The Lascar's Dagger

The Forsaken Lands #1

by Glenda Larke

Faith will not save him.


Saker appears to be a simple priest, but in truth he's a spy for the head of his faith. Wounded in the line of duty by a Lascar sailor's blade, the weapon seems to follow him home. Unable to discard it, nor the sense of responsibility it brings, Saker can only follow its lead.


The dagger puts Saker on a journey to distant shores, on a path that will reveal terrible secrets about the empire, about the people he serves, and destroy the life he knows. The Lascar's dagger demands a price, and that price will be paid in blood.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Magic, Sword and Sorcery, Speculative Fiction

469 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Glenda was born in Western Australia, the daughter of a farmer. She was educated at government state schools and the University of Western Australia, where she obtained a degree in history and a diploma in education. Married to a Malaysian scientist, she has grown-up children, and now lives in Malaysia, where she is actively involved in rainforest conservation.
Author of The Isles of Glory trilogy (The Aware, Gilfeather, The Tainted); The Mirage Makers trilogy (Heart of the Mirage, The Shadow of Tyr, Song of the Shiver Barrens) and, writing as Glenda Noramly, a stand-alone book Havenstar.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy this author's books. She writes big, believable fantasy worlds and never resorts to information dumping. Her characters are memorable and intriguing, and the need to discover what happens to them speeds the reader's progress through the book.

The Lascar's Dagger features Saker who is a priest and a spy, Ardhi, the Lascar of the title and Sorrel Redwing, a sometime handmaiden to the Princess Mathilda. There is a lot of magic, called witchery, and a magic dagger with a its own agenda which causes endless problems.

Moving on to the next book is a necessity since this one ends with our three heroes in transit and with a million questions still to be answered. I am looking forward to discovering the answers.

[Bookwraiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews

The Lascar’s Dagger by Glenda Larke is one of those novels that sort of defies assignment to a particular category. On one hand, it has lots of interesting and unique concepts about magic and religion that surely makes it a fantasy. But on the other, it focuses more on political intrigue and personal betrayals than on fantastical creatures or otherworldly powers, and so it reads more like historical fiction. The simple fact is that The Lascar’s Dagger is something in-between, reminding me a lot of Katherine Kurtz’s Deryni novels – which is not a bad thing in my proverbial book.

The tale itself focuses on a priest named Saker Rampion, who also serves as an undercover agent for the Pontifect of the Va-Faith (Think Pope of the Catholic Church here). While out on a fact finding assignment, Saker runs afoul of another agent, gets into a brief fight and winds up with the lascar’s dagger. A magical item that refuses to leave his side even if he abandons it or throws it into a bay. (Think Percy Jackson’s sword Riptide.) Thereafter, Raker is reassigned to a new mission as the spiritual adviser to the prince and princess of the Kingdom of Ardrone, where our young priest finds himself immediately embroiled in court politics and other things even more insidious.

Inadvertently joining Saker Rampion in Ardrone is a young woman named Sorrel Redwing. This lady was unhappily married and grieving after her dead daughter before the murder of her husband. Thereafter, she finds herself on the run from the law, desperate to save herself from the avenging wrath of her husband’s rich family. Eventually, Sorrel is run to ground at a holy shrine, where she finds her savior in Princess Mathilda of Ardrone as well as her gift from the gods. Soon after, our wanted young woman finds herself ensconced at court, using her god-given gifts as a spy for Mathilda while becoming well acquainted with Saker Rampion.

From the meshing of Saker and Sorrel’s individual stories, Glenda Larke pens an interesting tale that focuses on political scandals and betrayals, the insatiable lust for exotic spices and gold, and the eternal conflict between the godly forces of good and evil. While all this is done without non-stop action, it is still enjoyable, and the fact that Ms. Larke spends most of her time focusing on characterization should not be a deterrent to picking up this entertaining tale. For in place of those sword fights and magical battles, a reader is gifted with a fully developed world, populated with interesting characters, and soon, every person upon the pages is someone you know, gifted with their own unique background, likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, and reasons for their actions. Saker Rampion, for instance, might be the main character and hero, but he is nowhere near a white knight in shining armor and has numerous weaknesses that cause him to appear selfish, arrogant, stupid, and naive at various points in the novel. The same can be said of Sorrel Redwing, who has her magical blessing but also her own foibles – including steadfast loyalty to Mathilda, who is at best a naive princess and at worst a conniving, self-absorbed brat. But that is okay, because Raker and Sorrel’s flaws make them so very easy to identify with and throughout the story, they grow, becoming more than a sideshow upon the pages but rather living, breathing people.

So while I tend to lean toward more action packed fantasy fare, The Lascar’s Dagger was a nice change of pace. One I could truthfully recommend to my reading friends who want a slow, detailed political fantasy. This novel might not be filled with dazzling duels, sorcerous battles, or zombie apocalypses, but it has enough intrigues, scandals, betrayals, and magical elements to keep a fantasy fan turning the pages. Plus it has all those unique and interesting characters.

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank both of them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

[Mogsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...

The word "spy" has such heavy undertones, especially when it comes to genres in fiction. When I first picked up The Lascar's Dagger by Glenda Larke, everything I knew about it came from its description, so I was surprised when it turned out not to be the kind book I thought it'd be. Not that I had an inkling of how a story about a cleric-intelligencer was going to play out in a fantasy setting in the first place; still, if not a gripping page-turner, I expected at least something faster paced. But at the same time, I wouldn't exactly call this book slow, though it definitely had its ups and downs.

Case in point, it took a week to read the first third of the book, but the rest only took me about a few days. and I'd actually polished off the second third in a single sitting. For me The Lascar's Dagger was the type of novel with an ending much stronger than its intro; it may take its sweet time finding its momentum, but when it does, you'd better watch out. I know I could hardly put it down once the story got going.

The novel follows Saker Rampion, a priest who also serves as a spy for the Pontifect of the Va-Faith. On a routine information gathering assignment, he unwittingly stumbles upon Ardhi, a lascar up to no good. After a brief tussle, Saker comes away with the lascar's dagger, and its magical properties are revealed when multiple attempts to discard the weapon prove unsuccessful. Even after throwing it into the harbor, the dagger always seems to make its way back to Saker Rampion's side!

Not long afterward, the Pontifect reassigns Saker on a new job to act as new spiritual adviser for the prince and princess of Ardrone. Meanwhile in another place, a young woman named Sorrel Redwing is on the run, charged with the murder of her husband. She ends up at the royal court too, after the Princess Mathilda takes Sorrel under her wing and offers her protection. At this juncture, the story is still in the process of evolving and has not reached its tipping point. However, once it becomes clear that Mathilda also has a larger role to play, the situation ramps up into a new and irreversible development.

In fact, for a spoiled princess, Mathilda had a lot to offer as a character, and was the one who stole the show for me, not least because the story might not have ever taken off if not for her actions. She also had by far the most interesting personality, even if at times she was a self-absorbed brat or even an airheaded ninny. Sorrel takes second place, impressing me with her strength and loyalty, and the fact she appears to have the patience of a saint. It's the female characters that really shine in this book, and they were the ones who drew me in despite Saker Rampion being the most prominent character. As it turned out, the fact that he was a spy didn't even play into the story all that much, at least not in the ways one would expect, and at times some of his shortcomings and naivete were positively cringe-worthy.

While I would not call this book action-filled or even an adventure, readers who love epic fantasy for the political intrigue and all that entails would find lots to like in The Lascar's Dagger. There are scandals, betrayals and plays for power, cleverly used to raise the stakes. Then there's the magic, an intriguing element that adds a sense of mystique and danger. There's not just one avenue of magical power in this world but several systems, one form of it being a "witchery" which relates to the spiritual sphere. I like that different people can be granted different kinds of abilities, as well as the idea of how a witchery power comes to a person in the first place. It's a very unique way of looking at magic, and raises plenty of questions about the evil and good forces of the world.

A while ago, I contemplated books -- especially firsts of a series -- that are slower to get started and realized that I don't mind a putting in a little investment if I think the payoff will be worth it. I have been pleasantly surprised like this before in the past, so I'm always reluctant to put aside a novel even if the introduction doesn't grab me right away. In this case, I'm glad I decided to stick with The Lascar's Dagger because the story eventually grew on me, and the ending presented a very tense situation in which the implications for the next novel are mind-boggling. I have to praise this book for its originality; there are ideas in here never seen before, and with really no way to predict what's coming next, I'm definitely on board with continuing this series.

[Mpauli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lascar's Dagger follows two main protagonists.

First, we have Saker Rampion, a witan (cleric), for the church of the Va-Faith and an agent of it's pontifect. On a mission he gets into the possession of a mysterious dagger that he can't get rid of henceforth.
He's then tasked to be the spiritual advisor to the princess and prince of Andronne, the local kingdom.

Our second protagonist is Sorrel Redwing, who is on the run for murdering her husband, after he killed their daughter, because she was born deaf.

The book is more of a slow-burning story that wraps itself around you like a comfortable blanket. Its strongpoints are the big and little mysteries the author set up for us to ponder as well as the development of both main characters.
There are a few passages from other povs, but mostly the author uses them to show the reader that not all is as it seems and to set up some more threads to spin in our heads.

Around the 60% mark there is a huge shift for the story, as the situation for both characters changes drastically, so it feels like reading a part 1 and part 2 of the story within the same book. I needed to get used to that, but fortunately the second part was what really hooked me to the book and awarded it the fourth star in my rating.

What I really liked were the unique ideas Glenda Larke's fantastical elements were made of. She doesn't use too many of them, but most feel unique and fresh and kept me reading with the sense of wonder I love so much.
There are a few action scenes in the book, but that is not its main focus and if the cover suggests an action-packed assassin story to you, it's not that.

Overall I really enjoyed my visit to Ardronne, Lowmeer and the Summer Islands and look forward to the two remaining installments in the series.

[Katarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh novel by Glenda Larke that I've read and I enjoyed it as much as the other ones.
It had an interesting story, as well as well-developed characters. The only thing that I feel was not built enough was the world, which was intriguing to some extent, but not nearly enough as the one in her Stormlord books.
Although this book did have some fantastical elements, the story read almost like a historical fiction, full of court intrigue, politics and religion.
I didn't expect some things to unfold the way they did, which I always appreciate in a book.
The story did contain some tense moments, but not too much action otherwise. It was slow moving, but gripping nonetheless.
Ultimately, I don't have many complaints, except that I would like to know more about the world and religion present in this series, with a great hope that I will get my answers in the next installment!

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arghh, I am not having a good time with my xmas books! This book had some good parts, but most of the time it was dull or I wanted to kick a character in the nuts.

Saker, our good priest who is a naive little idiot. I mean come on, you are a spy? HA. A naive little idiot. Yes I did not like him after a certain point.

Sorrel, ok she was sort of interesting but she needed backbone.

Mathilda, oh I hate this bitch. That was not cool!

So no characters to like. The world building was there, but lacking. The story felt slow and not a lot happened. The way of the Oak was interesting, I did like that, but would have wanted more explanations of this religion.

1/3 of the book was good. The rest was eh, the last part was skim worthy.

I am so disappointed.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantasy Review Barn

It was during the otherwise enjoyable ‘Weavers of Saramyr’ that I finally figured out what was bugging me about the magic in several fantasy series I had been reading. I decided to name it the ‘X-men magic’ approach, where for reasons never explained different people could do completely different types of magic; often being the exclusive user of that particular power. And it was one of those things I couldn’t unsee; I don’t require an explanation of magic in every book but for some reason I wanted one with when there was this much inconsistency in what seemingly the same characters could do.

Well, Glenda Larke shows how it could be done right. Several characters in her new book, The Lascar’s Dagger, have witcheries that have been granted during times of need. Whether god given or the result of a force of nature is yet to be told, but simply by granting that something is guiding which of these unique powers people take on took what has often seemed like a silly convention into something a little more believable.

We first meet Saker, or slightly too good but still enjoyable protagonist, with his spy hat on gathering information on some spice traders with an interesting new cargo. More than a spy, Saker is a priest reporting directly to the Pontifect and knows that a shift in power caused by new trade lanes could lead to eventual war. But his attempts to get closer are interrupted by another man, a thief with his eye on something hiding in the cargo. They scuffle, almost blow each other’s cover, and while seemingly going their separate ways Saker is hit by the Lascar’s dagger in the thigh. Notice that this dagger is mentioned in the title of the book? Ya, watch that crafty little thing, it will play an important part in this book.

Saker’s next assignment sends him to act a spiritual mentor to the royal heirs, and of course keep his eye on the local religious head. From here the book splits up between Saker’s story and several other characters; the two royal heirs, occasionally the Lascar, and most enjoyable to me, a young lady trapped in her own prison. Saker tracks corruption, befriends a prince, and is flummoxed by a beautiful princes with a head full of ideas. The Princess looks to fill the role of women fighting society’s oppression; but Larke refused to let her be defined so easily. Is she good or just manipulative? Perhaps it is best to ask her servant, Sorrell, trapped in servitude by a secret from her past. Always the loyal servant is Sorrell, and an interesting juxtaposition to the princess; they both long for a freedom society isn’t willing to give them in different ways.

Not a real fast moving read, though where action is present it is suitably tense. It is strongest in its use of setting and the various cultures within. Political alliances were being built around spice routes, whole economies were being threatened, and within this framework our characters fight their own battles, big and small. I could have read a whole book about the shipping lanes and the various island cultures being affected by them (I loved the ‘Lascar’ explaining just how little the term meant to him, a result of ignorant foreigners grouping everything in a geological area into one cultural group).

When not dealing with the big picture the book faltered a bit more for me; as a character piece I found myself surprised by how much didn’t work for me. Outside of Sorrell I found it hard to connect with the characters; Saker was too good, the prince too royal, the princess too spoiled, the lead villain just a bit too cackling evil. But as a set up for a series, and when dealing with the larger picture, I was hooked. I am fascinated by the age of exploration and can’t wait to see it play out on a larger level in a fantasy novel (no, Kearney’s Monarchies of God doesn’t count; it left the exploration aspect after the first book). I want to see how a certain cursed land is affected by certain actions in the book. I want to know how the religious schism that seems set to grow turns out.

An interesting and fairly unique setting, a magic dagger that takes matters into its own hands, and a war brewing over spice lanes. Add in the promise of meeting more than the one Lascar (and hopefully see the diversity promised in the differing island nations who have been lumped together out of ignorance) and we could have the making of a pretty nice series here.

3 Stars, but with strong potential for the future.

Copy for review received through NetGalley.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lascar's Dagger: The Forsaken Lands is a big themed fantasy novel set during an age of trade when fortunes are being made on the high seas in far flung sailing ventures. Powerful merchants use magic to gain favor with kings, evil worshippers of A'Va seek to corrupt the pious and destroy the old religion, the selling of a strong willed King's daughter for a trade route, the unfairness of the treatment of women in a medieval setting, a King's bargain with an evil god to retain his throne, and magic are present. There is impressive world building with some well developed kingdoms from Ardrone to Lowmeer. But it is slow developing, bogs down in places and has many plot lines going at once.


Saker Rampion is a witan, a cleric for the religion of Va. The Way of the Oak is the religion in Ardrone and the Way of the Flow is more found in Lowmeer. Both are part of the Way of Va. The leader of the Va faith is Fritillary Reedling, a woman, in a world dominated by short sighted men. She employs Saker as a spy and thief. The Pontifect has championed Saker from a young age because she knows more of his background and sees a lot of potential. Arrayed against the Pontifect is Valarian Fox, the Prime, or head of the religion in Ardrone, one of the two main kingdoms in the land and the A'Va, an evil worship of the anti-religion.

The Pontifect sends Saker to Ardrone to be the spiritual advisor to Princess Mathilda and Prince Ryse, but Saker soon finds himself in danger from Fox and is also easily manipulated by the young beautiful princess, who tries to use him to thwart her father from having her marry the Regal of Lowmeer. Meanwhile, Saker is also being manipulated by the dagger at his waist, which claimed him during his last spying mission. The dagger, which is imbued with the magic of the Southern isles has plans for Saker.

The confluence of the dagger, Valarian Fox's antipathy and Mathilda's wanton ways will almost be the death of the young Saker, but he escapes a confrontation with mortal law, the sword of a zealous prince and a night with his god and returns once again to the Pontifect, now imbued with his own witchery - a power over birds.

The Pontifect sends Saker to Lowmeer to spy on the death of the citizens from the horned death. But the dagger and its owner Ardri tighten their leash on Saker too, and his new talents will help them reclaim stolen items held by the Regal. Meanwhile in Lowmeer, Mathilda's life as a wife of the Regal and her hand maiden, who possesses her own Va witchery - a glamour that she can use to change her appearance, will run into Lowmeer's evil bargain with A'Va.

While possessing many good story elements, it reads a little slow. Saker is also too much a bumpkin and there is not enough steel in his soul. Plus, I do not like how much sway the Lascar Dagger has over Saker.

[Pauline Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glenda Larke is one of a very small number of authors whose works are on my must-buy list, and a new book, and the first of a series to boot, is always cause for celebration. Larke writes a traditional kind of fantasy, not the elves and dwarves sort, but the type that relies on a refreshingly original created world, engaging characters and a story that compels right from the first line. And it doesn't hurt that she has a wonderfully vivid writing style.

So why does this one not quite set me on fire? I think it’s because there are so many elements that feel very unoriginal, not to say tired. Parts of the world feel like just another pseudo-medieval setting, the parts that involve the patrilineal kingdom with the cold-hearted king, the playboy prince and the resentful but plucky princess, doomed to marry some hideous older man for political reasons. Yawn. And I’m always deeply suspicious of kings who have precisely two children, one of each gender. In a hereditary monarchy, there should be hordes of hopeful heirs, legitimate and otherwise, in every generation, or else an extremely good reason why not.

Other parts of the story are well up to Larke’s creative standards. The unusual physical world, with the continents clustering inconveniently around the polar ice-cap. The importance of the spice trade. The uneasily united branches of the prevailing religion. And the dagger of the title, a creepily semi-alive weapon. I’m a sucker for sentient ironmongery.

The main character of the story is Saker, low-born but now a pretend priest and spy, working undercover for his religious mentor while supposedly tutoring the royal children. And here’s another problem. Saker is a likeable enough character, but he’s made out to be some ultra-smart, ultra-devious guy, when the entire book is no more than a catalogue of his mistakes, where he’s taken in by one smarter, more devious character after another. Gullible is his middle name, and while I excuse his entrapment by the lady (he’d have to be super-human to resist, frankly), the rest of it just makes him look stupid. And I have to wonder why his mentor sends him off to tutor the prince and princess in the first place, a position he seems spectacularly unsuited for.

Of the other characters, Ryke the prince is the standard template for princes in fantasy, only interested in hunting, whoring and himself. Mathilda the princess has an even more limited range of interests – herself and... erm, that’s it. And yes, of course, it’s a horrible situation, young woman forced to marry evil older man for the good of the kingdom (and a lucrative trade agreement), but we have heard it once or twice before. Sorrel, the widow coerced into virtual slavery by Mathilda, would be more interesting if she stopped whining for five minutes. Yes, life’s really tough living in the royal palace with all your comforts provided, isn’t it?

Ardhi, on the other hand, the original owner of the eponymous dagger, is a truly fascinating character. More of him, please. Saker’s religious mentor, the Pontifect, is also interesting, and I also enjoyed the few moments onscreen of light-hearted nobleman Juster (although he reminded me somewhat of Maldynado from the Emperor’s Edge series; actually quite a few of these characters reminded me of some other book).

The plot is a little slow to get going, although that’s typical of most fantasy and isn’t a problem. It takes time to paint in the backdrop before the action starts. Once it does, though, things take off spectacularly, and the second half of the book is a fast-paced romp as Saker and pals stagger from one disaster to the next. Beneath the veneer of entertainment, though, there are some thought-provoking themes – of slavery, for one thing. Several of the characters are, in various ways, compelled to do things they desperately don’t want to do. This ought to make me more sympathetic towards them, but somehow it feels more like a plot device and therefore loses its emotional impact.

This fell a little short of my expectations. It felt uneven, the characters failed to engage me, the plot, while executed with all the author’s flair, seemed a little contrived. Political machinations are less interesting to me than well-rounded characters. However, the writing is, as always, excellent, and the foundations are laid for the next two books in the series to venture out of the familiar world of kingdoms and organised religions into more exotic settings. I’ll certainly be reading on. Three stars.

[Shaheen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes reading a book feels like coming home. You crack open the spine and find that the words inside are exactly what you need. The Lascar’s Dagger was that kind of book for me. I was hooked from the first page.

My favourite aspect of The Lascar’s Dagger is definitely its plotting and the complexity of the world it is set in. I bring those two up together because they are intertwined in this story. At its heart this is a story about a handful of people, with their own fears and motivations, but their positions in society and histories mean that their every thought and action has the potential to shape the future of entire countries.

While the action of the book is mainly set in the Va-cherised lands – the neighbouring Kingdoms of Ardrone and Lowmeer – we get enough glimpses of the rest of the world to realise that it is diverse and incredibly well-crafted. Ardrone and Lowmeer both believe in Va, but practice their faith in different ways (the Way of the Oak and the Way of the Flow). These countries rely on spices imported from the other side of the world, the so called Va-forsaken lands, and much of the narrative is focussed on the political, religious, and economical implications of these complex relationships.

The magic in this world amazing. Firstly, there’s the dagger itself, which is able to move by itself and seems to literally have a mind of its own. Secondly, there are the ‘witcheries’ – powers believed to be granted to people who Va (their God) cherishes and wants to bless. There are the Gods themselves, Va and his antithesis A’Va, who subtly weave their own brands of magic throughout the world. And finally, there is the religion and magic of the ‘Va-forsaken lands’, where Rajas and Ranis rule and feathers control lives.

Our protagonist is Saker, a priest of the Va-Faith who also serves as a spy for the Pontifect. When paired together, his intelligence and fighting prowess make him perfect for this role, and the result is a man who is unflinchingly loyal to his faith and to the Pontifect, who rescued him from a poverty-ridden life with a step-father who hated him. Saker hasn’t finished growing yet, hasn’t really learnt the realities of the world he lives in, and when he becomes embroiled in a plot that spans all the Va-Cherished Lands, it’s quite the rude awakening.

Our story also follows Sorrel Redwing, who is on the run from the law; Princess Mathilda of Ardrone, who is about to be married off to some King to secure profitable trade agreements for her father, and the titular lascar Ardhi, who is on a dangerous quest of his own. Of all those characters, my favourite is Sorrel. She’s basically the only character with her head screwed on straight and I enjoyed reading from her point of view and getting to know her through the other character’s eyes. Her story becomes entertained with that of the princess, and thusly with Saker.

Princess Mathilda! Let’s talk about her for a bit. Firstly, I love her characterisation! Like the others, she;s an incredibly vivid character – she flies off the page. She’s headstrong and arrogant, and she learnt early in her life that her value is tied directly to how well she manipulates the men in her life. And what’s awesome is that she’s not this super-amazing-smart-shrewd girl who succeeds at everything and ends up being labelled a manipulative bitch of a character. Her plans are sometimes very ill-thoughtout and only sometimes work, and even as I came to recognise her as not-very-nice, I ended up grudgingly pitying her … maybe even liking her a little.

I really enjoyed The Lascar’s Dagger. It’s amazingly plotted, well characterised, and richly painted for readers. It gently introduces readers to its world and characters, and then quickly ramps up so you can’t help but keep turning the pages until it’s way past your bedtime. Pick it up, you won’t regret it!

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .

[Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com

I want to start out by saying how much I love Glenda Larke. She has the best world building of any fantasy writer I’ve ever read and it only seems to get stronger with each book. She’s taken me from stone cities to tropical islands to port cities to desert oases – basically anywhere that sounds interesting and exotic. If that were awesome enough, she also tells her stories beautifully, creates complex an interesting characters, and provides epic adventures. In short, she is amazing.

When I talk about the world building, I’m not just talking about the setting, but rather something that is more all-encompassing. Larke weaves together multiple nations with their different cultural and religious backgrounds so seamlessly you’d think she was pulling information straight out of a history book. It’s just so thorough… it blows my mind. The depth of her world creations is astounding, but even more so is the way the cultures in her novels evolve as they start interact with one another. And another thing, they’re always so darn original. There are elements that have certainly been done before, but never as vibrant and evoking as when Larke does them.

While the worlds alone are reason enough to pick up Larke’s books, her characterization is just as strong. It’s not just that they’re interesting and well rounded, but that they always seem to have compelling conflicts. The trials they face, whether internal or external, are always an integral part of the stories – and done so well that I become immediately invested. In The Lascar’s Dagger, several POVs contributed to the overall arc of the story, and I found myself hard-pressed to decide which perspective I enjoyed following more. They all had different motives driving their actions, but somehow managed to get me feeling their successes and failures as if they were my own. I think the character that I felt the biggest connection to was Sorrel. Without giving too much away, let’s suffice to say that I found her perseverance inspiring and am most excited to see where her her courage and resilience take her in the next novel – there is so much more to her than meets the eye.

In case you didn’t get the memo from my highly praising review, Larke is one of the best fantasy authors I’ve ever read. My only disappointment is that she dwells on a different continent, so I’ll probably never have the chance to meet her. She has a lifelong fan in me, and I vowed long ago to pick up anything she writes the day it comes out (imagine how tickled I was to get access to an early copy of this novel – thank you, Netgalley!).

Recommended Reading: if you are a fan of high fantasy and have not yet read any of Larke’s books, you are sorely missing out! I recommend The Last Stormlord the most, but my true love is The Isles of Glory trilogy.

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Lascar’s Dagger is an interesting blend of political intrigue, religious debate and illustrations of how stereotyping is seldom a good idea. Glenda Larke writes at a fairly easy to consume level, neither demanding that the reader track complex plot elements nor boring the reader with nothing interesting to say. For the first book in a new series, it’s not bad, but I’m not dying to read the next book in the series either.

Saker is a rogue. By the classic definition, he lies, he cheats, he seduces women and he is a spy for a powerful religious order. He is also incredibly naive, almost to the point that I was left wondering how he had survived as long as he has doing the job he does. Maybe it’s his ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[Jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2014...

When I read about The Lascar's Dagger late last year in the Orbit catalog this book directly made it onto my to read list of 2014. The synopsis of The Lascar's Dagger promised a lot of cool things that only could turn into an adventure of epic proportions, the sense of the story for me was further aided by the front cover, men and women in hooded cloaks swinging weaponry always work for me. The Lascar's Dagger is written by Glenda Larke who is well known for her other works such as The Isle of Glory trilogy and the Watergivers trilogy. With The Lascar's Dagger, Glenda Larke also kicks of her new fantasy series: The Forsaken Lands. I have heard a lot of good words about Glenda Larke's books so why not start with this latest addition. From start to finish Glenda Larke weaves an intricate epic story that goes into many direction that I hadn't forseen, it will keep you glued to the pages.

The Lascar's Dagger opens up with an murder(plot) set back on year in the past before switching to the current events surrounding the main protagonist Saker Rampion, "jack-of-all-trades", priest, scholar, spy, warrior serving the Pontifect of the Va-Faith. Saker is tasked to investigate, well more spy on a certain business deal that is about to go down for the Pontifect, in this spying Saker stumbles upon an unwanted guest, a lascar named Ardhi, who is out for something for himself. Their encounters turns into a fight with a lot of consequences as a results, Saker gets wounded by the dagger of the lascar, catching him in the leg, Saker shows a bit of naivety here and just pulls it out and discards the dagger. This is only just the beginning as the story now start to split into multiple perspectives, one following closely the dealings of Saker and the other on Ardhi. As I already said, Saker throws the dagger away... but only it doesn't remain discarded, it has a mind of his own! For starting up the storyline is was actually laughing a lot as you see how Saker is part taken by surprise that when throwing the dagger away is magically appears again but Saker is also stunned by this fact and doesn't know what to do with it, he first futile attempts to understand this phenomenon leave his mind boggling and decides just to accept it. Meanwhile the Pontifect has another job for Saker, he is to act as the new adviser for the Prince and Princess of the Ardrone throne. Saker is in for a lot of courtly powerplays while serving as the new adviser, and sees his own life hanging in the balance when he is wrongly convicted of a crime. It's really hard to tell more about Saker's story as one event follows-up on the other nicely creating one great flowing story, all I can add on his part is that his storyline is full of transformation. As for Ardhi's part, there is a great focus on his intention in the beginning that alternates when Saker is in the beginning of starting his role as the Adviser, Ardhi is keen on getting his dagger back, as a read you now have read about what the dagger resembles, well the bigger picture that is, his attempts in getting the dagger back aren't paying off and he left with accepting it's faith, he'll never see it back... or will he...? This above explanation is just a small scope of the truly epic story that is being told in The Lascar's Dagger, I have completely left out all the dealing that happen when Saker is serving his time with the Prince and Princess but this is full of the courtly intrigue, backstabbing and betrayals that Epic Fantasy fan will want to read about. Glenda Larke has woven a very clever story.


The character cast of The Lascar's Dagger is put together in a very strong manner. It isn't a fully character driven book, Glenda Larke has a way of lying the emphasis on many different characters showing them in a lot of different color's, but not letting them pull the story into themselves too much. She alternates character development with worldbuilding and vice versa, hereby creating a great sense of wholeness around the story of The Lascar's Dagger. So for the characters I have already mentioned the protagonist Saker, he is a well fleshed out character that readily drives the story forward. Saker is also a complicated character and several dealings about his past are being told from the beginning, he hasn't had a very nice youth and his father would rather not acknowledge him, and this fact hunts him especially with a unavoidable confrontation. Besides this sort of internal struggle which Saker would like to see the truth off, he also shows sign of naivety, Saker isn't that old and though he is smart, strong, determined and has a lot of knowledge, he still has a certain young boyish air surrounding him. He makes mistakes, some pretty bad ones and still you can only love him, it's hard to see him fall ans he just tries to do the best for the people that demand things of him, it feels like a lot of people do take advantage of Saker being to nice. He's a great character to read about, you will be likewise rooting for him in the end.

Next to Saker there are many secondary characters that you get introduced to all along the way in The Lascar's Dagger. For starters there is Ardhi, who comes from the Summer Isle known as the Chenderawasi. Ardhi brought along with him the dagger that no trustfully resides at Saker's side, from the beginning Arhi's character has gotten me intrigued, you can glimpse a bit of it form the prologue and the fighting scene between him and Saker, but what power the dagger truly holds remains obscure right until the ending when you see everything revealed about Ardhi's intent. I liked how Glenda Larke used Ardhi character letting him pop up at certain point in the story, showing that he is still sticking around to reach his goals, but never letting you, as a reader, getting too much information about him, this kept me hooked to find out more about him. Another solid addition to the character cast is Sorrel Redwing, like the above mentioned character her introduction was just a interesting, although when I read it I couldn't quite place her character in the overall promise of the story. Sorrel is a complicated character that is struggling with herself, she "broke" free of the reign of her husband in a violent way that left her with more power than she could have guessed (ill get to the magic part asap). Sorrel adopts a role as handmaiden to the Princess Mathilda and features as her eyes and ears with her special newely acquired powers. Perhaps aided by her past, Sorrel has a great duality in herself that make her an intrigueing character because when the handsome young Saker appears in her and Mathilda's life, she all of a sudden has a lot of things rekindled in her and one of those could just be jealousy... Sorrel plays an crucial role in the story for both the sake of Princess Mathilda as well as when Saker gets wrongly convicted.

Besides these three there are also the Prince Ryce and Princess Mathilda, Ryce start of the story strong and Saker befriends him, but there is a lot of pressure on the heir's shoulders and when things start to go bad he partly succumbs to his father pressure. I did find that Ryce's role in the story went more to the background as the story progressed, I hope to see more of him in the sequels. As for Princess Mathilda, she makes up for of the story than her sibling, it's by her character, with her proposed wedding to the Regal of Lowmeer, that we learn more of the plot and the power behind many objects, actions and events. Mathilda's character reflects clearly as a young Princess who knows only partly how the world revolves, she is stubborn in her own way and is also drawn to the young Saker. I could glimpse that Sorrel knew this as well... Nearing the ending of the book Mathilda is confronted by some desicions and consequences of things she has done to herself and having to part with something like that really changed her character for me, the oppression put on her by the Regal of Lowmeer and though desicions she had to make gave her clear spark of humanity. All in all the characterization of every character be it secondary or primary is top stuff.


Now comes the magic. I like when authors create an interesting magic system. The magic in The Lascar's Dagger is no exception. Glenda Larke introduces some called "witchery" and everyone can be granted these kind of power, or actually I should say develop. The nature of these powers are only singular as one person can do only one or a few combinations with power. Furthermore these powers are based on the person's personality and the whole event in which these power came forward, yes I know pretty cryptic description. Just imagine that if your life would hang in the balance and the only thing possible to survive would to lets say turn invisible that could happen, of course there are many more different variations! Also I liked how Glenda Larke balanced her magic system, witchery is granted by the god Va, and doing evil stuff will make you loose your power as you will be signing up with the devil A'Va.


And this brings me directly to the worldbuilding of The Lascar's Dagger. The feeling of the world is one without possibilities, there is of course the mainland, but also the exotic Chenderawasi Island and much more, only accesible by ship. This taken together with the emphasis on spice trade really opened up a lot of my imagination. In describing the events and places visited it inspired a part European setting that blended greatly with an Oriental one. In telling about the surroundings and explaining several dynamics that occur in the world, Glenda Larke really takes her time to let everything come over natural instead of dumping a bucketload on your lap just to find it out for yourself, she nicely layers each part of her story to buildup one natural flow. This fact wasn't only notable with the worldbuilding but also with setting up the plot, halfway through the book certain parts become clear but Glenda Larke never reveals too much at one go instead she spreads it out forcing you to keep reading.

The Lascar's Dagger is one of those book that grows on you and will stick with you for some time to come. The synopsis of the book tells only the tip of the iceberg of the immensely rich story that is present in The Lascar's Dagger, it only justifies the beginning as Glenda Larke throws a lot of twists and turns along the way to keep the story interesting and engaging. The first part really established the different characters and when you pass the halfway mark, the plot slowly start to unfold for the better, when you think you would have seen it all, think again! Glenda Larke executed a clever story into the fine details of it all, and The Forsaken Lands series couldn't have gotten a better kick-off with what now has been told in The Lascar's Dagger. The beginning might lend a few things in the existing Epic Fantasy/Sword and Sorcery tropes but Glenda Larke weaves the threads in her direction to completely transform her story. Definitely recommended!

[Jen526 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

I agree with other reviews that say it gets off to a bit of a slow start, and there are some early plot points that felt like the main character was acting more stupid/naive than a spy would, but I got over that issue fairly quickly and was willing to accept that the character was in a place/position where he didn't feel like he was in danger, and thus was more willing to accept things at face value. And happily, that period of stupid choices doesn't last too terribly long. Once his errors are revealed to him and "stuff" starts to hit the fan, the book develops a really strong momentum that made up for the early slowness. For most of its length, I had serious trouble putting the book down, and have come out of it with a significant "book high", just chomping at the bit to see where things go next.

[Kenneth Vickery · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lascar's Dagger: The Forsaken Lands by Glenda Larke is a book that takes the reader to a stimulating and spiritual world of swords and horses. Saker, her main protagonist, is thrown into the conflict between human materialism and spiritual forces, which are protecting the natural environment.
I think our world would be kinder when it can have a black, female Pope. Saker works for a female Pope, who is from a minority group, but his world is still cruel and divisive. He uses his position as a simple priest, to spy for his Pope. The Pope entreaties him to keep a low profile and not get into fights or disputes but despite his best efforts, trouble always finds him.
Glenda’s book is fast-paced and populated with fascinating characters. It was a lovely summer read.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lascar's Dagger read differently from other Larke novels. Maybe it was because her main characters are usually tough, strong women and there was an absence of that in this series so far. Larke has written male main characters before, but there was usually a likeable female main character as well. Her novels always have multiple points-of-view, which keeps things moving and gets you better perspective on the world and the customs. In The Forksaken Lands series, the main character we follow is Saker, who just isn't as tactical and ruthless as most of Larke's main characters. I'm more used to her writing characters like Ligea and Blaze who are quick to see betrayal and fight battles and don't fall into completely obvious traps ... which Saker did, several times. Saker naively gets caught up in this infatuation for a spoiled, conniving princess when he really ought to have known better. Mostly, I was frustrated because it always seemed like Saker should be smarter than he was. He even references himself as "smart, skilled, the Pontifect's best, the clever spy, the man who noticed things other men didn't, the fighter who could battle his way out of any corner (page 241)" - in my notes, I wrote "Uh, no." If Saker is the Pontifect's best then they have a problem because dude walked right into a trap multiple times and let his man parts do his thinking for him. As we know, that always ends well in story and myth. *major sarcasm*

I LOVED Sorrel, although I hated her crush on Saker because aside from being a nice but stupid person, it's not like he's even nice to her. I felt like Larke was setting it up so that Saker would sleep with the wrong woman (Mathilda), father a child, and then find the right relationship with Sorrel. It just smacks way too much of a similar pattern in Larke's Watergivers series where Jasper "accidentally" sleeps with Senya because she basically seduces him in his drowsing sleep and he's so arroused that he doesn't even stop to think about why she's there, and she gets pregnant, and then they use that child as a political pawn. Same thing is possibly happening here and it bugs the life out of me. Link to Stormlord's Exile.. More importantly though, Sorrel didn’t really know Saker, and Larke’s main characters don’t usually get sappy and fall in love just because they see each other walking around. The characterization didn’t feel like Larke’s typical style, but I’m willing to trust that she’s got a plan beyond the cliched one laid out here.

World-building and intrigue wise, this was pretty much as strong as other Larke worlds. The setting in this one is particularly interesting because it was inspired by historical events with the spice trades of the 17 and 18th centuries; Larke looked at this historical period and thought, "How would this have been different if the spice islands had magic?" You can see more info about that in this interview Ms. Larke was gracious enough to do, or you can check out her facts and maps on her web site.

In the End:

The Lascar's Dagger is a promising start to a new series by Larke. I’ve had several weeks to consider this book and figure out what I wanted to say, and I’m pretty excited to see where she takes us. This is now the fourth full series of hers that I’ve read, and ultimately, I haven’t been disappointed in any of her protagonists. I’m going to trust that even though Saker isn’t as strong or clever as I was hoping he’d be, that the things Larke has and will put him through will turn him into a character I can root for. It's unusual for her to start with an adult who isn't tough, but it should be really fascinating to see how she refines Saker after all the trials and failures he's endured in this first book. Larke's novels always have a ton of depth, both with the characters and with the cultural lessons she weaves in, and we've only just scratched the surface of the conflicts yet to unfold.

I've had the privilege of speeding through all of her previous series without having to wait a year to see what happens next. Book 2, The Dagger's Path, came out this January of 2015, so the wait isn't as long as it would otherwise be!

This review for [a href="http://wp.me/p3IvQE-2Ex"]"The Lascar's Dagger"[/a] first appeared on [a href="http://readingbystarlight.com/"]ReadingbyStarlight.com[/a].

[Thoraiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lascar’s Dagger’s opening pages drew me instantly into an outstanding, fast-paced fantasy. Within paragraphs we have racing feet, fallen coconut palms and “the sun-whitened driftwood of a forest giant” (p1) followed by murder, a dagger steeped in menacing magic and a mission of retrieval and revenge.

MAYBE you don’t love piratical sea-battles, nautical insults (“Your skull’s worm-holed, Kesleer, if you think we’ll agree to that!”), oak trees with invisible spirit guardians or bird-filled rainforests as much as I do. But here’s why you should still read this book, if you’re any kind of lover of fantasy or adventure stories whatsoever.

1. Writing that never gets bogged down, but selects choice details to insert into non-stop mayhem. Death by turmeric. Bambu. Fluyts. Dancing a galliard. A horse’s reins got caught in “the furze.” I swear, that single word put me in heaven. Maybe something’s wrong with me, but more likely there are others who would thrill to imagine the Prince’s dogs “delighting in the stench of the midden” or one of the disguised female characters becoming “oddly aware of the freedom trousers gave her, and the way she couldn’t feel the roughness of the cobbles under her feet while wearing a man’s boots.” (p235)

Also, Jonathan Strahan pokes fun at the overuse of the word awesome but I felt truly awed at the description of the bird-of-paradise feather reveal. I forgot that my house was around me and all but reached for that feather myself.

2. The characters of Sorrel Redwing and Ardhi the Chenderawasi lascar. We don’t get as much of their point-of-view initially as we do of the cleric-spy Saker Rampion and the princess Mathilda, but they are complex and wonderful. Sorrel has the dark facets of a black diamond and Ardhi’s keen mind, inventiveness and adaptability with his constant current of underlying sorrow are a joy to behold. And Saker, our main protagonist, does turn out to be more than what he seems. He is warned early in the book by his superior: “No adventuring, no brawling, no sword fights” (p6) – and it’s tempting to assume we know all about him. Yet Larke skilfully uses him to expose our assumptions by exposing the falseness of Saker’s.

His distress at the thought of war dead reminds us that as skilled a student fencer as he is, he has plenty to learn about the world and his own shortcomings, including this insight about his own faith: “I never thought to question its barbarism. I never thought about it at all.” (p218) and also this, later: “If a person has no choice from birth about the nature of the path they choose through life, and the sort of afterlife they will have, what kind of world is it?”

3. The Va-worshipping, oak-shrine religion of Ardronne (and corresponding water-version of Lowmeer) is a cool melding of druidry and monotheism that mimics the melding of nature-focused and human-focused spirituality in so many times and places in our world history. Very well done.

4.Mostly, there are no actual piratical sea-battles OR bird-filled rainforests. This book is based in the cold castles, towns and tradehouses of the Euro-based continent. That’s why we will all be buying the next book.


Cons? The occasional niggle. Are finches ever “beautiful songsters?” (p165) None that I’ve heard, but maybe that’s a point of difference in this fantasy world. There seems to be a shortage of mothers. Saker, Mathilda and Sorrell all lost their mothers early, from memory. But now that we have a pair of new mothers, we might get some mother-child bond exploration in the next book! More than five uses of the word “pizzle” in one volume. Dialogue very occasionally over-expository, without the excuse of the dagger’s magic. Also, I couldn’t quite make myself believe that a castle guard in city of barely fifty thousand homes would stand and say to Saker’s face the equivalent of “there’s an intruder wearing a stolen guard’s uniform!” without realising it was him. I feel like the guards would know one another by sight. But that’s just me! Your mileage may vary!

Larke writes in the acknowledgements that perhaps her nuclear scientist hubby will finally read her fantasy fiction now that it’s set a bit closer to home. I don’t feel optimistic for her, based on my experience with my dad: Even when I wrote an extremely short piece of flash fiction, set in his country of birth, with a protag of same age, culture and gender, he still didn’t read it! But the point is, other Lebanese people did. And I hope the Lascar’s Dagger gets a huge new readership in Malaysia to add to Larke’s existing fans.

Also, if it turns into a movie, please can I have Meryl Streep to play Fritillary. KTHXBAI.

[Tsana Dolichva · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lascar's Dagger by Glenda Larke is the author's most recent release, and the start of a new trilogy. Glenda Larke has long been on my auto-buy list, so it comes as no surprise that this book was excellent. The blurb is short and sweet but only gives a small hint of what's inside. (Oh, and the handle and guard of the knife on the cover are totally not as described in the book.)

I enjoyed The Lascar's Dagger a lot. It reminded me that, proportionally, I don't read as many complex BFF (big fat fantasy) books as I used to. (This is partially because since becoming a book blogger the increase in my book consumption has been in other genres and partially because I've already read the backlists of the authors I like who write that type of book. Now it's a matter of waiting for them to write more books.) And that I missed them.

The main character is Saker, a clergy spy and not a lascar, which I was expecting. The title is well chosen though, since the lascar's dagger is, in fact, on the page more frequently than the lascar. I was expecting more of this book to be set in the Spice Islands but I think that's coming in the sequel. Most of The Lascar's Dagger was set in the two more "Western" countries. That said, the title is well chosen since the somewhat magic dagger is quite vital as a driver of the plot. And although it wasn't entirely apparent, at first, how all the characters' paths were going to cross, it all came together quite nicely.

The Lascar's Dagger subverts many tropes and expectations. The most obvious one is that the clergy — well, the (western) religious order generally — has more gender equality than general society, especially the nobility. Men and women can both go study at university and the head of the religious order, the Pontifect, is female. That last fact isn't revealed until chapter four, when we meet her in person, despite Saker thinking about "the Pontifect" earlier. I admit I was quite pleased when I found out. It was also nicely juxtaposed later when an unpalatable character said something about women being inferior (some people laughed, some probably agreed).

The most awesome character, in my opinion, was Sorrel. I was delighted when her fate became entwined with Princess Mathilda's and I am very much looking forward to following her story in the second book. Mathilda was also a very interesting character. She reminded me of Marla from the Hythrun Chronicles by Jennifer Fallon, in that both the characters are smart, young noble women forced into marriage at a young age and powerless to control their own lives. Unlikely Marla, however, Mathilda doesn't have a wily adviser helping her out and her plans do not always work out how she wants them to. Where stories about intelligent and scheming girls (and boys) are fun to read, what Larke has created here is more realistic and just as enjoyable (albeit occasionally frustrating). I can imagine people not warming to Mathilda, especially since some of her actions are questionable, but I thought she was a great character.

Larke has written an excellent book that I highly recommend to all fantasy fans, especially those who like their fantasy serious, long, and with complex characters and motivations. I am very keen to read the next book in the series and I hope it's not too long a wait. For readers who have not read any Glenda Larke books before, this is a good a place to start as any book one.

5 / 5 stars

You can read more of my reviews on my blog.

[Helen Venn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to go to a kaffeklatsch with Glenda Larke at Conflux in Canberra last year where she told us about some of the background to writing The Lascar's Dagger. It sounded fascinating and I have been waiting anxiously for it to come out.

It didn't disappoint because this was an enthralling read. While there is plenty of action and drama this is only part of the story. It's also about court intrigue, politics and economic forces. In particular it deals with what happens when people are caught up in events outside their control and how they act and react when difficult choices are forced on them.

The book opens with a young man racing to try to avert a tragedy. He fails and the repercussions spread wide, far beyond his home in the Summer Islands.

With well drawn, believable characters - both good and bad, an easy to read style, complex plot and clever world building, Glenda Larke has succeeded in creating a gripping read with the steady, well paced build up of tension adding to the story. She excels at creating rich and realistic worlds and societies and this one is no exception. It is nicely layered, with religion, economics, politics and magic all combined to make a cohesive whole.

Highly recommended.

[Satima · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lascar's Dagger is excellent start to a new trilogy! Two very likeable characters - Saker the Witan (priest) and Sorrel, handmaiden to a spoilt princess - each on a quest, cross paths again and again. We quickly realise that they would make a great partnership, but their commitments lie along separate tracks, each fraught with different dangers. Each time they meet, however, one manages to help the other in some way.

This is a wonderfully varied book, both in the contrast between the two main characters and the diverse places they visit. The secondary characters are also varied and well-drawn. Themes of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice underlie what is undoubtedly an exciting and orginal tale.

Glenda Larke has a fabulous imagination, and as in all her books, she has devised a credible but highly original system of magic. The Forbidden Lands just might be Larke's best trilogy yet. I can't wait for book two!

[Phillip Berrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glenda Larke is my favourite Australian fantasy author. I have read all her books so far and all of them have been great reads.

