About this book:
“When glass hits the floor, it scatters to the furthest corners. Don’t you know that broken things have the sharpest edges?”
Errance has it all—a crown, a kingdom, a family, and grace for eternity. Yet even after seven years of peace, decades of imprisonment have left scars upon his soul that refuse to fade. Fear of the future keeps him crippled in the present.
When one of his worst fears comes true, Errance is left with a choice—remain hiding in the safety of Aselvia or return to the world that hurt him the first time. Throwing all caution to the wind, he plunges into the dregs of the cities and climbs to the heights of society in the search for his missing loved one.
There is more at work than he can see—allies are not all that they appear. Lies, schemes, and politics are seeking the strengths and weaknesses of Aselvia, and if he’s not careful, he’ll lose everything he holds dear.
But the King of the Elves has not survived this long just to lose to mortal treachery, and when he comes out of his kingdom, he’s coming to set the world on fire.
My Thoughts:
Goodness, this was such a weighty book! You can tell that the world and the characters we came to love has grown since Moonscript (See my previous review of the book). We see glimpses of the Northern chemas, but more of the human worlds with advancements that seem to lean more towards "Gaslamp", which was intriguing. (As someone loves medieval fantasy, but I was a tiny-bit put off by emergence of guns and clocks... but at least there's still swords and horses! (But that's just me!)
In many ways, the story doesn't shy away from terrible injustices we see in our world today (greed, treachery, hatred, human trafficing...). Some of the characters practically disturbing, like two certain deadly Northern Chemas...and a few lords (who won't be named for spoilers).
And yet, it was so perfectly balanced with heartwarming and uplifting moments. I adored the friendships! AH! The friendships all but grown between Coren and Errance, but I LOVED LOVED the bond between Trys and Dahlya! (We need more genuine female friendships!) Then there were the sweetest moments of family-- Tellie and Kelm! Tellie and her adoptive parents! Coren and his family! Even the family of Errance and his cousins! And then... the romance between Errance and Tryss... even in marriage! ***Squee!***
But best of all were the moments of HOPE. That in the midst of greed, hatred, and strife... pain, fear, and despair... there is trust, peace, and love.... healing, courage, and faith.
And GOD is ALWAYS in control. Always present. Always... with us!
The best thing about these series is that each can stand perfectly one their own, but the adventures get better and better! (Looking forward to Book 3!)
About the Author
From the beginning, H. S. J. Williams has loved stories and all the forms they take. Whether with word, art, or costume, she has always been fascinated with the magic of imagination. She lives in a real fantastical kingdom, the beautiful Pacific Northwest, with her very own array of animal friends and royally loving family. Williams taught Fantasy Illustration at MSOA. She may also be a part-time elf.
Author Website: https://www.hsjwilliams.com/
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