Cover Image: The Second Blind Son

The Second Blind Son

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Oh my goodness! I loved this story! This was book 2 and can be read as a stand-alone. This magical, lyrical writing transported me into a fascinating, different kind of world. I devoured it. The connection between these two was special and I loved watching them.
Amy Harmon is so good at emotional, intense relationships. This is definitely one of my all time favorite reads.
I didn’t want it to end. I highly recommend it. You don’t want to miss this wonderful story.
Thanks 47North via Netgalley.

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Having loved The First Girl Child, I was really excited that Amy Harmon wrote another book in the same world, and this book didn't disappoint! The story takes place concurrent with the events in The First Girl Child, only though the points of view of different characters. I fell in love with these characters just as much as I always do when reading an Amy Harmon book. I especially liked reading Hod's point of view and how he experienced things as a blind person. The bond he and Ghisla formed was special and believable considering the circumstances they were in.

This is based on Norse mythology and has both historical fantasy and romantic fantasy elements to it. Authors, if you are going to write a fantasy with romance, this is the way to do it! I love that the romance doesn't overshadow the fantasy aspect of the book, and that it's sweet without being overly done.

I'm not sure if Amy Harmon is going to write another book set in this world, but if she does I will definitely read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and 47North for providing me with an ARC of this book.

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Loved loved loved this book! Amy Harmon’s beautiful writing continues to draw me in, and The Second Blind Son is no less than a five-star read!

We return to the city if Saylok, where a curse has prevented any daughters from being born for several years. It is here that an orphaned girl named Ghisla washes ashore, and Hod, a blind cave dweller, nurses her back to health. It is clear there is a strong connection between them, so much so that when Ghisla sings, Hod is able to see. But he can do little to protect her in the cave and urges her to become a daughter of the temple, where the clans of the kingdom have gathered their girl children. Over time, Ghisla and Hod uncover secrets that could affect the fate of the kingdom and the curse that has plagued the clans, but are they capable of defeating the forces working against them?

This was a fantastic read, and I’ve really enjoyed diving into such a well depicted fantasy. Amy Harmon has created a world and characters that you just can’t help but fall in love with, and highly recommend this book to everyone!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3850022457

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Wow!! As a rule, I don’t read fantasy, but Amy Harmon makes it so delectable time and time again. Her words completely transported me to the world of Saylok. I loved being able to head back to this world, with the concurrent storyline to The First Girl Child. We were able to visit the characters we grew to love from a different perspective and meet and get to know other characters on a deeper level!

This book offered swoon-worthy romance and adventure! I think my favorite aspect of this book was how unpredictable the plot was able to be, though I had already read The First Girl Child. Somehow I didn't know the characters in this story would be woven into the story I already knew. Regardless of how things might play out, I was constantly rooting for Hod and Ghisla, savoring every moment they were together.

This is a book I won't soon forget and will be recommending to everyone I know!

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It's no secret that Amy Harmon is one of my absolute favorite authors and I know that I might be a bit biased when it comes to her work... But the fact is: her stories manage to blow me away without fail, and this newest book The Second Blind Son is no exception. I LOVED the first book set in Saylok, The First Girl Child, back when I read it in 2019 and it was an instant all time favorite. I've been excited to return to the same high fantasy world ever since I first found out about this sequel (I even reread the first book to refresh memories), and I can now say that this story is just as fantastic as the first one.

Once again the high fantasy worldbuilding really makes the story stand out, and we learn more about the different clans of Saylok as well as those who live outside Saylok. A little warning: technically The Second Blind Son focuses on the story of two new main characters, but you will find this story to be much intertwined with the first book and it's definitely adviced to read the two in order to avoid major spoilers. Both books are utterly fantastic in the first place, so you would be missing out by not reading Alba and Bayr's story first! Back to this sequel: we get more Norse mythology elements woven into the plot and worldbuilding, and I loved learning more about the blind god Hod and Baldr. The mythology elements are cleverly and seamle

I also loved that we get to return to some of our old favorite characters as well as getting to know the new stars of the show. Alba, Bayr, Ghost, Dagmar... There are so many fantastic characters in the first book, and it was a true pleasure to meet up with them again. The 'new' characters are just as easy to grow fond of, and I loved reading about Ghisla (Liis of Leok in the first book) and Hod's story. Both have such fascinating backgrounds and were able to win over my heart immediately... And I had such a great time seeing their lives unfold. The romance itself was spot on for me and didn't distract from the rest of the story at all, which is always a bonus.

The Second Blind Son not only gives us Ghisla and Hod's story, but also a new perspective on events that took place in the first book. The story mainly takes place during the same years of the first book, and this is exactly why we can revisit those favorite characters along the way. It is such a clever way of writing a sequel based on old events while also offering a completely new storyline, and I personally didn't mind that some scenes were basically almost the same. The writing is just as utterly brilliant as always and I basically couldn't stop reading once I started the first chapter and properly met our new star characters.

In short, there is a lot to love in this high fantasy sequel and I absolutely loved my time with The Second Blind Son. If you enjoy a well written high fantasy sequel with a healthy dose of romance, Norse mythology elements, thoroughly developed and highly likeable characters and brilliant writing and plot, I can highly recommend both books of the series. Without doubt one of my highlights of the year so far!

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Phenomenal! I didn’t want this story to end!

Holy smokes! Amy Harmon is such an incredible storyteller. This story had me anticipating like crazy at every turn. The events that occur, the emotions that you feel from every character, the twists; I could not put this book down! And the final 20%... I was on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, and I couldn’t read fast enough to know what the outcome was going to be. This story is phenomenal!

And the writing, wow! This story played out before my eyes. The descriptors are so well defined I could see and feel everything that was happening. This beautiful, breathtaking story is a journey of faith, hope, survival, and love.

A must-read story that will leave your heart full and a smile on your face!

“You are not cold, Ghisla. Not to me. You are color. You are sound. You are the song on the wind and the hope in my heart.”

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Amy Harmon writes with wisdom and artistry. Harmon captures the essence of this tale, whisking you away to a place and time that is rich, vivid and enticing. Steeped in equal parts magical realism and beguiling mystery, The Second Blind Son is a captivating story that will leave you entranced long after you turn the last page. 

To say that I fell in love with the preceding book, The First Girl Child , could never be a truer statement. This was a story so out of my realm of reading genre and was the book that brought me to discover this extremely talented author, to whom I am in awe. No matter the genre, nor the plot, she has made me fall deeply in love with each and every book she has written. When I learned of a second book in this fantastical world, I was beyond delighted to revisit Saylok and be reacquainted with it’s characters and introduced to new ones.

The Second Blind Son is a heroic tale brimming with war, magic and adventure! Woven through the pages of this historical fantasy romance is a story of family legacy and how the acceptance of extraordinary gifts and the embracement of distinctive impediments will guide those to find a place in the world. 

I wasn’t expecting so much beauty from this story. Although the romance is sweet, what I am referring to is the pleasurable quality of this story to your mind and spirit.  Hod isn’t your standard self-assertive hero. He’s patient, pure, inspirational and of divine descent. Ghisla has strength, courage and fortitude. Her insight sees herself and Hod through many difficult times and adversities. Together their story radiates goodness and sentimentality.

While some authors are world builders describing their visions in words and transporting you to their imagination; others are storytellers, drawing you in and turning those pages until no more remain. Amy Harmon does both. The world is complex and engaging. The characters are lovely and layered. Truly another great from this talented author!

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I feel like I repeat myself in my Amy Harmon reviews but I can't help it. Everything she writes is pure beauty and I will forever read anything she writes, in any genre.

The Second Blind Son is the sequel to The First Girl Child. I would recommend doing a quick re-read before starting this one to get a feel for the magical world of Saylok. TSBS is quite a bit more romantic than TFGC and I loved every minute of it. It will genuinely sweep you off your feet.

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A well written work of art that takes us on a deeply emotional journey as Hod and Ghisla navigate the paths they find themselves on, the darkness that can overtake them when all seems lost and the strengths they find deep within in that may just carry them through abd back to each other. Written during the events of the first book we find ourselves reliving a few events through a different set of eyes that creates a whole new point of view, as well as really getting to know where Ghisla came from and her harrowing journey from orphan to Sayloks shores as well as following Hod as he navigates life as a supplicant who happens to be blind. It's spellbinding, dark, unbelievably heartbreaking and such an absolute joy to read. A magical world full of old Norse lore, characters you cherish and a storyline that is unforgettable! I. Want. More!

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The lyrical writing of this tale punches into your chest grabbing your heart and gripping your lungs leaving you aching and breathless. Hod and Ghisla had you feel. You felt their trials and tribulations. It was an experience there in Saylok in that cave, on that mount....they allowed you to see.

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The Second Blind Son was definitely one of my most anticipated reads of this year. After falling in love with this world with The First Girl Child I was eagerly awaiting a new installation in The Chronicles of Saylok and I've fallen even more in love with this Norse Mythology series.

Two people meet at a time when the clans are on the brink of war, the King is hiding many secrets and making alliances that will not bode well for the people of Saylok. They meet when they really need someone to help them see that there is more, that they are more and that when even distance separates them they will still be able to find each other.

Hod is the blind boy who has been raised in a cave by the cave keeper Arwin. He has learned how to harness the power of his other senses to ensure his own safety.

Ghisla is a Songr who has lost everything and everyone close to her and now she has washed ashore only to find a blind boy and his cave. A place she never wants to leave but must as Hod's teacher Arwin tells her she cannot stay and must be presented to the Mount and the Keepers.

Now she will be separated by distance from Hod but nothing will ever break the chains that bind their hearts as one.

This book is nothing short of magical. I could get lost in this world over and over and never want to leave!!

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed **

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I was very excited to read this book as I loved the first book in this series. I liked the plot, obviously, and the characters were very interesting. It was nice to see the story unfold from a different perspective.

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The Second Blind Son is a glorious return to Saylock. This land with its characters based on Nordic Folklore is one that pulled me in and refused to loosen its hold on me. Even as I had to break to return to real life activities, my mind, thoughts and heart remained in this mystical land. I loved spending time again with the clans, keepers, and the Daughters of Freya to whom we were introduced in the First Girl Child. What was even better, was meeting Hod, the hero of The Second Blind Son.

Hod is unforgettable. He is good, loyal, and true. His world is forever altered when he finds Ghisla washed up on the shore where he lives. Their story is a saga of friendship and love that captivated me. Its highs and lows are equally poignant. There was such sweetness and great hardship in their young lives. There was never a time that I didn't hope for everything good for them.

Amy Harmon just knows how to write a story overflowing with heart and passion. She gets down to the core of all that makes us human. As a reader, becoming immersed in each an every palpable emotion is unavoidable. The genre of the story is irrelevant. Each and every Amy Harmon book has at least one quintessential moment when the reader will pause and just feel the exact emotion(s) that the character(s) are experiencing. This fantasy novel, The Second Blind Son is no exception.

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This is the second book in the Chronicles of Saylok series, and it begins shortly after the inciting events in the first book. After several years where there are no births of baby girls, the clans have been asked to send one of the girls in their clans to the temple. Ghisla is an orphan who washed ashore and is discovered by Hod, a blind boy who is being raised to someday go to the temple as a supplicant. They quickly become friends, but when Hod's teacher discovers her presence, he insists that she go to the temple to seek shelter. Hod and Ghisla reluctantly agree, but before Ghisla departs, Hod uses a magical rune to ensure that they can still communicate. As the years pass and Ghisla and Hod face their separate challenges, can they fight for Saylok's future while also ensuring their own future together?

This was a delight to read. I was a little hesitant about whether the book would still be interesting even though it covers the same events as the first book, and the answer is a resounding yes! Harmon is a gifted writer, and I immediately cared greatly for Ghisla and Hod and their story. The plot flowed well, and it intersected enough with the previous book that I knew where we were in the timeline, but I didn't feel like it repeated too many of the scenes from the first book. One of the best parts of the book is that Ghisla is a singer, and there's something about the way that Harmon writes song lyrics that I feel like I can almost hear the characters sing them even though I have nothing to go on but the words on the page. The ending was satisfying, and it wrapped up both books well.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It has action, magic, and romance, and I loved seeing the how the two stories are part of a bigger story, but are still satisfying reads on their own.

