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Lost Gods #2
Pale Kings
When the gods return to claim their world, the Five Realms will fall, in this earth-shaking epic fantasy thriller following on from the author's seminal debut, Lost Gods
For centuries the Five Lands have been at peace, but now a nameless enemy is tearing apart their borders. When a young assassin, Neythan, is summoned to Súnam, he expects to help uncover the enemy, but is instead confronted with secrets from his forgotten childhood, all somehow linked to the ancient scroll he has always carried. As the invasion continues, and the supernatural forces responsible are unveiled, Neythan must learn the truth about the power that lies in his blood... before it is too late.
File Under: Fantasy [ Monsters and Men | False Myths | Priest-Killers | Unravelling Truth ]
For centuries the Five Lands have been at peace, but now a nameless enemy is tearing apart their borders. When a young assassin, Neythan, is summoned to Súnam, he expects to help uncover the enemy, but is instead confronted with secrets from his forgotten childhood, all somehow linked to the ancient scroll he has always carried. As the invasion continues, and the supernatural forces responsible are unveiled, Neythan must learn the truth about the power that lies in his blood... before it is too late.
File Under: Fantasy [ Monsters and Men | False Myths | Priest-Killers | Unravelling Truth ]
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2019
6 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Micah Yongo
2 books52 followersSo. The salients... Manchester-based writer with an interest in books (obviously), movies, the arts, boxsets, all things sci-fi, superheroes; random nerdy bits of pop psychology, anthropology or philosophy; and of course his beloved home city of Manchester, England.
Also, Brave New Words finalist. British Fantasy Award shortlistee, and author of Lost Gods and Pale Kings - ancient Africa/Middle East-inspired epic fantasies about betrayal, hidden mythologies and adolescent assassins.
Also, Brave New Words finalist. British Fantasy Award shortlistee, and author of Lost Gods and Pale Kings - ancient Africa/Middle East-inspired epic fantasies about betrayal, hidden mythologies and adolescent assassins.
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January 3, 2021Second in this alt-African-set epic fantasy series, which I'm really enjoying. Exceedingly dense, and do not even think about starting at volume 2, it took me a while to click into the story even having read the first. Great worldbuilding, and a really complex story with lots of strands and magic and politics, human and divine. Looking forward to the next, and a shout out to the covers department for these also.
May 21, 2019
Well of course I like it ;)
May 9, 2019
I can’t believe a Mancunian has such a rich, deep and evocative imagination to write books this good! 😉
October 30, 2019
An enjoyable African-based fantasy - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2019/10/...
August 2, 2019
Pale Kings starts off slowly, picking up where Lost Gods left off. Yongo takes his time to orient you: The Shedaim Brotherhood is broken, magic is stirring once again, dark beasts have arisen… and gods now walk the land. Strange visions come upon Neythan, Sidon must navigate his way through court intrigue and betrayal, and Daneel and Josef wrestle with the choices that pull them in opposite directions. The slow-build and the changing POVs are slightly disingenuous though. As revelations build, so does the tension, until you’re gripped by the events unfolding before you.
If there were an overarching theme to Pale Kings, it’s trust and betrayal. Nothing is as it seems—and that’s the beauty of this novel. As layer upon layer of history and the hidden past are revealed, Neythan soon discovers that everything he once believed in may not be the truth—and the things he thought were myth and children’s stories may prove truer than fact. Visions and prophecies don’t add clarity either, muddying perceptions of what is to come. When everyone and every faction is working to their own purposes, hiding secrets from each other, each new piece of information necessarily forces a fresh evaluation of who can and should be trusted.
There’s so much more to be unpacked in this epic about the gods who once walked the land and seek to do so once again. And that ending sets up so much excitement for things to come!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Angry Robot via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
If there were an overarching theme to Pale Kings, it’s trust and betrayal. Nothing is as it seems—and that’s the beauty of this novel. As layer upon layer of history and the hidden past are revealed, Neythan soon discovers that everything he once believed in may not be the truth—and the things he thought were myth and children’s stories may prove truer than fact. Visions and prophecies don’t add clarity either, muddying perceptions of what is to come. When everyone and every faction is working to their own purposes, hiding secrets from each other, each new piece of information necessarily forces a fresh evaluation of who can and should be trusted.
