Chasm: The Glacian Trilogy, Book 2 – Stacey McEwan

Published By: Angry Robot
Pages: 400
Released On: 06/08/2024 (Paperback)

Dawsyn’s fight to save the people of the Ledge is far from over in this thrilling and highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling, Ledge.

Dawsyn’s miraculous escape from the Ledge was just the beginning. In the queens’ dungeon, Dawsyn awaits her execution while reliving the death of her lover, Ryon. There is no chance of mercy.

But hope finds her in the form of rescue by her village friends. Now on the run and struggling to tame her newly-gained and greatly unstable powers, Dawsyn’s journey continues. Facing betrayal anew, she must learn patience and trust as she builds strength on all fronts, while she and her comrades recover and ready themselves for what’s to come.

As they ascend the perilous mountain slopes to the Glacian kingdom once again in a desperate attempt to save those remaining on the Ledge, Dawsyn must battle wills as well as weapons, before discovering an entirely new evil awaiting her…

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED the first book in this series, Ledge, and I’ve been waiting for a sequel ever since. It was so accomplished and so amazing to lose myself in that I have high hopes for the sequel.

I was worried I wouldn’t remember the ending of Ledge and go in a bit blind, but I was straight back into it. You’re right there. I advise not reading this one without the first. It’ll make no sense. And it deserves your full attention and understanding.

I felt this was more character based than action. We really get under their skin and I felt closer to them in this book. For those who prefer action over thought, then they may feel a little disappointed, as for me, not a huge amount happens, at least for the bulk of the book. I didn’t mind that particularly, as I enjoy character development over a heavy plot. Having said that, it did feel a little slower at times because of that. There’s not as much romance which I would have liked to see, as I have been rooting for Dawsyn and Ryon right from the off.

I felt Ryon took a bit more of a backseat in this one whilst Dawsyn shone from every page. She’s not always likeable, she has her past and her secrets, and her troubles, and she’s used to caring for herself. There’s a range of characters, some seen in the first book and some new or expanded. One that does stand out the most is the mage, Baltisse. I can’t fully explain it but she’s just this beautiful character and I would gladly read her story alone.

Where I think this book, and the former, excels is they feel very unique. I’ve read many fantasy books, some new, some old, but Stacey feels like she’s writing something different and that’s what makes it stand out for me. She excels at description. It’s all set in this fantasy land, and yet everything sounds so tangible, so familiar, and it almost plays like a movie in your head, it’s that clear.

On reflection, I’d say I preferred Ledge over this one, but it is still a brilliant story and, like the first, it really whets the appetite for the next and it provides a great ending whilst promising more. But at the same time, I think she’s got a lot more on her plate for the final book as there’s a lot of strings that need tying up before I’ll be completely satisfied. I’m hoping the slower pace is just building up for an explosive third offering.

Whilst I may have preferred book 1 overall, this is still a fantasy series that I would recommend to readers – I was going to say young and old, but it’s a bit too spicy for young, so instead I’ll say old and older.