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War for the Rose Throne #5
Paved with Good Intentions
Eline is a mother, a wife, and a survivor. But her life is about to change dramatically. Following an act of horrific - if righteous - vengeance, Eline is blackmailed into the service of the Queen's Men. She knows it will be a hard life of violence and fear. But Eline will do what it takes to survive, and to protect her children . . . and if she's lucky, she won't die in the process.
But the Queen's Men aren't just asking her to risk herself. They're asking her to risk everything she knows and loves. And if she fails . . . civil war and the deaths of everyone she loves will be just the beginning.
A stand-alone novel set in the world of the Rose Throne, perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie and Alex Marshall, featuring an incredible and unforgettable female anti-hero.
But the Queen's Men aren't just asking her to risk herself. They're asking her to risk everything she knows and loves. And if she fails . . . civil war and the deaths of everyone she loves will be just the beginning.
A stand-alone novel set in the world of the Rose Throne, perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie and Alex Marshall, featuring an incredible and unforgettable female anti-hero.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published June 19, 2025
10 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Peter McLean
45 books1,047 followersPeter McLean was born near London in 1972, the son of a bank manager and an English teacher. He went to school in the shadow of Norwich Cathedral where he spent most of his time making up stories.
He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.
He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.
Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA
He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.
He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.
Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 13, 2025
Paved with Good Intentions begins a new, thrilling era in The War of the Rose Throne saga.
Eline is a common wife and mother who kills her abusive husband in a desperate act of self-defense. She is offered a choice: hang for murder or use her newfound skills and go undercover at a brothel to murder a high-value target.
Choosing between a life of whoring and killing, or hanging in the town square, is no real choice at all. But Eline gets swept into a much deeper, darker web of lies, conspiracy, and death than she ever dreamed, and she must adapt quickly or face consequences even worse than her own demise.
McLean deftly weaves some old characters and locations into this story, as well as provides a bit of aftermath of Tomas Piety’s story. You don’t need to have read the Priest books to follow this story, but there is enough crossover to delight the attentive reader.
Eline is a fascinating protagonist who learns wisdom through hard experiences. Her story is a story of transition, adaptation, and using all her faculties to fake it until she makes it.
As the story progressed, Eline started to resemble Tomas in several ways: figures of speech, alcohol preference, and treatment of peers. I’m not sure if this was an intentional message of “this is who you need to become to survive in this world,” but it felt a bit too close to Tomas Piety’s story, which detracted from Eline’s characterization.
Yet that is a small gripe in an excellent book overall. It is sharply written, with tight, efficient prose and brilliant pacing. I hope this story isn’t just a one-off, as there are many exciting paths it can follow.
For fans of McLean, this is a must-read recommendation. For those new to his work: if you enjoy bloody violence, escalating mysteries, and black humor, this story will have you glued from start to finish.
Eline is a common wife and mother who kills her abusive husband in a desperate act of self-defense. She is offered a choice: hang for murder or use her newfound skills and go undercover at a brothel to murder a high-value target.
Choosing between a life of whoring and killing, or hanging in the town square, is no real choice at all. But Eline gets swept into a much deeper, darker web of lies, conspiracy, and death than she ever dreamed, and she must adapt quickly or face consequences even worse than her own demise.
McLean deftly weaves some old characters and locations into this story, as well as provides a bit of aftermath of Tomas Piety’s story. You don’t need to have read the Priest books to follow this story, but there is enough crossover to delight the attentive reader.
Eline is a fascinating protagonist who learns wisdom through hard experiences. Her story is a story of transition, adaptation, and using all her faculties to fake it until she makes it.
As the story progressed, Eline started to resemble Tomas in several ways: figures of speech, alcohol preference, and treatment of peers. I’m not sure if this was an intentional message of “this is who you need to become to survive in this world,” but it felt a bit too close to Tomas Piety’s story, which detracted from Eline’s characterization.
Yet that is a small gripe in an excellent book overall. It is sharply written, with tight, efficient prose and brilliant pacing. I hope this story isn’t just a one-off, as there are many exciting paths it can follow.
For fans of McLean, this is a must-read recommendation. For those new to his work: if you enjoy bloody violence, escalating mysteries, and black humor, this story will have you glued from start to finish.
May 11, 2025
A big thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an eARC copy of this novel.
5/5🌟. I didn’t realize how much I had missed the world of Dansburg, Ellinburg, and now Drathburg until I started reading this new Peter McLean novel. The War for the Rose Throne is a favorite series and this novel (and, I hope, more from this world) will be quickly added to that list. Eline and Nama have become two favorite characters and this story was excellent.
McLean creates a situation from the beginning where one person is easily brought under the control of the Queen’s Men (with some returning characters included from the Rose Throne series), but this person might be smarter than they’ve given her credit for. We watch this newfound world evolve and develop Eline, our female main character, into a spy, an assassin, and much more. A wonderful continuation of the darkness, violence, and political intrigue of the original series. I hope McLean continues to write stories in this world that includes his wonderful characters.
Highly recommended!
#NetGalley #PavedWithGoodIntentions
Releases on June 19, 2025. Make sure to get a copy!!
5/5🌟. I didn’t realize how much I had missed the world of Dansburg, Ellinburg, and now Drathburg until I started reading this new Peter McLean novel. The War for the Rose Throne is a favorite series and this novel (and, I hope, more from this world) will be quickly added to that list. Eline and Nama have become two favorite characters and this story was excellent.
McLean creates a situation from the beginning where one person is easily brought under the control of the Queen’s Men (with some returning characters included from the Rose Throne series), but this person might be smarter than they’ve given her credit for. We watch this newfound world evolve and develop Eline, our female main character, into a spy, an assassin, and much more. A wonderful continuation of the darkness, violence, and political intrigue of the original series. I hope McLean continues to write stories in this world that includes his wonderful characters.
Highly recommended!
#NetGalley #PavedWithGoodIntentions
Releases on June 19, 2025. Make sure to get a copy!!
May 4, 2025
This is the fifth installment in the War for the Rose Throne series by author Peter McLean. I could not put this book down. The politics and intrigue were expertly written. This book could actually work as a standalone, but there are characters and facts from the earlier books that make this story even better. There are definitely some heavy moments in the story, but overall, this is a dark, yet humorous, violent book with a strong ending.
April 13, 2025
Really good
June 25, 2025
A short and fun adventure!
It honestly felt like a tease, and I was left wanting more (in a good way).
It honestly felt like a tease, and I was left wanting more (in a good way).
November 12, 2025
Peter McLean has delivered another bloody fun page turner with Paved with Good Intentions.
He brilliantly sets your expectations, then like peeling layers of an onion, or skin from a corpse, he shows you new depths of the story.
These changes in perspective are sometimes subtle, sometimes violent, and always fascinating.
It is a novel of perceptions. How to change them, how to manipulate them, how to subvert them.
Eline, the bad ass main character, is both a victim and a perpetrator of this, and this makes the novel difficult to put down.
Like the previous War for the Rose Throne novels, the book is harsh, brutal, bloody, and fun to read (of you're into this sort of thing, like I am).
Be advised, you will get more enjoyment from the novel if you've read the series, but I can see how it cana work as a standalone which then prods you into reading the previous books.
The cameos and connections to the previous novels are delicious.
I truly hope Peter gives us more books in this universe, and especially more books with Eline as the lead. I bloody loved her.
He brilliantly sets your expectations, then like peeling layers of an onion, or skin from a corpse, he shows you new depths of the story.
These changes in perspective are sometimes subtle, sometimes violent, and always fascinating.
It is a novel of perceptions. How to change them, how to manipulate them, how to subvert them.
Eline, the bad ass main character, is both a victim and a perpetrator of this, and this makes the novel difficult to put down.
Like the previous War for the Rose Throne novels, the book is harsh, brutal, bloody, and fun to read (of you're into this sort of thing, like I am).
Be advised, you will get more enjoyment from the novel if you've read the series, but I can see how it cana work as a standalone which then prods you into reading the previous books.
The cameos and connections to the previous novels are delicious.
I truly hope Peter gives us more books in this universe, and especially more books with Eline as the lead. I bloody loved her.
August 20, 2025
This standalone novel is set in the world of "The War For The Rose Throne" by the same author, an excellent series that I have read. I think somone who has not read "The War For The Rose Throne" can read this without too much problem.
This is the best book I have read so far this year. The central characters are beautifully drawn and fascinating. The plot has a satisfying number of unexpected twists. It surely deserves a sequel.
I wish I had written this.
This is the best book I have read so far this year. The central characters are beautifully drawn and fascinating. The plot has a satisfying number of unexpected twists. It surely deserves a sequel.
I wish I had written this.
October 10, 2025
Paved with Good Intentions is a standalone novel in the same setting as the other four books in the War for the Rose Throne. The events of the story take place after those books and feature some of the same characters, and reference more, and yet there are surprisingly few spoilers for what happens in the main series.
The story starts with Eline murdering her abusive husband and then being offered by the government to work for them instead of being put to death. So begins the story of her rise to power through murdering, whoring, and intrigue.
Eline isn't psychopathic by nature, so she has to create all sorts of rationalizations for what she does, and her PTSD symptoms grow ever worse. For the reader, the most notable symptom is intrusive thoughts which take the form of the same statements repeated regularly throughout the book such as "I killed a man" and "I murdered my husband" and mentions of violent fantasies. It becomes repetitive, and there's surely a better way to express it, but overall it's fine.
As the story progresses, Eline finds herself in situations of ever higher stakes and greater pressure and that takes a toll on her, and everyone else she's involved with. Life comes at her fast, as the narrative steadily moves forward and escalates quickly. She and those with her keep pace, but their development does seem accelerated, which is noted by the characters.
Compared to the other books in the series, there was much less that I had to look past and accept for being what it was. This one was at least as fun though, so it may well be the one I most enjoyed. That being said, this is the sort of story that's best left as a standalone, as having more would only weigh it down. I'd still read more and enjoy it, but it'd be for the best to let this complete story stand on its own.
A reasonable assumption would be that there are sex scenes, since there's whoring. Surprisingly, there aren't any explicit scenes of penetrative sex. There's a lot of sexual talk and a few described sex acts, but nothing more than that. The violence though, that's explicit.
There's a considerable amount of social commentary, though the characters and exposition rarely directly state their views. This is a story where the characters are lying to each other constantly and everything is an act. Everyone is expected to do and know this and those that don't, won't get very far. That's politics for you.
Keeping in line with the previous books, this one is a Hobbesian affair. A war of all against all, where life for many is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. None of the characters are concerned with improving the world or helping others, or at least it's not a priority. Their mindset is to do what they can to survive, and if fortunate, to thrive at the expense of others. That's not something I'd want to have as the bulk of my reading, but it's fine at times.
The story starts with Eline murdering her abusive husband and then being offered by the government to work for them instead of being put to death. So begins the story of her rise to power through murdering, whoring, and intrigue.
Eline isn't psychopathic by nature, so she has to create all sorts of rationalizations for what she does, and her PTSD symptoms grow ever worse. For the reader, the most notable symptom is intrusive thoughts which take the form of the same statements repeated regularly throughout the book such as "I killed a man" and "I murdered my husband" and mentions of violent fantasies. It becomes repetitive, and there's surely a better way to express it, but overall it's fine.
As the story progresses, Eline finds herself in situations of ever higher stakes and greater pressure and that takes a toll on her, and everyone else she's involved with. Life comes at her fast, as the narrative steadily moves forward and escalates quickly. She and those with her keep pace, but their development does seem accelerated, which is noted by the characters.
Compared to the other books in the series, there was much less that I had to look past and accept for being what it was. This one was at least as fun though, so it may well be the one I most enjoyed. That being said, this is the sort of story that's best left as a standalone, as having more would only weigh it down. I'd still read more and enjoy it, but it'd be for the best to let this complete story stand on its own.
A reasonable assumption would be that there are sex scenes, since there's whoring. Surprisingly, there aren't any explicit scenes of penetrative sex. There's a lot of sexual talk and a few described sex acts, but nothing more than that. The violence though, that's explicit.
There's a considerable amount of social commentary, though the characters and exposition rarely directly state their views. This is a story where the characters are lying to each other constantly and everything is an act. Everyone is expected to do and know this and those that don't, won't get very far. That's politics for you.
Keeping in line with the previous books, this one is a Hobbesian affair. A war of all against all, where life for many is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. None of the characters are concerned with improving the world or helping others, or at least it's not a priority. Their mindset is to do what they can to survive, and if fortunate, to thrive at the expense of others. That's not something I'd want to have as the bulk of my reading, but it's fine at times.
May 23, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up because who needs more plot than "badass woman stabs her way through political tensions", really.
Back to the murder and political intrigue over the never-ending war for the Rose Throne. You don't need to have read the stories about Tomas Piety and his crew (although why wouldn't you, they're awesome), because this takes place several years after the events of his adventures. There are lovely nods to several characters, but they aren't crucial to the plot in my opinion.
Paved with Good Intentions then, centers around a new heroine, Eline, who starts by murdering her abusive husband and is offered a deal by the mysterious Queen's Men who seem to run everything: kill someone for us or you die, and while we're at it, we'll kill your children, too. But she soon proves herself smarter and more dangerous than anyone, even she, had thought...
I really loved watching Eline come into her own, she is a lovely character to root for, and I would love more adventures with her!
The only thing I would say is that when you have a strong badass heroine this awesome, it seems a waste to leave this as a standalone? It would be so much fun to watch her stab (I'm saying stab a lot, aren't I?) more people while exploring more of the intricate political power struggles im this world, just saying...
Brilliant return to the world with one of the strongest female characters I've read about in a while.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Back to the murder and political intrigue over the never-ending war for the Rose Throne. You don't need to have read the stories about Tomas Piety and his crew (although why wouldn't you, they're awesome), because this takes place several years after the events of his adventures. There are lovely nods to several characters, but they aren't crucial to the plot in my opinion.
Paved with Good Intentions then, centers around a new heroine, Eline, who starts by murdering her abusive husband and is offered a deal by the mysterious Queen's Men who seem to run everything: kill someone for us or you die, and while we're at it, we'll kill your children, too. But she soon proves herself smarter and more dangerous than anyone, even she, had thought...
I really loved watching Eline come into her own, she is a lovely character to root for, and I would love more adventures with her!
The only thing I would say is that when you have a strong badass heroine this awesome, it seems a waste to leave this as a standalone? It would be so much fun to watch her stab (I'm saying stab a lot, aren't I?) more people while exploring more of the intricate political power struggles im this world, just saying...
Brilliant return to the world with one of the strongest female characters I've read about in a while.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 28, 2025
An absolute whirlwind of a book! When I was accepted on Netgalley to review this book, I immediately read the Rose and Thorn series and had an absolute blast with them.
Paved with Good Intentions, for me topped it! In terms of originality this is the book that stands out, in terms of character development (which I absolutely loved how our main character became transformed by the end of the book), and in terms of the lasting impact (some scenes won't be leaving me for some time).
The worldbuilding was minimal as it was done in the four previous books, but what I did particularly like was how this book fitted so well in the events of the main series. It was very interesting seeing the other side of the events that happened in the main series.
And to top it off, this book still had the gritty, action packed, fast pace, moreish story that is now expected from any War of the Rose Thorne book.
Paved with Good Intentions, for me topped it! In terms of originality this is the book that stands out, in terms of character development (which I absolutely loved how our main character became transformed by the end of the book), and in terms of the lasting impact (some scenes won't be leaving me for some time).
The worldbuilding was minimal as it was done in the four previous books, but what I did particularly like was how this book fitted so well in the events of the main series. It was very interesting seeing the other side of the events that happened in the main series.
And to top it off, this book still had the gritty, action packed, fast pace, moreish story that is now expected from any War of the Rose Thorne book.
Want to read
March 13, 2025Looking forward to this one. I've read the first two books in the main series and was very impressed :)
July 27, 2025
4.5.
I bloody love this series.
"lay with who you will, as long as both are willing."
I love Our Lady. I'm not religious in any way, but I love this religion.
and if any of you readers are worried about This book because is centred around whores, but it's not degrading in any way. Eline is a well thought out character (and a little terrifying at times) and I loved how her relationship developed with Nama.
My heart belongs to Tomas Piety but I adored Eline and her character. how she was brought into the Queen's Men and the plots that wove around her, to people not being who they seem.
highly enjoyable! And its' Queer normative too!
I bloody love this series.
"lay with who you will, as long as both are willing."
I love Our Lady. I'm not religious in any way, but I love this religion.
and if any of you readers are worried about This book because is centred around whores, but it's not degrading in any way. Eline is a well thought out character (and a little terrifying at times) and I loved how her relationship developed with Nama.
My heart belongs to Tomas Piety but I adored Eline and her character. how she was brought into the Queen's Men and the plots that wove around her, to people not being who they seem.
highly enjoyable! And its' Queer normative too!
April 10, 2025
I am a huge fan of Peter McLean's War for the Rose Throne series, so I was excited to learn he'd written a new book set in that same world.
I enjoyed this book, but I really wish it had been longer: I wanted to spend more time in that world & see more of Eline's journey.
I enjoyed this book, but I really wish it had been longer: I wanted to spend more time in that world & see more of Eline's journey.
November 12, 2025
Oh this was quite fantastic and in a way, a lesson for everyone on how to write a spin-off sequel to your existing work in an extremely captivating fashion.
War for the Rose Throne was quite the series - a Peaky Blinder-ish series, just with magic. In a way, a lot of the heavy lifting with respect to the world-building has already been done for this series and it is therefore no surprise that the story of Eline takes up all the focus of the author. It starts with such an efficient piece of storytelling establishing the stakes for this story and Eline immediately and you hit the ground running with no moment wasted. Truly a master at work there
Eline, a victim of domestic abuse who hits back is blackmailed into a mission by the Queen's Men, a secret police of sorts. Eline finds herself infiltrating a whorehouse for her mission in order to save her children but find herself getting entangled into deeper mysteries and conspiracies.
Peter McLean has created a fantastic character in Eline, a woman who is victim of her own fate but slowly learns to become the master of her agency through the course of the book. A woman who realizes she has whatever it takes to not just keep her children safe but also to survive and thrive in this deadly game. In a way, there are parallels to Tomas Piety's journey - the righteous cause and the justification of everything for that cause, even when the methods arent exactly righteous. Eline is a survivor but slowly discovers that in a way, she is a natural at this game. While she is a victim and she acknowledges that, she is willing to fight and be resourceful, sly and manipulative while at it.
Eline is a victim of trauma and while she has taken charge, she still suffers from bouts of PTSD from the domestic abuse. In a way, that parallels a lot of what happens to Tomas as well. What worked very well are those references to the earlier series but in an completely organic way. It is set 2 years after the events of the Rose Throne series and there are frequent mentions of what has happened in the intervening efforts without getting too heavy-handed. It just whets the appetite enough without distracting from this book
Even as Eline grows into her role & takes charge, the imbalance in power plays out differently. There is some always more powerful who can manipulate her and that is signs of some fantastic writing there the main character has so much agency and yet has to play the Piper's tune. She builds her allies through the book, makes a few enemies and learns a lot of new skills - skills that she never knew she could have had
The first 70% of the book is incredibly well paced, taut with tension and laced with intrigue and subtle word play and power plays. Once the narrative shifts to Dannsburg, the plot gets a little muddled and the book doesnt end as strongly as it began. The war of succession intrigue is fantastic but some of the associated manoeuvring towards the end feels filler-ish, which impacts my rating of this book. Maybe it needed to be fleshed out a bit more
Nonetheless, Paved with Good Intention is a fantastic new entry in the world of War for the Rose Throne. It is an example of how good a spin-off/ sequel to a great series should be. It teases out a few cameos to make sure the audience knows its in the same world but focuses the narrative entirely on the new character, Eline to great effect. The characterization and plotting remain as strong as ever and the authors voice is rather distinct as it was in the previous series. While Eline and Tomas share a lot of similarities, the author has drawn out enough differences to make Eline stand out and not exist just as a female extension of Tomas. I cant wait to see where this book goes next, if it does (its pitched as a standalone but I see potential threads that lead from this)
War for the Rose Throne was quite the series - a Peaky Blinder-ish series, just with magic. In a way, a lot of the heavy lifting with respect to the world-building has already been done for this series and it is therefore no surprise that the story of Eline takes up all the focus of the author. It starts with such an efficient piece of storytelling establishing the stakes for this story and Eline immediately and you hit the ground running with no moment wasted. Truly a master at work there
Eline, a victim of domestic abuse who hits back is blackmailed into a mission by the Queen's Men, a secret police of sorts. Eline finds herself infiltrating a whorehouse for her mission in order to save her children but find herself getting entangled into deeper mysteries and conspiracies.
Peter McLean has created a fantastic character in Eline, a woman who is victim of her own fate but slowly learns to become the master of her agency through the course of the book. A woman who realizes she has whatever it takes to not just keep her children safe but also to survive and thrive in this deadly game. In a way, there are parallels to Tomas Piety's journey - the righteous cause and the justification of everything for that cause, even when the methods arent exactly righteous. Eline is a survivor but slowly discovers that in a way, she is a natural at this game. While she is a victim and she acknowledges that, she is willing to fight and be resourceful, sly and manipulative while at it.
Eline is a victim of trauma and while she has taken charge, she still suffers from bouts of PTSD from the domestic abuse. In a way, that parallels a lot of what happens to Tomas as well. What worked very well are those references to the earlier series but in an completely organic way. It is set 2 years after the events of the Rose Throne series and there are frequent mentions of what has happened in the intervening efforts without getting too heavy-handed. It just whets the appetite enough without distracting from this book
Even as Eline grows into her role & takes charge, the imbalance in power plays out differently. There is some always more powerful who can manipulate her and that is signs of some fantastic writing there the main character has so much agency and yet has to play the Piper's tune. She builds her allies through the book, makes a few enemies and learns a lot of new skills - skills that she never knew she could have had
The first 70% of the book is incredibly well paced, taut with tension and laced with intrigue and subtle word play and power plays. Once the narrative shifts to Dannsburg, the plot gets a little muddled and the book doesnt end as strongly as it began. The war of succession intrigue is fantastic but some of the associated manoeuvring towards the end feels filler-ish, which impacts my rating of this book. Maybe it needed to be fleshed out a bit more
Nonetheless, Paved with Good Intention is a fantastic new entry in the world of War for the Rose Throne. It is an example of how good a spin-off/ sequel to a great series should be. It teases out a few cameos to make sure the audience knows its in the same world but focuses the narrative entirely on the new character, Eline to great effect. The characterization and plotting remain as strong as ever and the authors voice is rather distinct as it was in the previous series. While Eline and Tomas share a lot of similarities, the author has drawn out enough differences to make Eline stand out and not exist just as a female extension of Tomas. I cant wait to see where this book goes next, if it does (its pitched as a standalone but I see potential threads that lead from this)
June 19, 2025
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!
I received an eARC from Arcadia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Paved with Good Intentions was one of my most anticipated new releases in 2025. I loved the War for the Rose Throne series, so this was an absolute must-read for me. I need to stress that Paved with Good Intentions is a standalone novel, so you don’t need to read the series to understand what’s going on. Although, if you did, you might meet a few familiar names. I really wish I could say I loved this book, but the truth is, I walked away with some mixed feelings, and I’m not sure if it was due to the book, to me, or the mix of both.
It’s been a while since I last read Priest of Crowns, the closing novel of the main series, and in all honestly in the past couple of years I haven’t read as much dark fantasy as I used to back when I started blogging. I’m saying this for context, so bear with me. I remember that I had a bit of a hard time getting into Priest of Bones as well in the beginning, so that also might contribute to my general feelings regarding Paved with Good Intentions. Because I struggled with it for a good while. The War for the Rose Throne series is written in first person as we follow Piety, and once it clicked in my head that it was his voice McLean wrote in, it worked wonderfully. This one follows Eline, and it’s written in third person. What threw me was that Eline’s voice wasn’t all that different from Piety’s, and I think I expected it to be. Plus, I prefer first person to third. But that’s neither here nor there. The point is, I could never connect with Eline, not really.
The first thirdish of Paved with Good Intentions felt a bit…wonky? Like, it took a while for the story to find its feet and to establish Eline’s character and storyline. There were some repetitions and a kind of detachment from her character on my part. But also, since I read an ARC, some of those things might have been corrected along the way. But as Eline started to discover more and more about herself and the world, I really started to get into the story. It was interesting to follow her transformation as she found her strenghts and learned to use them to her own advantage, putting even some men to shame. She is certainly a fascinating character, although I’m not sure if a likeable one. Then again, Piety wasn’t exactly a nice character either, and yet… But I need to stop comparing them, because this isn’t his story. And because Eline is a person on her own right.
I liked the mystery aspect to the plot with Eline taking charge on an investigation, basically – but then I’m a sucker for mysteries so no surprise there. I also appreciated that we’ve got a bit of a glimpse into the religion of the world and how one can become Our Lady’s follower. That was a nice touch and also character development.
