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The Rise of Gorchakov #3
Lords of the Old Empire
The empire lives to fight another day!
The traitors hiding under the roof of their family home were found and punished. But where do the threads woven into a sophisticated tangle of conspiracy really lead? The young Prince Gorchakov will have to confront rogue guardsmen, outraged rebels, the people sent by the German Kaiser to aid the crisis, and one legendary general who went over to the dark side. Sometimes, all of them at once.
The hands of the Third Section are tied, the police are powerless, the army is doing nothing to stop the madness, and the Gifted aristocrats are fleeing the capital like rats from a sinking ship. The empire is on the verge of a catastrophe the likes of which hasn’t been seen in centuries.
Is one person able to prevent this downfall?
The traitors hiding under the roof of their family home were found and punished. But where do the threads woven into a sophisticated tangle of conspiracy really lead? The young Prince Gorchakov will have to confront rogue guardsmen, outraged rebels, the people sent by the German Kaiser to aid the crisis, and one legendary general who went over to the dark side. Sometimes, all of them at once.
The hands of the Third Section are tied, the police are powerless, the army is doing nothing to stop the madness, and the Gifted aristocrats are fleeing the capital like rats from a sinking ship. The empire is on the verge of a catastrophe the likes of which hasn’t been seen in centuries.
Is one person able to prevent this downfall?
- GenresFantasy
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2022
74 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 27, 2025
The sadly overly convoluted end of the saga. Unfortunately the plot got so contrived that it borders a fairy tale
November 28, 2022
Book three brings the revolts to a head. Members of the police, imperial guard, and military are all defecting to get far, far away from St. Petersburg.
While all that is happening, the Germans send the Bismark up the river Volga and next to the Imperial Palace for protection.
Alex is all over the place in this novel. We realize that Russia doesn't have much traditional military strength because they've always relied on the aristocracy to defend them with their gifts.
Except now most of those aristocrats are scattered to the winds as they try to save their own skin.
The Third Section (secret police) are powerless, and they've usually been Alex's greatest source of information. The tanks we saw at the end of book two roll into the city, and chaos ensues.
When I said Alex is all over the place, I wasn't lying. He helps Valery restore order in the military academy ranks, and then they take off to help--
Nope. Not going to spoil anything. I have no idea where the author is going take books four and five, but I'll be there to read them. 5/5*
While all that is happening, the Germans send the Bismark up the river Volga and next to the Imperial Palace for protection.
Alex is all over the place in this novel. We realize that Russia doesn't have much traditional military strength because they've always relied on the aristocracy to defend them with their gifts.
Except now most of those aristocrats are scattered to the winds as they try to save their own skin.
The Third Section (secret police) are powerless, and they've usually been Alex's greatest source of information. The tanks we saw at the end of book two roll into the city, and chaos ensues.
When I said Alex is all over the place, I wasn't lying. He helps Valery restore order in the military academy ranks, and then they take off to help--
Nope. Not going to spoil anything. I have no idea where the author is going take books four and five, but I'll be there to read them. 5/5*
February 10, 2026
Slow, meandered long trying to build a story that I really didn't have any interest in.
The first half of the book The main character dealt with more of a police who done it theme, second half was filler and build up to create the political tension that has a reader I just didn't care about. It was a lot of preaching about what should or shouldn't happen, the main character really having no agency just being pushed along with the plot line. I remember the first book in the series being enjoyable the second book is actually rather forgettable, and this book just made the series boring. Between the self preaching messaging of the author between political parties that the reader just doesn't care about, I don't see the point of this book. The pacing was slow, the action scenes were good but jerky and thrown in at very predictable times. Just overall a very mid-forgettable addition to the series. It's going to be tough to even want to read book 4, I just have no more interest.
The first half of the book The main character dealt with more of a police who done it theme, second half was filler and build up to create the political tension that has a reader I just didn't care about. It was a lot of preaching about what should or shouldn't happen, the main character really having no agency just being pushed along with the plot line. I remember the first book in the series being enjoyable the second book is actually rather forgettable, and this book just made the series boring. Between the self preaching messaging of the author between political parties that the reader just doesn't care about, I don't see the point of this book. The pacing was slow, the action scenes were good but jerky and thrown in at very predictable times. Just overall a very mid-forgettable addition to the series. It's going to be tough to even want to read book 4, I just have no more interest.
January 18, 2026
Story spirals, plot flow and early progression becomes choppy with incoherent time skips, fade to black. As in going from A to C without any mention of B. Character mentality also seems all over the place.
It is obvious the author lost his grip on the plot to an extent here, and that ideas/inspiration dried up. I wish he had taken a step back and smoothed out the first 35%+ or so of the story. I wouldn't have minded if that added a few hours to the story even if it became a bit boring.
The world building feels even more diffuse and fuzzy instead of solid in this the third book
I am not very good at putting words to it, better than I have, but the plot/world building just doesn't work for me.
On the whole this series gone trilogy started good, say a 4/5 for bk #1 then a 3/5 for bk #2 and this the third book barely deserves a 2/5.
It is obvious the author lost his grip on the plot to an extent here, and that ideas/inspiration dried up. I wish he had taken a step back and smoothed out the first 35%+ or so of the story. I wouldn't have minded if that added a few hours to the story even if it became a bit boring.
The world building feels even more diffuse and fuzzy instead of solid in this the third book
I am not very good at putting words to it, better than I have, but the plot/world building just doesn't work for me.
On the whole this series gone trilogy started good, say a 4/5 for bk #1 then a 3/5 for bk #2 and this the third book barely deserves a 2/5.
February 12, 2025
Most enjoyable
A great read and a most enjoyable ark to this series of heroic at times protagonist, saddest thing is if this series doesn't do well he will not be able to get the rest translated to English which is such a shame because this is such a great story.
A great read and a most enjoyable ark to this series of heroic at times protagonist, saddest thing is if this series doesn't do well he will not be able to get the rest translated to English which is such a shame because this is such a great story.
October 14, 2022
can’t wait for the next book
I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series and can’t wait to see how our main guy finds his way out of the next mess.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series and can’t wait to see how our main guy finds his way out of the next mess.
October 12, 2024
where’s book 4?
2 more books in the series. I’m guessing never got translated. I hope they do eventually get done. Nice series.
2 more books in the series. I’m guessing never got translated. I hope they do eventually get done. Nice series.
January 27, 2025
Really want to read the other books that haven’t yet been translated
I have loved this series and keep checking if the other books have yet been translated… no luck so far
I have loved this series and keep checking if the other books have yet been translated… no luck so far
August 8, 2025
Overall, not too bad. I'm giving up early, because I'm not invested in the characters. This book is more government and politics oriented than character oriented.
August 19, 2025
Great book
Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
September 2, 2025
Truly enjoyed this series. I just hope it isn't done
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews