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The War Eternal #2
The Lessons Never Learned
I am the weapon.Eskara is free of the Pit, but far from safe. She is beset by the ghosts of those she has killed, and plagued by the ancient horror that possesses her. Enemies dog her heels, determined to see the last Orran Sourcerer dead. Worse still, there is new player in the game, one far more dangerous than anything she has faced before.But there is one place that might offer her both the safety she needs to survive, and the power she needs to strike back; Ro’shan, the flying home of a God. Eska will soon learn that all power comes with a cost, and some prices are too high.The thrilling continuation of The War Eternal trilogy raises the stakes and pits Eska against more dangerous enemies. Perfect for fans of Patrick Rothfuss and Mark Lawrence.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2020
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
38 books1,595 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
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May 31, 2020
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Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
To be honest, I was nervous while going into this one because I usually am when I read second books in trilogies due to the notorious Middle Book Syndrome. Contrary to the book title, Hayes does learn the lessons and keep improving his writing! I actually enjoyed book 1 a very very tiny bit more but that does not mean this one was any less excellent.
The story takes place after the end of book 1 and I think that was expected. Although book 1 does not end with a major cliffhanger, it can work as a standalone with an open ending and many questions left unanswered. This book helps expanding what we already know and helps tying some of the loose ends from book 1. Book 1 had a great impact on me that I didn’t hesitate to start this one immediately when I received it and I actually remembered many of the characters and events from book 1 when I did. These are all great things given that I have a golden fish memory regarding this kind id stuff.
The writing is as good as always and maybe even better! Hayes addition of the second POV came as a very good kind of surprise! The characters were as realistic as book 1 and we got introduced to new awesome ones, I really believe Hayes excels at writig characters.
The world-building in book 1 was also mind-blowing and I felt I was living in the pit while reading the book. This book expands the world building and we have a flying city but for some reason I felt more excited reading the first one. The magic is even more cool than book 1, and the awesome cover is not a catfish, we really get to see light swords and thunderous powers and cool magic!!!
Plot-wise the book has many twists and plots and I just was curious to see where things will be going. This book has a prophecy trope and that is one of my favorite things ever! The book ended with a cliffhanger and I immediately wanted to start book 3, the good news is that I got an ARC after that and read it and loved it even more than this one.
Summary: This is a continuation of book 1 with all the great things in book 1 being expanded upon. I was afraid of Middle Book Syndrome but Hayes proved himself to be a great writer once again. I am not giving it a full 5 stars because I thought something was missing and I was torn between 4 and 5 stars so I went for something in between which I think is fair! If you are a fan of Epic/ Dark fantasy, do yourself a favor and read this one!
You can get more books from Book Depository
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
“Age is odd like that. The more years you have, the less you have left.”
To be honest, I was nervous while going into this one because I usually am when I read second books in trilogies due to the notorious Middle Book Syndrome. Contrary to the book title, Hayes does learn the lessons and keep improving his writing! I actually enjoyed book 1 a very very tiny bit more but that does not mean this one was any less excellent.
The story takes place after the end of book 1 and I think that was expected. Although book 1 does not end with a major cliffhanger, it can work as a standalone with an open ending and many questions left unanswered. This book helps expanding what we already know and helps tying some of the loose ends from book 1. Book 1 had a great impact on me that I didn’t hesitate to start this one immediately when I received it and I actually remembered many of the characters and events from book 1 when I did. These are all great things given that I have a golden fish memory regarding this kind id stuff.
The writing is as good as always and maybe even better! Hayes addition of the second POV came as a very good kind of surprise! The characters were as realistic as book 1 and we got introduced to new awesome ones, I really believe Hayes excels at writig characters.
The world-building in book 1 was also mind-blowing and I felt I was living in the pit while reading the book. This book expands the world building and we have a flying city but for some reason I felt more excited reading the first one. The magic is even more cool than book 1, and the awesome cover is not a catfish, we really get to see light swords and thunderous powers and cool magic!!!
Plot-wise the book has many twists and plots and I just was curious to see where things will be going. This book has a prophecy trope and that is one of my favorite things ever! The book ended with a cliffhanger and I immediately wanted to start book 3, the good news is that I got an ARC after that and read it and loved it even more than this one.
“The world is founded on lie, upon lie, upon lie. But the truth is always there, just waiting for an opportunity to tear down everything we have built.”
Summary: This is a continuation of book 1 with all the great things in book 1 being expanded upon. I was afraid of Middle Book Syndrome but Hayes proved himself to be a great writer once again. I am not giving it a full 5 stars because I thought something was missing and I was torn between 4 and 5 stars so I went for something in between which I think is fair! If you are a fan of Epic/ Dark fantasy, do yourself a favor and read this one!
You can get more books from Book Depository
April 17, 2020
Rob J. Hayes' War Eternal series started off with a resounding bang with Along the Razor's Edge. It was simply a jaw-dropping first entry that had me engaged from first page to finish. Rob just seems to get better and better with each book and series in my opinion. And he has this cool ability to reinvent himself every time. So I had the briefest moment of hesitation before I opened up book #2 because, what if this was the book where Rob slumps a bit? The guy's winning streak has to hit a speed bump at some point, right? I mean, he can't possibly keep churning out brilliant book after brilliant book can he? He's not a machine after all! Oh yes he can and yes he is.
THE LESSONS NEVER LEARNED begins soon after Eska is free from the torturous underground prison called the Pit. Ten years of her life were wasted toiling in its dark depths for nothing more than hard labor mandated by her jailers Deko and the overseer. But they did not break her. Now she finds herself on the run from a variety of assassins sent forth by the overseer to bring Eska back, dead or alive. You see, nobody escapes the Pit and lives to tell the tale. At least, not for very long. Eska is faced with some hard choices as she struggles to survive, for around every corner an assassins blade or arrow could be pointed in her direction.
She arrives in Ro'shan, a floating city that orbits the Terrelan continent below. The city is technically outside the power and jurisdiction of the Terrelan empire, existing as a trading entity that anchors itself periodically to conduct commerce. It's a pretty mysterious place quite frankly. Eska finds some semblance of asylum there from the Emperor, who she has now attracted the attention of. But how long can her false sense of safety last? Will the Ro'shan leaders continue to shelter her, or will they just throw her to the wolves the first chance they get? The answer to that may lie in the powers of sorcery that she possesses and whether or not she may be able to help them in some way. People have been using Eska for her powerful sorcery since the day she was born, and it seems as if her would-be savior is no different. But make no mistake, Eska is taking names. She yearns for the day when she can exact her revenge on all of those who have wronged her in both the past and present.
This is such a fabulous series and I'm happy to say that THE LESSONS NEVER LEARNED has brought it to an even higher level. Where book one was very tightly focused and centered mostly on Eska's plot to escape her captivity, this one had a lot more twists and turns to it. There's a great deal more moving around to different places and encountering different types of inhabitants of the outside world. There's also a considerable uptick in the action, as Eska gets involved in a few tussles while she flees those hired to track her down.
Oh, did I mention there's a FREAKING FLOATING CITY?! Rob has definitely stepped up his game in the world-building department and I thought the introduction of things like this really pumped up the wow factor a lot. There are a number of really cool revelations in this second book that shed some light on Eska's past and also portend certain things to come in the future. Eska learns more about her magic as well and this makes her an even more threatening foe to her enemies. She's making a lot of those by the way.
But at the heart of this story and series is the character of Eska herself. The thing that makes her such a compelling character is that she has this palpable sense of determination and strength, yet sometimes doubts herself in certain situations. This gives her a very relatable air of vulnerability that makes her easy to connect with. The struggle between those two conflicting attributes is also what makes her one of my favorite characters in any fantasy book. There is a complexity and depth to her that is hard to define. I'd like to share my favorite quote from the book that I believe perfectly captures Eska and what a kick-ass MC she is: "Scars are proof of a life lived, of hardships that changed us yet didn't kill us. I wear mine with pride and I have many of them." It's a killer damn quote.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I absolutely loved THE LESSONS NEVER LEARNED and need the final book of this series in my hands immediately. Rob J. Hayes continues to write mind-blowing fantasy that delights with every turn of the page. If you aren't reading his books, you are missing out on a truly special talent. I can't ever say enough about how much I enjoy everything he writes. The book is officially available to purchase on April, 28th, but can be preordered now. My suggestion would be to pick up book 1, Along the Razor's Edge while you are waiting and start this outstanding series today.
THE LESSONS NEVER LEARNED begins soon after Eska is free from the torturous underground prison called the Pit. Ten years of her life were wasted toiling in its dark depths for nothing more than hard labor mandated by her jailers Deko and the overseer. But they did not break her. Now she finds herself on the run from a variety of assassins sent forth by the overseer to bring Eska back, dead or alive. You see, nobody escapes the Pit and lives to tell the tale. At least, not for very long. Eska is faced with some hard choices as she struggles to survive, for around every corner an assassins blade or arrow could be pointed in her direction.
She arrives in Ro'shan, a floating city that orbits the Terrelan continent below. The city is technically outside the power and jurisdiction of the Terrelan empire, existing as a trading entity that anchors itself periodically to conduct commerce. It's a pretty mysterious place quite frankly. Eska finds some semblance of asylum there from the Emperor, who she has now attracted the attention of. But how long can her false sense of safety last? Will the Ro'shan leaders continue to shelter her, or will they just throw her to the wolves the first chance they get? The answer to that may lie in the powers of sorcery that she possesses and whether or not she may be able to help them in some way. People have been using Eska for her powerful sorcery since the day she was born, and it seems as if her would-be savior is no different. But make no mistake, Eska is taking names. She yearns for the day when she can exact her revenge on all of those who have wronged her in both the past and present.
This is such a fabulous series and I'm happy to say that THE LESSONS NEVER LEARNED has brought it to an even higher level. Where book one was very tightly focused and centered mostly on Eska's plot to escape her captivity, this one had a lot more twists and turns to it. There's a great deal more moving around to different places and encountering different types of inhabitants of the outside world. There's also a considerable uptick in the action, as Eska gets involved in a few tussles while she flees those hired to track her down.
Oh, did I mention there's a FREAKING FLOATING CITY?! Rob has definitely stepped up his game in the world-building department and I thought the introduction of things like this really pumped up the wow factor a lot. There are a number of really cool revelations in this second book that shed some light on Eska's past and also portend certain things to come in the future. Eska learns more about her magic as well and this makes her an even more threatening foe to her enemies. She's making a lot of those by the way.
But at the heart of this story and series is the character of Eska herself. The thing that makes her such a compelling character is that she has this palpable sense of determination and strength, yet sometimes doubts herself in certain situations. This gives her a very relatable air of vulnerability that makes her easy to connect with. The struggle between those two conflicting attributes is also what makes her one of my favorite characters in any fantasy book. There is a complexity and depth to her that is hard to define. I'd like to share my favorite quote from the book that I believe perfectly captures Eska and what a kick-ass MC she is: "Scars are proof of a life lived, of hardships that changed us yet didn't kill us. I wear mine with pride and I have many of them." It's a killer damn quote.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I absolutely loved THE LESSONS NEVER LEARNED and need the final book of this series in my hands immediately. Rob J. Hayes continues to write mind-blowing fantasy that delights with every turn of the page. If you aren't reading his books, you are missing out on a truly special talent. I can't ever say enough about how much I enjoy everything he writes. The book is officially available to purchase on April, 28th, but can be preordered now. My suggestion would be to pick up book 1, Along the Razor's Edge while you are waiting and start this outstanding series today.
March 27, 2020
“Opinions are like children. Those who have them want them to be special, rarely realizing they are just as dumb as ugly as all the others.”
I had some trepidations going into book two. Although Along the Razor’s Edge was the start of the trilogy, it could have worked as an entirely self-contained story. In Edge, there is a singular goal and a definitive endpoint that remains the focus of the story, and it resolves itself by the book’s conclusion. But now that the environment will be changing, can the story maintain its excellent pace and character work? We were also teased with a handful of intriguing plotlines that the narrator dropped on us throughout book one, and it only seems logical that those mysteries would start to be solved in the sequel. Therefore, it is possible that the ‘wow factor’ may lose a bit of luster once we are able to look behind the curtain. Will there be enough new developments to surprise the reader, or will it spend most of its time explaining all of hints dropped in book one?
And above all, Along the Razor’s Edge is stupidly brilliant. So you can say that The Lessons Never Learned has a lot to live up to.
You can see where this is going.
Rest assured, dear reader. This story is something special.
“We are, all of us, marred by scars, plagued by the faults and insecurities laid upon us by our pasts.”
I’ll avoid discussing the events of the story but will touch on the themes that separate it from Razor’s Edge. This entry spans a longer length of time, so we get to see Eska mature and start to manage her newfound responsibilities in compromising ways. Although she doesn’t have many people who will ever be close to her, she will guard them fiercely and sacrifice anything to protect them. This ideal is tested to the extreme, and it is one of the most well-written and most emotionally challenging aspects to the story. There are some powerful themes to explore, and Hayes takes his time to examine these events carefully and with enough thoughtful respect to give weight to their consequences.
Eska must also face new trials in her life involving freedom, vengeance, and the many different forms that love can take. She is still hunted by powerful forces, but she has a much wider array of resources to rely upon. And there are some truly harrowing action sequences that kept me flinching and squirming over the course of several chapters; my emotions ranged from stressful, incredulous, and devastating. It’s another testament to how powerful Hayes has written Eskara’s narrative voice; we live inside her and emote with her, we relate to her and understand her. Even if we disagree with her methods, we are connected to her every step of the way. I said this before and I will say it again: this story is more than a read, it’s an immersive experience of rare caliber.
“Truth is a prison. One that sits behind us our entire lives, just waiting for us to step inside its barred domain. I have heard people say that the truth can set you free. Somewhat ironically, that's a bloody lie. The truth locks you in, determines a set way of thinking, of feeling, of believing. The truth is the opposite of freedom. Lies, on the other hand, can be whatever we want them to be. Lies can free us from a burden that truth would bury us with. Lies can ease a pain that truth would cause to rot and fester. Lies can make a point, where truth would just expose us for the hypocrites we are, a lesson all parents know well. The world is founded on lie, upon lie, upon lie. But the truth is always there, just waiting for an opportunity to tear down everything we have built.”
Hayes has won several awards over the course of writing career, most recently the Booknest novel of the year, and is once again a finalist for this year’s SPFBO, which he won in a previous year. But through all his accolades and experiences in the self- and trad-published industries, there is no doubt in my mind that ‘The War Eternal’ is the crown jewel of his writing career. There is more going on beyond Eska’s endeavors that will be revealed in From Cold Ashes Risen, and I can hardly wait to find out how this story will pan out. All I know for sure is that it’s going to be fantastic, and you'll be plotting your own mission of vengeance if you miss it.
9.2 / 10
I had some trepidations going into book two. Although Along the Razor’s Edge was the start of the trilogy, it could have worked as an entirely self-contained story. In Edge, there is a singular goal and a definitive endpoint that remains the focus of the story, and it resolves itself by the book’s conclusion. But now that the environment will be changing, can the story maintain its excellent pace and character work? We were also teased with a handful of intriguing plotlines that the narrator dropped on us throughout book one, and it only seems logical that those mysteries would start to be solved in the sequel. Therefore, it is possible that the ‘wow factor’ may lose a bit of luster once we are able to look behind the curtain. Will there be enough new developments to surprise the reader, or will it spend most of its time explaining all of hints dropped in book one?
And above all, Along the Razor’s Edge is stupidly brilliant. So you can say that The Lessons Never Learned has a lot to live up to.
You can see where this is going.
Rest assured, dear reader. This story is something special.
“We are, all of us, marred by scars, plagued by the faults and insecurities laid upon us by our pasts.”
I’ll avoid discussing the events of the story but will touch on the themes that separate it from Razor’s Edge. This entry spans a longer length of time, so we get to see Eska mature and start to manage her newfound responsibilities in compromising ways. Although she doesn’t have many people who will ever be close to her, she will guard them fiercely and sacrifice anything to protect them. This ideal is tested to the extreme, and it is one of the most well-written and most emotionally challenging aspects to the story. There are some powerful themes to explore, and Hayes takes his time to examine these events carefully and with enough thoughtful respect to give weight to their consequences.
