After reviewing my notes on Sunborn Sunborn Saga Book 1, I was more than happy to read book two. I greatly enjoyed the launch of this set and found Daniels to be extremely interesting. He was bold, caring, cursed, and just so unique. The future landscape and other civilizations were pretty cool.
Book two, Phidelphius, picks up the story and time flies on his adventure. However, this time, I find Daniels to be more equal parts patsy and empty. I don't know. The story is interesting, but I lost out on the appeal of this character. Yes, there is more story to tell in this round. I wasn't the biggest fan of the turn to the Matrix-esq. The writing and editing are both fine, but I just lost the tragic human (or mutant) vibe I enjoyed in the first go-around..
I hope this makes sense. I'm deliberately being vague as to not give away too much of this book. The desire for knowledge and immortality is a strong element of this installment, but getting there felt a bit disjointed.
Don't get me wrong - Daniels and his tragic-hero past comes full frontal. I found myself hoping things would work out for the lead character, but then getting to the point where I sorta didn't care. Overall, this was an entertaining read, but fell short of my, perhaps high, expectations after reading the first installment.
3.7 of 5 stars. Author provided copy.
From the Publisher:
Phidelphius lies outside of the United Poles. Little is known of it, though myths of grandiose surround it. Daniels sets sail for the city, hoping to find some solace there as ghosts from his past awaken inside his mind, threatening to destroy his very sanity. What he finds waiting for him in Phidelphius is nothing like the myths. It’s much stranger, and possibly dangerous. It could kill the dead inside him, or strengthen their hold. All of that depends on the Queen’s plan. The woman who controls the lives of the people of Phidelphius—on the inside and out.
