October 9, 2023
Returning to a world where political power is directly connected to martial arts prowess and war has been replaced by hand-to-hand combat between individual fighters trained to represent their kingdoms, Darwin effectively builds upon the first volume of his imaginative Combat Codes trilogy (2023’s The Combat Codes). Cego has become a legend at the Lyceum, the kingdom of Ezo’s elite fighting academy. After being knocked out during a bout with a newcomer from another kingdom, however, Cego’s surprised to be placed in a mysterious elective class called Core Enhancements that’s usually reserved for more senior students. As he continues his education—now learning from a botanist professor who’s also the first member of the ruling class to teach at the school—Cego also continues his search for his missing brothers, one of whom may have killed the legendary knight Artemis Halberd. Meanwhile, Solara Halberd, Artemis’s daughter, must both come to terms with his death and find a path forward for herself. Both protagonists are well realized, and Darwin masterfully balances vivid fight scenes with Cego and Solara’s character growth, all while neatly setting things up for the trilogy’s conclusion. It’s a knockout. Agent: Ed Wilson, Johnson & Alcock Literary.
November 1, 2023
This exciting and ambitious sequel to The Combat Codes expands the world and excels in character development. The story still follows Cego and Murray, but it also introduces two new perspectives--Solara Halberd and the Slayer. In order to keep his promise, Murray returns to the Deep, where he encounters ghosts of the past; Solara sets sail to the Isles to recover her father's body; the Slayer's mysterious maneuvers raise the stakes higher than they've ever been before; and Cego, fearful of losing control, fights for his life, perhaps now more than ever as he grapples with his new abilities and the power struggles within the Lyceum. One of the undeniable strengths of this series is the depiction of martial prowess, and every combat sequence flows flawlessly. However, the true strength of this second book is the characters, who come alive on the page and are easy to root for. With friendship, honor, and courage, they fight for freedom and overcome impossible odds. VERDICT This remains a solid and innovative sci-fi fantasy series, and the precarious ending will leave readers hungry for more.--Andrea Dyba
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