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Tales of Tremaine #2
The Doors of Midnight
"Read R.R. Virdi!"―Jim Butcher, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Dresden Files
Myths begin, and a storyteller's tale deepens, in the essential sequel to R.R. Virdi's breakout Silk Road-inspired epic fantasy debut, The First Binding.
Ari the Binder's legend spans continents and eras. Moving in and out of myth as easy as the wind, as tales and their echoes spread across a sun-drenched land.
Now, the storyteller himself awaits judgment for the murder of a prince. The stories say he has killed more than one. But what is truth and what is a man if not a liar?
As the telling of the storyteller's past grows, so too does the list of his enemies―and of mysteries yet to be solved.
Myths begin, and a storyteller's tale deepens, in the essential sequel to R.R. Virdi's breakout Silk Road-inspired epic fantasy debut, The First Binding.
Ari the Binder's legend spans continents and eras. Moving in and out of myth as easy as the wind, as tales and their echoes spread across a sun-drenched land.
Now, the storyteller himself awaits judgment for the murder of a prince. The stories say he has killed more than one. But what is truth and what is a man if not a liar?
As the telling of the storyteller's past grows, so too does the list of his enemies―and of mysteries yet to be solved.
832 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2024
103 people are currently reading
4671 people want to read
About the author
R.R. Virdi
27 books770 followersR.R. Virdi is a USA Today Bestselling author, two-time Dragon Award finalist, and a Nebula Award finalist. He is the author of two urban fantasy series, The Grave Report, and The Books of Winter. The author of the LitRPG/portal fantasy series, Monster Slayer Online. And the author of a space western/sci fi series, Shepherd of Light. He has worked in the automotive industry as a mechanic, retail, and in the custom gaming computer world. He's an avid car nut with a special love for American classics.
The hardest challenge for him up to this point has been fooling most of society into believing he's a completely sane member of the general public.
The hardest challenge for him up to this point has been fooling most of society into believing he's a completely sane member of the general public.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
April 28, 2024
* I received a free Netgalley version of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *
This book is the sequel to a book I really enjoyed, and thus it had a lot to live up to. We pick up the plot pretty much straight away with Ari, our main character, trapped for a deed he didn’t commit. He’s in a prison reliving parts of his life as he tells his tale and reminisces on his many misdeeds. The plot is meandering with many stories inside of stories, very much like the first in the series, and yet this book went in some directions I didn’t anticipate and didn’t love as much as I hoped to.
What I did really like about this book is that we do see Ari learns and grow as a person with his decision-making and his magic. I liked his evolution and I really enjoyed seeing him as a leader and a support for those less fortunate than him that he encountered along the way. His passion for the underdog was a trait I enjoyed in him in book #1 and it’s still the same here, and his many stories being spun into tall tales were also delightful to watch unfold.
With that being said, there’s a long period of this book set in the desert and also in another world altogether. Both of these sections teach Ari a lot and make him confront his quest and how he might be able to achieve his aims, but they were slow and arduous and as a reader I found them a bit dull. I did appreciate the lessons learned but I felt as if these sections (both big sections) slowed the pace of the book immensely and meant that I really took a long time to get into this one. Ultimately these parts have value but I think they could have been streamlined a bit more and then I would have finished this one up a lot faster.
Overall I still really enjoyed the magical bindings of this world and learning about how they work and how Ari has wound up in the middle of so many plots and problems around this world. He is a fascinating character and learning anything about him is fun, but sometimes the slower pace of this one did draw me out of the book a bit and I had a few breaks in the middle of reading for faster-paced books. 3*s and I would like to see where this goes, but be prepared it’s a long journey and if you’re not happy to swerve all around on tangents and other stories and adventures then this one won’t be for you.
This book is the sequel to a book I really enjoyed, and thus it had a lot to live up to. We pick up the plot pretty much straight away with Ari, our main character, trapped for a deed he didn’t commit. He’s in a prison reliving parts of his life as he tells his tale and reminisces on his many misdeeds. The plot is meandering with many stories inside of stories, very much like the first in the series, and yet this book went in some directions I didn’t anticipate and didn’t love as much as I hoped to.
What I did really like about this book is that we do see Ari learns and grow as a person with his decision-making and his magic. I liked his evolution and I really enjoyed seeing him as a leader and a support for those less fortunate than him that he encountered along the way. His passion for the underdog was a trait I enjoyed in him in book #1 and it’s still the same here, and his many stories being spun into tall tales were also delightful to watch unfold.
With that being said, there’s a long period of this book set in the desert and also in another world altogether. Both of these sections teach Ari a lot and make him confront his quest and how he might be able to achieve his aims, but they were slow and arduous and as a reader I found them a bit dull. I did appreciate the lessons learned but I felt as if these sections (both big sections) slowed the pace of the book immensely and meant that I really took a long time to get into this one. Ultimately these parts have value but I think they could have been streamlined a bit more and then I would have finished this one up a lot faster.
Overall I still really enjoyed the magical bindings of this world and learning about how they work and how Ari has wound up in the middle of so many plots and problems around this world. He is a fascinating character and learning anything about him is fun, but sometimes the slower pace of this one did draw me out of the book a bit and I had a few breaks in the middle of reading for faster-paced books. 3*s and I would like to see where this goes, but be prepared it’s a long journey and if you’re not happy to swerve all around on tangents and other stories and adventures then this one won’t be for you.
March 22, 2024
I came to Etaynia in search of the most important thing in the world. A story. A secret— the sort best held and better kept from the world. But I met with a prince instead. The second the stories will say I've killed.
And I did not find the story I came looking for. I wound up in the most dangerous one of all.
The Storyteller is locked up in a prison, accused of murdering the Prince of Etaynia.
From here, he tells more of his past which found him Etagnia and found him alone with a dead body.
Retelling the past, Ari completed his first season of the Ashram - place of learning the wonders of the world, and more than that—magic. Ari has one year to apprentice himself under Rishi Ibrahm to prove he has some level of control in the major bindings. Otherwise he faces the Crow nest or execution.
I was worried that this wouldn’t live up to my love of book one. Especially due to the criticisms that it was a copy of Name of the Wind and The First Binding was so well done because of this. Whilst I disagree that Virdi’s success is bought off NotW, this book cements Virdi as one of the most talented authors in my eyes.
His prose is gorgeous. Beautiful, touching, and insightful. Think Ken Liu.
Ari learns to look beyond himself and see what he’s missing out on as he constantly chases one thing after another. You can see he has such a big heart and just wants to help everyone and protect the weak.
The framing narrative allows this to be both a coming-of-age and a reflective political murder mystery.
Friends are the breath left to us when we run out of our own. They're the mirrors we need when we cannot see ourselves clearly. They point out our little flaws and, in times, the larger ones we must tend to. And, of course. they help us out of trouble as much as they help us into it.
The framing device is executed perfectly and allows Virdi to really explore the idea and importance and magic of storytelling.
A storyteller's job is to offer reprieve and escape to those who need it most.
Ari set out to hide his identity in stories told and expanded and grown, so he can lose his true self and walk hidden among others. To be so great a myth that the real man vanishes - a thing unbelievable.
Loneliness is a sort of poverty of the heart and soul. Many people confuse this with solitude. They are not one and the same. One is chosen, and in that space of aloneness, one can flourish, and one can heal. The other is a space shaped from the things lacking, and in that lack you are locked away to suffer— alone.
Whilst book two of the Kingkiller chronicles sees Kvothe becoming a sex god, Virdi seems to poke fun at this as Ari learns more about his world and magic in a legendary realm beyond the Doors of Midnight.
I did prefer the first 60% of the books. After this, it felt slower and episodic, trading stories and morals.
However, this is definitely a strong four stars, and I cannot wait to see what Virdi does next, even if I did feel slightly disappointed by the ending as nothing monumental to the overarching StoryTeller plot felt resolved.
Thank you to Gollancz for providing the arc in exchange for a review!!
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And I did not find the story I came looking for. I wound up in the most dangerous one of all.
The Storyteller is locked up in a prison, accused of murdering the Prince of Etaynia.
From here, he tells more of his past which found him Etagnia and found him alone with a dead body.
Retelling the past, Ari completed his first season of the Ashram - place of learning the wonders of the world, and more than that—magic. Ari has one year to apprentice himself under Rishi Ibrahm to prove he has some level of control in the major bindings. Otherwise he faces the Crow nest or execution.
I was worried that this wouldn’t live up to my love of book one. Especially due to the criticisms that it was a copy of Name of the Wind and The First Binding was so well done because of this. Whilst I disagree that Virdi’s success is bought off NotW, this book cements Virdi as one of the most talented authors in my eyes.
His prose is gorgeous. Beautiful, touching, and insightful. Think Ken Liu.
Ari learns to look beyond himself and see what he’s missing out on as he constantly chases one thing after another. You can see he has such a big heart and just wants to help everyone and protect the weak.
The framing narrative allows this to be both a coming-of-age and a reflective political murder mystery.
Friends are the breath left to us when we run out of our own. They're the mirrors we need when we cannot see ourselves clearly. They point out our little flaws and, in times, the larger ones we must tend to. And, of course. they help us out of trouble as much as they help us into it.
The framing device is executed perfectly and allows Virdi to really explore the idea and importance and magic of storytelling.
A storyteller's job is to offer reprieve and escape to those who need it most.
Ari set out to hide his identity in stories told and expanded and grown, so he can lose his true self and walk hidden among others. To be so great a myth that the real man vanishes - a thing unbelievable.
Loneliness is a sort of poverty of the heart and soul. Many people confuse this with solitude. They are not one and the same. One is chosen, and in that space of aloneness, one can flourish, and one can heal. The other is a space shaped from the things lacking, and in that lack you are locked away to suffer— alone.
Whilst book two of the Kingkiller chronicles sees Kvothe becoming a sex god, Virdi seems to poke fun at this as Ari learns more about his world and magic in a legendary realm beyond the Doors of Midnight.
I did prefer the first 60% of the books. After this, it felt slower and episodic, trading stories and morals.
However, this is definitely a strong four stars, and I cannot wait to see what Virdi does next, even if I did feel slightly disappointed by the ending as nothing monumental to the overarching StoryTeller plot felt resolved.
Thank you to Gollancz for providing the arc in exchange for a review!!
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April 26, 2024
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Doors Of Midnight became a must read for me, the moment I finished The First Binding. RR Virdi has been planning an epic story and I couldn’t wait to see how his sophomore effort would pan out.
Similar to its predecessor, this story is also divided into two time periods. We begin with Ari sitting in a jail being accused of what happened in the TFB climax. The second time period has him back at the ashram, trying to sort out a sort of moratorium on his academic life when he gets called out on a previous debt. I’m being pretty vague over on purpose as revealing more will be spolirific to The First Binding. From courtly politics to tribal conflicts to mythological mysteries to magical dimensions, The Doors Of Midnight has it all and more.
Where do I even begin with this book, while being a sequel, I can simply say TDOM is The Dark Knight to The First Binding in every department. From its pacing to the overall plot to the magnificent characterization, on every front, it outshines The First Binding. As with the first book, characterization is simply top notch in both the time periods. With Ari, the author creates two distinct personas, the wily charmer in the present and the scrappy smartass of the past. Both are diverse in their outlook but yet retain the goodness within their heart. For the experiences of the scrappy youngster have informed & molded the charming storyteller into the dangerous enigma that he is. The readers get to really see the events that present Ari offhandedly mentions or is asked about. We get to learn how legends are made via these stories and sometimes how the truth is stranger than what becomes the “official legend”.
Ari’s voice be it as a young kid or the older & tired spy is never boring. Quite verbose and often sly, his remarkable voice is what powers this story. This story is presented in first person limited POV in both timelines and here’s where RR Virdi’s characterization shines brilliantly. We learn all about the new people in past Ari’s life as well as the new Etaynian adversaries. Every new (and old) persona that Ari meets is a complete character and the older ones get extra layers added to them. All in all the characterization is as good (if not better) as found in The First Binding. I missed Eloine’s presence within this volume as she appeared less of a foil (as she was in TFB) and more of a fleeting character who’s frequently missing when things get interesting. I hope we get more of her in the 3rd book as she’s too important a character to sit on the sidelines.
Another thing which I loved about The First Binding was the rich prose. Herein we get another purple heaping further proving RR Virdi is possibly one of the three best prose-smiths in the epic fantasy genre. Here’s a tiny sprinkling of the richness within:
“Stories are memory. They are love. And they are a kindness. Even when they are a lie. Sometimes, especially when they are a lie.”
“For a lie told long enough and come to be believed can in fact come to be the truth, long-held, and used to deceive.”
“And whatever wetness that came across his face must have been from the flurries that started to fall then. Were anyone to say those were in fact tears, then let us forgive him for a young boy’s joy.”
“An important part of listening, truly Listening, is knowing when to be as still and silent as stone. For stone has heard and seen the shaping of the world itself. And it remembers all things that have happened above it. In stone rests the stories of all things.”
This and much more is to be found within this less than 400K volume. RR Virdi knows how to truly paint a picture be it glorious or grisly. There’s a lot for every type of reader and for me besides the ones highlighted above, I found and loved many, many more.
In terms of worldbuilding, this volume lays bare a lot about the Etaynian culture and the church of Solus in the present timeline. While the past is all about the sandy ethos of Zibrathi culture and mythology. Both lands are fascinatingly drawn and we can see some of the real world cultures reflected within. Coming to my favourite part of these tales is the mythological stories within and we get a bunch of new ones here:
- Tarun Tharambadh
- Hahnbadh & Naathiya
- Tarun Twiceborn and Esme
- Arun & Leilah,
- Feroz
- Another tale of Brahm the wanderer
- Athwun & Brahm
- Enshae’s origins
- Akela & his love
The stories take on a meta structure within the story as well as for the readers. On one hand, they are deepening the world’s history but they also inform the characters of mysteries & perhaps hinting at the future. The author is doing something unique with this structure and it’s for the readers to utilize Newton’s favourite tools and decipher the reasons.
The plot doesn’t quite follow a regular epic fantasy story structure, it takes its moorings from the older epics and is more of a story that continues with its peaks and valleys. The aim of these epics is to immerse the listener/reader within the story and RR Virdi does his literary heroes proud herein.
The action is mostly on a personal scale as this isn’t a John Gwynne or Paul Kearney type of fantasy. The action sequences are few and far between and this might hamper those readers looking for their action fix. The pacing however is absolutely on an insane level. Considering this was a nearly 400K words book but it didn’t feel like it. I was constantly racing through the pages and was often confounded as to which was my favourite part between the two timelines.
Lastly I must address another weird accusation that TFB & the author faced (and to this day, gets a lot of abuse). The plagiarism accusations were a bit absurd to begin with and with the release of the sequel, paints those denunciations as being what they are. A whole lot of hot air from fantasy fans whose ire and chagrin are misaligned to say the least. Another fun nod within this book is the encounter between Ari and a being who western readers might think akin to a Fae creature. I would like to see what they make of it.
Also for objectivity’s sake, I must highlight that this isn’t a typical epic fantasy which readers have been accustomed to. This is a good thing as the author take various mythologies (Indian, Norse, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean) and melds them in the world of Tremaine to give us a breathtakingly four dimensional world. Readers looking for a simple good vs evil story won’t find it here.
