An Echo of Things to Come

By: James Islington

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 26 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

The second book in the acclaimed Licanius Trilogy by James Islington.

In the wake of a devastating attack, an amnesty has been declared for all Augurs - finally allowing them to emerge from hiding and openly oppose the dark forces massing against the land of Andarra. As the Augur Davian and his new allies hurry north toward the ever-weakening Boundary, however, fresh horrors along their path suggest that their reprieve may have come far too late.

His ally in the Capital, the new Northwarden, contends with assassins and politicians and uncovers a dangerous political secret. Meanwhile, their compatriot Asha begins a secret investigation into the disappearance of the Shadows.

And Caeden races against time to fulfill his treacherous bargain with the Lyth, but as more and more of his memories return, he begins to realize that the two sides in this ancient war may not be as clear-cut as they first seemed....

©2017 James Islington (P)2017 Podium Publishing

Footnotes, please!

I adored the first book, and have been checking on Islington's website, waiting for this one to come out. And, no surprise, it's good. It was worth the wait, and probably worth the year or two wait until the third book.

But.

But, wow, do I wish that Islington put just a little tiny bit of effort into exposition. This story spans thousands of years of history across many countries and peoples and hosts 7-10 point of view characters, and yet he spends very little time reminding us who is who and what is what. One of the things that makes this story great is just how many mysteries are nested inside of other mysteries. But it's next to impossible to know what's supposed to be a mystery and what's something that my poor forgetful mind forgot. A few throwaway sentences would have done wonders clear up many questions: what's a Dargathan? What's a shateth? Where's talen gol? Etc, etc.

I'd whole heartedly recommend this series, but I'd tell people to wait until the third book is out, and read them all in one go. Anything else is a little painful. Great story, but painful.

40 of 45 people found this review helpful

Even better than the first book

Where does An Echo of Things to Come rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Like the first book this book takes a bit of time to get going, but there is definitely action throughout and when the dust settles at the end the plot threads are perhaps the best woven of any series I have ever read. Even better, while the characters are different and believable many of them are actually inspiring. At the end I wanted to stand up and cheer... and also cry. Read it and you will understand.

What other book might you compare An Echo of Things to Come to and why?

The threads of this are woven super well, similar to Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.

What does Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He's great.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The Epilogue made me want to cheer and cry. Wow!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Dude

That ending.


Seriously, that ending.

No really. That ending is crazy.

The rest of the book is fantastic too, but man, that ending

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great Second Book!

This series is incredible. It's got great action. Love the magic. It is a true epic fantasy. Not sure how it will only be a trilogy.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Great book! Hinges on how 3rd book ends.

It's a great book. The backstory for the world and characters is fleshed out beautifully and gives the reader oscillating doubts as to which side is in the right. As the mystery has been fully revealed but not solved, I'm in a state of stasis on how I judge this book. Its largely just setup for a promised epic conclusion, but I'm skeptical if only by the ambitiousness of the task. I have no idea how Islington intends to cram all the resolutions I need from book 1 and 2 into a single book, but if he does this will be one of my favorite series of all time.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

LOVE this series and anticipating the 3rd

This is a great continuation of book one. The challenging part to both books one and two is that the story is s convoluted and involved in past present and future that it is hard to keep it all together. I have tried to keep bookmarks (like I would in a book) to highlight certain parts, but in audible when going back to listen it is hard to find one's place again.

IN this aspect it would probably be an easier read in good form. Regardless, I do love the story and am looking forward to the continuation.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

2nd Book BETTER than 1st Book!!!

If you liked the first book, then just go and buy this one! It was amazing!!!

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Better than the first

Alright so the ending of this book really made it worth while for me. The whole idea of fighting versus fate is just really weird for me and it is one part of this series that really just annoys me. Seeing the future and being unable to change it just seems kind of ridiculous. I can see how they can change it, but it never seems to cross the characters minds really. It makes sense sometimes, but other times I just really do not understand. I did end up liking this book a bit more since the world is shown more. There are still plenty of questions though and sometimes the logic seems circular or just ridiculously confusing. I really want to see when the old good guys become what they are. Some of the backstory is really interesting and I am hoping that the ending of this series will be epic. If it turns out to be some fate is fate, and just cause you can not change it does not mean you have no free will type thing I will probably pull my hair out.

The narration is great.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

So good!!!

It was everything that I could have wanted! So, so good!! The first two books are in the running for my all time favorites!! Bring on the 3rd! Please!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A staggering achievement!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would in a heartbeat! It is just as good as book one and might be better.

What does Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Michael Kramer is one of the best. Since this is probably my 30th book listening to him you could say that I am a fan.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When I figured out a twist.

Any additional comments?

Buy it now!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent -but you need to concentrate

After the first hour or so, I started to doubt this book. The lighter tone of the previous book had been left behind, and we seemed to be spending an awful lot of time in flashbacks to Caeden's clearly complex, and not entirely pleasant, past - with only brief moments with Davian and the rest of the team. I needn't have worried - the book gathers momentum, and this complex fantasy continues to deliver as hoped for.

There is so much more going on now, and the characters are all going their own ways, only circling back to each other periodically. They've matured significantly since the first instalment, and I found myself wondering if I'd assumed their ages incorrectly? There is no "padding" in this second instalment: once you get your head around the flashbacks of Caeden's memories, and the timeline challenges that presents, then this story unfolds cleverly, layer upon intricate layer. Lots of complexity for those who like a properly constructed epic fantasy. So much has fallen into place by the end of book 2, but there is clearly so much more to come. A huge final chapter/epilogue - that I was not expecting, and left me reeling a little - it ties a few things up cleverly but leaves all the double ribbon ends hanging out ready for book 3!

I admit to really struggling with names and keeping track of who was who (despite listening to these books in quick succession) There is an enormous cast of characters, who can be known by multiple alias's.....(like I really needed even more complexity after the other-worldliness of their names in the first place!)...... Searching on Licanius and wiki took me to the Fandom website, which has some Licanius pages, including a character page. Joy! (as an audiobook fan, I often have an "ah-huh moment" when I see the names actually spelled out). SPOILER ALERT: be careful what you read on these pages - some serious spoilers included. Makes for good post listen review though.

This is an excellent series to date - here's hoping book 3 completes in the same style.

Narration is Michael Kramer - no more need be said.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A Genuinely Weighty Tome

With The Shadow of What Was Lost James Islington delivered a superb story set in a carefully constructed world of detail and colour. Most of all he gave us an engaging set of characters which for Audiobook listeners were brought to life by Michael Kramer’s excellent narration. In doing all of this he set himself the daunting task of doing it all justice with the remainder of the trilogy. The good news is that with An Echo of Things to Come he has done just that! This really is an excellent effort but to my mind at least it does come with a couple of minor caveats and health warnings.

The book has a different feel to it. The exuberance of youth is now largely stripped from these characters and they have been aged considerably by their experiences. They seem possibly a little too mature too quickly in some ways. This second book also has a more multi-layered and complex feel to it. For those like me without the greatest of memories a refresher of the story before you start is highly recommended. You can of course re-read the first book but if you haven’t already seen it check out audfans where one of their give-aways is a twenty minute synopsis of the story up until the start of this book read by Michael Kramer. There is also a very useful glossary and map on the author’s website.

Even with that there is an awful lot to keep track of in this one. So many characters have multiple names which are swapped in and out regularly. Some characters take over other characters and Caeden rebuilds his memories with the story frequently and abruptly flashing between the current time and those memories plus of course with the augurs occasional visions of the future. Producing such a story is a very impressive achievement but, and it may of course just be me, there was a little too much of that complexity going on. I suspect a second reading will tease out a lot of nuances that I missed despite regular rewinds during my first navigation of this book.

It is genuinely epic fantasy with depth, action and a thorough authenticity. It took maybe more effort from me to get the most out of it than books even in this genre tend to but the investment was most definitely worth it.

12 of 16 people found this review helpful

brilliant book a great listen can't wait for the n

brilliant book a great listen can't wait for the next book to be made audio.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

another great

wow another great Story by both author and narrator
can not wait for the next book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great book can see this working well on the screen

Good story line hooks you in and makes you feel. For each of the characters

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

completely lost.

The narration is superb. you know you are in for a treat when Michael Kramer is involved and I think this is the reason I stuck with this book. I found myself completely lost about half way through and it didn't get any clearer. having an evil character called Siilyarse detracted from the gravitas! So many of the characters have back stories that do not relate directly to the story. overcomplicated for it's own sake. will not be buying the sequel

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great Traditional Epic Fantasy

If you could sum up An Echo of Things to Come in three words, what would they be?

Super engaging read!

Who was your favorite character and why?

It was close between Caeden and Davian but I think Caeden just managed to edge it. Davian is likeable and easy to root for but Caeden is a real enigma and all his POV segments are great.

Which character – as performed by Michael Kramer – was your favourite?

It is Michael Kramer! He was great with all the characters!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely. James Islington knows how to write an engaging story.

Any additional comments?

I'd recommend this series for fans of Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, and X-Men. It has stuff that reminds me of all of those but Islington still manages to keep the world fresh and his story exciting.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great

Great follow up novel, to the first book. Loving this series so far. What will happen next!

Struggled!<br />

Really loved A shadow of what was lost. Thought that it was original and gripping with plenty of intrigue. An Echo of things to come...Not so much.
I felt that the story lacked a solid story line and any real sense of direction. It also bored me in many parts and even began to annoy me. It annoyed me that every time James Islington wrote a dialogue for the characters he felt as if he needed to mention how many times they moved their head 'They gave a nod in reluctance.'
'They shook their head in confusion.'
He/She nodded Their head, nodded their head, NODDED THEIR F.....G HEAD.' My God man! It was ridiculous. I don't mind it now and again but after or during every dialogue? Come on man, that is a sign to me that ylu struggled tonwrite this book.
Now that I'm writing this review I realise that I am struggling to say anything positive about it. In all honesty I couldn't wait for it to end. I couldn't even enjoy Kaiden, as his chapters completely lost me. And I know he's popular, but I can't take any more of Michael Kramer. I know that he is a good narrator - but after finishing Brandon Sandersons epic trilogy I am a little Kramer'd out. I guess that I enjoyed Ashas story line and find her quite interesting and intriguing. But now I'm not even sure I will read the third book? I might need some convincing which is a shame, because there is so much potential to be a great story. I have probably made the book sound worse than it actually is? But I feel disappointed and feel that it wasn't as nearly as good as the first one. the trilogy is now hanging in the balance for me. I pray the third book will be better.

Amnesia and time travel are poor plot drives

Quite possibly the cheapest of plot devises ever created are amnesia and time travel. They allow for a complete lack of causality and let the author get away with plot twists that ends the suspension of disbelief...
Not as bad as the two above - but in the same cheap ballpark is the ability to change your appearance to that of any other character.

You'd need an exceptional author to pull this off just one of these cheap plot tricks.
To put all of them in one book...
You'd either have to be a master or a moron.
Unfortunately Islington is not a master.
It is very sad. I liked the first installment.

I don't know why Michael Kramer records 50% og all books coming out of the US. He's not that much of an actor and his voice is far to gravely for my taste.