blue1alexa's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kueltzo's review
4.0
The second book in this series is a tremendous improvement on the first. I look forward to the next. I only hope that Rpjan doesn't get religion.
mrsjenniferwheeler's review against another edition
5.0
Really digging this storyline. Love the characters, and the dark/gritty atmosphere is fascinating to visualize. The city of Mahala would be amazing to see on the big screen....
civreader's review against another edition
3.0
This didn't grab me nearly as much as the first book. Can't really figure out WHY, though. Atmospherics were good, Knight's prose is as stripped down as before (which I like). But. There was some weird repetition of minutiae. Rojan's character felt forced, sometimes - his caddishness, his flirting, etc. The plot plodded a wee bit, too (at least, it felt like it did, but I still managed to read it pretty quickly). Nevetheless, some nice bits sprinkled throughout, so I'll still be reading book three.
halfmanhalfbook's review
3.0
Having just survived his last set of escapades, Rojan Dizon is aiming to keep his head down, stay out of trouble, and hope that the citizens of Mahala will forget about him. Using his magic he is wearing a disguise so he won’t be recognised.
But things are about to get worse. Much worse.
With the power source gone, the city is spiralling into disaster. The divisions of the two populations in the city are becoming more apparent; disturbances and disorder in the populace are becoming riots, and someone is slitting the throats of the mages. On top of that the city is under threat from its neighbours. It will be anarchy or war or possibly both if Rojan doesn’t find the killers.
This second book in the series builds on what Knight started. The characters are building more layers of complexity now, which helps with the narrative. The plot was a little predictable sadly, but that might be because it is the middle book in a series, and you need some characters to go onto the next book. I do like the dark imposing vertical city that she has created though, with its hidden parts, aerial walkways, and the way that she describes the light filtering down through the levels. The society that she has created is good too, though I wouldn’t want to live there, with the subtle use of magic, the combined state and religion and even though there is this authoritarian regime, it still feels lawless and dangerous. Good stuff. Now to find the third book.
But things are about to get worse. Much worse.
With the power source gone, the city is spiralling into disaster. The divisions of the two populations in the city are becoming more apparent; disturbances and disorder in the populace are becoming riots, and someone is slitting the throats of the mages. On top of that the city is under threat from its neighbours. It will be anarchy or war or possibly both if Rojan doesn’t find the killers.
This second book in the series builds on what Knight started. The characters are building more layers of complexity now, which helps with the narrative. The plot was a little predictable sadly, but that might be because it is the middle book in a series, and you need some characters to go onto the next book. I do like the dark imposing vertical city that she has created though, with its hidden parts, aerial walkways, and the way that she describes the light filtering down through the levels. The society that she has created is good too, though I wouldn’t want to live there, with the subtle use of magic, the combined state and religion and even though there is this authoritarian regime, it still feels lawless and dangerous. Good stuff. Now to find the third book.
halfmanhalfbook's review against another edition
3.0
Having just survived his last set of escapades, Rojan Dizon is aiming to keep his head down, stay out of trouble, and hope that the citizens of Mahala will forget about him. Using his magic he is wearing a disguise so he won’t be recognised.
But things are about to get worse. Much worse.
With the power source gone, the city is spiralling into disaster. The divisions of the two populations in the city are becoming more apparent; disturbances and disorder in the populace are becoming riots, and someone is slitting the throats of the mages. On top of that the city is under threat from its neighbours. It will be anarchy or war or possibly both if Rojan doesn’t find the killers.
This second book in the series builds on what Knight started. The characters are building more layers of complexity now, which helps with the narrative. The plot was a little predictable sadly, but that might be because it is the middle book in a series, and you need some characters to go onto the next book. I do like the dark imposing vertical city that she has created though, with its hidden parts, aerial walkways, and the way that she describes the light filtering down through the levels. The society that she has created is good too, though I wouldn’t want to live there, with the subtle use of magic, the combined state and religion and even though there is this authoritarian regime, it still feels lawless and dangerous. Good stuff. Now to find the third book.
But things are about to get worse. Much worse.
With the power source gone, the city is spiralling into disaster. The divisions of the two populations in the city are becoming more apparent; disturbances and disorder in the populace are becoming riots, and someone is slitting the throats of the mages. On top of that the city is under threat from its neighbours. It will be anarchy or war or possibly both if Rojan doesn’t find the killers.
This second book in the series builds on what Knight started. The characters are building more layers of complexity now, which helps with the narrative. The plot was a little predictable sadly, but that might be because it is the middle book in a series, and you need some characters to go onto the next book. I do like the dark imposing vertical city that she has created though, with its hidden parts, aerial walkways, and the way that she describes the light filtering down through the levels. The society that she has created is good too, though I wouldn’t want to live there, with the subtle use of magic, the combined state and religion and even though there is this authoritarian regime, it still feels lawless and dangerous. Good stuff. Now to find the third book.
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