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Seeds of Destiny #2
Hero Grown (Seeds of Destiny)
The epic sequel to HERO BORN.
Brann has come a long way since his days as a galley slave. At Lord Einarr’s side, he journeys to the capital of the Empire to warn the Emperor about Loku and his depraved cult.
But Loku already has the Emperor in his thrall, and his scheming ensures that Brann is enslaved once more. He is put to work in the fighting pits deep below the city, where a man might escape with his life, but not his soul.
Brann emerges bent on revenge, determined to stop Loku. But first he must fight to recover the man that he once was, to become the hero he is meant to be.
Brann has come a long way since his days as a galley slave. At Lord Einarr’s side, he journeys to the capital of the Empire to warn the Emperor about Loku and his depraved cult.
But Loku already has the Emperor in his thrall, and his scheming ensures that Brann is enslaved once more. He is put to work in the fighting pits deep below the city, where a man might escape with his life, but not his soul.
Brann emerges bent on revenge, determined to stop Loku. But first he must fight to recover the man that he once was, to become the hero he is meant to be.
- GenresFantasy
540 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2016
5 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Good character development from the first book and it was really interesting reading about the changes in brann and what he went through. I have been suprised by these books as I had heard nothing about them before I started reading them and they have turned out to be really enjoyable. Starting the next book straight off.
August 9, 2016
https://lynns-books.com/2016/08/08/he...
Hero Grown is the second in series by Andy Livingstone that got off to a strong start with Hero Born. I guess you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out from the titles that the first and second books have brought to us a character who is gradually being forged into a hero. I must confess that I enjoy this type of tale. We have a prophecy, we have a young boy who suffered terribly with the loss of everything he knew, thrown into slavery and yet overcoming adversity and managing to find friends against the odds. The latest edition takes that story further yet again when the hero of the tale is once again thrown into the most dire of situations and then, when you think things can get no worse – well, they do!
So, I’m not going to recap the first story and I will give an obligatory warning that this review may contain spoilers for the first in series.
At the start of this story Brann, the hero in the making, is travelling to the capital of the Empire with a number of characters that we met in the last book. They aim to warn the Emperor of the cult they uncovered at the conclusion of the last story – a cult headed by one called Loku. Now, at this stage of the review the next point could be considered a spoiler – however, given the description on the jacket I don’t think so. Basically, Loku is the Emperor’s spymaster and not only does the Emperor rely heavily on him but it seems has been forewarned of this visit by Lord Einar and his companions and in fact believes it to be an assassination attempt. As you can imagine, all hell is let loose, A couple of the company die swiftly, a couple are taken hostage, there is a bold escape and the remaining two are taken into slavery once more. Brann and Grakk, the other captive, are taken to a gladiatorial school to be prepared for a fight to the death! Of course, nobody really expects Brann to survive but yet again his luck holds out. His natural ability to take in a situation and make the most of what is available under pressure come to the fore. And, for a brief time, following his success at the death match, and the fact that the Emperor virtually forgets of his existence, he spends a period of time at the school that can almost be considered happy. I certainly enjoyed this element of the story and found it really entertaining. Then, without warning it seems that Brann has once again come to the attention of certain others and is once again expected to fight to the death – the stakes are much higher this time however.
Accompanying the story we are made privy to another voice. One who speaks with others and influences Brann’s future, seeking to shape him into the kind of man who can fulfil the prophecy. Unfortunately for Brann, this shaping involves a lot more hardship. He finds himself thrown to the fighting pits beneath the City where the only rule – is that there are no rules. All fights are to the death and after a few months of living such an existence Brann is slowly becoming a feral fighting machine – with very little humanity left inside.
Seeds of Destiny is proving to be a very enjoyable story – a coming of age tale with a young protagonist slowly growing into his own destiny
As with the first book the writing is clever and the attention to detail really good. The storyline is really entertaining, gladiatorial fights, pit fights, streets beneath the city, escapes, quests, Egyptian style cities hidden deep in the desert – there is a lot going on and plenty to entertain the reader.
