Book Review: Grimhold Vol. 2: Tiered Trails by Jay Andrade Hunt

Book Blurb

The clinic is behind her. The city still waits. But first come the trials.

Grimhold does not forgive weakness, and The Academy makes sure of it. To rise through the tiers is to endure tests built to break some of strength, some of cunning, some of trust. Every step demands a price.

Lina enters with little more than instinct and stubbornness. Magic answers her call, but never easily. Allies form but falter when survival comes first. Each trial cuts deeper, and every victory sharpens the interest of those who would use her.

The walls of The Academy hide more than lessons. Its halls carry secrets, its trials demand sacrifice, and its teachers watch for cracks in more than stone.

An unforgiving progression fantasy of resilience, loyalty, and peril, where the climb is as dangerous as the fall. 

Overall Analysis of Grimhold Vol. 2: Tiered Trails

I have a lot of respect for authors willing to take risks. Rather than playing it safe by repeating the formula that made Grimhold Vol. 1: The Clinic so successful, Jay Andrade Hunt makes a bold pivot in Grimhold Vol. 2: Tiered Trials. Henry, Kira, and Penny are relegated to the sidelines (or more accurately, the nosebleeds) as the story commits fully to Lina's journey through the Academy's admission trials. I missed the version of Grimhold I had come to know in the first book, but despite spending nearly the entire story book within the Academy's walls, Andrade Hunt somehow makes the city feel larger. By exploring a new corner of the world, the story breathes fresh life into Grimhold instead of retracing familiar ground.

The trials themselves are the heart of the novel. Many of the trials seem rudimentary and uninspired on the surface, but when the true purpose of them is revealed, you earn a new appreciation for their complexity. Rather than flicking wands and making sparks (as readers are undoubtedly accustomed to with many magical academies in literature), the trials are designed to wear people down emotionally as much as physically, and this leads to interesting character development. And if you’ve read my review on the first novel, you already know how highly I regard Andrade Hunt's characterization. The sequel only reinforces that opinion. Watching Lina and her cohort evolve into a team was one of the book's greatest strengths. I also had my doubts about whether Lina's time at the clinic would have any meaningful bearing on her Academy experience. Thankfully, Hunt anticipated my concern and proved me wrong.

If I was forced by violence to issue one bit of criticism it’s that you can always count on Lina to make the morally correct choice. I only say this having come to know her mother, Kira, from the first novel. Being raised by someone so morally gray with an unhesitating trigger finger, you’d expect perhaps some of that would rub off on her daughter. Then again, offspring aren’t carbon copies of their parents, so that can easily be forgiven. That’s a microscopic complaint in an otherwise excellent sequel. Then again, it can be argued that her disposition is necessary to the plot given the nature of how magic works in the world and her magic discipline, in particular.

Speaking of magic, without venturing into spoiler territory, I loved the way Andrade Hunt explored the philosophy behind his magic system. The idea of parting the veil and drawing upon the Weave's inherent magic through emotional control was both original and was a compliment to his mastery at characterization.

Final Thoughts

Grimhold Vol. 2: Tiered Trials is an excellent sequel that expands its world by daring to leave familiar territory behind. The cleverly constructed trials and a magic system are every bit as philosophical as they are imaginative. Jay Andrade Hunt continues to prove that Grimhold is more than just another post-apocalyptic fantasy world. However, fair warning, if your favorite character consists of Henry, Kira, or Penny, you may have to swallow the harsh truth that you may not be seeing them for a while. Even so, I strongly recommended your press onward, as you may find yourself adopting a new favorite character along the way. I'm eager to see where the journey leads next.