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Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne #2
The Providence of Fire
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Fantasy (2015)Brian Staveley's The Providence of Fire, the second novel in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, a gripping new epic fantasy series.
The conspiracy to destroy the ruling family of the Annurian Empire is far from over.
Having learned the identity of her father's assassin, Adare flees the Dawn Palace in search of allies to challenge the coup against her family. Few trust her, but when she is believed to be touched by Intarra, patron goddess of the empire, the people rally to help her retake the capital city. As armies prepare to clash, the threat of invasion from barbarian hordes compels the rival forces to unite against their common enemy.
Unknown to Adare, her brother Valyn, renegade member of the empire's most elite fighting force, has allied with the invading nomads. The terrible choices each of them has made may make war between them inevitable.
Between Valyn and Adare is their brother Kaden, rightful heir to the Unhewn Throne, who has infiltrated the Annurian capital with the help of two strange companions. The knowledge they possess of the secret history that shapes these events could save Annur or destroy it.
The conspiracy to destroy the ruling family of the Annurian Empire is far from over.
Having learned the identity of her father's assassin, Adare flees the Dawn Palace in search of allies to challenge the coup against her family. Few trust her, but when she is believed to be touched by Intarra, patron goddess of the empire, the people rally to help her retake the capital city. As armies prepare to clash, the threat of invasion from barbarian hordes compels the rival forces to unite against their common enemy.
Unknown to Adare, her brother Valyn, renegade member of the empire's most elite fighting force, has allied with the invading nomads. The terrible choices each of them has made may make war between them inevitable.
Between Valyn and Adare is their brother Kaden, rightful heir to the Unhewn Throne, who has infiltrated the Annurian capital with the help of two strange companions. The knowledge they possess of the secret history that shapes these events could save Annur or destroy it.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published January 13, 2015
About the author
Brian Staveley
24 books3,978 followersI live on a long dirt road in rural Vermont where I divide my time between mountain biking with my son, trying to play piano music that is far too difficult for me, running trails, doing laundry, splitting wood, thinking I really ought to wash the kitchen floor and then not, cursing at the pie crust for sticking to the surface, drinking beers with friends out by the firepit, and sometimes trying to write books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,316 reviews
April 15, 2018
EVEN BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND
For those of you who have been following me for some time, you know that I don't fangirl often…or lightly. I'm a decidedly picky reader. And the pet peeves, lawd, the literary pet peeves I have. It's rare that a book comes along and blows my frigging mind. It's even rarer when an author can pull this off not once, but twice.
Brian Staveley pulled this off. Hard. Wanna know how good this book is?
Disney greeter: WELCOME TO THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH!
Me:
Family: Let's pass the time standing in line for this super fun ride by interacting with each other.
Me:
Family: Oh look, an aquarium!
Me:
Family: Sombreros!
Me:
Family: We're starving, let's have lunch in front of this incredible backdrop.
Me:
Family: Look, vikings!
Me:
Family: Foo dogs!
Me (after one too many plum wines):
Family: Ooh, pretty buildings!
Me:
Family: It's raining, take shelter!
Me:
Family: Beeeeeer!
Me:
Mom: THAT'S IT, GIVE ME THE GODDAMN BOOK!
We went on to have a lovely vacation. And enjoyed a lot of quality family time. Because they hid the book from me...
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
For those of you who have been following me for some time, you know that I don't fangirl often…or lightly. I'm a decidedly picky reader. And the pet peeves, lawd, the literary pet peeves I have. It's rare that a book comes along and blows my frigging mind. It's even rarer when an author can pull this off not once, but twice.
Brian Staveley pulled this off. Hard. Wanna know how good this book is?
Disney greeter: WELCOME TO THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH!
Me:
Family: Let's pass the time standing in line for this super fun ride by interacting with each other.
Me:
Family: Oh look, an aquarium!
Me:
Family: Sombreros!
Me:
Family: We're starving, let's have lunch in front of this incredible backdrop.
Me:
Family: Look, vikings!
Me:
Family: Foo dogs!
Me (after one too many plum wines):
Family: Ooh, pretty buildings!
Me:
Family: It's raining, take shelter!
Me:
Family: Beeeeeer!
Me:
Mom: THAT'S IT, GIVE ME THE GODDAMN BOOK!
We went on to have a lovely vacation. And enjoyed a lot of quality family time. Because they hid the book from me...
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
October 7, 2018
4.5/5 Stars
What a great improvement. The Providence of Fire, the 2nd book in The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne trilogy was one of Goodreads nominee for best fantasy in 2015 and it’s for a good reason. Almost everything in the book, starting from plot progression, character development, actions, climax scenes, pacing and world-building are better than the first book in the series.
Before I start my review, I must address one FATAL TYPO in the book that changes the background of the main characters. In chapter 4, there is a sattement that stated Valyn is younger than Kaden. Please don’t let this confuse you, Brian Staveley himself mentioned on his twitter that this information is wrong. Kaden is younger than Valyn by one year, this is probably an honest editing mistake.
Taking off straight from where the story left in the first book, the story progression eventually turned into plots with twists and turns, war, conspiracy, manipulation and deception. Focusing on the horror of war and revenge as its theme, Brian Staveley did a really great job in creating a sense of paranoia in this installment. I can’t stress this highly enough, the direction of the plot and bad characters decisions really left me wondering which character to root for. Which one is truly on the right side and how far each of them (protagonists and villains included) will go for their own sense of ’justice’ that was created from their own past and upbringing. Brian is superb at doing this while at the same time he managed to capture the horror of war from all side equally.
Like the first book, the stories are still told from 3rd person perspective from the Emperor’s Blades, Kaden, Valyn, & Adare POV. Except this time we get one great side POV addition from Gwenna. These character developments will be a huge factor in deciding whether this book will work for you or not, I’m not joking, other than Kaden, the main characters made a huge amount of bad decisions, especially Adare.
Out of all the MC’s POV, Kaden’s have the best improvement imo. I mentioned before in my review of The Emperor’s Blades that out of the trio, Kaden had the biggest potential for great character development and it’s safe to say Brian didn’t disappoint me on this. Not only we get to see how he utilized all his skills and teachings from the Shin monks to escape from his predicament, he’s also accompanied by intriguing side characters and plot heavy with revelations.
“I'm losing the game, which means I have three choices: cede, fight back..." ...Kaden smiled, "Or break the board.”
Meanwhile for Valyn, he just can’t seem to catch a break. Nothing seems to be working right for him, every decision he faced are crucial, hard to do and he’s one of the main character who made a lot of bad decisions, for him and his Wings. The best way to describe Valyn’s POV would have to be the saying ‘out of the frying pan into the fire’ but guess what? His POV remains captivating and thrilling with all the great side characters accompanying him. Laith, Talal, Gwenna, Annick & Pyrre are still great as ever and the military aspect of the series can still be found within his POV, although the majority this time came from a new POV, Gwenna’s.
“It’s done, he growled at himself after a while. You fucked up somewhere. The question is what you do now.”
Gwenna’s POV, despite only appearing in a few chapter is my hands down my favorite POV of this entry. It’s a really great addition as this time we finally get to see things played out from her perspective and this means her character improvement was huge. It’s intriguing to finally see her personality not only from Valyn’s POV and the horror of war were captured perfectly through her story.
Finally for Adare, again, she is the biggest problem of the book for me. *sigh*
The front cover to the Hungarian edition of The Providence of Fire featuring Adare hui’Malkeenian.
Unlike the first book, this time she finally got a lot of spotlight but even though the story that was told from her POV is intense, her character development is atrocious, there’s so much potential butchered. Don’t get me wrong, she does have one great moment but that’s it, it’s only once. I’m talking about this scene that’s featured on the front cover of the US edition.
If you think Valyn was stupid in the series up til now, prepare yourselves because we have a new champion. The direction that her character took is really frustrating to read. She’s highly self-righteous and everything she did in the book is creating bad decisions. When you think that’s the worst she can do, it’s like she knew your thoughts then said “hold my beer, I’m not done yet” and proceed to do something even worse. It’s normal for a character to make bad decisions, sometimes it’s required to add spice to the story but reading her POV reminds me too much of Liv from the Lightbringer series written by Brent Weeks which is an absolute pain to read. It’s like Brian purposely wrote Adare to frustrate most of his readers and believe me, he succeeded.
Unlike the first book where there isn’t a lot of actions to be found, this installment contained a huge amount of them, especially during the climax sequences. It’s more gory and there are a lot of body parts flying around but it needed to be said that although the pacing of the book most of the time is really fast paced and addictive to read, it started painfully slow and uninteresting for the first 1/3 of the book.
The best part of the book for me still lies within the world-building factor. Brian Staveley is really good at weaving its world-building into the plot. Connecting lore and myths into the current plot without any hindrance, we finally get to know the meaning behind name of the series, Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne. The huge amount of names problem that were present in the first book is more irrelevant now since I’m used to it already and if Brian Staveley showed any sign of decreasing his skills in writings, he didn’t show it. (trust me, he used this manner of speech a LOT in the entire series, might wanna get used to it.)
The Providence of Fire is a superb 2nd book of a trilogy, it clearly doesn’t suffer from the infamous 2nd book syndrome as it improved upon almost everything in the first book. The story also ended at the right place while leaving out a perfect amount of story to be resolved in the last book. Other than the problem I have with reading Adare’s POV and the uninteresting beginning of the book, I really have no complaint. Up to the second book, The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne has been a terrific series which reminds me of The First Law trilogy written by Joe Abercrombie. It’s filled with gore, war, body parts flying everywhere, paranoia and if Brian Staveley’s writing exhibited any sign that this is his debut series, he didn’t show it. However, I need to reserve my final judgment for this series and see if the last book in the trilogy, The Last Mortal Bond will conclude the story with satisfaction or not before truly recommending it.
Booknest
What a great improvement. The Providence of Fire, the 2nd book in The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne trilogy was one of Goodreads nominee for best fantasy in 2015 and it’s for a good reason. Almost everything in the book, starting from plot progression, character development, actions, climax scenes, pacing and world-building are better than the first book in the series.
Before I start my review, I must address one FATAL TYPO in the book that changes the background of the main characters. In chapter 4, there is a sattement that stated Valyn is younger than Kaden. Please don’t let this confuse you, Brian Staveley himself mentioned on his twitter that this information is wrong. Kaden is younger than Valyn by one year, this is probably an honest editing mistake.
Taking off straight from where the story left in the first book, the story progression eventually turned into plots with twists and turns, war, conspiracy, manipulation and deception. Focusing on the horror of war and revenge as its theme, Brian Staveley did a really great job in creating a sense of paranoia in this installment. I can’t stress this highly enough, the direction of the plot and bad characters decisions really left me wondering which character to root for. Which one is truly on the right side and how far each of them (protagonists and villains included) will go for their own sense of ’justice’ that was created from their own past and upbringing. Brian is superb at doing this while at the same time he managed to capture the horror of war from all side equally.
Like the first book, the stories are still told from 3rd person perspective from the Emperor’s Blades, Kaden, Valyn, & Adare POV. Except this time we get one great side POV addition from Gwenna. These character developments will be a huge factor in deciding whether this book will work for you or not, I’m not joking, other than Kaden, the main characters made a huge amount of bad decisions, especially Adare.
Out of all the MC’s POV, Kaden’s have the best improvement imo. I mentioned before in my review of The Emperor’s Blades that out of the trio, Kaden had the biggest potential for great character development and it’s safe to say Brian didn’t disappoint me on this. Not only we get to see how he utilized all his skills and teachings from the Shin monks to escape from his predicament, he’s also accompanied by intriguing side characters and plot heavy with revelations.
“I'm losing the game, which means I have three choices: cede, fight back..." ...Kaden smiled, "Or break the board.”
Meanwhile for Valyn, he just can’t seem to catch a break. Nothing seems to be working right for him, every decision he faced are crucial, hard to do and he’s one of the main character who made a lot of bad decisions, for him and his Wings. The best way to describe Valyn’s POV would have to be the saying ‘out of the frying pan into the fire’ but guess what? His POV remains captivating and thrilling with all the great side characters accompanying him. Laith, Talal, Gwenna, Annick & Pyrre are still great as ever and the military aspect of the series can still be found within his POV, although the majority this time came from a new POV, Gwenna’s.
“It’s done, he growled at himself after a while. You fucked up somewhere. The question is what you do now.”
Gwenna’s POV, despite only appearing in a few chapter is my hands down my favorite POV of this entry. It’s a really great addition as this time we finally get to see things played out from her perspective and this means her character improvement was huge. It’s intriguing to finally see her personality not only from Valyn’s POV and the horror of war were captured perfectly through her story.
Finally for Adare, again, she is the biggest problem of the book for me. *sigh*
The front cover to the Hungarian edition of The Providence of Fire featuring Adare hui’Malkeenian.
Unlike the first book, this time she finally got a lot of spotlight but even though the story that was told from her POV is intense, her character development is atrocious, there’s so much potential butchered. Don’t get me wrong, she does have one great moment but that’s it, it’s only once. I’m talking about this scene that’s featured on the front cover of the US edition.
If you think Valyn was stupid in the series up til now, prepare yourselves because we have a new champion. The direction that her character took is really frustrating to read. She’s highly self-righteous and everything she did in the book is creating bad decisions. When you think that’s the worst she can do, it’s like she knew your thoughts then said “hold my beer, I’m not done yet” and proceed to do something even worse. It’s normal for a character to make bad decisions, sometimes it’s required to add spice to the story but reading her POV reminds me too much of Liv from the Lightbringer series written by Brent Weeks which is an absolute pain to read. It’s like Brian purposely wrote Adare to frustrate most of his readers and believe me, he succeeded.
Unlike the first book where there isn’t a lot of actions to be found, this installment contained a huge amount of them, especially during the climax sequences. It’s more gory and there are a lot of body parts flying around but it needed to be said that although the pacing of the book most of the time is really fast paced and addictive to read, it started painfully slow and uninteresting for the first 1/3 of the book.
