Blurb:

Bör Mesari burns. Velensmir is on the brink of war with Grayhorn. The dwarves return to the light. The druidic Gods are on the move.

And the Ashen Empire has risen.

Aric and Eldras reunite to find themselves thrust under the shadow of prophecy and a choice that will change the world forever. One path will see them in someone else's shackles, while the other is painted in secrets and lies.

Moro and Trenara prepare to part ways as he discovers the mistake he made that will bathe the lands in blood. His powers grow and he begins to hear a voice bound to his fate and soul.

In the south, Donalis discovers the dark plans of the High King to rewrite the map of Verilia as three cities collide. Now, he must make the choice to remain loyal to his king, or hold onto his morals.

Death will meet Life as unforeseen enemies are revealed. Old foes reemerge. Alliances form in the most unlikely. When the rise of the Shadow bond threatens every faction, can heroes prevail where all else have failed before?

Review:

This is the second book from Corey Ratliff in the Elmerïan Chronicles and I have to say, he has packed everything and the kitchen sink into these 500-something pages. Now I should say, I was both an alpha and ARC reader for this so I’ll do my best to talk about this book purely from the ARC reader perspective (but also for all the quirking eyebrows I shamed Corey into removing, you’re welcome).

The story picks up where we left off. Aric is in prison and separated from Eldras, Moro is with the orcs on their new (old?) home, King Paulus and Donalis have just arrived in Maervorna. If you’ve read through Whispers of a World Breaker (and I hope you did because this is book 2 and you would be very confused otherwise), you’ll know that Corey likes a lot of action. So, while we start where we ended, for Moro and Aric everything is quickly on fire both figuratively and literally. Donalis’ storyline is a little slower to get going but when it does, it’s everything and then some. 

We also get a lot of the faces and dragons from the novella Ashes of a Risen Empire, which if you haven’t read it you might want to for added context to all this. Aside from the return of our favourite characters from Whispers, and those we may have loved/hated/generally were ambivalent towards in Ashes, there is a constant growing cast in Bloods of a Withering Kingdom. This is the first time we meet the dwarves of this world and I have to say these were some of my favourite chapters. Followed by Mara and Donalis, I just think those two are going to take over the world. Great power couple. Anyway, back to the dwarves. There are a few chapters that focus on them sprinkled about but I just found them really compelling. I would like more dwarf chapters next time, Corey, if you’re taking requests. 

I would be entirely remiss if I didn’t mention the emotional punches and rage certain parts brought to my existence. I may or may not have even threatened to fight/sue Corey. It’s fine, we’re still good. Unlike Whispers, which set the world, gave us Eldras and whatever weird magic Moro was being imbued with, Bloods is like “Have some background, have some twists, have some ‘I don’t know who to trust anymore’, have some Eldras making dragon friends and having a little romance (actually quite a funny scene). 

Although it’s got everything, we still leave off with a few mysteries, so much more to find out, fix, grow etc., and an ending that sent me and a few other people into the mental white room of zen rage. Like stubbing your emotional pinky toe on the table. As I said on the first book, if you like dragon-rider books, and particularly ones written for adult readers, Elmerïan Chronicles is well worth picking up. I’m doubling down on this. Read the books.

Read Jonathan’s review of Whispers of a World Breaker: Elmerïan Book 1 (Elmerïan Chronicles)