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The Monarchies of God #2
The Heretic Kings
1st Vista edition paperback, new
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
31 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
About the author
Paul Kearney
47 books528 followersPaul Kearney was born in rural County Antrim, Ireland, in 1967. His father was a butcher, and his mother was a nurse. He rode horses, had lots of cousins, and cut turf and baled hay. He often smelled of cowshit.
He grew up through the worst of the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland, a time when bombs and gunfire were part of every healthy young boy's adolescence. He developed an unhealthy interest in firearms and Blowing Things Up - but what growing boy hasn't?
By some fluke of fate he managed to get to Oxford University, and studied Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon and Middle English.
He began writing books because he had no other choice. His first, written at aged sixteen, was a magnificent epic, influenced heavily by James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Robert E Howard, and Playboy. It was enormous, colourful, purple-prosed, and featured a lot of Very Large Swords.
His second was rather better, and was published by Victor Gollancz over a very boozy lunch with a very shrewd editor.
Luckily, in those days editors met authors face to face, and Kearney's Irish charm wangled him a long series of contracts with Gollancz, and other publishers. He still thinks he can't write for toffee, but others have, insanely, begged to differ.
Kearney has been writing full-time for twenty-eight years now, and can't imagine doing anything else. Though he has often tried.
He grew up through the worst of the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland, a time when bombs and gunfire were part of every healthy young boy's adolescence. He developed an unhealthy interest in firearms and Blowing Things Up - but what growing boy hasn't?
By some fluke of fate he managed to get to Oxford University, and studied Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon and Middle English.
He began writing books because he had no other choice. His first, written at aged sixteen, was a magnificent epic, influenced heavily by James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Robert E Howard, and Playboy. It was enormous, colourful, purple-prosed, and featured a lot of Very Large Swords.
His second was rather better, and was published by Victor Gollancz over a very boozy lunch with a very shrewd editor.
Luckily, in those days editors met authors face to face, and Kearney's Irish charm wangled him a long series of contracts with Gollancz, and other publishers. He still thinks he can't write for toffee, but others have, insanely, begged to differ.
Kearney has been writing full-time for twenty-eight years now, and can't imagine doing anything else. Though he has often tried.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 22, 2021
"Y la Bestia se cernirá sobre la tierra en los días del segundo imperio del mundo. Y vendrá del oeste, con una luz terrible en la mirada. Con ella llegará la edad del lobo, y el hermano aniquilará a su hermano. Y los hombre se postrarán y la adorarán"
Puntuación: 🛡🛡🛡🛡🛡
Por las barbas del bendito Ramusio que GOZADA de saga. Supera al primer libro lo cual ya no es poco, las presentaciones han sido hechas y cada camino de la trama solo sube mi interés, no hay nada que no me haya gustado de las diferentes perspectivas de los personajes, todos los puntos de vista alcanzan un nivel épico que al final del libro te deja impactado queriendo ir a por el tercero, no llega a las 300 páginas, una lectura brutal, ágil con una narrativa perfecta que debo decir que noto cierta mejora con el primer libro. Es jodidamente impresionante al igual que inconcebible lo de este autor. ¡Leedlo y disfrutad!
"La verdad puede silenciarse durante un tiempo, sí, pero no para siempre..."
Los Reyes Heréticos, segunda entrega de la saga de Kearney, "Las Monarquías de Dios", se han establecido ya los antecedentes de la historia y como todo esta distribuido, los conflicos incluso ese nuevo y oscuro continente y los personajes. El libro desarrolla la trama con algunas sorpresas dentro de las principales situaciones que se han ido hilando quizás al principio de su lectura ya no impresiona al lector como el primer libro pero os garantizo que os engancha cosa mala y disfrutaréis, cuando se va acercando el final vienen las sorpresas, siguiendo la vida de los personajes mientras reaccionan ante el nuevo entorno, batallas y traiciones en el que se encuentran como consecuencia de la caída de la ciudad santa de Aekir. Cumple a la perfección, la función de una gran segunda entrega que te deja muy consciente de que la pentalogía no baja en calidad y lo cortos que son lo hace que sea una gozada que se lee del tirón, me impresiona lo que Paul Kearney consigue en 300 páginas, yo veo este libro en manos de otros y llegaría a las 800-900.
"Los hombres siempre avanzan hacia el oeste. ¿Tendrá algo que ver con el camino del sol? El oeste los atrae como la llama de una vela a las polillas"
"Los Reyes Heréticos" es la continuación directa, con sobresaltos y varios momentazos de "El Viaje de Hawkwood" por cierto, bonito detalle el incluir un resumen muy bueno y breve del libro anterior que nos ahorra la relectura en caso de pasar cierto tiempo. Los mismos frentes que estaban abiertos en ese primer libro continúan desarrollándose.
"—No creo demasiado en la suerte, milady.
—Pero existe. Es ese elemento indefinible que, en la guerra o en la paz, distingue a un hombre de los demás"
Las partes más interesantes de la novela obtienen mucho más espacio y desarrollo: las aventuras epicas y oscuras por la supervivencia en contra de la mismísima naturaleza de Hawkwood, Bardolin y Murad en el continente occidental. El curioso nuevo principio de la carrera militar de Corfe. La semilla de los enormes y apoteósicos acontecimientos por venir se siembra en los descubrimientos hechos por los monjes bajo la principal fortaleza inceptina, del conocimiento suprimido durante siglos, que podría arruinar los cimientos de la religión de Occidente. Esta parte me encantó biblioteca, manuscritos bajo una fortaleza me trajo a la mente "El Nombre de la Rosa". No se atan penas cabos sueltos, la lectura debe continuar si tienen algún deseo de saber hacia dónde se dirigen las cosas. Donde termina un libro empieza el otros, el siguiente, "Las Guerras de Hierro" no llega a las 250 páginas y presiento un disfrute aún mayor, esta saga tiene dos cosas la primera es que no baja la calidad y enganche, la segunda es la gran sensación de avance que tiene, sin ser excesivo, no sé, logra un equilibrio perfecto y laudable.
"Normannia ha sido explotada, excavada y violada durante demasiado tiempo; ahora nos pertenece. Nosotros somos su sangre. Pero aquí la tierra sólo se pertenece a sí misma"
Y aún nos quedan un par de líneas argumentales que no menciono, que seguro, se desarrollarán con mayor profundidad en próximos libros como son las de Himerius y las de fimbria. Pero, aún así, mi favorita en este libro es la de Richard Hawkwood, Murad y Barbolín. Una gran conspiración que ha estado influyendo en el destino de todos los reinos ramusianos y todo provoca en el lector una urgente necesidad de seguir con el siguiente libro, pues es de esas sagas que crea necesidad con una historia fascinante que dispone de varios puntos de vista o historias que tienen un nivel muy alto. Es una saga para devorar del tirón. Un gran trabajo el de Paul Kearney por todo lo que logra en ella tiene mi muy merecido y agradecido aplauso.
"El poder aliado con la irresponsabilidad. Es la cosa mas peligrosa del mundo, la más seductora de las tentaciones. Es el mal, puro y simple"
La narrativa de Kearney se ha pulido y mejorado con respecto a "El Viaje de Hawkwood", yo lo he notado muchísimo. En las descripciones, diálogos, ideas o escenas de acción he notado una mejora que me sorprendió, y es que el primero estaba muy bien escrito con lo cual me dejó algo flipado no lo niego.
Muestra un gran ritmo ávido para hacer saber a la persona que tiene el libro delante de que estamos ante una saga especial, una saga que se inspira en nuestra propia historia para ir más allá, para hacer convergir algunos de los acontecimientos históricos más importantes de nuestra historia en un mismo momento, para ofrecernos pura épica, dejándonos citas y verdades impagables.
