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Hidden Histories #2
The Spymaster's Apprentice
Karen Healey and Robyn Fleming revisit their stunning Hidden Histories universe a few years after THE EMPRESS OF TIMBRA!
"Father was in his office. It felt like a blessing on a day full of curses when I heard his voice calling me in. He was frowning at a pamphlet. 'What do you think about—' he began, and then, his gaze sharper, 'What’s happened?'
'Remember how I swore that I’d never help a prisoner escape their sentence again without asking you first?'
'It’s very clear in my mind.'
'Well, she’s not sentenced. Or a prisoner, yet. And I am asking.'
Taver is growing up and learning his craft, neither of which is easy – particularly when the two combine to force some hard choices. When an old enemy needs his help, Taver must find a balance between law and justice. Get ready for blacksmiths, pirates, chores, awkward conversations, and deadly politics in this exciting novella.
"Father was in his office. It felt like a blessing on a day full of curses when I heard his voice calling me in. He was frowning at a pamphlet. 'What do you think about—' he began, and then, his gaze sharper, 'What’s happened?'
'Remember how I swore that I’d never help a prisoner escape their sentence again without asking you first?'
'It’s very clear in my mind.'
'Well, she’s not sentenced. Or a prisoner, yet. And I am asking.'
Taver is growing up and learning his craft, neither of which is easy – particularly when the two combine to force some hard choices. When an old enemy needs his help, Taver must find a balance between law and justice. Get ready for blacksmiths, pirates, chores, awkward conversations, and deadly politics in this exciting novella.
- GenresScience Fiction Fantasy
Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2018
14 people want to read
About the author
Karen Healey
35 books426 followersKaren Healey lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she jars stubborn scenes loose by wandering along the river.
She writes speculative fiction and magical romance for young adults and adults, including the award winning When We Wake duology and Guardian of the Dead. Her recent books include Bespoke & Bespelled and (as Kate Healey) the Olympus Inc. series.
She writes speculative fiction and magical romance for young adults and adults, including the award winning When We Wake duology and Guardian of the Dead. Her recent books include Bespoke & Bespelled and (as Kate Healey) the Olympus Inc. series.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 20, 2018
This is an excellent and engaging sequel to 'The Empress of Timbra'.
Set 3 years later, young Taver is now firmly established as a spymaster's apprentice to his father, but it's still true that sometimes his assignments give him pause for thought. What doesn't give him any trouble is saving the mother of a former enemy after she loses control of her Art and kills her brutal husband with it. She'd put up with years of being badly beaten up, her and her older son Kalbar, but when her husband finds out she's planning to leave him and he turns on her younger son, she fights back. Since it's considered blasphemy for a woman to use her Art to kill, Taver takes her to the Okkelg, the pirates who three years earlier had tried to put Taver on Timbra's throne and fought the One Day War in an effort to achieve that aim. The Okkelg will accept anyone into their clans, provided they can find a sponsor, and they're very happy to accept Mistress Tukelta, who is a skilled weaver, into the Belkanar clan.
Taver's other task is to assassinate Danavar, the Empress' uncle, who'd persuaded the Okkelg to try to put Taver on the throne of Timbra. Danavar's been writing poisonous letters and pamphlets, trying to persuade Timbrans to his way of thinking, and Taver's father deems him too dangerous to be allowed to live, so Taver visits the barren island that is Danavar's home, and uses his Art to kill the man.
Set 3 years later, young Taver is now firmly established as a spymaster's apprentice to his father, but it's still true that sometimes his assignments give him pause for thought. What doesn't give him any trouble is saving the mother of a former enemy after she loses control of her Art and kills her brutal husband with it. She'd put up with years of being badly beaten up, her and her older son Kalbar, but when her husband finds out she's planning to leave him and he turns on her younger son, she fights back. Since it's considered blasphemy for a woman to use her Art to kill, Taver takes her to the Okkelg, the pirates who three years earlier had tried to put Taver on Timbra's throne and fought the One Day War in an effort to achieve that aim. The Okkelg will accept anyone into their clans, provided they can find a sponsor, and they're very happy to accept Mistress Tukelta, who is a skilled weaver, into the Belkanar clan.
Taver's other task is to assassinate Danavar, the Empress' uncle, who'd persuaded the Okkelg to try to put Taver on the throne of Timbra. Danavar's been writing poisonous letters and pamphlets, trying to persuade Timbrans to his way of thinking, and Taver's father deems him too dangerous to be allowed to live, so Taver visits the barren island that is Danavar's home, and uses his Art to kill the man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2018
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2018/06...
The second book in the Hidden Histories series (after The Empress of Timbra, which I liked very much) picks up a few years after the first one, and I can't say much about the plot because it's all spoilers for its predecessor. But it's still engaging, well-paced, with interesting and sympathetic characters and a lot of moral ambiguity. My only complaint is that I want more! A/A-.
The second book in the Hidden Histories series (after The Empress of Timbra, which I liked very much) picks up a few years after the first one, and I can't say much about the plot because it's all spoilers for its predecessor. But it's still engaging, well-paced, with interesting and sympathetic characters and a lot of moral ambiguity. My only complaint is that I want more! A/A-.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews