A young prince with a dream. An acrobat with a nightmare power. A ruthless wizard who wants both dead to clear his own way to the throne. Can Enemies Become Friends? The last thing that acrobat Kirin DiUmbra needs is to get snared in the deadly succession politics of the Kingdom of Silbar. The first thing Prince Terrell wants is to prove himself worthy to wear the Silbari Crown. But he’s going to need un-looked-for help if he isn’t to end up murdered. Two young men are thrown together by fate in a desperate struggle for their lives amidst magical dangers and deadly enemies. They must fight their way through crumbling ruin and searing desert, past bloody-handed fanatics and hostile ghosts. But even death will pale before the painful truths they must face when together they stand before the Stone Throne, and challenge the arcane power that will choose the next King of Silbar. Come along on a lush fantasy adventure in an ancient and magical land. "Heartily recommended! Convincing action, interesting characters skillfully realized." S.M. Stirling. Click Buy Now or to read FREE in Kindle Unlimited and enjoy this gripping fantasy!
I wish I could endorse this book but I’m very very disappointed in it. The synopsis for the back of the book deceives the reader in think this will be about two men thrust together and fighting alongside each other battling fate but they don’t even have a conversation or truly meet until the last 100 pages. This book fridges women. It’s characters are one dimensional and all kind of blend in. There are so many pointless POVs that do nothing for the story and the TELLING so much TELLING. The writing style in this just does not work for me being in everyone’s thoughts all the time and they’re just spelling out the story that it almost insults the intelligence of the reader. The timeline also just didn’t work and felt convenient and rushed or unnecessarily extended for no real reason. The women in this book really served no purpose other than to be used for sex or childbirth and then only to die once given a small POV. There is like two exceptions to this rule but considering they don’t do much except serve the men in other ways, I’m counting it.
This book was so all over the place I can’t even concisely or coherently explain my feelings towards this.
I wished so much for this book to be good but find myself utterly disappointment in more ways than one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It's the world-building that first drew me in. We've got everything here, including a bureaucracy! Now I know it's real. Peter Sartucci has a good sense for the telling detail: a fortune-teller smells of "desert incense and goats and sweat". I feel as if I could walk among these adobe-walled buildings and climb up the roads through the hills outside.
A world needs people of course. These are wonderfully varied. Royalty and humble entertainers, a powerful wizard pursuing his own ends without regard for the Empire or it people, and a man who is deeply conflicted about his own powers. A sorceress who's hundreds of years old, but has sworn allegiance to the royal line many times. I love multiple viewpoint novels, and here we have a feast of them.
They don't know it, but they're all part of each other's story. The prince just coming into his life as a ruler, the acrobat/actor trying desperately to help his family find a new performance place, mages, generals and all are going to connect.
I very much recommend this book, I loved every minute that I spent reading it. I would have never guessed this was Peter:s first book. Get the book, you won't be disappointed.
I liked this book. Good characters, good universe. Good adventure, and a good twist. It starts a little slowly, and ends a little quickly, so PS needs to work on his pacing a little. It isn't listed as a first book but I can see a 3-book series, if he wants to write it. I'd read it.
The author crafts a vibrant, deep world for his characters, and gives them the freedom to play joyously in it. The story is superb, and well worth reading.