I enjoyed the first one, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. So good! I loved the story, the world-building and characters well well written, and the story was easy to follow!

With soul-bonds and magic and quests to rid the land of evil, I thoroughly enjoyed Talon. As soon as I saw Tanza was available, I had to read it. It was definitely worth the wait, even if I am behind.

Talon and Sarlice travel to Tanza to seek aid. Along the way, Talon bonds again – to both a sword and the Emperor Skyearl called Ciera, making him a legendary Astor. But despite his many talents, the enemy is drawing in and it isn’t long until all those who follow Krii are under mass attack.

For a girl who loves Roman-era fiction because of the battle tactics and formations used, Tanza was a delight for me. The majority of the book was a battle. But as well as the normal siege weapons – catapults etc – there was magic, mystical creatures and people with various bonds that should not be underestimated. I completely engaged with the text – it was the first book that I’ve stayed up late to finish for a while.

I can see how this would work as a weakness though. If you aren’t particularly interested in battles and fights, you would probably be bored out of your mind. I enjoyed this book – but I can easily see why others wouldn’t.

Talon grows tremendously as a character, and not just because of his new bonds. He becomes a leader in his own right and by the end of the book, is able to give commands and lead men into battle. He even understands the sacrifice of having men die for him. But he remains humble throughout, signified by his relationships with others.

New characters are introduced in abundance, but a few stuck out for me. Prince Tyba was a great character, not only in his own right but because of the loyalty he inspired in Talon. Talon often refers to him as “my prince” and his submission to Tyba’s leadership keeps Talon grounded. It would have been easy to make him too powerful.

Jett is understated but provide a genuine friendship for Talon. Considering the danger the characters end up in, those moments of friendship helped lighten the mood when it was required.

Old characters practically vanish. Despite being Talon’s first bond, Rekala is barely in the novel. It made sense with the plot, but I was left with the feeling that every time Talon got a new bond, the others became less significant. I had this problem in Talon as well.

The issue for me was Talon’s thoughts – he would instantly think of Sarlice (another character left on the sidelines), but not Rekala. Yet one he fancied, the other he was soul-bound too. I really hope we get to see Talon with all of his soul-bonds in one place and each being important to both him and the plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed Tanza. My hopes for the next book involve the equal balancing of the characters and Talon learning what he is truly capable of. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.

This book is simply badass. I love how this book is written and the story line.

Talon and Sarlice are on the run from Zeikas and head to Tanza. Most of the book features Talon on his own, growing in strength quickly as he battles Zeikas nonstop. On par with the first book and anxiously awaiting book 3.