From John Marco comes the epic sequel to his thrilling debut military fantasy, The Jackel of Nar. An infamous warrior is once again caught between two irrexixtible forces, and his choice may change the world...
Prince Richius Vantran, the Jackal of Nar, has fled into exile. Meanwhile, Nar has exploded in civil war. The conflict is being waged between the religious fanatics of Bishop Herrith, who follow the Light of God, and the ruthless followers of Count Biagio and his Black Renaissance. As the terrifying slaughter mounts, fueled by the development of hideous new war machines, Vantran is offered a chance to ally with a third faction and take his revenge against his ancient enemy Biagio.
But Biagio, a master of deception and intrigue, has a grand design to gain total power that involves luring Vantran's new allies into a deadly trap. As for Vantran, Biagio has a special punishment: to strike the warrior-prince's only weakness...Vantran's innocent daughter. And Vantran himself will unwittingly seal the young girl's fate.
Amazon.com Review
The second book in the Tyrants and Kings series, following The Jackal of Nar, continues to explore the fallout from the ruthless plans of now-dead King Arkus of the Iron Throne to unite the land in a vast, evil Black Renaissance. Prince Richius Vantran, the Jackal of Nar, was one of Arkus's star pupils, along with his one-time friend, the black-hearted Count Renato Biagio. After Arkus's death, Vantran broke with Biagio and his bloody plans, losing his wife, Sabrina, and barely escaping with his own life. Now he just lives quietly in hiding with his new wife and their beloved baby daughter. Unfortunately Biagio is determined to wreak his revenge on Vantran, even in the midst of civil war between the Black Renaissance and worshippers of the God of Light, led by Archbishop Herrith. Biagio schemes to bring down Herrith with a pair of secret weapons designed in his infamous war labs. In the meantime he sends his most trusted servant, Simon Darquis, to kidnap Vantran's daughter, unaware that the Jackal has been persuaded to lead an armada against Biagio's forces at the port of Crote. John Marco's novel stands out in the crowded field of epic fantasy due to its unique blend of magical and historical detail. He manages a reasonably satisfying conclusion here, while leaving plenty of loose ends for successive books sure to contain equally large helpings of bloody intrigue and gripping action. --Charlene Brusso
From Publishers Weekly
The second novel in the high fantasy Tyrants and Kings cycle takes up where The Jackal of Nar left off. Prince Richius Vantran finds exile more pleasant with a wife and daughter, but still seeks to overthrow Count Biagio and Archbishop Herrith, who are battling each other for control of the land of Nar. From his base on the island of Crote, Biagio commands the Black Fleet under Admiral Nicabar, while Vantran has made an alliance with the Hundred Islands of Liss, bent on vengeance against Nar. All these rivalries are fought out on a large and often vividly described stage, where flocks of attack ravens can destroy armies, soldiers march with both battering rams and poison gas, and sailing ships use rams and flame-throwers. Add to this mix many complex characters--Lorla, the woman in a girl's body who's also a secret weapon concocted by midget mad scientist Bovadin; the dueling dukes of Dragon's Beak, Eneas and Enli; and Simon Darquis, Biagio's sworn agent who turns traitor for love of a dancing girl--not to mention Herrith's tender conscience, and the grand total is something less than the most coherent narrative ever put between covers. One can leap from high point to high point without losing too much interest, however, while appreciating the author's attention to detail and ambitious stabs at originality. (Apr.)
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