Titanchild

A very good sequel to conclude Jen Williams's third series, the Talon duology. This series fell a little short of The Winnowing Flame, which is one of my favorite fantasy series ever. But it's still top quality stuff that asserts Jen Williams as a criminally underread author who is one of the best epic fantasy writers at the moment.

Williams's style is professional but with a cartoonish aesthetic - I always imagine her books being adapted in pastel cel-shaded graphics. Her characters are bold, loud, and distinctive, and she doesn't shy away from horror. Despite this, her books carry a very British sophistication and wit that often makes them a fun read. This series was significantly more lighthearted than the Winnowing Flame, which I didn't prefer as much, but to each their own.

I've complained a bit in the past about Williams's books feeling too well rounded off, polished, and predictable, but I think that problem was solved here. I never got that feeling reading this book, even though Williams is an author where the good guys always win.

The only storyline I had complaints with was Ynis's, throughout the series, and I only really mention it because she's supposedly the MC. Kaeto and Leven (and Epona in the second book) had much more convincing storylines throughout. I get that Ynis's perspective is likely the hardest to write from, but those were the chapters that relatively fell flat.

Great series, 8/10, highly recommended, looking forward to The Sleepless in a few months!