Review: The Son of the Prophets by Bryan Wilson
Blurb:
"Those of white and those of flame will clash, and the universe will begin to shake."
Colton's mission is straightforward: go home to Earth, wield the power of the stars for all to see, and seek the prophet his planet was named after.
But nothing has come easy since he left his world.
Traitors lurk in the shadows, causing chaos across the stars. War has begun, and with newfound responsibilities arising, those around Colton realize they will have to carry some of the burden if there's to be any hope of defeating the Army of Flame.
Ace and Morris set out on their own course, hunting a rogue admiral down at Willick's side. Meanwhile, Violet Doku travels with her fellow soldiers of Vintara Company, sailing to the mysterious Forsaken Barrier, where the fight they have trained for lies in wait.
Colton knows he will have to be quick with his tasks if he hopes to fulfill the prophecies and save mankind. But when age-old mysteries are answered, and past conflicts reemerge, he starts to question whether he can even save himself.
The Son of the Prophets is the thrilling second installment of the genre-bending science fantasy series Power of the Stars.
*Content Warnings: Violence, Minor profanity, Torture scene
Review:
Before starting, I wanted to thank Bryan Wilson for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This will be a spoiler-free review.
"Those of white and those of flame will clash, and the universe will begin to shake."
The Son of the Prophets is the sweeping, second entry into the Power of the Stars series. Where the first novel, The Forsaken Planet, followed a single POV and served as an interesting entry into this sprawling story, The Son of the Prophets builds on everything that was great in the first book. The Son of the Prophets is bigger in scope and in story. We're now following multiple POVs as Colton and his friends from Earth and Camp Penski spread throughout the galaxy to begin the fight against The Heart of the Flame, uncover traitors, and fulfill prophecy while delving into long hidden secrets.
At its core, the Power of the Stars rests comfortably on the scaffolding of the “chosen one” trope; however, Wilson’s prophecy jarring twists and turns allows for a fresh revisiting and satisfying subversion of expectations. There were powerful, goose-flesh moments à la Rand al’Thor in Maradon (if you know, you know) that made me want to jump off my couch to cheer. And there were some devastating scenes. Ultimately, Wilson unleashes a more violent, mature book without pulling any punches. He maintains much of the boyish charm and levity that lightened the first book, but this sophomore effort demonstrates a marked leveling up of tone, plot, and subject matter.
Wilson has developed a deep lore for this story, with interesting worldbuilding that interdigitates into current, real-world mythology and world religion. This approach gives the story a feeling of realness that is palpable and almost eerie, in the best of ways.
As mentioned earlier, there are multiple twists and turns which Wilson executes well, leading to some satisfying conclusions while also pointing us towards the mysterious paths upon which future books in this series will travel. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and direction Wilson is taking this series. This book is a nerd's dream cocktail, combining the Wheel of Time and Star Wars with a dash of Indiana Jones.
Was it perfect? No. Occasionally, there were some clunky phrases and awkward wording. There were a couple places where I thought current politics were hit on a little too on the nose. However, my preference has always been (and will continue to be) that I value an interesting, engaging story with detailed, well-thought-out worldbuilding over a literary masterpiece with perfect prose.
Overall, I'm impressed at how well Wilson drew me into this fantastical version of Earth and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The Son of the Prophets is a heart-pounding, exhilarating continuation of a sweeping space opera with the detailed worldbuilding and scope necessary to become a must-read for lovers of fantasy and science fiction. I am eagerly awaiting Wilson's next entry into the Power of the Stars saga.
Read Jonathan’s review of The Forsaken Planet (Power of the Stars Book 1)
Read Anie’s review of The Son of the Prophets (Power of the Stars Book 2)
