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Empire of Storms #2
Schatten des Todes
Das Imperium der Stürme ist ein gewaltiges Reich, das von einem gottgleichen Kaiser regiert wird - und von den Biomanten, mächtigen Zauberern, die einen Menschen mit nur einem Wimpernschlag töten können. Der junge Straßendieb Red soll von ihnen zum Assassinen ausgebildet werden, im Gegenzug dafür schenkten die Magier seiner großen Liebe Hope die Freiheit. Noch während Red versucht, das Spiel der Intrigen und Ränke am Kaiserhof mitzuspielen, segelt Hope als Piratenkönigin Dire Bane die Küste entlang. Doch dann stößt sie auf eine gewaltige Verschwörung der Biomanten, die Red in tödliche Gefahr bringt. Eine Verschwörung, die sogar das Imperium der Stürme in den Untergang reißen könnte ...
608 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
November 22, 2021
Biomante: mago capaz de alterar la materia viva (personas, bacterias, plantas…)
Guerreros/monjes Vinchen: orden religiosa/militar que pelean que lo flipas.
Imperio de las tormentas: islas dispersas que conforman el imperio este. Donde se desarrolla la acción
Con base en esas estructuras, Skovron nos crea una fantasía no muy complicada pero muy amena de leer. Este es el segundo libro y se lleva tb cuatro estrellas al igual que el primero que leí hace tres años y no sé bien por qué no había retomado hasta ahora, la verdad. La culpa la tenéis mis amistades de GR, que siempre metéis libros por delante en la pila.
A lo que iba. Que el libro se lee sin querer y que está basado en que el imperio tiene un emperador-títere manejado por los malvados biomantes (ayudados por necromantes en este segundo) y tenemos a unos cuantos protagonistas que se dedican a luchar contra este “status quo”. Nada nuevo, pero funciona. Personajes con su punto de humor y traumas (cómo no) a los que nos aficionaremos rápido.
Dad una oportunidad al primero de la trilogía, El imperio de las tormentas, sin esperar mucho pero cuando queráis pasar un buen rato y leer con sumo agrado. Yo ya he cargado el tercero de la serie.
Guerreros/monjes Vinchen: orden religiosa/militar que pelean que lo flipas.
Imperio de las tormentas: islas dispersas que conforman el imperio este. Donde se desarrolla la acción
Con base en esas estructuras, Skovron nos crea una fantasía no muy complicada pero muy amena de leer. Este es el segundo libro y se lleva tb cuatro estrellas al igual que el primero que leí hace tres años y no sé bien por qué no había retomado hasta ahora, la verdad. La culpa la tenéis mis amistades de GR, que siempre metéis libros por delante en la pila.
A lo que iba. Que el libro se lee sin querer y que está basado en que el imperio tiene un emperador-títere manejado por los malvados biomantes (ayudados por necromantes en este segundo) y tenemos a unos cuantos protagonistas que se dedican a luchar contra este “status quo”. Nada nuevo, pero funciona. Personajes con su punto de humor y traumas (cómo no) a los que nos aficionaremos rápido.
Dad una oportunidad al primero de la trilogía, El imperio de las tormentas, sin esperar mucho pero cuando queráis pasar un buen rato y leer con sumo agrado. Yo ya he cargado el tercero de la serie.
June 30, 2017
I liked it a lot - a 3.5 stars.
It is a much slower book than book 1, a chess game really in which all the places are carefully placed.
I did not like how the Red situation was so quickly resolved while it is supposed to be a very difficult matter. That was a big disappointment.
But very good continuation of the series and I cannot wait for the next one!!
It is a much slower book than book 1, a chess game really in which all the places are carefully placed.
I did not like how the Red situation was so quickly resolved while it is supposed to be a very difficult matter. That was a big disappointment.
But very good continuation of the series and I cannot wait for the next one!!
August 14, 2017
There’s just something about this series and the author’s writing style that I love. I liked the second installment as much as I did the first. There’s a gritty feeling to the world, the characters and the storyline. I do believe gritty and not GrimDark is the correct view of this series, although this book is darker a spots than book one. Pirates, Ninjas, evil alchemists, brothels, bars, gangs……
The story itself isn’t all that complicated and usually I reserve a lot of my 5*’s for those epic books but the second most common for me is the ones where the author makes the characters come to life for me. Riyeria and Ember in the Ashes come to mind. This is like that but with a street tough steampunk feel to everything.
The addition of Lady Merivale was terrific. One of my favorite female characters ever. She doesn’t fit the normal stereotypes of either princesses or chicks with dicks. Loved her character depth and the way she and Red duked it out mentally with a lot of innuendo mixed in for good measure.
For me personally it’s not an issue but I think some could find issue with the crude language and slang but I thought it just added to the grit of the world.
The story itself isn’t all that complicated and usually I reserve a lot of my 5*’s for those epic books but the second most common for me is the ones where the author makes the characters come to life for me. Riyeria and Ember in the Ashes come to mind. This is like that but with a street tough steampunk feel to everything.
The addition of Lady Merivale was terrific. One of my favorite female characters ever. She doesn’t fit the normal stereotypes of either princesses or chicks with dicks. Loved her character depth and the way she and Red duked it out mentally with a lot of innuendo mixed in for good measure.
For me personally it’s not an issue but I think some could find issue with the crude language and slang but I thought it just added to the grit of the world.
May 31, 2017
I really have to write a review about this.
April 2, 2017
This is book #2 in the Empire of Storms series and it's just such a fast and fun story. I definitely enjoyed this book a lot and it is filled to the brim with fantasy troupes twisted on their heads, lewd and funny moments, and rudeness! It's definitely not a series for anyone who's not okay with slang and jokes, but if you're okay with that, there are some real winners in here and insults such as 'dippy wrink' and 'cock dribble' are commonly used terms!
This story follows Dire Bane and her crew as they sail the seas on the hunt for a missing friend of theirs and a way to free him from the clutches of the evil Biomancers. The world they live in is largely rules by the Emperor and his Biomancers who are manipulators of biology and can create necromantic creatures, transform skin into gills, and bring to life great big evil behemoth monsters (amongst much more). It's definitely not an easy life to live in the troubled times they do, but it's a damn fun on and they make the best of it under Bane's instruction.
The other story we follow is that of Rixedentron who is a young noble from a not-so-noble beginning, He is into all the court politics and has even managed to befriend the Prince who will one day rule over the whole country. However, when a shadow demon starts to attack people and there is talk of rebels against the Biomancers Rixedentron realises there may be a lot more at stake than first appeared.
What I love about this series is the unabashed and unashamed lewdness of the characters. Not only do we have lots of swearing and nudity and hook-ups left right and centre, it's also all filled with such good fun that you can't help but to roll your eyes and smile along.
This book fell slightly flatter than the first for me, but that's probably due to having less reading time when I picked this one up as I remember reading book #1 all in a day or so. However, it's still a rollicking pirate-y adventure and there's a whole lot to enjoy about this series :) 3.5*s overall and recommended :)
This story follows Dire Bane and her crew as they sail the seas on the hunt for a missing friend of theirs and a way to free him from the clutches of the evil Biomancers. The world they live in is largely rules by the Emperor and his Biomancers who are manipulators of biology and can create necromantic creatures, transform skin into gills, and bring to life great big evil behemoth monsters (amongst much more). It's definitely not an easy life to live in the troubled times they do, but it's a damn fun on and they make the best of it under Bane's instruction.
The other story we follow is that of Rixedentron who is a young noble from a not-so-noble beginning, He is into all the court politics and has even managed to befriend the Prince who will one day rule over the whole country. However, when a shadow demon starts to attack people and there is talk of rebels against the Biomancers Rixedentron realises there may be a lot more at stake than first appeared.
What I love about this series is the unabashed and unashamed lewdness of the characters. Not only do we have lots of swearing and nudity and hook-ups left right and centre, it's also all filled with such good fun that you can't help but to roll your eyes and smile along.
This book fell slightly flatter than the first for me, but that's probably due to having less reading time when I picked this one up as I remember reading book #1 all in a day or so. However, it's still a rollicking pirate-y adventure and there's a whole lot to enjoy about this series :) 3.5*s overall and recommended :)
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February 13, 201719 October 2016 - A PRETTY COVER!!!
April 8, 2018
3.75 sobre 5 sería su nota.
En general me ha gustado y sobre todo me ha entretenido mucho. Mantiene las virtudes de la entrega anterior, con una ambientación bastante lograda, una magia diferente y sobre todo unos personajes que bordean el sobresaliente. Pero a pesar de todo esto, me ha gustado menos que el primer libro.
¿El motivo? Pues lo resumiría en que esta es la clásica novela puente entre el inicio y el final de una trilogía. La trama no avanza lo que me hubiera gustado y el autor lo deja todo para el la última entrega. Aunque es cierto que los personajes si evolucionan bastante en esta entrega y por ese motivo le podríamos perdonar que sea una novela puente.
De todos modos si te gustó el primero este te gustará seguro, ya que el estilo narrativo es similar y como digo entretiene mucho y la lectura nunca llega a aburrir.
Como siempre os dejo el enlace a mi blog por si queréis darle una ojeada a la reseña completa que publiqué allí:
https://t.co/8YbEtEnVwm
En general me ha gustado y sobre todo me ha entretenido mucho. Mantiene las virtudes de la entrega anterior, con una ambientación bastante lograda, una magia diferente y sobre todo unos personajes que bordean el sobresaliente. Pero a pesar de todo esto, me ha gustado menos que el primer libro.
¿El motivo? Pues lo resumiría en que esta es la clásica novela puente entre el inicio y el final de una trilogía. La trama no avanza lo que me hubiera gustado y el autor lo deja todo para el la última entrega. Aunque es cierto que los personajes si evolucionan bastante en esta entrega y por ese motivo le podríamos perdonar que sea una novela puente.
De todos modos si te gustó el primero este te gustará seguro, ya que el estilo narrativo es similar y como digo entretiene mucho y la lectura nunca llega a aburrir.
Como siempre os dejo el enlace a mi blog por si queréis darle una ojeada a la reseña completa que publiqué allí:
https://t.co/8YbEtEnVwm
July 26, 2018
Este segundo libro de la saga sigue la tónica del primero, la escritura es ágil en todo momento y aunque entiendo que se utilice el lenguaje típico de los barrios bajos y de piratería me siguen sobrando determinadas expresiones. Aunque aparecen nuevos personajes y otros que aparecían en el primer libro me han gustado todos ya que todos tienen un papel importante, la que más me ha gustado es Lady Hempist ya que no es lo que parece y el que menos el príncipe Leston que vive desconectado del reino y aunque no es su culpa no hace nada por ponerle remedio. Tampoco me ha gustado el cambio de Ortigas. En este libro nos encontramos a Hope por un lado,convertida en pirata para luchar contra el poder de los biomantes; y por otro Red que está en palacio como guardia personal del príncipe Leston y como "aprendiz" de los biomantes. Me ha gustado mucho más Red que Hope pues aunque entiendo la situación en la que se encuentra esta última no me ha gustado el giro final de este personaje y lo que va a hacer a continuación puesto que se intuye, ni la situación en la que ha dejado a todos sus compañeros Alash, Brigga Lin, etc. Mientras que Red sigue siendo el mismo pillo de Nueva Laven que conocimos en el primer libro. En general me ha gustado mucho ya que mezcla dos cosas que me encantan en los libros magia (o poderes) y piratería, además me ha por fin he descubierto quien creo y con qué motivos la especia de coral. La verdad es que estoy deseando leer la continuación para saber que les depara a todos estos maravillosos personajes, cómo será el reencuentro de todos ellos y si serán capaces de acabar con los biomantes.
June 27, 2017
Ambientado en un imperio fracturado que se extiende a través de vastos y salvajes mares, dos jóvenes de diferentes culturas deberán aunar fuerzas con un objetivo común en esta saga de fantasía y aventuras que gustará a los fans de Piratas del Caribe y Kill Bill.
Reseña completa en THE BEST READ YET BLOG
Reseña completa en THE BEST READ YET BLOG
July 7, 2017
*Source* Library
*Genre* Epic Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Bane and Shadow is the second installment in author Jon Skovron's Empire of Storms trilogy. The story picks up approximately one year after the ending of Hope and Red. The story alternatives narratives between Hope and Red. A year after trading in his freedom for Hope and Brigga Lin's freedom from the Council of Biomancers (who they came to destroy), Red has been elevated to the position of the new Lord Pastina's which means he has become close to Prince Lester, the presumed heir.
*Full Review @ Gizmo's Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Epic Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*My Thoughts*
Bane and Shadow is the second installment in author Jon Skovron's Empire of Storms trilogy. The story picks up approximately one year after the ending of Hope and Red. The story alternatives narratives between Hope and Red. A year after trading in his freedom for Hope and Brigga Lin's freedom from the Council of Biomancers (who they came to destroy), Red has been elevated to the position of the new Lord Pastina's which means he has become close to Prince Lester, the presumed heir.
*Full Review @ Gizmo's Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
May 28, 2019
Well, this was a blast! I loved every minute of this adventure-with-magic and that's in spite of the fact that I was forced to read this in umpteen sittings due to pesky daily life situations getting in the way (I hate when that happens).
One thing is for sure, this trilogy does not suffer from 'the middle book syndrome' one tiny bit. It didn't drag or stall but just kept coming with the action and despite its slightly darker tone compared to the first book which I loved, it much felt like a smile-on-my-face, wind-in-my-hair convertible ride on a Summer's day that didn't slow down much until the very end.
Well, at least it was this for me. Your experience might still resemble an uphill bike-ride in the pouring rain. With your bitchin' grandma on the back. Just sayin'. End of disclaimer.
Yet, the very best things about this series so far are definitely the action and the characters that in book one I liked well enough but in this installment I grew to love and root for through all of their inner turmoil and outer predicaments. Also, it's been a while since I've read a fantasy series with this level of character growth going on and in more than just the protagonist, so definitely extra points for that.
If you're thinking of starting this series, do be aware that there's a lot of slang and a fair amount of swearing going on. I'm usually not in favour of the usage of (a lot of) swear words in books. This is not due to personal objection but mainly because it tends to take me out of a story. There are just some swear words that I particularly associate with our modern world, so it took a little time in book one to get used to it. By now though, I am relishing both the slang and the swearing! It honestly does so much for the shape and feel of this world and the liveliness of the characters and I just think it's brilliant.
I did have one minor gripe though. I thought Red's 'problem' was resolved rather quickly and with unexpected little fuss. After all the buildup that was a bit of an anti-climax. Yet, with another book in the series to go, it may very well be we haven't seen the last of this particular sub-plot just yet.. I'm hoping we haven't because if we have, this was definitely resolved too easily - the poetic thought behind its resolution notwithstanding.
Anyway, I still cannot wait to start the final installment.
Stop reading this and start reading this series, my wags.
One thing is for sure, this trilogy does not suffer from 'the middle book syndrome' one tiny bit. It didn't drag or stall but just kept coming with the action and despite its slightly darker tone compared to the first book which I loved, it much felt like a smile-on-my-face, wind-in-my-hair convertible ride on a Summer's day that didn't slow down much until the very end.
Well, at least it was this for me. Your experience might still resemble an uphill bike-ride in the pouring rain. With your bitchin' grandma on the back. Just sayin'. End of disclaimer.
Yet, the very best things about this series so far are definitely the action and the characters that in book one I liked well enough but in this installment I grew to love and root for through all of their inner turmoil and outer predicaments. Also, it's been a while since I've read a fantasy series with this level of character growth going on and in more than just the protagonist, so definitely extra points for that.
If you're thinking of starting this series, do be aware that there's a lot of slang and a fair amount of swearing going on. I'm usually not in favour of the usage of (a lot of) swear words in books. This is not due to personal objection but mainly because it tends to take me out of a story. There are just some swear words that I particularly associate with our modern world, so it took a little time in book one to get used to it. By now though, I am relishing both the slang and the swearing! It honestly does so much for the shape and feel of this world and the liveliness of the characters and I just think it's brilliant.
I did have one minor gripe though. I thought Red's 'problem' was resolved rather quickly and with unexpected little fuss. After all the buildup that was a bit of an anti-climax. Yet, with another book in the series to go, it may very well be we haven't seen the last of this particular sub-plot just yet.. I'm hoping we haven't because if we have, this was definitely resolved too easily - the poetic thought behind its resolution notwithstanding.
Anyway, I still cannot wait to start the final installment.
Stop reading this and start reading this series, my wags.
January 16, 2025
Das hat überraschend viel Spaß gemacht? Ich habe den ersten Band vor eineinhalb Jahren gelesen und fand ihn damals ganz gut, aber offenbar nicht so gut, dass ich zeitnah weitergelesen hätte. Jetzt dachte ich mir, wenn ich jetzt nicht Band 2 lese, werde ich es nie mehr tun, weil ich mich an die Geschichte nicht mehr erinnere.
Und jetzt war Band 2 einfach richtig gut? Ich bin recht schnell wieder reingekommen, tolle Storyentwicklung, die Charaktere haben mir sehr gut gefallen, sowohl die alten als auch die neu dazugekommenen. Innerhalb weniger Tage war das Buch auch schon wieder ausgelesen. Mit Band 3 werde ich auf jeden Fall nicht so lange warten!
(Und das kommt alles von jemandem, der sonst IMMER unzufrieden mit zweiten Bänden ist)
► Gelesen im Rahmen der The 52 Book Club’s 2025 Reading Challenge - Prompt 22: Found family trope
Und jetzt war Band 2 einfach richtig gut? Ich bin recht schnell wieder reingekommen, tolle Storyentwicklung, die Charaktere haben mir sehr gut gefallen, sowohl die alten als auch die neu dazugekommenen. Innerhalb weniger Tage war das Buch auch schon wieder ausgelesen. Mit Band 3 werde ich auf jeden Fall nicht so lange warten!
(Und das kommt alles von jemandem, der sonst IMMER unzufrieden mit zweiten Bänden ist)
► Gelesen im Rahmen der The 52 Book Club’s 2025 Reading Challenge - Prompt 22: Found family trope
July 14, 2017
3.5/5
La segunda entrega de la trilogía "El Imperio de las Tormentas" empieza con un despliegue de acción naval. La fragata imperial Guardiana, una de las naves de guerra más grandes y poderosos de su flota, es asaltada por unos sanguinarios piratas bajo el mando de Bane el Osado. Gracias a una inesperada y original maniobra la exigua tripulación del barco asaltante logra sorprender a los imperiales, despojándoles de su mayor poderío artillero y de la superioridad numérica de su dotación de combatientes. Con el cruento combate dan comienzo, o continúan en todo caso, unas aventuras que implican a buena parte de los actores ya conocidos y a unos cuantos nuevos, que se convierten, alguno de ellos al menos, en grandes aciertos dentro de las líneas que los implican. Skovron hace discurrir el relato por una fantasía refrescante y desinhibida, con un toque oscuro, violento y duro, con abundante acción y personajes que cumplen su definida función dentro de la historia. El relato se revela como bastante característico de un libro de enmedio de una trilogía, con mucho movimiento de piezas y nuevos planteamientos antes que resoluciones reales, pero no deja por ello en absoluto de resultar tan entretenido como satisfactorio, a la par que el relato se siente más consistente, en la prosa y la trama, que el anterior. Fintas diplomáticas, conspiraciones, piratería, sangrientas batallas, crueles experimentos biománticos, pecados del pasado que vuelven para atormentar el presente, asesinatos despiadados, deudas que deben ser pagadas con sangre… No hay descanso.
Reseña completa en Sagacomic:
http://sagacomic.blogspot.com.es/2017...
La segunda entrega de la trilogía "El Imperio de las Tormentas" empieza con un despliegue de acción naval. La fragata imperial Guardiana, una de las naves de guerra más grandes y poderosos de su flota, es asaltada por unos sanguinarios piratas bajo el mando de Bane el Osado. Gracias a una inesperada y original maniobra la exigua tripulación del barco asaltante logra sorprender a los imperiales, despojándoles de su mayor poderío artillero y de la superioridad numérica de su dotación de combatientes. Con el cruento combate dan comienzo, o continúan en todo caso, unas aventuras que implican a buena parte de los actores ya conocidos y a unos cuantos nuevos, que se convierten, alguno de ellos al menos, en grandes aciertos dentro de las líneas que los implican. Skovron hace discurrir el relato por una fantasía refrescante y desinhibida, con un toque oscuro, violento y duro, con abundante acción y personajes que cumplen su definida función dentro de la historia. El relato se revela como bastante característico de un libro de enmedio de una trilogía, con mucho movimiento de piezas y nuevos planteamientos antes que resoluciones reales, pero no deja por ello en absoluto de resultar tan entretenido como satisfactorio, a la par que el relato se siente más consistente, en la prosa y la trama, que el anterior. Fintas diplomáticas, conspiraciones, piratería, sangrientas batallas, crueles experimentos biománticos, pecados del pasado que vuelven para atormentar el presente, asesinatos despiadados, deudas que deben ser pagadas con sangre… No hay descanso.
Reseña completa en Sagacomic:
http://sagacomic.blogspot.com.es/2017...
July 24, 2017
una segundo parte muy superior a su primera parte. Mejor en cuanto a trama. Madurez de los personajes. Y una trama que esconde mucho más de lo que esperamos en cada una de las páginas. Con muchos giros inesperados. Sigue dando mucha importancia a los personajes tanto principales como secundarios y sobre todo esa fuerza a las mujeres que son las protagonistas principales y las que llevan todo el peso y la fuerza de la trama.
Más sobre mi opinión en la reseña del blog
https://almalectora.blogspot.com/2017...
Más sobre mi opinión en la reseña del blog
https://almalectora.blogspot.com/2017...
May 7, 2018
I absolutely loved this book! So much is happening all the time, just the way I like it. The story is really addictive. Let's just hope that the last book is just as good!
May 23, 2021
Un second tome aussi palpitant que le premier même si je l’ai trouvé plus sombre et plus triste. Je suis curieuse de voir où va nous emmener le dernier opus.
June 24, 2025
Me ha gustado más que el primero, desarrollo de personajes chulo, la acción es divertida de leer y son piratas, los piratas molan 👍
September 1, 2018
This book was full of amazing, engaging, different and diverse women. I loved them all.
February 23, 2017
4.5
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
It’s been a year since Bleak Hope took up the moniker of Dire Bane and began sailing the seas terrorizing Imperial ships, never forgetting that her end goal is to free Red from the biomancers. When she and her newfound friends/family stumble upon an island being used as the testing grounds by the biomancers for a new weapon, Hope knows she must put an end to it no matter what. As she prepares herself for the battle, will the result end up costing Hope too much?
Meanwhile, it’s been a year that Red has been living in the capital city of Stonepeak being trained by the biomancers. He doesn’t regret his decision to stay, as it allowed him to save Hope, but Red’s biding his time until he can use their training against them. When a new threat emerges from the shadows of the city and begins killing any who may be in opposition to the biomancers, Red needs to find out where this new threat is coming from and put an end to it. But will the things he learns along the way be too much for him to come back from?
For me, Bane and Shadow definitely put more focus on the characters. We already know the biomancers are up to no good. That they’ve corrupted the Empire. We’re given more details and further information on how far this corruption goes, but reading it, I was more invested in the characters; their actions and reactions, sometimes surprising, but always satisfying.
ALL of the characters are put through their paces in Bane and Shadow. I capitalize the “all” because this is not just Hope and Red, although they are the focal point, but I’m talking about all the important characters we were introduced to in Hope and Red. Everyone is faced with new dilemmas or finally coming to terms with new understandings. I appreciated that no one is spared when it comes to the difficult emotional stuff, but it’s the way each character deals with it that proved most interesting.
Hope, who was used to being alone, now has people surrounding her. People that have helped her grow and become a no-holds-barred pirate captain. I loved where she is at the beginning of Bane and Shadow. But with all this newness and growth, of course, comes questions. She begins to question the initial path she started, which was one of vengeance. I think in the next book we’ll see her make some definite moves toward her own future and not one that has been pressed upon her via trying to uphold traditions.
On Red’s side, he’s living in the palace, posing as a Lord, and besides a very limited number of persons he’d call himself friendly with, he’s alone. He has no idea what is going on with Hope and the rest of his true friends. Plus, he’s working, albeit begrudgingly, with the biomancers. Wondering everyday what they’re really doing to him. He’s in a completely new element, and not quite sure of his footing which is definitely strange for Red. It’s safe to say he finds his way by the end, and I can’t wait to see where he goes with it.
I’m anxiously awaiting the final installment in the trilogy. Of course, Job Skovron threw in some very surprising turn of events at certain points and I can’t wait to see how it all concludes. So far, this series has not disappointed.
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
It’s been a year since Bleak Hope took up the moniker of Dire Bane and began sailing the seas terrorizing Imperial ships, never forgetting that her end goal is to free Red from the biomancers. When she and her newfound friends/family stumble upon an island being used as the testing grounds by the biomancers for a new weapon, Hope knows she must put an end to it no matter what. As she prepares herself for the battle, will the result end up costing Hope too much?
Meanwhile, it’s been a year that Red has been living in the capital city of Stonepeak being trained by the biomancers. He doesn’t regret his decision to stay, as it allowed him to save Hope, but Red’s biding his time until he can use their training against them. When a new threat emerges from the shadows of the city and begins killing any who may be in opposition to the biomancers, Red needs to find out where this new threat is coming from and put an end to it. But will the things he learns along the way be too much for him to come back from?
For me, Bane and Shadow definitely put more focus on the characters. We already know the biomancers are up to no good. That they’ve corrupted the Empire. We’re given more details and further information on how far this corruption goes, but reading it, I was more invested in the characters; their actions and reactions, sometimes surprising, but always satisfying.
ALL of the characters are put through their paces in Bane and Shadow. I capitalize the “all” because this is not just Hope and Red, although they are the focal point, but I’m talking about all the important characters we were introduced to in Hope and Red. Everyone is faced with new dilemmas or finally coming to terms with new understandings. I appreciated that no one is spared when it comes to the difficult emotional stuff, but it’s the way each character deals with it that proved most interesting.
Hope, who was used to being alone, now has people surrounding her. People that have helped her grow and become a no-holds-barred pirate captain. I loved where she is at the beginning of Bane and Shadow. But with all this newness and growth, of course, comes questions. She begins to question the initial path she started, which was one of vengeance. I think in the next book we’ll see her make some definite moves toward her own future and not one that has been pressed upon her via trying to uphold traditions.
On Red’s side, he’s living in the palace, posing as a Lord, and besides a very limited number of persons he’d call himself friendly with, he’s alone. He has no idea what is going on with Hope and the rest of his true friends. Plus, he’s working, albeit begrudgingly, with the biomancers. Wondering everyday what they’re really doing to him. He’s in a completely new element, and not quite sure of his footing which is definitely strange for Red. It’s safe to say he finds his way by the end, and I can’t wait to see where he goes with it.
I’m anxiously awaiting the final installment in the trilogy. Of course, Job Skovron threw in some very surprising turn of events at certain points and I can’t wait to see how it all concludes. So far, this series has not disappointed.
March 5, 2017
The first in the series set the bar and the sequel missed it slightly.
There was little wrong with Red's story line, despite its familiarity, as he is by far the most engaging character and the supporting cast on that thread where solid. Hope's thread was... a little underwhelming. Started well, but her tantrum and change of focus at the end was really contrived as a plot device.
The thread on Nettle and Filler was good but it was obvious he was going to die from the moment Nettle wondered whether he was annoyed to miss the raid for the second time in three pages. Basically the most obvious signifier ever of impending doom. Nettle's resulting arc was decent.
There was little wrong with Red's story line, despite its familiarity, as he is by far the most engaging character and the supporting cast on that thread where solid. Hope's thread was... a little underwhelming. Started well, but her tantrum and change of focus at the end was really contrived as a plot device.
The thread on Nettle and Filler was good but it was obvious he was going to die from the moment Nettle wondered whether he was annoyed to miss the raid for the second time in three pages. Basically the most obvious signifier ever of impending doom. Nettle's resulting arc was decent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2017
Nach dem Ende des ersten Bandes war ich einfach nur geschockt gewesen, weil Red von den Biomanten mitgenommen wurde und Hope sich entschloss ihn zurückzuholen, aber noch nicht in der Lage war und der Cliffhanger war einfach nur böse.
Es waren viele schreckliche Dinge passiert, ich musste einige nervenaufreibende Kämpfe überstehen und ich dachte nicht, dass es noch heftiger werden kann!
Der zweite Band startet einige Monate später und zu meiner Überraschung treffen wir einen putzmunteren Red wieder, der mittlerweile am Kaiserhof lebt und ganz neuen Gefahren begegnet. Während die adlige Gesellschaft ihn als exzentrischen Lord kennenlernt, freundet er sich mit dem jungen Prinzen an und findet in ihm einen neuen Freund, während er heimlich von den Biomanten unterrichtet wird.
Red ist so wie wir ihn kennen (warum hat er sich noch nicht verändert?) und seine Kapitel sind voller Witz, aber auch Intrigen, Geheimnissen und noch mehr Intrigen, die um ihn herum sind.
Während seine Szenen nur eine handvoll Action mit sich bringt, aber dafür sehr interessant sind, ist es bei Hope ganz anders.
Hope ist Dirk Bane, der Schrecken der Meere, eine Piratenkönigin und gerät von einer Gefahr in die nächste, wobei alles was sie über die Biomanten herausfindet sich als noch grausamer herausstellt und sie einer Verschwörung auf die Spur kommt. Sie fängt an sich weiterzuentwickeln, langsam, aber stetig ändert sich Hope und ihr Kopf ist voller existentieller Fragen, bis sie platzt.
In diesem Buch macht sie eine Veränderung durch und ich bin gespannt, wie es sein wird, wenn Red und Hope wieder, "Red und Hope" sind.
Das Tempo ist eigenwillig, es passiert viel und die Action kommt überraschend zwischen all den neuen Entdeckungen. Der Gossenjargon wurde in diesem Teil etwas runtergeschraubt oder ich habe mich bereits gut an ihn gewöhnt, auf jedenfall ist es informativ für einen mittleren Teil der Reihe und bringt auch Andeutungen mit sich für das Ende, die vielversprechend sind.
Zuerst wusste ich nicht, wie mir das Buch gefallen könnte, wenn die Beiden nicht mehr zusammen sind, aber der Autor gestaltet beide Wege richtig aufregend und dieser Teil der Reihe ist viel blutiger und dramatischer geworden, als ich erwartet hatte. Die Romance zwischen den Protagonisten ist hier nicht wirklich mehr Thema und das Hauptaugenmerk liegt auf Red und Dirk Bane mit ihrer Mannschaft, die überwiegend aus Frauen besteht - ein spannendes Thema für sich.
Blutig. Dramatisch. Und die Charaktere gewinnen mehr und mehr an Tiefe. Die Reihe muss einfach weiter gelesen werden und ich kann den letzten Teil kaum abwarten. Wie wollen sie die Biomanten erledigen? Was ist mit dem König? Und was ist mit Hope? Einige offene Fragen, die einen fantastischen Abschlussband vorausahnen lassen.
Es waren viele schreckliche Dinge passiert, ich musste einige nervenaufreibende Kämpfe überstehen und ich dachte nicht, dass es noch heftiger werden kann!
Der zweite Band startet einige Monate später und zu meiner Überraschung treffen wir einen putzmunteren Red wieder, der mittlerweile am Kaiserhof lebt und ganz neuen Gefahren begegnet. Während die adlige Gesellschaft ihn als exzentrischen Lord kennenlernt, freundet er sich mit dem jungen Prinzen an und findet in ihm einen neuen Freund, während er heimlich von den Biomanten unterrichtet wird.
Red ist so wie wir ihn kennen (warum hat er sich noch nicht verändert?) und seine Kapitel sind voller Witz, aber auch Intrigen, Geheimnissen und noch mehr Intrigen, die um ihn herum sind.
Während seine Szenen nur eine handvoll Action mit sich bringt, aber dafür sehr interessant sind, ist es bei Hope ganz anders.
Hope ist Dirk Bane, der Schrecken der Meere, eine Piratenkönigin und gerät von einer Gefahr in die nächste, wobei alles was sie über die Biomanten herausfindet sich als noch grausamer herausstellt und sie einer Verschwörung auf die Spur kommt. Sie fängt an sich weiterzuentwickeln, langsam, aber stetig ändert sich Hope und ihr Kopf ist voller existentieller Fragen, bis sie platzt.
In diesem Buch macht sie eine Veränderung durch und ich bin gespannt, wie es sein wird, wenn Red und Hope wieder, "Red und Hope" sind.
Das Tempo ist eigenwillig, es passiert viel und die Action kommt überraschend zwischen all den neuen Entdeckungen. Der Gossenjargon wurde in diesem Teil etwas runtergeschraubt oder ich habe mich bereits gut an ihn gewöhnt, auf jedenfall ist es informativ für einen mittleren Teil der Reihe und bringt auch Andeutungen mit sich für das Ende, die vielversprechend sind.
Zuerst wusste ich nicht, wie mir das Buch gefallen könnte, wenn die Beiden nicht mehr zusammen sind, aber der Autor gestaltet beide Wege richtig aufregend und dieser Teil der Reihe ist viel blutiger und dramatischer geworden, als ich erwartet hatte. Die Romance zwischen den Protagonisten ist hier nicht wirklich mehr Thema und das Hauptaugenmerk liegt auf Red und Dirk Bane mit ihrer Mannschaft, die überwiegend aus Frauen besteht - ein spannendes Thema für sich.
Blutig. Dramatisch. Und die Charaktere gewinnen mehr und mehr an Tiefe. Die Reihe muss einfach weiter gelesen werden und ich kann den letzten Teil kaum abwarten. Wie wollen sie die Biomanten erledigen? Was ist mit dem König? Und was ist mit Hope? Einige offene Fragen, die einen fantastischen Abschlussband vorausahnen lassen.
May 1, 2021
This is the second book in the "Empire of Storms" trilogy by Jon Skovron. Hope and Red is the story of two very different people who will be thrown together in an effort to fight against the wicked Biomancers and an uncaring Emperor. Hope has been trained in secret as a Vinchen warrior even though it is forbidden for women to belong to this ancient warrior clan. Red began life as an upper-class citizen but through misfortune has been driven into a life as a street person and educated by a notorious criminal matriarch. Together they will attempt to change an entire world.
In this one Red is being held against his will and being secretly trained by the Biomancers. He has given his word not to escape to protect Hope's life. Hope has cast herself into the role of the pirate Dire Bane. She hopes that she and her friends can bring down the Biomancers and rescue Red. Along the way Red finds himself embroiled in the plots and intrigue of the nobility and Hope finds herself becoming the champion of the common people. It seems that it may take a very long time until they can once again reunite and bring justice and freedom to the Empire of Storms.
This book is a great addition to this trilogy and I am looking forward to reading the third book, "Blood and Tempest".
In this one Red is being held against his will and being secretly trained by the Biomancers. He has given his word not to escape to protect Hope's life. Hope has cast herself into the role of the pirate Dire Bane. She hopes that she and her friends can bring down the Biomancers and rescue Red. Along the way Red finds himself embroiled in the plots and intrigue of the nobility and Hope finds herself becoming the champion of the common people. It seems that it may take a very long time until they can once again reunite and bring justice and freedom to the Empire of Storms.
This book is a great addition to this trilogy and I am looking forward to reading the third book, "Blood and Tempest".
March 12, 2018
Por favor, que alguien me diga que pronto se publicará en España el tercer libro y así podré saber cómo acaba la historial.
En este libro, además de encontrarnos con los personajes que ya conocemos, también aparecen otro nuevos y muy interesantes.
Nos resuelve algunas duda que nos dejó el primer libro, pero al acabarlo terminamos con dudas nuevas.
Puede que sólo sea impresión mia, pero en este libro hay muchas más descipciones que en el anterior y también profundiza un poco más en los personajes, en sus pasados, para así explicar por qué reaccionan de esa manera ante ciertas circunstancias o personajes.
Reseña completa:
https://mitesorolibros.blogspot.com.e...
En este libro, además de encontrarnos con los personajes que ya conocemos, también aparecen otro nuevos y muy interesantes.
Nos resuelve algunas duda que nos dejó el primer libro, pero al acabarlo terminamos con dudas nuevas.
Puede que sólo sea impresión mia, pero en este libro hay muchas más descipciones que en el anterior y también profundiza un poco más en los personajes, en sus pasados, para así explicar por qué reaccionan de esa manera ante ciertas circunstancias o personajes.
Reseña completa:
https://mitesorolibros.blogspot.com.e...
March 23, 2017
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Lots of impressive world-building and a major plot twist I didn't see coming, but ultimately I felt like this suffered from Middle Book Syndrome. It sets up an explosive finale, but was not close to being as good as Hope and Red.
Lots of impressive world-building and a major plot twist I didn't see coming, but ultimately I felt like this suffered from Middle Book Syndrome. It sets up an explosive finale, but was not close to being as good as Hope and Red.
May 10, 2018
This felt like another promising book failed by the execution.
Red is kept "imprisoned" by the biomancers - but his prison is the luxurious palace, and his companion is the prince himself. Red doesn't know what changes have been wrought upon him; it later transpires that .
Red's plotline is basically just moving characters into place and the reader being introduced to more palace politics; I don't feel like there's much character development on his part. I have a feeling that Red is supposed to be portrayed as a disruptive force in the palace / introducing new ideas to the nobility - but he doesn't do any of that. He just swans in, plays on his "I grew up with the lower classes" shtick, but doesn't set out to learn about how the palace works. He's entirely reactive and passive. Even him getting un-brainwashed feels like it happens too conveniently - and it takes place in one afternoon. I don't get the sense that he (as a character) has struggled or earned anything.
