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A review by willrefuge
Blood and Tempest by Jon Skovron
4.0
The third and final book of the Empire of Storms provides Hope and Red with an ending. While it may not be THE ending, this particular trilogy certainly does come to an epic conclusion.
4.0 / 5.0 stars.
A great end to a great trilogy—if not the epic that you were expecting.
The entire Empire of Storms has been thrilling, epic and tirelessly entertaining. While Blood and Tempest is easily the shortest installment of the trilogy, it still manages to conclude a fantastic story with a thoughtful but epic conclusion that in no way seems dictated by length or lack of time.
SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BOOKS I & II OF THE EMPIRE OF STORMS
I read Hope and Red maybe a month after its release in 2016 and was instantly in love. Since then the story has grown in scope—starting from the two title characters to encapsulate maybe a dozen or so (shall we say) “minor” characters that help lead Hope and Red to their conclusion. Be aware: this is THEIR story. The empire, the isles, the supporting cast are all involved, all living their own story as well—but for now, Hope and Red take center stage. And while the empire, the world itself may accompany them on this particular journey, the epic conclusion of EoS resolves their story, but not necessarily that of the world itself. This isn’t by any means a deal-breaker. It isn’t where I thought we were headed from HaR, but is entertaining all the same.
The plot of Blood and Tempest picks up where Bane and Shadow left off, with Hope having left the Sword of Sorrows—and presumably violence—behind her. In her private quest for meaning she wanders the south of the empire, searching for answers in her own past. Red, having escaped Biomancer control, continues to search for atonement following his period as the Shadow Demon, attempting to spite the very masters he once served. He serves as a spy for the Empress, although he’s… not terribly good at it. Lacks subtlety, that one. After a few not-so-minor setbacks, Red is given the one task he’s wanted all along: recruit Hope and Brigga Lin to the Empress’s cause.
Brigga Lin has shrugged off Hope’s sudden departure well enough. She’s off fucking a pirate captain, engaging in small time piracy. Her pupil, Jilly, struggles to fit in with the pirates—all of whom seem to be ragged, smelly dudes—while trying to cope with the life she’s been thrust into and the consequences of Hope’s betrayal and departure. The rest of their crew has split as well: Nettles becoming the Black Rose of Paradise Circle, Filler and Sadie and many more dead and gone, Missing Finn and Alash and others disappeared.
Hope, meanwhile, discovers peculiar mysteries in the south—not precisely the answers she was looking for. Red discovers a not-so-subtle plot that could mean the end of the empire itself. Together, with a motley cast and crew, their adventures and experiences will help change the shape of the world.
While not the perfect ending I was looking for, Blood and Tempest provides an ending, at least one to the saga that began in Hope and Red. While it may not be THE ENDING—a door is left open here for more in this world—Jon Skovron certainly provides a conclusion to the story he set out to tell. And it was a worthwhile conclusion to discover. So long as you don’t expect too much—as not all my questions were answered.
If you were after a conclusion to Hope and Red’s journey—you will not be disappointed. Hopefully. I hope to see more of Skovron in the future. Possibly a further glimpse into the Empire as well.
4.0 / 5.0 stars.
A great end to a great trilogy—if not the epic that you were expecting.
The entire Empire of Storms has been thrilling, epic and tirelessly entertaining. While Blood and Tempest is easily the shortest installment of the trilogy, it still manages to conclude a fantastic story with a thoughtful but epic conclusion that in no way seems dictated by length or lack of time.
SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BOOKS I & II OF THE EMPIRE OF STORMS
I read Hope and Red maybe a month after its release in 2016 and was instantly in love. Since then the story has grown in scope—starting from the two title characters to encapsulate maybe a dozen or so (shall we say) “minor” characters that help lead Hope and Red to their conclusion. Be aware: this is THEIR story. The empire, the isles, the supporting cast are all involved, all living their own story as well—but for now, Hope and Red take center stage. And while the empire, the world itself may accompany them on this particular journey, the epic conclusion of EoS resolves their story, but not necessarily that of the world itself. This isn’t by any means a deal-breaker. It isn’t where I thought we were headed from HaR, but is entertaining all the same.
The plot of Blood and Tempest picks up where Bane and Shadow left off, with Hope having left the Sword of Sorrows—and presumably violence—behind her. In her private quest for meaning she wanders the south of the empire, searching for answers in her own past. Red, having escaped Biomancer control, continues to search for atonement following his period as the Shadow Demon, attempting to spite the very masters he once served. He serves as a spy for the Empress, although he’s… not terribly good at it. Lacks subtlety, that one. After a few not-so-minor setbacks, Red is given the one task he’s wanted all along: recruit Hope and Brigga Lin to the Empress’s cause.
Brigga Lin has shrugged off Hope’s sudden departure well enough. She’s off fucking a pirate captain, engaging in small time piracy. Her pupil, Jilly, struggles to fit in with the pirates—all of whom seem to be ragged, smelly dudes—while trying to cope with the life she’s been thrust into and the consequences of Hope’s betrayal and departure. The rest of their crew has split as well: Nettles becoming the Black Rose of Paradise Circle, Filler and Sadie and many more dead and gone, Missing Finn and Alash and others disappeared.
Hope, meanwhile, discovers peculiar mysteries in the south—not precisely the answers she was looking for. Red discovers a not-so-subtle plot that could mean the end of the empire itself. Together, with a motley cast and crew, their adventures and experiences will help change the shape of the world.
While not the perfect ending I was looking for, Blood and Tempest provides an ending, at least one to the saga that began in Hope and Red. While it may not be THE ENDING—a door is left open here for more in this world—Jon Skovron certainly provides a conclusion to the story he set out to tell. And it was a worthwhile conclusion to discover. So long as you don’t expect too much—as not all my questions were answered.
If you were after a conclusion to Hope and Red’s journey—you will not be disappointed. Hopefully. I hope to see more of Skovron in the future. Possibly a further glimpse into the Empire as well.