Fire in the Blood
The Brimstone Angels series continues from The Adversary. I still love the cast, even if they're a little tight-lipped at times, though it's a little dizzying to see that expanded.
Maybe I'm imagining it, but this installment feels like the author had a little more creative freedom. The sisters being Chosen of Asmodeus feels less forced, as does Cormyr's defense against an invasion. It feels more like a story she wanted to tell than a story she had to tell, even though I suspect the setting developments are woven into the 5E changes for the Forgotten Realms.
Mehen's sexual preference gets an open nod this time, though I don't see it as a big deal and the characters don't have any hang ups about it other than initial surprise. Lorcan still hovers in that realm of "maybe he could be redeemed without the pressures of Hell all around him," but his manipulations of Farideh are pretty much textbook "abusive relationship" when you step back and look at them in that light. Thankfully, she finds some measure of solace with Dahl - which was a long time in coming, really. Brin and Havilar have their issues on and off (mostly on this time). I'll admit, it's all a little bit soap opera-y.
Raedra, a noble of Cormyr in line for the throne, makes an interesting addition. I don't know if she'd to be an ongoing member in the series as she seems pretty tied to the capital city, but she gets enough "screen time" in this volume to be a main character. I liked her, and I'm happy with her arc.
With the royal line of Cormyr so central to a lot of the plot, it's interesting that it's brought up how raising of the dead removes one from the line of inheritance for the crown. I wonder if that's been established before or if that's new. I can see some wisdom to that in a world where such magic exists, though it seems cruel and senseless in other ways. Interesting to think about...
All-in-all, I still quite like the series and eagerly await the next book.
Maybe I'm imagining it, but this installment feels like the author had a little more creative freedom. The sisters being Chosen of Asmodeus feels less forced, as does Cormyr's defense against an invasion. It feels more like a story she wanted to tell than a story she had to tell, even though I suspect the setting developments are woven into the 5E changes for the Forgotten Realms.
Mehen's sexual preference gets an open nod this time, though I don't see it as a big deal and the characters don't have any hang ups about it other than initial surprise. Lorcan still hovers in that realm of "maybe he could be redeemed without the pressures of Hell all around him," but his manipulations of Farideh are pretty much textbook "abusive relationship" when you step back and look at them in that light. Thankfully, she finds some measure of solace with Dahl - which was a long time in coming, really. Brin and Havilar have their issues on and off (mostly on this time). I'll admit, it's all a little bit soap opera-y.
Raedra, a noble of Cormyr in line for the throne, makes an interesting addition. I don't know if she'd to be an ongoing member in the series as she seems pretty tied to the capital city, but she gets enough "screen time" in this volume to be a main character. I liked her, and I'm happy with her arc.
With the royal line of Cormyr so central to a lot of the plot, it's interesting that it's brought up how raising of the dead removes one from the line of inheritance for the crown. I wonder if that's been established before or if that's new. I can see some wisdom to that in a world where such magic exists, though it seems cruel and senseless in other ways. Interesting to think about...
All-in-all, I still quite like the series and eagerly await the next book.
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