I love William's writing style and her stories are always people with engaging characters. I enjoyed this duology but I still feel we didn't need all the povs and that it distanced me from the overall plot. So good but not as goid as The Copper Cat.

The first book in this duology, <i>Talonsister</i>, completely blew me away so of course I was really excited to delve into this sequel. And what a sequel it is.

I adore Jen William's writing style and she just cemented herself as an auto buy author for me. <i>Titanchild</i> is evenly paced and exciting, and all the characters get their time to shine. It leads to an incredibly satisfying ending for this duology even if it doesn't come without sacrifice. The world-building is amazing and intricately woven into the narrative, never relying on infodumps.
I also really enjoyed how gruesome parts of this world were. Icaraine as the prime antagonist is genuinely horrifying, as is her son. They really delivered on the promise book one's ending gave us. There's a bit more focus on the romances this time around, and all three of them were very cute and also very dramatic but never overshadowed the bigger plotline.

Still, it's not quite a 5 star read for me and that's because of a time jump happening at the beginning of the book. I would have loved to see some of the events taking place during these two years and wasn't a fan of them being kind of glossed over, even though I understand why the time jump was there. It isn't a major issue in my book though, which is why I happily rounded up my 4,5 stars. I just felt this could have been done a bit better, more organically.
Also Jack. Like, I loved Jack, she's an amazing character, but man the name really took me out of the experience whenever it came up. Just did not fit with the vibe of the world and the other character names. But that is a very minor issue because the name doesn't mean so much when she's a cool knightly woman with a giant magical talking sword, so who am I to complain, really.

But all in all this is a fantastic sequel that sticks the landing and turns this into a really worthwhile fantasy duology that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

This book, and indeed this duology, was a ride! I loved it even if it was a bit weird at times – the story and characters more than pulled me through.

I thought it was a bit of a weird one (and again this goes to the duology as a whole) in that I really dislike some of the worldbuilding, where it borrows too heavily from our world, but yet some of the other worldbuilding, and what Williams does with the borrowed stuff, is just spectacular.

There is so much on display in this second book that is weird and wonderful – pretty much everything around the Green Man, the Lich-Ways, Queen Mab, King Arthwr, and more.

The pacing of the book was really high, but not at all in a bad way. It had those moments you need where it slows down for a bit, but then it picks up soon after and whisks you away again. Much of this was done in the absence of battle as well, which is a common place for the pace to pick up. I think the writing as a whole, and the ideas brought to the page, just really suited the high pace and was served well by it.

I think everything that probably needed to happen storywise did happen, though not always in the way it was expected, and that was excellent. I did think a couple of things would be left alone, so I was pleased to be proven wrong (and two of these involved the last actions we see from Belise, further cementing her as a favourite character).

Overall, this was an excellent series, the two books probably about equal in my estimation, and a high recommendation.

Great continuation. Jen Williams keeps hitting it out of the park. The characters continue to be some of my favourites.

Jen Williams once again proves her mastery of storytelling with Titanchild, the compelling conclusion to an unforgettable duology. Her hallmark blend of intricate world-building and evocative imagery shines through, paired with a cast of tenacious, weathered characters who feel profoundly real, regardless of age or role.

This was a deeply satisfying end to the series, though I find myself a bit conflicted in my feelings about it. While the conclusion delivered on its emotional promise, I couldn’t help but yearn for something more. The middle section, though rich in detail, occasionally felt convoluted and repetitive, making it difficult to pinpoint where the narrative lost some momentum. Additionally, the central antagonist fell slightly short of my expectations, lacking the depth and nuance that could have made them truly memorable.

That said, Titanchild excels in many other areas. One of the most refreshing aspects was seeing secondary characters from the first book step into the spotlight, their perspectives adding new layers of complexity to the story. These voices, combined with thrilling twists, vivid depictions of British folklore, and a uniquely captivating magic system, ensured the book retained its charm and allure.

What I appreciated most about this duology was its folkloric quality, which beautifully underscored themes of reverence for nature and humanity's connection to the world around us. Few stories manage to rekindle such a deep sense of awe for the natural world, but this one succeeded in doing just that, leaving a lasting impression.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-ARC. Titanchild is a richly woven tale that cements Jen Williams as a powerhouse in modern fantasy, and I’ll be eagerly anticipating whatever she writes next.

Once again, Jen Williams has delivered a rich, wonderful story set in the alternate world to our own, so wonderfully detail-heavy that you can not help but crave more. Once you continue on this journey, you will be swept up and unable to put the book down.

It is two years since the end of Talonsister, and Leven, Cillian, and Ynis are still hunting for T'rook, Ynis' griffin sister who was captured by the Imperium, but they will find much more than just a missing griffin in the end. Envoy Kaeto is torn between two worlds; the Imperium who has had his loyalty most of his life, and Felldir and Belise who have his heart. But soon he will be sent to Brittletain ambassador to the Othanim who have taken over the island. Icaraine, Queen of the Othanim wants to kill the griffins, the last titans, and feed the bones to her horror of a son.

I love this rich, well-thought-out world, and the deeply flawed characters that inhabit it. I love the way the characters connect, the love and anger, the fighting and the connections that hold them together. I have to admit that Belise is my favourite character, the way she uses the training that Kaeto has given her, her adaptability, and the way she turns to face everything in the world.

It is a great finish to this duology, I hope Williams revisits the world in the future.

Titanchild is the thrilling conclusion to the Talon Duology begun in Talonsister. Set in a world that bears a passing resemblance to the world at the time of the Roman Empire, the story picks up a couple of years after the dramatic events at the end of Talonsister and nothing seems to be going right for the people who are opposing the titan race of Othanim. Brittletain has been conquered and it seems that nothing can stand between the Othanim and the destruction of the griffins. The Imperium is desperately trying to get an alliance between themselves and the Othanim and have forced Envoy Kaeto to become their ambassador and try to work out a deal.
As with the first book, the story is told through multiple POV, each one seeing their own part of the confict but giving the reader a complete picture. I loved all of the main characters but especially Belise. She has absorbed all of the training she has received from Kaeto and uses it brilliantly to maintain some control over the events that are taking place around her. She has really matured from the ever-hungry urchin we met in the first book.
I think that the character that touched me the most this time though was Ynis. She is desperate to have the gift of flight to make her more equal with her grifftin family but this has huge implications for her relationship with her human sister. Her story arc through the novel was brilliant and for me, surprising. However, it all fitted together beautifully and I felt that the story couldn’t have worked out in any way that was more in keeping with her character.
The queen of the Othanim, Icaraine, is truly monstrous and it’s interesting to see how having a ruler who enjoys giving pain has impacted on the rest of her subjects. From being a people who loved beauty and creativity, they have become cruel and heartless too. Her child, the strange Malakim is also a monster being deformed in body and apparently in mind too. He is the queen’s ultimate weapon and must be destroyed.
Titanchild was a brilliant read and I thoroughly recommend it for any fantasy lovers. Jen Williams has created a fantastic story bringing together myths and legends as well as British folklore and I just couldn’t put it down. It has magic, love, battles, betrayal and legendary creatures. What more could you want?
Huge thanks to Net Galley and the publishers, Titan Books, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

My thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for a free eARC of “Titanchild” by Jen Williams, the conclusion to the “Talon Duology”.
It was such a joy to return into this Epic Fantasy world full of griffins, titans, British Folklore and one of my favorite magic systems in the whole of Fantasy, plant magic where nature can be both magnificent and terrifying, but most importantly I wanted to see what these lively characters have been up to.
In order to avoid spoilers, I will just say that I loved getting the point of view from one of my most beloved secondary characters from the first volume. My love for this character and the role and risk she has been giving and her masterful evolution secured “Titanchild” as one of the best books I’ve read in 2024.
Another tremendous joy for me were the references to some of Britain legendary or mythical figures, but I want each reader to discover them on their own and just rejoice on the twists they have been given in this fantastic story.
I highly recommend the “Talon Duology” to all Epic Fantasy that love a multi POV narrative, nature, mythical creatures and brilliant characters with some wonderful LGBTQ+ representation.