This is a continuation of Hodges’ trilogy Legend of the Gods. And I found it as engaging and intriguing as the first. It does take the path of many center books in a trilogy, complicating the plot as much as it resolves elements of it. In some respects the story concludes with a realization of how much stands in the way of our heroes achieving their goals.
The character development continues, with more depth and even growth for the main characters. The past of Alana and her brother is revealed, as is the past of the Tsar. As I think back over it, Hodges did an excellent job of fleshing out the world and its magical system as the story progressed. We learn more about the war Devon fought in and how the Tsar came to be such a powerful magician.
Hodges kept the pace up, and the consequences of the actions of various characters felt real and substantial. The protagonists do not just innately choose the best path, and their struggle against overwhelming odds keeps the story grounded and relatable.
David Stifel continues his excellent job with the narration. The voices and characterizations are consistent with those of the first book. It was an excellent performance that enabled me to enjoy the story.
All in all, I enjoyed it. Unlike the first book, this one did edge towards more descriptive intimate sexual interactions in a few places. For that I would suggest this for adults and not children. The violence is also described pretty bluntly, but not in an overdone way. Hodges just doesn’t flinch from describing a would or injury. If you enjoy fantasy stories with very thorough world-building and well developed magical systems, I think you would enjoy this book. I definitely would encourage you to read/listen to the first in the trilogy before diving into this one.