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Acacia #2
The Other Lands
Several years have passed since the demise of Hanish Mein. Corinn Akaran rules with an iron grip on the Known World's many races. She hones her skills in sorcery by studying The Song of Elenet and she dotes on her young son, Aaden — Hanish's child — raising him to be her successor. Mena Akaran, still the warrior princess she became fighting the eagle goddess Maeben, has been battling the monsters released by the Santoth's corrupted magic. In her hunt she discovers a creature wholly unexpected, one that awakens emotions in her she has long suppressed. And Dariel Akaran, once a brigand of the Outer Isles, has devoted his labors to rebuilding the ravaged empire brick by brick. Each of the Akaran royals is finding his or her way in the postwar world. But the queen's peace is difficult to maintain, and things are about to change.
When the league brings news of upheavals in the Other Lands, Corinn sends Dariel across the Gray Slopes as her emissary. From the moment he sets foot on that distant continent, he finds a chaotic swirl of treachery, ancient grudges, intrigue, and exoticism. He comes face-to-face with the slaves his empire has long sold into bondage. His arrival ignites a firestorm that once more puts the Known World in threat of invasion. A massive invasion. One that dwarfs anything the Akarans have yet faced...
When the league brings news of upheavals in the Other Lands, Corinn sends Dariel across the Gray Slopes as her emissary. From the moment he sets foot on that distant continent, he finds a chaotic swirl of treachery, ancient grudges, intrigue, and exoticism. He comes face-to-face with the slaves his empire has long sold into bondage. His arrival ignites a firestorm that once more puts the Known World in threat of invasion. A massive invasion. One that dwarfs anything the Akarans have yet faced...
464 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2009
84 people are currently reading
1900 people want to read
About the author
David Anthony Durham
32 books598 followersDavid Anthony Durham was born in New York City to parents of Caribbean descent. He grew up mostly in Maryland, but has spent the last fifteen years on the move, jumping from East to West Coast to the Rocky Mountains, and back and forth to Scotland and France several times. He currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Or... actually, no he doesn't. He's back in New England at the moment.
He is the author of a trilogy of fantasy novels set in Acacia: The Sacred Band, The Other Lands, and The War With The Mein, as well as the historical novels The Risen, Pride of Carthage, Walk Through Darkness, and Gabriel’s Story. He’s won the John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer, a Legacy Award, was a Finalist for the Prix Imaginales and has twice had his books named NY Times Notable Book of the year. His novels have been published in the UK and in French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. Three of his novels have been optioned for development as feature films.
David received an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Maryland. He has taught at the University of Maryland, the University of Massachusetts, The Colorado College, for the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation, Cal State University, and at Hampshire College. He's currently on the faculty of the Stonecoast MFA Program. He reviews for The Washington Post and The Raleigh News & Observer, and has served as a judge for the Pen/Faulkner Awards.
He also writes in George RR Martin's weird and wonderful Wild Cards universe. He feels like the process makes him exercise a whole new set of creative muscles, and he loves the feeling.
He is the author of a trilogy of fantasy novels set in Acacia: The Sacred Band, The Other Lands, and The War With The Mein, as well as the historical novels The Risen, Pride of Carthage, Walk Through Darkness, and Gabriel’s Story. He’s won the John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer, a Legacy Award, was a Finalist for the Prix Imaginales and has twice had his books named NY Times Notable Book of the year. His novels have been published in the UK and in French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. Three of his novels have been optioned for development as feature films.
David received an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Maryland. He has taught at the University of Maryland, the University of Massachusetts, The Colorado College, for the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation, Cal State University, and at Hampshire College. He's currently on the faculty of the Stonecoast MFA Program. He reviews for The Washington Post and The Raleigh News & Observer, and has served as a judge for the Pen/Faulkner Awards.
He also writes in George RR Martin's weird and wonderful Wild Cards universe. He feels like the process makes him exercise a whole new set of creative muscles, and he loves the feeling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
September 16, 2012
The Other Lands is an excellent sequel to Acacia: The War with the Mein. It takes the solid foundation built in Acacia and expands it to, well, the Other Lands, which is a place full of new creatures and peoples. Best of all, we finally get to meet these people the Acacians have been so afraid of and sending their children to.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
I look a a sequel review as a place to discuss the first novel freely, so if you haven't read it, 1) you should and 2) you may not want to read the rest.
The Akarans, rulers of Acacia, are back in control after the Mein usurpation. Queen Corinn is doing her best to keep Acacia safe, which now includes her son, Aaden. She refuses to abolish the terrible "quota," Acacia's dirty not-so secret, which is where a quota of children are traded to a distant people through the League of Vessels and the Lothan Aklun.
The late Prince Aliver's dream is refused and the people are restless.
Durham really knows how to tug at the heartstrings and the quota is no exception. Having three kids of my own, it's hard not to think about losing your precious children to a trade with a foreign people, not knowing what becomes of those children.
In The Other Lands, we find out what does become of them, but I won't go ruining that for you.
As we know from Acacia, Prince Aliver was killed by Maender Mein, brother of Hanish Mein, the ruler of the Mein (whew). The rest of the Akaran children (although no longer children as this book takes place 9 years after Acacia) are under the rule of Queen Corinn as well, who has plenty to keep them busy.
Starting out, Mena is sent out to fight the foulthings. Foulthings are those creatures that came about because of the Santoth's magic use toward the end of the first book. Due to the Santoth's corrupted magic, these beings came about, essentially causing havoc among the people of the Known World.
This leads her into some trouble, but for the most part, Mena doesn't play an enormous role in this book. She's in it plenty, but her parts seem more of a set up for the next book whereas all the action really occurs with Corinn and especially Dariel.
Dariel decides, with Corinn's approval, to go about rebuilding the empire. With the destruction caused by the Numrek and the Mein, many places were in need of help including Aushenia in the north, which faced some of the worst of it.
Very quickly Corinn has another mission for Dariel, sending him across the Gray Slopes to the Other Lands (first of the Known World to do so) on a mission devised by the League of Vessels. And we all know how trustworthy they are.
The Other Lands is really a book full of answers. Many of the mysteries presented in Acacia are explained as we learn more of the Other Lands and the peoples therein. We learn of the quota children, we learn of the Aldek, and we even learn why the Numrek arrived in the Known World.
We get glimpses of the creatures and the trip across the Gray Slopes was breathtaking. I applaud Durham's imagination, which never ceases to astound me.
While we get many answers, The Other Lands is still very much a set up for the final volume of the trilogy. There are some great moments and some great action, but mostly there is preparation for what is to come...and it will be amazing.
It's also a book that needed to happen and it doesn't suffer for being the bridge between the two. There's enough wonder and amazement to keep you turning pages and even some big events that I'm sure will pay off in the final volume.
Durham's also written some of my all-time favorite characters in stouthearted Mena and the ever witty Dariel. These are the main reason you read these books and I can't get enough.
The Other Lands is an incredible and epic installment in the Acacia trilogy. It brings the trilogy to a whole new level and prepares us for the final encounters that I couldn't be more excited for. If you like epic in your fantasy, the Acacia trilogy is the one for you. It will have you living and breathing the life of a Known World inhabitant and that's exactly why I read fantasy.
4.5/5 Stars
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
I look a a sequel review as a place to discuss the first novel freely, so if you haven't read it, 1) you should and 2) you may not want to read the rest.
The Akarans, rulers of Acacia, are back in control after the Mein usurpation. Queen Corinn is doing her best to keep Acacia safe, which now includes her son, Aaden. She refuses to abolish the terrible "quota," Acacia's dirty not-so secret, which is where a quota of children are traded to a distant people through the League of Vessels and the Lothan Aklun.
The late Prince Aliver's dream is refused and the people are restless.
Durham really knows how to tug at the heartstrings and the quota is no exception. Having three kids of my own, it's hard not to think about losing your precious children to a trade with a foreign people, not knowing what becomes of those children.
In The Other Lands, we find out what does become of them, but I won't go ruining that for you.
As we know from Acacia, Prince Aliver was killed by Maender Mein, brother of Hanish Mein, the ruler of the Mein (whew). The rest of the Akaran children (although no longer children as this book takes place 9 years after Acacia) are under the rule of Queen Corinn as well, who has plenty to keep them busy.
Starting out, Mena is sent out to fight the foulthings. Foulthings are those creatures that came about because of the Santoth's magic use toward the end of the first book. Due to the Santoth's corrupted magic, these beings came about, essentially causing havoc among the people of the Known World.
This leads her into some trouble, but for the most part, Mena doesn't play an enormous role in this book. She's in it plenty, but her parts seem more of a set up for the next book whereas all the action really occurs with Corinn and especially Dariel.
Dariel decides, with Corinn's approval, to go about rebuilding the empire. With the destruction caused by the Numrek and the Mein, many places were in need of help including Aushenia in the north, which faced some of the worst of it.
Very quickly Corinn has another mission for Dariel, sending him across the Gray Slopes to the Other Lands (first of the Known World to do so) on a mission devised by the League of Vessels. And we all know how trustworthy they are.
The Other Lands is really a book full of answers. Many of the mysteries presented in Acacia are explained as we learn more of the Other Lands and the peoples therein. We learn of the quota children, we learn of the Aldek, and we even learn why the Numrek arrived in the Known World.
We get glimpses of the creatures and the trip across the Gray Slopes was breathtaking. I applaud Durham's imagination, which never ceases to astound me.
While we get many answers, The Other Lands is still very much a set up for the final volume of the trilogy. There are some great moments and some great action, but mostly there is preparation for what is to come...and it will be amazing.
It's also a book that needed to happen and it doesn't suffer for being the bridge between the two. There's enough wonder and amazement to keep you turning pages and even some big events that I'm sure will pay off in the final volume.
Durham's also written some of my all-time favorite characters in stouthearted Mena and the ever witty Dariel. These are the main reason you read these books and I can't get enough.
The Other Lands is an incredible and epic installment in the Acacia trilogy. It brings the trilogy to a whole new level and prepares us for the final encounters that I couldn't be more excited for. If you like epic in your fantasy, the Acacia trilogy is the one for you. It will have you living and breathing the life of a Known World inhabitant and that's exactly why I read fantasy.
4.5/5 Stars
December 14, 2024
Volume 2 of the Acacia trilogy is like the second volume - A transitional volume.
But one thing is for sure: it's a reasonable volume. It's better than the first. The flaws have mostly disappeared. It is shorter, and the dialogues are better written and more numerous.
We find the main characters. Corrine, Dariel and Mena. The war with the Mein is over. Reconstruction is in full swing, but news from the Western lands arrives, and everything will degenerate. The former allies will turn their jackets, and a war the world has never known is brewing.
But one thing is for sure: it's a reasonable volume. It's better than the first. The flaws have mostly disappeared. It is shorter, and the dialogues are better written and more numerous.
We find the main characters. Corrine, Dariel and Mena. The war with the Mein is over. Reconstruction is in full swing, but news from the Western lands arrives, and everything will degenerate. The former allies will turn their jackets, and a war the world has never known is brewing.
November 17, 2009
Durham, known for his historical fiction novels, burst onto the fantasy scene in 2007 with Acacia: The War with the Mein the first in a new fantasy series. Released back in September The Other Lands is the second book in Durham’s Acacia series continuing the saga of the Akaran family and their empire. Like the first book The Other Lands is a different from many fantasy novels today and its pacing structure and themes all seem informed by Durham’s experience with historical fiction. If you’ve yet to read the first book there are definite spoilers here.
We pick up nine years after Corinn’s coup and reclamation of the Akaran throne from her husband. What we get is very much a middle novel as the characters work through the tumultuous events of the previous book and how, or if, those events have changed them. Mena, has been tasked by her sister to track down and destroy the horrific foulthings spawned by the unleashed fury of Santoth magic and she still struggles with her desire for love and family as well as her violent role as the goddess Maeban on Earth. Dariel bears the guilt of his actions following Aliver’s death when he foreswore his brother’s word and attacked the Meinish army and has thrown himself into helping the common folk rebuild after the war. Summoned back to his sister’s side he is quickly tasked to journey across the sea to the titular Other Lands and meet with the mysterious Lothun Aklun. Corinn meanwhile has grasped the control of the Empire with an iron fist becoming something of a distant figure willing to use anyone and everyone to guide her empire to the destiny she foresees. In the process she now wields powerful magic capable of both creation and destruction.
The Other Lands is a transitory novel. On the one hand Corinn makes claim to follow through with some of her brother Aliver’s wishes but in truth become a tyrant whose lies and subterfuge are as great as any of her ancestors. While there is a perceived sense of change in leadership and governance is, in truth, more of the same tyranny that existed before. On the other hand the war of the previous volume and Aliver’s actions have allowed the cunning League of Ships to set into action and chain of events that will change things forever. As the various main characters work through what has happened to them in the past each either begins to affirm who they believed they are or begin to forge a new destiny.
Dariel is perhaps the greatest example of this. The guilt of his final actions in the war rests heavy on his shoulders. He is pushed to contemplation and introspection where, as pirate, he has been more prone to action. He is confronted with more consequences with his actions when Sire Neen, a leader in the League, reminds him that the League platforms he destroyed not only contained League members but their families and the quota slaves as well. Later Dariel is captured by individuals looking in exact vengeance on his family for the quota trade (a levy of child slaves given over to the League, who traded them to Lothun Aklun, who traded them in to their clients, all for a drug called mist that kept the population of the Akaran empire docile) and is again brought face to face with the past actions of his family. This time however Dariel is questioned by, and in turn questions, his captors in a fascinating use of, or at least something similar to, the Socratic method. While this manages to gives a nice bit of exposition regarding the history of his captors it also allows for some significant development on Dariel’s part the conclusion of which I thought was ironic: intellectual discourse, thought not action, leads a man to realize he is defined by what he does not what he says.
Corinn’s narrative was equally fascinating though spoiled somewhat when another character, Barad the Lesser, quickly dissects her motives and personality. The analysis is spot on but I think it denies the reader their own discovery of the same facts. She is a hard woman, but is hardness that is brittle and prone to cracking. I read her section with trepidation waiting for the moment when she finally breaks. While there was one close call in that regard it never really comes to fruition but some late revelations by the Santoth later in the novel, followed by some clever language in Corinn’s last chapter or two manage to evoke a nice sense of dread about what is to come.
I may have mentioned this in other reviews but I always find the introduction of certain Lovecraftian elements endear to fiction. Intentional or not that is the case hear as well not only in the foulthings Mena fights but in certain revelations late in the novel as well (I don’t want to spoil it though I hinted at it above). There are other elements of horror hear as well, particularly as we learn how Lothun Aklun magic actually functions. While not as ground breaking and engaging as I had hoped The Other Lands is still an exciting, well-crafted read that leaves me eager to see if things explode quite as large as I expect them to in the next volume. In addition to a fascinating plot and tangled (in a good way) politics Durham has created what I think is an excellent study on the nature of leadership and family, particularly as the two pertain to one another, in additional to providing some vibrant portraits of our three main characters and their relationship to one another. If there is one thing that Durham, and the Acacia series at large, does is craft a narrative that is both epic in scope and intimate in nature; a saga of family and empire that I highly recommend fans of fiction from all genres experience.
We pick up nine years after Corinn’s coup and reclamation of the Akaran throne from her husband. What we get is very much a middle novel as the characters work through the tumultuous events of the previous book and how, or if, those events have changed them. Mena, has been tasked by her sister to track down and destroy the horrific foulthings spawned by the unleashed fury of Santoth magic and she still struggles with her desire for love and family as well as her violent role as the goddess Maeban on Earth. Dariel bears the guilt of his actions following Aliver’s death when he foreswore his brother’s word and attacked the Meinish army and has thrown himself into helping the common folk rebuild after the war. Summoned back to his sister’s side he is quickly tasked to journey across the sea to the titular Other Lands and meet with the mysterious Lothun Aklun. Corinn meanwhile has grasped the control of the Empire with an iron fist becoming something of a distant figure willing to use anyone and everyone to guide her empire to the destiny she foresees. In the process she now wields powerful magic capable of both creation and destruction.
The Other Lands is a transitory novel. On the one hand Corinn makes claim to follow through with some of her brother Aliver’s wishes but in truth become a tyrant whose lies and subterfuge are as great as any of her ancestors. While there is a perceived sense of change in leadership and governance is, in truth, more of the same tyranny that existed before. On the other hand the war of the previous volume and Aliver’s actions have allowed the cunning League of Ships to set into action and chain of events that will change things forever. As the various main characters work through what has happened to them in the past each either begins to affirm who they believed they are or begin to forge a new destiny.
Dariel is perhaps the greatest example of this. The guilt of his final actions in the war rests heavy on his shoulders. He is pushed to contemplation and introspection where, as pirate, he has been more prone to action. He is confronted with more consequences with his actions when Sire Neen, a leader in the League, reminds him that the League platforms he destroyed not only contained League members but their families and the quota slaves as well. Later Dariel is captured by individuals looking in exact vengeance on his family for the quota trade (a levy of child slaves given over to the League, who traded them to Lothun Aklun, who traded them in to their clients, all for a drug called mist that kept the population of the Akaran empire docile) and is again brought face to face with the past actions of his family. This time however Dariel is questioned by, and in turn questions, his captors in a fascinating use of, or at least something similar to, the Socratic method. While this manages to gives a nice bit of exposition regarding the history of his captors it also allows for some significant development on Dariel’s part the conclusion of which I thought was ironic: intellectual discourse, thought not action, leads a man to realize he is defined by what he does not what he says.
Corinn’s narrative was equally fascinating though spoiled somewhat when another character, Barad the Lesser, quickly dissects her motives and personality. The analysis is spot on but I think it denies the reader their own discovery of the same facts. She is a hard woman, but is hardness that is brittle and prone to cracking. I read her section with trepidation waiting for the moment when she finally breaks. While there was one close call in that regard it never really comes to fruition but some late revelations by the Santoth later in the novel, followed by some clever language in Corinn’s last chapter or two manage to evoke a nice sense of dread about what is to come.
I may have mentioned this in other reviews but I always find the introduction of certain Lovecraftian elements endear to fiction. Intentional or not that is the case hear as well not only in the foulthings Mena fights but in certain revelations late in the novel as well (I don’t want to spoil it though I hinted at it above). There are other elements of horror hear as well, particularly as we learn how Lothun Aklun magic actually functions. While not as ground breaking and engaging as I had hoped The Other Lands is still an exciting, well-crafted read that leaves me eager to see if things explode quite as large as I expect them to in the next volume. In addition to a fascinating plot and tangled (in a good way) politics Durham has created what I think is an excellent study on the nature of leadership and family, particularly as the two pertain to one another, in additional to providing some vibrant portraits of our three main characters and their relationship to one another. If there is one thing that Durham, and the Acacia series at large, does is craft a narrative that is both epic in scope and intimate in nature; a saga of family and empire that I highly recommend fans of fiction from all genres experience.
November 14, 2009
Here is my review, heaped with praise, but containing one major complaint.
David Anthony Durham is a great writer - his phrasing is carefully chosen, his words flow masterfully to create characters and scenes with depth, and he keeps the pace moving with the skill of a pulp detective writer. The Other Lands is perhaps a greater pleasure to read than the previous book in the series. The three remaining Royal children are now adults and they are all struggling in their own lives:
Corrine Akaran is trying to come to grips with the power of monarchy - holding it, wielding it, and building it. She's attempting to be practical and not allow morality to corrupt the purity of power. To this end she's treading a fine line between subject abuse and being taken advantage of by the League. Dariel Akaran is sent to The Other Lands on a diplomatic mission which goes horribly wrong. He has to use his survival instinct and his wits to recreate himself yet again. Mena Akaran expands her legendary role as a warrior with a new discovery - that of love and respect.
It's a great series, and this is a wonderful book to read.
My one complaint is that the book ends in a cliffhanger, which is so cliche in the fantasy genre. I loved that the first book ended at the end of a story arc and that there was resolution even as a new beginning emerged. I think it's kind of a cheap ploy to chop a story in half in order to call it a series. I know that method sells, but Durham is such a good writer that I don't think he needs to worry about hooking his readers for the next installment. Remember all those Tarzan books? We read them all as kids even though each book had a definitive plot conclusion. We didn't need cliffhangers and half-told tales to keep our interest back then and we don't need them now.
David Anthony Durham is a great writer - his phrasing is carefully chosen, his words flow masterfully to create characters and scenes with depth, and he keeps the pace moving with the skill of a pulp detective writer. The Other Lands is perhaps a greater pleasure to read than the previous book in the series. The three remaining Royal children are now adults and they are all struggling in their own lives:
Corrine Akaran is trying to come to grips with the power of monarchy - holding it, wielding it, and building it. She's attempting to be practical and not allow morality to corrupt the purity of power. To this end she's treading a fine line between subject abuse and being taken advantage of by the League. Dariel Akaran is sent to The Other Lands on a diplomatic mission which goes horribly wrong. He has to use his survival instinct and his wits to recreate himself yet again. Mena Akaran expands her legendary role as a warrior with a new discovery - that of love and respect.
It's a great series, and this is a wonderful book to read.
My one complaint is that the book ends in a cliffhanger, which is so cliche in the fantasy genre. I loved that the first book ended at the end of a story arc and that there was resolution even as a new beginning emerged. I think it's kind of a cheap ploy to chop a story in half in order to call it a series. I know that method sells, but Durham is such a good writer that I don't think he needs to worry about hooking his readers for the next installment. Remember all those Tarzan books? We read them all as kids even though each book had a definitive plot conclusion. We didn't need cliffhangers and half-told tales to keep our interest back then and we don't need them now.
March 26, 2010
This review originally appeared at RevolutionSF.com:
If you look back at my review of Acacia: The War With the Mein, you'll find that I was reluctant to pick up something I knew was an unfinished trilogy. I ended up enjoying the book immensely, but I knew that book 2, when it came, would come with a built-in problem.
While book one of a trilogy can usually stand on its own, book two is doomed to be incomplete. Certainly characters are deepened and plot points are expanded, but it's all in service to setting up the endgame to come in book three. It's not that this set-up can't be enjoyable, it's just that the reader will be left dangling amongst the various plot-threads, waiting to see how it all comes out, a situation which is particularly frustrating if the story is good.
And make no mistake, The Other Lands is good. Durham builds on all the good points from Acacia: the world-building skill, the finely-drawn characters, the level of detail, and the solid pacing. His world is a lush mix of political intrigue, anthropology, mythology, and sorcery, and it's a pleasure to spend time there, even in the company of some very unpleasant people. There are villains aplenty here, and cultures beyond our understanding, but nothing simplistic. There are no easy answers to be found here, no hero without a touch of darkness, and no villain without reason for his or her actions.
The remaining Akarans, reunited at the end of book one, each struggle to come to terms with a victory that doesn't feel very much like a victory after the of their brother, Aliver. They are each also struggling with finding a balance between their responsibilities to the kingdom with those to their families. Having grown up apart and in such different cultures from one another, they find themselves unsure within their newly-reunited family, struggling to understand the motivations of people now so very different than those they remember. Though they each have the same goal of a kingdom at peace, they differ significantly in how they think that should be achieved.
The various pieces are being moved into place for what looks like a truly epic endgame, with Acacia facing seemingly impossible threats both from without and within. Given the amount of care and thought that has gone onto the story so far, I have no doubt that I will enjoy the trip wherever David Anthony Durham decides to take us.
If you look back at my review of Acacia: The War With the Mein, you'll find that I was reluctant to pick up something I knew was an unfinished trilogy. I ended up enjoying the book immensely, but I knew that book 2, when it came, would come with a built-in problem.
While book one of a trilogy can usually stand on its own, book two is doomed to be incomplete. Certainly characters are deepened and plot points are expanded, but it's all in service to setting up the endgame to come in book three. It's not that this set-up can't be enjoyable, it's just that the reader will be left dangling amongst the various plot-threads, waiting to see how it all comes out, a situation which is particularly frustrating if the story is good.
And make no mistake, The Other Lands is good. Durham builds on all the good points from Acacia: the world-building skill, the finely-drawn characters, the level of detail, and the solid pacing. His world is a lush mix of political intrigue, anthropology, mythology, and sorcery, and it's a pleasure to spend time there, even in the company of some very unpleasant people. There are villains aplenty here, and cultures beyond our understanding, but nothing simplistic. There are no easy answers to be found here, no hero without a touch of darkness, and no villain without reason for his or her actions.
The remaining Akarans, reunited at the end of book one, each struggle to come to terms with a victory that doesn't feel very much like a victory after the of their brother, Aliver. They are each also struggling with finding a balance between their responsibilities to the kingdom with those to their families. Having grown up apart and in such different cultures from one another, they find themselves unsure within their newly-reunited family, struggling to understand the motivations of people now so very different than those they remember. Though they each have the same goal of a kingdom at peace, they differ significantly in how they think that should be achieved.
The various pieces are being moved into place for what looks like a truly epic endgame, with Acacia facing seemingly impossible threats both from without and within. Given the amount of care and thought that has gone onto the story so far, I have no doubt that I will enjoy the trip wherever David Anthony Durham decides to take us.
August 5, 2014
This book did nothing to captivate my interest and dragged on and on for me. The Other Lands took me almost 2 months to read (which is crazy) and I should have given up long ago... But I hate not finishing books.
I'm giving this 2 stars, and not 1, because it is more a personal feel of loathing than any certain critique. It just didn't do it for me. I had no interest in the characters or the plot, which is a recipe for disaster!
I'm giving this 2 stars, and not 1, because it is more a personal feel of loathing than any certain critique. It just didn't do it for me. I had no interest in the characters or the plot, which is a recipe for disaster!
July 20, 2010
Just wasn't all that interested in finishing the book after all. Maybe just my mood, but it never clicked with me like the first one. I made it about halfway through but none of the characters, besides Dariel, were all that interesting.
August 19, 2014
God damn you Corinn.
January 17, 2011
A brilliant sequel to Acacia...Really looking forward to its completion.
The apocalyptic struggle against the conquering Mein has ended and a victorious Corinn Akaran reigns over the Acacian Empire of the known world. Bolstered by her growing mastery of the forbidding, sorcerous powers contained in the BOOK OF ELENET, she rules with an iron hand.
The Other Lands follows on nine years after the events of the excellent Acacia. In this sequel, we see Corinn Akaran firmly established as Queen of Acacia alongside her son by Heinish Mein, Prince Aaden. Princess Mena is out in the Known World with her husband Melio, defending the land from the creatures known as the foulthings. The foulthings are abominations left over from the Santoth involvement in the war at the end of Acacia.
News also reaches the court from the mysterious Other Lands. Queen Corinn dispatches her brother Prince Dariel to act as her emissary, along with Sire Neen of the League of Vessels, and soldiers of the Numrek to make greetings with the Lothan Aklun. From the moment Dariel sets sail across the Grey Slopes, the Known World will never be the same again....
Read the rest of the review here....
http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/Da...
The apocalyptic struggle against the conquering Mein has ended and a victorious Corinn Akaran reigns over the Acacian Empire of the known world. Bolstered by her growing mastery of the forbidding, sorcerous powers contained in the BOOK OF ELENET, she rules with an iron hand.
The Other Lands follows on nine years after the events of the excellent Acacia. In this sequel, we see Corinn Akaran firmly established as Queen of Acacia alongside her son by Heinish Mein, Prince Aaden. Princess Mena is out in the Known World with her husband Melio, defending the land from the creatures known as the foulthings. The foulthings are abominations left over from the Santoth involvement in the war at the end of Acacia.
News also reaches the court from the mysterious Other Lands. Queen Corinn dispatches her brother Prince Dariel to act as her emissary, along with Sire Neen of the League of Vessels, and soldiers of the Numrek to make greetings with the Lothan Aklun. From the moment Dariel sets sail across the Grey Slopes, the Known World will never be the same again....
Read the rest of the review here....
http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/Da...
September 14, 2010
As with my review of Acacia, this review is a literary minefield of uber-spoilers and links to TVTropes.
Acacia's ending left a sinister taste in the air. The shining prince, Aliver Akaran, is dead. In his place his sister Corinn has retaken the throne. Nine years pass, and Aaden, her son by Hanish Mein, is growing into a fine young prince at his mother's side. Corinn herself has been busy studying The Song of Elenet, a sorcerer's handbook of sorts. She's had to make hard decisions to stay in power and quell the unrest following the defeat of the Mein. It shows.
If the Corinn of latter Acacia days was reserved and calculating, The Other Lands sees her transform from High Queen to Knight Templar, and it's really scary. Corinn is desperate for a replacement for the mist, and she commissions an alternative drug consumed through wine. It's more addictive than mist and has fewer side-effects. Sounds perfect, but since almost everyone drinks wine, it would be really easy to get a significant proportion of the population addicted—oh, and no one bothered to test what happens when someone is deprived of the drug indefinitely. But that doesn't bother Corinn as much as the possibility that some people will disagree with her.
Don't let my flippant tone mislead you, however; Corrin is not merely a caricature of the queen who goes too far. We also get to see the woman behind the queen. Corinn regularly expresses her doubts—almost regrets—about how she has to behave in order to maintain control. Her only joys in life come from Aaden and learning sorcery. And this isn't entirely her fault: Corinn has trust issues. Her mother, to whom she was especially close, died. Her father died. Her first love died. She fell in love with her enemy, Hanish Mein, then learned he was planning to kill her (should have seen that one coming, Princess). In this book, she permits herself a flirtation with King Grae, only to learn that he's involved with some peasant rebels. I can't wait to find out how she reacts when she learns that her amateur attempts at sorcery are endangering Acacia more than the league or the Auldek!
Speaking of the Auldek, Dariel's voyage to the Other Lands is the other half of this book. It's not quite as interesting as Corinn's machinations, because it offers less of an emotional purchase for the reader. Dariel is the Akaran who gets the least amount of development, almost as if Durham doesn't know what to do with him. Corinn is the scheming queen; Mena is the badass but weary warrior; Dariel is . . . I'm not sure. So Durham, through Corinn, packs him off to the Other Lands where he gets imprisoned, tortured, tattooed, and then leads former quota slaves on a raid! It's somewhat convoluted . . . but I guess it works.
Despite my reservations about Dariel's characterization, I'm pleased that Durham took us over the Gray Slopes in the second book. We learn more about the nature of the Lothan Aklun and, by extension, sorcery. The relationship between the Auldek and Numrek, as well as the reason for the Numrek's arrival in the Known World, is made clear. And these two plot points are connected, for the Lothan Aklun have fundamentally altered Auldek and Numrek society. By making the Auldek immortal yet sterile through soul transfer, the Lothan Aklun warped this warrior culture into something stagnant, dependent upon them for quota slaves to function as "children" of a sort. With the Lothan Aklun gone and the Numrek returned with tidings of a land where Auldek will be fertile and a weak people is just waiting to be conquered . . . well, the Auldek jump at the chance for some real battle, and you can't blame them. Indeed, although the Auldek are brutal and brutish, there is something earnest about their motivations. As Rialos notes, who is to say that the Acacian time for dominance hasn't come to an end? Perhaps it is time for the Auldek to reign. This hearkens to the ambiguous nature of the Akaran versus Mein conflict in Acacia. Once again the Akarans represent "the good guys," but they don't do a very good job at it.
The League of Vessels shows its teeth in this book with its fait accompli massacre of the Lothan Aklun. Back when Leodan first mentioned them in Acacia, the words were alien, disturbing: "Lothan Aklun." I pictured them as sorcerers, yes, but as terrible and incomprehensible beings. Even after the League revealed the Lothan Aklun were to the Auldek as the League is to the Acacians, I held out hope. In a way, that hope remains intact, since we didn't actually get to meet the Lothan Aklun—they were all dead by the time we finally visit the Other Lands, so they remain a mystery. But I digress: after spending all of the last book cackling about how the league is the "real power" in the world, Sire Dagon finally has some actions to back up those empty words. At first, when it's apparent that Sire Neen overstepped himself, Sire Dagon's panicked reaction seems to indicate that the league will lose just as much in the coming war as will the Acacians. But the meeting of the Senior Council belies this emotional interpretation. The league is even more cold and calculating than Corinn, who uses sorcery to turn Mena's dragon's unborn babies into killers.
Oh yeah, in what is probably the most obvious embrace of a fantasy trope yet, Mena gets a pet dragon. The moment she was carried away by the dragon during their attempts to kill it, I called that it would become Mena's companion. And I hate the fact that Corinn's manipulations of Mena and the dragon tug at my heart. I don't want the baby dragons to be beasts of war! But it's no use. It may be the most dull and conventional subplot in the book, but it still snares me with pathos. Damn you, Durham!
That is ultimately the measure of the book, is it not? Durham might be playing with very conventional tropes here, but he plays with them well. And like its predecessor, The Other Lands knows when to avert the tropes rather than embrace them. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this book is better than Acacia. It does exactly what the second book in a trilogy must accomplish: it further develops the characters, answers questions raised in the first book, and raises new questions. Above all, The Other Lands raises the stakes. There's nothing like that image of an unstoppable Auldek army or the Santoth's warning of cracks in the fabric of reality to cause a metaphorical shiver or two in the reader's spine. And I'm genuinely uncertain how the trilogy will resolve these conflicts: while it's obvious that the Auldeks cannot win, that doesn't imply an Akaran victory.
That's what I like about this trilogy. Durham is writing a historical epic. It's set in a world with magic, soul-transfer devices, and fantastical animals . . . but people are still people, and they're still greedy for glory and power. Like many other great fantasy authors (you know who I'm talking about), Durham balances epic fantasy with epic history to give us something familiar yet much more fulfilling than the bland "farmboy saves the world" fast-food fantasy that codifies the cliché.
For those who couldn't finish Acacia, whether it's Durham's expository style or just a somewhat lagging plot, this is one of those rare occasions where I endorse starting the series with the second book. The Other Lands doesn't quite "stand alone" in a strict sense; after all, it ends on a very dramatic cliffhanger. However, it is separated from the first novel by nine years, and the recap at the beginning of this book has everything you really need to know about what happened in Acacia. So in that respect, The Other Lands is the perfect opportunity to give David Anthony Durham's trilogy a second chance. And if ever there were a trilogy deserving of one, this is it.
My Reviews of the Acacia Trilogy:
← Acacia: The War with the Mein | Acacia 3 (forthcoming) →
Acacia's ending left a sinister taste in the air. The shining prince, Aliver Akaran, is dead. In his place his sister Corinn has retaken the throne. Nine years pass, and Aaden, her son by Hanish Mein, is growing into a fine young prince at his mother's side. Corinn herself has been busy studying The Song of Elenet, a sorcerer's handbook of sorts. She's had to make hard decisions to stay in power and quell the unrest following the defeat of the Mein. It shows.
If the Corinn of latter Acacia days was reserved and calculating, The Other Lands sees her transform from High Queen to Knight Templar, and it's really scary. Corinn is desperate for a replacement for the mist, and she commissions an alternative drug consumed through wine. It's more addictive than mist and has fewer side-effects. Sounds perfect, but since almost everyone drinks wine, it would be really easy to get a significant proportion of the population addicted—oh, and no one bothered to test what happens when someone is deprived of the drug indefinitely. But that doesn't bother Corinn as much as the possibility that some people will disagree with her.
Don't let my flippant tone mislead you, however; Corrin is not merely a caricature of the queen who goes too far. We also get to see the woman behind the queen. Corinn regularly expresses her doubts—almost regrets—about how she has to behave in order to maintain control. Her only joys in life come from Aaden and learning sorcery. And this isn't entirely her fault: Corinn has trust issues. Her mother, to whom she was especially close, died. Her father died. Her first love died. She fell in love with her enemy, Hanish Mein, then learned he was planning to kill her (should have seen that one coming, Princess). In this book, she permits herself a flirtation with King Grae, only to learn that he's involved with some peasant rebels. I can't wait to find out how she reacts when she learns that her amateur attempts at sorcery are endangering Acacia more than the league or the Auldek!
Speaking of the Auldek, Dariel's voyage to the Other Lands is the other half of this book. It's not quite as interesting as Corinn's machinations, because it offers less of an emotional purchase for the reader. Dariel is the Akaran who gets the least amount of development, almost as if Durham doesn't know what to do with him. Corinn is the scheming queen; Mena is the badass but weary warrior; Dariel is . . . I'm not sure. So Durham, through Corinn, packs him off to the Other Lands where he gets imprisoned, tortured, tattooed, and then leads former quota slaves on a raid! It's somewhat convoluted . . . but I guess it works.
Despite my reservations about Dariel's characterization, I'm pleased that Durham took us over the Gray Slopes in the second book. We learn more about the nature of the Lothan Aklun and, by extension, sorcery. The relationship between the Auldek and Numrek, as well as the reason for the Numrek's arrival in the Known World, is made clear. And these two plot points are connected, for the Lothan Aklun have fundamentally altered Auldek and Numrek society. By making the Auldek immortal yet sterile through soul transfer, the Lothan Aklun warped this warrior culture into something stagnant, dependent upon them for quota slaves to function as "children" of a sort. With the Lothan Aklun gone and the Numrek returned with tidings of a land where Auldek will be fertile and a weak people is just waiting to be conquered . . . well, the Auldek jump at the chance for some real battle, and you can't blame them. Indeed, although the Auldek are brutal and brutish, there is something earnest about their motivations. As Rialos notes, who is to say that the Acacian time for dominance hasn't come to an end? Perhaps it is time for the Auldek to reign. This hearkens to the ambiguous nature of the Akaran versus Mein conflict in Acacia. Once again the Akarans represent "the good guys," but they don't do a very good job at it.
The League of Vessels shows its teeth in this book with its fait accompli massacre of the Lothan Aklun. Back when Leodan first mentioned them in Acacia, the words were alien, disturbing: "Lothan Aklun." I pictured them as sorcerers, yes, but as terrible and incomprehensible beings. Even after the League revealed the Lothan Aklun were to the Auldek as the League is to the Acacians, I held out hope. In a way, that hope remains intact, since we didn't actually get to meet the Lothan Aklun—they were all dead by the time we finally visit the Other Lands, so they remain a mystery. But I digress: after spending all of the last book cackling about how the league is the "real power" in the world, Sire Dagon finally has some actions to back up those empty words. At first, when it's apparent that Sire Neen overstepped himself, Sire Dagon's panicked reaction seems to indicate that the league will lose just as much in the coming war as will the Acacians. But the meeting of the Senior Council belies this emotional interpretation. The league is even more cold and calculating than Corinn, who uses sorcery to turn Mena's dragon's unborn babies into killers.
Oh yeah, in what is probably the most obvious embrace of a fantasy trope yet, Mena gets a pet dragon. The moment she was carried away by the dragon during their attempts to kill it, I called that it would become Mena's companion. And I hate the fact that Corinn's manipulations of Mena and the dragon tug at my heart. I don't want the baby dragons to be beasts of war! But it's no use. It may be the most dull and conventional subplot in the book, but it still snares me with pathos. Damn you, Durham!
That is ultimately the measure of the book, is it not? Durham might be playing with very conventional tropes here, but he plays with them well. And like its predecessor, The Other Lands knows when to avert the tropes rather than embrace them. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this book is better than Acacia. It does exactly what the second book in a trilogy must accomplish: it further develops the characters, answers questions raised in the first book, and raises new questions. Above all, The Other Lands raises the stakes. There's nothing like that image of an unstoppable Auldek army or the Santoth's warning of cracks in the fabric of reality to cause a metaphorical shiver or two in the reader's spine. And I'm genuinely uncertain how the trilogy will resolve these conflicts: while it's obvious that the Auldeks cannot win, that doesn't imply an Akaran victory.
That's what I like about this trilogy. Durham is writing a historical epic. It's set in a world with magic, soul-transfer devices, and fantastical animals . . . but people are still people, and they're still greedy for glory and power. Like many other great fantasy authors (you know who I'm talking about), Durham balances epic fantasy with epic history to give us something familiar yet much more fulfilling than the bland "farmboy saves the world" fast-food fantasy that codifies the cliché.
For those who couldn't finish Acacia, whether it's Durham's expository style or just a somewhat lagging plot, this is one of those rare occasions where I endorse starting the series with the second book. The Other Lands doesn't quite "stand alone" in a strict sense; after all, it ends on a very dramatic cliffhanger. However, it is separated from the first novel by nine years, and the recap at the beginning of this book has everything you really need to know about what happened in Acacia. So in that respect, The Other Lands is the perfect opportunity to give David Anthony Durham's trilogy a second chance. And if ever there were a trilogy deserving of one, this is it.
My Reviews of the Acacia Trilogy:
← Acacia: The War with the Mein | Acacia 3 (forthcoming) →
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2017
For some reason, my copy of the book was littered with typos: every "you're" was rendered as "Your" (capitalisation included), which constantly threw me out of the book. I suspect some paragraph breaks were not included as well.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read, and it was nice that it talked about the stress Corinn was under. I liked that it dealt with the fact that being a leader means responsibility, instead of single-handedly waging war. I would have liked more focus on the minutiae such as funding, or where the soldiers can be raised from - but fair enough,
Basically, there is a nine-year time jump. We find that
I enjoyed the plots in this book - each character has their own plots and concerns. I liked that the siblings still trusted each other at heart, while grappling with their own concerns. In particular, Dariel is haunted by the order that he gave to kill Meander in the first book. Mena seems to have escaped into making war. Corinn distrusts everyone.
The writing isn't difficult, which I also appreciated. It's not an epic fantasy novel that is mindblowingly original, but it is fun to read.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read, and it was nice that it talked about the stress Corinn was under. I liked that it dealt with the fact that being a leader means responsibility, instead of single-handedly waging war. I would have liked more focus on the minutiae such as funding, or where the soldiers can be raised from - but fair enough,
Basically, there is a nine-year time jump. We find that
I enjoyed the plots in this book - each character has their own plots and concerns. I liked that the siblings still trusted each other at heart, while grappling with their own concerns. In particular, Dariel is haunted by the order that he gave to kill Meander in the first book. Mena seems to have escaped into making war. Corinn distrusts everyone.
The writing isn't difficult, which I also appreciated. It's not an epic fantasy novel that is mindblowingly original, but it is fun to read.
July 31, 2024
8 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
Following Hanish Mein's rebellion, nine years have passed since the Akaran dynasty was restored to the throne. In this time, the world hasn’t much changed. The Quota is still collected, the gulf between the common ‘man and the nobility remains sizable, the ideality and reforms of Aliver have been retracted and forgotten—though not by all. Barad the Lesser is one such man. One who hears the voice of Aliver still, in his dreams every night. Who dreams of a better world, one without an Akaran backside astride the throne.
Corinn’s rule perseveres, but remains tenuous. The populace (now freed from the Mist, but still subject to the Quota) whispers of revolution. The lack of a legitimate heir, coupled with an unmarried queen, worries the senate. Wild things of power and might, twisted by forbidden magic, wander the land. If not for the Numrek—monstrous giants that eat human flesh—the dynasty might have fallen for good.
But Corinn hasn’t given up hope. Or ceased to scheme. She sends her brother Dariel to the other side of the sea, to negotiate a new price for the Quota. She makes plans to distribute an altered Mist recipe, to keep the populace compliant. She manipulates her sister, Mena, who doubts her desires for motherhood—all to keep power, and ensure her son’s right to rule.
And yet the world around her foments danger, threat, and rebellion, both from within the Empire—and without. Across the sea, destination of the blood trade, strange and unknown powers plot their annexation of the Known World.
From the Other Lands.
—
Love your family without being weakened by them; honor them as infallible in public while noting their flaws to yourself; demand the most from your friends without expecting it; imagine the worst from your enemies so that they cannot surprise you; and rely only on yourself.
—
What man doesn’t really, at some fundamental level, want more? More of everything! More riches. More lovers. More power. More revenge.
—
Sequel to the 2007 fantasy debut Acacia: the War with the Mein, Other Lands continues the story of the Akaran dynasty (plus additional supporting cast), as it is confronted by enemies within and without the Known World. As with most new fantasies (and especially debuts), the beginning was a bit of a mixed bag—with a slow evolving plot, a telling heavy on description and light on dialogue, several complex and intricate characters, and maybe, just maybe, an attempt to squeeze too much into too little a venue.
Book Two really… um, doesn’t do a whole lot different. There are still few characters (more, but still not many) outside the ruling caste, so we get little sense of what those without power are feeling. It’s still very description heavy, though I felt there was a bit more dialogue in this one. The plot was slow to evolve, but not nearly as slow as in Book One. At least we got a handle on the world itself, expanding beyond the bounds that had been constructed to constrain the original product (though, as per usual, the maps are always one step behind—so much so that whenever I needed to find something I used the one from the Sacred Band). Basically, Other Lands is more of the same. But, with two books down, I wouldn’t expect much change from the Sacred Band; this seems to be the formula we’re going with, and no need to change what’s been working.
And, for as much as the first book divided fans, this does seem to be working. At least, for some of us. If you didn’t like the style of the first book, you probably didn’t come back for the second. It does take some getting used to. Description heavy, dialogue light—a classic approach to high fantasy, although certainly with a darker twist. Good narrators, albeit missing any input from the common ‘man. A number of chaotic elements to shake up any hold you thought you had on the plot’s direction. Most of the issues I had with this revolved around the new characters (and their subplots), the epilogue, and the debate over procreation. Otherwise, everything flowed along quite well, and I had no trouble racing right through this one.
Full disclosure, this was actually my third attempt at this one. Back in 2012, fresh from the War with the Mein, I made it to page 150. 2014 I got all the way to Part 2: On Love and Dragons, but no further. The problem with the decade in between is that I can’t tell you why, or even hazard a guess on the reason. Thus, if it seems like my rating really doesn’t reflect this hardship—I mean, yeah. I dunno why I couldn’t get into it before, but I got through it smoothly enough this time. Did decide to dock it half a star, though. But with a solid 8/10, I definitely recommend Other Lands, and the series through Book #2.
TL;DR
Followup to the author’s fantasy debut, Acacia, the War with the Mein, Other Lands mixes high and dark fantasy, taking the controversial formula from Book #1 and… pretty much not changing it. So, if Acacia worked for you the first time, Other Lands probably will as well. If It didn’t… Other Lands probably won’t. Good news is it worked for me! I didn’t mind the slow build, the heavy description/light dialogue method David Anthony Durham utilized before. I had a few issues with this one, true, but they were few and far between. Bottom line: if you like the first, you should enjoy the second—it’s just more of a good thing. Let’s see if Book #3, the Sacred Band, continues the theme.
Budget Books: I have some interesting complaints on the budget front. Despite being around 15 years old, you still can’t get a paperback (new) for anywhere under $16. Yes, that includes the mass market—which I got for $8 (new) back in 2012. I don’t know if this is due to the publisher, Doubleday, being bought out by Penguin, but I rather doubt it. It’s likely a product of all prices going up, and—for some reason—existing titles needing to go up enough to compete with the brand new releases. So, well—get it used. I got the third (the Sacred Band) for $4 used, again, about a decade ago. When I checked recently, you could pick up the hardcover for about $4 used (as opposed to $30 new), with the mass market at roughly $6. Ebooks were an agreeable $6 as well.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
Following Hanish Mein's rebellion, nine years have passed since the Akaran dynasty was restored to the throne. In this time, the world hasn’t much changed. The Quota is still collected, the gulf between the common ‘man and the nobility remains sizable, the ideality and reforms of Aliver have been retracted and forgotten—though not by all. Barad the Lesser is one such man. One who hears the voice of Aliver still, in his dreams every night. Who dreams of a better world, one without an Akaran backside astride the throne.
Corinn’s rule perseveres, but remains tenuous. The populace (now freed from the Mist, but still subject to the Quota) whispers of revolution. The lack of a legitimate heir, coupled with an unmarried queen, worries the senate. Wild things of power and might, twisted by forbidden magic, wander the land. If not for the Numrek—monstrous giants that eat human flesh—the dynasty might have fallen for good.
But Corinn hasn’t given up hope. Or ceased to scheme. She sends her brother Dariel to the other side of the sea, to negotiate a new price for the Quota. She makes plans to distribute an altered Mist recipe, to keep the populace compliant. She manipulates her sister, Mena, who doubts her desires for motherhood—all to keep power, and ensure her son’s right to rule.
And yet the world around her foments danger, threat, and rebellion, both from within the Empire—and without. Across the sea, destination of the blood trade, strange and unknown powers plot their annexation of the Known World.
From the Other Lands.
—
Love your family without being weakened by them; honor them as infallible in public while noting their flaws to yourself; demand the most from your friends without expecting it; imagine the worst from your enemies so that they cannot surprise you; and rely only on yourself.
—
What man doesn’t really, at some fundamental level, want more? More of everything! More riches. More lovers. More power. More revenge.
—
Sequel to the 2007 fantasy debut Acacia: the War with the Mein, Other Lands continues the story of the Akaran dynasty (plus additional supporting cast), as it is confronted by enemies within and without the Known World. As with most new fantasies (and especially debuts), the beginning was a bit of a mixed bag—with a slow evolving plot, a telling heavy on description and light on dialogue, several complex and intricate characters, and maybe, just maybe, an attempt to squeeze too much into too little a venue.
Book Two really… um, doesn’t do a whole lot different. There are still few characters (more, but still not many) outside the ruling caste, so we get little sense of what those without power are feeling. It’s still very description heavy, though I felt there was a bit more dialogue in this one. The plot was slow to evolve, but not nearly as slow as in Book One. At least we got a handle on the world itself, expanding beyond the bounds that had been constructed to constrain the original product (though, as per usual, the maps are always one step behind—so much so that whenever I needed to find something I used the one from the Sacred Band). Basically, Other Lands is more of the same. But, with two books down, I wouldn’t expect much change from the Sacred Band; this seems to be the formula we’re going with, and no need to change what’s been working.
And, for as much as the first book divided fans, this does seem to be working. At least, for some of us. If you didn’t like the style of the first book, you probably didn’t come back for the second. It does take some getting used to. Description heavy, dialogue light—a classic approach to high fantasy, although certainly with a darker twist. Good narrators, albeit missing any input from the common ‘man. A number of chaotic elements to shake up any hold you thought you had on the plot’s direction. Most of the issues I had with this revolved around the new characters (and their subplots), the epilogue, and the debate over procreation. Otherwise, everything flowed along quite well, and I had no trouble racing right through this one.
Full disclosure, this was actually my third attempt at this one. Back in 2012, fresh from the War with the Mein, I made it to page 150. 2014 I got all the way to Part 2: On Love and Dragons, but no further. The problem with the decade in between is that I can’t tell you why, or even hazard a guess on the reason. Thus, if it seems like my rating really doesn’t reflect this hardship—I mean, yeah. I dunno why I couldn’t get into it before, but I got through it smoothly enough this time. Did decide to dock it half a star, though. But with a solid 8/10, I definitely recommend Other Lands, and the series through Book #2.
