Second volume of the series, continues some time after the previous story left off, but with the same characters and style. The strong point of the book remains the action and fast-paced, sometimes unexpected evolution of story. This part is very enjoyable. Some of the characters introduced in the first book reappear briefly, which gives them some more substance, but overall most seem devoted to support the action. The main character has some thoughts about good and bad and seems to have a glimpse on the complexity of life, but then in a blink of an eye goes back to action. There is not a lot of world building except some high level, generic descriptions. Reading the book has the same feeling of a fast paced TV series where you always have a cliffhanger and know that things will turn in an unexpected direction. For example while describing the final ceremony it was obvious it will go horribly wrong and even the reader was left wondering a bit how and who, there was no big surprise that it did. ( )

Quick Thoughts:
1. Completely amazing.
2. A lot different from the first book but still has the same feel.
3. Lots of war and political stuff.
4. So much action!
5. Darrow just got better and better. ( )

“It's not victory that makes a man. It's his defeats.”

I cannot even articulate the many many ways that [a:Pierce Brown|6474348|Pierce Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1417558860p2/6474348.jpg] rocks my world. This story is horrific and bloody, strategic and full of war. But it is also a story of love and hope and the wonder of a new world, one where those who have been enslaved are finally free.

But this is not a soft bedtime story. This book took me days and days of reading - and pausing - to get through. The close calls, the losses, the love and the greed and betrayal are a lot to take in. The world is all consuming and Darrow's fights are so real and strong that it's all you can do to stay sane as you read each battle and struggle. It was all I could do to get through this book - only because I loved it so much and I love those in the story and the world that it is both a blessing and a curse to finish it.

The next one cannot come soon enough. I will gobble it up as soon as I can, just to know where this story continues. ( )

Ehh....I heard this was better than the first one, and it definitely has more going on, with higher stakes and greater losses, but I'm just not loving it. The politics are so convoluted, there's so much back stabbing and double secret identities and sabotage, it should be exciting but it never comes down from it. It's like all one very high note with nothing to differentiate it, no coming down so you can enjoy the next blast of excitement. I might finish the series but I'm not seeing why everyone loves this. ( )

DNF. I originally did not want to review this as it seems EVERYONE likes these books and is singing praises about them. Just like with Marvel movies I find myself confused of why people love it so much. I understand liking the books and saying that its a good popcorn type of a read and loving it for what it is. But saying that this is redefining sci-fi or anything like that its ridiculous. Darrow is walking definition of plot armor. Nothing happens to him really. I am annoyed how a 20 something year old that spent 16 years of his life in the lowest rungs of society without being aware of the world outside (literally) in few years becomes so freaking smart and genius that he outwits the old generals that have lived for a very long time and have conquered worlds and now this random dude is so good that he is outwitting everyone so much that people are just stunned behind his greatness. Like the biggest mars leader Nero is in a pickle and goes "oh random guy who i adopted and then was dissapointed by, please get me out of this situation i will just stand and do nothing while you blast through everything" In addition to that the "action" just never ends and there are no character development happening on page at all. We have situations were the character is announced as developed into a different stage but never actually see it happen. The stupid marvel like comedy snippets are cringe. The action can be summarized and then there was a BIIIIG laser thing that came but I beat it but then another big cool explosion thing happened but I was expecting that , but then I was ambushed but it wasnt really an ambush cause i was expecting that as well so i ambushed by ambushers with an explosion . its just like what the hell. Why use first person narration and withhold key information, and then pretend its a plot twist. In my eyes its just annoying. Darrow in general reads like a perfection incarnate who constantly fishes for compliments going oh i am so sensitive and incomplete . Like I LOVE the setup and the premise of the book, the whole concept if super nice, but just its too much unbelievable action,the main character is way to "smart" , everyone just buys in to his shit constantly which makes zero sense, all of the plot twists are not plot twists its just conveniently hidden information and etc etc. Again i understand why people love the books its truly a fun popcorn type of run and gun , which is great. But maybe its just me being a petty man or something but this was doing nothing for me at all and I was just unimpressed constantly. ( )