Paved with Good Intentions is a dark tale about how far a mother would go to keep her children safe and finding her true self along the way. If this is your first foray into McLean’s world, be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart. And if you are here because you loved his previous work, I can assure you that Paved with Good Intentions has his signature style of driving his characters to the edge in a gritty world that knows no mercy. It might take some twists and turns, and certainly not everyone will survive, but that’s what Our Lady wills.
I received an eARC from Arcadia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Paved with Good Intentions was one of my most anticipated new releases in 2025. I loved the War for the Rose Throne series, so this was an absolute must-read for me. I need to stress that Paved with Good Intentions is a standalone novel, so you don’t need to read the series to understand what’s going on. Although, if you did, you might meet a few familiar names. I really wish I could say I loved this book, but the truth is, I walked away with some mixed feelings, and I’m not sure if it was due to the book, to me, or the mix of both.
It’s been a while since I last read Priest of Crowns, the closing novel of the main series, and in all honestly in the past couple of years I haven’t read as much dark fantasy as I used to back when I started blogging. I’m saying this for context, so bear with me. I remember that I had a bit of a hard time getting into Priest of Bones as well in the beginning, so that also might contribute to my general feelings regarding Paved with Good Intentions. Because I struggled with it for a good while. The War for the Rose Throne series is written in first person as we follow Piety, and once it clicked in my head that it was his voice McLean wrote in, it worked wonderfully. This one follows Eline, and it’s written in third person. What threw me was that Eline’s voice wasn’t all that different from Piety’s, and I think I expected it to be. Plus, I prefer first person to third. But that’s neither here nor there. The point is, I could never connect with Eline, not really.
The first thirdish of Paved with Good Intentions felt a bit…wonky? Like, it took a while for the story to find its feet and to establish Eline’s character and storyline. There were some repetitions and a kind of detachment from her character on my part. But also, since I read an ARC, some of those things might have been corrected along the way. But as Eline started to discover more and more about herself and the world, I really started to get into the story. It was interesting to follow her transformation as she found her strenghts and learned to use them to her own advantage, putting even some men to shame. She is certainly a fascinating character, although I’m not sure if a likeable one. Then again, Piety wasn’t exactly a nice character either, and yet… But I need to stop comparing them, because this isn’t his story. And because Eline is a person on her own right.
I liked the mystery aspect to the plot with Eline taking charge on an investigation, basically – but then I’m a sucker for mysteries so no surprise there. I also appreciated that we’ve got a bit of a glimpse into the religion of the world and how one can become Our Lady’s follower. That was a nice touch and also character development.
Paved with Good Intentions is a dark tale about how far a mother would go to keep her children safe and finding her true self along the way. If this is your first foray into McLean’s world, be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart. And if you are here because you loved his previous work, I can assure you that Paved with Good Intentions has his signature style of driving his characters to the edge in a gritty world that knows no mercy. It might take some twists and turns, and certainly not everyone will survive, but that’s what Our Lady wills.
November 22, 2025
As a huge fan of the War for the Rose Throne series, I was stoked to revisit McLean’s filthy, scheming world. Paved With Good Intentions isn’t really a sequel, and you can read it as a standalone, but the cameos and all nods makes more sense if you’ve already met Tomas Piety and company. It’s as dark and sharp as the main series, and if you’re okay with antiheroes, you’re going to have a great time wallowing in the moral mud again.
This time we follow Eline, a washerwoman with two kids, an abusive husband, and no plot armor. The book opens with her killing that husband. Somebody sees. Somebody else helps. And suddenly she’s in debt to the Queen’s Men, who are basically Drath’s secret police and have no scruples. She’s expected to infiltrate a high-end brothel and get close to the Madame.
I like McLean’s writing. It’s not subtle, but I vibe with his voice. Eline is clawing her way through trauma, fear, and obligation, trying to stay alive long enough to figure out who she even is when no one is hitting her anymore. She’s observant, stubborn, and furious.
Drath still feels like a cesspit - power plays, everyone watching everyone else, and the Queen’s Men operating as brutal cogs in a machine that cares more about order than justice. The brothel sections are handled with care: bleak, yes, but not exploitative. The violence is less splashy than in Priest of Bones, but the psychological grind is just as sharp.
It’s not perfect and takes some time to get going. The middle sags a bit, and if you showed up hoping for Tomas, Billy, or the rest of the old gang to stroll in, you’ll have to settle for subtle nods and whispered references.
Still, this is a great dark fantasy. It shows the world of the Rose Throne from the gutter again, but through fresh eyes. Good story, good characters, and I’m waiting for more.
This time we follow Eline, a washerwoman with two kids, an abusive husband, and no plot armor. The book opens with her killing that husband. Somebody sees. Somebody else helps. And suddenly she’s in debt to the Queen’s Men, who are basically Drath’s secret police and have no scruples. She’s expected to infiltrate a high-end brothel and get close to the Madame.
I like McLean’s writing. It’s not subtle, but I vibe with his voice. Eline is clawing her way through trauma, fear, and obligation, trying to stay alive long enough to figure out who she even is when no one is hitting her anymore. She’s observant, stubborn, and furious.
Drath still feels like a cesspit - power plays, everyone watching everyone else, and the Queen’s Men operating as brutal cogs in a machine that cares more about order than justice. The brothel sections are handled with care: bleak, yes, but not exploitative. The violence is less splashy than in Priest of Bones, but the psychological grind is just as sharp.
It’s not perfect and takes some time to get going. The middle sags a bit, and if you showed up hoping for Tomas, Billy, or the rest of the old gang to stroll in, you’ll have to settle for subtle nods and whispered references.
Still, this is a great dark fantasy. It shows the world of the Rose Throne from the gutter again, but through fresh eyes. Good story, good characters, and I’m waiting for more.
August 2, 2025
I binged the War for the Rose Throne books earlier this year so I was really excited to read this new standalone.
I do however think you shouldn't read this before the main series, because you can easily put two and two together when reading Priest of Bones with what you learn from Paved with Good Intentions and figure out the ending of the series.
While I had a good time reading Paved with Good Intentions, I am a little disappointed with the direction McLean went in the second half. I would have preferred that Eline was less of the Mary Sue she became and that McLean had delved a little bit deeper into the trauma of her experiences, and leaned more towards the courtesan espionage. But instead what we get is that she, in the course of a few weeks, becomes a great fighter and assassin.
By the end I started to feel like I was just reading Tomas Piety 2.0. If that was intentional by the author or is showing his limitations as a writer, I don't know. The prose in the main series was nothing special but the first person narration and strong voice of Tomas made it work. In Paved with Good Intentions we follow Eline from a third person perspective, and I think the prose felt a bit clunkier because of this.
The ending was a bit of an anti climax. After finishing the book I wondered what the point of anything was.
All in all, the book entertained me and I liked being back in this world and seeing some familiar faces and McLean throws some crumbs about what has transpired since the ending of the series. I am disappointed by Eline's character arc though, and I wished McLean had gone in another direction. It could have been a fresh perspective in this violent world, and it seemed like that at first until Eline basically became Tomas.
I do however think you shouldn't read this before the main series, because you can easily put two and two together when reading Priest of Bones with what you learn from Paved with Good Intentions and figure out the ending of the series.
While I had a good time reading Paved with Good Intentions, I am a little disappointed with the direction McLean went in the second half. I would have preferred that Eline was less of the Mary Sue she became and that McLean had delved a little bit deeper into the trauma of her experiences, and leaned more towards the courtesan espionage. But instead what we get is that she, in the course of a few weeks, becomes a great fighter and assassin.
By the end I started to feel like I was just reading Tomas Piety 2.0. If that was intentional by the author or is showing his limitations as a writer, I don't know. The prose in the main series was nothing special but the first person narration and strong voice of Tomas made it work. In Paved with Good Intentions we follow Eline from a third person perspective, and I think the prose felt a bit clunkier because of this.
The ending was a bit of an anti climax. After finishing the book I wondered what the point of anything was.
All in all, the book entertained me and I liked being back in this world and seeing some familiar faces and McLean throws some crumbs about what has transpired since the ending of the series. I am disappointed by Eline's character arc though, and I wished McLean had gone in another direction. It could have been a fresh perspective in this violent world, and it seemed like that at first until Eline basically became Tomas.
September 25, 2025
3.5/5
Let me start this off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed being back in the world of the Rose Throne. I hope that Peter McLean continues writing books in this world because I just want to know more about it. I loved seeing the characters that came back from the original series, and the subtle hints to ones that were not in this book. Overall I greatly enjoyed this book, but there were a few flaws.
The biggest flaw to me was how quickly Eline was able to pick up anything and be amazing at it. I know the book said it took her some time, but there was never any real struggle shown, and it just kind of skipped to her being good. I think that just comes from the length of the book, and with more page count, that wouldn’t have been an issue. Also, I felt like Eline’s motivations were a little strange. She seemed to go from someone who didn’t care about money to a greedy woman who would do anything for more money pretty quickly. But those things didn’t keep me from enjoying the book overall. They’re just reasons the book wasn’t perfect, and why I gave it the rating I did.
There were some things done really well in this book also. As always in this world, the politics and scheming were incredible. All the big reveals hit really well for me. They were not obvious, but also made a lot of sense once revealed. I really like the dynamic between Eline and Nama. And the Baron is an incredible character that I hope we see again.
I’m so glad that Peter McLean decided to come back to this world. I will read anything he releases, but especially stories tied to this world. While this is, in my opinion, the weakest book in this world so far, it is still an enjoyable, entertaining read. Go check out this whole series, if you haven’t already.
Let me start this off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed being back in the world of the Rose Throne. I hope that Peter McLean continues writing books in this world because I just want to know more about it. I loved seeing the characters that came back from the original series, and the subtle hints to ones that were not in this book. Overall I greatly enjoyed this book, but there were a few flaws.
The biggest flaw to me was how quickly Eline was able to pick up anything and be amazing at it. I know the book said it took her some time, but there was never any real struggle shown, and it just kind of skipped to her being good. I think that just comes from the length of the book, and with more page count, that wouldn’t have been an issue. Also, I felt like Eline’s motivations were a little strange. She seemed to go from someone who didn’t care about money to a greedy woman who would do anything for more money pretty quickly. But those things didn’t keep me from enjoying the book overall. They’re just reasons the book wasn’t perfect, and why I gave it the rating I did.
There were some things done really well in this book also. As always in this world, the politics and scheming were incredible. All the big reveals hit really well for me. They were not obvious, but also made a lot of sense once revealed. I really like the dynamic between Eline and Nama. And the Baron is an incredible character that I hope we see again.
I’m so glad that Peter McLean decided to come back to this world. I will read anything he releases, but especially stories tied to this world. While this is, in my opinion, the weakest book in this world so far, it is still an enjoyable, entertaining read. Go check out this whole series, if you haven’t already.
July 14, 2025
Every now and then a book comes along that blows me away, usually these are unexpected coming out of the blue like a bolt of lightning, Peter Maclean’s latest novel, Paved with Good Intentions, on the other hand was fully expected and my expectations were through the roof, and deliver them it did, in spades, and then some, oh hell YEAH.
First off, contrary to Amazon, Goodreads, and Fantastic Fiction this is NOT book 5 of Peter’s excellent War For The Rose Throne series, its set in the same world but is a completely standalone novel, so if you haven’t read them, which you should, then that’s not a problem. I do hope however that this doesn’t always remain the case and that it is the first book of a new series.
Begining with the ending and the book’s acknowledgements, it is dedicated to Wendy O Williams who was the inspiration for the book’s central character, Eline.
“Wendy was the absolute queen of 'fuck you, I'll do what I like'. Punk icon, rock star, stunt woman, Grammy nominee, stripper, sex worker, animal lover, committed environmentalist and absolute badass. Wendy lived and died on her own terms and by her own choice, and I respect that more than I can say.
Legends never die.”
That pretty much sums Eline up, so if you like like your female protagonists kicking ass, defying expectations and not giving a crap about , you’re going to love her! I’m not sure she’s a committed environmentalist mind you as she leaves a trail of destruction in her wake as she tears things up.
Highly recommended, go read!
First off, contrary to Amazon, Goodreads, and Fantastic Fiction this is NOT book 5 of Peter’s excellent War For The Rose Throne series, its set in the same world but is a completely standalone novel, so if you haven’t read them, which you should, then that’s not a problem. I do hope however that this doesn’t always remain the case and that it is the first book of a new series.
Begining with the ending and the book’s acknowledgements, it is dedicated to Wendy O Williams who was the inspiration for the book’s central character, Eline.
“Wendy was the absolute queen of 'fuck you, I'll do what I like'. Punk icon, rock star, stunt woman, Grammy nominee, stripper, sex worker, animal lover, committed environmentalist and absolute badass. Wendy lived and died on her own terms and by her own choice, and I respect that more than I can say.
Legends never die.”
That pretty much sums Eline up, so if you like like your female protagonists kicking ass, defying expectations and not giving a crap about , you’re going to love her! I’m not sure she’s a committed environmentalist mind you as she leaves a trail of destruction in her wake as she tears things up.
Highly recommended, go read!
July 8, 2025
https://lynns-books.com/2025/07/07/re...
4.5 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Brilliant, I absolutely loved it
I’m just going to be honest – I’m not usually a fan of spin off books or prequels – and yet, I loved this. It was such a good read and I think, in all honesty, even if you haven’t read the other books in this series, you could read this as a standalone – and, in fact, it might be a perfect way to discover if you love this world or not.
The story focuses on Eline and basically how she becomes a Queen’s Man.
I’m actually not going to go into the plot. I’m going to focus on what I really enjoyed.
First and foremost, the writing. McLean has some writing chops. This isn’t my first rodeo and I literally fell into this with ease. I really enjoyed it. This is my fantasy, grimdark if you will, kind of story. It doesn’t pull the punches, it’s raw and gritty, maybe a little bit shocking, but it isn’t gruesome or gratuitous.
I loved Eline, her story is so fascinating. Horrifying and yet hopeful. She is one resilient woman. I can’t event begin to contemplate what she went through and yet she is a strong woman, and clever.
The rest of the cast are also really good. Eline has this motherly quality, she has two children of her own and she extends those feelings to the people she finds herself amongst.
I can’t say too much more. Other than, this book is so good. I absolutely loved it. The characters, the setting, the story – all perfect. I would love to read more about Eline and what comes next, or maybe this is as much of her back story as we’re going to discover. For me, this was such a good read, I can’t recommend it enough.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks, the agove is my own opinion.
4.5 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Brilliant, I absolutely loved it
I’m just going to be honest – I’m not usually a fan of spin off books or prequels – and yet, I loved this. It was such a good read and I think, in all honesty, even if you haven’t read the other books in this series, you could read this as a standalone – and, in fact, it might be a perfect way to discover if you love this world or not.
The story focuses on Eline and basically how she becomes a Queen’s Man.
I’m actually not going to go into the plot. I’m going to focus on what I really enjoyed.
First and foremost, the writing. McLean has some writing chops. This isn’t my first rodeo and I literally fell into this with ease. I really enjoyed it. This is my fantasy, grimdark if you will, kind of story. It doesn’t pull the punches, it’s raw and gritty, maybe a little bit shocking, but it isn’t gruesome or gratuitous.
I loved Eline, her story is so fascinating. Horrifying and yet hopeful. She is one resilient woman. I can’t event begin to contemplate what she went through and yet she is a strong woman, and clever.
The rest of the cast are also really good. Eline has this motherly quality, she has two children of her own and she extends those feelings to the people she finds herself amongst.
I can’t say too much more. Other than, this book is so good. I absolutely loved it. The characters, the setting, the story – all perfect. I would love to read more about Eline and what comes next, or maybe this is as much of her back story as we’re going to discover. For me, this was such a good read, I can’t recommend it enough.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks, the agove is my own opinion.
October 3, 2025
Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean is a brilliant addition to the urban fantasy genre, seamlessly blending gritty realism, dark humor, and supernatural intrigue. From the first page to the last, McLean hooks the reader with a compelling narrative and unforgettable characters. The plot is fast-paced and expertly crafted, with twists and turns that keep you guessing. McLean does an exceptional job of weaving together elements of crime, magic, and the complexities of morality. The story never loses momentum, ensuring that readers remain invested throughout. The protagonist is sharply drawn, with depth and nuance that make him relatable even as he navigates a world teeming with supernatural dangers. Supporting characters are equally well-developed, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the narrative. McLean's writing vividly brings the city to life, painting a backdrop that is both familiar and unsettling. The atmosphere is tense and immersive, with subtle details that enhance the supernatural elements without overshadowing the gritty urban reality. One of the standout features of Paved With Good Intentions is its sharp, witty dialogue. The humor is perfectly balanced with the darker themes of the book, providing much-needed levity while also deepening the characterization. I hope this is the first in more books with these characters.
October 20, 2025
Like the title of this book, the plot was paved with good intentions but the road surfacing was a little bumpy, the street lighting doesn't cover enough surface area and the road markings are just okay.
This is a 3.5 Stars for me.
Unlike the previous books where I was already invested into the main character from book one because he was so obviously ripped off of Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders, this book we had to get behind a new protagonist, one that is given a very serious backstory that we are thrown into straight away.
However, while the main character is engaging enough to carry the narrative, some of the circumstances surrounding her and a few of the plot developments felt a little too far-fetched, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. These moments diluted the otherwise grounded tone of this series slightly weakening the overall impact.
It's a simple yet satisfying plot that moves at a break neck pace, offering an enjoyable reading experience without unnecessary complexity.
Peter McLean's writing remains sharp, gritty and accessible, making the story easy to get swept up in and a whole load of fun, I just wish it was a bit deeper, more well thought out and more developed.
Still, it's a solid read for those who appreciate straightforward storytelling with a dark edge.
This is a 3.5 Stars for me.
Unlike the previous books where I was already invested into the main character from book one because he was so obviously ripped off of Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders, this book we had to get behind a new protagonist, one that is given a very serious backstory that we are thrown into straight away.
However, while the main character is engaging enough to carry the narrative, some of the circumstances surrounding her and a few of the plot developments felt a little too far-fetched, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. These moments diluted the otherwise grounded tone of this series slightly weakening the overall impact.
It's a simple yet satisfying plot that moves at a break neck pace, offering an enjoyable reading experience without unnecessary complexity.
Peter McLean's writing remains sharp, gritty and accessible, making the story easy to get swept up in and a whole load of fun, I just wish it was a bit deeper, more well thought out and more developed.
Still, it's a solid read for those who appreciate straightforward storytelling with a dark edge.
June 10, 2025
Peter McLean makes a welcome return to the world of The War For The Rose Throne in this standalone novel with a brilliantly realised central character.
Eline is a wife and mother who lives with her abusive husband. One day she has enough. She snaps and kills her husband. This brings her to the attention of The Queens Men who gives her the task of assassinating a local brothel owner suspected of killing a wealthy patron.
In order to do this, Eline must become a prostitute herself in order to ingratiate herself with the madam. However, there is one problem! Madam is constantly guarded. In her attempts to carry out her mission Eline finds the strength to change who and what she is. Unfortunately, this leads her into a web of intrigue and the game of politics.
Paved with Good Intentions is a slick, hard boiled fantasy crime novel that follows Eline as she moves from a victim of circumstance to being a master of her own destiny.
As is the case with the excellent War For The Rose Throne series, Peter McLean creates a vibrant and vivid world that draws the reader in immediately. Eline is a fantastically rich character as is the supporting cast around her.
The plot moves at a fast pace and immediately embroils the reader in the events that take place on the page.
There is a welcome return of some characters from the original series that fit well into the story. However, it is the newer characters such as Nama who take centre stage.
Paved with Good intentions was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and my goodness, it did not disappoint. If you haven’t read any of Peter McLean’s books, they are highly recommended.
Eline is a wife and mother who lives with her abusive husband. One day she has enough. She snaps and kills her husband. This brings her to the attention of The Queens Men who gives her the task of assassinating a local brothel owner suspected of killing a wealthy patron.
In order to do this, Eline must become a prostitute herself in order to ingratiate herself with the madam. However, there is one problem! Madam is constantly guarded. In her attempts to carry out her mission Eline finds the strength to change who and what she is. Unfortunately, this leads her into a web of intrigue and the game of politics.
Paved with Good Intentions is a slick, hard boiled fantasy crime novel that follows Eline as she moves from a victim of circumstance to being a master of her own destiny.
As is the case with the excellent War For The Rose Throne series, Peter McLean creates a vibrant and vivid world that draws the reader in immediately. Eline is a fantastically rich character as is the supporting cast around her.
The plot moves at a fast pace and immediately embroils the reader in the events that take place on the page.
There is a welcome return of some characters from the original series that fit well into the story. However, it is the newer characters such as Nama who take centre stage.
Paved with Good intentions was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and my goodness, it did not disappoint. If you haven’t read any of Peter McLean’s books, they are highly recommended.
January 17, 2026
This book feels different from the main "War for the Rose Throne" series because it has a very different protagonist. Tomas Piety, the main character of the main series, is tough and very capable. But this book is headlined by Eline, who starts as a wife and mother. She isn't capable, is overwhelmed by events, and spends pages bemoaning her state. To save her children she is forced into prostitution. The book shows her adapting to her circumstances, as she finds she has a talent for spying and intrigue that elevates her status. Nevertheless, most of the time she just reacts to external events.
The plot is underwhelming in the first half of the book, in which Eline just adjusts to her new circumstances. It takes that long for a conflict to appear, when we discover that an old Baron is involved in intrigue with other nations. The second half of the book is much more interesting than the first, and if the entire book had been like that I would have given it four stars.
Eline's friend and assistant is another prostitute, but one with very special talents. Her character is very boring, despite what she can do. Eline is involved with the Queen's Men, but at a fairly great remove so it's not as interesting as Tomas's story.
The plot is underwhelming in the first half of the book, in which Eline just adjusts to her new circumstances. It takes that long for a conflict to appear, when we discover that an old Baron is involved in intrigue with other nations. The second half of the book is much more interesting than the first, and if the entire book had been like that I would have given it four stars.
Eline's friend and assistant is another prostitute, but one with very special talents. Her character is very boring, despite what she can do. Eline is involved with the Queen's Men, but at a fairly great remove so it's not as interesting as Tomas's story.
December 10, 2025
A fun and fast paced 5/5. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a light and breezy book. Murder, whoring, and all other kinds of trauma are stuffed into these pages (not to mention the rats)! However, the relentless quest to survive and through that, self-discovery, was well done and not melodramatic. Even though it is fantasy, there is a strong current of realism throughout, and while all the characters are very dark grey, you root for them all the same.
Eline was a great protagonist, and it was cool to see her start to realize pieces of potential through adversity. Her descent into becoming a Queen’s man was far more accelerated than Tomas, and there were a lot of parallels with their evolutions. I was skeptical about the friendship with Nama, but was glad when there wasn’t a betrayal (you never know in this universe). Nama’s exploration of cunning hit the right notes of mysterious and terrifying. Lan Elenkov’s chess game made him a very intriguing character, and the twists around him were great.
There are a lot of opportunities left open by the end of this novel, and it makes me hopeful about returning to this world again! Just like with the original quartet, it starts on a very small scale, and has the chance to jump to a much grander scale. I will be anxiously awaiting coming back to this world!
Eline was a great protagonist, and it was cool to see her start to realize pieces of potential through adversity. Her descent into becoming a Queen’s man was far more accelerated than Tomas, and there were a lot of parallels with their evolutions. I was skeptical about the friendship with Nama, but was glad when there wasn’t a betrayal (you never know in this universe). Nama’s exploration of cunning hit the right notes of mysterious and terrifying. Lan Elenkov’s chess game made him a very intriguing character, and the twists around him were great.
There are a lot of opportunities left open by the end of this novel, and it makes me hopeful about returning to this world again! Just like with the original quartet, it starts on a very small scale, and has the chance to jump to a much grander scale. I will be anxiously awaiting coming back to this world!
December 11, 2025
Another entry into the war for rose throne series I found pretty enjoyable. Eline is an interesting main character being forced to do things to achieve her ambitions in life but also doesn’t feel like a chosen one or free from any fault. It feels much more like a woman finding an identity as dark as it may be it’s one that gives her a place in the world. I liked her navigating around this dark and exploitative world of cortisanship
December 22, 2025
I waited for the 5th book in the series. I reread the other books in preparation. I bought the book!
It's not about Tomas Piety. I was heartbroken... However, after spending the first few pages pining, I got on with the story. It's an interesting read and it was nice to spend some more time in this world. However, one of the main draws to the series was the strength of Tomas' voice and this book really missed that.
It's not about Tomas Piety. I was heartbroken... However, after spending the first few pages pining, I got on with the story. It's an interesting read and it was nice to spend some more time in this world. However, one of the main draws to the series was the strength of Tomas' voice and this book really missed that.
October 11, 2025
It isn’t about the Pious men but it’s the same world and there are some familiar faces. I am really happy McClean is writing in this world again, he is an auto buy author for me and this book reminded me why. I hope for more.
July 6, 2025
It's always good to be back in the world of the Rose Throne. Peter writes great characters and knows how to keep you turning pages, desperate to know more. Highly recommended
July 28, 2025
There are things I wanted to critize, but when I was finished I forgot them.
Expertly crafted and a delight for fans of the series.
Expertly crafted and a delight for fans of the series.
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