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The Elder Empire: Shadow #2
Of Darkness and Dawn
The Heart of Nakothi has been lost, the Consultants were victorious, and the Empire remains free of Elder control. For now.
Shera has become a Soulbound, but with her new powers comes a terrifying burden. Her Soulbound Vessel has begun to poison her mind, slowly transforming her into a monstrous, bloodthirsty killer. Meanwhile, Calder Marten and his Imperialist Guilds have begun to work against the Consultants...even to the point of raising their own band of homegrown assassins. Assassins with unique ties to Shera's past.
On the seas, a man will do anything to seize control of a throne.
In the shadows, a woman fights for her own soul.
Shera has become a Soulbound, but with her new powers comes a terrifying burden. Her Soulbound Vessel has begun to poison her mind, slowly transforming her into a monstrous, bloodthirsty killer. Meanwhile, Calder Marten and his Imperialist Guilds have begun to work against the Consultants...even to the point of raising their own band of homegrown assassins. Assassins with unique ties to Shera's past.
On the seas, a man will do anything to seize control of a throne.
In the shadows, a woman fights for her own soul.
314 pages, ebook
First published August 10, 2015
1221 people are currently reading
1775 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 8, 2020
2.5/5 stars
This review is an unpopular opinion; please feel free to ignore this if you’ve read and enjoyed the first book, but in my opinion, Of Darkness and Dawn was a huge downgrade from its predecessor.
I really need to stop saying “I have a good feeling about this series” and something along that line of thoughts just from finishing the first book of a series. I have lost count how many times I did that and ended up jinxing the sequels. It’s seriously a curse, and Of Darkness and Dawn, the sequel to Of Shadow and Sea that I immensely enjoyed, isn’t safe from that curse. Once again, please don’t let this review discourage you from reading the series if you’ve enjoyed the first book, I am definitely on the unpopular faction here, and most likely than not, you’re going to enjoy this book, too.
My main issues with this book can be narrowed down to two main points. One, the narratives—especially the flashback chapters—felt so disjointed and messy. This could be just me, but it felt like each new chapter read didn’t continue well from its previous chapter. When I’m engrossed in the present-day chapters, the next chapter forced me to read a flashback chapter that felt like a different novella being slipped in awkwardly. I did have this issue in the first book, but it was a minor annoyance compared to what I felt here. I believe that the flashback chapters were tolerable and even enjoyable because it was told mainly from Shera’s POV. This wasn’t the case in this volume. There were times after the present-day chapters where we’re required to read a non-Shera’s POV flashback chapter, not only this was weird, by the time we continue with Shera’s flashback chapter—again, felt disjointed—I felt like I had to reacquaint myself with her past story. This went on non-stop throughout the whole book.
My second main issue lies in Shera’s character and her non-existence development. Shera has always been devoid of emotions, but in the first book, the brief emotions she displayed did play a significant role in deepening and establishing her personality. With each page being read in this book, instead of feeling more invested, I felt more detached from Shera instead. This situation, the far-in-between dialogues, plus the storyline that felt disconnected from the previous book made reading this a struggle. Not gonna lie, I actually fell asleep once somewhere in the first 35%, and I don’t think I need to elaborate what falling asleep when reading a book means.
Overall, Of Darkness and Dawn was so far below the quality found in Of Shadow and Sea that it actually killed my excitement to continue reading the parallel series. I think the parallel format of this dual-trilogy backfired this time. Major events did happen occasionally, and it’s not like Calder appeared a lot here, but it definitely felt like there were many events or character appearances that would’ve been more fleshed out from reading Of Dawn and Darkness first. Unfortunately, whether I’ll read Of Dawn and Darkness or continue to the last books of the parallel series remains to be seen now.
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, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas.
This review is an unpopular opinion; please feel free to ignore this if you’ve read and enjoyed the first book, but in my opinion, Of Darkness and Dawn was a huge downgrade from its predecessor.
I really need to stop saying “I have a good feeling about this series” and something along that line of thoughts just from finishing the first book of a series. I have lost count how many times I did that and ended up jinxing the sequels. It’s seriously a curse, and Of Darkness and Dawn, the sequel to Of Shadow and Sea that I immensely enjoyed, isn’t safe from that curse. Once again, please don’t let this review discourage you from reading the series if you’ve enjoyed the first book, I am definitely on the unpopular faction here, and most likely than not, you’re going to enjoy this book, too.
My main issues with this book can be narrowed down to two main points. One, the narratives—especially the flashback chapters—felt so disjointed and messy. This could be just me, but it felt like each new chapter read didn’t continue well from its previous chapter. When I’m engrossed in the present-day chapters, the next chapter forced me to read a flashback chapter that felt like a different novella being slipped in awkwardly. I did have this issue in the first book, but it was a minor annoyance compared to what I felt here. I believe that the flashback chapters were tolerable and even enjoyable because it was told mainly from Shera’s POV. This wasn’t the case in this volume. There were times after the present-day chapters where we’re required to read a non-Shera’s POV flashback chapter, not only this was weird, by the time we continue with Shera’s flashback chapter—again, felt disjointed—I felt like I had to reacquaint myself with her past story. This went on non-stop throughout the whole book.
My second main issue lies in Shera’s character and her non-existence development. Shera has always been devoid of emotions, but in the first book, the brief emotions she displayed did play a significant role in deepening and establishing her personality. With each page being read in this book, instead of feeling more invested, I felt more detached from Shera instead. This situation, the far-in-between dialogues, plus the storyline that felt disconnected from the previous book made reading this a struggle. Not gonna lie, I actually fell asleep once somewhere in the first 35%, and I don’t think I need to elaborate what falling asleep when reading a book means.
Overall, Of Darkness and Dawn was so far below the quality found in Of Shadow and Sea that it actually killed my excitement to continue reading the parallel series. I think the parallel format of this dual-trilogy backfired this time. Major events did happen occasionally, and it’s not like Calder appeared a lot here, but it definitely felt like there were many events or character appearances that would’ve been more fleshed out from reading Of Dawn and Darkness first. Unfortunately, whether I’ll read Of Dawn and Darkness or continue to the last books of the parallel series remains to be seen now.
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, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas.
July 7, 2023
The strife between the Imperialist Guilds and the Independent Guilds continues. The Regents have also come under attack from individuals with ties to Shera's past. Meanwhile Shera has become a Soulbound. The only trouble is her vessel has a murderous voice that can't tell the difference between friend and foe. It only wants to kill and steal the power of the powerful.
