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The Celestial Trilogy #2
A House of Rage and Sorrow
One kingdom. One crown. One family.
“Maybe it’s time the great House of Rey came to an end. After all, what are we now? Just a house of rage and sorrow.”
Esmae once wanted nothing more than to help her golden brother win the crown of Kali but that dream died with her best friend. Alexi broke her heart, and she vowed to destroy him for it. And with her sentient warship Titania beside her, how can she possibly fail?
As gods, beasts, and kingdoms choose sides, Alexi seeks out a weapon more devastating than even Titania. Past lives threaten the present. Old enemies claim their due. And Esmae cannot outrun the ghosts and the questions that haunt her. What really happened to her father? What was the third boon her mother asked of Amba? For in the shadows, lurking in wait, are secrets that will swallow her whole.
The House of Rey is at war. And the entire galaxy will bleed before the end.
“Maybe it’s time the great House of Rey came to an end. After all, what are we now? Just a house of rage and sorrow.”
Esmae once wanted nothing more than to help her golden brother win the crown of Kali but that dream died with her best friend. Alexi broke her heart, and she vowed to destroy him for it. And with her sentient warship Titania beside her, how can she possibly fail?
As gods, beasts, and kingdoms choose sides, Alexi seeks out a weapon more devastating than even Titania. Past lives threaten the present. Old enemies claim their due. And Esmae cannot outrun the ghosts and the questions that haunt her. What really happened to her father? What was the third boon her mother asked of Amba? For in the shadows, lurking in wait, are secrets that will swallow her whole.
The House of Rey is at war. And the entire galaxy will bleed before the end.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
50 people are currently reading
1973 people want to read
About the author
Sangu Mandanna
20 books7,793 followersSangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
March 21, 2019
This was the hardest book I’ve ever written and I also think it may be the best. I’m so proud of what it’s become and I can’t wait for you all to continue Esmae’s story.
May 22, 2019
I adored the first book and raced through this one in less than two days. Highly, highly recommend! I love space opera and books that play with both sci-fi and fantasy, and Mandanna creates such a gorgeous world here. The family drama is top notch and Esmae a great protagonist (with some very justified rage!)
July 30, 2019
Wow wow wow...!!!! I mean I can just keep repeating this word over and over again and that’ll pretty much be my review, because I really don’t have enough words to talk about the masterpiece that this book is. But let me give it a try.
In A Spark of White Fire, the author gave us power struggles, complicated family dynamics and lots of breathtaking war sequences, cloaking them all in layers of mystery and deception. In this installment however, we get to see what happens when people are pushed to their limits due to grief and sorrow and rage. I thought the raw depiction of grief due to immense personal loss, and the utter helplessness that the characters feel in lieu of it, is written so well that I could feel every bit of it myself and even I just wanted to rage and cry. The writing is equal parts sorrow and melancholy and war strategy, with inconvenient truths being revealed at very very unexpected times completely blowing away my mind. And I just can’t with that ending.... The final 20% took me on a roller coaster of emotions and I still can’t believe it all happened. The author maintains a very steady pace throughout the book, never letting the stakes feel low, keeping us hooked for every page and I found it very difficult to put it down even for a moment. The Mahabharata parallels are still there, especially during some very key scenes, but it feels more like its own story this time around because we already have the characters (and their possible counterparts from the epic) firmly established in our mind.
Esmae is a much changed person after the devastation towards the end of the previous book and we see her struggling to deal with it all. She is consumed by rage and we feel it all right alongside her. While she may still love her brothers and long for acknowledgement from her mother, she also realizes that the family which has accepted her is where her loyalties lie. While she used to have some hope of reconciliation before, she has no such ideas now and just wants justice (or vengeance) for being betrayed. However, the gods and loved ones keep throwing curved balls in her way all the time and every step she takes is a test of her resilience. While I may not agree with some of the things that she did, especially towards the end after some more heartbreaking revelations, I totally understand where she is coming from and I can’t wait to see how much more destruction she is going to wreak in the finale.
This book gives us the POV of much beloved Titania and it’s a delight to read. She may be a sentient spaceship, but she has such a charming personality and I wanted to know more of her thoughts. What I didn’t expect was that she would be so adept at keeping secrets too and I’m very very excited to see how she would behave in a full scale war where she is equally challenged. While there was a bit of a continuation of the romance between Esmae and Max, it never overpowered the story and was left limited to the sidelines. What I enjoyed more was the banter between Radha and Sybilla and I really hope we get to see more of them together. We also see more of the gods and their backstories this time around, and one particular reveal just stupefied me and left me reeling with its implications. And I really enjoyed the way the author managed to change the trajectory of Amba’s story, almost bringing it a full circle. We don’t get to see a lot of Alexi or Bear, but despite them being on the opposite side of the war with Esmae, we can never truly hate them and I adore the author for making us care about all of them. I just don’t know know what I’ll do if anything happens to any of them, but that just feels inevitable at this point and that means I’m doomed.
If you know anything about me, you are already aware that I will always always recommend this series with all my heart because it’s brilliant and I want everyone to read it. It is criminally underrated and I will keep shouting over the rooftops until I get atleast some of my friends to pick up these books. If you have already read the first book, then I’m pretty sure you are already excited for this sequel and I promise that you won’t be disappointed. And if you don’t know anything about this series but are someone who loves genre bending books with amazing world building, elaborated war sequences in space and lots of family dynamics interspersed with political intrigue, then this series is perfect for you. What else are you waiting for ....???? Just go pick it up.
In A Spark of White Fire, the author gave us power struggles, complicated family dynamics and lots of breathtaking war sequences, cloaking them all in layers of mystery and deception. In this installment however, we get to see what happens when people are pushed to their limits due to grief and sorrow and rage. I thought the raw depiction of grief due to immense personal loss, and the utter helplessness that the characters feel in lieu of it, is written so well that I could feel every bit of it myself and even I just wanted to rage and cry. The writing is equal parts sorrow and melancholy and war strategy, with inconvenient truths being revealed at very very unexpected times completely blowing away my mind. And I just can’t with that ending.... The final 20% took me on a roller coaster of emotions and I still can’t believe it all happened. The author maintains a very steady pace throughout the book, never letting the stakes feel low, keeping us hooked for every page and I found it very difficult to put it down even for a moment. The Mahabharata parallels are still there, especially during some very key scenes, but it feels more like its own story this time around because we already have the characters (and their possible counterparts from the epic) firmly established in our mind.
Esmae is a much changed person after the devastation towards the end of the previous book and we see her struggling to deal with it all. She is consumed by rage and we feel it all right alongside her. While she may still love her brothers and long for acknowledgement from her mother, she also realizes that the family which has accepted her is where her loyalties lie. While she used to have some hope of reconciliation before, she has no such ideas now and just wants justice (or vengeance) for being betrayed. However, the gods and loved ones keep throwing curved balls in her way all the time and every step she takes is a test of her resilience. While I may not agree with some of the things that she did, especially towards the end after some more heartbreaking revelations, I totally understand where she is coming from and I can’t wait to see how much more destruction she is going to wreak in the finale.
This book gives us the POV of much beloved Titania and it’s a delight to read. She may be a sentient spaceship, but she has such a charming personality and I wanted to know more of her thoughts. What I didn’t expect was that she would be so adept at keeping secrets too and I’m very very excited to see how she would behave in a full scale war where she is equally challenged. While there was a bit of a continuation of the romance between Esmae and Max, it never overpowered the story and was left limited to the sidelines. What I enjoyed more was the banter between Radha and Sybilla and I really hope we get to see more of them together. We also see more of the gods and their backstories this time around, and one particular reveal just stupefied me and left me reeling with its implications. And I really enjoyed the way the author managed to change the trajectory of Amba’s story, almost bringing it a full circle. We don’t get to see a lot of Alexi or Bear, but despite them being on the opposite side of the war with Esmae, we can never truly hate them and I adore the author for making us care about all of them. I just don’t know know what I’ll do if anything happens to any of them, but that just feels inevitable at this point and that means I’m doomed.
If you know anything about me, you are already aware that I will always always recommend this series with all my heart because it’s brilliant and I want everyone to read it. It is criminally underrated and I will keep shouting over the rooftops until I get atleast some of my friends to pick up these books. If you have already read the first book, then I’m pretty sure you are already excited for this sequel and I promise that you won’t be disappointed. And if you don’t know anything about this series but are someone who loves genre bending books with amazing world building, elaborated war sequences in space and lots of family dynamics interspersed with political intrigue, then this series is perfect for you. What else are you waiting for ....???? Just go pick it up.
