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Queen of the Orcs #3
Royal Destiny
A delicate alliance between human and orc has been achieved. Now Queen of the Orcs, Dar works toward making that peace last. Her position has helped her to finally feel part of a community, to find a life to call her own.
But sudden, strange outbreaks of unrest and ominous signs throw both realms into turmoil. Dar must draw on her knowledge and skills to confront a merciless long-time enemy–and an evil she once only barely survived. To keep human and orc from destroying one another, Dar risks everything on a desperate gamble–and her own future on a heartbreaking sacrifice.
But sudden, strange outbreaks of unrest and ominous signs throw both realms into turmoil. Dar must draw on her knowledge and skills to confront a merciless long-time enemy–and an evil she once only barely survived. To keep human and orc from destroying one another, Dar risks everything on a desperate gamble–and her own future on a heartbreaking sacrifice.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
21 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Howell
11 books73 followersMorgan Howell is the pseudonym of author Will Hubbell. Hubbell uses his own name when writing childrens' picture books and for his science fiction novels published by Ace. He uses the name Morgan Howell for his recent fantasy writing, citing the darkness of the writing.
A graduate of Oberlin College and the Rochester Institute of Technology, MORGAN HOWELL is a full-time writer who lives in upstate New York.
A graduate of Oberlin College and the Rochester Institute of Technology, MORGAN HOWELL is a full-time writer who lives in upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 17, 2011
This was good...up until the end. I got really pissed off the last 10 or so pages. Dar goes through some really bad shit and then doesn't get what she wants?? I felt like I was reading Little Women all over again (you know, but with Orcs and stuff). Dar gets a meh ending. She could have been happy, her orc family could have said "You know what? That ignoring people that sacrificed their lives for us is a shit thing to do. Let's not do that anymore." But we get some Transcendental ending. I'm kinda pissed if you can't tell. And the epilogue was vague. We get no sense if Dar is really happy, I mean didn't I just spend like 20 hours reading three books following a character so I can make sure she's good at the end? It was like Hunger Games all over again (though she was kinda damaged and Dar seems solid).
Anyway, it's a good series and I really did enjoy the author's dedication to the creation of the Orcs both with the language and historical detail. It seriously shows the dedication to have such seamless and flowing world building. Very impressive.
Anyway, it's a good series and I really did enjoy the author's dedication to the creation of the Orcs both with the language and historical detail. It seriously shows the dedication to have such seamless and flowing world building. Very impressive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2010
WARNING: will contain spoilers for books 1 and 2 in the series.
I have to admit, this series drifted a bit from what I expected it to be when I read the first book. King's Property was slower in pace than the next two installments in the series, but I found it to be thought-provoking with a strong heroine and an important message. Over the course of the series, the trilogy changed into something that looked more like the run-of-the-mill fantasy, complete with prophecies and villains of unrelenting evil. Royal Destiny was still engaging and fun to read, but my beloved Dar held the idiot ball at times, while many of the other characters felt one-dimensional at times.
At the end of Clan Daughter, the human Dar was (temporarily, she assumed) made Queen of the Orcs when the former queen was murdered by a treacherous sorcerer, who held the human king in his sway. The sorcerer Othar was also slain, it seemed (though we readers knew better), as was King Kregant, leaving behind his wife Girta to act as regent for his son, Kregant III. Dar, seemingly mortally wounded, returns to the orcs to pass on the mystical Fathma to the next queen, but instead is healed and remains queen herself. This, of course, causes conflict among the orcs, who don't trust this washavoki (human)-born queen, and Dar is threatened with having to prove her legitimacy, which may be fatal. Meanwhile, Othar, who is not dead, but transformed and his powers increased, has found some new allies, including the baddy from the first book, Kol. Who just so happens to have the Queen Girta's ear . . .
I can't help but wonder what I would have thought of the second and the third books in this series, if I hadn't read them after I watched the movie Avatar. Like that movie, the Queen of the Orcs trilogy is about a human assimilating to a fantastical nature loving culture, and then saving it from his/her own kind. Dar is the rescuer of the orcs, not merely because she's queen and thus has their obedience, but because the orcs don't understand such concepts as lying, deceiving, or treachery, which the humans readily use. The orcish culture is painted so idyllically as to be unbelievable, although perhaps the prejudice against Dar, particularly from the mother of her would-be lover, is an attempt to remedy this. It doesn't work, as the humans are also prejudiced, and with much less reason, as well as being greedy, patriarchal, and warmongering. No wonder Dar prefers the orcs.
I do, however, wish that candy-coating of the orcs and their society hadn't been at the expense of the human characters who weren't Dar. Queen Girta, for example, seems like an intelligent woman, but then Kol wraps her around his little finger with no effort at all. Kol himself was a far more complex character in book 1, when he was a bastard, true, but a complex and believable bastard, with an attraction to Dar's strength while at the same time wanting to break her. It would have been interesting to read him acting out these tendencies with Girta as well, but instead, all Kol seems to want is power and war. He, like many of the other characters, often acts to move the plot forward, rather than as is consistent with his established personality. Even Dar does this at times, making me wonder if the author got tired of the series by this point and simply wanted it to be over with.
I'm glad I read this trilogy, for book 1 especially, but books 2 and 3 were also fun to read. The story is still entertaining, the orc culture idealized but still interesting, and the plot does keep you reading. If the final result is not as deep as I'd hoped, it's still a good, escapist fantasy with better world-building than most.
I have to admit, this series drifted a bit from what I expected it to be when I read the first book. King's Property was slower in pace than the next two installments in the series, but I found it to be thought-provoking with a strong heroine and an important message. Over the course of the series, the trilogy changed into something that looked more like the run-of-the-mill fantasy, complete with prophecies and villains of unrelenting evil. Royal Destiny was still engaging and fun to read, but my beloved Dar held the idiot ball at times, while many of the other characters felt one-dimensional at times.
At the end of Clan Daughter, the human Dar was (temporarily, she assumed) made Queen of the Orcs when the former queen was murdered by a treacherous sorcerer, who held the human king in his sway. The sorcerer Othar was also slain, it seemed (though we readers knew better), as was King Kregant, leaving behind his wife Girta to act as regent for his son, Kregant III. Dar, seemingly mortally wounded, returns to the orcs to pass on the mystical Fathma to the next queen, but instead is healed and remains queen herself. This, of course, causes conflict among the orcs, who don't trust this washavoki (human)-born queen, and Dar is threatened with having to prove her legitimacy, which may be fatal. Meanwhile, Othar, who is not dead, but transformed and his powers increased, has found some new allies, including the baddy from the first book, Kol. Who just so happens to have the Queen Girta's ear . . .
I can't help but wonder what I would have thought of the second and the third books in this series, if I hadn't read them after I watched the movie Avatar. Like that movie, the Queen of the Orcs trilogy is about a human assimilating to a fantastical nature loving culture, and then saving it from his/her own kind. Dar is the rescuer of the orcs, not merely because she's queen and thus has their obedience, but because the orcs don't understand such concepts as lying, deceiving, or treachery, which the humans readily use. The orcish culture is painted so idyllically as to be unbelievable, although perhaps the prejudice against Dar, particularly from the mother of her would-be lover, is an attempt to remedy this. It doesn't work, as the humans are also prejudiced, and with much less reason, as well as being greedy, patriarchal, and warmongering. No wonder Dar prefers the orcs.
I do, however, wish that candy-coating of the orcs and their society hadn't been at the expense of the human characters who weren't Dar. Queen Girta, for example, seems like an intelligent woman, but then Kol wraps her around his little finger with no effort at all. Kol himself was a far more complex character in book 1, when he was a bastard, true, but a complex and believable bastard, with an attraction to Dar's strength while at the same time wanting to break her. It would have been interesting to read him acting out these tendencies with Girta as well, but instead, all Kol seems to want is power and war. He, like many of the other characters, often acts to move the plot forward, rather than as is consistent with his established personality. Even Dar does this at times, making me wonder if the author got tired of the series by this point and simply wanted it to be over with.
I'm glad I read this trilogy, for book 1 especially, but books 2 and 3 were also fun to read. The story is still entertaining, the orc culture idealized but still interesting, and the plot does keep you reading. If the final result is not as deep as I'd hoped, it's still a good, escapist fantasy with better world-building than most.
November 7, 2010
I was kind of sad at how this one ended. In all fairness though, it really couldn't have ended any other way. I would like to see a sequel trilogy to pick up where this one left off.
October 12, 2019
In general, I really enjoyed this series. But this book was definitely the weakest of the three, which is a shame, because it was the end.
I have come to be extremely emotionally invested in Dar and in Kovoh-mah, her orc companion. I wanted to see their love succeed against all odds. And I hated it, because it seemed to me that the theme of the series was intended to be how a woman in a bad situation seizes her own agency and rises above her circumstances with the shitty hand she's been dealt. And in the end, she lost all that agency that she'd gained, after being used and discarded by a holy power.
As a result, I feel cheated.
Now, that's the subplot. It occupies the greatest part of my brain because the main plot has gone from a really interesting and intense dark fantasy, focused on the fate of a small character, to a vast high fantasy with tropish villains and even tropier conflicts. The villain often has plot armour, Dar is smart or stupid according to plot convenience, and every woman except Dar is two-dimensionally rendered and easily filed into "all good" or "all stupid." Well, except the Lore-Keeper. She was pretty awesome, to be fair.
I guess I just expected *more,* and it didn't deliver. There's nothing objectively wrong with the plot or characters, or any of the events as they unfolded. It's just... not what the beginning promised.
Three stars for "it was all right." The first book is amazing. The second is good. But be warned, Game of Thrones fans - the end is decidedly lacklustre.
I have come to be extremely emotionally invested in Dar and in Kovoh-mah, her orc companion. I wanted to see their love succeed against all odds. And I hated it, because it seemed to me that the theme of the series was intended to be how a woman in a bad situation seizes her own agency and rises above her circumstances with the shitty hand she's been dealt. And in the end, she lost all that agency that she'd gained, after being used and discarded by a holy power.
As a result, I feel cheated.
Now, that's the subplot. It occupies the greatest part of my brain because the main plot has gone from a really interesting and intense dark fantasy, focused on the fate of a small character, to a vast high fantasy with tropish villains and even tropier conflicts. The villain often has plot armour, Dar is smart or stupid according to plot convenience, and every woman except Dar is two-dimensionally rendered and easily filed into "all good" or "all stupid." Well, except the Lore-Keeper. She was pretty awesome, to be fair.
I guess I just expected *more,* and it didn't deliver. There's nothing objectively wrong with the plot or characters, or any of the events as they unfolded. It's just... not what the beginning promised.
Three stars for "it was all right." The first book is amazing. The second is good. But be warned, Game of Thrones fans - the end is decidedly lacklustre.
October 18, 2020
Similar to book two, this last book didn't have the same spark that had me loving King's Property. I just wasn't excited to pick this up or even while reading it.
To be frank, the beginning of this book drags on for so long, what with Dar learning how to be queen ONLY TO THROW IT ALL OUT THE FUCKING WINDOW AT THE END. Seriously, why the fuck make the reader sit through all that for a the majority of the book only for it to not matter because Dar isn't the queen anymore. This book is longer than the other two and I don't understand why because even less happens in this one.
Also, I just wanted Dar to be over Kovok-mah by this book. I was rooting for them in book two, but in this one you could tell they weren't going to end up together. I was hoping for Dar to end up with Sevren, honestly (and she kind of did, but I'm not happy how they got there since she ended up with him off page and only by default).
Honestly, while I'm not mad enough to deduct a star for it, the ending was bullshit and I wish Dar was still the queen. It felt like a bit of a cop out since there wasn't any reason for Dar to give up Fathma. Yeah, technically if she was caught by Kol and/or Othar she would have been in trouble, but since she never was, the action of giving Fathma to Nir-yat was pointless aside from removing Dar from the orcs permanently, which I also don't understand. Why make the point of this trilogy about Dar finally finding somewhere where she belongs and finding acceptance in the orcs only for her to end up being forever shunned by them, never to live among them again and to never be with Kovok-mah.
It wasn't necessarily a bad book, but I was disappointed by, especially since I loved book one so much.
To be frank, the beginning of this book drags on for so long, what with Dar learning how to be queen ONLY TO THROW IT ALL OUT THE FUCKING WINDOW AT THE END. Seriously, why the fuck make the reader sit through all that for a the majority of the book only for it to not matter because Dar isn't the queen anymore. This book is longer than the other two and I don't understand why because even less happens in this one.
Also, I just wanted Dar to be over Kovok-mah by this book. I was rooting for them in book two, but in this one you could tell they weren't going to end up together. I was hoping for Dar to end up with Sevren, honestly (and she kind of did, but I'm not happy how they got there since she ended up with him off page and only by default).
Honestly, while I'm not mad enough to deduct a star for it, the ending was bullshit and I wish Dar was still the queen. It felt like a bit of a cop out since there wasn't any reason for Dar to give up Fathma. Yeah, technically if she was caught by Kol and/or Othar she would have been in trouble, but since she never was, the action of giving Fathma to Nir-yat was pointless aside from removing Dar from the orcs permanently, which I also don't understand. Why make the point of this trilogy about Dar finally finding somewhere where she belongs and finding acceptance in the orcs only for her to end up being forever shunned by them, never to live among them again and to never be with Kovok-mah.
It wasn't necessarily a bad book, but I was disappointed by, especially since I loved book one so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2008
Howell created such an interesting world, and an engaging tale. But the ending pissed me off so much that it soured everything that came before. The main character is so ill used, and I find the epilogue insulting to her, her journey, and me as a reader.
July 11, 2017
Loved this series except for the ending...kinda sorta.
I flip flopped through the whole series on who she belonged with. But it still broke my heart in the end.
I flip flopped through the whole series on who she belonged with. But it still broke my heart in the end.
April 6, 2014
Each one had a twin in the water, and Dar felt she was gazing at two heavens, one distant and one within her reach.
It's been a long time since I have wept. Cried- yes but weep? I can't remember the last time that happened.
This book reduced me into a weeping, mad girl.
Morgan Howell has written one of the most amazing sagas of all time. She had written something so realistic and yet so magical. I have watch a common slave grow into a queen- i have watched her journey, i have joined her sufferings, her desires and love. Like a real person, i have watched her grew.
I think that is one of the most amazing thing about this book. That and the plot which is so detailed, so vivid. The world of Orcs and Human is so solid I believed in it.
There are no words to describe how much i praise this book so much. I have always loved happy ending. I abhor tragic ones but this book showed me life. It was a life far from our own but life nevertheless and it has thought me to be strong and that sometimes, we may not always get what we want- that it's not always about us; it's something else entirely, something bigger and much more profound than our happiness and happy endings.
Anyway, this is a book that made me think. A great book does that to you and though this may never be as popular as Fifty Shades of Grey or Twilight, i hope the author know she wrote an epic book that I'm sure- touched the hearts and imparted a great wisdom in those who read it.
I'm not sure how this have ended but it saddened me, to say the least. Endings are always bittersweet.
It sucked!!!! Why oh why??? She deserved happy ending! They deserve each other! Why can't they live? Why can't they live together, get married, have kids and live happily ever after! The girl deserved it! Why did the author ended it like that!!!!!!! Why did Muthla made them fall in love in the first place!!!!!!!!! Why?!!!!!!!!!!! It would have been easier to accept but why!??!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH my God!!! Im sorry, this is supposed to be a review but it's midnight and I can't just call my friends so the can hear me cry about a book!!!!!!! They deserved each other damn it!!!! I supposed Svenes ok, but...if fate is kind- i hope they find love...They need that, i need that.
It's been a long time since I have wept. Cried- yes but weep? I can't remember the last time that happened.
This book reduced me into a weeping, mad girl.
Morgan Howell has written one of the most amazing sagas of all time. She had written something so realistic and yet so magical. I have watch a common slave grow into a queen- i have watched her journey, i have joined her sufferings, her desires and love. Like a real person, i have watched her grew.
I think that is one of the most amazing thing about this book. That and the plot which is so detailed, so vivid. The world of Orcs and Human is so solid I believed in it.
There are no words to describe how much i praise this book so much. I have always loved happy ending. I abhor tragic ones but this book showed me life. It was a life far from our own but life nevertheless and it has thought me to be strong and that sometimes, we may not always get what we want- that it's not always about us; it's something else entirely, something bigger and much more profound than our happiness and happy endings.
Anyway, this is a book that made me think. A great book does that to you and though this may never be as popular as Fifty Shades of Grey or Twilight, i hope the author know she wrote an epic book that I'm sure- touched the hearts and imparted a great wisdom in those who read it.
I'm not sure how this have ended but it saddened me, to say the least. Endings are always bittersweet.
It sucked!!!! Why oh why??? She deserved happy ending! They deserve each other! Why can't they live? Why can't they live together, get married, have kids and live happily ever after! The girl deserved it! Why did the author ended it like that!!!!!!! Why did Muthla made them fall in love in the first place!!!!!!!!! Why?!!!!!!!!!!! It would have been easier to accept but why!??!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH my God!!! Im sorry, this is supposed to be a review but it's midnight and I can't just call my friends so the can hear me cry about a book!!!!!!! They deserved each other damn it!!!! I supposed Svenes ok, but...if fate is kind- i hope they find love...They need that, i need that.
January 26, 2011
Ok, so the way the series ended broke my heart. I was depressed for days. My husband had to try to cheer me up. I know the way I emotionally invest so much in the books I read is ridiculous, but I can't help it, and the more the story draws me in, the more it effects me in the end.
That said, I don't really see another way it could have ended and stayed congruent with the rest of the story. There were already a few twists in the book, and it may have made readers feel better to put some huge loophole at the end that allowed everyone to live happily ever after, but this ending is the most true to the story, and I applaud Howell for sticking to it, while simultaneously harboring a hidden resentment for replacing my happy ending with such a bitter sweet one.
I've got more of his books on my to read list though, so my resentment doesn't run that deep ;)
That said, I don't really see another way it could have ended and stayed congruent with the rest of the story. There were already a few twists in the book, and it may have made readers feel better to put some huge loophole at the end that allowed everyone to live happily ever after, but this ending is the most true to the story, and I applaud Howell for sticking to it, while simultaneously harboring a hidden resentment for replacing my happy ending with such a bitter sweet one.
I've got more of his books on my to read list though, so my resentment doesn't run that deep ;)
March 7, 2019
I have to say while I enjoyed this book and ultimately the whole trilogy, I was both sorry and relieved to see it end. The amount of hardships endured and the level of suffering conveyed was at times overwhelming. I understand that often the greatest growth occurs during times of greatest hardship but I really wanted a bigger win for Dar. Having said that I was really glad I read the trilogy and would recommend it to anyone who likes their fantasy served with realism.
January 4, 2011
I couldn't stop. I had to finish the story. I won't tell you the ending, but I want a rewrite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2024
I went back and forth on whether or not to give this one or two stars. I actually enjoyed the series overall and this book in particular was about the same quality wise as the rest of the series.
But then there was the ending. I have never been so mad and disappointed by an ending. After all that, she ends up with a human man instead of the person (orc) we’ve come attached to?? Ruined my enjoyment of the series and made it so I can’t even recommend it to anyone because the ending was such a let down.
But then there was the ending. I have never been so mad and disappointed by an ending. After all that, she ends up with a human man instead of the person (orc) we’ve come attached to?? Ruined my enjoyment of the series and made it so I can’t even recommend it to anyone because the ending was such a let down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2021
I like but I feel weird that I do
It's an awkward kind of read if u rarely depart from same species type reading. HOWEVER the author is incredibly talented in her writing skills. I don't like the ending but that's a personal preference. And the main character u just can't help but like /connect to.
It's an awkward kind of read if u rarely depart from same species type reading. HOWEVER the author is incredibly talented in her writing skills. I don't like the ending but that's a personal preference. And the main character u just can't help but like /connect to.
October 22, 2021
Keeping this short and sweet. This was a surprisingly good series. Yes, it starts out rough. A woman’s life is not easy, especially a slave. However, this is a tale of triumph. Of inner strength. Dedication of will. Overcoming the ugly evil. And sometimes the ending you want isn’t the ending you get.
October 2, 2019
Ending feel botched and too fast
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2021
That ending tho.
June 23, 2024
1.5 Jag har läst sämre böcker, men inte många.
May 21, 2010
Royal Destiny is the final novel in Morgan Howell’s Queen of the Orcs trilogy. Dar has managed to create peace between the orcs and the humans, but certain individuals from Dar’s past threaten this. Dar must once again return to the Taiben to ensure that peace remains, and to make sure her enemies don’t achieve their goals. The beginning of this book picks up right where Clan Daughter left off, so it’s crucial to read the books in the correct order!
Dar’s continued transformation was wonderful. Howell did a really good job of progressing Dar during the course of this trilogy. In each novel she faced increasingly complex decisions that required more planning and strategy rather than just survival instinct. I liked her during the first novel, but she became an even more memorable, strong character by the last novel. Royal Destiny also brought more focus onto certain side characters which drove the plot in a very suspenseful manner.
I enjoyed the direction the story took at the beginning of the novel, but the closer it got to the end, the less satisfied I felt. Royal Destiny is a good book, but I felt that the ending of this book wasn’t on the same level as the rest of the trilogy. My slightly dissatisfied feelings about the ending are based on two things. First, I felt like the ending was wrong for Dar. After reading about her so much, I didn’t think that she would have chosen or accepted that outcome for herself. That however isn’t why I rated this book lower than the other books in the trilogy. I rated it lower because the ending seemed far too hurried and a little vague. It honestly seemed like Howell had a lot more to write about Dar’s journey, but for whatever reason had to end the story there. I’m left feeling a bit like the story is unfinished.
I’d still recommend Royal Destiny because it’s a good book. I loved Howell’s take on Orcs, and I thought it was a very unique story. I just can’t say that it was of the same quality as the first too books.
Dar’s continued transformation was wonderful. Howell did a really good job of progressing Dar during the course of this trilogy. In each novel she faced increasingly complex decisions that required more planning and strategy rather than just survival instinct. I liked her during the first novel, but she became an even more memorable, strong character by the last novel. Royal Destiny also brought more focus onto certain side characters which drove the plot in a very suspenseful manner.
I enjoyed the direction the story took at the beginning of the novel, but the closer it got to the end, the less satisfied I felt. Royal Destiny is a good book, but I felt that the ending of this book wasn’t on the same level as the rest of the trilogy. My slightly dissatisfied feelings about the ending are based on two things. First, I felt like the ending was wrong for Dar. After reading about her so much, I didn’t think that she would have chosen or accepted that outcome for herself. That however isn’t why I rated this book lower than the other books in the trilogy. I rated it lower because the ending seemed far too hurried and a little vague. It honestly seemed like Howell had a lot more to write about Dar’s journey, but for whatever reason had to end the story there. I’m left feeling a bit like the story is unfinished.
I’d still recommend Royal Destiny because it’s a good book. I loved Howell’s take on Orcs, and I thought it was a very unique story. I just can’t say that it was of the same quality as the first too books.
March 26, 2016
This was a pretty good trilogy, and different from anything I personally have read before because it has a large focus on orcish culture. I don’t remember reading anything where orcs even had a culture, much less where the reader was given details about it. Orcs have never held any particular interest for me before, but I really liked the way they were presented here.
The angsty romance that annoyed me in the second book didn’t have as much focus this time. It was still there, but I didn’t feel like it overwhelmed the story as much. The story itself held my interest well, and I particularly enjoyed watching the main character learn how to function in the new situation she found herself in. I’m being deliberately vague because I don’t want to spoil the actual story from the previous books.
I did occasionally feel restless while reading, though. The story never had me “on the edge of my seat”, anxious to see what would happen next. I think this is largely because there were prophetic visions in the series, and that usually makes books feel more predictable to me. Even though the visions in this story often didn’t play out exactly in the manner I might have expected, they still gave a general impression of how things would turn out and that reduced some of the suspense for me.
The ending was very bittersweet. I think, if I’d been more invested in certain aspects of the story, I might have been upset by the ending. Instead, I was ok with how things turned out and I thought the ending fit the story well.
The angsty romance that annoyed me in the second book didn’t have as much focus this time. It was still there, but I didn’t feel like it overwhelmed the story as much. The story itself held my interest well, and I particularly enjoyed watching the main character learn how to function in the new situation she found herself in. I’m being deliberately vague because I don’t want to spoil the actual story from the previous books.
I did occasionally feel restless while reading, though. The story never had me “on the edge of my seat”, anxious to see what would happen next. I think this is largely because there were prophetic visions in the series, and that usually makes books feel more predictable to me. Even though the visions in this story often didn’t play out exactly in the manner I might have expected, they still gave a general impression of how things would turn out and that reduced some of the suspense for me.
The ending was very bittersweet. I think, if I’d been more invested in certain aspects of the story, I might have been upset by the ending. Instead, I was ok with how things turned out and I thought the ending fit the story well.
May 1, 2022
I found this one harder to read. There is a lot of politics and darkness in this book. It was hard to see those who were so dependant on others, Dar is independent but is unwilling to let go of love. The pain she causes herself it was hard to see. It was amazing to see so much more of Orc culture though which was fun. I am not a fan of politics which made it slightly difficult to read. A good round up for the trilogy and it was nice to see the humbling effect Dar has on others.
April 2, 2012
I purposely did not write a review for the second book, as this review is more for the entire trilogy.
As I mentioned in my review of "King's Property", I like the way the author has created an orc society with their complete set of rules, language and even odd elements out (those orcs more able to grasp and use deceit than the others)... I found it also interesting that for creatures of such physical strength and (perceived) brutality, Ms Howell chose to depict a matriarchal society where "sons" are in fact totally subjected to "mothers"
I also loved the way Dar grew within her role, having to make some tough choices, sometimes with no idea of what the outcome would be, but following "her chest"... I actually thought that the end was maybe not the fairy tale ending that we sometimes come to expect out of books, but for me it made total sense and that made it perfect.
The third book itself could have been more developed, there could have been more that happened: at the end I was like "wow, that's it? already finished?". So it did feel a bit rushed.
ALl in all, i would certainly recommend this as a very enjoyable book, it was one good set of books and afterward, I found myself remembering some orc language:
Shashav :-)
As I mentioned in my review of "King's Property", I like the way the author has created an orc society with their complete set of rules, language and even odd elements out (those orcs more able to grasp and use deceit than the others)... I found it also interesting that for creatures of such physical strength and (perceived) brutality, Ms Howell chose to depict a matriarchal society where "sons" are in fact totally subjected to "mothers"
I also loved the way Dar grew within her role, having to make some tough choices, sometimes with no idea of what the outcome would be, but following "her chest"... I actually thought that the end was maybe not the fairy tale ending that we sometimes come to expect out of books, but for me it made total sense and that made it perfect.
The third book itself could have been more developed, there could have been more that happened: at the end I was like "wow, that's it? already finished?". So it did feel a bit rushed.
ALl in all, i would certainly recommend this as a very enjoyable book, it was one good set of books and afterward, I found myself remembering some orc language:
Shashav :-)
March 14, 2010
Dar has been made the new Queen but her injuries make it a desperate rush to return to the Orcs home so she can be kept alive long enough to select a new Queen. The Orcs are split on having a human ruling them even temporarily and she may be forced to risk her life in a ceremony designed to test how worthy she is. Plots are taking place around her as each clan wants their representative to be Queen, and the old enemies are once again plotting against Dar and her Orcs.
It was an interesting twist to have the Queen select Dar as being worthy to be the new Queen and to possess all the learning of the Orc World. It is an added burden that Dar does not need, especially when she knows that many are against her. Knowing her enemies makes it easier to make plans though. Dar pines for Kovok-mah and her handsome soldier friend tries to persuade her to start a new life with him instead. There is plenty going on to keep this book interesting but I was just obsessed with wanting Kol to DIE!
One thing that bugged one? The damn ending! Come on, you just can't leave it like THAT!!!
It was an interesting twist to have the Queen select Dar as being worthy to be the new Queen and to possess all the learning of the Orc World. It is an added burden that Dar does not need, especially when she knows that many are against her. Knowing her enemies makes it easier to make plans though. Dar pines for Kovok-mah and her handsome soldier friend tries to persuade her to start a new life with him instead. There is plenty going on to keep this book interesting but I was just obsessed with wanting Kol to DIE!
One thing that bugged one? The damn ending! Come on, you just can't leave it like THAT!!!
August 6, 2012
I love this series, thoguh I must say that I wanted to shake this one several times - not because it isnt as good as the others, it is - but because now in the third book we get three different viewpoints - Dar's , the human ruler and the enemy. Its one thing to know what the enemy is thinking and planning, and not being able to communicate this to Dar, but then reading what the human ruler decides to believe and who to trust, while you know what the reality is - Gods I wanted to shake them so hard! Lol. This is the final book in the series, and It was great to see how it all panned out - my only reason for giving it a four instead of a five star is due to the different viewpoints - I found it annoying, and always wanted to get back to Dar - but then I never like books with different viewpoints like this. I find it disturbing and I cant read as much in the same sitting because I cant get into the story well enough with the jumping between people. Luckily the other two of the series arent like this.
March 28, 2022
My 2nd or 3 read through, having finally got hold of book 1 and reading all in order. Aaaaand, I've a couple of issues with the series and this book. Having a character say 'Na' instead of no does not convey a different region, accent, heritage. It's just - no. Don't do it. It's patronising and reveals a stupid choice as a writer.
Dar (the human viewpoint) is all about embracing the Orc heritage. Except not to the extent of bearing half Orcs. Oh no, she couldn't possibly. It would be unfair on them. But in the epilogue she has (presumably) human children who she's taught the Orc language to. Except by then she's not the person she was, and her whole character has been about love (including loving her Orc man), but not enough to actually follow her heart. I don't think its any kind of race issue that the author didn't want the concept of mixed race children in his book; I think its another poor choice. Which is a shame, because otherwise it's an interesting series. Not great (anymore) but interesting.
Originally a 3 star assessment, with this review I've dropped it to 2 stars.
Dar (the human viewpoint) is all about embracing the Orc heritage. Except not to the extent of bearing half Orcs. Oh no, she couldn't possibly. It would be unfair on them. But in the epilogue she has (presumably) human children who she's taught the Orc language to. Except by then she's not the person she was, and her whole character has been about love (including loving her Orc man), but not enough to actually follow her heart. I don't think its any kind of race issue that the author didn't want the concept of mixed race children in his book; I think its another poor choice. Which is a shame, because otherwise it's an interesting series. Not great (anymore) but interesting.
Originally a 3 star assessment, with this review I've dropped it to 2 stars.
September 2, 2015
I liked the series. Then it went...somewhere. Honestly, I can not recall if I did finish this book; the last of the series. I do recall putting it down because I had enough of it. It has been years and I stumbled upon this and decided to write an unjust review because I'm terrible.
But honestly, I can only recall two points:
-This was a good series up to some point. I loved, in general I guess, the depiction of orcs and their culture. Humanizing... would not be the correct term but closest I guess. It was a first for me to have in-depth/developed perspective from a typically associated as monsters. Human-ish (Elves, dwarves, etc) don't count for some biased reason (I was raised with Forgotten Realms)
-It WAS good. I will not stop stressing this. I know, I put two stars but the series was decent enough that I made it to the last book. Just...something happened. Perhaps I was too young and naive and didn't like it. Or it did really get blah. There are always time to go back and reassess things; maybe it was a misjudgment.
But I donated my copies to the library so who knows.
But honestly, I can only recall two points:
-This was a good series up to some point. I loved, in general I guess, the depiction of orcs and their culture. Humanizing... would not be the correct term but closest I guess. It was a first for me to have in-depth/developed perspective from a typically associated as monsters. Human-ish (Elves, dwarves, etc) don't count for some biased reason (I was raised with Forgotten Realms)
-It WAS good. I will not stop stressing this. I know, I put two stars but the series was decent enough that I made it to the last book. Just...something happened. Perhaps I was too young and naive and didn't like it. Or it did really get blah. There are always time to go back and reassess things; maybe it was a misjudgment.
But I donated my copies to the library so who knows.
February 7, 2009
Just like the first two books the strength of this one is in the Orcs and their culture, which leads to the sections that are from the POV of Sevren and the villain being somewhat… blah. Not bad, but I didn't feel much desire to read them. It was the same with the other books, but this one features a lot more of those chapters.
The plot is stronger in this one, driven by the choices of the characters, both good and bad, and relying less on cliches. It flows logically from one event to the other, though I wish I had a better sense of how much time was passing. The pace overall is slower, less exciting, then the first two.
The ending was bittersweet, and while anticlimactic it fits with the themes and foreshadowing of the book. Unfortunately it leaves a lot of questions unanswered, which disappoints me, but the book as a whole was still quite fun. Worth reading if you've read the first two.
The plot is stronger in this one, driven by the choices of the characters, both good and bad, and relying less on cliches. It flows logically from one event to the other, though I wish I had a better sense of how much time was passing. The pace overall is slower, less exciting, then the first two.
The ending was bittersweet, and while anticlimactic it fits with the themes and foreshadowing of the book. Unfortunately it leaves a lot of questions unanswered, which disappoints me, but the book as a whole was still quite fun. Worth reading if you've read the first two.
August 25, 2011
This was a great series. I've been hooked since the beginning, I don't know why it took me so long to start it. This book started off a bit slow, but it did speed up and get really interesting later. However, the book would switch perspectives and a lot of the human society scenes were pretty dull and I didn't really care.
I felt that the ending fit the story, but I didn't like the epilogue and how it left things pretty ambiguous. I really don't like when authors take you through a journey (in this case a 3 book journey) and end it by giving you a short paragraph that could mean a number of this. The ambiguous ending didn't really fit with the rest of the story either. Throughout the series we were never withheld information on what happened to everyone, but at the end we know everyone elses fate but the main character.
I felt that the ending fit the story, but I didn't like the epilogue and how it left things pretty ambiguous. I really don't like when authors take you through a journey (in this case a 3 book journey) and end it by giving you a short paragraph that could mean a number of this. The ambiguous ending didn't really fit with the rest of the story either. Throughout the series we were never withheld information on what happened to everyone, but at the end we know everyone elses fate but the main character.
October 22, 2009
I was hardly able to put the book down. The plot just kept me going though it's not as complex and full of intrigues like George RR Martin's. But what irks me most is the ending in this book. So all the baddies died; but the bones live on. But the epilogue suggested that she ended up with Sevren in Averen after all the hinting of him wanting to buy a farm there. This ending is going to gnaw at my subconsciousness for a long long while. I mean why did she have to be with Sevren when she clearly isn't attract to him or any other male human for the matter?!?! I would have been more contented if she ends up in Averen by herself with her half-orc daughters. GGrrrr!!
But I still love this series. It's been a while since I've read anything as refreshingly new as orcish culture.
But I still love this series. It's been a while since I've read anything as refreshingly new as orcish culture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2010
This gets a 4.5, but I marked it 5. This series was very well written and quite unusual. Sure, it had some of the "unexpected girl carries great destiny" trope, but it was beautifully crafted and went to places not expected in other fantasy forms. I have to admit at being sad over the ending; it did not end the way that I thought it would, which is wonderful and awful all at the same time, as I held certain hopes for the outcome. This is a MUST READ series for anyone who likes fantasy, dark settings, or messages of the darkness of man when he forgets his compassion. Romance readers should read with caution, as love is a common thread in the books but carried in uncommon form.
May 3, 2014
This is unlike any other orc book ive ever read, and thats a good thing. The author's depictions of the orc culture, language and general outlook on life, love and warfare was incredibly refreshing. Dar is the avatar of change and diviation of this whole story's interesting take on classic rags to riches fantasy story lines. Everything just follows its own story to its own conclusion and kept me guess this entire time. i never knew what was going to happen next. As for this last book in particular...i find my self at odds with its conclusion. not becuase it was a bad one, it followed it to its natural course and made perfect sense. I guess i just wanted more of from the ending.
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