Crescendo (Song of the Fallen, #2) in Riptide Publishing

Aug 25, 2011 Wendy❤Ann rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sex-partner-mm, 5stars, genre-fantasy, series, app-stanza, free-stuff-review

Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews

After being suspended in mid-air following my plunge off the proverbial cliff at the end of Counterpoint (and having made a trip through the wringer on the way there), I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the sequel. I didn’t expect Freyrik and Ayden to have an easy time of it which was a good thing because I know I can count on this author to really put her characters through their paces before they ever see any light in the happily ever after tunnel. Th Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews

After being suspended in mid-air following my plunge off the proverbial cliff at the end of Counterpoint (and having made a trip through the wringer on the way there), I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the sequel. I didn’t expect Freyrik and Ayden to have an easy time of it which was a good thing because I know I can count on this author to really put her characters through their paces before they ever see any light in the happily ever after tunnel. The question for me was would they reach the end of that tunnel?

What I did expect was a continuation of the rich plot and amazing fantasy world conjured up in the first book. I also expected to experience strong emotions as Freyrik and Ayden were consistently tested by the overwhelming majority who could not fathom a human/elf relationship much less one in which the two could be on equal footing and love each other. In these expectations, the author did not disappoint!

In the first book, I was completely enamored with the whole concept of elf song – the ability for the elves to read someone’s aura/mood/feelings based on songs/harmonies/notes that person projected and could only be detected by the fragile ears of the elves. Therefore, I was crushed when that magical ability was squashed in Ayden for a majority of this second book. Among Freyrik’s people, at least among those he was accountable to, elves were not to be trusted and were nothing more than convenient (and pretty) slaves to do the bidding of their human masters. So, as soon as Freyrik and Ayden made their appearance at High Court as commanded to do so, Ayden’s magical elf song was silenced and he was made essentially deaf by the placement of “starfall” (metal collar/cuffs) around his neck, ankles and wrists.

Much of this second book dealt with a test of Freyrik’s loyalties. Should he stay true to the Aegis, Lord Protector, “uncle” he’s sworn to follow or his brother? Whose theories are right when it comes to the cause behind the attacks of the Dark Beasts – the Aegis and his own Ayden who say it is not dark elves or his brother and band of followers who say it is? And when the source of the threat that’s been plaguing them all for years becomes known, where does Freyrik place his trust for a solution – with his lover and the Elven nation or with the Aegis and his human comrades?

The answers to these questions and more you’ll find along this amazing reading journey. Expect to have your heart in your throat a few times along the way, but it’s definitely a journey worth taking. If I could change anything, it would be to have just a little more clarity around the ending. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no cliffhanger here and I’m plenty satisfied with where Freyrik and Ayden end up, but I did have some lingering questions on the resolution of the conflict and how the races ultimately move forward. I don’t know if there’s any chance for a future third book, but if so, I’d grab it in a hot minute! If not, I’m happy enough with where this book and my imagination have landed. I highly recommend this series – just make sure you don’t wait as long as I did between the two books!!!
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Jan 10, 2012 OkayKim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio

Would love another sequel! I'm not one that's crazy about fantasy, mainly cause some authors get so involve with the description of the world they create that the story gets lost somewhere along the way. I was hooked by the first chapter to the point that I stayed up later than usual and had trouble putting the book down, again, so that I could go to work.
Thank you Rachel for a really enjoyable read.

As for the audio, I really wished the narrator from Counterpoint continue in this one. This new ...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Adara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a fitting continuation of Freyrík and Ayden's story. This story mentions several events of the first book, Counterpoint, without going into much detail to help readers remember, so it is best if these two books are read close together.

The story picks up almost where the previous story ends. It is a few days later, and Prince Freyrík is taking Ayden in to the High Court to be bound before seeing the Aegis, the Lord Protector of the joined kingdoms of humanity, who is like a father to Fr This was a fitting continuation of Freyrík and Ayden's story. This story mentions several events of the first book, Counterpoint, without going into much detail to help readers remember, so it is best if these two books are read close together.

The story picks up almost where the previous story ends. It is a few days later, and Prince Freyrík is taking Ayden in to the High Court to be bound before seeing the Aegis, the Lord Protector of the joined kingdoms of humanity, who is like a father to Freyrík. Once they reach Splendor (the name of the city), Ayden is taken away and bound immediately by starfall, which interferes with an elf's ability to hear or create 'songs' and incapacitates him for a couple of days. For most of the rest of the book he is thusly 'deaf' though he continues to fight in other ways, such as plotting to free himself and the other elven slaves from Splendor.

Freyrík worries about how much he has displeased the Aegis because he can see myriad ways in which he is slighted in court. He worries for Ayden's safety. And he worries for his brother Berendil, King Farr, who has been at court some months and unable to slip away. Soon, the court intrigues have Freyrík right in the middle of his brother and his Lord Protector, and his lover has no gift to sort truth from lies. (Which would have made this book much less fun, if Ayden could sort everything out by listening to song.)

We hop back and forth between Freyrík's and Ayden's POV as they both endure the High Court's demands upon them. Though the book is not entirely court intrigues, it is a good 2/3 to 3/4 of it, with the last 1/4 to 1/3 being the search for the source of the darker beasts and Surges, the Hunter's Call. The intrigues are well-crafted and truly describe the rock and hard place which Freyrík inhabits. He fortunately does not come across as truly wishy-washy, but more 'defeated' in that he cannot see a way to love his brother, his Aegis, and his elf without someone paying a steep price. And that was a truth to be dealt with.

I was glad to see that Rík and Ayden did not significantly backslide into trust issues after they'd gained that trust in the first story. There were some, but they were not constant and generally not the source of angst in this story, so it was not a repeat of the previous, but a true moving forward. Ayden loses none of his surly charm: though he did learn to temper quite a lot for Rík's sake, there are certain things which he will not put up with, and it does cost him, quite painfully, several times.

If I have one issue with the book, it is the very abrupt ending. We do not 'see' the end of the final battle, only its outcome in discussion after several days/weeks. There was plenty of aftermath which could have been explored in slightly more detail. But that is a minor complaint to a truly awesome 2-book fantasy series (with great covers). ...more

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Jul 24, 2011 SueM rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, fantasy, fae-elves, prisoner-slave, royalty, series, gb4-selected

This is a worthy sequel to Counterpoint except for one major thing - the end. Unfortunately, the last few pages just left me going WTF???. The story moves from a climax that leaves you wondering who survives what to a chapter that is, for all intents and purposes, an epilogue. Sure, you have a HEA, but what actually happened at the climax remains totally unexplained. As a result, a four star story slips down to three stars, leaving you feeling confused and dissatisfied. It's a sad thing to say/s ...more

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Jun 25, 2011 Jerry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, paranormal, fantasy

Intense is how I would describe the second and concluding story of Freyrik and Aden. I waited a long time for this novel and it was well worth the wait. What unimaginable physical and mental struggles these two have to go thru! Such intensity of pain each endures on the others behalf. Such internal struggles they each go thru thinking the other does not know, cannot know, does not care...but somehow they remain true to each other and tip the balance for good and evil in their world. A book to sa ...more

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