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mxsallybend's review
3.0
Picking up where she left off in The Uncrowned King, Rowena Cory Daniells brings her King Rolen's King trilogy to a close (if not an altogether tidy conclusion) with The Usurper.
This final instalment begins much as we would expect, with King Byren quietly raising a rebellion under the nose of his cousin, Lord Cobalt. Although largely consisting of young boys, maimed men, and resourceful old women, the fate of his arm slowly begins to turn with the emergence of the last living warrior monks. Together, they sneak over hidden passes, led by Orrie and Florin, to recruit the support of the same warlords who swore fealty to his father just months before.
Meanwhile, Piro and Fyn find themselves on the other side of the world, prisoners of tyrants and pirates. It is here that the novel really shines, with the development of some intricate political manoeuvring, backstabbing, conspiracies, and secrets. The friendship between Piro and Isolt is an intriguing development, bridging the warring factions, of you will, and offering a glimmer of hope for a peaceful future. Fyn, meanwhile, is forced to confront his fears, to sacrifice his future, and to take a role in the conflict that his status as a monk would have once forbid.
As the three becoming entangled with Tyro, agent of the mysterious Mage, the story takes an interesting and dramatic turn. Espionage and hidden agendas come to the forefront, with allies turning up in the most unexpected places, and treachery looming in ever shadow. The climactic battle of Rolencia that we had been expecting never comes to pass, with the story centring instead around a more intimate battle of wills. Palatyne and Byren do get their final confrontation, but within the distant halls of Merofynia. Even then, the outcome is not what we've come to expect, but there is a sort of poetic justice in how it all works out. Like I said earlier, it doesn't completely resolve the story line (there's still a traitorous cousin in charge across the sea), robbing us of possibly the most anticipated showdown in the series, but it does offer us hope for a successful resolution.
Should this turn out to be the end of the series, I would have to admit to a little disappointment. There are too many questions left unanswered, too many relationships left in limbo, and too much violence left off the page. The story really does demand one more volume but, should that come to pass, it wouldn't take much to transform that disappointment into satisfaction.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
This final instalment begins much as we would expect, with King Byren quietly raising a rebellion under the nose of his cousin, Lord Cobalt. Although largely consisting of young boys, maimed men, and resourceful old women, the fate of his arm slowly begins to turn with the emergence of the last living warrior monks. Together, they sneak over hidden passes, led by Orrie and Florin, to recruit the support of the same warlords who swore fealty to his father just months before.
Meanwhile, Piro and Fyn find themselves on the other side of the world, prisoners of tyrants and pirates. It is here that the novel really shines, with the development of some intricate political manoeuvring, backstabbing, conspiracies, and secrets. The friendship between Piro and Isolt is an intriguing development, bridging the warring factions, of you will, and offering a glimmer of hope for a peaceful future. Fyn, meanwhile, is forced to confront his fears, to sacrifice his future, and to take a role in the conflict that his status as a monk would have once forbid.
As the three becoming entangled with Tyro, agent of the mysterious Mage, the story takes an interesting and dramatic turn. Espionage and hidden agendas come to the forefront, with allies turning up in the most unexpected places, and treachery looming in ever shadow. The climactic battle of Rolencia that we had been expecting never comes to pass, with the story centring instead around a more intimate battle of wills. Palatyne and Byren do get their final confrontation, but within the distant halls of Merofynia. Even then, the outcome is not what we've come to expect, but there is a sort of poetic justice in how it all works out. Like I said earlier, it doesn't completely resolve the story line (there's still a traitorous cousin in charge across the sea), robbing us of possibly the most anticipated showdown in the series, but it does offer us hope for a successful resolution.
Should this turn out to be the end of the series, I would have to admit to a little disappointment. There are too many questions left unanswered, too many relationships left in limbo, and too much violence left off the page. The story really does demand one more volume but, should that come to pass, it wouldn't take much to transform that disappointment into satisfaction.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
blodeuedd's review
3.0
First, the guy looks totally scary, fear not though, he is not a zombie. I guess he is meant to be Fyn, the prince destined to become a monk because of his magic.
This book picks up where the last ended. Piro is on her way to Merofynia as a slave and she will serve princess Isolt. While her capturer expects her to be a spy for him. Byren has a camp filled with women, children, and some soldiers. He is trying to figure out how he can win his country back from his cousin, and kick out all the Merofynians. All while the young Fyn has been shanghaied and is now a sea hound. They all want to restore the throne.
I liked Piro's adventure, because later she meets this young mage, and I do like when I suddenly gets hopes up for possible romance. Byren's tale was war, as before, he is the fighter, the brave one and the one destined to be king. While Fyn really stepped up in this one, he showed he is courageous and noble, and he falls in love, sort of.
There were also some new faces, the young mage Tyro, princess Isolt, and then the evil Palatyne who wants to rule the world, and marry the young pretty Isolt. He does not care who he kills on hsi way to his throne. He feels like a very believable bad guy. Greedy for power.
The only negative part is the end. Oh it's a very happy fulfilling ending, but at the at same time it's open, and some major conflicts are left, especially in the romantic department. I want more, I need more, I must Daniells.
This is still a good end to a fantasy series that kept me enthralled and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The political plots, the hidden agendas, the magic, it all makes this an interesting tale of good, bad, and all that lies in between.
This book picks up where the last ended. Piro is on her way to Merofynia as a slave and she will serve princess Isolt. While her capturer expects her to be a spy for him. Byren has a camp filled with women, children, and some soldiers. He is trying to figure out how he can win his country back from his cousin, and kick out all the Merofynians. All while the young Fyn has been shanghaied and is now a sea hound. They all want to restore the throne.
I liked Piro's adventure, because later she meets this young mage, and I do like when I suddenly gets hopes up for possible romance. Byren's tale was war, as before, he is the fighter, the brave one and the one destined to be king. While Fyn really stepped up in this one, he showed he is courageous and noble, and he falls in love, sort of.
There were also some new faces, the young mage Tyro, princess Isolt, and then the evil Palatyne who wants to rule the world, and marry the young pretty Isolt. He does not care who he kills on hsi way to his throne. He feels like a very believable bad guy. Greedy for power.
The only negative part is the end. Oh it's a very happy fulfilling ending, but at the at same time it's open, and some major conflicts are left, especially in the romantic department. I want more, I need more, I must Daniells.
This is still a good end to a fantasy series that kept me enthralled and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The political plots, the hidden agendas, the magic, it all makes this an interesting tale of good, bad, and all that lies in between.
deehaichess's review
2.0
While nowhere near as bad as The Archer (different genre, I know, but it has the distinction of being the worst book I have ever read in my life so far), this still frustrated and disappointed to a major degree - major, because I think the story really had potential to be something amazing, but the author basically just kept to the shallows. My brother in fact hit the nail on the head when I was bitching to him about it telling him about it. He said "Sounds like something you'd enjoy when you were in high school and reading Forgotten Realms books" and I thought, actually, yeah. I probably would have thought this was a great romp when I was a teenager. Instead I was reading the Thomas Covenant Chronicles and The Hobbit. And I have read a lot of increasingly sophisticated stuff since then so sadly this series did not hold ground well against much more intelligent, thoughtful, risk-taking writers like Parker, Erikson and Martin.
So I guess I have to say I didn't personally enjoy this series all that much. And with the way this book ended, I suspect (although am not convinced) that there is more? Anyway, I had more fun imagining how good they could have been. For people who don't ask for a lot from their fantasy fiction, they're probably worth the short time it will take to read them. They are fun - all frustrations with the author's writing ability and choices aside - and the characters, while a little two-dimensional, were for the most part endearing. I'll be avoiding this author's work in the future, however.
A word of final warning: seriously don't expect anything but the 'dueling kingdoms' issue to be resolved; particularly not the issue raised between Byren and his best friend Orrie. In a world where gay men
So I guess I have to say I didn't personally enjoy this series all that much. And with the way this book ended, I suspect (although am not convinced) that there is more? Anyway, I had more fun imagining how good they could have been. For people who don't ask for a lot from their fantasy fiction, they're probably worth the short time it will take to read them. They are fun - all frustrations with the author's writing ability and choices aside - and the characters, while a little two-dimensional, were for the most part endearing. I'll be avoiding this author's work in the future, however.
A word of final warning: seriously don't expect anything but the 'dueling kingdoms' issue to be resolved; particularly not the issue raised between Byren and his best friend Orrie. In a world where gay men
Spoiler
get executed merely for being gay, the fact that the author brings this issue up early would normally imply she intends to resolve it. Not so. In fact, it isn't even given a token mention at the end. Nothing ever happens between them (there's one kiss) and there is no mention of the new King Byren's social reforms. I guess he hasn't gotten to that part yet, so I'll just assume, in strained good faith, that both he and the author intends to.thiefofcamorr's review
Katharine is a judge for the Sara Douglass 'Book Series' Award. This entry is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
yazerk's review
3.0
This is an enjoyable book. It is fast paced and easy to read. The story and the style is also very "affordable", opening this fantasy to a bigger reader base.
cindyc's review
4.0
This was supposed to be the final volume in a trilogy and as such, I think I would have been dissatisfied at the end of it. As it is, there is a 4th book that came out last year, so the questions I have after this book may still be answered. I’m glad Rowena wrote another book about King Rolen’s Kin, because there was so much more left to discuss. We get an ending to one of the major storylines, but the one that got the most attention in the first book is still left unresolved. I’m pretty curious what the 4th book will bring us in that aspect.
‘The Usurper’ picks up right after ‘The Uncrowned King’ where Byren is licking his wounds in the mountains in a camp they built for everyone that wants to join Byren against Cobalt plus the survivors from Dovecote estate. Piro is on her way to Merofynia, claimed by Palatyne to serve his bride-to-be Isolt Kingsdaughter, while her previous master, the mysterious Lord Dunstany, wants her to spy for him. Fyn finds himself on a ship full of sea-hounds, the rough equivalent of pirates, with a rather obscure allegiance. All of them still want to avenge the deaths of their family and take back Rolencia.
If I had to choose my favourite storyline in this book, it would definitely be Piro’s. She is such a strong character and is not afraid to take matters into her own hands to make sure she survives. This way she ends up on Ostron Isle, in Mage Tsulamyth’s tower. There is a great deal of mystery in this storyline, where the powerful character of Lord Dunstany also makes an appearance. Trust me, you won’t expect everything that Piro finds out on Mage Isle! I really liked the interaction between Piro and Agent Tyro. There is certainly more there, but due to everything that has happened so far, Piro can’t trust him, though she really wants to. The tension, the magic, the mystery, it all serves to make this storyline the most powerful of the whole book.
There is however another character in this storyline, namely Isolt, but I didn’t really like her. I can’t quite pinpoint why that is, but I lacked every sort of connection with her. Piro was the star of the story for me.
Second on my top storylines is Fyn’s. The insecure monk from the first book who only had to worry about bullies and the fact that his affinity wasn’t good enough to become a mystic, the monk who froze when he had to kill a man, has now grown out to be a strong and clever man. Only 17, but already very mature and full of ideas and daring. I think putting Fyn with the Sea-hounds was a fantastic idea to develop his character further. The only thing that bothered me with Fyn was his romantic storyline. I can understand why he doesn’t want to show his feeling in the situation he’s in, but their feelings for each other are so obvious that it gets annoying to watch them be oblivious about it and trying to avoid it. We already have something like that with Byren, so twice in one book was a bit much.
Byren’s was my least favourite storyarc. It feels a bit like his character is slipping away from me. Where I could really feel for him in the first book, that is now almost completely gone. I thought the action we got in during his time in the spotlight was pretty good and even with a quite surprising outcome, but all the stuff going on at the sidelines couldn’t really touch me. I had hopes for the romantic part when Florin came in to the picture and I liked the tension between them, but it dragged out a bit, both of them not willing to acknowledge their feelings.
Even with the few minor stuff that I didn’t like in this book, I enjoyed ‘The Usurper’ very much. I love diving back into the story of Byren, Fyn and Piro and I enjoyed the fact that we got to see a whole lot more of the world Rowena created. The ending was climatic, full of action and wrapped up one of the major arcs wonderfully. We even got a full on Affinity battle, which I had been hoping for since the first book. Speaking of which, Affinity gets a lot more mention in this book and takes on a leading role in the story.
If you enjoyed the previous books, there is no doubt you will also enjoy ‘The Usurper’.
‘The Usurper’ picks up right after ‘The Uncrowned King’ where Byren is licking his wounds in the mountains in a camp they built for everyone that wants to join Byren against Cobalt plus the survivors from Dovecote estate. Piro is on her way to Merofynia, claimed by Palatyne to serve his bride-to-be Isolt Kingsdaughter, while her previous master, the mysterious Lord Dunstany, wants her to spy for him. Fyn finds himself on a ship full of sea-hounds, the rough equivalent of pirates, with a rather obscure allegiance. All of them still want to avenge the deaths of their family and take back Rolencia.
If I had to choose my favourite storyline in this book, it would definitely be Piro’s. She is such a strong character and is not afraid to take matters into her own hands to make sure she survives. This way she ends up on Ostron Isle, in Mage Tsulamyth’s tower. There is a great deal of mystery in this storyline, where the powerful character of Lord Dunstany also makes an appearance. Trust me, you won’t expect everything that Piro finds out on Mage Isle! I really liked the interaction between Piro and Agent Tyro. There is certainly more there, but due to everything that has happened so far, Piro can’t trust him, though she really wants to. The tension, the magic, the mystery, it all serves to make this storyline the most powerful of the whole book.
There is however another character in this storyline, namely Isolt, but I didn’t really like her. I can’t quite pinpoint why that is, but I lacked every sort of connection with her. Piro was the star of the story for me.
Second on my top storylines is Fyn’s. The insecure monk from the first book who only had to worry about bullies and the fact that his affinity wasn’t good enough to become a mystic, the monk who froze when he had to kill a man, has now grown out to be a strong and clever man. Only 17, but already very mature and full of ideas and daring. I think putting Fyn with the Sea-hounds was a fantastic idea to develop his character further. The only thing that bothered me with Fyn was his romantic storyline. I can understand why he doesn’t want to show his feeling in the situation he’s in, but their feelings for each other are so obvious that it gets annoying to watch them be oblivious about it and trying to avoid it. We already have something like that with Byren, so twice in one book was a bit much.
Byren’s was my least favourite storyarc. It feels a bit like his character is slipping away from me. Where I could really feel for him in the first book, that is now almost completely gone. I thought the action we got in during his time in the spotlight was pretty good and even with a quite surprising outcome, but all the stuff going on at the sidelines couldn’t really touch me. I had hopes for the romantic part when Florin came in to the picture and I liked the tension between them, but it dragged out a bit, both of them not willing to acknowledge their feelings.
Even with the few minor stuff that I didn’t like in this book, I enjoyed ‘The Usurper’ very much. I love diving back into the story of Byren, Fyn and Piro and I enjoyed the fact that we got to see a whole lot more of the world Rowena created. The ending was climatic, full of action and wrapped up one of the major arcs wonderfully. We even got a full on Affinity battle, which I had been hoping for since the first book. Speaking of which, Affinity gets a lot more mention in this book and takes on a leading role in the story.
If you enjoyed the previous books, there is no doubt you will also enjoy ‘The Usurper’.
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