Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

Received from Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for honest read and review.
This book had so much promise after the first one, I really do like Peter Newman but this fell a bit short for me

The second novel in the Deathless series. The middle book of the series, it does what most readers will expect: moves the overall storyline forward, ties up or expands the stories of certain characters, and adds details to the readers' understanding of the world/setting.

It's a good book, but another that didn't *quite* land for me. Newman clearly has a great imagination and good prose style. But for some reason I always come away feeling just a shade disappointed. Could just be my mood, and the fact that this is a middle-book.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for a fantasy novel with a bit of a difference, then I'd definitely recommend giving the Deathless series a try.

Highlight
Pari is still a badass

Overall
A slower book than the first book following the same character and another few where the story continues from book 1 to sort out House Sapphire and all its drama.

The Story
The book continues 16 years after the first book and starts with Pari's new lifecycle. It also follows Vasin in his continued quest to revenge his mother, and Chandni in her mission to rais the perfect vessel, but also Sa-at as he navigated the Wild and Satyendra as his death is fast approaching. In total 5 narrators, 2 more than book 1, but three of these are the same as book one so it's not that complicated.

The World-building
There wasn't a lot of world-building in this book, but there was more explanation of the magic and how it works and how the castle floats which were overlooked in book 1. There is also some extension into the Ruby lands but that's it.

The magic/science
The magic and the crystal science is explained more int his book than in the last book. It's about magical winds that lift only a type of crystal which makes the castle floats. Apparently.

The characters
Pari - badass woman in a younger form and a more protective form. I feel there was less of her in this book than in the previous book. We are introduced to her brother in this book; Arkav. I like their relationship and their interaction, and I felt for Pari in her mission to keep her brother safe. I think this is the most interesting storyline in the book.

Vasin - still a struggling youngling but a lot more in control and less likely to burst out than previously. He has grown up a lot. And he takes action rather than letting things happened.

Chandni - older and more relaxed than the previous book but still as good a dutiful as always.

Sa-at - who grew up in the Wild was a character we got introduced to in the first book but in the second book, we follow him as he finds his way back to where he belongs.

Satyendra - the only living vessel left after the disappearance of Lord Rochant. But is he really a vessel? He is way more than the pages suggests.

Pari was still my favourite character.

LGBT+?
Nope.

Though it used the term asexual to describe a genderless character without a sex. I'm not so keen on that. I'm asexual and I do have both a gender and a sex. Asexual is a sexual orientation not a reference to your sex. Unless it included other words like "Asexual reproduction", but asexual on its own is a sexual orientation I feel.

The Writing
The writing is easy and flows through the pages. As with the previous book I would have liked a more firm gap between the narrators than a paragraph break. The writing didn't draw me in either.

Summary
It's an ok series. It's interesting, it's dramatic, it's creative, but I feel this book is just bumbling along a bit. It didn't drag me in and make me read. I'm still not 100% sure about it. I'm unsure if I'll continue, but I'll wait until the next one comes out and see what the synopsis is about first.

Despite taking place a considerable time after The Deathless, this feels like a natural continuation of the series, the decade-and-a-half in-universe gap serving to emphasise the long view that the Deathless take without detracting from the immediacy of the plot. It also means there’s a nice balance of familiarity and development with the characters, and it proves satisfying to return to Pari, Vasin, Chandni and the other familiar characters, all of whom have grown or changed to varying degrees. Some, like Varg and Glider, take more of a back seat this time around, while Satyendra and Sa-at inevitably warrant more attention now they’re no longer babes in arms, and although character loyalties are largely a little clearer this time around there’s still scope for Newman to explore the possibility that at least some of them are not quite what they seem.

It’s a classic middle-of-a-trilogy book really, in which some of the individual arcs resolve but many of them are developed to a point at which it’s clear they’re being set up for the conclusion to the overall narrative. As such it’s not really a standalone book in the way The Deathless was, and similarly it doesn’t feature a huge amount of exposition or recapping of what went before, so it very much rewards having read the first book recently. That being said, it’s eminently readable, paced nicely to keep things moving without ever feeling rushed, and offering a deeper, rewarding exploration of this intriguing world and its characters. Readers who enjoyed The Deathless will find plenty to appreciate here, and while on the one hand it’s agonising to have to wait for the next book, on the other hand that’s a clear sign – as if it were needed – that this series continues to entertain.

This series beginning with Deathless was a departure from the world of the Vagrant but nonetheless this series has its attributes.Ruthless carries on from the events in Deathless some years later adding to our understanding of the world the author has created.
Peter Newman has woven a world of diverse creatures and characters which work well within the parameters of the plot. We are introduced to new characters and given a greater insight into the intrigues which are rife between the great houses.
His world building is excellent as his character portrayal and the interaction between them. Looking forward to see how this enfolds.

Peter Newman is an absolute master of this genre. I thiught The Deathless couldn't be matched but The Ruthless matched and even surpassed it.
The Deathless was the first book by Peter Newman I had read, but after it I went out and bought his vagrant series.

I have found a new favourite author.

I loved the Deathless and I loved the Ruthless.
It was great to meet again the characters of the previous books and new ones. Some are likeable, some aren't, all are well written.
The world building is as impressive as it was in the first book and I'm starting to understand how it works.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Another fantastic book from the author of the brilliant Vagrant series, this book being the second in the Deathless series. I loved this one just as much as the Deathless and look forward to the author's next book.

This book was fabulous, a real page turner. My favourite characters were Lord Vasin, Lady Pari and Mother Chandri. I loved reading about Sa-at and his life with Crowflies. It's a complex world, with lots of engaging characters. The only downside to this is I'll have to wait ages for the next one.
I will definitely be recommending this to everyone.

This is the second in a fantasy series - and no, you can't start here, go back to book one if you haven't read it already! Run!

The Ruthless follows on from The Deathless, a tale of epic dynasties, where select members of the ruling families can live forever using a 'godpiece' which sort of saves their soul until it can be passed on into a suitable family member at the right time. With this privilege comes politics and subterfuge and Sapphire family is showing its cracks just as book one ends.

The Ruthless begins years later. Lord Rochant's descendant Satyendra - who is not what he seems - is almost of age for Rochant's soul to be imported into his body, but he will do anything to avoid that happening. The Lord might want to live forever, but so does he!

Meanwhile his counterpart Sa-at, alone in the Wild far below the castles and the Deathless, living among the demons and trees, is feeling a pull he doesn't understand to go and explore the human world.

At the same time, Lord Vasin and Lady Pari (now in a new body) are still enmeshed in the Deathless' struggle for power among the houses as anger towards Sapphire increases...

There's a lot going on, and the book moves quickly, but there just isn't enough of it. I wanted more pages! How long until book 3?

An excellent follow up to the first book. Thoroughly enjoyed. Full review to follow nearer to publication date.

I am a fan of Peter Newman’s book and loved the vagrant cycle and waited with anticipation for his next series of books, when I read The Deathless I felt a pang of disappointment, I had unfairly raised my expectations and wasn’t allowing the characters to develop and the world to build, I tempered myself when reading The Ruthless and found I didn’t need to as the book hits the mark centre mass, a thoroughly engaging, entertaining and imaginative story that I now find myself having to consider sedation to calm myself before the next book 😉

The Ruthless by Peter Newman is a fantastic 'Part 2' of what will be a trilogy, charting The Deathless.
The action picks up exactly where it left off, although sixteen years have passed, allowing the babies of the book to be all grown up and therefore more involved in what's happening.
The likeable characters of Book 1 are there, Sa-at, Pari, Vasin, Chandi as well as a few that we didn't like so much.
The world created by Newman continues to be vivid and downright 'weird' and there were a few times when I felt a little 'itchy' so good were the descriptions of The Wild!
All of the characters are set on paths that will see them coming into contact at one point or another, and the end is entirely satisfying, leaving me with many questions still to be answered, and a fear that something really BAD is going to happen in the concluding book of the trilogy.
I read this book in just over 24 hours. It's entirely absorbing, wonderful 'weird' and incredibly rewarding. Newman uses words to great effect and I just 'got' exactly what he was trying to portray. I really can't recommend it enough.
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy.
I will be 'singing' about this series whenever I get the opportunity.