Secret Roads (Book 2 in the Aona Series) is a deliciously dark and complex epic fantasy. It tells the story of ancient powers awakening and returning to the world, and the resulting violence and chaos that grips the people of Aona.

As in the first book (Oblivion’s Forge), the author’s eloquent writing style and bold word choice captures you from the beginning. He drops you into a bleak landscape populated by diverse races all facing harsh circumstances and difficult choices—that become more harsh and difficult as the story progresses. This is a hard book to put down. Secret Roads is unapologetic adult fantasy and I loved it. The intricacy of the plot and the wide cast of characters, with many shifts in POV, makes you pay attention to every detail. You can’t skim this one, and never once did I want to. The tale is far too expertly crafted to miss a single line. The pages are full of such tragedy and loss, but the words flow so beautifully. I only wish I could give it more than 5 stars.