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Queen of the Orcs #2
Legionäre: Königin der Orks 2
Tolkiens gefährlichstes Volk kehrt zurück! Die Orks!
Sie gelten als roh, unzivilisiert und bösartig – die Orks. Doch nicht alles, was bisher über die grausamen Gesellen geschrieben wurde, entspricht der Wahrheit. Tauchen Sie ein in ein rasantes Abenteuer, wie Sie es noch nie erlebt haben. Denn eine Truppe der Orks fühlt sich zu Höherem bestimmt, und an ihrer ruhmreichen Spitze steht Dar, eine verstoßene Klantochter: clever, unbeugsam und verführerisch. Nach und nach entdeckt die auserwählte Königin der Orks die wahren Absichten der dunklen Wesen – und gemeinsam planen sie eine waghalsige Revolte.
Sie gelten als roh, unzivilisiert und bösartig – die Orks. Doch nicht alles, was bisher über die grausamen Gesellen geschrieben wurde, entspricht der Wahrheit. Tauchen Sie ein in ein rasantes Abenteuer, wie Sie es noch nie erlebt haben. Denn eine Truppe der Orks fühlt sich zu Höherem bestimmt, und an ihrer ruhmreichen Spitze steht Dar, eine verstoßene Klantochter: clever, unbeugsam und verführerisch. Nach und nach entdeckt die auserwählte Königin der Orks die wahren Absichten der dunklen Wesen – und gemeinsam planen sie eine waghalsige Revolte.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
30 people are currently reading
324 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 55 reviews
November 22, 2013
I can't seem to start my review with anything but ,
Oh, My, God
I'm loving this series, it intrigues the hell out of me. First the twist- I'm usually the die-hard romantic kind of girl. I admit- a few months back the first thing I'd see in a book- if not the genre- is the romantic aspect involved. Is there romance involve? No? Ok, moving on!
Yes, i admit, it's kinda silly. But this book is too interesting, a lot of things are happening that i didn't give a damn about romance at all. So it was a pleasant, very pleasant surprise when i got one!!!! An Orc and a Human for that matter! A forbidden one- bonus!
The first time I met him, i admit he didn't strike me as the 'leading man' type of guy but thinking about it, he is perfect! Read this book and ya'll know what im talking about.
Anyway, this book is so interesting. I'm still brimming over the other Mother Orcs and their series of deception/selfish/foolish acts and worried about what they might do but I hope Dar has a happy ending. She deserves it and i hope she shows those bitter face Mother Orcs what she can do...
I'm loving this series, it intrigues the hell out of me. First the twist- I'm usually the die-hard romantic kind of girl. I admit- a few months back the first thing I'd see in a book- if not the genre- is the romantic aspect involved. Is there romance involve? No? Ok, moving on!
Yes, i admit, it's kinda silly. But this book is too interesting, a lot of things are happening that i didn't give a damn about romance at all. So it was a pleasant, very pleasant surprise when i got one!!!! An Orc and a Human for that matter! A forbidden one- bonus!
The first time I met him, i admit he didn't strike me as the 'leading man' type of guy but thinking about it, he is perfect! Read this book and ya'll know what im talking about.
Anyway, this book is so interesting. I'm still brimming over the other Mother Orcs and their series of deception/selfish/foolish acts and worried about what they might do but I hope Dar has a happy ending. She deserves it and i hope she shows those bitter face Mother Orcs what she can do...
July 26, 2019
I'm really enjoying this series! But I found this book a harder read than the first one, King's Property. I'm not sure why that is. I think maybe it's because the first book was such a nail-biting horror-fest that you kind of hope that things will be better when the characters finally get back to the orcs. And they are, but of course the characters find themselves back in the fray.
In this trilogy, which might have made a good single book if any publisher would have published it like that, Dar is a peasant human woman conscripted to serve the orc regiments in the King's army. Such women are branded so they can never leave, and there's a bounty on their heads, so they can be killed with impunity. This practice began because the orcs refused to take food unless it was served to them by women.
Of course the human soldiers of the regiment use these women for a variety of other purposes as well, including kitchen drudge, labourer, and unwilling bedwarmer. Survival depends upon earning the favour of a soldier who effectively takes possession of the woman he's raping; otherwise, she's fair game for gang rape and is likely to starve to death or die of exposure, since these women only get whatever is left over as far as both food and shelter are concerned.
People are terrified of the orcs, but Dar, our protagonist, has been abused by her father, so she has no intention of being anyone's bedwarmer. Because she will not conform, she earns the interest (and wrath) of the regiment's commander, Mudrant Kol. Desperately she hides herself among the orcs, who terrify the rest of the regiment, and slowly, through the kindness of one orc soldier named Kovok-mah, breaks through the cultural and language barriers and is grudgingly accepted. It helps that she seems to be directly blessed by the orc's mother goddess, Muth la, and her blessing increases a soldier's chance of survival.
It turns out that the orcs are only fighting because they are commanded to do so by their queen, who is receiving healing magic from the king's wizard - although you get the sense that something is awry there almost right away.
At the end of the last book, This book picks up where the last one left off, and the small band, guided by Dar, journey to orcish lands to escape the war. They are given shelter by the clan of an orc who has pledged his life to Dar's service (that's all in the last book; no details provided here,) but it is initially a grudging acceptance.
Orc society is as matriarchal as the human one is patriarchal, and here we get to see all the potential hazards of that (hint: it's not much better, just different.) Kovok-mah returns to his clan and the other members of the band return to theirs, and Dar learns how to fit in with orcish society. This is complicated by the fact that Kovok-mah and Dar have fallen in love and started a relationship, but marriage only happens if it is approved of by an orc male's mother and his clan matriarch.
For reasons of their own, which have nothing to do with Dar's benefit, or compassion, but some hidden motive that is not made clear in this book, the Yat matriarch decides to accept Dar fully into her clan. Dar is "reborn" in an orcish ritual and claimed as one of the clan daughters. But part of their purpose is to use Dar to free the orc queen, who is a member of the Yat clan - though even this is likely not entirely because of concern for the queen herself.
Dar is eventually manipulated into attempting to do just that, and yes, something has been awry this whole time. A human soldier from a distant land - who is clearly not of the same ilk as most of the rest of the army, although that's about all that recommends him in my opinion (because he's otherwise entirely uninteresting and I can't fathom why he has the feelings for Dar that he has,) aids them in their cause due to his feelings for Dar.
I found the ending to this book to be unsatisfactory. I realize there's still a third book to go, so of course the story doesn't end here, but the author makes it seem like it will, then undoes all the good the characters have accomplished almost immediately. It feels shoehorned and contrived. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt because I know there's still a third book to go, and obviously this was all intended to be one story, but otherwise, I would be annoyed.
Still, the rest of the story, and the fresh take on orcs, is so refreshing it almost entirely makes up for it. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see someone else who realizes that orcs can't simply be the bad guys because somebody else says so! It's fun to see a human-orc romantic relationship too. Half-orcs have been a staple of fantasy gaming for a long time, and they have to come from somewhere...
Definitely not a stand-alone book, so I'll reserve my final opinion for when I have finished all three.
In this trilogy, which might have made a good single book if any publisher would have published it like that, Dar is a peasant human woman conscripted to serve the orc regiments in the King's army. Such women are branded so they can never leave, and there's a bounty on their heads, so they can be killed with impunity. This practice began because the orcs refused to take food unless it was served to them by women.
Of course the human soldiers of the regiment use these women for a variety of other purposes as well, including kitchen drudge, labourer, and unwilling bedwarmer. Survival depends upon earning the favour of a soldier who effectively takes possession of the woman he's raping; otherwise, she's fair game for gang rape and is likely to starve to death or die of exposure, since these women only get whatever is left over as far as both food and shelter are concerned.
People are terrified of the orcs, but Dar, our protagonist, has been abused by her father, so she has no intention of being anyone's bedwarmer. Because she will not conform, she earns the interest (and wrath) of the regiment's commander, Mudrant Kol. Desperately she hides herself among the orcs, who terrify the rest of the regiment, and slowly, through the kindness of one orc soldier named Kovok-mah, breaks through the cultural and language barriers and is grudgingly accepted. It helps that she seems to be directly blessed by the orc's mother goddess, Muth la, and her blessing increases a soldier's chance of survival.
It turns out that the orcs are only fighting because they are commanded to do so by their queen, who is receiving healing magic from the king's wizard - although you get the sense that something is awry there almost right away.
At the end of the last book, This book picks up where the last one left off, and the small band, guided by Dar, journey to orcish lands to escape the war. They are given shelter by the clan of an orc who has pledged his life to Dar's service (that's all in the last book; no details provided here,) but it is initially a grudging acceptance.
Orc society is as matriarchal as the human one is patriarchal, and here we get to see all the potential hazards of that (hint: it's not much better, just different.) Kovok-mah returns to his clan and the other members of the band return to theirs, and Dar learns how to fit in with orcish society. This is complicated by the fact that Kovok-mah and Dar have fallen in love and started a relationship, but marriage only happens if it is approved of by an orc male's mother and his clan matriarch.
For reasons of their own, which have nothing to do with Dar's benefit, or compassion, but some hidden motive that is not made clear in this book, the Yat matriarch decides to accept Dar fully into her clan. Dar is "reborn" in an orcish ritual and claimed as one of the clan daughters. But part of their purpose is to use Dar to free the orc queen, who is a member of the Yat clan - though even this is likely not entirely because of concern for the queen herself.
Dar is eventually manipulated into attempting to do just that, and yes, something has been awry this whole time. A human soldier from a distant land - who is clearly not of the same ilk as most of the rest of the army, although that's about all that recommends him in my opinion (because he's otherwise entirely uninteresting and I can't fathom why he has the feelings for Dar that he has,) aids them in their cause due to his feelings for Dar.
I found the ending to this book to be unsatisfactory. I realize there's still a third book to go, so of course the story doesn't end here, but the author makes it seem like it will, then undoes all the good the characters have accomplished almost immediately. It feels shoehorned and contrived. I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt because I know there's still a third book to go, and obviously this was all intended to be one story, but otherwise, I would be annoyed.
Still, the rest of the story, and the fresh take on orcs, is so refreshing it almost entirely makes up for it. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see someone else who realizes that orcs can't simply be the bad guys because somebody else says so! It's fun to see a human-orc romantic relationship too. Half-orcs have been a staple of fantasy gaming for a long time, and they have to come from somewhere...
Definitely not a stand-alone book, so I'll reserve my final opinion for when I have finished all three.
December 21, 2011
This book is as good as the first. It was exciting and a page-turner.
I needed to know what would happen to Dar.
Will she succeed in bringing the five Orks home? What is her destiny? And can she make peace with Zna-yat?
The love-interest took a surprising turn for me, I just didn't expcet it or didn't think it possible. At first, I wasn't sure what to think, but since Dar is described as very happy and satisfied with it, I was able to accept it as well. In the end, I was rooting for them.
Still, I'm not sure what the author wants to express about humanity and I'm not sure I like this twist and Dar's way of seeing it. Dar is nice and intelligent, also considerate and hard-working. I'm happy for her, that she has a new family, but... (well read it and you know).
Don't understand me wrong, this specific aspect didn't make the book bad. It was still very interesting and I couldn't stop reading. Moreover, it leads to questions like what is humanity, is it a way of thinking or only the appearance.
I already wonder about the continuation of the story in book 3.
I needed to know what would happen to Dar.
Will she succeed in bringing the five Orks home? What is her destiny? And can she make peace with Zna-yat?
The love-interest took a surprising turn for me, I just didn't expcet it or didn't think it possible. At first, I wasn't sure what to think, but since Dar is described as very happy and satisfied with it, I was able to accept it as well. In the end, I was rooting for them.
Still, I'm not sure what the author wants to express about humanity and I'm not sure I like this twist and Dar's way of seeing it. Dar is nice and intelligent, also considerate and hard-working. I'm happy for her, that she has a new family, but... (well read it and you know).
Don't understand me wrong, this specific aspect didn't make the book bad. It was still very interesting and I couldn't stop reading. Moreover, it leads to questions like what is humanity, is it a way of thinking or only the appearance.
I already wonder about the continuation of the story in book 3.
March 20, 2016
This book continued the story in the way I expected based on the way the first book ended. I’m still enjoying the story, but I thought this book got seriously bogged down in the middle with too much romantic obsession. The romance itself isn’t so bad; it’s believable and a bit touching. What frustrated me was the way it took over the main character’s thoughts, becoming a monotonous and repetitively angsty obsession. There’s also a bit of a love triangle going on which certainly didn’t improve matters. Because of this, I found this book much easier to put down than the first book and harder to pick back up.
Eventually the romance took a back seat again and we got back to the meat of the story. I enjoyed the story itself a great deal. Events progressed quickly and there were things that happened at the end of this book that I hadn’t expected to see addressed until the final book. The ending made it clear that there’s still more story to tell, though, and it left me curious to see what would happen next. I plan to start the final book today.
I’m giving this 3.5 stars on BookLikes due to my annoyance with the romance, but I’ve decided to round up to 4 stars here based on my enjoyment of the story.
Eventually the romance took a back seat again and we got back to the meat of the story. I enjoyed the story itself a great deal. Events progressed quickly and there were things that happened at the end of this book that I hadn’t expected to see addressed until the final book. The ending made it clear that there’s still more story to tell, though, and it left me curious to see what would happen next. I plan to start the final book today.
I’m giving this 3.5 stars on BookLikes due to my annoyance with the romance, but I’ve decided to round up to 4 stars here based on my enjoyment of the story.
August 21, 2010
This is book #2 of the Queen of the Orcs series and is slightly less dark as the first book. Dar and Kath-Mah become closer although there's really no hope of them ending up together. There's a confrontation rather than a battle between the Orcs and King Kregant, but this ends without a lot of bloodshed. The ending is a cliffhanger but not a horrible one that leaves you screaming. I've ordered book #3 from the library. Great book/series.
May 2, 2008
In which Dar learns (or rather, doesn't, but the book makes clear that,) the bad thing about matriarchies is that there may be power struggles between women.
Oh, book.
Oh, book.
August 8, 2009
So I bought it just to try out my Kindle's buy feature. Got addicted, bought the final one. I really enjoyed this one and all of the culture..
March 30, 2022
I read the first book in this series a few years ago. I finally got around to reading the second, and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed this one more than the first.
Dar is a good person, who has lived through some terrible things. In the first book, she was saved by an Orc, and went to live with his kind. This book tells the story that follows.
I found the world very interesting. Orcs are a female-dominated species. Females lead, males follow. They clash with humans. Neither species really understands the other. The few who take the time to get to know the other race, find common ground and get along. That is rare, though.
The world-building is very well done. There is a glossary of terms in the back, which I wish I had found before I finished the book. But I was still able to figure out what the words/terms meant. Many were explained in the book, as the humans and orcs learned to understand each other.
Very interesting story, interesting characters, good plot. If this is your genre, you won't go wrong reading the series. Do start with book 1, so you understand how they get where they are in book 2.
Dar is a good person, who has lived through some terrible things. In the first book, she was saved by an Orc, and went to live with his kind. This book tells the story that follows.
I found the world very interesting. Orcs are a female-dominated species. Females lead, males follow. They clash with humans. Neither species really understands the other. The few who take the time to get to know the other race, find common ground and get along. That is rare, though.
The world-building is very well done. There is a glossary of terms in the back, which I wish I had found before I finished the book. But I was still able to figure out what the words/terms meant. Many were explained in the book, as the humans and orcs learned to understand each other.
Very interesting story, interesting characters, good plot. If this is your genre, you won't go wrong reading the series. Do start with book 1, so you understand how they get where they are in book 2.
September 15, 2020
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this one, though slightly less than the first book.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was how Dar became a little obsessed with Kovok-mah near the beginning of the book. I mean, I kind of get it, as he's the first person Dar has loved and experienced good sexual intimacy with, but at the same time she was a little child-like about it. I was glad when the plot started moving forward and it stopped lingering on that part of their relationship.
We get to see Sevren in this book and I liked him just as much as, if not more than, I did in book one. I'm interested in seeing how Dar's relationships with Sevren and Kovok-mah progresses.
I also can't wait to see what Zor-yat and Muth-yat have in store for Dar.
Basically, this is series proves to be one of the few where I'm actually intrigued about what will happen in the next book.
I enjoyed this one, though slightly less than the first book.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was how Dar became a little obsessed with Kovok-mah near the beginning of the book. I mean, I kind of get it, as he's the first person Dar has loved and experienced good sexual intimacy with, but at the same time she was a little child-like about it. I was glad when the plot started moving forward and it stopped lingering on that part of their relationship.
