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Salvation Cycle #2
Dawnbreaker
The king is dead. The world is lost. Long live the queen.
The thin membrane of magic separating the human and demonic planes has been destroyed. Nightrender, the immortal warrior of the gods, must find a way to rebuild it, but Hanne—the serpent girl, always too cunning to be trusted, too hungry for power—has become High Queen, and is too consumed with ambition to cooperate. Meanwhile, Rune—married to Hanne, but in love with Nightrender—is lost in the realm of demons after a disastrous battle, wandering alone in a twisted landscape of mercury seas, black-glass spires, and winds blowing ash … In this second and final installment of the Nightrender duology, the circle will close, and the world will be saved—or burnt to a cinder.
The thin membrane of magic separating the human and demonic planes has been destroyed. Nightrender, the immortal warrior of the gods, must find a way to rebuild it, but Hanne—the serpent girl, always too cunning to be trusted, too hungry for power—has become High Queen, and is too consumed with ambition to cooperate. Meanwhile, Rune—married to Hanne, but in love with Nightrender—is lost in the realm of demons after a disastrous battle, wandering alone in a twisted landscape of mercury seas, black-glass spires, and winds blowing ash … In this second and final installment of the Nightrender duology, the circle will close, and the world will be saved—or burnt to a cinder.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
22 people are currently reading
2850 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Meadows
44 books4,717 followersI write books. I snuggle cats. I drink coffee.
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February 23, 20232/20/22
I've seen the cover comp.
It is SPECTACULAR.
2/23/23
COVER REVEAL! Hope you like it!
I've seen the cover comp.
It is SPECTACULAR.
2/23/23
COVER REVEAL! Hope you like it!
June 15, 2024
La fina membrana mágica que separaba el plano humano del demoníaco ha sido destruida. Noctámbula, la guerrera inmortal de los dioses, debe encontrar la manera de reconstruirla. Así es como comienza este final de bilogía, justo donde lo dejamos en el libro anterior.
Para poneros en situación, os recuerdo que es un libro juvenil con mucha acción que me gustó mucho en su día. No me ha gustado más que el primero, pero sí que ha estado a la altura y me ha respondido todas las dudas que yo necesitaba, así que podríamos decir que ha cumplido bien su función.
En este segundo libro tenemos mucha más tensión entre los personajes, además de una traición de uno de los personajes principales. No diré quién es para no hacer spoilers y guardar un poco el misterio, al igual que la magia. Hay más acción y es más movidito que el primero.
Otra de las cosas que más me han gustado, ha sido que el romance está muy en segundo plano, no me ha molestado y ha representado una importancia relevante. Lo que más valor tiene para mí en este libro, es todo lo demás. Una trama llena de fantasía, magia, tensión y criaturas.
El conflicto se ha quedado cerrado, por lo que el fin de bilogía me ha parecido de lo más acertado, peeeero en el epílogo se nos queda la sensación de que podría suceder algo más. Y no descarto que en un futuro la autora nos sorprenda con algo más del mundo de Noctámbula. Y no me importaría, todo hay que decirlo.
A pesar de que este segundo libro se me ha quedado más lento, pero con más argumento, los recomiendo muchísimo. Me ha venido bien para desconectar de tanta saga actual. Si necesitáis fantasía a raudales y una historia juvenil llena de monstruos y reinos enfrentados, son vuestros libros.
Para poneros en situación, os recuerdo que es un libro juvenil con mucha acción que me gustó mucho en su día. No me ha gustado más que el primero, pero sí que ha estado a la altura y me ha respondido todas las dudas que yo necesitaba, así que podríamos decir que ha cumplido bien su función.
En este segundo libro tenemos mucha más tensión entre los personajes, además de una traición de uno de los personajes principales. No diré quién es para no hacer spoilers y guardar un poco el misterio, al igual que la magia. Hay más acción y es más movidito que el primero.
Otra de las cosas que más me han gustado, ha sido que el romance está muy en segundo plano, no me ha molestado y ha representado una importancia relevante. Lo que más valor tiene para mí en este libro, es todo lo demás. Una trama llena de fantasía, magia, tensión y criaturas.
El conflicto se ha quedado cerrado, por lo que el fin de bilogía me ha parecido de lo más acertado, peeeero en el epílogo se nos queda la sensación de que podría suceder algo más. Y no descarto que en un futuro la autora nos sorprenda con algo más del mundo de Noctámbula. Y no me importaría, todo hay que decirlo.
A pesar de que este segundo libro se me ha quedado más lento, pero con más argumento, los recomiendo muchísimo. Me ha venido bien para desconectar de tanta saga actual. Si necesitáis fantasía a raudales y una historia juvenil llena de monstruos y reinos enfrentados, son vuestros libros.
January 18, 2024
Jodi has done it again! I finally got my hands on this book and wow what a ride. I LOVE Rune!!! He is my cinnamon roll and no one can convince me otherwise. The NightRender! She is such a complex character I loved seeing her grow and realize her humanity and the fact that feelings are okay. Hanne, I’m going to be honest I really dislike her. I gave her sympathy and I understand now, it makes so much since and the way her character is made was brilliant. Very much anti-hero vibes, but I just got annoyed with how she treated people. But again it fits perfect with the story! The rancor king, oh I hated him!! But because he was evil! Jodi wrote him so well. Overall I really enjoyed this series, and think that it’s underrated! So if you haven’t read it yet, you totally should!
4.50/5 stars.❤️
“Some battles are fought solely for the sake of resisting.”
“I would have done anything to save you, anything. Yes. For you, yes. I was made for you. Made yours. From the very beginning. I am yours.”
Read if you love: marriage alliance
-cinnamon roll mmc
-soul mates
-kick butt females
-well written villains
-a world at stake in need of a hero
4.50/5 stars.❤️
“Some battles are fought solely for the sake of resisting.”
“I would have done anything to save you, anything. Yes. For you, yes. I was made for you. Made yours. From the very beginning. I am yours.”
Read if you love: marriage alliance
-cinnamon roll mmc
-soul mates
-kick butt females
-well written villains
-a world at stake in need of a hero
January 11, 2024
(Spoilers below!)
Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Perhaps this might be more of a 3.5 rating. I did like the book, and it was a good conclusion to the duology. I think my problem is that I thought (and wanted) Hanne to become a true villain in this story, and she didn’t. As soon as we find out who the voice in her head is, she immediately recants and ends the book with all the power she wanted in the first place. Which is a good ending—seeing someone start out as supremely selfish and then ending with using that power to help others first. But! I really wanted her to be the bad guy on the human side of things—she was so good at it! I also thought she really was going to sacrifice herself at the end, which also would’ve been a great ending for her, and that ended up being very much a psych out moment for readers.
The true ending/climax was also very rushed, and I thought the reasoning behind how Medella got to stay very hand-wavy and wishy washy. Like, we knew she and Rune were going to end up together, so a greater explanation of how that was possible would’ve been nice. Especially since her giant showdown with the Rancor King took all of two seconds. :p
I also wish we’d gotten more about the Nightrender’s search for the weapon pieces at the different shrines. We could’ve gotten a very cool quest-type story in there, and it just seemed too easy for her to collect the pieces once she knew where they were.
But despite the book itself having an ending, the author does leave a lot open for future stories, which I liked. I really enjoyed reading about things from Rune’s perspective and would like to see more of him.
So, all in all, not a fantastic ending to the duology but a decent one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Perhaps this might be more of a 3.5 rating. I did like the book, and it was a good conclusion to the duology. I think my problem is that I thought (and wanted) Hanne to become a true villain in this story, and she didn’t. As soon as we find out who the voice in her head is, she immediately recants and ends the book with all the power she wanted in the first place. Which is a good ending—seeing someone start out as supremely selfish and then ending with using that power to help others first. But! I really wanted her to be the bad guy on the human side of things—she was so good at it! I also thought she really was going to sacrifice herself at the end, which also would’ve been a great ending for her, and that ended up being very much a psych out moment for readers.
The true ending/climax was also very rushed, and I thought the reasoning behind how Medella got to stay very hand-wavy and wishy washy. Like, we knew she and Rune were going to end up together, so a greater explanation of how that was possible would’ve been nice. Especially since her giant showdown with the Rancor King took all of two seconds. :p
I also wish we’d gotten more about the Nightrender’s search for the weapon pieces at the different shrines. We could’ve gotten a very cool quest-type story in there, and it just seemed too easy for her to collect the pieces once she knew where they were.
But despite the book itself having an ending, the author does leave a lot open for future stories, which I liked. I really enjoyed reading about things from Rune’s perspective and would like to see more of him.
So, all in all, not a fantastic ending to the duology but a decent one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2023
Loved reading this book, it was a great end to this duology, I loved how things wrapped up!
December 31, 2023
A fantastic sequel to Nightrender. It had a good ending, but some things were left open enough to where I could easily envision more stories blooming. I'd love to see more of Salvation, whether it's Nightrender's creation, the Rancor King's backstory, or a follow-up to any of the main characters, especially Hanne.
December 17, 2025
I loved this and desperately wish it was a trilogy, not a duology. The ending wasn’t what I’d expected (in a good way), but it also felt rushed and left me wanting more than just an epilogue. I want to see how the characters deal with all of the major changes, especially Hanne!
I fell in love with the characters and I can’t believe how underrated this series is 😭
I fell in love with the characters and I can’t believe how underrated this series is 😭
November 12, 2023
Check out my full thoughts here: https://youtu.be/xYvE8PK3Nu8
October 23, 2023
I really liked this sequel. (Even if I didn't like the negalley format, the text in the pdf was so tiny). I wish we could get some prequels about the Nightrender. She's such an interesting character.
January 18, 2024
I’m so glad I got to finish this amazing duology before the year ended! The dynamics between Rune and the Nightrender are immaculate and with the world actually falling apart around them I would root for them til the end!
I’ll forever be recommending this series as one of my favorite underrated series that deserves so much more hype! Jodi Meadows sure knows her way around a fantasy world!
I’ll forever be recommending this series as one of my favorite underrated series that deserves so much more hype! Jodi Meadows sure knows her way around a fantasy world!
April 22, 2024
Es, con diferencia, mucho mejor que el primero.
Toda la trama es mucho más ágil, diría que más elaborada, y es difícil despegarse de lo que ocurre. No da tantos rodeos con discusiones innecesarias ni con explicaciones que no vienen a cuento.
Los personajes también están mejor desarrollados, se ven más en su elemento, y también son más sencillos de leer, incluso (por increíble que parezca) Hanne.
Y es por esta última que viene mi queja. No veo mal que le hayan dado un arco de redención, pero no creo que se lo mereciera. Tal vez su lectura no haya sido tan densa como en el primero, pero sigue siendo un personaje demasiado cargante para mi gusto y, al menos para mí, habría merecido un final en el que terminase mal.
Toda la trama es mucho más ágil, diría que más elaborada, y es difícil despegarse de lo que ocurre. No da tantos rodeos con discusiones innecesarias ni con explicaciones que no vienen a cuento.
Los personajes también están mejor desarrollados, se ven más en su elemento, y también son más sencillos de leer, incluso (por increíble que parezca) Hanne.
Y es por esta última que viene mi queja. No veo mal que le hayan dado un arco de redención, pero no creo que se lo mereciera. Tal vez su lectura no haya sido tan densa como en el primero, pero sigue siendo un personaje demasiado cargante para mi gusto y, al menos para mí, habría merecido un final en el que terminase mal.
March 19, 2025
predictable asf
September 26, 2023
After reading the first book in this duology, I knew I had to read the last installment in this duology. That cliffhanger left me gaping at the end of the book. I needed answers.
Already, I was expecting intense action from the very beginning of this book. The cliffhanger left us with Rune as a hostage with the rancor king, Hanne as queen in Caberwill with people who wanted to get rid of her, and Nightrender having to find a way to defeat the rancor king without being the rancor king herself. And those first chapters most definitely delivered. The enormity of the situation was popping right off the page.
However, there was a chunk of the book where it dragged. From about 25% in until 50%, I kept waiting for the action to continue picking up, piling on what had already happened in the first book. Instead, it fell flat.
The way Rune got out of the malice, for example, was one part where I thought didn't quite connect and match the intensity from the ending of the first book and the beginning of the sequel. I expected more struggle, though this is not to say that Rune didn't have to go through horrible things as he tried to make it to the Soul Gate. It's just...he was taken hostage, and then everything happened so quickly after.
I also felt like the book started building so much on Hanne and the ladies surrounding her. I kept noticing so many quirks about Nadine, and even theorized that maybe she'd have a bigger part to play in the whole politics of it all. But then, as everything started coming down, all that development between the ladies in waiting kind of faded into nothing.
The Nightrender's quest to find a way to defeat the rancor king also felt a bit scattered? Many of the scenes before Rune got back felt kind of convenient.
But after the half-way mark, this book took a turn for the better. Everything felt action-packed, and the story kept getting more and more tense.
I loved seeing Nightrender and Rune working together. I especially loved the scenes where Rune validated Nightrender's feelings. Whenever those two had a romantic moment, I felt this ache in my heart because they had such unconventional circumstances and everything felt so doomed, but it was so great.
I also think it was so interesting to see how the three kingdoms had to deal with the threat of the inevitable Incursion while also dealing with their political issues and war.
And that ending was just so satisfying. Definitely an incredible end to this duology.
3.5 rounded up!
Already, I was expecting intense action from the very beginning of this book. The cliffhanger left us with Rune as a hostage with the rancor king, Hanne as queen in Caberwill with people who wanted to get rid of her, and Nightrender having to find a way to defeat the rancor king without being the rancor king herself. And those first chapters most definitely delivered. The enormity of the situation was popping right off the page.
However, there was a chunk of the book where it dragged. From about 25% in until 50%, I kept waiting for the action to continue picking up, piling on what had already happened in the first book. Instead, it fell flat.
The way Rune got out of the malice, for example, was one part where I thought didn't quite connect and match the intensity from the ending of the first book and the beginning of the sequel. I expected more struggle, though this is not to say that Rune didn't have to go through horrible things as he tried to make it to the Soul Gate. It's just...he was taken hostage, and then everything happened so quickly after.
I also felt like the book started building so much on Hanne and the ladies surrounding her. I kept noticing so many quirks about Nadine, and even theorized that maybe she'd have a bigger part to play in the whole politics of it all. But then, as everything started coming down, all that development between the ladies in waiting kind of faded into nothing.
The Nightrender's quest to find a way to defeat the rancor king also felt a bit scattered? Many of the scenes before Rune got back felt kind of convenient.
But after the half-way mark, this book took a turn for the better. Everything felt action-packed, and the story kept getting more and more tense.
I loved seeing Nightrender and Rune working together. I especially loved the scenes where Rune validated Nightrender's feelings. Whenever those two had a romantic moment, I felt this ache in my heart because they had such unconventional circumstances and everything felt so doomed, but it was so great.
I also think it was so interesting to see how the three kingdoms had to deal with the threat of the inevitable Incursion while also dealing with their political issues and war.
And that ending was just so satisfying. Definitely an incredible end to this duology.
3.5 rounded up!
February 7, 2024
I was blown away by this book’s predecessor, so my expectations were sky high for Dawnbreaker – and what a relief that Meadows managed to meet those expectations!
The Salvation duology is just YA high fantasy at its finest – a well-built world, compelling characters, and riveting conflict. Isn’t it nice to see a sterling example of a book, in a genre where so much can (and does) go wrong?
The strongest aspect of Dawnbreaker is, in my opinion, the romance. The connection between Rune and the Dawnbreaker is so deeply felt, with so many obstacles… it seems so thoroughly doomed, and their desperate claiming of even the tiniest moments of connection is beautiful to behold. And to their credit, neither of them dismisses Hanne and Rune’s marriage to her; both recognize that Rune’s marriage vows are something he should honor. As I said before, Rune’s goodness makes for great reading in Meadows’s capable hands.
Hanne, meanwhile, goes from compelling antihero to a tragic figure. Even though the big twist is something that was telegraphed so clearly in Book 1, so we all saw it coming, reading Hanne’s reaction to the news makes it hit as a devastating blow despite the predictability.
Also, Meadows just has a gift with language – there are so many great lines and quotes in the book! Hanne and the Nightrender have a détente early on, and I think I actually said “Oh SNAP!” out loud at one point. Basically, Dawnbreaker is just firing on all cylinders as a book.
If I have one critique, it’s that Dawnbreaker loses some of the potent metaphors of its predecessor. I love how Nightrender was an analogy for climate change and/or nuclear weapons, and the really tough choices the characters had to face about what to prioritize and how to navigate it. Dawnbreaker is much more straightforward: good guys, bad guys, magical macguffin, big climactic battle. This did not detract from how enjoyable the book was to read, but it’s less of a thinker than Nightrender, and much more about feeling the feelings (as I said before, romance!).
I so enthusiastically recommend this duology, it might be my favorite of Jodi Meadows’s bibliography!
The Salvation duology is just YA high fantasy at its finest – a well-built world, compelling characters, and riveting conflict. Isn’t it nice to see a sterling example of a book, in a genre where so much can (and does) go wrong?
The strongest aspect of Dawnbreaker is, in my opinion, the romance. The connection between Rune and the Dawnbreaker is so deeply felt, with so many obstacles… it seems so thoroughly doomed, and their desperate claiming of even the tiniest moments of connection is beautiful to behold. And to their credit, neither of them dismisses Hanne and Rune’s marriage to her; both recognize that Rune’s marriage vows are something he should honor. As I said before, Rune’s goodness makes for great reading in Meadows’s capable hands.
Hanne, meanwhile, goes from compelling antihero to a tragic figure. Even though the big twist is something that was telegraphed so clearly in Book 1, so we all saw it coming, reading Hanne’s reaction to the news makes it hit as a devastating blow despite the predictability.
Also, Meadows just has a gift with language – there are so many great lines and quotes in the book! Hanne and the Nightrender have a détente early on, and I think I actually said “Oh SNAP!” out loud at one point. Basically, Dawnbreaker is just firing on all cylinders as a book.
If I have one critique, it’s that Dawnbreaker loses some of the potent metaphors of its predecessor. I love how Nightrender was an analogy for climate change and/or nuclear weapons, and the really tough choices the characters had to face about what to prioritize and how to navigate it. Dawnbreaker is much more straightforward: good guys, bad guys, magical macguffin, big climactic battle. This did not detract from how enjoyable the book was to read, but it’s less of a thinker than Nightrender, and much more about feeling the feelings (as I said before, romance!).
I so enthusiastically recommend this duology, it might be my favorite of Jodi Meadows’s bibliography!
November 29, 2023
I will admit that I am not a fan of NIGHTRENDER, the first book in the Salvation Cycle duology by Jodi Meadows. Too much thinking and too little action made what I believe should have been a powerful story into an angsty teen drama. The fact that one of these angsty teens is an immortal monster hunter with centuries of experience only made it worse.
When DAWNBREAKER became available as a review copy, I stopped to think before requesting a copy. Did I want to take the chance that the same issues I saw in the first book would remain in the second? Did I want to know how it ended? Does my curiosity outweigh the negatives? After weighing the pros and cons, I took a chance. Surprisingly, I'm glad I did.
While the series does not rank anywhere close to my favorites, I feel DAWNBREAKER is a decent finale for what became a decent story. One of my biggest questions was how Ms. Meadows would create happy endings for the main three characters without killing off one of them. I'm impressed with her story choices. I'm even more impressed that the characters received the appropriate punishment or reward in a way that felt authentic and not convenient.
What's more, is that DAWNBREAKER kept surprising me. While few plot twists or jaw-dropping reveals exist, there are subtler surprises. These surprises flesh out some of the characters, making them less one-noted and less totally good or totally evil. The lack of morally gray characters was one of my main critiques of NIGHTRENDER, so these changes were welcome.
I am glad I took the chance on DAWNBREAKER. Ms. Meadows did a good job tying together her subplots to create a conclusion that is satisfying. The writing is stronger; subsequently, the story is as well. There is less hand-wringing and more action, which also helps make it a better story. I don't think DAWNBREAKER will win any year-end awards, but it is an acceptable conclusion to a decent duology.
When DAWNBREAKER became available as a review copy, I stopped to think before requesting a copy. Did I want to take the chance that the same issues I saw in the first book would remain in the second? Did I want to know how it ended? Does my curiosity outweigh the negatives? After weighing the pros and cons, I took a chance. Surprisingly, I'm glad I did.
While the series does not rank anywhere close to my favorites, I feel DAWNBREAKER is a decent finale for what became a decent story. One of my biggest questions was how Ms. Meadows would create happy endings for the main three characters without killing off one of them. I'm impressed with her story choices. I'm even more impressed that the characters received the appropriate punishment or reward in a way that felt authentic and not convenient.
What's more, is that DAWNBREAKER kept surprising me. While few plot twists or jaw-dropping reveals exist, there are subtler surprises. These surprises flesh out some of the characters, making them less one-noted and less totally good or totally evil. The lack of morally gray characters was one of my main critiques of NIGHTRENDER, so these changes were welcome.
I am glad I took the chance on DAWNBREAKER. Ms. Meadows did a good job tying together her subplots to create a conclusion that is satisfying. The writing is stronger; subsequently, the story is as well. There is less hand-wringing and more action, which also helps make it a better story. I don't think DAWNBREAKER will win any year-end awards, but it is an acceptable conclusion to a decent duology.
January 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this series as a whole, and of course, this book in particular, though there are a few caveats to that. The writing was clear and easy to read and didn't suffer from annoying typographical errors or grammatical mistakes. The characters had depth and individual motivations that sometimes led to conflict. The worldbuilding was perfection. I adored the idea of the malstop and the little bubbles of pure chaotic malice that dotted the landscape, causing havoc wherever they cropped up. All of these are fantastic things.
The book could be a bit slow and a bit long if you don't read a lot of epic fantasy (which I don't), but not so much as to make me put the book down. My two biggest complaints, however, are that 1. the romance was rather lackluster - and I can admit that in part, that's because I am an avid romance reader, and this just didn't have the romantic tension or emotional payoff I was looking for, and 2. The ending was rather unsatisfactory.
I expected one ending and got another - in fact, I expected two different endings and got a third option. This is one of those rare occasions where I would have been happy with an ending where the rancor king wasn't killed or had somehow been redeemed even in part through his connection to Hanne. I'd also have been fine with the Nightrender being killed. I'm not entirely made with how the book ended, but it felt a bit cheap.
I'd have loved it if Hanne had taken Light Eater into her own hands and killed the rancor king herself, using his love for her to get close to him. That would have been a fantastic and satisfying ending, but alas, it was not to be.
Overall I loved the book and I'm happy I read it, but it had a few issues that dampened the joy a bit for me. Nothing major, just… a little disappointed. Still well worth reading.
The book could be a bit slow and a bit long if you don't read a lot of epic fantasy (which I don't), but not so much as to make me put the book down. My two biggest complaints, however, are that 1. the romance was rather lackluster - and I can admit that in part, that's because I am an avid romance reader, and this just didn't have the romantic tension or emotional payoff I was looking for, and 2. The ending was rather unsatisfactory.
I expected one ending and got another - in fact, I expected two different endings and got a third option. This is one of those rare occasions where I would have been happy with an ending where the rancor king wasn't killed or had somehow been redeemed even in part through his connection to Hanne. I'd also have been fine with the Nightrender being killed. I'm not entirely made with how the book ended, but it felt a bit cheap.
I'd have loved it if Hanne had taken Light Eater into her own hands and killed the rancor king herself, using his love for her to get close to him. That would have been a fantastic and satisfying ending, but alas, it was not to be.
Overall I loved the book and I'm happy I read it, but it had a few issues that dampened the joy a bit for me. Nothing major, just… a little disappointed. Still well worth reading.
September 30, 2023
Dawnbreaker by Jodi Meadows is a stunning exploration of the good, the bad, the ugly of humanity shown through bleakness and manipulation with an ever-present nugget of hope. We return to the world of Salvation and follow Rune, Hanne, and Nightrender in the aftermath of the events of the first book. Rune is trapped with Daghath Mal, Nightrender can’t help her soul shard, and Hanne is up to some shady stuff.
I have to admit…I hated Hanne in Nightrender and I didn’t care much for her in the first section of Dawnbreaker either, at least until we finally get through her tough exterior. Meadows beautifully handled her redemption arc for me and at the end of this book I found myself rooting for her more than I ever thought I would.
Pretty sure Rune is the new standard by which all book boyfriends will be judged going forward. Never once wavering from the good-natured guy he is fighting for humanity. Never. Once. This is a guy who has already endured so much, but he never once turns his back on humanity.
Nightrender. Goodness. I loved watching her heart thaw and she becomes more and more human throughout the book. I loved watching her growth as a badass winged warrior who turns from fighting for humanity because that’s what she was created for to fighting for them because she loves them…maybe one of them more than others.
There’s definitely a slow burn romance, but oh gosh it was handled so perfectly. I loved that the romance was not the main storyline. The main storyline remained uniting humanity to fight for what’s wrong and to open their eyes to all the wrong doings they’ve done to the earth and to each other throughout the centuries.
I highly recommend Dawnbreaker!
I have to admit…I hated Hanne in Nightrender and I didn’t care much for her in the first section of Dawnbreaker either, at least until we finally get through her tough exterior. Meadows beautifully handled her redemption arc for me and at the end of this book I found myself rooting for her more than I ever thought I would.
Pretty sure Rune is the new standard by which all book boyfriends will be judged going forward. Never once wavering from the good-natured guy he is fighting for humanity. Never. Once. This is a guy who has already endured so much, but he never once turns his back on humanity.
Nightrender. Goodness. I loved watching her heart thaw and she becomes more and more human throughout the book. I loved watching her growth as a badass winged warrior who turns from fighting for humanity because that’s what she was created for to fighting for them because she loves them…maybe one of them more than others.
There’s definitely a slow burn romance, but oh gosh it was handled so perfectly. I loved that the romance was not the main storyline. The main storyline remained uniting humanity to fight for what’s wrong and to open their eyes to all the wrong doings they’ve done to the earth and to each other throughout the centuries.
I highly recommend Dawnbreaker!
