Bryan Cole’s FUTILITY OF DEFENSE, the sequel to Beginning of Arrogance, picks up soon after the shocking fallout of the first book. Sea devils still wage attacks on the coastal town of Watford, wreaking devastation. Krell, the young paladin of the god of the seas and skies ReckNor, leads the charge against the sea devils while he hunts for Cor—the smuggler who betrayed them and is helping to organize the sea devils’ violent incursion. But now larger threats are surrounding Watford and its people, and a powerful enemy tests Krell’s relationship with his friends and allies, pushing ReckNor’s power within him to its most dangerous limits. There is a lot happening in this story, which juggles several overlapping plot lines and a saga of an ensemble cast. Its scope feels larger, even though most of the book’s action is contained in Watford. Blood-soaked battles, familiar to the series’s first book, are scattered throughout; only this time Krell and his many companions have powerful dark magic and a demon to contend with.

The sometimes-sparse writing makes it difficult to keep the huge array of side characters straight, but the highlight of the sequel is the deeper character development for Krell, his circle of friends, and his antagonistic acquaintances. Krell becomes much more than his arrogance; he’s an intensely drawn, flawed, nuanced hero: a warrior struggling beneath the weight of his god’s expectations. He shows real vulnerability, relies on the strengths of his loved ones, and goes through impressive growth—not only as a paladin but as someone learning to live in a tight-knit society. Krell doesn’t always know what he’s doing, and FUTILITY OF DEFENSE even tests his ties to ReckNor’s power, revealing his weaknesses and naiveté.

As in the first book, Cole writes his female characters—from magic-wielders like Orianna and Verbena, to dwarf crafters and human warriors like Naedra and Sheana—with care, agency, strength, and vulnerability, full of wisdom and wit. There’s a plot line that handles sexual violence in a way that’s both delicate but full of rightful fury, where the women are given space to speak on it. Many of the characters have their own moments of personal growth, either in their relationships or in their powers. Krell still has much to learn, and this installment complicates and brings excitement to his life, changing him irrevocably. There’s a lot of emotionally charged moments that add dimension to the bloody battles. The world building opens up, too—revealing deeper, darker magic, scheming foes, and horrifying monsters.

Even with all of its action, the book does feel more character-focused this time around, where Krell and his friends are allowed some room to exist and figure out who they are. The stakes are also so much higher—especially as Krell grows to love his companions and their enemies gain an advantage. The pacing does lag in some places, which makes the book feel a little too long. But there’s a lot of ground to cover and loose ends that are tied up over gory battles, leaps of faith, and the loyalty of Krell’s dearest friends.

A fantasy saga filled with interesting, complex characters, and dynamic relationships alongside captivating battles and systems of magic, Bryan Cole’s FUTILITY OF DEFENSE is a worthy and ambitious sequel that takes Krell’s story in an intriguing direction.

~Jessica Thomas for IndieReader