There’s so much more to be unpacked in this epic about the gods who once walked the land and seek to do so once again. And that ending sets up so much excitement for things to come!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Angry Robot via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 4, 2019
3.5 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
I read Lost Gods earlier this year as an intro to Micah Yongo’s world. But Pale Kings leaves a much better impression, acts like a much better series debut. Nothing to do about it, though, other than to read it.
Following the events of the first book, the Brotherhood of the Shedaím has been decimated. Ish. Decimated-ish (which I’ll address later). Anyway, after unearthing a powerful secret, the organization has been rocked to its very foundations. Daneel, following his betrayal and refusal to kill a child, shepherds said child—Noah—north in an effort to escape those that would still see him dead. Josef, still loyal to the Brotherhood, moves to protect the King, Sidon, who now sees enemies in every shadow. Beset by doubts, in fear for his life, Josef must help him before Sidon is lost to his own paranoia, or worse, is proven right. Neythan and Arianna travel south to the Summerlands in an attempt to translate the magi scroll. Caleb accompanies them, but grows more impatient by the day—those that saw his family dead still remain alive, and are growing more and more distant. Joram, exiled son of a dead king, is destined for greatness. So say the god that he dreams of, so say the voices that guide him. And yet with assassins and traitors all about, who can trust in fate or magic? For the gods are restless, and the fabled Pale Kings are said to once more walk the lands…
First off, and most importantly, technically Pale Kings is the sequel to Lost Gods. The character progression, the timeline—makes sense. Other things—like the story—seem completely different. You do not—NOT—have to read Lost Gods for Pale Kings to make sense. I read them both, and Lost Gods still doesn’t make complete sense to me. But, some debuts are just like that.
Speaking of the Shedaím, it is stated in the prologue that there are but four surviving members of the Brotherhood left: Josef, Neythan, Arianna, and Daneel. And yet over the course of the text, we run into other Shedaím all the bloody time. Even in this same prologue, it’s mentioned that Daneel is being hunted by the remnants of the Shedaím.
A very debatable aspect of scifi and fantasy is realism. Or, does the story feel like it could really happen? Obviously, since a lot of the elements in the setting, in the world, in the story are by nature fantastical… well, many would argue that realism in the story doesn’t matter. For example, something like prophecy or fate can be utilized to drive the story forward by the simple explanation that “it was all destined to be”. Occasionally, an author might need a trick—to get a character out of danger, or bring one back from death, or whatever—to progress the story. Sometimes this can be done with a simple stroke of good luck. Other times, the character may act out of character in order to preserve their own life, something that can be chalked up to fear or panic. Further still, it can be as easy as attributing something to destiny or fate or prophecy. An experienced author knows not to overuse these tricks, as the story can begin to feel improbable, unrealistic or just plain ridiculous. Micah Yongo may yet be an outstanding author, but he is not yet experienced.
This happens a lot in Pale Kings—especially towards the end. It’s explained away as previously unseen magic, previously unheard of technology, fate, luck, more luck, the will of the gods, and sometimes isn’t even addressed. While not a deal-breaker, it is something that I found annoying; an impediment to my enjoyment, a distraction from the story.
I enjoyed the story a lot more than Lost Gods. Sure, I found fault in Pale Kings, but on the whole, it was quite a bit better than the first one. We’ve ditched the whole “noble assassin” thing, and the frame-up/revenge thing, and I’m firmly of the mind that that’s for the better. I complained that the first story was one giant cliché, something that I cannot say about the second. While the plot had its flaws, it really was much better. Minus the Epilogue. If I’d’ve written this thing, I would’ve done a much worse job. But—BUT—I probably would’ve skipped the Epilogue as it really does nothing helpful. Left a bit of a sour taste, to be honest.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book—and not just the ones that controlled POV chapters. Actually, the whole world seems to have fleshed out quite a bit. Yongo's always been fastidious in his description, but now it led me to picture a deep, vibrant world filled with interesting, unique people—instead of the detailed world filled with hollow sacks of flesh that Lost Gods displayed.
