Lord of the White Hell: Book Two

The 2nd instalment of Ginn Hale’s Lord of the White Hell series begins with the boys returning to the Sagrada Academy after competing in an inter school tournament. Javier and Kiram are at odds after a night spent in a bordello with the Hellions, where it becomes obvious Javier will hide his true nature at any cost. Kiram returns to work stoically, but events conspire to throw him into Javiers path more often than Kiram would like. Danger still lurks and Javier and Kiram have to work together to fight the darkness that threatens to destroy not only Javier, but his friends and family too.

Ginn Hale creates a rich, diverse world full of lush detail, characters and cultures. This last point is one of things I enjoyed the most; the starchy show more Cadeleonians were in such stark contrast to the warm and inviting Haldiim, although at times I think Nestor’s family bucked the trend, just a little! The structures, towns and surrounds were written in such beautiful depth that it brought the streets to life. Fine detail and pockets of enchanting world building that made this book, and the 1st novel, a pleasure to read.

The story itself is seamless, with no unnecessary detail and each event builds the narrative. The growth of the boys didn’t stop, and their characters become more complex as they struggle with their feelings for each other and the effect their relationship will have on their lives, friendships and family. At times their path into adulthood is so difficult and painful, that their youthful actions feel all the more real for it.

I loved this book. There is no being remotely level-headed about it really. At times I forced myself to put it down, because I read so damn quickly. I wanted to draw the experience out and savour it. Lord of the White Hell is so incredibly rich and Kiram and Javier are such special characters that it’s made me hope, rather fervently, that there will be more books to come. There is definitely the potential. I even wondered about secondary characters having a story, like Kiram’s brother Majdi and maybe even Elezar. Hello addict, much? heh.

Astonishingly good, beautifully written and a story that will stay with you long after you’ve stopped turning pages.
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I truly regret that I waited so long to read The Lord of the White Hell. This has easily moved into my top five favorite works of fantasy, alongside David Eddings’ “Belgariad” and Mercedes Lackey’s “Last Herald Mage.” It is that well done, and I read the book in a single day after finishing book one.

In book one, readers met Kiram, a Haldiim, and Javier, a Duke hunted by a powerful curse and haunted by a terrible power. Book one took place in the Cadeleonian Sagrada Academy, but here we travel to Kiram’s home city. Javier and Kiram learn the truth about the white hell, and it puts their lives in danger. Book one introduced the world and characters, but here the plot thickens (mwahahah!) and the pace accelerates show more exponentially. Javier and Kiram will have to make hard choices and painful sacrifices to remain true to each other, and prevent the white hell from falling into the wrong hands.

I cannot say enough good things about how wonderful these two novels were! I was engrossed from the start and will no doubt re-read them again and again. And though the major story arc is resolved, Javier and Kiram’s adventure is really just beginning. I truly hope Ginn Hale writes more novels in this series. This world is as amazing as Valdemar, and deserves many, many more stories. show less

Liked it a lot, didn't quite love it. Not sure it was worth 700 pages to get to the bittersweet ending (Kiram and Javier are definitely together, but they are forced to live in exile, away from friends and family). Proud, tormented heroes aren't really my catnip, but Javier redeems himself from a fair amount of asshole behavior in part 1, and Kiram is just wonderful from start to finish. The relationships between the Hellions are some of the best parts of the book, and I appreciated especially how Kiram and Nestor are finally able to tell each other how much their friendship means (in an appropriately male way of course).

Some of the plotting seemed odd - I wish we had seen Javier's training with Alizadeh, and the abrupt way that Kiram show more learns the identity of the bad guy felt like a cop out - but the exploration of the different cultures and belief systems was fascinating.

Not sure I am ready to jump into the next two books ([b:Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book One|19455351|Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book One (Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, #1)|Ginn Hale|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405289342l/19455351._SY75_.jpg|27542593]) because they are a significant time investment, but I'll keep them on a list of books I would like to read on vacation. show less

*non-spoiler review of both books*

Lord of The White Hell was recommended to me after I finished Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat and desperately craved something similar.


It is a gorgeous fantasy romance created in the best tradition of anime stories - a remote boarding school, a haughty dark young man, whom everyone is afraid of, a scholarly newcomer who steals his heart... It's a softer, more romantic story, than Captive Prince, and I loved it.


Kiram Kir-Zaki is the first Haldiim in centuries invited to Sagrada Academy, a Cadeleonian school for noble boys. He is a talented inventor, determined to make a name for himself and break stereotypes associated with Haldiim. His family is famous for making sweets, which is why they can afford to show more indulge him and pay for his tuition.


A word about Haldiim society, which I found fascinating. Parts of it must have been taken from early Jewish/Arabic conclaves which is why Haldiim wear colourful clothes, wash often and eat a lot of spicy, flavoursome food. But then, this is a society ruled by women. Women own businesses, and it's men who wear makeup and bridal finery when they are married into someone's family. They are indulged and pampered. There are even bookshops and other places which men can not enter. It's a very liberal society in matters or heart - you can marry whoever you want no matter the gender, but of course your mother will try to arrange a marriage beneficial for her house.


On the contrast, Cadeleonian society is a prototype of Spanish society of maybe 17th century? Very religious, very strict. Women are not allowed into schools, they can not own properties, any non woman-man relationship is a great sin and punished by imprisonment and often death.


Back to Sagrada Academy. Because Kiram is considered a heathen, he is roomed with cursed by the White Hell Javier Tornesal, the Duke of Ruoma and eventually taken under Javier's wing when two of them get to know each other.


Javier is a delicious, delicious character. He carries a great power within him and plays a certain role in the school, a role of never-do-well Hellion, good for brawling and whoring and whatever else young aristocrats are expected to do. On the other hand, when he isn't in the public eye, he is a clever, studious boy desperately trying to find a cure for his family curse. A curse which already took his father's life and made his cousin insane.


Kiram more and more enamoured with his roommate, joins him in his search for cure and opens a whole can of worms, when that curse turns its eye on him as well.


The two books span between Sagrada Academy and Kiram's home, where two starcrossed lovers try to stop the curse, save Javier's family and determine their own path which would break all the norms of both of their societies.


I find these books simply adorable. The first chapter or two is a bit clumsy, but it gets better and better, and the ending is absolutely fabulous. Recommended to the fans of Grace Draven, C.S. Pacat, Sherry Thomas and Maria V. Snyder. It's young adult m/m fantasy romance. show less

Individually there were a lot of things I didn't like about this book. Starting with Kiram's behavior and some of his decisions. There's no doubt this is a romance-driven fantasy and not the other way around. Kiram is very much in love and we see that in his every move. It was a bit too much for me. Who knew I'd prefer less romance and more action. How the times change, huh?!

And then there were scenes that should've make me love and care for these characters more, however they did nothing but annoy me. Those scenes were supposed to make more conflict and should've been emotionally charged, but they were far too short and were resolved too quickly to achieve either of those things, and as a result it felt like these quick derails were show more just there to make the book longer.

The ending.... sigh... too rushed and for how long I waited for the big bang.... well the bang was missing.

Strangely enough I come to like Javier, after the way he left things in the first book. Though I would have liked more resistance from Kiram that's for sure. Tsk.

Overall I still had a positive experience. I wonder if we will see Javier and Kiram in the next books. I hope so. show less

An excellent series so far. Ms Hale gives her characters a life of their own as they walk across the pages. Javier and Kiram were a perfect couple battling the shadow curse with power, faith and intelligence. The world building has phenomenal and the differences between Cadaleonia and Haldiim culture and beliefs wonderfully drawn. Highly recommended fantasy.

Book one was better, but this was still good.