Friday 6 February 2015

FANTASY REVIEW: Chronicle of Unhewn Throne 2: The Providence of Fire - Brian Staveley

Release Date: 15/01/15
Publisher:  Pan Macmillan/Tor

SYNOPSIS:

War is coming, secrets multiply and betrayal waits in the wings...The Annurian Empire's ruling family must be vigilant, as the conspiracy against them deepens. Having discovered her father's assassin, Adare flees the Dawn Palace in search of allies. But few trust her, until she seems marked by the people's goddess in an ordeal of flame. As Adare struggles to unite Annur, unrest breeds rival armies - then barbarian hordes threaten to invade. And unknown to Adare, her brother Valyn has fallen in with forces mustering at the empire's borders. The terrible choices they face could make war between them inevitable. Fighting his own battles is their brother Kaden, rightful heir to the Unhewn Throne, who has infiltrated the Annurian capital with two strange companions. While imperial forces prepare to defend a far-distant front, Kaden's actions could save the empire, or destroy it. Book One, The Emperor's Blades, was on the list of BuzzFeed.com's most-anticipated SF/F reads for 2014 and also on the Fantasy Faction blog for most anticipated fantasy for 2014.


REVIEW:

The second title from Brian and whilst the first one blew me away, its always the second that is, for me the teller, as to whether the author can cope with the pressures of writing to a deadline. It’s a tricky hurdle to conquer and for many they fall at it, yet not only does Brian manage to clear it, but he does it with plenty of space below as the sheer quality not only exists but exudes from within the covers.

Its crisp writing, the characters outstanding and when added to an overall arc that just keeps giving the reader more and more all round leaves you with not just a glowing feeling but the type of confusion about where all the times gone. Add to this characters that you not only just want to spend time around but would love to buy a pint for all round, alongside their outstanding dialogue makes the third title a hell of a long wait.



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