Title: Elegy For a Lost Star

Author: Elizabeth Haydon

Series: Symphony of Ages

Sexual Content: Minimal

Objectional Content: Violence

Synopsis (From Goodreads🙂 Elegy for a Lost Star sets the stage for a major turning point in the Symphony of Ages series. The dragon Anwyn–who has lain for three years in deathlike sleep in a grave of rock and black coal is freed by the cataclysm that concluded Requiem for the Sun . Disoriented and confused, she remembers only the person who trapped her in dragon form and locked her in a rocky grave–Rhapsody; and an all-encompassing desire to wreak vengeance. Meanwhile, Achmed, the Firbolg king, resumes rebuilding his shattered home, while a guild of merciless assassins set about taking revenge on him for the killing of their leader. A horribly deformed but magical being finds its way through a carnival of freaks to the palace of an evil despot, who sees in it the potential to be the instrument by which his plans of conquest and brutal domination of a continent will be realized. With the rise of new leaders, good and evil, the long-awaited birth of the Child of Time, the dark plans of assassins and rulers, a confrontation that shakes the relationship of the Three, and a battle to the death between two dragons of unimaginable elemental power, the seeds of chaos are planted for a war that will, by its end, consume half of the world.

My Review

Picking up shortly after Requiem for a Dream ended, Elegy for a Star begins with Gwydion Navarne being invested as Duke. With the impending birth of their baby, Rhapsody and Ashe plan to move to their own keep. After the explosion that nearly destroyed the Firbolg kingdom, the dragon Anwyn, believed to be dead, has been awoken. Though her memories are fragmented, the one thing she does remember is her hatred for Rhapsody and begins to hunt her down.

Faron, the child of the F’Dor host Michael, is now adrift in this world. Found by a pair of fishermen, it is sold to a passing carnival as a “freak.” When the carnival makes it’s way to Sorbold, Faron comes under the notice of the emperor to be. Unfortunately, the would be emperor notices the scales Faron tries to hide and immediately buys it from the carnival for his own twisted purposes.

Unaware that Anwyn is alive and hunting her, Rhapsody goes to the dragon Elysynos during her pregnancy. As no one really knows what to expect with such a child, the dragon’s lair seems the safest place.

Elegy for a Lost Star very much feels like a “staging novel.” By this I mean that it’s setting up a great deal to be resolved in the next book. Other than Anwyn, there isn’t really a central antagonist to be fought against. Everything is ramping up for the next book.

The focus in this book has somewhat shifted away from the Three, following other characters to show what is happening in other parts of the continent. This is fine of course, not everything has to focus on Rhapsody, Achmed and Grunthor. Although, Achmed is getting more focus as of late.

This book is enjoyable and a must read if you read Requiem for the Sun. My rating for Elegy for a Lost Star is 4 out of 5 stars and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Title: Requiem for the Sun

Author: Elizabeth Haydon

Series: Symphony of Ages

Sexual Content: Minimal

Objectional Content: Violence, Sexual violence, violence against children

Synopsis (From Goodreads): Requiem for the Sun , Sequel to the USA Today bestselling Rhapsody Trilogy

It has been three years since their devastating battle, and peace has settled across their land. But to the south an empire lies ready to crumble. When the Dowager Empress dies, along with her successor, a great war breaks out, threatening to overwhelm the known world.

And an old nemesis of Rhapsody’s–presumed dead for centuries–resurfaces, forcing her to choose between facing his depravity or sacrificing her own life . . . and that of her unborn child.

My Review

Requiem for the Sun starts off three years after the end of Destiny. Rhapsody and Ashe are married, and Lord and Lady Cymrian. During those three years, there has been relative peace in the Alliance. As the happy couple decide it’s time to have a baby, the Dowager Empress of Sorbold and her son die. Rhapsody, too ill from her pregnancy to attend the funeral, travels back to Haguefort, while Ashe goes to the funeral.

After leaving Haguefort, Rhapsody intends to travel to see the dragon Elysynos, but on the way she is ambushed by an old foe and taken prisoner. The moment it is known Rhapsody is missing, both Ashe and Achmed begin searching for her immediately.

Rhapsody continues to be an amazing character. Her resilience and determination is unmatched. I think many people in her situation may have given up and died, unable to find a way out of the predicament. With the life of her unborn child on the line, giving up is not an option in Rhapsody’s mind. One way or another, she will get out and she will be free.

When with his wife, Ashe can be unsufferable. His obsession with Rhapsody is rather irritating. However, separate the two, and suddenly he’s a likable character, doing whatever he must to get his wife back. It’s at times like these that his badassery shines.

I felt like Grunthor didn’t get as much page time time in this novel, but he is definitely still there and just the same as ever. In fact we do find out an interesting tid bit about Grunthor that I thought was fantastic.

One thing that bothered me about this book, and may be a bit of a SPOILER, is that Rhapsody is trapped in a cave for days on end. A cave that fills with water when the tide comes in. Her husband is literally tied to the element of water. Was there not some way she could have called to him through the water? That made no sense to me. END SPOILER

Overall, Requiem for the Sun is a fantastic addition to the Symphony of Ages series, and a good start on a new trilogy. My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who has read the original trilogy. If you haven’t read the original trilogy, I suggest you read that first.

Thanks for reading!