A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery

Not quite as good as the first book. There were so many different plot threads that it was difficult to keep track of everything that was happening, to the point where it actually hindered my enjoyment of the book. A case of too many ideas and not enough editing.

Book 1: 4*<br />Book 2: 4*<br /><br />Another good chapter in this series. The blend of historical fiction, musketeer era fantasy and steampunk also has a darkness to it. I was worried after book one that things had wrapped up a bit too neatly and that book two would have trouble finding itself but that wasn't the case. This is definitely a series where each book is a separate adventure which isn't necessarily a bad think. Locke Lamora and other great series pull it off as this one is. <br /><br />Surprising this series hasn't caught on.

An extremely solid follow-up to the 1st book! I don't think I liked the antagonist as much as in book 1 and the set-up might have been a little slower and slightly more confusing to me but the payoff and the emotional beats as well as the reveals were so good I couldn't put it down. Jean-Claude and Isabelle (as well as those around them) are becoming one of my favorite duos in fantasy.<br /><br />Also, does Craddock just like weird body horror movies?

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/02/26/book-review-a-labyrinth-of-scions-and-sorcery-by-curtis-craddock/">https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/02/26/...</a><br /><br />I loved An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock, so you can imagine my excitement when it came time to dive into its sequel. To my delight, A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery turned out to be every bit as enchanting and mysterious as the first book, featuring the same incredible fusion of genre elements that captured my imagination so completely.<br /><br />Once again, we’re transported back into the world of The Risen Kingdoms, where protagonist Isabelle des Zephyrs has been struggling with both the success and failures necessary for a leader’s development. Le Grand Leon has made her ambassador to the Great Peace, but unfortunately, the job has come with a lot more strings attached than she anticipated. What’s more, on top of her increased responsibilities, Isabelle finds herself dealing with her newfound well of magic—a discovery which has certainly elevated her status in court but has also meant increased scrutiny for her behavior and actions.<br /><br />In a cutthroat environment like this, Isabelle knows she must step lightly, but there are also certain lines she is determined never to cross. Soon enough, her morals are put to the test, and when one of her decisions leads to a diplomatic incident, she finds herself thrown under a bus and stripped of all authority and protection. Thankfully, Isabelle’s friend and guardian Jean-Claude has remained faithfully by her side throughout the entire ordeal, keeping her spirits up as she ponders her next step. That decision is quickly made for her though, as Jean-Claude, in his own work as a King’s Musketeer, uncovers a horrific plot involving human experimentation perpetrated by a shadowy enemy known as the Harvest King, inevitably drawing them both into a tangled web of danger and conspiracy.<br /><br />And here I thought An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors was complex, but its sequel proved to be an even more twisted and suspenseful read. Like its predecessor, A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery was filled with courtly secrets and political intrigue as Craddock continues to build upon the plotlines he’s already established. Almost immediately, multiple threads arise to seize the reader’s interest, introducing even more mystery to the series. I honestly could never tell where the story was going to take me next; at times it almost got to be overwhelming because there were so many possibilities and nothing was ever predictable.<br /><br />As well, I’m impressed with character development and the direction in which our main characters’ relationships are headed. The author has ensured that his protagonists have evolved with their experiences while retaining the core of their true selves, and Isabelle is a prime example, sticking to her guns even when she knows that it will cost her dearly. That said, she would then utilize her intelligence and whatever resources she can gather to keep moving forward, and I loved that she also started exploring her romantic side as part of her soul-searching. Moreover, I was beside myself with happiness when it came to Jean-Claude, who was my favorite character in the first book. He won me over yet again in this sequel, demonstrating, over and over why his loyalty is one of his most endearing traits. Interestingly enough, we also got to glean some details of his past which showed he was not always the kind of man we know him to be, but somehow these glimpses into his youth only made me like him more, knowing that he had matured and learned from his mistakes.<br /><br />And of course, I would be remiss if I made no mention to the gorgeous world-building. Craddock greatly expands it in this volume, adding to the already vibrant atmosphere and history of The Risen Kingdoms. As I wrote in my review of the first book, there are honestly few things that this series doesn’t have. Examples from many genres are represented, including intricate magic systems, powerful shapeshifters, clockwork automata, flying airships, floating kingdoms, dashing musketeers and much, much more. With book two, this world has further solidified itself as a complex network of all these disparate but interconnected elements.<br /><br />Initially, I was concerned that this novel wouldn’t feel quite as fun or surprising, given how a lot of the luster and novelty had worn off. Fortunately though, that was not the case, and A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery turned out to be a riveting and worthy sequel. This is a series I would highly recommend if you enjoy narratives that contains a number of different genres, themes, and ideas. I really hope more people will discover the wonders of Curtis Craddock’s The Risen Kingdoms, and I await the next installment with great anticipation.

4.5 stars.<br /><br />rtc.<br /><br />***<br /><br />This series is honestly so undeservedly underrated.

Agh! It took my forever to finally get to this but I did! Now I think in comparison to book 1, I preferred book 1 a bit more but not by much. There is SO MUCH political and social maneuvering going on for this whole book which leads up to the pure chaos of the emperor being usurped. Maybe that's how to explain this book: pure organized but frantic political chaos.<br /><br />I loved that Jean Claude got more developed and we saw him as the father figure but as well as his own human who has a history and who has definitely changed over the decades. Isabelle is kind of a bad ass in this book and OH! MY! GOD! HALLELUJAH! THERE IS STILL NO POWERFUL ROMANCE OVERSHADOWING HER PLOT! HELL YES! THANK YOU SIR!

Ahoy there me mateys! The first book in the series was a five star read for me so I was so excited to get additional insight into the characters and world. Book two was almost as good and proved that ye cannot predict where the author will take the plot. Seriously, I kept being surprised over and over again and loving it. The expectations created by the end of the first book are turned upside down and be awesome. It saddens me that I cannot tell ye more about the plot but it be too twisty. I can say that I absolutely adored getting more of Isabelle, Jean-Claude, and Marie. I also loved the new addition of Capitaine Bitterlich, a shapeshifter. He quickly joined the list of favorites. Poor Isabelle has it rough and cannot catch a break. It was awesome. Arrrr!

I sang high praises for the first book in this series, even going so far as to sign up for early coverage of this second novel. It’s such a cool world! And the characters are fascinating. So I picked up A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery, reading more than half of it before life got in the way and I ended up setting it aside for several months. I went to pick it back up and realized “Oh, shoot, I only really remember one thing about what happened... I must have been really distracted while reading” and so decided to start over from the beginning. The trouble is, it wasn’t faulty memory. Only one thing of any significance happened in the first half of the book, which is not enough plot advancement for my tastes. And while things picked up in the second half, the whole book left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. It wasn’t memorable. I’m hoping it just suffered from “middle book syndrome” because I liked the first one enough to want to see where the story goes. And has it happens, the third book just came out. I sure hope it includes a good summary. I recall most of what I read in the first book, but nothing from the second (which is why this review took so long to post).

<a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/31702733.An_Alchemy_of_Masques_and_Mirrors__The_Risen_Kingdoms___1_" title="An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors (The Risen Kingdoms, #1) by Curtis Craddock" rel="noopener">An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors</a> was awesome. This is better.<br /><br />It's got everything that the first book in the series had. Intriguing mystery. An unconventionally kick-ass heroine. An awesome mentor in Jean-Claude. That action/intrigue/comedy combination that Dumas did so well. I particularly appreciate the direction that Craddock took the romance angle in this one. <br /><br />Throw in an intriguing sequel hook (but not a cliffhanger - I hate cliffhangers) and this series has secured its place in my "favorite popcorn reads" category.

<b>Actual rating:</b> 4.5/5<br /><br /><i>Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors</i> was one of my top books of 2017. It impressed me with its clever plot, relatable characters, steampunk aesthetics and unique world-building. After finishing the book I promised myself to follow the series, and so I was beyond excited to read the sequel, <i>Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery</i>. <br /><br /><b>I’m happy to say it surpasses expectations</b>. While I enjoyed Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors just a touch more, Craddock’s got the job done properly and once again crafted a wonderfully intricate story with likeable characters, and a plot that demands and rewards attention. <br /><br />Expect a courtly intrigue, lots of magic, romance, and adventure. <b>Isabelle des Zephyrs</b> unveiled centuries-long conspiracy, stopped a war and gained respect amongst the cutthroat court. As happiness and fortune don’t create suspense the way troubles do, Isabelle soon finds herself unfairly convicted and stripped of her rank. In the meantime, her faithful musketeer and bodyguard Jean-Claude uncovers a series of gruesome murders by someone calling themselves the Harvest King. <br /><br />Craddock took care to develop both the world and characters. <br /><br /><b>Isabelle</b> grows significantly as she tries to figure out her place in society, and how she feels about the events and people who interact with her. I always liked her cold logic and honesty, but now I appreciate them even more. It’s a rare pleasure to observe brilliant minds at work and I think the author has captured her sharp intelligence well. <br /><br />Despite her brilliance, Isabelle has little life experience and her arc has a strong coming-of-age vibe. Especially when she meets a dashing <b>Captain Bitterlich</b>, a shape-shifting Seelenjäger with great manners, a proper sense of humor and great looks. For me, the most exciting parts of the story focused on Isabelle trying to understand her mysterious l’Etincelle sorcery. I love the concept of a maimed heroine with sorcerous limb - an arm-shaped volume filled with luminescent pink and purple clouds and sparks. It turns out this gift has most surprising applications. <br /><br />Isabelle‘s closest friends, Jean-Claude and Marie, get plenty of screen time and I deeply enjoyed their arcs. <b>Jean-Claude</b> used to be a dashing musketeer with an adventurous past. Because time spares no one, he turned stout, near-sighted and generally grumpy. His body betrays him more and more. Luckily he didn’t lose his wit, and he somehow remains arrogant, impetuous and whimsy. <b>He combines character traits of D’Artagnan and Portos, an unexpected combination but it works and entertains</b>. Jean-Claude proves once again his loyalty to Grand Leon and Isabelle as he deals with gruesome murders and an infection that strips saintborns of their magic. He also takes an apprentice, but I can’t tell you anything more about this. <br /><br />As for <b>Marie</b>, she’s tough, efficient and dangerous. We never know what exactly happens in her head, but I do love her character and I can’t see what the future holds for her. New characters, especially Captain Bitterlich, feel fully realized and well rounded.<br /><br />In <i>A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery</i>, Craddock expands the world, its history, customs and geography. While I usually dislike detailed world-building, I found myself immersed and intrigued by his creation and I wouldn’t mind learning even more about it. As readers we learn more about various forms of magic like bestial shape-shifting abilities of Seelenjäger, or Goldentongue sorcery - the ability to craft illusions so convincing that they could even upend nature for a time. A great, imaginative stuff folks. <br /><br />I find the story and the tone of <i>A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery</i> darker than what we experienced in <i>An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors</i>. At times, violence is graphic and the themes (experimentation on living humans, fratricide) heavy. And yet Craddock finds a way to torture his characters without torturing readers. <br /><br />The ending opens many possibilities for future exploration of the world and Isabelle’s place in it, and <b>I want to participate in this journey</b>. Well done, Monsieur Craddock. Well done.