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Threadlight #2
Stones of Light
Stones of Light continues the story begun in Voice of War, the multi-award-winning start to the Threadlight series.
FEAR THE ROSES. FEAR THE LIGHT.
Chrys swore to never again let the Apogee take control but, in a moment of desperation, he gave in. Now, he will learn what the Apogee truly wants.
In Alchea, Laurel will do anything to get her threadlight back, even if it means working for the leader of the Bloodthieves. But she has no choice...a life without threadlight is no life at all.
To the west, Alverax travels with the Zeda people to the large port city of Felia, where they seek refuge after the fires in the Fairenwild. But he shattered the coreseal, and no one quite knows what the consequences will be. They only know it won't be good.
Together, they changed the world—now, they must save it.
FEAR THE ROSES. FEAR THE LIGHT.
Chrys swore to never again let the Apogee take control but, in a moment of desperation, he gave in. Now, he will learn what the Apogee truly wants.
In Alchea, Laurel will do anything to get her threadlight back, even if it means working for the leader of the Bloodthieves. But she has no choice...a life without threadlight is no life at all.
To the west, Alverax travels with the Zeda people to the large port city of Felia, where they seek refuge after the fires in the Fairenwild. But he shattered the coreseal, and no one quite knows what the consequences will be. They only know it won't be good.
Together, they changed the world—now, they must save it.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2021
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April 6, 2024
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great sequel. In Stones of Light, Argyle maintained the consistency of quality in his storytelling.
As I always say, Threadlight trilogy by Zack Argyle is a relatively popular fantasy series in the indie fantasy community. From what I gathered and observed, the vital reasons behind this are the second and third books in the trilogy, Stones of Light and Bonds of Chaos. These two books have garnered positive reviews from fantasy readers who read through the entire trilogy. And I can understand this. However, from my point of view, I do think Stones of Light was as good as Voice of War. This isn’t to discredit the improvement Argyle implemented in several sections of Stones of Light, but more to establish my point that, in my opinion, Voice of War is quite underrated. If anything, both Voice of War and Stones of Light exhibited Argyle’s efficient storytelling at work again, making both of them equally entertaining and engaging for readers who crave a shorter fantasy series with enough impact and emotions.
I mentioned in my review of Voice of War that Chrys Valerian’s storyline was my favorite to read, and that statement holds up well here. The storyline of all three main POV characters continues immediately from where Voice of War ended, and I highly enjoyed reading how Argyle made sure the theme of parenthood, family, and love still shines through in Chrys’s chapters despite him being (mostly) away from everyone in Stones of Light. I also found Willow Valerian to be an endearing character. Willow didn't even make a lot of appearance per se, but those who have read this book will understand why I think so. The scene I am thinking of refers to Willow’s explosive display of courage and affection toward Chrys. It was incredibly well-placed. But as much as I enjoyed reading Chrys’s page-turning chapters and learning more about the Heralds and the lore of the world, it won't be accurate to say I was the most impressed with Chrys’s POV chapters in Stones of Light.
Picture: My Son is Mine By Randy Vargas.
Alverax was the biggest pleasant surprise of Stones of Light for me. I did not expect he would grow to become such a great character in this one book. The themes of redemption, sacrifice, and virtue are evoked through his actions and mindset. Some harsh events happened in his storyline, and the utility of his magic in the face of danger was fun to read. By the time I finished Stones of Light, I can safely say I was equally engrossed in reading the storyline of Chrys and Alverax. I cannot even choose which one I like more between the two now. And with this positive review so far, you might be wondering why I did not give Stones of Light an improved rating compared to Voice of War. Well, the answer is in the next character.
Picture: The Sun Palace by Hoang Lap
Unfortunately, I couldn't click with Laurel's POV chapters. Except her final chapters. We are two books into the trilogy now, and yet, compared to Chrys and Alverax, Laurel's storyline just felt unsatisfying. She hasn't developed a lot as a character, and her predicaments, for whatever reason, did not feel as tension-packed compared to the other main characters. It also needs to be mentioned that Laurel did not receive as much exposure and spotlight as Chrys and Alverax did. Honestly, I did wish Stones of Light was a bit longer so Laurel could get more room to develop. I am sure this is super subjective, though. I have no doubt other readers will, and can, easily feel different about this.
Do not let my feelings on Laurel’s story stop you from reading Threadlight trilogy. This was a minor issue in the grander scheme of things. As I said earlier, Laurel’s story improved significantly at the end of Stones of Light. This is caused by the convergence of the characters at Felia. The climax sequence of Stones of Light was unputdownable. Reading how the characters and storyline connected in the last few chapters of Stones of Light, which you can dub as mini-Sanderlance, was intense. You can tell that every page in this novel was, in a way, dedicated to making the ending memorable. I had such a wonderful time reading the climax sequence of Stones of Light, and I believe the ending of this book has prepared everything for the rewarding conclusion in Bonds of Chaos.
Overall, Stones of Light was another splendid installment in the Threadlight trilogy. I have high hopes that Bonds of Chaos will become the finest of the trilogy, and I am excited to find out about the reality of that prediction soon this month. Lastly, I need to put an emphasis, once again, on how suitable Threadlight trilogy is for readers of Sanderson's Mistborn and Stormlight Archive books who want to experience a more compact version of it.
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Allana, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew S, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Bev, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Cullen, Dan, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Rue, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
This was a great sequel. In Stones of Light, Argyle maintained the consistency of quality in his storytelling.
"It's like comparing granite to clay. The clay may take shape more easily, but the granite, once you've chiseled it into place, is so much stronger. For some people, motherhood comes more easily. For others, it takes a hammer and chisel. No one is made for motherhood. Motherhood is made for you. Some of us aren't so lucky."
As I always say, Threadlight trilogy by Zack Argyle is a relatively popular fantasy series in the indie fantasy community. From what I gathered and observed, the vital reasons behind this are the second and third books in the trilogy, Stones of Light and Bonds of Chaos. These two books have garnered positive reviews from fantasy readers who read through the entire trilogy. And I can understand this. However, from my point of view, I do think Stones of Light was as good as Voice of War. This isn’t to discredit the improvement Argyle implemented in several sections of Stones of Light, but more to establish my point that, in my opinion, Voice of War is quite underrated. If anything, both Voice of War and Stones of Light exhibited Argyle’s efficient storytelling at work again, making both of them equally entertaining and engaging for readers who crave a shorter fantasy series with enough impact and emotions.
“From his earliest memories, Chrys thought he knew how much his mother loved him. She’d provided for him, mentored him, supported him. But it wasn’t until his own son was born that he’d realized the true power of paternal love. Chrys had given up everything to protect Aydin. He would do it all again. And now, standing in front of him with ratty hair and clothes painted with dirt, Willow Valerian had done the same.”
I mentioned in my review of Voice of War that Chrys Valerian’s storyline was my favorite to read, and that statement holds up well here. The storyline of all three main POV characters continues immediately from where Voice of War ended, and I highly enjoyed reading how Argyle made sure the theme of parenthood, family, and love still shines through in Chrys’s chapters despite him being (mostly) away from everyone in Stones of Light. I also found Willow Valerian to be an endearing character. Willow didn't even make a lot of appearance per se, but those who have read this book will understand why I think so. The scene I am thinking of refers to Willow’s explosive display of courage and affection toward Chrys. It was incredibly well-placed. But as much as I enjoyed reading Chrys’s page-turning chapters and learning more about the Heralds and the lore of the world, it won't be accurate to say I was the most impressed with Chrys’s POV chapters in Stones of Light.
Picture: My Son is Mine By Randy Vargas.
“Once again, Alverax found himself in shackles; it was what the son of a thief deserved. He sat on cold stone with his eyes covered, thinking about his journey. Life had taught him brutal lessons, but one lesson most of all. Hope is a sham. A trick of the mind. Hope is opening your eyes at dusk and believing it is dawn. His life—he'd decided—was a setting sun.”
Alverax was the biggest pleasant surprise of Stones of Light for me. I did not expect he would grow to become such a great character in this one book. The themes of redemption, sacrifice, and virtue are evoked through his actions and mindset. Some harsh events happened in his storyline, and the utility of his magic in the face of danger was fun to read. By the time I finished Stones of Light, I can safely say I was equally engrossed in reading the storyline of Chrys and Alverax. I cannot even choose which one I like more between the two now. And with this positive review so far, you might be wondering why I did not give Stones of Light an improved rating compared to Voice of War. Well, the answer is in the next character.
Picture: The Sun Palace by Hoang Lap
“I don’t know what you’ve done in the past, but I do know this. The choices we make when no one is watching bear more weight than the choices that are forced upon us.”
Unfortunately, I couldn't click with Laurel's POV chapters. Except her final chapters. We are two books into the trilogy now, and yet, compared to Chrys and Alverax, Laurel's storyline just felt unsatisfying. She hasn't developed a lot as a character, and her predicaments, for whatever reason, did not feel as tension-packed compared to the other main characters. It also needs to be mentioned that Laurel did not receive as much exposure and spotlight as Chrys and Alverax did. Honestly, I did wish Stones of Light was a bit longer so Laurel could get more room to develop. I am sure this is super subjective, though. I have no doubt other readers will, and can, easily feel different about this.
“We all make mistakes. Your past only defines a single trodden path, but who you are here, and now, in this very moment, is another path filled with infinite possibility.”
Do not let my feelings on Laurel’s story stop you from reading Threadlight trilogy. This was a minor issue in the grander scheme of things. As I said earlier, Laurel’s story improved significantly at the end of Stones of Light. This is caused by the convergence of the characters at Felia. The climax sequence of Stones of Light was unputdownable. Reading how the characters and storyline connected in the last few chapters of Stones of Light, which you can dub as mini-Sanderlance, was intense. You can tell that every page in this novel was, in a way, dedicated to making the ending memorable. I had such a wonderful time reading the climax sequence of Stones of Light, and I believe the ending of this book has prepared everything for the rewarding conclusion in Bonds of Chaos.
“I am He-who-does-not-cower. If all the enemies in the world—be they wastelander or ataçan or worse—came to claim him, he would stand and fight. He would resist with every last breath within him, and, when he was at the edge of death, he would spit fire with his final breath. If they wanted a fight, he would make them pay.”
Overall, Stones of Light was another splendid installment in the Threadlight trilogy. I have high hopes that Bonds of Chaos will become the finest of the trilogy, and I am excited to find out about the reality of that prediction soon this month. Lastly, I need to put an emphasis, once again, on how suitable Threadlight trilogy is for readers of Sanderson's Mistborn and Stormlight Archive books who want to experience a more compact version of it.
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Allana, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew S, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Bev, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Cullen, Dan, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Rue, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
April 4, 2021
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Happy Publication day to this book!!
ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review
Voice of War ★★★★
Stones of Light ★★★★★
If you talk to my friend David, he would tell you that I never give 5 stars rating. And if you check Goodreads you will see that I read 677 books up to the moment I am writing this and I gave 55 books of these 5 stars which is 8%. (Including the 4.5 stars that I round up) I think it is a pretty good percentage and I confess that I am not the easiest to please but the reason I don’t give 5 stars easily is because I save it for books like Stones of Light that I think are perfect or as close to that as possible.
As I mentioned in my previous review, the reason why my interest in this series increased is the cover change it got and specially the cover of this book. I am in love with the style, the colors and that cool chromawolf on the cover. It even enhances an already good story in my opinion. So hats off to Ömer Burak Önal who is the cover illustrator. I can’t wait to see the cover of book three and I think it is gonna be Alverax cover so I am very excited for that!
I don’t want to get into the traditional publishing VS self publishing discussion. I am a big supporter of self published books and many of my 5 stars are for books belonging to this category. I think it is up to authors to publish whatever way they see fit but readers who don’t read self-published books are really missing out a lot of hidden gems! I also mentioned in my last review that this is a simple book and I meant it as a praise because the story is complex and it certainly has a depth into it but I meant that the way it was presented makes it easy and simple to read so kudos for Argyle for achieving that!
Guys, I am in love with Argyle’s writing! I am not kidding but this is one of the books that I highlighted the most paragraphs in -Specially given the fact that it is under 400 pages-. I think the way things are presented or foreshadowed and even how we get to discover the world is very smart and the prose is beautiful. I don’t know how to explain this but there were some really nice quotes, some wisdom there without being preachy and without going purple. I am gonna add more quotes to this review and I think you will understand what I mean then.
I am gonna dive into the character section next and I think it will contain spoiler for the first book so if you haven’t read it skip this section if you don’t wanna be spoiled! But in short, I loved the characters growth in this book, I loved how they started in book 1 and ended by the end of it and then change again in this book. The story still retains the three main point of views but we also got some minor views such as Iriel, Alabella, Luther and others.
Argyle took a page out of Daft Punk’s book and made this book harder, better, faster, stronger that it is predecessor. The world building gets much more explored, many things get an explanation and the magic system despite its simplicity proves to be wonderful and creative! Even the title of the book makes much more sense now that I think about it.
