Steve Review: The Warlord’s Legacy by Ari Marmell

Aug 2, 2011 by shanyn

Title: The Warlord’s Legacy
Series: The Conqueror’s Shadow #2
Hardcover, 384 pages
Author: Ari Marmell
Publisher: Spectra
Publication Date: January 25, 2011
Source: Purchased
Buy: Amazon

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Book Summary:
Corvis Rebaine, the Terror of the East, a man as quick with a quip as he is with a blade, returns in this highly anticipated sequel to Ari Marmell’s acclaimed The Conqueror’s Shadow, a debut hailed for its refreshing take on dark fantasy and surprising flashes of sharp, sarcastic wit. Now Marmell raises the stakes in a story that has all the humor and excitement of its predecessor, plus a terrifying new villain so evil that he may well be a match for Rebaine himself.

For let’s not forget how Corvis Rebaine came by the charming nickname “Terror of the East.” Certainly no one else has forgotten. Corvis Rebaine is no hero. In his trademark suit of black armor and skull-like helm, armed with a demon-forged axe, in command of a demonic slave, and with allies that include a bloodthirsty ogre, Rebaine has twice brought death and destruction to Imphallion in pursuit of a better, more equitable and just society. If he had to kill countless innocents in order to achieve that dream, so be it.

At least that was the old Rebaine. Before he slew the mad warlord Audriss. Before he banished the demon Khanda. Before he lost his wife and children, who could not forgive or forget his violent crimes. Now, years later, Rebaine lives in a distant city, under a false name, a member of one of the Guilds he despises, trying to achieve change nonviolently, from within the power structure.

Not even when the neighboring nation of Cephira invades Imphallion and the bickering Guilds prove unable to respond does Rebaine return to his old habits of slaughter. But someone else does. Someone wearing Rebaine’s black armor and bearing what appears to be his axe. Someone who is, if anything, even less careful of human life than Rebaine was.

Now Baron Jassion, Rebaine’s old nemesis, is hunting him once more, aided by a mysterious sorcerer named Kaleb, whose powers and secrets make him a more dangerous enemy than Rebaine has ever known. Even worse, accompanying them is a young woman who hates Corvis Rebaine perhaps more than anyone else: his own daughter, Mellorin. Suddenly Rebaine seems to have no choice. To clear his name, to protect his country, and to reconcile with his family, must he once again become the Terror of the East?

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Steve Review:
I’m guessing from the title, cover, and summary you guys (girls) may have guessed by now that this isn’t typical YA chick literature?  Well, I don’t know what gave you that impression!  This book is about a young girl and her journey to find her father who abandoned her family when she was young.  A story of lost friends, heartache, young love, and chances at redemption.

Bahahaha.  Sorry, I couldn’t keep that going with a straight face much longer.  The above is semi-true.  But that certainly is sugar coating this book in a YA fashion that really isn’t what the book focuses on.  At all.  Sorry girls!  This book is about a retired conqueror, a military invasion, a demon seeking power, witches, warriors, and treachery.

The Warlord’s Legacy is the sequel to The Conqueror’s Shadow (review here!).  I liked TCS and I like TWL.  Ari Marmell doesn’t rewrite the fantasy genre with either tale, but provides a very entertaining ride in both books.  TWL is set 6 years after TCS where something new is imitating Corvis and striking fear into his nation.  On top of that; political unrest, an invasion from a foreign enemy, Corvis’ daughter searching for him, someone hunting down Corvis’ old friends, and you have quite the adventure to enjoy.

The book is not the stand alone type at all.  If the plot sounds interesting to you, pick up TCS first and definitely start the series at the beginning. The main complaint I have with the book is that pretty much nothing goes right for old Corvis.  He faces adversity from the beginning and continues to face it throughout.  He’s an aging character and his best years are behind him.  Throw that in the pot with multiple parties trying to kill him, his family and closest friends pretty much hating him, his work over the past years thrown away, and the demon he thought he banished still talking to him in his own head and stir all that slowly. It begins to wear on you just a touch.  I know that not everyone likes Corvis, he did horrible things as many a conqueror has, but I feel like he should catch a break here and there.  No?  Alrite, fine, it’s your book Mr. Marmell!

Points Scale:
Cover: 3/5 – Nice tight fitting outfit there daughter of Corvis.  Too bad you’re only relevant in about 1/3 of the book?
Title: 4/5 – Fitting and simple.
Plot: 7/10 – Poor Corvis cannot catch a break, still a great dark fantasy plot with a mix of action, drama, and magic.
Characters: 7/10 – Is it wrong to say that you love a demon character?  Yeah it probably is   But Khanda’s voice in Corvis’ mind throughout the book is worth a lot of amusement as it was in the previous novel.
Writing: 7/10 – Did not change from the first book at all really.  Good solid writing, still overly descriptive of some of the settings and backgrounds.
Ending: 6/10 – The first book ended and could have been a book by itself.  This book ended and instantly you’re hit with some prologue action and the summary for the next book in the series.  Wait, this is a series now?  Oh, okay!

Total: 34/50 – Definitely a decent read.  Enjoyable and good to see a lot of the same characters again.  Heck, I’ll even probably continue to read the series as Corvis’ daughter Mellorin continues on.  But maybe, just maybe, you read the first book and you wanted to picture Corvis living in peace and getting a bit of his happily ever after.  If so, don’t read this sequel, lol.

Buy: Amazon

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