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Title:
House of Assassins
Series: Saga of the
Forgotten Warrior #2
Author: Larry Correia
Rating:
4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages:
411
Words: 142K
Publish: 2019
Now,
if I could just read books like this ALL of the time, I’d be set
for life. I read this after The
Idiot and I was still stressed about my double vision and
being out of work for 6+ weeks, I still needed a new-to-us car AND
the medical bills had started to come in, so things were not any
better. But I had so much fun reading this. This was what I needed,
something well written, escapist and most importantly, not depressing
in any way.
Ashok, the main character, begins to get a real personality. He found out in the first book that HE was a magical construct of personality and that his reason for existence is no longer valid. He has to figure out now who he is, what he is and do it while trying to lead a revolution that his old self would oppose. He’s still pretty cardboard here, but once again, it is on purpose and Correia (the author) does a great job of creating little cracks in that cardboard so that Ashok can start growing into a real person. He’s having his very existence crammed down his throat in the space of weeks or months, instead of decades like a normal person. But he doesn’t whine or complain or crack up. He endures. I like that, especially during this time.
Correia does a good job of balancing the story amongst the various side characters and I never felt like I was being cheated by reading about one character instead of another. We get enough from each to advance the whole plot and to make me feel like I had gotten a whole story and not just some random events thrown together and called a novel.
I continue to like Larry Correia’s writing and this dive into a more Indian culture keeps things fresh and interesting. Also, just to make it better, Correia actually finished this series. What a guy! ;-)
★★★★☆
From the Publisher
Ashok Vidal was once a member of the highest caste in all of Lok. As a Protector, he devoted his life to upholding the Law, rooting out those who still practiced the old ways and delivering swift justice with his ancestor blade Angruvadal. None was more merciless than he in stamping out the lingering belief in gods and demons among the casteless. His brutality was legendary and celebrated.
But soon Ashok learned that his life to that point had been a lie. He himself, senior member of the Protector Order, was casteless. He had been nothing more than an unwitting pawn in a political game. His world turned upside down and finding himself on the wrong side of the Law, he began a campaign of rebellion, war, and destruction unlike any Lok had ever seen.
Thera had been first daughter of Vane. A member of the Warrior Order, she had spent her life training for combat. Until a strange sight in the heavens appeared one day. Thera was struck by lighting and from that day forward she heard the Voice. A reluctant prophet with the power to see into the future, she fought alongside Ashok Vadal and his company of men known as the Sons of the Black Sword until a shapeshifting wizard with designs on her powers of precognition spirited her away. He holds her prisoner in the House of Assassins.
Ashok Vadal and the Sons of the Black Sword march to rescue Thera. With his sword Angruvadal, Ashok was unstoppable. But Angruvadal is gone, shattered to pieces on the demon possessed husk of a warrior. Now, Ashok must fight without the aid of the magic blade for the first time. Thera’s life depends on it.
But there is much more at risk in the continent of Lok. Strange forces are working behind the scenes. Ashok Vadal and the Sons of the Black Sword are caught up in a game they do not fully understand, with powerful forces allied against them.
Ashok no longer knows what to believe. He is beginning to think perhaps the gods really do exist.
If so, he’s warned them to stay out of his way.
They would do well to listen.
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