The Aeternum Wars have begun anew. Ministry armies have spread like a pestilence across Illyria, wreaking chaos and destruction upon the last remaining outposts of those brave enough to resist.
Hunted by the same feral beasts that destroyed her town, Anzien Tsierig leads a squad of soldiers and untested recruits south along the Wyrewood. Their orders are clear: travel to the southern stronghold and prevent a mass slaughter. Will they find a town ready to defend, or a field of graves?
Across the Shattered Peak Mountains, Oren and Clementine search for a way to stem the tide of darkness. When they stumble upon a figure of legend, they must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for a chance to save their world. The answer is one that will put their friendship, and perhaps their very souls to the ultimate test.
Humanity is once again pushed to the brink, and those who remain must unite, or be swallowed by the void.
H.G. Chambers is a huge nerd. I mean, you should see this guy’s collection of Zelda, Star Wars, D&D, and Tolkien nonsense! He’s also written a few books, I’m told, though chances are they’re equally nerdy. So unless you’re fluent in Klingon and enjoy painfully drawn out conversations about obscure Elden Ring lore, maybe don’t ask what he’s into. Despite what should be a catastrophic social handicap, he’s managed to find an awesome wife and has two implausibly awesome kids (talk about beating the odds). H.G.C. lives out his pathetically nerdy life on Vancouver Island, Canada, where people are polite, and the geese are complete jerks. Seriously…don’t mess with the geese, they will end you.
What an incredible sequel!! I was so excited to start this book, like you have no idea how much I wanted Chambers to email the ARC readers to say that book 2 is officially done and ready for us to read and review!!
Where do I even start?! This book took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions! It made me laugh and joyful, sad and scared, terrified and frustrated!! It was just the perfect combination between action, mystery and romance.
Did I say romance? YES I DID!!! So, as most of you would have guessed, the ship has sailed! It was so sweet and loving and just perfect 😍
But let's get on with the plot. From the previous book, we read that Oren and Clem defeated a Breaker, thanks to their unique ability of gathering Kai at such a young age, which technically isn't suppose to happen until you are 150 years old (and Clem does it at 15 and Oren and 17 😱). And in this book we see them using and developing their abilities more and it's exciting to read!
But, even if they defeated a breaker, that was only the start of their problems. Oren and Clem need to journey far to find a way to help the people of New Arcadia and save them from a terrible weapon that will destroy the people and enslave them. Throughout their journey, they will encounter dangers more aggressive and powerful then they've encountered. They will meet new allies and confront Old and new enemies along the way. Trust and loyalty is tested, but it does make them stronger, fierce and determined to find a solution to their problems. Even if it means sacrificing something you value above all else, to help change the destruction of the future 😫😫😭😭😭😭
As we read on with Oren and Clem's journey, we also read through the perspective of two different characters. Anzien, the young woman who ran to Oren's group to deliver the news that Masada, their old home, is under attack. And Ryland, a soldier from New Arcadia who witnessed the scene when strange creatures entered the city through the Shadowgate.
To me, Ryland was a complex character, he seems to always want to do the right thing but it always backfires at him. Due to the battle that he witnessed, he begins to realise that the world he lives in is not as safe as it should be. There are too many secrets that the Ministry is hiding from the people, but those secrets seems like they are not to protect them but to learn how to control them. Through Ryland we discover new secrets and mysteries that may help him make a difference and help save the people. But, he must learn to trust himself to do greater things, and know who to trust. I really enjoyed reading about his side of the story, he was an interesting character, clearly flawed as he makes multiple mistakes but that makes him more real. Can't wait to read more about him!
But, our main focus in this book is Anzien and her brother Simeon. It continues from when she ran off to help fight with her brothers and sisters to save Masada. But, what continues after, questions her ability to lead and think. Anzien and her squad have to warn others of the attacks that have happened. And during this journey we will experience, betrayal, heartbreak and confusion a lot! I mean, I didn't really think she was important in the first book, like who would have thought she would become a MC for the sequel ? But I'm so glad that she did, her story is beautiful. Most of the roller coaster of emotions came from her side of the story. She goes through so much trials and errors that I can't help but feel compassion for her. She carries so much on her shoulders but she is fiecrce and determined like Clem, which I love
So, I am super excited to see how this will continue, will it be a trilogy or more? We will just have to wait and see because there is so much revelations in this book, big ones too! I cannot wait to see how it will all be resolved!
Received a copy from the author himself, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!!
20/12/17 😭😭😭😭😭 that was an Awesome plot!!! So much better than the first!!! review to come!!!
Vigilance starts where Recreance ended, and continues in the same fantastic vein. The characters I had come to know in the first book are further developed, and a host of new characters are introduced. A minor character from the first book, Anzien gets a large portion of Vigilance dedicated to her. Her parts slot seamlessly into the narrative as a while, and make for am immensely immersive read. All of the characters feel unique, each has their own agenda and it is easy to feel a connect to many of them. The only complaint I can have the characters is that some of the bad guys come across as slightly two dimensional, but this may be simply because their part is minor, in a story told mostly from the perspective the good. The plot continues and expands on the things raised in the first book. The addition of new characters allows the book to open up a number of new plot lines, while the established characters continue to develop the parts of the story they are involved in. While it is clear that there is an overarching plot running through all of the actions the characters do, there is significantly more happening to prevent any part of the book feeling like filler. While the main theme of the book is the ‘saving-the-world’ staple of epic fantasy, there a very interesting and brain bending side plots on the idea of time not being a linear progression and the importance of choice which Chambers does a phenomenal job of making and have left me pondering long after I finished the book. Chambers passion for his writing comes through in this book. He has clearly put a lot of work into making the book an immersive experience, to the point that I lost myself in it on more than one occasion. There is more than 1 brilliant plot twist which caught me completely off guard, and occasionally made me dislike Chambers, albeit for a short time, leaving me in part wanting to throw my phone across the room, but also unable to take my eyes off the page. The biggest disappointment with this book, if that is what it can be called, is the ending. An abrupt ending feels as if a too much is left open for the sequel, but this is perhaps a personal thing. It just felt as if the book should have continued for a few more chapters. What this does mean though is that I greatly anticipating the next book, and I am expecting great things from it. Overall, this book has earned 5 stars from me, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of epic fantasy, and everyone else who will listen to me.
Once again, another fantastic book that may be lengthy, but has so much going on you hardly notice you’ve been sitting reading for hours. I really like the alternating chapters between the four different set of characters. We have Oren and Clem who are searching for answers in the middle of nowhere and unexpectedly met up with a lost legend. They are experiencing great strength in their relationship, but it kind of hits the fan near the end (much to my sadness). Next we have Anzien and her squad who are fighting and running to other settlements to save their citizens. Along the way she encounters a few obstacles that really test her ability and strength. Ryland is another ongoing story-line that has been quite a curiosity to me. He is a member of New Arcadia elite and once he witnesses the opening of the Shadow Gate from book one he realizes there is a bigger threat in the world and the Ministry is possibly behind it. Lastly, we have small snippets of Magdalene’s place in the scheme of things and how she contributes to save the world.
Overall this book is an action-packed ride that I can’t wait to continue on in book three. While I was reading each chapter they ended with little cliffhangers and I would want to skip ahead, but then I would get caught up in the next character and before I knew it everything was coming together quite perfectly. I have many high hopes that some of these characters make it to the end. There are many different directions this war can go.
Vigilance is the second book in The Aeternum Chronicles. I would highly recommend this series to young adults and adults who enjoy reading science fiction / fantasy stories with a slight dystopian feel.
This is a brilliant read and a remarkable follow-up to Recreance the first of the Aeternum Chronicles series by H.G. Chambers. I have become an instant fan. The writer has hit the sweet spot within this genre, for me. The eternal struggle of good vs evil is the backbone of the story, but it is the larger grey area in between that appeals to me. The characters are multi faceted and flawed just like real life and easy to relate to. You are not sure of where on the spectrum some of the players fall…yet. I am already speculating where the story might go in the future.
I experienced the full range of feelings from joy while narrowly escaping situations that looked hopeless, jackhammer heart pounding fast chase scenes and times where I had to stop reading because my glasses were like peering through a watery portal. Ok so I cried a few times. Either from enormous relief or abject sadness both. Not many books move me like this. The authors creativity with story lines and characters that come alive are genius, rare for a new writer. Hard to believe these two books are the authors’ first two forays into writing. The open-ended story lines and surprise endings show much promise. These books are perfect for young adults as well as crusty fantasy fans like myself. Bravo HG.
Although you start the series with this book (Book 2 in the series), I would strongly encourage the reader to start with Recreate. Vigilance picks up immediately following the conclusion of Recreance.
The story introduces us to new characters while continuing the focus on Oren and Clementine. Without adding any spoilers, we see Oren and Clementine evolve their powers while their relationship takes some dramatic turns.
One story focus is their quest to understand the schematic they have. In parallel we follow their comrade, Anzien, as she finds her purpose in life and builds a military force to help with the coming battle to save New Arcadia and humanity. We also follow Ryland who we met at the end of Book 1 as turns over his life and joins the effort to save the citizens of New Arcadia.
This is clearly a bridge to the next book. It does make for a satisfying read. I can't wait for the next book.
This book followed on immediately from the end of Recreance. We meet up with the main characters from the previous book, and a new thread begins, following one of the minor characters from Recreance, Anzien.
I really enjoyed picking the story line up from where Recreance left off and exploring more of the world these characters inhabit. Getting to know Anzien and follow her path was a welcome expansion from Book 1. Chambers's storytelling is vivid and engaging, and for the most part his writing does not get in the way of imagery, making Vigilance a pleasure to read.
I have only one complaint: Vigilance was too short. I would have gladly read on beyond the last page. Needless to say, I will be eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.
This book is the second in the series and picks up from the end of book one - Recreance. It follows on from Magdalene's betrayal, the death of Khalil and the opening of the portal which had an army of strange beasts pouring through. Ryland is one of those that witnesses the events near the portal and becomes disillusioned with the role of The Ministry in controlling peoples' lives and deserts his post. He becomes embroiled in the stories of our other main characters in their fight to save New Arcadia. Clementine was given plans for a secret weapon that could destroy the whole of Arcadia but no one can understand the schematics. She has to travel with Oren to find some help to read the plans. As they travel they meet Thomes at what seems to be a deserted old town and he helps them both develop their powers. Meanwhile, Anzien has to travel to Masada and arrives to find it under attack by strange feral beasts. She is commanded to pass on an order to retreat and take the new recruits to another stronghold, which she didn't know the existence of. Their journey is of course not straight forward and involves lots of action and battles with beasts, strange beings and their environment.
This is a great follow on book, which develops each of the main characters whilst also introducing us to some others. It involves portals and travel through alternative worlds with different obstacles to overcome. Some worlds being very hostile to outsiders !
Can Oren and Clem get the plans to the correct people in time ? Will Anzien and the recruits reach safety ? What happens to Ryland ?
It is well worth reading this book to keep up with the characters and what is happening all around. I look forward to the next instalment. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
I rarely give a novel I review 5 stars, but Vigilance is one book that deserves this rating. It is full of excitement with many twists and turns as we journey with our hero’s. Many new characters are added to the cast making the story much more enhanced. Also you really get to know each and every character good and evil. H.C. Chambers does a great job in his character development. As we journey though Aeternum we are led through a world caught in battle with a strange wraith like overlords that are bent on distorting this world and many others as well. There is an element of fantasy, science fiction and dystopian. The best thing is there is an attitude of hope throughout. No matter how bleak the characters eventually can visualize the light at the end of the tunnel. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to future writing from H.C. Chambers and The Aeternum Chronicles.
I have not read a scifi book this good in awhile. The imagination thrown into the story and the things that maybe in the future was fantastic. Seems to me that each book in the series grows and gets better. So much to keep up with, with so much adventure.
Lately I have not been to much on science fiction but thought I would give his books a try. I am so glad I had or would not have read book one and gone on to book 2 in the series. My next is to keep reading to the end of the series and hope the next one is out very soon.
Title: Vigilance Author: H. G. Chambers Publisher: H. G. Chambers ISBN: B078PYGSHV Buy Link: https://hgchambers.com/vigilance-book... Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel Blurb: The Aeternum Chronicles 2 The Aeternum Wars have begun anew. Ministry armies have spread like a pestilence across Illyria, wreaking chaos and destruction upon the last remaining outposts of those brave enough to resist.
Hunted by the same feral beasts that destroyed her town, Anzien Tsierig leads a squad of soldiers and untested recruits south along the Wyrewood. Their orders are clear: travel to the southern stronghold and prevent a mass slaughter. Will they find a town ready to defend, or a field of graves?
Across the Shattered Peak Mountains, Oren and Clementine search for a way to stem the tide of darkness. When they stumble upon a figure of legend, they must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for a chance to save their world. The answer is one that will put their friendship, and perhaps their very souls to the ultimate test.
Humanity is once again pushed to the brink, and those who remain must unite, or be swallowed by the void. Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Received for an honest review.
As the war accelerates, people are forced to fight for their lives as they try to uncover what is happening to their world. Magdalene knows the only way to save her world is to go undercover to find out what and what is threatening them and stop it if possible. Anzien must take control if those under her protection have a chance to survive. Oren and Clementine will do what is necessary even if one has to loose everything to gain what they need. Ryland, as a member of the elite of New Arcadia, has lived a privileged life that was until the night he saw that his home was being invaded. No one, including his parents, believe him that is until he meets was one of his less reproducible friends. He is drawn into a shadow world where everyone is dedicated to saving the people of New Arcadia and they want his to join them if he is willing to accept the risks involved.
This very complex story with multiple story lines are just beginning to aline as the struggle is about to explode. Who will survive to tell the tale and how they will overcome the evil is yet to be told. I for one can't wait to find out what happens next.
I loved this book, and really enjoyed it. It is a great syfy/fantasy book, and is a great continuation of the series started in book 1, Recreate. While you can start here and still enjoy the tale, I think you would get more from it if you read book 1 first. It has a great story it's telling, and wonderfully colouful characters. Get it.
I found the continuing story of Oren, Clem, Anzien and the others to be fun and entertaining. There were one or two twists I didn't see coming and now wonder how they will affect the story from that point, on. I try not to give spoilers in my reviews, so doing my best to keep with that here. I *will* say that the story is well written, the characters well developed, and the whole concept quite believeable. I look forward to reading book #3!!
This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'd like to take a moment to thank the author for the opportunity to read their book, and to have a chance to experience their fantastic world in The Aeternum Chronicles.
This is one of my favorite books of all time and I cannot wait for book 3. Warning - do not start reading late at night!!! You will not be able to put it down and your spouse/partner will loathe you. Seriously though, this is an exceptional read!! Chambers has a gift for creating immensely likable characters and completely original story-lines (there is a tesseract scene with Oren and Clem that just blew my mind, but no spoilers). In short, what a ride! I laughed, I cried - I was thoroughly delighted and enthralled from start to finish.
This is a fast paced novel with along going on. Clem and Oren enter a window to another world. They face danger on their journey. There is danger lurking along the way to try to save Arcadia. Feral beasts attack them many times. The novel has so much action, it was hard to stop reading.
The thrilling sequel to Recreance continues Oren and Clem's journey to take down the ministry. This sequel blew my mind. The pacing is faster, the plot twists are getting really twisty, and the writing is excellent. The characters are likeable and Anzien is now officially my favorite. It's rare for me to like the sequels more but I REALLY loved the sequel. I can't wait for the next book! 5 Stars!!
First sentence: “Bravo.” Variant Marconas clapped slowly as he stepped out of the darkness into the light of the wall-mounted oil lamp. His shadow flickered erratically on the rough stone walls of the small room. Magdalene Media sat casually in the high-backed velvet chair, watching him stride confidently toward her. A teal silk dress with lace trimming flowed like water over her crossed legs, spilling onto the floor.
