annieb123's Review of Upon the Flight of the Queen (Ring-Sworn Trilogy, #2)

by Howard Andrew Jones

“A fast-paced adventure combined with an engrossing mystery, all set in a unique and original fantasy world. I can't wait to find out what happens next!” —Martha Wells, Hugo Award-winning author on For the Killing of Kings

In this sequel to For the Killing of Kings, Howard Andrew Jones returns to the ring-sworn champions of the Altenerai in Upon the Flight of the Queen to continue this thrilling, imaginative and immersive epic fantasy trilogy.

While the savage Naor clans prepare to march on the heart of the Allied Realms, Rylin infiltrates the highest of the enemy ranks to learn their secrets and free hundreds of doomed prisoners. His ailing mentor Varama leads the ever-dwindling Altenerai corps in a series of desperate strikes to cripple the Naor occupiers, hoping for a relief force that may not come in time to save what’s left of the city and her charges.

Elenai, Kyrkenall, and the kobalin Ortok ride through the storm-wracked Shifting Lands to rekindle an alliance with the ko’aye, the only possible counter to the terrible Naor dragons. Even if they survive the hazardous trek deep through kobalin territory to find the winged lizards, though, the three are unlikely to get a warm reception, for the queen of the five realms refused to aid the ko’aye when their homelands were attacked, and the creatures have long memories.

While the Altenerai fight impossible odds to save the realms, their queen delves further and deeper into the magic of the mysterious hearthstones in a frantic attempt to unlock secrets that might just destroy them all.

Praised for his skills in drafting modern epic fantasy that engrosses and entertains, Howard Andrew Jones delivers a sequel that expands the amazing world, relationships, and adventure introduced in the first book of this series.

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Upon the Flight of the Queen is the second book in the high fantasy Ring-Sworn trilogy by Howard Andrew Jones. Released 19th Nov 2019 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 432 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

I love high fantasy epic quest doorstop books like this. The world building is superlative and the characters and plotting are engaging. Reading this book was actually so immersive for me that I lost track of passing time several times. It's taken me a while to actually review this installment because I picked it up without having read the previous book and couldn't keep track of what was going on and had to go back and pick up book one before getting through this one. The good news is that the author is darned gifted at plotting, tension, dialogue, characterization and the other technical details of immersive storytelling. The downside is that this book probably won't work well as a standalone.

Full of action, grand themes, honor, fighting, dragons, more fighting, magic, fighting, battles, impossible odds, and a bit of mystery, it's a ripping yarn in true high octane high fantasy. I really enjoyed this one (just don't try to read it as a standalone).

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Upon the Flight of the Queen (Ring-Sworn Trilogy, #2)

by Howard Andrew Jones

Reviewed by annieb123 on Dec 29, 2019

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