Redemption (Infinity Blade, #2)

3.5 stars because the first half of the book made no sense.
There's a time skip between books 1 and 2 which I'm guessing is filled by the video game. So read the blurb before starting book 2 so that it makes sense.

The separate stories of the present world and the deathless were good and I loved how they merged together. But then this book finished without giving a concrete ending

Another brilliant novella from Brandon Sanderson. You can tell that he enjoys giving life to this world of the Infinity Blade, which started off as nothing more than a simple idea of repetitive gesture-based combat in a mobile game.

I especially like the dual arcs that finally come together at the end, giving me a nice surprise (I guessed wrong who was who). This world turns out to be really fascinating, and sheds new light as to just how much we don't know of the Worker of Secrets.

This novella is part 4 of 5 (so far?). Parts 1, 3, and 5 are the mobile games Infinity Blade I, II, and III. Part 2 is another novella that bridges the first two games, while this novella bridges the latter two games. I'd say that it does a great job of tying the whole plot together, giving perspective and a deeper look into just who Siris, Isa, Raidriar are - giving them character, motivations, and growth.

Having played the games, the novella does sort of skim over things that happened in Infinity Blade II, but nothing a quick visit to Wikipedia can't rectify.

As if to prove to you that Brandon is not all about magic systems, he goes out and writes stories like these. But as this short novella goes on to prove, there are so many lessons of life to learn from fantasy fiction. Its these stories that live with you. Its these stories that make sure you are back for more. And it is this capability of Brandon's that makes him “the” writer in our times. Hats off man you pulled off another blinder and that too on the last page.