November 6, 2023
Dawnbreaker by Jodi Meadows🗡🪽
genre: dystopian fantasy
format: epub arc
pages: 352
times read: 1
date (dd/mm/yy): 6/11/23
would reread: probably
rating: 4.7⭐
review:
whoaaa i got this arc from netgalley and i read the previous one in order to read this one and i loved both of them
im not going to say much as to not spoil but, RUNE FUCKING HIGHCROWN AND MEDELLA HAVE MY WHOLE FUCKING HEART, the way they were with each other was so ughhhh i love them sfm.
this book was full of twists and i loved it
⚠️spoilers ahead⚠️ i so fucking knew we couldnt trust "Tuluna" i knew something shady was going on with them, and when they turned out to be Daghath Mal (the Rancor King) i was so livid, i hated that mf sm
⚠️end of spoilers⚠️
I liked how everything turned out in the end, Hanne getting redemption (guess who started to like her now) speaking of, that woman went thru hell tbh. moving on to Medella, my girl was IT, the one and only, ⚠️spoilers ahead⚠️ when she died I entered a state of denial that lasted untill the end of the book, thank fuck she lived, also with Hanne now having part of Medella's powers I NEED to see where this story goes next, @unicornwarlord IM BEGHING YOU⚠️end of spoilers⚠️
Rune Highcrown is my man I love him sm, the way he was ready to follow Medella if she was to go to the Dark Shard was so 🫠🫠, I want them to get married and live hea.
I wanted to see more of Mae and Hanne, I hope that if Jodi releases another book in this world, she talks abt them and their story.
I feel like we're not done with the world of Salvation, I need to see what J.M. has in store for us
thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
genre: dystopian fantasy
format: epub arc
pages: 352
times read: 1
date (dd/mm/yy): 6/11/23
would reread: probably
rating: 4.7⭐
review:
whoaaa i got this arc from netgalley and i read the previous one in order to read this one and i loved both of them
im not going to say much as to not spoil but, RUNE FUCKING HIGHCROWN AND MEDELLA HAVE MY WHOLE FUCKING HEART, the way they were with each other was so ughhhh i love them sfm.
this book was full of twists and i loved it
⚠️spoilers ahead⚠️ i so fucking knew we couldnt trust "Tuluna" i knew something shady was going on with them, and when they turned out to be Daghath Mal (the Rancor King) i was so livid, i hated that mf sm
⚠️end of spoilers⚠️
I liked how everything turned out in the end, Hanne getting redemption (guess who started to like her now) speaking of, that woman went thru hell tbh. moving on to Medella, my girl was IT, the one and only, ⚠️spoilers ahead⚠️ when she died I entered a state of denial that lasted untill the end of the book, thank fuck she lived, also with Hanne now having part of Medella's powers I NEED to see where this story goes next, @unicornwarlord IM BEGHING YOU⚠️end of spoilers⚠️
Rune Highcrown is my man I love him sm, the way he was ready to follow Medella if she was to go to the Dark Shard was so 🫠🫠, I want them to get married and live hea.
I wanted to see more of Mae and Hanne, I hope that if Jodi releases another book in this world, she talks abt them and their story.
I feel like we're not done with the world of Salvation, I need to see what J.M. has in store for us
thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
November 28, 2024
I enjoyed this more than the first one, though the unrelenting pining did get a bit much.
My suspicions from the first book proved correct, and it was just unfortunate that the big twist in here was exactly the same twist from the last book I read.
There was some character growth from the most annoying for the crew last time around, but it didn’t read as natural. Her thoughts and justifications just suddenly change. I get that she reflects on things and comes to new conclusions, but all her prejudices and class entitlements suddenly disappear with it, which made little sense (though with her lofty goals and heart of her mission her being like that didn’t make a huge amount of sense anyway).
The malice is still an dark presence/magic spill in the world and as everything slowly falls apart this builds into a huge moment. The slow spread and degrade of life develops so well and ups the stakes in a very tension building moment. There’s a bittersweet parting at the end that was probably my favourite scene in the entire book, though everyone ends up roughly where you predict they will.
The end fight is rather quick after the build-up, but it’s a satisfying conclusion to the story and I could go a spin off.
My suspicions from the first book proved correct, and it was just unfortunate that the big twist in here was exactly the same twist from the last book I read.
There was some character growth from the most annoying for the crew last time around, but it didn’t read as natural. Her thoughts and justifications just suddenly change. I get that she reflects on things and comes to new conclusions, but all her prejudices and class entitlements suddenly disappear with it, which made little sense (though with her lofty goals and heart of her mission her being like that didn’t make a huge amount of sense anyway).
The malice is still an dark presence/magic spill in the world and as everything slowly falls apart this builds into a huge moment. The slow spread and degrade of life develops so well and ups the stakes in a very tension building moment. There’s a bittersweet parting at the end that was probably my favourite scene in the entire book, though everyone ends up roughly where you predict they will.
The end fight is rather quick after the build-up, but it’s a satisfying conclusion to the story and I could go a spin off.
June 21, 2024
.
In Dawnbreaker, the romance between Rune and the Dawnbreaker stands out. Their connection is deeply felt, facing numerous obstacles that seem insurmountable, making their fleeting moments together poignant. Both characters respect Rune's marriage to Hanne, acknowledging the importance of his vows, which adds depth to Rune’s character under Meadows’s skilled writing.
Hanne's transition from a compelling antihero to a tragic figure was a surprising shift in her character. Despite the predictability of the major twist, hinted at in Book 1, Hanne's reaction makes it a heartbreaking moment. She’s a character who flips the script by trying to redeem herself.
Nightrender, book 1, tackled different themes such as the fight for power and the desire to be the one “in charge”, along with a lot of world building that didn’t detract from the story, but moved it quickly forward, Dawnbreaker focused more on traditional fantasy elements: heroes, villains, magical artifacts, and epic battles. This straightforward approach doesn’t diminish the book’s enjoyment but makes it more about emotional connection, particularly the romance. It took me a while to truly settle into the story but by the end, the author had me reading late into the night.
In Dawnbreaker, the romance between Rune and the Dawnbreaker stands out. Their connection is deeply felt, facing numerous obstacles that seem insurmountable, making their fleeting moments together poignant. Both characters respect Rune's marriage to Hanne, acknowledging the importance of his vows, which adds depth to Rune’s character under Meadows’s skilled writing.
Hanne's transition from a compelling antihero to a tragic figure was a surprising shift in her character. Despite the predictability of the major twist, hinted at in Book 1, Hanne's reaction makes it a heartbreaking moment. She’s a character who flips the script by trying to redeem herself.
Nightrender, book 1, tackled different themes such as the fight for power and the desire to be the one “in charge”, along with a lot of world building that didn’t detract from the story, but moved it quickly forward, Dawnbreaker focused more on traditional fantasy elements: heroes, villains, magical artifacts, and epic battles. This straightforward approach doesn’t diminish the book’s enjoyment but makes it more about emotional connection, particularly the romance. It took me a while to truly settle into the story but by the end, the author had me reading late into the night.
October 4, 2024
Not going to lie this doesn’t feel like the ending of a duology. I mean I get that one of the themes is that you need to keep fighting to have a better world, you can’t just win one fight and it all works out but still there were a lot of interesting loose threads that I hope the author will one day expand on. Like what exactly will happen with the last scraps of Nightrender’s power?
But moving on I did like the story though the kingdom’s annoy me with how quickly their finally came together for an imminent threat when constant war was never enough but they obviously weren’t made to be perfect leaders. But Nightrender’s growth in connect with humanity, Rune’s action to finally become a good leader, and Hanne taking a long overdue look at her actions was fun to read. Hanne always seemed like a monster with bits of humanity and we got to see a lot more of that here with the way she realized she needed to change but still kept so many cards to her chest. Hopefully we can see how she continues to change when she has the kind of power that makes it so she has to fight if a third book ever comes out.
But moving on I did like the story though the kingdom’s annoy me with how quickly their finally came together for an imminent threat when constant war was never enough but they obviously weren’t made to be perfect leaders. But Nightrender’s growth in connect with humanity, Rune’s action to finally become a good leader, and Hanne taking a long overdue look at her actions was fun to read. Hanne always seemed like a monster with bits of humanity and we got to see a lot more of that here with the way she realized she needed to change but still kept so many cards to her chest. Hopefully we can see how she continues to change when she has the kind of power that makes it so she has to fight if a third book ever comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2023
World devastation!
Reeling from the overwhelming destruction caused by the Malice weapon, Salvation’s residents are trying to save themselves and the injured. They’re searching for survivors and want justice served on those who set the weapon off. Rune is stuck in the rancor king’s domain while the Night Render hunts down the three scattered pieces of the weapon that can take the evil king down. Hanne questions everything she’s ever believed about the “helpful” voice she’s heard since she was a child. If the kingdoms can work together, there might still be hope in surviving the destruction of their world.
Likes/dislikes: The love interest is a bit stilted. The character growth is stronger in this sequel than in the first book of the series. My favorite character is Prince Rune because he’s kind and strong.
Mature Content: PG for kissing.
Language: G for no swears or f-words.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: falls to white.
Reeling from the overwhelming destruction caused by the Malice weapon, Salvation’s residents are trying to save themselves and the injured. They’re searching for survivors and want justice served on those who set the weapon off. Rune is stuck in the rancor king’s domain while the Night Render hunts down the three scattered pieces of the weapon that can take the evil king down. Hanne questions everything she’s ever believed about the “helpful” voice she’s heard since she was a child. If the kingdoms can work together, there might still be hope in surviving the destruction of their world.
Likes/dislikes: The love interest is a bit stilted. The character growth is stronger in this sequel than in the first book of the series. My favorite character is Prince Rune because he’s kind and strong.
Mature Content: PG for kissing.
Language: G for no swears or f-words.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: falls to white.
November 9, 2023
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Jodi Meadows Dawnbreaker is the second installment in the authors Salvation Cycle duology. In the middle of nothingness is the continent of Salvation. Reality bends easily here. Villages disappear. Forests burn forever. Pockets of inconsistent time are everywhere, their boundaries strung with yellow ribbon. And the three kingdoms of Salvation (Caberwill, Embria & Ivasland) have been at war for a thousand years. But the greatest threat is the Malice, an incursion from the demon plane slowly tearing its way through the world's weakest seams. Seams that--once split--will lead to the total unraveling of night and day, light and dark, life and death.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Jodi Meadows Dawnbreaker is the second installment in the authors Salvation Cycle duology. In the middle of nothingness is the continent of Salvation. Reality bends easily here. Villages disappear. Forests burn forever. Pockets of inconsistent time are everywhere, their boundaries strung with yellow ribbon. And the three kingdoms of Salvation (Caberwill, Embria & Ivasland) have been at war for a thousand years. But the greatest threat is the Malice, an incursion from the demon plane slowly tearing its way through the world's weakest seams. Seams that--once split--will lead to the total unraveling of night and day, light and dark, life and death.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 18, 2023
Overall I would give the series a 4.25
The Salvation Cycle series was very well written and difficult to put down.
