It feels like it’s been a while since I enjoyed a second book in a trilogy or series as much or more than the previous novel, but this one just worked! Since the previous book had spent quite a bit of time on set up, it meant this one could take advantage of that and give us more action. Of course, as a middle novel, it doesn’t give us all the answers and some of the action also is a way to get the characters where they need to be for the next novel, but the balance worked well.
Gwynne doesn’t waste time, either – the last novel ended with a god being freed from her prison, and from the description of this novel, I thought much of this novel would be spent trying to raise other dead gods to stand against her but that happens within the first few chapters, and it doesn’t take much longer for a third god to make an appearance.
It took a while to find out how all the 3 POVs were related in the last novel, even if they were crossing paths with some of the same political figures and leaders but by the time we get to this novel, we know all the connections and we get to see our characters’ paths crossing and diverging.
Adding two more POVs was also a great move – in the last book, Biórr ended up being a spy for the dragon worshipers and descendants. While he is technically a bad guy, it’s also easy to see his side and perspective as a Tainted and former slave. The problem is that the group he has fallen in with has reasonable justification for their actions but have chosen to align themselves with someone that is the worst option, the dragon god. When the methods require you to kidnap the children of your fellow oppressed, it’s a probably a sign that your approach is the wrong one. Which … in a broader context, it’s kind of frustrating that the oppressed group fighting for their freedom is also shown as doing it the wrong way, especially when we don’t see other options. The alternative presented is to find community with other Tainted and hide your true nature but no one else seems to be actually trying to find a way to stop the oppression. It would be nice if so many fantasy books didn’t end up with a plot about how the oppressed group or the resistance is just as bad … however for the sake of this story, the Ravenfeeders don’t really have redeeming qualities, especially given the family of Dragon-born leading them.
The other new POV is Gudvarr, and this was the one I was skeptical about because he was such a piece of shit in the previous novel. I still don’t like the guy but he had a unique perspective into different parts of the court and political intrigue so was the perfect character to get a bigger picture. Plus, while he is horrible, you also see him interacting with people that are even worse in ways, and he does get some comeuppance for his previous actions.
Orka is still on her mission to find her son, and after crossing paths with the Bloodsworn at the end of the previous book, even ends up with a few more allies on her side as she is on a collision course with Biorr’s group who have her son. She also crosses paths with Elvar.
I enjoyed Elvar more this novel but she also doesn’t waste any time enslaving two gods in this novel. I think they are setting her up to see the error of her ways based on the conversations she has had with Uspa but so far she has had a rather charmed path so I wonder if she will just gradually see the light or if she will have a true redemption arc and actually have to pay some for her casual enslavement of others.
I know I have had a few recent reviews complaining about middle books being full of filler (side eyes Onyx Storm) but as I said above, this one really does a great job of moving the characters around and getting them in position for the next book while also having quite a few changes in the circumstances of the novels and political landscape. I didn’t mention Varg, the final POV character, but after his self questioning of the previous novel, it was great to see him embrace his nature and the Bloodsworn.