An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington

 

An Echo of Things to Come (The Licanius Trilogy #2)  by James Islington with Michael Kramer (Narrator), 26 hrs, 29 min (752 pages)

"Davian has won a victory for the Augurs, but treachery surrounds him and his allies on all sides in the second book of the acclaimed Licanus Trilogy, in which "fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson will find much to admire." (The Guardian)

Following a devastating attack, an amnesty has been declared for all Augurs -- finally allowing them to emerge from hiding and openly oppose the dark forces massing against the land of Andarra.

The Augur Davian and his new allies hurry north toward the ever-weakening Boundary, but fresh horrors along their path suggest that their reprieve may have come far too late.

The new Northwarden, his ally in the Capital, contends with assassins and politicians and uncovers a dangerous secret. Meanwhile, their compatriot Asha begins a secret investigation into the disappearance of the Shadows.

And Caeden races against time to fulfill a treacherous bargain, but as more and more of his memories return, he begins to realize that the two sides in this ancient war may not be as clear-cut as they first seemed. . ."--Provided by publisher

The second book in the Licanius trilogy had my head spinning. Honestly, as much as I love epic fantasy, this author and this narrator, there was just too much of a complicated history. I was absolutely lost for a lot of the story. I can usually push through a lot of story arcs and plots, but between characters having several different names, secret societal groups, and so.much.backstory, I just got lost, unfortunately. I won't be continuing on with the series right now, but I'm leaving myself open to trying again in the future!

The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington

 The Shadow of What Was Lost (The Licanius Trilogy #1) by James Islington with Michael Kramer (Narrator), 25 hrs, 28 min. (725 pages)

"As destiny calls, a journey begins. 

It has been twenty years since the godlike Augurs were overthrown and killed. Now, those who once served them -- the Gifted -- are spared only because they have accepted the rebellion's Four Tenets, vastly limiting their powers. 

As a Gifted, Davian suffers the consequences of a war lost before he was even born. He and others like him are despised. But when Davian discovers he wields the forbidden power of the Augurs, he and his friends Wirr and Asha set into motion a chain of events that will change everything. 

 To the west, a young man whose fate is intertwined with Davian's wakes up in the forest, covered in blood and with no memory of who he is. In the far north, an ancient enemy long thought defeated begins to stir." Provided by publisher

I picked up this first book in the series because I read a James Islington book that I absolutely loved a couple years ago (The Will of the Many) and because of narrator Michael Kramer, who I have found to have impeccable taste in fantasy novels. When diving into this book, be prepared for a lot of characters, but a core group of characters that you get attached to. There is a lot of world building and character development, as it should be in any first novel in an epic fantasy series. This is a complex world with complex characters, and I enjoyed learning how they connected. Looking forward to reading the next in the series. 

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros with Teddy Hamilton (Narrator), Rebecca Soler (Narrator), 28 hrs, 17 min (623 pages)

"Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College, Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky. 

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves. 

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules. 

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year. Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College, and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end."--Provided by publisher

The sophomore book in this series fell a bit flat for me. I found our MC Violet (and Andarna) quite frustrating in this storyline, and the book goes from 0 to 100 and back again over and over, pulling you in all directions. However, the story progressed and I found several story arcs very emotional. And then that ending...

 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros with Rebecca Soler (Narrator), Teddy Hamilton (Narrator) - 21 hrs., 22 min (517 p.)

"Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die."--Provided by publisher

If you are a fantasy/romantasy lover, this wildly popular book is absolutely already on your radar. Now that it's been out for a couple of years, opinions have formed and it's a divisive title of "love it or hate it." I am in the LOVE IT camp! This was a re-read for me, in preparation for the 3rd book in the series being published. My previous review: "This seemed to be the "it book" of the summer, and it was right up my ally, so I dove right in. I feel like it deserved the hype. It was well-written, with great world building and a great female lead. Can't wait for the next book in the series!" This was my first book narrated by Soler, and it took me a while to settle into her reading. I feel like she did a pretty good job, though I was disappointed in the obvious disregard for pronouncing Gaelic correctly. 

