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Dragons of Terra #2
La Regina dei Draghi
L'ammazzadraghi Bershad e la regina Ashlyn stanno per affrontare la più grande sfida della loro esistenza. Considerata una strega e ripudiata dal suo regno, Ashlyn trova rifugio presso il popolo di sua madre. Ma non si è rassegnata, ed è decisa a dominare poteri magici da tempo ritenuti impossibili da gestire. Questo, tuttavia, potrebbe avere conseguenze impreviste. Nel frattempo, Bershad ha scoperto il motivo della sua presunta invincibilità e sa di avere i giorni contati. Ciò nonostante, vuole aiutare a tutti i costi Ashlyn a riconquistare il trono. Per farlo, saranno costretti ad affrontare un imperatore straniero e il suo esercito dotato di terribili nuovi armamenti, pronto a distruggere la terra di Ashlyn pur di appropriarsi dei suoi preziosi draghi. I due dovranno tentare l'impossibile per salvare il regno e prevalere.
519 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2020
81 people are currently reading
1088 people want to read
About the author
Brian Naslund
8 books197 followersBrian is an American fantasy author. Blood of an Exile is his debut novel, and the first in The Dragons of Terra series. The sequel, Sorcery of a Queen, will be published in August, 2020.
Brian grew up in Maryland but hates crab-cakes. He now lives in Colorado.
When he's not writing, he’s usually griping about video games on Twitter, hiking with his dog, Lola, or whitewater kayaking in the mountains. The last activity makes his mother very nervous.
You can connect with him at briannaslund.com.
Brian grew up in Maryland but hates crab-cakes. He now lives in Colorado.
When he's not writing, he’s usually griping about video games on Twitter, hiking with his dog, Lola, or whitewater kayaking in the mountains. The last activity makes his mother very nervous.
You can connect with him at briannaslund.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
August 16, 2020
I received a review copy of Sorcery of a Queen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Brian Naslund and Tor.
"Let me get this straight. Sitting on this ship, we have a stranger who claims to be a Witch Queen. An emperor-killing exile. And a notorious thief. In what realm would I bring the three of you within ten leagues of our Eternal Empress Okinu?"
After the battle of Floodhaven, we join Bershad, Ashlyn, and Felgor aboard a ship that's sailing North to Papyria. If you were wondering if the sequel to Blood of an Exile was going to be as action-focused and brutal as the first, then Naslund delivers his answer from the very first page. How does a showdown with five Red Skull dragons sound? With the third word in the novel being "goatfuck" for good measure.
Sorcery of a Queen is a high-intensity, action-packed, fantasy adventure that features large dollops of humour, as well as science and steampunk elements. It introduces many new players to the already pretty sizeable ensemble yet Sorcery of a Queen never felt confusing to follow. The new characters were mainly incorporated in Jolan's storyline, or lived on Goth Moth island. My memory was so hazy with reference to events that occurred in Blood of an Exile that I was considering a re-read of that book before starting the sequel. I need not have worried, however, as Naslund deftly reminds us of previous important happenings and events without it ever feeling forced. With that being the case, I believe Sorcery of a Queen could be read as a standalone without prior knowledge of the realm of Terra.
In addition to the point of view perspectives of Bershad and Ashlyn, we see what is happening around Terra through the eyes of the alchemist Jolan, the widow Vera, the corsair Cabbage, and the guard Castor. All the perspectives were enjoyable to follow. It took me a while to like reading about Jolan in Blood of the Exile but his tale is strong here and includes a same-sex potential relationship. Cabbage was my favourite new character to read about as the corsairs' banter was great but the absolute highlights were presented by the living-legend, dragon-slaying extraordinaire Bershad.
For me, Sorcery of a Queen sits somewhere between a 3 or a 4-star read. I upgraded it to 4 on Goodreads as there are many memorable set-pieces, everything wraps up nicely in a way that means I'll definitely read the next entry, and Naslund's enthusiasm for writing fantasy bleeds into the ink on the page. Sorcery of a Queen is a quick, fun fantasy read that is almost never dull. The only boring parts to me is when Ashyln's point of view prints some of master engineer, borderline madman Osyrus Ward's research. Even with those moments, Naslund's Dragons of Terra is an enjoyable fantasy adventure worth racing through.
"Let me get this straight. Sitting on this ship, we have a stranger who claims to be a Witch Queen. An emperor-killing exile. And a notorious thief. In what realm would I bring the three of you within ten leagues of our Eternal Empress Okinu?"
After the battle of Floodhaven, we join Bershad, Ashlyn, and Felgor aboard a ship that's sailing North to Papyria. If you were wondering if the sequel to Blood of an Exile was going to be as action-focused and brutal as the first, then Naslund delivers his answer from the very first page. How does a showdown with five Red Skull dragons sound? With the third word in the novel being "goatfuck" for good measure.
Sorcery of a Queen is a high-intensity, action-packed, fantasy adventure that features large dollops of humour, as well as science and steampunk elements. It introduces many new players to the already pretty sizeable ensemble yet Sorcery of a Queen never felt confusing to follow. The new characters were mainly incorporated in Jolan's storyline, or lived on Goth Moth island. My memory was so hazy with reference to events that occurred in Blood of an Exile that I was considering a re-read of that book before starting the sequel. I need not have worried, however, as Naslund deftly reminds us of previous important happenings and events without it ever feeling forced. With that being the case, I believe Sorcery of a Queen could be read as a standalone without prior knowledge of the realm of Terra.
In addition to the point of view perspectives of Bershad and Ashlyn, we see what is happening around Terra through the eyes of the alchemist Jolan, the widow Vera, the corsair Cabbage, and the guard Castor. All the perspectives were enjoyable to follow. It took me a while to like reading about Jolan in Blood of the Exile but his tale is strong here and includes a same-sex potential relationship. Cabbage was my favourite new character to read about as the corsairs' banter was great but the absolute highlights were presented by the living-legend, dragon-slaying extraordinaire Bershad.
For me, Sorcery of a Queen sits somewhere between a 3 or a 4-star read. I upgraded it to 4 on Goodreads as there are many memorable set-pieces, everything wraps up nicely in a way that means I'll definitely read the next entry, and Naslund's enthusiasm for writing fantasy bleeds into the ink on the page. Sorcery of a Queen is a quick, fun fantasy read that is almost never dull. The only boring parts to me is when Ashyln's point of view prints some of master engineer, borderline madman Osyrus Ward's research. Even with those moments, Naslund's Dragons of Terra is an enjoyable fantasy adventure worth racing through.
August 27, 2020
The battle at Floodhaven is over, the fate of the dragons has been decided, yet in the aftermath the lands of Terra are still on the brink of ruin. Blood is still being shed. A mad scientist plans to make his move and the new Balarian Emperor strikes to gain power over Almira. Infested by war, famine, and an age old conflict between nature and science, our main protagonists embark on a dire quest. Ashlyn, Bershad and Felgor journey to Papyrian in hopes of discovering more about Ashlyn’s new found sorcery. But will the three of them be able to use what they find to save Terra?
Sorcery of a Queen by Brian Naslund is a story of endurance against all odds and simultaneously an exploration of what happens when science goes too far. Yet underneath the darkness it is also a tale of endearing companionships in an otherwise brutal world.
What makes Sorcery of a Queen a worthy sequel to Blood of an Exile? Well firstly, it’s broader in scope as our protagonists are placed in various locations throughout Terra. We delve deeper into the Dainwood forest, we sail to Papyrian and even a mysterious island beyond. The world-building is enriched with different cultures and practices. Due to this Sorcery of a Queen also inevitably holds a larger cast of characters. Many of our beloved favourites remain significant to the narrative, but we are treated to a variety of new characters too.
My beloved Bershad, Ashlyn, and Felgor continued to be as captivating and charming as ever. Their dynamics in Blood of an Exile were some of my favourite parts to read and this sequel holds up to that same standard. No actually, it surpasses it. Through these characters we learn an abundance more about the magic system and it’s unfortunate consequences. Not only that but Naslund shows us that magic is also science, as he gives us scientific plausibility for the way magic is produced. Simply put, he makes the unreal real. Then as their quest became more dangerous, more action packed, and new characters such as Goll, Vash and Wendell joined their band, their bond deepened and along with that came all the banter. Oh how I loved the banter! In fact I very much appreciated the way Naslund layered various degrees of humour throughout the whole book. He included humour ranging from crude, cleverly witted to my favourite of all - dark humour. I’m very much drawn to a grimdark tale that’s laced with well written humour and this didn’t disappoint.
‘‘You’ve been brewing potions and tonics all this time, it’s the same general shit, right?”
“No,” Jolan said. “It’s not the same general shit. Just because I can brew a cock-rot tonic doesn’t mean I can fly a skyship!”
Here is Jolan, our young and naive medic who really grows in this sequel. Through his character we are shown the gory mess of a battlefield, the chaos of men, women and children lying injured, dying or dead, and even the confusion of who should be treated first. The realities of a field doctor are starkly represented as Naslund never shies away from the brutality of warfare. However Naslund also poignantly reflects upon the confusion and overwhelming emotions of first love and also of a found family. I won’t say too much here but with the addition of the Jaguar warriors such as Cumberland, Willem and Oromir we see Jolan struggle with his identity, accepting his sexuality and finding his place in the world.
As with any book which features multiple POV, there is likely to be one character who you are somewhat less invested in. Personally this applied with the character Kira for me. Fundamentally she seeked power - she would not be a subservient Empress, one who is meek and mild beneath her Emperor husband’s rule. Her political moves amounted to moving chess pieces on a board, until checkmate, she had exactly what she wanted. Kira’s narrative involved a lot of manipulation of various nobility, which was initially interesting but at times it became hard to keep up with her schemes. However I’d say by the end of the book things do take a very unexpected turn indeed, so Naslund has most definitely left me pondering over her fate.
Secondly, as with Blood of an Exile, once again dragons are detrimental to lands of Terra in Sorcery of a Queen. I love the way Naslund brings such realism in his treatment of dragons - not only are they significant to the balance of the environment, but he also injects traits into them which you would find in real animals of today. Migration patterns, mating habits, hunting formations, they are all detailed with an air of authenticity. It truly is fantastic to see an author treat dragons with the most meticulous care.
‘The natural order depends upon killing. From pea-sized spiders to castle-sized dragons, everything in this world either kills to survive, or dies to keep something else alive. The peacefulness of nature is an illusion. A trick played on untrained eyes.’
However, although the dragons may play a part in being the saviours of Terra, in this sequel they now become a vital source of it’s destruction too. Naslund shows that progression can be a wonderful thing, for example Jolan shows us that the more medical advancement he can achieve through researching the nature around him and their correlation with each other the more illnesses he can effectively cure. Yet on the other hand we are presented with a character like Osyrus Ward, to be more precise - our villain, who shows us that in the hands of a madman scientist, progression can truly be a most horrifying thing. His experimentations and discovery of the uses of dragon bones is the cause of our main dread and destruction. Much in the same way Michael Crichton philosophises in his Jurassic Park novel - “Scientists are actually preoccupied with accomplishment. So they are focused on whether they can do something. They never stop to ask if they should do something”, this notion also applies in this novel too.
Sorcery of a Queen at its heart is a wonderfully nuanced multilayered sequel, which paves the way for what is sure to be an upcoming thrilling finale. If you’re looking for a series that’s grim yet laced with humour, brutal yet endearing, and has dragons done right, then The Dragons of Terra series is exactly what you need.
ARC provided by Tor UK in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy! Sorcery of a Queen is out now!
The battle at Floodhaven is over, the fate of the dragons has been decided, yet in the aftermath the lands of Terra are still on the brink of ruin. Blood is still being shed. A mad scientist plans to make his move and the new Balarian Emperor strikes to gain power over Almira. Infested by war, famine, and an age old conflict between nature and science, our main protagonists embark on a dire quest. Ashlyn, Bershad and Felgor journey to Papyrian in hopes of discovering more about Ashlyn’s new found sorcery. But will the three of them be able to use what they find to save Terra?
Sorcery of a Queen by Brian Naslund is a story of endurance against all odds and simultaneously an exploration of what happens when science goes too far. Yet underneath the darkness it is also a tale of endearing companionships in an otherwise brutal world.
What makes Sorcery of a Queen a worthy sequel to Blood of an Exile? Well firstly, it’s broader in scope as our protagonists are placed in various locations throughout Terra. We delve deeper into the Dainwood forest, we sail to Papyrian and even a mysterious island beyond. The world-building is enriched with different cultures and practices. Due to this Sorcery of a Queen also inevitably holds a larger cast of characters. Many of our beloved favourites remain significant to the narrative, but we are treated to a variety of new characters too.
My beloved Bershad, Ashlyn, and Felgor continued to be as captivating and charming as ever. Their dynamics in Blood of an Exile were some of my favourite parts to read and this sequel holds up to that same standard. No actually, it surpasses it. Through these characters we learn an abundance more about the magic system and it’s unfortunate consequences. Not only that but Naslund shows us that magic is also science, as he gives us scientific plausibility for the way magic is produced. Simply put, he makes the unreal real. Then as their quest became more dangerous, more action packed, and new characters such as Goll, Vash and Wendell joined their band, their bond deepened and along with that came all the banter. Oh how I loved the banter! In fact I very much appreciated the way Naslund layered various degrees of humour throughout the whole book. He included humour ranging from crude, cleverly witted to my favourite of all - dark humour. I’m very much drawn to a grimdark tale that’s laced with well written humour and this didn’t disappoint.
‘‘You’ve been brewing potions and tonics all this time, it’s the same general shit, right?”
“No,” Jolan said. “It’s not the same general shit. Just because I can brew a cock-rot tonic doesn’t mean I can fly a skyship!”
Here is Jolan, our young and naive medic who really grows in this sequel. Through his character we are shown the gory mess of a battlefield, the chaos of men, women and children lying injured, dying or dead, and even the confusion of who should be treated first. The realities of a field doctor are starkly represented as Naslund never shies away from the brutality of warfare. However Naslund also poignantly reflects upon the confusion and overwhelming emotions of first love and also of a found family. I won’t say too much here but with the addition of the Jaguar warriors such as Cumberland, Willem and Oromir we see Jolan struggle with his identity, accepting his sexuality and finding his place in the world.
As with any book which features multiple POV, there is likely to be one character who you are somewhat less invested in. Personally this applied with the character Kira for me. Fundamentally she seeked power - she would not be a subservient Empress, one who is meek and mild beneath her Emperor husband’s rule. Her political moves amounted to moving chess pieces on a board, until checkmate, she had exactly what she wanted. Kira’s narrative involved a lot of manipulation of various nobility, which was initially interesting but at times it became hard to keep up with her schemes. However I’d say by the end of the book things do take a very unexpected turn indeed, so Naslund has most definitely left me pondering over her fate.
Secondly, as with Blood of an Exile, once again dragons are detrimental to lands of Terra in Sorcery of a Queen. I love the way Naslund brings such realism in his treatment of dragons - not only are they significant to the balance of the environment, but he also injects traits into them which you would find in real animals of today. Migration patterns, mating habits, hunting formations, they are all detailed with an air of authenticity. It truly is fantastic to see an author treat dragons with the most meticulous care.
‘The natural order depends upon killing. From pea-sized spiders to castle-sized dragons, everything in this world either kills to survive, or dies to keep something else alive. The peacefulness of nature is an illusion. A trick played on untrained eyes.’
However, although the dragons may play a part in being the saviours of Terra, in this sequel they now become a vital source of it’s destruction too. Naslund shows that progression can be a wonderful thing, for example Jolan shows us that the more medical advancement he can achieve through researching the nature around him and their correlation with each other the more illnesses he can effectively cure. Yet on the other hand we are presented with a character like Osyrus Ward, to be more precise - our villain, who shows us that in the hands of a madman scientist, progression can truly be a most horrifying thing. His experimentations and discovery of the uses of dragon bones is the cause of our main dread and destruction. Much in the same way Michael Crichton philosophises in his Jurassic Park novel - “Scientists are actually preoccupied with accomplishment. So they are focused on whether they can do something. They never stop to ask if they should do something”, this notion also applies in this novel too.
Sorcery of a Queen at its heart is a wonderfully nuanced multilayered sequel, which paves the way for what is sure to be an upcoming thrilling finale. If you’re looking for a series that’s grim yet laced with humour, brutal yet endearing, and has dragons done right, then The Dragons of Terra series is exactly what you need.
ARC provided by Tor UK in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy! Sorcery of a Queen is out now!
August 17, 2020
More of a solid 4.5 but I’m rounding up.
I may be a little late with my review but these days, it’s become a norm. But believe me when I tell you that I jumped with joy when I received the ARC for this one because Blood of an Exile was one of my top favorites from last year and I couldn’t wait to see what was gonna happen next. And just as expected, the author didn’t disappoint me at all.
If there’s one thing that stays with you as you read this book is the breakneck pace - there’s just something happening every couple of pages and it doesn’t let up or give us breathing room. And it is so unpredictable that every twist shook me up and took me by surprise - but once it happened, I was left exclaiming that it was actually quite expected. And it is this pacing, relentlessness and surprising nature of the book that makes this a formidable sequel to its equally spectacular predecessor, also ensuring that it doesn’t have anything resembling a second book syndrome. We also get more world building, exploring new lands and ecosystems, and also getting to know the various experiments being conducted and their wide range implications for the people and creatures of these lands.
The characters are as interesting as ever, with more POVs added and while I can’t see how important some of them might be, I’m very sure the author has many plans for them in the future. I don’t wanna go into detail about every one of them, because that’ll lead to spoilers and I really want every reader to get to know these characters themselves. It’s such a diverse group too - from exiles trying to find their place in this world, some trying to understand more about themselves and their link to the dragons, one queen trying to save the empire by trying to think like a scientist while another just wants her agency and peace for all the people but is naive to the wiles of people she trusts, a bodyguard who just wants to protect her charge but has to let go of every other connection she has to the world to make it possible, and a young alchemist who just wanted to heal people but finds himself thrust into the middle of a war he didn’t ask for. And amidst all this is a cunning and devious mad scientist whose ideas and plans for the world are so extreme and far reaching, that I don’t think anyone within the story or we as readers have still grasped them as a whole. We might be intrigued about some of them, pity a few and hate some others - but I promise that any reader will get very easily invested in their lives because it’s impossible not to.
To conclude, this is a worthy sequel to the author’s wonderful debut and I was just so excited to be lost in the world of Terra. If you love your fantasy novels to be full of breakneck pacing, great group of characters, lots of twists and betrayals, a mix of science and environmental studies thrown in, alongwith a whole horde of majestic dragons - then this series is just perfect for you. It is highly engaging, dark at times but also with bits of humor, and lots of heart. It’s probably gonna be an year’s wait for the finale and I’m very excited for it, even though everything feels like a doomsday for my favorite characters.
I may be a little late with my review but these days, it’s become a norm. But believe me when I tell you that I jumped with joy when I received the ARC for this one because Blood of an Exile was one of my top favorites from last year and I couldn’t wait to see what was gonna happen next. And just as expected, the author didn’t disappoint me at all.
If there’s one thing that stays with you as you read this book is the breakneck pace - there’s just something happening every couple of pages and it doesn’t let up or give us breathing room. And it is so unpredictable that every twist shook me up and took me by surprise - but once it happened, I was left exclaiming that it was actually quite expected. And it is this pacing, relentlessness and surprising nature of the book that makes this a formidable sequel to its equally spectacular predecessor, also ensuring that it doesn’t have anything resembling a second book syndrome. We also get more world building, exploring new lands and ecosystems, and also getting to know the various experiments being conducted and their wide range implications for the people and creatures of these lands.
The characters are as interesting as ever, with more POVs added and while I can’t see how important some of them might be, I’m very sure the author has many plans for them in the future. I don’t wanna go into detail about every one of them, because that’ll lead to spoilers and I really want every reader to get to know these characters themselves. It’s such a diverse group too - from exiles trying to find their place in this world, some trying to understand more about themselves and their link to the dragons, one queen trying to save the empire by trying to think like a scientist while another just wants her agency and peace for all the people but is naive to the wiles of people she trusts, a bodyguard who just wants to protect her charge but has to let go of every other connection she has to the world to make it possible, and a young alchemist who just wanted to heal people but finds himself thrust into the middle of a war he didn’t ask for. And amidst all this is a cunning and devious mad scientist whose ideas and plans for the world are so extreme and far reaching, that I don’t think anyone within the story or we as readers have still grasped them as a whole. We might be intrigued about some of them, pity a few and hate some others - but I promise that any reader will get very easily invested in their lives because it’s impossible not to.
To conclude, this is a worthy sequel to the author’s wonderful debut and I was just so excited to be lost in the world of Terra. If you love your fantasy novels to be full of breakneck pacing, great group of characters, lots of twists and betrayals, a mix of science and environmental studies thrown in, alongwith a whole horde of majestic dragons - then this series is just perfect for you. It is highly engaging, dark at times but also with bits of humor, and lots of heart. It’s probably gonna be an year’s wait for the finale and I’m very excited for it, even though everything feels like a doomsday for my favorite characters.
October 25, 2020
Sorcery of a Queen follows the same fun banter with great humor. Surprising fantastical elements keep the plot fresh. There isn't a thing in this series so far that I dislike, strong females, dragons and a lot of focus on nature and magic. Everything I love. There is even in a way an animal companion, loose but it still counts in my eyes haha. I cannnn't wait for the finale, it is turning into a fave series. There is plenty of suspense in the story and lovable characters that I enjoy following, all POV's are great.
June 4, 2024
A witch queen. An emperor-killing exile. And a notorious thief. It sounds like the start of an exciting joke, but involves saving the world.
After the goatfuck at Floodhaven and believed dead, Bershad, Ashlyn, and Felgor sailed north to Papyria and the Empress.
Almira is facing invasion from Balaria where flying ships made from dragon bones and gray metal made by the mad scientist who tortured Bershad.
Kira, now Empress, is determined to fix the entirety of Terra through wile and political intrigue.
Jolan joins with the Jaguar Army fighting a war against Linkon Pommol.
”Don't go soft because of a little backstory, kid. Everybody's got one."
There’s mushroom demons, a Nomad dragon following Bershad, and pirates!
And of course, Felgor to keep things interesting!
Fast-paced, interesting, and keeps you on your toes!
I love how the dragons aren’t even the biggest part of the plot, but more the politics and how dragons play a part in the world!
Bookstagram
After the goatfuck at Floodhaven and believed dead, Bershad, Ashlyn, and Felgor sailed north to Papyria and the Empress.
Almira is facing invasion from Balaria where flying ships made from dragon bones and gray metal made by the mad scientist who tortured Bershad.
Kira, now Empress, is determined to fix the entirety of Terra through wile and political intrigue.
Jolan joins with the Jaguar Army fighting a war against Linkon Pommol.
”Don't go soft because of a little backstory, kid. Everybody's got one."
There’s mushroom demons, a Nomad dragon following Bershad, and pirates!
And of course, Felgor to keep things interesting!
Fast-paced, interesting, and keeps you on your toes!
I love how the dragons aren’t even the biggest part of the plot, but more the politics and how dragons play a part in the world!
Bookstagram
April 20, 2021
4.5
Qualche mese fa lessi, per puro caso, il primo volume di questa trilogia, Il marchio dei draghi.
Un bel libro fantasy: spunti interessanti per quanto riguarda le varie storyline, una bellissima ambientazione (che va dal fantasy classico/medievale allo steampunk) e dei personaggi ben caratterizzati ai quali è impossibile non affezionarsi.
Dopo un primo libro avvincente (nonostante alcune scelte un po' scontate) non avrei mai creduto che il secondo volume potesse piacermi COSI' TANTO.
La Regina dei draghi è un romanzo IMPOSSIBILE da appoggiare.
L'azione è costante, l'avventura sembra non avere mai fine. Non c'è un attimo di tregua per i nostri protagonisti, che continuano ad essere uno dei punti più forti del romanzo.
Non sono letteralmente riuscita a staccarmi dalle pagine, divorando in pochissimi giorni le oltre 500 pagine del libro.
Vediamo ora gli aspetti che più ho apprezzato e che hanno reso il terzo romanzo della saga il libro che al momento sto attendendo di più:
-L'ambientazione: il woldbuilding creato da Naslund si riconferma una certezza. Abbiamo foreste con nidi di drago, caverne, laghi e castelli medievali, città ricche di ingranaggi e meccanismi che richiamano il genere steampunk, isole con città sotterranee e zone putride ricoperte di melma tossica, funghi fosforescenti e demoni terrificanti.
Ho amato ogni singola ambientazione, che viene resa al meglio dalle descrizioni dell'autore.
-La commistione di generi: partendo da una base epic fantasy (che già di per sè mescola anche il sottogenere dello Sword and Sorcery, avendo come protagonista un uomo pressoché invincibile), il romanzo prende delle pieghe che mai avrei immaginato e che mi hanno rapita. Troviamo richiami al genere weird, al body horror, allo steampunk e al sottogenere letterario che si incentra sulle terrificanti azioni e sugli esperimenti dello "scienziato pazzo".
Che dire? Ho amato tutto.
-I protagonisti: come ho già detto, ho amato tantissimo i vari protagonisti della storia.
Bershad, Felgor, Jolan, Ashlyn, Oromir..chi più ne ha più ne metta.
Personaggi ben caratterizzati che sanno rendere al meglio momenti sia drammatici che ricchi di umorismo (spesso assolutamente nero!)
-L'aspetto della magia: non voglio assolutamente entrare nello spoiler, ma mi è piaciuto tantissimo come l'autore abbia realizzato la componente magica, sempre indissolubilmente unita a quella scientifica.
Avrei tanto altro di cui parlare: di una relazione LGBT che mi ha stretto il cuore, della bellissima trovata delle navi volanti, dell'attenzione alla varie razze dei draghi, alla scorrevolezza della scrittura..ma penso di aver scritto anche troppo.
Spero davvero che darete una chance a questa serie, per me è stata una scoperta davvero fantastica!
VOTO: 8 E MEZZO
Qualche mese fa lessi, per puro caso, il primo volume di questa trilogia, Il marchio dei draghi.
Un bel libro fantasy: spunti interessanti per quanto riguarda le varie storyline, una bellissima ambientazione (che va dal fantasy classico/medievale allo steampunk) e dei personaggi ben caratterizzati ai quali è impossibile non affezionarsi.
Dopo un primo libro avvincente (nonostante alcune scelte un po' scontate) non avrei mai creduto che il secondo volume potesse piacermi COSI' TANTO.
La Regina dei draghi è un romanzo IMPOSSIBILE da appoggiare.
L'azione è costante, l'avventura sembra non avere mai fine. Non c'è un attimo di tregua per i nostri protagonisti, che continuano ad essere uno dei punti più forti del romanzo.
Non sono letteralmente riuscita a staccarmi dalle pagine, divorando in pochissimi giorni le oltre 500 pagine del libro.
Vediamo ora gli aspetti che più ho apprezzato e che hanno reso il terzo romanzo della saga il libro che al momento sto attendendo di più:
-L'ambientazione: il woldbuilding creato da Naslund si riconferma una certezza. Abbiamo foreste con nidi di drago, caverne, laghi e castelli medievali, città ricche di ingranaggi e meccanismi che richiamano il genere steampunk, isole con città sotterranee e zone putride ricoperte di melma tossica, funghi fosforescenti e demoni terrificanti.
Ho amato ogni singola ambientazione, che viene resa al meglio dalle descrizioni dell'autore.
-La commistione di generi: partendo da una base epic fantasy (che già di per sè mescola anche il sottogenere dello Sword and Sorcery, avendo come protagonista un uomo pressoché invincibile), il romanzo prende delle pieghe che mai avrei immaginato e che mi hanno rapita. Troviamo richiami al genere weird, al body horror, allo steampunk e al sottogenere letterario che si incentra sulle terrificanti azioni e sugli esperimenti dello "scienziato pazzo".
Che dire? Ho amato tutto.
-I protagonisti: come ho già detto, ho amato tantissimo i vari protagonisti della storia.
Bershad, Felgor, Jolan, Ashlyn, Oromir..chi più ne ha più ne metta.
Personaggi ben caratterizzati che sanno rendere al meglio momenti sia drammatici che ricchi di umorismo (spesso assolutamente nero!)
-L'aspetto della magia: non voglio assolutamente entrare nello spoiler, ma mi è piaciuto tantissimo come l'autore abbia realizzato la componente magica, sempre indissolubilmente unita a quella scientifica.
Avrei tanto altro di cui parlare: di una relazione LGBT che mi ha stretto il cuore, della bellissima trovata delle navi volanti, dell'attenzione alla varie razze dei draghi, alla scorrevolezza della scrittura..ma penso di aver scritto anche troppo.
Spero davvero che darete una chance a questa serie, per me è stata una scoperta davvero fantastica!
VOTO: 8 E MEZZO
March 1, 2022
Se il primo libro della serie mi era piaciuto moltissimo, purtroppo il seguito si è rivelato l'opposto e infatti ho fatto molta fatica a arrivare alla fine.
Niente da dire sulla qualità del libro e dell'autore che sono notevoli.
Semplicemente questo secondo libro si è spostato sempre più verso un tipo di fantasy che non mi piace.
Troppa scienza, troppa tecnologia e troppo Frankestein per i miei gusti.
Mi dispiace ma per me la saga dei draghi Terra finisce qui.
Niente da dire sulla qualità del libro e dell'autore che sono notevoli.
Semplicemente questo secondo libro si è spostato sempre più verso un tipo di fantasy che non mi piace.
Troppa scienza, troppa tecnologia e troppo Frankestein per i miei gusti.
Mi dispiace ma per me la saga dei draghi Terra finisce qui.
September 5, 2020
4.5*. Meet my expectations? Resounding Yes. Exceed my expectations? No. Would I recommend this series? Fuck yes!
When I finally read book three will I forget everything I have read? Without a doubt.
When I finally read book three will I forget everything I have read? Without a doubt.
July 23, 2020
Thank you to Tor Books UK, Stephen and Jamie Lee Nardone for sending me an ARC of this wonderful book. All thoughts and opinions are mine only for this review.
Warning: This novel has the following: Experiments! Alchemy! Dragons! Airships! Assassinations, exploding cities, pirates, Felgor! Nasty little Vampire named Verdun, an ambitious lady called Kira and Vera, and the return of glorious young Jolan! Empires fight for incredible stakes, Lords and Dukes fight in epic scale battles, and everything goes haywire. The world literally goes into madness. It descends into a pit of hope, then chaos, hope, then chaos. This is what this wonderful book has to offer you, and guess what. The cover is so damn good! So damn good! Kudos to the cover designer. This is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read and all I have is praise. Well done Tor and Brian. You’ve delivered a hit series. Cannot wait for book 3.
Sorcery of a Queen. Sorcery of a Queen. Sorcery of a Queen indeed. This novel comes right at you like a flying kicka pow pow book and literally takes the dark side of fantasy, scrunches it all up, and then spits it. It takes the heroic side of fantasy and literally turns it up side down. Its like something pulled out of real life. And that’s not to meantion the fact that this all happens because of a certain weird individual – read on and you will discover a VERY sinister secret.
This is one of those novels that comes along in a while, and literally reminds me you of something. Wait. Is this a unique twist of both heroic fantasy and dark fantasy? Or is this something else? I feel like its the spiritual successor to Rachel Aaron’s The Legend of Eli Monpress Series. Except this is more like the realistic and grim version yet combined with hope. I’ve spent 3 days and I’ve breezed through this. I’ve really enjoyed reading this. One thing. I love the use of dragons in this book. Well written, well utilised, but can the Flawless Bershard now own an armada of dragons so Queen Ashe can use it? I think Flawless Bershard said he hated killing dragons in book 1 anyway. And in Book 3, he needs to literally kick the **** out of Verdun.
This is like the Deadpool of Fantasy. There. I’ve said it. It’s Deadpool. The writing is so good that the descriptions are bewildering, breath-taking almost. You’re in jungles, islands, airships, and a lot of climate change facts that are incredibly well written into the fantasy narrative. The dialogue is so refreshing its…I could compare this to Nicholas Eames Kings of the Wyld. Heck! This is very comparable to David Wragg’s the Black Hawks. I’d call this a new twist in fantasy. It’s like taking dark fantasy and heroic fantasy into a corner, and then…laughing at them. That’s what it feels like.
Tell me, what novel combines flying airships with humor? With such brutal gore in this world, one should be disgusted when you learn of Verdun. He’s a nasty little vampire. A very nasty vampire. And Castor is the reclutant servant. And quite frankly, I’ve loved all the characters that Jolan meets himself with. I felt sadness and sympathy, laughed and giggled at the same time. The humour is one of the best aspects. And I love Jolan’s innocence. The world needs more good natured people like him.
As for our flawless Bershard…he gets his ass getting handed to him all the time. I’m afraid to say, the man that’s literally killed Naga Soul Striders and Red Skulls…the world treats him brutally. There’s a new cast of characters that join us in this grand new adventure, and I must say, stop getting rid of characters I get attachted too Brian, they’re so good! *weeps weeps* Now if an author can do this in a novel and the reader feels something about it. Then he’s done the work.
This. This is pure fantasy. I did feel the ending was a little dragged on, and there were parts I would have wanted reduced. But I don’t want to spoil too much. All I know is that I’ve loved every character so far. And never, and never, and never, have I seen SUCH a mind-blowing twist. Empires ruined beyond all comprehension. (And this is the only CLUE I’m going to give. Read this novel and you’ll soon start to know what it means very very very very fast!) There is such a fantastic twist that it completely oblierates saving the world stuff and letting the world die – it produces something more unique than that.
Oh. And dear old Fergus! The man’s Jack Sparrow. I swear Jack Sparrow got drunk once upon a time, then stumbled upon his cousin named Fergus, and then they got lost, and then Fergus spent his time becoming mad and high, and well, I’d say the series is really about Fergus. Not Bershard. Also, Ashlyn needs more scenes. I def got a grand sense of her, but I want MORE of her. She’s a very good character, but she still needs to learn that the politics of lords and generals are too cunning – she’s a cunning character indeed. And Vera? Poor Vera. That’s all I can say.
All I can say is, this would be great as the following:
Netflix Series
Graphic Novel Series
Comic Series!
And thats it. That’s all I can say. IT’S THAT GOOOD. GO BUY IT NOW! YOU’RE MISSING OUT ON AN UNDER-RATED FANTASY GENRE AND AWESOME AND UNIQUE SUBPLOT.
Ok I’ve think I’ve rambled enough right now. This book and this series is for fans of Nicholas Eames and David Wragg.
Fergus! You take the stage!
Bugger.
Oh and bring on Book 3. Plz bring it. I need it!!!!!!!
Warning: This novel has the following: Experiments! Alchemy! Dragons! Airships! Assassinations, exploding cities, pirates, Felgor! Nasty little Vampire named Verdun, an ambitious lady called Kira and Vera, and the return of glorious young Jolan! Empires fight for incredible stakes, Lords and Dukes fight in epic scale battles, and everything goes haywire. The world literally goes into madness. It descends into a pit of hope, then chaos, hope, then chaos. This is what this wonderful book has to offer you, and guess what. The cover is so damn good! So damn good! Kudos to the cover designer. This is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read and all I have is praise. Well done Tor and Brian. You’ve delivered a hit series. Cannot wait for book 3.
Sorcery of a Queen. Sorcery of a Queen. Sorcery of a Queen indeed. This novel comes right at you like a flying kicka pow pow book and literally takes the dark side of fantasy, scrunches it all up, and then spits it. It takes the heroic side of fantasy and literally turns it up side down. Its like something pulled out of real life. And that’s not to meantion the fact that this all happens because of a certain weird individual – read on and you will discover a VERY sinister secret.
This is one of those novels that comes along in a while, and literally reminds me you of something. Wait. Is this a unique twist of both heroic fantasy and dark fantasy? Or is this something else? I feel like its the spiritual successor to Rachel Aaron’s The Legend of Eli Monpress Series. Except this is more like the realistic and grim version yet combined with hope. I’ve spent 3 days and I’ve breezed through this. I’ve really enjoyed reading this. One thing. I love the use of dragons in this book. Well written, well utilised, but can the Flawless Bershard now own an armada of dragons so Queen Ashe can use it? I think Flawless Bershard said he hated killing dragons in book 1 anyway. And in Book 3, he needs to literally kick the **** out of Verdun.
This is like the Deadpool of Fantasy. There. I’ve said it. It’s Deadpool. The writing is so good that the descriptions are bewildering, breath-taking almost. You’re in jungles, islands, airships, and a lot of climate change facts that are incredibly well written into the fantasy narrative. The dialogue is so refreshing its…I could compare this to Nicholas Eames Kings of the Wyld. Heck! This is very comparable to David Wragg’s the Black Hawks. I’d call this a new twist in fantasy. It’s like taking dark fantasy and heroic fantasy into a corner, and then…laughing at them. That’s what it feels like.
Tell me, what novel combines flying airships with humor? With such brutal gore in this world, one should be disgusted when you learn of Verdun. He’s a nasty little vampire. A very nasty vampire. And Castor is the reclutant servant. And quite frankly, I’ve loved all the characters that Jolan meets himself with. I felt sadness and sympathy, laughed and giggled at the same time. The humour is one of the best aspects. And I love Jolan’s innocence. The world needs more good natured people like him.
As for our flawless Bershard…he gets his ass getting handed to him all the time. I’m afraid to say, the man that’s literally killed Naga Soul Striders and Red Skulls…the world treats him brutally. There’s a new cast of characters that join us in this grand new adventure, and I must say, stop getting rid of characters I get attachted too Brian, they’re so good! *weeps weeps* Now if an author can do this in a novel and the reader feels something about it. Then he’s done the work.
This. This is pure fantasy. I did feel the ending was a little dragged on, and there were parts I would have wanted reduced. But I don’t want to spoil too much. All I know is that I’ve loved every character so far. And never, and never, and never, have I seen SUCH a mind-blowing twist. Empires ruined beyond all comprehension. (And this is the only CLUE I’m going to give. Read this novel and you’ll soon start to know what it means very very very very fast!) There is such a fantastic twist that it completely oblierates saving the world stuff and letting the world die – it produces something more unique than that.
Oh. And dear old Fergus! The man’s Jack Sparrow. I swear Jack Sparrow got drunk once upon a time, then stumbled upon his cousin named Fergus, and then they got lost, and then Fergus spent his time becoming mad and high, and well, I’d say the series is really about Fergus. Not Bershard. Also, Ashlyn needs more scenes. I def got a grand sense of her, but I want MORE of her. She’s a very good character, but she still needs to learn that the politics of lords and generals are too cunning – she’s a cunning character indeed. And Vera? Poor Vera. That’s all I can say.
All I can say is, this would be great as the following:
Netflix Series
Graphic Novel Series
Comic Series!
And thats it. That’s all I can say. IT’S THAT GOOOD. GO BUY IT NOW! YOU’RE MISSING OUT ON AN UNDER-RATED FANTASY GENRE AND AWESOME AND UNIQUE SUBPLOT.
Ok I’ve think I’ve rambled enough right now. This book and this series is for fans of Nicholas Eames and David Wragg.
Fergus! You take the stage!
Bugger.
Oh and bring on Book 3. Plz bring it. I need it!!!!!!!
August 21, 2020
Sorcery of a Queen is the second in the Dragons of Terra series, following the Flawless Bershad and Queen Ashlyn on their quest to save dragons, restore Ashlyn to the throne, and unlock the secrets of the sorcery she’s always accused of.
Sorcery of a Queen was such an excellent follow up to Blood of an Exile! I didn’t think it was possible to like a sequel more, but Naslund has done it. This was such a perfect combination of humour, adventure, and some really heartfelt moments.
The alternating chapters between different characters point of view really kept the story moving. Usually, there is a character that I’m a little less interested in then others, but Sorcery of a Queen managed to make me care and stay invested in everyone. While I found Vera’s chapters a little slower at first, by part two of the book I was as fully invested in her and Kira as I was with Bershad, and Ashlyn.
The humour of this book is absolutely spot on too. It’s a fine balance to write characters that are truly funny, but each character managed to have some really wonderful one-liners and some actual laugh out loud moments. They all have different humour too, which is so wonderful to see to create fully developed characters that each stand apart from each other. Ashlyn’s dry humour mixed with crude humour from Felgor and others, any reader will find a lot of this book hilarious no matter what your sense of humour is.
As I said too, there’s a lot of heartfelt moments. I didn’t really expect to cry reading Sorcery of a Queen, especially after all of the laughter, but I did. Several times. There’s a few spots that just punched me right in the heart, and I don’t think I’ll get over them any time soon. This really made the book what it was though - such a finely crafted balance of sad and funny pulled the book together, and it’s one you really can’t forget or get over.
Sorcery of a Queen is absolutely going to be one of my favourite reads of the year, and I strongly encourage everyone to pick up a copy of Blood of an Exile if you haven’t already, so that you can continue on to the even better sequel with Sorcery of a Queen.
