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Burningblade & Silvereye #2
Blood of the Chosen
Reunited after twelve long years apart, Gyre and Maya will soon find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing civil war between those who wield magic and those who do not in the second instalment in Django Wexler's epic new fantasy series.
Long ago a great war wreaked devastation, destroying an empire and leaving a new republic in its wake. Now a new civil war has begun, pitting those with the power to wield magic against those without. Across that divide stand a brother and sister.
Twelve years after she was taken by the mysterious Twilight Order, Gyre has finally found his sister Maya, now a powerful magical warrior known as Burningblade. But given the chance to kill her and brandish a great blow against the oppressive Order, he instead let her free. The love for his sister was too strong, despite the terrible authority she represents.
All the while, trouble brews within their factions. A small but influential group of the Order conspire, intent to bring about the return of the Chosen; and the warriors of the resistance will need to learn to work as one if they are to stand any chance.
Long ago a great war wreaked devastation, destroying an empire and leaving a new republic in its wake. Now a new civil war has begun, pitting those with the power to wield magic against those without. Across that divide stand a brother and sister.
Twelve years after she was taken by the mysterious Twilight Order, Gyre has finally found his sister Maya, now a powerful magical warrior known as Burningblade. But given the chance to kill her and brandish a great blow against the oppressive Order, he instead let her free. The love for his sister was too strong, despite the terrible authority she represents.
All the while, trouble brews within their factions. A small but influential group of the Order conspire, intent to bring about the return of the Chosen; and the warriors of the resistance will need to learn to work as one if they are to stand any chance.
437 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2021
182 people are currently reading
3872 people want to read
About the author
Django Wexler
52 books3,738 followersDjango Wexler graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not planning Shadow Campaigns, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
May 13, 2025
i loved book one, but i have to admit that this one wasn’t on the same level even though i did still enjoy it. the main conflict between Maya and Gyre carries through, although we do start to see that there are more moving parts to both sides than either of them could’ve imagined. i can see why Gyre is set in his ways and the same could be said for Maya, it’s always so tense whenever they meet but they maintain their unbreakable bond throughout it all. i really liked Elariel, it would’ve been nice if she stood in her ghoul form though. this actually had a lot of focus on the romances, which i wasn’t expecting but Maya and Beq continue to be the cutest couple ever. im kinda unsure what the ending means for Maya, but im very eager to find out.
October 5, 2021
Release day! Excited to finally show this to everybody.
August 21, 2022
3.5 stars
This was a good sequel in this epic fantasy series inspired by Star Wars. I appreciated that this middle book had enough plot progression and character development.
I like this series even though it feels very reminiscent of Star Wars, which makes it feel very derivative and tropey
I would recommend this series to fantasy readers looking for an underhyped story with a good balance of character development and progression. However you would need to start back at the beginning with Ashes of the Sun.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a good sequel in this epic fantasy series inspired by Star Wars. I appreciated that this middle book had enough plot progression and character development.
I like this series even though it feels very reminiscent of Star Wars, which makes it feel very derivative and tropey
I would recommend this series to fantasy readers looking for an underhyped story with a good balance of character development and progression. However you would need to start back at the beginning with Ashes of the Sun.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
July 15, 2024
Ashes of the Sun ★★★ 1/2
Blood of the Chosen ★★★★
I forgot the details, so I reviewed the series as a whole here
Blood of the Chosen ★★★★
I forgot the details, so I reviewed the series as a whole here
July 27, 2022
A solid sequel !!!
I had a great time reading this and really enjoyed where the story goes. There are few plot devices that I personally don't prefer in my fantasy books which kept this from a 5.
Reasons this book is incredible are very similiar to the first. Everything you love about the first is seen in this again
- Politics within the order
- Very cool and unique world/magic, with sci-fi inspiration
- A sapphic relationship (done very well)
- Found family within both povs, great protagonists and great side characters.
- A balance between serious and funny to keep the plot moving.
- THE COMPARISON AND CONTRASTING OF THE PROTAGONISTS AND POVS, the way this is written I'm obsessed with. With them having arcs that mirror eachother, show similarity's and difference.
And prob the highlight for me in this book was kits character which is a strange though considering kit was my least fav character in the first. Gyres povs really shone for me in this instalment.
Some things that kept it from the 5
- the formula is the same as the first book.
- a little too much action for me
- a plot device from the first book, continuing in this book.....
- I think it has a little bit of middle book syndrome. A lot of set up for the last book...
Overall I'm super excited for the next book... the ending.... I wish I could get to book three ASAP !!!! One of the most unique fantasy worlds I've read about!
I had a great time reading this and really enjoyed where the story goes. There are few plot devices that I personally don't prefer in my fantasy books which kept this from a 5.
Reasons this book is incredible are very similiar to the first. Everything you love about the first is seen in this again
- Politics within the order
- Very cool and unique world/magic, with sci-fi inspiration
- A sapphic relationship (done very well)
- Found family within both povs, great protagonists and great side characters.
- A balance between serious and funny to keep the plot moving.
- THE COMPARISON AND CONTRASTING OF THE PROTAGONISTS AND POVS, the way this is written I'm obsessed with. With them having arcs that mirror eachother, show similarity's and difference.
And prob the highlight for me in this book was kits character which is a strange though considering kit was my least fav character in the first. Gyres povs really shone for me in this instalment.
Some things that kept it from the 5
- the formula is the same as the first book.
- a little too much action for me
- a plot device from the first book, continuing in this book.....
- I think it has a little bit of middle book syndrome. A lot of set up for the last book...
Overall I'm super excited for the next book... the ending.... I wish I could get to book three ASAP !!!! One of the most unique fantasy worlds I've read about!
October 2, 2023
On my blog.
Rep: lesbian mc, lesbian, bi & gay side characters
CWs: gore
Galley provided by publisher
Blood of the Chosen is a very solid sequel to Ashes of the Sun, a book which I highly enjoyed reading last year. Following the ending of that one, this book starts to let the world breathe just a little more, expands it, and leaves you desperate for the final book (2023 cannot come soon enough).
The story continues from just a few days after the events of Ashes of the Sun. Gyre is making his way back to the ghouls, looking for allies in his fight against the Order, while Maya is back with said Order, about to be sent on another quest.
Unlike the first book, the second opens up with a somewhat slower paced beginning. This makes sense—at the start, the characters are still processing the fallout of the first book’s ending. And, while it’s a slower pace, it doesn’t read any slower. I got through it quickly, and into the action. I also quite liked that it took the time to slow down here, and expand the world within which it all takes place. There were hints of it in the previous book, but it gets more pagetime here.
This slowness is also combined with the fact that it’s busy building up to an ending that will blow everything right open. There are questions raised—and not (yet) answered—and mistakes made (looking at you, Maya). All of it gets drawn together towards the end, with the aforementioned mistake.
