Jewel of the Endless Erg picks up right where Into the Labyrinth left off and in a lot of ways it’s a very different book. Into the Labyrinth was the set-up book, where the rules of the magic system were explained and the characters for the rest of the series were introduced. There was also a lot of world building, though a lot of it was quite subtle. There was action introduced at the end but it wasn’t necessarily action we were anticipating.

Jewel of the Endless Erg, however, is just a traditional action adventure and I love it.

Not that it’s just endless action. The main character, Hugh, Sabae, Talia and Godrick, are all students and still learning. They’re tougher and more capable than they were in the last book but that’s not really saying much. And although they’re on a break from Skyhold the lessons never really end.

The worldbuilding I loved in the last book are back in spades. Anastis really is a fantastically deep world. Thought has been put into everything, from the ecosystems to the economy, to how the magic works, to how a world where people can become Great Powers would actually work. And it’s all explained in such a light and breezy manner, where you can engage with it if you want to (and the vast amount of sections I’ve been highlighting show that I do) but can just skim over it if you don’t want to. The characters learn, we learn and I really enjoy everything we’re learning.

Also, and this might sound weird, but in this book they’re taught by Alustin not to use tools they haven’t tested in a battle scenario and I just love that. It gives so much more importance to the constant practising and working they’re doing, to the point where I’ve started noticing people in other books doing that and it’s got unsatisfying to me.

But it’s not just learning in this book. As I said, it’s an action adventure. The main characters are on a journey, literally sailing from set piece to set piece and it’s a lot of fun to read. The fight scenes are fun and quick, without letting you get too bogged down. The intrigue is intriguing and Hugh and the gang react in entertaining and believable ways.

Finally, I just want to give a mention to both the writing and the overall plotting. The writing is light and readable and there’s a humour that pervades it all. I particularly love the way that this book begins, with the line ‘Hugh of Emblin was good at quite a few things, but he wasn’t particularly good at running on sand.’ It’s a wonderful way of connecting it to Into the Labyrinth, which beings with ‘Hugh of Emblin wasn’t good at much, but he was very very good at hiding.’ It’s also a really nice, quick way of showing how the character has grown.

And with regards to the plotting, the sheer restraint that Bierce shows is great. There’s hints to things that won’t come up for another two or three books and I love stumbling across them like hidden gems. It’s such a masterful way of hinting just enough that it’s very satisfying whenever whatever is being referenced is revealed.

John Bierce is selling both Into the Labyrinth and Jewel of the Endless Erg in a bundle on his Amazon page and I can understand why. I loved Into the Labyrinth, even more on my last read through, but because of it’s slow pace it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Anyone who thinks that though should read Jewel of the Endless Erg. With the both of them together you can really see what John Bierce can do.