Review: Second time is still charming.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 4, 2014
The difference between a decent author and an excellent author is the ability to consistently write good books, and the quality of the second novel is the best sign of what kind of writer you are going to get. There is no sophomore slump here.  Edward Knight is an excellent author, and this book is a triumph that proves that he is an outstanding storyteller.One thing that I particularly liked was how Knight's strong characterization creates people who are much more than two-dimensional. Every person who appears in the story is more than just a friend, an enemy, a villain, a mentor. They come with believable motivations that they keep hidden, but inform their behavior in a realistic way. Dagan strengthens this with his narrative, skillfully explaining just enough to provide reason and context to the actions people take, while hiding enough - and explaining he's hiding it - to keep a necessary aura of mystery. There is still much more to learn about the world of the Ashes Saga, and Knight has a real talent for telling you just the right amount at the right time.Also, the ending was great. The final scenes were significant, created a genuine moral dilemma with no good choices - something that I like to see in dark fantasy.This book is as good as Part One, and I devoured it. A must-read.