On Vicious Worlds (The Kindom Trilogy #2), by Bethany Jacobs
20 Nov 2024The Book
Synopsis:
One of the most exciting new voices in space opera returns with the thrilling sequel to These Burning Stars, the explosive space opera debut that launched the dangerous cat‑and‑mouse quest for revenge that will define a people forever.
The Jeveni have finally found freedom on the distant planet Capamame, delivered from Kindom oppression through their alliance with stoic Cleric Chono, intrepid caster Jun Ironway, and Six, the wildly unpredictable manipulator who has outwitted the Nightfoot family.
But when Six and Chono return to the Treble star systems, the dream of freedom meets a dangerous test. The Secretaries of the Kindom are intent on reclaiming power in the Treble, as well as control over the Jeveni. Meanwhile, Jun Ironway and Jeveni collector Masar Hawks struggle to protect Capamame from a population brimming with resentment, not to mention a faceless saboteur spreading mayhem and murder. As the two groups struggle to outwit their enemies, divergent battles wend toward a climatic reunion that will spark a revolution. But over it all hangs the cruel legacy of Esek Nightfoot, whose rippling effects may prove impossible to survive.
My Review
On Vicious Worlds is the second novel in the space opera series The Kindom Trilogy, written by Bethany Jacobs, and published by Orbit Books. It's not a secret that the first instalment on this series, These Burning Stars, ended being one of my favourite books last year, so I was pretty hyped for this one; and Jacobs has delivered, with a sharp instalment which explores power and the sacrifices made to keep it, with an excellent and captivating political plot.
A sequel which chooses to be split into two storylines, both tense and action packed, subtly interwoven, slowly binding them together to prepare for the final instalment. On one hand, we have Six and Chono, in the heart of the Treble, prisoners outside a jail, being forced to participate in the fight for the power at the core of the Kindom; part coerced by others, but with a small chance to change the things for the Jeveni.
On the other hand, a couple of months after the Jeveni's escape, a string of murders is creating unrest across the Jeveni colonist; the fragile social structure is crumbling as not everybody is on the same page, and Jun will see her life threatened.
Through these two plotlines, Jacobs makes an interesting exploration of the dynamics behind power and its implication; despite there might be at different levels, as its core, we can see how they share some elements. Tension is kept high most of the time, especially as we can feel the threat over our characters, especially on the Jeveni's plot, where it's mixed with technological elements and the best of murder mysteries.
In this second instalment, Jacobs goes deeper into the exploration of the Kindom politics, especially on those internal fights between the Hands and the houses for the power; and with the second plotline, we get a bigger dive into how the Jeveni work as society. The pacing is excellent, tense from the start, and keeping you wondering what will happen on the next page until the end.
On Vicious Worlds is the confirmation of how an excellent author we have on Bethany Jacobs; if you like smart space opera plots woven together with intricate political threads, the whole Kindom Trilogy should be your go to book. I can't wait to see how everything is wrapped in the final book on this series!
The Author/s
Bethany Jacobs
Bethany Jacobs is a former college instructor of writing and science fiction, who made the leap to education technology. When she is not writing, she enjoys reading, trying out new recipes, and snuggling in bed with a TV show she’s already watched ten times. She lives in Buffalo, New York, with her wife and her dog and her books. These Burning Stars is her debut novel.