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Chrysathamere Trilogy #2
Empire of Jackals
The race for the throne of Navessea is on.
The war with Tyrace is over. It was supposed to be a time of celebration. Of triumph. But for Marilia Sandara, hero of Chrysathamere Pass, the cost was too high. After watching her childhood friends slaughtered before her eyes, all she wants to do is sail back to Svartennos and try to forget the price she had to pay for her victory. But the peace isn’t long to last. First comes the news that the woman Marilia loves may soon be engaged to another. Then, when Emperor Vergana makes a shocking announcement—that he means to disinherit his true-born son, Rufyllys, in favor of his adopted child, Prince Ilruyn—the seeds are sown that will plunge Navessea back into war.
This time, Marilia and her twin brother, Annuweth, find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict that threatens to undo all they fought for. By the time the dust settles and the killing stops, only one of the children of Karthtag-Kal may be left standing.
The second book in the trilogy ups the intrigue and romance, while fans of the first book's battles will not be left wanting.
The war with Tyrace is over. It was supposed to be a time of celebration. Of triumph. But for Marilia Sandara, hero of Chrysathamere Pass, the cost was too high. After watching her childhood friends slaughtered before her eyes, all she wants to do is sail back to Svartennos and try to forget the price she had to pay for her victory. But the peace isn’t long to last. First comes the news that the woman Marilia loves may soon be engaged to another. Then, when Emperor Vergana makes a shocking announcement—that he means to disinherit his true-born son, Rufyllys, in favor of his adopted child, Prince Ilruyn—the seeds are sown that will plunge Navessea back into war.
This time, Marilia and her twin brother, Annuweth, find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict that threatens to undo all they fought for. By the time the dust settles and the killing stops, only one of the children of Karthtag-Kal may be left standing.
The second book in the trilogy ups the intrigue and romance, while fans of the first book's battles will not be left wanting.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
608 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2020
26 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Cole
4 books104 followersAfter being bombarded with one too many school motivational posters, I decided to “shoot for the moon” by pursuing a risky double-major in creative writing and history on the assumption that the worst-case scenario would be landing among the stars. I instead landed in long-term unemployment—and unpaid internships, let’s not forget the unpaid internships—in small-town Ohio.
Eventually, I began making more financially sound life choices and now work as an attorney in the public sector while continuing to write on the side.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 11, 2020
As I have written in my review for „Marilia, the Warlord“, I really love each character and the world building. Normally, I‘m scared that the next book in series may not hold up to the first one but this was much better than the first. I really can’t wait to read the next book!
I still love Marilia of course and learnt to love Annuweth as well, the brother of Marilia. The way his version of previous and ongoing events is described was perfectly understandable and I felt so sorry while reading about his motives and actions. I never have expected the story to turn this way and I felt all sorts of emotions while reading; anger, frustration, and sadness. I can perfectly feel Marilia but also Annuweth. If I had to choose a side, it would be Annuweth‘s and I really hope that there will be some sort of happiness for him in the next book.
Dear my brother, Annuweth,
Tell me why, if you can
Even though some parts may be familiar already from other fantasy books (like the priestess on the side of Senecal), I like the world and the ideas anyway. I like the seriousness of the story and vulnerable characters with their own doubts which really makes me love this book.
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
I still love Marilia of course and learnt to love Annuweth as well, the brother of Marilia. The way his version of previous and ongoing events is described was perfectly understandable and I felt so sorry while reading about his motives and actions. I never have expected the story to turn this way and I felt all sorts of emotions while reading; anger, frustration, and sadness. I can perfectly feel Marilia but also Annuweth. If I had to choose a side, it would be Annuweth‘s and I really hope that there will be some sort of happiness for him in the next book.
Dear my brother, Annuweth,
Tell me why, if you can
Even though some parts may be familiar already from other fantasy books (like the priestess on the side of Senecal), I like the world and the ideas anyway. I like the seriousness of the story and vulnerable characters with their own doubts which really makes me love this book.
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
March 8, 2021
I received a free review copy of Empire of Jackals from Book Sirens in exchange for a fair and honest review - my sincerest thanks to both the author and the publisher. :)
Upon receiving this ARC I obtained the first so I could give this one a fair shake. I rated the first at 3 stars and was cautiously optimistic about this title hoping that with the rags to glory plot line out of the way this title would open up more in exploring the world itself, the various mythological creatures mentioned, and so on.
Sadly this is a step backwards for me. Cole had some serious strengths in the first book. The character development, the mixing of Greek and Eastern mythologies, the talent for writing heart pounding battle scenes, and presenting military strategy in an accurate way.
This book was much more on the political intrigue side, the kingdom is at peace but the dear Emperor shuffles off the mortal coil leaving his succession in disarray and a convenient setting for this book for our heroine to occupy her time with. So already we've lost on the major strengths in the first book.
The main character's development was still good it was nice to see things from Annuweth's point of view. To my chagrin the newer characters introduced all felt a bit hand wringing in their mannerisms.
Speaking of mannerisms an old loathing has yet again made it back into this book. In the first book I searched and counted 40 counts of someone biting or chewing their own lip. Right off the bat a few pages into this book someone does it again. I thought "Oh no here we go again." So I searched lips yet again and while less thankfully biting/chewing one's own lips comes up no less than 22 times. This is not counting all the pursing, curling etc. Cole relies just WAY too much on this mannerism in the writing. It's annoying and having just exited a book where I was already done with it and finding it at the beginning of this book just soured my tastes immediately.
I do not see myself continuing this series. It's a shame Cole has some real strengths and some major weaknesses in the writing. I wish Cole would have stuck to more of the strengths this outing and had an editor that would have realized the lazy pattern of lip biting and tell the author "Stop it."
Upon receiving this ARC I obtained the first so I could give this one a fair shake. I rated the first at 3 stars and was cautiously optimistic about this title hoping that with the rags to glory plot line out of the way this title would open up more in exploring the world itself, the various mythological creatures mentioned, and so on.
Sadly this is a step backwards for me. Cole had some serious strengths in the first book. The character development, the mixing of Greek and Eastern mythologies, the talent for writing heart pounding battle scenes, and presenting military strategy in an accurate way.
This book was much more on the political intrigue side, the kingdom is at peace but the dear Emperor shuffles off the mortal coil leaving his succession in disarray and a convenient setting for this book for our heroine to occupy her time with. So already we've lost on the major strengths in the first book.
The main character's development was still good it was nice to see things from Annuweth's point of view. To my chagrin the newer characters introduced all felt a bit hand wringing in their mannerisms.
Speaking of mannerisms an old loathing has yet again made it back into this book. In the first book I searched and counted 40 counts of someone biting or chewing their own lip. Right off the bat a few pages into this book someone does it again. I thought "Oh no here we go again." So I searched lips yet again and while less thankfully biting/chewing one's own lips comes up no less than 22 times. This is not counting all the pursing, curling etc. Cole relies just WAY too much on this mannerism in the writing. It's annoying and having just exited a book where I was already done with it and finding it at the beginning of this book just soured my tastes immediately.
I do not see myself continuing this series. It's a shame Cole has some real strengths and some major weaknesses in the writing. I wish Cole would have stuck to more of the strengths this outing and had an editor that would have realized the lazy pattern of lip biting and tell the author "Stop it."
March 19, 2021
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a good second book in the trilogy, and focuses mainly on Marilia's twin brother Annuweth. He is still bitter about the injuries he sustained, and about Marilia's successes in the war. As Marilia tries to step back from warfare and power, Annueweth plots to grab it an any cost.
The war with Tyrace is over, however the peace they achieved is short-lived. Emperor Vergana decides to disinherit his true-born son, Rufyllys, in favor of his adopted child, Prince Ilruyn. As a result, the true colors of apparently "mild-mannered" Rufyllys come out and he and his conniving sister suck Annuweth into their plot to upset the Emperor's plans and take the throne away from Prince Ilruyn. Annuweth, who is secretly having an affair with the Princess, lets his love her for and his sense of duty lead him astray as he helps plunge Navessea into civil war. Former comrades find themselves on opposite sides of the fight - including Marilia and Annuweth.
This book is well-written and the plot moves quickly, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book. I think it's because this book focuses more on Annueweth than Marilia (who has a much smaller part in this book), and I didn't find Annueweth very compelling. He seems pretty dim and robotic in his actions. He can't seem to think for himself and is easily led astray. Considering his upbringing, it didn't seem realistic that he would be so naive in his dealings with people, particularly manipulative females. His inner conflict with the voices in his head seemed to drag on longer than necessary and it irritated me that he didn't question other's actions more. As sophisticated as Marilia is, it seemed like Annueweth is the complete opposite. I just didn't find that realistic.
Even though I don't like Annueweth as much as I like Marilia, the book is still a good read. It's fast paced with plenty of action. The cliffhanger at the end is great and I can't wait to see how this all ends.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Book Sirens. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a good second book in the trilogy, and focuses mainly on Marilia's twin brother Annuweth. He is still bitter about the injuries he sustained, and about Marilia's successes in the war. As Marilia tries to step back from warfare and power, Annueweth plots to grab it an any cost.
