This sequel begins immediately where the first left off and I was eager to see where Asmar would go after abandoning his companions and couldn’t be happier with Rasch’s choice. The Sitire have been the enemy for so long. I relished this time in Sitim and the humanisation of its people. However it also immediately validated my criticisms from the last book. There are too many characters. More this time who are immediately relevant. But I didn’t remember Orien at all when he returned so you can understand my trepidation when an entire troupe of acrobats was introduced. 

And no, there’s still no character index. 

The issue isn’t just that there are so many all at once. It doesn’t keep track of returning characters well. Orien only features in two chapters in the first book, I believe. And not long in this one. The kindness of a stranger lingers. But it’s hard to people a world with what might as well be grave markers, a name, a place, here and gone. The transitory nature of its cast can be incredibly effective, as much as to its detriment. 

Nonetheless the world and its peoples were some of the elements I most enjoyed in the first book and that continues here with the Wanderer and the others outside of the wizards’ reach. So much having been established this book was able to slow and to take its time with people and places. In particular I was fascinated by the community Asmar met with towards the end. Similarly I enjoyed its focus on enough – on what is, and trying to be, even when you fall short. It lent a richness to the narrative. 

However what troubles the book is Asmar. While I find his hardheaded lack of nuance sometimes frustrating, I do like it as characterisation. It comes across mostly that he’s wrong when faced with the Wanderer, however, who knows more than he does. And he knows more than everyone else. It’s an interesting choice to see him be such a wizard despite what he claims. It’s great to watch as he reels from the possibility of becoming like Malzus and yet delves, skims and mines other people’s minds with nary a second thought. Even going so far as to open other people’s minds to strangers. It continually teases a theme of responsible and ethical use of the powers his wizardry affords him but its engagement is shallower than I expected. A homogeneity is falling over the group under his guidance, for instance. It’s still well drawn and interesting. 

Thanks to iRead Book Tours and J.D. Rasch. I leave this review voluntarily.