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Blood of Gods and Royals #2
Empire de poussière
Magie sanguinaire, amours interdites et soif de vengeance : ni les dieux ni les rois ne sont à l’abri de la folie des hommes. Sorti victorieux de sa première bataille, le prince Alexandre se fait violence pour devenir le chef dont son royaume a besoin. Héphestion, temporairement écarté du pouvoir et envoyé en Égypte avec Katerina, doit la protéger d’une terrible prophétie. Déterminé à faire une croix sur son premier amour, Jacob le guerrier s’est promis d’éradiquer la Magie de Sang et cherche l’aide de Cyané, qui croupit dans les geôles royales. La princesse persane Zofia, enfin, qui poursuit sa quête des Dévoreurs d’Âmes, devra d’abord démêler les noirs secrets de son séduisant mais funeste ravisseur…
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2016
74 people are currently reading
5319 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Herman
16 books1,028 followersNew York Times best-seller Eleanor Herman's new non-fiction book, The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul, is set to come out in June 2018. Think royal palaces were beautiful places to live? Think again!
Herman offers a rare combination of skills for a historian – her research is intensely scholarly, yet she writes the story in a colorful, witty manner. “History is so fascinating that it never has to be presented in a boring way,” she explains. “These were flesh and blood people, just like you and me, facing war and plague, falling in love, living among splendid art and gut-wrenching poverty. Sometimes people ask me if I plan to write novels. And I say, with all the things that really happened, who needs to make stuff up?”
Reviewers agree. The New York Times Book Review wrote that Eleanor writes “enlightening social history that is great fun to read.”
The Boston Globe wrote, “Herman’s writing sparkles off the pages.”
The Washington Post called Eleanor Herman “A lot more fun than Danielle Steel or Dan Brown.”
Eleanor, a New York Times bestseller, has also written Sex with Kings (a history of royal mistresses), Sex with the Queen (a look at queens' love affairs), Mistress of the Vatican (a biography of an influential papal mistress), and a four-part YA fantasy series on Alexander the Great, called The Blood of Gods and Royals.
Eleanor is a frequent commentator in the media about royal scandals, and has hosted episodes for The History Channel, the National Geographic Channel, and America: Fact vs. Fiction. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Eleanor graduated with a degree in journalism from Towson University, studied languages in Europe, and for thirteen years worked for NATO’S Nations & Partners for Peace magazine. She is married and lives in McLean, VA with four very demanding cats
.
Herman offers a rare combination of skills for a historian – her research is intensely scholarly, yet she writes the story in a colorful, witty manner. “History is so fascinating that it never has to be presented in a boring way,” she explains. “These were flesh and blood people, just like you and me, facing war and plague, falling in love, living among splendid art and gut-wrenching poverty. Sometimes people ask me if I plan to write novels. And I say, with all the things that really happened, who needs to make stuff up?”
Reviewers agree. The New York Times Book Review wrote that Eleanor writes “enlightening social history that is great fun to read.”
The Boston Globe wrote, “Herman’s writing sparkles off the pages.”
The Washington Post called Eleanor Herman “A lot more fun than Danielle Steel or Dan Brown.”
Eleanor, a New York Times bestseller, has also written Sex with Kings (a history of royal mistresses), Sex with the Queen (a look at queens' love affairs), Mistress of the Vatican (a biography of an influential papal mistress), and a four-part YA fantasy series on Alexander the Great, called The Blood of Gods and Royals.
Eleanor is a frequent commentator in the media about royal scandals, and has hosted episodes for The History Channel, the National Geographic Channel, and America: Fact vs. Fiction. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Eleanor graduated with a degree in journalism from Towson University, studied languages in Europe, and for thirteen years worked for NATO’S Nations & Partners for Peace magazine. She is married and lives in McLean, VA with four very demanding cats
.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
April 14, 2017
If I could describe this book and this series in one word, it'd be... BORING. The characters are flat. The storylines are slow. The romance is a joke. EIGHT, yes, EIGHT different POVs and yet not one of them could keep me invested in this book. Everything I struggled with Legacy of Kings was even more of a struggle in Empire of Dust. At least Legacy of Kings was mildly interesting here and there, but Empire of Dust was a complete snoozefest. I have zero things to say about this book and series that are good. It has potential but that's all I could really muster.
I just think the author tries to accomplish too much with the multiple POVs. Having lots of characters with different personalities is fun and all but you don't have to go and give them POV chapters all to themselves. That's why there's something called "supporting characters". Well I honestly don't even know. This book has supporting characters anyways like Olympias and Darius and yet they still get a few chapters to themselves too. The only thing I can say is that each of these POVs: Alexander, Hephaestion, Katerina, Jacob, Cynane, Zofia, Olympias, and Darius are just wasted potential.
It's such an interesting premise and yet the way everything was carried out was just messy and disorganized. I genuinely think that this series tries too hard to be like Falling Kingdoms or even Game of Thrones, but most especially like the Falling Kingdoms series. The difference is, Falling Kingdoms just does it so much better and actually succeeds. The multiple POVs, ruthless characters, romance, storyline, everything.
I'm just really disappointed with this series as a whole. I tried to give this series another chance by picking up Empire of Dust but I feel like I just wasted my time and money. I was really hoping that this sequel would turn everything around and redeem itself to me but it did the exact opposite. This series may work for other readers but I think this really isn't for me. I tried to like this series but I don't want to keep going on just so I can find all the different flaws each book has. That being said, I'm not going to continue on with this series, something I probably should've done after the disappointment that was Legacy of Kings. Maybe I'll just try another book by Eleanor Herman in the future, just not this series.
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I wasn't a big fan of Legacy of Kings but I really want to love this series so I'm definitely going to be reading this sequel!
Plus, look how beautiful this cover is! THE DETAILS and everything. You can literally see every grain of sand. I'll buy this book even just for the cover.
I can't wait!
I just think the author tries to accomplish too much with the multiple POVs. Having lots of characters with different personalities is fun and all but you don't have to go and give them POV chapters all to themselves. That's why there's something called "supporting characters". Well I honestly don't even know. This book has supporting characters anyways like Olympias and Darius and yet they still get a few chapters to themselves too. The only thing I can say is that each of these POVs: Alexander, Hephaestion, Katerina, Jacob, Cynane, Zofia, Olympias, and Darius are just wasted potential.
It's such an interesting premise and yet the way everything was carried out was just messy and disorganized. I genuinely think that this series tries too hard to be like Falling Kingdoms or even Game of Thrones, but most especially like the Falling Kingdoms series. The difference is, Falling Kingdoms just does it so much better and actually succeeds. The multiple POVs, ruthless characters, romance, storyline, everything.
I'm just really disappointed with this series as a whole. I tried to give this series another chance by picking up Empire of Dust but I feel like I just wasted my time and money. I was really hoping that this sequel would turn everything around and redeem itself to me but it did the exact opposite. This series may work for other readers but I think this really isn't for me. I tried to like this series but I don't want to keep going on just so I can find all the different flaws each book has. That being said, I'm not going to continue on with this series, something I probably should've done after the disappointment that was Legacy of Kings. Maybe I'll just try another book by Eleanor Herman in the future, just not this series.
----------------------------------------
I wasn't a big fan of Legacy of Kings but I really want to love this series so I'm definitely going to be reading this sequel!
Plus, look how beautiful this cover is! THE DETAILS and everything. You can literally see every grain of sand. I'll buy this book even just for the cover.
I can't wait!
August 15, 2017
This book was SO GREAT!
Honestly I've only seen negative reviews for this series but I'm actually so obsessed with it. Even though there are so many POV's (like 7 or 8 of them it's crazy) I actually like all of the characters! Only problem is that my favourite character is Zo and since her storyline is totally different to everyone else's it means we hardly ever see her! She has maybe 4-5 chapters in the entire book which is damn depressing.
This series is so great. It speaks to my soul with all of the ancient history twisted into it. I've been screaming about all of the myths and legends and names of ancient places that I recognise from my studies.
I will admit that this series is definitely a bit slow at times but I never seem to grow bored and I end up absolutely flying through it.
I can't wait to read book 3 even though I won't be able to buy it til next week! 😂
Honestly I've only seen negative reviews for this series but I'm actually so obsessed with it. Even though there are so many POV's (like 7 or 8 of them it's crazy) I actually like all of the characters! Only problem is that my favourite character is Zo and since her storyline is totally different to everyone else's it means we hardly ever see her! She has maybe 4-5 chapters in the entire book which is damn depressing.
This series is so great. It speaks to my soul with all of the ancient history twisted into it. I've been screaming about all of the myths and legends and names of ancient places that I recognise from my studies.
I will admit that this series is definitely a bit slow at times but I never seem to grow bored and I end up absolutely flying through it.
I can't wait to read book 3 even though I won't be able to buy it til next week! 😂
June 24, 2016
3.5 stars.
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman
Book Two of the Blood of Gods and Royals series
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
In Macedon, war rises like smoke, forbidden romance blooms and ancient magic tempered with rage threatens to turn an empire to dust
After winning his first battle, Prince Alexander fights to become the ruler his kingdom demands—but the line between leader and tyrant blurs with each new threat.
Meanwhile, Hephaestion, cast aside by Alexander for killing the wrong man, must conceal the devastating secret of a divine prophecy from Katerina even as the two of them are thrust together on a dangerous mission to Egypt.
The warrior, Jacob, determined to forget his first love, vows to eradicate the ancient Blood Magics and believes that royal prisoner Cynane holds the key to Macedon's undoing.
And in chains, the Persian princess Zofia still longs to find the Spirit Eaters, but first must grapple with the secrets of her handsome—and deadly—captor.
New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman entwines the real scandals of history with epic fantasy to reimagine the world's most brilliant ruler, Alexander the Great, in the second book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.
What I Liked:
I debated about how I wanted to rate this book, because it's getting a solid 3.5 stars from me. But I need to round, and I've decided to round up! Ultimately I liked this book more than I liked Legacy of Kings (which I thought was okay - boring in the first half, but much better in the last quarter or so). This still isn't a favorite series ever, but I'm happy to see a better sequel than its predecessor!
