Review: Epic Fantasy Romance Adventure
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 24, 2012
I eagerly anticipated this sequel after reading through the first book, Counterpoint, and coming up against that astonishing ending.  Sometimes its not a good idea to really anticipate a book because then you're setting yourself up for disappointment, but in this case there was no disappointment.  This was a strong sequel from beginning to end.  Like the first one, this book challenges the emotions with many of the dark events in this odyssey-style story.This is a continuation story so needs to be read in order behind the first one.The story continues from the point where the High King or Aegis sends his emissary to bring Freyrik and Ayden to the capitol.  Freyrik is under the Aegis' disapprobation because he didn't immediately send Ayden to him as a slave.  Ayden is also worried about what has been going on in the capitol that keeps his brother from returning home to his own kingdom.The hardships continue for Rik and Ayden.  They discover that surviving the Surge, Ayden accepting the punishment of lashes and that finding love together is not enough.  Now Ayden is forced into a true slaveship with his elf magic bound while Freyrik is placed in a no win situation that makes him choose between his brother and the Aegis.  Either choice will bring betrayal and disappointment.  Under it all, the prince and elf still have each other and they will face an epic adventure once again- together.I don't have a wide range of knowledge when it comes to fantasy romance since this is a fairly new sub-genre for me, but I was fascinated by all the creative twists and turns that the magical world the author thought up.The plot was riveting.  I was already vested since the first story, but most of the times I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't have put it down to save my life.  Just when I was sure it was going to go a certain way, it twisted and took off in another direction.  I loved not knowing what was going to happen next.  There was a feel that certain things like a few minor characters' fates that I would have liked to have seen neatly tied up in the end because I was curious about them, but in no way did this take away from a superior plot that focused on the fate of the world and specifically the two heroes.These two heroes- Actually, I could just sit here and gush, but I doubt anyone wants to read that. Heh heh!  Truthfully, I found them more than engaging and splendid examples of what a good main character should be in the first book.  It just got better with the more hardships that were thrown their way in this story.  They are tough and strong enough to weather the storm of life without a lot of angst, but they are also tender and there for each other when it counts.I find that this duo of stories, Counterpoint and Crescendo, are terribly easy to recommend to those who enjoy high epic fantasy adventure.