Aiduel's Sin

The Illborn Saga #2

by Daniel T. Jackson

How does the opportunity ever arise for one person to alter the destiny of a world?

As the nations of Angall move closer to a Holy War, the four Illborn are to face momentous challenges, while seeking answers about who they are and what their growing powers mean.

After Arion and Allana are drawn to opposing sides in the coming conflict, their mutual obsession threatens to bring ruin to them both. In Arlais, Leanna finds herself a target of both the Holy Church and of the killers who are closing in on her. And in Karn, Corin must respond to a deadly new peril, whilst coping with the devastating aftermath of the attack on his wife.

How will the choices and actions of the four shape each of their destinies? Only this much is certain; the mysteries of the Gate and of their dreams still await them, and there will be no peace for the Illborn.

Aiduel’s Sin is the thrilling and emotive second instalment of The Illborn Saga, the acclaimed epic fantasy series by Daniel T. Jackson.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Ebooks, Magic

650 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2023

About the author

Daniel T. Jackson is a fantasy enthusiast, with a love for fantastical worlds and epic adventures. After 25 years of creating stories for friends and family, Daniel finally escaped from his day job to fulfil his lifelong ambition of writing Illborn. With The Illborn Saga, he hopes to create the next classic fantasy series.

Daniel can also be found on Instagram on danieltjackson_illborn and on Threads (again, as danieltjackson_illborn).

Daniel is married with four children, and lives in the United Kingdom. He also loves hiking, cycling and piano, and volunteers for a number of good causes. Illborn was his first published novel, and he continued the epic story with Aiduel's Sin. Book Three, Gatebound, was published on 28th February 2025.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

Aiduel’s Sin is filled with compelling narrative, debatable actions, violent battle scenes, and revelations that left me excited for the rest of the series.

It has been one year and six months ago since I read Illborn by Daniel T. Jackson. Some of you might know already that Illborn provided me a riveting reading experience, and it is not far-fetched to say it is one of my favorite fantasy debuts. This is to say, Aiduel’s Sin has tall expectations to live up to, and fortunately, it did. We are halfway through the series now, and I can confirm that this second book in The Illborn Saga is another thrilling novel that rarely lets up its momentum. If you’re a fan of the first book, it is almost guaranteed you will love reading this one, too.

The story in Aiduel's Sin begins three months from where Illborn ended. As the nations of Angall move closer to a Holy War, the four Illborn face momentous challenges while seeking answers about who they are and what their growing powers mean. I will not touch too much on the detail of the story in my review here. This is the second book of a series, and I prefer readers reading this book encounter the twists and turns of Aiduel's Sin on their own. But if you have read the first book, you will know The Illborn Saga is a series about destiny, love, survival, responsibilities, leadership, and faith. This notion hasn't changed here. And once again, as exhibited in the storytelling, Jackson knows how to craft a narration that is hard to put down. The way he ended each character's POV chapter with a cliffhanger while making sure the beginning and the meat of every chapter were interesting is incredible. I am a fan of character-driven fantasy stories, and as the four main character's storyline starts to converge more in Aiduel's Sin, the overall scope and stakes feel heightened.

Considering the character-driven nature of the series and how I wrote my review of Illborn based on my thoughts and feelings on each POV character, I will repeat that style again in this review. And I will start with Alanna. Since the first book, Alanna has always been a character that will test the reader's patience in Illborn. Here's the thing, I do believe she is intentionally written to be a hateable character. And in Aiduel's Sin, she's straying further into the darkness, especially with the new display of her power. I never liked Alanna, not since the first book, and definitely not here. I despise her even more now. Alanna is extremely selfish, never wanting to admit she is at fault, constantly causing damage to everyone, and will do any reprehensible actions for survival. But the way I see it is this. She was always established and written to be a villain. We're meant to hate her and her actions, and for that, I believe Jackson nailed his mission in writing her character. And more importantly, it cannot be denied her awful actions help make the other character's story more intriguing.

Leanna, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Alanna. If Alanna is on deeper descent into darkness, Leanna is on the path of light and kindness. Out of all the POV characters in Illborn, Leanna is the one that I felt I grew to like the most when they are compared to the first book. We have seen her capabilities with her power in Illborn, and in Aiduel's Sin, similar to Alanna, we get to witness the next level of her power, and it was badass. But her power alone is not the sole element that turns Leanna into a more likable character. But the characterizations and her firm decisions regarding how to use her gifted power were the things that made it easy for me to like her character. It was so enjoyable to read her chapters, and as she and the other main POV character's story converges deeper in Aiduel's Sin, the character's dynamic and interactions felt even more engaging.

I have mentioned in my review of Illborn that out of the four POV characters, Arion was the POV character I liked the most. The coming-of-age and battle school trope in his story felt familiar and immersive to me. It was also great and satisfying to witness how great he is at his battle skills now. And although, in my opinion, there is no weak POV character in Aiduel's Sin, I cannot choose Arion as my favorite POV character to read here. This, again, is not because the quality of Arion's chapters felt weaker. However, due to the toxic infatuation he has with one of the Illborn, it felt a bit repetitive to see him constantly making the wrong decisions. This isn't a fault per se, the reason behind this repetition never felt off, and it was definitely in line with the narrative and character development. But on the downside, it did result in the way his storyline developed being the most predictable. Fortunately, this did not persist throughout the whole novel. By the end of Aiduel's Sin, especially after all the battles, and the life-changing revelations and prophecies, I am incredibly intrigued to read the next phase of his story.

And all of this led me to the last character to discuss, Corin. At the moment, Corin and Leanna are my favorite POV characters to read in Illborn. I am genuinely terrified and invested in their fates. Although Corin did not make as many appearances in Aiduel's Sin compared to the other three converging POV characters, Corin's storyline provided the needed answers and hints regarding the history and the world of Illborn. Indeed, Corin's story did not cross the path of the other three POV characters in this book, but his storyline never felt disjointed from them. The secrets uncovered in his chapters are undoubtedly still related to Alanna, Leanna, and Arion.
One more thing, I have been talking about the same four characters from Illborn in my review here, but in Aiduel's Sin, Jackson put more spotlight on the characters in the prologue of Illborn. And I am impressed. I did not expect the development of this character at all, and it was all for the better. Unfortunately, discussing this is heavy spoiler territory, and I will leave it to you to find out for yourself.

With all that said, after everything I read in Illborn and Aiduel’s Sin, I am confident in marking The Illborn Saga as one of my favorite ongoing series right now. We are still two books away from the completion of the series. And as a sequel, Aiduel’s Sin is a high-energy action-packed sequel brimming with surprising revelations and prophecies that will keep readers guessing what events will unfold next in the penultimate volume of the series. I am in the middle of waiting for my copy of The Broken Binding Press edition of Illborn to arrive, and I hope The Broken Binding will release a stunning edition of Aiduel's Sin, too, in the future. I guess that means I will be waiting for two books by Jackson next, The Broken Binding Press edition of Aiduel's Sin, and of course, the next installment of The Illborn Saga. Until then, if you love reading a gripping character-driven fantasy series with characters that makes questionable decisions, pick up this series.

You can order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)

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[Library of a Viking · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in 2023 👏

Yes, I know we are in January still but there is no way this will not be in my top 10 at the end of the year. This book was just as good as Illborn. What I love about this book is that every chapter feels like an episode of a show. I can't describe how invested I feel in this world and in these characters.

This book is a near perfect sequel. The stakes are increased, the word is even more fleshed out, the characters gain more depth and the twists and turns are incredible! I was also amazed how seamlessly Jackson was able to interweave the various plotlines This is a chunky book but it didn't feel long.

I could probably write a long essay for why I loved this book but I will just say this - please pick up this series. It is criminally underrated and one of my favourite ongoing series.

5 / 5

[Dom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illborn was one of my favourite books of 2021, so I pounced on the opportunity to read Aiduel’s Sin, and it did not disappoint. In fact, I wouldn’t be exaggerating to say it somehow exceeded my very high expectations.

There’s a bit of a gap between the two books, so there’s a little bit of backfilling to let the reader know what’s taken place over the three months since the end of Illborn, but once that’s over, the book hits high intensity and just doesn’t let go.

We continue here with the four-character alternating POV, with a few interludes and a prologue from the same POV as that in Illborn. The main difference in that department is the there’s a new “main” character who becomes attached to one of our four Illborn.

I *really* liked this change. The POV is still that of the Illborn, but this new addition, who had just a cameo in the first book, was a revelation. Not only in storyline, with the added knowledge they brought, but also in their character. This character quickly became a favourite, and a real highlight of the book for me.

The story really moves forward, across all four POVs, though some seem to develop towards an apparent endgame quicker than others. Each plotline has its own moments that provide thrills and intrigue, and each is excellent in its own right.

I genuinely cannot remember reading a book that ran for so long on such high intensity as I experienced here. It’s not hyperbole for me to say it was excellent and that I was genuinely wowed by it. Again, I really liked Illborn, and had high hopes for Aiduel’s Sin, and yet I still can’t quite believe how much I liked it. I didn’t think there was *that* much room for improvement from such a solid debut, but DTJ somehow managed it all the same.

I think if you read and enjoyed Illborn, you should definitely enjoy this—hopefully as much as I did. Take all the good things you experienced in that first book, turn the dials up a good few notches, and you have Aiduel’s Sin.

I finished this book on January 16th, and I’m already certain that it will be in my top three come the end of the year. I just had *that* good a time with it. Well done DTJ. Well done.

[Tom Dumbrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put simply, this book is excellent. If you enjoyed ILLBORN you’ll love this. If you were on the fence with ILLBORN then you should 100% continue with what is sure to be a spectacular series.

At the heart of things, @danieltjackson_illborn has improved in every way. The language is elegant but accessible and written in a way that puts story and characters first. As a reader you are able to glide through the pages of this tome effortlessly and find that, once more, despite the depth and page count, Aiduel’s Sin is a very quick read.

From the characters, we see growth and nuance that will challenge your perceptions from the first book, often in surprising or exciting ways. Plot lines are cleverly interwoven and the larger context of the story becomes clearer with each page establishing a climax that will have you asking “when is book three due to be released?”

Another book that reads like a major release from a veteran author. It has been a pleasure to witness the wide readership of ILLBORN and I wish @danieltjackson_illborn every success with the sequel. To my mind, he has already succeeded.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Daniel T. Jackson has done it again, producing another page turning book. Aiduel's Sin follows on from the events that happened at the end of book one and although nothing will ever beat the prologue of ILLBORN, the rest of this book I thought was a lot stronger and more immersive.

There was once a book described as "a fusion of plain spoken simplicity that becomes the complexly lyrical." I couldn't quite put my finger on how to describe Jackson's writing but I think this description sums it up nicely. There are moments in this book which are slow and intentional, quiet moments that are extremely emotional, then there is the contrast of battle and fury. Jackson has interlaced both these opposites with clarity and ease. He is also able to write an understandable battle scene which I highly appreciate.

As with ILLBORN, my favourite storyline followed Corin. His plotline is incredibly unique and so very interesting. Corin is a character who uses his powers for the good and betterment of his tribe and loved ones. In contrast, Allana uses her power for herself only. Her plotline and story arc is quite grim and dark as she goes through a character change. Arion and Leanna also have interesting plot lines in the book. Arion, who still has feelings for Allana, makes some risky and bad choices, which catch up with him. Leanna on the other hand, is forced into a position she's not too keen on, having to leave her home to seek safety. She is accompanied by one of my favourite characters in the book and I really enjoyed her chapters. Aiduel's Sin allows us to get more of an insight into each characters personality and motivations and we also delve deeper into the unusual recurring dream they all keep having.

Jackson's growth as an author is exponential. ILLBORN proved that he could write an engaging and unique story but Aiduel's Sin has further proven his skill as not just a great storyteller but also a brilliant writer.

This book is full of twists and turns, cliffhanger chapters that keep you turning the pages and revelations that will leave you in awe. I don't think I've ever read a chunky book so fast.
Strap in for an awesome read.

[Eli24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

بلاخره بعد از چندماه طول کشیدن و اسلامپ شدن و ... بلاخره تمامش کردم😅
این جلد از مجموعه خیلی حرصم داد... پر از تصمیمات احمقانه و اشتباه بود پر از کارای حرصی بود لحظه ای نبود که از دست شخصیتا حرص نخورم و خیلی هم زیاده گویی داشت(نویسنده جان کمتر رو تفکرات و نگرانی های ذهنی شخصیتا وقت بزار. با تشکرات🚶🏻‍♀️) ولی این وسط چیزی که خیلی دوست داشتم یکی این بود که اینبار شخصیتای داستان با هدف از قدرتشون استفاده میکردن، قدرتشون داشتن میشناختن و اونو در اختیار میگرفتن گرچه هنوز خیلی چیزا راجب این قدرت مرموزه و به این مرموز بودن mella هم اضافه شده... بازم مثل جلد اول دقیقا لحظات اخرکتاب نویسنده کاری کرد که مشتاق خوندن جلد بعدی بشم 🤭
لیانا مهربون
کورین درست کار
اریون احمق🚶🏻‍♀️
الانا هرزه
خیلی حرصم دادن ولی بازم نمیتونم ازشون دست بکشم و بازم میخوام بیشتر و بیشتر از قبل ادامه کتابو بخونم و بفهمم🫠
پ.ن: کادین چرا یهو دلبر شد؟🤭

[P.L. Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided below.

Please be advised re: spoilers for "Illborn", I will be touching upon events from the first installment of this series in this review.

I chose Book One of the "Illborn Saga: - "Illborn", a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO 7) semi-finalist - as my personal #1 favourite Indie fantasy book of the year. 

This novel made a LOT of other readers' / bloggers' Indie best lists, since it was published in 2021, and has become one the darlings of the Indie fantasy circuit. 

So one can imagine just how enthusiastic I was to read Book Two of the "Illborn Saga", entitled "Aiduel's Sin". When the incredible author, Daniel T. Jackson, offered up the ARC, I couldn't type "yes" to accept, fast enough.

So, how does this sequel measure up to the lofty heights reached by its predecessor?

The appropriate word to be used here, I believe, would be "surpassed". 

In "Aiduel's Sin", we return to Jackson's medieval-style world of Angall, which seems on the brink of explosion into major conflict. In this backdrop, taking place approximately four months following the conclusion of events in "Illborn", the storylines of our four main POV characters, the Illborn, are an interesting contradiction. For as the Illborn grow in power, prestige, and acclaim, their lives become more complex, dangerous, and even terrifying, as they move inevitably towards whatever their eventual destinies are. 

And the Illborn can summon magic that they do not completely understand, nor are they sure they can completely control.

Fate seems destined to separate Allana and Arion, almost as punishment for their shared fixation with each other.

Allana is drawing closer and closer to Duke Jarrett, Arion's mortal enemy. Trying to position herself to become more than just Jarrett's mistress, the ambitious Allana still has her eyes on any man in her orbit who might give her the safety, security, and life of privilege she seeks, including Jarrett's social betters. 

But Jarrett's mother has no love for Allana, and Allana will have to use all her wits to prevent her plans from falling to catastrophe. She still dreams, however, of being with Arion, who she believes is her soulmate, the man she cannot forget. What will she risk to reunite with the married Arion, and reestablish their connection, that seems undeniable? 

Allana will use her cunning, and exploit her considerable beauty and powers of seduction, to get what she wants out of life. But to what depths of darkness is she willing to go to achieve her ends, in terms of wielding the dread magical power of the Illborn? For Allana's words are: LUST, POWER, DOMINATION.

Arion revels in his new reputation as a war hero, but that has come at a cost. His guilty, secret obsession with Allana has driven a wedge between him and his wife, he's turned to drinking and carousing. His brother, the new Duke, is also disappointed in his performance as a noble, and husband. Moreover, as much as he is a hero in his own lands, he's a hated foe to his enemies, and it seems his enemies are determined to assassinate him. 

Arion is also haunted by visions of certain doom, involving powerful friends. Arion is determined to continue to be a hero, and bring honour and glory to his family name. But despite his formidable powers, is he strong enough to survive? And will his obsession for Allana be his ultimate downfall? Arion must rise above temptation, in order to triumph, and to fulfill his words of: “STRENGTH, VICTORY, GLORY”.

Once sacrificed to the stake, to be burned as a witch, Leanna is now revered as a saint and miracle-worker. But far from being able to live in the protection of the Holy Church, there are elements within the church who want her destroyed. Her unlikely protector becomes none other than Caddin, the hulking, dangerous fanatic who was at the centre of the shocking prologue in the first book. 

Leanna is entirely devout, kind, stalwart in her faith and devotion to duty and doing right, but will she be compelled to do wrong, to protect those she cares about? And now knowing other Illborn exist, will she strive to align with them, or will she be forced to become their enemies, to save them from harming others? Leanna must remember her words are: “DEVOTION, SACRIFICE, SALVATION”.

Finally, Corin has emerged as a demi-god like figure, and a unifying force for the clans of his region. Outside forces seek to challenge his rule, but Corin is seeking to expand his reach and influence, to unite ALL the tribes, for the sake of survival, and to ensure his people can truly thrive. 

With the formidable Blackpaw beside him, Corin has a plan to attain his ends. Still, his priority is the love of his life, his wife Agbeth, who is seemingly afflicted by a life-threatening condition. Corbin decides to embark on a perilous quest to save her, that will reveal more truths about his place as an Illborn, and of the origins of his faithful companion, the fearsome beast, Blackpaw, where his powers will be severely tested. He must live up to his words of: “FEAR, CONTROL, ORDER”.

Amidst all this, a leader of the church has declared those who have disobeyed his edicts, and formed a splinter church, and those who follow them, apostates. A religious war erupts. All the main characters are caught up in the conflict, and forced to choose sides. This war has MAJOR implications for the characters coming into one another's orbit, and the results will be simply explosive.

Meanwhile, the rise to power of the man-god, the Christ-like Lord Aiduel, is seen, stunning, tragic, glorious, and portentous. Is Aiduel himself drawing all four Illborn together, to destroy the world? Or save it? And who, if any, of the four Illborn will survive?

Jackson continues to provide exemplary character-driven fantasy, centered on the development of four complex protagonists, with their four distinct narrative voices. Building on the first book of the series, even though at least two of the main characters - Arion and Allana - are arguably highly flawed, even unlikable, Jackson makes the reader empathize with them, and care deeply about their fates, beyond just how those two relate to the other primary players. 

Even the more likable Corin and Allana, are subject to questionable decision making at times, and even hubris that endangers themselves and those around them. 

Their choices may be dubious, but everything they do is highly plausible, given their unique personalities and circumstances. In the end, these characters are impeccably drawn, and highly relatable, and they are the crown jewels in this amazing novel. 

Because of its characters, how one will not be able to rest, will need to keep reading, to find out what happens to them, and what they do next, combined with the fabulous pacing of the book, this is an unputdownable novel.

Jackson put his primary characters through hell, and makes those around them suffer even worse because of the choices those primary characters make. This book is dark fantasy at its best, where the characters you will be drawn to are a mess, and the consequences of what they do will invariably be messy. And you won't be able to pull your eyes away from the impending train wreck.

Moreover, the character journey in "Aiduel's Sin", now the main premise has been set out in "Illborn," takes on amazing new dimensions. As the protagonists begin to truly acclimate to their newfound power, while nervous and wary about the few others they share that kind of power with, how they should interact with them, what the others' agenda is, there is a feeling of complete uncertainty, angst, and dread. 

The Illborn were originally bound together by a mutual, mysterious dream. Now another common dream haunts them. This dream or vision prophesied their lives will take a very disturbing turn in the future. With this hanging over their heads, along with all the deadly situations they face in the present, the tension in this novel is ratcheted up several rungs from "Illborn", and you'll love it!

In terms of worldbuilding, like "Illborn", "Aiduel's Sin", the setting is inspired by medieval Europe. Readers will find elements that deem drawn from historical elements of the English Reformation, the Spanish Inquisition, the Knights Templar, the Crusades, and other aspects from the eras when those events and organizations were vividly alive. 

There were two amazing twists involving one of my favourite characters, the felrin, Blackpaw, as part of the worldbuilding in this novel, concerning Blackpaw's origins. I can't spoil it, but suffice to say, Blackpaw's origins will give you chills, for what it means for the rest of the series, and the powers the Illborn have a their disposal.

A great book for me has enthralling themes, and "Aiduel's Sin" has so many. Evil, depravity, love, lust, manipulation, religious fanaticism, persecution, murder, and obsession, to name a few. However, the religious themes in "Aiduel's Sin", as in "Illborn", deserve special notation. They are incredibly engrossing. Jackson will surely provoke thought with how he handles matters of religion and faith in this series. 

Some of the questions Jackson seems to pose in "Aiduel's Sin": Should the religious hierarchy be expected to rule over secular matters that unduly affect those following the faith, and influencing the geo-political landscape? Who determines what heresy is, the church, the state, or the individual? Is a person who experiences visions and can perform miracles a saint, or an apostate and witch? Is religion and faith worth dying for, and worth killing for? How devout is "devout enough"?   

Jackon's prose has also improved from his first book. Not that there were any glaring deficiencies AT ALL in the writing for ILLBORN, which was very well-written. The author's writing is effortless, clear, and accessible, just as in the first book, but with even more passages written so evocatively that the reader will be mesmerized.   

Everything about this book appealed to me. The fluid prose, the amazing characterization, the spellbinding action and compelling human drama, the fascinating storylines of each POV character.

The passionate obsession and longing, and simultaneous loathing and shame; the haunting and tragic dreams foreshadowing the characters' fates; the religious and political machinations surrounding the holy war, religious conservatism, dogma, and zealotry; the tribal strife; the riveting fight scenes; the sex, lust, love, and romance; the struggle against one's deepest fears, the conflicted loyalties - it was all delicious, expertly written, and just had me salivating for more.

Only about 50 pages shorter than "Illborn", "Aiduel's Sin" will reverberate in the reader's mind long after the last page is turned, and because it was just SO good, once more, I was left with the feeling I could read another 700-ish pages of this book, and not feel it was too long. It takes consummate skill with pacing to write long epic fantasy novels that don't lag at all: Jackson certainly possesses that skill. 

Finally, Jackson seamlessly weaves and spins the four main POVs, keeping the reader centered on their main stories, while never letting us forget there is an overarching plot that will finally bring all their individual arcs and irrevocably tie them together. It's masterful storytelling, and I can't help but be deeply impressed with how Jackson manages this, like a veteran writer, rather than one who's published only his second novel.

Once more, 2023 has got off to a raucous start in terms of my reads so far. Amongst some fantastic Indie books, "Aiduel's Sin" is certainly occupying the top spot at the moment, very very early in my 2023 rankings. Of course, it is quite possible, this novel ends up being my favourite Indie SFF read in 2022. 

The sequel to "Illborn" is highly, highly recommended, just like book one, stars off the rating scale. I understand this series will be a quadrilogy. I will read the final books in this four-book series as soon as they are available, without question. 

If you love your series dark and wonderfully character-driven, with plenty of action, immersive, but fast-paced, where no character is safe, the world gets grimmer as the series progresses, and you've enjoyed "A Song of Ice and Fire", "Prince of Nothing", and "Gunmetal Gods", the "Illborn Saga" is for you.

Like those other series mentioned, be warned, there is plenty of grimness here, as the stakes have been raised from the first book, actions become more desperate and depraved, and our main characters struggle constantly against their own sense of morality, faith, and even sanity.

The accomplishment of making the sequel to Illborn even BETTER was no small feat, but the author delivered. "Aiduel's Sin" has cemented Daniel T. Jackson as, very quickly, becoming one of the most exciting writers in Indie dark fantasy. 

[James Harwood-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that is how you write a sequel!

Aiduel’s Sin triumphantly continues the pulse pounding action of its predecessor.

Daniel T. Jackson once again shines in his ability to deftly shift through each engrossing storyline. Every chapter leaving the reader on the edge of their seat. Some incredibly huge battles are awe inspiring here. What is truly remarkable however is your excitement increases when the lead characters intersect.

One strong aspect of this book is the emotion it elicits. I found myself drawn into the relationships and inner turmoil the characters suffer. People are hurting in this war torn world. Not just our protagonists either. It fleshes out the story and makes it feel real.

I’d be remiss without mentioning the haunting downward spiral for one of my personal favourites. I got chills at the continuing descent.

There are the captivating mysteries as well. Everything from prophetic dreams, spirits and a shadowy new entrant. As with any great writer, the more you find out the deeper the enigma grows.

This sequel delivered in every way possible. Definitely one of the premier epic fantasy choices out there.

Much thanks to the author for this ARC. Was an absolute thrill to receive.

[The Fantasy Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler-Free Aiduel's Sin Book Review

Aiduel's Sin is a fast-paced, more action-packed sequel to the brilliant Illborn by Daniel T. Jackson. Despite being around 670 pages, this book was quick to read, with the ending of every chapter leaving you no choice but to continue reading!


A Great Sequel

Often, though not always, the book that follows a brilliant debut can be disappointing, because of just how good the first book was. This is not the case with Aiduel's Sin.

In my opinion, Aiduel's Sin might even be a bit better than Illborn, and I read them back-to-back. Because we don’t need to be introduced to any characters, main locations, possible threats, ect, the story can just be told swiftly and easily with nothing to bog it down.

As I mentioned before, Aiduel's Sin is a more action-packed book than Illborn, with the conflicts huge in scope. The fallout from these conflicts and the consequences of characters’ actions have major impacts on the world and story.


