Ioth, City of Lights

The Wildfire Cycle #2

by D.P. Woolliscroft

Be careful what you strive for.

The people won and now Mareth is Lord Protector of Edland. But winning an election is a lot different than governing a country, especially when the empire of Pyrfew is expanding into the Sapphire Sea. In the interests of peace, Mareth must dispatch Alana to Ioth, city of a thousand lights, to convince the ruling merchants to turn their back on the empire. Neenahwi, armed with the knowledge revealed to her in her coming of age ceremony, desperately wants to determine Pyrfew’s plans and to take the fight to the emperor. But Llewdon, ancient elven emperor of Pyrfew, has had decades to develop his schemes and his agents are embedded in the least expected places. Everything seems to revolve around the disappearance of Jyuth’s master a millennia ago.

Will the heroes of Kingshold be able to survive fire belching ships, strange slimes, sinister doppelgängers, demon dogs, greedy merchants and past vices to lead Edland to safety?

Following on from Kingshold and Tales of Kingshold, read the much anticipated next chapter in the Wildfire Cycle, compared to Michael J. Sullivan, Brett Sanderson and Daniel Abraham.

Genres: Fantasy

596 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2019

About the author

Born in Derby in England, on the day before mid-summers day, David Peter Woolliscroft was very nearly magical. If only his dear old mum could have held on for another day. But magic called out to him over the years, with a many a book being devoured for its arcane properties. David studied Accounting at Cardiff University where numbers weaved their own kind of magic and he has since been a successful business leader in the intervening twenty years.

Adventures have been had. More books devoured and then one day, David had read enough where the ideas he had kept bottled up needed a release valve. And thus, rising out of the self doubt like a phoenix at a clicky keyboard, a writer was born. Kingshold is David’s debut novel and Tales of Kingshold, companion short stories to the novel, are flooding onto the page as fast as David can write them.

He is married to his wife Haneen and has a daughter Liberty, who all live with their mini golden doodle Rosie in Princeton NJ. David is one of the few crabs to escape the crab pot.

Reviews

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who have not read the Wildfire Cycle by D.P. Woolliscroft, I highly recommend that you do so as I believe it to be one of the best current fantasy series out there right now. The first book in the series, Kingshold laid the foundation beautifully for this second full-length entry (there's also a 1.5 book of short stories called Tales of Kingshold that both relates to and enhances the main story arc).

IOTH, CITY OF LIGHTS begins with a sea battle, so we are immediately tossed into the action from page one. Right away I could tell that the tone and pace of this book would be significantly different than Kingshold. The former bard Mareth is now Lord Protector of Edland via the people's election, and the wizard Jyuth is nowhere to be found. His daughter Neenahwi is now left to monitor things and to make sure that stability, peace, and prosperity rule the day within the kingdom.

Standing in the way of that however is the ambitious empire of neighboring Pyrfew. Pyrfew has quickly built up their navy in the intervening time since Edland elected their new leader. Rumors abound that Edland's neighbors have been paying close attention to the instability in Edland and may have chosen this fragile time of transition in government to finally make their move. And although things are getting slowly better in and around Kingshold, they are by no means perfect. Mareth is still getting his feet wet and learning how to govern, so any attack launched against him at this time could have disastrous consequences.

To attempt to head this off, Mareth sends one of his most trusted advisers Alana to the city of Ioth, a city strategically placed on the shores of the Sapphire Sea. Alana's mission is to convince Ioth to repel any advances (both militarily and diplomatically) that Pyrfew would make to secure this important port. For if Pyrfew gains control of this vital launching point for a potential sea invasion, the people of Edland could be exposed and vulnerable to Pyrfew's emperor Lllewdon's sinister plans of conquest.

As Mareth and his agents scramble to keep Pyrfew from invading, they must also contend with the issues at home that come with setting up a new government and ruling a land that is still not entirely free from crime and starvation. The question soon arises as to whether or not the new Lord Protector can even survive a rule that is still in its infancy. For there is sure to be trouble ahead and Edland will be tested like it has never been before.

This book had me up late pretty much every night this week. If you consider the fact that I have to be up at 5:30 am every day for work, this is truly a testament to how great IOTH, CITY OF LIGHTS really is. I mentioned earlier that the tone of this book is different than the first book Kingshold, and I just have to reemphasize that point again. Where book one was a masterwork of political intrigue, double-dealing, and treachery, the action absolutely explodes in IOTH and we are treated to some of the best battles and fighting scenes I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

There are so many reasons why I love this story. The first is that the world-building is outstanding. The kingdom of Edland is so multi-layered with much of the same complexities that any modern day city would have. There is crime, poverty, political corruption, and all of the challenges that come with those problems. The only difference is that Woolliscroft has translated all of that into a fantasy setting. When you are reading a fantasy story that is so relateable to real life, it really helps you connect with it as a reader.

Another thing that I enjoy about this series is that Dave Woolliscroft has a penchant for breaking your heart at least two or three times in every book. Without giving too much away, let's just say he has a bit of George RR Martin in him. I find this writing to be the best kind, or at least my favorite. When you are willing as an author to put your main characters in grave peril, and even kill off one or two in the process, it makes the reading experience a much more tense one and as a result, a more rewarding one as well. I love not knowing with every turn of the page whether a character that I have grown increasingly attached to is going to end up dead in a gutter in the next chapter.