Another problem I had with Lost Gods was its pacing. In general, this is another aspect that Pale Kings improves upon with the classic slow build, hook, and sprint to the finish—with the exception of Neythan. His chapters continued their unevenness, with random and often confusing changes in pace.
TL;DR — I quite enjoyed Pale Kings despite its flaws. It was much better than the previous installment, which you really don’t need to read in order to understand #2. With a clear and detailed world, inhabited by unique and interesting characters and a story all but bereft of cliché, Pale Kings is a marked improvement upon Yongo’s debut. One I’d recommend reading if you need to buy it, even. It’s not perfect, with a less than believable story and a disappointing ending, but all in all, provides an entertaining adventure and raises my hopes for the third installment.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
I read Lost Gods earlier this year as an intro to Micah Yongo’s world. But Pale Kings leaves a much better impression, acts like a much better series debut. Nothing to do about it, though, other than to read it.
Following the events of the first book, the Brotherhood of the Shedaím has been decimated. Ish. Decimated-ish (which I’ll address later). Anyway, after unearthing a powerful secret, the organization has been rocked to its very foundations. Daneel, following his betrayal and refusal to kill a child, shepherds said child—Noah—north in an effort to escape those that would still see him dead. Josef, still loyal to the Brotherhood, moves to protect the King, Sidon, who now sees enemies in every shadow. Beset by doubts, in fear for his life, Josef must help him before Sidon is lost to his own paranoia, or worse, is proven right. Neythan and Arianna travel south to the Summerlands in an attempt to translate the magi scroll. Caleb accompanies them, but grows more impatient by the day—those that saw his family dead still remain alive, and are growing more and more distant. Joram, exiled son of a dead king, is destined for greatness. So say the god that he dreams of, so say the voices that guide him. And yet with assassins and traitors all about, who can trust in fate or magic? For the gods are restless, and the fabled Pale Kings are said to once more walk the lands…
First off, and most importantly, technically Pale Kings is the sequel to Lost Gods. The character progression, the timeline—makes sense. Other things—like the story—seem completely different. You do not—NOT—have to read Lost Gods for Pale Kings to make sense. I read them both, and Lost Gods still doesn’t make complete sense to me. But, some debuts are just like that.
Speaking of the Shedaím, it is stated in the prologue that there are but four surviving members of the Brotherhood left: Josef, Neythan, Arianna, and Daneel. And yet over the course of the text, we run into other Shedaím all the bloody time. Even in this same prologue, it’s mentioned that Daneel is being hunted by the remnants of the Shedaím.
A very debatable aspect of scifi and fantasy is realism. Or, does the story feel like it could really happen? Obviously, since a lot of the elements in the setting, in the world, in the story are by nature fantastical… well, many would argue that realism in the story doesn’t matter. For example, something like prophecy or fate can be utilized to drive the story forward by the simple explanation that “it was all destined to be”. Occasionally, an author might need a trick—to get a character out of danger, or bring one back from death, or whatever—to progress the story. Sometimes this can be done with a simple stroke of good luck. Other times, the character may act out of character in order to preserve their own life, something that can be chalked up to fear or panic. Further still, it can be as easy as attributing something to destiny or fate or prophecy. An experienced author knows not to overuse these tricks, as the story can begin to feel improbable, unrealistic or just plain ridiculous. Micah Yongo may yet be an outstanding author, but he is not yet experienced.
This happens a lot in Pale Kings—especially towards the end. It’s explained away as previously unseen magic, previously unheard of technology, fate, luck, more luck, the will of the gods, and sometimes isn’t even addressed. While not a deal-breaker, it is something that I found annoying; an impediment to my enjoyment, a distraction from the story.
I enjoyed the story a lot more than Lost Gods. Sure, I found fault in Pale Kings, but on the whole, it was quite a bit better than the first one. We’ve ditched the whole “noble assassin” thing, and the frame-up/revenge thing, and I’m firmly of the mind that that’s for the better. I complained that the first story was one giant cliché, something that I cannot say about the second. While the plot had its flaws, it really was much better. Minus the Epilogue. If I’d’ve written this thing, I would’ve done a much worse job. But—BUT—I probably would’ve skipped the Epilogue as it really does nothing helpful. Left a bit of a sour taste, to be honest.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book—and not just the ones that controlled POV chapters. Actually, the whole world seems to have fleshed out quite a bit. Yongo's always been fastidious in his description, but now it led me to picture a deep, vibrant world filled with interesting, unique people—instead of the detailed world filled with hollow sacks of flesh that Lost Gods displayed.
