The Defiant Heir (Swords and Fire, #2) by Melissa Caruso

Apr 18, 2018 James Tivendale rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I received an advanced copy of The Defiant Heir in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Melissa Caruso and Orbit Books. *Minor Spoilers May Follow*

In the second entry to the Swords and Fire trilogy, we pick up events approximately a month after the finale of The Tethered Mage. Everybody seems pretty content in the world of Eruvia right up until the point that some of the Empire's Falcons and their Falconers start to turn up murdered. Known as The Serene Empire's secret weapons t I received an advanced copy of The Defiant Heir in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Melissa Caruso and Orbit Books. *Minor Spoilers May Follow*

In the second entry to the Swords and Fire trilogy, we pick up events approximately a month after the finale of The Tethered Mage. Everybody seems pretty content in the world of Eruvia right up until the point that some of the Empire's Falcons and their Falconers start to turn up murdered. Known as The Serene Empire's secret weapons the Falcons are the magic wielders ranging from warlocks to alchemists and the Falconers are their protectors. They bind the Falcons magic and can help, train, and unleash them should the need arise. These assassinations create unrest and cause whispers that the Witch Lords in Vaskandar might actually be plotting and preparing to invade far beyond their borders.

The first book was extremely enjoyable so I was excited to jump back into Amalia and Zaira's tale. In similar fashion to the previous novel, this follow up is a unique mix of young adult and political fantasy intertwined with heightened poetic world building and addictive, intriguing dialogue throughout. This is the sort of fantasy adventure that ticks all the boxes for me at the moment. Complex enough without being overwhelming or confusing so the descriptive narrative creates perfect imagery in my mind which overtakes me and once again I raced through this in a few days even though it is longer than the first.

We visit a lot more of the world this time, the majority of which is behind the lines of this potential united enemy in Vaskandar. The characters visit haunted forests, volcanos, plague-ridden villages, and highly dangerous fortresses. The ensemble seems to have doubled in size with new additions including the seventeen Witch Lords and Amalia's relatives in Callamorne. The cast was already quite large but these new characters are introduced and presented expertly and too many to name are true scene stealers. That being said, many of the individuals present in the previous book have developed and changed following past harrowing events and also their current dilemmas. For example, you might even call Amalia and Zaira friends now. Along with the Skinwitch Ruven, these three from the previous narrative arguably produce the finest moments. That is alongside new members the Crow Lord Kathe who is charming, mysterious and loves playing games and The Lady of Eagles, Lady Amalia's Great-Grandmother who is so formidable and powerful it would make many grown men cry to be in the same room as her. Also, The Lady of Spiders' dress deserves a special mention too.

The histories of the world and the magic system was already deep and intricate. Both elements are expanded on here. Amalia is a scholar so we learn a great amount of knowledge through her first-person perspective thoughts especially with reference to the history of the Northern Witch Lord controlled territories and about her lineage and how she fits into the bigger political picture. We saw snippets of a different sort of magic in the first tale. In The Defiant Heir, we learn about this further. It's known as Vivomancy and Caruso writes the descriptions in a way that emphasises the power and potential of such magic to Amalia and it resonates with the reader as we're also finding out the capabilities for the first time. Some of the possibilities are truly harrowing.

The Defiant Heir was pretty brilliant. It started strong and it was easy and exciting to get reacquainted with these characters. It's full of great political drama, hidden plots, thrilling moments, betrayals and showdowns, yet the finest showdown is probably a battle of wits and words which I re-read numerous times because it was that exhilarating. The novel features a few interesting beasts such as giant wolves, chimeras, and forests that have lives of their own. It includes a love triangle dilemma which I'm not normally too fond of. The one here didn't change my opinion, however; I did like the interactions between two of the members a lot. There is also an LGBT storyline which I know many young adult book readers enjoy and this one takes a very interesting turn about halfway through but is definitely worth following. To conclude, I love losing myself in Caruso's world which features lead characters I truly cared about. I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy. Recommend. ...more

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Dec 27, 2018 Brittney ~ Reverie and Ink rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-couples, top-of-the-top, absolute-favorites, fantasy, recommended-fantasy, favorite-villians, best-audiobooks, favorite-heroines

KKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTHHHEEEEEE.

KATHE.

Okay *breathes*

Oh, I love this series, and I loved this book even more than the first (which I also loved) *ahem* excuse my babbling. But hello yes if you love court and political intrigue READ THIS SERIES.

I'll do a better review soon :) ...more

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Apr 27, 2018 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys, fantasy, magic, review-copy

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/05/13/...

I’m always a little nervous going into a sequel to a book I loved, especially when the story and characters are still fresh in your mind. Knowing you are jumping into a new adventure that can change the course of everything you know or shift the game as swiftly as the weather is sometimes a terrifying thing.

But as it turned out, I had an amazing time with Melissa Caruso’s The Defiant Heir. In fact, I pretty much couldn’t a 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/05/13/...

I’m always a little nervous going into a sequel to a book I loved, especially when the story and characters are still fresh in your mind. Knowing you are jumping into a new adventure that can change the course of everything you know or shift the game as swiftly as the weather is sometimes a terrifying thing.

But as it turned out, I had an amazing time with Melissa Caruso’s The Defiant Heir. In fact, I pretty much couldn’t ask for more out of a sequel. In the first book, The Tethered Mage, readers were introduced to a historical fantasy setting reminiscent of Renaissance Venice, along with an irresistible cast which includes our protagonist Lady Amalia, a young noblewoman finds herself becoming a Falconer to the fire Warlock Zaira. Forever linked together by a magical bond neither of them wanted, Amalia nonetheless tries to make the best out of the situation, and although Zaira’s initial pushback was hard and aggressive, eventually she too started to come around to their new reality.

Friendships, however, are not forged overnight. There’s still plenty of conflict—both individually and between them—for Amalia and Zaira to work out, and this is where this sequel comes in. The Defiant Heir continues to develop the characters’ relationship by setting them on a quest to gather information behind enemy lines, with success only possible if both women can pull all their knowledge, skills, and abilities together to work as one. All this is also set to a backdrop of imminent war, as the seventeen Witch Lords who rule in Vaskandar gather for a rare conclave in the aftermath of the events that transpired in The Tethered Mage. As the scion of one of Raverra’s most powerful families, Amalia has been groomed to take her mother’s place on the Council of Nine since birth, even though she would much rather be ensconced in a library with a pile of books or tinkering with new contraptions in a workshop. But now the time has come for her to formally enter politics and take on the responsibilities of her role as La Contessa’s heir, even if it means giving up the things she loves.

I’m a big fan of stories that put characters to the test, because they always have the most compelling conflicts. Which path will a person take when faced with life-altering choices? Do they follow their sense of duty or their heart? What lengths will they go to achieve their goals? For Amalia, life has changed a great deal ever since becoming a Falconer. She has made a new friend in Zaira, even if that friendship is still complicated and somewhat precarious. She’s even found love with her fellow Falconer, Lieutenant Marcello Verdi. But as mad as they are for each other, a future together just isn’t in the cards, and that was even before Amalia decided to increase her efforts to follow in her mother’s footsteps. As the daughter of La Contessa, she must put the needs of the country before her own desires. And if her country needs her to play spy and court alliances, she’ll have to do that too, even if those duties require her to serve beyond her experiences and limits.

Amalia, however, is not the kind of person to give up when the going gets hard, which is what I loved about her character in the first book and she continues to show the same kind of persistence in The Defiant Heir. She’s also measured and calculating, preferring to keep all her options open, even if it does leave her personal life a bit of a mess. That said, it’s wonderful to see a flawed but genuine and intelligent female protagonist who displays such strength in the face of crushing social pressures, and still be a good, kind, and sincere person.

But once again, Caruso shows that her greatest strength is writing relationships—and a good thing too, since each and every single one of the story’s multiple threads have a basis in the character dynamics. Amalia loves her mother and wants to please her, which fuels her determination to be a good heir. She loves Marcello, but must put her feelings for him aside to allow herself to be courted by Kathe, a Crow Lord who is debonair and charming, but still pragmatic enough to understand how such a relationship would serve both their purposes. Then there’s the Falconer-Falcon bond between Amalia and Zaira, which has developed into something much deeper and more complex. They’ve put their lives in each other’s hands, and both women have learned to trust more because of it. Zaira has even let herself open up and grow closer to Terika, another Falcon. This particularly sideplot has expanded the scope of her character in many ways, showing a side of the cantankerous fire warlock that we’d only begun to explore by the end of the first book. All these relationships were woven together to form an intricate web of personal stories within a greater narrative, which made this book a joy to read because we got to watch each character grow.

Fans who enjoyed Caruso’s debut will find even more to please them in The Defiant Heir, a sequel that further explores the world and all the characters we’ve come to know and love. In addition, it’ll take us to new locales and introduce us to new players, adding even more depth to series. With this second volume of Swords and Fire, Melissa Caruso is well on her way to making a very big splash in the fantasy genre, and I can’t wait for the third book to get here. ...more

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Jun 28, 2019 Hafsah (on hiatus) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Tethered Mage 4⭐

"I had my hand on the quill of fate as it wrote the next chapter of Eruvia's history, and it was up to me not to spill red ink all over the pages"

Do you love a book full of ancient magic as well as political intrigue and everything that comes with it? One that's perfectly paced and has a range of unique, complex characters that you're likely to never forget? If so you better full-on SMASH that tbr button right now, my friend. Trust me, you won't regret it because this b The Tethered Mage 4⭐

"I had my hand on the quill of fate as it wrote the next chapter of Eruvia's history, and it was up to me not to spill red ink all over the pages"

Do you love a book full of ancient magic as well as political intrigue and everything that comes with it? One that's perfectly paced and has a range of unique, complex characters that you're likely to never forget? If so you better full-on SMASH that tbr button right now, my friend. Trust me, you won't regret it because this book is completely and utterly FANTASTIC! (And definitely deserves more recognition!)

"At once everything was silent. Not the dead silence of an empty room, but a silence full of a thousand sounds too soft to break the threshold of hearing. The silence of movement only just stopped, and ready to spring into action again; the silence of a pause between notes, or a breathe between screams"

With beautiful imagery like that, it's hard to believe this is Caruso's debut trilogy! She's a very skilled writer and one of her fortes, I think, is character and relationship building. Amalia, daughter of the most powerful woman in the Empire, is one of my favourite female leads ever. She's incredibly compotent, responsible, has an inherited knack for politics, and more wisdom than you'd expect from anb18 yr old (yes that's my age, yes she puts me to shame). She's a force to be reckoned with, yet her heart's still too 'soft' for the ruthless decisions she's expected to make.

"Choosing between good and evil was easy. Choosing the lesser evil, and knowing that your choice damned people to death, was the part that hacked off pieces of your soul. This was the task I'd been born to do, and that I'd taken up willingly when I accepted my role as my mother's heir"

She's courting Kathe, the Crow Lord who, ~~like everyone else said~~ is one of the best things about this book. He loves games and secrets so you're never quite sure of his intentions and whether you can trust him, but that doesn't matter because you still want to, because he is cunning, powerful and just AMAZING.

"This creature of grace and power, of wings and lightning, was offering himself to me, through some wild twist of fate and scheming whimsy. If I wished it, he could be mine. And I his. There lay the difficulty"

It's difficult because her heart belongs with Marcello (ding ding ding that's right, there's a love triangle) a kind-hearted, and loyal person too caring for his own good. However he's of too low a stature to court Amalia. (sound familiar?)

And finally, there's Zaira, who's capable of unleashing hell, both figuratively and literally, (The only thing stopping her is Amalia's control over her). Although she annoyed me in the first book, she's really grown on me, now that she's begun to learn to trust people more, and control her power as well as her temper. I now absolutely love her witty, sharp-tongued remarks, and no-nonsense attitude.

Together, they must somehow diffuse the threat of war/ Ruven- the remorseless, cruel and young villain (who I would happily see destroyed on so many levels). And although the plot may seem unoriginal, it's the writing and depth of these characters that really helps this story stand out. ...more

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Sep 05, 2018 Liz Barnsley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I adored The Tethered Mage- a brilliant start to a fantasy series so heading into The Defiant Heir I was hoping for great things and boy did I get that and then some.
I’m such a huge fan of the way Melissa Caruso builds her world and her characters in perfect harmony with each other, The Defiant Heir moves us forward in page turning, addictive, beautifully written style.
Magic and mayhem abound as our heroine Amalia and her “scooby gang” – that’s my thing by the way, I love the group dynamic- try ...more

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Apr 10, 2018 Rebecca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! Full review to come!

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Dec 19, 2018 Kalyn Josephson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is hands down my favorite book of the year.

Aside from obviously being an undying fan of Kathe (I mean, he's the freaking Crow Lord, how could I not be?), I loved everything about this book. The characters are so distinct and vibrant and complicated, the magic is beautiful and technical and detailed, the world is expansive and deep and so, so lush. Vaskandar is the sort of setting I could disappear into. I want to know so much more about it (and so we will! The author sold another series!!). ...more

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May 12, 2020 Lulai rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This whole serie is alot about politic and power and it is quite different from what I am used to read in a YA fantasy Book.
I really like the world arround the falcons, the questions about magic, freedom and love.
It was a new setting in this sequel and it was fun.
So far a great second book I will be happy to read the third one.

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Apr 14, 2018 Tara (Spinatale Reviews) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-series

The Tethered Mage was one of my favorite books of 2017 so I had high expectations for The Defiant Heir. Somehow, The Defiant Heir was even better than I was expecting. There was absolutely no second book syndrome here. The character development was amazing, the banter witty, and the plot wonderfully engaging. This is technically adult fantasy but I think there’s a lot of YA cross-over appeal.

"I’ll be careful, I promise”
My mother’s mouth crooked toward a smile. “I’m not certain I believe you. But

...more

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May 09, 2019 Blodeuedd Finland rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Ok so I was crushing hard on someone in this book, haaard! Leave Marcellus behind and run away with this guy, stat! He was the perfect trickster/fool *dreamy sigh*. You hear me, Amalia! You forget that other guy this instant!

Right. So in the last book Amalia became a Falconer, which means she controls someone with magic. She does want to make it better for those with magic, so they do not have to be forced to become falcons. She did not choose to become a Falconer either, but what can you do. An ...more

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Aug 04, 2018 imyril rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, subjective-chaos-2020

A stirring sequel that cements my affection for Melissa Caruso’s work as well as her thoughtful, conscientious protagonist and her flamboyant, rough-tongued warlock.

The series continues to explore the implications of its internal logic, to my delight. It’s not easy being La Contessa’s daughter, but Amalia is showing a flare for it. But will she be able to live with what that means?

Excellent world-extending, intriguing mysteries, magnetic new characters and an epic threat. Honestly, I love this ...more

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Sep 25, 2017 Sheila Goicea marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: color-me-with-this-cover, 2018-releases

I hope The Tethered Mage is good so I can read this one...the cover is just...<3

description

...more

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Jun 22, 2019 Literary Han rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, fantasy, ya

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Whilst reading the first book in this trilogy (The Tethered Mage) I was eagerly anticipating the second novel (The Defiant Heir) as I had heard from multiple sources that the second book is a lot better.

If you read my short review of the first book you would know that I was not overly impressed. It felt very juvenile and things tied up too well. There were little repercussions and the Main Characters were saved in the nick of time. This is not believable and so I had to ...more

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May 02, 2018 Kristen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

4 1/2 Stars

The Tethered Mage was one of my favorite books read in 2017, and I loved The Defiant Heir even more. It's extraordinarily fun with amusing dialogue and some quirky personalities, I enjoyed the growth of Amalia and Zaira's relationship, and it was fascinating to learn more about Vaskandar and Amalia's family on her father's side.

Full (Long) Review on My Website ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 Justine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya

This book was even better than the first one!!

Issues first: still not a big fan of Marcello.

All the rest is great!!!

I loved that we are in Vaskandar this time, and that we get to discover both the landscapes, the creatures, the castles, and the Witch Lords from up close! It's so good to see another part of the world and not just stay in Raverra or in the Serene Empire!! Some scenes were just awesome and I wanted to actually see them, to actually be there!!!

I still love Amalia, who shows even m This book was even better than the first one!!

Issues first: still not a big fan of Marcello.

All the rest is great!!!

I loved that we are in Vaskandar this time, and that we get to discover both the landscapes, the creatures, the castles, and the Witch Lords from up close! It's so good to see another part of the world and not just stay in Raverra or in the Serene Empire!! Some scenes were just awesome and I wanted to actually see them, to actually be there!!!

I still love Amalia, who shows even more courage and mastery in this volume and Zaira, who both annoys and makes me laugh! We get back to other known characters, such as Terika, who's more present here, a character I really find refreshing, just like Istrella. La Contessa is less present, which I regretted a bit, but the book was so good it didn't bother me. There's also Ruven, old friend of ours! We discover new characters, such as Kathe, whom immediately seduced me, Bree and Roland (view spoiler)

This second book is full of action! We go from one scene to the next, kept on tenterhooks from beginning to end! There are political intrigues, schemes to bother our characters' plans, and I was surprised by some revelations!! (view spoiler)

There's also a romance, and the formation of a love triangle here. And, you know what? I wasn' quite as bothered by it as I thought I would be. It's balanced: each guy represents something, and our main character wavers between two lifestyles in fact. (view spoiler) Amalia is stuck between duty and "a normal life", between hard choices and letting go. She has a political role to play, and she sometimes dreams about not playing it at all. Just like in the first book, there's a great moment when we feel her power, we feel she carries all the Serene Empire on her back, and this gives her presence, eloquence, and charisma. She shines!! And, as duty goes, Amalia has to make hard choices: the last one she makes actually broke my heart!

The ending was explosive (view spoiler) and I really can't wait to read the final book in this trilogy!! How will it all end?! ...more

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May 30, 2018 The Library Ladies rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

(Full review here at the thelibraryladies.com.)

I was so excited when I received an ARC for this sequel! “The Tethered Mage” came out of nowhere last fall and quickly became one of my favorite reads for the year, so I was so excited to see what antics (troubles?) Amalia and Zaira would get themselves into this time. So much so, that I brought this book along with me on vacation, which was probably not the best choice since it actively distracted me from all of the “real vacationing” I was apparen (Full review here at the thelibraryladies.com.)

I was so excited when I received an ARC for this sequel! “The Tethered Mage” came out of nowhere last fall and quickly became one of my favorite reads for the year, so I was so excited to see what antics (troubles?) Amalia and Zaira would get themselves into this time. So much so, that I brought this book along with me on vacation, which was probably not the best choice since it actively distracted me from all of the “real vacationing” I was apparently supposed to be doing. It’s a lenghty book, and yet, somehow, I zipped right through it!

After the events of the last book, Amalia has proven herself a capable heir to her mother, La Contessa, and finds herself further enmeshed in the difficult and morally challenging workings of her country’s ongoing conflicts with their dangerous neighbors to the north. Zaira, too, while still straining against the restrictions of her new life, is also beginning to develop some type of feelings (oh no!) for the Falconers and Falcons around her. As the Witch Lords continue to make threatening moves against Raverra, Amalia and Zaira once again find themselves in the middle of the action. But this time they’re also in the middle of an enemy nation with only the hope of help from a Witch Lord himself who claims to be courting Amalia, but seems to also be hiding plans of his own.

This book does everything a good sequel should do. The stakes are raised in literally every aspect of the story. Plot and action? Well, not only is there a threatening volcano looming over the country ready to blow at any minute, but we get to meet the Witch Lords themselves in all of their terrifying glory! Magic? Said Witch Lords are super creepy with a complex magic system of their own that ties their powers to each other and the land they rule. Characters? Not only does Amalia’s and Zaira’s relationship remain the solid focus of character growth, but it continues to build, even when hindered by the morally challenging nature of their bond. Beyond their bond, both Amalia and Zaira have relationships of their own to deal with.

Zaira continues to struggle with vulnerability and trust, drawn to a fellow Falcon, but also lashing out in the way of a trapped animal who has been hurt too many times to recognize a kind hand being offered. I loved the exploration of Zaira’s growth. After the last book, we know the price that Zaira has paid with past experiences of becoming close to others and the tragic results that occurred. Her distrust is not only of others and their intentions, but mostly of herself. For all of this, she is not let off the hook by those around her when she takes it too far and truly hurts those who care for her. Zaira’s story was full of tenderness, heartbreak, and ultimately, hope.

For her own part, as the primary protagonist, Amalia’s own experiences and relationships are exponentially increased in this book. I still love the relationship that has been built between her and her powerful mother which is still a breath of fresh air in a book world full of orphans or evil step mothers. But in this book, the more important relationships are those driven by her relations from her father’s side, both her maternal grandmother who rules a vassal state in Raverra, as well as the line through her grandfather that reaches back to the Witch Lords themselves. Further, after deciding in the last book that she must remain single and detached in order to pursue political connections through courtship, there is an ongoing tension and struggle with her beloved Marcello. Especially when a certain charming and mysterious Witch Lord arrives on the scene and proposes a courtship, something that Amalia recognizes as incredibly powerful and useful in this time of trouble between their nations.

Amalia is not only the heart of these books, but her strong characterization is the glue that holds it all together. I keep using the word “refreshing” but it is truly how I feel about both of these books, mostly due to the way that Amalia is written. She has strong female friendships. She loves Marcello deeply, but is aware of her own role in the world and her duty. And while this pains her incredibly, she doesn’t shy away from the sacrifices that this life requires of her. Throughout this book, her realization of what it really means to be a Cornaro becomes strikingly clear. Through her, the story engages with many challenging topics, including sacrifice of individuals for the good of the whole, political compromise, and what it looks like to work within a system that is made up of people, with their own faults and agendas.

Beyond the characters, I loved the action of this book. Much of it takes place across the borer in the domain of the Witch Lords. In the last book, we only heard loosely about them and had only the horrid Ruven with his ability to control human flesh as an example of their abilities. Here, we are exposed to them all in their full power and we begin to realize the true challenge that Amalia and co. are up against. Further, (again, refreshing!) Amalia is still an unpowered young woman. Her strengths lie purely in her ability to maneuver through political situations, her bookworm-ish knowledge of magic, and her own ability to speak well and convincingly. And in a kingdom that values the ability to wield magic above all else, this skill set is even a harder one to put to use effectively.

The story doesn’t shy away from the gruesome and heartbreaking aspects of a looming war. There is a lot of death, and the Witch Lords and their power over their land is an effectively horrifying threat. I was a bit concerned with the entrance of said Witch Lord suitor, that we might be getting a love triangle. But I very much enjoyed the direction that this aspect of the story went. Again, Amalia as a character is written to handle the challenges and temptations of all of this in probably the most realistic manner I’ve read, as far as “love triangles lite” go.

I really loved the first book in this series, so it says a lot that I came away from this one knowing without a doubt that I loved it even more. Both of these books are must reads for any fan of fantasy fiction featuring strong women characters!

Rating 10: Absolutely brilliant! Heart-breaking and grounded, this series has given us not only one, but two new heroines to root for! ...more

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Feb 21, 2019 Amy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, magic

Who would have thought I would fall in love with a fantasy trilogy? An unexpected pleasure! This trilogy starts with the Tethered Mage, which I just loved! Strong women, and plenty of them, performing magic to save their empires. The subtext dynamic of Falcon and Falconer is fascinating and powerful. The Defiant Heir continues the story, and it was all consuming. Hit every note. Apparently, the third comes out in April 2019, The Unbound Empire. Have got to see this through! I have fallen for eve ...more

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Sep 24, 2018 Madi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

fucking hell. I loved this one even BETTER than the first. Like what the hell is that about? ReeDICKULOUSLY political. the fucking romances guys. the WORLD BUILDING. the MAGIC SYSTEM. Be prepared to never stop hearing about this series yall.

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Aug 06, 2019 Sydney (sydneysshelves) West rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-reads, favorites, all-time-favorites

The romance! The Political Chaos and Maneuvering! I love this series so much. Its amazing and you should read it.

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May 01, 2019 Jordan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019

4.5
This trilogy is so underrated.

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

The Tethered Mage was a fantastic 2017 debut that I immediately loved. I had high hopes for this trilogy and anticipated that it was only going to get better, and let me tell you, it exceeded those expectations more than I could have ever possibly imagined. The world keeps expanding and Caruso’s skills at writing become more and more apparent as the story moves on.

The Defiant Heir is where this trilogy really seems 4.5
This trilogy is so underrated.

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

The Tethered Mage was a fantastic 2017 debut that I immediately loved. I had high hopes for this trilogy and anticipated that it was only going to get better, and let me tell you, it exceeded those expectations more than I could have ever possibly imagined. The world keeps expanding and Caruso’s skills at writing become more and more apparent as the story moves on.

The Defiant Heir is where this trilogy really seems to ramp up on the political components and also the sheer gravity of all the stakes involved. The first book certainly had intense moments with some fairly high stakes, but this book takes it to another level of depth with more lives are on the line. The story picks up a short time after the final events of The Tethered Mage when things in Raverra aren't in an immediately dire situation, but they aren't exactly calm and worriless, either. There is unrest among the Falcons and Falconer, especially as some start being murdered and fear begins to rise. This is also where the Witch Lords begin to gain importance to the plot, as there is now question whether the Witch Lords are behind this, and thus the plot begins to expand.

I’ve really liked learning about the relationship between the Falcons and Falconers and the political ramifications that go along with that. It’s one of those situations where it’s not an overtly negative situation, but it’s certainly not a positive one, either. I’ve been intrigued by the ways in which people want to rectify how this is handled, and I appreciate Amalia’s understanding and empathy for those who must live in the Mews.

The best part about this book, other than the incredible political maneuverings and intelligent dialogue, is that we get to visit more of the world and explore more locations. Events of this book lead our characters to Vaskander, which thereby allows us to explore more of this land and the Witch Lords that inhabit it. I particularly loved learning about the magic and political methods of the Witch Lords and how they all seem to have a unique sort of style or theme associated with them, such as the Lady of Spiders who is just as horrifying to be around as you might imagine. In addition, there are also many additional characters introduced that take on important roles and add so much more color to this world in both positive and negative ways.

Amalia continues to impress me. She is slowly learning to take on the role her mother has been grooming her for and while also beginning to take more risks associated with her station for the good of Raverra. She’s an extremely knowledgeable character, which I appreciate, and I enjoyed researching more about the magic and history of this world along with her. Zaira, of course, continues to be a grumpy gem of a woman that I can’t help but love, and I have so enjoyed seeing her and Amalia’s relationship develop from strangers (where Zaira hardly tolerates Amalia) into something maybe possibly resembling friendship.

In this book, we also get introduced to Kathe, a Witch Lord that seems interested in working with Amalia--or rather, in trading favors and using one another for political gain. Kathe is one of those dark, mysterious characters that seems tricky and not entirely trustworthy, but you also just can't help but be intrigued by him and want to find out what he's doing constantly.

I could continue going on about this book probably endlessly, but as I’m writing two reviews for this trilogy today, I’m going to keep this one a bit brief in order to jump into the review for The Unbound Empire! Overall, I’ve easily given The Defiant Heir four and a half stars. ...more

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Aug 04, 2019 Izzie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: at-home, epic-fantasy, favorites, read-owned, lgbt-fantasy-recs

I love this series so much. I've seen a few people say they didn't like it because it's 'too YA' but I disagree. I admit that there are certain aspects that lend it to YA - the first person perspective (although this has been done successfully in adult fantasy, too. Case in point) and the protagonist's love interest. But with such rich worldbuilding and characterisations this is a series that is broad in scope and which I find endlessly fascinating. Do I think this series is for everyone? No. Bu ...more

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Jul 03, 2018 Bon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, magic

Okay, this is gonna count as a review for both 1 and 2, really, because I am lazy. Five stars to both, though - and I read them on a whim because a friend recommended them on the spot. I did audio format for both so it's difficult to pick outstanding lines, but man, were these good. A magical world with everything from elemental warlocks who control fire and storms, to 'artificers' who embue devices and create instruments of magic, and alchemists, who create magical potions, I found the worldbui Okay, this is gonna count as a review for both 1 and 2, really, because I am lazy. Five stars to both, though - and I read them on a whim because a friend recommended them on the spot. I did audio format for both so it's difficult to pick outstanding lines, but man, were these good. A magical world with everything from elemental warlocks who control fire and storms, to 'artificers' who embue devices and create instruments of magic, and alchemists, who create magical potions, I found the worldbuilding really interesting. Then there's the main character, who is a scholar - 100 points already in my book - and a growing diplomat in her empire. She studies magic so much that throughout, she can influence or disrupt magical happenings - you'll understand upon reading - despite being nonmagical herself.

. Amalia, the main character, is intelligent, awkward at relatable times, reckless at understandable times - and just...cool. She wears britches nearly all the time. Zaira, the fire mage she "works with" in the series, was a bit of an off-putting character, but given her growing up on the streets, etc., we can understand her harshness near the end of book 1. Also, Zaira is bisexual - her relationship with a female alchemist is fantastically woven in without any "ooh look here, inclusivity!" to clog up the plot.

Speaking of plot: Give me ALL of the YA political intrigue. Diplomacy with first a rebelling neighboring city in book 1, and then a hostile land of Witch Lord governors - YES. Amalia has only the advantage of her noble blood and her scholarly knowledge to weave her way through these books, occasionally with the help of Zaira's unleashed magic. It's just fantastic. Female characters call almost all the shots, the males fading into the background. Not a crazy fan of love triangles, but the one concerning Amalia was tastefully done, I think, representing a diplomat's struggle - love for duty or for their heart.

This all being said...Highly recommend, especially if you like political intrigue in a magical YA world. ...more

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Jul 02, 2019 Tamar rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5*

Once again, Amalia and Zaira are called to save the day and prevent war with Vaskandar, the northern state that is more like seventeen domain and in each domain rules a witch lord.
Those witch lord are very powerful and immortal bc they're connected to their land and every living creature there, including human. There can be only one witch lord in every domain, which mean that they live long after their children had long passed away. There for, to some of witch lords there is much interest to ...more

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Mar 31, 2019 Shaitarn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

2.5 rounded up.

Not as good as the first book. It felt very much as though the author was running along the standard 'YA novel plot' track in this. And there was a love triangle, which means I drop a star.

It wasn't bad, but nowhere near as good as the first one. ...more

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Nov 16, 2019 LJ Waguespack rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A breathtaking thriller that does not miss a beat in a fantastic journey. Outstanding continuity, this story flows with passion, consequence and heart. Onto book three, what a great ride, thank you Melissa Caruso, work well done.

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Sep 13, 2020 Diana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Vid review on September, 16, 2020 here https://youtu.be/yUtZTlotE7U ...more

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May 21, 2018 Melissa Hayden rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

The political games are visible here. In both Vaskandar and the Empire. These plots and plans and twists keep me listening. I want to know what will happen or how things will change when someone does something unexpected.

The characters feel to be alive, keeping me cheering and hoping for them. I'm loving all the aspects I'm getting here! All are weaved together, creating the people by their plans and choices in life and politics.

Melissa has moved up to one of my favorite writes with this book.

* ...more

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May 23, 2019 Calvin Park rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

The Defiant Heir, sequel to The Tethered Mage, and the second book in Melissa Caruso’s Swords and Fire series is a wonderful story that manages to be epic in scope but intensely personal in feel. It’s the sort of sequel that builds on the first novel and yet manages to continue to leave you guessing and discovering new aspects of the world and characters. Caruso has given us a page turner in this one, a novel that demands to be read.

It’s hard to know where to begin singing Caruso’s praises when The Defiant Heir, sequel to The Tethered Mage, and the second book in Melissa Caruso’s Swords and Fire series is a wonderful story that manages to be epic in scope but intensely personal in feel. It’s the sort of sequel that builds on the first novel and yet manages to continue to leave you guessing and discovering new aspects of the world and characters. Caruso has given us a page turner in this one, a novel that demands to be read.

It’s hard to know where to begin singing Caruso’s praises when talking about The Defiant Heir. The world building continues to be top notch. Instead of resting on her laurels after the first book, Caruso continues developing the world, allowing us to learn a great deal more about how magic works in this world and especially the impact that has had on the political map. In particular, we get to learn much more about the political makeup of Vaskandar and how their particular flavor of magic has impacted that political makeup. I continue to be impressed with the way that Caruso links the magic system into the political functioning of her world. Everything about it makes sense, but too often in fantasy we have mages that can throw fireballs around and yet the political system is not significantly different from feudal Europe. It’s not only the worldbuilding and magic that are wonderful in this novel, however. The character development is equally worthy of praise. Both Amalia and Zaira are different at the end of this novel than at the beginning. We get to watch them grow as individuals and in their various roles. I particularly enjoyed the camaraderie that—by the end of the book—is blossoming between these two. To top it off, it isn’t only the protagonists who are well-rounded and developed. The antagonists are equally well fleshed out, with realistic and believable motivations.

The Defiant Heir is a fantasy that is epic in scale, the fate of empires hangs in the balance, but Caruso manages to keep things very grounded in the midst of this. She does this by steadfastly refusing to introduce any viewpoint other than Amalia’s. Not only does this keep things tightly plotted and the action moving, which I enjoy, but it also makes the story a deeply personal one, which I love. It’s rare to read an epic fantasy with world altering stakes that still feels incredibly personal. Caruso manages this balance with great aplomb.

The novel does have a couple weaknesses worth noting. First is that there are a couple moments throughout the story when it feels as if Amalia is primarily being pulled along by the narrative. She’s being saved by others or otherwise feels like she lacks real agency. Thankfully those scenes are few and don’t rob the narrative of its tension, but it was frustrating to see the titular heir being…well…quite compliant at times. There’s also a sort-of love triangle in this novel. Normally I despise love triangles. In this novel, however, I didn’t particularly mind it. Unfortunately, the reason I didn’t mind it is because I don’t feel much romantic tension between Amalia and either of her potential love interests in this novel. I could sort of care less who she ends up with, and to me a romance ought to feel more important—or at least I ought to feel more invested in it—than that.

The Defiant Heir has all of the deep world building, fascinating magic, and wonderfully realized character that made the first book in Caruso’s Swords and Fire series so gripping. It even manages to up the ante in all three of those areas while continuing to tell an incredibly personal story. If you love character driven fantasy and haven’t started this series yet, you should correct that!

9/10

4.5/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing ...more

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Apr 26, 2020 Becca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was even better than the first book! Full of even more excellent characters, amazing world building and definitely a lot more romance. It had everything I love!

Amalia and Zaira are sent to her Grandmother's in Callamore, a land that joined the Empire through her mother's marriage to her now dead father. It borders Vaskandar, where troops have started to build up. Amalia starts courting Kathe, a Witchlord from Vaskandar (there are 17, and all are mages). Through him she can attend the Concla This was even better than the first book! Full of even more excellent characters, amazing world building and definitely a lot more romance. It had everything I love!

Amalia and Zaira are sent to her Grandmother's in Callamore, a land that joined the Empire through her mother's marriage to her now dead father. It borders Vaskandar, where troops have started to build up. Amalia starts courting Kathe, a Witchlord from Vaskandar (there are 17, and all are mages). Through him she can attend the Conclave, and event where Vaskandar will decide whether they are to go to war with the Empire. No diplomat from the Empire has ever been allowed in before, and Amalia has to do everything she can to prevent a war.

I really enjoyed the introduction of Kathe. The book was definitely needing a character like him to spice things up both romantically and for the plot twists he brings with it. Even though it meant there was a love triangle between Kathe, Amalia and Marcello, it wasn't a bad one as far as I'm concerned. They represent two sides of Amalia, one that has had a taste of power and wants more, and another that wants safety and familiarity.

There are so many clever twists in this book - the style of writing definitely reminds me of Maria v Snyder with cliffhangers at the end of chapters. For a one point of view first person book, there is so much character detail. I really like that Amalia got to use her intelligence to solve issues in this book, in some ways proving her study wasn't meaningless to those who thought she wasn't up to political challenges. Thanks to her successes in the first book, she had a lot more responsibility on her shoulders in this one, and it definitely made things interesting.

The world building in Vaskandar is amazing, and like nothing I've seen before. I loved that it was much more magical than Raverra, with no cities and lots of nature. The Witchlords are really powerful and have so much control over their domains. Ruven became even worse in this book. I think the villains are the only bit that need a bit more work, as Ruven is just cruel. His father is cruel to him, but I think there's room for more development.

Overall, this was great. The threats did a good job of balancing Zaira's somewhat unstoppable Balefire. The challenges made Amalia make some really difficult choices that hurt members of her family. It was shocking in the right places. Can't wait to read the final book! ...more

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Apr 25, 2018 Andrew rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Full review at The Quill to Live: https://thequilltolive.com/2018/05/03...

I am going to Europe next week, so I felt like reading about pseudo-fantasy Venice as I was packing. In order to scratch that itch, I am back with a review for the second book in Melissa Caruso’s Swords and Fire series, The Defiant Heir. Also, while we are on the subject – I realized in book two that the reason the series is called “Swords and Fire” is that it’s about trying to accomplish things while using neither. It is Full review at The Quill to Live: https://thequilltolive.com/2018/05/03...

I am going to Europe next week, so I felt like reading about pseudo-fantasy Venice as I was packing. In order to scratch that itch, I am back with a review for the second book in Melissa Caruso’s Swords and Fire series, The Defiant Heir. Also, while we are on the subject – I realized in book two that the reason the series is called “Swords and Fire” is that it’s about trying to accomplish things while using neither. It is an interesting choice for the series title, and it makes me slightly dubious that the characters will be about to accomplish their goals by just talking.

I reviewed the first book in this series here and, despite some mixed feelings, came out feeling positively. I didn’t think I was that invested in the story of The Tethered Mage, but it turns out that Caruso sunk her talons into me deeper than I knew (this is a falcon pun that makes sense if you read the first book, which you should, so you can see how funny I am). My curiosity was piqued, so I jumped into The Defiant Heir and found that Caruso brought her A-game.

At the end of the first book, our lead (Amalia) had foiled a dastardly plot, brought a rogue city state back into the empire, fallen in love with someone beneath her station, and built up a friendship with her hot-headed falcon partner. The awful antagonist from book one, the witchlord prince Ruven, is still running around unchecked and has a new plot that involves enticing his country to go to war against Amalia’s. In order to sabotage Ruven, Amalia enters a political courtship with another witchlord, Kathe, and she travels to the witchlord realm to try persuade them to not go to war. The plot is awesome, and I felt myself much more invested in the story and its characters than I was in book one. The pacing of The Defiant Heir is excellent, with the story constantly pulls you back in for one more chapter. I found myself up reading way later than I should multiple nights until I finished it, a surefire sign of a great book. While I didn’t have major issues with the characters in the first book, the entire cast feels more complex, likable, and relatable than they did previously. Amalia and her falcon Zaira in particular were a lot more interesting and I loved spending time in Amalia’s head as she made hard choices.

One of core issues I had with The Tethered Mage is its setup and first chapters felt a little far fetched. The Defiant Heir addresses this issue in a number of ways. First, because the book picks up an already moving plot, it doesn’t suffer from the ramp up period that The Tethered Mage did. Second, Amalia feels like a much more flawed and believable character, which helps her power through some truly Mary Sue moments. I am not exaggerating when I say you find out that Amalia is an UBER-princess in this book. It is casually mentioned that she is basically related to every single monarch in every single country in this book – which sounds like a recipe for a terrible lead. However, Caruso makes it work spectacularly because of her emphasis on a key theme in the series – the price of power.

An idea that is present in both books, but much more so in the second, is the idea that with power comes responsibility. As I mentioned, Amalia is a princess to three different countries – but what is expected of royalty in each of those places is vastly different. In one, it guarantees the right to rule, in another it gives you certain advantages as you start your career but not much else, and in the last royal blood is completely meaningless. Despite these differences, there is one key similarity that runs through all the countries – with power comes the burden of making hard choices. This is a theme that has been around for eons, but I honestly have not seen many people who handle it as well as Amalia. Amalia shatters her Mary Sue status by having to make hard choices that have no good answers. These choices have terrible fallout and Caruso does not shield her from the consequences of her decisions. It creates a compelling read about the price of power and makes me genuinely sympathetic to the aristocrats of old – a group of people that the fantasy genre has generally painted in a negative light. This is my second favorite part of this book, and my most favorite is indirectly related to this theme.

I cannot believe I am saying this, but my absolute favorite part of The Defiant Heir is the love triangle. I almost always hate love triangles, but Caruso avoids every single pitfall I usually hate about them. First, both the love interests are wonderful and you will adore them both. The first is Marcello, the soldier love interest from the first book, and the second is the witchlord Kathe who Amalia is courting for political gain. Second, the two men represent marriage for love and marriage for obligation, and Caruso gives equal weight to both. So many books you read with this sort of scenario feel like you are just waiting for the obligation guy to die or leave so that “true love can win in the end”. It is so damn refreshing to see someone treat the idea of a royal needing to marry for the good of the realm as a positive thing. Again, this comes back to the theme of “price of power” – Amalia lives a very pampered aristocratic life and there is a cost to that. Caruso refuses to give Amalia loop holes to let her have her cake and eat it to. This is what elevates The Defiant Heir over so many other books I have read recently. Each choice feels like it has weight and it pulls you into the story. Also, this is just my personal opinion, but I am TEAM KATHE ALL THE WAY. Other members of The Quill to Live are incorrectly on Team Marcello though, so we support both competitors.

I have a ton of other things I want to praise The Defiant Heir for, like the world building and culture, but I think at this point you get that this is a series worth your time. In particular, The Defiant Heir takes everything that was good about its predecessor and ads depth and weight to make it a more serious and compelling read. There was nothing lukewarm about my feelings for this book and I cannot wait for the next installment of Swords and Fire. Go pick up a copy and join me on Team Kathe after you realize his clear superiority.

Rating: The Defiant Heir – 9.0/10
-Andrew ...more

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