In terms of criticisms – I don’t really think I had much to be honest, I think I would have preferred a little more witty banter now and again and, even though Brann does suffer so terribly I did at one point wonder about whether some of his abilities felt as though they came a little bit too speedily. But, those brief points aside this was a very enjoyable read, plenty of action and adventure and with a good pace that gathers momentum and delivers plenty of tension.
Seeds of Destiny delivers the type of story that I love to read in that it shows a character developing slowly and allows me to watch their progress. It also brings a good supporting cast of characters and, in a fantasy world where the dark and grim (which I admit I love) can be prohibitive to a young adult audience I think this is a perfect adventure.
I look forward to reading the next step in Brann’s journey very much.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Hero Grown is the second in series by Andy Livingstone that got off to a strong start with Hero Born. I guess you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out from the titles that the first and second books have brought to us a character who is gradually being forged into a hero. I must confess that I enjoy this type of tale. We have a prophecy, we have a young boy who suffered terribly with the loss of everything he knew, thrown into slavery and yet overcoming adversity and managing to find friends against the odds. The latest edition takes that story further yet again when the hero of the tale is once again thrown into the most dire of situations and then, when you think things can get no worse – well, they do!
So, I’m not going to recap the first story and I will give an obligatory warning that this review may contain spoilers for the first in series.
At the start of this story Brann, the hero in the making, is travelling to the capital of the Empire with a number of characters that we met in the last book. They aim to warn the Emperor of the cult they uncovered at the conclusion of the last story – a cult headed by one called Loku. Now, at this stage of the review the next point could be considered a spoiler – however, given the description on the jacket I don’t think so. Basically, Loku is the Emperor’s spymaster and not only does the Emperor rely heavily on him but it seems has been forewarned of this visit by Lord Einar and his companions and in fact believes it to be an assassination attempt. As you can imagine, all hell is let loose, A couple of the company die swiftly, a couple are taken hostage, there is a bold escape and the remaining two are taken into slavery once more. Brann and Grakk, the other captive, are taken to a gladiatorial school to be prepared for a fight to the death! Of course, nobody really expects Brann to survive but yet again his luck holds out. His natural ability to take in a situation and make the most of what is available under pressure come to the fore. And, for a brief time, following his success at the death match, and the fact that the Emperor virtually forgets of his existence, he spends a period of time at the school that can almost be considered happy. I certainly enjoyed this element of the story and found it really entertaining. Then, without warning it seems that Brann has once again come to the attention of certain others and is once again expected to fight to the death – the stakes are much higher this time however.
Accompanying the story we are made privy to another voice. One who speaks with others and influences Brann’s future, seeking to shape him into the kind of man who can fulfil the prophecy. Unfortunately for Brann, this shaping involves a lot more hardship. He finds himself thrown to the fighting pits beneath the City where the only rule – is that there are no rules. All fights are to the death and after a few months of living such an existence Brann is slowly becoming a feral fighting machine – with very little humanity left inside.
Seeds of Destiny is proving to be a very enjoyable story – a coming of age tale with a young protagonist slowly growing into his own destiny
As with the first book the writing is clever and the attention to detail really good. The storyline is really entertaining, gladiatorial fights, pit fights, streets beneath the city, escapes, quests, Egyptian style cities hidden deep in the desert – there is a lot going on and plenty to entertain the reader.
In terms of criticisms – I don’t really think I had much to be honest, I think I would have preferred a little more witty banter now and again and, even though Brann does suffer so terribly I did at one point wonder about whether some of his abilities felt as though they came a little bit too speedily. But, those brief points aside this was a very enjoyable read, plenty of action and adventure and with a good pace that gathers momentum and delivers plenty of tension.
Seeds of Destiny delivers the type of story that I love to read in that it shows a character developing slowly and allows me to watch their progress. It also brings a good supporting cast of characters and, in a fantasy world where the dark and grim (which I admit I love) can be prohibitive to a young adult audience I think this is a perfect adventure.
I look forward to reading the next step in Brann’s journey very much.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
July 28, 2016
Last year I read the debut novel from Andy Livingstone, a rather wonderful historical fantasy called Hero Born. The sequel, Hero Grown, has just been released and the good news is that it’s the perfect companion to its predecessor.
