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The Resonance Tetralogy #2
Fracture
“The shadows are coming.” Months after the tremors that shook the world, repercussions of battle still lie in Xayall’s broken streets. Among the debris stands Bayer, former bodyguard to Faria, Empress of the city state. His position redundant, and his injuries still healing, he struggles to find new purpose. Unrest between nations is already stirring. A Councillor from Andarn has been murdered, and only a handful realise that sinister machinations are blackening the root of the whole continent. Questioning his duties, Bayer finds himself escorting Captain Alaris on a mission from which neither may return, although their failure may spark a brutal and catastrophic war. As blades rise, threats both new and old emerge from the darkness and bare their teeth at the world... -------------------- Once again set in the world of Eeres, Hugo delves deep into the hearts and minds of those within the story, revealing the strengths even they are reluctant to acknowledge. Fast-paced, but with breathing room for wonderfully developed characters, and the promise of hope vanquishing hate, this piece of fantasy deserves to be on the shelf of young and old readers alike. Told with an authentic, engaging voice through the eyes of multiple creatures, Fracture tells the story of personal, emotional and literal journeys to confront the past for the sake of the future.
- GenresFantasy
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2016
4 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 28, 2019
It was a challenge to decide which was better, this book or the first, but I believe Fracture has it by just a little bit. Where, at times, I'd found myself confused by the technology and settings of the last book, I didn't have the same issue as much during this one. The resonance power still is a tad tough to grasp, and some of the politics had me confused, but once the action picked up I enjoyed following the characters (all of which grew on me) and seeing the epic battle and conclusion. Bayer and Alaris in particular became much more three-dimensional and interesting to follow, though it was nice to visit the old characters from time to time.
One last thing: apparently I don't know my animals well enough; I had literally no idea what a coati was and it required a google session to get a picture of the character. But that's definitely my own fault and I applaud those who know what a coati is.
One last thing: apparently I don't know my animals well enough; I had literally no idea what a coati was and it required a google session to get a picture of the character. But that's definitely my own fault and I applaud those who know what a coati is.
April 13, 2025
The second book in the Resonance Tetralogy, Fracture continues the adventures of Faria and her friends in the world of Eeres. Picking up shortly after the first left off, we return to a city damaged by the Dhrakan assault.
Set months after the first book in the aftermath of the violent attack by the Dhraka, we once again return to the fantasy world of Eeres, and the kingdom of Xayall, still recovering from its wounds.
The second book is largely based around characters that didn’t get a lot of screen time in the first installment, notably Bayer, Faria’s protector, and Captain Alaris, a pangolin soldier from neighboring Andarn. Together they travel to carry out a mission whose consequences may spell disaster for the entire continent.
Bayer spends much of the book struggling to find his purpose in a world turned upside down, a position I think most of us can appreciate. While wanting to be useful, he does not know how he fits in the aftermath of all that has happened. I found him to be a loyal and brave character who is exactly the sort of person you want watching your back, whether he’s with you physically or not.
As for Alaris, he is perhaps the first pangolin character I think I’ve ever encountered in furry fiction, at least so far. I appreciate his creative interpretation of his orders early in the book, and he definitely strikes me as a skilled military leader, one who knows what’s in the best interests of the nation and not just following his orders without question.
With their wounds tended to and the threat gone, Xayall begins the slow process of reconstruction in the aftermath of the revelations brought by Faria’s father. With the help of the nation of Andarn, the city begins its slow journey back towards normality, but not all is as it seems.
Left with little to do and still recovering from his injuries, Bayer finds himself without purpose. When a councilor from Andarn is murdered, he escorts Captain Alaris on a mission to uncover the truth, with the price of their failure meaning war.
The sequel to Legacy, Fracture is the follow up to the fantasy epic written by Hugo Jackson. I always enjoy Hugo’s books as they’re usually filled with interesting characters and exciting battles that you can almost see in your imagination. For the most part I wouldn’t really characterize it as a direct sequel, but more of a follow up that goes in a slightly different direction. Now I don’t know if that was the intention, but I suspect based on the pattern so far that perhaps book three will follow Osiris as a main character with a journey to Skyria. Whether that pattern holds I’ll find out when I examine the next book.
In Fracture we find ourselves deeply embedded in a mystery that begins with the first pages and a sudden murder to which we scarcely know what’s going on. In it’s aftermath we return to the familiar if a bit damaged setting of Xayall, where we catch up with our characters after the violent attack by the Dhraka.
One thing the author does very well is create strong characters that have motivations you can feel. Largely absent from the first book, we can tell that Bayer is finding himself somewhat without purpose in the days following Faria’s return. With his role as protector occupied by Kyru and Aeryn, he has little to do with his sovereign and Faria’s father now gone. When given a task by Captain Alaris of the nation of Andarn, he goes along.
Returning to his former residence of Kyrryk he discovers far more is going on than he anticipated.
First, the positives. Hugo’s characters are fleshed out three dimensional individuals whose personalities show very well throughout the narrative. I can really feel the bond between the characters and their own personal struggles. I’d also say that the descriptions are vivid and full of literary flavor.
Although this is going to sound like a criticism, I have to say that for me personally it was a bit harder for me to follow than the previous book. The author told me that it was not as linear as the first but I don’t really know if I’d say that was the issue. Now I do want to reiterate that it was a very enjoyable book that I would absolutely recommend to fans of the series and the fantasy genre overall. Not to mention the amazing cover really just provides a beautiful introduction to the book’s main characters.
Where I feel that Fracture suffers is from a slight disconnect between the conspiracy that begins the book and the rest of the material. While we see a murder early on I don’t feel that it really was given proper context in the subsequent chapters. It is mentioned by the other characters and it gets Captain Alaris sent home, but these events to me at least felt somewhat distant and not a direct cause of any of the early events of the novel.
What I think would have served the book better is for Faria to have had a more central role in the sequel, stepping into her role as a statesman (or statesperson). I feel that the early chapters should have had Faria attempting to argue for her sovereign on the Senate floor, asking for aid and arguing for their continued independence. Coupled with the backdrop of the murder, I think Bayer should have been investigating it and that in turn leading him to the events in Kyrryk later in the book. While Osiris and Maaka take Tierenan to Skyria, Aeryn and Kyru would remain with Faria in the capital while the conspiracy takes shape. With most of the events setting up the conspiracy seen in isolation with none of our main cast aware of or directly affected by them, it makes it difficult to connect cause and effect until close to the book’s conclusion. And while I do agree that you don’t want to give away too much too early, it’s important that these events are grounded in the rest of the plot so we know as the audience how they play out, even if the POV characters do not.
Overall I found the book very enjoyable and I absolutely recommend it without reservation.
Set months after the first book in the aftermath of the violent attack by the Dhraka, we once again return to the fantasy world of Eeres, and the kingdom of Xayall, still recovering from its wounds.
The second book is largely based around characters that didn’t get a lot of screen time in the first installment, notably Bayer, Faria’s protector, and Captain Alaris, a pangolin soldier from neighboring Andarn. Together they travel to carry out a mission whose consequences may spell disaster for the entire continent.
Bayer spends much of the book struggling to find his purpose in a world turned upside down, a position I think most of us can appreciate. While wanting to be useful, he does not know how he fits in the aftermath of all that has happened. I found him to be a loyal and brave character who is exactly the sort of person you want watching your back, whether he’s with you physically or not.
As for Alaris, he is perhaps the first pangolin character I think I’ve ever encountered in furry fiction, at least so far. I appreciate his creative interpretation of his orders early in the book, and he definitely strikes me as a skilled military leader, one who knows what’s in the best interests of the nation and not just following his orders without question.
With their wounds tended to and the threat gone, Xayall begins the slow process of reconstruction in the aftermath of the revelations brought by Faria’s father. With the help of the nation of Andarn, the city begins its slow journey back towards normality, but not all is as it seems.
