( )

In the sequel to King's Dragon, the primary trio of characters tries to come to grips with their new roles. Alain adjusts to life as a newly legitimized lord, Liath attempts to escape the unchecked abuse of her former owner, and Sanglant tries to retain his sanity while imprisoned by an inhuman enemy. Meanwhile, a full company of clerics, scholars, novices, and orphans witness the complications of war, kinship, and inheritance.

I'm impressed by the entrenched consistency of Prince of Dog's medieval milieu. Minus the obvious (and intentional) aspect of gender equality in the novel, Prince of Dogs avoids the common problems of Technicolor serfs and Andrew Lang princesses. Everything is very dirty and very unfair. The novel is not an epic-fantasy spray-paint job, particularly in regards to rigid social castes and how they were read as a divine signal of competence and righteousness.

The plot of Prince of Dogs knits more tightly together than the previous story: Liath and Alain actually meet each other. My favorite character is still Count Lavastine, who is a vulnerable brute. And I can't wait to see the horrors of Alain and Tallia coming together. Prince of Dogs ends with Alain misty-eyed about their upcoming nuptials, but he has no inkling about the strength of Tallia's religious convictions. (It's not clear how Tallia will react to the betrothal: she was approving of Alain in King's Dragon but she had definite non-Alain plans for her future. I predict agony and death.) ( )

Can't remember what exactly inspired me to start a re-read of this series but I'm not sorry I did. It's a fantastic medieval European fantasy series (truly a great depiction of a medieval Europe -inspired setting) that feels so real; from the most desperate of war refugees to the daimones of the Upper Spheres to the working economy... Do yourself a favor and read this series if you haven't already.

Book Two shows rebellion brewing in the kingdom but relief has come for Liath (mostly, Hugh is a sneaky bastard). Now it's Sanglant who is trapped with no one knowing he is a prisoner. By the way, Liath's vow re Sanglant is a perfect illustration of Elliott's theme of consequences. There is no choice made by a character that won't have ramifications that must be dealt with. Whether that is 10 pages, 10 chapters or 10 years later consequences catch up to everyone.

We see that very clearly for Alain, as well. His pure heart and inability to escape his own sincerity links him in a very immediate way to their Eika enemy but also, it's hinted, to humanity more broadly. But he is very much seen as a pawn by the Lady of Battles and possibly some powerful folks in the kingdom who don't necessarily honor his innate compassion. ( )

The sequel in the Crown of Stars series is more interesting and more developed then the first book. The story continues off directly where the first one ended. It is still a slow book that pushes the story forward to where you finally get a resolution to some plot-lines started in the first book. The characters are written more interestingly and most of the drama is more exciting. There is still a romance piece that makes no sense to me, but it is not focused on much. The tropes are typical fantasy still, but I still enjoy reading them. There are continued hints of an underlying, larger plot which I'm sure will develop with each book. Overall a great story that I think builds on the first one. ( )

Sanglant, King Henry's bastard son is capitve of the Eika Bloodheart in the city of Gent, unknown to anyone. Liath is now one of the King's Eagles, grieving over Sanglant and trying to avoid Hugh, while trying to understand her father's teachings and what it could mean. Alain is now a Count's heir, is having visions of one of the Eika and the Lady of Battles appears to have a purpose for him. Fifth Brother, one of the Eika, the least favoured of Bloodheart's sons is trying to raise an army and understand the visioins he is having of Alain. Meanwhile Anna is trying to survive this broken world and keep safe.

It's a complicated world and you can see by the end that there are wheels within wheels and the story progresses, but I found it a bit of a slog. Satisfied by the end but I wanted more. ( )