 

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

 

Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive #5) by  Brandon Sanderson with Michael Kramer (Narrator), Kate Reading (Narrator) - 62 hrs, 48 min. (1,329 pages) 

"Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare—and the sudden ascension of the crafty and ruthless Taravangian to take Odium’s place has thrown everything into disarray.

Desperate fighting continues simultaneously worldwide—Adolin in Azir, Sigzil and Venli at the Shattered Plains, and Jasnah in Thaylenah. The former assassin, Szeth, must cleanse his homeland of Shinovar from the dark influence of the Unmade. He is accompanied by Kaladin, who faces a new battle helping Szeth fight his own demons . . . and who must do the same for the insane Herald of the Almighty, Ishar.

At the same time, Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain work to unravel the mystery behind the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram and her involvement in the enslavement of the singer race and in the ancient Knights Radiant killing their spren. And Dalinar and Navani seek an edge against Odium’s champion that can be found only in the Spiritual Realm, where memory and possibility combine in chaos. The fate of the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance."--Provided by publisher

Wowza. This long-awaited final book (of the first arc) of the Stormlight Archive was worth the wait. But be prepared to really be all-consumed by and attentive to this story. There are SO MANY things happening in this book. I'm not an annotating type of reader, but I wish I was while reading this. So many details and characters to keep that, honestly, I found myself lost sometimes. However, in a fashion that only Brandon Sanderson can pull off, my mind was always occupied by this story in some way while reading this book, even when I wasn't actively reading! Narrators Kramer and Reading, who are probably the two most well-established and well-known American narrators (and married IRL!), brought this story to life like no other. I am sorry to see this story arc come to a close.  

Children Of the Fallen Gods

 

Children Of the Fallen Gods (book 2) by Carissa Broadbent

636 Pages

Summary: No war can be fought with clean hands. Not even the ones waged for the right reasons. Not even the ones you win.

Tisaanah bargained away her own freedom to save those she left behind in slavery. Now, bound by her blood pact, she must fight the Orders’ war -- and Max is determined to protect her at all costs.

But when a betrayal tears apart Ara, Max and Tisaanah are pushed into an even bloodier conflict. Tisaanah must gamble with Reshaye’s power to claim an impossible victory. And Max, forced into leadership, must confront everything he hoped to forget: his past, and his own mysterious magic.
All the while, darker forces loom -- far darker, even, than the Orders’ secrets.
As Tisaanah and Max are ensnared in a web of ancient magic and twisted secrets, one question remains: what are they willing to sacrifice for victory? For power? For love?

My Thoughts: I was slightly confused when I started reading this book and a completely new character was introduced. However, the writing was still extremely well done, the story kept my attention, even not knowing who the new character was and how they contributed to the story. I would 10/10 recommend still. I can't wait to start the final book!

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang, 651 p.

"A mother struggling to repress her violent past,

A son struggling to grasp his violent future,

A father blind to the danger that threatens them all.

When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores?

High on a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire’s enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name ‘The Sword of Kaigen.’

Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies.

Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface." --Amazon blurb

 

The Will of the Many by James Islington

The Will of the Many by James Islington, 639 p.

"The Catenan Republic – the Hierarchy – may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus – what they call Will – to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do. 

I tell them that I belong, and they believe me. But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart. And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family.

To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me. And if the Hierarchy finds out who I truly am, they will kill me." --Amazon blurb

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive #4) by Brandon Sanderson, 1,232 p.

"After forming a coalition of human resistance against the enemy invasion, Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant have spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. Neither side has gained an advantage, and the threat of a betrayal by Dalinar's crafty ally Taravangian looms over every strategic move.