We get to see Sevren in this book and I liked him just as much as, if not more than, I did in book one. I'm interested in seeing how Dar's relationships with Sevren and Kovok-mah progresses.
I also can't wait to see what Zor-yat and Muth-yat have in store for Dar.
Basically, this is series proves to be one of the few where I'm actually intrigued about what will happen in the next book.
March 7, 2019
This is the second book in this trilogy. Again, Dar is constantly challenged in this book. As the reader you get to experience more of the Orc society which is matriarchal. It is a sharp contrast to the Washavoki, or human's society which is patriarchal. I found myself drawn to the Orcs and their culture even though their society is not without its flaws.
November 7, 2019
It had a slower start. I can understand the pieces that need to be in place though. Second half hit me fast though. If you enjoyed the first book, I’d say get through to the second. I think it was worth it. Dar really starts finding herself in this one. The cultural building is interesting and I appreciate that we receive context for the interactions that would otherwise be confusing.
September 8, 2020
Not planning to read the third. I stopped reading it at like 71% over a year ago and barely remembered what was going on before finishing it.
October 10, 2021
A series that took me forever to start reading, and no time at all to finish. Read this on Kindle and have ordered hard copies to put on the shelves. Looking forward to the next one!
June 2, 2024
2.5 Det finns sämre böcker
January 14, 2013
Erster Satz: Nach frei Nächten einer beschwerlichen Wanderschaft hatte Dars Zorn sich abgekühlt.
Der zweite Band der Trilogie Königin der Orks unterscheidet sich wesentlich vom ersten Band Söldner. Nach der Schlacht im Tal in der der Großteil der Orks getötet wurde, reist Dar mit einer kleinen Gruppe in der auch Kovok-mah und sein Vetter sind in Richtung Norden. Sie hat den Orks versprochen sie nach Hause zu bringen und sie ist entschlossen dieses Versprechen zu halten. In ihrer eigenen Heimat wäre sie nun eine Fahnenflüchtige. Man würde sie sofort töten wenn man sie entdeckte. Doch auch hier im Land des Feindes muss die kleine Gruppe vorsichtig sein. Immer mehr gelangen sie in ein Gebiet das früher den Orks gehört hat und obwohl der Krieg schon sehr lange vorbei ist, werden Kobolde - wie die Orks hier genannt werden - bei lebendigem Leibe verbrannt sollte man ihrer habhaft werden.
Es ist eine beschwerliche Reise die nicht selten gefährlich wird. Eines dieser Ereignisse sorgt dafür das Zna-yat seine Meinung über Dar ändert und im Laufe des Buches wird er einer ihrer wichtigsten Gefährten. Noch einige andere interessante Dinge entwickeln sich. Zum einen entdeckt Dar ihre Liebe zu Kovo-mah und zu ihrer Freude erwiderte er diese auch. Doch die Liebe der beiden steht unter keinem guten Stern, auch wenn Dar diese Tatsache beiseite schiebt und ihre Zeit mit Kovok-mah genieißt.
Je weiter sie in die Berge dringen, desto mehr bekommt man einen Eindruck von der Gesellschaft der Orks und ihre Gepflogenheiten. Ich sagte ja schon dieser zweite Band unterscheiden sich wesentlich vom ersten und das ist auch so. Dar und ihre Gruppe haben eine lange Reise von sich und als sie endlich in Ork Gefilden angekommen sind, bekommt man einen sehr gutn Einblick in deren Leben. Ich muss jetzt nach beenden des Buches ehrlich sagen, ich finde es weder gut wenn nur Männer herrschen, noch wenn nur Frauen herrschen. Es schränkt die Seite die nicht herrscht einfach zu sehr ein. Orks können sich nicht vermählen wie es ihnen gefällt. Ihre Mütter treffen die Entscheidung und nicht selten wird der geliebte Partner abgelehnt. Die Männer sind in einer sehr untergeordneten Position und taten mir teilweise wirklich leid, obwohl sie ein gutes Leben führen und es ihnen an nichts fehlt.
Trotzdem, nachdem Dar dreiviertel des Buches nur von Orks umgeben war, habe ich mich wirklich sehr gefreut als sie wieder auf Sevren traf. An dessen Gefühlen für Dar hat sich nichts geändert und seien wir doch mal ehrlich, wer will schon einen Partner der einem in allem zustimmt und einen nur anfasst wenn man den ersten Schritt macht? Für mich wäre das jedenfalls nicht, deswegen habe ich mich auch über Sevrens auftauchen gefreut. Er bringt wieder etwas frischen Wind in die Geschichte und obwohl Dar Kovok-mah noch immer liebt, schreibe ich den jungen Gardisten nicht komplett ab.
Wenn man sich den Plot anschaut, muss man eigentlich sagen das er langweiliger ist als der aus dem ersten Band. Es geht halt hauptsächlich um die Gebräuche und Gepflogenheiten der Orks und Dar die versucht sich einen Platz in der Geheimschaft zu erkämpfen. Gegen Ende lernt man auch endlich die Königin der Orks kennen und Dar wird durch gewisse Umstände zur neuen Königin der Orks gekröhnt. Ich hatte mich nach dem ersten Band schon gefragt ob das nicht wieder so ein fehlerhafter Titel ist der einen zum Kauf verführen soll.
Fazit
Auch Legionäre gefiel mir sehr gut. Man wird mitten hineingeführt in das Leben der Orks und obwohl es doch sehr friedfertig ist, laufen in meinen Augen ein paar Dinge falsch. Zudem stellt sich heraus das Orks durchaus Lügen und die Wahrheit verschleiern können und ich fürchte, Dar wird im nächsten Band Verrat aus den eigenen Reihen erleben. Die gehoffte Liebesbeziehung gab es diesmal auch, doch gegen Ende muss ich sagen, ein anderer Partner wäre für Dar besser. Ich bin gespannt wie es im letzten Band Herrscher weitergehen wird, denn ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, der letzte Band wird noch einmal spannender.
Der zweite Band der Trilogie Königin der Orks unterscheidet sich wesentlich vom ersten Band Söldner. Nach der Schlacht im Tal in der der Großteil der Orks getötet wurde, reist Dar mit einer kleinen Gruppe in der auch Kovok-mah und sein Vetter sind in Richtung Norden. Sie hat den Orks versprochen sie nach Hause zu bringen und sie ist entschlossen dieses Versprechen zu halten. In ihrer eigenen Heimat wäre sie nun eine Fahnenflüchtige. Man würde sie sofort töten wenn man sie entdeckte. Doch auch hier im Land des Feindes muss die kleine Gruppe vorsichtig sein. Immer mehr gelangen sie in ein Gebiet das früher den Orks gehört hat und obwohl der Krieg schon sehr lange vorbei ist, werden Kobolde - wie die Orks hier genannt werden - bei lebendigem Leibe verbrannt sollte man ihrer habhaft werden.
Es ist eine beschwerliche Reise die nicht selten gefährlich wird. Eines dieser Ereignisse sorgt dafür das Zna-yat seine Meinung über Dar ändert und im Laufe des Buches wird er einer ihrer wichtigsten Gefährten. Noch einige andere interessante Dinge entwickeln sich. Zum einen entdeckt Dar ihre Liebe zu Kovo-mah und zu ihrer Freude erwiderte er diese auch. Doch die Liebe der beiden steht unter keinem guten Stern, auch wenn Dar diese Tatsache beiseite schiebt und ihre Zeit mit Kovok-mah genieißt.
Je weiter sie in die Berge dringen, desto mehr bekommt man einen Eindruck von der Gesellschaft der Orks und ihre Gepflogenheiten. Ich sagte ja schon dieser zweite Band unterscheiden sich wesentlich vom ersten und das ist auch so. Dar und ihre Gruppe haben eine lange Reise von sich und als sie endlich in Ork Gefilden angekommen sind, bekommt man einen sehr gutn Einblick in deren Leben. Ich muss jetzt nach beenden des Buches ehrlich sagen, ich finde es weder gut wenn nur Männer herrschen, noch wenn nur Frauen herrschen. Es schränkt die Seite die nicht herrscht einfach zu sehr ein. Orks können sich nicht vermählen wie es ihnen gefällt. Ihre Mütter treffen die Entscheidung und nicht selten wird der geliebte Partner abgelehnt. Die Männer sind in einer sehr untergeordneten Position und taten mir teilweise wirklich leid, obwohl sie ein gutes Leben führen und es ihnen an nichts fehlt.
Trotzdem, nachdem Dar dreiviertel des Buches nur von Orks umgeben war, habe ich mich wirklich sehr gefreut als sie wieder auf Sevren traf. An dessen Gefühlen für Dar hat sich nichts geändert und seien wir doch mal ehrlich, wer will schon einen Partner der einem in allem zustimmt und einen nur anfasst wenn man den ersten Schritt macht? Für mich wäre das jedenfalls nicht, deswegen habe ich mich auch über Sevrens auftauchen gefreut. Er bringt wieder etwas frischen Wind in die Geschichte und obwohl Dar Kovok-mah noch immer liebt, schreibe ich den jungen Gardisten nicht komplett ab.
Wenn man sich den Plot anschaut, muss man eigentlich sagen das er langweiliger ist als der aus dem ersten Band. Es geht halt hauptsächlich um die Gebräuche und Gepflogenheiten der Orks und Dar die versucht sich einen Platz in der Geheimschaft zu erkämpfen. Gegen Ende lernt man auch endlich die Königin der Orks kennen und Dar wird durch gewisse Umstände zur neuen Königin der Orks gekröhnt. Ich hatte mich nach dem ersten Band schon gefragt ob das nicht wieder so ein fehlerhafter Titel ist der einen zum Kauf verführen soll.
Fazit
Auch Legionäre gefiel mir sehr gut. Man wird mitten hineingeführt in das Leben der Orks und obwohl es doch sehr friedfertig ist, laufen in meinen Augen ein paar Dinge falsch. Zudem stellt sich heraus das Orks durchaus Lügen und die Wahrheit verschleiern können und ich fürchte, Dar wird im nächsten Band Verrat aus den eigenen Reihen erleben. Die gehoffte Liebesbeziehung gab es diesmal auch, doch gegen Ende muss ich sagen, ein anderer Partner wäre für Dar besser. Ich bin gespannt wie es im letzten Band Herrscher weitergehen wird, denn ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, der letzte Band wird noch einmal spannender.
February 20, 2010
Hmmm. Hard to know what to say about this book that I didn't say about the first book in the series. And BTW, if you haven't read book 1 yet, this review will contain spoilers. . . although I should point out that the very title of this series, Queen of the Orcs, could be taken as a spoiler as well. Book 2, Clan Daughter, is a quicker read than the first book was, as if, having introduced his big ideas about otherness and acceptance, and established Dar as a survivor and rather kickass, Howell is now able to focus more on plot development. Unfortunately, not all of those plot developments were ones I was in favor of, though I think that's a matter of personal preference.
Having survived a grave battle at the end of book 1, the human woman Dar and the five surviving orcs make their way back to the Orc homeland, guided by Dar's dark visions and (presumably) the goddess Muth la. Dar is ostensibly the leader of the group, although the orcs have various levels of loyalty to her: Zna-yat, for example, distrusts her for being human, while Dar and Kovok-mah are beginning to have feelings of a more romantic nature for one another. Which is one of the developments I wasn't crazy about; I don't need romance in a novel to enjoy it, and I would have preferred, if Dar were to fall in love with one of the orcs, it wasn't her quasi-mentor, Kovok-mah. I didn't really see him as her rescuer in book one, because Dar chose to learn the orc language, and sought out their company on her own, but he does take on a bit of a mediator role, and that made it harder for me to accept him as her lover.
One of the great strengths in this series in Howell's world-building ability, and it is equally strong here. The glimpses we had of orc culture in book 1 were fascinating enough; now we get to see how it functions in their homeland, which was a very welcome development. We also get to see what the female orcs look like, which I was actually disappointed by. They are bigger than human females, with tattooed chins and blunter features, but otherwise resemble them enough that when Dar first sees one in a vision she mistakes her for a human. I don't know if this was done to show how little difference there really is between orcs and humans, or if it's just one of those no-females-are-ugly-ever things, but it bothered me a bit.
That said, this series continues to inspire my intellect and imagination. I see it as the fantasy equivalent of the sort of ideas-driven thought-provoking SF I like to read, by authors such as Margaret Atwood and Sheri Tepper. Flawed though it is, I really admire The Queen of the Orcs series for the issues it raises about gender and race (or species masquerading as race), and think it could make for some very interesting discussion in a book club setting.
Having survived a grave battle at the end of book 1, the human woman Dar and the five surviving orcs make their way back to the Orc homeland, guided by Dar's dark visions and (presumably) the goddess Muth la. Dar is ostensibly the leader of the group, although the orcs have various levels of loyalty to her: Zna-yat, for example, distrusts her for being human, while Dar and Kovok-mah are beginning to have feelings of a more romantic nature for one another. Which is one of the developments I wasn't crazy about; I don't need romance in a novel to enjoy it, and I would have preferred, if Dar were to fall in love with one of the orcs, it wasn't her quasi-mentor, Kovok-mah. I didn't really see him as her rescuer in book one, because Dar chose to learn the orc language, and sought out their company on her own, but he does take on a bit of a mediator role, and that made it harder for me to accept him as her lover.
One of the great strengths in this series in Howell's world-building ability, and it is equally strong here. The glimpses we had of orc culture in book 1 were fascinating enough; now we get to see how it functions in their homeland, which was a very welcome development. We also get to see what the female orcs look like, which I was actually disappointed by. They are bigger than human females, with tattooed chins and blunter features, but otherwise resemble them enough that when Dar first sees one in a vision she mistakes her for a human. I don't know if this was done to show how little difference there really is between orcs and humans, or if it's just one of those no-females-are-ugly-ever things, but it bothered me a bit.
That said, this series continues to inspire my intellect and imagination. I see it as the fantasy equivalent of the sort of ideas-driven thought-provoking SF I like to read, by authors such as Margaret Atwood and Sheri Tepper. Flawed though it is, I really admire The Queen of the Orcs series for the issues it raises about gender and race (or species masquerading as race), and think it could make for some very interesting discussion in a book club setting.
May 21, 2010
Clan Daughter is the second book in Morgan Howell’s Queen of the Orcs trilogy. This novel offers a change of setting for Dar and the surviving orcs that accompany her. Dar leads the orcs to their lands for safety and freedom, but she must return once again to the land of the king in order to liberate the orc queen who is being held there. It is essential that this trilogy be read in the correct order for complete comprehension of the story! The second book picks up right where the first book ends.
The progression of Dar’s journey was fantastic. She embraced her role as a leader, and that is exactly what I wanted to see from her character. The relationships between characters changed, grew stronger, and added more substance to the story. A lot more time was spent exploring the orcs in Dar’s company in terms of their personality, background, and culture. I thought the orc lands and the orc leaders were all so refreshing. It was nice to see the orcs as a kind, peaceful group rather than the stereotypical war lovers that they are in most fantasy settings. One thing that I particularly liked about Clan Daughter was the easy to loathe, strong “bad guys”. I enjoy a story that gives the reader a strong sense of who to hate, and this novel delivered that.
Clan Daughter offered a lot of amazing settings that were described beautifully. Certain places were described with vivid detail and I couldn’t help but imagine them as being real. I had a very strong mental image of the land and the cities, as well as the main characters, and this definitely enhanced the rest of the story for me. The storyline progressed a lot, but since Clan Daughter is in the middle of the trilogy, it mainly added more suspense and questions rather than wrapping anything up. There were numerous surprising plot twists that left me super eager to read more. The last few chapters were so filled with action and excitement that I picked up the third book right away. I cannot recommend this fantasy trilogy enough!
The progression of Dar’s journey was fantastic. She embraced her role as a leader, and that is exactly what I wanted to see from her character. The relationships between characters changed, grew stronger, and added more substance to the story. A lot more time was spent exploring the orcs in Dar’s company in terms of their personality, background, and culture. I thought the orc lands and the orc leaders were all so refreshing. It was nice to see the orcs as a kind, peaceful group rather than the stereotypical war lovers that they are in most fantasy settings. One thing that I particularly liked about Clan Daughter was the easy to loathe, strong “bad guys”. I enjoy a story that gives the reader a strong sense of who to hate, and this novel delivered that.
Clan Daughter offered a lot of amazing settings that were described beautifully. Certain places were described with vivid detail and I couldn’t help but imagine them as being real. I had a very strong mental image of the land and the cities, as well as the main characters, and this definitely enhanced the rest of the story for me. The storyline progressed a lot, but since Clan Daughter is in the middle of the trilogy, it mainly added more suspense and questions rather than wrapping anything up. There were numerous surprising plot twists that left me super eager to read more. The last few chapters were so filled with action and excitement that I picked up the third book right away. I cannot recommend this fantasy trilogy enough!
March 9, 2011
Having escaped from the army, Dar uses her visions and leadership skills to try to safely guide the Orcs to their homeland, hoping that she can live there with Kovok-mah, though not all the Orcs trust her or approve of taking her along. Her welcome once there is mixed and Kovok-mah's family want them seperated. Fearing for the future Dar goes on a quest to find and release the Queen of the Orcs from the very army that she has just escaped from, aware that her mortal enemy is looking for revenge.
Dar's relationship with Kovok-mah develops into a love affair that horrifies some of the Orcs and there can be no future for them without the approval of his family, which he believes will not come. Dar is in despair and when the Orcs are sent back to fight with army, she decides she must go and find the Queen, to persuade her not to send the Orcs to their death in the human King's war. Trying to get to the Queen unseen by her enemy is going to be a challenge...
Readers of this book seem to fall into two categories-those who are for the relationship and those who are against. I was in the 'for' category as I love Kovok-mah and it seemed obvious to me in book 1 that the friendship was going to become love. The new characters throw up some interesting plot twists and the tension filled rescue plan was well written and exciting. I'd love the chance to read these books again and see if I put my rating up to 4 stars but sadly I read them in a bookcrossing book ring so I don't have my own copies!
Dar's relationship with Kovok-mah develops into a love affair that horrifies some of the Orcs and there can be no future for them without the approval of his family, which he believes will not come. Dar is in despair and when the Orcs are sent back to fight with army, she decides she must go and find the Queen, to persuade her not to send the Orcs to their death in the human King's war. Trying to get to the Queen unseen by her enemy is going to be a challenge...
Readers of this book seem to fall into two categories-those who are for the relationship and those who are against. I was in the 'for' category as I love Kovok-mah and it seemed obvious to me in book 1 that the friendship was going to become love. The new characters throw up some interesting plot twists and the tension filled rescue plan was well written and exciting. I'd love the chance to read these books again and see if I put my rating up to 4 stars but sadly I read them in a bookcrossing book ring so I don't have my own copies!
April 5, 2022
Find your inner strength and fight for what you know needs to be done! That is this book, the courage and strength of Dar to lead her band of orcs back to their home. The ability to allow yourself to let down your guard and learn things that you never believed but also the ability to do what must be done! It was a great second instalment that I really enjoyed reading.
April 29, 2013
NOTE: Spoilers for King's Property.
After a battle in which the orc regiments and their human female servants were betrayed and slaughtered, human conscript Dar resolves to lead five surviving orc warriors back out of human lands where, if caught, she would be beheaded as a deserter, and the orcs burned alive as monsters.
Among them is the patient Kovok-mah, who protected Dar from the human soldiers and is teaching her orcish custom and language, believing she is chosen of the World's Mother to lead them home. His devious cousin, Zna-yat, however, thinks Kovok-mah is misinterpreting signs, and has already tried to kill Dar twice.
Lost, facing starvation and treachery, plagued by dark visions, and traveling with beings who have no concept of the basic deception necessary to keep them alive, Dar can only trust that the World's Mother will somehow lead them to a home in lands she has never known. But if they survive to see the orcish halls, will the orc matriarchs kill her outright as a human enemy, embrace her as a clan daughter, or use her as a pawn to break the faltering truce with the humans?
Benefiting from leaving the army setting of King's Property, the plot of Clan Daughter is a far more interesting read than its predecessor, and full of surprises and intrigue. The masterfully complex history and customs of the orcs are finally given space to be richly painted on a canvas much-deserved.
After a battle in which the orc regiments and their human female servants were betrayed and slaughtered, human conscript Dar resolves to lead five surviving orc warriors back out of human lands where, if caught, she would be beheaded as a deserter, and the orcs burned alive as monsters.
Among them is the patient Kovok-mah, who protected Dar from the human soldiers and is teaching her orcish custom and language, believing she is chosen of the World's Mother to lead them home. His devious cousin, Zna-yat, however, thinks Kovok-mah is misinterpreting signs, and has already tried to kill Dar twice.
Lost, facing starvation and treachery, plagued by dark visions, and traveling with beings who have no concept of the basic deception necessary to keep them alive, Dar can only trust that the World's Mother will somehow lead them to a home in lands she has never known. But if they survive to see the orcish halls, will the orc matriarchs kill her outright as a human enemy, embrace her as a clan daughter, or use her as a pawn to break the faltering truce with the humans?
Benefiting from leaving the army setting of King's Property, the plot of Clan Daughter is a far more interesting read than its predecessor, and full of surprises and intrigue. The masterfully complex history and customs of the orcs are finally given space to be richly painted on a canvas much-deserved.
October 16, 2011
A great addition to the trilogy. I wasn't sure how the author would handle the orc/human relationship but it works for me. At times it seems like all the humans in the book are terrible, nasty beings not just the males. In this works that works. The only thing that doesn't make a lot of sense for me is that the Orcs have this sense of peacefullness, almost hippy-like at times with their view of the world yet would be brutal and murder/kill humans (which I get) but also dogs. I found that a little hard to understand, I know they did it for a good reason, to escape but I felt it needed something more maybe a prayer or ritual or something for the death they caused. In that it makes them seem heartless but then in another scene they're culture is lead by following their hearts and such.
anyway, other than that I really did enjoy this book.
anyway, other than that I really did enjoy this book.
September 23, 2014
After reading King's Property, the first book in the ORC series, I could see a lot of room for improvement.
The main character, Dar, was really hard to enjoy reading about and she was just a little too lucky a little too often for my taste.
Book two... Wow, can you say "more of the same"? And 80% of the book is a boring journey which sets the stage for interspecies love and actions on the part of the Orc mothers that totally contradicts everything we have been told about them. So, was the last 20% of the book work slogging through the first 80%? Not really.
The main character, Weasel, falls in love with an Orc, has an encounter with a human turned orc mage, and manages to lead a small group of survivors from a catastrophic battle back to their home. Once they get there, the story develops a ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
The main character, Dar, was really hard to enjoy reading about and she was just a little too lucky a little too often for my taste.
Book two... Wow, can you say "more of the same"? And 80% of the book is a boring journey which sets the stage for interspecies love and actions on the part of the Orc mothers that totally contradicts everything we have been told about them. So, was the last 20% of the book work slogging through the first 80%? Not really.
The main character, Weasel, falls in love with an Orc, has an encounter with a human turned orc mage, and manages to lead a small group of survivors from a catastrophic battle back to their home. Once they get there, the story develops a ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
July 19, 2015
I got maybe halfway done? I don't remember exactly but I do remember this being incredibly slow and somewhat boring. Most of what I read is their journey home after fleeing the soldiers and it's all about their march, their hunger and Dar's visions. Day in, day out. I gotta say I'm still interested in finding out how it ends but right this moment...I'm a little depressed. It's taking forever for Dar to reach the orcs homeland and I can only imagine how long it will take for her to save the queen or whatever she's supposed to do in this 2nd novel. Right now, I'm not interested enough to keep reading however I do plan to come back to it eventually.
2.5 ★
**PS: I reserve the right to change my rating when I actually finish the novel. The current rating is solemnly for the part I read.
2.5 ★
**PS: I reserve the right to change my rating when I actually finish the novel. The current rating is solemnly for the part I read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2012
Honestly, two-and-a-half stars would be more accurate. The writing isn't up to par just in terms of structure and readability. The human characters are really wooden and uni-dimensional. I lost respect for the author a little bit when the book became more romance than actual story, especially since it was so jarringly badly done. Really.
Still, it had it's moments. The humor was nice, and always surprising and off-kilter. I really like Kovok-mah, although not as much as in the first book. The matriarchal society of the orcs is...good to see out there, but needed some more work. The society still favors males, just in less obvious ways.
Overall, a little disappointing.
Still, it had it's moments. The humor was nice, and always surprising and off-kilter. I really like Kovok-mah, although not as much as in the first book. The matriarchal society of the orcs is...good to see out there, but needed some more work. The society still favors males, just in less obvious ways.
Overall, a little disappointing.
December 25, 2015
I loved the first book In this series and was honestly even starting to accept the Orc/Human loving that I knew as inevitable in this book. Sadly the book feel over for me somewhere along the 3rd town or so that our cast of characters had visited; it was just a lot of walking and not a lot of anything else.
Honestly the kiss of death for this book for me was that I started to read ahead - something that usually happens when I'm looking for interesting parts in the upcoming chapters. After skimming around in the final chapters of this book I just couldn't finish it - so it gets a 3/5 for the excellent start.
Honestly the kiss of death for this book for me was that I started to read ahead - something that usually happens when I'm looking for interesting parts in the upcoming chapters. After skimming around in the final chapters of this book I just couldn't finish it - so it gets a 3/5 for the excellent start.
May 3, 2015
'Clan daughter' is a good sequel and transition book, with always the same rigorous way to expose the heroine's difficulties and choices. The manner by which she takes her new responsibilities are perfectible coherent and convincing: no silly shyness ('Oh, dear, I'll never be able to succeed, I'm just an ignorant girl, a nobody *tossing about her long hair*) or artificial perfection. All the story is cleverly designed, Dar's life, passed and more recent, always set the stage for the unusual and fantastic things that happen to her.
The very bad and black wizard is a little bit to much, however. Per chance others 'bad' characters show much more subtleties in their personalities.
The very bad and black wizard is a little bit to much, however. Per chance others 'bad' characters show much more subtleties in their personalities.
February 2, 2009
After finishing the first book I eagerly bought the next two the next time I got to the bookstore. Book two picks up directly after book one, the start of it so abruptly I was left with the impression that book one and two were original one book broken into two.
It's a sort of lackluster book. The book's strength is its exploration of the Orcs and their culture, but the plot and world just don't stand out. I liked it alright, but only because I enjoyed the continued exploration of the world and culture.
It's a sort of lackluster book. The book's strength is its exploration of the Orcs and their culture, but the plot and world just don't stand out. I liked it alright, but only because I enjoyed the continued exploration of the world and culture.
June 20, 2008
I am glad that I started this series when all of them are written. I would have had a hard time waiting for the next book to come out. Hopefully this will be as fun as the last one.
Well, I have finished this book and I liked it as much as the last one.
It went a couple of places that I didn't expect and that is always nice. A great followup to the last book.
Off to get the next one!
Well, I have finished this book and I liked it as much as the last one.
It went a couple of places that I didn't expect and that is always nice. A great followup to the last book.
Off to get the next one!
August 23, 2011
I didn't think the sequel was going to be any better than the first book, but I was completely taken by surprise. At first I was disgusted by the relationship that was developing between Dar and Kovok. But if you pretend hes just a big human then their relationships becomes kinda cute. Morgan Howell has created a very intricate story. Everything fits together very well to create a cohesive tale that makes sense. I'm about to start the last book immediately.
April 9, 2012
Decent book - although it did sort of feel like "filler." To be honest, that's hard to avoid in book two of a trilogy, though, so Howell gets a pass for that. I do have issues with how he handles his female characters - it's sadly/frequently obvious that the author is male; there's no real emotional depth to the characters. Oddly, that doesn't detract as much as it might from this being an enjoyable read.
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