Audiobook23 hours
The Other Lands: Book Two of the Acacia Trilogy
Written by David Anthony Durham
Narrated by Dick Hill
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this audiobook
A few years have passed since the conquering of the Mein, and Queen Corinn is firmly in control of the Known World-perhaps too firmly. With plans to expand her empire, she sends her brother, Daniel, on an exploratory mission to the Other Lands. There Daniel discovers a lush, exotic mainland ruled by an alliance of tribes that poses a grave danger to the stability of the Known World. Is Queen Corinn strong enough to face this new challenge? Fans of this bold, imaginative series will not be disappointed in the answer.
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The Risen: A Novel of Spartacus Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Gabriel's Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Walk Through Darkness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Shadow Prince Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related to The Other Lands
Titles in the series (2)
Acacia: Book One: The War with the Mein Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Other Lands: Book Two of the Acacia Trilogy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for The Other Lands
Rating: 4.142857142857143 out of 5 stars
4/5
7 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was my second reading. When I read a book the first time, I'm usually busy rushing through to find out what happens. The second time I read a book, I'm able to really appreciate the details of the narrative. One of the marks of a great book is if I still have plot anxiety in a second reading. For example, if I know something bad will happen to a beloved character and I hope with every page that the outcome will be different from what I know it to be, that is a great book. This is a great book. Durham's characters are all unique and well crafted. He does a great job of writing women. I also very much enjoy the multiple POV narrative that I first found in George RR Martin's books.
I only have one issue and one warning.
First, the warning: This is a transition book. It's the second in a trilogy and you really need to read the first - Acacia - before reading this book. Awesome stuff happens in this book, making it a narrative that holds its own. However, The Other Lands builds on Acacia. It does not stand alone. A lot of transition books can be boring - they're a lot of moving the characters from point A to point B so they're in their proper places for the finale. There is some of that in The Other Lands (which I will get to in a second) but as far as middle trilogy books go, this one was amazing.
Second, the issue: The passages that focus on Dariel and his time in the Other Lands felt bogged down - like a truck stuck in snow, spinning its wheels. Between Dariel's and Rialus' chapters, there was a lot of info dumping. The info was fascinating, and Durham is good at weaving the info into the narrative, but not much happens. Certain plot points leave not only readers, but characters within the book clueless (the fate of the Lothan Aklun). While I understand Durham's narrative trajectory with the Lothun Aklun and the Auldek, I was disappointed with not getting know an entire race of people. I think Dariel and Rialus will come into play in force in The Sacred Band - the last book in the trilogy.
That being said, I'm going to go read The Sacred Band now. That is, after my library shift is over. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Did not like this sequel as much as the first. Too much chaos with story lines jumping all over the place. I got the feeling he was writing for the purpose of a movie script, describing scenes that would be colorful in that format. Also there was too much unexplained magic. The main characters were lost in all the chaos.