- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz (7 Jan 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0575063130
- ISBN-13: 978-0575063136
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 14.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,205,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Paul Kearney's ongoing fantasy series "The Monarchies of God" began with Hawkwood's Voyage and The Heretic Kings. Volume Three's title, The Iron Wars, aptly reflects the tough, bleak battles that dominate the book. In an alternate-historical setting where armies use both swords and crude firearms like arquebuses, the overarching conflict is semi-religious. Western kingdoms have two rival churches based on a Saint's teachings, while their Oriental foes believe only in the Prophet--a grim and long-hidden irony being that these two spiritual leaders were the same man. Magic exists in strange, grisly forms but is fading, hounded by the church yet occasionally biting back. One plot strand, a voyage to a legendary western continent, remains offstage throughout this book. The focus is on a brutally realistic war in which major characters have already died or been maimed, and where the West's most able military leader is not only fighting overwhelming odds but is continually threatened by his own side's betrayals, snobbery and factional plotting. At the climax there's a rousing, hopeless-seeming battle which doesn't so much end as pause for breath after too much slaughter. Evidently a fourth book must follow. Strong stuff, not for the squeamish. --David Langford
Product Description
In the east, the great fortress of Ormann Dyke is about to be overthrown by the heathen Merduks, while in the west, Hebrion's king lies in a coma, his capital in smouldering ruins. To all this returns the explorer Richard Hawkwood, but there is something terrible lurking in his ship's hold.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have now begun reading this series once again in preparation for Book 5 which is due out in August 2001. I cannot recommend this series more highly, it holds you bound until the last page. A variety of flawed characters and a wide array of monsters, both human and otherwise, make for true fascination. The first books may be hard to find, but you simply must hunt them down. What a journey....
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the moment you read the prelude to this book you will be wrapped into a twisted brutal world were no one is safe....
This book continues a very dark fantasy tale that is roughly based on the fall of christianity in the middle east and the rise of Islam and the Turkish empire that caused so much fear in europe (also chuck in a bit of colombus' journey to discover the americas).
I would have to say this is just about the darkest fantasy I have ever read.... even George R R Martin and Robin Hobb pale in comparison to Mr Kearney for the brutality that he unleashes on us, thou he fails to quite get the chartacter involvement that both the afore mentioned authors give us. This is not a weakness of the books thou just a different writting style.
Format:Paperback
This book focuses on the politics in the kingdoms, showing one incompetent king leading his people to disaster through arrogance while those around him try and manipulate the situation and another king being attacked by political opponents trying to take advantage of the destruction around them.
Some of the characters are given more depth here.
Corfe is a good character as the haunted soldier and we start to see him rise to prominence here as he tries to not get bogged down in politics while the incompetent king is leading them to destruction.
The character of Isolla is grown in this book, getting some extra depth as she helps Abeleyn fight the political struggle in his kingdom.
There is little magic but there is plenty of action with a few battles as Corfe grows in strength.
There are several surprises throughout and the ending leaves things well set up for the next book.
Some of the characters are given more depth here.
Corfe is a good character as the haunted soldier and we start to see him rise to prominence here as he tries to not get bogged down in politics while the incompetent king is leading them to destruction.
The character of Isolla is grown in this book, getting some extra depth as she helps Abeleyn fight the political struggle in his kingdom.
There is little magic but there is plenty of action with a few battles as Corfe grows in strength.
There are several surprises throughout and the ending leaves things well set up for the next book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Hidden Gem
This is an absolute corker of a series and why it isn't hasn't attained a higher profile is beyond me. It really is superior to most of the other stuff out there today. Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2008 by DWMJH
A truely BRUTAL book
From the moment you read the prelude to this book you will be wrapped into a twisted brutal world were no one is safe.... Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2000
An incredible book, with something new to offer.
You've got to read this..it's Tolkien,Le Guin,and Holdstock all rolled into one! Fantastic stuff.
Published on 5 Mar 2000
Absolutely excellent. Highly recommended.
This book is the best of an already fantastic series. I simply cannot wait for the next installment.
Published on 26 Jan 2000
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