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moirwyn's review
3.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2015/12/26/blood-and-iron-by-john-sprunk/
Blood and Iron is an epic fantasy novel about three enslaved protagonists who overcome hardship only to be entangled in politics and war. The main protagonist, Horace, is shipwrecked and forced into slavery. A chaos storm strikes the caravan, and he discovers his own affinity for lightning. Jirom is an ex-mercenary who was forced to become a gladiator. Inspired by seeing Horace stand up to their oppressive masters, he becomes involved in an underground resistance among conscripted soldiers. And finally, Alyria chose to be sold into slavery to give her the opportunity to spy on Queen Byleth, but the more she learns, the more she begins to doubt in her mission.
Blood and Iron had a slow start. We didn’t even meet Alyria until 1/4 of the way through the book, and she’s pretty important to the story. That said, the book’s pacing did pick up around the time she was introduced, and after that it was a pretty quick read.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the characterization of the three protagonists. Horace was too much of a special snowflake—not only does he magically have magical powers, but he has a very rare kind of power that doesn’t occur very often and that no other living person has. That’s too much of a coincidence, and makes him less believable. Jirom doesn’t seem terribly complex, although I did enjoy that he’s gay. And Alyria was so incredibly selfless and perfect that she’s just not an interesting character.
Queen Byleth, on the other hand, was fascinating. She’s not a good person at all, as we first see in a rather telling scene in which she orders a 10-year-old (give or take) slave girl to be whipped in order to punish Alyria. And yet at the same time, Byleth is cast as a sympathetic character who is all that’s left standing between her kingdom and a hostile takeover from mad cultists. She has very little political power and is being forced into a marriage that will effectively dethrone her, and she’s doing everything she can to stay in power. Byleth is the lesser of two evils, and our characters slowly come to the realization that despite her flaws, she’s the best hope they have. I love it when fantasy politics mirror those of real life, and where there is no easy solution or perfect answer. And the politics in Blood and Iron really worked for me, because everyone had their own agenda and there wasn’t a clear-cut line between right and wrong.
Overall, there wasn’t anything about Blood and Iron that seemed particularly new or innovative. It was a typical epic fantasy novel with a pulpy vibe, and I found it enjoyable despite its flaws. I’m looking forward to continuing the series, mostly to see what Byleth will do next.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2015/12/26/blood-and-iron-by-john-sprunk/
Blood and Iron is an epic fantasy novel about three enslaved protagonists who overcome hardship only to be entangled in politics and war. The main protagonist, Horace, is shipwrecked and forced into slavery. A chaos storm strikes the caravan, and he discovers his own affinity for lightning. Jirom is an ex-mercenary who was forced to become a gladiator. Inspired by seeing Horace stand up to their oppressive masters, he becomes involved in an underground resistance among conscripted soldiers. And finally, Alyria chose to be sold into slavery to give her the opportunity to spy on Queen Byleth, but the more she learns, the more she begins to doubt in her mission.
Blood and Iron had a slow start. We didn’t even meet Alyria until 1/4 of the way through the book, and she’s pretty important to the story. That said, the book’s pacing did pick up around the time she was introduced, and after that it was a pretty quick read.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the characterization of the three protagonists. Horace was too much of a special snowflake—not only does he magically have magical powers, but he has a very rare kind of power that doesn’t occur very often and that no other living person has. That’s too much of a coincidence, and makes him less believable. Jirom doesn’t seem terribly complex, although I did enjoy that he’s gay. And Alyria was so incredibly selfless and perfect that she’s just not an interesting character.
Queen Byleth, on the other hand, was fascinating. She’s not a good person at all, as we first see in a rather telling scene in which she orders a 10-year-old (give or take) slave girl to be whipped in order to punish Alyria. And yet at the same time, Byleth is cast as a sympathetic character who is all that’s left standing between her kingdom and a hostile takeover from mad cultists. She has very little political power and is being forced into a marriage that will effectively dethrone her, and she’s doing everything she can to stay in power. Byleth is the lesser of two evils, and our characters slowly come to the realization that despite her flaws, she’s the best hope they have. I love it when fantasy politics mirror those of real life, and where there is no easy solution or perfect answer. And the politics in Blood and Iron really worked for me, because everyone had their own agenda and there wasn’t a clear-cut line between right and wrong.
Overall, there wasn’t anything about Blood and Iron that seemed particularly new or innovative. It was a typical epic fantasy novel with a pulpy vibe, and I found it enjoyable despite its flaws. I’m looking forward to continuing the series, mostly to see what Byleth will do next.
jasmyn9's review
4.0
Welcome to the Crusades - only a little different. Horace is a ship's carpenter and finds himself shipwrecked on the shores of the heretics - the Akeshians. Horace seems to be the main player in the story as he discovers he has a magical ability not seen in ages. Because of this ability, he is offered a place at court where he meets Alyna. Alyna's role in the story is that of a spy for another country. Through her we see some of the inner workings of the Akeshian court that we may not have realized was going on. Our third player is Jirom, a slave-fighter that helps Horace at the beginning, but I'm not quite sure what his role long term is going to be.
There is a lot going on throughout this story. There is political and religious strife and conflict that the story is built around. Horace is lost as he tries to navigate this deadly set up and there are times he makes critical errors that come back to haunt him. You must like the political and religous intrigue/strife storylines to enjoy this story. While there is some good old fashioned sword and sorcery fighting, much of the tension and build up doesn't involve actual fighting.
I thought the author did a great job keeping the story on track (with the exception of Jirom - I still don't understand his part long run, but maybe book two will explain more). There were a handful of times that I thought the story moved a little too slowly, but never to the point that it became burdensome. This is a great read for fantasy lovers that like a little more of the politics in their story than you traditionally see.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2014/03/review-blood-and-iron-by-jon-sprunk.html#sthash.dEHIwZgy.dpuf
There is a lot going on throughout this story. There is political and religious strife and conflict that the story is built around. Horace is lost as he tries to navigate this deadly set up and there are times he makes critical errors that come back to haunt him. You must like the political and religous intrigue/strife storylines to enjoy this story. While there is some good old fashioned sword and sorcery fighting, much of the tension and build up doesn't involve actual fighting.
I thought the author did a great job keeping the story on track (with the exception of Jirom - I still don't understand his part long run, but maybe book two will explain more). There were a handful of times that I thought the story moved a little too slowly, but never to the point that it became burdensome. This is a great read for fantasy lovers that like a little more of the politics in their story than you traditionally see.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2014/03/review-blood-and-iron-by-jon-sprunk.html#sthash.dEHIwZgy.dpuf
leontiy's review
4.0
I happily received a copy of Jon Sprunk’s latest book, Blood and Iron direct from the publisher—and I ate through it. Despite a relatively slow start and an environment I couldn’t easily envisage, characters I couldn’t quite connect with, and a questionable sense of the wider plot, I soon found myself engrossed in a deep and richly imagined world that was both entirely inclusive and open-minded, and a refreshing change from the usual whitewashed canvas of sword and sorcery.
Fairly often, if I am already on board with a writer—usually if I’ve read one book of a series, or a completed one—I won’t even read the cover copy. This means I end up going into a book “blind”, but it also means that I avoid revealing cover copy and experience the book entirely as a new and unknown story. I think this enhances the experience—it did with Blood and Iron. I’ll admit to still not knowing the cover copy!
In this colourful fantasy with two men with different histories, and two women brimming with agency, Sprunk has crafted something that really pulls the reader in, desperate to know more, eager to see what will happen next. The opening is somewhat slow and it feels as though much of it could have been condensed, but the middle doesn’t sag as middles sometimes do and the end is pacy, exciting and draws the book towards a thrilling end that will leave readers eager to dive into the second book of the trilogy.
Sprunk is a natural storyteller and this talent really shines through in his detailed and engaging prose. I was thrilled to find the inclusion of POC characters—never mind that they have narrative POVs!—and a varied assortment of religion and sexuality. To have a gay POV narrative character, a male, is not just a demonstration of how progressive and obviously determined to write the fantasy of the future, Sprunk is, but also refreshing and reassuring. Sexuality is approached casually, as is the difference of religious belief and ritual: there is the natural comparison and curiosity of the main characters, but it is tempered with experience and the constant reiteration that not everything taught about opposing creeds must be true. The protagonists certainly become more educated as to the wide variety of difference their world has to offer, and this was presented expertly.
Blood and Iron tells the converging stories of four main characters, two male, two female, who find themselves in very close quarters with one another, thanks to the hand of fate. Their meetings, their relationships and experiences of and with one another are thrilling and charged with possibility. When the unexpected happens to Horace, a simple ship’s carpenter, he finds himself both powerful and threatened in a strange land far, far from home. With his homeland crusading against the heathens who refuse to worship the True Church, Horace finds himself deeply mistrusted and suspected of being a spy. When he finds himself suddenly thrust into a game played with intrigue and subtlety, he must learn to become a member of a society he scarcely understands in order to survive. But Horace has never trained in the art of politicking and when a single mistake could mean death, he must keep his wits about him, and adapt quickly to this new part of himself—a part he never knew about before now. A part that makes him a heretic.
It’s easier for Jirom, a slave or a mercenary all his life. All he must do is fight and survive. Yet when he meets Horace, something about him stirs a part of him to life, something deep inside. It’s not attraction—although Jirom’s desires do fall towards the same sex—but something else. Horace intrigues him. Unbeknownst to the dark-skinned slave, banished from his village so many years ago, what he is about to become involved in—all on the word of a charismatic and handsome man—will plunge him deeply into the tides of revolution, rebellion and war. But is it really Jirom’s war at all and why should he fight it? But then, does he really have anything better to do?
Alyra, the slave and queen’s favourite handmaiden, and the beautiful Queen Byleth are stunningly deep and developed characters that add further layers to the story. I enjoy seeing events transpire from the POV of royalty and Byleth was engaging and exciting and with a desperation to her story and narrative that was hopelessly compelling. Alyra enjoys a tightly woven story with surprises and difficult choices ahead. She is complex and will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals—whatever they might be. But in the same boat as Horace, a stranger from another land, she is embroiled deeply in the same game of whispers and intrigue that Horace must play. Their paths could cross and be beneficial to one another—or their agendas might ultimately clash.
Essentially Blood and Iron is a richly constructed and colourful novel with a diverse and intelligent cast. The opening could have been pacier, could have pulled the reader in sooner and might have offered more than the slow trudge towards the main bulk of the action. But all said, Blood and Iron is a fantastic book that shows just how easy it is to stray from the familiar paths now well-trod in fantasy, and venture towards the unusual, the different and the exotic. The diverse cast and real representation of a real and developed world, Sprunk has hit the mark. I am looking forward to the next book, desperate to know what will happen next and where the plot will go. Just as good as his Shadow Saga, Sprunk is, again, a winner.
Fairly often, if I am already on board with a writer—usually if I’ve read one book of a series, or a completed one—I won’t even read the cover copy. This means I end up going into a book “blind”, but it also means that I avoid revealing cover copy and experience the book entirely as a new and unknown story. I think this enhances the experience—it did with Blood and Iron. I’ll admit to still not knowing the cover copy!
In this colourful fantasy with two men with different histories, and two women brimming with agency, Sprunk has crafted something that really pulls the reader in, desperate to know more, eager to see what will happen next. The opening is somewhat slow and it feels as though much of it could have been condensed, but the middle doesn’t sag as middles sometimes do and the end is pacy, exciting and draws the book towards a thrilling end that will leave readers eager to dive into the second book of the trilogy.
Sprunk is a natural storyteller and this talent really shines through in his detailed and engaging prose. I was thrilled to find the inclusion of POC characters—never mind that they have narrative POVs!—and a varied assortment of religion and sexuality. To have a gay POV narrative character, a male, is not just a demonstration of how progressive and obviously determined to write the fantasy of the future, Sprunk is, but also refreshing and reassuring. Sexuality is approached casually, as is the difference of religious belief and ritual: there is the natural comparison and curiosity of the main characters, but it is tempered with experience and the constant reiteration that not everything taught about opposing creeds must be true. The protagonists certainly become more educated as to the wide variety of difference their world has to offer, and this was presented expertly.
Blood and Iron tells the converging stories of four main characters, two male, two female, who find themselves in very close quarters with one another, thanks to the hand of fate. Their meetings, their relationships and experiences of and with one another are thrilling and charged with possibility. When the unexpected happens to Horace, a simple ship’s carpenter, he finds himself both powerful and threatened in a strange land far, far from home. With his homeland crusading against the heathens who refuse to worship the True Church, Horace finds himself deeply mistrusted and suspected of being a spy. When he finds himself suddenly thrust into a game played with intrigue and subtlety, he must learn to become a member of a society he scarcely understands in order to survive. But Horace has never trained in the art of politicking and when a single mistake could mean death, he must keep his wits about him, and adapt quickly to this new part of himself—a part he never knew about before now. A part that makes him a heretic.
It’s easier for Jirom, a slave or a mercenary all his life. All he must do is fight and survive. Yet when he meets Horace, something about him stirs a part of him to life, something deep inside. It’s not attraction—although Jirom’s desires do fall towards the same sex—but something else. Horace intrigues him. Unbeknownst to the dark-skinned slave, banished from his village so many years ago, what he is about to become involved in—all on the word of a charismatic and handsome man—will plunge him deeply into the tides of revolution, rebellion and war. But is it really Jirom’s war at all and why should he fight it? But then, does he really have anything better to do?
Alyra, the slave and queen’s favourite handmaiden, and the beautiful Queen Byleth are stunningly deep and developed characters that add further layers to the story. I enjoy seeing events transpire from the POV of royalty and Byleth was engaging and exciting and with a desperation to her story and narrative that was hopelessly compelling. Alyra enjoys a tightly woven story with surprises and difficult choices ahead. She is complex and will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals—whatever they might be. But in the same boat as Horace, a stranger from another land, she is embroiled deeply in the same game of whispers and intrigue that Horace must play. Their paths could cross and be beneficial to one another—or their agendas might ultimately clash.
Essentially Blood and Iron is a richly constructed and colourful novel with a diverse and intelligent cast. The opening could have been pacier, could have pulled the reader in sooner and might have offered more than the slow trudge towards the main bulk of the action. But all said, Blood and Iron is a fantastic book that shows just how easy it is to stray from the familiar paths now well-trod in fantasy, and venture towards the unusual, the different and the exotic. The diverse cast and real representation of a real and developed world, Sprunk has hit the mark. I am looking forward to the next book, desperate to know what will happen next and where the plot will go. Just as good as his Shadow Saga, Sprunk is, again, a winner.
jasonoffer's review
2.0
Was looking forward to having a read of Jon Sprunk. Unfortunately the experience was not very memorable. The story is very one dimensionable and lacking in character.
The world building was poor at the beginning and did not pick up greatly. The characterization was quite dull and yet again did not improve much, essentially the book was only relevant around one character. The writing was ok. Overall there is not much to say the overall story is pretty dull and lacking in anything exciting with the intrigue and politics lacking in creativity.
The world building was poor at the beginning and did not pick up greatly. The characterization was quite dull and yet again did not improve much, essentially the book was only relevant around one character. The writing was ok. Overall there is not much to say the overall story is pretty dull and lacking in anything exciting with the intrigue and politics lacking in creativity.
denizyildiz's review
2.0
This had so much promise. But sadly I found myself being bored at times. I think many hard core Fantasy (guys) will like this however, it's more for lover of the Wheel of time, than me.
The world building was quite intriguing, quite classic epic fantasy with it's own unique world inspired by the ancient world. I think it's actually my favorite part.
The writing style and Character building were ok, but I seriously found it really hard to keep myself interested. It was just too slow for me. I had started it ages ago, feeling excited about it. Then I put it down and read the odd chapter here and there. But I never got into it. So finally I forced myself to finish it. And the epilogue.. Damn!! So now I don't know if I will read the next one or not. I guess I'll wait and see if any of my friends adore the next one before giving it a try
The world building was quite intriguing, quite classic epic fantasy with it's own unique world inspired by the ancient world. I think it's actually my favorite part.
The writing style and Character building were ok, but I seriously found it really hard to keep myself interested. It was just too slow for me. I had started it ages ago, feeling excited about it. Then I put it down and read the odd chapter here and there. But I never got into it. So finally I forced myself to finish it. And the epilogue.. Damn!! So now I don't know if I will read the next one or not. I guess I'll wait and see if any of my friends adore the next one before giving it a try
b00kwyrm's review
3.0
Overall for me the story was good, but the problems I ran into were basically these two: It was another "powerless to powerful" story where of course everyone else saw how powerful Horace was except for Horace, and two: the characters were completely un-engaging. I read the book cover to cover and by the end of it I honestly couldn't have cared much less whether they all lived or got hit by a fourth wall-breaking bus. I don't think I'll be reading the sequel, but if I decide to I'll get it from the library so I don't have to spend money on it. If I had to sum it up in a word, it would be "dry."
One thing I did find refreshing was that one of the major side characters was gay and another was bisexual, but there was no sex in the story. It was nice to see LGBT characters and not have the sex overblown (I'm looking at you Mr. Morgan...). It's hard for me to find LGBT fantasy novels without it turning into LGBT "sexual fantasy" novels. I don't want to read smut, I want to read an engaging story with magic and dragons and stuff. *Climbs off soapbox but keeps it handy...*
One thing I did find refreshing was that one of the major side characters was gay and another was bisexual, but there was no sex in the story. It was nice to see LGBT characters and not have the sex overblown (I'm looking at you Mr. Morgan...). It's hard for me to find LGBT fantasy novels without it turning into LGBT "sexual fantasy" novels. I don't want to read smut, I want to read an engaging story with magic and dragons and stuff. *Climbs off soapbox but keeps it handy...*
danadanny's review
2.0
I thought the premise was interesting, and I wanted to like it, but it leaned a little too heavily on tropes, and I kept thinking, "why is everything being explained to me?" way too often...
michellecupboardmaker's review
5.0
(These are book club questions for the entire book. There will be spoilers)
Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk Book Club
1. What do you think of the 3rd person narration?
2. How do you feel about Horace?
3. Do you feel like you are experiencing the shipwreck with Horace?
4. Horace is dropped into a world where he cannot speak the language after the shipwreck, what do you think of this as a way to learn about the world with him?
5. What do you think of Jirom?
6. Compare and contrast Horace and Jirom at the beginning of the book?
7. What do you think of the world?
8. Does the world remind you of any place in the history of our world, especially Akeshia?
9. Do you want to know exactly what happened to Horace’s family when he first starts to flashback to them?
10. What do you think of slavery in Akeshia?
11. What do you think of Horace discovering he is a magician by stopping the storm?
12. Is it more interesting that he had no idea that he had magic or zoana before the storm?
13. Is it hard to know which characters to trust in the book?
14. What do you think of Alyra?
15. How is your opinion of her shaped by the fact that we find out she is a spy as soon as we meet her?
16. How is it disconcerting to follow Horace’s changes in circumstances in captivity?
17. How do you feel about Queen Byleth?
18. Do you feel like Horace that you need to pick sides without having all of the information?
19. Does the training of soldiers in Akeshia seem wasteful?
20. Who is your favorite character?
21. What do you think of Astaptah?
22. Is the flying ship cool?
23. Did you expect the ship to crash?
24. Did you expect the fight with the Kurgarru and was it super creepy?
25. Did you expect Horace to walk away at the end of the duel rather than killing his defeated opponent?
26. What do you think of solitary confinement without death forever as a punishment?
27. Should Horace have followed Rimesh after he saved Byleth?
28. Do you like it that Alyra saved Horace from Rimesh?
29. What do you think of Mulcihar’s final letter to Horace?
30. Did the Epilogue set up the next book nicely?
31. Did you like the book?
32. Do you want to read more in the series?
Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk Book Club
1. What do you think of the 3rd person narration?
2. How do you feel about Horace?
3. Do you feel like you are experiencing the shipwreck with Horace?
4. Horace is dropped into a world where he cannot speak the language after the shipwreck, what do you think of this as a way to learn about the world with him?
5. What do you think of Jirom?
6. Compare and contrast Horace and Jirom at the beginning of the book?
7. What do you think of the world?
8. Does the world remind you of any place in the history of our world, especially Akeshia?
9. Do you want to know exactly what happened to Horace’s family when he first starts to flashback to them?
10. What do you think of slavery in Akeshia?
11. What do you think of Horace discovering he is a magician by stopping the storm?
12. Is it more interesting that he had no idea that he had magic or zoana before the storm?
13. Is it hard to know which characters to trust in the book?
14. What do you think of Alyra?
15. How is your opinion of her shaped by the fact that we find out she is a spy as soon as we meet her?
16. How is it disconcerting to follow Horace’s changes in circumstances in captivity?
17. How do you feel about Queen Byleth?
18. Do you feel like Horace that you need to pick sides without having all of the information?
19. Does the training of soldiers in Akeshia seem wasteful?
20. Who is your favorite character?
21. What do you think of Astaptah?
22. Is the flying ship cool?
23. Did you expect the ship to crash?
24. Did you expect the fight with the Kurgarru and was it super creepy?
25. Did you expect Horace to walk away at the end of the duel rather than killing his defeated opponent?
26. What do you think of solitary confinement without death forever as a punishment?
27. Should Horace have followed Rimesh after he saved Byleth?
28. Do you like it that Alyra saved Horace from Rimesh?
29. What do you think of Mulcihar’s final letter to Horace?
30. Did the Epilogue set up the next book nicely?
31. Did you like the book?
32. Do you want to read more in the series?
technophile's review
2.0
I wanted to like the concept of this book -- Crusader type gets shipwrecked in the country of his enemies, is enslaved, has to learn their language and culture to survive etc.
Unfortunately it's not terribly well plotted. Stuff just sort of... happens, as the protagonist(s) stumble through the story. There are multiple protagonists and storylines that intersect... once, about halfway through the book. I think the author was going for a story of mystery, intrigue, and the sense that larger forces/long-term plans are at work... but it just came off as "this stuff is just kind of happening and I don't really know why".
There's also some weird and unnecessary inclusion of sexuality in a way that didn't really feel necessary and kind of leaves a greasy taste in your mouth. I don't have a problem with sexuality in books, but it really needs to be there for a reason, and I couldn't figure out what the reason was here (unless it was as simple/shallow as some kind of weird "Egyptian queens were harlots" thing).
Specific spoiler-y questions below:
Why does a foreign slave who is completely unfamiliar with local politics, the ins and outs of his own power, etc get elevated to one of the most powerful positions in the country?
I could see the queen etc seeing him as a potential ally, and I could see as he learns to harness/control his powers him becoming more powerful in society as well, but the timing here is just insanely compressed. Possibly this is a victim of poor plotting, but it rather seemed like he goes from slave-in-chains to personal guard of the queen in a handful of days, with no real assurance that he has any ability to, or interest in, such a duty. Having a bad (or treacherous!) bodyguard seems worse than not having one at all, I would think...
Then there's the stereotypical "shadowy can you trust him/can you not/what is he up to" necromancer-ish type down in the tunnels, the surprisingly incompetent professional spy who falls in love with the foreigner, jeopardizing everything she's worked her whole life for except that it may actually achieve what she's worked her whole life for, sort of...
The book is just a mess of ideas all thrown together with no real sense of pacing or artistry. It's serviceable enough as beach fantasy reading, maybe, but it won't really bring anything new to the table.
Unfortunately it's not terribly well plotted. Stuff just sort of... happens, as the protagonist(s) stumble through the story. There are multiple protagonists and storylines that intersect... once, about halfway through the book. I think the author was going for a story of mystery, intrigue, and the sense that larger forces/long-term plans are at work... but it just came off as "this stuff is just kind of happening and I don't really know why".
There's also some weird and unnecessary inclusion of sexuality in a way that didn't really feel necessary and kind of leaves a greasy taste in your mouth. I don't have a problem with sexuality in books, but it really needs to be there for a reason, and I couldn't figure out what the reason was here (unless it was as simple/shallow as some kind of weird "Egyptian queens were harlots" thing).
Specific spoiler-y questions below:
Why does a foreign slave who is completely unfamiliar with local politics, the ins and outs of his own power, etc get elevated to one of the most powerful positions in the country?
I could see the queen etc seeing him as a potential ally, and I could see as he learns to harness/control his powers him becoming more powerful in society as well, but the timing here is just insanely compressed. Possibly this is a victim of poor plotting, but it rather seemed like he goes from slave-in-chains to personal guard of the queen in a handful of days, with no real assurance that he has any ability to, or interest in, such a duty. Having a bad (or treacherous!) bodyguard seems worse than not having one at all, I would think...
Then there's the stereotypical "shadowy can you trust him/can you not/what is he up to" necromancer-ish type down in the tunnels, the surprisingly incompetent professional spy who falls in love with the foreigner, jeopardizing everything she's worked her whole life for except that it may actually achieve what she's worked her whole life for, sort of...
The book is just a mess of ideas all thrown together with no real sense of pacing or artistry. It's serviceable enough as beach fantasy reading, maybe, but it won't really bring anything new to the table.
cindyc's review
3.0
3,5 stars. Review coming soon. Enjoyable read, but maybe my expectations were a bit too high.