And that's where I come to the very best part of the Wildfire Cycle for me, the characters. Woolliscroft's ability to write characters who don't behave predictably and are multi-dimensional in their makeup is the true strength of this book and series as a whole. You will be hard-pressed to find a better writer of characters and dialogue than Woolliscroft. And so I am left to wait impatiently for the next book in this series, which on one hand makes me sad, but on the other makes me realize that I have another amazing book to read in the relatively-near future. So I can't be too upset I guess.

In closing, please do yourself a favor and pick up IOTH, CITY OF LIGHTS immediately. And if you haven't started this series yet, grab a copy of Kingshold and embark on the wonderful journey that is the Wildfire Cycle. Not only will you not be disappointed, but you will discover just how unique and original a fantasy story this truly is. D.P. Woolliscroft has once again penned a fantastic book that has me yearning for more. Excellent work Mr. Woolliscroft.

[D.P. Woolliscroft]

Update for Ioth!

Line edits are done. Book is formatted. Ending changed... Release date is going to be June 20th. Preorder will be up in the next day or two depending on Amazon.
ARCs are ready to go out. If you would like an uncorrected ARC for review around release date then send me a message.
Cover reveal should be in the next few days via the lovely people at thefantasyinn.com. And expect some more behind the scenes stuff and reveals over the coming weeks on my blog and elsewhere.

==========================================================================


I'm not going to review this book because, well, I wrote it and there's the potential to be a little bit biased. But I will post updates here from time to time about how the publishing process is going.

Right now I'm feeling confident enough to say Ioth, City of Lights will be out in June. The manuscript is with my editor and she works fast. It's with my beta readers too and I've already had some positive feedback on what I think is a better book than Kingshold.

So get ready for some more of your favorite friends from book 1 by reading Tales of Kingshold before then. I know you might think that a book of short stories is just extras that can be read later (if at all), but that's not the case. All of the stories add additional depth to the cycle, but a couple of stories take place in between books 1 and 2 and you'll want that knowledge before you leap into Ioth.

[kartik narayanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the full review at my site - Digital Amrit

this is an unbiased review based on an ARC provided by the author.

Introduction

Let's get some mundane details out of the way. Ioth, City of Lights is the official second book in the Wildfire Cycle  though it happens to follow Kingshold and Tales of Kingshold (which while nominally optional, is a hefty read in itself). It resumes the story after about 2-3 months of the ending of Kingshold and alludes to certain plot movements in Tales of Kingshold as well.

You should read the reviews for Kingshold & Tales of Kingshold first before proceeding further since I will not be rehashing the material already covered earlier. Also, this review should be seen in the context of the earlier reviews as well.

(for some strange reason, I keep seeing Ioth as Lloth but that is neither here nor there)

Overall Feel

In a lot of ways, Ioth, City of Lights feels like The Empire Strikes Back of the series....


Read the full review at my site - Digital Amrit

[Esme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel

If you've read and enjoyed the first one I would suspect youd like the second one. Even more complex, the world expands a bit, the characters are fantastic and the narration is great if you like audiobooks

[Angela Boord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although labeled as the second book in the series that began with Kingshold, Ioth is really the third offering... and one of the things I've enjoyed seeing is how much Woolliscroft has grown as a writer with each book.

Ioth was a gut punch of a book. While Kingshold took a while to get started, Ioth begins with action and really doesn't let up. It was a compulsive read that I kept coming back to whenever I had a few minutes. I felt like we got to know several of the characters from Kingshold better in Ioth, as they deal with the consequences of the election in Kingshold... and start to untangle the threads left hanging at the end of that book. Ioth does have some of the same humor that made Kingshold a fun read, but it's not as upbeat as Kingshold, and it has a little more of an action/adventure fantasy plot. Some of the characters are thrown into really difficult circumstances. There were several points in the novel when I gasped and said, "Oh NO," and had to stop reading because I was afraid of finding out what happened. Of course, I couldn't *not* find out what happened, so I'd usually sit down immediately after and start reading again. But it was definitely a rollercoaster kind of book -- in the best way, because while a good deal of the plot is external, a good deal of it also isn't. These are real, flawed, complicated people trying their best to deal with... all the things they have to deal with.

It's tough to say too much about the plot without giving something away. There's a lot of twistiness, the stakes are high, and... things happen. But Ioth itself was an interesting riff on a city that's pretty obvious from the cover, and I appreciated that the treatment of religion was a little more nuanced than what I sometimes find in historical fantasy/fiction about that particular Italian city. I also liked getting a better view of the world. While Kingshold was set only in the city of Kingshold, Ioth actually ranges quite a bit, showing us Pyrfew and Redpool as well as Ioth and Kingshold.

All in all... this book was a very good read. I'll be waiting impatiently for the next one in the series!

(Thanks to the author for providing me an ARC of this book!)

[Travis Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ioth, City of Lights is the latest in Woolliscroft's Wildfire Cycle series, following last year's Kingshold and Tales of Kingshold (the latter of which is a short story collection, technically #1.5 in the series, but contains lots of essentials for what transpires in Ioth). It's also, I have to say, the best yet.

While Kingshold's story was contained to just the titular city, in this sequel we hit three major cities: Redpool, Kingshold, and Ioth, which designates the three-part structure of the book, with each one focusing on the major events that happen in each place. This creates a structure that is chronological from Part 1 to Part 2, but then that and Part 3 happen simultaneously.

This means that we basically stop following half the POV characters as some head off to Ioth and others remain in Kingshold, and then vice versa when we get to Part 3. Going in, I worried that this might make the novel feel "incomplete" or like something was missing, but that was far from the case. Every character in Woolliscroft's novel is full of personality and depth, and the latter parts of the novel both contain such compelling plot threads I didn't find myself yearning to get away from the current action to see what the others were doing--nothing about the structure of the book made it feel like something was missing or like a certain Part was "less than" just because the focus was off certain characters.

This structure also somewhat ties in to another great strength of the book. With the first novel in the series taking place entirely in one city, Woolliscroft had a ton of time to flesh out the city's culture, its layout, its residents, etc. In this new novel, we're only in the titular Ioth for roughly 50% of the book, but the city feels no less fleshed out than Kingshold. The details about the city's infrastructure, its religion, its different organizations, its history--all of this lends itself to a lived-in quality, where Ioth feels like a real, believable city, just like Kingshold. It's apparent that Woolliscroft put a lot of thought and care into crafting this place and knowing every nook and cranny before sending his characters there.

And those characters are fantastic across the board, as I mentioned before. All of the main POV characters have distinct arcs, and it's a thrill seeing new combinations of them working together (or apart) as well as meeting some of the new characters introduced in Tales of Kingshold. One of my favorite aspects of the book was that given the way Kingshold ended, once we get into this book, every character is in a majorly different position than before, and it's fun seeing how they all react and adapt to their new surroundings and positions in life.

Finally, there's not a lot about the plot that I can say without spoiling it. Woolliscroft has increased the scope and stakes considerably from the first novel, while still maintaining his tight focus on character. The different threads weave into a tense, exciting, explosive finale that left me awe-struck and wishing that I could read the next book in the series right this moment.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review is here, on my blog!~

After the events of book one, this volume of the Wildfire Cycle catches up with all the characters from book one. Mareth is busy being Lord Protector, a role he is quite good at but kind of needs a break from; Neenahwi is trying to figure out what Llewdon’s plans are before they can come to fruition; Alana is the newly appointed ambassador of Edland to Ioth, and travels there to improve relations with the City of Lights; and Motega, Trypp, and Florian are doing what they do best…. ^_^

This series has such great characters, and they are super easy to cheer for. I especially cheered for Alana in this one, a character I mostly overlooked in book one (not because I didn’t like her, but more that I just… sort of didn’t latch onto her as much). In this volume she is holding her own, and when shenanigans break out while she is doing her ambassadorial duties, she defends herself, to the surprise of most of the people of Ioth present.

I liked this one even more than Kingshold. I am more familiar with the characters to start with, and so it felt like coming back to a well loved series after a long break. A long self-imposed break, perhaps, but still long. The writing was solid, and flowed nicely. This one was never boring, and the pacing was very good. It’s hard sometimes, with a book from several points of view to stay at a good pace without becoming confusing, but this one manages. We even get to see this one from the point of view of some of the common people of Pyrfew, the enemy nation constantly on the brink of war with Edland. We see how the people live, and how they see their emperor, which was interesting, and gave a really nice look at the other side of things.

Motega, Florian, and Trypp are my favorite characters in this series, and the banter between the three of them is still very much present. I like how they are very good at what they do (mostly fighting) while not being infallibly good at it. One of them does actually get pretty severely injured in this one. There are plenty of twists and turns like that in this series. A few things that I did not expect to happen at all happened and unexpectedly got me in the feels pretty good.

Sheila Dearden did a good job with narration on this one as well. She particularly nails Neenahwi’s sometimes very crass attitude, and I love it. I did listen to Kingshold and the Tales of Kingshold anthology rather than read them, so at this point, her telling me the story of Mareth, Neenahwi, Alana and everyone was a great, familiar way of taking in the story.

All told, I can say that if you liked Kingshold, you will very likely like Ioth, City of Lights as well. A wonderful dive into a different part of the world, with all the characters I loved from the first volume returning for shenanigans all over the world.

This review is based on a review copy of the audiobook. Thanks to the author for that review copy.

[Jon Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though he ripped my heart out...twice, this book was amazing.

[Phil Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried at the end of this story. It’s a confession I make to point out the strongest element of this book – its characters. Technically, this is the third story with these people, if you include the short story compilation, Tales of Kingshold. In my reviews of both the other books, I’ve commented about Dave’s ability to create normal, credible people and then put them in the middle of exciting, terrible and lethal situations. That is one hell of an accomplishment. And, to be clear, we’re not just talking about one or two ‘normal’ people – there are over a dozen. By the end of this novel, these people are your friends. The things that happen to these caring, humane, brave folks have you on the edge of your seat.
The creation of tension isn’t achieved by ramping up the dramatic level of events. It may be an easy option to some writers, but DP Woolliscroft is not your typical writer. Tension arises from the reader’s concern for the threats faced by people they care about. For that to happen, the reader must invest their belief, their conviction, in the reality of these characters. The deeper that investment, the greater the tension.
Ioth, City of Lights, has a narrative that is told through the eyes of several people – Montega, Neenahwi and Alana primarily. Each perspective includes other characters who are integral to their section of the story. To illustrate: Montega’s involvement in the story is complemented by his camaraderie with Trypp and Florian. They’re like the three musketeers, their bond is unbreakable. They face so many threats but always, at the root of their adventures, is that deep friendship. On a couple of occasions, Trypp questions their involvement with these adventures. Any of the people in this story could ask the same thing and, without exception, their motives are not those of your conventional hero. Nor are they anti-hero motives either. They are the factors that cause normal people to be dragged into moments of great drama, where they lack any control over the outcomes, but it never stops them from engaging anyway. These are just good people doing the right thing and well as they are able.
It’s one of the reasons why I love these stories; they are life affirming. You hope that, in the real world, people would do the same thing.
All that said, Ioth is a more dramatic, tense, darker version of the original story. And, for me, I like it even more for that reason. I could not put this book down. I mean it! The task of managing expectations when you continuously ramp up the drama is massive, it’s a brave writer that faces such a challenge. But, oh boy, Dave Woolliscroft manages with it with style. I’m not including any spoilers here but suffice to say that the ending did two things to me: firstly, like I said, it made me cry. I didn’t expect the things that happened, to happen. It came out of nowhere. And the investment levels were the price paid. But the decision to end the book the way it does – wow! It came as such a shock I reacted physically. A loud “Oh no!” – which made my wife, who was sat next to me, ask what was wrong. My answer? “He can’t do that! He can’t!”
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Six months in to 2019 and Ioth, City of Lights, goes straight into my top spot of Favourite Books of the Year. For all the reasons outlined but with one more; this book made me think and that investment I mentioned, stayed with me long after turning the last page. I kept going back to certain events and marvelling at the way they played out, to the growth of certain characters and how cleverly handled they were. And how, as a reader, I realised I’d been managed too. Such as how Foreshadowing is used – in such subtle ways you don’t realise it of course! But it’s there and it illustrates what a skilful and complex story has been woven here. For me, it established DP Woolliscroft as a first-rate fantasy writer who deserves wider recognition. I hope this story helps him achieve it.

Go buy ‘Ioth, City of Lights’. You will love it! And tell your friends, let's get this series of stories onto the Best Sellers lists!

[Terrible Timy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5*
This review was first posted on RockStarlit BookAsylum!

I've received an ARC from the author in exchange of an honest review.

"Watch out for your Archimandrite. He's a lot older than you, and in my experience, people are like fruit; the passage of time just gives a man opportunity to get rotten."

About a year ago when I was still too new in the blogging world, I received a review request for Kingshold, which turned out to be a book with one of the most unusual settings I've come across. It was the debut of D.P. Woolliscroft, and the first book of a journey that I'm happy to be part of. I'll keep this review spoiler free, unless you haven't read Kingshold yet. 

Ioth, City of Lights starts a few weeks after Kingholds ends. The election ended, the new rules are being set, and life slowly starts to get back on track. Mareth and the others have to get used to their new lives and responsibilities. Some are reveling in their new roles, some not so much. But even so, they all work together to make Kingshold into a better place. Soon they learn that change won't come fast or easy. And if that's not enough they also face the danger coming from Pyrfew. Alarming events are happening and Neenahwi sets out to dot the lines and seek out the old wizard Myank whose journals and books might have the answer to the question of what are Llewdon's intentions. At the same time, Mareth would like to maintain Kingshold's good relationship with the other kingdoms and countries, Ioth included. Sending an ambassador turns out to be more important than they initially thought. 

While the events in Kingshold mostly took place in one setting, the title city, Kingshold, in the sequel Woolliscroft broadens the world and we get to visit several places. Mainly Redpool, Fymrius and Ioth, besides Kingshold of course. But Neenahwi's travels take her to other places as well. I usually prefer books which are set in one place, to explore and immerse myself in that world, and I think that played a huge part in my liking Kingshold. Even though Ioth didn't get the center stage during the whole book, we still spend a considerable amount of time there to leave an impression. The descriptions of the city and the names of the noble families reminded me of Italy, mostly Venice because of the canals and small water routes. It sounds like a really exotic place I'd like to visit.

"The lights of the city were unmistakable on the dark horizon; the lighthouses, the prinpicks of brightness across the rest of the inky blackness like the stars had come down to earth for a rest."

What I like about Woolliscroft world is that the cities and places we get to visit are all very distinct and easily recognisable. I liked the glimpses into some characters' life who weren't primary characters. Gwin, for example who lives in Fymrius under the reign of Llewdon. The empire we see through her eyes looks like a completely different one from the Pryfew our protagonists know. Introducing Ioth through the eyes of Toad in the first half of the book was a great idea, this way we slowly get drawn into the city and learn about it through someone who actually lives and tries to survive there every day. Learning a bit more about the Jeweled Continent's culture, especially the religion was a welcome sight. 

The first half of Ioth, City of Lights is mostly about how things are progressing inside of Kingshold and Neenahwi's search. Which is not to say it's boring, oh no, plenty of things are happening and that plotline ends with a shocking twist. Which I absolutely didn't see coming. Well I didn't see coming the first twist either, so... If nothing else, I'm really looking forward how that plotline will continue in the next installment of the series. And the shocking events aren't ending here. You, my friends are in for a truly emotional ending, which will tear your hearts out. Don't say I didn't warn you. Besides emotions and shocking revelations, we also get plenty of political intrigue, fight scenes, and a few funny moments as well. But oh my god that ending. I can't even fathom how things will go from there. I guess it was inevitable that something like this will happen, but damn, it still came out of the blue. 

As for the characters, Ioth, City of Lights has a fairly large cast. Besides of those we got to know in Kingshold, we have a couple of new faces, such as The Librarian, Gwin, Toad - I'm fairly sure where his story will go -, Admiral Crews, the Saint and Jill. While Mareth was the MC of Kingshold, in the sequel the spotlight shifts more to Alana. She certainly came a long way from the beginning of Kingshold. As the events roll forward, her personality  grews along the way. She gains confidence, has a natural ability to lead and has a sharp mind. But she has to be strong to face everything that still will come her way. 

"B...b...but you're just a girl!" stammered the fat man finally.
"Yes, I am!" she shot back, her gaze boring into his. "And you are an over-weight, greedy, useless, old man. If you mention my age or my sex again, I will have you thrown out on the streets. Do you hear me?"
Her chewed-on nails dug into the palms of her hands as her fists clenched tightly, years' worth of pent up frustration at men like this finally finding a release.

Probably the only issue I had is that somehow I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. I'm not quite sure if this is because of the large cast, the 3rd person POV or the fact that I happen to be in the middle of a reading slump and I struggle to focus on anything I'm reading. 

If you liked Kingshold, then you probably don't need any more prompting to check out Ioth, City of Lights. While Kingshold was something fresh in Fantasy, Ioth, City of Lights is rather a classical epic fantasy with a solid world building, a large set of interesting characters, political intrigue and plenty of action. While it has its own story arc, it leaves plenty of room for the next adventure. I'm pretty sure Woolliscroft has quite a few things waiting for us in the future.

[Bjørn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The shortest way to describe the Wildfire Cycle so far would be 'Game of Thrones with less deaths', but it wouldn't give the books justice.

Every time I review a book I do all I can to avoid spoilers, but I must share a minor one. Ioth is truly epic, written from various characters' point(s) of view. This, similarly to Song of Ice and Fire, can be both exciting and irritating. One of the arcs seemed to disappear around 2/3 through the book and I found myself grinding my teeth waiting to see what happens after what was really quite a cliffhanger. I wouldn't be able to come up with a solution to this problem, though, it's just a reader's opinion. (Does it get a resolution? Read and find out. Yes, I'm evil too.)

Speaking of a reader's opinion: this book has taken me a long time to read, largely because of my personal problems – this is not a light beach read – but I felt that it took quite some time to really develop. Once it did, though, I started worrying that at 526 pages it was too short. I found myself nervously eyeing the page count, partly because I was waiting for that cliffhanger to get some sort of resolution, but also because I finally felt completely immersed in the universe ('worldbuilding' is not a big enough word here) and wanted to stay there as long as possible. Now I am in the unfortunate position of having to wait for the next book precisely when I can't wait for it.

I hope the similarities to Song of Ice and Fire will not include having to wait 147 years for the next instalment...

PS. Morrissey wanted a job and he got a job, but heavens knew he was miserable then ;)

PS2. I'm going to strangle the author in the most loving and kind way possible for what he's done to my book-crush. And he mentions in the afterword that even more characters were supposed to die. There are less deaths here than in Song of Ice and Fire (I can't help comparing those two, get on it HBO), but I was not prepared for this one and I refuse* to read the next part.

*As if.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today was to be a day for them to stand in the wind and take the storm's fury.

Several months after the election, the victors are beginning to settle into their roles in the realm's new regime, however, unrest still remains in the city of Kingshold, while promises made have yet to be delivered upon. Across the Sapphire Sea, the real threat is taking root in Ioth, as Pyrfew soldiers flood the streets and waterways, their intentions unknown. In an attempt to gather information, as well as broker peace, the Lord Protector sends a trusted team to deliberate and compromise with the political and spiritual leaders of the City of Lights, hoping to prevent this potential danger from spreading. Secrets unravel, battles are fought, and unlikely heroes emerge, but is it enough to thwart the designs of an ancient Emperor?

Ioth, City of Lights is the second full-length installment in Woolliscroft's The Wildfire Cycle series, and it takes everything we've come to know and love from Kingshold and expands upon it in ways I didn't think possible. While book one mainly focuses on events that affect one city, this book stretches its fingers across the Sapphire Sea, into neighboring Redpool and Ioth, with flashes of insight into the Pyrfew societal structure, as well. Presented with nail-biting action and utterly heartbreaking loss, we witness the true might of the enemy at last. Much like its predecessor, Ioth tackles the plagues of unbalanced power and corruption, but on a much broader scale, affecting larger societies, and in more profound ways. It focuses on the issues faced when not allowing all tiers of the populace a voice, and how the arrogance and greed of those at the top can only lead to one possible outcome: devastation and ruin. Another recurring theme throughout is the refusal to adhere to blind, and oftentimes misplaced, faith. Rather than following the flock, sometimes it is best to step back and question the destination, as it's possible the thing you're so intent on following may be straying far from its true intended path. And finally, it builds upon the bonds of brotherhood and camaraderie, and the difficult choices made in the name of the greater good.

The story is broken up into three parts, each generally taking place in a different part of The Jeweled Continent. While part one, set in Redpool, acts as a precursor of what's to come, and part two, set in Kingshold, allows us to further investigate the courtly intrigue post election, part three transports us to the City of Lights, a Venetian-inspired metropolitan of winding streets, canals laden with vessels, and whitewashed buildings. As with Kingshold, Ioth is so finely crafted, down to the most minute detail. Each district named for the things they are known for producing or putting on display, such as the Brass Isle or the Isle of Flowers. The Sanctum of Arloth; five shards reaching towards the heavens, one tipped in fiery gold - the Finger of Arloth. The ramshackle and dangerously soaring towers and promenades of The Ladders, home to the misfortuned poor. The striking columns and seemingly impossible ceilings of the Palazzo Confluens, seat of the ruling Assembly. Villas and storefronts and market stalls at every turn. The more we wander around the city, the more grand it becomes, and although led by several corrupt officials, I wish I could've kept exploring all the nooks and crannies to find what else Ioth has to offer.

"Why don't you go and find a book and a quiet place to read?"

Ioth, City of Lights is also a story that highlights the metamorphoses of several of the key characters we've been previously acquainted with. A bard becoming ruler, once only caring for himself, and now fighting for the safety of all his constituents. A maid promoted to Ambassador, unsure in her abilities, but more capable than anyone could've ever imagined. The adopted daughter of the founder of Edland, now one of the nation's most formidable mages with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Mercenaries and assassins hired for legitimate stately purposes. In addition, many new characters that we've met in Tales of Kingshold make their first appearances in the precarious game being played by the world's most influential super powers. Character dynamics play a crucial role in the development of all, and for fear of spoiling, I'll let you discover this on your own. We finally get a glimpse of the true threat as Ioth streets are surging with the green and gold of Pyrfew soldiers, and the appearance of the Bird Man, gigantic eagle in tow, and his jester-like accomplices. We get but a taste, but are definitely left with a lasting impression.

It's impossible to discuss this book without mentioning the insanely intense and enthralling action encountered throughout. Fire-breathing ships, arcane and chemically induced magics, invisible towers guarded by mysterious, murderous goop, it has it all. Skirmishes are described in such vivid detail, you feel as though you're right alongside Motega, Trypp, and Florian, dodging bolts and attempting to keep your footing on blood-slicked ground, or fighting back-to-back with Alana as assassins appear over balconies railings. Our heroes seem incapable of catching a break, and they're met with conflict around each and every corner, whether head-on by city guardsmen, or sinister troubles from within the shadows. And during each, you're on the edge of your seat, hoping to see your beloved favorites emerge unscathed.

Ioth, City of Lights is a wildly emotional and compelling ride, and Woolliscroft's best yet. The foreshadowing throughout the book hints at something monumental, but let me tell you, it's so much more than I expected, leaving me utterly slack-jawed at the final page. As we travel across The Jeweled Continent, my commitment to and adoration of The Wildfire Cycle continues to grow exponentially, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I must point out that if you haven't read Tales of Kingshold before giving this one a try, you're doing yourself an extreme disservice, so get on that! For those of you that have yet to begin this incredible series, now is the perfect time to dive right in, and for those who are patiently awaiting Ioth, prepare yourselves for one thrilling adventure! I highly recommend.

[Calvin Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ioth, City of Lights is the sequel to Kingshold. It picks up not long after the ending of Kingshold and follows the same characters as the action and conflict expands to the world stage. It is in every way a worthy sequel that improves in many areas while keeping much of what folks loved about that first book. If you enjoyed Kingshold you’re sure to enjoy Ioth even more!

One of my major complaints about Kingshold was that it took a very long time for the various viewpoint characters to come together and for the action to start moving at a decent clip. In Ioth that issue is completely gone. The action picks up almost immediately and doesn’t let up. One of the things Woolliscroft has significantly improved is the pacing. It was difficult for me to find spots where I felt like putting the book down to do import things like sleep. The plot contains plenty of mysteries and reveals and is great fun to follow. The perfection of the pacing helps with this, culminating in an action-packed finale that both keeps you on the edge of your seat and packs an emotional punch. That emotional punch in and of itself is another area worth praising. For me, the emotional beats throughout the novel hit well. Woolliscroft has done an excellent job of elevating this aspect of his writing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the way that Woolliscroft went to great lengths to show the antagonists, particularly the common people of Pyrfew, as real people with families and lives and concerns and joys. These are people who believe they are doing good. At the same time, in the climax, he doesn’t hold back from allowing the antagonists to take actions that manifest a visceral hatred for them. Wrapped up in all of this is the very authentic struggle of how difficult it is for the protagonists to bring about the change they hoped for in the first book. All of these elements combine to produce a fun and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of the first book and ought to make others consider jumping into the series.

My main criticisms of Ioth are similar to the criticisms I had for Kingshold. The largest of these is that at times the narration and dialog are mildly anachronistic or feel out of place in the sort of world Woolliscroft has crafted. The best way I know to explain this is that the narrative and dialog feel similar to the BBC’s Merlin series. That isn’t a bad comparison. I enjoyed the Merlin series quite a bit, but while that sort of tongue-in-cheek, wink-nudge, anachronistic dialog works for me in the TV medium it ends up jarring me out of the story regularly in a novel. This contributed to the other main weakness of the novel for me, that the characters sometimes didn’t connect with me. I enjoyed them, but didn’t feel a deep connection, though I did connect with the important emotional beats in the story. At the end of the day, both criticisms are primarily down to preference.

Ioth, City of Lights is a fun fantasy romp with great pacing. The twists and turns of the plot are wonderful, even painful at times, but this all combines to make a story that is both stirring and engaging. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and discovering where Woolliscroft takes us next.

7.8/10

3.9/5 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

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ioth, City of Lights is packed with action, adventure, twists, and magic. It's exactly what a middle book should be. It builds on the momentum, character and setting work from Kingshold, raises the stakes, and moves the conflict forward.

Kingshold was a funny creature. I've often considered revisiting my review of it because, while there were some elements that weren't my exact cup of tea, I find myself recommending it to people quite often. It has a lot of great concepts, good character work, and lays out some strong fantasy world-building. Ioth, City of Lights continues all of that.

Everything I liked best from Kingshold is present, and magnified. The setting hinted at all along the edges of Kingshold gets more elaboration. There's often a tendency in these sorts of stories for the events of the first book to be made small by the sequels... it's a natural impact from sequels that show a larger world beyond what the first book has time to explore. Ioth avoids that rather neatly, magnifying the importance of the central characters, and giving the compelling events of Kingshold a unique social significance in the rest of the world as the narrative expands outwards.

Structurally it follows an odd path. There are three main stories wound around the central characters from Kingshold, but they occur mostly sequentially rather than in alternation. While the approach is unusual, by adopting that structure, Woolliscroft is able to keep the pacing tight for each section. There are also occasional glimpses of new characters in strange environments mixed in. The new perspectives don't really form very strong narrative arcs unto themselves. I think they may be seeds for the third book, but in Ioth they mostly serve to better illustrate the setting. That's the kind of thing I particularly enjoy, but I mention them because I suspect that fans of few (or singular!) point-of-view narratives might find those little detours irksome.

Ioth is definitely a middle book. It doesn't end in a cliffhanger, exactly, but it does feel somewhat reminiscent of the story arc to Empire Strikes Back, where its ending seems far from the finish of things. I don't think it would be a very satisfying stand-alone read, but as a part of a whole, it really works.

I should mention that there is an intervening book of short stories, Tales of Kingshold, which adds some additional color, and elaborates on characters and setting details that wouldn't fit within Ioth's narrative. I don't think it's strictly necessary, but it's a good bridge between the first book and the second, particularly if (like me) you get fuzzy on the character names after a bit of time away.

[Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

If you thought Kingshold was a wild and compelling ride, then you're in for a treat because Ioth is just as--if not more--of a ride than the first book.

Ioth, City of Lights is the follow up to D.P. Woolliscroft's Kingshold, an extraordinary politics-heavy fantasy that I loved. (Before diving straight into Ioth, however, I'd recommend you pick up Tales of Kingshold, book #1.5 in The Wildfire Cycle, which features shorter stories on various characters that will be prominent in this book.) Ioth has a steady, fast-paced plot, but not so fast and action-packed that you can't easily keep up. While Kingshold took place in only one city, Ioth takes place in a couple different locations. I was unsure at first how I felt about this, since I really fell in love with the city of Kingshold last time, but I soon realized how much more exciting it was to visit a variety of locations that allow Woolliscroft to really expand his world and show off some of his great world-building skills. The author also includes clever usage of foreshadowing in a way that really helps to build tension, as well as simply creating enough situations and compelling characters that the anticipation of what is going to happen keeps things moving and makes the book impossible to put down.

I touched on the prominent characters and world-building in my first review, so for the sake of redundancy I won't go too much into that other than to say that I am enamored with all of the characters from the first book that continue to have important roles in the second. One of Woolliscroft's strengths truly does lie in his character development, and this is something that continues to shine in the sequel. In addition to old characters, there are also some new ones that we meet in Ioth and I found them just as engaging as the others. There's just something about these characters that makes them feel like real people I could meet and have a conversation with, and that's something that really stands out to me when an author manages to do that. The characters also make so many huge transformations that take a careful hand to develop them correctly, and I think this was done really well. Seeing characters grow from one thing into another or discovering things about themselves and new skills is a true joy and I'm excited to see where they keep going.

In a very similar to manner to how Woolliscroft creates his characters, he also crafts cities and locations in ways that make them feel like a genuine place that people live in. There is so much to explore in each area and there's never anything that feels half-made or as if its filler--everything has a purpose and only serves to further enrich the world and culture of each city. There's plenty of history provided, something that I always love and find crucial to authentic world-building, as well as a great incorporation of religion and other cultural elements.

Since this is the second book in a series (and third installment to the world overall), I really can't go into anything majorly plot-related because I don't want to give anything away. The plot remains strong, unpredictable, and most importantly: extremely enjoyable and satisfying. It's not that this series necessarily thrives off of continuously shocking the reader, but the way that Woolliscroft writes leaves me glued to the page, and when there are twists in the story, there's no holding back. If you enjoyed the political aspect of the first, then be assured that there is still plenty in the way of politics in this book as well to keep you satisfied in that regard.

Overall, I've given Ioth five stars! I really have no complaints about this installment in The Wildfire Cycle and readily look forward to the next book!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has hands down been my best read of May and possibly of the year..so far! I loved this, it is a great read from the explosive beginning to the brilliant ending. You meet some new characters, reunite with others and embark on a journey to Ioth: City of Lights and what a city it is! This is easily becoming one of my favourite series and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next in Tales of Ioth (thank goodness I have that ready) 10./10! Dave Woolliscroft I tip my hat to you in creating this brilliant story! A full review will be on my blog soon.

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

Ioth, City of Lights is the latest instalment in D. P. Woolliscroft's Wildfire Cycle series. Despite there being 3 books released, Ioth is book 2 with Tales of Kingshold technically being book 1.5. I thoroughly enjoyed the previous two books but this book is in a league of its own. So here's my thoughts in a bit more detail.


Ioth, City of Lights picks up a couple of months down the line to the events that changed kingshold forever. The reader is thrown straight into some badass action and the action doesn't really let up from that point onwards. In the first book we only get to see a portion of the jewelled continent as we don't really step outside of kingshold. In this book we bounce between three major city's, kingshold, Redpool and Ioth. This gives the reader more of an adventure feel which I absolutely loved. Although some of the characters stay in kingshold, most of the existing characters travel to Ioth to negotiate peace and to prevent a war. I had no problems following the characters as we bounced from Kingshold to Ioth, as there was plenty of action in both city's. Although we follow the same POV's from the first book, a couple of new characters are introduced, each fitting in perfectly with the story. I think Woolliscroft done an excellent job with the characters. We get to see them in their own individual light as they adapt to the changes that was caused by the election in kingshold. It was also fun to see them teaming up with each other once again. I know I've mentioned there being an abundance of action but Woolliscroft is a creative genius when it comes to fights. Whether it's a full on battle or a 1 on 1 featuring the deadly swordsmen that is Florian. The atmosphere created is truly amazing.

(I love the fact that Welsh names were used!)

As I've mentioned above, this book is in a league of its own. The detail that has gone into it is truly remarkable. With the perfect balance of humour, action and romance, Ioth, City of Lights has become not only my favourite books released this year but one of the best books I've ever read. So there's no surprise when I say D. P. Wolliscroft has quickly become one of my favourite authors. Honestly, if you're looking for an adventurous and action packed stormer of a story, don't hesitate to pick this book up, you will not be disappointed.

I want to thank D. P. Woolliscroft for sending me a copy and for gifting us readers with a fantastic book. I cannot wait to read the next instalment!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of books just get better and better.

[Zjblouin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read

[Alex (Spells & Spaceships) · Rating 5 out of 5]

D. P. Woolliscroft has became an insta-buy author after three brilliant entries in his imaginative high fantasy series The Wildfire Cycle.

I’m going to focus mostly on the three highlight elements I chose for this book. Of course, there was lots more to Ioth than these three aspects alone, but they were particularly strong.

Wonderful Worldbuilding
As with Kingshold and Tales of Kingshold, I enjoyed the immersion of being back on The Jeweled Continent and the world Woolliscroft has dreamt up. Ioth, City of Lights certainly expands on what we know about the world and the cultures and peoples within it, gaining greater insight into Redpool and Pyrfew, aswell as the unique city of Ioth itself. We learn about Arloth and the way in which religion has an effect on the continent – although politics again plays a major role, religion is much more prominent and central throughout the plot this time, which adds an extra dimension to the political manoeuverings so prevalent in Kingshold.

You really do get the feeling that the author has put so much time and thought into creating living, breathing, believable cities and although it’s a high fantasy and there is magic and creatures and races, these urban environments feel like real places from history.

The story isn’t confined to the city at all times though, and there is still that sense of adventure. There are naval battles and wizard’s towers to explore, and of course plenty of swords and sorcery. I feel like the traditional high fantasy elements (which I always find comforting and relaxing in a way) and the seriousness of other aspects – such as character mortality (!!) strikes a really nice balance that adds to the quality feel of the book.

Imaginative Storytelling
Now, it’s all well and good putting so much effort into building a world. But that world has to be fun, or interesting, or unique, or imaginative. And the storytelling ability here ticks every box. Dave Woolliscroft is the type of author I’d love to spend a few hours in a pub with, who I’m sure would have some brilliant stories to tell, such is his imagination and wit. I mentioned immersion earlier in the review, and you can really get lost in the writing ability and creativity – you zone out oblivious to the outside world and suddenly you’re another 100 pages in (or x number of minutes – I both alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading the ebook, using whispersync).

Many stories end with the protagonist beating the bad guys and getting the throne (or the role of Lord Protector) and that concludes the arc. What Ioth does is, following on from the events of Kingshold, shows what the reality is once that power is attained. When you’re striving for power, there is a degree of nothing to lose, no expectations. Once you have it, you’re against all those who would take power for themselves, and living up to the expectations of the ones who helped you to get it. Along with having to negotiate the pitfalls of diplomacy, both domestic and abroad – it isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be! I like that Mareth’s new reality is laid bare; I think there are times he’d like to go back to an anonymous corner of a tavern and sit back with a big glass of ale!

I’m not going to touch on every new character introduced or what the old ones are up to; there are blurbs for that – and reading the book itself. But I have to mention how great all the characters are in Ioth – fully three dimensional, no tired old tropes. And if you didn’t fully commit to caring about the characters so far, you will do now.

I haven’t had the pleasure of playing D&D myself, though I know many of the best character writers in the fantasy genre have a background playing this game, due to the requirement for building great characters. It wouldn’t surprise me if Dave is one of them. I’d go as far as to say every single character is interesting, unique and brings something new to the table – you’re never left bored by any of them. I feel like that’s really difficult to pull off.

Using the highlights system, Characters you love should really be one of the three aspects chosen. Why wasn’t it? Well…

Light Hearted
The light hearted aspects interspersed throughout the novel were just so entertaining once again! They’re not stand up jokes that would benefit from being copy pasted out of context – it’s the tone, the British sense of humour, the audacity of some of the jokes that come out of nowhere.

I don’t actually like ‘funny fantasy’ – not a huge fan of satire, or anything like that. And The Wildfire Cycle isn’t a series that has comedy as its main attraction or most prominent feature.

There is just something incredibly enjoyable about a book that in many ways is very serious, being also able to share something funny. And it’s a way for the author’s personality to shine through the pages and leave his mark. Often these sort of asides or metaphors are unexpected, and that’s why they make you laugh. You might think that takes you out of the immersion, never knowing when to expect a joke but it’s not like that; the delivery is always done extremely well and often it is just a tongue in cheek or subtle comment. It provokes a slight grin before you continue reading. Just trust me on this. Brilliant. Maybe it’s a British thing – I can’t imagine any Brits not finding the humour and hopefully it translates well to readers from other backgrounds!

This is a series that hasn’t yet built up the readership it deserves. The thing is, if you check out the reviews, everyone who has read it tends to love it. Put your faith in this series, and I’m confident you will too.

[EsposaDek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great continuation in the Wildfire Cycle. I really enjoyed the world building and my eyes got wet at one point which doesn't usually happen. I was a bit surprised that we didn't spend much time with Mareth but Alana and her crew ended up becoming a very great group to spend some time with.

[John Storey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read can’t wait for the next book