The middle book of a series in normally a big, thick filler trying to meet up built up characters from the first and put them into the beginning adventure for the next, in 'The Uncrowned King' though, this generalisation could not be further from the mark. A little shorter than it's predecessor and set out at breakneck speed from the first word through to the last. The already extremely memorable cast of characters and a wealth of new and previously background players developed even further than I hoped could be possible and you can not help but be completely drawn in and live through the tale thick in treachery, double crossing politics, magic, sheer determination, despair and absolutely perfectly written dialogue with every single one of them. Daniells is without a doubt my favourite recently discovered high fantasy writer and in these pages has delivered a scorcher. I personally can not wait to start on the next one. I complained during the first book that the story seemed to jump this way and that..using episodes to help define characters instead of a series of events to define the story. I didn't like it (and book 1 got a 3 star) but now that the story is moving (events set in the final 3rd of book 1), the writing is more crisp and all of the events have a direct impact on the plot. I em enjoying the characters far more and look forward to reading book 3. Ultimately, the story focuses upon Byren, Fyn and Prio - the sons and daughter of the captured kingdom of Rolencia. While events don't go the way they want or plan, they are winding towards what promises to be an excellent book 3.
What do You think about The Uncrowned King (2010)?
Better than the first one, its growing on me.
—kristie