Another problem I had with Lost Gods was its pacing. In general, this is another aspect that Pale Kings improves upon with the classic slow build, hook, and sprint to the finish—with the exception of Neythan. His chapters continued their unevenness, with random and often confusing changes in pace.
TL;DR — I quite enjoyed Pale Kings despite its flaws. It was much better than the previous installment, which you really don’t need to read in order to understand #2. With a clear and detailed world, inhabited by unique and interesting characters and a story all but bereft of cliché, Pale Kings is a marked improvement upon Yongo’s debut. One I’d recommend reading if you need to buy it, even. It’s not perfect, with a less than believable story and a disappointing ending, but all in all, provides an entertaining adventure and raises my hopes for the third installment.
July 28, 2019
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.
I was honestly pretty bored for the first half to two thirds of this book but then it got realllll good- all of the somewhat random elements of the first two books that had been building up finally came together. I’ll definitely be reading the next one when it comes out, and I hope that it keeps up the momentum of the last third of this book.
I was honestly pretty bored for the first half to two thirds of this book but then it got realllll good- all of the somewhat random elements of the first two books that had been building up finally came together. I’ll definitely be reading the next one when it comes out, and I hope that it keeps up the momentum of the last third of this book.
August 10, 2019
Micah Yongo has definitely matured as a writer a bit between the first and this second book in the series. The characterization was a bit stronger and the women were portrayed more fully. The fast and engaging plot of the first book continued through this one, and I am intrigued to find out where he’ll take it from here. As with the last book, the overall appeal of this one is definitely the political intrigue, and I love how complex this narrative is.
The writing, especially dialogue and internal thoughts, is still clumsy in places, although some of the setting descriptions are really on point and impactful.
The writing, especially dialogue and internal thoughts, is still clumsy in places, although some of the setting descriptions are really on point and impactful.
August 9, 2019
I went into this having high expectations but I didn't love it. I found the setting up of scenes a little confusing but the writing generally cleared up any major issues but there were a few chapters that I was permanently confused throughout. I liked the characters for the most part but I did find Neythan a little bit weak when he was in a scene with other characters. This could have been a great book but the overall feel was just a bit mediocre and left me questioning why I read it all the way and did not give up with it sooner.
August 25, 2020
Unfortunately I enjoyed this fantasy sequel less than the first book in the series, Lost Gods. For a long time the different plot threads felt scattered and disparate, and it took me a very long time to get into it. Thankfully the end made up for it, with all the threads finally coming together and starting to make more sense, and I still maintain that this is a very underrated African-inspired fantasy. I'll be interested to see how the series continues.
August 6, 2019
Today I finished reading Pale Kings, the second book of Micah Yongo's Lost Gods series and the first of his books that I've read. The two things that really jumped out at me about the book are:
1) I really like how Yongo writes. Really like it. His prose reminded me of Guy Gavriel Kay in terms of its ability to feel weighty and beautiful, yet human and a bit sly - but where as GGK does it with soaring emotions and drama, there's something of a slow burn to the way Yongo's revelations come.
2) I was really confused as to what was going on.
Now, those playing along at home will notice that a possible reason for that. It took me a long time to twig it was the second book - for some reason I didn't notice it when requesting it on NetGalley - and I think it probably did contribute but it's not the only reason. The problem was largely down to a huge cast of characters that ran into each other; never before have I read a book that so clearly illustrated why authors like Jim Butcher give their characters 'tags'. It might be annoying reading about braid twitching for the 50th time, but it beats taking half a book to distinguish between Neythan, Daneel, Joram and Sidon.
But I kept reading it despite that confusion because most scenes were worth it in and of themselves. And as I started to understand the unraveling plot and which character was which, I got sucked into the story as well. I have a soft spot for metaphysical mysteries - that is to say, fantasies that has characters delving deep into the nature of their secondary worlds, particularly their magic and divinity - and that is something Pale Kings does really well. Yongo does more than pander to my preferences though; he weaves a wonderful tale of deceit, betrayal, intrigue and assassins. It could afford to be heavier on the assassins, but that's just the neanderthal in me.
I would normally be giving a combination of enthralling prose and my favourite type of plot (if it takes a while to recognise) a very high score and as much praise as I can give out without feeling like I'm embarrassing the author. The problem here is the characterisation; maybe I read straight past it, but I still struggle to say what defines Neythan. Maybe that would have been fixed if I'd read Book 1. And despite the wealth of description, I'd struggle to tell you what the cities of the Sovreignity are like too. Yongo gives too many small details and not enough ones that stick.
And it doesn't help that what characterisation I did get, I didn't always like. Joram falls into the category of fantasy characters where I wish they'd fall down some stairs, break their neck, and never be mentioned again; narcissistic, callous and unimpressive. Neythan and Sidon both had moments where I wanted to shout at them for being too dumb to live.
Ultimately though, that is the only real reason I can think of why someone mightn't like this book. In all other regards, even people who don't love the prose or the nature of the plot the way I do should at least like it, by and large. Pale Kings is ambitious Epic Fantasy of the sort of scale and complexity shown in Daniel Abraham's work, executed with gorgeous prose and a powerful imagination. I don't know whether the first book in the series is worth reading, but the second definitely is.
(I got a copy of this book through NetGalley from Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review - thanks peeps)
1) I really like how Yongo writes. Really like it. His prose reminded me of Guy Gavriel Kay in terms of its ability to feel weighty and beautiful, yet human and a bit sly - but where as GGK does it with soaring emotions and drama, there's something of a slow burn to the way Yongo's revelations come.
2) I was really confused as to what was going on.
Now, those playing along at home will notice that a possible reason for that. It took me a long time to twig it was the second book - for some reason I didn't notice it when requesting it on NetGalley - and I think it probably did contribute but it's not the only reason. The problem was largely down to a huge cast of characters that ran into each other; never before have I read a book that so clearly illustrated why authors like Jim Butcher give their characters 'tags'. It might be annoying reading about braid twitching for the 50th time, but it beats taking half a book to distinguish between Neythan, Daneel, Joram and Sidon.
But I kept reading it despite that confusion because most scenes were worth it in and of themselves. And as I started to understand the unraveling plot and which character was which, I got sucked into the story as well. I have a soft spot for metaphysical mysteries - that is to say, fantasies that has characters delving deep into the nature of their secondary worlds, particularly their magic and divinity - and that is something Pale Kings does really well. Yongo does more than pander to my preferences though; he weaves a wonderful tale of deceit, betrayal, intrigue and assassins. It could afford to be heavier on the assassins, but that's just the neanderthal in me.
I would normally be giving a combination of enthralling prose and my favourite type of plot (if it takes a while to recognise) a very high score and as much praise as I can give out without feeling like I'm embarrassing the author. The problem here is the characterisation; maybe I read straight past it, but I still struggle to say what defines Neythan. Maybe that would have been fixed if I'd read Book 1. And despite the wealth of description, I'd struggle to tell you what the cities of the Sovreignity are like too. Yongo gives too many small details and not enough ones that stick.
And it doesn't help that what characterisation I did get, I didn't always like. Joram falls into the category of fantasy characters where I wish they'd fall down some stairs, break their neck, and never be mentioned again; narcissistic, callous and unimpressive. Neythan and Sidon both had moments where I wanted to shout at them for being too dumb to live.
Ultimately though, that is the only real reason I can think of why someone mightn't like this book. In all other regards, even people who don't love the prose or the nature of the plot the way I do should at least like it, by and large. Pale Kings is ambitious Epic Fantasy of the sort of scale and complexity shown in Daniel Abraham's work, executed with gorgeous prose and a powerful imagination. I don't know whether the first book in the series is worth reading, but the second definitely is.
