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War for the Rose Throne #2
Priest of Lies
' Peaky Blinders with swords' ( Barnes & Noble ), perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence and Joe Abercrombie. 'The poorer and more oppressed people are, the weaker they become - until they just refuse to take it any more. Then they will rise up, and the gods help their oppressors.'
When Tomas Piety and his Pious Men returned from the war, he just wanted to rebuild his crime empire and look after his people. But the sinister Queen's Men had different ideas and whether he likes it or not, he's now a spy as well. Now, half the city of Ellinburg lies in ashes and the webs of political intrigue are stretching out from the Queen's capital to pull Tomas in. Dannsburg is calling. In Dannsburg the nobility fight with words, not blades, but the results are every bit as bloody. In this pit of beasts, Tomas must decide once and for all whether he is truly the people's champion . . . or just a priest of lies. And as Tomas' power grows, the nobility had better watch their backs . . .
When Tomas Piety and his Pious Men returned from the war, he just wanted to rebuild his crime empire and look after his people. But the sinister Queen's Men had different ideas and whether he likes it or not, he's now a spy as well. Now, half the city of Ellinburg lies in ashes and the webs of political intrigue are stretching out from the Queen's capital to pull Tomas in. Dannsburg is calling. In Dannsburg the nobility fight with words, not blades, but the results are every bit as bloody. In this pit of beasts, Tomas must decide once and for all whether he is truly the people's champion . . . or just a priest of lies. And as Tomas' power grows, the nobility had better watch their backs . . .
374 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2019
About the author
Peter McLean
42 books972 followersPeter McLean was born near London in 1972, the son of a bank manager and an English teacher. He went to school in the shadow of Norwich Cathedral where he spent most of his time making up stories.
He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.
He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.
Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA
He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.
He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.
Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
August 7, 2020
ARC provided by the publisher—Jo Fletcher Books—in exchange for an honest review.
An outstanding grimdark sequel. Feel free to consider me a huge fan of this low-fantasy series now.
At the moment, I honestly don’t know whether I should be happy or sad about the fact that I finished this book already. In less than two weeks, Priest of Lies will officially be published, and I’m truly glad that I have the privilege to read this book earlier than its publication, but oh my lord, I’m in dire need the next book NOW and I’m sad that it’s nowhere in sight yet! Priest of Lies, the second book in the War for the Rose Throne by Peter McLean, is a huge step up from its predecessor; that’s saying a lot because I had a terrific time reading Priest of Bones.
The story in Priest of Lies continues a few months from where Priest of Bones left off. The quote above was stamped in the front page of this novel and it pretty much described the overlying theme of the book and series itself. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that this series has always been about Tomas’s ascension to power and how it gradually changes him. Priest of Lies was simply stunning on every aspect; zero dull moments, bloodier, gorier, intense, and more intimate. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I immensely enjoyed reading every page and I truly wish there were more pages to these series; it only took me five days in total to finish both books available in the series so far. Power corrupts, we’ve seen it happened in reality and fictions across all medium. The necessity and lack of power—whether it’s because of money, physical abilities, or knowledge—will always continue to determine where an individual fits into their respective hierarchy. What do you when you successfully accumulate power from nothing? What do you do when you’re in total control? Many gangster stories have applied these of kind of stories before, but there’s something that’s refreshing in this low-fantasy series that McLean penned; the rich and multi-layered narration in Tomas’s first-person perspective.
I can’t emphasize highly enough how much I loved reading Tomas’s distinctive narration; his voice really gets under my skin. Tomas isn’t a wordy character, he’s very efficient with his words but every action he did have weight beneath the surface. It was entertaining and refreshing to read; I found myself completely captivated. In the first book, I wasn’t 100% sure about Tomas being an anti-hero but there’s no shred of doubt that he belongs to be called one. It’s unfortunate that I can’t go into detail about this without going into spoiler territory, let’s just say some of Tomas’s actions made me feel conflicted—in a good way—about him and it seems like the fraction of me that was able to root for him was because I’m a spectator to his story; I doubt I could support some of his decisions as a leader if I were to serve beneath him. I loved reading the character development that McLean breathe into Tomas, this conflicted feeling about a character is an element I expected and loved out of grimdark and on this regard, McLean successfully delivered.
But that’s me speaking exclusively about Tomas. This book and series aren’t merely about him but how the changes in his role and dominance affected his surroundings. Honestly speaking, Tomas has always been a great character since the first book, and although I’m genuinely satisfied by how much Tomas developed as a character, what made me even amazed was how well-written and well-fleshed out the side characters were. Although I had a fantastic time reading Priest of Bones, there seemed to be only three characters—Tomas himself, Bloody Anne, and Billy the Boy—that received my utmost interest. McLean did a spectacular job in Priest of Lies by making sure that the other side characters have more spotlights; I found this to be awesome because Tomas was the sole narrator of the story and yet I can’t help but feel like I have come to understand each character’s personality through his narration; seeing the camaraderie of the Pious Men tested were emotionally gripping.
Before I close my review, I also would like to say I’m seriously impressed by how well written were the effects of the battle-shocks that the characters have. None of the characters are ‘okay’, that has been displayed throughout the series so far. They may have won the previous war before returning to Ellinburg but the experience and horrors of war they’ve accumulated has taken a toll on them, and it’s even more evident here. I personally think that this helps a lot in invoking feelings towards every single character and why they acted the way they did. The action scenes were spread economically throughout the book; all of them felt incredibly cinematic and vivid. The decimation of men in the name of order, power, and harsh justice was brutal. However, no bloody/gory scene ever felt done merely for shock value. For example, The Rite of the Betrayer scene was bloody as fuck but beneath the crimson scene, the deadly and dangerous implication behind the Rite was also exposed to the readers.
Exhilarating, continuously riveting, and magnificent; it’s very easy for me to shout to the world that Priest of Lies is one of the most engrossing grimdark books I’ve read up to date. I need more out of this series and I need it as soon as possible. Considering that my rating for the series so far matched what I rated the first two books in The First Law trilogy and Manifest Delusions by Michael R. Fletcher, War for the Rose Throne has a promising potential to become one of my favorite grimdark trilogies of all time.
Official release date: July 2nd, 2019
You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
An outstanding grimdark sequel. Feel free to consider me a huge fan of this low-fantasy series now.
At the moment, I honestly don’t know whether I should be happy or sad about the fact that I finished this book already. In less than two weeks, Priest of Lies will officially be published, and I’m truly glad that I have the privilege to read this book earlier than its publication, but oh my lord, I’m in dire need the next book NOW and I’m sad that it’s nowhere in sight yet! Priest of Lies, the second book in the War for the Rose Throne by Peter McLean, is a huge step up from its predecessor; that’s saying a lot because I had a terrific time reading Priest of Bones.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”—Attributed to Abraham Lincoln
The story in Priest of Lies continues a few months from where Priest of Bones left off. The quote above was stamped in the front page of this novel and it pretty much described the overlying theme of the book and series itself. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that this series has always been about Tomas’s ascension to power and how it gradually changes him. Priest of Lies was simply stunning on every aspect; zero dull moments, bloodier, gorier, intense, and more intimate. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I immensely enjoyed reading every page and I truly wish there were more pages to these series; it only took me five days in total to finish both books available in the series so far. Power corrupts, we’ve seen it happened in reality and fictions across all medium. The necessity and lack of power—whether it’s because of money, physical abilities, or knowledge—will always continue to determine where an individual fits into their respective hierarchy. What do you when you successfully accumulate power from nothing? What do you do when you’re in total control? Many gangster stories have applied these of kind of stories before, but there’s something that’s refreshing in this low-fantasy series that McLean penned; the rich and multi-layered narration in Tomas’s first-person perspective.
I can’t emphasize highly enough how much I loved reading Tomas’s distinctive narration; his voice really gets under my skin. Tomas isn’t a wordy character, he’s very efficient with his words but every action he did have weight beneath the surface. It was entertaining and refreshing to read; I found myself completely captivated. In the first book, I wasn’t 100% sure about Tomas being an anti-hero but there’s no shred of doubt that he belongs to be called one. It’s unfortunate that I can’t go into detail about this without going into spoiler territory, let’s just say some of Tomas’s actions made me feel conflicted—in a good way—about him and it seems like the fraction of me that was able to root for him was because I’m a spectator to his story; I doubt I could support some of his decisions as a leader if I were to serve beneath him. I loved reading the character development that McLean breathe into Tomas, this conflicted feeling about a character is an element I expected and loved out of grimdark and on this regard, McLean successfully delivered.
“You didn’t hit women, not unless they were armed and they were trying to kill you. You didn’t hit whores, and you most definitely didn’t hit your own fucking wife. Anyone who needed that explained to him wasn’t someone I knew how to talk to in a civil fashion. Vengeance is mine, sayeth Our Lady, and I am Her priest.”
But that’s me speaking exclusively about Tomas. This book and series aren’t merely about him but how the changes in his role and dominance affected his surroundings. Honestly speaking, Tomas has always been a great character since the first book, and although I’m genuinely satisfied by how much Tomas developed as a character, what made me even amazed was how well-written and well-fleshed out the side characters were. Although I had a fantastic time reading Priest of Bones, there seemed to be only three characters—Tomas himself, Bloody Anne, and Billy the Boy—that received my utmost interest. McLean did a spectacular job in Priest of Lies by making sure that the other side characters have more spotlights; I found this to be awesome because Tomas was the sole narrator of the story and yet I can’t help but feel like I have come to understand each character’s personality through his narration; seeing the camaraderie of the Pious Men tested were emotionally gripping.
“Each of us here, man or woman, is a Pious man. That’s a bond between us, a bond either of blood or of trust and comradeship forged in the fires of war. That’s not a thing to be taken lightly. We’re family, and we’re comrades, and we stand by each other until the very last breath. That’s what it means, to be a Pious an. That’s how this fucking works. Does anyone disagree on that?”
Before I close my review, I also would like to say I’m seriously impressed by how well written were the effects of the battle-shocks that the characters have. None of the characters are ‘okay’, that has been displayed throughout the series so far. They may have won the previous war before returning to Ellinburg but the experience and horrors of war they’ve accumulated has taken a toll on them, and it’s even more evident here. I personally think that this helps a lot in invoking feelings towards every single character and why they acted the way they did. The action scenes were spread economically throughout the book; all of them felt incredibly cinematic and vivid. The decimation of men in the name of order, power, and harsh justice was brutal. However, no bloody/gory scene ever felt done merely for shock value. For example, The Rite of the Betrayer scene was bloody as fuck but beneath the crimson scene, the deadly and dangerous implication behind the Rite was also exposed to the readers.
“Everyone has a lever that moves them, and everyone has their weakness too. If you can’t find the lever to move someone, then you find the weakness, and you take hold of it, and you squeeze until they break.”
Exhilarating, continuously riveting, and magnificent; it’s very easy for me to shout to the world that Priest of Lies is one of the most engrossing grimdark books I’ve read up to date. I need more out of this series and I need it as soon as possible. Considering that my rating for the series so far matched what I rated the first two books in The First Law trilogy and Manifest Delusions by Michael R. Fletcher, War for the Rose Throne has a promising potential to become one of my favorite grimdark trilogies of all time.
Official release date: July 2nd, 2019
You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
October 10, 2023
**4.5-stars rounded up**
Priest of Lies is the second installment in the War for the Rose Throne series. The story picks up just months after the events of the first book, Priest of Bones.
Our main man, Tomas Piety, leader of the Pious men, is back in The Stink ruling the streets with an iron fist and his signature harsh justice.
I was so excited to get to this book, one of my most anticipated sequels of 2019, and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!
This Grimdark Adult Fantasy series is so gritty and dirty, you can smell it, you can feel it, you can taste it. It's that immersive.
Less barroom brawls and more political scheming, I love the direction this series is heading. As Tomas gains more power than ever before, he sees his position in society change to one he could never have imagined.
Once a champion of the people, does that stand true anymore?
Traveling to Dannsburg, Tomas quickly discovers that while the nobility may battle with different weapons, it is no less dangerous.
As with the first novel, this is action-packed from the very start, with a smooth writing style that is highly addictive.
One of my favorite aspects of this was how our knowledge of the magic system is continuing to grow. The Reader is getting more insight into the cunning, as more characters with the gift are introduced.
We also get to go inside the House of Magicians which was terrifying in the best possible way.
Additionally, the world-building is continuing and it is bloody fantastic!
I cannot wait to get my hands on Book 3. I will keep reading these as long as McLean keeps writing them!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. Love this series, love this author.
Yes, please. Keep them coming!!!
Priest of Lies is the second installment in the War for the Rose Throne series. The story picks up just months after the events of the first book, Priest of Bones.
Our main man, Tomas Piety, leader of the Pious men, is back in The Stink ruling the streets with an iron fist and his signature harsh justice.
I was so excited to get to this book, one of my most anticipated sequels of 2019, and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!
This Grimdark Adult Fantasy series is so gritty and dirty, you can smell it, you can feel it, you can taste it. It's that immersive.
Less barroom brawls and more political scheming, I love the direction this series is heading. As Tomas gains more power than ever before, he sees his position in society change to one he could never have imagined.
Once a champion of the people, does that stand true anymore?
Traveling to Dannsburg, Tomas quickly discovers that while the nobility may battle with different weapons, it is no less dangerous.
As with the first novel, this is action-packed from the very start, with a smooth writing style that is highly addictive.
One of my favorite aspects of this was how our knowledge of the magic system is continuing to grow. The Reader is getting more insight into the cunning, as more characters with the gift are introduced.
We also get to go inside the House of Magicians which was terrifying in the best possible way.
Additionally, the world-building is continuing and it is bloody fantastic!
I cannot wait to get my hands on Book 3. I will keep reading these as long as McLean keeps writing them!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. Love this series, love this author.
Yes, please. Keep them coming!!!
May 1, 2019
Posted on Grimdark Magazine >>> https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/revi...
I received an uncorrected proof copy of Priest of Lies in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Peter McLean and Ace Books for the opportunity.
We return to Ellinburg following the first person perspective of gangster boss Thomas Piety, the head of the Pious Men. The way that McLean writes led me to feel like I was actually walking the streets of The Stink, enjoying a mug of beer in the Tanner's Arms and that I was almost a member of the Pious Men myself. When a fantasy world has me that invested then it is difficult for an author to do much wrong. Since I read Priest of Bones I have read about 100 books so I always worry when returning to a fictional world after I've spent too much time away. Will I remember the characters? Political agendas? Warring factions? Etc... With Priest of Lies, I need not have worried. The reading experience at the beginning was like trying on a favourite hat that I thought I'd lost to find out that it still fitted perfectly and I still looked good in it! I fitted in with the world here again straight away and it was a great feeling.
In addition to the quality worldbuilding, which is set across two cities this time, War for the Rose Throne's greatest asset is the characters. They are a colourful bunch featuring many different characteristics and personalities, but they gel in sublime fashion under the guidance of Tomas, that they are a family. My favourites remain Tomas himself, his second Bloody Anne, and the young magician Billy the Boy - who is Tomas' adopted son. Some of the ensemble who were featured heavily in the first novel get less page time here but other players have real standout performances. Jochan, Tomas' slightly deranged brother really shines as does the role Cutter - the mysterious and perhaps even nefarious assassin - plays. A revelation regarding the latter literally made my jaw drop! To say it's a group composed of war veterans and hard as nails mercenaries, I don't think there is a single member of the crew that I didn't like reading about.
Either I've become softer in my old age or McLean has really upped the Grimdark stakes here when compared to Priest of Bones! Deaths of likable characters. Yes. People being eaten alive by a bear? Of course. Betrayals, sedition, turpitude? Sure. And a scene featuring a grotesque ritual that showcases what happens if you betray the Pious Men from the inside. Peter McLean sees your hammer scene Anna Stephens and he raises you this!
Priest of Lies is written in a style that caused me to devour the entire novel within two days. The chapters are short and sharp each taking about ten minutes to read. Each chapter is focused, precise and keeps the plot moving and flowing expertly. Even though the narrative is quite short by fantasy standards with 368 pages the dramatis personae is overflowing with characters however none of them seemed two-dimensional filler. I even cared about more obscure individuals such as Tomas' barber which reflects the way he truly cares for those that are under his protection. If you cross his people you cross Tomas and the consequences to that can be drastic and I don't really fancy being buried alive.
Priest of Lies is pretty damn exceptional. The ending is stunning and I can't wait to see what comes next. I need to see Kurt's sword again! Both the books in this series are 9/10 standard. This is the third book I have read by McLean and I have never been disappointed at all. The only negative I have here, and it's very minor, is that Tomas says 'as I have written' far too many times and it niggled me a bit. Priest of Lies is stunning low fantasy by an author who is on top of his game. Start this series if you haven't already.
I received an uncorrected proof copy of Priest of Lies in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Peter McLean and Ace Books for the opportunity.
We return to Ellinburg following the first person perspective of gangster boss Thomas Piety, the head of the Pious Men. The way that McLean writes led me to feel like I was actually walking the streets of The Stink, enjoying a mug of beer in the Tanner's Arms and that I was almost a member of the Pious Men myself. When a fantasy world has me that invested then it is difficult for an author to do much wrong. Since I read Priest of Bones I have read about 100 books so I always worry when returning to a fictional world after I've spent too much time away. Will I remember the characters? Political agendas? Warring factions? Etc... With Priest of Lies, I need not have worried. The reading experience at the beginning was like trying on a favourite hat that I thought I'd lost to find out that it still fitted perfectly and I still looked good in it! I fitted in with the world here again straight away and it was a great feeling.
In addition to the quality worldbuilding, which is set across two cities this time, War for the Rose Throne's greatest asset is the characters. They are a colourful bunch featuring many different characteristics and personalities, but they gel in sublime fashion under the guidance of Tomas, that they are a family. My favourites remain Tomas himself, his second Bloody Anne, and the young magician Billy the Boy - who is Tomas' adopted son. Some of the ensemble who were featured heavily in the first novel get less page time here but other players have real standout performances. Jochan, Tomas' slightly deranged brother really shines as does the role Cutter - the mysterious and perhaps even nefarious assassin - plays. A revelation regarding the latter literally made my jaw drop! To say it's a group composed of war veterans and hard as nails mercenaries, I don't think there is a single member of the crew that I didn't like reading about.
Either I've become softer in my old age or McLean has really upped the Grimdark stakes here when compared to Priest of Bones! Deaths of likable characters. Yes. People being eaten alive by a bear? Of course. Betrayals, sedition, turpitude? Sure. And a scene featuring a grotesque ritual that showcases what happens if you betray the Pious Men from the inside. Peter McLean sees your hammer scene Anna Stephens and he raises you this!
Priest of Lies is written in a style that caused me to devour the entire novel within two days. The chapters are short and sharp each taking about ten minutes to read. Each chapter is focused, precise and keeps the plot moving and flowing expertly. Even though the narrative is quite short by fantasy standards with 368 pages the dramatis personae is overflowing with characters however none of them seemed two-dimensional filler. I even cared about more obscure individuals such as Tomas' barber which reflects the way he truly cares for those that are under his protection. If you cross his people you cross Tomas and the consequences to that can be drastic and I don't really fancy being buried alive.
Priest of Lies is pretty damn exceptional. The ending is stunning and I can't wait to see what comes next. I need to see Kurt's sword again! Both the books in this series are 9/10 standard. This is the third book I have read by McLean and I have never been disappointed at all. The only negative I have here, and it's very minor, is that Tomas says 'as I have written' far too many times and it niggled me a bit. Priest of Lies is stunning low fantasy by an author who is on top of his game. Start this series if you haven't already.
July 30, 2019
Here we freaking go!! Book two!!! Hell yes!! I knew it would rock!!
I freaking love these books!! I hope there are many more but I would be okay with just one if that’s the case. I’m just scared of what might happen! Bloody Anne is still my fav and there are things. I love Billy and Mina. Hell, I love them all! Fingers crossed! 🤞🏻
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
"Was there a raid?" she asked once I had chased the footman and her maid out of the room and closed the door behind them.
"An assassination attempt," I said. "A magician, posing as a dockside cunning woman. A Skanian, I can only assume."
"What happened?"
I shrugged. "She nearly killed me, then Billy killed her," I said. "Then I sent Fat Luka to bring me the man who introduced us to her, and I killed him. It’s been a good day for killing."
"With your own hands?"
"Yes, Alisa, with my own hands," I snapped at her. "They attacked me in my place of business. I’m a businessman and I’m a fucking soldier, and I will not have it!"
I freaking love these books!! I hope there are many more but I would be okay with just one if that’s the case. I’m just scared of what might happen! Bloody Anne is still my fav and there are things. I love Billy and Mina. Hell, I love them all! Fingers crossed! 🤞🏻
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
July 4, 2019
It’s been six months and Ellinburg is a changed place. But not enough and not where it counts. The Godsday butcher’s bill had been far too high, the war wasn't even won. And Tomas Piety is starting to realise that it might never be, especially while ensnared in the political machinations of the Queen’s Men. He’s trapped twice over, with no way out except through. Still, he’s not one to let life pass him by. Every challenge is also an opportunity after all. So many issues can be solved with the right attitude and a ready blade.
As in the first book, the narrative feels like a mix of oral storytelling and confession. It has the techniques of epic poetry and the immediacy of conversation. The repetition, the real time internal reflection, the sense of an invitation into the sharing of secrets... it all adds up to a story told directly to you, the reader, the friend. It’s personal and intimate, framed exclusively though Tomas Piety, and so deeply reflective of his experience and morality that it works as subtle, or sometimes not so subtle, persuasion. It’s the kind of writing that makes you complicit. As he tells it, it seems so obvious that the answer to encroachment on his territory is death, that the answer to insult is death, that the answer to betrayal is death… And so when people name him ‘devil’, there’s an instinctive reaction to say ‘no…you don’t understand. He has to do this. It’s the right thing, necessary, practical. You’d do the same. Wouldn’t you?’ He’s the best of bad options, a man with his own code, a guardian. He’s also a killer, a gangster, a liar, a spy. Every now and then there’s just an inkling that something doesn’t feel quite right, a moment of disquiet about whether you’re really on the right side of this. It’s a question reflected within the plot. There are no easy answers here, for Piety and his crew as much as for us readers. Tomas wonders about his role as we wonder about him. His ‘harsh justice’ does seem like real justice, right up until you think about it some more. What’s worse is that it’s hard to care, his personal appeal smashes right through any moral barriers. That mix of modern sensibilities, an anti-rape policy, gender, sexual, and ethnic equality, and a gang run as a meritocracy, with classics like loyalty and respect is a killer. And it’s ok for us because we’re in, part of the crew, under that umbrella of protection. As for those who aren’t, well…bad luck I guess???!
There are surprises here. Violence, of course, but emotion too. These ex-soldiers are suffering, even as brutal violence is dished out by their hands. The Hell of Abingon is a trauma hanging over them all and it becomes ever more clear that some people are losing themselves to it. How this unceasing war is going to be fought by men barely hanging on to their sanity is a troubling question. What happens if they snap? What happens if Tomas does? There’s no peace in sight. In fact, there’s a serious escalation in the power and reach of Piety’s enemies, and in their ‘quality’. The nobility have arrived on the scene and their games might play out differently, but they’re no less dangerous. For the first time, there’s a look outside the Pious Men’s streets, all the way out to Dannsburg. While the story perhaps loses some of its heart in taking itself away from most of the characters we know and love, it’s an important step in filling in the details of the overarching narrative. It’s not wasted time. Tomas needs to know exactly what kind of game he’s playing, and who else is involved. His interactions with high society are genuinely funny too, the conflict between their condescending and dismissive attitudes, especially about his low birth, with his utter refusal to give a shit about it plays out so well. Saying that, one particular introduction makes Tomas seem like a cuddly teddy bear in comparison, imagine that. Better the devil you know, that’s for sure. Except the blood-soaked ending tells us something new, that we might not know him as well as we think…
This is one of the few series I’ve read where I have zero clue where or how it’s going to end. Or even what the stops are going to be on the way. What even is this book? I don’t know, I don’t care, I’m here for it, forever. Whatever the best of low fantasy is, this is it. It’s got such a crazy distinctive voice, a kind of through a glass darkly feel that is intriguing and unsettling in equal measure. More than that, it’s proper fun. I blasted through the book in a few hours, completely lost in this world. If anyone was worried about whether the pace and quality would falter in the follow up, reassure yourselves: Priest of Bones was one of the best of 2018, Priest of Lies will be one of the best of 2019. No doubt. And there’s so much more to come.
ARC via Netgalley
As in the first book, the narrative feels like a mix of oral storytelling and confession. It has the techniques of epic poetry and the immediacy of conversation. The repetition, the real time internal reflection, the sense of an invitation into the sharing of secrets... it all adds up to a story told directly to you, the reader, the friend. It’s personal and intimate, framed exclusively though Tomas Piety, and so deeply reflective of his experience and morality that it works as subtle, or sometimes not so subtle, persuasion. It’s the kind of writing that makes you complicit. As he tells it, it seems so obvious that the answer to encroachment on his territory is death, that the answer to insult is death, that the answer to betrayal is death… And so when people name him ‘devil’, there’s an instinctive reaction to say ‘no…you don’t understand. He has to do this. It’s the right thing, necessary, practical. You’d do the same. Wouldn’t you?’ He’s the best of bad options, a man with his own code, a guardian. He’s also a killer, a gangster, a liar, a spy. Every now and then there’s just an inkling that something doesn’t feel quite right, a moment of disquiet about whether you’re really on the right side of this. It’s a question reflected within the plot. There are no easy answers here, for Piety and his crew as much as for us readers. Tomas wonders about his role as we wonder about him. His ‘harsh justice’ does seem like real justice, right up until you think about it some more. What’s worse is that it’s hard to care, his personal appeal smashes right through any moral barriers. That mix of modern sensibilities, an anti-rape policy, gender, sexual, and ethnic equality, and a gang run as a meritocracy, with classics like loyalty and respect is a killer. And it’s ok for us because we’re in, part of the crew, under that umbrella of protection. As for those who aren’t, well…bad luck I guess???!
There are surprises here. Violence, of course, but emotion too. These ex-soldiers are suffering, even as brutal violence is dished out by their hands. The Hell of Abingon is a trauma hanging over them all and it becomes ever more clear that some people are losing themselves to it. How this unceasing war is going to be fought by men barely hanging on to their sanity is a troubling question. What happens if they snap? What happens if Tomas does? There’s no peace in sight. In fact, there’s a serious escalation in the power and reach of Piety’s enemies, and in their ‘quality’. The nobility have arrived on the scene and their games might play out differently, but they’re no less dangerous. For the first time, there’s a look outside the Pious Men’s streets, all the way out to Dannsburg. While the story perhaps loses some of its heart in taking itself away from most of the characters we know and love, it’s an important step in filling in the details of the overarching narrative. It’s not wasted time. Tomas needs to know exactly what kind of game he’s playing, and who else is involved. His interactions with high society are genuinely funny too, the conflict between their condescending and dismissive attitudes, especially about his low birth, with his utter refusal to give a shit about it plays out so well. Saying that, one particular introduction makes Tomas seem like a cuddly teddy bear in comparison, imagine that. Better the devil you know, that’s for sure. Except the blood-soaked ending tells us something new, that we might not know him as well as we think…
This is one of the few series I’ve read where I have zero clue where or how it’s going to end. Or even what the stops are going to be on the way. What even is this book? I don’t know, I don’t care, I’m here for it, forever. Whatever the best of low fantasy is, this is it. It’s got such a crazy distinctive voice, a kind of through a glass darkly feel that is intriguing and unsettling in equal measure. More than that, it’s proper fun. I blasted through the book in a few hours, completely lost in this world. If anyone was worried about whether the pace and quality would falter in the follow up, reassure yourselves: Priest of Bones was one of the best of 2018, Priest of Lies will be one of the best of 2019. No doubt. And there’s so much more to come.
ARC via Netgalley
July 15, 2021
If you would like to watch an interview with Peter McLean, talking about writing, War for the Rose Throne and more, here is a link to an interview on The Brothers Gwynne - The Brothers Gwynne
Priest of Lies, in short, is a fantastic sequel to Priest of Bones. Again, Peter McLean delivers an engaging story, with a unique cast of characters and an interesting world to learn more about.
Again, I listened to Priest of Lies on Audible, and it was just brilliant. If you enjoy audiobooks, this is definitely one I would recommend. The narration crafts the perfect gritty tone allowing slower pauses for thought, and then moments of adrenaline during the blood-pumping action. You could not ask for more.
“Kneeling in the temple doesn’t make you godly any more than standing in a stable makes you a horse, to my mind.”
We follow Thomas Piety a while after the conclusion of the first instalment in this series, Priest of Bones. After solidifying his authority in his urban home, with the Pious Men to carry out his commands, he finds that it is almost harder to maintain his power than it was to win it, especially when you are also secretly working for the Queen's Men, the most dangerous people in the country.
In Priest of Lies we again encounter conflict in a variety of shapes and forms, with magic making a bit more of a mark here, as well as small and large scale conflicts. On top of this Priest of Lies explores the political lens more so than its predecessor, with Thomas Piety venturing through necessity to the capital, Dannsburg, a city ruled by propriety and political gestures, with a dark underbelly of oppression and fear.
This shift in exploration maintains the heart of Priest of Bones, through exposing the brutality of gang warfare, but keeping the core loyalty these characters have together, whilst allowing for fantastic character development as Thomas Piety comes to grips with these different social spheres that he must conquer or at least learn to live with in order to survive and look after those few that he cares about.
“Perhaps law and order is just another way of saying tyranny and oppression, but I wouldn’t know.”
Priest of Lies is a really great second instalment in War for the Rose Throne, with a masterful culmination of events in a mind-blowing, awesome and fantastically managed conclusion that I did not see coming but kept me engaged throughout.
Priest of Lies, in short, is a fantastic sequel to Priest of Bones. Again, Peter McLean delivers an engaging story, with a unique cast of characters and an interesting world to learn more about.
Again, I listened to Priest of Lies on Audible, and it was just brilliant. If you enjoy audiobooks, this is definitely one I would recommend. The narration crafts the perfect gritty tone allowing slower pauses for thought, and then moments of adrenaline during the blood-pumping action. You could not ask for more.
“Kneeling in the temple doesn’t make you godly any more than standing in a stable makes you a horse, to my mind.”
We follow Thomas Piety a while after the conclusion of the first instalment in this series, Priest of Bones. After solidifying his authority in his urban home, with the Pious Men to carry out his commands, he finds that it is almost harder to maintain his power than it was to win it, especially when you are also secretly working for the Queen's Men, the most dangerous people in the country.
In Priest of Lies we again encounter conflict in a variety of shapes and forms, with magic making a bit more of a mark here, as well as small and large scale conflicts. On top of this Priest of Lies explores the political lens more so than its predecessor, with Thomas Piety venturing through necessity to the capital, Dannsburg, a city ruled by propriety and political gestures, with a dark underbelly of oppression and fear.
This shift in exploration maintains the heart of Priest of Bones, through exposing the brutality of gang warfare, but keeping the core loyalty these characters have together, whilst allowing for fantastic character development as Thomas Piety comes to grips with these different social spheres that he must conquer or at least learn to live with in order to survive and look after those few that he cares about.
“Perhaps law and order is just another way of saying tyranny and oppression, but I wouldn’t know.”
Priest of Lies is a really great second instalment in War for the Rose Throne, with a masterful culmination of events in a mind-blowing, awesome and fantastically managed conclusion that I did not see coming but kept me engaged throughout.
April 22, 2019
"Everyone has a lever that moves them, and everyone has their weakness, too. If you can’t find the lever to move someone, then you find the weakness, and you take hold of it, and you squeeze until they break."
Tomas Piety is a man that deals in absolutes. There is no ‘might, may,’ or ‘possibly’ in his vocabulary; things either are or they aren’t. He’s a simple man, really: some things he can let pass, and other things he cannot. For the things he cannot, he dispenses harsh justice. Sometimes harsh justice comes from his twin short swords, Mercy and Remorse, other times it can be much, much worse. Respect, power, and authority are the levers that move him, and the ends always justify the means… but the means have consequences. We followed his meteoric rise to power in taking back his city in Priest of Bones, but now the past is starting to catch up with him in the excellent sequel, Priest of Lies. There is a cost for the innocent blood Tomas and his Pious Men have shed. And one day, in one of the best scenes of the series so far, the cost comes knocking on his doorstep.
McLean wisely takes Piety out of his comfort zone in this book, both figuratively and literally. As the cost of his actions take a toll on Piety and his men, Tomas is forced to reckon with a new environment where he lacks his usual respect and power. It’s an interesting change to see how he reacts in situations where he doesn’t have his support network to rely on. We witness him evolve and learn more about himself, while realizing and accepting what kind of person he is.
There are so many things that this book excels at, but first and foremost is the McLean’s prose. The narrative voice of Tomas Piety is brilliantly written; much like how Piety addresses his men, his words are economical yet carry an understated strength. There is almost a complete lack of metaphors, as Piety speaks in a precise, direct language. It is a commanding, decisive language that catapults the reader ever forward. This book is so addictive that I’m convinced it is laced with the same poppy resin that the nobles score from the Golden Chains.
Although he’s a ruthless gangster who has killed countless innocents, Piety still tries to rule with his own sense of justice when his hand isn’t being forced. Unlike his rivals who base their rule on fear, Piety commands respect from his streets and ensures that his racketeering protection money does indeed protect his people. Honor, though? Where has honor ever gotten anyone? As his old captain used to say in the war, “Always cheat. Always win.”
"Fuck idealism. Where had that ever got anyone? Duty, honor, love. Fuck it all."
I can only guess as to the accuracy of its depiction, but the episodes of trauma-induced stress (known here as ‘battle shock’) that the soldiers experience was handled admirably. Piety’s brother Jochan appears to experience the worst of it over time, and its effects are exacerbated when he and other former soldiers find themselves in the midst of heavy gang violence. They all experienced the same untold horrors of war in recent years, and all have been forever scarred by it. It is something that they cannot ever hope to escape, but perhaps it can be managed. Battle shock drives some men away from the life, but for others like Jochan, it drives them deeper into madness, grief, and the bottle.
There is a wide cast of characters in the story, and I was impressed at how well developed they were – especially due to only seeing through Tomas’ point of view. “The right man for the right job” is one of Piety’s favorite adages, so it is on him to know which tool to use in which situation. There are many memorable characters like Luka, the chief minister of propaganda and social influence, or Ailsa a ruthless manipulator who does anything and everything for the crown. Bloody Anne is another favorite, acting as Piety’s second and perhaps his only true friend. There are dozens more, and they all have their place in the story, their own agency and goals. It’s remarkably impressive for a book that’s relatively short by modern fantasy standards.
It took me five days total to tear through both Priest of Bones and Priest of Lies. That should be enough of an endorsement in and of itself. McLean has crafted a memorable anti-hero in Tomas Piety, with a varied cast of criminals and enough cutting dialogue to make Elmore Leonard proud. This series is a grimdark delight, and I’m already jonesing for my next fix.
9.2 / 10
Tomas Piety is a man that deals in absolutes. There is no ‘might, may,’ or ‘possibly’ in his vocabulary; things either are or they aren’t. He’s a simple man, really: some things he can let pass, and other things he cannot. For the things he cannot, he dispenses harsh justice. Sometimes harsh justice comes from his twin short swords, Mercy and Remorse, other times it can be much, much worse. Respect, power, and authority are the levers that move him, and the ends always justify the means… but the means have consequences. We followed his meteoric rise to power in taking back his city in Priest of Bones, but now the past is starting to catch up with him in the excellent sequel, Priest of Lies. There is a cost for the innocent blood Tomas and his Pious Men have shed. And one day, in one of the best scenes of the series so far, the cost comes knocking on his doorstep.
McLean wisely takes Piety out of his comfort zone in this book, both figuratively and literally. As the cost of his actions take a toll on Piety and his men, Tomas is forced to reckon with a new environment where he lacks his usual respect and power. It’s an interesting change to see how he reacts in situations where he doesn’t have his support network to rely on. We witness him evolve and learn more about himself, while realizing and accepting what kind of person he is.
There are so many things that this book excels at, but first and foremost is the McLean’s prose. The narrative voice of Tomas Piety is brilliantly written; much like how Piety addresses his men, his words are economical yet carry an understated strength. There is almost a complete lack of metaphors, as Piety speaks in a precise, direct language. It is a commanding, decisive language that catapults the reader ever forward. This book is so addictive that I’m convinced it is laced with the same poppy resin that the nobles score from the Golden Chains.
Although he’s a ruthless gangster who has killed countless innocents, Piety still tries to rule with his own sense of justice when his hand isn’t being forced. Unlike his rivals who base their rule on fear, Piety commands respect from his streets and ensures that his racketeering protection money does indeed protect his people. Honor, though? Where has honor ever gotten anyone? As his old captain used to say in the war, “Always cheat. Always win.”
"Fuck idealism. Where had that ever got anyone? Duty, honor, love. Fuck it all."
I can only guess as to the accuracy of its depiction, but the episodes of trauma-induced stress (known here as ‘battle shock’) that the soldiers experience was handled admirably. Piety’s brother Jochan appears to experience the worst of it over time, and its effects are exacerbated when he and other former soldiers find themselves in the midst of heavy gang violence. They all experienced the same untold horrors of war in recent years, and all have been forever scarred by it. It is something that they cannot ever hope to escape, but perhaps it can be managed. Battle shock drives some men away from the life, but for others like Jochan, it drives them deeper into madness, grief, and the bottle.
There is a wide cast of characters in the story, and I was impressed at how well developed they were – especially due to only seeing through Tomas’ point of view. “The right man for the right job” is one of Piety’s favorite adages, so it is on him to know which tool to use in which situation. There are many memorable characters like Luka, the chief minister of propaganda and social influence, or Ailsa a ruthless manipulator who does anything and everything for the crown. Bloody Anne is another favorite, acting as Piety’s second and perhaps his only true friend. There are dozens more, and they all have their place in the story, their own agency and goals. It’s remarkably impressive for a book that’s relatively short by modern fantasy standards.
It took me five days total to tear through both Priest of Bones and Priest of Lies. That should be enough of an endorsement in and of itself. McLean has crafted a memorable anti-hero in Tomas Piety, with a varied cast of criminals and enough cutting dialogue to make Elmore Leonard proud. This series is a grimdark delight, and I’m already jonesing for my next fix.
9.2 / 10
September 5, 2022
Just like the first book in Peter McLean's War for the Rose Throne this ended up being a pretty good grimdark fantasy tale. The series is basically a gangster story set in a fantasy world. There is not a ton of magic but there is enough to keep things interesting and the world is an interesting one. The focus is fairly tight what with this being the tale of a gangster rise to power but there is enough hints of intrigue to give us glimpses of a fairly interesting sounding wider fantasy world! McLean is a talented storyteller and he has an engaging writing style so it is fairly easy to get sucked into the story!
The story in this second instalment of the series was captivating enough. Having claimed back his old territory during the first book the boss of the Pious Men, Thomas Piety, sets his sight on expanding his criminal empire in his home city of Ellinburg. It is a task that is not made easy as he faces resistance from rival gang bosses, the local law enforcement, and even foreign agents within the city. On top of that his secret links to the Queen's Men (the spies of the Crown) drag him on an intrigue filled trip to Dannsburg, the nations capitol, where Thomas finds intrigue in abundance and meets some interesting new friends and enemies.
I felt like the story was good. A lot of the happenings were pretty exciting and the plot moved along at a good pace. The downside to this second book in the series was the fact that Thomas himself was not quite as likeable or as easy to root for in this instalment as he was in the first and that did hurt my ability to enjoy the story. Thomas is a villain rather than your typical fantasy hero but was still easy to root for during Priest of Bones, despite his flaws, because he was mostly just fighting against other awful people. In Priest of Lies three things made him less likeable. The first was the fact that he spent more time whinging about stuff. That was annoying and reminded me of McLean's other lead character Don Drake and that is not a good thing! The second thing was that Thomas often came across as a bit of a hypocrite in this one. Hard to like a guy who moans about people who do the exact same stuff he does! The third thing I felt hurt Thomas as a character in this instalment was the fact that he indulged in a bit more sadism in this book. I find it tough to root for a character who enjoys hurting people.
The big plus for this second book in the series, besides the interesting story, was the fact that a lot of the secondary characters began to feel like they were getting fleshed out a bit more. People like Fat Luka, Cutter, Bloody Anne, and Thomas's brother all benefited from the fact that we got to know them a lot better in this one. The secondary characters have really grown on me as this story has progressed.
My favourite bit of this story was the trip to Dannsburg. Peter McLean has proven that he can tell a compelling gangster tale in this series but the trip to Dannsburg proved he could also write an exciting tale of court politics and dark intrigue!
I could easily have rated this book 5 stars as it had that lever of ability to suck me into the story but Thomas's negative character development and the fact that I felt like the ending was a bit of a let down lost this book a star. Most of the end happenings were pretty engaging and exciting but the very late developments in the last few pages of the story ended the book on a sour note and left me feeling vaguely unsatisfied with the story as a whole. I find that if an author fucks up the ending that tends to taint my final view of the whole book and that happened here. It was enough of a downer that I'm not as eager to read the third book in this series as I should be considering just how engaging this story was at times and that is a pity as I should not be finishing a book that was mostly great and engaging and be left feeling pretty meh about reading the next instalment. Authors can make blunders during the story but it always hurts a series especially bad when they drop the ball during the final wrap up!
The other thing that struck me while reading this one was the fact that the books in this series are so short. I think 10 hour audiobooks are fine for a lot of genres but I feel short-changed when I read such a tiny fantasy book. Maybe I've just been spoiled by those giant fantasy series from the 1990s like WoT, GoT, SoT, and Malazan but it feels to me like Priest of Bones and Priest of Lies should have been the single book. Can you imagine if Erikson wrote books that fit into around 10 hours of audio? His Malazan Book of the Fallen series would have been 50 books long FFS! Good fantasy should never be this short.
Rating: 4 stars. A better ending and less degradation of the tolerability of the Thomas Piety character and this could easily have been a 5 star book.
Reread Update: This held up well on reread. Just as good the second time around.
Audio Note: John Lee does a great job with this series. He gets the tone of the story and I feel his voice is a good fit for Thomas Piety despite the fact that he is probably a bit aristocratic sounding for the role. It works for me so I'm not complaining!
Audio Note: I’ve went with the British version for my reread. I prefer the more cultured voice of John Lee but David Morley Hale gave a solid performance.
The story in this second instalment of the series was captivating enough. Having claimed back his old territory during the first book the boss of the Pious Men, Thomas Piety, sets his sight on expanding his criminal empire in his home city of Ellinburg. It is a task that is not made easy as he faces resistance from rival gang bosses, the local law enforcement, and even foreign agents within the city. On top of that his secret links to the Queen's Men (the spies of the Crown) drag him on an intrigue filled trip to Dannsburg, the nations capitol, where Thomas finds intrigue in abundance and meets some interesting new friends and enemies.
I felt like the story was good. A lot of the happenings were pretty exciting and the plot moved along at a good pace. The downside to this second book in the series was the fact that Thomas himself was not quite as likeable or as easy to root for in this instalment as he was in the first and that did hurt my ability to enjoy the story. Thomas is a villain rather than your typical fantasy hero but was still easy to root for during Priest of Bones, despite his flaws, because he was mostly just fighting against other awful people. In Priest of Lies three things made him less likeable. The first was the fact that he spent more time whinging about stuff. That was annoying and reminded me of McLean's other lead character Don Drake and that is not a good thing! The second thing was that Thomas often came across as a bit of a hypocrite in this one. Hard to like a guy who moans about people who do the exact same stuff he does! The third thing I felt hurt Thomas as a character in this instalment was the fact that he indulged in a bit more sadism in this book. I find it tough to root for a character who enjoys hurting people.
The big plus for this second book in the series, besides the interesting story, was the fact that a lot of the secondary characters began to feel like they were getting fleshed out a bit more. People like Fat Luka, Cutter, Bloody Anne, and Thomas's brother all benefited from the fact that we got to know them a lot better in this one. The secondary characters have really grown on me as this story has progressed.
My favourite bit of this story was the trip to Dannsburg. Peter McLean has proven that he can tell a compelling gangster tale in this series but the trip to Dannsburg proved he could also write an exciting tale of court politics and dark intrigue!
I could easily have rated this book 5 stars as it had that lever of ability to suck me into the story but Thomas's negative character development and the fact that I felt like the ending was a bit of a let down lost this book a star. Most of the end happenings were pretty engaging and exciting but the very late developments in the last few pages of the story ended the book on a sour note and left me feeling vaguely unsatisfied with the story as a whole. I find that if an author fucks up the ending that tends to taint my final view of the whole book and that happened here. It was enough of a downer that I'm not as eager to read the third book in this series as I should be considering just how engaging this story was at times and that is a pity as I should not be finishing a book that was mostly great and engaging and be left feeling pretty meh about reading the next instalment. Authors can make blunders during the story but it always hurts a series especially bad when they drop the ball during the final wrap up!
The other thing that struck me while reading this one was the fact that the books in this series are so short. I think 10 hour audiobooks are fine for a lot of genres but I feel short-changed when I read such a tiny fantasy book. Maybe I've just been spoiled by those giant fantasy series from the 1990s like WoT, GoT, SoT, and Malazan but it feels to me like Priest of Bones and Priest of Lies should have been the single book. Can you imagine if Erikson wrote books that fit into around 10 hours of audio? His Malazan Book of the Fallen series would have been 50 books long FFS! Good fantasy should never be this short.
Rating: 4 stars. A better ending and less degradation of the tolerability of the Thomas Piety character and this could easily have been a 5 star book.
Reread Update: This held up well on reread. Just as good the second time around.
Audio Note: John Lee does a great job with this series. He gets the tone of the story and I feel his voice is a good fit for Thomas Piety despite the fact that he is probably a bit aristocratic sounding for the role. It works for me so I'm not complaining!
Audio Note: I’ve went with the British version for my reread. I prefer the more cultured voice of John Lee but David Morley Hale gave a solid performance.
February 28, 2020
‘A prince is respected on his streets, even loved.
But when others break that peace and threaten the prince, what then? When they drag him out of his place of business in irons, with crossbows trained on him, how do his people react to that?
How do you fucking think?’
~
Priest of Lies by Peter McLean is the second instalment in the War for the Rose Throne series, and as I write this review I find myself struggling to eloquently express how much I loved this book. So, in the words of Jochan Piety, “fuck a nun”, that was a good read!
Six months have passed since the events of the first book, Priest of Bones. Much has changed for Tomas Piety, now a member of noble society, he finds himself snared ever deeper in the Queen’s Men’s clutches. Although no longer a soldier, the war is far from over. The threat from the Skanian foreign invaders hangs as heavily as ever over the city of Ellingburg. As the plot thickens Tomas finds himself journeying to Dannsburg, a place where his swords are of little use. Oh no, in Dannsburg, Tomas must fight with manipulation, and clever words, or risk being amongst the countless many who simply just disappear.
From the beginning it was clear that my beloved Tomas Piety’s narrative voice was as addictive as ever; it is a voice that gets under your skin, a voice that is haunting, yet undeniably charming. In the first book I had found Tomas’ repetition of certain phrases slightly jarring, but in Priest of Lies I adored how distinctive it was to his voice. In a way, I felt comforted by it’s familiarity. At the first, ‘to my mind’ and ‘as I have written’, I knew I was back in Tomas’ world and I was eager to see where his story led. I think what I find most compelling lies in the way the narration allows us to feel real intimacy with Tomas’ character, he’s not a man to be freely open, so it is us alone who are privy to his inner feelings and motives.
As I have said there is a certain charm about Tomas that I found in Priest of Bones, which I felt was heightened even more in Priest of Lies. In his own way Tomas is a guardian; if somewhat a guardian devil, more than an angel. Nonetheless, he protects his people, he protects the vulnerable, and though he counters that with bloodshed, violence against violence if you will, you still find yourself defending him. Even though you may not agree with him. Underneath it all we understand Tomas down to his very core, and really, he does care.
I think it’s fair to say that this is a book that deals with the vast gap between the rich and the poor. The contrast between the city of Ellingburg and Dannsburg explores this topic perfectly, as Tomas is like a fish out of water in Dannsburg. You see, Dannsburg is the pinnacle of nobility, a place that revels in luxury and wealth. Whereas Ellingburg is more seedy, and it revels in its criminal underworld. But which is better? Yes the nobility want for nothing, and never fear starvation, yet this only seems to magnify their cruelty. In Dannsburg they hide behind veiled words, and false pleasantries, but underneath the bravado they still allow or even implement atrocities to their own people. They turn a blind eye to those in need, even though they have the means to help. At least in Ellingburg Tomas’ Pious Men are trying to make a difference.
~
‘If I kill you, it’s murder. If the queen has you killed, it’s called justice. That’s just the lay of things, and I know which side I’d rather be on.’
~
It is evident Tomas is not suited for noble pleasantries! Yet even in Dannsburg, he still shows himself to be the ever pragmatic man. Wherever he is, he can still decipher the ‘levers that move’ someone, and he still deals his ‘harsh justice’ to those that insult or break the boundaries of his moral code. Throughout McLean deftly navigates his way through political intrigue and gory bloody action scenes, which captivated me throughout.
I also found that the side characters come into play more in Priest of Lies, and this is what I wanted, because some of them were true gems. Billy the Boy was my favourite; he gave me such an Eleven from Stranger Things vibe. In fact, some of his scenes were so deliciously gruesome. I appreciated how McLean added and intensified the battle magic this time around, and if you’re squeamish, beware, some scenes were an absolute bloodbath! Personally, I loved these parts!
Bloody Anne remained her formidable self, with all her fierceness. Her loyalty towards Tomas, no matter how far he went, felt honestly endearing. Who wouldn’t want a friend like Bloody Anne? Then there was Cutter, who intrigued me in the first book, but he’ll have your goddamn full attention in this one! Even the new character, Mina, with her filthy mouth whilst using the cunning, held such an entertaining value.
~
‘I wondered if I would ever truly be free of battle shock. Truth be told, I doubted it. To be free of it would be to forget, and I didn’t see how I could do that. That would feel like a betrayal, of myself and of all those I fought beside.’
~
As with the first book, Priest of Lies once again deals with trauma, PTSD and battle shock. The ex-soldiers cannot escape what they have been through and the their suffering is evident throughout. There is much to admire in that, because McLean makes you feel for each and every one of them. No matter what violent deeds they may endeavour in, you understand where their demons came from, and this makes them all the more human. I appreciated the way McLean portrayed each character as broken, because let’s face it, when you’ve seen, done, or had horrific things done to you, how do you ever come back from that unscathed?
After finishing Priest of Bones I stated that Tomas Piety had jumped straight into my favourite character’s list, well, after finishing Priest of Lies this series has soared into one of my all time favourites, and we’re only on the second book! I really hope there are many more instalments to come, because I will follow Tomas Piety wherever his story may lead us, even to the very depths of Hell itself.
Thank you to the author for providing this review copy in exchange for an honest review.
But when others break that peace and threaten the prince, what then? When they drag him out of his place of business in irons, with crossbows trained on him, how do his people react to that?
How do you fucking think?’
~
Priest of Lies by Peter McLean is the second instalment in the War for the Rose Throne series, and as I write this review I find myself struggling to eloquently express how much I loved this book. So, in the words of Jochan Piety, “fuck a nun”, that was a good read!
Six months have passed since the events of the first book, Priest of Bones. Much has changed for Tomas Piety, now a member of noble society, he finds himself snared ever deeper in the Queen’s Men’s clutches. Although no longer a soldier, the war is far from over. The threat from the Skanian foreign invaders hangs as heavily as ever over the city of Ellingburg. As the plot thickens Tomas finds himself journeying to Dannsburg, a place where his swords are of little use. Oh no, in Dannsburg, Tomas must fight with manipulation, and clever words, or risk being amongst the countless many who simply just disappear.
From the beginning it was clear that my beloved Tomas Piety’s narrative voice was as addictive as ever; it is a voice that gets under your skin, a voice that is haunting, yet undeniably charming. In the first book I had found Tomas’ repetition of certain phrases slightly jarring, but in Priest of Lies I adored how distinctive it was to his voice. In a way, I felt comforted by it’s familiarity. At the first, ‘to my mind’ and ‘as I have written’, I knew I was back in Tomas’ world and I was eager to see where his story led. I think what I find most compelling lies in the way the narration allows us to feel real intimacy with Tomas’ character, he’s not a man to be freely open, so it is us alone who are privy to his inner feelings and motives.
As I have said there is a certain charm about Tomas that I found in Priest of Bones, which I felt was heightened even more in Priest of Lies. In his own way Tomas is a guardian; if somewhat a guardian devil, more than an angel. Nonetheless, he protects his people, he protects the vulnerable, and though he counters that with bloodshed, violence against violence if you will, you still find yourself defending him. Even though you may not agree with him. Underneath it all we understand Tomas down to his very core, and really, he does care.
I think it’s fair to say that this is a book that deals with the vast gap between the rich and the poor. The contrast between the city of Ellingburg and Dannsburg explores this topic perfectly, as Tomas is like a fish out of water in Dannsburg. You see, Dannsburg is the pinnacle of nobility, a place that revels in luxury and wealth. Whereas Ellingburg is more seedy, and it revels in its criminal underworld. But which is better? Yes the nobility want for nothing, and never fear starvation, yet this only seems to magnify their cruelty. In Dannsburg they hide behind veiled words, and false pleasantries, but underneath the bravado they still allow or even implement atrocities to their own people. They turn a blind eye to those in need, even though they have the means to help. At least in Ellingburg Tomas’ Pious Men are trying to make a difference.
~
‘If I kill you, it’s murder. If the queen has you killed, it’s called justice. That’s just the lay of things, and I know which side I’d rather be on.’
~
It is evident Tomas is not suited for noble pleasantries! Yet even in Dannsburg, he still shows himself to be the ever pragmatic man. Wherever he is, he can still decipher the ‘levers that move’ someone, and he still deals his ‘harsh justice’ to those that insult or break the boundaries of his moral code. Throughout McLean deftly navigates his way through political intrigue and gory bloody action scenes, which captivated me throughout.
I also found that the side characters come into play more in Priest of Lies, and this is what I wanted, because some of them were true gems. Billy the Boy was my favourite; he gave me such an Eleven from Stranger Things vibe. In fact, some of his scenes were so deliciously gruesome. I appreciated how McLean added and intensified the battle magic this time around, and if you’re squeamish, beware, some scenes were an absolute bloodbath! Personally, I loved these parts!
Bloody Anne remained her formidable self, with all her fierceness. Her loyalty towards Tomas, no matter how far he went, felt honestly endearing. Who wouldn’t want a friend like Bloody Anne? Then there was Cutter, who intrigued me in the first book, but he’ll have your goddamn full attention in this one! Even the new character, Mina, with her filthy mouth whilst using the cunning, held such an entertaining value.
~
‘I wondered if I would ever truly be free of battle shock. Truth be told, I doubted it. To be free of it would be to forget, and I didn’t see how I could do that. That would feel like a betrayal, of myself and of all those I fought beside.’
~
As with the first book, Priest of Lies once again deals with trauma, PTSD and battle shock. The ex-soldiers cannot escape what they have been through and the their suffering is evident throughout. There is much to admire in that, because McLean makes you feel for each and every one of them. No matter what violent deeds they may endeavour in, you understand where their demons came from, and this makes them all the more human. I appreciated the way McLean portrayed each character as broken, because let’s face it, when you’ve seen, done, or had horrific things done to you, how do you ever come back from that unscathed?
After finishing Priest of Bones I stated that Tomas Piety had jumped straight into my favourite character’s list, well, after finishing Priest of Lies this series has soared into one of my all time favourites, and we’re only on the second book! I really hope there are many more instalments to come, because I will follow Tomas Piety wherever his story may lead us, even to the very depths of Hell itself.
Thank you to the author for providing this review copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2019
PRIEST OF LIES begins a few months or so after the events of book one Priest of Bones. Crime boss, agitator, and military priest, Tomas Piety spends his days consolidating his power in Ellinburg, with the help of his crew of battle-hardened miscreants called The Pious Men. With such colorful names as Fat Luka, Bloody Anne (my personal favorite), and Black Billy, the Pious Men are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the daily running of things in the nearly lawless streets of the city.
The opening chapters reveal a threat brewing from the west of Ellinburg in the form of a rival gang known as The Northern Sons. There are whispers that the Sons may be being backed by the dreaded Skanians who attempted a bloody takeover of Tomas and the Pious Men's holdings in the city almost a year earlier.
Things have changed a bit for Piety, as he finds himself husband to a new wife Ailsa. Ailsa doesn't exactly hold him in high esteem, and the feeling is somewhat mutual on his end. Despite that, she has deep connections to the Queen and Piety knows that to keep running his businesses without government interference he must keep his marriage on cordial terms.
As tensions grow in the city and small pockets of garrisons begin coming home from the war, it is increasingly clear that a potential power struggle is on the horizon and Tomas must recruit as many of the returning groups as he can to stave off any threat to his money-making enterprise. Piety simply cannot abide losing what he has fought and bled so hard to build. Fattening up the membership numbers of The Pious Men seems to be the only viable solution.
As all of this is happening Tomas and Ailsa embark on a trip to her home town of Dannsburg to pay a visit to her affluent parents, among other things. Dannsburg, unlike Ellinburg, is a prosperous and thriving city of some renown. It is also the seat of power where nobles and politicians make many decisions that effect various parts of the realm, including Piety's troubled city of Ellinburg.
It doesn't take long for Tomas to realize that he is a fish out of water among the nobles and their political squabbling. But when he soon finds himself caught in the middle of a serious incident that may just get him into trouble with the mayor of Ellinburg, Tomas must utilize every one of the weapons at his disposal, both natural and unnatural. And he needs to do it quickly, for looming is the specter of his city becoming a bulging powder keg in his absence that may very well be about to explode.
PRIEST OF LIES is book number two of Peter McLean's War for the Rose Throne series and I enjoyed it a hell of a lot. Where the first book was a cacophony of flying fists, thunderous battles, and violent bloodshed, this book is a slight departure in style, focusing more on political intrigue and deception.
This isn't a bad thing though. In fact, it was quite refreshing to get to slow down a bit after the breakneck pace of Priest of Bones. I appreciated seeing McLean stretch his writing legs, creating some of the most superbly crisp dialogue between the many different characters. I'm not saying it's a walk through the daisies by any means, but there's a definite stylistic change in PRIEST OF LIES, and it works brilliantly in my opinion.
What hasn't changed is Tomas Piety and his audaciousness, brashness, and sarcastically biting humor. Piety is one of my favorite characters in any current Fantasy series. I found myself cringing when someone stoked his violent natural instincts, but also laughing out loud as he is fired off one of his classic quips to a hated enemy. The guy can make you go through so many emotions at once as a reader, yet you always feel yourself hoping that he wins in the end.
I thoroughly devoured this book and was left a little deflated when I realized that I won't have another Pious Men book to read for at least another year. Peter McLean has delivered a rousing tale of Grimdark Fantasy that puts him right up there in the same category as Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence. If you are looking for a book and series that will move you in much the same way as those giants of the genre, then Peter McLean has something wonderful in store for you with this series, and it's every bit as good if not better.
PRIEST OF LIES isn't available for purchase until July 2nd, but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. I highly recommend doing so. While you are waiting for this one, pick up the first book in the series Priest of Bones and get started on this amazing series as soon as possible. You won't regret a minute of the wild ride you are about to take!
The opening chapters reveal a threat brewing from the west of Ellinburg in the form of a rival gang known as The Northern Sons. There are whispers that the Sons may be being backed by the dreaded Skanians who attempted a bloody takeover of Tomas and the Pious Men's holdings in the city almost a year earlier.
Things have changed a bit for Piety, as he finds himself husband to a new wife Ailsa. Ailsa doesn't exactly hold him in high esteem, and the feeling is somewhat mutual on his end. Despite that, she has deep connections to the Queen and Piety knows that to keep running his businesses without government interference he must keep his marriage on cordial terms.
As tensions grow in the city and small pockets of garrisons begin coming home from the war, it is increasingly clear that a potential power struggle is on the horizon and Tomas must recruit as many of the returning groups as he can to stave off any threat to his money-making enterprise. Piety simply cannot abide losing what he has fought and bled so hard to build. Fattening up the membership numbers of The Pious Men seems to be the only viable solution.
As all of this is happening Tomas and Ailsa embark on a trip to her home town of Dannsburg to pay a visit to her affluent parents, among other things. Dannsburg, unlike Ellinburg, is a prosperous and thriving city of some renown. It is also the seat of power where nobles and politicians make many decisions that effect various parts of the realm, including Piety's troubled city of Ellinburg.
It doesn't take long for Tomas to realize that he is a fish out of water among the nobles and their political squabbling. But when he soon finds himself caught in the middle of a serious incident that may just get him into trouble with the mayor of Ellinburg, Tomas must utilize every one of the weapons at his disposal, both natural and unnatural. And he needs to do it quickly, for looming is the specter of his city becoming a bulging powder keg in his absence that may very well be about to explode.
PRIEST OF LIES is book number two of Peter McLean's War for the Rose Throne series and I enjoyed it a hell of a lot. Where the first book was a cacophony of flying fists, thunderous battles, and violent bloodshed, this book is a slight departure in style, focusing more on political intrigue and deception.
This isn't a bad thing though. In fact, it was quite refreshing to get to slow down a bit after the breakneck pace of Priest of Bones. I appreciated seeing McLean stretch his writing legs, creating some of the most superbly crisp dialogue between the many different characters. I'm not saying it's a walk through the daisies by any means, but there's a definite stylistic change in PRIEST OF LIES, and it works brilliantly in my opinion.
What hasn't changed is Tomas Piety and his audaciousness, brashness, and sarcastically biting humor. Piety is one of my favorite characters in any current Fantasy series. I found myself cringing when someone stoked his violent natural instincts, but also laughing out loud as he is fired off one of his classic quips to a hated enemy. The guy can make you go through so many emotions at once as a reader, yet you always feel yourself hoping that he wins in the end.
