The Dark Defiles by Richard K. Morgan

Ringil Eskiath, Archeth Indamaninarmal, and Egar the Dragonbane are back in this final installment of A Land Fit for Heroes. Ringil leads an expedition to search for the remains of the Illwrack Changeling, a champion of the Aldrain. The search has been fruitless so far and the members of the expedition are growing restless.

In anticipation of a fight, Ringil has to master the ikinri'ska, a skill that could make a difference later on. But Hjel hints that Ringil's attempt could be dangerous. Meanwhile, the other forces seem to be working their own schemes as well. The Dark Court offered Ringil help, the helmsmen seem to be hiding information, and the stakeholders in the expedition are uneasy. Maybe this time, Ringil's skills and wit might not be enough to get them through.

While most of the book has been consistent in its action scenes and is full of surprises, there are a few changes that I have noticed. One is the tendency for characters to have telepathic conversations and monologues. It gets a bit annoying as it became more common. Another is the inconsistent pace which is similar to the second book. Those details aside, the book still has the familiar elements that made the series intriguing.

I love the author's humor, the details of his world-building, and the magic system. The final few chapters raised some questions however, and I find myself wanting some more and almost betrayed.

The story of the first book of the series seemed shallow, but that changed as the author gradually revealed that the world in which the story was set has depth after all. If there's anything that stood out the most in the series, it's Ringil. Even if I had a few misgivings about the series, I think Ringil was interesting enough to get me though the three books. A Land Fir for Heroes lacked something, but the author was able to create unforgettable characters and my overall experience of the series was still fun and satisfying.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Links to my review of the other books of A Land Fit for Heroes series:

The Steel Remains

The Cold Commands

The Cold Commands by Richard Morgan

As presaged in the latter part of the first book of the series The Steel Remains, Ringil Eskiath is estranged again from his family; this time officially by his father. Some time after his encounter with Seethlaw and the other dwenda, Gil found a new mission and has vowed to disrupt the slave trade which he has discovered previously. Meanwhile, a messenger warns Archeth Indamaninarmal of a coming disaster, a disaster which might have something to do, or not, with Egar Dragonbane's discovery in the Afa'marag temple.

In this second installment of A Land Fit for Heroes series, more information is revealed to the reader about some of the Dark Court and its possible involvement in the unfolding of the events. There is also more mention of the Grey Places. Magic and history are interwoven beautifully and the pace is consistent with the first book. The characters, narration, and action scenes are familiar to the reader and so it is easy to pick up where you've left.

There was enough history and the tension was already set in the first book, all that was needed was to turn it up a notch, provide a few hints about what's going on and why but still leave enough room for speculation for the next book. Whether the book accomplished that or not depends on the reader's preference.

The best words to describe the series so far are neat and fascinating. Neat because it does not have a convoluted plot (not that that is bad of course) and I don't see a lot of inconsistency; and fascinating because of its magic and combat, not to mention the characters. If you liked the first book, I think The Cold Commands is not going to disappoint. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan

Ringil Eskiath is a bored hero of Gallows Gap. Although full of regrets of the past and is shunned by his family because of his sexual preferences, no one really notices it beneath his cocky and arrogant attitude. 

One day he was surprised to see his mother asking him for help to look for a female cousin sold into slavery. Gil agrees reluctantly. Taking with him his Kiriath sword Ravensfriend, he visits old friends and meets new enemies. What he was about to unravel however involved more at stake than just the cousin he was supposed to rescue.

Egar the Dragonbane is the clanmaster of the Skaranak, but his family and his people are dissatisfied with his ways. Ways and thinking which have been changed during his time at the wars. Meanwhile, Archeth Indamaninarmal is tied to the Yhelteth emperor. Being the only half-Kiriath half-human left, she feels out place. Both Egar and Archeth are old friends of Gil. A gathering of dangerous forces and a prophecy brings the three together ten years after the war against the Scaled Folk.

Although Gil's mission seems to be easy at first, his inquiries prove that there is more that's happening behind the scenes. And what seems to be three separate stories come together halfway through the first book of the series A Land Fit for Heroes. 

The technology and magic used in the book are not uncommon, but the concepts are easier to grasp. The author does not play too much with words to explain what he wants to say. His facility with the language is impressive and more evident in the action scenes. He's straightforward and unpretentious in his choice of words. His style is consistent with the lead character Gil. Honest, sometimes too blunt for his own good, but fulfills what is expected of him and still has some surprises left for the reader to make him an exciting character.

I have to warn the reader of Gil's and Archeth's sexual preferences (and yes, there are some bed scenes). If you're not open-minded about two characters who do not follow the usual bad-ass, straight male character and sexy, strong female character, then the book is not for you. I think however that it's one of the strong points of the book. Gil's and Archeth's sexual orientation do not diminish the quality of the book at all.

The only issue I have is that the point-of-view jumps from one character to another sometimes within a scene. But that small detail aside, the book has interesting fight scenes and magic. Plus, it's not as complicated as some other series with several story-lines to follow.

Rating: 9 out of 10