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Product Description
Led to victory by its magic-fueled Dragon Corps, Volstov has sent a delegation to its conquered neighbors to work out the long-awaited terms of peace. Among those in the party are the decorated war hero General Alcibiades and the formerly exiled magician Caius Greylace. But even this mismatched pair can’t help but notice that their defeated enemies aren’t being very cooperative. The hidden truth is that the new emperor is harboring a treacherous secret—and once it is revealed, Alcibiades and Caius may be powerless to stop it.
With their only ally an exiled prince now fleeing his brother’s assassins, the countryside rife with terror, and Alcibiades and Caius all but prisoners, it will take the most powerful kind of magic to heal the rift between two strife-worn lands and unite two peoples against a common enemy: shadow magic.
With their only ally an exiled prince now fleeing his brother’s assassins, the countryside rife with terror, and Alcibiades and Caius all but prisoners, it will take the most powerful kind of magic to heal the rift between two strife-worn lands and unite two peoples against a common enemy: shadow magic.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I adored Havemercy so couldn't wait to read this book, and have pre-ordered the next.
This is a very good book, brilliantly written! I'm impressed that two so young could write a book of this standard when many fantasy writers much older than them can't manage it. Two brilliant authors who I hope keep writing for many years to come.
We follow four characters, the story told from all of their points of view. Mamoru, the Prince, deemed a traitor by his brother, Isuel, the Emperor. He and his servant run away from the Palace and most of their story is about their journey to get away from Isuel. Mamoru, a sweet, kind-hearted man, beloved by his people, and Kouje, his servant, strong and the most loyal a man could be. There story was my favourite, as it showed elements of the story between Hal and Royston from Havemercy. Although Mamoru and Kouje never get together, their relationship is purely one of the strongest friendship and devotion.
The other half of the story is about Alcibiades and Caius, a warrior and a magician. Alcibiades is a stubborn war hardened man, kind, but he hides it well. Caius is very camp, enjoys great clothing and gets excited by the strangest things. Both are excellent characters and I enjoyed reading Alcibiades reactions to what Caius says, does and wears, and Caius' observations about Alcibiades are utterly brilliant.
One thing I prefered about this book to Havemercy was that I liked all 4 of the characters and wanted to read all of their stories, but with Havemercy, I found the stories of Rook and Thom rather boring and not nearly as interesting as Hal and Royston's story. But one thing that was missing from this book was the lack of romance. Normally it spoils a book for me, but after Havemercy and everything that happened between Hal and Royston, I was really hoping for more of that in this book, as Jones and Bennett write romance so well.
So I really recommend this, an excellent book indeed, but I don't think you'd have to have read the first in the series to understand this one. They are set in the world, but with little connections to each other.
This is a very good book, brilliantly written! I'm impressed that two so young could write a book of this standard when many fantasy writers much older than them can't manage it. Two brilliant authors who I hope keep writing for many years to come.
We follow four characters, the story told from all of their points of view. Mamoru, the Prince, deemed a traitor by his brother, Isuel, the Emperor. He and his servant run away from the Palace and most of their story is about their journey to get away from Isuel. Mamoru, a sweet, kind-hearted man, beloved by his people, and Kouje, his servant, strong and the most loyal a man could be. There story was my favourite, as it showed elements of the story between Hal and Royston from Havemercy. Although Mamoru and Kouje never get together, their relationship is purely one of the strongest friendship and devotion.
The other half of the story is about Alcibiades and Caius, a warrior and a magician. Alcibiades is a stubborn war hardened man, kind, but he hides it well. Caius is very camp, enjoys great clothing and gets excited by the strangest things. Both are excellent characters and I enjoyed reading Alcibiades reactions to what Caius says, does and wears, and Caius' observations about Alcibiades are utterly brilliant.
One thing I prefered about this book to Havemercy was that I liked all 4 of the characters and wanted to read all of their stories, but with Havemercy, I found the stories of Rook and Thom rather boring and not nearly as interesting as Hal and Royston's story. But one thing that was missing from this book was the lack of romance. Normally it spoils a book for me, but after Havemercy and everything that happened between Hal and Royston, I was really hoping for more of that in this book, as Jones and Bennett write romance so well.
So I really recommend this, an excellent book indeed, but I don't think you'd have to have read the first in the series to understand this one. They are set in the world, but with little connections to each other.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The war is over and we explore the problems of peace. The story moves to the court of the defeated enemy and two of the major characters are from that court; the others were minor characters in the first book who have come to the peace talks. The authors explore culture clash, and class differences. The characters are thrown together in various ways and forced to examine their own prejudices and behaviour. There is an exciting strand of adventure in the tale of a prince escaping possible death, and there is a fascinating depiction of the murky politics at the heart of the peace process. As in HaveMercy the authors use their fantasy world to pinpoint problems in our own, but at the same time provide us with memorable individuals whose lives come to mean a lot to the reader. Again, the writing is assured and the story flows beautifully. There is less individual romance but there is heroic romance and the book is a satisfying read. I hope there will be further adventures in this world.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Fish Out of Water and Strange Bedfellows Make this a Stand-Out Adventure
19 Oct 2009
Format:Hardcover
The country of Volstov has just won a hard-fought war with the Ke-Han Empire, fought with its magic-fueled flying metal dragons and narrowly overcoming a magical plague sent by the enemy. However, peace is still not assured. A diplomatic delegation of magicians and a few military men is dispatched to the defeated capital of Lapis, charged with working with the strange and prickly Empire in order to work out the terms of peace. General Alcibiades is one of the few military men. He is no diplomat and had hoped to have some time at home after the arduous war, but the Esar, ruler of Volstov, personally commanded him to go. He's a simple soldier at heart, impatient with the alien ultra-formal customs of Ke-Han, he leaves the diplomacy up to the others. To further his discomfort, he find himself sharing quarters with one of the oddest of the delegates, Caius Graylace, a magician recently recalled from exile who is eager to immerse himself in the intricacies of the Ke-Han court and whom Alcibiades thinks is totally insane.
At the Ke-Han Court, formality and protocol continue despite the defeat. The old Emperor commits suicide, as is their custom, and his eldest sons decide to live to continue the line. Mamoru is the younger son. He's loyal to his stronger elder brother and has gained some experience as a leader during the war which he hopes will be good enough to help aid in re-building the empire, although he remains fairly sheltered and innocent within the dangerous Court, where poison-tasters, intrigue and assassins are rife. Iseul, the new Emperor, is his opposite--decisive, hard, ruthless. Caught totally unaware, Mamoru's devoted servant/companion/mentor learns the new Emperor plans to assassinate his brother (presumably to remove any competition), and they both must overcome their vows to obey the Emperor and flee for their lives.
The story follows the events depicted in HAVE MERCY, but features different characters and can be read as a stand-alone. It is told in first-person, switching from chapter to chapter between the four characters: the soldier Alcibiades, the magician Caius, the fleeing brother of the emperor Mamoru, and his loyal and resourceful servant Kouje. Alcibiades and Caius are strangers to the ways of the mysterious Ke-Han Court and need to explore it and find the highlights and pitfalls while negotiating their way to find Peace with a still-dangerous Emperor. Mamoru and Kouje are almost strangers in their own land as they are forced to make their way beyond the confines and protocol of the Court while evading those hunting for them. While the threats are often not immediate, there is suspense in spades while we see the world and people through outsiders' eyes.
The world-building is good enough to keep things interesting, even though the alternate universe Russian and Japanese cultures are somewhat familiar. Magic plays a very small part, despite the title, but the four main characters and their growth in having to deal with each other and their situations are well depicted and fascinating and easily able to carry our interest. It is the characters that really stand out, particularly the quirky, fey Caius and the sweet, earnest Mamoru, balanced by the no-nonsense General and resolute servant. They make this an exciting and memorable read.
At the Ke-Han Court, formality and protocol continue despite the defeat. The old Emperor commits suicide, as is their custom, and his eldest sons decide to live to continue the line. Mamoru is the younger son. He's loyal to his stronger elder brother and has gained some experience as a leader during the war which he hopes will be good enough to help aid in re-building the empire, although he remains fairly sheltered and innocent within the dangerous Court, where poison-tasters, intrigue and assassins are rife. Iseul, the new Emperor, is his opposite--decisive, hard, ruthless. Caught totally unaware, Mamoru's devoted servant/companion/mentor learns the new Emperor plans to assassinate his brother (presumably to remove any competition), and they both must overcome their vows to obey the Emperor and flee for their lives.
The story follows the events depicted in HAVE MERCY, but features different characters and can be read as a stand-alone. It is told in first-person, switching from chapter to chapter between the four characters: the soldier Alcibiades, the magician Caius, the fleeing brother of the emperor Mamoru, and his loyal and resourceful servant Kouje. Alcibiades and Caius are strangers to the ways of the mysterious Ke-Han Court and need to explore it and find the highlights and pitfalls while negotiating their way to find Peace with a still-dangerous Emperor. Mamoru and Kouje are almost strangers in their own land as they are forced to make their way beyond the confines and protocol of the Court while evading those hunting for them. While the threats are often not immediate, there is suspense in spades while we see the world and people through outsiders' eyes.
The world-building is good enough to keep things interesting, even though the alternate universe Russian and Japanese cultures are somewhat familiar. Magic plays a very small part, despite the title, but the four main characters and their growth in having to deal with each other and their situations are well depicted and fascinating and easily able to carry our interest. It is the characters that really stand out, particularly the quirky, fey Caius and the sweet, earnest Mamoru, balanced by the no-nonsense General and resolute servant. They make this an exciting and memorable read.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Another Winner; Shadow Magic
12 Sep 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I "couldn't put this book down". Two talented authors lead one in excited anticipation from chapter to chapter. Jones and Bennett paint in vivid colors and fine detail each scene in every foreign yet somehow familiar place. Impeccably written and incredibly visual, this book cries out to be made into a movie, one of a series, starting with Havemercy and ending whenever. Battle scenes, sword fights, dangerous disguises, transformations, loyalty tested, treachery triumphed - all the elements of great story telling are here, lightened when appropriate by gentle humor.
Each of the characters is fully outfitted in face, movement, attitude, dress, and, by the way, has something personal beyond the story to add to the reader's enrichment. We can see ourselves, our friends and family, nations, in reading this book.
Each of the characters is fully outfitted in face, movement, attitude, dress, and, by the way, has something personal beyond the story to add to the reader's enrichment. We can see ourselves, our friends and family, nations, in reading this book.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
just keeps getting better
23 Aug 2009
Format:Hardcover
I loved this second book to havemercy the characters of caius greylace and general alcibiades were hilarious.These book's just keep getting better and better, very good read.
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