The Hollow King (Warhammer Age of Sigmar)

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In this second book of the Hollow King series we see far more of the side characters from Mageborn and learn more about each of their pasts. Throughout we get snippets of the action from their POV like Daniel, Misha, Kurt, Ellyn, and even Aurelie, Celeste and Asher. See in the motivations of the ‘bad guys’ was really interesting and I enjoyed this deeper look into their characters. New character wise we had Lara Kellen along with Jehane Alvaran and Princess Rynn who was a pleasant surprise. There is a mystery element with a bunch of murders and bunch of other dark points in this fantasy hence it is a dark fantasy. If you are not a fan of dark fantasy, I wouldn't read it.

The story ends with the potential promise for a future instalment. I recently asked the author if this series would be a trilogy but at the time only a duology was planned. I'm very happy with how this has ended and would love to read more down the line if she ever revisits this world. Romance is not only welcomed for me in a novel, but it is delightful as a bonus. And that's how it began in Mageborn. I was on board, I was enjoying the tension-filled attraction that Grace and Bastien felt for one another... And then I started to notice that that plot was being sacrificed for the romance. This happened to such a degree, that there were moments when either Grace or Bastien seemed to be trying to move the story along after an action sequence, but the other would interrupt this to either flirt or initiate a sexual encounter.Bit of an odd book. I liked it, but it’s sold as a Soldblight vampire book and it’s really not. Sure the main character is a vampire, but in terms of Age of Sigmar lore you’ll find more about tzeentchs followers, the bonerreapera and the lumineth than you will about the soulblight. So I’d that is what you are looking for, you should read the last volari or neferata instead. Cado Ezechiar is a soulblight grave lord on a mission to eradicate the daemonic cult that destroyed his living kingdom in centuries past. Captivating… I simultaneously wanted to power through it but didn't want it to end… it's fantastic. It's brilliant. I love it… I have several notes in my Kindle app from emotional scenes where it's purely emotive responses of "AWEEE", "OMGGGG", " WTF IS THIS?!”… a beautiful piece of fantasy fiction that should be on everyone's tbr list.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Another line: 'His unholy brethren rose like a tangle of briars.' This simile makes no sense. Also, there's a lot of gazing intently or impassively going on. I feel like anyone who's ever attempted to write anything and gotten constructive criticism has been told to pare down adverbs, but apparently this author either hasn't heard that advice or just has chosen to ignore it. A dark and addictive fantasy read for fans of Graceling and Sarah J. Maas. The life of an orphan soldier becomes entwined with that of the mysterious heir to the throne, whose very presence draws out the secret magic living inside her: a magic that breaks every law she is duty-bound to uphold… What I would change- The characters’ behaviors conflicted with their words/thoughts too often so I didn’t find them believable. I won't say that Mageborn disappointed me—and that's in part because I refused to let myself believe it would be anything like Sarah J. Maas' stories—but there were moments of misses, and a few hits.Grace Marchant is a trained soldier from the Academy. All the things she has done, horrible but necessary, were for the people who couldn't protect themselves against all the ruthless mageborn. It is her honour to serve the king, the crown, and the kingdom. It's what she knows. Captivating … I simultaneously wanted to power through it but didn't want it to end … it's fantastic. It's brilliant. I love it … I have several notes in my Kindle app from emotional scenes where it's purely emotive responses of "AWEEE", "OMGGGG ", " WTF IS THIS?!” … a beautiful piece of fantasy fiction that should be on everyone's tbr list .’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars The characters are complex. Some of them have had horrible experiences in their earlier years.. and their behaviors often reflect that. They hide things, not just from each other, but from us.. even from themselves at times. The deceit is heavily layered, especially in the court, but it doesn't stop there either. They're all richly formed, for better or worse. Even the villains in this story are great. Its written in POV of Bastien and Grace who are very different from each other and yet so alike. Like yin and yang. Both of them are tortured abused and yet find the the compassion and kindness for others. The romance is raw and heartwarming in spite of being a bit rushed.

You're lovely, Bastien, and I adore you, but that was never going to work out and you must have known it. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility. In Mageborn, the symbiotic partnership of Grace and Bastien made them both stronger, however in Nightborn this isn’t the case. Grace is by far and wide the stronger in the partnership and at times Bastiens role as the ‘damsel in distress’ becomes annoying. There is plenty of action and intrigue in the plot here, with the return of the nightborn – kind of like magical zombies, consumed by dark power – and the Deep Dark attempting to claim Grace for its own, and Bastien being pressured to wed a fellow noble to retain (and save) his kingdom. Other familiar characters like Danny, Ellyn, Misha and Kurt return, and some familiar villains too, which is great because they add real depth to the main storyline.

After reading the first couple of chapters, I expected to love this book with all my heart. The beginning made me feel so much for the characters and I could feel myself getting attached already. Sadly, this didn't end up to be the five stars book I thought it would be. It was still entertaining and enjoyable just not as much as I wanted it to be. Lately, I've become fascinated with the opening lines authors choose to use in their stories. After all, the cover is like a first glance at someone, the synopsis.. more like the ritual of approach, but those openers.. they're the greeting. They're the first impression and as they say, you only get one. Just as you might meet a new person, a lot can be gleaned from these first words. You get to see how they hold themselves.. are they confident or unsure.. reserved or aggressive.. how do they see the world around them? The Lord of Thorns is feared by his people and that fear does not come from anywhere. His powerful magic is his blessing as well as his curse. With it, comes great responsibility and temptation. He was supposed to be the protector of the mageborn but he could also be the one person that would bring a terrible fate to the kingdom.