THE HEART OF THE WORLD

The last time the gods went to war, they turned a nation to dust.

Now, at “the heart of the world,” the gods walk again, and a group of unlikely heroes must find a way to banish them…or die trying. Warlike Barrica has been strengthened. Macean, her brother god, is bound in sleep. Selly, meanwhile, doesn’t feel much like a hero; her love, Leander, sacrificed himself to become Barrica’s Messenger, and even with Selly bound to him as his anchor, it’s only a matter of time before the magic raging within him tears them apart. When the gateways holding Barrica and Macean back from the world are blown open, the nations of Alinor and Mellacea find themselves plunging headlong toward war, their people irrevocably caught up in the tide. Only a few remain able to see clearly—will their combined strength and knowledge be enough to prevent the destruction of their world? Although various characters’ soul-searching and prevaricating is unduly protracted in places, the plot overall thrums with tension, racing toward a conclusion that never feels foregone. Where this sequel shines in comparison to 2023’s The Isles of the Gods is in the depths of the intimate relationships among the characters and the ferocity with which they fight for their lives. Kaufman’s evocative prose and richly detailed worldbuilding are a treat. Characters’ physical traits are minimally described.

An absorbing sequel that satisfyingly ties up loose ends.