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Allaigna's Song #2
Allaigna's Song: Aria
The long-awaited sequel to the bestselling fantasy ALLAIGNA'S SONG: OVERTURE!
Allaigna has discovered that her family has lied to about her parentage all her life. Fueled by anger and spurred by her betrothal to a neighbouring lord, Allaigna has packed her saddle bags and stolen away in the night. The perils of the road provide more than a distraction from her fury, and test her ability to sing music into magic to its limit. Unlikely allies, subterfuge, captivity, and assault conspire to change Allaigna’s status from mere runaway to fugitive.
While Allaigna charts her dangerous course, the quieter tales of her mother and grandmother unfold in tender, poignant, and heartbreaking vignettes that underscore the political and family tensions of the richly rendered world of the Ilmar.
Allaigna has discovered that her family has lied to about her parentage all her life. Fueled by anger and spurred by her betrothal to a neighbouring lord, Allaigna has packed her saddle bags and stolen away in the night. The perils of the road provide more than a distraction from her fury, and test her ability to sing music into magic to its limit. Unlikely allies, subterfuge, captivity, and assault conspire to change Allaigna’s status from mere runaway to fugitive.
While Allaigna charts her dangerous course, the quieter tales of her mother and grandmother unfold in tender, poignant, and heartbreaking vignettes that underscore the political and family tensions of the richly rendered world of the Ilmar.
395 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2019
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Landels
47 books32 followersJM Landels divides her professional time between writing, editing, drawing, and teaching people to swordfight from horseback. She has no hobbies, since they all tend to turn into professions.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 27, 2020
As most fantasy fans know, the second novel in a trilogy is often weaker than the first. This book is that rare and happy case of a second novel that's even better than the first. J.M. Landels' skill as a storyteller continues to grow; she hits the ground running in "Aria" and never slows down. She draws us in, making us care deeply about her complex and flawed characters, and steeps us in the reality of her world through wonderfully rich and well-chosen details.
In this follow-up to "Overture", our young protagonist Allaigna struggles to shape her own destiny on a perilous flight from home to escape the lies and control of her family. Along the way, she learns more about the power of her magic, music, and heritage, and the far-reaching consequences of her choices.
Landels' deft handling of non-linear storytelling from the points of view of Allaigna, her mother Lauresa, and her grandmother Irdaign gives readers the thrill of putting together the pieces of the past to discover the true shape of the present. We're treated to jaw-dropping moments of understanding, shifting our perceptions of characters and world-changing events, even as we continue to follow Allaigna's adventures in the present.
The "Allaigna's Song" series benefits from Landels' deep knowledge of her subject matter — from horses to swordfighting to music to medieval history to motherhood — which she uses to great effect to craft a story filled with small moments of authenticity that make events and characters seem strikingly real. And for once, we're treated to a high fantasy tale that's about three generations of women. "Aria" doesn't just pass the Bechdel test; it casually stomps it into the ground and strides forward to set a new bar.
"Allaigna's Song: Aria" is simply a joy to read; the words seem to flow off the page, making it very difficult to put down. I can't wait for the final installment of the trilogy. I need to know what Allaigna does next, and what happens not only to her family and friends, but to the fragile peace in the land of the Ilmar.
In this follow-up to "Overture", our young protagonist Allaigna struggles to shape her own destiny on a perilous flight from home to escape the lies and control of her family. Along the way, she learns more about the power of her magic, music, and heritage, and the far-reaching consequences of her choices.
Landels' deft handling of non-linear storytelling from the points of view of Allaigna, her mother Lauresa, and her grandmother Irdaign gives readers the thrill of putting together the pieces of the past to discover the true shape of the present. We're treated to jaw-dropping moments of understanding, shifting our perceptions of characters and world-changing events, even as we continue to follow Allaigna's adventures in the present.
