An Echo Of Things To Come is the second volume in The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington. The book continues the intricate epic fantasy about the Gifted, Augurs, Shadow, and Administrators who are involved in a web of politics and struggles to prevent the collapse of the Boundary, a magical wall protecting their world. The story unfolds through multiple points of view, revealing deep character arcs and intricate plot twists. The narrative is rich in flashbacks, unveiling the characters' pasts and motivations, while building anticipation for the final volume.

Characters:

The character development is rich and diverse, with each main character exhibiting growth and complexity as they confront their personal challenges.

Writing/Prose:

The writing has evolved to be more polished and engaging while retaining a classic fantasy tone, with notable storytelling skills in character and plot development.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative directly follows the events of the first book, exploring the characters' evolving challenges and unveiling deeper mysteries linked to their identities and histories.

Setting:

The story is set in a well-developed fantasy world with rich history and an intricate magic system, featuring critical locations related to the ongoing conflict.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slower, focusing on character development before picking up, although some pacing issues arise due to lengthy flashbacks and subplots.

He darted across the rain-slick courtyard toward his target, weaving nimbly between the bright slivers of energy inching across the open space, all the while focusing on the spherical mesh of dark, ha...

Notes:

An Echo Of Things To Come is the second book in The Licanius Trilogy.

The story picks up shortly after the first book, where the heroes face an impending invasion.

Davian seeks to gather Augurs to help protect the Boundary at Tol Shen.

Wirr, now the Northwarden, struggles to earn the trust of a resentful Administration.

Asha advocates at court for the Boundary, which is failing.

Caeden uses a portal box to recover memories of his past before erasing them.

The book features a character arc similar to the film Memento, focusing on memory and foresight.

The writing in this book is described as more polished than in the first book.

The book has a slower pace compared to the first, focusing on character setups for the third book.

A plot twist reveals the true history of the world and its lore, deepening the story.

Characters face moral complexities, questioning right and wrong throughout the narrative.

The author, James Islington, is praised for surprising twists—character deaths are especially impactful.

Caeden's backstory is explored through flashbacks, adding emotional depth to his character.

The magic system becomes more complicated as the story progresses.

There are references to popular epic fantasy series, yet Islington maintains an original touch.

The book includes a prologue and a summary from the first book, helping readers stay grounded in the plot.

Many readers found the numerous characters hard to keep track of, leading to moments of confusion.

The concluding book, The Light of All That Falls, is highly anticipated after the cliffhanger ending.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Medium content warnings are applicable due to themes of violence, trauma from past events, and character deaths, which may be intense for some readers.

From The Publisher:

Davian has won a victory for the Augurs, but treachery surrounds him and his allies on all sides in the second book of the acclaimed Licanus Trilogy, in which "fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson will find much to admire." ( The Guardian )

Following a devastating attack, an amnesty has been declared for all Augurs - finally allowing them to emerge from hiding and openly oppose the dark forces massing against the land of Andarra.

The Augur Davian and his new allies hurry north toward the ever-weakening Boundary, but fresh horrors along their path suggest that their reprieve may have come far too late.

The new Northwarden, his ally in the Capital, contends with assassins and politicians and uncovers a dangerous secret.

Meanwhile, their compatriot Asha begins a secret investigation into the disappearance of the Shadows.

And Caeden races against time to fulfill a treacherous bargain, but as more and more of his memories return, he begins to realize that the two sides in this ancient war may not be as clear-cut as they first seemed.

. .

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An Echo Of Things To Come

James Islington

Book 2 in the series:The Licanius Trilogy