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The Reborn Empire #3
We Cry for Blood
The empire has fallen and another rises in its place in the action-packed third book of Devin Madson's bold and bloody epic fantasy quartet.
Ambition and schemes have left the Kisian Empire in ashes. Empress Miko Ts’ai will have to move fast if she hopes to secure a foothold in its ruins. However, the line between enemies and allies may not be as clear-cut as it first appeared.
After failing to win back his Swords, former Captain Rah e’Torin finds shelter among the Levanti deserters. But his presence in the camp threatens to fracture the group, putting him on a collision course with their enigmatic leader.
Assassin Cassandra Marius knows Leo Villius’s secret—one that could thwart his ambitions to conquer Kisia. But her time in Empress Hana’s body is running out and each attempt they make to exploit Leo’s weakness may be playing into his plans.
And, as Leo’s control over the Levanti emperor grows, Dishiva e’Jaroven is caught in his web. To successfully challenge him, she’ll have to decide how many of her people are worth sacrificing in order to win.
We Cry for Blood is the thrilling continuation of a heart-pounding epic fantasy series, perfect for readers of Mark Lawrence, John Gwynne, and Brian Staveley.
Ambition and schemes have left the Kisian Empire in ashes. Empress Miko Ts’ai will have to move fast if she hopes to secure a foothold in its ruins. However, the line between enemies and allies may not be as clear-cut as it first appeared.
After failing to win back his Swords, former Captain Rah e’Torin finds shelter among the Levanti deserters. But his presence in the camp threatens to fracture the group, putting him on a collision course with their enigmatic leader.
Assassin Cassandra Marius knows Leo Villius’s secret—one that could thwart his ambitions to conquer Kisia. But her time in Empress Hana’s body is running out and each attempt they make to exploit Leo’s weakness may be playing into his plans.
And, as Leo’s control over the Levanti emperor grows, Dishiva e’Jaroven is caught in his web. To successfully challenge him, she’ll have to decide how many of her people are worth sacrificing in order to win.
We Cry for Blood is the thrilling continuation of a heart-pounding epic fantasy series, perfect for readers of Mark Lawrence, John Gwynne, and Brian Staveley.
578 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2021
45 people are currently reading
1330 people want to read
About the author
Devin Madson
14 books559 followersDevin Madson is an Aurealis Award-winning fantasy author from Australia. After some sucky teenage years, she gave up reality and is now a dual-wielding rogue who works through every tiny side-quest and always ends up too over-powered for the final boss. Anything but zen, Devin subsists on tea and chocolate and so much fried zucchini she ought to have turned into one by now. Her fantasy novels come in all shades of grey and are populated with characters of questionable morals and a liking for witty banter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 29, 2021
This series is still well on target to be a great epic series, in my opinion, after reading this third in the quartet of books.
Volume 1 was a really excellent read (and was also a runner up in an earlier SPFBO contest); volume 2 was interesting, in a less earth shattering, country disintegrating, way with characters and interested parties regrouping and taking stock of the situation after #1. Now volume 3 has returned to the pacy, conflict ridden, drama of volume 1. I enjoyed it.
It took a little while to get into this new volume, as is often the case with volumes in complex epic series, but this was helped a great deal by a ‘Story So Far’ introduction and a cast list of important characters, satisfying a hobby horse of mine concerning new volumes in a series. Each chapter is named after one of the four main POV’s, and once I’d read a chapter from each I was into the full swing of the story again.
We’re right back with the open conflicts between the three main groupings; the Krisian Empire, the Chiltean Oligarchy and the horse tribes of the Levanti; and the sub divisions within these groups are important too!
The supernatural elements are being ramped up, with the strange and sinister Chiltean character, Leo. Are various prophecies about him important, since they repeatedly feature in the plot? As seems to be the case with prophecy in general, no one’s sure! In addition, there’s the body swapping/ sharing that has been in all volumes. That latter theme could have been a difficult one for me, as I wasn’t too sure about it initially, with voices speaking to each other from within the same body. But fantasy should explore different avenues, and I don’t want to read the same old Sword and Sorcery tropes. I’ve gotten used to this aspect of the story and as long as you keep your wits about you while reading I thought it worked well, as an unusual mystical aspect that adds that extra fantasy spice to the story.
Any issues for me? Not really, concerning the storyline. The prose is very good. Maybe the reflections that some POV’s had, when balancing personal concerns against their larger duties, showing their internal anguish, are a bit more detailed than I needed. But I think that’s just my taste for less emotional characterisations peeking out!
All in all, a gripping story. Things are now set up for the final volume and the direction the story could go is thankfully unpredictable. I think this will end up being one of the top fantasy series I’ve read in recent years. Plus side of 4.5*.
Volume 1 was a really excellent read (and was also a runner up in an earlier SPFBO contest); volume 2 was interesting, in a less earth shattering, country disintegrating, way with characters and interested parties regrouping and taking stock of the situation after #1. Now volume 3 has returned to the pacy, conflict ridden, drama of volume 1. I enjoyed it.
It took a little while to get into this new volume, as is often the case with volumes in complex epic series, but this was helped a great deal by a ‘Story So Far’ introduction and a cast list of important characters, satisfying a hobby horse of mine concerning new volumes in a series. Each chapter is named after one of the four main POV’s, and once I’d read a chapter from each I was into the full swing of the story again.
We’re right back with the open conflicts between the three main groupings; the Krisian Empire, the Chiltean Oligarchy and the horse tribes of the Levanti; and the sub divisions within these groups are important too!
The supernatural elements are being ramped up, with the strange and sinister Chiltean character, Leo. Are various prophecies about him important, since they repeatedly feature in the plot? As seems to be the case with prophecy in general, no one’s sure! In addition, there’s the body swapping/ sharing that has been in all volumes. That latter theme could have been a difficult one for me, as I wasn’t too sure about it initially, with voices speaking to each other from within the same body. But fantasy should explore different avenues, and I don’t want to read the same old Sword and Sorcery tropes. I’ve gotten used to this aspect of the story and as long as you keep your wits about you while reading I thought it worked well, as an unusual mystical aspect that adds that extra fantasy spice to the story.
Any issues for me? Not really, concerning the storyline. The prose is very good. Maybe the reflections that some POV’s had, when balancing personal concerns against their larger duties, showing their internal anguish, are a bit more detailed than I needed. But I think that’s just my taste for less emotional characterisations peeking out!
All in all, a gripping story. Things are now set up for the final volume and the direction the story could go is thankfully unpredictable. I think this will end up being one of the top fantasy series I’ve read in recent years. Plus side of 4.5*.
August 13, 2023
2023: хоть и есть места, которые слишком медленные, снижать рейтинг не буду.
2021: господи, хорошо-то как. даже пять звезд поставлю.
текст, по-моему, стал крепче, экшена больше, драмы на уровне, злодей злодейский, кинжалы в спину во всех смыслах так и летят
жду четвертую часть в следующем году с распростертыми объятьями, надеюсь не подкачает и выдаст необходимый для этой истории катарсис
p.s. абсолютно неслыханно, что у этой книги всего 76 оценок на гудридз. эта серия на две головы выше большинства популярных фэнтези, что я читала в последние годы
2021: господи, хорошо-то как. даже пять звезд поставлю.
текст, по-моему, стал крепче, экшена больше, драмы на уровне, злодей злодейский, кинжалы в спину во всех смыслах так и летят
жду четвертую часть в следующем году с распростертыми объятьями, надеюсь не подкачает и выдаст необходимый для этой истории катарсис
p.s. абсолютно неслыханно, что у этой книги всего 76 оценок на гудридз. эта серия на две головы выше большинства популярных фэнтези, что я читала в последние годы
March 26, 2022
3.5 Stars
This was another solid entry in the epic fantasy The Empire Reborn series. The books are a good balance of action and political intrigue. Generally this had all elements that I normally look for in fantasy. Yet, it just never completely pulled me.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for an epic fantasy series that provides an exciting, yet easy narrative to follow.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was another solid entry in the epic fantasy The Empire Reborn series. The books are a good balance of action and political intrigue. Generally this had all elements that I normally look for in fantasy. Yet, it just never completely pulled me.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for an epic fantasy series that provides an exciting, yet easy narrative to follow.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 26, 2022
Allez, un peu de discipline, on arrête de baver devant le flot de nouveautés et on continue les séries en cours ! Hop Hop Hop ! Nous arrivons au tome 3 de cette saga de fantasy très politique qui prend son temps, voyons où veut nous emmener Devin Madson.
