Genre: Fantasy
Reviewer: Sherry
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About The Book
In the wake of a catastrophic cataclysm that claimed the lives of both mortals and powerful gods, the remnants of mortal-kind begin to rebuild civilization in the world of Thearus. But, unseen by many is an ancient and evil force that seeks to bring darkness across the land once more.
It is the era of the Ascension of Kings, a period of reconstruction after the catastrophic collapse which saw the death of the gods of the Ascended Pantheon and left the mortals of Thearus to rise from the ashes and begin anew.
But, war, assassination, and betrayal still stalk the land, fueled by the mighty kingdoms and cults born from the fires of destruction, and ruled by powerful demi-gods. And now, the Sanctum Queen, Karayan, seeks to summon her twin patron goddesses, Sabah and Zesiro, onto the mortal plane to cast a shroud of darkness and chaos across the realm.
If these Twin Deities of the Void succeed in returning to the world of Thearus, they will bring an end to civilization and the death of all who live on the land. Now, only a small group of nine unusual heroes stand in the way of the coming malevolence, and the Sanctum Queen’s dark plans.
The Review
“Embers of the past are all that remain.”—A Sanctum of Swords
I read “Whispers of White Sapphire” before starting “A Sanctum of Swords,” not that it much mattered because these are essentially standalone novels and separate series. Nonetheless, “A Sanctum of Swords” is, in all the ways that really count, a prequel to “Whispers of White Sapphire.” Most importantly, it establishes the lore regarding the demise of its deities and the rise of mere mortals in the land of Thearus, which is about where “Whispers of White Sapphire” begins.
The pantheon of Thearusan gods is like the gods of Roman and Greek mythology. They certainly act the same—lots of godly intrigue, manipulation, deceit, and casual disregard for humans. Plus, subjugation. There’s a lot of that. Because if you’re not a god or ascending to become one then you must have supplicants and worshippers plenty. Sure, you can do some awesome stuff as a god, but having minions is necessary to insure maximum calamity.
With that as background, “A Sanctum of Swords” reads as if an epic, somewhat reminiscent of the shogun era. It is tribal, deeply steeped in honor and tribute, and history. The story flits back and forth between its present and past history. This can be a bit confusing or maybe distracting to some readers; however, Malone identifies these time shifts by using chapter headings. Also, the jumps back in time are relevant to something contemporary that is occurring.
Running throughout the story is a wicked queen, Karayan. Her plans include the loosing of merciless twin deities whose chaotic attributes will secure not only her cruel reign but her ascension and deification. An unlikely group of humans become allies in the thwarting of her bloodthirsty ambitions. Their ability to vanquish the Queen depends on the heroes’ honor, courage and cunning, not to mention a fateful choice between endless torment in purgatory or helping Karayan free those twin gods.
Malone’s writing is richly descriptive. His lore is complex, world building believable, and the character development is engaging. A four-star read about whether former belief and deification can be changed by a few, determined individuals.
The Reviewer
Sherry Perkins has worked as a licensed practical nurse for more than thirty-five years and has experience in psychiatric/addictions nursing, nursing-care coordination, and risk management. She earned a BS in health sciences from Campbell University and has spoken at public health functions on topics such as addiction prevention and treatment, prevention of teenage opioid deaths, and connecting patients who are resistant to treatment with appropriate services.
A mother of four, Perkins lives with extended family on the Delmarva Peninsula, where she enjoys collecting shells and sea glass; reading and writing mysteries, science fiction, and fantasy; doing organic gardening; and following the Dave Matthews Band around the East Coast
