Mythborn II: Bane of the Warforged

Fate of the Sovereign, Book 2

By: V. Lakshman

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Set against the epic backdrop of a world at war with myths and legends brought to life, Mythborn 2 continues the sweeping saga of Arek Winterthorn, wayward apprentice of the eldritch Way as he struggles to survive in the demon realm of Arcadia. Accompanied by Prince Niall Galadine, he searches for his father, unaware he is the prize in a war between Highlord Valarius Galadine’s warforged elves and Lady Lilyth’s demonic Furies. One seeks to possess him, the other to use him as a weapon as something dark and sinister within him grows, something called - blackfire.
 

Behind all this lies Sovereign, the maker and unmaker of worlds, waiting to see who will win, and who will die.

©2018 Vijay Lakshman (P)2019 Vijay Lakshman

Heavy on magic, Great story

Definitely worth getting. I love books with a good magic system and heavy on magic. this one has it all. great story great magic system

W.O.T. + L.O.T.R .+ Star Wars = Mythborn

Started to listen halfway through my day and didn't go to bed until I finished. It's that good. My new favorite series. It holds a cornucopia of aspects and nuances.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Bara’cor

If Book 1 seemed a bit crowded with the varied factions with separate agendas, intrigues and mysteries. Abandon all hope of navigation, yee who enter Book 2.

Briefly, Book 1 framed the epic as a war being fought between mundane King Galadine Clan and the arcane adepts of the dragonkind Meridian Island sanctuary while each were also attempting to stop the re-emergence of Lore Mother Lilyth, Queen of Arcadia, the demonkind realm, from invading the mortal world of Edyn. The key characters were many, with Arek being one of the main characters (MCs) along with archmage Scythe, Conclave dragon-knight Rai'Stahn, and several other adepts and mages.

Book 2 adds several other factions to the mix, including another Edyn kingdom Haven and another two factions in Arcadia, all having separate and entangled agenda and intrigues. Gaining an understanding of all the intricacies within and without the various factions borders on how well one's ability is to comprehend the complexities of quantum entanglement theory, or so it seems.

Nevertheless, while I became lost in the convolution at times, the story itself is so well written that I suspended my angst and let myself just go with the flow, enjoying the evolving conflicts and intrigues. And, honestly, who wouldn't? What V. Lakshman has masterfully created is nothing less than a fantastic re-imagined retelling of human history, religion and myths. There are ancient Roman-Greco gods and Furies fighting with Christian angels and archangels for supremacy all the while both trying to fend themselves against the dark forces of Nephilim corruption. Against all this the plight of the mortal humans seems to get almost lost amongst all the carnage and havoc in Arcadia.

Michael Kramer's narrating performance is perfect for manifesting all that make a story of this kind epic.

How to not write characters

Good story ruined by characters that come off as mindless automatons that are incapable of rational thought or saying the word no.

Better than Book 1

From the author, "I think this writing is better than in book 1, and shows true growth in the various characters we met, particularly Duncan Illrys and his plight in trying to rescue his wife from the demonic realm of Arcadia."

Enjoyed how things are progressing

I loved the characters, in-fighting, bickering and overall plot progression, though it did feel a bit short for a credit.

The final section was the exact same as before, so that kind of felt weak not to update character information and whatnot. Also, about 17:30 of the last chapter, he reads Mistborn instead of Mythborn.

I do have a bit of an issue with the 'previous existences' of the Nul as well as the Nef. It felt like it should have been explained more in this book to build on everything, but there was a ot of handwavium used and it was just kind of ignored, as if the plot point from book 1 was just forgotten.

Still, a good read and continuation of the story.