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The Song of the Shattered Sands #3
Een Sluier van Speren
Een Sluier van Speren is het derde deel van Bradley P. Beaulieu’s fantasy-trilogie Het Lied van het Gebroken Zand.
Sinds de Nacht van Ontelbare Zwaarden, een bloedige strijd die de heersers van Sharakhai amper wisten te overleven, jagen de koningen op de rebellen van de Maanloze Horde. Velen zijn gedwongen de stad te ontvluchten, onder wie ook Çeda, die erachter is gekomen dat de Feestkoning een leger aan het verzamelen is om de heerschappij van de andere koningen te betwisten.
Als Çeda de overgebleven leden van de Maanloze Horde vindt, nu bekend als de dertiende stam, heeft ze niet veel vertrouwen in hun overlevingskansen. Ze broedt op een plan om terug te keren naar Sharakhai en de asirim te bevrijden, de krachtige, onsterfelijke slaven van de koningen. De koningen daarentegen hebben hun grootste tacticus, de Zwaardkoning, op stap gestuurd om Çeda voor het gerecht te slepen.
Maar de eens zo hecht verenigde heerschappij van de koningen is aan het afbrokkelen. Ze wedijveren in het geheim met elkaar om de controle over Sharakhai te winnen. Çeda hoopt dat in haar voordeel te gebruiken, maar wie kan ze vertrouwen? Elk van hen zou haar kunnen verraden.
Terwijl Çeda werkt om de asirim uit hun ketenen te bevrijden, en de dertiende stam te redden, bereiden de koningen van Sharakhai, de sluwe koningin van Qaimir, de meedogenloze bloedmagiër Hamzakiir en de Zwaardkoning, zich allemaal voor op een groot gevecht dat het lot van allen kan bepalen.
Sinds de Nacht van Ontelbare Zwaarden, een bloedige strijd die de heersers van Sharakhai amper wisten te overleven, jagen de koningen op de rebellen van de Maanloze Horde. Velen zijn gedwongen de stad te ontvluchten, onder wie ook Çeda, die erachter is gekomen dat de Feestkoning een leger aan het verzamelen is om de heerschappij van de andere koningen te betwisten.
Als Çeda de overgebleven leden van de Maanloze Horde vindt, nu bekend als de dertiende stam, heeft ze niet veel vertrouwen in hun overlevingskansen. Ze broedt op een plan om terug te keren naar Sharakhai en de asirim te bevrijden, de krachtige, onsterfelijke slaven van de koningen. De koningen daarentegen hebben hun grootste tacticus, de Zwaardkoning, op stap gestuurd om Çeda voor het gerecht te slepen.
Maar de eens zo hecht verenigde heerschappij van de koningen is aan het afbrokkelen. Ze wedijveren in het geheim met elkaar om de controle over Sharakhai te winnen. Çeda hoopt dat in haar voordeel te gebruiken, maar wie kan ze vertrouwen? Elk van hen zou haar kunnen verraden.
Terwijl Çeda werkt om de asirim uit hun ketenen te bevrijden, en de dertiende stam te redden, bereiden de koningen van Sharakhai, de sluwe koningin van Qaimir, de meedogenloze bloedmagiër Hamzakiir en de Zwaardkoning, zich allemaal voor op een groot gevecht dat het lot van allen kan bepalen.
594 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2018
214 people are currently reading
2834 people want to read
About the author
Bradley P. Beaulieu
60 books1,299 followersBradley P. Beaulieu began writing his first fantasy novel in college, but life eventually intervened. As time went on, though, Brad realized that his love of writing and telling tales wasn't going to just slink quietly into the night. The drive to write came back full force in the early 2000s, at which point Brad dedicated himself to the craft, writing and learning under the guidance of writers like Nancy Kress, Joe Haldeman, Tim Powers, Holly Black, and many more.
Brad and his novels have garnered many accolades including two Hotties—the Debut of the Year and Best New Voice—on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, a Gemmell Morningstar Award nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo and more:
* Top Ten Book and Debut of the Year for 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Best New Voice of 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
* 2011 Gemmell Morningstar Award Nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Ranting Dragon's Best of 2011
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Mad Hatter's Best of 2011
* Top Five Book for 2012 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Straits of Galahesh
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on Staffer's Book Review
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on The Ranting Dragon
* 2013 Most Anticipated for The Flames of Shadam Khoreh on The Ranting Dragon
Brad continues to work on his next projects, including an Arabian Nights epic fantasy and a Norse-inspired middle grade series. He also runs the highly successful science fiction & fantasy podcast, Speculate, which can be found at speculatesf.com.
Novels
THE LAYS OF ANUSKAYA
* The Winds of Khalakovo
* The Straits of Galahesh
* The Flames of Shadam Khoreh
Short Story Collections
* Lest Our Passage Be Forgotten & Other Stories
Novellas
* Strata (with Stephen Gaskell)
Contact Information
Website: www.quillings.com
Twitter: @bbeaulieu
Facebook: facebook.com/bradley.p.beaulieu
Brad and his novels have garnered many accolades including two Hotties—the Debut of the Year and Best New Voice—on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, a Gemmell Morningstar Award nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo and more:
* Top Ten Book and Debut of the Year for 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Best New Voice of 2011 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
* 2011 Gemmell Morningstar Award Nomination for The Winds of Khalakovo
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Ranting Dragon's Best of 2011
* Top Ten Debut for The Winds of Khalakovo on Mad Hatter's Best of 2011
* Top Five Book for 2012 on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist for The Straits of Galahesh
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on Staffer's Book Review
* 2012 Most Anticipated for The Straits of Galahesh on The Ranting Dragon
* 2013 Most Anticipated for The Flames of Shadam Khoreh on The Ranting Dragon
Brad continues to work on his next projects, including an Arabian Nights epic fantasy and a Norse-inspired middle grade series. He also runs the highly successful science fiction & fantasy podcast, Speculate, which can be found at speculatesf.com.
Novels
THE LAYS OF ANUSKAYA
* The Winds of Khalakovo
* The Straits of Galahesh
* The Flames of Shadam Khoreh
Short Story Collections
* Lest Our Passage Be Forgotten & Other Stories
Novellas
* Strata (with Stephen Gaskell)
Contact Information
Website: www.quillings.com
Twitter: @bbeaulieu
Facebook: facebook.com/bradley.p.beaulieu
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
July 4, 2019
A thoroughly enjoyable read and continuation to the series which has SO many big reveals, tense moments and crazy excitement. I think this one was a perfect one to binge-read and I actually audiobook-ed it, which I do recommend, there is a lot to catch up on. I missed reading this one when it came out which meant that there was a long gap between me finishing the second and the third, but I think that I still managed to return to the characters and world and not feel like I was missing too much or too distant. It's definitely a unique enough story and world to keep you interested, and the combination of sand ships, tribes, trapped souls, magic and more just pulls you in.
