The second book of the #FaithFallAlong by Becca’s Catch-up Bookclub was scheduled for January-February with a live show the first Sunday in March. After finishing the first book, I was eager to dive into the sequel. Would it live up to expectations?
Due to problems with my eyes, I ended up reading the book as a mix of physically reading and listening, which took some getting used to, but doesn’t make a difference to the answer to that question: Absolutely!

John Gwynne – Valour (The Faithful and the Fallen #2) ★★★★★

Genre: Epic Fantasy

War has erupted in the Banished Lands as the race for power intensifies.

Corban flees his homeland searching for peace, but he soon discovers that there is no haven in the west as the agents of Rhin and roaming bands of giants hound his every step.

Veradis leaves the battleground and rushes to his King’s side. But he has witnessed both combat and betrayal and his duty weighs heavily upon him.

Maquin seeks only revenge, but pirate slavers and the brutal world of pit-fighting stand in his way.

Nathair becomes embroiled in the wars of the west as Queen Rhin marches against King Owain. The need to find the cauldron of the giants drives him on.

Sides are chosen and oaths will be fulfilled or broken in a land where hell has broken loose.

Valour, the second book in the The Faithful and the Fallen series, takes everything that made the first book captivating and amplifies it tenfold. The surprise of starting with a giant’s perspective was a cool expansion of perspective, but the real payoff comes as we dive back into the fallout from the previous battles, where my emotions immediately ran high as we take stock of the toll these gruesome events have taken.

One of the major draws of the story for me is how it delves into the complex moral dilemmas its characters face. The tension between what’s right and what’s necessary, between loyalty and what’s morally good, is constantly at play. The characters, whether struggling with loyalty or seeking revenge, are constantly grappling with these shifting lines between good and evil.

The emotional rollercoaster doesn’t stop at character conflicts, though. Gwynne has masterfully crafted moments of heart-wrenching loss, unexpected friendships, and high-stakes battles that feel visceral and real. From the loyalty of Corban’s friends to the heartbreaking devastation of Maquin’s journey, each character brings something uniquely tragic and heroic to the table. Valour explores the deep complexity of human nature while maintaining a fast-paced and action-packed narrative.

The pacing of Valour is relentless. With so many characters and short chapters, the book flew by despite being over 600 pages long. I loved that Gwynne included a character list and a recap of Malice—it made jumping back in so much easier. The battles, though, were what really got me. Gwynne’s ability to make them feel so visceral and real had me on the edge of my seat. I’ve seldom experienced such adrenaline-pounding action in a fantasy novel before, and I loved (and dreaded) every second of it.

Gwynne also writes some of the most intense and emotional animal moments I’ve ever read. The animals aren’t just side characters; they are emotional anchors for the characters, and I think that’s what makes them feel so real. And while the stakes are high for our beloved characters, Gwynne doesn’t forget to add moments of levity, with perfectly placed dry humor.

The ending left me a sobbing mess. I was emotionally drained, but still wanted to dive straight into the sequel. However, I also recognized I needed a breather after such intensity (and I wanted to wait until after the live show so as not to cloud the discussion), but I’m definitely diving into the next book soon because I can’t stop thinking about where the story is headed.

With a whirlwind of intense action, emotional turmoil, and complex character arcs, Valour is an unputdownable read that makes me eager to dive into the next installment. It’s a perfect blend of heart-pounding battles, complex relationships, and moral dilemmas, all wrapped up in a beautifully crafted world. The stakes are high, the emotions are raw, and I am both curious about and dreading the adventures yet to come.

Expand spoilers and theories:

Valour was such a ride!

First of all, I was so relieved Cywen wasn’t killed off. I had a feeling she’d survive, but the relief was still huge. The aftermath of Thannon’s death hit hard, though. Watching Corban deal with his dad’s death, the consequences of those battles, and how everything spiraled after was such a gut punch. I think I was in a constant state of emotional upheaval from start to finish, and it made the book impossible to put down.

Veradis’ inner conflict was one of my favorite aspects of this book, while also being one of the more frustrating ones. His unwavering loyalty to Nathair so obviously clashes with his believes of right and wrong, making him doubt his missions, but still preventing him from disobeying orders. I was constantly hoping he’d make different choices, especially with Cywen in the mix. The way his loyalty is slowly cracking under pressure? So compelling. If he betrays Nathair, I’m here for it.

Now, Cywen? She’s incredible. I’ll be honest, I was so worried she might fall for Nathair’s charm, but instead, she kept her head. Even when in a seemingly powerless situation, she held on, didn’t let herself be manipulated, and stayed loyal to those she loves. The way she got grilled about Storm’s name and was probed about revealing things about Corban – I cheered on her composure. I loved how she managed to glean so much useful information for herself too. I did wonder, though, how no one seemed to clock on to Shield’s name and just let her have the horse.

Speaking of Shield, all the animals in this book were amazing and their crucial role in the story really got to me. There’s something so special about how these creatures are written—Corban’s bond with Storm is so heartwarming, and the reunion of Storm and Buddhai absolutely left me teary-eyed. The addition of the birds was awesome too. I already loved the grumpy Craf, but bringing in Feck was interesting, especially considering his origin. I loved all the animal interactions, either with humans or each other, and I’m fascinated by how crucial their role often is in the unfolding plot.

I also loved the continued presence of Dath and Farrel in Corban’s life. They’re unwaveringly loyal, sometimes a bit pathetic in how they act like typical teenage boys, but undeniably lovable and endearing. I love the way they’ve grown throughout the story, considering all they have been through, and the way they provide just enough comic relief to counterbalance the heaviness of the plot is genius.

Camlin is such an interesting POV. His inner conflict is mesmerizing, as he doesn’t quite fit in or wants to fit in, but also can’t escape the sense of loyalty he feels toward the people he’s come to care about. What really stands out about Camlin is how he tries to avoid getting too attached, yet his relationships with others pull him in deeper than he expects.

Now Maquin, his story is absolutely devastating. His journey of survival and vengeance is so gut-wrenching. The way he’s been forced into situations that strip away his humanity, allowing himself to be destroyed piece by piece, since it’s the only way towards his potential revenge on Jael, is tragic. I just want him to find a moment of peace or redemption, but it’s hard to see how that might happen with all the horrors he’s faced.

Lykos, on the other hand, was pure evil. I was disgusted by every one of his chapters, I could feel my skin crawling with every page. The way he manipulated Fidele and made her feel so powerless – orchestrated by Calidus no less! – was vile. I was so relieved when the charm was broken and Fidele could get her revenge. I hate that the bastard seems to have gotten away, and truly hope he’ll get put in his place in the next book.
I feel Fidele’s position is now very precarious, since she condoned all of Lykos’ despicable changes in her kingdom through the spell she was under. I don’t think her people will forgive her now. Will she go with Maquin? Are there more people in the rebellion of which Orgull was obviously a part?
Speaking of Orgull, I loved his and Maquin’s bromance, and I am devastated he’s gone now. Their dynamic brought a lot of heart and hope to Maquin’s POV.

Ah, and then we of course have Nathair—his character arc is genius. The arrogant, self-righteous prince who thought he was doing good, acting out such destruction in the name of “the greater good”, only to discover he’s been manipulated the entire time, is so compelling. His flabbergasted face when he realized he’s not the hero, but the villain, was absolute gold. I’m so curious to see how he will react to this revelation. Will he continue to follow Calidus or turn against him?

And who the hell is Calidus, the “Black Heart”? Is he a fallen angel? A Kadoshim? Simply a powerful man with a nefarious goal? I have so many questions! It seems Ventos was involved with him, at least I think his bird communicated with Calidus. I was wary of Ventos from the start, but I was not expecting this level of betrayal towards Corban! What were Ventos’ true motivations?
As for Alcyon, I have no idea where he stands anymore. It’s become clear that his commitment to Calidus isn’t entirely voluntary, even though he seems powerless to resist. Where are his true loyalties? What’s his backstory? I’d originally thought he was the “Avenging Hand” from the prophecy, to Calidus’ “Black Heart” and Veradis’ “True-Heart”, and while the latter two are now confirmed, I’m no longer convinced about the former. The identity of the “Beloved” is also one I’m still unsure of.

During the liveshow we briefly questioned the identities of the Bright Star en Black Sun.
We’ve been led to believe that these are Corban and Nathair respectively, but considering the ending with Nathair, maybe it has all been a ploy? Could it be that Nathair is not even the Black Sun and has been totally manipulated and has nothing to do with the prophecy, even though he fits several statements, mostly through Calidus’ manipulation. And is Corban really the Bright Star? He has many around him who are convinced that he is. We’ve seen him enter the otherworld and we’ve heard Asroth basically confirm it, but still… Maybe Corban will not be alone as the Bright Star? Especially considering Cywen and how close she’s become to Shield?

Anyway, I’ll soon read on to find out!