“My girl, I think you will find very little in this world or the next that cannot hurt you.”

Idriel’s Children, the sequel to Odriel’s Heirs (my review here) promises the same fast-paced Fantasy, with more detailed world-building this time round. This time we’re following Kaia and Klaus’ children as they navigate their gifts as young Heirs preparing to take the mantle of their parents.

Aza is a very different Guardian to either of her parents. She is a reluctant leader and can be a difficult friend. She is a true Shadow Heir that stands more in the shadows than in the light. I enjoyed reading a main character that was a hero while being a distinct character from her parents. Though I loved Kaia and Klaus, Aza is a good Guardian and hero to this story who marches to the beat of her own drum.

“When in doubt, you’re already thinking twice as much as when you were certain… Doubt is like fear. We can’t be courageous unless we’re afraid. We can’t be shrewd unless we’ve weighed all the options… So as long as we can move forward without the doubt and fear weighing us down, then we’ll be brave, and we’ll be wise.”

In Idriel’s Children, we delve deeper into the lore and mythology of the world of Okarria, understanding more about the Shadow Plane and how it links to Okarria. I really loved how Chow explored this throughout- it was probably my favourite part of the book. Good world-building has the power to help you appreciate how characters resolve the conflict they find themselves in, and I certainly grew to appreciate Aza’s tenacity as the plot unfolded and she stepped up to do what needed to be done.

Aza’s is not the easiest friend to have, and her personality can be a bit cold. In saying that, her travelling companions Makeo, Shad and Wit were what made me keep reading between all the action and fighting. Wit and his optimism and humour held a special place for me as I was reading and I was secretly rooting for him the entire way.

“In the face of pain and fear, a heart will raise walls to protect itself… But that doesn’t mean its not a good heart.”

Idriel’s Children is a strong sequel to the series and I loved how this book let the reader understand Okarria and it’s lore better from the world we were thrown into in Odriel’s Heirs. I have been searching to find out if there are more books in this series, and I haven’t been able to find anything yet. I feel like I have a lot more to learn about this world before I can say goodbye (the Time Heir being one of them), so I hope to see another book in this series soon!

Thanks to the author herself, Hayley Reese Chow for inviting me to read this series. If you’d like to find out more about her work, you can do so here.