The Fires of Vengeance: The Burning, Book Two

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There is also a scene in this book that we have been building toward since the very beginning of The Rage Of Dragons. Its been a goal of Tau's for so long. We've heard him think, talk and dream about this... His Vengeance! It's in the title! Yet for some reason, the moment just before this happens, we cut away to the perspective of a character we barely know. We miss out on the catharsis, we don't see or hear what is going through Tau's head, we don't feel what he feels, we experience the event through the eyes of a naive and bias bystander. This wouldn't be so bad if we had time to process it afterwards when we rejoin Tau, but no, he is almost immediately torn away to another task - another thing that HE specifically has to do, with very little time to reflect or contemplate what he has done/achieved. that does nothing to change the facts the general described, the decision he’s made, and the decision that we on the Ruling Council must also make.” “This is what you want?” Tsiora asked. “You wish us to forgive and forget treachery?” “My queen, we’re responsible for more than ourselves in this,” Mirembe said, “and to carry out the duty we owe to those we lead, we have to forgive and forget, or everyone dies.” Someone behind Tau cleared his throat. It was Hadith, and although he looked uncomfortable when the faces in the room turned to him, he didn’t wither beneath the gaze of his betters. Tau was beside Nyah and saw her signal Tsiora. The vizier didn’t want her to let Hadith speak, but Nyah’s want wasn’t enough. In the matter of Guardian Councillor Abasi Odili, Tau and the queen were cut from the same stone. They could not forget and they would never forgive. “Ihashe,” Queen Tsiora said to Hadith. “You have something to say?” One of my favourite aspects from The Rage of Dragons was the way Winter explored the themes of power, privilege and prejudice. In The Fires of Vengeance, I was thrilled to discover that Winter deepens these concepts and shows his readers that the history of the Nobles, the more powerful, and the Lessers, the weaker race, is not quite as they have been told. Throughout the beginning Tau, having to now shadow the Queen, is forced to navigate in a world of Nobles where he is constantly reminded of being a Lesser. He is a character you have to admire for his determination to prove to the Nobles that he can be just as worthy, strong and resilient as they are. No matter his birth. For that alone, I rooted for Tau every step of the way.

I said it in the first review and ill say it again. i love the way Tau's story is told. it's so focused on him that the pacing is never bogged down with worldbuilding. He is doing impossible feats and never really takes time to think about them. their is so much happening around him. the worldbuilding is placed around him seamlessly. Winter's does not harp on every detail. It is told to Tau and the reader discovers the rest. I read many books where the author is so enamored with their worldbuilding or magic system they won't shut up about it and what makes the story unique is it's downfall. the side character, politic, and war are all thing happening around Tau. but not the focus, still intrigues the reader. I'll give an example to those who have read this. there is a POV change to the queen's sister and i found it interesting her focus was mostly on Tau but really made me wonder what was her deal. there is a great story there! there are a few POV changes and i found them all good albeit short and they left me wanting to know more. certainly gave me something other than Tau's spectacular storyline to sink my teeth in! Fires of Vengeance" took everything I loved from Rage of Dragons and amplified it. Similar to the Rage of Dragons, it is mainly told from Tau’s point of view with entries from other supporting characters (Duma’s POV made me cry). The story maintains its riveting fast pace with addicting fight scenes and humorous moments between the dark setting. Now the Queen’s Champion, Tau is now tasked with more than simply training to get his revenge, he now has to navigate the politics of the Noble Omehi people. Here, his status as a lesser is not inconspicuous and he is reminded by those involved that he is not worthy of his title. Difference #1 The Fires of Vengeance is more morally complex, and morally interesting. Reading this book made me ask questions about what is morally acceptable, good, or bad. It didn't really give me answers to that, and that is what I prefer. My 100th review on Goodreads. And what a book to fill that position. I have loved writing each one, and hope to create many more.Tau really changed, I loved that the change didn't happen overnight, it was a gradual process, in book 1 he only cared about vengeance, now he knows there's more to life than that. Tau’s quest for vengeance is one of the major forces that drives forward both this book and The Rage of Dragons, and Winter continues to do an amazing job of exploring what kind of effect that single-minded quest for violence can have on a person’s psyche. The vast majority of Firesis told from Tau’s point of view, allowing plenty of time to really dissect all the deep and dark places he pushes himself to on his journey. There’s also the fact that Tau may or may not be losing his mind, as he finds himself constantly haunted by literal demons. One of the secrets to Tau’s strength is his grueling training in Isihogo, the underworld where demons dwell and from which the Omehi priestesses draw forth the magic to do things like turn warriors into hulking goliaths or bind dragons to their will. The longer a person spends in Isihogo, the greater the chance it’ll permanently damage their mind…and Tau has spent a lotof time there. Image courtesy of Orbit Books

I definitely think that directing and shooting affect the way I write. Working in film taught me to break down a narrative and to think about it in discrete pieces. It taught me to value making each and every single piece work maximally. Winter navigates the storytelling, weaving our main POV in such a way that we learn significantly more about Tau, wielding two swords, limping along like the badass he is, while also introducing POV chapters from new characters, including some meatier female roles written with agency. The worldbuilding has expanded, giving us an up close & personal view of the layered intricacies of Xidda & the people that inhabit it. It's violent & grimy & brutal as hell.Tau is racing towards his vision of the future, but the reader feels the pain in every step. Where Tau fights, the world burns. The book started with a clumsily implemented recap of The Rage Of Dragons, in which our protagonist, Tau, tells his " unconscious" friend, Jabari, everything that transpired in that time. THE FIRES OF VENGEANCE CONTINUES THE UNMISSABLE EPIC FANTASY SERIES THAT BEGAN WITH EVAN WINTER'S ACCLAIMED DEBUT THE RAGE OF DRAGONS. I said it earlier this book is fast becoming an all time favourite and it still has two books to go! Grab the audiobook too. Just saying.