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A Sea of Skulls
The 2017 Dragon Award Finalist for Best Fantasy Novel
In Selenoth, the war drums are beating throughout the land. The savage orcs of Hagahorn and Zoth Ommog are on the move, imperiling Man, Dwarf, and Elf alike. The Houses Martial of Amorr have gone to war with each other, pitting legion against legion, and family against family, as civil war wracks the disintegrating Empire. In the north, inhuman wolf-demons besiege the last redoubt of Man in the White Sea, while in Savondir, the royal house of de Mirid desperately prepares to defend the kingdom against an invading army that is larger than any it has ever faced before. And in the underground realm of the King of Iron Mountain, a strange new enemy has been attacking dwarf villages throughout the Underdeep.
Beneath the widespread violence that has seized all Selenoth in its grasp, a select few are beginning to recognize the appearance of a historic pattern of almost unimaginable proportions. Are all these conflicts involving Orc, Elf, Man, and Dwarf the natural result of inevitable rivalries, or are they little more than battlegrounds in an ancient war that began long before the dawn of time?
Epic fantasy at its deepest and most intense. A SEA OF SKULLS is Book II in the ARTS OF DARK AND LIGHT series that began with A THRONE OF BONES.
In Selenoth, the war drums are beating throughout the land. The savage orcs of Hagahorn and Zoth Ommog are on the move, imperiling Man, Dwarf, and Elf alike. The Houses Martial of Amorr have gone to war with each other, pitting legion against legion, and family against family, as civil war wracks the disintegrating Empire. In the north, inhuman wolf-demons besiege the last redoubt of Man in the White Sea, while in Savondir, the royal house of de Mirid desperately prepares to defend the kingdom against an invading army that is larger than any it has ever faced before. And in the underground realm of the King of Iron Mountain, a strange new enemy has been attacking dwarf villages throughout the Underdeep.
Beneath the widespread violence that has seized all Selenoth in its grasp, a select few are beginning to recognize the appearance of a historic pattern of almost unimaginable proportions. Are all these conflicts involving Orc, Elf, Man, and Dwarf the natural result of inevitable rivalries, or are they little more than battlegrounds in an ancient war that began long before the dawn of time?
Epic fantasy at its deepest and most intense. A SEA OF SKULLS is Book II in the ARTS OF DARK AND LIGHT series that began with A THRONE OF BONES.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2016
About the author
Vox Day
105 books453 followers Theodore Beale does much of his writing under the pseudonym Vox Day. Three-time Hugo Award nominee Vox Day writes epic fantasy as well as non-fiction about religion, philosophy, and economics. His literary focus is military realism, historical verisimilitude, and plausible characters who represent the full spectrum of human behavior. He is a professional game designer who speaks four languages and a three-time Billboard top 40 recording artist.
He maintains a pair of popular blogs, Vox Popoli and Alpha Game, which between them average over 20 million annual pageviews. He is a Native American and his books have been translated into ten languages.
He is the Lead Editor of Castalia House, and is also, with Tom Kratman, the co-creator of the military science fiction anthology series, RIDING THE RED HORSE.
He maintains a pair of popular blogs, Vox Popoli and Alpha Game, which between them average over 20 million annual pageviews. He is a Native American and his books have been translated into ten languages.
He is the Lead Editor of Castalia House, and is also, with Tom Kratman, the co-creator of the military science fiction anthology series, RIDING THE RED HORSE.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 29, 2017
A few weeks ago, when I included A Sea of Skulls by Vox Day in my Dragon Award nomination list, I promised to have a review out. Events on the ground caused things to shift around, but today I can finally share that review with you.
Before delving into the book review itself, I should point out a few things. First of all, this is not quite a complete book. The author released it in its current form, promising to follow up with a finalized version when it's actually done. It's an interesting experiment in the digital world, and I'm curious to see how that works out for him in the long run. Second, unlike many books that I review, I did not receive a free copy from the author. I paid full price for my copy.
This series is, to me, one of the most interesting things happening in the current science fiction and fantasy landscape. Book one kind of blew my mind. Book two continues in that tradition.
The author has stated that he intended this series as a deliberate shot across the bow at George R.R. Martin for a) his inability to finish his epic master series and b) the fact that Martin has clearly lost the plot in later books. As a reader, my belief is not only that Mr. Day has succeeded, but that he's also created a substantially better series than Mr. Martin's.
The series share much in common. The books are long. The story is epic in scope - very epic - spanning a huge fictional world. The world feels lived in, with a great deal of history, and included many diverse cultures. Massive battles and dirty politics are the order of the day.
But the Arts of Dark and Light series has two things dreadfully lost in A Song of Ice and Fire: hope and humanity.
When Martin killed Ned Stark at the end of his first book, it produced a shocking effect. It roped me in - and many others like me. But at the current point of A Song of Ice and Fire, there's nobody left to really root for. All of the honorable characters are long dead. Even the semi-honorable characters have now met their demise. Only the disgusting remain. Westeros has become a bleak and desolate place. The current state of the story leaves us wondering if it can be saved - but that's normal storytelling. It also leaves us wondering if it should be saved, and that's where it's losing me.
Mr. Day, on the other hand, has kept a ray of humanity in his characters even as they face a world of darkness around them. Some characters succomb to the evil. But others do not, and we still have champions worth rooting for.
One interesting thing about this series is the way Mr. Day has developed a world based so heavily on the Roman era. This is an unusal setting for contemporary fantasy writers, and that helps it stand out. More interesting, however, is the way he weaves religion into the story. Unlike most fantasy worlds that present a "psuedo" Catholic church - ie, Catholic in all of its trappings but none of its actual theology - Mr. Day presents what basically is the Catholic church. The beliefs are more or less complete.
To me, this provides a level of verisimilitude that other fantasy worlds can't compete with. Most authors seem to assume that the trappings of the Catholic church are inherent in organized religion in general. They're not. They're distinctly Christian in character, which is why you basically only see them in the real world in the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Mr. Day recognizes that these features didn't evolve in a vacuum. In his world, they belong. And one can't help but think, given the story's hints, that the church will come back to play a major role.
This book doesn't feel like an incomplete book. You won't miss what's not there. However, if you get it now, you'll also get the updates when they come. I, for one, look forward to that.
I do have three specific complaints about the book, however.
First, I really wish we'd seen more of the church again in this installment. I'm hoping for more of that in the update.
Second, the author (who has a natural gift for languages himself, and speaks several) has clearly developed rather involved languages for his elves, dwarves, and orcs. Unfortunately, he uses them just a bit too much in this installment. This makes some sections of the book hard to follow. I'm a long time fantasy fan and used to unfamiliar fantasy words. But I also don't have Mr. Day's natural gift for language - and this extensive use of them draws me out of the story as I struggle to understand what's actually going on.
Third, and finally, this installment focuses a bit too much for my taste on a particular female elf. Her storyline is interesting, but the author spends time on it that I would rather have spent reading about the other characters. This isn't as bad as it might sound, though. Had her chapters been broken up a bit more, it would've been fine. I hope that the updated, final version of the book will address this.
Even with these flaws, this is still a five star book. If you're into epic fantasy, I can't recommend Arts of Dark and Light highly enough. Give it a shot.
Before delving into the book review itself, I should point out a few things. First of all, this is not quite a complete book. The author released it in its current form, promising to follow up with a finalized version when it's actually done. It's an interesting experiment in the digital world, and I'm curious to see how that works out for him in the long run. Second, unlike many books that I review, I did not receive a free copy from the author. I paid full price for my copy.
This series is, to me, one of the most interesting things happening in the current science fiction and fantasy landscape. Book one kind of blew my mind. Book two continues in that tradition.
The author has stated that he intended this series as a deliberate shot across the bow at George R.R. Martin for a) his inability to finish his epic master series and b) the fact that Martin has clearly lost the plot in later books. As a reader, my belief is not only that Mr. Day has succeeded, but that he's also created a substantially better series than Mr. Martin's.
The series share much in common. The books are long. The story is epic in scope - very epic - spanning a huge fictional world. The world feels lived in, with a great deal of history, and included many diverse cultures. Massive battles and dirty politics are the order of the day.
But the Arts of Dark and Light series has two things dreadfully lost in A Song of Ice and Fire: hope and humanity.
When Martin killed Ned Stark at the end of his first book, it produced a shocking effect. It roped me in - and many others like me. But at the current point of A Song of Ice and Fire, there's nobody left to really root for. All of the honorable characters are long dead. Even the semi-honorable characters have now met their demise. Only the disgusting remain. Westeros has become a bleak and desolate place. The current state of the story leaves us wondering if it can be saved - but that's normal storytelling. It also leaves us wondering if it should be saved, and that's where it's losing me.
Mr. Day, on the other hand, has kept a ray of humanity in his characters even as they face a world of darkness around them. Some characters succomb to the evil. But others do not, and we still have champions worth rooting for.
One interesting thing about this series is the way Mr. Day has developed a world based so heavily on the Roman era. This is an unusal setting for contemporary fantasy writers, and that helps it stand out. More interesting, however, is the way he weaves religion into the story. Unlike most fantasy worlds that present a "psuedo" Catholic church - ie, Catholic in all of its trappings but none of its actual theology - Mr. Day presents what basically is the Catholic church. The beliefs are more or less complete.
To me, this provides a level of verisimilitude that other fantasy worlds can't compete with. Most authors seem to assume that the trappings of the Catholic church are inherent in organized religion in general. They're not. They're distinctly Christian in character, which is why you basically only see them in the real world in the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Mr. Day recognizes that these features didn't evolve in a vacuum. In his world, they belong. And one can't help but think, given the story's hints, that the church will come back to play a major role.
This book doesn't feel like an incomplete book. You won't miss what's not there. However, if you get it now, you'll also get the updates when they come. I, for one, look forward to that.
I do have three specific complaints about the book, however.
First, I really wish we'd seen more of the church again in this installment. I'm hoping for more of that in the update.
Second, the author (who has a natural gift for languages himself, and speaks several) has clearly developed rather involved languages for his elves, dwarves, and orcs. Unfortunately, he uses them just a bit too much in this installment. This makes some sections of the book hard to follow. I'm a long time fantasy fan and used to unfamiliar fantasy words. But I also don't have Mr. Day's natural gift for language - and this extensive use of them draws me out of the story as I struggle to understand what's actually going on.
Third, and finally, this installment focuses a bit too much for my taste on a particular female elf. Her storyline is interesting, but the author spends time on it that I would rather have spent reading about the other characters. This isn't as bad as it might sound, though. Had her chapters been broken up a bit more, it would've been fine. I hope that the updated, final version of the book will address this.
Even with these flaws, this is still a five star book. If you're into epic fantasy, I can't recommend Arts of Dark and Light highly enough. Give it a shot.
December 20, 2016
Epic War
Even better than the first. The perspectives were well written and differed entirely on the concepts of civilization and what it means for each to make war. Whether it is from an orc captain or an elven wing of flying calvary, a stranded Legion, a feudal kingdom of knights and let us not forget the Vikings. All unique with a current of practical realism in how strategy and tactics play out in total war including the inner turmoil of personal ideology of each main character. What is the right choice? What pieces make up the foundation of how to even begin to inform one of which choice is wisdom and which folly. Epic on the level of Tolkien, but written in a totally different way, for a different generation of audience. Tolkien addressed good and evil of his generations struggle, while Day is focused on the heart of his own generation. Good and evil are timeless, but the battlefield shifts with the times and Day nails it.
Even better than the first. The perspectives were well written and differed entirely on the concepts of civilization and what it means for each to make war. Whether it is from an orc captain or an elven wing of flying calvary, a stranded Legion, a feudal kingdom of knights and let us not forget the Vikings. All unique with a current of practical realism in how strategy and tactics play out in total war including the inner turmoil of personal ideology of each main character. What is the right choice? What pieces make up the foundation of how to even begin to inform one of which choice is wisdom and which folly. Epic on the level of Tolkien, but written in a totally different way, for a different generation of audience. Tolkien addressed good and evil of his generations struggle, while Day is focused on the heart of his own generation. Good and evil are timeless, but the battlefield shifts with the times and Day nails it.
Read
January 26, 2021After reading his response to N.K. Jemisin during their feud, I think it's best if I leave Mr. Beale's work to the side. I don't think there's enough to know about this man rather than this:
"Jemisin has it wrong; it is not that I, and others, do not view her as human, (although genetic science presently suggests that we are not equally homo sapiens sapiens), it is that we do not view her as being fully civilized for the obvious reason that she is not.
She is lying about the laws in Texas and Florida too. The laws are not there to let whites “just shoot people like me, without consequence, as long as they feel threatened by my presence”, those self defence laws have been put in place to let whites defend themselves by shooting people, like her, who are savages in attacking white people.
Jemisin’s disregard for the truth is no different than the average Chicago gangbanger’s disregard for the law…
Unlike the white males she excoriates, there is no evidence that a society of NK Jemisins is capable of building an advanced civilization, or even successfully maintaining one without significant external support. Considering that it took my English and German ancestors more than one thousand years to become fully civilised after their first contact with an advanced civilisation, it is illogical to imagine, let alone insist, that Africans have somehow managed to do so in less than half the time with even less direct contact. These things take time.
Being an educated, but ignorant savage, with no more understanding of what it took to build a new literature by “a bunch of beardy old middle-class middle-American guys” than an illiterate Igbotu tribesman has of how to build a jet engine, Jemisin clearly does not understand that her dishonest call for “reconciliation” and even more diversity with SF/F is tantamount to a call for its decline into irrelevance…
Reconciliation is not possible between the realistic and the delusional."
Is there really more to know? Hard pass.
"Jemisin has it wrong; it is not that I, and others, do not view her as human, (although genetic science presently suggests that we are not equally homo sapiens sapiens), it is that we do not view her as being fully civilized for the obvious reason that she is not.
She is lying about the laws in Texas and Florida too. The laws are not there to let whites “just shoot people like me, without consequence, as long as they feel threatened by my presence”, those self defence laws have been put in place to let whites defend themselves by shooting people, like her, who are savages in attacking white people.
Jemisin’s disregard for the truth is no different than the average Chicago gangbanger’s disregard for the law…
Unlike the white males she excoriates, there is no evidence that a society of NK Jemisins is capable of building an advanced civilization, or even successfully maintaining one without significant external support. Considering that it took my English and German ancestors more than one thousand years to become fully civilised after their first contact with an advanced civilisation, it is illogical to imagine, let alone insist, that Africans have somehow managed to do so in less than half the time with even less direct contact. These things take time.
Being an educated, but ignorant savage, with no more understanding of what it took to build a new literature by “a bunch of beardy old middle-class middle-American guys” than an illiterate Igbotu tribesman has of how to build a jet engine, Jemisin clearly does not understand that her dishonest call for “reconciliation” and even more diversity with SF/F is tantamount to a call for its decline into irrelevance…
Reconciliation is not possible between the realistic and the delusional."
Is there really more to know? Hard pass.
January 14, 2017
Best Epic Fantasy series out today
Easily, the best epic fantasy series out today. Grips you from the start and leads you along to the end. I enjoyed "A Throne of Bones" but Vox Day has upped his ante in the latest installment.
Many reviewers are comparing to LOTR and while I cannot go that far, I believe this series is better than GOT.
I am really ready for the next in the series to come out!
Easily, the best epic fantasy series out today. Grips you from the start and leads you along to the end. I enjoyed "A Throne of Bones" but Vox Day has upped his ante in the latest installment.
Many reviewers are comparing to LOTR and while I cannot go that far, I believe this series is better than GOT.
I am really ready for the next in the series to come out!
December 29, 2016
Simply Amazing
Head and shoulders above its predecessor, which is no mean feat! It manages to have multiple characters with completely different viewpoints without a) becoming a confusing mess or b) being dissapointing when subbing in an uninteresting character for an interesting one, since all the characters were genuinely interesting. All were fully fleshed out and heroic in their own way. Amazing worldbuilding also really made the story come alive, everything had a read sense of place. A fantastic read, and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Head and shoulders above its predecessor, which is no mean feat! It manages to have multiple characters with completely different viewpoints without a) becoming a confusing mess or b) being dissapointing when subbing in an uninteresting character for an interesting one, since all the characters were genuinely interesting. All were fully fleshed out and heroic in their own way. Amazing worldbuilding also really made the story come alive, everything had a read sense of place. A fantastic read, and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
September 12, 2017
Better than Throne of Bones...
And that's an accomplishment. The story keeps getting more exciting. The characters are well- defined. Unlike Song of Ice and Fire and The Wheel of Time, there is no filler here. As I said for SOS, if you don't give this series a chance because of the politics of the author, you are missing out.
And that's an accomplishment. The story keeps getting more exciting. The characters are well- defined. Unlike Song of Ice and Fire and The Wheel of Time, there is no filler here. As I said for SOS, if you don't give this series a chance because of the politics of the author, you are missing out.
January 19, 2018
Book2 had fewer jarring events for me (I thought the magic fish and the whole dwarf tunnel thing were odd) but the writing doesn't grab me like it is supposed to. The world building is really good. I like the idea of a Roman Christian world with Orcs and Magic. The different cultures are very well done. But this book was put out as a comparison to the "Game of Thrones" and the pacing and characters and action and storytelling don't match.
It is strange because all of those story telling abilities are exceptionally well done in the series of short stories (and prologues) that he has written. I just wish the rest of the book were like the short stories. It is as if the author is plodding along formulaically making certain to get all the information across.
Making those criticisms - it is still pretty good. Most of the character view points are interesting and the characters certainly are different and you can tell they are. They have different racial, age, cultural and personal perspectives that come through well and I'm liking the story so far ... well, even if this one ended kind of abruptly. I guess the first one did too.
It is strange because all of those story telling abilities are exceptionally well done in the series of short stories (and prologues) that he has written. I just wish the rest of the book were like the short stories. It is as if the author is plodding along formulaically making certain to get all the information across.
Making those criticisms - it is still pretty good. Most of the character view points are interesting and the characters certainly are different and you can tell they are. They have different racial, age, cultural and personal perspectives that come through well and I'm liking the story so far ... well, even if this one ended kind of abruptly. I guess the first one did too.
March 5, 2017
The difficult sequel
It is always difficult to make a sequel to a great book, so it was with trepidation that I started reading this tome. It was a hard slog at times, this book seems mostly concerned with setting up the epic conflict that will be resolved in future books, so we are introduced to a dizzying array of new characters and locations, but nothing of note happens. The plot hasn't advanced much since the last book. I get the idea of setting up an epic universe, but for a book of this size, it would be nice to get more than just setup for the next book. Also dearly missing from this book was the intense political/personal drama from Amorr that we saw in the last book. All the new characters that were introduced in this book were not developed enough to care about them, and all the characters that carried over from the last have been spread out all over the world, only interacting with their followers and a bunch of undeveloped, two-dimensional characters. Here's to hoping the next book will be more futtering, less foreplay.
It is always difficult to make a sequel to a great book, so it was with trepidation that I started reading this tome. It was a hard slog at times, this book seems mostly concerned with setting up the epic conflict that will be resolved in future books, so we are introduced to a dizzying array of new characters and locations, but nothing of note happens. The plot hasn't advanced much since the last book. I get the idea of setting up an epic universe, but for a book of this size, it would be nice to get more than just setup for the next book. Also dearly missing from this book was the intense political/personal drama from Amorr that we saw in the last book. All the new characters that were introduced in this book were not developed enough to care about them, and all the characters that carried over from the last have been spread out all over the world, only interacting with their followers and a bunch of undeveloped, two-dimensional characters. Here's to hoping the next book will be more futtering, less foreplay.
January 31, 2017
Knights, mages, elves and orcs
What more can one ask for? A very fine tale. I look forward in eager anticipation to reading the next installment. Great characters, fine battle sequences, good dialogue. This book never disappoints. Ave Day!!
What more can one ask for? A very fine tale. I look forward in eager anticipation to reading the next installment. Great characters, fine battle sequences, good dialogue. This book never disappoints. Ave Day!!
March 23, 2024
While I really enjoyed the first book, this one was even better. How often can you say that about the second book in a series?
May 9, 2026
Those of you who aren't reading this series because you don't like Vox's political views, I get it! I really do! But if you are skipping out on this series because you don't like the guy, you are robbing yourself of reading one of the greatest epic fantasy series of all time, and the one that will probably go down as the best of the century!
This was an absolutely PHENOMENAL book from start to finish! Better than the first in the series! The depth of worldbuilding found in here is rivaled only by Erikson's Malazan, Greenwood's Forgotten Realms, Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, and Tolkien's Middle-Earth. Nobody has yet beaten Tolkien. And in my opinion, nobody ever will. Day hasn't beaten the world of Malazan in my opinion either, though AODAL is certainly the better series overall. But Day has certainly surpassed Forgotten Realms in depth, even if Day's world isn't as huge, and has, after this book, surpassed Martin's work in quality and scope, even if we're only considering the first 3 books in ASOIAF since the last 2 are simply nowhere near as good.
There was something that occurred to me regarding the general perception of worldbuilding in fantasy books: I was reading through Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn concurrently, which is praised by many as having some of the greatest worldbuilding of all time. And while Mistborn is justly praised for its really strong worldbuilding, it lacked depth, and that was especially noticeable while reading Arts of Dark and Light, which has entire cultures, races, religions, even words for different languages fleshed out, and in great detail. "A Sea of Skulls" operates on an entirely different level of depth and complexity from worlds that are considered the best by most people. This comparison, though perhaps unfair given the differences in subgenre, highlights the exceptional quality of Day's work in this regard.
The strengths of the first book continue to shine in this sequel. The characters are well-developed and multifaceted, the world is rife with intrigue, and the overarching plot is compelling, culminating in an electric final battle that pits multiple armies, races, and perspective characters against each other, and, by the end, a traitor is exposed. One aspect that particularly stands out is the author's grasp of battle tactics and strategy. It's rare to find an epic fantasy author that shows a coherent understanding of medieval warfare, especially these days, with the notable exception of Joe Abercrombie (But even he's not on Day's level). While Vox's prose may not be the strongest element of his writing, it remains solid and serves the story well.
This series reminds me a lot of HBO's "Rome" in terms of its dialogue and characters, though I'm not entirely sure why. The style of both series is entirely different, and not just because they're different mediums. Perhaps it's due to the fantastical reimagining of the fall of the Roman Empire, or simply the sheer strength and variety of the characters on display in both that gave me this impression. I was disheartened that we only got 2 seasons of Rome, but for fans of that series, "Arts of Dark and Light" may fill the void left by its premature end. Although, it admittedly lacks a dynamic duo comparable to Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus.
One major criticism I have with the book, at least the hardcover edition, is the quality of editing. I found several instances of grammatical and punctuation errors (such as missing words, quotation marks, etc.), particularly in the first 300 pages, which were distracting and below the standard set by the previous book. This is something I hope, and have no doubts, will be addressed in future publications. Still, the problem exists and needs to be mentioned for those looking to buy a copy. It might be best to wait a month or two if you don't want any blemishes. Though relatively minor, this is inexcusable as you will rarely find these many errors in most currently published works, even the bad ones.
My biggest worry right now, based on what I've heard, is that Day might be cutting the series short. Originally, this series was planned for 4-5 books, but it might end up being just 3 (excluding the Summa Elvetica). The next book in the series will be titled "A Grave of Gods," which is revealed at the end of the book, page 755. So far, from what I can tell, there is no mention of a fourth book after that, and from what I know, Vox has said he wants to end the series sooner because he doesn't want to lose his fastball before he's done writing AODAL (something that has clearly happened to George R.R. Martin). While I understand this line of reasoning, if the next book in the series ends up being the finale, I'm going to be seriously bummed because I doubt that, with all these plot threads, Vox will be able to wrap it all up in a satisfying way with just one more book. Still, this is a series worth reading and at least it'll have an ending, unlike Martin's work.
Bottom line: Objectively, this series is already better than "A Song of Ice and Fire" and it will remain that way assuming it doesn't deviate in quality in a similar manner as Martin's series did. It's better than Sanderson's A Way of Kings, better than Erikson's Malazan (as far as I've read), and has somehow even surpassed Abercrombie's First Law. The only series better than AODAL is Lord of the Rings, and Vox Day WILL NOT beat Tolkien. It's not going to happen, BUT... if he keeps this up, he might just find himself moving from "pretty good author" to "one of the greats" territory, alongside writers like Mieville, Stephenson, and Weir.
So, do yourself a favor. Put aside what you might think about the author and give this series a shot. You can thank me later.
P.S. If you're reading this, Vox (or whoever's in charge of editing), please, PLEASE fix those grammar issues in the next printing. And give us at least two more books. That's all I ask!
This was an absolutely PHENOMENAL book from start to finish! Better than the first in the series! The depth of worldbuilding found in here is rivaled only by Erikson's Malazan, Greenwood's Forgotten Realms, Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, and Tolkien's Middle-Earth. Nobody has yet beaten Tolkien. And in my opinion, nobody ever will. Day hasn't beaten the world of Malazan in my opinion either, though AODAL is certainly the better series overall. But Day has certainly surpassed Forgotten Realms in depth, even if Day's world isn't as huge, and has, after this book, surpassed Martin's work in quality and scope, even if we're only considering the first 3 books in ASOIAF since the last 2 are simply nowhere near as good.
There was something that occurred to me regarding the general perception of worldbuilding in fantasy books: I was reading through Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn concurrently, which is praised by many as having some of the greatest worldbuilding of all time. And while Mistborn is justly praised for its really strong worldbuilding, it lacked depth, and that was especially noticeable while reading Arts of Dark and Light, which has entire cultures, races, religions, even words for different languages fleshed out, and in great detail. "A Sea of Skulls" operates on an entirely different level of depth and complexity from worlds that are considered the best by most people. This comparison, though perhaps unfair given the differences in subgenre, highlights the exceptional quality of Day's work in this regard.
The strengths of the first book continue to shine in this sequel. The characters are well-developed and multifaceted, the world is rife with intrigue, and the overarching plot is compelling, culminating in an electric final battle that pits multiple armies, races, and perspective characters against each other, and, by the end, a traitor is exposed. One aspect that particularly stands out is the author's grasp of battle tactics and strategy. It's rare to find an epic fantasy author that shows a coherent understanding of medieval warfare, especially these days, with the notable exception of Joe Abercrombie (But even he's not on Day's level). While Vox's prose may not be the strongest element of his writing, it remains solid and serves the story well.
This series reminds me a lot of HBO's "Rome" in terms of its dialogue and characters, though I'm not entirely sure why. The style of both series is entirely different, and not just because they're different mediums. Perhaps it's due to the fantastical reimagining of the fall of the Roman Empire, or simply the sheer strength and variety of the characters on display in both that gave me this impression. I was disheartened that we only got 2 seasons of Rome, but for fans of that series, "Arts of Dark and Light" may fill the void left by its premature end. Although, it admittedly lacks a dynamic duo comparable to Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus.
One major criticism I have with the book, at least the hardcover edition, is the quality of editing. I found several instances of grammatical and punctuation errors (such as missing words, quotation marks, etc.), particularly in the first 300 pages, which were distracting and below the standard set by the previous book. This is something I hope, and have no doubts, will be addressed in future publications. Still, the problem exists and needs to be mentioned for those looking to buy a copy. It might be best to wait a month or two if you don't want any blemishes. Though relatively minor, this is inexcusable as you will rarely find these many errors in most currently published works, even the bad ones.
My biggest worry right now, based on what I've heard, is that Day might be cutting the series short. Originally, this series was planned for 4-5 books, but it might end up being just 3 (excluding the Summa Elvetica). The next book in the series will be titled "A Grave of Gods," which is revealed at the end of the book, page 755. So far, from what I can tell, there is no mention of a fourth book after that, and from what I know, Vox has said he wants to end the series sooner because he doesn't want to lose his fastball before he's done writing AODAL (something that has clearly happened to George R.R. Martin). While I understand this line of reasoning, if the next book in the series ends up being the finale, I'm going to be seriously bummed because I doubt that, with all these plot threads, Vox will be able to wrap it all up in a satisfying way with just one more book. Still, this is a series worth reading and at least it'll have an ending, unlike Martin's work.
Bottom line: Objectively, this series is already better than "A Song of Ice and Fire" and it will remain that way assuming it doesn't deviate in quality in a similar manner as Martin's series did. It's better than Sanderson's A Way of Kings, better than Erikson's Malazan (as far as I've read), and has somehow even surpassed Abercrombie's First Law. The only series better than AODAL is Lord of the Rings, and Vox Day WILL NOT beat Tolkien. It's not going to happen, BUT... if he keeps this up, he might just find himself moving from "pretty good author" to "one of the greats" territory, alongside writers like Mieville, Stephenson, and Weir.
So, do yourself a favor. Put aside what you might think about the author and give this series a shot. You can thank me later.
P.S. If you're reading this, Vox (or whoever's in charge of editing), please, PLEASE fix those grammar issues in the next printing. And give us at least two more books. That's all I ask!
January 4, 2020
The shorter sequel to A Throne of Bones. It holds up well to its predecessor. It doesn't have the awe-inspiring "Bigness" of A Throne of Bones, but it does have a more focused narrative. One reason why the first one was so long was the murky fleshpots of quasi-Roman politics. Here Dwarves and Orcs have more focused (and are far more interesting).