Ceda is our main character still, but Emre is now quite key to the plot. I think that there are a whole load of other characters who would be worthy of noting here too, but becuase I listened to the audio a lot of the sound similar enough to have slightly confused my brain. The voice acting was decent, but trying to remember who is who now is proving trickier for the more minor characters.
The plot here is still very much about the 12 Kings being brought down and to task for their injustices against the thirteenth tribe. We have learned a lot about Ceda's mother and her quest and the reasons she did and believed what she did. I think by this point in the series we are starting to see a big shift towards the war which looms, and the end of the book is largely focused on that. However, there is also a lot of other magic which is happening with goddesses, blood magic, birds and more.
Overall, a solid continuation and a good way to get back into the series. I plan to read the next one soon whilst it's still fresh in my memory. 4*s
Ceda is our main character still, but Emre is now quite key to the plot. I think that there are a whole load of other characters who would be worthy of noting here too, but becuase I listened to the audio a lot of the sound similar enough to have slightly confused my brain. The voice acting was decent, but trying to remember who is who now is proving trickier for the more minor characters.
The plot here is still very much about the 12 Kings being brought down and to task for their injustices against the thirteenth tribe. We have learned a lot about Ceda's mother and her quest and the reasons she did and believed what she did. I think by this point in the series we are starting to see a big shift towards the war which looms, and the end of the book is largely focused on that. However, there is also a lot of other magic which is happening with goddesses, blood magic, birds and more.
Overall, a solid continuation and a good way to get back into the series. I plan to read the next one soon whilst it's still fresh in my memory. 4*s
March 30, 2018
Woah. I have so much love for this series.
I won’t go into plot as it is the third book but I will say if it has been a while since you read Of Sand and Malice Made, I recommend a reread.
These books have been so consistently great. I love how we dive straight back in where the last book left (it was the same with the second), no rehash of previous plots and stories, just straight in. It’s so refreshing! The world and plot gets ever more complex yet it’s never overwhelming. More magic has seeped into this book as more players enter the game. However, it’s still about the characters we’ve watched grow and begun to love.
The character development is fantastic. I never thought I’d warm to some (i totally have now) and there were those who I loved from the start who I’m now seeing as flawed, but equally compelling and intriguing. I love them all. Well, apart from those I hate. One in particular that I always hated, well now their true colours have come to light I am thrilled. I am sooo ready for the next one, I really dislike becoming this invested in an unfinished series, but i’ll cope for this, as it’s so worth it.
Ps. We get the reveal we’ve been waiting 2 (and a half) books for! You know the one... i had my suspicions and to be proved right is very interesting... can’t wait to see where Beaulieu takes us from here.
I won’t go into plot as it is the third book but I will say if it has been a while since you read Of Sand and Malice Made, I recommend a reread.
These books have been so consistently great. I love how we dive straight back in where the last book left (it was the same with the second), no rehash of previous plots and stories, just straight in. It’s so refreshing! The world and plot gets ever more complex yet it’s never overwhelming. More magic has seeped into this book as more players enter the game. However, it’s still about the characters we’ve watched grow and begun to love.
The character development is fantastic. I never thought I’d warm to some (i totally have now) and there were those who I loved from the start who I’m now seeing as flawed, but equally compelling and intriguing. I love them all. Well, apart from those I hate. One in particular that I always hated, well now their true colours have come to light I am thrilled. I am sooo ready for the next one, I really dislike becoming this invested in an unfinished series, but i’ll cope for this, as it’s so worth it.
Ps. We get the reveal we’ve been waiting 2 (and a half) books for! You know the one... i had my suspicions and to be proved right is very interesting... can’t wait to see where Beaulieu takes us from here.
August 12, 2020
So good! So many reveals and the stakes for the next installment have been raised immensely. I am so curious to see what the thirteenth tribe and Çeda will do in the face of this new dilemma. 😜 can't wait to read the next one!
The only thing I was disappointed about was that we did not get to see more of the Forsaken. I feel like they were underutilized. Hopefully we get see them more in the upcoming installments.
2020 PopSugar Reading Challenge
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
I know this prompt was probably meant for books about actual world leaders but those books were boring (Sex with Queens and Fountains of Silence) or I wasn't in the mood for them (Fires From Heaven and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter). So I'm counting this 🤷🏽♀️ it has Kings in it lol.
The only thing I was disappointed about was that we did not get to see more of the Forsaken. I feel like they were underutilized. Hopefully we get see them more in the upcoming installments.
2020 PopSugar Reading Challenge
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
I know this prompt was probably meant for books about actual world leaders but those books were boring (Sex with Queens and Fountains of Silence) or I wasn't in the mood for them (Fires From Heaven and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter). So I'm counting this 🤷🏽♀️ it has Kings in it lol.
July 21, 2019
What an amazing adventure so far! I am loving this series, the pace is great, the characters are fantastic and this epic tale just keeps unfolding! The 3 books are kinda flowing through one another atm for me cause I am binging the series. I don't mind at all, it is just that I don't know what to say cause I am entirely engrossed haha. And it feels like one big amazing movie.
I am enjoying how we are getting to know more about the thirteenth tribe, how dark the tale behind their disappearance and connection with the Kings. The scheming between the Kings is getting more secretive and extreme while one by one they are taken care of. The twist with Davud his plot was certainly interesting. The Kings are starting to sweat it and it is showing in their character. I wonder if in the next book we will get to see even more involvement of the Gods, they are watching the games unfold and some interference is present.
The storyline between Ramahd and Meryam is getting intense as well. Her power is showing in this series and her plans are slowly coming to fruition. She is ambitious.
Also the bigger role of both Ehrekh got me excited in this one as well. They are so ominous and manipulative! Magic is starting to get a bigger and bigger role to win it all. Though Ceda is totally doing it by her own strength, she is set on her goals and no one is getting in her way. There is so much passion. At the start of the series it was focussed on vengeance but now it is shifting and having a more noble goal as well, involving the thirteenth tribe and the people in general. The Kings must die!
I am enjoying how we are getting to know more about the thirteenth tribe, how dark the tale behind their disappearance and connection with the Kings. The scheming between the Kings is getting more secretive and extreme while one by one they are taken care of. The twist with Davud his plot was certainly interesting. The Kings are starting to sweat it and it is showing in their character. I wonder if in the next book we will get to see even more involvement of the Gods, they are watching the games unfold and some interference is present.
The storyline between Ramahd and Meryam is getting intense as well. Her power is showing in this series and her plans are slowly coming to fruition. She is ambitious.
Also the bigger role of both Ehrekh got me excited in this one as well. They are so ominous and manipulative! Magic is starting to get a bigger and bigger role to win it all. Though Ceda is totally doing it by her own strength, she is set on her goals and no one is getting in her way. There is so much passion. At the start of the series it was focussed on vengeance but now it is shifting and having a more noble goal as well, involving the thirteenth tribe and the people in general. The Kings must die!
October 1, 2021
Enjoyed this more than the previous books.
The writing improved and though I still have a little trouble connecting with the characters,
this was much better and improved.
Definitely will continue with this series.
The writing improved and though I still have a little trouble connecting with the characters,
this was much better and improved.
Definitely will continue with this series.
August 9, 2023
Epicness in all its glory. Where villains don't laugh maniacally, or twirl facial hair, and are even so lucky to get viewpoints included by the author. Can't believe there are still three books left — that ending! — but at the halfway point of the series now, I expect nothing but the best and so far that's all that's been delivered. Well done, good sir.
August 25, 2018
A rip-roaring time following Çeda through Sharakhai and the Shangazi! Once again, great narrative and cliffhangers. I was also glad that I read ‘Of Sand and Malice Made’ novella beforehand as it gave some additional insight into this particular novel. I’ll have to check out the other novellas as well.
My only regret is having to wait for the next volume in the series to come out.
My only regret is having to wait for the next volume in the series to come out.
Want to read
August 27, 2017The official cover A Veil of Spears (The Song of the Shattered Sands, #3) by Bradley P. Beaulieu by has been revealed!
Update: It's official! There will be books 4, 5, and 6! Yay!
Update: It's official! There will be books 4, 5, and 6! Yay!
June 21, 2019
Another excellent instalment in this fantastic fantasy series. The action takes place away from Sharakhai and moves into the desert, and it continues to be a fascinating setting. I eagerly await the next book!
April 23, 2017
Haven't read it yet, but annoyed by the two other non-readers who rated it 1 or 2 for no reason. Cannot wait for this.
April 10, 2024
Just wow, wow, wow!!! I'm so glad I have book 4 waiting for me! I'm also grateful for the synchronicity that got me reading this series! Seeing it in my news feed coz of my fellow reader Oldman_JE's rave reviews and realizing I might love this series too, and then finding books #2 and 3 at my local used bookstore!! Lucky!
I love reading acknowledgments and every time Beaulieu writes about how people helped him stay on point regarding the story! And it shows!! The story is incredible!! 3 books in and it's still just as exciting. Plus the story is big enough for 6 books! And there's no feeling of filler scenes or characters or unimportant chapters like many multi-book series have! I love Erikson but there were so many stories and characters in the Malazan series, that most were isolated and had no impact on the larger plot. And forget about GRRM or Kate Elliot or Rothfuss that have soooo much unimportant filler!!
I'm also reminded of the difference between authors that are good writers vs good storytellers. Guy Gavriel Kay and Jacqueline Carey are sometimes compared for their similar fantasy twist on historical worlds. Carey is a captivating writer but not a great storyteller (ie. linear plots and even boring at times) while Kay is a true master at storytelling and wrapping up different plot lines into one fascinating ending!! Or like GRRM is simply terrible at storytelling in my opinion but also a captivating writer that gets you hooked. Until I realized he wasn't going anywhere plot-wise and I gave up reading his series in disgust.
Anyways all that to say Beaulieu is both a brilliant storyteller and writer!! I'm ensnared by his writing but taken along for a most wondrous ride of a story!
I love reading acknowledgments and every time Beaulieu writes about how people helped him stay on point regarding the story! And it shows!! The story is incredible!! 3 books in and it's still just as exciting. Plus the story is big enough for 6 books! And there's no feeling of filler scenes or characters or unimportant chapters like many multi-book series have! I love Erikson but there were so many stories and characters in the Malazan series, that most were isolated and had no impact on the larger plot. And forget about GRRM or Kate Elliot or Rothfuss that have soooo much unimportant filler!!
I'm also reminded of the difference between authors that are good writers vs good storytellers. Guy Gavriel Kay and Jacqueline Carey are sometimes compared for their similar fantasy twist on historical worlds. Carey is a captivating writer but not a great storyteller (ie. linear plots and even boring at times) while Kay is a true master at storytelling and wrapping up different plot lines into one fascinating ending!! Or like GRRM is simply terrible at storytelling in my opinion but also a captivating writer that gets you hooked. Until I realized he wasn't going anywhere plot-wise and I gave up reading his series in disgust.
Anyways all that to say Beaulieu is both a brilliant storyteller and writer!! I'm ensnared by his writing but taken along for a most wondrous ride of a story!
January 15, 2023
4.5 Stars
A lot of things that had been setup in the first two books came to a head in this novel and it was tense, interesting and satisfying to see how the characters handled things and the outcomes they had. I found this entry to be much more action packed and quicker paced (probably because there were no flashback chapters) which I enjoyed! I missed some of the slow tension building and foreshadowing tidbits that I got to make theories about though!
The ending of this one was a banger and I'm excited to see where things go from here, especially because we got an event and a reveal that has setup some tension for things to come in the series.
There was one character arc that I would have liked to see a little more nuance to since I didn't find it entirely believable but it was for a minor side character that has never had their own POV so it didn't effect my enjoyment a whole ton.
Overall, really looking forward to continuing on with the series soon.
A lot of things that had been setup in the first two books came to a head in this novel and it was tense, interesting and satisfying to see how the characters handled things and the outcomes they had. I found this entry to be much more action packed and quicker paced (probably because there were no flashback chapters) which I enjoyed! I missed some of the slow tension building and foreshadowing tidbits that I got to make theories about though!
The ending of this one was a banger and I'm excited to see where things go from here, especially because we got an event and a reveal that has setup some tension for things to come in the series.
There was one character arc that I would have liked to see a little more nuance to since I didn't find it entirely believable but it was for a minor side character that has never had their own POV so it didn't effect my enjoyment a whole ton.
Overall, really looking forward to continuing on with the series soon.
June 2, 2018
The most consistently great series out there. So happy it'll be six books long and not just a trilogy.
Ceda is almost always the best part of the story. Certainly true for Books 1 & 2. And while she was awesome and kickin ass here, the bros of Sharakhai stepped it up!
Davud is wilding out with blood magic, along with his friend whose name I'm blanking on. She's on some darker magic...
Rahmad is having doubts about his Queen while also slitting throats from time to time. Brama is in deep shit with a she devil, but also can heal like crazy.
Emre ran away from a wyrm. King Ihsad may be the GOAT schemer. Ceda's dad is....well, you'll see.
5/5
Ceda is almost always the best part of the story. Certainly true for Books 1 & 2. And while she was awesome and kickin ass here, the bros of Sharakhai stepped it up!
Davud is wilding out with blood magic, along with his friend whose name I'm blanking on. She's on some darker magic...
Rahmad is having doubts about his Queen while also slitting throats from time to time. Brama is in deep shit with a she devil, but also can heal like crazy.
Emre ran away from a wyrm. King Ihsad may be the GOAT schemer. Ceda's dad is....well, you'll see.
5/5
July 17, 2025
La Nuit des Innombrables Lames a prélevé son tribut parmi les Rois de Sharaikhaï. les opposants au pouvoir doivent désormais fuir la répression dans le désert. Pendant ce temps, la reine de Qaimir semble disposée à s'allier aux Rois.
Une très bonne lecture malgré un début compliqué du fait du temps entre les deux tomes car si j'avais les grandes lignes en tête, les détails étaient flous voire pour certains complètement oubliés (Brama, nous nous étions visiblement déjà croisés auparavant, désolé...). Heureusement, le livre se permet d'effectuer des rappels bienvenus à certains moments.
Les intrigues se multiplient et sont dans l'ensemble toutes prenantes, les chapitres de terminant régulièrement sur des mini-cliffhangers tenant le lecteur en haleine. J'ai peut être un peu moins apprécié l'intrigue concernant les Qaimiriens qui prenait trop son temps à mon goût mais cela reste toutefois sympathique. J'ai par ailleurs trouvé Emre plus sympathique dans ce tome que dans le précédent.
Bien que plus éparse, l'intrigue concernant les complots entre les Rois s'avère quant à elle terriblement addictive et l'on regrette presque de repasser sur les autres protagonistes tant on aimerait en découvrir plus. Reste à savoir combien de Rois restera-t-il en vie pour terminer la saga !
Sans être l'un de mes gros coups de cœur, Sharaikhaï s'inscrit comme un cycle de fantasy solide que je prends toujours plaisir à parcourir, l'ambiance arabisante étant un énorme plus.
Une très bonne lecture malgré un début compliqué du fait du temps entre les deux tomes car si j'avais les grandes lignes en tête, les détails étaient flous voire pour certains complètement oubliés (Brama, nous nous étions visiblement déjà croisés auparavant, désolé...). Heureusement, le livre se permet d'effectuer des rappels bienvenus à certains moments.
Les intrigues se multiplient et sont dans l'ensemble toutes prenantes, les chapitres de terminant régulièrement sur des mini-cliffhangers tenant le lecteur en haleine. J'ai peut être un peu moins apprécié l'intrigue concernant les Qaimiriens qui prenait trop son temps à mon goût mais cela reste toutefois sympathique. J'ai par ailleurs trouvé Emre plus sympathique dans ce tome que dans le précédent.
Bien que plus éparse, l'intrigue concernant les complots entre les Rois s'avère quant à elle terriblement addictive et l'on regrette presque de repasser sur les autres protagonistes tant on aimerait en découvrir plus. Reste à savoir combien de Rois restera-t-il en vie pour terminer la saga !
Sans être l'un de mes gros coups de cœur, Sharaikhaï s'inscrit comme un cycle de fantasy solide que je prends toujours plaisir à parcourir, l'ambiance arabisante étant un énorme plus.
December 16, 2025
A Veil of Spears is the third book of the six-book series The Song of the Shattered Sands . The story continues to positively surprise me, although this one suffered a bit of a middle book syndrome. People were “misplaced” after the ending of the second book and first had to get into “new settings” which took a while. I also got a bit annoyed at the multiple POVs that brought me out of the flow. When a person came back, it often took so long, I forgot their dreadful situation. I was further annoyed at the stupid behaviour of Ramahd and Emre was just outright boring . On the positive side, this helped to make Ceda attractive again and she really started to shine. I also really liked to see the development of Davud his companion Anila. I look forward to reading more from both of them. Anyway, after everyone was back where they were supposed to (for the story to continue), events started to get interesting again in this desert world: sand-war ships were deployed, desert demons released, spear maidens’ eyes opened, blood called to blood which flowed and flowed into the sand…
August 16, 2018
Bradley Beaulieu is quickly becoming one of my favorite fantasy writers, and he proves his mettle once again in A Veil of Spears. A Veil of Spears picks up a mere couple of weeks following the end of With Blood Upon the Sand, joining Ceda, Kerim, and her wolf friends adrift in the desert, with no where to go but further in. And with her onward march through the dunes Ceda, and the reader by association, are introduced to the long lost Thirteenth Tribe as well as those who make their livelihoods trapped between Sharakhai and the neighboring kingdoms. All the while, we still have Ramahd and his mad queen plotting god knows what, along with Emre's upward movement through the ranks of the Moonless Host to deal with.
What Beaulieu does so well is his use of character view to drive the plot forward. He has a built a vast landscape that traverses not just our desert jewel city but through the desert tribes into Qaimir, Malasan and beyond. There are characters from various areas that all converge only to be swept apart when the plot demands it. So just as we spend the bulk of our time following Ceda as she seeks to connect with her heritage while also working to convert the blade maidens to her cause, we get a story made that much richer by our ability to follow King Ihsan, whose behind the scenes plotting against his fellow kings may lead to their downfall faster then Ceda can kill them. We can see Emre who, by the order of Macide and Ishaq, works to improve relations and gather support for the Moonless Host against the Kings. Ramahd, in turn, gives us insight into Qaimir's Queen's meddling and power quest. This is a great story telling technique because it allows the reader to learn more than each individual character. You read along and wonder when Ceda is going to learn that a certain someone is dead, or that Guhldrathen is after her because of someone else. He creates suspense in his ability to dangle pieces of plot in each person's narrative which makes the reader long to see the day when it is all put together.
As much as I mostly enjoy all the varying POVs, there are some I enjoy more then others. If I had single one out as not as interesting the award would have to go to Davud. Now it is not to say that his POV is not important, especially when where Beaulieu left him, Davud and his budding bloodmagery is going to add yet another layer to the mix. My problem lies with the fact that Davud's beginning chapters are a bit boring and repetitive. He has about three in a row where he visits the adichara trees, has a overly convoluted vision, wonders about making his friend talk to him again, and reading a book. But instead of going down a decidedly George R. R. Martin route and filling a thousand pages with Davud picking his nose and inventorying canned food, Beaulieu manages to break the monotony by bringing him in contact with multiple kings and eventually Ceda. And once he has played out his part he simply removes him from the book for the time being. Thank you Beaulieu by not continuing to stuff Davud down our throats when he is no longer contributing to the bulk of the story direction for the moment. It is a smart move and the reason I didn't subtract more stars because for a moment there I found him highly annoying. Useful but no less annoying. I just hope that Beaulieu remembers that while his supporting characters are well thought out, realized, and important to the plot, they are still not Ceda, who as far as I, and your inside cover flap, are concerned, is the main character that I show up to read about.
It is both a blessing and a curse that Beaulieu has created such a vast and detailed land, because with the large distances to traverse growing even larger, the main characters seem even further apart. I live for the days when the POVs start to join together and although we got the unlikely duo of Brama and Ramahd, and the dude squad of Emre and Macide, I was really hoping to see Ceda interact more with all of them. In a Veil of Spears, up until the end, the majority of the action seemed to lie with the guys, especially as Ceda spent time learning about her family and her tribe. I want to see them all fight together. I want to see them take down a ship or infiltrate a castle together. Even if they have to part again, I would like these characters to interact a little more. And I'm saddened by the ending's suggestion that some characters may be spending even more time apart then I would want. Although once again I have to applaud Beaulieu, because even as he does things that drive me crazy, he is careful to depict the importance of the move through dialogue, so that while I'm still grumbling about his choice, I am able to begrudging nod at the sense of the move.
I started reading this series thinking it was a trilogy, but with the addition of three more books I am so excited to see where this endless battle takes us. I can't wait for the next book to come out. The stage is set for a massive Sharakhaini brawl and I will definitely be lined up to witness the show.
What Beaulieu does so well is his use of character view to drive the plot forward. He has a built a vast landscape that traverses not just our desert jewel city but through the desert tribes into Qaimir, Malasan and beyond. There are characters from various areas that all converge only to be swept apart when the plot demands it. So just as we spend the bulk of our time following Ceda as she seeks to connect with her heritage while also working to convert the blade maidens to her cause, we get a story made that much richer by our ability to follow King Ihsan, whose behind the scenes plotting against his fellow kings may lead to their downfall faster then Ceda can kill them. We can see Emre who, by the order of Macide and Ishaq, works to improve relations and gather support for the Moonless Host against the Kings. Ramahd, in turn, gives us insight into Qaimir's Queen's meddling and power quest. This is a great story telling technique because it allows the reader to learn more than each individual character. You read along and wonder when Ceda is going to learn that a certain someone is dead, or that Guhldrathen is after her because of someone else. He creates suspense in his ability to dangle pieces of plot in each person's narrative which makes the reader long to see the day when it is all put together.
As much as I mostly enjoy all the varying POVs, there are some I enjoy more then others. If I had single one out as not as interesting the award would have to go to Davud. Now it is not to say that his POV is not important, especially when where Beaulieu left him, Davud and his budding bloodmagery is going to add yet another layer to the mix. My problem lies with the fact that Davud's beginning chapters are a bit boring and repetitive. He has about three in a row where he visits the adichara trees, has a overly convoluted vision, wonders about making his friend talk to him again, and reading a book. But instead of going down a decidedly George R. R. Martin route and filling a thousand pages with Davud picking his nose and inventorying canned food, Beaulieu manages to break the monotony by bringing him in contact with multiple kings and eventually Ceda. And once he has played out his part he simply removes him from the book for the time being. Thank you Beaulieu by not continuing to stuff Davud down our throats when he is no longer contributing to the bulk of the story direction for the moment. It is a smart move and the reason I didn't subtract more stars because for a moment there I found him highly annoying. Useful but no less annoying. I just hope that Beaulieu remembers that while his supporting characters are well thought out, realized, and important to the plot, they are still not Ceda, who as far as I, and your inside cover flap, are concerned, is the main character that I show up to read about.
It is both a blessing and a curse that Beaulieu has created such a vast and detailed land, because with the large distances to traverse growing even larger, the main characters seem even further apart. I live for the days when the POVs start to join together and although we got the unlikely duo of Brama and Ramahd, and the dude squad of Emre and Macide, I was really hoping to see Ceda interact more with all of them. In a Veil of Spears, up until the end, the majority of the action seemed to lie with the guys, especially as Ceda spent time learning about her family and her tribe. I want to see them all fight together. I want to see them take down a ship or infiltrate a castle together. Even if they have to part again, I would like these characters to interact a little more. And I'm saddened by the ending's suggestion that some characters may be spending even more time apart then I would want. Although once again I have to applaud Beaulieu, because even as he does things that drive me crazy, he is careful to depict the importance of the move through dialogue, so that while I'm still grumbling about his choice, I am able to begrudging nod at the sense of the move.
I started reading this series thinking it was a trilogy, but with the addition of three more books I am so excited to see where this endless battle takes us. I can't wait for the next book to come out. The stage is set for a massive Sharakhaini brawl and I will definitely be lined up to witness the show.
October 23, 2023
4.5 stars
Another amazing addition to this series! The author continues his fantastic world building and character development with this one, and the desert setting may be my favorite new fantasy setting. The politics get more complicated, alliances are broken and reshaped in this book, and Çeda continues on her quest of killing the Kings of Sharakhai. The ending/final battle could have been more epic for my liking, beacuse the build up there was so strong, yet the ending of the book leaves you wondering and wanting more. I'll stick with my recommendation of this series and I can't wait to read the next book!
Another amazing addition to this series! The author continues his fantastic world building and character development with this one, and the desert setting may be my favorite new fantasy setting. The politics get more complicated, alliances are broken and reshaped in this book, and Çeda continues on her quest of killing the Kings of Sharakhai. The ending/final battle could have been more epic for my liking, beacuse the build up there was so strong, yet the ending of the book leaves you wondering and wanting more. I'll stick with my recommendation of this series and I can't wait to read the next book!
March 25, 2018
Sharhakhai crumbles. With a quarter of it's ruling kings dead, chaos bubbles up from the depths of the desert.
Spoiler-ific review
Beaulieu delivers again with this fantastic third-book in a six book series. A VEIL OF SPEARS further ups the ante from book two, and sets up an even more tense book 4. If book 1 focused on crime and criminals, book 2 on a Kill-Bill assassination revenge plot, then book 3 is when the story REALLY opens up. We the readers finally begin to understand the depths to which the backstory and plot. The scope broadens from it's lowly origins, to expand to cover the machinations gods and demons.
Çeda is an action focused main character: not one for contemplating ancient mysteries, she solves her problems with swords and daring do. Instead most of the backstory's unfolding is done by the research of Davood and Rahaad, to recurring characters from the previous two books. I really liked Rahaad and Davood in this book- their character development was excellent as they begin to realize that they're lambs among lions. Ultimately all three are excellent characters- but the POV character I love the most was King Ysan. He's more delightfully evil here than in even book 2.