Hero Grown achieves exactly what I would hope it would do. It continues Brann’s journey and successfully explores his character in more depth. We get to watch as our erstwhile protagonist evolves from being merely a pawn to being a player. All around him the politics of an empire continues to play out but Brann is changing. He is more than just a slave driven by revenge. He is learning new skills and beginning to flex his leadership muscles. Brann is becoming something far more valuable – a potential ally
The highlight of this novel were the chapters dealing with Brann’s time in the gladiatorial arena. As a galley slave, Brann learned the lessons of patience and how to endure back breaking labour. As a gladiator, he learns how to channel his anger into focussed attacks and, probably more importantly, how to defend himself. Circumstance then sends him from the arena to the fighting pits, where things get even bloodier. In the depths of the pits, death is Brann’s constant companion. I’m a huge fan of television shows like Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and was reminded of this when Brann is learning his gladiatorial craft. This is when the novel hits its stride and there is some sweet action to boot. You get a real sense that the constant violence is taking its toll. Our hero is being taken apart piece by piece, to the point where he becomes almost feral, and then remade into something new. This process is brutal and dehumanising, but ultimately necessary. Brann is becoming a weapon, far more dangerous than he ever was before. The forces that are shaping this young man’s destiny know that he has to go through Hell before he will be capable of facing the challenges that will lie ahead.
Once again, each new chapter begins with some scenes following the old emperor as he continues his political manoeuvring and scheming. The gladiator is key to the emperor’s plans and we start to see just how important Brann’s training, and innate ability, actually is. It is not just a matter of revenge against Loku, its more than that, the fate of nations rest on our young hero’s continued success. As with Hero Born there are plenty of other characters to enjoy. There are a couple of new characters called Breta and Mongoose who are a great addition to the cast. I hope there will be more of them in future books. Old favourites return as well. I was particularly pleased to learn some of Grakk’s backstory. I warmed to this enigmatic soul in book one and learning more about him felt like a real treat. Brann’s galley mates Gerens and Hakon are still on hand to assist their comrade.
Livingstone also displays skill when it comes to creating an evocative setting for his story. The action moves from the frozen fjords and mountains of Brann’s homeland to the capital city and then the deserts of the Empire. It’s a nice juxtaposition. There is a distinct contrast between what we’ve seen before – the stark seas and coldness of the North with the urban crawl and stifling heat. You get the impression that though these two books are connected they are also distinct entities in their own right.
This second book in the Seeds of Destiny series is the ideal sequel, and proves conclusively that book one was no fluke. Andy Livingstone knows his stuff when it comes to historic fantasy. I can’t wait for book three. I’m invested in Brann’s story now, I need to know how things are going to turn out. Now all I have to do is try and wait patiently for the conclusion of this epic tale…. *waits patiently for 5 seconds* OK, when exactly does the next book come out? When?? I need to know what happens now. Damn you Book Gods, why have you forsaken me? WHY??
Hero Grown achieves exactly what I would hope it would do. It continues Brann’s journey and successfully explores his character in more depth. We get to watch as our erstwhile protagonist evolves from being merely a pawn to being a player. All around him the politics of an empire continues to play out but Brann is changing. He is more than just a slave driven by revenge. He is learning new skills and beginning to flex his leadership muscles. Brann is becoming something far more valuable – a potential ally
The highlight of this novel were the chapters dealing with Brann’s time in the gladiatorial arena. As a galley slave, Brann learned the lessons of patience and how to endure back breaking labour. As a gladiator, he learns how to channel his anger into focussed attacks and, probably more importantly, how to defend himself. Circumstance then sends him from the arena to the fighting pits, where things get even bloodier. In the depths of the pits, death is Brann’s constant companion. I’m a huge fan of television shows like Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and was reminded of this when Brann is learning his gladiatorial craft. This is when the novel hits its stride and there is some sweet action to boot. You get a real sense that the constant violence is taking its toll. Our hero is being taken apart piece by piece, to the point where he becomes almost feral, and then remade into something new. This process is brutal and dehumanising, but ultimately necessary. Brann is becoming a weapon, far more dangerous than he ever was before. The forces that are shaping this young man’s destiny know that he has to go through Hell before he will be capable of facing the challenges that will lie ahead.