The "Allaigna's Song" series benefits from Landels' deep knowledge of her subject matter — from horses to swordfighting to music to medieval history to motherhood — which she uses to great effect to craft a story filled with small moments of authenticity that make events and characters seem strikingly real. And for once, we're treated to a high fantasy tale that's about three generations of women. "Aria" doesn't just pass the Bechdel test; it casually stomps it into the ground and strides forward to set a new bar.
"Allaigna's Song: Aria" is simply a joy to read; the words seem to flow off the page, making it very difficult to put down. I can't wait for the final installment of the trilogy. I need to know what Allaigna does next, and what happens not only to her family and friends, but to the fragile peace in the land of the Ilmar.
April 8, 2025
I was hooked reading Allaigna's Song: Aria, the second in a trilogy. I enjoyed the interweaving of the lives and stories of Allaigna, her mother, and her grandmother. Allaigna's journey is a coming of age tale as she discovers more about her magical singing and the deceptions that exist everywhere in her life. I am looking forward to reading the conclusion to Allaigna's Song. I highly recommend it!
May 17, 2020
I so enjoyed the first novel in this series, Overture, and have been eagerly waiting for this one to come out. I was not disappointed at all. I was quite the fantasy series buff once upon a time but this is the first saga to grab and keep my attention on a long while. I was a bit worried that I'd have lost many of the threads established in the first book but I jumped right in to this one without any issues. The short recap at the beginning was all I needed to catch up on the plot. Last book I needed to flip back to the Dramatis Personae several times but this round I sailed through. There's no sophomore novel slump here, Aria keeps you turning pages from beginning to end. Now to find the patience to wait for the last book in the series to be written.
July 11, 2020
‘Heroism is not in my bones. It is in my blood, certainly.’
Canadian author JM (Jennifer) Landels made an impressive literary debut with ALLAIGNA’S SONG: OVERTURE, and now she continues that series with ALLIGNA’S SONG: ARIA. Perhaps her depth of background for molding this engaging ritual of coming of age in the panorama of a challenging family is obvious: she is co-founder and managing editor of the quarterly Pulp Literature, a former affiliate with punk bands, earned her degree in Mediaeval English Literature, is an artist, rides in mounted combat, and is a childbirth educator and doula – among other things!
As in the initial volume of this magical tale, the author/artist shares maps of the regions the story embraces and a list of the characters from the Imperial Age 1587 -1598. In keeping with the concept of the music inspired set, ARIA is divided into verses instead of chapters and the adventures of Allaigna sing. ‘When I ran away from my home, determined to find my birth father and wounded to the quick by the lies my family had told me all my life, I was being brave – or foolhardy – but not heroic…I left a string of diplomatic incidents, and a trail of blood, in my wake when I fled. My only defense for the havoc I created in my selfish angst is temporary insanity. I was, after all, only fourteen.’ And using this directly conversational tone allows the reader to enter the domain and meet the characters of the story with comfort – and expected fascination.
The story – ‘Allaigna has discovered that her family has lied to about her parentage all her life. Fueled by anger and spurred by her betrothal to a neighbouring lord, Allaigna has packed her saddlebags and stolen away in the night. The perils of the road provide more than a distraction from her fury, and test her ability to sing music into magic to its limit. Unlikely allies, subterfuge, captivity, and assault conspire to change Allaigna’s status from mere runaway to fugitive. While Allaigna charts her dangerous course, the quieter tales of her mother and grandmother unfold in tender, poignant, and heartbreaking vignettes that underscore the political and family tensions of the richly rendered world of the Ilmar. ‘
JM Landels continues her richly woven story with both grace and ardor as befits the realm of her tale. Yes, the story includes magic, even beyond the quality of the prose, and loom is elaborated with line drawing illustrations. This is a fascinating, fresh series! Recommended.
Canadian author JM (Jennifer) Landels made an impressive literary debut with ALLAIGNA’S SONG: OVERTURE, and now she continues that series with ALLIGNA’S SONG: ARIA. Perhaps her depth of background for molding this engaging ritual of coming of age in the panorama of a challenging family is obvious: she is co-founder and managing editor of the quarterly Pulp Literature, a former affiliate with punk bands, earned her degree in Mediaeval English Literature, is an artist, rides in mounted combat, and is a childbirth educator and doula – among other things!
As in the initial volume of this magical tale, the author/artist shares maps of the regions the story embraces and a list of the characters from the Imperial Age 1587 -1598. In keeping with the concept of the music inspired set, ARIA is divided into verses instead of chapters and the adventures of Allaigna sing. ‘When I ran away from my home, determined to find my birth father and wounded to the quick by the lies my family had told me all my life, I was being brave – or foolhardy – but not heroic…I left a string of diplomatic incidents, and a trail of blood, in my wake when I fled. My only defense for the havoc I created in my selfish angst is temporary insanity. I was, after all, only fourteen.’ And using this directly conversational tone allows the reader to enter the domain and meet the characters of the story with comfort – and expected fascination.
The story – ‘Allaigna has discovered that her family has lied to about her parentage all her life. Fueled by anger and spurred by her betrothal to a neighbouring lord, Allaigna has packed her saddlebags and stolen away in the night. The perils of the road provide more than a distraction from her fury, and test her ability to sing music into magic to its limit. Unlikely allies, subterfuge, captivity, and assault conspire to change Allaigna’s status from mere runaway to fugitive. While Allaigna charts her dangerous course, the quieter tales of her mother and grandmother unfold in tender, poignant, and heartbreaking vignettes that underscore the political and family tensions of the richly rendered world of the Ilmar. ‘
JM Landels continues her richly woven story with both grace and ardor as befits the realm of her tale. Yes, the story includes magic, even beyond the quality of the prose, and loom is elaborated with line drawing illustrations. This is a fascinating, fresh series! Recommended.
December 31, 2022
The start of this book, the continuation of the previous, Allaigna’s Song Overture, is as dramatic as the end of the previous. The drama, alongside with the narration of J M Landels, pulls us back into the “fateful” events that lead this story, as we will find out soon enough.
Allaigna, our MC, has discovered the lies of her family, and now is running away to god-knows-where, yet fully conscious of what she is doing, and the consequences such decision will cause. She is a rebel on her own right, which is a stark contrast, not only between our expectations of the story and the actual plot but also between the destinies of each character.
Allaigna shows herself brave, for facing indecision and finghting doubt in her decisions. Should she swallow her pride and go back home while she can, or should she venture deeper into de dangers of the unknown? Her decisions will surprise you at every corner.
In the previous book, we were seeing the storylines somewhat disconnected, and in this new book, we see them converge and continue to the point that we can clearly see the causes of the little behaviours of Lauressa and Irdaign. The tension and pain are there, and that adds flavour and intrigue to the book.
J M Landels’ narrative is acclaimed by readers, and for very good reason. She can create scenes that read natural, as if they were just a filmed sequenced cast to you by the means of words. Impressive, even to the most demanding of tastes.
It doesn’t take long for thriller and action to come in this fantastic and epic family drama. Danger in these women’s lives comes one after the other, interconnected, and unavoidable, it seems, as the web of secrets tightens and threatens to entangle many of the keepers of it, including our three main characters and their closest. Deep and painful sacrifices need to be made, lies added and spells laced to keep the structure of secrets in place and away from deadly consequence, for as much time as possible, although, the bill comes due, eventually and they know it.
For those who read the first book, this one will show a deeper perspective of the siblings’ birth, how their relationship was shaped, how they grew and why some things happened as they happened, but not in Allaigna’s point of view. The surprise on our eyes as readers will be too common when this section of the book comes from the chorus of Lauressa and Irdaign. How and why they decided to “make” the identity of her grandmother, why did they kept the identity of her grandfather, and why Allaigna’s real father was not even present, in Allaignas’ perspective, and why his father was cold and distant when it came to her and preferred his younger brother. THAT clears up many of the possible thoughts we have had on the previous book, so that’s very interesting to read as fans of this series.
One of the most intriguing, and delicious, parts of this book is the secret love, that is not so secret yet is kept so, of Lauressa towards Einavar, and the many moments, encounters and moments of “intimacy” between the two. There is also the emotional pull from her children, and the decision of their destinies as per where they will go, and if they are going to survive on the company of their family´s other castles, which creates a fear and indecision in Lauressa, and you can feel the motherly dilemma taking part in the book in these moments. This also happens when Irdaign is thinking about Lauressa, so this will be relatable to many readers mothers.
It’s interesting to see how much Allaigna evolves on her own. She tries out many spells that turn out true, and at times, many times even, they come off a little short-ended. In Allaigna’s chapters, there is a presences, the presence of a character that our attention and curiosity. Why would he be so helpful and guiding towards Allaigna? Protecting, even. Why? Is there a reason for it? Is there something that we are not getting on this? We will see.
Allaigna grows, not only in the sense of time, her magic skills, but also in maturity, more so towards the end of the book. You can notice this because the change on her way of thinking and seeing things. They shift, almost imperceptibly to us, but it’s there, and J M Landels does a great job when it comes to the mental processes of the characters, which helps us a LOT in understanding the plots and the consequences of the possible attitudes and choices our characters can take, and how they process their next moves. You can see this dynamic in Irdaign and at times, Lauressa, but a great example of it is the conversation between Allaigna and Doniver , so it’s something extremely cool to read and adds layers of “reality” towards this already magical book.
As you reach the end of this incredibly well-plotted romance you will notice that it rolls and wraps itself to the end of the previous book while advancing with this, and putting the plot of the third book! It’s masterful and a unique experience, and as the pages increase and the book reaches its finale, there is more and more tension, more promise of new adventures and much more drama to come.
Does this second book tops the first one? Yes, it does. It’s more mysterious and explicit at the same time and we can feel the planning around it as we reach the conclusion that there will be even more for the third book. Does this book explains things on the first? Oh yes, it closes it very nicely and gives us a new perspective towards it all that we know and that we thought we knew, and those things that we had no idea of, so you are bound to be surprised at most turns and revelations.
J M Landels did an excellent job with this second book. She increased the reader’s experience on this series and made this book series even more appealing and intriguing! Fantasy and drama lovers, cannot miss this book, or series.
Pros:
Excellent and immersive narrative
Excellent character development
Mysteries are well put along with the romance , many times forbidden and dangerous
Excellent management of timeleines
No loose-ends from the previous books were left unexplained
Seamless advancement of the plot
Cons:
None.
Favourite Character: Allaigna
Lesson of the book: A mother will always be
Cover score: 9.0/10
Book Score: 9.0/10
Allaigna, our MC, has discovered the lies of her family, and now is running away to god-knows-where, yet fully conscious of what she is doing, and the consequences such decision will cause. She is a rebel on her own right, which is a stark contrast, not only between our expectations of the story and the actual plot but also between the destinies of each character.
Allaigna shows herself brave, for facing indecision and finghting doubt in her decisions. Should she swallow her pride and go back home while she can, or should she venture deeper into de dangers of the unknown? Her decisions will surprise you at every corner.
In the previous book, we were seeing the storylines somewhat disconnected, and in this new book, we see them converge and continue to the point that we can clearly see the causes of the little behaviours of Lauressa and Irdaign. The tension and pain are there, and that adds flavour and intrigue to the book.
J M Landels’ narrative is acclaimed by readers, and for very good reason. She can create scenes that read natural, as if they were just a filmed sequenced cast to you by the means of words. Impressive, even to the most demanding of tastes.
It doesn’t take long for thriller and action to come in this fantastic and epic family drama. Danger in these women’s lives comes one after the other, interconnected, and unavoidable, it seems, as the web of secrets tightens and threatens to entangle many of the keepers of it, including our three main characters and their closest. Deep and painful sacrifices need to be made, lies added and spells laced to keep the structure of secrets in place and away from deadly consequence, for as much time as possible, although, the bill comes due, eventually and they know it.
For those who read the first book, this one will show a deeper perspective of the siblings’ birth, how their relationship was shaped, how they grew and why some things happened as they happened, but not in Allaigna’s point of view. The surprise on our eyes as readers will be too common when this section of the book comes from the chorus of Lauressa and Irdaign. How and why they decided to “make” the identity of her grandmother, why did they kept the identity of her grandfather, and why Allaigna’s real father was not even present, in Allaignas’ perspective, and why his father was cold and distant when it came to her and preferred his younger brother. THAT clears up many of the possible thoughts we have had on the previous book, so that’s very interesting to read as fans of this series.
One of the most intriguing, and delicious, parts of this book is the secret love, that is not so secret yet is kept so, of Lauressa towards Einavar, and the many moments, encounters and moments of “intimacy” between the two. There is also the emotional pull from her children, and the decision of their destinies as per where they will go, and if they are going to survive on the company of their family´s other castles, which creates a fear and indecision in Lauressa, and you can feel the motherly dilemma taking part in the book in these moments. This also happens when Irdaign is thinking about Lauressa, so this will be relatable to many readers mothers.
It’s interesting to see how much Allaigna evolves on her own. She tries out many spells that turn out true, and at times, many times even, they come off a little short-ended. In Allaigna’s chapters, there is a presences, the presence of a character that our attention and curiosity. Why would he be so helpful and guiding towards Allaigna? Protecting, even. Why? Is there a reason for it? Is there something that we are not getting on this? We will see.
Allaigna grows, not only in the sense of time, her magic skills, but also in maturity, more so towards the end of the book. You can notice this because the change on her way of thinking and seeing things. They shift, almost imperceptibly to us, but it’s there, and J M Landels does a great job when it comes to the mental processes of the characters, which helps us a LOT in understanding the plots and the consequences of the possible attitudes and choices our characters can take, and how they process their next moves. You can see this dynamic in Irdaign and at times, Lauressa, but a great example of it is the conversation between Allaigna and Doniver , so it’s something extremely cool to read and adds layers of “reality” towards this already magical book.
As you reach the end of this incredibly well-plotted romance you will notice that it rolls and wraps itself to the end of the previous book while advancing with this, and putting the plot of the third book! It’s masterful and a unique experience, and as the pages increase and the book reaches its finale, there is more and more tension, more promise of new adventures and much more drama to come.
Does this second book tops the first one? Yes, it does. It’s more mysterious and explicit at the same time and we can feel the planning around it as we reach the conclusion that there will be even more for the third book. Does this book explains things on the first? Oh yes, it closes it very nicely and gives us a new perspective towards it all that we know and that we thought we knew, and those things that we had no idea of, so you are bound to be surprised at most turns and revelations.
J M Landels did an excellent job with this second book. She increased the reader’s experience on this series and made this book series even more appealing and intriguing! Fantasy and drama lovers, cannot miss this book, or series.
Pros:
Excellent and immersive narrative
Excellent character development
Mysteries are well put along with the romance , many times forbidden and dangerous
Excellent management of timeleines
No loose-ends from the previous books were left unexplained
Seamless advancement of the plot
Cons:
None.
Favourite Character: Allaigna
Lesson of the book: A mother will always be
Cover score: 9.0/10
Book Score: 9.0/10
May 24, 2020
This was the second book in a series. I found it interesting and enjoyable, but found the title character the least bit tiresome from time to time, but then she is a teenager. As in the first book of the series, Allaigna's Song: Overture, the novel tells the story of three different women during three different times: Allaigna; her mother, Lauresa; and her grandmother, Irdaign or Angely. The stories are told in a combination of the here and now for Allaigna and flashbacks for Allaigna's mother and grandmother and all three stories are interwoven throughout. The fantasy world (combination of medieval Europe and Middle East, with a little magic for interest) was interesting and well developed (sounds like a great place to visit) as were the characters and there was enough backstory provided to add depth and richness to the tale. Of course part of the novel dealt with the revealing of the history of the mother and grandmother and the events surrounding their families at the time of the narrative and how it impacts Allaigna. It has a satisfactory ending and I am looking forward to the next installment.
January 5, 2026
This is the second book in a trilogy. I really enjoyed the first book especially how a fantasy story was told from a female perspective.
I’ll admit in the first book it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of switching between three characters POV. But I loved the way the three women’s stories were interwoven. There’s always a risk of telling the same story over and over again, but J.M. Landels pulled it off without a hitch.
The second book takes one character into the future while parts of the first book are retold from om the perspective of the other two. It sounds complicated but I loved the way the author did it. There was just enough reminder about what had happened in book one that I didn’t have to go back and try to remember.
One chapter uses shadows, like literal shadows from the sun on the sand, so well. It’s one example of how good the writing is. And although I know nothing about weapons and horses Landels’ knowledge of both is evident and adds to the richness of the story.
I’ve read several books recently that feel like they skipped the editor phase, but this book was a joy to read. The craft is spot on. Story arc, description, character development – all hit the mark. I read it over one weekend and didn’t want to put it down.
Since I was reading it on my Apple Books app I wasn’t really paying attention to how close I was to the end of the book. When I turned the page, eager to find out what was next, I was so disappointed it had ended!
Can hardly wait to get into book three.
I’ll admit in the first book it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of switching between three characters POV. But I loved the way the three women’s stories were interwoven. There’s always a risk of telling the same story over and over again, but J.M. Landels pulled it off without a hitch.
The second book takes one character into the future while parts of the first book are retold from om the perspective of the other two. It sounds complicated but I loved the way the author did it. There was just enough reminder about what had happened in book one that I didn’t have to go back and try to remember.
One chapter uses shadows, like literal shadows from the sun on the sand, so well. It’s one example of how good the writing is. And although I know nothing about weapons and horses Landels’ knowledge of both is evident and adds to the richness of the story.
I’ve read several books recently that feel like they skipped the editor phase, but this book was a joy to read. The craft is spot on. Story arc, description, character development – all hit the mark. I read it over one weekend and didn’t want to put it down.
Since I was reading it on my Apple Books app I wasn’t really paying attention to how close I was to the end of the book. When I turned the page, eager to find out what was next, I was so disappointed it had ended!
Can hardly wait to get into book three.
August 14, 2023
The Review
I absolutely loved the world-building that this book held within it. The high fantasy world was so beautifully realized, and the multiple POVs between the three generations of women within this family allowed readers to see not only how they evolved as characters but how the world evolved around them. The politics and family structure that the author explored through these characters really made the setting feel alive and thoughtful in its approach.
To me, the heart of this book was in the blend of music with magic, as well as the strength of these incredible female characters, including the protagonist. The cohesiveness of the musical magic these characters exude, and the way Allaigna’s journey not only explores the depths of her power but the evolution of her outlook thanks to the way the world comes into conflict with her journey time and time again was both emotionally investing and gripping.
The Verdict
Harmonious, enthralling, and memorable, author JM Landels’s “Allaigna’s Song: Aria is a must-read high fantasy novel and a great addition to the Allaigna’s Song series. The detail the author puts into the book with maps and outlines of the world and the history within it was great to see, and the shocking twists and turns in these women’s lives will keep readers eager to read the next entry into the series.
I absolutely loved the world-building that this book held within it. The high fantasy world was so beautifully realized, and the multiple POVs between the three generations of women within this family allowed readers to see not only how they evolved as characters but how the world evolved around them. The politics and family structure that the author explored through these characters really made the setting feel alive and thoughtful in its approach.
To me, the heart of this book was in the blend of music with magic, as well as the strength of these incredible female characters, including the protagonist. The cohesiveness of the musical magic these characters exude, and the way Allaigna’s journey not only explores the depths of her power but the evolution of her outlook thanks to the way the world comes into conflict with her journey time and time again was both emotionally investing and gripping.
The Verdict
Harmonious, enthralling, and memorable, author JM Landels’s “Allaigna’s Song: Aria is a must-read high fantasy novel and a great addition to the Allaigna’s Song series. The detail the author puts into the book with maps and outlines of the world and the history within it was great to see, and the shocking twists and turns in these women’s lives will keep readers eager to read the next entry into the series.
April 21, 2024
A Loss of Innocence
This book, again, included a few things that didn’t make me uncomfortable, per se, but felt strange to include (maybe because I’m not a mother?). In particular, there is a constant mentioning of either Lauresa or Irdaign’s breasts aching whenever they see babies feeding or whenever their own babies (Lauresa) are hungry. I did not understand the constant need to mention their breasts.
Like the first one, it mainly takes place from Allaigna’s first person past tense perspective, with “choruses” from both Lauresa and Irdaign, Lauresa’s being in third person present and Irdaign’s being in first person present. It remains unclear why the story is laid out in this way.
Allaigna returns as our main character, still the hot-tempered girl we remember. She is searching for Einavar, her true father, but meets others along the way, making enemies and forging alliances. For Lauresa and Irdaign’s parts, there is no one new, as the scenes follow them through Allaigna’s early years, most of which we already know from Allaigna’s perspective in the first book (but with more context now). Glaignan also makes a brief appearance, though suspicion and recklessness remove him from the story shortly after – I’m eager to know what happens to him in future.
Allaigna’s journey to find her true father is what spurs the plot forward, and though her initial quest is not fulfilled, she makes plenty of new acquaintances and reunites with old acquaintances along the way. Her relationship with Rhoan in particular is that of between a father and daughter, and her relationships with her mother and grandmother become strained after her departure.
As with the first book, the writing is intricate and advanced. Some of the vocabulary was new to me, and the action scenes were immensely entertaining. It really draws you in. It was well-edited and well-designed.
A lot more happens in this book, with layers of subplots underneath the main plot. The chapters seemed to fly by, even with the vivid description.
This is definitely a series for women, especially mothers who can relate to Lauresa and Irdaign. It could also be a good pick for young women searching for independence who can relate to the hotheaded Allaigna.
This book, again, included a few things that didn’t make me uncomfortable, per se, but felt strange to include (maybe because I’m not a mother?). In particular, there is a constant mentioning of either Lauresa or Irdaign’s breasts aching whenever they see babies feeding or whenever their own babies (Lauresa) are hungry. I did not understand the constant need to mention their breasts.
Like the first one, it mainly takes place from Allaigna’s first person past tense perspective, with “choruses” from both Lauresa and Irdaign, Lauresa’s being in third person present and Irdaign’s being in first person present. It remains unclear why the story is laid out in this way.
Allaigna returns as our main character, still the hot-tempered girl we remember. She is searching for Einavar, her true father, but meets others along the way, making enemies and forging alliances. For Lauresa and Irdaign’s parts, there is no one new, as the scenes follow them through Allaigna’s early years, most of which we already know from Allaigna’s perspective in the first book (but with more context now). Glaignan also makes a brief appearance, though suspicion and recklessness remove him from the story shortly after – I’m eager to know what happens to him in future.
Allaigna’s journey to find her true father is what spurs the plot forward, and though her initial quest is not fulfilled, she makes plenty of new acquaintances and reunites with old acquaintances along the way. Her relationship with Rhoan in particular is that of between a father and daughter, and her relationships with her mother and grandmother become strained after her departure.
As with the first book, the writing is intricate and advanced. Some of the vocabulary was new to me, and the action scenes were immensely entertaining. It really draws you in. It was well-edited and well-designed.
A lot more happens in this book, with layers of subplots underneath the main plot. The chapters seemed to fly by, even with the vivid description.
This is definitely a series for women, especially mothers who can relate to Lauresa and Irdaign. It could also be a good pick for young women searching for independence who can relate to the hotheaded Allaigna.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews