Brotherband: The Invaders (Content & Quality) Review

Overview

The Andomal, Skandia's most treasured possession was stolen from right under the noses of the Heron Brotherband. The Herons had been disbanded and dissolved, but they know that the only way of regaining their honor is to take back the Andomal, and defying orders they sail away to stop the pirate Zavac and steal back the treasure, but it won't be easy. Zavac has already slaughtered hundreds of sea captains and stolen their treasure, and now he has his eyes set on the former secret emerald mine of Limmat. Can the Herons stop him and take back the Andomal?

Negative

No swearing, besides the occasional invocation of deities other than God. Zavac kills many people deceitfully, promising them mercy or riches and than backstabbing them. One of the main characters nearly dies from a wound. It's mentioned that one of the characters was considering stealing some food and that he doesn't think it was wrong. 

Positive

Again, the Herons learn to work together for the common good, even Ulf and Wulf. Hal worries about being a good leader, and tries hard, even when he gets something wrong and he has to fix it. The rest of the Herons obey him unswervingly, even if it means near-drowning or injuries. 

Conclusion 

This second installment in Brotherband didn't impress me as much as the first one. The book starts off with the Heron's sitting around on a beach training, and they do so for almost the entire beginning of the book. If it wasn't for the author's fantastic sense of humor it would have gotten boring really quickly. I also didn't find myself caring about anything that the characters did other than when they were actively chasing down the Andomal. Plus, the new character Lydia seemed very random and does essentially nothing to continue the story. She feels very extra and not needed, other than some several jokes aimed towards her and the Heron's feelings for her. I did like how the climax made Hal chose between the Andomal and something else, 

but that was the only part I really felt invested in. I hope the author can make it up in the next book because this one, compared to the first, was a disappointment.