"Poder, hermano. El poder reside en el conocimiento, pero también en la ignorancia. Los inceptinos controlan el mundo con a información que conceden y con la que retienen"
"Las Monarquías de Dios" conjuga algunos de los elementos más interesantes de la historia medieval europea y lo hacen con un toque de fantasía tan jugoso que, inevitablemente se convierten en una lectura totalmente recomendable, que es adictiva a niveles colosales y en unos libros cortos y ágiles que ya puedo decir los encumbran a ser perfectamente una de las sagas de fantasía épica más destacables que hay por ahí. Todo esto lo hace sin perderse en descripciones, acontecimientos vacíos, ni relleno, aquí eso no existe. Kerney va al grano, nos ofrece acción pura y dura, pero recubierta en una prosa madura y adictiva. Es una puta maravilla y gozada como escribe, sin perderse en hechos y en muchas descripciones que no consiguen sino aumentar el número de páginas.
En definitiva, si me gustó su gran apertura con "El Viaje de Hawkwood", "Los Reyes Heréticos" me ha flipado confirmando esa buena impresión. Cierto es que estamos ante un paso más en la narración, que no se cierra ningún arco, al revés, deja al lector relamiendose, menos mal que aún me quedan tres libros para ver cómo termina todo, ¡¡Qué goze de viaje damas y caballeros!!
"Los hombres cambian, y les gusta creer que el mundo cambia con ellos. No es cierto, el mundo se limita a tolerarlos y continuar con sus revoluciones ancestrales"
Puntuación: 🛡🛡🛡🛡🛡
Por las barbas del bendito Ramusio que GOZADA de saga. Supera al primer libro lo cual ya no es poco, las presentaciones han sido hechas y cada camino de la trama solo sube mi interés, no hay nada que no me haya gustado de las diferentes perspectivas de los personajes, todos los puntos de vista alcanzan un nivel épico que al final del libro te deja impactado queriendo ir a por el tercero, no llega a las 300 páginas, una lectura brutal, ágil con una narrativa perfecta que debo decir que noto cierta mejora con el primer libro. Es jodidamente impresionante al igual que inconcebible lo de este autor. ¡Leedlo y disfrutad!
"La verdad puede silenciarse durante un tiempo, sí, pero no para siempre..."
Los Reyes Heréticos, segunda entrega de la saga de Kearney, "Las Monarquías de Dios", se han establecido ya los antecedentes de la historia y como todo esta distribuido, los conflicos incluso ese nuevo y oscuro continente y los personajes. El libro desarrolla la trama con algunas sorpresas dentro de las principales situaciones que se han ido hilando quizás al principio de su lectura ya no impresiona al lector como el primer libro pero os garantizo que os engancha cosa mala y disfrutaréis, cuando se va acercando el final vienen las sorpresas, siguiendo la vida de los personajes mientras reaccionan ante el nuevo entorno, batallas y traiciones en el que se encuentran como consecuencia de la caída de la ciudad santa de Aekir. Cumple a la perfección, la función de una gran segunda entrega que te deja muy consciente de que la pentalogía no baja en calidad y lo cortos que son lo hace que sea una gozada que se lee del tirón, me impresiona lo que Paul Kearney consigue en 300 páginas, yo veo este libro en manos de otros y llegaría a las 800-900.
"Los hombres siempre avanzan hacia el oeste. ¿Tendrá algo que ver con el camino del sol? El oeste los atrae como la llama de una vela a las polillas"
"Los Reyes Heréticos" es la continuación directa, con sobresaltos y varios momentazos de "El Viaje de Hawkwood" por cierto, bonito detalle el incluir un resumen muy bueno y breve del libro anterior que nos ahorra la relectura en caso de pasar cierto tiempo. Los mismos frentes que estaban abiertos en ese primer libro continúan desarrollándose.
"—No creo demasiado en la suerte, milady.
—Pero existe. Es ese elemento indefinible que, en la guerra o en la paz, distingue a un hombre de los demás"
Las partes más interesantes de la novela obtienen mucho más espacio y desarrollo: las aventuras epicas y oscuras por la supervivencia en contra de la mismísima naturaleza de Hawkwood, Bardolin y Murad en el continente occidental. El curioso nuevo principio de la carrera militar de Corfe. La semilla de los enormes y apoteósicos acontecimientos por venir se siembra en los descubrimientos hechos por los monjes bajo la principal fortaleza inceptina, del conocimiento suprimido durante siglos, que podría arruinar los cimientos de la religión de Occidente. Esta parte me encantó biblioteca, manuscritos bajo una fortaleza me trajo a la mente "El Nombre de la Rosa". No se atan penas cabos sueltos, la lectura debe continuar si tienen algún deseo de saber hacia dónde se dirigen las cosas. Donde termina un libro empieza el otros, el siguiente, "Las Guerras de Hierro" no llega a las 250 páginas y presiento un disfrute aún mayor, esta saga tiene dos cosas la primera es que no baja la calidad y enganche, la segunda es la gran sensación de avance que tiene, sin ser excesivo, no sé, logra un equilibrio perfecto y laudable.
"Normannia ha sido explotada, excavada y violada durante demasiado tiempo; ahora nos pertenece. Nosotros somos su sangre. Pero aquí la tierra sólo se pertenece a sí misma"
Y aún nos quedan un par de líneas argumentales que no menciono, que seguro, se desarrollarán con mayor profundidad en próximos libros como son las de Himerius y las de fimbria. Pero, aún así, mi favorita en este libro es la de Richard Hawkwood, Murad y Barbolín. Una gran conspiración que ha estado influyendo en el destino de todos los reinos ramusianos y todo provoca en el lector una urgente necesidad de seguir con el siguiente libro, pues es de esas sagas que crea necesidad con una historia fascinante que dispone de varios puntos de vista o historias que tienen un nivel muy alto. Es una saga para devorar del tirón. Un gran trabajo el de Paul Kearney por todo lo que logra en ella tiene mi muy merecido y agradecido aplauso.
"El poder aliado con la irresponsabilidad. Es la cosa mas peligrosa del mundo, la más seductora de las tentaciones. Es el mal, puro y simple"
La narrativa de Kearney se ha pulido y mejorado con respecto a "El Viaje de Hawkwood", yo lo he notado muchísimo. En las descripciones, diálogos, ideas o escenas de acción he notado una mejora que me sorprendió, y es que el primero estaba muy bien escrito con lo cual me dejó algo flipado no lo niego.
Muestra un gran ritmo ávido para hacer saber a la persona que tiene el libro delante de que estamos ante una saga especial, una saga que se inspira en nuestra propia historia para ir más allá, para hacer convergir algunos de los acontecimientos históricos más importantes de nuestra historia en un mismo momento, para ofrecernos pura épica, dejándonos citas y verdades impagables.
"Poder, hermano. El poder reside en el conocimiento, pero también en la ignorancia. Los inceptinos controlan el mundo con a información que conceden y con la que retienen"
"Las Monarquías de Dios" conjuga algunos de los elementos más interesantes de la historia medieval europea y lo hacen con un toque de fantasía tan jugoso que, inevitablemente se convierten en una lectura totalmente recomendable, que es adictiva a niveles colosales y en unos libros cortos y ágiles que ya puedo decir los encumbran a ser perfectamente una de las sagas de fantasía épica más destacables que hay por ahí. Todo esto lo hace sin perderse en descripciones, acontecimientos vacíos, ni relleno, aquí eso no existe. Kerney va al grano, nos ofrece acción pura y dura, pero recubierta en una prosa madura y adictiva. Es una puta maravilla y gozada como escribe, sin perderse en hechos y en muchas descripciones que no consiguen sino aumentar el número de páginas.
En definitiva, si me gustó su gran apertura con "El Viaje de Hawkwood", "Los Reyes Heréticos" me ha flipado confirmando esa buena impresión. Cierto es que estamos ante un paso más en la narración, que no se cierra ningún arco, al revés, deja al lector relamiendose, menos mal que aún me quedan tres libros para ver cómo termina todo, ¡¡Qué goze de viaje damas y caballeros!!
"Los hombres cambian, y les gusta creer que el mundo cambia con ellos. No es cierto, el mundo se limita a tolerarlos y continuar con sus revoluciones ancestrales"
September 25, 2021
Un segundo libro en el que las tramas que se presentaron en la anterior novela ganan en complejidad.
La narración me ha resultado muy ágil y no he podido despegarme de las páginas hasta haber acabado. Muy buen libro.
Dan ganas de leer todos del tirón. Yo de momento quiero el tercero.
La narración me ha resultado muy ágil y no he podido despegarme de las páginas hasta haber acabado. Muy buen libro.
Dan ganas de leer todos del tirón. Yo de momento quiero el tercero.
January 29, 2024
Los Reyes Heréticos, segunda entrega de la saga de Kearney, "Las Monarquías de Dios", continúa justo donde se quedó la primera parte. Los personajes ya han sido presentados, ya tenemos en mente los jugadores que se disputan la hegemonía del continente y el autor se centra en desarrollar esas tramas sin dar apenas un respiro.
Además de destacar lo atractivo que me parece la fantasía que despliega el autor basándose en hechos históricos, me sigue llamando la atención la capacidad de síntesis de Kearney. No se anda por las ramas en ningún momento, y lo que sucede en una escena, en la siguiente ya todos los personajes conocen los hechos y eso posibilita que la acción avance mucho más rápido. No pierde el tiempo en enseñarnos cómo los personajes conocen unos hechos que el lector ya ha leído. No nos da cada pieza de información troceada y masticada, nos presupone inteligentes y lo que no es imprescindible no lo cuenta. Eso es de agradecer porque algo que odio son los capítulos o escenas finales donde te tiene que explicar perfectamente todo para dejar claro lo que ha ocurrido no vaya a ser que el lector no preste atención.
Aún así no le puedo dar las cinco estrellas por un motivo. En el fondo no tiene una trama ni cierra nada, es una novela puente que termina con un fundido a negro cuando los protagonistas están en el peor momento. Es verdad que esto obliga a leer el siguiente libro inmediatamente y valorando la saga en su conjunto de momento es un 10. Pero valorando esta entrega por separado me ha faltado un poco más de autocontención. Es como si Kearney hubiera escrito un libro de 1200 páginas que las hubiera dividido en tomos de 250.
Recomendado para todos aquellos que buscan algo como Malaz o Canción de Hielo y Fuego.
Además de destacar lo atractivo que me parece la fantasía que despliega el autor basándose en hechos históricos, me sigue llamando la atención la capacidad de síntesis de Kearney. No se anda por las ramas en ningún momento, y lo que sucede en una escena, en la siguiente ya todos los personajes conocen los hechos y eso posibilita que la acción avance mucho más rápido. No pierde el tiempo en enseñarnos cómo los personajes conocen unos hechos que el lector ya ha leído. No nos da cada pieza de información troceada y masticada, nos presupone inteligentes y lo que no es imprescindible no lo cuenta. Eso es de agradecer porque algo que odio son los capítulos o escenas finales donde te tiene que explicar perfectamente todo para dejar claro lo que ha ocurrido no vaya a ser que el lector no preste atención.
Aún así no le puedo dar las cinco estrellas por un motivo. En el fondo no tiene una trama ni cierra nada, es una novela puente que termina con un fundido a negro cuando los protagonistas están en el peor momento. Es verdad que esto obliga a leer el siguiente libro inmediatamente y valorando la saga en su conjunto de momento es un 10. Pero valorando esta entrega por separado me ha faltado un poco más de autocontención. Es como si Kearney hubiera escrito un libro de 1200 páginas que las hubiera dividido en tomos de 250.
Recomendado para todos aquellos que buscan algo como Malaz o Canción de Hielo y Fuego.
June 12, 2022
Kearney delivers once again with The Heretic Kings in this fast paced fantasy without the fluff. This second installment in the series is divided into three parts, each following one of the story arcs. Kearney starts with the 'schism' in the church, so now we have two popes and the various kings are split on which to side with; again, this is a nod to actual history when we had rival popes in France and Rome and in a way something akin to the protestant reformation. We then travel to the 'new world' with Hawkwood as they finally arrive and begin to explore and encounter all kinds of surprises. The final section covers the events on the ground as the king's conclave is over, various alliances are made and in the depths of winter, people everywhere are getting ready for major campaigns in the spring.
I am really enjoying this series and cannot wait to get to the next one. Kearney weaves a deft fantasy here with lots of nods to actual history for buffs to enjoy, while also introducing some fantasy tropes with werewolves and various types of magic (we learn here that 'changers' are just one form of magic out of 7). This did wrap up a few story arcs, but all kinds of cliff hangers and teasers for the next installment to address. All kinds of political intrigue punctuated with battles of all kinds on land and sea. I am amazed this series does not have more of a following. 4.5 stars!!
I am really enjoying this series and cannot wait to get to the next one. Kearney weaves a deft fantasy here with lots of nods to actual history for buffs to enjoy, while also introducing some fantasy tropes with werewolves and various types of magic (we learn here that 'changers' are just one form of magic out of 7). This did wrap up a few story arcs, but all kinds of cliff hangers and teasers for the next installment to address. All kinds of political intrigue punctuated with battles of all kinds on land and sea. I am amazed this series does not have more of a following. 4.5 stars!!
October 31, 2021
EL Mundo occidental está en llamas ...
Las Monarquias de Dios fue el primer golpe de Paul Kearney en la mandibula de la fantasía épica tradicional y creo que ha logrado una asombrosa serie de cinco libros. El final del primer libro termina con bastante suspense para que puedas continuar rápidamente esta maravillosa historia. La historia realmente funciona bien si se publica como un ómnibus en lugar de libros independientes. La prosa de Paul Kearney es muy rica y descriptiva, pero no demasiado embellecida, sin florituras.Tiene un talento natural para la epopeya.
Los reyes heréticos es un historia paralela fantástico del cisma occidental de la iglesia cristiana, así como a la búsqueda del Nuevo Mundo y la caída de Constantinopla. Es una historia de luchas religiosas y culturales entre los ramusianos (cristianos) y los merduks (musulmanes). Incluso el mapa se parece a Europa, pero esto no afecta la capacidad de Kearney para contar una historia convincente y que te hace disfrutar con los personajes. Las novelas están fuertemente influenciadas por las luchas religiosas y las santas cruzadas que luchan por el control del continente, pero están hechas de una manera tan fascinante e intensa que te llevan a seguir leyendo sin pausa.
Una cosa más a discutir es el tratamiento que Paul Kearney da a sus personajes. No se disculpa por la forma en que trata a sus personajes a lo largo de la serie hasta el punto en que. podría considerarse pura brutalidad. No duda en matar o maltratar a cualquier personaje para impulsar su historia. El primer libro de esta serie se publicó en 1994 y, aparte de George R.R Martin, este tipo de novela no era muy popular. La fantasía de Grimdark no había hundido sus garras en el mundo SFF y, debido a esto, creo que sus libros no se convirtieron en un nombre conocidor.Si eres fan de Canción de hielo y fuego, Malazan, o si eres simplemente un aficionado a la historia de la religión y de las cruzadas, esta serie te deberia gustar bastante.
Las Monarquias de Dios fue el primer golpe de Paul Kearney en la mandibula de la fantasía épica tradicional y creo que ha logrado una asombrosa serie de cinco libros. El final del primer libro termina con bastante suspense para que puedas continuar rápidamente esta maravillosa historia. La historia realmente funciona bien si se publica como un ómnibus en lugar de libros independientes. La prosa de Paul Kearney es muy rica y descriptiva, pero no demasiado embellecida, sin florituras.Tiene un talento natural para la epopeya.
Los reyes heréticos es un historia paralela fantástico del cisma occidental de la iglesia cristiana, así como a la búsqueda del Nuevo Mundo y la caída de Constantinopla. Es una historia de luchas religiosas y culturales entre los ramusianos (cristianos) y los merduks (musulmanes). Incluso el mapa se parece a Europa, pero esto no afecta la capacidad de Kearney para contar una historia convincente y que te hace disfrutar con los personajes. Las novelas están fuertemente influenciadas por las luchas religiosas y las santas cruzadas que luchan por el control del continente, pero están hechas de una manera tan fascinante e intensa que te llevan a seguir leyendo sin pausa.
Una cosa más a discutir es el tratamiento que Paul Kearney da a sus personajes. No se disculpa por la forma en que trata a sus personajes a lo largo de la serie hasta el punto en que. podría considerarse pura brutalidad. No duda en matar o maltratar a cualquier personaje para impulsar su historia. El primer libro de esta serie se publicó en 1994 y, aparte de George R.R Martin, este tipo de novela no era muy popular. La fantasía de Grimdark no había hundido sus garras en el mundo SFF y, debido a esto, creo que sus libros no se convirtieron en un nombre conocidor.Si eres fan de Canción de hielo y fuego, Malazan, o si eres simplemente un aficionado a la historia de la religión y de las cruzadas, esta serie te deberia gustar bastante.
January 31, 2019
Una muy buena continuación de la saga que me hace volver a preguntarme cómo es posible que no sea mucho más conocida. Kearney monta una historia densa, amplia, con variedad de personajes y facciones que, como punto fuerte, muestra unos paralelismos nada disimulados con la historia "real" que le permite criticar y montar subtextos muy, muy interesantes. También, como ya sucedía en la primera parte, una tremenda labor de documentación y ambientación.
Recomendado sin duda para todos los amantes de la fantasía épica.
Recomendado sin duda para todos los amantes de la fantasía épica.
February 11, 2023
Better than Hawkwood's Voyage in every way. All the build up we had in book 1 pays off in this book, so it's much faster paced and the new material we get is terrifying and exhilirating, even though I thought I wouldn't end up liking that section when I began it. Also, Jemilla is barely in this one and there's very little sexytimes so that makes for a better experience as it is. Sadly, I worry for book 3 since the back of the book implies Jemilla will be center stage. Barf.
December 14, 2021
4 estrellas bien gordas!
Me ha gustado incluso más que la primera novela de la saga, El viaje de Hawkood. Las distintas tramas se van desarrollando y me han ofrecido momentos de disfrute máximo. El worldbuilding es verdad que el señor Paul Kearney se lo ha currado lo justo. Ha usado como base las creencias religiosas y el continuo conflicto cristianismo/islam del s. XV-XVI español. También ha copiado costumbres, indumentaria, armamento y navíos de esa época.
Peeeero luego ha metido, muy acertadamente en mi modesta opinión, elementos de fantasía que son los que le sacan todo el juguillo a la novela. Sin ser la magia un elemento principal en las tramas, es lo que hace disfrutona e inesperada la lectura.
Me ha gustado también el lenguaje que utiliza, que me ha recordado en muchas ocasiones al usado en la fantasía épica, cosa que agradezco mucho.
Otro punto a favor. La no excesiva cantidad de páginas. Todo bien explicadito y compactadito mola más (normalmente).
En fin. Gracias a mis reviwers de cabecera de GR. Gran descubrimiento!
Intercalo algo de mi lista de lectura y a continuación voy derechito a por el tercero de la saga!
Me ha gustado incluso más que la primera novela de la saga, El viaje de Hawkood. Las distintas tramas se van desarrollando y me han ofrecido momentos de disfrute máximo. El worldbuilding es verdad que el señor Paul Kearney se lo ha currado lo justo. Ha usado como base las creencias religiosas y el continuo conflicto cristianismo/islam del s. XV-XVI español. También ha copiado costumbres, indumentaria, armamento y navíos de esa época.
Peeeero luego ha metido, muy acertadamente en mi modesta opinión, elementos de fantasía que son los que le sacan todo el juguillo a la novela. Sin ser la magia un elemento principal en las tramas, es lo que hace disfrutona e inesperada la lectura.
Me ha gustado también el lenguaje que utiliza, que me ha recordado en muchas ocasiones al usado en la fantasía épica, cosa que agradezco mucho.
Otro punto a favor. La no excesiva cantidad de páginas. Todo bien explicadito y compactadito mola más (normalmente).
En fin. Gracias a mis reviwers de cabecera de GR. Gran descubrimiento!
Intercalo algo de mi lista de lectura y a continuación voy derechito a por el tercero de la saga!
February 21, 2015
Do you feel happy?
Are you cheerful right now?
Is everything peachy in your life?
Are you just not filled with joy and love?
Let's ruin that, shall we.
Papa Kearney will take care of that.
Mr. Despodence continues the story of the Monarchies in the second volume, with more intrigue, war and finest brutality. If you think you've read some grimdark books, then Kearney writes gruesomeblack stuff. It's not the sum of words. It's not specific scenes. It's not violence for the sake of violence. It's bleak, perfect despair.
And yet, you get tons of lore, magic, politics, magical beasts, great combat scenes, horrible pain, utmost anguish, pure hopelessness. Anything you need to brighten your lovely, lovely afternoon. Like a fresh breath of icy hail blowing off the lead-colored sea against your aching joints and bloody blisters, after you've spent the morning digging graves in muddy clay for those five children of yours what died of consumption, and the drunken village priest, with his one missing leg, couldn't be bothered to come and give them the last prayer.
That's how I see. This man is my inspiration for grim.
We shan't spoil it with a limerick. Enough said.
Gloomily yours,
Igor
Are you cheerful right now?
Is everything peachy in your life?
Are you just not filled with joy and love?
Let's ruin that, shall we.
Papa Kearney will take care of that.
Mr. Despodence continues the story of the Monarchies in the second volume, with more intrigue, war and finest brutality. If you think you've read some grimdark books, then Kearney writes gruesomeblack stuff. It's not the sum of words. It's not specific scenes. It's not violence for the sake of violence. It's bleak, perfect despair.
And yet, you get tons of lore, magic, politics, magical beasts, great combat scenes, horrible pain, utmost anguish, pure hopelessness. Anything you need to brighten your lovely, lovely afternoon. Like a fresh breath of icy hail blowing off the lead-colored sea against your aching joints and bloody blisters, after you've spent the morning digging graves in muddy clay for those five children of yours what died of consumption, and the drunken village priest, with his one missing leg, couldn't be bothered to come and give them the last prayer.
That's how I see. This man is my inspiration for grim.
We shan't spoil it with a limerick. Enough said.
Gloomily yours,
Igor
December 1, 2015
No sorprende como el primero de la saga pero los personajes no pierden fuerza y las tramas evolucionan ganando en interés. Acabado y cogido el tercero sin soltar el kindle. Eso lo dice todo, ¿no?
Le bajo un poco la nota porque el asombro de descubrir el mundo de las Monarquías ya se ha saldado con el primero de la saga. Pero quedan sorpresas que se avanzan en este segundo y seguro se desarrollarán más adelante.
Le bajo un poco la nota porque el asombro de descubrir el mundo de las Monarquías ya se ha saldado con el primero de la saga. Pero quedan sorpresas que se avanzan en este segundo y seguro se desarrollarán más adelante.
September 5, 2024
The First two books of The Monarchies of Gods are underrated. It’s an epic military fantasy with big scales of battles, political intrigues, the collision of religions from the both side of the continents, seafaring adventures and werewolves! The story combines those elements in average 350+pages per books in a series; compare to other epic fantasy books, the writing is pretty concise to read! Many fantasy books would be written in 500+ pages book that wasting pages to describe the irrelevant plots. So far the two books, which is the first half of TMoG are great that straight get in what was happening in the story, without painstaking details or aimless plot developments. Seldom fantasy writers are capable to do that in epic fantasies. Furthermore, Paul Kearney is good at writing battle scenes, the first book of the series, Hawkwood's Voyage has some exhilarating battles with gun powers, sword fights, military maneuvers. However, this books is more focused on the internal conflict of the five kingdoms, the heretic king was facing the traitors and the church’s pressures after he was excommunicated from the church. Hawkwood and his crews had found the western continent which he was looking for but it is just a premonition of discovery the more sinister enemy on the continent, that would be the villains in the later books of the series.
There has some interesting themes in The Heretic King. The two Abbeys have discovered the truth of the church religion which its original source has the influences on the prophet, the threats from the east continent which its religion is originally from the same root. The western continent had been influencing by the wizard who was escaping from proniff the bishop’s persecution, he brought other people with him and became the god in the barbaric country.
I think I probably will continue finishing the series. The series is not as complex as Malazan or Cosmere or TGoT series by Martin but it is more concise in a big scales of the conflicts with religion, monarchies. However, it is not a character driven story from my perspectives, if you want to have a character driven fantasy book to read, then you should look for somewhere else.
There has some interesting themes in The Heretic King. The two Abbeys have discovered the truth of the church religion which its original source has the influences on the prophet, the threats from the east continent which its religion is originally from the same root. The western continent had been influencing by the wizard who was escaping from proniff the bishop’s persecution, he brought other people with him and became the god in the barbaric country.
I think I probably will continue finishing the series. The series is not as complex as Malazan or Cosmere or TGoT series by Martin but it is more concise in a big scales of the conflicts with religion, monarchies. However, it is not a character driven story from my perspectives, if you want to have a character driven fantasy book to read, then you should look for somewhere else.
August 14, 2016
-Fantasía con bases que recuerdan a momentos de nuestra Historia.-
Género. Narrativa Fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. La escisión de los Cinco Reinos, por excusas religiosas pero por razones mucho más oscuras que son parte de un complot a gran escala, es un hecho consumado mientras sus enemigos merduk planifican su movimiento hacia el este. El monje Albrec encuentra un manuscrito oculto en los niveles inferiores de la biblioteca de Charibón que parece contar cosas del bendito Ramudio cuando era un hombre más. En Normannia todavía perduran los ecos de su antiguo dominio y por primera vez en mucho tiempo tropas fimbrias saldrán de sus fronteras en forma de pequeño contingente al mando del mariscal Barbius para apoyar por un precio la lucha contra los merduk en Torunn, donde Corfe se ve envuelto en las intrigas de la familia real. Abelyn, el rey de Hebrión, está teniendo problemas más allá de su reciente excomunión y las acciones encaminadas a impedir su regreso a su reino generan indirectamente un sustrato de rebelión en la capital, Abrusio. Muy al oeste, la expedición de Hawkwood llega a su destino para encontrarse con algo tan inesperado como peligroso. Segundo libro de la serie Las Monarquías de Dios.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
Género. Narrativa Fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. La escisión de los Cinco Reinos, por excusas religiosas pero por razones mucho más oscuras que son parte de un complot a gran escala, es un hecho consumado mientras sus enemigos merduk planifican su movimiento hacia el este. El monje Albrec encuentra un manuscrito oculto en los niveles inferiores de la biblioteca de Charibón que parece contar cosas del bendito Ramudio cuando era un hombre más. En Normannia todavía perduran los ecos de su antiguo dominio y por primera vez en mucho tiempo tropas fimbrias saldrán de sus fronteras en forma de pequeño contingente al mando del mariscal Barbius para apoyar por un precio la lucha contra los merduk en Torunn, donde Corfe se ve envuelto en las intrigas de la familia real. Abelyn, el rey de Hebrión, está teniendo problemas más allá de su reciente excomunión y las acciones encaminadas a impedir su regreso a su reino generan indirectamente un sustrato de rebelión en la capital, Abrusio. Muy al oeste, la expedición de Hawkwood llega a su destino para encontrarse con algo tan inesperado como peligroso. Segundo libro de la serie Las Monarquías de Dios.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....
August 4, 2025
Heretic Kings is a bit of a step back from Hawkwood's Journey. The first book had great politics, battles and intrigue. The second book had a lot slower placing, a bit too much plot building. It feels almost like a setup book for book 3.
The book is split into 3 parts and the middle part involved an Aztec/Conquistador South American exploration which I wasn't a big fan of. The last part is excellent with a big battle.
I would say it's a solid 3.5. But I'm really looking forward to the next book.
The book is split into 3 parts and the middle part involved an Aztec/Conquistador South American exploration which I wasn't a big fan of. The last part is excellent with a big battle.
I would say it's a solid 3.5. But I'm really looking forward to the next book.
February 6, 2019
Una de las explicaciones que me ofrecía a mi mismo de porqué esta saga no tiene apenas reconocimiento popular era que a lo peor los siguientes libros eran muy inferiores. No es la primera vez que me pasa, así que cogí este libro con algo de miedo. Pero oiga, ni caso. Este segundo libro es, como mínimo, tan bueno como el primero. No ganará ningún premio, pero es entretenido a rabiar, se lee rápido y, miel sobre hojuelas, es breve. Kearney ya nos ha presentado a sus múltiples personajes y sus lineas de acción y se propone introducirnos definitivamente en sus historias.
Como siempre cuando hay varios protagonistas independientes unas historias interesan más que otras, pero en general están todas muy bien pensadas y se van complementando.
Por supuesto ya estoy enganchado a la historia de las monarquías de Dios, seguiremos informando.
P.D. Otra ventaja de este volumen es que no hay tanta navegación y por consiguiente Kearney no se explaya en descripciones náuticas tan profusas como en el primero ;)
Como siempre cuando hay varios protagonistas independientes unas historias interesan más que otras, pero en general están todas muy bien pensadas y se van complementando.
Por supuesto ya estoy enganchado a la historia de las monarquías de Dios, seguiremos informando.
P.D. Otra ventaja de este volumen es que no hay tanta navegación y por consiguiente Kearney no se explaya en descripciones náuticas tan profusas como en el primero ;)
August 30, 2024
Continúa la historia de Ramusia donde la dejamos en el primer libro. Si bien este libro es algo menos activo que el primero, puesto que se dedica a colocar las piezas en el tablero para los siguientes libros. Seguiremos con la serie.
December 13, 2020
Engrossing as only great fantasy can be.
Much underrated as a series. Recommend heartily.
Much underrated as a series. Recommend heartily.
May 3, 2022
I'm enjoying this series immensely. What shocks me is that until I found these books in a Goodwill in Fremont, Nebraska I'd never even heard of this series.
July 9, 2024
I have just finished the first of the two collected editions of the Monarchies of God.
My review of the first book was high praise and a glowing endorsement. I likened it to some of the best fantasy out there and even put it up as possibly a contender for a top spot. Yet, having finished the second book in the series, I come to a certain somber moment. I finished the last sentence mere minutes ago, and I have realized something. When I picked these books up, I expected the same old thing and was looking forward to being entertained in a non-engaging sort of way. Regrettably, now that I have finished these two books, I realize that truly great fantasy is an ever decreasing commodity.
Paul Kearney has shown me in two books a fantasy epic the likes of which grace a shelf every blue moon. He wrote this series many years ago, and I am sad to have just now found them. And that sadness is on more than one level, though, as now I fear that we may not see another great series for as long.
The Monarchies of God is a wonderful, grim, powerful, twisted, and beautiful tale of the greatest proportions. I see complaints for the shortness of the books, but I do not believe that detracts from the story at all.
As of two books in, I rank this series somewhere between The Lord of The Rings and The Gentlmen Bastards. The latter of which gives me hope for great fantasy being more common than some of my above comments.
My review of the first book was high praise and a glowing endorsement. I likened it to some of the best fantasy out there and even put it up as possibly a contender for a top spot. Yet, having finished the second book in the series, I come to a certain somber moment. I finished the last sentence mere minutes ago, and I have realized something. When I picked these books up, I expected the same old thing and was looking forward to being entertained in a non-engaging sort of way. Regrettably, now that I have finished these two books, I realize that truly great fantasy is an ever decreasing commodity.
Paul Kearney has shown me in two books a fantasy epic the likes of which grace a shelf every blue moon. He wrote this series many years ago, and I am sad to have just now found them. And that sadness is on more than one level, though, as now I fear that we may not see another great series for as long.
The Monarchies of God is a wonderful, grim, powerful, twisted, and beautiful tale of the greatest proportions. I see complaints for the shortness of the books, but I do not believe that detracts from the story at all.
As of two books in, I rank this series somewhere between The Lord of The Rings and The Gentlmen Bastards. The latter of which gives me hope for great fantasy being more common than some of my above comments.
May 26, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in November 1999.
In the second of Kearney's series, The Kingdoms of God, the background and characters have been established. The book develops the plot with few surprises within the main situations that have been set up, following the lives of the characters as they react to the new surroundings in which they find themselves as the result of the fall of the holy city of Aekir. In other words, The Heretic Kings performs the traditional function of the second novel in a fantasy series.
The most interesting parts of the novel get most space: the adventures of Hawkwood, Bardolin and Lord Murad on the Western Continent, not as empty as they had expected; the military career of Corfe on the eastern edge of the Ramusian kingdoms. The seed of great events to come is sown in the discoveries made by monks in under the main Inceptine fortress, of knowledge suppressed by the church for centuries, knowledge which could wreck the foundations of the religion of the West. No loose ends from the first novel are tied up; the read must continue if they have any desire to know where things are leading. The Heretic Kings could stand as a paradigm of (good) mid-series fantasy writing.
In the second of Kearney's series, The Kingdoms of God, the background and characters have been established. The book develops the plot with few surprises within the main situations that have been set up, following the lives of the characters as they react to the new surroundings in which they find themselves as the result of the fall of the holy city of Aekir. In other words, The Heretic Kings performs the traditional function of the second novel in a fantasy series.
The most interesting parts of the novel get most space: the adventures of Hawkwood, Bardolin and Lord Murad on the Western Continent, not as empty as they had expected; the military career of Corfe on the eastern edge of the Ramusian kingdoms. The seed of great events to come is sown in the discoveries made by monks in under the main Inceptine fortress, of knowledge suppressed by the church for centuries, knowledge which could wreck the foundations of the religion of the West. No loose ends from the first novel are tied up; the read must continue if they have any desire to know where things are leading. The Heretic Kings could stand as a paradigm of (good) mid-series fantasy writing.
January 17, 2015
SPOILERS.
I honestly read most of these books in a row while on vacation, so I'm kind of hazy on what happened in what book.
But at the end of the first book, there's Evil Pope and Good Pope, and there's a bunch of people running around, and the military incompetence of the supposedly amazing military nation is getting grating, and there's like... Stuff. And I think it's in this book it turns out that the secret Werewolf Skrull Infiltrators are actually Fuckwolves? Like, they literally propagate like an STD and stuff.
Also the leader of the Pseudo Aztecs is from Not!Europe, which is kind of... Iffy. I mean, if you want to have a "Aztecs invade the old world with magical beetle werewolf-things" the least you can do is make it their own idea, and not Mighty Whitey's.
Also, the female characters continue to be A) Thin on the Ground and B) Tends to be defined by their sexuality a whole lot.
I honestly read most of these books in a row while on vacation, so I'm kind of hazy on what happened in what book.
But at the end of the first book, there's Evil Pope and Good Pope, and there's a bunch of people running around, and the military incompetence of the supposedly amazing military nation is getting grating, and there's like... Stuff. And I think it's in this book it turns out that the secret Werewolf Skrull Infiltrators are actually Fuckwolves? Like, they literally propagate like an STD and stuff.
Also the leader of the Pseudo Aztecs is from Not!Europe, which is kind of... Iffy. I mean, if you want to have a "Aztecs invade the old world with magical beetle werewolf-things" the least you can do is make it their own idea, and not Mighty Whitey's.
Also, the female characters continue to be A) Thin on the Ground and B) Tends to be defined by their sexuality a whole lot.
January 20, 2022
The Heretic Kings
by Paul Kearney
The second book in the Monarchies of God series continuing where the story ended in book one. Mr. Kearney did not skip the beat on this one. He wrote with the same pace but did not forget to expand the world building, and also his character building is perfectly woven into the storyline. I'm starting to think Corfe as one of my favorite characters ever but I still have to finish the series to decide. The story perfectly mirrors our own history with its geography, peoples and of course it's religions. The exploration storyline is short but meaningful and also frightening and will make you think something is much more dangerous than these people in Normannia killing each other. The naval battles are realistic and gritty, the battle at the end reminds me of The Bonehunters' but the cliffhanger broke my heart a bit. This series keeps getting better and better for me.
4.8/5
by Paul Kearney
The second book in the Monarchies of God series continuing where the story ended in book one. Mr. Kearney did not skip the beat on this one. He wrote with the same pace but did not forget to expand the world building, and also his character building is perfectly woven into the storyline. I'm starting to think Corfe as one of my favorite characters ever but I still have to finish the series to decide. The story perfectly mirrors our own history with its geography, peoples and of course it's religions. The exploration storyline is short but meaningful and also frightening and will make you think something is much more dangerous than these people in Normannia killing each other. The naval battles are realistic and gritty, the battle at the end reminds me of The Bonehunters' but the cliffhanger broke my heart a bit. This series keeps getting better and better for me.
4.8/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2021
"The corsairs were in league with the other kings, then?" she asked, shocked.
"Yes, lady. I am a heretic. They want me dead - it is that simple. Using corsairs to kidnap or assassinate me rather than national troops was merely to utilize a certain discretion."
"Discretion!"
"Diplomacy has always been a mixture of cunning, courtesy and murder."
Setting:
We see a setting here clearly based on Europe around the time of the fifteenth century when guns were just starting to become a big thing in warfare. The word arquebus comes up a lot. There is magic in the world but we see fairly little of it. The main powers at work here are the military and the church.
The bulk of the novel takes place in the five kingdoms which follow an obvious christanity analog. These five kingdoms aren’t really allied but they are generally agreeable neighbors to one another. Or at least they were until the high pontiff (think pope) supposedly died. A new one was elected but then the old guy turned out not to be dead. With both religious heads claiming to be the true leader there has been a fracturing of the peace. The titular heretic kings are the kings who choose to support the old high pontiff.
Characters:
Abeleyn: Abeleyn is one of our heretic kings, supporting the old, technically correct high pontiff that the usurper claims is a fraud. Abeleyn is forced to do a lot of growing as a man and as a king in short order. Things have been pretty easy for him up until these issues with the church and now with his former friends.
Corfe: Corfe is continuing to do the best he can with the nothing he’s given. He’ll follow orders like a good soldier but he doesn’t like it when those making the orders are fools, or worse, out to actively ruin him.
Plot:
Abeleyn must now deal with the new threat of nations he was so recently friendly with now turned enemy over their fractured religion. His own kingdom is tearing itself apart. With the king absent, supporters of the new pontiff have decided to try and take Abelyn’s throne out from under him. Some of those in the capital are still loyal to him and he mus rush home as fast as possible, hoping he finds his city still standing.
Corfe is given the task of escorting the not dead high pontiff from the barely held dyke to a city where he can be shown to those who doubt he is genuine. After arriving Corfe finds himself forgotten about by most. The queen however has uses for a resourceful soldier under her direct command. Corfe just might be that soldier.
My Thoughts:
What would happen if there were two popes? Well history tells us that the two popes and their respective supporters would argue about who was the true pope for around 30 years at which point a third pope would be elected and the arguing would continue for another 10 years. Kearney doesn’t have 40 years so the answer here is instead an immediate civil war.
The novel has the political plot front and center, everyone is vying for power, either to gain it or to keep what they have already gained. The relative peace has been shattered and now lines are drawn between the supporters of the old high pontiff and the new one. Some few are drawn genuinely by faith, most because they see the best outcome for themselves in their choice.
Kearney gives us the viewpoint of a king with Abeleyn and, while an officer, a soldier who has only the smallest scraps of control over what he must do. We see the effect of this schism from both high and lower stations in this way.
The story continued to be well paced and a generally enjoyable read between the politics and the action.
The biggest issue with the novel is that the continuation of Hawkwood’s story is really largely irrelevant to everything else that’s going on and Kearny even seems to realize this as it’s segregated into its own section of the story. At the start of the book Hawkwood’s absence is noted since both other main characters from the previous novel are prominently featured, but when we do finally get to part two of the book its a jump to an entirely separate continent with only the slightest tangential relation to anything going on in the other two thirds of the story. One assumes that this plot line will eventually merge back in but with this novel in particular it feels very much like a third wheel.
Hawkwood’s section of the plot is interesting and it will be fun to see it tie back into the narrative going on on the main continent but with this story it doesn’t really fit.
Ultimately the book is still very enjoyable and serves as a well executed sequel to the first with promises of plenty more action and intrigue to come. The ending of this novel in particular leaves the reader in a very tenuous position, not precisely a cliffhanger, but something that will very likely encourage many, myself included, to continue on.
"Yes, lady. I am a heretic. They want me dead - it is that simple. Using corsairs to kidnap or assassinate me rather than national troops was merely to utilize a certain discretion."
"Discretion!"
"Diplomacy has always been a mixture of cunning, courtesy and murder."
Setting:
We see a setting here clearly based on Europe around the time of the fifteenth century when guns were just starting to become a big thing in warfare. The word arquebus comes up a lot. There is magic in the world but we see fairly little of it. The main powers at work here are the military and the church.
The bulk of the novel takes place in the five kingdoms which follow an obvious christanity analog. These five kingdoms aren’t really allied but they are generally agreeable neighbors to one another. Or at least they were until the high pontiff (think pope) supposedly died. A new one was elected but then the old guy turned out not to be dead. With both religious heads claiming to be the true leader there has been a fracturing of the peace. The titular heretic kings are the kings who choose to support the old high pontiff.
Characters:
Abeleyn: Abeleyn is one of our heretic kings, supporting the old, technically correct high pontiff that the usurper claims is a fraud. Abeleyn is forced to do a lot of growing as a man and as a king in short order. Things have been pretty easy for him up until these issues with the church and now with his former friends.
Corfe: Corfe is continuing to do the best he can with the nothing he’s given. He’ll follow orders like a good soldier but he doesn’t like it when those making the orders are fools, or worse, out to actively ruin him.
Plot:
Abeleyn must now deal with the new threat of nations he was so recently friendly with now turned enemy over their fractured religion. His own kingdom is tearing itself apart. With the king absent, supporters of the new pontiff have decided to try and take Abelyn’s throne out from under him. Some of those in the capital are still loyal to him and he mus rush home as fast as possible, hoping he finds his city still standing.
Corfe is given the task of escorting the not dead high pontiff from the barely held dyke to a city where he can be shown to those who doubt he is genuine. After arriving Corfe finds himself forgotten about by most. The queen however has uses for a resourceful soldier under her direct command. Corfe just might be that soldier.
My Thoughts:
What would happen if there were two popes? Well history tells us that the two popes and their respective supporters would argue about who was the true pope for around 30 years at which point a third pope would be elected and the arguing would continue for another 10 years. Kearney doesn’t have 40 years so the answer here is instead an immediate civil war.
The novel has the political plot front and center, everyone is vying for power, either to gain it or to keep what they have already gained. The relative peace has been shattered and now lines are drawn between the supporters of the old high pontiff and the new one. Some few are drawn genuinely by faith, most because they see the best outcome for themselves in their choice.
Kearney gives us the viewpoint of a king with Abeleyn and, while an officer, a soldier who has only the smallest scraps of control over what he must do. We see the effect of this schism from both high and lower stations in this way.
The story continued to be well paced and a generally enjoyable read between the politics and the action.
The biggest issue with the novel is that the continuation of Hawkwood’s story is really largely irrelevant to everything else that’s going on and Kearny even seems to realize this as it’s segregated into its own section of the story. At the start of the book Hawkwood’s absence is noted since both other main characters from the previous novel are prominently featured, but when we do finally get to part two of the book its a jump to an entirely separate continent with only the slightest tangential relation to anything going on in the other two thirds of the story. One assumes that this plot line will eventually merge back in but with this novel in particular it feels very much like a third wheel.
Hawkwood’s section of the plot is interesting and it will be fun to see it tie back into the narrative going on on the main continent but with this story it doesn’t really fit.
Ultimately the book is still very enjoyable and serves as a well executed sequel to the first with promises of plenty more action and intrigue to come. The ending of this novel in particular leaves the reader in a very tenuous position, not precisely a cliffhanger, but something that will very likely encourage many, myself included, to continue on.
August 17, 2024
Following on from 'Hawkwood's Voyage', 'The Heretic Kings' concentrates more on what seemed secondary characters from the first book and relegates Hawkwood to the middle 100-page section.
Kearney's writing style remains fluid and well-paced. The story is nothing new in fantasy fiction and seems very derivative of much that has gone before. The usual world building is made somewhat more familiar by it's rooting in historical cultures and empires, which makes reading about made up religions a bit more palletable as we don't have to trawl through pages of eduction in fantasy religious studies and can more or less get on with it.
I found that most of the characters this time felt a but like tropes: Corfe, for example, is very much in the mold of Richard Sharpe, and you know that despite the odds against him, he will win - it's a bit stale, but Keaney's fluid style makes it readable.
The middle section, focusing on the new world was, for me, the best part. The excitement of exploration in a strange new land was well maintained and added a few surprises to the story. The battle scenes, while well told, were fairly typical of the genre. I found myself a little annoyed at fallen knights not being able to get up due to the weight of their armour - surely this fallacy perpetuated by movies from early cinema has been dispelled by now?
At 320 pagesnin length it is much more concise then most fantasy novels and gets on with the story - this should alwaysbbe applauded in a genre which tends to think the thicker the tome, the better. I would however, love to find the fantasy book that tells an entire story of smaller scope in just one book instead of an epic mutli-novel storyline. Overall, it's a good read. Look forward to part 3 and hope it features more of Hawkwood and his crew.
Kearney's writing style remains fluid and well-paced. The story is nothing new in fantasy fiction and seems very derivative of much that has gone before. The usual world building is made somewhat more familiar by it's rooting in historical cultures and empires, which makes reading about made up religions a bit more palletable as we don't have to trawl through pages of eduction in fantasy religious studies and can more or less get on with it.
I found that most of the characters this time felt a but like tropes: Corfe, for example, is very much in the mold of Richard Sharpe, and you know that despite the odds against him, he will win - it's a bit stale, but Keaney's fluid style makes it readable.
The middle section, focusing on the new world was, for me, the best part. The excitement of exploration in a strange new land was well maintained and added a few surprises to the story. The battle scenes, while well told, were fairly typical of the genre. I found myself a little annoyed at fallen knights not being able to get up due to the weight of their armour - surely this fallacy perpetuated by movies from early cinema has been dispelled by now?
At 320 pagesnin length it is much more concise then most fantasy novels and gets on with the story - this should alwaysbbe applauded in a genre which tends to think the thicker the tome, the better. I would however, love to find the fantasy book that tells an entire story of smaller scope in just one book instead of an epic mutli-novel storyline. Overall, it's a good read. Look forward to part 3 and hope it features more of Hawkwood and his crew.
March 4, 2020
There's a whole lot packed into these few pages. It's a welcome change from Wheel of Time where a whole lot of nothing happens in four times the page count.
The only thing that's keeping me from giving this series a 5-star rating is the intermittent bits where it's a little too obvious how the sausage is made. Whether that's some piece of lore dropped slightly inelegantly, or a situation illustrating a character trait a bit too obviously. But those are few and far between.
I'm equally invested on all fronts: the discovery of the Western continent, the corrupt & lying church with their new Papal States and the two monks who want to tear it down, the mysterious werewolf conspiracy, the concubine to the Merduks that you just know is going to be instrumental in something, the reappearance of the ancient Fimbrian Empire.
I trust Kearney's ability to expand and then wrap it all up in a satisfying way.
The only thing that's keeping me from giving this series a 5-star rating is the intermittent bits where it's a little too obvious how the sausage is made. Whether that's some piece of lore dropped slightly inelegantly, or a situation illustrating a character trait a bit too obviously. But those are few and far between.
I'm equally invested on all fronts: the discovery of the Western continent, the corrupt & lying church with their new Papal States and the two monks who want to tear it down, the mysterious werewolf conspiracy, the concubine to the Merduks that you just know is going to be instrumental in something, the reappearance of the ancient Fimbrian Empire.
I trust Kearney's ability to expand and then wrap it all up in a satisfying way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2022
A transitional book that feels sluggish in the early going but eventually picks back up. Probably closer to a 3* for me but I'll give the benefit of the doubt.
There were some surprises, and not all in a good way. I really hope the female characterization improves, though this book gives me less hope on that. The depiction of women is, as in our world along similar time periods, disturbingly plausible. But the internal monologues (tight third person) here don't feel authentic.
I also have to wonder about the credulity of people in a world where it is common knowledge that shifters exist. Which brings me back to my fears from the first book (), which have not been fully assuaged.
Still, I enjoyed it and am in for the long haul.
There were some surprises, and not all in a good way. I really hope the female characterization improves, though this book gives me less hope on that. The depiction of women is, as in our world along similar time periods, disturbingly plausible. But the internal monologues (tight third person) here don't feel authentic.
I also have to wonder about the credulity of people in a world where it is common knowledge that shifters exist. Which brings me back to my fears from the first book (), which have not been fully assuaged.
Still, I enjoyed it and am in for the long haul.
March 10, 2025
Now this is what I'm talking about! This second volume in the Monarchies of God series recalled to me immediately why I loved this series back as a teenager. While volume one felt in many ways like a prelude, here things are finally happening: There's lots of action, cool plot twists, interesting character developments, and altogether a lot of high-stakes, high-fantasy atmosphere.
The writing is still rather on the bland side but the author had me riveted to my seat for more than 300 pages nontheless.
The only criticism I have is that the author is still absolutely sh** at writing women and their relationships with the (exclusively male) main characters--of which there is only ever the one kind, of course--but there were altogether less women than in volume one, so I found it less grating here.
The writing is still rather on the bland side but the author had me riveted to my seat for more than 300 pages nontheless.
The only criticism I have is that the author is still absolutely sh** at writing women and their relationships with the (exclusively male) main characters--of which there is only ever the one kind, of course--but there were altogether less women than in volume one, so I found it less grating here.
October 19, 2023
Another fantastic instalment in The Monarchies of God. From the desperate struggles of kings to retain their thrones against fanatical religious tyranny, to the terrifying exploration of an unknown and perilous land by fearful travellers, Paul Kearney kept me absolutely hooked from the first page to the last. I've undoubtedly found one of my new favourite works of fantasy/fiction here.
As with Hawkwood's Voyage, The Heretic Kings left me eager to dive straight into the next book the very moment I finished this one - especially with all those nail-biting cliff-hangers! The Iron Wars, here I come...
As with Hawkwood's Voyage, The Heretic Kings left me eager to dive straight into the next book the very moment I finished this one - especially with all those nail-biting cliff-hangers! The Iron Wars, here I come...
March 6, 2019
Na to, že jsem moc nechtěl po začátku první knížky pokračovat v sérii, se to celkem zlepšilo. Už to neni jenom náboženská válka, ale nastupuje tu plavba za oceán, lykani, magie, neznámo.
Církev vyhlásila nové vládnoucí stavy, exkomunikovala vzbouřené krále a celkově je v nejvyšší hierarchii chaos. Zvědavý mnich a šlechtic objevují šokující poznatky o původu nejvyššího svatého a proroka bezvěrců. Hawkwood s výpravou zakládají osadu na novém kontinentu a zjišťují, že tam nejsou sami. Přebývá tu stará generace uprchlíků,mágů, kteří magii pozvedli na nejvyšší úroveň.
Církev vyhlásila nové vládnoucí stavy, exkomunikovala vzbouřené krále a celkově je v nejvyšší hierarchii chaos. Zvědavý mnich a šlechtic objevují šokující poznatky o původu nejvyššího svatého a proroka bezvěrců. Hawkwood s výpravou zakládají osadu na novém kontinentu a zjišťují, že tam nejsou sami. Přebývá tu stará generace uprchlíků,mágů, kteří magii pozvedli na nejvyšší úroveň.
December 15, 2017
Sabes que un libro es bueno cuando te tomas como algo personal lo que los "villanos" le hacen a los personajes principales, quieres advertirles sobre sus maleficos planes, quieres matar a los villanos, y creo que no hay mejor forma de expresarlo por mi odio absoluto hacia los Inceptines, demonios, necesito quemarlos a todos, a todos y cada uno de ellos.
Tengo un problema y necesito que el tercer libro me cumpla mi deseo...
Tengo un problema y necesito que el tercer libro me cumpla mi deseo...
March 18, 2017
Really I think the only reason I'm even docking a star on these books is that I'm reading them immediately after two of my favorite trilogies I've read in a long time, so when there is a scene or two here or there that I don't like, that's causing me to rate it 4 stars instead of 5. I still am staying up way too late reading these every night and that's how I know they are good! Oh and that ending. *sigh*
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