Now, as new technological discoveries by Navani Kholin's scholars begin to change the face of the war, the enemy prepares a bold and dangerous operation. The arms race that follows will challenge the very core of the Radiant ideals, and potentially reveal the secrets of the ancient tower that was once the heart of their strength.

At the same time that Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with his changing role within the Knights Radiant, his Windrunners face their own problem: As more and more deadly enemy Fused awaken to wage war, no more honorspren are willing to bond with humans to increase the number of Radiants. Adolin and Shallan must lead the coalition’s envoy to the honorspren stronghold of Lasting Integrity and either convince the spren to join the cause against the evil god Odium, or personally face the storm of failure. "--Goodreads blurb

While still great, this was perhaps the slowest of the series so far. While I love the surprising mental health advocacy throughout this series, I'm not a fan of Khaladin's storyline taking him away from Bridge Four, nor am I a fan of how his father's character has developed. I really enjoyed more in-depth development for the listeners, and finally some coming together of the two factions (human and Listener). I'm finally in the same boat as everyone that's a Stormlight fan...I have to wait until the next book is released with bated breath. And I will be!

 

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive #3) by Brandon Sanderson, 1,248 p.

"In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their thirst for vengeance.

Dalinar Kholin's Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified.

Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar's blood-soaked past and stand together--and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past--even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization."--Goodreads blurb

The third volume in the series is maybe my favorite so far. That's saying a lot for a long-running series, as slumps certainly happen. Dalinar plays the lead role more than anyone in this book, but there are plenty other character developments. Shallan's personalities are becoming somewhat alarming, and Jasnah!  
 

Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive #2) by Brandon Sanderson, 1,087 p.

"Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status "darkeyes." Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl.

The Assassin, Szeth, is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin's master has much deeper motives.

Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined.

Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.--Goodreads blurb

The second installment of the series is just as strong as the first. Deeper dive into characters, new characters and settings, and just great storytelling. Full of revelations, action, and character development, this book was a great read. Picking up the third in the series now!

 

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1) by Brandon Sanderson, 1007 p.

"Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soil-less ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.
It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.
One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.
Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.
Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.
The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making."--Goodreads blurb

Being an avid fantasy reader, this is a series that has been on my TBR for years. It's on every "Best of Fantasy Series" list out there.  Starting out slow, once you get a handle on the various characters in the story and their storylines, this becomes un-put-downable. What is happening to Kaladin? Will Shallan go through with it? Is Dalinar losing it? Can Sadeas really be trusted? Am I supposed to feel sorry for Szeth? Didn't skip a beat picking up the second in this series once I finished this one.

 

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie --- 416 pages, including Cast of Characters and Acknowledgements.

Ann Leckie, the award-winning science fiction author of The Imperial Radch Trilogy --- Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword and Ancillary Mercy --- has just published her first fantasy novel, and once again proved herself to be one of the most original and intriguing authors of sf/fantasy since the late, great Ursula K. LeGuin.

The Raven Tower features a traditional swords and sorcery-style fantasy world, with some significant twists. The narrator is an ancient god, who alternately observes and comments upon a usurped throne in Iraden that mirrors Shakespeare's Hamlet. But the god speaks not to Mowat (Hamlet) but to Eolo (Horatio). In an alternating second plot line, the god describes his own slow awakening to consciousness over the millennia; his understanding of how gods exercise power, and the limits thereof; the complex relation between gods and humans, and whether the god will intervene in the catastrophe engulfing Iraden.

Ann Leckie lives in St. Louis, and loves to hang out in local libraries.

Click HERE to read an interview with Ann Leckie on syfy.com

Click HERE to read the review from ars technica.com

Click HERE to read the review on tor.com.

Click HERE to read the review from NPR (National public Radio).

Click HERE to read a pair of reviews from Locus Magazine.

First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher

First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher - 465 pages

For Gaius Octavian, life has been one long battle. Now, the end of all he fought for is close at hand. The brutal, dreaded Vord are on the march against Alera. And perhaps for the final time, Gaius Octavian and his legions must stand against the enemies of his people. And it will take all his intelligence, ingenuity, and furycraft to save their world from eternal darkness.

