Release: July 7th 2020
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Tor Books
Source: Tor Books
Find it at: Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, Book Depository, Bookshop.org
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“Everything epic fantasy should be: rich, cruel, gorgeous, brilliant, enthralling and deeply, deeply satisfying. I loved it.”–Lev Grossman on The Ruin of Kings
You can have everything you want if you sacrifice everything you believe.
Kihrin D’Mon is a wanted man.
Since he destroyed the Stone of Shackles and set demons free across Quur, he has been on the run from the wrath of an entire empire. His attempt to escape brings him into the path of Janel Theranon, a mysterious Joratese woman who claims to know Kihrin.
Janel’s plea for help pits Kihrin against all manner of dangers: a secret rebellion, a dragon capable of destroying an entire city. This also includes Kihrin’s old enemy, the wizard Relos Var.
Janel believes that Relos Var possesses one of the most powerful artifacts in the world. The Cornerstone is called the Name of All Things. And if Janel is right, then there may be nothing in the world that can stop Relos Var from getting what he wants.
And what he wants is Kihrin D’Mon.
Jenn Lyons continues the Chorus of Dragons series with The Name of All Things, the epic sequel to The Ruin of Kings
A Chorus of Dragons
1: The Ruin of Kings
2: The Name of All Things
About the Author:
Jenn Lyons lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, three cats. She has a lot of opinions on anything from the Sumerian creation myths to the correct way to make a martini. At various points in her life, she has wanted to be an archaeologist, anthropologist, architect, diamond cutter, fashion illustrator, graphic designer, or Batman. Turning from such obvious trades, she is now a video game producer by day. Also, Jenn spends her evenings writing science fiction and fantasy. When not writing, she can be founding debating the Oxford comma and Joss Whedon’s oeuvre at various local coffee shops.
The Name of All Things Review:
I loved this book and thought it was a very different, yet entertaining continuation to the first book.
The story shifts focus away from Kihrin (who I loved!) and more on Janel and Brother Qown. This is not what I expected, but I still enjoyed reading it, as we get additional details to the events from the previous book. Moreover, the story occurs in a different parts of the world, and we get new characters as well. I loved how the author expanded the world and made it more complex. Namely, I loved reading about the customs of Jorat and found it fascinating. On a side note, I also liked the details we get on the Cornerstones!
Similar to the previous novel, I fell in love with some of the characters. The Gods and Demons were mesmerizing, and I loved their complexity. Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed Senera’s footnotes and her sarcastic sense of humor. In fact, Relos Var and Senera were the standouts in the story. Also, Brother Qown is amazing and adorable with his good nature, and was entertaining to see how he maneuvers from sticky situations. Similarly, I also liked Dorna, Janel and Nina.
However, there were a few minor things which disappointed me. Namely, while I loved the story, I felt like majority of it was backstory, rather than moving with the present story-line. The family tree is at times confusing, and I kept jotting reminders for various connections. Also, while I liked the new characters, I missed Talon’s voice from the first book.
Having said that, this is still an amazing book to read. While you can read this as a standalone, I suggest to read the previous book to adjust to the foundation and the narrative. Overall, The Name of All Things is very compelling.
