Age of Swords

In this continuation of The Legends of the First Empire series, we continue the story of the preparations for the war between human and Fhrey. I won't get more into it to avoid spoilers of the first book.

I am really loving this series. The pacing in the middle chunk of this book was pretty slow, but the beginning and end really made up for it. The main winner of this series so far is the characters. I love every character in these stories. They're all so well thought out, and their relationships are spectacular. The main group of women that goes on the expedition for weaponry are all so unique and strong. The themes throughout are so well presented, and I found myself rooting for every one of these characters. We get to learn more about the magic in this book as well, and it is so interesting. The side plot of the Mirror Leaf politics was a little more boring in my opinion, however it has been set up to seem like it will be important later. I'm hoping that story line pays off.

Overall, this series has been a joy to read. It is an expert blend of traditional fantasy mixed with modern themes that really leaves me feeling great after each book.

TW: ableism, amputation, animal death, blood, death, demons, attempted murder, misogyny, violence, war