Release Date: 26/05/11BOOK BLURB:
Corvis Rebaine is no hero. In his trademark suit of black armour and skull-like helm, armed with a demon-forged axe and with allies that include a bloodthirsty ogre, Rebaine has twice brought death and destruction to Imphallion in pursuit of a better, more equitable and just society. If he had to kill countless innocents in order to achieve that dream, so be it. At least that was the old Rebaine. Before he slew the mad warlord Audriss. Before he banished the demon Khanda. Before he lost his wife and children, who could neither forgive nor forget his violent crimes. Now, years later, Rebaine lives in a distant city, under a false name. He's a member of one of the Guilds he despises and trying to achieve change nonviolently, from within the power structure. But just because Corvis has changed doesn't mean everyone else has. When Imphallion is invaded the bickering Guilds once again prove unable to respond ...but someone wearing Rebaine's trademark black armour, and bearing what appears to be his axe, does. Someone who is, if anything, even less careful of human life than Rebaine was. Worse, Rebaine's old nemesis Baron Jassion is hunting him once more, aided by a mysterious sorcerer named Kaleb, and a young woman who hates Corvis Rebaine more than anyone else: his own daughter, Mellorin. Suddenly Rebaine seems to have no choice. To clear his name, to protect his country, and to reconcile with his family, must he become the Terror of the East again?
REVIEW:
Having finally gotten around to reading the original tale in the series (the Conquerors Shadow) I was really looking forward to this titles release. I expected more of the same high octane action, good characterisation as well as a wonderfully constructed world.
What unfurled however was sadly a disappointment as there were quite a few holes and to be blunt I did feel that this title was more of a rushed job and the author didn’t have quite the same amount of time to polish and fix the problems. The characters were flat, the plot dilemma’s sadly lacking and when it hinges on collateral damage rather than taking the bull by the horns and getting out there made this feel more like a damp squib than the huge bang I was expecting. With luck things will improve in the next title and as such I will give it a go, but if it has a lot of the same failure points as this title then sadly it could well be time for me to call it a day with Ari.
Interesting, a first book always has so much work and passion put into it, i've always wondered if some follow ups can feel as genuine and complete as the first.
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