Speaking of which, I think it would be safe to say I found Maya’s POV up to that point quite frustrating. Yes, her actions made sense in the context of her characterisation—she’s naive and trusting, particularly of the Order, because they’ve never given her reason not to trust them. Compare this with Gyre, who’s all but wired not to trust, and you can see why Maya makes a mistake that Gyre, in a similar position in book one, didn’t. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t frustrating to read Maya’s POV, partly because you do have Gyre’s POV. What I found was that I sided more with Gyre than I did with Maya and because I didn’t trust the Order, I was a little annoyed with Maya for doing so. But as I said, this is completely consistent characterisation for me, and I’m looking forward to seeing the fallout for it all in the final book.
So, if you’ve been looking for a new high fantasy series to pick up, then let me point you in the direction of this one. It’s fast-paced, action-packed, and with characters that you can easily root for. And, in general, a whole lot of fun to read.
Rep: lesbian mc, lesbian, bi & gay side characters
CWs: gore
Galley provided by publisher
Blood of the Chosen is a very solid sequel to Ashes of the Sun, a book which I highly enjoyed reading last year. Following the ending of that one, this book starts to let the world breathe just a little more, expands it, and leaves you desperate for the final book (2023 cannot come soon enough).
The story continues from just a few days after the events of Ashes of the Sun. Gyre is making his way back to the ghouls, looking for allies in his fight against the Order, while Maya is back with said Order, about to be sent on another quest.
Unlike the first book, the second opens up with a somewhat slower paced beginning. This makes sense—at the start, the characters are still processing the fallout of the first book’s ending. And, while it’s a slower pace, it doesn’t read any slower. I got through it quickly, and into the action. I also quite liked that it took the time to slow down here, and expand the world within which it all takes place. There were hints of it in the previous book, but it gets more pagetime here.
This slowness is also combined with the fact that it’s busy building up to an ending that will blow everything right open. There are questions raised—and not (yet) answered—and mistakes made (looking at you, Maya). All of it gets drawn together towards the end, with the aforementioned mistake.
Speaking of which, I think it would be safe to say I found Maya’s POV up to that point quite frustrating. Yes, her actions made sense in the context of her characterisation—she’s naive and trusting, particularly of the Order, because they’ve never given her reason not to trust them. Compare this with Gyre, who’s all but wired not to trust, and you can see why Maya makes a mistake that Gyre, in a similar position in book one, didn’t. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t frustrating to read Maya’s POV, partly because you do have Gyre’s POV. What I found was that I sided more with Gyre than I did with Maya and because I didn’t trust the Order, I was a little annoyed with Maya for doing so. But as I said, this is completely consistent characterisation for me, and I’m looking forward to seeing the fallout for it all in the final book.
So, if you’ve been looking for a new high fantasy series to pick up, then let me point you in the direction of this one. It’s fast-paced, action-packed, and with characters that you can easily root for. And, in general, a whole lot of fun to read.
October 4, 2021
"Gyre stopped dead, his sword extended. The centarch backed away a half step, cautious, but for a moment it was all Gyre could do to fight his way out from under a swirl of memories. Maya, screaming, the horrified eyes of his parents, the shiver as his knife bit into flesh, and then the pain. The horrible squish as he touched the ruin where his eye had been."
Endless gratitude to the rad folks at Orbit Books for sending me a finished copy of this glorious beauty!
Blood of the Chosen comes out tomorrow!
I've said it before & I'll most definitely say it again, MORE RECAPS WHEN CONTINUING A SERIES, PLEASE!! Django Wexler has a series recap after a reminder of the cast of characters as of the ending of Ashes of the Sun, which is especially helpful during the garbage fire that has been the last two years when it comes to remembering things other than ::tiredly gestures at ALL THE THINGS::
If you remember me passionately shouting about Ashes of the Sun last year (it was a top favorite for me) then you'll imagine that this was a highly anticipated read.
Well folks, I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!
Blistering action, complex storytelling & vivid characters (Maya & Beq have grown in their relationship, fighting monsters & squishy emotional moments, ftw!)
Plaguespawn & battles & arcanists & ghouls & elite warriors! Goddamn! Blood of the Chosen expands on the complex world of the first installment in what is quickly becoming an all-time favorite series!
Endless gratitude to the rad folks at Orbit Books for sending me a finished copy of this glorious beauty!
Blood of the Chosen comes out tomorrow!
I've said it before & I'll most definitely say it again, MORE RECAPS WHEN CONTINUING A SERIES, PLEASE!! Django Wexler has a series recap after a reminder of the cast of characters as of the ending of Ashes of the Sun, which is especially helpful during the garbage fire that has been the last two years when it comes to remembering things other than ::tiredly gestures at ALL THE THINGS::
If you remember me passionately shouting about Ashes of the Sun last year (it was a top favorite for me) then you'll imagine that this was a highly anticipated read.
Well folks, I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!
Blistering action, complex storytelling & vivid characters (Maya & Beq have grown in their relationship, fighting monsters & squishy emotional moments, ftw!)
Plaguespawn & battles & arcanists & ghouls & elite warriors! Goddamn! Blood of the Chosen expands on the complex world of the first installment in what is quickly becoming an all-time favorite series!
November 16, 2022
Lower side of 4.
I loved book one. It was fast paced, fun, and I felt like we got to know a lot about the world. In this one, I still loved the world, but I didn't feel like we got as much expansion on it until the very end. I also felt like the plot lines were very similar in book 2 to book 1 making it feel repetitive and much like a middle book. This does have a "younger" feel to the characters and writing style making it a good bridge book from YA fantasy to epic fantasy.
Despite the problems I had with it, I still had a great time, and I'm highly anticipating book 2!
I loved book one. It was fast paced, fun, and I felt like we got to know a lot about the world. In this one, I still loved the world, but I didn't feel like we got as much expansion on it until the very end. I also felt like the plot lines were very similar in book 2 to book 1 making it feel repetitive and much like a middle book. This does have a "younger" feel to the characters and writing style making it a good bridge book from YA fantasy to epic fantasy.
Despite the problems I had with it, I still had a great time, and I'm highly anticipating book 2!
January 10, 2024
”It can't just be about revenge. It has to be about what comes after."
Gyre offers an alliance between both ghouls and humans, using dhakim resources to help rise against the Empire.
Maya is sent to the Archive which is a Chosen facility to find more information on unknown artefacts. However, the route is thick with plaguespawn and Maya doesn’t know who to trust.
This is one of my favourite sequels - this does not suffer from middle book syndrome at all and was on a whole new level from book one!
