J J Sherwood

What can I say except that this is a much stronger continuation of the greater tale, proving that Epic Fantasy is far from losing fresh voices.

Both books end on fantastically evil revelations, and while I must be honest in saying that I actually welcomed the surprises, whether they were deaths, increasing power, massive reversals of fortune, or simple betrayal, the one surprise I wasn't quite prepared for was the option of a middle path.

Alvena proves to be a leaf on the wind for most of the book, alas, while Jikun proves to be a fairly consistent ass to his steady friend and massively powerful necromancer friend. At least Jikun, Navon, and one crazy Elf managed to rise above their thieveries even if they never quite matched either title in this book's title. As for the jackass nobel? Well, all raspberries go to him, not because he was a poorly written character, indeed, all characters were written well and were all interesting, but because of his actions and interactions with everyone. He's truly unlikeable in my opinion, but then, all these elvish nobles are so damn flawed. Just look at how they still behave with every human, and it informs us all of their character. *sigh* I'm looking forward to more bloodshed.

Fortunately, these novels are getting quite novel in that department, and I can also honestly feel righteously giddy with all the rising necromancy, no matter what side is using it. These are easily my favorite parts. :)

Or perhaps it is the inclusion of Jerah, while slow at the beginning, turned out to be a breakaway awesome character, and it's not just because of his wings or claws or how he towers above all those lowly mortals. :)

I'm hooked. And it's not just because I was given a copy to review in trade for an honest review. It's because the tale is becoming more and more solid, the characters are becoming a true delight, the worldbuilding is as solid as they come, and because the reveals are truly, truly nasty. I'm fascinated!

By the way, I may be alone in this pronouncement, but I loved the surprise death. :) It tickled my fancy. :)… (mehr)

Epic Fantasy or Political Thriller? Good question, with all the awe-inspiring kingdom to view, the warlord battering at the gate, centaurs roaming the fields, and elves ruling a corrupt empire that Prince Hairem wants to change, idealistically, from within.

This isn't an average fantasy entry. It's meticulously thought out, with tons of PoV's, a lot of plot and attempts to weed out the unstable or illegal elements of the empire, like the use of necromancy, or just trying to prevent yourself from being on the assassin's list. It reads a lot like a political intrigue, with humans on the bottom and the elves being the long, long standing old-guard. In that respect, it reminds me a lot of the notable [b:The Goblin Emperor|17910048|The Goblin Emperor|Katherine Addison|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373039517s/17910048.jpg|24241248] without the goblin.

At least with this one, we've got actual battles and a very memorable warlord to contend with, too.

And mute, ass-kicking servant Alvena, of course, who was a breath of fresh air.

This is honestly a more thought-provoking epic fantasy than a bloody one, and while it does suffer from what most epic fantasies suffer from, a plethora of PoV's that may or may not get lost in the shuffle without a good roster and a glossary, a good handful of characters are sufficiently awesome to pull even an audiobook reader through without the visual aid. Mostly. Though, I do kinda wish I had one, regardless. :)

The reveals were pretty handy, though, as a way to pin the tale down pretty solidly, and the last one? Oh lordy, well, that certainly puts a whole new spin on the rest of the novel, so be prepared. :) It's subtle and deadly. Or not so subtle for us, the reader, while being supremely so for everyone else. :)

I really enjoyed the book. My only desire was more descriptions. I felt twinges of awe when the empire was described visually, and many other little times, and found myself just praying for more. Also, I'd have loved a more robust handling of the character-drawing to make all the players pop out for me so as to keep things grounded and real in my mind, but these things might be purely personal quips and not a deal-breaker by far. I'm looking forward to reading more. :) I'm certain that all fans of Erikson and Abercrombie will appreciate this book.

Oh! And thanks goes to the author for the audiobook version to review from! It was a very pleasant surprise. :)


Update 7/23/16:

Giveaway Time! I know some of you out there like free shit, right? Here's a raffle for the book. Starting on the July 25th through Sept 10. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
… (mehr)

Welcome to the elven world of Sevrigel. A world that is as beautiful as it is corrupt. The elven city of Elvorium has become so corrupted by the politicians who rule it, that it seems to most that there is no coming back. Until, that is, Prince Hairem ascends the throne. While J.J. Sherwood's Kings or Pawns is definitely Epic Fantasy, it's also filled with all manner of political intrigue and moral discussions. If you're looking for a book that is as deep as it is descriptive, look no further. This is your next read.

Now I feel it only fair to warn potential readers that this is definitely first and foremost a political thriller. The inner workings of the elven council play a huge role in this story, going so far as to discuss the actual battle plans that are being arranged. Everything is described in perfect detail. Which means, happily, that this book works equally well for readers of both genres. Trust me when I say that Sherwood doesn't skimp on the world building at all. Kings or Pawns is vividly written, with settings that pop off of the page. So Epic Fantasy readers will be content, and those who love political intrigue will also be content. It's truly a win/win situation.

The characters will probably steal your heart either way. While there are multiple POVs present in this story, Jikun and Hairem get the lion's share of the spotlight. Not that I'm complaining, as both of them were wonderful characters. Jikun is extremely brave, loyal to a fault, and full of the kind of opinions that make him blasphemous to some and level headed to others. I loved his character. His bantering with Nevon was giggle worthy, but then in the next chapter he'd be placed in a situation that made his valiant nature shine through. The fact that he was so three dimensional, faults and all, made him easy to follow along with. Hairem is much the same. Being of noble blood, and tasked to lead his people, his character was even more faceted. Hairem is intelligent and kind, but not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. The fact that Sherwood didn't let up on him, but instead had many other character agendas coming at him from all sides. It made him a much more vivid character, and I was proud to follow him through this adventure.

As for plot, well that would take ages and many more paragraphs than I have the energy to write to fully gush over. The fact that there is so much of a political spin to this book is perfection, because the fantasy portion of it slides right beneath it, skimming right under the surface. Before you know it there are dragons, mythical beasts to slay, and even magic. Yet because of the beautifully articulated world of Sevrigel, and how structured the lives of the elves are, it feels like it has one foot in reality. I've read plenty of books with massive maps, and large character rosters. It takes a really good writer to make that palatable on such a huge scale, and J.J. Sherwood manages just that.

There were a few things I would have loved to see more of, mainly our female characters who are amazing but don't get too much face time. Ilsafel especially is a character that I'd love to see more of. Any female character who is as versed in politics, and as intelligent, as her male counterpart makes me smile. I also felt like the ending fell a tiny bit shy of the epic conclusion I was hoping for. That's a mild complaint though, because all this build up is pushing towards the second book and I can't wait.… (mehr)

A slam dunk follow up the first in the series, Kings or Pawns. World building isn't easy, but author J.J. Sherwood, makes it look like a piece of cake. She seemlessly picks up where the last book left off and we continue to follow our favorite (and least favorite) characters on the next steps of their journeys. Jikun and Navon have crossed the sea and are looking for a way to gather troops and somehow attack the tyrant ruler Saebellus again, Alvena is trying to put as much distance between herself and the city before the queen finds her and murders her, Sellamar is trying to assist the resistance while playing politics with the bad boys, and we get to see a whole new side of "the beast." New characters are introduced, some old characters die, and political intrigue, adventure, heroics, and fantasy reign supreme in this stellar follow up. A fantastic series that fantasy fans will eat up. Definitely an emerging author to watch for; the story line and plot are intricate and tightly woven, no plot holes, weak characters, or bad writing. A fast and entertaining read!… (mehr)