(I got a copy of this book through NetGalley from Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review - thanks peeps)
October 24, 2019
Brilliant sequel to the Lost Gods, filled with magic, action, mysteries, and a thrilling adventure that takes us through Yongo's evocatively crafted fantasy world. I enjoyed this more than the first book. Here, the scope of the story takes a more epic turn towards the last-half. There are revelations, betrayals, political intrigue which keeps the pacing brisk.
The multi-point-of-view structure worked quite well, as it helps in giving each character a distinctive voice, and developing their personality, their motives, and the role they're about to play in this game of gods and mortals. I'm particularly interested in Joram who I think is going to make a very complex antagonist, and it was good to see the Kivite culture through his ambitious eyes. The idea of magical scrolls was a brilliant one, where memories are stored from the days of myths and legends. Also, one of the characters here develop a notable ability, and I can't wait to see how he will grow up with the loss, and the power he is now bequeathed with.
The brief interludes confused me, and, I'm yet to make a complete sense of them. I think they're a sort of conversation between two gods. The action was great, and for the first time we see the great monstrous beasts ravaging the land, dark magic rising in the lands from the time of the Godwars, and the gods themselves are trying to manifest in this world and fight their war. It was explosive towards the end, and Yongo captures the chaotic situation of a magical threat and battle excellently. Here, the mythology is much more developed, and some of the scenes where Neythan goes into a dream-world is sort of surreal.
The ending was one hell of a deus ex machina, but I loved the twist which it brought to the story. I still hate Neythan's reluctance to tell the truth of his situation to his friends, and his self-pity in the face of insurmountable odds. I also loved that Yongo has kept the mystery of the pale kings in a less godly manner, and limited their magical abilities. I can't wait to see where the story goes after that unpredictable ending.
The multi-point-of-view structure worked quite well, as it helps in giving each character a distinctive voice, and developing their personality, their motives, and the role they're about to play in this game of gods and mortals. I'm particularly interested in Joram who I think is going to make a very complex antagonist, and it was good to see the Kivite culture through his ambitious eyes. The idea of magical scrolls was a brilliant one, where memories are stored from the days of myths and legends. Also, one of the characters here develop a notable ability, and I can't wait to see how he will grow up with the loss, and the power he is now bequeathed with.
The brief interludes confused me, and, I'm yet to make a complete sense of them. I think they're a sort of conversation between two gods. The action was great, and for the first time we see the great monstrous beasts ravaging the land, dark magic rising in the lands from the time of the Godwars, and the gods themselves are trying to manifest in this world and fight their war. It was explosive towards the end, and Yongo captures the chaotic situation of a magical threat and battle excellently. Here, the mythology is much more developed, and some of the scenes where Neythan goes into a dream-world is sort of surreal.
The ending was one hell of a deus ex machina, but I loved the twist which it brought to the story. I still hate Neythan's reluctance to tell the truth of his situation to his friends, and his self-pity in the face of insurmountable odds. I also loved that Yongo has kept the mystery of the pale kings in a less godly manner, and limited their magical abilities. I can't wait to see where the story goes after that unpredictable ending.
December 5, 2020
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
Neythan is a young assassin who has been summoned to Súnam. He assumes that he will be asked to help find an enemy but he winds up confronting his past. An ancient scroll that he's long carried with him is somehow quite important to what is about to come.
The Five Lands have been at peace for some time but a new, nameless enemy is at the borders and they appear to have supernatural powers. These "Lost Gods" threaten the peace and Neythan may be the only one who holds the key to stopping them, but he has to learn about the powers he holds and there may not be time.
As with the first book in the series, I really like the African tone to the story and the use of a mythology that I'm otherwise unfamiliar with. For this alone I give good marks because I like being challenged with new ideas and concepts and mythologies.
But also like the first book, I felt that this moved too slowly for me. A story with powerful lost gods and an assassin with a heretofore lost ability should be a page-turning exciting read, but it's not. Neythan gets caught up in reflection which slows down the action, which has this reader saying, "Get on with it!"
The story and the action do pick up some just after half-way through, but for the most part, I was already checked out from really being involved. However, this is one of the rare books (pair of books, actually) that I'm putting in my re-read collection of books. There is enough here that appeals to me that I can't help but wonder if I read this again I'll enjoy it more as I'll already have the familiarity with the setting and culture and can focus more on the story. The balance here is hard to maintain on one reading.
But for now, based on one reading, this only strikes me as an average read.
Looking for a good book? Pale Kings by Micah Yongo has some interesting concepts but the story moves too slowly to be truly engaging.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Neythan is a young assassin who has been summoned to Súnam. He assumes that he will be asked to help find an enemy but he winds up confronting his past. An ancient scroll that he's long carried with him is somehow quite important to what is about to come.
The Five Lands have been at peace for some time but a new, nameless enemy is at the borders and they appear to have supernatural powers. These "Lost Gods" threaten the peace and Neythan may be the only one who holds the key to stopping them, but he has to learn about the powers he holds and there may not be time.
As with the first book in the series, I really like the African tone to the story and the use of a mythology that I'm otherwise unfamiliar with. For this alone I give good marks because I like being challenged with new ideas and concepts and mythologies.
But also like the first book, I felt that this moved too slowly for me. A story with powerful lost gods and an assassin with a heretofore lost ability should be a page-turning exciting read, but it's not. Neythan gets caught up in reflection which slows down the action, which has this reader saying, "Get on with it!"
The story and the action do pick up some just after half-way through, but for the most part, I was already checked out from really being involved. However, this is one of the rare books (pair of books, actually) that I'm putting in my re-read collection of books. There is enough here that appeals to me that I can't help but wonder if I read this again I'll enjoy it more as I'll already have the familiarity with the setting and culture and can focus more on the story. The balance here is hard to maintain on one reading.
But for now, based on one reading, this only strikes me as an average read.
Looking for a good book? Pale Kings by Micah Yongo has some interesting concepts but the story moves too slowly to be truly engaging.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2019
In Pale Kings, Micah Yongo picks up from the cliffhanger ending to Lost Gods with Neythan and his miscellaneous collection of friends heading south in search of answers.
The story continues to grow like Neythan’s own blood tree; that initial single slender sapling of a tale of betrayal has grown into a towering epic, spreading cavernous branches of conflict and tension that cast a shadow across the whole of the rich world Yongo has imagined.
I felt we saw less of Neythan here – his importance, already established, needs less frequent reaffirming, though he still tops and tails the book. However, we get to enjoy Yongo’s focus on other characters, including one very new to the reader. In the interest of avoiding spoilers I will say simply that he reminds me of elements of Mark Lawrence’s Jorg from the Broken Empire and Anna Smith Spark’s Marith from the Empires of Dust. There is fascination in his callousness, a gritty realism in his companionship of felons and a hypnotic horror in his ability to call on the supernatural. A strong, fresh branch to the spreading tale indeed, and one that threatens to take it over entirely.
As before, Yongo’s writing flows and draws the reader into his world. There are many lines that made me smile, although one that rang especially true for me may owe much to my current Belfast home as I read of an involuntary expatriate in the north Kivite complaining, “And you people call five days without rain, summer.”
you can read my full review on the fantasy-hive website here https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/08/pa...
The story continues to grow like Neythan’s own blood tree; that initial single slender sapling of a tale of betrayal has grown into a towering epic, spreading cavernous branches of conflict and tension that cast a shadow across the whole of the rich world Yongo has imagined.
I felt we saw less of Neythan here – his importance, already established, needs less frequent reaffirming, though he still tops and tails the book. However, we get to enjoy Yongo’s focus on other characters, including one very new to the reader. In the interest of avoiding spoilers I will say simply that he reminds me of elements of Mark Lawrence’s Jorg from the Broken Empire and Anna Smith Spark’s Marith from the Empires of Dust. There is fascination in his callousness, a gritty realism in his companionship of felons and a hypnotic horror in his ability to call on the supernatural. A strong, fresh branch to the spreading tale indeed, and one that threatens to take it over entirely.
As before, Yongo’s writing flows and draws the reader into his world. There are many lines that made me smile, although one that rang especially true for me may owe much to my current Belfast home as I read of an involuntary expatriate in the north Kivite complaining, “And you people call five days without rain, summer.”
you can read my full review on the fantasy-hive website here https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/08/pa...
August 7, 2019
This one started out with a cover that I didn't really care for. I think it works well for this title but I would have liked something to really grab you!! This book starts off where book one ends and I will say that if you haven't read book one you will be hopelessly lost. In this book of hope and back stabbing you don't know who to trust and who not to trust. I thought that the story opening to this one was kind of on the slow side. Although it did pick up pretty quickly, the pacing was spot on for this as it unfolded at a great pace once the story got going.
The writing style was easy to follow and I enjoyed all the growing anticipation as the story unfolded. I was never lost and the author painted a beautiful picture.
This book is slated as File Under: Fantasy [ Monsters and Men - False Myths - Priest-Killers - Unravelling Truth ] And I have to say that that list is SPOT ON!! If you are looking for a new EPIC FANTASY!! With amazing characters and a great story arc then check this one out!
The writing style was easy to follow and I enjoyed all the growing anticipation as the story unfolded. I was never lost and the author painted a beautiful picture.
This book is slated as File Under: Fantasy [ Monsters and Men - False Myths - Priest-Killers - Unravelling Truth ] And I have to say that that list is SPOT ON!! If you are looking for a new EPIC FANTASY!! With amazing characters and a great story arc then check this one out!
August 25, 2019
This book was so intense. Unfortunately, being a sequel there is little I can say that won't spoil the first book. But I can say that I loved every minute of it. I'm going to have to reread both Lost Gods and Pale Kings - I know I missed details as I absolutely devoured them. Some series are like that, you know? You can reread them many times and always find something new? Some bit of information or description or hint that you missed before and it's like someone turning on a light in a dark room.
Anyway, this book was amazing. Micah Yongo is amazing. He's definitely on my "I will buy everything this author publishes" list.
Anyway, this book was amazing. Micah Yongo is amazing. He's definitely on my "I will buy everything this author publishes" list.
August 5, 2019
I would like to thank Angry Robot for the ARC i recieved.
Micah Yongo has delivered another truly wonderful book. In Pale Kings we revisit the world of Neythan and the brotherhood. The book starts off slowly, but as the events build so does your antisipation of what is to come. Pale kings ties in all the events from the first book 'Lost Gods' in a way that had me completely entralled and i cant wait to read what comes next.
Micah Yongo has delivered another truly wonderful book. In Pale Kings we revisit the world of Neythan and the brotherhood. The book starts off slowly, but as the events build so does your antisipation of what is to come. Pale kings ties in all the events from the first book 'Lost Gods' in a way that had me completely entralled and i cant wait to read what comes next.
August 12, 2019
I'm happy requested this ARC and discovered this new to me series.
I liked this book, it's engrossing and entertaining and made me turn pages as fast as I could.
It's well written, the world building is fascinating and there's an interesting character development.
It's the first I read in this series but it surely won't be the last as this was a very satisfying reading experience.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked this book, it's engrossing and entertaining and made me turn pages as fast as I could.
It's well written, the world building is fascinating and there's an interesting character development.
It's the first I read in this series but it surely won't be the last as this was a very satisfying reading experience.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
August 20, 2023
The Pale Kings picks right up from the cliffhanger ending from the Lost Gods! I have a love-hate relationship with cliffhangers. The Lost Gods series is one of the story that just kind of grows on you. The more you read the more you appreciate it for what it is. You just need to give it a try and stick with through all the slow bits.
October 12, 2019
An enjoyable and refreshing story that is slow to start but worth sticking with. I look forward to more works from this author.
October 22, 2020
Also enjoyed this second installment of Lost Gods.
Waiting for the next!
Waiting for the next!
December 10, 2023
Excellent sequel to Lost Gods, taking the characters in unexpected directions. I just hope there is a sequel as it needs one :)
Read
September 14, 2024Much too descriptive for my tastes, dnf
March 6, 2022
What?!
Read
May 19, 2019I unfortunately couldn't get into this book very much. I really enjoyed the world building and character development though! The actual writing dove deep into lore and descriptions, so you never really felt lost as to what was going on. My main problem was just that I wasn't too invested in the actual story. It was interesting enough for me to read, but by the end I was neither here nor there. I thought it was good, but just not for me. I'm sure there will be many people who will love this though. For me? It's just not it.
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