Review: Better Than the First!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 3, 2014
It’s almost an unwritten law: no matter how good the first episode, the sequel is always better. Empire is better than Star Wars, T2 better than The Terminator. And The Saga of Menyoral: The Service manages to raise the already high bar established by Hard Luck. I have eagerly been anticipating this book since the moment I finished the first and I was not disappointed.M.A. Ray takes us back to her fantasy world populated with the characters she has created. And now that the introductions are out of the way, she can get down to putting them through their paces. A year has passed since we were last here and Vandis, Dingus, Kessa, Lech, Stas, and Krakus headline a well-rounded cast of secondary characters. Ray obviously doesn’t believe in throw-away cardboard cutouts and it’s obvious in the way she injects enough life that someone like Sir Reed or Francine behaves in a consistent and believable manner.As Ray pulls back more of the curtain on the scene, we are exposed to the inner workings of the Knights of the Air, the machinations of the Order of Aurelius, and the paths that are going to bring the conflict between them to a head. The writing is tight, the descriptions colorful without being overwhelming, and the story flows at the correct pace. It never seems rushed or slowed and by the end, she leaves you wanting more.If you’re a fan of well-written fantasy worlds and characters who are believable, then the Saga of Menyoral should not be overlooked.