Het was al weer even geleden sinds ik deel 1 van deze serie had gelezen en het kostte even wat moeite om alle personages weer te leren kennen, maar toen ik dat weer allemaal op een rijtje had, ging het lezen als een trein. Niet echt heel hoogstaand, maar heerlijk ontspannen lezen. ( )

The Denova Empire is flourishing under Loethar, it helps that he's stopped eating people. He's pretty bored with peace, his brother is determined to get power, his wife tolerates him but hasn't produced any children, his mother is aging and bitter. To add to his problems are the children of the Valisars; Leo and Piven who are getting older and starting to have their own idead.

How to say this without spoilers? Piven becomes interesting and I'm not sure I like it. Several characters die or change in this story but sometimes it feels like it's because the author has created too many characters and wants to cull them, or when she runs out of what to do with the plot she kills someone (or injures them). I think this might have been a bit better if it focussed on fewer characters, still it was a quick read and kept my attention. I will have to read the third book in this series to see what happens. ( )

The story has moved on 10 years. Gavriel De Vis has been living in the mountains with Elka. Gavriel is intent on regaining his memory. Leo is a young man who wants to be allowed freedom to act his age and begin to lead. Vulpan the blood taster is on the trail of the highway men and Loethar hopes to be able to find their leader Kilt Faris. Lily finally gets Kilt to agree to marry her but while on a mission ends up marrying another man for her own safety. Piven is no longer the damaged youth of the previous story.

Many secrets are revealed in this story to the characters and the readers. The plot of good verses evil magic grows. There is enough information revealed to that the reader can make connections however they are not completely obvious. McIntosh has me very excited about what will happen in the finial book King’s Wrath. But who will be the king, Leo, Piven or Loethar? ( )

This review has been written for The David Gemmell Legend Awards for Fantasy site (http://gemmellaward.com/).

In Royal Exile Loethar had conquered the Denova Set by force and imposed himself as Emperor. Prince Leonel, now King after his father death, went into exile with his friend and protector, Gavriel de Vis, to find the bandit Kilt Faris.

Ten years have passed, and the Emperor has discarded his barbarian ways to become a just ruler. The Set has begun to forget the bloodshed and fear. King Leonel has grown as well, and although he has not given up on taking his throne back, he has to admit that Loethar is doing a fine job himself.

Royal Exile was about running and saving oneself. Every character did it, they all tried very hard to stay alive, either by running to protection or by allying (or pretending to) with the invaders. Tyrant's Blood is much deeper than that. It shows the time of peace, and what people are willing to do to maintain it, while trying to make things go their way.

This is a book that is hard to review without giving anything away. The plot twists and untwists, and the characters move from place to place, running from and encountering friends and foes. This is a dark story, disturbingly so at times. You will love characters, hate them the next chapter and later forgive them for all the wrongdoings. You'll find yourself in a world that appears to have finally settled, only to discover that there is a greater darkness at work.

There are lots of things that I loved about Tyrant's Blood. I loved the Prologue. I believe it stands as a story on it own. It will confuse the reader at first, making it wonder if they have the right book in their hands, as it is so different from Royal Exile. Yet, it will fit so perfectly.

I loved that the characters evolved when we weren't looking. Not only in the ten years that have passed, but throughout the book. I also love that there is not black and white, they are all shades of grey, and sometimes the darker tones are found where least expected.

And I loved the fact that this is truly adult fantasy, with no need of dragons and giant balls of magic being hurled around to be able to fit the genre.

An excellent read, although not for the squeamish.

Also at Spoilers and Nuts ( )

I love Fiona McIntosh’s work and I hate having to wait for whatever she is bringing out next. I preordered Book Two in her Valisar trilogy the day I finished Book One. I psat down to read it The minute it arrived in the post, I put aside all distractions and settled in for another exciting outing in this fascinatig world.

In Book One (Royal Exile) Loethar, the barbarian warlord from the Likkurian steppes, set about creating his own Empire. After sweeping aside many realms in his quest, he set his sights on Penraven, held by the Valisar king, Brennus. Like all the royal line of Valisars, Brennus has magical powers. Loethar becomes convinced that, if he overthrows Brennus, he can take on his powers too. With his army of mercenaries, Loethar launches a bloody invasion of Penraven, wiping out all those he considers loyal to the Valisars, and establishing himself as Emperor.

Book Two picks up some ten years later. Loethar is happily ensconced as ruler of Penravan and has mellowed as the years have passed. He has worked hard to integrate his people into the Penraven population. Even those who oppose his illegitimate seizing of the Valisar throne admit that he has shown admirable skill in bringing the two cultures together and establishing a stable kingdom. However, abandoning his more violent methods of persuasion hasn't quelled the undercurrent of rebellion. Hidden from the barbarian's wrath by loyal allies, Valisar heirs do live.

Brennus had organised for his young heir to escape the massacre before Loethar arrived at the Penraven palace. He made sure that close supporters took Leo to Kilt Faris, the leader of a band of outlaws who had been long challenging his rule in the north. He believed Faris would protect Leo until he was old enough to regain his throne. Leo is now a grown man, and ready to take on this challenge. Piven, Brennus’s adopted younger son, was considered a halfwit when a youngster. As he was not thought to be of the Valisar line, Loethar did not kill him and actually became quite fond of him. However, Piven too escaped from the palace is holed up in the forest, protected by Greven, and is now a highly intelligent teenager coming into strng magical talents. Vyk, Loethar’s odd tamed raven, has kept tabs on Piven all these years. Freath, loyal advisor to Brennus and his queen, has ostensibly changed sides and is now a trusted adviser to Loethar. Stracker, Loethar’s barbarian half brother, is itching to challenge for the throne as he believes Loethar has softened in Penraven and is no longer true to their brutal tribal practices.

Many loose threads are converging and all is not as it seems.

Once again, McIntosh has delivered an edge-of-the seat adventure tale with strong characters and amazing twists and turns. I’m not going to reveal any spoilers – but the ending is a knockout.

I can’t wait for the third and final volume to find how this is all resolved. ( )