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robinbridgefour 's review for:
Thron in Flammen: Roman
by Brian Staveley
Reread before [b:The Last Mortal Bond|20753341|The Last Mortal Bond (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, #3)|Brian Staveley|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1431018288s/20753341.jpg|40085389] with the usual crew at BB&B
Original Review:
3.75 What a great ending!!!
I remember reading [b:A Game of Thrones|13496|A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436732693s/13496.jpg|1466917] years ago and hating Jamie Lannister with the fiery heat of a thousand suns, but by [b:A Storm of Swords|62291|A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1420979112s/62291.jpg|1164465] I starting thinking maybe he wasn’t such a horrible person and in a huge turn around by [b:A Dance with Dragons|10664113|A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327885335s/10664113.jpg|2936175] he is one of my favorite characters. So if George R R Martin can turn the attempted child murdering, incest perpetrating Kingslayer (that was in the first 3 episodes on the most watched HBO series ever so not a true spoiler) into a beloved staple of his series I decided nothing is impossible in character transformation.
Hmmm….so why is that relevant here? Well, when we left the Emperor’s Blades I was sure who I liked and who I hated, I was certain who was on team good and team evil, I was positive that nothing could change my mind…..and then I read this book and now I have no idea about any of that. Worse yet I’m not sure who I want to root for or if I should root for anyone. Everyone is flawed, everyone has made mistakes, and everyone has sacrificed something or someone that perhaps they shouldn’t have. Staveley could do the almost impossible and make me love a character that I previously detested…only the final book will tell.
All three children of the Emperor have very different paths to follow in this tale
Kaden and Adare both have the Golden Eyes that indicate they are descended from the Gods. But neither knows what is happening with the other if they are alive or dead. Adare must make her way out of the palace and find supporters from an unlikely place. She is so naïve after living in the palace for so long and makes some very bad decisions along the way. But she does meet some very interesting people including my favorite New Character Nira.
Nira is a great mentor or sorts to Adare, one she needed to grow from a pampered Princess into someone who could rule. It is still a bumpy road and while most of the time I liked Adare she made some huge choices that I hated and might cost her in the end.
Kaden has decided to use the gates to travel with Rampuri Tan to his old order of monks.
But that doesn’t go according to plan either and there are plenty of surprises in store for him regarding using the gates and who can also go through them.
Kaden’s story stalled just a little for me in the middle. Actually all of the story lines did at one point in time but his was maybe the most noticeable because it overlapped with Valyn’s stall (I blame this on imprisonments and traveling). However after the 50% mark when threads of the story start to intertwine a little more with one another I was back in the saddle and ready to ride this story out until the end. Especially once Kaden makes it back to the city of Annur and gets to show how adept he is at moving the chess pieces around.
Valyn is in a whole heap of trouble. Branded a traitor he is not only running from the all the forces of Annur but also from Flea the greatest wing commander in the history of the Kettral. Nothing seems to ever go right for him and I swear they get found or captured more than the Dwarves’ in The Hobit. But he is ever tough and his crew + Pyrre is amazing. Vayln made some really tough calls as Wing commander and although they seem right at the time there is no denying that every choice has a consequence, some he can live with and others just might change him forever.
With new enemies, new histories, new theologies there is more to this world than ever before. A little bit of something for everyone.
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS!!! You know what I really like about this book are the women in it. Every single one of them is strong and has there own merit. Annick the quick sniper who sees what needs to be done and does it fighting fiercely. Pyrre is a cross between a killer and a lover depending on what the situation needs but she is fearless and in the face of death pulls no punches. Gwenna, well who doesn’t like an untamable wild girl who knows how to blow things up. But the award for the most changed and most interesting goes to…..Triste bet you didn’t see that one coming. O.o she is more than just a pretty face, just you wait and see. And Finally Nira who I hope to see a lot more of in the next book. All woman have something special about them and are there own characters. I really love the girl power in this.
In conclusion: While I got a little distracted in the first half of the book as we learn a lot of new information and travel a bit it is more than made up for in the second half of the book. There were some unexpected twists and still at this moment in time I have no idea who to believe in. I look forward to the conclusion of this series and all the answers I hope come with it.
Oh...not that it was important but there is absolutely positively no inkling of a romance in this book which sucked a little for me since I totally ship Valyn and Gwenna.
Original Review:
3.75 What a great ending!!!
“They will not be ready to rule it,” he said, his eyes silent as the stars, “until they are willing to see it burn.”
I remember reading [b:A Game of Thrones|13496|A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436732693s/13496.jpg|1466917] years ago and hating Jamie Lannister with the fiery heat of a thousand suns, but by [b:A Storm of Swords|62291|A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1420979112s/62291.jpg|1164465] I starting thinking maybe he wasn’t such a horrible person and in a huge turn around by [b:A Dance with Dragons|10664113|A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327885335s/10664113.jpg|2936175] he is one of my favorite characters. So if George R R Martin can turn the attempted child murdering, incest perpetrating Kingslayer (that was in the first 3 episodes on the most watched HBO series ever so not a true spoiler) into a beloved staple of his series I decided nothing is impossible in character transformation.
Hmmm….so why is that relevant here? Well, when we left the Emperor’s Blades I was sure who I liked and who I hated, I was certain who was on team good and team evil, I was positive that nothing could change my mind…..and then I read this book and now I have no idea about any of that. Worse yet I’m not sure who I want to root for or if I should root for anyone. Everyone is flawed, everyone has made mistakes, and everyone has sacrificed something or someone that perhaps they shouldn’t have. Staveley could do the almost impossible and make me love a character that I previously detested…only the final book will tell.
All three children of the Emperor have very different paths to follow in this tale
Kaden and Adare both have the Golden Eyes that indicate they are descended from the Gods. But neither knows what is happening with the other if they are alive or dead. Adare must make her way out of the palace and find supporters from an unlikely place. She is so naïve after living in the palace for so long and makes some very bad decisions along the way. But she does meet some very interesting people including my favorite New Character Nira.
“Ya know how ya get to run an empire, girl?”
Adare shook her head in frustration. “That’s what I’ve been asking.”
The old woman poked her in the chest with the stick. “You run it.”
“Meaning what?”
“You see what needs doing, and ya do it. Everything else follows: the throne, the taxes, the title. I’ve watched a lot of folk try ta rule a lot of land. I’ve watched men cling ta their fancy titles while their people and their realms just … slipped away, and I’ve watched men who couldn’t give a watery shit for the names and the titles rule half a continent. Ya just do what needs doing, and the people will figure out all on their own that you’re the ’Kent-kissing Emperor.”
Nira is a great mentor or sorts to Adare, one she needed to grow from a pampered Princess into someone who could rule. It is still a bumpy road and while most of the time I liked Adare she made some huge choices that I hated and might cost her in the end.
Kaden has decided to use the gates to travel with Rampuri Tan to his old order of monks.
But that doesn’t go according to plan either and there are plenty of surprises in store for him regarding using the gates and who can also go through them.
Kaden’s story stalled just a little for me in the middle. Actually all of the story lines did at one point in time but his was maybe the most noticeable because it overlapped with Valyn’s stall (I blame this on imprisonments and traveling). However after the 50% mark when threads of the story start to intertwine a little more with one another I was back in the saddle and ready to ride this story out until the end. Especially once Kaden makes it back to the city of Annur and gets to show how adept he is at moving the chess pieces around.
Kaden took a deep breath. “I’m losing the game, which means I have three choices: cede, fight back…” He hesitated, wondering if he was seeing the options clearly.
“Or?” Triste pressed. Then, for the first time since arriving in Annur, Kaden smiled.
“Or break the board.”
Valyn is in a whole heap of trouble. Branded a traitor he is not only running from the all the forces of Annur but also from Flea the greatest wing commander in the history of the Kettral. Nothing seems to ever go right for him and I swear they get found or captured more than the Dwarves’ in The Hobit. But he is ever tough and his crew + Pyrre is amazing. Vayln made some really tough calls as Wing commander and although they seem right at the time there is no denying that every choice has a consequence, some he can live with and others just might change him forever.
With new enemies, new histories, new theologies there is more to this world than ever before. A little bit of something for everyone.
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS!!! You know what I really like about this book are the women in it. Every single one of them is strong and has there own merit. Annick the quick sniper who sees what needs to be done and does it fighting fiercely. Pyrre is a cross between a killer and a lover depending on what the situation needs but she is fearless and in the face of death pulls no punches. Gwenna, well who doesn’t like an untamable wild girl who knows how to blow things up. But the award for the most changed and most interesting goes to…..Triste bet you didn’t see that one coming. O.o she is more than just a pretty face, just you wait and see. And Finally Nira who I hope to see a lot more of in the next book. All woman have something special about them and are there own characters. I really love the girl power in this.
In conclusion: While I got a little distracted in the first half of the book as we learn a lot of new information and travel a bit it is more than made up for in the second half of the book. There were some unexpected twists and still at this moment in time I have no idea who to believe in. I look forward to the conclusion of this series and all the answers I hope come with it.
Oh...not that it was important but there is absolutely positively no inkling of a romance in this book which sucked a little for me since I totally ship Valyn and Gwenna.