The Tyrant's Law (Dagger and the Coin) by Daniel Abraham
| The Tyrant's Law (Dagger and the Coin) by Daniel Abraham | |
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| Category: Fantasy | |
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Reviewer: Robert James
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| Summary: The best fantasy series I'm currently reading - perhaps the best I've ever read - somehow manages to get better. Outstanding, an absolute must read. Daniel Abraham popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 528 | Date: May 2013 |
| Publisher: Orbit | |
| ISBN: 978-0316080705 | |
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Warning: Massive spoilers for the first two books in this series, The Dagger and the Coin and The King's Blood in this review!
Cithrin Bel Sarcour has arrived in Suddapal to complete her apprenticeship with the Medean Bank, but her past actions may have put her in danger. After being betrayed by his comrade Yardem, Marcus Wester has set out with Kitap rol Keshmet to kill a goddess. Clara Kalliam, who should be disgraced after her husband's treason, is surviving on the edge of high society thanks to her youngest son's friendship with the Lord Regent Geder Palliako - and is ready to risk everything to save her nation from Palliako. Meanwhile, all Geder wants is peace and prosperity for that nation. Even if it means killing everyone who disagrees with him to make sure he can get it.
In Cithrin, Marcus, Kit and Clara, Abraham has created a wonderful quartet of heroes, whose development throughout the first three books of this series is utterly fantastic. My favourite in the first two books was probably Marcus, the jaded captain, but as great as he is, Clara's story is becoming even more fascinating. In the first book she was a good supporting character helping her husband Dawson, while now - grieving for her husband, negotiating a possible romance with servant Vincen Coe (and that romance is beautifully developed) and slowly gaining allies as she plots against Geder, she's become a stunning main character.
As for Geder, how do you describe him? Take your pick from 'psychotic', 'religious maniac', 'misguided', or even 'surprisingly likeable'. Yes, he keeps committing incredible atrocities, but I can't bring myself to hate him yet and I really want him, by the end of the series, to gain at least some measure of redemption. I'm unsure how likely this is, but you have to be able to hope, don't you?
As ever, Abraham's subtle world-building is great, while his dialogue is incredibly quotable and just leaps off the page - particularly the exchanges between Marcus and Kit. The plot is fascinating, with twists and turns that you can't see coming but you keep thinking you should have been able to, and as far as epic fantasies go, this is either the best around or incredibly close to it. My favourite adult book of the year so far, hands down. I can't wait for book four!
Massive recommendation, as you can probably tell. We also have a recommendation for The Widow's House (Dagger and the Coin) by Daniel Abraham.
For more epic fantasy, I love NK Jemisin's Kingdom's series, starting with The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, and the superb teen series Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling is so wonderful that it will definitely appeal to adults.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Tyrant's Law (Dagger and the Coin) by Daniel Abraham at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Tyrant's Law (Dagger and the Coin) by Daniel Abraham at Amazon.com.
Daniel Abraham was kind enough to be interviewed by Bookbag.
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