My only quibble is the opening scene. Be warned. It is raw. Remember those 1980s fantasy B movies where the "raiding hordes" come upon the village? And if the movie is rated R, you probably know what happens next.
Now to the rubrics
Prose: Very good. Probably better than his first book. 9/10.
Plot: same as the first book. 10/10.
Characters: He really outdid himself this time. Even the character chapters about the orcs are fascinating. 10/10.
Ideas: Maintains the Warcraft feel to it. That's not a criticism.
My only quibble is the opening scene. Be warned. It is raw. Remember those 1980s fantasy B movies where the "raiding hordes" come upon the village? And if the movie is rated R, you probably know what happens next.
Now to the rubrics
Prose: Very good. Probably better than his first book. 9/10.
Plot: same as the first book. 10/10.
Characters: He really outdid himself this time. Even the character chapters about the orcs are fascinating. 10/10.
Ideas: Maintains the Warcraft feel to it. That's not a criticism.
March 10, 2020
weaving done wonderfully
Same as the first book the multi pronged advance of the story on all fronts pushes the story deep into your soul as you can’t help but become encircled in the great coordinated pincer moves of storytelling.
Same as the first book the multi pronged advance of the story on all fronts pushes the story deep into your soul as you can’t help but become encircled in the great coordinated pincer moves of storytelling.
August 21, 2017
Even better...
...than ATOB. Just read for the second time and liked it just as much. I have no idea how the story might resolve , but the pieces keep fitting together.
...than ATOB. Just read for the second time and liked it just as much. I have no idea how the story might resolve , but the pieces keep fitting together.
June 15, 2018
This is an embarrassing attempt at a novel.
December 17, 2023
Mistakenly thought this would complete the story (one of those frustrating things where you want to see where it ends and the author starts introducing whole new characters and expensive subplots). Waiting eagerly for the next installment (not sure if a trilogy or more).
January 2, 2024
The complete book has now been released and it stands with the greats like GRRR Martin, Brandon Sanderson, JRR Tolkien, Jim Butcher and if you miss this you´d have missed the great Epic Fantasy of 2024.
Read it!
Read it!
February 28, 2026
Can't wait for the next!
A absolutely great read from start to finish. Vox doesn't restrain the reader with minutiae. The jump cuts are well constructed and timed. The intrigue is not burdensome. The story keeps the reader engaged.
A absolutely great read from start to finish. Vox doesn't restrain the reader with minutiae. The jump cuts are well constructed and timed. The intrigue is not burdensome. The story keeps the reader engaged.
September 13, 2024
Not bad , I wonder about the editing though . There are strange errors one example being Etienne and Charles height . Not sure how Etienne went from being taller than his brother to a head shorter.
September 25, 2024
excellent!
I just hope the series gets finished. It would be a pity if it does not. I’ve really enjoyed it.
I just hope the series gets finished. It would be a pity if it does not. I’ve really enjoyed it.
May 3, 2020
Intriguing
This second book in the trilogy continues with the detailed world building of the first. The clearly different cultures, both human and inhuman, is a refreshing change from the usual fantasy trope of all humans having the same culture except maybe barbarians. The use of different languages for each group is both helpful and confusing. It adds a touch of reality that every group has a different word for sergeant or orc but the unexplained use of them can be confusing. The Amorran tendency to have several, interchangeable names & titles/ranks can make it difficult to follow who is who.
That being said, this is one of the best fantasy series I’ve ever read. The characters are 3 dimensional, having their own motivations and ways of thinking. This is true even for the nominal villains.
This second book in the trilogy continues with the detailed world building of the first. The clearly different cultures, both human and inhuman, is a refreshing change from the usual fantasy trope of all humans having the same culture except maybe barbarians. The use of different languages for each group is both helpful and confusing. It adds a touch of reality that every group has a different word for sergeant or orc but the unexplained use of them can be confusing. The Amorran tendency to have several, interchangeable names & titles/ranks can make it difficult to follow who is who.
That being said, this is one of the best fantasy series I’ve ever read. The characters are 3 dimensional, having their own motivations and ways of thinking. This is true even for the nominal villains.
August 31, 2020
5/5
This series is fucking great. WHERE IS THE NEXT ONE?
This series is fucking great. WHERE IS THE NEXT ONE?
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