The war with Tyrace is over, however the peace they achieved is short-lived. Emperor Vergana decides to disinherit his true-born son, Rufyllys, in favor of his adopted child, Prince Ilruyn. As a result, the true colors of apparently "mild-mannered" Rufyllys come out and he and his conniving sister suck Annuweth into their plot to upset the Emperor's plans and take the throne away from Prince Ilruyn. Annuweth, who is secretly having an affair with the Princess, lets his love her for and his sense of duty lead him astray as he helps plunge Navessea into civil war. Former comrades find themselves on opposite sides of the fight - including Marilia and Annuweth.
This book is well-written and the plot moves quickly, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book. I think it's because this book focuses more on Annueweth than Marilia (who has a much smaller part in this book), and I didn't find Annueweth very compelling. He seems pretty dim and robotic in his actions. He can't seem to think for himself and is easily led astray. Considering his upbringing, it didn't seem realistic that he would be so naive in his dealings with people, particularly manipulative females. His inner conflict with the voices in his head seemed to drag on longer than necessary and it irritated me that he didn't question other's actions more. As sophisticated as Marilia is, it seemed like Annueweth is the complete opposite. I just didn't find that realistic.
Even though I don't like Annueweth as much as I like Marilia, the book is still a good read. It's fast paced with plenty of action. The cliffhanger at the end is great and I can't wait to see how this all ends.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Book Sirens. All opinions are my own.
August 25, 2020
I know it says I started reading this on the 23rd but I kept putting it off until today, the 25th of August. I just wasn't in the mood for fantasy... or so I thought, because I finished this book in a few hours!! It's brilliant. There are betrayals, battles, blood and some other b-word! It was pretty awesome and terrifying all at once.
I can't wait to see what's in store for Marilia and co in the third book. I'm rooting for ya girl!!
I can't wait to see what's in store for Marilia and co in the third book. I'm rooting for ya girl!!
February 5, 2021
*I received this as an ARC copy for a fair and honest review
TW: rape and sexual assault (including against children), death of children, gore, graphic violence, suicide, homophobia, brief instances of animal abuse and harm to animals, mentions of miscarriages
Right off the bat, I was really happy to see the "The Story So Far" section in the beginning. I absolutely adored the first book in the series, but there was so much that happened that I'd forgotten a lot of the specifics. It refreshed my memory, helped me remember who was who and where they'd been, and it was genius. I wish all books did this!
I think my favourite thing was the quality of the writing, both in the writing itself and the way the story was crafted. There were so many lines I highlighted because they were so clever or impactful or just made me have to stop and let them sink in or just say, "Dang that's a good line!" And the way the story was built and crafted was excellent as well, especially with the tension and pacing. For such a battle- and politic-heavy book, I never felt like it dragged too much and I never started to lose interest. The stakes were high, I could understand the perspective of each side in the battle, and I was invested the whole way though. The heavy moments felt heavy, the happy moments felt happy, I teared up a few times, and I found the writing always did exactly what it intended to.
I thought the characters were really well-done in this book too, I feel like all the characters grew and developed from where we saw them in the first book. Most importantly, I finally really understood the rivalry between Marilia and Annuweth after seeing Annuweth's interpretation of so many events after we saw Marilia's point of view. I didn't quite connect with or understand their tension in the first book, but in this one I really finally see it and their motivations, especially Annuweth's, are so much more clear and make perfect sense now.
I'll admit I was a little annoyed or impatient with Marilia through most of the book, though. I think at this point I just believe in her so much and I was so firmly on her side after the previous book that I just wanted her to hurry up and get back to her old self. I do like that we got to see some of the effects of her trauma after all she's been through, and it made her even more human, but I still felt impatient. But speaking of impatient , I'm glad we finally got a little more development in the romance department but I am so impatient to see where it goes from here! (Impatient in a good way, this time.)
Overall I think that if you liked the first book, you'll love this sequel! I'm really excited to get to the third book and see what in the world is going to happen!
TW: rape and sexual assault (including against children), death of children, gore, graphic violence, suicide, homophobia, brief instances of animal abuse and harm to animals, mentions of miscarriages
Right off the bat, I was really happy to see the "The Story So Far" section in the beginning. I absolutely adored the first book in the series, but there was so much that happened that I'd forgotten a lot of the specifics. It refreshed my memory, helped me remember who was who and where they'd been, and it was genius. I wish all books did this!