Eska must also face new trials in her life involving freedom, vengeance, and the many different forms that love can take. She is still hunted by powerful forces, but she has a much wider array of resources to rely upon. And there are some truly harrowing action sequences that kept me flinching and squirming over the course of several chapters; my emotions ranged from stressful, incredulous, and devastating. It’s another testament to how powerful Hayes has written Eskara’s narrative voice; we live inside her and emote with her, we relate to her and understand her. Even if we disagree with her methods, we are connected to her every step of the way. I said this before and I will say it again: this story is more than a read, it’s an immersive experience of rare caliber.
“Truth is a prison. One that sits behind us our entire lives, just waiting for us to step inside its barred domain. I have heard people say that the truth can set you free. Somewhat ironically, that's a bloody lie. The truth locks you in, determines a set way of thinking, of feeling, of believing. The truth is the opposite of freedom. Lies, on the other hand, can be whatever we want them to be. Lies can free us from a burden that truth would bury us with. Lies can ease a pain that truth would cause to rot and fester. Lies can make a point, where truth would just expose us for the hypocrites we are, a lesson all parents know well. The world is founded on lie, upon lie, upon lie. But the truth is always there, just waiting for an opportunity to tear down everything we have built.”
Hayes has won several awards over the course of writing career, most recently the Booknest novel of the year, and is once again a finalist for this year’s SPFBO, which he won in a previous year. But through all his accolades and experiences in the self- and trad-published industries, there is no doubt in my mind that ‘The War Eternal’ is the crown jewel of his writing career. There is more going on beyond Eska’s endeavors that will be revealed in From Cold Ashes Risen, and I can hardly wait to find out how this story will pan out. All I know for sure is that it’s going to be fantastic, and you'll be plotting your own mission of vengeance if you miss it.
9.2 / 10
July 27, 2020
Review now live at Grimdark Magazine
The Lessons Never Learned is Book Two of the War Eternal trilogy, that began with the fantastic Along the Razor’s Edge.
“Opinions are like children. Those who have them want them to be special, rarely realizing they are just as dumb and ugly as all the others.”
With this in mind, I’ll go forth with my review.
Now, before we start to worry that The Lessons Never Learned will suffer from middle-book syndrome as so many bridge novels in trilogies seem to do, let me state right here that this is not the case. I would actually compare this more to the classic Empire Strikes Back level of middle-books, the perhaps rare case where the bridge is better than the ends. I don’t know (yet) if it’s better than Book Three, but I would venture to say that if you enjoyed Book One, you will like this at least as much.
Eskara Helsene and her companions have escaped the Pit. Big spoiler for Book One, but if you’ve read this far you would have been alerted to this fact. But their problems have only just begun, as they have nothing more than the rags on their backs and a couple of Sources picked up along the way. Sources are essential to sorcerers though, of which Eska is a member. It is in fact, the “source” of their power. (See Book One for the source of this information).
Well, it isn’t much, but it’s a start. Eska has managed to escape by being clever enough and making the right alliances, getting the help she needed to make her break for it. And now she has a little link to her power with these two sources. Well, more like one as if she uses the second it’s more like to kill her, which would end this trilogy as a single novel with an afternote.
Eska’s next step is to evade recapture by the ones hunting her and her companions, Hardt and Tamura, and she discovers that she might be able to do just that by going to the floating city of Ro’shan. Not only does this city float in the sky, but it orbits the planet slowly, dropping anchor when arriving at trade cities. As luck would have it, it’s just in the path of Eska and her group. They stumble on a young thief named Imiko who can help them stowaway on the city before it moves on.
And that’s where their troubles just begin…
This novel was packed with just as much excitement and surprises as the first, moving out from the underground setting we experienced for most of the first book. We get to see the world from above, somewhat literally as Eska and her friends look down from Ro’shan. Will she be pursued by their enemies? (She will.) Will they get into even more trouble in this floating city than they were in to begin with? (They will.) And will there be lots of grimdarky violence and power switching along the way? (There will.) Finally, will Hayes kick us in the teeth a few times with unexpected twists?
This, my friends, is a Book Two of Three that would make Lucas proud. I won’t reveal who gets trapped in carbonite and hauled back to Jabba the Hutt, but this is a novel that not only bridges the trilogy in fine fashion, but makes us long for Book Three.
Luckily, we don’t have to wait three years…
The Lessons Never Learned is Book Two of the War Eternal trilogy, that began with the fantastic Along the Razor’s Edge.
“Opinions are like children. Those who have them want them to be special, rarely realizing they are just as dumb and ugly as all the others.”
With this in mind, I’ll go forth with my review.
Now, before we start to worry that The Lessons Never Learned will suffer from middle-book syndrome as so many bridge novels in trilogies seem to do, let me state right here that this is not the case. I would actually compare this more to the classic Empire Strikes Back level of middle-books, the perhaps rare case where the bridge is better than the ends. I don’t know (yet) if it’s better than Book Three, but I would venture to say that if you enjoyed Book One, you will like this at least as much.
Eskara Helsene and her companions have escaped the Pit. Big spoiler for Book One, but if you’ve read this far you would have been alerted to this fact. But their problems have only just begun, as they have nothing more than the rags on their backs and a couple of Sources picked up along the way. Sources are essential to sorcerers though, of which Eska is a member. It is in fact, the “source” of their power. (See Book One for the source of this information).
Well, it isn’t much, but it’s a start. Eska has managed to escape by being clever enough and making the right alliances, getting the help she needed to make her break for it. And now she has a little link to her power with these two sources. Well, more like one as if she uses the second it’s more like to kill her, which would end this trilogy as a single novel with an afternote.
Eska’s next step is to evade recapture by the ones hunting her and her companions, Hardt and Tamura, and she discovers that she might be able to do just that by going to the floating city of Ro’shan. Not only does this city float in the sky, but it orbits the planet slowly, dropping anchor when arriving at trade cities. As luck would have it, it’s just in the path of Eska and her group. They stumble on a young thief named Imiko who can help them stowaway on the city before it moves on.
And that’s where their troubles just begin…
This novel was packed with just as much excitement and surprises as the first, moving out from the underground setting we experienced for most of the first book. We get to see the world from above, somewhat literally as Eska and her friends look down from Ro’shan. Will she be pursued by their enemies? (She will.) Will they get into even more trouble in this floating city than they were in to begin with? (They will.) And will there be lots of grimdarky violence and power switching along the way? (There will.) Finally, will Hayes kick us in the teeth a few times with unexpected twists?
This, my friends, is a Book Two of Three that would make Lucas proud. I won’t reveal who gets trapped in carbonite and hauled back to Jabba the Hutt, but this is a novel that not only bridges the trilogy in fine fashion, but makes us long for Book Three.
Luckily, we don’t have to wait three years…
Read
February 20, 2023A great sequel that continues what I loved about book one. It is high fantasy, with a unique world, that takes fantasy in a fresh direction. Utterly unpredictable, you have no idea where the story will take you, yet it is still satisfying and engaging, with a confident authorial voice at the heart of the story that drives it on.
Read
April 28, 2020Just to surprise you all... But I have read this book! It's pretty good.
The Lessons Never Learned (Book 2 of The War Eternal) has been released and is available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
https://readerlinks.com/l/1084575
The Lessons Never Learned (Book 2 of The War Eternal) has been released and is available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
https://readerlinks.com/l/1084575
February 8, 2023
The pacing in this book really frustrated me. As the first half of this book was very slow and made me notice the repetitive nature of Hayes writing. He often over describes characters and things to us. Repeatedly telling us Hardt is big and tall, Tamara is crazy, some girl put suicidal thoughts in her head and a bunch more. Around 50% I was so sick of hearing these things. I thought this book was going to be three stars. It was ending up very slice of life just watching Eska do things daily.
THEN
We hit 60% and I was like WOW this is what I had wanted the entire time.
The expansion of the world, magic and characters was done really well.
The last half of this book was 5 star worthy for me. But sadly the first half brought my rating down.
In the end I enjoyed it a little less then the first! But have honestly already started book three! Which says a lot about this ending.
Also I do find Hayes heavy handed but I also find him very insightful. I'm not one to annotate my books but find myself wishing I had physical copies to highlight lines in.
THEN
We hit 60% and I was like WOW this is what I had wanted the entire time.
The expansion of the world, magic and characters was done really well.
The last half of this book was 5 star worthy for me. But sadly the first half brought my rating down.
In the end I enjoyed it a little less then the first! But have honestly already started book three! Which says a lot about this ending.
Also I do find Hayes heavy handed but I also find him very insightful. I'm not one to annotate my books but find myself wishing I had physical copies to highlight lines in.
January 26, 2023
This series is really started to Ramp up!!! I enjoyed the first book more. That said this feels like the prices are being put in place for this series to take off. Eskara is a complex damaged character that you can’t help but feel for. Even though she isn’t the best of individuals
April 2, 2023
Unfortunately I don't have time right now to leave a proper review, but suffice to say book two properly opens up the world, characters, lore, magic, history, and everything else!
I am still not the biggest fan of Eska as a character, and the narrative style (a character narrating back their own life) is not one I like that much, but my goodness the writing is so wonderful, the narration is top-notch, and it's clear there is so much more to this world of gods, monsters, and everything in between. We've only scratched the surface of the War Eternal!
Looking forward to diving into book three!
I am still not the biggest fan of Eska as a character, and the narrative style (a character narrating back their own life) is not one I like that much, but my goodness the writing is so wonderful, the narration is top-notch, and it's clear there is so much more to this world of gods, monsters, and everything in between. We've only scratched the surface of the War Eternal!
Looking forward to diving into book three!
August 22, 2021
I already loved Along the Razor's Edge, and this was one is a worthy sequel!
I loved exploring the pit, and found the confines space fascinating, but I'm just as happy to now venturing into the wider world. Not because not is there more places to discover, but also other races, strange magic, different cultures and all sorts of things. From mostly Grimdark we venture into a more epic sort of fantasy, and the transition felt smooth and well done.
Instead of just trying to flee and survive, our characters now get to grow and stretch and try to find their way back to a normal life. As normal as life can ever be if you have a backstory and character like Eska, or are her close companion...
The hindsight she uses at times, as we're told the story by an older and wiser Eskara, works well to show her strengths along her weaknesses. She's such a bullheaded "forward only" sort of person, it might be a bit much to take at times, but her saying straight out that she was way too impulsive and just didn't know better back then helped me to never feel like I needed to roll my eyes and get fed up with her.
(Me being like a carbon copy of those character traits probably doesn't hurt either... I also often rather hurt myself than give in, to this day... Knowing better does not necessarily make it easier to go against your nature.)
There's new friends, new loyalties, the fear of betrayal, new happiness and new horrors to be found in this sequel. Action and fighting as well as some time just readjusting to the world.
It all makes for amazing and believable character development, and I love the troupe even more than before. Not just Eska has grown up, the side characters also started to feel a lot more "real" to me, and less like a backdrop.
I ca t wait to read the finale - though I'll make myself wait again. Because I also do not want the series to end!
I loved exploring the pit, and found the confines space fascinating, but I'm just as happy to now venturing into the wider world. Not because not is there more places to discover, but also other races, strange magic, different cultures and all sorts of things. From mostly Grimdark we venture into a more epic sort of fantasy, and the transition felt smooth and well done.
Instead of just trying to flee and survive, our characters now get to grow and stretch and try to find their way back to a normal life. As normal as life can ever be if you have a backstory and character like Eska, or are her close companion...
The hindsight she uses at times, as we're told the story by an older and wiser Eskara, works well to show her strengths along her weaknesses. She's such a bullheaded "forward only" sort of person, it might be a bit much to take at times, but her saying straight out that she was way too impulsive and just didn't know better back then helped me to never feel like I needed to roll my eyes and get fed up with her.
(Me being like a carbon copy of those character traits probably doesn't hurt either... I also often rather hurt myself than give in, to this day... Knowing better does not necessarily make it easier to go against your nature.)
There's new friends, new loyalties, the fear of betrayal, new happiness and new horrors to be found in this sequel. Action and fighting as well as some time just readjusting to the world.
It all makes for amazing and believable character development, and I love the troupe even more than before. Not just Eska has grown up, the side characters also started to feel a lot more "real" to me, and less like a backdrop.
I ca t wait to read the finale - though I'll make myself wait again. Because I also do not want the series to end!
February 27, 2023
I've finally gotten back around to the War Eternal by Rob J. Hayes. I read book one in the series last year as a buddy read and though I did enjoy it I felt many of the others were keen on that first book just a bit more than I was. I liked it enough to want to continue and I'm glad I did. The second book The Lessons Never Learned definitely connected with me more than the first. I've pondered this for a bit and I think I finally pinpointed the reason why. This goes back to 2021 when I really started reading a lot again. I noticed I struggle with books at times when the main characters are on the younger side. By no means is this series Young Adult but I think I had trouble connecting to our characters in their younger times.
This is just a personal struggle I've noticed with at times. Book two picks up where the first left off. I think diving into the world beyond the Pit really helped me connect with the story more this time around as well. I will add that I have been using the audio version of this book which Moira Quick does an amazing job throughout this series so far.
The pacing is smooth in book two. We have plenty of action along with a heaping helping of emotion as we did in the first book. There really isn't much to complain about here as these aren't long or difficult reads. They very easy reads. Rob does well in keeping our attention through the ebb and flow of the book without difficult vocabulary or names which can tend to trip me up at times.
The character building continues to shine onto the second book (I'm on the third as of writing this review). As previously mentioned we have now left the Pit and are beginning to learn far more of this world, it's cultures and races that we've been hinted to. We have plenty of new characters to discover in The Lessons Never Learned as well as learning more about Eskara.
The world building is becoming some of my favorites parts of The War Eternal. Not only are we beginning to understand more on where the name of the series itself comes from but also more of the deities, floating cities and even other planes of existence!
All in all I'm definitely growing fonder of this series as I progress. I already mentioned I'm currently onto book three of the series as typing this. I would recommend this series and this book to fantasy readers who enjoy their stories a bit more on the darker side. Both due to language as well as some of what I'd describe as just raw emotion from our characters.
This is just a personal struggle I've noticed with at times. Book two picks up where the first left off. I think diving into the world beyond the Pit really helped me connect with the story more this time around as well. I will add that I have been using the audio version of this book which Moira Quick does an amazing job throughout this series so far.
The pacing is smooth in book two. We have plenty of action along with a heaping helping of emotion as we did in the first book. There really isn't much to complain about here as these aren't long or difficult reads. They very easy reads. Rob does well in keeping our attention through the ebb and flow of the book without difficult vocabulary or names which can tend to trip me up at times.
The character building continues to shine onto the second book (I'm on the third as of writing this review). As previously mentioned we have now left the Pit and are beginning to learn far more of this world, it's cultures and races that we've been hinted to. We have plenty of new characters to discover in The Lessons Never Learned as well as learning more about Eskara.
The world building is becoming some of my favorites parts of The War Eternal. Not only are we beginning to understand more on where the name of the series itself comes from but also more of the deities, floating cities and even other planes of existence!
All in all I'm definitely growing fonder of this series as I progress. I already mentioned I'm currently onto book three of the series as typing this. I would recommend this series and this book to fantasy readers who enjoy their stories a bit more on the darker side. Both due to language as well as some of what I'd describe as just raw emotion from our characters.
June 19, 2020
4⭐️
The Lessons Never Learned follows the story of Eskara Helsene that began in Rob Hayes’ explosive first book of The War Eternal Series, Along The Razor’s Edge. This book finds Eska a free woman, though with plenty of baggage and a thirst for vengeance. I think I liked book one a bit better. I prefer those taut, contained stories full of tension where you know what a character has to do but you’re not sure how it comes to happen.
The Lessons Never Learned is much larger in scope, as Eska actually sees the whole world she lives in. She grows through interactions with all sorts of people and beings. She furthers her course to becoming “The Corpse Queen” that she references. She learns secrets maybe she should have left alone.
I love the character that is Eska. Probably my favorite character Rob has created. She’s an absolute force of nature, but always questioning her actions. Her self doubt doesn’t stop her from acting in her best interests but she values her friends and fears being alone. We see her life unfold, and even as she tells us she’s making a bad choice, she acknowledges that she would probably do it again. That’s humanity for you. Can’t wait to finish this series and pick up some more wisdom from Tamura.
The Lessons Never Learned follows the story of Eskara Helsene that began in Rob Hayes’ explosive first book of The War Eternal Series, Along The Razor’s Edge. This book finds Eska a free woman, though with plenty of baggage and a thirst for vengeance. I think I liked book one a bit better. I prefer those taut, contained stories full of tension where you know what a character has to do but you’re not sure how it comes to happen.
The Lessons Never Learned is much larger in scope, as Eska actually sees the whole world she lives in. She grows through interactions with all sorts of people and beings. She furthers her course to becoming “The Corpse Queen” that she references. She learns secrets maybe she should have left alone.
I love the character that is Eska. Probably my favorite character Rob has created. She’s an absolute force of nature, but always questioning her actions. Her self doubt doesn’t stop her from acting in her best interests but she values her friends and fears being alone. We see her life unfold, and even as she tells us she’s making a bad choice, she acknowledges that she would probably do it again. That’s humanity for you. Can’t wait to finish this series and pick up some more wisdom from Tamura.
July 23, 2020
Finally got the chance to write a review for this around work and my own writing, a frankly overdue one, as it was a book I highly enjoyed.
So, anyhoo, 2nd book of The War Eternal series by Rob J. Hayes. A bit of a different beast to the 1st in the series, free of the Pit's confines we get to see more of Hayes' world as witnessed through the eyes of the ever-grumpy Eskara Helsene, leading to a more overall epic, worldspanning adventure.
Like its predecessor, The Lessons Never Learned has a foot planted firmly in both the grimdark and trad/high fantasy camps. Written as well as it is, the result is that it's grimy without being bleak, and sparkly without being corny, with characters who's motivations are more grounded in reality, despite the fantastical undertakings and goings on around them.
Hayes' writing lends itself well to an open world and, personally, I feel this is where he excels, crafting epic scenes, monumental cities and sprawling landscapes that leave a vividly colourful imagery in the mind, whilst its grimdark grounding ensures that it never ventures into a Disney-like sugarplum facade.
Plotwise, a lot of things from the previous book are expanded upon nicely, new elements and characters brought in and some very well conceived ideas brought to bear that, again, are enviable in their execution. We see a nice twisting of some traditional fantasy tropes and elements that get Hayes' grimdark smear across them and are warped into something fresh and fascinating that could have been torn from a Diablo game.
As I said in my review of its predecessor, I'm a fan of gritty first person narratives, done well and they find an easy road into my favourite reads. Eska's grumbly narrative is definitely on that road.
Considering the (highly relatable) history of writing this book that Rob posted a while back, I'm more than happy to go out there and say it's an excellent achievement, one he should proud of, as I enjoyed every word of it, and (judging by the ratings it's receiving) so are many others.
Well done on this one Rob, admirable stuff.
4 yams out of 5 🍠 - Yamtastic
So, anyhoo, 2nd book of The War Eternal series by Rob J. Hayes. A bit of a different beast to the 1st in the series, free of the Pit's confines we get to see more of Hayes' world as witnessed through the eyes of the ever-grumpy Eskara Helsene, leading to a more overall epic, worldspanning adventure.
Like its predecessor, The Lessons Never Learned has a foot planted firmly in both the grimdark and trad/high fantasy camps. Written as well as it is, the result is that it's grimy without being bleak, and sparkly without being corny, with characters who's motivations are more grounded in reality, despite the fantastical undertakings and goings on around them.
Hayes' writing lends itself well to an open world and, personally, I feel this is where he excels, crafting epic scenes, monumental cities and sprawling landscapes that leave a vividly colourful imagery in the mind, whilst its grimdark grounding ensures that it never ventures into a Disney-like sugarplum facade.
Plotwise, a lot of things from the previous book are expanded upon nicely, new elements and characters brought in and some very well conceived ideas brought to bear that, again, are enviable in their execution. We see a nice twisting of some traditional fantasy tropes and elements that get Hayes' grimdark smear across them and are warped into something fresh and fascinating that could have been torn from a Diablo game.
As I said in my review of its predecessor, I'm a fan of gritty first person narratives, done well and they find an easy road into my favourite reads. Eska's grumbly narrative is definitely on that road.
Considering the (highly relatable) history of writing this book that Rob posted a while back, I'm more than happy to go out there and say it's an excellent achievement, one he should proud of, as I enjoyed every word of it, and (judging by the ratings it's receiving) so are many others.
Well done on this one Rob, admirable stuff.
4 yams out of 5 🍠 - Yamtastic
May 27, 2020
Overall rating = 4.5 stars
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: After the claustrophobic events of Along The Razor’s Edge, we get a much different story in The Lessons Never Learned. This second book from The War Eternal trilogy expands the world and background admirably so.
The story literally opens up where Along The Razor’s Edge ended. Eska and her remaining gang (Tamura, Hardt, and Yorin) have reached the surface. Eska can’t believe that her crazy sounding plan has finally paid off. However things aren’t easy as once outside they will be hunted by the Terralan empire as fugitives. Eska has a plan and now that she’s free of the claustrophobic confines of the pit, the sky’s the limit literally. However the only place safe for her and her mates is in the sky itself. The flying city of Roshan, controlled by the R’and. It’s the sole place where she can be free of the Terrelan Empire as there’s a special group of people hunting her as well.
The sequel is a book that takes a wide scope lens to the story so far. In book 1 we found out how Eska and Josef got captured, in this sequel we get a solid inkling of the why. As always Eska occupies front and center of the book’s plot as well as the reader’s attention. Eska as a character is still a bit abrasive but now she’s learning more about herself and what she underwent at the Orran academy. In this volume, we see Eska’s evolution from a singular focused sourceror into a person that will leave a mark on this world.
The previous book was all about the claustrophic nature of the surrounding and in this one we get an exact 180 as most of the plot is situated around the flying cities across this world. We also get to see how and why they were formed.
“The world is founded on lie, upon lie, upon lie. But the truth is always there, just waiting for an opportunity to tear down everything we have built.”
The book’s main plot deals with the how and why of the magic system as well as the backstory of the world. This is what made this middle volume a better one than its predecessor. The author breaks down all the various stereotypes and falsehoods that have been perpetrated upon the human populace. We also get to see quite a lot of the non-human races and where they stand in the hierarchy of the world.
“We are, all of us, marred by scars, plagued by the faults and insecurities laid upon us by our pasts.”
Once again the book is centered around Eskara Helsene and another narrator. Eska has come a long way from where and what she was in the previous volume. This book deals with her maturation in more ways then one. She gets to experience love, and also learns a lot about the fate of the Orran empire. Her mental and physical evolution are fun to watch as we see her internalize her anger and insecurities but also sharpen her zeal and power. Serrakis is there to provide backup whenever she needs and also to taste the fear that she evokes. I loved how the author managed to make Eskara a stronger character while still keeping her sharp edges. There’s also the other narrator and I loved how ambiguous that narrative thread was until the very end.
This book also doubles up on the magic and action sequences more so than its predecessor. There’s some terrific sequences in the end and it more than makes up for the lulls in between the action sequences. However there’s not a dull moment to be had, in between all of the story, we get to meet so many new characters as well see so many new locations that we as a reader as well as Eska are left spellbound. Rob J. Hayes does something truly incredible with the worldbuilding & magic system as in the first book we have no clue about what awaits in this volume. Lastly the ending is something that will make your head flip and leave you wanting the last volume pronto. So it’s a good thing that we are only 13 days away from its release.
CONCLUSION: The Lessons Never Learned is another spectacular volume in a trilogy that does the unexpected, breaks all conventions and makes its tough protagonist into a person that we can root for. Rob J. Hayes stretches his literary muscles in more ways than one and once more proves why he’s a self-publishing star that will rise higher and higher.
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: After the claustrophobic events of Along The Razor’s Edge, we get a much different story in The Lessons Never Learned. This second book from The War Eternal trilogy expands the world and background admirably so.
The story literally opens up where Along The Razor’s Edge ended. Eska and her remaining gang (Tamura, Hardt, and Yorin) have reached the surface. Eska can’t believe that her crazy sounding plan has finally paid off. However things aren’t easy as once outside they will be hunted by the Terralan empire as fugitives. Eska has a plan and now that she’s free of the claustrophobic confines of the pit, the sky’s the limit literally. However the only place safe for her and her mates is in the sky itself. The flying city of Roshan, controlled by the R’and. It’s the sole place where she can be free of the Terrelan Empire as there’s a special group of people hunting her as well.
The sequel is a book that takes a wide scope lens to the story so far. In book 1 we found out how Eska and Josef got captured, in this sequel we get a solid inkling of the why. As always Eska occupies front and center of the book’s plot as well as the reader’s attention. Eska as a character is still a bit abrasive but now she’s learning more about herself and what she underwent at the Orran academy. In this volume, we see Eska’s evolution from a singular focused sourceror into a person that will leave a mark on this world.
The previous book was all about the claustrophic nature of the surrounding and in this one we get an exact 180 as most of the plot is situated around the flying cities across this world. We also get to see how and why they were formed.
“The world is founded on lie, upon lie, upon lie. But the truth is always there, just waiting for an opportunity to tear down everything we have built.”
The book’s main plot deals with the how and why of the magic system as well as the backstory of the world. This is what made this middle volume a better one than its predecessor. The author breaks down all the various stereotypes and falsehoods that have been perpetrated upon the human populace. We also get to see quite a lot of the non-human races and where they stand in the hierarchy of the world.
“We are, all of us, marred by scars, plagued by the faults and insecurities laid upon us by our pasts.”
Once again the book is centered around Eskara Helsene and another narrator. Eska has come a long way from where and what she was in the previous volume. This book deals with her maturation in more ways then one. She gets to experience love, and also learns a lot about the fate of the Orran empire. Her mental and physical evolution are fun to watch as we see her internalize her anger and insecurities but also sharpen her zeal and power. Serrakis is there to provide backup whenever she needs and also to taste the fear that she evokes. I loved how the author managed to make Eskara a stronger character while still keeping her sharp edges. There’s also the other narrator and I loved how ambiguous that narrative thread was until the very end.
This book also doubles up on the magic and action sequences more so than its predecessor. There’s some terrific sequences in the end and it more than makes up for the lulls in between the action sequences. However there’s not a dull moment to be had, in between all of the story, we get to meet so many new characters as well see so many new locations that we as a reader as well as Eska are left spellbound. Rob J. Hayes does something truly incredible with the worldbuilding & magic system as in the first book we have no clue about what awaits in this volume. Lastly the ending is something that will make your head flip and leave you wanting the last volume pronto. So it’s a good thing that we are only 13 days away from its release.
CONCLUSION: The Lessons Never Learned is another spectacular volume in a trilogy that does the unexpected, breaks all conventions and makes its tough protagonist into a person that we can root for. Rob J. Hayes stretches his literary muscles in more ways than one and once more proves why he’s a self-publishing star that will rise higher and higher.
August 11, 2020
This isn't a review, I lked it, though I've been restless and longing to read something familliar this pulled me in, especially the last 25%.
December 24, 2020
DNF 15%.
"Age is odd like that. The more years you have, the less you have left."REALLY!!??????
And i`m not nickpicky about modern expressions in medieval settings - especially since English is not my first language - but i can`t read "I have always had determination in spades" and wonder if they invented Bridge early in that world...
"Age is odd like that. The more years you have, the less you have left."REALLY!!??????
And i`m not nickpicky about modern expressions in medieval settings - especially since English is not my first language - but i can`t read "I have always had determination in spades" and wonder if they invented Bridge early in that world...
February 22, 2021
Going to write up a full trilogy review, so stay tuned.
May 15, 2020
3,5 stars
Well, I liked the second book a little less than the first. Mostly because I think it has a problems with pacing. It just seems like in places it goes too fast, while some chapters are in whole Eska inner monologues and it feels like it's dragging.
Also Eska - I can't warm to her. Every time I liked her a little better, next thing she did, was to make some stupid decision and the dislike came back. She may be portraited that way deliberately, but still ... her chasing for power is tirying and I can't understand why her friends are so loyal to her.
I'm going to stick to the series, because I really like the worldbuilding and aspect of Sources. I am interested how Rob J. Hayes is going to wrapped all that is left in the final book.
Well, I liked the second book a little less than the first. Mostly because I think it has a problems with pacing. It just seems like in places it goes too fast, while some chapters are in whole Eska inner monologues and it feels like it's dragging.
Also Eska - I can't warm to her. Every time I liked her a little better, next thing she did, was to make some stupid decision and the dislike came back. She may be portraited that way deliberately, but still ... her chasing for power is tirying and I can't understand why her friends are so loyal to her.
I'm going to stick to the series, because I really like the worldbuilding and aspect of Sources. I am interested how Rob J. Hayes is going to wrapped all that is left in the final book.
April 30, 2021
Stunned
I am enchanted. The writing is equal to anything I have read. I am amazed that I have never read anything by Hayes before. Just flat out awesome.
I am enchanted. The writing is equal to anything I have read. I am amazed that I have never read anything by Hayes before. Just flat out awesome.
April 21, 2023
Boom, out of the darkness and into the light, I am the weapon. Absolutely fantastic, Rob J. Hayes continues this brilliant dark tale, and it goes from strength to strength. The Lessons Never Learned is book two of the War Eternal trilogy that began with the amazing book one Along the Razor’s Edge. This novel is fast-paced and action-packed with just as much excitement, surprises, and twists as the first, moving out from the very dark underground setting we experienced for most of the first book. We get to see the world from above, somewhat literally as Eskara and her companions look down from the floating city of Ro’shan. I absolutely loved the world building. Eskara's growth throughout is phenomenal. She is a very different person, although as ruthless as ever. In this book, Eskara is free, but her enemies are not far behind. A darkness pulsates from within her, and nightmares plague her dreams. We explore amazing new cities and get to discover the history of the world and its gods. Eskara and her companions see the carnage and damage as entire cities are left to rot and left behind by the war. We slowly get the truth about magic and monsters, and not all is as it seems. Now, for the third book, From Cold Ashes Risen, if you love your fantasy dark and grim, or some good oul storytelling at its finest, then look no further. I very highly recommend...😁🖤🔥🗡💥
June 9, 2020
The reader's deep-dive into Eskara's strife-riven mind continues, picking up right where Along the Razor's Edge left off. Overall, I liked this one too. Eskara continues to grow on me; her faults and angst make her relatable. New characters are introduced (most of whom I liked) and several previous important characters had crucial development. As someone who reads for character development and dialogue, TLNL hit a lot of high notes. I found the pacing a little uneven at first but as the climax of the book got closer, events picked up speed until the end, when the action and revelations flew fast and furious. I read the last few chapters a second time to make sure I hadn't overlooked anything. There's an element of romance here that played into the finale and I'm still debating as to whether or not it worked for me, but no matter; TLNL is an excellent read either way. This definitely set up the final volume. Expectations are high now, so I'll get to it.
July 23, 2021
4.25* Ebook
5* Audiobook
As with the first book I preferred the audio format over the ebook, and was a top-notch production.
If anything I preferred the story in book 1 over this novel, but the writing this time around feels tighter.
What is surprising is how Eska ends up more tortured by the end of this book, compared to the events in escaping the pit. Her fate undulates between deities, instead of secular forces. Happiness, sadness, servitude, joy and wrenching loss squirm around Eska and her choices, as revenge evolves into power to enact said revenge, before surprise and inevitable betrayal occur.
New and old faces, mix with a new worldscape as Eska develops and enacts a new fate without giving too much away. Creative, detailed and violent events, lead to new technologies that flow naturally with hard-earned lessons and survival, with no punches being pulled. I look forward to rounding the audiobooks off in the next week.
5* Audiobook
As with the first book I preferred the audio format over the ebook, and was a top-notch production.
If anything I preferred the story in book 1 over this novel, but the writing this time around feels tighter.
What is surprising is how Eska ends up more tortured by the end of this book, compared to the events in escaping the pit. Her fate undulates between deities, instead of secular forces. Happiness, sadness, servitude, joy and wrenching loss squirm around Eska and her choices, as revenge evolves into power to enact said revenge, before surprise and inevitable betrayal occur.
New and old faces, mix with a new worldscape as Eska develops and enacts a new fate without giving too much away. Creative, detailed and violent events, lead to new technologies that flow naturally with hard-earned lessons and survival, with no punches being pulled. I look forward to rounding the audiobooks off in the next week.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2022
Amazing sequel in The War Eternal Series.
Brilliant world building and character work on Eska's part.
I wished for more of the other characters but you cannot have it all I suppose.
And Moira Quirk is doing an excellent narration!! worth every second to listen closely.
Can't wait to go on in the series - its phenomenal!!
Brilliant world building and character work on Eska's part.
I wished for more of the other characters but you cannot have it all I suppose.
And Moira Quirk is doing an excellent narration!! worth every second to listen closely.
Can't wait to go on in the series - its phenomenal!!
April 9, 2020
In The Lessons Never Learned our feisty hero Eska is finally free of the Pit. With a motley group of companions, an otherworld entity hitching a ride and enemies on her tail the race is on to find a place of safety and start planning her revenge.
As we follow Eska through the world of Ovaeris, it’s races, magic system, gods and legends, are vividly brought to life. Rob J. Hayes worldbuilding is magnificent – I especially loved the floating city of Ro’shan.
Rob is not kind to our Eska, with the story told from her POV I was emotionally dragged from pillar to post going through every hardship with her. She has powerful enemies, some closer to home than we would wish. With each discovery she makes we see how deliciously complex and interconnected the world(s) she inhabits are – and it’s terrifyingly wonderful.
Well paced with excellent prose which pulled me in from the very first page and fantastically unique world – The Lessons Never Learned is a book I won’t forget for quite a while.
As we follow Eska through the world of Ovaeris, it’s races, magic system, gods and legends, are vividly brought to life. Rob J. Hayes worldbuilding is magnificent – I especially loved the floating city of Ro’shan.
Rob is not kind to our Eska, with the story told from her POV I was emotionally dragged from pillar to post going through every hardship with her. She has powerful enemies, some closer to home than we would wish. With each discovery she makes we see how deliciously complex and interconnected the world(s) she inhabits are – and it’s terrifyingly wonderful.
Well paced with excellent prose which pulled me in from the very first page and fantastically unique world – The Lessons Never Learned is a book I won’t forget for quite a while.
January 6, 2022
I've a love-hate relationship with the protagonist. One one side, she's someone I love to read about and on the other, if she was real, I definitely wouldn't want to be near her.
This book definitely fulfils half of the grandiose claims about her stature that we read about in book 1. I had a feeling it would be more like the Name of the Wind, where Kvothe's claims are yet to be justified.
But yeah, a solid 4.5 for a fast paced one directional plot. The final part waits but I'll probably read something else before I jump into it.
This book definitely fulfils half of the grandiose claims about her stature that we read about in book 1. I had a feeling it would be more like the Name of the Wind, where Kvothe's claims are yet to be justified.
But yeah, a solid 4.5 for a fast paced one directional plot. The final part waits but I'll probably read something else before I jump into it.
January 7, 2021
DNF 20%
I tried, I really tried but what the fuck? Has the author ever been outside? The quick fix of totally unplanned escape is they get in the forest, where naturally one of them brings them food somehow, because 3 people can eat just what the forest offers.... in winter. Did I mention that the main hero si barefoot and there is snow mentioned? Guess frostbite isn't a thing in this world.
Then they are about to climb out to flying city - which is on an anchor, which has chain with hundrets of links, each link high as three men. So if that's 200 links multiplied by 5 metres, they are going to at least 1km vertical climb. And this seems ok, because why not.
The top of the cherry is one of the inmates showing up and trying to kill main hero - because he was sent from prison to get her back. WTF? Why would he even go back, it was said in the 1st book that the king of the prison is still an inmate who will never see the light, and now he has possibility to send one of his captains outside to catch escapees?
Author forgets what he said in B1 - they found a source stone, but she wasn't sure what it is, because only way to know, is to swallow it. Now she said they have memorized the size and shapes of source stones to know what they are. hm?
Also deus ex machina continues - to use sourcery you need to swallow source, only to throw up it later, cause it will kill you. So she doesn't use the stone, cause she hasn't the thing for throwing up. But when they are attacked, she swallows the stone and throws up when she kills the last enemy. But that's the first time and ever she throws up without that thing. Just couldn't believe what I was reading
here's some wisdom from the author though:
"Age is odd like that. The more years you have, the less you have left." yep, this sums it up.
I tried, I really tried but what the fuck? Has the author ever been outside? The quick fix of totally unplanned escape is they get in the forest, where naturally one of them brings them food somehow, because 3 people can eat just what the forest offers.... in winter. Did I mention that the main hero si barefoot and there is snow mentioned? Guess frostbite isn't a thing in this world.
Then they are about to climb out to flying city - which is on an anchor, which has chain with hundrets of links, each link high as three men. So if that's 200 links multiplied by 5 metres, they are going to at least 1km vertical climb. And this seems ok, because why not.
The top of the cherry is one of the inmates showing up and trying to kill main hero - because he was sent from prison to get her back. WTF? Why would he even go back, it was said in the 1st book that the king of the prison is still an inmate who will never see the light, and now he has possibility to send one of his captains outside to catch escapees?
Author forgets what he said in B1 - they found a source stone, but she wasn't sure what it is, because only way to know, is to swallow it. Now she said they have memorized the size and shapes of source stones to know what they are. hm?
Also deus ex machina continues - to use sourcery you need to swallow source, only to throw up it later, cause it will kill you. So she doesn't use the stone, cause she hasn't the thing for throwing up. But when they are attacked, she swallows the stone and throws up when she kills the last enemy. But that's the first time and ever she throws up without that thing. Just couldn't believe what I was reading
here's some wisdom from the author though:
"Age is odd like that. The more years you have, the less you have left." yep, this sums it up.
November 19, 2022
Along the Razor’s Edge was one of my highlights of the year, and while I enjoyed this follow-up, I felt it was a slight step down from book one. Although it was not quite as good for me, the bar was set really high with book one, so that’s not necessarily a negative here.
One thing I definitely appreciate with this book is that we get to see more of the world. I like some of the concepts on display here, even if some of it was a bit weird for me to visualise. There are new races to get your head around and there’s an entire floating / flying city, which was pretty strange but gave a good opportunity to explore the world without all the travelling between cities etc.
I thought there were a few little conveniences here and there, but it was a good story with a great narration, so it was still a really great reading experience overall.
One thing I definitely appreciate with this book is that we get to see more of the world. I like some of the concepts on display here, even if some of it was a bit weird for me to visualise. There are new races to get your head around and there’s an entire floating / flying city, which was pretty strange but gave a good opportunity to explore the world without all the travelling between cities etc.
I thought there were a few little conveniences here and there, but it was a good story with a great narration, so it was still a really great reading experience overall.
June 10, 2020
This review was originally published over at The Fantasy Hive.
The second act of a fantasy trilogy is the one a series lives or dies by. A first impression is important, but following up on the promises the opening of a series makes…well, many a novel has faltered there. The Lessons Never Learned, however, does an admirable job of following up on the threads first set up by Along the Razor’s Edge. This novel offers explosive sourcerous action, a richly emotional arc for series protagonist Eskara, and explores an imaginative world full of peril and scarred by war. It’s a hell of a read, but it does have something of a problem, to start with.
I had a rough go of the first third of The Lessons Never Learned. This story is framed as being told by an older, far more experienced Eska (the protagonist of the series), and this version of the character is not always the finest storyteller. She’s prone to going on tangents, on heavy foreshadowing that edges on the theatrical, and some of the paragraph-long sections of her commentary would make most villains’ cheeks turn red at the sheer amount of megalomania at display. I found that beyond charming – this type of foreshadowing is something Gene Wolfe does, with great success, in the Book of the New Sun. In the opening third of Never Learned, however, I found myself a little too exhausted by the digressions Eskara goes into time and again. The storytelling suffered somewhat, and I had a hard time getting through some of these first several chapters.
Don’t get me wrong, a number of these chapters are the usual thrilling thoroughfare I’ve come to expect from Hayes’ writing, but there’s too many a tangent that makes of the opening of this sequel a slow burner that did not suck me in the way the opening of Razor’s Edge did. When you get past that first third, however…the sky’s the limit for this one. Eskara battles gods and faces her inner demons in more ways than one, makes mistakes and pays the ultimate price for them – and not in the way you might think.
The thrills, the action, the twists and turns and betrayals compounded by yet further betrayals. Gods, but this book covers a lot of ground, and it does so with expertise.
The magic system is further developed, in ways that were very cool and never contradicted the set-up in the previous installment of the series. Allow me to catch you up: “A cool, imaginative twist on the schools of magic you might be familiar with, the magic in this world is internally consistent and what I’d call “hard” magic. Powered by Source stones the Sourcerer must swallow, each stone has a different magical affinity.” Never Learned offers a number of revelations as to the origins of the Source stones, the relationship of the Source with the god-like Djinn and Rend, and some fascinating developments on all fronts.
So, too, with the worldbuilding, which has elements ranging from the fascinating to the downright eldritch. The first book in the War Eternal series nailed the sense of containing a bigger world outside of the Pit that the vast majority of the action took place in, and one of the greatest successes of this sequel is that Lessons delivers on that promise, and then some. One description, in particular, I won’t soon forget:
In Polasia, deep within the desert, there is an oasis where the waters run red and the trees grow purple. Above that oasis the sky is cracked open, and through the jagged scar above a great eye stares down on the world.
Hell of an image, and one I’d love to one day render into a visual medium.
The characters are even more appealing than they were the first time around; new additions include Sylva, an Aspect of the Rand whose connection with Eska was hinted at in the previous novel. The nature of these two characters’ relationship is a large part of the emotional backbone of the novel, and Lessons’ climax rests on it entirely. Eskara herself shows a great deal more emotional depth here than she did in the first novel. Where anger was often followed by fury and fear in equal measure in Eskara’s time in the Pit, life outside the dreaded prison allows the scarred young woman to embrace and experience love in all its aspects.
For all that, her flaws remain – and we have them to thank for some exceptional action scenes and plenty of exciting new revelations. But some of my favourite paragraphs are of those quiet moments of reflection when the older Eskara takes stock of her experiences with observations rich in both clarity and wisdom:
Both Hardt and Tamura looked at me. Hardt has always followed me, ever since our time in the Pit. I have often wondered why, what I did to earn the trust and loyalty of such a man. I have no answer. I’m as much a monster as the creatures that inhabit the Other World, perhaps even worse, for most of them are mindless and don’t understand what they do. But Hardt is a good man. He would be a good man if not for the things I’ve made him do over the years. Tamura, too, followed my lead and accepted my decisions, but for him I know why. He saw power in me, the potential to be part of something great or terrible. I think I ended up being both. And I don’t think it mattered to him either way.
If I had a year to wait for the release of From Cold Ashes Risen, I would have rebelled at the cliff-hanger The Lessons Never Learned closes at; fortunate for all, Hayes decided to release every book of this trilogy a month apart from one another, which means that as you’re reading this review, I’m likely digging into the conclusion to what continues to be one of my favourite series of 2020.
My score for The Lessons Never Learned? 4.5/5 on Goodreads!
The second act of a fantasy trilogy is the one a series lives or dies by. A first impression is important, but following up on the promises the opening of a series makes…well, many a novel has faltered there. The Lessons Never Learned, however, does an admirable job of following up on the threads first set up by Along the Razor’s Edge. This novel offers explosive sourcerous action, a richly emotional arc for series protagonist Eskara, and explores an imaginative world full of peril and scarred by war. It’s a hell of a read, but it does have something of a problem, to start with.
I had a rough go of the first third of The Lessons Never Learned. This story is framed as being told by an older, far more experienced Eska (the protagonist of the series), and this version of the character is not always the finest storyteller. She’s prone to going on tangents, on heavy foreshadowing that edges on the theatrical, and some of the paragraph-long sections of her commentary would make most villains’ cheeks turn red at the sheer amount of megalomania at display. I found that beyond charming – this type of foreshadowing is something Gene Wolfe does, with great success, in the Book of the New Sun. In the opening third of Never Learned, however, I found myself a little too exhausted by the digressions Eskara goes into time and again. The storytelling suffered somewhat, and I had a hard time getting through some of these first several chapters.
Don’t get me wrong, a number of these chapters are the usual thrilling thoroughfare I’ve come to expect from Hayes’ writing, but there’s too many a tangent that makes of the opening of this sequel a slow burner that did not suck me in the way the opening of Razor’s Edge did. When you get past that first third, however…the sky’s the limit for this one. Eskara battles gods and faces her inner demons in more ways than one, makes mistakes and pays the ultimate price for them – and not in the way you might think.
The thrills, the action, the twists and turns and betrayals compounded by yet further betrayals. Gods, but this book covers a lot of ground, and it does so with expertise.
The magic system is further developed, in ways that were very cool and never contradicted the set-up in the previous installment of the series. Allow me to catch you up: “A cool, imaginative twist on the schools of magic you might be familiar with, the magic in this world is internally consistent and what I’d call “hard” magic. Powered by Source stones the Sourcerer must swallow, each stone has a different magical affinity.” Never Learned offers a number of revelations as to the origins of the Source stones, the relationship of the Source with the god-like Djinn and Rend, and some fascinating developments on all fronts.
So, too, with the worldbuilding, which has elements ranging from the fascinating to the downright eldritch. The first book in the War Eternal series nailed the sense of containing a bigger world outside of the Pit that the vast majority of the action took place in, and one of the greatest successes of this sequel is that Lessons delivers on that promise, and then some. One description, in particular, I won’t soon forget:
In Polasia, deep within the desert, there is an oasis where the waters run red and the trees grow purple. Above that oasis the sky is cracked open, and through the jagged scar above a great eye stares down on the world.
Hell of an image, and one I’d love to one day render into a visual medium.
The characters are even more appealing than they were the first time around; new additions include Sylva, an Aspect of the Rand whose connection with Eska was hinted at in the previous novel. The nature of these two characters’ relationship is a large part of the emotional backbone of the novel, and Lessons’ climax rests on it entirely. Eskara herself shows a great deal more emotional depth here than she did in the first novel. Where anger was often followed by fury and fear in equal measure in Eskara’s time in the Pit, life outside the dreaded prison allows the scarred young woman to embrace and experience love in all its aspects.
For all that, her flaws remain – and we have them to thank for some exceptional action scenes and plenty of exciting new revelations. But some of my favourite paragraphs are of those quiet moments of reflection when the older Eskara takes stock of her experiences with observations rich in both clarity and wisdom:
Both Hardt and Tamura looked at me. Hardt has always followed me, ever since our time in the Pit. I have often wondered why, what I did to earn the trust and loyalty of such a man. I have no answer. I’m as much a monster as the creatures that inhabit the Other World, perhaps even worse, for most of them are mindless and don’t understand what they do. But Hardt is a good man. He would be a good man if not for the things I’ve made him do over the years. Tamura, too, followed my lead and accepted my decisions, but for him I know why. He saw power in me, the potential to be part of something great or terrible. I think I ended up being both. And I don’t think it mattered to him either way.
If I had a year to wait for the release of From Cold Ashes Risen, I would have rebelled at the cliff-hanger The Lessons Never Learned closes at; fortunate for all, Hayes decided to release every book of this trilogy a month apart from one another, which means that as you’re reading this review, I’m likely digging into the conclusion to what continues to be one of my favourite series of 2020.
My score for The Lessons Never Learned? 4.5/5 on Goodreads!
August 29, 2021
Well the twist in this book were such a pleasant surprise. Eagerly will devour the third. The audible narrator was the perfect choice.
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