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The Draconis Memoria #2
The Legion of Flame
Survival is the only currency...
For centuries, the vast Ironship Trading Syndicate relied on drake blood--and the extraordinary powers it confers to those known as the Blood-blessed--to fuel and protect its empire. But when the drake blood lines began to fail, a perilous expedition was mounted to secure them.
Claydon Torcreek survived the fraught mission through uncharted lands in pursuit of a myth that might have secured his people's future. Instead he found a nightmare. The legendary White Drake was awoken from a millennia-long slumber, with a thirst to reduce the world of men to ashes, and the power to compel an army of Spoiled slaves to do it.
Spurred on by a vision he desperately hopes he can trust, Clay and rebel naval officer Corrick Hilemore hijack a warship and head towards the icy southern seas, searching for an ancient secret that may give them and their allies a fighting chance.
They are aided on another front by Blood-blessed agent Lizanne Lethridge. The spy and assassin will use her diplomatic status to infiltrate deep into enemy territory on a quest for a device to save them all.
As the world burns around them, and the fires of revolution are ignited, these few Blood-blessed are the last hope for all of civilisation.
For centuries, the vast Ironship Trading Syndicate relied on drake blood--and the extraordinary powers it confers to those known as the Blood-blessed--to fuel and protect its empire. But when the drake blood lines began to fail, a perilous expedition was mounted to secure them.
Claydon Torcreek survived the fraught mission through uncharted lands in pursuit of a myth that might have secured his people's future. Instead he found a nightmare. The legendary White Drake was awoken from a millennia-long slumber, with a thirst to reduce the world of men to ashes, and the power to compel an army of Spoiled slaves to do it.
Spurred on by a vision he desperately hopes he can trust, Clay and rebel naval officer Corrick Hilemore hijack a warship and head towards the icy southern seas, searching for an ancient secret that may give them and their allies a fighting chance.
They are aided on another front by Blood-blessed agent Lizanne Lethridge. The spy and assassin will use her diplomatic status to infiltrate deep into enemy territory on a quest for a device to save them all.
As the world burns around them, and the fires of revolution are ignited, these few Blood-blessed are the last hope for all of civilisation.
592 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2017
565 people are currently reading
6869 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Ryan
89 books9,963 followersAnthony Ryan was born in Scotland in 1970 but spent much of his adult life living and working in London. After a long career in the British Civil Service he took up writing full time after the success of his first novel Blood Song, Book One of the Raven’s Shadow trilogy. He has a degree in history, and his interests include art, science and the unending quest for the perfect pint of real ale.
For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com
For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 474 reviews
May 7, 2018
A strong middle book in the Draconis Memoria trilogy.
The Legion of Flame is the second book in Anthony Ryan’s Draconis Memoria trilogy and in my opinion, it’s a much better book in comparison to its predecessor. The story picked up immediately after the end of the first book and almost everything about this book was much more compelling to read; probably because it felt more like it’s an epic or military fantasy in comparison to the previous book, where it was a mix of Indiana Jones, James Bond, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
I think the reason why I liked this one more is that I’m already used to the settings and characters of the world. The first book took me more than 200 pages to finally made me interested, for this one, I was interested almost completely. Lizanne continues to be the badass female character of the series and there are some important events and incredible action scenes happening in her POV. However, the last half of her POV was quite unnecessary in my opinion, it didn’t seem to have any major importance in the main story and it’s more like Ryan is trying to lengthen the pages of the book.
Clay’s POV received a major improvement and became my favorite POV in the book. It’s in his story that we get to see tons of new information on the world-building but most importantly, revelations on the drake’s origins and where the Blood-Blessed originally came from.
I had a lot of trouble with Hilemore’s POV in the first book and although his POV isn’t boring to read anymore—due to his story converging with other important characters—I still think that he didn’t really need a POV. For two books, his presence seems way overshadowed by all the other characters and if he didn’t exist, it won’t matter to the story at all. Maybe Ryan is preparing his character for the big conclusion in the third book but for now, I stand by my words that Hilemore is an unnecessary character.
Lastly, there’s a new POV here. I can’t mention the name because it will be spoilers but I found that his POV a super nice addition to the series as it brings more depth and complexity The Spoiled and some of the dragon’s personality and behaviors.
Overall, The Legion of Flame is a great sequel that builds upon the foundation The Waking Fire laid. Anthony Ryan can also certainly write, his prose even seems like literature’s kind of prose to me sometimes. By the end of this book, everything seems to have been prepared for the final book and I sincerely hope that Anthony Ryan will be able to nail a satisfying ending for the trilogy.
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
The Legion of Flame is the second book in Anthony Ryan’s Draconis Memoria trilogy and in my opinion, it’s a much better book in comparison to its predecessor. The story picked up immediately after the end of the first book and almost everything about this book was much more compelling to read; probably because it felt more like it’s an epic or military fantasy in comparison to the previous book, where it was a mix of Indiana Jones, James Bond, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
I think the reason why I liked this one more is that I’m already used to the settings and characters of the world. The first book took me more than 200 pages to finally made me interested, for this one, I was interested almost completely. Lizanne continues to be the badass female character of the series and there are some important events and incredible action scenes happening in her POV. However, the last half of her POV was quite unnecessary in my opinion, it didn’t seem to have any major importance in the main story and it’s more like Ryan is trying to lengthen the pages of the book.
“Only amidst war and horror did I discover what it feels like to love. A life without it is a barren, wasted thing, Miss Lethridge.”
Clay’s POV received a major improvement and became my favorite POV in the book. It’s in his story that we get to see tons of new information on the world-building but most importantly, revelations on the drake’s origins and where the Blood-Blessed originally came from.
I had a lot of trouble with Hilemore’s POV in the first book and although his POV isn’t boring to read anymore—due to his story converging with other important characters—I still think that he didn’t really need a POV. For two books, his presence seems way overshadowed by all the other characters and if he didn’t exist, it won’t matter to the story at all. Maybe Ryan is preparing his character for the big conclusion in the third book but for now, I stand by my words that Hilemore is an unnecessary character.
Lastly, there’s a new POV here. I can’t mention the name because it will be spoilers but I found that his POV a super nice addition to the series as it brings more depth and complexity The Spoiled and some of the dragon’s personality and behaviors.
Overall, The Legion of Flame is a great sequel that builds upon the foundation The Waking Fire laid. Anthony Ryan can also certainly write, his prose even seems like literature’s kind of prose to me sometimes. By the end of this book, everything seems to have been prepared for the final book and I sincerely hope that Anthony Ryan will be able to nail a satisfying ending for the trilogy.
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
February 15, 2018
If you start only one new fantasy series this year, make it Draconis Memoria by Anthony Ryan! I thought The Waking Fire was one of the best books I’d ever read, but Legion of Flame was even better!
Legion of Flame was the ultimate armchair adventure! Each chapter was so good, I had a difficult time finding decent stopping points (and as such, stayed up way too late on too many occasions to finish it). Ryan ended each of his chapters with an aggravatingly brilliant hook that just begged you to keep reading (so I did). There was always an abundance of action, adventure, exploration, steampunk, and, of course, dragons. Every element came together brilliantly for, I’ll say it again, one of the best books I’ve ever read.
In both of these books, Ryan takes you on an exploration of this world and allows you to discover its breathtaking histories/mysteries alongside some very memorable characters. This depth of discovery, combined with a very Indiana Jones adventure feel, is truly the magic of these novels and one of my favorite elements. There’s such a sense of wonder with his world-building – stuff that will truly dazzle you. I can’t even begin to guess what he has in store next!
Both books incorporate multiple POVs and they were all equally exciting to read about. Each character was perfectly placed to give us a grand picture of what’s transpiring, and I triple-dog-dare you to pick a favorite – they’re all deserving of the title. If forced, I’d say Lizanne struck a chord with me the most because her personality has a lot of duality, making her very interesting to read about.
Let’s talk about dragons for a minute. The dragons are incredibly well-conceived in this series. So far, their role has been much stronger than I’d dared hope – it truly is a dragon book. I love the varieties, their importance to the human populations, their significance in the story, and, most predominantly, how well they’re being represented. Ryan manages to keep all the things that I think comprise great dragons while simultaneously amping them up with his own twists. They’re brilliant! And if this wasn’t already one of my favorite books for story, characters, and world-building alone, it would be for the dragons.
So because of the amazing characters, seamless blend of fantasy and steampunk, exciting adventures, page-turning plot, and killer use of dragons, Legion of Flame is perfection. I plan to recommend it as often as I can!
->I’d like to think Berkley Publishing Group, Anthony Ryan, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Legion of Flame!
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
Other books you might like:
Legion of Flame was the ultimate armchair adventure! Each chapter was so good, I had a difficult time finding decent stopping points (and as such, stayed up way too late on too many occasions to finish it). Ryan ended each of his chapters with an aggravatingly brilliant hook that just begged you to keep reading (so I did). There was always an abundance of action, adventure, exploration, steampunk, and, of course, dragons. Every element came together brilliantly for, I’ll say it again, one of the best books I’ve ever read.
In both of these books, Ryan takes you on an exploration of this world and allows you to discover its breathtaking histories/mysteries alongside some very memorable characters. This depth of discovery, combined with a very Indiana Jones adventure feel, is truly the magic of these novels and one of my favorite elements. There’s such a sense of wonder with his world-building – stuff that will truly dazzle you. I can’t even begin to guess what he has in store next!
Both books incorporate multiple POVs and they were all equally exciting to read about. Each character was perfectly placed to give us a grand picture of what’s transpiring, and I triple-dog-dare you to pick a favorite – they’re all deserving of the title. If forced, I’d say Lizanne struck a chord with me the most because her personality has a lot of duality, making her very interesting to read about.
Let’s talk about dragons for a minute. The dragons are incredibly well-conceived in this series. So far, their role has been much stronger than I’d dared hope – it truly is a dragon book. I love the varieties, their importance to the human populations, their significance in the story, and, most predominantly, how well they’re being represented. Ryan manages to keep all the things that I think comprise great dragons while simultaneously amping them up with his own twists. They’re brilliant! And if this wasn’t already one of my favorite books for story, characters, and world-building alone, it would be for the dragons.
So because of the amazing characters, seamless blend of fantasy and steampunk, exciting adventures, page-turning plot, and killer use of dragons, Legion of Flame is perfection. I plan to recommend it as often as I can!
->I’d like to think Berkley Publishing Group, Anthony Ryan, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Legion of Flame!
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
Other books you might like:
July 6, 2017
Anthony Ryan is, without a doubt, one of the greatest fantasy writers of our time.
Despite the immense efforts of the mercenary band Longrifles, the White Drake, bringer of doom and once slaver of mankind, is now released back in the world. The Ironship Trading Syndicate has no other option than sending their best agent, Lizzanne Lethridge, to a suicide mission, in the hope of finding a single man who, by all accounts, should have died some hundred years ago. Claydon Torcreek, on the other side of the world, found the mysterious man from his vision, Captain Corrick Hilmore, and together with the crew of the Longrifles and the Viable Opportunity, embark on a journey to a land that no man has ever set foot on. Will they find what they're seeking for in order to destroy this new threat, or will their questions remain unanswered?
"He trailed off as he saw the expression on her face, wide-eyed and pale, staring fixedly at something that had banished her drunkenness in an instant. Fighting a sudden paralyzing dread, Sirus pulled the knife from his belt and followed her gaze."
The drake sat atop a near by goods cart, head cocked at an angle as it regarded them with a curious gaze, its tail coiling idly like a somnolent snake. Two very salient observations immediately sprang to Sirus's mind. Firstly, the drake's size. It was far smaller than any he had seen before, little bigger in fact than an average-sized dog, forcing him to conclude it must be an infant. Second was its colour. Not Black, not Green, not Red. This drake was entirely White.
Anthony Ryan's Blood Song was, undoubtedly, one of the strongest fantasy debuts in the last couple of decades, earning him hundreds of thousands of fans. Most of those fans were then disappointed that books #2 & #3 weren't nearly as good as the first. Some of them were even skeptical of starting The Draconis Memoria in the fear of the same kind of disappointment with the later installments. I'm here today to excitedly declare that this ISN'T. THE. CASE. If anything, The Legion of Flame was far better than the already amazing The Waking Fire.
Both Michael J. Sullivan and Mark Lawrence called Ryan a "master storyteller", and in The Legion of Flame Anthony proves them right. From his graceful and solid prose to his exciting and engaging narration, from his complex and intricate world-building to his skilfully intertwined plot points, and from his mesmerizing and multi-leveled characters to his well-thought-out and balanced magic system, The Legion of Flame is a complete, fascinating, unparalleled, and perfect in any possible way, PIECE OF ART.
You can find all of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
Despite the immense efforts of the mercenary band Longrifles, the White Drake, bringer of doom and once slaver of mankind, is now released back in the world. The Ironship Trading Syndicate has no other option than sending their best agent, Lizzanne Lethridge, to a suicide mission, in the hope of finding a single man who, by all accounts, should have died some hundred years ago. Claydon Torcreek, on the other side of the world, found the mysterious man from his vision, Captain Corrick Hilmore, and together with the crew of the Longrifles and the Viable Opportunity, embark on a journey to a land that no man has ever set foot on. Will they find what they're seeking for in order to destroy this new threat, or will their questions remain unanswered?
"He trailed off as he saw the expression on her face, wide-eyed and pale, staring fixedly at something that had banished her drunkenness in an instant. Fighting a sudden paralyzing dread, Sirus pulled the knife from his belt and followed her gaze."
The drake sat atop a near by goods cart, head cocked at an angle as it regarded them with a curious gaze, its tail coiling idly like a somnolent snake. Two very salient observations immediately sprang to Sirus's mind. Firstly, the drake's size. It was far smaller than any he had seen before, little bigger in fact than an average-sized dog, forcing him to conclude it must be an infant. Second was its colour. Not Black, not Green, not Red. This drake was entirely White.
Anthony Ryan's Blood Song was, undoubtedly, one of the strongest fantasy debuts in the last couple of decades, earning him hundreds of thousands of fans. Most of those fans were then disappointed that books #2 & #3 weren't nearly as good as the first. Some of them were even skeptical of starting The Draconis Memoria in the fear of the same kind of disappointment with the later installments. I'm here today to excitedly declare that this ISN'T. THE. CASE. If anything, The Legion of Flame was far better than the already amazing The Waking Fire.
Both Michael J. Sullivan and Mark Lawrence called Ryan a "master storyteller", and in The Legion of Flame Anthony proves them right. From his graceful and solid prose to his exciting and engaging narration, from his complex and intricate world-building to his skilfully intertwined plot points, and from his mesmerizing and multi-leveled characters to his well-thought-out and balanced magic system, The Legion of Flame is a complete, fascinating, unparalleled, and perfect in any possible way, PIECE OF ART.
You can find all of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
July 18, 2017
I enjoyed The Legion of Flame. It had a good mix of action, intrigue, adventure, and cool magic. It also had good world building and benefits from the fact that Ryan is a good writer who knows how to write an engaging story.
The Draconis Memoria series ticks most of the boxes a fantasy fan could desire:
It has a fascinating world. Two political superpowers jostle for dominance in the form of the Corvantine Empire and The IronShip Trading Syndicate. The Corvantine Empire is an Imperial Empure and that IronShip Trading Syndicate is a corporate run government. They have their own regions of power but have to share land on the mysterious and magic rich continent of Arradsia. Arradsia is key to global economy as it is the only place where drakes are to be found. The whole story is also taking place in era where steam power and guns and the like are just becoming common place. It gives the book a slight steampunk vibe to it when the magic and technology combine!
The magic is pretty cool. Mages in this world are called Blood Blessed as they gain their powers from drinking drake blood. The various different colours of drakes blood grant different types of powers. It is the need for this supply of blood that makes Arradsia such an important place!
The characters are fascinating. In this instalment the POV cast expanded from three characters to four.
Claydon Torcreek - A young tough from the mean streets of an Arradsian settlement and a blood blessed.
I liked Claydon's story. Clay is a likeable guy and just like the first book he had a fun story arc. In an effort to stop the White drake's bid for world domination he sought out the source of his future vision in the southern pole. His story retained the feel of an Indiana Jones adventure but this time managed to throw in some Wayward Pines style weirdness!
Lizanne Lethridge- A blood blessed spy and assassin in the employ of the Ironship Trading Syndicate.
I liked Lizanne and her story arc in this second instalment was as engaging and interesting as her story arc in the first book. Her story felt like a cross between Prison Break and Mistborn. Lizanne was tough and ruthless but not too much so that it made her unlikeable.
Corrick Hilemore - A naval officer on board an Ironship naval vessel.
This instalment sees Corrick take over as acting captain of his ship. Sadly, just like the first book, his character did not have much of a story arc. He basically just took Clay to his destination and battled a few sea drakes along the way. I'm sure Ryan must have a plan for Corrick but he has basically just been treading water for the first two books in this series.
Sirus - We met him briefly in the first book. He was the son of the curator of the Morsvale Imperial Museum of Antiquities who was in love with Tekela.
He was the least likeable of all the characters by a mile but that was not entierly his fault. He had an interesting story arc even if reading it was pretty horrifying at times. He was one of the unfortunates who did not escape from Arradsia and he soon finds himself captured by the Spoiled and the White Drake!
Anthony Ryan has an engaging writing style which makes reading this one an easy and enjoyable read. He also has a talent for pacing and ending POV segments on cliffhangers that keeps the tension and excitement up throughout the story!
I feel like I would love this series a lot more if I not already read Anthony Ryan's other series, The Raven's Shadow, first. Everything in this one is good, just not quite as good as things were in the Raven's Shadow series! There is also the issue of the botched series finale of Raven's Shadow. I find that disaster has tainted my view of Ryan as a writer and caused me to lose trust in the way he is going to wrap up the various story arcs. If I'd not read Queen of Fire I could hope things would end on a high but since I have I know all these characters are heading for death or a life of misery and that leaves me wary of getting too emotionally invested in any of them.
All in all I did quite enjoy The Legion of Flame. It was a definite improvement on Waking Fire. As it stand I'm looking forward to the next book so let us hope Ryan does not make such a mess of ending this series as he did with the last one!
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Audio Note: Steve West took over narration duties from Steven Brand. This is one of those rare times when I think they change was a positive one. Brand has a great voice for general narration but does not voice act. That makes it difficult to differentiate between the characters during the dialogue. West was a big improvement in that regard. I've not always been his biggest fan but he does seem to be getting better all the time and gave another excellent performance with this one. His general narration was good and he avoided selecting any annoying regional English accents for the characters so it was a win all round. He even did a good job with the female voices!
The Draconis Memoria series ticks most of the boxes a fantasy fan could desire:
It has a fascinating world. Two political superpowers jostle for dominance in the form of the Corvantine Empire and The IronShip Trading Syndicate. The Corvantine Empire is an Imperial Empure and that IronShip Trading Syndicate is a corporate run government. They have their own regions of power but have to share land on the mysterious and magic rich continent of Arradsia. Arradsia is key to global economy as it is the only place where drakes are to be found. The whole story is also taking place in era where steam power and guns and the like are just becoming common place. It gives the book a slight steampunk vibe to it when the magic and technology combine!
The magic is pretty cool. Mages in this world are called Blood Blessed as they gain their powers from drinking drake blood. The various different colours of drakes blood grant different types of powers. It is the need for this supply of blood that makes Arradsia such an important place!
The characters are fascinating. In this instalment the POV cast expanded from three characters to four.
Claydon Torcreek - A young tough from the mean streets of an Arradsian settlement and a blood blessed.
I liked Claydon's story. Clay is a likeable guy and just like the first book he had a fun story arc. In an effort to stop the White drake's bid for world domination he sought out the source of his future vision in the southern pole. His story retained the feel of an Indiana Jones adventure but this time managed to throw in some Wayward Pines style weirdness!
Lizanne Lethridge- A blood blessed spy and assassin in the employ of the Ironship Trading Syndicate.
I liked Lizanne and her story arc in this second instalment was as engaging and interesting as her story arc in the first book. Her story felt like a cross between Prison Break and Mistborn. Lizanne was tough and ruthless but not too much so that it made her unlikeable.
Corrick Hilemore - A naval officer on board an Ironship naval vessel.
This instalment sees Corrick take over as acting captain of his ship. Sadly, just like the first book, his character did not have much of a story arc. He basically just took Clay to his destination and battled a few sea drakes along the way. I'm sure Ryan must have a plan for Corrick but he has basically just been treading water for the first two books in this series.
Sirus - We met him briefly in the first book. He was the son of the curator of the Morsvale Imperial Museum of Antiquities who was in love with Tekela.
He was the least likeable of all the characters by a mile but that was not entierly his fault. He had an interesting story arc even if reading it was pretty horrifying at times. He was one of the unfortunates who did not escape from Arradsia and he soon finds himself captured by the Spoiled and the White Drake!
Anthony Ryan has an engaging writing style which makes reading this one an easy and enjoyable read. He also has a talent for pacing and ending POV segments on cliffhangers that keeps the tension and excitement up throughout the story!
I feel like I would love this series a lot more if I not already read Anthony Ryan's other series, The Raven's Shadow, first. Everything in this one is good, just not quite as good as things were in the Raven's Shadow series! There is also the issue of the botched series finale of Raven's Shadow. I find that disaster has tainted my view of Ryan as a writer and caused me to lose trust in the way he is going to wrap up the various story arcs. If I'd not read Queen of Fire I could hope things would end on a high but since I have I know all these characters are heading for death or a life of misery and that leaves me wary of getting too emotionally invested in any of them.
All in all I did quite enjoy The Legion of Flame. It was a definite improvement on Waking Fire. As it stand I'm looking forward to the next book so let us hope Ryan does not make such a mess of ending this series as he did with the last one!
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Audio Note: Steve West took over narration duties from Steven Brand. This is one of those rare times when I think they change was a positive one. Brand has a great voice for general narration but does not voice act. That makes it difficult to differentiate between the characters during the dialogue. West was a big improvement in that regard. I've not always been his biggest fan but he does seem to be getting better all the time and gave another excellent performance with this one. His general narration was good and he avoided selecting any annoying regional English accents for the characters so it was a win all round. He even did a good job with the female voices!
February 17, 2018
I enjoyed the first one but this was better! The first book now seems like a stage setter for the world and characters which took me a while to get my head round in the first book. So, I was far more able to kick back and enjoy the story in this one.
January 10, 2019
"This is the kind of legion never seen before. A legion of flame, with which our monster-god will burn the world to cinders."
The Legion of Flame was a very respectable sequel in Anthony Ryan's The Draconis Memoria trilogy. After pondering my initial view when finishing the book, I do believe this was a solid 4 star read for me. Yes, there were a couple of sections that did seem to drag a little, but overall it was well done for a middle book. I've really grown fond of these characters, and it has been fun to watch them evolve over the first 2 books. Also, I must applaud Mr. Ryan for adding a new POV that gives the reader a view from the evil, or villain's side of the story. I haven't read a lot of books lately that do this, so it was a nice change of pace for me. This was probably the most crucial difference between from book 1, and it really helped to carry the story to the next level.
The pace of the story is helped by the constant back and forth between POV's. Ryan is constantly mixing things up. Some chapters will end in a cliff hanger, and others will close out by wrapping up a scene that has you itching for that characters next chapter. There is also the addition of a new POV in Sirus. His chapters were a good change of pace assorted in with Lizzane, Clay, and Hilemore. I tended to favor Lizzane's chapters in the first book, but I enjoyed Clay's a little more in this installment. I've enjoyed seeing them grow and evolve with each situation they are thrown into. Although, Hilemore has been my rock. I know I can always count on his chapters to contain an exciting naval battle or calamity that seems to always follow in his wake.
Another strong point in this series is Ryan's world building. The industrial age type setting is one that has always been a favorite of mine. Especially when it is combined with fantasy elements that can make it unique. The weapons, machines, and devices used here are not all new ideas to the fantasy genre, but they are enhanced with the way the magic system is set up. This helps ramp up the more intense scenes such as an espionage mission, one on one combat, or all out battles.
The reader gets a lot more information regarding the main plot in The Legion of Flame. The first book gives bits and pieces, but book 2 really delves into the cause of this calamity and the historical events that have lead up to this point. I do enjoy a good historical account of every fantasy world I read, but this is where I ran into some of the sections that seemed to drag for me. Point A was fun and point B was fun, but the journey between the points could have been a little more condensed. I could understand why certain events took place, but some of it just felt like filler.
"We were children....rousing a monster we could never understand."
So, no middle book syndrome here. The Legion of Flame was a worthy follow up to The Waking Fire and a good book to start off my 2019 reading challenge. The combination of fantasy and industrial age setting is well done in this series. Anthony Ryan is very talented author. His characterization and world building are top notch and really make for an exciting reading experience. Book 3, The Empire of Ashes, should be a real treat. If you haven't read any of Ryan's work, I would suggest to remedy that as soon as possible.
Actual Rating: 4 stars ****
March 20, 2022
I genuinely loved it.
The world building is just impressive - and this book even adds additional layers that were missing in the first one.
I found the book a bit slower than book #1 though - yet, this is an incredible story and I cannot wait to read book #3.
I will go into greater detail later but, as fantasy-story lover, this is a must in your TBR!
The world building is just impressive - and this book even adds additional layers that were missing in the first one.
I found the book a bit slower than book #1 though - yet, this is an incredible story and I cannot wait to read book #3.
I will go into greater detail later but, as fantasy-story lover, this is a must in your TBR!
September 19, 2017
If you're looking for an exceptionally beautiful prose then this book should be on your list.
What can I say, Mr Ryan did it again. His writing is really good, rich with descriptions and complex enough to provide the substance that is needed in this genre. There are also many scenes filled with action and drama to keep you on the edge of your seat.
And just like in Waking Fire, Lizanne is the outstanding character. She is a true badass, both capable and amusing with a touch of vulnerability.
Clay, on the other hand, annoyed me to no end (which resulted in me lowering the rating). In this book he acted like a spoiled fuckboy, and I hate immature men. His new love interest is more than obvious so I can't help but wonder if this will turn into that kind of fantasy series in which the hero gets a new lady in every book only to have each one of them killed off. I hope not, I'm not interested in reading James-Bond-like books. Can't you just develop him without turning him into a randy toy? Gosh, I wanna torture him so badly.
I also found the Spoiled's parts a bit boring but I actually liked Sirus. He developed from a pathetic moron into someone capable (more or less).
And wow, the White Drake is becoming more tedious than Moby Dick :D But I kinda find him fascinating Talk about villainy, huh?
Anyways, I'm not sure if this will be a trilogy but I hope Mr Ryan won't turn it into the Wheel*cough*of*cough*Time series lengthwise because ain't nobody got time to read that. I'm not even sure if I'll live to finish ASOIAF.
What can I say, Mr Ryan did it again. His writing is really good, rich with descriptions and complex enough to provide the substance that is needed in this genre. There are also many scenes filled with action and drama to keep you on the edge of your seat.
And just like in Waking Fire, Lizanne is the outstanding character. She is a true badass, both capable and amusing with a touch of vulnerability.
Clay, on the other hand, annoyed me to no end (which resulted in me lowering the rating). In this book he acted like a spoiled fuckboy, and I hate immature men. His new love interest is more than obvious so I can't help but wonder if this will turn into that kind of fantasy series in which the hero gets a new lady in every book only to have each one of them killed off. I hope not, I'm not interested in reading James-Bond-like books. Can't you just develop him without turning him into a randy toy? Gosh, I wanna torture him so badly.
I also found the Spoiled's parts a bit boring but I actually liked Sirus. He developed from a pathetic moron into someone capable (more or less).
And wow, the White Drake is becoming more tedious than Moby Dick :D But I kinda find him fascinating Talk about villainy, huh?
Anyways, I'm not sure if this will be a trilogy but I hope Mr Ryan won't turn it into the Wheel*cough*of*cough*Time series lengthwise because ain't nobody got time to read that. I'm not even sure if I'll live to finish ASOIAF.
June 22, 2017
For centuries, the vast Ironship Trading Syndicate relied on drake blood--and the extraordinary powers it confers to those known as the Blood-blessed--to fuel and protect its empire. But now, a fearsome power has arisen--a drake so mighty that the world will tremble before it.
What? No!!! No no no! That ending is killing me! To say that I didn't see that coming would be an understatement. And the way we leave Clay at the end of the previous chapter...Ugh! Anthony Ryan has definitely mastered the cliffhanger chapter. This time around I did resist the urge to peek ahead though.
After reading The Waking Fire back in December I was looking forward to reading this sequel, and happy that I wouldn't have to wait too long for it. This book was everything I was hoping it would be, except maybe for that ending! There is never a dull moment in these books and I enjoyed catching up with Clay and Lizanne and the rest of the characters. I think the only thing I didn't like so much were the chapters from the Spoiled's point of view, but it did give us more insight into the Spoiled and the drakes. Out of the different story lines in the book I think I liked Clay's the most. The journey he goes on was full of interesting revelations and he just continues to grow on me as a character.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I really need to know what happens next! But unfortunately it won't be released until next year.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for giving me a copy of this book to review.
Visit my blog at https://writingsofareader.blogspot.com/
What? No!!! No no no! That ending is killing me! To say that I didn't see that coming would be an understatement. And the way we leave Clay at the end of the previous chapter...Ugh! Anthony Ryan has definitely mastered the cliffhanger chapter. This time around I did resist the urge to peek ahead though.
After reading The Waking Fire back in December I was looking forward to reading this sequel, and happy that I wouldn't have to wait too long for it. This book was everything I was hoping it would be, except maybe for that ending! There is never a dull moment in these books and I enjoyed catching up with Clay and Lizanne and the rest of the characters. I think the only thing I didn't like so much were the chapters from the Spoiled's point of view, but it did give us more insight into the Spoiled and the drakes. Out of the different story lines in the book I think I liked Clay's the most. The journey he goes on was full of interesting revelations and he just continues to grow on me as a character.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I really need to know what happens next! But unfortunately it won't be released until next year.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for giving me a copy of this book to review.
Visit my blog at https://writingsofareader.blogspot.com/
March 27, 2024
Great Steam punk/Fantasy blend. Very involved plot and great writing. I an looking forward to seeing how the writer wraps all this up in the last book of the trilogy. Very recommended
September 6, 2017
Wow. What a rush.
As good as Waking Fire was, this is even better, which isn't a guarantee in the world of fantasy series. The narrative finally comes to full fruition and the epic scale of this tale becomes clear. It takes a while to get going, but once it does, it's a rollercoaster ride all the way to the end. Bring on the next one!
5 stars, easy.
As good as Waking Fire was, this is even better, which isn't a guarantee in the world of fantasy series. The narrative finally comes to full fruition and the epic scale of this tale becomes clear. It takes a while to get going, but once it does, it's a rollercoaster ride all the way to the end. Bring on the next one!
5 stars, easy.
February 23, 2021
More of this on kinda stuff on Tome Raider .
Second books have a tendency of being a bit of fillers and just generally the least interesting part of a series. Mr. Ryan was like "fuck that, Imma do this". Maybe he didn't say that, maybe he doesn't swear, but after a book this badass I imagine him being like that. If I'm totally wrong, contact me or whatever.
We go on with the story. The White dragon and Co. is still insistent on taking over the world with Spoiled and all. The human are less enthusiastic about the project, but at this point they are kinda powerless against all that crazy. And they are also idiots, who have a hard time allying against something that will potentially kill em all.
Lizanne needs to find a mythical inventor. Clay needs to find a place he had seen in his future that leads him to the salvation of the word. Hilemore needs to find his cool. No, he needs to do the captaining in a way that allows Clay to do his thing, but that sounded kinda fun. Also, they go to some arctic place. So cool. Ha.
Aaaand there is a new POV character, who would be a spoiler, even though this person has the first chapter, but still. There is a new one, with a whoooole new point of view that I personally never expected to see and it was REALLY interesting and a whole new facet of the story. Ingenious.
I've loved pretty much everything about this. When it comes to fantasy with serious topics and not much humour, like here... I need me some exploration. I find that if the story is dark and serious in tone I need two things to make it palatable; either some hilarious dark funny moments (hello Mr. Dresden, I love you so much) or adventures and the wonder of exploration. Here the latter is what's happening more and I am 100% fine with that, because the world building is on point.
We got to see for example the Corvantine Empire in this one, which is extremely interesting and different from the Ironship Syndicate, but just as dangerous. We got a different kind of human race! It's all fascinating stuff and the whole thing was much easier to grasp than in the first book. There some moments were a bit hard to follow with the names and different powers and all, but it did pay off 100%.
(One thing from the first book they didn't care much about here was the way Product was weakening, though. I really liked that idea, so I hope Mr. Ryan deals with it later, but it was totally understandable why they didn't care too much while everyone was trying to survive crazy stuff. The implications are just... really interesting.)
The characters were still great. At this point in time I can't help cheering on the author for writing a young female character who is a person, not a Straaaawn Female Character cliche. Lizanne doesn't go on tangents about how she needs to beat men. She is not morally superior. She does need her male allies just as much as the female ones. For how much we keep hearing about female characters, we do have a lot of shittily written, "all that matters is that it's flattering to think about her for women who typically can't even land a punch", and Lizanne is NOT anything like that. Do enjoy.
With fantasy novels romance is always something that can make or break my relationship with them. I don't need it. If it never happens... I'm kinda content with that. But if we do it, then at least make it feel okay. Here that happens. Romances start, they are understated, Mr. Ryan realises that the focal point of the story is not soap opera, but dragons and wars and all that. None of that gets overshadowed by needless romantic drama. People can even drift apart without ridiculous meddling, magical or otherwise and good ol' "I could explain, because I am not going to, which means you will misunderstand and hate my guts".
Never read anything before this series by Anthony Ryan, so I have no idea if he is generally this freaking brilliant and magical and perfect, or he just got lucky. I doubt it's luck, this is pure talent for intricate stories in well-built worlds with enjoyable characters, with tight action, with constant excitement, everything. Seriously, I can only rave about this.
I'm gonna say, though, I don't think this series is a good first time getting into fantasy as a genre. It's just really complicated and being unfamiliar with the genre as well as trying to understand a specific world like this can potentially put people off of fantasy for a long time. Otherwise it's A+.
At this point I'm interested in everything the author produces. I need to read his previous books, get the sequel of this as soon as it comes out and I'm looking forward to whatever he does next. Again, I can't say for sure if this is his norm or not, but I am optimistic and really pumped about not only this, but reading in general and you need a certain kind of book to achieve that effect. So there is that, I freaking loved this. All the stars in the sky for this book.
Have a nice day and definitely get this burning hot piece of work!
Second books have a tendency of being a bit of fillers and just generally the least interesting part of a series. Mr. Ryan was like "fuck that, Imma do this". Maybe he didn't say that, maybe he doesn't swear, but after a book this badass I imagine him being like that. If I'm totally wrong, contact me or whatever.
We go on with the story. The White dragon and Co. is still insistent on taking over the world with Spoiled and all. The human are less enthusiastic about the project, but at this point they are kinda powerless against all that crazy. And they are also idiots, who have a hard time allying against something that will potentially kill em all.
Lizanne needs to find a mythical inventor. Clay needs to find a place he had seen in his future that leads him to the salvation of the word. Hilemore needs to find his cool. No, he needs to do the captaining in a way that allows Clay to do his thing, but that sounded kinda fun. Also, they go to some arctic place. So cool. Ha.
Aaaand there is a new POV character, who would be a spoiler, even though this person has the first chapter, but still. There is a new one, with a whoooole new point of view that I personally never expected to see and it was REALLY interesting and a whole new facet of the story. Ingenious.
I've loved pretty much everything about this. When it comes to fantasy with serious topics and not much humour, like here... I need me some exploration. I find that if the story is dark and serious in tone I need two things to make it palatable; either some hilarious dark funny moments (hello Mr. Dresden, I love you so much) or adventures and the wonder of exploration. Here the latter is what's happening more and I am 100% fine with that, because the world building is on point.
We got to see for example the Corvantine Empire in this one, which is extremely interesting and different from the Ironship Syndicate, but just as dangerous. We got a different kind of human race! It's all fascinating stuff and the whole thing was much easier to grasp than in the first book. There some moments were a bit hard to follow with the names and different powers and all, but it did pay off 100%.
(One thing from the first book they didn't care much about here was the way Product was weakening, though. I really liked that idea, so I hope Mr. Ryan deals with it later, but it was totally understandable why they didn't care too much while everyone was trying to survive crazy stuff. The implications are just... really interesting.)
The characters were still great. At this point in time I can't help cheering on the author for writing a young female character who is a person, not a Straaaawn Female Character cliche. Lizanne doesn't go on tangents about how she needs to beat men. She is not morally superior. She does need her male allies just as much as the female ones. For how much we keep hearing about female characters, we do have a lot of shittily written, "all that matters is that it's flattering to think about her for women who typically can't even land a punch", and Lizanne is NOT anything like that. Do enjoy.
With fantasy novels romance is always something that can make or break my relationship with them. I don't need it. If it never happens... I'm kinda content with that. But if we do it, then at least make it feel okay. Here that happens. Romances start, they are understated, Mr. Ryan realises that the focal point of the story is not soap opera, but dragons and wars and all that. None of that gets overshadowed by needless romantic drama. People can even drift apart without ridiculous meddling, magical or otherwise and good ol' "I could explain, because I am not going to, which means you will misunderstand and hate my guts".
Never read anything before this series by Anthony Ryan, so I have no idea if he is generally this freaking brilliant and magical and perfect, or he just got lucky. I doubt it's luck, this is pure talent for intricate stories in well-built worlds with enjoyable characters, with tight action, with constant excitement, everything. Seriously, I can only rave about this.
I'm gonna say, though, I don't think this series is a good first time getting into fantasy as a genre. It's just really complicated and being unfamiliar with the genre as well as trying to understand a specific world like this can potentially put people off of fantasy for a long time. Otherwise it's A+.
At this point I'm interested in everything the author produces. I need to read his previous books, get the sequel of this as soon as it comes out and I'm looking forward to whatever he does next. Again, I can't say for sure if this is his norm or not, but I am optimistic and really pumped about not only this, but reading in general and you need a certain kind of book to achieve that effect. So there is that, I freaking loved this. All the stars in the sky for this book.
Have a nice day and definitely get this burning hot piece of work!
June 10, 2017
ARC Review
An incredibly immersive world I didn't want to leave.
First, a confession - I have not read The Waking Fire, the first in The Draconis Memoria series. Crazy, I know. Second, and this surprised me, it didn't matter. That's how deftly Ryan weaves in the story of the first book.
This is an enormous tome, but the story moves, and I mean moves, even during the very few sections when there's nothing actually "happening." An incredible feat of imagination, with land battles, sea battles, sky battles, small battles and large. Yes, battles battles battles, and amazingly realized.
Ryan lets his incredible imagination run wild with this one. And as classically epic as it is, it's also quite humorous and surprisingly weird. And dragons. Or drakes, to be more specific. But LOTS of them. Wonderful characters that are a joy to follow. My favorite might be, oddly enough, Sirus, who becomes something, mmm, else, but still retains his heart. I'll just have to leave you with that ;)
An incredibly immersive world I didn't want to leave.
First, a confession - I have not read The Waking Fire, the first in The Draconis Memoria series. Crazy, I know. Second, and this surprised me, it didn't matter. That's how deftly Ryan weaves in the story of the first book.
This is an enormous tome, but the story moves, and I mean moves, even during the very few sections when there's nothing actually "happening." An incredible feat of imagination, with land battles, sea battles, sky battles, small battles and large. Yes, battles battles battles, and amazingly realized.
Ryan lets his incredible imagination run wild with this one. And as classically epic as it is, it's also quite humorous and surprisingly weird. And dragons. Or drakes, to be more specific. But LOTS of them. Wonderful characters that are a joy to follow. My favorite might be, oddly enough, Sirus, who becomes something, mmm, else, but still retains his heart. I'll just have to leave you with that ;)
June 2, 2022
Second read: Still four stars. Great prison city arc.
First read: An enjoyable yet flawed sequel that is better than its predecessor.
First read: An enjoyable yet flawed sequel that is better than its predecessor.
December 19, 2021
Good Evening Bookish Folk!
Fuck! It has been a while…I don’t really have an excuse other than LIFE! Lets just say I needed a break, I have had a break and now I’M BACK!
And what a return review…The Legion of Flame by Anthony Ryan. This is the second book in the Draconis Memoria series and I think it is easily one of my favourite seconds in a series. Lets be honest many can fall flat. Not all, don’t shoot me.
Anywho, onto the book..
A few facts about this book:
Title: The Legion of Flame
Author: Anthony Ryan
Series: The Draconis Memoria
Published by Orbit
Pages: 638
Here are a few things you can expect from this book…
Fantastic character development;
An example of how a middle book should be;
Exceptional plot advancement and world building; and
A THOROUGHLY immersive and enjoyable ride!
On to the full review…
As I mentioned earlier, this book is the second book in this series and it was a brilliant middle book. I don’t feel like it lulled and dipped but in fact kept pace, if not exceeded its predecessor! While I adored book one and praised its ability to mix several elements one wouldn’t think go together, I appreciated the consistency in this instalment. The book felt as though is fell more securely into where it wanted to go and what direction it was heading you in.
Each chapter gave me all the things I didn’t know I wanted or needed. This isn’t a book you can pause at to make a brew, something always has you thinking ‘just a few more pages…chapters’. This isn’t just in respect of the plot either, the world-building is another constant tease! I am not a huge worldbuilding fan, I find it one of the more boring elements but Ryan proved me wrong on this front. Every world element, piece of lore or detail as to the origins of the drakes was fun to read. I wasn’t just reading a book, I was fully immersed in this world and exploring it with the characters.
I also fell even more in love with the characters, which doesn’t take much when I enjoyed them as much as I did in book one. With characters I can love them straight away purely on their potential so it was so excited to continue the journey with these and all of them fulfil that potential!
We even get a new POV and boy oh boy is it an new, insightful and fascinating POV!
This instalment was such a beautiful blend of character development, word building and plot progression and did not fall victim to middle book syndrome!
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
Fuck. I wish I had this in HARDBACK!
Fuck! It has been a while…I don’t really have an excuse other than LIFE! Lets just say I needed a break, I have had a break and now I’M BACK!
And what a return review…The Legion of Flame by Anthony Ryan. This is the second book in the Draconis Memoria series and I think it is easily one of my favourite seconds in a series. Lets be honest many can fall flat. Not all, don’t shoot me.
Anywho, onto the book..
A few facts about this book:
Title: The Legion of Flame
Author: Anthony Ryan
Series: The Draconis Memoria
Published by Orbit
Pages: 638
Here are a few things you can expect from this book…
Fantastic character development;
An example of how a middle book should be;
Exceptional plot advancement and world building; and
A THOROUGHLY immersive and enjoyable ride!
On to the full review…
As I mentioned earlier, this book is the second book in this series and it was a brilliant middle book. I don’t feel like it lulled and dipped but in fact kept pace, if not exceeded its predecessor! While I adored book one and praised its ability to mix several elements one wouldn’t think go together, I appreciated the consistency in this instalment. The book felt as though is fell more securely into where it wanted to go and what direction it was heading you in.
Each chapter gave me all the things I didn’t know I wanted or needed. This isn’t a book you can pause at to make a brew, something always has you thinking ‘just a few more pages…chapters’. This isn’t just in respect of the plot either, the world-building is another constant tease! I am not a huge worldbuilding fan, I find it one of the more boring elements but Ryan proved me wrong on this front. Every world element, piece of lore or detail as to the origins of the drakes was fun to read. I wasn’t just reading a book, I was fully immersed in this world and exploring it with the characters.
I also fell even more in love with the characters, which doesn’t take much when I enjoyed them as much as I did in book one. With characters I can love them straight away purely on their potential so it was so excited to continue the journey with these and all of them fulfil that potential!
We even get a new POV and boy oh boy is it an new, insightful and fascinating POV!
This instalment was such a beautiful blend of character development, word building and plot progression and did not fall victim to middle book syndrome!
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
Fuck. I wish I had this in HARDBACK!
July 29, 2017
Well shit. That was fun. Like, if chocolate pudding was a river and I got to ride it on a raft of whipping cream with oars made of pretzel sticks...this book was that level of fun.
My main takeaway, after finishing, was thinking about how the story just never let up. It was one thing after another, after another, and the pacing just bulldogged you through the pages until you got to the end and it felt like you just didn't really want to stop reading.
It was a high octane adventure and the perfect book to sit out on the deck with while drinking a couple of cold beverages.
Everything that the first book had this one continued. The POV characters were all incredibly engaging and I often found myself getting mad when their chapters ended and I moved onto a different character...it was a vicious cycle that refused to let up the entire way through. I daresay that this is probably my favorite Anthony Ryan novel yet! I think I liked it even more than Blood Song
Soooo freaking excited for the next one!
My main takeaway, after finishing, was thinking about how the story just never let up. It was one thing after another, after another, and the pacing just bulldogged you through the pages until you got to the end and it felt like you just didn't really want to stop reading.
It was a high octane adventure and the perfect book to sit out on the deck with while drinking a couple of cold beverages.
Everything that the first book had this one continued. The POV characters were all incredibly engaging and I often found myself getting mad when their chapters ended and I moved onto a different character...it was a vicious cycle that refused to let up the entire way through. I daresay that this is probably my favorite Anthony Ryan novel yet! I think I liked it even more than Blood Song
Soooo freaking excited for the next one!
August 3, 2017
Avoid the audiobook. While he has a pleasant voice, the narrator is too mellow, his reading too even, which takes away any sense of rush and excitement the book has to offer, and there is plenty of it.
The writing is excellent, the story engaging, and there are thousands of dragons of different colours in it.
However, it ends in a HUGE cliffhanger. To say I do not appreciate that is an understatement, I hate it, and it is reflected in my rating. For the same reason I will not bother to write an actual review.
Not cool Anthony, not cool.
The writing is excellent, the story engaging, and there are thousands of dragons of different colours in it.
However, it ends in a HUGE cliffhanger. To say I do not appreciate that is an understatement, I hate it, and it is reflected in my rating. For the same reason I will not bother to write an actual review.
Not cool Anthony, not cool.
June 25, 2023
The legion of flame is the second book of the draconis Memoria trilogy and it’s the hardest book I had to review.
The book pick up a few months after the brutal end of the end and no need to say the characters are still struggling with important stakes.
Lizanne wants to turn her back on everything she was groomed to do but sometimes you don’t get to choose which version of you suit you best. Her important skills might be the turning point in the war…
Clay and Hillemor might undertake a dangerous journey no one had ever took or worse never came back to tell the tale.
On the bright side this book is momentous in the story we can understand a lot more about the history of this world about the dragons. The characters are promoting deeper and the writer even add one more pov who helps us to have the other side of the conflict. The action and plot are still present and that’s make this book a strong sequel.
But on the other side sometimes I have the feeling that the writer was taking too much time to bring the action. Describing and explaining are great things but an overabundance of it is tiresome. More’s the pity is that the story is really great but this particular flaw is sometimes unnerving.
Nevertheless this book was necessary to understand more about the world of draconis Memoria and I will finish the trilogy.
The book pick up a few months after the brutal end of the end and no need to say the characters are still struggling with important stakes.
Lizanne wants to turn her back on everything she was groomed to do but sometimes you don’t get to choose which version of you suit you best. Her important skills might be the turning point in the war…
Clay and Hillemor might undertake a dangerous journey no one had ever took or worse never came back to tell the tale.
On the bright side this book is momentous in the story we can understand a lot more about the history of this world about the dragons. The characters are promoting deeper and the writer even add one more pov who helps us to have the other side of the conflict. The action and plot are still present and that’s make this book a strong sequel.
But on the other side sometimes I have the feeling that the writer was taking too much time to bring the action. Describing and explaining are great things but an overabundance of it is tiresome. More’s the pity is that the story is really great but this particular flaw is sometimes unnerving.
Nevertheless this book was necessary to understand more about the world of draconis Memoria and I will finish the trilogy.
December 12, 2020
Man, I sure do like books with dragons in them! My review of book one of this trilogy, The Waking Fire may have hinted at that a little... 😁. So, this was a good follow up to the first and one that I enjoyed very much. I really like our three main characters, each for their own reasons - Lizanne being my favorite badass of the group! The storylines are very good, the excitement is engrossing, and the steampunk world is vivid and real. So far, the two books in this series have a real unique feel to me, a different take and a different world than I’ve read before. I like the magic system here a lot as well. SPOILER on the magic system here
I will start on book 3 directly as I’m really hooked. I want to know how the twists in this book play out (I really was not expecting it to go where it has!) 4.5/5.0 stars on my scorecard!
I will start on book 3 directly as I’m really hooked. I want to know how the twists in this book play out (I really was not expecting it to go where it has!) 4.5/5.0 stars on my scorecard!
January 22, 2022
Didn’t quite hit the heights of the first book but still an interesting and enjoyable read.
All of the fun from the first book was back. We still have the 3 separate storylines with separate tones, though my least favorite from the first book, the naval adventures of Captain Hilemore, seemed to take more of a backseat.
The scale of the story exploded. The events of the first book were pretty momentous, but things were ratcheted up even more. Nations fell as the world was reshaped.
I think what kept me from enjoying this one quite as much was it was significantly bleaker and darker. The first book wasn’t exactly roses and sunshine but the level of death and callousness displayed was more than I really enjoy.
Still a good read though and I’m interested to see how the last book wraps up the story.
All of the fun from the first book was back. We still have the 3 separate storylines with separate tones, though my least favorite from the first book, the naval adventures of Captain Hilemore, seemed to take more of a backseat.
The scale of the story exploded. The events of the first book were pretty momentous, but things were ratcheted up even more. Nations fell as the world was reshaped.
I think what kept me from enjoying this one quite as much was it was significantly bleaker and darker. The first book wasn’t exactly roses and sunshine but the level of death and callousness displayed was more than I really enjoy.
Still a good read though and I’m interested to see how the last book wraps up the story.
November 22, 2017
I really enjoyed book and nearly gave it 5 stars. I felt a little confused with this book 2. The author added a 4th POV which wasnt a bif problem, Im just not sure it really was necessary. Action was ok but the political scheming is where Ryan is at his best. Although I felt a large level of confusion from Book 1 ( having been away from the world for a while now) and alot of waffle that didnt feel like it contributed to the story. Clay is by far my favourite character. I feel like he is worth investing your time. The other characters seem to either be confusing in their actions/decisions or slowly building a narrative for book 3. Not sure if I'll read book 3, will really depend on whats out at the time.
July 2, 2018
Really good second book in this crazy world:) I was glad to see a lot more dragon stuff. The plot moves on and I cant wait to see how all this plays out in the end. The characters grow more in this one and we get to see them in different situations. Really interesting to see how the act and react.
solid 4 stars:)
solid 4 stars:)
July 15, 2017
This was a very well written, fast-reading sequel to _The Waking Fire_, one that kept me up late night after night as I plowed through it. The action scenes were well done, the world building continued at an astonishing rate (some of the best world building of any fantasy series I have ever read), and the main characters continued to get further developed with a great deal of nuance. The scale of the conflict widened considerably, with surprisingly the fight against the White Drake not the only fighting in the book.
Just as with _The Waking Fire_, the reader is treated to multiple points of view, each illuminating an entirely different aspect of what becomes in the novel a world conflict. We continue to follow Lizanne Lethridge, that while very much a covert agent, isn’t quite part of the Exceptional Initiatives Division of the Ironship Trading Syndicate anymore. Still on the trail of the Mad Artisan (and in a developing romance with Arberus, who accompanies her), her quest takes her into not only byzantine intrigue in the capital of the Corvantine Empire but to its gulag-like mining-centric prison city of Scorazin, where Lizanne becomes embroiled in gang politics, murder, still more intrigue, and political revolution. Corrick Hilemore’s and Claydon Torcreek’s separate plotlines more or less merge as the two characters are together on the same ship and remain together for a decent-sized portion of the book (though eventually separate again). Their conjoined fates take them deep to the south, to basically their world’s version of Antarctica, having to contend with icebergs, polar weather, food shortages, the massive blue drake called Last Look Jack, and more mysterious ruins similar to those seen in Arradsia, the latter of which was glimpsed in the prophetic vision Clay had when he ingested White drake blood.
As with any world sprawling epic fantasy series, the reader gains some characters and loses some others. Braddon Torcreek and Tekela Akiv Artonin, while present, are nowhere near as prominent in _The Legion of Flame_. I do think the character Clay grew because Braddon wasn’t present, as Clay wasn’t able to rely on Braddon’s experience and confidence (or be restricted by his commands) owing to long periods of separation in the book. New characters include a Corvantine marine by the name of Myratis Lek Sigoral (just called Sigoral through most of the book) who becomes a vital part of Clay’s storyline, and not a new character but a newly important one, Sirus, the curator of the Morsvale Imperial Museum of Antiquities, in love with Tekela, and now, sorry if this is a spoiler, but let’s just say gives the reader a fascinating and valuable villain point of view series of chapters, something much needed as for the most part the White Drake’s activities are nowhere near the other characters, from the fall of Morsvale to the development of its forces to their first conquests.
A great many aspects of this world are further developed and in such a way that they are vital to the plotline. The reader finds a great deal more about the Spoiled and their relationship with the drakes as a whole and the White Drake in particular, vital to develop the coming conflict. The Corvantine Empire, glimpsed at Morsvale and in the context of the fleet they sent to Arradsia, is richly developed, vital again to the coming conflict with the armies (and navies!) of the White Drake. The Islanders and their culture also get further developed, important as the first real test for the White Drake’s forces are the Islanders.
Few real complaints. I think some of the pacing of Clay’s adventures in the deep, deep frozen south could have been a little faster paced, though definitely at the end they were fast paced. Some of the gang intrigue in Scorazin was a bit much to absorb at first but later become clearer with increased exposure. I think Hilemore’s character was a well utilized in the first third of the book and then for much of the rest comparatively underutilized but given the nature of the story I am not sure there was much to be done about that. Some reviewers have complained about the cliffhanger ending but I loved it, it made me want to read the third book right now. I hope the wait isn’t too long!
Just as with _The Waking Fire_, the reader is treated to multiple points of view, each illuminating an entirely different aspect of what becomes in the novel a world conflict. We continue to follow Lizanne Lethridge, that while very much a covert agent, isn’t quite part of the Exceptional Initiatives Division of the Ironship Trading Syndicate anymore. Still on the trail of the Mad Artisan (and in a developing romance with Arberus, who accompanies her), her quest takes her into not only byzantine intrigue in the capital of the Corvantine Empire but to its gulag-like mining-centric prison city of Scorazin, where Lizanne becomes embroiled in gang politics, murder, still more intrigue, and political revolution. Corrick Hilemore’s and Claydon Torcreek’s separate plotlines more or less merge as the two characters are together on the same ship and remain together for a decent-sized portion of the book (though eventually separate again). Their conjoined fates take them deep to the south, to basically their world’s version of Antarctica, having to contend with icebergs, polar weather, food shortages, the massive blue drake called Last Look Jack, and more mysterious ruins similar to those seen in Arradsia, the latter of which was glimpsed in the prophetic vision Clay had when he ingested White drake blood.
As with any world sprawling epic fantasy series, the reader gains some characters and loses some others. Braddon Torcreek and Tekela Akiv Artonin, while present, are nowhere near as prominent in _The Legion of Flame_. I do think the character Clay grew because Braddon wasn’t present, as Clay wasn’t able to rely on Braddon’s experience and confidence (or be restricted by his commands) owing to long periods of separation in the book. New characters include a Corvantine marine by the name of Myratis Lek Sigoral (just called Sigoral through most of the book) who becomes a vital part of Clay’s storyline, and not a new character but a newly important one, Sirus, the curator of the Morsvale Imperial Museum of Antiquities, in love with Tekela, and now, sorry if this is a spoiler, but let’s just say gives the reader a fascinating and valuable villain point of view series of chapters, something much needed as for the most part the White Drake’s activities are nowhere near the other characters, from the fall of Morsvale to the development of its forces to their first conquests.
A great many aspects of this world are further developed and in such a way that they are vital to the plotline. The reader finds a great deal more about the Spoiled and their relationship with the drakes as a whole and the White Drake in particular, vital to develop the coming conflict. The Corvantine Empire, glimpsed at Morsvale and in the context of the fleet they sent to Arradsia, is richly developed, vital again to the coming conflict with the armies (and navies!) of the White Drake. The Islanders and their culture also get further developed, important as the first real test for the White Drake’s forces are the Islanders.
Few real complaints. I think some of the pacing of Clay’s adventures in the deep, deep frozen south could have been a little faster paced, though definitely at the end they were fast paced. Some of the gang intrigue in Scorazin was a bit much to absorb at first but later become clearer with increased exposure. I think Hilemore’s character was a well utilized in the first third of the book and then for much of the rest comparatively underutilized but given the nature of the story I am not sure there was much to be done about that. Some reviewers have complained about the cliffhanger ending but I loved it, it made me want to read the third book right now. I hope the wait isn’t too long!
October 2, 2023
The legendary white drake – believed to be nothing more than a myth – has awoken from its long slumber, with no discernible aim but to burn the world of men to ashes.
Unless Clay can uncover an ancient secret that lies buried beneath the southern ice alongside Hilemore.
Lizanne Lethridge uses her diplomatic status to venture into enemy territory on a quest for a device to save them all.
”The product has stopped flowing and your syndicate is a bloated corpse that hasn’t yet acknowledged its own death. My advice to you is to immediately dissolve all company holdings and form a military alliance with any and all willing to join. Forget profit, forget loss. They no longer have meaning. The White is not done, and it will be coming. Survival is the only currency now.”
Again, I have to ask why Hilemore even has a pov? He adds nothing, especially now he is joined for the most part with Clay.
Lizanne remains my favourite plotting, badass operative. Parts of her story reminded me of Razor’s Edge by Rob J Hayes (think prisons, mines, dens, and criminals).
Diplomacy, it seemed, could be just as aggravatingly complex as espionage.
I was sceptical starting book two and Anthony Ryan tends to start strong and then his narration changes into something not as gripping.
That is not the case with this book 2.
Admittedly, there is a lot more brazen and obvious Marxist themes, yet it fits well within the world he builds. This ability to deconstruct real life complexities in a fantastical setting reminds me of Abercrombie’s writing in The Age of Madness trilogy.
Ryan is also able to construct characters that are complex, selfish, and ambitious, not miraculously changing to fit a plot point or to solve a happy ending. This realistic endeavouring is what I love to see in fantasy.
”Did we ever really share more than a purpose?" he enquired, turning to her with a sad smile. "Was I ever more than a useful convenience?"
Bookstagra
Unless Clay can uncover an ancient secret that lies buried beneath the southern ice alongside Hilemore.
Lizanne Lethridge uses her diplomatic status to venture into enemy territory on a quest for a device to save them all.
”The product has stopped flowing and your syndicate is a bloated corpse that hasn’t yet acknowledged its own death. My advice to you is to immediately dissolve all company holdings and form a military alliance with any and all willing to join. Forget profit, forget loss. They no longer have meaning. The White is not done, and it will be coming. Survival is the only currency now.”
Again, I have to ask why Hilemore even has a pov? He adds nothing, especially now he is joined for the most part with Clay.
Lizanne remains my favourite plotting, badass operative. Parts of her story reminded me of Razor’s Edge by Rob J Hayes (think prisons, mines, dens, and criminals).
Diplomacy, it seemed, could be just as aggravatingly complex as espionage.
I was sceptical starting book two and Anthony Ryan tends to start strong and then his narration changes into something not as gripping.
That is not the case with this book 2.
Admittedly, there is a lot more brazen and obvious Marxist themes, yet it fits well within the world he builds. This ability to deconstruct real life complexities in a fantastical setting reminds me of Abercrombie’s writing in The Age of Madness trilogy.
Ryan is also able to construct characters that are complex, selfish, and ambitious, not miraculously changing to fit a plot point or to solve a happy ending. This realistic endeavouring is what I love to see in fantasy.
”Did we ever really share more than a purpose?" he enquired, turning to her with a sad smile. "Was I ever more than a useful convenience?"
Bookstagra
July 8, 2017
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June 30, 2017
while a clear middle book Legion of flame is another page turner that mostly keeps the structure of waking fire though it adds one more pov to cover the all important white drake slave army of the title
fast moving, with some interesting twists, the novel moves the action quite well along and it definitely met my very high expectations
fast moving, with some interesting twists, the novel moves the action quite well along and it definitely met my very high expectations
April 8, 2018
Fantastic read, a really enjoyable storyline. Mr Ryan really is at the top of his game, can’t wait for the third book in this series.
March 10, 2019
4.5 stars.
This book definitely doesn't suffer from second book syndrome. It got to the meat of the action quicker than book one and there was no unnecessary filler content at all. I'm just relieved that book 3 is already out so that I don't have to wait to find out how everything concludes.
This book definitely doesn't suffer from second book syndrome. It got to the meat of the action quicker than book one and there was no unnecessary filler content at all. I'm just relieved that book 3 is already out so that I don't have to wait to find out how everything concludes.
July 10, 2017
To tell you the truth, I am a bit disappointed here. Maybe I read it a bit too quickly, but I don't think this is the Author's best work.
The Legion of Flame starts fairly soon after the ending of The Waking Fire. As in the first book, we get point of views from Clay, Lizanne and Hilemore, with the addition of a new point of view.Lizanne takes the majority of the novel with Clay and Hilemore splitting the rest.
Clay and Hilemore's story wasn't as developed as it could be and quite frankly, I was a bit confused about why they went on theiradventure in the first place, especially since the Author just glances over it and everybody miraculous agrees to risk there lives over what I can only explain as "nothing" as none of them actually know why they are going there. I couldn't understand their motivation and it just seemed a bit too weak. The Author does try and do some explaining in the end but I felt that this wasn't a serious attempt and served more to add internal conflict for Clay than for anything else.
Lizanne's part however, is quite thorough and well thought out, with a lot of intrigue and secrecy, but for some reason I just didn't really connect with Lizanne and found myself not really caring about the character. As soon as that happens, I was lost.
Maybe this series just isn't for me. Anyone else thought the same?
The Legion of Flame starts fairly soon after the ending of The Waking Fire. As in the first book, we get point of views from Clay, Lizanne and Hilemore, with the addition of a new point of view.Lizanne takes the majority of the novel with Clay and Hilemore splitting the rest.
Clay and Hilemore's story wasn't as developed as it could be and quite frankly, I was a bit confused about why they went on theiradventure in the first place, especially since the Author just glances over it and everybody miraculous agrees to risk there lives over what I can only explain as "nothing" as none of them actually know why they are going there. I couldn't understand their motivation and it just seemed a bit too weak. The Author does try and do some explaining in the end but I felt that this wasn't a serious attempt and served more to add internal conflict for Clay than for anything else.
Lizanne's part however, is quite thorough and well thought out, with a lot of intrigue and secrecy, but for some reason I just didn't really connect with Lizanne and found myself not really caring about the character. As soon as that happens, I was lost.
Maybe this series just isn't for me. Anyone else thought the same?
April 17, 2017
Well I got this on Friday or Saturday and finished it early (like 4:00am) Monday. So that kind of speaks for how much I liked it. Not perfect but pretty darn good. I need sleep now. I will write a real review on the blog and here soon.
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