Left with little to do and still recovering from his injuries, Bayer finds himself without purpose. When a councilor from Andarn is murdered, he escorts Captain Alaris on a mission to uncover the truth, with the price of their failure meaning war.
The sequel to Legacy, Fracture is the follow up to the fantasy epic written by Hugo Jackson. I always enjoy Hugo’s books as they’re usually filled with interesting characters and exciting battles that you can almost see in your imagination. For the most part I wouldn’t really characterize it as a direct sequel, but more of a follow up that goes in a slightly different direction. Now I don’t know if that was the intention, but I suspect based on the pattern so far that perhaps book three will follow Osiris as a main character with a journey to Skyria. Whether that pattern holds I’ll find out when I examine the next book.
In Fracture we find ourselves deeply embedded in a mystery that begins with the first pages and a sudden murder to which we scarcely know what’s going on. In it’s aftermath we return to the familiar if a bit damaged setting of Xayall, where we catch up with our characters after the violent attack by the Dhraka.
One thing the author does very well is create strong characters that have motivations you can feel. Largely absent from the first book, we can tell that Bayer is finding himself somewhat without purpose in the days following Faria’s return. With his role as protector occupied by Kyru and Aeryn, he has little to do with his sovereign and Faria’s father now gone. When given a task by Captain Alaris of the nation of Andarn, he goes along.
Returning to his former residence of Kyrryk he discovers far more is going on than he anticipated.
First, the positives. Hugo’s characters are fleshed out three dimensional individuals whose personalities show very well throughout the narrative. I can really feel the bond between the characters and their own personal struggles. I’d also say that the descriptions are vivid and full of literary flavor.
Although this is going to sound like a criticism, I have to say that for me personally it was a bit harder for me to follow than the previous book. The author told me that it was not as linear as the first but I don’t really know if I’d say that was the issue. Now I do want to reiterate that it was a very enjoyable book that I would absolutely recommend to fans of the series and the fantasy genre overall. Not to mention the amazing cover really just provides a beautiful introduction to the book’s main characters.
Where I feel that Fracture suffers is from a slight disconnect between the conspiracy that begins the book and the rest of the material. While we see a murder early on I don’t feel that it really was given proper context in the subsequent chapters. It is mentioned by the other characters and it gets Captain Alaris sent home, but these events to me at least felt somewhat distant and not a direct cause of any of the early events of the novel.
What I think would have served the book better is for Faria to have had a more central role in the sequel, stepping into her role as a statesman (or statesperson). I feel that the early chapters should have had Faria attempting to argue for her sovereign on the Senate floor, asking for aid and arguing for their continued independence. Coupled with the backdrop of the murder, I think Bayer should have been investigating it and that in turn leading him to the events in Kyrryk later in the book. While Osiris and Maaka take Tierenan to Skyria, Aeryn and Kyru would remain with Faria in the capital while the conspiracy takes shape. With most of the events setting up the conspiracy seen in isolation with none of our main cast aware of or directly affected by them, it makes it difficult to connect cause and effect until close to the book’s conclusion. And while I do agree that you don’t want to give away too much too early, it’s important that these events are grounded in the rest of the plot so we know as the audience how they play out, even if the POV characters do not.
Overall I found the book very enjoyable and I absolutely recommend it without reservation.
July 17, 2018
A medieval political thriller??? In MY furry lit??
I am astounded by how different this book was from the previous tetralogy’s entry, “Legacy”. Nearly every aspect of it showcases some of the most admirable improvement I’ve seem from a series-bound author. I’m truly impressed and can only look forward to whatever the third entry has in store.
Jackson’s strongest skill and one that hold a fuming, utter envy for is his ability to craft some wonderful action sequences. There was one particular payoff scene at the very end that made me audibly exclaim at how satisfying it was.
One thing that I think the series may be lacking is a diversity in relationships. I would be lying if I said that I had hoped to see some LGBTQ rep in both this and the previous entry. In “Legacy”, I was almost *positive* that Faria and the femme wolf mercenary would get together, only to get proven wrong. In “Fracture”, I was *positive* that Beyer would either get with his fox friend or Alaris. No dice. It’s a shame, because a YA serious like this would really benefit from having a bit more than het romances. Maybe some trans/enby rep too?