A big thank you to Amy Harmon, 47North, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

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I loved The First Girl Child and had my fingers crossed that the sequel would be just as, or even almost, as good. I should have known Amy Harmon would not disappoint! It is a stunning novel. I loved the romance of Hod and Ghisla, but also enjoyed all the other characters, some from TFGC and some new additions. The story kept me interested throughout and I simultaneously couldn’t wait to see how it ended and didn’t want it to end.
Another 5 (rune) stars for Amy Harmon. Is it too soon to hope there will be a third book in this series?
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

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First off, I don't normally read these kind of books. I am more of a historical, romance, chick lit, kind of reader. But! It's Amy Harmon, so it's a no brainer that I have to read it. It did not disappoint! This is the second book in the Chronicles of Saylok, and you do not have to read the first one to read this one, but it will help with a lot of the back story. It had been awhile since I had read the first one, and I had a hard time with some of the storylines. As always, Amy Harmon has me swooning over the slow burn of the love story of the two main characters. I also loved how we got to see some of the story from the first book again, but told from a different perspective.

I received a copy of the is book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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Another unique story from the author. The characters are lovable and interesting. Overall it was entertaining but a bit slow at some plots.

Thank you, author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

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#TheSecondBlindSon #NetGalley

I so enjoyed reading The Second Blind Son. Lately I've felt on a Norse kick and the books I've read haven't disappointed; and I've found a new author to follow. I think this is a second in the series but I've read it out of order -- I don't think it matters.

Ghisla is the only survivor of her village and washes up on a shore where Hod, a blind trainee nurses her back to health. They form an inseparable bond despite Ghisla having been given as a Daughter to the king along with a new identity. In this kingdom, no daughters have been born in years. Not only do Ghisla and Hod have to find their way back to each other, there are prophecies they must contend with through it all.

The writing really drew me in with deep and flawed characters. I'm excited to read other books in The Chronicles of Saylok.

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Amy Harmon is a wonderful author and I always enjoy her books. For some reason I couldn't get into the story of this book. Even though I read the first book in the series, which I really enjoyed, this one was a struggle for me.

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“I promise you I will not give up today.”

I savored every morsel of this book over an entire week (which is very uncommon for me). I could’ve easily devoured it in one fast sitting…it certainly pulled me in and captivated me. But as I started it, I quickly realized that this book was exactly what my (weary) heart needed at the moment. This was a book I could savor and enjoy…putting this world aside, escaping into Saylok with Hod and Ghisla.

And even after spending a week with these friends, I read the last words and was gutted that I had to say goodbye.

Powerful and passionate with a side of longing. This is a story about desperate times. It’s also a story about hope. But mostly, it’s a story about love and overcoming. It’s a masterfully told, engrossing saga.

This tale of Hod and Ghisla is rooted in Norse mythology and set amongst a collapsing country, a caustic curse, and a corrupt ruler. Hod has lived a solitary life among the caves and trained by Arwin, the cave keeper. Ghisla fled the funeral pyres of her plagued region and washed up on Hod’s shore. They had no one until they found each other. Together she allows him to see, and he allows her to remember the magic of song. But Arwin’s fears coupled with the curse over the kingdom tear them apart. Their only hope is for the curse to be overturned.

Much happens in Saylok following their separation. All of it was important and well plotted. It was dark and moody and dire, but my focus was forever on the longing and angst that Hod and Ghisla felt throughout their separation. OH THE LONGING! Their need for connection was palpable. I was desperate alongside them. The ache and torture they felt, I felt. Harmon created a pure, beautiful love between Hod and Ghisla, and I was deeply invested in their story.

Every nation deserves a Hero like Hod. He is the exact kind of champion you want to cheer for. He is astute, kind, protective, strong, and selfless. He uses what most consider a weakness (blindness) as an incredible strength. While others seek power, he seeks peace.

Amy Harmon is a master storyteller, and this book showcases that. The imagery she painted as she created the world of Saylok is strong and vivid. These characters are flawed and real and complex. Every story element was adeptly executed to create this gripping tale.

Thank you Amy Harmon, 47 North, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

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