Sorcery of a Queen was such an excellent follow up to Blood of an Exile! I didn’t think it was possible to like a sequel more, but Naslund has done it. This was such a perfect combination of humour, adventure, and some really heartfelt moments.
The alternating chapters between different characters point of view really kept the story moving. Usually, there is a character that I’m a little less interested in then others, but Sorcery of a Queen managed to make me care and stay invested in everyone. While I found Vera’s chapters a little slower at first, by part two of the book I was as fully invested in her and Kira as I was with Bershad, and Ashlyn.
The humour of this book is absolutely spot on too. It’s a fine balance to write characters that are truly funny, but each character managed to have some really wonderful one-liners and some actual laugh out loud moments. They all have different humour too, which is so wonderful to see to create fully developed characters that each stand apart from each other. Ashlyn’s dry humour mixed with crude humour from Felgor and others, any reader will find a lot of this book hilarious no matter what your sense of humour is.
As I said too, there’s a lot of heartfelt moments. I didn’t really expect to cry reading Sorcery of a Queen, especially after all of the laughter, but I did. Several times. There’s a few spots that just punched me right in the heart, and I don’t think I’ll get over them any time soon. This really made the book what it was though - such a finely crafted balance of sad and funny pulled the book together, and it’s one you really can’t forget or get over.
Sorcery of a Queen is absolutely going to be one of my favourite reads of the year, and I strongly encourage everyone to pick up a copy of Blood of an Exile if you haven’t already, so that you can continue on to the even better sequel with Sorcery of a Queen.
August 24, 2021
“The world is changing. For a long stretch, war was about training men to fight, keeping ‘em healthy, and moving your crew faster than the enemy can move his. Now we’re chasing flying ships made from dragon bones. This is the problem with living too long.” Can’t we say that today too?
The book begins with a bang. Bershad doesn’t seem to get a break. And now he has this weird healing and connection to a Nomad dragon. There’s the crazy scientist, Osyrus, with his creepy machines and creations. Ashlyn is figuring out her power and is still a smart scientist in her own right. She’s a very good female character. Felgor is still the funny sidekick which is much needed in this dark, stressful world. Kira, Ashlyn’s sister, is an interesting person. Is she really going to be the benevolent ruler she imagines herself to be? I’m not sure I like her. Jolan is wonderful. He really comes into his own here. Great to see. Castor, a small role later on in the book, demonstrates how an innocent in his past life, can get embroiled in a life of crime. And will Vergun ever get what’s coming to him??? Lots of yuck and gross moments.
Sadly there’s not much live action dragon in this one, but hoping there will be in the last book. An excellent sequel to the first one.
The book begins with a bang. Bershad doesn’t seem to get a break. And now he has this weird healing and connection to a Nomad dragon. There’s the crazy scientist, Osyrus, with his creepy machines and creations. Ashlyn is figuring out her power and is still a smart scientist in her own right. She’s a very good female character. Felgor is still the funny sidekick which is much needed in this dark, stressful world. Kira, Ashlyn’s sister, is an interesting person. Is she really going to be the benevolent ruler she imagines herself to be? I’m not sure I like her. Jolan is wonderful. He really comes into his own here. Great to see. Castor, a small role later on in the book, demonstrates how an innocent in his past life, can get embroiled in a life of crime. And will Vergun ever get what’s coming to him??? Lots of yuck and gross moments.
Sadly there’s not much live action dragon in this one, but hoping there will be in the last book. An excellent sequel to the first one.
August 12, 2020
One of those books you wish you didn't have to finish. This book doesn't waste time, our protagonists are fighting dragons on the first page. Rather than the usual Dark Lord antagonist we have something more like a mad scientist with the insidious Osyrus Ward & his horrific experiments. Cumberland's wardens reminded me of Rudd Threetrees & his crew from First Law. An exciting page turner, can't wait for book 3
January 18, 2021
I tried to read this slowly, to make it last - but.... the more I read, the more I couldn’t stop.
This is the best fantasy I’ve read for ages!
Can’t wait for the next one
This is the best fantasy I’ve read for ages!
Can’t wait for the next one
September 5, 2021
Damn that was so much fun! This trilogy is shaping up to be a favourite of the year for me. Sorcery of a Queen is the sequel to Blood of an Exile and continues with the really fun adventure element. One of my favourite aspects is the banter, especially between Bershad and Felgor. I am having so much fun with their bromance. Some pretty dark stuff happens in here, but it is off set by the banter and dialogue of the cast.
This installment has Bershad and Ashlyn go across the sea to find the origin of Osyrus Ward's terrible creations in order to stop them. We also follow Jolan back in the mainland as he joins a group of Jaguar Wardens and is confronted with the realities of war. My heart really broke for him. There are other P.O.Vs too that really flesh out this world.
The author has created a very unique magic system in this world, and everytime we learn more about it, I am more intrigued by it. I love how the autor makes the magic of this world make sense and well, realistic. It is so well done.
I love the characters in here. Bershad, Felgor and Jolan are my particular favourites. They are just so likeable. There is plenty of action to keep the blood pumping and of course, the dragons who are playing an increasingly larger role. Am I considering diving straight into the finale, rather than going on to my next readathon tbr? Yep, I am. I have to know where all this goes, and see these people through to the end.
This installment has Bershad and Ashlyn go across the sea to find the origin of Osyrus Ward's terrible creations in order to stop them. We also follow Jolan back in the mainland as he joins a group of Jaguar Wardens and is confronted with the realities of war. My heart really broke for him. There are other P.O.Vs too that really flesh out this world.
The author has created a very unique magic system in this world, and everytime we learn more about it, I am more intrigued by it. I love how the autor makes the magic of this world make sense and well, realistic. It is so well done.
I love the characters in here. Bershad, Felgor and Jolan are my particular favourites. They are just so likeable. There is plenty of action to keep the blood pumping and of course, the dragons who are playing an increasingly larger role. Am I considering diving straight into the finale, rather than going on to my next readathon tbr? Yep, I am. I have to know where all this goes, and see these people through to the end.
September 30, 2021
I'd say this one is definitely much better and has higher stakes.
I did get a bit tired of the MCs always getting caught (no matter which group of MCs we're talking about 😅).
But now that I actually know the characters I care a bit more about them and the story and how it's going.
Personally, I'm not that big of a fan of the crazy scientist and experiments kind of story but at the same time there's something fascinating about it 😅😅
I did get a bit tired of the MCs always getting caught (no matter which group of MCs we're talking about 😅).
But now that I actually know the characters I care a bit more about them and the story and how it's going.
Personally, I'm not that big of a fan of the crazy scientist and experiments kind of story but at the same time there's something fascinating about it 😅😅
March 2, 2022
3.5 Stars!
A solid second story in the Dragon's of Terra Trilogy. I enjoyed most of the characters and the action makes the book easy to read. One more book to go, so I might was well start it right away.
A solid second story in the Dragon's of Terra Trilogy. I enjoyed most of the characters and the action makes the book easy to read. One more book to go, so I might was well start it right away.
August 14, 2020
Thank you to Tor UK, Brian Naslund, Jamie-Lee Nardone and Stephen Haskins for a review copy of Sorcery Of A Queen.
“You of all people should know how rumours go. There’s a kernel of truth that gets inflated each time it passes from one drunken mouth to the next, until you have an enormous dragonslayer with a foot-long cock pissing down the neck-stumps of decapitated dragons.”
It has been such a pleasure to be back in the wonderful world of Terra once again. The magic, the dragons, the relationships and the tongue-in-cheek humour. Brian Naslund has this inert skill to just know the formula for have the brain completely enraptured in his storytelling. It’s been several days since I finished this tome, and this is one author that I can completely lay my trust at his door. I didn’t read the synopsis or the reviews, and boy am I glad that I did. I started and stopped writing this review so many times because I just didn’t feel that I could do the book justice. no big words, no adjectives could express how awesome this book is. If you’ve been contemplating reading this series – do it. Do it now! It’s a raw journey that will wrack several emotions from you but it’s so worth it!
Sorcery Of A Queen takes place after the battle of Floodhaven. We get the pleasure of being reacquainted with Bershad, Ashlyn and Felgor. They’ve escaped and are making their way to Papyria by boat. Brian Naslund’s Sorcery Of A Queen is an exploration of survival, relationships and what makes us tick. It’s as hard hitting, and action packed as Blood Of An Exile. The first page has you lacing up your Nikes and running straight into the plot as fast as your feet can carry you. He doesn’t shy away from tough situations and gladly puts his characters in harm’s way. You might want them in a safe haven but Naslund constantly reminds you that the reader isn’t running the show.
Epic dragons. A royal goatfucking. Journeys of epic proportions. This story has everything you didn’t realise you were craving and then exceeds every expectations that you didn’t know you were harbouring. We’ve got new players to the game, more information on the dragons and a plot so electric that you dare not get too close. What I totally get on board with was the fact that Naslund reminded us of the major events from book one, so I don’t need to sit in confusion unlike my other attempts with later books in a series.
We are given multiple perspectives, Bershad, Ashlyn, The Widow, Vera, the alchemist, Jolan and Cabbage, the corsair. The one theme that stands out during these perspectives is the consequences of choices and actions. Sorcery Of A Queen was like a drug and Brian Naslund was my dealer. I was turning the pages so quickly I’m pretty sure that I had papercuts on top of my papercuts.
Sorcery Of A Queen demands your attention and doesn’t let go. Its inventive, a unique universe with an incredibly vibrant setting. Tense and atmospheric, a must-read.
“You of all people should know how rumours go. There’s a kernel of truth that gets inflated each time it passes from one drunken mouth to the next, until you have an enormous dragonslayer with a foot-long cock pissing down the neck-stumps of decapitated dragons.”
It has been such a pleasure to be back in the wonderful world of Terra once again. The magic, the dragons, the relationships and the tongue-in-cheek humour. Brian Naslund has this inert skill to just know the formula for have the brain completely enraptured in his storytelling. It’s been several days since I finished this tome, and this is one author that I can completely lay my trust at his door. I didn’t read the synopsis or the reviews, and boy am I glad that I did. I started and stopped writing this review so many times because I just didn’t feel that I could do the book justice. no big words, no adjectives could express how awesome this book is. If you’ve been contemplating reading this series – do it. Do it now! It’s a raw journey that will wrack several emotions from you but it’s so worth it!