July 16, 2020
Squee Review: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
***
First impressions:
It’s absolute perfection. I was so scared that the sequel wouldn’t live up to the brilliance of the first novel, but I need not have worried. I’m someone who grew up reading every single Mahabharata-related Amar Chitra Katha, memorized the fabulous 90s adaptation, and took a college Freshman Writing Seminar about the epic (we read the entire English translation! The entire thing!). The epic is very close to my heart and to see a book like this take inspiration and twist elements *so perfectly* ... gah. I’m close to crying. All the allusions really got to me.
Just so you know: this isn’t a retelling. I say “inspired by” for a reason. It’s very much its own story. Read my ramblings about the first book so you get a better idea about the YA SFF/space opera world-building: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a terrible review, mostly because it isn’t one. Review to come on release date.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
***
First impressions:
It’s absolute perfection. I was so scared that the sequel wouldn’t live up to the brilliance of the first novel, but I need not have worried. I’m someone who grew up reading every single Mahabharata-related Amar Chitra Katha, memorized the fabulous 90s adaptation, and took a college Freshman Writing Seminar about the epic (we read the entire English translation! The entire thing!). The epic is very close to my heart and to see a book like this take inspiration and twist elements *so perfectly* ... gah. I’m close to crying. All the allusions really got to me.
Just so you know: this isn’t a retelling. I say “inspired by” for a reason. It’s very much its own story. Read my ramblings about the first book so you get a better idea about the YA SFF/space opera world-building: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a terrible review, mostly because it isn’t one. Review to come on release date.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2019
What can I possibly say about this book without ending up screaming to space until Sangu Mandanna releases her sequel to end my anguish? Nevertheless, I'm going to try, because this book has taken a lot of me with it when it ended and I'll have to put the pieces back.
Esmae's openly declared war with Alexi for murdering her best friend. She has the indestructible warship Titania with her. But Alexi isn't sitting still either. Any moment, Amba the war of Goddess is away, he plans to unleash Sorsha the only living Great Beast, who can match the power of Titania. Being the most skilled warriors of the universe, the siblings believe they're evenly matched. So they're doing everything in their power to make their troops better. But when more secrets are revealed and hopes of her childhood are horribly crushed, Esmae can only wonder if she is doing it to avenge her friend, or if she hiding a monster inside.
This book started out a bit slow, but then it quickly perked up, throwing secrets and plot-twists all around and keeping me at the edge of my seat, biting my tongue in anticipation and terror because I realized just how terrible and horribly good this book is going to be. There is no matter of convenience here, the author makes everything fall into chaos and cleanly sweeps her mess by answering all the questions right. The characters have all developed so wonderfully and I'm so glad to see that they are all back to being the lovely people I knew them to be in the first book. Esmae though. Esmae is just brilliant. She's ruthless and daring and lovely and evil sometimes, but I can't stop loving her or taking her side. I can't stop questioning her morality but I'm on her side anyway.
The only grudge I have against this book is that it isn't even released yet and I have to wait indefinitely long for the sequel.
Esmae's openly declared war with Alexi for murdering her best friend. She has the indestructible warship Titania with her. But Alexi isn't sitting still either. Any moment, Amba the war of Goddess is away, he plans to unleash Sorsha the only living Great Beast, who can match the power of Titania. Being the most skilled warriors of the universe, the siblings believe they're evenly matched. So they're doing everything in their power to make their troops better. But when more secrets are revealed and hopes of her childhood are horribly crushed, Esmae can only wonder if she is doing it to avenge her friend, or if she hiding a monster inside.
This book started out a bit slow, but then it quickly perked up, throwing secrets and plot-twists all around and keeping me at the edge of my seat, biting my tongue in anticipation and terror because I realized just how terrible and horribly good this book is going to be. There is no matter of convenience here, the author makes everything fall into chaos and cleanly sweeps her mess by answering all the questions right. The characters have all developed so wonderfully and I'm so glad to see that they are all back to being the lovely people I knew them to be in the first book. Esmae though. Esmae is just brilliant. She's ruthless and daring and lovely and evil sometimes, but I can't stop loving her or taking her side. I can't stop questioning her morality but I'm on her side anyway.
The only grudge I have against this book is that it isn't even released yet and I have to wait indefinitely long for the sequel.
September 4, 2020
read on my blog and see some of my favorite quotes, hand-lettered
rep: ownvoices Indian-inspired world and characters; lesbian side characters, bisexual side character
**I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you, Sky Pony Press!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
A Spark of White Fire was one of my favorite reads of 2018, and I was dying to read the sequel. I mean, read the summary and tell me you didn’t get chills! Honestly, I was obsessively checking Edelweiss for this book, and I caught it but a few hours after it finally went up on Edelweiss. A House of Rage and Sorrow manages somehow to surpass its predecessor to deliver an even more intense story, with stunning writing, a thrilling plot, and wonderful character growth.
We return to the characters that we know and love: Esmae, Max, Alexi, Bear, Amba, Kirrin, Sybilla, and so many more. They’re amidst a war after the duel that commenced in the previous book, and they’re all dealing with the consequences of it, Esmae in particular. She’s dealing with her grief by giving into her rage, and you all know I adore my angry female characters. She shines as the narrator, yet again, and her grief and anger is so potent, I could feel it through the pages. We also get a new narrator which allows us to escape Esmae’s narrow point of view.
I just love all the characters so much. My heart was bursting to the seams with the love I have for them, and I was honestly crying at certain stressful parts. Mandanna does not hold back in this book; there are so many emotionally packed scenes that I couldn’t put the book down, so I just read through my tears. I’m actually tearing up again just thinking about the last 25% of the book, don’t mind me.
The character arcs are also so delightful. Again, Esmae is giving into her anger, but it’s a cold, calculated rage, and it’s fascinating to follow. Sybilla learns to open up, which is a mood, and Alexi has to deal with his warring feelings of honor and pride. There are more arcs that I adored, but they’re spoiler-y, so I’ll leave off.
I speak of my love for the characters, and know that it primarily comes from the complexity of their relationships. Esmae wants to love her brothers, but how can she forgive them for beginning this war? She wanted to hate her uncle and Max, but they welcomed her far more than Alexi and her mother did. Nothing is as Esmae thought it would be when she began her journey. Yet amidst this war is so much love, love that’s overshadowed by duty and honor, by rage and sorrow. And not just among the humans: we see a lot more of the gods and the stakes they take in the characters’ lives, simply because they have a great deal of love for some of them.
There’s more in terms of romance in A House of Rage and Sorrow, including a developing f/f ship. It’s a classic “one person hates feelings and the other has too many feelings,” and I already love them. Esmae and Max’s relationship also develops further. They have such a soft romance, and they just inherently understand each other so well. I can’t wait to see more of them.
I must admit, when I received the physical ARC, I was a bit disappointed by the length of the book. It seemed short, and the font was a touch big. However, I really did not need to be; Mandanna packs so much intense plot into such a short amount of time. The pacing was perfect, not too fast, not too slow. I finished this book in about two hours, and my heart was racing the entire time. Again, I’m still screaming about the last quarter! The amount of pain I felt is not allowed!
A House of Rage and Sorrow is one of the best books of 2019 and frankly one of my favorite sequels ever. It’s brilliant from start to finish and wonderfully written; I had to stop myself from highlighting every page. The characters and their relationships only grow more and more tangled amidst a high-stakes plot. I cannot recommend this series enough; its depiction of complex familial relationships and of love in surprising places and its wondrous writing and world building stun and amaze. You won’t be able to put A House of Rage and Sorrow down.
original review:
I’M FUCKING SCREAMING THAT LAST 25%
rep: ownvoices Indian-inspired world and characters; lesbian side characters, bisexual side character
**I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you, Sky Pony Press!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
After all, I swore I’d destroy him. A god even told me I would. I don’t know what Kirrin meant when he said destroy, but one way or another, I will fulfill my vow and there will be justice for Rama. One way or another, somewhere down the line, I will destroy my brother. My twin. The one in the sun.
A Spark of White Fire was one of my favorite reads of 2018, and I was dying to read the sequel. I mean, read the summary and tell me you didn’t get chills! Honestly, I was obsessively checking Edelweiss for this book, and I caught it but a few hours after it finally went up on Edelweiss. A House of Rage and Sorrow manages somehow to surpass its predecessor to deliver an even more intense story, with stunning writing, a thrilling plot, and wonderful character growth.
We return to the characters that we know and love: Esmae, Max, Alexi, Bear, Amba, Kirrin, Sybilla, and so many more. They’re amidst a war after the duel that commenced in the previous book, and they’re all dealing with the consequences of it, Esmae in particular. She’s dealing with her grief by giving into her rage, and you all know I adore my angry female characters. She shines as the narrator, yet again, and her grief and anger is so potent, I could feel it through the pages. We also get a new narrator which allows us to escape Esmae’s narrow point of view.
“What do you want from this war?”
“I want you to hurt the way I hurt. You took my best friend from me. You lied to me. I loved you and you broke my heart. So I want you to feel all of that. I want you to know what it is to be broken. I want you to take away your reputation, your glory, and your crown. I want you to hurt.”
There are tears on my face when I’m finished, and on his too. “You will be the end of me,” he says.
I just love all the characters so much. My heart was bursting to the seams with the love I have for them, and I was honestly crying at certain stressful parts. Mandanna does not hold back in this book; there are so many emotionally packed scenes that I couldn’t put the book down, so I just read through my tears. I’m actually tearing up again just thinking about the last 25% of the book, don’t mind me.
The character arcs are also so delightful. Again, Esmae is giving into her anger, but it’s a cold, calculated rage, and it’s fascinating to follow. Sybilla learns to open up, which is a mood, and Alexi has to deal with his warring feelings of honor and pride. There are more arcs that I adored, but they’re spoiler-y, so I’ll leave off.
The folktales and the honey cakes are gone. Even if I were to look for them, I wouldn’t be able to find them. There’s only arrows and ash now.
I speak of my love for the characters, and know that it primarily comes from the complexity of their relationships. Esmae wants to love her brothers, but how can she forgive them for beginning this war? She wanted to hate her uncle and Max, but they welcomed her far more than Alexi and her mother did. Nothing is as Esmae thought it would be when she began her journey. Yet amidst this war is so much love, love that’s overshadowed by duty and honor, by rage and sorrow. And not just among the humans: we see a lot more of the gods and the stakes they take in the characters’ lives, simply because they have a great deal of love for some of them.
There’s more in terms of romance in A House of Rage and Sorrow, including a developing f/f ship. It’s a classic “one person hates feelings and the other has too many feelings,” and I already love them. Esmae and Max’s relationship also develops further. They have such a soft romance, and they just inherently understand each other so well. I can’t wait to see more of them.
I must admit, when I received the physical ARC, I was a bit disappointed by the length of the book. It seemed short, and the font was a touch big. However, I really did not need to be; Mandanna packs so much intense plot into such a short amount of time. The pacing was perfect, not too fast, not too slow. I finished this book in about two hours, and my heart was racing the entire time. Again, I’m still screaming about the last quarter! The amount of pain I felt is not allowed!
“This will destroy our family. It’ll destroy our House. Centuries of kings and queens, all gone.”
“Maybe it’s time the great House of Rey came to an end. After all, what are we now? A broken House, a ruined House. A House of rage and sorrow.”
A House of Rage and Sorrow is one of the best books of 2019 and frankly one of my favorite sequels ever. It’s brilliant from start to finish and wonderfully written; I had to stop myself from highlighting every page. The characters and their relationships only grow more and more tangled amidst a high-stakes plot. I cannot recommend this series enough; its depiction of complex familial relationships and of love in surprising places and its wondrous writing and world building stun and amaze. You won’t be able to put A House of Rage and Sorrow down.
original review:
I’M FUCKING SCREAMING THAT LAST 25%
June 29, 2020
An ARC was provided to me for free by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I want to start off by saying that this book was absolutely leagues above the first installment in the trilogy.
Like the first book, this one jumps very quickly into the stakes and action. Little time is spent on the world-building, but enough of it is developed through the story that it doesn't feel too flimsy. The gods remain a key part of the story and a new element of their meddling is introduced, which really threw a few curve balls. The human characters themselves are ambitious, especially those vying for power and I just love when ambition tips too far into relentlessness.
Esmae's own character development was probably the highlight of the novel. Gone is the naive girl who believes she is on the side of her brothers, and who is trying to do her best to reclaim her home. Living with a personal loss, she turns vicious and unwilling to bend. Her primary occupation is revenge against those she thought were on her side. It's a stark but realistic change in character, and I was totally loving it. I'm very excited to see what she will be willing to do - what she will become - in the final book.
I want to start off by saying that this book was absolutely leagues above the first installment in the trilogy.
Like the first book, this one jumps very quickly into the stakes and action. Little time is spent on the world-building, but enough of it is developed through the story that it doesn't feel too flimsy. The gods remain a key part of the story and a new element of their meddling is introduced, which really threw a few curve balls. The human characters themselves are ambitious, especially those vying for power and I just love when ambition tips too far into relentlessness.
Esmae's own character development was probably the highlight of the novel. Gone is the naive girl who believes she is on the side of her brothers, and who is trying to do her best to reclaim her home. Living with a personal loss, she turns vicious and unwilling to bend. Her primary occupation is revenge against those she thought were on her side. It's a stark but realistic change in character, and I was totally loving it. I'm very excited to see what she will be willing to do - what she will become - in the final book.
April 19, 2021
Second book syndrome? I don’t know her. I am giving this book all the stars because it broke me and the world is not ready.
Review to follow.
Pleased to say that with the author's blessing, I will be organizing a blog tour for A House of Rage and Sorrow, which you can sign up for!
Review to follow.
May 3, 2021
05.02.2021: just as perfect on the second read!
🏹 Check out my review for A Spark of White Fire!
Words cannot express how much I loved this sequel. Middle book syndrome who?!
* action-packed from the first page to the last
* we have a beautiful f/f romance developing and I am here for it
* more Sybilla and her tough-on-the-outside-but-I'm-a-softie interior
* so many threads come together, so many questions answered, so much excitement for the final book!
You can read my full review on Reader Voracious Blog!
--
I honestly think about Esmae and Titania at least two times per week, so please excuse me while I cry because I've been blessed with an eARC via Edelweiss for one of my most anticipated sequels of 2019!
Thank you Sky Pony Press for sending me an eARC via Edelweiss for my honest review! Quotes are taken from an unfinished and uncorrected excerpt and may not match final publication.
🏹 Check out my review for A Spark of White Fire!
Words cannot express how much I loved this sequel. Middle book syndrome who?!
* action-packed from the first page to the last
* we have a beautiful f/f romance developing and I am here for it
* more Sybilla and her tough-on-the-outside-but-I'm-a-softie interior
* so many threads come together, so many questions answered, so much excitement for the final book!
You can read my full review on Reader Voracious Blog!
--
I honestly think about Esmae and Titania at least two times per week, so please excuse me while I cry because I've been blessed with an eARC via Edelweiss for one of my most anticipated sequels of 2019!
Thank you Sky Pony Press for sending me an eARC via Edelweiss for my honest review! Quotes are taken from an unfinished and uncorrected excerpt and may not match final publication.
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August 23, 2019
On my blog.
Rep: South Asian inspired characters and setting, lesbian side characters, bi side character, nonbinary side character (very briefly)
Galley provided by publisher
After the end of A Spark of White Fire, I thought that I was prepared for whatever this book would throw at me. More fool me, because I could not have been less ready.
A House of Rage and Sorrow picks up a few months after A Spark of White Fire finished. And that’s about all I can say about the plot (or almost anything about this book, as I am finding out) without spoiling both this book and the first, if I’m honest. What I will say is that it’s a ride. It starts intense and just gets more so. If you thought the end of the first book made you breathless, well. This is something else.
Central to what made book one so amazing were the characters and the relationships they shared. The same and even more is true of book two. It centres on a family at war, after [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] by [redacted] [redacted]. (I told you this was going to be hard to write without spoilers.) So basically, it’s all angst. That particular brand of family/sibling related angst that is just so good.
What got me really hooked on this series (not that I wasn’t hooked before but, you know) was the twist at the end of book one. Well, book two tops that with an ending that will leave you left stunned (and also wondering when the book finished and why isn’t there more). Like, you’ll need a few minutes to catch your breath after it all (and after all the revelations).
Which ties into what I love about this book (and series). You know me and attention span (i.e. it’s non-existent), but this series keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. There’s no let-up to how intense and action-packed it is (sometimes I have a general horror of YA sff just because it seems to be boring up until the two-thirds/three-quarters mark instead of spacing out the action more evenly, but that is distinctly not the case here).
This is probably about all I can say about the book without spoilers, so all that’s left is for me to beg you to read this series. Please.
Rep: South Asian inspired characters and setting, lesbian side characters, bi side character, nonbinary side character (very briefly)
Galley provided by publisher
After the end of A Spark of White Fire, I thought that I was prepared for whatever this book would throw at me. More fool me, because I could not have been less ready.
A House of Rage and Sorrow picks up a few months after A Spark of White Fire finished. And that’s about all I can say about the plot (or almost anything about this book, as I am finding out) without spoiling both this book and the first, if I’m honest. What I will say is that it’s a ride. It starts intense and just gets more so. If you thought the end of the first book made you breathless, well. This is something else.
Central to what made book one so amazing were the characters and the relationships they shared. The same and even more is true of book two. It centres on a family at war, after [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] by [redacted] [redacted]. (I told you this was going to be hard to write without spoilers.) So basically, it’s all angst. That particular brand of family/sibling related angst that is just so good.
What got me really hooked on this series (not that I wasn’t hooked before but, you know) was the twist at the end of book one. Well, book two tops that with an ending that will leave you left stunned (and also wondering when the book finished and why isn’t there more). Like, you’ll need a few minutes to catch your breath after it all (and after all the revelations).
Which ties into what I love about this book (and series). You know me and attention span (i.e. it’s non-existent), but this series keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. There’s no let-up to how intense and action-packed it is (sometimes I have a general horror of YA sff just because it seems to be boring up until the two-thirds/three-quarters mark instead of spacing out the action more evenly, but that is distinctly not the case here).
This is probably about all I can say about the book without spoilers, so all that’s left is for me to beg you to read this series. Please.
July 30, 2022
#1) A Spark of White Fire ★★★★☆
#3) A War of Swallowed Stars ★★★☆☆
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Indian cast & inspired-world; blind sc; sapphic & achillean scs.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
July 2, 2019
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
The epic saga of Esmae's adventure continues in this thrilling sequel! Inspired by the Indian stories and mythology, Esmae has to face trickster gods, new danger and also her conflict between her true and adoptive family.
I enjoyed thoroughly this book! It felt small in length as I read it but the action was fast-paced and the secrets, betrayals, and revelations kept coming the one after the other! I also read Titania's POV and I believe that this will play a critical role in the final book. I also loved the romance; Max and Esmae are amazing together and the final moments tore my heart. Amba, the goddess also kind of redeemed for the first book. I seriously her the Rey family both for their hatred and curses but also for their pride and inaction in many of these chapters.
I don't know who or what will survive in the final book. There are many open battles and that final scene was also a kind of a cliffhanger!
The epic saga of Esmae's adventure continues in this thrilling sequel! Inspired by the Indian stories and mythology, Esmae has to face trickster gods, new danger and also her conflict between her true and adoptive family.
I enjoyed thoroughly this book! It felt small in length as I read it but the action was fast-paced and the secrets, betrayals, and revelations kept coming the one after the other! I also read Titania's POV and I believe that this will play a critical role in the final book. I also loved the romance; Max and Esmae are amazing together and the final moments tore my heart. Amba, the goddess also kind of redeemed for the first book. I seriously her the Rey family both for their hatred and curses but also for their pride and inaction in many of these chapters.
I don't know who or what will survive in the final book. There are many open battles and that final scene was also a kind of a cliffhanger!
August 8, 2022
Read more at www.yourwordsmyink.com
Cue simultaneous screaming and sobbing. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I freaked out over the first book and how good it was, but A House of Rage and Sorrow takes the cake. OMG. My love for this series will never end and I need the third book ASAP. Okay, let me take a few deep breaths as I try to sort out my thoughts.
We're thrown right back into the stunningly unique world created by Mandanna. She blends sci-fi with fantasy like no other author. Both these novels are inspired by the Mahabharata, an Indian epic, which I haven't read and didn't know about before now, but I will most definitely be checking it out. A House of Rage and Sorrow gives us some more knowledge about the world and its myths and legends, and I am here for it.
The plot also never lets you catch your breath. It's constantly moving and keeps you hooked. Every scene and every chapter leads us to the finale of the book, and some revelations were made that shocked the hell out of me. I can't wait to see what happens further, especially since there are some mysteries that remain.
A big thing that had me screaming about this book was the representation. I'm going to compare it to Star Trek (my ultimate sci-fi) in the sense that I hope our future can be like this book. We have such a diverse set of characters, lesbian, bi, genderneutral, genderfluid, even a change of gender. And no one bats an eye. My perfect future is where, like in Star Trek and in AHORAS, everyone is accepted and can just be who they are. That is what makes this book so special.
Cue simultaneous screaming and sobbing. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I freaked out over the first book and how good it was, but A House of Rage and Sorrow takes the cake. OMG. My love for this series will never end and I need the third book ASAP. Okay, let me take a few deep breaths as I try to sort out my thoughts.
We're thrown right back into the stunningly unique world created by Mandanna. She blends sci-fi with fantasy like no other author. Both these novels are inspired by the Mahabharata, an Indian epic, which I haven't read and didn't know about before now, but I will most definitely be checking it out. A House of Rage and Sorrow gives us some more knowledge about the world and its myths and legends, and I am here for it.
The plot also never lets you catch your breath. It's constantly moving and keeps you hooked. Every scene and every chapter leads us to the finale of the book, and some revelations were made that shocked the hell out of me. I can't wait to see what happens further, especially since there are some mysteries that remain.
A big thing that had me screaming about this book was the representation. I'm going to compare it to Star Trek (my ultimate sci-fi) in the sense that I hope our future can be like this book. We have such a diverse set of characters, lesbian, bi, genderneutral, genderfluid, even a change of gender. And no one bats an eye. My perfect future is where, like in Star Trek and in AHORAS, everyone is accepted and can just be who they are. That is what makes this book so special.
September 12, 2019
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
A House of Rage and Sorrow is the second installment in Sangu Mandanna's Celestial Trilogy. The story picks up immediately from where A Spark of White Fire left off. Drawing on the Mahabharata and Indian mythology, Mandanna's trilogy takes the tropes of fate, love, and bargaining with the gods and shoots them to the stars. Fans of mythology and retellings will eat this up. You can feel the intensity of what is happening between Esmae and her family, especially her brother Alexi and her mother Kyra Rey.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
A House of Rage and Sorrow is the second installment in Sangu Mandanna's Celestial Trilogy. The story picks up immediately from where A Spark of White Fire left off. Drawing on the Mahabharata and Indian mythology, Mandanna's trilogy takes the tropes of fate, love, and bargaining with the gods and shoots them to the stars. Fans of mythology and retellings will eat this up. You can feel the intensity of what is happening between Esmae and her family, especially her brother Alexi and her mother Kyra Rey.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
August 26, 2019
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Celestial Trilogy is a series I've been a mega fan of since before I even read and loved A Spark of White Fire. And my love has only expanded thousand fold after reading A House of Rage and Sorrow. A House of Rage and Sorrow is a powerful and spectacular sequel. As you can tell from the title, it is a story full of powerful, all consuming rage, of betrayal that leaves us blind, and sorrow that cuts a hole in our heart, a shadow on our brightest days. A story about our loss which is a raging fire, pushing us into the world as someone new and entirely unpredictable. While being an extremely emotionally charged sequel, it is one that oozes vulnerability, grief, and the hard truths we can only acknowledge in the darkest of night.
A House of Rage and Sorrow is full of gods, spaceships, sorrow, and grief. While it begins with a hilarious and informative list of characters, Mandanna constantly dances with the lines between humor, sorrow, and anger. How we can find a moment of laughter in the deepest pits of grief, or a chuckle in the face of an inferno. Once again, the characters are the true heroes of the story. Never before have they been more relatable - especially as they are in the depths of their emotions and growth.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
The Celestial Trilogy is a series I've been a mega fan of since before I even read and loved A Spark of White Fire. And my love has only expanded thousand fold after reading A House of Rage and Sorrow. A House of Rage and Sorrow is a powerful and spectacular sequel. As you can tell from the title, it is a story full of powerful, all consuming rage, of betrayal that leaves us blind, and sorrow that cuts a hole in our heart, a shadow on our brightest days. A story about our loss which is a raging fire, pushing us into the world as someone new and entirely unpredictable. While being an extremely emotionally charged sequel, it is one that oozes vulnerability, grief, and the hard truths we can only acknowledge in the darkest of night.
A House of Rage and Sorrow is full of gods, spaceships, sorrow, and grief. While it begins with a hilarious and informative list of characters, Mandanna constantly dances with the lines between humor, sorrow, and anger. How we can find a moment of laughter in the deepest pits of grief, or a chuckle in the face of an inferno. Once again, the characters are the true heroes of the story. Never before have they been more relatable - especially as they are in the depths of their emotions and growth.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
June 16, 2023
FULL REVIEW ON THE BLOG
I JUST LOVED THIS BRILLIANT MASTERPIECE SO FREAKING MUCH!!!
Sangu Mandanna has a beautiful writing style that is very simple and elegant and pulls the reader into the story. I especially love how she ends each chapter and draws on various metaphors throughout the story.
This was definitely a blockbuster hit for me even though I’m numb and emotionally compromised right now. It’s okay, sacrifices were made and in the end, I regret nothing. This was a beautifully plotted book with great descriptions and breathtaking interpretations of Mahabharata. I’m not going to stop recommending it anytime soon so if you don’t want me breathing down your neck every moment just go pick A House Of Rage And Sorrow in Sept when it releases. Meanwhile, I’m just going to be staring in space now as I wait for the third book to be released. Just kidding, I wanted to make a space reference, in actuality I’m just gonna cry and pine after the third book in this series.
19/05/2021
How the hell did I write a review? I'm in shock and pain after the re-read despite expecting the plot twists. Oof. You'll all see me die when I read the next book.
16/06/2023
Why doesn't it hurt less when I re read? 😭
I JUST LOVED THIS BRILLIANT MASTERPIECE SO FREAKING MUCH!!!
Sangu Mandanna has a beautiful writing style that is very simple and elegant and pulls the reader into the story. I especially love how she ends each chapter and draws on various metaphors throughout the story.
This was definitely a blockbuster hit for me even though I’m numb and emotionally compromised right now. It’s okay, sacrifices were made and in the end, I regret nothing. This was a beautifully plotted book with great descriptions and breathtaking interpretations of Mahabharata. I’m not going to stop recommending it anytime soon so if you don’t want me breathing down your neck every moment just go pick A House Of Rage And Sorrow in Sept when it releases. Meanwhile, I’m just going to be staring in space now as I wait for the third book to be released. Just kidding, I wanted to make a space reference, in actuality I’m just gonna cry and pine after the third book in this series.
19/05/2021
How the hell did I write a review? I'm in shock and pain after the re-read despite expecting the plot twists. Oof. You'll all see me die when I read the next book.
16/06/2023
Why doesn't it hurt less when I re read? 😭
April 21, 2020
This book was so beautifully heartbreaking. I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed with a sequel. I couldn’t sleep until it was done, and now I’m in a funky fuzzy haze trying to recover from an overload of feelings.
Esmae is becoming more of a tragic heroine as the story progresses. I’ve never felt that she’s gotten anything too easily. She’s paid the price for every one of her defiant choices. And yet her defiant, stubborn choices don’t make me frustrated with her because I can empathize with her completely. She’s so angry, and so unwilling to let go of the people who have betrayed her; she wants a justice that will burn the world down. I love that strength. I love watching her punish people. But I also hope that she’ll survive the fire she’s fueling without losing the people who matter. She’s a natural disaster, and I don’t know if a happy ending can come out of so much destruction.
I hope happiness is at the end. I want Esmae to get her revenge and still be ok after it’s all done. She hasn’t done anything irredeemable, so it’s possible.. Here’s hoping. *fingers crossed*
Esmae is becoming more of a tragic heroine as the story progresses. I’ve never felt that she’s gotten anything too easily. She’s paid the price for every one of her defiant choices. And yet her defiant, stubborn choices don’t make me frustrated with her because I can empathize with her completely. She’s so angry, and so unwilling to let go of the people who have betrayed her; she wants a justice that will burn the world down. I love that strength. I love watching her punish people. But I also hope that she’ll survive the fire she’s fueling without losing the people who matter. She’s a natural disaster, and I don’t know if a happy ending can come out of so much destruction.
I hope happiness is at the end. I want Esmae to get her revenge and still be ok after it’s all done. She hasn’t done anything irredeemable, so it’s possible.. Here’s hoping. *fingers crossed*
September 14, 2019
A Spark of White Fire ★★★★★
A House of Rage and Sorrow ★★★★★
A House of Rage and Sorrow is a stunning sequel to a stunning YA Indian mythology inspired Sci-Fi Fantasy, A Spark of White Fire. It continues Esmae's story after the tragic and unexpected ending of the first installment. From family dynamics to individual power building, and from revenge to love, this sequel brings more emotions—and consequently, more tears—to the plate. It breaks any barrier, if one even existed, between gods and mortals in the most surprising manner possible.
Consider reading this review over at my blog!
☛ Build-up conflicts
☛ Revengeful ambitions
☛ Salty family relations
☛ Layers of deception
☛ Underlying mystery
☛ Gods meet mortals
☛ Vengeful craving
☛ Queer side characters
☛ POV of a sentient spaceship
☛ Space action sequence
☛ Chaos guided by anguish
☛ Desperation gives rise to power
Trigger warnings: Grief, heartbreak, revengeful thoughts, mistrust, weakened relationship with biological mother, loss of a body part, sadness due to hesitation in accepting one's sexuality.
“After all, what are we now? A broken House, a ruined House. A House of rage and sorrow.”
How difficult can it be to pronounce your love for a sequel without delving into the essence of the first book for it will open the doors to spoilers? Very. But that's exactly what I'm aiming for because if there's something I'm shamelessly scared of is anyone coming across spoilers from this book. It uses the loose strands of the first installment to effectively torture the readers with even more intense emotions and surprise them with just as many revelations. For someone who has read A Spark of White Fire, this will impress you even more with all the added complexity in the overall plot as well as in Esmae's character. For those who have stumbled upon this review without reading the first book, please read my desperate review of it and pick it up now, thank you.
"There are truths in each of us that we do not dare look at, lest they break us."
Esmae continues to be a strong YA female but this sequel brings her under a spotlight that glows her powers, her strength, her stern decision to take revenge even more, and simultaneously fluctuates to show her weakness and everything else that essentially makes her a human. She remains to be the independent personality who is ready to carve her own path and while the path is never smooth, her courage and bravery will impress the readers without a doubt. Her character, despite being the main protagonist of the story, doesn't try to appear as a flawless young person and that is certainly what makes me love her so much.
I don’t want to do that, not really. My rage is colder and bitterer than that.
The complex family that made up all the pieces on this chessboard turns even more complex—yes, it's possible—with the sudden rush of rage inside Esmae and those who are directly or indirectly affected by her. Esmae's one true desire to belong with those she had always assumed to love and with those who she has come to love is dealt with in this story, and it'll surely bring tears—of joy or sorrow, find out for yourself. If there's someone lost, there's someone found so I like to think of this installment as a balanced see-saw which somehow makes you cry.
"Do you really think all I am is a bow and a sword?"
The revelations were shocking, surprising, staggering, and every other synonym of 'they f*ck you up'. Right when you think nothing can surpass this disclosure BAM! one comes right at you with full intensity and you will have to look around and wonder what just happened. The inspiration drawn from Mahabharata is even more vivid and as a South-Asian blogger, I feel happy about it, very happy. Along with the great development of our Esmae, the side characters—including Titania—have their own individual arcs to come to life for the readers.
Girls are too easily broken. Are we? Or is it just that more people want to break us?
If I list out all the characters involved in this sequel, there'll be a huge possibility of giving away spoilers so if you wish to know about the characters frequently seen in the series, you can read my review of A Spark of White Fire .
Overall, I willprobablynever stop shouting my love for these books and while, on other days, my methods to urge everyone to pick this up might not be the most subtle, I try my best to politely request everyone to give these amazing characters and an even more amazing storyline a chance. But today, I'm just going to scream: READ THIS!
I received a digital copy of this via my participation in a blog tour organized by Shealea @CaffeineBookTours as well as via Netgalley. Thank you so much, Sangu Mandanna and Sky Pony Press!
Initial:Just finished this and I need a few days to process all the revelations and plot twists. While the first book focused on Esmae more, this one brings all the side characters' stories into the mix and it's ultimately all about relationships, friendships, forgiveness, anger, and UGH, so many emotions. I cried so that says something. Review to come!
I don't know what I did to deserve this but I'm on the blog tour for this anticipated sequel, OMG! Thanks to Shealea, I'll be a part of a group of readers fangirling this.
January 6, 2021
Full review on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads
Long story short: I adored this novel almost as much as I adored the first book. Maybe even more!
•
The way that Mandanna reflects Esmae’s grief, depression, and rage was so poignant and strong. I could feel her rage from the pages as if I were there, witnessing just how hurt she was. I could see Titania, and how Esmae and her friends taught her what it means to be human, and whether or not that’s something she wants to have. I could feel the familial love between Esmae and Amba, the Goddess of War that was a better mother to Esmae than her own. I’m still reeling over the events of this novel, and almost dreading what the entire world will have to face from the tricks of a god and his favorite mortal. Will anyone survive? It is a trilogy after all, and the final book has destruction on its way.
•
Ooh wow I’m just really excited all over! And now that I shared some of my thoughts here, stay tuned for my full review on my blog. You know how I can get with those.
Long story short: I adored this novel almost as much as I adored the first book. Maybe even more!
