Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers for A Chorus of Dragons series. Read with caution if you have yet to finish the books.
When a book series begins to approach its end, readers and fans become anxious both with joy and with dread. The former happens because readers who have stuck with the series are hoping for the series to continue getting better with a strong finale at the conclusion. The latter occurs because fans become concerned the series won’t end according to their expectations. Hence, the hype surrounding the end of a book series starts with the book released before the last book in the series. The House of Always, the fourth book in A Chorus of Dragons series by Jenn Lyons, presents readers with a book which continues to enrapture them while giving some insight into how the series could end in the final book.
The four protagonists from The Memory of Souls—Kihrin D’Mon, Janel Theranon, Thurvishar D’Lorus and Teraeth—are dealing with the aftermath of recent events. Unfortunately, due to some “hard” choices, not all four protagonists are together; until new circumstances reunites them. And they are not alone in the “reunion.” Several characters from the previous books are part of this reunion as well: Senera, Talon, Galen and Sheloran D’Mon, Qown, Talea, Xivan, and Kalindra Milligreest. All of these companions, acquainted or not, must brainstorm on ways to defeat the latest threats before confronting Relos Var and thwarting his plans.
This novel takes the concept of “we need a plan” and takes it to a new level in creative ways. One plan has been executed already, but it wasn’t enough to shift the odds in the favor of the protagonists, so they all must figure out another way to get their plan to work. For that to occur, everyone must participate in the brainstorming whether or not they are willing to reveal their knowledge and their secrets.
The style Lyons used in this book answers a pivotal question within the narrative while presenting how that method can be abused by the characters’ adversaries. In addition, amongst the dramatis personae, there is a shift in the points-of-view (POV) within the narrative. That shift in the POV hints at a potential storyline in the final book in the series. It should be mentioned that the author does an amazing job making sure each character is identifiable and represented within the book without difficulty.
As I mentioned earlier, The House of Always is the second to last book in the series, which means the author has to find ways to start ending the characters’ story arcs while still continuing with all of the worldbuilding and completing the plot. So, everything introduced as early as The Ruin of Kings resurfaces in this book. These are NOT Easter eggs; they are relevant devices for wrapping up the plots and the subplots within the narrative. Lyons balances continuing the story with leading it to the beginning of the end.
The fourth book in A Chorus of Dragons answers the question: how will the protagonists find a way to meet up again before confronting the enemies and trying to save the world? Not only that, but also reaffirm how all of the characters continue to be relevant to each other. Then, there is the latest threats and distractions to the “true” threat to the world. Can a plan be formed and agreed upon by everyone in time?
The House of Always is the novel set after the climax of the series, but that doesn’t mean the pace, or the story slows down. In fact, the story continues to hook readers in as they begin to piece together how the series could end in the final book. This novel will leave you desperate to know the end of the story.
Jennie Ivins
Julia Kitvaria Sarene