Fallen (Book Two of the Antediluvian Legacy) [Book Review]

It feels like I have not posted a book review in a while. (My wife is a big fan of the Olympics, so while we watched that together, my reading declined, slightly.) Was Fallen worth the wait?

Genre - Fantasy/Biblical Fiction
Year Published - 2017
Length - 349 pages
Written by R. M. Huffman

Plot Summary:
Humankind was commanded to fill the earth and subdue it, and they have obeyed. In doing so, many have forgotten their Creator; thus, Noah of Eden, a preacher of righteousness, has spent the last few centuries as a wanderer in the world, proclaiming the old, true ways.

His mission is interrupted when a brutal, mysterious enemy fans the embers of lust for power into flames of war. Gathering companions, he races to avert disaster where he can, while realizing that in more ways than he could have imagined the earth, and everything in it, is fallen.

Review:
Back in 2016, I was blown away when I read Leviathan (the first book in this trilogy). I am very sad to say that I did not feel the same, this time around. I am not sure if it was because of the lengthy wait, if my expectations were set too high, or simply because the first book was unlike anything else I had read at the time. Whatever the reason, this book fell short of the first one.

After an excellent Prologue, we are introduced to the city of Phempor, where Noah has been spending some time. I only mention this because I wonder if perhaps the Prince of Phempor was perhaps an ancestor of Vlad Tepes?

We then find out that it has been 400 years since Leviathan took place. Enoch, Cain's City, has now become Atlantis (how cool is that?!?) There is also a new Nephilim character, Eroch, introduced - who I love!

After the above, there just seemed to be some kind of disconnect for me. Some of the story seemed incohesive. I was wishing for a map or a timeline, and the story just did not seem as immersive.

Then, about half-way through the book, a huge revelation revealed itself, tying directly back to the end of the first book, and once you get to the part where Noah and Phiaphara are separated from their party by a wyvern attack, the book really picks up its pace!

So while the mid-portion had a bit of a misstep, for me, the latter-half, filled with great war/battle scenes, is terrific.

After flipping back and forth between a 3 and a 4, I ultimately have to give this book 3/5 Skulls.

With all of that said, I am still, very much, looking forward to Remnant! (Book 3 of the trilogy)

Shroud of Eternity [Book Review]

This is a tough one for me to write. . .

Goodkind has now written 21 novels and this is the first one that I feel is not a full five-stars. (Obviously there are some better than others, however I have always felt each book deserved five-stars, until now.)

This book just seemed to be highly repetitive. A lot of the storyline seemed rehashed. Perhaps my patience just wasn't there this time around, but more than once, I just wanted Goodkind to "get on with it" - to stop dragging things out.

With that said, there is still a lot to love about this book. When Goodkind nails it, he nails it!

Just to mention a couple of my favorite aspects, besides the ancient, fabled city of Ildakar (where everything is not as it appears); Goodkind has now introduced the Morazeth (while the Mord-Sith are more intriguing, I am looking forward to finding out more about the Morazeth). Also, you will be introduced to Ixax warriors - 15' high behemoths - each one capable of taking on 1,500 enemy soldiers. Good stuff!

Overall - 4/5 Skulls