Of Darkness and Dawn proved me wrong. After of Shadow and Sea, I was convinced Shera was merely a sleepy sociopath, but this book made her so much more. She cares for her friends and humanity as a whole even if something isn't quite right with her. Shera being impacted by Syphren also made things incredibly interesting. Adding Jorin Curse-breaker to the story was a great addition as well. Jorin is a powerful man out of time who still cares for the world.
The flashbacks were excellent in showing the Emperor. The view of the Emperor is quite opposite in the Shadow side of the series than the Sea side. While Calder and his companions see the Emperor as a callous man who behaves like a Great Elder, Shera and her friends see a powerful man who cares for humanity more than his own well being. The Emperor came to life with the flashbacks and I can't help but pity the man.
I still have an issue with how Will Wight chose to split the series up into 6 shorter books rather than 3 longer ones. I absolutely abhor going through lengthy scenes in a different book from a different perspective. That's not exclusive to this series, I don't like it in any book if it's more than a tiny flashback. That being said I really enjoy Will Wight's writing which is the only reason I gave this parallel story a chance. It went well with this book, because outside of one pivotal moment, the book avoids retreading any aspect significantly.
So I'd say Of Darkness and Dawn was better than Of Dawn and Darkness. I'm looking forward to seeing if I enjoy Of Killers and Kings more than its parallel story.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Of Darkness and Dawn proved me wrong. After of Shadow and Sea, I was convinced Shera was merely a sleepy sociopath, but this book made her so much more. She cares for her friends and humanity as a whole even if something isn't quite right with her. Shera being impacted by Syphren also made things incredibly interesting. Adding Jorin Curse-breaker to the story was a great addition as well. Jorin is a powerful man out of time who still cares for the world.
The flashbacks were excellent in showing the Emperor. The view of the Emperor is quite opposite in the Shadow side of the series than the Sea side. While Calder and his companions see the Emperor as a callous man who behaves like a Great Elder, Shera and her friends see a powerful man who cares for humanity more than his own well being. The Emperor came to life with the flashbacks and I can't help but pity the man.
I still have an issue with how Will Wight chose to split the series up into 6 shorter books rather than 3 longer ones. I absolutely abhor going through lengthy scenes in a different book from a different perspective. That's not exclusive to this series, I don't like it in any book if it's more than a tiny flashback. That being said I really enjoy Will Wight's writing which is the only reason I gave this parallel story a chance. It went well with this book, because outside of one pivotal moment, the book avoids retreading any aspect significantly.
So I'd say Of Darkness and Dawn was better than Of Dawn and Darkness. I'm looking forward to seeing if I enjoy Of Killers and Kings more than its parallel story.
3.5 out of 5 stars
April 10, 2024
3.5 stars. The story was interesting and I liked the characters. But it was a little choppy in places and sometimes I felt that the actions of the characters did not match the situation they were in. Overall i really enjoyed it and will continue the series.
February 17, 2021
4.5*. Another great book in this companion series.
September 26, 2023
I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two Sea books. The book dragged a lot during the first half, and although the pace doesn't pick up much in the second half of the book, I must confess that it had me captivated by the end. As a result, I prefer this book slightly over Shadow 1.
Strangely, for a book series revolving around assassins, there are not many assassinations by the main trio. Also, contrary to what one might come to expect from books with assassins, not much happens in this book in terms of action. However, there is a lot of setup and world-building that sets the stage for the epic conclusion of the series. I hope the final books deliver on the promise and make the journey a lot more enjoyable.
Rating: 3.5/5.
Detailed review to come shortly.
Strangely, for a book series revolving around assassins, there are not many assassinations by the main trio. Also, contrary to what one might come to expect from books with assassins, not much happens in this book in terms of action. However, there is a lot of setup and world-building that sets the stage for the epic conclusion of the series. I hope the final books deliver on the promise and make the journey a lot more enjoyable.
Rating: 3.5/5.
Detailed review to come shortly.
November 30, 2015
Before I get to my thoughts on the book, I want to be upfront and say I DID like it, just not as much as the first, and definitely not as much as the companion novel.
This book suffers a bit from power creep, as if the things that make a character interesting are all the toys and powers they have available to them. Shera is more powerful and dangerous than ever but the nature of her character has changed very little, which does little to enhance the gravity of the world she inhabits.
Personally, I find amoral characters incredibly boring. No remorse, no compunction with murder, no feelings to speak of...who cares? The thoughts and feelings on the reactionary beats are supposed to provide balance to the action, but if the only major thoughts someone has are "I like Lucan a lot" and "I want to take a nap" it wears pretty thin.
This book made me realize why I enjoyed Calder's story so much more than Shera's: He actually relies on people. His crew are incredibly capable people who can do things he can't, and they work together to accomplish something greater. Shera is a one woman wrecking crew, who especially in this installment can do virtually anything she wants. Her cohorts are there only to make her look better. Meia's loyalty and Lucan's curiosity/humanity hold them back, while Shera does what needs to be done.
I don't think she's interesting enough to warrant her own story. After this book, I think it would've been much better to have been seeing this side of the story through Meia's eyes. Devotion without the talent to match, loyalties constantly in tension, that seems like it could go places.
Also, stop telling readers assassins aren't good in a straight fight if you constantly have them traipsing about in combat. It just makes the story seem disingenuous. Either just commit to the idea that Gardeners are Rambo Kvothe Ninjas or let your assassins lose. Nothing is more dangerous to a story than a main character who cannot fail.
I'm still looking forward to Calder's second installment, but I hope it doesn't follow the same trend as this one.
All that said, I remind you that I did still like the book. It's a good story in an interesting world, and I think Wight has a lot of promise.
This book suffers a bit from power creep, as if the things that make a character interesting are all the toys and powers they have available to them. Shera is more powerful and dangerous than ever but the nature of her character has changed very little, which does little to enhance the gravity of the world she inhabits.
Personally, I find amoral characters incredibly boring. No remorse, no compunction with murder, no feelings to speak of...who cares? The thoughts and feelings on the reactionary beats are supposed to provide balance to the action, but if the only major thoughts someone has are "I like Lucan a lot" and "I want to take a nap" it wears pretty thin.
This book made me realize why I enjoyed Calder's story so much more than Shera's: He actually relies on people. His crew are incredibly capable people who can do things he can't, and they work together to accomplish something greater. Shera is a one woman wrecking crew, who especially in this installment can do virtually anything she wants. Her cohorts are there only to make her look better. Meia's loyalty and Lucan's curiosity/humanity hold them back, while Shera does what needs to be done.
I don't think she's interesting enough to warrant her own story. After this book, I think it would've been much better to have been seeing this side of the story through Meia's eyes. Devotion without the talent to match, loyalties constantly in tension, that seems like it could go places.
Also, stop telling readers assassins aren't good in a straight fight if you constantly have them traipsing about in combat. It just makes the story seem disingenuous. Either just commit to the idea that Gardeners are Rambo Kvothe Ninjas or let your assassins lose. Nothing is more dangerous to a story than a main character who cannot fail.
I'm still looking forward to Calder's second installment, but I hope it doesn't follow the same trend as this one.
All that said, I remind you that I did still like the book. It's a good story in an interesting world, and I think Wight has a lot of promise.
July 30, 2024
An unfortunately underwhelming entry in the series, but by no means a bad one. In a series with a lot of great moments and intriguing elements, this felt like just an “okay” book.
I will say I did enjoy reading this one. I like this series quite a bit, so spending time with it is always fun. I liked a lot of the character interactions, as usual. This book, like others in the series, is split between flashback and present storylines; of the two, for the first time in the series, I actually preferred the flashbacks. There were some really interesting sections during them, especially towards the end of the book. As with the other books as well, there were some pretty cool moments.
The main issue with this book for me is there’s just not a lot I have to say. While there were some interesting chapters, cool utilizations of the magic and worldbuilding, and a handful of memorable moments, the majority of this book just didn’t grab me all that much. Even the high points were significantly lower than the high points elsewhere in the series. This was a shame since I really loved the first Shadow book, not to mention having enjoyed the first two Sea books. There’s nothing here I really disliked—just not a lot I really loved.
Overall a decent entry in the series but definitely the low point so far. I liked reading it and there was some good stuff in here, but ultimately little of it really stuck out to me or feels like it will continue to stay with me.
Rating: 6.5/10
I will say I did enjoy reading this one. I like this series quite a bit, so spending time with it is always fun. I liked a lot of the character interactions, as usual. This book, like others in the series, is split between flashback and present storylines; of the two, for the first time in the series, I actually preferred the flashbacks. There were some really interesting sections during them, especially towards the end of the book. As with the other books as well, there were some pretty cool moments.
The main issue with this book for me is there’s just not a lot I have to say. While there were some interesting chapters, cool utilizations of the magic and worldbuilding, and a handful of memorable moments, the majority of this book just didn’t grab me all that much. Even the high points were significantly lower than the high points elsewhere in the series. This was a shame since I really loved the first Shadow book, not to mention having enjoyed the first two Sea books. There’s nothing here I really disliked—just not a lot I really loved.
Overall a decent entry in the series but definitely the low point so far. I liked reading it and there was some good stuff in here, but ultimately little of it really stuck out to me or feels like it will continue to stay with me.
Rating: 6.5/10
September 26, 2022
I don't think this series is Wight's best.
The flips between times are driving me kind of crazy.
In the first book of the first trilogy, when Yala came out and said that she wanted to fight against the guilds who wanted to install a new emperor because it would get money for the consultants, it was treated like a great reveal. But Shera already knew that Yala believed that, because in this book, you found out that Yala told Shera this when she was still a kid, before she ever killed the emperor.
We, the audience, didn't know, but Shera, the character did. So it shouldn't have come as a surprise to her, but it was portrayed as such.
How did the Opstasia get destroyed if Jyrine killed Lucan before he got to it? Did Calder take it down? I'm sure I'll found out in the second book of the second trilogy. This switching back and forth between trilogies is also getting on my nerves. Just write a 5000 page epic.
The flips between times are driving me kind of crazy.
In the first book of the first trilogy, when Yala came out and said that she wanted to fight against the guilds who wanted to install a new emperor because it would get money for the consultants, it was treated like a great reveal. But Shera already knew that Yala believed that, because in this book, you found out that Yala told Shera this when she was still a kid, before she ever killed the emperor.
We, the audience, didn't know, but Shera, the character did. So it shouldn't have come as a surprise to her, but it was portrayed as such.
How did the Opstasia get destroyed if Jyrine killed Lucan before he got to it? Did Calder take it down? I'm sure I'll found out in the second book of the second trilogy. This switching back and forth between trilogies is also getting on my nerves. Just write a 5000 page epic.
February 15, 2016
Another great installment of this series! I started with the Elder Empire: Sea portion of this series so I am partial to Calder Martin however Shera is really starting to grow on me (the cold, sleepy bitch).
About halfway through I started to get a little bored but then Wight introduced s new character: the Luminian Knight-Adjunct, Darius Allbright who has a shadow for a face due to a run in with an Elder. Darius served as a great contrast to Shera's "I don't give a shit" attitude.
The really interesting thing about the Shadow side of the series it's that you really get a closer look at the Emperor and the makings of the world. From the Sea perspective these things are menacing but distant.
These are truly excellent books and I can't believe that not many people have read them yet. News Flash: Will Wight's books rock!
Highly Recommended.
About halfway through I started to get a little bored but then Wight introduced s new character: the Luminian Knight-Adjunct, Darius Allbright who has a shadow for a face due to a run in with an Elder. Darius served as a great contrast to Shera's "I don't give a shit" attitude.
The really interesting thing about the Shadow side of the series it's that you really get a closer look at the Emperor and the makings of the world. From the Sea perspective these things are menacing but distant.
These are truly excellent books and I can't believe that not many people have read them yet. News Flash: Will Wight's books rock!
Highly Recommended.
March 4, 2022
4⭐
Endlich mal wieder ein Buch was mich nicht enttäuscht hat🥳 ich mag einfach die Welt dieser Reihe und auch die Dynamik zwischen den Charakteren mag ich sehr 💪 Shera als Protagonistin ist immer gut aber ich mag es dass wir ab und zu auch aus anderen Sichten lesen bin mal gespannt wie ich die andere Reihe in dieser Welt finde 🤷♀️ ich glaube ich fand den ersten Teil ein bisschen besser könnte aber nicht sagen wieso. Ich hoffe ich komme bald zum letzten Teil 🙈
Endlich mal wieder ein Buch was mich nicht enttäuscht hat🥳 ich mag einfach die Welt dieser Reihe und auch die Dynamik zwischen den Charakteren mag ich sehr 💪 Shera als Protagonistin ist immer gut aber ich mag es dass wir ab und zu auch aus anderen Sichten lesen bin mal gespannt wie ich die andere Reihe in dieser Welt finde 🤷♀️ ich glaube ich fand den ersten Teil ein bisschen besser könnte aber nicht sagen wieso. Ich hoffe ich komme bald zum letzten Teil 🙈
January 12, 2023
I would say 3.8* Interesting read.
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April 22, 2020 🎁 The Elder Empire: Shadow (2 book series) is Free on Amazon today (4/22/2020)! 🎁
March 12, 2023
I did not expect it to be this good!!! The ending got me screaming so loud!
(The one star missing is due to the first 30% of the book, it was boring and took me a while to get used to it)
(The one star missing is due to the first 30% of the book, it was boring and took me a while to get used to it)
August 18, 2023
Oh right I forgot I finished this a couple of days ago while sewing.
I mean I’m a slow reader but I didn’t know I’m THIS slow! Six months! Really?!
I mean I’m a slow reader but I didn’t know I’m THIS slow! Six months! Really?!
January 3, 2021
Again, the second books in this series aren't quite as exciting as the first books. But the second books are still phenomenal and better than 85% of anything I ever get to read. The Elder Empire is just so creative, and the characters are so good, and the plot is even pretty good, and I love it.
I came to a conclusion during this book, though. I like Calder's story better than Shera's. Sue me but it's true. Calder and his crew are just more fun to read about. Shera doesn't exactly have a conscience, and she has even less of a conscience after this book (not that I'm not upset about that either, Shera. I, too, am devastated). So I love Shera, but I love Calder more. He's got more interesting friends and conflict.
I came to a conclusion during this book, though. I like Calder's story better than Shera's. Sue me but it's true. Calder and his crew are just more fun to read about. Shera doesn't exactly have a conscience, and she has even less of a conscience after this book (not that I'm not upset about that either, Shera. I, too, am devastated). So I love Shera, but I love Calder more. He's got more interesting friends and conflict.
July 28, 2020
Reading this after Calder's Of Dawn and Darkness episode, it opened up a whole new layer of richness to the world and explained some of the less defined events mentioned in the other half of the tale. I was absolutely gripped and despite a bit of an underwhelming start, I soon found myself drawn back in to the murky world of the Consultants and Shera's memories of the Emperor.
Originally I complained Shera was just a sociopathic plot device - thankfully she's been cured of that by being given a super-powered dagger and an awareness that even a killer should probably have a conscience. She gets to have a bit more depth here, coming closer to Calder's level of characterisation. Don't get me wrong, this is still a very plot driven epic, but it's always nice to actually have an interest in the characters you experience it alongside. Lucan gets some more air time (though in my opinion, not enough to really make me get him), and we have a new face (or rather, lack of face) in Darius Allbright the Lumerian knight. The flashback chapters may be a little slower than Calder's, but even the slightly filler-esque parts help build up the characters during the lull.
I think that's what I love the Shadow series; it picks out the details of the Elder Empire, whether it's going more into individual Guilds and their politics or more on the Elders themselves. Read alone, this series would be a world-building mess because it looks at all the little things without giving you the bigger picture. Read as a companion to the Sea series, it makes everything so much more interesting... Which may help if you aren't enamoured of Shera. Unlike Calder's part 2, I didn't feel like anything was sprung on us or pulled out of the woodwork (providing you have read the Sea books first), and while we do go over many of the same events there's less of a feeling of "I've read this scene before" than there was in the first two books of the conjoined series as the two protagonists are rarely in the same place.
My only whinge is that I had to re-read several of the action/fight sequences towards the end, some more than once, because I couldn't make head nor tails of what exactly had just happened. If it were a film, I'd feel like the editing was a bit too fast and choppy to follow everyone's' actions. I got the gist though, and mostly earlier on fights aren't written in that blow-by-blow account style.
Consider me hooked by every. Dang. Chapter. Ending. I hate the dual timeline, but also kind of love it.
I can't wait to get to the bottom of all the questions thrown up by this one.
Originally I complained Shera was just a sociopathic plot device - thankfully she's been cured of that by being given a super-powered dagger and an awareness that even a killer should probably have a conscience. She gets to have a bit more depth here, coming closer to Calder's level of characterisation. Don't get me wrong, this is still a very plot driven epic, but it's always nice to actually have an interest in the characters you experience it alongside. Lucan gets some more air time (though in my opinion, not enough to really make me get him), and we have a new face (or rather, lack of face) in Darius Allbright the Lumerian knight. The flashback chapters may be a little slower than Calder's, but even the slightly filler-esque parts help build up the characters during the lull.
I think that's what I love the Shadow series; it picks out the details of the Elder Empire, whether it's going more into individual Guilds and their politics or more on the Elders themselves. Read alone, this series would be a world-building mess because it looks at all the little things without giving you the bigger picture. Read as a companion to the Sea series, it makes everything so much more interesting... Which may help if you aren't enamoured of Shera. Unlike Calder's part 2, I didn't feel like anything was sprung on us or pulled out of the woodwork (providing you have read the Sea books first), and while we do go over many of the same events there's less of a feeling of "I've read this scene before" than there was in the first two books of the conjoined series as the two protagonists are rarely in the same place.
My only whinge is that I had to re-read several of the action/fight sequences towards the end, some more than once, because I couldn't make head nor tails of what exactly had just happened. If it were a film, I'd feel like the editing was a bit too fast and choppy to follow everyone's' actions. I got the gist though, and mostly earlier on fights aren't written in that blow-by-blow account style.
Consider me hooked by every. Dang. Chapter. Ending. I hate the dual timeline, but also kind of love it.
I can't wait to get to the bottom of all the questions thrown up by this one.
September 18, 2020
Of Darkness and Dawn continues the story of Shera, Consultant's Guild assassin. The story follows the same format as the last bouncing between the past and the present. This time the past deals with and her team traveling with the Emperor trying to find a way to kill him, at his own request. The present storyline details the continuing conflict with those attempting to keep the Empire together and those who think humanity is best served with letting the Empire die.
Of Darkness and Dawn introduces the Regents; powerful companion's of the Emperor that have been kept in hibernation except to deal with exceptional problems. Not much is shown about them in this book but they seem interesting. In addition, we learn even more about the setting from Shera's interactions with the Emperor in the past along with some viewpoint chapters from him. I personally enjoyed the past elements of this book and I thought that Shera actually flourished as a character in her dynamic with the Emperor.
The present is slightly better than the previous book as well, now Shera has an awakened soul-stealing knife to try to keep control of. It's not much but it makes her a little less boring. Though in the present Shera has acquired even more power it's not that much of problem because she doesnt actually come into that many conflicts in the current timeline's storyline. There's one scene that got me really nervous reading it since she was face to face with Bliss the child-like head of the Blackwatch, and a significant character in the opposing series. I was quite concerned that she was going to kill another more interesting character, but thankfully she lost.
We don't see as much of the other characters in the present timeline. Meia is more involved in this book's opposite and Lucan while significant in the backstory, dies in way that felt sudden and random in the middle of this book. This book also doesn't crossover quite as elegantly with it's companion as the author's first set of attempts.
Overall, I'd say this book is an improvement over the last one. The backstory is more interesting and Shera is slightly more tolerable. If Goodreads allowed me I'd rate this 3.5 rather than 3, but it doesn't and a rating of 4 would seem disingenuous.
TL:DR - Book is slightly better than the first one.
Of Darkness and Dawn introduces the Regents; powerful companion's of the Emperor that have been kept in hibernation except to deal with exceptional problems. Not much is shown about them in this book but they seem interesting. In addition, we learn even more about the setting from Shera's interactions with the Emperor in the past along with some viewpoint chapters from him. I personally enjoyed the past elements of this book and I thought that Shera actually flourished as a character in her dynamic with the Emperor.
The present is slightly better than the previous book as well, now Shera has an awakened soul-stealing knife to try to keep control of. It's not much but it makes her a little less boring. Though in the present Shera has acquired even more power it's not that much of problem because she doesnt actually come into that many conflicts in the current timeline's storyline. There's one scene that got me really nervous reading it since she was face to face with Bliss the child-like head of the Blackwatch, and a significant character in the opposing series. I was quite concerned that she was going to kill another more interesting character, but thankfully she lost.
We don't see as much of the other characters in the present timeline. Meia is more involved in this book's opposite and Lucan while significant in the backstory, dies in way that felt sudden and random in the middle of this book. This book also doesn't crossover quite as elegantly with it's companion as the author's first set of attempts.
Overall, I'd say this book is an improvement over the last one. The backstory is more interesting and Shera is slightly more tolerable. If Goodreads allowed me I'd rate this 3.5 rather than 3, but it doesn't and a rating of 4 would seem disingenuous.
TL:DR - Book is slightly better than the first one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2020
Total Rating: 5
Tone: 5
Characters: 5
Pacing: 5
Four books into this series, this is the best entry thus far, with the only remaining entries being the two separate endings. I love the inclusion of some flashbacks with characters that are huge names in this world, like the opening one with Estyr Six. These paid off much better than the parallel scenes from Of Dawn and Darkness that just showed the assembling of Calder’s crew (though I loved those scenes, I felt they made for better Bonus Chapters than part of the actual narrative.
The darker tones of this half of the series really amp up in this installment, with some exploration of reader-space, a lot of foggy/misty environments, and just the more generally grim nature of the whole thing. We get a really impactful death scene, we learn the true origins of one of the series more enigmatic characters, and the plot works well with the shift between Shera’s past, the more lore based short pieces for characters we hadn’t met yet, and the present day plot. This saw Wight’s idea of how to build these novel executed to the best degree yet. (Also, kudos to the audiobook narrator Emily Woo Zellar for a performance with the character Ayana that never stopped making me shiver, because she sounded like she gargled broken glass before delivering those specific lines, and that was probably the best voice we could have for that character.)
The characters feel a bit more grounded this go around. None of them have any fundamental superficial shifts that would be jarring, but they feel more like real people and less like characters. Shera especially came off as something of a caricature of a sociopath in the first book, and stretched the boundaries of my suspension of disbelief just a bit. But this time she comes across more as cold and amoral. Lucan became a bit more likable, and Teach was a welcome addition.
I listed pacing as a 5 as well, but the truth is, any flaw in this book was too small for me to notice. It’s a damn good read, and now I’m even more excited than I had been to get to the two concluding volumes.
Tone: 5
Characters: 5
Pacing: 5
Four books into this series, this is the best entry thus far, with the only remaining entries being the two separate endings. I love the inclusion of some flashbacks with characters that are huge names in this world, like the opening one with Estyr Six. These paid off much better than the parallel scenes from Of Dawn and Darkness that just showed the assembling of Calder’s crew (though I loved those scenes, I felt they made for better Bonus Chapters than part of the actual narrative.
The darker tones of this half of the series really amp up in this installment, with some exploration of reader-space, a lot of foggy/misty environments, and just the more generally grim nature of the whole thing. We get a really impactful death scene, we learn the true origins of one of the series more enigmatic characters, and the plot works well with the shift between Shera’s past, the more lore based short pieces for characters we hadn’t met yet, and the present day plot. This saw Wight’s idea of how to build these novel executed to the best degree yet. (Also, kudos to the audiobook narrator Emily Woo Zellar for a performance with the character Ayana that never stopped making me shiver, because she sounded like she gargled broken glass before delivering those specific lines, and that was probably the best voice we could have for that character.)
The characters feel a bit more grounded this go around. None of them have any fundamental superficial shifts that would be jarring, but they feel more like real people and less like characters. Shera especially came off as something of a caricature of a sociopath in the first book, and stretched the boundaries of my suspension of disbelief just a bit. But this time she comes across more as cold and amoral. Lucan became a bit more likable, and Teach was a welcome addition.
I listed pacing as a 5 as well, but the truth is, any flaw in this book was too small for me to notice. It’s a damn good read, and now I’m even more excited than I had been to get to the two concluding volumes.
January 10, 2021
Spoilers abound below.
I read Sea 1 before I read Shadow 1, and my vast enjoyment of Shera's character combined with my vague discomfort and dislike of Calder cemented my decision to continue reading Calder's book before Shera's (1 -> 1 -> 2 -> 2 -> 3 -> 3). I tore through Of Dawn and Darkness so that I could get to this one as soon as possible, especially after reading Lucan's death. I was very much anticipating the follow up POV from Shera, and it did not disappoint.
However, I was disappointed in the scene that overlapped with the companion book in which Calder and Lucan almost come to an understanding (until Jyrine is brought into the fray). The scene told from Lucan's perspective did not add much more than the scene told from Calder's perspective. It felt like a simple reiteration of the same dialogue and the same action (with a bit of the magic trick revealed). To boot, I found one plot point very confusing. Did Lucan destroy the Optasia? Per Kerian's update to Shera later, Lucan accomplished his mission and destroyed the Optasia, but in the actual scene, Lucan's POV is that he needs Calder's help to do so, and they get distracted by Meia and Jyrine, and Lucan dies. Whether or not the Optasia was destroyed seems like rather an important plot point.
As with Shadow 1, this book felt like a deeper dive into the background and history of the world, fleshing out the major players (e.g., the Regents, Great Elders) and detailing the steps that led to Shera's assassination of the Emperor. I enjoyed reading about the Luminian Order and their Guild chapter house, especially Ayana and Shera's reactions to the "sense of surpassing peace and wellness."
Very much looking forward to the conclusion of this series.
I read Sea 1 before I read Shadow 1, and my vast enjoyment of Shera's character combined with my vague discomfort and dislike of Calder cemented my decision to continue reading Calder's book before Shera's (1 -> 1 -> 2 -> 2 -> 3 -> 3). I tore through Of Dawn and Darkness so that I could get to this one as soon as possible, especially after reading Lucan's death. I was very much anticipating the follow up POV from Shera, and it did not disappoint.
However, I was disappointed in the scene that overlapped with the companion book in which Calder and Lucan almost come to an understanding (until Jyrine is brought into the fray). The scene told from Lucan's perspective did not add much more than the scene told from Calder's perspective. It felt like a simple reiteration of the same dialogue and the same action (with a bit of the magic trick revealed). To boot, I found one plot point very confusing. Did Lucan destroy the Optasia? Per Kerian's update to Shera later, Lucan accomplished his mission and destroyed the Optasia, but in the actual scene, Lucan's POV is that he needs Calder's help to do so, and they get distracted by Meia and Jyrine, and Lucan dies. Whether or not the Optasia was destroyed seems like rather an important plot point.
As with Shadow 1, this book felt like a deeper dive into the background and history of the world, fleshing out the major players (e.g., the Regents, Great Elders) and detailing the steps that led to Shera's assassination of the Emperor. I enjoyed reading about the Luminian Order and their Guild chapter house, especially Ayana and Shera's reactions to the "sense of surpassing peace and wellness."
Very much looking forward to the conclusion of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2018
An interesting parallel story that feels a bit anti-climatic.
I'm realizing that part of the flaw in writing a parallel story is that the twist from one book is already known in the next. Still it was interesting to see what what's happening outside of Captain Caldars group. What is also cool is to see that these two opposing sides see the other as being the villains. We are presented with them both being fairly good. Granted a guild of Assassins and a protagonist who has alluded emotional and moral range stretches the definition of good guys. It is fun to see as both a reader and a hobby writer an author creating a story around and emotionally stunted and morally ambiguous character as Shera.
It's looking like books three of Killers & Kings, and of kings and killers will be released at the end of 2018 according to the authors website. I am both excited and sort of sad by the news because I really like the Cradle series that Will Wight he's producing and I think it's the reason for the delay in the third book of both the series. I do not know if it is a Trilogy or not but I'm sort of hoping it is.
There is action and adventure along with some pretty awesome for the lack of better word magic in the world in this book. At same time it does feel a bit slow and does have the feeling of a second book of a trilogy that is more focused on the end of third book then that have the second. I did enjoy last page so the ending wasn't too bad LOL. Still I do prefer his other series particularly the Cradle.
The story is age appropriate for teenagers and above with violence and some emotional scenes.
I'm realizing that part of the flaw in writing a parallel story is that the twist from one book is already known in the next. Still it was interesting to see what what's happening outside of Captain Caldars group. What is also cool is to see that these two opposing sides see the other as being the villains. We are presented with them both being fairly good. Granted a guild of Assassins and a protagonist who has alluded emotional and moral range stretches the definition of good guys. It is fun to see as both a reader and a hobby writer an author creating a story around and emotionally stunted and morally ambiguous character as Shera.
It's looking like books three of Killers & Kings, and of kings and killers will be released at the end of 2018 according to the authors website. I am both excited and sort of sad by the news because I really like the Cradle series that Will Wight he's producing and I think it's the reason for the delay in the third book of both the series. I do not know if it is a Trilogy or not but I'm sort of hoping it is.
There is action and adventure along with some pretty awesome for the lack of better word magic in the world in this book. At same time it does feel a bit slow and does have the feeling of a second book of a trilogy that is more focused on the end of third book then that have the second. I did enjoy last page so the ending wasn't too bad LOL. Still I do prefer his other series particularly the Cradle.
The story is age appropriate for teenagers and above with violence and some emotional scenes.
September 28, 2021
storygraph rating: 4.25
ayo, that was pretty good. i’d say that was the best in this series so far. i think the character work here is honestly better than in the complementary half of the series (the “Sea” series, as opposed to this one, the “Shadow” series). very fun, can’t wait to read the last two books.
———————————————————————————
Guide to my Rating Scale, based on the Storygraph Rating:
* 5 Stars: This book was more or less flawless. One of the best things I’ve ever read.
* 4.75 through 4.25 Stars: This book had slight flaws, but I REALLY loved it. Marked as 4 stars on Goodreads.
* 4 Stars: This book had slight flaws, but I loved it.
* 3.75 through 3.25 Stars: This book had significant flaws, but I REALLY liked it. Marked as 3 stars on Goodreads.
* 3 Stars: This book had significant flaws, but I liked it just fine.
* 2.75 through 2.25 Stars: This book was extremely flawed, but I thought it had some merit. Marked as 2 stars on Goodreads.
* 2 Stars: This book was extremely flawed, but I didn’t actively dislike it. It was a waste of my time but not odious.
* 1.75 through 1.25 Stars: This book was irreparably flawed, and I actively disliked it. Marked as 1 star on Goodreads.
* 1 Star: This book was irreparably flawed. I actively hated this book and am worse off for having read
ayo, that was pretty good. i’d say that was the best in this series so far. i think the character work here is honestly better than in the complementary half of the series (the “Sea” series, as opposed to this one, the “Shadow” series). very fun, can’t wait to read the last two books.
———————————————————————————
Guide to my Rating Scale, based on the Storygraph Rating:
* 5 Stars: This book was more or less flawless. One of the best things I’ve ever read.
* 4.75 through 4.25 Stars: This book had slight flaws, but I REALLY loved it. Marked as 4 stars on Goodreads.
* 4 Stars: This book had slight flaws, but I loved it.
* 3.75 through 3.25 Stars: This book had significant flaws, but I REALLY liked it. Marked as 3 stars on Goodreads.
* 3 Stars: This book had significant flaws, but I liked it just fine.
* 2.75 through 2.25 Stars: This book was extremely flawed, but I thought it had some merit. Marked as 2 stars on Goodreads.
* 2 Stars: This book was extremely flawed, but I didn’t actively dislike it. It was a waste of my time but not odious.
* 1.75 through 1.25 Stars: This book was irreparably flawed, and I actively disliked it. Marked as 1 star on Goodreads.
* 1 Star: This book was irreparably flawed. I actively hated this book and am worse off for having read
April 17, 2020
Really enjoy the world and characters. This feels like an assassin vs pirate story, with the twist of it being set in a fairly Lovecraftian horror setting. Or at least some variation on those concepts.
I've read 3 of the first 4 books in this series, and i'll give them all about the same review.
As I said above good world and characters. but the decision to split the narrative like Ender's Game/Ender's Shadow has mixed results in my opinion. I would have prefered instead of 4 books, 2 larger books, with quite a bit of the 'retelling' of scenes being trimmed down. A decent part of the length of each book is retelling moments we already saw from one perspective. I don't feel like it made the books better.
So my review is 3 stars because of this extra rehashing of plot points we already knew dragging down the pacing for me. If it was edited together into 2 books, so Of Sea and Shadow + of Shadow and Sea were blended together into one book, the story/characters/world building of that one book is probably a 4 star book for me.
I'm looking forward to future entries in the world.
I've read 3 of the first 4 books in this series, and i'll give them all about the same review.
As I said above good world and characters. but the decision to split the narrative like Ender's Game/Ender's Shadow has mixed results in my opinion. I would have prefered instead of 4 books, 2 larger books, with quite a bit of the 'retelling' of scenes being trimmed down. A decent part of the length of each book is retelling moments we already saw from one perspective. I don't feel like it made the books better.
So my review is 3 stars because of this extra rehashing of plot points we already knew dragging down the pacing for me. If it was edited together into 2 books, so Of Sea and Shadow + of Shadow and Sea were blended together into one book, the story/characters/world building of that one book is probably a 4 star book for me.
I'm looking forward to future entries in the world.
July 1, 2020
**SPOILER FREE**
I just found out that Wight graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in writing! What a small world, I graduated from there as well.
Very enjoyable read. Better than Of Sea and Shadows (the worst of the parallel trilogy to me), which puts this book at ranking 3 of the 4 I’ve read so far.
Will Wight continues to show he is improving in the aspects of storytelling in each book he makes. The biggest issue I had with him in the House of Blades series and in Of Sea and Shadow was his pacing. There were a lot of times that the story seemed to come to a near stop, yet there was no reason/payoff for the stop. This book has a few of those in two or three flashback chapters, but the rest of the book is a stellar page turner.
Wight’s characterization and development is better shown in the Of Sea versions of this parallel trilogy, where we get to see Calder and his crew interact with each other.
Overall, this book gets a solid 3 stars for me. If you enjoyed Of Shadow and Sea (which I consider to be the second best of these books so far), then I think you’ll enjoy this one!
I just found out that Wight graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in writing! What a small world, I graduated from there as well.
Very enjoyable read. Better than Of Sea and Shadows (the worst of the parallel trilogy to me), which puts this book at ranking 3 of the 4 I’ve read so far.
Will Wight continues to show he is improving in the aspects of storytelling in each book he makes. The biggest issue I had with him in the House of Blades series and in Of Sea and Shadow was his pacing. There were a lot of times that the story seemed to come to a near stop, yet there was no reason/payoff for the stop. This book has a few of those in two or three flashback chapters, but the rest of the book is a stellar page turner.
Wight’s characterization and development is better shown in the Of Sea versions of this parallel trilogy, where we get to see Calder and his crew interact with each other.
Overall, this book gets a solid 3 stars for me. If you enjoyed Of Shadow and Sea (which I consider to be the second best of these books so far), then I think you’ll enjoy this one!
April 9, 2020
**spoilers, for my own records**
Similarly, not as engaging as the companion novel because I already knew all the major plot points. Only big surprises were that Yala was the one who tasked Maxwell to start the hidden band of "gardeners", the fight between Bliss and the consultants (she pretty much destroyed Syphren.. But who knows), and Shera becoming guild head at the end since she became soul bound to bastion's veil. I am sad that Lucan died but I'm glad Meia was there and told Shera that it was Jyrrine, not Calder who killed him. It was also interesting to read how Shera ended up killing the emperor (although it felt more like filling in holes than learning anything new).
Feel like I'd be more attached to Shera and crew if they weren't on opposing sides with Calder. If the books were written from the POV of two people working towards the same goal but working on separate pieces, I'd feel better about it. But kind of feels like GoT where there's multiple houses, so I feel more attached to one side. I bet they'll unite against the Elders at the end though.
Similarly, not as engaging as the companion novel because I already knew all the major plot points. Only big surprises were that Yala was the one who tasked Maxwell to start the hidden band of "gardeners", the fight between Bliss and the consultants (she pretty much destroyed Syphren.. But who knows), and Shera becoming guild head at the end since she became soul bound to bastion's veil. I am sad that Lucan died but I'm glad Meia was there and told Shera that it was Jyrrine, not Calder who killed him. It was also interesting to read how Shera ended up killing the emperor (although it felt more like filling in holes than learning anything new).
Feel like I'd be more attached to Shera and crew if they weren't on opposing sides with Calder. If the books were written from the POV of two people working towards the same goal but working on separate pieces, I'd feel better about it. But kind of feels like GoT where there's multiple houses, so I feel more attached to one side. I bet they'll unite against the Elders at the end though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2020
3.5*
Suggested order of reading: Of Darkness and Dawn (The Elder Empire: Shadow, #2) followed by Of Dawn and Darkness (The Elder Empire: Sea, #2)
Fast-paced instalment, with plenty of action and the introduction of a new player that promises interesting developments. Shera grows in complexity, although the loss of a main character leaves a bitter after-taste. The novel moves through the usual mix of present time and flash-back chapters but the outcome is not as smooth as in the Shadow and Sea #1, especially in the second half of the book, when action scenes (set in the present) are disrupted by flash-backs, with the result of leaving the reader confused and forced to jump back to the end of the previous chapter to refresh their memory. The information provided by the flash-back chapters are nevertheless vital to a better understand of the twin series, so better pay attention to them! Finally, the combat scenes on Gray Island would benefit from more clarity, as they are slightly confused at times.
Suggested order of reading: Of Darkness and Dawn (The Elder Empire: Shadow, #2) followed by Of Dawn and Darkness (The Elder Empire: Sea, #2)
Fast-paced instalment, with plenty of action and the introduction of a new player that promises interesting developments. Shera grows in complexity, although the loss of a main character leaves a bitter after-taste. The novel moves through the usual mix of present time and flash-back chapters but the outcome is not as smooth as in the Shadow and Sea #1, especially in the second half of the book, when action scenes (set in the present) are disrupted by flash-backs, with the result of leaving the reader confused and forced to jump back to the end of the previous chapter to refresh their memory. The information provided by the flash-back chapters are nevertheless vital to a better understand of the twin series, so better pay attention to them! Finally, the combat scenes on Gray Island would benefit from more clarity, as they are slightly confused at times.
December 9, 2023
A decent sequel (more like 'part 2') to the Of Shadow and Sea book. I'm still not 100% on board with splitting up the narrative into two separate series that really should be read together.
I generally enjoyed this story, the world and characters, however the main character, Shera, doesn't really have anything interesting to cling to. Her personality developed from 'likes to nap' to 'likes nothing'.... The side characters I found much more interesting, and would rather follow Lucas, Darius or one of the Regents.
I think it was a mistake to
I think the flashback chapters made more sense narratively in this book than in Of Dawn and Darkness, giving context to what was happening in the present, rather than just random backstory.
Will Wights mixing of humor in the books made a lot of the structural frustration more enjoyable, and I'll be eager to finish the duo-trilogy.
I generally enjoyed this story, the world and characters, however the main character, Shera, doesn't really have anything interesting to cling to. Her personality developed from 'likes to nap' to 'likes nothing'.... The side characters I found much more interesting, and would rather follow Lucas, Darius or one of the Regents.
I think it was a mistake to
I think the flashback chapters made more sense narratively in this book than in Of Dawn and Darkness, giving context to what was happening in the present, rather than just random backstory.
Will Wights mixing of humor in the books made a lot of the structural frustration more enjoyable, and I'll be eager to finish the duo-trilogy.
March 3, 2022
This is my fourth book of The Elder Empire series reading them in alternating order starting with the Sea books. I have to say, this far into the series, I am no longer a fan of the splitting of books. It's interesting to be able to read the same story from two different sides, but that could have been better accomplished by combining the books.
We once again follow Shera and her friends. I actually like Meia more than Shera, and she probably would have been a better main character to follow. We also meet Darius, who is a pretty odd character, but memorable. The main story was pretty weak, but the flashbacks were a highlight. We get to see more of the emperor and what caused his downfall. The ending was pretty good, and I didn't see that coming, so that is something.
Overall, not as strong as the parallel book in the series, and I am getting tired of switching back and forth. 3.5* rounded up to 4*.
We once again follow Shera and her friends. I actually like Meia more than Shera, and she probably would have been a better main character to follow. We also meet Darius, who is a pretty odd character, but memorable. The main story was pretty weak, but the flashbacks were a highlight. We get to see more of the emperor and what caused his downfall. The ending was pretty good, and I didn't see that coming, so that is something.
Overall, not as strong as the parallel book in the series, and I am getting tired of switching back and forth. 3.5* rounded up to 4*.
June 15, 2025
The overall story of this book is still entertaining, but the protagonist is just a low point for me. Shera has all the personality and depth of a wet paper bag. She is so bland, and way to overpowered. It's just too much plot armor. Her fellow consultants are far more interesting than she is. I wish Meia or Lucan were the main character. I will for sure read the next book, as I am really enjoying the world and storyline, but I will probably speed through Shera's side so I can get back to reading about the crew of the Testament.
March 28, 2021
Probably a 3.5 from me.
As other reviewers have said, the flashback chapters happening so frequently feels a little like reading 3 books at the same time. It is not a bad way to inject story and lore, but it is not done as well in this book.
And shera herself becomes quite an unlikable character in this book. Again, that's not necessarily a bad thing, just makes the book less interesting to read.
However it is saved by the story. The pacing seems almost too fast despite the jarring interruptions, but the story is very good and I am looking forward to finding out what happens next.
Will Wight is a fantastic author who is cutting his teeth on some new ideas in these books, and not all of them will work, but it doesn't really detract from the story as a whole.
As other reviewers have said, the flashback chapters happening so frequently feels a little like reading 3 books at the same time. It is not a bad way to inject story and lore, but it is not done as well in this book.
And shera herself becomes quite an unlikable character in this book. Again, that's not necessarily a bad thing, just makes the book less interesting to read.
However it is saved by the story. The pacing seems almost too fast despite the jarring interruptions, but the story is very good and I am looking forward to finding out what happens next.
Will Wight is a fantastic author who is cutting his teeth on some new ideas in these books, and not all of them will work, but it doesn't really detract from the story as a whole.
May 28, 2017
The struggle continues
Here we get the view of the struggle from Shera's perspective. The author describes the struggle and journey so well that you start feeling for both the parties. You side with Calder when reading the other book and Shera when you read this.
A reagent is assassinated and Shera struggles to get her soulbound Vessel in control and triggers the war between guilds which Imperialists were trying to trigger and Independents were trying to avoid. Reagents are in their side but Imperialists have a their set of powerful allies. Will Shera succeed in her mission or will Calder ascend to the throne?
Here we get the view of the struggle from Shera's perspective. The author describes the struggle and journey so well that you start feeling for both the parties. You side with Calder when reading the other book and Shera when you read this.
A reagent is assassinated and Shera struggles to get her soulbound Vessel in control and triggers the war between guilds which Imperialists were trying to trigger and Independents were trying to avoid. Reagents are in their side but Imperialists have a their set of powerful allies. Will Shera succeed in her mission or will Calder ascend to the throne?
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