Synopsis
The dragons are gone, the powerful magics that broke the world diluted to little more than parlour tricks, but the kingdoms of men remain and the great game of thrones goes on. Lords deploy armies and merchant caravans as their weapons, manoeuvring for wealth and influence. But a darker power is rising – an unlikely leader with an ancient ally threatens to unleash again the madness that destroyed the world once already. Only one man knows the truth and, from the shadows, must champion humanity. The world’s fate stands on the edge of a Dagger, its future on the toss of a Coin . . .
Review
Once again, I am astounded by the lower average Goodreads rating.
Politics, banks and guilds, wars, coming-of-age, a weary veteran, an acting troupe…. we have it all.
Multiple povs from very different wakes of life.
Captain Marcus doesn’t want to be enlisted into the new war and so signs on to guard a caravan train with the help of a troupe who act as guards alongside him.
Within this caravan, we have 17-year-old Cithrin, ward of the Medean Bank, pretending to be a boy as she smuggles out the bank’s goods.
Marcus is grieving his dead wife and daughter. Cithrin seeks independence and the chance to prove herself. Can you see the chance for an alliance, for conflict?
On the other side, we have Baron Dawson, friend to the king and always on the lookout for treachery.
Finally, Sir Geder Palliako, Heir of the Viscount of Rivenhalm. A humiliation to his peers who would rather have his nose in a book than on the march.
A chess master who doesn’t have all the power and a pawn who has the chance to move up the ranks. Do you see the pieces being moved into place?
Every character is nuanced with fully fledged motivations and plans. Whilst they all have different life experiences, you will find something to relate to with each one.
Even in book one, there are some satisfying character arcs and moments of contention that are set up to be explored over the five books.
I can glimpse what might come. There is so much potential for this series to become even more epic.
I am invested.
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