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bibliophilicwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
While I still would not mind a glossary to track the castes, factions, and players of this story, I did deeply appreciate the inclusion of a recap for the first book at the beginning of this sequel. I can not speak to how well it did its job as I reread the first and then jumped right into the sequel so it was very fresh in my mind. But one will always appreciate the effort and inclusion of a recap at the beginning of an SFF sequel.
The story itself holds up to the first book with continued intricate threads of many people and their motivations weaving into a broad tapestry. The complexity of the characters continues to develop as they learn more details in addition to dealing with the consequences of the actions of themselves and others. I look forward to seeing how this story and these characters continue to develop.
The story itself holds up to the first book with continued intricate threads of many people and their motivations weaving into a broad tapestry. The complexity of the characters continues to develop as they learn more details in addition to dealing with the consequences of the actions of themselves and others. I look forward to seeing how this story and these characters continue to develop.
lossanna's review
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
What an incredible book! This is a vastly underrated series. It really has everything: complex politics and empire-building, a creative magic system, exploration of the many types of family relationships, adventure, a ruthlessly ambitious emperor, and a band of unlikely misfits who learn to trust one another despite their differing personal goals and motivations. There's a lot going on in the story, but don't be intimidated because: (1) there's an excellent short summary of the first book at the very beginning; (2) a list of characters (including name pronunciation); and (3) a glossary of terms and locations.
Both this book and the first have such a poignant exploration of social hierarchy, privilege, immigration, and race, and it gives the book extra depth and meaning. It makes this more than just a fun story, but also a way we can understand our world, which is a great strength of the fantasy genre. Characters learn about new cultures and meet people different from themselves in a way that feels very real while also being an excellent example of tolerance and inclusion (but doesn't come off as preachy). There's also awesome representation of many types of families.
Amazing storytelling, complex plot, intriguing characters, and a fantastical world.
Both this book and the first have such a poignant exploration of social hierarchy, privilege, immigration, and race, and it gives the book extra depth and meaning. It makes this more than just a fun story, but also a way we can understand our world, which is a great strength of the fantasy genre. Characters learn about new cultures and meet people different from themselves in a way that feels very real while also being an excellent example of tolerance and inclusion (but doesn't come off as preachy). There's also awesome representation of many types of families.
Amazing storytelling, complex plot, intriguing characters, and a fantastical world.
sarah_jess1029's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
pandaplantain's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joti's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
The second one in a trilogy is always tricky to get right (does it deliver on the promise of the first), but this one definitely worked for me. It's still a fantasy world unlike any I've read before, with a lot of different human elements to it (what it means to have power and how easy it is to lose it, what 'home' or 'family' means, the power of stories and religion, how different people cope with prejudice and environmental change, etc etc) Really looking forward to when the conclusion comes out - I might have to get these in a proper box because reading them on ereader makes it impossible to flip back to the glossary and map all the time.
samusc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nytekit's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
After reading the second book in The Nameless Republic series, I cannot fathom how there are not more people reading and enjoying this series! And also, I want every series novelist to give me a Story So Far from now on, especially when there's a year or more between book releases. That was such a helpful start to this book.
As with most second books of a series, this book is clearly meant to bridge the gap and build up to events happening in future books. There's a lot of movement and action but most of the plot is actually in the political machinations happening all around. For me, as a person who loves that kind of thing, I really enjoyed this book, but it will possibly be a slow read for many. What I loved about this book was the level of transformation happening for each character and for the entire continent of Oon. When we start, Danso is very against practicing with the red ibor and is in deep depression due to the events of the first book, but by the end, he is on a completely different path that makes me wonder what kind of person will return to us in the next installment. Is he developing into a hero or into another villain? Esheme, too faces some extremes this book, though not to the extent of her story in Son of the Storm. But the lengths she will go to gain power are really put on display in this book, as is her inexperience at keeping it. Lilong, who we've known as driven to protect her family and her people, is faced with many truths that cause her to question if she knows the right way to do so, and her decisions on that front shift fully in many ways by the end.
We also meet some new characters that really push continental transformation by the end of the novel and perhaps might change the nature of Bassa forever. The Nameless faction and the Man Beyond the Lake may not be working together but together they spell deep trouble for the Red Emperor and the elite of Bassai. The Nameless faction in particular interests me because of how they grew out of the original revolution that set Esheme on the throne into what they are now, and their ease with putting ruthlessness on display. (There are also many other characters that we meet in the last third of the book that I'm so invested in learning more about, but I won't discuss them here because of spoilers. But I reeeally hope we get more of their story later, especially Turay.)
All of these characters come together to create some great political intrigue! We also learn more about the world of Ooon and see new parts of it, including some that have been teased since book one. Okungbowa also continues to make diversity a clear part of this series with amazing characters like Igan and Ifiot, and relationships like Oke, Ugo, and Alaba's. It's a masterwork in how to include people of all types and lifestyles without making any character seem odd or different. Given how this book ends, I wonder if The Nameless Republic will be a trilogy or a series and hope deeply for the latter. These first two books have been a treat to read, not to mention they have some of the most beautiful cover artwork around. Getting to read more than three of them would be a joy.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and am giving my honest review.
As with most second books of a series, this book is clearly meant to bridge the gap and build up to events happening in future books. There's a lot of movement and action but most of the plot is actually in the political machinations happening all around. For me, as a person who loves that kind of thing, I really enjoyed this book, but it will possibly be a slow read for many. What I loved about this book was the level of transformation happening for each character and for the entire continent of Oon. When we start, Danso is very against practicing with the red ibor and is in deep depression due to the events of the first book, but by the end, he is on a completely different path that makes me wonder what kind of person will return to us in the next installment. Is he developing into a hero or into another villain? Esheme, too faces some extremes this book, though not to the extent of her story in Son of the Storm. But the lengths she will go to gain power are really put on display in this book, as is her inexperience at keeping it. Lilong, who we've known as driven to protect her family and her people, is faced with many truths that cause her to question if she knows the right way to do so, and her decisions on that front shift fully in many ways by the end.
We also meet some new characters that really push continental transformation by the end of the novel and perhaps might change the nature of Bassa forever. The Nameless faction and the Man Beyond the Lake may not be working together but together they spell deep trouble for the Red Emperor and the elite of Bassai. The Nameless faction in particular interests me because of how they grew out of the original revolution that set Esheme on the throne into what they are now, and their ease with putting ruthlessness on display. (There are also many other characters that we meet in the last third of the book that I'm so invested in learning more about, but I won't discuss them here because of spoilers. But I reeeally hope we get more of their story later, especially Turay.)
All of these characters come together to create some great political intrigue! We also learn more about the world of Ooon and see new parts of it, including some that have been teased since book one. Okungbowa also continues to make diversity a clear part of this series with amazing characters like Igan and Ifiot, and relationships like Oke, Ugo, and Alaba's. It's a masterwork in how to include people of all types and lifestyles without making any character seem odd or different. Given how this book ends, I wonder if The Nameless Republic will be a trilogy or a series and hope deeply for the latter. These first two books have been a treat to read, not to mention they have some of the most beautiful cover artwork around. Getting to read more than three of them would be a joy.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and am giving my honest review.
franklyfrank's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
revarevareva's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
au_baeck's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75