. Creating a rich environment for the story to unfold in. The characters often find themselves in beautifully created environs in which to allow their magic, called gnosis, to wreak havoc. It is definitely not hard to be transported into the world Hair has created.
"The Moontide Quartet" is two books deep so far, and it is definitely shaping up as a epic fantasy tale not to be passed up on. It has everything a fantasy novel should have. Here's hoping book three maintains the momentum that David Hair has accumulated through books one and two. Check this series out while you wait for "Winds of Winter".
While "Mage's Blood" was very slow in getting to the meat of the story David Hair was wanting to tell, by the end of the book the story became an engrossing page turning tale of conspiracies, murder, failure and redemption. "The Scarlet Tides" picks up right where it left off without the slow start.
David Hair's world building is excellent. Creating a rich environment for the story to unfold in. The characters often find themselves in beautifully created environs in which to allow their magic, called gnosis, to wreak havoc. It is definitely not hard to be transported into the world Hair has created.
"The Moontide Quartet" is two books deep so far, and it is definitely shaping up as a epic fantasy tale not to be passed up on. It has everything a fantasy novel should have. Here's hoping book three maintains the momentum that David Hair has accumulated through books one and two. Check this series out while you wait for "Winds of Winter".
September 5, 2015
Well, there was a ton of graphic sex in this sequel, so that was weird. I would think that one book would be pretty much like the other, but it's kind of funny to picture this author reading a bunch of criticism "Sure wish he'd spice it up with some sex scenes!" and the author taking it as a challenge: "You want sex scenes? I'll show you sex scenes!!" because there was such a stark difference in that aspect of the two books. Other than that, um, pretty much the same. Actually, not too much happened this book. The Magical Object that is the Purpose of their Quest that they obtained at great loss of life and limb in the last book was simply shuffled around a bit. Alliances were built. Battles were fought. Seemed like more time was spent in this book humanizing some of the characters that were hard to like last book, such as Justina and Kazim, and continuing to develop Elena and Ramita. The use of retreat to an isolated place to hunker down/recover took a large portion of the text. The only real Brand New thing was the creatures that saved Aleron. They were pretty cool.
Anyway, I enjoyed the read, and will probably read the next two when they come out on audio if they can continue to get Nick Podehl to narrate. (it's a "quartet").
Anyway, I enjoyed the read, and will probably read the next two when they come out on audio if they can continue to get Nick Podehl to narrate. (it's a "quartet").
June 15, 2017
Ich hätte gerne mehr Sterne vergeben, die Story war gut und hat mich wieder mal sehr gefesselt. Allerdings hat mich ein Punkt so sehr gestört, dass ich das Buch nicht richtig mögen kann. Ich weiß, es ist nur die fiktionale Welt die so frauenfeindlich ist, aber es gab auch mehrere Stellen, wo ich mir nicht mehr sicher war, ob der Autor weiß was er da tut. Weibliche Charaktere wurden STÄNDIG auf ihre Geschlechtsteile reduziert oder wie Männer sie wahrnehmen. Und dann die ganzen Vergewaltigungen. Man hatte fast das Gefühl als würde es in dem Buch um nichts anderes gehen. Und das dann noch eine fast Vergewaltigung dazu benutzt wird, dass ein männlicher Charakter eine Charakterentwicklung hat... Da war ich echt stinksauer. Ich bin mir sicher, dass es beim ersten Band nicht so krass war. Ja, es kam auch vor, aber nicht so häufig wie hier. Ich hoffe, dass es im dritten Band wieder um die Handlung geht.
February 27, 2014
I am new to adult fantasy. But this series is turning to be a good choice. The first book opened the series surprisingly well. This one rocked my world. Good twists and keeps you always on the edge ;almost making you panic at the safety of you favorite character. :)
It carries the same blood & gore of the "Song of Fire & Ice" series. Ramon Sensini is my favorite character in this book. He has grown so much from the first book.
Eagerly awaiting the next book.
It carries the same blood & gore of the "Song of Fire & Ice" series. Ramon Sensini is my favorite character in this book. He has grown so much from the first book.
Eagerly awaiting the next book.
November 2, 2018
4.5
Great book! However, I couldn't care less about Ramon's chapter and while I loved Cera in the 1st book, in this one, I couldn't stand her hypocrisy and as a result her storyline too. I don't know how I feel about Kazim and Elena's relationship, but oh well. Everything else is amazing and that ending!
For some reasons, I keep wishing that Malevorn turn good whatever that mean in this series!
Great book! However, I couldn't care less about Ramon's chapter and while I loved Cera in the 1st book, in this one, I couldn't stand her hypocrisy and as a result her storyline too. I don't know how I feel about Kazim and Elena's relationship, but oh well. Everything else is amazing and that ending!
For some reasons, I keep wishing that Malevorn turn good whatever that mean in this series!
February 27, 2015
4.5 well earned >///<
October 26, 2019
Ако сте чели „Кръвта на мага”, то вече сте вкусили от епичното фентъзи на „Квaртeт зa Луннитe приливи и oтливи” и сигурно също като мен сте очаквали продължението с отворени обятия. „Алени приливи” (изд. „Студио Арт Лайн”) е чудесно написан роман, който развива историята и героите с размах и ни кара да се потопим отново дълбоко в изпълнения с войни и политически интриги свят на Дейвид Хеър. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
July 17, 2017
This is a book that I would put in the good but not great category. I enjoyed it for the most part, especially toward the end, but there were some sections throughout that dragged a bit. I also feel like the author is at times gratuitous with sex scenes.
There is a lot of good action toward the end and a little bit of it sprinkled throughout. But there are also some tedious sections of training with little plot development. I had similar issues with the first book. I liked it, but with reservations.
Rating: 7.5/10
There is a lot of good action toward the end and a little bit of it sprinkled throughout. But there are also some tedious sections of training with little plot development. I had similar issues with the first book. I liked it, but with reservations.
Rating: 7.5/10
September 12, 2021
Чак яд ме хваща, като гледам как един мащабен замисъл с богат потенциал може да се опропасти с излишно многословие и слаб превод. От чист инат довърших тоя том и определено няма да продължа нататък с поредицата, да ме прощава Хеър.
Не стига, че действието върви мудно и разпокъсано, ами и преводът и редакцията, за които от издателство Артлайн ни вземат маса пари, допълват мъчението. Мъжете се омъжват, вместо да се женят, кинжалите и мечовете се заравят в различни части на тялото, вместо да се забиват в тях, словоредът в сложни изречения е под всякаква критика, изобщо, крайният продукт е с изнервяща липса на качество. Двата тома са преведени от Ивелина Минчева и това, че са с различни редактори, а грешните употреби на български думи са еднакви, ме навежда на мисълта, че именно преводачката има проблеми с българския език, а редакцията е била напълно проформа.
Не стига, че действието върви мудно и разпокъсано, ами и преводът и редакцията, за които от издателство Артлайн ни вземат маса пари, допълват мъчението. Мъжете се омъжват, вместо да се женят, кинжалите и мечовете се заравят в различни части на тялото, вместо да се забиват в тях, словоредът в сложни изречения е под всякаква критика, изобщо, крайният продукт е с изнервяща липса на качество. Двата тома са преведени от Ивелина Минчева и това, че са с различни редактори, а грешните употреби на български думи са еднакви, ме навежда на мисълта, че именно преводачката има проблеми с българския език, а редакцията е била напълно проформа.
March 2, 2024
The second part begins with some big battles and even bigger traps being triggered for our heroes. Our attention is scattered with them in various locations and we follow their efforts to get back together, with the author rather overusing the idea of mismatched couples. Fortunately, however, all of this leads somewhere and specifically to a particularly intense finale.
Το δεύτερο μέρος ξεκινάει με κάποιες μεγάλες μάχες και με ακόμα μεγαλύτερες παγίδες να ενεργοποιούνται για τους ήρωες μας. Η προσοχή μας σκορπίζεται μαζί τους σε διάφορες τοποθεσίες και παρακολουθούμε τις προσπάθειες τους για να επανέλθουν, με τον συγγραφέα μάλλον να κάνει υπερβολική χρήση της ιδέας των αταίριαστων ζευγαριών. Ευτυχώς, όμως, όλα αυτά οδηγούν κάπου και συγκεκριμένα σε ένα ιδιαίτερα έντονο φι φινάλε.
Το δεύτερο μέρος ξεκινάει με κάποιες μεγάλες μάχες και με ακόμα μεγαλύτερες παγίδες να ενεργοποιούνται για τους ήρωες μας. Η προσοχή μας σκορπίζεται μαζί τους σε διάφορες τοποθεσίες και παρακολουθούμε τις προσπάθειες τους για να επανέλθουν, με τον συγγραφέα μάλλον να κάνει υπερβολική χρήση της ιδέας των αταίριαστων ζευγαριών. Ευτυχώς, όμως, όλα αυτά οδηγούν κάπου και συγκεκριμένα σε ένα ιδιαίτερα έντονο φι φινάλε.
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