Redemption (Legends of Lightning, Book Two)

Characters

For the purpose of this review, I’ve chosen to focus on the following five characters – Esther, Oisin, The Crimson Shadow (otherwise known as the Red Witch), Queen Aurora, and Queen Snow.

Esther

First and foremost, Esther continues to prove herself as a courageous young woman, having grown a lot since the first instalment of this fictional series. She has since learned to develop more control over her lightning powers. However, she still has much to learn before she is capable of winning any wars. Her core goal in this story is to rescue Oisin, her faithful guide who she was forced to leave behind in the Kingdom of Roses. Her feelings for him become more apparent as the story progresses, spurring her on until she becomes confident enough to stand up for both herself and he and others she cares for. It is here that Esther’s deep sense of love for others in her life becomes apparent because she is willing to risk her own life to save another’s. Throughout the story, her determination to help others and to rescue Oisin only grew stronger, a trait which I have come to deeply admire her for.


Oisin

Next, we come to Oisin, Esther’s loyal guide and Huntsman. In book one, we saw him risk his life to protect Esther at all costs, showing great strength and fortitude in times of peril. However, book two flips their relationship dynamic, putting Oisin in a position to need rescuing, so that Esther must in turn develop her own strength in order to free him. In addition, we learn more details about Oisin’s past and how he lost his sister in this second instalment, details which allowed me to greatly empathise with him as a character, despite his not having much air-time, so to speak, in this book. Although we only see him briefly at the end of the book, Oisin remains an important character, whose presence lingers in Esther’s heart, even from a great distance, symbolising just how powerful our bonds with others we love can be.

The Crimson Shadow

Next, we come to the Crimson Shadow, also known in the story as the Red Witch, who acts as a primary source of conflict, leading her pet wolves on a massacre of the villages in the many kingdoms. With her intelligence and cunning, she uses an increasing number of people to gain further power and influence in the lands, even roping some of the royals into her insidious plans. Where in book one, we got to know the backstory behind this cruel sorceress, in book two she feels more like a mystery again, only appearing a few times within the book. When she does appear, she seems even more vicious than in the first instalment, intimidating others with brute force instead of using the somewhat seductive charm and more covert manipulation she possessed in book one.


Queen Aurora

Now, we come to Queen Aurora, who makes for a tough and brutal ruler, as well as a revered warrior-queen in her own right. She proves herself to be intelligent and strategic, making battle plans at a moment’s notice. She was also proud, fierce, and stubborn, with a cold edge to her that shows an apparent lack of compassion toward those outside her inner circle. However, I came to see this hardness as necessary to her character as it had allowed her to survive for so long in a world that could be so brutal and unforgiving. Despite her brutal ways and uncaring nature, there was a deeper sense of loyalty and care which lingered inside Aurora, one which was buried deep so she didn’t appear weak to others. As such, I found her to be one of the most fascinating characters of all.

Queen Snow

Finally, we come to Queen Snow, another immortal ruler who Esther pleads with to join their fight against the Crimson Shadow. Back in book one, we saw Queen Snow dependent upon the sweet nectar of opium for her sanity (or lack thereof), lingering on too may painful memories otherwise to keep going in life. At the start of book two, she is still very much stuck in her delirious, opium-induced state, her mind dulled to the atrocities which are occurring around her. Learning more about her past and the number of loved ones she had lost, I came to understand why the opium called to her in such a way, providing what felt – to her – like a necessary lifeline. However, we do see her pull herself together for her kingdom, detoxing from the opium she is so fond of, so she can help fight on Esther’s side. Nevertheless, we soon see her inner fragility again as she struggles to be alone with her sober thoughts, constantly battling her overwhelming sense of grief to try and fight, to save her beloved kingdom from the Crimson Shadow’s wrath.