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Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse #6
The Invisible Hands - Part 3: Pawn Storm
Anaxantis, prince of Ximerion.
Defying his father, ignoring his mother and leaving his brother in charge, Anaxantis and his small but well-trained army have crossed the borders of Great Renuvia. His aim is to keep all aggressors — his own family foremost among them — far from the Highlands he has come to regard as his home. Easier said than done, since among the warring parties, his forces are the weakest.
Yorn still pines after the enigmatic Antybion, whose good fortune turns against him when Commander-General Meri sends him on a suicide mission at the head of two companies of convicted criminals who are as likely to murder him as follow him. The slave Lexyntas has his own problems now that his master, Thenoclon, has decided to treat him as an equal. The boundaries between respect, friendship and love are becoming very hazy indeed.
In Tyleme, the capital of Lorsanthia, Lorcko and Timishi are still debating what to do — if anything — about the war fleet that is being prepared by Prince-Regent Maurch, when they meet a mysterious group of young men who call themselves the Elder Brothers. Timishi has his doubts that Faurian, the gentle history student, is as innocent as he appears to be.
Mordauch is still chasing the last Trachian loyalists in hopes of catching and killing the last prince of the Royal House of Ynnocas. Events turn into a maelstrom when the war between Rhonoma and Naodyma comes to a head and most of the principal actors — the undercover prince of Trachia included — converge on the same region.
Meanwhile, Anaxantis invades Lorsanthia at the head of his small army…
Defying his father, ignoring his mother and leaving his brother in charge, Anaxantis and his small but well-trained army have crossed the borders of Great Renuvia. His aim is to keep all aggressors — his own family foremost among them — far from the Highlands he has come to regard as his home. Easier said than done, since among the warring parties, his forces are the weakest.
Yorn still pines after the enigmatic Antybion, whose good fortune turns against him when Commander-General Meri sends him on a suicide mission at the head of two companies of convicted criminals who are as likely to murder him as follow him. The slave Lexyntas has his own problems now that his master, Thenoclon, has decided to treat him as an equal. The boundaries between respect, friendship and love are becoming very hazy indeed.
In Tyleme, the capital of Lorsanthia, Lorcko and Timishi are still debating what to do — if anything — about the war fleet that is being prepared by Prince-Regent Maurch, when they meet a mysterious group of young men who call themselves the Elder Brothers. Timishi has his doubts that Faurian, the gentle history student, is as innocent as he appears to be.
Mordauch is still chasing the last Trachian loyalists in hopes of catching and killing the last prince of the Royal House of Ynnocas. Events turn into a maelstrom when the war between Rhonoma and Naodyma comes to a head and most of the principal actors — the undercover prince of Trachia included — converge on the same region.
Meanwhile, Anaxantis invades Lorsanthia at the head of his small army…
542 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2013
6 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Ashling
19 books175 followersI write mainly Epic Historical Fantasy with Gay Main Characters
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You can read the first twelve chapters of the Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse series on my website, Ximerion .
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If you'd like me to send you an email when I release a new book, you can subscribe to my New Releases Newsletter
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You can follow me on Bluesky
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I have no great literary ambitions. I just tell stories, and I try to do it as good as I can, hoping other people will enjoy reading them.
Most of them have explicit scenes in them, often of a rather kinky nature. But they're only the raisins in the pudding, because — as I already said — I actually enjoy telling stories. That means there always is a plot, or, more often, several plots.
I love exploring what makes people tick, what makes them do the often quirky things they do. Also, I enjoy playing with expectations, boundaries, taboos even.
I don't think I'm going to send out friend requests myself. I write stuff and people get the impression that you only want to befriend them to get them to read your work and write reviews.
That's not to say I don't want friends (or reviews, for that matter). If you want to befriend me, just send me an invitation. I will almost certainly accept.
If you have questions, or remarks, or you need to contact me for another reason, you're very welcome to do so through this contact form .
Andrew
----------
You can read the first twelve chapters of the Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse series on my website, Ximerion .
----------
If you'd like me to send you an email when I release a new book, you can subscribe to my New Releases Newsletter
----------
You can follow me on Bluesky
----------
I have no great literary ambitions. I just tell stories, and I try to do it as good as I can, hoping other people will enjoy reading them.
Most of them have explicit scenes in them, often of a rather kinky nature. But they're only the raisins in the pudding, because — as I already said — I actually enjoy telling stories. That means there always is a plot, or, more often, several plots.
I love exploring what makes people tick, what makes them do the often quirky things they do. Also, I enjoy playing with expectations, boundaries, taboos even.
I don't think I'm going to send out friend requests myself. I write stuff and people get the impression that you only want to befriend them to get them to read your work and write reviews.
That's not to say I don't want friends (or reviews, for that matter). If you want to befriend me, just send me an invitation. I will almost certainly accept.
If you have questions, or remarks, or you need to contact me for another reason, you're very welcome to do so through this contact form .
Andrew
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 17, 2014
Just when I think this series couldn't possibly get better, I'm left in awe once again. Looking forward to reading about "more fierce battles, cunning ploys, disgraceful betrayals, curious destinies, noble sacrifices, and enduring loyalty."
October 25, 2021
I've been a fan of this series and waited religiously for it to come out. I just finished reading and the author did not disappoint! It was exactly what I hoped it to be and more! If you're a big fan of the Lexyntas-Thenoclon love nest, you'll definitely love this book! It goes without saying that our most endearing characters - Anaxantis, Arranulf, Hemarchidas, Antybion, Yorn, etc.- came back to life once again. Sigh! I can't wait for Mate -- just saying!
January 10, 2014
Once again, Andrew Ashling did not fail to pull me in to his Dark Tales world, right from the start. I had heard there was no Anaxantis with Ehandar and I was disappointed, wondering how the book would fare for me.
I needn't of worried. Ehandar who?
Don't get me wrong: Ehandar is Anaxantis's true love, so I do want them reunited. But I didn't miss Ehandar simply because there was so much action and great storytelling in spite of his absence that it simply didn't matter.
I was really happy to see Timi and Lorko return. They are some of my favorites and I missed them last book. However, Andrew seems to always find a way to frustrate me by leaving out someone I love. I also love Merw and missed reading about him and Rullio. I hope they return again.
I was sucked in from page 1, and right now I'm finding it hard to be in the real world again. That tells me I've just read a great story, one I'll think about fondly for a long,long time.
This series is my favorite ever. Odd, in that I never read epic fantasy before this. Now I've gone on to read some other novels with knights and swords in them, too. None compare to this story.
Yes, I know I'm an author leaving a review about another author. If you have an issue with that, I can't help it. I'm a big girl, and I can objectively review books even though I write. I tip both my author hat and my reader hat to Andrew Ashling.
Ashling quite simply kicks ass. Period. I can't wait for the next ass-kicking.
Hopefully he doesn't make me wait a year this time.
I needn't of worried. Ehandar who?
Don't get me wrong: Ehandar is Anaxantis's true love, so I do want them reunited. But I didn't miss Ehandar simply because there was so much action and great storytelling in spite of his absence that it simply didn't matter.
I was really happy to see Timi and Lorko return. They are some of my favorites and I missed them last book. However, Andrew seems to always find a way to frustrate me by leaving out someone I love. I also love Merw and missed reading about him and Rullio. I hope they return again.
I was sucked in from page 1, and right now I'm finding it hard to be in the real world again. That tells me I've just read a great story, one I'll think about fondly for a long,long time.
This series is my favorite ever. Odd, in that I never read epic fantasy before this. Now I've gone on to read some other novels with knights and swords in them, too. None compare to this story.
Yes, I know I'm an author leaving a review about another author. If you have an issue with that, I can't help it. I'm a big girl, and I can objectively review books even though I write. I tip both my author hat and my reader hat to Andrew Ashling.
Ashling quite simply kicks ass. Period. I can't wait for the next ass-kicking.
Hopefully he doesn't make me wait a year this time.
January 21, 2016
Reread 1/2016
June 8, 2019
This book series just keeps getting better and better.
Good golly Miss Molly! Machiavelli has met his match.😁 I've read some complicated series before, but this one just keeps taking twists that I didn't see coming. I can't wait to read the next book.
Good golly Miss Molly! Machiavelli has met his match.😁 I've read some complicated series before, but this one just keeps taking twists that I didn't see coming. I can't wait to read the next book.
March 12, 2022
The Prince of Trachia revealed at last, but now he must rescue his noble love, now enslaved as was the Prince.
January 19, 2016
I finally finished this book, it took me about a month to get it over with. Based on that fact alone I can say for sure that this is the book least liked by me in this series so far. I do agree that this series has garnered some pretty high expectations from me but as such till no book had failed to meet them.
My biggest problem with this book is that it reads like a filler between books 5 and 7, basically like setting the pieces on the chess board before the game. I just couldn't get rid of the feeling that this book had all the semi-important stuff and definitely not as many twists and turns that I am used to reading in this series. Also as the board is set as of now I don't know if the last book will be able to tie all loose ends in the series and their are quite a few in this series.
Overall there are two significant twists in this book one from Anaxantis who as usual keeps you on the edge of the seat. And I am for one glad that he is our MC. The other one is about the identity of Pharademys concerning which I turned out to be right, so that wasn't as exciting.
Almost everything after the Battle of Bravvanno was rather lack-lustre. The attack on the Forbidden Bay which was a major turning point for Lorsanthia was just not written that well. In fact that particular event reads like a report. I was not for once apprehensive and the success of the raid seemed like a foregone conclusion and not the nerve-wracking event it should have been.
As such the fact Ehander features on no page of this book was a major no-no for me and I know that this factor probably doesn't affect other readers as much. But as far as I am concerned it concerns Anaxantis so there is no reason why it shouldn't be a priority for me too.
