To say Aiduel’s Sin was an anticipated release would be the understatement of the year. As soon as I finished reading Illborn in 2021, I knew I would be anxiously awaiting the sequel and time couldn’t move fast enough. So, I felt very, very lucky and jumped at the chance when Daniel T. Jackson kindly offered to provide me with an ARC. Here we are, more than a year later and YES - it was definitely worth the wait!

Illborn did a great job establishing the 4 protagonists as well as Angall and its central principles. With Aiduel’s Sin we dive deeper into the world, explore new locations, and learn more about the personal & political dynamics at play. It’s been a few months since we left the main characters at the end of book 1, and they’ve all been struggling with the aftermath of their decisions, trying to find their way forward. While some grow and find strength in their new-found power and the responsibility that comes with it, others are too focused on themselves to realize their destructive behavior. Corin’s storyline was, again, one of my favorites. I loved seeing him come into his own, growing more and more confident, never giving up, always fighting for his love, Agbeth, and his people. I also admired Leanna for remaining strong in her faith. Despite horrendous behaviour from members of the church, which could easily lead her to forsake everything it stands for, she never doubts or strays from her path. Arion, on the other hand, keeps making one bad decision after another, and there were definitely times where I felt like yelling at him for being this infuriating. Directly linked to that is Allana - a character so selfish & self-absorbed, she makes it very easy to dislike her (as intended, I’m sure). She sees herself as good and justifies even the most gruesome deeds, while acting objectively evil and with total disregard of others.

I love how different and flawed the characters are. They all have their struggles and obstacles to overcome, but how they go about dealing with these things differs a lot, driving some of them to extremes - yet it never feels out of character for any of them. I can’t wait to find out where the story takes them next and where (and what) the characters ultimately end up (being). Some of the side characters (Blackpaw, Amyss, Caddin) also really stood out to me and I loved what they added to the story. I didn’t expect certain moments to hit me so hard - but hit hard they did!

The writing made it very easy to fall back into the very distinct POVs and follow along everyone’s rollercoaster of a journey. The small cliffhangers at the end of the chapters have become a characteristic element and they made this, once again, a page-turner. Yes, the book is on the chunky side, but it’s a fast-paced story, where so much happens, and - like with book 1 - it’s just hard to put down and stop reading.

The world Daniel T. Jackson has created here is so immersive and I loved being back. Aiduel’s Sin is filled with revelations, loss, battles, heartache, and hopelessness, but also tender moments, love, strength, and perseverance; and just enough answers to feel somewhat satisfied, while new mysteries leave us wanting for more. You can tell Jackson knows exactly where this story is going, and he has a clear path in mind that is going to lead us there. With this second installment The Illborn Saga has firmly cemented its status as one of my favourite ongoing series. I simply can’t recommend this epic tale enough!!

Thanks again to Daniel T. Jackson for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!