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Pandemonium Rising #2
Wisdom Lost
Ardia is fractured, torn apart by civil war initiated by deceit. Florens has fallen, and the rebel army of Lady Escamilla has been scattered by the Feral. Little stands in the way of the Rostanians and their ruthless rulers seizing the entire country. Amidst this rising conflict, four people seek to stem this tide. Or, to simply survive.
Fenrir, also called the Bull, Coldbreaker, Dukeslayer, and sometimes bastard, has the worst kind of luck. Instead of being dead, pierced by a dozen swords, he finds himself under the control of the most horrible person he knows: his father. And an unwelcome family reunion is made more unpleasant as clandestine and legitimate powers vie for the rule of Rostane.
Meanwhile, Hafgan Iwan breaks an oath to himself—that he would never return home. The hallowed Wasmer city of Hackeneth is not welcoming, particularly as a new god has usurped the old ways. Hafgan is torn between the world he once knew and the one he has created for himself.
Leading the exhausted and haphazard remnants of a rebel army, Lady Emma Breen seeks allies across the border, in the crumbling city of Farrow’s Hold. But when faith clashes with politics, can a faithless former handmaiden hold them all together?
And Merigold Hinter travels across oceans to the fabled Agricorinor with a wish and a warning. The wish? That she may understand her powers and take revenge. The warning? The Feral are coming, and they will tear out the throat of the world.
Fenrir, also called the Bull, Coldbreaker, Dukeslayer, and sometimes bastard, has the worst kind of luck. Instead of being dead, pierced by a dozen swords, he finds himself under the control of the most horrible person he knows: his father. And an unwelcome family reunion is made more unpleasant as clandestine and legitimate powers vie for the rule of Rostane.
Meanwhile, Hafgan Iwan breaks an oath to himself—that he would never return home. The hallowed Wasmer city of Hackeneth is not welcoming, particularly as a new god has usurped the old ways. Hafgan is torn between the world he once knew and the one he has created for himself.
Leading the exhausted and haphazard remnants of a rebel army, Lady Emma Breen seeks allies across the border, in the crumbling city of Farrow’s Hold. But when faith clashes with politics, can a faithless former handmaiden hold them all together?
And Merigold Hinter travels across oceans to the fabled Agricorinor with a wish and a warning. The wish? That she may understand her powers and take revenge. The warning? The Feral are coming, and they will tear out the throat of the world.
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
593 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Michael Sliter
6 books148 followersMichael Sliter was born in the deep wilds of Cleveland, Ohio, where he fought off at least two siblings for scraps of pizza. His bedroom, growing up, was a monument to fantasy, containing a stack of worn and well-read books, a medieval Lego civilization spanning half the room, and a very real sword circa World War II.
Though always fascinated with the written word, Michael ended up with only a minor in writing, instead majoring in Psychology (Hiram College, OH). He later went on to complete his M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (Bowling Green State University, OH)—overall spending a larger portion of his life than strictly necessary in school. Following, Michael was a psych professor for a time, and then moved into the real world to help organizations hire the right people.
He attempted to write some childish fantasy novels in the past, all abandoned as derivative refuse. It wasn’t until his daughter was born that Michael decided to begin writing in earnest, and he published Solace Lost, the first book in the Pandemonium Rising series. Since, Wisdom Lost (Book 2) and Valley of the Free (novella in the same world) have been published.
Today, you can find Michael back in the Cleveland area, where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. They are quite tolerant of his writing, reading, video game, and racquetball habits.
Though always fascinated with the written word, Michael ended up with only a minor in writing, instead majoring in Psychology (Hiram College, OH). He later went on to complete his M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (Bowling Green State University, OH)—overall spending a larger portion of his life than strictly necessary in school. Following, Michael was a psych professor for a time, and then moved into the real world to help organizations hire the right people.
He attempted to write some childish fantasy novels in the past, all abandoned as derivative refuse. It wasn’t until his daughter was born that Michael decided to begin writing in earnest, and he published Solace Lost, the first book in the Pandemonium Rising series. Since, Wisdom Lost (Book 2) and Valley of the Free (novella in the same world) have been published.
Today, you can find Michael back in the Cleveland area, where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. They are quite tolerant of his writing, reading, video game, and racquetball habits.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 12, 2019
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
4.5/5 stars
Wisdom Lost strengthened the idea that Pandemonium Rising is one of the most underrated character-driven grimdark series in the market right now.
I’m very close to loving this series as much as I loved Richard Nell’s underrated Ash and Sand series. It is that good. Wisdom Lost is the second book in the Pandemonium Rising quartet by Michael Sliter. Told in the same multi-perspective character-driven narration as its predecessor, the story picks up immediately from where the previous book left off. Although I did give a content warning for the first installment, I don’t think Wisdom Lost merits a specific content warning. This doesn’t mean that this book doesn’t fall into the grimdark genre; it still does undeniably. However, I personally found it to be not as depressing or mentally brutal; I believe everyone’s acquainted to the genre will find this one easier—if I can call it that—to read for the heart. In Solace Lost, Sliter prepared the foundation for every main character’s background and personality; at the same time breaking one or two of the POV characters in both physical and mental aspect brutally. Wisdom Lost focuses on how the characters coped and developed from them.
Sliter’s prose impressed me once again; I found the prose to be incredibly easy to get into and each character’s perspectives and internal conflicts were consistently believable. You won’t find any characters behaving out of their personality and the themes of survival, religions, politics, and racial issues played a big role in influencing their actions. Although almost all of the perspective’s characters’ journey didn’t intersect in this installment, I loved how Sliter was still able to make sure that their storyline was still connected to play a part in the grander scheme of things to come in the remaining of the series. I immensely enjoyed reading Fenrir’s story, but Merigold, Emma, and the new interlogues chapters—which I’ll get into soon—were by far the best POV to read in Wisdom Lost. Seriously, I am truly amazed by the main female character’s development. I mentioned that I didn’t find myself invested in Emma’s story in my Solace Lost review, Sliter proved me wrong by showing outstanding character’s development for her gradually. Characterizations were absolutely the biggest strength of this installment and series; so much development went into them. The character’s phantom pain and the baggage from their past were simply well-written. Admittedly, there were some scenes—especially in Hafgan’s chapters—that I felt was a bit too long. To be fair, this is a very subjective minor issue because I can’t seem to find myself being invested in Hafgan’s story as much as I hoped since the first book. Although Hafgan’s storyline did get better here, in my opinion it was still weak in comparison to all the other POVs.
One of the two most significant additions implemented into this novel was the inclusion of Interlogues sections that provides a crucial background of Yetra—one of the goddesses worshipped in the series— as she interacted with one particular side character. These interlogues were utilized brilliantly, not only it expanded the world-building and lore of the series, but it also uses the seven deadly sins to encapsulated Yetra’s background from her beginning as a human up to her inevitable ascension as a goddess. The interlogues were filled completely with dialogues. Seriously, it was just Yetra conversing with a side character, but it made the sections looked like a second-person narration in which Yetra is talking to us, the reader. As for the other great addition, it would be the usage of the magic system. The magic in this series has been super deadly and destructive so far; we’ve seen it being used a few times in the first book. However, Wisdom Lost is where the series became more action-packed. Close-quarter battle scenes were more often found in Fenrir’s and Hafgan’s POV; the larger-scale battle that has the magic—basically taking souls to recover or inflict damage of massive proportion—featured were in Merigold’s and Emma’s story. Sliter has really taken the foundation he laid in the first book into account and build the plot upon it wonderfully.
Overall, this was an awesome sequel and I loved it. With the publication of Wisdom Lost, I truly believe that Sliter is on his way to make Pandemonium Rising a grimdark series to remember. The series is only halfway through but I highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a character-driven grimdark series with a tone reminiscent of Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy. I totally look forward to reading the third and penultimate installment of the series, Faith Lost.
Sidenote:
Thank you so much to the author for using my name as a basis for one of the cities in this series. Also, thank you very much for including me in the acknowledgment section. It means a lot to me to have my name included in a book that I enjoyed reading!
Official release date: July 1st, 2019 (UK) and July 23rd, 2019 (US)
You can pre-order the book from: Amazon
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
4.5/5 stars
Wisdom Lost strengthened the idea that Pandemonium Rising is one of the most underrated character-driven grimdark series in the market right now.
I’m very close to loving this series as much as I loved Richard Nell’s underrated Ash and Sand series. It is that good. Wisdom Lost is the second book in the Pandemonium Rising quartet by Michael Sliter. Told in the same multi-perspective character-driven narration as its predecessor, the story picks up immediately from where the previous book left off. Although I did give a content warning for the first installment, I don’t think Wisdom Lost merits a specific content warning. This doesn’t mean that this book doesn’t fall into the grimdark genre; it still does undeniably. However, I personally found it to be not as depressing or mentally brutal; I believe everyone’s acquainted to the genre will find this one easier—if I can call it that—to read for the heart. In Solace Lost, Sliter prepared the foundation for every main character’s background and personality; at the same time breaking one or two of the POV characters in both physical and mental aspect brutally. Wisdom Lost focuses on how the characters coped and developed from them.
“Part of understanding emotions in others was seeing what emotions they elicited within the self. One cannot truly understand rage or depression simply as an observer, bereft of empathy.”
Sliter’s prose impressed me once again; I found the prose to be incredibly easy to get into and each character’s perspectives and internal conflicts were consistently believable. You won’t find any characters behaving out of their personality and the themes of survival, religions, politics, and racial issues played a big role in influencing their actions. Although almost all of the perspective’s characters’ journey didn’t intersect in this installment, I loved how Sliter was still able to make sure that their storyline was still connected to play a part in the grander scheme of things to come in the remaining of the series. I immensely enjoyed reading Fenrir’s story, but Merigold, Emma, and the new interlogues chapters—which I’ll get into soon—were by far the best POV to read in Wisdom Lost. Seriously, I am truly amazed by the main female character’s development. I mentioned that I didn’t find myself invested in Emma’s story in my Solace Lost review, Sliter proved me wrong by showing outstanding character’s development for her gradually. Characterizations were absolutely the biggest strength of this installment and series; so much development went into them. The character’s phantom pain and the baggage from their past were simply well-written. Admittedly, there were some scenes—especially in Hafgan’s chapters—that I felt was a bit too long. To be fair, this is a very subjective minor issue because I can’t seem to find myself being invested in Hafgan’s story as much as I hoped since the first book. Although Hafgan’s storyline did get better here, in my opinion it was still weak in comparison to all the other POVs.
“The past cannot control you. You are more than what has happened to you. You are more than the things that you have done.”
One of the two most significant additions implemented into this novel was the inclusion of Interlogues sections that provides a crucial background of Yetra—one of the goddesses worshipped in the series— as she interacted with one particular side character. These interlogues were utilized brilliantly, not only it expanded the world-building and lore of the series, but it also uses the seven deadly sins to encapsulated Yetra’s background from her beginning as a human up to her inevitable ascension as a goddess. The interlogues were filled completely with dialogues. Seriously, it was just Yetra conversing with a side character, but it made the sections looked like a second-person narration in which Yetra is talking to us, the reader. As for the other great addition, it would be the usage of the magic system. The magic in this series has been super deadly and destructive so far; we’ve seen it being used a few times in the first book. However, Wisdom Lost is where the series became more action-packed. Close-quarter battle scenes were more often found in Fenrir’s and Hafgan’s POV; the larger-scale battle that has the magic—basically taking souls to recover or inflict damage of massive proportion—featured were in Merigold’s and Emma’s story. Sliter has really taken the foundation he laid in the first book into account and build the plot upon it wonderfully.
“You pitiable, hateful man. You speak of souls? Doesn’t your Yetra say ‘the soul is a measure of kindness a man spreads to others, friend or enemy?’ Does she not say that ‘the soul is strengthened by a man’s conviction to others?’ You, the hateful and vitriolic person that you are, must have a malformed, diminished soul. You are nothing more than a bitter, vicious dog, longing to be put down.”
Overall, this was an awesome sequel and I loved it. With the publication of Wisdom Lost, I truly believe that Sliter is on his way to make Pandemonium Rising a grimdark series to remember. The series is only halfway through but I highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a character-driven grimdark series with a tone reminiscent of Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy. I totally look forward to reading the third and penultimate installment of the series, Faith Lost.
Sidenote:
Thank you so much to the author for using my name as a basis for one of the cities in this series. Also, thank you very much for including me in the acknowledgment section. It means a lot to me to have my name included in a book that I enjoyed reading!
Official release date: July 1st, 2019 (UK) and July 23rd, 2019 (US)
You can pre-order the book from: Amazon
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
December 5, 2019
This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷
Solace Lost ★★★★ 1/4
Wisdom Lost ★★★★ 1/2
Disclaimer: Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
🌟 A friend recently commented that it seems like I read many self-published books. I told him that I consider myself lucky because authors want me to review their books and because most of these books have been well written! I know that there is a general idea that self-published books are bad but I can recommend a bunch of books to prove the opposite for anyone claiming that. This is one example of such books!
🌟 My overall rating of the book is higher than book 1 because I felt it improved. There are things I liked better in book 1 though and I am getting to them in this review. I want to start with the beginning of the book, Sliter actually provided us with a summary of all the important events and characters in book 1, it was a separate part and so people who are not into summaries can skip it, but for me, this is something I wish all authors did. Many virtual salutes for the author for that! And if any author is reading this, then please provide summaries, it encourages people to read your books!
🌟 And then we get the prologue which I loved very very much and my first thought was this is going to be a 5 stars book if it continues like that and although I did not give it 5 stars, it was close to that! I just felt it was very smart. And speaking of smart things, Sliter decided to add interlogues in this book following a certain character and each one discussed one of the Seven Deadly Sins which is something I like a lot and the way they were written is just fantastic! Those were worth 5 stars for sure. And they provided some philosophical issues that made me think.
🌟 Sliter’s prose like book 1 is very smooth, very easy to read and I find myself being able to speed read through it while enjoying it and retaining the info at the same time. Books in this genre can be dense but I felt very comfortable while reading this book. Also, the author has his own touch and as I said in my review of book 1, he will occasionally use some fancy words that I don’t think I will casually read in any other book, examples of those are proselytizing, cognizant, amalgamation!! At the same time, the book has some funny quotes and some pirate-level cursing that always amuses me!
🌟 I thought that book 1 was mainly character-driven and while I stick to that notion, I think this book focused on the plot more and on developing the magical system. I will be honest about the characters here, many readers (including me) said that Merigold and Fenrir were more developed in book 1 while Emma and Hafgan were not on the same level. This book significantly improved Emma’s POV and tried to do so with Hafgan. For some reason that is unknown to me, I can’t find myself getting attached to Hafgan’s story. It is not that it is bad-written, I think it even has good depth but I think for now, it feels detached from the main story and when it gets more integrated into the main arc then I will like it more -at least I hope so- BUT I think while trying to do this Sliter kind of affected Fenrir’s POV!! So currently the order of my most favorite to least fav POVs is Merigold, Emma, Fenrir and then Hafgan!
🌟 Another thing that I felt missing from book 1 is the darkness of the grimdark fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, this is not sunflowers and rainbows kind of book, but it is significantly lighter than book 1 and it may be a good thing according to how much dark do you like the books in this genre to be! I just felt that the things that the characters went through in book 1 made me feel them and get emotionally attached to them. I need to be fair though and mention that if they went through more trauma then it may have been too much for them because they really suffered in book 1 and it may become unbelievable if it is taken to the extreme! I just think there is a balance that needs to be achieved regarding the character’s POV and how dark the book is and when that happens I think it will be a perfect grimdark read!
🌟 The plot in this book picked up where things finished in book 1 and built upon it. There were wars and fights and politics and betrayals and everything that needs to be in a good adult fantasy novel. The magic system was also more explained and expanded in this book. The magic system is very simple yet very vibrant! I really could imagine the magic in my head with colors and motion and everything which I think is another strong point when it comes to the writing! But since the plot got bigger, there was a shit ton of new names of people and places and I just wish there was a glossary because it was getting harder and harder for me to retain everything!
🌟 The pacing, however, was certainly better than in book 1 and was faster. I finished the book in no time and wanted more and I can’t believe I have to wait for long before I can continue this story.
🌟 Religion and faith are important things the book discuss and it does so in a very respectful manner and I just love that! The discussions continue in this book and we learn more about Yetra and Ultner. There was a clever story about some people who worship walls. Walls? WTH! But then we got the story and it made much sense and it is just something that I frequently think about!
🌟 Summary and Prescription: Wisdom Lost is an improved version of book 1 with new characters, expanded world-building, faster pacing, improved magic systems and effing great interlogues! I think the characters and darkness need some delicate changes and I am sure that if Sliter hits the right balance, it will be an even greater story (And I know he has the potential to judging from some of the chapters here). Still, strongly recommend for fans of the grimdark genre!
You can get more books from Book Depository
Solace Lost ★★★★ 1/4
Wisdom Lost ★★★★ 1/2
“A snake that fears biting others is a snake that ultimately consumes itself. And you, little girl, will be consumed.”
Disclaimer: Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
🌟 A friend recently commented that it seems like I read many self-published books. I told him that I consider myself lucky because authors want me to review their books and because most of these books have been well written! I know that there is a general idea that self-published books are bad but I can recommend a bunch of books to prove the opposite for anyone claiming that. This is one example of such books!
🌟 My overall rating of the book is higher than book 1 because I felt it improved. There are things I liked better in book 1 though and I am getting to them in this review. I want to start with the beginning of the book, Sliter actually provided us with a summary of all the important events and characters in book 1, it was a separate part and so people who are not into summaries can skip it, but for me, this is something I wish all authors did. Many virtual salutes for the author for that! And if any author is reading this, then please provide summaries, it encourages people to read your books!
🌟 And then we get the prologue which I loved very very much and my first thought was this is going to be a 5 stars book if it continues like that and although I did not give it 5 stars, it was close to that! I just felt it was very smart. And speaking of smart things, Sliter decided to add interlogues in this book following a certain character and each one discussed one of the Seven Deadly Sins which is something I like a lot and the way they were written is just fantastic! Those were worth 5 stars for sure. And they provided some philosophical issues that made me think.
🌟 Sliter’s prose like book 1 is very smooth, very easy to read and I find myself being able to speed read through it while enjoying it and retaining the info at the same time. Books in this genre can be dense but I felt very comfortable while reading this book. Also, the author has his own touch and as I said in my review of book 1, he will occasionally use some fancy words that I don’t think I will casually read in any other book, examples of those are proselytizing, cognizant, amalgamation!! At the same time, the book has some funny quotes and some pirate-level cursing that always amuses me!
“Have you ever even killed before? No? It is not something to easily shrug off. It stays with a person.”
🌟 I thought that book 1 was mainly character-driven and while I stick to that notion, I think this book focused on the plot more and on developing the magical system. I will be honest about the characters here, many readers (including me) said that Merigold and Fenrir were more developed in book 1 while Emma and Hafgan were not on the same level. This book significantly improved Emma’s POV and tried to do so with Hafgan. For some reason that is unknown to me, I can’t find myself getting attached to Hafgan’s story. It is not that it is bad-written, I think it even has good depth but I think for now, it feels detached from the main story and when it gets more integrated into the main arc then I will like it more -at least I hope so- BUT I think while trying to do this Sliter kind of affected Fenrir’s POV!! So currently the order of my most favorite to least fav POVs is Merigold, Emma, Fenrir and then Hafgan!
🌟 Another thing that I felt missing from book 1 is the darkness of the grimdark fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, this is not sunflowers and rainbows kind of book, but it is significantly lighter than book 1 and it may be a good thing according to how much dark do you like the books in this genre to be! I just felt that the things that the characters went through in book 1 made me feel them and get emotionally attached to them. I need to be fair though and mention that if they went through more trauma then it may have been too much for them because they really suffered in book 1 and it may become unbelievable if it is taken to the extreme! I just think there is a balance that needs to be achieved regarding the character’s POV and how dark the book is and when that happens I think it will be a perfect grimdark read!
“Throughout it all, Emma felt nothing. Not anger. Not fear. Not guilt. Throughout it all, Emma felt empty.”
🌟 The plot in this book picked up where things finished in book 1 and built upon it. There were wars and fights and politics and betrayals and everything that needs to be in a good adult fantasy novel. The magic system was also more explained and expanded in this book. The magic system is very simple yet very vibrant! I really could imagine the magic in my head with colors and motion and everything which I think is another strong point when it comes to the writing! But since the plot got bigger, there was a shit ton of new names of people and places and I just wish there was a glossary because it was getting harder and harder for me to retain everything!
🌟 The pacing, however, was certainly better than in book 1 and was faster. I finished the book in no time and wanted more and I can’t believe I have to wait for long before I can continue this story.
🌟 Religion and faith are important things the book discuss and it does so in a very respectful manner and I just love that! The discussions continue in this book and we learn more about Yetra and Ultner. There was a clever story about some people who worship walls. Walls? WTH! But then we got the story and it made much sense and it is just something that I frequently think about!
“I am beginning to believe that faith is little more than a way to spread values among the people. Traisen spread the value of war and combat with just a hint of honor. Oletta embodied the value of wisdom, knowledge, and logic…”
🌟 Summary and Prescription: Wisdom Lost is an improved version of book 1 with new characters, expanded world-building, faster pacing, improved magic systems and effing great interlogues! I think the characters and darkness need some delicate changes and I am sure that if Sliter hits the right balance, it will be an even greater story (And I know he has the potential to judging from some of the chapters here). Still, strongly recommend for fans of the grimdark genre!
You can get more books from Book Depository
Currently reading
February 12, 2021***Update Feb 2021***
On the final read through of Faith Lost! April 1 release is the goal!
***Update June 29th***
It’s been a long road, and it’s not over yet! Faith Lost is at 160k. Four of the five povs are done, with the final one catching up, and two epilogues are planned. I’m hoping to wrap around 180k, which will make this the longest book in the series, and the longest damned thing I’ve written.
I’ve also started A Black Deal, the next novella following Ferl’s Company. About 6k deep (Valley of the Free was about 28k, so swimming for something similar).
***Update April 28 2020***
I'm still working, readers, friends, and enemies. The Pandemic and child 2 slowed things down significantly. but I am feeling the muses tickling upon my... well, they are tickling. Faith Lost is at 133K words, which includes the 8K summary of Solace and Wisdom. Two of the POV characters are done. Two are nearing completion. And one is... well, it's early. Aiming for about 170-180K, and then for the long, tedious EDITING process.
***Update February 2020***
Faith Lost, Book 3 of Pandemonium Rising, is at about 101K words. Assuming the same length as the other two, it'll hit around 160K-170K. And, don't worry, 8K of those words will be a review of Books 1 and 2!
Please send encouragement, support, and delicious reviews!
***Update***
Valley of the Free, a story outlining the formation of the now-infamous Ferl's Company, is complete at 28K words and with the editor and cover artist. Both are killing it, as always.
Book 3 of Pandemonium Rising, Faith Lost, is currently just shy of 30K words, so roughly 20% done. Long road ahead, but reviews provide ample incentive to continue :) Tell your friends. Or, if you only have one friend, tell him or her!
***Update***
Obviously, Wisdom Lost has been out for about a week. I'm splitting my time between two projects. The first, Valley of the Free, is a novella set in the world of Pandemonium Rising following Ferl's Company. It's nearly done! The second, Faith Lost, is Book 3 of the series and is slowly coming together. Give me a year...
***Update***
Cover reveal coming Wednesday May 29th!
***Update***
Wisdom Lost, at 670 pages, is out to the editor and cover artist! We are realistically looking at a July 1 release, though that may shift up or down depending on the timeline of others. Don't worry; I will not be idle. Book 3: Faith Lost, is about 50 pages deep.
On the final read through of Faith Lost! April 1 release is the goal!
***Update June 29th***
It’s been a long road, and it’s not over yet! Faith Lost is at 160k. Four of the five povs are done, with the final one catching up, and two epilogues are planned. I’m hoping to wrap around 180k, which will make this the longest book in the series, and the longest damned thing I’ve written.
I’ve also started A Black Deal, the next novella following Ferl’s Company. About 6k deep (Valley of the Free was about 28k, so swimming for something similar).
***Update April 28 2020***
I'm still working, readers, friends, and enemies. The Pandemic and child 2 slowed things down significantly. but I am feeling the muses tickling upon my... well, they are tickling. Faith Lost is at 133K words, which includes the 8K summary of Solace and Wisdom. Two of the POV characters are done. Two are nearing completion. And one is... well, it's early. Aiming for about 170-180K, and then for the long, tedious EDITING process.
***Update February 2020***
Faith Lost, Book 3 of Pandemonium Rising, is at about 101K words. Assuming the same length as the other two, it'll hit around 160K-170K. And, don't worry, 8K of those words will be a review of Books 1 and 2!
Please send encouragement, support, and delicious reviews!
***Update***
Valley of the Free, a story outlining the formation of the now-infamous Ferl's Company, is complete at 28K words and with the editor and cover artist. Both are killing it, as always.
Book 3 of Pandemonium Rising, Faith Lost, is currently just shy of 30K words, so roughly 20% done. Long road ahead, but reviews provide ample incentive to continue :) Tell your friends. Or, if you only have one friend, tell him or her!
***Update***
Obviously, Wisdom Lost has been out for about a week. I'm splitting my time between two projects. The first, Valley of the Free, is a novella set in the world of Pandemonium Rising following Ferl's Company. It's nearly done! The second, Faith Lost, is Book 3 of the series and is slowly coming together. Give me a year...
***Update***
Cover reveal coming Wednesday May 29th!
***Update***
Wisdom Lost, at 670 pages, is out to the editor and cover artist! We are realistically looking at a July 1 release, though that may shift up or down depending on the timeline of others. Don't worry; I will not be idle. Book 3: Faith Lost, is about 50 pages deep.
September 1, 2019
4⭐️
A worthy sequel to Solace Lost in the Pandemonium Rising series by Michael Sliter.
A worthy sequel to Solace Lost in the Pandemonium Rising series by Michael Sliter.
September 3, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. Found the characters likable and compelling. Ranges from light hearted to dark and terrifying. It's how fantasy should be.
July 24, 2019
Ahhhhhhh!!!!! Now I gotta wait for the next book waaaaaaah!! I should have held off eating this one but.... nah, worth it, hahaha!!
These books are so absurdly addictive, I fell into the story straight away! I pretty much didn't stop until my eyes burned into the evening and I felt like my brain was mush, so I was forced to pause for a moment or two to recharge the functions that allow for comprehension. I fully appreciate the summary at the beginning that went over the events of the previous book! So few authors do that!! Indeed, I think I've only seen it before in Brent Weeks works... Sometimes you need a good refresher!
The true danger of the world's dilemma is gradually beginning to become unveiled and it's a lot more serious than simply war brought about by the greed of mankind. Each characters struggle is unique and fleshed out with impressive development that is gradual and subtle, but evident enough by the end! There are subtle strands of plot throughout that show how it all might eventually come together, but the instability of the danger that lurks yet behind the scenes has the ability to disrupt all expectations at any moment!
Fen is my MVP! A guy wafting from one danger to the next, without a real idea where or how or when he should stick. I think it very interesting that he doesn't even understand his own heart or mind or soul, that he doesn't really even know what he wants or what he cherishes. How could you being raised the way that he was? Maybe he's okay with being neutral. Maybe he's a happy follower. He's my spirit animal, I understand that on a primal level. You don't always have to be a leader with power and position poise. Sometimes it's okay to live skirting along the surface of things, never making an impression or a mark or whatever the case might be. And maybe he will do those things in the future! I cheer for the possibilities for him!
I'm a Fen defender, but I love each and every character within. They all have interesting roles to play that I look forward to seeing through to the end!!
This is a great series for those who love characters in a story! I prefer characters and their stories and their predicaments over plot, but this has a little of everything included!
These books are so absurdly addictive, I fell into the story straight away! I pretty much didn't stop until my eyes burned into the evening and I felt like my brain was mush, so I was forced to pause for a moment or two to recharge the functions that allow for comprehension. I fully appreciate the summary at the beginning that went over the events of the previous book! So few authors do that!! Indeed, I think I've only seen it before in Brent Weeks works... Sometimes you need a good refresher!
The true danger of the world's dilemma is gradually beginning to become unveiled and it's a lot more serious than simply war brought about by the greed of mankind. Each characters struggle is unique and fleshed out with impressive development that is gradual and subtle, but evident enough by the end! There are subtle strands of plot throughout that show how it all might eventually come together, but the instability of the danger that lurks yet behind the scenes has the ability to disrupt all expectations at any moment!
Fen is my MVP! A guy wafting from one danger to the next, without a real idea where or how or when he should stick. I think it very interesting that he doesn't even understand his own heart or mind or soul, that he doesn't really even know what he wants or what he cherishes. How could you being raised the way that he was? Maybe he's okay with being neutral. Maybe he's a happy follower. He's my spirit animal, I understand that on a primal level. You don't always have to be a leader with power and position poise. Sometimes it's okay to live skirting along the surface of things, never making an impression or a mark or whatever the case might be. And maybe he will do those things in the future! I cheer for the possibilities for him!
I'm a Fen defender, but I love each and every character within. They all have interesting roles to play that I look forward to seeing through to the end!!
This is a great series for those who love characters in a story! I prefer characters and their stories and their predicaments over plot, but this has a little of everything included!
September 27, 2019
Good solid continuation of this series by Michael Sliter. You got grimdark with a very good plots within plots, enough to the reader guessing.
Highly recommended to all my friends on Goodreads who read fantasy. This series is well worth the effort in reading it.
Highly recommended to all my friends on Goodreads who read fantasy. This series is well worth the effort in reading it.
September 15, 2019
A very impressive sequel to Solace Lost; bigger, better, bolder to put it crudely!
The highly original world that Michael Sliter built in the first book opens up more with Merigold roaming farther afield, and we learn more about the factions/peoples in the wider world. The four POV characters each go on their individual journeys and they really are a fascinating bunch; quite different in nature, all up against rather harsh odds and all likeable despite their actions.
The stakes are raised, the magic gets more potent and secondary characters are given ample page space and significance within the story. The author has done an excellent job with creating this world and then spinning the story plates, and not one has dropped. All are still spinning towards what I assume will be an epic third book. I don't want to say too much about the final chapters, but they are gripping (for the reader) and gruelling (for Fenrir, Emma, Merigold and Hafgan).
The magic system is a good one that balances old school blasts with the "science" to make it realistic (energy comes from somewhere).
So basically a damn good read! I wish the author all the best with the third.
The highly original world that Michael Sliter built in the first book opens up more with Merigold roaming farther afield, and we learn more about the factions/peoples in the wider world. The four POV characters each go on their individual journeys and they really are a fascinating bunch; quite different in nature, all up against rather harsh odds and all likeable despite their actions.
The stakes are raised, the magic gets more potent and secondary characters are given ample page space and significance within the story. The author has done an excellent job with creating this world and then spinning the story plates, and not one has dropped. All are still spinning towards what I assume will be an epic third book. I don't want to say too much about the final chapters, but they are gripping (for the reader) and gruelling (for Fenrir, Emma, Merigold and Hafgan).
The magic system is a good one that balances old school blasts with the "science" to make it realistic (energy comes from somewhere).
So basically a damn good read! I wish the author all the best with the third.
October 3, 2022
A country on the cusp of complete occupation. Rebel fighters drained and dispirited. Four individuals attempt to survive in a world torn with war, politics & faith. Gripping and immersive sequel! Unexpected developments! Great stuff
September 3, 2019
I liked book 1 of this series (Solace Lost) quite a lot, but let me just state that Wisdom Lost is a superior book. It improves upon a lot of aspects and establishes Pandemonium Rising as one of the top grimdark series. Especially the fans of Joe Abercrombie should take notice.
Main problem that I had with book 1 was slower pacing, where I felt some passages could have been trimmed down and I prefered Meri's and Fenrir's storylines. Well it's certainly not the case with the second book. From start to finish I was hooked and I would have very hard time picking favourite POV, I enjoyed the hell out of all of them. And it's not just the overall storylines, but also individual chapters, each of them was meaningful and something important happened that moved the plot and characters forward. Each storyline has satisfying climax that also puts characters into interesting position for the sequel. I finished the book in 2 days and I am (unfortunately) pretty slow reader lately.
The second aspect which I want to highlight is how the book further develops and fleshes out side characters. They are as important to the story as our main characters. Even the guards that travel with our protagonists and other characters that might be in other book left blank are given personality, background and goals. Sliter is also quite efficient in introducing them and getting reader care about them quickly without spending pages and pages on their descriptions and detailing over their background. In general number of fractions that are playing 'the game' increased and their intentions are more muddied. Some of the bad guys from book 1 turn not to be that bad after all and the very least are more humanized. Honestly I really don't know what will happen next and that's something that I really like. Maybe the only thing aspect where previous book was better was that while there this book has its own share of surprises there wasn't any 'WTF just happened' moment as the one at the end of book 1.
Another thing that I liked was how the worldbuilding developed. In previous book we have only seen Adria, which is pretty standard medieval fantasy country, but in this sequel we get see a lot of new cultures that are really interesting. There are Wasmer - broken race of tribal warriors surviving in the mountains with a strict caste system, who are despised by humans for their attacks in the past. There is a very powerful nation with great deal of knowledge about magic in a far away land that remided me Seanchan from Wheel of Time. We get to see more countries, if only briefly, and I am looking forward to them being explored more in the next book.
I think the reason what I like this series so much is because it connects a lot of aspects that I look for in the books I read - intriguing and complex characters, good character development, unpredictable plot, multiple factions competing for power/survival without one being the clear good one and world which forces characters to become pragmatic to survive. I am glad that I found such a amazing grimdark series and I am looking forward to reading the next book when it comes out.
Main problem that I had with book 1 was slower pacing, where I felt some passages could have been trimmed down and I prefered Meri's and Fenrir's storylines. Well it's certainly not the case with the second book. From start to finish I was hooked and I would have very hard time picking favourite POV, I enjoyed the hell out of all of them. And it's not just the overall storylines, but also individual chapters, each of them was meaningful and something important happened that moved the plot and characters forward. Each storyline has satisfying climax that also puts characters into interesting position for the sequel. I finished the book in 2 days and I am (unfortunately) pretty slow reader lately.
The second aspect which I want to highlight is how the book further develops and fleshes out side characters. They are as important to the story as our main characters. Even the guards that travel with our protagonists and other characters that might be in other book left blank are given personality, background and goals. Sliter is also quite efficient in introducing them and getting reader care about them quickly without spending pages and pages on their descriptions and detailing over their background. In general number of fractions that are playing 'the game' increased and their intentions are more muddied. Some of the bad guys from book 1 turn not to be that bad after all and the very least are more humanized. Honestly I really don't know what will happen next and that's something that I really like. Maybe the only thing aspect where previous book was better was that while there this book has its own share of surprises there wasn't any 'WTF just happened' moment as the one at the end of book 1.
Another thing that I liked was how the worldbuilding developed. In previous book we have only seen Adria, which is pretty standard medieval fantasy country, but in this sequel we get see a lot of new cultures that are really interesting. There are Wasmer - broken race of tribal warriors surviving in the mountains with a strict caste system, who are despised by humans for their attacks in the past. There is a very powerful nation with great deal of knowledge about magic in a far away land that remided me Seanchan from Wheel of Time. We get to see more countries, if only briefly, and I am looking forward to them being explored more in the next book.
I think the reason what I like this series so much is because it connects a lot of aspects that I look for in the books I read - intriguing and complex characters, good character development, unpredictable plot, multiple factions competing for power/survival without one being the clear good one and world which forces characters to become pragmatic to survive. I am glad that I found such a amazing grimdark series and I am looking forward to reading the next book when it comes out.
September 23, 2023
A great continuation of this solidly good grimdark series. The world is expanded and the lore gets bigger. We witness once again some great action scenes, but the main theme of this entry is the development of our protagonists and their struggles as they try to find their role in the pandemonium around them.
Compared to the first one I liked this a tad less. My main reason for this was that our four main protagonists stories don't connect at any point and personally I'm not a fan of this choice. Also some important side characters are barely given any time (Ferl and his mercenaries in particular) and that didn't feel natural to the story IMO.
The last 40% though made up for any complaints I had up to that point and I can safely say that Pandemonium Rising is one of the better series of its kind out there..
7,2/10
Compared to the first one I liked this a tad less. My main reason for this was that our four main protagonists stories don't connect at any point and personally I'm not a fan of this choice. Also some important side characters are barely given any time (Ferl and his mercenaries in particular) and that didn't feel natural to the story IMO.
The last 40% though made up for any complaints I had up to that point and I can safely say that Pandemonium Rising is one of the better series of its kind out there..
7,2/10
September 13, 2019
Every time I picked up this book it was impossible to put down and before I knew it I'd flown through another 100 pages. I have a lot of great things to say about this book (and series) but my favorite thing has got to be the characters. Sliter does a wonderful job of creating a rich and complex universe and characters to match. I eagerly await the next book and would recommend this to anyone who likes a character driven fantasy story!!
January 20, 2023
“Extortion, as it turns out, does not breed loyalty.”
“No, it never does. Fear, though, can be a powerful tool.”
Here we get to see the groundwork that Sliter laid in the first book really play dividends, as Wisdom Lost hits the ground running right after the events of the first book. Interestingly while we received a list of content warnings for this book, I think that Wisdom Lost did not venture quite so far into the harrowing fields of grimdark as the first book. It’s still dark, Ardia is still a harsh and brutal world, and the characters are constantly being pushed to the edge, with survival playing a huge role in their story – and the shades of grey are ever present, but it was a slightly gentler read, and that’s because of the work done in the first book.
Solace Lost provided the foundation for the world and the story, and the shattering of the characters. Wisdom Lost is the splintering lines caused by that shattering, and we get to see it stretch out through the threads of the characters’ stories, and how they are continuing to cope with what has happened to them and how it fuels their growth.
“I am beginning to believe that faith is little more than a way to spread values among the people.”
Wisdom Lost really is a progression from the first book in every way, and yet as with everything about this series we get to see the continuing influence and connection of what happened in the first book. Sliter has layered this series from the beginning and now we are seeing it paythrough, and everything about book two is more.
The almost philosophical considerations that were so evident in the first book, the discussions about religion and faith and magic go further in this book, and I admire how Sliter handles this aspect. It’s done respectfully, but in such a way that it feels organic to the world and the characters. And I loved that it was further built into the lore with the inclusion of interlogues with a goddess (more on this later – but this was one of my favourite parts of this book). And it felt that with that groundwork in place, we really got to dive into the politics and intrigue much further in this book, along with the racial issues; and now we already have a grasp of the world, those aspects are hitting harder, and we can see the story and world opening up alongside one another. As we and the characters get to explore more and more of the world.
Wisdom Lost maintains the character-centric focus of the series, and it felt more balanced this time around as we got to spend more time with Fenrir, Merigold, Emma and Hafgan. It also felt as though we were reuniting with old friends that we already knew inside and out, thanks to the careful work done in the first book and the intimacy of the focus on their voices and thoughts, and Sliter has homed in one what makes each character who they are to perfection, and we could follow through the threads of what each one had endured and the path they had taken so far, to who they are now. Cause and effect was evident for each character, and we get to see the playthrough of wounds that has left them with trauma and baggage, and how that plays into the present and their aims for the future. And that connectivity is essential, not just to pull us the reader into their stories, but because their paths haven’t intersected yet, but yet we are able to see how their individual threads are feeding into the overarching story and path the world is taken; and it gives a real weight to each character’s actions.
“The past cannot control you. You are more than what has happened to you. You are more than the things that you have done.”
As I said above, Wisdom Lost felt more balanced with its focus on the four main POVs, and Emma’s POV was greatly improved – it just felt like we hadn’t spent quite enough time with her in the first book. Merigold remains a firm favourite, and perhaps because of that bias it felt like her character development was that little bit stronger than the others in this one. However, it was actually Fenrir who stole the show for me in this book, I just felt like we really got to get inside his head and there was a questioning that made me want to see where his path in particular will lead.
One feature that is new to Wisdom Lost is the inclusion of interludes, or as they are called in the book Interlogues. This is always a brilliant way of building up the story, and especially the worldbuilding, and here Sliter has used them to build up and establish the background for one of the goddesses of this world -Yetra.
“You’ve undoubtedly heard the stories of my youth? As always, there is more mythos and embellishment— lies, really— than actual truth.
The interlogues here not only build up the worldbuilding, especially with the discussions surrounding religion and faith, and how through these Sliter charts Yetra’s growth from human to goddess. But, the way they are written with Yetra talking to a secondary character through dialogue alone, means that it feels as though we the reader are being personally addressed, pulling us further into the lore. It’s a wonderfully organic way of providing vital worldbuilding information.
After reading Solace Lost, I said that I wanted to see more the magic that had been introduced and that wish was more than granted. We continue to see how destructive and deadly the magic can be, but now we get a better sense for how it can be fully utilised as we see it in action from close-quarter combat to large-scale battles, and we also get to see the cost of the magic, and how the skill and precision can vary between users. I always appreciate a magic system that has a cost to its use, and that is used brilliantly here, and we can see how that cost impacts on the characters. It adds another layer to character development, through learning to use it, and learning to balance and accept the cost. Again, we see Sliter taking the foundation he had built up in the first book, and turning the dial up completely.
Sliter’s writing is still very much a highlight for me, and again it feels stronger in this book – I think especially with the interlogues showing his skill with dialogue, which was a little more lacking in the first book due to the intensely personal nature of the POVs. Here, we also get to see him stretch his action-writing muscles, from the magic and battles, to the overall feeling of forward momentum, and there were certainly no pacing issues in this book. It sweeps you along from start to finish.
Wisdom Lost was a spectacular continuation to this series, it has ironed out the slight weakness of the pacing from the first book and really found it’s own pace. Here we see Sliter honing his characterisation, expanding the cast, and really bringing the character development to the fore, while the world has continued to expand. I look forward to picking up the third book Faith Lost in the near future, and seeing what places Sliter will take us in the latter half of the series.
“No, it never does. Fear, though, can be a powerful tool.”
Here we get to see the groundwork that Sliter laid in the first book really play dividends, as Wisdom Lost hits the ground running right after the events of the first book. Interestingly while we received a list of content warnings for this book, I think that Wisdom Lost did not venture quite so far into the harrowing fields of grimdark as the first book. It’s still dark, Ardia is still a harsh and brutal world, and the characters are constantly being pushed to the edge, with survival playing a huge role in their story – and the shades of grey are ever present, but it was a slightly gentler read, and that’s because of the work done in the first book.
Solace Lost provided the foundation for the world and the story, and the shattering of the characters. Wisdom Lost is the splintering lines caused by that shattering, and we get to see it stretch out through the threads of the characters’ stories, and how they are continuing to cope with what has happened to them and how it fuels their growth.
“I am beginning to believe that faith is little more than a way to spread values among the people.”
Wisdom Lost really is a progression from the first book in every way, and yet as with everything about this series we get to see the continuing influence and connection of what happened in the first book. Sliter has layered this series from the beginning and now we are seeing it paythrough, and everything about book two is more.
The almost philosophical considerations that were so evident in the first book, the discussions about religion and faith and magic go further in this book, and I admire how Sliter handles this aspect. It’s done respectfully, but in such a way that it feels organic to the world and the characters. And I loved that it was further built into the lore with the inclusion of interlogues with a goddess (more on this later – but this was one of my favourite parts of this book). And it felt that with that groundwork in place, we really got to dive into the politics and intrigue much further in this book, along with the racial issues; and now we already have a grasp of the world, those aspects are hitting harder, and we can see the story and world opening up alongside one another. As we and the characters get to explore more and more of the world.
Wisdom Lost maintains the character-centric focus of the series, and it felt more balanced this time around as we got to spend more time with Fenrir, Merigold, Emma and Hafgan. It also felt as though we were reuniting with old friends that we already knew inside and out, thanks to the careful work done in the first book and the intimacy of the focus on their voices and thoughts, and Sliter has homed in one what makes each character who they are to perfection, and we could follow through the threads of what each one had endured and the path they had taken so far, to who they are now. Cause and effect was evident for each character, and we get to see the playthrough of wounds that has left them with trauma and baggage, and how that plays into the present and their aims for the future. And that connectivity is essential, not just to pull us the reader into their stories, but because their paths haven’t intersected yet, but yet we are able to see how their individual threads are feeding into the overarching story and path the world is taken; and it gives a real weight to each character’s actions.
“The past cannot control you. You are more than what has happened to you. You are more than the things that you have done.”
As I said above, Wisdom Lost felt more balanced with its focus on the four main POVs, and Emma’s POV was greatly improved – it just felt like we hadn’t spent quite enough time with her in the first book. Merigold remains a firm favourite, and perhaps because of that bias it felt like her character development was that little bit stronger than the others in this one. However, it was actually Fenrir who stole the show for me in this book, I just felt like we really got to get inside his head and there was a questioning that made me want to see where his path in particular will lead.
One feature that is new to Wisdom Lost is the inclusion of interludes, or as they are called in the book Interlogues. This is always a brilliant way of building up the story, and especially the worldbuilding, and here Sliter has used them to build up and establish the background for one of the goddesses of this world -Yetra.
“You’ve undoubtedly heard the stories of my youth? As always, there is more mythos and embellishment— lies, really— than actual truth.
The interlogues here not only build up the worldbuilding, especially with the discussions surrounding religion and faith, and how through these Sliter charts Yetra’s growth from human to goddess. But, the way they are written with Yetra talking to a secondary character through dialogue alone, means that it feels as though we the reader are being personally addressed, pulling us further into the lore. It’s a wonderfully organic way of providing vital worldbuilding information.
After reading Solace Lost, I said that I wanted to see more the magic that had been introduced and that wish was more than granted. We continue to see how destructive and deadly the magic can be, but now we get a better sense for how it can be fully utilised as we see it in action from close-quarter combat to large-scale battles, and we also get to see the cost of the magic, and how the skill and precision can vary between users. I always appreciate a magic system that has a cost to its use, and that is used brilliantly here, and we can see how that cost impacts on the characters. It adds another layer to character development, through learning to use it, and learning to balance and accept the cost. Again, we see Sliter taking the foundation he had built up in the first book, and turning the dial up completely.
Sliter’s writing is still very much a highlight for me, and again it feels stronger in this book – I think especially with the interlogues showing his skill with dialogue, which was a little more lacking in the first book due to the intensely personal nature of the POVs. Here, we also get to see him stretch his action-writing muscles, from the magic and battles, to the overall feeling of forward momentum, and there were certainly no pacing issues in this book. It sweeps you along from start to finish.
Wisdom Lost was a spectacular continuation to this series, it has ironed out the slight weakness of the pacing from the first book and really found it’s own pace. Here we see Sliter honing his characterisation, expanding the cast, and really bringing the character development to the fore, while the world has continued to expand. I look forward to picking up the third book Faith Lost in the near future, and seeing what places Sliter will take us in the latter half of the series.
July 21, 2019
While Solace Lost was a powerful and brutal introduction to this gorgeously written series, Wisdom Lost picks up where it left off without leaving behind any of the desperation or character-driven drama that made the first book so impressive. Carrying on with the POVs introduced in the first installment of the series, Sliter's talent and careful world-building holds the whole of the narrative together so that there's none of the fracturing which sometimes occurs in mutli-POV works of this nature. Instead, what builds up through the work is a gorgeously crafted tapestry that is both cohesive and complicated. Somehow, however, it all fits together in such a masterful fashion that it's hard to believe this is only the author's second novel.
Fans of epic fantasy and grimdark, and perhaps fans of fantasy in general as long as they can take some darkness in turn, should start with Sliter's Solace Lost and plan to dive immediately into this follow-up. It's beautifully written, fast-paced, and fairly fantastic.
Absolutely recommended.
Fans of epic fantasy and grimdark, and perhaps fans of fantasy in general as long as they can take some darkness in turn, should start with Sliter's Solace Lost and plan to dive immediately into this follow-up. It's beautifully written, fast-paced, and fairly fantastic.
Absolutely recommended.
July 18, 2019
The second book in the series is somehow better than the first. The author continues to develop his POV characters and the conclusion of each chapter leaves the reader wanting more. From beginning to end I couldn’t put this book down. If you’ve read the first book, Solace Lost, then this is a must read! I can’t wait for the third book!
September 18, 2019
I liked it. The characters are good. Emma is bearable to read this time around, Fenrir remained awesome as always and Meri... I am still a bit conflicted on her. The magic, while seemingly straightforward is very enjoyable. The worldbuilding is also nice in this entry.
But... I have to say I am disappointed a bit, because this felt like a "part" of a book, instead of a sequel. I can't pinpoint the exact reason, but the ending... Is tame? Not satisfying?
Overall, it's a good one, definitely deserves 4 stars even if I have some nitpicks.
But... I have to say I am disappointed a bit, because this felt like a "part" of a book, instead of a sequel. I can't pinpoint the exact reason, but the ending... Is tame? Not satisfying?
Overall, it's a good one, definitely deserves 4 stars even if I have some nitpicks.
June 28, 2019
This sequel is amazing! I can't wait to read more from this author!
August 6, 2019
Just an amazing book. The author exhibits his skill and passion through depth, and character development!
June 14, 2019
(I received an ARC copy from the author, and this is my honest review)
After the very dark theme of the first book, this one feels a shade lighter, despite all the death and blood and suffering. Lots of people will die. But that was expected.
Yes, we already know that Merigold, Fenrir, Emma and Hafgan are awesome protagonists, I really came to care for all of them. Character development and relationship between characters were quite
incredible.
What we didn`t know, was this business with Yetra, the goddess. I`m interested in mythology. And the one we came to know from this book perfectly fitted the world of Saiwen. The worldbuilding is immense, the plot got clearer, but more complicated at the same time. Lots of new characters and places, plus more magic and more action.
I really enjoyed the first 2 books in the series and I`ll keep an eye out for book 3 and even a re-read :)
After the very dark theme of the first book, this one feels a shade lighter, despite all the death and blood and suffering. Lots of people will die. But that was expected.
Yes, we already know that Merigold, Fenrir, Emma and Hafgan are awesome protagonists, I really came to care for all of them. Character development and relationship between characters were quite
incredible.
What we didn`t know, was this business with Yetra, the goddess. I`m interested in mythology. And the one we came to know from this book perfectly fitted the world of Saiwen. The worldbuilding is immense, the plot got clearer, but more complicated at the same time. Lots of new characters and places, plus more magic and more action.
I really enjoyed the first 2 books in the series and I`ll keep an eye out for book 3 and even a re-read :)
November 15, 2020
Trigger Warning: Suicide, adult language, sex, graphic violence
With this second book in Pandemonium Rising, author Michael Sliter continues to both torment and awe his readers. The characters have grown, but that may be the only glimpse of hope in this gods-forsaken book. With each passing page, there is a new betrayal, a new obstacle, a new sacrifice waiting to be made. And yet, our protagonists continue to prevail. While the people of Rostane may be losing wisdom, readers may still hold onto hope that this will turn out well–whether that actually happens or not is yet to be known.
I mentioned in my 5 Star Review of Solace Lost, #1 in Pandemonium Rising, that Sliter’s writing reminds me of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series–the highest of praise coming from me. After reading Wisdom Lost, I stand by my comment. Sliter captivates his audience with realistic and well-rounded characters as they pass through struggle after struggle, both internal and external. Even his secondary characters have authentic lives and emotions to split readers’ allegiances.
Additionally, his plot is intricate to the point where readers have no clue of what will happen next–a great ploy to use when the characters are about to walk into a trap. Sliter has mastered the cliffhanger one-liners that pepper his novels, most notably at the end of chapters. Just when I start to get comfortable with where the story is going, it changes and I am left hanging in the air, nothing below my feet–just like the characters. As a result, the reader is left in a constant state of suspense, never able to put down the book for want of figuring out–in the words of detective Columbo–just one more question. It absolutely enthralled me through many a late night, as I told myself I’d read just one more chapter… then finally, resignedly, going to bed eight chapters later.
Although there are some editing errors–a misname here, a mispelled word there, Sliter’s style makes up for it. The writing is both beautiful and coarse, just as his world and characters are, full of witticisms and subtle insults. And perhaps I am more attuned to errors being an English teacher. In fact, I’ll wager most of the (infrequent) errors will go unnoticed by most readers.
See more reviews at thebookdragon.blog
With this second book in Pandemonium Rising, author Michael Sliter continues to both torment and awe his readers. The characters have grown, but that may be the only glimpse of hope in this gods-forsaken book. With each passing page, there is a new betrayal, a new obstacle, a new sacrifice waiting to be made. And yet, our protagonists continue to prevail. While the people of Rostane may be losing wisdom, readers may still hold onto hope that this will turn out well–whether that actually happens or not is yet to be known.
I mentioned in my 5 Star Review of Solace Lost, #1 in Pandemonium Rising, that Sliter’s writing reminds me of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series–the highest of praise coming from me. After reading Wisdom Lost, I stand by my comment. Sliter captivates his audience with realistic and well-rounded characters as they pass through struggle after struggle, both internal and external. Even his secondary characters have authentic lives and emotions to split readers’ allegiances.
Additionally, his plot is intricate to the point where readers have no clue of what will happen next–a great ploy to use when the characters are about to walk into a trap. Sliter has mastered the cliffhanger one-liners that pepper his novels, most notably at the end of chapters. Just when I start to get comfortable with where the story is going, it changes and I am left hanging in the air, nothing below my feet–just like the characters. As a result, the reader is left in a constant state of suspense, never able to put down the book for want of figuring out–in the words of detective Columbo–just one more question. It absolutely enthralled me through many a late night, as I told myself I’d read just one more chapter… then finally, resignedly, going to bed eight chapters later.
Although there are some editing errors–a misname here, a mispelled word there, Sliter’s style makes up for it. The writing is both beautiful and coarse, just as his world and characters are, full of witticisms and subtle insults. And perhaps I am more attuned to errors being an English teacher. In fact, I’ll wager most of the (infrequent) errors will go unnoticed by most readers.
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February 11, 2021
So far sooo good - and sooo bloody good indeed. Michael’s storytelling improves page after page. His characters twist and turn like a piece of clay in the hands of a child - constantly poking, extending exploring the wet clay - the human soul. Thank you Michael and Fenrir and Emma and all of you wonderfull creations for this journey that just gets better and better - like life...
January 19, 2023
See my stop on the book tour for this book ft. some amazing art at: https://www.tumblr.com/fairrryprose/7...
Magic, family, politics, war, false gods and goddesses make for this potent concoction of a deftly-written epic fantasy.
This book picks up right where Solace Lost (book 1) ends off, and is so much more expansive of the world and the characters and the magic, with the stakes ramped up and more personal, more action and immersiveness. We again follow the different characters -- the jaded Fenrir, the mage Merigold, the warrior Hafgan, the army commander Emma -- each on their own journeys through the story, which start to converge as the story progresses, and we have them more fleshed out, getting to learn more of their backstories. New characters are introduced, old ones re-introduced, and the world is getting more expansive as we move beyond the borders of Ardia, and we learn more about its lore.
The story is told in chapters from the different characters' POVs interspersed with these 'interlogues' which delve more into world's mythological lore from the mouth of a goddess herself. This tale we are regaled with add suspense and intrigue, right up to the very end.
I was thrilled to be learning more about each character, and especially the magic, which we were introduced to in book 1 with Merigold and her tenuous but growing grasp of it, with Merigold learning how to harness her power to reach greater and greater potentials, and how the magic works, and other (intriguing!) mages are introduced too. There is more action, more blood, more everything, and I think that's what makes this a great, exciting, immersive sequel of a book!
Magic, family, politics, war, false gods and goddesses make for this potent concoction of a deftly-written epic fantasy.
This book picks up right where Solace Lost (book 1) ends off, and is so much more expansive of the world and the characters and the magic, with the stakes ramped up and more personal, more action and immersiveness. We again follow the different characters -- the jaded Fenrir, the mage Merigold, the warrior Hafgan, the army commander Emma -- each on their own journeys through the story, which start to converge as the story progresses, and we have them more fleshed out, getting to learn more of their backstories. New characters are introduced, old ones re-introduced, and the world is getting more expansive as we move beyond the borders of Ardia, and we learn more about its lore.
The story is told in chapters from the different characters' POVs interspersed with these 'interlogues' which delve more into world's mythological lore from the mouth of a goddess herself. This tale we are regaled with add suspense and intrigue, right up to the very end.
I was thrilled to be learning more about each character, and especially the magic, which we were introduced to in book 1 with Merigold and her tenuous but growing grasp of it, with Merigold learning how to harness her power to reach greater and greater potentials, and how the magic works, and other (intriguing!) mages are introduced too. There is more action, more blood, more everything, and I think that's what makes this a great, exciting, immersive sequel of a book!
October 24, 2024
One of those books where half stars are rounded up, good enough to continue the series, but not outstanding.
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