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Shadow Sword #2
The Last Seer King
IT’S THE SECRETS WE HIDE FROM OURSELVES THAT GIVE OTHERS POWER...
A rich tapestry of dark magic, obsession, dangerous prophecy, and the forgiveness found through friendship.
A rich tapestry of dark magic, obsession, dangerous prophecy, and the forgiveness found through friendship.
An ancient king returns...
For centuries, Roaran sought redemption. Now he can vanquish a tyrant and save a realm in chaos. But only if he cuts his last ties to humanity. Only if he returns to the one place that he swore he’d never dare go again…
A leader arises...
Slaver, raider, and warlord, Dannon wants to believe in something beyond killing. His yearning will take him on a deadly path to his destiny… that he’s fated to put aside all he believes in and fight a war he can’t win.
A warrior in chains...
A prisoner in the Icelands, about to be auctioned to the highest bidder, Val Arques has just one chance to escape and find Kaell before it’s too late—win at his captor’s dangerous psychological and sexual game or reveal the secret that will destroy him.
A prophecy unfolds...
As for Kaell… fate isn’t quite done with him yet.
For the darkness taking over the kingdom can’t be defeated by the sword, only with the heart.
In a world of poetry and song, but also treachery, betrayal, and bloodshed, the second volume in the raw and breathtaking Shadow Sword series will enthrall fans of Game of Thrones and Prince of Thorns.
- GenresFantasy
611 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2019
46 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Hartland
6 books27 followersS.J. Hartland is an emerging epic fantasy writer, journalist, and fencer who watches too much TV, spent too many holidays wandering around remote castles, and loves everything medieval.
She is a University of Queensland and Securities Institute of Australia graduate. Susan now calls the Darling Downs, Queensland, home, where she lives with two mad but lovely dogs, Lily and Coffee.
She loves hearing from readers, even if it's to say that she's much too mean to Kaell! She's on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/the19thblade... or email Susan at writersjhartland@gmail.com.
She is a University of Queensland and Securities Institute of Australia graduate. Susan now calls the Darling Downs, Queensland, home, where she lives with two mad but lovely dogs, Lily and Coffee.
She loves hearing from readers, even if it's to say that she's much too mean to Kaell! She's on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/the19thblade... or email Susan at writersjhartland@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 10, 2019
The Last Seer King is book two of the Shadow Sword series, an epic sword and sorcery series, pitting the last line of royalty against the Ghoul-God, Archanin, who combines bloodlust (literally) and sorcery and has many enthralled with his power. An ancient myth speaks of only one who can stand against the Ghoul-God and save civilization from being overrun by ghouls. There are many threads to this story as sorcerers are pitted against each other, against immortals who have more than nine lives, and against those with ancient blood. No one here can trust another. Each sword stands alone and betrayals are never ending.
In this volume, which is a bit of a transitional story, the major players have lost their castles, their fortresses, and most of all their freedom. Tortured, abused, psychologically twisted in towers and in dungeons, they struggle to survive. There are plots within plots and characters who outwardly are not who they seem and may even be in other's bodies. This story has more sorcery and enchantment than swordplay.
For those seeking a clearcut struggle of good versus evil, this may not be the story. Almost everyone has sacrificed their morals, their ethics, and their pride, in desperation. Additionally, even if you read the first book, the 19th Bladesman, at some point past, you may find it takes a while to sort out who is who and what their motivations are. This novel does not quite have the force that the first book had. Nevertheless, the battle has only just been joined and there appears to be more to come in volumes to follow.
In this volume, which is a bit of a transitional story, the major players have lost their castles, their fortresses, and most of all their freedom. Tortured, abused, psychologically twisted in towers and in dungeons, they struggle to survive. There are plots within plots and characters who outwardly are not who they seem and may even be in other's bodies. This story has more sorcery and enchantment than swordplay.
For those seeking a clearcut struggle of good versus evil, this may not be the story. Almost everyone has sacrificed their morals, their ethics, and their pride, in desperation. Additionally, even if you read the first book, the 19th Bladesman, at some point past, you may find it takes a while to sort out who is who and what their motivations are. This novel does not quite have the force that the first book had. Nevertheless, the battle has only just been joined and there appears to be more to come in volumes to follow.
November 1, 2020
Ok I'm hooked!!
Wow!!! This book has more twist an turns than a rollercoaster. Myranthe is the meanest an most cunning witch I have ever read about. I wanted to pick up a sword an have at her. Book 2 gives you a better insight on all the main characters. The writer really dug deep to bring them out. Roarn the dead king uses an manipulates the people around to save a kingdom. So he says??? Now Val an Kaell think there safe an can build back a better relationship. Yeah right, the dead king has other ideas.
All in all the writer did a damn fine job in Book 2 bring the characters out in the open. Giving the read a better idea where the story is heading. Book 2 is a smoother read then Book 1. A must read!!
Wow!!! This book has more twist an turns than a rollercoaster. Myranthe is the meanest an most cunning witch I have ever read about. I wanted to pick up a sword an have at her. Book 2 gives you a better insight on all the main characters. The writer really dug deep to bring them out. Roarn the dead king uses an manipulates the people around to save a kingdom. So he says??? Now Val an Kaell think there safe an can build back a better relationship. Yeah right, the dead king has other ideas.
All in all the writer did a damn fine job in Book 2 bring the characters out in the open. Giving the read a better idea where the story is heading. Book 2 is a smoother read then Book 1. A must read!!
December 30, 2019
This book was SO good, I've gone off and looked for the author's other books. So amazing in fact, that it almost defies description. Compelling, solid characters, great writing, a good plot that meant that I picked this book up at 6 pm yesterday, and stayed up until I finished it. There really aren't many *one sitting* books in my just-finished pile, and to be honest, it was completely out of the blue. I normally have to be interested in the author first, but I'm delighted and grateful that this free review copy let me meet and enjoy a brand new author.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review via NetGalley, with thanks to the author and publisher.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review via NetGalley, with thanks to the author and publisher.
July 13, 2019
This is book two of the Shadow Sword series and follows the first book, the 19th Bladesman, which was a tale mainly about Kaell, the so named 19th Bladesman and his lord, Val Arques. The second book carries on with these main characters and also introduces us to a few more. One is Roaran, an ancient king who is now seeking redemption and also trying to save the realm from a tyrant. He will have to go to the Icelands, somewhere he swore never to return to. Another new character is Dannon, brought up from a young age as part of the Varee, a slaver society, and also as a raider and then warlord for his people. He starts to have thoughts of doing more than just killing and he will find out truths about his past that will change everything.
Val Arques has ended up being taken as a prisoner to a really powerful sorceress Myranthe, her sister Judith and brothers Velleran, Heath and Griffin. They are in the Icelands and he has little chance of escaping. Held in isolation and then questioned by Myranthe, as she uses sexual tricks, magic and a game of question and answer, leading to Val being forced to reveal his most secret and shameful memory, that he has never revealed to anyone. He feels worse after she knows this, even when Heath tries to befriend him and tell him that forgiving himself for his past actions, that were out of his control, will finally give him power over himself.
All need to unite to fight against Archanin, a God banished centuries ago, who has followers that like him drink blood, so like vampires in modern tales. He wants to take over the realm and bring his darkness everywhere. There is a prophecy about the 19th Bladesman and how they are key to what will happen and who may end up ruler of all the realms. The trick for this second book is that the characters will find out that the sword won’t succeed in keeping the darkness away. To stop a tyrant such as Archanin, if you become tyrannical in your pursuit of him, it will never end well. As they say, the truth will set you free and the heart is more important than weapons.
The fate of Kaell is one of the most intriguing parts of the book. I won’t give any clues, but he really has a lot to handle and as Val was taken prisoner shortly after trying to free him, he couldn’t explain to Kaell what had happened nor what to expect. Kaell blames Val for this and finds it hard to forgive him. There is still lots of swordplay and plenty of other action to keep your interest. It certainly makes sense to read the first book before this one as that will help you understand some of the main characters. There are more characters introduced in the second book and you get to follow the paths of those from the first book even further. Some parts of it can be a little confusing as it changes from different characters stories, between chapters.
I loved reading The 19th Bladesman and was really pleased to finally get to read The Last Seer King, the second book in the series. The pursuit of an ancient prophecy, with so many players all trying to get their own version to come true, ramps up the intrigue and leaves you questioning the actions of some characters and feeling the evil pouring from many others. Some of my favourite characters had very difficult decisions to make and trials to overcome. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book, once it is available. I received an ARC copy of this book (a boxset with both books – but have already bought and reviewed book one) from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Val Arques has ended up being taken as a prisoner to a really powerful sorceress Myranthe, her sister Judith and brothers Velleran, Heath and Griffin. They are in the Icelands and he has little chance of escaping. Held in isolation and then questioned by Myranthe, as she uses sexual tricks, magic and a game of question and answer, leading to Val being forced to reveal his most secret and shameful memory, that he has never revealed to anyone. He feels worse after she knows this, even when Heath tries to befriend him and tell him that forgiving himself for his past actions, that were out of his control, will finally give him power over himself.
All need to unite to fight against Archanin, a God banished centuries ago, who has followers that like him drink blood, so like vampires in modern tales. He wants to take over the realm and bring his darkness everywhere. There is a prophecy about the 19th Bladesman and how they are key to what will happen and who may end up ruler of all the realms. The trick for this second book is that the characters will find out that the sword won’t succeed in keeping the darkness away. To stop a tyrant such as Archanin, if you become tyrannical in your pursuit of him, it will never end well. As they say, the truth will set you free and the heart is more important than weapons.
The fate of Kaell is one of the most intriguing parts of the book. I won’t give any clues, but he really has a lot to handle and as Val was taken prisoner shortly after trying to free him, he couldn’t explain to Kaell what had happened nor what to expect. Kaell blames Val for this and finds it hard to forgive him. There is still lots of swordplay and plenty of other action to keep your interest. It certainly makes sense to read the first book before this one as that will help you understand some of the main characters. There are more characters introduced in the second book and you get to follow the paths of those from the first book even further. Some parts of it can be a little confusing as it changes from different characters stories, between chapters.
I loved reading The 19th Bladesman and was really pleased to finally get to read The Last Seer King, the second book in the series. The pursuit of an ancient prophecy, with so many players all trying to get their own version to come true, ramps up the intrigue and leaves you questioning the actions of some characters and feeling the evil pouring from many others. Some of my favourite characters had very difficult decisions to make and trials to overcome. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book, once it is available. I received an ARC copy of this book (a boxset with both books – but have already bought and reviewed book one) from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
July 11, 2019
Poor Kaell
This book has twists and more twists. I want to shake some of the characters and yell wake up! One I want to give a real body and tell him now your a real boy just like pinocchio, a few I just want to stab. It's a topsy turvy ride that I'm greatly enjoying. The read is long but not bogged down with a bunch of world description so I was kept fully invested in the characters. Awaiting the next in this series.
This book has twists and more twists. I want to shake some of the characters and yell wake up! One I want to give a real body and tell him now your a real boy just like pinocchio, a few I just want to stab. It's a topsy turvy ride that I'm greatly enjoying. The read is long but not bogged down with a bunch of world description so I was kept fully invested in the characters. Awaiting the next in this series.
February 26, 2020
Omg, I don't know how she does it, but I just love them all, her characters are so vivid and complex it's delightful to read.
The story was awesome this time around too, for me she can keep doing more of that if she likes I will come back everytime.
A fantastic epic read, if you liked intrigue and a little humour too you will absolutely love this one.
The story was awesome this time around too, for me she can keep doing more of that if she likes I will come back everytime.
A fantastic epic read, if you liked intrigue and a little humour too you will absolutely love this one.
January 17, 2021
The Last Seer King is the second book in the epic Shadow Sword series whereby our heroes are desperately fighting a war against the Ghoul-God Archanin who is slowly, but steadily, encroaching on the last remaining kingdoms in this world and will soon overthrow them all through his gift to enthrall, using both bloodlust and sorcery. It took me awhile to get to this book because I was busy, but like the first book, I read it in hours, staying up late to finish, and it's a big book, over 600 pages. Like the first one, there are many twists and turns, and the action picks up right where the last book finished, and is relentless in its pacing.
First of all, the character development is awesome. That's not to say that I was overly fond of all the characters, even the so-called heroes, but that's why I liked this book so much because even the heroes were so flawed, making a lot of mistakes, acting on impulse and emotion.
Kaell and Val, the main heroes of the first book, were still font and center of this one, trying to figure where each of them stands in terms of their relationship, through the bitter misunderstandings and betrayals. The focus is much more on Val, which I liked, as I have developed a huge fondness for him, but that doesn't necessarily mean I like him all of the time, if that makes sense. We definitely learn a lot more of his background and his history and some of what he suffered which makes you more sympathetic to his character, but his love for Kaell also makes him impulsive and causes him to misjudge a lot of things, hence the many plot twists that occur. However, I like that he is so flawed and makes mistakes as it makes him more human, even if I get really frustrated with him.
The story is told in multiple POVs and the author has done a marvelous job at making the switch between characters seamless. Some of the new POVs are characters of whom we heard about in the first book but didn't really know anything about so now we have stories about Roaran and Dannon; Roaran is this ancient king and I'm only just beginning to get a glimpse of the role Dannon will play in the story as his role is so new, but the introduction of these two POVs was quite interesting. I've now read enough of this author to understand I will find out exactly their roles in due time. We do know a lot more about Roaran as some of his story was explained in the first book, but not too much about Dannon so I am looking forward to learning more about him. His role is going to be huge, I think.
A lot of the plot occurs in the Icelands this time around so we got learn a lot more about Heath's twisted family, including Myranthe, Griffin, Velleran, and Judith. Those are some twisted people, let me tell you, and some twisted lands. Myranthe is...vile. There is no other word to describe her as the ways she went about torturing Val was just horrendous. I can't wait for the day she gets her comeuppance, and I hope it's Val who does it as she forced Val to reveal his most horrendous and shameful secret which is one of the reasons for his behaviour in this book as he grappled with how to deal with his shame and self-loathing. And Heath...oh my, I'll just leave it there.
Kaell's fate was equally intriguing, but this is all I'll mention about him as there are too many spoilers around his story. All I'll say is that it was the last thing I was expecting, but the journey was quite intriguing and fascinating. The author definitely felt that Kaell's torture in the first book was not enough though. I really empathize with Kaell the most as I am never sure if he is going to make it while I am more sure about Val for some reason. I always have this feeling like I just want to give him a big hug and tell him it's going to be okay, which is weird considering his a warrior of renown as much as Val.
The plot itself moved so rapidly I couldn't put the book down. With an ancient prophecy about to come to fruition, many of the people in this story are trying to manipulate it for their own ends, so there is a lot of action and a lot of things going on, including manipulation and betrayal. What it really does is make you question what is really going on, who is really involved in this prophecy, who the real heroes are, and is the prophecy even real. So many of my favourite characters had to go through some real challenges in both of these books so I can't imagine that what is coming will be easy for anyone and I am guessing the whole world will be turned on its head.
The Last Seer King was a fabulous sequel to the 19th Bladesman, and I enjoyed learning so much more about the world and its characters. The writing is great, the character development is superb, and while a lot of my questions from the first book were answered, so many new things happened, I now need to read the next book in order for those questions to be answered. The author definitely puts her characters through hell, and after one incident, I am now afraid they may not all survive, but that is part of the excitement of reading this book. I am excited to learn there are five books in this series, and will soon be starting book 3, The Sword Brotherhood, but I will need to make sure I have a whole evening dedicated to the book set aside if they are anything like the first two books.
First of all, the character development is awesome. That's not to say that I was overly fond of all the characters, even the so-called heroes, but that's why I liked this book so much because even the heroes were so flawed, making a lot of mistakes, acting on impulse and emotion.
Kaell and Val, the main heroes of the first book, were still font and center of this one, trying to figure where each of them stands in terms of their relationship, through the bitter misunderstandings and betrayals. The focus is much more on Val, which I liked, as I have developed a huge fondness for him, but that doesn't necessarily mean I like him all of the time, if that makes sense. We definitely learn a lot more of his background and his history and some of what he suffered which makes you more sympathetic to his character, but his love for Kaell also makes him impulsive and causes him to misjudge a lot of things, hence the many plot twists that occur. However, I like that he is so flawed and makes mistakes as it makes him more human, even if I get really frustrated with him.
The story is told in multiple POVs and the author has done a marvelous job at making the switch between characters seamless. Some of the new POVs are characters of whom we heard about in the first book but didn't really know anything about so now we have stories about Roaran and Dannon; Roaran is this ancient king and I'm only just beginning to get a glimpse of the role Dannon will play in the story as his role is so new, but the introduction of these two POVs was quite interesting. I've now read enough of this author to understand I will find out exactly their roles in due time. We do know a lot more about Roaran as some of his story was explained in the first book, but not too much about Dannon so I am looking forward to learning more about him. His role is going to be huge, I think.
A lot of the plot occurs in the Icelands this time around so we got learn a lot more about Heath's twisted family, including Myranthe, Griffin, Velleran, and Judith. Those are some twisted people, let me tell you, and some twisted lands. Myranthe is...vile. There is no other word to describe her as the ways she went about torturing Val was just horrendous. I can't wait for the day she gets her comeuppance, and I hope it's Val who does it as she forced Val to reveal his most horrendous and shameful secret which is one of the reasons for his behaviour in this book as he grappled with how to deal with his shame and self-loathing. And Heath...oh my, I'll just leave it there.
Kaell's fate was equally intriguing, but this is all I'll mention about him as there are too many spoilers around his story. All I'll say is that it was the last thing I was expecting, but the journey was quite intriguing and fascinating. The author definitely felt that Kaell's torture in the first book was not enough though. I really empathize with Kaell the most as I am never sure if he is going to make it while I am more sure about Val for some reason. I always have this feeling like I just want to give him a big hug and tell him it's going to be okay, which is weird considering his a warrior of renown as much as Val.
The plot itself moved so rapidly I couldn't put the book down. With an ancient prophecy about to come to fruition, many of the people in this story are trying to manipulate it for their own ends, so there is a lot of action and a lot of things going on, including manipulation and betrayal. What it really does is make you question what is really going on, who is really involved in this prophecy, who the real heroes are, and is the prophecy even real. So many of my favourite characters had to go through some real challenges in both of these books so I can't imagine that what is coming will be easy for anyone and I am guessing the whole world will be turned on its head.
The Last Seer King was a fabulous sequel to the 19th Bladesman, and I enjoyed learning so much more about the world and its characters. The writing is great, the character development is superb, and while a lot of my questions from the first book were answered, so many new things happened, I now need to read the next book in order for those questions to be answered. The author definitely puts her characters through hell, and after one incident, I am now afraid they may not all survive, but that is part of the excitement of reading this book. I am excited to learn there are five books in this series, and will soon be starting book 3, The Sword Brotherhood, but I will need to make sure I have a whole evening dedicated to the book set aside if they are anything like the first two books.
December 12, 2020
Hard to put down
The story did jump around a bit, but but was easy to keep track. I definitely didn’t see the ending coming! Ok, where’s the next one!
The story did jump around a bit, but but was easy to keep track. I definitely didn’t see the ending coming! Ok, where’s the next one!
September 1, 2019
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (8/19)
“The Last Seer King” is the second book in the Shadow Sword series, an epic fantasy saga by S.J. Hartland. Having read the first book, “The 19th Bladesman,” earlier this year, I was thrilled to continue this journey. “The Last Seer King” exceeded all my expectations and is Hartland’s best work to date.
