Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson, Secret Project Book #5.
Introduction
Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson is the fifth Secret Project book. I received the eBook through a bonus for the leatherbound copy of The Words of Radiance campaign. It is an expansion of the novella named Sixth of the Dusk. Sixth of the Dusk is a trapper that has magical birds that help him. The people of his country are threatened by beings with more knowledge that want their resources. Dusk must travel to the dangerous Emberdark and discover a necessary secret, or his people would lose their freedom to those who want to take it away.
Summary
Sixth of the Dusk is a trapper in the archipelago on the planet named First of the Sun. Trappers specialize in the dangers of a specific island, in Dusk’s case that is Patji. The islands are deadly, but the trappers face the dangers because they can hatch and bond with magical birds, called Aviar, only found on the islands. The bird’s powers help the trapper’s overcome obstacles.
Dusk’s people live off the land and have limited technology, but in the flashbacks, we see how new technology can tame the deadly islands. He interacts with Vathi, she is a scientist leader, in the flashbacks and they come to an understanding. Dusk doesn’t like the changes to his beloved island. In the current timeline advanced alien beings arrive and want the secrets of the islands. Dusk must go on a journey into the Emberdark to find the secrets of the magical birds, or his culture will die.
Starling is a young dragon who is trapped in her human form because she must learn a lesson. She gets together a crew for her spaceship, Dynamic, to earn her freedom. She goes to the Emberdark. Dusk and Starling meet and can help each other to achieve their goals if they trust each other.
Recommendation
Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson is a great expansion of the novella named Sixth of the Dusk. I thought that putting the entire novella as a flashback in the novel was a perfect strategy. He inserted chapters of the novella into the novel as it goes along. I thought that the addition of Starling, who is not in the novella, was a weaker plotline, but I understand why it was necessary to get the story up to novel length. Very well done.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231319913-isles-of-the-emberdark
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson. They published the original novella named Sixth of the Dusk in this anthology.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28595941-arcanum-unbounded
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My review of Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson. Wax and Wayne must foil a plot started by the terrorist group called the Set to destroy their home and people.
My review of Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson. In book 3.5 of the Stormlight Archive, Rysn and Lopen must uncover the secrets of the lost island of Akinah, or it will doom Roshar.
My review of Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. In book four of the Stormlight Archive, the war between humans and Voidbringers intensifies.
My review of Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. In book three of the Stormlight Archive, Dalinar learns the truth of his past through his flashbacks.
My review of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson, a collection with nine stories that are part of the cosmere universe. An overarching plot, which he calls the cosmere interrelated many of the author’s works. He set six stories on the worlds of his published novels, and three stories are about worlds that have not had a novel-length story treatment. All the stories in this collection are excellent.
