What do you think?
Rate this book
Numina Trilogy #2
Myths and Mortals
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg builds her bewitching world of beasts and betrayal as the Numina Series continues.
Sandis has escaped Kazen’s grasp, but she finds herself unmoored, reeling from her thief friend Rone’s betrayal.
Kazen has been hurt but not stopped, and he’ll do anything to summon the monster that could lay waste to the entire world. Sandis knows she must be the one to stop him, but with her own trusted numen now bound to another, and finding herself with no one she can trust, she is in desperate need of allies. Rone seems determined to help her, but Sandis has no intention of letting him get close to her again. What she doesn’t know is how much Rone gave up to protect her. Or how much more he is willing to give up to keep her safe.
As chaos mounts, Sandis must determine whom to trust. After all, the lines between enemy and ally have never been less clear…and corruption lurks in the most unlikely of places.
Sandis has escaped Kazen’s grasp, but she finds herself unmoored, reeling from her thief friend Rone’s betrayal.
Kazen has been hurt but not stopped, and he’ll do anything to summon the monster that could lay waste to the entire world. Sandis knows she must be the one to stop him, but with her own trusted numen now bound to another, and finding herself with no one she can trust, she is in desperate need of allies. Rone seems determined to help her, but Sandis has no intention of letting him get close to her again. What she doesn’t know is how much Rone gave up to protect her. Or how much more he is willing to give up to keep her safe.
As chaos mounts, Sandis must determine whom to trust. After all, the lines between enemy and ally have never been less clear…and corruption lurks in the most unlikely of places.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2019
1889 people are currently reading
4677 people want to read
About the author
Charlie N. Holmberg
53 books8,836 followersCharlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, and the Whimbrel House series, and writes contemporary romance under C. N. Holmberg. She is published in over twenty languages and is a Goodreads Choice Award, ALA, and RITA finalist. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. A BYU alumna, she discovered in her thirties that she’s actually a cat person. She lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.
Amazon: amzn.to/2BXoQNZ
Instagram: Instagram.com/cnholmberg
Facebook: Facebook.com/cnholmberg
Twitter: Twitter.com/cnholmberg
Amazon: amzn.to/2BXoQNZ
Instagram: Instagram.com/cnholmberg
Facebook: Facebook.com/cnholmberg
Twitter: Twitter.com/cnholmberg
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 445 reviews
October 15, 2019
I'm really enjoying this series and book 2 doesn't disappoint. All I'm going to say is Charlie is an evil genius and you MUST have book 3 nearby because when you finish this one, you're going to want to dive into book 3 right away!
December 11, 2018
I love this new trilogy! Charlie has done a fabulous job on these books. They’re unlike anything I’ve ever read!
April 17, 2019
Read my reviews at jenchaosreviews.com
Review:
Sandis has escaped Kazen’s clutches, Rone has lost his Amarinth in a dirty deal, Rone’s mother is safely in another country and Irith is now bound to another. In Myths and Mortals By Charlie N. Holmberg, action, intrigue, betrayal , and fear mounts as Sandis and Rone discover that Kazen is still alive and well and still trying to summon forth a world ending monster.
Sandis is now living with a long lost uncle who is not the greatest when it comes to family. He is wealthy but crooked. He seems to want her for errands and strange nightly runs. Rone, however, despite the betrayal, of the first book, still looks out for her.
But, when things go upside down at the uncle’s house, Rone ”catches ” Sandis, even though he is the most unlikely person she would want.
Being tracked down by a skilled fighter and a man impervious to pain and possibly Kazen, Rone and Sandis make their plans with goons from the underworld.
We meet other ”vessels” that become part of the story to stop Kazen. Bastien, Rist, and Kaili all have one thing in common with Sandis and Rone-stop Kazen at all cost.
Does this all work out as planned?
Is the mysterious fighter part of Kazen’s crew or is he from somewhere else?
Readers will find the story is slow in some parts, but necessary for the development of the plot. The story wraps up nicely and ends with a high note and a cliffhanger.
Writing:
While the writing was good in the first book Smoke and Summons, it is more defined in this book, Myths, and Mortals. While I haven’t read any of her other series before, I suspect her writing and dialogue improves with each book she writes.
Plot:
The dialogue and narrative made for the plot to be thick and rich. I felt I could get into the story this time unlike the first book. There was less running and more story, more intrigue. There was certainly a lot going on, but it seemed to be all related to the main plot of the Kazen business.
What I Liked:
The in-depth story and the believable and eventual romance that occurred in the latter portion of the book made the story completely enjoyable. I also enjoyed all of the mystery and how the two of them went about trying to take care of the things that would eventually take down their enemy.
What I Didn’t Like:
In the end, there was a completely unbelievable meeting between Sandis and another person. I thought the person chosen was a little predictable, a small cookie cutter. It would have been more interesting had it been someone else she knew. However, this person, well, come on.
Overall Impression:
The book Myths and Mortals by Charlie N. Holmberg is a delight and full of wonder. It nicely wraps up the first book and answers some burning questions that were left for the reader of the series.
Certainly after reading this book, one would want to read the third book in the aptly named trilogy in hopes of wrapping up and very involved story. I rated this a 4.0.
Review:
Sandis has escaped Kazen’s clutches, Rone has lost his Amarinth in a dirty deal, Rone’s mother is safely in another country and Irith is now bound to another. In Myths and Mortals By Charlie N. Holmberg, action, intrigue, betrayal , and fear mounts as Sandis and Rone discover that Kazen is still alive and well and still trying to summon forth a world ending monster.
Sandis is now living with a long lost uncle who is not the greatest when it comes to family. He is wealthy but crooked. He seems to want her for errands and strange nightly runs. Rone, however, despite the betrayal, of the first book, still looks out for her.
But, when things go upside down at the uncle’s house, Rone ”catches ” Sandis, even though he is the most unlikely person she would want.
Being tracked down by a skilled fighter and a man impervious to pain and possibly Kazen, Rone and Sandis make their plans with goons from the underworld.