For herein lies a story that is elegant, enigmatic and epic from end to end. RR Virdi has successfully avoided the sophomore slump and given us a sequel that takes the positives from the first book and builds an engrossing story on its shoulders. Further highlighting the fact that he’s slowly creating a league of his own and making sure that the RR within his name is no false sign. He’s surely going to end up rubbing elbows with the other two coveted writers sharing the same initials.
CONCLUSION: The Doors Of Midnight is the Dark Knight of sequels, elegant in its sophistication, epic in its storytelling and enigmatic about its secrets. You have my permission to breakdown doors and preorder this book as the Tales Of Tremaine continues its epic march in anointing itself as Tor’s next biggest epic fantasy series.
August 27, 2024
The First Binding (book #1 in series) mildly plagiarized The Kingkiller Chronicle.
Doors of Midnight outright plagiarizes Patrick Rothfuss’ series. I’m amazed that TOR has published this and that there hasn’t been litigation raised in response.
Doors of Midnight outright plagiarizes Patrick Rothfuss’ series. I’m amazed that TOR has published this and that there hasn’t been litigation raised in response.
October 11, 2024
3.5
too long….
too long….
June 20, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders
If you read The First Binding, you knew book two would be another beast of beautifully lyrical writing, rich world building and weaved with folklore from around the world. Without question, The Doors of Midnight ticked all those boxes.
We start where we left off in both Ari's past and present, he had just been expelled from the Ashram for nearly burning the place down (past) and thrown in jail for the murder of a prince (present). Consequently, the present storyline takes place entirely in the castle while past-Ari's storyline takes us all over, from the Ashram to the desert to the Shaen world. And in keeping with all we've come to expect from Ari, he has more sass than sense across the board. That said, he does manage to grow a little bit and keep his mouth closed on occasion, such a surprise that even Master Binder, Rishi Ibrahm, is astounded.
It's a little difficult to talk about the book, which is kind of two storylines that will hopefully one day meet, because of course Ari's past is what's influencing his present....well everything. I'm going to try though.
So past-Ari - we have a lot more happening in what are obviously years gone by. I loved seeing the rumours about him growing more and more, the little ways which they changed from what he initially cultivated to what they became. There was more found family for him and even more bad decisions based on his Superman complex but because it's Ari we know it all worked out fine. (Also he's literally telling us the story so that kind of gives away that he wasn't killed for the many things people tried to kill him over.) One thing I loved was the humour we got. Certain moments had me laughing, particularly from Rishi Ibrahm this time. I also think there is a lot more to his background than we've gotten to see yet. There was more Radi and Aram and of course more Shola, king of the story. Yes, there was also Nitham and I think we can all agree he's awful.
Into the desert, I really hope we get more Aisha, Qimari and Khalil. Given all that's gone on with the merchant king, Arfan, I think (and hope) we'll be seeing them again. The part in the desert that I loved (and I shouted about how much I loved it to R.R. Virdi) was Enshae. From the first book we know Ari 'spent one hundred and one nights with Enshae' but now we get to see it and what he learned from his time there. I adored her character and she broke my heart. I massively hope we get to see her again and her world.
Onto present Ari - of course we get to know about all of the above because he is still telling his story to Eloine. They're still going through their push and pull dance of flirtation that even Danil reappears and has something to say about it. Virdi does their relationship so well and you can feel the flirtation, tension and longing between them. I'm not sure I've ever seen two characters totally have each other wrapped around their fingers but still play hard-to-get. I will argue with Eloine on this one but accosting someone quite literally locked up in prison is not the time to sit down like it's storytime. Evidently it was but I'm going to say that probably wouldn't work for just anyone.
While Eloine was the relationship we knew we'd get more page time for, the ones that I really found captivated by were the ones between Ari and the prisoners with him. The story for story trade, their glimpses into more of the rumours we know about Ari. Satbien and his story in particular was beautiful and somber. This is also probably the most interaction Ari has with anyone but Eloine while in the castle, during his arrest and after - though there is a great scene with one of the princes about Lord Emeris Umbrasio that had me laughing.
As I mentioned initially, there are tons of folklore stories and heroes weaved into this. Both in Ari's own storytelling and in the rumours about him. I may have also shouted about some of these to R.R. Virdi because some of them were so brilliantly done that it wasn't until I finished those bits I found myself going 'Waaaaaait a minute...' Just so good.
One thing I've kept coming back to is when we know all these rumours about Ari, we're told throughout how the shape of stories change as their told, I've had to ask myself what is true and what isn't. And because R.R. Virdi likes to throw in hints, secrets and little easter eggs for readers (like there is a GR review that found a hidden poem somehow which Virdi was just tee-heeing at because someone uncovered it!), you really can't be quite sure who or what to trust. Consequently, I was a bit suspicious of everyone and this has landed me with a lot of theories that are currently being neither confirmed nor denied to my absolute frustration.
If you picked up The First Binding and enjoyed it, there is no doubt you need to continue through The Doors of Midnight. If you haven't picked up The First Binding, then you need to and THEN continue through The Doors of Midnight. There is so much more to come from this world and I have no idea how it's going to come together. I do know it will be several more 600-800+ page books though.
If you read The First Binding, you knew book two would be another beast of beautifully lyrical writing, rich world building and weaved with folklore from around the world. Without question, The Doors of Midnight ticked all those boxes.
We start where we left off in both Ari's past and present, he had just been expelled from the Ashram for nearly burning the place down (past) and thrown in jail for the murder of a prince (present). Consequently, the present storyline takes place entirely in the castle while past-Ari's storyline takes us all over, from the Ashram to the desert to the Shaen world. And in keeping with all we've come to expect from Ari, he has more sass than sense across the board. That said, he does manage to grow a little bit and keep his mouth closed on occasion, such a surprise that even Master Binder, Rishi Ibrahm, is astounded.
It's a little difficult to talk about the book, which is kind of two storylines that will hopefully one day meet, because of course Ari's past is what's influencing his present....well everything. I'm going to try though.
So past-Ari - we have a lot more happening in what are obviously years gone by. I loved seeing the rumours about him growing more and more, the little ways which they changed from what he initially cultivated to what they became. There was more found family for him and even more bad decisions based on his Superman complex but because it's Ari we know it all worked out fine. (Also he's literally telling us the story so that kind of gives away that he wasn't killed for the many things people tried to kill him over.) One thing I loved was the humour we got. Certain moments had me laughing, particularly from Rishi Ibrahm this time. I also think there is a lot more to his background than we've gotten to see yet. There was more Radi and Aram and of course more Shola, king of the story. Yes, there was also Nitham and I think we can all agree he's awful.
Into the desert, I really hope we get more Aisha, Qimari and Khalil. Given all that's gone on with the merchant king, Arfan, I think (and hope) we'll be seeing them again. The part in the desert that I loved (and I shouted about how much I loved it to R.R. Virdi) was Enshae. From the first book we know Ari 'spent one hundred and one nights with Enshae' but now we get to see it and what he learned from his time there. I adored her character and she broke my heart. I massively hope we get to see her again and her world.
Onto present Ari - of course we get to know about all of the above because he is still telling his story to Eloine. They're still going through their push and pull dance of flirtation that even Danil reappears and has something to say about it. Virdi does their relationship so well and you can feel the flirtation, tension and longing between them. I'm not sure I've ever seen two characters totally have each other wrapped around their fingers but still play hard-to-get. I will argue with Eloine on this one but accosting someone quite literally locked up in prison is not the time to sit down like it's storytime. Evidently it was but I'm going to say that probably wouldn't work for just anyone.
While Eloine was the relationship we knew we'd get more page time for, the ones that I really found captivated by were the ones between Ari and the prisoners with him. The story for story trade, their glimpses into more of the rumours we know about Ari. Satbien and his story in particular was beautiful and somber. This is also probably the most interaction Ari has with anyone but Eloine while in the castle, during his arrest and after - though there is a great scene with one of the princes about Lord Emeris Umbrasio that had me laughing.
As I mentioned initially, there are tons of folklore stories and heroes weaved into this. Both in Ari's own storytelling and in the rumours about him. I may have also shouted about some of these to R.R. Virdi because some of them were so brilliantly done that it wasn't until I finished those bits I found myself going 'Waaaaaait a minute...' Just so good.
One thing I've kept coming back to is when we know all these rumours about Ari, we're told throughout how the shape of stories change as their told, I've had to ask myself what is true and what isn't. And because R.R. Virdi likes to throw in hints, secrets and little easter eggs for readers (like there is a GR review that found a hidden poem somehow which Virdi was just tee-heeing at because someone uncovered it!), you really can't be quite sure who or what to trust. Consequently, I was a bit suspicious of everyone and this has landed me with a lot of theories that are currently being neither confirmed nor denied to my absolute frustration.
If you picked up The First Binding and enjoyed it, there is no doubt you need to continue through The Doors of Midnight. If you haven't picked up The First Binding, then you need to and THEN continue through The Doors of Midnight. There is so much more to come from this world and I have no idea how it's going to come together. I do know it will be several more 600-800+ page books though.
September 1, 2025
This review was originally posted on SFFInsiders.com
It's always a thrill to dive back into a world you've fallen in love with, and R.R. Virdi's The Doors of Midnight is a fantastic return. Right from the start, I knew I was in for a journey just as captivating and beautiful as The First Binding. This book isn't just a sequel; it builds on the first, taking everything that worked and elevating it to a new level.
One of the first things that struck me was the effective use of a dual timeline narrative. We find our beloved storyteller, Ari, in two very different situations. In the present, he's locked in a jail cell, accused of a heinous crime that readers of the first book will recognize. Simultaneously, we travel back to his past, picking up right after his expulsion from the ashram. This younger Ari is trying to find his way, navigating an academic "moratorium" and getting called to settle a mysterious debt. It's a testament to Virdi's skill that he effortlessly weaves these two storylines together, each one informing the other and deepening our understanding of Ari.
The characterization, as always, is simply top-notch. Virdi creates two distinct personas for Ari: the charming storyteller in the present and the witty, scrappy youth in the past. They're different, yet both possess a fundamental goodness that makes you root for them. We finally get to see the events that older Ari has mentioned so casually, and it's fascinating to watch how the experiences of the young boy mold him into the man he becomes. His voice, whether as a youth or a weary spy, is never boring—it's verbose, sly, and utterly captivating, a force that propels the entire story forward.
The first-person limited point of view in both timelines is executed flawlessly. Through Ari's eyes, we meet new characters and get to know old ones on a deeper level. Every person he encounters, feels fully realized. It was great to see some returning faces like Radi, Aram, and Shola, all of whom add wonderful layers to the narrative. I also found myself totally captivated by the new relationships Ari forms with his fellow prisoners. The story-for-story trade they engage in is a beautiful and somber part of the book, especially the tale of Satbien, which was truly moving. And while I did miss Eloine's constant presence as a foil, her dynamic with Ari is still as wonderfully complex as ever. The push-and-pull, the flirtatious tension, and the longing between them are palpable, and their scenes together are a highlight.
One of the most powerful elements of this series is Virdi’s prose, and in this book, it reaches new heights. His writing is lyrical, poetic, and absolutely gorgeous. It’s clear that he's a master wordsmith, easily one of the best in the fantasy genre today.
The worldbuilding is just as incredible. It provides a whole new set of tales that deepen the world's history and hint at future mysteries. The Doors of Midnight doesn't follow a typical fantasy structure; instead, it’s designed to immerse you in the world and make you feel as if you are sitting right next to Ari as the tale unfolds. In my honest opinion, Virdi succeeds magnificently at doing so.
If you’ve read and loved The First Binding, you absolutely must continue with The Doors of Midnight. And if you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?
It's always a thrill to dive back into a world you've fallen in love with, and R.R. Virdi's The Doors of Midnight is a fantastic return. Right from the start, I knew I was in for a journey just as captivating and beautiful as The First Binding. This book isn't just a sequel; it builds on the first, taking everything that worked and elevating it to a new level.
One of the first things that struck me was the effective use of a dual timeline narrative. We find our beloved storyteller, Ari, in two very different situations. In the present, he's locked in a jail cell, accused of a heinous crime that readers of the first book will recognize. Simultaneously, we travel back to his past, picking up right after his expulsion from the ashram. This younger Ari is trying to find his way, navigating an academic "moratorium" and getting called to settle a mysterious debt. It's a testament to Virdi's skill that he effortlessly weaves these two storylines together, each one informing the other and deepening our understanding of Ari.
The characterization, as always, is simply top-notch. Virdi creates two distinct personas for Ari: the charming storyteller in the present and the witty, scrappy youth in the past. They're different, yet both possess a fundamental goodness that makes you root for them. We finally get to see the events that older Ari has mentioned so casually, and it's fascinating to watch how the experiences of the young boy mold him into the man he becomes. His voice, whether as a youth or a weary spy, is never boring—it's verbose, sly, and utterly captivating, a force that propels the entire story forward.
The first-person limited point of view in both timelines is executed flawlessly. Through Ari's eyes, we meet new characters and get to know old ones on a deeper level. Every person he encounters, feels fully realized. It was great to see some returning faces like Radi, Aram, and Shola, all of whom add wonderful layers to the narrative. I also found myself totally captivated by the new relationships Ari forms with his fellow prisoners. The story-for-story trade they engage in is a beautiful and somber part of the book, especially the tale of Satbien, which was truly moving. And while I did miss Eloine's constant presence as a foil, her dynamic with Ari is still as wonderfully complex as ever. The push-and-pull, the flirtatious tension, and the longing between them are palpable, and their scenes together are a highlight.
One of the most powerful elements of this series is Virdi’s prose, and in this book, it reaches new heights. His writing is lyrical, poetic, and absolutely gorgeous. It’s clear that he's a master wordsmith, easily one of the best in the fantasy genre today.
The worldbuilding is just as incredible. It provides a whole new set of tales that deepen the world's history and hint at future mysteries. The Doors of Midnight doesn't follow a typical fantasy structure; instead, it’s designed to immerse you in the world and make you feel as if you are sitting right next to Ari as the tale unfolds. In my honest opinion, Virdi succeeds magnificently at doing so.
If you’ve read and loved The First Binding, you absolutely must continue with The Doors of Midnight. And if you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?
May 3, 2024
Just noticed this book is book 2 when I hit 30% and checked Amazon. So, decided to pause this one and listen to a copy of the book 1 audiobook. I already know I'll like it well enough to return to book 2.
The framing narrative works for me and I could have read volume 2 well enough without book 1 (was already into the characters), the author's style is consistent, but I love an origin story (the younger years) and I wanted the full experience of these two characters (Ari and Eloise) which in book 1 is "800 pages" of sassy flirting.
You love or you'll hate the framing narrative characteristics: usually very slow to make a point, showing more than telling many episodes of his life until the present. This series is perfect to help us slow down, reduce stress, listen or read outside enjoy a break, or let it keep us company while assembling a puzzle... just traveling into another world with magic and stories from a storyteller. For a fan of Mercedes Lackey such as the Obsidian trilogy like myself.
Thank you, publisher and NetGalley for e-arc
The framing narrative works for me and I could have read volume 2 well enough without book 1 (was already into the characters), the author's style is consistent, but I love an origin story (the younger years) and I wanted the full experience of these two characters (Ari and Eloise) which in book 1 is "800 pages" of sassy flirting.
You love or you'll hate the framing narrative characteristics: usually very slow to make a point, showing more than telling many episodes of his life until the present. This series is perfect to help us slow down, reduce stress, listen or read outside enjoy a break, or let it keep us company while assembling a puzzle... just traveling into another world with magic and stories from a storyteller. For a fan of Mercedes Lackey such as the Obsidian trilogy like myself.
Thank you, publisher and NetGalley for e-arc
August 18, 2024
Thank you to Gollancz for sending me the ARC of this.
I enjoyed the second installment in this series, even more so than The First Binding. The prose continued to be very poetic and lyrical. I'm honestly always in awe with how Virdi describes a character, or describes the surrounding world.
In The First Binding I was more interested in Ari's past but in book two I found that I was definitely more invested in his adult story. I really enjoyed Ari's development in this and I'm still extremely curious about Eloine.
I'm also always here for a good animal companion, and Shola will forever be my favourite.
The only thing stopping me from giving this book five stars is I did sometimes get a bit confused and overwhelmed with all the different characters and the book definitely slowed down towards the middle. The pace could have been a bit better and I experienced similar issues in The First Binding, but if you're willing to commit for some great plot and character development then it's definitely worth it.
I enjoyed the second installment in this series, even more so than The First Binding. The prose continued to be very poetic and lyrical. I'm honestly always in awe with how Virdi describes a character, or describes the surrounding world.
In The First Binding I was more interested in Ari's past but in book two I found that I was definitely more invested in his adult story. I really enjoyed Ari's development in this and I'm still extremely curious about Eloine.
I'm also always here for a good animal companion, and Shola will forever be my favourite.
The only thing stopping me from giving this book five stars is I did sometimes get a bit confused and overwhelmed with all the different characters and the book definitely slowed down towards the middle. The pace could have been a bit better and I experienced similar issues in The First Binding, but if you're willing to commit for some great plot and character development then it's definitely worth it.
August 24, 2024
This was a highly anticipated sequel for me as I truly was amazed at the world that RR Virdi had created in the first novel of this series. And the way that he ended it made me curse his name for a couple of days but also bow my head in respect as it left me craving for more after devouring 800+ pages. I finally got this sequel and in many ways, RR Virdi delivered. But I did have a struggle with parts of this book.
The strength of this novel is most definitely the prose that the author uses throughout the novel. It is a beautiful work of art through the entire thing. It pulls you in and makes you vividly see the scenes as they play out on the pages. It makes a reader want to keep reading and just enjoy the beauty. The beginning and ending of this novel are the classic that I remember from the first book, but the middle, while necessary did not hold me like the rest of it. I still highly recommend the novel but did think that some of the middle was a tad repetitive of what we had already seen from the characters previously. They do learn new lessons, but it was slower going than what had previously happened in the series.
The slow parts don't take away from the intrigue and beauty of what has been created. I look forward to seeing where the story continues to take us. The characters are interesting and definitely have the foundations for something that could be truly epic. I look forward to where the story continues to go and seeing the conclusion of some of these breadcrumbs that the author has left dangling for me. I look forward to sweeping them up with candle, cloak, and cane at my side.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
The strength of this novel is most definitely the prose that the author uses throughout the novel. It is a beautiful work of art through the entire thing. It pulls you in and makes you vividly see the scenes as they play out on the pages. It makes a reader want to keep reading and just enjoy the beauty. The beginning and ending of this novel are the classic that I remember from the first book, but the middle, while necessary did not hold me like the rest of it. I still highly recommend the novel but did think that some of the middle was a tad repetitive of what we had already seen from the characters previously. They do learn new lessons, but it was slower going than what had previously happened in the series.
The slow parts don't take away from the intrigue and beauty of what has been created. I look forward to seeing where the story continues to take us. The characters are interesting and definitely have the foundations for something that could be truly epic. I look forward to where the story continues to go and seeing the conclusion of some of these breadcrumbs that the author has left dangling for me. I look forward to sweeping them up with candle, cloak, and cane at my side.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
June 14, 2024
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for feedback
6/10
I absolutely loved The First Binding, the first book in this series, and while many of then reasons I loved it carry over into the sequel overall it did not live up to its predecessor in my opinion.
My biggest complaint is just that the book is too long. "Now you may be asking didn't I just see you give Rhythm of War a 9/10, that book is significantly longer than this one?" You would be correct in that, but this book FELT longer. There are many long passages that are overly verbose and seem to drag for far longer than they need to. When I reached the end of this book and asked myself what all happened throughout it I cam to the realization that it was far less than you would expect for a book of this length. Now some of this is due to the prose used throughout the book, and as I said with The First Binding this can be one of the greatest strengths of these novels. The prose is so poetic and grand. At times this makes everything seem all the more magic, but unfortunately in this entry it also made things seem to drag at times.
Another thing that I want to note though is that many descriptions throughout the book, most notably those of eye color, are UNPARALLED in anything else I have ever read. You will never hear that someone's eyes are brown, instead you will be told that they "held a gleam like candlelight within their rum-brightened brown" or "with the deep-set eyes of powdered jade". Many of the descriptions of this book are absolutely beautiful and paint a vivid picture that one can almost see, and that R.R. Virdi should be greatly commended for.
Overall the plot is fine, but as I said I think that it could have been made even better by cutting out some of the unnecessary seeming bits, or at least shortening them. Another thing I would have really liked to see here would be a recap of the first book at the beginning, as it is a complicated story with a lot to remember, and it was many months, and many books, ago when I first read it.
6/10
I absolutely loved The First Binding, the first book in this series, and while many of then reasons I loved it carry over into the sequel overall it did not live up to its predecessor in my opinion.
My biggest complaint is just that the book is too long. "Now you may be asking didn't I just see you give Rhythm of War a 9/10, that book is significantly longer than this one?" You would be correct in that, but this book FELT longer. There are many long passages that are overly verbose and seem to drag for far longer than they need to. When I reached the end of this book and asked myself what all happened throughout it I cam to the realization that it was far less than you would expect for a book of this length. Now some of this is due to the prose used throughout the book, and as I said with The First Binding this can be one of the greatest strengths of these novels. The prose is so poetic and grand. At times this makes everything seem all the more magic, but unfortunately in this entry it also made things seem to drag at times.
Another thing that I want to note though is that many descriptions throughout the book, most notably those of eye color, are UNPARALLED in anything else I have ever read. You will never hear that someone's eyes are brown, instead you will be told that they "held a gleam like candlelight within their rum-brightened brown" or "with the deep-set eyes of powdered jade". Many of the descriptions of this book are absolutely beautiful and paint a vivid picture that one can almost see, and that R.R. Virdi should be greatly commended for.
Overall the plot is fine, but as I said I think that it could have been made even better by cutting out some of the unnecessary seeming bits, or at least shortening them. Another thing I would have really liked to see here would be a recap of the first book at the beginning, as it is a complicated story with a lot to remember, and it was many months, and many books, ago when I first read it.
August 31, 2025
J'aime toujours cet univers et Ari, mais ce deuxième tome était bien trop long !
March 30, 2024
Fantastically realized fantasy and a worthy sequel to The First Binding! Between the rich worldbuilding and the excellent characters, I found this book nearly impossible to put down! Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 12, 2024
I read this book when it was called "The Wise Man's Fear."
It was better then.
It was better then.
September 9, 2024
The secrets that come off of every page, the vivid imagery that leaves you feeling like you have windswept warm sand brushing your skin, or a snowy chill you feel to your bones. The way you can taste every meal Ari eats, and feel every connection formed within your own heart. Even the stars hold a new wonder and I am excited to glean secrets and half truths from every story I read.
R.R. Virdi is an absolute master in storytelling, never writing in a way you expect and leaving you absolutely enthralled in the magic of storytelling.
R.R. Virdi is an absolute master in storytelling, never writing in a way you expect and leaving you absolutely enthralled in the magic of storytelling.
August 31, 2024
Thank you TOR for the ARC! This was a great continuation of the first binding. I still think it follows kingkiller chronicles very closely but I like this better.
I do think this story could have been edited down some and that the multiple stories told inside tended to really bog it down. Other than that though I was very intrigued by both main storylines.
I do think this story could have been edited down some and that the multiple stories told inside tended to really bog it down. Other than that though I was very intrigued by both main storylines.
February 26, 2025
The Doors of Midnight by R.R. Virdi is a total page-turner. It’s packed with action, magic, and twists that’ll keep you hooked from start to finish. The main character, Dominic, is the kind of hero you can’t help but root for, even when he’s making tough decisions. Virdi builds a world that feels both fresh and familiar, blending supernatural intrigue with a deep emotional core.
It’s not just about the action; it’s about sacrifice, loyalty, and the choices that shape us. If you love fast-paced fantasy with complex characters and a gripping plot, this one’s a must-read!
It’s not just about the action; it’s about sacrifice, loyalty, and the choices that shape us. If you love fast-paced fantasy with complex characters and a gripping plot, this one’s a must-read!
August 12, 2024
It was so good to be back in the world of Tremaine. In The First Binding we get hints of how large the world is, but in The Doors of Midnight, we truly see the world for the breadth of building that has been done. There are so many layers to this story that you could read it several times and still find something new and interesting.
It is so well written. It is a story about stories and what makes the world. There are so many good messages and poetical storytelling mechanisms throughout this and Virdi uses these to pull at your heartstrings over and over. Ari has had so much happen to him throughout his life and it does seem like he is finally starting to learn from his mistakes and grow to be better and more like the legends surrounding him.
Thank you to @torbooks for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
It is so well written. It is a story about stories and what makes the world. There are so many good messages and poetical storytelling mechanisms throughout this and Virdi uses these to pull at your heartstrings over and over. Ari has had so much happen to him throughout his life and it does seem like he is finally starting to learn from his mistakes and grow to be better and more like the legends surrounding him.
Thank you to @torbooks for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
February 10, 2024
In the much-anticipated follow-up to his captivating debut, R.R. Virdi returns readers to his enthralling ancient India-inspired fantasy world for another sweeping and thrilling adventure. Protagonist Ari has earned his foreboding moniker "Bloodletter" through a dark past filled with violence and near-mythic encounters interwoven with secrets and legends. When we reconnect with him, he has recently narrowly escaped death itself after passing through the ominous-sounding Doors of Midnight.
The rich and immersive prose pulls you into Ari's tall tales of trials and tribulations involving creature encounters, perilous passages across deserts, clashes with merchant kings, and now fleeing from the consequences of killing a prince. The narrative voice colors his wanderer's chronicle with just enough embellishment to leave you wondering how much is based on truth versus fiction. This story-within-a-story construct heightens the intrigue as more fantastical layers unfold.
Virdi commands an impressive imagination combined with skillful writing that transports you to a fully realized fantasy realm brimming with magical promise. Fans of the first entry as well as genre giants like Brandon Sanderson will welcome sinking their teeth into this fresh expansive saga steeped in unique Hindu cosmology. The Doors of Midnight proves Virdi is a rising talent spinning mesmerizing tales destined to envelop readers for books to come.
The rich and immersive prose pulls you into Ari's tall tales of trials and tribulations involving creature encounters, perilous passages across deserts, clashes with merchant kings, and now fleeing from the consequences of killing a prince. The narrative voice colors his wanderer's chronicle with just enough embellishment to leave you wondering how much is based on truth versus fiction. This story-within-a-story construct heightens the intrigue as more fantastical layers unfold.
Virdi commands an impressive imagination combined with skillful writing that transports you to a fully realized fantasy realm brimming with magical promise. Fans of the first entry as well as genre giants like Brandon Sanderson will welcome sinking their teeth into this fresh expansive saga steeped in unique Hindu cosmology. The Doors of Midnight proves Virdi is a rising talent spinning mesmerizing tales destined to envelop readers for books to come.
October 13, 2024
You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black
Oh, Doors of Midnight, you were such a beast. I had a love/relationship with this book. I found some of the same issues in book one appearing in book two. Mostly, it's slow and has terrible pacing.
We start pretty much where we left off in book one! I was so into this book for the first 35%. My favorite parts of the story are by far, when he's in the Ashram and his present circumstances. The characters in this book are fantastic. I love how they all intertwine and bring important lessons to each other.
I think that Virdi has such amazing and beautiful prose. This book is full of beautiful and quotable moments and lessons. It is where his writing shines. At times, it can get repetitive and becomes too much. Virdi also has a lot of humor, which I'm glad he does. It's needed throughout many instances in Ari's life lessons. One thing to note- he's narrating this story from the present, so you know he doesn't ever die during all his "close calls." My biggest issue with the writing is that Virdi does too good of a job making things so slow and hard to read. The middle of this book is arduously slow. I'm a huge mood reader and it is hard to continue.
The dessert is where he spends most of this time and it just didn't seem all that important. Sure, he learned a lot of lessons, but it was so boring. Even though it was hard to get through, I adored Enshae. She was an amazing character, and I was glad to see their 'one hundred and one' nights together. The doors at midnight section of the book was fascinating but also felt slow. The last 20% of the book is where it picked back up for me.
The characters will keep me coming back for more. The plot and story we are chasing is fascinating, and want to know more about. Ari's story and all the stories told about him were so fun to see. It's so interesting how stories take off, and he didn't have to do much. One of the things I adore is that Ari is always about rooting for the underdog. Ari doesn't move away from that, and it's appreciated.
Again, this book is too long. It is the biggest and same issue I had with book one. There are so many fascinating things going on, plus complex and interesting characters. We have a book of over 800 pages and little movement in the plot, which is frustrating. I do want to see where this story goes, and will probably pick up the next.
Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
Oh, Doors of Midnight, you were such a beast. I had a love/relationship with this book. I found some of the same issues in book one appearing in book two. Mostly, it's slow and has terrible pacing.
We start pretty much where we left off in book one! I was so into this book for the first 35%. My favorite parts of the story are by far, when he's in the Ashram and his present circumstances. The characters in this book are fantastic. I love how they all intertwine and bring important lessons to each other.
I think that Virdi has such amazing and beautiful prose. This book is full of beautiful and quotable moments and lessons. It is where his writing shines. At times, it can get repetitive and becomes too much. Virdi also has a lot of humor, which I'm glad he does. It's needed throughout many instances in Ari's life lessons. One thing to note- he's narrating this story from the present, so you know he doesn't ever die during all his "close calls." My biggest issue with the writing is that Virdi does too good of a job making things so slow and hard to read. The middle of this book is arduously slow. I'm a huge mood reader and it is hard to continue.
The dessert is where he spends most of this time and it just didn't seem all that important. Sure, he learned a lot of lessons, but it was so boring. Even though it was hard to get through, I adored Enshae. She was an amazing character, and I was glad to see their 'one hundred and one' nights together. The doors at midnight section of the book was fascinating but also felt slow. The last 20% of the book is where it picked back up for me.
The characters will keep me coming back for more. The plot and story we are chasing is fascinating, and want to know more about. Ari's story and all the stories told about him were so fun to see. It's so interesting how stories take off, and he didn't have to do much. One of the things I adore is that Ari is always about rooting for the underdog. Ari doesn't move away from that, and it's appreciated.
Again, this book is too long. It is the biggest and same issue I had with book one. There are so many fascinating things going on, plus complex and interesting characters. We have a book of over 800 pages and little movement in the plot, which is frustrating. I do want to see where this story goes, and will probably pick up the next.
Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
October 18, 2024
This is the longest book I've tackled in a while, and while it took me three months to get through it, that was by choice rather than pace—I wanted to savor every richly woven moment. R.R. Virdi's prose is nothing short of enchanting, reaffirming his place as one of the finest wordsmiths in epic fantasy today. My digital copy is brimming with highlights; there's at LEAST one on every page!
Ari's journey continues to captivate me. His growth, both in his skills and as a person, is what keeps me entranced with his story. His big heart and innate desire to help and protect the weak shines through, making him a hero you can't help but root for. Watching an older Ari reflect on his brash younger self adds a layer of depth, making his earlier flaws feel more like charming quirks. As with the first book, the framing narrative expertly blends a coming-of-age tale with a reflective political murder mystery, and most of the time I'm irrationally mad when we have to switch, because I want both to continue. The slow-burn tension of the present-day plotline kept me hooked, even if there were moments when I was desperate to know what would happen next. It’s a testament to Virdi's skill that he can balance anticipation with satisfaction so deftly.
This novel is truly epic in scope. So much happens that it would take multiple seasons or multiple films to do it justice on screen. From extended time at the Ashram to exploring a new city with a desert (dare I say Dune-like) setting, and even venturing into otherworldly realms, the world-building is expansive and immersive.
One of the most compelling aspects is the book's profound exploration of stories themselves. Virdi delves into the power narratives hold—not just as tales to entertain, but as forces that can shape reality and influence the world around us (in more ways than you might think). This concept is slowly and masterfully developed, and I can't wait to see how it will be woven into the magic system.
Such a monumental achievement in epic fantasy. If you appreciate rich prose, complex characters, and a story that you can truly immerse yourself in, this book is a must-read. I can't wait to see where Ari's legend takes us next!
Ari's journey continues to captivate me. His growth, both in his skills and as a person, is what keeps me entranced with his story. His big heart and innate desire to help and protect the weak shines through, making him a hero you can't help but root for. Watching an older Ari reflect on his brash younger self adds a layer of depth, making his earlier flaws feel more like charming quirks. As with the first book, the framing narrative expertly blends a coming-of-age tale with a reflective political murder mystery, and most of the time I'm irrationally mad when we have to switch, because I want both to continue. The slow-burn tension of the present-day plotline kept me hooked, even if there were moments when I was desperate to know what would happen next. It’s a testament to Virdi's skill that he can balance anticipation with satisfaction so deftly.
This novel is truly epic in scope. So much happens that it would take multiple seasons or multiple films to do it justice on screen. From extended time at the Ashram to exploring a new city with a desert (dare I say Dune-like) setting, and even venturing into otherworldly realms, the world-building is expansive and immersive.
One of the most compelling aspects is the book's profound exploration of stories themselves. Virdi delves into the power narratives hold—not just as tales to entertain, but as forces that can shape reality and influence the world around us (in more ways than you might think). This concept is slowly and masterfully developed, and I can't wait to see how it will be woven into the magic system.
Such a monumental achievement in epic fantasy. If you appreciate rich prose, complex characters, and a story that you can truly immerse yourself in, this book is a must-read. I can't wait to see where Ari's legend takes us next!
September 3, 2024
I much preferred this to its predecessor. I was hooked, start to finish, and I read it in one attempt. What I missed in this book, is a short summary of all that happened in the first book. I had to make do with random book reviews on the internet and the snippets of the plot they mentioned to gain any sense of understanding of the characters and world again. And the first book was simply toO long and tedious to reread. But by the end of "Doors of Midnight" I felt really in the know again, and desperate for the next.
I still feel quite a bit of disconnect from the narrative tense and the storyline in the past, as there seems to be such a long time in between, that I wonder how many books there are going to have to be in this series.
What improved in this book, for me at least, is the pace! I felt there were many more story lines moving forward much more quickly, and also of greater interest to me. The present tense plot also moved forward, albeit much more slowly, and I found myself wishing to return to the past quite frequently.
I did grow to like Eloine a little more, but overall she's still quite a flat and boring character.
I still feel quite a bit of disconnect from the narrative tense and the storyline in the past, as there seems to be such a long time in between, that I wonder how many books there are going to have to be in this series.
What improved in this book, for me at least, is the pace! I felt there were many more story lines moving forward much more quickly, and also of greater interest to me. The present tense plot also moved forward, albeit much more slowly, and I found myself wishing to return to the past quite frequently.
I did grow to like Eloine a little more, but overall she's still quite a flat and boring character.
September 11, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC!
4.25/5 stars
This was magical, absolutely amazing. Was it probably too long? Sure, and it had what I would consider more "fluff" than the first one", - it was long and dense and had a ton of content - but it was exceptionally well written, just like the first, and I was captivated by Ari's stories. Every part of magical and every story important. So much happens and it was all wonderful.
The writing quality was amazing - my attention was captured from the first moment and the story never let it go. Every character had a distinct voice was it was clear that Virdi knew what he wanted to say and had his voice going in. The worldbuilding was beautiful, the characters amazing, and the plot captivating. He builds wonderfully on The First Binding and sprinkled enough from the first book that I was able to remember the important parts.
This is one for the major fantasy lovers - it's got everything we love in a long, well-written fantasy with all the depth and detail we could ask for.
4.25/5 stars
This was magical, absolutely amazing. Was it probably too long? Sure, and it had what I would consider more "fluff" than the first one", - it was long and dense and had a ton of content - but it was exceptionally well written, just like the first, and I was captivated by Ari's stories. Every part of magical and every story important. So much happens and it was all wonderful.
The writing quality was amazing - my attention was captured from the first moment and the story never let it go. Every character had a distinct voice was it was clear that Virdi knew what he wanted to say and had his voice going in. The worldbuilding was beautiful, the characters amazing, and the plot captivating. He builds wonderfully on The First Binding and sprinkled enough from the first book that I was able to remember the important parts.
This is one for the major fantasy lovers - it's got everything we love in a long, well-written fantasy with all the depth and detail we could ask for.
September 10, 2024
As a sequel, this really impressed me. I think it’s more mature and better crafted than the first book - although perhaps that’s just our narrator, who is a little older and perhaps a bit wiser. I found both Ari and Eloine slightly irritating in the first book, but they’ve mellowed into characters with realistic foibles here for me.
Readers who were put off by similarities to Name of the Wind - rest assured Virdi is definitely telling his own story here, although in a story that’s about stories and storytelling there are sly nods to other tales. Anyone concerned about a hero spending an impressive amount of time seducing fairies can put their worries away.
And the plot! The plot is exciting enough that it kept me going even through about 800 pages. A lot happens. The pacing is mixed - sometimes it is a bit slow, and Virdi leans into his poetic descriptions. But he’s not afraid to layer in the action scenes and the drama too. There is a lot to enjoy, from your smaller set pieces where Ari confronts bullies at school, to the eerie magic of otherworldly realms, to courtroom dramatics and politics, to desert battle showdowns. Epic is surely the word. Settle in for the long haul and enjoy!
Readers who were put off by similarities to Name of the Wind - rest assured Virdi is definitely telling his own story here, although in a story that’s about stories and storytelling there are sly nods to other tales. Anyone concerned about a hero spending an impressive amount of time seducing fairies can put their worries away.
And the plot! The plot is exciting enough that it kept me going even through about 800 pages. A lot happens. The pacing is mixed - sometimes it is a bit slow, and Virdi leans into his poetic descriptions. But he’s not afraid to layer in the action scenes and the drama too. There is a lot to enjoy, from your smaller set pieces where Ari confronts bullies at school, to the eerie magic of otherworldly realms, to courtroom dramatics and politics, to desert battle showdowns. Epic is surely the word. Settle in for the long haul and enjoy!
September 12, 2024
Author R.R. Virdi delivers the second installment in the Tales of Tremaine series with The Doors of Midnight.
As the sequel to The First Binding, the author continues building Ari’s character as the Storyteller. Because this novel is described as a fairytale fantasy, it may be out of the comfort zone for readers unfamiliar with the genre.
However, if you are open to trying something new, then allow R.R. Verdi to sweep you away to a well-crafted world full of magic. The characters are unique yet hopelessly flawed. Ari steals the limelight for his ability to tell stories, some of which are less fact than fiction.
His adventures land him in jail, accused of killing a young prince. The myths and legends surrounding Ari make him seem larger than life.
The Doors of Midnight delivers the second installment of a fantasy series that will have adventure fantasy readers ready for more. ~ Amy for Novels Alive
As the sequel to The First Binding, the author continues building Ari’s character as the Storyteller. Because this novel is described as a fairytale fantasy, it may be out of the comfort zone for readers unfamiliar with the genre.
However, if you are open to trying something new, then allow R.R. Verdi to sweep you away to a well-crafted world full of magic. The characters are unique yet hopelessly flawed. Ari steals the limelight for his ability to tell stories, some of which are less fact than fiction.
His adventures land him in jail, accused of killing a young prince. The myths and legends surrounding Ari make him seem larger than life.
The Doors of Midnight delivers the second installment of a fantasy series that will have adventure fantasy readers ready for more. ~ Amy for Novels Alive
April 1, 2025
Very interesting book. Gets a little weird before ending but good reading.
April 18, 2025
2.4/5
Both story lines are boring
Author has no unique ideas
Still just a weaker kingkiller clone this one even stole a bot from wheel of time.
Will read book 3 since he has run out of thr kingkill plot and will see what he can do on his own.
Both story lines are boring
Author has no unique ideas
Still just a weaker kingkiller clone this one even stole a bot from wheel of time.
Will read book 3 since he has run out of thr kingkill plot and will see what he can do on his own.
September 11, 2024
Amazing next installment. I love the disassembling legend from truth and trying to look for what we know/have heard and what to keep an eye out for when people mention the legends. More of the same slow flowery pacing but the tale takes unique turns. I loved the stories told in the book as much as Ari, though it was funny to think one time that I was reading a story of someone telling a story about someone telling a story. The story-ception gets a little much sometimes. All in all amazing and I can't wait for the next journey!
September 21, 2024
Parts of this still feels like fan fiction trying to correct common complaints of the KKC, yet it is leagues more original than the previous entry and I enjoyed it for that.
August 2, 2024
4.5☆
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.
This will likely turn out to be an unpopular opinion, but that doesn't really matter much to. me. I found this book so much stronger and more enjoyable than book 1 and have given a whole extra star accordingly.
We pick up not long after the end of book 1, with Ari at the Ashram in his retelling and around the palace in the present. There are a lot of things this book did really well. My main issue with book 1 was the pacing and what felt like a wait to get to the Ashram. There are no pacing issues here, at least not ones that took up the first 60% of the book.
Without giving too much away, Ari develops as a character in many ways, and the author answers several of my questions and concerns about this book. The plot and setting took a twist I was not expecting, which was great. This, and his subsequent meeting with a myth, will likely draw comparisons to NotW/WMF again, but this is very well done and takes a much different path - it is all the better for it.
I had two concerns with where the story was going with book 1. Firstly, Eloine - why tell her his story? Why not someone else? We start to get a glimpse of things here, a hint of something deeper at play in the world and that their dynamic and the telling of his story may have deeper implications, not least concerning the Ashura.
My second centred around a feeling of being almost cheated. Ari had earned several titles ny the close of The First Binding, none of which were deserved, all of which were lies. Whilst this was the tagline, it did not make for a satisfactory conclusion. In many ways, his titles are more deserved on the sequel, and his aura has definitely built. More is dangled about the Ashura, and the consequences of his choices in book 1 also come to fruition.
The second instalment is far superior and corrects the issues I had with book 1, whilst creating further intrigue and a deeper world. It is still his interest in ancient history, myth and legend that I find the most intriguing in this tale, along with the relationships with other characters he develops along the way (and the implication that they are no longernin his life when we switch to the present, which is no less perilous than the retellings of his most dangerous episodes of his past). The events of the present, rather than being slightly irritating in breaking up the retelling of the past in book 1, now feel like they serve as purpose. The link between his pursuits here tie into his motives ever since he was a child, and continue to drive his choices and actions the present also posseses far higher stakes, therefore feeling less like filler.
The overindulgent writing still appears at times but comes across more as a part of Ari's personality to me this time, which works much better. Whether this is a conscious choice, the author maturing, or a better editor, I'm not sure, but all of this meant I loved the second instalment and cannot wait for book 3. It wouldn't go a miss to know how many books are intended for the series moving forward either.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.
This will likely turn out to be an unpopular opinion, but that doesn't really matter much to. me. I found this book so much stronger and more enjoyable than book 1 and have given a whole extra star accordingly.
We pick up not long after the end of book 1, with Ari at the Ashram in his retelling and around the palace in the present. There are a lot of things this book did really well. My main issue with book 1 was the pacing and what felt like a wait to get to the Ashram. There are no pacing issues here, at least not ones that took up the first 60% of the book.
Without giving too much away, Ari develops as a character in many ways, and the author answers several of my questions and concerns about this book. The plot and setting took a twist I was not expecting, which was great. This, and his subsequent meeting with a myth, will likely draw comparisons to NotW/WMF again, but this is very well done and takes a much different path - it is all the better for it.
I had two concerns with where the story was going with book 1. Firstly, Eloine - why tell her his story? Why not someone else? We start to get a glimpse of things here, a hint of something deeper at play in the world and that their dynamic and the telling of his story may have deeper implications, not least concerning the Ashura.
My second centred around a feeling of being almost cheated. Ari had earned several titles ny the close of The First Binding, none of which were deserved, all of which were lies. Whilst this was the tagline, it did not make for a satisfactory conclusion. In many ways, his titles are more deserved on the sequel, and his aura has definitely built. More is dangled about the Ashura, and the consequences of his choices in book 1 also come to fruition.
The second instalment is far superior and corrects the issues I had with book 1, whilst creating further intrigue and a deeper world. It is still his interest in ancient history, myth and legend that I find the most intriguing in this tale, along with the relationships with other characters he develops along the way (and the implication that they are no longernin his life when we switch to the present, which is no less perilous than the retellings of his most dangerous episodes of his past). The events of the present, rather than being slightly irritating in breaking up the retelling of the past in book 1, now feel like they serve as purpose. The link between his pursuits here tie into his motives ever since he was a child, and continue to drive his choices and actions the present also posseses far higher stakes, therefore feeling less like filler.
The overindulgent writing still appears at times but comes across more as a part of Ari's personality to me this time, which works much better. Whether this is a conscious choice, the author maturing, or a better editor, I'm not sure, but all of this meant I loved the second instalment and cannot wait for book 3. It wouldn't go a miss to know how many books are intended for the series moving forward either.
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