Blurb: Sometimes, the void stares back…
The Aeternum Wars have begun anew. Ministry armies have spread like a pestilence across Illyria, wreaking chaos and destruction upon the last remaining outposts of those brave enough to resist.
Hunted by the same feral beasts that destroyed her town, Anzien Tsierig leads a squad of soldiers and untested recruits south along the Wyrewood. Their orders are clear: travel to the southern stronghold and prevent a mass slaughter. Will they find a town ready to defend, or a field of graves?
Across the Shattered Peak Mountains, Oren and Clementine search for a way to stem the tide of darkness. When they stumble upon a figure of legend, they must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for a chance to save their world. The answer is one that will put their friendship, and perhaps their very souls to the ultimate test.
Humanity is once again pushed to the brink, and those who remain must unite, or be swallowed by the void.
My thoughts: Vigilance is book two of the Aeternum Chronicles, and complete with more action than you know what to do with. I recommend reading the first (Recreance) before starting this one. Vigilance picks up where Recreance left off, and now that Oren and Clem defeated a breaker, they still need to save the people of New Arcadia. They’ve learned more about gathering Kai, and will begin developing their ability even further. I’m saddened, though that Clem and Oren didn’t play a bigger part in the story. Yes, they were still the main characters, along with two others (Ryland and Anzien), but they didn’t appear as often as I’d hoped. I found their part of the story the most intriguing. I admit I’ve become a spoiled Clem and Oren addict.
While I yearned for more Oren and Clem, I enjoyed seeing more of Ryland. He was a good and fun character know—flawed to a fault, yet so human. I’m hoping to learn even more about him. The other main character, and who we learn the most about in book two, is Anzien. Because her part focused on the military, I wasn’t as intrigued as the others. Still, she was a likeable character.
The best part of the book was the creation of the world. Chambers paints a picture in your mind and before you realize it, you’re gathering Kai right along with Oren and Clem.
Like the first book, Vigilance gives you plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested. Also, like its predecessor, it leaves you with a cliffhanger. So, if you absolutely hate cliffhangers, but love the idea of the plot, then wait until the third book is released before you read the first.
There are some excellent, and well-deserved reviews, of this novel already. See www.amazon.com for the details. So rather than give an outline of the storyline I thought I would record what I thought of the novel.
This was an imaginative and well written fast-paced sci-fi/fantasy adventure using creative world-building skills and intriguing characters – each of them flawed in their own way.
The plot twists and turns kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what happened next. I found it a hard book to put down once I started reading it and I ended up staying up late one night to finish it. I mean, who can go to bed when it seems all is lost and you are desperate to know what happens to your characters?
I loved the warmth, the humor, the adventure, the highs and the lows - and the victories. I loved the imagination used to create the types of magic the characters use and the skillful way the author has in giving each of the characters their own unique voice. And I also loved the creativity behind the terrifying baddies that were as real as the main characters themselves. I look forward to finding out what happens to the Ministry and finding out how they get their comeuppance.
I would highly recommend this read to more than sci-fi or fantasy readers. It’s for all of those who love to see stories which include unforgettable characters and love reading about their stories, finding out about their flaws and their battles, and watching them grow.
Well done H.G. Chambers. An incredible achievement. I look forward to reading Book 3.
Vigilance is the second book in the Aeternum Chronicles by H. G. Chambers and like the first book this is an action packed read following three different groups of people, so the story is quite intricate and rather long. All the groups are out to save their world, all following different paths but all committed to rid the world from the tyranny of the Patriarch, Gabrial Penumbra. 'Action follows belief. Embrace your purpose. Become who you are meant to be.' And they all took action, very dangerous action at times, seeing friends and family dying en route whilst standing firm in their belief, knowing they were ready to sacrifice their lives to save their world. They were the ko'jin rebels and what they discovered through a set of schematics in the end was horrendous. The three groups were the group led by Hatch who recruited Ryland to the cause, a son of one of the elite families in New Arcadia, Anzien and her group of recruits and soldiers who make it to their quest through her sheer will and courage and Oren and Clementine who were trained by Khalil. The book comes together at the end and what a dramatic ending it was, quite the cliff hanger. So onward to book three. Readers who love action packed adventure, fantasy, dystopia and sci-fi will really enjoy this series as it has a bit of everything in it and it is masterfully written!
CAN YOU SAY UH OH, WHAT NOW??? Now this is how its done! If you like action packed, easy to follow, smooth flowing reads with twists, turns and unpredictable surprises that captures your attention and holds it till the last word? Then congratulations, you've found it. I could sit here all day and tell you all about the story. How the characters progressed and the ending. But you've read the blurb, you've read what the other readers are saying. I mean come on guys. How much of the repetitions can you stand before you decide to buy it? Me? None. I'm impatient like that. I could tell you how masterful Chambers brought this whole tale together smooth as silk and so realistic with such vivid details that keeps your adrenaline pumping and your heart pounding. Yeah, I could tell you all about that. If you want that rush and excitement and you're like me, you better grab it and make sure you have plenty snacks and something to drink cause when you start there won't be any stopping. Chambers did a remarkable job bringing this world to us and letting us experience it first hand. Thanks for sharing this great read with us
The sequel to Recreance is even more intense than the first book, with some additions. Not only was this book packed with action and adventure, just like the previous one, and bursting with a whole range of emotions; there was also a blossoming romance included, and it was a very nice addition to the whole. I loved watching how the relationship was changing and developing, and was constantly curious where it will end. The trouble the main characters were facing did not stop after the defeat of the Breaker; on the contrary, it looks like just a beginning now. One of the most intriguing elements were the abilities the main characters demonstrated at such a young age; another very interesting point was the advanced weapon (not wanting to spoil the book for another reader, so I am trying to be vague :) ) The mixture of genres in a perfect balance showed up again and stroke with full force - I could not stop reading until the last page. I hope to read the next installment soon.
Vigilance is book 2 of 3 of the series. The character development of Anzien Tsierig was especially thrilling. However, the plot development for Clem and Oren was less intriguing than theirs had been in Recreance (book 1 in the series). That makes some sense in that we needed the time to get to know and love Anzien in this portion of the tale and had already had that for Clem and Oren. The reason I gave four stars instead of five was simply that Recreance had a similar pace (fast) for both main arcs (one for Clem, one for Oren), whereas in Vigilance the pace in the Anzien sections was fast but felt much slower in the Clem/Oren sections. I still enjoyed the whole book, look forward to reading Defiance.
Wow a post apocoltic, fantasy and sci-fi adventure thrown altogether I do not give 5 stars unless it is that good and this 2nd book in the series merits all 5 stars. An action packed thrill ride, with well written characters, well described worlds that you feel like you are visiting, love and betrayal, magic and action. Sorry I won't give away the story but if you dare to take a chance do read this series and be prepared to be taken on a wild ride.
a breath holding story After discovering that the very existence of their world is at risk Owen, Clem and company face some very harrowing experiences trying to protect their friends and comrades. By the end of book 2 it is apparent that time is running out. What will happen next and how things will be resolved is something to be found out in the exciting passages of the the next book. I recieved this book as an ARC for an honest review.
This series only proves how brilliant, imaginative and creative HG Chambers proves to be. Action, adventure, magic intrigue, it just does not stop! His fans are expanding rapidly because his unique style. This is a remarkable read and a stunning follow-up to Recreance the first of the Aeternum Chronicles series by H.G. Chambers. Give his books a try. You will NOT be disappointed.
OH my goodness! What a super thrilling, action driven book! And no foul language! I was captivated by all the different characters and places as well as the story being revealed! Cannot wait for Book 3
I have enjoyed this book. It is very action packed. I have enjoyed getting to know the characters and how their lives came together to build the plot. Am looking forward to reading the next book and how the story unfolds
I totally believe that most of you who love this genre will totally enjoy this Series, the second in this series is just as good if not better than the first. I reread the first book before reading this one. Great Reading Everyone! Can't wait for the next!!!
I enjoyed the story, however, I have the same complaint as I did in the first book. There aren’t enough descriptions about the different elements in the world. I like how the story is progressing. I think what happened to Oren is really sad, but it adds depth to the story.