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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.92
EAN num: 9780553586695
ISBN number: 0553586696
Label: Spectra
Manufacturer: Spectra
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 528
Printing Date: April 27, 2004
Publishing house: Spectra
Release Date: April 27, 2004
Sale Popularity Level: 250441
Studio: Spectra
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Product Description:
Since the Age of Shadows ended, the people of Ranadon have lived under the merciless heat of two suns and the tyranny of Antonov, the Lion of Senet. Consumed by his lust for power and his unshakable belief in the capricious, almighty Goddess, Antonov’s rule is absolute. Only one man has the intelligence and will to break that hold…a man who could be King.
Suddenly widowed, Morna Provin, Duchess of Elcast, has lost her only protector. With her son banished for an unspeakable crime, she faces a horrifying fate at the hands of the Lion of Senet as retribution for her relationship with the heretic Johan Thorn. But it is only part of a cunning scheme to lure her son, Dirk Provin, back into the fold so Antonov can consolidate his power once and for all.
With his mother’s life at stake, Dirk Provin must emerge from hiding in the Baenlands and return to Elcast—setting in motion a rebellion that will expose long-buried secrets and ignite festering hatreds. For a ruler’s fears and a madman’s prophecy will start Dirk on a quest for truth that will spark a fierce battle between two very different men: one who believes only what his five senses tell him, the other obsessed by his faith in the divine. It is a clash that will bring to light a revelation that may shatter them all.
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Rated by buyers 
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This is the middle volume of a trilogy describing the fate of the kingdoms of Senet and Dhevyn, an island nation currently under the political domination of Senet.
Although marketed as a fantasy, there are no true fantasy elements here - no spells or magical beings. The central concept is an SF idea. The world of Ranadon circles two suns, one which produces white light and a star which gives weaker blue light for the Ranadon 'night'. About 20 years before the very first volume opens, The blue sun disappeared from the sky for several years, resulting in true night. This produced economic chaos, as it damaged agriculture, as well as social panic. Neris Veran, a scientific genius, was able to analyze the true astronomic cause of the Age of Darkness and discover exactly when it would end, based partly on his analysis of writings in an ancient city left by a more technologically advanced civilization than any now left on Ranadon. Belagran, a corrupt priestess, used Veran's information to take credit for the return of the sun and found a new cult, the Shadow dancers, that is strongly supported by Antonov, the talented but superstitious monarch who rules Senet and exercises control over Dhevyn.
Dirk Provin is the son of a Dhevynian duchess and Johan Thorn, the King of Dhevyn who was labeled a heretic by Belagran and exiled by Antonov, who may also be the only person on Ranadon with enough mathematical and scientific brilliance to follow the work of Veran and discover when the subsequent Age of Shadow will occur. He becomes the focus of a struggle between Belagran, who wants to recruit him to the dying cause of Dhevynian independence, Belagran, who hopes to use him to predict the subsequent Age of Shadows, and Antonov, who wants Dirk to complete the victory of the Shadow Dancer cult in Dhevyn. After fleeing Antonov's court at the end of the very first book, Dirk in this volume forms and begins to carry out an audacious plot that will leave him with dangerous enemies in every camp, but may change the world of Ranadon for millennia to come.
Dirk is a terrific character, who reminds me very much of Miles Vorkosigan, one of my all time favorite characters. The supporting cast are also fascinating and engaging. The political background is well thought out and believable. Overall, this is one of the best trilogies I've read in years, far superior to most offerings in the current market. It's probably possible to read this volume as a stand alone, but the set is so closely tied together that you would lose much of the impact of the story.
Rated by buyers -
This second installment wowed me. Everything was better. Glad to see some author's improve as they go.
If you like books like this one, might I suggest another I've recently come across. The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. It's another fantasy adventure sure to please. I highly recommend it.
Rated by buyers 
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In this second volume, Ms Fallon seems to be much more inspired: the setting is just as accurate as in the very first book (see my review) but her characters, all of them, gain strength and depth just as the pacing of the story shows much more care.
As a logical result the story becomes much more interesting and one really begins to care about what happens.
Her writing too seems to have improved and it add to the pleasure of reading
Rated by buyers -
Fallon begins the second book of the Second Sons Trilogy two years after the first. Her characterization is the best I have ever read. Working with over half a dozen characters, she stays true to each. Their problems and strife nearly leap off of the page. I'm amazed at how deeply she can capture the human psych (sorry, I'm not sure of the spelling). The main character, Dirk, discovers the only way to "save the world" is to betray everyone he loves. Antonov is a fanatic and believes what he does is for the Goddesses sake (which makes him more dangerous than most). Kirshov is a good person at heart but is determined to prove his own merit. Alenor finds herself more alone than she ever realizes and also realizes at the young age of 16, has to become more adult, responsible, and brave than any other adult in her family has ever been. Belegren is becoming more desperate each day that she doesn't know when then subsequent Age of Darkness will occur, especially when it becomes apparent that the lord does not seek nor need her advise. Marqel becomes more cocky; believing everyone else the fool because they don't realize she would stoop to murder to get what she wants. And Tia (Sorry, but this girl is a looney! Honestly, I don't understand why Dirk bothers with her! She's nothing but a big winey baby. I for one hope that he gets to meet Jacinta and falls for her. At least she has a brain and can use it.) By the way, Jacinta is Alenor's cousin and new lady in waiting. What is so great about her is that she has Marquel completely fooled and looking like a drooling idiot.
Every character has a bit of bad and a bit of good. The reader is able to relate to everyone. Although I found myself shouting at the book, "My God! Are you nuts! Can't you see she's using you?!" on several occassions. I absolutely cannot wait for the subsequent one!
Rated by buyers -
The second book in the Second Sons trilogy keeps up with the quality delivered in "The Lion of Senet". The story evolves nicely and keeps the reader on his toes the whole time. As happened in the previous book, I was surprised by the hate and anger some of the characters generated in me and how I cheered for others with passion. I would imagine that most people experience similar emotions and find this read riveting and almost impossible to suspend.
The story resumes two years after the events that took place at the end of book one. Dirk Provin, one of the main characters in the story, is a fugitive and his mother's husband, Wallin, has just died. His half-brother Rees is the new Duke of Elcast and is supporting Dirk's enemy, the Lion of Senet. Meanwhile, Dirk's mother, Morna, is in dire-straits, since the death of her husband left her at the mercy of the Lion of Senet and the High Priestess (Belagren). Morna knows that there must be an explanation for the things she knows about her son, which are that Dirk raped a Shadowdancer and that he killed his father Johan Thorn and then fled, but it is hard for her to imagine what this explanation is.
Antonov, the Lion of Senet, wants to control Dhevyn, so he is going to get his son, Kirshov, married to Alenor, the princess of Dhevyn and Dirk's cousin. Antonov strongly believes in the Goddess; he even killed his newborn son when a sacrifice was required to end the Age of the Shadows. Belagren convinced him to do so by telling him that the Goddess had spoken to her, but in reality, she found out that the era was going to finish with the help of a genius called Neris Veran. The problem for Belagren now is that Neris created a labyrinth that holds the secrets of when the subsequent Age of Shadows is due, and of course Belagren needs this information if she wants people to keep believing in the Goddess and in Belagren being her chosen one.
Then we have Tia Veran, Neris' daughter, who is hoping that Dirk will be able to find the secrets her father holds relative to the Age of the Shadows and use that information to bring down Belagren and quench Senet's power. Neris is having a great time with this, which represents a break from his routine and the chance of having a sharp mind like Dirk's around him. Therefore, he tells things to Dirk in a very subtle way, surrounding his information with riddles and puzzles.
I have already moved forward to the last book in the trilogy, taking advantage of the fact that when the very first book was published in the US, the whole series was already written. I am willing to bet that most of you will feel the urge to start the third book right away, since the suspense will torture you otherwise. Fallon has passed her second test with marks as high as those she achieved with the very first book and I am confident the third book will not dissapoint either!
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