•
The way that Mandanna reflects Esmae’s grief, depression, and rage was so poignant and strong. I could feel her rage from the pages as if I were there, witnessing just how hurt she was. I could see Titania, and how Esmae and her friends taught her what it means to be human, and whether or not that’s something she wants to have. I could feel the familial love between Esmae and Amba, the Goddess of War that was a better mother to Esmae than her own. I’m still reeling over the events of this novel, and almost dreading what the entire world will have to face from the tricks of a god and his favorite mortal. Will anyone survive? It is a trilogy after all, and the final book has destruction on its way.
•
Ooh wow I’m just really excited all over! And now that I shared some of my thoughts here, stay tuned for my full review on my blog. You know how I can get with those.
May 17, 2022
This book is AMAZING! It usually takes me a long time to finish books (3 weeks-few months), but it took me THREE DAYS to finish it! Technically, it was only two days and a few hours since a started it at night, but the book was awesome either way! This book made me feel happy, mad, sad, a lot of different emotions and I just couldn’t STOP READING! It was so interesting and I couldn’t believe that Esmae’s mother would do that to her OWN daughter! It was such a great book, I would talk about it all day if I could!
5/5 star rating! 🤩⭐️🤩
5/5 star rating! 🤩⭐️🤩
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2019
So I just finished reading this book and I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do with myself right now. I think I’m still in shock, and also dying over the fact that I can’t read the next book yet because this book isn’t even out and I just… need to know what happens next… please… help
This book picks up about three months after the explosive and shocking end of the first book in the trilogy, A Spark of White Fire. It’s been a few months since I read that one, so at first I was a little confused over what was happening, but there’s actually a very helpful character guide at the beginning of the book that gives character descriptions, and so with that, after a few chapters, I was able to easily get back into the thicket of the action.
This book definitely has a darker and more somber theme than the first one. Esmae has done so much growing up from then, and the naive girl who just wanted to help her brother and go home is gone, replaced by someone who wants revenge and justice. She’s been lied, tricked, or betrayed by basically everyone she loves and trusts, and she struggles with dark, depressed thoughts throughout the novel that manifest themselves as bitterness and a thirst for revenge, as well as just withdrawing herself and shutting everyone out. This book really developed her, for good and for bad, and with the author’s great writing, I could really feel her pain through the pages of the book and just wanted to lean in a give her a hug.
Aside from just Esmae, the entire tone of the novel and the entire world felt so much darker as well, particularly since the stakes were so much higher. A war is starting, and I was holding my breath and frantically turning pages to see what would happen. People die, characters have to confront their worst fears and truths, and weapons with terrible destructive potential are teased. This book, like the last one, also played with morally grey characters and situations. No character was a saint, and they all did some pretty awful things that they justified in their own ways, and I loved seeing the complexities of the situations as characters toyed with darkness.
I adored the world that got more fully developed in this novel. This series is so unique and cool in the way it blends science fiction with fantasy in a way I absolutely adore: gods and myths flying spaceships across planets! We got to learn more about the gods and their backstories, and ancient myths that were coming alive to haunt the characters. This is also based off Indian mythology, so it was cool to read about and learn something new for me!
One thing I have mixed feelings about is that Esmae’s sentient warship, Titania, has a few chapters from her own POV in this book! I love Titania–she’s a great character who really cares about Esmae and it’s so fun and interesting to see the juxtoposition of a legendary unbeatable warship burning cities with one singing songs and getting excited to do trick shows–so I really enjoyed seeing her perspective! At the same time though, I dislike it when books add in unnecessary other POVs in sequels and subsequent books, especially since this time, most of the time it seemed to pop up just to give us exposition and info dumps, and felt kind of lazy like the author only used it because she needed to give readers information and couldn’t think of any other way.
So for most of the book, I was enjoying it. Pretty good, but not spectacular. And then I hit the last 50 pages or so and…oh man. It really hit the fan. I was shocked and glued to the book as what felt like twist after twist after twist were revealed! The ending was absolutely incredible, and the last page…ohmigosh I might die waiting for the next book!!
4.5 stars
This book picks up about three months after the explosive and shocking end of the first book in the trilogy, A Spark of White Fire. It’s been a few months since I read that one, so at first I was a little confused over what was happening, but there’s actually a very helpful character guide at the beginning of the book that gives character descriptions, and so with that, after a few chapters, I was able to easily get back into the thicket of the action.
This book definitely has a darker and more somber theme than the first one. Esmae has done so much growing up from then, and the naive girl who just wanted to help her brother and go home is gone, replaced by someone who wants revenge and justice. She’s been lied, tricked, or betrayed by basically everyone she loves and trusts, and she struggles with dark, depressed thoughts throughout the novel that manifest themselves as bitterness and a thirst for revenge, as well as just withdrawing herself and shutting everyone out. This book really developed her, for good and for bad, and with the author’s great writing, I could really feel her pain through the pages of the book and just wanted to lean in a give her a hug.
Aside from just Esmae, the entire tone of the novel and the entire world felt so much darker as well, particularly since the stakes were so much higher. A war is starting, and I was holding my breath and frantically turning pages to see what would happen. People die, characters have to confront their worst fears and truths, and weapons with terrible destructive potential are teased. This book, like the last one, also played with morally grey characters and situations. No character was a saint, and they all did some pretty awful things that they justified in their own ways, and I loved seeing the complexities of the situations as characters toyed with darkness.
I adored the world that got more fully developed in this novel. This series is so unique and cool in the way it blends science fiction with fantasy in a way I absolutely adore: gods and myths flying spaceships across planets! We got to learn more about the gods and their backstories, and ancient myths that were coming alive to haunt the characters. This is also based off Indian mythology, so it was cool to read about and learn something new for me!
One thing I have mixed feelings about is that Esmae’s sentient warship, Titania, has a few chapters from her own POV in this book! I love Titania–she’s a great character who really cares about Esmae and it’s so fun and interesting to see the juxtoposition of a legendary unbeatable warship burning cities with one singing songs and getting excited to do trick shows–so I really enjoyed seeing her perspective! At the same time though, I dislike it when books add in unnecessary other POVs in sequels and subsequent books, especially since this time, most of the time it seemed to pop up just to give us exposition and info dumps, and felt kind of lazy like the author only used it because she needed to give readers information and couldn’t think of any other way.
So for most of the book, I was enjoying it. Pretty good, but not spectacular. And then I hit the last 50 pages or so and…oh man. It really hit the fan. I was shocked and glued to the book as what felt like twist after twist after twist were revealed! The ending was absolutely incredible, and the last page…ohmigosh I might die waiting for the next book!!
4.5 stars
December 10, 2021
I did not think that any sequel could live up to A Spark of White Fire but somehow Sangu Mandanna was able to come up with one that did.
We were left at an unsure footing at the end of A Spark of White Fire and there was a lot to deal with and we went into this book.
There were uncertainty and apprehension in my mind and through the first 25% of this book Sangu was able to reassure me and I felt I could believe everything would be okay, even if a little disastrous.
As expected after the ending of A Spark of White Fire, there was quite a turn in Esmae's personality. She is hurt and raging and she displays those emotions with such intensity that they grip you. The prophecy is finally coming true and as much as she did not want to accept it in the first book, she is coming to term with it now.
Esmae isolated herself and as she continues to wage a war, she has many things to deal with.
Just like in the first book, many new characters and plots are being revealed to us by Sangu at the appropriate times and we are holding our breath to see how it is going to turn out.
Different truths are revealed to us and as they put all the characters into perspective for us, we see how everything has come a full circle from where it started.
We get to see things from Titania's perspective as well in this book and we see how she loves and protects Esmae, and despite just being a mechanical warship, she is a full-fledged character whose presence in the book makes it feel wholesome.
I also loved the banter between Sybilla and Radha and in particular, Radha's character development. She is no longer the shy girl who was in the background like we saw in A Spark of White Fire, but now she comes to the forefront and we learn more of her and her backstory, which integrates her into my heart more than I had expected!
The ending of this book was very explosive as well and I can not wait to see how the author deals with everything and wraps it in the next book for there are so many storylines bonded together in this book, just like they are in the Mahabharata, and it could end up going anywhere.
We were left at an unsure footing at the end of A Spark of White Fire and there was a lot to deal with and we went into this book.
There were uncertainty and apprehension in my mind and through the first 25% of this book Sangu was able to reassure me and I felt I could believe everything would be okay, even if a little disastrous.
As expected after the ending of A Spark of White Fire, there was quite a turn in Esmae's personality. She is hurt and raging and she displays those emotions with such intensity that they grip you. The prophecy is finally coming true and as much as she did not want to accept it in the first book, she is coming to term with it now.