We meet other ”vessels” that become part of the story to stop Kazen. Bastien, Rist, and Kaili all have one thing in common with Sandis and Rone-stop Kazen at all cost.
Does this all work out as planned?
Is the mysterious fighter part of Kazen’s crew or is he from somewhere else?
Readers will find the story is slow in some parts, but necessary for the development of the plot. The story wraps up nicely and ends with a high note and a cliffhanger.
Writing:
While the writing was good in the first book Smoke and Summons, it is more defined in this book, Myths, and Mortals. While I haven’t read any of her other series before, I suspect her writing and dialogue improves with each book she writes.
Plot:
The dialogue and narrative made for the plot to be thick and rich. I felt I could get into the story this time unlike the first book. There was less running and more story, more intrigue. There was certainly a lot going on, but it seemed to be all related to the main plot of the Kazen business.
What I Liked:
The in-depth story and the believable and eventual romance that occurred in the latter portion of the book made the story completely enjoyable. I also enjoyed all of the mystery and how the two of them went about trying to take care of the things that would eventually take down their enemy.
What I Didn’t Like:
In the end, there was a completely unbelievable meeting between Sandis and another person. I thought the person chosen was a little predictable, a small cookie cutter. It would have been more interesting had it been someone else she knew. However, this person, well, come on.
Overall Impression:
The book Myths and Mortals by Charlie N. Holmberg is a delight and full of wonder. It nicely wraps up the first book and answers some burning questions that were left for the reader of the series.
Certainly after reading this book, one would want to read the third book in the aptly named trilogy in hopes of wrapping up and very involved story. I rated this a 4.0.
June 8, 2020
Sandis has escaped Kazen’s grasp, but she finds herself unmoored, reeling from her thief friend Rone’s betrayal.
Kazen has been hurt but not stopped, and he’ll do anything to summon the monster that could lay waste to the entire world. Sandis knows she must be the one to stop him, but with her own trusted numen now bound to another, and finding herself with no one she can trust, she is in desperate need of allies. Rone seems determined to help her, but Sandis has no intention of letting him get close to her again. What she doesn’t know is how much Rone gave up to protect her. Or how much more he is willing to give up to keep her safe.
As chaos mounts, Sandis must determine whom to trust. After all, the lines between enemy and ally have never been less clear…and corruption lurks in the most unlikely of places.
I didn't like this book as much as I liked the first book in this trilogy. After a while, Sandis began to annoy me. Honestly there was too much angst thrown in and it got annoying. I wanted the characters to move forward way before they did. I understood why sandis felt the way she did toward Rone, but it could have been resolved sooner.
I thought the parts where Sandis was conflicted about who she was, and the way wanted so badly to feel wanted and loved, were compelling and heartbreaking. That was probably the best part about the story. I also found her difficulty giving up the life as a slave, due to her past connection with Irath and how much she missed that, to be interesting but frustrating at the same time.
Just like the last book, the characters did some things that I thought were stupid, but I enjoyed this enough to give it 3 stars anyway. There is only one book left, and this book ended with something disastrous happening, but I'm not feeling compelled to read on at this time. I don't like when this happens. I want to feel the itch to keep reading. I want to be bursting with anticipation for the next book, especially when there is only one book left to go. So I'm rather frustrated with my lack of motivation to keep reading to get to the end of this trilogy. I'm not crossing it off my to-read list yet, but I will be reading other things until I either feel the urge to read it, or decide I just don't care enough to continue.
Kazen has been hurt but not stopped, and he’ll do anything to summon the monster that could lay waste to the entire world. Sandis knows she must be the one to stop him, but with her own trusted numen now bound to another, and finding herself with no one she can trust, she is in desperate need of allies. Rone seems determined to help her, but Sandis has no intention of letting him get close to her again. What she doesn’t know is how much Rone gave up to protect her. Or how much more he is willing to give up to keep her safe.
As chaos mounts, Sandis must determine whom to trust. After all, the lines between enemy and ally have never been less clear…and corruption lurks in the most unlikely of places.
I didn't like this book as much as I liked the first book in this trilogy. After a while, Sandis began to annoy me. Honestly there was too much angst thrown in and it got annoying. I wanted the characters to move forward way before they did. I understood why sandis felt the way she did toward Rone, but it could have been resolved sooner.
I thought the parts where Sandis was conflicted about who she was, and the way wanted so badly to feel wanted and loved, were compelling and heartbreaking. That was probably the best part about the story. I also found her difficulty giving up the life as a slave, due to her past connection with Irath and how much she missed that, to be interesting but frustrating at the same time.
Just like the last book, the characters did some things that I thought were stupid, but I enjoyed this enough to give it 3 stars anyway. There is only one book left, and this book ended with something disastrous happening, but I'm not feeling compelled to read on at this time. I don't like when this happens. I want to feel the itch to keep reading. I want to be bursting with anticipation for the next book, especially when there is only one book left to go. So I'm rather frustrated with my lack of motivation to keep reading to get to the end of this trilogy. I'm not crossing it off my to-read list yet, but I will be reading other things until I either feel the urge to read it, or decide I just don't care enough to continue.
May 7, 2019
All I know is that I am inwardly screaming at that ending, and need to freak out over the cliffhanger.
Let me write something more coherent when it's not 3am😳
Let me write something more coherent when it's not 3am😳
June 4, 2020
4.5 stars. This was almost as good as the first but I’ve docked half a star because there was quite a bit of angst for much of the book. Particularly liked the low level numen like a flying hamster. Rone and. sandis are very cute together.
December 31, 2020
Sandis has escaped Kazen's clutches and is now with the only family she still has, a great-uncle that takes her in, even though Rone is convinced that Talbur is the one that sold her to Kazen in the first place. But after Rone's betrayal, Sandis is in no mood to listen to him. It soon becomes clear that Talbur's patronage is not without price and Sandis is in trouble again and now without the numina that she was bound to. Meanwhile Kazen is still trying to bring Kolosos into our world.
The middle volume of this fills out the city of Dresberg substantially as well as setting the stage for the final volume. There's a lot of time spent here on the relationship between Rone and Sandis, particularly around Rone's betrayal at the end of the previous book.
The middle volume of this fills out the city of Dresberg substantially as well as setting the stage for the final volume. There's a lot of time spent here on the relationship between Rone and Sandis, particularly around Rone's betrayal at the end of the previous book.
June 21, 2019
Re-read to prepare for the 3rd book in the series!!
Book – Myths & Mortals
Author – Charlie N. Holmberg
Series – Numina Trilogy
Publication Date – April 16, 2019
Genre – Fantasy
Type – Part of Series
Rating – 4 ½ out of 5 Stars
Complimentary copy generously provided by the author (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts - Story
I read Smoke & Summons back in January as a First Read through Amazon and instantly fell in love with this story and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book of this series. What a surprise I had when I saw it on NetGalley and was approved for an ARC. I couldn’t download it fast enough and put all other reading aside to get into the story.
I absolutely love Ms. Holmberg’s writing and instantly connect with all of the characters she writes about. And don’t get me started on her world-building and descriptive terms – I feel like I am transported directly into her fantasy world and am walking next to the characters and sharing in their adventures.
Now, I feel like I need more of the story and can’t wait for the final book in the trilogy! When, oh, when is this being released….or even showing up on Goodreads? After that cliffhanger, my heart can't take much more waiting!
Sorry that I can’t get into the story but this hasn’t been released yet and I wouldn’t want to give any of this masterpiece away!
Reason for Reading – Loved the first book
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam – 4 out of 5 Stars
Angst – 4 ½ out of 5 Stars
Writing – 5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4 ½ out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Yes
Recommend To – Fantasy lovers
Book – Myths & Mortals
Author – Charlie N. Holmberg
Series – Numina Trilogy
Publication Date – April 16, 2019
Genre – Fantasy
Type – Part of Series
Rating – 4 ½ out of 5 Stars
Complimentary copy generously provided by the author (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts - Story
I read Smoke & Summons back in January as a First Read through Amazon and instantly fell in love with this story and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book of this series. What a surprise I had when I saw it on NetGalley and was approved for an ARC. I couldn’t download it fast enough and put all other reading aside to get into the story.
I absolutely love Ms. Holmberg’s writing and instantly connect with all of the characters she writes about. And don’t get me started on her world-building and descriptive terms – I feel like I am transported directly into her fantasy world and am walking next to the characters and sharing in their adventures.
Now, I feel like I need more of the story and can’t wait for the final book in the trilogy! When, oh, when is this being released….or even showing up on Goodreads? After that cliffhanger, my heart can't take much more waiting!
Sorry that I can’t get into the story but this hasn’t been released yet and I wouldn’t want to give any of this masterpiece away!
Reason for Reading – Loved the first book
Story – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam – 4 out of 5 Stars
Angst – 4 ½ out of 5 Stars
Writing – 5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4 ½ out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Yes
Recommend To – Fantasy lovers
Read
April 19, 2019WHERE IS THE NEXT BOOK I NEED IT
May 5, 2019
***I received a free e-ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Though I had this eARC since February, it took me a lot longer to return to this series than I thought it would. Myths & Mortals is the sequel to Smoke & Summons and picks up the second after the first book concluded.
Myths & Mortals is a hard one for me to rate, because while I LOVE the concept behind the series and I find the characters mildly amusing, I struggled a lot with the execution of this book. I think a big part of this had to do with the author’s writing style. There’s nothing bad about it, but it feels too direct too often. The author also has a tendency to focus on a lot of inner thoughts and emotions. Which again, isn’t a flaw, but I disliked that the reader is continuously told about these tumultuous emotional states, instead of being allowed to observe them and make their own connections.
Another disappointment that this sequel held for me was in the worldbuilding. The first book only shed a few lights on the workings of the city and the ancient Noscon culture. Which was fine, but then the sequel focused on the worldbuilding even less! I think the setting is one of the book’s stronger points, so to see it not given its proper attention made me really sad. I still feel like I barely know anything about this world.
Another sore spot for me were the characters. I don’t know what it is about Sandis’s character, but she just…irks me. It’s refreshing to have a protagonist who is innocent and good-hearted and whose strength comes from her stubbornness and determination instead of stereotypical battle skills, but at the same time I was still annoyed with her. I think my issue with her is that she’s too much of a “special snowflake”; she doesn’t seem to have any flaws. I get that a “pure soul” is the key to humans being vessels, but c’mon, can’t Sandis have some sort of imperfection?
That all being said…that cliffhanger, dude. Part of it was predictable and the ending was sorta rushed, but dang, I wanna know what happens next. I just looked up the summary of the third book, and it *finally* sounds like the plot hinges on delving deeper into the worldbuilding, which I’m excited about. If I can snag an ARC of the third book in the fall, I think I might finish the series, but if not, I don’t think it’s worth tracking down at the library or bookstore. Fingers crossed this book is merely a case of “second book syndrome” and the trilogy will finish strong. Because let’s be real: not much was accomplished in this book and it felt like a distorted echo of the first book’s plot.
In conclusion, I would recommend this series if you’re looking for light fantasy and a quick & easy read, but if the premise of these books don’t intrigue you, they’re probably not worth your time.
Trigger Warnings: slavery, torture/murder (harvesting humans for body parts), minor cutting for summoning (magic), homelessness, and a little bit of emotional manipulation early on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can see this review, my other reviews & additional bookish posts at my blog: Are You My Book?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feb. 14 2019:
WOW, I just finished reading the first book, went on Netgalley and saw the sequel was available as "Read Now". I'm ecstatic.
(Also, I wonder why the sequel is releasing only 2 months after the first book?? That seems like a really quick turn around but I'm also not complaining.) 😁
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Though I had this eARC since February, it took me a lot longer to return to this series than I thought it would. Myths & Mortals is the sequel to Smoke & Summons and picks up the second after the first book concluded.
Myths & Mortals is a hard one for me to rate, because while I LOVE the concept behind the series and I find the characters mildly amusing, I struggled a lot with the execution of this book. I think a big part of this had to do with the author’s writing style. There’s nothing bad about it, but it feels too direct too often. The author also has a tendency to focus on a lot of inner thoughts and emotions. Which again, isn’t a flaw, but I disliked that the reader is continuously told about these tumultuous emotional states, instead of being allowed to observe them and make their own connections.
He smiled, and despite everything she knew about him, that single gesture puffed oxygen on the tiny ember of hope burning in her gut.
Another disappointment that this sequel held for me was in the worldbuilding. The first book only shed a few lights on the workings of the city and the ancient Noscon culture. Which was fine, but then the sequel focused on the worldbuilding even less! I think the setting is one of the book’s stronger points, so to see it not given its proper attention made me really sad. I still feel like I barely know anything about this world.
Another sore spot for me were the characters. I don’t know what it is about Sandis’s character, but she just…irks me. It’s refreshing to have a protagonist who is innocent and good-hearted and whose strength comes from her stubbornness and determination instead of stereotypical battle skills, but at the same time I was still annoyed with her. I think my issue with her is that she’s too much of a “special snowflake”; she doesn’t seem to have any flaws. I get that a “pure soul” is the key to humans being vessels, but c’mon, can’t Sandis have some sort of imperfection?
That all being said…that cliffhanger, dude. Part of it was predictable and the ending was sorta rushed, but dang, I wanna know what happens next. I just looked up the summary of the third book, and it *finally* sounds like the plot hinges on delving deeper into the worldbuilding, which I’m excited about. If I can snag an ARC of the third book in the fall, I think I might finish the series, but if not, I don’t think it’s worth tracking down at the library or bookstore. Fingers crossed this book is merely a case of “second book syndrome” and the trilogy will finish strong. Because let’s be real: not much was accomplished in this book and it felt like a distorted echo of the first book’s plot.
In conclusion, I would recommend this series if you’re looking for light fantasy and a quick & easy read, but if the premise of these books don’t intrigue you, they’re probably not worth your time.
Trigger Warnings: slavery, torture/murder (harvesting humans for body parts), minor cutting for summoning (magic), homelessness, and a little bit of emotional manipulation early on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can see this review, my other reviews & additional bookish posts at my blog: Are You My Book?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feb. 14 2019:
WOW, I just finished reading the first book, went on Netgalley and saw the sequel was available as "Read Now". I'm ecstatic.
(Also, I wonder why the sequel is releasing only 2 months after the first book?? That seems like a really quick turn around but I'm also not complaining.) 😁
April 12, 2019
We travel with Rone and Sandis where we left off in Smoke and Summons.
Kazen on loose , Riggers and Grafters on the chase , Sandis and Rone have much more to run from before they even think of making up to each other.
Myths and mortals started off kinda slow but (thankfully) didn't have the second book syndrome. The plot wasn't mainstream but Charlie managed to keep us in the edge of the kindle or page (lol) 24×7.
Sandis and Rone had a lot of issues to go through while running and hiding and chasing. We meet a lot of characters on the way old and new. Bastien is one of them. He is another fellow vessel and a really underrated character. He's loyal and aaamazing. Just as smoke and summons , we have a lot of underrated characters , dialogues and moves. I'll try to cover them as much as possible.
Rone and Bastien bonding moments were just outright hilarious (for us) like this.
“Raisin’ the raisins.” Rone crooked an eyebrow. “What?” Bastien shrugged. “It’s a joke.” Rone hesitated before saying, “That . . . was a really bad joke.”
Sandis had loads of character development even though she's irritating at times.
Half of her wanted that door to open. The other half wanted to bar it shut and set a match to the entire flat.
And ofcourse , sandis × Rone relationship was relatable af.
Sandis could hate him, hit him, berate him. But he couldn’t leave her.
I’ll follow you anywhere, Sandis. To the Arctic Ribbon or the heart of hell.
There is a new character who is almost a replica of Yara Greyjoy from GoT.
And the cliffhanger made it so precious and it will hurt to wait for the next one.
Kazen on loose , Riggers and Grafters on the chase , Sandis and Rone have much more to run from before they even think of making up to each other.
Myths and mortals started off kinda slow but (thankfully) didn't have the second book syndrome. The plot wasn't mainstream but Charlie managed to keep us in the edge of the kindle or page (lol) 24×7.
Sandis and Rone had a lot of issues to go through while running and hiding and chasing. We meet a lot of characters on the way old and new. Bastien is one of them. He is another fellow vessel and a really underrated character. He's loyal and aaamazing. Just as smoke and summons , we have a lot of underrated characters , dialogues and moves. I'll try to cover them as much as possible.
Rone and Bastien bonding moments were just outright hilarious (for us) like this.
“Raisin’ the raisins.” Rone crooked an eyebrow. “What?” Bastien shrugged. “It’s a joke.” Rone hesitated before saying, “That . . . was a really bad joke.”
Sandis had loads of character development even though she's irritating at times.
Half of her wanted that door to open. The other half wanted to bar it shut and set a match to the entire flat.
And ofcourse , sandis × Rone relationship was relatable af.
Sandis could hate him, hit him, berate him. But he couldn’t leave her.
I’ll follow you anywhere, Sandis. To the Arctic Ribbon or the heart of hell.
There is a new character who is almost a replica of Yara Greyjoy from GoT.
And the cliffhanger made it so precious and it will hurt to wait for the next one.
May 26, 2019
Another horrendous cliffhanger! And the next book isn't out for several months! Charlie why do you do this to me!!!
This was another solid, enjoyable read. I want to wrap Sandis up in a blanket and tell her it's all gonna be okay. Everyone in this book just needs a hug. Except Kazen and Talbur, those two can have a kick in the face.
I wanted to give it more stars but the writing still just felt a little lacking. Some word choices just felt off to me. And if I have to read the phrase "he/she rolled his/her lips" one more time I may cry. Or roll my own lips in anger.
This was another solid, enjoyable read. I want to wrap Sandis up in a blanket and tell her it's all gonna be okay. Everyone in this book just needs a hug. Except Kazen and Talbur, those two can have a kick in the face.
I wanted to give it more stars but the writing still just felt a little lacking. Some word choices just felt off to me. And if I have to read the phrase "he/she rolled his/her lips" one more time I may cry. Or roll my own lips in anger.
September 26, 2019
Excellent reading! Charlie Holmberg continues to blow my expectations away, onto book three!
March 21, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the chance to read early for an honest review.
This story was great! I wasn't able to finish Smoke & Summons before starting this, but that didn't matter because there was enough back story (catch up) to get the gist of what was going on from the last one, and then the story was off and running again.
I loved Rone and Sandis and Bastien, the new vessel. I felt bad for Rone and the tough choice he had to make at the end of the first book that carried into this one and affected his relationship with Sandis. But that supplied his major motivations for helping Sandis now and, I felt, strengthened the story.
I also loved how Sandis grew in this one. I can't wait to see how much she'll grow in the next one.
I love how Charlie writes original stories and this one is no exception. Can't wait for the next one!
This story was great! I wasn't able to finish Smoke & Summons before starting this, but that didn't matter because there was enough back story (catch up) to get the gist of what was going on from the last one, and then the story was off and running again.
I loved Rone and Sandis and Bastien, the new vessel. I felt bad for Rone and the tough choice he had to make at the end of the first book that carried into this one and affected his relationship with Sandis. But that supplied his major motivations for helping Sandis now and, I felt, strengthened the story.
I also loved how Sandis grew in this one. I can't wait to see how much she'll grow in the next one.
I love how Charlie writes original stories and this one is no exception. Can't wait for the next one!
May 13, 2019
Good 2nd book in the trilogy. Interesting story and the magic system of the world is a different change from regular fantasy magic. entertaining read. Recommended
November 5, 2019
The first half of this fantasy novel is the heroine being angry with the hero for his terrible betrayal in the previous book in the series. Once they make up then the book gets better, with lots of action.
March 29, 2019
Thanks netgalley for the ARC
All I can say is I loved this book. It was exciting, fun and entertaining. It was so original and new that it was a fun read.
All I can say is I loved this book. It was exciting, fun and entertaining. It was so original and new that it was a fun read.
April 17, 2019
As with the first book, Smoke & Summons, I received a free eARC from NetGalley and publisher 47North. Like the first book, Myths & Mortals feels like original and competent urban fantasy. Charlie N. Holmberg adds more layers to the saga of Sandis Gwenwig, such as it is. However, this book does little to assuage my grumping from the first book. Another cliffhanger ending, and not all that much development of Sandis’ character either.
Spoilers for the first book but not for this one.
Sandis has successfully escaped Kazen, for now, although he has Rone’s amarinth and the 1-minute immortality it grants every 24 hours. Rone is trying to win his way back into Sandis’ good graces, but it’s not really taking. Sandis is too enamoured of her new uncle, Talbur—or at least, she is for a little bit, until she realizes how cold a man he can be. With nowhere else left to turn, Sandis finds herself throwing in with Rone again. Soon they’re trying to stop Kazen from summoning Kolossos again, with or without whatever allies they can find.
There are some betrayals you can’t come back from, and I’m partly of the mind that Rone’s is one of them. So I like how Holmberg handles Sandis’ reluctance to see Rone again or accept his help. It would have been so jarring if the book had started with Sandis flying back into Rone’s open arms the moment she realizes that Talbur is up to no good. As it is, being forced together by circumstance is believable and interesting. I’m not sure Rone really deserves Sandis’ forgiveness, but at least he’s trying to repent for what he did.
There are some new characters here, like Bastien, and more page time for characters we only really glimpsed in Smoke & Summons. However, these characters don’t receive much in the way of development. Even Bastien seems very stock. He has … some kind of thing with puns? Other than that, he’s a vessel and therefore a convenient plot device for Holmberg to hook Sandis up with Ireth again.
I think when I really stop and ponder why these books don’t excite me more, it has to come back to this problem of characterization. We get a few scenes here from Kazen’s limited third person perspective. While somewhat illuminating, these scenes also portray him as a madman bent on revenge—which he might very well be, at this point. The Angelic is the world’s worst father once again—but then we see him a second time, later in the book, with slightly different behaviour (not necessarily better) without much in the way of setup or prompting. Even the no-good Talbur, whom any reader will peg as a bad dude from the first page, is one-dimensional in that respect.
The whole concept of summoning demons—uh, numina—into vessels is great. From there, Holmberg branches out into similarly interesting lore and ideas. Even the plot itself, although somewhat basic, is stimulating. Alas, the characters just don’t work for me. This doesn’t change by the ending of Myths & Mortals. Once again, not a fan of the blatant cliffhanger ending—although I will say I at least liked this one a good deal.
There are things to like, perhaps even love, about these books. Will I read the third? A definite maybe on that one: whereas I hoped Myths & Mortals might surprise me by being much improved over the first book, it has instead mostly confirmed the mediocrity of this series. Enjoyable enough as a distraction, but I’m not sure I’ll be talking about them that much.
Spoilers for the first book but not for this one.
Sandis has successfully escaped Kazen, for now, although he has Rone’s amarinth and the 1-minute immortality it grants every 24 hours. Rone is trying to win his way back into Sandis’ good graces, but it’s not really taking. Sandis is too enamoured of her new uncle, Talbur—or at least, she is for a little bit, until she realizes how cold a man he can be. With nowhere else left to turn, Sandis finds herself throwing in with Rone again. Soon they’re trying to stop Kazen from summoning Kolossos again, with or without whatever allies they can find.
There are some betrayals you can’t come back from, and I’m partly of the mind that Rone’s is one of them. So I like how Holmberg handles Sandis’ reluctance to see Rone again or accept his help. It would have been so jarring if the book had started with Sandis flying back into Rone’s open arms the moment she realizes that Talbur is up to no good. As it is, being forced together by circumstance is believable and interesting. I’m not sure Rone really deserves Sandis’ forgiveness, but at least he’s trying to repent for what he did.
There are some new characters here, like Bastien, and more page time for characters we only really glimpsed in Smoke & Summons. However, these characters don’t receive much in the way of development. Even Bastien seems very stock. He has … some kind of thing with puns? Other than that, he’s a vessel and therefore a convenient plot device for Holmberg to hook Sandis up with Ireth again.
I think when I really stop and ponder why these books don’t excite me more, it has to come back to this problem of characterization. We get a few scenes here from Kazen’s limited third person perspective. While somewhat illuminating, these scenes also portray him as a madman bent on revenge—which he might very well be, at this point. The Angelic is the world’s worst father once again—but then we see him a second time, later in the book, with slightly different behaviour (not necessarily better) without much in the way of setup or prompting. Even the no-good Talbur, whom any reader will peg as a bad dude from the first page, is one-dimensional in that respect.
The whole concept of summoning demons—uh, numina—into vessels is great. From there, Holmberg branches out into similarly interesting lore and ideas. Even the plot itself, although somewhat basic, is stimulating. Alas, the characters just don’t work for me. This doesn’t change by the ending of Myths & Mortals. Once again, not a fan of the blatant cliffhanger ending—although I will say I at least liked this one a good deal.
There are things to like, perhaps even love, about these books. Will I read the third? A definite maybe on that one: whereas I hoped Myths & Mortals might surprise me by being much improved over the first book, it has instead mostly confirmed the mediocrity of this series. Enjoyable enough as a distraction, but I’m not sure I’ll be talking about them that much.
April 21, 2019
We continue further with Sandis and Rone, Kazen, Talbur and the other vessels through betrayal after betrayal. They run, they fight and run again until they find out what Kazen intends to do. I have to say that I like Rone as a character more than Sandis. Sometimes she doesn't make much sense to me (she's afraid to go outside alone and find somewhere to sleep and in further along she's gunning someone down). Her character development feels a bit off. I enjoyed reading the second installment, but I've got to admit I prefer the first book. Might be middle book syndrome. Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
May 15, 2019
This book definitely suffers from the second book syndrome.
What I liked:
1)The addition of new characters. We got to know Rone and Sandis quite a bit in the first book and if this book was just the two of them, it would have suffered. Having Bastien and the other vessels definitely made the story more interesting. And I still enjoyed Rone and Sandis.
2)The foreshadowing coming to fruition was very satisfying. I'm not mad that it was a bit predictable, this book isn't trying to be a thriller.
What I disliked:
1)The plot was all too similar to the first book. They're on the run, someone's chasing them. They even went to the same places multiple times. It felt like I was reading the same scenes over and over.
2)The world-building wasn't expanded as much as I would like. It was hinted at that we would learn more in the next book, but there was a plateau in this one.
3)The ending was disappointing.
What I liked:
1)The addition of new characters. We got to know Rone and Sandis quite a bit in the first book and if this book was just the two of them, it would have suffered. Having Bastien and the other vessels definitely made the story more interesting. And I still enjoyed Rone and Sandis.
2)The foreshadowing coming to fruition was very satisfying. I'm not mad that it was a bit predictable, this book isn't trying to be a thriller.
What I disliked:
1)The plot was all too similar to the first book. They're on the run, someone's chasing them. They even went to the same places multiple times. It felt like I was reading the same scenes over and over.
2)The world-building wasn't expanded as much as I would like. It was hinted at that we would learn more in the next book, but there was a plateau in this one.
3)The ending was disappointing.
March 22, 2020
I can't even put my finger on what has me so absorbed, but I've not been able to put this down. I like Rone. Perfect balance of mischief and seriousness. I also like Sandis.. Normally. Sometimes she was weepy and needy, but she seems to be figuring out that she's not so useless as the story goes on.
This was another book that I figured out the ending easily. Tends to sour the story a bit because I lose the surprise of it. Instead, I'm just irritated at the characters for walking into things they should of seen.
The magical system was very interesting, as was the corrupt world itself. Characters have some growing to do, but hopefully that comes in the last book.
This was another book that I figured out the ending easily. Tends to sour the story a bit because I lose the surprise of it. Instead, I'm just irritated at the characters for walking into things they should of seen.
The magical system was very interesting, as was the corrupt world itself. Characters have some growing to do, but hopefully that comes in the last book.
September 11, 2021
La verdad es que me ha gustado mucho más que el primero. La novela aunque tiene algunas partes que se me han hecho más densas, funciona muchísimo mejor que la primera novela.
August 12, 2019
The plot is interesting - the ethereal plane, the gods, the politics - but I'm really struggling with the series. I think part of the problem is that I just don't like Sandis. I really, really don't. She's the kind of female lead I generally characterize as the "precious heroine" - perfect in her powers, perfectly beautiful, perfectly convinced of her own superiority in all things, utterly self-righteous and headstrong, and determined to follow her own course of action even though it is usually completely stupid. But because the author dotes on the precious heroine, it usually works out for her. Ugh.
I started out this book very on Sandis's side, because what Rone did at the end of the last book made me sick. But I don't understand her adoration of her shitty great-uncle. He's a monster. He has sold her at least once, and for all she knows he had something to do with her original enslavement. And when he has her, he uses her. Horribly. It disgusts me. I get her loneliness, and her feeling that she has no options... and so I would get it if she begrudgingly went along, while making plans. But we're in her narrative, and she doesn't do that. She puts him on a pillar and holds him up as this somehow virtuous man who took her in out of kindness. It makes her look like a pathetic goddamn moron. She's not a child. She has lived through horrors. How is she not smarter than this?
And from there, she just gets worse. She becomes, quite frankly, everything she hates: a murderer who casually uses people for her own ends. All while pretending to some kind of virtuous compassion and hanging on to her adoration / idealization of the priesthood (which is stupid, and I hammered on that in my review for the last book). Further, as I implied in the above comments about the precious heroine, her plans are dumb -
Also, the twist with the stranger was so transparent that the whole lot of them felt dumb as a bag of potatoes for not realizing who was behind it. Like that greedy fuck wasn't going to make more money? Come on now. I knew it was him right from the first encounter.
Rone spent the whole book making up for what he did, and I think he finally gets the reality of it, so I feel better about him, but honestly, I just cannot stand Standis. And Rist is dumb too - he deserved what he got.
I don't know if I'll read on. Maybe, since the next book is the last, but ... probably not, honestly. Bleh.
Rone, meanwhile,
I started out this book very on Sandis's side, because what Rone did at the end of the last book made me sick. But I don't understand her adoration of her shitty great-uncle. He's a monster. He has sold her at least once, and for all she knows he had something to do with her original enslavement. And when he has her, he uses her. Horribly. It disgusts me. I get her loneliness, and her feeling that she has no options... and so I would get it if she begrudgingly went along, while making plans. But we're in her narrative, and she doesn't do that. She puts him on a pillar and holds him up as this somehow virtuous man who took her in out of kindness. It makes her look like a pathetic goddamn moron. She's not a child. She has lived through horrors. How is she not smarter than this?
And from there, she just gets worse. She becomes, quite frankly, everything she hates: a murderer who casually uses people for her own ends. All while pretending to some kind of virtuous compassion and hanging on to her adoration / idealization of the priesthood (which is stupid, and I hammered on that in my review for the last book). Further, as I implied in the above comments about the precious heroine, her plans are dumb -
Also, the twist with the stranger was so transparent that the whole lot of them felt dumb as a bag of potatoes for not realizing who was behind it. Like that greedy fuck wasn't going to make more money? Come on now. I knew it was him right from the first encounter.
Rone spent the whole book making up for what he did, and I think he finally gets the reality of it, so I feel better about him, but honestly, I just cannot stand Standis. And Rist is dumb too - he deserved what he got.
I don't know if I'll read on. Maybe, since the next book is the last, but ... probably not, honestly. Bleh.
Rone, meanwhile,
April 26, 2019
When it comes right down to it, I just don't think the darker themes in this series are best suited to the style of Charlie N. Holmberg. The charming books that make up her series, The Paper Magician, are fun, light, and sweet. Everything that I found delightful in that series is lacking in this one. The Paper Magician series had likable main characters who fit well within the settings and the universe created around them. Here I found many of the same flaws repeated in this sequel, and while I hesitate to pigeon-hole any author into a single genre or style, I just don't think this one works.
Getting past the long introduction that served as the first book, Smoke & Summons, I hoped that this second book would really open up the world and explain the unexplained...or at least lay out a firmer path for the mystical portions. However, I found that instead of laying better groundwork, new questions were just created. I still don't think the world-building has been dealt with—the city, the black market kind of culture, the slavery trade, the summoners, the vessels, the ancient spirits...I know next to nothing...or simply not enough.
While the pacing and the action sequences were improved, and there were fewer run, run, run scenes leading into more run, run, run scenes, I still think there was a lot of nothing happening in this book. At least not enough to keep me engaged. Same to be said for the two main characters. I am surprised at how little I find to either like or care about Sandis and Rone. I don't know enough about them, and the narration is very removed with feelings and emotions being told to me (the reader) instead of being played out.
The amount of dialogue improved, as well, but I still found it lacking and aimless. Sandis is angry with Rone because of his betrayal from the first book, and I do really like how she takes quite a while to open back up to him and try to be friends. However, there is a definite lack of chemistry between them and I cannot figure out how they are romantically attracted to each other. It just doesn't seem to fit. They also seem too cute for the dark themes that stretch over the surface of this book. I don't think I'll continue with this series from Holmberg, but I still won't hesitate to check out another work by this author.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review.
Getting past the long introduction that served as the first book, Smoke & Summons, I hoped that this second book would really open up the world and explain the unexplained...or at least lay out a firmer path for the mystical portions. However, I found that instead of laying better groundwork, new questions were just created. I still don't think the world-building has been dealt with—the city, the black market kind of culture, the slavery trade, the summoners, the vessels, the ancient spirits...I know next to nothing...or simply not enough.
While the pacing and the action sequences were improved, and there were fewer run, run, run scenes leading into more run, run, run scenes, I still think there was a lot of nothing happening in this book. At least not enough to keep me engaged. Same to be said for the two main characters. I am surprised at how little I find to either like or care about Sandis and Rone. I don't know enough about them, and the narration is very removed with feelings and emotions being told to me (the reader) instead of being played out.
The amount of dialogue improved, as well, but I still found it lacking and aimless. Sandis is angry with Rone because of his betrayal from the first book, and I do really like how she takes quite a while to open back up to him and try to be friends. However, there is a definite lack of chemistry between them and I cannot figure out how they are romantically attracted to each other. It just doesn't seem to fit. They also seem too cute for the dark themes that stretch over the surface of this book. I don't think I'll continue with this series from Holmberg, but I still won't hesitate to check out another work by this author.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review.
March 23, 2019
This is a review of the ARC I received from Netgalley.
Myths and Mortals is an amazing read. It keeps the momentum from the first book going - and even though there are still elements of running for their lives - there is not a single moment that feels repetitive.
Sandis has finally found her family - but her great uncle is not what she had expected. At the same time, she can no longer trust Rone. His betrayal was too great, cut too deep. Rone and Sandis are real people, and you can see the real feelings they have - for everything. Rone's guilt, his need to be there and yet his constant thoughts of leaving it all - they feel so real. It could be me thinking the same things if I were feeling so trapped. Sandis's pain - her inability to forgive Rone - her fear he would betray her again - it is true. We take the longest to forgive the ones we truly care about. After all they are closest to our hearts, their cuts' the deepest.
The plot moves forward from Smoke and Summons - there are more revelations. The foundation had been laid and now it is built upon. Sandis needs to make sure kazen is dead. She wants her fellow vessels to be free. She is worried about Alys. But the answer to all of those lies in a lair filled with Grafters. And Rone and Sandis are alone - without even Rone's secret weapon.
This book is well written. I cannot say more about the plot - I do not wish to give away spoilers. But I can say that the world building is done well. The polluted Kolingrad could be any of our cities in the future past. It could be us working in factories in smoke - dying from the cotton from cotton factories clogging our lungs.
The characters are done very well. Whether it is the main characters or those who show up briefly - they have depth, have a certain feel of reality to them. They make sense even when their actions make no sense to them. This is a rare flair, and added to the excellent world building, I know I would always be looking forward to any and every work by this author.
Myths and Mortals is an amazing read. It keeps the momentum from the first book going - and even though there are still elements of running for their lives - there is not a single moment that feels repetitive.
Sandis has finally found her family - but her great uncle is not what she had expected. At the same time, she can no longer trust Rone. His betrayal was too great, cut too deep. Rone and Sandis are real people, and you can see the real feelings they have - for everything. Rone's guilt, his need to be there and yet his constant thoughts of leaving it all - they feel so real. It could be me thinking the same things if I were feeling so trapped. Sandis's pain - her inability to forgive Rone - her fear he would betray her again - it is true. We take the longest to forgive the ones we truly care about. After all they are closest to our hearts, their cuts' the deepest.
The plot moves forward from Smoke and Summons - there are more revelations. The foundation had been laid and now it is built upon. Sandis needs to make sure kazen is dead. She wants her fellow vessels to be free. She is worried about Alys. But the answer to all of those lies in a lair filled with Grafters. And Rone and Sandis are alone - without even Rone's secret weapon.
This book is well written. I cannot say more about the plot - I do not wish to give away spoilers. But I can say that the world building is done well. The polluted Kolingrad could be any of our cities in the future past. It could be us working in factories in smoke - dying from the cotton from cotton factories clogging our lungs.
The characters are done very well. Whether it is the main characters or those who show up briefly - they have depth, have a certain feel of reality to them. They make sense even when their actions make no sense to them. This is a rare flair, and added to the excellent world building, I know I would always be looking forward to any and every work by this author.
April 19, 2019
I've been waiting for this book since back when I first read Smoke & Summons. Pre-ordered and everything because I loved the first one so much. And Holmberg delivered!
Picking up where the first one left off, Myths & Mortals follows the aftermath of Sandis and Rone's struggles in the previous book. They do a lot more traveling the underbelly of the city, and Sandis comes into her own in a way that didn't happen in the last book. Though she still very much depends on Rone, she fights for her independence and takes command of the power she's always had. Her growth into her confidence was really great to see.
Rone gets to grow as well, learning from the mistakes he made and letting himself be vulnerable in front of Sandis. Though it takes him a while, he finally lets Sandis take the lead and stops trying to be her savior and become more like her partner. That was a nice change of pace when it comes to the way male leads are depicted. Getting knocked off the pedestal that Sandis put him on in the first book really humbled him. And while he was never a bad person, his reluctance to fully trust in Sandis made him a poor ally. Now that they're equals that hopefully won't be a problem.
The highlight of the book, though, was definitely Bastien. I couldn't help but giggle at every single pun that came out of him, no matter how bad. For a character described as cowardly, he was anything but, and had a very specific braveness that made him endearing. I really hope he stands out more and look forward to seeing more of him in book three.
All in all a fun read. The only reason I docked a star was because I figured out the 'mystery' of this one long before the characters, and I'm not a fan of the cliffhanger ending. At least I only have to wait a few months for the next one!
Picking up where the first one left off, Myths & Mortals follows the aftermath of Sandis and Rone's struggles in the previous book. They do a lot more traveling the underbelly of the city, and Sandis comes into her own in a way that didn't happen in the last book. Though she still very much depends on Rone, she fights for her independence and takes command of the power she's always had. Her growth into her confidence was really great to see.
Rone gets to grow as well, learning from the mistakes he made and letting himself be vulnerable in front of Sandis. Though it takes him a while, he finally lets Sandis take the lead and stops trying to be her savior and become more like her partner. That was a nice change of pace when it comes to the way male leads are depicted. Getting knocked off the pedestal that Sandis put him on in the first book really humbled him. And while he was never a bad person, his reluctance to fully trust in Sandis made him a poor ally. Now that they're equals that hopefully won't be a problem.
The highlight of the book, though, was definitely Bastien. I couldn't help but giggle at every single pun that came out of him, no matter how bad. For a character described as cowardly, he was anything but, and had a very specific braveness that made him endearing. I really hope he stands out more and look forward to seeing more of him in book three.
All in all a fun read. The only reason I docked a star was because I figured out the 'mystery' of this one long before the characters, and I'm not a fan of the cliffhanger ending. At least I only have to wait a few months for the next one!
May 3, 2019
So ... I liked this, but it annoyed me for much of the book.
Our hero, Sandis, starts the book by taking a step back to a different version of where she was at the start of book 1. She then makes the same heroic journey through a bit of a different plot.
Also, about a third of the book seems to be our two main characters waiting around while worrying mirror reflection thoughts about their relationship to one another. Some of this is fine, but it continued for so long it felt exhausting.
But it sets up book 3 nicely, and is a quick read that is quite enjoyable when things are actually happening.
Our hero, Sandis, starts the book by taking a step back to a different version of where she was at the start of book 1. She then makes the same heroic journey through a bit of a different plot.
Also, about a third of the book seems to be our two main characters waiting around while worrying mirror reflection thoughts about their relationship to one another. Some of this is fine, but it continued for so long it felt exhausting.
But it sets up book 3 nicely, and is a quick read that is quite enjoyable when things are actually happening.
April 1, 2022
This totally kept me on the edge of my seat. I love the characters and found the writing magical . I was so pulled into this story I couldn't put up down.
April 22, 2019
Too long
Once again an author opts for pages over moving the plot forward. The unexpected consequence of Kindle unlimited. Unfortunate. Kills the story.
Once again an author opts for pages over moving the plot forward. The unexpected consequence of Kindle unlimited. Unfortunate. Kills the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 445 reviews