I think my favourite thing was the quality of the writing, both in the writing itself and the way the story was crafted. There were so many lines I highlighted because they were so clever or impactful or just made me have to stop and let them sink in or just say, "Dang that's a good line!" And the way the story was built and crafted was excellent as well, especially with the tension and pacing. For such a battle- and politic-heavy book, I never felt like it dragged too much and I never started to lose interest. The stakes were high, I could understand the perspective of each side in the battle, and I was invested the whole way though. The heavy moments felt heavy, the happy moments felt happy, I teared up a few times, and I found the writing always did exactly what it intended to.
I thought the characters were really well-done in this book too, I feel like all the characters grew and developed from where we saw them in the first book. Most importantly, I finally really understood the rivalry between Marilia and Annuweth after seeing Annuweth's interpretation of so many events after we saw Marilia's point of view. I didn't quite connect with or understand their tension in the first book, but in this one I really finally see it and their motivations, especially Annuweth's, are so much more clear and make perfect sense now.
I'll admit I was a little annoyed or impatient with Marilia through most of the book, though. I think at this point I just believe in her so much and I was so firmly on her side after the previous book that I just wanted her to hurry up and get back to her old self. I do like that we got to see some of the effects of her trauma after all she's been through, and it made her even more human, but I still felt impatient. But speaking of impatient , I'm glad we finally got a little more development in the romance department but I am so impatient to see where it goes from here! (Impatient in a good way, this time.)
Overall I think that if you liked the first book, you'll love this sequel! I'm really excited to get to the third book and see what in the world is going to happen!
January 10, 2021
What an absolute epic this series is turning out to be. You know all those books that say "for fans of Game Of Thrones" and yet the content is only vaguely related - feudal low(ish) fantasy with a bit of politics and a bit of backstabbing? This is not one of those. It's focused on the two central characters rather than a sprawling cast, moves at a somewhat faster pace as it's part of a trilogy rather than a long series (though it'd still be classed a slow-burner) and it is in no way indulges in grimdark grit and grubby sex, yet there's something about it that truly reminded me of the best bits of murky political fantasy and family sagas.
The only reason I was OK to put this book down between reading sessions was because it's so much to take in. And my eyes hurt from avidly devouring it.
This second book (with handy recap section - thank goodness!) picks up where the first left off, this time taking us into the mind of Annuweth, Marilia's much maligned twin brother, as he recovers from his war wounds and stews in his own memories. The war with Tyrace may be won, but events conspire to push the empire of Navassea to the brink of civil war with the twins caught up at the centre of it all. Annuweth's wounded pride outweighs the injuries of his body, while Marilia shrinks away from her war hero reputation. The decisions they make because of their rivalry have consequences they could never have imagined.
I absolutely loved this story, though it's not your usual high emotions sort of thing. It's nuanced and clever, sad with just enough predictability to feed your foreboding while holding back enough to keep the plot simmering along. It's not as heavy or as adult as Game of Thrones, but this is no flighty Young Adult novel either.
Seeing events from Annuweth's POV gave us insight into his fragile sense of self-worth. If you've read book one, you could probably make a good guess at how he felt, but getting his own thoughts and feelings made him much more of a sympathetic tragic character (even if he does use the "I know I've got male privilege but-" argument). It's hard not to care for him, or at least about him, in some way. Not that we dropped Marilia; she's still central to events though she's very much changed. Gone is the driven, ambitious strategist out to prove herself. Her reaction to the brutality of real war and deaths felt so much more realistic than those usually portrayed. While it's not quite PTSD, her loss of confidence and spiralling anxiety where she questioned every action she took made her more relatable. I loved the contrast of how Annuweth blamed everyone else for his ills, while Marilia blamed herself for the troubles of the world. Their attitudes are central to how their characters progress. I also really liked how their relationships with others are explored, be it friendships or the lingering romance that never becomes overpowering.
The political machinations were what really stood out to me in that GoT way. It's written in such a way as to be believably complex with many moving parts to alliances and enemy factions, and is intelligently laid out. We also get to see POVs of a certain Navassean Princess, an important character from the twin's lives, as well as an old enemy of the empire, which only served to spice up the narrative and give us more of an idea of who was planning what despite what others may have said. It's all very tricksy stuff. If you're like me, you may have wished for a cast list to keep all those moving pieces in mind! There are a lot of names, some of them quite similar and all of them very fantasy-sounding.
You can't have a book like this without a few big battles, and of those they're written compellingly without being unbelievably choreographed. From naval warfare to doomed charges, there's plenty to get your teeth into. Unlike the first book, it's virtually all told from a character's third person POV rather than the omniscient narrator (though they do make an appearance every so often) which gave things more urgency.
