Babylon Restored, formerly Manhattan, may give David answers. Ruled by the mysterious High Epic, Regalia, David is sure Babylon Restored will lead him to what he needs to find. And while entering another city oppressed by a High Epic despot is a gamble, David’s willing to risk it. Because killing Steelheart left a hole in David’s heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic—Firefight. And he’s willing to go on a quest darker, and more dangerous even, than the fight against Steelheart to find her, and to get his answers. 

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How was it?

Babylon restored might be the weirdest place to imagine but Sanderson does a good job to take you there. The more time you spend there the clearer the picture gets. The fact that Regalia, the High Epic, the Reckoners are hunting is said to be the cause of Babylon restored present state makes her enigmatic and scary in a way.

With “Firefight” I started to like David’s quirks, he still annoys the hell out of me at times but I kind of like him. The story in this second the Reckonners book is quite captivating and thought provoking but I find I’m mostly interested and amazed by the structure and writing of the book.

The world building again is spectacular, Babylar or Babylon Restaured, former New York City, is a bit weird but easy, maybe easier, to picture than Newcago in Steelheart. The new characters are just as colorful and fascinating as the mostly submerged City with glowing fruit and graffiti described here is. The characters are distinct, not one voice seems like the other, it doesn’t mean that they’re all memorable but they don’t have a sameness that could make them interchangeable in one’s memories. It’s the singularity of each characters, old and new, that bring up such strong feelings when it comes to their behaviors.
I enjoyed how some key concepts are subtly introduced in the story thus expanding this dystopian world. However it is a rather big shift from what was previously introduced. It wasn’t as smooth as it could have been, Calamity and Firefight’s powers seem to have been conveniently redefined rather than better explained.

The story remains an exciting dangerous maze of carefully laid plans, mysterious desires and motives. The main antagonist Regalia, ruler of Babylar, is much like her power, a force to be reckon with. The people and the Reckoners cell from Babylar are nothing like Newcago. David is still brimming with good intentions but still reckless and irritating. Prof and Tia’s layers are slowly getting peeled.

Firefight seems to be redefining the series, a turning point in the Reckoners’ story that isn’t very smooth but still a thrilling emotional roller-coaster.

Firefight is available on The Book Depository, Amazon, Audible and other book retailers near you.

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