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Perilous Embraces: A Sword and Sorcery Novel from the Lands of Hope
W'starrah (Altieri) can see the future, ranks high in her church, and is without question the most beautiful woman in the North Mark. But the prophecy she knows to be true will either break her heart, destroy her home, or end her life.
In 2002 ADR, the jewel of the southern empire is the city of Cryssigens, where life is an unending carnival of display, while intrigue brews beneath the surface. Nobles, guilds, and House Cups scheme with and against each other, even in the best of times. But civil war stripped the city of its Overlord, now factions emerge to dare all in a bid to succeed to the throne.
One of the leading lights of Cryssigensian society is W'starrah Altieri, the Lavender Lady, high-ranking priestess of the sect of Argens Stargazer; while others see only her dazzling beauty, her eyes are filled with visions of the future. She willingly risks her life and reputation to save her city, but juggling visions, rivals, suitors and the occasional assassin pushes the real world further from her grasp. Who could expect that in the midst of this she would meet the promised love of her life, or foresee that he too is doomed?
Perilous Embraces is the third book in the "Shards of Light" saga set in the Lands of Hope. It is highly recommended that you read The Ring and the Flag and Fencing Reputation first. It is followed by Shards of Light (coming in 2018).
In 2002 ADR, the jewel of the southern empire is the city of Cryssigens, where life is an unending carnival of display, while intrigue brews beneath the surface. Nobles, guilds, and House Cups scheme with and against each other, even in the best of times. But civil war stripped the city of its Overlord, now factions emerge to dare all in a bid to succeed to the throne.
One of the leading lights of Cryssigensian society is W'starrah Altieri, the Lavender Lady, high-ranking priestess of the sect of Argens Stargazer; while others see only her dazzling beauty, her eyes are filled with visions of the future. She willingly risks her life and reputation to save her city, but juggling visions, rivals, suitors and the occasional assassin pushes the real world further from her grasp. Who could expect that in the midst of this she would meet the promised love of her life, or foresee that he too is doomed?
Perilous Embraces is the third book in the "Shards of Light" saga set in the Lands of Hope. It is highly recommended that you read The Ring and the Flag and Fencing Reputation first. It is followed by Shards of Light (coming in 2018).
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2017
1 person want to read
About the author
William L. Hahn
33 books31 followersWill Hahn has been in love with heroic tales since age four, when his father read him the Lays of Ancient Rome and the Tales of King Arthur. He taught Ancient-Medieval History for years, but the line between this world and others has always been thin; the far reaches of fantasy, like the distant past, still bring him face to face with people like us, who have choices to make.
Will didn't always make the right choices when he was young. Any stick or vaguely-sticklike object became a sword in his hands, to the great dismay of his five sisters. Everyone survived, in part by virtue of a rule forbidding him from handling umbrellas, ski poles, curtain rods and more.
Will has written about the Lands of Hope since his college days (which by now are also part of ancient history). His first tales include "Three Minutes to Midnight" a slightly-dark sword and sorcery novelette, as well as “The Ring and the Flag” and "Fencing Reputation", the first stories in the ongoing Shards of Light series. The first novel-length tale of Hope, "The Plane of Dreams" was published in September 2012, and 2014 saw the serialized publication of the seminal epic "Judgement's Tale" beginning with "Games of Chance".
Will didn't always make the right choices when he was young. Any stick or vaguely-sticklike object became a sword in his hands, to the great dismay of his five sisters. Everyone survived, in part by virtue of a rule forbidding him from handling umbrellas, ski poles, curtain rods and more.
Will has written about the Lands of Hope since his college days (which by now are also part of ancient history). His first tales include "Three Minutes to Midnight" a slightly-dark sword and sorcery novelette, as well as “The Ring and the Flag” and "Fencing Reputation", the first stories in the ongoing Shards of Light series. The first novel-length tale of Hope, "The Plane of Dreams" was published in September 2012, and 2014 saw the serialized publication of the seminal epic "Judgement's Tale" beginning with "Games of Chance".
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 5, 2019
The first time I read this book, I raced through it seeking to build on the first two and learn what was coming next. That was a mistake. This is a book that needs to be savored. It deserves you to saunter through it rather run. And if you are wise enough to take your time, you will find a novel of great subtlety definitely handled by an extraordinary writer.
William L. Hahn’s greatest strength may be his ability to adopt extremely distinctive voices for his characters. The first three books in his Shards of Light series each picks up the tale of a different player in an unfolding political crisis. Captain Justin is trying to keep the region peacefully in the Empire. Feldspar, the adrenaline junky, gets involved despite his lack of interest in politics when he’s hired to locate a magical artifact. And finally, the priestess, Altieri, who is trying to build a political alliance that will prevent the Emperor from feeling the need to come forth and crush a rebellious region. Each book in the series thus far has been told from a different one of these perspectives and each in a very distinctive voice. And each story weaves in and out of the tales of the other characters braiding the series together in a most satisfying way.
Perilous Embraces is the critical book of the series. Justin and Feldspar, the heroes of the first two novels, are outsiders who never really understand the civil war that is brewing. But the priestess heroine of this third novel has the familiarity with the city to fully understand the danger just as she has the skills to sort through the factions and find out who the true villains are. So Altieri, guided by the confusing visions of the future bestowed upon her by the Stargazer, risks everything she has to keep her city from erupting in blood shed and death using the weapons of a politician—words and innuendo—rather than swords and daggers. T
Once again, Hahn’s narration and sound effects richly add to the drama of his story. He is a master of the spoken word and it greatly enhances the experience. Right up to the utterly surprising end.
William L. Hahn’s greatest strength may be his ability to adopt extremely distinctive voices for his characters. The first three books in his Shards of Light series each picks up the tale of a different player in an unfolding political crisis. Captain Justin is trying to keep the region peacefully in the Empire. Feldspar, the adrenaline junky, gets involved despite his lack of interest in politics when he’s hired to locate a magical artifact. And finally, the priestess, Altieri, who is trying to build a political alliance that will prevent the Emperor from feeling the need to come forth and crush a rebellious region. Each book in the series thus far has been told from a different one of these perspectives and each in a very distinctive voice. And each story weaves in and out of the tales of the other characters braiding the series together in a most satisfying way.
Perilous Embraces is the critical book of the series. Justin and Feldspar, the heroes of the first two novels, are outsiders who never really understand the civil war that is brewing. But the priestess heroine of this third novel has the familiarity with the city to fully understand the danger just as she has the skills to sort through the factions and find out who the true villains are. So Altieri, guided by the confusing visions of the future bestowed upon her by the Stargazer, risks everything she has to keep her city from erupting in blood shed and death using the weapons of a politician—words and innuendo—rather than swords and daggers. T
Once again, Hahn’s narration and sound effects richly add to the drama of his story. He is a master of the spoken word and it greatly enhances the experience. Right up to the utterly surprising end.
January 8, 2020
This is a difficult one to review, because I have to separate my opinion on the plot from the writing, which made it hard to decide if I just liked it or really liked it. Probably somewhere in between. If there were half stars, I'd rate it 3.5.
The writing is solid. The pacing is appropriately quick, adding to the overall anxiety and chaotic nature of the plot. What keeps me from giving it more stars is that I found the narrator point of view to be awkward and distancing from the main character. Without disclosing anything of the plot, I understand why a first-person narration wouldn't work here. There are good reasons why W'starrah couldn't tell this story herself. However, the second-person narration, which is unusual to read and was likely difficult to write, sometimes tripped me up and kept me from really relating to the character the way I wanted to.
Plot-wise, well, let's just say that W'starrah, along with Feldspar, is one of my favorite characters and I did not like where this character went. I liked the hints we got of her in the earlier books and was looking forward to hearing her part of the story. I really wanted to love this chapter of the epic tale. W'starrah is witty and smart, courageous and devoted to her people, and one of the few female characters in the tale. She's playing a dangerous game and she knows it, but willingly accepts those risks for the good of her people. And then, and then, well, no spoilers. Alas, I'm withholding a final judgement until I read the last book in the series, which I hope resolves things in a better way for W'starrah.
The writing is solid. The pacing is appropriately quick, adding to the overall anxiety and chaotic nature of the plot. What keeps me from giving it more stars is that I found the narrator point of view to be awkward and distancing from the main character. Without disclosing anything of the plot, I understand why a first-person narration wouldn't work here. There are good reasons why W'starrah couldn't tell this story herself. However, the second-person narration, which is unusual to read and was likely difficult to write, sometimes tripped me up and kept me from really relating to the character the way I wanted to.
Plot-wise, well, let's just say that W'starrah, along with Feldspar, is one of my favorite characters and I did not like where this character went. I liked the hints we got of her in the earlier books and was looking forward to hearing her part of the story. I really wanted to love this chapter of the epic tale. W'starrah is witty and smart, courageous and devoted to her people, and one of the few female characters in the tale. She's playing a dangerous game and she knows it, but willingly accepts those risks for the good of her people. And then, and then, well, no spoilers. Alas, I'm withholding a final judgement until I read the last book in the series, which I hope resolves things in a better way for W'starrah.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews