Release Date: 18/03/14
Publisher: Orbit
SYNOPSIS:
FAITH WILL NOT SAVE HIM. Saker looks like a simple priest, but in truth he's a spy for the head of his faith. It's a dangerous job, and more lives than merely his own depend on his secrecy. When Saker is wounded by a Lascar sailor's blade the weapon seems to follow him home. Unable to discard it, nor the sense of responsibility that comes with it, Saker can only follow its lead. It will put him on a journey to strange shores, on a path that will reveal terrible secrets about the empire, about the people he serves, and likely lead to his own destruction. The Lascar's dagger demands a price, and that price will be paid in blood.
REVIEW:
I’ve been a fan of Glenda’s for quite a few years, I love the way she brings amazing fantasy worlds to the fore and adds not only cultures but individual characters that make the world a wonderful place to discover as they go about their quest. Here in her latest book is a story that opens into something that is not only imaginative but will feed the soul of fantasy readers the world over. Its compelling, it has some great concepts within and with a magic system that makes organic sense all round generates something special that you can get behind.
That said however there are problems with this book, first of all it is quite slow with a pace that never really gets going apart from around the principle character and when you add to this supporting cast members feel rather flat left me feeling a little cheated. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy a lot of the elements within however if the second title doesn’t fix these errors I won’t be reading the third.
Release Date: 04/08/11
SYNOPSIS:
Reduner nomads have massacred the Quartern’s Rainlords, leaving its cities vulnerable to the relentless desert. Now Stormlord Shale must stretch his powers to bring rain, or his people will die - if they don’t meet a Reduner knife first. However, Shale can’t hold out alone for much longer, and those who seek to exploit him are closing in.
Rainlord Kaneth has spurned these politics for war, and plans to defeat the Reduner leader from his desert stronghold. But there are spies in Kaneth’s camp.
Terelle has been Shale’s secret weapon until now, covertly boosting his powers. But her Uncle’s magic compels her to travel to distant Khromatis - and if she disobeys him it will destroy her. Yet Khromatis gave the desert its first Stormlord, so Terelle may find hope there as well as great danger . . .
REVIEW:
Glenda Larke’s writing is one that is a pure joy to behold, its clear, it has great passion and the characters not only stand on their own two feet but they’re people that you’d like to hang around with (for the most part.) Add to this a vivid world that is not only concisely generated but one that the reader feels that they know intimately almost as if they were an inhabitant.
In this the third offering in the series Glenda really takes the plot forward with cracking pace, wonderfully descriptive prose and of course allows the fates to generate new plot based on the characters choices from the previous titles. Finally add her inventiveness alongside an identifiable writing style and the reader really is in for a treat. For me, this is perhaps her best series to date.
Release Date: 04/11/10
BOOK BLURB:
The last Stormlord is dead - and war has arrived. The nomadic Reduners have put the Quartern's rainlords to the sword, leaving their cities without water or hope. Shale still lives, despite being betrayed, drugged and sold to his greatest enemy. Yet Shale needs his adversary more than his freedom, as thousands will die if they don't channel the rains together. For Shale isn't a Stormlord in his own right - at least, not yet. Only Terelle could help him now, but she's a prisoner herself and far from home. And a new force is rising in the desert. While kept as a Reduner whore, Rainlord Ryka Feldspar witnesses a power that can move the sands themselves. The Reduners are hailing this power as god-given, and its impact could transform a world.
REVIEW:
The second title in Glenda’s Stormlord series and one that continues to build upon the success of the original which before we go any further, I’d advising that you read before starting this one. What Glenda does very well, for those unfamiliar with her previous body of work, is great characterisation, they’re realistic, they’re fully formed and they past events as well as choices form the events of the present and even influence occurrences in the future. It’s beautifully written, the action fast paced and when backed with the sheer skill of an established author demonstrates why she is one to pick up.
Finally add a great overall story arc as well as a lot of threads to interweave into the next title that could go either way and the reader is left guessing in Glenda’s shades of grey world which makes this an excellent title and one that we can’t wait for the third instalment for.
