I've been a Marco fan ever since I read his classic Tyrants
and Kings series now he creates all-new epic saga that has all of the
ingredients that made his previous one so memorable:
flawed heroes like Lukien, the bronze knight who is tore between the
loyality and friendship he has toward his King Akeela who treats him like
a brother and his love for Akeela's wife Cassandra. King Akeela-a once
good ruler who's betrayal by his best friend and wife turns him into a mad
despot who seeks only power and revenge! Cassandra-the queen who
will turn two men into enemies and who's dying with cancer and can only
be saved by a magical amulet called the eyes of God.Marco's gifts of
world-building hasn't been lost as he creates a city of so-called freaks
who are protected by powerful ancient spirits and
a mysterious woman called Minikin.Marco's villians are also classic like
the poor Akeela who's tranformation from a kind man to a cruel king is
quite chilling and the evil Will Trager, Lukien's hated rival.What makes the
book so powerful is the theme
of choices that people make that can save or destroy them and sometimes
even heroes can feet of clay and can do deeds that will haunt them for
lifetime.Marco can describe a battle scene in
a cinematic quality and the brief and tragic love affair between Lukien and
Casandra will break your heart.I've had read a few reviews stating that
Marco is rewriting the Arthurian legend with Lukien as Lancelot, Akeela
as Arthur and Casandra as Guinevere but the similarities are few and far
between. Other characters I found memorable is crippled boy Gilwyn
who helps save the city of Grimhold, the place of "monsters" and the gruff
but brave Baron Thorn.Consider this epic novel another feather in
Marco's cap and if he reads the review I have only one thing to say:
WRITE FASTER!