Synopsis:
Never forget the truth of who you are.
An orphan, having uncovered the truth of her past, shuns the destiny of the blood coursing her veins. Despite slaying a goddess, the path to Eminence slowly shackles her as the other seals beckon.
A drake, burdened by the loss of his ward, can think of none more unworthy to bear the holy horns of a wardkeeper. Hounded by failure, he clings to the hope of repaying the gods’ faith.
A princeps, saddled by grief, drowns his sorrow at the bottom of a mug. Hounded by the specter of his dead beloved, he shrinks from his duty, only to be drawn into the fight for his homeland.
A captain, fearless, dashing, and egoless, remains as confident and committed to enhancing her renown. But her legend may end abruptly when she takes on her most damnable contract to date.
Old nemeses return. Age-old plans rekindle. A daemon horde marches on the Golden Throne of Kalderim, while a blooddrake hunts another seal in the City of Sin. Split and broken by their failings, each must rise, but one thing remains: blood rules all.
Review:
I think it is safe to say that the future of fantasy writing may well lie in the hands of indie authors. The more I delve into the wilds and depths of non-traditionally published books, the more aware I am of the sheer quality that exudes from many of the up and coming, or at least, new to me authors. What stands out in such a crowded space is not just the quality of prose, which Adams delights us with, but also the ability to sustain a series. And that is not as easy as it sounds, trust me, I know!
Adams has taken the premise of The Godsblood Tragedy into the second book and expanded the cast, including the POVs, the world and its many-layered complexity, as well as giving us more depth to the lore that infuses his world-building with a life of its own. That such complex subjects flow throughout book two without confusing is down to Adams’ rich but fluid style that suits this amalgamation of fantasy and industrial steampunk, as well as an understanding of how to drip-feed a storyline without overwhelming the reader.
In addition, his character development is a delight, and adding Neenah LeFleur’s POV in many ways adds a brilliant counterpoint to the ongoing seriousness that pervades the series and all books of this ilk. Being able to find your way through the dark requires those moments of beautifully-written respite, and the humour she brings takes a lot of that weight. We also have returning characters, all of whom work well, however, Ashe remains front and centre, and of course her demon dagger. Between them they add a spark of banter that complements Neenah, but also provides a very different counterpoint because their relationship is so dark and written in blood.
Now let’s talk about size. Adams has written a chonker of a sequel, over 700 pages in paperback form, and though it never drags, it can feel like a marathon at times. That his style and the storyline can sustain such a length is a huge credit, but be prepared!
Overall, Adams has created a superb world inhabited by characters whose motivations you understand and a complex lore that makes sense. His prose has risen another notch in this book, and if this is the future of fantasy, I’m here for it.
Leave a Reply