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The Outlanders by Erin Rhew
(The Fulfillment Series Book Two)
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
With King Jesper dead and Prince Wilhelm mortally
wounded, Halfling prince, Nash, and the Fulfilment,
Layla, assume the throne of Etherea. They must contend with a new Prophecy Candidate who asserts her position, and Layla is surprised to find her fate intertwined with this challenger. Facing a myriad of choices, Nash and Layla’s decisions affect not only their own futures but that of two kingdoms.
Unbeknownst to the Ethereals or the Vanguards, a slumbering menace stirs in the south, awakened after centuries of slumber. The mysterious Outlanders, a force shadowed in mystery, sit poised to tip the balance of power, sending ripples of fear throughout both warring kingdoms.
Elder Werrick proved a formidable foe, but Layla may yet meet her match in the monstrous Outlander queen. This mistress of the dark’s plans, rooted in revenge and ancient lore, now threaten the livelihood of all three kingdoms.
Racing against time, Layla travels to the Borderlands—home of the Voltons and Ecclesiastics—to discover as much as she can about the war, the First Ones, and the prophecy itself. Lives teeter in the balance, kingdoms sit on the cusp of ruin, and a beast, greater than any she’s ever faced before, plots a catastrophic attack.
The Good
The world building.
Just whenever I thought I was impressed with the world building in The Prophecy, the first book in this series, I'm blown away again by Erin Rhew. The way that she evolves the world in The Outlanders is so amazing. She truly pays attention to detail and rewards the reader with a world that instantly welcomes you in and doesn't let you go!
The storytelling.
Erin is a storyteller above all else. Just like her world building sucks invites you in, her writing does too. The flow of The Outlanders made it such a cohesive transition from The Prophecy. I was able to pick right back up where I left off and be consumed by Layla's world.
Layla.
This girl is my type of heroine. There are so many twists and turns, but I loved following those with Layla. She's everything you want in a heroine. Erin does such a brilliant job with all of the characters, but I think Layla really shines.
The length.
At 249 pages, The Outlanders is shorter than most fantasy novels. But I am SO thankful for that. The issue I usually have with fantasy is that it never ends. Books turn into tomes. But Erin is able to write an incredible novel in half the pages. That's remarkable.
The Bad
Bad and Erin Rhew just don't belong in the same sentence.
The In-between
Na-da! It's all good!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
Complex
2. Do you have any strange writing rituals or habits?
My life has changed quite a bit over the last 6 months or so. I got engaged, moved across the country, changed jobs at Book Fish, and moved again just recently (to a charming Victorian in the next town over). My writing habits/rituals used to be very set. I used to write for about an hour every day starting at 3:00. At 3:30, I would grab a Diet Pepsi with Lime and a small container of chocolates.
Now, my writing is pretty sporadic. My fiancé, Deek, and I try to write for an hour in the evenings. We usually have popcorn, and I still have my Diet Pepsi with Lime (can someone say addict?). So, my writing “habit” of late, most importantly, includes sitting beside Deek. ;)
3. Would you survive if you were in Layla’s shoes?
Me personally? Probably not. LOL! I usually say if you dropped me in some fantastical world from most books (Shadowhunter, Divergent, Hunger Games), I’d most likely get killed. The same is true for me in this world. I admire Layla’s strength—both physically and emotionally.
4. I’m seriously blown away by the plot and development in this series. Do you write with a detailed outline or just fly by the seat of your pant?
Ok, Deek can attest to this, I squealed and clapped when I read this question! I am usually a pantser when it comes to writing. But for The Fulfillment Series, I wrote a loose outline, mostly because I wanted to see if it needed two or three books. I didn’t want to write a “filler” second book. I really don’t like when second books are basically a ho-hum bridge from book one to book three. I told my Dream Team that if I didn’t have enough material to write a solid second book for a trilogy, then I would only write two books.
5. You’re stuck on a deserted island for a week with one of your characters from The Fulfillment series, one object, and one book. Who and what are you taking?
I’d take Nash. I’d need his strength and knowledge to survive. Knowing me, I’d eat some deadly plant like Foxface in Hunger Games, and it’d be game over. Nash’s time spent traipsing through the woods between Vanguard and Etherea (and eventually from Etherea to the Outlands) means he’s survival savvy.
For my one object, I’d opt for a satellite phone so I could call Deek to come rescue me. LOL! I am what Jack from Titanic would call an “indoor girl.” While I do enjoy the warm sunshine and sandy beaches, I’m not one for sleeping outside. I need my air-conditioning!
As for the book, I’d bring one of the complete works of Shakespeare. I am a huge Shakespeare nerd, so I never tire of reading his plays (particularly the tragedies).
6. Can you give us a hint about the third book in the series, The Fulfillment?
I can promise you that all the questions raised in both The Prophecy and The Outlanders will be revealed in The Fulfillment. ;)
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