First Rider's Call

Green Rider #2

by Kristen Britain

Following the events in Kristen Britain's acclaimed first novel, our heroine, Karigan, who took on the mantle of king's messenger after chancing upon a dying Green Rider, has returned to her everyday life. She has put the thrills and perils of being caught up in great events apparently behind her. But few may evade their destiny, and Karigan is soon to face even greater dangers...

Blackveil Forest is stirring, its tainted powers seeping through the breach in the forest wall. The people of Sacoridia are caught unawares, for the power of the forest has been forgotten over the generations, and they have not kept watch.
While havoc sweeps the countryside, and even visits within the walls of King Zachary's castle, a Green Rider and scion of the stoneworkers who created the wall, attempts to mend the breach, only to find himself lured into Blackveil's devious plots. Then the taint of Blackveil takes yet another dangerous turn: it strips the Green Riders of their magical abilities, and leaves them leaderless in their time of need, for Captain Mapstone has locked herself away, tormented by her own magic.

Summoned to duty by the call of the First Rider, Karigan must help the Riders, and face the truth about her own savage heritage. Sought by undead warriors and caught in the machinations of the mysterious Eletians, Karigan must confront an ancient enemy in the rotten heart of Blackveil.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, High Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy

656 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Kristen Britain grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where she started her first novel - an undersea fantasy featuring herself and her friends - at the age of nine. She published her first book, a cartoon collection called Horses and Horsepeople, at the age of thirteen. After completing her degree in film production at Ithaca College in 1987 she made the logical (?!) leap from cinema to the National Park Service. Her many years as a park ranger enabled her to work in a variety of natural and historical settings, from 300 feet below the surface of the Earth to 13,000 feet above sea level on the Continental Divide; and from the textile mills of the American Industrial Revolution to the homes of Americans who changed the course of history.

Currently she lives in a log cabin in Maine where she writes full time and pursues interests reading, guitar playing, and cartoon illustration, supervised by a cat and a dog. She enjoys exploring the magical places around her and can often be found paddling a canoe in stillwater, ambling through the woods to mountain summits, or sitting along the rocky shore listening, watching, and daydreaming. This is her fantasy, at least.

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn it! I keep starting BIG series books and having to reread to continue on!! I’m cracking down! I need to quit doing other shit and get on with these tomes and such! Oh, and the series is awesome so far 😃



Happy Reading!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Solseit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great continuation of the series.
I found there was more pathos this time, more desperation in the matter, more difficulties to overcome. I just feel invested in this world and in Kerigan's adventures!

[Gergana]

Read in March, 2016. DNF:70%

A highly relaxing and predictable read, great for lulling me to sleep! :)

I enjoyed the first book enough to want to buy a Hard Cover copy and to get my hands on the sequel right away. Maybe if I've tried it earlier in my life-time I would've totally loved it and rereading it would've been a happy nostalgic experience. Unfortunately... it's just plain boring for me. Moving on!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled between giving this book two stars or three, but ultimately had to admit that I liked it. I am a sucker for series, and this book really had some good moments. I found myself drawn in and actually reading the book before bed, where with most books I reserve them only for my commute.

So now for the bad...GOOD LORD is this book a rip off of Lord of the Rings! Just like the first one is! Allow me to list the similarities (of course, some of these are carry-overs from Green Rider, but bear with me). So the main character, Karigan (Frodo?), gets dragged into this quest because she inherited a magic object, which is a golden brooch (ring?). This brooch allows her to become invisible. Ok, so that was last book. To move one to this one, there is an evil being, Mornhaven (Sauron?) which has been asleep for a long time that is now coming to life and spreading evil. He uses ugly, evil creatures called groundmites (ogres, anyone?) to fight battles. He also sends out these wraith-like creatures wearing crowns who used to be his generals(ring-wraiths?) to do his bidding and retrieve Karigan. Complicating the matter is a race of tall, beautiful, and magical people called Eletians (Elves?) who are trying to stay out of worldly affairs but find themselves drawn into the conflict.

You see my point. I'm not trying to rant here, I really think it's funny in a lot of ways. What was not funny was the fact that I came to start groaning out loud every time Britain wrote "angry retorts sprang/entered/jumped into her mind" because I still think Karigan is a little brat and she really needs some new phrasing/material/whatever.

Despite all of this, I enjoyed the book, as I said, and I won't lie...I'll be reading the next one just as soon as the public library gets it back from whatever sucker is reading it at the moment.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really astonished at how much better First Rider's Call is than Green Rider(#1). This book is much darker than the first, but Britain's prose doesn't feel forced here to become such, as I felt it did throughout Green Rider. In fact, just in general, I feel her writing improved a thousand fold. The world building has become very solid and engaging, the pacing is fantastic, and the interlude excerpts from the Journal of Hadriax el Fex are a great addition to the narrative. Smartly written character growth for Karigan here, and for what seemed to be a general idea of who she was in the first book quickly deepens now, and much of her growth makes sense for what she is now being forced to contend with. I loved the ghostly/spectre aspect of this story, and the dark intrigue of Blackveil has definitely lured me full on into this series. I'm also interested in how the descriptions of objects described as "mechanicals" will further the subsequent story arc of these books. Overall, a wonderful combination of magic, supernatural mystery, time-travel, courtly dealings, and romance.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another good read, if slightly too long. I enjoyed the scenes in the ancient past, time travel with Legendary Lil, the first Green Rider. I also enjoyed the journal of Hadriax el Fex, with short, succinct entries. Vivid and scary scenes in the Black Veil.

Interesting plot development involving a secret society, The Second Empire. But hard to believe the Arcosians wouldn't have fully integrated after 1000 years. Only think how (comparatively) quickly the Anglo-Saxons accepted the invading French Normans. Hard to imagine an uprising between American Natives and the invading Europeans 1000 years onward. Arcosians involved in the secret sect would be considered lunatics, even by their own people, I would think.

Quibbles: Author REALLY needs to work on characterization. Karigan needs to be growing and maturing as the years progress. She is quick to take offense and petulant at times, and too slow to believe in magic, despite all she has seen.

Characters need to stay in character. For one example, the king's guards (his swords) would not need a 20-something rookie to save the day when the king is attacked. They can do it. Why else do we constantly hear that his Swords surround him in the shadows and that they are masters at arms? For another example, why couldn't the king or his advisors or his guards bring order to the room, when the crowd of petitions became too restive?

The characterization of Allessandros Mornhavon was hard to swallow. The optimistic, intelligent, and good-natured fellow depicted in childhood and during the voyage from Arcosia became an insanely evil sorcerer in Sacoridia. His sense of abandonment and his disappointments with empire-building did not provide enough impetus for a 180° character change. I suppose he went crazy from something in the water. Something he was smoking?

Secondary characters need to become real, not just red-shirt cannon fodder. Not just props for the amazing feats of Karigan the Courageous. Let them win sometimes. Let the whole team work together to solve some problems. I see some of this, especially with Captain Mapstone, but not enough. It's mostly all about Karigan.

As for pacing, it's not bad, but as I stated in a status review at one point: "After all that adrenaline, can't we all just stop for a breather? Gather round the table. Be warm, well fed, and safe. For just one little chapter?"

[Tracey Dyck · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been QUITE a while since I first picked up Green Rider... which meant that it took me quite a while to find my bearings when I finally got around to book 2. I did remember Karigan... and King Zachary... and some stuff about horses and a dark forest, but that was about it. Oops.

Thankfully, the awakening of an evil being deep in the woods at the beginning of the story offered suspense right off the bat, which helped get me turning pages. And I found the stirrings of a Karigan/Zachary romance to be really sweet and surprisingly grounded in genuine respect for each other.

Karigan's unfolding abilities were also intriguing (if a bit overused), and they made it possible to pull in pertinent backstory in a cool way.

However, the pacing of the story overall was slower than expected. I got bogged down in the administrative struggles of the Green Riders, when I'd been hoping for more monsters in the woods and magic going awry. Those things were present, don't get me wrong... but they didn't feel all that urgent.

I also felt that this book used quite a few fantasy cliches—the Eletians, for instance, felt like your staple Fantasy Woodland Elves Who Are Mysterious and Disdain Mortalkind. Maybe that's just the age of the book showing (it was published 17 years ago), or maybe it was one of those "it's me, not you" problems. (Because the very things that made me sigh, other readers may find cozy, familiar, and charming!)

Although I do wish to know what becomes of Karigan and Zachary, and I'm mildly curious about the fate of the kingdom of Sacoridia, I'm in no rush to pick up book 3.

[Mikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not often that I want to rip the pages out of a book just so I can finally finish the book and be done with it, so I guess that's one thing First Rider's Call will forever be notable for. But that's not a good thing. I swear, the damn thing would never end and a great deal of nothing was happening the whole time. My copy was 800 pages, and the only time anything truly started to get moving was around the 700 page mark, and at that point you just want it to be over.

I am particularly disappointed in the story's flagrant use of deus ex machina elements. No one actually accomplishes anything on their own in this book without spiritual or magical entity doing all the work for them. I'm not kidding. During the climactic battle of this book, Karigan was in the backseat of her own body. Everyone would be sitting down navel-gazing if shades of the dead weren't around prodding these slabs of meat into action.

Karigan had such potential in the first book to come into her own, but she plateaued in this sequel and actually regressed into a character as bland and boring as everyone else. I resisted the common perception that she was a Mary Sue in the first book, but now I have to admit defeat and agree -- she's as Mary Sue as Mary Sue gets. She's special and all the bad guys want to kill her, but this time it's not because she's carrying a deadly message or whatever -- it's because of her blood. And it's not even particularly special blood. Lil Ambriodhe, the first rider, singles her out for no other reason than they share the same brooch, but for some mysterious reason, Karigan can travel back in time. Her inexplicable romances with King Zachary and Alton render dishwater exciting in comparison.

As you might conclude, I'm not picking up the next book. Let Sacoridia go up in flames, I'm having none of it.

[Meg Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave this one 3-stars like the first book, but let's face it friends--any 600 page book that you finish in 2 days is a 4-star at LEAST. Not a great work of literary prowess, but a GREAT STORY. This time around I cared a lot more about the characters--especially Captain Laren, Lord Alton, and Lil--the "First Rider." I LOVED the time travel aspect of the story. That can just never get old to me--so many possibilities. The world and the magic are entrancing.

That being said, it still bugs me... just more of a gnat kind of bug than a dragonfly now. Britain is really an AMAZING writer, though a little inconsistent. She sets up her world of heightened language, then throws in some weird phrase of modern speech every fifty pages or so that completely jars me: saying some material was made of the "best fabric ever," or that Karigan "fell asleep for real this time," or that it must be "that time of the month"... It's really such little stuff--guess I'm just an elitist snob of a reader and I need to get over it. But really, it should only further testify of her talent as a writer. I get so lost in her story that inconsistencies jar me so.

Also, I don't read much fantasy so I'm kinda ignorant about this... but do most fantasy writers use the omniscient perspective? It reads so juvenile to me, and kind of provincial since most fiction has tended toward 3rd-person limited of late. The tone is overly-informative and seemingly unjustified to me. But I recognize that's a stylistic choice.

All that being said, if you love fantasy, I'm sure you'll LOVE this series. It's certainly swept me up, and I plan on reading to the end.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Update: The forth book to this "trilogy" was just published. Oh well.

This is a good follow up (second book) in a good trilogy(sorry, series).

*This is a mainly character driven book. The "courier" is in fact an interesting historical character in "his or her" own right. Traditionally given special consideration (passing through enemy lines in battle, traveling enemy territory allowing communication between hostile powers etc.) they are fascinating. Of course what I mention above is the "ideal" in reality a lot of messengers didn't actually manage to make it to their assigned destination....

*from first books review.

The story grows here and so do the characters. The world is solid (some may want more detail but the story is being spun and characterization (the prime mover here) will move at it's own pace. This picks up about a year after the events of Green Rider. The kingdom is in great danger again, Dark Magic is stirring in Blackveil Forest and Karigan needs to step up again. Visions and even time travel will ensue in this one. Good book.

Like "good" epic fantasy? I think you'll like this.

[Shayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT SO MUCH! I finished this a few days ago and it was so so good. I had really enjoyed book 1, but this blew that one out of the water. An awesome fantasy story, I loved it. I wish I could be a rider or Karigan G'ladheon herself. I was super into the story the whole time, though it was kinda painful because there were so many heart-wrenching deaths and I cried like 4x. This was one of those books that felt written just for me, I love stories where women sword fighting is commonplace

Can't wait to get my hands on book 3 as soon as possible!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when it’s a nice Sunday afternoon, and it’s raining, and you’re just curled up with a good book and some tea? Well it’s like that except it’s a thunderstorm, and instead of tea you have Kleenex.

[Althea Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The is a sequel to "The Green Rider," which I read shortly after it came out. It was good enough that I bothered to pick up the sequel - but not so good that I really went out of my way to find it.
"First Rider's Call" continues with more of the same. It's fantasy for those who like long stories with girls, horses, light romance and magic. Adequate, entertaining, but nothing really memorable or remarkable.
Karigan, the young woman who was called to the magical royal messenger service known as the Green Riders in the last book, now finds herself at the center of a problem - something is going wrong with the magic. It's becoming unpredictable, often wrong. Could the elflike people known as Eletians be behind this? Or is there a bigger issue going on? Karigan finds spiritual guidance from the first Green Rider, and seeks to solve this problem, sort out her love life, and gain some maturity.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023:
Took this one to the beach to read.

2015:
Delightful series.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Rider's Call picks up where Green Rider left off, with young Karigan G'ladheon doing her best to avoid the call of the Green Riders messengers and their duty to the king. She'd prefer to the live the life she'd always imagined for herself, as her father's heir to their merchant clan. But fate, and the legendary First Rider, have other plans for her. Drawn back to court, Karigan must contend with the mounting issues with Green Rider magic, dwindling numbers of Riders and a growing threat to the kingdom.

I'll admit that I was pretty mixed on the initial book in this series, Green Rider. The pacing and the worldbuilding just didn't sell me. But in First Rider's Call, Britain seems to hit her stride right away, throwing the reader into the action with Karigan and revealing details about the world as Karigan learns them rather than dumping them awkwardly. The first half of the book was extremely difficult to put down and gives you so much more of a sense of the Green Riders, their history and how that's connected to the history of the world they live in. It was exactly what I wanted.

Unfortunately, in the second half, I do have some gripes. The romantic entanglements occasionally get too melodramatic for me, particularly where a fellow Green Rider is concerned and I struggled with some of the chapters that put him as the POV. Alton does not deserve Karigan. I actually liked the developing romance between Karigan and Zachary, though some of the mooning got a little out of hand. The way Britain left it at the end of this book did turn it around some, picking the path that might be less satisfying but ultimately makes the most sense for the characters.

I also really wish Britain would lean away from making the Eletians feel ripped right out of Tolkien. This is a continual problem for this era of fantasy, particularly YA fantasy, so I don't judge her too harshly for it, but I'm getting tired of the "elves slowly dying/disappearing because of humans" trope. I'd like to see Britain make it her own so I'm hoping that she'll expand on that in the sequels.

I mostly listened to the audiobook for this one and I have to say that Ellen Archer does a fabulous job bringing the characters to life. She does an amusing tour of the British Isles for the voices but since it's fantasy, I just kind of roll with it. Definitely the way that I want to experience the series going forward.

While I don't love everything about First Rider's Call, this book sold me on continuing with the Green Rider series when I was feeling pretty ambivalent. I'm really enjoying getting to learn more about the kingdom of Sacoridia, the Green Riders and learning more about the characters. I remain very fond of Karigan and excited to see where she goes next, even if it means powering through some romantic angst in the next one.

CAWPILE Rating
-----------------
Characters: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing: 7/10
Plot: 7/10
Intrigue: 8/10
Logic: 7/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Overall: 7.3/10 = 4 stars

[L'encre de la magie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avis Lecture 🧐📖 "La Première Cavalière", Cavalier Vert tome 2, Kristen Britain 🐴
@bragelonnefr @lesladiesdeledition

Que ça faisait longtemps ! Combien de fois depuis ces dernières années, je me suis dis que je replongerai dans cet univers. Et bien c'est chose faite et je ne suis pas déçu.
Cavalier Vert, c'est assez simple, cozy, et c'est, pour moi, la promesse d'une bonne lecture. Kristen Britain, fait partie de ses autrices et auteurs écrivant des séries avec une âme... Ce qui manque très souvent à certains blockbusters (j'en ai abandonné pas mal à cause de ça) et sorties récentes bien trop souvent aseptisées et dont le récit disparaît de notre mémoire au bout d'un temps.

Cavalier Vert, suit l'histoire de Karigan, jeune fille ayant reçu l'Appel, faisant d'elle une représentante du groupe cité plus haut : donc les Cavaliers Verts. Ce sont les messagers du roi qui sillonnent les royaumes et possédant une broche attribuée à chacun, leur conférant des pouvoirs.
Ce tome 2 débute assez rapidement par un événement plutôt sombre (en tout cas bien loin de l'atmosphère "sympathique" du tome 1) et qui va avoir des conséquences sur la magie de l'univers et celle des cavaliers verts eux mêmes. Bien que le récit soit centré sur Karigan, l'autrice nous présente d'autres représentant.es de l'ordre et nous plonge plus en avant, dans l'histoire et la politique du royaume.
Au fil des pages, on découvre également le récit de Hadriax El Fex, au travers de son journal (pour les amateurs de livres dans le livre 😀👍) et j'ai savouré ces passages.
Les mystérieux élétiens, des espèces d'elfes à la Britain sont présents et j'attendais ces chapitres avec plaisir. J'ai hâte d'en apprendre encore plus sur eux. 🤗
J'ai trouvé ce tome 2 très bien ficelé, tous les éléments se tiennent : de la politique à la place de Karigan dans l'univers.

Pour finir, j'ai trouvé quelques passages cavalier/cheval très touchants. Un lien se crée entre eux, lorsqu'un cavalier répond à l'Appel. J'aurais aimé juste en avoir plus, pour ressentir cette unité humain/animal. 🤗

[James Harwood-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much darker than its predecessor.

Basically the wall of magic that pens up an ancient evil is weakening. The riders act as protectors of the realm and may need to seek aid of an elder race to help maintain its strength.

Spirits and time travel also play a role.

Really enjoying this and look forward to book 3.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright. I think the first was better. I dropped the third book for now. May want to read instead of listen in the future

[Sonja P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I read Lord of the Rings when I was younger, I have had a soft spot for high fantasy. I admit it-I love the sprawling epics and the magic and the long history and the unwritten rules that most of them seem to follow. However, every now and then, I find my appreciation for genre is completely overwhelmed by the ridiculousness of the enterprise.
Green Rider/First Rider’s Call falls into the latter. I so wanted to like it. Its something sixteen year old me would probably have gobbled up immediately and adored, but over time you begin to tire of the old tropes a little. Okay, so first of all, we have to address the names. Fantasy names are fun and entertaining, and I even love the Glorfindels and Thranduils, but OH MY GOD BRITAIN. Okay, okay, so first the main character is karigan g'ladheon. Oh, you like that Apostrophe? THE MEANINGLESS APOSTROPHE WHERE A VOWEL SHOUD GO? Well, strap in champer damper, because there’s a ton more right ahead. So Karigan gets into a fight at school (fighting the big evil bully naturralllly, who just so happens to be super rich and connected to SUPER EVIL. OH NO), and she gets expelled. So she’s about to go home and she comes across wait-for-it F'ryan coblebay, who was killed in the middle of trying to give A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE so Karigan has to go in his stead. (Did I mention the King’s name here? King Zachary. You have F’ryan and Hadriax el Fex but nope. Main King’s name is Zachary. YES YES TELL US MORE. The king by the way, seems to follow President fitz’s rules of being a Great Leader. AKA-everyone else is constantly telling you he’s great so he must be SO GREAT AND SPECIAL without any actual proof because who needs that, and of course Karigan is going to have FEELINGS for him. Like seriously. Seriously? BUT THEY MUST BE UNREQUITED. Because of court. And nobles. And stuff. Yes, yes real stuff).
Also, speaking of the special snowflake train, hello Karigan. Karigan is so super duper special. She’s the specialist creature that ever walked on two legs, even though she is constantly being told how to solve all her problems by ghosts and SHE NEVER LISTENS AND EVERYTHING GETS WORSE. Like seriously, a ghost will straight up show up and be like “Yes, go here and do this” and girlfriend is all “Uh I don’t knooooww. So daaarkk and mysterriooouuusss”.
Like don’t get me wrong, its definitely a fully developed world with elf-stand-ins and magic and big walls that Must Not Be Breached, and there’s some fun to be had, but come on man. I just want a little more. The first book was a little more straightforward fun, but the second book felt so much more paint by numbers, AND it didn’t feel like much happened. And Karigan says ridiculous things all the time. Like the people are poor and protesting, but I’m rich but that’s okay because my father earned his money, and the King is good and their concerns are so so invalid and ridiculous. EATING. PSHAW.
I did not mean this to get so ranty. I mean, I enjoyed the adventure, but there was so much eye-rolling, and I just wanted a little more. But if your deal is straightforward fantasy in the vein of Goodkind and Co, then go forth! Go forth you R’ders you!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to ‘Green Rider’, and a well done sequel at that.

Karigan G’ladheon had gone home to follow in her fathers footsteps, to be a merchant, determined to leave the world of kings, advisors, and Green Riders, behind. Everyone told her she wouldn’t be able to resist the call of the Riders, that once chosen, you stayed chosen, but she would have none of it. She didn’t want to be a Green Rider, she didn’t want to be a messenger. The brief period she had spent finishing the job of a dead Rider was more than enough for her, thanks.

But when she wakes up half-way to Sacor City in her nightgown, atop her horse, not remembering how she got there, she decides that it is useless to fight.

And so she enters training to become a Rider.

Ever since an evil mage, that had since been defeated, had managed to put a crack in the D’Yer wall, the wall that protected the land from the evils of the Blackveil forest beyond, things hadn’t been right. Groundmites kill villages, people and wildlife alike were turning to stone, and the Rider’s magic brooches were failing.

To make matters worse, there are wraiths on the loose. Wraiths that were once men, men who had been second in command to Mornhaven, the evil mage that they had defeated over 1000 years ago in the Long War.

When the First Rider, Lil, begins visiting Karigan in her ghostly form, she thinks she is going crazy. The First Rider had come to try and help Karigan bring the few riders left together. She brings Karigan back in time, to view how things were when they defeated Mornhaven before. With the help of a 1000 year old ghost, Karigan must figure out how to fix what is wrong.

This book was good! I normally don’t expect too much from a sequel, but I was pleasantly surprised this time!

[Émi (Slavic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should really have picked this up sooner after finishing Green Rider last year. And although I am fairy reasonably annoyed that this book has thrown my reading plans out the window, I'm glad that I read it.

This is an older series, and would have likely read as more of a YA type book, years and years ago. However, I feel that statement is very misleading, as the Green Rider books are nothing like modern YA at all. I very much class them as adult, because the setting, description and prose are very much on that level. Granted, might not be as grand as some of the bigger, more well-known traditional fantasy series out there - it still does pretty well. The traditional setting, lore, prose, fantasy - everything just reminds me of why I fell in love with fantasy. It's one of the reasons why books in this series are always a comfort read for me. I'd recommend it to people who enjoyed books such as The Name of the Wind or The Harp of Kings.

The sequel was a great addition to the first book. It broadens the horizons and I assume does some set-up work for the next books, although I'm not able to see all of that just yet. It definitely didn't feel like it was the first book retold with some minor changes. Sometimes the characters made me angry, and on one instance a specific scene made me so emotional that I cried. I did want to shake Karigan by her shoulders once to knock some sense into her. But overall, I loved watching the story unfold. I engulfed this book, read 350 pages in one sitting, which is insane. I haven't been this invested in a book in a good while. Will definitely be continuing on with the series!

