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The Fall of the Gods #2
The Justice in Revenge
Featuring boardroom intrigue, masquerade balls, gondola chases, street gangs, and shapeshifting mages, Ryan Van Loan's The Justice in Revenge continues the Fall of the Gods series as Buc and Eld turn from pirates to politics and face the deadliest mystery of their career.
The island nation of Servenza is a land of flint and steel, sail and gearwork, of gods both Dead and sleeping. It is a society where the wealthy few rule the impoverished many.
Determined to change that, former street-rat Buc, along with Eld, the ex-soldier who has been her partner in crime-solving, have claimed seats on the board of the powerful Kanados Trading Company. Buc plans to destroy the nobility from within―which is much harder than she expected.
Stymied by boardroom politics and dodging mages at every turn, Buc and Eld find a potential patron in the Doga, ruler of Servenza. The by the night of the Masquerade, unmask whoever has been attempting to assassinate the Doga, thereby earning her support in the halls of power. Blow the deadline and she’ll have them deported to opposite ends of the world.
Armed with Eld’s razor-sharp sword and Buc’s even sharper intellect, the dynamic duo hit the streets just as the shadow religious conflict between the Gods begins to break into open warfare. Those closest to Buc and Eld begin turning up with their throats slit amid rumors that a hidden mastermind is behind everything that’s going wrong in Servenza.
Facing wrathful gods, hostile nobles, and a secret enemy bent on revenge, Buc and Eld will need every trick in their arsenal to survive. Luckily, extra blades aren’t the only things Buc has hidden up her sleeves.
The island nation of Servenza is a land of flint and steel, sail and gearwork, of gods both Dead and sleeping. It is a society where the wealthy few rule the impoverished many.
Determined to change that, former street-rat Buc, along with Eld, the ex-soldier who has been her partner in crime-solving, have claimed seats on the board of the powerful Kanados Trading Company. Buc plans to destroy the nobility from within―which is much harder than she expected.
Stymied by boardroom politics and dodging mages at every turn, Buc and Eld find a potential patron in the Doga, ruler of Servenza. The by the night of the Masquerade, unmask whoever has been attempting to assassinate the Doga, thereby earning her support in the halls of power. Blow the deadline and she’ll have them deported to opposite ends of the world.
Armed with Eld’s razor-sharp sword and Buc’s even sharper intellect, the dynamic duo hit the streets just as the shadow religious conflict between the Gods begins to break into open warfare. Those closest to Buc and Eld begin turning up with their throats slit amid rumors that a hidden mastermind is behind everything that’s going wrong in Servenza.
Facing wrathful gods, hostile nobles, and a secret enemy bent on revenge, Buc and Eld will need every trick in their arsenal to survive. Luckily, extra blades aren’t the only things Buc has hidden up her sleeves.
- GenresFantasy
496 pages, Hardcover
First published July 13, 2021
10 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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July 13, 2021
“THE JUSTICE IN REVENGE” BY RYAN VAN LOAN: ARC REVIEW
“The problem with this world is we don’t give a shit about how we got here and we don’t care where we’re going. In turn we swallow all the lies the Gods feed us and we exploit the little ones around us without a thought for what types of people they will be when we’re old.”
Synopsis: Buc and Eld have claimed their place on the board of the Kanados Trading Company, intending to use it as a weapon against the corrupt nobility they despise. The role is not without its set of dangers, however, and the pair soon find themselves involved in a deep political plot. Should they succeed in their task, they’ll earn the favor of a powerful patron… and if they fail, they’ll find themselves separated forever. Through it all, a mysterious figure works against them in the shadows…
Who May Enjoy This Book:
- People who like intrigue
- Fans of flawed protagonists
- People who enjoy a bit of romance
Thank-you to Netgalley and Tor/Forge for the advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Yes, it’s been a while. I’ll save that discussion for a different post…
Today, I have the pleasure of reviewing Ryan Van Loan’s “The Justice In Revenge”, the sequel to his highly successful “The Sin in The Steel” (you can find my review for that right here). If you’ve read my review of Book 1, you’ll recall that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s no surprise then that its sequel was something I was really looking forward to reading! Given the events of the past couple of years, I definitely needed that boost.
The story spins directly out of the events of book 1, with Buc and Eld holding coveted positions as executives for a powerful trading company. Their exploits are well-known (in Buc’s carefully cultivated recounting of events), and they are acclimating to their new roles… which is to say, they are an enormous pain in the ass for some of the other board members. It’s amusing from the get-go, particularly with Buc’s bottomless well of arrogance. She is a brilliant individual, and it is easy to forget when reading that she is a young girl. Her tendency to underestimate her compatriots in business, these two-legged sharks, seems uncharacteristic, but it is mistake born of her relative inexperience. Van Loan doesn’t ever turn Buc into a Mary Sue, and for that I am thankful. She is a young woman, and despite her many advantages, Buc is still quite vulnerable and a touch naïve about certain things. This is glaringly obvious in the romantic “Austin-esque” subplot throughout the novel. I enjoyed these little touches… while some might find the relationship in question frustrating, I liked it. It speaks truth: romance is not some carefully orchestrated series of events. It is messy, an exhilarating touch-and-go, back-and-forth game of capture the flag, played in the dark, where you’re never certain who your teammates are. Van Loan’s strong characterization remains an integral part of the story, and Buc’s development in this novel demonstrates this. In addition to Buc, however, Van Loan takes the time to meticulously add those neat little touches to his secondary characters too. It’s in their voices, mannerisms, everything. One doesn’t always see this attention to small details, but it goes a long way to fleshing things out.
Similarly to the first book, “Justice” finds the pair stumbling into a political mess which they must extract themselves from in order to appease some very powerful people. In this case though, the rules are different: Buc has acquired some very special…abilities. The presence of “Sin” in her head (you’ll just have to read Book 1…) is a crucial part of the story. It touches every aspect of the book’s events, as well as Buc’s relationships. How does one trust a being, a force, whatever you’d like to call it, that knows every little intimate detail about you? How does one trust such a being, especially if they’re as closed-off as Buc is? These are questions which we are able to explore throughout the course of the story, and the answers are fun. There is certainly the element of an unreliable narrator introduced in this novel, and things can get thoroughly confusing at times (which I am pretty sure was the intention, placing us squarely in Buc’s shoes as she pieces together her fractured memories). It’s an additional mystery for the pile, but a rather good one with a significant payoff later. It’s not always my favorite narrative tool, but Van Loan makes great use of it in “Justice”. Truthfully, I found the reveal of Buc’s memories much more satisfying than that of the book’s primary antagonist… the latter was, at least to me, a bit flat in comparison (it’s still good, just not necessarily what I wanted/expected!). The added mysteries were a good addition, regardless. I found that it complimented the swashbuckling action nicely, and brought the story a bit more in line with the “Sherlockian” promises of book 1.
“The Justice In Revenge” has it all: political intrigue, murder, skullduggery, romantic dalliances, secrets, lies, and revelations. I could go on at length about so many different little touches, but I find it tricky to do so without potentially spoiling any key plot points (of which there are several…). I will say that I didn’t necessarily enjoy this book as much as I did Book 1, but this should in no way dissuade you! I still loved “Justice”… I just happened to enjoy “Sin” more overall. It’s a worthy successor, and the explosive finale left me with many questions and more than a few expletives. That cliffhanger is going to kill me… Anyhow, get yourself a copy of this novel ASAP if you enjoyed “The Sin In The Steel”, and if you haven’t read it yet then what the heck are you waiting for?! “The Justice In Revenge” releases July 13/2021… that’s TOMORROW!
Also, on the off chance Ryan reads this, regarding the ending: HOW DARE YOU?! (You know damn well what I’m referring to).
Happy Reading!
Order “The Justice In Revenge”
Check out Ryan Van Loan on Twitter
“The problem with this world is we don’t give a shit about how we got here and we don’t care where we’re going. In turn we swallow all the lies the Gods feed us and we exploit the little ones around us without a thought for what types of people they will be when we’re old.”
Synopsis: Buc and Eld have claimed their place on the board of the Kanados Trading Company, intending to use it as a weapon against the corrupt nobility they despise. The role is not without its set of dangers, however, and the pair soon find themselves involved in a deep political plot. Should they succeed in their task, they’ll earn the favor of a powerful patron… and if they fail, they’ll find themselves separated forever. Through it all, a mysterious figure works against them in the shadows…
Who May Enjoy This Book:
- People who like intrigue
- Fans of flawed protagonists
- People who enjoy a bit of romance
Thank-you to Netgalley and Tor/Forge for the advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Yes, it’s been a while. I’ll save that discussion for a different post…
Today, I have the pleasure of reviewing Ryan Van Loan’s “The Justice In Revenge”, the sequel to his highly successful “The Sin in The Steel” (you can find my review for that right here). If you’ve read my review of Book 1, you’ll recall that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s no surprise then that its sequel was something I was really looking forward to reading! Given the events of the past couple of years, I definitely needed that boost.
The story spins directly out of the events of book 1, with Buc and Eld holding coveted positions as executives for a powerful trading company. Their exploits are well-known (in Buc’s carefully cultivated recounting of events), and they are acclimating to their new roles… which is to say, they are an enormous pain in the ass for some of the other board members. It’s amusing from the get-go, particularly with Buc’s bottomless well of arrogance. She is a brilliant individual, and it is easy to forget when reading that she is a young girl. Her tendency to underestimate her compatriots in business, these two-legged sharks, seems uncharacteristic, but it is mistake born of her relative inexperience. Van Loan doesn’t ever turn Buc into a Mary Sue, and for that I am thankful. She is a young woman, and despite her many advantages, Buc is still quite vulnerable and a touch naïve about certain things. This is glaringly obvious in the romantic “Austin-esque” subplot throughout the novel. I enjoyed these little touches… while some might find the relationship in question frustrating, I liked it. It speaks truth: romance is not some carefully orchestrated series of events. It is messy, an exhilarating touch-and-go, back-and-forth game of capture the flag, played in the dark, where you’re never certain who your teammates are. Van Loan’s strong characterization remains an integral part of the story, and Buc’s development in this novel demonstrates this. In addition to Buc, however, Van Loan takes the time to meticulously add those neat little touches to his secondary characters too. It’s in their voices, mannerisms, everything. One doesn’t always see this attention to small details, but it goes a long way to fleshing things out.
Similarly to the first book, “Justice” finds the pair stumbling into a political mess which they must extract themselves from in order to appease some very powerful people. In this case though, the rules are different: Buc has acquired some very special…abilities. The presence of “Sin” in her head (you’ll just have to read Book 1…) is a crucial part of the story. It touches every aspect of the book’s events, as well as Buc’s relationships. How does one trust a being, a force, whatever you’d like to call it, that knows every little intimate detail about you? How does one trust such a being, especially if they’re as closed-off as Buc is? These are questions which we are able to explore throughout the course of the story, and the answers are fun. There is certainly the element of an unreliable narrator introduced in this novel, and things can get thoroughly confusing at times (which I am pretty sure was the intention, placing us squarely in Buc’s shoes as she pieces together her fractured memories). It’s an additional mystery for the pile, but a rather good one with a significant payoff later. It’s not always my favorite narrative tool, but Van Loan makes great use of it in “Justice”. Truthfully, I found the reveal of Buc’s memories much more satisfying than that of the book’s primary antagonist… the latter was, at least to me, a bit flat in comparison (it’s still good, just not necessarily what I wanted/expected!). The added mysteries were a good addition, regardless. I found that it complimented the swashbuckling action nicely, and brought the story a bit more in line with the “Sherlockian” promises of book 1.
“The Justice In Revenge” has it all: political intrigue, murder, skullduggery, romantic dalliances, secrets, lies, and revelations. I could go on at length about so many different little touches, but I find it tricky to do so without potentially spoiling any key plot points (of which there are several…). I will say that I didn’t necessarily enjoy this book as much as I did Book 1, but this should in no way dissuade you! I still loved “Justice”… I just happened to enjoy “Sin” more overall. It’s a worthy successor, and the explosive finale left me with many questions and more than a few expletives. That cliffhanger is going to kill me… Anyhow, get yourself a copy of this novel ASAP if you enjoyed “The Sin In The Steel”, and if you haven’t read it yet then what the heck are you waiting for?! “The Justice In Revenge” releases July 13/2021… that’s TOMORROW!
Also, on the off chance Ryan reads this, regarding the ending: HOW DARE YOU?! (You know damn well what I’m referring to).
Happy Reading!
Order “The Justice In Revenge”
Check out Ryan Van Loan on Twitter
July 8, 2021
A bit of a slow start but fun once it got going. Probably a 3.5 star but I liked it so I’m rounding up. You really would be lost without reading The Sin in the Steel first. Buc has gotten what she wanted, wealth and power but now she has to learn to use it and hold it. I really liked the setting. Reminds me a bit of a Renaissance Italy city state with fine food and gilded halls with nobles and merchants living the fine life with the gutters being just as grim as the halls of power are grand. I look forward to the next book.
June 17, 2021
I'm not sure how I feel about this one... I really enjoyed the first book, but I'm not sure if this one is quite the same, so I'm torn on what rating to give it.
Buc is not herself throughout this book. There are various mentions of something that happened with a fire and Sin and Eld working together to keep Buc sane. It isn't until the near the end that you get the story about what actually happened. However, it means that one of the things about Buc that I loved from the first book is missing - her general f the establishment personality. She's decided to play the game instead and it really doesn't suit her.
Additionally, we are caught up in lots of love angst between Buc and Eld that just drives me mad. You want to just bang their heads together.
Throughout the book, Buc seems younger and less mature than she did in the first book, and I think that's what kind of annoys me. It's like she has regressed. She has lost sight of her goals and what she wants and what she's striving towards in terms of fixing her world.
The big reveal is very obvious as well. Buc's super genius should have put it together long before she did.
However, I will say that the ending was good. It was very emotional. I didn't like the ending, per se, but it was good and well written. There was lots of action throughout the book and the pace was good when it didn't get too caught up in the politics, which sometimes led to it becoming a bit convoluted.
Buc is not herself throughout this book. There are various mentions of something that happened with a fire and Sin and Eld working together to keep Buc sane. It isn't until the near the end that you get the story about what actually happened. However, it means that one of the things about Buc that I loved from the first book is missing - her general f the establishment personality. She's decided to play the game instead and it really doesn't suit her.
Additionally, we are caught up in lots of love angst between Buc and Eld that just drives me mad. You want to just bang their heads together.
Throughout the book, Buc seems younger and less mature than she did in the first book, and I think that's what kind of annoys me. It's like she has regressed. She has lost sight of her goals and what she wants and what she's striving towards in terms of fixing her world.
The big reveal is very obvious as well. Buc's super genius should have put it together long before she did.
However, I will say that the ending was good. It was very emotional. I didn't like the ending, per se, but it was good and well written. There was lots of action throughout the book and the pace was good when it didn't get too caught up in the politics, which sometimes led to it becoming a bit convoluted.
August 27, 2021
Struggling to find the words for this review. The two things that stick out are, Ryan Van Loan has done it again, a thrilling and compelling follow up to the excellent debit Sin in the Steel. And second, boy, I CAN'T WAIT for the finale! It's going to be incredible.
Van Loan's strength is his characters. Buc and Eld are fully fleshed out that you feel you know them, but Van Loan immediately throws you a curve ball by having them act very strangely. That's the catch - you know they shouldn't be acting this way and it works. In the first three chapters you see about a half dozen reasons it could be happening - and any of them are plausible. And thank the gods, it's not the bad sitcom trope that everything would work out if they just talked about it for two seconds. They DO talk about it, and it just makes things worse!
Of course. it's all Van Loan's evil design. At points reading the book I could almost see him pause at his writing desk to chuckle and twirl his moustache in glee at the twists and turns he's putting us all through. Point being, it;s a cliche, but this book is a damn roller coaster ride. I actually had to put the book aside at one point because it was affecting me so deeply.
The one issue I have is that the book is incredibly dense. There is a LOT going on here, i found myself re-reading passages relating to Buc's plans to make sure I understood. Also the book's internal time frame is disorienting. The action skips from one night to two days from now - but I expect at least some of this is intentional. See above paragraph.
In the end, it's a romping good time, a great sequel to an excellent novel, and there are so many places to go (hell, there is so much I haven't mentioned in this book!) that the third book in the series is going to be an absolute killer.
Van Loan's strength is his characters. Buc and Eld are fully fleshed out that you feel you know them, but Van Loan immediately throws you a curve ball by having them act very strangely. That's the catch - you know they shouldn't be acting this way and it works. In the first three chapters you see about a half dozen reasons it could be happening - and any of them are plausible. And thank the gods, it's not the bad sitcom trope that everything would work out if they just talked about it for two seconds. They DO talk about it, and it just makes things worse!
Of course. it's all Van Loan's evil design. At points reading the book I could almost see him pause at his writing desk to chuckle and twirl his moustache in glee at the twists and turns he's putting us all through. Point being, it;s a cliche, but this book is a damn roller coaster ride. I actually had to put the book aside at one point because it was affecting me so deeply.
The one issue I have is that the book is incredibly dense. There is a LOT going on here, i found myself re-reading passages relating to Buc's plans to make sure I understood. Also the book's internal time frame is disorienting. The action skips from one night to two days from now - but I expect at least some of this is intentional. See above paragraph.
In the end, it's a romping good time, a great sequel to an excellent novel, and there are so many places to go (hell, there is so much I haven't mentioned in this book!) that the third book in the series is going to be an absolute killer.
August 13, 2021
Buc and Eld are back! They are on the board of the Kanados Trading Company after successfully defeating the ghost pirate queen in the exciting The Sin in the Steel (paper). In the process Buc picked up a shard of a Goddess that gives her super powers and a being who wants to connect back to the goddess. Ostensibly hired by the Doga of Servenza to find out who is trying to assassinate her, the path leads to a woman trying to cause rebellion. Quickly allies become enemies, and the young runners, the pair use to aid their investigation, are frequently murdered. Is there The Justice in Revenge (hard from Tor) Ryan Van Loan is asking. Everyone is trying to use the ancient enmity between the priests of the Dead Gods who use blood to change their shape, and the Sin eaters under direct control of their goddess. Very exciting and I can’t wait for the final book of the trilogy. Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press
July 6, 2022
Well...
Well...
As brutal as an ice-pick straight in the heart! Such a brilliant book. Builds on the foundations book one built, develops the characters in unforeseen but wholly believable ways, and that world -building! I enjoyed this one even more than the first and can't wait for book 3!
Not sure I'll ever quite forgive the author, but what an adventure!
Well...
As brutal as an ice-pick straight in the heart! Such a brilliant book. Builds on the foundations book one built, develops the characters in unforeseen but wholly believable ways, and that world -building! I enjoyed this one even more than the first and can't wait for book 3!
Not sure I'll ever quite forgive the author, but what an adventure!
Read
July 27, 2021DNF @ 55%
September 3, 2021
The Justice in Revenge is the second (and final) novel in Ryan Van Loan's The Fall of the Gods series. It's also a novel that I've been really looking forward to, as I adored The Sin in the Steel.
Buc and Eld return with more politics, adventures, and dangers than ever before. Yes, they succeeded in their last mission, but that doesn't mean their story is over, far from it. In fact, thanks to a new entity residing within Buc, there are more complications than ever.
Not to mention Buc's determination to destroy the Kanados Trading Company from within. That takes careful planning – and work. Something neither Eld nor Buc will shy away from. However, they are unprepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
"Now I swam in a sea of boardroom intrigue and backdoor politics that continually took me by surprise: the drowning waves. I'd no intention of slipping under, but isn't that what everyone believes?"
It's no secret that I had been counting down the days to The Justice in Revenge. I enjoyed The Sin in the Steel, and yet I had so many questions about what was going to happen next. Including what was going on within Buc herself.
While I did get those answers (mostly), I'm not going to pretend that I loved this novel as much as I had hoped. Sure, it was entertaining and interesting at times. But there were other times where I sincerely did consider putting the book down, at least for a little while.
The angst between Buc and Eld really got to me at points, making it difficult to read and even harder to want to invest in anything that they were doing. This is unfortunate because I still love the whole 'take the evil company down from the inside out' plot. It's an old one, but it is always fun.
All of those complaints aside, the ending somehow managed to crush me. That's the reward I get for reading to the end. Conclusions always get me, so I know I'm probably reacting a little stronger than normal. And yet, I didn't see this finale coming. It somehow feels right and yet very wrong at the same time.
Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Buc and Eld return with more politics, adventures, and dangers than ever before. Yes, they succeeded in their last mission, but that doesn't mean their story is over, far from it. In fact, thanks to a new entity residing within Buc, there are more complications than ever.
Not to mention Buc's determination to destroy the Kanados Trading Company from within. That takes careful planning – and work. Something neither Eld nor Buc will shy away from. However, they are unprepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
"Now I swam in a sea of boardroom intrigue and backdoor politics that continually took me by surprise: the drowning waves. I'd no intention of slipping under, but isn't that what everyone believes?"
It's no secret that I had been counting down the days to The Justice in Revenge. I enjoyed The Sin in the Steel, and yet I had so many questions about what was going to happen next. Including what was going on within Buc herself.
While I did get those answers (mostly), I'm not going to pretend that I loved this novel as much as I had hoped. Sure, it was entertaining and interesting at times. But there were other times where I sincerely did consider putting the book down, at least for a little while.
The angst between Buc and Eld really got to me at points, making it difficult to read and even harder to want to invest in anything that they were doing. This is unfortunate because I still love the whole 'take the evil company down from the inside out' plot. It's an old one, but it is always fun.
All of those complaints aside, the ending somehow managed to crush me. That's the reward I get for reading to the end. Conclusions always get me, so I know I'm probably reacting a little stronger than normal. And yet, I didn't see this finale coming. It somehow feels right and yet very wrong at the same time.
Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews