I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I really enjoyed the tolkienesque quality of the first book in the series and this book as well. I found the first half of the book a little difficult to get into, but I notice that sometimes happens when I go a period of time between the previous and most recent book in a series. The second half definitely picked up for me and am looking forward to the next installment of this series. I would give this a 3.5 out of 5.

Unfortunately, I did not realize that this was book #2 in a series, and I have not read book #1. I will read that and then come back and update my review! The premise sounds very intriguing, so I am excited to start this adventure.

You ever feel that you bring a bad time with you as a house guest? Well at least you haven't made an ancient city fall to pieces, I hope.

"The Fall of Waterstone" by Lilith Saintcrow continues the journey of Solveig and Arneior as they are shuttled into a world they only know from myths. They are brought to Waterstone, a supposedly hidden city from the Enemy's sight. The Elder do not explain everything, the long lived are slow to act and slower to trust. But they have something the Enemy wants, something only Solveig can use. I'm sure the threat will stay outside and not get in with a title like that.

Reasons to read:
-Norse inspired epic
-Force of wolf shifters
-Real bad end to someone who deserves it and an explication about how their corpse is laid out is embarrassing
-Some more answers
-I like the asides where the story is reflective on things we wouldn't see otherwise
-Tolkien-esqe in the flow

Cons:
-It feels a little odd so you need to get used to it about

Lilith Saintcrow has the middle book of her high fantasy trilogy. In A Flame in the North (paper) sent Solveig and her shield maiden north with a group of werewolves because the dark lord of the far North is rising and Solveig’s rare tallent to use all the magical elements might provide hope. After surviving the fall of two hidden Elven kingdoms, she finds safety and happiness in a third, relaxing enough to help in a boat race. Alas treachery leads to The Fall of Waterstone( paper from Orbit). The only hope to stop the dark lord is a magical gem that Solveig does not want to deal with. This is promising to be a great addition to High fantasy and I’m loving the story so far.

As far as second books in a series goes, I actually thought it was better than the first.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, & Orbit Books for the eARC in return for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.

As with the first, the world building was impeccable; the author left no rock unturned or cloud misplaced. The plot flowed and built and came together naturally, and I quite enjoyed the journey. Then add to it the characters that you just can't help rooting for and all my lit. wishes should have come true. While most of that can be said, I did find there was too much dead space. Too much leading. Sometimes authors see their world and they can write for days about its rolling hills, snow capped mountains, or field of wild flowers leading to the most breathtaking glimmering river, and forget that we (the reader) can't always go on the journey in their head. We like to image our own version of the landscape that you've given us just enough detail before we fill in the gaps with our own experience and visual. Stephen King does this masterfully. I like to use my own imagination to root out the exact color of a sunset or the last glint of the sun as it descends below the highest peak of a mountain range, that in its absence blankets the character in a cold that sinks into the bones.

However, this second book did save the story in my opinion. The first book was good and I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I'd requested this book from the publisher on NetGalley before reading the first and hurried to purchase on Audible. It was a bit of a forced read to get to the end, but the story kept me hooked enough to pick up the second one and dig in. This second book was slightly faster paced and I found myself really connecting to a few of the characters. I will always urn for a bond as deep as Sol and Arn's. I won't relay too much for those of you who are romance addicts, but there is also a slow burn involved in the story that will keep you saying "Will they, won't they."

I do think that when the third comes out, I will pick it up and hopefully get some much needed resolutions.

No regrets!!
3.5 outta 4 Stars

The Fall of Waterstone by Lilith Saintcrow -eBook ARC

The Fall of Waterstone by Lilith Saintcrow is a dark and atmospheric fantasy novel that follows the tale of a troubled kingdom on the brink of collapse. The author's writing style is engaging and the world-building is well-crafted, drawing readers into a rich and vibrant setting.

However, one area that fell short for me was the pacing of the story. The narrative felt uneven at times, with moments of intense action followed by slower scenes that seemed to drag on. This created a disjointed reading experience that detracted from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Despite the pacing issues, The Fall of Waterstone still offers an intriguing and complex storyline, with well-developed characters and a unique magical system. Fans of dark fantasy will appreciate the author's attention to detail and world-building, even if they may find themselves frustrated by the inconsistent pacing.

I read and really enjoyed The Fall of Waterstone by Lilith Saintcrow.
It was exciting and intriguing.
Saintcrow has created a captivating read.
The world-building and development of the characters were fantastic and the characters kept me engaged.

Thank You NetGalley and Orbit for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

DNF 35%

I didn't love the first book either but it showed promise. Unfortunately, this book is just not improving at a good enough clip. I still find the characters dull and their actions kinda unbelievable.

Lilith Saintcrow's The Fall of Waterstone is the second installment in the author's Black Land's Bane series. Norse-inspired worlds are evergreen in fantasy, with a recent resurgence in popularity as seen by the success of Shadow of the Gods and films like The Northman. The quest-like structure of the book and the emphasis on old legends and myths will also appeal to fans of epics like Lord of the Rings.

This story is told in the first person narrative by Solveig of Don Rithell, who along with her shieldmaiden Arneior, continue to find all sorts of trouble on their way to what is supposed to be sanctuary from the Enemy's forces that have laid siege to every place that they have visited. Solveig and her shieldmaiden have finally made it to Waterstone, a fabled city hidden in a world of frost by ancient magic where Solveig is supposed to be safe with her unique abilities.

Shrouded from the Enemy’s gaze, they are safe to rest and regroup—or so they think until a betrayal no one sees coming once again sends the travelers searching for safety. Waterstone is supposed to be a city of healing, and restful beauty hidden from the Enemy’s gaze. Yet whispers race through the palace halls, and those they have come to tentatively trust have hidden intentions. For not only is the city a refuge for an elementalist, her protector, and a mortal prince, it also holds a great weapon, one that only Solveig’s kind may wield.

Yet Sol’s faith in her own magic is perilously fractured. She can rely only her wits and skills of negotiation to be heard, or she will become a pawn in a dark game played by Elder and Enemy alike. The lord of the Black Land is mighty; treachery slithers amid Waterstone’s many wonders, and time is growing short. Before the darkness finds a way in, Sol must decide who to trust, where to turn for aid, and if she will take up a power she cannot hope to control.

Even the right choice may doom not just the home she has left behind, but the entire world. Sol suspects their hosts are not as benevolent as they seem. Whispers race through the halls, hinting at self-serving agendas and secret plots. So, as Sol attempts to harness her awakened magic, she must fight for her voice to be heard or risk being used like a pawn in the greater game. But as our heroine's soon learn. the Enemy always watching and nowhere is truly safe.Before the darkness finds a way in, Sol must decide if she will take up the mantle of power to save not just the home she’s left behind, but the future of the world.

*Thoughts* While the pacing of the book is once again slow, the action scenes make up for the peaceful scenes. In many ways, this book follows in the footsteps of Lords of The Rings, and similar books that have long epic journeys where the key players and her allies are hounded at every turn. No matter where Solveig goes, it seems that the Enemy knows exactly where she is and what she is collecting along her journey. The rest of the cast consists of Elders, and Wolves from Naras who have vowed to protect Solveig. The book once again ends on a cliffhanger, and yet another new place for Solveig to investigate.

A perfect sequel! If you liked Book 1, you'll love Book 2. More of the adventure I loved from A Flame in the North, and we get to meet lots of new characters. And more of Sol, Eol, and Aeredh 👀👀 I'm still loving Sol and her relationship with Arn. The battles were really well-told. I liked how they are told from Sol's perspective and pieced together through stories or tales she's told later on.

You get to learn more about the wolves of Naras, and I want even more!! They're probably my favorite part of their little band of travelers.

Please don't keep me waiting too long for the next book 💙💙

This is the second book in an epic fantasy series inspired by Norse Mythology. If you enjoyed the first book, A Flame in the North, then you will likely enjoy this one too. I found this sequel on the same level with consistent character work and writing.

Once again, I found myself wanting more from the worldbuilding. I love Norse culture but those details felt surprisingly sparse. I like this series but it feels like missed potential. I wish the author had leaned into the premise more.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

While I liked the first book in this series, I felt like it was missing something.
This sequel made up for it! It was faster paced, more action packed, and the characters were given so much more depth. I adore the deep, sisterly bond between Sol and Arn; and I love what has been developing between Sol and Aeredh since the first book. I’m glad we got so much more of the dynamic between the two of them.
I will be waiting impatiently for the third installation!

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the e-arc!
I pick this book up almost immediately after finishing the second book because I just needed to know what happened! This book is the continuation to A Flame in the North, an epic fantasy with Norse mythology and unbelievably detailed writing. I think this book really took the world from the first and fixed some of the issues that I was experiencing with the story. The general pacing feels a lot better in this book and I felt as if the story flowed a bit smoother. I am hoping that the third book continues to focus on the Sol and Arn; I really enjoyed some of the other stories and character dynamics happening between Sol and some of the other characters but for the conclusion I would love to see it very focused on their dynamic.

This is epic fantasy at it's best! The detail and creativity is exceptional. I fell into this story and floated along at the authors pleasure. Such a riveting intense read.

<happy sigh>
When last we met our companions, elemental-witch Solvieg and her body-guard shieldmaiden Arneior and their party of wolf shape-shifters and Elder warriors had finally reached Waterstone, a secret ancient Elder land in the shadow of the Enemy's Black Land.

As beautiful and protected as Waterstone is, however, Solvieg and Arneior realize that the place is less a haven than a holding cell: the warriors who conveyed them North in the first of the series (<I>A Flame in the North</I>) did so in order to hide Solvieg (and her unique powers) from the Enemy. There are political intrigues, uncertain alliances, and dangers all around.

This is high epic fantasy, written with an eye to archaic style. Chapters open with selections from various in-world narratives, often snippets from sagas composed about the events that are about to unfold. There are battles aplenty, but the writing takes its time. Prepare for a deep, immersive dive into a Nordic, Middle-earth-ish world where Elders live for hundreds of years but still, from time to time, fall in love with mortal humans.

SPOILER ALERT FOLLOWS>>>>

It's a safe bet, given the title, that the safety of Waterstone will prove illusionary, and this novel (the middle episode? will this be a true trilogy?) ends with another headlong footrace for our heroes across the perilous open spaces of the North, with another Elder city in ruins behind them.

As with the first episode, Saintcrow nods to Tolkien: the beautiful Elders, the misshapen creatures of the dark lord (is that a Balrog?! also, is that a second...tower?!) the vast scale of history of Solvieg's world. I won't bother comparing, though I do believe that this series belongs on the same shelf as <I>The Lord of the Rings</I>

And as with <I>The Two Towers,</I> I found myself rushing to find out what will happen next. This epic fantasy delivers everything a reader would want: a grand scale, conflict, sympathetic characters, and rising stakes. And there's more: morally grey decisions made for the greater good, evil characters driven to their wickedness and tempted by a darker evil, and still, love and hope might yet grow in the shadow of Mordor...Oh, I am so looking forward to Book Three!

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

I love all of Lilith Saintcrow's writing and this title DID NOT disappoint. I loved the first book and read it in one night. Three days later I did the same with this title. There was growth of the protagonist, Solveig, and all the secondary characters and the two possible love interests (Aeredh *swoon*) and her bestie and shieldmaiden, Arn (think Valkyries). The rhythm and texture of the language was a delight. The story is reminiscent of Tolkien's tales ie. the great sagas of the Norse. I haven't had a book high like this is in a long time and I am so grateful to NetGalley and Orbit for giving me an advanced copy. I ordered this title for my library and have already been recommending the series like crazy to my fantasy loving patrons!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I enjoyed this book even more than the first! I eat up anything Norse mythology inspired and I really like what Saintcrow has done here with it. Others have likened it to a cross between a Norse myth retelling and the hobbit and that’s totally on point.
Really looking forward to the third installment to see what other adventures await Solveig.

Thank you to Orbit, Lilith Saintcrow and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of The Fall of Waterstone in exchange for my honest review.

The Fall of Waterstone picks up shortly after the end of A Flame to the North. This novel once again follows Solveig, who has finally made it to Waterstone. While Waterstone is considered to be safe from the enemy, that does not mean that Solveig feels safe, in fact it is just the opposite. She is trapped where everyone seems to have a hidden agenda and she has nowhere to go. Trying her best to not be a pawn in some larger game, Solveig tries her master her magic before the enemy finds his way in.

I truly enjoyed this book so much more than the first book. The first book, A Flame to the North felt slow and drawn out. However, The Fall of Waterstone picks up its speed fairly quickly. There is a lot going on and Solveig is just doing her best to try and survive. There are times where I would get frustrated by Solveig, but she is well and truly trapped, and it would be to easy if she could just simply escape. This book has a lot of moving parts to it, and it is clear that it Saintcrow is gearing up for an epic showdown. Yet, in spite of knowing that there is likely to be a big showdown in the next book, I am honestly more excited for answers. Who is the enemy? What exactly is the enemy? What role does Solveig play in this upcoming battle? Will she truly never see her home and her family again? I cannot wait for the third book and will be eagerly awaiting book 3.

This eARC was received from Netgalley.com and I providing an unbiased review.

This is the second book in the 'Black Lands Bane' series by Saintcrow an continues the adventure of Solveig, as she is led on seemingly blindly. This part of the story brings the group to Waterstone, a city of the Elders, a fae-like race. Whilst here, there is treachery within the Elder ranks and the Black Lands creatures invade the hidden city, forcing all to flee or die. This sends our MC out once again to head for yet another 'hidden, Elder city' but now she is carrying within a piece of Waterstone of great value.

It was wonderful to pick up on this story again! Saintcrow has done a wonderful job morphing Norse mythology into a fantasy tale of adventure. I would like to see many more books in this series, but feel it will probably wrap up in the next (and last) installment. Probably best to have read the first novel, so all the backstory is known, but otherwise is easily read and moves along at a good pace.