Beyond the Vale

The Vale Trilogy, Book 2

By: Jen Becker

Narrated by: Elizabeth Phillips

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Eldin wants one thing - to go home. But High Castle is no longer the place of wonder and refuge it once was. After Onroc’s coup, Eldin and her companions fled from High Castle with little more than the clothes on their backs.

As renegades against the new Father, they cannot rely on the power of the Vale, as using its power would tell Onroc right where to find them. They will need help if they want to save their loved ones at home. The only place they can turn, the only place where Onroc cannot reach them, is beyond the borders of their beloved Visgaerd and protection of the Vale.

They seek the guidance of Eldin’s old friend and mentor, Relke, only to find that Relke’s people had lied, tricking the Talented women of Visgaerd into hiding. Can they trust Relke to guide them through the dangers and wonders of the Wilds, where power is raw and unchecked, to find the way to defeat Onroc?

©2021 Jen Becker (P)2023 Jen Becker

Loved it!

Jen Becker is a new to me author. I very much enjoyed this new paranormal world she has built. This Vale is not like the vale you may have read about from some other authors.
The Vale is held by the Brotherhood. They expect only boys can enter it. Enter Eldin who throws everything into chaos.
I loved these new characters and I look forward to reading more in this series.
In Bk 2 some of the brothers escape the castle which was taken over by a faction against the Brotherhood. Eldin introduces the brothers to other women who can access the Vale.
Together they form an alliance to take back the castle
But there is more!!
Next is Bk 3!
Great Trilogy!

Elizabeth Phillips is a new to me narrator and I thought she did a great job with the narration.

This was a review copy and this is my honest review.

Not quite as good as book 1, but a fun next entry.

After being greatly surprised in how much I enjoyed the first book in the Vale Trilogy, I eagerly began listening to this next entry. As with the first book, there's some really fun worldbuilding present, and as before the author leverages a wide cast of characters with skill, never leaving me confused as to who was being referenced. Unfortunately, the book is not without its flaws (albeit minor ones) - there's a fair amount of minutiae that doesn't appear to have much relevance to the story, however I do have to concede that it's possible I'm not seeing it as the author intended, or just that I'm not smart enough to parse out the relevance. The narration, as with book one, feels as if it has three total voices (an addition of one to the first book): "Male Character(s)", "Female Character(s)", and "Foreign Character(s)", and the audiobook does suffer from it. Finally, the ending, for as much as it's not a cliffhanger, is rather abrupt - the conflict that has been building for two books was resolved a little too quickly and, from my point of view, easily. All of that said, I'll reiterate that these are minor flaws. The story is well worth a read/listen, and I consider it time VERY well spent in doing so. I cannot wait to experience the third.

Beyond the Vale

The second book is just as good as the first.Having been overthrown as 'Father' of the brotherhood, Nigel has run far from home.His followers are few but he is going to meet with the women who claim to have abilities in hopes of a compromise and starting a new way of life. Elizabeth Phillips was a terrific narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.