The second installment in Author K. Scott Lewis’s intense fantasy trilogy, COVENANT: WHEN DRAGONS DIE VOLUME 2 (THE AHMBREN CHRONICLES) has an engaging plot that comments on some hot-button issues through a richly developed world and an intriguing cast of characters.
Set nine years after the lightfall when protagonist Aaron/Karanos fell and the seelie arrived, COVENANT introduces yet another creature to the already diverse world. Seeking revenge on Athra, goddess of civilization, and the other gods and goddesses, Malahkma, the goddess of desire, creates the first vampire and the so-called disease spreads rapidly. At first these new people are chaos and uncontrolled, but as they develop, they develop the “Covenant” in which they offer the mortals protection from other vampires in exchange for willing access to their blood. In this Covenant Lewis has created a biting commentary on how much people are willing to sacrifice to secure protection. COVENANT follows the band of characters introduced in Lightfall as they attempt to fight the vampires and protect the citizens of Windbowl. The return of Kaldor, one of the original avatars who helped put Karanos in power, leads the characters to question the true powers of the gods as well as the role of belief within their society.
This second book in the trilogy has improved from the first book in many ways. It maintains the world created in Lightfall, but since this world is already established there is more time for character growth and plot development. Lewis narrows the focus of the novel onto only two-three distinct groups of people who intermingle and separate throughout the plot. There are far less characters to remember and confuse, which makes it easier to keep up with the considerable growth they all undergo. Not a single character ends the book in the same place they began. For the most part all of the growth feels authentic as these characters are forced to adapt to the hazards of the vampires and the revelations Kaldor makes about the gods and their powers. The only complaint is that there is a lack of build-up for some of the romantic relationships in the novel. This is a consistent carryover from the first novel and perhaps this is just an unaddressed construct of the world Lewis has created.
COVENANT is the most engrossing book in the series so far. The tense situation allows for unique character growth and, even though there are two clear storylines occurring simultaneously, they intertwine just enough to make the book feel cohesive. Further, through the vampires Lewis has created a commentary on modern society’s willingness to sacrifice for perceived protection. Lewis also tastefully comments on the need for social acceptance across sexualities and races.
COVENANT is a clever progression for the series and sets up the reader for the plot of the third book incredibly well.
~IndieReader.