Sorcery Of A Queen takes place after the battle of Floodhaven. We get the pleasure of being reacquainted with Bershad, Ashlyn and Felgor. They’ve escaped and are making their way to Papyria by boat. Brian Naslund’s Sorcery Of A Queen is an exploration of survival, relationships and what makes us tick. It’s as hard hitting, and action packed as Blood Of An Exile. The first page has you lacing up your Nikes and running straight into the plot as fast as your feet can carry you. He doesn’t shy away from tough situations and gladly puts his characters in harm’s way. You might want them in a safe haven but Naslund constantly reminds you that the reader isn’t running the show.
Epic dragons. A royal goatfucking. Journeys of epic proportions. This story has everything you didn’t realise you were craving and then exceeds every expectations that you didn’t know you were harbouring. We’ve got new players to the game, more information on the dragons and a plot so electric that you dare not get too close. What I totally get on board with was the fact that Naslund reminded us of the major events from book one, so I don’t need to sit in confusion unlike my other attempts with later books in a series.
We are given multiple perspectives, Bershad, Ashlyn, The Widow, Vera, the alchemist, Jolan and Cabbage, the corsair. The one theme that stands out during these perspectives is the consequences of choices and actions. Sorcery Of A Queen was like a drug and Brian Naslund was my dealer. I was turning the pages so quickly I’m pretty sure that I had papercuts on top of my papercuts.
Sorcery Of A Queen demands your attention and doesn’t let go. Its inventive, a unique universe with an incredibly vibrant setting. Tense and atmospheric, a must-read.
August 16, 2021
På sitt sätt är det ett högt nog betyg att jag läste ut boken under ett dygn, trots att jag var tvungen att göra andra saker vid sidan av. Bokens tema - att allt har oanade konsekvenser, och att livet är jobbigt - fortsätter. Nästan hela vägen igenom. Det som trots det gör att jag inte kan ge boken högre betyg, är att den fegar ur, och slutar på fel sätt. Den slutar hoppfullt, med ett fokus på de extraordinära hjältarna, och det stör mig.
Sedan D&D tog över fantasyn, generationen efter Tolkien och Howard, gick lösningen från "ondska utrotar sig själv" (Tolkien) och "civilisation är alltid tillfällig, men mänskligheten överlever" (Howard), till hjälten som bryter mönstret. Det är ett enormt felsteg, för det tvingar in hjältar i en frälsargestalt som 1) bara funkar om tanken är att människor slutar vara människor, och 2) kräver att de problem som hjältarnas psyken inte passar för antingen inte är problem, eller inte finns. Det i sin tur ger en sjuk världsbild.
De senare åren har man försökt skriva om detta, men man gör det utan tillräcklig kunskap - civilisatoriska hjältar, där den mest välrenommerade är Napoleon, är ofta med viss rätt sedda som monster. Folk lider under dem, och i andra länder tenderar de att vara sedda som kulturdödare. Napoleon förgjorde de samhällsstrukturer han mötte, och tvingade in resten av kontinenten i ett högst onaturligt samarbetsförfarande under ständiga hemliga kapprustningar, för att undvika nästa Napoleon. Och han är en av de bästa civilisationshjältarna vi har haft, utan vilken den moderna syntesen av industrialism, liberalism och nationalism, kombinerat med meritokrati och civilisationslyster, inte hade funnits. I nästan 100 år möjliggjorde den kombinationen en dubbling av det globala välståndet - trots att egentligen bara det protestantiska Västeuropa omfattades av den. Dettta utöver rättigheter för medborgare, även om de inte förtjänat dem; utöver individuella rättigheter utanför klan och klass; utöver början till rätten att påverka landets lager; utöver en massa sådana saker som för det mesta ses som positiva (även om det naturligtvis, till skillnad från ekonomins storlek, är ett ideologiskt ställningstagande).
Så, oavsett hur storslagna stora individer är, så kommer deras planer med en kostnad. Deras existenser slutar i regel också tragiskt, och de dör hatade. Bara romantiker kan senare göra dem till hjältar. För att låna ett koncept från Augustinus, är deras liv en kamp som måste återupprepas igen och igen - en evig seger är omöjlig, och ingen hero eller grupp av heroer kan vara tillräcklig på alla plan. Jag använder ordet hero här i dess grekiska bemärkelse - en person som senare blir sedd som en halvgud; inte ens en halvgud kan vara tillräcklig i sig själv att rädda en värld. Att skriva utifrån det perspektivet blir inte ens naivt - det blir bara dumt. Jag är rädd att denna bokserie kommer falla i den fällan i volym 3.
Det som borde göras är att skildra en befolknings och civilisationskollaps - naturen, inklusive de drakarter som är de ekologiska hörnstenarna i den värld som Naslund skapat, återhämtar sig, och hittar ett nytt jämviktsläge. Det som istället görs, är att kombinera brillians och styrka, och välvilja bland de mäktiga för att illustrera en slags tredje väg. Tidigare var det intressanta i själva intrigen att den stora civilisationshjälten och huvudpersonen är skurken, inte hjälten vi följer. Hjältarna var istället de som försökte stoppa kostnaderna för civilisationshjälten. Nu görs civilisationshjälten till en galen vetenskapsman, och de personer vi följer ges gradvis magiska krafter för att stoppa honom.
Jag vet inte. Jag tycker att det är att fega ur. Men förhoppningsvis har jag fel i min analys av vartåt det barkar, och blir positivt överraskad när författaren inte slutar med ett globalt ekologiskt paradisiskt tusenårsrike, styrt av de två magiska regenterna vars överlägsna kontakt med det ekologiska systemet ställer dem över dödlig moral och vanliga dödligas behov.
Sedan D&D tog över fantasyn, generationen efter Tolkien och Howard, gick lösningen från "ondska utrotar sig själv" (Tolkien) och "civilisation är alltid tillfällig, men mänskligheten överlever" (Howard), till hjälten som bryter mönstret. Det är ett enormt felsteg, för det tvingar in hjältar i en frälsargestalt som 1) bara funkar om tanken är att människor slutar vara människor, och 2) kräver att de problem som hjältarnas psyken inte passar för antingen inte är problem, eller inte finns. Det i sin tur ger en sjuk världsbild.
De senare åren har man försökt skriva om detta, men man gör det utan tillräcklig kunskap - civilisatoriska hjältar, där den mest välrenommerade är Napoleon, är ofta med viss rätt sedda som monster. Folk lider under dem, och i andra länder tenderar de att vara sedda som kulturdödare. Napoleon förgjorde de samhällsstrukturer han mötte, och tvingade in resten av kontinenten i ett högst onaturligt samarbetsförfarande under ständiga hemliga kapprustningar, för att undvika nästa Napoleon. Och han är en av de bästa civilisationshjältarna vi har haft, utan vilken den moderna syntesen av industrialism, liberalism och nationalism, kombinerat med meritokrati och civilisationslyster, inte hade funnits. I nästan 100 år möjliggjorde den kombinationen en dubbling av det globala välståndet - trots att egentligen bara det protestantiska Västeuropa omfattades av den. Dettta utöver rättigheter för medborgare, även om de inte förtjänat dem; utöver individuella rättigheter utanför klan och klass; utöver början till rätten att påverka landets lager; utöver en massa sådana saker som för det mesta ses som positiva (även om det naturligtvis, till skillnad från ekonomins storlek, är ett ideologiskt ställningstagande).
Så, oavsett hur storslagna stora individer är, så kommer deras planer med en kostnad. Deras existenser slutar i regel också tragiskt, och de dör hatade. Bara romantiker kan senare göra dem till hjältar. För att låna ett koncept från Augustinus, är deras liv en kamp som måste återupprepas igen och igen - en evig seger är omöjlig, och ingen hero eller grupp av heroer kan vara tillräcklig på alla plan. Jag använder ordet hero här i dess grekiska bemärkelse - en person som senare blir sedd som en halvgud; inte ens en halvgud kan vara tillräcklig i sig själv att rädda en värld. Att skriva utifrån det perspektivet blir inte ens naivt - det blir bara dumt. Jag är rädd att denna bokserie kommer falla i den fällan i volym 3.
Det som borde göras är att skildra en befolknings och civilisationskollaps - naturen, inklusive de drakarter som är de ekologiska hörnstenarna i den värld som Naslund skapat, återhämtar sig, och hittar ett nytt jämviktsläge. Det som istället görs, är att kombinera brillians och styrka, och välvilja bland de mäktiga för att illustrera en slags tredje väg. Tidigare var det intressanta i själva intrigen att den stora civilisationshjälten och huvudpersonen är skurken, inte hjälten vi följer. Hjältarna var istället de som försökte stoppa kostnaderna för civilisationshjälten. Nu görs civilisationshjälten till en galen vetenskapsman, och de personer vi följer ges gradvis magiska krafter för att stoppa honom.
Jag vet inte. Jag tycker att det är att fega ur. Men förhoppningsvis har jag fel i min analys av vartåt det barkar, och blir positivt överraskad när författaren inte slutar med ett globalt ekologiskt paradisiskt tusenårsrike, styrt av de två magiska regenterna vars överlägsna kontakt med det ekologiska systemet ställer dem över dödlig moral och vanliga dödligas behov.
September 13, 2021
I loved Blood of an Exile which I bought on a whim because, well, dragons. It ended up being one of my favourite books of the year. I did wonder whether book two would be able to keep me engaged as it would need to maintain the depth, pace and character relationships that made book one such a joy, whilst also introducing new elements. Brian Naslund really excelled at this and I now know I will buy anything he writes in future. I trust him to deliver after such a brilliant follow up. I must point out that I received this book as an ARC from Tor Books, for which I am extremely grateful – especially to Stephen Haskins, Jamie-Lee Nardone and of course Brian Naslund.
So why was this such a great follow up?
For a start, it really expanded on the continent of Terra and we got a lot more insight into the nations within, the history and background to some characters relationships with one another and the cultures involved. The most intriguing and relatable to me personally are the people of the Dainwood and we spend a lot of time with the Jaguar wardens that fight for their homeland, with a strong affinity to nature and preserving the natural world around them. Through them we are also introduced to a blossoming gay relationship with one of our characters from book one, that Naslund really makes you care about and feel invested in the love of the two people.
