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This book goes way beyond jumping between different timelines or placing stories within stories. It’s an intricate, cleverly knotted ribbon of both of those features tied through many interlocking loops to present the riveting adventure this tale is.

While I loved getting to know Evar and Livira even more and watching their feelings for each other grow in the midst of all the action and excitement, quite a few side characters also shone brightly for me here. Right at the start, we are introduced to Celcha and Hellet, whose heart-wrenching story hooks the reader clean off straight away, as the author delves into yet another dark theme: slavery.

On a lighter note, two of my favourite side characters get tangled up in an unexpected romance, eventually forming my favourite fantasy couple ever and we also get to see a lot more of Wentworth, the charismatic yet mysterious hero of the books.

This second book continues to explore questions of knowledge, information, fact, truth, and the understanding and application of those, making the story sharply relevant to our times. The prose is sparklingly beautiful and profound, as always, the author flexing his poetic muscles whenever the high-powered plot allows a breather. Despite its chunky size, this tome will leave you craving for more.