Review: A Chorus of Fire (The Sorcerer’s Song #2) by Brian D. Anderson

Rating: 10/10

Synopsis

The second book in a new epic fantasy trilogy from successful self-published author, perfect for fans of the Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth.

A shadow has moved across Lamoria. Whispers of the coming conflict are growing louder; the enemy becoming bolder. Belkar’s reach has extended far into the heart of Ralmarstad and war now seems inevitable.

Mariyah, clinging to the hope of one day being reunited with Lem, struggles to attain the power she will need to make the world safe again. But a power like this is not easily acquired and will test the limits of her mind and body. She will need to look deep inside herself to find the strength to achieve what even the Thaumas of old could not.

Lem continues his descent into darkness, serving a man he does not trust in the name of a faith which is not his own. Only Shemi keeps his heart from succumbing to despair, along with the knowledge that he has finally found Mariyah. But Lem is convinced she is being held against her will, and compelled to do the bidding of her captors. He is determined to free her, regardless the cost.

Their separate roads are leading them to the same destination. And once they arrive they will have to confront more than the power of Belkar. They will have to face themselves and what Lamoria has forced them to become.

Review

I struggle with reviewing the 2nd book of a series I really like – mostly because what more is there to say that I did not say the first time? I already told you about the characters, plot, setting, pacing, etc, for the most part. How do I address that again without repeating myself?

And that is basically where I am with The Sorcerer’s Song. Author Brian D. Anderson has an absolute gem on his hands with this series: The Bard’s Blade was marvelous, and A Chorus of Fire is just as good. Actually, I would say A Chorus of Fire is slightly better.

In Book 2 of the series, Lem and Mariyah are involved in the same events as they were in Book 1. Time has passed, though, and they are basically powered-up versions of themselves – both having found ways to get better at what they do. The rub here is that they are both still intent on getting back to the other. That is a plot point that oftentimes will get thrown away in Book 2 of series; it will start out with two people closely connected, they get separated for some reason, and in their newfound circumstances that longing for the other has faded. That is not the case, here. Lem and Mariyah both are still focusing on accomplishing their current task so they can get back to the other one. In this instance, distance has made the heart grow fonder, and I love that about this book.

One of the biggest draws to The Bard’s Blade, for me, was the video-game-like nature of the plot. This aspect of the story has not changed in A Chorus of Fire, and I am thankful for that. Adventure fantasy is my favorite, and not only is this story full of adventure many of the scenes gave me Zelda-like vibes. The plot for the characters feel like quests to me, and they discover people and items as they enter into new towns and areas of the map that give them new pieces of the story or interests to pursue. As the story continues, I can see myself pulling Lem along in Hyrule, fighting a million Octorok to level up, becoming strong enough to fight Ganondorf. Both the setting and narrative feel very nostalgic to me, and that is a great way to get me to like your book.

One big difference between A Chorus of Fire and a typical Book 2 is the amount of expansion. Typically, a second book in a series is an opportunity for the author to expand on the world of book 1. Both the protagonist and antagonists level up, and the reader typically gets to explore more of the setting. Anderson took that double-time in this book. A Chorus of Fire bring us a lot more than is typical: Lem and Mariyah are much stronger than I expected, as are their enemies. They get also get a lot deeper into the main, over-arching plot, as well. I like the fact that they also each have side-narratives going on while working toward their main goals, as well. The tension that brings to this story is one of the reasons it is such a page-turner.

Well, folks, Brian D. Anderson has done it again: A Chorus of Fire is a phenomenal, adventure-filled follow-up to The Bard’s Blade. I could not put it down, and I am guessing other fans of fantasy are going to feel the same way. This book gets my highest recommendation. Now the wait for the third installment begins.