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to make my through this one, I'm close enough to the end that I might be able to just force myself through the rest of it, but I see no reason to do so, there's nothing about this book that makes me think the payoff would be worth it. For a while I thought I would keep going because maybe the next book would be better, but at this point there's no chance that I'm going to pick up the next book.

I think this is the strongest example I have ever had of the second book by an author failing to live up to the promise of the first. The first book wasn't particularly well written, but it had a fun driving narrative, and seemed like the promise of better to come. Boy was that wrong. In this book the hero goes from being on an exciting and deadly adventure, to a leisurely life of completely ignoring everything around her, danger, romance, magic, etc. The first book didn't have time for much interaction between characters, and I see now that that was to it's credit, I struggle to think of a single interaction between two or more characters in this book that wasn't excruciatingly awkward, blatant, and dull.

[Adrianna [SypherLily] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is fantastic. This felt slower than the first, but there were a lot of chilling moments where we find out so much of the past and more about the enemy and how he came to be. We discover more of Karigan's ancestry and on the first rider, Lil. Overall a great sequel, and I look forward to continuing!

[The Chapter Conundrum (Stacey) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed my reread and attempting to pick out some subtle foreshadowing for things to come in the series.

4.5 Stars

Wow, this was a massive improvement from Green Rider for me! It improved in every area that I had complaints with and I can't wait to see where the series goes from here! :)

[Yuli Atta · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars, no hesitation 🥹 This one was just so good

[Ashley Scow · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75 rounded up) Didn’t capture my attention quite as wholly as the first in the series, but still a solid epic fantasy. I’m warming up to the main character, but I still dislike her more than most of the side characters that are sprinkled throughout her journey.

[Tabitha Tomala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: First Rider's Call

The riders may have defeated the Eletian who cracked the D’Yer wall, but darkness still seeks to escape. Alton D’Yer travels to learn the wall's secrets in hopes of repairing it. However, what lurks beyond will not give up easily. Dark magic long buried and forgotten will rise up against the riders and seek to destroy them one by one. And when the rider’s need their magic the most, it will begin to fail them.

First Rider’s Call brings readers deeper into the world of Sacoridia. As rider abilities begin to fail, Karigan’s will force her to witness past events. Through each ghostly tale readers will be steadily pulled into the history of the rider’s last encounter with Mornhaven the Black. The sacrifices once made to combat him and his legacy are brought to startling clarity. But with a history long buried and failing abilities, the riders will be hard pressed to push back the encroaching darkness. Kristen Britain brilliantly builds up the depth of evil with each book. And as the desperation of the riders grows, the intensity surrounding their fate will pull readers into the narrative and refuse to let go.

Karigan has come a long way from the first Green Rider book. While her streak of stubbornness still lands her in hot water, readers are able to see how independent she has become. Tainted by wild magic she is a target for Mornhaven the Black’s followers, but this time she is fully prepared to embrace her rider ability and defend her fellow riders. Karigan has formed bonds with them and refuses to go down without a fight. And while she may not win every battle, she will do all she can to rise up and fight again.

I cannot wait to see what else is in store for the riders. By the end of First Rider’s Call they have taken heavy losses and some may never be the same again. But despite it all they still have a kingdom to help protect. Fans of high fantasy, if you have not picked up Green Rider yet, I urge you to give this series a try.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with my review of the first book in the Green Rider series, this is based on my second reading of the book. And once again, my initial review of four stars stands, but this comes after much debate, because my four stars for First Rider's Call is very different than my four stars for Green Rider. This is one of those times at which I truly wish there were a way to rate a book with four and a half stars, because First Rider's Call honestly deserves it.

Between books, Britain developed as a writer, and it shows. There is more complexity in the phrasing, the storyline flows together much more smoothly and overall, First Rider's Call is just a more cohesive book. Above all, Karigan is increasingly self-aware, which makes her a more sympathetic and compelling heroine. She is serves a dual purpose in this novel: she is both the vehicle of her own story and that of Sacoridia's history, which for me is a large part of what makes First Rider's Call my favorite book in the series. Britain did a lot of world building in this novel, exploring the past of both the Green Riders and of Sacoridia itself, and both histories are equally fascinating. The link between past and present, conveyed through Karigan's communication with Lil Ambriodhe, is interesting and often amusing. Her occasional reluctance to accept her role as heroine makes her all the more realistic. Suffice it to say this: when I finished the first book, I liked Karigan as a character. By the time I finished the second, I was genuinely rooting for her.