That's similarly my frustration with Hope's plotline. A lot of things happen, including Hope gathering an army - but again, I don't get the sense she's struggled or earned it. In the case of Hope gathering an army, this is done by
Like I said: this is probably an execution or writing issues.
Even Hope's scene at the end, when she As it stands, that ending scene feels completely contrived.
One other note: is biomancy something that anyone can pick up, or must someone have the potential for it? Because I don't understand why Brigga can teach Jilly and not Hope unless there's a requirement for potential - but Brigga doesn't mention this factor.
In general, I think that's one of my concerns with this book. The characters seem to behave in ways that feel undeserved, and scenes or resolutions feel contrived. At the same time, it feels like the right scenes are in there to push the plot along - that the right things happen, but the execution of each individual scene is lacking, meaning that the plot makes sense, but not in a way that I, as a reader, buy.
As a side note, Mo is gender-neutral - so that's good for representation.
2/5 stars
Red is kept "imprisoned" by the biomancers - but his prison is the luxurious palace, and his companion is the prince himself. Red doesn't know what changes have been wrought upon him; it later transpires that .
Red's plotline is basically just moving characters into place and the reader being introduced to more palace politics; I don't feel like there's much character development on his part. I have a feeling that Red is supposed to be portrayed as a disruptive force in the palace / introducing new ideas to the nobility - but he doesn't do any of that. He just swans in, plays on his "I grew up with the lower classes" shtick, but doesn't set out to learn about how the palace works. He's entirely reactive and passive. Even him getting un-brainwashed feels like it happens too conveniently - and it takes place in one afternoon. I don't get the sense that he (as a character) has struggled or earned anything.
That's similarly my frustration with Hope's plotline. A lot of things happen, including Hope gathering an army - but again, I don't get the sense she's struggled or earned it. In the case of Hope gathering an army, this is done by
Like I said: this is probably an execution or writing issues.
Even Hope's scene at the end, when she As it stands, that ending scene feels completely contrived.
One other note: is biomancy something that anyone can pick up, or must someone have the potential for it? Because I don't understand why Brigga can teach Jilly and not Hope unless there's a requirement for potential - but Brigga doesn't mention this factor.
In general, I think that's one of my concerns with this book. The characters seem to behave in ways that feel undeserved, and scenes or resolutions feel contrived. At the same time, it feels like the right scenes are in there to push the plot along - that the right things happen, but the execution of each individual scene is lacking, meaning that the plot makes sense, but not in a way that I, as a reader, buy.
As a side note, Mo is gender-neutral - so that's good for representation.
2/5 stars
April 8, 2017
Loved loved loved the first book in the Empire of Storms series but this book, unfortunately, suffers from sophomore syndrome. It meanders, goes on multiple tangents, and just isn't as fun as the first book. Some of the more endearing characters, like Sadie the goat, take a back seat and I miss them. Red is not as charming or amusing as in the first book. And there are some new characters that will spill over to the last book that I am not sure I like them.
Hope now rules the seas as the pirate Dire Bane. With her minimal crew and a biomancer, she is quite capable of disarming and raiding an imperial ship. But she is losing her focus as a Vinchen warrior and even discards her armor to be more pirate-y. She's still tough and kickass but she broods even more than before because she misses Red.
Red is now the Prince's bff as the biomancers "teach" him how to biomance. It's not real clear his actual purpose as a biomancer experiment/weapon until later in the book. And once Red realizes what his purpose is, the author cleans it up and tosses it rather quickly.
Prince Leston is a marshmallow and rather boring. The horny lacey Merivale cannot keep her horny paws off of Red and it gets rather embarrassing. She becomes more interesting later but her constant sexual harassment almost made me toss the book.
Other countries are introduced and it is the first time pretty much every character, and the reader, have heard of them. Apparently they play a big role in the final book.
What I DO like about these books is the women (even Merivale) and how much they run the show. When Hope is not brooding, she's an able leader and tactician. Nettles really goes all out in this one--she practically grows claws and fangs and thorns in this one and I love it. Brigga Lin the trans biomancer is one tough chick and I love how her very existence pisses off the male-centric biomancers. Other women are introduced or brought back into the story and they do add to the story.
I'm still going to read the last book because I do like the story and I want to know what happens in the end. There is some great set-up for an epic finish.
Hope now rules the seas as the pirate Dire Bane. With her minimal crew and a biomancer, she is quite capable of disarming and raiding an imperial ship. But she is losing her focus as a Vinchen warrior and even discards her armor to be more pirate-y. She's still tough and kickass but she broods even more than before because she misses Red.
Red is now the Prince's bff as the biomancers "teach" him how to biomance. It's not real clear his actual purpose as a biomancer experiment/weapon until later in the book. And once Red realizes what his purpose is, the author cleans it up and tosses it rather quickly.
Prince Leston is a marshmallow and rather boring. The horny lacey Merivale cannot keep her horny paws off of Red and it gets rather embarrassing. She becomes more interesting later but her constant sexual harassment almost made me toss the book.
Other countries are introduced and it is the first time pretty much every character, and the reader, have heard of them. Apparently they play a big role in the final book.
What I DO like about these books is the women (even Merivale) and how much they run the show. When Hope is not brooding, she's an able leader and tactician. Nettles really goes all out in this one--she practically grows claws and fangs and thorns in this one and I love it. Brigga Lin the trans biomancer is one tough chick and I love how her very existence pisses off the male-centric biomancers. Other women are introduced or brought back into the story and they do add to the story.
I'm still going to read the last book because I do like the story and I want to know what happens in the end. There is some great set-up for an epic finish.
October 7, 2020
Das Buch beginnt ein Jahr nach dem Ende des ersten Bandes, was mich zunächst irritierte. Was war in der Zwischenzeit geschehen? Warum war Red plötzlich am Hofe heimisch und der beste Freund des Prinzen?
Mit Zeitsprüngen tue ich mir leider immer sehr schwer, aber nach anfänglichen Schwierigkeiten, ging die Geschichte um Hope und Red, spannend und faszinierend weiter.
Das Worldbuilding und die Charakterentwicklung sind in dieser Reihe absolut phänomenal, zum Leidwesen des Tempos. Die Geschichte entwickelt sich eher langsam – stellenweise fast zäh -, ist dabei aber nie langweilig. Skovron erschafft eine düstere und brutale Welt, die durch den Gossenjargon noch authentischer wird.
Die Charaktere gewinnen in Band 2 an Tiefe. Der Leser erfährt von ihren Vergangenheiten, Konflikten, Wünschen und Zielen. Der Weg zur Erreichung Letzteres wird in Band 2 beschrieben, sodass viele verschiedene Handlungsstränge zusammenlaufen. Die Beziehungen unter den Charakteren entwickeln sich ebenfalls weiter. Hope, die anfangs nur richtigen Zugang zu Red hatte, wird in Band 2 von Reds Freunden akzeptiert und in die Gruppe integriert. Die Gruppendynamik ist fantastisch.
Die Protagonistin Brigga Lin ist eine wahre Bereicherung, da der Leser durch sie mehr zu den Biomanten und ihrer oft grausamen und angsteinflößenden „Magie“ gewinnt.
Neben Hope, Nessel und Sadie, spielt so eine weitere starke Frau eine tragende Rolle.
Des Weiteren werden wichtige Themen raffiniert in die Geschichte integriert: Homo- und Bisexualität, Trans- und Asexualität, die Gleichberechtigung der Frau, Fremdenhass und existentielle Fragen wie „Wer bin ich?“ und „Wer will ich sein?“
Wer Geschichten um Piraterie und Magie mit starken, weiblichen Charakteren und grandiosem Worldbuilding sucht, wird hier absolut fündig. 4 von 5 Sternen für Band 2!
