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The Blurb On The Back:
Shadows. Sorrow. Death.
Something’s coming.
We need to be read.
And yes. That does mean blood.
We’re too weak. The way we are. Sitting on our piles of gold pretending nothing exists beyond our walls.
We’re too far gone for anything else.
In the richest empire the world has ever known, the capital city of Sorlost stands eternal, or so it believes …
Decadence has become the true ruler, blinding its inhabitants to their decay. The empire is weak and, haunted by dreams of its demise, Lord Orhan Emmereth has decided to act.
On his orders, a company of mercenaries will cross the desert to reach the city of Sorlost. Once inside, they have one mission: assassinate the Emperor and all who serve him.
The mission is suicide but Marith is ready to die. He is running away from a shame and grief, which only the weight of a knife in his hand can banish.
Little does Marith know that his destiny awaits in the Golden City of Sorlost. A destiny beautiful, bloody, and more terrible than anyone could have foreseen.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Anna Smith Spark’s debut epic fantasy (the first in a trilogy) is a nihilistic grimdark affair that features vivid description and world-building but which is hampered by characters who are, for the most part, self-absorbed, unpleasant and petulant, an insta-love romance that made me roll my eyes and a meandering plot that lacked drive such that I will not be reading on (although the vivid descriptions mean I would check out Spark’s other work).
Something’s coming.
We need to be read.
And yes. That does mean blood.
We’re too weak. The way we are. Sitting on our piles of gold pretending nothing exists beyond our walls.
We’re too far gone for anything else.
In the richest empire the world has ever known, the capital city of Sorlost stands eternal, or so it believes …
Decadence has become the true ruler, blinding its inhabitants to their decay. The empire is weak and, haunted by dreams of its demise, Lord Orhan Emmereth has decided to act.
On his orders, a company of mercenaries will cross the desert to reach the city of Sorlost. Once inside, they have one mission: assassinate the Emperor and all who serve him.
The mission is suicide but Marith is ready to die. He is running away from a shame and grief, which only the weight of a knife in his hand can banish.
Little does Marith know that his destiny awaits in the Golden City of Sorlost. A destiny beautiful, bloody, and more terrible than anyone could have foreseen.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Anna Smith Spark’s debut epic fantasy (the first in a trilogy) is a nihilistic grimdark affair that features vivid description and world-building but which is hampered by characters who are, for the most part, self-absorbed, unpleasant and petulant, an insta-love romance that made me roll my eyes and a meandering plot that lacked drive such that I will not be reading on (although the vivid descriptions mean I would check out Spark’s other work).
