The Saints Of The Sword (Gollancz S.F.) [Paperback]

The book continues where the previous part, The Grand Design, left us. Renato Biagio is finally emperor of Nar, but things aren't going the way he would like them to go. Instead of gaining total control over the empire, Biagio is now facing a civil war. After the death of general Vorto at the end of The Grand Design, the legions of Nar refuse to fight for Biagio. And, to make things even worse, admiral Nicabar (Biagio's lifetime friend) has decided to disobey Biagio's orders and continue the war against Liss. Meanwhile king Tassis Gayle of Talistan is secretly building an army to overthrow Biagio and avenge his son Blackwood Gayle.

Trying to get things under control again, Biagio has set up a war tribunal called the Protectorate. One of the persons who has to face the tribunal is the governor of Aramoor, Elrad Leth. This is where we meet one of the new main characters of the Saints of the Swords, Alazrian Leth, Elrads step-son. Alazrian has a special gift, he can heal people, altough he doesn't know how or why. When Elrad Leth leaves for the Black City to face the Protectorate he takes Alazrian with him.

This is precisely what Biagio hoped for. Thanks to his spies throughout the empire Biagio is aware of Tassis Gayles plans. And Biagio wouldn't be the Biagio we know from the previous books if he didn't think of a plan to out-smart his enemies. Biagio needs the help of some of his former enemies, among which is Richius Vantran. Richius, the main character from The Jackal of Nar and the exiled king of Aramoor, lives with his wife an daughter in Lucel-Lor. To get a message to Richius he needs the help of Alazrian. Just to make things a bit more complicated, Alazrian is the grand-son of Tassis Gayle......

In this final part of the Tyrants and Kings series John Marco has yet again written a fine piece of fantasy. Just like the previous two books, The Saints of the Sword is full of warfare, intrigue, romance and......magic. Where The Grand Design lacked a certain amount of magic, The Saints of the Swords is full of it. Don't get me wrong, you won't find any magicians destroying whole armies, but you just can sense its there.

You've read The Jackal of Nar and The Grand Design and you liked it? Then you simply can't afford not to read it, you will really love this conclusion of the Tyrants and Kings series.

The second book was OK.

This book - weak.

The story flitted about too much for my liking - there was no real depth on any of the new characters and too little time given to established characters.

Biagio may as well be a different person, yet despite his previous attrocities - everyone is happy to trust him with the smallest amount of persuassion. "Hey, you had my wife raped and decapitated. But your eyes are a different colour so I'll trust you. Come and stay at my house." It didn't ring true.

I did enjoy some elements of the book - and generally it was a good end to the sage, but I cannot help but feel shortcanged after the first book was so promising.