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A review by octavia_cade
Breath and Bone by Carol Berg
4.0
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I note that my predictions after reading book 1 as to who the lost prince was, and my idea about what the gift was, were right on the money. The easy guessing continues here, as it was blatantly obvious who the old woman was; I got it some time before Valen did.
In general, another likable read, though my indifference for the main character, and my absolute dislike for his never-ending addiction storyline remains. For all that Valen goes on and on and on about what a threat nivat is to him, he overdoses on it so bloody regularly that it loses all sense of threat (or interest). Of far more interest is dodgy prince Osriel, who at least seems to have a brain and a willingness to use it to make hard choices; he's a fantastic character. What really makes this book - and its predecessor - stand out, however, is the world-building, which continues to be excellent. There's a real sense of place and culture here that's genuinely enjoyable. I don't know if Berg's done more in this world, but I'd be super interested in reading it if she has - I'm a sucker for stories where the king is magically bound to the land and vice versa.
In general, another likable read, though my indifference for the main character, and my absolute dislike for his never-ending addiction storyline remains. For all that Valen goes on and on and on about what a threat nivat is to him, he overdoses on it so bloody regularly that it loses all sense of threat (or interest). Of far more interest is dodgy prince Osriel, who at least seems to have a brain and a willingness to use it to make hard choices; he's a fantastic character. What really makes this book - and its predecessor - stand out, however, is the world-building, which continues to be excellent. There's a real sense of place and culture here that's genuinely enjoyable. I don't know if Berg's done more in this world, but I'd be super interested in reading it if she has - I'm a sucker for stories where the king is magically bound to the land and vice versa.