The highly anticipated sequel to The Frost Eater, a post-apocalyptic YA fantasy novel reviewers called “a wild ride” that “sizzles along to an unexpected end” with “heavy-hitting action,” “magic and dragons,” and “a touch of romance.”
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Nora, Krey, and Ovrun rescued vine eater Zeisha Dennivan from magical enslavement. But none of them are truly free.
They’re stuck in the ancient city of … truly free.
They’re stuck in the ancient city of Deroga. Together, they must protect the city’s trogs from the vengeful king.
The ongoing conflict is changing them all. Krey and Zeisha don’t truly know each other anymore—he hungers for battle, while she dreads it. Nora and Ovrun are closer than ever, but with her destined to take the crown, their futures are at odds.
And one of the four friends is keeping a terrible secret that will alter everything when it comes to light.
The king expands his army, preparing to vanquish Deroga. Even with two dragons on their side, the teens and trogs will be hard-pressed to defend themselves.
It’s not just the city at stake. It’s the future of Cellerin…and the fates of four hearts.
The Vine Eater takes what you loved about The Frost Eater and kicks it up a notch, with more magical action, heart-pounding romance, and thrilling flights with dragons.
Devour it today.
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Quotes are from Goodreads reviewers Tasha, Clarissa Gosling, K. Law, and Mike, and Booksprout reviewer Beth H.
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If you want to escape from reality we are facing right now, get this series. The Vine Eater continues the story of Princess Nora and her new found friends. There is great love shared with young desire. As an older reader, I loved the description of the emotions. No explicit words here. The friends are now partnering with the Trogs in their fight against the King. Many members have different kinds of magic. Some can shoot ice, some vines, and others can fly! Love the flying. And did I say dragons?!? Yes, there are dragons who are also great flyers and communicators.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Vine Eater continues the story of Nora, Ovrun, Krey and Zeisha and their fight to save their world from the King’s madness.
This book kicks off seamlessly from where The Frost Eater left off and takes the action a notch up, but it also tells of how the four develop and grow as they discover their own strengths and weaknesses and struggle not just with foes, but also their own demons.
In addition to this Carol Beth expands on the history of the Anyarians and the world and social structure they now live in.
Part of that is achieved by the passages at the beginning of the chapters which quote the writings of girls from the past when they were the same age as Nora and her friends. In the Frost Eater it was Liri Abrios from the first generation after the apocalyptic event and in The Stone Eater it is Genta Ril a young columnist form the only remaining printed news paper in the time before the Anyari was devastated.
While the adventure comes to a satisfying conclusion there is a great cliff hanger that leads on to The Stone Eater …
Overall the book moves along at a nice pace with just the right mixture of action, romance and insight into the lives and minds of the characters.
I don’t want to say much more as I feel everything else would be a spoiler.
I believe that any fan of YA fantasy will love this book and the whole trilogy.
To people who have read the first book, this one is even better; to those who are new to the Magic Eater Trilogy read The Frost Eater first. The Vine Eater doesn’t really work as a stand-alone story.
As a side note the cover art is beautiful too.
I received this book as ARC copy and am leaving this review of my own volition.
This is book 2 in the Magic Eaters trilogy by Carol Beth Anderson who kindly gifted me with the audio book in return for a non-biased review.
You need to read book 1 in order to see where these magical characters evolved from. This is set in a post-apocalyptic world called Anyari. Their ancestors left Earth to colonise this new world and it’s often described what life was like before ‘The Day’ This is when most of the population died along with all technology much like our own. What the survivors got in return was many of them now have magical abilities.
This book picks up exactly where we left off. Nora saved everyone from the clutches of the King and his militia of mind-controlled magic eaters, including Zeisha one of the magical Vine Eaters. The reason this magical journey was started is because of her, but she is still struggling with what she did under mind control. She has flashbacks of using her magic to kill, her pure heart cannot accept the magic being used for evil because her heart is so pure.
Nora, Zeisha, Ovrun and Krey, with the help of the now free militia, must help combine forces with the trogs of Deroga to go up against Nora’s father the king. Even with the help of 2 dragons will it be enough? You just need to read to find out.
This is a young adult high fantasy with a little taste of romance and the ending will leave you itching to get to the next in the series!
I would give this a solid 4.5/5 only because I like a little more romance but trust me this is just my preference. This is packed with action and adventure and thrilling twists and turns! I would highly recommend the audio versions as its wonderfully narrated by the author herself! You really can feel her love for this world and the characters.
The Vine Eater, the second book in the Magic Eaters trilogy picks up where book 1 left off. The action and danger are building as more secrets come out about Nora’s father. Now in Deroga with her friends, they are more determined than ever to stop him. Great sequel with some twists that I did not see coming. Very enjoyable audio narration and can’t wait for the final outcome in the last book!
This review is based on The Magic Eaters: The complete Fantasy Trilogy plus Prequel Audiobook. Having listened to the Frost Eater as my introduction to Carol Beth Anderson’s writing/narration of her stories the bar was set very high for this book. I wasn’t surprised in the least that not only did the story build on the previous, but it further developed the worldbuilding of the first book, not to mention it provided a perspective on Nora’s father the King of Cellerin. Once again, I was blown away by the story and narration and looking forward to devoting a day to listening to the next book in the series.
First off, let me just say “The Magic Eaters” trilogy is by far the best fantasy series I’m currently reading. It’s absolutely fantastic. The universe that Anderson has created in these stories is so intriguing, and the depth of her world simply amazes me.
“The Vine Eater” picks up right where “The Frost Eater” left off, and you’re immediately reintroduced to all of your favorite characters from the first book. Each character has depth and continues to grow and adapt over the story, both personally and romantically. Even though it isn’t really a romance so much as an epic fantasy adventure, the bonds between Anderson’s couples are beautiful, and I’ll be damned if she doesn’t know how to write a spicy scene. There are great new characters introduced into the story, as well, including a certain Seer whom I was particularly fond of.
The pacing of the story was satisfying. While there were moments in the book that took their time, there were others that had me turning page after page after page, desperate to see what was going to happen next. It was a nice mix of casual vs. intense.
I won’t talk about the plot, as I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that I’ll be reading “The Stone Eater” as soon as possible. Well done!
Vine Eater is the second installment of The Magic Eaters Trilogy and should definitely be read in order. This book begins a couple days after the last scene of Frost Eater and continues the journey of Nora, Ovrun and Krey but now includes the additional main character in Zeisha, recently liberated from the King’s magical militia. I really enjoyed the first book, Frost Eater, and this series just keeps getting better!
Ms Anderson took an already multi-faceted story and gave us more action and more intrigue. The many characters are richly developed, likable and well-written. There is an additional component of transformation in each main character that adds a new level of depth to each of their individual journeys. This world that Anderson leads us through is truly creative and incredibly well developed. The pacing is great and there are a few surprises throughout this story.
So much happens in this novel that builds on everything that was great about the first installment and I just can’t wait to see how she tops this one!
This is the second book I have read/listened to by this author (second of this series) and I look forward to listening to the last book. I’d also like to listen to her other series. I enjoy the world Carol Beth Anderson has created and the magic is unique. These are uncomplicated, well thought out, character driven books. The relationships between the characters and their motives are believable. Each chapter leads with an excerpt from the recordings in the ‘Derogan Chronicles’. This is great because it brings some background/history that is relevant to the chapter.
Carol Beth Anderson narrates this book as well. Not all authors who try this pull this off as fabulously. She truly performs, not reads her books. She brings the characters to life full with personality and distinct voices.
There are no explicit sex scenes or excessive violence. Some mild swearing.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review. Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.
How does a pacifist support her people against an army bent on attacking them? Zeisha wants to support her friends, but is haunted by nightmares of what she was forced to do by the blood eater. Is seeing the future a blessing or a curse? How does an orphan, whose focus is on self-preservation, know who to trust? These questions and more are explored in an adventure filled epic that takes the characters down paths they never imagined traveling. Highly enjoyable read, even better than the first!
This book does a very good job dealing with sensitive, potentially controversial topics in a very factual, non-judgemental way as well. There is so much focus on character grown and friendship and support but healthy support, not enabling. One of the characters is dealing with addiction and it is one of those things that could have gotten overly dramatic or preachy etc, but I think what was there struck a good balance between the seriousness of the situation, the love and support of friends, and the consequences to all of them.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the newspaper blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. They give a glimpse into the high tech world that was before the event that changed everything. It is an interesting juxtaposition to read about the ghosts that haunt the shells of buildings that Nora and her allies are living in.
This is book 2 of 3 in the Magic Eaters series and jumps right in where book 1 ended. It is a rich plot that builds on the previous book and you will be lost if you do not read them in order. This book features many of the same characters from book 1 but they’ve shifted position. I like that the main characters from book 1 still have pivotal roles in book 2 even though the primary focus shifted to a couple other characters, one new one you will recognize.
The audio version is read by the author herself and she does an excellent job bringing the characters and story to life. This is an honest and voluntary review of an ARC
Every bit as good as the first book in the series. This is an original and fascinating fantasy, and I can hardly wait to see what happens next. I received a free review copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review
this book is amazing. You will love this book its amazing the author did a great job on writing this book you will be amazed and love the adventure and romance in this book.
She’s done it again. Carol Beth Anderson is truely a wonderful story teller, her mind is a great source of uniquely original tales. The second book in the Magic Eaters trilogy is on par if not better than the first.
This story has Nora, Ovrun, Krey and Zeisha, and we better not forget the dragons, teaming up with the trogs in their attempt to fight the king. We join their adventures through lands near and far, finding hidden secrets and talents along the way.
Nora doesn’t want to admit that her dad has gone mad and tries to reason with him to give all the tribes their own land and independence back. But war is war, and there is always one side that wins and one that loses.
Join in with this great group of young adults and learn some things along the way, and remember that people change, whether that be from experiences good or bad, or from love or fear regardless if they are new or old friends, family or foe.
I cannot wait for book three.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am leaving my honest review.
I don’t even know what to say. I loved loved loved the first book in The Magic Eaters Trilogy: The Frost Eater. When I got the chance to read The Vine Eater as well, I was THRILLED. And it did not disappoint at all.
Wanting to keep this review spoiler-free, I’m skipping the short description of the events in this book. All I’m saying is that this book picks up exactly where The Frost Eater left off, and that it has even more action and plot twists than the first book.
In The Vine Eater, the friendship between Nora, Krey, Ovrun and Zeisha is tested. Every single one of them has changed after the militia battle and its consequences, and they have to find a new dynamic to fit their new life in Deroga. Nora struggles with everything that happened to Faylie and has trouble accepting her father who has lost his mind. Ovrun doesn’t know what the future will hold for him, Zeisha has trouble finding herself and Krey… Well Kreys problems will become clear in The Vine Eater.
The Vine Eater is an amazing piece of art. I think I loved it even more than The Frost Eater. The story is character-driven AND plot-driven, and that’s a rare combination in quite a short YA book. Carol Beth Anderson, I don’t know how you do it, but you do it well.
One thing that bothered me a little was the change in pacing in the second half of the book. It wasn’t very coherent and hard to follow at some points. I also struggled with visualizing the characters, as their description wasn’t repeated in The Vine Eater and it’s been a few months since I read The Frost Eater. But besides those small two points, everything was perfect.
I honestly think that The Magic Eaters trilogy is severely underrated. More people should read this and show the gorgeous books on their bookshelves. Even though I’ve already read them, I’m going to buy the physical copies because I definitely want to read the story again on paper. If you’re a fan of young adult fantasy and dystopian, The Magic Eaters trilogy is definitely worth the read.
This is book 2 of The Magic Eaters Trilogy. I enjoyed the plot and characters in book 2. Both are well written and the story flows well. I loved the book cover for book 2. I’m looking forward to reading book 3. I would recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A very worthy sequel (which is hard to do). The Vine Eater seamlessly licks up from where The Frost Eater left off. I love the world, characters, writing and plot. There is a lot of action with just the right amount of romance and character growth. Some parts dragged a little bit with lulls in pacing BUT this is a gripe I have with almost every book so this is more of a personal, “it’s me not you” situation than a flaw. I’m excited to find out how the trilogy will end, and I will continue to recommend these books highly.
The Vine Eater also introduces new places to the saga. This book tackles difficult issues, such as addiction, the morality of warfare, trust, and whether people can truly change. All of these topics are nuanced and more complicated because they impact friends and family and people the readers have come to love. If you have personally been affected by on of those issues it can really hit home. I love the world Anderson has built for her characters.
I received a free copy of this book through the author as one of her ARC team members and am leaving a voluntary honest review.
once again, Carol Beth knocks it out of the park! … secrets prove to not be the best thing between our four main characters … not only that, but the Kingdom is at stake too
Great book. Draws you in and makes you want to read all night until you are done. Fast paced with never a dull moment.
The characters are real and invite sympathy. Great story. I will be reading the next one,
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed this installment, it was closer to 3 1/2 stars because I just struggled getting into it. I love the relationship between Nora and friends and the Trogs. Sara’s was a fun new character and I can’t wait to dive into her short story. I can’t wait for the next installment, hopefully my reading brain will be back!
This middle book of the Magic Eaters Trilogy is, above all, a love story. Set against a backdrop of pre-war preparations, two young couples try to decide whether they can overcome their fundamental differences to find futures together. At the same time, separate clans of Trogs must decide whether they can work together to fight against their power-crazed King.
If you loved The Frost Eater, this book will not disappoint! It is an excellent addition to the series both in terms of personal characters’ growth and strategy of the coming war preparations. Definitely not just a placeholder book, this is a solid entry jammed with fierce emotions, snippets of the past, and lots of new Magic!