The Battle of the Round: A Tor.Com Original (Vault of Heaven)

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Customers who viewed this item also viewed. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. Trial of Intentions Vault of Heaven Book 2. The Unremembered Vault of Heaven Book 1. The Vault of Heaven: The Great Defense of Layosah: Com Original Vault of Heaven Book 3. The Battle of the Round: Com Original Vault of Heaven Book 4.

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Critical Failures Caverns and Creatures Book 1. The Hobbit meets The Hangover in this hilarious train wreck of fantasy literature. The Tree of Ages: A tree's memory is long. Magic's memory is longer, and far more dangerous. Product details File Size: Tor Books February 1, Publication Date: February 1, Sold by: Related Video Shorts 0 Upload your video. For anyone that's been affected by suicide, you'll immediately understand where parts of this novel come from. For those that haven't, you're about to learn why this is such a hard act to process and move forward from.

Some of the best is actually with the two characters sent off on what seems like a fairly inconsequential side quest at the beginning of the novel. The funny, rootdigging, side kick Sutter, probably develops more in this book than any of the other characters, and Mira, who starts out as the pixie lust chick in The Unremembered, is now mourning the loss of her heritage and the uncertainty of her future.

As an added bonus, we get to see some of the inner workings of the Quiet, through the eyes of a character that is simply struggling for his own race's survival. Some of the most poignant moments are during his scenes. I loved that nearly all the characters in the book are given the time of day to become three dimensional beings, rather than the usual slap dash side characters sometimes used to fill a chapter.

As much as I adored it, there are some parts of the book that I think may make some readers feel excluded from the narrative. I couldn't conceptualise it, so I frowned a lot during those sections, even though I loved the exposition and how it was being utilised. I think those not musically minded and can't conceptualise things like half tones and sound resonance etc. Much of the book is explanatory on these subjects, and though they are fantasy based, they are still rooted in real world concepts that may be a bit too academic if the reader isn't in some way previously versed in them.

This is WoT and Stormlight Archives territory. Sanderson-ish, but with less shard plate and prolonged battle scenes.. If you are of the less-is-more mind set, you might find this isn't really your cup of tea. If that differs in some way from the original, I can't comment. Sep 17, Ryan Mueller rated it it was amazing Shelves: I was debating between four and five stars on this one. I actually didn't enjoy it quite as much as The Unremembered, which I gave five stars. But I think this one is a better book from a more objective standpoint.

Orullian has grown as a writer, and he took the story in a lot of unexpected directions in this one. The Unremembered was a more straightforward quest fantasy along the lines of The Eye of the World. This one really played down those elements and focused more narrowly on a few locati I was debating between four and five stars on this one. This one really played down those elements and focused more narrowly on a few locations. Thankfully, I found all of the stories interesting to follow, and I really like the magic system. I've never seen such a thorough music-based magic system.

I also enjoyed the sections in Aubade Grove, which focused on more academic concerns. That was rather unusual for this type of fantasy. As someone with a strong interest in physics, I found those sections surprisingly interesting. I even enjoyed the political maneuvering in Recityv even though those generally aren't my favorite kinds of plots. It has been a long time since I've hated a character as much as I hate Roth.

The fact that Orullian created a complex character in Roth makes me hate him all the more because I can understand why he does the things he does even if I don't agree with him. About the only complaint I have is that there were a few slow sections that kept this from being a higher five-star rating.

Jan 14, Fantasy Literature rated it it was ok. Not so much for its plot or characters or style, which mostly run from not so good to average, though he has his moments. But underneath the separate pieces of the novel, one has a sense, a somewhat tentative, barely tangible sense, that Orullian is trying to do something interesting here. But thanks to the aforementioned weaknesses, its too-great length, and a storyline that absolutely infuriated me through its latter stages m Aug 02, Brian Palmer rated it liked it Shelves: I don't think this broke any particularly new ground -- however, I unfortunately got this not realizing it was part of a series, so I was completely lost at the beginning, which very much did not work for this book.

Without knowledge of the world going into it, I felt like I was mostly just seeing the structural tropes. However, some of the scenes are just fantastic images, painting stark scenarios that lingered. May 29, Chris Byron rated it liked it. Jan 06, Sarah rated it really liked it Shelves: Jul 27, Scott Ogden rated it did not like it. That may not seem like much time for fantasy fans who often wait upwards of five or more years for a sequel to the big name series, but seeing as how the first novel was met with mixed reviews, that Orullian took so much time between books is surprising.

Taking into account the length of time between releases, however, Orullian tried to write Trial as an entry point for the series. As someone who had not read the first book, I decided to test how easy it is to pick up and understand. While each character is introduced with an exciting point of view at the beginning of the novel, I ultimately found much of the emotional impact of the latter half of the story suffered because much of the opposition in the book felt forced and the plot seemed to grind to a halt after the first hundred pages.

Trial begins with a bang. An invading army of monsters besiege a surprised city on a stark and inhospitable plain. Tahn Junell, our protagonist? He is quick to action and is willing to face the hard decisions, even if it means that he has to sacrifice some of his morals in the processes.

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Mira, Wendra, Sutter, and a whole slueth of other characters are introduced through separate point of view chapters that not only advance the battle taking place, but slowly ease new readers into the world that Orullian has crafted. Unfortunately, these chapters did not go far enough. We hear a lot about a dread place called Tillingahst and a fateful decision that Tahn made at what I assume to be the climax of the first book, but Orullian glosses over details in a way that suggests the actions in the previous book are not as important to the plot going forward as you'd think they would be.

That would be great for new readers if Trial didn't spend most of its time on a political dispute that is not only infuriatingly stupid, but does nothing to further the plot or help our characters grow. While most of Unremembered was centered on a journey for our three farm boys and girl as they explored their world and got caught up in Jordan-esque run-ins with not only a mythical evil, but also mystical orders of magic-users and an elf-analogous race, Trial is bogged down with frustrating political conflict and little plot-advancement from any character.

The promises made by the exciting battle in the first hundred pages were never made good on and the stakes for the remainder of the book are far less personal and much more political. Tahn's storyline sets aside his new-found magical powers and, instead, focuses on a scientific inquiry into the nature of the world's magic. Done correctly, this could have been a very interesting wonderful opportunity for Orullian to flex his world-building muscles.

However, after three consecutive view points of Tahn repeating his vague argument to a group of supporting characters who never seem to understand as easily as the reader does, this storyline becomes frustrating as no actual progress is made towards his scientific inquiry. The only time we're actually shown an example of what Tahn has been describing is his last POV chapter where he defends his findings in front of a panel from one of his university's colleges.

The problem here is that he convinces the skeptical judges far too easily and, not having been a part of his research leading up to it, the reader feels like Tahn didn't earn this victory. The biggest storyline in terms of word count , however, focuses on a political conflict in the capital. Returning with news of the imminent invasion from beyond the Northern Mountains, our main characters are opposed by one of the most annoying and frustrating villains in history.

Leader of the League of Civility, the antagonist has only one role in this story: Over and over, our protagonists clash with him and neither side changes their methods.

The protagonists keep urging people to believe what they say and the antagonist just asks for proof, which they are unable to produce. Orullian's religion shows through here as he rips an argument straight from the didactic Book of Mormon and tries to pass it off as compelling fantasy conflict. The argument isn't as one-sided as the one in the Book of Mormon, but it's as if every meeting of our protagonists with the villain is this same argument played on repeat.

Neither back up their claims with evidence and neither change their avenue of attack. This story line made me annoyed with the protagonists almost as much as the villain. Their incompetence in handling him stopped them from being compelling and sympathetic. And they never changed in their incompetence. In the end, the villain escapes to cause more trouble in a future book one that I will not be reading and I found that I didn't even care what happened to the good guys.

They just plain hadn't earned it. There are three or four more story lines weaved in among these two main ones, but none of them were ever very original or compelling. The magical Order of Sheason is undergoing a split in ideology. A pair of our protagonists uncover a conspiracy in a militaristic nation way too easily. My favorite scene from the novel came, however, from the last of our subplots.

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One of our three main farm kids began training to learn more about her magical music abilities. Most of her chapters dealt with the nature of her magic and if she was willing to sacrifice herself to learn how to use her magic to help others. The exciting part was when she stole away one night to search the docks for an old enemy. When she came upon a group of human traffickers, going all vigilante on them, she sang them all to death. It was one of the best parts of the book because one of our protagonists was finally able to do something because she wanted to, not because it moved the plot along.

In a book full of characters, this was the only memorable character moment and my highlight for the entire pages. Ultimately, I cannot recommend Trial of Intentions to anyone who isn't already invested in the series. Having not read the first book didn't inhibit my understanding of most of the events, but because I didn't already care for the characters and Orullian never gave me a reason to, most of the book was spent on unoriginal plot lines that couldn't be made up for with compelling characters.

The main conflict was wooden and only there to provide opposition for our characters, but because I never felt like they grew through the conflict, it was a waste. That was my final feeling on the book: Orullian had an opportunity to address a lot of the criticisms leveled at him and the first book, but he never did. He avoided some of them by switching up the formula: However, Trial like Unremembered before it is pages too long and devoid of any real plot progression. Rather than being the perfect jumping off point for the series, like Orullian had hoped, Trial is completely skippable.

Jul 15, Kevin Quigley rated it it was amazing. However, didn't like how this book ended. The end left many questions in my mind. And now waiting for the third one. Apr 15, Austin Poulsen rated it liked it. Some of the POVs dragged, and the story ended with very little resolution. Jun 17, Steve rated it it was amazing. Where I like to see improvement is with the second novel. Once again, readers are thrown right into the thick of things as a battle ensues and the Quiet are attacking a stronghold for mysterious reasons. These reasons are revealed in quick order, and the main thrust of the novel is set.

In some ways, this is a difficult book to review. Not because it is of poor quality—the reverse is true—but because Orullian wrote it as another entry point into the series. As a result, there is a good measure of recapping and reintroducing, though much of the information given through epigraphs—or chapter bumps, as I like to call them. Nevertheless, I feel like I need to treat this novel as if it were the first in the series—because it can serve in that capacity. With Orullian, the rules and theory behind his magic are actually incredibly detailed.

All of this comes from his expertise with music. Orullian has stated often that his original intention no pun was to start on very familiar ground, then take a hard right turn onto a path that completely subverts the reader expectations. This novel has made that turn, and has just begun down the path Orullian intended.

This starts with the characters. What a fantastic plot arc he goes through. The balance he strikes. Orullian has made me a believer. I was an advance reader for this novel due to my review site, Elitist Book Reviews. Nov 16, Carol Hannah rated it it was amazing.

I have read and reviewed the Unremembered and sat with great anticipation for the second tome, Trial of Intentions. I was on a family trip that actually allowed me to obtain my hard copy late the Kindle version in San Francisco at a book signing where it was great to finally meet up with Peter, whom I consider a friend. I tell this brief story only because I feel it should be put out there that I am a fan of the man, not simply the author.

And in this disclosure, I also feel it is important to I have read and reviewed the Unremembered and sat with great anticipation for the second tome, Trial of Intentions. And in this disclosure, I also feel it is important to say that my review is not going to be based on my personal attachment to him but on my own expectations and impressions of this book within my most beloved epic fantasy genre. Trial of Intentions did not disappoint me in that it cannot be considered a mere "fluff" read.

There are some books a reader wants and expects to float through with the sole purpose of being entertained. Nothing wrong with that and some of the best fantasy novels out there fall into this category. I have said before and will say again that one of the things I love best about Peter's style and approach is that one just does not simply fly through one of his books.

I have seen some reviews which state that the book is too long There's a major difference between rambling on doing a good job in describing events and including details that bring the reader along in your vision. It's not for everyone, fair enough, but as I said, this is one of the things I love most in Orullian's storytelling style. I appreciate the breaking up of the group as Peter moves to continue world building in this tome. There is still so much to learn and it should be taken into consideration that world building is crucial in saga fantasy storytelling versus stand alone novels.

One shouldn't realistically expect with this kind of saga that every situation should be neatly presented, experienced, and wrapped up like it was a 30 minute sitcom. This is a journey and we are at the beginning of it still. I far prefer to encounter the world and characters as they progress and that adequate time and attention are given to the many different things that are going on. This is a much more realistic world view than one where you meet the characters, they all come together to confront a single problem, and then the world goes back to it's perfectly vanilla, happy sunshiny rosy state.

So, in this, I think Orullian does a brilliant job of presenting a more realistic world in which the characters must function. I loved getting to look into the other side of the Veil and am looking forward to where he is going to take this. There is a lot of character development going on in this second book of the series. A lot of touching back on things from Unremembered, but I understand the complex problems Orullian had to bridge due to the editor issues and length of time between the two books. You just can't please all of the people all of the time, and I find that he addressed all of this in the best way he possibly could have hoped to.

I had to stop and marinate on how I felt about this second book, consider a lot of things, and I did not want to just fire off a review that I did not spend considerable time and effort on. This is a world and saga I fully believe in and am looking forward to the rest of the journey. I will say if readers are just looking for fantasy fodder, then you should probably move on because this is not going to appeal to you. No harm nor foul in that. But for readers who are looking for a complex challenge, a new world and host of characters to invest in, and who have the patience to go on the journey, then you will certainly enjoy and appreciate what Peter Orullian brings to the table.

Nov 16, Ro rated it really liked it. Trial of Intentions brings you into a world on the brink of war and in the midst of mythical and political upheaval. The author takes the time to build - in creative detail - the environment and the societies that bind this civilization together as it unravels. He makes no attempt to avoid the expected themes or tropes of the fantasy genre but rather threads them together to create a world that builds on of the darker aspects of fantasy. It poses the over-arching question: Could you live with th Trial of Intentions brings you into a world on the brink of war and in the midst of mythical and political upheaval.

Could you live with the consequences of where you permitted destiny to take you? The story's told through multiple points of view third person, subjective, limited - for the English majors amongst us moving the characters, and the story, forward through the telling of events often occurring in tandem to one another.

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Although, it can take a minute to catch the rhythm of the POV shifts they're neither abrupt nor pull you out of the storytelling just plentiful once you realize that each discovery or action told through each character builds on the whole without tainting it with the opinion of perspective that can often happen with one over-reaching narrator. Knowing the impact of what seem like personal decisions - from their point of view- on themselves or others is vital to understanding the direction of the story.

The beauty of the Orullian's storytelling is, you think you know where everything's going but you are wrong - repeatedly. Orullian explores the idea of prophecy from a new angle raising the question of: I found the dialogue between characters pointed and felt it fully enriches your involvement in these moments of discovery and confrontation. The characters, Tahn, Vendanj, Wendra, Mira, and Grant there are others as the story advances each have a role - often of cataclysmic change or realization - that greatly impacts the direction of their world: You have a "hero" who doesn't just chaff against the directives of those seeking to mold and shape him but outright rejects their direction more than once.

Trial of Intentions

A mentor who's motives you not only quickly question but you outright disagree with on more than one pivotal occasion. I think these stories make for some of the best world-building, myth exploring, and character creation. You become invested in the characters and willing to follow their journey even when you're yelling at the book - yes I still do that - because someone just did something you find consummately stupid. This is not short story page count but is one told with intention. There are no wasted words or "throw away scenes. That being said, I'm usually willing to give a writer time to, as they say, get to the point.

I like the unraveling of a mystery, the telling of a tale through an epic exploration. Orullian more than makes the journey worth the reading. Mar 31, Cate rated it it was amazing Shelves: Yes, this is the second instalment in the Vault of Heaven Trilogy, and yes I have read the first book although I did not review it on here. Unfortunately though, for this book, it is not a standalone read and therefore the first must be read to make any sense of this one. The main protagonists are many in both books, and their stories continue in this one; we see them grow from the children we first met in The Unremembered to adults that are still connected to their inner children at times.

I usu Yes, this is the second instalment in the Vault of Heaven Trilogy, and yes I have read the first book although I did not review it on here. I usually go into great detail about my likes and dislikes of characters in the books I read, but with this cast of characters I felt the mixed emotions one has when confronted with Family and all the imperfections they bring with them. One thing I did find disappointing was the forced humour in the dialogue, this had come so easily in the first book as it does between friends, but in this one it seemed as if they were just trying to keep the humour going at all costs.

I am hoping that this stilted humour is more a result of the events the characters have been through up to the end of this novel, and not an indication that the Author has lost his humourous pen. Rather than just continue expanding on characters from the first novel, the Author brings new ones into the storyline, and some that were introduced in Book One become integral to the storyline in this novel.

Unlike Book One, Trial of Intentions is up and moving from the very first chapter; the reader has moments where the pace slows down enough for them to calm their racing pulses before picking up and propelling them through to the very end of the book. Whereas Clockwork Angels by Kevin J Anderson was music an album of the same name by Rush to words, this is a book that could be translated from words to music.

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I highly recommend both this book, and the first in the trilogy, for those who love to read this genre. It was expansive, it was epic and it was rich with hidden things that come out when the novel was reread I have to say I am on my fourth reading of this book. Like an onion with its layers, this second instalment added a depth and richness to the world in which it takes place, and I hope that the Author continues in this way in Book Three. I will definitely be waiting to read the next novel by this Author. Nov 18, Jeremiah rated it really liked it. So I'm going to start this review with a brief note on Peter's first book, the Unremembered.

I first picked up the Unremembered after meeting Peter a few years ago so take this review with a grain of salt, because I admit to being biased by his hair - seriously, I'm jealous. While I enjoyed that book, I understand that some may not find it to their liking as it does follow classic epic fantasy structure fairly strictly until the end, in an effort to give the reader a place of comfort to begin.

This is a strategy that other writers have tried in the past and found success with - Robert Jordan made a similar choice with The Eye of the World in the late '80's - beginning at a place of familiarity before taking the reader into new ground. In fact, the Unremembered strongly reminded me of that first volume in the Wheel of Time.

Such a strategy can be good for some readers, bad for others, but I felt that Peter's handling of character, voice, and the richness of his detailed world pulled me through. Trial of Intentions, however, is where Peter begins to diverge and journey into new territory. And with it comes good news for readers who want to skip the small-town-boy-leaves-home-on-epic-quest storyline, because Trial of Intentions can stand all on it's own.

Though I do recommend giving the Author's Definitive Edition of the first book a read, as it moves much faster and begins after the characters have already left home on their quest.

The Unremembered (Excerpt) | donnsboatshop.com

Peter crafted this installment to be a second entry-point into the huge, millennia-spanning world of the Vault of Heaven, and while it clearly separates itself from the classic structure of the first volume, it still follows the same characters, world, and tone of the first novel. The world of the Vault of Heaven alone is worth picking this book up for. It is a visceral, detailed, richly imagined world where things may not always be as they seem and characters aren't always who you think they are - indeed, aren't even who they think themselves to be.

Peter doesn't shy away from the tough questions or difficult ideas, instead forcing us to gaze upon uncomfortable truths and come to terms with them. The answers aren't always pleasant, or even well defined, but the questions are always worth asking. The magic system - steeped heavily in music and musical principles - is one of the strongest elements of Peter's world. I don't know much about music, having never studied it growing up, but Peter's writing makes me want to correct that shortcoming.

It's never too late to learn something new, right? Sep 23, Robert Mullin rated it really liked it. That having been said, I do think I would have preferred to start with either version of the first book, as TRIAL feels too much like the middle of the tale to be a true introduction. As a musician, author Orullian has woven song throughout the tapestry of his prose, including sly references to terminology only other musicians will fully appreciate.

However, the song this story sings hits closer to the heart than his slightly tongue-in-cheek allusions might suggest. For the chorus of this book is grief, and the refrain is hope. The author writes firsthand of the pain of losing loved ones to the stark landscape of despair and suicide. Yet because of the world he constructs, the glimmer of hope flickers faintly through the darkest shadows on the page. Death, we are told, is not the end, and the annihilistic horror that threatens that premise makes the reader cling all the more tightly to the life to come.

But while it might appeal more to fans of Martin than of Tolkien, it may actually have more in common with the latter than one might assume. For throughout the power and gloom of a world steeped in loss and grief, the theme of hope lingers and resonates long after the book is closed.

Apr 10, Jessi rated it it was amazing. So, first off, Peter is my friend, however, I will not allow that to sway my opinions here on out, I am a terrible liar and will not do so even to spare someones feelings. I hope to avoid spoilers as well since it seems that I am the only person in the entire world that likes and wants them. Not even the smallest tidbits!!!! It was totally unfair in my not so humble opinion. So needless to say, I was practically foaming a So, first off, Peter is my friend, however, I will not allow that to sway my opinions here on out, I am a terrible liar and will not do so even to spare someones feelings.

So needless to say, I was practically foaming at the mouth waiting for this next installment. I read The Unremembered a few years ago and loved it. The characters were realistic and easy to relate to. His world was much like our own. Not everything is wonderful and nice.

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