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pemdas97's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ameserole's review
4.0
Okay so Veiled Intentions, written by Michael Miller, is a continuation of where The Reborn King left off. Rectar still has his sights set on conquering the human lands. The Three Races are still working together so that they can survive but they still have a problem to fix: Castallan. Oh man, is this guy an evil wizard. He has raised a deadly rebellion and declared himself King of Humans (because I mean what else do villains do with their spare time?).
Now while this all happening, and for some odd reason, I'm thinking of the latest King Arthur move (the legend of the sword? --I think that's what it was called) and I have no idea why. I guess it was because Jude Law's character (Vortigern) is basically your typical evil uncle and he kills his wife, his brothers wife, and tries to kill his brother and nephew. Now his character has dark magic and he wants to keep his magic and become super powerful and can only be defeated by his nephew (kind of like Hercules too, I guess?!?). So this book basically made me think of a lot of movies haha.
Sorry for going off-topic...now back to this book. Let me start off with it was amazing!! It does have a different writing style (which I'm not mad about at all) because the POV's do change a lot more than the first book provided. It gave more backstory as well and the character developments were really good. Blaine became even more likeable and I definitely fell in love with Lord Dukoona's character. I guess the only character I would like to get better would be Cassandra but that is if there will be another book.
I have no idea if there is going to be another book or if it will stay a duology. I'd love another book in this series just because it is so good!! I don't know how I'll go on with my life if this series is over :(
Now while this all happening, and for some odd reason, I'm thinking of the latest King Arthur move (the legend of the sword? --I think that's what it was called) and I have no idea why. I guess it was because Jude Law's character (Vortigern) is basically your typical evil uncle and he kills his wife, his brothers wife, and tries to kill his brother and nephew. Now his character has dark magic and he wants to keep his magic and become super powerful and can only be defeated by his nephew (kind of like Hercules too, I guess?!?). So this book basically made me think of a lot of movies haha.
Sorry for going off-topic...now back to this book. Let me start off with it was amazing!! It does have a different writing style (which I'm not mad about at all) because the POV's do change a lot more than the first book provided. It gave more backstory as well and the character developments were really good. Blaine became even more likeable and I definitely fell in love with Lord Dukoona's character. I guess the only character I would like to get better would be Cassandra but that is if there will be another book.
I have no idea if there is going to be another book or if it will stay a duology. I'd love another book in this series just because it is so good!! I don't know how I'll go on with my life if this series is over :(
alwroteabook's review
5.0
Series review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2020/07/15/the-dragons-blade-trilogy-by-michael-r-miller/?frame-nonce=df202274c4&preview=true&iframe=true
liisp_cvr2cvr's review against another edition
4.0
Plot:
Veiled Intentions stays on course by following the natural course of events after The Reborn King. Dranuir seems to be a better version of himself after been given a second chance and he fully backs the belief that only by leaving the old grievances in between the Three Races behind, they will be successful in defeating Rectar. The Shadow that lingers over the world with the threat of demons.
The title of the book is an accurate one, as every leader’s motivations and true intentions emerge. Most attitudes are driven by past events (some as old as hunderds of years), some driven by hunger for power, some driven by wanting to see a different future. Even though Darnuir, The Dragon King is really the most powerful and highest in terms of hierarchy in terms of the Three Races, simply ordering people- human, dragon or fairy- around with a vision for a united front, isn’t something that automatically guarantees peace, loyalty or long term willingness to exist side by side. The Three Races may share an enemy, but some leaders choose to believe that this need to unite forces is only temporary, rather than something which could bridge a new future and a way of life for all involved.
As you can see, I’m being pretty vague in terms of revealing any specific plot events, and there are quite a number of big moments throughout this book. With plenty of political intrigue, relationship dynamics and battle scenes, Veiled Intentions delivers a strong waterproof plot. Being quite honest though, personally, I felt the story was dragging at times. Was it the many POVs in those various locations with those differing endgames that all needed a conclusion which made my reading experience a bit more laborious than I would have liked? I don’t know. That being said- all that happened in the book, needed to happen so it’s likely that my impatience got the better of me.
Characters:
With quite a lot of chesspieces on board fighting the dark forces in differing locations, Miller manages to bring the whole picture together through the POVs of all of the main players (Darnuir, Blaine, Garon, Dukoona, Cassandra, Brackendon). Veiled Intentions is very much a book of hardships from start to finish; and even though it seems the obstacles will just never end for the characters, the strong vision, hope and a ‘never give up’ kind of attitude has been built into each and every one of them, which really helps the reader to live into the story and experience the highs and lows as they come thick and fast.
Writing:
Miller doesn’t leave anything to chance or open for debate. Every dialogue, scene and description is written with a purpose. Every emotion was delivered on beautifully, so I could feel the joys, the defeats, the hurts. And this is something I always respect with good writing- the power to get me invested in all the feels.
Because there is a whole lot of battle scenes in this book I need to mention that while they very well written (succinct, not confusing, always with a clear outcome), I did feel, towards the end of the book, that I was as tired of fighting as were our characters in the book. Not sure if author intended for this exact effect, but it felt fitting for me to become bogged down, bruised and battered by the battles.
Overall:
For some reason, I didn’t love Veiled Intentions as much as I enjoyed The Reborn King. However, with a great number of twists and all the veiled intentions now revealed, I trust the next book will be a stunning addition and ending to the trilogy. And that ending… Book #3 will just be epic, I think! Yes, the constant battle wore on my morale and made me a tired soldier, indeed, yet I still enjoyed the adventure and I look forward to catching up with some of my favorite characters again. 4 stars.
Veiled Intentions stays on course by following the natural course of events after The Reborn King. Dranuir seems to be a better version of himself after been given a second chance and he fully backs the belief that only by leaving the old grievances in between the Three Races behind, they will be successful in defeating Rectar. The Shadow that lingers over the world with the threat of demons.
The title of the book is an accurate one, as every leader’s motivations and true intentions emerge. Most attitudes are driven by past events (some as old as hunderds of years), some driven by hunger for power, some driven by wanting to see a different future. Even though Darnuir, The Dragon King is really the most powerful and highest in terms of hierarchy in terms of the Three Races, simply ordering people- human, dragon or fairy- around with a vision for a united front, isn’t something that automatically guarantees peace, loyalty or long term willingness to exist side by side. The Three Races may share an enemy, but some leaders choose to believe that this need to unite forces is only temporary, rather than something which could bridge a new future and a way of life for all involved.
As you can see, I’m being pretty vague in terms of revealing any specific plot events, and there are quite a number of big moments throughout this book. With plenty of political intrigue, relationship dynamics and battle scenes, Veiled Intentions delivers a strong waterproof plot. Being quite honest though, personally, I felt the story was dragging at times. Was it the many POVs in those various locations with those differing endgames that all needed a conclusion which made my reading experience a bit more laborious than I would have liked? I don’t know. That being said- all that happened in the book, needed to happen so it’s likely that my impatience got the better of me.
Characters:
With quite a lot of chesspieces on board fighting the dark forces in differing locations, Miller manages to bring the whole picture together through the POVs of all of the main players (Darnuir, Blaine, Garon, Dukoona, Cassandra, Brackendon). Veiled Intentions is very much a book of hardships from start to finish; and even though it seems the obstacles will just never end for the characters, the strong vision, hope and a ‘never give up’ kind of attitude has been built into each and every one of them, which really helps the reader to live into the story and experience the highs and lows as they come thick and fast.
Writing:
Miller doesn’t leave anything to chance or open for debate. Every dialogue, scene and description is written with a purpose. Every emotion was delivered on beautifully, so I could feel the joys, the defeats, the hurts. And this is something I always respect with good writing- the power to get me invested in all the feels.
Because there is a whole lot of battle scenes in this book I need to mention that while they very well written (succinct, not confusing, always with a clear outcome), I did feel, towards the end of the book, that I was as tired of fighting as were our characters in the book. Not sure if author intended for this exact effect, but it felt fitting for me to become bogged down, bruised and battered by the battles.
Overall:
For some reason, I didn’t love Veiled Intentions as much as I enjoyed The Reborn King. However, with a great number of twists and all the veiled intentions now revealed, I trust the next book will be a stunning addition and ending to the trilogy. And that ending… Book #3 will just be epic, I think! Yes, the constant battle wore on my morale and made me a tired soldier, indeed, yet I still enjoyed the adventure and I look forward to catching up with some of my favorite characters again. 4 stars.
wolfmantula's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic sequel! I just couldn’t stop reading this book.
sstarke's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in the series that I have read, and it is just as captivating as the first one! The story of this epic world, told from the perspective of a dragon, continues in the second book. I was not disappointed at all! The conflict that the first book led to happens, but it is more than just a book of fighting. There is character development, multiple storylines, conflict and turmoil away from the battle field, and the plot grows and becomes more complex and nuanced. I love the changing character perspectives.
As with the first book, the narrator made everything come alive. It is easy to distinguish one character from another, and there is so much emotion behind the narration. I am looking forward to the next book. I reserve my five stars for best of the best books like classics or ones I want to re-read over and over. This one is a solid 4.5, though.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
As with the first book, the narrator made everything come alive. It is easy to distinguish one character from another, and there is so much emotion behind the narration. I am looking forward to the next book. I reserve my five stars for best of the best books like classics or ones I want to re-read over and over. This one is a solid 4.5, though.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
observantraven's review against another edition
5.0
Veiled Intentions is the highly anticipated sequel of The Reborn King. When I read and reviewed The Reborn King last year I thoroughly enjoyed it and sung its praises.
When I got the opportunity to read Veiled Intentions I quickly jumped at the opportunity to do so due to how much I liked The Reborn King and before I delve into my review all I will say is that this book certainly does not disappoint.
Veiled Intentions picks right up where The Reborn King left of. I really like it when authors pick up a story right where the previous book finished almost as if you are resuming from a natural point. That's not to say that I don't like it when authors do a time jump or pick up shortly because sometimes I find depending on an authors style of writing, skill or the pacing of the book this can be with variant levels of success. Personally though I think no matter what we Michael R Miller choose to do this he would he do it brilliantly.
Veiled Intentions takes the writing, story, world and characters, and makes the all better in so many ways. Not only do we learn more about the characters we read about in The Reborn King but the author has now included some new POV's and I think these were a breath of fresh air to the book as it allows us to learn more about the world as a whole and gives us a better understanding of everyone's feelings towards whats happening. I'm not gonna tell you the names of the new POV's characters as I think that will spoil some of the fun of reading this book but one of the them has certainly become a firm favorite of mine.
With new characters being introduced that opens us up to a whole part of the world that we had never explored before and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about these uncharted areas and give me the opportunity to learn more about the world and its inhabitants as well as see how the war was effecting the wider world. This helped bring a whole new aspect to the world building and this made just love the world it encompassed so much more.
I felt overall the flow of the story and the pacing was done very well but I do admit there were a few occasions where I felt the story was progressing a bit slower than I would have liked it to and others where I thought they progressed to quickly. Thankfully these where rare occurrences and overall I think the author did the flow and pacing of the book very well.
I was extremely excited to start reading Veiled Intentions but also a bit worried as sometimes sequels don't always live up to the quality of the first book or to your own hype but I was glad to see that Veiled Intentions lived up to my expectations and more. If you are a fan of fantasy and you haven't yet either of Michael R. Miller's books then I would highly recommend you do so.
When I got the opportunity to read Veiled Intentions I quickly jumped at the opportunity to do so due to how much I liked The Reborn King and before I delve into my review all I will say is that this book certainly does not disappoint.
Veiled Intentions picks right up where The Reborn King left of. I really like it when authors pick up a story right where the previous book finished almost as if you are resuming from a natural point. That's not to say that I don't like it when authors do a time jump or pick up shortly because sometimes I find depending on an authors style of writing, skill or the pacing of the book this can be with variant levels of success. Personally though I think no matter what we Michael R Miller choose to do this he would he do it brilliantly.
Veiled Intentions takes the writing, story, world and characters, and makes the all better in so many ways. Not only do we learn more about the characters we read about in The Reborn King but the author has now included some new POV's and I think these were a breath of fresh air to the book as it allows us to learn more about the world as a whole and gives us a better understanding of everyone's feelings towards whats happening. I'm not gonna tell you the names of the new POV's characters as I think that will spoil some of the fun of reading this book but one of the them has certainly become a firm favorite of mine.
With new characters being introduced that opens us up to a whole part of the world that we had never explored before and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about these uncharted areas and give me the opportunity to learn more about the world and its inhabitants as well as see how the war was effecting the wider world. This helped bring a whole new aspect to the world building and this made just love the world it encompassed so much more.
I felt overall the flow of the story and the pacing was done very well but I do admit there were a few occasions where I felt the story was progressing a bit slower than I would have liked it to and others where I thought they progressed to quickly. Thankfully these where rare occurrences and overall I think the author did the flow and pacing of the book very well.
I was extremely excited to start reading Veiled Intentions but also a bit worried as sometimes sequels don't always live up to the quality of the first book or to your own hype but I was glad to see that Veiled Intentions lived up to my expectations and more. If you are a fan of fantasy and you haven't yet either of Michael R. Miller's books then I would highly recommend you do so.
alwroteabook's review against another edition
4.0
Series review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2020/07/15/the-dragons-blade-trilogy-by-michael-r-miller/?frame-nonce=df202274c4&preview=true&iframe=true
kartiknarayanan's review against another edition
4.0
This is a much better book than the first. The pacing is fast and it never gets boring. There are some unexpected twists and turns which set up the series for a great conclusion. This time around, characters other than Dranuir get prominence. As a result, the series feels richer.