See How I Contended With The. . .

The Queen of Storms

I’ve been looking forward to volume two of the Firemane Saga, and have to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

*******

Hatushaly and his young wife Hava have arrived in the prosperous trading town of Beran’s Hill to restore and reopen the fire-damaged Inn of the Three Stars. They are also preparing for the popular midsummer festival, where their friends Declan and Gwen will be wed.

But Hatu and Hava are not the ordinary loving couple they appear to be. They are assassins from the mysterious island of Coaltachin, home to the powerful and lethal Nocusara, the fearsome “Hidden Warriors.” Posing as innkeepers, they are awaiting instructions from their masters in the Kingdom of Night.

Hatu conceals an even more dangerous secret. He is the last remaining member of the legendary Firemanes, the ruling family of Ithrace. Known as the Kingdom of Flames, Ithrace was one of the five greatest realms of Tembria, ruled by Hatu’s father, Stervern Langene, until he and his people were betrayed. His heir, Hatu—then a baby—was hidden among the Nocusara, who raised him to become a deadly spy.

Hatu works hard to hide his true identity from all who would seek to use or to destroy him, as fate has other plans for the noble warrior. Unexpected calamity forces him to make choices he could not have dreamed awaited him.

A series of horrific events shatters the peace of Beran’s Hill, bringing death and devastation and unleashing monstrous forces. Once more, the Greater Realms of Tembria are threatened—and nothing will ever be the same again.

*******

The story itself adopts a clever balance. It reveals more about Hatu, Hava and Declan; their evolving personalities; their relationship with each other and those around them; the true motivating factors in their lives – which seem to be changing the longer time goes on. And it also expands on the hints we received in the first book of a much larger picture: Was Lodavico acting out of pure narcissism when he betrayed the Firemane’s and tried to end their line, or were other players involved? Who is the real driving force behind the Church of the One? Exactly where do the foreign invaders come from and what is their actual agenda?

And how on earth are the ancient guardians of the Firemane’s, the Flame Guard, going to counter this growing threat. I mean . . . can they?

Yes, there’s a lot going on in the world of Garn – and beyond – it seems. But once again, Raymond E. Feist demonstrates why he’s an international bestseller of epic fantasy. The Queen of Storms is a masterclass in taking your time to fully introduce your characters, and how to gradually introduce the threads that will bind your story arc together in a way that keeps everything tight. The pace is steady throughout; our protagonists and antagonists as complex and engaging as ever; and the attention to detail is superb.

And the tease?

That’s as subtle as always. Feist creates an atmosphere of intrigue and growing tension that builds and builds . . . and keeps building, so that you’re always eager to keep the pages turning. I want more!

A most excellent sequel and a taste of even better things to come.

Amazon Review

 Hot off the Press

My First Review of 2021

The Burning God

As I come to the end of this ambitious trilogy, I think it only fitting to share a little reminder of what has gone before. Here’s the blurb from the inside cover:

*******

After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead.

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much – the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges – and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation. 

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners.

As her power and influence grows, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s voice, urging her to burn the world and everything in it?

*******

That sets the scene nicely for the review, as I’m determined NOT to slip up with any spoilers.

Rin’s journey has been long and arduous. She started out as a despised orphan; became one of Sinegard’s military elite; was bowled over by the discovery of her shamanic gifts; horrified by the desolation she could unleash; devastated by her descent into opium addiction; cast out as outlaw and renegade . . . until the tide appeared to turn and she was lured into the service of a powerful warlord who uses her talents to his own advantage, only to throw her to the wolves as an expendable tool that has no place in the world he envisioned.

Yes, Rin’s life has been a headlong plunge down the rapides, where every rise and fall, every submerged rock and hidden whirlpool, every twist and turn has molded her into the person she is now: a woman capable of rising in power and influence, but one who fights a constant battle to retain her humanity. She’s experienced the power of the Phoenix, and it is an addiction far deeper, far more insidious than anything a poppy can produce. A stark and ever-present problem, seeing as how she is so driven by vengeance. Thankfully, that yearning to burn everything under creation is tempered by a small group of friends.

But for how long?

Kuang deftly incorporates this dilemma into the very real pace of a countrywide war, fought over difficult terrain. (And in this, she deserves a lot of credit).

War isn’t all blood n’ guts and nonstop action and glory. It’s often long, boringly irritating and arduous. Kuang deftly weaves this strange ebb and flow into the story arc to present us with an incredibly accurate depiction of Rin’s war of attrition. There’s the slow build up during long, grueling marches. A gathering of momentum. Repeated anticlimaxes. Short, sharp bursts of activity when an actual battle erupts. The adrenaline dump of the aftermath. The gradual realization of how little victory can accomplish, especially when you’re trying to juggle an ever-expanding web of logistical nightmares with the needs of a displaced or conquered community.

Yes, these riptides and countercurrents are superbly portrayed, as Kuang manages to weave them into actual ancient Chinese history, ethics, war strategy and politics. The end result being a superbly challenging story that brings a truly operatic production to its finale.

As ever, Kuang’s characters are wholly believable and as tragically flawed as the folks you meet in real life. Their strengths and weaknesses are utilized, to deliver a dark, imaginative and brutally uncompromising story of what can happen to the best of us when you try to fight a war on two fronts. (NO SPOILERS).

That’s why the ending is inevitable. THAT’S why the ending is perfect.

Don’t miss The Burning God. It’s symphonic fantasy at its best!

Amazon Review

 See why I Was Happy To Take Shelter Among The Pages Of. . .

The Season of Storms

The Season of Storms is the 8^th overall adventure in the Witcher series and – to keep things in context – is set between the events of the first book, The Last Wish, and the one I reviewed last week, The Lady of the Lake. (So, this is before he meets Ciri)

The best way to think of it is as an interquel, because it helps us flesh out the substance of the lands through which Geralt travels, as well as giving us a greater insight as to how – and why – his mind works the way it does. Very clever. Because although our favorite witcher is an out and out killer, something of a dark knight resides within him. He has standards. A personal code of ethics to which he restricts his activities while performing the tasks he is hired for.

And this, despite the fact that most people despise him; that the guild of sorcerers look on him as a joke; and brigands constantly want to test themselves against him.

The poor guy never seems to get a break. As is exemplified by his visit to the city of Kerack. He is wrongly arrested; his swords are stolen; he is mysteriously exonerated and sent on a mission to assist the sorcerers at Rissberg; he is double/triple and goodness-knows what else crossed. Only to find its all been a ruse to force his assistance in deeper/greater matters.

(What they are, you’ll discover for yourself as this wickedly deceitful tale unravels).

Personally, I thought it was a breath of fresh air. Few authors take the time to help you really get to know their main characters and their history, but Sapkowski does just that in a basic straightforward way that helps you relate to Geralt’s plight on a personal level. And of course, it does so on a stage of high fantasy, political intrigue, revenge, and good old-fashioned set-tos that are immensely satisfying . . . especially with the Easter Egg you get right at the end. See if you can spot what it means J

Another gem to store away in your collection.

Amazon Review