Tag Archives: fantasy

Book Review: The Forgotten Empires, by Jeffe Kennedy

Several years ago, I won a copy of Jeffe Kennedy‘s The Fiery Crown. As a second book in a then-unfinished series, it has sat on my shelf ever since. But I am making an effort to read more of my physical books. So, I borrowed The Orchid Throne from the library, and when they did not have a copy of The Promised Queen, I purchased one.

A PRISONER OF FATE

As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Euthalia will do anything to keep her people free—and her secrets safe—from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world—a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…

A PRINCE AMONG MEN

Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Euthalia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes—nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?

I’m going to write a single review for this whole series, since it is a single story. Each book picks up just as the last ends.

I adored this wholly. There was a moment in book three when I thought Kennedy brought in some pointless kink to write to the market, and I was annoyed. But even that turned out not to be pointless after all. So, I basically just loved all of this.

Con and Lia are marvelous characters. He’s just the Goodest of Good Boys when he’s not being a dangerous, murderous rebel. She’s smart and poised. She’s also 26, if I remember correctly, and he is of a similar age. So, they’re full adults. There’s no young or new adult angst over self-discovery or sex. Nor is there any artificial misunderstandings or third-act breakup. The side characters are also marvelous and complicated. Ambrose is my favorite, though I enjoyed them all.

True, there isn’t much of a sense of the rest of the world, outside of the immediate happenings of the book. Where did Con’s army go, for example? Once the Illustrious Toad was deposed, what of his court and the regular people? But the world and magic are interesting. The pacing is also, admittedly, uneven. But that was something I noticed, and then I shrugged. It didn’t particularly bother me.

All in all, Jeffe Kennedy (who I’m relieved to discover is not male) is definitely on my watchlist now.

Other Reviews:

Nerd Girl Loves Books: The Forgotten Empires

Book Review: Timeless, Boundless, Relentless – by R.A. Salvatore

Synopsis:

Centuries ago, in the city of Menzoberranzan, the City of Spiders, the City of Drow, nestled deep in the unmerciful Underdark of Toril, a young weapon master earned a reputation far above his station or that of his poor house.

The greater nobles watched him, and one matron, in particular, decided to take him as her own. She connived with rival great houses to secure her prize, but that prize was caught for her by another, who came to quite enjoy the weapon master.

This was the beginning of the friendship between Zaknafein and Jarlaxle, and the coupling of Matron Malice and the weapon master who would sire Drizzt Do’Urden.

R. A. Salvatore reveals the Underdark anew through the eyes of Zaknafein and Jarlaxle—an introduction to the darkness that offers a fresh view of the opportunities to be found in the shadows and an intriguing prelude to the intriguing escapes that lie ahead in the modern-day Forgotten Realms. Here, a father and his son are reunited and embark on adventures that parallel the trials of centuries long past as the friends of old are joined by Drizzt, Hero of the North, trained by Grandmaster Kane in the ways of the monk.

But the scourge of the dangerous Lolth’s ambitions remain, and demons have been foisted on the unwitting of the surface. The resulting chaos and war will prove to be the greatest challenge for all three.

Timeless

Meh, I think there are circumstances under which I might have been more impressed with this than I was. For one, if I’d read it when I was younger. Two, if I’d initially realized that though it is the first in a series, it is, in fact, the first in a spin-off series, the original of which is currently at 30+ books. Unfortunately, I’m no longer a teen who is satisfied with a laundry list of cool creatures and extended sword fights, and the book barely stands alone.

Ultimately, this whole book felt both like the 31st book in a series I hadn’t read (with a million characters, event references, place names, etc.) and like an extended prologue. The plot doesn’t really become apparent until about the last 30 pages. Everything before that is backstory and endless character introductions. All that to say, I was really pretty bored, even if I did like the characters…or as much of the characters as you get to know. You’re clearly supposed to already know and love them before picking this book up.

Boundless

Considering I have not read the previous 30-odd books in the Drizzt series and picked up this spin-off series hoping it stands alone enough to follow, I enjoyed this second book significantly more than the first. I still feel like there are a million characters I don’t know (and none I’m really getting to know), and equally as many confusing past events mentioned. But I’m finally invested enough in the plot not to be dreading reading book three.

Relentless

This ended well and, thus, ended the series well. I think I just don’t have the patience for endless battle scenes anymore, and, as with the previous books in the series, there are just too many characters I felt barely connected to. Honestly, by the end, though I know Zak is supposed to be the main character…or the book is about Zak’s resurrection, anyway, I couldn’t tell. There are so many character POVs and so many plots in so many places, and it wasn’t even Zak who did the most important things at the end to save the day, so no one bubbled to the top as the primary one. The collective result was that I was borderline bored throughout.

Also, throughout the book (and trilogy, and probably the whole Drizzt series, I suspect) there’s a pretty clear women-in-power=evil, men=good (or victim) thing going on. Yes, I recognize Salvatore may be purposefully subverting tropes in this. But it started to feel a little misogynistic after a while. Made me think he probably doesn’t like women very much in real life. (Of course, you can’t judge an author on what happens in fiction, but it still left me with a poor taste in my mouth.)

All in all, I don’t regret reading this; the world is vivid and clearly well established, as you would expect from a 30+ book interconnecting collection of series. And there were some interesting explorations of religion, morality, and mortality. But I’m also glad to be finished and moving on.