Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Will Of Dragons
SERIES: Bel’s War #2
AUTHOR: AC Andrews
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 503 Pages
RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2022
BLURB:
Book II of an LGBTQ+ Epic Fantasy:
The world is broken.
The new civil war has cracked the empire apart as Turi and Rio race to gather allies against Clan Ishima’s brutality. The enemy is ten steps ahead, and Turi is pushed to his limit to stop the evil a corrupted paladin order has unleashed. Can Turi’s fragile love for Mercy survive the madness of war?
Demari, finally fulfilling a lifelong dream at sea with his brother, finds himself recruited into the designs of a goddess and soul-bound to a man he barely knows. In the fight for supremacy in the empire’s waters, Demari finds both power and connection in ways he never imagined.
Meanwhile, back on Trosika the new empress, Sarina Marias, faces betrayal, ancient magic, and intrigue as Ishima agents make their next move to control the island. When fate brings her face to face with the God of War, can she match her will to his?
Will of Dragons is the second installment in the Bel’s War series, an exciting dark fantasy with gay, trans, and non-binary protagonists!
Content Warnings: This is a work of fantasy with LGBTQ+ characters, violence (including epic battle scenes), adult language, and adult situations including mildly explicit scenes of sensuality and consensual sex suitable for older YA readers and adult readers.
REVIEW:
The Gods are at war, but the physical battle manifests among their worshippers. What one God creates, another God counters. A host of humans and paranormal beings are designed to bring destruction and healing wherever directed. Love and loss are caught in the crossfire.
Sounds like a minefield of complication, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. The story is a masterpiece – then again, so is Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. And likewise, the reader needs their balls and wits firing on all cylinders to read it.
What I think some authors forget is that they live and breathe their stories daily. They are a constant presence, and the worlds are better known than the author’s own neighborhood. However, it was august 2021 when book one, Descent Of Ravens, was published, and many people have read a fair few books between then and now. These are long, intricate novels, and I’ll admit that, as much as I loved Descent of Ravens (I gave it full marks), I found it challenging to reacquaint myself with the world created. Though I persevered, and it got better.
As the tale is tackled on many locational fronts, the story is told in the third person from numerous perspectives. While multiple viewpoints put me in the middle of a scene with all its dramatic effects, it also left me ping-ponging between locations with no anchor. This method of storytelling also made the arcs of Turi, Mercy, and Demari footnotes in the bigger picture, which was a shame because the gender variations and encountered issues were worth more airtime.
The extensive cast members have beautiful names, but the ones I remembered most were the simple names, and the rest I got distracted wondering how they should be pronounced. Nevertheless, the characters were superb, and highlights include Old Mother, Mercy, and Prince Philip.
I overlooked technicalities as I was trying to wrap my brain around the ton of initial world-building that attacked the senses. It’s full-throttle from the off, which was daunting, especially with a large cast, which if book one was read yesterday, then not a problem. For me, it took to the 25% point (125 pages) to become comfortable with the world again and understand it enough to enjoy it.
There are maps and some references at the beginning of the book, but reading a kindle version isn’t like a paperback, where it’s easy to put in a marker and do a quick referral back. To complete that electronically causes a glitch in the flow.
With all the above, I am still in no doubt that this story is an intricate work of art. I liked how the numerous Gods reflected the multiple religions of real-life and that when some learned to work together, they found their lives richer. Individual characters had journeys to face fears, learn to communicate, and learn that a body may be different and beautiful. There was also plenty of action to keep one entertained.
While the world created is impressive and worth five hearts, the complexity and sheer volume of individual storylines made for complicated and often confusing reading bringing down the score. And after two huge novels, the story still isn’t finished. Book three is coming in 2023. If the blurb in these stories speaks to you, then in hindsight, I would recommend waiting until the series is finished. Then take some annual leave, find a quiet corner, and immerse yourself in what has the potential to be one hell of a ride.
RATING: 
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