Souldancer (Soul Cycle)

This is the second book I've read of Mr. Niemeier's and undeniable proof that he is a unique voice in the world of science fiction and fantasy. His stories blend science fiction, horror, and fantasy, in a way that is rarely seen or attempted. There is nothing quite like Souldancer or Nethereal. But originality does not mean quality. Does all this mean Souldancer lives up its predecessor? The first thing I can say is that I'm glad Nethereal was the first book in the series. The introduction of the way the circles and universe works in that book made it easier to digest much of what occurs here. It was an easier story to digest. There is also a larger cast of characters in Souldancer, many with different beliefs, mentalities, and goals, which are easier aligned when you are familiar with how things work in this insane place. It's much like how Dune works so well because of how Frank Herbert introduces everything to the reader at a steady pace without overwhelming them; Mr. Niemeier does the same here. You are not thrown into the deep end. His characters are the same. Sulaiman, for instance, wouldn't be half as understandable if I hadn't first met him in Nethereal first. However, Souldancer also stands alone as a complete story. You do not need to read Nethereal to understand what happens Souldancer. So this will also be the last time I bring up the prequel for comparison purposes in this review. Souldancer is a story about Xander Sykes, a member of the Nesshin who is exiled from his tribe. He soon finds himself wrapped up in a plot that spirals out into something far bigger than he first thought. Along the way he meets a motley crew of characters that all have goals of their own. Oh, and a cobbled together being of pure fire. One that wants to burn everything. To ash. This cast is on a quest to seek peace, and answers. But not everyone is interested in both. If anyone has ever played a Japanese RPG from the 1990s, then you probably have an idea where this is going. This is a story set up certain fans know well. It soon turns out that there is a god that needs slaying. But it would be selling this novel short to call it a rehash of those stories. It doesn't go quite how you think it will. Which is a good thing. Stories like Lunar were a bit dopey, honestly. "We don't need gods anymore!" they cried, after surviving solely on magic, health restoration, and a planet, all provided by the goddess in question. Yes, the evil is slain, but what if another rises in its place? How will they deal with it then when they couldn't even do it alone the first time? These are questions simply not answered or thought through enough. Souldancer's cosmology is a bit more complex than that. By the end you are wondering if the main characters really have hit the roof after all that has happened. It stacks quite high. And the answer at the end might surprise you. There's also a space opera element of a giant cast of characters weaving through the tapestry of a much larger story unfolding before them. What started and ended in the previous book comes into full fruition here. This plot idea works better in the context of the Soul Cycle series. There is a bigger plan at work, and this reader is sure interested in seeing where certain characters end up. But who cares about all that? You want to know the important things, like if stuff blow up. Well, dude! There are swords, spaceships, magic blasts, and more body horror than you can shake a stick at. Sick! There's this one part where this dude with a flaming sword takes on a demon in the wreckage of a spaceship while wolfdude corpses litter the sand. Like, come on. What else do you want. Come on. Okay, maybe a super shotgun fight with a Cyber-Demon, but you can't have it all. I'll settle for incineration by fire sword. It's not like it still isn't epic! Souldancer is an all around great read. It has a healthy cast of characters, a unique setting that I still have yet to tire of, and an overarching theme that is beginning to come into focus. It also remains its own thing. Think Jack Vance meets The Weathering Continent and you might come close to it, but you'd still be off by quite a few degrees. The Soul Cycle series is its own thing. Are there negatives? There are some points where events can be a bit fuzzy, and some characters sort of come and go without fanfare (the Earth Souldancer, especially), but it is otherwise remarkably strong. Oh, there was also a distinct lack of Vaun. I really missed that soulless genocidal shell of a monster. Tired of the bland mainstream fantasy, science fiction, and horror markets? Then pick up the Soul Cycle books. They are the shot in the arm that's been so desperately needed to the genre since the 80s. Fresh blood, fresh execution, and fresh results, make Souldancer an even more rewarding read than the original. Pick this up! You won't regret it. Now to wait for book 3.

Book 2 of the Soul Cycle improved on the first. As we progress with the Soul Wheel steersman (or spirit guide), we're led with the main characters through several more levels of Hell. The conflicts with lords of the different planes get more convoluted and intense, as the ships, people, and the souls and powers get distorted and mutilated by Shaiel itself. The end goals are not clear, except that they must escape from the underworld and return to what appears normal space. In a final desperate move, Xander and his lady seek a route out, but it leads through the peril of the ninth circle: Shaiel's lair and fortress. Here, several awesome truths are revealed to them, and a set of grand and terrible choices that involve their salvation, and a path for saving all other souls. The book is written on a very grand scale, with a lot of related and competing factions, including Life, Death, demons, technos, and some very alien entities. I took my time reading, so this could soak in. Like Dune, the grand scale involves elaborate attention to detail. Those details are important. The final couple chapters will hit unexpectedly, like ramming a Void-runner into a neutron star, with terror, suspense, and beauty. Evil/Good, Life/Death, are not exactly what they portray themselves as, and a much greater Entity makes Himself known in a still, small voice. This is not an easy book to read, but is satisfying. It will take time to keep factions and characters straight. Take your time reading, work with the flow, and enjoy the journey.

Souldancer is the second book in the Soul Cycle Series by Brian Niemeier. I believed the first book to be unique and good enough to merit 4 out of 5 stars despite some not-so-minor problems. I honestly hadn't planned on reading Souldancer right after finishing Nethereal. Curiosity got the best of me, however, and I ended up buying Souldancer soon after. I'll just come out and say it, Souldancer is leaps and bounds better than Nethereal. Souldancer isn't a straight sequel, at least, not in the way you'd think. It picks up 20 years after the climax of Nethereal. Fire burned the cosmos inside out in what is now being called the Cataclysm. The novel takes place almost entirely on a post-apocalyptic Mithgar (the grandest of the Cardinal Spheres). In addition, the author has decided to introduce a completely new cast of characters rather than picking up directly with the characters of the previous novel. At first, I was wary, remembering how lost I was at the beginning of the Nethereal. However, despite the introduction of new characters, the author has done a MUCH better job of introducing the setting and explaining things without drowning the reader in exposition. These dollops of info, along with major revelations, are far better organized than they were in the first book. As a result, major events and revelations had a much bigger impact on me than they did in Nethereal. The new characters are a welcome addition to the cast. The relationship between Xander and Astlin was surprisingly well-written. There will be some who call it cheesy, but I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop and grow through the novel. The villains are scary, evil and properly villainy without veering into cheesiness. I must also mention that this novel is very different from the first one. Nethereal, had a more swashbuckling-adventure sort of feel to it. The main characters were constantly traveling to different planets and stratum. Souldancer, on the other hand, takes place primarily in the ruins of Mithgar and its orbit. In fact, this novel feels a lot more like fantasy with some horror and sci-fi elements than Nethereal did. Especially the first third. I had no problem with this and enjoyed watching the stakes and scope slowly expand until the cosmos-shattering climax. All that being said, Souldancer is not without its share of minor nitpicks. Again these are minor nitpicks not major problems. Certain characters are introduced and then vanish only to suddenly appear in a much too deus-ex-machina-ish fashion for me. If these sudden reappearances were just a little bit better foreshadowed, I wouldn't care so much. But as it stands, when some of these reappearances happen, it feels like the author needed them to appear there for the sake of the story rather than feeling like logical effects of the story's previous events. Ultimately, Souldancer is fantastic. I feel as if I have to go back and lower my rating of Nethereal in order to better reflect the gap in quality between the two novels. If you want to read something unique, treat yourself to Souldancer. You will not be disappointed. 5 out of 5 stars

Nethereal, the first Soul Cycle book, is phenomenal; Souldancer may be even better. It masterfully builds on what went before, but this time the focus is tighter (though the stakes are arguably even higher). New facets of the universe are introduced, and new factions; there are twists and turns aplenty; but at its heart it is a deeply personal, profoundly moving story of a small band of misfits caught up in events much larger than themselves, and coming to terms with their own struggles along the way. Also, there are space werewolves. Space werewolves! Seriously, what are you waiting for?!

Picks up 20 years after the first one. If you liked the first one then you will like it. Don't read if you haven't read the first one as it raises the weirdness level to 11. It took me awhile to get in to the story but was worth it.

An excellent book. I heard of Brian through the recommendation of another and that recommendation was well made. I look forward to is other books.

good book