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The Horn #2
Original
Amal, Lady Horn, has always been called rash. She makes decisions far too quickly for the elders of the Horn Family. Bringing home a mysterious foreigner—one who has ties to her people’s ancient enemies, the Cince—is bad enough, but now she’s taken him as her lover. She might even want more from him.
Dalyan is an Original, a copy of a man long dead. The elders of the Horn Family thought they could use his singular knowledge to resurrect an ancient Fortress, a sentient underground city long abandoned by its people. But when Dalyan can’t access the memoires of the man from whom he’s copied, the elders begin to ask whether he’s an unfortunate liability instead. For Amal’s sake, Dalyan is determined to prove them wrong.
Together Amal and Dalyan work to build a coalition to raise the hidden Fortress, but they’ll need the help of Amal’s friends, of the Oathbreakers spread across the country, and—if possible—the king himself.
Dalyan is an Original, a copy of a man long dead. The elders of the Horn Family thought they could use his singular knowledge to resurrect an ancient Fortress, a sentient underground city long abandoned by its people. But when Dalyan can’t access the memoires of the man from whom he’s copied, the elders begin to ask whether he’s an unfortunate liability instead. For Amal’s sake, Dalyan is determined to prove them wrong.
Together Amal and Dalyan work to build a coalition to raise the hidden Fortress, but they’ll need the help of Amal’s friends, of the Oathbreakers spread across the country, and—if possible—the king himself.
- GenresFantasy
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2017
5 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
J. Kathleen Cheney
46 books252 followersJ. Kathleen Cheney is nothing if not versatile in her story telling. But, weaving through her work is a common thread, that of the improbable heroine. From worlds set in humanity’s distant post-apocalyptic future to alternate worlds of today or of the near past, Kathleen’s heroines include a siren who with help from a gentleman of the city must stop a regicidal plot, the neglected daughter of an absent king coming to terms with her shapeshifting ancestors, a blind teenager who dreams of others’ deaths and who uses her gift of touch to find their killers, and the widow of a trainer who with a most unusual horse must save her farm and way of life. All use their unusual gifts and talents to overcome obstacles and find their place in the world.
In 2005 Kathleen decided to pursue writing as a full-time endeavor and has since enjoyed seeing her stories published in Shimmer, The Sword Review, and Baen’s Universe. Her novella “Iron Shoes” was a 2011 Nebula nominee. Kathleen twice attended the summer Writer’s Workshop at the Center for the Study of Science Fiction under the tutelage of James Gunn. She lists C. J. Cherryh, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Georgette Heyer among the writers who influenced her most–as well as Ansen Dibell, whose ghostly fingerprints can be seen all over her work.
Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Kathleen’s parents actually were rocket scientists (they worked at White Sands Missile Range), which made for interesting dinner-time conversations. After graduating with degrees in English and Marketing she worked as a menswear buyer for retail department store chains before changing careers to become a teacher, where she taught mathematics ranging from 7th Grade Arithmetic up to Calculus. Kathleen also served a brief stint as a Gifted and Talented Specialist. She coached the Academic Team and the Robotics Team and was the Chess Club sponsor.
When not writing, Kathleen likes to don a mask and get sweaty fencing, both foil and saber. Quieter hobbies include putting on her Wellingtons and getting her hands dirty in the garden. She also enjoys traveling and taking care of her dogs. Two large, hairy, dogs.
Her first novel, "The Golden City" came out from Ace Books, November 2013.
In 2005 Kathleen decided to pursue writing as a full-time endeavor and has since enjoyed seeing her stories published in Shimmer, The Sword Review, and Baen’s Universe. Her novella “Iron Shoes” was a 2011 Nebula nominee. Kathleen twice attended the summer Writer’s Workshop at the Center for the Study of Science Fiction under the tutelage of James Gunn. She lists C. J. Cherryh, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Georgette Heyer among the writers who influenced her most–as well as Ansen Dibell, whose ghostly fingerprints can be seen all over her work.
Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Kathleen’s parents actually were rocket scientists (they worked at White Sands Missile Range), which made for interesting dinner-time conversations. After graduating with degrees in English and Marketing she worked as a menswear buyer for retail department store chains before changing careers to become a teacher, where she taught mathematics ranging from 7th Grade Arithmetic up to Calculus. Kathleen also served a brief stint as a Gifted and Talented Specialist. She coached the Academic Team and the Robotics Team and was the Chess Club sponsor.
When not writing, Kathleen likes to don a mask and get sweaty fencing, both foil and saber. Quieter hobbies include putting on her Wellingtons and getting her hands dirty in the garden. She also enjoys traveling and taking care of her dogs. Two large, hairy, dogs.
Her first novel, "The Golden City" came out from Ace Books, November 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 24, 2017
The story of Dalyan, Amal, and her age group friends continues in this second book of The Horn series. I loved the first one.
This one is still pretty great, but I felt, as often happens with middle books, that in some ways we were just marking time. Oh we get some developments: the twenty-sevens have big plans now that they know the Salonen fortress may still be alive and that Amal & the Oathbreakers have been holding back information about the Fortresses all this time. Freja, in particular, gets several instances of being snappy because of what Amal has hidden from her. And we get to follow the main group traveling to meet the King to introduce both Dalyan as who he truly is, and as Amal's Consort...but there's alot of worrying and rehashing and wondering what the Cince were up to and not so many developments until they are just about at the end of their journey.
Still, I like this series BECAUSE of the world-building, and the very obvious thought put into the culture of the Family and how warrior-sensitives would live. I love Amal's group, and part of the reason I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one is because I think I missed them. They were off camera doing a lot without Amal's knowledge so we didn't get as much time with them as I would like. But the time spent explaining Family customs to Dalyan, and then showing him the world as they travel to see the King, those parts were just as fun as the first book. Just maybe wanted more development in the middle. Can't wait to find out what happens next as the book ends with Amal and Dalyan needing to fulfill duties in different parts of the country.
This one is still pretty great, but I felt, as often happens with middle books, that in some ways we were just marking time. Oh we get some developments: the twenty-sevens have big plans now that they know the Salonen fortress may still be alive and that Amal & the Oathbreakers have been holding back information about the Fortresses all this time. Freja, in particular, gets several instances of being snappy because of what Amal has hidden from her. And we get to follow the main group traveling to meet the King to introduce both Dalyan as who he truly is, and as Amal's Consort...but there's alot of worrying and rehashing and wondering what the Cince were up to and not so many developments until they are just about at the end of their journey.
Still, I like this series BECAUSE of the world-building, and the very obvious thought put into the culture of the Family and how warrior-sensitives would live. I love Amal's group, and part of the reason I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one is because I think I missed them. They were off camera doing a lot without Amal's knowledge so we didn't get as much time with them as I would like. But the time spent explaining Family customs to Dalyan, and then showing him the world as they travel to see the King, those parts were just as fun as the first book. Just maybe wanted more development in the middle. Can't wait to find out what happens next as the book ends with Amal and Dalyan needing to fulfill duties in different parts of the country.
May 19, 2019
Really enjoyed this book!
Book two continues the story of Dalyan, the foreigner found deep in the snow on the Horn glacier too near the abandoned Fortress. It is time for Lady Horn to introduce Dalyan to the king and seek permission to enter the long dormant Fortress with the goal of either totally reviving it or destroying it, before the ancient enemy Circe Empire does the same first!
Couldn't put this book down! So happy I had downloaded the entire trilogy at the same time because I had to immediately start book three as soon as book two finished!
Highly recommended for character-driven plot, terrific worldbuilding, and lots of action!
Book two continues the story of Dalyan, the foreigner found deep in the snow on the Horn glacier too near the abandoned Fortress. It is time for Lady Horn to introduce Dalyan to the king and seek permission to enter the long dormant Fortress with the goal of either totally reviving it or destroying it, before the ancient enemy Circe Empire does the same first!
Couldn't put this book down! So happy I had downloaded the entire trilogy at the same time because I had to immediately start book three as soon as book two finished!
Highly recommended for character-driven plot, terrific worldbuilding, and lots of action!
July 6, 2020
Great follow up to Oathbreaker, further fleshes out the Dreaming world.
did-not-finish
April 5, 2023At least for now I'm DNF-ing this series at Book 2, 30%. I just do not care about babies as a plotline and honestly I don't like Amal.
May 1, 2017
Excellent continuation of the Horn stories.
Exciting read continuing Amal and Dalyan's story, revealing more about the Fortresses, the Cince, and the inner conflicts within the Horn family. Each revelation adds to the mystery of Dalyan and Salonen Fortress. I am now anxiously awaiting the next entry in this story.
Exciting read continuing Amal and Dalyan's story, revealing more about the Fortresses, the Cince, and the inner conflicts within the Horn family. Each revelation adds to the mystery of Dalyan and Salonen Fortress. I am now anxiously awaiting the next entry in this story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews