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Princes' Game #5
In Extremis
An Eldritch Ambassador began the regeneration of a dragon, a regeneration that nearly ended in the harem of a Chatcaavan worldlord. Rescued before he could die, the Emperor now faces the nearly impossible challenge of assailing an empire intent on conquest while reconciling the life he lived before with the person he's becoming.
He can't do it alone.
Sediryl's impending capture by pirates inspired her to a daring gamble, one that landed her in the confidences of their megalomaniacal leader. That this has placed her perfectly to pass intelligence to her allies is a stroke of luck, one that ties her to the very heart of the Empire and the fragile link that holds them all together.
That link is dying.
Neither the Chatcaavan Empire nor the Alliance will recover from the titanic clash toward which they are accelerating... and the only thing standing between them is a frail network of rebels and spies, of allied Eldritch and Pelted and Chatcaava. But can such different people hold together against such impossible odds? And can they pay the cost to stop an unwinnable war, when the price is so incredibly high?
Rating: R (for violence, abuse, and adult situations)
Tags: psychology, high stakes politics, pirates, galactic war
Book 5 of the Princes' Game Series:
1. Even the Wingless
2. Some Things Transcend
3. Amulet Rampant
4. Only the Open
He can't do it alone.
Sediryl's impending capture by pirates inspired her to a daring gamble, one that landed her in the confidences of their megalomaniacal leader. That this has placed her perfectly to pass intelligence to her allies is a stroke of luck, one that ties her to the very heart of the Empire and the fragile link that holds them all together.
That link is dying.
Neither the Chatcaavan Empire nor the Alliance will recover from the titanic clash toward which they are accelerating... and the only thing standing between them is a frail network of rebels and spies, of allied Eldritch and Pelted and Chatcaava. But can such different people hold together against such impossible odds? And can they pay the cost to stop an unwinnable war, when the price is so incredibly high?
Rating: R (for violence, abuse, and adult situations)
Tags: psychology, high stakes politics, pirates, galactic war
Book 5 of the Princes' Game Series:
1. Even the Wingless
2. Some Things Transcend
3. Amulet Rampant
4. Only the Open
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2017
17 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
M.C.A. Hogarth
145 books391 followersDaughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 13, 2018
I find myself in an odd position. This is, from an objective standpoint, far and away the best volume of the Princes' Game series thus far. It's tightly plotted, the various POVs have equal weight, there are genuinely shocking plot twists, no too-neat solutions, and the stakes feel weighty and real.
But I love this series the most when it looks upon standard novel conventions and says 'oh, how cute.' I loved the almost claustrophobic intensity of Even the Wingless. I loved the absolutely insane amount of space Amulet Rampant devoted to Lisinthir and Jahir's relationship. The things that no other author would dare try and yet Hogarth's pulls of flawlessly, that's what I love. Many authors can write a fantastic book, but few authors can write something that is genuinely unique.
So I suppose my complaint here is that In Extremis is very good, but lacks the risks of the previous books. Even Some Things Transcend and Only the Open, which didn't entirely work for me, at least took those risks still. But it seems so silly to complain that a book is too objectively good, you know?
And this book really is very good. The Emperor's character arc is sublime. I felt uneasy about his character before now, mostly that his past crimes hadn't been given enough weight, but that is addressed here fully. Jahir's story arc was awful, but never anything less than compelling. And Lisinthir... Was sorely lacking. Maybe this was my real problem all along?
I greatly look forward to seeing how the story wraps up in the final volume, and I am already anticipating the mother of all book hangovers.
But I love this series the most when it looks upon standard novel conventions and says 'oh, how cute.' I loved the almost claustrophobic intensity of Even the Wingless. I loved the absolutely insane amount of space Amulet Rampant devoted to Lisinthir and Jahir's relationship. The things that no other author would dare try and yet Hogarth's pulls of flawlessly, that's what I love. Many authors can write a fantastic book, but few authors can write something that is genuinely unique.
So I suppose my complaint here is that In Extremis is very good, but lacks the risks of the previous books. Even Some Things Transcend and Only the Open, which didn't entirely work for me, at least took those risks still. But it seems so silly to complain that a book is too objectively good, you know?
And this book really is very good. The Emperor's character arc is sublime. I felt uneasy about his character before now, mostly that his past crimes hadn't been given enough weight, but that is addressed here fully. Jahir's story arc was awful, but never anything less than compelling. And Lisinthir... Was sorely lacking. Maybe this was my real problem all along?
I greatly look forward to seeing how the story wraps up in the final volume, and I am already anticipating the mother of all book hangovers.
June 26, 2017
4.6 stars. Broadens whatever ideas we had about Hogarth's aliens and opens up whole new potential paths for the future of the universe she has created. I was actually shaken by the abrupt ending.
April 24, 2019
After an incredibly rough first two books, the plotting in the third, fourth, and fifth books of this series has been deftly woven and tightly paced, and I think this book in particular really shows that quiet moments can have as much impact as traumatic moments. I really appreciate the larger structure of how Hogarth has plotted the series so that it's reasonable that each book focuses on a few main characters while others take a back seat while never feeling like the author's hand is too heavy in events. The only character I felt unfairly sidelined was Vasiht'h, who I wish had had more to do in some situations where I felt his strengths could have been useful and in rounding out a couple of characters that seem only vaguely sketched out.
I appreciate that the book addresses a lot of the complexity that I felt was elided in the last book with regard to change and redemption, even if I'm not sure the answers it comes to sit well with me, leaning as they do rather heavily on the in-universe device of psychic powers. At the same time, the exploration of those powers for good and bad ends and ones not so clear-cut is thorough and satisfying. There are some expected twists, and some unexpected ones; I'm not sure how I feel about the last scenes in Sediryl's plot line, but a lot is left hanging for the next book, so I'll have to see how they resolve.
There remains one glaring issue that I need the last book to address: the issue of Chatcaavan women, as we're told the lowest of the low in their society. As of this book, we have exactly one Chatcaavan woman with a significant part in the narrative, the rest of the ones with speaking roles having vanished from the series (and even from the consideration of characters who should be sparing them a thought now and again) after a presumed evacuation several books before, and we've also found out that in the long-sidelined Chatcaavan religion, women were exalted. How exactly does that square with a significant portion of even just the military being adherents of that religion enough to use its scripture as a communication code? I'm also deeply uncomfortable with the vast majority of the population of Chatcaavan women being revealed to be at the same time the narrative has trivialized and sidelined them at every turn. What good is an epic social regeneration that idealizes and invites in aliens but still seems to have little use for such a big part of its own population?
I appreciate that the book addresses a lot of the complexity that I felt was elided in the last book with regard to change and redemption, even if I'm not sure the answers it comes to sit well with me, leaning as they do rather heavily on the in-universe device of psychic powers. At the same time, the exploration of those powers for good and bad ends and ones not so clear-cut is thorough and satisfying. There are some expected twists, and some unexpected ones; I'm not sure how I feel about the last scenes in Sediryl's plot line, but a lot is left hanging for the next book, so I'll have to see how they resolve.
There remains one glaring issue that I need the last book to address: the issue of Chatcaavan women, as we're told the lowest of the low in their society. As of this book, we have exactly one Chatcaavan woman with a significant part in the narrative, the rest of the ones with speaking roles having vanished from the series (and even from the consideration of characters who should be sparing them a thought now and again) after a presumed evacuation several books before, and we've also found out that in the long-sidelined Chatcaavan religion, women were exalted. How exactly does that square with a significant portion of even just the military being adherents of that religion enough to use its scripture as a communication code? I'm also deeply uncomfortable with the vast majority of the population of Chatcaavan women being revealed to be at the same time the narrative has trivialized and sidelined them at every turn. What good is an epic social regeneration that idealizes and invites in aliens but still seems to have little use for such a big part of its own population?
July 16, 2017
This fifth volume of the Princes' Game series represents, for me, a distinct step up from the previous two. I felt book three was an indulgence in Sci-fi fetish erotica, nice for some, no doubt, but not strictly necessary for character or plot development. Certainly not an entire book for the character development and the main plot, a looming war between two seemingly incompatible cultures, just stalled. Book four just annoyed me, I felt some of the excellent characterisations were lost and it degenerated into a superhero story. I can see that some of it was important for the Emperor's further character development, and we needed some allies in the war, but I just didn't like the glib person Lisinthir had become. This book, by contrast, focused far more on bigger picture questions like accepting cultural difference and opening up of stagnant cultures to new influences and acceptance of change. So very, very relevant in today's paranoid and bigoted world. I am not sure if Sediryl is quite my thing, but she uses what means she had got at her disposal to further the cause and she is certainly not glib. I love the many different personalities in play - many have rich back stories, too. No single cardboard cutout character anywhere here. There is a nice surprise at the end that also fits into the big picture issues really beautifully. This is easily my second favourite book in the series. I don't give five stars often. The first book deserves them because it is so very different from anything I have ever read (I don't read romance, so perhaps this is trivial to the millions of romance readers) and well wrotten. I love dark and intense books, and the first volume certainly delivered. This book is close, maybe 4.75 - let's round it up to 5, but for very different reasons. This is proper big picture space opera, and it is a great read.
March 26, 2023
This book was good, but I did lose my focus halfway through. Not sure why. I think too many characters that I hadn't bonded to yet. I started liking Sediryl more later on in the book. And Jahir didn't have enough agency in the beginning. Sounds a bit ridiculous, considering he is now a slave, but towards the end he could do more and affect change.
I'm glad of Kauvauc's sorry arc, combined with Laniis's. I think there is something just in what they are doing and I'm glad this matter is addressed. It would have been a bit too easy if this had been glossed over.
I'm glad of Kauvauc's sorry arc, combined with Laniis's. I think there is something just in what they are doing and I'm glad this matter is addressed. It would have been a bit too easy if this had been glossed over.
July 17, 2024
Three and a half stars
This volume is tightly plotted and a lot happens as pieces and players get into place for the finale. Somehow I didn't find this one quite as intensely compelling as the others though, and I wasn't enamoured of a lot of the religious stuff this one seemed to be concerned with and concentrate on. Maybe it's just the Emperor's character arc that I'm finding a bit less interesting? Anyway, having said all this I still ran through it quickly and was much engaged by the machinations.
This volume is tightly plotted and a lot happens as pieces and players get into place for the finale. Somehow I didn't find this one quite as intensely compelling as the others though, and I wasn't enamoured of a lot of the religious stuff this one seemed to be concerned with and concentrate on. Maybe it's just the Emperor's character arc that I'm finding a bit less interesting? Anyway, having said all this I still ran through it quickly and was much engaged by the machinations.
December 27, 2023
The pelted are a biological impossibility
Having said that, you suspend your disbelief because you want them to be 'true'. The characters and the story demands that. 'Nuff said. This brings the story to the tipping point in the war. If you haven't read the previous books, you'll be at a loss. Read the complete series to be able to understand it.
Having said that, you suspend your disbelief because you want them to be 'true'. The characters and the story demands that. 'Nuff said. This brings the story to the tipping point in the war. If you haven't read the previous books, you'll be at a loss. Read the complete series to be able to understand it.
July 18, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I had expected it to be dark and painful. But it wasn't painful! Sure was dark though. Hogarth gets your attention in this book, and holds on to it through the entire read. I admit to screaming in frustration when it ended.
August 7, 2021
War
And so it starts. All of our protagonists are in place, war is imminent. Minor players introduced and, subsequently, lost. So much turmoil and strategy. Won't be able to move on to another series until this is finished. Onward
And so it starts. All of our protagonists are in place, war is imminent. Minor players introduced and, subsequently, lost. So much turmoil and strategy. Won't be able to move on to another series until this is finished. Onward
December 31, 2022
The penultimate book in the Princes' Game set of 6 books, this one left me on the edge of my seat and wanting to read the next one immediately. Devastating in some ways, and lyrical in other ways, I love the way MCA Hogarth writes. Highly recommended.
June 3, 2017
best middle book ever
January 6, 2020
Intense.
November 28, 2022
Lots of plots advanced. I really need to get to the ending to judge it. Since the story features a lot of characters I like, but in dire situations, I both enjoyed it and didn’t depending what was happening in the moment. Very hard to put down!
ETA as with the others, when read as part of the whole series it works even better!
ETA as with the others, when read as part of the whole series it works even better!
August 22, 2025
This entire series hits like a ton of bricks, and the titles of the books are so accurate it hurts sometimes. In Extremis is a brutal ride through difficult times for all involved, and the pirate queen is especially scary, though not as scary as the Usurper.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews