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tymgabriel's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hostral's review against another edition
4.0
After declaring Firehurler the best independently published fantasy book I've ever read, you can imagine I came to its sequel, Aethersmith, with lofty expectations. Were they matched?
Well, yes actually, they were.
The story picks up exactly where it left off, and the quality of prose hasn't dipped from the climactic ending of Firehurler. Morin has found his feet as a writer and while he doesn't set the world on fire in that regard he knows how to weave a good tale and how to prevent his own words from getting in the way of expressing said tale.
I likened Firehurler to the classics of the genre from the 70s and 80s. The Gemmell and Feist and Brooks and Eddings of the world. This is more of the same and a much needed respite from the dark and moody cloak and dagger of modern fantasy.
While its roots lie in traditional fantasy, it refrains from moral absolutism in the best way possible, leaving you as a reader to make your own determinations about the motivations of the characters. It was about half way through reading this that I genuinely started to empathise with Jinzan Fehr in a way I hadn't previously in the series.
When it comes to characters, Morin is superb. The ever-dominating presence of Rashan Solaran is a delight to read, and the unique twinborn concept allows a character to be two people at once. Brannis/Kyrus is our protagonist for the most part but there are other interesting pairings that might surprise you along the way.
What should be the book's major selling point can also be to its detriment at times, as Morin struggles with the grandiosity of having so many points of view. This led to a period of confusion as the book started to heat up but it is a forgiveable error given the quality of the story told.
The tale is more complex than that of Firehurler, with the ramifications of Rashan's rise now being challenged, albeit not openly, by both the enemy nation and his own subjects.
Iridan cuts a tragic figure in this tale, and his is a steady descent that culminates in dire circumstances. He is forced into marrying the love of his best friend Brannis, a woman who has no interest in him.
My favourite plot line was that of Brannis and Kyrus, but I cannot elucidate further without spoiling it. Sufficed to say the nature of being twinborn is fully explored and it's delightful to see it unfold.
One of the biggest problems with Aethersmith is that it suffers from middle book syndrome. The majority of the world-building has been done by Firehurler and to combat that Morin has introduced more points of view. Unfortunately he can't draw the tale to a satisfying conclusion because that has been left for the third volume.
I could go on for days about the various characters and their cleverly intertwined stories, but sufficed to say if you've come to this review as a fan of Firehurler and are wondering if the sequel is worth the price then yes, yes it is.
Aethersmith, despite being the middle book the series, serves its purpose and does so with aplomb. There's a twin of J.S. Morin on some other world who is a best-selling fantasy author. I only hope he can emulate that man's achievements because based on the strength of this work, he deserves it.
Well, yes actually, they were.
The story picks up exactly where it left off, and the quality of prose hasn't dipped from the climactic ending of Firehurler. Morin has found his feet as a writer and while he doesn't set the world on fire in that regard he knows how to weave a good tale and how to prevent his own words from getting in the way of expressing said tale.
I likened Firehurler to the classics of the genre from the 70s and 80s. The Gemmell and Feist and Brooks and Eddings of the world. This is more of the same and a much needed respite from the dark and moody cloak and dagger of modern fantasy.
While its roots lie in traditional fantasy, it refrains from moral absolutism in the best way possible, leaving you as a reader to make your own determinations about the motivations of the characters. It was about half way through reading this that I genuinely started to empathise with Jinzan Fehr in a way I hadn't previously in the series.
When it comes to characters, Morin is superb. The ever-dominating presence of Rashan Solaran is a delight to read, and the unique twinborn concept allows a character to be two people at once. Brannis/Kyrus is our protagonist for the most part but there are other interesting pairings that might surprise you along the way.
What should be the book's major selling point can also be to its detriment at times, as Morin struggles with the grandiosity of having so many points of view. This led to a period of confusion as the book started to heat up but it is a forgiveable error given the quality of the story told.
The tale is more complex than that of Firehurler, with the ramifications of Rashan's rise now being challenged, albeit not openly, by both the enemy nation and his own subjects.
Iridan cuts a tragic figure in this tale, and his is a steady descent that culminates in dire circumstances. He is forced into marrying the love of his best friend Brannis, a woman who has no interest in him.
My favourite plot line was that of Brannis and Kyrus, but I cannot elucidate further without spoiling it. Sufficed to say the nature of being twinborn is fully explored and it's delightful to see it unfold.
One of the biggest problems with Aethersmith is that it suffers from middle book syndrome. The majority of the world-building has been done by Firehurler and to combat that Morin has introduced more points of view. Unfortunately he can't draw the tale to a satisfying conclusion because that has been left for the third volume.
I could go on for days about the various characters and their cleverly intertwined stories, but sufficed to say if you've come to this review as a fan of Firehurler and are wondering if the sequel is worth the price then yes, yes it is.
Aethersmith, despite being the middle book the series, serves its purpose and does so with aplomb. There's a twin of J.S. Morin on some other world who is a best-selling fantasy author. I only hope he can emulate that man's achievements because based on the strength of this work, he deserves it.
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