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alex_robins's review against another edition
3.0
After really liking "The Ten Thousand" and being very disappointed with "Corvus" I picked up the third and final book in the trilogy with some trepidation.
"Kings of Morning" sits somewhere between the two. The characters are way more interesting than the cardboard cutouts from "Corvus", especially the world-weary Asurian Emperor and his two sons vying for the throne. As I progressed through the book I actually found myself looking forward to the viewpoint of these new Kefr characters more than the parts focussing on Corvus and his long, boring, trudge through the Asurian Empire. In fact if he hadn't featured in this book at all it wouldn't have bothered me!
A slightly mellow and abrupt ending closes out this final book and while I'm pleased I stuck with these three books until the end I'm not sure I'll be heading back to Rictus and friends any time soon.
"Kings of Morning" sits somewhere between the two. The characters are way more interesting than the cardboard cutouts from "Corvus", especially the world-weary Asurian Emperor and his two sons vying for the throne. As I progressed through the book I actually found myself looking forward to the viewpoint of these new Kefr characters more than the parts focussing on Corvus and his long, boring, trudge through the Asurian Empire. In fact if he hadn't featured in this book at all it wouldn't have bothered me!
A slightly mellow and abrupt ending closes out this final book and while I'm pleased I stuck with these three books until the end I'm not sure I'll be heading back to Rictus and friends any time soon.
seak's review against another edition
5.0
Kings of the Morning is the third book in the Macht trilogy and quite possibly the best. I've been keeping up with this series for the most part as they've come out, so this could also be on account of my shoddy memory.
That's the drawback with keeping up on a series. You get all the excitement and expectation of waiting, but slowly you have to rely on summaries and rereads as the time between releases grows. Which is better, keeping up on a series or only reading completed series? Who's to say. I like to mix it up with anything I do, so I prefer some of each.
Spoilers follow for the first two books in the series, The Ten Thousand and Corvus. Just know, epic military battles full of phalanxes and HUGE armies are waiting for you at this stage in the trilogy. It's worth it.
The Ten Thousand, book one, introduces us to the Macht, a mercenary people seen as barbarians and heathens by the rest of the world of Kuf. A large army (possibly around 10,000) are commissioned in a large civil war for the kingdom of Assuria. We are also introduced to Rictus, who becomes pivotal in this saga. Epicness ensues and the ten thousand are cemented in history.
Corvus, book two, introduces conflict among the Macht as a genius military commander begins to do the impossible - unite the Macht under one banner. It looks like it's more than possible as city after city falls to his growing army. Rictus wants only to rest and relax with his family in their newly built home. Of course, Corvus won't let him do that and he doesn't even know if that's what he really wants.
Then comes Kings of the Morning, final book of the Macht trilogy. Corvus has done the impossible and united the Macht, but his desire to make history doesn't end there. He wants the world and with the greatest fighting race, it's going to take one big effing army to stop him. Yes, that's what we get and it is awesome.
The Macht trilogy is secondary world fantasy with very low magic, which may be completely absent as it's mostly explained away in this book. I honestly hadn't read a book this quickly in ages. Kearney has a way of pulling you in and not letting go. This really surprised me especially because the people you're expecting to show up don't show up until about a third of the way into the book. And yet, the plot zings along, armies gather, epic battles ensue.
Paul Kearney has created a history that is epic in every sense of the word and this trilogy is military fantasy at its best. It's so easy to get sucked in, this series was made for multiple readings and the stories are just as thrilling as those of the 300 Spartans at the Hot Gate. You come to see people doing the impossible and that's what you get.
4.5 out of 5 Stars (Super Duper Highly Recommended!)
That's the drawback with keeping up on a series. You get all the excitement and expectation of waiting, but slowly you have to rely on summaries and rereads as the time between releases grows. Which is better, keeping up on a series or only reading completed series? Who's to say. I like to mix it up with anything I do, so I prefer some of each.
Spoilers follow for the first two books in the series, The Ten Thousand and Corvus. Just know, epic military battles full of phalanxes and HUGE armies are waiting for you at this stage in the trilogy. It's worth it.
Spoiler
The Ten Thousand, book one, introduces us to the Macht, a mercenary people seen as barbarians and heathens by the rest of the world of Kuf. A large army (possibly around 10,000) are commissioned in a large civil war for the kingdom of Assuria. We are also introduced to Rictus, who becomes pivotal in this saga. Epicness ensues and the ten thousand are cemented in history.
Corvus, book two, introduces conflict among the Macht as a genius military commander begins to do the impossible - unite the Macht under one banner. It looks like it's more than possible as city after city falls to his growing army. Rictus wants only to rest and relax with his family in their newly built home. Of course, Corvus won't let him do that and he doesn't even know if that's what he really wants.
Then comes Kings of the Morning, final book of the Macht trilogy. Corvus has done the impossible and united the Macht, but his desire to make history doesn't end there. He wants the world and with the greatest fighting race, it's going to take one big effing army to stop him. Yes, that's what we get and it is awesome.
The Macht trilogy is secondary world fantasy with very low magic, which may be completely absent as it's mostly explained away in this book. I honestly hadn't read a book this quickly in ages. Kearney has a way of pulling you in and not letting go. This really surprised me especially because the people you're expecting to show up don't show up until about a third of the way into the book. And yet, the plot zings along, armies gather, epic battles ensue.
Paul Kearney has created a history that is epic in every sense of the word and this trilogy is military fantasy at its best. It's so easy to get sucked in, this series was made for multiple readings and the stories are just as thrilling as those of the 300 Spartans at the Hot Gate. You come to see people doing the impossible and that's what you get.
4.5 out of 5 Stars (Super Duper Highly Recommended!)
jasonoffer's review against another edition
5.0
Kearney is one of my faourite authors, his books are generally gritty, full of violence and realism. This is no exception, based loosely on Alexander the great the book and series read almost like historical fiction with a limited amount of fantasy elements.
This is not a book about good versus evil rather a book about a man's thirst for conquest and those that oppose him. Highly recommended if you enjoy the more modern approach to fantasy.
This is not a book about good versus evil rather a book about a man's thirst for conquest and those that oppose him. Highly recommended if you enjoy the more modern approach to fantasy.
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