The plot was a non-standard Political Fantasy plot- multiple factions are struggling for control of the desert city of Sharhakhai. It develops book 2's factions further: the Moonless host, the desert tribes, the Queen of Qiamir, the King of Secrets, the King of Kings, the King of Spears and Hamzakiir are all fighting against one another for control of the city's wealth and magic. They form alliances and betray one another as a matter of course- in the end only one faction can come out on top. At the end the Thirteenth Tribe has been firmly reestablished, and roam the desert openly at war with Sharhakhai.
I loved this book, but it's time for some constructive criticism. This book didn't really expand the lore of the setting too much. For example, one of my favorite parts of book 2 was when characters sat around campfires and told folklore and fairy tales- we learn more about the setting and we the readers have some time to chill and relax between high-octane scenes. This book was much more action packed, making this a quicker read but ultimately less substantial. Beaulieu should have slowed down a bit, added a few more 'low-octane' scenes to slow things down, and maybe flesh out the desert's folklore and everyday life some more.
Stay Sunny!
Spoiler-ific review
Beaulieu delivers again with this fantastic third-book in a six book series. A VEIL OF SPEARS further ups the ante from book two, and sets up an even more tense book 4. If book 1 focused on crime and criminals, book 2 on a Kill-Bill assassination revenge plot, then book 3 is when the story REALLY opens up. We the readers finally begin to understand the depths to which the backstory and plot. The scope broadens from it's lowly origins, to expand to cover the machinations gods and demons.
Çeda is an action focused main character: not one for contemplating ancient mysteries, she solves her problems with swords and daring do. Instead most of the backstory's unfolding is done by the research of Davood and Rahaad, to recurring characters from the previous two books. I really liked Rahaad and Davood in this book- their character development was excellent as they begin to realize that they're lambs among lions. Ultimately all three are excellent characters- but the POV character I love the most was King Ysan. He's more delightfully evil here than in even book 2.
The plot was a non-standard Political Fantasy plot- multiple factions are struggling for control of the desert city of Sharhakhai. It develops book 2's factions further: the Moonless host, the desert tribes, the Queen of Qiamir, the King of Secrets, the King of Kings, the King of Spears and Hamzakiir are all fighting against one another for control of the city's wealth and magic. They form alliances and betray one another as a matter of course- in the end only one faction can come out on top. At the end the Thirteenth Tribe has been firmly reestablished, and roam the desert openly at war with Sharhakhai.
I loved this book, but it's time for some constructive criticism. This book didn't really expand the lore of the setting too much. For example, one of my favorite parts of book 2 was when characters sat around campfires and told folklore and fairy tales- we learn more about the setting and we the readers have some time to chill and relax between high-octane scenes. This book was much more action packed, making this a quicker read but ultimately less substantial. Beaulieu should have slowed down a bit, added a few more 'low-octane' scenes to slow things down, and maybe flesh out the desert's folklore and everyday life some more.
Stay Sunny!
June 11, 2018
Full review is here on my blog. :)
Ooooh, Çeda and Emre I missed youuuuuu!
As this is the third in a series, I'm going to do my level best to not spoil any of the story so far for anyone who hasn't read them. I mean... you should read them though, if you haven't. :D
Once again, just like the previous installments in this series, this one caught my attention and engrossed me absolutely immediately. We picked up where With Blood Upon the Sand left us, and events move right along. There's even a connection in this book to the characters from a novella in the series that I read between this one and the novel previous to it. Fun times!
We follow a few more points of view in this one than we have previously. In the beginning of the series, it seemed like just Ramahd, Çeda, and Emre, but now we've got a few other characters that have made themselves more prominent as the series has progressed.
I absolutely loved this one. Possibly more than the two previous installments of the series. Things are slowly coming together more and more here, and I'm excited to see where it goes. Characters who were good are... maybe not as good as I thought. Other characters that I thought were bad are... not so bad after all. All kinds of shenanigans happen between everyone as the story ramps up to where its going. The last 4 or so hours of this audiobook were unputdownable, and, thankfully I ended up having plenty of things I could do to occupy my hands for 4 hours. Awesome ending was awesome.
Sarah Coomes once again totally nails the narration here. I ended up just putting my headphones on and drifting along the desert with her at the helm. Much work got done, many things were made, chores were chored, and everyone rejoiced.
This series is slated to be 6 books long, and so I'll have to wait a bit for the ending, but if the rest of these books are anything like the first three were, it'll be worth it. I'm definitely going to be saving my audible credits well in advance, because these are among the best audiobooks I've ever listened to.
Ooooh, Çeda and Emre I missed youuuuuu!
As this is the third in a series, I'm going to do my level best to not spoil any of the story so far for anyone who hasn't read them. I mean... you should read them though, if you haven't. :D
Once again, just like the previous installments in this series, this one caught my attention and engrossed me absolutely immediately. We picked up where With Blood Upon the Sand left us, and events move right along. There's even a connection in this book to the characters from a novella in the series that I read between this one and the novel previous to it. Fun times!
We follow a few more points of view in this one than we have previously. In the beginning of the series, it seemed like just Ramahd, Çeda, and Emre, but now we've got a few other characters that have made themselves more prominent as the series has progressed.
I absolutely loved this one. Possibly more than the two previous installments of the series. Things are slowly coming together more and more here, and I'm excited to see where it goes. Characters who were good are... maybe not as good as I thought. Other characters that I thought were bad are... not so bad after all. All kinds of shenanigans happen between everyone as the story ramps up to where its going. The last 4 or so hours of this audiobook were unputdownable, and, thankfully I ended up having plenty of things I could do to occupy my hands for 4 hours. Awesome ending was awesome.
Sarah Coomes once again totally nails the narration here. I ended up just putting my headphones on and drifting along the desert with her at the helm. Much work got done, many things were made, chores were chored, and everyone rejoiced.
This series is slated to be 6 books long, and so I'll have to wait a bit for the ending, but if the rest of these books are anything like the first three were, it'll be worth it. I'm definitely going to be saving my audible credits well in advance, because these are among the best audiobooks I've ever listened to.
April 8, 2018
This was amazing and more than worth the wait. This one picks up right where the previous book left off and a lot happens. We get more magic introduced as well as more political maneuverings and that big reveal that has been such a mystery throughout the series this far.
Çeda is such an interesting character but she isn't the only interesting character and we get to see quite a few other POVs which helps to drive the plot along at a steady pace and ramp things up.
There is a lot of conflict with the Kings and Çeda at the midst of it all. The asirim also play a huge role in this instalment.
I for one can't wait to see where the story goes as there are a few intriguing threads to pursue going onwards and I'm curious to see how our all plays out.
This epic fantasy series set in a desert setting has everything I want in a fantasy series and more. I can't recommend it enough.
Çeda is such an interesting character but she isn't the only interesting character and we get to see quite a few other POVs which helps to drive the plot along at a steady pace and ramp things up.
There is a lot of conflict with the Kings and Çeda at the midst of it all. The asirim also play a huge role in this instalment.
I for one can't wait to see where the story goes as there are a few intriguing threads to pursue going onwards and I'm curious to see how our all plays out.
This epic fantasy series set in a desert setting has everything I want in a fantasy series and more. I can't recommend it enough.
May 14, 2018
I will not even attempt to cover up my love for this series, THIS is how you DO EPIC FANTASY and do it RIGHT. Ceda's story continues and the magic, and the world. and the action and the pacing and everything is how it is supposed to be. Young writers take note, this is how you do it.
This is a great series, make yourself happy and start from the beginning and read them all.
(apologies for short review, but I only gush so much in one day, my tank is empty)
589 stars out of 5
This is a great series, make yourself happy and start from the beginning and read them all.
(apologies for short review, but I only gush so much in one day, my tank is empty)
589 stars out of 5
March 25, 2018
I love love love love this book even more than the 2 previous books! I can't say too much without spoiling it for others and I suck at proper reviews anyways. This book has got some awesome battle/fight scenes and a really nice surprise when it comes to Çeda's love life. So go read it!
March 30, 2018
Absolutely loved this,
Just a higher level of brilliance, that final battle was just insane. Loved the character development, loved how Ceda has grown from a one woman army to this powerful leader, and still plenty of great twists.
Just a higher level of brilliance, that final battle was just insane. Loved the character development, loved how Ceda has grown from a one woman army to this powerful leader, and still plenty of great twists.
April 9, 2021
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
Coming into part three of a six book epic, my expectations were already set sky high for what the author could accomplish. With the death toll piling up, revelations discovered, tragedy’s suffered by our main characters, there is no telling what rabbit Bradley P. Beaulieu was going to pull out of his hat. A Veil of Spears is a triumph in every sense of the word and having read all of the books in the series except for the finale, this is my favorite book so far. No rock will be left unturned and no dark corridor will go unexplored. Topped with a breathtaking climax and the biggest mystery of all will be revealed, who is Ceda’s father? This will be a spoiler free review but I will be talking about events that have happened in previous books.
Having narrowly escaped with her life, Ceda now holds the legendary bracelet of King Mesut after killing him on the battlefield. The imprisoned king of the Thirteenth tribe, Sehid-Alaz, manages to temporarily break his curse and assist Ceda before the kings take her life. This bracelet holds the trapped souls of the asirim and Ceda will do everything in her power to release these souls and save the asirim from their eternal torment. The remaining kings are now beside themselves after the Moonless Hosts’ plan to destroy their elixirs of life succeeded and the enemies having fled into the desert. The kings must rally the army to seek vengeance but other kings are seeing opportunities to gain more power from each other. The blood mage Hamzakiir has split the faction of the Moonless Host in two and was able to sneak into the palace with his followers to get a hold of one third of the kings elixirs. Hamzakiir has also awakened the powers of Davud as he becomes a blood mage himself. Davud uses all of his will and power to stop Hamzakiir’s plans but ends up burning his best friend Anilia, nearly to death. No one is safe under the desert sun, even the ones with the most power.
A Veil of Spears is all about revelations and surprises and they don’t stop coming. It was shocking to learn that the leader of the Moonless Host Macide is Ceda’s uncle and they claim to be the descendants of the Thirteenth tribe. The same Thirteenth tribe that were sacrificed to the gods in order for the other tribe kings to gain immortality and the victims turned into the asirim. Due to Ceda’s connection to the asirim, she feels their pain, terrors, and the destruction they have suffered for centuries. The torment has gone on for long enough and the race to free the asirim is on. We also get a front row sit into the inner workers of Queen Meryam and how she plans to gain power among the kings. You might want to buckle in, because this will be a bumpy ride!
I can’t recommend this series enough to epic fantasy fans out there regardless of your reading experience or preferences. This series has it all: strong female POV, magic, secrets in the form of riddles, ancient lore, gods, war, and so much more. Everything I could every ask for is in this series and you should discover it for yourself.
Cheers!
Coming into part three of a six book epic, my expectations were already set sky high for what the author could accomplish. With the death toll piling up, revelations discovered, tragedy’s suffered by our main characters, there is no telling what rabbit Bradley P. Beaulieu was going to pull out of his hat. A Veil of Spears is a triumph in every sense of the word and having read all of the books in the series except for the finale, this is my favorite book so far. No rock will be left unturned and no dark corridor will go unexplored. Topped with a breathtaking climax and the biggest mystery of all will be revealed, who is Ceda’s father? This will be a spoiler free review but I will be talking about events that have happened in previous books.
Having narrowly escaped with her life, Ceda now holds the legendary bracelet of King Mesut after killing him on the battlefield. The imprisoned king of the Thirteenth tribe, Sehid-Alaz, manages to temporarily break his curse and assist Ceda before the kings take her life. This bracelet holds the trapped souls of the asirim and Ceda will do everything in her power to release these souls and save the asirim from their eternal torment. The remaining kings are now beside themselves after the Moonless Hosts’ plan to destroy their elixirs of life succeeded and the enemies having fled into the desert. The kings must rally the army to seek vengeance but other kings are seeing opportunities to gain more power from each other. The blood mage Hamzakiir has split the faction of the Moonless Host in two and was able to sneak into the palace with his followers to get a hold of one third of the kings elixirs. Hamzakiir has also awakened the powers of Davud as he becomes a blood mage himself. Davud uses all of his will and power to stop Hamzakiir’s plans but ends up burning his best friend Anilia, nearly to death. No one is safe under the desert sun, even the ones with the most power.
A Veil of Spears is all about revelations and surprises and they don’t stop coming. It was shocking to learn that the leader of the Moonless Host Macide is Ceda’s uncle and they claim to be the descendants of the Thirteenth tribe. The same Thirteenth tribe that were sacrificed to the gods in order for the other tribe kings to gain immortality and the victims turned into the asirim. Due to Ceda’s connection to the asirim, she feels their pain, terrors, and the destruction they have suffered for centuries. The torment has gone on for long enough and the race to free the asirim is on. We also get a front row sit into the inner workers of Queen Meryam and how she plans to gain power among the kings. You might want to buckle in, because this will be a bumpy ride!
I can’t recommend this series enough to epic fantasy fans out there regardless of your reading experience or preferences. This series has it all: strong female POV, magic, secrets in the form of riddles, ancient lore, gods, war, and so much more. Everything I could every ask for is in this series and you should discover it for yourself.
Cheers!
May 3, 2018
I generally reserve my reviews for the final book of the series and that too selectively. I just wanted to show my appreciation for the author for keeping me hooked for 3 books and promising 3 more to come, and gifting us a book per year at that!
The board is set, the pieces are moving, and the intrigue is slowly, consistently building up!
The board is set, the pieces are moving, and the intrigue is slowly, consistently building up!
March 29, 2018
Very entertaining
If you enjoyed the previous books,you'll enjoy this story as well. Multiple stories going on, plenty of politicking, backstabbing,and plenty of sword fighting. Throw in zombie like creatures and mabey a dragon, this story I felt, far exceeded my expectations. Not the typical gritty fantasy i truly enjoy, but the writing is top notch and the characters are exceptional. If your looking for a bonus (spoiler alert) this is not a trilogy,there's at least one more. That was a pleasant surprise.
If you enjoyed the previous books,you'll enjoy this story as well. Multiple stories going on, plenty of politicking, backstabbing,and plenty of sword fighting. Throw in zombie like creatures and mabey a dragon, this story I felt, far exceeded my expectations. Not the typical gritty fantasy i truly enjoy, but the writing is top notch and the characters are exceptional. If your looking for a bonus (spoiler alert) this is not a trilogy,there's at least one more. That was a pleasant surprise.
January 21, 2023
Excellent installment in this series.
4.5***
4.5***
April 4, 2018
A Veil of Spears is the third book in Beaulieu’s Song of the Shattered Sands series and I must say, it’s still going strong. There’s no stopping the Ceda-train and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Some books really start to drag and become more and more ridiculous and unbelievable (yes I know it’s fantasy) as the story progresses. Not so with this series as Beaulieu doesn’t just blurt out answers to the questions that have been burning in your mind. He hoards his story’s secrets, doling them out a few at a time.
I continue to enjoy each character’s perspective, particularly Ceda and Ramahd. I’d be lying if I said their chapters didn’t have me worried from time to time as both make risky moves that keep me on the edge of my seat. The introduction of the healer Brama as a new POV was particularly interesting as it revealed more about the ehrek as well as Brama’s own past. The ehrek are really awesome mythical-type beings that just seem really terrifying. I would love to see them illustrated – perhaps we can hope for a beautiful illustrated edition from Subterranean Press. I’d totally buy all of them.
I like the new turmoil in the House of Kings as well. These books are by no means small and Bradley Beaulieu never makes them too heavy or leaves the reader feeling as if they’re slogging along. It’s easy to lose yourself in these books because of the massive of amount of action and devious plotting which abounds. The Kings of Sharakhai are down in number, but it seems as if those who remain have redoubled efforts to overthrow one another. Onur is now subjugating the desert tribes while Ihsan continues to plot dastardly deeds of devious nature. There’s just so much going on, especially now that Sukru has Davud and Anila in his “care”. On the flip side of the madness in Sharakhai, there’s the Thirteenth tribe regrouping in the desert, trying to establish a presence…
A Veil of Spears is an excellent book that I would say is on par with the first two as far as enjoyment and quality go. Bradley Beaulieu doesn’t get much hype in the fantasy community (that I’ve noticed) but he certainly deserves more recognition. If you want an ambitious fantasy series with a rich, desert setting, great characters, and loads of action then I’d say this would be a perfect fit. This will be a six books series, so we’re at the midpoint – plenty of time to catch up before the rest of the series comes out!
I continue to enjoy each character’s perspective, particularly Ceda and Ramahd. I’d be lying if I said their chapters didn’t have me worried from time to time as both make risky moves that keep me on the edge of my seat. The introduction of the healer Brama as a new POV was particularly interesting as it revealed more about the ehrek as well as Brama’s own past. The ehrek are really awesome mythical-type beings that just seem really terrifying. I would love to see them illustrated – perhaps we can hope for a beautiful illustrated edition from Subterranean Press. I’d totally buy all of them.
I like the new turmoil in the House of Kings as well. These books are by no means small and Bradley Beaulieu never makes them too heavy or leaves the reader feeling as if they’re slogging along. It’s easy to lose yourself in these books because of the massive of amount of action and devious plotting which abounds. The Kings of Sharakhai are down in number, but it seems as if those who remain have redoubled efforts to overthrow one another. Onur is now subjugating the desert tribes while Ihsan continues to plot dastardly deeds of devious nature. There’s just so much going on, especially now that Sukru has Davud and Anila in his “care”. On the flip side of the madness in Sharakhai, there’s the Thirteenth tribe regrouping in the desert, trying to establish a presence…
A Veil of Spears is an excellent book that I would say is on par with the first two as far as enjoyment and quality go. Bradley Beaulieu doesn’t get much hype in the fantasy community (that I’ve noticed) but he certainly deserves more recognition. If you want an ambitious fantasy series with a rich, desert setting, great characters, and loads of action then I’d say this would be a perfect fit. This will be a six books series, so we’re at the midpoint – plenty of time to catch up before the rest of the series comes out!
September 21, 2024
REREAD 2024: Yeah, it's a good thing I reread this, because save for a single scene in the beginning, I remembered absolutely nothing about this book. I do disagree with my younger self; I didn't mind the added POVs so much this time around. I do feel like Çeda got less of a spotlight, but I also feel like the POVs did add something worthwhile, and I enjoyed it. Many times I gasped out loud at the twists I genuinely didn't see coming.
This is the last of the series I've read, so from here on out it's all new. Even if it's felt new for a while already xD Fingers crossed I can make it to the end!
I'll have to reread it one day in physical form only, as the audiobooks for this series just don't seem to work for me. I know I would have loved it so much if I had been able to read it now, so I'm still giving it 5 stars. So much happened in this one, with a lot of answers, and a lot of new questions!
I wasn't a huge fan of the added POV characters, as I felt like Çeda got pushed to the background a bit, while she is the main reason I love this series so much. But, admittedly, their chapters weren't just fillers, so it didn't feel like wasted time.
Bring on the next book!
This is the last of the series I've read, so from here on out it's all new. Even if it's felt new for a while already xD Fingers crossed I can make it to the end!
I'll have to reread it one day in physical form only, as the audiobooks for this series just don't seem to work for me. I know I would have loved it so much if I had been able to read it now, so I'm still giving it 5 stars. So much happened in this one, with a lot of answers, and a lot of new questions!
I wasn't a huge fan of the added POV characters, as I felt like Çeda got pushed to the background a bit, while she is the main reason I love this series so much. But, admittedly, their chapters weren't just fillers, so it didn't feel like wasted time.
Bring on the next book!
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