The main characters were not exactly likeable at first but as the story progressed and more was learned of them and as they themselves grew, they became more palatable. At the beginning, the prince, Prince Rune, was a simpering insecure dolt who was so wishy-washy trying to appease everybody, Princess Johanne (Hanna),the princess, was a calculating self-absorbed bitch who the reader just loved to hate, and the Nightrender herself, though the most "likeable character" of the main characters was somewhat whiney about her missing memories. But as the story progressed, Rune matured and became more self-confident, we learned why Hanna was the way she was, and could almost pity her...almost, and the Nightrender did get less whiney to a point as she got more focused on the problem at hand.
Ms. Meadows kept the story moving at a good pace and the reader engaged. She did an excellent job in creating this world and getting the reader involved and caring about the outcome and the characters. It was quite a story, very imaginative and the characters as I stated above were realistic and not one-dimensional.
I would recommend this book w/o hesitation and am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Meadows has in store for us readers in the future.
The Salvation Cycle series was very well written and difficult to put down.
The main characters were not exactly likeable at first but as the story progressed and more was learned of them and as they themselves grew, they became more palatable. At the beginning, the prince, Prince Rune, was a simpering insecure dolt who was so wishy-washy trying to appease everybody, Princess Johanne (Hanna),the princess, was a calculating self-absorbed bitch who the reader just loved to hate, and the Nightrender herself, though the most "likeable character" of the main characters was somewhat whiney about her missing memories. But as the story progressed, Rune matured and became more self-confident, we learned why Hanna was the way she was, and could almost pity her...almost, and the Nightrender did get less whiney to a point as she got more focused on the problem at hand.
Ms. Meadows kept the story moving at a good pace and the reader engaged. She did an excellent job in creating this world and getting the reader involved and caring about the outcome and the characters. It was quite a story, very imaginative and the characters as I stated above were realistic and not one-dimensional.
I would recommend this book w/o hesitation and am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Meadows has in store for us readers in the future.
June 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this electrifying and thrilling sequel. It was such a romantic push and pull of humanity and all it's good and evil. Nightrender is left to fix the wall that separated the humans and demons from each other, she is after all the immortal warrior of the gods yet she finds herself to be lost in the place she has called home for 400 years surprisingly. Nightrender explores more and more of what she has been protecting all these decades and realizing that not much separates her from them. Hanne becomes High Queen and is married to Rune although obviously his heart belongs to our warrior. With time, we began to understand that no one is superior or inferior because comparison is the thief of joy. I want to hold Nightrender so much and tell her so many things, loved her so much!
December 8, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced ebook copy of this book!
3/5 Stars
I had the opportunity to ARC the first book in this series, and kept finding myself drifting back to the world that Jodi Meadows created. I was excited when I found out I was approved for an eARC of this so I see how the duology ended. One thing I like is this book included more character development that I found was lacking in the first book. I found it added a lot more depth to the plot making the book more intriguing.
For those looking to read low ya fantasy or just getting into YA this is a great place to start. As I found this a great quick read!
3/5 Stars
I had the opportunity to ARC the first book in this series, and kept finding myself drifting back to the world that Jodi Meadows created. I was excited when I found out I was approved for an eARC of this so I see how the duology ended. One thing I like is this book included more character development that I found was lacking in the first book. I found it added a lot more depth to the plot making the book more intriguing.
For those looking to read low ya fantasy or just getting into YA this is a great place to start. As I found this a great quick read!
November 14, 2023
This is a nice follow-up to Nightrender. It continued the character arcs from the first book very nicely, but it had some of the same pacing issues, resulting in the end feeling a tad bit unearned. However the characters were always what sold me on these two books and their personal storyline conclusions were very good. I also like that there's room for Meadows to continue if she chooses but enough there to be a satisfying ending in its own right.
February 12, 2024
I felt confused by the ending, especially considering this is the second book of a duology. It wasn’t clear to me what the significance of the glowing feather was - does it mean Medella is Nightrender again? Does it mean there is another Nightrender (Hanne?)? Something else?
I liked Rune’s character a lot. I do wish the battle with the rancor king had gone differently, with Hanne playing a role in his defeat. Overall, it was an okay book.
I liked Rune’s character a lot. I do wish the battle with the rancor king had gone differently, with Hanne playing a role in his defeat. Overall, it was an okay book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 29, 2024
It was a fairly good plot, overall.
However, it turned out to be a pumped-up kids story. Movement was far too quick, distances disappeared. People kept exhibiting flaws in judgement, without learning.
The last several chapters were murky, like they had been added in and not edited very well. Information is missing or contradictory. The ending was open to whatever you thought. And how does everyone react to her presence with the guy??
However, it turned out to be a pumped-up kids story. Movement was far too quick, distances disappeared. People kept exhibiting flaws in judgement, without learning.
The last several chapters were murky, like they had been added in and not edited very well. Information is missing or contradictory. The ending was open to whatever you thought. And how does everyone react to her presence with the guy??
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