Soldier of Dorsa (The Chronicles of Dorsa #2) by Eliza Andrews
- Publisher: Self-Published, 2020
- Genre: Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Romance
- Format: Ebook
- Page Count: 586 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I am definitely biased because I adore Princess of Dorsa.
While Soldier of Dorsa did not grasp my heart as much as the first book did, I still enjoyed it very much. There were times I was so scared for Tasia and Joslyn that I dared not continue reading. But I pushed myself to read on because the suspense of not reading was killing me anyway. The overall plot was very good despite some flow disruptions due to multiple flashbacks and alternations between Tasia’s and Joslyn’s storylines. The pacing was also a bit too fast towards the end as even more things were happening at the same time. I figure the story would flow amazingly if adapted to screen.
This sequel demonstrated Tasia’s leadership quality. She channelled confidence in her voice even when in doubt, worked extra hard to be treated more seriously because she is an empress not an emperor, and came up with ingenious ideas though often backfired. Joslyn’s steel will also shed light to the otherwise dark, shadow-tainted (pun-intended) plot line. Learning about Joslyn’s past and her new journey only made me love her more. Her actions after the second bargain with the undatai were powered by love but aimed for duty. My heart ache just by reciting her name.
There are a few interesting things I’d like to point out. One is that the undatai of the Shadowlands functions a lot like Ruin in Brandon Sanderson’s The Hero of Ages. The last fighting scene where the undatai’s prior knowledge of the dance of the Seven Cities also resembles the effect of atium in the same book. Another thing I noticed is that Soldier of Dorsa is definitely heavily influenced by kung fu and/or Samurai culture. The naming of the stances and moves and the use of q’isson are very much kung fu, and I have a feeling words like ku-sai and kuna-shi are inspired by Japanese. [Note in 2020: It has come to my knowledge that Sanderson is homophobic, and I will no longer be promoting his works.]
Soldier of Dorsa is a very decent follow-up that did not disappoint. It left a lot unaddressed at the ending, including Tasia’s apparent internal bleeding and future marriage arrangements. I hope Tasia will be able to marry Joslyn and not settle for Mace in the third book. It would be too painful for all three of them otherwise. Tasia and Joslyn being co-Empresses will be everything! I also look forward to seeing prosperity of the Empire under Tasia’s reign, but I doubt things will go smoothly. My heart cannot fully rest until knowing what happens next. [28 Feb 2020]
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