#Unhewn Throne Trilogy

[bluesey-182]

i hate when the ending of a book is like "yeah i GUESS that makes sense for the story" because you can't even be mad at the author for writing an ending that doesn't fit the book. instead you're sitting there like "but WHY THE FUCK would you make the CHOICE to end it like that?" did you successfully end the story? yes. do i like how you did it in the slightest? no

[joncronshawauthor]

From Shadows to Steel: Evolution of the Assassin Fantasy Genre

Throughout the vast realms of fantasy literature, there exists a subgenre that focuses on the moral ambiguities of being a killer—the assassin fantasy genre. From the mysterious and silent killers of ancient tales to the morally complex anti-heroes of modern sagas, the portrayal of assassins in literature has evolved significantly over time. Today, we’ll delve into the evolution of the assassin…

[fantasybooktournament]

the fantasy books i havent read in this poll

basically any work i havent read or read part of

good omens (i have seen the tv show) (tbh im not a gaiman fan, i dont vibe with most of his work)

cosmere (ive read 60 pages of mistborn) (i really have no interest tbh)

wheel of time (dont ask me how long i owned the first one lol)

the all souls trilogy (my mom wants me to read this)

house of the cerulean sea (my mom really REALLY wants me to read this) (i like his book how to be a normal person btw)

discworld (i have owned wee free men since i was in middle school RIP)

the witcher (my friend lent this to me. i never made it past the first page)

tawney man (i read robin hobbs first assassin book when i was like 14 and i think i liked it. her other books are on my tbr)

gentlemen bastards (i am not the intended audience for this series)

the broken earth (on my tbr!! and i own the fifth season!!)

the first law (i cant even remember the name of this series)

mercy thomas (on my tbr cause i need more urban fantasy)

the bear and the nightingale (dnf for me, which i found surprising)

lightbringer (ive heard good things but its never caught my attention)

dragonriders (my mom owns them all)

the rivers of london (i have no idea about this one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

prince of thorns (i think i used to have a mutual with this url .. . )

the daevabad trilogy (on my tbr!!)

the green bone saga (dnf cause im not the target audience)

the goblin emperor (apparently this is good enough to challenge piranesi soooo i might add it to my tbr)

chronicle of unhewn throne (again, no idea)

valdemar (mercedes lackey has been on my list forever. another author my mom wants me to read)

between earth and sky (on my tbr!!)

criers war ( ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

among others (on my tbr!!)

dead jinn universe (on my tbr!!)

the jasmine throne (i have this on hold!!)

the traitor of baru cormorant (i have to do more research before i decide if it goes on my tbr)

the raven tower (on my tbr!!! my friend highly recommends it!!)

the grace of kings (i am intrigued by this one)

shades of milk and honey (newly on my radar)

a land fit for heroes (no interest)

witchmark (on my tbr!! ive heard many many good things!!)

tailchasers song (no interest)

the queen of tearling (i got this as a gift as a teen . . . i think i read part of it??? i don't remember it at all tho)

miss peregrines home for peculiar children (i started this twice as a kid when it was super popular. never kept my attention)

children of blood and bone (another dnf for me, rather recently actually!)

sabriel (i started this when i was younger but never finished)

three dark crowns (i like blakes books annadressed in blood and antigoddess!)

seraphina (i don't have any desire to read this)

mirror visitor (on my tbr!!)

we hunt the flames (on my tbr!!)

six crimson cranes (on my tbr!!)

the gilded ones (on my tbr!!)

akata witch (on my tbr!! i liked her novella, binti!!)

the naming (a friend i had growing up loved this book)

iskari (i have no feelings on this)

kaikeyi (this was a new book to me, so i need to look into it more but im intrigued!!)

a song of wraiths and ruin (newly added to my tbr)

book of tea (on my tbr!!)

blood heir (based on the comments about this on the poll, i am no longer very interested)

labyrinth lost (this looks cool!)

the reader (another book i own i havent read)

[wyvernwinds]

gonna post my tentative tbr here so i’ll maybe be held accountable by someone other than myself:

- crooked kingdom (reread, starting tonight)

- finish chronicle of the unhewn throne (providence of fire, the last mortal bond, & skullsworn)

- start fitz and the fool trilogy (will not emerge from this one unscathed)

- maybe start the unhewn throne sequel series . if i feel like it after rote

i’m also attempting to work through lord of the rings on audio but we’ll see how that goes

[antrontsr]

Skullsworn by Brian Staveley

Just finished reading this, and I’ve got to say it is a solid book.  So much different than I was expecting. It could easily hold up as a standalone but probably better appreciated by those that have read the Unhewn Throne trilogy.

[veliseraptor]

Hi Lise, if you are still doing the top 5 meme: Top 5 high fantasy book series. I am kind of looking for recommendations as I am between books.

ooh this is a fun one. always love throwing book recs at people. I mean, first disclaimer is that I have a very hard time distinguishing genres so "high fantasy" is going to be sort of loosely considered here, since I never quite know what counts.

for instance, Wikipedia tells me that The Last Unicorn is high fantasy, which I would not have called, though I suppose it makes sense. (and incidentally, I do recommend.)

completed series only on this list!

1. Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I'd be remiss if I didn't, because this series is both formative and beloved of me, and for all it gets flack largely for being very long (which it is) and having some slow pacing in the middle (which it does), it remains probably my favorite high/epic fantasy series, with the exception of Lord of the Rings which kind of occupies its own category.

2. Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman. It's been a hot minute since I read this one, and it's definitely a bit of an oddball as far as fantasy goes, but that's kind of what I love about it. And the dynamic of the trio of main characters is *chef's kiss*, and in particular the Damien & Gerald relationship is. Delicious. I need to reread this one.

3. Malazan: Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. This is sort of a complicated one, as I attempted to express in my retrospective that I wrote after finishing the series. But it is also one of those series that I keep circling around and really want to do a reread of, even if it would be even more of a time commitment than Wheel of Time, I think, despite being...technically shorter. I think it's because they're harder to read, for multiple reasons. But god, it really is...very good. And not like anything else I've read. I'm sure people compare it to A Song of Ice and Fire but I don't think I would.

4. Farseer Trilogy (and company) by Robin Hobb. Old favorite but still a favorite - one of my O.G. painfully angst-ridden fantasy protagonists! (FitzChivalry, that is.) I loved all of the books I read in the Farseer/Liveship/Tawny Man trilogies, and also the Fitz and the Fool trilogy (though that one slightly less, I'd say). These are very classic epic/high fantasy in a lot of ways, though there's some unique worldbuilding going on here. I wouldn't necessarily call it the most sophisticated series on this list but it is very enjoyable, and very emotionally crunchy, which is a thing that is important to me.

5. The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. While it's definitely not as strong as the Broken Earth trilogy (which I think is probably her strongest work to date, though that's setting a very high bar), I have a lot of personal affection for this one, both for hitting some personally satisfying notes and also as my first N.K. Jemisin series, and the one that pulled me back into fantasy as a genre after I'd been sort of jaded with it for several years.

bonus recs to Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin, Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne by Brian Staveley, and Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey, which it feels weird to call high fantasy but it probably counts. (Also wasn't sure if the Divine Cities trilogy counts as high fantasy, but that one's also very, very good.)

the only reason the Silm isn't on this list is because calling it high fantasy feels wrong. it's mythology more than anything else.

I have some general book recs lists floating around on this blog, too, if you're looking for more, including my starter kits (for very specific categories) and a more general list of my favorite books (not all fantasy, but mostly)/top 25 sff of the decade from 2010-2019. there's other recs lists somewhere around in my #sometimes i read things tag, if you're inclined to go fishing.

(also incidentally, Wikipedia's list of high fantasy also claims that the Bas-Lag series by China Mieville is high fantasy, which, are you drunk. very good series! would not call it high fantasy.)

[librarycomic]

My Begging Chart by Keiler Roberts. Drawn & Quarterly, 2021. 9781770464582. 156pp. http://www.powells.com/book/-9781770464582?partnerid=34778&p_bt

I think the first of Roberts books full of autobiographical comics I read was Sunburning (Koyama). I'm so happy D&Q are publishing her now -- there's no one that captures ridiculous and real moments like Roberts. You can see a few at http://keilerroberts.com/  You can start with any volume, really, but ask your library to buy this one.

And if, after reading one of Roberts' books you also want to read them all, order her first two self published collections, Miseryland and Powdered Milk, from cartoonist John Porcellino's The Spit and a Half Company at http://www.spitandahalf.com/?s=keiler+roberts  Bonus: Porcellino addressed the envelope to me himself, in his handwriting, which populates his comics and zines. I doubt I'll ever be able to bring myself to throw away the envelope.

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik. (Sequel to A Deadly Education). Del Rey, 2021. 9780593128862. 400pp. http://www.powells.com/book/-9780593128862?partnerid=34778&p_bt

A fresh take on a high school for wizards narrated by someone who's magical gift is apocalyptic. She's a loner full of attitude trying not to fall into a relationship with the school's hero while surviving her senior year and, ultimately, trying to do something amazing. Read A Deadly Education first, and let me know what you thought about the end of this one if you've read it (without spoiling it for everyone, please).

Blood of the Chosen (Burningblade & Silvereye Book 2) by Django Wexler. Orbit, 2021. 9780316519625. 480pp. http://www.powells.com/book/-9780316519625?partnerid=34778&p_bt

The second book in this series was a fun read, and I'm still determined to get anyone who likes Star Wars to read this series. Things lead to another meeting of the siblings at the heart of the series (they're on opposite sides of a conflict). It might make sense to you if you skipped the first book, but don't, it's too good to miss.

The Empire's Ruin (Ashes of the Unhewn Throne Book 1) by Brian Staveley. Tor, 2021. 9780765389909. 752pp. http://www.powells.com/book/-9780765389909?partnerid=34778&p_bt

This is the start of a new series set in the world of Staveley's The Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne. It centers around two minor characters in that trilogy, but reading it first would spoil the ending of those three epic, inventive fantasy novels. Go back and start with the first in that series, The Emperor's Blades.  Worth noting: These books are very violent. And a large part of this one takes place in a previously unseen continent.

Destroy All Monsters (a Reckless book) by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Image, 2021. 9781534319240. http://www.powells.com/book/-9781534319240?partnerid=34778&p_bt

The third original graphic novel in the Reckless series is better than the first two because longtime collaborators Brubaker and Phillips are always at the top of their game. If you like crime stories or graphic novels (or, like me, both) you're going to love the way Ethan Reckless handles himself and the problems he takes care of.

[vera-dauriac]

2, 4, 6, 16?

2. Did you reread anything? What?

I answered this already, but since I didn’t list all my rereads, here are more! For a book club at work, I reread On Writing, and enjoyed it even more this time. And to get ready for the new Brian Staveley book I still haven’t found time to read (sigh), I reread his Unhewn Throne trilogy.

4. Did you discover any new authors that you love this year?

Again, I answered this before, but I discovered more than one author this year. 😊 Svetlana Alexievich’s Secondhand Time is probably the best thing I read all year, and I will absolutely read more of her work. Just not quickly. I think mentally I can only handle one of her books a year at most.

6. Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

Ha! Where to start? I’ve got a crazy tbr list, including that Brian Staveley for starters. I also really wanted to reread Brothers Karamazov this year, but when the fuck I was supposed to find time, I’ve no idea. Sigh.

16. What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

Honestly, I usually skip the overhyped books. One, I rarely like them, and two, they don’t need my help, because people are already going to read them. But if we’re looking at the reviews, I really thought I’d like The Death of Vivek Oji and The Emissary better.

Thanks for asking! I’m open to more from this list.

[sephiraallen]

Brian Staveley’s epic fantasy trilogy The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne has been put into development as a television series titled after its first novel, The Emperor’s Blades, by Legion M.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy co-producer and second unit director Rick Porras (Forrest Gump, Contact) and writer/producer Robbie Silverman (Hero) join as executive producers together with Legion M’s Terri Lubaroff and David Baxter. Legion M has also engaged with Weta Workshop to create concept artwork for The Emperor’s Blades and contribute throughout production as they have done in The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and Avatar franchises. Get all the details here: legionm.com/blades

[an-alarming-amount-of-bees]

My favorite fantasy involving giant birds is "the chronicles of the unhewn throne" trilogy. Granted the birds aren't evil or apocalyptic, but somehow the squads of bird soldiers just come off as so cool.

[bluesey-182]

your enemy turned very-reluctant-ally turns to you in the midst of a battle with dead, inhuman eyes and says "i am what you kept alive to wage your wars. now you will see why". like what the fuck are you supposed to do with that?

[ladyandherbooks]

Book Review 12 - Skullsworn

18.5/20

Skullsworn by Brian Staveley tells the story of Pyrre, an assassin from a religious order serving the god of death, who, in order to pass the Trial must kill 10 people in 10 days, including the person she will love most. This story is full of action, violence, death, sex, love and above all life. This is a story of a woman who is beginning to grow tired of and begin questioning her religion and its gods and whether she really wants to pass the Trial and become a true assassin. 

Brian Staveley has constructed a complex world and religious systems in which Pyrre and the rest of the characters exist and live. It is dangerous and exciting and pulls you in from the moment you begin reading.  

This is not the first book Brian Stavely has written in this universe, he has a trilogy, The Unhewn Throne which already establishes this world and its people and given how much I enjoyed this book I will definitely be picking them up sometime this year..     

[dollarstoreravenclaw]

books i read over the summer

-His Dark Materials (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman

-The Kingkiller Chronicles (The Name Of The Wind, and The Wise Man’s Fear, but I have yet to read The Slow Regard Of Silent Things) by Patrick Rothfuss

-The Dandelion Dynasty (The Grace Of Kings, and The Wall Of Storms) by Ken Liu

- The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

-Gentleman Bastards (The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies) by Scott Lynch

-Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

-Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

-The Ocean AT The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

-Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne (The Emperor’s Blades, The Providence of Fire, and The Last Mortal Bond) by Brian Stavely

-The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King

-The Martian: A novel by Andy Weir

-The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

-The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian by Alexie Sherman

-Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

All of these are great, and I recommend them wholeheartedly.

[itunesbooks]

The Last Mortal Bond - Brian Staveley

The Last Mortal Bond Brian Staveley Genre: Epic Price: $9.99 Publish Date: March 15, 2016 Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates Seller: Macmillan The trilogy that began with The Emperor's Blades and continued in The Providence of Fire reaches its epic conclusion, as war engulfs the Annurian Empire in Brian Staveley's The Last Mortal Bond The ancient csestriim are back to finish their purge of humanity; armies march against the capital; leaches, solitary beings who draw power from the natural world to fuel their extraordinary abilities, maneuver on all sides to affect the outcome of the war; and capricious gods walk the earth in human guise with agendas of their own. But the three imperial siblings at the heart of it all--Valyn, Adare, and Kaden--come to understand that even if they survive the holocaust unleashed on their world, there may be no reconciling their conflicting visions of the future. Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne The Emperor's Blades The Providence of Fire The Last Mortal Bond Other books in the world of the Unhewn Throne Skullsworn At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. http://dlvr.it/R3jnL9

[infactforgetthepark]

[Free eBook] The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley [Award-Winning Epic Fantasy]

The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley is the 1st novel in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne trilogy of epic fantasy, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Macmillan's Tor Books.

This is their featured free eBook of the Month Club offer for July, won the 2015 Morningstar Award for Best Debut Fantasy Novel from the David Gemmell Legend Awards in honour of the late British author, and is being made free to help promote the newly-released standalone novel set in the same universe, Skullsworn.

The trilogy takes place in an Empire whose ruler has just been killed by unknown enemies even as his children are scattered across the world and struggle to stay alive while uncovering the assassins and continuing to follow their differing life-paths and eventually reunite. This installment introduces the late Emperor's three children: the heir sent to a remote monastery to learn the discipline and rituals that will unlock an ancient power; a warrior-in-training out to save his brother, if he can only survive his brutal final test; and a minister left in charge of the empire, who believes she knows who murdered their father and begins a dangerous pursuit of justice.

Offered through July 19th at just before midnight Eastern Time, available DRM-free to Canada & US-only directly from the publisher.

Free for a limited time directly via @ the publisher's dedicated promo page (DRM-free ePub & Mobi bundle officially available in Canada & US-only due to geographic restrictions, requires newsletter signup with valid email address)

You can also follow their upcoming readalong discussions for this book via the dedicated blog tag @ Tor.com and read the original announcement over at their blog.

Description In The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley, the emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods.

Kaden, the heir to the Unhewn Throne, has spent eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery, learning the enigmatic discipline of monks devoted to the Blank God. Their rituals hold the key to an ancient power he must master before it’s too late.

An ocean away, Valyn endures the brutal training of the Kettral, elite soldiers who fly into battle on gigantic black hawks. But before he can set out to save Kaden, Valyn must survive one horrific final test.

At the heart of the empire, Minister Adare, elevated to her station by one of the emperor’s final acts, is determined to prove herself to her people. But Adare also believes she knows who murdered her father, and she will stop at nothing—and risk everything—to see that justice is meted out.

[vera-dauriac]

The Year So Far Book Ask

tagged by @pretenderoftheeast​ Thanks!

1. Best book you have read in 2021 so far?

I’m always nervous making definitive statements about books I haven’t finished, but at 60% of the way through The Magician by Colm Tóibín, it’s going to have to really fuck up the ending not to be the best so far, and likely all year. (This book comes out in September. As a Librarian, I have access to NetGalley, and sometimes I get hooked up with some pretty great ARCs.)

2. Best sequel you have read in 2021 so far?

Priest of Gallows. Love this Peter McLean series.

3. A new release you want to check out?

Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night by Julian Sancton came out in May, and I really need to get it penciled in.

4. Most anticipated book release of the second half of the year?

Probably Joe Abercrombie’s The Wisdom of Crowds, but I’m feeling overwhelming dread about it, tbh. I’m so worried I won’t like it.

5. Biggest disappointment?

My relisten of Brian Staveley’s Unhewn Throne trilogy. The first book was great and the second was fine, but then I got to the third and I remembered just how much I hate Adare, and that Valyn really started to grate toward the end of the series. I’ll probably still check out The Empire’s Ruin when it comes out later this month, but with less enthusiasm.

6. Biggest surprise?

I’ve been meaning to read John Dos Passos for years but I didn’t expect just how much I would enjoy Manhattan Transfer.

7. Favourite new author (either new to you or debut)?

Colm Tóibín. But I’ve also been in a mood to either reread books or at least stick with the same authors. I haven’t been adventurous in the first half, but I feel that about to shift for the rest of the year.

8. Favourite new fictional crush?

It’s not new, but I reread The Trouble with Peace, and all I want in this world is more Jappo.

9. Newest favourite character?

Started KJ Charles’s Will Darling series this year, and both Will and Kim are delightful.

10. A book that made you cry?

In addition to rereading the Unhewn Throne trilogy, I also finally finished the prequel book, Skullsworn, and I definitely cried at the end of that. (And the new book’s tie to this one is actually what still has me somewhat excited about it.)

11. A book that made you happy?

Rereading Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon was so much fun. Robert Audley is such a hilarious slacker.

12. Most beautiful book you have bought or received this year?

Actually, it’s just a cheap paperback, but I really dig the simple cover of my Lady Audley’s Secret.

13. What book do you need to read by the end of the year?

Other than The Wisdom of Crowds, there’s also a new Rachel Reid hockey smut novel, Role Model, coming out, and then all the stuff I need to read for Women in Translation month. And I’m reading Wretchedness by Andrzej Tichý with @lizlensky​  soon. Oh, and of course all the books for my book clubs at work. 😊

Thanks so much for the ask!!!

Tagging: of course Liz. ;) And also... @seeker-in-the-shade​ @revedebeatrice​ @thinkofaugust​ @xn3city​  And literally anyone else. I ALWAYS want to know what people are reading!