Kings of the North

Strong multi POV fantasy. Want the next one! ( )

Also an excellent addition to the universe. I appreciated that it comes to a satisfying conclusion while still leaving some major plot threads hanging for the third book (which comes out tomorrow - how convenient for me!)

I find Moon's prose workmanlike at best, and her attention to detail can make the pace of her novels rather slow, but they're carefully plotted, her characters all feel realistic, and I always appreciate a fantasy series where female characters are both assumed (by the author) to be as competent as the males and where sexism still crops up and is overtly addressed. ( )

Purple Dot, Fantasy, Paladin's Legacy, Paksennarion, High Fantasy

The second book in the Paladin’s Legacy series, Kings of the North opens up the focus from King Kieri, King Mikeli and Duke Dorrin to other characters and the more wide-ranging consequences of their new statuses. Treachery brews in all corners of the land; the pirate and self-styled Count Alured the Black positions himself to claim a crown and with it, an all-reaching rule. Misunderstandings and old enmities between Lyonya and Pargun must be addressed anew if peace is to be attained, while Kieri’s own Elven grandmother thwarts his attempts to properly rule his kingdom.

I love these books; Moon focuses on details, but then pulls back to show how these small events change the face of an entire world. As with the second book in the Deed of Paksennarion trilogy, Kings of the North now moves more swiftly than the first instalment did, but is still nicely packed with moments of good command and personal warmth between characters; there is even, as before, a dramatis personae posted at the beginning in case any of the minor characters have slipped our memories between books… not that Moon doesn’t continue to include back-story at most meetings, but it’s nice to be able to place a name immediately. I also enjoy how she balances the magic that is a tool for those who train to wield it better, with a sense of depth and wonder behind it.

I’m glad I don’t have a long wait for Echoes of Betrayal. ( )

As I read the previous volume in the series last year, I was a little bit lost as this book started. However, I was surprised at how much I remembered and how quickly I found my bearings. It's a joy to read about the new adventures of old and beloved characters, and Moon does an excellent job of integrating new points of view as well. The paladin Paks has only a small role here; most of the story focuses on Kieri Phelan, Dorrin, Arcolin, and the wanderings of the Count of Andressant.

If I have any complaint about how the series is developing, its that so many of the older characters are now developing magical skills. They were formidable before with their brains, physical strength, and battle acumen; now it almost feels like overkill. However, I trust Moon as a writer and I wonder where she is taking them all in the end.

The sixth book comes out in a few months, and I hope to read it right away while so many of these details are fresh in my mind. ( )