This is such a fun series - a post-apocalyptic world rich with hinted at history, phenomenal worldbuilding, and fascinating in its inventive combination of magic, alchemy, and technology.
I like how Wexler sets up Maya and Gyre against each other and how we get to watch them grapple as siblings with their bonds, hope in each other, and their own worldviews.
”It could be a trap," Kit said.
Gyre shook his head. "Not Maya."
“You don't think she'd hurt you?"'
“Oh, she would. But she'd do it head-on." His jaw tightened. "After all, she's the hero."
Again, this felt more juvenile for adult fantasy, yet it makes it an easier read, fast-paced and a delight to fly through!
If you enjoyed the TV show Arcane, I would definitely recommend this!
Bookstagram
Gyre offers an alliance between both ghouls and humans, using dhakim resources to help rise against the Empire.
Maya is sent to the Archive which is a Chosen facility to find more information on unknown artefacts. However, the route is thick with plaguespawn and Maya doesn’t know who to trust.
This is one of my favourite sequels - this does not suffer from middle book syndrome at all and was on a whole new level from book one!
This is such a fun series - a post-apocalyptic world rich with hinted at history, phenomenal worldbuilding, and fascinating in its inventive combination of magic, alchemy, and technology.
I like how Wexler sets up Maya and Gyre against each other and how we get to watch them grapple as siblings with their bonds, hope in each other, and their own worldviews.
”It could be a trap," Kit said.
Gyre shook his head. "Not Maya."
“You don't think she'd hurt you?"'
“Oh, she would. But she'd do it head-on." His jaw tightened. "After all, she's the hero."
Again, this felt more juvenile for adult fantasy, yet it makes it an easier read, fast-paced and a delight to fly through!
If you enjoyed the TV show Arcane, I would definitely recommend this!
Bookstagram
January 18, 2024
Maya, babygirl, I just want to have a chat because WHY ARE YOU BEING SO STUPID (love you though fr fr)
September 11, 2025
I have to admit, I didn't dig this one as much as book 1. My favourite character was reduced to pervy comic relief, and the whole book just felt like a rush from one set piece to the next. It was enjoyable enough to read and never dragged, but just felt very formulaic.
I'll probably finish the series because I'm already 2 books in now, but I don't think I'll be rushing to it.
I'll probably finish the series because I'm already 2 books in now, but I don't think I'll be rushing to it.
December 5, 2021
An engrossing sequel that leaves you wanting more!!
Ashes of the Sun, the first book in the Burningblade & Silvereye series, was a big surprise to me when I read it earlier this year. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would and I especially loved how the story focused on siblings whose circumstances pitted them against one another. I don't think we see enough of that in fantasy (at least I haven't so far ^^)! So, I was very excited to get into the sequel and explore more of Maya & Gyre's story. And can I say: I really appreciated the recap at the beginning of the book!! I wish more authors/publishers would do that for epic fantasy series! With so many fantasy books out there, it's kinda impossible to remember all the important details of every story. But back to the actual book:
Blood of the Chosen continues right where the first book left off, albeit a bit slower - which makes sense, since the characters need some time to process the events and ramifications of book 1. I, again, enjoyed the political aspects, the well-written action scenes, and the relationships. The sequel expands upon the complex world and gives us insight into the conflict between the Ghouls, the Chosen, and the Order. I feel like we've only scratched the surface, though, and I can't wait to see more mysteries and histories revealed.
The characters grow a lot in this one, especially Maya, and you can see how their experiences shape them and change how they perceive certain things. I was actually hoping to see more interactions between the siblings. Unfortunately, their storylines don't intertwine much, and they spend most of the time apart, following their own journeys. I really hope book 3 will deliver on that!
For some reason I thought this was going to be a duology, but the ending made it very clear that the story's far from over, haha. Django Wexler is clearly setting up something even bigger. After all the twists and turns I have no idea where all this is going, but Emperor of Ruin is definitely on my list of anticipated releases!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ashes of the Sun, the first book in the Burningblade & Silvereye series, was a big surprise to me when I read it earlier this year. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would and I especially loved how the story focused on siblings whose circumstances pitted them against one another. I don't think we see enough of that in fantasy (at least I haven't so far ^^)! So, I was very excited to get into the sequel and explore more of Maya & Gyre's story. And can I say: I really appreciated the recap at the beginning of the book!! I wish more authors/publishers would do that for epic fantasy series! With so many fantasy books out there, it's kinda impossible to remember all the important details of every story. But back to the actual book:
Blood of the Chosen continues right where the first book left off, albeit a bit slower - which makes sense, since the characters need some time to process the events and ramifications of book 1. I, again, enjoyed the political aspects, the well-written action scenes, and the relationships. The sequel expands upon the complex world and gives us insight into the conflict between the Ghouls, the Chosen, and the Order. I feel like we've only scratched the surface, though, and I can't wait to see more mysteries and histories revealed.
The characters grow a lot in this one, especially Maya, and you can see how their experiences shape them and change how they perceive certain things. I was actually hoping to see more interactions between the siblings. Unfortunately, their storylines don't intertwine much, and they spend most of the time apart, following their own journeys. I really hope book 3 will deliver on that!
For some reason I thought this was going to be a duology, but the ending made it very clear that the story's far from over, haha. Django Wexler is clearly setting up something even bigger. After all the twists and turns I have no idea where all this is going, but Emperor of Ruin is definitely on my list of anticipated releases!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 19, 2023
Can't wait to gobble the final book in the series 🔮⚔️🔫
June 6, 2025
This was a great sequel! I enjoyed this as much as book one, and I'm super excited to read the final book in the trilogy.
What I liked:
Again, the queernormative world was great. More characters were queer. Maya, the MC, is a lesbian, Beq, her LI, is also a lesbian, Varo is gay, Kit, Sarah, and Elariel are bisexual. Gyre feels like a token straight, lol.
This book also expands on the world building in general. Book one took place mainly in Deepfire, with Maya spending time elsewhere, but this book moves totally away from Deepfire, and the world feels bigger for it.
I really love Maya and her story. I love overpowered characters, and she gets her power moment at the end of this book. It was great! Maya and Beq continue to be cute, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in book three.
The supporting characters really shine. Elariel and Sarah were standouts for me. They were tertiary characters in book one but really come into their own in this. I didn't really like Kit in book one, but she grew on me in this book, although she's still probably my least favourite SC. And I love Varo and his crazy stories!
What I didn't like:
I'm just not bothered about Gyre. The most exciting things about him are his augmentations. The people around him are more interesting. And I really don't care about who he sleeps with. Him and Apphia came out of nowhere 😒
I find his philosophy naive, tbh. He wants the Order and Republic gone but doesn't seem to have an alternative. The Splinter Kingdoms seem awful, but he doesn't care? Ngl, if it wasn't for Sarah and Elariel and Kit, his chapters would be way more of a chore to read.
Aside from Gyre, I loved this! Onto book three!
What I liked:
Again, the queernormative world was great. More characters were queer. Maya, the MC, is a lesbian, Beq, her LI, is also a lesbian, Varo is gay, Kit, Sarah, and Elariel are bisexual. Gyre feels like a token straight, lol.
This book also expands on the world building in general. Book one took place mainly in Deepfire, with Maya spending time elsewhere, but this book moves totally away from Deepfire, and the world feels bigger for it.
I really love Maya and her story. I love overpowered characters, and she gets her power moment at the end of this book. It was great! Maya and Beq continue to be cute, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in book three.
The supporting characters really shine. Elariel and Sarah were standouts for me. They were tertiary characters in book one but really come into their own in this. I didn't really like Kit in book one, but she grew on me in this book, although she's still probably my least favourite SC. And I love Varo and his crazy stories!
What I didn't like:
I'm just not bothered about Gyre. The most exciting things about him are his augmentations. The people around him are more interesting. And I really don't care about who he sleeps with. Him and Apphia came out of nowhere 😒
I find his philosophy naive, tbh. He wants the Order and Republic gone but doesn't seem to have an alternative. The Splinter Kingdoms seem awful, but he doesn't care? Ngl, if it wasn't for Sarah and Elariel and Kit, his chapters would be way more of a chore to read.
Aside from Gyre, I loved this! Onto book three!
March 2, 2023
4.8 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
No need to reread or browse Ashes of the Sun just because you’re a bit foggy on the details! I mean, you certainly could—it’s still a damn good read—but should you not wish to, Blood of the Chosen comes with a series recap and character cast up front. Love these; even if you’re up on the series, I love them being there, so the author doesn’t have to spend the first few chapters intermittently setting the stage while recapping the previous.
Where Ashes of the Sun was my favorite book from last year, Blood of the Chosen is a letdown—it’s not quite as good. This is pretty much like finding a golden idol buried in your backyard and complaining that unlike the last one, this one isn’t quite as shiny. Blood of the Chosen is an amazing read in its own right! (Just not quite as good).
Fresh from the battle for control of Deepfire (and possibly the continent), Gyre returns to the ghouls a failure. Their leader dead; Kit mostly, pretty much dead; and the plans to overthrow the Order pretty much just as likely. But not only does he aim to spin this defeat off as a minor setback, Gyre thinks that he can even talk them into giving him a ton of ancient tech and weapons and money and turning him loose on the southlands to gain allies and blacken some Order eyes. He even may succeed in doing so, after a fashion. But even if he convince the ghouls, uniting the rebel factions in Khirkhaz won’t be so easy. And defeating the Order—less so.
Maya remains with the Order, although she’s a bit unsure of her position there. Meeting with Gyre seems to have caused some cracks, however slight. These are only widened after Maya is sent on a mission to the Forsaken Coast, north and west of Deepfire, to find an Order archive long lost. Lost after the region was overrun by plaguespawn. What she finds here may yet renew her faith in the Order—or shake it to the core. For while she might doubt some of their policies, Maya knows the Order holds the world’s best interests—as well as her own—at its forefront. Unless of course, they don’t.
Where Ashes of the Sun began this amazing journey of brother and sister, Blood of the Chosen continues it. Like Deepfire, Khirkhaz has its own share of ancient relics—both those with obvious meaning and others whose use has been lost to time. The backdrop (the setting) may be different, but is no less vibrant. A few familiar faces come along for the ride, too. In addition to Beq, Varo, and Tanax on Maya’s end, Sarah and Kit have joined Gyre as well. Along with these old characters come new ones—each carrying an interesting amount of mystery and depth as well. While the siblings remain center stage and the cast around them fluctuates, it’s still unclear as to just who may steal the show.
It didn’t take me any more time to get into this than its predecessor, but unlike Ashes of the Sun, there was a small but noticeable lag in the middle. A minor side mission, for each character. While Maya’s did actually pertain to the overarching plot, I can’t say for sure that Gyre’s did. Instead, this stands out as the one baffling choice amidst an otherwise tremendous sequel.
There are some heart-pounding moments in this entry, but some hilarious ones as well. I loved, I laughed, I… never cried, but I did have a lovely time regardless. The action, the romance, the… whatever Gyre and Kit have—all of it was interesting and immersive and exciting. There was a heavy dose of mystery in the air, and not all of it from Maya. While her turn through the archive did sort of steal the spotlight away from Gyre’s second revenge crusade, the two managed to share the focus more or less evenly otherwise. And with that ending…! (The ending was quite good) I can’t wait to see what they get up to in the third!
Supposedly this is just a trilogy, but I’d quite like to see a bit more of the world. While Gyre and Maya’s story might be about to come to fruition, I hope the world itself will have more stories to tell. Unless it up and ends in the third book. In which case, if it’s anything like the rest of this series, it’s sure to be an incredible, bloody, steamy, heartwarming ride! I can’t recommend Burningblade & Silvereye enough—anymore than I an wait until Book #3 is out: at the moment titled Emperor of Ruin, release date TBA.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
No need to reread or browse Ashes of the Sun just because you’re a bit foggy on the details! I mean, you certainly could—it’s still a damn good read—but should you not wish to, Blood of the Chosen comes with a series recap and character cast up front. Love these; even if you’re up on the series, I love them being there, so the author doesn’t have to spend the first few chapters intermittently setting the stage while recapping the previous.
Where Ashes of the Sun was my favorite book from last year, Blood of the Chosen is a letdown—it’s not quite as good. This is pretty much like finding a golden idol buried in your backyard and complaining that unlike the last one, this one isn’t quite as shiny. Blood of the Chosen is an amazing read in its own right! (Just not quite as good).
Fresh from the battle for control of Deepfire (and possibly the continent), Gyre returns to the ghouls a failure. Their leader dead; Kit mostly, pretty much dead; and the plans to overthrow the Order pretty much just as likely. But not only does he aim to spin this defeat off as a minor setback, Gyre thinks that he can even talk them into giving him a ton of ancient tech and weapons and money and turning him loose on the southlands to gain allies and blacken some Order eyes. He even may succeed in doing so, after a fashion. But even if he convince the ghouls, uniting the rebel factions in Khirkhaz won’t be so easy. And defeating the Order—less so.
Maya remains with the Order, although she’s a bit unsure of her position there. Meeting with Gyre seems to have caused some cracks, however slight. These are only widened after Maya is sent on a mission to the Forsaken Coast, north and west of Deepfire, to find an Order archive long lost. Lost after the region was overrun by plaguespawn. What she finds here may yet renew her faith in the Order—or shake it to the core. For while she might doubt some of their policies, Maya knows the Order holds the world’s best interests—as well as her own—at its forefront. Unless of course, they don’t.
Where Ashes of the Sun began this amazing journey of brother and sister, Blood of the Chosen continues it. Like Deepfire, Khirkhaz has its own share of ancient relics—both those with obvious meaning and others whose use has been lost to time. The backdrop (the setting) may be different, but is no less vibrant. A few familiar faces come along for the ride, too. In addition to Beq, Varo, and Tanax on Maya’s end, Sarah and Kit have joined Gyre as well. Along with these old characters come new ones—each carrying an interesting amount of mystery and depth as well. While the siblings remain center stage and the cast around them fluctuates, it’s still unclear as to just who may steal the show.
It didn’t take me any more time to get into this than its predecessor, but unlike Ashes of the Sun, there was a small but noticeable lag in the middle. A minor side mission, for each character. While Maya’s did actually pertain to the overarching plot, I can’t say for sure that Gyre’s did. Instead, this stands out as the one baffling choice amidst an otherwise tremendous sequel.
There are some heart-pounding moments in this entry, but some hilarious ones as well. I loved, I laughed, I… never cried, but I did have a lovely time regardless. The action, the romance, the… whatever Gyre and Kit have—all of it was interesting and immersive and exciting. There was a heavy dose of mystery in the air, and not all of it from Maya. While her turn through the archive did sort of steal the spotlight away from Gyre’s second revenge crusade, the two managed to share the focus more or less evenly otherwise. And with that ending…! (The ending was quite good) I can’t wait to see what they get up to in the third!
Supposedly this is just a trilogy, but I’d quite like to see a bit more of the world. While Gyre and Maya’s story might be about to come to fruition, I hope the world itself will have more stories to tell. Unless it up and ends in the third book. In which case, if it’s anything like the rest of this series, it’s sure to be an incredible, bloody, steamy, heartwarming ride! I can’t recommend Burningblade & Silvereye enough—anymore than I an wait until Book #3 is out: at the moment titled Emperor of Ruin, release date TBA.
November 16, 2024
Careful spoiler for Ashes of the Sun - the previous book of this trilogy below!
Blood of the Chosen continues the saga of two siblings who were raised by two very different beliefs yet their bond remains hard to break. Still disaster is lingering on the horizon and at least one of them must be misled. The tension builds throughout the book only to skilfully climax in the very end. At times it seemed a bit too convenient that everyone who knows is suddenly unable to explain, but this is still a good example how simply following ideology can be dangerous. Finally, secrets things are revealed and black spiders unmasked. The author really knows how to tell a tale, plus, I enjoyed the embedded humour from Kit, Elariel and Varo with his endless stories of friends in peril 😊
Now, I have to go and read the conclusion!
Blood of the Chosen continues the saga of two siblings who were raised by two very different beliefs yet their bond remains hard to break. Still disaster is lingering on the horizon and at least one of them must be misled. The tension builds throughout the book only to skilfully climax in the very end. At times it seemed a bit too convenient that everyone who knows is suddenly unable to explain, but this is still a good example how simply following ideology can be dangerous. Finally, secrets things are revealed and black spiders unmasked. The author really knows how to tell a tale, plus, I enjoyed the embedded humour from Kit, Elariel and Varo with his endless stories of friends in peril 😊
Now, I have to go and read the conclusion!
December 11, 2021
4.66 stars.
February 10, 2024
This book is WILD.
I dont think I've read many books that are just this utterly crazy and insane , in terms of ideas , world, and action.
Normally this many insane moments would turn me off but, I just couldn't put this down
Also the narration of this book, is fucking perfect
I dont think I've read many books that are just this utterly crazy and insane , in terms of ideas , world, and action.
Normally this many insane moments would turn me off but, I just couldn't put this down
Also the narration of this book, is fucking perfect
October 22, 2021
Excellent follow-up to an excellent book.
I loved book 1 of Burningblade & Silvereye, *Ashes of the Sun*. It had a lot going for it. The two protagonists were both likeable, compassionate, and compelling; being both siblings and on opposite sides made it really something great. The worldbuilding was both original and deep, with lots of fun eldritch abominations and ancient ruins and all that good stuff. And the story was just plain *fun*.
We get much the same in *Blood of the Chosen*. Gyre and Maya have gone their separate ways after the end of the first book, but still stick to their convictions. Maya believes that the Republic and the Centarchs (of which she is one) preserve civilization and keep people safe from plaguespawn. She’s still correct. Gyre views the Centarchs and the Republic as a tyranny, keeping humanity beholden to the vision of a race long dead and allowing no challengers to their power. He is also still correct.
Things aren’t quite as perfectly balanced as in the first book, largely because Maya is on the trail of corruption within her order. Necessarily, things aren’t quite as even-handed when Maya is looking at the Centarchs askance herself. But the overall balance remains: Maya wants to deal with the corruption and keep the Order to its purpose, while Gyre still wants to bring it down. He doesn’t want to cause chaos and mass death while doing so, but his determination remains.
Maya and Beq are still adorable. Varo is still hilarious. Gyre has the same goal, but a new plan to get it. (As an aside, I find the trope of rebel factions squabbling amongst themselves over the most petty things when they should be focusing their efforts on their collective enemy endlessly hilarious. How much Gyre wanted to tear his hair out over it just makes it even better).
My only real complaint is the ending. Not that there’s anything bad about the ending - quite the opposite, it was awesome - but because I don’t have book 3 yet.
Highly recommended.
I loved book 1 of Burningblade & Silvereye, *Ashes of the Sun*. It had a lot going for it. The two protagonists were both likeable, compassionate, and compelling; being both siblings and on opposite sides made it really something great. The worldbuilding was both original and deep, with lots of fun eldritch abominations and ancient ruins and all that good stuff. And the story was just plain *fun*.
We get much the same in *Blood of the Chosen*. Gyre and Maya have gone their separate ways after the end of the first book, but still stick to their convictions. Maya believes that the Republic and the Centarchs (of which she is one) preserve civilization and keep people safe from plaguespawn. She’s still correct. Gyre views the Centarchs and the Republic as a tyranny, keeping humanity beholden to the vision of a race long dead and allowing no challengers to their power. He is also still correct.
Things aren’t quite as perfectly balanced as in the first book, largely because Maya is on the trail of corruption within her order. Necessarily, things aren’t quite as even-handed when Maya is looking at the Centarchs askance herself. But the overall balance remains: Maya wants to deal with the corruption and keep the Order to its purpose, while Gyre still wants to bring it down. He doesn’t want to cause chaos and mass death while doing so, but his determination remains.
Maya and Beq are still adorable. Varo is still hilarious. Gyre has the same goal, but a new plan to get it. (As an aside, I find the trope of rebel factions squabbling amongst themselves over the most petty things when they should be focusing their efforts on their collective enemy endlessly hilarious. How much Gyre wanted to tear his hair out over it just makes it even better).
My only real complaint is the ending. Not that there’s anything bad about the ending - quite the opposite, it was awesome - but because I don’t have book 3 yet.
Highly recommended.
May 24, 2023
The ending was super well done and I didn’t expect that to happen. Really interesting set up for the final book, I hope we get to see the mixture of dieat and dhaka magic. Elarial (sp?) is my favorite character I think, wish she still had her ghoul body tho I loved the times her ears represented her mood
September 14, 2021
The full review can be found here at The Quill to Live: https://thequilltolive.com/2021/09/14...
I don’t like using gifs in my reviews, but I almost made an exception for this one; I nearly made a loop of Wexler just knocking a ball out of the park. Wexler has a few projects ongoing currently, but the one I am most interested in is his Burningblade and Silvereye trilogy. The first book in the series, Ashes of the Sun, was one of my top picks for 2020; so the sequel was highly anticipated. The second book, Blood of the Chosen, comes out soon and it is everything I hoped for.
In many ways, the plot of Blood of the Chosen is just a continuation of the story from book one. For those unfamiliar, the narrative follows two siblings, Gyre and Maya, who find themselves on opposing sides of a titanic conflict between god-like races. One side is made up of powerful magic users, called the chosen, and the other is made up of terrifying biomancers called ghouls. Neither side is particularly black and white, and Gyre and Maya find themselves embroiled in a complicated conflict with a lot of nuances. If you want a more detailed breakdown of the story, read my first review.
As for Blood of the Chosen, it’s mostly just follow-through from book one (in a good way). Ashes of the Sun is a book that is heavy in worldbuilding and foreshadowing, setting up a wonderful canvas and plot to entertain and delight. Maya and Gyre both go through their own character journeys in isolation and it’s not until the end of the book that we really see them start to cross paths. As I mentioned in my Ashes review, one of the most powerful aspects of this story is that Maya and Gyre actually feel like siblings who care about one another and struggle to reconcile their burning ideals with their love of their family. It avoids melodrama and tropes in order to tell a more organized, grey, and believable story that enhanced my enjoyment greatly.
Blood of the Chosen expands upon this greatly. From page one we begin to see both Gyre and Maya grapple with the fact that their bubbles have been breached and they need to consider new alternative ideas to their political identities. While the literal narrative is slightly predictable, the character growth from Maya and Gyre is an emotional rollercoaster that filled me with adrenaline from start to finish. The end result is the realization of the excellent foreshadowing from book one and a setup for book three that has me watering at the metaphorical mouth. Wexler if you are reading this, I literally cannot wait for book three.
In addition to all of this, Blood of the Chosen continues in Ashes footsteps with killer action that brings the excitement. Gyre and Maya’s completely different power suites add creativity and variety to the awesome action sequences. The magic and world continue to feel refreshing in the current fantasy landscape, despite its dystopian nature. This is definitely a science fantasy for those of you looking for the books that slip between the genres. Finally, the humor of book two continues to be great, which adds levity to balance out the more emotionally draining moments. The balance of horror and comedy enhances both and I am always a fan of the combination.
I have absolutely no complaints about Blood of the Chosen. It was a top anticipated read for 2021, and it lived up to that expectation with ease. Wexler has managed to crack the code on familial dramas and present something new and creative that I love. The cliffhanger ending of Blood of the Chosen is already killing me, I need the third installment as soon as possible.
Rating: Blood of the Chosen – 10/10
-Andrew
I don’t like using gifs in my reviews, but I almost made an exception for this one; I nearly made a loop of Wexler just knocking a ball out of the park. Wexler has a few projects ongoing currently, but the one I am most interested in is his Burningblade and Silvereye trilogy. The first book in the series, Ashes of the Sun, was one of my top picks for 2020; so the sequel was highly anticipated. The second book, Blood of the Chosen, comes out soon and it is everything I hoped for.
In many ways, the plot of Blood of the Chosen is just a continuation of the story from book one. For those unfamiliar, the narrative follows two siblings, Gyre and Maya, who find themselves on opposing sides of a titanic conflict between god-like races. One side is made up of powerful magic users, called the chosen, and the other is made up of terrifying biomancers called ghouls. Neither side is particularly black and white, and Gyre and Maya find themselves embroiled in a complicated conflict with a lot of nuances. If you want a more detailed breakdown of the story, read my first review.
As for Blood of the Chosen, it’s mostly just follow-through from book one (in a good way). Ashes of the Sun is a book that is heavy in worldbuilding and foreshadowing, setting up a wonderful canvas and plot to entertain and delight. Maya and Gyre both go through their own character journeys in isolation and it’s not until the end of the book that we really see them start to cross paths. As I mentioned in my Ashes review, one of the most powerful aspects of this story is that Maya and Gyre actually feel like siblings who care about one another and struggle to reconcile their burning ideals with their love of their family. It avoids melodrama and tropes in order to tell a more organized, grey, and believable story that enhanced my enjoyment greatly.
Blood of the Chosen expands upon this greatly. From page one we begin to see both Gyre and Maya grapple with the fact that their bubbles have been breached and they need to consider new alternative ideas to their political identities. While the literal narrative is slightly predictable, the character growth from Maya and Gyre is an emotional rollercoaster that filled me with adrenaline from start to finish. The end result is the realization of the excellent foreshadowing from book one and a setup for book three that has me watering at the metaphorical mouth. Wexler if you are reading this, I literally cannot wait for book three.
In addition to all of this, Blood of the Chosen continues in Ashes footsteps with killer action that brings the excitement. Gyre and Maya’s completely different power suites add creativity and variety to the awesome action sequences. The magic and world continue to feel refreshing in the current fantasy landscape, despite its dystopian nature. This is definitely a science fantasy for those of you looking for the books that slip between the genres. Finally, the humor of book two continues to be great, which adds levity to balance out the more emotionally draining moments. The balance of horror and comedy enhances both and I am always a fan of the combination.
I have absolutely no complaints about Blood of the Chosen. It was a top anticipated read for 2021, and it lived up to that expectation with ease. Wexler has managed to crack the code on familial dramas and present something new and creative that I love. The cliffhanger ending of Blood of the Chosen is already killing me, I need the third installment as soon as possible.
Rating: Blood of the Chosen – 10/10
-Andrew
May 4, 2022
Full review to come later.
November 11, 2022
Very rarely can I say this, but I think I might love this more than Ashes of the Sun which says a lot for a middle book in a series. I love all of these characters so much and there was a really good balance between the action sequences and the smaller, softer scenes where we get to know the characters. Excuse me while I ignore my ENTIRE TBR and read my ARC of Emperor of Ruin.
January 4, 2023
Eine sehr gute Fortsetzung! Viel Action und komplexe Charaktere, ich bin absolut gespannt wie es zu Ende gehen soll. Kit ist genial. 🕷️
June 28, 2023
Not the greatest entry but the ending was really worth it
October 3, 2023
This is a good book, it does rely too much on tropes sometimes and I did find Maia a bit irritating towards the end, but the story did work for me and I am looking forward to the ending.
January 27, 2022
These are pretty enjoyable! I’m not sure if this is marketed as YA, the cheesy relationships make me think it must be.
I saw the ending coming from a mile away but it was still so well done that I didn’t mind.
I saw the ending coming from a mile away but it was still so well done that I didn’t mind.
September 21, 2021
I received this book for free from Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Blood of the Chosen is the scintillating follow-up to Ashes of the Sun . Some novels suffer from sequel syndrome, but I foundBlood of the Chosen to be even better than its predecessor. With most of the world-building and foundations firmly laid in the first novel, Blood of the Chosen was freely able to focus on the action. Blood of the Chosen was so riveting that I had a lot of trouble putting this novel down to do anything else.
Like Ashes of the Sun, Blood of the Chosen follows a brother and sister on the opposite sides of a war. Gyre, the older brother, seeks to overthrow the Order, of which his sister Maya, is a flourishing member. What I love so much about Blood of the Chosen is that author Django Wexler does such a great job of making both characters and their causes sympathetic. Even though their beliefs are in direct opposition and conflict to one another, I can easily see things from both Gyre's and Maya’s perspectives, which I think really adds to the drama of their decisions and confrontations.Blood of the Chosen easily makes me as invested in the relationship and the conflict between Gyre and Maya as I am in say, the Skywalker saga in Star Wars.
And just like Star Wars, Blood of the Chosen takes place in a fantastical world. I absolutely love the lore of the ancient Chosen, the ghouls, and the Order. I love that characters are essentially living in the dregs of what was lost after the Chosen were destroyed by the Plague, and are just trying to survive in a world riddled with horrifying creatures known as plaguespawn. Much of Blood of the Chosen asks, what is worse, the monsters that riddle the earth or the humans with supernatural powers who strive to protect it as part of the Order? Add in two long-lost siblings on different sides, and readers can delight in a spicy family drama with potentially devastating ramifications.
In Blood of the Chosen, stakes are higher than ever before, as Gyre seeks to ally the ghouls with the rebels and Maya seeks out answers about the truth of the Order in a hidden library. Maya is joined on her quest by her girlfriend, arcanist Beq, and her eccentric scout, Varos Plaguewalker, and even Tanax, her fellow Centarch. Gyre, on the other hand, is joined by Kit, his ex-lover and now construct, Elariel the ghoul, and Sarah the Rebel. I really love everyone in the eccentric cast of characters, and feel invested in every single one of them. Their bond feels so authentic, their ribs at one another’s expense humorous, and their knowledge of one another’s abilities exactly what you want in a party off to change the world for better or worse.
The only things I did not like quite as much in this novel was that Maya makes a pretty significant and dumb decision in Blood of the Chosen that I saw coming a mile away. I realize that this decision, which has epic and massive consequences, is really gonna heat things up in future entries of the series, so I am not too upset about it, but I definitely lamented that it was the main heroine who had to make such a catastrophic mistake. Though Gyre made a pretty huge error in judgement himself in Ashes of the Sun, he was almost immediately able to correct his poor decisions, and before the novel even ended, Maya is not given the same opportunity afforded to the male protagonist, which made me a little disappointed. However, I have no doubt that Maya will be working toward correcting her mistakes in future entries. I was just disappointed that it seems to always be the female character making earth shattering mistakes out of naivete.
Also, it seems that because Blood of the Chosen was so fast-paced, not as much time was available to give to the side cast of characters. Though I really love all of them, including the newly introduced characters, I can’t help but feel that they’re all more archetypes than actually fully-fleshed out, individual characters. For example, Beq feels more like Maya’s girlfriend and sidekick than anything else. I know very little outside of her relationship with Maya, other than that she grew up in the Order, that she likes reading and arcana, and that her father is also an arcanist. She doesn’t have any scenes independent of Maya, keeping her firmly rooted as a side character. In fact, this is the case for all characters outside of Maya and Gyre, and I would like to see the other characters get to act on their own in future entries of the series. In spite of the fact that these characters are more side characters than full cast members, they still manage to feel pretty dynamic, so it’s no wonder that I can’t help but to want to see them all come outside of Maya and Gyre’s shadow.
Even with these nitpicky drawbacks of mine in mind, I was really blown away by Blood of the Chosen I am already fiercely anticipating the next entry in the series, which has honestly become one of my favorites. I cannot wait to see where Maya and Gyre’s journeys take them, and what it will mean for their world at large.
*All quotes taken from an ARC and are subject to change at time of publication.
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Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Blood of the Chosen is the scintillating follow-up to Ashes of the Sun . Some novels suffer from sequel syndrome, but I foundBlood of the Chosen to be even better than its predecessor. With most of the world-building and foundations firmly laid in the first novel, Blood of the Chosen was freely able to focus on the action. Blood of the Chosen was so riveting that I had a lot of trouble putting this novel down to do anything else.
Like Ashes of the Sun, Blood of the Chosen follows a brother and sister on the opposite sides of a war. Gyre, the older brother, seeks to overthrow the Order, of which his sister Maya, is a flourishing member. What I love so much about Blood of the Chosen is that author Django Wexler does such a great job of making both characters and their causes sympathetic. Even though their beliefs are in direct opposition and conflict to one another, I can easily see things from both Gyre's and Maya’s perspectives, which I think really adds to the drama of their decisions and confrontations.Blood of the Chosen easily makes me as invested in the relationship and the conflict between Gyre and Maya as I am in say, the Skywalker saga in Star Wars.
“He couldn’t help but think about his sister, as much as he tried not to. Someday, it’ll be her they send after me.”
And just like Star Wars, Blood of the Chosen takes place in a fantastical world. I absolutely love the lore of the ancient Chosen, the ghouls, and the Order. I love that characters are essentially living in the dregs of what was lost after the Chosen were destroyed by the Plague, and are just trying to survive in a world riddled with horrifying creatures known as plaguespawn. Much of Blood of the Chosen asks, what is worse, the monsters that riddle the earth or the humans with supernatural powers who strive to protect it as part of the Order? Add in two long-lost siblings on different sides, and readers can delight in a spicy family drama with potentially devastating ramifications.