Archanin, an ancient ghoul-god escapes his imprisonment and sets out to take over the entire kingdom. There are many fated to battle against him. Roaran is an ancient king who will do whatever it takes to bring him down, but there is a powerful sorceress waiting to fulfill her own destiny, and that involves enslaving this king. Dannon is warlord to a vicious group of slavers who adopted him as a young boy – but he’ll always be an outsider, yearning for acceptance and a place to belong. Val Arques, formerly Vraymorg, Lord of the Mountains is a fallen warrior whose innermost secret could be the key to his destruction, and Kaell, a young bladesman set on a course of revenge, encounters challenges beyond reason. Each with their own agendas, many sacrifices will be made, but at what price? And will it be enough to save the kingdom?
Wow, where to start? The writing is superb – first rate all around. I love the author’s voice – it’s entertaining, sophisticated, and engaging. At some points you cringe from the utter destruction, chaos and cruelty she devises – several moments raising the hairs on my arms! At other times, Hartland is full of poetry, song, humor and sarcasm. One humorous example that made me laugh out loud is from page 23:
Heath folded his arms. “What have you done?”
Judith drew her top lip over her bottom. “It’s not what you think.”
“I think you’ve abducted this man.”
“All right. It’s exactly what you think.”
This type of dialogue carries the reader effortlessly through the pages, and it’s the dialogue, whether witty as above, combative, or full of anguish, that drives you deep inside the characters psyches. And, though the fate of the realm revolves around bringing down Archanin the evil ghoul-god, he plays a somewhat small role in this installment of the saga. Hartland instead takes us on a rich journey into the souls of several characters plotting to take him down, revealing them layer by layer. These characters are delicious. The depth in which they are developed is phenomenal. One of the things I find most appealing about Hartland’s writing style is that she is unafraid to be “mean” to her characters and you never know just who is going to survive. I lost a couple of my very favorite characters in “The Last Seer King” and found myself cursing Hartland outright – “WHAT – WHY”??? Just when you think you MIGHT know where she’s going, she throws in a totally unexpected twist, taking the plot (and the characters) in an entirely different direction and on a totally different life course.
Unless you are unfeeling and have no empathy, some of these life journeys are heartbreaking and will bring you to tears. The vulnerability a few of the characters exhibit throughout their experiences are raw and emotional. Watching one of the character’s literally break down before my eyes was excruciating! Another one, who was subjected to “walking in another’s shoes,” sees life from a very different perspective. It was interesting to note this character’s evolution into a very different being. I have such a strong pull towards these characters, they are hard to talk about in generalizations – but I can’t give anything away!
Hartland’s Shadow Sword series is a saga that must be read in order. That sounds obvious, but it is also imperative to understanding the backstory and the intricate weave in which the characters navigate each other and the complex fantasy world. “The Last Seer King” is not a standalone book but a wonderful continuation of “The 19th Bladesman.” There is a map of this exquisite world in the front of the book, along with an outline of the characters located on the final pages. Bloodlines are key to this story and the listing of players within their family trees is an essential reference to aid comprehension of the full picture.
I highly recommend “The Last Seer King” by S.J. Hartland. In fact, do yourself a favor, pick up the entire Shadow Sword series to date. It’s a must-read series for serious fantasy enthusiasts. After spending over 1,200 combined pages with these characters, I still thirst for more and was delighted to learn there are several more installments to come. Thank you for another great adventure, S.J. Hartland. Well done!
“The Last Seer King” is the second book in the Shadow Sword series, an epic fantasy saga by S.J. Hartland. Having read the first book, “The 19th Bladesman,” earlier this year, I was thrilled to continue this journey. “The Last Seer King” exceeded all my expectations and is Hartland’s best work to date.
Archanin, an ancient ghoul-god escapes his imprisonment and sets out to take over the entire kingdom. There are many fated to battle against him. Roaran is an ancient king who will do whatever it takes to bring him down, but there is a powerful sorceress waiting to fulfill her own destiny, and that involves enslaving this king. Dannon is warlord to a vicious group of slavers who adopted him as a young boy – but he’ll always be an outsider, yearning for acceptance and a place to belong. Val Arques, formerly Vraymorg, Lord of the Mountains is a fallen warrior whose innermost secret could be the key to his destruction, and Kaell, a young bladesman set on a course of revenge, encounters challenges beyond reason. Each with their own agendas, many sacrifices will be made, but at what price? And will it be enough to save the kingdom?
Wow, where to start? The writing is superb – first rate all around. I love the author’s voice – it’s entertaining, sophisticated, and engaging. At some points you cringe from the utter destruction, chaos and cruelty she devises – several moments raising the hairs on my arms! At other times, Hartland is full of poetry, song, humor and sarcasm. One humorous example that made me laugh out loud is from page 23:
Heath folded his arms. “What have you done?”
Judith drew her top lip over her bottom. “It’s not what you think.”
“I think you’ve abducted this man.”
“All right. It’s exactly what you think.”
This type of dialogue carries the reader effortlessly through the pages, and it’s the dialogue, whether witty as above, combative, or full of anguish, that drives you deep inside the characters psyches. And, though the fate of the realm revolves around bringing down Archanin the evil ghoul-god, he plays a somewhat small role in this installment of the saga. Hartland instead takes us on a rich journey into the souls of several characters plotting to take him down, revealing them layer by layer. These characters are delicious. The depth in which they are developed is phenomenal. One of the things I find most appealing about Hartland’s writing style is that she is unafraid to be “mean” to her characters and you never know just who is going to survive. I lost a couple of my very favorite characters in “The Last Seer King” and found myself cursing Hartland outright – “WHAT – WHY”??? Just when you think you MIGHT know where she’s going, she throws in a totally unexpected twist, taking the plot (and the characters) in an entirely different direction and on a totally different life course.
Unless you are unfeeling and have no empathy, some of these life journeys are heartbreaking and will bring you to tears. The vulnerability a few of the characters exhibit throughout their experiences are raw and emotional. Watching one of the character’s literally break down before my eyes was excruciating! Another one, who was subjected to “walking in another’s shoes,” sees life from a very different perspective. It was interesting to note this character’s evolution into a very different being. I have such a strong pull towards these characters, they are hard to talk about in generalizations – but I can’t give anything away!
Hartland’s Shadow Sword series is a saga that must be read in order. That sounds obvious, but it is also imperative to understanding the backstory and the intricate weave in which the characters navigate each other and the complex fantasy world. “The Last Seer King” is not a standalone book but a wonderful continuation of “The 19th Bladesman.” There is a map of this exquisite world in the front of the book, along with an outline of the characters located on the final pages. Bloodlines are key to this story and the listing of players within their family trees is an essential reference to aid comprehension of the full picture.
I highly recommend “The Last Seer King” by S.J. Hartland. In fact, do yourself a favor, pick up the entire Shadow Sword series to date. It’s a must-read series for serious fantasy enthusiasts. After spending over 1,200 combined pages with these characters, I still thirst for more and was delighted to learn there are several more installments to come. Thank you for another great adventure, S.J. Hartland. Well done!
December 31, 2019
Epic sword, sorcery and intrigue continue in The Last Seer King by S. J. Hartland. Book two in the Shadow Sword series finds the last lines of ancient royal blood leading toward battle against the Ghoul-God Archanin, who is both loathsome and alluring. Lords have lost their castles, some have lost their heads, and most have lost their freedom, in some form or another.
We pick up with a new character Dannon, a swordsman raised by the Varee, who excels at pillaging and raiding, and doing nothing but. Of course, his path is tested when his fates cross paths with Kaell. The struggle for Kaell meanwhile is one that is so twisted; there can be no denying this plot was well thought out by Hartland. Needless to say there isn’t much one can reveal about his story in book two, but it’s a unique aspect to magic, well imagined by the author.
Roaran, a myth on the pages of book one, is an ancient king we get to learn more about. His desire to settle an old grudge with a tyrant, and seek some absolution in the process is as spellbinding as the path he has walked behind the scenes, but never fully out of it. Meanwhile, we get to hang out with old friends, like Val Arques. This tortured soul and Heath Damadar have plenty of witty repartee. Their clever back and forth plays as the comedic relief, but make no mistake, darkness lurks there. Val finds himself facing the traumas of his own past, where forgiving himself might be the toughest battle he has ever had to overcome.
This is a wicked tale of abuse and torture, hidden behind the enthralling guise of swordplay, danger and battles. The Last Seer King is more a riddle of magical mysteries where sorcery taints every word of this world. Hartland again delivers the richness without bogging the reader down with too many words. This is not a tale of good versus evil. Almost everyone has forfeited his or her pride and morals at some point, mostly out of desperation and through the ever-pressing struggle for survival. Readers might be confused at the start, and it would behoove any new to Hartland’s work to read from book one onward. This is only the start of an epically woven, battle rich tapestry with much to look forward to in the volumes to come.
We pick up with a new character Dannon, a swordsman raised by the Varee, who excels at pillaging and raiding, and doing nothing but. Of course, his path is tested when his fates cross paths with Kaell. The struggle for Kaell meanwhile is one that is so twisted; there can be no denying this plot was well thought out by Hartland. Needless to say there isn’t much one can reveal about his story in book two, but it’s a unique aspect to magic, well imagined by the author.
Roaran, a myth on the pages of book one, is an ancient king we get to learn more about. His desire to settle an old grudge with a tyrant, and seek some absolution in the process is as spellbinding as the path he has walked behind the scenes, but never fully out of it. Meanwhile, we get to hang out with old friends, like Val Arques. This tortured soul and Heath Damadar have plenty of witty repartee. Their clever back and forth plays as the comedic relief, but make no mistake, darkness lurks there. Val finds himself facing the traumas of his own past, where forgiving himself might be the toughest battle he has ever had to overcome.
This is a wicked tale of abuse and torture, hidden behind the enthralling guise of swordplay, danger and battles. The Last Seer King is more a riddle of magical mysteries where sorcery taints every word of this world. Hartland again delivers the richness without bogging the reader down with too many words. This is not a tale of good versus evil. Almost everyone has forfeited his or her pride and morals at some point, mostly out of desperation and through the ever-pressing struggle for survival. Readers might be confused at the start, and it would behoove any new to Hartland’s work to read from book one onward. This is only the start of an epically woven, battle rich tapestry with much to look forward to in the volumes to come.
November 9, 2020
I loved this book as much as the first in the series and can’t wait to read the next instalment. A great story with lots of twists and turns and full of characters you love to hate.
January 21, 2020
The Last Seer King
S.J. Hartland
Paperback
Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
609 pages
Series: The Shadow Sword series (#2)
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This next installment in the Shadow Sword series finds the last lines of ancient royal blood heading into battle against the Ghoul-God Archanin. The Lords have lost their castles, along with some having lost their very lives. their heads, but ultimately they have all lost their freedom in some way.
This is a wicked tale of abuse and torture, hidden behind the enthralling guise of swordplay, danger and battles. The Last Seer King is more a riddle of magical mysteries where sorcery taints every word of this world. Hartland again delivers the richness without bogging the reader down with too many words. This is not a tale of of fringes of morally grey areas. They forfeited their pride along with their morals at some point, in desperation and the basic instinct of survival. A well thought out plot line with unique magical elements, along with sorcery and intrigue in this continuation in The Last Seer King by S. J. Hartland.
October 30, 2019
As absorbing as the first book in the series, this follow up installment by Hartland sweeps the reader into a mesmerizing world of sorcery, dark magic, dangerous prophecies, and maniac obsessions.
After Archanin, an ancient ghoul-god, escapes his imprisonment and embarks on a journey to become the ruler of all realms, an ancient king, the fallen warriors, warlords, and powerful sorcerers must come together to save the world from impending darkness.
The brilliance of the book lies both in its exceptional characterization and the precise execution of the plot. With an assured hand, Hartland masterfully weaves a large array of characters and several secondary subplots into the main storyline, creating an epic fantasy tale that’s sure to win approval of fans of the genre.
Moving in its intimacy and commanding in its narrative essence, the book is sure to make for fantasy lovers’ top read shelves.
After Archanin, an ancient ghoul-god, escapes his imprisonment and embarks on a journey to become the ruler of all realms, an ancient king, the fallen warriors, warlords, and powerful sorcerers must come together to save the world from impending darkness.
The brilliance of the book lies both in its exceptional characterization and the precise execution of the plot. With an assured hand, Hartland masterfully weaves a large array of characters and several secondary subplots into the main storyline, creating an epic fantasy tale that’s sure to win approval of fans of the genre.
Moving in its intimacy and commanding in its narrative essence, the book is sure to make for fantasy lovers’ top read shelves.
November 20, 2019
For the record, I received an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of this book with the request that I leave a voluntary honest review for other potential readers. Having said that, here is my honest opinion and review of this book. Well, this second book in the series stands up well against the bar set by the first one. This Epic Fantasy is definitely living up to the name. The plot just keeps getting better and more complex as the story progresses. So many twists and turns as well as surprises. That Seer King, though, I did not see that coming. He is not at all what I expected. Of course, the villain is so much worse. Even that Sorceress and her dysfunctional family are power mad and messed up. I am not sure where this story is going to end up but I have my surmises. One thing is for sure, the story is likely to get a lot worse before the end comes. This book is definitely worth the time to read it. I am going to be eagerly waiting for the sequel.
July 14, 2019
I just spent a huge chunk of time pouring through the first two books in S.J. Hartland’s The Shadow Sword series (The 19th Bladesman & The Last Seer King). They were just too addictively fun to stop. Boy were these a wild ride of incredibly fun reading. I refuse to spoil anything so see the publisher’s blurb for what the stories are about. Just know that they share great writing, great plots and great characters. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. These books definitely deserve it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that each book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend both of them.
July 31, 2019
I received this book as an ARC from Dark Blade Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
From the moment I turned the page I knew I was in for quite the thrill ride. From page to page, chapter to chapter the story got thicker and more thrilling by the minute. The stories of King Roaran, Salver Dannon, Warrior Val Arques, all trying to save Kaell whose fate still yet remains open for decision. The voyage, the trials and tribulations they all went through left me breathless and if you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you will also be a fan of The Last Seer King.
We will consider adding this title to our Adult Fiction collection at the library. That is why we gave this book 5 stars.
From the moment I turned the page I knew I was in for quite the thrill ride. From page to page, chapter to chapter the story got thicker and more thrilling by the minute. The stories of King Roaran, Salver Dannon, Warrior Val Arques, all trying to save Kaell whose fate still yet remains open for decision. The voyage, the trials and tribulations they all went through left me breathless and if you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you will also be a fan of The Last Seer King.
We will consider adding this title to our Adult Fiction collection at the library. That is why we gave this book 5 stars.
July 19, 2019
Readers: Can A Hero Go To Far In His Quest To Defeat Evil? Can A Reader Claim Temporary Insanity In Court When A Character Is Continuously Tortured Beyond Reason? All That And More In The Last Seer King (Shadow Sword Series Book #2) By SJ Hartland
Truth be told I have written two different reviews for The Last Seer King (Shadow Sword Series Book #2) by SJ Hartland -official website (our interview with SJ Hartland). If you really want to nitpick, I also mashed the two together and so maybe three, which is what you are getting here, for the most part. Does that make four? Ok. Either way. Blame Ms. Hartland, but of course. Why you ask? I'm glad you asked....
Full Review at Novellives.com
Truth be told I have written two different reviews for The Last Seer King (Shadow Sword Series Book #2) by SJ Hartland -official website (our interview with SJ Hartland). If you really want to nitpick, I also mashed the two together and so maybe three, which is what you are getting here, for the most part. Does that make four? Ok. Either way. Blame Ms. Hartland, but of course. Why you ask? I'm glad you asked....
Full Review at Novellives.com
February 12, 2020
Disappointed
Frankly, this reads more like a fantasy sex romance novel. I think at some point in the book, every character gets raped. There's so many gay rape scenes in the book that are basically the same things happening to different people it's like the author copied and pasted the same scenes to different characters. If that's your thing, then hey, this is the book for you. I mean, if you like losing the plot due to a game of "who's being gay raped this time" then sure, by all means, read it. Otherwise, I'd avoid, as it's a disappointing follow up to the first novel.
Frankly, this reads more like a fantasy sex romance novel. I think at some point in the book, every character gets raped. There's so many gay rape scenes in the book that are basically the same things happening to different people it's like the author copied and pasted the same scenes to different characters. If that's your thing, then hey, this is the book for you. I mean, if you like losing the plot due to a game of "who's being gay raped this time" then sure, by all means, read it. Otherwise, I'd avoid, as it's a disappointing follow up to the first novel.
July 18, 2019
Wow!! This is a book that you honestly need to dedicate time to. You will not want to rush and risk missing a single glorious word.
There are old faces from book one, and a few new faces introduced in this book. The storyline weaves a tapestry filled will pain, betrayal, surprises, secrets, suspense, torture all of which will have you holding your breath while you silently pray that your favourite character survives til the next page. I am eagerly awaiting book 3..... hurry up 2020!!
There are old faces from book one, and a few new faces introduced in this book. The storyline weaves a tapestry filled will pain, betrayal, surprises, secrets, suspense, torture all of which will have you holding your breath while you silently pray that your favourite character survives til the next page. I am eagerly awaiting book 3..... hurry up 2020!!
July 8, 2019
The second book in a series is usually a worry for me, but not this one! The story builds really well, becoming fuller and more engrossing, and the characters are developed in such a way that you can't stay indifferent to them. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
August 10, 2019
The story is very compelling. What Kaell and Val go through in this book really makes you feel for them and want them to succeed. The twists and turns are also fascinating and keep you reading. It is a long book, but the moments are enjoyable.
I received an ARC from netgalley, but this doesn’t affect my review.
I received an ARC from netgalley, but this doesn’t affect my review.
July 29, 2019
Action packed, full of suspense and plenty of plot twists, as well as a dash of romance, "The Last Seer King" is a wonderful fantasy book, a bit on the dark side, but nevertheless an intriguing and riveting read. I'll definitely read the next book in the series!
July 14, 2019
Excellent and well done book.
July 12, 2019
Better than book one I got this book for free and honest
August 28, 2023
Why haven't I read Ms. Hartland before?
There are so many authors in this genre that it may be impossible to find all of the good ones, but I'm making it my mission to do so.
I believe I was introduced to the Shadow Sword series on Goodreads, so I grabbed the first one in the series, and I haven't been the same since!
If you like this genre and are fond of magic, mayhem, and intrigue, you have to find something by S.J. Hartland. If you're like me, you won't be getting as much sleep once you start. I just can't put these books down!
There are so many authors in this genre that it may be impossible to find all of the good ones, but I'm making it my mission to do so.
I believe I was introduced to the Shadow Sword series on Goodreads, so I grabbed the first one in the series, and I haven't been the same since!
If you like this genre and are fond of magic, mayhem, and intrigue, you have to find something by S.J. Hartland. If you're like me, you won't be getting as much sleep once you start. I just can't put these books down!
March 31, 2020
I absolutely loved it. The book and series are enthralling. It's not light reading, but almost impossible to put down once started. The action, adventure, and intrigue keep you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait to start the next book in the series.
March 30, 2020
An excellent fantasy, gripping and entertaining.
I loved the well crafted plot, the world building, the humour and the fleshed out cast of characters.
Even if I didn't read the first instalment I had no issues with the plot or the characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I loved the well crafted plot, the world building, the humour and the fleshed out cast of characters.
Even if I didn't read the first instalment I had no issues with the plot or the characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
August 1, 2020
A good continuation of an Epic story. I did feel that the story did drag a little at times and felt that the final twist could have come sooner to keep the pace. Again another beautifully written story but to suit my personal taste it needed to be a little pacier.
January 31, 2022
Hartland has written a compelling tale about fantasty that leaves the reader waiting for the sequel. The book as a fast paced plot and there are no dull spots. I enjoyed the characters and await the next in the series.
August 2, 2019
Loved it!
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