Item: The Cold Commands
Rating: 3.00
Author: moraa

by Richard Morgan

Ringil Eskiath, scarred wielder of the kiriath-forged broadsword Ravensfriend, is a man on the run - from his past and the family who have disowned him, from the slave trade magnates of Trelayne who want him dead, and apparently from the dark gods themselves, who are taking an interest but making no more sense than they ever have. Outlawed and exiled from his ancestral home in the north, Ringil has only one place left to turn - Yhelteth, city heart of the southern Empire, where perhaps he can seek asylum with the kiriath half-breed Archeth Indamaninarmal, former war comrade and now high-up advisor to the Emperor Jhiral Khimran II.

But Archeth Indamaninarmal has problems of her own to contend with, as does her house guest, bodyguard and one time steppe nomad Egar the Dragonbane. And far from gaining the respite he is seeks, Ringil will instead find himself implicated in fresh schemes and doubtful allegiances no safer than those he has left behind. Old enemies are stirring, the old order is rotted through and crumbling, and though no-one yet knows it, the city of Yhelteth is about to explode . . .

There are no alternatives. You live with what is. And you don't let your ghosts rent room in your head.

3.5 stars

It took me half the book to realise why I'd been confused half the book. My conclusion: this is more character-driven than the first book. I loved the opportunity to explore Ringil's head in particular and see more of Egar in the city. Heck, even the Archeth-Jhiral dynamics were fun to read. But the book felt like a build-up to the third book than anything and that took away some of the joy for me.

Still, I enjoyed it well enough. Let's hope the conclusion will merit the build-up it's received.

The Cold Commands (Land Fit for Heroes, #2)

by Richard Morgan

Reviewed by moraa on Apr 30, 2020

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