The Gods of Amyrantha

Waiting for a Jennifer Fallon book to come out can be like a kid being told that Mom is making this scrumptious chocolate cake in the morning, but you can't have a slice until you both spend all day at school *and* get your homework done when you get home. It can be excruciating at times. I'm very thankful that the slice of cake has always been worth the wait, and that's certainly true of Fallon's second book in the "Tide Lords" series, The Gods of Amyrantha. This has to be her best book since Warrior, as all of my annoyances with The Immortal Prince (few as they were) have all been addressed in book 2 and she hasn't added any major missteps. Once again, upon finishing the book I want next summer to come *now*. The Tide is coming in, that ebb and flow of magic that gives the various immortals inhabiting the world of Amyrantha their magical powers. The last time the Tide came in, Cayal, the "Immortal Prince" who is sick and tired of immortality and wants to find a way to kill himself, destroyed a large part of Torlenia in what's called the "Cataclysm." As the Tide rolls in, various immortals are moving into position to take power in the many lands that inhabit this world, opposed only by a secret cabal of regular people who will try anything to stop them. Arkady, wife of Duke Desean of Glaeba, is bristling under the strict rules that women must follow in Torlenia (always appearing in public in a shroud, etc), but she befriends the concubine of Torlenia's ruler, who's holding many more secrets than a concubine should be. Declan Hawkes, spymaster for the king of Glaeba and member of the Cabal, is torn between familial duties and trying to figure out how to stop Immortal takeovers in both Glaeba and Caelum. And Cayal, as ever, just wants to die. But a fellow immortal may have an idea how to do that, and sends him on a mission to recruit other immortals to the cause. Just what is his motivation to help, though? And what will it mean for the world? And has Cayal discovered a reason to live in Arkady? As the novel progresses, we discover that the Cabal may just have some friends in high places to help out. But will that matter, or will they be betrayed? The Gods of Amyrantha is almost impossible to put down, as Fallon's prose, characterization and plotting just carries you along on the tide (pun intended) of events that are happening. Almost every chapter ends on a note that makes you want to read further. Regarding the prose, one of my peeves with The Immortal Prince was the seemingly romance novel-like prose Fallon used, especially during the Cayal-Arkady scenes. Thankfully, that language is almost totally absent from this book, even when Arkady and Cayal are in the same scene, though she does come perilously close occasionally. I could have done without the constant commenting of various characters on how Hawkes, who grew up with Arkady, is really in love with her but refuses to admit it. That was overdone a bit, though it is imp

As the series continues, the intrigue increases. I did not think this installment would end this way. I love surprises! Can't wait for the third book!

A definite middle book in a series. It was quite predictable for me in a number of places, making it a bit frustrating as a reader. I did enjoy it, though I was expecting more of the Price and got all the other Immortals. There is less of the wit/humor that attracted me to the first book. The world and what may happen to it are quite engaging and I look forward to the next book. A small warning there are a number of large cliff-hangers with some of the better/more interesting characters. If you have a hard time waiting for a next book you may want to wait to read this.

As the 2nd book in the Tide Lords trilogy (?), the "Gods of Amyrantha" is no disappointment. Following the Immortal Prince, she builds on the characters we met for the first time. Cayal still wishes to die, yet his building relationship with Arkady Desean keeps him from ending his life. Just what kind of opposition does an immortal face when trying to end their own life? The other Tide Lords are doing their darndest to end Cayals' life and destroy the world. One immortal against many others. This sounds like a great battle is going to result in book 3. Jennifer Fallon is an amazing author and her fiction is outstanding. I enjoy her writing style and it does make you keep on reading. I highly recommend this novel for the book and also the tres cool cover by Cliff Nielsen. What ever happens, I don't want to be an immortal@! Tim Lasiuta

Well if you read Jennifer Fallon you will love this book as much as all the rest. Its basically the set up for a great follow up. I wish I had waited for all of them to come out before I read this one though. Its so hard to wait to find out what happens to everyone. We get to meet some more immortal's and they are infinately flawed as their history depicts, but their play off of each other is fun to imagine. Can't wait for the next book, but be sure and read The Immortal Prince before this and you won't be disappointed.