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skycrane's review against another edition
4.0
A good sequel to a good book. Again, you can tell Stirling has done a lot of research. Much of the early parts are taken up with the story of how both Nantucket and its enemies are gearing up production, implementing "new" technologies and practices, and there's a kind of joy in the detailed descriptions. Same thing with the ships, even if he hadn't name-dropped Patrick O'Brian, the influence is clear. I won't pretend to be so familiar with the exact layout of the sheets and stays and clews and other minutia of 18th Century sailing ship design that I'd recognize an error, but it all felt right enough.
The story is a continuation of the previous book, with a 10-year time gap. It's all very fun and exciting, or at least interesting to read. My one problem with this book is the structure: the narrative jumps around between different times and places a lot. Fair enough, it's a big story with lots of characters taking place over many years, but each chunk of narrative is too short and the jumps are too frequent. Where another author might use the chapters to structure the story, with each chapter focusing on a specific location, time, and set of characters, Stirling often jumps around multiple times within each chapter. It's only mildly annoying in this book, but it grows to be a massive issue in the 3rd book of the series.
The story is a continuation of the previous book, with a 10-year time gap. It's all very fun and exciting, or at least interesting to read. My one problem with this book is the structure: the narrative jumps around between different times and places a lot. Fair enough, it's a big story with lots of characters taking place over many years, but each chunk of narrative is too short and the jumps are too frequent. Where another author might use the chapters to structure the story, with each chapter focusing on a specific location, time, and set of characters, Stirling often jumps around multiple times within each chapter. It's only mildly annoying in this book, but it grows to be a massive issue in the 3rd book of the series.
jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
5.0
The first volume of the trilogy took us up to the beginning of year 3 A.E. (After the Event), but we last saw William Walker in year 2. This second volume takes up Walker’s story from year 2, when he escaped from England and went by sea to Greece, stopping briefly in Spain to help his ally Isketerol usurp the Kingdom of Tartessos.
Years 3 to 7 are relatively uneventful in Nantucket, so the Nantucket story skips ahead to year 8. However, rather than giving us chapters of pure Walker, Stirling chooses to give us bits of the Nantucket story (year 8 onwards) interleaved with flashbacks of the Walker story (year 2 onwards). This is feasible because the two are geographically separate and independent.
We see that the action now spreads out over a wider geographical area, while all sides (Nantucket, Tartessos, and Greece) are making rapid progress in technology and industry.
The first seven chapters of this book show Walker’s progress in gaining power in Greece, alongside Nantucket’s preparations to take action against him.
In Spain, it’s nice to see Isketerol changing from a merchant/adventurer/pirate into a good king for his people. Being a man of his time, he remains somewhat ruthless; and he feels honour-bound to maintain his alliance with the unpleasant Walker, despite his aversion to Walker’s even nastier wife Alice, the Lady of Pain.
In Chapter 8, year 9 AE, Nantucket makes contact and alliance with the King of Kar-Duniash and Babylon; I enjoy this encounter, although it’s implausible that they would have got along that well with each other.
Further events:
Years 3 to 7 are relatively uneventful in Nantucket, so the Nantucket story skips ahead to year 8. However, rather than giving us chapters of pure Walker, Stirling chooses to give us bits of the Nantucket story (year 8 onwards) interleaved with flashbacks of the Walker story (year 2 onwards). This is feasible because the two are geographically separate and independent.
We see that the action now spreads out over a wider geographical area, while all sides (Nantucket, Tartessos, and Greece) are making rapid progress in technology and industry.
The first seven chapters of this book show Walker’s progress in gaining power in Greece, alongside Nantucket’s preparations to take action against him.
In Spain, it’s nice to see Isketerol changing from a merchant/adventurer/pirate into a good king for his people. Being a man of his time, he remains somewhat ruthless; and he feels honour-bound to maintain his alliance with the unpleasant Walker, despite his aversion to Walker’s even nastier wife Alice, the Lady of Pain.
In Chapter 8, year 9 AE, Nantucket makes contact and alliance with the King of Kar-Duniash and Babylon; I enjoy this encounter, although it’s implausible that they would have got along that well with each other.
Further events:
Spoiler
Marian Alston and her fleet run into a bad storm on the way home, and stop in South Africa for makeshift repairs (Chapters 10-12). The Nantucket expeditionary force helps the King of Babylon to defeat and conquer the Assyrians (Chapters 13-16). Alston and crew, still ashore in South Africa, defeat and capture two aggressive Tartessian ships (Chapters 14-18). Kenneth Hollard rescues Raupasha (Chapter 15). Walker contacts and allies with the Ringapi (Chapter 18). King Agamemnon kills himself and Walker becomes King of Greece (Chapter 20). Smallpox breaks out in Babylon (Chapter 21). A Tartessian invasion of Nantucket is defeated, while McAndrews arrives in Egypt (Chapter 22). Babylon revolts and King Shuriash dies; Kashtiliash takes over; Nantucket contacts and allies with the King of Hatti (Chapter 24). Kashtiliash marries Kathryn Hollard and Nantucket contacts Troy (Chapter 25). Nantucket assembles a fleet to attack Tartessos (Epilogue).hank's review against another edition
3.0
This one got a bit lost in the details, really a 3 1/2 star book. A typical second book in the series it wades through lots of setup for the third book conclusion. Still very enjoyable and the continuing story of favorite characters along with some fun new ones kept it engaging.
newfylady's review against another edition
3.0
This time-travel series is a lot of fun. I'm not a fan of cliff-hanger endings but I'll probably take the bait and get the next installment.
kylearnzen's review against another edition
Bloated and slow-paced. I set it down for a week to read some other books and never got the urge to pick it up again.
houseofatreides's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A well written story, it continues the adventures of the Republic of Nantucket and their fallen son William Walker. Taking place between the years 8-10 A.E it follows the Republics rise but that of their rivals of Tartessos, and of William Walkers rise in Mycenae. Thru conniving and intrigue Walker eventually took over Mycenae and became its cruel king. And has spawned 12+ children. The Republic has built up its Navy and has a budding thessolcracy across the world. They eventually in year 8 decide to go to the Middle East and set up permanent diplomatic ties with Babylon, helping them defeat their enemies. (Neo-Babylon). This helps their cause and the book ends with the opposing factions going to war. With the city of Troy the start. The Republic begins gathering her Allies. Ending with Marian and Swindapa saying goodbye to their daughters before they leave Alba with the flotilla. </spoilers>overall a well written book with intriguing characters. It follows the next generation of upcomers as much as the original cast. The difficulty though is the dates prefacing the chapters, as there will be multiple in one section backtracking to different years and places. And the next chapter will do likewise. Making it hard sometimes to follow concurrent events. Some of the characters introduced though are but way points too little said on them to make a difference to the story. Like most books in trilogies this second book is a ballad, slow as it builds up to the climax to come. If you enjoyed the first book, a good continuation of the series
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
jacalata's review against another edition
2.0
Not super keen on the details of the torture porn (literally), and it's a lot to look past. If it weren't for that I think it'd be pretty good.
jdhacker's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Same issues as the previous book. The prequels really suffer from some anti-gay (specifically, anti-lesbian) and some racist stuff that makes me uncomfortable that is much less prevalent than in the main series, as well as poorly imagined and bizarrely knowledgeable/talented villains. Especially as they aren't crucial to the overall series, I'd say skip the prequel trilogy entirely.
majkia's review against another edition
4.0
Great alt history, with the Nantucket crew still struggling to figure out their place in this new, strange world.
lvh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5