- Title:
- Born of Embers
- Author:
- RA Lewis
- Release:
- April 15, 2021
- Format:
- Audiobook
- Narrator:
- Elizabeth DeVault
- Series:
- The Valdir Chronicles, Book 2
I think this story has some pacing issues. There are a few instances where events really lack any weight because they’re over with so quickly. I think if the story was a little longer and could dedicate more time to those moments, it would have worked better. I don’t think the pacing takes much away from the novel though.
Book 1 felt as if its sole purpose was to familiarize readers with the world. Well, book 2 feels as if it needs to set up the story so readers have a use for that previous context. That’s not to say nothing interesting happens in either story. Plenty of interesting things happens in both stories. It’s just extremely clear there’s a bigger picture here and book 2 is only slowly working its way up to it.
The plot follows the logical path you would expect, after the ending of book 1. Some of the twists and reveals took me by surprise and the others… you’d have to have been born yesterday to miss those. One thing I am completely sick of is characters in a fight to the death. You know the protagonist isn’t in any danger, because they’re the protagonist. And they can’t just win every single fight to the death across every story ever, they *always* have to spare their opponent, because they’re just such a hero. It’s so ridiculously played out at this point, I never want to see it again.
The audiobook narration was fine. I could always tell who was talking and there weren’t any common audible errors or issues present.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.