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A review by entazis
The Hanged Man by K.D. Edwards
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really liked The Last Sun, but I looved The Hanged Man.
This sequel is everything I hoped for and more. I don't really know how to write this without turning into a mess and spoilers, so I'm going to point some of the stuff I loved without particular order.
The found family feels - just amazing.
The expansion of the worldbuilding, New Atlantis and introduction of other Arcana - I became the immediate fan of Lady Death and I hope we'll see her again. Lord Hanged Man was also a very chilling enemy, his villainy rooted in a very real evil rather than some generic "wants to rule the world" and I think this is what makes the case against him work so well. The external conflicts ties into the internal conflict of main character nicely.
All of the Rune's relationships. All of them. Each different, all great.
THE scene. That's all I'm going to say. It was beautifully foreshadowed and I missed that because I thought, foolishly, it was just a cheeky comment on the fact that this is a series and that a certain aspect is going to be stretched on and on until the last book in the series. I was wrong. I'm so, so happy that I was wrong.
THE other scene in the epilogue, regarding certain teen character. Almost cried at that one. (This actually circles back to the first point.)
I laughed out loud reading this book. There were moments I felt goosebumps. There were moments I almost cried.
This is a much heavier and darker book than the first, since it deals with grooming and sexual abuse of minors done by powerful individuals. But it continues to be a comedy also, so there's a lot of balance of both actual terrifying moments and light humor. There's also a part of the book that felt completely like a very well done short horror story, building on the suspense and dread.
Also I still can't stop recommending the audiobook. Josh Hurley's narration continues to be a delight. His vocal modulations are great, and the way he reads Brand's lines are just as hilarious as is what he mostly says.
I'm so excited for where this series is going to go next. Patiently (that's a lie) waiting for The Hourglass Throne.
This sequel is everything I hoped for and more. I don't really know how to write this without turning into a mess and spoilers, so I'm going to point some of the stuff I loved without particular order.
The found family feels - just amazing.
The expansion of the worldbuilding, New Atlantis and introduction of other Arcana - I became the immediate fan of Lady Death and I hope we'll see her again. Lord Hanged Man was also a very chilling enemy, his villainy rooted in a very real evil rather than some generic "wants to rule the world" and I think this is what makes the case against him work so well. The external conflicts ties into the internal conflict of main character nicely.
All of the Rune's relationships. All of them. Each different, all great.
THE scene. That's all I'm going to say. It was beautifully foreshadowed and I missed that because I thought, foolishly, it was just a cheeky comment on the fact that this is a series and that a certain aspect is going to be stretched on and on until the last book in the series. I was wrong. I'm so, so happy that I was wrong.
THE other scene in the epilogue, regarding certain teen character. Almost cried at that one. (This actually circles back to the first point.)
I laughed out loud reading this book. There were moments I felt goosebumps. There were moments I almost cried.
This is a much heavier and darker book than the first, since it deals with grooming and sexual abuse of minors done by powerful individuals. But it continues to be a comedy also, so there's a lot of balance of both actual terrifying moments and light humor. There's also a part of the book that felt completely like a very well done short horror story, building on the suspense and dread.
Also I still can't stop recommending the audiobook. Josh Hurley's narration continues to be a delight. His vocal modulations are great, and the way he reads Brand's lines are just as hilarious as is what he mostly says.
I'm so excited for where this series is going to go next. Patiently (that's a lie) waiting for The Hourglass Throne.