(I sincerely apologize for all of the names I’ve no doubt spelled incorrectly. I’m terrible with names... and i wrote this all on my phone bbbb)
I am astounded by how different this book was from the previous tetralogy’s entry, “Legacy”. Nearly every aspect of it showcases some of the most admirable improvement I’ve seem from a series-bound author. I’m truly impressed and can only look forward to whatever the third entry has in store.
Jackson’s strongest skill and one that hold a fuming, utter envy for is his ability to craft some wonderful action sequences. There was one particular payoff scene at the very end that made me audibly exclaim at how satisfying it was.
One thing that I think the series may be lacking is a diversity in relationships. I would be lying if I said that I had hoped to see some LGBTQ rep in both this and the previous entry. In “Legacy”, I was almost *positive* that Faria and the femme wolf mercenary would get together, only to get proven wrong. In “Fracture”, I was *positive* that Beyer would either get with his fox friend or Alaris. No dice. It’s a shame, because a YA serious like this would really benefit from having a bit more than het romances. Maybe some trans/enby rep too?
(I sincerely apologize for all of the names I’ve no doubt spelled incorrectly. I’m terrible with names... and i wrote this all on my phone bbbb)
August 29, 2017
An epic anthro fantasy continues in this dark and dour tale. Rancorous politics, mystifying intrigue, bloody battles, heart-pounding danger--and that's just the book's first half! With several of our favorite characters sidelined following the cataclysmic battle at the end of the series' first book LEGACY, the remainder solider on with new allies alongside to face down a new threat from within their own ranks. Author Jackson tenders relatable albeit convoluted motivations, heart-rending tragedy and an all-too-familiar feeling of unease in this dismal chapter of our heroes' history, closing as friends old and new commit themselves to a brighter future for all of Eeres. Eagerly anticipating RUIN'S DAWN!
December 1, 2023
Like the first one, I enjoyed this, too. It does something you don't see often in fantasy series, which is to get into the gross nitty gritty of post-world-war politics, where everything is fractured and third-parties start vying for control over weakened states and so on. But it does this through a handful of characters' personal stories, making it less abstract and so maybe more accessible than the kind of literary titan that description might suggest. Plus some crazy magic battles, which are fun.
December 20, 2020
There was a moment in this book towards the end where I genuinely thought, “Oh that’s the good stuff right there” during a large scale fight. I had to physically keep myself from shouting in triumph while I read it in the break room at work. It’s worth reading for that bit alone but to explain what happens is a massive spoiler so I’m going to sell the book on the many other things it has going for it. The sequel to Legacy, Fracture takes a step back from Faria and her friends for most of the book as they recover and rebuild from the Dhrakan siege of Xayall at the end of the first book. The main focus of the book is on Bayer, Faria’s former bodyguard, and Alaris, a captain of the Andarn forces. Together they are entrusted to find and report back on a possible treasonous plot that could involve multiple sovereigns. This means that the book focuses a lot more on the inter-politics of the different nations that are at play and some of the history of why they are the way they are. I was concerned at first because I wasn’t sure how this would be handled. Thankfully, Hugo does a good job of giving context for the different regions without falling into the fantasy novel trope of reading from a fictional history textbook. While the main plot of the book is Bayer and Alaris’s journey to uncover the secrets of this planned treason, the themes of the book are far more interesting. It’s a book about war, but specifically the part of wars that no one really likes to talk about. Rebuilding after major conflicts, how other sovereigns react to those conflicts, why a sovereign would go to war in the first place (hint: it’s very seldom, if at all, a war can be righteous). A lot of time, in fantasy writing, the big battle is won against the villains and the screen fades to black. But life goes on after that. There’s going to be other battles to win, and someone needs to be there to help pick up the pieces that were left behind in the conflict. The moments in the book where these themes shine through is where I think Fracture comes alive the most. Faria, the main character of the last entry, is confined to a hospital bed for the majority of the book as she recovers from her horrific battle with Raikali. We get to see her struggle with her duties as the new Empress of Xayall while trying to heal. And this is where my questions at the end of the first book are used against me. Where do they go from here? They beat the big bad at the end of the first book, so what’s left then? There’s always something after the big fight and usually another villain that you have to contend with. The main antagonists in this book have an interesting edge to them, in that “we’re not so different you and I” kind of way that a villain’s motivations can get under your skin. While I know that what the antagonists are doing is wrong, they have a lot of good dialogue that makes them at least sympathetic in what they think they are going to accomplish. The biggest flaw with the two main antagonists is thinking they are too strong to fail and this provides a nice foil to how the Senate and larger sovereigns must also think of themselves before a disaster strikes. Fracture is a story somehow more about war without actively being set in one that strikes a balance between regrouping and looking forward to a brighter future. That and the sheer amount of quotable dialogue makes this a great continuation of the story.