I thoroughly devoured this book and was left a little deflated when I realized that I won't have another Pious Men book to read for at least another year. Peter McLean has delivered a rousing tale of Grimdark Fantasy that puts him right up there in the same category as Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence. If you are looking for a book and series that will move you in much the same way as those giants of the genre, then Peter McLean has something wonderful in store for you with this series, and it's every bit as good if not better.
PRIEST OF LIES isn't available for purchase until July 2nd, but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. I highly recommend doing so. While you are waiting for this one, pick up the first book in the series Priest of Bones and get started on this amazing series as soon as possible. You won't regret a minute of the wild ride you are about to take!
April 18, 2019
"It's quite a thing to see a human body explode."
I am not a fast reader. Usually it takes me about a month to read a book. I enjoyed Priest of Bones and devoured it in four days. Priest of Lies took me two.
Priest of Lies is fast paced, dark fantasy gangster-bloodbath with characters you can't help loving, even if you wouldn't turn your back on any of them.
Mclean continues the stylised use of character voice and pacing that made Priest of Bones a success, but this story felt even richer to me. Perhaps it's because I've known the characters for longer, but what I enjoy most in Mclean's books isn't necessarily the overarching plot, but the relationships and interactions between the characters. There's plenty of that, and though the overall story does progress, to me, Priest of Lies was mostly a book about the people that inhabit it.
One of the key themes that Mclean explores throughout this book, even more so than in Priest of Bones, is the idea of PTSD and the effects of trauma on even the strongest people. The different ways in which characters dealt with the horrific things that they had seen, and continue to see, adds a necessary element of humanity to the gang of gangsters, humanising them and showing that they are just as messed up as everyone else. There were also interesting moments of sympathy and humanity from them, and that kept the balance. Usually I hate anything about gangsters, but Mclean gets this dead on right.
This is no doubt a fairly dark read. Frequently bloody, large amounts of death both on and off screen, and torture all play a part. But then, if you are averse to those things then it's odd that you'd be reading the sequel to Priest of Bones. Tomas Piety continues to be that strange "moral gangster" type, who on the one hand will hang anyone who crosses him, but simultaneously is probably better for the people than the uncaring government as even if he extorts them, he does protect them.
The book is divided into three sections, and the middle section features a very welcome change of location. The new location felt like a real place to me, though it is not overly described and I felt that I understood the way that it worked, and the people that lived there. There's some fantastic intrigue going on, and I hope that Mclean never runs for office because if he does, woe betide those that go up against him. For me, this section was the highlight of the book.
All of the old gang make reappearances. Many people's favourite character is Bloody Anne, but for me it's always Aisla. A new character, Sasura, was also very enjoyable to read about. I'm very hopeful that we'll get a third instalment in the series because I'm sure that Aisla's story isn't quite over yet, and there are enough threads left dangling at the end to tempt anyone back.
Who is this book for: Readers of any kind of speculative fiction will enjoy Priest of Lies, but in particular if you enjoy low fantasy, and like your characters to live near to a pig sty, then this is the book for you.
Thomas Piety puts the 'die!' into priest. Or he would do anyway. Those are the times we live in.
I am not a fast reader. Usually it takes me about a month to read a book. I enjoyed Priest of Bones and devoured it in four days. Priest of Lies took me two.
Priest of Lies is fast paced, dark fantasy gangster-bloodbath with characters you can't help loving, even if you wouldn't turn your back on any of them.
Mclean continues the stylised use of character voice and pacing that made Priest of Bones a success, but this story felt even richer to me. Perhaps it's because I've known the characters for longer, but what I enjoy most in Mclean's books isn't necessarily the overarching plot, but the relationships and interactions between the characters. There's plenty of that, and though the overall story does progress, to me, Priest of Lies was mostly a book about the people that inhabit it.
One of the key themes that Mclean explores throughout this book, even more so than in Priest of Bones, is the idea of PTSD and the effects of trauma on even the strongest people. The different ways in which characters dealt with the horrific things that they had seen, and continue to see, adds a necessary element of humanity to the gang of gangsters, humanising them and showing that they are just as messed up as everyone else. There were also interesting moments of sympathy and humanity from them, and that kept the balance. Usually I hate anything about gangsters, but Mclean gets this dead on right.
This is no doubt a fairly dark read. Frequently bloody, large amounts of death both on and off screen, and torture all play a part. But then, if you are averse to those things then it's odd that you'd be reading the sequel to Priest of Bones. Tomas Piety continues to be that strange "moral gangster" type, who on the one hand will hang anyone who crosses him, but simultaneously is probably better for the people than the uncaring government as even if he extorts them, he does protect them.
The book is divided into three sections, and the middle section features a very welcome change of location. The new location felt like a real place to me, though it is not overly described and I felt that I understood the way that it worked, and the people that lived there. There's some fantastic intrigue going on, and I hope that Mclean never runs for office because if he does, woe betide those that go up against him. For me, this section was the highlight of the book.
All of the old gang make reappearances. Many people's favourite character is Bloody Anne, but for me it's always Aisla. A new character, Sasura, was also very enjoyable to read about. I'm very hopeful that we'll get a third instalment in the series because I'm sure that Aisla's story isn't quite over yet, and there are enough threads left dangling at the end to tempt anyone back.
Who is this book for: Readers of any kind of speculative fiction will enjoy Priest of Lies, but in particular if you enjoy low fantasy, and like your characters to live near to a pig sty, then this is the book for you.
Thomas Piety puts the 'die!' into priest. Or he would do anyway. Those are the times we live in.
February 26, 2021
Hello and Happy Friday, Bookish Folk!
Apparently I review this series on a Friday because I reviewed Priest of Bones on a Friday too!
Happy Friday!
As usual this review an be foundHERE.
Here are a few things you can expect from this book:
An impressive and standout dark fantasy sequel;
It is harsher, bloodier and even more intense than Priest of Bones;
A page turner that will consume you; and
just an exceptional read you need to make time for.
A little about the narration…
ONE OF THE BEST…(If you were reading this on my blog you would see a Jack Black gif - see all the thing your missing out!)
On to the full review…
An impressive and standout dark fantasy sequel from Peter McLean for a series which is shaping up to be an all-time favourite.
I honestly don’t think I have a bad thing to say about this instalment of the War for the Rose Throne series. It is just so incredibly good and I enjoyed every page.
As a second instalment review I am going to try and keep it shorter, because as usual most of my points of book one still stand for book two. We see more of the world and a much wider spectrum of people in this instalment. I loved seeing more interaction between the side characters and their own story arcs. I think it shows the talent of a writer when they can give you fully fleshed out arcs for other characters when a story is told from a single POV, and that is just one of the amazing things McLean delivers in this instalment.
McLean upped his game in this book from an already superb first instalment. Priest of Lies is harsher, bloodier, more intense and focus’ even more on Tomas and his journey to becoming even more powerful than he already is. Tomas is an incredible character, and listening to the audiobook for this was even better because it only added to an already distinct and unique character voice. I think he may be up there as one of my favourite characters written. He was such a deep and complex character, experiencing his journey through his sole POV is nothing short of outstanding.
I would also like to note I did not read this straight after book one, there was a gap of maybe just over a month, and I forgot nothing about book one. I slotted straight back into this world and its characters with an ease not many books achieve.
I really do not feel like I can accurately explain just how exceptional this book is, it throws so much at you and none of it is predictable and will for sure shock you to the core. It is heartfelt and harrowing at times and filled with betrayal and gore at others.
It has the characters, the plot, the pace, the prose, the world and everything in-between that makes for a super book. It is just that good.
This is one of those books you read and then feel terrible about how long you then have to wait for the follow up book, and I’m not even waiting that long compared to those who read this via an ARC! I devoured this book, I often listen to audiobooks for an hour or two, longer if I am super busy with cleaning and the likes but it is not often I just listen sat down because I fall asleep or my attention goes elsewhere. I listened to this book for a solid five hours in one sitting, it is so riveting and captivating you don’t want to stop reading/listening and there is never a dull moment.
I highly recommend this series.
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
BUY THE FOOKIN HARD BACK Y’ALL! This book (as I have said) upped its game from an already brilliant book so its and easy HB purchase for this one.
ORDER HERE: Audible | Hardcover | Kindle | Bookshop.org | paperback
You can also find Book Recaps and Bookish Lists over at my blog The Book in Hand
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR READING AND SEE YOU SOON!
Apparently I review this series on a Friday because I reviewed Priest of Bones on a Friday too!
Happy Friday!
As usual this review an be foundHERE.
Here are a few things you can expect from this book:
An impressive and standout dark fantasy sequel;
It is harsher, bloodier and even more intense than Priest of Bones;
A page turner that will consume you; and
just an exceptional read you need to make time for.
A little about the narration…
ONE OF THE BEST…(If you were reading this on my blog you would see a Jack Black gif - see all the thing your missing out!)
On to the full review…
An impressive and standout dark fantasy sequel from Peter McLean for a series which is shaping up to be an all-time favourite.
I honestly don’t think I have a bad thing to say about this instalment of the War for the Rose Throne series. It is just so incredibly good and I enjoyed every page.
As a second instalment review I am going to try and keep it shorter, because as usual most of my points of book one still stand for book two. We see more of the world and a much wider spectrum of people in this instalment. I loved seeing more interaction between the side characters and their own story arcs. I think it shows the talent of a writer when they can give you fully fleshed out arcs for other characters when a story is told from a single POV, and that is just one of the amazing things McLean delivers in this instalment.
McLean upped his game in this book from an already superb first instalment. Priest of Lies is harsher, bloodier, more intense and focus’ even more on Tomas and his journey to becoming even more powerful than he already is. Tomas is an incredible character, and listening to the audiobook for this was even better because it only added to an already distinct and unique character voice. I think he may be up there as one of my favourite characters written. He was such a deep and complex character, experiencing his journey through his sole POV is nothing short of outstanding.
I would also like to note I did not read this straight after book one, there was a gap of maybe just over a month, and I forgot nothing about book one. I slotted straight back into this world and its characters with an ease not many books achieve.
I really do not feel like I can accurately explain just how exceptional this book is, it throws so much at you and none of it is predictable and will for sure shock you to the core. It is heartfelt and harrowing at times and filled with betrayal and gore at others.
It has the characters, the plot, the pace, the prose, the world and everything in-between that makes for a super book. It is just that good.
This is one of those books you read and then feel terrible about how long you then have to wait for the follow up book, and I’m not even waiting that long compared to those who read this via an ARC! I devoured this book, I often listen to audiobooks for an hour or two, longer if I am super busy with cleaning and the likes but it is not often I just listen sat down because I fall asleep or my attention goes elsewhere. I listened to this book for a solid five hours in one sitting, it is so riveting and captivating you don’t want to stop reading/listening and there is never a dull moment.
I highly recommend this series.
THE RANKS:
BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE
BUY THE FOOKIN HARD BACK Y’ALL! This book (as I have said) upped its game from an already brilliant book so its and easy HB purchase for this one.
ORDER HERE: Audible | Hardcover | Kindle | Bookshop.org | paperback
You can also find Book Recaps and Bookish Lists over at my blog The Book in Hand
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR READING AND SEE YOU SOON!
February 7, 2024
A fantastic grimdark sequel
October 30, 2022
Better than first book. My biggest gripe with Priest of bones was that it's lot of things are underutilized and wile that still is the case it's less so. Whole priest thing is still just a gimmick but worldbuilding have progressed to a point where it has it's unique, distinctive feel. Story goes to similar direction and makes step from low fantasy Peaky blinders to full grimdark fantasy and at this point Lies of Locke Lamora is more apt comparison but with less banter and more serious gritty tone. Protagonist gooes from gangster but caring archetype to full anti-hero. Story has more clear direction and while dialogues are still repetitive and pretty mediocre it's overall more exciting and it's encouraging that series has taken a clear direction so I'm definitively aboard for the rest of the series.
March 5, 2019
A stellar second book in this exciting new series.
McLean takes us - and Tomas Piety, head of the Pious Men - on a somewhat different journey to that we fought through in Bones. We're in high society this time, and Tomas for one is not happy about it.
I did wonder where we'd go in Lies, because Bones is so tightly focused on Tomas regaining his 'businesses' as head of the Pious Men, and the wider issues serve more as backdrop than anything, but McLean manages to bring in those wider issues without losing the core elements of gangster behaviour, and I imagine this was quite a balancing act for him. Fortunately for us, he's managed it with aplomb.
As with Bones, Lies is written in first person, so when Tomas goes off to Dannsburg and its high society, we do lose that immediacy of life in the Stink that featured so strongly in the first book. As Bloody Anne is my favourite character, I found I did miss her a lot during this half of the book, but as mentioned, McLean needed to do something different and this was it. It was enjoyable to see Tomas doing his best fish out of water impression when he's hobnobbing with the nobles, however, and I loved that he never even attempts to hide his working-class status. In fact, he quite likes shoving it in the faces of the entitled idiots, which I applaud.
A couple of twists I half-expected and a couple of others I didn't see coming at all, and everything is set up for a conclusion I can't even begin to work out - and that's a compliment. I have NO IDEA where McLean is going with this series, which means I'll be champing at the bit for the third book and would quite like it next week, please and thank you.
All I am sure of is that there will be blood in the streets of Ellinburg before we're done.
I found there were a few verbal flourishes, shall we say, that for me personally were overused, but that's a niggle not a problem, and other readers probably won't even notice. I'm just really pedantic about things like that. That and the lack of Bloody Anne in the middle were my only detractors from this knife-sharp and imaginative second in the series, and those are minor enough.
Bring on Priest of Book 3!
McLean takes us - and Tomas Piety, head of the Pious Men - on a somewhat different journey to that we fought through in Bones. We're in high society this time, and Tomas for one is not happy about it.
I did wonder where we'd go in Lies, because Bones is so tightly focused on Tomas regaining his 'businesses' as head of the Pious Men, and the wider issues serve more as backdrop than anything, but McLean manages to bring in those wider issues without losing the core elements of gangster behaviour, and I imagine this was quite a balancing act for him. Fortunately for us, he's managed it with aplomb.
As with Bones, Lies is written in first person, so when Tomas goes off to Dannsburg and its high society, we do lose that immediacy of life in the Stink that featured so strongly in the first book. As Bloody Anne is my favourite character, I found I did miss her a lot during this half of the book, but as mentioned, McLean needed to do something different and this was it. It was enjoyable to see Tomas doing his best fish out of water impression when he's hobnobbing with the nobles, however, and I loved that he never even attempts to hide his working-class status. In fact, he quite likes shoving it in the faces of the entitled idiots, which I applaud.
A couple of twists I half-expected and a couple of others I didn't see coming at all, and everything is set up for a conclusion I can't even begin to work out - and that's a compliment. I have NO IDEA where McLean is going with this series, which means I'll be champing at the bit for the third book and would quite like it next week, please and thank you.
All I am sure of is that there will be blood in the streets of Ellinburg before we're done.
I found there were a few verbal flourishes, shall we say, that for me personally were overused, but that's a niggle not a problem, and other readers probably won't even notice. I'm just really pedantic about things like that. That and the lack of Bloody Anne in the middle were my only detractors from this knife-sharp and imaginative second in the series, and those are minor enough.
Bring on Priest of Book 3!
June 16, 2019
"I laughed, but it was a cold laugh. A hollow one, with no humor in it.
I felt cold all over, and I knew why that was. The battle shock was coming down on me, of course it was. I had the inside of a man's head running down my cheeks. There were bodies piled on the floor, and blood everywhere. Someone had broken an oil lamp in the fighting, and one of the carpets was on fire because of it and giving off a thick, acrid smoke.
Against the far wall, a Skanian magician had been torn into five pieces by the fury of a young girl's twisted mind. His ruptured entrails were spooled across the floor in the considerable space between his pelvis and his rib cage, and the whole mess reeked of shit.
Abingon had smelled like that, of blood and shit, fire and death. It smelled good.
I threw back my head and laughed, and laughed.
It smelled like victory."
Priest of Bones came out not even a year ago.. ONE YEAR. Yet here we are blessed by the Grimdark Gods with another installment in the War for the Rose Throne series. Damn, it feels glorious to be back in this world!
This picks up six months after the end of the first book, which sees Tomas Piety and his Pious Men ruling the streets of Ellinburg. They've rebuilt The Wheels after it was left devastated on his wedding day. In fact, the entire eastern side of Ellinburg now belongs to them. But of course, everything is not sunshine and rainbows.
Oh no. Most definitely not.
The Northern Sons, a rival gang in the west lead by Bloodhands, rule by terror. They are causing trouble and so.. they must learn a lesson.
There's plenty of death and destruction. It's brutal and gory and gritty as fuck. It's also quite profound. Peter McLean sets himself apart from the fantasy pack by writing quite extensively about PTSD (battle shock, as they call it.) The varying levels of mental illness that these ex-soldiers face as one of the main themes of this series (or at least throughout the first two books) was handled beautifully, adding emotional rawness to the storytelling.
Once again, there is a large cast of characters. I didn't find it as difficult to get used to the various individuals this time around, however. They are well-developed, nuanced and memorable. Bloody Anne is still my favorite (although my one issue with this book is the lack of her presence in the middle. GIVE ME ALL THE BLOODY ANNE!!) Ailsa rose to the top, as well. I truly adored her in this! Fat Luka, Billy the Boy, Jochan and Cutter were other standouts for me! Then there is Tomas Piety himself. What a fascinating, complicated, brilliant character! His narrative voice is just.. captivating. Dauntless, commanding, wrathful yet.. moral? If that's possible in this environment. He continues to struggle with his own sense of justice. What's right and what's wrong. Piety is a bloody sensational character!
Priest of Lies is better than its already fantastic predecessor. Book three cannot come soon enough, especially after that ending! It also reiterated that I need to read McLean's Burned Man series, because I am clearly a fan of his clever storytelling!
(Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and ACE for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication**
I felt cold all over, and I knew why that was. The battle shock was coming down on me, of course it was. I had the inside of a man's head running down my cheeks. There were bodies piled on the floor, and blood everywhere. Someone had broken an oil lamp in the fighting, and one of the carpets was on fire because of it and giving off a thick, acrid smoke.
Against the far wall, a Skanian magician had been torn into five pieces by the fury of a young girl's twisted mind. His ruptured entrails were spooled across the floor in the considerable space between his pelvis and his rib cage, and the whole mess reeked of shit.
Abingon had smelled like that, of blood and shit, fire and death. It smelled good.
I threw back my head and laughed, and laughed.
It smelled like victory."
Priest of Bones came out not even a year ago.. ONE YEAR. Yet here we are blessed by the Grimdark Gods with another installment in the War for the Rose Throne series. Damn, it feels glorious to be back in this world!
This picks up six months after the end of the first book, which sees Tomas Piety and his Pious Men ruling the streets of Ellinburg. They've rebuilt The Wheels after it was left devastated on his wedding day. In fact, the entire eastern side of Ellinburg now belongs to them. But of course, everything is not sunshine and rainbows.
Oh no. Most definitely not.
The Northern Sons, a rival gang in the west lead by Bloodhands, rule by terror. They are causing trouble and so.. they must learn a lesson.
There's plenty of death and destruction. It's brutal and gory and gritty as fuck. It's also quite profound. Peter McLean sets himself apart from the fantasy pack by writing quite extensively about PTSD (battle shock, as they call it.) The varying levels of mental illness that these ex-soldiers face as one of the main themes of this series (or at least throughout the first two books) was handled beautifully, adding emotional rawness to the storytelling.
Once again, there is a large cast of characters. I didn't find it as difficult to get used to the various individuals this time around, however. They are well-developed, nuanced and memorable. Bloody Anne is still my favorite (although my one issue with this book is the lack of her presence in the middle. GIVE ME ALL THE BLOODY ANNE!!) Ailsa rose to the top, as well. I truly adored her in this! Fat Luka, Billy the Boy, Jochan and Cutter were other standouts for me! Then there is Tomas Piety himself. What a fascinating, complicated, brilliant character! His narrative voice is just.. captivating. Dauntless, commanding, wrathful yet.. moral? If that's possible in this environment. He continues to struggle with his own sense of justice. What's right and what's wrong. Piety is a bloody sensational character!
Priest of Lies is better than its already fantastic predecessor. Book three cannot come soon enough, especially after that ending! It also reiterated that I need to read McLean's Burned Man series, because I am clearly a fan of his clever storytelling!
(Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and ACE for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication**
July 4, 2019
Priest of Lies is the second book in the War for the Rose Throne series, and given the first book, Priest of Bones was one of my favourite reads of last year to say I was eager to pick up this instalment would be an understatement. Whilst I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the opener it will still make considerable waves in the genre not least due to its clever straddling of a few different but related sub-genres and thereby widening its appeal. Now is probably the aptest time to say that it is pretty much essential to have read PoB before diving into this as it follows on right from where the previous book left off and nothing will make much sense to you otherwise.
As it's been quite some time luckily since the first instalment but Mr McLean swiftly and concisely runs through the main happenings from PoB to serve as a reminder; I found this ideal and the author struck the perfect balance between giving enough information to jog the memory but not quite enough to weigh the book down before it has even really gotten underway. It really sets the mood and can make or break the later instalments in a series so serious props for making it work so damn well (for me at least).
Those of you who appreciate strongly atmospheric historic settings and action-packed plots will find this as riveting and addictive as I did. It's a thoroughly original and engaging sequel and one in which the cast develop and evolve considerably, and although I didn't adore this quite as much as Priest of Bones it is without a doubt still a five-star read. Of course, books are incredibly subjective and really all about personal preference. I can see this being celebrated in a plethora of year-end lists as it is an astonishingly creative and fascinating novel. Another rare gem from the pen of Peter McLean! Many thanks to Jo Fletcher Books for an ARC.
As it's been quite some time luckily since the first instalment but Mr McLean swiftly and concisely runs through the main happenings from PoB to serve as a reminder; I found this ideal and the author struck the perfect balance between giving enough information to jog the memory but not quite enough to weigh the book down before it has even really gotten underway. It really sets the mood and can make or break the later instalments in a series so serious props for making it work so damn well (for me at least).
Those of you who appreciate strongly atmospheric historic settings and action-packed plots will find this as riveting and addictive as I did. It's a thoroughly original and engaging sequel and one in which the cast develop and evolve considerably, and although I didn't adore this quite as much as Priest of Bones it is without a doubt still a five-star read. Of course, books are incredibly subjective and really all about personal preference. I can see this being celebrated in a plethora of year-end lists as it is an astonishingly creative and fascinating novel. Another rare gem from the pen of Peter McLean! Many thanks to Jo Fletcher Books for an ARC.
July 5, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆+
Synopsis
Tomas Piety has been many things: soldier, priest, gangster…and spy. As Tomas’s power grows, the nobility better watch their backs, in this dark and gritty epic fantasy series.
People are weak, and the poorer and more oppressed they are, the weaker they become–until they can’t take it anymore. And when they rise up…may the gods help their oppressors.
When Tomas Piety returned from the war, he just wanted to rebuild his empire of crime with his gang of Pious Men. But his past as a spy for the Queen’s Men drew him back in and brought him more power than he ever imagined.
Now, with half of his city in ashes and the Queen’s Men at his back, the webs of political intrigue stretch out from the capital to pull Tomas in. Dannsburg is calling.
In Dannsburg the nobility fight with words, not blades, but the results are every bit as bloody. In this pit of beasts, Tomas must decide once and for all whether he is truly the people’s champion…or just a priest of lies.
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of Priest of Lies (War for the Rose Throne #2) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.
A stunning sequel to one of my favorite books of 2018, McLean delivers exactly what I have been waiting for a year on and then some. Part Mark Lawrence’s Road Brothers, part Godfather, part Peaky Blinders, maybe a stab of Joe Abercrombie, Priest of Lies continues the push of the Low Fantasy bar up to new heights and its about damn time people started paying attention.
Having been introduced to Thomas Piety and his Pious Men already in Book 1 (which was less than a year ago for those who complain about having to wait on sequels…), settling back into the swing of things with PoL is like getting back with your old mates from high school: comfortability, lack of timidity, and with the knowledge that you are about to get in the middle of some sh*t. We’ve all been there.
While Book 1 was focused on the return from war and reclamation of Piety’s empire, Book 2 expands the vision into retaining and expanding, but also exploring new territory. The world-building that felt so claustrophobic now allows for room to breath and gives us a glimpse outside of The Stink; a view at how the other half lives. Though more politically steered than fighty-fighty, stabby-stabby, there is still plenty of blood, guts, and brandy to go round. On top of that, we continue to grow accustomed to some of the secondary characters like Bloody Anne and Billy the Boy, though maybe not as much as we would like seeing as Piety ventures off with his wife for an extended time.
McLean writes with a very unique voice, and while that isn’t the only thing he does well, it is a very important one. It stands out amongst the crowd and is a piece to the puzzle I always look for in a novel or series. On top of that, he writes every scene like the next moment could be a battle, a war, or an explosion. You are just waiting for the powder to ignite, creating chaos for the motley crew and ever increasing the avenues with which the novel can traverse.
All in all, Priest of Lies is bloody-brilliant and does a fantastic turning the series up a notch. If you enjoyed Book 1, you probably already have a copy; but if you haven’t given these books a shot yet and you are a fan or low, or even grimdark, fantasy, I suggest you correct your course. You won’t regret it.
Synopsis
Tomas Piety has been many things: soldier, priest, gangster…and spy. As Tomas’s power grows, the nobility better watch their backs, in this dark and gritty epic fantasy series.
People are weak, and the poorer and more oppressed they are, the weaker they become–until they can’t take it anymore. And when they rise up…may the gods help their oppressors.
When Tomas Piety returned from the war, he just wanted to rebuild his empire of crime with his gang of Pious Men. But his past as a spy for the Queen’s Men drew him back in and brought him more power than he ever imagined.
Now, with half of his city in ashes and the Queen’s Men at his back, the webs of political intrigue stretch out from the capital to pull Tomas in. Dannsburg is calling.
In Dannsburg the nobility fight with words, not blades, but the results are every bit as bloody. In this pit of beasts, Tomas must decide once and for all whether he is truly the people’s champion…or just a priest of lies.
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of Priest of Lies (War for the Rose Throne #2) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.
A stunning sequel to one of my favorite books of 2018, McLean delivers exactly what I have been waiting for a year on and then some. Part Mark Lawrence’s Road Brothers, part Godfather, part Peaky Blinders, maybe a stab of Joe Abercrombie, Priest of Lies continues the push of the Low Fantasy bar up to new heights and its about damn time people started paying attention.
Having been introduced to Thomas Piety and his Pious Men already in Book 1 (which was less than a year ago for those who complain about having to wait on sequels…), settling back into the swing of things with PoL is like getting back with your old mates from high school: comfortability, lack of timidity, and with the knowledge that you are about to get in the middle of some sh*t. We’ve all been there.
While Book 1 was focused on the return from war and reclamation of Piety’s empire, Book 2 expands the vision into retaining and expanding, but also exploring new territory. The world-building that felt so claustrophobic now allows for room to breath and gives us a glimpse outside of The Stink; a view at how the other half lives. Though more politically steered than fighty-fighty, stabby-stabby, there is still plenty of blood, guts, and brandy to go round. On top of that, we continue to grow accustomed to some of the secondary characters like Bloody Anne and Billy the Boy, though maybe not as much as we would like seeing as Piety ventures off with his wife for an extended time.
McLean writes with a very unique voice, and while that isn’t the only thing he does well, it is a very important one. It stands out amongst the crowd and is a piece to the puzzle I always look for in a novel or series. On top of that, he writes every scene like the next moment could be a battle, a war, or an explosion. You are just waiting for the powder to ignite, creating chaos for the motley crew and ever increasing the avenues with which the novel can traverse.
All in all, Priest of Lies is bloody-brilliant and does a fantastic turning the series up a notch. If you enjoyed Book 1, you probably already have a copy; but if you haven’t given these books a shot yet and you are a fan or low, or even grimdark, fantasy, I suggest you correct your course. You won’t regret it.
September 15, 2020
Sometimes a sequel is worth waiting for. In the first book in the series, Thomas Piety and his bloody crew have survived the endless battle that made a generation of widows and, having witnessed hellfire and utter destruction, return home to find their territory gone. Well, this crew went right back into battle on the home front. Being the ruthless gangsters that they are, they reclaim their territory, their taverns, their brothels, their streets paying protection money.
As bloody, as ruthless, as grim, was that novel, book two Priest of Lies crosses into new territory as Piety and his marriage of convenience with the noble woman who secretly serves the crown takes Tom Piety, Bloody Anne, and the rest of the crew into a world of palace intrigue, betrayals, secret alliances and more. Often the battles here are more subtle like the beginning of Dune where Duke Leto figures out the lay of the Land, who to trust, whose knife in the back will sting the most.
This is a mature fantasy story filled with swordplay and magicians but not elves or dwarves or fairies. This is a battle for power that Machiavelli or Don Corleone would appreciate with move and counter-move played out.
The narration is all from Tom Piety’s point of view. This means that, when he is in the dark about the motives of the Queen’s Men, so is the reader. This means that when he looks around blindly for the betrayer, the reader is in the dark as much as he is.
The characters are all well-drawn and the visit to the capital is eye-opening.
Where the bloody hell is book three?
As bloody, as ruthless, as grim, was that novel, book two Priest of Lies crosses into new territory as Piety and his marriage of convenience with the noble woman who secretly serves the crown takes Tom Piety, Bloody Anne, and the rest of the crew into a world of palace intrigue, betrayals, secret alliances and more. Often the battles here are more subtle like the beginning of Dune where Duke Leto figures out the lay of the Land, who to trust, whose knife in the back will sting the most.
This is a mature fantasy story filled with swordplay and magicians but not elves or dwarves or fairies. This is a battle for power that Machiavelli or Don Corleone would appreciate with move and counter-move played out.
The narration is all from Tom Piety’s point of view. This means that, when he is in the dark about the motives of the Queen’s Men, so is the reader. This means that when he looks around blindly for the betrayer, the reader is in the dark as much as he is.
The characters are all well-drawn and the visit to the capital is eye-opening.
Where the bloody hell is book three?
July 14, 2019
Once again bloody brilliant!
I loved getting to see a bit more of the world in this one, and the characters and story were just as realistic and engaging as they were in Priest of Lies.
Flew through the whole book in 1,5 days and I can't believe I'll have to wait ages for the next one now....
Quite some new twists and turns and new challenges made for an addictive read!
I loved getting to see a bit more of the world in this one, and the characters and story were just as realistic and engaging as they were in Priest of Lies.
Flew through the whole book in 1,5 days and I can't believe I'll have to wait ages for the next one now....
Quite some new twists and turns and new challenges made for an addictive read!
May 27, 2019
Peter McLean delights again!
Many thanks to the author and the publisher for providing an ARC via Netgalley.
I have thoroughly enjoyed Book 1 and was thrilled to learn that Book 2 does not ruin the fun but expands the story further.
The author does an amazing job with the way he delivers his story. It has a unique ring to it. It feels like the author is telling you the story sitting accross the kitchen table. There is some rhythmic repetitiveness, pace and colloquialisms that make this read quite an enthralling experience. I ended up gobbling it in one sitting (during a conveniently timed long-haul flight).
What is it like? There are plenty of comparisons out there... But for my tastes, it brings together the best from The Godfather by Mario Puzo and fantasy fiction by Joe Abercrombie.
I absolutely loved it and encourage others to discover (or continue) this series as well ;)
Many thanks to the author and the publisher for providing an ARC via Netgalley.
I have thoroughly enjoyed Book 1 and was thrilled to learn that Book 2 does not ruin the fun but expands the story further.
The author does an amazing job with the way he delivers his story. It has a unique ring to it. It feels like the author is telling you the story sitting accross the kitchen table. There is some rhythmic repetitiveness, pace and colloquialisms that make this read quite an enthralling experience. I ended up gobbling it in one sitting (during a conveniently timed long-haul flight).
What is it like? There are plenty of comparisons out there... But for my tastes, it brings together the best from The Godfather by Mario Puzo and fantasy fiction by Joe Abercrombie.
I absolutely loved it and encourage others to discover (or continue) this series as well ;)
July 14, 2019
Priest of Lies was bloody worth it. The novel is total masterclass.
August 15, 2019
It was even better than PoB! I absolutely loved it!! Can't wait for the next, Thomas and Bloody Anne are among my all time favorite characters now...
July 3, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This book was amazing. I loved the first book in this series, Priest of Bones, so I was really looking forward to reading this installment. I had incredibly high expectations for this book and it not only met but exceeded those expectations. I actually spent a little more time reading this one than I usually would but I really enjoyed being able to savor this story and make it last just a little bit longer. I haven't been this excited about a new series in a long time.
This is a very dark fantasy. The story is often brutal and some of the situations feel almost hopeless. I really appreciate the fact that this series has proven to be a little more violent than your average fantasy. Despite the title, this is not a religious tale. Not at all. Yes, the main character, Tomas, is a priest but he is not a particularly religious one. He may listen to your confession but he is also just as likely to use his daggers when an example needs to be made. I think his role serves to make his character just a bit more interesting.
This book picks up shortly after the events of the first installment. This is a series that really needs to be read in order. Tomas and his gang have taken back their part of town. Not only are they trying to hold their area, but they are also following the orders being handed down by the Queen's Men. Things are never easy and there always seems to be a fight to tackle.
This story is told from Tomas's point of view. He is a natural leader that isn't afraid to make the difficult choices. He doesn't explain himself and demands complete obedience. One of Tomas's biggest strengths is his ability to pick the right people to support him and lead by example. He knows what to share and what to keep to himself to achieve the results he needs.
This story was really exciting. I thought that there was a really good balance of action and political maneuvers. There were times when I had no idea how things would work out and I found myself worrying about Tomas and his crew. There were some pretty surprising moments and some interesting character developments that kept everything really interesting.
I would highly recommend this series to fans of dark fantasy. I really would like to see this series in the hands of more readers because it is simply amazing. I cannot wait to read more of this fantastic series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This was incredibly good. It took me a little bit longer to read this one than usual but I enjoyed savoring this story. I never wanted to put this book down and enjoyed every single page. Tomas is a wonderful character and I loved seeing him maneuver through various tricky situations. I love the world that this story is set in and the characters are phenomenal. This book could be quite brutal at times and there were plenty of exciting scenes. I liked the first book in the series just a hair more than this installment but they are both solid 5 star reads for me.
This book was amazing. I loved the first book in this series, Priest of Bones, so I was really looking forward to reading this installment. I had incredibly high expectations for this book and it not only met but exceeded those expectations. I actually spent a little more time reading this one than I usually would but I really enjoyed being able to savor this story and make it last just a little bit longer. I haven't been this excited about a new series in a long time.
This is a very dark fantasy. The story is often brutal and some of the situations feel almost hopeless. I really appreciate the fact that this series has proven to be a little more violent than your average fantasy. Despite the title, this is not a religious tale. Not at all. Yes, the main character, Tomas, is a priest but he is not a particularly religious one. He may listen to your confession but he is also just as likely to use his daggers when an example needs to be made. I think his role serves to make his character just a bit more interesting.
This book picks up shortly after the events of the first installment. This is a series that really needs to be read in order. Tomas and his gang have taken back their part of town. Not only are they trying to hold their area, but they are also following the orders being handed down by the Queen's Men. Things are never easy and there always seems to be a fight to tackle.
This story is told from Tomas's point of view. He is a natural leader that isn't afraid to make the difficult choices. He doesn't explain himself and demands complete obedience. One of Tomas's biggest strengths is his ability to pick the right people to support him and lead by example. He knows what to share and what to keep to himself to achieve the results he needs.
This story was really exciting. I thought that there was a really good balance of action and political maneuvers. There were times when I had no idea how things would work out and I found myself worrying about Tomas and his crew. There were some pretty surprising moments and some interesting character developments that kept everything really interesting.
I would highly recommend this series to fans of dark fantasy. I really would like to see this series in the hands of more readers because it is simply amazing. I cannot wait to read more of this fantastic series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This was incredibly good. It took me a little bit longer to read this one than usual but I enjoyed savoring this story. I never wanted to put this book down and enjoyed every single page. Tomas is a wonderful character and I loved seeing him maneuver through various tricky situations. I love the world that this story is set in and the characters are phenomenal. This book could be quite brutal at times and there were plenty of exciting scenes. I liked the first book in the series just a hair more than this installment but they are both solid 5 star reads for me.
July 12, 2019
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
Priest of Bones saw Tomas Piety returning to Ellinburg after three years away fighting in a war for Queen and country that has now ended. Upon his return, Tomas re-established The Pious Men who, before the war conscripted everyone of age and took them away had been one of the gangs that ruled the Ellinburg underworld. Tomas and the now, newly reformed Pious Men (made up of Ellinburg natives and original Pious Men like Tomas and his brother, Jochan and veterans who were part of his regiment in the war and who chose to follow him back to Ellinburg and the chance of a new life) subsequently took back their businesses, their streets and reclaimed their territory from the foreign invaders who had stolen into Ellinburg during the war.
Priest of Lies takes place six months after the explosive ending to Priest of Bones. Tomas and his Pious Men have consolidated their power, expanded their various criminal enterprises and now hold all of Eastern Ellinburg, not just the Stink but now the Wheels and the Docks too after taking them over from rival gang bosses. This is a larger territory for Tomas and he is now one of the most powerful men in Ellinburg. The Western side of Ellinburg, however, is now ruled over by the Northern Sons, a rival gang with foreign backers. Those outsiders are grasping, reaching out from the shadows and trying to take control of the city and looking to start another war.
The stakes are bigger, raised higher in Priest of Lies as Tomas becomes further embroiled in the affairs of the crown while on the streets of Ellinburg things get messy as the turf war between the Pious Men and the Northern Sons rages on. In the words of Tomas “my streets, my law, my justice”.
Unlike Priest of Bones which was solely set in Ellinburg. Priest of Lies sees Tomas (along with a few others) spread his wings from the decay, filth, shit and squalor of the Stink and travel to the gilded finery and clean living of Dannsburg, the capital and the seat of the Rose Throne.
The change of setting takes place for the middle of the book and works well to expand the story. The new city opens up the world but it is also a double-edged sword. While Tomas finds himself walking the streets of Dannsburg he leaves behind most of the Pious Men back in Ellinburg and you do, on occasion find yourself missing them and wondering what they are getting up to. It’s a minor thing though, born more of my love for certain characters who didn’t accompany him and my longing for them than any other reason.
The part of the story that takes place in Dannsburg is fascinating. It is a slight change of pace to what we are used to on the streets of Ellinburg with far less fighting and a larger focus on conspiracies and politics. Not only do we learn more about the Queen’s Men but also about the machinations at play. In Dannsburg and away from his crew, we see Tomas thrust deeper into the swirling maelstrom of intrigue as he attempts to navigate the pitfalls of nobility. He is cast on the tides, on the murky and treacherous waters of high society where he watches and learns the game of manipulation. The deft way of words, how they have power and how the wrong words, words spoken to the wrong person can have consequences. In court, words are weapons taking the place of daggers and swords and they can be just as deadly.
While Tomas is in Dannsburg the turf war between the Pious Men and the Northern Sons has been raging back in Ellinburg. By the time Tomas returns to his own streets the tensions are boiling over and things have drastically deteriorated making the city a ticking time bomb that is ready to go off at the smallest spark. Tomas’s return to Ellinburg leads to the breathless final part of the book where the events that have been building really start to come to a head.
As the leader of the Pious Men, Tomas demands respect. He is loyal to those who are loyal to him but don’t cross or disrespect him otherwise he will deliver harsh justice. If you treat him with that respect, if you are loyal to him and if you pay your protection money on time then he will look after you and your business. He doesn’t just take the money, he does right by his people and he looks after them. He is their prince and they are his people.
Tomas is world-weary and wise. He has seen a lot, lived through a lot and risen up from being a nobody, from nothing to become someone of authority, of status and, in the leader of the Pious Men someone to be respected. Seen through his eyes and told through his words no matter what is going on in Priest of Lies Tomas is the heart and the soul as his narrative drives the story forward. He has a very individual and unique voice that comes to life through the writing of McLean (which is exceptional throughout). He is built from spit and sawdust rather than perfume, polish and powder. He is sometimes blunt, direct and forthright but, he can also be poetic, deep and profound with a biting black humour and whip crack retorts. There is a depth to him, a strength of character and we see him grow and learn more about himself. He is a tremendous character but he isn’t the only character to develop and along with Tomas, his brother, Jochan, Bloody Anne, his second in the Pious Men, Billy the Boy, Cutter, Fat Luka and Ailsa all have roles to play in the story and all develop too. There are many other characters too, some old, some new and those that I have just mentioned are, for me the standout with Bloody Anne, Billy the Boy and Jochan my own personal favourites. Regardless of whether they are main characters or peripheral, they feel real and the relationships between many of them are complicated.
McLean has created a hard world that is populated by hard men. A world of broken glass and rusted barbwire, a world that can cut you, that can scar you. The Pious Men who fought in the war are mostly, to a degree all damaged, all traumatised by what they did and what they saw, the violence that they witnessed and the battles that they were part of. Tomas is prone to bouts of and Jochan suffers badly, is broken from battle shock and it has an impact on many of them. The war changed those who fought in it, left them all with scars, some of the body, some that can be seen and some of the mind, some that can’t be seen and have never healed. The trauma, the shock, the memories, they are always there. Hidden and buried but biding their time. Waiting behind the eyes to pull you back into the war, reliving the horrors of Abingon and Messia, the horrors that they lived through.
Priest of Lies expertly mixes together organised crime and gritty gangland drama set in a fantasy world with a dash of magic. The narrative is compelling and told by a distinctive voice, the chapters are short, snappy and keep you coming back for more, the action, bloody, brutal and visceral, the setting vivid and the story with its betrayal, revelations and twists appealing and darkly entertaining…I bloody loved it!
Priest of Bones was fantastic, Priest of Lies is better. It is utterly brilliant, over far too soon, another dose of top-quality gangtasy (gangsters and fantasy) and features an ending that left me longing for, yearning for the next book. I mean, it is the perfect mix of gangsters and fantasy, what’s not to love?!?
Priest of Bones saw Tomas Piety returning to Ellinburg after three years away fighting in a war for Queen and country that has now ended. Upon his return, Tomas re-established The Pious Men who, before the war conscripted everyone of age and took them away had been one of the gangs that ruled the Ellinburg underworld. Tomas and the now, newly reformed Pious Men (made up of Ellinburg natives and original Pious Men like Tomas and his brother, Jochan and veterans who were part of his regiment in the war and who chose to follow him back to Ellinburg and the chance of a new life) subsequently took back their businesses, their streets and reclaimed their territory from the foreign invaders who had stolen into Ellinburg during the war.
Priest of Lies takes place six months after the explosive ending to Priest of Bones. Tomas and his Pious Men have consolidated their power, expanded their various criminal enterprises and now hold all of Eastern Ellinburg, not just the Stink but now the Wheels and the Docks too after taking them over from rival gang bosses. This is a larger territory for Tomas and he is now one of the most powerful men in Ellinburg. The Western side of Ellinburg, however, is now ruled over by the Northern Sons, a rival gang with foreign backers. Those outsiders are grasping, reaching out from the shadows and trying to take control of the city and looking to start another war.
The stakes are bigger, raised higher in Priest of Lies as Tomas becomes further embroiled in the affairs of the crown while on the streets of Ellinburg things get messy as the turf war between the Pious Men and the Northern Sons rages on. In the words of Tomas “my streets, my law, my justice”.
Unlike Priest of Bones which was solely set in Ellinburg. Priest of Lies sees Tomas (along with a few others) spread his wings from the decay, filth, shit and squalor of the Stink and travel to the gilded finery and clean living of Dannsburg, the capital and the seat of the Rose Throne.
The change of setting takes place for the middle of the book and works well to expand the story. The new city opens up the world but it is also a double-edged sword. While Tomas finds himself walking the streets of Dannsburg he leaves behind most of the Pious Men back in Ellinburg and you do, on occasion find yourself missing them and wondering what they are getting up to. It’s a minor thing though, born more of my love for certain characters who didn’t accompany him and my longing for them than any other reason.
The part of the story that takes place in Dannsburg is fascinating. It is a slight change of pace to what we are used to on the streets of Ellinburg with far less fighting and a larger focus on conspiracies and politics. Not only do we learn more about the Queen’s Men but also about the machinations at play. In Dannsburg and away from his crew, we see Tomas thrust deeper into the swirling maelstrom of intrigue as he attempts to navigate the pitfalls of nobility. He is cast on the tides, on the murky and treacherous waters of high society where he watches and learns the game of manipulation. The deft way of words, how they have power and how the wrong words, words spoken to the wrong person can have consequences. In court, words are weapons taking the place of daggers and swords and they can be just as deadly.
While Tomas is in Dannsburg the turf war between the Pious Men and the Northern Sons has been raging back in Ellinburg. By the time Tomas returns to his own streets the tensions are boiling over and things have drastically deteriorated making the city a ticking time bomb that is ready to go off at the smallest spark. Tomas’s return to Ellinburg leads to the breathless final part of the book where the events that have been building really start to come to a head.
As the leader of the Pious Men, Tomas demands respect. He is loyal to those who are loyal to him but don’t cross or disrespect him otherwise he will deliver harsh justice. If you treat him with that respect, if you are loyal to him and if you pay your protection money on time then he will look after you and your business. He doesn’t just take the money, he does right by his people and he looks after them. He is their prince and they are his people.
Tomas is world-weary and wise. He has seen a lot, lived through a lot and risen up from being a nobody, from nothing to become someone of authority, of status and, in the leader of the Pious Men someone to be respected. Seen through his eyes and told through his words no matter what is going on in Priest of Lies Tomas is the heart and the soul as his narrative drives the story forward. He has a very individual and unique voice that comes to life through the writing of McLean (which is exceptional throughout). He is built from spit and sawdust rather than perfume, polish and powder. He is sometimes blunt, direct and forthright but, he can also be poetic, deep and profound with a biting black humour and whip crack retorts. There is a depth to him, a strength of character and we see him grow and learn more about himself. He is a tremendous character but he isn’t the only character to develop and along with Tomas, his brother, Jochan, Bloody Anne, his second in the Pious Men, Billy the Boy, Cutter, Fat Luka and Ailsa all have roles to play in the story and all develop too. There are many other characters too, some old, some new and those that I have just mentioned are, for me the standout with Bloody Anne, Billy the Boy and Jochan my own personal favourites. Regardless of whether they are main characters or peripheral, they feel real and the relationships between many of them are complicated.
