With the fighting season over for the year, Leif travels to find his father’s kin – the Genthai. Despite not being welcomed with open arms and visibly and verbally scorned, Leif lives among them, learning their ways and customs. Some are even more brutal than Hob’s and he is sickened by it. It seems the unfairness of the world is spread wide.

Returning to the house of Tyron, he is pleased to see them all. His training regime continues, as Tyron’s plans for him slowly slot together. A new force enters their lives – Ada is an accomplished trainer of lacres, and has knowledge of the creatures who keep the human race captured within the barrier of mist and fog around their city. With this knowledge, she builds the fastest, strongest lacre they have ever seen, who will aim to protect Leif in his fights in Arena 13.

But any day, Hob can demand a fight with Leif and they have to be ready. Ada, Tyron and others have constructed a plan to be rid of Hob for good, not realising the wrath that can be brought down on them all.

I liked this part of the trilogy nearly as much as the first despite it being a ‘middle’ book. The relationships aren’t portrayed in a deep and meaningful way, but just enough to make me groan when they made mistakes and cheer out loud when they prevailed over their antagonists. It’s a good story, with lots of action, planning and power plays, and this episode explains a little more about the past where things called computers were important to humankind. It was interesting that the Genthai race are loosely based on the early Maori of New Zealand, with sacred tattooing and life in the bush. 

Author – Joseph Delaney

Age – 13+

(Fantasy, Trilogy, Series, Fight, Battle, Power, Customs, Betrayal, Monster)