The Hanged Man by KD Edwards (The Tarot Sequence: Book 2)

K.D. Edwards’ The Hanged Man is a gripping, epic story that is impossible to put down. It is the follow-up to The Last Sun from 2018. One of the 22 Arcana of Atlantis, Rune Saint John, the final heir to the Sun Throne, is the subject of both volumes. The story is expertly presented, taking place in a parallel universe to our own, where Atlantis was found in the middle of the 20th century, sparking a devastating battle that destroyed the original Atlantean island. Nantucket is home to New Atlantis. The main arcana of the tarot card served as the inspiration for Edwards’ setting, as you could have surmised from the titles.

The Hanged Man is notable for a variety of reasons, one of which is its original source of inspiration and worldbuilding. Atlantis itself is a fusion of well-known structures and architectural styles from all over the world, giving the city a distinctive personality. I adored how Edwards frequently drew from history when describing a structure’s appearance and teased us about the actual architecture that had appeared in Atlantis. In doing so, it offers background information and context for the enormous power that the Arcana of Atlantis possess, in addition to being an entertaining connection. One of Edwards’ strengths is world building with this kind of layering.

The magic is another another area of strength. Atlanteans employ magic by saving spells in sigils that can be retrieved at a later time. This has some similarities to the classic D&D magic system where wizards had to select the spells they had prepared. Additionally, it develops some intriguing tactics for certain plot points. Everything is quite engaging, and I had a great time. Additionally, it has some tense action scenes. Speaking of dramatic action, there is a passage in the book that is horrifyingly frightening and upsetting and demonstrates the lasting repercussions that magic may have. In this section, Edwards’ writing really added a terrifying element to the story that was well-timed for impact. Probably the element of the book that stands out above all others is its emotional impact. Edwards has a real talent for making us feel the joys and sorrows of the characters he creates.

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By the end of the second book, Edwards has given us readers a strong sense of attachment to the characters we are reading about. The way Edwards developed the supporting characters in this book and gave us some powerful emotional beats truly struck me. For everyone of the characters in this book, there are times when we rejoice and times when we grieve. It’s one of the factors contributing to this game’s addictive nature. The dialogue between Brand and Rune as well as several of the other characters demonstrates Edwards’ talent for penning banter. At the end of the day, we have a book with really deep world and character development, heart-pounding action, and everything working together to tell a distinct and fascinating story.

There aren’t many things I can say against this one. It’s challenging to identify anything that has to be stated as a critique because everything fits together so beautifully and is such an engaging read. There were a few character moments in the story that seemed like they could have used a little bit more room. Only a few times did I feel like I wanted to prolong the character tension or development. It’s difficult to say that this is a flaw in the book. The truth is that I adore the way Edwards is shaping these characters and would like to see more of it. Call it a critique if you want, or perhaps just a want for more.

A couple of the action scenes also left me wondering how the magic was operating or how spells connected. I tend to like hard magic systems, thus this complaint is very much directed at me personally. If you haven’t already started reading The Tarot Sequence, you should do so right away. It’s a fantastic fantasy series. The Hanged Man is one of the uncommon second novels that outperforms all the first novel accomplished so admirably. I thoroughly enjoyed this one even if it turns everything up to eleven. The Hanged Man is currently available for preorder and will be released on December 17.