Priest of Gallows

War for the Rose Throne #3

by Peter McLean

Gangster, soldier, priest. Queen's Man. Governor.
Tomas Piety has everything he ever wanted. In public he's a wealthy, highly respected businessman, happily married to a beautiful woman and Governor of his home city of Ellinburg. In private, he's no longer a gang lord but one of the Queen's Men, invisible and officially non-existent, working in secret to protect his country.

But when the queen's sudden death sees him summoned him back to the capital, he discovers his boss, Dieter Vogel, Provost Marshal of the Queen's Men, is busy tightening his stranglehold on the country.

Just as he once fought for his Pious Men, he must now bend all his wit and hard-won wisdom to protect his queen - but now he can't always tell if he's on the right side.

Tomas has started to ask himself, what is the price of power? And more importantly, is it one he is willing to pay?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Audiobook, Low Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Dark

362 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2021

About the author

Peter McLean was born near London in 1972, the son of a bank manager and an English teacher. He went to school in the shadow of Norwich Cathedral where he spent most of his time making up stories.

He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.

He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.

Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a Booktube channel now! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/petrikleo

ARC provided by the publisher—Jo Fletcher—in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

Priest of Gallows was addictive and instantly immersive as ever.

Oh my, it’s been two years since I’ve read Priest of Lies, and it’s good to be back here reading this series. For the uninitiated, War for the Rose Throne is one of my ongoing series at the moment, and Priest of Gallows, the third and penultimate installment in the series, is one of my most anticipated books of the year. Peter McLean has delivered another incredibly engaging volume, and Priest of Gallows may just be the most intimate and thought-provoking book of the series so far.

“People may revere the idea of heroic veterans, but they very seldom have the time or the charity for the broken, battle-shocked men and women that are the reality of what war produces.”

Priest of Gallows begins with an iconic first sentence: “One murder can change the fate of a nation.” And from there, we’re immediately back inside the narration of Tomas Piety, one of the most distinctive voices I’ve read in fantasy. Seriously, I have missed Tomas Piety’s narration. So much. I’ve said it times and times again, and another repetition shall be executed; the narration of Tomas Piety is truly one of the standout strengths of the series. I won’t go into any details on the plot because this is the penultimate installment already, and I don’t think I can touch on the details of the plotline without spoilers. However, it will benefit readers to know that this one is the series’ most political installment so far, and it’s all handled incredibly well. I never felt bored reading this book, and it was utterly captivating to me to be reading about Tomas’s struggle with navigating the land and treacheries of Dannsburg. As Tomas said, this is an entirely new territory of conflicts for him, and each step he took led him to deeper troubles.

“The world of intrigues wasn’t my natural environment. I was a soldier and businessman, for Our Lady’s sake. Politics was a foreign country to me, and I would have been quite happy for it to stay that way, but it seemed that wasn’t going to be the case.”

There was a passage where Tomas said that wartime makes more sense than peace now, and to hear that directly from Tomas is a big deal on how bad the situation is for him now. With a boss as smart, ruthless, and intimidating as Dieter Vogel, it is not a surprise that Tomas is facing a lot of struggles. This, of course, doesn’t mean that politics and betrayals are the only things that this novel has it going for. Surprisingly, Priest of Gallows dived inside Tomas’s psyche and feelings more than ever. It is an intimate book; there were several outbursts of emotions that were so heartbreaking and palpable. The past never lets up, and dramatic changes are constantly coming to the life of these characters. They have to deal with it the best they can. Those are the times they lived in.

“Change, as I say. It’s something we all have to make our peace with, in time. It’s seldom pleasant and never easy, but it’s a fact of life and nothing to be done about that.”

We have been in Dannsburg in Priest of Lies briefly, and in here, almost the entire narrative takes place in this city; the city of lies, whispers, and treachery. As I mentioned earlier, this is a heavily political novel, and there weren’t many battle scenes being showcased. But this doesn’t mean that McLean loses the steam power of the narration; dialogues, voices, intrigues were all brilliant. Plus, we still get to witness the terrifying display of cunning. Respect, power, and authority are the lever that moves Tomas Piety, and they’re scarce in Dannsburg. If there’s one thing that I wanted more out of Priest of Gallows, I wanted more interaction between Tomas and the Pious Men. It is understandable, though, that this isn’t possible here due to circumstances and the direction of the story.

“No one is ever simply an enemy, a lone faceless thing to be fought and killed. That was what was drilled into us in the army, to be sure, but that didn’t make it true. Every enemy soldier in any conflict has a family back home, people who love them and depend on them, but the army doesn’t want you thinking of the enemy’s family when you ram a spear through his guts.”

By the way, it was insane to hear that this series was almost canceled. Thankfully, that didn’t happen; the Goddess of Fortune has smiled, and she gave this series a chance to be completed. Publishing books can be a terrifying business sometimes, but those are the times we live in. I would’ve been emotionally distraught if this series was canceled; I love this series, and if it was canceled, I wouldn’t appear as a cameo in this book! Yes, I appear on a page in Priest of Gallows to be brutally murdered. How can I not love this series further? Thank you so much to Peter McLean, or Tomas Piety, for this honor.

Here’s the passage that depicted the murder:



Priest of Gallows is another thrilling work by Peter McLean. In addition to constructing the most thought-provoking narrative of the series so far, Priest of Gallows has also set the stage for a memorable climactic finale. War for the Rose Throne has only one book left, and I’m sure there will be no peace in it. Can McLean pull off the magnificent conclusion to the series? I’m sure he can. As Tomas Piety would say, he’s the right person for the right job, and he’s the right messenger for Tomas Piety’s story.

Official release date: 27th May 2021

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping) | The Broken Binding (Use my code: NOVELNOTIONS121 for discount!)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions

Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!

My Patrons: Alfred, Alya, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Devin, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Lufi, Melinda, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Sarah, Seth, Shaad, Summer, Wendy, Zoe.

[William Gwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you would like to watch an interview with Peter McLean, talking about writing, War for the Rose Throne and more, here is a link to an interview on The Brothers Gwynne - The Brothers Gwynne

“Gold, power, influence. Those are the levers that move the world.”

Finished listening to the most recent release in the War for the Rose Throne, and I find myself immediately waiting with bated breath for the finale, Priest of Crowns, to be released next year. This is the first of the series that I will have to wait for, but I'll have to get used to it. I’m sure it will be worth the wait!

Priest of Gallows follows the same idea of Peaky Blinders in a low-fantasy medieval-esque setting, revolving around gang warfare and the bonds of family and friendship, stripping much of the romanticism we find in gangsta films, but maintaining the heart that we love and those ideals that still resonate with us as readers.

This third instalment becomes distinct as it moves further away from the previous urban setting of the first two instalments, taking place in the even bigger capital, with much more going on in the political sphere away from the Pious Men. I was surprised to be moved away from the aspect I loved so much in Priest of Bones and Priest of Lies, but as the story continued it was justified and did not effect the reading experience as there was much more to enjoy and become engaged in.

“You have to understand, Tomas, that those most prone to misinformation are those most inclined to want to believe it.”

Each book has slowly widened in scope, with Thomas Piety attaining greater power, with greater stakes and having a role in events that gradually become ever more important to thousands of lives. Whilst still remaining as low-fantasy overall, magic is becoming more prominent with each book, with the workings of magic and the whole experience being slowly learned through the eyes of Thomas Piety, who is as ignorant to how it works as the reader is, so that when he learns something, so do we.

The strength comes from the characters, and Priest of Gallows explores the ideas of trust, sacrifice and loyalty very subtly and expertly again, building on the strong foundations of the previous two instalments that allow us to know the motivations of Thomas Piety whilst still ploughing on with the plot and future character growth.

Priest of Gallows is another great instalment in The War for the Rose Throne series, the finale of which will be released next year. This is a gritty and brutal story, but one with heart, which I would recommend to all who enjoy fantasy.

4.25/5 STARS

[Nicholas Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was awesome, as were the first two books. Looking forward to the fourth and final instalment!

Also the narrator is amazing, though I just recently learned that the US audiobook had a different narrator than the UK/Canada one for the first two books?? I didn't know that could be a thing.

Apparently they're the same guy now, which is good, because he's absolutely perfect.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘They say the Queen’s Warrant opens all doors, and I’m sure that’s true. In my experience though, money and respect and influence do it just as well, and more importantly, they do it quieter. Those are the levers that move the world.’

Tomas Piety is being played. Someone thinks they have his measure, that they’ve found his lever. And you know what? They’re not entirely wrong. Tomas finally has everything he ever wanted: wealth, status, power. A real dream come true. It’s been his plan right from the start. And yet… his path from the streets of Ellinburg to Dannsburg’s royal palace has brought him all the wrong attention. Now he’s caught in a web of debt and expectation, surrounded by dangerous people who feel like they are owed. And they’re not the types to take no for an answer. Tomas paid in blood to get in, he’ll have to drown the city in blood to get out…

As always, it is Tomas’ singular voice that mesmerises. You find yourself leaning in, like his tale is told in a whisper and you daren’t miss a single word. But is this the same man we know? The practical man who does things his way? I don’t think so. The ground under his feet is shaky and his harsh justice is being subsumed to someone else’s desires. It’s jarring, discordant. For the first time, I feel like I know more than he does. I’m certain he won’t let this stand forever, but he seems less sure. The stakes are raising by the day, but he’s struggling to find his feet in the far deadlier realm of politics. He’s lucky that he has Bloody Anne and I’m ever more convinced he could not continue without her. A rather dangerous position to be in.

Now, war is coming. It is the ultimate fear for Piety and all those like him, soldiers ground down in the bloody streets of Abingon. The ruinous effects of war on the minds and bodies of men and women has featured powerfully in the series so far and remains front and centre here. From Piety’s own flashbacks to a new character who is trauma made flesh, this series acts as a reminder that violence has consequences. Never has that been more clear than in the dark spaces beneath Dannsburg’s streets, where atrocities are committed under the guise of ‘the greater good’. A ‘good’ later rebranded as Necessity. Then paraded through the streets as ‘truth’. Oh the parallels… This is a tale with more than a little social commentary, sharp and perfectly realised. Look what happens when… Honestly, the cynicism is splashed so liberally it should seep from the page. Despite the fact it’s far from subtle, it was one of my favourite aspects of the book. In the act of noticing, we get to share a wry smile with Tomas, a nod of the head. Yes, we see it too. Unlike us, however, Tomas might be able to do something about it… More than that, he’ll have to if he doesn’t want those same streets covered in blood instead of lies.

‘The truth is so easily drowned by the words of the majority that it counts for little, in my experience’.

My one issue with this book is that it felt like it was a set up for something bigger, more like a part one of two than a book entire. I’m not saying this is a placeholder, but for all the action in the novel, there just wasn’t enough there for it to feel like its own story. There are few surprises and it felt… stretched (like butter scraped over too much bread). Tomas spends a good deal of time considering his options, doing little more than what he’s told. Perhaps he makes some big decisions by the end of the book, but I wanted him to have made them a hell of a lot sooner. He’s nobody’s fucking errand boy. Chafing at his chains wasn’t enough for me. But maybe I’m just being too impatient, too damn annoyed on his behalf. Vogel might sit like a spider at the heart of this, but Tomas is the kind of trouble you just can’t plan for, and I want him to rip the Provost’s perfectly crafted web to shreds.

‘Always cheat, always win.’

See you in the finale, Tomas, I can’t wait to see what you have planned…


ARC via Netgalley

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great third entry into the War for the Rose Throne. Can't wait for Priest of Crowns next year!

[megs_bookrack]

We have a title. We have a cover. Of course, I love it! I cannot wait to be back with my man, Tomas Piety.



2021 is looking better and better every damn day.

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

This series rocks! Thomas Piety's history is both brutal and fascinating to follow. I can't believe there's only one book left. I confess, and there's no shame in it, that I dread what McLean has in store for his characters. After THIS ending, only mayhem can ensue.

Thomas's distinct voice immersed me in the story. Priest, he may be, among other things, but he doesn't pray often. Why would he? Lady of Eternal Sorrows doesn't answer prayers, after all. His backstory is rooted in violence and trauma. He suffers from PTSD and McLean catches such moments with great skill.

Thomas enjoys respect, power, and authority and in this installment, he gets more of those than he can stomach. After Queen's sudden death his superior, Dieter Vogel, summons him back to the capital. The events that ensue force Thomas to reconsider if he's on the right side and if he's willing to pay the price of immense power.

"Queen's Men were fucking gangsters and there was no other way to look at it, once you saw the truth of the thing. Our country was basically run by gangsters."

Thomas may not be an educated man but he's not a fool, either. His instinct and wit allow him to navigate complex politics, and challenging emotions he would rather not experience. His voice remains rough and brutally honest. Thomas knows he's not right in the head and doesn't make a secret of it. He knows who he cares for, though, and the moments he spends with his friends and adopted son add some lightness to the otherwise dark story.

The story ends on a strong note, not exactly a cliffhanger, rather at a point where a lot is in balance. So, I need the fourth book asap but I'm also afraid of what happens next.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

This was so good! I went into this book with high expectations since it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I am happy to report that this book maintained the level of excellence that I have come to expect from this series. I honestly cannot understand how this series isn’t more popular than it currently is. I really think that all fans of dark fantasy need to give this book a try because it has the perfect combination of action, great characters, political maneuvering, and bloody violence to keep things very, very interesting.

This book picks up shortly after the events of the previous installment so I would definitely recommend that this series be read in order. Tomas Piety has been serving as Governor of Ellinburg. He has handed the reins of his gang, the Pious Men, to his second in command, Bloody Anne, while he serves his role as a member of the Queen’s Men. A note from Dannsburg telling him that the Queen is dead and he is needed. He gathers his closest men and starts his journey. He is not ready for everything he is about to encounter when he arrives at the House of Law.

This book is told from Tomas’s point of view and I love the way that he is able to navigate even the most difficult situations. He is a tough man but he has his limits and lines that he will not cross. This is a brutal story and not for the faint of heart. It was eye opening to realize just how deeply the corruption in this realm extends and to learn just who really holds the power. This was a book that I found almost impossible to set aside and couldn’t wait to see how Tomas and his crew would be able to navigate the difficult situation that they found themselves in.

I would highly recommend this series to others. I found this to be a fantastic read that kept me hooked from the start. This is definitely a darker story with plenty of bloody action and a whole crew of wonderful characters. I will definitely be reading more of Peter McLean’s work in the future.

Initial Thoughts
This was fabulous! This was one book that I couldn't wait to get my hands on and I am so happy that it delivered. There were a lot of political maneuvers in this book but it was as brutal as the previous installments in the series. At times, it seemed that Tomas was in over his head but he always seems to find a way to make things work out. The story was quite violent and sometimes gory so it may not appeal to all readers but I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a darker read.

Book source: purchased

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We walked in like gangsters, like we own the fucking place, all swagger and weapons and attitude. In business as well as in battle, an approach always has to be tailored to the terrain, to the place and the time, the job or the mission at hand.
This was the right approach for the right time.”

Priest of Gallows by Peter McLean is the penultimate instalment in the War for the Rose Throne quartet, it is another enthralling tale where the seedy underworld of gangsters and deceptive politics go hand in hand, and our narrator, Tomas Piety, must learn to adapt to new roles or face finally meeting Our Lady of Eternal Sorrows. Prepare for a politically charged, addictive read, full of deeply rooted family bonds, devastating trauma and harsh justice, a story where the stakes are raised even higher.

The narrative begins not long after the aftermath of Priest of Lies, where unbeknownst to all, Tomas Piety became Governor of Ellinburg, the city he once ran with his Pious Men. Yet Tomas’ time as Governor is short lived as he soon receives a letter from Dieter Vogel, informing him of the Queen’s sudden death and summoning him back to the capital, Dannsburg. Knowing that Vogel, the superior of the Queen’s Men, is not a man to be kept waiting, Tomas immediately gathers his most trusted companions such as Bloody Anne and his beloved son Billy, and in haste sets off on a journey he’ll never quite forget. No matter how hard he’ll try.

When I first began this series, Tomas Piety’s first person narration instantly drew me in. This is his memoirs after all, and given that, we are pulled into an intimate account of his life, the good times, the bad and the ugly. Once again Tomas’ compelling, almost hypnotic narrative voice completely captured me, McLean nuances his character in such a way that he is instantly recognisable. The repetition of certain phrases, the way he reminds himself of what people have said, the hints of foreshadowing, they all cleverly work to make his character iconic, it makes the story addictive to read, and in all honesty I always miss his narrative voice after finishing each book.

Tomas has led a life inflicted with trauma and abuse, his time as a soldier has left him with PTSD, and in his own way Tomas is a man with many demons. Over the course of these books we have seen him face his past as well as try to change his future. In Priest of Gallows, we see the battle shock from the war in Abingon still haunts our Tomas. The old vulnerabilities are still there even though he tries to hide it, yet that is understable, war does that, it leaves parts of you broken in various ways, even when you think you’ve left it behind. In his desperation to prevent another war landing on his doorstep, Tomas becomes the very thing that was used to scare misbehaving children. In this book he well and truly becomes a Queen’s Man, and swiftly learns that he is both out of his depth and on familiar grounds. Tomas is a man who essentially wants ‘power, respect and authority’, he desires to avoid ever returning to a life where he had very little control and faced horrors one could never even imagine. Those were the real levers that pushed Tomas Piety to become involved with the Queen’s Men, and as this book focuses more on the political intrigue side, we learn that to become a true Queen’s Man, Tomas is constantly walking on a tightrope. This made for such a gripping story, and what I loved was the way McLean showed the comparison between the Queen’s Men and gangsters. They’re really not all that different - both are deadly to cross. As the Queen’s men ensnared Tomas deeper within their schemes, could he use his skills as the former mob boss of the Pious Men to navigate himself out of their clutches? Or would he become another figure to simply disappear?

Priest of Gallows firmly sits within the grimdark genre, a genre I have recently been struggling with because I’ve felt many books have turned grimdark into something to be merely edgy and shocking with very little depth. Yes, this world is as dark, violent and brutal as it ever was, but with each book McLean never allows this darkness to become a gimmick, or to be gratuitous. Through Tomas Piety’s narration we see him criticise the world, to condemn all the horrifying things he witnesses or even things he actively does. He may not always be proud of his deeds, but those were the times he lived in. He shows us a glimpse into a world that is corrupted to its core, and then reflects on how very wrong, even scary that is. This is what sets this series apart from other grimdark books for me, it has the ability to look at its own society and judge it harshly. As brutal and uncomfortable as some scenes are, you really feel Tomas’ anger, disgust and bitterness at the situation too.

“Dannsburg, the city of lies and whispers and treachery. Aye, that probably suited me better than the blunt honesty of Ellinburg, these days. Was that Our Lady’s plan for me? Would I always be torn between the two, and longing for Varnburg and the clean majesty of the sea that I could never have? That was a philosophical question, I supposed, and I was too drunk for philosophy.”

For example McLean shows us that the horrors of warfare often mirrored the horrors that lurked beneath the depths of the city too. Even in a supposedly sophisticated capital as Dannsburg, there is still the presence of utter savagery, slavery, and of the vile fetishes of those who claim to be noble, to be holy. War may be a terrible savagery act, but at the end of the day soldiers are following orders, to commit inhumane acts in the name of entertainment is far worse. McLean has always strikingly illustrated that those who should display the highest of morals are actually the lowliest of people behind the facade, and it is always satisfying to see Tomas deal out his harsh justice to them.

This isn’t a book without its lighter moments though, as I’ve mentioned there are strong family bonds presented to us through Tomas and his son Billy, his sasura, his brother Jochan and his aunt Enaid. There is a strong friendship between Tomas and Bloody Anne, which brings such solace to Tomas, it made me quite emotional to see. There are moments of humour, of jests and moments of pride. Even if Tomas lies to himself that he doesn’t care, that he’s a cold, calculated man, he isn’t entirely, and it was pleasing to finally see him realise this in Priest of Gallows, after all he is his own best judge.

“If things had been different for my brother and me, I knew, it could have been either of us out on the streets. It could have been one of us picked up and lured into the pit by false promises and simple hunger. People may revere the idea of heroic veterans, but they very seldom have the time or the charity for the broken, battle-shocked men and women that are the reality of what war produces. I had seen too many heroes starve and freeze to death in doorways to think otherwise.”

Soldier, priest, gangster, Governor, Queen’s Man, our Tomas Piety has come a long way, but the man I have loved seeing him being the most is the defender of the downtrodden broken soldiers, the abused, the forgotten. With the way Priest of Gallows ended, I can see that Tomas’ finale is going to see him take on this role to its fullest and Our Lady take anyone who crosses his path.

ARC provided by Jo Fletcher Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy!

[Andrei(Drusca) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for sugar plum fairies, unicorns, and snuggle bears, you have come to the wrong place. The universe in the grim dark series, the War for the Rose Throne, is neither happy nor perfect. It is a tough, dark, miserable lot and nothing is ever simple and uncomplicated.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In Priest of Gallows, we are taken into the belly of the beast, the capital city, Dannsburg, and learn how Machiavellian the city is and how like the French Revolution it can quickly become. Thomas Piety is summoned to the city and soon finds that it is a hotbed of deceit and underhandedness and, as a part of the secret society of Queen’s Men, he has a license to do whatever it takes to play out the will of the the Lord Chief Judiciar and Provost Marshal Dieter Vogel, the not-so invisible power behind the throne. And, Thomas Piety, he of ignoble birth, finds that what goes on beneath the surface in the capital city is a world run by gangster thugs, a populace prone to fall for whatever propaganda they are fed, backstabbing rather than loyalty, and no one is safe from arrest and torture. Indeed, Ilse can make anyone confess to anything at any time.

This, the third novel in the four-novel quartet, is not a book of war and battle though Piety fears war is coming and, having lived through its horrors, knows that war is the last thing this nation wants or needs and that they may not survive what is sure to be coming, particularly if they are at each other’s throats. One might hesitate though to call this a novel about palace intrigue as that makes one think of gentle battles and wits and costumed balls. What goes on in Dannburg where no one trusts another and everyone is watched at all times is no court wordplay. Rather, there is brutal work to be done. People must be taken care of. And Piety and Bloody Anne and the lot may not even be tough and ruthless enough to get it all done. This business of theirs, we are told, is ill-suited to saints.

Of course, what makes it all work is the brilliant narrative voice of Thomas Piety, at once rough, tumble, and bloody, but at some point decent enough to know that the backstabbing will only result in more turmoil and more distrust. Not only are the portraits of Piety drawn so well, but those around him are complex, multi-faceted characters, not the least of which is his wife in name, Ailsa, the Queen of Deceit. And, the portrait of Lord Vogel knows no peer in all of literature. Indeed, we are told “There was something about Lord Vogel, something made of razors and hate that had me feeling cold all the way to my boots.” Vogel was like the devil himself and there was nothing in his soulless eyes to ever change that conclusion.

The book is dark. It is grim. It takes the reader down a path circling into and descending into hell time and time again. And, each time the book takes us into that dark grim fateful path, it gets darker and grimmer. Which is but to say that it is perfect.

[Rob Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The War for the Rose Throne series continues to be utterly brilliant!

There was a lot more political wrangling than gangster'ing in this one and in some ways that led to a slower pace. However, that didn't matter. The main character of Thomas Piety continues to be one of the most unique and compelling voices in modern fantasy. He's the sort of character you know would slit your throat if you said the wrong word, but can't help but read about and root for him anyways.

I'm giving this one 4.5 stars and I CANNOT wait for the final book!

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely excellent! My favourite in the series so far.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ovog "popa" pročitao sam za dva dana. Odlično vođeno, odlično ispleteno, vrlo inteligentno napisano. Veliki je pokazatelj trenutnog stanja tržišta to što je ovoj tetralogiji pretilo otkazivanje na roman pred kraj. Maklin je izuzetno dobar pisac, koji grimdark koristi kao alatku umesto da sve podređuje toj estetici - i tu alatku koristi krajnje vešto, kao njegov protagonista svoja sečiva. Ne znam da li više iščekujem četvrtu i poslednju knjigu ili neki njegov naredni serijal.

5* i NFSA.

[S A M | The Book in Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Afternoon Bookish Folk!

I figured it was about time I reviewed this book. I actually thought I had but this book deserves more than the original temporary review I wrote 🙈😂

Which was…

“Holy fucking wow! I have been way ill and have finally been well enough to finish this incredible book and just wow! I freaking love this series.”

What can I say? I have a way with words.

Here are a few things you can expect from this book…

Gritty and authentic violence
Gang warfare
Political intrigues
Fantastic characters and bonds of brotherhood

On to the full review…

Priest of Gallows is as addictive as its two previous books and satisfies my fix for Tomas perfectly. I finished Priest of Gallows back in June and I find that I am still reeling waiting for Priest of Crowns.

If you don’t know already the War for the Rose Throne series started out heavily inspired by the TV show Peaky Blinders and is set in a fantasy world. It definitely falls in low fantasy in my opinion but do not think for a second that this book doesn’t stand out amongst its peers. In many cases, it exceeds and outshines other books in its genre. A bold statement I know but once you have read these books you will be inclined to agree. McLean writes gang warfare and violence like you wouldn’t believe, though he doesn’t sprinkle it in glitter no he packs all the emotional grit into it and I’m doing so showcases some of the best character relationships I have read while maintaining a single POV.

This being is the third book of the series and it has grown so much, and while McLean has retained all the elements I appreciated in the previous books he has also upped several other ones. For instance, in this book, we see more political maneuverings and intrigue as we explore new sprawling locations. The shift in this book was well done and completely natural.

“The world of intrigues wasn’t my natural environment. I was a soldier and businessman, for Our Lady’s sake. Politics was a foreign country to me, and I would have been quite happy for it to stay that way, but it seemed that wasn’t going to be the case.”

I don’t plan to go much into the areas I have already covered in my previous reviews but know this book stands out and deserves all the praise. Tomas is one of my favourite characters read, as it Bloody Anne. These characters are multi layered and fully fleshed out they are expertly written. The world is vast and interwoven into the plot with a finesse I rarely see.

Gritty and thought provoking Priest of Gallows is an incredible addition to an already addictive and captivating series.

“People may revere the idea of heroic veterans, but they very seldom have the time or the charity for the broken, battle-shocked men and women that are the reality of what war produces.”

THE RANKS:

BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE

I would buy the hardback for this whole series and probably any future book McLean writes. Though, I highly recommend the audiobook for this series too as the narrator is perfect and increases the wow factor that comes with this books main character, Tomas.

[Steve Kimmins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sure this will be one of my favourite 2021 reads. Just hit my sweet spot for dark, hard nosed fantasy. Grimdark to a degree, if you like, though I’m not a fan of the term.

In the previous two volumes we’ve made the acquaintance of Thomas Piety, born into a criminal family in the second city of this fantasy country.
Brief summary of previous volumes - may be a spoiler if you’ve not read them. Brutalised in his youth and as a conscript soldier in a vicious war where he’s made a battlefield priest, and becoming eventually the ‘Top Dog’ of the post-war criminal underworld. He’s also caught the attention of the state security organisation (Queen’s Men) who’ve called on his services.

In this volume Tomas moves away from gangster activities and plays more of a role in state politics in the capital. Unsurprisingly he doesn’t find high state politics and its intrigues much different from gangsterism! Plenty of expletives, very gritty and sometimes violent. Light on magic but it’s dangerously lurking in the background. I’ll say no more on the details other than its straightforward storytelling but with an intriguing and unpredictable plot. Very moreish reading. It certainly flew by for a 400+ page book.

Tomas isn’t a particularly complex character. He is a blunt, no nonsense, confident gangster who’s content with the lifestyle. Having ‘morally grey’ main characters, anti-heroes is in fashion and one that I often enjoy, though I’d suggest it’s a very dark shade of grey with Tomas. Sympathy for him comes from his sharp intelligence and independence, and a conscience that he very occasionally listens to. Not too often though. An affection for those few very close to him. His character doesn’t evolve much through the volumes, it seems to me, but it’s interesting seeing how he adapts to and manages his significantly altered circumstances.

I’m no expert on fiction writing styles having no talent in that direction at all. I hear my more sophisticated GR friends talk of an author’s distinctive ‘voice’ in their writing. For me this book, and the series to date, certainly has such a ‘voice’ which I enjoyed, even though it’s a straightforward, first person narrative by Tomas.

As you can tell I loved it. It’s now surely set up for an explosive final volume. Easy 5* for me.

I will continue to air one complaint I make of most good fantasy series issued over a duration of some years, and that’s of the lack of a summary of the story to date. In fact, it’s not a major omission here as a comprehensive character list with descriptions half satisfies that requirement, reminding us who’s who. But another couple of pages reminding us of the main features of the plot would have been useful. Here it’s probably enough to just skim some GR reviews or synopses from volumes 1 and 2 before starting on 3, if you’re someone who reads dozens of fantasy books in a year, as I do.

[Julia Sarene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a bit speechless here.

The first two books in this series where already brilliant, but Priest of Gallows tops them.

Not for the plot, which is just as nicely twisty as with the previous books, and leads us around corners and sometimes in circles, to then give us a glimpse of what's up next. Always intriguing, always captivating.

But no. What really crowns this one is the character development!

I loved Thomas Piety and his gang right from the start. But wow, can McLean write people and their growth.

Thomas is still very much Thomas, but what he went through so far has steered him in every so slightly different directions that expected. It's not massive, big bits that feel unrealistic, no it's the little minimal pieces here and there that show how he has outgrown his old skin. How living with the Queens Men has changed his outlook. I love just how detailed and well handled his PTSD and trauma are. A small sentence here, a little statement there, and it makes it all so much more real and gripping.

Yes, this is Grimdark, and there's gore and cursing a plenty - however these things don't go by without consequences. All these deeds leave marks on the people involved. Slaughtering people will change people, and McLean does capture the turmoil involved so well.

The end was just... Can I have chocolate and an emotional support pet now, please?

I want to read the end of the series *right now*

I also know I I'll suffer greatly along with these people I care for, and it will be horrendous. Torture me now anyway, please?

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're in a state of regression. In addition to the pandemic crippling our economies, the world's collective mindset seems to be facing backward, leaning into the old behaviors that divide us. While social injustice, disgraceful political leadership, and basic intolerance of our neighbors continue to plague us, we are once again on the road to repeating the same acts of horror and suppression that we claimed to have overcome in the past century. It is times like these when artists' voices are more important than ever. Writers, musicians, comedians, filmmakers, and countless others all have the opportunity to share new ideas to remind us where we came from and where we need to go during these dark and challenging times.

Enter: Priest of Gallows. Surface level, this is another hugely entertaining read; an excellent addition to the Tomas Piety saga, who has one of the most distinct narrative voices I've encountered in literary fiction. McLean's writing hits like a two-bottle brandy hangover: easy to digest, but leaves a sour aftertaste once settled. Spending time in Piety's head is a blast: a no-bullshit, street-smart gangster with PTSD and family issues, he's nearly impossible to rattle, and keeps his thoughts and emotions closely guarded. Joining Tomas as he ascends the ranks of the rotten core of central government carries plenty of dark humor and vile acts of treachery. Great stuff.

Digging a bit deeper, it's plain to see that this is not a subtle story. McLean is firing warning shots with heavy-handed metaphors throughout this story. It almost reads like a history book. The city is set in Ellinberg, which sounds like a portmanteau of Berlin and St. Petersberg. Piety's story centers on his ascension through the Queen's Men -- essentially, the KGB -- who uses a Gulag-like torture chamber in the basement of the 'house of law,' reserved for whoever the hell the government wants to throw in there, regardless of guilt. I'll wager a guess that head torturer Ilse is a proxy for Auschwitz SS monster Irma Grese.

Dieter Vogel, Piety's boss and head of the Queen's Men, has come into power in a years-long plan similar to the Hitler he emulates. There is a group of peaceful, educated magician scholars, recognized by their seven-pointed star - symbolically close to the Star of David - who take on the role of the Jews, and become targets of genocide by Vogel's pure racism, ignorance, and hatred. Fellow Queensman Iagin is the Goebbels-like head of propaganda, while all the internal civil unrest is blamed on the neighboring Polish-like Skanians.

There were a couple of times these metaphors went over the top. There was a reference to a wall being built, and a word-for-word repetition of a popular groan-inducing phrase was touted by Piety that was far too on-the-nose. Another example was when Piety was noticing that the more indoctrinated he was becoming in his KGB-like role and the worse his actions were becoming, the more his excuses sounded like a Nazi who was 'just following orders.'

Not only did I like this book, I appreciated it. I think it's an important and timely release that serves as a warning sign and reminder of the horror from whence we came, and the danger of following in its footsteps. It's also a hell of a good time, and serves up a damn fine cliffhanger for the end of Piety's story. There's a lot of ground yet to cover, and some exciting revelations and dangling loose ends have me lined up and ready for the conclusion. But first, the liquor store is calling. I'm fresh out of brandy and I can't let that pass.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the first two books in Peter McLean's War for the Rose Throne series this third instalment ended up being an excellent dark fantasy tale. The series is basically a gangster story set in a fantasy world with a bit of political intrigue thrown in. There is not a ton of magic but there is enough to keep things interesting and the world is an intriguing one. The focus is fairly tight what with this being the tale of a gangsters rise to power and up the social ladder but there is enough intrigue and worldbuilding to establish a fairly interesting sounding wider fantasy world. McLean is a talented storyteller and he has an engaging writing style so it is fairly easy to get sucked into the story!

The plot was just a straight continuation of what we got in the previous two books. Thomas found himself getting sucked more and more into the life of a spy and into the organisation that is the Queen’s Men. With the time split between Dannsburg and Ellenburg it was interesting to watch how Thomas juggled his two lives and how he came to understand that perhaps his new life was not so different from his old one. It just did things on a larger scale!

As always Thomas is a compelling lead character. He is a soldier and gangster with a ton of flaws but he is weirdly easy to root for despite those flaws. I think the first person POV of the story really helps with getting the reader to emphasise with Thomas. The guy might be a bit of a villain but he works great as an anti-hero!

The secondary characters are a complex and interesting bunch in their own right and a big plus for the story.

All in all I really enjoyed this one. Easily one of my all time favourite dark fantasy series. I did enjoy Peter McLean’s UF series but this is easily his best work. A better story, a cooler world, and an easier to root for lead character make this series an upgrade in every way over his previous series.

Rating: 4.5 stars. I’m rounding up to 5 stats for this one as I feel my 4 star ratings for the previous instalments have probably been a tad stingy!

Audio Note: I still slightly prefer John Lee but David Morley Hale is also a solid narrator and his performance here is good. If you had to switch to the U.K. versions from the US versions for this third book then the transition is a fairly smooth one.

[Oldman_JE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like McLean's style, a lot, though the flourishes are a bit much at times, and while this one didn't have the oomph the first two did, it felt like it sets in place what might be twice the oomph in the finale. Looking forward to it, truth be told.

[David Firmage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck yes. The War for the Rose Thorn will be in my top series of all time after the final book. I cannot see Peter McLean dropping the ball and completely screwing the last in the series (he's written in the Warhammer series previously). I can see the last book being another shitstorm of politics, brutality and betrayal.

I will pre-order Priest of Crowns as soon as it is available in paperback.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for ages for this title to reach the top of my review list. The first two books in this series were a great deal of fun so I had high hopes for book three. I’m glad to report that I was not at all disappointed. Everyone’s favourite thoroughly disreputable anti-hero Tomas Piety is back. His ongoing ascent from a lowly soldier to gang boss, and then into the realms of politics and power continues. The only problem, the higher up the social ladder he climbs the worse the people are he meets. At least you know where you are with a career criminal, there is a certain degree of honesty to a barroom brawler that you just don’t find in polite society. It turns out that the old saying is not true. Great responsibility does not come with great power. What comes with great power is a far more complicated life where everyone wants a piece of you. Among the great and, not so, good there are factions within factions. Tomas can’t even begin to know who he can trust. It comes to something when you find yourself pining for the good old days of brothels and street fights.

No longer a backwater governor, Tomas has relocated to the capital and reports directly to the head of the Queen’s Men*. This new station should be the stuff of dreams, but it quickly becomes evident that Tomas has wandered into a nest of vipers, politically speaking. Chief amongst those snakes is the Provost Marshal, Dieter Vogel, who runs the Queen’s Men with Machiavellian levels of ruthless efficiency. If there is an issue that can be resolved with people conveniently disappearing, then that is exactly what happens. Vogel’s sociopathic tendencies ensure he is the person best suited to do his job. I got the distinct impression that he views people as a problem that needs to either be fixed or, more frequently, removed.

The good news is that Tomas isn’t alone, he still has friends he can rely upon. Bloody Anne remains a constant companion and his de-facto conscience. Anne has a strong moral compass and is more than prepared to call Tomas out when he makes mistakes. She’ll speak the truth even if she knows Tomas isn’t going to like it. I love the dynamic between these characters. They have been together since their time in the military and that sense of comradeship that was forged in battle is so well observed. There is a bond stronger than blood.

Tomas is coming to realise that he has long since stopped being the boss of all he surveys. He has become a small fish in a far bigger pond and it’s Vogel who is in charge. As the plot unfolds there is more and more evidence of Tomas being uncomfortable with the situation that he finds himself in. I foresee a moment soon when our erstwhile hero is going to have had enough. I’d imagine when that happens things are going to get suitably bloody. I certainly hope so. Tomas Piety dishing out a bit of righteous anger and old school violence on his enemies is bound to be a sight worth beholding. We are building to a definitive conclusion here people and I can’t wait. There is going to be one hell of a reckoning.

I’ll admit that I had assumed Priest of Gallows was going to conclude the War of the Rose Throne, but I have discovered that instead there will be a fourth book. I’m beyond pleased to note that we are not quite done with the adventures of Tomas Piety and the rest of the Pious Men yet. I await Priest of Crowns with bated breath.

*A clandestine organisation that has carte blanche to do whatever needs to be done for the good of the kingdom.

[Devanshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+/5✯
Truly, a masterpiece.
I'm in love with this series and this one is by far my favourite.

"Here comes the boggart to snip off your head,
Here comes a Queen's Man,
And you're better off dead."

An Overview:
Tomas Piety, now a Queen's Man, is relieved from his position as a substitute Governor of Ellinburg and is called, with his crew, to Dannsburg after the Queen's death. In the heart of the secret association of Queen's Man, he would learn what it truly means to be one of them. Respect, power and authority are his levers, but how much taint could his soul bare to achieve them? Soldier, Priest, Pious Men, Queen's Man, Governor and now Brother Blade, what would his new roles entail? Every face is a façade and Provost Marshal Dieter Vogel is a threat he always feared but never knew the depth of his viciousness.

Review:
The P in Tomas Piety stands for Perfection. And not just him.
Plot, characters, writing, dialogues, world building, fantasy elements, relations, friendships, rivalry, politics, ethics and morality.
Everything was just perfection.
I've rarely come across a character whose pov had such an enchanting effect on me and the author is a master in his craft.
The whole combination of all this is enhanced by the fabulous narration.
Where there's a lack of romance, you're compensated with an amazing and heartwarming friendship between Tomas and Bloody Anne.

I want to quote the whole book, but i think that would be illegal (and tedious), so enjoy a glimpse. ;)

"If that didn’t match the words heard by those at the front then what did it matter? The truth is so easily drowned by the words of the majority that it counts for little, in my experience."

"It’s funny how the crimes of one war become the justice of another, but those were the times we lived in."

"I was beginning to dig my heels in even then. I may not be an educated man but I like to think that I’m not a fool, either. There’s another thing that has to be understood about me too: I will not be bullied."

"Powerful people have power over you only for as long as you believe that they do. Then the day comes when you realise that they are just people, and everyone can die the same way. In a world where you can do absolutely anything, why would you fear anyone? Your only restraint is your own conscience, and I didn’t really have one of those. That was the bit I was missing, after all."

[Mike Shackle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series gets better and better as things in Tomas Piety's life gets worse and worse. McLean has created a truly special character that you can't help but root for despite the fact he's not the type of hero we normally should cheer on. Throughout the book, there's an increasing sense of doom and paranoia as you can never tell who you can trust or who you can't as Tomas is swept along by events not of his making. By our lady's name, this is a fantastic continuation of one of the best fantasy series of recent years.

[Terrible Timy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum with my choice of song.

I received an eARC via Netgalley from the publisher in exchange of an honest review. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

“People may revere the idea of heroic veterans, but they very seldom have the time or the charity for the broken, battle-shocked men and women that are the reality of what war produces.”

Fuck a nun, Priest of Gallows was yet another great installment in the War for the Rose Throne series by Peter McLean. If you haven’t started the series yet, I highly recommend you do so because the final book will be something to behold, I’m sure. But until then, here are my reviews for Priest of Bones and Priest of Lies if you need some more persuasion. I’m having a pretty hard time with reading recently, but I pretty much devoured Priest of Gallows in a matter of days (well, not including those on which I did not read for reasons). It definitely did some good to my reading slump.

Priest of Gallows takes the events up a few months after the end of Priest of Lies, which I admit threw me a little. I expected to be dropped right into the aftermath of the battle and I was ready to curse McLean if anything happened to Billy the Boy. Instead, we get a glimpse of a moment of peacefulness. Which obviously doesn’t last as news arrives from Dannsburg. And thus, Tomas gets swept into court politics played by rules he doesn’t quite understand at first, but intends to play nonetheless.

I’m not going into the plot here, because I’d rather not spoil the fun, but if you followed Tomas Piety until this point, then you probably have a fair idea of what to expect: blood, mayhem, backstabbing, an unhealthy dose of cunning and a lot of mindfuckery. Tomas tries to navigate his way through Dannsburg society as a Queen’s Man, testing his powers and tolerance for being fucked with. I found it curious that it took him quite a lot of time to find his footings and start to make his own moves in the game, but that just makes me want to read the last book so much more.

“No one is ever simply an enemy, a lone faceless thing to be fought and killed. That was what was drilled into us in the army, to be sure, but that didn’t make it true.”

I like how the War for the Rose Throne series shifts from a story of a gangster into a political backstabbery with continually growing stakes as Tomas gets deeper and deeper into it all. Lucky for him, there are some people to keep his stubborn ass in line and his head clear when needed – Bloody Anne most of them all, who keeps being the most loyal friend anyone could wish for. And of course Billy the Boy who is still creepy but also still my favorite character and man, we need much more of him. Oh and I just adored the hell out of how Tomas was handling him. I just love their relationship and wish we could see more of that side of Tomas. I was happy to see Mr. Shapoor making a come back and I have a feeling that he might have a bigger role to play at one point.

There were some things I didn’t see coming, and I admit that for a long time I had no idea where the book was going – but then, it became clear which way one character’s plans were heading and then it was interesting to watch how and when Tomas will catch up and react. All in all, the end game definitely will be interesting.

Three books into the series, and I still have no idea what makes this world of Peter McLean‘s so damn compelling. It’s not that Tomas Piety is a person you usually would root for as he is not something you’d call a good man, but he also isn’t entirely without morale and honor. The thing about him is that he feels so goddamn real, as well as all the other characters. They aren’t just characters, they are people. Like that time when Tomas wants to act on first instinct, out of anger, and then later comes to his senses and rethinks his options. We all make mistakes, and Tomas is sure not an exception, but what makes a difference is how we handle those mistakes, and whether we learn from them or not. It’s also fascinating to experience how the Queen’s Men operate through Tomas’ eyes. It brings to mind modern-day secret intelligence services such as the KGB. I’m sure this is going to end so well…

“Change, as I say. It’s something we all have to make our peace with, in time. It’s seldom pleasant and never easy, but it’s a fact of life and nothing to be done about that.”

As for criticism, sometimes I wished things would slow down a bit, that we could get more time to explore relationships, events, places – at some places things felt a bit rushed to me. Then again, I wanted to spend more time in this book, so there is that.

All my ramblings aside, Priest of Gallows is another great addition to a series that already been on my list of favorites. This book only just strengthened that place. Priest of Gallows is a raw, gut-wrenching, and unputdownable page-turner, where you can never know if it’ll be Remorse or Mercy cutting your heart out next. You can try and hide from the inevitable, but at the end of the day, you just have to join Tomas’ crew and hold tight because the road won’t be smooth and painless, that’s for sure.

[ChopinFC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 2023: 5 big Stars!!!


5 Stars (spectacular)

An immaculate series that entertains, is well written, with tons of plots and twists and a memorable protagonist. The last concluding book cannot come fast enough!

[Zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid this book in the series. The ending has me v intrigued. Looking forward to the final book.

[Miriam Michalak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant - the best so far in the War for the Rose Throne.

Tomas has moved on from his Pious Men (boooh - I missed them) and got himself tied up with the politicking in the capital where we are introduced to more of the "Queens Men". Tomas has grown in character and continues his growth in the book - with all the blood, backstabbing, violence, twisty plot and incredible characters we've come to expect from Peter McLean.

I need the next installment NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[liv ʚɞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

’Here comes a Queen’s Man, and you’re better off dead’

Priest of Gallows is another excellent addition to an equally excellent series.

Totally expanding upon the Queen’s Men, the monarchy of this world and the political systems at play, this truly was the book for me. I’m the one weirdo that LOVES the political intrigue plot-lines in books, and this was right up my alley. Tomas’s integration further into the Queen’s Men was fascinating, and seeing such a completely corrupt system be so powerful was truly terrifying. Vogel is a horrific villain, so easy to hate, but such a well-developed character. I’m a big fan of what this did to built upon Ailsa as well, and I enjoyed that this focused on Tomas more than the previous entries.

I’m also someone who enjoys when authors actually criticise real-world politics within their fiction books, and this was no exception. How the governing council was run was incredibly reminiscent of the UK Parliament (which makes sense, as McLean is English), and I agreed with each of his criticisms. The way in which politics in our country is televised, made into a spectacle and revolves around a bunch of buffoons screaming over one-another was, unfortunately, very well presented in this book. There’s nothing like a fantasy novel to show you how shit the real world is!

This series continues to be engaging, very well-written and entertaining at all times. Priest of Gallows gets 4/5 stars, and I cannot wait to see how McLean wraps everything up in the final novel.

[Doomscribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Priest of Gallows by Peter McClean builds brilliantly on the two novels that came before. Hampered only slightly by the need to set up the final conflict, Thomas Piety in this story is more conflicted and brutal than ever.

The War for the Rose Throne series is most certainly not one you can start at book 3. Priest of Gallows takes everything that’s come before sticks a wick in the metaphorical bomb of the psyche of Thomas Piety, and the stability of the world, and lights the fuse.

You see, Piety is a full on Queen’s man now, which sees him back in the capital, working directly under the head of the operation and evil bastard Vogel. As Piety tries to reckon with his new role, he sees the horrors that the Queen’s men inflict firsthand, and contributes to them. Piety still manages to be the least evil bastard out of all the evil bastards and even if this is the most uncomfortable I’ve been with his actions, I still root for him.

There’s a lot of Piety being told what to do in this book, more so than in the previous two it felt like. Occasionally this could feel frustrating, but he still manages to exert small amounts of control over his situation, making moves even he isn’t entirely sure to what end. There’s definitely a feeling of Piety preparing for something, that I’m pretty sure is going to pay off in a big way in the next book.

I love seeing Piety in Dannsburg – those were my favourite sections in Priest of Lies and there was far more of it in this book. Piety’s intersection with nobility just works so well, and it’s great to meet and get to know better the other Queen’s Men warrant holders and well. We see less of Ailsa than I would have liked, and not much of the crew other than Bloody Anne, Fat Luka and Rosie, but there’s a large new cast to introduce, and it makes sense that Piety can’t move his entire crew to Dannsburg.

McClean has delivered again with Priest of Gallows, meeting his promises and providing some great new twists. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Thomas Piety and his crew in the final entry of the series.

Rating: 9/10

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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