In Blood of the Chosen, stakes are higher than ever before, as Gyre seeks to ally the ghouls with the rebels and Maya seeks out answers about the truth of the Order in a hidden library. Maya is joined on her quest by her girlfriend, arcanist Beq, and her eccentric scout, Varos Plaguewalker, and even Tanax, her fellow Centarch. Gyre, on the other hand, is joined by Kit, his ex-lover and now construct, Elariel the ghoul, and Sarah the Rebel. I really love everyone in the eccentric cast of characters, and feel invested in every single one of them. Their bond feels so authentic, their ribs at one another’s expense humorous, and their knowledge of one another’s abilities exactly what you want in a party off to change the world for better or worse.
The only things I did not like quite as much in this novel was that Maya makes a pretty significant and dumb decision in Blood of the Chosen that I saw coming a mile away. I realize that this decision, which has epic and massive consequences, is really gonna heat things up in future entries of the series, so I am not too upset about it, but I definitely lamented that it was the main heroine who had to make such a catastrophic mistake. Though Gyre made a pretty huge error in judgement himself in Ashes of the Sun, he was almost immediately able to correct his poor decisions, and before the novel even ended, Maya is not given the same opportunity afforded to the male protagonist, which made me a little disappointed. However, I have no doubt that Maya will be working toward correcting her mistakes in future entries. I was just disappointed that it seems to always be the female character making earth shattering mistakes out of naivete.
Also, it seems that because Blood of the Chosen was so fast-paced, not as much time was available to give to the side cast of characters. Though I really love all of them, including the newly introduced characters, I can’t help but feel that they’re all more archetypes than actually fully-fleshed out, individual characters. For example, Beq feels more like Maya’s girlfriend and sidekick than anything else. I know very little outside of her relationship with Maya, other than that she grew up in the Order, that she likes reading and arcana, and that her father is also an arcanist. She doesn’t have any scenes independent of Maya, keeping her firmly rooted as a side character. In fact, this is the case for all characters outside of Maya and Gyre, and I would like to see the other characters get to act on their own in future entries of the series. In spite of the fact that these characters are more side characters than full cast members, they still manage to feel pretty dynamic, so it’s no wonder that I can’t help but to want to see them all come outside of Maya and Gyre’s shadow.
Even with these nitpicky drawbacks of mine in mind, I was really blown away by Blood of the Chosen I am already fiercely anticipating the next entry in the series, which has honestly become one of my favorites. I cannot wait to see where Maya and Gyre’s journeys take them, and what it will mean for their world at large.
*All quotes taken from an ARC and are subject to change at time of publication.
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November 1, 2021
Blood of the Chosen is a solid sequel to the first book and impresses itself upon the reader in spades of rip-roaring action, infallible characters and humour that fits perfectly with the theme this book is going for. It is a triage of politics, bickering, chosen, corrupted, arcana, and much more. If anything the characters of Gyre and Maya drive the story often forward, at the expense of sacrificing some parts of the worldbuilding which is in my opinion, a good thing. The prose is good in many areas, but sometimes I felt the pacing was a bit slow. Some scenes could have been shortened to quicken up the pacing around some parts of the novel.
In a nutshell, without spoiling too much, one sibling fights to destroy the Twilight Order, and the other fights to preserve it. Add in a bunch of rebels, add in people trying to form their own splinter Kingdom, add in Barons and rebels such as the Greens, the Whites that can't agree with each other on anything. I have to say that the action scenes are really well written in this book that resembles something out of a Hollywood movie if they made fantasy dungeons and dragon movies. That being said, sometimes I did feel there were some emphasis on characters' gestures more than their feelings in some regards. As an example, I often felt Gyre was handled unfairly by the women in his life. He needs a real woman that'll love him and bring him solace to his broken heart. He has the makings of a very potential leader.
This story has a ton of drama, a ton of political conflicts that would be too hard to summarise in one go. All I know is that you have to read the first book in order to understand the events of the second. It is, a very well written book, and many characters such as Maya and Beq get more scene time which allows us to explore their relationship well enough. This added a lot of character to the story and I liked Elariel's descent into humanity. This is a sequel that triumphs on all fronts. It's a solid 8/10 from me on this one. I cannot wait to read book 3 and thank you to the Head of Zeus for providing me with a copy. I can't wait to read book 3!
In a nutshell, without spoiling too much, one sibling fights to destroy the Twilight Order, and the other fights to preserve it. Add in a bunch of rebels, add in people trying to form their own splinter Kingdom, add in Barons and rebels such as the Greens, the Whites that can't agree with each other on anything. I have to say that the action scenes are really well written in this book that resembles something out of a Hollywood movie if they made fantasy dungeons and dragon movies. That being said, sometimes I did feel there were some emphasis on characters' gestures more than their feelings in some regards. As an example, I often felt Gyre was handled unfairly by the women in his life. He needs a real woman that'll love him and bring him solace to his broken heart. He has the makings of a very potential leader.
This story has a ton of drama, a ton of political conflicts that would be too hard to summarise in one go. All I know is that you have to read the first book in order to understand the events of the second. It is, a very well written book, and many characters such as Maya and Beq get more scene time which allows us to explore their relationship well enough. This added a lot of character to the story and I liked Elariel's descent into humanity. This is a sequel that triumphs on all fronts. It's a solid 8/10 from me on this one. I cannot wait to read book 3 and thank you to the Head of Zeus for providing me with a copy. I can't wait to read book 3!
July 3, 2023
4 STARS
CW: blood, violence (I forgot to take good notes, sorry)
This was a solid continuation of the first book and I can't wait to find out how this series will culminate in the final installment later this year! (Okay I just realized it's already been released but I have to wait for the right edition which comes out in November.) I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and this one was honestly even better.
The end was fairly predictable from a certain point onward but it was still entertaining and I'm not complaining. I also really love the Star Wars influences that are in these books, you'll be totally fine not knowing Star Wars but if you do (as most people probably do), there are definitely some recognizable features in this story.
I gotta say, while neither Gyre nor Maya are my favorite out of the cast of characters, Bec is definitely my favorite, she wasprobably definitely my favorite in the first book and I was super happy to see her again and read about her ( and Maya, I guess).
CW: blood, violence (I forgot to take good notes, sorry)
This was a solid continuation of the first book and I can't wait to find out how this series will culminate in the final installment later this year! (Okay I just realized it's already been released but I have to wait for the right edition which comes out in November.) I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and this one was honestly even better.
The end was fairly predictable from a certain point onward but it was still entertaining and I'm not complaining. I also really love the Star Wars influences that are in these books, you'll be totally fine not knowing Star Wars but if you do (as most people probably do), there are definitely some recognizable features in this story.
I gotta say, while neither Gyre nor Maya are my favorite out of the cast of characters, Bec is definitely my favorite, she was
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