Magic, Mystery & Twists

This is a spoiler-free Aiduel's Sin book review, so it’s a bit tricky to cover these parts of the book, but they played a huge role in my enjoyment of the book.

There is a lot of payoff from book 1, Illborn. Daniel T. Jackson is either an obsessive plotter and has this story mapped out like Tolkien or Sanderson, or he’s a genius at writing off the cuff!

Either way I am astounded by how well everything links together. Sure, there are still 1000 questions I want answers too, but we are given enough in book 2 to keep us excited about finding out more.


Character Work

In Aiduel's Sin the characters shine through. Now the learning curve of the first book is over, so much more time is spent developing their fears, motivations, and relationships.

Allana and Arion are particularly interesting characters, with the former having very surprising and intriguing twists. We begin Illborn believing our point of view characters are “good” but things are more complicated than that.

I don’t mean the characters are “grey”, like one might say of those in A Song of Ice and Fire or The First Law series. These people feel real, with inner conflicts that could make them just emotionally upset, or cause them to do a lot of harm.

No one is a cardboard cutout and everyone is at risk of dying. My heart was in my throat during so much of this book!


Final Thoughts

I have had an amazing time with Aiduel's Sin and was genuinely sad it was over! I was lucky enough to have no breaks between books 1 and 2, but now I’m already waiting for book 3.

If you haven’t read Illborn, you are missing out. If you have read book 1, dive right into Aiduel's Sin - you won’t be disappointed!

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[Arundeepak J · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Aiduel's Sin by Daniel.T.Jackson is an immersive sequel to Illborn with complex characterisation and clever plotting.

First of all, a huge thanks to the author for the e-ARC and it goes without saying that this review is my unbiased opinion.

PLOT

Following the events of Illborn, Andar and the Holy Church is on the brink of a War. Arion and Allana find themselves on the opposing sides. Leanna finds herself in a troubling situation after the event at pyre at the end of Illborn and Corin is doing everything to unite the Clans of Bergen to ensure peaceful life for his people.


WHAT WORKED FOR ME IN THIS BOOK

Characters: As with Illborn, most of the story is told from the perspective of our 4 main characters. Aside from Arion, I loved all the POV (More about Arion's POV later). Each character is written with such care and precision, you can see how much work the author put out in the pages. Their thought process, decision making everything feels true to their character and nothing stands out.

Corin still remains my favourite POV even though his storyline is the farthest away from main storyline. His need to protect the clans and his wife is so compelling to read and of course BLACKPAW. If something happens to Corin or Blackpaw I'm gonna start throwing puches.

Writing Another thing I loved about Illborn is the pacing and prose. Daniel took everything we loved about Illborn and turned it upto a eleven. The pacing is almost perfect. It was slow when it was dealing with emotional situations and fast when it's action sequences and it worked tremendously well.

Another thing I absolutely loved about Aiduel's Sin is how every character justifies their actions in a way that might look sinister or unjustifiable to the others and how blind belief changes you and how you view the world.



WHAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME IN THIS BOOK

As I said above, Arion's POV did NOT work for me at all. I liked his POV in Illborn. But here, his POV is like making one stupid decision after another to a point I was like a he definitely gonna f**k up once again. I'm not saying his actions are out of character but still it's just he does really stupid things repeatedly.

Near 75% mark, a character does something with their power that is just so sudden. There was no hint about it or anything. They just suddenly did the thing that protects the city. I was somewhat put off by it.


FINAL WORLD: Aiduel's Sin is a compelling sequel that sets the path for many intriguing confrontations and revelations for the sequel(s). Definitely one of my favourite ongoing series.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic sequel! I had high hopes for book two in the Illborn Saga and Aiduel’s Sin did not dissatisfy. The growth of all the characters and the plot was stellar to say the least. Many of my favorite characters have become to feel like siblings to me and reading each chapter was a balm to my soul – I had missed being in such an imaginative world. One thing I loved about Illborn was the constant cliffhangers and was glad to see that Aiduel’s Sin was just as cliffhangery as its predecessor. I was overjoyed to see more Blackpaw too!

Jackson’s advancement as an author was evident as well with glaringly detailed scenes both on and off the battlefield. He excels with such a vivid narrative it’s easy to get lost in each and every scene. One thing I loved the most was the morally skewed components of a certain character as their story progressed. (I don’t want to name names and potentially ruin it for new readers) However, I appreciate that this individual is one that I love to hate, and I cannot wait to see how their time here plays out.

So many questions were answered and still there’s so many more to ask, but I could not be happier with my first read of 2023! Yet another epic tale that I highly recommend to anyone looking to seek adventure with a creative magic system and whole heck of a lot of action to be had.

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for my honest review. These thoughts are my own.

[Karin (book_scent) · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say Aiduel’s Sin was an anticipated release would be the understatement of the year. As soon as I finished reading Illborn in 2021, I knew I would be anxiously awaiting the sequel and time couldn’t move fast enough. So, I felt very, very lucky and jumped at the chance when Daniel T. Jackson kindly offered to provide me with an ARC. Here we are, more than a year later and YES - it was definitely worth the wait!

Illborn did a great job establishing the 4 protagonists as well as Angall and its central principles. With Aiduel’s Sin we dive deeper into the world, explore new locations, and learn more about the personal & political dynamics at play. It’s been a few months since we left the main characters at the end of book 1, and they’ve all been struggling with the aftermath of their decisions, trying to find their way forward. While some grow and find strength in their new-found power and the responsibility that comes with it, others are too focused on themselves to realize their destructive behavior. Corin’s storyline was, again, one of my favorites. I loved seeing him come into his own, growing more and more confident, never giving up, always fighting for his love, Agbeth, and his people. I also admired Leanna for remaining strong in her faith. Despite horrendous behaviour from members of the church, which could easily lead her to forsake everything it stands for, she never doubts or strays from her path. Arion, on the other hand, keeps making one bad decision after another, and there were definitely times where I felt like yelling at him for being this infuriating. Directly linked to that is Allana - a character so selfish & self-absorbed, she makes it very easy to dislike her (as intended, I’m sure). She sees herself as good and justifies even the most gruesome deeds, while acting objectively evil and with total disregard of others.

I love how different and flawed the characters are. They all have their struggles and obstacles to overcome, but how they go about dealing with these things differs a lot, driving some of them to extremes - yet it never feels out of character for any of them. I can’t wait to find out where the story takes them next and where (and what) the characters ultimately end up (being). Some of the side characters (Blackpaw, Amyss, Caddin) also really stood out to me and I loved what they added to the story. I didn’t expect certain moments to hit me so hard - but hit hard they did!

The writing made it very easy to fall back into the very distinct POVs and follow along everyone’s rollercoaster of a journey. The small cliffhangers at the end of the chapters have become a characteristic element and they made this, once again, a page-turner. Yes, the book is on the chunky side, but it’s a fast-paced story, where so much happens, and - like with book 1 - it’s just hard to put down and stop reading.

The world Daniel T. Jackson has created here is so immersive and I loved being back. Aiduel’s Sin is filled with revelations, loss, battles, heartache, and hopelessness, but also tender moments, love, strength, and perseverance; and just enough answers to feel somewhat satisfied, while new mysteries leave us wanting for more. You can tell Jackson knows exactly where this story is going, and he has a clear path in mind that is going to lead us there. With this second installment The Illborn Saga has firmly cemented its status as one of my favourite ongoing series. I simply can’t recommend this epic tale enough!!

Thanks again to Daniel T. Jackson for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Francisca Liliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

“I’ve been damned by The Lord for longer than I care to mention, girl. Why should I care about one more act of sin.”

It’s been a long and lonesome road waiting for this book to be available. Jackson was kind enough to offer me an E-ARC of Aiduel’s Sin and I couldn’t have been more excited when I saw this chonker waiting for me in my inbox.

Aiduel’s Sin starts off three months after the events in Illborn. In Arlasis, Leanna discovers that the Holy Church has not abandoned their efforts in seeing her dead. From afar in Septholme, Arion struggles to adjust to life after the events in Arlais. His dreams threaten violence, and it will be his choices that decide the fate of those around him. From the opposing side, Allana makes herself at home within Berun Castle, but is the safety, and protection of her new position enough? Her time with Arion still plagues her mind and their mutual obsession has the power to start wars. In Karn, Corin has risen far from being the Runt. New enemies are brewing evil deeds, but Corin must discover the cure to his wife’s aliment in the aftermath of her devastating attack. The choices of these four individuals have the capacity to change the world, and it looks more and more like a change for the worse.

It cannot be overstated that this series is one of the most underrated out there. I fell in love with Illborn’s fast pace and fascinating characters. Aiduel’s Sin only continues these themes and executes them so well that I couldn’t put this book down. Like its predecessor, Aiduel’s Sin begs the reader to stay up into the late hours of the night. Jackson has a wonderful talent for ending his chapters on small cliffhangers that aren’t necessarily physically demanding but emotionally. The choices many of the characters make have massive consequences that aren’t seen until the climax of the story. It’s a slow trickle of bad decision after bad decision until finally, the glass ceiling breaks, and everyone is writhing bloody on the ground.

Let’s talk about the characters for a moment. No one in this book suffers more than Arion, and I don’t mean that in a way that is empathetic. The man makes every bad decision possible for reasons that are entirely understandable but also confounding. I love a good devolution, and wow does Arion sink to the bottom of his character arc. His choices are directly linked to Allana, whom I hate. This is in no way a criticism. I love hating Allana because I’m supposed to hate her. Everything that she does is for herself, possessing absolutely no accountability for any of her actions. She consistently blames others for her misfortune and takes matters into her own hands when events don’t play out in the way she wants them to. Despite relying on others to bolster her into positions of power, Allana possesses an incredible amount of agency that makes her not only an interesting character to follow, but a multifaceted antagonist in this world. Nothing she does is ever out of character, and I appreciate how Jackson was able to make her evolution believable. This is also true of both Corin and Leanna. Corin has come leaps and bounds from where he was at the start of Illborn. His relationship with Agbeth is still the drive that motivates him to grow. Corin is hardly recognizable anymore, and that’s exactly what an arc is supposed to do. In contrast, Leanna’s motivation remains to be her faith and the people she’s come to love. Her blossoming relationship with Amyss was a highlight of her perspective and I really enjoyed the scenes with them together. One last character I’d like to discuss is Caddin. The man from Illborn’s now iconic prologue. There is much more revealed about his character, and it was entirely unexpected. I did not imagine his character to be where he is within Aiduel’s Sin. His motivations are both engaging and mysterious. I really enjoyed this surprising arc and I believe it only added to the richness of Jackson’s character writing.

Personally, what I most looked forward to in this novel were the answers to many of the mysteries surrounding the Illborn’s powers, and their dreams. Corin’s perspective provided the most answers to the questions we readers have been dying to know. The dreams, their powers and the Gate are all explained in ways that were interesting and unexpected. I did guess many of the outcomes, but the way that they were revealed still made for exciting revelations. Illborn zeroed in on Allana, Corin, Leanna, and Arion. Allowing us as readers to get to know them and understand their motivations. Aiduel’s Sin expands from that to allow Jackson’s world building a chance to take the stage. There is much more revealed in regard to the world surrounding the Illborn and their growing powers.

I only have one criticism and it is honestly more of an opinion and possible hope for the next installment. Leanna is a great character to follow and has an unshakable faith that’s become a cornerstone to her character. She is quite literally one of the only genuinely good people in this novel, and I love her so much for that. However, it does make her quite stagnant in my opinion. I didn’t find her to be much changed from Illborn, and I would’ve liked to have seen doubt creep into her resolve. She is mind-numbingly devout, and with everything that is revealed in this book I would like to see some kind of struggle with her faith in the next books. Arion, Corin, and especially Allana all possess a certain amount of unpredictability in their perspectives that Leanna just doesn’t. Her growth has been the least apparent, and if she doesn’t assume a broader perspective on her experiences and struggles, I fear of losing interest in her character.

Aiduel’s Sin is just as good as Illborn, if not better. There are plenty more battles and tension-filled confrontations. Moments where I had to put the book down and force myself to walk away. I loved how dark this book became. From the beginning of the novel, I had a sense of foreboding that continued through to the end of the book. Our characters still have much to learn, and how they react to this harrowing conclusion will set the tone for the following book in this rising fantasy series. I’m very much looking forward to how Jackson will continue their stories and where they will all end up.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aiduel’s Sin was fantastic! It delivers the same intensity and action as Illborn with more character depth and a twisty story I did not expect. It also finally answers what it means to be Illborn. Although I did like Illborn slightly more, this was a worthy follow-up that does not at all feel like a middle book.

A man uniting to his people. A woman devoting her life to doing the Lord’s work. A man bringing honor and glory to himself and his family. A woman surviving a harsh world. We return just 3.5 months after the events of the first book and follow the four Illborn as their own actions and destinies bring them towards victory and destruction.

After the triumphant and transcendent tone of Illborn, Aiduel’s Sin manages to knock everything down with a truly devastating story. Cracks are beginning to show in these four relatable characters that were built up in Illborn as what made them great may be exactly what ends up bringing them down as well. There’s battles, betrayals, and death as well as the reveal of a huge secret from the past that changes everything (see title).

You can really tell that Daniel T. Jackson has a vision for where this story is going as he adeptly guides each character and their choices through the events of the book, shaping both a character and event driven narrative. Two characters really came to the forefront for me as favorites, but there may be some bias on my part as their storylines went exactly where I wanted it to go. Meanwhile, the two others frustrated me as one made foolish decision after foolish decision while the other constantly made selfish choices in their own self interest. But each character stayed true to who they were, and I cannot wait to see what the next part of the story brings.

Aiduel’s Sin is the follow-up to Illborn (still the best indie fantasy I have read so far) and delivers an action-packed, character-focused story that lived up to my expectations for a sequel.

*I was provided an eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Blaise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The elation and great sense of wonder I felt when finishing Illborn earlier this year made my anticipation for the sequel that much greater. Author Daniel T. Jackson is a self-published author on the rise and this triumph of a sequel novel all but confirms that Aiduel’s Sin tops the iconic epic that Illborn was and throws it down a dark path no one will see coming. This series is climbing my all time series ranks with no idea what to expect in future novels. This will be a spoiler free review but I will be touching on events in the previous novel.

Leanna now finds herself anointed as a living saint after surviving the Holy Churches attempt to burn her at the stake. Now being the target of powerful people both good and bad, Leanna finds herself thrusted into the middle of a Holy War with both sides trying to find her. Although the stakes are high, Leanna finds solace with the one person you would not want to make angry. Arion did witness the miracle of Leanna’s rebirth but he still cannot shake the dreams that haunt him everyday. He continues to be more drawn away from his wife while still having thoughts of Allana whom he sent away for her safety in the previous novel. The war is about to arrive on Arion’s door step and he will have to make the most difficult decision of his life if he wishes to survive.

Allana now finds herself on the complete opposite side of the war with Arion and his people. Using her powers of desire and coercion, Allana has the Duke wrapped around her finger making all the choices she wishes to be done. Allana is still in love with Arion and will try to make contact with him as the army marching will be too much for him to bare. In Karn, Corin has united the northern tribes and has made the other tribes leaders swear fealty to his rule. The united tribes believe he is a god reborn and with his Felsin Blackpaw at his side no one will want to stand against him. That is until a southern tribe makes its plans know to Corin about its upcoming invasion putting the northern tribes at risk of death. Corin has no choice but to travel north to the gate he keeps seeing in his dreams to learn the truth and to heal his wife of the sickness that is haunting her dreams.

Each chapter just bled into the next until I was up late every night over the span of a week. The best parts of this book were the shocking revelations and character moments I never saw coming. I obviously can’t go into spoilers but I will say that I really loved that we got to see more of Caddin in this entry. For those of you needing a refresher, Caddin is the mercenary who killed Cillian in the prologue of Illborn. Cillian was a young boy who also showed magical powers just like the other four Illborn but Caddin put an end to him. That scene gets a lot more insight as well as glimpses into Caddin’s past and I was amazed at what was to be discovered. Corin continues to be my favorite character and even though he uses his powers to destroy his enemies in more ways than one, he has a good heart and wants to protect those he holds dear. Allana’s storyline starts to go down a much darker path than in Illborn and Arion is the pawn hanging in the balance. Each of the four Illborn continue to see the dream but we now have an extra wrinkle added: Only one can be given the power once they enter the gate. The Illborn’s powers are growing and it may cause the destruction of the world as we know it.

There is so much more I can talk about with Aiduel’s Sin but I do not wish to ruin any of it for you. The interlude chapters are fantastic just like in the first book with the one being a real doozy. Easily a five star read for me and top five book for 2023. Pick up this series now if you have not done so already and you will thank me later.

Cheers!

[Leaha Hosking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the fact that I read the first book in this series in June 2021 and didn't reread it before I began Aiduel's Sin, I fell back into this phenomenal world with ease. The character list at the beginning was helpful, but I needed no reminder of the four Main characters, as they were like those old friends you don't see for ages, but continue as if it was yesterday when you meet again. The story lines of each character were anything but comfortable, as the situations they faced became more dangerous and dire and the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing (and stressing).

The four POV were once again easy to follow. I enjoyed that this book has brought some of the stories closer together and we get to see some events from more than one characters perspective. The added element of the origin story was also something I feel added that extra facet of mystery at the same time providing the reader with many answers to Why? All those “Ah-ha!” moments I loved. Even this part of the story has left yet more questions to be answered and looked forward to in the next book.

The development of the characters in this book was superb. Each one had become so much more both in their abilities and as a person by the end. Book one introduced us to the Illborn and Aiduel's Sin let us grow with them and become better friends (well with most of them). One of the things that appealed to me was that they don't all just develop the same, they are all still very different characters, their unique qualities and motivations driving them forward on their individual journeys. Corin was once again my favorite of the 4. He is good and wants to use his powers to help his people. There is one who goes on a very different path to the others and my feelings towards them grew as well, but in the opposite direction.

Other characters became more involved and helped to get to know our MCs so much better. Amyss and Caddin Sendromm were two that played important roles and I was drawn to. But the character who came into his own and I was taken by was Blackpaw. This part of the story was in part rather gruesome, but I loved the loyalty of the ferlin and the backstory to this race.

Just as Daniel has enhanced the characters and made the story even more exciting, stressful and unputdownable, the writing of the book is even better than Illborn. (and that was superb). The build up to the major events is well paced and creates just the right amount of tension leading to a scene full of action and excitement. Between the action scenes the reader has just enough time to catch a breathe, get lulled into a false sense of security before heading off onto another nail-biting adventure. Hence this is a fast-paced story, that is easily devoured in a comparatively short time. Plot twists to rival the great thrillers, are thrown in at times that had me shaking my head and having no idea how things were going to play out. The ending provided just enough resolution to satisfy with plenty of questions to make me want to read the next book – whenever that may arrive. If it is another year or two, the wait will undoubtedly be worth it.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aiduel's sin is phenomenal! If you loved Illborn, and let's be honest who didn't, then you'll love this book even more. Jackson's done it again and he's back with another chunky page-turner.

It's so great to be back with these characters and in this world that @danieltjackson_illborn has masterfully created. I love them all but I have to say Corin's story and character arc was my favourite this time around. His story was just so interesting and exciting and I loved how he uses his powers for the people he loves and for his tribe and not for selfish reasons! (unlike someone I could mention. Naming no names) That's not to say the other characters story were less interesting because that couldn't be further from the truth! Arion, Leanna and Allana's chapters were equally exciting and tense and kept me awake reading into the early hours.

Jackson's writing is unmatched IMO and he's one of my favourite authors of all time and I still can't believe that this is only his second book! It couldn't be more evident with his detailed battle scenes, the twists and turns and the chapter-ending cliffhangers which just keep you wanting more! I had ten chapters left last night and had a world-ending migraine which left me unable to see out of one eye and still couldn't put it down until id finished

IT'S THAT GOOD! 5/5.

Still feeling the migraine so forgive me if this isn't a very detailed review.

[Ojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Shocking! Stunning! Beautiful! Provoking! Enthralling! Gripping! Intense!

Is it possible to feel so many different ways while reading a book? I felt in various turns pissed off, hollow, happy, angry... Turns out there are only so many English words available for the tons of emotions that I went through reading this book.

Aiduel's Sin! A sin so great! A sin I didn't see coming! Of course, there were hints in book 1 of what was to come, but I simply must say that I didn't see that coming! So many delicious twists in there, I'm almost tempted to reread the entire thing again just to sample its many sumptuous delights.

Alas, it's hard to recapture book feelings in all their initial intensity, in a reread. So, I'll have to settle for stamping a small fraction of my current feelings about the book in print, so many years from now, I can read this review and remember how awesome this was.

Daniel T. Jackson has taken what I officially tag as "flawed protagonism" to a whole new level. Traditional epic fantasy tends to deal in tropes, and for a long short while in book 1, I felt that the story would run parallel to this course.

However, in book 2, the author has decided to shove it entirely into our faces. What was only subtly hinted at and teased has now become an onrushing, stormy torrent, and we readers are absolutely bailing for dear life.

I HATE ALLANA! Never in the history of epic fantasy protagonists have I had cause to hate a character that was previously my favorite! Allana twists your guts, makes you bite your nails in frustration, and almost break someone's head in anger for want for a channel to pass aggression onto. As terrible as her storyline is, can she truly be blamed for her actions? Even in the modern world, we see women who've undergone similar ordeals turn out to be vengeful. Not everyone fully heals, and we do not all have the same level of fortitude. Hate Allana all you want, but ask yourself if you'd be capable of doing better in her stockings.

Arion, Arion, Arion. Silly boy! Stupid man! Like many men I know, he's ruled by his balls and inspired by the strength of his erection. And, just like these men, he subsequently makes life-altering decisions that affect the fates of those around him. Thankfully, he doesn't appear to be as far gone as Allana- I frankly don't envisage any happy ending for her at the end of the series.

Leanna, the Angel of Arlais, is still as deluded and stupid as she was in book 1. Although she's seemingly the most innocent of the four Illborn, her self-righteousness is frankly grating on my nerves. Talk about drawing on someone's power, and expecting them to be happy about it... DID YOU ASK FOR THEIR PERMISSION, YOU DIM-WITTED TWAT!!! Anyway, she's still one of my favourite characters so far, and I sense that she has a mediator role to play subsequently in the series, when the all-important convergence finally occurs. I mean, who's going to stop heads from rolling other than the Angel of Arlais??

Corin, Corin, Corin. His POV is my least favored, but unlike the other Illborn, he appears to have matured slightly. However, like the others, he's plagued by an illusion of self-importance, a feeling that is twin to destruction in the real world.

Aiduel's Sin is a rich, epic tale of four characters very much like you and I. There's no flattery here, no overdone personalities, good or bad. The characters are all shaped by their individual circumstances. Hate or love them, they only mirror this world, and all the brightly-dull shades of gray that exist.

Daniel T. Jackson's writing style also adds to the appeal of this book, and once again, I will not tire of praising his good work. It is authors like him that make fantasy worth reading, and I predict that this work will soon rank in the great halls of superb works in the genre's pantheon.

I rate this book a handy TEN out of FIVE stars.

Now hurry up please, Mr. Daniel. We don't want to have to wait too long for the next read!

[Jasvinder Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read full spoiler free review here, too-
The Reading Notions

First of all, I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to the author of this book for giving me an opportunity to read and review it. I am honoured to get an eARC.

Cover artist- Christian Bentulan
https://coversbychristian.com/


 A gripping story which has brutal battles and fights, holy war, political manoeuvres, top-notch character development and much more.

  Note:- There are many spoilers for book one of The Illborn Saga in this review. You can read my review of book one here-

Ever since I finished Illborn ( book one of The Illborn Saga), i have been eagerly waiting for its sequel. Aiduel’s Sin is one of my most anticipated books of 2023.

 

“I would rather die a free man, than live as a snivelling dog, trailing behind your ankles in fear and yapping every time that you throw me a small bone.”

There is three or four months’ time gap between the events of Illborn and  Aiduel’s Sin. Once again, the story follows four main POV characters- Arion, Leanna, Allana and Corin. I loved reading chapters from all these POVs, especially Corin’s POV chapters. Their characterization throughout the entire book has been done superbly. Everyone of them has clear motivations. These characters are not perfect. They make a lot of mistakes, as humans are prone to do.

Arion is the youngest brother of Gerrion Saipan, the duke of Western Canasar. Arion can enhance his physical strength during a battle or fight. Not only that, but he can share his powers with the soldiers under his command during a battle. He can enhance their physical strength, too. He has one more power. He sometimes has prophetic dreams. If you think such things make a story predictable, you are grievously wrong. As a character, he makes bad decisions and not one or two, many. Later, he pays for it. And he pays very heavily.

Leanna is the character I love most. She is kind and caring. She is selfless. She wants peace and happiness among people. She wants to help them with her powers. She can sense emotions radiating out of people. She can heal any injury or disease. She can also heal people mentally. And she does that at hospital in Arlais after the event of pyre. If she thinks people are having trouble because of her or her actions, she is ready to surrender herself to Aiduel’s Guard, even if she knows what will happen if they capture her. She has utter faith in The Lord Aiduel. Although I love this character very much, her story arc is not as much filled with challenges as I initially expected. She is travelling from one place to another with her two companions, one her lover Amyss and another her guard.

Allana is the polar opposite of Leanna. She is selfish. She does not take any responsibility for her actions. If she makes a decision and it does not go well, she puts the blame for it on another person. You can witness that many times throughout the novel. That’s why most of readers will find her a despicable character. Despite this she has clear motivations. She wants to survive no matter at what cost. Her own safety and protection is her top priority. She tries to prevent someone from the suffering similar to those which she endured during as a victim of torture by Evelyn Dei Laramin, an officer of Aiduel’s Guard in Septholem. But then she does something which is really unacceptable and ghastly. Not that she acts out of her character. She has been intentionally written in the way that the readers hate her. And that is something commendable for an author. I think it is not easy for any author to create a character like her and make their motivations clear and character development nearly close-to-perfect. In Classic Fantasy, we many a time see that someone with dark powers rises and states,” I am the Lord of Darkness and Evilness. I will wipe out humans and light from earth. I will spread suffering and darkness everywhere.” By this example, point to be taken here is that it really appears silly because no one thinks that he/she is a bad person. In real life, every person thinks that he/she is the hero of his/her own story. This last statement appears to be true in Allana’s case because I think she really believes that she is doing right and she considers herself the hero of her own story. This theory makes her close to a real life character. If we see through her eyes, every decision taken by her makes sense whether she acts in rage, in fear or in the heat of moment. Jackson has so far done well with this character. And one more thing, she makes the story of this novel more interesting.

Allana and Arion are obsessed with each other and this mutual obsession can bring them loss, pain and suffering. And her powers are really dark. One of these powers is compulsion. However, she can use this power only when someone shows a sexual interest in her. Most people do that around her.

Corin has completed his journey from being called Runt to the Chosen of the Gods in the first instalment. He has united some clans under Chosen Alliance. He has brought peace and happiness to his people. In book two, he continues to try to bring more clans under Chosen Alliance for the purpose of peace. After doing that, he plans for a journey into the north, to the Lands of the Gods. However, from the southern Bergen, a massive threat is coming closer to his lands, to Karn. He has to make a decision. Will this decision be the end of his people? Want to know more, read this book. Once again, the motivations behind his decisions are his people and his wife, Agbeth, who somehow has survived but is not the same person as she used to be before the devastating attack. Corin wants to cure her. Will he be able to do that or will he lose her completely? Controlling people’s minds is his main power.

 

“I’ve been damned by The Lord for longer than I care to mention, girl. Why should I care about one more act of sin?”

There are many side characters worth mentioning. One of these is Caddin Sendromm. Yes, the same person who has killed a boy with future seeing power and the boy’s parents in that iconic and remarkable prologue of Illborn, book one. Although the prologue of Aiduel’s Sin is not as iconic and remarkable as the prologue of its prequel novel yet there is so much information there. I read those paragraphs again. It reveals so much of Caddin Sendromm’s past life. I was shocked to know his past. Caddin appears in main storyline, too. Although he is just a side character, his character development has been done wowly ( there is not any adverb to describe that but I loved it). I think an entire novella can be dedicated to him. That would be a great thing, wow. Amyss is one more side character who is very likable. Although there has not been written much about Lady Kalyane yet I really loved her determination and courage during troubled times. My first encounter with Jarret Berun was that he had only brute force and no brains. However, he has proved me wrong. He has wits. I also enjoyed reading about Blackpaw, the animal companion of Corin. Despite being from a cruel and bloodlust species, its loyalty to Corin and its concern for Agbeth are some heart-touching things. It is a felrin and I loved the Song of Felrin.

In my experience, the world-building is not as immersive as I have found in the novels, which I have read in the past, of other authors. However, what world has been built here suits the story and its pacing quite well. There is really no need of the excessive descriptions of mountains, food, castles and fortress and forests. Where it is needed, we have enough according to its demands.

I am a big fan of well written battle scenes (of course in fiction). There are many battles here. The main focus of the story is not on all of them. We have a battle in Karn. The Battle of Karn has been written masterfully. And another major battle takes place in Western Canasar. These both battles ( or battle scenes) compete for which one is darker, bloodier, gorier and more brutal. And fight scenes are done well, too. I will never forget two scenes- one scene at Karn in Bergen during at the end of battle and another in the fortress of Aiduel’s Guards. There is political intrigue, too. I think King Inneos Pavil does the exact thing that Archlaw Paulius of the Holy Church in Sen Aiduel wanted him to do. After King Inneos Pavil’s decision, Archlaw Paulius had full authority and logical reasons to instigate a holy war. Reading this story so far, I understand it as I explained it above. Maybe I am wrong. There are two more books in this series. We will see what happens next. It is really very hard to write a review that is spoiler free, especially that of book two and its successors.

 

“The duke of nothing. No, that’s not right. Not nothing. I’m the duke of failure and of dishonour.”

We had many questions from the book one. Many of them get answered. We have more knowledge of the mysteries of recurring dream and the Gate. However, there is so much more worth exploring.

The writing style of the novel is good and easily accessible. I am very glad to see that Jackson has improved very much as a writer. If you read his both books back to back, you can see that easily. One more thing worth mentioning is that his both books are fast paced. Once you sit to read it, you will just keep turning the pages and forget about anything else.

 In the end, it is sufficient to say that whoever picks this series will end up loving it.   No doubt, it is one of my most favourite ongoing series.  I will be waiting to read its sequel.

Review by Illlborn Jasvinder.

 

[Ben Appleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic second entry in the Illborn Saga. The first book was great, but Aiduel's Sin improves on almost every aspect - character development, plot development, plot twists and prose. All of the main protagonists, Allana, Leanna, Arion and Corin, go through profound changes in this book, and Corin in particular (my favourite character from the first book, and still my fave) undergoes an incredible character transformation, while Allana, Leanna and Arion meet more frequently, with surprising outcomes. The four (five) different strands are starting to come together and coalesce at a rip-roaring pace, and I can't wait for the next instalment.

An absolute page-turner and I can only see the series getting better and better.

I'd write more, but I'd end up adding spoilers!

[Jeremy Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Margot Looten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me tell you ! This book is amazing. As the first one, even better. I was sooo into it, into the plot, into the characters’ stories, adventures and dilemmas. I was plunged into epicness and found no rest in the rythm, wanting to know more with each chapter. I think the four MC and their alternate pont of view is brilliant, it’s so well done, it doesn’t break the rhythm of the reading because you end a chapter saying : oh no !!!! Not already !!! And then you start a new one with : Aaaaah I’m going to know more !! Because each point of view is so well written and paced that each character’s story is hectic and breathtaking. At least, that’s how I felt.

I also really enjoyed each character evolution! Leanna and Corin are my favorites and I also adore Arion and his brute force and own kind of sensitivity. Allana I hated her but I enjoyed hating her (like Cersei from Game of Thrones haha) ! She’s unpredictable and crazy and so much more ! And at the end the path she takes is so good considering where she comes from, what she is and what she is becoming, it makes so much sens ! I think book three is going to be even more epic and with even more tension.

Continuing on characters I also loved Caddin and Amyss, they touched something inside me … I don’t know, I just want them always there !

I loved how the book gave me historical vibes, European History vibes with Elannis Empire and Andar. I loved the (I think maybe I’m wrong) reference to United Kingdom History, Celt culture, mixed with Scandinavian cultures with Corin. Made me think about a lot of things I’m found of! Maybe I over interpret but I enjoyed it.

Also the treatment of the religious side of the story (which takes some importance in the story) was also very good and accurate, showing the some good sides and the limits of such a religion. Also there I feel a lot of historical references from middle age, the different Churches in Europe, the Crusades, etc ! Very enjoyable !

Finally, the fantasy part !! If Illborn gave us some clues, Aiduel’s Sin revealed even more and gave me more questions ! I loooooooove where it’s going and I have so many theories about what’s happening and what happened and what will happen. This book gives little but just enough to make me crave for more !

Mix all of that with a very efficient and cool writing (made me think of Rebecca Kuang’s style that I also loved very much) and you have a great book, a great saga that I already count among my favorites ! I cried, I laughed, I got enraged, that was a great reading !

++ for me, queer representation, and a good one ! The sapphic romance their was absolutely adorable ♥️ Leanna and Amyss forever one of my favorite ship !

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply superb. Talk about an under appreciated series! I read Illborn a couple of months ago and was very impressed. An excellent story, great characters and a very intriguing mystery kept me thoroughly entertained. Book 2 now is even better, in my opinion. The story and characters grow, and the mystery deepens with every chapter read. If only the next book was out, I would definitely jump right into it. As it is, book 3 will be my most anticipated book for release, and hopefully soon. I can’t recommend this more. If you like fantasy, or really just enjoy a good story, please pick this series up! 5.0/5.0 stars.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I was offered the chance to read an ARC for Aiduel’s Sin. ILLBORN was one of my top 3 books when I read it in 2021 and I’ve been eager to continue the story of the 4 main characters and dive back into the world, magic system and epic story that Daniel had started.

Aiduel’s Sin took everything that ILLBORN had started and expanding it into another refined and excellent story that was fast paced, exciting, mysterious and quite frankly perfect!

When I reviewed ILLBORN I said that it was a slow burner as the vast world had to be revealed and 4 main characters had to be fleshed out. Now that the foundations have already been laid out this meant that Aiduel’s Sin could start with a bang and it was fast paced and riveting throughout.

The main characters that were originally naive and nervous have all become confident and well developed as they further grow and understand their powers. The magic system that Daniel has created is wonderful and feels limitless. Sometimes when an author tries to force too much into a magic system it feels cheap as if the main character will always have what they need but the way Daniel has developed the magic system feels natural and organic.

We also get to see more of the world setting and understand the political and religious systems and slowly we begin to understand who and what our heroes are.

Finally, one of my favourite aspects of Aiduel’s Sin was my feelings towards the characters. In ILLBORN i rooted for them all but in Aiduel’s Sin we realise that each of them has morally grey areas and my loyalty towards them altered and changed throughout the story.

I loved ILLBORN and was eagerly anticipating the second book in the saga and I’m going to put it out there now. There is a very good chance that Aiduel’s Sin could be my favourite book of 2023! As a writer, you can see Daniel’s progression between books 1 and 2 and it leaves me extremely excited to continue the saga.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books and series can only become popular through word of mouth and this might be even more important when a book is self published so readers of this review I implore you to take a chance on this series and go order the first book Illborn. I think most people will be impressed with this guys writing and will be invested in the rest of the series.
Despite both books being quite chunky they both hit around 650 pages, the story doesnt drag , the world building exceptional with most chapters (rather like Allana) seducing you into turning the next page and carrying on to find out what happens next.

Aiduel's Sin will seem like an effortless sequel but thats because Daniel has put so much hard work into these books, his commitment and hard work should be rewarded by more people picking these books up.

Daniel is a humble man if you follow him on twitter he makes the effort to thank almost every single person who has read his books, but the truth is he deserves the recognition that these books are getting and it is us the reader who are privileged to have read his work so please I cannot emphasis this enough give these books a go and lets spread the word about these two amazing books.

[Gyan K · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟!

“Aiduel’s Sin” By Daniel T. Jackson just takes things to a whole new level. The pace—it’s way faster. No dragging your feet through setup like before. The story just dives right in, and the stakes…they are huge. Bigger wars, deeper plots, and twists I didn’t see coming.

And the characters? They’re even better now. Arion, Alanna, Leanna, and Corin—, I felt for them so much more because they’re dealing with “real” heavy stuff. Their choices are messy, like human-messy, and sometimes I found myself talking at the book, “Why are you like this?!” But that’s the thing—I cared because they’re so flawed, like people you know. The characters and their choices were all different shades of grey rather than back and white.

The world-building felt massive. I thought the first book was detailed but this one dives even deeper into the gods, the myths, and how faith and power mix. It’s not just battles and cool powers. It’s thoughtful. Yes, the religion in the book seems Christianity-adjacent and their places of worship are called churches and there is talk of crusades but I think that is where the similarity ends. It is but a loose inspiration. The story is unique and kept my attention hooked throughout. It did not let up.

There was an air of mystery around the magic. There is nebulous explanation for the magic and why it appears and grows. This is not a bad thing. I have come to appreciate the wonder and enjoyment of soft magic having read hard magic systems with intricate rules and explanations which can bog a story down.

Writing, as I have said before for Illborn, was simple yet helped me visualize everything that was happening with ease. There was no purpleness to the prose, no literary airs. Prose felt very easy on the eyes. When I read something nicely written I tend to slow down because I am either savoring the writing or trying to better comprehend it but here I felt I was able to speed through the writing like knife through butter.

If you loved the first one, you’ve got to read this. It’s darker, faster, and totally worth your time.

[Elle (IG: simply.elle18) · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the Lord, what a sequel!

Daniel T. Jackson has done it again with this gripping story that carries on where Illborn left off.
Character growth was brilliant, the writing as exquisite as its predecessor, and the battle scenes were so vivid it was as though I were amongst them!
Each chapter ending left me at the edge of my seat, stirring emotions as the four main characters go through their individual turmoil.
If you loved Illborn, you will love Aiduel's Sin even more!

Thank you SO much, Daniel, for an ARC to read and review. I am so excited for my physical copy to arrive! 😁

Publication date for Aiduel's Sin is 28/1/23

[TonyAntSonWil · Rating 5 out of 5]

GRITTY. BRUTAL. PHENOMENAL.

Full review to come.

Read this book and if you haven't read Illborn pick that up too.

[L'encre de la magie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avis Lecture 🧐 📖 "Aiduel's Sins", Illborn saga tome 2 sur 4, Daniel T. Jackson ✨
@danieltjackson_illborn
Merci, Thank you Daniel for sending me this amazing ARC 🙏💖

Il est difficile parfois de se lancer dans un second volume, tant le premier a été un coup de foudre ! J'ai démarré ma lecture en retrouvant TOUT ce qui m'a plu dans le tome 1 : un travail sur les personnages impeccable et un rythme magique qui fait de cette suite un autre Page Turner ! 😱🤩

Quel plaisir de retrouver nos personnages qu'on a aimé ou aimé détester... Car oui, le tome 1 nous offre un personnage détestable au possible et ça n'est pas prêt de s'arrêter ! Totalement voulu (l'auteur n'en fait certainement pas l'apologie comme certain le disent), les choix de ce personnage nous rappelle que l'on est maître et responsable de son destin et nous montre ce que le changement et la decouverte de ces pouvoirs, peuvent avoir comme conséquences sur l'esprit. C'est la perversion du Pouvoir où la victime devient bourreau !
J'ai été par contre très surpris des choix des autres personnages, dont un qui ne prends que des mauvaises décisions.
La grosse surprise !? Elle vient du personnage de Corin qui m'intéressait moins dans le tome 1 et qui se révèle être mon préféré ici ❤️😱 son arc narratif est incroyable, extrêmement touchant et j'avais qu'une envie : le retrouver !

Ce deuxième tome nous offre également son lot de révélations donc certaines sont explosives 🤯🤯🤯. Les interludes coupent intelligemment le récit, nous permettant de revenir dans le passé et l'ombre d'un autre personnage. Tout s'emboîte à merveille ! 🤩

Au final, jusqu'à la moitié du livre, j'ai trouvé ce tome 2 aussi bon que le 1 et puis tout s'est emballé et Daniel T Jackson nous offre une suite meilleure encore, ce qui n'est pas peu dire (le tome 1 étant dans mon top 3 de 2021!!🤩).
Vous êtes nombreux.ses à avoir découvert Illborn et attendre cette suite. Elle arrive très bientôt : sortie le 28 Janvier et j'ai hâte d'échanger avec vous 😀😍

Comme quoi les autopubliés nous réservent parfois de magnifiques surprises 😍💕

[Kerrie-Ann ✨ bookishlybesotted · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Wow!!!…I loved it.
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What an absolute fantastic sequel to Illborn.
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Thank you to the author for kindly sending me an e-arc to review for the upcoming release. It was the perfect book for me to read going into the new year, what an amazing start to my 2023 reading.
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Aiduel’s Sin was everything I wanted and more in a sequel. The characters development and each of their POV’s continue to be compelling, every chapter deliciously ends with anticipating cliffhangers, the complex plots are intensifying, the settings vividly diverse and the pace is just perfect. It’s a burly book but a very energetic read, the flawed characters and the emotionally elicit plots both equally drive this story. I really enjoy the simplicity of this authors immersive writing style. I know I’ve said this before, this author has created something quite spectacular with this series. Illborn had the one of the best prologues I’ve ever read and Aiduel’s Sin interweaves that prologue in surprising ways. So much happens in this book, the revelations and evolutions are fantastic, there’s never a dull moment, the themes grow darker as the mysteries and world building expands. The characters face a great amount of tensional conflict and foreboding uncertainty but through all their life changing decisions and unbearable suffering they’re a force to be reckoned with. There was one moment in the whole book that I didn’t like but knew it was going to happen at some point and can see it adds to the angst aftermath. A highlight for me was the quality of the supporting characters, they added that vital depth to this story and they’re equivalently as memorable as the four main protagonists.
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Also like to add that a few crucial moments hurt my heart a lot, I wasn’t expecting it and that’s what makes this a five star read for me. I am so excited for book 3!!!