A review by jaironside
Blood, Teeth & Bones by M.E. Vaughan
5.0
ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fantastic look at the back story behind the friendship of the 'brothers Magi'. Zachary came in like a sleeper agent during Blood of the Delphi and stole my sympathies, dividing them between himself and my long term favourite character, Rufus. This is sort of about Zachary but it's told from Marcel's perspective and really it's Marcel's story. I always liked Emeric and Marcel as characters and it was great to get a bit closer to them in this novella. Marcel especially is an interesting character - stoic, even tempered, apparently unflappable. Seeing Zachary through his eyes really made you consider how clouded Zachary's (and occasionally Rufus') opinion of the Night Patrol really is. My absolute favourite part of this were the tantalising flash backs to when Marcel and Zachary were much younger, apprentice magi together. If Vaughan decides to write a Harmatia Cycle prequel then I'm putting in my bid for more of that now. (HINT HINT...)
I think you could read this as a standalone but you'll get more out of it if you read The Sons of Thestian and Blood of the Delphi first (it does contain minor spoilers). Still a great way to help bridge the desolate wastes until books 3 and 4 are released. Highly recommend.
This was such a fantastic look at the back story behind the friendship of the 'brothers Magi'. Zachary came in like a sleeper agent during Blood of the Delphi and stole my sympathies, dividing them between himself and my long term favourite character, Rufus. This is sort of about Zachary but it's told from Marcel's perspective and really it's Marcel's story. I always liked Emeric and Marcel as characters and it was great to get a bit closer to them in this novella. Marcel especially is an interesting character - stoic, even tempered, apparently unflappable. Seeing Zachary through his eyes really made you consider how clouded Zachary's (and occasionally Rufus') opinion of the Night Patrol really is. My absolute favourite part of this were the tantalising flash backs to when Marcel and Zachary were much younger, apprentice magi together. If Vaughan decides to write a Harmatia Cycle prequel then I'm putting in my bid for more of that now. (HINT HINT...)
I think you could read this as a standalone but you'll get more out of it if you read The Sons of Thestian and Blood of the Delphi first (it does contain minor spoilers). Still a great way to help bridge the desolate wastes until books 3 and 4 are released. Highly recommend.