Princeps' Fury by Jim Butcher

Princeps' Fury by Jim Butcher - 386 pages

Tavi of Calderon, now recognized as Princeps Gaius Octavian and heir to the crown, has achieved a fragile alliance with Alera's oldest foes, the savage Canim. But when Tavi and his legions guide the Canim safely to their lands, his worst fears are realized.

The dreaded Vord - the enemy of Aleran and Cane alike - have spent the last three years laying waste to the Canim homeland. And when the Alerans are cut off from their ships, they find themselves with no choice but to fight shoulder to shoulder if they are to survive.

For a thousand years, Alera and her furies have withstood every enemy, and survived every foe.

The thousand years are over… 

Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher

Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher - 451 pages

After two years of bitter conflict with the hordes of invading Canim, Tavi of Calderon, now Captain of the First Aleran Legion, realizes that a peril far greater than the Canim exists--the mysterious threat that drove the savage Canim to flee their homeland. 

Now, Tavi must find a way to overcome the centuries-old animosities between Aleran and Cane if an alliance is to be forged against their mutual enemy. And he must lead his legion in defiance of the law, against friend and foe--or no one will have a chance of survival . . .

Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher

Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher - 442 pages

The power-hungry High Lord of Kalare has launched a rebellion against the aging First Lord, Gaius Sextus, who with the loyal forces of Alera must fight beside the unlikeliest of allies-the equally contentious High Lord of Aquitaine. 

Meanwhile, young Tavi of Calderon joins a newly formed legion under an assumed name even as the ruthless Kalare unites with the Canim, bestial enemies of the realm whose vast numbers spell certain doom for Alera. 

When treachery from within destroys the army's command structure, Tavi finds himself leading an inexperienced, poorly equipped legion-the only force standing between the Canim horde and the war-torn realm.

Academs Fury by Jim Butcher

Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher - 704 pages

For centuries, the people of Alera have relied on the power of the furies to protect them from outside invaders. But the gravest threat might be closer than they think.

Tavi has escaped the Calderon Valley and the mysterious attack of the Marat on his homeland. But he is far from safe, as trying to keep up the illusion of being a student while secretly training as one of the First Lord's spies is a dangerous game. And he has not yet learned to use the furies, making him especially vulnerable.

When the attack comes it's on two fronts. A sudden strike threatens the First Lord's life and threatens to plunge the land into civil war. While in the Calderon Valley, the threat faced from the Marat is dwarfed by an ancient menace. And Tavi must learn to harness the furies if he has any chance of fighting the greatest threat Alera has ever known . . .

Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher - 504 pages

For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies - elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. 

But now, Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera, grows old and lacks an heir. Ambitious High Lords plot and maneuver to place their Houses in positions of power, and a war of succession looms on the horizon. 

Far from city politics in the Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans' most savage enemy - the Marat - return to the Valley, he will discover that his destiny is much greater than he could ever imagine. 

Caught in a storm of deadly wind furies, Tavi saves the life of a runaway slave named Amara. But she is actually a spy for Gaius Sextus, sent to the Valley to gather intelligence on traitors to the Crown, who may be in league with the barbaric Marat horde. And when the Valley erupts in chaos - when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies - Amara will find Tavi's courage and resourcefulness to be a power greater than any fury - one that could turn the tides of war.

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo - 422 pages
Book 3 in the Grisha Trilogy

The Darkling now rules Ravka from his shadow throne.  A weakened Alina has gone underground (literally) with the help of a sinister priest and followers who think she is a living saint.  The hunt is on for the elusive firebird to help complete the triumvirate of amplifiers to help Alina gain enough power to defeat the Darkling and bring hope back to the people of Ravka.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable epic fantasy series that I highly recommend.  It is nice to read one with a beginning, middle and end in just three books!