the book was pretty good but about 75% of the way through I started thinking back to the first book and realized we didn’t really get a lot of reasoning on why Ruel fought but that’s an issue with the first book not this one. This second book was solid for a sequel but I worry that when the third book is released it will suffer from middle book syndrome. For now I will say a lot of it was predictable but not so much that it made the book unenjoyable. I liked watching Ruel grow into this role that was chosen for him and becoming a leader. I’m not sure how many books there will be in the series but hopefully the third one is also enjoyable

Thank you to Andrew Knighton, Orbit, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of Forged for Prophecy in exchange for my honest review.

Forged for Prophecy is the second book in Knighton's Forged for Prophecy series. While this book does not pick up right where the last one ended, there is not a massive time jump between the two books. In general, this book centers around a quest to find a dagger that might turn the tide of the rebellion. If I am being honest, I cannot decide how I feel about this book. The writing and the setting were well done; however, I struggled to grasp the point of this book. I do not want to spoil anything, but it did feel like this book did not do much to forward the plot, though it did help to further develop Raul's character. I did find myself at times getting frustrated with all the references that what the characters were doing was another form of an elaborate performance. I feel as though it was halting their development because they were not allowing themselves to truly get invested in what was going on or the part that they had in the rebellion. At the start of the book, Raul feels like a fraud and like he is just acting, and as such, he is not successful. I am curious to know if we will see this come to a head in the next book and if the characters will be able to acknowledge that it is, in fact, not a show or a performance.

Like the first book, this was not one that I could read all in one sitting, like I normally do with books. Rather, I read a few chapters a day, and that seemed to work well for me because I was able to find some enjoyment in what I was reading, while also not finding myself frustrated with some of the things that were going on that I mentioned above. I will say, if you liked the first book, give this one a chance because I think this is more about my reading preferences than a reflection on the. book itself. I am still invested in continuing the series as it comes out, even if I have given both books 3 stars. I have realized that reading this series in small chunks works best for me, as it is a slower book, and that is okay.

Forged for Prophecy builds on Raul’s inner struggle with a compelling premise: what happens when a hero knows his destiny is a lie? Once again, Raul’s character is the backbone of the story, and his exhaustion, doubt, and reluctant hope feel raw and real. The addition of the ancient dagger quest injects some momentum into the plot, but much like Forged for Destiny, the pacing wavers, and some of the tension falls flat. Side characters like Valens and Yasmi show potential but don’t get quite enough space to shine. The world continues to intrigue, and there are flickers of emotional depth, but overall, the story still leans too heavily on prophecy tropes without fully subverting them. Worth reading for Raul, but the promise of the prophecy isn't fully realized.

This one should’ve been an epic fantasy with dark twists and unforgettable prophecy... but sadly, it missed the mark for me.

The concept? Brilliant. The execution? Not as engaging. I found myself losing interest a few chapters in, and the storytelling style didn’t hold the weight of the plot's potential.

Still, the idea was creative, and with stronger pacing and more immersive tension, it could’ve been something amazing. Hoping the author sharpens the delivery in future works.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This review is entirely my own opinion.

Forged for prophecy is the second book in the series and is a great read with relatable characters with a unique magic similar to gramorie, omens, and knacks.

Raul is no longer unwittingly the "chosen" and is determined to live up to fate he was made to believe. The story is much more fast paced & relies on the "chase" as Raul, and company are on the hunt fir Balbinus' knife to prove the power of his legacy and unite the rebels.

A highly recommended sequel that keeps the story rolling

I've recently read Forged For Destiny and enjoyed the concept of the "fake chosen-one" that's really an imposter. It reminded me of the Truman Show of sorts, where the main character believed the lie himself. Forged For Destiny in many ways managed to make me (as the reader) not only consider how beliefs are formed, but also how people themselves act when they believe the stories they are told. It was a form of a self fulfilling prophecy.
The story continued to unfold in Forged For Prophecy, where the main character was fully aware of the lie. Yet he continued on with it and becoming complicit in misleading the people he supposedly cares for. It made me dislike the main character in ways, as you cannot be that righteous and believe yourself to know that YOU are the people's savior.. whilst being a villain simultaneously. I enjoyed the ambivalence of it all and it reminded me of certain religious movements and the justifications followers have used to commit harm against others.
The story itself was decent, but it is missing a certain magic for me. Something that would make me want to root for one side.. there were too many grey areas left unexplored.
In the next installment ( which I will read), I hope for there to be more clarity and a deeper exploration of the "world".

Thank you to Andrew Knighton for giving us a new "chosen-one" to follow on his quest. Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for allowing me to ponder this concept (deep into the night).

Thanks to Netgalley and the Orbit team for providing an EARC of this book for review!

Well, I went to this book excited - it seemed like a great premise. That premise (not a spoiler, as it is the pitch for the series) is that the "chosen one" is a lie. A fake. A couple has manipulated a boy they adopted into meeting all the signs of prophecy, yet he is not the chosen one.

However, I consistently felt this book failed to meet that expectation. There's a lot of internal conflict from the characters who know about Raul (who is the main character pretending to be the chosen one), but it didn't affect the plot in the way that I had hoped. He basically just acts like the chosen one in every other story. I know comparing books can be challenging, but I felt that Gene Wolfe handled this much better in Book of the Long Sun, where it is only one part of a much larger series (and of course, has a Wolfian twist to go along with it).

I felt in part that this book was a bit too small in scope. While keeping the scope small can work for certain types of stories, this book is supposed to be epic fantasy, yet we are limited to one geographic area with a very small rebellion. The bad guy is a bit more interesting, and honestly my favorite part of this book. Knighton does something with him at the end that I thought was really great.

Negative as I am about this book, that is more because it disappointed me rather than there is any gaping plot hole or other issues with this book. It is very competent- it gives characters arcs, executes a few good twists, has some decent action and romance, and is generally well edited with no obvious typos or misspellings. Just not for me.