If you’d like to support the publisher directly, then might I suggest ordering your copy through: https://www.inspired-quill.com/produc...
If you’d like to support the publisher directly, then might I suggest ordering your copy through: https://www.inspired-quill.com/produc...
January 15, 2024
Okay, so this one wasn't as good as the first one. But I think that comes down to personal preference. Book 1 was a country-wide adventure with an active party, while this one focused more on internal intrigue with a duo instead. And with POV cuts every now and again. The POV cuts were nice, it's not a secret that I love those, but book one followed a format that was more fantastic in my opinion.
Hugo's strong suit is as prevalent here as it was in Book 1, the fights. Hugo writes fighting scenes like no other author. Genuinely. He writes them like they're movie fights with the POVs switching wildly back and forth like in an animated movie and you can picture it.
Bayer was a pretty strong protagonist. Not as strong as Faria from Book 1 but he was complex and had his internal struggles. One that strikes somewhat close to home. Alaris mostly complimented him,
The book has flaws. While being a strong story, it felt weak in comparison to the first. The villains were mostly transparent, and the final 3rd of the book felt very cliche and almost rushed to get to the ending. This doesn't feel like a 5-star book. It is a clear 4.
Now while saying this, I can say for certain that the formatting of this book is my favorite one yet out of basically every book I've read. I prefer many chapters, and having them be shorter. It's honestly pretty exhausting to read a book where every chapter is 40+ minutes. And the last few I've read have been clear examples. But this one - 30 chapters that almost all take 15 minutes or less. On the rare occasion a 20-minute one-, that felt great. Cause you can just keep diving into them, and it makes for great page-turners. Genuinely very refreshing.
Hugo's strong suit is as prevalent here as it was in Book 1, the fights. Hugo writes fighting scenes like no other author. Genuinely. He writes them like they're movie fights with the POVs switching wildly back and forth like in an animated movie and you can picture it.
Bayer was a pretty strong protagonist. Not as strong as Faria from Book 1 but he was complex and had his internal struggles. One that strikes somewhat close to home. Alaris mostly complimented him,
The book has flaws. While being a strong story, it felt weak in comparison to the first. The villains were mostly transparent, and the final 3rd of the book felt very cliche and almost rushed to get to the ending. This doesn't feel like a 5-star book. It is a clear 4.
Now while saying this, I can say for certain that the formatting of this book is my favorite one yet out of basically every book I've read. I prefer many chapters, and having them be shorter. It's honestly pretty exhausting to read a book where every chapter is 40+ minutes. And the last few I've read have been clear examples. But this one - 30 chapters that almost all take 15 minutes or less. On the rare occasion a 20-minute one-, that felt great. Cause you can just keep diving into them, and it makes for great page-turners. Genuinely very refreshing.
October 22, 2016
Nice piece of work. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Such a rich, detailed world, a compelling cast of characters, and thrills aplenty. Looking forward to book three.
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August 2, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13667175
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13667175
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews