Idriel’s Children by Hayley Reese Chow is the second in a series of novels set in the fantasy world of Okarria. I don’t remember the events that led to picking up the first in the series, Odriel’s Heirs, but I was glad that I had. A richly visualized fantasy world, complex characters, and vivid writing made that book a winner. I immediately bought Idriel’s Children, hoping it was as good as the first.

It is.

From there, the heirs set off on a quest to find out who is raising an army of mesmerized people to do their bidding. The first book had an army of the undead. This time, the adversaries are worse. The “army” are regular people—alive, but under someone else’s control. Aza feels sure the key to this mystery exists in a place called the Shadow Plane, and she’s determined to get answers. A trek toward the Maldibor’s home, a diversion to see a magician, and other quests make up the majority of the novel.

Idriel’s Children continues the story with the children of the two main characters of the first book as the stars of this novel. In particular, the narrative follows daughter Aza, one of the three heirs of special abilities who exist to protect the world. Aza’s ability is to step into the darkness and disappear. She is a magic ninja with all the mastery of weapons of an assassin.

When Aza’s parents are called away for an important mission, it’s up to Aza and her brother Zephyr to run the school the heirs have built. Naturally, a group of cursed friends called Maldibors come looking for the elder heirs. When they find out the parents have left, the Maldibors settle for Zephyr and Aza.

The encounters and descriptions of people using their sword skills and magic move the novel along at a good pace. The description of the settings (e.g. chapter 13 has a fantastic description of a magical swamp) is far and away better than most fantasy novels. And Aza herself is as complex a fantasy character as any reader could hope for.

Idriel’s Children is an entertaining read and it has a few scenes that stand out. It also has two major reveals at the end, one about a friend and the other, a villain, that really pays off. The friend revelation is especially well done, and to me, a highlight of the book.

The first act has action and exciting scenes interspersed with character-building and plot-developing chapters. The second act is noticeably slower-paced. But the last third is exciting and really pays off.

Idriel’s Children is book two of (at least) three novels set in this world. I’m excited to read the third and find out where Hayley Reese Chow will take us next.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XLBJJKZ

First book in series: Odriel’s Heirs