So many plots happening at once. Alexander is the prince regent, trying to gain the respect of his people, and trying to win wars happening all at once. Hephaestion, his best friend, is struggling with no longer being needed as a friend by Alexander. But Heph has new things to worry about - like a prophecy he has found, that could prove to be deadly for Alexander and Katerina. Katerina is still secretly Alexander's twin sister - no one knows except a select few people. She and Heph are sent by Alexander on a secret mission to retrieve something. Jacob, who is in love with Katerina (since childhood), is now one of the Aeserian Lords, enemies of Prince Alexander. The Lords' new prisoner, Princess Cynane, seems to have Blood Magic, which the Lords are out to eradicate. And then we have Zofia, the princess who was engaged to Alexander, but is now declared missing and possibly dead. She's trapped by her captor, who doesn't seem to be buying her cover story... and is as seductive as he is mysterious. Much trouble is brewing in this intense sequel novel that had me hooked from start to finish.
That would be the first thing I'd like to talk about - I experienced basically none of the boredom I felt while reading Legacy of Kings - the first half of that book, anyway. I remember a ton of people DNF-ing Legacy of Kings, citing that it was boring and/or they couldn't get into the story. And I don't blame them! The story really picked up in the last twenty-five percent. In THIS book (Empire of Dust), the story is pretty much on "go" from start to finish. I don't think I felt bored at any one spot! There were a few times when I flipped a page faster than I usually would, but mostly because I wanted to know what was happening next.
There are SO many plots and perspectives in this book. Let's see... we have Alexander', Heph's, Katerina's, Jacob's, Cynane's, Zofia's, and Olympia's (Alexander and Katerina' mother). But most of the POVs overlap - like, Heph and Katerina were almost always in the scene together. So it really wasn't bad! Especially since all of the POVs were in third person, so you never really got confused.
My favorite POV to read from - probably Heph's, surprisingly. I didn't really care much for Heph, in Legacy of Kings - in fact, I don't think I liked him at all. But I really felt for him, in this book. He gets punished in many ways, mostly emotionally.
Alexander's plot wasn't the most exciting, despite him running wars and such. He has someone beheaded, and replaces basically his whole counsel, in an attempt to look more powerful and in control, but it shakes him. I preferred reading about Heph and Katerina, who were off to a faraway (ish) land to find something. Zofia's story was also a favorite. At first I hated her captor, and was sure that this would turn into Stockholm Syndrome. BUT that wasn't the case.
I should talk about romance. I TOTALLY ship Zofia and her captor. Oh my goodness, I feel so bad for her. She's conflicted because she spent days, weeks hating him for capturing her. But then he reveals something critical, and she realizes many things. I felt the chemistry between them many times, and the emotional part of their relationship. No Stockholm Syndrome (in my opinion).
Heph... and Katerina! They're (hopefully) going to be a thing. I ship them! Heph is a lot swoonier than in book one. Jacob is far away and doing evil things with the Aeserian Lords, and Cynane is isolating herself by also doing crazy things. Alexander is a solitary creature, so there is no romance there. I love Heph and Katerina, and Zofia and her captor (who shall not be named at the moment). This captor is also rather swoony!
So, I liked Heph more (he matures and grows and he's not as dumb - though he has one STUPID moment that made me want to kick him where it counts). I liked Katerina just fine, and she also experiences some good character growth. I think I was most impressed with Heph and Zofia's character growth. Everything else, I either liked or appreciated, and they had good depth. But I liked Heph, Katerina, and Zofia the most!
World-building = flawless. Seriously, Herman does an amazing job with crafting the setting and characters and adding touches of authenticity to the story. This is a unique story because you don't find a lot of YA books set in this time!
Overall, great characters, better story/progression, more interesting twists (I didn't really mention the plot and twists, but they're there and they're intriguing!), cute romances (no love triangles though). MUCH better than Legacy of Kings, in my opinion.
What I Did Not Like:
I will say that there were times when I was read a chapter from one character's POV and really REALLY wanted the next chapter to be in that same character's POV, because of what was about to happen to that character. I don't like when scenes are broken like that. But, it comes with the multiple-POV territory!
There were a lot of anachronistic phrases in this book, sadly. They stuck out like sore thumbs. I wish I'd flagged them in the eARC as I read. But they are so obvious! You cannot have colloquial twenty-first century slang and speech in this time of story, set in 300-400 B.C.!
Would I Recommend It:
If you read Legacy of Kings and liked it, I highly recommend continuing this series. I'm not sure what to say about those who read Legacy of Kings and hated it, or DNF'd it. Maybe don't bother? I personally think this series is going on an uphill trend, which is excellent.
Rating:
3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. It's a nice feeling when you like a sequel more than the previous book! It shows that the author is writing better, the story is getting more interesting, and the reader is becoming more invested. I cannot wait to read Reign of Serpents!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman
Book Two of the Blood of Gods and Royals series
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
In Macedon, war rises like smoke, forbidden romance blooms and ancient magic tempered with rage threatens to turn an empire to dust
After winning his first battle, Prince Alexander fights to become the ruler his kingdom demands—but the line between leader and tyrant blurs with each new threat.
Meanwhile, Hephaestion, cast aside by Alexander for killing the wrong man, must conceal the devastating secret of a divine prophecy from Katerina even as the two of them are thrust together on a dangerous mission to Egypt.
The warrior, Jacob, determined to forget his first love, vows to eradicate the ancient Blood Magics and believes that royal prisoner Cynane holds the key to Macedon's undoing.
And in chains, the Persian princess Zofia still longs to find the Spirit Eaters, but first must grapple with the secrets of her handsome—and deadly—captor.
New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman entwines the real scandals of history with epic fantasy to reimagine the world's most brilliant ruler, Alexander the Great, in the second book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.
What I Liked:
I debated about how I wanted to rate this book, because it's getting a solid 3.5 stars from me. But I need to round, and I've decided to round up! Ultimately I liked this book more than I liked Legacy of Kings (which I thought was okay - boring in the first half, but much better in the last quarter or so). This still isn't a favorite series ever, but I'm happy to see a better sequel than its predecessor!
So many plots happening at once. Alexander is the prince regent, trying to gain the respect of his people, and trying to win wars happening all at once. Hephaestion, his best friend, is struggling with no longer being needed as a friend by Alexander. But Heph has new things to worry about - like a prophecy he has found, that could prove to be deadly for Alexander and Katerina. Katerina is still secretly Alexander's twin sister - no one knows except a select few people. She and Heph are sent by Alexander on a secret mission to retrieve something. Jacob, who is in love with Katerina (since childhood), is now one of the Aeserian Lords, enemies of Prince Alexander. The Lords' new prisoner, Princess Cynane, seems to have Blood Magic, which the Lords are out to eradicate. And then we have Zofia, the princess who was engaged to Alexander, but is now declared missing and possibly dead. She's trapped by her captor, who doesn't seem to be buying her cover story... and is as seductive as he is mysterious. Much trouble is brewing in this intense sequel novel that had me hooked from start to finish.
That would be the first thing I'd like to talk about - I experienced basically none of the boredom I felt while reading Legacy of Kings - the first half of that book, anyway. I remember a ton of people DNF-ing Legacy of Kings, citing that it was boring and/or they couldn't get into the story. And I don't blame them! The story really picked up in the last twenty-five percent. In THIS book (Empire of Dust), the story is pretty much on "go" from start to finish. I don't think I felt bored at any one spot! There were a few times when I flipped a page faster than I usually would, but mostly because I wanted to know what was happening next.
There are SO many plots and perspectives in this book. Let's see... we have Alexander', Heph's, Katerina's, Jacob's, Cynane's, Zofia's, and Olympia's (Alexander and Katerina' mother). But most of the POVs overlap - like, Heph and Katerina were almost always in the scene together. So it really wasn't bad! Especially since all of the POVs were in third person, so you never really got confused.
My favorite POV to read from - probably Heph's, surprisingly. I didn't really care much for Heph, in Legacy of Kings - in fact, I don't think I liked him at all. But I really felt for him, in this book. He gets punished in many ways, mostly emotionally.
Alexander's plot wasn't the most exciting, despite him running wars and such. He has someone beheaded, and replaces basically his whole counsel, in an attempt to look more powerful and in control, but it shakes him. I preferred reading about Heph and Katerina, who were off to a faraway (ish) land to find something. Zofia's story was also a favorite. At first I hated her captor, and was sure that this would turn into Stockholm Syndrome. BUT that wasn't the case.
I should talk about romance. I TOTALLY ship Zofia and her captor. Oh my goodness, I feel so bad for her. She's conflicted because she spent days, weeks hating him for capturing her. But then he reveals something critical, and she realizes many things. I felt the chemistry between them many times, and the emotional part of their relationship. No Stockholm Syndrome (in my opinion).
Heph... and Katerina! They're (hopefully) going to be a thing. I ship them! Heph is a lot swoonier than in book one. Jacob is far away and doing evil things with the Aeserian Lords, and Cynane is isolating herself by also doing crazy things. Alexander is a solitary creature, so there is no romance there. I love Heph and Katerina, and Zofia and her captor (who shall not be named at the moment). This captor is also rather swoony!
So, I liked Heph more (he matures and grows and he's not as dumb - though he has one STUPID moment that made me want to kick him where it counts). I liked Katerina just fine, and she also experiences some good character growth. I think I was most impressed with Heph and Zofia's character growth. Everything else, I either liked or appreciated, and they had good depth. But I liked Heph, Katerina, and Zofia the most!
World-building = flawless. Seriously, Herman does an amazing job with crafting the setting and characters and adding touches of authenticity to the story. This is a unique story because you don't find a lot of YA books set in this time!
Overall, great characters, better story/progression, more interesting twists (I didn't really mention the plot and twists, but they're there and they're intriguing!), cute romances (no love triangles though). MUCH better than Legacy of Kings, in my opinion.
What I Did Not Like:
I will say that there were times when I was read a chapter from one character's POV and really REALLY wanted the next chapter to be in that same character's POV, because of what was about to happen to that character. I don't like when scenes are broken like that. But, it comes with the multiple-POV territory!
There were a lot of anachronistic phrases in this book, sadly. They stuck out like sore thumbs. I wish I'd flagged them in the eARC as I read. But they are so obvious! You cannot have colloquial twenty-first century slang and speech in this time of story, set in 300-400 B.C.!
Would I Recommend It:
If you read Legacy of Kings and liked it, I highly recommend continuing this series. I'm not sure what to say about those who read Legacy of Kings and hated it, or DNF'd it. Maybe don't bother? I personally think this series is going on an uphill trend, which is excellent.
Rating:
3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. It's a nice feeling when you like a sequel more than the previous book! It shows that the author is writing better, the story is getting more interesting, and the reader is becoming more invested. I cannot wait to read Reign of Serpents!
January 6, 2017
This book makes me seethe in anger and loathe the characters so much that I have even begin to scoff at listening to the real history of Alexander the Great.
Alexander the Great? Hah! No, it’s more like eight different POVs that I don’t remember asking for. I don’t care about the other characters. They contribute nothing. I want the time back that I spent on this godawful book. This may sound harsh, but I firmly believe as someone who is a huge fan of historical fiction that there is some serious stuff happening if I have only taken required high school history and can point out the historical inaccuracies. So yes, I am livid!
I don’t care about Alex’s sister. I don’t care about his friend who is pulled in despair between Alex’s two sisters, even though one is obviously good. I don’t care about Zofia and I sure as hell don’t care about Jacob.
Just adding in a bunch of characters does not create an interesting storyline, unfortunately. There is so much disappointment in this series that I cannot begin to explain.
I think it definitely shows since Legacy of Kings got so much hype around it but God knows how hard it was for me to find a copy of Empire of Dust. If you didn’t like Legacy of Kings, don’t even bother wasting your time with this one. I will NOT be continuing this series.
Alexander the Great? Hah! No, it’s more like eight different POVs that I don’t remember asking for. I don’t care about the other characters. They contribute nothing. I want the time back that I spent on this godawful book. This may sound harsh, but I firmly believe as someone who is a huge fan of historical fiction that there is some serious stuff happening if I have only taken required high school history and can point out the historical inaccuracies. So yes, I am livid!
I don’t care about Alex’s sister. I don’t care about his friend who is pulled in despair between Alex’s two sisters, even though one is obviously good. I don’t care about Zofia and I sure as hell don’t care about Jacob.
Just adding in a bunch of characters does not create an interesting storyline, unfortunately. There is so much disappointment in this series that I cannot begin to explain.
I think it definitely shows since Legacy of Kings got so much hype around it but God knows how hard it was for me to find a copy of Empire of Dust. If you didn’t like Legacy of Kings, don’t even bother wasting your time with this one. I will NOT be continuing this series.
September 5, 2016
whaT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING HOLY CRAPBUCKETS
February 7, 2017
I never liked the plot in the first book, but at least the first book had the cutesy romantic parts. This book was utterly boring, had 8, yes EIGHT different point of views, and the characters were even more annoying/lamer this time round than in book 1!
Did not finish, and I'm only going to read book 3 to see if Jacob and Kat get together in the end or not.
Did not finish, and I'm only going to read book 3 to see if Jacob and Kat get together in the end or not.
July 31, 2017
Such a grand adventure. Mixing history with fantasy makes for an exciting story. Full review to come!
EDIT: Review
The Good
Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman is the second book in the Blood of God and Royals series about the fantastical life of Alexander the Great as a teenager. Empire of Dust picks up right after Legacy of Kings and the big battle at the end. Alexander is still acting regent to the throne while his father is away, his mother has disappeared, Kat and Heph are healing up from the battle, Jacob retreated with the other Aesarian Lords, Cynane was taken captive, and Zo is on the run from being killed.
There is fantastic character growth this time around. All the characters are adapting to their current situations and making the best of what is to come. Alex still feels the pressure of his empire on his shoulders. His powers are growing as he learns new information about his true origins. While Kat and Heph’s feelings for each other begin to deepen on their journey to Egypt. Jacob finds a new mission to keep himself occupied while Cyn is back to her scheming ways. Finally Zo starts growing a back bone taking charge of her life.
This book has a lot of POV’s, but don’t let that be a turn off for you. It is continually progressing in a rapid manner that makes things more exciting. The story keeps moving even when the characters POV isn’t being told, so we get to miss all the boring aspects that make having multiple POV’s in a book horrible. Herman’s writing only elevates the story. I love how she includes history with touches of fantastical elements that keep making the story seem fresh and not like a textbook.
We finally get to see more of Greece and the Persian Empire this time around. But not only that but we also travel to Egypt as well. The descriptions and pictures being painted in my imagination was amazing. Herman really knows her stuff!
The Bad
Empire of Dust was a pretty solid sequel. But it wasn’t without it’s issues. The plot progressed, but is still not quite clear. I can see the direction it’s going and the stepping stones to get there have been placed, but it’s still never made clear what is going to happen. I guess that builds the momentum to keep reading though.
There was only one battle scene this time around, and I was a little disappointed. This is just a personal preference, but I like a book with more action packed scenes in them. So here’s hoping that there will be more in the next one!
Finally I want to talk about what the point of having Zo in the story at all is? Maybe she plays a bigger part in the future, but I find her chapters to be dull and they don’t really add too much to the storyline.
EDIT: Review
The Good
Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman is the second book in the Blood of God and Royals series about the fantastical life of Alexander the Great as a teenager. Empire of Dust picks up right after Legacy of Kings and the big battle at the end. Alexander is still acting regent to the throne while his father is away, his mother has disappeared, Kat and Heph are healing up from the battle, Jacob retreated with the other Aesarian Lords, Cynane was taken captive, and Zo is on the run from being killed.
There is fantastic character growth this time around. All the characters are adapting to their current situations and making the best of what is to come. Alex still feels the pressure of his empire on his shoulders. His powers are growing as he learns new information about his true origins. While Kat and Heph’s feelings for each other begin to deepen on their journey to Egypt. Jacob finds a new mission to keep himself occupied while Cyn is back to her scheming ways. Finally Zo starts growing a back bone taking charge of her life.
This book has a lot of POV’s, but don’t let that be a turn off for you. It is continually progressing in a rapid manner that makes things more exciting. The story keeps moving even when the characters POV isn’t being told, so we get to miss all the boring aspects that make having multiple POV’s in a book horrible. Herman’s writing only elevates the story. I love how she includes history with touches of fantastical elements that keep making the story seem fresh and not like a textbook.
We finally get to see more of Greece and the Persian Empire this time around. But not only that but we also travel to Egypt as well. The descriptions and pictures being painted in my imagination was amazing. Herman really knows her stuff!
The Bad
Empire of Dust was a pretty solid sequel. But it wasn’t without it’s issues. The plot progressed, but is still not quite clear. I can see the direction it’s going and the stepping stones to get there have been placed, but it’s still never made clear what is going to happen. I guess that builds the momentum to keep reading though.
There was only one battle scene this time around, and I was a little disappointed. This is just a personal preference, but I like a book with more action packed scenes in them. So here’s hoping that there will be more in the next one!
Finally I want to talk about what the point of having Zo in the story at all is? Maybe she plays a bigger part in the future, but I find her chapters to be dull and they don’t really add too much to the storyline.
July 8, 2016
This pains me so much because this is just not me, but dnf at 57%
I received a copy of Legacy of Kings last year and I was so happy to read it. I was really very interested in the story of Alexander the Great, especially his teenage years. I also really loved the fact that Eleanor Herman is a historian, so even though this has a dash of fantasy with it, the accounts would mostly be true to history. However, I didn't really like it because there were too many POVs. As such, the whole story arc is just actually really short. At the end of the book, I was so unfulfilled because I felt like the events were still too few.
When I received a copy of Empire of Dust for review, I literally screamed with joy because I thought I would finally get the story that I so wanted to know more of. However, it turns out that I have the same problem with this one as I did the first book. Still, there are so many POVs and still, at 57%, there is nothing truly interesting going on. It still feels like I'm in the first few chapters of the book, instead of being past the middle.
One thing you guys should know about me is that I rarely dnf a book. I think the number of books I've dnf-ed in my entire life amounts to less than 10 books. However, it just so happens that I really have a lot of things on my plate now and this is just not cutting it. I've been reading this book for days and days already, and I just don't have the patience right now to sit through it again (since it already happened in the first book).
I might get back to reading this one once I have more free time because honestly, this is a really interesting story. It's very unique and it would be a waste not to know what happened. I think that this book truly has the potential to be amazing. It's just that it's at a much slower pace than I prefer.
I received a copy of Legacy of Kings last year and I was so happy to read it. I was really very interested in the story of Alexander the Great, especially his teenage years. I also really loved the fact that Eleanor Herman is a historian, so even though this has a dash of fantasy with it, the accounts would mostly be true to history. However, I didn't really like it because there were too many POVs. As such, the whole story arc is just actually really short. At the end of the book, I was so unfulfilled because I felt like the events were still too few.
When I received a copy of Empire of Dust for review, I literally screamed with joy because I thought I would finally get the story that I so wanted to know more of. However, it turns out that I have the same problem with this one as I did the first book. Still, there are so many POVs and still, at 57%, there is nothing truly interesting going on. It still feels like I'm in the first few chapters of the book, instead of being past the middle.
One thing you guys should know about me is that I rarely dnf a book. I think the number of books I've dnf-ed in my entire life amounts to less than 10 books. However, it just so happens that I really have a lot of things on my plate now and this is just not cutting it. I've been reading this book for days and days already, and I just don't have the patience right now to sit through it again (since it already happened in the first book).
I might get back to reading this one once I have more free time because honestly, this is a really interesting story. It's very unique and it would be a waste not to know what happened. I think that this book truly has the potential to be amazing. It's just that it's at a much slower pace than I prefer.
June 10, 2016
Ummmmmmmmmm..
So there were a few plot twists that I really wasn't expecting that seriously make me worry about some of my favorites and their fates in the next book. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy but if it is.. book three is going to be intense. Actually, book three is going to be intense either way. This feels like a series where everything will wrap up and create a perfect little bow in the final book and I cannot wait to see that happen. Even some of the cliffhangers from the first book haven't thoroughly been explored in this book. And I'm genuinely jealous of the people that will pick up these books and read them back-to-back once the series is completed. That will be such a fun read.
I'm adding this to my LGBT shelf because I'm like 99% sure one of the characters falls somewhere in the bisexual and asexual spectrums.
So there were a few plot twists that I really wasn't expecting that seriously make me worry about some of my favorites and their fates in the next book. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy but if it is.. book three is going to be intense. Actually, book three is going to be intense either way. This feels like a series where everything will wrap up and create a perfect little bow in the final book and I cannot wait to see that happen. Even some of the cliffhangers from the first book haven't thoroughly been explored in this book. And I'm genuinely jealous of the people that will pick up these books and read them back-to-back once the series is completed. That will be such a fun read.
October 19, 2016
Ooh I'm glad to say this didn't suffer too much from second-book-syndrome where nothing happens. There's a lot of development and a lot more world building. Even though it had slower pacing, I still enjoyed it. There's a lot of declarations of love and usually it felt like they knew each other for five minutes, but okay they all fall in love easily and everyone is beautiful.. I still love the detailed lush writing and the fictional history I'm reading.. can't wait for the third book!
June 29, 2016
Epic! It's a rarity when the sequel is almost better than the first book, and I say that having LOVED Legacy of Kings. You can read my review here. I loved this sequel! Everything that I loved about Legacy of Kings was upped in this book, and I didn't think that was possible.
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2016/0...
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2016/0...
April 3, 2016
What an adventure! While Eleanor Herman sets the stage in Legacy of Kings, she dives into full world building in Empire of Dust. I love seeing how elaborately all the characters’ path’s continue to intertwine, and now the ancient lands and mythologies of Egypt come to life alongside Macedonia. The stakes for everyone are raised even higher now, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
August 11, 2016
I definitely enjoyed this book way more than the first one. The stories have really picked up, except for Jacob's. I mean we got some new information about him, but I don't enjoy his storyline as much as the other characters. One complaint I here about these books are all the numerous POVs, but honestly with a fantasy like this you need all the POVs to expand the story and make it great.
April 19, 2016
Freaking amazing!!! I think this one was better than the first book! But holy crap the wait for book 3 is going to kill me!!!
April 6, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from Paper Lantern Lit/Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows on with the adventures of a 16-year-old Alexander the Great as he struggles to become the great leader we know he will become. His friend Hephaestion is sent on a mission with Katherine, who has a special bond with Alex and a growing affection or Heph but their life may be in danger. Persian princess Zofia is struggling to return to her soldier love while Kat’s sweetheart Jacob is dealing with his decision to join an army that fights magic which means he should kill Kat.
I’m really glad I finally picked this one up as I ended up really enjoying it and I absolutely flew through it. It;s been a couple of months since I read Legacy of Kings but I had no problem falling straight back into the story and connecting with all the characters i loved the last time around. I was able to deal with the character changes and shorter chapters this time around, probably because I expected them this time so I wasn’t feeling a bit disoriented when something would happen but then the next chapter switch. I actually liked being able to see a broad view of every thing that was going on this time.
One of my favourite characters after this book is definitely Cynane. I think she is terrific and I hope she has some chapters in the next book as i can’t wait to see what she does (or indeed her own spin off series). I believe she is based on Cleopatra which I love, and I just love how fierce, independent and unapologetic Cynane is, especially considering the time era she is living in as a woman. I would probably choose Cynane over Kat many a time as Kat comes across a little bit Mary Sue sometimes - she’s just too perfect! I do think it’s funny though seeing Heph, who is a very macho, warrior guy, become very soppy and romantic when he thinks about her. He’s so angsty though.
I was also 100% shipping Alex and Kadmus. There’s always been a feeling of a gay romance between Alex and Heph but then Kadmus came along, and just so much chemistry. However, I’m not sure I’m correct but I think Alex came out as asexual in this book (unless i read that wrong). If so, I do love it and I do hope there might be some romance between him and Kadmus even if it can;t become anything more.
Overall. thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next one!
This book follows on with the adventures of a 16-year-old Alexander the Great as he struggles to become the great leader we know he will become. His friend Hephaestion is sent on a mission with Katherine, who has a special bond with Alex and a growing affection or Heph but their life may be in danger. Persian princess Zofia is struggling to return to her soldier love while Kat’s sweetheart Jacob is dealing with his decision to join an army that fights magic which means he should kill Kat.
I’m really glad I finally picked this one up as I ended up really enjoying it and I absolutely flew through it. It;s been a couple of months since I read Legacy of Kings but I had no problem falling straight back into the story and connecting with all the characters i loved the last time around. I was able to deal with the character changes and shorter chapters this time around, probably because I expected them this time so I wasn’t feeling a bit disoriented when something would happen but then the next chapter switch. I actually liked being able to see a broad view of every thing that was going on this time.
One of my favourite characters after this book is definitely Cynane. I think she is terrific and I hope she has some chapters in the next book as i can’t wait to see what she does (or indeed her own spin off series). I believe she is based on Cleopatra which I love, and I just love how fierce, independent and unapologetic Cynane is, especially considering the time era she is living in as a woman. I would probably choose Cynane over Kat many a time as Kat comes across a little bit Mary Sue sometimes - she’s just too perfect! I do think it’s funny though seeing Heph, who is a very macho, warrior guy, become very soppy and romantic when he thinks about her. He’s so angsty though.
I was also 100% shipping Alex and Kadmus. There’s always been a feeling of a gay romance between Alex and Heph but then Kadmus came along, and just so much chemistry. However, I’m not sure I’m correct but I think Alex came out as asexual in this book (unless i read that wrong). If so, I do love it and I do hope there might be some romance between him and Kadmus even if it can;t become anything more.
Overall. thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next one!
October 13, 2017
Well, when does the next one come out?
In Legacy of Kings, the gods have turned a blind eye to all the happenings of ancient times. However, it seems the gods are truly gone. Prince Alex, giving up his search for the fountain of youth for now, has more pressing matters to attend to. He sends his long-lost sister and his possibly-former best friend on a quest to Egypt to acquire the princess of legend to offer his hand in marriage. His mother, on the other hand, is on a quest of her own—trying to unlock the secrets of the whereabouts of the gods. In another epic tale, weaving history to fiction, Eleanor Herman creates magnificence on the page.
Just like the first, Herman gives us several storylines simultaneously occurring as each chapter flows into the next. In the beginning—just as it was in Legacy of Kings, the first in the series—the storylines were overwhelming with long names and confusing with each change of the chapter. However, the deeper into the novel you go, you will begin to recognize each storyline, being able to differentiate who is who and what is going on in each.
It was good. With sequels, you will always be comparing the first to the next. And the love I have for Legacy of Kings did not stretch as far to include Empire of Dust. However, as sequels go, it was a good one to measure up to the wild ride of its previous.
It is broken into several acts or parts which I didn’t see as very necessary except to take a break in all the changing storylines. I don’t think Empire of Dust was as action packed as the first.
It was entertaining, an endless slew of epic awesomeness. But it did seem quiet. Whereas Legacy of Kings was a blockbuster, its sequel was seamlessly flowing into each next chapter, a gorgeous dance of tiptoeing feet. The flow did make it go by so fast which makes up for the heavy read the previous posed.
I went into Empire of Dust completely blank. I remember, absolutely, nothing of the last book as I devoured it two years before picking the sequel up. I plunged right in and hoped for the best and, happily, it was quite easy to get back into the swing of things.
There’s PIRATES so a super A+ for that. The world needs more pirate books.
Not only were the pirates on point, filled with sword fights and mischief of all sorts, the other action sequences placed you right in the thick of it, getting a front row seat to the scenes.
The writing is truly magnificent. Eleanor Herman definitely knows how to keep you focused and entirely entranced by weaving history’s truth into a work of fiction.
By far the best part is how Herman lets you come to your own conclusions about the plot. She gives you the clues to figure out the answers to your questions before any of the characters themselves figure it out. Instead of too many questions, it is the readers’ answers to “Does he have magic? What is the deal with him? How did she heal like that? Which parent did he get that from?” that make the reading experience so unique.
My favorite storylines were Cyn’s and Zo’s (I couldn’t pick just one). It is strange, however, because I remember disliking their stories so much in the first book.
You will certainly be hanging on to the very last word, in hopes that if you grip tighter, the next book will come out sooner.
There is a great disadvantage to having so many storylines in the same book. You are never sure when the last chapter of that certain story will be its last. In some cases, Empire of Dust leaves us right in the middle of sequences that were far from finished, when others seemed to have a clear ending.
Empire of Dust is on a scale of its own, standing tall next to Legacy of Kings. It is certainly another masterpiece of Eleanor Herman’s that will leave you enchanted until the next book releases.
In Legacy of Kings, the gods have turned a blind eye to all the happenings of ancient times. However, it seems the gods are truly gone. Prince Alex, giving up his search for the fountain of youth for now, has more pressing matters to attend to. He sends his long-lost sister and his possibly-former best friend on a quest to Egypt to acquire the princess of legend to offer his hand in marriage. His mother, on the other hand, is on a quest of her own—trying to unlock the secrets of the whereabouts of the gods. In another epic tale, weaving history to fiction, Eleanor Herman creates magnificence on the page.
Just like the first, Herman gives us several storylines simultaneously occurring as each chapter flows into the next. In the beginning—just as it was in Legacy of Kings, the first in the series—the storylines were overwhelming with long names and confusing with each change of the chapter. However, the deeper into the novel you go, you will begin to recognize each storyline, being able to differentiate who is who and what is going on in each.
It was good. With sequels, you will always be comparing the first to the next. And the love I have for Legacy of Kings did not stretch as far to include Empire of Dust. However, as sequels go, it was a good one to measure up to the wild ride of its previous.
It is broken into several acts or parts which I didn’t see as very necessary except to take a break in all the changing storylines. I don’t think Empire of Dust was as action packed as the first.
It was entertaining, an endless slew of epic awesomeness. But it did seem quiet. Whereas Legacy of Kings was a blockbuster, its sequel was seamlessly flowing into each next chapter, a gorgeous dance of tiptoeing feet. The flow did make it go by so fast which makes up for the heavy read the previous posed.
I went into Empire of Dust completely blank. I remember, absolutely, nothing of the last book as I devoured it two years before picking the sequel up. I plunged right in and hoped for the best and, happily, it was quite easy to get back into the swing of things.
There’s PIRATES so a super A+ for that. The world needs more pirate books.
Not only were the pirates on point, filled with sword fights and mischief of all sorts, the other action sequences placed you right in the thick of it, getting a front row seat to the scenes.
The writing is truly magnificent. Eleanor Herman definitely knows how to keep you focused and entirely entranced by weaving history’s truth into a work of fiction.
By far the best part is how Herman lets you come to your own conclusions about the plot. She gives you the clues to figure out the answers to your questions before any of the characters themselves figure it out. Instead of too many questions, it is the readers’ answers to “Does he have magic? What is the deal with him? How did she heal like that? Which parent did he get that from?” that make the reading experience so unique.
My favorite storylines were Cyn’s and Zo’s (I couldn’t pick just one). It is strange, however, because I remember disliking their stories so much in the first book.
You will certainly be hanging on to the very last word, in hopes that if you grip tighter, the next book will come out sooner.
There is a great disadvantage to having so many storylines in the same book. You are never sure when the last chapter of that certain story will be its last. In some cases, Empire of Dust leaves us right in the middle of sequences that were far from finished, when others seemed to have a clear ending.
Empire of Dust is on a scale of its own, standing tall next to Legacy of Kings. It is certainly another masterpiece of Eleanor Herman’s that will leave you enchanted until the next book releases.
June 22, 2016
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Legacy of Kings , so I was extremely excited to get my hands on this book! This book definitely did not disappoint. I love Eleanor's writing style and the way that she seamlessly weaved historical facts into her story. I never felt like I was being bogged down with historical information, but I still felt like I was learning a lot. Eleanor clearly did a lot of research for this series, and it paid off!
There were also so many twists and turns that I was not expecting throughout this book. Eleanor was able to keep me on the edge of my seat through most of the chapters.
I really enjoy multiple POVs in a book, but it was hard to for me to enjoy every POV in this book. I like some characters a lot more than other characters, so I did find myself wanting to skim the chapters of certain characters. I thought some of the storylines with certain characters felt unnecessary compared to storylines of other characters. I mainly wanted to read about Heph, Kat, and Zofia. They are my favorite characters, and I thought they had the most interesting chapters in this book.
I am a huge romantic, so I was eating up the romance in this book. I don't want to spoil anything, but certain ships sailed and new ships were formed in this book. I loved it! Eleanor is an expert at creating a slow burning romance with great tension. There were two couples that I adored in this book, and I am so excited to see their relationships develop more in the next book!
The ending of this book just made me want more! I am really looking forward to seeing what Eleanor has in store for us in the next book. I cannot wait to be reunited with Heph, Kat, and Zofia!
If you were a fan of Legacy of Kings , then I definitely recommend picking up Empire of Dust .
4 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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(Empire of Dust (Blood of Gods and Royals #2) by Eleanor Herman, HARLEQUIN TEEN, June 28 2016, 384 pp., $19.99, ISBN: 9780373211920, HC, 14 & Up)
There were also so many twists and turns that I was not expecting throughout this book. Eleanor was able to keep me on the edge of my seat through most of the chapters.
I really enjoy multiple POVs in a book, but it was hard to for me to enjoy every POV in this book. I like some characters a lot more than other characters, so I did find myself wanting to skim the chapters of certain characters. I thought some of the storylines with certain characters felt unnecessary compared to storylines of other characters. I mainly wanted to read about Heph, Kat, and Zofia. They are my favorite characters, and I thought they had the most interesting chapters in this book.
I am a huge romantic, so I was eating up the romance in this book. I don't want to spoil anything, but certain ships sailed and new ships were formed in this book. I loved it! Eleanor is an expert at creating a slow burning romance with great tension. There were two couples that I adored in this book, and I am so excited to see their relationships develop more in the next book!
The ending of this book just made me want more! I am really looking forward to seeing what Eleanor has in store for us in the next book. I cannot wait to be reunited with Heph, Kat, and Zofia!
If you were a fan of Legacy of Kings , then I definitely recommend picking up Empire of Dust .
4 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
(Empire of Dust (Blood of Gods and Royals #2) by Eleanor Herman, HARLEQUIN TEEN, June 28 2016, 384 pp., $19.99, ISBN: 9780373211920, HC, 14 & Up)
June 21, 2016
Full review will come on my blog next week. But there's a note in the back of this that the first book was sold to WB network for a possible tv series!!! So cool!!
February 25, 2018
Ich bin ehrlich, ich habe es nicht ganz zu Ende gelesen. Es haben noch knapp 100 Seiten gefehlt aber ich hatte einfach keinen Bock mehr 😅
Diese 10.000 Perspektiven, die verwirrende, langweilige Story und Charaktere, die ich teilweise einfach nur an die Wand klatschen wollte!
War echt so gar nicht meine Reihe...
Diese 10.000 Perspektiven, die verwirrende, langweilige Story und Charaktere, die ich teilweise einfach nur an die Wand klatschen wollte!
War echt so gar nicht meine Reihe...
February 7, 2025
Ce deuxième tome enchaîne les événements et les plots twist! Cette saga est vraiment sous-côtée, si vous aimez la mythologie et l'époque antique, vous allez adorer!
February 23, 2017
Empire of Dust is the second book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series by Eleanor Herman and if you haven’t yet started this series and you enjoy an epic historical fantasy, you need to read! Also, when I say epic, I mean it. There are a lot of characters and a lot of things happening in these books but once I finished book one, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on book two. Considering everything that goes on in these books, I will tell you up front that I will most likely not cover everything and everyone...I'm ok with it. What I will say is that I enjoyed this second book and thought it was well done!
Empire picks up shortly after the end of Legacy of Kings and things are changing for all of the characters. Alexander knows about Katerina and it is now clear that Alexander and Katerina are linked by blood. As they continue to grow closer, Alexander’s friendship with Heph is suffering due to the actions Heph took on the battlefield. Because of this doubt he has in Heph, Alexander is struggling to determine who he can trust. As Alex begins to assert his power in order to unearth a spy in the council, he starts to do things that he can’t be proud of.
While Alex is dealing with all of that, he also believes that the Aesarian Lords have kidnapped Cynane…which is true. Despite my feelings for Cynane (I DON’T like her at all) I did feel bad for her due to the things she was being put through with the Lords. The only thing that helps her is that Jacob is now with the Lords and while under his watch, she manages to escape. I’m not saying anything about this as I don’t want to give anything away…just trust me, it creates an interesting twist. With that said, when she gets away, Cyn goes back to her scheming ways.
Now that Alex’s mother knows who Kat really is, she also has an agenda. As Heph and Kat find out her entire foster family was killed by Olympias, Alex decides to send Heph and Kat away to secure a military alliance since the princess he was originally supposed to marry is now missing or dead. As they face a few dangers, their friendship strengthens and they begin to rely on each other. Once they find Princess Laila and learn what really happened in the City of Sharuna, things become clearer.
The other character I will talk about here is Zofia. As the princess who was supposed to marry Alexander, she is now on a very different path. If you remember from book one, she is determined to get back to Cosmas, the man she loves and the father of the child she carries. As her story progresses, it is clear that things are still changing for Zo and her relationship with Ochus is definitely changing. As he reveals what he knows, he lets her go and Zo finds herself wandering on her own again trying to survive.
In addition to the characters, Herman does a wonderful job building the world out. Some of my favorite bits of this is when Heph and Kat are in Sharuna. I could imagine everything they were seeing very clearly.
Overall I thought this was a solid book two. There were some parts that felt a bit slow but all of the pieces are coming together to link all of the characters so I am really looking forward to seeing where Herman goes with the next book. Not only for the full story but because the ending of this book was definitely one that had me flipping pages wondering why Herman would be so cruel as to end the book the way she did! Just kidding – it only is cruel to me because it was a great ending and I NEED to know what is in store for everyone. If you are looking for a historical fantasy about the younger years of Alexander the Great, definitely check this book out. I myself will be waiting anxiously for the next book in this series.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Empire picks up shortly after the end of Legacy of Kings and things are changing for all of the characters. Alexander knows about Katerina and it is now clear that Alexander and Katerina are linked by blood. As they continue to grow closer, Alexander’s friendship with Heph is suffering due to the actions Heph took on the battlefield. Because of this doubt he has in Heph, Alexander is struggling to determine who he can trust. As Alex begins to assert his power in order to unearth a spy in the council, he starts to do things that he can’t be proud of.
While Alex is dealing with all of that, he also believes that the Aesarian Lords have kidnapped Cynane…which is true. Despite my feelings for Cynane (I DON’T like her at all) I did feel bad for her due to the things she was being put through with the Lords. The only thing that helps her is that Jacob is now with the Lords and while under his watch, she manages to escape. I’m not saying anything about this as I don’t want to give anything away…just trust me, it creates an interesting twist. With that said, when she gets away, Cyn goes back to her scheming ways.
Now that Alex’s mother knows who Kat really is, she also has an agenda. As Heph and Kat find out her entire foster family was killed by Olympias, Alex decides to send Heph and Kat away to secure a military alliance since the princess he was originally supposed to marry is now missing or dead. As they face a few dangers, their friendship strengthens and they begin to rely on each other. Once they find Princess Laila and learn what really happened in the City of Sharuna, things become clearer.
The other character I will talk about here is Zofia. As the princess who was supposed to marry Alexander, she is now on a very different path. If you remember from book one, she is determined to get back to Cosmas, the man she loves and the father of the child she carries. As her story progresses, it is clear that things are still changing for Zo and her relationship with Ochus is definitely changing. As he reveals what he knows, he lets her go and Zo finds herself wandering on her own again trying to survive.
In addition to the characters, Herman does a wonderful job building the world out. Some of my favorite bits of this is when Heph and Kat are in Sharuna. I could imagine everything they were seeing very clearly.
Overall I thought this was a solid book two. There were some parts that felt a bit slow but all of the pieces are coming together to link all of the characters so I am really looking forward to seeing where Herman goes with the next book. Not only for the full story but because the ending of this book was definitely one that had me flipping pages wondering why Herman would be so cruel as to end the book the way she did! Just kidding – it only is cruel to me because it was a great ending and I NEED to know what is in store for everyone. If you are looking for a historical fantasy about the younger years of Alexander the Great, definitely check this book out. I myself will be waiting anxiously for the next book in this series.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
November 3, 2016
Okay, so i am done with this book and i think that best things in this book were Aristotle and Socrates. considering the fact that they were virtually non-existent (although Aristotle appears in a couple of scenes) one can imagine how the read went!
First of all, the book is basically a travel diary of multiple characters and such plots at times can get tedious, Kat and Heph travelling to some place in Egypt. Queen and Cynane have their own journeys to make. Alex remains busy in running Macedon. So much is happening in the book and yet this book was BLAND. no texture, no interest development... no crazy edgy feeling... Its like the mystery thriller that you easily put down for a laundry break... i dont know about anyone else, but i sure felt that way... it is written in the same third person present indefinite that was used in the first installment too.... that was quite irritating for it simply wont let me get absorbed into the story... past tense, in my opinion is the best device to make the reader comfortable.. i don't know if its just me or it bugs others too....
my favorite storyline in this whole book, is that which involves Zofia of Sardis... her character showed some actual difference through the books. so does Alex's for that matter. those scenes where the prince of Macedon goes back to his Teacher's place were the best... but the two figures that are actually getting indigestible are Kat and Heph. First and foremost, feelings simply don't shift from one end of a pendulum to the other without having any transitory period!!!! and thats something that the book lacks. one doesn't simply jump from hatred to love. more importantly, without even realizing. its a load of crap that writers often use to bullshit readers. Humans always know what they feeling towards whom. we know of even the most subtle changes in our emotions and don't need Freud to analyze them for us... we are not that dump specie you know. and yet, 70% of characters often fail to understand they have fallen in love.... its getting really old, irritating, eye-rolling and cringe worthy tune... e.g
"as for Kat, he realizes with sudden, simple clarity that he is in love with her" well, this embodies both of my pet peeves...
the plot though, is something that i enjoyed, actually liked. we are now getting glimpses of persian court too. Also, the ending is very very interesting.... something that actually, totally, revived my initial interest in the story...
Verdict:
It is an average book, one that you will read if you are following the series. although not enjoy as much as one should but it won't be the reason to abandon the series either... last chapter however, is really really good...
Read it!
First of all, the book is basically a travel diary of multiple characters and such plots at times can get tedious, Kat and Heph travelling to some place in Egypt. Queen and Cynane have their own journeys to make. Alex remains busy in running Macedon. So much is happening in the book and yet this book was BLAND. no texture, no interest development... no crazy edgy feeling... Its like the mystery thriller that you easily put down for a laundry break... i dont know about anyone else, but i sure felt that way... it is written in the same third person present indefinite that was used in the first installment too.... that was quite irritating for it simply wont let me get absorbed into the story... past tense, in my opinion is the best device to make the reader comfortable.. i don't know if its just me or it bugs others too....
my favorite storyline in this whole book, is that which involves Zofia of Sardis... her character showed some actual difference through the books. so does Alex's for that matter. those scenes where the prince of Macedon goes back to his Teacher's place were the best... but the two figures that are actually getting indigestible are Kat and Heph. First and foremost, feelings simply don't shift from one end of a pendulum to the other without having any transitory period!!!! and thats something that the book lacks. one doesn't simply jump from hatred to love. more importantly, without even realizing. its a load of crap that writers often use to bullshit readers. Humans always know what they feeling towards whom. we know of even the most subtle changes in our emotions and don't need Freud to analyze them for us... we are not that dump specie you know. and yet, 70% of characters often fail to understand they have fallen in love.... its getting really old, irritating, eye-rolling and cringe worthy tune... e.g
"as for Kat, he realizes with sudden, simple clarity that he is in love with her" well, this embodies both of my pet peeves...
the plot though, is something that i enjoyed, actually liked. we are now getting glimpses of persian court too. Also, the ending is very very interesting.... something that actually, totally, revived my initial interest in the story...
Verdict:
It is an average book, one that you will read if you are following the series. although not enjoy as much as one should but it won't be the reason to abandon the series either... last chapter however, is really really good...
Read it!
June 21, 2016
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.
This book was one that I was excited to read, but was also dreading, because I remember just how much of a slump I was in when I read Legacy of Kings last year. I'm so glad I didn't let that stop me, though, because Empire of Dust is TWICE as good, and I'm already itching for the final book, even though this one isn't even out yet!
I'm seriouslyy dying here.
The character development has me drooling. Zofia and Cyn grow and continue to draw me in, I want to learn even more about them.
All of the history we get fills me with wonder, I need more.
Seriously, if you're not reading this series, you should try it.
I'm not a huge fan of historical reads at all, but this series just weaves so much so splendidly, and Eleanor Herman is an expert (no really, she's published multiple non-fiction books on the subjects).
I'm never going to not love this series. I gifted it to so many people over the last year (sorry, Kari.) because people need to discover this beauty.
This book was one that I was excited to read, but was also dreading, because I remember just how much of a slump I was in when I read Legacy of Kings last year. I'm so glad I didn't let that stop me, though, because Empire of Dust is TWICE as good, and I'm already itching for the final book, even though this one isn't even out yet!
I'm seriouslyy dying here.
The character development has me drooling. Zofia and Cyn grow and continue to draw me in, I want to learn even more about them.
All of the history we get fills me with wonder, I need more.
Seriously, if you're not reading this series, you should try it.
I'm not a huge fan of historical reads at all, but this series just weaves so much so splendidly, and Eleanor Herman is an expert (no really, she's published multiple non-fiction books on the subjects).
I'm never going to not love this series. I gifted it to so many people over the last year (sorry, Kari.) because people need to discover this beauty.
June 17, 2018
Eleanor Herman has done it again... The second installment in the 'Blood of Gods and Royals' series has all the charm of the first novel, but it contains something more. The characters and plot develop wonderfully in this lush, intense, and beautiful sequel.
August 7, 2017
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A quick and easy historical fiction sequel full of action, adventure, and magic.
Opening Sentence: Leaves rustling. Branches creaking. The tinkle of tiny bells and cymbals creeps toward her on the wind.
Excerpt: Yes
The Review:
After reading Legacy of Kings, I was excited to see where the author would take the story in Empire of Dust. She did not disappoint in this sequel. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is one of the rare sequels that is better than the first book. After beginning with a killer scene, the action continues non-stop throughout the book. However, Herman manages to also focus on the emotional development of her characters, a careful balancing act that she accomplishes well.
This book was a wild, crazy ride and I enjoyed every second. While the characters were mostly clustered in one location in Legacy of Kings, this book sees many of them off on adventures to new places. My favorite storyline was still that of Kat and Heph, I adored watching their interactions, particularly as their feelings toward each other grow and change throughout the novel. Heph still sometimes does or says some unfortunate things but he does experience a lot of character growth in this book. One of my favorite things was how he described his changing feelings for Kat, mentioning that it was her spirit, intelligence, and beauty that he was attracted to. The author creates a multi-dimensional, fluid relationship between the two of them that is quite believable. Kat remains my favorite character and some of her lines made me laugh out loud.
Both Jacob and Alexander had interesting plot lines but neither of them was a particularly likeable character in this installment. They both grow as characters but leave an ever-increasing body count behind them. Toward the end of the book, Alex begins to see the error of his ways and makes a choice about the type of leader he wants to be. As for Zo, I’m honestly not entirely sure why her story is included yet. Her storyline consists mostly of riding around, looking for the Pegasus, and finding her captor attractive. Had she been more of a multi-dimensional character, I might have enjoyed her storyline more. I also would have liked a little bit more depth to Cyn, although I have hopes for her in future books. As with the first book, Olympia was such a deliciously immoral character; her scenes are usually semi-shocking but always interesting.
While the plot was fast-paced and entertaining, the world building could have been a bit better. Much of the history was conveyed through info dumps, rather than spread out and woven into the plot. I did like the magic system, but would have liked more information about it. There were some unexpected plot twists through the book that kept my interest. The switching between characters was smoother than the last book but would still often occur in the middle of a scene.
Empire of Dust was a quick and easy read full of action, adventure, and magic. I’m already looking forward to reading book three and finding out what happens next.
Notable Scene:
Jacob hears a boot kicking gravel. “I regret, High Lord, that I cannot say at the moment. But I swear I will find the last god, in whatever form he takes, and bring him to the Lords.”
“If you do, you will be the best of the Aesarians,” comes the resonant voice. “Rest assured, your name will be inscribed at Nekrana. Never before have we…” Gideon’s voice fades as the two men leave the courtyard. Jacob peers around the column at their retreating forms and sees no way of following them without being seen. Questions churn in his mind like a river in spring flood. What does it mean, the last god? The gods are asleep—they have not come in contact with men for hundreds of years now. Is Bastian trying to waken them? Why was he on a secret mission? But another thought grows larger and larger until it pushes all others from his mind: the best of the Aesarians. High Lord Gideon said find Riel and become the best.
FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Empire of Dust. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A quick and easy historical fiction sequel full of action, adventure, and magic.
Opening Sentence: Leaves rustling. Branches creaking. The tinkle of tiny bells and cymbals creeps toward her on the wind.
Excerpt: Yes
The Review:
After reading Legacy of Kings, I was excited to see where the author would take the story in Empire of Dust. She did not disappoint in this sequel. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is one of the rare sequels that is better than the first book. After beginning with a killer scene, the action continues non-stop throughout the book. However, Herman manages to also focus on the emotional development of her characters, a careful balancing act that she accomplishes well.
This book was a wild, crazy ride and I enjoyed every second. While the characters were mostly clustered in one location in Legacy of Kings, this book sees many of them off on adventures to new places. My favorite storyline was still that of Kat and Heph, I adored watching their interactions, particularly as their feelings toward each other grow and change throughout the novel. Heph still sometimes does or says some unfortunate things but he does experience a lot of character growth in this book. One of my favorite things was how he described his changing feelings for Kat, mentioning that it was her spirit, intelligence, and beauty that he was attracted to. The author creates a multi-dimensional, fluid relationship between the two of them that is quite believable. Kat remains my favorite character and some of her lines made me laugh out loud.
Both Jacob and Alexander had interesting plot lines but neither of them was a particularly likeable character in this installment. They both grow as characters but leave an ever-increasing body count behind them. Toward the end of the book, Alex begins to see the error of his ways and makes a choice about the type of leader he wants to be. As for Zo, I’m honestly not entirely sure why her story is included yet. Her storyline consists mostly of riding around, looking for the Pegasus, and finding her captor attractive. Had she been more of a multi-dimensional character, I might have enjoyed her storyline more. I also would have liked a little bit more depth to Cyn, although I have hopes for her in future books. As with the first book, Olympia was such a deliciously immoral character; her scenes are usually semi-shocking but always interesting.
While the plot was fast-paced and entertaining, the world building could have been a bit better. Much of the history was conveyed through info dumps, rather than spread out and woven into the plot. I did like the magic system, but would have liked more information about it. There were some unexpected plot twists through the book that kept my interest. The switching between characters was smoother than the last book but would still often occur in the middle of a scene.
Empire of Dust was a quick and easy read full of action, adventure, and magic. I’m already looking forward to reading book three and finding out what happens next.
Notable Scene:
Jacob hears a boot kicking gravel. “I regret, High Lord, that I cannot say at the moment. But I swear I will find the last god, in whatever form he takes, and bring him to the Lords.”
“If you do, you will be the best of the Aesarians,” comes the resonant voice. “Rest assured, your name will be inscribed at Nekrana. Never before have we…” Gideon’s voice fades as the two men leave the courtyard. Jacob peers around the column at their retreating forms and sees no way of following them without being seen. Questions churn in his mind like a river in spring flood. What does it mean, the last god? The gods are asleep—they have not come in contact with men for hundreds of years now. Is Bastian trying to waken them? Why was he on a secret mission? But another thought grows larger and larger until it pushes all others from his mind: the best of the Aesarians. High Lord Gideon said find Riel and become the best.
FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Empire of Dust. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
June 18, 2017
J'avais bien aimé ma lecture du premier tome de la série et j'étais bien curieuse de voir ce que l'auteure réservait pour ses personnages. Une fois de plus, j'ai apprécié cet univers où se mêlent histoire, magie, légendes, dieux, secrets et trahisons, car ce dernier est toujours aussi prenant. J'ai aussi apprécié ce tome davantage que le précédent pour son rythme plus soutenu, mais il y a une chose qui m'a une fois de plus un peu ennuyé...
Tout d'abord, j'ai bien apprécié l'intrigue qui avance d'un rythme beaucoup plus soutenu comparativement à celle du tome précédent, car il y a moins de passages descriptifs qu’auparavant. C'est une bonne chose, car je trouvais ces derniers un peu trop lourds dans le premier volet de cette série. On en apprend aussi beaucoup plus sur les origines des deux principaux types de Magie de Sang, soient le Sang-Terre et le Sang-Serpent, ainsi que sur certains dieux que l'ont n'a que brièvement mentionné auparavant. On voit aussi beaucoup plus d'éléments fantastiques dans ce deuxième tome, ce qui m'a grandement ravie!
En ce qui concerne les personnages, j'ai apprécié le développement de la plupart des personnages, dont notamment celui d'Alexandre, car il essaie de faire de son mieux, et ce malgré l'immense pression qu'il a sur les épaules, car il doit maintenant diriger la Macédoine en l’absence de son père qui est parti faire la guerre à l'Empire perse. En parlant aussi de ce dernier, on découvre aussi de nouveaux personnages du côté des Perses qui vont avoir fort probablement un rôle important à jouer dans le prochain tome de la série. J'ai toutefois trouvé qu' Héphestion a été un peu inconsistant dans son développement, car autant qui prend de bonnes décisions à certains moments, qu'à d'autres il pose des gestes qui vont lui causer plus de mal que de bien...mais bon, il apprend petit à petit de ses erreurs et il n'est plus aussi arrogant, alors j'espère que tout va s'arranger pour lui.
Il y a toutefois un élément qui m'a vraiment agacé et ce dernier pourrait vous surprendre, car je n'ai pas vraiment apprécié les différentes romances qui ont pris place dans ce livre. J'avais aussi eu quelques réserves sur la romance dans le premier tome, mais dans ce cas-ci c'est encore pire, car j'ai l'impression que c'est le monde à l'envers! Je ne peux pas vraiment en dire plus sans trop dévoiler de détails, mais savez simplement que je trouve encore que les romances se développent trop rapidement et que le tout se fait dans des conditions qui (selon moi) ne les rend pas crédibles...En bref, j'ai aimé l'avance de l'intrigue et les découvertes de ce deuxième tome, mais malheureusement, j'ai totalement passé à côté de la romance qui m'a laissé un goût amer. Je compte bien lire la suite, car certaines révélations à la toute fin du roman me laissent présager une très bonne suite!
Tout d'abord, j'ai bien apprécié l'intrigue qui avance d'un rythme beaucoup plus soutenu comparativement à celle du tome précédent, car il y a moins de passages descriptifs qu’auparavant. C'est une bonne chose, car je trouvais ces derniers un peu trop lourds dans le premier volet de cette série. On en apprend aussi beaucoup plus sur les origines des deux principaux types de Magie de Sang, soient le Sang-Terre et le Sang-Serpent, ainsi que sur certains dieux que l'ont n'a que brièvement mentionné auparavant. On voit aussi beaucoup plus d'éléments fantastiques dans ce deuxième tome, ce qui m'a grandement ravie!
En ce qui concerne les personnages, j'ai apprécié le développement de la plupart des personnages, dont notamment celui d'Alexandre, car il essaie de faire de son mieux, et ce malgré l'immense pression qu'il a sur les épaules, car il doit maintenant diriger la Macédoine en l’absence de son père qui est parti faire la guerre à l'Empire perse. En parlant aussi de ce dernier, on découvre aussi de nouveaux personnages du côté des Perses qui vont avoir fort probablement un rôle important à jouer dans le prochain tome de la série. J'ai toutefois trouvé qu' Héphestion a été un peu inconsistant dans son développement, car autant qui prend de bonnes décisions à certains moments, qu'à d'autres il pose des gestes qui vont lui causer plus de mal que de bien...mais bon, il apprend petit à petit de ses erreurs et il n'est plus aussi arrogant, alors j'espère que tout va s'arranger pour lui.
Il y a toutefois un élément qui m'a vraiment agacé et ce dernier pourrait vous surprendre, car je n'ai pas vraiment apprécié les différentes romances qui ont pris place dans ce livre. J'avais aussi eu quelques réserves sur la romance dans le premier tome, mais dans ce cas-ci c'est encore pire, car j'ai l'impression que c'est le monde à l'envers! Je ne peux pas vraiment en dire plus sans trop dévoiler de détails, mais savez simplement que je trouve encore que les romances se développent trop rapidement et que le tout se fait dans des conditions qui (selon moi) ne les rend pas crédibles...En bref, j'ai aimé l'avance de l'intrigue et les découvertes de ce deuxième tome, mais malheureusement, j'ai totalement passé à côté de la romance qui m'a laissé un goût amer. Je compte bien lire la suite, car certaines révélations à la toute fin du roman me laissent présager une très bonne suite!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2016
Actual Rating 4.5 stars
Review:
Characters: Once again this book takes us through this story through many different points of view, but for the purpose of this review I'll stick with the main characters. First we have Kat, who has recently found out that she's the twin sister of Alexander, the prince of Macedon, but her birth mother still hunts her for unknown reasons, to keep her safe Alex sends her and his friend Hephaestion, on an adventure to help protect Macedon from further threats. Alex is still trying to figure out his role as Prince Regent while his father is off fighting a war in Byzantium, will he rule with an iron fist, or with cunning and wit? Then there's Jacob, who bored me to tears in the last book, given that literally his only character motvation was how he could get Kat to fall in love with him, this time however, while his motivations are still in some way still ties to Kat, he's off on his own path, a path of glory and for himself. However, under his careful watch is the princess, Cynane, Alex's half sister who will stop at nothing to hold her own kingdom and lead her own army. Finally, far removed from this story for now, is Princess Zofia, who longs to find the Spirit Eaters and change her destiny to be with the one she loves, but now held captive and led on what she believes to be a wild goose chase for the last pegasus, she begins to wonder if finding the Spirit Eaters is still what she truly desires. Going into this book, I loved most of the characters, even the characters who hate other characters I love. I did not, however, love the character of Jacob, that being said I actually enjoyed him in this book and after a few chapters actually found myself excited for his next chapter. I'm still not sure about a romance between him and Kat, but on his own he's actually not a half bad character anymore. Another character I love, Zo, again doesn't have all that many chapters, and with her story being so far removed from the rest it's hard to get a good chunk of her story each book, hopefully she'll meet up with some of our other heroes in the future. Overall, all these characters are fantastic, the heroic ones, the villainous ones, and the ones in between are all so richly fleshed out and described.
Romance: So if Eleanor Herman had one flaw I'd say it's romance. Now, not all her romance was negative, in fact in the first book I only really wanted Kat and Heph to get together because I despised Jacob so much, but after this book I actually really and truly wanted them together. There is one other romance, one I'm not going to divulge too much of due to spoilers, but suffice it to say that these two romantic interests grow close in this book sure, but the fact of romance comes out of nowhere, and suddenly the person who's perspective we're reading from is all, "Yes! I do love *spoiler*. How did I not see it before?" and with it coming out of the blue like that, without any real romantic tension between the two or really anything pointing toward affection of that nature on either side, really kind of bugged me.
World Building: There is so much world building in this book. One of the things I find really interesting about this book are all of the legends that don't quite exist in our world, but are still tied to the mythology of our world in some way. If you've read the prequel to this series, you may know that there is a god called Riel mentioned in it, and if memory serves he may have even been mentioned in the first novel as well, anyway, since reading about him I had thought that the name "Riel" was a false name for some other god, but in this story not only do we learn more about Riel, but about where Snake and Earth Blood Magic comes from, about the mythical events that have shaped this world at a tipping point, a bit about what to expect in the future. Another thing we see in this book are two character venturing to Egypt on an important mission and making even more discoveries along the way. The way this author describes the landscapes of Egypt is so wildly different to that of Macedon. In fact it's evident that the author really wants the reader to feel that they aren't in Macedon anymore, and really feel this new part of the world. I love the mix of different mythologies and how this world has grown, the author does take some liberties with history, beyond just the magic stuff, but nothing that would cloud the core feel and purpose of the story and world at large.
Predictability: This series as a whole hasn't been all that predictable, if memory serves, and this book is no exception. As always there are a few things that are easier to predict, though more specific things foreshadowed than just vague normally guaranteed things. Then there were the big twists, and one of the big twists is pretty predictable, though I never felt like it was supposed to be this big shocking twist, it was more that the characters finally caught on to what's been going on. There were a couple fairly large twists though that knocked me off my feet and had my mind reeling. With how this world is constantly evolving I can't wait to see what's next!
Ending: This ending was rather strange. Not in a bad way at all, it's just when the first book ended with a large battle, I had assumed that this book would as well, but the final climax, or should I say climaxes, were much more subtle and really drove home where this series is going. I've heard rumors, or possibly just straight up fact, that this is a trilogy, and I sincerely hope it isn't. With how this book ends and everything it's hard to even think that this book could end in just one more installment, it wouldn't be unheard of, but it would be pretty disappointing. Oh, yeah, and this book does end with a pretty huge cliffhanger.
Rating:
I loved this book so much. While there is both not that much, and a whole lot, going on in this book due to the shear number of perspectives, it's such a gripping story and it was hard to put down for too long because I found myself itching to find out what happens next, as I said above I hope this has more than just one installment left because I feel there's much more story to tell!
Review:
Characters: Once again this book takes us through this story through many different points of view, but for the purpose of this review I'll stick with the main characters. First we have Kat, who has recently found out that she's the twin sister of Alexander, the prince of Macedon, but her birth mother still hunts her for unknown reasons, to keep her safe Alex sends her and his friend Hephaestion, on an adventure to help protect Macedon from further threats. Alex is still trying to figure out his role as Prince Regent while his father is off fighting a war in Byzantium, will he rule with an iron fist, or with cunning and wit? Then there's Jacob, who bored me to tears in the last book, given that literally his only character motvation was how he could get Kat to fall in love with him, this time however, while his motivations are still in some way still ties to Kat, he's off on his own path, a path of glory and for himself. However, under his careful watch is the princess, Cynane, Alex's half sister who will stop at nothing to hold her own kingdom and lead her own army. Finally, far removed from this story for now, is Princess Zofia, who longs to find the Spirit Eaters and change her destiny to be with the one she loves, but now held captive and led on what she believes to be a wild goose chase for the last pegasus, she begins to wonder if finding the Spirit Eaters is still what she truly desires. Going into this book, I loved most of the characters, even the characters who hate other characters I love. I did not, however, love the character of Jacob, that being said I actually enjoyed him in this book and after a few chapters actually found myself excited for his next chapter. I'm still not sure about a romance between him and Kat, but on his own he's actually not a half bad character anymore. Another character I love, Zo, again doesn't have all that many chapters, and with her story being so far removed from the rest it's hard to get a good chunk of her story each book, hopefully she'll meet up with some of our other heroes in the future. Overall, all these characters are fantastic, the heroic ones, the villainous ones, and the ones in between are all so richly fleshed out and described.
Romance: So if Eleanor Herman had one flaw I'd say it's romance. Now, not all her romance was negative, in fact in the first book I only really wanted Kat and Heph to get together because I despised Jacob so much, but after this book I actually really and truly wanted them together. There is one other romance, one I'm not going to divulge too much of due to spoilers, but suffice it to say that these two romantic interests grow close in this book sure, but the fact of romance comes out of nowhere, and suddenly the person who's perspective we're reading from is all, "Yes! I do love *spoiler*. How did I not see it before?" and with it coming out of the blue like that, without any real romantic tension between the two or really anything pointing toward affection of that nature on either side, really kind of bugged me.
World Building: There is so much world building in this book. One of the things I find really interesting about this book are all of the legends that don't quite exist in our world, but are still tied to the mythology of our world in some way. If you've read the prequel to this series, you may know that there is a god called Riel mentioned in it, and if memory serves he may have even been mentioned in the first novel as well, anyway, since reading about him I had thought that the name "Riel" was a false name for some other god, but in this story not only do we learn more about Riel, but about where Snake and Earth Blood Magic comes from, about the mythical events that have shaped this world at a tipping point, a bit about what to expect in the future. Another thing we see in this book are two character venturing to Egypt on an important mission and making even more discoveries along the way. The way this author describes the landscapes of Egypt is so wildly different to that of Macedon. In fact it's evident that the author really wants the reader to feel that they aren't in Macedon anymore, and really feel this new part of the world. I love the mix of different mythologies and how this world has grown, the author does take some liberties with history, beyond just the magic stuff, but nothing that would cloud the core feel and purpose of the story and world at large.
Predictability: This series as a whole hasn't been all that predictable, if memory serves, and this book is no exception. As always there are a few things that are easier to predict, though more specific things foreshadowed than just vague normally guaranteed things. Then there were the big twists, and one of the big twists is pretty predictable, though I never felt like it was supposed to be this big shocking twist, it was more that the characters finally caught on to what's been going on. There were a couple fairly large twists though that knocked me off my feet and had my mind reeling. With how this world is constantly evolving I can't wait to see what's next!
Ending: This ending was rather strange. Not in a bad way at all, it's just when the first book ended with a large battle, I had assumed that this book would as well, but the final climax, or should I say climaxes, were much more subtle and really drove home where this series is going. I've heard rumors, or possibly just straight up fact, that this is a trilogy, and I sincerely hope it isn't. With how this book ends and everything it's hard to even think that this book could end in just one more installment, it wouldn't be unheard of, but it would be pretty disappointing. Oh, yeah, and this book does end with a pretty huge cliffhanger.
Rating:
I loved this book so much. While there is both not that much, and a whole lot, going on in this book due to the shear number of perspectives, it's such a gripping story and it was hard to put down for too long because I found myself itching to find out what happens next, as I said above I hope this has more than just one installment left because I feel there's much more story to tell!
May 31, 2017
I received this book in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this sequel. It was exciting to get to see more magic, understand how it came about, the terrible things that are truly hidden and seeing more from these characters.
Its still at a slower pace which again i feel makes the story what it is. Its not this fast paced action packed be done with book. This series is very slow burning. You get to see so many people and seeing how all of them intertwine with each other takes time and eleanor does such a great job.
We got to go on a boat and sail in search for egypt, there was deceit and love and pain and loss. Characters that i wonder what the heck is going to happen!
I thought it was an amazing sequel! Cannot wait for the third book!
I loved this sequel. It was exciting to get to see more magic, understand how it came about, the terrible things that are truly hidden and seeing more from these characters.
Its still at a slower pace which again i feel makes the story what it is. Its not this fast paced action packed be done with book. This series is very slow burning. You get to see so many people and seeing how all of them intertwine with each other takes time and eleanor does such a great job.
We got to go on a boat and sail in search for egypt, there was deceit and love and pain and loss. Characters that i wonder what the heck is going to happen!
I thought it was an amazing sequel! Cannot wait for the third book!
May 19, 2017
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
17/20 - J'ai une nouvelle fois adoré l'alternance des points de vue et la façon dont chaque personnage évolue au contact des autres ! L'intrigue est palpitante et nous réserve quelques surprises....
17/20 - J'ai une nouvelle fois adoré l'alternance des points de vue et la façon dont chaque personnage évolue au contact des autres ! L'intrigue est palpitante et nous réserve quelques surprises....
December 13, 2018
Lo stile di scrittura della Herman mi è piaciuto e soprattutto riesce a coinvolgermi nella storia, ma credo che la scrittrice abbia scelto troppe voci narranti e bisogna aspettare anche cinquanta pagine per sapere come continua un filone narrativo.
In più non tutte le voci narranti sono interessanti e ti coinvolgono, facendo ogni tanto percepire il libro come noioso ed infinito.
Essendo la serie interrotta in Italia ero indecisa se continuarla oppure no, avendo letto come finisce la serie, finale che sfortunatamente non mi convince la mia lettura per questa serie finisce qua.
In più non tutte le voci narranti sono interessanti e ti coinvolgono, facendo ogni tanto percepire il libro come noioso ed infinito.
Essendo la serie interrotta in Italia ero indecisa se continuarla oppure no, avendo letto come finisce la serie, finale che sfortunatamente non mi convince la mia lettura per questa serie finisce qua.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews