by Fiona McIntosh
I was intrigued by the description of the book. Into the world of deserts, harems and intrigues. It seemed to start out the way I was expecting. A disappointment for me was the turn from focus on the characters to the gods. At first it seems that it is about the new 15 year old King Boaz stepping out of his mothers clutches and becoming his own kind of ruler. Then they start throwing in talk of the previously worshipped Goddess vs the currently worshipped God and their cyclical battle that comes every so many years. It doesnt seem clear why it really matters which god they worship since the people of Percheron seem fine. We dont hear of any major corruption or problems that stem from the gods. And from reading the description of the sequels the story seems to become ALL about the gods war and all of the characters just playing their part in it.
The story is also quite slow. Most of the time it felt as if nothing was really happening. It took two chapters or more for an event to finish.
Another problem is the characters are quite one dimensional. The mother is nothing but the typical ambitious, cut throat woman who will do anything to have power. Lazar is the run of the mill attractive man with unparalleled fighting skills that every woman drools over. He is emotionally closed off and doesnt feel much for most people. Until of course he meets Ana and despite her being around 15 years his junior, he loves her from the moment he first sees her (yes, he describes it as love). Its hard to feel a connection to them as a couple when they have spent hardly any time together yet "love" each other. The instant love drives me crazy. Pez is one of the most interesting characters. He is a dwarf and the court jester. Most people believe to be mad. Only a few know the truth, that he is not only quite sane but very smart. He secretly guides young Boaz, the new king, through the conniving of the court.
Honestly I was so bothered by the instant love of Lazar and Ana that I didnt pay attention to much else. It seems a very Camelot and Guinevere/Lancelot story straight away which turned me off. I hate that story more than most. Lazar is in charge of the protection of the king and city like Lancelot. Lazar is responsible for Ana belonging to Boaz and regrets it just as in Camelot. Boaz wants to be and seems to be a good ruler like Arthur.
Unfortunately I am not going to be reading the sequels. From what I read about them Lazar and Ana continue to be the destined couple and the gods will take the forefront of the story. I know those books will do nothing but drive me crazy.
I was intrigued by the description of the book. Into the world of deserts, harems and intrigues. It seemed to start out the way I was expecting. A disappointment for me was the turn from focus on the characters to the gods. At first it seems that it is about the new 15 year old King Boaz stepping out of his mothers clutches and becoming his own kind of ruler. Then they start throwing in talk of the previously worshipped Goddess vs the currently worshipped God and their cyclical battle that comes every so many years. It doesnt seem clear why it really matters which god they worship since the people of Percheron seem fine. We dont hear of any major corruption or problems that stem from the gods. And from reading the description of the sequels the story seems to become ALL about the gods war and all of the characters just playing their part in it.The story is also quite slow. Most of the time it felt as if nothing was really happening. It took two chapters or more for an event to finish.
Another problem is the characters are quite one dimensional. The mother is nothing but the typical ambitious, cut throat woman who will do anything to have power. Lazar is the run of the mill attractive man with unparalleled fighting skills that every woman drools over. He is emotionally closed off and doesnt feel much for most people. Until of course he meets Ana and despite her being around 15 years his junior, he loves her from the moment he first sees her (yes, he describes it as love). Its hard to feel a connection to them as a couple when they have spent hardly any time together yet "love" each other. The instant love drives me crazy. Pez is one of the most interesting characters. He is a dwarf and the court jester. Most people believe to be mad. Only a few know the truth, that he is not only quite sane but very smart. He secretly guides young Boaz, the new king, through the conniving of the court.
Honestly I was so bothered by the instant love of Lazar and Ana that I didnt pay attention to much else. It seems a very Camelot and Guinevere/Lancelot story straight away which turned me off. I hate that story more than most. Lazar is in charge of the protection of the king and city like Lancelot. Lazar is responsible for Ana belonging to Boaz and regrets it just as in Camelot. Boaz wants to be and seems to be a good ruler like Arthur.
Unfortunately I am not going to be reading the sequels. From what I read about them Lazar and Ana continue to be the destined couple and the gods will take the forefront of the story. I know those books will do nothing but drive me crazy.
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