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Crown & Key #2
The Undying Legion
A thrilling new Victorian-era urban fantasy for fans of Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles, the Showtime series Penny Dreadful, and the Sherlock Holmes movies featuring Robert Downey, Jr.
With a flood of dark magic about to engulf Victorian London, can a handful of heroes vanquish a legion of the undead?
When monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane comes across the gruesome aftermath of a ritual murder in a London church, he enlists the help of magician-scribe Simon Archer and alchemist extraordinaire Kate Anstruther. Studying the macabre scene, they struggle to understand obscure clues in the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics carved into the victim’s heart—as well as bizarre mystical allusions to the romantic poetry of William Blake. One thing is clear: Some very potent black magic is at work.
But this human sacrifice is only the first in a series of ritualized slayings. Desperate to save lives while there is still time, Simon, Kate, and Malcolm—along with gadget geek Penny Carter and Charlotte, an adolescent werewolf—track down a necromancer who is reanimating the deceased. As the team battles an unrelenting army of undead, a powerful Egyptian mummy, and serpentine demons, the necromancer proves an elusive quarry. And when the true purpose of the ritual is revealed, the gifted allies must confront a destructive force that is positively apocalyptic.
With a flood of dark magic about to engulf Victorian London, can a handful of heroes vanquish a legion of the undead?
When monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane comes across the gruesome aftermath of a ritual murder in a London church, he enlists the help of magician-scribe Simon Archer and alchemist extraordinaire Kate Anstruther. Studying the macabre scene, they struggle to understand obscure clues in the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics carved into the victim’s heart—as well as bizarre mystical allusions to the romantic poetry of William Blake. One thing is clear: Some very potent black magic is at work.
But this human sacrifice is only the first in a series of ritualized slayings. Desperate to save lives while there is still time, Simon, Kate, and Malcolm—along with gadget geek Penny Carter and Charlotte, an adolescent werewolf—track down a necromancer who is reanimating the deceased. As the team battles an unrelenting army of undead, a powerful Egyptian mummy, and serpentine demons, the necromancer proves an elusive quarry. And when the true purpose of the ritual is revealed, the gifted allies must confront a destructive force that is positively apocalyptic.
316 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 30, 2015
27 people are currently reading
791 people want to read
About the author
Clay Griffith
101 books517 followersClay and Susan Griffith are the authors of THE FLASH: THE HAUNTING OF BARRY ALLEN and ARROW: A GENERATION OF VIPERS, as well as the creators of the VAMPIRE EMPIRE series and authors of the CROWN & KEY trilogy.
"Vampire Empire is transforming genre fiction." Paul Goat Allen, B&N Explorations.
If you're on Facebook, please think about going to www.facebook.com/vampireempire and clicking LIKE. If you done it already...Thank you.
Clay & Susan Griffith are a married couple who have written and published together for more than a decade. Their credits not only include two novels for Bantam Doubleday Dell in the mid-1990s and another novel for Pinnacle Entertainment Group in 2002 but also numerous short stories published in many anthologies, some featuring noted genre characters like Kolchak the Night Stalker and The Phantom. They've also written scripts for television and published graphic novels.
"Vampire Empire is transforming genre fiction." Paul Goat Allen, B&N Explorations.
If you're on Facebook, please think about going to www.facebook.com/vampireempire and clicking LIKE. If you done it already...Thank you.
Clay & Susan Griffith are a married couple who have written and published together for more than a decade. Their credits not only include two novels for Bantam Doubleday Dell in the mid-1990s and another novel for Pinnacle Entertainment Group in 2002 but also numerous short stories published in many anthologies, some featuring noted genre characters like Kolchak the Night Stalker and The Phantom. They've also written scripts for television and published graphic novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 4, 2015
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/09/03/b...
Just as fun and entertaining as the first book! Going back to earlier this summer, here were some of the words I used in my review of The Shadow Revolution, book one of Clay and Susan Griffith’s new Crown & Key trilogy: feisty, ass-kicking, fast-paced, pulpish and adventurous, the perfect beach read. Now I’m pleased to report its sequel proved just as satisfying, especially since we know what we’re getting into and are more acquainted with our main characters.
The Undying Legion is the second installment of the trilogy, but instead of hitting the “middle book slump” this book really takes off and hits the ground running. Simon Archer, Kate Anstruther, and Malcom MacFarlane are back on the hunt for monsters and other things that go bump in the night, and true to form, we kick off this story with a grisly discovery. While on one of his nighttime patrols, Malcolm comes across the mutilated body of a woman in a London church. Based on evidence at the scene – signs of black magic, cryptic words carved in stone, mysterious Egyptian hieroglyphics carved into the victim’s exposed heart – Malcolm, Simon and Kate determine this to be a ritual murder.
However, this just turns out to be the first of many more gruesome ritualized killings around the city. We follow our heroes as they join forces with a quirky gadgeteer and a young werewolf to solve these mysteries, creating an unlikely alliance to battle demons, Egyptian mummies, necromancers and hordes of zombies. Let’s just say The Undying Legion sure lives up to its title.
I ended up enjoying this book even more than its predecessor, mainly due to the improvements in a couple of areas I felt were lacking in The Shadow Revolution. While I love the fast-paced action and page-turning enthusiasm of “popcorn” reads such as this, let’s face it, these kinds of stories don’t often leave much room for fully-fleshed character development or robust world-building. This was the key weakness of the first book. Still, I understood the reason for the trade-off, and had hoped to see the authors go beyond the surface-level details in this sequel to expand upon the characters and the world.
This was the real test for me, and happily, The Undying Legion passed with flying colors. It’s often expected of a sequel to build upon its preceding volumes, and this one carried that responsibility well, giving us a more intimate look into the lives of Simon, Kate and Malcolm, as well as rendering their world into a fully realized setting. I felt like I was given a lot more reasons to care about the characters, especially as their relationships strengthened and grew more complex. Likewise, I could appreciate the clever and snappy dialogue from before, but knowing the history behind all the relationships now, many of the interactions started taking on a deeper significance. Supporting characters aren’t left out either, and I was very happy that Penny Carter the adorable inventress as well as Charlotte the child werewolf both got bigger roles.
The pacing in this book was also far less chaotic, allowing more opportunities to develop the story and explore its overall arc. The Undying Legion presents a new adventure, but rest assured, the questions raised in the first book about Kate and Simon’s connection and the mysterious key won’t be forgotten. Throughout it all, the plot maintained its rigorous momentum, so effectively that even now it’s a wonder to me how this book managed to accomplish all that it did in a little over 300 pages.
Final verdict? I once said this series is like the equivalent of an explosive summer action blockbuster if movies like that existed back in the Victorian era, and I stand by that. The Undying Legion doesn’t add much to the first book in terms of its light, pulpy tones and monster-hunting themes, but it’s still a deeper experience for all that because of how much more we’re invested at this point. I’m looking forward to check out what I believe will be Kate, Simon and Malcolm’s biggest adventure yet in the series conclusion, The Conquering Dark.
Just as fun and entertaining as the first book! Going back to earlier this summer, here were some of the words I used in my review of The Shadow Revolution, book one of Clay and Susan Griffith’s new Crown & Key trilogy: feisty, ass-kicking, fast-paced, pulpish and adventurous, the perfect beach read. Now I’m pleased to report its sequel proved just as satisfying, especially since we know what we’re getting into and are more acquainted with our main characters.
The Undying Legion is the second installment of the trilogy, but instead of hitting the “middle book slump” this book really takes off and hits the ground running. Simon Archer, Kate Anstruther, and Malcom MacFarlane are back on the hunt for monsters and other things that go bump in the night, and true to form, we kick off this story with a grisly discovery. While on one of his nighttime patrols, Malcolm comes across the mutilated body of a woman in a London church. Based on evidence at the scene – signs of black magic, cryptic words carved in stone, mysterious Egyptian hieroglyphics carved into the victim’s exposed heart – Malcolm, Simon and Kate determine this to be a ritual murder.
However, this just turns out to be the first of many more gruesome ritualized killings around the city. We follow our heroes as they join forces with a quirky gadgeteer and a young werewolf to solve these mysteries, creating an unlikely alliance to battle demons, Egyptian mummies, necromancers and hordes of zombies. Let’s just say The Undying Legion sure lives up to its title.
I ended up enjoying this book even more than its predecessor, mainly due to the improvements in a couple of areas I felt were lacking in The Shadow Revolution. While I love the fast-paced action and page-turning enthusiasm of “popcorn” reads such as this, let’s face it, these kinds of stories don’t often leave much room for fully-fleshed character development or robust world-building. This was the key weakness of the first book. Still, I understood the reason for the trade-off, and had hoped to see the authors go beyond the surface-level details in this sequel to expand upon the characters and the world.
This was the real test for me, and happily, The Undying Legion passed with flying colors. It’s often expected of a sequel to build upon its preceding volumes, and this one carried that responsibility well, giving us a more intimate look into the lives of Simon, Kate and Malcolm, as well as rendering their world into a fully realized setting. I felt like I was given a lot more reasons to care about the characters, especially as their relationships strengthened and grew more complex. Likewise, I could appreciate the clever and snappy dialogue from before, but knowing the history behind all the relationships now, many of the interactions started taking on a deeper significance. Supporting characters aren’t left out either, and I was very happy that Penny Carter the adorable inventress as well as Charlotte the child werewolf both got bigger roles.
The pacing in this book was also far less chaotic, allowing more opportunities to develop the story and explore its overall arc. The Undying Legion presents a new adventure, but rest assured, the questions raised in the first book about Kate and Simon’s connection and the mysterious key won’t be forgotten. Throughout it all, the plot maintained its rigorous momentum, so effectively that even now it’s a wonder to me how this book managed to accomplish all that it did in a little over 300 pages.
Final verdict? I once said this series is like the equivalent of an explosive summer action blockbuster if movies like that existed back in the Victorian era, and I stand by that. The Undying Legion doesn’t add much to the first book in terms of its light, pulpy tones and monster-hunting themes, but it’s still a deeper experience for all that because of how much more we’re invested at this point. I’m looking forward to check out what I believe will be Kate, Simon and Malcolm’s biggest adventure yet in the series conclusion, The Conquering Dark.
August 21, 2015
Magic, zombies, werewolves, gods/demons, a touch of steampunk, Victorian London, Egyptian mythology, action/adventure, intrigue, and a smattering of endearing characters...
Simon is a rune tattooed magical scribe - a playboy learning to grow up.
Kate is an alchemist with a family name that garners the respect of the social -- even if they find her a bit odd. She creates wonderful concoctions in vials that help them stay alive while fighting all things evil. I love when she grabs her bandoleer of vials preparing for battle.
She is also working to help her sister Imogen that was transformed by a madman into something grotesque and mute. She keeps herself thickly veiled and timidly begins to interact with those around her. Imogen is fighting a battle within herself to accept her outward appearance and find a way to move on past her guilt.
Penny is the tinkerer in the group. Creating fantastical machines and weapons that help them fight the evil of the day.
Little Charlotte is a bubbly, excited tween that happens to be a werewolf. She is learning to control her transformation. She is fierce and eager to help out the group. They try to keep her out of battles, but she continues to worm herself into the fray.
Malcolm is a Scottish hunter of any lurking evil. Curmudgeonly but kind, he is learning to open his heart to this small band of misfit friends.
First they encounter zombies.
But once they find out hints of what is creating the zombies, they find the true evil is much more than they bargained for! Cue the mummy!
Cue the feuding gods!
Cue the cultish masses!
The characters are becoming more multifaceted and evolving within themselves and as a group. I can't wait for more!
Thank you Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Simon is a rune tattooed magical scribe - a playboy learning to grow up.
Kate is an alchemist with a family name that garners the respect of the social -- even if they find her a bit odd. She creates wonderful concoctions in vials that help them stay alive while fighting all things evil. I love when she grabs her bandoleer of vials preparing for battle.
She is also working to help her sister Imogen that was transformed by a madman into something grotesque and mute. She keeps herself thickly veiled and timidly begins to interact with those around her. Imogen is fighting a battle within herself to accept her outward appearance and find a way to move on past her guilt.
Penny is the tinkerer in the group. Creating fantastical machines and weapons that help them fight the evil of the day.
Little Charlotte is a bubbly, excited tween that happens to be a werewolf. She is learning to control her transformation. She is fierce and eager to help out the group. They try to keep her out of battles, but she continues to worm herself into the fray.
Malcolm is a Scottish hunter of any lurking evil. Curmudgeonly but kind, he is learning to open his heart to this small band of misfit friends.
First they encounter zombies.
But once they find out hints of what is creating the zombies, they find the true evil is much more than they bargained for! Cue the mummy!
Cue the feuding gods!
Cue the cultish masses!
The characters are becoming more multifaceted and evolving within themselves and as a group. I can't wait for more!
Thank you Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2015
The Undying Legion: Crown & Key #2 by Clay and Susan Griffith
Published 2015, Del Ray
Stars: ★★★★☆
Review also posted at: Slapdash & Sundry
In exchange for an unbiased and honest review, Netgalley gave me this ARC. Thanks, Netgalley!
It took me a while to get into this one. Not because of the book itself, but because for a week or so I was in a serious reading slump. I just had no motivation to read (or do much of anything else).
I picked this one back up yesterday after the off and on, a bit here and a bit there reading for a week or two, and tore into it.
These books are just pure unadulterated fun. I mean seriously, the Skin of Ra in this one? So creative!
I don't want to give too much away, so I'll stop before I get too wordy, but the magic, the villains, the fun steampunk, even the slightly cliched/trope characters are just loads and loads of entertainment.
Published 2015, Del Ray
Stars: ★★★★☆
Review also posted at: Slapdash & Sundry
In exchange for an unbiased and honest review, Netgalley gave me this ARC. Thanks, Netgalley!
It took me a while to get into this one. Not because of the book itself, but because for a week or so I was in a serious reading slump. I just had no motivation to read (or do much of anything else).
I picked this one back up yesterday after the off and on, a bit here and a bit there reading for a week or two, and tore into it.
These books are just pure unadulterated fun. I mean seriously, the Skin of Ra in this one? So creative!
I don't want to give too much away, so I'll stop before I get too wordy, but the magic, the villains, the fun steampunk, even the slightly cliched/trope characters are just loads and loads of entertainment.
July 31, 2015
When you love a first book in a series as much as I loved Shadow Revolution, it is with some trepidation that you open up book two. Not because you don't want to read it but rather, you don't want anything to make book one, the book you love, to not be as great as you remember it.
They say the second book in a series, sometimes can make or break it. You know, the dreaded second book, or middle book syndrome. The ones that sometimes have too much info dump, not enough action, and drag so very much, that you almost regret even starting the series to begin with.
Those are the reasons why most of us, dread opening that second book when the first one was so great. Will it live up to its predecessor or am I going to regret this later on?
Thankfully, I had no cause to be concerned. This was fabulous and reminded me all over again, why I loved the first book so very much.
With the steampunkish era, action, adventure, amazing characters, not to mention hints of magic and the sup world, this truly is a stand out fun series that I just can't seem to get enough of.
Simon, Malcolm, Katie, Imogen, Charlotte, Hogarth, Penny, truly, these are some of my favorite characters and my love for all of them grew exponentially throughout this story. I couldn't get enough of them.
I am so very thankfully that I have book three sitting right next to me because I am diving right into it.
This series has quickly become a favorite of mine and I can't wait to read more.
They say the second book in a series, sometimes can make or break it. You know, the dreaded second book, or middle book syndrome. The ones that sometimes have too much info dump, not enough action, and drag so very much, that you almost regret even starting the series to begin with.
Those are the reasons why most of us, dread opening that second book when the first one was so great. Will it live up to its predecessor or am I going to regret this later on?
Thankfully, I had no cause to be concerned. This was fabulous and reminded me all over again, why I loved the first book so very much.
With the steampunkish era, action, adventure, amazing characters, not to mention hints of magic and the sup world, this truly is a stand out fun series that I just can't seem to get enough of.
Simon, Malcolm, Katie, Imogen, Charlotte, Hogarth, Penny, truly, these are some of my favorite characters and my love for all of them grew exponentially throughout this story. I couldn't get enough of them.
I am so very thankfully that I have book three sitting right next to me because I am diving right into it.
This series has quickly become a favorite of mine and I can't wait to read more.
November 19, 2025
Ritual sacrifices are plaguing the London churches with remnants of ancient hieroglyphics and battles of long ago coming back to life; playing out in the city streets. Can Malcolm, monster hunter, Kate, genius and alchemist and her sister, Simon, magician-scribe, Penny, gadget wizard, and Charlotte, young werewolf unravel the mystery before all of England becomes a wasteland from an apocalyptic causing war?
Witty banter and unlikely heroes, that are fabulously unique and fascinating, bring this steampunk story to life.
Magic, mayhem and myths collide in this highly ingenious Victorian steampunk adventure.
You ever read a story and think, how did someone come up with this? Well, The Undying Legion is just such a tale. The writing team of Clay and Susan Griffith are true visionaries in the steampunk genre. Their imagination taking us to a place beyond anything you’ve ever contemplated.
I received this ARC copy of The Undying Legion from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 30, 2015.
Witty banter and unlikely heroes, that are fabulously unique and fascinating, bring this steampunk story to life.
Magic, mayhem and myths collide in this highly ingenious Victorian steampunk adventure.
You ever read a story and think, how did someone come up with this? Well, The Undying Legion is just such a tale. The writing team of Clay and Susan Griffith are true visionaries in the steampunk genre. Their imagination taking us to a place beyond anything you’ve ever contemplated.
I received this ARC copy of The Undying Legion from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 30, 2015.
January 2, 2016
A bit forced.
September 12, 2015
After reading book one, it was no contest that I would be continuing with this trilogy. Simon the magician, Kate the alchemist, Malcolm the hunter, Penny the inventor, Charlotte the werewolf, and a few others make up a team of heroes determined to keep the true monsters at bay and protecting the human world from great evil. I love the setting and tone of the series which is a blend of Victorian, Steampunk, and Paranormal along with a strong does of gritty action and intense intrigue.
Simon and his team survived the last group of big baddies looking to use magical artifacts for power and now they seek to discover the secrets of the key that his father and Kate's father invented and imbued to be something powerful. Kate is also working feverishly to find a way to help Charlotte tame her werewolf nature and help restore Imogene to human. Meanwhile, Malcolm returns to the dark shadows of London pursuing the remaining groups of rabid werewolves that are preying on people.
But they all end up coming together when young girls are found slaughtered on ritual altars and the dead are rising. They follow the clues to that show that someone is interested in unlocking a long-dead powerful magician's binding spell and plans to remake the world based on the prophesies of a past poet and seer. Somehow Egyptian gods, magic, and artifacts are involved. They discover that those plotting these things wield a vast deal of power and seem unstoppable. But to stop the ritual killings and prevent even bigger problems, they somehow must find a way.
This book was a refreshing middle book of the series which really should be read in order. It is a transition book, for sure, but it didn't display many of the typical weaknesses that a reader has to put up with when it comes to the 'bridge' book. It didn't lag, it didn't have unnecessary angst, and it had its own exciting story arc while still driving hard through the series story arc. Relationships and loyalty strengthen and realign in this one. The team becomes a family as they face hardship together.
The situations are dire and the enemies are powerful and challenging. I enjoyed that I couldn't guess accurately what would happen next and I really had no idea how they would come through this one intact. The sacrifices the team made were huge and I am fretful as to how Simon will cope with his new situation considering there is so much more to come.
I enjoyed that right along side the thrilling action was the continuing character and relationship development. I loved how the team dynamics worked and that each main team member got narration time. Malcolm struggles with being a team player as well as figuring out who the real monsters are as he fights is long held prejudices. Kate battles her feelings of guilt and inadequacy when it comes to healing her sister and Charlotte and living in her famous father's shadow. Simon works through similar issues though the conflict in his life tends to be more external until near the end even as he works to be a good leader and hold his rag tag team together. Penny and Charlotte are bright spots and infuse light and humor to the situation. Penny is a crafty and brilliant inventor and I love seeing how something she made will end up saving the day. Charlotte really came through for the group again and again. I loved seeing her sweet nature change Malcolm's heart and how she knew how to really push his buttons.
There is some little romance in the air even if it isn't the main element in these stories. It's barely there in a physical sense so don't grab this one if you want a strong dose of passion and physical romance There is Kate and Simon, of course, but there are a couple possibilities for the others.
The world building was superb just as with the first book. I loved how the Egyptian elements wove in well and kept things interesting.
Now, I am glad to have the next installment locked and loaded so I can get on with the grand finale.
To sum up, this is one exciting paranormal steampunk adventure and I am thrilled to be along for the ride. I can heartily recommend this book/series to those who enjoy blending these genres.
Simon and his team survived the last group of big baddies looking to use magical artifacts for power and now they seek to discover the secrets of the key that his father and Kate's father invented and imbued to be something powerful. Kate is also working feverishly to find a way to help Charlotte tame her werewolf nature and help restore Imogene to human. Meanwhile, Malcolm returns to the dark shadows of London pursuing the remaining groups of rabid werewolves that are preying on people.
But they all end up coming together when young girls are found slaughtered on ritual altars and the dead are rising. They follow the clues to that show that someone is interested in unlocking a long-dead powerful magician's binding spell and plans to remake the world based on the prophesies of a past poet and seer. Somehow Egyptian gods, magic, and artifacts are involved. They discover that those plotting these things wield a vast deal of power and seem unstoppable. But to stop the ritual killings and prevent even bigger problems, they somehow must find a way.
This book was a refreshing middle book of the series which really should be read in order. It is a transition book, for sure, but it didn't display many of the typical weaknesses that a reader has to put up with when it comes to the 'bridge' book. It didn't lag, it didn't have unnecessary angst, and it had its own exciting story arc while still driving hard through the series story arc. Relationships and loyalty strengthen and realign in this one. The team becomes a family as they face hardship together.
The situations are dire and the enemies are powerful and challenging. I enjoyed that I couldn't guess accurately what would happen next and I really had no idea how they would come through this one intact. The sacrifices the team made were huge and I am fretful as to how Simon will cope with his new situation considering there is so much more to come.
I enjoyed that right along side the thrilling action was the continuing character and relationship development. I loved how the team dynamics worked and that each main team member got narration time. Malcolm struggles with being a team player as well as figuring out who the real monsters are as he fights is long held prejudices. Kate battles her feelings of guilt and inadequacy when it comes to healing her sister and Charlotte and living in her famous father's shadow. Simon works through similar issues though the conflict in his life tends to be more external until near the end even as he works to be a good leader and hold his rag tag team together. Penny and Charlotte are bright spots and infuse light and humor to the situation. Penny is a crafty and brilliant inventor and I love seeing how something she made will end up saving the day. Charlotte really came through for the group again and again. I loved seeing her sweet nature change Malcolm's heart and how she knew how to really push his buttons.
There is some little romance in the air even if it isn't the main element in these stories. It's barely there in a physical sense so don't grab this one if you want a strong dose of passion and physical romance There is Kate and Simon, of course, but there are a couple possibilities for the others.
The world building was superb just as with the first book. I loved how the Egyptian elements wove in well and kept things interesting.
Now, I am glad to have the next installment locked and loaded so I can get on with the grand finale.
To sum up, this is one exciting paranormal steampunk adventure and I am thrilled to be along for the ride. I can heartily recommend this book/series to those who enjoy blending these genres.
May 25, 2015
Five unlikely heroes band together to save Victorian London from the clutches of the demonic dead, risking life and limb while battling forces far darker and more powerful than they have ever seen. Grab your umbrella, we are off to London in a supernatural Sherlock Holmes-type mystery filled with dark magic, steampunk gadgets, and even a sweet young girl who becomes a fierce werewolf.
Ritualistic sacrifices are being made in London churches, gruesome, gory and clearly part of ancient black magic, but who is behind this? What is the purpose and why are there Egyptian hieroglyphics on the victims’ foreheads? Is this a summoning of evil? Join Malcolm, the monster hunter, Simon the magician scribe and Kate, the brave and brilliant alchemist as they join forces with the queen of gadgets, Penny and sweet young Charlotte who is a force to be reckoned with as a werewolf.
Do you like the feel and atmosphere of steampunk, or witty banter among characters? How about characters who share the limelight as heroes when the chips are down? Do you like sifting through clues, formulating ideas and coming up with the impossible plan that just might work? How about an eleventh hour battle where the winner takes all? Authors Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith have put quill to paper and created another riveting and entertaining trip back in time with The Undying Legion book two of the Crown & Key series.
The atmosphere of London “back in the day” feels right, one might expect Mr. Holmes himself to walk out from the shadows. Feisty female characters, brilliant yet oh so proper male characters grace the pages of this tale as once again, the battle of good versus evil takes place in brilliant style. These authors know how to pull one from reality and into their story, and it is only with reluctance that one will want to leave. Tense, dark and alternating between a nice steady pace to over the top battles, a great way to spend your reading time!
I received this ARC edition of The Undying Legion from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Crown & Key - Book 2
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
ISBN-13: 9780345540492
Genre: Historical Urban Fantasy
Pages: 384
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Ritualistic sacrifices are being made in London churches, gruesome, gory and clearly part of ancient black magic, but who is behind this? What is the purpose and why are there Egyptian hieroglyphics on the victims’ foreheads? Is this a summoning of evil? Join Malcolm, the monster hunter, Simon the magician scribe and Kate, the brave and brilliant alchemist as they join forces with the queen of gadgets, Penny and sweet young Charlotte who is a force to be reckoned with as a werewolf.
Do you like the feel and atmosphere of steampunk, or witty banter among characters? How about characters who share the limelight as heroes when the chips are down? Do you like sifting through clues, formulating ideas and coming up with the impossible plan that just might work? How about an eleventh hour battle where the winner takes all? Authors Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith have put quill to paper and created another riveting and entertaining trip back in time with The Undying Legion book two of the Crown & Key series.
The atmosphere of London “back in the day” feels right, one might expect Mr. Holmes himself to walk out from the shadows. Feisty female characters, brilliant yet oh so proper male characters grace the pages of this tale as once again, the battle of good versus evil takes place in brilliant style. These authors know how to pull one from reality and into their story, and it is only with reluctance that one will want to leave. Tense, dark and alternating between a nice steady pace to over the top battles, a great way to spend your reading time!
I received this ARC edition of The Undying Legion from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Crown & Key - Book 2
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
ISBN-13: 9780345540492
Genre: Historical Urban Fantasy
Pages: 384
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
July 23, 2015
Five reasons to grab your earbuds and solve the ritualistic murders in Undying Legion
Malcom MacFarlane is concerned about a series of gruesome murders in a London church and seeks the help of Simon Archer a magician-scribe and those of Kate Anstruther a skilled alchemist. The macabre scene reveal ritual murders and ancient hieroglyphics etched into the victim’s hearts. Once again, the authors take us down a dark rabbit hole in search of someone wielding dark magic with a penance for poetry by William Blake. These murders are just the first in a string of ritualized killings and Simon and Kate will need the help of their friends. The tale that unfolds has everything from gadgets to time travel.
The characters in this series continue to impress and I have such a good time with them. We have Simon, Kate, Malcom who hunts monsters and Penny who can create anything. Her gadgets and weaponry are badass. Charlotte, a young werewolf who helps them track a necromancer and struggles controlling her beast creates a little tension within the group. At times, the characters can be a little cliché, but between their interaction and the Griffin’s touches, I love this motely investigative team. They click and felt genuine.
In Undying Legion, the mystery behind these murders could wipe out London and it becomes a race against the clock to stop a monster. The authors weaved Egyptian history, demi-gods and myth into the tale magically creating suspense, danger and intense action-scenes. It has a dark vibe and can sometimes be grotesque but I appreciated the details.
The tale is plot driven and therefore I cannot recommend reading/listening to the novels in this series out of order. Bonds are created with the characters and little time is spent endearing you to them as we move at a fast pace with clever red herrings and unexpected twists. The ending has me eager to listen to the next novel. I am so glad these are releasing so close together!
The world and the vivid way in which the authors bring it to life is one of my favorite aspects of this series. I can see the monsters, gadgets and even the look on Malcom’s face when a young woman exasperates him.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Malcom MacFarlane is concerned about a series of gruesome murders in a London church and seeks the help of Simon Archer a magician-scribe and those of Kate Anstruther a skilled alchemist. The macabre scene reveal ritual murders and ancient hieroglyphics etched into the victim’s hearts. Once again, the authors take us down a dark rabbit hole in search of someone wielding dark magic with a penance for poetry by William Blake. These murders are just the first in a string of ritualized killings and Simon and Kate will need the help of their friends. The tale that unfolds has everything from gadgets to time travel.
The characters in this series continue to impress and I have such a good time with them. We have Simon, Kate, Malcom who hunts monsters and Penny who can create anything. Her gadgets and weaponry are badass. Charlotte, a young werewolf who helps them track a necromancer and struggles controlling her beast creates a little tension within the group. At times, the characters can be a little cliché, but between their interaction and the Griffin’s touches, I love this motely investigative team. They click and felt genuine.
In Undying Legion, the mystery behind these murders could wipe out London and it becomes a race against the clock to stop a monster. The authors weaved Egyptian history, demi-gods and myth into the tale magically creating suspense, danger and intense action-scenes. It has a dark vibe and can sometimes be grotesque but I appreciated the details.
The tale is plot driven and therefore I cannot recommend reading/listening to the novels in this series out of order. Bonds are created with the characters and little time is spent endearing you to them as we move at a fast pace with clever red herrings and unexpected twists. The ending has me eager to listen to the next novel. I am so glad these are releasing so close together!
The world and the vivid way in which the authors bring it to life is one of my favorite aspects of this series. I can see the monsters, gadgets and even the look on Malcom’s face when a young woman exasperates him.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
July 7, 2015
Solid follow up!
May 8, 2015
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/05/0...
Publisher: Random House
Publishing Date: June 2015
ISBN: 9780345540485
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.4/5
Publisher Description: When monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane comes across the gruesome aftermath of a ritual murder in a London church, he enlists the help of magician-scribe Simon Archer and alchemist extraordinaire Kate Anstruther. Studying the macabre scene, they struggle to understand obscure clues in the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics carved into the victim’s heart—as well as bizarre mystical allusions to the romantic poetry of William Blake. One thing is clear: Some very potent black magic is at work.
Review: This follows quickly in the foot prints of “The Shadow Revolution” with the same cast of main characters. Kate is an even more insufferable character what with her prudish and headstrong demeanor coupled to a sandpaper like personality. Simon is his usual unflappable self, courting a dismal skirt when he could have anyone. Malcolm is back with his scathing attitude, yet you can’t blame him for not liking Simon and Kate as they both have big sticks up their arses.
This installment heads down the macabre road of graphic skinning rituals and blood soaked altars. A direct departure from the created Homunculus’ and Werewolves that terrorized kittens in the first novel.
The fight scenes are once again, unbelievable. As the first scene unfolds Super-Kate and Penny Dreadful take out 8 Werewolves in a dark cemetery with nothing but a gun, some alchemical vials and their witty charm. Yawn. The fight scenes do not play out in cogent fashion as to be taken with any seriousness. The timing and positions of the players just doesn’t make any sense as to the scripted outcome(s).
Penny is a great addition to the team as she not only provides relief from the relentlessly frenetic mind of Kate-doody but claims an important role in the supply of interesting mechanics. More of the steampunk side of this fantasy relic. I still found myself reading this all the way through without skipping pages which says something good about the technical side of the writing. Additionally the fight scenes packed a little more punch than in the first novel with a compacted design.
So why a lower score than in the first novel? I just got tired of the same old high brow buffoonery exhibited between Kate and Simon. They never change. Gold sovereigns, tapping canes, wild auburn hair, clenched teeth, The “Anstruther Family” (dun, dun, dun) and Kate’s constantly churning stomach over Imogen really wore thin. The slow budding love affair between these two asshats will waste your reading time as well.
A good read with practiced ambivalence.
Publisher: Random House
Publishing Date: June 2015
ISBN: 9780345540485
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.4/5
Publisher Description: When monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane comes across the gruesome aftermath of a ritual murder in a London church, he enlists the help of magician-scribe Simon Archer and alchemist extraordinaire Kate Anstruther. Studying the macabre scene, they struggle to understand obscure clues in the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics carved into the victim’s heart—as well as bizarre mystical allusions to the romantic poetry of William Blake. One thing is clear: Some very potent black magic is at work.
Review: This follows quickly in the foot prints of “The Shadow Revolution” with the same cast of main characters. Kate is an even more insufferable character what with her prudish and headstrong demeanor coupled to a sandpaper like personality. Simon is his usual unflappable self, courting a dismal skirt when he could have anyone. Malcolm is back with his scathing attitude, yet you can’t blame him for not liking Simon and Kate as they both have big sticks up their arses.
This installment heads down the macabre road of graphic skinning rituals and blood soaked altars. A direct departure from the created Homunculus’ and Werewolves that terrorized kittens in the first novel.
The fight scenes are once again, unbelievable. As the first scene unfolds Super-Kate and Penny Dreadful take out 8 Werewolves in a dark cemetery with nothing but a gun, some alchemical vials and their witty charm. Yawn. The fight scenes do not play out in cogent fashion as to be taken with any seriousness. The timing and positions of the players just doesn’t make any sense as to the scripted outcome(s).
Penny is a great addition to the team as she not only provides relief from the relentlessly frenetic mind of Kate-doody but claims an important role in the supply of interesting mechanics. More of the steampunk side of this fantasy relic. I still found myself reading this all the way through without skipping pages which says something good about the technical side of the writing. Additionally the fight scenes packed a little more punch than in the first novel with a compacted design.
So why a lower score than in the first novel? I just got tired of the same old high brow buffoonery exhibited between Kate and Simon. They never change. Gold sovereigns, tapping canes, wild auburn hair, clenched teeth, The “Anstruther Family” (dun, dun, dun) and Kate’s constantly churning stomach over Imogen really wore thin. The slow budding love affair between these two asshats will waste your reading time as well.
A good read with practiced ambivalence.
May 17, 2015
Demons, demi-gods, warring sorcerers and conspiracies abound in the second book of this series. Events turn darker as Simon and Kate decides to investigate suspicious murders. For those who have not read the first book, do not past go. This is not a standalone. Understanding of previous events will help to make this book easier to follow.
Against Nick's advice, this Victorian Scooby-Gang decide to figure out why women are being killed in key churches. More importantly, why are the dead rising? Malcolm the monster hunter struggles with his own demons as he is not in favour of the latest addition to this motley crew. The only good werewolf is a dead werewolf. It doesn't matter that said werewolf is a thirteen year old girl who doesn't want to change. Or that she's adorable and pitiful at the same time. When she changes, she is an uncontrollable beast bent on destruction. Of course, this is what helps the team of monster fighters when they need it most.
This story is plot driven and I really enjoyed it. It kept me guessing. The red herrings are cleverly done and the ending is a surprise. I like being surprised. Duo authors Griffith create a mystical world filled with intrigue, secrets and danger. Not knowing who is on the side of right is a problem. Then again, right is all a matter of perspective.
This story is well written with good character development. The reader learns more about each of these characters and how their pasts tie them together. There are still untold secrets which will keep a reader wanting more. The ending of this story leaves another slick hook, pulling the reader deeper into this series. As soon as I finished this book, I wanted to read the next one.
What I really liked about this book is how visually pleasing it is. It's not the cover which I'm talking about. The scenes in these books are well written and easy to see. The book does play like a movie in my mind. The characters are easy to visualize. The places are memorable. Even the scene where Kate is about to be painted is crystal clear. This is impressive and I can see this series being turned into a movie trilogy. I'd watch it. Recommended for urban fantasy lovers who enjoy many events going on at the same time to keep a reader guessing.
*provided by NetGalley
Against Nick's advice, this Victorian Scooby-Gang decide to figure out why women are being killed in key churches. More importantly, why are the dead rising? Malcolm the monster hunter struggles with his own demons as he is not in favour of the latest addition to this motley crew. The only good werewolf is a dead werewolf. It doesn't matter that said werewolf is a thirteen year old girl who doesn't want to change. Or that she's adorable and pitiful at the same time. When she changes, she is an uncontrollable beast bent on destruction. Of course, this is what helps the team of monster fighters when they need it most.
This story is plot driven and I really enjoyed it. It kept me guessing. The red herrings are cleverly done and the ending is a surprise. I like being surprised. Duo authors Griffith create a mystical world filled with intrigue, secrets and danger. Not knowing who is on the side of right is a problem. Then again, right is all a matter of perspective.
This story is well written with good character development. The reader learns more about each of these characters and how their pasts tie them together. There are still untold secrets which will keep a reader wanting more. The ending of this story leaves another slick hook, pulling the reader deeper into this series. As soon as I finished this book, I wanted to read the next one.
What I really liked about this book is how visually pleasing it is. It's not the cover which I'm talking about. The scenes in these books are well written and easy to see. The book does play like a movie in my mind. The characters are easy to visualize. The places are memorable. Even the scene where Kate is about to be painted is crystal clear. This is impressive and I can see this series being turned into a movie trilogy. I'd watch it. Recommended for urban fantasy lovers who enjoy many events going on at the same time to keep a reader guessing.
*provided by NetGalley
February 19, 2019
Simon archer and friends are back in an all-new adventure. When the dead suddenly starts to rise and murders happen all around London, it is up to Simon, Kate, Malcolm, Penny, and Charlotte to stop the Necromancer responsible for placing London into chaos. Will they succeed? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a great installment of the Crown and Key trilogy. Its very action-packed, and horrifying. I look forward to finishing this trilogy in the future. If you like supernatural action novels, be sure to check this trilogy out at your local library and wherever books are sold.
This was a great installment of the Crown and Key trilogy. Its very action-packed, and horrifying. I look forward to finishing this trilogy in the future. If you like supernatural action novels, be sure to check this trilogy out at your local library and wherever books are sold.
January 28, 2016
The Undying Legion is the second in Clay and Susan Griffith’s steampunk trilogy. I enjoyed the first book, and I went into the second book wanting more from the main characters. In the first book, for me at least, there was such a focus on action that it was at the expense of truly interesting characters and it was that element that I was hoping would develop more fully in this second installment. Unfortunately, The Undying Legion did not give me the characters that I was looking for and once again the plot was almost exclusively focused on the central mystery and detailed renditions of what the characters were doing rather than what they were experiencing.
In this second installment Simon, Kate and Malcolm are back in the game when they investigate the gruesome murders at several churches in the city. Complicating this investigation is the fact that the dead just don’t seem to want to stay dead. Simon and Kate immediately start researching, but Malcolm splits off from the group due to his discomfort in their treatment of Charlotte, a teenage werewolf. It’s not easy putting aside those werewolf hunting impulses even when confronted with a young girl that’s more interested in fashion and tea parties than, you know, eating people.While Simon and Kate don’t totally understand Malcolm’s hunter tendencies, they let him go, they do have a mystery to solve after all!
The Undying Legion continues the breakneck pace of the first book, yet I didn’t feel that it compensated for the weaknesses of the previous book. With the second book it seems that a lot of character development happened “off scene”. Kate and Simon are apparently “in love” – but I gotta be honest, there was zero chemistry between these two, and I think the romance would have been better to have been left out rather than addressed in such a half hearted fashion. In The Undying Legion readers are told rather than shown what the main characters are feeling and experiencing, leaving me feeling that there’s a whole heck of a lot missing from the narrative.
What saved The Undying Legion for me were the rare moments of humour. The inclusion of Charlotte and her interactions with Malcolm gave this book some much-needed dimension.
So will I be back for the final book? I do want to find out how the major plot points that weave this trilogy together get resolved, but I also think I wont be going into it with any expectations of change. Not a bad trilogy, just one that may not appeal to readers of character-driven plots.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
In this second installment Simon, Kate and Malcolm are back in the game when they investigate the gruesome murders at several churches in the city. Complicating this investigation is the fact that the dead just don’t seem to want to stay dead. Simon and Kate immediately start researching, but Malcolm splits off from the group due to his discomfort in their treatment of Charlotte, a teenage werewolf. It’s not easy putting aside those werewolf hunting impulses even when confronted with a young girl that’s more interested in fashion and tea parties than, you know, eating people.While Simon and Kate don’t totally understand Malcolm’s hunter tendencies, they let him go, they do have a mystery to solve after all!
The Undying Legion continues the breakneck pace of the first book, yet I didn’t feel that it compensated for the weaknesses of the previous book. With the second book it seems that a lot of character development happened “off scene”. Kate and Simon are apparently “in love” – but I gotta be honest, there was zero chemistry between these two, and I think the romance would have been better to have been left out rather than addressed in such a half hearted fashion. In The Undying Legion readers are told rather than shown what the main characters are feeling and experiencing, leaving me feeling that there’s a whole heck of a lot missing from the narrative.
What saved The Undying Legion for me were the rare moments of humour. The inclusion of Charlotte and her interactions with Malcolm gave this book some much-needed dimension.
So will I be back for the final book? I do want to find out how the major plot points that weave this trilogy together get resolved, but I also think I wont be going into it with any expectations of change. Not a bad trilogy, just one that may not appeal to readers of character-driven plots.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
July 10, 2015
As the second book in the Crown & Key series, THE UNDYING LEGION surpassed my expectations and delivered another action-packed read filled with supernatural strangeness, exciting steampunk gadgets and terrific characterization.
Once again, author team Clay and Susan Griffith, hooked me and reeled me into their fascinating world of Victorian-Steampunk London. A world where you can wrestle with Shapeshifters, shoot at the walking undead (with a kick-ass gun modified by a woman, I must say) decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, witness and solve a case of linked ritual murders - all the while threats from an old foe and black magic surround our league of monster hunters.
In book two, we get more one-on-one time with the fabulous Kate and Archer, Alchemist and Wizard, as they battle the bad guys. Kate is still working on a cure for her sister Imogene as well as improving the compound to treat young Charlotte's lycanthropy. Archer is searching for clues to reveal the significance of the mysterious key left to them by their fathers.
These two perfectly foil one another and there is plenty of supernatural kick-butt time as well as romantic tension brewing between these two. I’ve been holding my breath for the first kiss between Archer and Kate and I almost dropped my book when it came about. Talk about settings not to forget your first kiss in - only these authors could have come up with something toe-curling and shiver-inducing at the same time ... A kiss to remember for sure!
In the last book, readers saw a departure of Malcolm which I was sad about. Well, he’s back in full battle mode and this time around he has an unlikely ally in Charlotte. I’m not going to say much, but it was all very sweet and Charlotte is becoming quite the young heroine and so endearing. I’ll take her on my side any day.
Penny is back (see kick-ass gun above) and takes no prisoners as she continues to come up with the coolest gadgets to take down the supernaturals. One of my favorite scenes involves her and Kate racing off in a “bulky, two-wheeled vehicle” A vehicle that Penny designed and built, with Kate sitting in its sidecar anticipating their adventure!
The mystery of the Golden Key continues as the walking undead and black magic threaten the Kingdom. Authors Clay and Susan Griffith have created such a fun and clever series here to follow with just the right amount of Supernatural action and Steampunk goodness for fans of the genre to enjoy. Add to that mystery, great characters and a touch of romance and you have a winner read in your hands! I’m desperate for more, please!
My Rating: 4.5 Stars. I really liked it!
PLEASE NOTE: A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by Del Rey in exchange for my fair review. Thank you, Del Rey for the review opportunity.
Once again, author team Clay and Susan Griffith, hooked me and reeled me into their fascinating world of Victorian-Steampunk London. A world where you can wrestle with Shapeshifters, shoot at the walking undead (with a kick-ass gun modified by a woman, I must say) decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, witness and solve a case of linked ritual murders - all the while threats from an old foe and black magic surround our league of monster hunters.
In book two, we get more one-on-one time with the fabulous Kate and Archer, Alchemist and Wizard, as they battle the bad guys. Kate is still working on a cure for her sister Imogene as well as improving the compound to treat young Charlotte's lycanthropy. Archer is searching for clues to reveal the significance of the mysterious key left to them by their fathers.
These two perfectly foil one another and there is plenty of supernatural kick-butt time as well as romantic tension brewing between these two. I’ve been holding my breath for the first kiss between Archer and Kate and I almost dropped my book when it came about. Talk about settings not to forget your first kiss in - only these authors could have come up with something toe-curling and shiver-inducing at the same time ... A kiss to remember for sure!
In the last book, readers saw a departure of Malcolm which I was sad about. Well, he’s back in full battle mode and this time around he has an unlikely ally in Charlotte. I’m not going to say much, but it was all very sweet and Charlotte is becoming quite the young heroine and so endearing. I’ll take her on my side any day.
Penny is back (see kick-ass gun above) and takes no prisoners as she continues to come up with the coolest gadgets to take down the supernaturals. One of my favorite scenes involves her and Kate racing off in a “bulky, two-wheeled vehicle” A vehicle that Penny designed and built, with Kate sitting in its sidecar anticipating their adventure!
The mystery of the Golden Key continues as the walking undead and black magic threaten the Kingdom. Authors Clay and Susan Griffith have created such a fun and clever series here to follow with just the right amount of Supernatural action and Steampunk goodness for fans of the genre to enjoy. Add to that mystery, great characters and a touch of romance and you have a winner read in your hands! I’m desperate for more, please!
My Rating: 4.5 Stars. I really liked it!
PLEASE NOTE: A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by Del Rey in exchange for my fair review. Thank you, Del Rey for the review opportunity.
June 29, 2015
3.5 stars
The magicians, alchemists and monster-hunters from The Shadow Revolution must now decipher the illusions of William Blake while trying to solve a ritual murder, but because life is never easy each is also faced with moral quandaries.
The authors aptly capture the fragility of the moment, the wrench of loss, and the differing worldviews of the characters, all of whom are distinctly different. The female characters continue to stand proudly by themselves, being self-sufficient for the most part: no swooning women here! Kate's no lady, and Simon treats her with the respect an admired equal deserves, yet unconscious bias still shows itself - and she calls it out. Kudos to her!
(Their humor shows too: turnabout is fair play. Simon doesn't gloat, but I did wonder if Malcolm remembered a very similar scene not too long before.)
I'm not sure about the Egyptian mummy. Mind you, it was done differently from most and retained originality, but the triteness of *having* one reduced my enjoyment a little. (There was an edge of Hammer about it though, so if I reread with a tongue-in-cheek attitude my opinion might alter.) The American spelling of "specter" threw me too, but for another reason, but despite these personal quirks the plot moved quickly, the characters were true to themselves but not rigidly set, and I found it most enjoyable. I've got book 3 queued up!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The magicians, alchemists and monster-hunters from The Shadow Revolution must now decipher the illusions of William Blake while trying to solve a ritual murder, but because life is never easy each is also faced with moral quandaries.
The authors aptly capture the fragility of the moment, the wrench of loss, and the differing worldviews of the characters, all of whom are distinctly different. The female characters continue to stand proudly by themselves, being self-sufficient for the most part: no swooning women here! Kate's no lady, and Simon treats her with the respect an admired equal deserves, yet unconscious bias still shows itself - and she calls it out. Kudos to her!
(Their humor shows too: turnabout is fair play. Simon doesn't gloat, but I did wonder if Malcolm remembered a very similar scene not too long before.)
I'm not sure about the Egyptian mummy. Mind you, it was done differently from most and retained originality, but the triteness of *having* one reduced my enjoyment a little. (There was an edge of Hammer about it though, so if I reread with a tongue-in-cheek attitude my opinion might alter.) The American spelling of "specter" threw me too, but for another reason, but despite these personal quirks the plot moved quickly, the characters were true to themselves but not rigidly set, and I found it most enjoyable. I've got book 3 queued up!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2015
I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, The Shadow Revolution, and though I wasn't chosen to receive an ARC of this one, I still made sure that it had a spot on my TBR/Review stack. Undying Legion picks up shortly after the events in book one. This time the story begins opens with Malcolm, our shoot-first-ask-questions-later, big gun toting Scotsman.
While on the hunt through the lowest parts of London for any world on the street of anything strange, he gets a tip to check out some unusual activity at a church. There he finds a woman sacrificed in a church. First thing he does is to call in Simon and Kate, the other two members of our heroic trio.
It's not long before they are another conspiracy is being chased down and uncovered. Instead of werewolves and homunculus creatures, this time it's zombies, mummies and William Blake poetry. Think of a kind of cross between Night of the Living Dead and The Mummy. But that's not all! We see a return of our favorite secondary characters: Penny, Charlotte, Imogen, and Hogarth. Most didn't play as large a roll in this book as the last, but that doesn't stop them from being memorable.
There were plenty of fight scenes in this book (undead, hello) and even some romance, but for some reason, this book just didn't have the hold on my attention that the first one did. Why? I'm not sure, but I still didn't feel a real connection with the characters. Even with all the action going on, they just felt very stand-offish. Overall, I did enjoy the book though and gave it 3 stars.
While on the hunt through the lowest parts of London for any world on the street of anything strange, he gets a tip to check out some unusual activity at a church. There he finds a woman sacrificed in a church. First thing he does is to call in Simon and Kate, the other two members of our heroic trio.
It's not long before they are another conspiracy is being chased down and uncovered. Instead of werewolves and homunculus creatures, this time it's zombies, mummies and William Blake poetry. Think of a kind of cross between Night of the Living Dead and The Mummy. But that's not all! We see a return of our favorite secondary characters: Penny, Charlotte, Imogen, and Hogarth. Most didn't play as large a roll in this book as the last, but that doesn't stop them from being memorable.
There were plenty of fight scenes in this book (undead, hello) and even some romance, but for some reason, this book just didn't have the hold on my attention that the first one did. Why? I'm not sure, but I still didn't feel a real connection with the characters. Even with all the action going on, they just felt very stand-offish. Overall, I did enjoy the book though and gave it 3 stars.
September 8, 2015
Ritualistic murders were occurring in London. Simon, Kate, and Malcolm worked together to determine why they were happening and to stop them. Eventually they realized the murders could unleash some dangerous forces. Simon was getting unwanted attention due to his involvement in the murders. It didn’t deter him although the consequences might be more than he imagined.
The story began to focus on the minor characters more, which led to some good character development. Malcolm had a bigger role. He still had his dour attitude. I definitely warmed to him. Working closely with other people was beginning to have a positive effect on him; he was finally starting to see that everything isn't black and white. Charlotte and Imogen were in the first book but not enough to know them. This time their personalities were able to shine through.
The Undying Legion was damn good. It did have a slight (and I really emphasize slight)case of middle book syndrome i.e. when the second book in a trilogy isn’t quite as awesome as parts 1 and 3. It was by no means worthless filler. Some issues were resolved, but all of the major ones were left for the next book. I didn’t rate this was less stars than the first book, but it didn’t grab my attention the way the first one did either.
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! The review is my honest opinion of the book.
The story began to focus on the minor characters more, which led to some good character development. Malcolm had a bigger role. He still had his dour attitude. I definitely warmed to him. Working closely with other people was beginning to have a positive effect on him; he was finally starting to see that everything isn't black and white. Charlotte and Imogen were in the first book but not enough to know them. This time their personalities were able to shine through.
The Undying Legion was damn good. It did have a slight (and I really emphasize slight)case of middle book syndrome i.e. when the second book in a trilogy isn’t quite as awesome as parts 1 and 3. It was by no means worthless filler. Some issues were resolved, but all of the major ones were left for the next book. I didn’t rate this was less stars than the first book, but it didn’t grab my attention the way the first one did either.
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! The review is my honest opinion of the book.
June 12, 2015
**I received this book for free from (Del Rey) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Steampunk
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
The Undying Legion is the second novel in the Crown & Key trilogy. Authors Clay & Susan Griffith move the series forward several months from the end of The Shadow Revolution. This time out, our group comes across a macabre scene in several churches, and the gruesome reality that someone is raising the dead rising from their graves. This leads them to their next villain and the return of two super villains who were mentioned briefly in Shadow Revolution.
*Full Review Pending - Will post 06/13/2015 as part of Steampunk Saturday.
*Recvd 04/24/2014 via NetGalley* Expected publication: June 30th 2015 by Del Rey
*Genre* Steampunk
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
The Undying Legion is the second novel in the Crown & Key trilogy. Authors Clay & Susan Griffith move the series forward several months from the end of The Shadow Revolution. This time out, our group comes across a macabre scene in several churches, and the gruesome reality that someone is raising the dead rising from their graves. This leads them to their next villain and the return of two super villains who were mentioned briefly in Shadow Revolution.
*Full Review Pending - Will post 06/13/2015 as part of Steampunk Saturday.
*Recvd 04/24/2014 via NetGalley* Expected publication: June 30th 2015 by Del Rey
December 31, 2015
Eh, this was OK. Not bad, but not as good as the first one either. I still liked the characters. I still liked that the women are fully engaged in action. I still liked the tone of the narrative and such. But, frankly, I was bored. It felt like the overly elaborate fight scenes went on and on. Then, as soon as they finally ended another started. This left very little time for the actual plot to play out and almost no time for further character growth. Maybe it's just suffering from second book syndrome. But the brevity of this review should tell you something. I was left with so little interest in the events of the book that I've nothing of note to say.
July 11, 2015
Initial Thoughts: Wow. If you have not yet had a chance to sample a steampunk book, I would recommend this series. Clever contraptions, big guns, explosive alchemy, and even a mix of Egyptian mythology make this book a whole lot of fun to read. Full review to come...
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Del Rey for a review copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Del Rey for a review copy of this book.
August 16, 2015
3.5 stars
Extremely well written: Great action, good character building & fab steampunk gadgets but it does sadly have second book syndrome. It did build up my expectations for the next book and I shall be reading it very soon.
Full review to follow
Extremely well written: Great action, good character building & fab steampunk gadgets but it does sadly have second book syndrome. It did build up my expectations for the next book and I shall be reading it very soon.
Full review to follow
July 5, 2015
The husband and wife team that is Clay and Susan Griffith is a force to be reckoned with in the realm of Fantasy/Paranormal adventure. I've fallen hard for their books and The Crown and Key Series is not to be missed. The first book is just an introduction of what these band of misfits are capable of, but with book two they are synchronous from the moment danger ensues, using each others strengths to discover who is savagely killing young innocent girls in what looks like ritualistic slayings. Their bodies butchered to the point of obscurity, with a serrated knife the tool to perform the ritual. Don't get me started on the Undead!
Relationships among the group are not so amicable. Malcom, the dear Scotsmen I seem to have taken to in this series, is a ruffian of sorts. He is all business when it comes to fighting and has no qualms about destroying first and asking questions later. His relationship with Charlotte, the young werewolf child, is complicated and it fascinated me the most. The child is shackled for her own safety as well as for the safety of others among her. She desperately wants to be a normal girl and her plight is sad at times.
Yet another engrossing character is Imogen and the relationship with her sister. Kate is desperate to help her but does not know how. Her brilliance as an alchemist is all for naught when it comes to finding a cure for her sibling. A hideous creature that is part human part machine, one cannot help but empathize with her gruesome circumstances. The brilliance of these writers show in the short excerpt below. Vividly descriptive, they evoke the sad state of Kate's sister, Imogen.
I love this band of Victorian Superheroes! I want more! I anticipate the next book to be another brilliant read, as I expect nothing less from this team of writers.
This review was originally posted on Literati Literature Lovers
Relationships among the group are not so amicable. Malcom, the dear Scotsmen I seem to have taken to in this series, is a ruffian of sorts. He is all business when it comes to fighting and has no qualms about destroying first and asking questions later. His relationship with Charlotte, the young werewolf child, is complicated and it fascinated me the most. The child is shackled for her own safety as well as for the safety of others among her. She desperately wants to be a normal girl and her plight is sad at times.
Malcolm snapped, “It isn’t some “It isn’t some unfortunate waif. And it isn’t a little doll to be played with. That is a murdering beast. It’s deceiving you until you drop your guard.”
“You can manhandle that werewolf now because it’s a juvenile. It’s inexperienced or it would have been long gone already, leaving a trail of bodies in its wake. With time, though, it will develop its single skill: killing. It’s as inevitable as death.”
Yet another engrossing character is Imogen and the relationship with her sister. Kate is desperate to help her but does not know how. Her brilliance as an alchemist is all for naught when it comes to finding a cure for her sibling. A hideous creature that is part human part machine, one cannot help but empathize with her gruesome circumstances. The brilliance of these writers show in the short excerpt below. Vividly descriptive, they evoke the sad state of Kate's sister, Imogen.
It was hairless and its skin almost translucent. Veins and pulsing organs could be seen even in the dim gaslight. One of the figure’s arms was more machine than flesh and bristled with fierce filamentous quills from wrist to shoulder that rippled like a field of wheat. A dress that had been peach-colored was tattered and soiled.
An inhuman eye, guided by gears and wires, shifted every so often as if in fear. Its other eye, more human though. An inhuman eye, guided by gears and wires, shifted every so often as if in fear. Its other eye, more human though utterly colorless, remained focused on what it held with long, boneless fingers. It clutched a nearly human skull, the skull of a monster, of a homunculus, half bone and half construct. The white object dripped with useless wires and in the empty cranium was an apparatus for recording and playing back sounds.
I love this band of Victorian Superheroes! I want more! I anticipate the next book to be another brilliant read, as I expect nothing less from this team of writers.
This review was originally posted on Literati Literature Lovers
October 2, 2015
A total blast of fun. I really loved the fact that some of the other characters were featured a lot more. Lots of action, surprises, magic, undead army (RN: Me love me some zombies), and some romance made me love this second book in this trilogy even more than the first one.
The Romance.
The Romances seems to be getting much more intense between Kate and Simon in this book. There was also a new character, Jane who has befriended Malcolm in this book. I think that this might be the woman who will be a bigger part of Malcom’s life in the next book. Simon and Kate’s relationship is developing into something very deep and at times I think more passionate. I really found myself totally loving the couple of Simon and Kate, plus they both are individuals who need each other in this crazy magical world at times they have found.
2. Malcom-
Malcom is one of the many things that I enjoyed in this book. He is much more front and center. I thought he was excellent and felt that last book he kind of got overshadowed by Simon a lot. This book you get to see him do a lot more stuff. Plus we get to know him a lot better and his views at times seem to be different from the other characters. I like that he gets clarity when he needs it. Also his attitude towards Charlotte seems like he wants to kill her, because of her werewolf condition. Yet I like reading his point of view. It’s a different way than either Simon or Kate look at the picture.
3. Werewolves, Necromancers, and The Undead, Imogen
So many amazing things happened. I happen to love books where there are zombies or the undead. In this book we have a necromancer and he is very bad indeed the way he is using these dead women for his own nefarious purposes and tries to get his way. Also he manages to do some pretty dastardly things to our heroes. I also found the use of Imogen and Charlotte pretty interesting as we see that Imogen has changed a lot and is suffering. Charlotte is a young child who is suffering from being a werewolf. I also like how Malcom’s attitude towards Charlotte changes after Charlotte in werewolf form helps him when he most needs it. I think it’s a change for him to accept some help from a paranormal being when he most needs it.
4. Major Storyline Twists and Forward Movement
I like when there are twists and sometimes books stay stagnant in the plot from the last book. So happy that this wasn’t the case with this book. There were some significant things that got revealed to Simon via Nick Barker returning for a bit in the book. That was a great surprise. I liked it a lot. Then we learn about Simon’s mother and he learns things that he never knew. We also learn that the Key is more than we ever thought it was. I like that it has magical powers of it’s own. Plus the way Kate comforted him was great when something comes out of Simon that you don’t expect. We also see some forward movement on what looks like a great third book. Plus Jane is going to be more involve in the final part of this trilogy.
A great second book in the Crown and Key series.
Rating:
4.5 Hearts
The Romance.
The Romances seems to be getting much more intense between Kate and Simon in this book. There was also a new character, Jane who has befriended Malcolm in this book. I think that this might be the woman who will be a bigger part of Malcom’s life in the next book. Simon and Kate’s relationship is developing into something very deep and at times I think more passionate. I really found myself totally loving the couple of Simon and Kate, plus they both are individuals who need each other in this crazy magical world at times they have found.
2. Malcom-
Malcom is one of the many things that I enjoyed in this book. He is much more front and center. I thought he was excellent and felt that last book he kind of got overshadowed by Simon a lot. This book you get to see him do a lot more stuff. Plus we get to know him a lot better and his views at times seem to be different from the other characters. I like that he gets clarity when he needs it. Also his attitude towards Charlotte seems like he wants to kill her, because of her werewolf condition. Yet I like reading his point of view. It’s a different way than either Simon or Kate look at the picture.
3. Werewolves, Necromancers, and The Undead, Imogen
So many amazing things happened. I happen to love books where there are zombies or the undead. In this book we have a necromancer and he is very bad indeed the way he is using these dead women for his own nefarious purposes and tries to get his way. Also he manages to do some pretty dastardly things to our heroes. I also found the use of Imogen and Charlotte pretty interesting as we see that Imogen has changed a lot and is suffering. Charlotte is a young child who is suffering from being a werewolf. I also like how Malcom’s attitude towards Charlotte changes after Charlotte in werewolf form helps him when he most needs it. I think it’s a change for him to accept some help from a paranormal being when he most needs it.
4. Major Storyline Twists and Forward Movement
I like when there are twists and sometimes books stay stagnant in the plot from the last book. So happy that this wasn’t the case with this book. There were some significant things that got revealed to Simon via Nick Barker returning for a bit in the book. That was a great surprise. I liked it a lot. Then we learn about Simon’s mother and he learns things that he never knew. We also learn that the Key is more than we ever thought it was. I like that it has magical powers of it’s own. Plus the way Kate comforted him was great when something comes out of Simon that you don’t expect. We also see some forward movement on what looks like a great third book. Plus Jane is going to be more involve in the final part of this trilogy.
A great second book in the Crown and Key series.
Rating:
4.5 Hearts
May 24, 2015
This is the second book in the Crown and Key series by Griffith. I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the first book in the series. Although I continue to enjoy the characters and witty dialogue, I didn’t find the mystery as interesting in this book.
Malcolm comes across the horrible aftermath of a ritual killing at a church and ends up asking for Simon and Kate’s help in tracking down the killers and solving the mystery behind these crimes. As the trio investigates they find out that some obscure ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs are being used to invoke a magic that is old and potentially world-ending.
I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the first book in the series. There is still a lot of action and the dialogue between the characters is snappy and witty. For some reason though I just didn’t find the plot to be all that engaging. It took me a long time to get through this book; I just didn’t care about the outcome that much and wasn’t all that intrigued by the mystery.
I did enjoy the fact that we see a lot more of Charlotte in this book; she has some interesting character growth and is a lot of fun. We also see a lot more of Penny and her crazy inventions as well; she was a lot of fun too.
Of course Simon and Kate are both in the story a lot and I enjoyed their chemistry together. I would have liked to see more of Simon’s magic and understand better how it works. I enjoyed Kate’s crazy alchemical potions and contraptions. The two have a sort of budding romance together and are fun to read about.
The plot was a bit all over the place. The main goal for Kate, Simon, and Malcolm is to hunt down whoever is committing these horrible ritual murders. However the plot is distracted by issues dealing with Imogen and her recovery as well as Charlotte’s struggle to control her were-side. All the side stories diluted down the plot quite a bit and at times made it feel like the story was moving very slowly.
Overall this was an okay read, but I enjoyed the first book more. There is a lot of mystery, some alternate history, and steampunk elements in this book. I continue to really enjoy the characters but thought the plot lagged quite a bit. I enjoyed The Vampire Empire series quite a bit more than this one; that one just had more of an epic fantasy feel to it with a more complex and interesting plot.
Malcolm comes across the horrible aftermath of a ritual killing at a church and ends up asking for Simon and Kate’s help in tracking down the killers and solving the mystery behind these crimes. As the trio investigates they find out that some obscure ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs are being used to invoke a magic that is old and potentially world-ending.
I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the first book in the series. There is still a lot of action and the dialogue between the characters is snappy and witty. For some reason though I just didn’t find the plot to be all that engaging. It took me a long time to get through this book; I just didn’t care about the outcome that much and wasn’t all that intrigued by the mystery.
I did enjoy the fact that we see a lot more of Charlotte in this book; she has some interesting character growth and is a lot of fun. We also see a lot more of Penny and her crazy inventions as well; she was a lot of fun too.
Of course Simon and Kate are both in the story a lot and I enjoyed their chemistry together. I would have liked to see more of Simon’s magic and understand better how it works. I enjoyed Kate’s crazy alchemical potions and contraptions. The two have a sort of budding romance together and are fun to read about.
The plot was a bit all over the place. The main goal for Kate, Simon, and Malcolm is to hunt down whoever is committing these horrible ritual murders. However the plot is distracted by issues dealing with Imogen and her recovery as well as Charlotte’s struggle to control her were-side. All the side stories diluted down the plot quite a bit and at times made it feel like the story was moving very slowly.
Overall this was an okay read, but I enjoyed the first book more. There is a lot of mystery, some alternate history, and steampunk elements in this book. I continue to really enjoy the characters but thought the plot lagged quite a bit. I enjoyed The Vampire Empire series quite a bit more than this one; that one just had more of an epic fantasy feel to it with a more complex and interesting plot.
June 30, 2015
Following closely on the heels of The Shadow Revolution, first in the Crown and Key series, The Undying Legion continues the adventures of a motley crew of monster hunters and magicians. A supernatural war is brewing. The beautiful and brilliant alchemist Kate Anstruther, magician- scribe Simon Archer, monster hunter Malcolm MacFarlane, young werewolf Charlotte and maker of marvelous gadgets Penny Clark are the first line of defense.
Kate is occupied in trying to reverse the damage to her sister, horribly mutated by a mad scientist in The Shadow Revolution. Kate has had only limited success and now a new threat has arisen. Someone is ritually sacrificing young women in London churches, and the dead are rising. An artist and necromancer, Rowan Barnes, is at the heart of these events. However, is something more ancient and deadly the driving force? The talented Griffith team combines Egyptian mythology with allusions to the prophetic poetry of William Blake and comes up with something entirely different and quite thrilling.
The action is non-stop and very cinematic, but I think that the character development is the most enjoyable element of The Undying Legion. The deepening attraction and respect between Kate and Simon is one element, but more enjoyable is Malcolm's relationship with Charlotte. As Malcolm's previous attitude to werewolves has always been "kill them", his struggle to work with and trust Charlotte is entertaining to say the least. I have no idea where the next in the series, The Conquering Dark, will take me but I am really looking forward to the ride.
Thanks to Random House Del Rey-Spectra and netgalley.com for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 4 Stars
July 1, 2015
The Undying Legion
I tried I really tried to love this book. It is everything a wonderful book should be, but for some reason this book isn’t. This is the second book in The Crown and Key trilogy and I expected much, much more from this book.
There is magic galore, steampunk, a ton of blood and gore and it is set in the Victorian era –except that most of the time they talk like it was much earlier in the 1800’s or even late 1700’s. The dialogue sort of switches back and forth from those era’s.
There is so much history (alternate though it may be) in this book, so many unfamiliar words and such, that I spent more time looking things up rather than simply enjoying the story.
Some things are resolved from the last book, but believe me this is a whole new ball of evil!
What I did love was Charlotte and the fact that she can use her werewolfishness for good.
Of course everything sort of works out in the end leaving us hanging for the next and final book.
This book was at times plodding and at other times out of control and making no sense
I’m glad that so many others like this book. It just may not be my particular cup of tea. However, I have read the first book and really thought that this trilogy had a lot of potential. I thought it had enough potential, to even make a full series out of it. Unfortunately for me this particular book just really doesn’t move much along. So much was the same as in the first book –it just seems like names of the villains had been changed.
*ARC supplied for review by publisher.
I tried I really tried to love this book. It is everything a wonderful book should be, but for some reason this book isn’t. This is the second book in The Crown and Key trilogy and I expected much, much more from this book.
There is magic galore, steampunk, a ton of blood and gore and it is set in the Victorian era –except that most of the time they talk like it was much earlier in the 1800’s or even late 1700’s. The dialogue sort of switches back and forth from those era’s.
There is so much history (alternate though it may be) in this book, so many unfamiliar words and such, that I spent more time looking things up rather than simply enjoying the story.
Some things are resolved from the last book, but believe me this is a whole new ball of evil!
What I did love was Charlotte and the fact that she can use her werewolfishness for good.
Of course everything sort of works out in the end leaving us hanging for the next and final book.
This book was at times plodding and at other times out of control and making no sense
I’m glad that so many others like this book. It just may not be my particular cup of tea. However, I have read the first book and really thought that this trilogy had a lot of potential. I thought it had enough potential, to even make a full series out of it. Unfortunately for me this particular book just really doesn’t move much along. So much was the same as in the first book –it just seems like names of the villains had been changed.
*ARC supplied for review by publisher.
July 16, 2015
Strong characterization, drier plot.
I'm still not sure if I like this series or not. I know that's a terrible way to open up the review but as much as I'm enjoying the characters I feel strangely detached from their adventures. I think something that might have made my enjoyment stronger was if I knew much about the poetry mentioned in the blurb or the churches of London. Even the undead fights felt a bit dry.
I did find that while this plot had really draggy parts this time around, I felt like the characters had more going on. Especially Malcolm, whom I have really grown to like more and more. In fact, I felt like Simon and Kate took a bit of a backseat to him this time. The scenes featuring Imogen and Charlotte were my favorites.
The mystery this time felt a bit anticlimatic and it ended on a small cliffhanger that makes me quite glad the next book is coming out so close to it.
Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.
I'm still not sure if I like this series or not. I know that's a terrible way to open up the review but as much as I'm enjoying the characters I feel strangely detached from their adventures. I think something that might have made my enjoyment stronger was if I knew much about the poetry mentioned in the blurb or the churches of London. Even the undead fights felt a bit dry.
I did find that while this plot had really draggy parts this time around, I felt like the characters had more going on. Especially Malcolm, whom I have really grown to like more and more. In fact, I felt like Simon and Kate took a bit of a backseat to him this time. The scenes featuring Imogen and Charlotte were my favorites.
The mystery this time felt a bit anticlimatic and it ended on a small cliffhanger that makes me quite glad the next book is coming out so close to it.
Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.
July 25, 2015
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2015/07/july-mi...
The second installment of the Crown and Key Victorian steampunk trilogy addresses subplots left open in book one while expanding the world and the characterization of a secondary character. Action, suspense, and intrigue continues to engage though the storyline seems to more introverted this go around, not allowing the reader to fully integrate themselves. Some areas dragged while others flew by requiring you to re read to fully understand what happened. An astounding amount of internal action is present, giving the book a jumbled feeling at times. A small cliffhanger hooks you up, requiring you to read book three.
The second installment of the Crown and Key Victorian steampunk trilogy addresses subplots left open in book one while expanding the world and the characterization of a secondary character. Action, suspense, and intrigue continues to engage though the storyline seems to more introverted this go around, not allowing the reader to fully integrate themselves. Some areas dragged while others flew by requiring you to re read to fully understand what happened. An astounding amount of internal action is present, giving the book a jumbled feeling at times. A small cliffhanger hooks you up, requiring you to read book three.
July 20, 2015
I enjoyed The Undying Legion better than the first book in the Crown and Key series. Something about the storyline of this one appealed to me more, and I think it helped that the action could kick straight off since the characters had already been established in book one. Plenty of action, a bit of romance, and readable, easy-going prose. I look forward to reading the final book in the series in a couple of weeks' time.
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