Quite different from other books he has written. ( )

It is not fucking unpleasant to read a fucking fantasy book with fucking grit, fucking character development and a fucking world that does not feel like it has already been fucking used by a fucking thousand other fucking writers, but the fucking author's fucking use of fucking profanities, although I do not fucking condemn it on fucking principle, after a fucking while start to become fucking tiresome and, to be fucking honest, a fucking little ridiculous. ( )

*** Not my favorite Morgan book - I like the Kovacs series better - but this'n's good - sword and sorcery with a strong dollop of homo sex - the main character is a gay super sword swinger... It looks like a series is in mind (join the herd, eh?) ( )

The reviews printed on the back and inside this book suggest this is a ground-breaking, almost revolutionary concept. I have to say that this is misleading.

What you do have, however, is a good, solid piece of fantasy writing with interesting races and cultures, interesting characters and an interesting plot.

It follows a group of former heroes, from a war a decade or so ago. One is the emperor's advisor, one a drunk living in the edge of the empire and one a clan-master of his barbarian clan who is in political trouble with the clan's shaman. Their stories duck and weave and eventually come to a rather satisfying conclusion.

If you're a homophobe you probably want to avoid this book - the character we follow most often is gay, flouting the religious law of his country, and whilst it's far from explicit, there's quite a bit of gay sex in here. Perhaps that's what's meant to be revolutionary? ( )

Extremely well written and compelling, but definitely not for the weak of heart (or stomach).

I was willing to wade through the very graphically depicted fight scenes, torture scenes and sex scenes because I was very invested in the characters, the world and the story (there was one exception - the longest sex scene seemed pretty gratuitous and unnecessary).

The world-building was well done, reminding me of Erikson's Malazan - especially the gods and elder races. Characterization was adequate (with the exception of Ringil, where it was very well done). This could have been helped somewhat if the profanity (which I'm not offended by) hadn't been used by nearly every character, in nearly every situation, regardless of social status and position. The plot and writing style were compelling enough that I didn't want to put the book down.

For fans of Steven Erikson, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch and Matthew Woodring Stover's Caine novels. ( )