McLean has created a hard world that is populated by hard men. A world of broken glass and rusted barbwire, a world that can cut you, that can scar you. The Pious Men who fought in the war are mostly, to a degree all damaged, all traumatised by what they did and what they saw, the violence that they witnessed and the battles that they were part of. Tomas is prone to bouts of and Jochan suffers badly, is broken from battle shock and it has an impact on many of them. The war changed those who fought in it, left them all with scars, some of the body, some that can be seen and some of the mind, some that can’t be seen and have never healed. The trauma, the shock, the memories, they are always there. Hidden and buried but biding their time. Waiting behind the eyes to pull you back into the war, reliving the horrors of Abingon and Messia, the horrors that they lived through.
Priest of Lies expertly mixes together organised crime and gritty gangland drama set in a fantasy world with a dash of magic. The narrative is compelling and told by a distinctive voice, the chapters are short, snappy and keep you coming back for more, the action, bloody, brutal and visceral, the setting vivid and the story with its betrayal, revelations and twists appealing and darkly entertaining…I bloody loved it!
Priest of Bones was fantastic, Priest of Lies is better. It is utterly brilliant, over far too soon, another dose of top-quality gangtasy (gangsters and fantasy) and features an ending that left me longing for, yearning for the next book. I mean, it is the perfect mix of gangsters and fantasy, what’s not to love?!?
June 20, 2023
2nd read 5 Stars !!! 2023 re-read.
original comments below
5 Stars
Everything about the second installment of 'Priest of Lies' is bigger this time around. Father Piety and the gang are still at it, but the stakes are higher, the battles are bloodier and the surprises just keep on coming! I loved every minute of it, and there were no dull moments. The comedy is interspersed with the narrative in such a way that even the violence becomes more palatable. Father Piety character is much more fleshed out and evolved, as Peter Mclean ties it all together- now including an essential character as one of the "Queen's man".
Finally I can't stress this enough how amazing and impeccable the voice-over acting of 'John Lee'. The guy is a genius, a true master of his craft, and I'm sure my experience of the story was vastly improved due to the narrative-acting and entertainment of hearing Lee's performance!
original comments below
5 Stars
Everything about the second installment of 'Priest of Lies' is bigger this time around. Father Piety and the gang are still at it, but the stakes are higher, the battles are bloodier and the surprises just keep on coming! I loved every minute of it, and there were no dull moments. The comedy is interspersed with the narrative in such a way that even the violence becomes more palatable. Father Piety character is much more fleshed out and evolved, as Peter Mclean ties it all together- now including an essential character as one of the "Queen's man".
Finally I can't stress this enough how amazing and impeccable the voice-over acting of 'John Lee'. The guy is a genius, a true master of his craft, and I'm sure my experience of the story was vastly improved due to the narrative-acting and entertainment of hearing Lee's performance!
June 9, 2019
Originally posted over at booknest.eu. Some minor spoilers for book 1 of the series, Priest of Bones, ahead.
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It’s an old proverb and one I wondered about as I read Peter McLean’s sequel to last year’s dastardly good Priest of Bones. I was considering this proverb in relation to main character and first-person narrator Tomas Piety, gangster, priest and puppet spy in unwilling service to the Queen’s Men. By book’s end, I remain uncertain as to the answer; Tomas’ complexity continues to confound me, many of his choices brutal by necessity. Piety is entangled; he starts off caught under the thumb of Ailsa, the Queen’s Man he was wed to at the end of Priest of Bones, and only sinks deeper into the mud that is comprised of layer upon layer of political intrigue. The events Tomas witnessed and the crimes he commited in the previous book are child’s game next to all that he is forced to do over the nearly 400-pages of Priest of Lies. Buckle up, dear reader. This one isn’t for the faint of heart.
Dannsburg, home to the Queen, is majestic. Shining, clean, well-guarded…and the very definition of a police state, a capital city that every real-world absolute monarch or fascist dictator would kill for. And have, prob’ly. Everyone watches everyone else; seditious speech is suicidal, drunken complaints are deadly and even silence in the wrong moment is unwise.
The tightly written alley fights take a step back for the sake of social functions. These are no less dangerous—the big difference is, Tomas’s greatest weapons, his name and reputation, mean next to nothing in the capital.
Ellinburg is far away indeed and that I accented time and time again by the use of binary oppositions: criminal life in Ellinburg runs amok, as Priest of Bones showed us, and rarely with any sort of lawful intervention, while the nobility is meek, far removed from events and too haughty to so much as realise its own irrelevance. In Dannsburg, it’s the criminal element that is all but irrelevant. The local gang boss is a glorified whoremonger and tavern keeper while the streets are ruled, day and night, by the Queen’s Guard, men and women who accept no bribes and don’t look the other way, as is the case with the City Guard in Ellinburg. The two cities are reflections of one another, the same power structures at work but turned on their heads. The Queen’s authority, in a bizarre twist, seems to operate much like the Pious Men’s criminal network. The parallels pile on and on, creating one of the most interesting societal contrasts I’ve seen in fantasy since Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive.
The time spent in Dannsburg constitutes a third of the novel but it might be the most striking part of Priest of Lies. That’s something of a surprise because it’s also that third of the novel that sees us far away from the old fan-favourites: Sir Eland, Jochan Piety, Cutter, Rosie and the most important of them all, Bloody Anne. These characters were enormously important to the success of the first book and leaving them behind for a sizable chunk of this sequel must’ve felt like a tiny gamble to Peter McLean. If so, it paid off and then some. To the author’s credit, he manages to surround Tomas with a cast of new and fascinating characters with ease, some favourites of mine being a colonel who served in the same hellhole as Tomas did, as well as a Lord Chief Judicar with an interesting secret or two under his ceremonial staff, or whatever it is that Judicars have.
Ailsa is as fascinating as always. Her motivations are interesting but nowhere near as interesting as her emotions, or lack thereof. Are those feelings we see, that Tomas himself sees on occasion, cracks in the mask of the Queen’s Man, or are they veils she uses to pull Tomas’s strings along? This question, too, is left unanswered. I firmly believe in one possibility, but you might prefer the other and Tomas…well, Tomas might believe in something else entirely.
Billy the Boy, cunning man possessed with demonic or godlike powers, decides to dual-class, in D&D terms. I’m continually fascinated by the magic of this world, the fact that it’s rather a rare thing and the distinction between the cunning as a ‘low magic’ and the ‘higher magics’ that’re the study of solar bodies and mathematics and…more advanced sciences, possibly? There was some development in that direction but nowhere near enough for my hungry mind and I hope to Our Lady that the threads introduced here will see further development down the line. Billy is, of course, the gateway to this whole world of the arcane and a finer gateway we couldn’t hope for.
Priest of Lies continues its predecessor’s exploration of the effects of PTSD (or shellshock, as I believe it’s called through the novel), most often with the character of Jochan but, more and more as the novel progresses, with Tomas himself. Though he seemed to have a handle on his experiences in Abingon in the last book, some events in this one show just how fickle the illusion of control that Tomas maintains is, and how easy to shatter.
Let’s take a moment to discuss voice. Tomas’s narration is extremely effective because McLean established and has continually kept to the letter of the part of the cunning, lowly educated but incredibly smart and even devious gangster. Tomas often repeats certain phrases which serve to reinforce his personality and thought patterns in our minds. It takes skill to pull storytelling like this off, make it feel authentic. Authentic enough to make us forget about the author, Priest of Lies once again feels like reading the lost otherworldly diary of one of the most fascinating criminals in contemporary fantasy.
I’ve come to deeply appreciate the second book in a series. They hold certain dangers, of course, but with the foundation laid down, so much can be accomplished in the hands of a capable author. Peter McLean proves that he is proficient indeed, taking Tomas’s story to a whole new level, bloodier, darker and more profound than before, and I’m happy to give his latest novel a score of 10/10! Along it, my personal seal of recommendation to all fans of darker fantasy.
You’ll enjoy this book if you:
• enjoy complex political intrigue;
• find morally grey leading and supporting characters beyond fascinating; are interested on the effects of ever greater power on the human condition;
• just really like creepy kids with insane magical powers;
• are looking to adopt creepy kids with insane magical powers;
• are looking to use creepy kids with insane magical powers to best suit your criminal empire;
• And more! Prob’ly.
I received an ARC of Priest of Lies in return for an honest review.
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It’s an old proverb and one I wondered about as I read Peter McLean’s sequel to last year’s dastardly good Priest of Bones. I was considering this proverb in relation to main character and first-person narrator Tomas Piety, gangster, priest and puppet spy in unwilling service to the Queen’s Men. By book’s end, I remain uncertain as to the answer; Tomas’ complexity continues to confound me, many of his choices brutal by necessity. Piety is entangled; he starts off caught under the thumb of Ailsa, the Queen’s Man he was wed to at the end of Priest of Bones, and only sinks deeper into the mud that is comprised of layer upon layer of political intrigue. The events Tomas witnessed and the crimes he commited in the previous book are child’s game next to all that he is forced to do over the nearly 400-pages of Priest of Lies. Buckle up, dear reader. This one isn’t for the faint of heart.
Dannsburg, home to the Queen, is majestic. Shining, clean, well-guarded…and the very definition of a police state, a capital city that every real-world absolute monarch or fascist dictator would kill for. And have, prob’ly. Everyone watches everyone else; seditious speech is suicidal, drunken complaints are deadly and even silence in the wrong moment is unwise.
The tightly written alley fights take a step back for the sake of social functions. These are no less dangerous—the big difference is, Tomas’s greatest weapons, his name and reputation, mean next to nothing in the capital.
This was how society folk fought their battles, I had come to realise: not with blades but with insults disguised as courtesy. It was a whole different world to mine, I knew that much.
Ellinburg is far away indeed and that I accented time and time again by the use of binary oppositions: criminal life in Ellinburg runs amok, as Priest of Bones showed us, and rarely with any sort of lawful intervention, while the nobility is meek, far removed from events and too haughty to so much as realise its own irrelevance. In Dannsburg, it’s the criminal element that is all but irrelevant. The local gang boss is a glorified whoremonger and tavern keeper while the streets are ruled, day and night, by the Queen’s Guard, men and women who accept no bribes and don’t look the other way, as is the case with the City Guard in Ellinburg. The two cities are reflections of one another, the same power structures at work but turned on their heads. The Queen’s authority, in a bizarre twist, seems to operate much like the Pious Men’s criminal network. The parallels pile on and on, creating one of the most interesting societal contrasts I’ve seen in fantasy since Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive.
The time spent in Dannsburg constitutes a third of the novel but it might be the most striking part of Priest of Lies. That’s something of a surprise because it’s also that third of the novel that sees us far away from the old fan-favourites: Sir Eland, Jochan Piety, Cutter, Rosie and the most important of them all, Bloody Anne. These characters were enormously important to the success of the first book and leaving them behind for a sizable chunk of this sequel must’ve felt like a tiny gamble to Peter McLean. If so, it paid off and then some. To the author’s credit, he manages to surround Tomas with a cast of new and fascinating characters with ease, some favourites of mine being a colonel who served in the same hellhole as Tomas did, as well as a Lord Chief Judicar with an interesting secret or two under his ceremonial staff, or whatever it is that Judicars have.
Ailsa is as fascinating as always. Her motivations are interesting but nowhere near as interesting as her emotions, or lack thereof. Are those feelings we see, that Tomas himself sees on occasion, cracks in the mask of the Queen’s Man, or are they veils she uses to pull Tomas’s strings along? This question, too, is left unanswered. I firmly believe in one possibility, but you might prefer the other and Tomas…well, Tomas might believe in something else entirely.
Billy the Boy, cunning man possessed with demonic or godlike powers, decides to dual-class, in D&D terms. I’m continually fascinated by the magic of this world, the fact that it’s rather a rare thing and the distinction between the cunning as a ‘low magic’ and the ‘higher magics’ that’re the study of solar bodies and mathematics and…more advanced sciences, possibly? There was some development in that direction but nowhere near enough for my hungry mind and I hope to Our Lady that the threads introduced here will see further development down the line. Billy is, of course, the gateway to this whole world of the arcane and a finer gateway we couldn’t hope for.
Priest of Lies continues its predecessor’s exploration of the effects of PTSD (or shellshock, as I believe it’s called through the novel), most often with the character of Jochan but, more and more as the novel progresses, with Tomas himself. Though he seemed to have a handle on his experiences in Abingon in the last book, some events in this one show just how fickle the illusion of control that Tomas maintains is, and how easy to shatter.
Let’s take a moment to discuss voice. Tomas’s narration is extremely effective because McLean established and has continually kept to the letter of the part of the cunning, lowly educated but incredibly smart and even devious gangster. Tomas often repeats certain phrases which serve to reinforce his personality and thought patterns in our minds. It takes skill to pull storytelling like this off, make it feel authentic. Authentic enough to make us forget about the author, Priest of Lies once again feels like reading the lost otherworldly diary of one of the most fascinating criminals in contemporary fantasy.
I’ve come to deeply appreciate the second book in a series. They hold certain dangers, of course, but with the foundation laid down, so much can be accomplished in the hands of a capable author. Peter McLean proves that he is proficient indeed, taking Tomas’s story to a whole new level, bloodier, darker and more profound than before, and I’m happy to give his latest novel a score of 10/10! Along it, my personal seal of recommendation to all fans of darker fantasy.
You’ll enjoy this book if you:
• enjoy complex political intrigue;
• find morally grey leading and supporting characters beyond fascinating; are interested on the effects of ever greater power on the human condition;
• just really like creepy kids with insane magical powers;
• are looking to adopt creepy kids with insane magical powers;
• are looking to use creepy kids with insane magical powers to best suit your criminal empire;
• And more! Prob’ly.
I received an ARC of Priest of Lies in return for an honest review.
October 22, 2019
Outstanding, bloody brilliant fantasy!
The streets of Ellinburg are hotly contested between The Pious Men and The Northern Sons and the streets will run with blood, but Tomas Piety is now caught up in the game of politics, travelling to the capital Dannsburg with his new wife, a spy for the queen. Tomas Piety, son of a bricklayer and war veteran, does not get on with many of these people, and it is a delight to see.
The second book in the War for the Rose Throne is even better than the first, which takes some doing in my eyes. Action, intrigue, dangerous politics, creepy magic and an incredibly strong cast of interesting characters mean there is not a dull moment in this book - in fact I read it in three days, and given my time constraints that meant staying up late and getting up early to read it...which is really the best compliment I can give a book: that wonderful and rare 'just one more chapter' experience.
The streets of Ellinburg are hotly contested between The Pious Men and The Northern Sons and the streets will run with blood, but Tomas Piety is now caught up in the game of politics, travelling to the capital Dannsburg with his new wife, a spy for the queen. Tomas Piety, son of a bricklayer and war veteran, does not get on with many of these people, and it is a delight to see.
The second book in the War for the Rose Throne is even better than the first, which takes some doing in my eyes. Action, intrigue, dangerous politics, creepy magic and an incredibly strong cast of interesting characters mean there is not a dull moment in this book - in fact I read it in three days, and given my time constraints that meant staying up late and getting up early to read it...which is really the best compliment I can give a book: that wonderful and rare 'just one more chapter' experience.
December 30, 2019
Sometimes when you lead you have to do things you might not be proud of. You have to know the levers that move a person and be prepared to use them. - Tomas Piety
This installment was even better than its predecessor Priest of Bones, to my mind ;-)
Can't wait to see where things go in the War for the Rose Throne book #3!
This installment was even better than its predecessor Priest of Bones, to my mind ;-)
Can't wait to see where things go in the War for the Rose Throne book #3!
October 29, 2020
I'll allow that was a great read. RTC.
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