prat_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
megabyte117's review against another edition
4.0
(4.5/5) This is a fantastic follow up to the first book - with effective world building and growing of the scope beyond Tau’s quest for vengeance. The pacing is a bit slow early on, but quickly picks up until a fairly abrupt ending. My main critique would be the absence of other character POVs. There are a few, however we still exclusively spend so much time with our main character that we don’t get much in the way of other perspectives on the war/Tau. Very much looking forward to the final book in the series.
fairsweeting's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
raptor_cat's review against another edition
Did not pull me in a just felt lacking in some way.
naimar's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this series so much omg. The best fantasy I’ve read recently. I’m so excited for the next book
techmage's review against another edition
5.0
A fittingly powerful follow up to Rage of Dragons, I loved reading this. While I feel like The Fires of Vengeance is a *small* step down in enjoyment after RoD, it was still an amazing next step in this bloody saga. If you enjoyed the first book in The Burning at all, I fully expect you to enjoy the second, and it certainly leaves you eager for the third...
theshaggyshepherd's review
4.0
The Fires of Vengeance // by Evan Winter
The Fires of Vengeance is a direct continuation of The Rage of Dragons. Tau is trying to come to terms with everything that happened previously, temporarily distracted from his rage by grief, but finds his way back to his purpose with the help of the young queen. If you thought the first book was chock full of action, then prepare yourself for this one! Your mind will be spinning from how much can happen at once but when you're in the middle of a war, then that is to be expected of course. It is interesting to see though how Tau no longer has a singular focus as before. The tragedies that strike from different directions allow us to see him in a different light as his own motivations twist and change as he adapts to the different situations. I seem to be alone in this but the more I learn about Tau, the more he seems to remind me of Kvothe, which is a favorite fictional character of mine!
Something that I was not the biggest fan of in this book as it kind of pulled me out of the book a little each time it happened was that there are a couple of chapters that are told from the point of view of other characters. I can see how it is important to the story because your perception of people and certain situations changes quite a bit due to the knowledge you gain from those characters, but the way it was done was a little jarring sometimes for me. But as I said, it really changed the way I viewed some of the characters, making them more layered and helping us understand their motivations and goals better. It really changed my opinion of one main character in particular in a way that I'm not entirely sure if it was intentional and if it was, then I am even more intrigued to see where this is going! Once again, all throughout this book, I am very impressed with the emotions Winter makes me feel, whether they are triumphant, mourning, hateful, or anything else.
One of my favorite things in a new to me fantasy series is learning about the world and its history. If you were intrigued by that in the first book, then you will really love that in this one! I honestly could've sat there and read about just that by itself for hours, but the author does a good job of smoothly incorporating those lessons into the book all throughout. Another thing that brought a fascinating tension and has us rooting for the underdogs again is how the social system of the Omehi is being shaken to its core. It is very exciting to have such an intelligent general in charge that knows exactly when to step up and when to step back to take full advantage of his soldiers and to see him navigating the issues that have arisen with the shakeup of their social system.
I enjoy books that both tie up the big event of that specific book as well as leave you wanting more. The anticipation that Fires left me with is huge and not knowing when the next one will come out is nerve-wracking! The intrigue, the war plans and execution, the emotions, and conflicting motivations, it's all so well done and I cannot wait to read more!
The Fires of Vengeance is a direct continuation of The Rage of Dragons. Tau is trying to come to terms with everything that happened previously, temporarily distracted from his rage by grief, but finds his way back to his purpose with the help of the young queen. If you thought the first book was chock full of action, then prepare yourself for this one! Your mind will be spinning from how much can happen at once but when you're in the middle of a war, then that is to be expected of course. It is interesting to see though how Tau no longer has a singular focus as before. The tragedies that strike from different directions allow us to see him in a different light as his own motivations twist and change as he adapts to the different situations. I seem to be alone in this but the more I learn about Tau, the more he seems to remind me of Kvothe, which is a favorite fictional character of mine!
Something that I was not the biggest fan of in this book as it kind of pulled me out of the book a little each time it happened was that there are a couple of chapters that are told from the point of view of other characters. I can see how it is important to the story because your perception of people and certain situations changes quite a bit due to the knowledge you gain from those characters, but the way it was done was a little jarring sometimes for me. But as I said, it really changed the way I viewed some of the characters, making them more layered and helping us understand their motivations and goals better. It really changed my opinion of one main character in particular in a way that I'm not entirely sure if it was intentional and if it was, then I am even more intrigued to see where this is going! Once again, all throughout this book, I am very impressed with the emotions Winter makes me feel, whether they are triumphant, mourning, hateful, or anything else.
One of my favorite things in a new to me fantasy series is learning about the world and its history. If you were intrigued by that in the first book, then you will really love that in this one! I honestly could've sat there and read about just that by itself for hours, but the author does a good job of smoothly incorporating those lessons into the book all throughout. Another thing that brought a fascinating tension and has us rooting for the underdogs again is how the social system of the Omehi is being shaken to its core. It is very exciting to have such an intelligent general in charge that knows exactly when to step up and when to step back to take full advantage of his soldiers and to see him navigating the issues that have arisen with the shakeup of their social system.
I enjoy books that both tie up the big event of that specific book as well as leave you wanting more. The anticipation that Fires left me with is huge and not knowing when the next one will come out is nerve-wracking! The intrigue, the war plans and execution, the emotions, and conflicting motivations, it's all so well done and I cannot wait to read more!
juniperhyacinth's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
9.45/10
gwen_c's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rmpratt827's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25