Maelstrom by D.J. O’Brien is the second book in the Dark Lair fantasy trilogy continuing the story of Megan’s struggle, a doomed sea voyage and a deadly war with dark side.
But what’s cookin?? Let’s find out
“As night fast approached, wind strength increased. They were two days out, and a day from the eastern shore when the storm finally unleashed its spite. The ship was called The Swan. The name implied grace and beauty, but in reality she was a lumbering tub on the verge of capsize on anything but the gentlest swells.”
Book Review: Maelstrom by D.J. O’Brien
Maelstrom, the second book in the Dark Lair series, picks up the story and makes the whole world feel much bigger. Alright, let’s describe this book in two words — “World Building”.
The character which i liked the most again n again are Megan and Brinn, they really stand out.
Megan is still dealing with Silvene, and escaping isn’t exactly a walk in the park. She has to stay alert, think quickly and take whatever chance she gets. Her journey through the forest gives the book some of its best suspense.
Then there is Brinn, suddenly he has to face a rather uncomfortable question to answer: Who am I, really? His meeting with Geylynn, a Faerkine, reveals a strange connection between them.
And that’s where things get interesting.
“I know you are human… but I sense a kinship with you whenever we touch.”
The storyline isn’t completely new. We have dragons. Ancient evil. Magic. Mysterious bloodlines. Kingdoms. Battles. Fantasy has been using these ingredients for a while.
But the author mixes them together in an interesting way.
The cues given is probably the strongest part of the book. The White Circle and the history of the different races give the world more depth. The magic feels connected.
Brinn’s mysterious ancestry and connection with Geylynn is sort of emotional. It’s about figuring out himself.
Megan’s story is different. She doesn’t have an army behind her. Her chapters are more about survival. Fairly reasonable goal, really.
Why not 5 ⭐️?
The thing which holds back this book is there are number of things going at a time, sometimes too much.
There are plenty of characters, locations, battles and political developments. Just when you’re settled into one storyline, the book can suddenly take you somewhere else.
The pacing also slows in places. Some sections move quickly. Others spend more time explaining the world or setting up what comes next.
Still, I never felt that the story lacked ambition.
Quite the opposite. And that’s probably why the book works as a sequel.
It doesn’t simply repeat Book One. It expands it. There are more mysteries. Bigger stakes. More history. More trouble.
And quite a few questions left hanging.
What is the true power of the White Circle? What happens if Badur gets free? Overall a good read!
Fantasy Read: Skyshade by Alex Aster
Storyline: (Spoiler Free Almost)
Maelstrom picks up right where things left off, and it wastes no time throwing you into chaos- literally. The book opens with a doomed ship crossing a dangerous lake, who are onboard..? A soldier, an old wizard, a gruff, a dwarf…what a team.
Meanwhile, in the other dark corner of the world, a young woman is fighting her war for survival. She is trapped and being watched. Is this scene look familiar to you..?
Because the past has a nasty habit of coming back.
Meanwhile, wars and political problems continue to spread. The Karesh threat grows. Alliances are tested. Everyone seems to be making plans.
The part I always enjoy the most is how the separate storylines slowly begin to connect. At first, Brinn’s past, Megan’s situation, the White Circle and the ancient history of Badur seem like completely different pieces.
Then you start seeing the bigger picture.
And you think:
“Wait… are all these things connected?”
Yep.
That’s the fun of Maelstrom.
What makes Maelstrom work is how many fronts it juggles at once, but put forward in a nice and neat way.
Maelstrom is definitely more than a simple fantasy adventure. By the end, it feels like the author has only shown us part of the bigger picture. Megan’s journey toward the Wyvern Mountains and Silvene’s continued pursuit set the stage for what comes next.
Similar Book: Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Number of Pages | 435 pages |
| My Rating | 3.75⭐⭐️⭐️ |
| Release Date | July 31, 2024 |
What I Loved:
The inter-connection between the diff. plotlines as the story grows mature and the lil but important backend details, that makes this book a bit more believable are few of the many things which i really liked.
Quotes:
“Each race provided a layer of magic that when combined became much stronger than the individual magics could ever be alone.”
Final Verdict?
Overall a good read with fresh style of fantasy with great characters. Maelstrom isn’t perfect. But the expanding storylines, character development and mystery kept me interested.
Who should read it:
- if you have enjoyed wyvern
- Fans of under-pressure character development
- If you like fast action with a bit of fantasy and suspense
- If you are looking for a tense adventure with no. of characters and a series to follow.
Books like Maelstrom by D.J. O’Brien:
- Eragon by Christopher Paolini
- The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