Once again, each new chapter begins with some scenes following the old emperor as he continues his political manoeuvring and scheming. The gladiator is key to the emperor’s plans and we start to see just how important Brann’s training, and innate ability, actually is. It is not just a matter of revenge against Loku, its more than that, the fate of nations rest on our young hero’s continued success. As with Hero Born there are plenty of other characters to enjoy. There are a couple of new characters called Breta and Mongoose who are a great addition to the cast. I hope there will be more of them in future books. Old favourites return as well. I was particularly pleased to learn some of Grakk’s backstory. I warmed to this enigmatic soul in book one and learning more about him felt like a real treat. Brann’s galley mates Gerens and Hakon are still on hand to assist their comrade.
Livingstone also displays skill when it comes to creating an evocative setting for his story. The action moves from the frozen fjords and mountains of Brann’s homeland to the capital city and then the deserts of the Empire. It’s a nice juxtaposition. There is a distinct contrast between what we’ve seen before – the stark seas and coldness of the North with the urban crawl and stifling heat. You get the impression that though these two books are connected they are also distinct entities in their own right.
This second book in the Seeds of Destiny series is the ideal sequel, and proves conclusively that book one was no fluke. Andy Livingstone knows his stuff when it comes to historic fantasy. I can’t wait for book three. I’m invested in Brann’s story now, I need to know how things are going to turn out. Now all I have to do is try and wait patiently for the conclusion of this epic tale…. *waits patiently for 5 seconds* OK, when exactly does the next book come out? When?? I need to know what happens now. Damn you Book Gods, why have you forsaken me? WHY??
October 13, 2019
Fabulous
An exceptional effort to keep up the pace and poise of the first book. Now onto the last. If there is any out there who have not started this series, I suggest you do. It will tie you over in satisfaction until Mr Rothfuss decides to finally grace us with his own third installment.
An exceptional effort to keep up the pace and poise of the first book. Now onto the last. If there is any out there who have not started this series, I suggest you do. It will tie you over in satisfaction until Mr Rothfuss decides to finally grace us with his own third installment.
April 24, 2019
An Excellent Sequal
A direct follow-up to Livingstones first Hero novel and even more enjoyable than the first. As with the first book the story telling can seem a little 'twee' but the always clever and unpredictable plot balances this out.
Another good book!
A direct follow-up to Livingstones first Hero novel and even more enjoyable than the first. As with the first book the story telling can seem a little 'twee' but the always clever and unpredictable plot balances this out.
Another good book!
February 27, 2017
Great Writing
I read Hero Born and Hero Grown back to back. Great writing, clever plotting and believable characters what more could one want? What about book 3?
I read Hero Born and Hero Grown back to back. Great writing, clever plotting and believable characters what more could one want? What about book 3?
April 20, 2021
This second book follows directly on from where the first book ended and again it has an amazingly assessable and easy to follow writing style that makes the book quick and enjoyable to read on a hot summers day - which today definitely is as it is the hottest day of the year at 31 degrees celsius which is unheard of in Manchester! The story follows the same cast of characters as well as some new and memorable ones. The locations in the first book reminded me of nordic/Scandinavian countries as well as england and in this book the main city seems to definitely be inspired heavily by Rome and the Roman Empire which I love. This story seemed to have more twists, turns and description compared to the previous book which I loved but I hated what happened to the lovely main character about 40% through the book which made me not want to pick it up as much but I finished the book yesterday and I loved the ending now I cannot wait for the third book which I presume is Hero Rises? *gifted for review
September 7, 2016
Brilliant second instalment. Fabulous storytelling and wish the next one was already written...
September 3, 2016
Left me wants more... Need the next book ASAP please Andy!!!
September 18, 2016
Simply superb!! I did not want it to end. Cannot wait to join Brann on his final adventure. Perfect storytelling.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews