This is the second of the Arnstead series; and the first that I have actually read. Although the MC of the first reappears here, he is primarily a support character in this work that is focused on a new MC PoV that actually seemed to be a more sympathetic protagonist just struggling to survive (as such, it can easily stand on its own, but I enjoyed the world enough to go back and read the first if I still had Kindle Unlimited). Here we also get a standard fantasy trope of a long vanished “magical” civilization now only known for their surviving artifacts and powerful relics (which drive the treasure hunter plot).
I am sure I missed out on some of the world-building that was probably presented in the first book (likely covering much of the various races that inhabit the world and possibly more about the Ones Who Came Before aka demons), there was still quite a lot still happening here, as the MC and friends spend a fair amount of time in the World Below, leaving enough of a mystery to make it very interesting, along with the accelerating action in the back half of the book that made the book hard to put down until you get to a fairly satisfying ending. It all fit together quite well within the solid storytelling craft to make this a stand out achievement. Maybe the next installment will pick up the story of Chandra’s “blind” acolyte buddy for a peek at yet another aspect of the world.


I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.


#Shikaree #TheArnsteadChronicles #LibraryThing ( )