Here’s the next installment in my, “Books Off the Shelf” series. So Many Books, So Little Time! I will attempt to give you an idea on some books you might enjoy or not enjoy quite as much without ruining it with too many spoilers.
The Providence of Fire (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne) by Brian Staveley Rating 8.5 out of 10 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. So, The Providence of Fire is the second book in the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne series, and in it, all bets are off. Staveley continues us on the ride we began in The Emperor’s Blades but rather than following any kind of formulaic pattern for plotline. Rather, he throws curveball after curveball to keep us guessing. In The Providence of Fire, we are back to following the late emperor’s children, Kaden, Adare, and Valyn. As they struggle to reclaim their empire and lives from the ashes left after their father’s death, a much larger and older plot of intrigue can be glimpsed enveloping them. The unique decisions and situations that the three siblings work through keep this book a fun, fascinating adventure. I mentioned in my Books Off The Shelf Post of book one, The Emperor’s Blades, that I really enjoy Staveley’s work in the field of gritty fantasy. It is easy for “realness” of the subgenre to leave a reader feeling dirty or depressed. Staveley does a fantastic job of offering all the strengths of gritty fantasy while still offering enough hope to give his story power. The Providence of Fire is well worth the read, and I am eagerly anticipating book 3 in the series. If you’ve read The Providence of Fire, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a message below. And as ever, if you have suggestions of books to review, please let me know. If it is Science Fiction or Fantasy, there is a good chance it is on my shelf or should be. If you would like to be the first to hear about other great books, feel free to sign up on the right. I’m also giving away the first two chapters of my debut novel, MIST FALCON. I would love to send them your way, so do me a favor and sign up. |
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