Indeed, Sorcery of a Queen is a tale of relationships; romance and friendship aswell as tenuous alliances and mistrust. All the characters are really fleshed out with motivations and desires – this is coming from someone who is usually very plot orientated. Maybe Brian Naslund has simply made me realise I am a character person afterall – it just takes me a couple of books of consistently excellent characterisation to get me on board.
Whilst characters are certainly a huge strength (Kira and Jolan were great to spend more time with, aswell as the trio that bounce off one another in Bershad, Ashe and Felgor) the book is such an exciting and fast paced read because of the plot. It can slow down but anytime it does it feels meaningful. There is no filler here. And the action steps up a notch and drags you along for the ride; before you know it you’ve read another hour when you were meant to only have 5 more minutes before bed.
There is admittedly a feeling that God’s Moss is used as a bit of a cheat code to get Bershad out of tricky spots. I think if this continued into book three indefinitely without any consequences, it would make some of the fight scenes begin to feel a little shallow. Naslund however builds on the gears set in motion earlier with the discovery of real repercussions to Bershad’s use of God’s Moss, which promises to be a major thread in the next novel.
Speaking of discovery, there are a lot of discoveries about Osyrus Ward and just what he’d been up to on that island. This actually introduces a lot more science fantasy elements which does take things a little further away from Blood of an Exile. I’d say aside from the dragons, to a certain extent the fantasy aspects felt supplementary to the politics of the plot, whereas here everything is turned up a couple of dials – the undead, skyship action and organ replacement anyone? Plenty of opportunities for a goatfuck – when things don’t go according to plan!
One thing that Sorcery of a Queen puts beyond all doubt is that this is a series for adults. If you prefer sex hinted at or full of euphemisms, this isn’t the book for you. If you’d rather not see many swear words. If you would rather not know about brutal deaths. If you don’t want to imagine people mutilated whilst alive and their body parts replaced. Then this is not the read you’re after. I however think it’s bloody awesome – jam packed full of adventure, action, an almost cartoonist brutality at times. I loved every second of it – I’m still in love with the dragons in the ecosystem dynamic that a lot of fantasy neglects to consider. Overall though I think I can safely say I love so many of the characters in this series that the characters have to stand out perhaps even above the outstanding action and gripping plot.
So why was this such a great follow up?
For a start, it really expanded on the continent of Terra and we got a lot more insight into the nations within, the history and background to some characters relationships with one another and the cultures involved. The most intriguing and relatable to me personally are the people of the Dainwood and we spend a lot of time with the Jaguar wardens that fight for their homeland, with a strong affinity to nature and preserving the natural world around them. Through them we are also introduced to a blossoming gay relationship with one of our characters from book one, that Naslund really makes you care about and feel invested in the love of the two people.
Indeed, Sorcery of a Queen is a tale of relationships; romance and friendship aswell as tenuous alliances and mistrust. All the characters are really fleshed out with motivations and desires – this is coming from someone who is usually very plot orientated. Maybe Brian Naslund has simply made me realise I am a character person afterall – it just takes me a couple of books of consistently excellent characterisation to get me on board.
Whilst characters are certainly a huge strength (Kira and Jolan were great to spend more time with, aswell as the trio that bounce off one another in Bershad, Ashe and Felgor) the book is such an exciting and fast paced read because of the plot. It can slow down but anytime it does it feels meaningful. There is no filler here. And the action steps up a notch and drags you along for the ride; before you know it you’ve read another hour when you were meant to only have 5 more minutes before bed.
There is admittedly a feeling that God’s Moss is used as a bit of a cheat code to get Bershad out of tricky spots. I think if this continued into book three indefinitely without any consequences, it would make some of the fight scenes begin to feel a little shallow. Naslund however builds on the gears set in motion earlier with the discovery of real repercussions to Bershad’s use of God’s Moss, which promises to be a major thread in the next novel.
Speaking of discovery, there are a lot of discoveries about Osyrus Ward and just what he’d been up to on that island. This actually introduces a lot more science fantasy elements which does take things a little further away from Blood of an Exile. I’d say aside from the dragons, to a certain extent the fantasy aspects felt supplementary to the politics of the plot, whereas here everything is turned up a couple of dials – the undead, skyship action and organ replacement anyone? Plenty of opportunities for a goatfuck – when things don’t go according to plan!
One thing that Sorcery of a Queen puts beyond all doubt is that this is a series for adults. If you prefer sex hinted at or full of euphemisms, this isn’t the book for you. If you’d rather not see many swear words. If you would rather not know about brutal deaths. If you don’t want to imagine people mutilated whilst alive and their body parts replaced. Then this is not the read you’re after. I however think it’s bloody awesome – jam packed full of adventure, action, an almost cartoonist brutality at times. I loved every second of it – I’m still in love with the dragons in the ecosystem dynamic that a lot of fantasy neglects to consider. Overall though I think I can safely say I love so many of the characters in this series that the characters have to stand out perhaps even above the outstanding action and gripping plot.
January 18, 2021
We return to the world of Terra, where dragons and alchemy take centre stage! I gave the first book of the series, Blood of an Exile, a solid four stars.
The final 200 pages or so of Sorcery of a Queen really ramped up everything and gave the book a highly thrilling, enjoyable conclusion. (Aside from the random twist that kinda came out of left field, I loved everything else about the ending).
Firstly, I loved how this was a true sequel in as much as it continued the journey of the characters of the first book, dived deeper into the questions raised, and expanded more of the world. I’ve never been a fan of sequels that take a sharp detour from what I’ve come to expect, and Sorcery of a Queen did not disappoint on that front. There was a lot of mystery and secrets that were explored, and it was fantastic to discover more about what makes some of the characters tick while also getting to know a few new places in the world.
Everything the characters did in the last book has real consequences, and it’s great to see the outcome of so many of those events. I loved revisiting old places under new regimes, or places that had been shaken to their foundations. Many characters had been left shaken, some in advantageous positions, some at a distinct disadvantage, and discovering how each navigated their respective situations was brilliant.
The quest for immortality, power, the chance to live and survive and thrive. These are all touched on in the book, which made for a gripping, page-turning read.
My main gripe is with the characters. While I know most of the characters here are criminal, killers, pirates, and overall quite seedy, the near-constant jokes/references about tits/cocks/fucking/goatfucks etc. became a little much at times, and with so many awful characters doing so many awful things, whenever some new person was introduced, they could only be **EVEN MORE** awful and disgusting and abhorrent. It’s quite numbing after a while, and makes the book feel a lot more like a horror than a fantasy with half the cast talking about how they’ll torture/murder the other half of the cast every five minutes. Vergun. Osyrus. Garret. Kasamir. Simeon. The widows. Even some of the new pirates still have to be immediately super aggressive/violet/filthy, whether they have small or large roles. Although motivations are different, the resulting actions/vocab is much the same.
Unfortunately I wasn’t as much a fan of Bershad and Ashlyn as much this time around. It felt they were more secondary. Even Felgor, who was my favourite from the first book seemed to have lost his edge somewhat.
Jolan’s plot thread was by far my favourite, with some truly heart-wrenching moments and wonderfully emotional scenes. He comes across as the most well-rounded, the most human. I loved that he was naive and more innocent but still intuitive and quick-witted, able to get himself out of most difficult situations. He learned a lot and probably changed the most. His journey was a brilliant one.
Cabbage was an unexpectedly great side character - caught up in wrong place at the wrong time and highly relatable.
I loved the introduction of the sky ships, engines, and even more alchemy. All the human experimentation and horror aspects were a little too much in parts, but that’s more on me than the book, I think.
Overall it was a fun read and it’ll be interesting to see how the trilogy wraps up with the third book!
The final 200 pages or so of Sorcery of a Queen really ramped up everything and gave the book a highly thrilling, enjoyable conclusion. (Aside from the random twist that kinda came out of left field, I loved everything else about the ending).
Firstly, I loved how this was a true sequel in as much as it continued the journey of the characters of the first book, dived deeper into the questions raised, and expanded more of the world. I’ve never been a fan of sequels that take a sharp detour from what I’ve come to expect, and Sorcery of a Queen did not disappoint on that front. There was a lot of mystery and secrets that were explored, and it was fantastic to discover more about what makes some of the characters tick while also getting to know a few new places in the world.
Everything the characters did in the last book has real consequences, and it’s great to see the outcome of so many of those events. I loved revisiting old places under new regimes, or places that had been shaken to their foundations. Many characters had been left shaken, some in advantageous positions, some at a distinct disadvantage, and discovering how each navigated their respective situations was brilliant.
The quest for immortality, power, the chance to live and survive and thrive. These are all touched on in the book, which made for a gripping, page-turning read.
My main gripe is with the characters. While I know most of the characters here are criminal, killers, pirates, and overall quite seedy, the near-constant jokes/references about tits/cocks/fucking/goatfucks etc. became a little much at times, and with so many awful characters doing so many awful things, whenever some new person was introduced, they could only be **EVEN MORE** awful and disgusting and abhorrent. It’s quite numbing after a while, and makes the book feel a lot more like a horror than a fantasy with half the cast talking about how they’ll torture/murder the other half of the cast every five minutes. Vergun. Osyrus. Garret. Kasamir. Simeon. The widows. Even some of the new pirates still have to be immediately super aggressive/violet/filthy, whether they have small or large roles. Although motivations are different, the resulting actions/vocab is much the same.
Unfortunately I wasn’t as much a fan of Bershad and Ashlyn as much this time around. It felt they were more secondary. Even Felgor, who was my favourite from the first book seemed to have lost his edge somewhat.
Jolan’s plot thread was by far my favourite, with some truly heart-wrenching moments and wonderfully emotional scenes. He comes across as the most well-rounded, the most human. I loved that he was naive and more innocent but still intuitive and quick-witted, able to get himself out of most difficult situations. He learned a lot and probably changed the most. His journey was a brilliant one.
Cabbage was an unexpectedly great side character - caught up in wrong place at the wrong time and highly relatable.
I loved the introduction of the sky ships, engines, and even more alchemy. All the human experimentation and horror aspects were a little too much in parts, but that’s more on me than the book, I think.
Overall it was a fun read and it’ll be interesting to see how the trilogy wraps up with the third book!
August 5, 2021
Mad-science mushroom-tech body-horror mystery meets action-romance set in a world of renaissance fantasy at the cusp of a technological clockwork-magic revolution still struggling with famine and succession wars that have collapsed nations. Sounds a bit much? It is. However still grounded in solid characters, a clear plot, and understandable motivations.
This book has the usual problems of a sequel in a series: it's a slight step down from the first, it's not freestanding enough, and it struggles a little with what it wants to be. There a just a little too many elements and tonal shifts between the traits, making the science horror feel out of place and excessive even as it does serve the plot and explain background events, drive the plot, and set up the real big bad. It's an uneven read, and while still generally enjoyable and easy to read, it doesn't quite make the same impression as the first book.
The saving graces are the characters and their relationships, serving to give a more realistic emotional core to all of this, and interspacing it with more quiet personal moments even when they are set in a war or amid terrible personal loss. Jolan's story really shines still and he is by far the most likable of the characters as he is the least jaded and most emotionally accessible -- kudos on the queer romance. This book also has female characters who are more cold and calculating than their male counterparts, understandably so as high nobility/royalty, and while still not losing their humanity, in the Malgrave sisters and their shared desire to rule and change the world. The male characters generally come off as more emotionally driven with a few exceptions.
As such, I still think the series is worth reading, but that this is tonally and plotwise the weaker book, however that it still adds to the growth of the characters, the furthering of events, and enough enjoyable scenes to be readable on its own.
This book has the usual problems of a sequel in a series: it's a slight step down from the first, it's not freestanding enough, and it struggles a little with what it wants to be. There a just a little too many elements and tonal shifts between the traits, making the science horror feel out of place and excessive even as it does serve the plot and explain background events, drive the plot, and set up the real big bad. It's an uneven read, and while still generally enjoyable and easy to read, it doesn't quite make the same impression as the first book.
The saving graces are the characters and their relationships, serving to give a more realistic emotional core to all of this, and interspacing it with more quiet personal moments even when they are set in a war or amid terrible personal loss. Jolan's story really shines still and he is by far the most likable of the characters as he is the least jaded and most emotionally accessible -- kudos on the queer romance. This book also has female characters who are more cold and calculating than their male counterparts, understandably so as high nobility/royalty, and while still not losing their humanity, in the Malgrave sisters and their shared desire to rule and change the world. The male characters generally come off as more emotionally driven with a few exceptions.
As such, I still think the series is worth reading, but that this is tonally and plotwise the weaker book, however that it still adds to the growth of the characters, the furthering of events, and enough enjoyable scenes to be readable on its own.
July 20, 2020
Brian Naslund became one of my favourite authors last year with his debut novel Blood of an Exile. There aren't many books that can put me on an emotional roller-coaster but Naslund has this down to a fine art. With the third word of the sequel being 'goatfuck' we were off to an epic start.
We follow our protagonist Bershad and Queen Ashlyn as they try to regain her throne. There's only one problem? They've been exiled presumed dead.
Naslund's humour rings throughout and if you love the likes of Tyrion Lannister and Game of Thrones as a whole this is a series for you. I absolutely adore it and can't wait for book 3.
One further recommendation - if you have a goldfish brain like mine, I'd reread Blood of an Exile again first to familiarise yourself with the politics and world again. I wish I had and definitely will be ahead of Book 3.
We follow our protagonist Bershad and Queen Ashlyn as they try to regain her throne. There's only one problem? They've been exiled presumed dead.
Naslund's humour rings throughout and if you love the likes of Tyrion Lannister and Game of Thrones as a whole this is a series for you. I absolutely adore it and can't wait for book 3.
One further recommendation - if you have a goldfish brain like mine, I'd reread Blood of an Exile again first to familiarise yourself with the politics and world again. I wish I had and definitely will be ahead of Book 3.
October 12, 2021
I really enjoyed book 1 of this series, BLOOD OF AN EXILE, so much that I could not wait to read the second book, SORCERY OF A QUEEN. And I am super glad I did, because I loved it just as much as the first book in the series.
At the risk of repeating myself, the series started off with awesome characters and an adventurous plot. Full stop. The second book in the series continues to be both of things while expanding on them, as well.
SORCERY OF A QUEEN takes the characters around the map on new adventures. They are in constant peril, which leads to a ton of character development. They also learn some key lessons along the way, and that is kind of the point, isn't it?
Not only are the characters expounded upon, but the reader also gets to experience a lot of more of Terra. The characters travel all over and meet many different types of living things, including mushroom zombies (though, are those considered "living").
The plot is also just as adventurous, if not more than the first book. Things felt chaotic and out of control at times, and I mean that in a good way. I love how constant it was... like it refused to let me go. I could not stop reading it.
At the risk of repeating myself, the series started off with awesome characters and an adventurous plot. Full stop. The second book in the series continues to be both of things while expanding on them, as well.
SORCERY OF A QUEEN takes the characters around the map on new adventures. They are in constant peril, which leads to a ton of character development. They also learn some key lessons along the way, and that is kind of the point, isn't it?
Not only are the characters expounded upon, but the reader also gets to experience a lot of more of Terra. The characters travel all over and meet many different types of living things, including mushroom zombies (though, are those considered "living").
The plot is also just as adventurous, if not more than the first book. Things felt chaotic and out of control at times, and I mean that in a good way. I love how constant it was... like it refused to let me go. I could not stop reading it.
October 19, 2021
4.5 stars of big WOW.
What a world building, Dragons of Terra really impressed me. Not only the cast grew on me so much I jump and cry with them all the way through every fight and heartbreak but the plot also thicken at every step of the journey. Sorcery of a Queen introduce more surprises to the Terra realm; zombie, pirate, more dragon and secret evil experiment. This is one very interesting and wild imagination fantasy series and officially one of my favorite.
What a world building, Dragons of Terra really impressed me. Not only the cast grew on me so much I jump and cry with them all the way through every fight and heartbreak but the plot also thicken at every step of the journey. Sorcery of a Queen introduce more surprises to the Terra realm; zombie, pirate, more dragon and secret evil experiment. This is one very interesting and wild imagination fantasy series and officially one of my favorite.
May 25, 2021
4 stelline, anche se non piene! Al primo della trilogia avevo dato lo stesso rating ma in quel caso erano 4 stelline pienissime. Questo secondo volume mi ha convinto meno del Marchio dei draghi, decisamente più caotico e con un leggero appiattimento dei personaggi principali. Speriamo che il terzo risollevi un po’ la loro caratterizzazione.
August 25, 2020
https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2020...
We start where we’ve left off, Bershad on the run with his Queen lover who is now also on the run herself. The gang is not quite back together, we still have the loss of Rowan and Alfonso to deal with but we have my favorite thief, and we get to know Ashlyn more as well as her sister.
Strong second novel, better than the first not only in plot but character development and it has me so excited to see what happens in the third and final book of the Dragons of Terra trilogy!
4/5 large cups of coffee from me and thank you so much to Tor for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion! [If you’re curious about book one, I’ve included a short review of it below, this trilogy is definitely worth it if you love dragons and fantasy]
We start where we’ve left off, Bershad on the run with his Queen lover who is now also on the run herself. The gang is not quite back together, we still have the loss of Rowan and Alfonso to deal with but we have my favorite thief, and we get to know Ashlyn more as well as her sister.
Strong second novel, better than the first not only in plot but character development and it has me so excited to see what happens in the third and final book of the Dragons of Terra trilogy!
4/5 large cups of coffee from me and thank you so much to Tor for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion! [If you’re curious about book one, I’ve included a short review of it below, this trilogy is definitely worth it if you love dragons and fantasy]
November 27, 2025
Whyyy isnt it more popular?!
December 7, 2021
I find it much easier to give the benefit of the doubt to the first book in a series than any following book. The second book often shows whether the author learned from their mistakes and/or whether the first was merely a fluke. This is unfortunately sometimes undermined by the second in a trilogy being a transitional book. While I wouldn't call this transitional, it certainly seems to primarily be for setting up the third book. I would've preferred it to follow up some of its themes from the first book rather than for the majority to be a suicidal quest again, but that suffices as well.
There's wholesale slaughter and many characters die, but I didn't find it to be very impactful. That usually requires some emotional investment. When a bunch of influential nobodies are killed that's mostly a statement of what characters are willing to do more than anything else. There are a few characters that time has been spent on that die, but I feel that those involved were either too nonchalant or hamfisted about their deaths for me to feel much. As with the first book there's sex, though this time the only scene where there's more than a couple sentences are two male youths fumbling around.
The series antagonist was introduced relatively late in the first book. There's much more focus on him in this one and probably will be in the third book. I like him, but he's in the wrong series, for me at least. He's directly responsible for almost all the in-universe elements I don't like in this series. Everything he does just seems so out of place, mostly in terms of technological advancement. His goal of imposing perfect order on the world is relatively common, but how he wants to go about it irks me in this otherwise not technologically advanced setting. I think that would be less of a concern others.
Overall, I found this to be a weaker book, perhaps only because I didn't overlook as much. The series is a fun read, but it isn't anything particularly notable aside from maybe its propensity to quickly overthrow established systems. I expect the third to be more similar to the second than the first. Depending on how the third book goes, I may have to relegate this series to being little better than average because of how it doesn't do much with the several good ideas it has. So, while it hasn't been quite what I'd want it to be, I can certainly see the appeal for others to enjoy it more for what it is.
There's wholesale slaughter and many characters die, but I didn't find it to be very impactful. That usually requires some emotional investment. When a bunch of influential nobodies are killed that's mostly a statement of what characters are willing to do more than anything else. There are a few characters that time has been spent on that die, but I feel that those involved were either too nonchalant or hamfisted about their deaths for me to feel much. As with the first book there's sex, though this time the only scene where there's more than a couple sentences are two male youths fumbling around.
The series antagonist was introduced relatively late in the first book. There's much more focus on him in this one and probably will be in the third book. I like him, but he's in the wrong series, for me at least. He's directly responsible for almost all the in-universe elements I don't like in this series. Everything he does just seems so out of place, mostly in terms of technological advancement. His goal of imposing perfect order on the world is relatively common, but how he wants to go about it irks me in this otherwise not technologically advanced setting. I think that would be less of a concern others.
Overall, I found this to be a weaker book, perhaps only because I didn't overlook as much. The series is a fun read, but it isn't anything particularly notable aside from maybe its propensity to quickly overthrow established systems. I expect the third to be more similar to the second than the first. Depending on how the third book goes, I may have to relegate this series to being little better than average because of how it doesn't do much with the several good ideas it has. So, while it hasn't been quite what I'd want it to be, I can certainly see the appeal for others to enjoy it more for what it is.
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