Les pièces du puzzle s’assemblent tandis que la menace venue de Chiltae se précise. Suite à l’invasion de Kisia et à la révolte Levanti qui a placé Gideon sur le trône, on commence à voir qui tire vraiment les ficelles en coulisse, chacun essaye de résister à sa manière et avec les armes à sa disposition dans les cendres de l’empire. Cassandra a découvert la vérité sur cet enfoiré de Leo Villius que personne ne semble capable d’arrêter tandis qu’elle est coincée dans un corps faiblissant. Dishiva tente de résister aux manipulations autour de Gideon mais chacune de ses décisions pourrait couter la vie d’autres Levanti. Rah, quant à lui, à trouvé refuge chez les exilés, mais sa présence remet en cause l’autorité établie et l’ensemble de la résistance pourrait être déstabilisée. Miko essaye de rassembler les forces à sa disposition pour contre-attaquer, mais les obstacles ennemis autant que les rivalités dans ses propres forces pourraient compliquer les choses.
Vous l’aurez constaté dans ce résumé un peu survolé, The reborn empire est complexe. On a affaire à une fantasy très politique et très dense, portée par des personnages qui avancent prudemment contre une menace bien trop puissante pour chacun. Cette menace s’est révélée pleinement dans le second tome mais on a encore du mal à en voir toutes les implications, ce troisième roman va permettre aux lectrices et lecteurs de suivre comment tout le monde résiste à sa manière, parfois contre son propre peuple, contre ses propres principes. Un des grands points forts de cette saga, et de ce troisième tome, est la solidité narrative de l’ensemble, ces différentes peuples qui interagissent à grande échelle, chacun avec une culture et des valeurs morales, et les individualités qui se débattent dans chaque camp, portées par leur conviction, leur vision du monde. On comprend les dilemmes moraux des Kisian, des Levanti, et on commence à voir ce qui se passe du côté Chiltaen.
Les protagonistes portent le récits par leur force de caractère et leurs tentatives de renverser une situation inextricable, ils et elles ne se laisseront pas faire. Globalement, personne ne sait quoi faire, mais personne n’abandonne. J’adore toujours Rah qui reste droit dans ses bottes même en tant que paria, il a les traditions Levanti au cœur et fera tout pour sortir son peuple de ce guêpier. Dishiva gagne aussi en présence dans ce tome, elle n’est pas épargnée par les tensions et les sacrifices, mais elle cherche un moyen de combattre dans son petit espace de liberté face à un ennemi qui semble omniscient. Miko se pose en tant qu’impératrice légitime qui veut reprendre le pouvoir mais elle doit s’imposer d’abord auprès de son peuple et de ses propres conseillers qui ne lui faciliteront pas la tâche, d’autant plus qu’elle est une femme et a encore quelques barrières à faire tomber. Le point de vue de Cassandra était peut-être le moins convaincant à mes yeux, entre la narration double parfois confuse, et une progression limitée, ça stagne un peu ici.
Il n’y a pas de magie « classique » de la fantasy dans cet univers, mais toute l’intrigue repose sur une particularité par rapport aux âmes qui peuvent être manipulées, transférées, implantées, etc… On a plusieurs âmes dans un corps, et parfois une âme pour plusieurs corps, ce qui donne quelques twists savoureux. Tout ça est encore un peu flou mais c’est pas vraiment traité comme de la magie magique, on a souvent l’impression que c’est un phénomène naturel étudié par certains personnages comme une science, on étudie le truc en laboratoire, on expérimente. Il y a des questions éthiques, des manipulations et des anomalies à creuser, on n’a pas encore toute les clés, mais ça donne une particularité à la saga et un fil mystérieux à découvrir sur le long terme.
Globalement on est porté par la tension qui ne retombe jamais, tout en ayant un rythme posé. C’est pas du page-turner badaboum, on est vraiment sur de la progression d’intrigue, des personnages, et du drame ! Beaucoup de drame, de tragédie, de lutte impossible, de coups du sort et de tentatives désespérées. Dès qu’on a une petite fenêtre de manœuvre, un petit espoir, on fonce et on progresse d’un pouce au prix de grands sacrifices, au point qu’on se demande si ça en valait la peine. Toutes ces luttes pour le pouvoir, pour la liberté, pour son peuple, s’articulent parfaitement dans cette intrigue complexe aux pièces nombreuses et parfaitement ajustées.
The reborn empire s’améliore de livre en livre. Avec l’attachement aux personnages qui se solidifie, l’intrigue qui avance et les drames qui s’enchainent, on plonge de plus en plus loin dans cet univers et ses secrets, et on veux suivre Dishiva, Miko, Rah et Cassandra dans leurs luttes. Rendez-vous en fin d’année pour la sortie du 4e et dernier roman !
https://ours-inculte.fr/we-cry-for-bl...
Les pièces du puzzle s’assemblent tandis que la menace venue de Chiltae se précise. Suite à l’invasion de Kisia et à la révolte Levanti qui a placé Gideon sur le trône, on commence à voir qui tire vraiment les ficelles en coulisse, chacun essaye de résister à sa manière et avec les armes à sa disposition dans les cendres de l’empire. Cassandra a découvert la vérité sur cet enfoiré de Leo Villius que personne ne semble capable d’arrêter tandis qu’elle est coincée dans un corps faiblissant. Dishiva tente de résister aux manipulations autour de Gideon mais chacune de ses décisions pourrait couter la vie d’autres Levanti. Rah, quant à lui, à trouvé refuge chez les exilés, mais sa présence remet en cause l’autorité établie et l’ensemble de la résistance pourrait être déstabilisée. Miko essaye de rassembler les forces à sa disposition pour contre-attaquer, mais les obstacles ennemis autant que les rivalités dans ses propres forces pourraient compliquer les choses.
Vous l’aurez constaté dans ce résumé un peu survolé, The reborn empire est complexe. On a affaire à une fantasy très politique et très dense, portée par des personnages qui avancent prudemment contre une menace bien trop puissante pour chacun. Cette menace s’est révélée pleinement dans le second tome mais on a encore du mal à en voir toutes les implications, ce troisième roman va permettre aux lectrices et lecteurs de suivre comment tout le monde résiste à sa manière, parfois contre son propre peuple, contre ses propres principes. Un des grands points forts de cette saga, et de ce troisième tome, est la solidité narrative de l’ensemble, ces différentes peuples qui interagissent à grande échelle, chacun avec une culture et des valeurs morales, et les individualités qui se débattent dans chaque camp, portées par leur conviction, leur vision du monde. On comprend les dilemmes moraux des Kisian, des Levanti, et on commence à voir ce qui se passe du côté Chiltaen.
Les protagonistes portent le récits par leur force de caractère et leurs tentatives de renverser une situation inextricable, ils et elles ne se laisseront pas faire. Globalement, personne ne sait quoi faire, mais personne n’abandonne. J’adore toujours Rah qui reste droit dans ses bottes même en tant que paria, il a les traditions Levanti au cœur et fera tout pour sortir son peuple de ce guêpier. Dishiva gagne aussi en présence dans ce tome, elle n’est pas épargnée par les tensions et les sacrifices, mais elle cherche un moyen de combattre dans son petit espace de liberté face à un ennemi qui semble omniscient. Miko se pose en tant qu’impératrice légitime qui veut reprendre le pouvoir mais elle doit s’imposer d’abord auprès de son peuple et de ses propres conseillers qui ne lui faciliteront pas la tâche, d’autant plus qu’elle est une femme et a encore quelques barrières à faire tomber. Le point de vue de Cassandra était peut-être le moins convaincant à mes yeux, entre la narration double parfois confuse, et une progression limitée, ça stagne un peu ici.
Il n’y a pas de magie « classique » de la fantasy dans cet univers, mais toute l’intrigue repose sur une particularité par rapport aux âmes qui peuvent être manipulées, transférées, implantées, etc… On a plusieurs âmes dans un corps, et parfois une âme pour plusieurs corps, ce qui donne quelques twists savoureux. Tout ça est encore un peu flou mais c’est pas vraiment traité comme de la magie magique, on a souvent l’impression que c’est un phénomène naturel étudié par certains personnages comme une science, on étudie le truc en laboratoire, on expérimente. Il y a des questions éthiques, des manipulations et des anomalies à creuser, on n’a pas encore toute les clés, mais ça donne une particularité à la saga et un fil mystérieux à découvrir sur le long terme.
Globalement on est porté par la tension qui ne retombe jamais, tout en ayant un rythme posé. C’est pas du page-turner badaboum, on est vraiment sur de la progression d’intrigue, des personnages, et du drame ! Beaucoup de drame, de tragédie, de lutte impossible, de coups du sort et de tentatives désespérées. Dès qu’on a une petite fenêtre de manœuvre, un petit espoir, on fonce et on progresse d’un pouce au prix de grands sacrifices, au point qu’on se demande si ça en valait la peine. Toutes ces luttes pour le pouvoir, pour la liberté, pour son peuple, s’articulent parfaitement dans cette intrigue complexe aux pièces nombreuses et parfaitement ajustées.
The reborn empire s’améliore de livre en livre. Avec l’attachement aux personnages qui se solidifie, l’intrigue qui avance et les drames qui s’enchainent, on plonge de plus en plus loin dans cet univers et ses secrets, et on veux suivre Dishiva, Miko, Rah et Cassandra dans leurs luttes. Rendez-vous en fin d’année pour la sortie du 4e et dernier roman !
https://ours-inculte.fr/we-cry-for-bl...
August 6, 2021
This review was originally posted on my blog, Queen's Book Asylum!
Actual rating: 4.5*
I've got an ARC via Netgalley from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
Oh man, I’ve been waiting so long for We Cry for Blood, the third book in Devin Madson’s Epic Fantasy series, The Reborn Empire. So. Damn. Long. And as with the previous books, I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC copy, and I can tell you with full confidence, that it was worth all the waiting. The series keeps going strong and I’m pretty sure the finale will blow all of our minds. Now, since this is the third book in a series, I’ll try to keep spoiling the story so far to a minimum, but if you haven’t read the first two books yet (what the hell are you waiting for?!) please proceed with caution. I will also try to be as vague as I can be, but let me tell you, reviewing a book in the middle of a series is just another way of torture. There are so many things I want to talk about, but can’t, because, well, I’d have to kill you and we really don’t want to get into a bloodbath, now do we? I just cleaned out the basement after all… Anyway.
In this installment of The Reborn Empire series, we have all the well-known characters and then some new ones who don’t play any important parts. Yet. But I have a feeling about one in particular, who I hope to see in We Dream of Gods. I mean, it should tell you something about Madson‘s writing when you just fell in love with a character who has like, 2-3 scenes. Then again, knowing all the shenanigans Madson is pulling, it wouldn’t be surprising if this character turned out to be someone unexpected. Well, we shall see. Madson is definitely known not to hold back when it comes to punches and We Cry for Blood definitely didn’t disappoint in that regard.
As for the main cast, Miko, Cassandra, Dishiva and Rah’s storyline picks up where they were left off at the end of We Lie With Death. Miko is trying everything to earn the power of a ruler and to unite Kisia, Cassandra is fighting to survive and to get answers to her problems, Dishiva (who had firmly become my favorite POV) is falling deeper into Leo’s web of lies, while Rah is being stubborn as ever and dreams of a better Levanti future.
There is a *lot* going on, which is not surprising with 4 POV characters who either barely cross each others’ paths or not at all, thus they are all having their more or less distant storylines – which of course are intertwining, even if the characters themselves don’t quite know it yet. All of it packed into a 600+ pages long book. If you followed the series this far, then you have a pretty good idea what to expect from it: death, backstabbery, political games, lies upon lies, agendas clashing with each other, ideals fighting ideals, and a touch of supernatural just to make it more interesting.
The stakes are getting higher with each book and each of the main characters have their own arcs for better or worse. We Cry for Blood deals with themes of self-sacrifice, loyalty, making the right choice even if that’s the harder path but also showing that being right is relative. While one tends to side with the main characters, it also sometimes makes you stop and think about which side might have the right of things. The clash of the Kisian and Levanti cultures also keeps providing a rich background to the events. While Miko has to fight for every bit of respect from the Kisian society, and especially the men, the Levanti has a more “democratic” approach where one is respected based on their qualities and skills rather than everything else.
One thing I kept struggling with – and that’s more to do with my short attention span these days – was that I sometimes found it hard to keep people and events straight in my mind. Especially the Kisian characters and their agendas that gave me trouble. But this is just a very minor quibble on my part. There is a lot going on and when I felt like getting a bit bored by the slower pace at places, then there was something happening that kept me interested throughout. I mostly wanted to know whether I was right about one particular plot twist toward the end, and indeed I was.
If you are hoping to get answers, well, you won’t just yet, but we are getting there. There are some revelations and twists you’ll never see coming, and you might even scream at Madson for some of the choices she made – I know I did. We Cry for Blood is an excellent installment in this richly layered, character-driven and all-around gut-punching series. If the ending of We Cry for Blood is anything to go by, We Dream of Gods will be one hell of a ride to bring the series to an end. And I can’t wait to be along for the ride.
Actual rating: 4.5*
I've got an ARC via Netgalley from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
Oh man, I’ve been waiting so long for We Cry for Blood, the third book in Devin Madson’s Epic Fantasy series, The Reborn Empire. So. Damn. Long. And as with the previous books, I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC copy, and I can tell you with full confidence, that it was worth all the waiting. The series keeps going strong and I’m pretty sure the finale will blow all of our minds. Now, since this is the third book in a series, I’ll try to keep spoiling the story so far to a minimum, but if you haven’t read the first two books yet (what the hell are you waiting for?!) please proceed with caution. I will also try to be as vague as I can be, but let me tell you, reviewing a book in the middle of a series is just another way of torture. There are so many things I want to talk about, but can’t, because, well, I’d have to kill you and we really don’t want to get into a bloodbath, now do we? I just cleaned out the basement after all… Anyway.
In this installment of The Reborn Empire series, we have all the well-known characters and then some new ones who don’t play any important parts. Yet. But I have a feeling about one in particular, who I hope to see in We Dream of Gods. I mean, it should tell you something about Madson‘s writing when you just fell in love with a character who has like, 2-3 scenes. Then again, knowing all the shenanigans Madson is pulling, it wouldn’t be surprising if this character turned out to be someone unexpected. Well, we shall see. Madson is definitely known not to hold back when it comes to punches and We Cry for Blood definitely didn’t disappoint in that regard.
As for the main cast, Miko, Cassandra, Dishiva and Rah’s storyline picks up where they were left off at the end of We Lie With Death. Miko is trying everything to earn the power of a ruler and to unite Kisia, Cassandra is fighting to survive and to get answers to her problems, Dishiva (who had firmly become my favorite POV) is falling deeper into Leo’s web of lies, while Rah is being stubborn as ever and dreams of a better Levanti future.
There is a *lot* going on, which is not surprising with 4 POV characters who either barely cross each others’ paths or not at all, thus they are all having their more or less distant storylines – which of course are intertwining, even if the characters themselves don’t quite know it yet. All of it packed into a 600+ pages long book. If you followed the series this far, then you have a pretty good idea what to expect from it: death, backstabbery, political games, lies upon lies, agendas clashing with each other, ideals fighting ideals, and a touch of supernatural just to make it more interesting.
The stakes are getting higher with each book and each of the main characters have their own arcs for better or worse. We Cry for Blood deals with themes of self-sacrifice, loyalty, making the right choice even if that’s the harder path but also showing that being right is relative. While one tends to side with the main characters, it also sometimes makes you stop and think about which side might have the right of things. The clash of the Kisian and Levanti cultures also keeps providing a rich background to the events. While Miko has to fight for every bit of respect from the Kisian society, and especially the men, the Levanti has a more “democratic” approach where one is respected based on their qualities and skills rather than everything else.
One thing I kept struggling with – and that’s more to do with my short attention span these days – was that I sometimes found it hard to keep people and events straight in my mind. Especially the Kisian characters and their agendas that gave me trouble. But this is just a very minor quibble on my part. There is a lot going on and when I felt like getting a bit bored by the slower pace at places, then there was something happening that kept me interested throughout. I mostly wanted to know whether I was right about one particular plot twist toward the end, and indeed I was.
If you are hoping to get answers, well, you won’t just yet, but we are getting there. There are some revelations and twists you’ll never see coming, and you might even scream at Madson for some of the choices she made – I know I did. We Cry for Blood is an excellent installment in this richly layered, character-driven and all-around gut-punching series. If the ending of We Cry for Blood is anything to go by, We Dream of Gods will be one hell of a ride to bring the series to an end. And I can’t wait to be along for the ride.
August 3, 2021
This and more reviews at superstardrifter.com~
This is the continuing story of several people. Rah e’Torin and Dishiva e’Jaroven of the Levanti, Miko Ts’ai of Kisia, and Cassandra Marius of Chiltae. I’m not going to spoil books one or two here, because you really should read them, but let us say that there are SPECTACULAR SHENANIGANS afoot, and that these four characters are right in the middle of all of them, despite being mostly nowhere near each other much of the time.
I love Devin Madson’s books so much. I picked this one up one night hoping to get a chapter or two in before I fell asleep and instead managed to read a quarter of it while drowsy-meds tried repeatedly to convince me to stop and maybe sleep instead. I feel like I made the correct decision in continuing to read, but it does say a lot about a book when I’m fighting the meds I take to go to sleep in order to keep on reading it.
This one, just like the two before it, made me immediately latch onto several characters and get my feels all in a twist when things I wasn’t expecting happened to them. We got a little more backstory for some of the characters, which was awesome. It took some turns that I absolutely did not see coming, and was paced so well that it never got boring or slow. I was hooked from page one, and there is truly not enough time in the day to have read this one as quickly as I would have liked to. Great characters, twisty plots, cool fight scenes that are like a complicated song and dance, and an interesting world of different cultures clashing. The last quarter of this book was a ride.
I cannot wait to see how this series ends. Devin Madson has created such a wonderful and evocative world that I love to read about. This volume earns a well deserved 5/5 stars from me. More pls. More!
Thanks to the author, as well as Orbit via NetGalley for the review copy!
This is the continuing story of several people. Rah e’Torin and Dishiva e’Jaroven of the Levanti, Miko Ts’ai of Kisia, and Cassandra Marius of Chiltae. I’m not going to spoil books one or two here, because you really should read them, but let us say that there are SPECTACULAR SHENANIGANS afoot, and that these four characters are right in the middle of all of them, despite being mostly nowhere near each other much of the time.
I love Devin Madson’s books so much. I picked this one up one night hoping to get a chapter or two in before I fell asleep and instead managed to read a quarter of it while drowsy-meds tried repeatedly to convince me to stop and maybe sleep instead. I feel like I made the correct decision in continuing to read, but it does say a lot about a book when I’m fighting the meds I take to go to sleep in order to keep on reading it.
This one, just like the two before it, made me immediately latch onto several characters and get my feels all in a twist when things I wasn’t expecting happened to them. We got a little more backstory for some of the characters, which was awesome. It took some turns that I absolutely did not see coming, and was paced so well that it never got boring or slow. I was hooked from page one, and there is truly not enough time in the day to have read this one as quickly as I would have liked to. Great characters, twisty plots, cool fight scenes that are like a complicated song and dance, and an interesting world of different cultures clashing. The last quarter of this book was a ride.
I cannot wait to see how this series ends. Devin Madson has created such a wonderful and evocative world that I love to read about. This volume earns a well deserved 5/5 stars from me. More pls. More!
Thanks to the author, as well as Orbit via NetGalley for the review copy!
January 14, 2022
Freaking LOVE this book! Love this series! Devin Madson's storytelling has become a familiar, comfort zone for me. I can read other books on the side and easily slip right back into Madson's stories.
I have to admit tears were brought to my eyes more than once. I really love feeling emotionally connected with the characters. Rah's emotions were brought to a new level in this story. Madson can show characters desires in a very beautiful, mature way. I really liked how Miko had reached a realization that she was acting out just like her mother.
I don't know why I thought this was the last book. I'm pleasantly surprised and eagerly await the next book. I kind of felt that the pacing of the story was well done to be completed in three.
I have to admit tears were brought to my eyes more than once. I really love feeling emotionally connected with the characters. Rah's emotions were brought to a new level in this story. Madson can show characters desires in a very beautiful, mature way. I really liked how Miko had reached a realization that she was acting out just like her mother.
I don't know why I thought this was the last book. I'm pleasantly surprised and eagerly await the next book. I kind of felt that the pacing of the story was well done to be completed in three.
August 21, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
We continue to follow Rah e’Torin, and Dishiva e’Jarovan as our Levanti POVs, as one tackles being an exile amongst their people; while the other tries to eliminate a dangerous figure who has begun to corrupt the Levanti leadership and is causing disruptions in their ranks and beliefs. The storyline following the Levanti was my favourite within this book, and it left me wondering where the group will go from here entering into the final book.
Cassandra continues to learn more about Dom Villius and his inner workings, and we uncover more of who he is and what their endgame is. Cassandra’s chapters were filled with interesting revelations and tense moments, and kept me wanting to read more of her POV chapters.
My least favourite this time around was Miko. She had a couple of stand out moments, yet I think she wasn’t as prominent as the other three in this book. The ending set her up for what’s to come in the final book though and my anticipation for We Dream of Gods is insanely high.
Madson has begun to master her craft with this story, and her dialogue and wittiness have reached new heights. There was a scene in the middle of the book with two assassins discussing their first kills, tactics, and messiest assignments and it had me chuckling from the bleakness of it all.
The politicking is also dialed up a notch, with betrayals, scheming and culture clashes creating intense moments. The use of translators also provides a nice barrier that rulers have to come across in order to get their points across, and they have to trust that these translators are saying things properly and do not have motivations of their own. Certain cultures do not have words or phrases that translate exactly and this leads to some humorous moments of misinterpretation. The way culture norms clash, especially in regards to sex/gender dynamics, also lead to some interactions that could either be tense (due to power imbalances), or led to moments of hilarity (especially in regards to mating practices/sexual wants).
If you want an Asian-inspired fantasy world with political scheming, interesting cultures and traditions, intense battle scenes, and a seemingly immortal villain who can’t be put down, then the Reborn Empire is for you 😄
The board is set for our final showdowns with Dom Villius and I am highly anticipating the final book in the series. Madson has continued to grow as a writer and I’m excited to see what she does in the conclusion to this series, and what’s to come from them in the future.
We continue to follow Rah e’Torin, and Dishiva e’Jarovan as our Levanti POVs, as one tackles being an exile amongst their people; while the other tries to eliminate a dangerous figure who has begun to corrupt the Levanti leadership and is causing disruptions in their ranks and beliefs. The storyline following the Levanti was my favourite within this book, and it left me wondering where the group will go from here entering into the final book.
Cassandra continues to learn more about Dom Villius and his inner workings, and we uncover more of who he is and what their endgame is. Cassandra’s chapters were filled with interesting revelations and tense moments, and kept me wanting to read more of her POV chapters.
My least favourite this time around was Miko. She had a couple of stand out moments, yet I think she wasn’t as prominent as the other three in this book. The ending set her up for what’s to come in the final book though and my anticipation for We Dream of Gods is insanely high.
Madson has begun to master her craft with this story, and her dialogue and wittiness have reached new heights. There was a scene in the middle of the book with two assassins discussing their first kills, tactics, and messiest assignments and it had me chuckling from the bleakness of it all.
The politicking is also dialed up a notch, with betrayals, scheming and culture clashes creating intense moments. The use of translators also provides a nice barrier that rulers have to come across in order to get their points across, and they have to trust that these translators are saying things properly and do not have motivations of their own. Certain cultures do not have words or phrases that translate exactly and this leads to some humorous moments of misinterpretation. The way culture norms clash, especially in regards to sex/gender dynamics, also lead to some interactions that could either be tense (due to power imbalances), or led to moments of hilarity (especially in regards to mating practices/sexual wants).
If you want an Asian-inspired fantasy world with political scheming, interesting cultures and traditions, intense battle scenes, and a seemingly immortal villain who can’t be put down, then the Reborn Empire is for you 😄
The board is set for our final showdowns with Dom Villius and I am highly anticipating the final book in the series. Madson has continued to grow as a writer and I’m excited to see what she does in the conclusion to this series, and what’s to come from them in the future.
May 10, 2023
4.25
Terzo volume della Reborn Empire che sta un po' al di sotto del secondo, pur essendo un bellissimo libro.
Come negli altri due libri, la Madson si prende il suo tempo per stare con i personaggi, per seguirli nel loro viaggio interiore e accompagnarli nelle difficili decisioni che dovranno prendere.
Forse un pochino troppo statico nella prima parte, ma è molto emozionante seguire passo passo tutte le vicende e al contempo assistere ai turbamenti e alle riflessioni dei protagonisti.
Voci inconfondibili.
Miko deve combattere non solo una guerra ma anche il pregiudizio nei confronti delle donne, e lo fa non trasformandosi nella classica eroina spacca tutto, anzi, ha difficoltà enormi.
Rah è un'anima buona, come si fa a non volergli bene.
Dishiva ogni tanto intelligente e poi cade su alcune cose che veramente amica mia SVEGLIATI. La adoro però eh.
Di Cassandra scopriamo un lato dolce che ero sicura avesse, ma vorrei avesse tanto più spazio nel romanzo perché voglio sapere tutto dei suoi poteri e sulle sue origini.
Come sempre, personaggi grigi.
Terzo volume della Reborn Empire che sta un po' al di sotto del secondo, pur essendo un bellissimo libro.
Come negli altri due libri, la Madson si prende il suo tempo per stare con i personaggi, per seguirli nel loro viaggio interiore e accompagnarli nelle difficili decisioni che dovranno prendere.
Forse un pochino troppo statico nella prima parte, ma è molto emozionante seguire passo passo tutte le vicende e al contempo assistere ai turbamenti e alle riflessioni dei protagonisti.
Voci inconfondibili.
Miko deve combattere non solo una guerra ma anche il pregiudizio nei confronti delle donne, e lo fa non trasformandosi nella classica eroina spacca tutto, anzi, ha difficoltà enormi.
Rah è un'anima buona, come si fa a non volergli bene.
Dishiva ogni tanto intelligente e poi cade su alcune cose che veramente amica mia SVEGLIATI. La adoro però eh.
Di Cassandra scopriamo un lato dolce che ero sicura avesse, ma vorrei avesse tanto più spazio nel romanzo perché voglio sapere tutto dei suoi poteri e sulle sue origini.
Come sempre, personaggi grigi.
July 30, 2023
Easily my favorite so far! This was a thrilling rollercoaster the entire way with a large twist waiting. Excites for book 4!
November 2, 2025
So far, every book I think has improved on the last one and while there is still a kind of romance in this, which I vehemently dislike, I really liked the plot of this and the complicated characters.
There is a lot of resentment between these people and it makes a lot of sense, as well as them still having to work together. There were also some plot twists I didn't expect but am interested to see how they'll resolve.
I am very excited to see how the author will continue the story, based on the ending because there are lots of ways to go.
There is a lot of resentment between these people and it makes a lot of sense, as well as them still having to work together. There were also some plot twists I didn't expect but am interested to see how they'll resolve.
I am very excited to see how the author will continue the story, based on the ending because there are lots of ways to go.
December 29, 2023
3.5 stars.
A decent installment in this series, but I didn't like it quite as much as the previous books.
A decent installment in this series, but I didn't like it quite as much as the previous books.
January 6, 2022
Thank you to Orbit books and Angela Man for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. We Cry for Blood is available now.
The machinations! The backstabbing! The violence! The wit! Author Devin Madson has mastered it all in the latest installment in The Reborn Empire series. There is a lot going on in this book (and I mean a lot), yet it was never disorganized. Instead, I felt that everything is leading toward the sort of conclusion that blows the mind.
We Cry for Blood continues to follow the four characters from previous novels: Dishiva e’Jaroven and Rah e’Torin, Empress Miko Ts’ai, and Cassandra Marius. Each character has their own story arc, which could be confusing in lesser hands than Madson’s, but somehow never is. That is saying something, because I often struggle with keeping larger plotlines straight. In this case, the sheer amount of detail serves to broaden the world and make the story even more compelling. Everything happens on an epic scale, while at the same time feeling incredibly personal.
This is one of those great series where my favorite character seems to change book by book. In We Cry for Blood, Dishiva stood out to me. Her point of view reminded me that, while so much is happening on a grand scale, things are also incredibly important on a smaller, yet no-less-important level. Her challenges seem nearly insurmountable, but the fighting spirit exists all the same. Usually in books with multiple viewpoints, there’s that one that just isn’t interesting to me, but I didn’t have that problem here. Each character was compelling in their own way.
This series continues to completely ignore the usual expectations in a fantasy novel, and I love it! As much as I love the classic fantasy feel, I also really appreciate how broad the spectrum of fantasy is, and seeing it stretched into new and exciting directions is beyond exciting. The Reborn Empire is well on its way to being the sort of fantasy series that readers of the genre “must” read. In fact, I would argue that it is already there.
This is not a series that can be understood if you start in book three. However, I guarantee you’ll want to read the entire series. It is truly excellent.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
The machinations! The backstabbing! The violence! The wit! Author Devin Madson has mastered it all in the latest installment in The Reborn Empire series. There is a lot going on in this book (and I mean a lot), yet it was never disorganized. Instead, I felt that everything is leading toward the sort of conclusion that blows the mind.
We Cry for Blood continues to follow the four characters from previous novels: Dishiva e’Jaroven and Rah e’Torin, Empress Miko Ts’ai, and Cassandra Marius. Each character has their own story arc, which could be confusing in lesser hands than Madson’s, but somehow never is. That is saying something, because I often struggle with keeping larger plotlines straight. In this case, the sheer amount of detail serves to broaden the world and make the story even more compelling. Everything happens on an epic scale, while at the same time feeling incredibly personal.
This is one of those great series where my favorite character seems to change book by book. In We Cry for Blood, Dishiva stood out to me. Her point of view reminded me that, while so much is happening on a grand scale, things are also incredibly important on a smaller, yet no-less-important level. Her challenges seem nearly insurmountable, but the fighting spirit exists all the same. Usually in books with multiple viewpoints, there’s that one that just isn’t interesting to me, but I didn’t have that problem here. Each character was compelling in their own way.
This series continues to completely ignore the usual expectations in a fantasy novel, and I love it! As much as I love the classic fantasy feel, I also really appreciate how broad the spectrum of fantasy is, and seeing it stretched into new and exciting directions is beyond exciting. The Reborn Empire is well on its way to being the sort of fantasy series that readers of the genre “must” read. In fact, I would argue that it is already there.
This is not a series that can be understood if you start in book three. However, I guarantee you’ll want to read the entire series. It is truly excellent.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
August 30, 2021
In many ways, this series hits many of the tropes around current epic fantasy stories, as the origin world takes more from eastern cultures, rather than drawing on classic western civilisation. And there are strong female protagonists – three of them, compared to the single male warrior. What I hadn’t expected was the sheer excellence of the writing that yanked me into the initial book and simply wouldn’t let go.
My firm advice is to get hold of We Ride the Storm and We Lie With Death before tucking into this one, as the narrative timeline follows straight from one book to the next. However, should you choose to ignore my advice, Madson has obligingly added a ‘Story So Far’ foreword, along with a detailed cast of characters. I wish more authors did this with series where the ongoing narrative is vital. Luckily, I didn’t need to be reminded of the previous story, as Cassandra, Rah, Miko and Dishiva are such vivid, memorable characters, even my brain fog hadn’t blurred their various difficulties. I even dreamt about this world – though I have to say that when I woke up and found that I wasn’t in the middle of it, I was very relieved.
The balance between the worldbuilding and the characterisation is skilfully handled, with the prose consistently assured and flowing. The battle scenes leap off the page, full of the bloody violence that is inevitable in hand-to-hand fighting, while the twists and turns of the political scheming kept me turning the pages. These days, this isn’t my go-to genre – I am often alienated by morally compromised characters and the wretched fallout that ensures when the great and the good decide warfare is the only answer. So I’m not quite sure why this series has sunk its hooks so deeply into my inscape – but it certainly has. And my chief complaint is that the third book has finished with not a single major plotpoint being resolved. So I’m going to have to wait before discovering what happens next to Madson’s hapless main characters. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy. While I obtained an arc of We Cry for Blood from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
My firm advice is to get hold of We Ride the Storm and We Lie With Death before tucking into this one, as the narrative timeline follows straight from one book to the next. However, should you choose to ignore my advice, Madson has obligingly added a ‘Story So Far’ foreword, along with a detailed cast of characters. I wish more authors did this with series where the ongoing narrative is vital. Luckily, I didn’t need to be reminded of the previous story, as Cassandra, Rah, Miko and Dishiva are such vivid, memorable characters, even my brain fog hadn’t blurred their various difficulties. I even dreamt about this world – though I have to say that when I woke up and found that I wasn’t in the middle of it, I was very relieved.
The balance between the worldbuilding and the characterisation is skilfully handled, with the prose consistently assured and flowing. The battle scenes leap off the page, full of the bloody violence that is inevitable in hand-to-hand fighting, while the twists and turns of the political scheming kept me turning the pages. These days, this isn’t my go-to genre – I am often alienated by morally compromised characters and the wretched fallout that ensures when the great and the good decide warfare is the only answer. So I’m not quite sure why this series has sunk its hooks so deeply into my inscape – but it certainly has. And my chief complaint is that the third book has finished with not a single major plotpoint being resolved. So I’m going to have to wait before discovering what happens next to Madson’s hapless main characters. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy. While I obtained an arc of We Cry for Blood from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
September 20, 2021
Possible Triggers:
Death | All the Violence
Summary:
Book 3 in the “Reborn Empire” series. This book immediately follows the events in book 2.
Final Thoughts:
Oh man, there is so much to talk about but it's so wrapped up in the events following books 1 and 2 that talking about them is too tricky of a nest of eggshells that I don't wanna even try to maneuver through them. If you enjoyed the first two books, you will enjoy this one as well. This book had way less battle than the previous two, but oh my gosh the emotional rending that happens. MY FEELS are just puddled all over the floor, soaking into the floorboards. While the action was way less heavy in this particular book, I feel like it's a big set up for shit to really go down in the 4th. I am anxiously awaiting what happens next and can not wait to get my grabby hands on it.
Death | All the Violence
Summary:
Book 3 in the “Reborn Empire” series. This book immediately follows the events in book 2.
Final Thoughts:
Oh man, there is so much to talk about but it's so wrapped up in the events following books 1 and 2 that talking about them is too tricky of a nest of eggshells that I don't wanna even try to maneuver through them. If you enjoyed the first two books, you will enjoy this one as well. This book had way less battle than the previous two, but oh my gosh the emotional rending that happens. MY FEELS are just puddled all over the floor, soaking into the floorboards. While the action was way less heavy in this particular book, I feel like it's a big set up for shit to really go down in the 4th. I am anxiously awaiting what happens next and can not wait to get my grabby hands on it.
March 15, 2023
4.5 stars
This one is my favorite in the series so far. Rah’s POV chapters have been my favorite in all three books followed by Miko. I spent the first two and a half books not caring about Cassandra’s POV, but by the second half of this book I was enjoying her sections almost as much as the others.
This one is my favorite in the series so far. Rah’s POV chapters have been my favorite in all three books followed by Miko. I spent the first two and a half books not caring about Cassandra’s POV, but by the second half of this book I was enjoying her sections almost as much as the others.
March 27, 2023
A very solid third entry to this series. So much happened in this book, I'm not sure what to say besides that there was a LOT of twists and interesting information learned in this book and I now cannot wait to jump to the final book in April.
March 18, 2022
All the pieces are set up for an epic finale that I can't wait to read
February 21, 2024
4.25 stars
Really solid read throughout! Some well written characters that made me angry and the overall larger plot is coming together nicely. I'm excited to read the last book :)
Really solid read throughout! Some well written characters that made me angry and the overall larger plot is coming together nicely. I'm excited to read the last book :)
December 30, 2021
To be fair, I skipped chapters of Cassandra and read Divinha only partially, as I don't care about those and didn't remember who they were (I've mostly forgotten B1 &2)
I've picked this up as I was bored and wanted to see how the trilogy ends, only to find out that this is quadrology. My bad I guess.
Rah - if you're asking the question whether he can be even more useless and boring than in B2, the answer is yes. Most of the book he's injured, or running away from something, doesn't talk to anybody. Yet somehow he is the most respected guy, because why not.
Miko - is a bit better than in B2, this time leading army, until it goes all wrong, not to mention her libido in the end. First half of the book she was slightly enjoyable
Overall this was the least interesting book I've read this year (and I read 3 books about statistics), story, characters, you name it. Not going to read the last one
I've picked this up as I was bored and wanted to see how the trilogy ends, only to find out that this is quadrology. My bad I guess.
Rah - if you're asking the question whether he can be even more useless and boring than in B2, the answer is yes. Most of the book he's injured, or running away from something, doesn't talk to anybody. Yet somehow he is the most respected guy, because why not.
Miko - is a bit better than in B2, this time leading army, until it goes all wrong, not to mention her libido in the end. First half of the book she was slightly enjoyable
Overall this was the least interesting book I've read this year (and I read 3 books about statistics), story, characters, you name it. Not going to read the last one
January 8, 2022
4.25 stars. I am REALLY liking this series, and it's sad that I don't see people talking about it. The world building and lore is top notch. Rah and Dashiva might end up as two all-time characters.
The writing reminds me of John Gwynne; who is my favorite author right now. It's bleak and brutal; but no more than needed to craft a great story.
By book's end I had determined that Devon Madson would be a Day One author going forward; in that I am buying and starting anything she puts out on day one of release.
The writing reminds me of John Gwynne; who is my favorite author right now. It's bleak and brutal; but no more than needed to craft a great story.
By book's end I had determined that Devon Madson would be a Day One author going forward; in that I am buying and starting anything she puts out on day one of release.
December 29, 2022
Starting to drag
May 25, 2023
Thank you to Orbit and Angela Man for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: torture, murder, violence, gore, mention of past rape, PTSD, suicide, grief, blood
This series just keeps getting better, and I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so bear with me. I’ve become quite invested in this series, and I was so excited about what this book would bring, but it took me a while to read this because I wanted to savor it and ensure that I could keep up with all of the complex machinations that were going on.
Unlike other series I’ve read with multiple POVs, the storylines of our characters tend to remain separate, even when they’re in relatively close proximity. The entire book gives a sense that Madson is building up to something major in the final book, but this book offers so much plotting and backstabbing and maneuvering of enemies to allies that it wasn’t boring or slow-moving at all.
Despite having four POV characters who were all so different, and played different roles in the story, I found all of them to be equally interesting and engaging. However, they all had their own flaws and strengths, and I can basically see Madson moving them into place like chess pieces on a board, although I can’t exactly see what she’s got in store just yet.
Watching Rah go through everything he has gone through, yet he still puts his morals and values before his own safety, and I can’t help but admire him for it. He’s the kind of guy who does the right thing even when it isn’t the easy thing to do, and I truly felt for him throughout the course of this story.
Dishiva quickly became another favorite of mine in this book, and she’s one who is in one of the most dangerous positions. She’s stuck at the side of Leo Villius, and is learning more and more about the secrets he’s keeping. But she doesn’t give up, and like Rah, holds to her ideals even as it gets harder and harder to achieve the purpose she always thought was hers.
I can’t help but love Miko, even as she’s trying to fight an uphill battle. She’s surrounded by advisors, but she doesn’t quite have all the support she needs. She’s willing to be open-minded in her search for allies, and I loved the way that she always thinks for herself, even when receiving advice from her advisors. She is smart and forward-thinking, but in a country where women aren’t valued as highly as men, her positive characteristics aren’t always viewed in a good light, and Miko faces this on her journey to earn the respect of her people and reclaim her empire.
Finally, we have Cassandra, who I liked from the start, and has only grown on me further throughout the series. She’s tough and willing to do whatever needs to be done to survive, but now she’s trapped in someone else’s body, trying to get back to her own. The body that she’s in has a mysterious, progressive ailment, and it’s a great example of how disability representation can be done in fantasy. Cassandra’s body struggles with fatigue, pain, swelling of the joints, and difficulty getting around, and as someone who has mobility issues and chronic pain, I could completely identify with how Cassandra feels inside that body, even if I’m not sharing it with anyone else.
This book was chock full of action and plot twists and battles and people getting stabbed in the back and alliances switching around at the drop of a hat, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I’m torn between wanting to devour the next (and last) book, and holding off so I don’t have to say goodbye to my read of this series for the first time. Because there’s nothing like reading a series for the first time, you know?
CONTENT WARNING: torture, murder, violence, gore, mention of past rape, PTSD, suicide, grief, blood
This series just keeps getting better, and I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so bear with me. I’ve become quite invested in this series, and I was so excited about what this book would bring, but it took me a while to read this because I wanted to savor it and ensure that I could keep up with all of the complex machinations that were going on.
Unlike other series I’ve read with multiple POVs, the storylines of our characters tend to remain separate, even when they’re in relatively close proximity. The entire book gives a sense that Madson is building up to something major in the final book, but this book offers so much plotting and backstabbing and maneuvering of enemies to allies that it wasn’t boring or slow-moving at all.
Despite having four POV characters who were all so different, and played different roles in the story, I found all of them to be equally interesting and engaging. However, they all had their own flaws and strengths, and I can basically see Madson moving them into place like chess pieces on a board, although I can’t exactly see what she’s got in store just yet.
Watching Rah go through everything he has gone through, yet he still puts his morals and values before his own safety, and I can’t help but admire him for it. He’s the kind of guy who does the right thing even when it isn’t the easy thing to do, and I truly felt for him throughout the course of this story.
Dishiva quickly became another favorite of mine in this book, and she’s one who is in one of the most dangerous positions. She’s stuck at the side of Leo Villius, and is learning more and more about the secrets he’s keeping. But she doesn’t give up, and like Rah, holds to her ideals even as it gets harder and harder to achieve the purpose she always thought was hers.
I can’t help but love Miko, even as she’s trying to fight an uphill battle. She’s surrounded by advisors, but she doesn’t quite have all the support she needs. She’s willing to be open-minded in her search for allies, and I loved the way that she always thinks for herself, even when receiving advice from her advisors. She is smart and forward-thinking, but in a country where women aren’t valued as highly as men, her positive characteristics aren’t always viewed in a good light, and Miko faces this on her journey to earn the respect of her people and reclaim her empire.
Finally, we have Cassandra, who I liked from the start, and has only grown on me further throughout the series. She’s tough and willing to do whatever needs to be done to survive, but now she’s trapped in someone else’s body, trying to get back to her own. The body that she’s in has a mysterious, progressive ailment, and it’s a great example of how disability representation can be done in fantasy. Cassandra’s body struggles with fatigue, pain, swelling of the joints, and difficulty getting around, and as someone who has mobility issues and chronic pain, I could completely identify with how Cassandra feels inside that body, even if I’m not sharing it with anyone else.
This book was chock full of action and plot twists and battles and people getting stabbed in the back and alliances switching around at the drop of a hat, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I’m torn between wanting to devour the next (and last) book, and holding off so I don’t have to say goodbye to my read of this series for the first time. Because there’s nothing like reading a series for the first time, you know?
August 28, 2021
Having finally been reunited with the Kisian army and acknowledged as their ruler, Empress Miko turns her sights on ousting Emperor Gideon and his Levanti army from her homeland. But her struggles aren’t just limited to the battlefield, as she tries to hold together a tenuous alliance between her forces and Levanti rebels, as well as dealing with ministers hoping to undermine a woman ruler for their own political gain. Elsewhere, Levanti warrior Dishiva fights a different kind of war. She knows that the priest Leo is a dangerous influence on Emperor Gideon and needs to be removed from court – but how do you fight against an enemy that can seemingly read the thoughts of everyone around him? And while everyone else is managing armies, the assassin Cassandra seeks a way to use her abilities to remove the threat of Leo and his companions from the land once and for all.
THE REBORN EMPIRE is back with all the bloodshed, political maneuvering, and betrayals that readers have come to expect from this tale of kingdoms waging war. The focus continues to remain on the Kisian and Levanti sides of the conflict, but there’s still a Chiltean force out there ready to make trouble. But what makes this conflict even more fascinating is that the two opposing forces don’t neatly split along lines of nationality. There’s Kisians and Levanti on both sides of the conflict, driven by different loyalties and different beliefs about the best future for their people. Rah, for instance, continues to be a POV who is trying to desperately lead his people back to the traditional Levanti way of life, which doesn’t hold with emperors or permanent housing, while Gideon and his followers are determined to make a new country for the usually nomadic Levanti. The POVs are well-scattered across all sides of the conflict, showcasing the multiple hopes and dreams vying for supremacy.
But even while this tale is one of sprawling conflict between armies, it manages to feel claustrophobic at the same time. This is due to the increasing number of people who have come to realize that Leo Villius is the mastermind behind most of the conflict, and that his supernatural ability to read minds and seemingly come back from the dead make him almost impossible to outmaneuver. Dishiva continues to be my favorite POV to watch as she grapples with the fact that she is in a war on her own as she tries to take down Leo, and that there is going to be collateral damage as she continues to defy the man. The oppressive feeling of paranoia that follows Dishiva as she tries to determine the limits of Leo’s abilities is a great counterpoint to the larger war and makes the stakes extremely personal.
For the most part, I enjoyed the other POVs as well. Miko continues to have highs and lows as she tries to maintain power in a court that doesn’t really believe women should rule, but don’t see a better alternative at the moment. She’s hamstrung still by her own naivete and personal shortcomings, but they make sense for a woman of seventeen who was never groomed to rule because, well, she’s a woman. Cassandra and Empress Hana continue their own storyline largely removed from the central conflict, but it promises to have a big impact on the final book. But once again, it was Rah who felt like the weak link. Rah has a very strong code of conduct, but that code gives him the belief that he has no right to lead, so he continues to largely passively roam through the storyline, finding out information but rarely acting on it. He does finally start taking charge by the end, but his storyline has never interested me as much as the other three.
WE CRY FOR BLOOD is another excellent installment in this sprawling saga. There’s only one book left in this quartet, and I’m looking forward to the blood-soaked conclusion.
Note: I was provided a free review copy by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
THE REBORN EMPIRE is back with all the bloodshed, political maneuvering, and betrayals that readers have come to expect from this tale of kingdoms waging war. The focus continues to remain on the Kisian and Levanti sides of the conflict, but there’s still a Chiltean force out there ready to make trouble. But what makes this conflict even more fascinating is that the two opposing forces don’t neatly split along lines of nationality. There’s Kisians and Levanti on both sides of the conflict, driven by different loyalties and different beliefs about the best future for their people. Rah, for instance, continues to be a POV who is trying to desperately lead his people back to the traditional Levanti way of life, which doesn’t hold with emperors or permanent housing, while Gideon and his followers are determined to make a new country for the usually nomadic Levanti. The POVs are well-scattered across all sides of the conflict, showcasing the multiple hopes and dreams vying for supremacy.
But even while this tale is one of sprawling conflict between armies, it manages to feel claustrophobic at the same time. This is due to the increasing number of people who have come to realize that Leo Villius is the mastermind behind most of the conflict, and that his supernatural ability to read minds and seemingly come back from the dead make him almost impossible to outmaneuver. Dishiva continues to be my favorite POV to watch as she grapples with the fact that she is in a war on her own as she tries to take down Leo, and that there is going to be collateral damage as she continues to defy the man. The oppressive feeling of paranoia that follows Dishiva as she tries to determine the limits of Leo’s abilities is a great counterpoint to the larger war and makes the stakes extremely personal.
For the most part, I enjoyed the other POVs as well. Miko continues to have highs and lows as she tries to maintain power in a court that doesn’t really believe women should rule, but don’t see a better alternative at the moment. She’s hamstrung still by her own naivete and personal shortcomings, but they make sense for a woman of seventeen who was never groomed to rule because, well, she’s a woman. Cassandra and Empress Hana continue their own storyline largely removed from the central conflict, but it promises to have a big impact on the final book. But once again, it was Rah who felt like the weak link. Rah has a very strong code of conduct, but that code gives him the belief that he has no right to lead, so he continues to largely passively roam through the storyline, finding out information but rarely acting on it. He does finally start taking charge by the end, but his storyline has never interested me as much as the other three.
WE CRY FOR BLOOD is another excellent installment in this sprawling saga. There’s only one book left in this quartet, and I’m looking forward to the blood-soaked conclusion.
Note: I was provided a free review copy by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
February 4, 2023
There is certain ebb and flow to Devin's books that I am beginning to notice. They often have fairly slow starts (and this third entry in the series is no exception on that front), but by the end they reach a crescendo of action that becomes quite unputdownable.
The Reborn Empire series is following the interactions of three peoples and their Imperial ambitions: the Kisians, the Levanti and the Chiltaen. To a certain extent this is looking at the Mongol empire as its inspiration. The Levanti in particular take on the aspect of horse riding 'barbarians' and the Kisians have a distinctly Chinese feel in places (the Chiltaens feel a bit more European in their influence). The clash of cultures is a central theme, with xenophobia, bigotry and prejudice playing a central role in the events depicted. The conflict is visceral and on multiple levels and the play on some of the worst aspects of human psyche gives an immersive level of darkness to the whole affair. On top of this is the role of change, and whether change is positive or negative.
For me this third entry was a step back up in quality from the somewhat meandering second entry in the series. Yes there is some heavy politicking in the first half of the novel, but there at least seems some goal in mind with where things are heading. The mythology around Leo begins to start making more sense as the connections start to be drawn between the characters. Cassandra, who has previously been one of my favourite POVs was somewhat subdued throughout this one which was a shame, but being trapped in an infirm body limits her. Dishiva begins to make a bit more sense as a POV. Rah is still quite frustrating at times both with his bloody mindedness and inconsistent regard he is given by his people (which gets quite confusing - is he loved or hated?). This book really sees Miko come into her own and her POV is where most of the action on this book is based.
The ending is deeply frustrating, but deliberately so. I look forward to the final entry to hope that the ending's frustrating nature gets resolved!
The Reborn Empire series is following the interactions of three peoples and their Imperial ambitions: the Kisians, the Levanti and the Chiltaen. To a certain extent this is looking at the Mongol empire as its inspiration. The Levanti in particular take on the aspect of horse riding 'barbarians' and the Kisians have a distinctly Chinese feel in places (the Chiltaens feel a bit more European in their influence). The clash of cultures is a central theme, with xenophobia, bigotry and prejudice playing a central role in the events depicted. The conflict is visceral and on multiple levels and the play on some of the worst aspects of human psyche gives an immersive level of darkness to the whole affair. On top of this is the role of change, and whether change is positive or negative.
For me this third entry was a step back up in quality from the somewhat meandering second entry in the series. Yes there is some heavy politicking in the first half of the novel, but there at least seems some goal in mind with where things are heading. The mythology around Leo begins to start making more sense as the connections start to be drawn between the characters. Cassandra, who has previously been one of my favourite POVs was somewhat subdued throughout this one which was a shame, but being trapped in an infirm body limits her. Dishiva begins to make a bit more sense as a POV. Rah is still quite frustrating at times both with his bloody mindedness and inconsistent regard he is given by his people (which gets quite confusing - is he loved or hated?). This book really sees Miko come into her own and her POV is where most of the action on this book is based.
The ending is deeply frustrating, but deliberately so. I look forward to the final entry to hope that the ending's frustrating nature gets resolved!
August 18, 2021
WE CRY FOR BLOOD is the third tense instalment in the Reborn Empire series as alliances fracture and Leo Villius becomes even more dangerous as the extend of his abilities are revealed.
Before this book, the various groups were mostly split into three – the Kisians, the Levanti, and the Chilteans lurking in the background but not really present. They had their own internal disagreements, but generally could be treated as one body with the four POVs on the outside, fighting to be accepted or to have their beliefs be shared. In this book, the groups splinter, and there are suddenly a lot more factions to contend with, making any action one wishes to take much harder. It simultaneously ups the stakes and makes everything harder for the characters.
Leo is such a good villain. He sort of lurks, filling the reader the knowledge that no matter what happens over the actual control of the empire between the other factions, he’s still there to be dealt with. As his abilities/ways of manipulation are expounded upon, he only gets more and more threatening because he always has a plan in place and is so hard to counter – such ruthlessness discarding versions of himself for power!
We stick with the same four POVs this time, and Cassandra is the only one whose path does not touch the others’ physically, but her entanglement with Leo makes her integral to the overall story, which is a really nice change. I appreciated the many actual meetings of the characters and how their decisions were really obviously affecting the others.
Waiting to binge three books in one a very good idea. I am now immersed in this world and now really want the fourth book out to continue the story. Very impressive for a series I was on the fence about at the end of the first book!
Before this book, the various groups were mostly split into three – the Kisians, the Levanti, and the Chilteans lurking in the background but not really present. They had their own internal disagreements, but generally could be treated as one body with the four POVs on the outside, fighting to be accepted or to have their beliefs be shared. In this book, the groups splinter, and there are suddenly a lot more factions to contend with, making any action one wishes to take much harder. It simultaneously ups the stakes and makes everything harder for the characters.
Leo is such a good villain. He sort of lurks, filling the reader the knowledge that no matter what happens over the actual control of the empire between the other factions, he’s still there to be dealt with. As his abilities/ways of manipulation are expounded upon, he only gets more and more threatening because he always has a plan in place and is so hard to counter – such ruthlessness discarding versions of himself for power!
We stick with the same four POVs this time, and Cassandra is the only one whose path does not touch the others’ physically, but her entanglement with Leo makes her integral to the overall story, which is a really nice change. I appreciated the many actual meetings of the characters and how their decisions were really obviously affecting the others.
Waiting to binge three books in one a very good idea. I am now immersed in this world and now really want the fourth book out to continue the story. Very impressive for a series I was on the fence about at the end of the first book!
September 19, 2024
With all the same perspectives as the previous books, we finally get to the crux of why the “storm” ever happened in the first place. The religion of the One True God has been spoken about constantly and run through the books until this point, but remained in the back seat until the latter half of book two. Now the curtain rises on Act Two and the religion of the One True God becomes a main point in the plot and focus of multiple perspectives.
But with the revelation about Leo, we also see the return of the Chiltaens to the fray – the force that initially enslaved the exiled Levanti and forced them to fight against Kisia – along with a Horse Whisperer of the Levanti who has been exiled for unknown reasons. There seems to be connections between these two and the One True God, both friendly and antagonistic.
The amount of smaller mentions in previous books that come back to be referenced makes the journey all-the-more satisfying, especially when we have been waiting for answers on much of it. A lot of what has happened in previous books is also re-contextualised with the knowledge we now have, adding extra depth and reflection to what we’ve already read.
While thus far focus has been more on individual characters and their movements with some touching on the war and politics, here we start to see the pieces move in the grand game this time around. Allegiances are thrown into question, armies are on the march and everyone is more fractured than they have ever been.
With one final book left in the series, we’re provided with just as many new wrinkles as we are with answers and the state of the final book won’t start on quite the landscape I expected, but brings promise of more good things to come (for the readers, at least).
But with the revelation about Leo, we also see the return of the Chiltaens to the fray – the force that initially enslaved the exiled Levanti and forced them to fight against Kisia – along with a Horse Whisperer of the Levanti who has been exiled for unknown reasons. There seems to be connections between these two and the One True God, both friendly and antagonistic.
The amount of smaller mentions in previous books that come back to be referenced makes the journey all-the-more satisfying, especially when we have been waiting for answers on much of it. A lot of what has happened in previous books is also re-contextualised with the knowledge we now have, adding extra depth and reflection to what we’ve already read.
While thus far focus has been more on individual characters and their movements with some touching on the war and politics, here we start to see the pieces move in the grand game this time around. Allegiances are thrown into question, armies are on the march and everyone is more fractured than they have ever been.
With one final book left in the series, we’re provided with just as many new wrinkles as we are with answers and the state of the final book won’t start on quite the landscape I expected, but brings promise of more good things to come (for the readers, at least).
April 29, 2025
Заняло времени, но мы наконец дошли до действий
Мико вместе с верными министрами и генералами пытается вернуть власть над Кисианской империей. Кассандра в теле императрицы ищет способ остановить Лео Виллиуса. Дишива, несмотря на утрату власти, не собирается становиться ручной зверушкой Лео. А сам будущий божественный правитель великой империи, Лео, намерен не дать никому из них добиться успеха. Где-то на стороне, как обычно, страдает Рах.
Главное отличие «Мы потребуем крови» от предыдущих книг цикла — появление динамики. Персонажи наконец-то перешли от брожений к активным действиям. Мико, Кассандра и Дишива осознали, кто их настоящий враг, и теперь каждый ведёт свою собственную борьбу против него. Мико, собрав союзников, пытается вернуть себе империю. Дишива стремится раз и навсегда покончить с Лео, который упорно возвращается к жизни. Кассандра пытается разгадать природу его способностей и не допустить превращения Лео в бога. Всё это заставляет читателя буквально перелистывать страницы одну за другой, наблюдая, как три линии ведут к сборке единой мозаики вокруг фигуры Лео Виллиуса.
Единственная загадка для меня — это Рах и его роль в этой истории. В отличие от остальных протагонистов, его по-прежнему швыряет из одной ситуации в другую, и никаким контролем над происходящим он не обладает. Честно говоря, он всё больше ощущается как второстепенный персонаж, случайно оказавшийся в роли одного из главных. И хотя книга пытается показать его как прирождённого лидера, я в нём не вижу ни лидерских качеств, ни причин, по которым кто-то вообще мог бы за ним последовать.
Наверное, это лучшая книга в серии. 4,5 из 5.
Мико вместе с верными министрами и генералами пытается вернуть власть над Кисианской империей. Кассандра в теле императрицы ищет способ остановить Лео Виллиуса. Дишива, несмотря на утрату власти, не собирается становиться ручной зверушкой Лео. А сам будущий божественный правитель великой империи, Лео, намерен не дать никому из них добиться успеха. Где-то на стороне, как обычно, страдает Рах.
Главное отличие «Мы потребуем крови» от предыдущих книг цикла — появление динамики. Персонажи наконец-то перешли от брожений к активным действиям. Мико, Кассандра и Дишива осознали, кто их настоящий враг, и теперь каждый ведёт свою собственную борьбу против него. Мико, собрав союзников, пытается вернуть себе империю. Дишива стремится раз и навсегда покончить с Лео, который упорно возвращается к жизни. Кассандра пытается разгадать природу его способностей и не допустить превращения Лео в бога. Всё это заставляет читателя буквально перелистывать страницы одну за другой, наблюдая, как три линии ведут к сборке единой мозаики вокруг фигуры Лео Виллиуса.
Единственная загадка для меня — это Рах и его роль в этой истории. В отличие от остальных протагонистов, его по-прежнему швыряет из одной ситуации в другую, и никаким контролем над происходящим он не обладает. Честно говоря, он всё больше ощущается как второстепенный персонаж, случайно оказавшийся в роли одного из главных. И хотя книга пытается показать его как прирождённого лидера, я в нём не вижу ни лидерских качеств, ни причин, по которым кто-то вообще мог бы за ним последовать.
Наверное, это лучшая книга в серии. 4,5 из 5.
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