Prince of Dogs


As you know, I wasn't supposed to read Kate Elliott's King's Dragon a few weeks ago. I'd been looking for Michelle West's The Broken Crown ever since it was announced that PRH had forced Daw to drop her. But try as I might, and I did try my damnedest, I couldn't find any of my West books. Still, rummaging through boxes in my locker allowed me to get my hands on my Elliott books. Which is why I decided to give the first installment of Crown of Stars a shot.

I received my copy of West's The Broken Crown shortly after reviewing King's Dragon and my plan was to read that one next. Trouble is, I sort of wanted to know what Elliott had in store for her protagonists in the next volume. So Michelle West was pushed back yet again and I jumped into Prince of Dogs as soon as I was done with the Africa Risen anthology, and I have no regrets!

Here's the blurb:

HELD CAPTIVE BY THEIR DESTINIES

SANGLANT -- the Prince of Dogs, King Henry's bastard son; though believed dead by all who could succor him, he is being held captive in the city of Gent by Bloodheart, the Eika warlord. Cursed by his mother's blood with an inability to die, he struggles to maintain the last shreds of his sanity in the hope rescue may yet come....

LIATH -- now a King's Eagle, and still grieving over Sanglant, she strives to unlock the secrets of her past while seeking to evade the traps set for her by an obsessively ambitious man. But even a post in King Henry's court offers her little protection from those determined to claim the forbidden knowledge she has hidden....

ALAIN -- raised in humble surroundings but now proclaimed a Count's heir, he is increasingly troubled by visions of the enemy he befriended and the Lady of Battles whom he's sworn to serve. A man who desires nothing more than peace, he is about to be thrust into the heart of war with the Eika....

FIFTH SON -- least favored child of Bloodheart, he has returned to the lands of his own people to build an army to do his father's bidding. If he survives this mission, he will become a force to be reckoned with....

And even as King Henry continues his progress through his troubled realm, defeating rebellious lords and gathering their promises of troops to use at Gent, Sanglant, Liath, Alain, and Fifth Son are fighting their own battles against almost overwhelming odds. Only time will tell who will prove triumphant as all are caught up in the dangers and turmoil of a world at war.


This second installment picks up shortly following the ending of its predecessor. The first portion of Prince of Dogs mostly deals with the aftermath of the Battle of Kassel and the Eika's conquest of the city of Gent. In many ways, it feels as though King's Dragon and Prince of Dogs are two parts of the same novel. And though Kate Elliott paved the way for a lot more to come, these first two volumes recount a more or less self-contained story. As such, even though we are aware that there's a lot more in store for readers, these two books don't move the plot as much as I expected them to.

Compared to popular contemporary SFF series of the same period, Robert Jordan's The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt, George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings, and Steven Erikson's Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates all unveiled more ambitious and multilayered tales, albeit with bigger pagecounts. Having said that, weighing in at more than 600 pages each, the first two volumes of the Crown of Stars saga are by no means slim novels. With many pieces already set on the board, I just thought that Elliott would have moved the plot much further by now. Granted, there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes. But I didn't expect that it would take this long for King Henry to try to reclaim Gent.

Elliott's meticulous worldbuilding continues to impress me. With an uncanny eye for detail, her portrayal of this medieval European analog is worthy of a historical novel. As mentioned in my review of King's Dragon, such a conscientious depiction of the historical period will please fans of worldbuilding. But the author also has a tendency to overdo this, and there's no denying that it often gets in the way of the plot and also slows the pace throughout the book. This was a flagrant flaw in young Anna's storyline and it did plague the king's progress more often than not. I'm not sure anyone wanted to know this much about the tanning process and whatever else is required to run a tannery. Too often these bits and pieces meant to add a measure of realism to this fantasy universe bog down the narrative instead.

I also mentioned that another element that sets Crown of Stars apart from most epic fantasy series out there is the presence of religion and the major role it plays in every single aspect of this tale. Elliott's gender-egalitarian rebranding of the Roman Catholic Church affects people from all walks of life, from king to peasant. Indeed, not since Katherine Kurtz's Deryni saga has any SFF author tried to make religion such an all-encompassing facet of every day life in their fantasy universe. It remains particularly well-done in Prince of Dogs, but I can see why some people would find that offputting. As I said before, religion affects everything. It's unclear whether or not Elliott's portrayal of the Church can be as impressive as Kurtz's, for she's kept everything small scale thus far and the reasoning behind certain precepts don't always make sense. Still, I have high hopes for the volumes to come. Considering that the use of sorcery was formally accepted at a past religious council, although only if under the Church's supervision, I was hoping that we would get POVs from members of the clergy to explore that aspect. Alas, the author keeps her cards very close to her chest, and even including the perspective of Biscop Antonia revealed very little in that regard. Here's to hoping that the next installment, The Burning Stone, will unveil more secrets about magic and its various uses.

As was the case with the first volume, though good overall the characterization can at times be uneven. Alain has been proclaimed heir to Count Lavastine and must now learn what's expected of him if he is to rule once his father is gone. Liath, now a King's Eagle, is torn by the death of Prince Sanglant during the fall of Gent. Probably because so little time has passed between the two novels, I was disappointed by what little character growth there ultimately was for these two. The quick return of Father Hugh doesn't help in the least, it must be said. Though Liath remains the most fascinating protagonist of this series, the fact that she is powerless to take action to change her dire circumstances often makes it hard to root for her. Many of those sequences are tedious to read, to say the least. You can't help but feel for the poor girl, but you also want to kick her in the butt and tell her to at least try to do something about her plight. The third POV in importance is that of Rosvita, the female cleric and advisor to King Henry.  Of all the perspectives found in Prince of Dogs, I felt that most of her scenes could have been excised and the reader wouldn't have lost much as far as the plot is concerned. Hanna is once more a POV character and is coming more into her own. Prince Sanglant, King Henry's child by one of the Aoi and now Bloodheart's prisoner, gets a lot more air time in this novel, which is good. Fifth Son truly comes into his on in this second installment and it was captivating to learn more about the Eika and their ways every time Alain dreamed of him. New POV characters include Anna, a young girl who survived the fall of Gent with her brother and must somehow find a way to survive in a refugee camp. I found that too much importance was accorded to that plotline, especially since I'm not sure where it will fit in the greater scheme of things. There's only so many scenes of starvation and suffering one can take. I get that Elliott wanted to depict the abject misery of their living conditions, but I feel that it was overdone and got in the way of more important and interesting storylines. As mentioned, I had high hopes for Biscop Antonia's plotline, but the author obviously didn't want to reveal too much. I know it's likely too much to ask, but hopefully we'll get POVs from Wolfhere and Father Hugh down the line.

The political intrigue which is the backdrop of the first two volumes remains rather simplistic. Time will tell if this will improve in the sequels to come, or else it could be detrimental to the overall story arc. I'm currently reading Tad Williams' Into the Narrowdark, and there's no denying that the weak political intrigue of The Lost King of Osten Ard series is a major issue and something that hurts the tale at every turn. Can Kate Elliott be as good as Katherine Kurtz and GRRM in that regard? We'll have to wait and see.

Prince of Dogs is a decidedly slow-moving novel. The rhythm drags, sometimes at a snail's pace, for the better part of the first half of the book. It felt as though most of the scenes featuring Anna and the king's progress could have been shortened, or removed altogether. The pace picks up in the second half as Elliott sets the stage for the endgame, and we get an exciting finale that caps it all off with aplomb. Which makes you wonder why it took so long for the novel to get this good. It didn't need such an overlong setup stage, for most of the groundwork had been laid in the first volume.

It is said that Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars is one of the most underrated fantasy series out there. Time will tell if that is indeed the case. King's Dragon and Prince of Dogs show a lot of promise. I'm eager to see if what comes next will live up to that potential. As long as the author doesn't lose track of what's really important, in this case the tale and its protagonists, and doesn't get bogged down trying to capture every single historical detail to perfection, it looks as though she can swing with the best of them. If you are looking for a big, multilayered fantasy novels featuring intricate worldbuilding and interesting characters, then Crown of Stars might be for you!

The final verdict: 7.75/10

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now get your hands on the digital editions of all three installments of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy--Kushiel's Scion, Kushiel's Justice, and Kushiel's Mercy--for only 1.99$ each by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb for the first volume:

Imriel de la Courcel's birth parents are history's most reviled traitors, but his adoptive parents, the Comtesse Phedre and the warrior-priest Joscelin, are Terre d'Ange's greatest champions.

Stolen, tortured and enslaved as a young boy, Imriel is now a Prince of the Blood; third in line for the throne in a land that revels in art, beauty and desire. It is a court steeped in deeply laid conspiracies---and there are many who would see the young prince dead. Some despise him out of hatred for his mother, Melisande, who nearly destroyed the entire realm in her quest for power. Others because they fear he has inherited his mother's irresistible allure---and her dangerous gifts.

As he comes of age, plagued by unwanted desires, Imriel shares their fears. When a simple act of friendship traps Imriel in a besieged city where the infamous Melisande is worshiped as a goddess and where a dead man leads an army, the Prince must face his greatest test: to find his true self.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download J. V. Jones' The Barbed Coil for only 3.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

Tessa McCamfrey, young and rootless resident of Southern California, has never found much in life that interests her. All of that changes when she stumbles upon a ring that transports her to a distant time and place. There she discovers her unexpected talent: She can create luminous, magical illustrations that have the power to influence others' lives. She becomes involved in the fate of kingdoms when her power is brought to bear against an evil king whose mind has been taken over by a golden crown called the Barbed Coil. As in The Book of Words trilogy, J. V. (Julie) Jones imbues every one of her characters with personality, from the dashing mercenary Ravis, who becomes Tessa's protector in this strange new world, to the sailors, innkeepers, soldiers, and others who populate her lush, involving story.


Earlier this month, Jacqueline Carey's Naamah's Kiss was on sale. Actually, it still is. And so are both its sequels, Naamah's Curse and Naamah's Blessing. You can download each of them for only 1.99$ here.

Here's the blurb for the second volume:

New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey, praised for pushing the boundaries of epic fantasy, delivers the second installment of the Naamah series, set in the vivid alternative Renaissance world of her famed Kushiel's Legacy novels.

Alone and far from the land of her birth, young Moirin sets out across wild Tatar territory to find her beloved Bao, the proud Ch'in stick fighter who holds the missing half of her diadhanam, the divine soul-spark of her mother's people. But the lovers' reunion is short lived. Moirin is abducted, cast in chains that bind her magic, and betrayed into the hands of a fanatic Yeshuite priest. Fiercely zealous, he is determined to save Moirin's soul and convert her to his faith...or see her stoned to death for her many sins. With her soul declared a battleground of the gods, Moirin will struggle to hold on to her humanity and survive - all the while wondering if the gift of love bestowed on her by the goddess Naamah is a blessing or a curse.

Wrestling with issues of faith and divine will, Naamah's Curse explores what happens when mortal men seek to mold the gods in their own images.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Guy Gavriel Kay's All the Seas of the World for only 4.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

Returning triumphantly to the brilliantly evoked near-Renaissance world of A Brightness Long Ago and Children of Earth and Sky, international bestselling author Guy Gavriel Kay deploys his signature ‘quarter turn to the fantastic’ to tell a story of vengeance, power, and love.

On a dark night along a lonely stretch of coast a small ship sends two people ashore. Their purpose is assassination. They have been hired by two of the most dangerous men alive to alter the balance of power in the world. If they succeed, the consequences will affect the destinies of empires, and lives both great and small.

One of those arriving at that beach is a woman abducted by corsairs as a child and sold into years of servitude. Having escaped, she is trying to chart her own course—and is bent upon revenge. Another is a seafaring merchant who still remembers being exiled as a child with his family from their home, for their faith, a moment that never leaves him. In what follows, through a story both intimate and epic, unforgettable characters are immersed in the fierce and deadly struggles that define their time.

All the Seas of the World is a page-turning drama that also offers moving reflections on memory, fate, and the random events that can shape our lives—in the past, and today.


This week's New York Times Bestsellers (December 4th)

In hardcover:

Brandon Sanderson's The Lost Metal debuts at number 2. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Stephen King's Fairy Tale maintains position at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger is down two spots, finishing the week at number 14. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


Like Jennifer Roberson and Jennifer Fallon, Sherwood Smith's name often comes up in lists of underrated fantasy works written by female authors. So now's your chance to give her a shot without breaking the bank!

You can get your hands on the digital edition of Sherwood Smith's Inda for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

Acclaimed Inda series within Sherwood Smith's epic fantasy Sartorias-deles universe • Military fantasy woven with courtly politics, vast worldbuilding, and diverse characters.

Indevan-Dal is the second son of the Prince and Princess of Choraed Elgaer, destined to become his elder brother Tanrid's Shield Arm-his military champion. Like all second sons, he is to be privately trained at home by Tanrid, the brother whose lands he will one day protect.

When the King's Voice comes to summon Inda to the Military Academy, he might well feel foreboding, or even fear-war is imminent-yet youthful Inda feels only excitement. But there are things that Tanrid hadn't prepared him for, and Inda will soon learn that the greatest threats to his safety will not come from foreign enemies, but from supposed allies within his own country.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Mitriel Faywood's A Gamble of Gods for only 0.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

Kristian del Rosso has led a quiet life, burying himself in research and teaching at the University of St Mark. The arrival of a mysterious killer with supernatural abilities and the bloody massacre of a group of Kristian's students changes all that. Kristian’s grief and a need for answers drives him to set out after their murderer, prepared to face the man but unprepared for what awaits him at the source of it all.

Conor Drew lives for the thrill of adventure and to explore the delights of as many beautiful women as one man can in a lifetime. Between dangerous jobs for the wealthy aristocracy and powerful figures in the underworld of the Nineteen Kingdoms, he's seen more than most. And yet it isn't until his greatest friend and biggest enemy both find him on the same day that his true odyssey begins.

Selena Soto is a woman lost in her own world. She struggles to fit into her existence, to find meaning and purpose—even progress at work eludes her. Meeting the right man might be a good first step, or perhaps just defining what it is she really wants from life. Little does she realise that only her own fears keep her from a destiny that's greater than she could imagine.

The trio will soon learn that only by working as a team can they solve the puzzle that has drawn them together.


More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download Wesley Chu's The Art of the Prophecy for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

So many stories begin the same way: With a prophecy. A chosen one. And the inevitable quest to slay a villain, save the kingdom, and fulfill a grand destiny.

But this is not that kind of story.

It does begin with a prophecy: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom.

And that prophecy did anoint a hero, Jian, raised since birth in luxury and splendor, and celebrated before he has won a single battle.

But that’s when the story hits its first twist: The prophecy is wrong.

What follows is a story more wondrous than any prophecy could foresee, and with many unexpected heroes: Taishi, an older woman who is the greatest grandmaster of magical martial arts in the kingdom but who thought her adventuring days were all behind her; Sali, a straitlaced warrior who learns the rules may no longer apply when the leader to whom she pledged her life is gone; and Qisami, a chaotic assassin who takes a little too much pleasure in the kill.

And Jian himself, who has to find a way to become what he no longer believes he can be—a hero after all.


The Girl Who Fell Into Myth


If you've been hanging around here for a while, then you know I'm a fan of Kay Kenyon's excellent The Entire and the Rose and the Dark Talents series. Sometimes, it feels as though Kenyon somehow remained one of speculative fiction best-kept secrets over the years. If you haven't read these series yet, I highly recommended that you do so as soon as the chance presents itself.

I wasn't aware that she was working on something new, and I was pleasantly surprised when she emailed me to inquire if I'd be interested in an ARC of her upcoming The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, the first installment in a four-book sequence titled The Arisen Worlds. Needless to say, she didn't have to twist my arm for me to take her up on her offer. I didn't check the pub date, so I didn't know that the novel would only be published next March. Had I known, I would have arranged to read it closer to its release.

But in the end, it doesn't really matter, for The Girl Who Fell Into Myth turned out to be the weakest Kay Kenyon work I've read thus far. And given the fact that it's meant to entice readers to invest in a four-volume story, it makes for a somewhat inauspicious beginning. . .

Here's the blurb:

Yevliesza, raised in isolation in the modern world, is the daughter of witches, but lacks any magic powers. When she is summoned home to the hidden realm of her ancestors, she cannot—for reasons of honor—refuse, and finds herself in a myth world arisen from legend.

This medieval kingdom is part of the Mythos, where real worlds have emerged from myths after being driven out of earth. Yevliesza fights to find a place for herself amid traitorous allies and lovers, brutal politics, and the growing threat of war between the realms.

Yevliesza may find protection with a powerful lord if her heart can bear the penalty of his conditions. In the end, however, she must find her birthright power if she is to survive. But what she discovers is a perilous magic that, once revealed, may make her a permanent outcast.

A high fantasy from acclaimed science fiction and fantasy world-builder, Kay Kenyon.


The worldbuilding, an aspect at which Kenyon habitually excels at, was surprisingly minimalist in its approach. I must say that it was the whole Mythos backdrop, where real worlds have emerged from myths after being driven out of Earth, that made me want to read the book in the first place. Such a premise offered countless possibilities. It may yet be so in the forthcoming sequels, and truth be told the author upped her game in the second portion of the novel, but overall I felt that Kenyon played her cards way too close to her chest. As is usually her wont, Kenyon creates an arresting imagery that makes the tale come alive as you read. Alas, we learn too little to truly become invested in the plot and the characters. I understand that The Girl Who Fell Into Myth is meant to be an introduction that sets the stage for a bigger and more ambitious tale. And yet, as self-contained as it is, the novel doesn't offer that much storywise and may not tempt readers to buy the next installment, Stranger in the Twisted Realm. Which is uncharacteristic of the author, whose first volumes usually draw you in and capture your imagination.

Characterization is also an issue. Kenyon's protagonists and their supporting casts are usually well-drawn and compelling, yet both the main and secondary characters featured in this one lack depth. And that's what, ultimately, made The Girl Who Fell Into Myth somewhat of a failure to launch. Yevliesza takes center stage throughout the novel, but we never truly get to know her. We see her react and try to adapt to her predicament as best she can, but we rarely get any insight as to exactly what sort of person she is deep down inside. She spent two decades in our world. Those years should have shaped her childhood and adolescence, and made her the young adult she is at the start of the book. The death of her mother and living with a father who's gradually losing his mind also played an enormous role on the person she became, but throughout this novel it's as if nothing else ever mattered. As if the girl's entire existence up until she traveled to this magical world barely existed at all. Also, too often Yevliesza, who's in her early twenties, acts like she's fourteen or so. There are definite YA vibes, even though this is an adult fantasy series. Fleshing out her character would likely have helped me feel for her and get invested in her storyline a lot more than I did. Sadly, 361 pages later, I haven't learned that much about Yevliesza and she remains somewhat of a stranger to me. Not necessarily a good thing when she's the main character of this series. The same can be said of the protagonists and antagonists comprising the supporting cast. Lord Valenty, Dreiza, Anastyna, Nashavety, and the rest all had the makings of more memorable characters. But there was always something missing. Not enough meat around the bone, so to speak. Which, in the end, left a lot to be desired.

The whole political intrigue felt rather simplistic. The different factions/players' motivations don't always seem to make sense, and everything appears contrived to go against poor Yevliesza. Kay Kenyon has accustomed us to multilayered and complex plotlines, and in that regard The Girl Who Fell Into Myth is nowhere near on par with its predecessors. Perhaps The Arisen Worlds would have worked better as a trilogy? There is simply not enough material to make this first first volume a gripping read. Things do pick up in the second part of the novel, but it's a case of too little, too late and it can't really save this one.

It probably comes as no surprise if I say that this book suffers from pacing issues. Kenyon is not known for balls-to-the-wall works, so I wasn't expecting a fast-moving book. Having said that, I wasn't expecting the plot to move at a snail's pace, either. It's odd, because the opening scene totally hooked me up. Perhaps spending an extra chapter or two in our world to flesh out Yevliesza and her father a little more before she is taken to the Mythos would have been beneficial to the story? It's what comes after, as Yevliesza tries to cope and make sense of her new life in the land of her ancestors and tries to understand her gift/talent, that slows the book's rhythm to a crawl. Things start to look up a little as we move into the endgame, yet whatever payoff or resolution one gets from the finale is not enough to elevate this novel to another level.

As the opening chapter in a four-book cycle, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth introduces lots of concepts and ideas and leaves the door open for lots of possibilities. But the question remains: Based on a subpar effort, will readers give Kay Kenyon a chance by purchasing the second volume and the subsequent sequels? Time will tell.

The final verdict: 5/10

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


If you can't afford a physical copy of the gorgeous Assassin's Apprentice: The Illustrated Edition by Robin Hobb, you can now get your hands on the digital edition for only 4.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

A gorgeously illustrated anniversary edition of the book that launched the epic Farseer Trilogy, praised by George R. R. Martin as “fantasy as it ought to be written” and Lin-Manuel Miranda as “an incredible series,” featuring a new foreword by Robin Hobb and ten illustrations.

Twenty-five years ago, Robin Hobb’s first novel featuring FitzChivalry Farseer and his mysterious, often maddening friend the Fool struck like a bolt of brilliant lightning. Thus began a beloved saga spanning multiple series, full of adventure, magic, and sinister plots. To celebrate a quarter-century of wonder, this special edition of Assassin’s Apprentice presents a modern classic as it’s never been seen before, with ten beautiful illustrations by Magali Villeneuve.

Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.




This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 27th)

In hardcover:
 
Stephen King's Fairy Tale is up two positions, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger is down one spot, finishing the week at number 12. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

Travis Baldree's Legends and Lattes debuts at number 13.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download Anna Smith Spark's The Court of Broken Knives for only 0.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

The second volume in the series, The Tower of Living and Dying is also on sale for 2.99$.

Here's the blurb:

Perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence and R Scott Bakker, The Court of Broken Knives is the explosive debut by one of grimdark fantasy's most exciting new voices.

It is the richest empire the world has ever known, and it is also doomed -- but only one man can see it.

Haunted by prophetic dreams, Orhan has hired a company of soldiers to cross the desert to reach the capital city. Once they enter the palace, they have one mission: kill the emperor, then all those who remain. Only from the ashes can a new empire be built.

The company is a group of good, ordinary soldiers for whom this is a mission like any other. But the strange boy Marith who walks among them is no ordinary soldier. Though he is young, ambitious, and impossibly charming, something dark hides in Marith's past -- and in his blood.


More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: Secret History for only 2.49$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

NOTE: This novella is included within Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection, now available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Tor (US/Canada) and Gollancz (UK/Commonwealth).

Mistborn: Secret History is a companion story to the original Mistborn trilogy.

As such, it contains HUGE SPOILERS for the books Mistborn (the Final Empire), The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. It also contains very minor spoilers for the book The Bands of Mourning.

Mistborn: Secret History builds upon the characterization, events, and worldbuilding of the original trilogy. Reading it without that background will be a confusing process at best.

In short, this isn’t the place to start your journey into Mistborn. (Though if you have read the trilogy—but it has been a while—you should be just fine, so long as you remember the characters and the general plot of the books.)

Saying anything more here risks revealing too much. Even knowledge of this story’s existence is, in a way, a spoiler.

There’s always another secret.


Quote of the Day

If a fear cannot be articulated, it can’t be conquered.

- STEPHEN KING, 'Salem's Lot

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now get your hands on the digital edition of James S. A. Corey's Leviathan Falls for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

The biggest science fiction series of the decade comes to an incredible conclusion in the ninth and final novel in James S.A. Corey’s Hugo-award winning space opera that inspired the Prime Original series.

The Laconian Empire has fallen, setting the thirteen hundred solar systems free from the rule of Winston Duarte. But the ancient enemy that killed the gate builders is awake, and the war against our universe has begun again.

In the dead system of Adro, Elvi Okoye leads a desperate scientific mission to understand what the gate builders were and what destroyed them, even if it means compromising herself and the half-alien children who bear the weight of her investigation. Through the wide-flung systems of humanity, Colonel Aliana Tanaka hunts for Duarte’s missing daughter. . . and the shattered emperor himself. And on the Rocinante, James Holden and his crew struggle to build a future for humanity out of the shards and ruins of all that has come before.

As nearly unimaginable forces prepare to annihilate all human life, Holden and a group of unlikely allies discover a last, desperate chance to unite all of humanity, with the promise of a vast galactic civilization free from wars, factions, lies, and secrets if they win.

But the price of victory may be worse than the cost of defeat.


More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download John Gwynne's A Time of Dread for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

A race of warrior angels, the Ben-Elim, once vanquished a mighty demon horde. Now they rule the Banished lands, but their peace is brutally enforced.

In the south, hotheaded Riv is desperate to join the Ben-Elim's peacekeeping force, until she unearths a deadly secret.

In the west, the giantess Sig investigates demon sightings and discovers signs of an uprising and black magic.

And in the snowbound north, Drem, a trapper, finds mutilated corpses in the forests. The work of a predator, or something far darker?

It's a time of shifting loyalties and world-changing dangers. Difficult choices need to be made. Because in the shadows, demons are gathering, waiting for their time to rise...

Quote of the Day

The many can accomplish what the few cannot.

- KATE ELLIOTT, Prince of Dogs

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


Like Jennifer Roberson, Jennifer Fallon's name often comes up in lists of underrated fantasy works written by female authors. So now's your chance to give her a shot without breaking the bank!

You can download Jennifer Fallon's Medalon for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

The small country of Medalon lies between the vast nation of Karien in the north and the nations of Fardohnya and Hythria in the south. For centuries the Medalonians co-existed peacefully with the Harshini, a magical race that abhors killing. But now they are gone and in their place the Sisters of the Blade rule Medalon from the Citadel. An elite army of Defenders enforces the Sisterhood's oppressive rule. The Harshini and their demons are believed to be extinct and Medalon has an uneasy peace with its northern and southern neighbours.

R'shiel Tenragan, daughter of the First Sister, and her half-brother Tarja find themselves caught up in the political infighting amongst the Sisters of the Blade. When their mother's scheming becomes too much to bear, R'shiel and Tarja are determined to follow their own path and they flee the Citadel. Their lives take a turn neither could ever have imagined and the Defenders of Medalon hunt them as traitors.

Meanwhile, far south in Hythria, Brak, a Harshini outcast, is called to find the demon child, the half-human child of the dead Harshini King, Lorandranek. But what can this mean to R'shiel...?



You can also download The Lion of Senet, opening chapter in the Second Sons trilogy, for only 3.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

On the world Ranadon there is no night as both suns shine brightly. The intervention of Belagren, High Priestess of the Shadowdancers, and the sacrifice of a child of royal blood, has banished the Age of Shadows from the skies. Belagren's position is unquestioned . . . until circumstances begin to tip political rivalries into a deadlier game altogether.

A volcanic eruption rocks the seas separating the Kingdom of Dhevyn and the mainland Kingdom of Senet, and a mysterious sailor is shipwrecked on the island of Elcast. Badly wounded, his arrival stirs up old hatreds and unravels old secrets. His presence is enough to even bring Antonov, the powerful Lion of Senet, to the island and fear to the Keep of the Duke of Elcast.

A strong friendship develops between Dirk, second son of the Duke, and Kirshov Latanya, second son of the Lion of Senet. But will they, and their friendship, survive the chain of events set in motion by the ambitions of the ruthless High Priestess of the Shadowdancers and the domineering Lion of Senet?

This first book of the Second Sons Trilogy establishes Jennifer Fallon as one of the most unique voices in fantasy fiction, as she creates full characters, and takes intelligent plotting to a whole new level in order to establish unparalleled complexity and tension.


This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 20th)

In hardcover:
 
Stephen King's Fairy Tale is down one position, ending the week at number 5. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger is down eight spots, finishing the week at number 11. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

George R. R. Martin's Fire and Blood is down three spots, finishing the week at number 8.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


All of Orbit Books' debut titles of 2022 are on sale for 2.99$ each. Simply follow this Amazon Associate link to peruse them. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

The list includes:

The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
The City of Dusk by Tara Sim
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Notorious Sorcerer by Davinia Evans
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson
Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans
The Stars Undying by Emery Robin

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


It's DC's turn to have a mega sale on their digital omnibus editions. Superman, Batman, The Flash, Justice League, Suicide Squad, Shazam, Supergirl and many more can be found for as little as 1.99$.

Follow this Amazon Associate link to see what's on sale. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Stephen King's The Institute for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

In the middle of the night, in a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis’s parents and load him into a black SUV. The operation takes less than two minutes. Luke will wake up at The Institute, in a room that looks just like his own, except there’s no window. And outside his door are other doors, behind which are other kids with special talents—telekinesis and telepathy—who got to this place the same way Luke did: Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon. They are all in Front Half. Others, Luke learns, graduated to Back Half, “like the roach motel,” Kalisha says. “You check in, but you don’t check out.”

In this most sinister of institutions, the director, Mrs. Sigsby, and her staff are ruthlessly dedicated to extracting from these children the force of their extranormal gifts. There are no scruples here. If you go along, you get tokens for the vending machines. If you don’t, punishment is brutal. As each new victim disappears to Back Half, Luke becomes more and more desperate to get out and get help. But no one has ever escaped from the Institute.

As psychically terrifying as Firestarter, and with the spectacular kid power of It, The Institute is Stephen King’s gut-wrenchingly dramatic story of good vs. evil in a world where the good guys don’t always win.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now get your hands on the digital edition of Jacqueline Carey's Naamah's Kiss for only 1.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

Once there were great magicians born to the Maghuin Dhonn, the folk of the Brown Bear, the oldest tribe in Alba. But generations ago, the greatest of them all broke a sacred oath sworn in the name of all his people. Now only small gifts remain to them. Through her lineage, Moirin possesses such gifts—the ability to summon the twilight and conceal herself, and the skill to coax plants to grow.

Moirin has a secret, too. From childhood onward, she senses the presence of unfamiliar gods in her life—the bright lady and the man with a seedling cupped in his palm. Raised in the wilderness by her reclusive mother, Moirin learns only when she comes of age how illustrious, if mixed, her heritage is. The great-granddaughter of Alais the Wise, child of the Maghuin Donn and a cousin of the Cruarch of Alba, Moirin learns her father was a D'Angeline priest dedicated to serving Naamah, goddess of desire.

After Moirin undergoes the rites of adulthood, she finds divine acceptance... on the condition that she fulfill an unknown destiny that lies somewhere beyond the ocean. Or perhaps oceans. Beyond Terre d'Ange, where she finds her father, in the far reaches of distant Ch'in, Moirin's skills will be a true gift when facing the vengeful plans of an ambitious mage, a noble warrior-princess desperate to save her father's throne, and the spirit of a celestial dragon.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


Jennifer Roberson's name always comes up in lists of underrated fantasy works written by female authors. So now's your chance to give her a shot without breaking the bank!

You can download Jennifer Roberson's Sword-Dancer for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

The first book in the Sword-Dancer saga introduces the legendary adventures of Tiger and Del, magic wielders and skilled warriors.

He was Tiger, born of the desert winds, raised as a slave and winning his freedom by weaving a special kind of magic with a warrior’s skill. Now he was an almost legendary sword-dancer, ready to take on any challenge—if the price was right.

She was Del, born of ice and storm, trained by the greatest of Northern sword masters. Now, her ritual training completed, and steeped in the special magic of her own runesword, she had come South in search of the young brother stolen five years before.

But even Del could not master all the dangers of the deadly Punja alone. And meeting Del, Tiger could not turn back from the most intriguing challenge he’d ever faced—the challenge of a magical, mysterious sword-dancer of the North...



You can also download Shapechangers, the first volume in the Cheysuli series, for only 2.99$ here.

Here's the blurb:

The first book in the Chronicles of the Cheysuli spins a tale of magical warriors and shapeshifters as they battle the sorcerers that threaten their existence.

They were the Cheysuli, a race of magical warriors gifted with the ability to assume animal shape at will. For centuries, they had been allies to the King of Homana, treasured champions of the realm. Until a king's daughter ran away with a Cheysuli liege man and caused a war of annihilation against the Cheysuli race.

Twenty-five years later the Cheysuli were hunted exiles in their own land, feared for their sorcery, their shapeshifting.

This is the story of Alix, the daughter of that ill-fated union between Homanan princess and Cheysuli warrior, and her struggle to master the call of magic in her blood, and accept her place in an ancient prophecy she cannot deny.


Africa Risen


Africa Risen is a follow-up to last year's The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction (2021), which won the World Fantasy Award for best anthology, and Dominion, the first anthology of speculative fiction and poetry by Africans and the African Diaspora. You may recall that I absolutely loved both anthologies, so I was really looking forward to discovering what the 2022 collection would look like. Especially given the fact that this one would be released by Tordotcom and would feature a bigger pagecount. Africa Risen also benefited from more marketing and wider distribution.

Sadly, this third installment is by far the weakest of the three. Sometimes, less is more and I feel that adding more material sort of diluted the final product and lowered its overall quality. Perhaps it wasn't a banner year for African speculative fiction, or perhaps adding another editor in Sheree Renée Thomas changed the dynamics of compiling what stories ultimately made the final cut for the 2022 edition? Who knows? Yet there's no denying that Africa Risen somewhat fails to live up to the potential generated by its two predecessors.

Here's the blurb:

From award-winning editorial team Sheree Renée Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, and Zelda Knight comes an anthology of thirty-two original stories showcasing the breadth of fantasy and science fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora.

A group of cabinet ministers query a supercomputer containing the minds of the country’s ancestors. A child robot on a dying planet uncovers signs of fragile new life. A descendent of a rain goddess inherits her grandmother’s ability to change her appearance—and perhaps the world.

Created in the legacy of the seminal, award-winning anthology series Dark Matter, Africa Risen celebrates the vibrancy, diversity, and reach of African and Afro-Diasporic SFF and reaffirms that Africa is not rising—it’s already here.


I always say that anthologies and collections of short fiction can be tricky things. The majority of them consist of a few gems and some other quality reads, but inevitably these works are padded with filler material that takes something away from the overall reading experience. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't the case with both Dominion and The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction (2021). It would be a lie to say that it was all killer material. But even if some stories stood out and resonated more with me, I felt that every piece contained in both anthologies had something to offer and was a worthwhile addition to both projects.

And that's what differentiates Africa Risen from its predecessors. Although it features some great and powerful reads, this new edition is also plagued with a number of lackluster and uninteresting pieces that don't deserve to be found alongside such quality tales. In the end, that's what sinks this anthology compared to the two that came before. Don't get me wrong. There are some stories within the pages of Africa Risen that are as good, or even better, than those that made Dominion and The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction (2021) such memorable reads. But the overall quality of this new collection is offset by the presence of subpar pieces that likely never would have made the cut in 2020 and 2021. Hence, those who have read the first two might be less enthused than newbies for whom this one is their first taste of African speculative fiction. Your mileage may vary. . .

Once again, the three editors, Zelda Knight, Sheree Renée Thomas, and Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald, compiled short fiction tales that cover the length and breadth of everything that falls under the speculative fiction umbrella. Such a convergence of genres and subgenres can make for captivating reading. Though most of the pieces are not culturally familiar in style, tone, or context to Western SFF readers, most of them have something that can appeal to a broader audience. As always, I'm persuaded that I couldn't understand and invariably missed some of the references and nuances found throughout the book. That's to be expected. And yet, that never prevented me from enjoying any of the fine stories. Good is good, no matter the style, tone, or cultural background.

Like its two predecessors, Africa Risen features quite a few post-apocalyptic stories in which the protagonists, their societies, their nations have to deal with profound emotional and psychological scars from the past that can never fully heal. Many of these tales are about dealing with or confronting these wounds, so people can move forward, and how difficult and life-changing that journey can be. Some are about evolution and transcendence. The more compelling and thought-provoking pieces deal with themes such as climate change, identity, colonialism, death, gods and ancestors, and much, much more.

Another aspect which made the two previous collections such fascinating reads for me was the fact that many of the tales don't shy away from exploring sensitive issues such as domestic violence, abortion, sexual assault, violence against women and children, racism, and sexism, female genital mutilation, etc. Most of these stories tackle serious subject matters without sugarcoating everything to make it easier for the reader to deal with them. Perusing some reviews online, you can see that a number of these tales have shocked those who are easily triggered, or people with soft Western sensibility.

Another thing that was at times offputting was the fact that many of the stories were not that self-contained. Several, even the best ones, don't necessarily feature any sense of closure and are of the to-be-continued type. This may work well with some readers and it might irk others. Again, your mileage will vary in that regard.

My favorites pieces include "IRL" by Steven Barnes, "Mami Wataworks" by Russell Nichols, "Door Crashers" by Frank Zeph, "A Dream of Electric Mothers" by Wole Talabi, "A Knight in Tunisia" by Alex Jennings, "The Sugar Mill" by Tobias S. Buckell, "A Girl Crawls in a Dark Corner" by Alexis Brooks de Vita, "Ghost Ship" by Tananarive Due, "A Soul of Small Places" by Mame Bougouma Diene and Woppa Diallo, and "The Taloned Beast" by Chinelo Onwualu.

Should you read Africa Risen? Of course! Once more, such a collection proves that speculative fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora can be entertaining, stimulating, and inspiring. It's a collection of stories that will force you to look at the world in a different way, and it shows once again that international talent can take speculative fiction to new heights! Having said that, I strongly recommend that you read both Dominion and The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction (2021) first.

The final verdict: 7/10

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 13th)

In hardcover:
 
Stephen King's Fairy Tale is down one position, ending the week at number 4. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

Olivie Blake's The Atlas Paradox debuts at number 10.

In paperback:

George R. R. Martin's Fire and Blood is up six spots, finishing the week at number 5.

Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary returns at number 14.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download Brent Weeks' The Black Prism for only 2.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

Gavin Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. But Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live: Five years to achieve five impossible goals.

But when Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download Kate Elliott's Cold Magic for only 3.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

The Wild Hunt is stirring - and the dragons are finally waking from their long sleep...

Cat Barahal was the only survivor of the flood that took her parents. Raised by her extended family, she and her cousin, Bee, are unaware of the dangers that threaten them both. Though they are in beginning of the Industrial Age, magic - and the power of the Cold Mages - still hold sway.

Now, betrayed by her family and forced to marry a powerful Cold Mage, Cat will be drawn into a labyrinth of politics. There she will learn the full ruthlessness of the rule of the Cold Mages. What do the Cold Mages want from her? And who will help Cat in her struggle against them?

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (November 6th)

In hardcover:
 
Stephen King's Fairy Tale is down one position, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

In paperback:

George R. R. Martin's Fire and Blood is up one spot, finishing the week at number 11.

Quote of the Day

Of course, the writer can impose control; it’s just a really shitty idea. Writing controlled fiction is called “plotting.” Buckling your seatbelt and letting the story take over, however…that is called “storytelling.” Storytelling is as natural as breathing; plotting is the literary version of artificial respiration.

- STEPHEN KING, 'Salem's Lot

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


A shitload of Marvel Epic Collection omnibus digital editions are on sale for as little as 3.99$ each. Those include Avengers, X-Men, Spiderman, Black Panther, and more.

Follow this Amazon Associate link to browse what's available.

King's Dragon


Damn, I'm really late to this party. It's not the first time and it probably won't be the last, but I doubt I've ever been this late before. At least I hope not! I felt bad being fourteen years late reviewing Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns, and deservedly so. And yet, Kate Elliott's King's Dragon was published way back in 1997, twenty-five years ago.

My excuse? I have none. Other than having too many books to read, of course. The funny thing is that I have a full set of the Crown of Stars series, for I bought each installment as they came out. King's Dragon was a Nebula award finalist and I remember buying it when the paperback edition was released. Robert Jordan had already burned me as far as long series are concerned, so I elected to wait till a few more volumes were written before jumping into that series. You'll recall that I did the same with George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (after GRRM told me it would be a trilogy). 

Back in the 90s and the early 2000s, I bought a slew of Daw titles. Starting with Tad Williams, Melanie Rawn, and C. S. Friedman, followed by Kate Elliott, Michelle West, Jennifer Roberson, Mickey Zucker Reichert, and many more. The books were big, sported distinctive SFF covers, and they were good. When I created Pat's Fantasy Hotlist back in 2005, I never would have thought that I'd still be blogging nearly two decades later. And if you'd told me that I would receive hundreds of review copies over the years, I would have said you're crazy. Still, with the emergence of new quality authors like Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch, Naomi Novik, Patrick Rothfuss, R. Scott Bakker, and so many others; and with the discovery of established talents such as Jacqueline Carey and Steven Erikson; and with new releases from favorites such as Robin Hobb, George R. R. Martin, and Neil Gaiman, it's no wonder that every week or so my books-to-read pile grew and grew and grew. So much so that I'm acutely aware that I won't likely manage to read all the novels I have before leaving this world. First World problem, I know.

Long story short, my backlog's just getting bigger every week. And about all those books and series I've owned since before the creation of the Hotlist, it often feels as though they just keep getting pushed back to the end of the line. Moving out of my loft in January 2011 meant that I could no longer have all of my books with me. Which means that I have hundreds of them in storage in various locations. Truth be told, I wasn't supposed to read Kate Elliott's King's Dragon. I've been looking for Michelle West's The Broken Crown ever since it was announced that PRH had forced Daw to drop her. But try as I might, I couldn't find any of my West books. Rummaging through boxes in my locker allowed me to get my hands on my Elliott books, however. Feeling that the universe was somehow speaking to me, I decided that it was high time to finally give Crown of Stars a shot!

Not surprisngly, I feel quite stupid for waiting this long, for King's Dragon is a quality read and the opening chapter for bigger and better things to come. As for West, no worries, for I ordered a copy of The Broken Crown and will get to it shortly. At least that's the plan. . .

But it's going to be difficult not to read Prince of Dogs and the subsequent installments in the near future. Again, First World problem.

Here's the blurb:

Set in an alternate Europe where bloody conflicts rage, the first book of the Crown of Stars epic fantasy series chronicles a world-shaking conflict for the survival of humanity

It begins with civil war….

For though King Henry still holds the crown of Wendar, his reign has long been contested by his sister Sabella. There are many eager to flock to her banner, and there are ways to make even the most unwilling lord into a weapon pointed at the heart of Henry’s realm.

Torn by internal strife, Wendar also faces deadly raids from the north by an inhuman race, the Eika. And now terrifying portents are being seen; old ruins restored to life under the light of the full moon and peopled by the long-vanished Lost Ones; dark spirits walking the land in broad daylight. And suddenly two innocents are about to be thrust into the middle of the conflict.

Liath, who has spent her early years fleeing from unknown enemies, is a young woman with the power to change the course of history if she can only learn to master her fear and seize what is rightfully hers.

While Alain, a young man who may find his future in a vision granted by the Lady of Battles, must first unravel the mystery of who he is—whether the bastard son of a noble father, the half-breed child of an elfin lord, the unwanted get of a whore, or the heir to a proud and ancient lineage. For only when he discovers the truth can he accept the destiny for which he was born.

Liath and Alain, each trapped in a personal struggle for survival, both helplessly being drawn into a far greater battle, a war in which sorcery not swords will determine the final outcome, and the land itself may be irrevocably reshaped by the forces unleashed….


If you could define Kate Elliott's worldbuilding with just one word, it would have to be "meticulous". With an uncanny eye for detail, her portrayal of this medieval European analog occasionally makes you feel as though you're reading a historical novel. In that respect, King's Dragon can be reminiscent of some of Guy Gavriel Kay's titles. Based on true cultures and the history of the early Middle Ages, the book is nevertheless spiced up with way more fantasy elements than any of Kay novels. Such a conscientious depiction of the historical period will please fans of worldbuilding. Personally, I loved it. But there's no denying that it often gets in the way of the plot and also slows the pace throughout the book. Hence, your mileage will vary in that regard.

Another element that sets Crown of Stars apart from most epic fantasy series out there, at least as far as this first volume is concerned, is the presence of religion and the major role it plays in every single aspect of this tale. Elliott's gender-egalitarian rebranding of the Roman Catholic Church affects people from all walks of life, from king to peasant. Not since Katherine Kurtz's Deryni saga has any SFF author tried to make religion such an all-encompassing facet of every day life in their fantasy universe. It is particularly well-done in King's Dragon, though I can understand that many a reader found that offputting. As I mentioned, religion affects everything. Whether or not Elliott's portrayal of the Church can be as impressive as Kurtz's remains to be seen, but I must say that I have high hopes for the volumes to come. Given that the use of sorcery has been formally accepted at a past religious council, although only if under the Church's supervision, here's to hoping that we will get POVs from members of the clergy to explore that aspect in future installments. I felt that not including the perspectives of characters such as Frater Agius or Biscop Antonia turned out to be a missed opportunity to delve into whether or not the use of magic is a form of heresy. The notion is obviously not clear-cut.

Although good overall, the characterization can at times be uneven. In true 90s fashion, we get two young, naive, and somewhat vulnerable main protagonists through whose eyes the bulk of the story will unfold. Alain, a compassionate young man destined to become a monk but who yearns to be a warrior. And Liath, a young girl who has spent years running away from a past she knows little about with her father and who's been taught forbidden knowledge that she must keep secret if she wants to stay alive. There seems to be a good balance between the two perspectives, although I found Liath's story to be the more compelling of the two. Especially early on. Though traumatic and often difficult to read, Liath's plotline is more fascinating. On the other hand, it takes a long time for Alain's importance to become evident and for him to come into his own, so to speak. It all comes together towards the end, but some sequences featuring Alain can be a bit boring until you reach about the halfway point of the novel. The third POV in importance is that of Rosvita, a female cleric and advisor to King Henry. It's through her perspective that the reader learns about the history and the politics of the kingdoms of Wendar and Varre. Hanna, Liath's friend, becomes a POV character almost by default, for we need to know what happens when the two are separated. We also get the point of view of Prince Sanglant, King Henry's child by one of the Aoi (name by which the elves are known) and leader of the Dragons, the king's militia, yet those scenes are few and far between. King's Dragon is by no means a slim novel and it already features a number of POVs, but I feel that the tale would have benefited from the perspectives of people such as Wolfhere, Frater Hugh, and/or other clergyman/women.

The political intrigue which is the backdrop of this tale is rather simplistic. Which could be detrimental to the overall storyarc if it doesn't improve in the sequels. Then again, at face value the political intrigue of George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones appeared a bit simple early on and we all know how that turned out. Time will tell if Kate Elliott can be as good as Katherine Kurtz and GRRM in that regard.

Given the size of the novel (King's Dragon weighs in at 625 pages) and the fact that it's an introduction to a much bigger and more ambitious tale, it's no surprise that it suffers from some pacing issues. All of them found in the first two-thirds of the book, as Elliott lays the groundwork for this opening chapter and the rest of the series. And even though the rhythm can drag in some portions, you always get the feeling that, even if it doesn't make sense now, those scenes will have their importance in the greater scheme of things. The endgame might not be as rousing as expected (those expecting great battle scenes à la Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, and Steven Erikson might be disappointed), yet the author brings this one to a satisfying conclusion. Not a standalone by any stretch of the imagination, this first installment is still more self-contained than most of its epic fantasy counterparts.

Some argue that Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars is one of the most underrated fantasy series on the market. Time will tell if that is indeed true. But there's no denying that King's Dragon shows a lot of promise. I'm eager to see if what comes next will live up to that potential.

One thing's for sure. If you are looking for a big, multilayered fantasy novel featuring intricate worldbuilding and interesting characters, then King's Dragon is definitely for you!

The final verdict: 7.75/10

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link. At 2.99$ for the ebook, it's a great deal!

More inexpensive ebook goodies!


You can now download Pat Cadigan's Synners for only 0.99$ by following this Amazon Associate link. This OneLink will take you to the nearest Amazon site serving your country and you'll see if you can take advantage of this sale.

Here's the blurb:

In Synners, the line between technology and humanity is hopelessly slim. To be a Synner is to join the online hardcore, an outlaw band of hackers, simulation pirates, and reality synthesizers hooked on artificial reality and virtual space. Now you can change yourself to suit the machines - all it costs you is your freedom, and your humanity.

Synners shows us a world perilously close to our own. A constant stream of new technology spawns new crime before it hits the streets, and the human mind and the external landscape have fused to the point where any encounter with "reality" is incidental. Equal parts thrill-ride and cautionary tale, this classic novel by the Queen of Cyberpunk offers us a terrifying glimpse into the future of our race.

Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award for best novel, 1992