The things that impress me most about this author is the depth and innovation of her world building and the strength of her characters and their motivations (both male and female).So, if you are looking for a great immersive fantasy story, then I recommend you give this new series a look.

And, if you are interested in some of her other books, my favourites are her Watergivers series and her stand alone novel 'Havenstar'.

Caveat: I read the first part of this book as a first reader and am acknowledged in the book as such. Unfortunately, other demands on my time meant I couldn't read the complete early draft, but that just meant I got to read the completed version instead, which was a win for me.

[Feliza Casano · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 3.5, but engaging enough to round up to a 4 on GR.

While I tend to appreciate more subtlety in my fantasy, I appreciated the issues the book tackled. The world Larke builds is fascinating, completely believable, and crafted with nods to many aspects of society.

I'll admit I found a lot more enjoyment in the secondary protagonists - while the premise of Saker Rampion, the protagonist, was very interesting and certainly drew me in, what sold me on this book was the fascinating view from secondary characters Ardhi and Sorrel.

Definitely would read the rest of the series. I'd recommend this book to fantasy readers with an interest in exploring colonialism in fiction.

[Kasey Cocoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is good, not great and by far not bad. The characters are fairly well fleshed out with just a few minor issues with the main characters development. The plot, while unoriginal, is interesting and keeps the pages turning, although a bit on the slow side at first. The author shows potential and is one to watch for future releases. I received an evaluation copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Angela]

10 August 2015: $1.99 on Kindle

[Tehani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Glenda Larke's biggest strength as a writer is her ability to surprise. The originality of her creations (worlds, characters and plots all) never cease to astonish me, and The Lascar's Dagger is no exception.

[Butterfly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saker you can be one helluva dumb brained idiot but you learned your lesson!

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically, there are two kinds of epic fantasy. In classical fantasy, there are elves, dragons, and dwarves, for example, Tolkien, and then there is political intrigue with a hint of magic such as the Belgariad by David Eddings. Even though the genre of dark fantasy arose from the Song of Ice and Fire, this series also belongs to the latter category.

The Forsaken lands also belong in this category and I truly enjoyed this book. One of the reasons was the unusual setting for this genre, as many series happen in the Middle Ages with honorable knights but minus the horrors. Based on the clothing, the weapons and the fact that ships are sent (here mainly for spice trade) I would say the setting is akin to Europe during the 15th century. And the spicery seems to be based on the south sea isles.

The main protagonist of the story is Saker, a young witan, who is also a spy for the pontifex. Think of him as a mixture between a young Aramis and James Bond. He stumbles onto a conspiracy. The current Prime, Valerian Fox (think of him as Cardinal Richelieu in the Musketeers), of Ardonne, wants to seize power. During his travels, Saker also meets Ardhi, who hails from the Spicery. Because of him, the regalia of their Raja was stolen by Lowmian merchants and he has traveled all this way to retrieve them. Then there is princess Mathilda, who is basically sold into marriage to seal a trading agreement between Lowmeer and Ardonne, as well as Sorrel, a refugee who murdered her husband after he casually killed his own child because of her disability. Because she has been granted a witchery, which is a magical ability in this case glamour, Mathilda takes her in and uses her as a spy.

The book is told in the third person. Most of it from the point of view of Saker, but also from the others. I really liked how the political intrigue unfolded and Fox is a great villain as his plots are truly nefarious. The characters are likable. There was only one thing I found kind of strange. To be perfectly honest Saker is a horrible spy and I am surprised he is still alive. Other than that I really liked the book.

[Andrea Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Fantasy Read

The Lascar’s Dagger is a captivating tale that excels in both its intricate plotting and the richly developed world it is set in. The magical elements in the story, particularly the sentient dagger, add an extra layer of intrigue and wonder to the narrative.

At the heart of the story is the magical element of the sentient dagger, which possesses a mind of its own and plays a pivotal role in the unfolding events. The presence of this magical artifact adds an extra layer of mystery and wonder to the already captivating plot.

One of the most compelling characters in the book is Princess Mathilda of Ardrone, whose portrayal is both nuanced and realistic. She is not a flawless heroine but a complex and relatable individual with her own flaws and struggles. Her character arc is beautifully crafted, adding emotional depth to the story.

The world-building in The Lascar’s Dagger is rich and immersive, painting a vivid picture of the fantastical realm in which the characters reside. From the intricate political machinations to the vibrant landscapes, every aspect of the world is meticulously detailed, drawing readers into its enchanting embrace.

Overall, The Lascar’s Dagger is a masterfully crafted novel that will appeal to fans of fantasy and adventure. The skillful plotting, well-developed characters, and immersive world-building make for a truly captivating read. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling and engaging story that will transport them to a world of magic and intrigue.

[Alexandria Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, but I was rolling my eyes way more often than I ever should while reading. The world building and political landscape is extremely well done; it was a big part of what kept me reading. The plot development was interesting and kept me wondering about connections along the way. If you like that stuff and you can forgive smaller annoying things along the way, its a great read!

My big gripes? The love triangle, and early Saker. Geez, I HATED Saker for the first few chapters! Almost put the book down. The love triangle stuff kinda came out of nowhere; I felt like Saker hadn’t even had time to get to know Mathilda, even if it was just infatuation. Same thing with Sorrel, girle JUST escaped an abusive marriage and she’s suddenly gaga for Saker, WHOM SHE BARELY KNOWS?? And then even after Saker proves himself to be the biggest idiot in the world, she still likes him? And then Saker end up catching feelings for Sorrel in the end? UGH the love triangle thing just got introduced way too fast for my liking. I don’t mind a love triangle, although it’s overdone, but it didn’t even really have time to develop.

The plot was great, loved Ardhi. The socio-political landscape was extremely well done. (My other tiny gripe is the name of the god and their versions of foul language. Va does NOT roll off the tongue and some of the “pox n pustules” thing got real old real fast.)

I’ll continue the series, but the first several chapters were a little hard to get through since I was annoyed a lot. Maybe I just have a pet peeve and this book really brought it to light?

[Kinsey Breland .: avid_midnight_reader :. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a while to get into this book. I almost DNFed it, but it did finally start to pick up about a third of the way through. The last hundred pages or so were the most enticing to me when both of the plots in this book began to tie and weave together.

The main characters in this book were hard to like. Saker (a spy for his religion) was an idiot for most of the story. Things that seemed so obvious to me, went completely over his head. It wasn't until the end that he started putting everything together himself. The actions of Princess Mathilda were understandable on some level, but the fact that she didn't care what happened to anyone else because of her plans was sickening. As for Sorrel, although she had a slightly bitchy attitude about some things, was probably my favorite character out of the leads. My favorite, though, was definitely Prince Ryce. He didn't want to blindly follow his father's murderous orders, and when he found out what his sister had done to Saker, he stood up to her about it.

The author's style of writing was hard to read as well. She uses a lot of words that people don't use day-to-day, and in order to understand what was going on, I had to continually stop reading to look words up. All this does is pull the reader out of the story and each time I had to get reinvested again.