The Hunger of Empires is the second book in the epic fantasy series The Erland Saga, written by R.S. Moule, and published by Second Sky Books. Two kings are fighting for the throne and Erland is broken in two; a destructive war that is attracting the attention of a new enemy that was at the sidelines, waiting for the precise moment, the Ulvatian Empire.

In this epic second instalment, we will continue following characters that we loved from book one, while the world and the cast are expanded, upping the stakes quite a bit.
Orsian has been hiding since his father was killed, but in the streets of Cliffark he finds a home and some people he can call friends; however Erland is under a threat, and he has to decide between this new life or answer the call of his land and fulfill the role that everybody expected from the son of Barrelbreaker.
Meanwhile, Rymond is struggling to keep the crown of West Erland; his power is disputed at every turn and the attack of the Imperial force only puts him even more between the sword and the wall. The new kingdom is under the threat of disappearing at their weakest moment; and Rymond can't trust on those that are close to him.
Disconnected from these struggles, we have Pherri, who continues her travel towards Eryispek, with the hope of discover more about her magic; but she will find that two rival gods are imprisoned in the mountain. Their liberation could end with the Erland she knows.

Moule smoothly expands the world without losing the focus on the political intrigues that made the first book so enjoyable. The fights for power in the Ulvatian Empire create one of the best subplots in the saga, introducing memorable characters such as Drast Fulkiro; Viratia doesn't lose relevance after her husband's death, and her own war is incredible. 

While this book is definitely a chonk by current standards, it doesn't feel as such, as you will totally devour it; the pacing and the writing are really on point. Battles are well-written, and the epicness is always there, even when the focus is put in characters with less relevance, as everybody is playing a role in the big picture.

I compared the first book with A Song of Ice and Fire, and I can only say that the second book raises the previous level; if you are in the look for a epic fantasy with a wide cast of characters, political intrigues and thrilling battles, The Erland Saga is an excellent election. Can't wait to read the conclusion in The Madness of Gods.