As such this book isn't bad at all if taken apart from the series but in place it seems like a dwarf surrounded by six-feet giants. But the main reason I find myself unable to read the next book is because the events of this book have me really scared about the conclusion of the next one. I know that the next book will be good especially after my expectations have been taken down a notch but I really fear if the author doesn't tie up the loose ends firmly, I might end up really disappointed.
My biggest problem with this book is that it reads like a filler between books 5 and 7, basically like setting the pieces on the chess board before the game. I just couldn't get rid of the feeling that this book had all the semi-important stuff and definitely not as many twists and turns that I am used to reading in this series. Also as the board is set as of now I don't know if the last book will be able to tie all loose ends in the series and their are quite a few in this series.
Overall there are two significant twists in this book one from Anaxantis who as usual keeps you on the edge of the seat. And I am for one glad that he is our MC. The other one is about the identity of Pharademys concerning which I turned out to be right, so that wasn't as exciting.
Almost everything after the Battle of Bravvanno was rather lack-lustre. The attack on the Forbidden Bay which was a major turning point for Lorsanthia was just not written that well. In fact that particular event reads like a report. I was not for once apprehensive and the success of the raid seemed like a foregone conclusion and not the nerve-wracking event it should have been.
As such the fact Ehander features on no page of this book was a major no-no for me and I know that this factor probably doesn't affect other readers as much. But as far as I am concerned it concerns Anaxantis so there is no reason why it shouldn't be a priority for me too.
As such this book isn't bad at all if taken apart from the series but in place it seems like a dwarf surrounded by six-feet giants. But the main reason I find myself unable to read the next book is because the events of this book have me really scared about the conclusion of the next one. I know that the next book will be good especially after my expectations have been taken down a notch but I really fear if the author doesn't tie up the loose ends firmly, I might end up really disappointed.
January 10, 2015
“Meanwhile, another Ximerionian prince is taking a stroll through Lorsanthia,”
Wow! This book was such an awesome read. It made me laugh, smile, sad and excited. It also made me fall for another character in this book!
Oh Antybion~
This was also a funny book. Anaxantis and his theatrics just amuses me to no end. I love reading about the battle and the people involved. Again, my admiration for Anaxantis just stepped up to another level. I couldn't even get mad that my Prince Ehandar wasn't in here! Oh Ehandar, where art thou? I can't wait to find out how he's doing!
And also now that the battle is in it's intermediate stage, I'm really excited to read the next book. Gah! The story did a good job at deviating my pick! Hah! I knew I should have stick to the first choice of my instinct! xD
I want to commend the other characters in this book; Lorcko and Timishi, who really did a good job and were really fun to read about. Same goes for others who of course are on The Great Renuviann Army's side. Yeah, I'm bias okay.
And Antybion....
I've appreciated the other characters in this book than I expected.
Anyway...I like the cover of this book as well. And *squeal* I'm off to read the next book, Mate!
April 3, 2016
Loved the book! I love the way the author is plotting the story. He does a great job of keeping all of the various story lines continuing in such a way that the reader doesn't forget what is happening in each one. I also like how these various plot lines sort of weave together by the end of the book. This book keeps you reading right from the first page. It had been really difficult to put any of the books in this series down because they have been so interesting and definitely not predictable. We were kept guessing until the end of the book who Prince Phrademys was. I had narrowed it down to one of two people until the last quarter or so of the book and then the author threw in a third person who also might be the missing prince. Can't wait the start the next and final book of the series.
to-read-pruned
December 27, 20131. this should be available in pdf, goddammit.
2. does anyone know if Ehandar shows up in this, and if so, how prominently? ...because I find myself in the awkward position where I probably only care about one character, and that character isn't exactly the MC. You know, the MC. And he's not mentioned in the blurb at all...
2. does anyone know if Ehandar shows up in this, and if so, how prominently? ...because I find myself in the awkward position where I probably only care about one character, and that character isn't exactly the MC. You know, the MC. And he's not mentioned in the blurb at all...
July 15, 2016
They just get better and better.
My biggest concern now is that I am about to start the last one in the series? Am I? Or is there more?
How the author mingles in events with characters and relationship development is masterful. The glimpses of the turmoil in all lives even the ones you might not like is good.
All I can say is THANKS
My biggest concern now is that I am about to start the last one in the series? Am I? Or is there more?
How the author mingles in events with characters and relationship development is masterful. The glimpses of the turmoil in all lives even the ones you might not like is good.
All I can say is THANKS
January 2, 2015
Now, if you read the series and you are not in love with Anaxantis I don't know what it takes. In this episode his strategy skill reach the highest level, I believe he even shocks himself. I love all the caracters and the way Andrew tells their interwingled fates and choices.
December 19, 2013
Fantastic! I devoured it in about a day, it's just that good! I don't know how you do it but this series just keeps getting better. I can't wait for the next (last?) one!
January 23, 2015
I love this series, this author's writing style, and this particular installment of the series was as engaging as the rest. I'm on to the next in the series now!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews