This series will never fail to make me CRY. Novellas, main books, doesn't matter, my eyes will water.
In this little book, we learn more about dwarvesThis series will never fail to make me CRY. Novellas, main books, doesn't matter, my eyes will water.
In this little book, we learn more about dwarves, and how they ended up inside the mountain. We get to see how their society works, the roles they play and how they'll stand together until the very end, no matter what.
Who knew I'd care so much for Tharst and Frelg that I'd be on the edge of my seat the entire time? Well, I did, because this author always writes amazing characters that you can't help but love, but yeah.
I don't think I breathed more than a few times throughout the entire 90 pages, I'm so serious. I needed to see all the dwarves safe and sound. You know what happened instead? PAIN.
So much action was packed into this, and it wonderfully ties into book two...which I now want to reread with this new knowledge in my head.
I really can't recommend the Elmerïan Chronicles enough, please stop sleeping on this series!!! Yes, it will hurt you, but it'll be one of the best things you've ever read, so I feel like that's a fair trade off.
*Huge thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
“May your spears outreach your enemy’s blades, my queen.”
No no no no no no no absolutely not, there's no way it ended like that, I refuse to believe i“May your spears outreach your enemy’s blades, my queen.”
No no no no no no no absolutely not, there's no way it ended like that, I refuse to believe it...WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY LIFE NOW???
If after book one you thought it couldn't get any wilder, YOU THOUGHT WRONG! This book is bananas, but in the best way. I feel as if I've been thrown into a washing machine on the highest setting, spat back out and I'm still saying thank you at the end. I could've also said roller-coaster like a normal person, but where's the fun in that?
Anyway yes, if you want to experience the full spectrum of emotions, you have to read this series. You will laugh, you will cry, you will scream in frustration and curse the author's name and you will be in pain for all eternity, BUT it'll be worth it.
Bloods of a Withering Kingdom has never heard of second book syndrome, it's, dare I say, even better than Whispers of a World Breaker which I didn't think was possible, because that book is perfection.
We get expanded lore (dwarves!), family drama (did not see any of it coming 10/10), Moro gets more PoVs (as he should), there's a dash of romance (oh la la) but not huge so romance besties don't get your hopes up, Eldras and Aric train with the man the myth the legend Tirian (if bad why cool) but ultimately discover he's not completely sane in the membrane (bummer). And that's just a fraction of this amazing absolutely brilliant book that you need to pick up RIGHT NOW.
There's so much action that it's hard to catch a breath, the battle scenes are expertly written and I can never get enough, except when, you know, my favourite characters are on the brink of death.
Which reminds me, I read in the acknowledgements that the author can't promise us our faves will remain safe throughout the series...I know that's a little jokey joke Mr Ratliff, you would never hurt me like that, right? Exactly.
(Yes, that's me crying in the distance)
Both books so far (and the novella) are really fast paced and trust me when I say, it's super easy to get into the series, Corey's made it even easier for you by including a recap at the start!! That actually came in handy, even though I've constantly been thinking about this world since the first book.
The twists are just magnificent, if Ratliff ever wrote a thriller I'd be first in line to read it because I know I'd never guess a thing. I love how shocked I was at each reveal, it made me feel like a little kid finding presents under the Christmas/New Years tree.
Now the character development...wow. As a fan of Tirian since the prequel (which you should read if you haven't yet), I am both crushed and in love with the direction his character is going in. The signs were there for sure. He's becoming more unhinged by the day and it's really fun to read, despite him being very wrong in his beliefs.
Aric, Eldras and Moro grew so much over the course of the book, I feel like a proud mother, those are my babies, look at them go!! Aric and Eldras found their rhythm for the most part, but Moro went through A LOT. I'm so curious how he'll continue to develop considering recent events.
Circling back to the ending to let you know that it's the mother of all cliffhangers and you will cry. Words cannot describe how I'm feeling right now.
If you would like to go through a similar degree of emotional damage, then I can't recommend this series enough.
*Huge thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
If you want to be punched REPEATEDLY in the feels, this is the book for you. I knew I'd be hurt based on the prequel novella, and I know there's more If you want to be punched REPEATEDLY in the feels, this is the book for you. I knew I'd be hurt based on the prequel novella, and I know there's more yet to come, but friends I am just a shell of a person right now, someone hold me.
I just adore this world and its characters to bits and pieces, I don't know how I'm supposed to survive until book two because of that ending. YES, IT WAS A CLIFFHANGER!!! What a cruel place to leave us on. And just so you know, the likelihood of one of your fav characters meeting an untimely end is high. Now we may proceed.
Okay so, we follow two friends/brothers who find themselves on opposite sides of a war that isn't all it seems. One of them, Aric, is hunted by everyone and everything because a dragon hatched for him, and the other, Moro, gets captured by orcs who appear to be the villains...but are they really?
Aric is the main character, and gets the most PoVs, but I enjoyed reading Moro's perspective too. It took me a few chapters to get used to him, because Aric's PoVs were more interesting at the start (cute baby dragon!), but then I found myself looking forward to seeing more of Moro, especially when he evolved from captive to something else entirely.
I ended the book wanting more of him (and how he's dealing with everything he found out), so hopefully in the sequel his and Aric's PoVs will be evened out.
Eldras is the cutest and funniest little ball (maybe not so little by the end), I just want to give him a biiiig hug. HE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!!! If anything happens to him I will never recover (keep that in mind Mr Ratliff, ahem ahem). His bond with Aric, their banter, it gave me life. They really are a perfect match.
Sage is so cute too, baby Sage's bond with Moro made me cry (are you sensing a pattern with this series? Because I sure am), it was so precious. Moro cares about Sage the same way Aric cares about Eldras. We love to see it.
I also loved Francil & Trenara, though really I loved all the characters. The author gave them all a unique voice, so how could I not fall in love with them?
The worldbuilding is well-crafted, the lore interesting. You can tell a lot of thought was put into developing everything, because there don't seem to be any holes. It was amazing exploring the world through the characters' eyes.
Oh and the twists! LET ME TELL YOU, you will think you know something, and then you will be proven wrong time and time again. The twists don't stop until the very end.
We even got a cameo from a very special character, I'm dying to tell you who, but I can't because it's a spoiler. I'm a very happy camper, knowing they'll have a bigger role in the sequel.
Reading Whispers of a World Breaker was such a joy, I'm so glad I joined the buddy read over on Discord.
P. S. I accidentally deleted my review just as I was wrapping it up and had to go by memory, so hopefully nothing looks too disjointed! ...more