If Exile: Part I – From an Antique Land was an invitation into a world, then Root and Branch is the moment that world fully catches fire. South African writer Anthony Hodge’s sequel picks up years after the events of the first book, with Caeria now under the heel of Thane Heirik’s occupation and the exiled King Zjandius scrambling to reclaim what he lost. I reviewed the first book in December, and I can confidently say this is a worthy successor, and in several respects, it surpasses its predecessor.
The story splits its attention across familiar faces and a now-expanded world. Heirik rules Caeria with increasingly brutal methods, goaded on by the brilliant and chilling Razna, whose influence over the throne grows with every chapter. Meanwhile, Zjandius, still in exile, pursues a bold diplomatic gamble: a marriage alliance with the composed and formidable Princess Nanepti of Emzentanis. Threading between these power struggles is Terzjin, sent on a perilous secret mission and forced to finally reckon with the ghosts of his past. And Valcero, the young exile who began the first book with nothing, is given his chance to prove himself—at significant personal cost.
What Hodge does particularly well here is the escalation. Where Part I was deliberate and methodical in its world-building, Root and Branch reaps what that first volume sowed. The politics are sharper, the stakes are higher, and the characters feel weathered by everything they’ve endured. The multi-POV structure, already one of the series’ greatest strengths, reaches a new level of sophistication. Storylines mirror and echo one another in ways that feel carefully put together and at times genuinely literary.
I also appreciate that the series is a duology and not a sprawling, unfinished fantasy series as so many are wont to be nowadays. It’s nice to have a relatively compact story that still has enough to sink your teeth into, and similarly not to have to wait years for a sequel. The ending merits its own discussion. After so much political violence and grand historical machinery, the duology ends not with a battle or a coronation, but with something far simpler and more affecting, and without spoilers, it works really well.
The book wastes no time establishing its darker register. An early scene in the council chamber is a masterclass in slow-burn tension: Heirik returns to Etorium to learn that the East Grove has partially burned in the night. Soon, the fire at the East Grove begins to feel less like an accident and more like a conspiracy. Terzjin’s storyline takes him far from Caeria. His diplomatic mission carries him up the River Tiana by barge to Paeseum, then overland through marshlands thick with water birds and the grunting of hippopotami, before finally descending toward Emzentanis. As for Valcero, his storyline provides a grounded counterpoint to the wider conflict, following his awkward attempts to prove himself within the palace as he struggles with inexperience, insecurity, and the looming reality of war.
Anyone who got attached to the characters in the first book will not be disappointed here. Their character development is satisfying, and it’s nice to see all of them again. My favorite character is probably Valcero, whose arc is especially compelling as he started as a slave and now begins to step out from the margins, showing flashes of intelligence and increasing maturity. Heirik is the most fun character to read, just because of how volatile and intimidating he can be.
A word on Hodge’s prose, because it deserves one. His writing style is clean without being cold, and literary without ever tipping into self-indulgence. He has a particular gift for the charged small moment that is way more readable than any amount of dramatic speechifying. There is an admirable restraint to it. He trusts his readers to feel what is not said. The dialogue, too, is notably strong: characters speak in ways that feel particular to them, rooted in their circumstances and psychology rather than simply advancing plot. Reading Root and Branch, you sense a writer who has absorbed the best of both historical and fantasy fiction.
The pacing is noticeably improved from Part I. There is still a measured, novelistic quality to Hodge’s prose; his is emphatically not a plot-machine series. But where some readers found the opening chapters of the first book slow going, Root and Branch moves a bit quicker. The invented terminology (lenotare, palantare, tecnaris) remains a bit dense, and a glossary would still be very welcome, though returning readers will find their footing more quickly this time.
Once again, the book is beautifully put together. I love the minimalist cover art and all the little touches of polish, such as the map and pronunciation guide. It’s the type of novel that makes me wish we accepted physical copies of books, so I could hold it in my hands and read it. The writing similarly has some gorgeous lines and passages that will make you want to highlight them, “The water splashed and gurgled over the pale stones. She heard voices in the ceaseless flow. Maybe river nymphs, murmuring secrets just out of reach? No, that was silly. She was very much alone—and lonely.”
Overall, Root and Branch is a beautifully realised sequel that justifies every page of patience the first volume asked of its readers. It deepens the world without overwhelming it, develops its characters without losing sight of the larger stakes, and delivers an emotional payoff that feels genuinely earned rather than engineered. The book is ideal for fans of George R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss, and proof that you don’t need 18+ years to finish your fantasy series!
Final verdict: Exile: Part II – Root and Branch is a confident, emotionally rich conclusion to an impressive fantasy duology. Fans of Mary Renault, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Ken Follett will find much to admire. A satisfying sequel and an impressive achievement for a first-time novelist.
You can get your copy of Exile: Part II here!
