Synopsis
The Runemasters are purged. The Hound, the Tower’s secret weapon, is buried under rubble in the ocean. Most importantly, the mainlanders who ended the Runemasters—Magon, Seneka, High Priest Oath, Itula, and Princess Elthren—survived the ordeal.
However, Princess Elthren suffered great loss, and she will never be the same. Itula drained her magic, and she now faces exile from both her tribe and the Freytilians. High Priest Oath drew unwanted attention to his bloodstone, which might be linked to untold horror. Seneka and Magon, newly knighted, face enemies at home and within the Lhorian court.
Worse yet is the Great War, an apocalypse the Runemasters would’ve sparked. Their efforts revealed the weaknesses underlying every nation, and now, wolves are gathering to feed. Dark powers rise, challenging Freytilia’s resolve, and at the heart of it all, the Tower grows its influence.
In the calm before the storm, it becomes apparent that Freytilia has already changed…and its future looks terrifying.
Review
This is another heavy-hitting book by Morgan Shank. It picks up right after the first book, and ramps up the violence and battles as it delves into the aftermath of the hard-fought victory the characters endured previously. Scarred mentally and physically, Magon, Seneka, Oath, Denton, Itula, and Princess Elthren are sent to different parts of the world on their own grim quests that only uncover more secrets paid for in blood and unleash more dangerous things upon Freytilia. This book dives deep into the grimdark vibes with pretty much every chapter being blood-soaked and strewn with so many bodies that it puts Game of Thrones to shame.
This book balances several POVs, which can be a little tricky to keep track of in such a long book. Itula and Oath ended up being some of my favorite characters in this book. I enjoyed seeing Itula wrestling with her bear nature and how the loss of her old magic wove into the new shamanism. Oath was a surprise for me as he also struggles with his faith while keeping Denton safe, ultimately uncovering darker revelations about his religion and his own nature. Vampires and shapeshifting bears weren’t on my bingo card for this book, but they ended up being pleasant surprises. This sequel does a great job of fleshing out all the characters more and peeling back more layers of the world and the magic that exists in it.
There were a couple things I struggled with in this book. When Magon and Itula set off on their own quest, I found myself forgetting what their original goal was part way through. There were also parts where the narrative told me what was going to happen when I wanted to be surprised as the story unfolded. I felt that undercut the tension of certain scenes.
Despite those things, this book has many unexpected turns, breath-holding moments, and cliffhangers that make me ready for book 3.
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