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ninetalevixen 's review for:
House of Assassins
by Larry Correia
I received a review copy of this book from Edelweiss. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
1. [b:Son of the Black Sword|27217864|Son of the Black Sword (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, #1)|Larry Correia|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445018935s/27217864.jpg|44804710] | 🔥🔥🔥
I try not to compare books, especially not to super-popular franchises, but I kept thinking that this is what I'd hoped Game of Thrones would be. (Except that Saga of the Forgotten Warrior has demons instead of dragons, but that's okay.) There's political intrigue, lots of swordfighting, both magic and science, even religion based on old gods.
I actually cared about most of the characters whose POV we follow — including the ones who were introduced early on in this book or late in the previous book. Ashok's single-minded devotion to his oath is challenged frequently and nuanced enough not to be too annoying; Thera is the Warrior my younger self would've loved to emulate; Rada is the antisocial reader and reluctant adventurer my present self identifies with. ("People made her uncomfortable. She much preferred the company of a book" — this is me!)
The rich worldbuilding from the first book continues, and we get to peek at the workings and traditions of the different Orders (not to be confused with castes): Protectors, Inquisitors, Archivists, Historians ... and, outside the system, the House of Assassins. Correia brings us an immersive world without overwhelming the reader, greatly improving on the infodumps that bothered me in the first book.
The plot also manages a balance, between boring and overcomplicated. Though I wasn't really surprised at any point — not even by the big "twists" — and I did skim the fighting scenes because they're quite detailed, there wasn't a dull moment in this adventure.
1. [b:Son of the Black Sword|27217864|Son of the Black Sword (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, #1)|Larry Correia|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445018935s/27217864.jpg|44804710] | 🔥🔥🔥
I try not to compare books, especially not to super-popular franchises, but I kept thinking that this is what I'd hoped Game of Thrones would be. (Except that Saga of the Forgotten Warrior has demons instead of dragons, but that's okay.) There's political intrigue, lots of swordfighting, both magic and science, even religion based on old gods.
I actually cared about most of the characters whose POV we follow — including the ones who were introduced early on in this book or late in the previous book. Ashok's single-minded devotion to his oath is challenged frequently and nuanced enough not to be too annoying; Thera is the Warrior my younger self would've loved to emulate; Rada is the antisocial reader and reluctant adventurer my present self identifies with. ("People made her uncomfortable. She much preferred the company of a book" — this is me!)
The rich worldbuilding from the first book continues, and we get to peek at the workings and traditions of the different Orders (not to be confused with castes): Protectors, Inquisitors, Archivists, Historians ... and, outside the system, the House of Assassins. Correia brings us an immersive world without overwhelming the reader, greatly improving on the infodumps that bothered me in the first book.
The plot also manages a balance, between boring and overcomplicated. Though I wasn't really surprised at any point — not even by the big "twists" — and I did skim the fighting scenes because they're quite detailed, there wasn't a dull moment in this adventure.