Epic and up-close fight sequences provide enough terror to make it clear why some leaders or kingdoms have no choice to join Erida and Taristan's fold, out of fear rather than respect. The crew must learn to not only rely on one another but learn who else in the realm they can trust and believe. Instead, it's the relationship building between Corayne and her companions that's at the heart of this story. In the case of the central couple, Aveyard's gift for writing romance stays limited to longing looks, hand-holding, and overt observation from pretty much everyone but the couple in question.

Readers will naturally gravitate toward some characters' plot threads over others, but Corayne and Andry's will appeal to fans of friends-to-more romances, while Taristan and Erida's will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy wicked love interests like the Darkling (in the Shadow and Bone books). The story continues to be told from various points of view, including those of the two villains, and luckily the voices are distinct enough for readers to tell the difference even if they missed the chapter heading with the character's name. Author Victoria Aveyard knows how to put her characters through the ringer, and this sequel doesn't disappoint when it comes to character development, team bonding, and, unfortunately for our favorite characters, violence. A few romantic possibilities keep building, and in one case there's a kiss, but otherwise the romance is on a slow, simmering burn.įilled with more world-building and political intrigue than the original, this sequel sets up the epic battle between Corayne's quest to save the world and Taristan's to destroy it. Characters fatally injure with swords, blades, poison, hands, and armies of reanimated corpses and other monsters who can't get enough of human flesh. As in the first book, there's a lot of violence in this sequel, with a staggering body count that includes both widespread violence (entire towns erased from existence) and up-close-and-personal violence (characters tortured and decapitated).

It's once again a misfits-on-a-mission story that focuses on the growing bond between a 'fellowship of sword.' The lines have been drawn, with Corayne, Andry, Dom, Sorasa, and three others leading the charge to save Allward from a scheming young queen and her evil and seemingly impossible-to-kill consort.

Parents need to know that Blade Breaker is the second book in bestselling author Victoria Aveyard's Realm Breaker fantasy series. Adult characters drink occasionally at meals or events.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Victoria aveyard blade breaker