Esmae isolated herself and as she continues to wage a war, she has many things to deal with.
Just like in the first book, many new characters and plots are being revealed to us by Sangu at the appropriate times and we are holding our breath to see how it is going to turn out.
Different truths are revealed to us and as they put all the characters into perspective for us, we see how everything has come a full circle from where it started.
We get to see things from Titania's perspective as well in this book and we see how she loves and protects Esmae, and despite just being a mechanical warship, she is a full-fledged character whose presence in the book makes it feel wholesome.
I also loved the banter between Sybilla and Radha and in particular, Radha's character development. She is no longer the shy girl who was in the background like we saw in A Spark of White Fire, but now she comes to the forefront and we learn more of her and her backstory, which integrates her into my heart more than I had expected!
The ending of this book was very explosive as well and I can not wait to see how the author deals with everything and wraps it in the next book for there are so many storylines bonded together in this book, just like they are in the Mahabharata, and it could end up going anywhere.
June 23, 2019
I talk way too much about A Spark of White fire let me tell you I will talk way too much about the sequel
The political stakes increase in this sequel, indeed at the end of the first volume, the war was finally declared and our characters are from being in the clear. Indeed, now it's time to find allies, money, and even if an open war is not yet there, it is in preparation. I really liked this second volume for this mix between politics and development of the universe. The gods are present and interact with humans, we will discover new deities and their stories and I loved what the author has done in this sequel about them and the links between each one of them.
Esmae our heroine goes from bad surprises to bad surprises, she discovers some truths and it hurts. The advantage of this second volume lies in the point of view of Titania, you know, the ship. She has her own personality and brings a lot to the story. Indeed, her point of view brings more information about the general plot, but she has a personality so unique and endearing that she is really apart. I really liked this decision of the author to add this point of view in particular.
For my overall opinion, we have a book with a beautiful story and a writing style just as beautiful. The characters are exceptional and frankly endearing. They are built with layers and layers of emotions and I loved it. Frankly, I love this sequel a lot and everyone should read this serie
The political stakes increase in this sequel, indeed at the end of the first volume, the war was finally declared and our characters are from being in the clear. Indeed, now it's time to find allies, money, and even if an open war is not yet there, it is in preparation. I really liked this second volume for this mix between politics and development of the universe. The gods are present and interact with humans, we will discover new deities and their stories and I loved what the author has done in this sequel about them and the links between each one of them.
Esmae our heroine goes from bad surprises to bad surprises, she discovers some truths and it hurts. The advantage of this second volume lies in the point of view of Titania, you know, the ship. She has her own personality and brings a lot to the story. Indeed, her point of view brings more information about the general plot, but she has a personality so unique and endearing that she is really apart. I really liked this decision of the author to add this point of view in particular.
For my overall opinion, we have a book with a beautiful story and a writing style just as beautiful. The characters are exceptional and frankly endearing. They are built with layers and layers of emotions and I loved it. Frankly, I love this sequel a lot and everyone should read this serie
did-not-finish
May 12, 2021I don't know if I'm just not in the mood for YA, or if this particular book doesn't work for me, but either way, I never feel like picking it up again, I never really care what is going to happen with Alex & Esmae, so I'm done.
July 17, 2022
So much heartbreak. Ugh
September 3, 2019
I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for the second book of this Mahabharata-inspired space opera series to come out and practically screamed when I saw the ARC for this. I’ve been dying to know what would happen next and this more than lived up to my expectations. I could not have loved it more!
Sangu Mandanna is an incredible author and I’m so glad this series put her on my radar. Her plot is engaging, perfectly paced, and never lets up. There’s one twist and turn after another and I really don’t want to say much about the actual plot because it was such a delight to experience.
The story is primarily told from Esmae’s point of view but we also get the occasional chapter from Titania, the sentient warship. Titania’s POV is a stellar addition, not only to provide additional context and insight but because of how funny she can be. This added some levity and helped keep everything balanced.
Esmae is furious because of events from the last book and rightly so. Her anger fuels her decisions and not always in the best ways. Her desire for revenge has pulled her focus away from even good things, like her potential relationship with Max, and it’s also clouded her judgment when it comes to strategy. Then there’s the matter of her weakness for her mother. How Esmae refused to see her mother as her enemy, I’ll never know but my heart was in my throat, even as I hoped she wasn’t as deluded as I believed her to be. But Esmae's strength and conviction carries her through each difficulty and my admiration for her continues to grow.
Max has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning, well before we knew his true origin. He takes such good care of Esmae, respectful of her boundaries while still hoping for more for them. His character arc is gripping and it’s only going to be more so in the next book. I’m here for it!
One of the more interesting aspects to this story is the way it examined the gods and how they treat humans as puppets. The gods rarely face consequences for their actions. I was fascinated by the exceptions to that rule and how those things played out.
The ending made me cry. There were so many heartbreaking moments along the way but gah, this one really did me in, even more so than the ending of A Spark of White Fire.
I still want to read The Mahabharata so I can see where Mandanna took inspiration but now I think I’ll wait until this series is done. Most myths have sad endings and I’m hoping she’ll find a way to give us a happily ever after for Max and Esmae that does not come at the expense of Esmae’s brothers. I have no idea how she’ll be able to pull it off but I trust that she can.
CW: toxic family members, parental abandonment, violence, grief, adoption, stabbing,
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Sky Pony Press in exchange for an honest review.
Sangu Mandanna is an incredible author and I’m so glad this series put her on my radar. Her plot is engaging, perfectly paced, and never lets up. There’s one twist and turn after another and I really don’t want to say much about the actual plot because it was such a delight to experience.
The story is primarily told from Esmae’s point of view but we also get the occasional chapter from Titania, the sentient warship. Titania’s POV is a stellar addition, not only to provide additional context and insight but because of how funny she can be. This added some levity and helped keep everything balanced.
Esmae is furious because of events from the last book and rightly so. Her anger fuels her decisions and not always in the best ways. Her desire for revenge has pulled her focus away from even good things, like her potential relationship with Max, and it’s also clouded her judgment when it comes to strategy. Then there’s the matter of her weakness for her mother. How Esmae refused to see her mother as her enemy, I’ll never know but my heart was in my throat, even as I hoped she wasn’t as deluded as I believed her to be. But Esmae's strength and conviction carries her through each difficulty and my admiration for her continues to grow.
Max has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning, well before we knew his true origin. He takes such good care of Esmae, respectful of her boundaries while still hoping for more for them. His character arc is gripping and it’s only going to be more so in the next book. I’m here for it!
One of the more interesting aspects to this story is the way it examined the gods and how they treat humans as puppets. The gods rarely face consequences for their actions. I was fascinated by the exceptions to that rule and how those things played out.
The ending made me cry. There were so many heartbreaking moments along the way but gah, this one really did me in, even more so than the ending of A Spark of White Fire.
I still want to read The Mahabharata so I can see where Mandanna took inspiration but now I think I’ll wait until this series is done. Most myths have sad endings and I’m hoping she’ll find a way to give us a happily ever after for Max and Esmae that does not come at the expense of Esmae’s brothers. I have no idea how she’ll be able to pull it off but I trust that she can.
CW: toxic family members, parental abandonment, violence, grief, adoption, stabbing,
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Sky Pony Press in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2019
This book was provided as an e-arc by NetGalley.
First of all ,Could we appreciate the beauty of this cover?!. I just love it.
Now , I loved the first book of this series way more than I expected so I was really excited to read the second book early.
The book was so good and it deserved the four stars . The reason to why it isn't five stars for me will come later.
I appreciate how the author started the novel because it worked as the perfect summary for me plus what I already remembered .The book had some twists and turns that I didn't see coming at all. One of them was really crazy for me.. I loved how the places were described here to keep the atmosphere of the book without being annoying.
The characters:
Here we go,
Esmae:
I tried really hard to love her but couldn't for the life of me. It was just a feeling at first then it had its proof.I continued to hate her so that dropped the star from the rating.she was stubborn and selfish most of the time.
Also,I didn’t feel the romance between Max and Esmae. It wasn't good in my opinion.
Titania:
Contrary to what I said above. I loved Titania and her point of view. She made me smile many times also made the story more interesting.
Alexi and bear:
We get so little of them.I really need more of both of them because I loved their parts alot. Also I couldn't hat Alexi .Whatever happened I couldn't hate him.
The gods:
All of them had good points. They made the story progress and I liked how the author used them especially Amba.
Sybilla and Radha,
I won't say much,they were just a delight.I really hope we see them again in the next book.
I hated the ending not because it was a bad one . Contrary to that, I think the ending is a clever one and it made me really anticipating the next book. I hated it because
First of all ,Could we appreciate the beauty of this cover?!. I just love it.
