[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Price of Valor

Django Wexler graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not writing, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / GoodReads

Price of Valor

THE SHADOW CAMPAIGNS #3

Buy from Amazon / B&N 

In the latest Shadow Campaigns novel, Django Wexler continues his "epic fantasy of military might and magical conflict"* following The Shadow Throne and The Thousand Names, as the realm of Vordan faces imminent threats from without and within.

In the wake of the King’s death, war has come to Vordan.

The Deputies-General has precarious control of the city, but it is led by a zealot who sees traitors in every shadow. Executions have become a grim public spectacle. The new queen, Raesinia Orboan, finds herself nearly powerless as the government tightens its grip and assassins threaten her life. But she did not help free the country from one sort of tyranny to see it fall into another. Placing her trust with the steadfast soldier Marcus D’Ivoire, she sets out to turn the tide of history.

As the hidden hand of the Sworn Church brings all the powers of the continent to war against Vordan, the enigmatic and brilliant general Janus bet Vhalnich offers a path to victory. Winter Ihernglass, newly promoted to command a regiment, has reunited with her lover and her friends, only to face the prospect of leading them into bloody battle.

And the enemy is not just armed with muskets and cannon. Dark priests of an ancient order, wielding forbidden magic, have infiltrated Vordan to stop Janus by whatever means necessary...

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Scholastic Siren - Sara:

*Copy received by the publisher for an honest review

Raesinia Orboan is queen in name, but not so much in power. The deputies-general are running the country, and the country is at war. Raesinia decides to go back to her persona of Raes, a commoner, to help the war effort. Raes and Marcus stay in the city. Winter is off on campaign, the armies are under command of Janus bet Vhalnich, but the deputies-general think they are pulling the strings.

This is a nice steady middle book. There is quite a bit of action and intrigue! The war is interesting because we aren't in the head of the main commander, just Winter and Marcus. I think this read much smoother with only three POV characters and some church interludes. I have to be honest, I did skim through some of the battle scenes, just not my thing. Since the book is about war, I expected that and was not upset by the violence.

Price of Valor