David Hair

In Book 3 of the Olympus series, tension between Achaea (Greece) and Troy are mounting while Odysseus’ love for the forbidden Kyshanda of Troy only seems to be mounting. When Odysseus witnesses a new prophecy, a chain of events involving sister princesses Clytemnestra and Helen is set off, ultimately forcing the gods to choose between Achaea and Troy. This third book takes another step towards war with Troy as Odysseus works to unite Achaea to stand strong against the Trojans, using the show more two princesses.

In a way, this third book didn’t seem as breathtaking as the first two, but I loved it because it recounts the stories of two sisters I’m familiar with. Perhaps it isn’t as breathtaking because I’m so familiar with Clytemnestra and Helen (of Troy), but I did enjoy getting a fleshed out story.

As with the other two books, I wasn’t a fan of how modern Odysseus felt, but I think it’s growing on me. I still don’t like it, but at least it isn’t jarring anymore. I was also puzzling about Odysseus, Kyshanda, and Penelope, but this one really pulled the three of them into their right places. I now look forward to how it will move forward, especially when it reaches the inevitable Trojan War.

There are some differing historical accounts surrounding Clytemnestra and Helen. Clearly, the authors had to choose which version of details to go with, though the results are the same. I really enjoy the paths they took as it made sense within the ongoing series, set up future events, and followed very well from what came before, especially since we had seen Helen before in the first book. I must say that my favorite part of Sacred Bride was Helen’s characterization. In the stories, she’s constantly referred to as the most beautiful and desirable woman in the world, so I kept picturing someone akin of a statue. The authors, though, turned her into a flesh and blood woman who was, of course, stunning beautiful, but definitely had more personality than marble.

As much as I enjoyed this book, though, the thing that bothered me was that it almost felt like it could just be split into two. Half of the book is about Clytemnestra and the other half about Helen. They’re stitched together because they’re sisters and the prophecy at the beginning of the book mentioned the two girls, but it also felt a little disjointed because they’re two distinct stories. Still, this book felt a little lighthearted compared to the first two. Perhaps because the violence was contained to the first half? Or maybe it dealt less with death and fighting than marriage.

Overall, this was a bit of fresh air for the series. I loved that it was much less violent while still keeping the same atmosphere. The characters are all so amazingly consistent, and I find my curiosity about the daemon Bria growing with every book. Odysseus is also growing on me and he definitely feels like he’s maturing into the man he will be during the Trojan War. If you enjoy Greek mythology, I definitely recommend this series. It’s a little different, but really ties the stories together with a refreshing air.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own. show less

Although epic fantasy is not one of my great enthusiasms, the author's "Map's Edge" gave me enough entertainment, particularly in the contest between the protagonist Raythe Vyre, in a state of internal immigration in the wake of his nation's fall to a rising imperial power, and Toran Zorne, a servant of that empire. This is as Vyre floats an expedition to seek a deposit of a material that strengthens magical power, and Zorne is in hot pursuit to bring Vyre to heel. It made for a good plot, show more particularly since Zorne is drawn as being more than a shallow thug.

That brings us to this book, which is apparently the second book of a trilogy (Hair had previously mostly written quartets), and which badly suffers from the Middle Book Blues. Although this work does climax in another battle, that fight involves events set in play by Vyre's arrival amongst an unknown people. However, this fight does not involve Vyre versus Zorne, and that leaves me with a case of not really caring, as you know a bigger fight is to come. Also, I found some of Hair's world-building less convincing than in the first book; particularly his efforts to channel H. Rider Haggard.

I'll probably read the concluding book "Sorcerer's Edge" eventually, but I'm not feeling very eager at this point in time. show less

Open up The Scarlet Tides and the first things you’ll see are several gorgeously illustrated maps depicting the world of the Moontide Quartet. Needless to say, the maps became indispensable to me while I was reading. I’ve never come across a fantasy series with such a comprehensive and detailed approach to world-building. David Hair goes well beyond simply describing the different peoples and places -- what he’s created here actually feels like a living, breathing system. These books show more take place across two huge continents following about half a dozen characters of different creeds and cultures, with the alliances and conflicts that arise between nations forming the basis for multiple threads of the story and driving the plot forward.

Middle books of a series can also be mighty tricky; I’ve had enough disappointing experiences with sequels myself, which makes me understand why some readers would be nervous when approaching them. However, I jumped into The Scarlet Tides with no reservations whatsoever. This series has grown on me, as I stated in my review of the preceding volume, Mage’s Blood. The first book may have been slightly encumbered by a lengthy introduction and a slow build-up as Hair established the players and set the stage, but it all culminated into one explosive climax and conclusion. And I knew we were going to be heading right into the action with book two.

In this sequel, the Moontide is at hand and the mighty Leviathan Bridge now stands open, creating a corridor between the two continents Yuros and Antiopia, which are normally separated by a vast ocean. The last two Moontides have involved lofty ambitions and crusades of conquest, and this one is no different. Rondion legions and the Inquisition’s windships waste no time storming their way across Antiopia, but very few know of a troubling secret eating at the heart of their empire. A very powerful and valuable artifact called the Scytale of Corineus has slipped through Emperor Constant’s fingers, and he has tasked his inquisitors to scour the world searching for the ones who have absconded with it.

Enter Alaron Mercer, a failed mage who had the Scytale in his hands, then lost it to the girl of his dreams who stole the artifact along with his heart. Cymbellea, who believes she knows the best use for the Scytale, has taken it with the intention of delivering it to Antonin Meiros, the most powerful mage in the world. Little does she know, Meiros is dead, leaving his pregnant widow Ramita on the run from his killers. Several more story arcs run in tandem, including the one which follows Ramita’s former lover Kazim, who ends up with the mercenary Elena Anborn after a botched attack on Emperor Constant’s pureblood mages. Polar opposites in political sides and backgrounds, both nevertheless come to realize they may have a common enemy in Gurvon Gyle, the empire’s spymaster. Some comic relief is also provided by Alaron’s former classmate Ramon, whose storyline involves him running a pyramid scheme, all while his legion marches towards battle. Amusing as this is, Ramon’s point of view also gives readers a boots-on-the-ground view of looming war.

Everything and everyone is connected, the vast distances between the some of the characters and the spheres of conflict notwithstanding. And yet, despite of the sheer scale of it, David Hair manages to make his characters and their stories feel deeply intimate and personal. It’s another reason why this world feels so alive, with all its elements working in tune with one another. Nations and their diverse populations are woven into an intricate web of magic and religion, which are two sides of the same coin. Both play a huge part in nearly all the societies, and as more factions emerge from the shadows we see how much more complex the situation can get.

As things heat up, the net tightens and gradually we are starting to see events converge, bringing the various players closer together. We have betrayals, shifting loyalties, unlikely friendships, and even love. With a dramatis personae so large, it’s inevitable some characters will emerge as my favorites. In Mage’s Blood, the top spot went to Ramita, whose touching yet complicated relationship with Antonin Meiros made me enjoy reading her perspective the most. In this book, however, I came to relish the chapters that follow Kazim and Elena. It’s probably not a coincidence that my favorite storyline yet again involves two people from disparate backgrounds who begin at odds with each other, with the hostility turning to understanding, understanding turning to respect, and the respect eventually turning into love. David Hair has an incredible talent for writing these types of dynamic relationships, making them engaging to read without resorting to clichés and cloying platitudes.

He also does a good job giving each perspective character the attention they deserve. Every one of them has an important role to play, and nobody feels left behind or “parked” while something more exciting happens elsewhere. I learned more about the world from each person, whether it be through meeting Ramon’s new friends from faraway lands, or from Alaron’s encounter with a new race of sentient beings with an astounding origin. And before I could fret myself over how everything will come together, the climax converges most of these storylines, serving up a conclusion and epilogue that tie things up quite nicely.

Overall, an excellent follow up to the first novel, continuing the tradition of vivid, dynamic characters and terrific world building. The intriguing storylines kept me glued to the pages. I honestly found it hard to put down, which was how I ended up reading all 700 pages of this in a little more than three days. Readers of epic fantasy should definitely check out this series. show less

Books like Mage's Blood are extremely hard for me to review, and not least of all because the many comparisons of this to A Song of Ice and Fire are mostly appropriate; this first book of the Moontide Quartet is a sprawling epic indeed! Still, I'm of the mind that George R.R. Martin's epic series stands uniquely on its own...but then so does David Hair's. It would be impossible for me to go into every single thing I liked about this book without having to talk about why, because that would show more just lead to lengthy explanations into the details of the plot, and if I did that this review will end up being thirty pages long with half of it made up of spoilers. Obviously, we can't have that.

Suffice to say though, this book has it all: nations at war, clashing religions, political intrigue, mages and sorcery, multiple points of view. Yuros and Antiopia are two lands long separated by vast ocean. But every Moontide, the seas part to reveal the magnificent mage-crafted Leviathan Bridge, allowing trade and communication between the two continents. Unfortunately, the passage is also a source of much bitterness and conflict. The last two Moontides have involved crusades of conquest, thanks to the lofty ambitions of the Magi.

Now another Moontide is at hand. As the time draws nearer, the people on both sides prepare for war. Antonin Meiros, a mage of great renown (in fact, it was he who was the intellect behind the Leviathan Bridge) seeks a new wife, and travels to Lahk to wed Ramita. Ramita, however, is already betrothed to the hotheaded Kazim. In another part of the world, Elena Anborn has pledged her life to protect the royal family of Javon, fighting off the assassination attempts and conspiracies masterminded by her former lover Gurvon Gyle, who works for powerful political enemies. Meanwhile in Noros, Elena's nephew Alaron prepares for his mage finals. But during the presentation of his thesis, he unwittingly proposes a dangerous topic that could mean the end to his hopes and dreams.

Everything and everyone is connected in this massive and intricate web that David Hair has woven. The scale of both setting and story are vast. The continents involved here encompass various nations, many of which are described here with great thought and detail. Their populations, including their cultures, languages, religions, rituals and even food and styles of dress are given the same exacting care. This is a world where both magic and theology form a strong basis for society, and it is diverse.

At the same time, readers will find there is much that is familiar in this fantasy world of Urte. Most of the nations and cultures in this book bear marked resemblances to those in our reality -- even when it comes to religion and geography. The nature of this brought to mind a recent discussion I had with a friend, regarding settings in various epic fantasies and how he usually preferred fictional worlds that he can imagine as our own earth, whereas I tended to prefer the opposite. Needless to say, a book like Mage's Blood can appeal to both camps. As well, even I can admit that real-world historical and cultural influences in a fantasy setting can add a lot to a story, a prime example being Jacqueline Carey's original Kushiel's Universe trilogy which remains one of my favorite series of all time.

With a book so massive which features a cast so big, it was perhaps no surprise that the first quarter of Mage's Blood is the most demanding of the reader. The different characters and their story lines are cleanly organized and separated by chapters, which is why this is my favorite format for epic novels. Nevertheless, it makes for a slower start, when an author has to cycle through the perspectives while introducing all the main players, and the first couple hundred pages were dedicated to this task. Patience pays off though, as the book finishes setting the scene and gradually builds up momentum in the middle chapters. This is the meat of the story, and it is amazing how David Hair manages keep all the plates spinning at once, giving each character and plot thread the attention they deserve, while also meticulously bringing them all together so that they eventually form a much bigger picture.

As Mage's Blood features an ensemble cast, obviously I had my favorites (the notable example being Ramita and her story with Antonin Meiros) while others were not as interesting to me. Each person has an important role to play though, and this was made clear by the climax and the ending, which is in a word incredible. It is a conclusion that is positively incendiary, leaving me wondering what else the author has in store. As the series name implies, Mage's Blood is only the first in what is meant to be series of four books, and as such there is much left wide open for huge things to come. However, at the same time David Hair has wrapped things up in a way that is straightforward and satisfying, without any abruptness. I think this is a far rarer skill than people realize.

I have a feeling a lot will be happening in The Scarlet Tides. Mage's Blood may have been encumbered by a lengthy introduction and a slow build-up to the story, which I honestly don't think could have been avoided. I suspect, however, that we will jump right into the action with the sequel. I'm excited, and can't wait to see where things will go. show less