_edited.jpg)
3.5 stars! This review will be spoiler free, but will contain spoilers for The Novice!
Synopsis:
The Inquisition is the second book in the Summoner series by Taran Matharu. At the end of The Novice, Fletcher was being hauled away to jail to await trial for the attempted murder of Didric Cavell. Now a year has passed and Fletcher's life is in the hands of people who want him to burn. Not only does the trial bring much scheming to light, but we learn some interesting things about our dear Fletcher. Now, when things get settled, we have no time to prepare before the gang is whisked off to the jungle to complete the mission Vocans prepared them for. There are new characters to meet, there are new lands to trek, and there are battles to be had. Once again, it's in the hands of Fletcher and his friends to save Hominum because who else will? Right?
Initial thoughts:
This book was almost as good as book one, maybeeeee. Taran has a way with endings that makes you forgive him for the slow middles. I wanna say this book didn't quite capture me the way the first book did, BUT I really liked how the trials ended despite their simplicity and the quest to the orc encampment at the end. Everything in the middle was kind of a muddled mess. I also think my gripes with the writing did not improve in this book. Still lacks consistency with the claims (i.e., if someone's knowledge of a language is rudimentary, they probably shouldn't know words like rudimentary). Other than that, Taran still does an amazing job with plot twists and surprises. If I ever thought I wasn't going to read book three (which I had not) that ending would have wiped all my doubt away because HOLY FECK. THAT ENDING WAS EVERYTHING I NEEDED. I absolutely need to know what happens next.
Plot:
In a nutshell this is how I feel about the plot. One, the trials were rushed and had quite predictable, simple outcomings. Two, there were a lot of seemingly random events that happen before they even get to the jungle for the orc mission. They aren't actually random, they make sense for later, but goodness me I was bored. Three, they finally get to the jungle and THE BALL GET ROLLIN. This is when things finally start to heat up and get interesting.
I personally felt like the trials were rushed because things happened quite quickly (minus the year it took for the trial to actually take place, why the heck did it take a year, I still don't know) and then ended very abruptly. One second we were trying to kill Fletcher and the next we were somewhere completely different. I mean you have to know that Fletcher survives at this point because how else would the series continue without the main character? After the trial we go on to start meeting new characters to thicken the character pool and add more wild variables to the plot, meaning people who could possibly be an enemy of Fletcher or ally? Who knows? They all have their own unique personalities and I like books with tons of characters, so long as they're all important, which they all seem to be in this book because we have all the different teams for the orc mission. That's basically all I cared about in this first half, Fletcher surviving and then getting to the jungle. The little outing that Fletcher, Othello, and Jeffrey went on seemed so pointless in the beginning that I didn't care for it, but it makes sense eventually.
As you can tell, I really only loved the second half of this book as the first part dragged. My major reasons why I'm giving this book a lower rating than most and why I liked it less than book one. Now onto reasons why I'm STILL continuing with the series! Taran can write action almost as good as PJO. I was definitely getting those adventure/mission/deadline type of feels that I get when I read a Riordan book. Everything that happened in the jungle was suspenseful, intense, and slightly confusing BUT in a good way. All these little tidbits of information all come together now to paint a wholesome picture that make sense and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I mean we finally get to see the orcs in action and so many things are revealed, but also leave you with MORE questions.
The only thing I found weird about this part of the book was the developing romance between Fletcher and Sylva. I didn't want it. I still don't ship it. I kinda don't feel like he neeeeeeds a romantic relationship, but if it were to be with anyone, I'd want it to be with Verity Faversham.
& Those ENDINGS Taran writes just suck you in! They make you feel like you have to pick up the next book because he just leaves the characters in such a terrible predicament you think, "omg how in the world are they going to get out of this one?!" I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on book 3, but I think I'm going to take a quick break from this series to make it last a little while longer. I definitely do love it altogether so far!
Demons:
I am living for the adorable freaking demons. They’re like slightly demonic puppies and rock creatures and lizards! They’re described to be so freakin cute, but so strong at the same time. It’s like an oxymoron of an animal. I love them though. I love the way the connection between the summoner and demon is created and explained. It’s like they’re more than owner and pet, but legit family. I want one of my own! I also like how the demons have they’re own world and I’m thinking we’ll get to know a lot more about it in the next book!
Not to mention they evolve?! Or seem to?! I don't know quite yet, but I'm getting those vibes. They're like demonic POKEMON. Yes. Pokemon, except instead of going into a pokeball, they get absorbed into the summoner's bodies.
Characters:
FLETCHER continues to remain unchanged. He's grown in his summoner abilities. He's still strong. He's still ever good-hearted. He's such a good boy with literally no moral greyness. That can be construed as a good thing or a bad thing, but I guess in this book he's like the "hero" and is only good. Very much like PJO as would be expected by a middle grade novel.
SYLVA bothers me. I can't put my finger on what, but she's so incredibly two sided and annoying occasionally. I don't want her to be the love interest at all, but I can deal with it I guess. In fact, I'd be okay if she died.
OTHELLO is a little teddy bear. I imagine him as a very handsome looking dwarf. I need him to survive and I need him to be in some sort of power so that he can make some better laws for his people.
TARQUIN and ISADORA continue to be evil bitches.
IGNATIUS is so sassy, I love it. I can't wait to see his "evolution" !! I feel like he's going to morph and look even more menacing as he gets older. I mean... why does he have wings on the cover of the third novel right? When he doesn't have wings...yet.
Overall:
Good solid second novel. Not a slumpy one, but not the best follow up to book one in my opinion. I wanted it to be more actiony throughout and maybe have more political intrigue. I felt that the political manipulations were just thrown in in convenient places and not really expanded upon. Still, AMAZING ENDINGS. Taran knows how to write a heart wrenching cliffhanger! Looking forward to book three!