The writing is again for the most part really strong and well polished. A few slips of "Yeah", "Nope" and "Sure" did throw me for a second, especially when there's a character or two (Camelline, you should get to know Thoryn someday) who threatened to start talking like a YA snarky kid - it just seemed a bit modern colloquial given the atmosphere the rest of the story created. Given the age and language choices, I'd say it's a New Adult+ kind of book. There's also still not a great deal of physical description, so I did wonder at what places and characters looked like. But again it's that epic fantasy atmosphere with a very Eastern tinge to it that comes through.
There's a lot to get your head around with this tome, but as I said before, it's a saga of epic proportions. It's an engrossing read full of slow-burn twists that leave you needing to know more. The ending's "to be continued" just as our characters come to realise who they are and what they want is an amazing hook for part three. I'm really looking forward to it.
4.5 stars of military might
The only reason I was OK to put this book down between reading sessions was because it's so much to take in. And my eyes hurt from avidly devouring it.
This second book (with handy recap section - thank goodness!) picks up where the first left off, this time taking us into the mind of Annuweth, Marilia's much maligned twin brother, as he recovers from his war wounds and stews in his own memories. The war with Tyrace may be won, but events conspire to push the empire of Navassea to the brink of civil war with the twins caught up at the centre of it all. Annuweth's wounded pride outweighs the injuries of his body, while Marilia shrinks away from her war hero reputation. The decisions they make because of their rivalry have consequences they could never have imagined.
I absolutely loved this story, though it's not your usual high emotions sort of thing. It's nuanced and clever, sad with just enough predictability to feed your foreboding while holding back enough to keep the plot simmering along. It's not as heavy or as adult as Game of Thrones, but this is no flighty Young Adult novel either.
Seeing events from Annuweth's POV gave us insight into his fragile sense of self-worth. If you've read book one, you could probably make a good guess at how he felt, but getting his own thoughts and feelings made him much more of a sympathetic tragic character (even if he does use the "I know I've got male privilege but-" argument). It's hard not to care for him, or at least about him, in some way. Not that we dropped Marilia; she's still central to events though she's very much changed. Gone is the driven, ambitious strategist out to prove herself. Her reaction to the brutality of real war and deaths felt so much more realistic than those usually portrayed. While it's not quite PTSD, her loss of confidence and spiralling anxiety where she questioned every action she took made her more relatable. I loved the contrast of how Annuweth blamed everyone else for his ills, while Marilia blamed herself for the troubles of the world. Their attitudes are central to how their characters progress. I also really liked how their relationships with others are explored, be it friendships or the lingering romance that never becomes overpowering.
The political machinations were what really stood out to me in that GoT way. It's written in such a way as to be believably complex with many moving parts to alliances and enemy factions, and is intelligently laid out. We also get to see POVs of a certain Navassean Princess, an important character from the twin's lives, as well as an old enemy of the empire, which only served to spice up the narrative and give us more of an idea of who was planning what despite what others may have said. It's all very tricksy stuff. If you're like me, you may have wished for a cast list to keep all those moving pieces in mind! There are a lot of names, some of them quite similar and all of them very fantasy-sounding.
You can't have a book like this without a few big battles, and of those they're written compellingly without being unbelievably choreographed. From naval warfare to doomed charges, there's plenty to get your teeth into. Unlike the first book, it's virtually all told from a character's third person POV rather than the omniscient narrator (though they do make an appearance every so often) which gave things more urgency.
The writing is again for the most part really strong and well polished. A few slips of "Yeah", "Nope" and "Sure" did throw me for a second, especially when there's a character or two (Camelline, you should get to know Thoryn someday) who threatened to start talking like a YA snarky kid - it just seemed a bit modern colloquial given the atmosphere the rest of the story created. Given the age and language choices, I'd say it's a New Adult+ kind of book. There's also still not a great deal of physical description, so I did wonder at what places and characters looked like. But again it's that epic fantasy atmosphere with a very Eastern tinge to it that comes through.
There's a lot to get your head around with this tome, but as I said before, it's a saga of epic proportions. It's an engrossing read full of slow-burn twists that leave you needing to know more. The ending's "to be continued" just as our characters come to realise who they are and what they want is an amazing hook for part three. I'm really looking forward to it.
4.5 stars of military might
October 2, 2023
Loved!! A book with fighting scenes which actually kept me not only fully engaged but on the edge of my seat - most unusual for me!
August 23, 2024
Update: Reread this so I can finally read the final book. My rating remains the same, although I will say it had a slower start than I remembered. I really loved delving into Annuweth's psyche, and seeing how he constantly compared himself to his sister. He was very easy to manipulate, due to his his jealousy of Marilia as a child, and trying to seek validation elsewhere. Feeling very nervous about the direction the third book might go into!