The best part of the book for me still lies within the world-building factor. Brian Staveley is really good at weaving its world-building into the plot. Connecting lore and myths into the current plot without any hindrance, we finally get to know the meaning behind name of the series, Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne. The huge amount of names problem that were present in the first book is more irrelevant now since I’m used to it already and if Brian Staveley showed any sign of decreasing his skills in writings, he didn’t show it. (trust me, he used this manner of speech a LOT in the entire series, might wanna get used to it.)
The Providence of Fire is a superb 2nd book of a trilogy, it clearly doesn’t suffer from the infamous 2nd book syndrome as it improved upon almost everything in the first book. The story also ended at the right place while leaving out a perfect amount of story to be resolved in the last book. Other than the problem I have with reading Adare’s POV and the uninteresting beginning of the book, I really have no complaint. Up to the second book, The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne has been a terrific series which reminds me of The First Law trilogy written by Joe Abercrombie. It’s filled with gore, war, body parts flying everywhere, paranoia and if Brian Staveley’s writing exhibited any sign that this is his debut series, he didn’t show it. However, I need to reserve my final judgment for this series and see if the last book in the trilogy, The Last Mortal Bond will conclude the story with satisfaction or not before truly recommending it.
Booknest
February 25, 2018
Read this in Jan but only wrote down a star review on a piece of paper. Hmmm.. I found a few more like that, I think I'm going crazy er.
March 20, 2017
1.) The Emperor's Blades ★★★★★
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! No matter who you have in your life, or who you do not have, I hope your day is filled with love and amazing books.
Well, I'm not sure how I'm really going to function with the ending of this book, but okay. Holy shit! This book was so amazing! I thought The Emperor's Blades was action packed, and then this book just blows all those expectations out of the water!
Our story still follows the three siblings (even though we do get a flippin' amazing POV from Gwenna, and I was pretty much living for it) and their individual struggles for power, information, and to just stay alive.
Kaden - Still the rightful heir to the Unhewn Throne, but the battle for it hasn't gotten any easier, nor have the mysteries surrounding it.
Valyn - Now on the run with his wing from his elite military comrades, who he's lived and trained under for eight years, while constantly questioning who he can truly trust.
Adare - After finding out who her father's killer truly is, Adare is trying to confront the truth, while also trying to find who she really is.
I've seen a lot of people dislike Adare in this book, but I completely understood her and where she was coming from. She has grown up in a world where she is capable and powerful, with every advantage at her disposal, yet is constantly reminded she will never be as capable or as powerful as men. I'm not justifying her actions or choices, but I am completely empathetic towards them.
Speaking of which, Brian Staveley writes some amazing female characters. Every single female character in this book is strong on their own, not just strong enough to be a sidekick to a man. Adare, Triste , Gwenna, Annick, Pyrre, Nira, are ALL amazing in their own different ways, and it's absolutely beautiful to read about each of them.
In this book, we are introduced to so many new characters, too, but my favorite is, hands down, Nira. Oh, Nira, my heart. Without getting into spoiler territory, Nira was a character I had been waiting for, but I didn't anticipate anything close to her storyline and became so invested with her character so very quickly.
If these first two books are any indication of what The Last Mortal Bond is going to be like, then I know I won't be able to put it down! I can't wait to start and devour it as soon as possible!
Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Youtube | Twitch
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! No matter who you have in your life, or who you do not have, I hope your day is filled with love and amazing books.
Well, I'm not sure how I'm really going to function with the ending of this book, but okay. Holy shit! This book was so amazing! I thought The Emperor's Blades was action packed, and then this book just blows all those expectations out of the water!
“You can explain a lot of things to a man. His own death is not one of them.”
Our story still follows the three siblings (even though we do get a flippin' amazing POV from Gwenna, and I was pretty much living for it) and their individual struggles for power, information, and to just stay alive.
Kaden - Still the rightful heir to the Unhewn Throne, but the battle for it hasn't gotten any easier, nor have the mysteries surrounding it.
Valyn - Now on the run with his wing from his elite military comrades, who he's lived and trained under for eight years, while constantly questioning who he can truly trust.
Adare - After finding out who her father's killer truly is, Adare is trying to confront the truth, while also trying to find who she really is.
I've seen a lot of people dislike Adare in this book, but I completely understood her and where she was coming from. She has grown up in a world where she is capable and powerful, with every advantage at her disposal, yet is constantly reminded she will never be as capable or as powerful as men. I'm not justifying her actions or choices, but I am completely empathetic towards them.
Speaking of which, Brian Staveley writes some amazing female characters. Every single female character in this book is strong on their own, not just strong enough to be a sidekick to a man. Adare, Triste , Gwenna, Annick, Pyrre, Nira, are ALL amazing in their own different ways, and it's absolutely beautiful to read about each of them.
“Yer history is all about men, your ritual is about men. Unless you’re plannin’ to strap on a terra-cotta cock and go back to Annur thwackin’ people in the face with it—which I don’t recommend—ya need to tip the whole board full of history directly into the piss bucket and start over. You need people to see you, not the man you’re not.”
In this book, we are introduced to so many new characters, too, but my favorite is, hands down, Nira. Oh, Nira, my heart. Without getting into spoiler territory, Nira was a character I had been waiting for, but I didn't anticipate anything close to her storyline and became so invested with her character so very quickly.
If these first two books are any indication of what The Last Mortal Bond is going to be like, then I know I won't be able to put it down! I can't wait to start and devour it as soon as possible!
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March 15, 2016
Reread before The Last Mortal Bond with the usual crew at BB&B
Original Review:
3.75 What a great ending!!!
I remember reading A Game of Thrones years ago and hating Jamie Lannister with the fiery heat of a thousand suns, but by A Storm of Swords I starting thinking maybe he wasn’t such a horrible person and in a huge turn around by A Dance with Dragons 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 A Game of Thrones years ago and hating Jamie Lannister with the fiery heat of a thousand suns, but by A Storm of Swords I starting thinking maybe he wasn’t such a horrible person and in a huge turn around by A Dance with Dragons 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.
February 24, 2018
So I finally read this. My first thought after finishing this book was that I shouldn’t have waited this long to finish it.
Story picked right where the first book ended. Kaden and Valyn are on their way to Annur, and Adare discovering the truth about his father’s death. Brothers go to Kenta where they separate ways and decide to meet at a particular monastery after a certain period of time. But both brothers fell in trouble and did not meet. Adare leave Annur to find an alley with which she could defeat Tonja. Needless to say things went from bad to worse for siblings and in the end they find themselves at crossroads, especially after some big revelations that author threw our way throughout the book.
There were many good things about the book. Sadly, the three main characters are not one of those. As the author has revealed some big secrets in this book, which in turn made the world more interesting and a little complex. I also liked how the author explored leaches’ magical abilities and gave us more insight into their magic. Secondary characters here stole the show. Gwenna, Triste, Pyree, and Nira, were outstanding. It’s so easy to fall in love with these women.
But the number of things that I didn’t like is slightly more than of what I liked. First this book is too long for my liking; I could have been shorter by 50-60 pages. It took almost 10-15 chapters for story to push into a certain direction. The three main characters were really whiny. Kaden was bearable but other two were just too much. Valyn was distrustful of everyone and think so highly of himself. Adare was proud, and think that she could do no wrong. Some questions were answered but in turn we got more to solve now.
All in all a decent addition to the trilogy which could have been much better with a little more editing.
Story picked right where the first book ended. Kaden and Valyn are on their way to Annur, and Adare discovering the truth about his father’s death. Brothers go to Kenta where they separate ways and decide to meet at a particular monastery after a certain period of time. But both brothers fell in trouble and did not meet. Adare leave Annur to find an alley with which she could defeat Tonja. Needless to say things went from bad to worse for siblings and in the end they find themselves at crossroads, especially after some big revelations that author threw our way throughout the book.
There were many good things about the book. Sadly, the three main characters are not one of those. As the author has revealed some big secrets in this book, which in turn made the world more interesting and a little complex. I also liked how the author explored leaches’ magical abilities and gave us more insight into their magic. Secondary characters here stole the show. Gwenna, Triste, Pyree, and Nira, were outstanding. It’s so easy to fall in love with these women.
But the number of things that I didn’t like is slightly more than of what I liked. First this book is too long for my liking; I could have been shorter by 50-60 pages. It took almost 10-15 chapters for story to push into a certain direction. The three main characters were really whiny. Kaden was bearable but other two were just too much. Valyn was distrustful of everyone and think so highly of himself. Adare was proud, and think that she could do no wrong. Some questions were answered but in turn we got more to solve now.
All in all a decent addition to the trilogy which could have been much better with a little more editing.
May 13, 2021
This book was tiring to say the least. I started it back in May and it’s only now that I finished it. And frankly, I couldn’t stop reading in the second half. I wanted to dnf it several times so kinda glad I didn’t. I cannot stand Adare -skimmed through her chapters, eventually, it was the only only way to make it through the book. She can die for all I care. And after what she did towards the end? I was done with her. One of the worst main characters in fantasy. Also, the secondary characters were more interesting than the main ones like Pyrre, Kiel and Nira (only reason I did not skip Adare’s chapters altogether).
I really like the fantasy concept but I was barely caring at one point because of the boring plot in the first half. It was killing me till the 50% mark. Too long scenes on useless events. And the mistakes! Damn. It was too much. Did I mention how much I hated Adare? I was cringing in most of her scenes. I know now that I’ll be skimming through her chapters too in the next book if I am going to read it (very likely). I’m curious now regarding how things will turn out.
I really like the fantasy concept but I was barely caring at one point because of the boring plot in the first half. It was killing me till the 50% mark. Too long scenes on useless events. And the mistakes! Damn. It was too much. Did I mention how much I hated Adare? I was cringing in most of her scenes. I know now that I’ll be skimming through her chapters too in the next book if I am going to read it (very likely). I’m curious now regarding how things will turn out.
December 10, 2017
What did I just read? That ending killed me
I just can't, just when I thought things has gotten bettet it got worse than before for the siblings.
This is going to be a very in depth and lengthy review cause I love this book as much as it frustrated me. Some parts made me laugh so hard but sadly those parts were so few. Most parts of the book was so tense that I had to hold my breath for a while, I was so scared for the siblings, I still am cause I have no idea how in kent kissing name they are going to get out of this mess especially with that ending.
This book has religion, action, politics, their own history and mythology that is so in depth. Sexism is at a minimal in the world because women are among the kettral team same as the urghul.
I only have two issues with this book and that is why am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. The first 30% of the book was so slow, that I finished 10 books while reading this, not much happened so it was tiring, also I hate Adare so much, will talk more about this in the character section.
World building and Writing
The world building is superb, the author did an amazing job here, the world is so well depicted that there is nothing I find confusing. I love the world and the locations, I bet I can use the map to travel the world if only it exists and I finally learn how to use a map. The writing is so comprehensible, its one of my favourite thing about the book. The POV change is so well done that you’ll know the POV you’re reading. The book is written in third person multiple POVs of the siblings and one additional one by Gwenna.
Characters
Valyn my poor favourite, I know basically no one is enjoying in this book but he has it more than the others. Nothing worked out for him throughout the book, he was caught between a rock and a hard place all the time. He did everything he could but things just didn't work out at all. I really empathize with him and I love his dedication, he refused to give up despite the way things went. But now am so scared for him, the book ended when things got worse than worst for him Even with all my faith in him, I don't think he will be the same after that ordeal.
Kaden , I’m so proud of him, despite his incarceration at the bone mountains he learnt more than I thought he did. Of course he made mistakes and all but he made up for it. He is so good at scheming and politics that it shocked me, despite his young age. From all the siblings he made the best decisions and got the best results also. I love his patience more than anything, he is not rash or quick to anger like Valyn, I hope this new found win won't tumble in the final book.
Adare , Words can't even begin to describe how much I hate her, she broke my personal record and is now my most hated character of all time, she top Mal and Aspen. I don't think there is anything she can do or say that can exonerate her, she just kept making very bad decisions, when you thought that that is the worst that she can do, she’ll do something more unthinkable and selfish. To make matters worse, she has more chances of making things right than all the siblings because she grew up in the empire and knows who and who is important, but no she has to be a self righteous, selfish, greedy bitch, she thinks and do things that will profit her and still manages to convince herself that it is for the good of the empire, how? Its like the author purposely made her frustrating cause am always angry when reading her POV so much that I end up clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth. I wish she dies in the last book.
Gwenna , my favourite female character in the book, at least she made up for how frustrating Adare is, her POV is so much fun, she talks a lot and is so brash but she is selfless and is willing to sacrifice herself for others. Her POV gave a new perspective to the book other than that of the siblings. Her thoughts are so much fun especially what she thinks of Annick, its the same way Valyn sees Annick too. I also realize how similar her and Valyn is and am shipping them, even Pyree said the same thing.
I also like Annick and Talal, the perfect soilder, Laith really annoyed me but I forgave cause he made up for it. Pyree, what will I do without you, not to mention Triste and Kiel the perfect weirdos. And I just want Balendin and I’l Tornja to die.
Plot
This started immediately after the first book, Valyn and Kaden splitted which was kind of a bad idea but they had no choice. After that things went to hell for Valyn, Kaden suffered too but not as much. He got more information and realize the conspiracy has almost nothing to do with the imperial family. Adare was doing well at first but she lost her way and still has not found it.
I just can't, just when I thought things has gotten bettet it got worse than before for the siblings.
This is going to be a very in depth and lengthy review cause I love this book as much as it frustrated me. Some parts made me laugh so hard but sadly those parts were so few. Most parts of the book was so tense that I had to hold my breath for a while, I was so scared for the siblings, I still am cause I have no idea how in kent kissing name they are going to get out of this mess especially with that ending.
This book has religion, action, politics, their own history and mythology that is so in depth. Sexism is at a minimal in the world because women are among the kettral team same as the urghul.
I only have two issues with this book and that is why am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. The first 30% of the book was so slow, that I finished 10 books while reading this, not much happened so it was tiring, also I hate Adare so much, will talk more about this in the character section.
World building and Writing
The world building is superb, the author did an amazing job here, the world is so well depicted that there is nothing I find confusing. I love the world and the locations, I bet I can use the map to travel the world if only it exists and I finally learn how to use a map. The writing is so comprehensible, its one of my favourite thing about the book. The POV change is so well done that you’ll know the POV you’re reading. The book is written in third person multiple POVs of the siblings and one additional one by Gwenna.
Characters
Valyn my poor favourite, I know basically no one is enjoying in this book but he has it more than the others. Nothing worked out for him throughout the book, he was caught between a rock and a hard place all the time. He did everything he could but things just didn't work out at all. I really empathize with him and I love his dedication, he refused to give up despite the way things went. But now am so scared for him, the book ended when things got worse than worst for him Even with all my faith in him, I don't think he will be the same after that ordeal.
Kaden , I’m so proud of him, despite his incarceration at the bone mountains he learnt more than I thought he did. Of course he made mistakes and all but he made up for it. He is so good at scheming and politics that it shocked me, despite his young age. From all the siblings he made the best decisions and got the best results also. I love his patience more than anything, he is not rash or quick to anger like Valyn, I hope this new found win won't tumble in the final book.
Adare , Words can't even begin to describe how much I hate her, she broke my personal record and is now my most hated character of all time, she top Mal and Aspen. I don't think there is anything she can do or say that can exonerate her, she just kept making very bad decisions, when you thought that that is the worst that she can do, she’ll do something more unthinkable and selfish. To make matters worse, she has more chances of making things right than all the siblings because she grew up in the empire and knows who and who is important, but no she has to be a self righteous, selfish, greedy bitch, she thinks and do things that will profit her and still manages to convince herself that it is for the good of the empire, how? Its like the author purposely made her frustrating cause am always angry when reading her POV so much that I end up clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth. I wish she dies in the last book.
Gwenna , my favourite female character in the book, at least she made up for how frustrating Adare is, her POV is so much fun, she talks a lot and is so brash but she is selfless and is willing to sacrifice herself for others. Her POV gave a new perspective to the book other than that of the siblings. Her thoughts are so much fun especially what she thinks of Annick, its the same way Valyn sees Annick too. I also realize how similar her and Valyn is and am shipping them, even Pyree said the same thing.
I also like Annick and Talal, the perfect soilder, Laith really annoyed me but I forgave cause he made up for it. Pyree, what will I do without you, not to mention Triste and Kiel the perfect weirdos. And I just want Balendin and I’l Tornja to die.
Plot
This started immediately after the first book, Valyn and Kaden splitted which was kind of a bad idea but they had no choice. After that things went to hell for Valyn, Kaden suffered too but not as much. He got more information and realize the conspiracy has almost nothing to do with the imperial family. Adare was doing well at first but she lost her way and still has not found it.
August 29, 2015
Just Spectacular
The Providence of Fire is a marvel of modern epic fantasy with an an absolutely killer storyline that is bursting with richly detailed characters and heart in your throat moments.
The first book of the ‘Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne’ trilogy was one of the reasons I started reviewing books. It resonated with me in a such big way and I dug it so much I felt like I had to give something back and simply buying the book was not enough to show my appreciation for the awesome reading experience I had just had. This bad boy picks up straight where the first one left off and here is what we know for those that like a little refresher.
Kalen is technically the Emperor. He has learned the Vaniate allowing him, in theory; to travel through the same portals the Csestriim used and, by becoming void of emotion, defeated the leech Balendin who fed off the fear and rage of others. He has discovered the plot against his life and has survived the attack on him by his fathers most trusted guardsman.
Valyn has betrayed the Kettral by going AWOL and hunting down the renegade wing that was to be involved in the assassination of his brother. Yurl has been killed and Valyn and Kalen are planning for the impending arrival of The Flea whilst trying to figure out their next move, who they can trust and where they can go.
When we left Adare she has manoeuvred to arrange the death of the priest of Intarra who she believed to be responsible for her fathers death. At the conclusion of Book 1 we find she has been manipulated and her father’s killer is revealed to be her closest ally and lover , not to mention brilliant military strategist, Il Tornja, leaving her in a state of shock and confusion. Well thankfully she gets her shit together very quickly and sets out to reform the army she just had dismantled in order to challenge the military might of the people threatening her family line and the capital city.
There is a barely a whisper of communication between Adare, Kaden or Valyn yet somehow their family links are clear and their hopes and dreams are as much ours as theirs, and I can only put this down to the Authors skill. Knowing Brian has a young son I’m wondering if he is using this book to chart his own feelings of insecurity about his kid’s future. There is a lot of worry and concern here and what it does is makes the reader themselves feel parental toward the three kids.
To this end, I particularly enjoyed learning more about their father Sanlitun, the now dead emperor, and the preparations he made for his children before his death. He tried and failed to foster a relationship between Adare and her younger brothers due to both her maturity and their immaturity and this has impacted on the woman she has become as she feels completely alone and isolated. Her path is greatly expanded here from the first book and she is now becoming the major player we all wanted her to be.
Kaden finds himself dealing with the fact that despite attending the Shin school and enduring harsh lessons every day and night he actually knows very little about politics and has next to no fighting ability. He possesses several skills that are highly developed, like this memory recall, drawing, physical fitness, and the ability to enter the Vaniate but he has not developed personal relationships with other people to gauge and measure their reactions and responses. He does not know the subtleties of social interaction and when his only real guide is Rampuri Tan, about whom we still know very little, it becomes even more of a challenge. I think some readers expected someone who had been stuck in a temple learning from Monks for a decade to come out knowing everything but guess what, like most of us, Kaden leaves school only to discover he knows far less than he thought.
Valyn is in the process of becoming a leader, learning to trust his men, make his own decisions, gaining the experience he needs so he knows when to risk it all on a chance that has to be taken. He has a very tough road as the Kettrel have already been manipulated into betraying the Emperor, and he and his wing are alone and damaged.
There is a bit more magic coming into the world of The Unhewn Chronicles in this one as the concept of the leech is explored much further, old and young goods are discussed and the Csestriim start to play a more prominent role. The threat of an invasion of a barbarian horde brings a whole new dimension to who is on what side and why they have acted in the way they have. The cast of characters is amazing and very distinct and the cement for this whole exciting trilogy as despite it having an epic storyline it would not be that interesting if you were not involved in the lives of the protagonists and the side characters. You will love NIra and Triste and for those that found the lack of female storyline an issue in Blades rest assured it is well covered and addressed here. I tell you though, man or women, no one is getting off easy in this world.
Stavely makes sure each sibling travels a very different path and has a distinct voice that has been cultured through the experiences we follow them on and this is part of what made reading this book so easy and enjoyable. The consistency of their actions and thoughts shows well written and truly fleshed out characters but in no way makes anticipating their actions a foregone conclusion. A number of times I found myself frustrated by their choices but the ‘blades’ themselves shared this frustration, and were justified in doing so, as they have very little information to go off and everything they do has to be in a ‘best guess’ sort of manner. This was very realistic, a bit Tolkien esq, and served to highlight the often impossibly convenient access to information that seems to pervade a lot of fantasy books. Even George R.R. Martin says that he keeps some characters alive as they are the only POV he has in that camp or that occasionally he’ll have a raven fly in just at the right time to get things moving with some information he had no other way to impart.
I like that Staveley does not fall into that seductive trap and it means some of this book has to be earned as they are no convenient little escapes or easy outs. There are times you just scream about the fact that the three have not gotten together and shared the knowledge they have but with no group emailing it is very hard to get an instant message out. I love it when a book triggers this sort of irrational and emotional response whereby shouting at a piece of paper can feel completely justified and normal. The crazy thing is…..nope I wont say. Read it yourself ?
The Emperors Blades established our world, characters, magic and religions and was a page-turner that sucks you in, punches you in the stomach and does not let go. The Providence of Fire is more of a considered read that I had to constantly put down because there were more problems, more twists and turns and darker moments for each character as they continued their development and I knew I wanted it to last longer than 24 hours. I managed to stretch it out over a week with great difficulty, even taking my life in my own hands by asking my wife for complete silence whilst I finished the last fifty pages. I can’t wait to see how this series ends as Book Two finishes on a knife-edge and where it goes from here is anyone’s guess. I also learned two new words, hale and susurrus, so thanks for educating me not just entertaining me.
As more and more people discover what a talent Staveley has for creating a full, immersive, magical and exciting world, with characters to match, his popularity will soar.
For this review and mor like it head to www.areadingmachine.com
The Providence of Fire is a marvel of modern epic fantasy with an an absolutely killer storyline that is bursting with richly detailed characters and heart in your throat moments.
The first book of the ‘Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne’ trilogy was one of the reasons I started reviewing books. It resonated with me in a such big way and I dug it so much I felt like I had to give something back and simply buying the book was not enough to show my appreciation for the awesome reading experience I had just had. This bad boy picks up straight where the first one left off and here is what we know for those that like a little refresher.
Kalen is technically the Emperor. He has learned the Vaniate allowing him, in theory; to travel through the same portals the Csestriim used and, by becoming void of emotion, defeated the leech Balendin who fed off the fear and rage of others. He has discovered the plot against his life and has survived the attack on him by his fathers most trusted guardsman.
Valyn has betrayed the Kettral by going AWOL and hunting down the renegade wing that was to be involved in the assassination of his brother. Yurl has been killed and Valyn and Kalen are planning for the impending arrival of The Flea whilst trying to figure out their next move, who they can trust and where they can go.
When we left Adare she has manoeuvred to arrange the death of the priest of Intarra who she believed to be responsible for her fathers death. At the conclusion of Book 1 we find she has been manipulated and her father’s killer is revealed to be her closest ally and lover , not to mention brilliant military strategist, Il Tornja, leaving her in a state of shock and confusion. Well thankfully she gets her shit together very quickly and sets out to reform the army she just had dismantled in order to challenge the military might of the people threatening her family line and the capital city.
There is a barely a whisper of communication between Adare, Kaden or Valyn yet somehow their family links are clear and their hopes and dreams are as much ours as theirs, and I can only put this down to the Authors skill. Knowing Brian has a young son I’m wondering if he is using this book to chart his own feelings of insecurity about his kid’s future. There is a lot of worry and concern here and what it does is makes the reader themselves feel parental toward the three kids.
To this end, I particularly enjoyed learning more about their father Sanlitun, the now dead emperor, and the preparations he made for his children before his death. He tried and failed to foster a relationship between Adare and her younger brothers due to both her maturity and their immaturity and this has impacted on the woman she has become as she feels completely alone and isolated. Her path is greatly expanded here from the first book and she is now becoming the major player we all wanted her to be.
Kaden finds himself dealing with the fact that despite attending the Shin school and enduring harsh lessons every day and night he actually knows very little about politics and has next to no fighting ability. He possesses several skills that are highly developed, like this memory recall, drawing, physical fitness, and the ability to enter the Vaniate but he has not developed personal relationships with other people to gauge and measure their reactions and responses. He does not know the subtleties of social interaction and when his only real guide is Rampuri Tan, about whom we still know very little, it becomes even more of a challenge. I think some readers expected someone who had been stuck in a temple learning from Monks for a decade to come out knowing everything but guess what, like most of us, Kaden leaves school only to discover he knows far less than he thought.
Valyn is in the process of becoming a leader, learning to trust his men, make his own decisions, gaining the experience he needs so he knows when to risk it all on a chance that has to be taken. He has a very tough road as the Kettrel have already been manipulated into betraying the Emperor, and he and his wing are alone and damaged.
There is a bit more magic coming into the world of The Unhewn Chronicles in this one as the concept of the leech is explored much further, old and young goods are discussed and the Csestriim start to play a more prominent role. The threat of an invasion of a barbarian horde brings a whole new dimension to who is on what side and why they have acted in the way they have. The cast of characters is amazing and very distinct and the cement for this whole exciting trilogy as despite it having an epic storyline it would not be that interesting if you were not involved in the lives of the protagonists and the side characters. You will love NIra and Triste and for those that found the lack of female storyline an issue in Blades rest assured it is well covered and addressed here. I tell you though, man or women, no one is getting off easy in this world.
Stavely makes sure each sibling travels a very different path and has a distinct voice that has been cultured through the experiences we follow them on and this is part of what made reading this book so easy and enjoyable. The consistency of their actions and thoughts shows well written and truly fleshed out characters but in no way makes anticipating their actions a foregone conclusion. A number of times I found myself frustrated by their choices but the ‘blades’ themselves shared this frustration, and were justified in doing so, as they have very little information to go off and everything they do has to be in a ‘best guess’ sort of manner. This was very realistic, a bit Tolkien esq, and served to highlight the often impossibly convenient access to information that seems to pervade a lot of fantasy books. Even George R.R. Martin says that he keeps some characters alive as they are the only POV he has in that camp or that occasionally he’ll have a raven fly in just at the right time to get things moving with some information he had no other way to impart.
I like that Staveley does not fall into that seductive trap and it means some of this book has to be earned as they are no convenient little escapes or easy outs. There are times you just scream about the fact that the three have not gotten together and shared the knowledge they have but with no group emailing it is very hard to get an instant message out. I love it when a book triggers this sort of irrational and emotional response whereby shouting at a piece of paper can feel completely justified and normal. The crazy thing is…..nope I wont say. Read it yourself ?
The Emperors Blades established our world, characters, magic and religions and was a page-turner that sucks you in, punches you in the stomach and does not let go. The Providence of Fire is more of a considered read that I had to constantly put down because there were more problems, more twists and turns and darker moments for each character as they continued their development and I knew I wanted it to last longer than 24 hours. I managed to stretch it out over a week with great difficulty, even taking my life in my own hands by asking my wife for complete silence whilst I finished the last fifty pages. I can’t wait to see how this series ends as Book Two finishes on a knife-edge and where it goes from here is anyone’s guess. I also learned two new words, hale and susurrus, so thanks for educating me not just entertaining me.
As more and more people discover what a talent Staveley has for creating a full, immersive, magical and exciting world, with characters to match, his popularity will soar.
For this review and mor like it head to www.areadingmachine.com
January 7, 2015
5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/01/06/b...
You can always tell when I really like a book by how fast I devour it. I gave myself plenty of time to read Brian Staveley’s The Providence of Fire, anticipating it would take me at least a week or more to finish this huge honking tome of a novel, but it turned out I made short work of it, chomping through 600+ pages of this in a little more than three days.
I just loved this book, couldn’t put it down. This incredible sequel to The Emperor’s Blades was everything I hoped for – bigger and better in every way. In fact, I went back to my review of the first book and practically everything I had an issue with there was amended in this second installment. As a reader, you just can’t ask for more than that.
The Providence of Fire picks up where The Emperor’s Blades left off, following the diverging paths of the slain Emperor Sanlitun’s three surviving children. After spending many years training with the empire’s elite Kettral forces, youngest brother Valyn is in the position to safeguard his older brother Kaden’s succession to the Unhewn Throne – though now he and his wing members are labeled renegades and traitors. Kaden himself has his own destiny to follow. He has spent the last eight years sequestered in a remote monastery in the mountains, learning the mysteries of the monks who live there. With the help of his mentor Tan, Kaden is now ready to use all that knowledge to uncover the truth of those behind Sanlitun’s murder, but being his father’s rightful heir makes him the target of those who want to overthrow the Malkeenian line.
However, oldest sister Adare, whom as you may recall spent most of the last book languishing in the capital being manipulated and treated with disdain by palace flunkies, is probably the one to see the greatest change to her character and storyline out of all of them. Having learned the identity of her father’s assassin, Adare formulates a plan to escape the city in the hopes of removing herself from the enemy’s grasp. Not knowing what has become of her brothers, she is also determined to find allies to secure the throne and keep Sanlitun’s killer from ever taking it.
Adare was my absolute favorite in this book, and I enjoyed her chapters the most. This young woman who has spent her whole life within the walls of the Dawn Palace is not as helpless as you would think she’d be. She may be ignorant of much of the world, but her quick thinking allows her to get quite far in her quest, and I always love to see a female character with brains and ambition. I also have to say, she has the most entertaining companions – just wait until you meet Lehav, Oshi, and the indomitable Nira. In this sequel, Adare is a far cry from who she was back in The Emperor’s Blades, and as one of my biggest criticism in that book was the underrepresentation of her character, I am happy and amazed at how far she has come now. I like Adare’s character very much, not only because I think she’s the strongest and most level-headed of Sanlitun’s children, but also because I had a feeling deep down that Staveley would have great things in store for her. I’m thrilled to see she’s finally getting her moment in the spotlight.
The other gripe I had about the first book was that for an epic fantasy, the story just didn’t feel quite big enough. Kaden’s everyday life seemed to revolve being beaten silly by the monks, and for Valyn it was being beaten silly by his trainers and other rival wings. Adare hardly appeared at all. Well, no problems with any of that here. Whereas in The Emperor’s Blades our settings were mostly restricted to the mountain monastery for Kaden, the Kettral training island for Valyn, and the Dawn Palace for Adare, The Providence of Fire opens the world right up as all three royal siblings travel far and wide on their quests. And rather than dealing with their immediate personal problems, the conflicts they face in this novel are far more urgent and significant as well, with far-reaching consequences for the whole empire and not just our three main protagonists.
With a major war against a new threat is on the horizon, the siblings’ roles in it make for a much more dynamic, fast-paced and action-filled plot. It is also worth noting that Staveley adds another point-of-view character partway through the novel, giving us insight into the motivations and actions of Gwenna, the demolitions specialist in Valyn’s wing. With the boys sent off on a wild goose chase and Valyn losing control of his team, it is up to the female Kettrals (and a Skullsworn assassin who is practically an honorary member) to take care of things. Though Gwenna’s chapters came in later in the second half of the novel, they were one of the highlights of this book for me and there were some very memorable scenes in them.
I’m now more intrigued than ever about where this series will go. I admit the plot became more addicting when Adare, Kaden and Valyn were all unaware of the fates of the others, so each sibling had to act on their own using what information they had available. As a result, Adare, Kaden and Valyn now each have their own individual goals. None of them are all that noble or perfect when it comes to making the tough decisions; I found myself dismayed as often as I was proud of some of their choices, but that is to be expected given the circumstances. I’m actually glad that they each have their strengths and shortcomings.
As such, the relationship between the three siblings also fascinates me. Sanlitun was no doubt a great emperor and a wise leader, setting his children off on very different paths for them to experience new things and widen their worldview. But doing so also left huge gaps in their knowledge. Adare knows very little about the outside world but understands politics and the ways of the palace, and yet she was never meant to sit upon Unhewn Throne. Kaden’s eight years in isolation with the monks taught him the specialized mystical abilities that every emperor needs to know, but that also left him woefully ignorant of the ways of his future empire, including the laws of the land and cultures of his people – that and he has no idea at all how to fight and protect himself. In contrast, Valyn’s time with the Kettral taught him how to fight, survive, and form battle strategies, but unfortunately not much else. When it comes to what makes a great leader, it seems that each sibling has only a piece of the whole. But their years spent away from each other doing their different things also made them drift apart, leading to mistrust and suspicion. Whether they will end up working together or be divided remains to be seen, and that’s one of the main things I’m looking forward to finding out in the future of this series.
While The Emperor’s Blades was a pretty good book, like I said, everything about The Providence of Fire just feels even bigger, deeper and more improved. It’s almost like Brian Staveley took the doors to the series and flung them wide open, vastly expanding upon the world, the story and all the characters. In my review of the first book, I summed it up by saying that it was a promising start and in the sequel I would like a deeper look into the history and magic of the Annurian Empire, as well as a larger role for Adare. Well, you can bet I got everything I wanted and more in The Providence of Fire. The fate of the empire hangs in the balance, not to mention the futures of Adare, Kaden, and especially Valyn. Once again, the author ties everything up while teasing a lot more to come in the next installment, except now I’m even more excited for the next book.
You can always tell when I really like a book by how fast I devour it. I gave myself plenty of time to read Brian Staveley’s The Providence of Fire, anticipating it would take me at least a week or more to finish this huge honking tome of a novel, but it turned out I made short work of it, chomping through 600+ pages of this in a little more than three days.
I just loved this book, couldn’t put it down. This incredible sequel to The Emperor’s Blades was everything I hoped for – bigger and better in every way. In fact, I went back to my review of the first book and practically everything I had an issue with there was amended in this second installment. As a reader, you just can’t ask for more than that.
The Providence of Fire picks up where The Emperor’s Blades left off, following the diverging paths of the slain Emperor Sanlitun’s three surviving children. After spending many years training with the empire’s elite Kettral forces, youngest brother Valyn is in the position to safeguard his older brother Kaden’s succession to the Unhewn Throne – though now he and his wing members are labeled renegades and traitors. Kaden himself has his own destiny to follow. He has spent the last eight years sequestered in a remote monastery in the mountains, learning the mysteries of the monks who live there. With the help of his mentor Tan, Kaden is now ready to use all that knowledge to uncover the truth of those behind Sanlitun’s murder, but being his father’s rightful heir makes him the target of those who want to overthrow the Malkeenian line.
However, oldest sister Adare, whom as you may recall spent most of the last book languishing in the capital being manipulated and treated with disdain by palace flunkies, is probably the one to see the greatest change to her character and storyline out of all of them. Having learned the identity of her father’s assassin, Adare formulates a plan to escape the city in the hopes of removing herself from the enemy’s grasp. Not knowing what has become of her brothers, she is also determined to find allies to secure the throne and keep Sanlitun’s killer from ever taking it.
Adare was my absolute favorite in this book, and I enjoyed her chapters the most. This young woman who has spent her whole life within the walls of the Dawn Palace is not as helpless as you would think she’d be. She may be ignorant of much of the world, but her quick thinking allows her to get quite far in her quest, and I always love to see a female character with brains and ambition. I also have to say, she has the most entertaining companions – just wait until you meet Lehav, Oshi, and the indomitable Nira. In this sequel, Adare is a far cry from who she was back in The Emperor’s Blades, and as one of my biggest criticism in that book was the underrepresentation of her character, I am happy and amazed at how far she has come now. I like Adare’s character very much, not only because I think she’s the strongest and most level-headed of Sanlitun’s children, but also because I had a feeling deep down that Staveley would have great things in store for her. I’m thrilled to see she’s finally getting her moment in the spotlight.
The other gripe I had about the first book was that for an epic fantasy, the story just didn’t feel quite big enough. Kaden’s everyday life seemed to revolve being beaten silly by the monks, and for Valyn it was being beaten silly by his trainers and other rival wings. Adare hardly appeared at all. Well, no problems with any of that here. Whereas in The Emperor’s Blades our settings were mostly restricted to the mountain monastery for Kaden, the Kettral training island for Valyn, and the Dawn Palace for Adare, The Providence of Fire opens the world right up as all three royal siblings travel far and wide on their quests. And rather than dealing with their immediate personal problems, the conflicts they face in this novel are far more urgent and significant as well, with far-reaching consequences for the whole empire and not just our three main protagonists.
With a major war against a new threat is on the horizon, the siblings’ roles in it make for a much more dynamic, fast-paced and action-filled plot. It is also worth noting that Staveley adds another point-of-view character partway through the novel, giving us insight into the motivations and actions of Gwenna, the demolitions specialist in Valyn’s wing. With the boys sent off on a wild goose chase and Valyn losing control of his team, it is up to the female Kettrals (and a Skullsworn assassin who is practically an honorary member) to take care of things. Though Gwenna’s chapters came in later in the second half of the novel, they were one of the highlights of this book for me and there were some very memorable scenes in them.
I’m now more intrigued than ever about where this series will go. I admit the plot became more addicting when Adare, Kaden and Valyn were all unaware of the fates of the others, so each sibling had to act on their own using what information they had available. As a result, Adare, Kaden and Valyn now each have their own individual goals. None of them are all that noble or perfect when it comes to making the tough decisions; I found myself dismayed as often as I was proud of some of their choices, but that is to be expected given the circumstances. I’m actually glad that they each have their strengths and shortcomings.
As such, the relationship between the three siblings also fascinates me. Sanlitun was no doubt a great emperor and a wise leader, setting his children off on very different paths for them to experience new things and widen their worldview. But doing so also left huge gaps in their knowledge. Adare knows very little about the outside world but understands politics and the ways of the palace, and yet she was never meant to sit upon Unhewn Throne. Kaden’s eight years in isolation with the monks taught him the specialized mystical abilities that every emperor needs to know, but that also left him woefully ignorant of the ways of his future empire, including the laws of the land and cultures of his people – that and he has no idea at all how to fight and protect himself. In contrast, Valyn’s time with the Kettral taught him how to fight, survive, and form battle strategies, but unfortunately not much else. When it comes to what makes a great leader, it seems that each sibling has only a piece of the whole. But their years spent away from each other doing their different things also made them drift apart, leading to mistrust and suspicion. Whether they will end up working together or be divided remains to be seen, and that’s one of the main things I’m looking forward to finding out in the future of this series.
While The Emperor’s Blades was a pretty good book, like I said, everything about The Providence of Fire just feels even bigger, deeper and more improved. It’s almost like Brian Staveley took the doors to the series and flung them wide open, vastly expanding upon the world, the story and all the characters. In my review of the first book, I summed it up by saying that it was a promising start and in the sequel I would like a deeper look into the history and magic of the Annurian Empire, as well as a larger role for Adare. Well, you can bet I got everything I wanted and more in The Providence of Fire. The fate of the empire hangs in the balance, not to mention the futures of Adare, Kaden, and especially Valyn. Once again, the author ties everything up while teasing a lot more to come in the next installment, except now I’m even more excited for the next book.
November 21, 2017
I hate this book. No, I love it.
Pretty sure I hate it. Yet, somehow I love it.
Brian Staveley's The Providence of Fire, the second novel in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series.
Most divisive and conflicting book I have read in a long while. Well… actually, since its predecessor.
Book that reminded me - because clearly I needed a reminder – how I shouldn’t expect anything. Or else I’ll get disappointed. Or, in this case, angry.
Story continues immediately after its conclusion in first book, with our favorite goatherd monk.
Kaden hui’Malkeenian, the Scion of Light, the Long Mind of the World, Holder of the Scales, and Keeper of the Gates. Heir to the Unhewn Throne.
Or what I would more accurately call him: Father’s slightest Mishap.
In a matter of a few days, Kaden’s enemies had multiplied beyond his own persistent failings, and these new enemies wore polished armor, carried swords and wielded lies.
If he was going to survive, if he was to take his father’s place on the Unhewn Throne, he needed to know about swords and fighting, politics and people, about all the things the Shin had neglected in their single-minded effort to train him in the empty trance that was the vaniate.
~~~~~~~~~~
In the series of very unfortunate events he's been through in this book, he handled himself only mildly stupid. Sure, he stumbles in the dark, completely oblivious to his surroundings, but he could gone worse.
Luckily he has his older brother to protect him.
Valyn hui’Malkeenian, leader of the Wing, formation of elite soldiers called Ketrall.
Or what I would more appropriately call him: Father’s Biggest Facepalm.
While the Aedolians, not so loyal subjects to the crown, had struck suddenly and brutally into the heart of Ashk’lan, home of the monks, the soldiers had been strangers to Kaden, and the sense of injustice, of betrayal, remained abstract.
Valyn, on the other hand, had seen his closest friend murdered by his fellow soldiers. He’d watched as the military order to which he’d devoted his life failed him—failed him or betrayed him.
He’d joined the Kettral expecting to fight on the side of justice and imperial order, but the last few months had disabused him violently of that notion. Instead, he was caught between conflicting evils; any damage he did to one would make him complicit in the crimes of the other.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sheer amount of bad decisions this guy made, effectively going from bad to worse, makes you wonder is he maybe a writers parody, a comic relief in this book? Or author deeply hates him.
Adare hui’Malkeenian, the Malkeenian princess, the Minister of Finance, now Emperor’s eyes and ears.
Or to be more specific: Father’s Reason for a Vasectomy.
Despite coming into the world three years prior to her brother, Adare would never sit the Unhewn Throne. It was Kaden’s seat. It didn’t matter that Kaden was missing, that Kaden was ignorant of imperial politics, that Kaden knew none of the players nor any of the games; it was upon Kaden that the entire Empire attended.
Fighting guilt and grief believing Kaden was dead, dead while Adare herself remained unmolested, unharmed, to all appearances tucked safely away in her comfortable chambers inside the Dawn Palace, protected by her irrelevance.
~~~~~~~~~~
So, in her self-pitying, she decides to go on adventure of her own. And ad her own stamp and signature on endless list of her brothers screw-ups.
So, why anger, why confliction and indecisiveness?
Reasons besides unfathomable stupidity of our main protagonists?
Do you remember infamous Red Wedding scene from a G. R.R. Martin’s book or a Game of Thrones TV show? Do you remember that feeling you had while reading or watching it? Yes, traumas, I know.
Well, at least it was a brief part of a chapter you had to endure. Here, it was almost entire second half of the book. Not in the scale of it, mind you, but in little dosages, here and there, like with that myth how giving a poison on a teaspoon every day will make your immune system build an antidote for it. Yes, little dosages just like that. Only, you never get immune to that poison.
I will never understand why authors have to make their characters significantly stupider in order to move plot forward, or signify their characterization by some previous stupidity so that we get emotionally invested, and by the end, when those same characters start acting reasonable again, we get excited and say: “YES! Oh, such characterization!” completely dismissing what happened previously.
Maybe I’m too harsh, but it will take me a long time to accept how making someone stupider in a book is part of his characterization.
Anyhow, that was my main issue with this book: I was annoyed with our heroes because of their lack of reason. Trifle, I know.
Everything else, pacing, worldbuilding, prose and side characters were exceptionally well executed.
Divisiveness again: side characters are amazing. Female characters especially. From bombardier Gwenna trough mysterious Triste to Skullsworn assassin Pyrre - my favorite character...
Right now, I hate all three main characters. But at the same time, I can’t wait to start reading sequel, for everything else, except for them.
Pretty sure I hate it. Yet, somehow I love it.
Brian Staveley's The Providence of Fire, the second novel in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series.
Most divisive and conflicting book I have read in a long while. Well… actually, since its predecessor.
Book that reminded me - because clearly I needed a reminder – how I shouldn’t expect anything. Or else I’ll get disappointed. Or, in this case, angry.
Story continues immediately after its conclusion in first book, with our favorite goatherd monk.
Kaden hui’Malkeenian, the Scion of Light, the Long Mind of the World, Holder of the Scales, and Keeper of the Gates. Heir to the Unhewn Throne.
Or what I would more accurately call him: Father’s slightest Mishap.
In a matter of a few days, Kaden’s enemies had multiplied beyond his own persistent failings, and these new enemies wore polished armor, carried swords and wielded lies.
If he was going to survive, if he was to take his father’s place on the Unhewn Throne, he needed to know about swords and fighting, politics and people, about all the things the Shin had neglected in their single-minded effort to train him in the empty trance that was the vaniate.
~~~~~~~~~~
In the series of very unfortunate events he's been through in this book, he handled himself only mildly stupid. Sure, he stumbles in the dark, completely oblivious to his surroundings, but he could gone worse.
Luckily he has his older brother to protect him.
Valyn hui’Malkeenian, leader of the Wing, formation of elite soldiers called Ketrall.
Or what I would more appropriately call him: Father’s Biggest Facepalm.
While the Aedolians, not so loyal subjects to the crown, had struck suddenly and brutally into the heart of Ashk’lan, home of the monks, the soldiers had been strangers to Kaden, and the sense of injustice, of betrayal, remained abstract.
Valyn, on the other hand, had seen his closest friend murdered by his fellow soldiers. He’d watched as the military order to which he’d devoted his life failed him—failed him or betrayed him.
He’d joined the Kettral expecting to fight on the side of justice and imperial order, but the last few months had disabused him violently of that notion. Instead, he was caught between conflicting evils; any damage he did to one would make him complicit in the crimes of the other.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sheer amount of bad decisions this guy made, effectively going from bad to worse, makes you wonder is he maybe a writers parody, a comic relief in this book? Or author deeply hates him.
Adare hui’Malkeenian, the Malkeenian princess, the Minister of Finance, now Emperor’s eyes and ears.
Or to be more specific: Father’s Reason for a Vasectomy.
Despite coming into the world three years prior to her brother, Adare would never sit the Unhewn Throne. It was Kaden’s seat. It didn’t matter that Kaden was missing, that Kaden was ignorant of imperial politics, that Kaden knew none of the players nor any of the games; it was upon Kaden that the entire Empire attended.
Fighting guilt and grief believing Kaden was dead, dead while Adare herself remained unmolested, unharmed, to all appearances tucked safely away in her comfortable chambers inside the Dawn Palace, protected by her irrelevance.
~~~~~~~~~~
So, in her self-pitying, she decides to go on adventure of her own. And ad her own stamp and signature on endless list of her brothers screw-ups.
“Your empire has made them docile. Compliant. Incurious. Your family turns the people into goats, then you strut among them as though you were lions, preying on the weak, devouring them.”
So, why anger, why confliction and indecisiveness?
Reasons besides unfathomable stupidity of our main protagonists?
Do you remember infamous Red Wedding scene from a G. R.R. Martin’s book or a Game of Thrones TV show? Do you remember that feeling you had while reading or watching it? Yes, traumas, I know.
Well, at least it was a brief part of a chapter you had to endure. Here, it was almost entire second half of the book. Not in the scale of it, mind you, but in little dosages, here and there, like with that myth how giving a poison on a teaspoon every day will make your immune system build an antidote for it. Yes, little dosages just like that. Only, you never get immune to that poison.
I will never understand why authors have to make their characters significantly stupider in order to move plot forward, or signify their characterization by some previous stupidity so that we get emotionally invested, and by the end, when those same characters start acting reasonable again, we get excited and say: “YES! Oh, such characterization!” completely dismissing what happened previously.
Maybe I’m too harsh, but it will take me a long time to accept how making someone stupider in a book is part of his characterization.
Anyhow, that was my main issue with this book: I was annoyed with our heroes because of their lack of reason. Trifle, I know.
Everything else, pacing, worldbuilding, prose and side characters were exceptionally well executed.
Divisiveness again: side characters are amazing. Female characters especially. From bombardier Gwenna trough mysterious Triste to Skullsworn assassin Pyrre - my favorite character...
Right now, I hate all three main characters. But at the same time, I can’t wait to start reading sequel, for everything else, except for them.
“What does it mean?”
“It means, that something interesting has begun.”
“Interesting?” she demanded, voice fraying with panic. “How is this interesting? It’s horrifying!”
He studied her awhile, then nodded. “Yes. That seems accurate. For those of you who can feel horror, it will be horrifying.”
September 8, 2016
I dedicated some time to making a much longer review on books 1 and 2 of the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne! Let me know what you think about it!
https://aristeainwonderbooks.blogspot...
- - - - -
Oh wow this was a treat.
I am still a bit confused about the end - well not confused I just need to connect all the dots really.
Some quick points: this is the first book in which I am liking the female characters way better than the male characters.
Gwenna, Annick, Pyrre, Nira, Triste are just the perfect character at all times. They all have their own personalities and they work so well in the environment they are put into!
Besides Pyrre (a character I really grew attached despite being a cold-hearted killer deep down), I felt immensely happy to learn about Nira. I would love to read the book about her story, I think that would be just breathtaking.
As for the main characters, Kaden is really starting to show his amazing skills. Valyn gets from the frying pan into the fire and makes it out with a new version of himself. Adare was the character mostly used as a vehicle to introduce others really. She is possibly the weakest character of all.
And I love that the bad guys are always in sight and they change (add or really change I cannot say at this point).
The world building is still extremely strong in the book and we also see a more extended used of the locations on the map - which I always like.
I am looking forward to finish the trilogy. I am definitely enjoying this book - also in its audio version!
https://aristeainwonderbooks.blogspot...
- - - - -
Oh wow this was a treat.
I am still a bit confused about the end - well not confused I just need to connect all the dots really.
Some quick points: this is the first book in which I am liking the female characters way better than the male characters.
Gwenna, Annick, Pyrre, Nira, Triste are just the perfect character at all times. They all have their own personalities and they work so well in the environment they are put into!
Besides Pyrre (a character I really grew attached despite being a cold-hearted killer deep down), I felt immensely happy to learn about Nira. I would love to read the book about her story, I think that would be just breathtaking.
As for the main characters, Kaden is really starting to show his amazing skills. Valyn gets from the frying pan into the fire and makes it out with a new version of himself. Adare was the character mostly used as a vehicle to introduce others really. She is possibly the weakest character of all.
And I love that the bad guys are always in sight and they change (add or really change I cannot say at this point).
The world building is still extremely strong in the book and we also see a more extended used of the locations on the map - which I always like.
I am looking forward to finish the trilogy. I am definitely enjoying this book - also in its audio version!
March 3, 2016
*** 4.44 ***
A buddy read with my Fantasy loving family at BB & B
Second book, second amazingly engaging and ruthless jewel of contemporary Epic Fantasy! I knew I had stumbled upon something special when I read the first book, this one cemented it's place on my favorite shelf! Brian Staveley is one baaaad dude!!!
The second installment starts at the same time as the last ended. We keep on following the three Royal siblings and their choices and actions after the assassination of the Emperor, their father. After everything that happened up to here I thought I knew what to expect from each of them, but BS decided to screw with my expectations and lead all three in unexpected and not necessarily good directions. I expected turns in fortunes, betrayals, and questionable decisions, but darn it, I did not expect to spend half of the book yelling at the pages, futilely trying to stop some of them from acting like absolute blind idiots!!! I was so frustrated at times, I am to hurl the book at the fireplace and only stopped myself because I needed to know that they will fix it and things will get back on the right track.... Empty hopes, as it turned out. I try to calm myself by equating this book to what "The Empire Strikes Back" was for the original Star Wars movies. The first gave the good guys some success and gave them some feeling of strength. The second one, just as in "The Providence of Fire", is a total clusterfuck of a disaster for our side, and hopefully the third one will bring victory. After the last chapter I have been left with an aching heart and a mind filled with regret for the decisions our beloved characters made most of the time... Saaaaad....
Although our main characters had a low showing, the secondary ones were awesome!!! The ladies of the wing, the assassin and Triste, as well as the old lady who should teach me how to curse, all were exceptionally entertaining and could show the royal brats a thing or two of how to deal with adversity. The tribes and their larger than life leader, as well as the leaches we love to hate, are joined by some completely insane monks in the ranks of powerful adversaries blocking the road to the throne, but they sure make for an interesting and emotional read!!!
I have to say that I NEED to get my hands on the next, and I believe final installment of the series ASAP!!!! I hate that I have to wait 2 whole more weeks!!! But, I also think that those 2_weeks would be good to settle down my nerves so I can be able to handle whatever this wonderful author has to throw our way! Bring it on, mister!!!
For now, let's take some deep and calming breaths and catch up on some of the other books on our Mt. TBRs. Happy reading to all!!!
A buddy read with my Fantasy loving family at BB & B
Second book, second amazingly engaging and ruthless jewel of contemporary Epic Fantasy! I knew I had stumbled upon something special when I read the first book, this one cemented it's place on my favorite shelf! Brian Staveley is one baaaad dude!!!
The second installment starts at the same time as the last ended. We keep on following the three Royal siblings and their choices and actions after the assassination of the Emperor, their father. After everything that happened up to here I thought I knew what to expect from each of them, but BS decided to screw with my expectations and lead all three in unexpected and not necessarily good directions. I expected turns in fortunes, betrayals, and questionable decisions, but darn it, I did not expect to spend half of the book yelling at the pages, futilely trying to stop some of them from acting like absolute blind idiots!!! I was so frustrated at times, I am to hurl the book at the fireplace and only stopped myself because I needed to know that they will fix it and things will get back on the right track.... Empty hopes, as it turned out. I try to calm myself by equating this book to what "The Empire Strikes Back" was for the original Star Wars movies. The first gave the good guys some success and gave them some feeling of strength. The second one, just as in "The Providence of Fire", is a total clusterfuck of a disaster for our side, and hopefully the third one will bring victory. After the last chapter I have been left with an aching heart and a mind filled with regret for the decisions our beloved characters made most of the time... Saaaaad....
Although our main characters had a low showing, the secondary ones were awesome!!! The ladies of the wing, the assassin and Triste, as well as the old lady who should teach me how to curse, all were exceptionally entertaining and could show the royal brats a thing or two of how to deal with adversity. The tribes and their larger than life leader, as well as the leaches we love to hate, are joined by some completely insane monks in the ranks of powerful adversaries blocking the road to the throne, but they sure make for an interesting and emotional read!!!
I have to say that I NEED to get my hands on the next, and I believe final installment of the series ASAP!!!! I hate that I have to wait 2 whole more weeks!!! But, I also think that those 2_weeks would be good to settle down my nerves so I can be able to handle whatever this wonderful author has to throw our way! Bring it on, mister!!!
For now, let's take some deep and calming breaths and catch up on some of the other books on our Mt. TBRs. Happy reading to all!!!
January 16, 2015
Wow, to say i was disappointed would be an understatement. I feel like the whole story just went completely off the rails. People were making inconceivable decisions left and right. The thing that sucks so much is that I really enjoyed the previous novel.
November 13, 2014
This is a really difficult book to review because it's one of those books that is an experience rather than a story. Brian Staveley is not only an invaluable new voice to the epic fantasy genre, and the literary world at large, but he's on his way to being one of the greats.
Don't wait until HBO or some film producer pick up the rights before you read this- it's that good. Actually, if the people who produce GoT took this on I'd expect it to live up to its awesomeness. I hope this happens because I need that in my life.
I'm not going to get into the plot further than the synopsis says because this is a book that everyone should go into not knowing what to expect, and this comes from someone who usually has no qualms with spoilers, but since I have an ARC I'm not even going to reiterate just in case there's a change before print. I will tell you that this is has multiple storylines that are all connected but told fairly separately. It works beautifully though. I have a plethora of updates that I recommend looking over- I included several non-spoilery quotes.
One of the very best things about this story are the characters, it's a character driven story for sure, and not only the fact that they're all complex and fleshed out, but that each voice is so discernible. There is a big cast here, and they're not all from the same place and such, no, they're bringing differences that are great and small and not once did I feel like I was reading the same voice. Not one single time. I can't even find the words. Still. I've been trying to think of it all day what I could say that would impress upon you all that it's a need, not a want, for yourselves.
Superbly written, sublimely enchanting, utterly engrossing, grabs-you-by-the-throat-and-refuses-to-let-go, and then you're a shell of a person once you're finished. Laughing, crying, incredulity, frustration, shock, and disturbed are just a few of the feelings you should prepare yourself for.
September 6, 2015
Buddy read with
Gavin
4.5 STARS
This book surpasses its predecessor in many ways. It has better pacing, a lot of page-time from female characters(I really enjoyed the new POV chapters) and it feels markedly more epic.
The main focus is on human emotion, hope, fear, anger, despair and how the lack of emotion could give people strength. How the three Malkeenians respond emotionally to the constant doubt and treachery and how those emotions change them as people.
I'm not sure I'll have the time for a full review because lately real life is kicking my ass all the time. I do want to write one though and I'll try my best to do so(may be on a re-read).
It pains me to give this book the same rating as the first one but I can't give it 5 stars and I don't want to lower the rating of the first one without re-reading. Unfair, I know, but c'est la vie.
4.5 STARS
This book surpasses its predecessor in many ways. It has better pacing, a lot of page-time from female characters(I really enjoyed the new POV chapters) and it feels markedly more epic.
The main focus is on human emotion, hope, fear, anger, despair and how the lack of emotion could give people strength. How the three Malkeenians respond emotionally to the constant doubt and treachery and how those emotions change them as people.
I'm not sure I'll have the time for a full review because lately real life is kicking my ass all the time. I do want to write one though and I'll try my best to do so(may be on a re-read).
It pains me to give this book the same rating as the first one but I can't give it 5 stars and I don't want to lower the rating of the first one without re-reading. Unfair, I know, but c'est la vie.
March 27, 2016
The weapon is a shield. The Foe is the friend. What is burned cannot burn again.
Where do I even begin with the sequel to The Emperor's Blade. I don't think I have words to embody the tornado of emotions that swept through me while I read this one. I think that I should make it clear that I did enjoy the this read. I still can't say if I found to to be better than the first as I am still trying to process all that has taken place.
For the most part, I found myself doing this for a great part of my read.
The choices and rationalizations of our leads were STUPID to put it mildly ( esp. Adare) I honestly felt as though I could have strangle her. Her choices kept getting the characters I love most hurt and killed so I have a rising dislike for her character. Kaden seems like he's stuck in a hermit stage and my poor baby Valyn goes through the most suffering. I just can't stop biting my nails because I really do feel like just about anyone could be killed off at this point.
The last twenty percent of the book I was like
Brian Staveley did a fantastic job ( putting aside all my frustrations ) with the story development. I honestly can't tell what to expect from anyone, in this action pack, suspense ridden read. Nothing is as it should be and I've personally taken to reading this book lying down cause it will surely cause you to faint with it's plot twist and revelations.
I already have The last Mortal Bond lined up to read but at this point I'm seriously afraid to start it. I think that I'll send up a silent pray first before even attempting to start it. This trilogy is worth the time peeps but I urge that you take some calming and nerve pills before you even start. The author pulls out all the stops in ensuring that he works your very last nerve ( in both a good and bad way )
Actual Ratings 4.5
Where do I even begin with the sequel to The Emperor's Blade. I don't think I have words to embody the tornado of emotions that swept through me while I read this one. I think that I should make it clear that I did enjoy the this read. I still can't say if I found to to be better than the first as I am still trying to process all that has taken place.
For the most part, I found myself doing this for a great part of my read.
The choices and rationalizations of our leads were STUPID to put it mildly ( esp. Adare) I honestly felt as though I could have strangle her. Her choices kept getting the characters I love most hurt and killed so I have a rising dislike for her character. Kaden seems like he's stuck in a hermit stage and my poor baby Valyn goes through the most suffering. I just can't stop biting my nails because I really do feel like just about anyone could be killed off at this point.
The last twenty percent of the book I was like
Brian Staveley did a fantastic job ( putting aside all my frustrations ) with the story development. I honestly can't tell what to expect from anyone, in this action pack, suspense ridden read. Nothing is as it should be and I've personally taken to reading this book lying down cause it will surely cause you to faint with it's plot twist and revelations.
I already have The last Mortal Bond lined up to read but at this point I'm seriously afraid to start it. I think that I'll send up a silent pray first before even attempting to start it. This trilogy is worth the time peeps but I urge that you take some calming and nerve pills before you even start. The author pulls out all the stops in ensuring that he works your very last nerve ( in both a good and bad way )
Actual Ratings 4.5
April 20, 2017
My rating is 4.5 stars.
Full review to come . . . sometime. :)
Full review to come . . . sometime. :)
November 28, 2017
4.5 Stars out of 5 (rounding up, as always).
The Providence of Fire continues the chronicles of the three siblings Valyn, Kaden, and Adare. I have two things to say to start the review. 1) Brian Staveley is a fantastic writer, and I am immensely jealous of his skill with words. The books have an absolute flow, and I have no idea how he can effortlessly weave in such apt similes and metaphors. 2) The characters constantly make hideously bad decisions. Such bad decisions that you wonder--have they gone insane?
In Valyn's case, that might partially be true. His brutal training, and the yolky conclusion of his training, have certainly affected his mind. His continued to be the most interesting storyline and, oh that ending for him! . Each member of Valyn's wing gets plenty of space in the book, and a new POV, Gwenna, is added with success.
Kaden's storyline continues to be interesting. His ability to step away from emotions, to achieve emptiness, is an interesting ability. I kept expected him to somehow become an amazing warrior, and he doesn't (which was refreshing). Instead, after some adventures of his own, he mistakenly dabbles in politics.
Adare is where the story stumbles. She makes so very many dumb mistakes. And her storyline is rife with coincidences. She stumbles into . And then . Meanwhile, she makes bad decision after bad decision--it's amazing that no one offs her due to utter incompetence. I'd have expected some amount of her vaunted genius to surface, but her competence is questionable throughout.
Ultimately, despite Adare's stumbles, I couldn't put the book down. The writing is so good that I lost many nights of sleep on this one. I'd recommend giving this one a try.
The Providence of Fire continues the chronicles of the three siblings Valyn, Kaden, and Adare. I have two things to say to start the review. 1) Brian Staveley is a fantastic writer, and I am immensely jealous of his skill with words. The books have an absolute flow, and I have no idea how he can effortlessly weave in such apt similes and metaphors. 2) The characters constantly make hideously bad decisions. Such bad decisions that you wonder--have they gone insane?
In Valyn's case, that might partially be true. His brutal training, and the yolky conclusion of his training, have certainly affected his mind. His continued to be the most interesting storyline and, oh that ending for him! . Each member of Valyn's wing gets plenty of space in the book, and a new POV, Gwenna, is added with success.
Kaden's storyline continues to be interesting. His ability to step away from emotions, to achieve emptiness, is an interesting ability. I kept expected him to somehow become an amazing warrior, and he doesn't (which was refreshing). Instead, after some adventures of his own, he mistakenly dabbles in politics.
Adare is where the story stumbles. She makes so very many dumb mistakes. And her storyline is rife with coincidences. She stumbles into . And then . Meanwhile, she makes bad decision after bad decision--it's amazing that no one offs her due to utter incompetence. I'd have expected some amount of her vaunted genius to surface, but her competence is questionable throughout.
Ultimately, despite Adare's stumbles, I couldn't put the book down. The writing is so good that I lost many nights of sleep on this one. I'd recommend giving this one a try.
March 17, 2015
I finished this book several hours ago. I feel sure that if I were to wait another year I still wouldn't have the words necessary to begin to do it justice. I struggled with the review for The Emperor's Blades, partly because fantasy is my home in genre reading, but mostly because I had no idea how my mere words could stand up to the beauty and majesty that was created by Brian Staveley. I face a similar, or worse, problem now. In The Emperor's Blades I fell in love with the Malkeenians and their world. I walked with them every step of their struggle, journey, surprise, and betrayal. In Providence of Fire I was taken several (hundred) steps further.
We see so much more of the wide world in this book, so much more of the tapestry is filled in. The travels of our main characters take us to the far reaches of the kingdom, and beyond. Every step taught us something new about the world, and about the people in it. I always had such a beautiful sense of place while reading. I could see the steppes, feel the heat from the Everburning Well, taste the glacial water, the smell of smoke wafted to my nose as I read. Every single word, description and scene pulled me further in and immersed me.
As I traveled with the characters I've grown to love so much, I was present as they faced impossible odds, terrifying obstacles, and painful decisions, along with the occasional glorious victory. I can't say much about the actual journey that is taken, the twists and turns, the compelling cases presented. Suffice it to say that I was on the edge of my seat, never sure what to believe, never sure who - if anyone - I could trust. I began repeating a litany to myself of 'Trust No One'. I'm not sure, even now, if I've been fooled once, twice, or many, many times. I have theories on top of theories, speculations that I can barely piece together, and hopes - oh so many hopes - for the third book, for everyone in these pages that has come to mean so much to me.
And there are so many characters I'm invested in. Valyn, Kaden, and Adare continue to be the primary POV characters; the ones that we're following on this mission to save the empire, their family, and their people. As I rushed through the pages of this book I was surprised - though I'm not sure why - at how much I was invested in all three of them. Though I fretted every time I left one, I was immediately anxious to see what was going on with the next. I struggled next to these three as they made decisions that weren't simply between 'right' and 'wrong' but between 'wrong' and 'less-wrong'. Sometimes there was no good answer. There's a quote in the book that I think encapsulates everything all three struggle with:
It's not just the Malkeenians, but people on all sides of the conflict that have difficult choices to make. Even when I railed against some of the decisions made, I understood why they were being made. It seems a long time since I've been able to say that there are at least a dozen additional characters that I'm truly invested in. Pyrre, Rampuri Tan, Ran il Tornja, Triste, Gwenna, Talal, Laith, Annick and a few new ones that I won't name and risk spoiling anyone's surprise. Each of them has found a place in - if not my heart, then my mind. I can't stop thinking about all of them.
Brian Staveley weaves beauty with his words, ensnaring the senses and filling the surrounding air with the world he's created. I'm in awe of his ability and I look forward to everything to come in his career. Most especially, right now, the third book in the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne series.
Pre-Review Thoughts
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING AMAZING!!! ALL THE STARS!!!!!
63 Status Updates over the course of reading this.
Every.Single.One doing nothing but praising, showing shock, anxiety, love, joy, hatred, or a million other emotions that this book spawned in me.
I can't even, yet.
Review to come.
Please, please, please can I have book 3??!!
We see so much more of the wide world in this book, so much more of the tapestry is filled in. The travels of our main characters take us to the far reaches of the kingdom, and beyond. Every step taught us something new about the world, and about the people in it. I always had such a beautiful sense of place while reading. I could see the steppes, feel the heat from the Everburning Well, taste the glacial water, the smell of smoke wafted to my nose as I read. Every single word, description and scene pulled me further in and immersed me.
As I traveled with the characters I've grown to love so much, I was present as they faced impossible odds, terrifying obstacles, and painful decisions, along with the occasional glorious victory. I can't say much about the actual journey that is taken, the twists and turns, the compelling cases presented. Suffice it to say that I was on the edge of my seat, never sure what to believe, never sure who - if anyone - I could trust. I began repeating a litany to myself of 'Trust No One'. I'm not sure, even now, if I've been fooled once, twice, or many, many times. I have theories on top of theories, speculations that I can barely piece together, and hopes - oh so many hopes - for the third book, for everyone in these pages that has come to mean so much to me.
And there are so many characters I'm invested in. Valyn, Kaden, and Adare continue to be the primary POV characters; the ones that we're following on this mission to save the empire, their family, and their people. As I rushed through the pages of this book I was surprised - though I'm not sure why - at how much I was invested in all three of them. Though I fretted every time I left one, I was immediately anxious to see what was going on with the next. I struggled next to these three as they made decisions that weren't simply between 'right' and 'wrong' but between 'wrong' and 'less-wrong'. Sometimes there was no good answer. There's a quote in the book that I think encapsulates everything all three struggle with:
It had been a long time since he'd felt as though he had a true choice...each decision looked like the wrong one now, but at the time they hadn't seemed like decisions at all. Instead of contemplating a series of forking paths, [he] felt as though he'd been racing a treacherous track, just a half step ahead of his foes, no time to look either back or forward.
It's not just the Malkeenians, but people on all sides of the conflict that have difficult choices to make. Even when I railed against some of the decisions made, I understood why they were being made. It seems a long time since I've been able to say that there are at least a dozen additional characters that I'm truly invested in. Pyrre, Rampuri Tan, Ran il Tornja, Triste, Gwenna, Talal, Laith, Annick and a few new ones that I won't name and risk spoiling anyone's surprise. Each of them has found a place in - if not my heart, then my mind. I can't stop thinking about all of them.
Brian Staveley weaves beauty with his words, ensnaring the senses and filling the surrounding air with the world he's created. I'm in awe of his ability and I look forward to everything to come in his career. Most especially, right now, the third book in the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne series.
Pre-Review Thoughts
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING AMAZING!!! ALL THE STARS!!!!!
63 Status Updates over the course of reading this.
Every.Single.One doing nothing but praising, showing shock, anxiety, love, joy, hatred, or a million other emotions that this book spawned in me.
I can't even, yet.
Review to come.
Please, please, please can I have book 3??!!
February 8, 2019
Wow! Great ending! Starting book 3 immediately.
August 18, 2019
Love love love!!
I’m literally scared to read the last book, and i hope my babies survive 😭😭 (Kaden and valyn)
I’m literally scared to read the last book, and i hope my babies survive 😭😭 (Kaden and valyn)
September 13, 2015
4.5/5
The Skinny:
Three siblings, all driven by their passion to do the right thing.
Adare, far from the Dawn Palace, amasses an army to avenge her father.
Kaden, relying on the assistance of two unlikely acquaintances, makes his way towards the Annurian Capital to potentially claim the Unhewn Throne.
Valyn, chased by one group and held captive by another, is finally ‘free’. Unsure of who he can trust, Valyn is compelled by the need to punish those responsible for the murder of his father.
Despite each siblings’ best efforts, it is exceedingly difficult to know what the right thing to do is, especially when deception lies at every turn.
My Review:
The world that Staveley has created is stunningly well constructed. The different peoples (the Kettral, Csestriim, Ishien, Urghul, etc.) are all fascinatingly different. Each of the groups is so vastly unique from the others, yet, surprisingly, many of the groups want the same thing (total destruction of the other groups, bitches!).
I found many of the situations in this book to be pretty exhilarating. The Emperor’s Blades contained its own set of thrills, but this installment really capitalized on the exciting moments. There were COUNTLESS huge reveals. Some I had kind of anticipated, but others were truly unexpected. The guessing game I was playing throughout the entire novel really served to hold my interest. Who could be trusted? Why was that character able to do something that they were clearly not supposed to be able to do?
One of my favorite parts of this book was seeing Adare’s evolution as a character. In The Emperor’s Blades, Adare did not get nearly as much page time as Kaden and Valyn. In The Providence of Fire, we not only see much more of Adare, but we are also treated to a very different person. While at times frustratingly stubborn and erroneous in her decisions, the Adare of this novel is a stronger and more driven character; she thinks she knows what the right thing to do is, and takes the necessary steps to make it happen. At the heart of it all, despite being misguided, Adare is truly good and wants what is best for her empire.
There were also a few brand new characters that unintentionally tickled my funny bone. Nira, a wizened, old woman comes into Adare’s life with an arsenal of blistering comments. A few of my fave quotes from my lady:
You’re a stupid slut, all right, but at least ya got some spirit to ya.”
"Nira smiled, a tight, grim expression."You're a thickheaded bitch, Adare, but when you're in the shit deep enough, at least ya know ta start swimmin'."
After I basically just drooled over this book, it is probably hard to believe that there were a few things that made me hold back from giving it a perfect 5. Most notably: some characters were entirely too trusting of other characters. Kaden was the worst offender of this. He saw some pretty shady behavior from a certain female person, yet still welcomed her along on his trip to the capital. Sorry, if this were me I probably would have ditched her a$$.
In this same vein, Adare, Valyn, and Kaden were all guilty of believing ‘gossip’ they heard about one another. I’m confused as to why any of them would believe A SINGLE THING they heard without first seeing if it bore any truth. *shakes head*
Overall:
Although the third book is yet to be released, I can already predict that the ‘Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne’ trilogy will probably be one of my favorite fantasy series of all time (unless of course book #3 takes a serious nosedive).
If you are a fan of fantasy, fucking awesome fantasy, then you should probably read this.
The Skinny:
Three siblings, all driven by their passion to do the right thing.
Adare, far from the Dawn Palace, amasses an army to avenge her father.
Kaden, relying on the assistance of two unlikely acquaintances, makes his way towards the Annurian Capital to potentially claim the Unhewn Throne.
Valyn, chased by one group and held captive by another, is finally ‘free’. Unsure of who he can trust, Valyn is compelled by the need to punish those responsible for the murder of his father.
Despite each siblings’ best efforts, it is exceedingly difficult to know what the right thing to do is, especially when deception lies at every turn.
My Review:
The world that Staveley has created is stunningly well constructed. The different peoples (the Kettral, Csestriim, Ishien, Urghul, etc.) are all fascinatingly different. Each of the groups is so vastly unique from the others, yet, surprisingly, many of the groups want the same thing (total destruction of the other groups, bitches!).
I found many of the situations in this book to be pretty exhilarating. The Emperor’s Blades contained its own set of thrills, but this installment really capitalized on the exciting moments. There were COUNTLESS huge reveals. Some I had kind of anticipated, but others were truly unexpected. The guessing game I was playing throughout the entire novel really served to hold my interest. Who could be trusted? Why was that character able to do something that they were clearly not supposed to be able to do?
One of my favorite parts of this book was seeing Adare’s evolution as a character. In The Emperor’s Blades, Adare did not get nearly as much page time as Kaden and Valyn. In The Providence of Fire, we not only see much more of Adare, but we are also treated to a very different person. While at times frustratingly stubborn and erroneous in her decisions, the Adare of this novel is a stronger and more driven character; she thinks she knows what the right thing to do is, and takes the necessary steps to make it happen. At the heart of it all, despite being misguided, Adare is truly good and wants what is best for her empire.
There were also a few brand new characters that unintentionally tickled my funny bone. Nira, a wizened, old woman comes into Adare’s life with an arsenal of blistering comments. A few of my fave quotes from my lady:
You’re a stupid slut, all right, but at least ya got some spirit to ya.”
"Nira smiled, a tight, grim expression."You're a thickheaded bitch, Adare, but when you're in the shit deep enough, at least ya know ta start swimmin'."
After I basically just drooled over this book, it is probably hard to believe that there were a few things that made me hold back from giving it a perfect 5. Most notably: some characters were entirely too trusting of other characters. Kaden was the worst offender of this. He saw some pretty shady behavior from a certain female person, yet still welcomed her along on his trip to the capital. Sorry, if this were me I probably would have ditched her a$$.
In this same vein, Adare, Valyn, and Kaden were all guilty of believing ‘gossip’ they heard about one another. I’m confused as to why any of them would believe A SINGLE THING they heard without first seeing if it bore any truth. *shakes head*
Overall:
Although the third book is yet to be released, I can already predict that the ‘Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne’ trilogy will probably be one of my favorite fantasy series of all time (unless of course book #3 takes a serious nosedive).
If you are a fan of fantasy, fucking awesome fantasy, then you should probably read this.
February 7, 2015
This is a hard book to rate and review. In many ways The Providence of Fire was a stronger book than The Emperor's Blades. It was faster paced, full of surprise twists and turns, and just all round more exciting to read. Unfortunately all three of the main POV characters developed in directions that I disliked. Which is a pity because without a core of likable lead characters to root for this series becomes a bit like a poor man's A Song of Ice and Fire.
The plot itself was quite good. The action picked up where it left off in The Emperor's Blades. Kaden delays returning to the Dawn Palace in order to visit the Ishien in order to learn more about the Csestriim . Valyn and his Ketral wing aim to head to the Annurian capital to await Kaden's arrival there, but their journey is fraught with problems now that they have been declared traitors and outlaws. Adare, having learned the identity of her fathers murderer, flees the Dawn Palace and tries to gather an army of her own amongst the worshipers of Intara. All three story arcs were quite entertaining. Adare plays a larger role in this installment and I consider that a good thing.
Pyrre remains one of the best secondary characters, things are never dull when she is around, but Triste and Kiel run her close. Triste is a bag of surprises and as likable as she was in the first book.
All three of the main characters managed to annoy me at times with their decision making and I definitely liked them less by the end of this book. Surprisingly Valyn was the worst offender. His character took a real backwards step in the final third of this book.
Rating: 4 stars. I'll rate it the same as the first book. I thought it was a far more exciting and engaging read, but it was definitely hurt by the fact that I was beginning to lose faith in all three members of the Imperial family by the end.
Audio Note: Simon Vance again delivers a competent performance.
The plot itself was quite good. The action picked up where it left off in The Emperor's Blades. Kaden delays returning to the Dawn Palace in order to visit the Ishien in order to learn more about the Csestriim . Valyn and his Ketral wing aim to head to the Annurian capital to await Kaden's arrival there, but their journey is fraught with problems now that they have been declared traitors and outlaws. Adare, having learned the identity of her fathers murderer, flees the Dawn Palace and tries to gather an army of her own amongst the worshipers of Intara. All three story arcs were quite entertaining. Adare plays a larger role in this installment and I consider that a good thing.
Pyrre remains one of the best secondary characters, things are never dull when she is around, but Triste and Kiel run her close. Triste is a bag of surprises and as likable as she was in the first book.
All three of the main characters managed to annoy me at times with their decision making and I definitely liked them less by the end of this book. Surprisingly Valyn was the worst offender. His character took a real backwards step in the final third of this book.
Rating: 4 stars. I'll rate it the same as the first book. I thought it was a far more exciting and engaging read, but it was definitely hurt by the fact that I was beginning to lose faith in all three members of the Imperial family by the end.
Audio Note: Simon Vance again delivers a competent performance.
March 16, 2016
5 November 2015: $2.99 on Kindle
I finished this book several hours ago. I feel sure that if I were to wait another year I still wouldn't have the words necessary to begin to do it justice. I struggled with the review for The Emperor's Blades, partly because fantasy is my home in genre reading, but mostly because I had no idea how my mere words could stand up to the beauty and majesty that was created by Brian Staveley. I face a similar, or worse, problem now. In The Emperor's Blades I fell in love with the Malkeenians and their world. I walked with them every step of their struggle, journey, surprise, and betrayal. In Providence of Fire I was taken several (hundred) steps further.
We see so much more of the wide world in this book, so much more of the tapestry is filled in. The travels of our main characters take us to the far reaches of the kingdom, and beyond. Every step taught us something new about the world, and about the people in it. I always had such a beautiful sense of place while reading. I could see the steppes, feel the heat from the Everburning Well, taste the glacial water, the smell of smoke wafted to my nose as I read. Every single word, description and scene pulled me further in and immersed me.
As I traveled with the characters I've grown to love so much, I was present as they faced impossible odds, terrifying obstacles, and painful decisions, along with the occasional glorious victory. I can't say much about the actual journey that is taken, the twists and turns, the compelling cases presented. Suffice it to say that I was on the edge of my seat, never sure what to believe, never sure who - if anyone - I could trust. I began repeating a litany to myself of 'Trust No One'. I'm not sure, even now, if I've been fooled once, twice, or many, many times. I have theories on top of theories, speculations that I can barely piece together, and hopes - oh so many hopes - for the third book, for everyone in these pages that has come to mean so much to me.
And there are so many characters I'm invested in. Valyn, Kaden, and Adare continue to be the primary POV characters; the ones that we're following on this mission to save the empire, their family, and their people. As I rushed through the pages of this book I was surprised - though I'm not sure why - at how much I was invested in all three of them. Though I fretted every time I left one, I was immediately anxious to see what was going on with the next. I struggled next to these three as they made decisions that weren't simply between 'right' and 'wrong' but between 'wrong' and 'less-wrong'. Sometimes there was no good answer. There's a quote in the book that I think encapsulates everything all three struggle with:
It's not just the Malkeenians, but people on all sides of the conflict that have difficult choices to make. Even when I railed against some of the decisions made, I understood why they were being made. It seems a long time since I've been able to say that there are at least a dozen additional characters that I'm truly invested in. Pyrre, Rampuri Tan, Ran il Tornja, Triste, Gwenna, Talal, Laith, Annick and a few new ones that I won't name and risk spoiling anyone's surprise. Each of them has found a place in - if not my heart, then my mind. I can't stop thinking about all of them.
Brian Staveley weaves beauty with his words, ensnaring the senses and filling the surrounding air with the world he's created. I'm in awe of his ability and I look forward to everything to come in his career. Most especially, right now, the third book in the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne series.
Pre-Review Thoughts
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING AMAZING!!! ALL THE STARS!!!!!
63 Status Updates over the course of reading this.
Every.Single.One doing nothing but praising, showing shock, anxiety, love, joy, hatred, or a million other emotions that this book spawned in me.
I can't even, yet.
Review to come.
Please, please, please can I have book 3??!!
I finished this book several hours ago. I feel sure that if I were to wait another year I still wouldn't have the words necessary to begin to do it justice. I struggled with the review for The Emperor's Blades, partly because fantasy is my home in genre reading, but mostly because I had no idea how my mere words could stand up to the beauty and majesty that was created by Brian Staveley. I face a similar, or worse, problem now. In The Emperor's Blades I fell in love with the Malkeenians and their world. I walked with them every step of their struggle, journey, surprise, and betrayal. In Providence of Fire I was taken several (hundred) steps further.
We see so much more of the wide world in this book, so much more of the tapestry is filled in. The travels of our main characters take us to the far reaches of the kingdom, and beyond. Every step taught us something new about the world, and about the people in it. I always had such a beautiful sense of place while reading. I could see the steppes, feel the heat from the Everburning Well, taste the glacial water, the smell of smoke wafted to my nose as I read. Every single word, description and scene pulled me further in and immersed me.
As I traveled with the characters I've grown to love so much, I was present as they faced impossible odds, terrifying obstacles, and painful decisions, along with the occasional glorious victory. I can't say much about the actual journey that is taken, the twists and turns, the compelling cases presented. Suffice it to say that I was on the edge of my seat, never sure what to believe, never sure who - if anyone - I could trust. I began repeating a litany to myself of 'Trust No One'. I'm not sure, even now, if I've been fooled once, twice, or many, many times. I have theories on top of theories, speculations that I can barely piece together, and hopes - oh so many hopes - for the third book, for everyone in these pages that has come to mean so much to me.
And there are so many characters I'm invested in. Valyn, Kaden, and Adare continue to be the primary POV characters; the ones that we're following on this mission to save the empire, their family, and their people. As I rushed through the pages of this book I was surprised - though I'm not sure why - at how much I was invested in all three of them. Though I fretted every time I left one, I was immediately anxious to see what was going on with the next. I struggled next to these three as they made decisions that weren't simply between 'right' and 'wrong' but between 'wrong' and 'less-wrong'. Sometimes there was no good answer. There's a quote in the book that I think encapsulates everything all three struggle with:
It had been a long time since he'd felt as though he had a true choice...each decision looked like the wrong one now, but at the time they hadn't seemed like decisions at all. Instead of contemplating a series of forking paths, [he] felt as though he'd been racing a treacherous track, just a half step ahead of his foes, no time to look either back or forward.
It's not just the Malkeenians, but people on all sides of the conflict that have difficult choices to make. Even when I railed against some of the decisions made, I understood why they were being made. It seems a long time since I've been able to say that there are at least a dozen additional characters that I'm truly invested in. Pyrre, Rampuri Tan, Ran il Tornja, Triste, Gwenna, Talal, Laith, Annick and a few new ones that I won't name and risk spoiling anyone's surprise. Each of them has found a place in - if not my heart, then my mind. I can't stop thinking about all of them.
Brian Staveley weaves beauty with his words, ensnaring the senses and filling the surrounding air with the world he's created. I'm in awe of his ability and I look forward to everything to come in his career. Most especially, right now, the third book in the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne series.
Pre-Review Thoughts
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING AMAZING!!! ALL THE STARS!!!!!
63 Status Updates over the course of reading this.
Every.Single.One doing nothing but praising, showing shock, anxiety, love, joy, hatred, or a million other emotions that this book spawned in me.
I can't even, yet.
Review to come.
Please, please, please can I have book 3??!!
January 16, 2019
Twists and turns are good in a fantasy book but not at the cost of character development. I could not believe that this book was written by the same author who wrote The Emperor’s Blades. The plot of a story is not impressive at all if it so heavily relies on stupid decisions made by the protagonists. And it would have been excusable if those stupid decisions were the ONLY choice in front of them, but that was rarely the case, in this book. The rest of the review is for those who have read the book.
In the last book, Adare was the only character who I did not like, but if I’m completely honest, she was the only consistent one from the previous book. At least we know she is growing into her role, and she accepts that she understands very little about what is going on but tries to do her best. Though, her naive-ness bugged me throughout.
Valyn’s storyline was the one with the most inconsistent and convenient plot-lines. When they are discussing whether or not to kill the Urghals, before leaving the camp where they took shelter, Valyn gives some lame reasons about why they shouldn’t, even though it is pretty clear that those Urghals would chase them down and create trouble. Kettrals are taught to do what needs to be done and they don’t get carried away by emotions, and Valyn was a good Kettral in the first book, it was sad to see his character compromised for the plot.
Kettral, we were told, were taught everything they needed to do for any and all kinds of sting operations and surgical strikes, but this book showed that they are utterly lacking in knowledge about the Bone Mountains and Urghals. The first conversation between Valyn and Adare was plainly horrible. They are meeting after so many years and they choose to be hostile? I know the situation is very bad but they don’t even give each other the benefit of doubt, they don’t listen to what the other has to say and start to berate each other?
And Kaden, my favourite character from the last book. What a complete mess of a character had he become? You would really abandon your mentor who saved your lives a thousand times for someone who is described as the villain and hails from the most evil people in the history of world, and a girl who you met days ago. The main two annoying decisions he made include going to the Ishien and helping Kien (I know he turned out okay but he couldn’t have possibly known that then). And the only reason he gives is ‘I have to’.
There are many other problems like unnatural conversations and non-spontaneous reactions which I’m not going to list them all but the book wasn’t all bad. Pyrre was a delight, Gwenna, Laith and Talal were awesome, the Flea was so impressive. The descriptions of Skullsworn and desert tribes were intriguing. Triste’s torture, the rendezvous of the orphanage were some very well written bits. Almost everything was good and okay except for the three protagonists and since they made up the major parts of the books, I give this book 2 stars.
In the last book, Adare was the only character who I did not like, but if I’m completely honest, she was the only consistent one from the previous book. At least we know she is growing into her role, and she accepts that she understands very little about what is going on but tries to do her best. Though, her naive-ness bugged me throughout.
Valyn’s storyline was the one with the most inconsistent and convenient plot-lines. When they are discussing whether or not to kill the Urghals, before leaving the camp where they took shelter, Valyn gives some lame reasons about why they shouldn’t, even though it is pretty clear that those Urghals would chase them down and create trouble. Kettrals are taught to do what needs to be done and they don’t get carried away by emotions, and Valyn was a good Kettral in the first book, it was sad to see his character compromised for the plot.
Kettral, we were told, were taught everything they needed to do for any and all kinds of sting operations and surgical strikes, but this book showed that they are utterly lacking in knowledge about the Bone Mountains and Urghals. The first conversation between Valyn and Adare was plainly horrible. They are meeting after so many years and they choose to be hostile? I know the situation is very bad but they don’t even give each other the benefit of doubt, they don’t listen to what the other has to say and start to berate each other?
And Kaden, my favourite character from the last book. What a complete mess of a character had he become? You would really abandon your mentor who saved your lives a thousand times for someone who is described as the villain and hails from the most evil people in the history of world, and a girl who you met days ago. The main two annoying decisions he made include going to the Ishien and helping Kien (I know he turned out okay but he couldn’t have possibly known that then). And the only reason he gives is ‘I have to’.
There are many other problems like unnatural conversations and non-spontaneous reactions which I’m not going to list them all but the book wasn’t all bad. Pyrre was a delight, Gwenna, Laith and Talal were awesome, the Flea was so impressive. The descriptions of Skullsworn and desert tribes were intriguing. Triste’s torture, the rendezvous of the orphanage were some very well written bits. Almost everything was good and okay except for the three protagonists and since they made up the major parts of the books, I give this book 2 stars.
August 1, 2016
Executive Summary: I liked it, but didn't love it. The supporting characters really shone, while the "Emperor's Blades" seemed dull.
Audio book: Simon Vance is excellent as always. He was one of the main reasons I decided to try out The Emperor's Blades. His performance is such that this series remains a must audio for me, even if it means waiting a bit longer to get my hands on the next book.
Full Review
So I gave this book the same rating as The Emperor's Blades, and I think in many ways it's better. But I also had higher expectations coming in. I had none for the first book, and found myself pleasantly surprised.
So I was looking forward to this. And since I got a review copy that was coming via USPS (twice), I had to wait an extra month to get my hands on it. That further built the anticipation as I watched friends who I had recommended the first one read and highly rate it.
This book started off slow. With how the last one ended, I guess I was sort of expecting the book to hit the ground running. The last book is largely the "magic school" trope, although there isn't a whole lot of magic. But there is rigorous training and rivalries and the like. And some of the characters can do magic.
So maybe my love of that trope, or the fact that they were "in training" made me less aware of just how STUPID The Emperor's kids are. There was no hiding that here. I'm not a big fan of the super smart, super capable protagonist who can't seem to do any wrong. But I hate the I'm going to pull a plan out of my ass and somehow things will work out mostly right in the end protagonist even worse.
It'd be bad enough if one of them did. But all three of them did. And continued to do it. They didn't learn from their mistakes. They didn't really seem to grow as characters. They just kept being idiots. And selfish. It got pretty frustrating.
So why did I give this 4 stars? Well two reasons mainly. One the story is interesting. The world building Mr. Stavely does in this book is especially intriguing. The pieces he put in place in this novel look to make for a really interesting third (and final?) book in this series.
Secondly he has some great supporting characters. Some are returning from the first novel, and some are new. In particular I really enjoyed the POV chapters from a former supporting character who was given a chance to shine. They were easily my favorite chapters in the book. I only wish they had started sooner. Maybe even in the last book, but it wouldn't have made too much sense, so I understand the reasoning.
So overall this book is better, but with higher expectations, I found myself a bit disappointed at the same time. But I'm looking forward to the next book. I think for a middle book there is a lot to like. Hopefully the Emperor's kids will get a clue by then.
Audio book: Simon Vance is excellent as always. He was one of the main reasons I decided to try out The Emperor's Blades. His performance is such that this series remains a must audio for me, even if it means waiting a bit longer to get my hands on the next book.
Full Review
So I gave this book the same rating as The Emperor's Blades, and I think in many ways it's better. But I also had higher expectations coming in. I had none for the first book, and found myself pleasantly surprised.
So I was looking forward to this. And since I got a review copy that was coming via USPS (twice), I had to wait an extra month to get my hands on it. That further built the anticipation as I watched friends who I had recommended the first one read and highly rate it.
This book started off slow. With how the last one ended, I guess I was sort of expecting the book to hit the ground running. The last book is largely the "magic school" trope, although there isn't a whole lot of magic. But there is rigorous training and rivalries and the like. And some of the characters can do magic.
So maybe my love of that trope, or the fact that they were "in training" made me less aware of just how STUPID The Emperor's kids are. There was no hiding that here. I'm not a big fan of the super smart, super capable protagonist who can't seem to do any wrong. But I hate the I'm going to pull a plan out of my ass and somehow things will work out mostly right in the end protagonist even worse.
It'd be bad enough if one of them did. But all three of them did. And continued to do it. They didn't learn from their mistakes. They didn't really seem to grow as characters. They just kept being idiots. And selfish. It got pretty frustrating.
So why did I give this 4 stars? Well two reasons mainly. One the story is interesting. The world building Mr. Stavely does in this book is especially intriguing. The pieces he put in place in this novel look to make for a really interesting third (and final?) book in this series.
Secondly he has some great supporting characters. Some are returning from the first novel, and some are new. In particular I really enjoyed the POV chapters from a former supporting character who was given a chance to shine. They were easily my favorite chapters in the book. I only wish they had started sooner. Maybe even in the last book, but it wouldn't have made too much sense, so I understand the reasoning.
So overall this book is better, but with higher expectations, I found myself a bit disappointed at the same time. But I'm looking forward to the next book. I think for a middle book there is a lot to like. Hopefully the Emperor's kids will get a clue by then.
Shelved as 'can-t-wait-for-release-day'
February 9, 2014Why oh why do I start a series when it isn't yet completed! I mean, seriously Brian Staveley, 2015??? Impossible
February 9, 2015
The Providence of Fire was an excellent follow up to The Emperor's Blades. While I found this book to be similar to The Emperor's Blades in so far it did little to push the boundaries of the High Fantasy Genre, it was a heck of a ride. Every chapter seemed to end with a new revelation and cliff hanger that just kept those pages turning. Much like the first book this one was primarily composed of POV chapters from the late Emperor's children (with a few chapters from another POV which was quite enjoyable).
If you found The Emperor's Blades too slow, try to think of the trilogy as one big book. The first part was mostly character set up and world building with some excitement at the end. This installment was primarily action with a world expanded a bit, but the characters coming into many more conflicts, both with antagonists and among their allies (plus some great scenes with the siblings together briefly). I could see clear (and very rational) character development both from the primary characters and the supporting ones. Everyone is very different by the end of this book and that is a good thing, it made all the trials and tribulations they go through mean something instead of just being fun scenes to visualize.
One thing I will give Stavely credit for is infusing this book with a lot of paranoia. Both the characters and myself had no idea who to trust or how to interpret events and the actions of other characters. Heck, I still don't know if I can trust some characters who have gotten into the good graces of the protagonists. The fact that the somewhat cliched "ancient race bent on destruction of humanity" look exactly like humans and can pass as humans also adds a bit of paranoia and suspense to the story. the fact they can perfectly mimic human behavior is just the cherry on top of the creepy pie.
I think what Stavely does best in this book is give the supporting characters a lot of depth. They aren't just props for the heroes but fully realized characters with their own agendas and passions. Valyn's wing is just awesome (even and especially when they are fighting) and I love the Skullsworn, Pyrre, that falls in with them; her nonchalance but deadly efficiency is a nice contrast to the soldierly professionalism of the Kettral. I also thought the "advisor" that joins Kaden was fantastic and offers a fascinating perspective on events.
I did think Adare was once again the weak link in the book. It wasn't that Stavely can't write female characters (this book is populated with many kickass female characters who Stavely could have easily used men for but chose not to) it was just that Adare struck me as a very passive character. She seemed to be at the mercy of events instead of taking control of them. I am not sure why the Adare struck me in this way but it is what it is. I didn't think her chapters were bad, just not as good as the others.
All in all this was a great piece of high fantasy literature. The stakes were appropriately raised, beloved characters die, and there was some great development. If you had any positive feelings towards the first book, but are unsure about continuing the series, I would highly suggest picking this up. If you are still unsure, Tor, the publishing company, has been kind enough to provide an early look at the chapters of this book:
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
If you found The Emperor's Blades too slow, try to think of the trilogy as one big book. The first part was mostly character set up and world building with some excitement at the end. This installment was primarily action with a world expanded a bit, but the characters coming into many more conflicts, both with antagonists and among their allies (plus some great scenes with the siblings together briefly). I could see clear (and very rational) character development both from the primary characters and the supporting ones. Everyone is very different by the end of this book and that is a good thing, it made all the trials and tribulations they go through mean something instead of just being fun scenes to visualize.
One thing I will give Stavely credit for is infusing this book with a lot of paranoia. Both the characters and myself had no idea who to trust or how to interpret events and the actions of other characters. Heck, I still don't know if I can trust some characters who have gotten into the good graces of the protagonists. The fact that the somewhat cliched "ancient race bent on destruction of humanity" look exactly like humans and can pass as humans also adds a bit of paranoia and suspense to the story. the fact they can perfectly mimic human behavior is just the cherry on top of the creepy pie.
I think what Stavely does best in this book is give the supporting characters a lot of depth. They aren't just props for the heroes but fully realized characters with their own agendas and passions. Valyn's wing is just awesome (even and especially when they are fighting) and I love the Skullsworn, Pyrre, that falls in with them; her nonchalance but deadly efficiency is a nice contrast to the soldierly professionalism of the Kettral. I also thought the "advisor" that joins Kaden was fantastic and offers a fascinating perspective on events.
I did think Adare was once again the weak link in the book. It wasn't that Stavely can't write female characters (this book is populated with many kickass female characters who Stavely could have easily used men for but chose not to) it was just that Adare struck me as a very passive character. She seemed to be at the mercy of events instead of taking control of them. I am not sure why the Adare struck me in this way but it is what it is. I didn't think her chapters were bad, just not as good as the others.
All in all this was a great piece of high fantasy literature. The stakes were appropriately raised, beloved characters die, and there was some great development. If you had any positive feelings towards the first book, but are unsure about continuing the series, I would highly suggest picking this up. If you are still unsure, Tor, the publishing company, has been kind enough to provide an early look at the chapters of this book:
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
April 10, 2017
Man I thought the first one was awesome....Jesus! This was grim,dark and brutal but so enjoyable. The characters grow, we see more of the world and the different aspects of it. The Ishien....wouldn't want to meet them...ever....I was pulled in by the hairs all the way into this tale. Looking forward to how this all resolves. Another 5 stars:D
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