Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Legacy of the Displaced by Tim Wilbur is the second book in the Nexus Chronicles, preceded by book one, Legacy of the Crown. In the first novel, Aislynn, an immortal elf, seeks to end the remnants of magic, while Wraith, a marked hunter, discovers the power to alter fate as a hidden prophecy begins to unfold. Now, in this installment, a sentient panther named Nemesis has waited to strike back at the elves who experimented on her. When magic resurfaces, a goddess offers Nemesis a chance to hunt them if she repairs the links between nine fractured worlds. Joined by a wolf, a reluctant dwarf apprentice, and a runaway mage, Nemesis travels across strange realms shaped by thought and time. As her quest unfolds, she confronts new alliances and the shifting nature of her long-held purpose.

Legacy of the Displaced by Tim Wilbur is a spectacular story that erupts through Nemesis’s direct experience of the world’s rules, textures, and histories. We see Nexus, The Beyond, the elven realms, and the Plaza of Portals not merely described, but felt through senses and emotions, making the setting feel lived-in. Magic is revealed naturally, tied closely to Nemesis’s physical being, and by way of her narrative voice, as it's so distinctive. Nemesis is sharply intelligent with primal violence and a unique moral outlook, shown through her cynicism and dark humor. She's not alone. Howl, Yenna, and even the pregnant ratel come alive through their actions and conversations, revealing their personalities. Nemesis’s journey from skeptical observer to leader is gorgeous, and it's a privilege to witness her internal pull toward memory, identity, and healing. Very highly recommended.