Release Date: 05/07/12
SYNOPSIS:
Sorne, the estranged son of a King on the verge of madness, is being raised as a weapon to wield against the mystical Wyrds. Half a continent away, his father is planning to lay siege to the Celestial City, the home of the T’En, whose wyrd blood the mundane population have come to despise. Within the City, Imoshen, the only mystic to be raised by men, is desperately trying to hold her people together. A generations long feud between the men of the Brotherhoods and the women of the sacred Sisterhoods is about to come to a head.
With war without and war within, can an entire race survive the hatred of a nation?
Rowena Cory Daniells, the creator of the bestselling Chronicles of King Rolen’s Kin, brings you a stunning new fantasy epic, steeped in magic and forged in war.
REVIEW:
Rowena is one of those authors who created a world that as a reader I want to get lost in. Whilst this tale moves on from the King Rolen’s Kin series, this one hits back with a society war that is not only thought provoking but one that brings lot of politicking alongside questioning by the reader as it wends it way.
Whilst this is a little of a slow starter, it is one that allows you to get to grips with the current situation through the eyes of the key protagonists. Its wonderfully written, the prose sharp and with the dialogue engaging the reader it’s a solid starter for a new series. But with it being a slow burner, I’m going to wait until the second book in the series before passing judgement as to be honest this one is mainly the set up for the series.
Release Date: 02/09/10
BOOK BLURB:
Now a slave, Piro finds herself in the Merofynian Palace where, if her real identity is discovered, she will be executed. Meanwhile, Fyn is desperate to help his brother, Bryen, who is now the uncrowned King. Bryen never sought power but now he finds himself at the centre of a dangerous resistance movement as the people of Rolencia flee vicious invaders. How can Byren defeat the invaders, when half his warriors are women and children, and the other half are untrained boys and old men?
REVIEW:
The third and for now final part of the authors King Rollens series. It’s climatic, it’s epic and it was a tale well told. Add to the mix characters that continued to grow and fulfil their predetermined destinies and you get an offering that will more than satisfy the reader. As you’ve come to expect by now, the characters are interesting, they have great dialogue and the overall arc is what the readers have demanded. A great opening series for this author and one that has made her a name to seek out, for guilt free, fantasy escapism. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
Only seven minutes younger than Rolencia's heir, Byren has never hungered for the throne. He laughs when a seer predicts that he will kill his twin. But the royal heir resents Byren's growing popularity. Across the land the untamed magic of the gods wells up out of the earth's heart. It sends exotic creatures to stalk the wintry nights and it twists men's minds, granting them terrible visions. Those so touched are sent to the Abbey to control their gift, or die. At King Rolen's court enemies plot to take his throne, even as secrets within his own household threaten to tear his family apart. Political intrigue and magic combine in this explosive first book in an exciting new fantasy trilogy.
REVIEW:
Epic fantasy is fast clawing its way back up the charts and with this offering from Rowena, its pretty easy to see why. You’ve got great characters, an absolute solidly built world and of course political intrigue that puts our own politicians to shame. Add to the mix characters who are ruled by their own moralistic iron chains of conduct backed up with double dealing, descent combat sequences and plenty of things to make you wet yourself and you know that its shaping up to be one hell of a series. Thank god I’ve already got book 2 ready to roll.
BOOK BLURB:
Rolencia’s ancestral enemy, Merofynia, has invaded and marches on King Rolen’s castle. Powerless to help, thirteen yeard old Piro watches as her father, King Rolen, listens to poisoned whispers concerning his son Bryen.
How could the King doubt his second son? Determined to prove his loyalty, Bryen races across the path of the advancing army to ask the Abbot to send the warrior monks in defense of the castle.
REVIEW:
The second novel in the Chronicles of King Rollin’s Kin and one that really doesn’t let up the pace from the original. Characters flesh out even more with personal and emotional growth backed up with consequences from previous actions. Add to the mix that this offering is beautifully written, alongside cracking dialogue and an author who knows how to guide the reader through a stormy sea of pace (riding the peaks and troughs with a masters touch) and you know that you’ve gotten a book that should become a firm favourite with the fans. I predict great things for this author and probably an award or two. Get on board now before the hype hits. Great stuff.
