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Madion War Trilogy #2
The Chasm
They survived The Island, but can they cross The Chasm?
Four months after Prince Galian was discovered alive on a remote island, he's adjusting slowly to life at the hospital under the Kylaen media's glare. His promises to Theo remain unfulfilled as fear of his father keeps him from taking concrete action. And the more he learns about the machinations in Kylae, the less sure he is that it's possible to make a difference.
Across the great Madion Sea, Major Theo Kallistrate struggles to navigate the tricky political waters of Rave's presidential staff. To make positive change for her people, she must remain relevant and interesting to the Raven media and to the president. When he asks her to deliver a speech on her supposed two-month imprisonment at Mael, she's not sure she can stomach the lies.
The Chasm is S. Usher Evans' breathtaking, fast-paced follow-up to The Island, which readers say is "not to be missed."
Four months after Prince Galian was discovered alive on a remote island, he's adjusting slowly to life at the hospital under the Kylaen media's glare. His promises to Theo remain unfulfilled as fear of his father keeps him from taking concrete action. And the more he learns about the machinations in Kylae, the less sure he is that it's possible to make a difference.
Across the great Madion Sea, Major Theo Kallistrate struggles to navigate the tricky political waters of Rave's presidential staff. To make positive change for her people, she must remain relevant and interesting to the Raven media and to the president. When he asks her to deliver a speech on her supposed two-month imprisonment at Mael, she's not sure she can stomach the lies.
The Chasm is S. Usher Evans' breathtaking, fast-paced follow-up to The Island, which readers say is "not to be missed."
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
9 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
S. Usher Evans
77 books518 followersS. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she left the sleepy town behind for the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C.. There, she somehow landed jobs with BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Television before finally settling into a "real job" as an IT consultant. After a quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided consulting was for the birds and rekindled a childhood passion for writing novels. She sold everything she owned and moved back to Pensacola, where she currently resides with her two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 2, 2016
***I received the ARC eBook free as a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
A stunning sequel filled with forbidden romance, political intrigue, military tactics, heart-pounding action and rigid tension. The Chasm may have had a slow-paced start, but when things kicked off (and boy did they kick off!) I tore through the pages, devouring every word.
Before starting there was a niggling worry in my mind that the book wouldn’t live up to its predecessor, particularly since I saw the plot branching away from romance and towards dystopian/fantasy politics. This was guaranteed with the two main characters, Galian and Theo, unable to be together for about a thousand reasons (war, family drama and the like). I’d always thought they were better together than apart, yet while this may have been true, they’re still absolutely brilliant in different nations. Galian proved himself to be brave in a way that I hadn’t seen before; meanwhile Theo was put in situations that brought out her vulnerable side. Naturally they both remained strong-willed, determined to save their people and I loved seeing how hard they strived, no matter what obstacles were thrown in their way.
There are certain characters I’ve begun to hate (after reading you’ll know exactly who *looks at leaders*) and others that I connected with unexpectedly. It reminded me that the side characters have their own stories, which are well worth telling and come through in the moments that they share centre-stage. Galian however officially has my heart. His relationship with Theo is complex and tested and ultimately beautiful. There wasn’t a moment that I didn’t root for them.
All the way throughout I was anticipating the sweet reunion moments, as well as the highly action-packed ones and no doubt this will continue in The Union. I’m excited to see where the series goes next! Hopefully to happy-couple-town rather than everyone’s-dead-nation…
Posted on Enchanted by YA
A stunning sequel filled with forbidden romance, political intrigue, military tactics, heart-pounding action and rigid tension. The Chasm may have had a slow-paced start, but when things kicked off (and boy did they kick off!) I tore through the pages, devouring every word.
Before starting there was a niggling worry in my mind that the book wouldn’t live up to its predecessor, particularly since I saw the plot branching away from romance and towards dystopian/fantasy politics. This was guaranteed with the two main characters, Galian and Theo, unable to be together for about a thousand reasons (war, family drama and the like). I’d always thought they were better together than apart, yet while this may have been true, they’re still absolutely brilliant in different nations. Galian proved himself to be brave in a way that I hadn’t seen before; meanwhile Theo was put in situations that brought out her vulnerable side. Naturally they both remained strong-willed, determined to save their people and I loved seeing how hard they strived, no matter what obstacles were thrown in their way.
There are certain characters I’ve begun to hate (after reading you’ll know exactly who *looks at leaders*) and others that I connected with unexpectedly. It reminded me that the side characters have their own stories, which are well worth telling and come through in the moments that they share centre-stage. Galian however officially has my heart. His relationship with Theo is complex and tested and ultimately beautiful. There wasn’t a moment that I didn’t root for them.
All the way throughout I was anticipating the sweet reunion moments, as well as the highly action-packed ones and no doubt this will continue in The Union. I’m excited to see where the series goes next! Hopefully to happy-couple-town rather than everyone’s-dead-nation…
Posted on Enchanted by YA
July 8, 2016
*This review can also be found on The Reader and the Chef! Huge thanks to the author for the review copy in exchange of my honest opinion.*
OH, THE PAIN, IT'S KILLING ME! Why do we have to wait so long to get the next book? I wish I could have a magic lamp to wish my way into S. Usher Evans head and dig around her files for the third book in this trilogy because my goodness, I need MORE. I loved The Chasm so much, even more than The Island.
So for my review, I'll give you FOUR reasons why I loved this book and why you should add it to your TBR:
The Characters. As individuals, they are awesome and although far from perfect, they are the kind that stop for a sec to reevaluate themselves, their situation and why things are not working out for them. It's fun to see how much Galian and Theo have grown since The Island, and I know they still have a long way to go, which excites me all the more to read The Union!
The Romance. GAH. I just love it so much. This is the sexy, barely there kind since Theo and Galian are still trying to find a way to end the war and finally be together, but the scenes we get, um, YUM. And it's also a fun relationship because the guy, Prince Galian, is a bit more sweet and easy going, who perfectly balances out Theo's hardened personality. It reminds me of the relationship dynamic between Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games.
The Plot. Just like with Theo and Galian's relationship, the plot of The Chasm, well the feel and sense of the story, reminds me of The Hunger Games. While there are no games, there IS a war going on and it's still a bit unclear who the bigger enemy is with so many players.
The Feels. You get them all in The Chasm. Not only swoony feels over Prince Galian, but pain, love and suffering for so many others. Like my Martin, who's a character I deeply fell in love with. If it weren't for Galian, I would have demanded his attention. And then the ending! ACK. I thought things would get better, and in a way they are, but noooooooo. Once again my loves must test their boundaries and do what is right.
So there you have it! The four reasons why I think you must grab yourself a copy of The Chasm on July 12th (and read The Island if you haven't!). Be it if you're looking for a book with great characters, a great romance, an amazing plot, or just a read that gives you all the feels, then this book is surely for you!
OH, THE PAIN, IT'S KILLING ME! Why do we have to wait so long to get the next book? I wish I could have a magic lamp to wish my way into S. Usher Evans head and dig around her files for the third book in this trilogy because my goodness, I need MORE. I loved The Chasm so much, even more than The Island.
So for my review, I'll give you FOUR reasons why I loved this book and why you should add it to your TBR:
The Characters. As individuals, they are awesome and although far from perfect, they are the kind that stop for a sec to reevaluate themselves, their situation and why things are not working out for them. It's fun to see how much Galian and Theo have grown since The Island, and I know they still have a long way to go, which excites me all the more to read The Union!
The Romance. GAH. I just love it so much. This is the sexy, barely there kind since Theo and Galian are still trying to find a way to end the war and finally be together, but the scenes we get, um, YUM. And it's also a fun relationship because the guy, Prince Galian, is a bit more sweet and easy going, who perfectly balances out Theo's hardened personality. It reminds me of the relationship dynamic between Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games.
The Plot. Just like with Theo and Galian's relationship, the plot of The Chasm, well the feel and sense of the story, reminds me of The Hunger Games. While there are no games, there IS a war going on and it's still a bit unclear who the bigger enemy is with so many players.
The Feels. You get them all in The Chasm. Not only swoony feels over Prince Galian, but pain, love and suffering for so many others. Like my Martin, who's a character I deeply fell in love with. If it weren't for Galian, I would have demanded his attention. And then the ending! ACK. I thought things would get better, and in a way they are, but noooooooo. Once again my loves must test their boundaries and do what is right.
So there you have it! The four reasons why I think you must grab yourself a copy of The Chasm on July 12th (and read The Island if you haven't!). Be it if you're looking for a book with great characters, a great romance, an amazing plot, or just a read that gives you all the feels, then this book is surely for you!
July 12, 2016
For those who don't know this about me, I normally do not read books in a series back to back. I like to spread them out, sometimes almost indefinitely, because I don't want the world to end. I like to take my time with the world in question and savor it. That way, when I do return it is more like I am visiting old friends and not like I am rushing through the story.
There are exceptions to this rule of course and I don't make them often, but I did make it for this The Madion War Trilogy. I went directly from book 1 in the series - The Island (find my review HERE) to the second - The Chasm.
That being said, this is a review for a second book in a series...so there may be some spoilers for book one. If you haven't read book one, I suggest you stop reading this review and either go check out my review for that one or go and buy it and read it for yourself. Then come back to this review (or just go get a copy!).
Consider yourself warned.
The Chasm starts almost where The Island ends give or a take a month or two. Galian is working at the hospital in Kylae and doing everything he can to avoid his father while Theo is making appearances and being a public figure in Rave. Each is trying to make the changes that they promised the other in their countries so that they can be together once again, but neither one of them is making any head way.
For the first half of the book, I felt like I was mostly reading about how Galian and/or Theo was missing the other one and pining away. It just felt like the book was stuck on how much our two main characters were missing each other. And, honestly, I found it to get a bit old and a little boring. It definitely took me longer to get through the first half of the book than it took me to get through the second.
However, when I got to the second half, and all that "I'm so sad" stuff seemed to taper off, the story got quite a bit more interesting and a lot more started to happen. It definitely picked up the pace and got very interesting! There were some twists and turns in the story, and events that I did not expect at all!
So of course now I need book 3, The Union, and it isn't out yet. I guess that is what I get for devouring what is available of the series now...
The Chasm had a bit of a 2nd book in a series feel to it, and that is okay! It is a 2nd book after all! I am glad that I stuck with it and I cannot wait to see how things finally turn out in The Union!
My Rating
4 Stars
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
This review is based on a copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
There are exceptions to this rule of course and I don't make them often, but I did make it for this The Madion War Trilogy. I went directly from book 1 in the series - The Island (find my review HERE) to the second - The Chasm.
That being said, this is a review for a second book in a series...so there may be some spoilers for book one. If you haven't read book one, I suggest you stop reading this review and either go check out my review for that one or go and buy it and read it for yourself. Then come back to this review (or just go get a copy!).
Consider yourself warned.
The Chasm starts almost where The Island ends give or a take a month or two. Galian is working at the hospital in Kylae and doing everything he can to avoid his father while Theo is making appearances and being a public figure in Rave. Each is trying to make the changes that they promised the other in their countries so that they can be together once again, but neither one of them is making any head way.
For the first half of the book, I felt like I was mostly reading about how Galian and/or Theo was missing the other one and pining away. It just felt like the book was stuck on how much our two main characters were missing each other. And, honestly, I found it to get a bit old and a little boring. It definitely took me longer to get through the first half of the book than it took me to get through the second.
However, when I got to the second half, and all that "I'm so sad" stuff seemed to taper off, the story got quite a bit more interesting and a lot more started to happen. It definitely picked up the pace and got very interesting! There were some twists and turns in the story, and events that I did not expect at all!
So of course now I need book 3, The Union, and it isn't out yet. I guess that is what I get for devouring what is available of the series now...
The Chasm had a bit of a 2nd book in a series feel to it, and that is okay! It is a 2nd book after all! I am glad that I stuck with it and I cannot wait to see how things finally turn out in The Union!
My Rating
4 Stars
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
This review is based on a copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 7, 2017
find this and other reviews at arctic books
When I read THE ISLAND a few months ago, I fell in love with the characters and the whole premise of the story. Thus, I was incredibly excited to start this much anticipated sequel. Overall, I was not disappointed in this novel that was filled with political intrigue and rebellious undertones.
The novel starts off from where we left Theo and Galian last, a few months later. In these several months, Theo and Galian are separated (woe me), and they both have to figure out how to steer their ways through the political shenanigans of both Raven and Kylae as well as back to each other. Throughout this novel, we learn more about the rival nations and more about our main characters, which I thought was well-done. There wasn’t too much info dumping, but more of a gentle sprinkling of information that didn’t seem too overwhelming when I was reading.
The developing romance between Theo and Galian was also nicely-written. We experience more angst (thank) between the two lovers as they are both in different nations. If it seems like Theo and Galian are separated for too long, fret not! Keep reading because the steamy scenes between them are totally worth it. Don’t worry, there’s no love triangle in this one either, if you’re wondering.
One reservation I have about this novel was the overly similar voices of the main characters. The novel is told in dual POVs between Theo and Galian but sometimes, when I was reading, it was difficult to remember who was talking because their inner ramblings and thoughts sounded so similar.
Do I recommend? Although this book is vastly different from THE ISLAND in terms of overall themes, I enjoyed this book. If you loved THE ISLAND as much as I did and are ready for more Theo and Galian but with more political development, then I do recommend this book for you!
[Thank you to the author for the complimentary ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for this review.]
When I read THE ISLAND a few months ago, I fell in love with the characters and the whole premise of the story. Thus, I was incredibly excited to start this much anticipated sequel. Overall, I was not disappointed in this novel that was filled with political intrigue and rebellious undertones.
The novel starts off from where we left Theo and Galian last, a few months later. In these several months, Theo and Galian are separated (woe me), and they both have to figure out how to steer their ways through the political shenanigans of both Raven and Kylae as well as back to each other. Throughout this novel, we learn more about the rival nations and more about our main characters, which I thought was well-done. There wasn’t too much info dumping, but more of a gentle sprinkling of information that didn’t seem too overwhelming when I was reading.
The developing romance between Theo and Galian was also nicely-written. We experience more angst (thank) between the two lovers as they are both in different nations. If it seems like Theo and Galian are separated for too long, fret not! Keep reading because the steamy scenes between them are totally worth it. Don’t worry, there’s no love triangle in this one either, if you’re wondering.
One reservation I have about this novel was the overly similar voices of the main characters. The novel is told in dual POVs between Theo and Galian but sometimes, when I was reading, it was difficult to remember who was talking because their inner ramblings and thoughts sounded so similar.
Do I recommend? Although this book is vastly different from THE ISLAND in terms of overall themes, I enjoyed this book. If you loved THE ISLAND as much as I did and are ready for more Theo and Galian but with more political development, then I do recommend this book for you!
[Thank you to the author for the complimentary ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for this review.]
July 11, 2016
Theo and Galian are back in their own countries, which are still at war.
Both are trying to find ways to end the war.
Like the first book, it's told from alternating point of views, which I really like.
In this book, we see both characters grow, from feeling helpless to do anything to finding there is something they can do.
Of course there is the love!!! Being kept separated so long, 'does he still love me' 'does she still love me' .... then the Prince Galian manages to find a way for them to be together again! *SWOON* (I don't normally swoon, but this one, yes, it got to me!!!)
of course there's more to the war and we do get some history as to what's it's going on. More politics, corrupt government, etc...
As always, I couldn't put this book down!!!
I liked this book even better than the first, so now I'm really looking forward to the next book: The Union!!!
Both are trying to find ways to end the war.
Like the first book, it's told from alternating point of views, which I really like.
In this book, we see both characters grow, from feeling helpless to do anything to finding there is something they can do.
Of course there is the love!!! Being kept separated so long, 'does he still love me' 'does she still love me' .... then the Prince Galian manages to find a way for them to be together again! *SWOON* (I don't normally swoon, but this one, yes, it got to me!!!)
of course there's more to the war and we do get some history as to what's it's going on. More politics, corrupt government, etc...
As always, I couldn't put this book down!!!
I liked this book even better than the first, so now I'm really looking forward to the next book: The Union!!!
June 22, 2016
Oh. My. Gosh. If you are not reading this series then I honestly don't know what you are doing with your life. The continuation of this series was filled with action, intrigue, romance, tension...it had it all. Full review to come closer to release.
December 28, 2016
4.5 stars
Ooooh I really liked this. The beginning was a bit slow but the rest of the book, oh my lord. So good.
Ooooh I really liked this. The beginning was a bit slow but the rest of the book, oh my lord. So good.
August 11, 2019
I don't know... don't like it as much as I liked the first part
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
July 9, 2016
Four months after being rescued from the Island they were stranded on, Theo and Galian find themselves dealing with the politics of their respective countries. Both of them wanting to do more for each other and for their countries than they think they are able to do.
You get to see a different side to Theo in this book. In The Island, Theo is really hard, kind of angry, and blindly patriotic to Rave. In The Chasm, you get to see a more vulnerable side to her. She's seeing the uglier sides of Rave and realizing that things aren't necessarily what she thought they were when she was a conscripted pilot. She wants to be doing something to help the Raven people and to end the war, but as Rave's new media darling, she pretty much just stands behind President Bayard during his speeches, being the face of the horrors of Mael.
Galian is in the same boat as Theo. In the four months since he and Theo parted ways, he hasn't made any headway on any of the promises he made to her. He isn't any closer to shutting down Mael and he isn't certain what he can do about it. After getting a burst of inspiration, you get to see his bravery in regards to that. Besides seeing his bravery shine through, he is the same sweet, kind, and caring princeling as he was in the first book.
The beginning of this book is really slow with both of them dealing with politics and life. But then Theo goes to a summit with the nations of Herin and Jervan and Galian finds a way to smuggle himself there against the king's orders that no Kylaen will attend the summit as long as Rave is invited. Things really pick up from there, becoming a lot more action packed and what not. And I didn't want to put it down after that!
Obviously with Theo and Galian being separated in the beginning of this book, the romance takes a little bit to pick up. But when it does... Hoo boy. It does not disappoint. I love their relationship so much. I love how trusting they are. How Theo can see all the stuff in the papers and on the news about him maybe hanging out with girls and just be so understanding and still trust that he loves her. Like, I don't know if I could be like that! They work so good together and I want moar.
Like The Island, this book is told in both Galian's and Theo's points of view. I still found it easy to distinguish who was talking when, which I greatly appreciated.
I liked that we got to see more of the Madion nations. You get to see a lot more of Rave and some of Jervan and learn a bit about Herin. Jervan sounds like it would probably be the nicest place to be in this book.
Generally, when I'm reading a sequel book, I find myself really disliking the newly introduced characters or characters that become more important than in the previous book. Just because I find myself not caring about them and just wanting to know things about my favorite original characters. But that was not the case in this book! I loved learning about the secondary characters in this book. Rhys, the Queen, Kader, Martin. I loved them all and knowing what they were up to and what they cared bout.
Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit! It gave me goosebumps and made me a bit teary at a couple points! It's just as good as The Island despite the slower start. I am READY for The Union! I'm excited to see how the events in this end of this book will affect the war and I'm also needing Theo and Galian to have a very happy happily ever after.
You get to see a different side to Theo in this book. In The Island, Theo is really hard, kind of angry, and blindly patriotic to Rave. In The Chasm, you get to see a more vulnerable side to her. She's seeing the uglier sides of Rave and realizing that things aren't necessarily what she thought they were when she was a conscripted pilot. She wants to be doing something to help the Raven people and to end the war, but as Rave's new media darling, she pretty much just stands behind President Bayard during his speeches, being the face of the horrors of Mael.
Galian is in the same boat as Theo. In the four months since he and Theo parted ways, he hasn't made any headway on any of the promises he made to her. He isn't any closer to shutting down Mael and he isn't certain what he can do about it. After getting a burst of inspiration, you get to see his bravery in regards to that. Besides seeing his bravery shine through, he is the same sweet, kind, and caring princeling as he was in the first book.
The beginning of this book is really slow with both of them dealing with politics and life. But then Theo goes to a summit with the nations of Herin and Jervan and Galian finds a way to smuggle himself there against the king's orders that no Kylaen will attend the summit as long as Rave is invited. Things really pick up from there, becoming a lot more action packed and what not. And I didn't want to put it down after that!
Obviously with Theo and Galian being separated in the beginning of this book, the romance takes a little bit to pick up. But when it does... Hoo boy. It does not disappoint. I love their relationship so much. I love how trusting they are. How Theo can see all the stuff in the papers and on the news about him maybe hanging out with girls and just be so understanding and still trust that he loves her. Like, I don't know if I could be like that! They work so good together and I want moar.
Like The Island, this book is told in both Galian's and Theo's points of view. I still found it easy to distinguish who was talking when, which I greatly appreciated.
I liked that we got to see more of the Madion nations. You get to see a lot more of Rave and some of Jervan and learn a bit about Herin. Jervan sounds like it would probably be the nicest place to be in this book.
Generally, when I'm reading a sequel book, I find myself really disliking the newly introduced characters or characters that become more important than in the previous book. Just because I find myself not caring about them and just wanting to know things about my favorite original characters. But that was not the case in this book! I loved learning about the secondary characters in this book. Rhys, the Queen, Kader, Martin. I loved them all and knowing what they were up to and what they cared bout.
Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit! It gave me goosebumps and made me a bit teary at a couple points! It's just as good as The Island despite the slower start. I am READY for The Union! I'm excited to see how the events in this end of this book will affect the war and I'm also needing Theo and Galian to have a very happy happily ever after.
June 14, 2017
What I Loved
This doesn’t happen often, but I think I actually liked this book MORE than the first one! I know, crazy right? I just felt like I could connect with the characters a little bit more and the plot was faster paced for me. I was disappointed that there was less Galian/Theo moments but since they were in different countries it seems fair. I just want them to be happy and live happily ever after! Why is that so hard?!
Can I just say that while I love Galien, I think I might like Rhys more! I loved that we got to see more of him in this book and that only lead to me falling in love with him. Also their mother? Where did she come from?! I think it’s my new life goal to “grow up” and become just as badass as her! I’d really looking forward to seeing what she ends up doing to end this war. I feel something epic coming on! I also admired how true to the first book the author was. I’ve been noticing a lot more lately that authors are basically changing the personalities of their characters in their later books. I was SO GLAD that this didn’t happen here. I loved how easily Theo could stand up to people and how genuinely good Galian is. They really do make a perfect match.
I kind of like the idea that there’s no “good” country exactly. They all have their faults and are all coming at this war from all the wrong angles. I like that the villains of this book were from each country. I hated every single politician we met (for good readsons) and I actually had fun hating them through the duration of the book. I was not expecting that last move at the end! The author has no problem surprising me apparently!
I’m also really like that this is a new adult book. I find most new adult books are contemporary and I’m always excited when I find a fantasy one! Especially one as good as this series!
What I Didn't Like
I don’t know if I can think about anything I didn’t like. While I wasn’t crying from amazement, it was still a REALLY good book and an even better sequel. The only complaint I could possibly think of was that the beginning was a little slow due to all the politics that took place. I do understand why it had to happen though.
Who I'd Recommend To
I’d recommend this to any YA fantasy lovers that are looking to read more new adult books. I love that this wasn’t too sex or violence heavy but it had just the perfect amount for anyone who is looking to transition. Also it’s just amazing and every needs to read it, especially if you love romance mixed with your fantasy!
This doesn’t happen often, but I think I actually liked this book MORE than the first one! I know, crazy right? I just felt like I could connect with the characters a little bit more and the plot was faster paced for me. I was disappointed that there was less Galian/Theo moments but since they were in different countries it seems fair. I just want them to be happy and live happily ever after! Why is that so hard?!
Can I just say that while I love Galien, I think I might like Rhys more! I loved that we got to see more of him in this book and that only lead to me falling in love with him. Also their mother? Where did she come from?! I think it’s my new life goal to “grow up” and become just as badass as her! I’d really looking forward to seeing what she ends up doing to end this war. I feel something epic coming on! I also admired how true to the first book the author was. I’ve been noticing a lot more lately that authors are basically changing the personalities of their characters in their later books. I was SO GLAD that this didn’t happen here. I loved how easily Theo could stand up to people and how genuinely good Galian is. They really do make a perfect match.
I kind of like the idea that there’s no “good” country exactly. They all have their faults and are all coming at this war from all the wrong angles. I like that the villains of this book were from each country. I hated every single politician we met (for good readsons) and I actually had fun hating them through the duration of the book. I was not expecting that last move at the end! The author has no problem surprising me apparently!
I’m also really like that this is a new adult book. I find most new adult books are contemporary and I’m always excited when I find a fantasy one! Especially one as good as this series!
What I Didn't Like
I don’t know if I can think about anything I didn’t like. While I wasn’t crying from amazement, it was still a REALLY good book and an even better sequel. The only complaint I could possibly think of was that the beginning was a little slow due to all the politics that took place. I do understand why it had to happen though.
Who I'd Recommend To
I’d recommend this to any YA fantasy lovers that are looking to read more new adult books. I love that this wasn’t too sex or violence heavy but it had just the perfect amount for anyone who is looking to transition. Also it’s just amazing and every needs to read it, especially if you love romance mixed with your fantasy!
July 19, 2016
Absolutely loved it. I NEED BOOK 3 NOW! I DONT WANT TO WAIT TIL V-DAY
Actual review (5 hrs after finishing bc work & feelings are not conducive for concise thoughts)
The Chasm is the sequel to The Island and opens up about 4 months after Theo and Gal were rescued and had to forcibly go their seperate ways. Galian has found himself on the nightmare of all nightmares Resident's shifts. Which honestly he shouldve seen coming. Resident at Hospital = worst shifts possible. You aint getting special treatment when you the lowest of the DR totem pole even if you're the 3rd son of the king. He also is severely missing Theo and is struggling to find his courage to do what he promised her. Theo on the other hand finds herself hte newest poster child of President Bayard & is trying to figureo ut how she can use this to her advantage and end the war.
The Chasm is a great follow-up to The Island and a great addition is the amazing cast of Characters we get to meet this time around. we get more indepth with Galian's personal guards Martin & Kader as well as his older brother Prince Rhys (who is not as silly & carefree as V.E. Schwab's Prince Rhys. Nor is he in love with a Pirate. excuse me Privateer.... atleast not that i'm aware of.) And then on Theo's side we get a few more appearneces from her old friend Lanis as well as it's own host of quite colorful characters including the previous Golden Boy Cannon who i want to fire out of a cannon.
It ends with another semi-cliffhanger that makes you desperately want the next book even though you have to wait over half a year for it...pouts in corner.
The plot is so much more exciting then the last book with twists and turns around every bend and I loved every minute of it.
Definitely loved book 2 and cant wait for book 3.
Actual review (5 hrs after finishing bc work & feelings are not conducive for concise thoughts)
The Chasm is the sequel to The Island and opens up about 4 months after Theo and Gal were rescued and had to forcibly go their seperate ways. Galian has found himself on the nightmare of all nightmares Resident's shifts. Which honestly he shouldve seen coming. Resident at Hospital = worst shifts possible. You aint getting special treatment when you the lowest of the DR totem pole even if you're the 3rd son of the king. He also is severely missing Theo and is struggling to find his courage to do what he promised her. Theo on the other hand finds herself hte newest poster child of President Bayard & is trying to figureo ut how she can use this to her advantage and end the war.
The Chasm is a great follow-up to The Island and a great addition is the amazing cast of Characters we get to meet this time around. we get more indepth with Galian's personal guards Martin & Kader as well as his older brother Prince Rhys (who is not as silly & carefree as V.E. Schwab's Prince Rhys. Nor is he in love with a Pirate. excuse me Privateer.... atleast not that i'm aware of.) And then on Theo's side we get a few more appearneces from her old friend Lanis as well as it's own host of quite colorful characters including the previous Golden Boy Cannon who i want to fire out of a cannon.
It ends with another semi-cliffhanger that makes you desperately want the next book even though you have to wait over half a year for it...pouts in corner.
The plot is so much more exciting then the last book with twists and turns around every bend and I loved every minute of it.
Definitely loved book 2 and cant wait for book 3.
May 6, 2016
IM CRYING
(thank you to the publisher for this e-arc much love!!)
(thank you to the publisher for this e-arc much love!!)
September 30, 2018
This novel had a great combination of plot with the right amount of action. The love story was there but wasn’t overpowering like they tend to be. I greatly enjoyed this novel and didn’t want to put it down. It only took so long to read as I’ve been so busy. I just purchased the final novel in the series and can’t wait to pick it up after I finish my current read.
November 28, 2016
If you haven’t read the first book in this series The Island you should read it and read my review here. It’s great.
I love this series. Personally I enjoyed the first book better than Chasm. I got a lot more of our two main characters, Theo and Galian together in the first book. In Chasm it is more Theo and Galian trying to find their way back to each other. Theo is stuck as a face on tv representing the horrors of Mael. Galian is stuck back at his hospital job watched carefully by his father. I’d be pretty hard for them to be together considering their countries are at war but will they find a way?
There was a lot of character development in this novel. Actually so far this trilogy so far has had a lot of really good character development. In Island, Theo went from some pilot that was set on killing the prince for the chance of a promotion. Now she definitely doesn’t want to kill her amichai and she is a young lady working for the government trying to stop the war (or at least that what she wants to do. She’s actually stuck as a propaganda advertisement).
I can read S. Usher Evans’ books really fast. Her writing style is my favorite to read because the point of view is constantly switching. I honestly find it kind of boring when the story has one point of view because you are following the one story the entire time. With Chasm, Theo and Galian were in different countries living different lives but having both point of views showed me how their stories affected each other. When I read her other book Spells and Sorcery it only had one point of view but I did not get bored because Sush has a writing style that is easy to read.
Everyone in Rave thinks that Theo spent the last two months in the Mael when she was actually on the island. She ends up being in the media talking about the horrors of Mael. She is stuck in this job lying to the people of Rave and she hates it. Luckily the job provides her with freedoms she did not have as a pilot so she can do some things (read the book mate and you’ll find out what).
Meanwhile in Kylae Prince Galian is working at the hospital trying to stay out of his fathers way. His father, the king is still mad about Theo, a Raven so it’s a good thing Galian is working. Unfortunately he can’t fulfill the promises to Theo because his father is watching him closely.
Here are four other reasons why you should The Chasm if you aren’t already going to read it:
1. Theo and Galian feels give me life. They are one of my OTPs I love them. Just you wait.
2. I absolutely love all the politics. Often books tend to skim over the politics and are like “the leader is bad we need to make it better”. This book actually goes into the politics and the characters have a different approach than revolution.
3. You don’t even realize just how much propaganda is in these countries until you become propaganda yourself.
4. The world that these characters are in is so much like ours but at the same so different. I love hearing about the different countries and how they all have different ways of life and different amounts of wealth.
But just you wait this book gets so good. It’s really hard to talk about because of all the spoilers that would give out. If you’ve read this book and want to talk about it comment or DM me on Twitter. I’m about to start reading The Union by S. Usher Evans, the third and final book in this series so it’s going to be good.
I love this series. Personally I enjoyed the first book better than Chasm. I got a lot more of our two main characters, Theo and Galian together in the first book. In Chasm it is more Theo and Galian trying to find their way back to each other. Theo is stuck as a face on tv representing the horrors of Mael. Galian is stuck back at his hospital job watched carefully by his father. I’d be pretty hard for them to be together considering their countries are at war but will they find a way?
There was a lot of character development in this novel. Actually so far this trilogy so far has had a lot of really good character development. In Island, Theo went from some pilot that was set on killing the prince for the chance of a promotion. Now she definitely doesn’t want to kill her amichai and she is a young lady working for the government trying to stop the war (or at least that what she wants to do. She’s actually stuck as a propaganda advertisement).
I can read S. Usher Evans’ books really fast. Her writing style is my favorite to read because the point of view is constantly switching. I honestly find it kind of boring when the story has one point of view because you are following the one story the entire time. With Chasm, Theo and Galian were in different countries living different lives but having both point of views showed me how their stories affected each other. When I read her other book Spells and Sorcery it only had one point of view but I did not get bored because Sush has a writing style that is easy to read.
Everyone in Rave thinks that Theo spent the last two months in the Mael when she was actually on the island. She ends up being in the media talking about the horrors of Mael. She is stuck in this job lying to the people of Rave and she hates it. Luckily the job provides her with freedoms she did not have as a pilot so she can do some things (read the book mate and you’ll find out what).
Meanwhile in Kylae Prince Galian is working at the hospital trying to stay out of his fathers way. His father, the king is still mad about Theo, a Raven so it’s a good thing Galian is working. Unfortunately he can’t fulfill the promises to Theo because his father is watching him closely.
Here are four other reasons why you should The Chasm if you aren’t already going to read it:
1. Theo and Galian feels give me life. They are one of my OTPs I love them. Just you wait.
2. I absolutely love all the politics. Often books tend to skim over the politics and are like “the leader is bad we need to make it better”. This book actually goes into the politics and the characters have a different approach than revolution.
3. You don’t even realize just how much propaganda is in these countries until you become propaganda yourself.
4. The world that these characters are in is so much like ours but at the same so different. I love hearing about the different countries and how they all have different ways of life and different amounts of wealth.
But just you wait this book gets so good. It’s really hard to talk about because of all the spoilers that would give out. If you’ve read this book and want to talk about it comment or DM me on Twitter. I’m about to start reading The Union by S. Usher Evans, the third and final book in this series so it’s going to be good.
June 28, 2016
Review
Thank you to Sun's Golden Ray Publishing and S. Usher Evans for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved The Island, so when I got a chance to read an ARC of book 2 I didn’t pass it up. While I did not love The Chasm as much as I loved the first novel, it was still an awesome read.
I loved that the S. Usher Evans was able to continue the development of her characters throughout this second novel. Both Prince Galian and Theo’s characters continue to fight for what they believe in while also fighting to be with each other. I felt more connected to the secondary characters in this novel than I did in the first novel. I loved getting to see all of the characters that Galian interacts with.
I thought that the storyline was very well written and lived up to the first novel and continued to build up the conflict. My favorite part of this novel was Galian’s bravery when he decided to close down the prison that is killing the prisoners that are there. He promised Theo he would and he kept his promise.
Once again I have to give Evans huge props for the way she brings up sex in her novels. She doesn’t sugar coat it. She tells her readers exactly what her characters are doing. While other YA others treat sex as “taboo,” Evans doesn’t. As I did with the first novel, I appreciate it. I think more authors should be able to be open and talk about it, if they include sex/sexual feelings.
Read this series. I promise you won’t regret it.
This review was originally posted on little-book-wyrm
Thank you to Sun's Golden Ray Publishing and S. Usher Evans for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved The Island, so when I got a chance to read an ARC of book 2 I didn’t pass it up. While I did not love The Chasm as much as I loved the first novel, it was still an awesome read.
I loved that the S. Usher Evans was able to continue the development of her characters throughout this second novel. Both Prince Galian and Theo’s characters continue to fight for what they believe in while also fighting to be with each other. I felt more connected to the secondary characters in this novel than I did in the first novel. I loved getting to see all of the characters that Galian interacts with.
I thought that the storyline was very well written and lived up to the first novel and continued to build up the conflict. My favorite part of this novel was Galian’s bravery when he decided to close down the prison that is killing the prisoners that are there. He promised Theo he would and he kept his promise.
Once again I have to give Evans huge props for the way she brings up sex in her novels. She doesn’t sugar coat it. She tells her readers exactly what her characters are doing. While other YA others treat sex as “taboo,” Evans doesn’t. As I did with the first novel, I appreciate it. I think more authors should be able to be open and talk about it, if they include sex/sexual feelings.
Read this series. I promise you won’t regret it.
This review was originally posted on little-book-wyrm
July 6, 2016
Going into this book I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as The Island, mainly because Theo and Galian would be in different countries and there would be a lack of their amusing banter and an abundance of “I miss ______” whining. However, I was completely blown away by The Chasm. It starts off slow, and I had to put the book down several times, but then before you know it, BOOM! You’re just launched into everything!
Even with Theo and Galian separated, the book is amazing. You get to wait patiently* for that moment when you know that they’ll meet again, be introduced to a bunch of new characters, some to love, some to hate, see a bit more about the other countries, Jervan and Herin, along with how they come into play with the events occurring between Rave and Kylae, experience a whirlwind of feels because authors are evil, and watch political plots unfold.
This book, and the whole series for that matter, is quickly becoming one of my favourites and it is not one that you want to miss out on!
*Not at all patiently
Even with Theo and Galian separated, the book is amazing. You get to wait patiently* for that moment when you know that they’ll meet again, be introduced to a bunch of new characters, some to love, some to hate, see a bit more about the other countries, Jervan and Herin, along with how they come into play with the events occurring between Rave and Kylae, experience a whirlwind of feels because authors are evil, and watch political plots unfold.
This book, and the whole series for that matter, is quickly becoming one of my favourites and it is not one that you want to miss out on!
*Not at all patiently
July 5, 2016
It's the perfect middle book in a trilogy. Plenty of new developments in the areas of adventure, romance, intrigue, and drama, and it ends with a new cliffhanger that leaves you hoping the third book comes out REALLY SOON. Evans' characters are funny and multi-layered as always. I really enjoyed getting to know more of the minor characters in this book (hardly possible in the first book with the two leads stuck on an island :)), and discovering that the espionage and political machinations in the Madion Sea world go even deeper than I thought.
June 26, 2016
I mentioned before I am usually not one for romance novels but S Usher Evans does it again. She shows us a world so rich and interesting that we do not wish to put the book down. There is a point in this book where she had me almost in tears because of the emotions she made me feel. After every book I am always excited to pick up the next one for she has never disappointed me.
May 9, 2016
Brilliant follow up installment to The Island. A perfect blend of forbidden romance, conflict and military excitement, I would recommend this series to anyone who loves action or fantasy.
June 18, 2017
I'm shelving this under "Fantasy" because its world does not exist. But there's no magic in it, either -- this is a technological world of airplanes and automobiles and, well, normal stuff.
In the first book, THE ISLAND, Theo, a female war pilot from the country of Rave, shoots down a plane from her nation's enemy, Kylae, with whom Rave has been at war for decades. Her quarry crashes on a remote and deserted island, and Theo realizes that her own plane is damaged and she's going to crash too. Her surprise is immense when she discovers that not only did the other pilot survive, but that he is Prince Galian of Kylae, and she is now trapped with him on the island. Things get even more complicated when they fall in love.
Now, in THE CHASM, Theo and Prince Galian have been rescued and returned to their original lives. But the war is going on, and now their respective leaders see the two of them as pawns to be used in new ways to gain leverage. Meanwhile all that Theo and Galian want is to end the war and be together.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the second book. It does begin with the sort of "Why can't we be together" moping that one might expect, but this gives way pretty quickly, and gradually the book becomes an action-filled political thriller. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way, with author Evans establishing a lot of various factions and individuals with hidden agendas that I assume will all come to bear in the trilogy's concluding volume. Evans paces the book wonderfully, but even better than that, she populates the book with compelling and real characters. As heartbroken as Theo and Galian are at first, neither is particularly inclined to just mope around forever. Her characters are never reduced to "damsel in distress" status, and there are moments of surprising emotional heft toward the end of this book.
I can't wait to read the last volume!
In the first book, THE ISLAND, Theo, a female war pilot from the country of Rave, shoots down a plane from her nation's enemy, Kylae, with whom Rave has been at war for decades. Her quarry crashes on a remote and deserted island, and Theo realizes that her own plane is damaged and she's going to crash too. Her surprise is immense when she discovers that not only did the other pilot survive, but that he is Prince Galian of Kylae, and she is now trapped with him on the island. Things get even more complicated when they fall in love.
Now, in THE CHASM, Theo and Prince Galian have been rescued and returned to their original lives. But the war is going on, and now their respective leaders see the two of them as pawns to be used in new ways to gain leverage. Meanwhile all that Theo and Galian want is to end the war and be together.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the second book. It does begin with the sort of "Why can't we be together" moping that one might expect, but this gives way pretty quickly, and gradually the book becomes an action-filled political thriller. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way, with author Evans establishing a lot of various factions and individuals with hidden agendas that I assume will all come to bear in the trilogy's concluding volume. Evans paces the book wonderfully, but even better than that, she populates the book with compelling and real characters. As heartbroken as Theo and Galian are at first, neither is particularly inclined to just mope around forever. Her characters are never reduced to "damsel in distress" status, and there are moments of surprising emotional heft toward the end of this book.
I can't wait to read the last volume!
November 19, 2019
The second book of "The Madion War Trilogy" is interesting, and certainly builds on some of the political intrigue promised in the first. However, if it wasn't obvious from its predecessor, "The Chasm" is definitely a romance novel first, and anything else a distant second. The first third of the book is spent flipping between Galian and Theo, our star-crossed lovers, as they each deal with being back to the grind of their previous lives. I empathized with both characters, but I definitely wanted the story to get moving a little more quickly. Once it picks up, however, the narrative moves pretty fast. There is little actual action in this story, but the political maneuverings of various characters are interesting, and I wish we had spent more time with savvier, more intriguing characters like the queen, Kader, or Bayard. This story ends on a solid note and sets up well for the third and final installment, without leaving readers with a cliffhanger.
July 5, 2018
It is far easier to overcome prejudices when you are alone on a desert island, but to try to change the thinking of two countries who have long been at war takes far more effort. Now that Galian and Theo are separated, their personal battles to honor each other and their countries is a challenge that the author handles deftly.
If it were just romance, I would have set this series aside. However, the action, intrigue, and politics as a backdrop for their relationship makes for an exciting read.
The highlight of the developing relationship was that their choice to love each other was not mere feeling. They both had to choose the greater good. It makes the relationship far more realistic that it includes sacrifice.
If it were just romance, I would have set this series aside. However, the action, intrigue, and politics as a backdrop for their relationship makes for an exciting read.
The highlight of the developing relationship was that their choice to love each other was not mere feeling. They both had to choose the greater good. It makes the relationship far more realistic that it includes sacrifice.
September 17, 2017
A well crafted political thriller with two main characters who are just always one step behind in the great game. If you enjoyed the world-building in the first book in the Madion War trilogy, then you'll absolutely love the continuation of politics, intrigue, and danger in The Chasm. If you were in it for the romance, I'm afraid it takes something of a backseat here, and you'll need to cling to the moments of book #1 to get you through as we all wait for our two babes to find each other again.
If drama, intrigue, and a continuously evolving world float your boat, then I definitely recommend The Chasm!
If drama, intrigue, and a continuously evolving world float your boat, then I definitely recommend The Chasm!
April 2, 2018
Great sequel to a thrilling political and romance series. There are many hands at play and neither know who to trust. Both Theo and Galian want the best for their country, to end the war, but to do so peacefully and without retaliation. While they have many chances to just leave it all behind, their love for their country and to end the war is stronger, so they will work together to make that happen. The book shows that there are both good and bad on either side and that there are those who want to go about ending the war differently than those who are in power, but there's the risk of treason. I'm looking forward to reading the last book.
July 1, 2018
Summary: A bit far fetched in places, but engaging enough. The romance side is laid on thick. Not really my cup of tea, not really SF.
Plotline: Very simple but well thought out with suitably naive participants that make it all work
Premise: Again simple but effective corporate greed over humanity type
Writing: Simple, highly readable
Ending: A bit Yukey .. more to come
Pace: Never a dull moment!
Plotline: Very simple but well thought out with suitably naive participants that make it all work
Premise: Again simple but effective corporate greed over humanity type
Writing: Simple, highly readable
Ending: A bit Yukey .. more to come
Pace: Never a dull moment!
January 4, 2018
Good follow-up to THE ISLAND. There are some slow parts that I slogged through but the exciting sections made up for them.
May 21, 2022
I really liked book 1 but I think book 2 is even better. The political intrigue and back stabbing is a nice mix to this story. Looking forward to book 3.
March 11, 2024
good suspense
Thrilling suspensful! Although it’s fictional it is trying to teach us a lesson! It mimics some things that are going on in the world right now!
Thrilling suspensful! Although it’s fictional it is trying to teach us a lesson! It mimics some things that are going on in the world right now!
August 2, 2016
This review and more can be found at The Heart of a Book Blogger.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
The Chasm is the second book in the Madion War trilogy. The review below may contain spoilers for The Island, book one of the Madion War trilogy. A spoiler-free review of book one can be read here.
The Chasm picks up four months after the end of The Island. Prince Galian is back to work at the hospital and avoiding the rest of his family. Meanwhile, Theo is back in Rave and has become the latest media darling there. Even though she hates the spotlight, Theo puts up with it in order to get close to President Bayard so that she will be able to actually help her people and country.
While reading The Island, something just felt a little off to me. I still do not really know what it was exactly, but whatever is was, it disappeared in The Chasm and I ended up being able to connect to the characters more. Another reason I think I ended up enjoying the sequel more, was because Theo and Galian were separated most of the book so there were two different storylines and more action to follow.
One of my favorite parts of The Island was the politics between the two countries and how these views affected both Theo and Galian. The world-building continues to grow in The Chasm, and I loved learning more Rave and Kylae as well as a little bit more about Herin and Jervan. It was especially interesting learning how corrupt Rave’s government actually is.
I really do love Galian and Theo’s romance. Since they were separated for most of the book, they were both lovesick most of the time, which definitely could be a little bit on the irritating side. However, once they were reunited, that part disappeared. One thing that I love is how Galian and Theo bring up the best in each other and push each other to be the best that they can possibly be.
Overall, The Chasm was a great sequel and I enjoyed it even more than The Island. I look forward to reading the conclusion to the Madion War trilogy, The Union, next year!
*This review copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for a honest review.*
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
The Chasm is the second book in the Madion War trilogy. The review below may contain spoilers for The Island, book one of the Madion War trilogy. A spoiler-free review of book one can be read here.
The Chasm picks up four months after the end of The Island. Prince Galian is back to work at the hospital and avoiding the rest of his family. Meanwhile, Theo is back in Rave and has become the latest media darling there. Even though she hates the spotlight, Theo puts up with it in order to get close to President Bayard so that she will be able to actually help her people and country.
While reading The Island, something just felt a little off to me. I still do not really know what it was exactly, but whatever is was, it disappeared in The Chasm and I ended up being able to connect to the characters more. Another reason I think I ended up enjoying the sequel more, was because Theo and Galian were separated most of the book so there were two different storylines and more action to follow.
One of my favorite parts of The Island was the politics between the two countries and how these views affected both Theo and Galian. The world-building continues to grow in The Chasm, and I loved learning more Rave and Kylae as well as a little bit more about Herin and Jervan. It was especially interesting learning how corrupt Rave’s government actually is.
I really do love Galian and Theo’s romance. Since they were separated for most of the book, they were both lovesick most of the time, which definitely could be a little bit on the irritating side. However, once they were reunited, that part disappeared. One thing that I love is how Galian and Theo bring up the best in each other and push each other to be the best that they can possibly be.
Overall, The Chasm was a great sequel and I enjoyed it even more than The Island. I look forward to reading the conclusion to the Madion War trilogy, The Union, next year!
*This review copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for a honest review.*
July 15, 2016
4.5/5 Stars
S. Usher Evans' second installment of The Madion War Trilogy, The Chasm, finds Theo and Galian back in their respective countries, struggling to make a difference. What will it take to close a prison camp, to end a war, to protect their own people? This one surpassed the first book in terms of both worldbuilding and the characters and I really really enjoyed it. Still a survival story, just in a different landscape.
In this book, Evans is able to flesh out and expand on the firm foundation laid out in The Island. The reader is taken to new locales, getting to see politics at play. While the conflict between Kylae and Rave is still ongoing, it becomes a more multifaceted front. There's the countries of Herin and Jervan to contend with as well as rebel factions, massive corporations, and the always important public opinion. I guess peace was never going to be easy.
Theo and Galian, now separated by the Great Madion Sea, must learn how to survive all over again. Both of them are a little lost in their new lives, but at least now their eyes have been opened. Galian can throw himself into his work and avoid his family. Unfortunately, Theo does not have that luxury as she's essentially a government toy. Their bond may have been stretched, but their love held firm.
These MCs were, of course, my favorite part but now a whole slew of side characters come into their own. I really enjoyed getting to suss out Kader's backstory and his loyalties. He may be gruff and intense but there's so much more to him. I'm glad that both Galian' s brother, Rhys, and his mother The Queen played a more active role in the story. The royal family definitely surprised me.
Overall The Chasm was a wonderful addition to S. Usher Evans' Madion War Trilogy. I loved exploring the many reaches of this world and the expanding struggle. Theo and Galian grew tremendously and the development of the other characters definitely helped the story. I'm so happy I discovered this series and I would suggest this to others in a heartbeat.
Originally posted on Hopeful Reads
S. Usher Evans' second installment of The Madion War Trilogy, The Chasm, finds Theo and Galian back in their respective countries, struggling to make a difference. What will it take to close a prison camp, to end a war, to protect their own people? This one surpassed the first book in terms of both worldbuilding and the characters and I really really enjoyed it. Still a survival story, just in a different landscape.
In this book, Evans is able to flesh out and expand on the firm foundation laid out in The Island. The reader is taken to new locales, getting to see politics at play. While the conflict between Kylae and Rave is still ongoing, it becomes a more multifaceted front. There's the countries of Herin and Jervan to contend with as well as rebel factions, massive corporations, and the always important public opinion. I guess peace was never going to be easy.
Theo and Galian, now separated by the Great Madion Sea, must learn how to survive all over again. Both of them are a little lost in their new lives, but at least now their eyes have been opened. Galian can throw himself into his work and avoid his family. Unfortunately, Theo does not have that luxury as she's essentially a government toy. Their bond may have been stretched, but their love held firm.
These MCs were, of course, my favorite part but now a whole slew of side characters come into their own. I really enjoyed getting to suss out Kader's backstory and his loyalties. He may be gruff and intense but there's so much more to him. I'm glad that both Galian' s brother, Rhys, and his mother The Queen played a more active role in the story. The royal family definitely surprised me.
Overall The Chasm was a wonderful addition to S. Usher Evans' Madion War Trilogy. I loved exploring the many reaches of this world and the expanding struggle. Theo and Galian grew tremendously and the development of the other characters definitely helped the story. I'm so happy I discovered this series and I would suggest this to others in a heartbeat.
Originally posted on Hopeful Reads
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