I did not have problems with the pacing of the last book although I can understand the risk the author has taken when introducing a certain character late. In this one, things were much more balanced, it was fast and there were surprises and explanations and myths explored throughout the book so there were no dull moments. The second half has more chapters so it may give the illusion of being faster but I thought it was perfectly based!
I don’t think I have criticism this time, many of the things that I wished would happen already happened and everything else I really enjoyed. I thought this was a duology but it is a trilogy which before reading this made me kind of sad (We need more duologies in the bookish world) but after finishing the book makes me super excited because I want more of this world. The problem is that I have high expectations now and I really want book three to keep the level of this one or even top it. The author tweeted that book three will be more epic and I can’t imagine how things will go but I know I am super excited for it!
Summary: I really enjoyed Stones of Light and I am so glad I was one of its first readers. I loved the writing and I wished my family members were readers because I wanted to gush to someone about it but couldn’t. Most of the characters are left the opposite of what we knew them in the first book so it was great seeing what will do in this book and they all showed immense growth. The plot and pacing and the stakes were bigger in this one. I don’t have criticism and that’s why it deserved its place on my 5 stars shelf. I can’t wait for book three and I hope it lives up to my expectations.
Happy Publication day to this book!!
ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review
Voice of War ★★★★
Stones of Light ★★★★★
“The only difference between the living and the dead is that the dead are done changing. The moment you die, your life and your legacy are fixed in stone. He told me that the best way to grieve the dead is by using the gift of life to make yourself a better man.”
If you talk to my friend David, he would tell you that I never give 5 stars rating. And if you check Goodreads you will see that I read 677 books up to the moment I am writing this and I gave 55 books of these 5 stars which is 8%. (Including the 4.5 stars that I round up) I think it is a pretty good percentage and I confess that I am not the easiest to please but the reason I don’t give 5 stars easily is because I save it for books like Stones of Light that I think are perfect or as close to that as possible.
As I mentioned in my previous review, the reason why my interest in this series increased is the cover change it got and specially the cover of this book. I am in love with the style, the colors and that cool chromawolf on the cover. It even enhances an already good story in my opinion. So hats off to Ömer Burak Önal who is the cover illustrator. I can’t wait to see the cover of book three and I think it is gonna be Alverax cover so I am very excited for that!
I don’t want to get into the traditional publishing VS self publishing discussion. I am a big supporter of self published books and many of my 5 stars are for books belonging to this category. I think it is up to authors to publish whatever way they see fit but readers who don’t read self-published books are really missing out a lot of hidden gems! I also mentioned in my last review that this is a simple book and I meant it as a praise because the story is complex and it certainly has a depth into it but I meant that the way it was presented makes it easy and simple to read so kudos for Argyle for achieving that!
“Accept it or not,” the old man replied. “Truth is not dependent on your acceptance of it.”
Guys, I am in love with Argyle’s writing! I am not kidding but this is one of the books that I highlighted the most paragraphs in -Specially given the fact that it is under 400 pages-. I think the way things are presented or foreshadowed and even how we get to discover the world is very smart and the prose is beautiful. I don’t know how to explain this but there were some really nice quotes, some wisdom there without being preachy and without going purple. I am gonna add more quotes to this review and I think you will understand what I mean then.
I am gonna dive into the character section next and I think it will contain spoiler for the first book so if you haven’t read it skip this section if you don’t wanna be spoiled! But in short, I loved the characters growth in this book, I loved how they started in book 1 and ended by the end of it and then change again in this book. The story still retains the three main point of views but we also got some minor views such as Iriel, Alabella, Luther and others.
“Chrys was a husband, a father, a threadweaver, a warrior, but in each of these things he had fallen short.”
Argyle took a page out of Daft Punk’s book and made this book harder, better, faster, stronger that it is predecessor. The world building gets much more explored, many things get an explanation and the magic system despite its simplicity proves to be wonderful and creative! Even the title of the book makes much more sense now that I think about it.
I did not have problems with the pacing of the last book although I can understand the risk the author has taken when introducing a certain character late. In this one, things were much more balanced, it was fast and there were surprises and explanations and myths explored throughout the book so there were no dull moments. The second half has more chapters so it may give the illusion of being faster but I thought it was perfectly based!
I don’t think I have criticism this time, many of the things that I wished would happen already happened and everything else I really enjoyed. I thought this was a duology but it is a trilogy which before reading this made me kind of sad (We need more duologies in the bookish world) but after finishing the book makes me super excited because I want more of this world. The problem is that I have high expectations now and I really want book three to keep the level of this one or even top it. The author tweeted that book three will be more epic and I can’t imagine how things will go but I know I am super excited for it!
“Mocking others’ appearance is the lowest form of humor. If a man is cruel, speak of his cruelty. If a man is vain, speak of his vanity. Physicality plays no part in the morality of men.”
Summary: I really enjoyed Stones of Light and I am so glad I was one of its first readers. I loved the writing and I wished my family members were readers because I wanted to gush to someone about it but couldn’t. Most of the characters are left the opposite of what we knew them in the first book so it was great seeing what will do in this book and they all showed immense growth. The plot and pacing and the stakes were bigger in this one. I don’t have criticism and that’s why it deserved its place on my 5 stars shelf. I can’t wait for book three and I hope it lives up to my expectations.
August 4, 2022
What a brilliant sequel!
While I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading Voice of War, reading this book almost felt like it was written by another author. Argyle’s prose, characterisations, world-building and storytelling are a considerable step-up in every way. The plot is much more intricate and complex, while the stakes are raised to another level.
However, what really makes this book SO GOOD is the pacing. Every chapter added something new to the story, such as character growth or world-building. At only 350 pages, Stones of Light felt like an incredibly fast-paced yet rewarding read. It is actually quite astounding how much world-building has been done in such “few” pages. It is truly a unique skill to get the reader to understand how the magic system, gods, locations, tribes and animals all fit together, but Argyle pulls it off.
In addition to improved storytelling, this book has almost all of my favourite tropes. Stones of Light is a coming-of-age story with the found family trope, great redemption arcs, scheming gods, pet companion tropes, magic and MORE! Argyle also masterfully analyses themes such as loyalty, family, living for a higher purpose and sacrifice. Argyle manages to tick all the boxes that make a fantasy story great!
Consequently, Argyle has included a “story so far” section to help the reader understand what happened in Voice of War. While this is a minor criticism, I wished this summary had been a bit more extensive, but I won’t complain! Well done, Argyle, for including a “story so far” section.
My only criticism is that I still want more explanation about this world. While Stones of Light is a considerable step-up in world-building, I still have questions about the gods, the world’s history and the magic system. However, I am confident that Argyle will answer all my remaining questions in Bonds of Chaos!
If you are looking for a story with a magic system similar to Mistborn but has the pace of a John Gwynne novel, pick up the Threadlight series. Threadlight is a brilliant self-published fantasy series with terrific characters, a magic system and themes! I can’t wait to see how this series will conclude.
4.5 / 5 stars
Thanks to my Patreon's Erin, Peturios, Blake, Mel, Melissa and Áron Sofus!
While I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading Voice of War, reading this book almost felt like it was written by another author. Argyle’s prose, characterisations, world-building and storytelling are a considerable step-up in every way. The plot is much more intricate and complex, while the stakes are raised to another level.
However, what really makes this book SO GOOD is the pacing. Every chapter added something new to the story, such as character growth or world-building. At only 350 pages, Stones of Light felt like an incredibly fast-paced yet rewarding read. It is actually quite astounding how much world-building has been done in such “few” pages. It is truly a unique skill to get the reader to understand how the magic system, gods, locations, tribes and animals all fit together, but Argyle pulls it off.
In addition to improved storytelling, this book has almost all of my favourite tropes. Stones of Light is a coming-of-age story with the found family trope, great redemption arcs, scheming gods, pet companion tropes, magic and MORE! Argyle also masterfully analyses themes such as loyalty, family, living for a higher purpose and sacrifice. Argyle manages to tick all the boxes that make a fantasy story great!
Consequently, Argyle has included a “story so far” section to help the reader understand what happened in Voice of War. While this is a minor criticism, I wished this summary had been a bit more extensive, but I won’t complain! Well done, Argyle, for including a “story so far” section.
My only criticism is that I still want more explanation about this world. While Stones of Light is a considerable step-up in world-building, I still have questions about the gods, the world’s history and the magic system. However, I am confident that Argyle will answer all my remaining questions in Bonds of Chaos!
If you are looking for a story with a magic system similar to Mistborn but has the pace of a John Gwynne novel, pick up the Threadlight series. Threadlight is a brilliant self-published fantasy series with terrific characters, a magic system and themes! I can’t wait to see how this series will conclude.
4.5 / 5 stars
Thanks to my Patreon's Erin, Peturios, Blake, Mel, Melissa and Áron Sofus!
May 8, 2023
2.5, but rounded up. Eager to see if the last book in the trilogy clears some things up, but overall feeling pretty indifferent.
June 7, 2023
In a word, an extraordinary book. The author managed to improve all the elements of the first book and to keep me breathless until the end. I can't wait for the third book to appear. One of the best series read this year.
November 24, 2021
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up
Stones of Light is a fantastic fantasy sequel offering well-developed characters (including several women), an interesting magic system, unexpected twists, and a story that will keep you turning the pages. The story picks up where Voice of War left off, characters in complicated and dangerous circumstances, with the fate of the world in play.
Honestly while there are a few plot conveniences and a death that lacked the emotional resonance it could have had, I'm pretty impressed with this book as an indie fantasy story. It's a definite step up from the authors debut (which I still quite liked) and it's a narrative that manages to be fun and exciting, but also thoughtful. It's not often that a book like this makes me stop and think about a line I just read and and there were a few instances of that here. Things that ring true and subvert what you often see in fantasy, especially written by male authors. And it's little stuff, like the depiction of Iriel's experience with the exhaustion and anxiety of being a new mom, or a moment where Alverax is called out on his fatphobic jokes, or having a scene where the hero is a middle-aged mother. There was also this great line that I actually saved in my phone:
"Luther snarled and set his feet, gripping the blade as he'd been taught. Like holding a woman's hand. Tight enough for conviction; loose enough for trust." I mean....yes. That's perfect.
It's clear that a lot of thought went into the way this story was told and framed. All of the primary characters, several women included, are fully realized individuals, not stereotypes or props. Characters learn and grow, even in the midst of danger. The plot really opens up the world, the stakes get higher, and we learn more about the magic system and the lore. Like I said, there are a few things that felt a little contrived to serve the plot, and there was a death near the end that I think was meant to hit hard, but didn't because there wasn't adequate time for that character and their relationships to others to be developed. That said, I don't think any of that is uncommon for a newer writer and will improve with time. This is a pretty damn good book and fun to read. Would definitely recommend it. The audio narrator is incredible as well. He nails the performance and voices for characters, it's truly a pleasure to listen to. That said, there's a lot to follow so I found it best to frequently read along with the ebook, especially when things got complicated. I received an audio copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
Stones of Light is a fantastic fantasy sequel offering well-developed characters (including several women), an interesting magic system, unexpected twists, and a story that will keep you turning the pages. The story picks up where Voice of War left off, characters in complicated and dangerous circumstances, with the fate of the world in play.
Honestly while there are a few plot conveniences and a death that lacked the emotional resonance it could have had, I'm pretty impressed with this book as an indie fantasy story. It's a definite step up from the authors debut (which I still quite liked) and it's a narrative that manages to be fun and exciting, but also thoughtful. It's not often that a book like this makes me stop and think about a line I just read and and there were a few instances of that here. Things that ring true and subvert what you often see in fantasy, especially written by male authors. And it's little stuff, like the depiction of Iriel's experience with the exhaustion and anxiety of being a new mom, or a moment where Alverax is called out on his fatphobic jokes, or having a scene where the hero is a middle-aged mother. There was also this great line that I actually saved in my phone:
"Luther snarled and set his feet, gripping the blade as he'd been taught. Like holding a woman's hand. Tight enough for conviction; loose enough for trust." I mean....yes. That's perfect.
It's clear that a lot of thought went into the way this story was told and framed. All of the primary characters, several women included, are fully realized individuals, not stereotypes or props. Characters learn and grow, even in the midst of danger. The plot really opens up the world, the stakes get higher, and we learn more about the magic system and the lore. Like I said, there are a few things that felt a little contrived to serve the plot, and there was a death near the end that I think was meant to hit hard, but didn't because there wasn't adequate time for that character and their relationships to others to be developed. That said, I don't think any of that is uncommon for a newer writer and will improve with time. This is a pretty damn good book and fun to read. Would definitely recommend it. The audio narrator is incredible as well. He nails the performance and voices for characters, it's truly a pleasure to listen to. That said, there's a lot to follow so I found it best to frequently read along with the ebook, especially when things got complicated. I received an audio copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
November 10, 2021
First of all, check out that cover!! Damn.
This book is better than its predecessor in every single way. Some intense stuff went down at the end of Voice of War, and it really allowed the opening up of the world and characters. I'm surprised at how much Argyle is able to fit into a pretty small (350ish pages) book. SoL once again follows three POVs, and my biggest complaint about the first book was POV layout related- but this time I was equally invested in all three.
Chrys is the focus of book 1, but he takes a bit of a backseat here to let Alverax shine. Chrys's POV is instead used to provide more insight into the magic, different cultures, regions, and religions of the world. Laurel's chapters flesh out some of the villain's goals and also deals with some of the mental and physical fallout from book 1. Also...PSYCHIC WOLVES. We need more things with psychic wolves.
I think Argyle really shines when dealing with relationships between characters. My favorite scenes tend to be just two characters bonding over something. I also think it's worth mentioning that he writes very good female characters, something I hear a lot of complaints about regarding male authors. The ending was also explosive and surprised me several times.
My only negatives here are the constant usage of "Stones" as a curse word (wouldn't different people have different curse words? I digress) and that the magic system, while interesting, doesn't make the fight scenes very dynamic. It's not a very combat heavy book, though, so this wasn't a big deal.
9.5/10
This book is better than its predecessor in every single way. Some intense stuff went down at the end of Voice of War, and it really allowed the opening up of the world and characters. I'm surprised at how much Argyle is able to fit into a pretty small (350ish pages) book. SoL once again follows three POVs, and my biggest complaint about the first book was POV layout related- but this time I was equally invested in all three.
Chrys is the focus of book 1, but he takes a bit of a backseat here to let Alverax shine. Chrys's POV is instead used to provide more insight into the magic, different cultures, regions, and religions of the world. Laurel's chapters flesh out some of the villain's goals and also deals with some of the mental and physical fallout from book 1. Also...PSYCHIC WOLVES. We need more things with psychic wolves.
I think Argyle really shines when dealing with relationships between characters. My favorite scenes tend to be just two characters bonding over something. I also think it's worth mentioning that he writes very good female characters, something I hear a lot of complaints about regarding male authors. The ending was also explosive and surprised me several times.
My only negatives here are the constant usage of "Stones" as a curse word (wouldn't different people have different curse words? I digress) and that the magic system, while interesting, doesn't make the fight scenes very dynamic. It's not a very combat heavy book, though, so this wasn't a big deal.
9.5/10
March 1, 2022
Bigger. Better. More mysterious. Does everything you'd want in a sequel including compelling you to want the conclusion ASAP.
Full Video Review
Full Video Review
April 11, 2021
Beware of spoilers!!
How does one review a sequel whilst not spoiling either book? I will try my best BUT like I said previously beware.
After the events of book 1 Voice of War our cast of characters Chrys, Laurel and Alverax have been through a lot and now well continue to go through a lot in Stones of Light.
Chrys is battling to gain control of himself, the voice in his head turning to be something much worse than what he ever could imagine. Witnessing himself do and say such horrific acts. To find out that isn't him but a "god" named Relek
Laurel, is now an achromatic, having lost her ability to control threadlight and now at the hands of Alabella the head of the bloodtheives.
Alverax, the only obsidian threadweaver is now with Zeda people in the city of Felia to ask for protection and shelter after their land was burnt to the ground by the bloodtheives.
As much as I enjoyed the first of this series I was not surprised to like this one even more so. My jaw hung open at so many points I was so engrossed, shocked, disturbed and awed.
Can we talk for a minute on how much DARKER Stones of Light is?? Those corespawn attacks? The whole concept of them? An invisible viscous attacker!!
We learn a lot about threadlight and how it's created.
The theoliths and coreseals.
The wastelander gods, siblings who are bent on control and destruction.
The Hearlds
So much going on.
We meet new characters, the Empress of Felia and her sister The Mistress of Mercy, who await the return of the Hearlds.
That end.
I can not wait for book 3!!
I completely understand that my thoughts are all over the place, because quite literately I just finished the book and sometimes a bookish ramble? Babble? Is what is needed. Clearly that shows how incredibly wonderful the story is that I couldn't wait to forum thoughts I just dived into the pool.
Please read this series, you really will not be disappointed.
*Thank you Zack for giving me a copy for review.
This review any many others can be found on my blog I Can Has Books?
How does one review a sequel whilst not spoiling either book? I will try my best BUT like I said previously beware.
After the events of book 1 Voice of War our cast of characters Chrys, Laurel and Alverax have been through a lot and now well continue to go through a lot in Stones of Light.
Chrys is battling to gain control of himself, the voice in his head turning to be something much worse than what he ever could imagine. Witnessing himself do and say such horrific acts. To find out that isn't him but a "god" named Relek
Laurel, is now an achromatic, having lost her ability to control threadlight and now at the hands of Alabella the head of the bloodtheives.
Alverax, the only obsidian threadweaver is now with Zeda people in the city of Felia to ask for protection and shelter after their land was burnt to the ground by the bloodtheives.
As much as I enjoyed the first of this series I was not surprised to like this one even more so. My jaw hung open at so many points I was so engrossed, shocked, disturbed and awed.
Can we talk for a minute on how much DARKER Stones of Light is?? Those corespawn attacks? The whole concept of them? An invisible viscous attacker!!
We learn a lot about threadlight and how it's created.
The theoliths and coreseals.
The wastelander gods, siblings who are bent on control and destruction.
The Hearlds
So much going on.
We meet new characters, the Empress of Felia and her sister The Mistress of Mercy, who await the return of the Hearlds.
That end.
I can not wait for book 3!!
I completely understand that my thoughts are all over the place, because quite literately I just finished the book and sometimes a bookish ramble? Babble? Is what is needed. Clearly that shows how incredibly wonderful the story is that I couldn't wait to forum thoughts I just dived into the pool.
Please read this series, you really will not be disappointed.
*Thank you Zack for giving me a copy for review.
This review any many others can be found on my blog I Can Has Books?
March 20, 2022
Award-winning fantasy author, SPFBO/BBYNA Finalist, and winner at Indies Today Best Fantasy, Zack Argyle has become a darling in Indie fantasy circles. Racking up tons of glowing reviews, to accompany the numerous awards, his debut novel "Voice of War" put him firmly on the map, big-time, as an author to watch.
Now, the sequel, "Stones of Light", in my opinion, has catapulted him into must-read territory for those who love fantasy. I read "Stones of Light" as one of the books in my #MarchoftheSequels reading month, and boy was it incredible!
The story continues, right where "Voice of War" left off. Argyle takes the reader back to the continent of Arasin, where things have turned disastrous. The Apogee is finally free, and that means there will be pain, blood, and death. Chrys Valerian, the main protagonist from the previous book, devoted father and husband, and former Alchean High General, has lost control over the malevolent spirit that has lurked hidden in him, biding its time, waiting to break out, for some time.
Chrys let the Apogee take over in order to save his family and innocent people, but the intended consequences have wrought the opposite effect. Now the Apogee is ready to rampage, kill anyone who stands in his way, and find his way back to his origins, taking Chrys unwillingly along for the ride, and further away from Chrys' wife Iriel and son Aydin, whom he treasures above all else.
Grieving over the separation from his family, and wracked with guilt for abandoning them, Chrys will have to summon all his courage and fortitude to face what the Apogee has in store for him, and being able to live so he might have a hope of reuniting with Iriel and Aydin one day.
Laurel, meanwhile, the former Fairenwild runaway and threadlight addict, after nearly dying of a grievous injury, has lost her ability to command the potent magic. Recovering from her wound, she is completely despondent. But Sarla, a scientist and associate of the leader of the Bloodthieves - the scheming and dangerous Alabella - inserts herself in Laurel's life. Laurel, in her desperation to regain her talent, is willing to risk death, just to feel the threadlight coursing through her veins, and be able to harness it, as she had in the past.
Alverax, once of Cynosure, the mysterious character the reader only had a limited and late introduction to in "Voice of War", also returns in "Stones of Light", in a much more significant role. After the battle in the Fairenwild, the former Bloodthief turned hero, accompanies the Zeda clan, along with Iriel and Aydin, as refugees to Felia, seeking a new home. There, danger, intrigue, seemingly a startling new destiny, and massive responsibilities that the last Obsidian threadweaver may not be ready to bear, await him.
Argyle does an amazing job with characterization in this novel, and I loved how he teased out much more in terms of the attributes of primary characters in this book compared to the previous installment. Laurel, in particular, who is probably the most unlikable (and interesting), to me, of the three leads, got some great scenes in this book that really emphasized her complexities. And Alverax, whose character obviously had big things in store, but we didn't quite know "what" big things, was far more relevant in this book.
We get some great new tertiary characters, like Roshaw, Jisenna, Relak, Osinan, and the old blind man. Ones that figured prominently in "Voice of War" appear too, like Willow and Luther. All these secondary characters are inserted deftly into the narrative, and based on the ending crafted by Argyle, many of those characters will have HUGE parts in the next book.
The theme of found family, and fighting one's way to rejoin actual family, plays heavily in the book, along with the themes of revenge, and accepting accountability for one's actions. The main characters: Chrys, Laurel, and Alverax, are pushed close to either their physical or emotional limits in this book, past anything the reader previously witnessed them encounter in "Voice of War". What are they willing to do to accomplish their aims, and who are they willing to kill, or to sacrifice - including themselves - to protect those they love?
Argyle's prose may not be baroque but by no means is it trite, and unless one prefers the more ornate variety of writing (I do, but I really enjoy Argyle's prose), I believe many will find it's just right. There were some absolutely beautiful passages and the simplicity and overall readability of the work was marvelous.
"'The world needs hope, and the truth is often at odds. So, for the greater good, we lie, and we say that the world is one way when it is in fact another. But when it brings them hope and gives them reason to live a good life, we pat ourselves on the shoulder. Perhaps, over time, we even begin to believe the lies ourselves, because hope is sweet, and the truth can be quite bitter.'"
The worldbuilding is expertly done, a light touch, but detailed enough to keep you in the location and mood of each respective scene. The magic system and creatures are phenomenal. The chormawolves, corespawn, the wastelanders, and freaking huge monster apes like Xucan were all awesome features. And, have the Heralds - the gods themselves - returned? But it all starts with threadlight, the different types of threadweavers, and the astounding power they wield. I love the intriguing magic system in this series!
The book starts off with a bang, and the action rarely lets up. The pace was absolutely frenetic in especially the second half of the book, as the subplots are meshed together seamlessly into one and all the main characters are in the same orbit. The twists and turns in the plot are breathtaking, as the reader will be nail-biting to see what is coming next.
There are some completely shocking reveals, and true connections come to light, plenty of thrilling battle and action pieces, and get ready to have your heart ripped out, or to cheer at the demise of detested villains. Characters that you care about, and those you despise, WILL die, deservedly or undeservedly. Argyle's knack for making the reader care about his characters has certainly not dissipated from his previous book.
This book is only around 350 pages, and it reads quite fast, but it feels like a bigger book. The writing is clean and tight. Everything is blended so adroitly in Argyle's books: dialogue, exposition, worldbuilding, magic, action, that he can pack what is normally a 600 page book into half that. Argyle has a great formula going, and the proof is that readers are eating it up, the reviewers and bloggers are wowed, and his book releases are highly anticipated.
"Threadlight" is turning out to be a watershed fantasy series. And, although his career is just getting started, when one considers all the accolades already earned, and the quality of his current writing, there is no doubt Argyle has established himself as a bona fide fantasy star with this second book.
The best compliment I can pay to Argyle is that he has ENORMOUS potential as a writer, and the iconic Brandon Sanderson might be the ceiling we are talking about when it comes to how far Argyle could elevate his craft.
I can't wait to see if he achieves those lofty heights (or beyond), and the rest of the fantasy world is also no doubt eagerly waiting to see too.
Now, the sequel, "Stones of Light", in my opinion, has catapulted him into must-read territory for those who love fantasy. I read "Stones of Light" as one of the books in my #MarchoftheSequels reading month, and boy was it incredible!
The story continues, right where "Voice of War" left off. Argyle takes the reader back to the continent of Arasin, where things have turned disastrous. The Apogee is finally free, and that means there will be pain, blood, and death. Chrys Valerian, the main protagonist from the previous book, devoted father and husband, and former Alchean High General, has lost control over the malevolent spirit that has lurked hidden in him, biding its time, waiting to break out, for some time.
Chrys let the Apogee take over in order to save his family and innocent people, but the intended consequences have wrought the opposite effect. Now the Apogee is ready to rampage, kill anyone who stands in his way, and find his way back to his origins, taking Chrys unwillingly along for the ride, and further away from Chrys' wife Iriel and son Aydin, whom he treasures above all else.
Grieving over the separation from his family, and wracked with guilt for abandoning them, Chrys will have to summon all his courage and fortitude to face what the Apogee has in store for him, and being able to live so he might have a hope of reuniting with Iriel and Aydin one day.
Laurel, meanwhile, the former Fairenwild runaway and threadlight addict, after nearly dying of a grievous injury, has lost her ability to command the potent magic. Recovering from her wound, she is completely despondent. But Sarla, a scientist and associate of the leader of the Bloodthieves - the scheming and dangerous Alabella - inserts herself in Laurel's life. Laurel, in her desperation to regain her talent, is willing to risk death, just to feel the threadlight coursing through her veins, and be able to harness it, as she had in the past.
Alverax, once of Cynosure, the mysterious character the reader only had a limited and late introduction to in "Voice of War", also returns in "Stones of Light", in a much more significant role. After the battle in the Fairenwild, the former Bloodthief turned hero, accompanies the Zeda clan, along with Iriel and Aydin, as refugees to Felia, seeking a new home. There, danger, intrigue, seemingly a startling new destiny, and massive responsibilities that the last Obsidian threadweaver may not be ready to bear, await him.
Argyle does an amazing job with characterization in this novel, and I loved how he teased out much more in terms of the attributes of primary characters in this book compared to the previous installment. Laurel, in particular, who is probably the most unlikable (and interesting), to me, of the three leads, got some great scenes in this book that really emphasized her complexities. And Alverax, whose character obviously had big things in store, but we didn't quite know "what" big things, was far more relevant in this book.
We get some great new tertiary characters, like Roshaw, Jisenna, Relak, Osinan, and the old blind man. Ones that figured prominently in "Voice of War" appear too, like Willow and Luther. All these secondary characters are inserted deftly into the narrative, and based on the ending crafted by Argyle, many of those characters will have HUGE parts in the next book.
The theme of found family, and fighting one's way to rejoin actual family, plays heavily in the book, along with the themes of revenge, and accepting accountability for one's actions. The main characters: Chrys, Laurel, and Alverax, are pushed close to either their physical or emotional limits in this book, past anything the reader previously witnessed them encounter in "Voice of War". What are they willing to do to accomplish their aims, and who are they willing to kill, or to sacrifice - including themselves - to protect those they love?
Argyle's prose may not be baroque but by no means is it trite, and unless one prefers the more ornate variety of writing (I do, but I really enjoy Argyle's prose), I believe many will find it's just right. There were some absolutely beautiful passages and the simplicity and overall readability of the work was marvelous.
"'The world needs hope, and the truth is often at odds. So, for the greater good, we lie, and we say that the world is one way when it is in fact another. But when it brings them hope and gives them reason to live a good life, we pat ourselves on the shoulder. Perhaps, over time, we even begin to believe the lies ourselves, because hope is sweet, and the truth can be quite bitter.'"
The worldbuilding is expertly done, a light touch, but detailed enough to keep you in the location and mood of each respective scene. The magic system and creatures are phenomenal. The chormawolves, corespawn, the wastelanders, and freaking huge monster apes like Xucan were all awesome features. And, have the Heralds - the gods themselves - returned? But it all starts with threadlight, the different types of threadweavers, and the astounding power they wield. I love the intriguing magic system in this series!
The book starts off with a bang, and the action rarely lets up. The pace was absolutely frenetic in especially the second half of the book, as the subplots are meshed together seamlessly into one and all the main characters are in the same orbit. The twists and turns in the plot are breathtaking, as the reader will be nail-biting to see what is coming next.
There are some completely shocking reveals, and true connections come to light, plenty of thrilling battle and action pieces, and get ready to have your heart ripped out, or to cheer at the demise of detested villains. Characters that you care about, and those you despise, WILL die, deservedly or undeservedly. Argyle's knack for making the reader care about his characters has certainly not dissipated from his previous book.
This book is only around 350 pages, and it reads quite fast, but it feels like a bigger book. The writing is clean and tight. Everything is blended so adroitly in Argyle's books: dialogue, exposition, worldbuilding, magic, action, that he can pack what is normally a 600 page book into half that. Argyle has a great formula going, and the proof is that readers are eating it up, the reviewers and bloggers are wowed, and his book releases are highly anticipated.
"Threadlight" is turning out to be a watershed fantasy series. And, although his career is just getting started, when one considers all the accolades already earned, and the quality of his current writing, there is no doubt Argyle has established himself as a bona fide fantasy star with this second book.
The best compliment I can pay to Argyle is that he has ENORMOUS potential as a writer, and the iconic Brandon Sanderson might be the ceiling we are talking about when it comes to how far Argyle could elevate his craft.
I can't wait to see if he achieves those lofty heights (or beyond), and the rest of the fantasy world is also no doubt eagerly waiting to see too.
January 7, 2022
Hey there sweet thannngggg!
I am back with another review because your girl here is playing some serious catch up.
It is about time I reviewed this book for Zack! He is an incredibly writer and such a nice chap. I have actually read this book twice, once via paperback and once via audio. Which is FREAKING EXCEPTIONAL.
Anywho, onto the book..
REVIEW:
Here are a few things you can expect from this book…
A book that keeps on getting better;
Brilliant character growth;
Faster pace;
More intense battles; and
Stunning prose!
On to the full review…
This book ticks so many boxes for me it isn’t even fair! Ahh who am I kidding? Of course it is fair because Zack can write!
Let’s start with box number one that has been ticked…THE COVER!
Oh. My. Word. Give me a moment…
This book cover has me thirsting to get into it pages like…mmm, well never mind. Imma keep this PG. Where were we? Oh yes, THE COVER! It is quite literally perfection, not so different to its contents too I might add. The style, its stunning colours and the art itself. It is a fantasy book nerds wet dream. Annnnnd the cover for book three has been revealed to which quite frankly is just as stunning…
I think one of the biggest strengths of this book is that the writing is so accessible. This story has a fairly complex plotline and has several elements that all go their own ways, but these always manage to link back and at no point is the writing or the story overbearing. You can see the work that Zack has put into this book and ensuring it all works coherently. Which is essential considering how much more we learn in Stones of Light. We see more of this incredible world. We witness more of its magic and lore. Zack gives us ALL the goods!
Zack’s writing is also beautiful, it isn’t too flowery, nor is it bland or boring. It falls perfectly on the scale of descriptive. Oh, and if you like highlighting your kindle, chances are you will find several gems in Zack’s writing. There is without doubt lessons to be learnt in this book, which brings me on to the characters because these are all lessons they are facing.
In this instalment we also see more to all of our characters. Each one has grown that much more, even some of the smaller characters have shown delightful growth. I think this goes hand in hand with the increase in pace this book. The characters are constantly moving and being tested, which in turn shows us more of their minds. How they deal with the situations and what their responses are. Their interactions with new people and threats and revisiting those we were teased of in book one!
I think it is safe to say this is another series which shows you just how a second book should be done!
In summary, I loved this book. I read it when it first came out and listened to it when the audio became available and I have to say it gets better with every read!
Now, if you read my review of Voice of War you will know I ADORE Adam Gold’s narration. This still stands, he once again created a masterpiece.
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
I have this and Book One in HB and they are so dang beautiful! I cant wait to get Book Three!
I am back with another review because your girl here is playing some serious catch up.
It is about time I reviewed this book for Zack! He is an incredibly writer and such a nice chap. I have actually read this book twice, once via paperback and once via audio. Which is FREAKING EXCEPTIONAL.
Anywho, onto the book..
REVIEW:
Here are a few things you can expect from this book…
A book that keeps on getting better;
Brilliant character growth;
Faster pace;
More intense battles; and
Stunning prose!
On to the full review…
This book ticks so many boxes for me it isn’t even fair! Ahh who am I kidding? Of course it is fair because Zack can write!
Let’s start with box number one that has been ticked…THE COVER!
Oh. My. Word. Give me a moment…
This book cover has me thirsting to get into it pages like…mmm, well never mind. Imma keep this PG. Where were we? Oh yes, THE COVER! It is quite literally perfection, not so different to its contents too I might add. The style, its stunning colours and the art itself. It is a fantasy book nerds wet dream. Annnnnd the cover for book three has been revealed to which quite frankly is just as stunning…
I think one of the biggest strengths of this book is that the writing is so accessible. This story has a fairly complex plotline and has several elements that all go their own ways, but these always manage to link back and at no point is the writing or the story overbearing. You can see the work that Zack has put into this book and ensuring it all works coherently. Which is essential considering how much more we learn in Stones of Light. We see more of this incredible world. We witness more of its magic and lore. Zack gives us ALL the goods!
Zack’s writing is also beautiful, it isn’t too flowery, nor is it bland or boring. It falls perfectly on the scale of descriptive. Oh, and if you like highlighting your kindle, chances are you will find several gems in Zack’s writing. There is without doubt lessons to be learnt in this book, which brings me on to the characters because these are all lessons they are facing.
In this instalment we also see more to all of our characters. Each one has grown that much more, even some of the smaller characters have shown delightful growth. I think this goes hand in hand with the increase in pace this book. The characters are constantly moving and being tested, which in turn shows us more of their minds. How they deal with the situations and what their responses are. Their interactions with new people and threats and revisiting those we were teased of in book one!
I think it is safe to say this is another series which shows you just how a second book should be done!
In summary, I loved this book. I read it when it first came out and listened to it when the audio became available and I have to say it gets better with every read!
Now, if you read my review of Voice of War you will know I ADORE Adam Gold’s narration. This still stands, he once again created a masterpiece.
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
I have this and Book One in HB and they are so dang beautiful! I cant wait to get Book Three!
February 7, 2023
To be honest I don't normally do this but I purchased multiple books from this series last year. I got to book one just a couple of months ago and decided to work in book two here as I'm trying to get caught up on some of my series I've previously began.
I truly felt Stones of Light was more of the same from Zack, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you enjoyed book one like I did. Where book one introduced us to many of the characters in the world, the second installment gets us deeper into the world and story around them.
I wasn't a huge fan of the storyline of Alverax in the first book and leaned more towards Chrys and Laurel. But this one I felt was more of a balance between the three storylines. Alverax is really coming into his own this time around. Laurel is struggling with seeing the world in a new light and Chrys is right in the thick of things but stumbled onto a huge part of this story and the history of the world we are learning about.
The new connection between Laurel and Asher is interesting and I'm excited to see what comes of this going forward!
The character development continues in Stones of Light. Sure we had quite a dump of information as we first met our characters in book one. But there is still a lot of growth in this one with all three of our protagonists here too. These are not the same characters we were first introduced to at this point.
The pacing is still right up my alley in Stones of Light. So far this series has been very easy, quick and fun to read. I've not had any issues with glaring typos or words I have to constantly look up the definitions. These aren't big heavy books in any sense either. So these give me a really nice break from some of the thicker epics I'm working through.
The world building is also continuing to shine in Stones of Light. (See what I did there?) Honestly I really enjoy what the author has put together in this world. The magic is cool and unique. The creatures and their relationship with our characters is also fascinating. The world has continue to expand as well geographically as well as culturally in this book. As someone who loves history, I love the addition of finding out more of the history of this world as well as giving us some speculation as to how things may be about to come full circle once again!
I'm a little late in getting this review out there but I do plan on picking up the third book sometime in the next week or two. I'm excited to see where things go from here and really hoping Zack sticks the landing with this series! I'd recommend this to any fantasy readers of fantasy works interesting in an expanding world, multiple storylines and interesting characters.
I truly felt Stones of Light was more of the same from Zack, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you enjoyed book one like I did. Where book one introduced us to many of the characters in the world, the second installment gets us deeper into the world and story around them.
I wasn't a huge fan of the storyline of Alverax in the first book and leaned more towards Chrys and Laurel. But this one I felt was more of a balance between the three storylines. Alverax is really coming into his own this time around. Laurel is struggling with seeing the world in a new light and Chrys is right in the thick of things but stumbled onto a huge part of this story and the history of the world we are learning about.
The new connection between Laurel and Asher is interesting and I'm excited to see what comes of this going forward!
The character development continues in Stones of Light. Sure we had quite a dump of information as we first met our characters in book one. But there is still a lot of growth in this one with all three of our protagonists here too. These are not the same characters we were first introduced to at this point.
The pacing is still right up my alley in Stones of Light. So far this series has been very easy, quick and fun to read. I've not had any issues with glaring typos or words I have to constantly look up the definitions. These aren't big heavy books in any sense either. So these give me a really nice break from some of the thicker epics I'm working through.
The world building is also continuing to shine in Stones of Light. (See what I did there?) Honestly I really enjoy what the author has put together in this world. The magic is cool and unique. The creatures and their relationship with our characters is also fascinating. The world has continue to expand as well geographically as well as culturally in this book. As someone who loves history, I love the addition of finding out more of the history of this world as well as giving us some speculation as to how things may be about to come full circle once again!
I'm a little late in getting this review out there but I do plan on picking up the third book sometime in the next week or two. I'm excited to see where things go from here and really hoping Zack sticks the landing with this series! I'd recommend this to any fantasy readers of fantasy works interesting in an expanding world, multiple storylines and interesting characters.
November 2, 2021
https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/11...
I really enjoyed Zack Argyle’s debut book. It wasn’t perfect, but I loved the story it told and the foundation it established in this new world. Argyle has long said that he thinks book two is stronger than the first book, and so I was pretty excited to read Stones of Light. Added to this, I’ve been on a bit of a “nostalgic fantasy” kick recently, and this fits the bill in some ways. When I had a window open up in my fantasy reading routine, I jumped on this book, and I’m glad I did. Stones of Light took everything I loved about Voice of War and improved upon it.
I will say, this is the second book in a series. You need to read Voice of War before you read Stones of Light. I’m also going to try very hard to not drop any spoilers in this review. Some points I’ll make will be vague due to this.
This series is scratching a certain itch at the moment. In a lot of ways, Argyle has taken me back to the glory days of fantasy, where there were civilizations rising and falling. Life is perched on the brink, and there is darkness all around. People from numerous walks of life are thrust into the center of a situation that is far larger than anyone anticipates, and it’s through their own ingenuity, and strength of character that they see it through. Add in a helping of magic that kind of reminds me a bit of both Sanderson and Weeks, some poignant emotional moments, and a quiet, simmering malice lurking around the periphery, and we’ve got something quite engrossing on our hands.
Stones of Light, as I’ve said above, takes everything I enjoyed about the first book and improves upon it. It also takes some of the aspects that didn’t quite hit the mark in Voice of War and actually makes them work, and made me think, in retrospect, “I understand why that needed to be that way in the first book” (read: AH HA moments all around). I honestly am not sure how Argyle did it, but he basically took book one, which was already amazing, mind you, and levelled up in just about every respect. Even the prose, which was anything but bad to start with, were tighter, more fluid, with some turns of phrase that filled me with admiration.
Stones of Light, in a lot of ways, is a book about expansion. The world gets larger, and a bit more firmly realized. There’s a lot of depth added to what readers do see, which makes it feel a bit more realistic. This had the wham-bam effect of making events that transpire in this book feel real, weighed down with higher risks and rewards that mattered to me, personally. I was invested, because I was living it rather than reading about it. The impact of this was felt throughout the novel. The risks were greater, the moments were darker, the attacks and action were more fraught. The characters were more emotionally gripping and memorable. From the ground up, this infusion of realism and carefully executed detail seemed to be the thing that elevated this book to a whole other level.
I also want to briefly touch on characters. Similar to the previous paragraph, I felt like the character development and overall character arcs were a lot more firmly rooted in this book. The characters I struggled with the most in Voice of War ended up being some of my favorites in Stones of Light. I was also introduced to some new faces that all offered unique perspectives to the looming conflict(s). What, perhaps, pleased me the most, was the emotional depth layered into these character arcs. There were quiet moments of reflection, and plenty of pain and angst and anger. Things got nice and messy, and it was in all that chaos of emotion and movement that the character arcs and development truly shone. Like the world, I felt like Argyle expanded his skillset a bit in regards to characters, and due to that, they all felt so real to me, which made me feel so invested in their various plights. It made them matter. They stopped being people on the page, and became people that lived and breathed on and off the page.
The book is perfectly paced, with a depth of plot and a cadence to the events that transpire that really sucked me in, to the point I found it almost impossible to put it down. I was “just one more chapter”-ing this sucker for hours because I was just that engrossed. When I wasn’t reading it, I was wishing I was reading it. I was surprised by a lot of the twists and turns, by the depth and darkness of some of the plot elements. Mostly, I was in awe of just how Argyle used the foundation he set in Voice of War, and expanded on it, from the world, to the magic, to the characters themselves. There was a lot of artistry here, but the plot never got overwhelmed or bogged down by any of it. The thread of the plot, as complex as it is, stays true to itself throughout, never losing sight of just where things are going, and where they’ve been.
There were enough answers at the end of the book to leave me satisfied but I NEED TO READ THE NEXT BOOK, ZACK. LIKE, NOW. I don’t mean to be one of those people who is demanding authors adhere to their personal schedule, but I am really, really excited about this series. I am positively aflutter with anticipation. I want, desperately, to know what happens next.
So, where does that leave us?
Stones of Light blew me away. A perfect blend of nostalgic fantasy and something that is purely Argyle’s own, reading this book was like drowning in an ocean of awesome. (Okay, worst metaphor ever.) A gripping continuation of an unforgettable saga, Stones of Light truly swept me away.
I really enjoyed Zack Argyle’s debut book. It wasn’t perfect, but I loved the story it told and the foundation it established in this new world. Argyle has long said that he thinks book two is stronger than the first book, and so I was pretty excited to read Stones of Light. Added to this, I’ve been on a bit of a “nostalgic fantasy” kick recently, and this fits the bill in some ways. When I had a window open up in my fantasy reading routine, I jumped on this book, and I’m glad I did. Stones of Light took everything I loved about Voice of War and improved upon it.
I will say, this is the second book in a series. You need to read Voice of War before you read Stones of Light. I’m also going to try very hard to not drop any spoilers in this review. Some points I’ll make will be vague due to this.
This series is scratching a certain itch at the moment. In a lot of ways, Argyle has taken me back to the glory days of fantasy, where there were civilizations rising and falling. Life is perched on the brink, and there is darkness all around. People from numerous walks of life are thrust into the center of a situation that is far larger than anyone anticipates, and it’s through their own ingenuity, and strength of character that they see it through. Add in a helping of magic that kind of reminds me a bit of both Sanderson and Weeks, some poignant emotional moments, and a quiet, simmering malice lurking around the periphery, and we’ve got something quite engrossing on our hands.
Stones of Light, as I’ve said above, takes everything I enjoyed about the first book and improves upon it. It also takes some of the aspects that didn’t quite hit the mark in Voice of War and actually makes them work, and made me think, in retrospect, “I understand why that needed to be that way in the first book” (read: AH HA moments all around). I honestly am not sure how Argyle did it, but he basically took book one, which was already amazing, mind you, and levelled up in just about every respect. Even the prose, which was anything but bad to start with, were tighter, more fluid, with some turns of phrase that filled me with admiration.
Stones of Light, in a lot of ways, is a book about expansion. The world gets larger, and a bit more firmly realized. There’s a lot of depth added to what readers do see, which makes it feel a bit more realistic. This had the wham-bam effect of making events that transpire in this book feel real, weighed down with higher risks and rewards that mattered to me, personally. I was invested, because I was living it rather than reading about it. The impact of this was felt throughout the novel. The risks were greater, the moments were darker, the attacks and action were more fraught. The characters were more emotionally gripping and memorable. From the ground up, this infusion of realism and carefully executed detail seemed to be the thing that elevated this book to a whole other level.
I also want to briefly touch on characters. Similar to the previous paragraph, I felt like the character development and overall character arcs were a lot more firmly rooted in this book. The characters I struggled with the most in Voice of War ended up being some of my favorites in Stones of Light. I was also introduced to some new faces that all offered unique perspectives to the looming conflict(s). What, perhaps, pleased me the most, was the emotional depth layered into these character arcs. There were quiet moments of reflection, and plenty of pain and angst and anger. Things got nice and messy, and it was in all that chaos of emotion and movement that the character arcs and development truly shone. Like the world, I felt like Argyle expanded his skillset a bit in regards to characters, and due to that, they all felt so real to me, which made me feel so invested in their various plights. It made them matter. They stopped being people on the page, and became people that lived and breathed on and off the page.
The book is perfectly paced, with a depth of plot and a cadence to the events that transpire that really sucked me in, to the point I found it almost impossible to put it down. I was “just one more chapter”-ing this sucker for hours because I was just that engrossed. When I wasn’t reading it, I was wishing I was reading it. I was surprised by a lot of the twists and turns, by the depth and darkness of some of the plot elements. Mostly, I was in awe of just how Argyle used the foundation he set in Voice of War, and expanded on it, from the world, to the magic, to the characters themselves. There was a lot of artistry here, but the plot never got overwhelmed or bogged down by any of it. The thread of the plot, as complex as it is, stays true to itself throughout, never losing sight of just where things are going, and where they’ve been.
There were enough answers at the end of the book to leave me satisfied but I NEED TO READ THE NEXT BOOK, ZACK. LIKE, NOW. I don’t mean to be one of those people who is demanding authors adhere to their personal schedule, but I am really, really excited about this series. I am positively aflutter with anticipation. I want, desperately, to know what happens next.
So, where does that leave us?
Stones of Light blew me away. A perfect blend of nostalgic fantasy and something that is purely Argyle’s own, reading this book was like drowning in an ocean of awesome. (Okay, worst metaphor ever.) A gripping continuation of an unforgettable saga, Stones of Light truly swept me away.
July 22, 2022
Please find my review at the following link:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, Happy Reading and Stay Great!!
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, Happy Reading and Stay Great!!
November 4, 2021
Gods, Monsters and revelations abound aplenty in Zack Argyle's gripping sequel to Voice of War.
At the end of Voice of War, Chrys was lost to all as he had let loose the Apogee.
Now, in the grip of the Apogee's powers, he is being led to far off lands, attempting to regain power and take control of himself once again
Meanwhile, Laurel, mourning the loss of her powers has allied herself with the head of the blood thieves, Arabella, the amber thread weaver.
And on the other side of the world, Alverax, and the survivors from Zedalan have sought sanctuary in the land of Felia. In their hopes to find a safe haven for their people, Alvarax, Elder Rowan and Elder Rosemary petition the Empress of the Sun to grant the people of Zedalan asylum.
The Stones of Light builds on the events that began in Voice of War, and adds much more to the story. In Stones of Light, we find out more about the voice in Chrys's head as it leads him to the home of The Wastelanders, the people he fought when he was The Apogee.
In addition to that, he learns of a new threat in the form of the Ancient Wastelander god, Relek and his sister, Lylax. These were gods who were once imprisoned and have now been released. Their only goal; to get revenge on those that locked the away by setting their army of Wastelanders and pet monsters, the Corespwan upon the world.
All the main characters are expanded upon really well in the book, however, it is Laurel that undergoes the most change.
At the end of Voice of War, Laurel experienced a massive wound which had a catastrophic effect on her. And it is due to this change that she allies herself with Alabella, who has told her that she can fix the wound that she has suffered. But this comes at a cost, and the price is to take her back to Zedalum in order to access the core seal and get the necessary materials to make her plans of being able to make everyone be a thread weaver come to fruition. Obviously, things don't go to plan and as she struggles with her inabilities, she believes that Alabella will be the answer to set everything right. However, what Laurel doesn't count on, is the change that she will undergo.
Alverax, the thief gone good, also experiences changes. He finds that he has a conscience, and actually wants to do good. As he tries to remedy the mistakes he made in the last book, he finds that actually, he is a good man. He has gone to Felia with the Zeda people. But they must fight against mistrust, and the shocking events that unfold
Stones of Light is a fantastic read, and if possible, is more accomplished and breath taking than the first.
It's plot runs along at the pace of a juggernaut and grabs you immediately, never letting you go until you reach the end. It's populated with characters that you will adore and expands the world that Zack Argyle has built in his first book.
Stones of Light is a fantastic read, full of action and fantastic characters. I would heartily recommend it to any fantasy fan.
At the end of Voice of War, Chrys was lost to all as he had let loose the Apogee.
Now, in the grip of the Apogee's powers, he is being led to far off lands, attempting to regain power and take control of himself once again
Meanwhile, Laurel, mourning the loss of her powers has allied herself with the head of the blood thieves, Arabella, the amber thread weaver.
And on the other side of the world, Alverax, and the survivors from Zedalan have sought sanctuary in the land of Felia. In their hopes to find a safe haven for their people, Alvarax, Elder Rowan and Elder Rosemary petition the Empress of the Sun to grant the people of Zedalan asylum.
The Stones of Light builds on the events that began in Voice of War, and adds much more to the story. In Stones of Light, we find out more about the voice in Chrys's head as it leads him to the home of The Wastelanders, the people he fought when he was The Apogee.
In addition to that, he learns of a new threat in the form of the Ancient Wastelander god, Relek and his sister, Lylax. These were gods who were once imprisoned and have now been released. Their only goal; to get revenge on those that locked the away by setting their army of Wastelanders and pet monsters, the Corespwan upon the world.
All the main characters are expanded upon really well in the book, however, it is Laurel that undergoes the most change.
At the end of Voice of War, Laurel experienced a massive wound which had a catastrophic effect on her. And it is due to this change that she allies herself with Alabella, who has told her that she can fix the wound that she has suffered. But this comes at a cost, and the price is to take her back to Zedalum in order to access the core seal and get the necessary materials to make her plans of being able to make everyone be a thread weaver come to fruition. Obviously, things don't go to plan and as she struggles with her inabilities, she believes that Alabella will be the answer to set everything right. However, what Laurel doesn't count on, is the change that she will undergo.
Alverax, the thief gone good, also experiences changes. He finds that he has a conscience, and actually wants to do good. As he tries to remedy the mistakes he made in the last book, he finds that actually, he is a good man. He has gone to Felia with the Zeda people. But they must fight against mistrust, and the shocking events that unfold
Stones of Light is a fantastic read, and if possible, is more accomplished and breath taking than the first.
It's plot runs along at the pace of a juggernaut and grabs you immediately, never letting you go until you reach the end. It's populated with characters that you will adore and expands the world that Zack Argyle has built in his first book.
Stones of Light is a fantastic read, full of action and fantastic characters. I would heartily recommend it to any fantasy fan.
December 14, 2021
4.5 stars!
What a great action-packed sequel!
The audiobook was, once again, fantastic and had me fully immersed. I had very much enjoyed Voice of War, a solid start and foundation to this series, but Stones of Light took it to another level.
We get more world-building, more magic, and learn more about the lore, which makes the world so much more tangible. The three main POVs return (with the addition of a few new perspectives), but are a lot more balanced throughout the book. I loved how they all had their own arcs. Chrys, Laurel, and Alverax change a lot and, by the end, are nowhere near where they started in book 1. It was great seeing them grow like that, it added more depth and made them feel real. Argyle does an especially wonderful job of handling the female characters, who are all very well-written. Also, I'm glad a certain character got called out on his inappropriate jokes, that's something I'd been waiting for.
I liked the writing style a lot. It was easy to get into and flowed nicely. There were many beautiful & memorable quotes that made me think and even reread certain passages in my e-reader. A few moments could’ve been set up a bit better or earlier for a bigger pay-off, and there were one or two plot conveniences that made me wish the situations had been resolved differently, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. I’m also happy that a lot of the things that I’d been wondering about after reading book 1 got answered.
I had a really great time with this story and was thoroughly entertained. Everything felt bigger, the stakes were higher, the twists kept coming … I can't wait to see what's up next! I am very much looking forward to diving into book 3 as soon as it comes out!
PS: I really appreciated the summary of Voice of War at the beginning. Always a big plus in my book!!
What a great action-packed sequel!
The audiobook was, once again, fantastic and had me fully immersed. I had very much enjoyed Voice of War, a solid start and foundation to this series, but Stones of Light took it to another level.
We get more world-building, more magic, and learn more about the lore, which makes the world so much more tangible. The three main POVs return (with the addition of a few new perspectives), but are a lot more balanced throughout the book. I loved how they all had their own arcs. Chrys, Laurel, and Alverax change a lot and, by the end, are nowhere near where they started in book 1. It was great seeing them grow like that, it added more depth and made them feel real. Argyle does an especially wonderful job of handling the female characters, who are all very well-written. Also, I'm glad a certain character got called out on his inappropriate jokes, that's something I'd been waiting for.
I liked the writing style a lot. It was easy to get into and flowed nicely. There were many beautiful & memorable quotes that made me think and even reread certain passages in my e-reader. A few moments could’ve been set up a bit better or earlier for a bigger pay-off, and there were one or two plot conveniences that made me wish the situations had been resolved differently, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. I’m also happy that a lot of the things that I’d been wondering about after reading book 1 got answered.
I had a really great time with this story and was thoroughly entertained. Everything felt bigger, the stakes were higher, the twists kept coming … I can't wait to see what's up next! I am very much looking forward to diving into book 3 as soon as it comes out!
PS: I really appreciated the summary of Voice of War at the beginning. Always a big plus in my book!!
April 7, 2021
BEWARE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE FOR HERE BE SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Stones of Light is the sequel to 2020’s Voice of War and the second book in Zack Argyle’s Threadlight trilogy. Although I had a few issues with the first book (you can read my spoiler free review here), I am happy to say that its sequel improved on every bit that made the first book great AND resolved my very minor gripes. I am so happy to have gotten the opportunity to read this book early but, like, is book three almost done because I have QUESTIONS? Seriously, I had just recovered from the whiplash of the ending of book one and Argyle does this?
“Not all waves are wont to break. Some waves, like the awe that fills me when I look out over the Terecean sea, those waves forever remain at their crest.”
Although I went into it hot off the heels of the first book, Argyle includes a recap at the beginning to help you remember where our adventure left off. Stones of Light picks up immediately after the events of Voice of War, with our heroes scattered to the wind. Alverax is accompanying Iriel and the Zeda people as they seek asylum in distant Felia. Laurel is struggling to come to terms with her near-death and the loss of her threadlight. And Chrys, having given in to the Apogee, is being taken across the mountains and into the wastelands beyond against his will. The stakes are absolutely astronomical and the direction in which the plot is advancing is, since no other words come to mind, epic.
The world is further explored, with the majority of the novel taking place in both Felia and the Wastelands, and the additional worldbuilding is excellent. Felia feels like a living, breathing place and the little that we get to navigate the courts politics and history of the country is great. Additionally, I thought that the religion and culture of Felia was very unique and well implemented. If Felia is regal nobility and white stone buildings nestled against a glimmering ocean, the Wastelands are dirty, violent and alien. My only complaint is that I wish I could have seen even more of each! I want to learn everything there is to know about this world.
I said that I liked the magic system in Voice of War and that has, of course, continued to be the case for its sequel. Argyle managed to bring new elements into play that changed the way the different magics interacts with each other in interesting ways. The expansion of the magic system here is handled well and I think it really helps to, again, ramp up the stakes (are you seeing a trend here?) I am also very impressed with how Argyle has managed to leave some subtle clues sprinkled throughout both books as to what may be possible, giving just enough information to satiate, while also exciting the imagination.
Part of him wanted to stand tall and spin a beautiful lie and become what they believed him to be, but that was something his father would have done. He had to be better. He had to be honest. He had to be good.
The only real complaint that I had with Argyle’s debut was that one of the characters in particular didn’t have much of a character arc. That is not the case with Stones of Light as each character in turn receives their due. It was especially satisfying for me that Alverax, the weakest POV from the last book, was easily one of my favorites in this one. Seeing him overcome some very heavy emotional things was so magical and, if I may, a little cathartic. I was a little frustrated by the tracks that some of the character arcs seemed to be on, but everything was resolved very nicely. Honestly, I need to learn to just trust in the author because it is clear at this point that he knows what he is doing. Argyle’s ability to write relatable characters are undeniable and the choices they make are never in question.
As a sequel, Stones of Light really sticks the landing. Argyle’s writing noticeably improved over his debut (not that it was in any way bad before) and I had the hardest time deciding which of the twenty (!) quotes that I highlighted was going to be added to this review. Overall, it improved on everything from the first and in the end it even fixed the few issues that I had with Voice of War. I can’t wait to see where Argyle takes us next; book three is very high up on my most wanted list. There’s no wonder he is doing so well in this years SPFBO and I am fiercely pulling for him and Voice of War to win.
Life had taught him brutal lessons, but one lesson most of all. Hope is a sham. A trick of the mind. Hope is opening your eyes at dusk and believing it is dawn. His life—he’d decided—was a setting sun.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Stones of Light is the sequel to 2020’s Voice of War and the second book in Zack Argyle’s Threadlight trilogy. Although I had a few issues with the first book (you can read my spoiler free review here), I am happy to say that its sequel improved on every bit that made the first book great AND resolved my very minor gripes. I am so happy to have gotten the opportunity to read this book early but, like, is book three almost done because I have QUESTIONS? Seriously, I had just recovered from the whiplash of the ending of book one and Argyle does this?
“Not all waves are wont to break. Some waves, like the awe that fills me when I look out over the Terecean sea, those waves forever remain at their crest.”
Although I went into it hot off the heels of the first book, Argyle includes a recap at the beginning to help you remember where our adventure left off. Stones of Light picks up immediately after the events of Voice of War, with our heroes scattered to the wind. Alverax is accompanying Iriel and the Zeda people as they seek asylum in distant Felia. Laurel is struggling to come to terms with her near-death and the loss of her threadlight. And Chrys, having given in to the Apogee, is being taken across the mountains and into the wastelands beyond against his will. The stakes are absolutely astronomical and the direction in which the plot is advancing is, since no other words come to mind, epic.
The world is further explored, with the majority of the novel taking place in both Felia and the Wastelands, and the additional worldbuilding is excellent. Felia feels like a living, breathing place and the little that we get to navigate the courts politics and history of the country is great. Additionally, I thought that the religion and culture of Felia was very unique and well implemented. If Felia is regal nobility and white stone buildings nestled against a glimmering ocean, the Wastelands are dirty, violent and alien. My only complaint is that I wish I could have seen even more of each! I want to learn everything there is to know about this world.
I said that I liked the magic system in Voice of War and that has, of course, continued to be the case for its sequel. Argyle managed to bring new elements into play that changed the way the different magics interacts with each other in interesting ways. The expansion of the magic system here is handled well and I think it really helps to, again, ramp up the stakes (are you seeing a trend here?) I am also very impressed with how Argyle has managed to leave some subtle clues sprinkled throughout both books as to what may be possible, giving just enough information to satiate, while also exciting the imagination.
Part of him wanted to stand tall and spin a beautiful lie and become what they believed him to be, but that was something his father would have done. He had to be better. He had to be honest. He had to be good.
The only real complaint that I had with Argyle’s debut was that one of the characters in particular didn’t have much of a character arc. That is not the case with Stones of Light as each character in turn receives their due. It was especially satisfying for me that Alverax, the weakest POV from the last book, was easily one of my favorites in this one. Seeing him overcome some very heavy emotional things was so magical and, if I may, a little cathartic. I was a little frustrated by the tracks that some of the character arcs seemed to be on, but everything was resolved very nicely. Honestly, I need to learn to just trust in the author because it is clear at this point that he knows what he is doing. Argyle’s ability to write relatable characters are undeniable and the choices they make are never in question.
As a sequel, Stones of Light really sticks the landing. Argyle’s writing noticeably improved over his debut (not that it was in any way bad before) and I had the hardest time deciding which of the twenty (!) quotes that I highlighted was going to be added to this review. Overall, it improved on everything from the first and in the end it even fixed the few issues that I had with Voice of War. I can’t wait to see where Argyle takes us next; book three is very high up on my most wanted list. There’s no wonder he is doing so well in this years SPFBO and I am fiercely pulling for him and Voice of War to win.
Life had taught him brutal lessons, but one lesson most of all. Hope is a sham. A trick of the mind. Hope is opening your eyes at dusk and believing it is dawn. His life—he’d decided—was a setting sun.
December 7, 2022
3/5 stars
The world expands following the earth shattering events at the end of Voice of War, and we are swept off into a wild ride through Argyle's second Threadlight novel. The story of Alverax, Chrys, and Laurel continues to interweave, both with each other's story threads and with those of the characters around them.
We get a much deeper dive into the magic system of Threadlight, and I really enjoyed seeing how the different variations interweave and interact with each other. There were some pretty big reveals in the magic system this time around.
I think I may be in the minority that actually prefers Voice of War to Stones of Light. In this second book, I ended up feeling that the characters were being driven through the plot. There were quite a few side characters that came in and out with what seemed to be the sole purpose of making a statement or giving info. There was a lot of telling vs. showing in this book as well, in my opinion.
Overall, it wasn't working for me, but I understand why so many people enjoy them.
The world expands following the earth shattering events at the end of Voice of War, and we are swept off into a wild ride through Argyle's second Threadlight novel. The story of Alverax, Chrys, and Laurel continues to interweave, both with each other's story threads and with those of the characters around them.
We get a much deeper dive into the magic system of Threadlight, and I really enjoyed seeing how the different variations interweave and interact with each other. There were some pretty big reveals in the magic system this time around.
I think I may be in the minority that actually prefers Voice of War to Stones of Light. In this second book, I ended up feeling that the characters were being driven through the plot. There were quite a few side characters that came in and out with what seemed to be the sole purpose of making a statement or giving info. There was a lot of telling vs. showing in this book as well, in my opinion.
Overall, it wasn't working for me, but I understand why so many people enjoy them.
January 21, 2022
4.5
Although there was a synopsis of the guest book at the beginning, the jumping to different main characters was jarring. It took a while to straighten out the storylines.
Alverax grew into a more confident young man here. “Hope is a sham. A trick of the mind. Hope us opening your eyes at dusk and believing it us dawn. His life - he’d decided - was a setting sun.” There was a real surprise waiting for him.
Chrys suffered a lot. But his mother, Willow, was the one who ultimately rescued him. “An indomitable hero. A fearless protector. A herald of hope. It was his mother.”
Laurel lost her Threadlight powers, but found out she can still help the cause. Very late in the book does Asher appear. That was disappointing. I’d hoped to see more of the chromawolves. But we did see lots of coresprawn.
We now wait for the final conclusion.
Although there was a synopsis of the guest book at the beginning, the jumping to different main characters was jarring. It took a while to straighten out the storylines.
Alverax grew into a more confident young man here. “Hope is a sham. A trick of the mind. Hope us opening your eyes at dusk and believing it us dawn. His life - he’d decided - was a setting sun.” There was a real surprise waiting for him.
Chrys suffered a lot. But his mother, Willow, was the one who ultimately rescued him. “An indomitable hero. A fearless protector. A herald of hope. It was his mother.”
Laurel lost her Threadlight powers, but found out she can still help the cause. Very late in the book does Asher appear. That was disappointing. I’d hoped to see more of the chromawolves. But we did see lots of coresprawn.
We now wait for the final conclusion.
January 26, 2023
4 🌟
They're getting even better!
They're getting even better!
August 21, 2022
Second read 2022: 5 glowing stars
How this sequel managed to be even better than book 1 is still beyond me. I already adored everything about Voice of War, but Stones of Light somehow still managed to improve on every single aspect and it is simply phenomenal.
We meet some new characters, our favourite characters go through some immense growth, the world and scope of the story is expanded, more mysteries surrounding the magic system and history/lore of the world are unveiled and the stakes are raised immensely.
This book picks up right where the last one left off and so I was immediately fully immersed in the story again. Because of the events that occurred in the first book, the characters have undergone a lot of growth and change. Some changes were by choice, others not so much. These characters are constantly challenged, both internally and externally, which makes them feel super complex, messy, but most of all, real. This is the type of multiple POV story where I don’t have a favourite character to read from, because they are all equally interesting to follow. That said… Laurel and Asher, chef's kiss, give me more of this animal companion bonding.
Now, as much as I love all these characters on their own, I adore the relationship dynamics in this series even more. We get some of the best platonic, familial and romantic relationships that I’ve ever read and I loved seeing how those bonds are tested beyond belief in this instalment. I am really emotionally invested in every single character at this point, so I am preparing for emotional damage in the finale.
The themes of parenthood, religion, mental health and morality are explored beautifully in this story. I really appreciate that this series tells an extremely engaging story, but also has deeper layers of nuance and depth that you can sink your teeth into.
Also, the writing in this second instalment really blew my socks off and made this story feel all the more emotionally impactful. From the descriptions to the dialogue to the inner monologues of these characters, it is all just superb. It’s not particularly flowery or overly descriptive, but Argyle really knows how to effectively transport and immerse you into the beautiful world that he has created. And get ready with some tabs/highlighters, because some of these lines are simply too gorgeous not to save.
I cannot wait to see where the rest of this series goes, because while this book did provide some intriguing answers, it also posed a lot of new questions on things that I am so excited to find out more about. Book 3 promises to be an explosive ending and I am so ready for it.
This book 100% deserves all the praise it’s been getting, because it is simply a masterpiece. Seriously, do yourself a favour and pick up this series if you haven’t already. You don��t want to miss out on this.
******************************************
First read 2021: 4.5 stars (rounded up)
How this sequel managed to be even better than book 1 is still beyond me. I already adored everything about Voice of War, but Stones of Light somehow still managed to improve on every single aspect and it is simply phenomenal.
We meet some new characters, our favourite characters go through some immense growth, the world and scope of the story is expanded, more mysteries surrounding the magic system and history/lore of the world are unveiled and the stakes are raised immensely.
This book picks up right where the last one left off and so I was immediately fully immersed in the story again. Because of the events that occurred in the first book, the characters have undergone a lot of growth and change. Some changes were by choice, others not so much. These characters are constantly challenged, both internally and externally, which makes them feel super complex, messy, but most of all, real. This is the type of multiple POV story where I don’t have a favourite character to read from, because they are all equally interesting to follow. That said… Laurel and Asher, chef's kiss, give me more of this animal companion bonding.
Now, as much as I love all these characters on their own, I adore the relationship dynamics in this series even more. We get some of the best platonic, familial and romantic relationships that I’ve ever read and I loved seeing how those bonds are tested beyond belief in this instalment. I am really emotionally invested in every single character at this point, so I am preparing for emotional damage in the finale.
The themes of parenthood, religion, mental health and morality are explored beautifully in this story. I really appreciate that this series tells an extremely engaging story, but also has deeper layers of nuance and depth that you can sink your teeth into.
Also, the writing in this second instalment really blew my socks off and made this story feel all the more emotionally impactful. From the descriptions to the dialogue to the inner monologues of these characters, it is all just superb. It’s not particularly flowery or overly descriptive, but Argyle really knows how to effectively transport and immerse you into the beautiful world that he has created. And get ready with some tabs/highlighters, because some of these lines are simply too gorgeous not to save.
I cannot wait to see where the rest of this series goes, because while this book did provide some intriguing answers, it also posed a lot of new questions on things that I am so excited to find out more about. Book 3 promises to be an explosive ending and I am so ready for it.
This book 100% deserves all the praise it’s been getting, because it is simply a masterpiece. Seriously, do yourself a favour and pick up this series if you haven’t already. You don��t want to miss out on this.
******************************************
First read 2021: 4.5 stars (rounded up)
February 3, 2024
4.5 Stars - A sequel that improves in every category
For the full review, check out: medium.com/hooked-on-books/book-revie...
What's the story about: Stones of Light follows immediately after Voice of War in that Chrys is lost, Laurel is captured, and Alverax is recovering after the devastation found in the Fairenwild forest. Something cataclysmic is about to happen, and these three individuals are at the center of it. (Without saying much more, all the threads from Voice of War are continued.)
Stones of Light is an amazing and truly worthy sequel to Voice of War in every category. Like sequels should do, characters are given more depth and development, the world expands and grows in its complexity, and the plot really thickens, all the way to the end. This one is a hard book to discuss because giving any of the plot away would be a shame to any potential reader, but suffice it to say, the story is superb and full of unexpected twists and turns. Each character finds themselves in dire situation after situation that they must carefully and specifically get out of in order to continue and Argyle had my full attention from the beginning to end. A bigger and better story that surpasses Voice of War and takes everything you know to new heights. Definitely recommend this series and am thoroughly anticipating the final part!
For the full review, check out: medium.com/hooked-on-books/book-revie...
What's the story about: Stones of Light follows immediately after Voice of War in that Chrys is lost, Laurel is captured, and Alverax is recovering after the devastation found in the Fairenwild forest. Something cataclysmic is about to happen, and these three individuals are at the center of it. (Without saying much more, all the threads from Voice of War are continued.)
Stones of Light is an amazing and truly worthy sequel to Voice of War in every category. Like sequels should do, characters are given more depth and development, the world expands and grows in its complexity, and the plot really thickens, all the way to the end. This one is a hard book to discuss because giving any of the plot away would be a shame to any potential reader, but suffice it to say, the story is superb and full of unexpected twists and turns. Each character finds themselves in dire situation after situation that they must carefully and specifically get out of in order to continue and Argyle had my full attention from the beginning to end. A bigger and better story that surpasses Voice of War and takes everything you know to new heights. Definitely recommend this series and am thoroughly anticipating the final part!
February 28, 2022
5/5 Stars
A masterful sequel to Voice of War!
“Truth is not dependent on your acceptance of it.”
Stones of Light continues right where Voice of War (book 1 in the Threadlight trilogy) leaves off. I was on the edge of my seat as the story, characters, world, and magic system swept me away. The pacing is similar, if not faster, to Voice of War. Not to mention, the quality of the story while remaining efficient in a short page count, is top notch.
We continue with the three points of view from Voice of War; Chrys, Laurel and Alverax. The focus on which character(s) we see most from shifts, as their roles and impacts on the story change. There is a deeper view of the world, lore, and magic system, with more character development than we saw previously.
There were moments that were both insightful and heartbreaking, adding depth to the world. While there is action in this, I found the story far more captivating.
The Threadlight trilogy has quickly become one of my favourite series thus far and I am excited to see what will take place in the conclusion Bonds of Chaos.
If you haven’t read the Threadlight series yet, please give this trilogy a try!
*A video review to come*
A masterful sequel to Voice of War!
“Truth is not dependent on your acceptance of it.”
Stones of Light continues right where Voice of War (book 1 in the Threadlight trilogy) leaves off. I was on the edge of my seat as the story, characters, world, and magic system swept me away. The pacing is similar, if not faster, to Voice of War. Not to mention, the quality of the story while remaining efficient in a short page count, is top notch.
We continue with the three points of view from Voice of War; Chrys, Laurel and Alverax. The focus on which character(s) we see most from shifts, as their roles and impacts on the story change. There is a deeper view of the world, lore, and magic system, with more character development than we saw previously.
There were moments that were both insightful and heartbreaking, adding depth to the world. While there is action in this, I found the story far more captivating.
The Threadlight trilogy has quickly become one of my favourite series thus far and I am excited to see what will take place in the conclusion Bonds of Chaos.
If you haven’t read the Threadlight series yet, please give this trilogy a try!
*A video review to come*
April 2, 2021
Read this review at FanFiAddict.com.
Stones of Light by Zack Argyle is the sequel to 2020’s Voice of War and the second release in the author’s Threadlight series. I encourage you to read my review of Voice of War, as I was impressed with Argyle’s ability to write relatable characters and intriguing, interweaving plot lines while still holding the main thread tight. And if book 1 is was an impressive debut, book 2 is where the author demonstrates his writing chops.
You and I walk a different path than most, and it will require us to change in uncomfortable ways.
I am starting with this quote because, in my opinion, it is a running theme in Stones of Light. While the main characters remain the same (Chrys, Laurel, Alverax), they all grow quite a bit from the first page of Voice of War to the last page of Stones of Light. They experience so much as their world has been completely upended, and each has had to make really tough choices just about every step of the way. It oftentimes feels as though they do not control their own fates, and the events of the world pull them along. That does not necessarily mean they are helpless, but what it does mean is that almost every situation is life or death for them or someone they love and that constant tension is the driving force of this series.
As sequels go, Argyle also does a really good job of introducing new characters and expanding on minor roles from the first book, as well. Willow and Alabella get more page time, which are phenomenal choices for expansion. Both have really interesting backstories and motivations, and to be able to add more of them to the experience of this book is definitely improvement. There are other very important characters that come to light, too, but I am disinclined to speak more on it for fear of spoiling parts of the story. I will say that I thought the way the character set was expanded upon in the second book was a boon for the series and sets up the next book quite nicely.
‘Just take it easy,’ Alabella said. ‘Every rose begins a bud.’
Barrick snorted. ‘As long as I don’t end up with a thorn in my arse.’
I did not mention this in my first review, but another hat tip to Argyle’s writing is the dialogue. I often find dialogue the most difficult part of a story to get right. There are so many elements that go into every single line: tone, personality, history, how it fits into the character’s storyline, fit in the overall story, as well, does it say too much, does it say too little, etc. The dialogue in this series has been spot on, for the most part. Each character’s voice is very distinct, and it is witty, smart, and really well-balanced overall.
I’ve seen plenty of good men turn sour when the sun sets.
I did talk about this a little bit, already, but I want to expand on the thought because it is so important. One aspect I look for in a second book of a series is for the plot to step up its game. It needs to get bigger, better, and more in-depth if it is going to keep my interest; and I was happy to see that is exactly what the author did with Stones of Light. Voice of War was a really good introduction to the storylines that are ongoing in the sequel, as well, but Stones of Light gives us more. The stake are higher, the magic is stronger and more sophisticated, the heroes are more powerful, the villains more evil. The tension-building elements are more intense in book 2, and with more suspense comes bigger and more satisfying payoffs. The book ends in a great spot, too, and left me very much anticipating what is going to happen in book 3. The narrative is heading in an epic direction, and I am really excited about it.
We become what the world believes we are.
I guess we will see about that in the third book, won’t we?
I do not want to end things without at least mentioning the world building. There was not a ton of it in Voice of War, and book 2 is no different. The reader does learn more about the world Argyle has created, and there is expansion on the setting. Just not a lot. I will say the pieces of the world the reader does get access to in detail are really important to the story. The minimalist approach to world building seems to be working well in this series, and I am good with that.
I did question some of the characters’ decision-making at points. As an example, there is a scene where someone is given the choice to jump down a hole to, in effect, commit suicide. The character decides not to do this but try to fight their way out of the predicament. A few pages later this same character decides jumping down the previously-mentioned hole is their best chance for survival. I think this points to some inconsistent decision-making on the part of the characters at points. At the same time, it is easy to criticize someone else’s choices when their life is constantly on the line – so we can forgive them their transgressions, I am sure.
Zack Argyle continues to impress. Voice of War was a really good debut, and Stones of Light is even better. I am definitely looking forward to the third and final book in the Threadlight trilogy. This series continues to get my recommendation for fans of fantasy
Stones of Light by Zack Argyle is the sequel to 2020’s Voice of War and the second release in the author’s Threadlight series. I encourage you to read my review of Voice of War, as I was impressed with Argyle’s ability to write relatable characters and intriguing, interweaving plot lines while still holding the main thread tight. And if book 1 is was an impressive debut, book 2 is where the author demonstrates his writing chops.
You and I walk a different path than most, and it will require us to change in uncomfortable ways.
I am starting with this quote because, in my opinion, it is a running theme in Stones of Light. While the main characters remain the same (Chrys, Laurel, Alverax), they all grow quite a bit from the first page of Voice of War to the last page of Stones of Light. They experience so much as their world has been completely upended, and each has had to make really tough choices just about every step of the way. It oftentimes feels as though they do not control their own fates, and the events of the world pull them along. That does not necessarily mean they are helpless, but what it does mean is that almost every situation is life or death for them or someone they love and that constant tension is the driving force of this series.
As sequels go, Argyle also does a really good job of introducing new characters and expanding on minor roles from the first book, as well. Willow and Alabella get more page time, which are phenomenal choices for expansion. Both have really interesting backstories and motivations, and to be able to add more of them to the experience of this book is definitely improvement. There are other very important characters that come to light, too, but I am disinclined to speak more on it for fear of spoiling parts of the story. I will say that I thought the way the character set was expanded upon in the second book was a boon for the series and sets up the next book quite nicely.
‘Just take it easy,’ Alabella said. ‘Every rose begins a bud.’
Barrick snorted. ‘As long as I don’t end up with a thorn in my arse.’
I did not mention this in my first review, but another hat tip to Argyle’s writing is the dialogue. I often find dialogue the most difficult part of a story to get right. There are so many elements that go into every single line: tone, personality, history, how it fits into the character’s storyline, fit in the overall story, as well, does it say too much, does it say too little, etc. The dialogue in this series has been spot on, for the most part. Each character’s voice is very distinct, and it is witty, smart, and really well-balanced overall.
I’ve seen plenty of good men turn sour when the sun sets.
I did talk about this a little bit, already, but I want to expand on the thought because it is so important. One aspect I look for in a second book of a series is for the plot to step up its game. It needs to get bigger, better, and more in-depth if it is going to keep my interest; and I was happy to see that is exactly what the author did with Stones of Light. Voice of War was a really good introduction to the storylines that are ongoing in the sequel, as well, but Stones of Light gives us more. The stake are higher, the magic is stronger and more sophisticated, the heroes are more powerful, the villains more evil. The tension-building elements are more intense in book 2, and with more suspense comes bigger and more satisfying payoffs. The book ends in a great spot, too, and left me very much anticipating what is going to happen in book 3. The narrative is heading in an epic direction, and I am really excited about it.
We become what the world believes we are.
I guess we will see about that in the third book, won’t we?
I do not want to end things without at least mentioning the world building. There was not a ton of it in Voice of War, and book 2 is no different. The reader does learn more about the world Argyle has created, and there is expansion on the setting. Just not a lot. I will say the pieces of the world the reader does get access to in detail are really important to the story. The minimalist approach to world building seems to be working well in this series, and I am good with that.
I did question some of the characters’ decision-making at points. As an example, there is a scene where someone is given the choice to jump down a hole to, in effect, commit suicide. The character decides not to do this but try to fight their way out of the predicament. A few pages later this same character decides jumping down the previously-mentioned hole is their best chance for survival. I think this points to some inconsistent decision-making on the part of the characters at points. At the same time, it is easy to criticize someone else’s choices when their life is constantly on the line – so we can forgive them their transgressions, I am sure.
Zack Argyle continues to impress. Voice of War was a really good debut, and Stones of Light is even better. I am definitely looking forward to the third and final book in the Threadlight trilogy. This series continues to get my recommendation for fans of fantasy
November 3, 2022
That was an action packed, crazy ending, with about 3 twists at the end, two of which I'm positive you WONT see coming! This book ramps up big time from Zack's debut Voice of War. Highly recommend this Threadlight Trilogy!
December 4, 2023
Haha send help, I finished everything I was reading on the same day 😅
I definitely liked Stones better than Voice. If you are on the fence about continuing on, I would say keep going. This one gets a lot more interesting and provides some small amount of the background I was looking for.
Rtc
I definitely liked Stones better than Voice. If you are on the fence about continuing on, I would say keep going. This one gets a lot more interesting and provides some small amount of the background I was looking for.
Rtc
April 21, 2021
This book met all my expectations, it was great seeing all the character growth and expansion of the world and the magic system. Loved it, and can't wait to see how it plays out in the next book!
August 25, 2022
I did something a bit unconventional with Zack Argyle’s Threadlight series. Instead of waiting several months to return to the story, I jumped back into Stones of Light rather quickly since the third and final installment was approaching. Voice of War was a satisfying experience, and I wanted to see how the author executed his second installment. Would it all fall apart or would he pull together a story as compelling as the first?
Stones of Light picks up after the fallout of Voice of War. Chrys, forced via possession to do the apogee’s bidding, travels far from home and learns the true extent of the dark spirit’s plans while Alverax travels with the Zeda people, hoping to redeem his family’s past by placing his new talents into service. Meanwhile, Laurel, stripped of the power she held dearest, struggles with her addiction as she finds herself in the middle of a moral gray zone.
If, like me, you suspected that there was much more going on with the worldbuilding than first presented with the first installment of the book, you’ll be happy to learn that the lore of this world runs much deeper. And the mysteries uncovered reveal something much darker than any of the characters could have imagined. Argyle’s careful worldbuilding gave hard magic system fans everything they needed to fill us with wonder.
Alverax’s story in the novel was especially compelling for me. In the first novel, I knew he’d come to the fore as an interesting player in the story’s plot, but in this story, he became the character I was most interested in following. It’s a story of redemption, sacrifice, and loss that gripped my heart and wouldn’t let go.
On the other hand, Laurel’s story didn’t ring as strong for me. While the premise of her story is great in concept, in execution, I found myself wishing to get back to either of the other primary characters for a long while until her story finally blossomed. Argyle left off with some fascinating implications about who she is and what she will become in the finale, however—a saving stroke of the pen that I applaud the author for employing.
Like the previous installment, I found this novel incredibly difficult to put down. The story’s pacing is a masterwork, and I loved how the characters were continuously placed in impossible situations that required sacrifice and inner turmoil to overcome.
I should withhold my judgment of the entire trilogy until I read its dramatic conclusion, but I wholeheartedly recommend that you jump into the series. It’s possibly one of fantasy’s most underappreciated stories of the decade.
Stones of Light picks up after the fallout of Voice of War. Chrys, forced via possession to do the apogee’s bidding, travels far from home and learns the true extent of the dark spirit’s plans while Alverax travels with the Zeda people, hoping to redeem his family’s past by placing his new talents into service. Meanwhile, Laurel, stripped of the power she held dearest, struggles with her addiction as she finds herself in the middle of a moral gray zone.
If, like me, you suspected that there was much more going on with the worldbuilding than first presented with the first installment of the book, you’ll be happy to learn that the lore of this world runs much deeper. And the mysteries uncovered reveal something much darker than any of the characters could have imagined. Argyle’s careful worldbuilding gave hard magic system fans everything they needed to fill us with wonder.
Alverax’s story in the novel was especially compelling for me. In the first novel, I knew he’d come to the fore as an interesting player in the story’s plot, but in this story, he became the character I was most interested in following. It’s a story of redemption, sacrifice, and loss that gripped my heart and wouldn’t let go.
On the other hand, Laurel’s story didn’t ring as strong for me. While the premise of her story is great in concept, in execution, I found myself wishing to get back to either of the other primary characters for a long while until her story finally blossomed. Argyle left off with some fascinating implications about who she is and what she will become in the finale, however—a saving stroke of the pen that I applaud the author for employing.
Like the previous installment, I found this novel incredibly difficult to put down. The story’s pacing is a masterwork, and I loved how the characters were continuously placed in impossible situations that required sacrifice and inner turmoil to overcome.
I should withhold my judgment of the entire trilogy until I read its dramatic conclusion, but I wholeheartedly recommend that you jump into the series. It’s possibly one of fantasy’s most underappreciated stories of the decade.
April 5, 2021
What a fantastic read it has been. This book is even better than the first installment in the series. It gripped me straight from the start and kept me incarcerated till the end. It picks up speed and is faced paced, leaving its readers captivated and entranced. So even I, a very slow reader, finished the book in just a few days.
In this review I especially want to talk about the characters. Most characters appearing in the books are already well known to the reader from book one.
One of them is Alvarax, the only obsidian threadweaver. He experiences a huge character development from kind of like from zero to hero. There were already hints about him being a really good guy in Voice of War but here he manages to find his own way and purpose. Also he takes upon much more room in Stones of Light which is an excellent thing as I grew very fond of him.
We also meet Chrys(anthemum)and his family again. And he is still the lovable character he was in the first book. If it is possible he gets even better and he is still willing to scarifies everything for his family: „His heart and Soul. His purpose. His uncut diamond.“ Chrys The good thing is that it that his family always supports him as well. I especially liked Willow, Chrys mother. She is portrayed like a lioness defending her cubs. She is highly clever and a tough and excellent fighter. Being a mum myself I can relate to her and I really enjoyed reading her part in the book. Especially as cool (older) mums are very rare in books. She is definitely one of my favorite characters in this book.
The biggest character development in the book can be found in Laurel. I do not want to give away too much as it might ruin the story. So I just want to give a quote which excellently shows Laurel’s character: „She was already strong. She was already enough.“
There are also some new characters, with Roshaw leading the way. He falls in with Chrys and his mother and becomes an important part of the story. I especially liked the way his belief goes:„When my father explained it to me, he said that when peopled their spirits drift up into the heavens. When you choose a star for them, you can look into the sky and know they’re looking down on you from that very place.“ He is not the most straight forward or „cleanest“ character there is but nonetheless likable.
As I mentioned in my review of A Voice of War the Apogee was a big enigma for me. But it all gets solved in Stones of Light.
There are also moments in the book which are a reminiscence of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings: „What say you?“, reminded me a lot about Aragorn getting the ghosts to fight for them. It is also used in a very fitting situation in Stones of Light.
Next to excellent battle scenes and a thrilling story the book also offers monsters and animal companions. What more can you wish for in a book?
In this review I especially want to talk about the characters. Most characters appearing in the books are already well known to the reader from book one.
One of them is Alvarax, the only obsidian threadweaver. He experiences a huge character development from kind of like from zero to hero. There were already hints about him being a really good guy in Voice of War but here he manages to find his own way and purpose. Also he takes upon much more room in Stones of Light which is an excellent thing as I grew very fond of him.
We also meet Chrys(anthemum)and his family again. And he is still the lovable character he was in the first book. If it is possible he gets even better and he is still willing to scarifies everything for his family: „His heart and Soul. His purpose. His uncut diamond.“ Chrys The good thing is that it that his family always supports him as well. I especially liked Willow, Chrys mother. She is portrayed like a lioness defending her cubs. She is highly clever and a tough and excellent fighter. Being a mum myself I can relate to her and I really enjoyed reading her part in the book. Especially as cool (older) mums are very rare in books. She is definitely one of my favorite characters in this book.
The biggest character development in the book can be found in Laurel. I do not want to give away too much as it might ruin the story. So I just want to give a quote which excellently shows Laurel’s character: „She was already strong. She was already enough.“
There are also some new characters, with Roshaw leading the way. He falls in with Chrys and his mother and becomes an important part of the story. I especially liked the way his belief goes:„When my father explained it to me, he said that when peopled their spirits drift up into the heavens. When you choose a star for them, you can look into the sky and know they’re looking down on you from that very place.“ He is not the most straight forward or „cleanest“ character there is but nonetheless likable.
As I mentioned in my review of A Voice of War the Apogee was a big enigma for me. But it all gets solved in Stones of Light.
There are also moments in the book which are a reminiscence of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings: „What say you?“, reminded me a lot about Aragorn getting the ghosts to fight for them. It is also used in a very fitting situation in Stones of Light.
Next to excellent battle scenes and a thrilling story the book also offers monsters and animal companions. What more can you wish for in a book?
June 16, 2022
Top 3 most highlighted quotes in any book I've ever read!!!
Heralds, help me write a review that does this book justice.
Stones of Light continues straight after Voice of War ends and I appreciated 'The story so far' before we dove straight back into the fold.
I read a physical copy and listened along with the audiobook. Adam Gold's narration, once again, is God tier. Every character has a distinctly unique voice. There were times when I had to pause and take it back to appreciate the art. More than once I thought, how did he make his voice do that.
In Voice of War, it was the characters and relationships that struck a chord with me. They were realistic and relatable and (most) interacted with each other in a way that would make the world a better place if we all did so. Stones of Light added another layer to those already formed relationships and bonds, and new and familiar relationships alike, tested them and it was a delight to read.
Each of Chrys, Laurel and Alverax's stories were addicting. I had to know what happened next. I really enjoyed Alverax's arc and he was my favourite character, though Chrys's story was the one I kept dying to get back to.
The world building is expanded and vivid as we got to see more of the world and its people.
The interwoven plots had me enthralled and holding my breath at many points.
Bonds of Chaos is going to be so good after all of the plot points that were opened in this second instalment of the Threadlight series and I can't wait!!!
Heralds, help me write a review that does this book justice.
Stones of Light continues straight after Voice of War ends and I appreciated 'The story so far' before we dove straight back into the fold.
I read a physical copy and listened along with the audiobook. Adam Gold's narration, once again, is God tier. Every character has a distinctly unique voice. There were times when I had to pause and take it back to appreciate the art. More than once I thought, how did he make his voice do that.
In Voice of War, it was the characters and relationships that struck a chord with me. They were realistic and relatable and (most) interacted with each other in a way that would make the world a better place if we all did so. Stones of Light added another layer to those already formed relationships and bonds, and new and familiar relationships alike, tested them and it was a delight to read.
Each of Chrys, Laurel and Alverax's stories were addicting. I had to know what happened next. I really enjoyed Alverax's arc and he was my favourite character, though Chrys's story was the one I kept dying to get back to.
The world building is expanded and vivid as we got to see more of the world and its people.
The interwoven plots had me enthralled and holding my breath at many points.
Bonds of Chaos is going to be so good after all of the plot points that were opened in this second instalment of the Threadlight series and I can't wait!!!
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