The plot is less straightforward in FRC than in Green Rider. There's not always the sense of a driving villainous force in this one, but rather varying degrees of antagonism, and I actually liked it. For a whole series, it would get tiresome, but for one book, particularly one which delves into the history of a world like this one does, it works extraordinarily well. I like the fact that Karigan does not fully know what she is facing until well into the book, perhaps only one hundred pages from the end. My main complaint is that Mornhavon is dealt with rather swiftly. They suddenly decide to go to Blackveil and come up with a plan almost on the spot, which admittedly is revealed as being kind of flimsy by Karigan herself, but still... it leaves a bit to be desired. Still, this is a minor complaint.

The element that I think I love most about the Green Rider series is the cast of characters. The various personalities present in the Rider Corps are varied and interesting: Tegan, the playful prankster, Ty, the meticulous perfectionist, Yates, the insatiable flirt, Captain Mapstone, the ever-rigid voice of reason, etc. They are all likable and interesting, and they extend beyond mere caricatures. The characters, even the less-developed ones, all have subtleties to their personalities that make them real. Britain is also not afraid to kill off characters when necessary, which, while painful for the reader, to me is the mark of a good author. They are not simply discarded with carelessness to its effect, but some of them do die senselessly, as is true in real life. I felt the loss a reader should feel at the death of each rider.

Overall consensus: First Rider's Call is a great sequel, better, in my opinion, than the first. I enjoyed it immensely, and plan to continue with my reread of the series.

[Nancy O'Toole · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of Green Rider, Karigan did the unexpected. She turned away from her destiny as a rider and left Sacor City. Unfortunately the call is persistent, and although she does her best to ignore it, by chapter two Karigan G’ladheon is once again in green and working for the King’s legendary messenger service. As anyone that has read Green Rider can tell, it’s not going to be easy for her. During First Rider’s Call, the magical abilities of the riders are beginning to either weaken, or strengthen in unexpected ways. A rider that could foretell the weather finds that her gift is lost, while one that has enhanced hearing finds it amplified to uncomfortable amounts. Laren Mapstone’s ability to detect falsehoods abandons her, resulting in her making a decision that results in the loss of lives. Karigan finds herself not just slipping into invisibility, but slipping back and forth in time, taking her back to the time of the First Rider Lil Ambriodhe. Meanwhile, Alton D’Yer has been sent to the wall to repair the damage made from the Eletian, Shawdell, only to find a dangerous presence that has been sleeping for millennia, a presence that has the ability to destroy Sacoridia.

Green Rider was a strong fantasy debut. First Rider's Call takes the potential planted in book one and develops in ways that are very impressive. Characters that were introduced in Green Rider, such as Captain Mapstone and King Zachary, develop into interesting and complex character. The setting of Sacoridia is fleshed out quite nicely. Through Karigan’s trips to the past the readers gets to learn a fair amount about its history and the people that created it. This is supplemented nicely by the journal entries of Hadriax el Fex, an important figure in Sacoridia history, that are scattered throughout the story. The pacing is impressive. Although this book is over six hundred pages, it reads smoothly and comfortably. Karigan remains a likeable heroine who, despite her heroic acts, remains human and relatable.

[Philippa Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I did enjoy this sequel but in my opinion it definitely wasn't quite as good as book 1. I felt that it was too long - my edition was over 700 pages long. Some parts really dragged for me and I felt that there were areas in the book that could have been cut down. I am also not a fan of the flashbacks but that is just personal preference and it was quite interesting to learn more about the First Rider (although why does she always say hey in sentences?). Karigan once again got very annoying - she was still in denial (I mean seriously get over it!). The character development and growth could definitely do with some work. Karigan can still sometimes act like a petulant child - hopefully we will see more in the next books. . The plot was OK but I have to admit that I wasn't particularly captivated by it. Overall it was good and I will be continuing on with this series.