This was an amazing sequel to book One. I loved the fact that we get Annuweth's PoV in this story; it shows a different perspective to the decisions he made and his behavior in book One. This sequel was definitely more high stakes than the first one and I am excited to see the conclusion to this trilogy (and a little nervous as well!)
Thank you to BookSirens and Morgan Cole for gifting me and ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was an amazing sequel to book One. I loved the fact that we get Annuweth's PoV in this story; it shows a different perspective to the decisions he made and his behavior in book One. This sequel was definitely more high stakes than the first one and I am excited to see the conclusion to this trilogy (and a little nervous as well!)
Thank you to BookSirens and Morgan Cole for gifting me and ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 11, 2020
"Men never want to believe their cause is futile," Morgarmir said. "That their struggle is without purpose. When the night winds blow, they rail and scream against the dark. But the dark takes them all the same."
Recommended for fans of court intrigue a la ASOIAF (GoT), intense battle sequences, and morally gray characters.
After the decisive victory of Marilia, The Warlord, Marilia struggles with who she is in a nation at peace and how the scars of the conflict have left their indelible mark on her twin brother, Annuweth. Luckily(?), the emperor's sudden death after declaring a new heir throws the succession into uncertainty, and factions form behind three potential claimants to the throne, leaving the twins on separate sides of a growing chasm between love and duty.
Empire of Jackals is a a good title, but How Marilia Got Her Groove Back would be more apt. Marilia and Annuweth are at the heart of this second installment, and we get some really great insight into Annuweth's inner turmoil and motivations as he chooses love over honor; a sense of doomed fate hangs over Annuweth's sections.
The first third of the book was a little difficult to get into (but a thousand thanks to Cole for including a concise recap of book one instead of dragging it out in the exposition for thirty pages), but once the plot got underway, it charged full steam ahead. My favorite section was the introduction to Senecal, one of the claimants to the throne. I got a real Stannis Baratheon vibe from him what with his sun god mojo and Melisandre-esque seductive priestess lady. We've got some non-incestuous Lannisters in play in the forms of Petrea and Ilruyn. There's a Tyrell type family in the mix trying to marry in too. With that said, this book is not at all a knock-off; it just enjoys some similarities to a well-established series.
Overall, the political intrigue felt easy to follow yet interesting, and I enjoyed this installment as much as the first one. I hope Cole feels a sense of accomplishment from Empire of Jackals, because the character development is truly impressive and exceptionally well conveyed. The language felt improved in places, and it never felt forced or overly simplistic. I look forward to the third book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the series.
I received a free copy through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Recommended for fans of court intrigue a la ASOIAF (GoT), intense battle sequences, and morally gray characters.
After the decisive victory of Marilia, The Warlord, Marilia struggles with who she is in a nation at peace and how the scars of the conflict have left their indelible mark on her twin brother, Annuweth. Luckily(?), the emperor's sudden death after declaring a new heir throws the succession into uncertainty, and factions form behind three potential claimants to the throne, leaving the twins on separate sides of a growing chasm between love and duty.
Empire of Jackals is a a good title, but How Marilia Got Her Groove Back would be more apt. Marilia and Annuweth are at the heart of this second installment, and we get some really great insight into Annuweth's inner turmoil and motivations as he chooses love over honor; a sense of doomed fate hangs over Annuweth's sections.
The first third of the book was a little difficult to get into (but a thousand thanks to Cole for including a concise recap of book one instead of dragging it out in the exposition for thirty pages), but once the plot got underway, it charged full steam ahead. My favorite section was the introduction to Senecal, one of the claimants to the throne. I got a real Stannis Baratheon vibe from him what with his sun god mojo and Melisandre-esque seductive priestess lady. We've got some non-incestuous Lannisters in play in the forms of Petrea and Ilruyn. There's a Tyrell type family in the mix trying to marry in too. With that said, this book is not at all a knock-off; it just enjoys some similarities to a well-established series.
Overall, the political intrigue felt easy to follow yet interesting, and I enjoyed this installment as much as the first one. I hope Cole feels a sense of accomplishment from Empire of Jackals, because the character development is truly impressive and exceptionally well conveyed. The language felt improved in places, and it never felt forced or overly simplistic. I look forward to the third book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the series.
I received a free copy through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 29, 2023
Good artists borrow. In this case, borrow from George R. R. Martin's Clash of Kings.
I couldn't help but be bothered by that aspect. But the exectuion and the ways the ideas play off of each other are different enough to not take away too much from the experience.
And the experience is a great improvement on the previous novel. A much more coherent story, despite having several different strands going in parallel, they made sense.
This book puts a lot more emphasis on other characters, particularly Marilia's brother who was just a supporting character previously. Unfortunately, this ends up giving less attention to the protagonist. The protagonist's arc is also very frustrating, her being strategically constipated until a talk with her crush snaps her out of it. I would've prefered if she was active and making plans the whole way through.
Still, very enjoyable. Looking forward to finishing the trilogy.
I couldn't help but be bothered by that aspect. But the exectuion and the ways the ideas play off of each other are different enough to not take away too much from the experience.
And the experience is a great improvement on the previous novel. A much more coherent story, despite having several different strands going in parallel, they made sense.
This book puts a lot more emphasis on other characters, particularly Marilia's brother who was just a supporting character previously. Unfortunately, this ends up giving less attention to the protagonist. The protagonist's arc is also very frustrating, her being strategically constipated until a talk with her crush snaps her out of it. I would've prefered if she was active and making plans the whole way through.
Still, very enjoyable. Looking forward to finishing the trilogy.
September 24, 2020
My thanks to the Author publishers and BookSirens for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
This is the second book in this epic saga of Marilia and her twin brother, and whilst there are references to the first book it can easily be read as a standalone story. Just like the first this a clever descriptive imaginative book, well written but somewhat slower to start than the first hence only four stars. However it is always enjoyable and features some terrific action scenes.
As a sixth two year old reader, i suspect I am not exactly the target audience for this book but once again it kept me entertained and i eagerly look forward to the conclusion of this trilogy.
Recommended.
This is the second book in this epic saga of Marilia and her twin brother, and whilst there are references to the first book it can easily be read as a standalone story. Just like the first this a clever descriptive imaginative book, well written but somewhat slower to start than the first hence only four stars. However it is always enjoyable and features some terrific action scenes.
As a sixth two year old reader, i suspect I am not exactly the target audience for this book but once again it kept me entertained and i eagerly look forward to the conclusion of this trilogy.
Recommended.
May 6, 2021
War is not for the faint of heart and Marilia has been shattered and traumatized by her experience of war. Morgan Cole wrote her devastation effectively. The doubt the 'what ifs'. It was heart breaking and true and I remembered that Marilia was still a young girl fighting within the depth of her spirit to not be what was expected of a female within that culture. Her twin Annuweth is folding under the weight of his violent choices and will probably crack and break. I don't know yet but his war experiences were just as horrific but he chose a darker path. There will be blood. I'm on to the last book in the series. I truly could NOT put this book down. It's well written, tight, no words wasted and a very good story.
May 6, 2022
it’s great!
I liked this book even more than the first one. Great characters (heroes, heroines, villains and everything in between). An awesome world with dragons, gods, evil spirits , and mundane reality. The actual prose is the final reason I give this book 5 stars. It really fits the content-poetic full of captivating imagery and short and brutal like a stab in the face that drills a perfect hole or a beautiful elder’s head smashed to a pulp. I don’t really have as much interest in the brother if he is supposed to be as interesting as his sister. He’s a good character, but too stupid and predictable compared to her. The Graver is an awesome villain in that he’s completely detestable, frightening and kind of relatable.
I liked this book even more than the first one. Great characters (heroes, heroines, villains and everything in between). An awesome world with dragons, gods, evil spirits , and mundane reality. The actual prose is the final reason I give this book 5 stars. It really fits the content-poetic full of captivating imagery and short and brutal like a stab in the face that drills a perfect hole or a beautiful elder’s head smashed to a pulp. I don’t really have as much interest in the brother if he is supposed to be as interesting as his sister. He’s a good character, but too stupid and predictable compared to her. The Graver is an awesome villain in that he’s completely detestable, frightening and kind of relatable.
December 26, 2021
Good strong female characters, entertaining but not Tolkien or Good kind complexity
November 29, 2024
this is the one I needed for /r/fantasy bingo so I'm dnfing the series now. Big step down from book 1 which was already not great
November 27, 2023
i’m not finished with this yet but i have to say i, in this moment, hate annuweth!!!
*update a few chapters later: it got WORSE
i have finished, still not a fan of annuweth but he’s a well written character whose downfall i hope to see in the next book
*update a few chapters later: it got WORSE
i have finished, still not a fan of annuweth but he’s a well written character whose downfall i hope to see in the next book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2021
So far I am really liking the books of the Chrysathamere Trilogy. Morgan Cole has a unique perspective on a fantasy world beset by war and politics. This series explores the idea of the consequences of actions in much more depth than the usual fantasy story.
In the first book of the series, Marilia the Bastard (now I believe more appropriately renamed Marilia the Warlord) we followed the adventures of a girl who had a talent for military strategy which was doomed to never be used until the country where she was born attacked the country where she had made her home and there was nobody left to take up its defense. After she had proved herself in that initial battle, she went on to lead the army in defeating their attackers in their home ground. But despite her best efforts a lot of things in that war didn’t go as she had wanted.
Now, in this second book, they return home and she is honored by the Emperor and offered various positions she would have loved to have before, but now none of it seems right to her, and suddenly she can no longer find her place in the world.
She recommends her brother for the post of Prefect of the Order of Jade and returns to the home province of her late husband with the remainder of his family – where she continues to feel out of place.
This book focuses much more on Marilia’s brother, Annuweth, and the many bad choices he makes. Annuweth has fallen in love with the Emperor’s daughter, Petrea. Petrea and her brother, Rufyllys, involve Annuweth in a plot to depose their adopted brother, Ilruyn, the Emperor’s designated heir after Petrea has poisoned her father. Somehow all sorts of negative consequences seem to dog Annuweth following this decision.
Meanwhile, Ben Espeleos, Prince of Svartennos and Marilia’s lord, on hearing of the traitorous overthrow of Prince Ilruyn, decides he should be the rightful emperor of Navessea since he is married to the late Emperor’s daughter. When he takes an army to head for the capital to claim the throne, he asks Marilia to go with him, and even though she no longer feels the inspiration to fight, she agrees to go with him. Things don’t go especially well for them, though, until, Marilia finally regains the inspiration of the Lady Chrysathamere.
In the first book of the series, Marilia the Bastard (now I believe more appropriately renamed Marilia the Warlord) we followed the adventures of a girl who had a talent for military strategy which was doomed to never be used until the country where she was born attacked the country where she had made her home and there was nobody left to take up its defense. After she had proved herself in that initial battle, she went on to lead the army in defeating their attackers in their home ground. But despite her best efforts a lot of things in that war didn’t go as she had wanted.
Now, in this second book, they return home and she is honored by the Emperor and offered various positions she would have loved to have before, but now none of it seems right to her, and suddenly she can no longer find her place in the world.
She recommends her brother for the post of Prefect of the Order of Jade and returns to the home province of her late husband with the remainder of his family – where she continues to feel out of place.
This book focuses much more on Marilia’s brother, Annuweth, and the many bad choices he makes. Annuweth has fallen in love with the Emperor’s daughter, Petrea. Petrea and her brother, Rufyllys, involve Annuweth in a plot to depose their adopted brother, Ilruyn, the Emperor’s designated heir after Petrea has poisoned her father. Somehow all sorts of negative consequences seem to dog Annuweth following this decision.
Meanwhile, Ben Espeleos, Prince of Svartennos and Marilia’s lord, on hearing of the traitorous overthrow of Prince Ilruyn, decides he should be the rightful emperor of Navessea since he is married to the late Emperor’s daughter. When he takes an army to head for the capital to claim the throne, he asks Marilia to go with him, and even though she no longer feels the inspiration to fight, she agrees to go with him. Things don’t go especially well for them, though, until, Marilia finally regains the inspiration of the Lady Chrysathamere.
January 1, 2021
Thank you BookSirens & Morgan Cole for gifting me a copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 Stars
I read the first book of this series (Marilia, the Warlord free one Amazon right now) earlier this year and I enjoyed it so much that it lingered in the back of my mind months later. I typically never read a series until the whole thing is finished so that I can binge read it, but I just couldn’t wait to read more of this story.
The first book of this series featured Marilia, and I absolutely LOVED her character. This book still featured Marilia but it also also gave us more insight into her twin brother Annuweth. Annuweth’s character quickly became a character that I hated to love, he was complex and constantly fighting with his insecurities and his place in the world.
The more I got into this story, the more it gave me YA Game of Throne vibes, which I loved! Be ready for betrayals, war, and multiple storylines. The characters are strong yet vulnerable, which made them so relatable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 Stars
I read the first book of this series (Marilia, the Warlord free one Amazon right now) earlier this year and I enjoyed it so much that it lingered in the back of my mind months later. I typically never read a series until the whole thing is finished so that I can binge read it, but I just couldn’t wait to read more of this story.
The first book of this series featured Marilia, and I absolutely LOVED her character. This book still featured Marilia but it also also gave us more insight into her twin brother Annuweth. Annuweth’s character quickly became a character that I hated to love, he was complex and constantly fighting with his insecurities and his place in the world.
The more I got into this story, the more it gave me YA Game of Throne vibes, which I loved! Be ready for betrayals, war, and multiple storylines. The characters are strong yet vulnerable, which made them so relatable.
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