Idriel's Children (Odriel's Heirs Book 2)

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.Idriel’s Heirs becomes a quest to find the source of who is raising an army of mesmerized people to do their bidding. Aza feels sure the key to this mystery exists in a place called the Shadow Plane, and she’s determined to get answers.Idriel’s Children is an entertaining read and it has a few scenes that stand out. I’m excited to read the third and find out where the author will take us next.

Chow has done it again with another fun fast paced fantasy adventure. In Idriel's Children we are taken back to the enchanting world of Okarria and transported 28 years in the future. With the leap forward in time Idriel's Children can be read as a standalone, however I would highly recommend reading all of the Odriel's Heir's books in sequence.In book two we have a whole cast of new characters to fall in love with, plus appearances from some of the characters from the first book. Best of all my favorite cursed cat Shadmundar returns for another quest. With the rise of Idriel's Children and a main character that is a Shadow Heir this book is a little darker and more complex than the first.The characters are really well developed. I couldn't help but care about their interests and what happened to them. So much so that I found myself suddenly in tears towards the end of the book.This was a great addition to the Odriel's Heirs Series and I can't wait to read what Chow writes next.

…molten gold that I shoveled into my brain with insatiable appetite, utterly oblivious to all else until I’d consumed the book in its entirety. It’s that good.Another heart-stopping journey of twists and turns at breakneck pace! The depth and relatability of the characters, the creativity in the details, and the way I can see, hear, smell, and taste each vibrant setting—such craftsmanship never ceases to amaze me in these books.Furthermore, the universe held within this series is absolutely boundless. Around the corner of every chapter, there’s always a new interesting city or landscape or intriguing critter crawling around, and beyond that, the Shadow Plane. I have been to these awe-inspiring places, fought alongside these courageous characters, brushed up against these fascinating creatures, all just through Hayley’s writing while I’m sitting here with my tea.And what I’ve learned is that the only thing you can predict about the plot is that you can’t predict it! Never once was I allowed to catch my breath in this book and I loved every second of it! Cannot wait to see where this goes next!

I enjoyed Odriel's Heirs and Burning Shadow, but I loved Idriel's Children even more. Yes, Aza is a teenager, and she does quite a few things a more mature person wouldn't have done. But she is a teen and behaves accordingly. And I loved that about her. All other characters are great, too. Overall, a fast and fun read.

The stakes are more subtle than in the first book, and the story just as exciting. I especially enjoyed the character growth.

I received an advance reader copy of Idriel’s Children for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.I love when a sequel manages to truly surprise me, taking the core idea behind the original and shaping it into something unexpected. Idriel’s Children does just that. Not is it unexpected, it improves upon it in just about every way.Instead of continuing the adventures of Kaia and Klaus, Idriel’s Children jumps twenty-eight years into the future. Their children, eighteen-year-old Zephyr and sixteen-year-old Aza, have inherited their parents’ dragon and shadow powers. Like the original, this follows a teenage girl, focusing on Aza’s story. Aza’s story is different to her mother’s, and being the Shadow Heir poses a completely different set of problems to being the Dragon Heir.On the surface, this doesn’t feel as big as its predecessor. However, the stakes are as high as they ever were, while it tells a more intimate story. A story that is darker, a story where loss feels even more personal than it did the first time around, a story that is all the more resonant. And as it tells this story, it expands the canvas far beyond what came before.The setting of Okarria was already beautifully set out in the previous novel and novella; a rich and vibrant fantasy world filled with strange creatures and wonderful magic. Early in Idriel’s Children, it becomes apparent the author is exploring the world further, with unexplored facets. Aza must also contend with the Shadow Plane, which both literally and figuratively adds a new dimension to Okarria, deepening its lore in new and interesting ways.This sees Aza and her companions contend with Idriel’s children, spawn of the first book’s dark god. As she traverses both the physical world and the Shadow Plane, she must find a way of stopping them and saving those she holds dear. The story is difficult to predict, and it builds up in a layered way, with its various elements weaving together to form an engrossing tale. Marginally longer than its predecessor, it does so much more with its page count.It features a larger cast than its predecessors, both new, and old favourites. Fans of the original will be delighted to see Kaia and Klaus return, even if their roles in the book are minor. Likewise, the new Dragon Heir, Zephyr, only has a minor role. Aza is joined on her quest by an old friend, Witt, aandwith Makeo, whose family curse has seen him transformed into a beastly Maldibore. Also in prominent roles are Aza’s mentor in the Shadow Plane, the mysterious Seela, and the titular Idriel’s children. All these characters are beautifully defined and thoroughly entertaining to. The true star is Aza. As the POV character, it's through her eyes that the reader sees the heart of the story.Odriel's Heirs' prose may be a little difficult for younger readers to follow, something I found to be rectified in Burning Shadows. Idriel’s Childrens' prose is closer to the novella. It prose still stands out beautifully, but is less metaphorical than the original, which should be easier for younger readers.While part of a series, it stands perfectly alone, and new readers can pick it up and enjoy the story without having read what came before. While the story will continue, readers won’t be left feeling like they got part of a story. I’d certainly recommend reading the earlier books first, but that’s because they’re wonderful.Idriel’s Children is a brilliant achievement. If you enjoy fantasy stories, or YA fiction, you'll love the world, world building, fantastic characters, and raw emotion. This book simply works on every level.

This book gave me all the feels.The characters are ones you can root for and the worldbuilding is breathtaking. I never wanted to leave the world.(Also it gets delivered pretty quickly).All the stars.

I love that this series continued the story but with the offspring of those in the original.It was like the first story filled with magic, action, and emotion, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about how the shadow heir power works.