TL;DR
Followup to the author’s fantasy debut, Acacia, the War with the Mein, Other Lands mixes high and dark fantasy, taking the controversial formula from Book #1 and… pretty much not changing it. So, if Acacia worked for you the first time, Other Lands probably will as well. If It didn’t… Other Lands probably won’t. Good news is it worked for me! I didn’t mind the slow build, the heavy description/light dialogue method David Anthony Durham utilized before. I had a few issues with this one, true, but they were few and far between. Bottom line: if you like the first, you should enjoy the second—it’s just more of a good thing. Let’s see if Book #3, the Sacred Band, continues the theme.
Budget Books: I have some interesting complaints on the budget front. Despite being around 15 years old, you still can’t get a paperback (new) for anywhere under $16. Yes, that includes the mass market—which I got for $8 (new) back in 2012. I don’t know if this is due to the publisher, Doubleday, being bought out by Penguin, but I rather doubt it. It’s likely a product of all prices going up, and—for some reason—existing titles needing to go up enough to compete with the brand new releases. So, well—get it used. I got the third (the Sacred Band) for $4 used, again, about a decade ago. When I checked recently, you could pick up the hardcover for about $4 used (as opposed to $30 new), with the mass market at roughly $6. Ebooks were an agreeable $6 as well.
May 31, 2017
Es ist schon eine ordentliche Leistung, eine von ihren Grundsätzen her vielversprechende Geschichte so in den Sand zu setzen.
Unwichtige Szenen, ein passiver Schreibstil, Infodumps und fehlende Charakterentwicklung abseits von größeren Zeitsprüngen machen es schwierig, ein Buch zu genießen, das versucht, eine Handlung zu vermitteln, die ich eigentlich hochinteressant finde. Intrigen, sich ständig ändernde Bündnisse und eine Handelsgilde, die die Welt in zwei Teile spaltet, die nichts voneinander wissen, um so ihr Monopol zu stärken, finde ich super. Aber dann bitte anständig verpackt und nicht so, dass ich alle paar Absätze mit den Augen rollen muss, weil ein wichtiges Detail lieblos dahingeklatscht wurde, während eine überflüssig zu erwähnende Handlung durch pathetische Metaphern ausgeschmückt wird.
Mal sehen, wann (oder ob) ich mir Teil 3 zu Gemüte führen werde. Die Hoffnung, unterhalten zu werden, ist immer noch da und wer den aufkommenden Krieg für sich entscheidet, will ich jetzt doch wissen.
Unwichtige Szenen, ein passiver Schreibstil, Infodumps und fehlende Charakterentwicklung abseits von größeren Zeitsprüngen machen es schwierig, ein Buch zu genießen, das versucht, eine Handlung zu vermitteln, die ich eigentlich hochinteressant finde. Intrigen, sich ständig ändernde Bündnisse und eine Handelsgilde, die die Welt in zwei Teile spaltet, die nichts voneinander wissen, um so ihr Monopol zu stärken, finde ich super. Aber dann bitte anständig verpackt und nicht so, dass ich alle paar Absätze mit den Augen rollen muss, weil ein wichtiges Detail lieblos dahingeklatscht wurde, während eine überflüssig zu erwähnende Handlung durch pathetische Metaphern ausgeschmückt wird.
Mal sehen, wann (oder ob) ich mir Teil 3 zu Gemüte führen werde. Die Hoffnung, unterhalten zu werden, ist immer noch da und wer den aufkommenden Krieg für sich entscheidet, will ich jetzt doch wissen.
April 13, 2022
This is more likely 2.5 stars or even 3 stars. I am feeling more than a little let down with the series. There is some really good build up in the story and world building in both this book and the first. It has a sudden shift to trying to pay off some of that build up but doesn’t feel smooth in its transition. Some story lines feel like they will be important but just fall flat for me with how they turn out. The story stopped being interesting after it turned out to be building to mirror the first book in general plot.
There are some interesting characters and situations but all don’t live up to their potential. By the end I found myself passive to everyone and their stories. I don’t think the vast cast helps the case, it feels like there is little to no character development in this book.
In summary, this highly discouraged me from reading the next book despite a lot of plot building up to it.
There are some interesting characters and situations but all don’t live up to their potential. By the end I found myself passive to everyone and their stories. I don’t think the vast cast helps the case, it feels like there is little to no character development in this book.
In summary, this highly discouraged me from reading the next book despite a lot of plot building up to it.
February 29, 2024
Pretty, pretty, pretty good
June 16, 2024
Hard to say why these books don't quite chime with me. I enjoy them and will read the third. The world is interesting and colourful. The story is unpredictable but coherent.
I think it's something to do with how the characters clash. That it's subservient to the plot, not driving it, as in First Law and A Song Of Ice And Fire. Historic inevitability makes even active characters feel a bit YA.
I think it's something to do with how the characters clash. That it's subservient to the plot, not driving it, as in First Law and A Song Of Ice And Fire. Historic inevitability makes even active characters feel a bit YA.
February 18, 2021
More reviews at undertheradarsffbooks.com
Welcome back to the Known World where the Akaran family is once again in power and looking to expand its influence across the globe. We pick up the story line nine years following the conclusion of book 1 with the themes of revenge, expansion, and forgotten pasts moved to the forefront. We once again experience a bit of a slow burn in the first half of the novel, but Durham really pushes on the gas peddle for the second half and sets up book 3 with a shocking conclusion. This will be a spoiler free review, but I will be touching upon events that take place in book 1.
Let me start with the prologue, we are briefly introduced to a set of siblings trying to avoid capture from The League as part of the slave trade with the Lothan Aklun. This chapter will tug at your emotions and will play a big role later in the story. Queen Corinn now sits on the Acacia Throne after being forced to married Hanish Mein and ultimately killing him when his sacrifice attempt failed. Corinn did however become pregnant and now has a young prince to look after. Corinn has read from the Song of Elenet and now possess her own magic to use as she sees fit, but even all of these magical powers can’t stop the people of the Known world from planning a revolt. This is due to the withdrawal of the drug which has plagued the land for decades. Wanting to expand her influence, Corinn decides to ask The League to help her seek an alliance with the Lothan Aklun across the sea and she is sending prince Dariel as an ambassador. As part of this alliance, Corinn is hoping to bring the drug back to the known world, even if it means starting the slave quota again and going against the dying wish of her brother Aliver.
Mena is off journeying about the country searching for tainted creatures affected by the Sanoth unleasing their magic on the Mein army in book 1. Her task giving to her by the Queen, is to eliminate these creatures as they are declared unholy. Eventually, she discovers a dragon-like creature and is captured by it. Once in the dragon’s lair, Mena notices that the creature is injured and that it has several eggs waiting to be hatched. Mena decides to care for the creature and to bring it back to the capital as a weapon. Dariel is the final character I would like to discuss. When we last saw Dariel in book 1 he was a pirate laying destruction upon The Leagues Platforms in the middle of the sea. The League has not forgotten this episode and has its own plans for Dariel when they cross the sea. Once across the sea, Dariel discovers that the Lothan Alkun have no interest in an alliance and the several tribes have their own plans for an invasion of the Known World and the reconquer the territory that was once theirs. Dariel becomes involved in a series of events that made me what to come back for more as we learn all about this foreign culture through his eyes.
It is difficult to talk about this book without giving away the plot, but I wanted to talk about the feel and flow of The Other Lands. Book 1 felt like a slow burn with the ultimate goal of bringing the siblings back together to accomplish their goals of defeating the Main and establishing some form of peace. The Other Lands is the complete opposite approach of separating the siblings and the building on tension and unrest across two continents. Revelations are made throughout the course of the story into the origins of the Lothun Alkun and their tribes, what they are looking for, and what ultimately they end up doing with the slaves they receive from the Known World in the drug trade. What I liked most about this story is that all characters are morally grey but you can understand the reasoning behind every decision made even if you won’t agree with it. This is a testament to Durham’s writing style and beautiful but descriptive ways of show the scene to you. I wouldn’t say he is overly descriptive like Robert Jordan at times, but I would lean more towards a Tad Williams given how much I love his prose. Everything in The Other Lands will serve a purpose whether you agree with the outcome or not and Durham will not shy away from the hurtful gut punch from time to time.
The Other Lands is a solid sequel in the Acacia Trilogy and it only builds upon the wonder story David Anthony Durham has written. The world is unique, mysterious, and down right brutal with the moral implications of how any society and sink into chaos. I hope you have enjoyed the journey so far because the ultimate battle will soon begin.
Cheers!
Welcome back to the Known World where the Akaran family is once again in power and looking to expand its influence across the globe. We pick up the story line nine years following the conclusion of book 1 with the themes of revenge, expansion, and forgotten pasts moved to the forefront. We once again experience a bit of a slow burn in the first half of the novel, but Durham really pushes on the gas peddle for the second half and sets up book 3 with a shocking conclusion. This will be a spoiler free review, but I will be touching upon events that take place in book 1.
Let me start with the prologue, we are briefly introduced to a set of siblings trying to avoid capture from The League as part of the slave trade with the Lothan Aklun. This chapter will tug at your emotions and will play a big role later in the story. Queen Corinn now sits on the Acacia Throne after being forced to married Hanish Mein and ultimately killing him when his sacrifice attempt failed. Corinn did however become pregnant and now has a young prince to look after. Corinn has read from the Song of Elenet and now possess her own magic to use as she sees fit, but even all of these magical powers can’t stop the people of the Known world from planning a revolt. This is due to the withdrawal of the drug which has plagued the land for decades. Wanting to expand her influence, Corinn decides to ask The League to help her seek an alliance with the Lothan Aklun across the sea and she is sending prince Dariel as an ambassador. As part of this alliance, Corinn is hoping to bring the drug back to the known world, even if it means starting the slave quota again and going against the dying wish of her brother Aliver.
Mena is off journeying about the country searching for tainted creatures affected by the Sanoth unleasing their magic on the Mein army in book 1. Her task giving to her by the Queen, is to eliminate these creatures as they are declared unholy. Eventually, she discovers a dragon-like creature and is captured by it. Once in the dragon’s lair, Mena notices that the creature is injured and that it has several eggs waiting to be hatched. Mena decides to care for the creature and to bring it back to the capital as a weapon. Dariel is the final character I would like to discuss. When we last saw Dariel in book 1 he was a pirate laying destruction upon The Leagues Platforms in the middle of the sea. The League has not forgotten this episode and has its own plans for Dariel when they cross the sea. Once across the sea, Dariel discovers that the Lothan Alkun have no interest in an alliance and the several tribes have their own plans for an invasion of the Known World and the reconquer the territory that was once theirs. Dariel becomes involved in a series of events that made me what to come back for more as we learn all about this foreign culture through his eyes.
It is difficult to talk about this book without giving away the plot, but I wanted to talk about the feel and flow of The Other Lands. Book 1 felt like a slow burn with the ultimate goal of bringing the siblings back together to accomplish their goals of defeating the Main and establishing some form of peace. The Other Lands is the complete opposite approach of separating the siblings and the building on tension and unrest across two continents. Revelations are made throughout the course of the story into the origins of the Lothun Alkun and their tribes, what they are looking for, and what ultimately they end up doing with the slaves they receive from the Known World in the drug trade. What I liked most about this story is that all characters are morally grey but you can understand the reasoning behind every decision made even if you won’t agree with it. This is a testament to Durham’s writing style and beautiful but descriptive ways of show the scene to you. I wouldn’t say he is overly descriptive like Robert Jordan at times, but I would lean more towards a Tad Williams given how much I love his prose. Everything in The Other Lands will serve a purpose whether you agree with the outcome or not and Durham will not shy away from the hurtful gut punch from time to time.
The Other Lands is a solid sequel in the Acacia Trilogy and it only builds upon the wonder story David Anthony Durham has written. The world is unique, mysterious, and down right brutal with the moral implications of how any society and sink into chaos. I hope you have enjoyed the journey so far because the ultimate battle will soon begin.
Cheers!
September 17, 2010
This is the second book in the Acacia series, so it's hard to review it without spoilers of the first book, but I'll try my best.
I rated the first book four stars. Why? It was a very slow start. Durham spent a lot of time laying the ground work for the series. It was still interesting, but I can see how it would be hard to get through for a lot of people. It was definitely worth it to push through, as by the end the plot was moving along quite nicely and I was throughly enchanted by the characters. I still only rated it four stars, because I couldn't really predict if the payoff of the entire series would be worth the slowness of the first book.
This one is five stars for sure. It picked up, pace-wise, right where the first book left off and didn't slow for a minute. There was even a quick little summary of the first book before the story even began - I really like it when authors do that, it helps to avoid having to recap everything within the story line and thereby bog down the pace. Some have said, and it is true, that this one ends in a cliff hanger. I can see why that might make some people avoid this, at least until the third book is out. For me though, that's not really an issue. Sure, I'd prefer to have the third book in hand to continue on right now.. But it's not going to kill me to wait a while.
Durham has a very smooth and engaging writing style that I really enjoy, and his character development is very well done. I found myself becoming attached to even minor characters, who were rarely in the story line. The characters seemed very real and well rounded to me.
To wrap it up, I would definitely recommend this book. But if you are the type that can't deal with a cliffhanger? Maybe wait until the third book comes out before digging into this one.
I rated the first book four stars. Why? It was a very slow start. Durham spent a lot of time laying the ground work for the series. It was still interesting, but I can see how it would be hard to get through for a lot of people. It was definitely worth it to push through, as by the end the plot was moving along quite nicely and I was throughly enchanted by the characters. I still only rated it four stars, because I couldn't really predict if the payoff of the entire series would be worth the slowness of the first book.
This one is five stars for sure. It picked up, pace-wise, right where the first book left off and didn't slow for a minute. There was even a quick little summary of the first book before the story even began - I really like it when authors do that, it helps to avoid having to recap everything within the story line and thereby bog down the pace. Some have said, and it is true, that this one ends in a cliff hanger. I can see why that might make some people avoid this, at least until the third book is out. For me though, that's not really an issue. Sure, I'd prefer to have the third book in hand to continue on right now.. But it's not going to kill me to wait a while.
Durham has a very smooth and engaging writing style that I really enjoy, and his character development is very well done. I found myself becoming attached to even minor characters, who were rarely in the story line. The characters seemed very real and well rounded to me.
To wrap it up, I would definitely recommend this book. But if you are the type that can't deal with a cliffhanger? Maybe wait until the third book comes out before digging into this one.
September 28, 2009
I first cracked the cover of The Other Lands with a great sense of anticipation, and from the first page to the last, David Anthony Durham did not disappoint.
The Other Lands continues the story of the three royal children of the Akaran family. They are Corinne, who is now queen, Dariel, who could have been king, but let the rule pass to Corinne, and Mena, the warrior princess. There are also several new characters, but it's difficult to introduce some of them without giving spoiling the plot.
Since Corinne resumed the Akaran rule of The Known Lands, the quota trade has continued, but the people have not resumed their dependence on mist, the drug that has kept the populace quiet and happy for hundreds of years. Since the people are sober, they are also restless. They object to sending their children off into an unknown slavery; and they object to crushing Akaran taxes. Corinne has resumed trade relations with the League, and in recompence for Dariel's burning of the League Platforms in the first novel, she has offered them certain lands that might have a warm place in the reader's heart. And they have most diabolical plans for those lands.
Right from the start, the League is up to something. They come to Corinne with a story of a captured spy, a situation that has been the ruination of their trade relationship with the people of the Other Lands. She asks Dariel to go with them to the Other Lands as her emissary. He reluctantly agrees, for they know he is the one who set fire to their platforms in Book 1. Both suspect treachery. Both are right.
Surprises await in the Other Lands, and they are not what you would expect.
Read the rest of my review at http://fantasydebut.blogspot.com/2009....
The Other Lands continues the story of the three royal children of the Akaran family. They are Corinne, who is now queen, Dariel, who could have been king, but let the rule pass to Corinne, and Mena, the warrior princess. There are also several new characters, but it's difficult to introduce some of them without giving spoiling the plot.
Since Corinne resumed the Akaran rule of The Known Lands, the quota trade has continued, but the people have not resumed their dependence on mist, the drug that has kept the populace quiet and happy for hundreds of years. Since the people are sober, they are also restless. They object to sending their children off into an unknown slavery; and they object to crushing Akaran taxes. Corinne has resumed trade relations with the League, and in recompence for Dariel's burning of the League Platforms in the first novel, she has offered them certain lands that might have a warm place in the reader's heart. And they have most diabolical plans for those lands.
Right from the start, the League is up to something. They come to Corinne with a story of a captured spy, a situation that has been the ruination of their trade relationship with the people of the Other Lands. She asks Dariel to go with them to the Other Lands as her emissary. He reluctantly agrees, for they know he is the one who set fire to their platforms in Book 1. Both suspect treachery. Both are right.
Surprises await in the Other Lands, and they are not what you would expect.
Read the rest of my review at http://fantasydebut.blogspot.com/2009....
July 23, 2014
I finished Other Lands (Acacia 2) and it was good, about the same as the second (and better half) of Acacia with same stuff, but somehow it is almost but not quite up there with my top, top fantasies; hard to say why, there is something about this series that is at odd angles with the genre fantasy and while it mostly works, it also jars from time to time.
The world-building is not that convincing either - moral ambiguities and slave trade do not make a world and there is some stuff that again does not quite add up...
Still, a major release and a top fantasy
The novel starts 9 years after the end of Acacia:
Corinn is the undisputed (or so she thinks) queen, though her son by Hamish who is eight and groomed as future king is not accepted by many Acacian nobles as "legitimate", Mena and her husband Melio with a small army are hunting "foulthings" - big bad twisted magical creatures - for the Akaran house, while Darien is rebuilding damaged or destroyed towns throughout the Empire until he is sent by Corinn on a crucial mission across the Ocean. The "spirit" of Aliver lives in an underground movement dedicated to bringing his vision of a better life for the masses to life
There are a lot of twists and turns, surprises and inventiveness run riot and the third novel should be a cracker...
The world-building is not that convincing either - moral ambiguities and slave trade do not make a world and there is some stuff that again does not quite add up...
Still, a major release and a top fantasy
The novel starts 9 years after the end of Acacia:
Corinn is the undisputed (or so she thinks) queen, though her son by Hamish who is eight and groomed as future king is not accepted by many Acacian nobles as "legitimate", Mena and her husband Melio with a small army are hunting "foulthings" - big bad twisted magical creatures - for the Akaran house, while Darien is rebuilding damaged or destroyed towns throughout the Empire until he is sent by Corinn on a crucial mission across the Ocean. The "spirit" of Aliver lives in an underground movement dedicated to bringing his vision of a better life for the masses to life
There are a lot of twists and turns, surprises and inventiveness run riot and the third novel should be a cracker...
May 22, 2017
This is five hundred pages of set-up. This isn't wrong as Durham seems content to develop the different areas of his world, but it comes with the casualty of developing his characters further.
Skipping another nine years into the future and the Giver seems to favor and bestow certain gifts upon certain characters. There is opportunity to develop Corinn in the way Durham did with Hannish specifically with her son or her fear of being alone. But these are merely mentioned in passing rather than going back into the past and make the reader care about her. Dariel remains bland and really is only along to push the narrative into different parts of the world. Mena, the favorite continues to be perfect. Then there is Devoth, Hannish 2.0, who is interesting in the exact same way as Hannish.
Still, the new countries are well thought out. Pulling the curtain on the League and the Lothan Aklun would be better than saving a reader up for a "gotcha moment", but hopefully these come quickly in the third book.
Skipping another nine years into the future and the Giver seems to favor and bestow certain gifts upon certain characters. There is opportunity to develop Corinn in the way Durham did with Hannish specifically with her son or her fear of being alone. But these are merely mentioned in passing rather than going back into the past and make the reader care about her. Dariel remains bland and really is only along to push the narrative into different parts of the world. Mena, the favorite continues to be perfect. Then there is Devoth, Hannish 2.0, who is interesting in the exact same way as Hannish.
Still, the new countries are well thought out. Pulling the curtain on the League and the Lothan Aklun would be better than saving a reader up for a "gotcha moment", but hopefully these come quickly in the third book.
March 20, 2016
This series is everything. I haven't felt this way since I was fourteen. When I first read LOTR it took over my life, I fell in love with Middle Earth and all of its inhabitants. But, deep down I longed for a book that would include people that looked like me. People of color in a fantasy setting, not being subjugated or stereotyped, and the Acacia trilogy has given me that and much more. I seriously love this series. Anyone who rates this book (or the first one) under a three is a liar. I don't care. Durham's writing is amazing, his characters are fully realized and beautiful. I cannot wait to read the final book but at the same time, I don't want to leave the Known World.
Side note: One of the things that I love about the second book is that we get to know the characters more deeply. We get to see them be happy, see their fears and weaknesses as well as their strengths. It was a breath of fresh air!
Side note: One of the things that I love about the second book is that we get to know the characters more deeply. We get to see them be happy, see their fears and weaknesses as well as their strengths. It was a breath of fresh air!
January 29, 2015
This is the second installment of Durham's rather simplistic Acacia Trilogy in which four orphaned royal children are tasked with saving their kingdom. The circumstances are sufficiently dire, the conflicts meaty, and the thematic renderings of addiction and slavery add a definite depth to the tale, however...while Durham himself appears to be quite wise in the arena of emotion and human behavior, he seems unable to impart this wisdom to any of his characters. And, as any fan of fantasy will attest, without a single exceedingly knowledgeable individual on the storytelling canvas we are well and truly lost. I was hoping someone brilliant might show up in Part Two. Part Three, perhaps?
October 24, 2014
So good I practically inhaled it! This story lives of to the first book of the Acacia series and then some. I will try to put off starting book three so I can get some stuff done. Once I pick up Durham's books, I think of reasons to let other things go, like sleep! Page turner on steroids.
April 11, 2012
Meh. So so 2nd book in this fantasy Trilogy. I may read the last book in the series but no rush.
January 27, 2023
Ushen Brae is revealed and the saga continues nine years (the author likes the nine year increment in the storyline) after the ascension of Corinn, the world is again in peril. Ambition without limits drive the league of ships to a nefarious “commercial” venture that will truly shake the world and set in motion cataclysmic events.
Treason, ineptitude, short sightedness will provide an opportunity for the mighty and ancient Auldek get rid of their ancient curse.
There are so many strengths in this second installment. I loved the other lands and the new characters brought to the story: Tunnel, Mur, Skylene and even the Auldek leader - Devoth! They are all fantastic and I really want to know more about their society and their destinies. Ushen Brae has different magic, architecture, culture and even the feared soul drive tech.
On the main land you’ll find developments of some secondary characters such as Melio, Dagon, Delivegu or new ones such as Barad, Elya, Grae and Aaden among many others, which will keep you reading through the night.
The surviving princes will have important roles; Corinn as a mighty witch-queen, Mena as a sword-saint and Dariel as a leader against injustice. And the main plate: The Numrek will impress you, they are not dumb, ridiculous Ogres after all, and they have really logical motivations for their actions.
There are some weaknesses such as the repetition of a prior mistake and some actions seem less thought of from some characters (and I’m not talking of decisions under extreme stress or duress; everybody makes mistakes in such occasions).
SPOILERS AHEAD –
All in all, this series keeps strong and I will surely will visit Acacia in future books. It is very good fantasy fiction with perfect world building skills and character development by the author…but it could be so much greater.
Treason, ineptitude, short sightedness will provide an opportunity for the mighty and ancient Auldek get rid of their ancient curse.
There are so many strengths in this second installment. I loved the other lands and the new characters brought to the story: Tunnel, Mur, Skylene and even the Auldek leader - Devoth! They are all fantastic and I really want to know more about their society and their destinies. Ushen Brae has different magic, architecture, culture and even the feared soul drive tech.
On the main land you’ll find developments of some secondary characters such as Melio, Dagon, Delivegu or new ones such as Barad, Elya, Grae and Aaden among many others, which will keep you reading through the night.
The surviving princes will have important roles; Corinn as a mighty witch-queen, Mena as a sword-saint and Dariel as a leader against injustice. And the main plate: The Numrek will impress you, they are not dumb, ridiculous Ogres after all, and they have really logical motivations for their actions.
There are some weaknesses such as the repetition of a prior mistake and some actions seem less thought of from some characters (and I’m not talking of decisions under extreme stress or duress; everybody makes mistakes in such occasions).
SPOILERS AHEAD –
All in all, this series keeps strong and I will surely will visit Acacia in future books. It is very good fantasy fiction with perfect world building skills and character development by the author…but it could be so much greater.
December 6, 2024
Rating: 3.5
Unfortunately, this book wasn't as good as the first because not as many events happened, and the pace was a lot slower. However, I'm going to read the final in the trilogy, The Sacred Band, in the hope that it will be better.
Corrin was glorious to read about - her motivations, her wishes, and her attempts at the peaceful pathway. Protection and safety of her son was her main motivation, followed very closely by the fear, if not the love, of her people. Her character was the most interesting by far.
Mena was powerful but flawed. A warrior at heart, she found it difficult to be present in her romantic relationship. It was a bit baffling to read about how many men, including her husband, were obsessed with the desire to have children to pass on their lineage.
The Leaguemen were amusing in how slippery and power hungry they were. They fit smugly into their villain role.
Rialus was a really interesting character in the first book, Acacia. However, his admission of rape of some of his previous staff members was vile to read about.
Dariel wasn't as innocent as in the first - he was fantasising about other women whilst his partner, Wren, was far away and awaiting his return. He didn't cheat, though, so maybe I'm being too harsh. Also, there was a sense of entitlement he showed as a prince that he didn't have previously. Hopefully, he learns to be humble?
I don't even want to talk about the Sanoth. They were very boring. I'm hoping that their motivations will become clearer in the final book.
Overall, I didn't like the pace of the book, but it's undeniable that most of the characters developed richly. I'm looking forward to reading the final book!
Unfortunately, this book wasn't as good as the first because not as many events happened, and the pace was a lot slower. However, I'm going to read the final in the trilogy, The Sacred Band, in the hope that it will be better.
Corrin was glorious to read about - her motivations, her wishes, and her attempts at the peaceful pathway. Protection and safety of her son was her main motivation, followed very closely by the fear, if not the love, of her people. Her character was the most interesting by far.
Mena was powerful but flawed. A warrior at heart, she found it difficult to be present in her romantic relationship. It was a bit baffling to read about how many men, including her husband, were obsessed with the desire to have children to pass on their lineage.
The Leaguemen were amusing in how slippery and power hungry they were. They fit smugly into their villain role.
Rialus was a really interesting character in the first book, Acacia. However, his admission of rape of some of his previous staff members was vile to read about.
Dariel wasn't as innocent as in the first - he was fantasising about other women whilst his partner, Wren, was far away and awaiting his return. He didn't cheat, though, so maybe I'm being too harsh. Also, there was a sense of entitlement he showed as a prince that he didn't have previously. Hopefully, he learns to be humble?
I don't even want to talk about the Sanoth. They were very boring. I'm hoping that their motivations will become clearer in the final book.
Overall, I didn't like the pace of the book, but it's undeniable that most of the characters developed richly. I'm looking forward to reading the final book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2021
C'est toujours un plaisir de poursuivre une série lorsqu'on a vraiment l'impression que l'auteur sait où il s'en va et où toutes les pièces semblent s'emboîter parfaitement, mêlant révélations de mystères nous chicotant depuis le premier livre, tout en mettant en scène encore plus de questions et d'anticipation pour le troisième et dernier livre de cette trilogie. Se déroulant neuf années après le premier opus, le récit entre directement dans du concret rapidement, et la complexité de cet univers continue de se tisser au travers de la panoplie de protagonistes nous faisant voyager dans différentes contrées avec leurs desseins propres. Que ce soit pour affronter la corruption provenant du caractère instable de la magie utilisée par des sorciers en exil, pour partir en mission diplomatique vers une contrée inconnue d'où vient une drogue puissante ou encore pour voir évoluer les intrigues d'une révolution se mettant en branle par un ouvrier illuminés aux excellents talents d'orateur, chaque chapitre nous amène à vouloir lire le prochain immédiatement. Le premier tome était bon, mais celui-ci nous amène la satisfaction d'approfondir un univers connu plutôt que de se familiariser avec celui-ci.
May 29, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this follow up to Acacia, far more than I was expecting to given the slightly awkward pacing and limited character development in the 1st book in the series. Indeed, one of my friends (who I had recommended the series to after enjoying Acacia) had told me that this was his least favourite book in the trilogy and as a result I was expecting this to be a bit of a slog - boy was I wrong.
The pacing was excellent - every chapter left me wanting more. The characters felt deeper, more fleshed out. The story raced along nicely, fleshing out my knowledge of the world David Anthony Durham has created while keeping me invested in the various plot lines.
In short, I can't praise this book highly enough. The second books in planned trilogies often leave you feeling like you've just read lots of filler designed purely to set up a grand finale, however The Other Lands is an excellent book in it's own right and is well worth a read.
The pacing was excellent - every chapter left me wanting more. The characters felt deeper, more fleshed out. The story raced along nicely, fleshing out my knowledge of the world David Anthony Durham has created while keeping me invested in the various plot lines.
In short, I can't praise this book highly enough. The second books in planned trilogies often leave you feeling like you've just read lots of filler designed purely to set up a grand finale, however The Other Lands is an excellent book in it's own right and is well worth a read.
August 30, 2025
3.5 stars, I simply can't give it 4 stars because it'd be unfair to the books I rated with 4 stars before.
That doesn't mean that this book is bad. In fact, I enjoyed reading it and I will definitely pick up the last book in the trilogy. But it simply misses that fantastical aspect to it that I crave from my fantasy novels.
For the most part, this is just a political/family drama with a bit of fantasy sprinkled here and there. And for what it is, it's great. I am invested in the characters, in the factions and the world building.
I have to be honest though, this book is just a setup for the third and final novel in the series.
Nothing major happens in The Other Lands. The whole point of this book is to prepare us for the big battle that's going to happen in "The Sacred Band".
Old alliances were broken, new ones formed.
Faction pieces on the chess board were shuffled around to prepare for the upcoming war.
The stage is set.
That doesn't mean that this book is bad. In fact, I enjoyed reading it and I will definitely pick up the last book in the trilogy. But it simply misses that fantastical aspect to it that I crave from my fantasy novels.
For the most part, this is just a political/family drama with a bit of fantasy sprinkled here and there. And for what it is, it's great. I am invested in the characters, in the factions and the world building.
I have to be honest though, this book is just a setup for the third and final novel in the series.
Nothing major happens in The Other Lands. The whole point of this book is to prepare us for the big battle that's going to happen in "The Sacred Band".
Old alliances were broken, new ones formed.
Faction pieces on the chess board were shuffled around to prepare for the upcoming war.
The stage is set.
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