Now , I loved the first book of this series way more than I expected so I was really excited to read the second book early.
The book was so good and it deserved the four stars . The reason to why it isn't five stars for me will come later.
I appreciate how the author started the novel because it worked as the perfect summary for me plus what I already remembered .The book had some twists and turns that I didn't see coming at all. One of them was really crazy for me.. I loved how the places were described here to keep the atmosphere of the book without being annoying.
The characters:
Here we go,
Esmae:
I tried really hard to love her but couldn't for the life of me. It was just a feeling at first then it had its proof.I continued to hate her so that dropped the star from the rating.she was stubborn and selfish most of the time.
Also,I didn’t feel the romance between Max and Esmae. It wasn't good in my opinion.
Titania:
Contrary to what I said above. I loved Titania and her point of view. She made me smile many times also made the story more interesting.
Alexi and bear:
We get so little of them.I really need more of both of them because I loved their parts alot. Also I couldn't hat Alexi .Whatever happened I couldn't hate him.
The gods:
All of them had good points. They made the story progress and I liked how the author used them especially Amba.
Sybilla and Radha,
I won't say much,they were just a delight.I really hope we see them again in the next book.
I hated the ending not because it was a bad one . Contrary to that, I think the ending is a clever one and it made me really anticipating the next book. I hated it because
October 9, 2020
“You’re a star hurtling at a thousand miles an hour and it’s impossible to hold on to you.”
A House of Rage and Sorrow picks up almost right where the first book, A Spark of White Fire, left us – with Alexi’s betrayal and Esmae plunging the galaxy into war to get her revenge. As one could expect from the set-up the first book left us with, this book is a lot more action-packed – and, subsequently, a lot more painful.
Don’t allow this to lull you into a false sense of security. Aside from showing off the brutal realities of war, this sequel also provides us a deeper look into some of the characters mindsets and motives. I suppose one would wonder, how can the sequel do that when A Spark of White Fire by itself was already pretty introspective? Well, in the first book, we are given a look into what Esmae, hopeful and eager to impress, is thinking. But in this sequel? Esmae is no longer just a girl looking to belong. She’s a girl out for blood, and seeing how her faith and trust in family is utterly ripped to shreds is nothing short of heartbreaking.
Sangu Mandanna still masterfully employs the beautifully simplistic, straightforward writing style that made me fall in love with the first book. A House of Rage and Sorrow deals with a lot more profound and thought-provoking material than the first book, and Sangu’s writing style lends itself perfectly once more to this particular brand of science fiction.
As befits the title, this book was full of anger and fear and hatred, and Sangu just utterly portrayed that perfectly. I felt every moment of Esmae’s uncertainty and desire for revenge and Titania’s helplessness as a girl she’s come to love is drawn into violence and death. The way the themes of power, revenge, warfare, and motive are explored is nothing short of masterful.
As pretty much implied by the subtitle of this review, this book was a painful roller coaster ride. And I enjoyed every excruciating second of it.
Read my full review here.
Find more from me:
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
A House of Rage and Sorrow picks up almost right where the first book, A Spark of White Fire, left us – with Alexi’s betrayal and Esmae plunging the galaxy into war to get her revenge. As one could expect from the set-up the first book left us with, this book is a lot more action-packed – and, subsequently, a lot more painful.
Don’t allow this to lull you into a false sense of security. Aside from showing off the brutal realities of war, this sequel also provides us a deeper look into some of the characters mindsets and motives. I suppose one would wonder, how can the sequel do that when A Spark of White Fire by itself was already pretty introspective? Well, in the first book, we are given a look into what Esmae, hopeful and eager to impress, is thinking. But in this sequel? Esmae is no longer just a girl looking to belong. She’s a girl out for blood, and seeing how her faith and trust in family is utterly ripped to shreds is nothing short of heartbreaking.
Sangu Mandanna still masterfully employs the beautifully simplistic, straightforward writing style that made me fall in love with the first book. A House of Rage and Sorrow deals with a lot more profound and thought-provoking material than the first book, and Sangu’s writing style lends itself perfectly once more to this particular brand of science fiction.
As befits the title, this book was full of anger and fear and hatred, and Sangu just utterly portrayed that perfectly. I felt every moment of Esmae’s uncertainty and desire for revenge and Titania’s helplessness as a girl she’s come to love is drawn into violence and death. The way the themes of power, revenge, warfare, and motive are explored is nothing short of masterful.
As pretty much implied by the subtitle of this review, this book was a painful roller coaster ride. And I enjoyed every excruciating second of it.
Read my full review here.
Find more from me:
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
October 7, 2020
A Spark of White Fire is so good, and I appreciated it even more on reread. A House of Rage and Sorrow also has its merits, but it didn't necessarily head in the direction I'd hoped.
My problems here were largely borne of the pacing. Despite the war going on due to the events of the prior novel, emotionally things are flat for the bulk of A House of Rage and Sorrow. Esmae spent all of book one trying to avert a prophecy, but after the death of her best friend, she's now pursuing the destruction of her brother mindlessly, exactly as was foretold. I get it, sort of, but it's not as intellectually interesting to read about, especially as Esmae seems almost flat in her pursuit of revenge. Even though she's committed to her course, she seems less torn for a lot of the book than I would expect her to be, having known her character in book one.
A definite weak point is the addition of Titania's POV. Titania's fascinating for a spaceship, but her POV is still flat as a pancake and boring as can be. Thankfully it's not too frequent, but there's absolutely no evidence for this POV actually being necessary to tell the story. I disliked every one of those chapters.
However, the latter half of the book picks back up and exhibits that excellent plotting from book one again. The twists come hard and fast, and now I absolutely have to read the final book in the series, which I was on the fence about initially. I really hope three brings that fire and tension from the beginning, like book one did. A House of Rage and Sorrow tended to be too emotionally flat for me until the end of the book.
My problems here were largely borne of the pacing. Despite the war going on due to the events of the prior novel, emotionally things are flat for the bulk of A House of Rage and Sorrow. Esmae spent all of book one trying to avert a prophecy, but after the death of her best friend, she's now pursuing the destruction of her brother mindlessly, exactly as was foretold. I get it, sort of, but it's not as intellectually interesting to read about, especially as Esmae seems almost flat in her pursuit of revenge. Even though she's committed to her course, she seems less torn for a lot of the book than I would expect her to be, having known her character in book one.
A definite weak point is the addition of Titania's POV. Titania's fascinating for a spaceship, but her POV is still flat as a pancake and boring as can be. Thankfully it's not too frequent, but there's absolutely no evidence for this POV actually being necessary to tell the story. I disliked every one of those chapters.
However, the latter half of the book picks back up and exhibits that excellent plotting from book one again. The twists come hard and fast, and now I absolutely have to read the final book in the series, which I was on the fence about initially. I really hope three brings that fire and tension from the beginning, like book one did. A House of Rage and Sorrow tended to be too emotionally flat for me until the end of the book.
November 9, 2023
OMG i was not expecting the twists and reveals at the end even though i’ve read this before ghfbfjjfs i still loved it a lot but i’m lowering my rating to 4 stars because just like the first book i think the middle part was missing something? it felt like a lot of Telling instead of Showing but the ending makes up for it!
16th jan 2020:
THIS SERIES IS SOOO UNDERRATED it’s genuinely become one of my favourite book series EVER
i‘m obsessed with the characters and the originality of the story it always keeps me guessing and i never know what‘s going to happen next! i always THINK i know but it’s always something else ohmfbdj it‘s so good
the books are also only just about 300 pages so it’s really easy and quick to read i literally read this one in (almost) one sitting IT‘S SO ENGAGING AND FAST-PACED I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT
i‘m sooOOOO excited for the third (and final??) book in this series ONLY A FEW MONTHS LEFT I CAN‘T WAIT
y‘all better pick up the first book now i swear you won’t regret it!!!!!!!!!!
(might write a full detailed review for this soon because i need more people to read it)
16th jan 2020:
THIS SERIES IS SOOO UNDERRATED it’s genuinely become one of my favourite book series EVER
i‘m obsessed with the characters and the originality of the story it always keeps me guessing and i never know what‘s going to happen next! i always THINK i know but it’s always something else ohmfbdj it‘s so good
the books are also only just about 300 pages so it’s really easy and quick to read i literally read this one in (almost) one sitting IT‘S SO ENGAGING AND FAST-PACED I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT
i‘m sooOOOO excited for the third (and final??) book in this series ONLY A FEW MONTHS LEFT I CAN‘T WAIT
y‘all better pick up the first book now i swear you won’t regret it!!!!!!!!!!
(might write a full detailed review for this soon because i need more people to read it)
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