Danke an Matthias Lühn, der dem Buch seine Stimme leiht, und an den Ronin Hörverlag für die Bereitstellung der Hörbücher.
Mit Zeitsprüngen tue ich mir leider immer sehr schwer, aber nach anfänglichen Schwierigkeiten, ging die Geschichte um Hope und Red, spannend und faszinierend weiter.
Das Worldbuilding und die Charakterentwicklung sind in dieser Reihe absolut phänomenal, zum Leidwesen des Tempos. Die Geschichte entwickelt sich eher langsam – stellenweise fast zäh -, ist dabei aber nie langweilig. Skovron erschafft eine düstere und brutale Welt, die durch den Gossenjargon noch authentischer wird.
Die Charaktere gewinnen in Band 2 an Tiefe. Der Leser erfährt von ihren Vergangenheiten, Konflikten, Wünschen und Zielen. Der Weg zur Erreichung Letzteres wird in Band 2 beschrieben, sodass viele verschiedene Handlungsstränge zusammenlaufen. Die Beziehungen unter den Charakteren entwickeln sich ebenfalls weiter. Hope, die anfangs nur richtigen Zugang zu Red hatte, wird in Band 2 von Reds Freunden akzeptiert und in die Gruppe integriert. Die Gruppendynamik ist fantastisch.
Die Protagonistin Brigga Lin ist eine wahre Bereicherung, da der Leser durch sie mehr zu den Biomanten und ihrer oft grausamen und angsteinflößenden „Magie“ gewinnt.
Neben Hope, Nessel und Sadie, spielt so eine weitere starke Frau eine tragende Rolle.
Des Weiteren werden wichtige Themen raffiniert in die Geschichte integriert: Homo- und Bisexualität, Trans- und Asexualität, die Gleichberechtigung der Frau, Fremdenhass und existentielle Fragen wie „Wer bin ich?“ und „Wer will ich sein?“
Wer Geschichten um Piraterie und Magie mit starken, weiblichen Charakteren und grandiosem Worldbuilding sucht, wird hier absolut fündig. 4 von 5 Sternen für Band 2!
Danke an Matthias Lühn, der dem Buch seine Stimme leiht, und an den Ronin Hörverlag für die Bereitstellung der Hörbücher.
June 19, 2017
I will admit I was fairly apprehensive going into this one. Book 1 was an assured read, treading familiar paths with revenge at the heart of it and we have seen the followups stumble in quite a few cases since the novelty runs out fast. Book 2 dances close to it but yet manages to avoid falling into similar traps and emerges a better book for it
What follows is pretty much a rollicking affair that combines action, sorcery, and politicking mixed with humor and darkness to deliver a potent book that fairly races along. Given how situations left our key characters at the end of the last book, they try their best to cope up with it. Hope, through her violence and sense of righteous and Red, with all his rougish charm and cheeky skills. It works out well to an extent as each goes their personal trials and tribulations, faith changing tribulations. What the book does so very well is allowing characters to grow without letting them get whiny (its a big thing esp for a middle book)
The supporting cast stacks up well and some of them get their own personal journeys. The addition of Lady Hempist was quite the breath of fresh air and a total fun character whenever she is on page, hiding multiple layers and possessing of an especially sharp tongue and a sharper scheming mind.
On the other hand, some of the elements just happened to fast with the author forgetting that the journey is as important as the destination. Also, the journey of Nettle was again too convenient and I had trouble really buying the transformation there. I quite didnt accept the situation Hope finds herself in at the end of the book. But the biggest grouse that I really have (as with the previous book) is the title of the book. You will know why when you read it and dont get surprised by a key plot point. Hmmmpfff
What follows is pretty much a rollicking affair that combines action, sorcery, and politicking mixed with humor and darkness to deliver a potent book that fairly races along. Given how situations left our key characters at the end of the last book, they try their best to cope up with it. Hope, through her violence and sense of righteous and Red, with all his rougish charm and cheeky skills. It works out well to an extent as each goes their personal trials and tribulations, faith changing tribulations. What the book does so very well is allowing characters to grow without letting them get whiny (its a big thing esp for a middle book)
The supporting cast stacks up well and some of them get their own personal journeys. The addition of Lady Hempist was quite the breath of fresh air and a total fun character whenever she is on page, hiding multiple layers and possessing of an especially sharp tongue and a sharper scheming mind.
On the other hand, some of the elements just happened to fast with the author forgetting that the journey is as important as the destination. Also, the journey of Nettle was again too convenient and I had trouble really buying the transformation there. I quite didnt accept the situation Hope finds herself in at the end of the book. But the biggest grouse that I really have (as with the previous book) is the title of the book. You will know why when you read it and dont get surprised by a key plot point. Hmmmpfff
September 16, 2020
“You must be bold enough to dream of a better future, and strong enough to defy the present. Remember that every storm begins with only a breath.”
Bane and Shadow by Jon Skovron
5.0/5.0
Sequel Notes:
• The Story continues off one year after the conclusion of the first book. It eventually branches off into 3 different plot-lines that are all amazing.
• Pace felt slower than book one, but still had action. I will say that it felt better than the standard middle (2nd) trilogy novel, but there was still hints of chess pieces being moved and set for the final book.
• I feel like this one also had a much darker tone than the first, but to be fair the first wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine either.
• Ask and thee shall receive, my best wag Jilly is back!!
• Character development continues to be outstanding; Nettles particularly has a change as well as a reveal of her sorted past.
• The cast continues to fit together and have amazing chemistry, especially on the ship.
• New and interesting characters are introduced in one of our plot-lines right off the bat,
• More and more little bits of details about the magic system here as we go along.
Final Thoughts:
A suitable and fantastic sequel in this grimdark (ish) series. An engaging plot and a fantastic cast of character will have me finishing the conclusion of the series very soon!
Bane and Shadow by Jon Skovron
5.0/5.0
Sequel Notes:
• The Story continues off one year after the conclusion of the first book. It eventually branches off into 3 different plot-lines that are all amazing.
• Pace felt slower than book one, but still had action. I will say that it felt better than the standard middle (2nd) trilogy novel, but there was still hints of chess pieces being moved and set for the final book.
• I feel like this one also had a much darker tone than the first, but to be fair the first wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine either.
• Ask and thee shall receive, my best wag Jilly is back!!
• Character development continues to be outstanding; Nettles particularly has a change as well as a reveal of her sorted past.
• The cast continues to fit together and have amazing chemistry, especially on the ship.
• New and interesting characters are introduced in one of our plot-lines right off the bat,
• More and more little bits of details about the magic system here as we go along.
Final Thoughts:
A suitable and fantastic sequel in this grimdark (ish) series. An engaging plot and a fantastic cast of character will have me finishing the conclusion of the series very soon!
December 9, 2018
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Je me souviens avoir adoré le premier tome que j'avais lu en Vo lors de sa sortie. J'étais donc vraiment contente quand j'ai appris que la série était traduite en français. J'ai donc attendu que le second tome arrive en Vf pour le lire. Et j'avoue que j'ai eu un peu plus de mal. Surtout du vocabulaire "populaire" présent en grande quantité dans la série qui est assez spécial et qui a moins bien marché pour moi en français.
Voici la situation au début de ce tome : Hope est une jeune fille qui a traversé plein d'épreuves tout au long de sa vie mais elle n'a jamais abandonné l'espoir de se venger des Biomanciens qui ont détruit sa vie. Red de son coté a accepté de jouer le jeu des mêmes Biomanciens pour sauver ses amis et a du quitter les quartiers populaire pour prendre la place à la cours qui aurait du lui revenir si sa mère n'avait pas été une droguée à la base. Suite à sa fuite à la fin du tome précédent, Hope est devenu pirate et a bien l'intention de trouver un jour un indice ou un moyen pour sauver Red mais en attendant elle a donc changé son nom pour un plus adapté de sa nouvelle fonction.
Dans ce tome certains personnages qu'on suivait dans le tome précédent sont mis en retrait comme Sadie et on en découvre de nouveaux. Dans l'ensemble on est vraiment dans le même genre d'aventures un peu exubérantes qui partent dans toutes les directions dans un joyeux foutoir, avec un mélange d'humour et de coté sombre. Les buts des personnages changent souvent en fonction de la situation dans laquelle ils sont et de leur façon de s'en sortir (ou pas).
Si vous avez aimé l'ambiance du premier, il n'y a pas de doute que vous aimerez aussi celui ci. Hpe reste vraiment fidèle à elle même avec son sens du devoir légèrement exacerbé et son envie de violence toujours plus présente. Red a changé de zone de vie mais ça ne l’empêche pas d'essayer de charmer tout le monde comme avant même si les nobles ont plus tendance à se moquer de son parlé un peu trop franc et très populaire.
Petit rappel pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas : En fait la magie ici est une manipulation du vivant. C'est pourquoi les mages sont appelés des Biomanciens. Si la première chose qu'ils peuvent faire concerne le fait de guérir toutes les blessures, ce n'est pas l’usage principal qu'ils en font car ils ont pour but depuis toujours d'en faire une arme, par tout les moyens, pour protéger leur pays. Manipulations génétiques, hybridation d'espèces, ils n'hésitent pas une seule seconde à tout utiliser dans ce but. D'ailleurs ils capturent des villages reculés entiers dans le but d’expérimenter leurs techniques (c'est d'ailleurs de la qu'est parti l'intrigue de Hope au tout début). Il existe aussi la magie opposée, celle de la manipulation de la mort, mais qui est interdite dans le royaume.
Les biomanciens sont toujours au cœur de l'intrigue. Et si ils restent du mauvais coté (la fin ne justifie pas tout les moyens), on découvre quand même leur but depuis le début et on s'aperçoit qu'il y a un monde les concernant qu'on ne connaissait pas avant.
En plus les iles ou se déroule l'aventure sont vraiment extrêmement isolées du reste du monde et ils sont aussi vraiment arriérés technologiquement parlant. On a d'ailleurs un petit aperçu des technologies disponibles ailleurs (bateau à moteur, train ...) dans ce tome qui donne une petite touche limite d'exotisme bienvenue.
Mais en fait ce qui a moins bien marché pour moi ici était surtout du au fait que si le langage familier de Red fonctionnait bien en anglais, j'ai eu beaucoup plus de mal à me faire à sa version française que je trouvais, pendant au moins la moitié du livre, vraiment trop ridicule. Résultat je suis passé à coté de cette partie la qui pourtant était ma préféré dans le premier tome. Bon, au bout d'un moment j'ai fini par m'y faire mais ça n'a jamais réussi à atteindre le niveau d'appréciation d'avant.
Je pense que les personnes ayant lu le premier tome en VF sont déjà passé par ce coté la avant du coup il leur posera surement moins de problème qu'à moi. Et heureusement parce que j'ai un peu l'impression d'avoir loupé une partie essentielle du tome à cause de ça ce qui fait que je l'ai moins apprécié que j'aurais aimé. Mais au moins ça m'a servi de leçon et je lirais le troisième en anglais !
16/20
Je me souviens avoir adoré le premier tome que j'avais lu en Vo lors de sa sortie. J'étais donc vraiment contente quand j'ai appris que la série était traduite en français. J'ai donc attendu que le second tome arrive en Vf pour le lire. Et j'avoue que j'ai eu un peu plus de mal. Surtout du vocabulaire "populaire" présent en grande quantité dans la série qui est assez spécial et qui a moins bien marché pour moi en français.
Voici la situation au début de ce tome : Hope est une jeune fille qui a traversé plein d'épreuves tout au long de sa vie mais elle n'a jamais abandonné l'espoir de se venger des Biomanciens qui ont détruit sa vie. Red de son coté a accepté de jouer le jeu des mêmes Biomanciens pour sauver ses amis et a du quitter les quartiers populaire pour prendre la place à la cours qui aurait du lui revenir si sa mère n'avait pas été une droguée à la base. Suite à sa fuite à la fin du tome précédent, Hope est devenu pirate et a bien l'intention de trouver un jour un indice ou un moyen pour sauver Red mais en attendant elle a donc changé son nom pour un plus adapté de sa nouvelle fonction.
Dans ce tome certains personnages qu'on suivait dans le tome précédent sont mis en retrait comme Sadie et on en découvre de nouveaux. Dans l'ensemble on est vraiment dans le même genre d'aventures un peu exubérantes qui partent dans toutes les directions dans un joyeux foutoir, avec un mélange d'humour et de coté sombre. Les buts des personnages changent souvent en fonction de la situation dans laquelle ils sont et de leur façon de s'en sortir (ou pas).
Si vous avez aimé l'ambiance du premier, il n'y a pas de doute que vous aimerez aussi celui ci. Hpe reste vraiment fidèle à elle même avec son sens du devoir légèrement exacerbé et son envie de violence toujours plus présente. Red a changé de zone de vie mais ça ne l’empêche pas d'essayer de charmer tout le monde comme avant même si les nobles ont plus tendance à se moquer de son parlé un peu trop franc et très populaire.
Petit rappel pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas : En fait la magie ici est une manipulation du vivant. C'est pourquoi les mages sont appelés des Biomanciens. Si la première chose qu'ils peuvent faire concerne le fait de guérir toutes les blessures, ce n'est pas l’usage principal qu'ils en font car ils ont pour but depuis toujours d'en faire une arme, par tout les moyens, pour protéger leur pays. Manipulations génétiques, hybridation d'espèces, ils n'hésitent pas une seule seconde à tout utiliser dans ce but. D'ailleurs ils capturent des villages reculés entiers dans le but d’expérimenter leurs techniques (c'est d'ailleurs de la qu'est parti l'intrigue de Hope au tout début). Il existe aussi la magie opposée, celle de la manipulation de la mort, mais qui est interdite dans le royaume.
Les biomanciens sont toujours au cœur de l'intrigue. Et si ils restent du mauvais coté (la fin ne justifie pas tout les moyens), on découvre quand même leur but depuis le début et on s'aperçoit qu'il y a un monde les concernant qu'on ne connaissait pas avant.
En plus les iles ou se déroule l'aventure sont vraiment extrêmement isolées du reste du monde et ils sont aussi vraiment arriérés technologiquement parlant. On a d'ailleurs un petit aperçu des technologies disponibles ailleurs (bateau à moteur, train ...) dans ce tome qui donne une petite touche limite d'exotisme bienvenue.
Mais en fait ce qui a moins bien marché pour moi ici était surtout du au fait que si le langage familier de Red fonctionnait bien en anglais, j'ai eu beaucoup plus de mal à me faire à sa version française que je trouvais, pendant au moins la moitié du livre, vraiment trop ridicule. Résultat je suis passé à coté de cette partie la qui pourtant était ma préféré dans le premier tome. Bon, au bout d'un moment j'ai fini par m'y faire mais ça n'a jamais réussi à atteindre le niveau d'appréciation d'avant.
Je pense que les personnes ayant lu le premier tome en VF sont déjà passé par ce coté la avant du coup il leur posera surement moins de problème qu'à moi. Et heureusement parce que j'ai un peu l'impression d'avoir loupé une partie essentielle du tome à cause de ça ce qui fait que je l'ai moins apprécié que j'aurais aimé. Mais au moins ça m'a servi de leçon et je lirais le troisième en anglais !
16/20
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