Synopsis
THE BONDS OF KIN MUST HOLD
The King-Radiant has fallen. Zapour has been liberated and the siblings triumphant, but at what cost?
Two years have passed since their victory over the Eagles. Peace between the nations has not gone as planned. Gelvard has seized control of Lumindal and a cloud of war now surrounds Trost.
The sun is dying… A new power has risen from the west. A man who calls himself the Sun Prince has his eyes set firmly on Zapour. But is he friend or foe?
The bonds of kin will be tested as new threats arise, though not all threats are new. An ancient evil awakens, and new bonds must be forged if light is to shine another day.
Review
This book is the sequel to A King’s Radiance, a book that I adored a lot. I was really looking forward to this sequel and had high expectations for it. I’m so glad to say it did not disappoint.
This story picks up a couple of years after the explosive ending of book one. We continue to follow the Glaive siblings who are all in different places personally and dealing with different things, and on top of all of their own issues they receive news that the Sun Prince, a mysterious figure from Yagos, is coming in hopes of making a deal with them. He claims the sun, which is the source of the magic in Zapour known as Shine, is dying, and that the nations must all unite to stop a disaster before it happens. Is this true? Should this new figure be trusted? It’s all very mysterious.
I really loved the world building we got in book one, and this book continues to develop things to new areas and new heights. We are introduced to new characters and new beings who I was instantly intrigued by. Zeek is a wonderful new character. The politics of the world are a big part of the novel too, but not in an overbearing way. The powers of the Mystics, which were mentioned in book one, are also expanded on greatly too. Animal companions are a highight and oh my goodness how I loved them all. It’s all so exciting. I couldn’t help but keep turning the pages. I was really impressed overall by how the author built on the foundation he created in book one in every way.
Once again, as was the case with book one, the way this information is given to the reader is done in an organic and holistic way alongside the characters. Nothing is ever info-dumped or rushed.
I loved the direction the story takes in this novel. The story is crafted very well and I love how things were planned out. I really could not stop turning the pages, and read over half this book in pretty much one sitting. I did not see the direction things went in coming at all. Things really widen out from book one and the stakes continue to rise. These characters are put through the wringer in so many ways, and it was the perfect blend of excitement, heartache and intrigue. I loved the personal journeys they go on as well, as they reflect on their past actions, decide what their priorities are and deal with the events that are thrown at them as best they can. I continued to really care about all these characters and appreciated the time and care the author puts into making their stories feel meaningful and the consequences feel real and earned.
The new characters too were very intriguing. As mentioned earlier Zeek was a character I couldn’t help but be fascinated by. The Sun Prince too was a wonderful new addition who added so much mystery to the story, but at the same time I couldn’t help but love him. As always Raiz and Spike continue to be my favourites. I love the inner conflict depicted in his character, and can’t help but feel so deeply for him and what he goes through. I was also really pleased with Isha’s arc in this book and loved where her story went. It was great to see many of the side characters we met in book one return too.
The Sun Prince is a really fantastic book that brings everything I could ever want in a sequel. Well developed characters, exciting action sequences, twists I did not see coming, moments of laughter as well as heartbreak, thought-provoking journeys for the characters, fantastical creatures and magic, great world-building and a really riveting story from start to finish. Highly recommended.
Thank you so much to the author for the review copy. This book is out on October 15th.
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