Synopsis:
There has already been an unfathomable cost. And there is more yet to pay.
Gilderan has fallen. Li’or, Hashkan, and Emond barely escaped with their lives.
Scarred and with more questions than they started with, the battle-hardened trio arrives in Pinescar looking for the true power behind Ordelieus’ short, but violent, reign. All the while, the Fabric around them continues to destabilize, releasing horrors beyond anything they dared to imagine.
Gemni Sy’ing smuggles herself from Rak-Shai to Anagovia, where being found would sign her death warrant. Bound by a prophecy written in the stars, she must find the only people who can fight the coming darkness and bring them back with her to face their fate.
Meanwhile, worlds away, a civilization teeters on the brink of extinction with no hope of salvation as their world unravels around them. Could the arrival of a group of blood-painted strangers be their last chance for escape?
Review:
Back again with my longtime writing friend and critique partner’s series in the lead-up to her releasing the final book on Tuesday, October 29th! And friends, When the Threads Unravel is levels above where When the World Starts to Fray left us. Seriously, this sequel ratchets up the ante and takes us to brand new worlds. There are a few reasons why I really enjoyed this book, but mainly, it’s because it is just a damn good adventure with an interesting cast of characters.
Fantasy books quite often come in series and while I read a lot of book ones, what makes me continue onto the next book, is the characters and their growth. While the first book did the heavy lifting of introducing our heroes, faults and all, making me invested enough to want to continue following their adventures (not to mention WtWStF ended on a massive cliffhanger…). But the characters need to continue growing in each book, and we aren’t disappointed in WtTU. Both Li’or and Hashkan continue that trajectory, not only growing as individuals, but as part of a team. I mean, who doesn’t like a reluctant long-lived elf realizing she is allowed to have human friends??? And then the cocky, fresh-out-of-wizard-school brat finally begins to realized he isn’t as great as he originally thought, and that’s what makes him great. Well, not the whole team grows, because Emond stays the warrior/comic relief, but we didn’t need him to grow much, he’s loved just the way he is!
Another thing that always makes me want to continue a series is expanding the cast and the world, and When the Threads Unravel did not disappoint! Not only are we introduced to a brand new POV character, named Gemni, we are transported to another land only hinted at in the first book. I eat this stuff up. I love when authors have more to their worlds than just one land, especially when fantasy offers such unlimited mystique. Gemni and her land add so much more complexity and scale to this series, the lore deepened, the coolness factor multiplied tenfold.
And then, BAM, new world altogether! For real, this quest brought our heroes to another realm, a world completely destroyed by the evil that is permeating theirs. I love when we get storylines like this, as it not only gives our heroes more opportunities for growth, but allows them to truly become the hero they are meant to be. This dying realm not only hits the feels, but also the tension gnawing at our guts. There is a real fear that if our heroes don’t win, then their world will be next.
Also, the new bad beasties introduced in this other world are D&D-level exquisite. Chef’s kiss. Multi-limbed dog-like creatures. Metal-armored goliaths that are basically on bladed skates. Fell mages guiding them all. Huggggggge behemoths.
Again, for the action and magic readers out there, the beastie battles are next level. I mean we spend the second half of the book fighting beastie after beastie. Each battle is different than the last, and using the dying landscape to its fullest, good and bad, was great. The Thread magic takes a huge twist in that blood magic is introduced. Li’or and another ally are the only ones who can use this blood magic and it takes a toll on our heroine, with great consequences.
One thing that will always draw me to keep reading a sequel is the skill of the author in weaving a tale. It certainly did not go unnoticed that Ms. Parrish’s skill and style for the craft really grew between the first book and the second. It’s just great to see when authors grow alongside their creations!
As I said with the When the World Starts to Fray, anyone who loves classic epic fantasy quests, When the Threads Unravel is for you! Only a few more days to jump on this series before the final book releases!
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