3.5 stars. A half star improvement over the first book in the trilogy. The writing is unsophisticated and underwhelming (and a little confusing when describing Catrin's power) but there is a lot of action and my goodness if there aren't good cliffhangers at the ends of both book one and two. Also, Inherited Danger questions religious beliefs and dogma rather thoroughly in a way I hadn't seen in fiction, much less fantasy, in this age range. I found that interesting. But, overall, just above average. (Full disclosure: My copy of this audiobook was a gift of the author, and he and I communicate on Twitter.)It seems like every author struggles in the sequel. On the one hand, if the first story was good, it sets up expectations for the story that the author might not be able to fulfill. On the other hand, the sequel is also the place where more of the hard work of building the series must take place, which takes the wild stallion of the first book and brings it to the cart of the overarching story. While more productive, it doesn't go as quickly or with as much excitement as the first story.Brian, unfortunately, had the same problem with Inherited Danger. Much of the early part of the book is taken up with necessary worldbuilding and set-up, and the plot is frequently punctuated with dry spells of explanation and introspection. A fair bit of time in the audiobook is taken up with, for example, explaining the history of the Zahjn and their wars, in setting up the desperate state of their people, and in explaining not just Catrin's magic, but also how she comes to make the momentous decisions that she ends up making. It's a slower journey than the almost panicked pace of the first book, where there were so many questions raised and no time or ability to explain them.However, unlike Catrin, there is no point in this book where the reader finds one experience blurring into the other, nor will the reader find the journey through the Greatland a long slog with nothing but an unpleasant ending ahead of them. Brian takes the necessary parts of the story and treats them with respect, making the musings of the characters as interesting as their action, and indeed, making the questions and the answers a part of the plot, instead of just an explanation of it. Fantasy writers tend to have a problem with their worldbuilding. This problem is that it's very hard to separate out one's own beliefs and experiences, in this world, with what is true in another world. When the rules change, sometimes the author forgets to change with them. To give an example, one character tells Catrin that she believes that there is no such thing as true prophecy- just extremely good guesses, in essence. The average fantasy writer would likely leave the matter there, or refute it, as their own beliefs would dictate. Brian doesn't do that, however. Instead, he has Catrin remember that she knows a prophet, whose prophecy did impact her life in an undeniable way. The question is still open, but now it's shaded as the people in the world would think of it, not as we in this world would.In the end, that's why I find myself unable to give this book four stars, as I often would when a sequel doesn't live up to the promise of the first book. The core appeal of this series, in its magic and in its familiar-yet-different take on fantasy, is intact. The pacing and the feel is slower and less satisfying. But, in the end, there was enough added to the formula, and enough pleasant surprises, that I think the five star rating is merited. Even better- the formula usually goes that, while the second book is a bit rough, the third book usually builds on that foundation and goes quite well. If that formula holds true, then it should be a very enjoyable read, indeed.
Do You like book Inherited Danger (Godsland, #2) (2008)?
Was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoy this story. It is a fantastic read. Not to be missed
—Chezka
This book is better than the first. The characterization and world-creation is amazing.
—nelygirl
Very good fiction/fantasy. Clean too, which is always nice.
—mumuxin20
I'm loving this trilogy! Can't wait to see how it ends.
—dariengirl
