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The Impavidus Cycle #2
Nightfall
A bitter war with Raazenia has seized Sylva. Beaten-down revolutionaries fight for survival in the dark world. As the Order searches for a way forward in the face of rampant uncertainty, Mianna is forced to confront dark secrets about the Order she has served all her life that will shake the foundation of everything she has ever known. As Z'xolkuloth's iron grip increases on the dark world of Hatheg Kla, the last scraps of revolt may at last find the leader they have long searched for...
625 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2021
2 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 3, 2021
If you like high stakes and magical wars then buckle up because this book is a ride that will have you screaming and crying from start to finish! Nightfall takes place a year after the events of book 1, and it is rough. Everyone is riding the struggle bus and nobody is having a good time. It's actually a very interesting contrast to book 1, where there were mostly good, happy, peaceful times with some sad or rough moments. Whereas book 2 serves as a foil with being mostly tension and conflict, with occasional quieter moments. The characters are as delightful as ever and it was heartening to watch them grow and overcome these rough conditions. There are also fun new additions to the cast, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. It is a wonderful continuation of a character-driven story with fantastical, otherworldly elements and my only grievance is waiting for the next book! XD
March 28, 2023
so many twists and turns but by far the most surprising plot twist was al’s relationship w potatoes
February 22, 2022
Birthright was a masterpiece, and Nightfall is a perfect successor. Once again, Vice has brought us into a fast paced, high stakes fantasy world full of characters that feel like family. The story is perfectly paced, flowing effortlessly between edge-of-your-seat action and soft moments of kindness, reflection, and love. The characters are so vibrant, you will celebrate their successes, cry with their losses, and feel as if you are fighting alongside them on every page. The ending is a perfect setup for book 3, and I will be eagerly awaiting its release.
January 18, 2022
I loved Nightfall so much!! The pacing is much different from that of Birthright as the action ramps up! Some wonderful new characters are introduced, and questions from Birthright are answered that lead to even more mysteries, which is only frustrating in that I can't immediately read the third book!!!
Vice has created a beautiful, chaotic world that is full of life and emotion. It's easy to see the care that went into Nightfall's creation, and I can't wait for the next installment. :)
Vice has created a beautiful, chaotic world that is full of life and emotion. It's easy to see the care that went into Nightfall's creation, and I can't wait for the next installment. :)
February 1, 2025
An incredible sequel that outshines the first volume in every way, NIGHTFALL returns us to the kingdom of Sylva, but also introduces us to the brutal yet fascinating world of Hatheg Kla. The characters remain strong, with some of the most real and heartfelt depictions of coping with loss that truly breath life into them. Without a doubt, NIGHTFALL is sure to keep you invested in THE IMPAVIDUS CYCLE beyond the final page.
January 24, 2022
Excellent!
December 9, 2022
Strides of improvement from debut novel Birthright to second in the series, Nightfall. To write a novel over 600 pages is quite the feat, and to write two in a row at over 600 each is worth the applause! I rate this book a hard 4 out of 5 for its excellence in action, motion, and refreshing depth and character growth in the first 3/4ths of the novel, but dock 1 star for the lack of environmental and narrative descriptors and superficial dynamics between major characters.
--- SPOILERS ---
Praises:
- My visualization for Shadrans were basically Beerus from Dragon Ball Z but with long hair, which was a fun read. Learning more about characters that aren't human was really cool, and I liked the care M. A. Vice put into really establishing how different these creatures were. The Aneros fights were fun, and I liked how Albtraum went back to his daemon roots with getting a new mask made for him as he grew into the Impavidus name.
- When the term "Nightfall" was revealed, I was like Oh Hell Yeah, that's the title of the book!
- I heartily enjoy the idea of "upside down" worlds, and Hatheg Kla was very fun to learn about. I wished there was a map of sorts to see the landscape of the dark world. (more on that in the critique)
- The whole book is basically action, fighting, motion, blood, and severed limbs. It was awesome - every action sequence is full of such anticipation that I couldn't put the novel down. The fighting is my favorite part of the series, and the author doesn't hesitate to write in gore, blood, and lost limbs. Learning more about immortality was nice, especially because I don't think it was revealed how lost parts grew back, and what happens to the parts that were lost, until the latter half of the novel. Brunhart getting his head hacked off, and Albtraum getting his head sliced off was bold, and dope as hell.
- It was pretty transparent where the author was going with Albtraum building an army, only to join up with the Sylvans while they were about to lose their war, but it was written in a way that worked. In this case, I didn't find the rising actions/climax too cliche because it was built up in a way that made sense.
- I found myself really liking Tereus, and wishing there was more of him!
Critique:
- My issues with the first novel was that they all love-bombed Albtraum, almost out of nowhere. Each character seemed solely one-sided for his sake, aside from Ismaire, and lacked any likability because of it. In Nightfall, we got a surprising amount of depth with each character because they were able to stand on their own without Albtraum, which made them all so much more interesting! I genuinely loved how despairingly sadistic Brunhart became while torturing the lone Shadran. I was even sympathetic to Glen, who I didn't quite care for the first time around, and felt sad for Mianna and her loss. The characters felt like they grew up into players that could stand on their own.
For all of the character depth given to us in Nightfall, it all comes crashing down when Albtraum reunites with Mianna and the rest of the Sylvans. Once he returns, the characters go back to their old ways from the first novel and it reads very superficial and suffocating. Mianna's constant "darling" pet name boiled her down from an independent queen of her own kingdom to Albtraum's love interest, still making me wish that they had stayed platonic instead of devices of their ancestors' fates.
Where M. A. Vice absolutely kills it with action and fighting scenes, the in-betweens and lack of chemistry in romance could use some more work.
Joaquin and Brunhart's life-partner declaration seemed very quick, and I would have liked to see more sparks (and not in the romantic sense, but platonic) between them other than their mutual sadness for the loss of their adoptive son. Even Mianna calling Albtraum her husband seemed out of place. They are immortals; I don't feel like they needed to rush into it... maybe have sex one or two more times to really figure it out.
- Halfway through the novel I found myself questioning what exactly the world of Hatheg Kla looked like. And then, even Sylva for that matter. M. A. Vice puts their heart and soul into writing dialogue and action that the overall environmental narrative gets downplayed to barely-there. Focus is primarily on characters, and I wished that there was more description in surroundings to really paint the picture of why Hatheg Kla was so desolate (aside from snow) and why Sylva was the perfect home (aside from snow). In the next novel, I would love a look at more lore and world-building, aside from individual character interactions. Maybe more intercalary and less focus on dialogue to really build up that lore. Maybe if the series was a 4 part instead of a 3 part, the flow and pacing would match up.
- On that same note as above, it was hard to tell characters apart because there were no descriptors to help guide placement on who was who. Tebryn and Tereus were almost interchangeable to me until there was mention of his long hair or daemon qualities, but each character had similar voices so it didn't matter who was who, even in the end, since all of their roles were basically the same.
---
All-in-all, it was a very solid read and I can't wait for the ending!
--- SPOILERS ---
Praises:
- My visualization for Shadrans were basically Beerus from Dragon Ball Z but with long hair, which was a fun read. Learning more about characters that aren't human was really cool, and I liked the care M. A. Vice put into really establishing how different these creatures were. The Aneros fights were fun, and I liked how Albtraum went back to his daemon roots with getting a new mask made for him as he grew into the Impavidus name.
- When the term "Nightfall" was revealed, I was like Oh Hell Yeah, that's the title of the book!
- I heartily enjoy the idea of "upside down" worlds, and Hatheg Kla was very fun to learn about. I wished there was a map of sorts to see the landscape of the dark world. (more on that in the critique)
- The whole book is basically action, fighting, motion, blood, and severed limbs. It was awesome - every action sequence is full of such anticipation that I couldn't put the novel down. The fighting is my favorite part of the series, and the author doesn't hesitate to write in gore, blood, and lost limbs. Learning more about immortality was nice, especially because I don't think it was revealed how lost parts grew back, and what happens to the parts that were lost, until the latter half of the novel. Brunhart getting his head hacked off, and Albtraum getting his head sliced off was bold, and dope as hell.
- It was pretty transparent where the author was going with Albtraum building an army, only to join up with the Sylvans while they were about to lose their war, but it was written in a way that worked. In this case, I didn't find the rising actions/climax too cliche because it was built up in a way that made sense.
- I found myself really liking Tereus, and wishing there was more of him!
Critique:
- My issues with the first novel was that they all love-bombed Albtraum, almost out of nowhere. Each character seemed solely one-sided for his sake, aside from Ismaire, and lacked any likability because of it. In Nightfall, we got a surprising amount of depth with each character because they were able to stand on their own without Albtraum, which made them all so much more interesting! I genuinely loved how despairingly sadistic Brunhart became while torturing the lone Shadran. I was even sympathetic to Glen, who I didn't quite care for the first time around, and felt sad for Mianna and her loss. The characters felt like they grew up into players that could stand on their own.
For all of the character depth given to us in Nightfall, it all comes crashing down when Albtraum reunites with Mianna and the rest of the Sylvans. Once he returns, the characters go back to their old ways from the first novel and it reads very superficial and suffocating. Mianna's constant "darling" pet name boiled her down from an independent queen of her own kingdom to Albtraum's love interest, still making me wish that they had stayed platonic instead of devices of their ancestors' fates.
Where M. A. Vice absolutely kills it with action and fighting scenes, the in-betweens and lack of chemistry in romance could use some more work.
Joaquin and Brunhart's life-partner declaration seemed very quick, and I would have liked to see more sparks (and not in the romantic sense, but platonic) between them other than their mutual sadness for the loss of their adoptive son. Even Mianna calling Albtraum her husband seemed out of place. They are immortals; I don't feel like they needed to rush into it... maybe have sex one or two more times to really figure it out.
- Halfway through the novel I found myself questioning what exactly the world of Hatheg Kla looked like. And then, even Sylva for that matter. M. A. Vice puts their heart and soul into writing dialogue and action that the overall environmental narrative gets downplayed to barely-there. Focus is primarily on characters, and I wished that there was more description in surroundings to really paint the picture of why Hatheg Kla was so desolate (aside from snow) and why Sylva was the perfect home (aside from snow). In the next novel, I would love a look at more lore and world-building, aside from individual character interactions. Maybe more intercalary and less focus on dialogue to really build up that lore. Maybe if the series was a 4 part instead of a 3 part, the flow and pacing would match up.
- On that same note as above, it was hard to tell characters apart because there were no descriptors to help guide placement on who was who. Tebryn and Tereus were almost interchangeable to me until there was mention of his long hair or daemon qualities, but each character had similar voices so it didn't matter who was who, even in the end, since all of their roles were basically the same.
---
All-in-all, it was a very solid read and I can't wait for the ending!
February 13, 2024
I had a lot of difficulty putting this book down. While I enjoyed Birthright, I enjoyed Nightfall even more. The pacing was great. And after the way Birthright left off, there was obviously going to be a great deal of exploration on the subject of grief here, and I like the ways it was handled. Since there's a focus on multiple POVs, we get insight into different ways that grief can manifest, and even if Nightfall can be an emotionally difficult read at times due to that focus, that isn't a criticism. Quite the contrary.
I enjoyed the continuing arcs that the first book's characters experienced in this book (and especially Al's, as rough as it is; I can't wait to see how he continues to develop in Impavidus). Plus, the new characters introduced in Nightfall added a lot to the story, and I enjoyed them as well.
The relationships--both platonic and romantic--continue to shine in this series. While I nitpicked a bit about the pace of the central romance in Birthright, its serious nature does lend a greater emotional weight to the grief in Nightfall, and (spoilers) Al and Mia's eventual reunion made me cheer and tear up at the same time. I love Brunhart and Joaquin--their relationship is very understated, but that also makes a lot of sense for them. (spoilers again) Mianna's reunion with the brother she'd believed she lost as a child is also handled very realistically--after so many decades apart, believing the other was dead, they've each changed as people, and while there's a longing to reconnect, there's also an understandable distance there as they reconcile the changes they've gone through.
And then, Ismaire's relationships in Nightfall! (more spoilers) Her and her birth father's relationship is complex and interesting, and I'm interested to see more of them. And her reunion with Isadora--and its own complexities--is also intriguing. (I also love Isadora as an "outsider" character initially to all the Order/daemons/etc. stuff, and how understandably shocked she is to learn about it.) While certain aspects of their past history together initially made me uncomfortable with the idea of them as a couple, I got past it as I saw them interact more, and also it plays well into the overarching theme of forgiveness and growing from your past that plays a big role in the series.
A little nitpick: there are a lot of names in here that are a little too similar. It's kind of commented on re: Ismaire and Isadora, when Almar talks about the meanings of their names, but there's also other instances, such as all the "A" names. I love "A" names, but with the amount of time that Albtraum, Arion, and Adramellach share scenes, and then Almar too, it can get a little confusing. Still, that's a very minor thing.
Moving on--as I mentioned, Nightfall deals with a lot of heavy themes: grief, but also a lot about war and trauma. I love the way it's handled. In a lot of stories, traumatizing things happen but the characters brush it off, as if the writer is too scared to actually delve into how that would affect them. But here, we really feel the weight of what the characters have gone through. It's heavy on them, and sometimes it's difficult to read, but in a good way. I love how human Vice's characters get to be (whether human, Shadran, or daemon), and how they're strengthened by the bonds they share with others.
I also love the deepening mysteries, how even as some questions are answered, more questions arise. I can't wait to learn more in Impavidus!
One final nitpick: like with Birthright, there are some formatting issues and typos here. It could've benefitted from another couple rounds of proofreading, and it could be a bit distracting.
Even so, I'd give Nightfall a solid 4.5 stars (and I'm rounding up because of how much I enjoyed it). Sorry for the less thorough review than my Birthright review, but honestly, I'm going to start reading Impavidus right away. It's good stuff.
I enjoyed the continuing arcs that the first book's characters experienced in this book (and especially Al's, as rough as it is; I can't wait to see how he continues to develop in Impavidus). Plus, the new characters introduced in Nightfall added a lot to the story, and I enjoyed them as well.
The relationships--both platonic and romantic--continue to shine in this series. While I nitpicked a bit about the pace of the central romance in Birthright, its serious nature does lend a greater emotional weight to the grief in Nightfall, and (spoilers) Al and Mia's eventual reunion made me cheer and tear up at the same time. I love Brunhart and Joaquin--their relationship is very understated, but that also makes a lot of sense for them. (spoilers again) Mianna's reunion with the brother she'd believed she lost as a child is also handled very realistically--after so many decades apart, believing the other was dead, they've each changed as people, and while there's a longing to reconnect, there's also an understandable distance there as they reconcile the changes they've gone through.
And then, Ismaire's relationships in Nightfall! (more spoilers) Her and her birth father's relationship is complex and interesting, and I'm interested to see more of them. And her reunion with Isadora--and its own complexities--is also intriguing. (I also love Isadora as an "outsider" character initially to all the Order/daemons/etc. stuff, and how understandably shocked she is to learn about it.) While certain aspects of their past history together initially made me uncomfortable with the idea of them as a couple, I got past it as I saw them interact more, and also it plays well into the overarching theme of forgiveness and growing from your past that plays a big role in the series.
A little nitpick: there are a lot of names in here that are a little too similar. It's kind of commented on re: Ismaire and Isadora, when Almar talks about the meanings of their names, but there's also other instances, such as all the "A" names. I love "A" names, but with the amount of time that Albtraum, Arion, and Adramellach share scenes, and then Almar too, it can get a little confusing. Still, that's a very minor thing.
Moving on--as I mentioned, Nightfall deals with a lot of heavy themes: grief, but also a lot about war and trauma. I love the way it's handled. In a lot of stories, traumatizing things happen but the characters brush it off, as if the writer is too scared to actually delve into how that would affect them. But here, we really feel the weight of what the characters have gone through. It's heavy on them, and sometimes it's difficult to read, but in a good way. I love how human Vice's characters get to be (whether human, Shadran, or daemon), and how they're strengthened by the bonds they share with others.
I also love the deepening mysteries, how even as some questions are answered, more questions arise. I can't wait to learn more in Impavidus!
One final nitpick: like with Birthright, there are some formatting issues and typos here. It could've benefitted from another couple rounds of proofreading, and it could be a bit distracting.
Even so, I'd give Nightfall a solid 4.5 stars (and I'm rounding up because of how much I enjoyed it). Sorry for the less thorough review than my Birthright review, but honestly, I'm going to start reading Impavidus right away. It's good stuff.
February 3, 2022
A wonderfully written companion to Birthright, Nightfall is at once a worthy sequel, and a lovely deviation from its predecessor. Where Birthright builds to finding family in times of peace and general tranquility, the characters of Nightfall are holding on and clawing their way back to what they had in strife and hardship. And it’s the characters that truly stand out (again, as with Birthright as well), carrying and driving forward the story, while feeling distinctly real and human. Set a year after Birthright, all of the main characters are still struggling with grief, each in their own way, and each with their own coping mechanisms. Each and every depiction of grief in Nightfall felt raw, and real, and that sometimes feels rare to find in fiction. The characters don’t just move on and forget, and their experience of grief is non-linear, and not always logical. And, while hard to read at times, brought me great comfort in seeing a grief that looked and felt like grief that I have experienced represented in a book.
A rotating POV kept me on my toes and wanting more, making me read more chapters than I meant to in each sitting, wanting to see what came next for each set of characters. The pacing of each setting was distinct and purposeful (spoilers ahead): Albtraum’s struggle through the Dark World was paced just slow enough for the reader to feel his sense of creeping despair and fading hope, his grating and impossible hunger, and his seemingly impossible task, but not so slow that his POV ever felt like lagging. Mianna’s struggle with ruling, juggling politics, and trying to live with her grief felt at once overwhelming and like there was not enough to distract her. The time we spend with Ismaire feels at once wandering and pointed – doubled down on by Ismaire herself feeling like she doesn’t have a right to grief, yet feeling it anyway, and feeling like a disappointment but wanting to help anyway.
While a deviation from the more tactful and diplomatic politics of Birthright, Nightfall has its own political intrigue all the same. With the addition of a new world and culture, the politics become even more intriguing and complicated. Albtraum has to balance his knowledge of diplomacy learned from Sylva’s way of ruling with the harsh nature and culture fostered by the Dark World. Add into that the betrayals and conspiracies that Mianna and those in Sylva have to face, we even get a taste of mystery with the ever unraveling layers of political deceit.
The action in Nightfall was paced just right for me, snappy and decisive where it needed to be, but not shying away from the pain and fragility that many real people would experience. There are no easy victories to be had, and no easy way out for any of the characters. The fights feel raw and real in a way that fantasy fights often don’t – Albtraum has a real fear for his life, and a desperate need to hang on to the chance he was given, and has to fight desperately for it, not always elegantly or fairly.
All in all Nightfall was an amazing read, answering just the right amount of questions I carried over from Birthright, and leaving me with even more questions I can’t wait to be answered in the next book. I am eagerly waiting to find out what comes next for these characters that I have come to love even more.
A rotating POV kept me on my toes and wanting more, making me read more chapters than I meant to in each sitting, wanting to see what came next for each set of characters. The pacing of each setting was distinct and purposeful (spoilers ahead): Albtraum’s struggle through the Dark World was paced just slow enough for the reader to feel his sense of creeping despair and fading hope, his grating and impossible hunger, and his seemingly impossible task, but not so slow that his POV ever felt like lagging. Mianna’s struggle with ruling, juggling politics, and trying to live with her grief felt at once overwhelming and like there was not enough to distract her. The time we spend with Ismaire feels at once wandering and pointed – doubled down on by Ismaire herself feeling like she doesn’t have a right to grief, yet feeling it anyway, and feeling like a disappointment but wanting to help anyway.
While a deviation from the more tactful and diplomatic politics of Birthright, Nightfall has its own political intrigue all the same. With the addition of a new world and culture, the politics become even more intriguing and complicated. Albtraum has to balance his knowledge of diplomacy learned from Sylva’s way of ruling with the harsh nature and culture fostered by the Dark World. Add into that the betrayals and conspiracies that Mianna and those in Sylva have to face, we even get a taste of mystery with the ever unraveling layers of political deceit.
The action in Nightfall was paced just right for me, snappy and decisive where it needed to be, but not shying away from the pain and fragility that many real people would experience. There are no easy victories to be had, and no easy way out for any of the characters. The fights feel raw and real in a way that fantasy fights often don’t – Albtraum has a real fear for his life, and a desperate need to hang on to the chance he was given, and has to fight desperately for it, not always elegantly or fairly.
All in all Nightfall was an amazing read, answering just the right amount of questions I carried over from Birthright, and leaving me with even more questions I can’t wait to be answered in the next book. I am eagerly waiting to find out what comes next for these characters that I have come to love even more.
December 21, 2023
An incredible 2nd installment that leaves you craving book 3. I'm not crying, you're crying!
M.A. Vice has knocked it out of the park yet again with her second installment of the Impavidus series; Nightfall. If you loved the emotional highs and lows Birthright took you through, get ready for a whole new level.
If Birthright is an emotional journey, Nightfall is an emotional trek through hell and back. M.A. Vice has truly perfected the concept of a hard fought happy ending; and boy howdy they aren't at that happy ending just yet. It got to the point that while reading I reached out to the author via social media and half-jokingly begged for some mercy for her characters. I was met with jokingly-maniacal laughter and a "Just keep reading :)". Safe to say there is always something good coming later but the road to it is long arduous for her characters.
You'll grow much closer to so many of her characters. I felt so connected that crying both from happiness and from sadness became a common occurrence. They're truly human; vulnerable. They have flaws, hopes, and so much humanity embued that you can see pieces of yourself in them as you go. M.A. Vice doesn't make cookie cutter characters. Many of them have more personality and depth to them that people I know in my life.
Another facet of where Nightfall really shines is the action. Fast, vicious, and brutal; nobody is playing around or pausing for a monolog, they're here to fight and man do they get right to it. It's a breath of fresh air in a literary landscape filled with anime-esc artificially inflated conflict, she doesn't play around. No BS, no filler, fight scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat on whether your favorite character will make it to the next chapter or not. Plot-armor doesn't exist in her world.
And, if would be remiss if I didn't address the happy parts of the emotional Rollercoaster. Truly some of the most heart warming and touching emotional connections I've seen in media. Reunions, deepening bonds, heartfelt expressions of love in all forms, it feels genuine from the author's own heart. You feel the connection between the characters and a connection to a piece of you.
In addition, I'm not the best reader, so the time and effort she puts into the formatting of her book (especially the physical copies) makes the momentum of reading much more accessible than the majority of what's out there. You can tell there was extra consideration put into it.
You're not going to find many books out there that truly feel like a part of someone's soul the way the Impavidus cycle does. Reading Nightfall was an amazing experience that left me extremely excited for the announcement of the 3rd book being released next year.
M.A. Vice has knocked it out of the park yet again with her second installment of the Impavidus series; Nightfall. If you loved the emotional highs and lows Birthright took you through, get ready for a whole new level.
If Birthright is an emotional journey, Nightfall is an emotional trek through hell and back. M.A. Vice has truly perfected the concept of a hard fought happy ending; and boy howdy they aren't at that happy ending just yet. It got to the point that while reading I reached out to the author via social media and half-jokingly begged for some mercy for her characters. I was met with jokingly-maniacal laughter and a "Just keep reading :)". Safe to say there is always something good coming later but the road to it is long arduous for her characters.
You'll grow much closer to so many of her characters. I felt so connected that crying both from happiness and from sadness became a common occurrence. They're truly human; vulnerable. They have flaws, hopes, and so much humanity embued that you can see pieces of yourself in them as you go. M.A. Vice doesn't make cookie cutter characters. Many of them have more personality and depth to them that people I know in my life.
Another facet of where Nightfall really shines is the action. Fast, vicious, and brutal; nobody is playing around or pausing for a monolog, they're here to fight and man do they get right to it. It's a breath of fresh air in a literary landscape filled with anime-esc artificially inflated conflict, she doesn't play around. No BS, no filler, fight scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat on whether your favorite character will make it to the next chapter or not. Plot-armor doesn't exist in her world.
And, if would be remiss if I didn't address the happy parts of the emotional Rollercoaster. Truly some of the most heart warming and touching emotional connections I've seen in media. Reunions, deepening bonds, heartfelt expressions of love in all forms, it feels genuine from the author's own heart. You feel the connection between the characters and a connection to a piece of you.
In addition, I'm not the best reader, so the time and effort she puts into the formatting of her book (especially the physical copies) makes the momentum of reading much more accessible than the majority of what's out there. You can tell there was extra consideration put into it.
You're not going to find many books out there that truly feel like a part of someone's soul the way the Impavidus cycle does. Reading Nightfall was an amazing experience that left me extremely excited for the announcement of the 3rd book being released next year.
April 21, 2024
There we go! Book two brought four stars to the game.
The sequel begins with my son boy Albtraum presumed dead—but in reality, he's been sent to Hell World, where he must play a sort of dark Pikmin to survive. Back on Earth, Sylva is at war with another kingdom and the Order is in shambles. Battles are won and lost. Secrets are discovered. Everyone suffers book-two depression but must soldier on regardless.
The POV characters really got their chance to shine in this book. Albtraum had to manage on his own amid strangers who were not nearly as loving as the first bunch. He fought kicking and screaming against learning to lead, but he grew nonetheless. Ismaire (me daughter) faced her past and headed her own missions. Brunhart got bloodthirsty and therefore hotter. And similar to Albtraum, Mianna gains and wields more power than you would suspect her of being inclined to.
I liked the amount we learned about the Shadrans and demons. There was a lot of interesting worldbuilding there. Ismaire had some excellent reveals as well, timed just right for her character. We did unlearn some things on the Sylvan side in a baffling way, but the twist itself was good. Everything built up well to an intense final battle. It felt epic and chaotic and costly in just the right way. There were a couple of tactical decisions that made me scratch my head, but overall it was clear enough to follow and felt immersive. Most of all it felt meaningful.
So far, this series is great with atmosphere, plot, emotion, and worldbuilding. It remains pretty light on intrigue and romantic chemistry. Two books in, I think that the main weakness of the story is the favoritism toward the two mains, Albtraum and Mianna. If I had a nickel for every young character who held a reasonable distrust of Albtraum but then had to go on a humbling character arc to make up for being mean to him, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't much, but. You don't have to ask many questions of the plot, because you can count on the fact that Mianna will be right. The other Order leaders disagree with her and so get sidelined for most of the book. This doesn't help Al or Mianna out, either, as they're most interesting when they're facing challenges and being wrong.
I don't believe the third book will change that. Many of the elements I hoped would get tangled or messy after book one turned out to be played completely straight. But for all its forthrightness, the writing is honestly good with its horror, emotion, and action.
The sequel begins with my son boy Albtraum presumed dead—but in reality, he's been sent to Hell World, where he must play a sort of dark Pikmin to survive. Back on Earth, Sylva is at war with another kingdom and the Order is in shambles. Battles are won and lost. Secrets are discovered. Everyone suffers book-two depression but must soldier on regardless.
The POV characters really got their chance to shine in this book. Albtraum had to manage on his own amid strangers who were not nearly as loving as the first bunch. He fought kicking and screaming against learning to lead, but he grew nonetheless. Ismaire (me daughter) faced her past and headed her own missions. Brunhart got bloodthirsty and therefore hotter. And similar to Albtraum, Mianna gains and wields more power than you would suspect her of being inclined to.
I liked the amount we learned about the Shadrans and demons. There was a lot of interesting worldbuilding there. Ismaire had some excellent reveals as well, timed just right for her character. We did unlearn some things on the Sylvan side in a baffling way, but the twist itself was good. Everything built up well to an intense final battle. It felt epic and chaotic and costly in just the right way. There were a couple of tactical decisions that made me scratch my head, but overall it was clear enough to follow and felt immersive. Most of all it felt meaningful.
So far, this series is great with atmosphere, plot, emotion, and worldbuilding. It remains pretty light on intrigue and romantic chemistry. Two books in, I think that the main weakness of the story is the favoritism toward the two mains, Albtraum and Mianna. If I had a nickel for every young character who held a reasonable distrust of Albtraum but then had to go on a humbling character arc to make up for being mean to him, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't much, but. You don't have to ask many questions of the plot, because you can count on the fact that Mianna will be right. The other Order leaders disagree with her and so get sidelined for most of the book. This doesn't help Al or Mianna out, either, as they're most interesting when they're facing challenges and being wrong.
I don't believe the third book will change that. Many of the elements I hoped would get tangled or messy after book one turned out to be played completely straight. But for all its forthrightness, the writing is honestly good with its horror, emotion, and action.
January 17, 2022
A Worthy Sequel and Then Some!
Having read this book's prequel, Birthright, several times, I've been eagerly anticipating Nightfall's release. I've grown to love the characters and setting immensely, and having more of both is delightful.
Nightfall follows several characters' points of view as war creeps ever closer to Sylva, and the setup does an excellent job of selling a sense of urgency and dread before the action hits. Battles are tightly written and well thought out, with an emphasis on strategy over simply sounding cool. If you enjoy the twists and turns of fight scenes, you will love this.
The undercurrent of Nightfall is where the writing truly shines though. Ever present at the heart of each characters' POV is dealing with grief and loss and uncertainty in their own ways, and it is incredibly poignant and heartwrenching. Very few times have I read many fantasy stories that dealt with the harsh reality of these subjects with any sort of finesse, but Nightfall really knocks it out of the park in that respect.
If you've read the prequel and are wondering if the sequel lives up to it, I can safely say that it absolutely does, and I cannot wait for more from this author.
Having read this book's prequel, Birthright, several times, I've been eagerly anticipating Nightfall's release. I've grown to love the characters and setting immensely, and having more of both is delightful.
Nightfall follows several characters' points of view as war creeps ever closer to Sylva, and the setup does an excellent job of selling a sense of urgency and dread before the action hits. Battles are tightly written and well thought out, with an emphasis on strategy over simply sounding cool. If you enjoy the twists and turns of fight scenes, you will love this.
The undercurrent of Nightfall is where the writing truly shines though. Ever present at the heart of each characters' POV is dealing with grief and loss and uncertainty in their own ways, and it is incredibly poignant and heartwrenching. Very few times have I read many fantasy stories that dealt with the harsh reality of these subjects with any sort of finesse, but Nightfall really knocks it out of the park in that respect.
If you've read the prequel and are wondering if the sequel lives up to it, I can safely say that it absolutely does, and I cannot wait for more from this author.
December 13, 2021
What I Didn’t Like:
-Some slow spots.
-Fight scenes didn’t have the intensity I was expecting.
What I Did Like:
-Characters. All the characters we loved in the first book are back and careful attention is paid to keep them true to their character even if they grew/changed. Some new characters even join the mix and they’re ones you’ll adore.
-Dark themes. I love a good dark fantasy book and this one definitely is that. War takes a toll on these characters in a realistic way.
Who Should Read This One:
-If you like dark epic fantasies with extensive world building and strong characters, you’ll love this series.
My Rating: 3 Stars. You have to like dark to like this one, but if you do you’ll LOVE it.
-Some slow spots.
-Fight scenes didn’t have the intensity I was expecting.
What I Did Like:
-Characters. All the characters we loved in the first book are back and careful attention is paid to keep them true to their character even if they grew/changed. Some new characters even join the mix and they’re ones you’ll adore.
-Dark themes. I love a good dark fantasy book and this one definitely is that. War takes a toll on these characters in a realistic way.
Who Should Read This One:
-If you like dark epic fantasies with extensive world building and strong characters, you’ll love this series.
My Rating: 3 Stars. You have to like dark to like this one, but if you do you’ll LOVE it.
February 5, 2022
I was on the edge of my seat waiting for this book to come out because of how much I loved Birthright (and the way that ended).
This was such an incredible continuation of the first book and I was once again sucked in and glued to the pages.
The way that M. A. Vice is able to write a war, with all the dark and grit it entails, and still have so many heartwarming and human elements is nothing short of amazing. It is believable and feels so human (even with many non-human characters).
There were so many point I cried that weren't even sad moments in the book. Vice's ability to write and evoke emotion is unmatched and I cannot wait for the next book.
This was such an incredible continuation of the first book and I was once again sucked in and glued to the pages.
The way that M. A. Vice is able to write a war, with all the dark and grit it entails, and still have so many heartwarming and human elements is nothing short of amazing. It is believable and feels so human (even with many non-human characters).
There were so many point I cried that weren't even sad moments in the book. Vice's ability to write and evoke emotion is unmatched and I cannot wait for the next book.
May 11, 2022
I was so excited to get back into this series after reading Birthright last year! This sequel is a much different novel: darker, grimmer, very bleak, with stakes that feel higher and more clear (though technically the stakes were just as high in the first installment). With the characters already established, the story is free to move at a quicker pace, and one character's transformation from wide-eyed victim to daemon-world champion was extremely satisfying. Reading book 1 ("Birthright") is definitely necessary for this novel to make sense, and for that reason I recommend them both! Absolutely looking forward to book 3!
January 3, 2022
Still a fascinating world
It can be hard to read of hardships loss and grief in these times. (Pandemic 2020-2022) The intensity of the feelings and connections these characters have rub raw the dulled emotions of the tired mind. The story brings us places of despair and darkness, then brings the light of hope back as well.
The people we meet along the way are all hurting in so many ways and we wish them peace to rebuild their lives but also know it will not happen in this book. I can only hope that the next book answers so many more questions and perhaps frees our friends, for they have become friends, to live lives without too many shadows following them.
It can be hard to read of hardships loss and grief in these times. (Pandemic 2020-2022) The intensity of the feelings and connections these characters have rub raw the dulled emotions of the tired mind. The story brings us places of despair and darkness, then brings the light of hope back as well.
The people we meet along the way are all hurting in so many ways and we wish them peace to rebuild their lives but also know it will not happen in this book. I can only hope that the next book answers so many more questions and perhaps frees our friends, for they have become friends, to live lives without too many shadows following them.
December 11, 2024
Bleak and heartrending, the story continues from the depths of ash and blood and grit, so haunting and dire that it will make you numb and aching in equal measure, and yet what awaits is the burning sunbeam of hope, love and humanity fraying the edges of the dark.
M.A. Vice once again lights up the night sky with a billion radiant and undaunted stars.
M.A. Vice once again lights up the night sky with a billion radiant and undaunted stars.
February 2, 2023
Nightfall is a masterfully written sequel, evolving the world and characters of Birthright in a fresh and fascinating new direction, without losing those aspects which made the first volume so engaging. In many ways, the series takes a turn for the fast-paced, dark, and violent—but without ever losing that gentle, heartfelt core that makes everything feel worth it.
This volume serves to expand massively on the world Birthright created—on one hand, we are introduced to Hatheg Kla, the hellish dark world full of power-hungry daemons and their bloodthirsty shadran armies, endlessly warring in a barren, frozen wasteland. On the other hand, we return to Sylva, although it is not a much happier sight: not only has it, too, been plunged into war and all the ruins it brings—but we slowly discover the very foundation Sylva is built upon may not be quite what it seems.
Throughout the novel, there’s a palpable throughline of grief and longing—and it is here where I find the novel most affecting.
While Nightfall may be a difficult read for some coming off of Birthright, being considerably more brutal and bleak compared to its predecessor, the building intrigue interspersed with glimmers of hope—and once again, the strong, loving relationships between the characters—make it a thoroughly engaging and emotional read, and a must-read for all fans of Birthright.
This volume serves to expand massively on the world Birthright created—on one hand, we are introduced to Hatheg Kla, the hellish dark world full of power-hungry daemons and their bloodthirsty shadran armies, endlessly warring in a barren, frozen wasteland. On the other hand, we return to Sylva, although it is not a much happier sight: not only has it, too, been plunged into war and all the ruins it brings—but we slowly discover the very foundation Sylva is built upon may not be quite what it seems.
Throughout the novel, there’s a palpable throughline of grief and longing—and it is here where I find the novel most affecting.
While Nightfall may be a difficult read for some coming off of Birthright, being considerably more brutal and bleak compared to its predecessor, the building intrigue interspersed with glimmers of hope—and once again, the strong, loving relationships between the characters—make it a thoroughly engaging and emotional read, and a must-read for all fans of Birthright.
March 16, 2022
So how about that freakin' opener eh?
- A powerful start to a sequel that follows up a year after the events of the first story, and hot diggety damn is it a heart pounder.
On the fast paced, brutalist action of M.A. Vice
- I am a fan of classic martial arts films with their elegant, sweeping action full of parrys, clever fighting tricks and dramatic exchanges of bladework. Vice, however, doesn't go for this sort of heightened fantastical fighting. Instead, she takes her fantasy and firmly grounds it in a fast paced, rather gruesome reality. With the exception of the most powerful of her characters, most of the fighters in Impavidus Cycle, much like those in the real world, often appear quite fragile. With fight scenes rapidly devolving into gruesome brawls with conclusions I can only describe as "crunchy". This offers a very fitting tone for combat in Vice's overall work and has me excited for the promised siege scenes coming later in the novel.
On an story that is somehow both Classic Fantasy, and counter the trend
- You can feel the pain Vice feels when bad things happen to these characters, to their home, to their families. Betrayals are felt so deep that the reader can see them plain on the page. Her writing rhythm is highly influenced by how she feels about what's happening on the page, and reading Nightfall puts you in the head of the author. The hate, the love, the dread, the sorrow, are all easily seen. I can't wait to read more
- A powerful start to a sequel that follows up a year after the events of the first story, and hot diggety damn is it a heart pounder.
On the fast paced, brutalist action of M.A. Vice
- I am a fan of classic martial arts films with their elegant, sweeping action full of parrys, clever fighting tricks and dramatic exchanges of bladework. Vice, however, doesn't go for this sort of heightened fantastical fighting. Instead, she takes her fantasy and firmly grounds it in a fast paced, rather gruesome reality. With the exception of the most powerful of her characters, most of the fighters in Impavidus Cycle, much like those in the real world, often appear quite fragile. With fight scenes rapidly devolving into gruesome brawls with conclusions I can only describe as "crunchy". This offers a very fitting tone for combat in Vice's overall work and has me excited for the promised siege scenes coming later in the novel.
On an story that is somehow both Classic Fantasy, and counter the trend
- You can feel the pain Vice feels when bad things happen to these characters, to their home, to their families. Betrayals are felt so deep that the reader can see them plain on the page. Her writing rhythm is highly influenced by how she feels about what's happening on the page, and reading Nightfall puts you in the head of the author. The hate, the love, the dread, the sorrow, are all easily seen. I can't wait to read more
December 10, 2023
I just realized I never posted a review here on goodreads so here we go!
This book was SUCH a good sequel, it was wonderful to see the characters that we got to know and love again... though what they had to go through was *rough*. The story got really heavy and seeing the characters grieve the loss of [redacted] was heartbreaking. I don't mean to imply that these scenes were unecessary or overblown, though! I noticed that media often skips scenes in which characters grieve the loss of a loved one, either due to time constraints or because they're too afraid to show genuine human emotions. Either way, while incredibly sad at some parts, it was refreshing to see characters be so... vulnerable, so human.
There are so many scenes that have been burned into my brain and they've inspired me so much that I want to create my own piece of fiction <3
If you love to cry, please read this book, it's so good!
This book was SUCH a good sequel, it was wonderful to see the characters that we got to know and love again... though what they had to go through was *rough*. The story got really heavy and seeing the characters grieve the loss of [redacted] was heartbreaking. I don't mean to imply that these scenes were unecessary or overblown, though! I noticed that media often skips scenes in which characters grieve the loss of a loved one, either due to time constraints or because they're too afraid to show genuine human emotions. Either way, while incredibly sad at some parts, it was refreshing to see characters be so... vulnerable, so human.
There are so many scenes that have been burned into my brain and they've inspired me so much that I want to create my own piece of fiction <3
If you love to cry, please read this book, it's so good!
February 2, 2023
It's pretty common for the second book in a series to fall flat. The author has built up the world, the characters, and suddenly it seems like they don't know where to go, or how to raise the stakes. M. A. Vice has done a fantastic job avoiding that pitfall with the second book in The Impavidus Cycle! I thoroughly enjoyed Birthright, but Nightfall quickly became one of my favourite reads. It did not disappoint and left me excited for more all at the same time!
If you like interesting characters, deep world building, and dark fantasy... The Impavidus Cycle is definitely for you!
If you like interesting characters, deep world building, and dark fantasy... The Impavidus Cycle is definitely for you!
February 1, 2023
If Birthright was a slowburn, its sequel Nightfall is a lit fuse leading to a canon aimed directly at the heart. The characters in this series continue to capture me with their humanity and heartfelt struggles and victories, and I can't wait to see what happens next. And yes, this one made me cry too (in a good way!)
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