3 stars: Very Descriptive, but much too long
I admire anyone who writes a book, esp. a book well over 800 pages. I really like the concept of the time travel and the romance, and the period of history in Scotland is very compelling. The characters Claire and Jaime, as well as some of the minor characters like Murtagh were very well developed. And the descriptions of the imagined life at that time were quite good.
But the book dragged in points. I found myself surfing the last few hundred pages. I didn’t put it down, because I was involved with the characters and wanted to find out what happened…but I wasn’t involved enough to read every word.
I am torn as to whether to read the next one, or find the cliff notes.
Excellent 2nd book in a series
I read “The Year of Our War”, the first book in this series, and I was fascinated by the imagination of Ms. Swainston. Creating a world with immortals, insects and such a vast history, with parallel but connected universe(s) as well.
I was unaware that there would be a second book. I am glad I found it. I understand book 3 is in the works and look forward to it.
The second book follows the immortals, specifically Jant Comet the Messenger, to new worlds and old parallel ones. The character development, especially of Jant and Lightning, continue to develop in this installment, as Jant battles doubts about himself and his addiction, doubts about the immortals, and physical enemies both human and non. More of Jant and Lightnings pasts are revealed, as are some of the Emperors past. New areas of the physical world are discovered, and new parts of the parallel worlds with new allies and foes are presented as well.
The conclusion leaves open many angles for the third book, including the return of God who created the immortals, more invasions by the insects and other possible parallel world bleed overs.
This is not your average fantasy. It reads well and quickly, opens the readers imagination, and challenges them to keep up with the leaps. I eagerly await more.