Each time I pick up a book by Kaden Love, I come out of it feeling enlightened. The Duet of Pernicious Eels was no exception.
The second book in the Paladins of the Harvest picks up right after the events of book one. We as the reader follow new and old characters alike as the war on harvesting continues. With each turn of the page, it is clear that our characters have some soul searching to do when it comes to which side they will pick in the ongoing battles. Couple this with a continued conversation on belief systems and how far one is willing to go for their faith in terms of morally grey decision making and you have self a book!
Love couples the thematic with an expansion of his world and magic exceptionally. For example, I was encouraged to think about my own stance on religion and faith but never once felt persuaded by the ideologies inside of the book. Rather, the themes invite a conversation about religious freedom and accepting that your fellow human may not align with your worldview, but all of us deserve respect and understanding.
Moving on to the elements of the book itself. The creativity of Duet was super fun to watch unfold. The powers of the Endowed were explored, delving deeper into what each speciality could do, how they were created, and the training of certain disciplines. We also get introduced to more species of beasts which change the way our clans fight in the ongoing war (did someone say flying bat goats!) The political intricacies of the characters continue to weave through their stories in complicated and sometimes surprising ways, and the brutality of war was front and centre on the page.
Love does not shy away from harsh realities and morally grey questioning in this series, and I can certainly see some of those Eriksonesk influences starting to shine through. I have really enjoyed watching this young author push boundaries in his works and very much look forward to the next instalment!
Check out a review of book one – Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard!
