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The Silk & Steel Saga #3
The Skeleton King
Destinies collide in the far north. Kath and her companions chase a trail of death across the steppes. The endless grassland seems benign, but they soon fall prey to an ambush of tricks and traps. Swords alone will not avail them, for the north is guarded by the foulest magic. The companions must rally, each of them tested in a crucible of choice. War drums thunder across the steppes. The Mordant ascends the Ebony Throne, loosing his hordes against the Octagon. The steppes become a bloody battlefield, with victory and loss on all sides. One age is ended but another begins. Born of blood and deceit, the new age threatens to be full of Darkness unless a few dare to make a difference.
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
412 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2012
10 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Karen Azinger
16 books105 followersKaren L Azinger has always loved fantasy fiction, and always hoped that someday she could give back to the genre a little of the joy that reading has always given her. Twelve years ago on a hike in the Columbia River Gorge she realized she had enough original ideas to finally write an epic fantasy. She started writing and never stopped. The Steel Queen is her first book, born from that hike in the gorge. Her medieval epic fantasy, the Silk & Steel Saga, is finished! The saga includes The Steel Queen, The Flame Priest, The Skeleton King, The Poison Priestess, The Knight Marshal, The Prince Deceiver, and The Battle Immortal. She has also published a collection of short stories, The Assassin's Tear, including two stories set in the world of Silk & Steel. She also published a book on writing, Power Writing: Make Your Genre Fiction Soar. Before writing, Karen spent over twenty years as an international business strategist, eventually becoming a vice-president for one of the world’s largest natural resource companies. She’s worked on developing the first gem-quality diamond mine in Canada’s arctic, on coal seam gas power projects in Australia, and on petroleum projects around the world. Having lived in Australia for eight years she considers it to be her second home. She’s also lived in Canada and spent a lot of time in the Canadian arctic. She lives with her husband in Portland Oregon, in a house perched on the edge of the forest.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 18, 2013
The recent release of The Skeleton King by Karen Azinger has left me quite literally breathless. I wasted no time in picking up the novel, ordering it on my Nook the first day it was available. But even as I turned the first electronic page I asked myself, how much can I really expect? Can anything be as good as The Flame Priest was? Oh me of little faith, soon I shall no longer doubt Ms. Azinger. The answer to that simply question is a resounding yes. To begin with, readers of The Flame Priest are in for a bit of surprise when they pick up The Skeleton King. Instead of focusing on the events in the Kingdom of Laverness and the Lord Raven like the earlier novel, the Skeleton King focuses solely on Kath’s troop and the knights of the Octagon. Although at first this absence is slightly disheartening, many of my favorite characters came from the parts of the story in Laverness, I found myself quickly drawn back into the story. Without giving much away about the events in the book I can simply say this is one rollercoaster of a novel. My emotions took more dips and dives while reading this book than in a long time. Especially the events of the Pit left me breathless more often than not. In additional to her usual storytelling prowess Ms. Azinger for the first time shows her ability to weave in important details for books previous in ways which will surprise and delight the reader. One such inclusion involves the Painted People met within the first book. What seems a small part of the first, scarcely worthy of remembering quickly grows into one of the most climactic events of any book. The Painted People themselves prove to be an interesting merging of Native American and Celtic cultures, mixed in with the traditional flair Ms. Azinger shows for creating races all her own. Redolent with little quirks which will keep readers guessing, superb character building, and a plot which gallops along from the first page to the last The Skeleton King is another amazing installment of the Silk and Steel Saga. From a simple reader I give Ms. Azinger the greatest thanks possible, for creating such an amazing world and peopling it with such wonderful characters. Cannot wait to read the Poison Priestess and everything that comes after. Five stars every way.
June 13, 2012
Karen Azinger's The Silk & Steel Saga is one of the most entertaining fantasy series I've read and it's one of the best new fantasy series, because it's an interesting and well written series, which is full of surprises. I have to confess that this series has reminded me why I read epic fantasy and why I like it so much, because I had almost forgotten how rewarding it is to read good and entertaining epic fantasy.
The Skeleton King wonderfully and satisfyingly continues the story, which started in The Steel Queen and then continued in The Flame Priest. It's a perfect sequel to the previous books and it won't disappoint fans of The Silk & Steel Saga.
Before I write anything else, here's a bit of information about what happened in the previous book (The Flame Priest):
Liandra faced the threat of the Red Horns. Kath and her companions went to Deep Green and asked help from the Children of the Green. Kath met her father in Castlegard and was treated almost like a prisoner. She escaped from Castlegard so that she could do what she has to do. Kath and her companions traveled to Cragnoth Keep. Samson and Justin tried to find a way to get rid of the religion of the Flame God. Samson made a big sacrifice. Duncan's secret was revealed to Kath and her companions. Steffan created an army and wanted to set it free. The Priestess got new responsibilities from the Dark Lord. The Mordant sowed mistrust and hate across the realm and made him way toward the north.
And here's a bit information about The Skeleton King:
War threatens the kingdoms of Erdhe. The Mordant continues to do evil in the monk's (Bryce) body and the monk's soul suffers. He enters into his domain and faces the Trials of Return, which will make him the ruler of the Dark Citadel and give him the right to sit on the Ebony Throne. The Knight Marshal and the king go to investigate what happened at Cragnoth Keep. The king still refuses to believe her daughter. The king starts to prepare for the forthcoming battles and war. Kath and her companions continue their journey beyond the Dragon Spine Mountains and face problems on the steppes...
That's all I'll write about the plot of The Skeleton King, because I don't want to reveal the whole plot in this review (it would be unfair to write spoilers).
Unlike the previous books, this time the events take place in the northern part of Erdhe. I think it's great that the author has chosen to write about Kath (and her companions), the Knights of the Octagon and the Mordant. In the previous books the events took place all over the Erdhe, but in this book the author concentrates on writing about what happens in the northern part of Erdhe and in the Dark Citadel. In my opinion this is a good thing, because it gives the author a chance to develop the characters and advance the plot.
Karen Author has develop a lot as an author, which is good. I noticed this development in the previous book, but now it's easier to see how much she has developed, because she has written a highly entertaining fantasy book about the battle between good and evil.
Now that I've read The Steel Queen, The Flame Priest and The Skeleton King, it's easy for me to notice how small and insignificant things come to mean a lot as the story goes on (the author has created a good and interesting story arc). When I began to read The Skeleton King, I instantly liked the new plot twists and I enjoyed reading about the characters and their new adventures, because Karen Azinger has a talent for surprising her readers. I like this kind of storytelling, because it shows that the author loves fantasy and wants her readers to fully immerse themselves in the story (the author clearly wants to entertain her readers). I'm sure that when you read this book, you'll notice that Karen Azinger has written it with passion and she has a talent for writing complex stories.
Karen Azinger has her own writing style, which differs nicely from other authors' writing styles. Her prose is descriptive and nuanced. I like the way she writes about her characters, the conversations and the happenings. The conversations between the Mordant and the captured soul of Bryce are very interesting, because the Mordant tries to make Bryce understand that he's a prisoner and there's no escape (I enjoyed reading about these conversations).
Each character is believable and has his/her own problems and feelings. Strong female characters are seldom seen in epic fantasy literature, but in this series the women are strong. Although they're stong, they can also be vulnerable and they have to make difficult decisions (Kath has lots of things to consider and she faces different kinds of problems). The Mordant is an interesting character, because he's viciously evil and the author explores several things from his point of view. The Mordant is without a doubt one of the most interesting and colorfully depicted villains I've read about. I also enjoyed reading about the Knight Marshal, the king and the Knights of the Octagon, because the author writes exceptionally well about them and their lives.
Karen Azinger writes engagingly about magic and magical things. I've always loved reading about magic, so this book offered me lots of enjoyment. It was thrilling to read about the characters' abilities etc and also about the unnatural abominations, which the Mordant has created. I enjoyed reading about Danya's Beastmaster magic, which is a rare form of magic, because there aren't many authors who write about this kind of magic. The twisted soul magic of the Mordant was also worth reading about, because soul magic is dark magic. I'll also mention that the focuses are interesting magical items (a focus gives its user an ability to use certain kind of magic) and it was fun to read about them.
The author has a way of writing vividly about the battles and fight scenes. For example, when you read about what happens on the vast steppes, you'll notice how fluently the author makes the surroundings come to life and how easily she describes what the characters feel when they fight against their enemies.
The worldbuilding is just as good as it was in the two previous books. The author has created a huge fantasy world and there are fascinating places in the northern part of Erdhe. It was nice to read about the steppes and the Dark Citadel, because Karen Azinger writes about them in a fascinating way. She gave her readers a chance to read about the Dark Citadel in a short story called The Assassin's Tear (this story can be found in the short story collection The Assassin's Tear), but now she reveals more things about the Citadel. I think that several readers will enjoy reading about the Dark Citadel and its dark wonders and horrors.
The author has a wonderful way of writing about duty, destiny, honour, friendship and treason, and all things related to them. She also writes fluently romantic things and love. For example, the scenes where Kath and Duncan are close to each other are perfect (it's also nice to read about Blaine's feelings toward Danya). The author can also write convincingly about brutal happening. For example, the scenes where the Mordant demonstrates his powers are simply fantastic, because the author writes fascinatingly about the Mordant's evil and sadistic nature. The sexual arousal of the Mordant during some of the scenes is handled exceptionally well, because he inhabits Bryce's body and can use the body in every possible way.
The Skeleton King is a traditional fantasy book, but it's also a delightfully modern fantasy book. I think that fans of The Silk & Steel Saga have noticed that the author combines fluently traditional fantasy storytelling, violence, brutality, romance and sexuality - this combination makes this book a modern fantasy book.
When I finished reading this book, the first words that came to my mind were: "Wow! What a book!". I liked the first two books very much, but I have to say that The Skeleton King is a damn good fantasy book and it's even better and more entertaining than the previous books. It seems that this series just keeps on getting better and better with each new book, because the author keeps the story flowing and takes time to develop the characters. I can hardly wait to read what happens in the fourth book, The Poison Priestess.
The Skeleton King is an exciting, fresh, brutal and addictive fantasy book, which offers lots of entertainment and surprises for fans of epic fantasy literature. If you like entertaining epic fantasy, I'm sure that you'll like this book.
This book is excellent and fantastic entertainment!
The Skeleton King wonderfully and satisfyingly continues the story, which started in The Steel Queen and then continued in The Flame Priest. It's a perfect sequel to the previous books and it won't disappoint fans of The Silk & Steel Saga.
Before I write anything else, here's a bit of information about what happened in the previous book (The Flame Priest):
Liandra faced the threat of the Red Horns. Kath and her companions went to Deep Green and asked help from the Children of the Green. Kath met her father in Castlegard and was treated almost like a prisoner. She escaped from Castlegard so that she could do what she has to do. Kath and her companions traveled to Cragnoth Keep. Samson and Justin tried to find a way to get rid of the religion of the Flame God. Samson made a big sacrifice. Duncan's secret was revealed to Kath and her companions. Steffan created an army and wanted to set it free. The Priestess got new responsibilities from the Dark Lord. The Mordant sowed mistrust and hate across the realm and made him way toward the north.
And here's a bit information about The Skeleton King:
War threatens the kingdoms of Erdhe. The Mordant continues to do evil in the monk's (Bryce) body and the monk's soul suffers. He enters into his domain and faces the Trials of Return, which will make him the ruler of the Dark Citadel and give him the right to sit on the Ebony Throne. The Knight Marshal and the king go to investigate what happened at Cragnoth Keep. The king still refuses to believe her daughter. The king starts to prepare for the forthcoming battles and war. Kath and her companions continue their journey beyond the Dragon Spine Mountains and face problems on the steppes...
That's all I'll write about the plot of The Skeleton King, because I don't want to reveal the whole plot in this review (it would be unfair to write spoilers).
Unlike the previous books, this time the events take place in the northern part of Erdhe. I think it's great that the author has chosen to write about Kath (and her companions), the Knights of the Octagon and the Mordant. In the previous books the events took place all over the Erdhe, but in this book the author concentrates on writing about what happens in the northern part of Erdhe and in the Dark Citadel. In my opinion this is a good thing, because it gives the author a chance to develop the characters and advance the plot.
Karen Author has develop a lot as an author, which is good. I noticed this development in the previous book, but now it's easier to see how much she has developed, because she has written a highly entertaining fantasy book about the battle between good and evil.
Now that I've read The Steel Queen, The Flame Priest and The Skeleton King, it's easy for me to notice how small and insignificant things come to mean a lot as the story goes on (the author has created a good and interesting story arc). When I began to read The Skeleton King, I instantly liked the new plot twists and I enjoyed reading about the characters and their new adventures, because Karen Azinger has a talent for surprising her readers. I like this kind of storytelling, because it shows that the author loves fantasy and wants her readers to fully immerse themselves in the story (the author clearly wants to entertain her readers). I'm sure that when you read this book, you'll notice that Karen Azinger has written it with passion and she has a talent for writing complex stories.
Karen Azinger has her own writing style, which differs nicely from other authors' writing styles. Her prose is descriptive and nuanced. I like the way she writes about her characters, the conversations and the happenings. The conversations between the Mordant and the captured soul of Bryce are very interesting, because the Mordant tries to make Bryce understand that he's a prisoner and there's no escape (I enjoyed reading about these conversations).
Each character is believable and has his/her own problems and feelings. Strong female characters are seldom seen in epic fantasy literature, but in this series the women are strong. Although they're stong, they can also be vulnerable and they have to make difficult decisions (Kath has lots of things to consider and she faces different kinds of problems). The Mordant is an interesting character, because he's viciously evil and the author explores several things from his point of view. The Mordant is without a doubt one of the most interesting and colorfully depicted villains I've read about. I also enjoyed reading about the Knight Marshal, the king and the Knights of the Octagon, because the author writes exceptionally well about them and their lives.
Karen Azinger writes engagingly about magic and magical things. I've always loved reading about magic, so this book offered me lots of enjoyment. It was thrilling to read about the characters' abilities etc and also about the unnatural abominations, which the Mordant has created. I enjoyed reading about Danya's Beastmaster magic, which is a rare form of magic, because there aren't many authors who write about this kind of magic. The twisted soul magic of the Mordant was also worth reading about, because soul magic is dark magic. I'll also mention that the focuses are interesting magical items (a focus gives its user an ability to use certain kind of magic) and it was fun to read about them.
The author has a way of writing vividly about the battles and fight scenes. For example, when you read about what happens on the vast steppes, you'll notice how fluently the author makes the surroundings come to life and how easily she describes what the characters feel when they fight against their enemies.
The worldbuilding is just as good as it was in the two previous books. The author has created a huge fantasy world and there are fascinating places in the northern part of Erdhe. It was nice to read about the steppes and the Dark Citadel, because Karen Azinger writes about them in a fascinating way. She gave her readers a chance to read about the Dark Citadel in a short story called The Assassin's Tear (this story can be found in the short story collection The Assassin's Tear), but now she reveals more things about the Citadel. I think that several readers will enjoy reading about the Dark Citadel and its dark wonders and horrors.
The author has a wonderful way of writing about duty, destiny, honour, friendship and treason, and all things related to them. She also writes fluently romantic things and love. For example, the scenes where Kath and Duncan are close to each other are perfect (it's also nice to read about Blaine's feelings toward Danya). The author can also write convincingly about brutal happening. For example, the scenes where the Mordant demonstrates his powers are simply fantastic, because the author writes fascinatingly about the Mordant's evil and sadistic nature. The sexual arousal of the Mordant during some of the scenes is handled exceptionally well, because he inhabits Bryce's body and can use the body in every possible way.
The Skeleton King is a traditional fantasy book, but it's also a delightfully modern fantasy book. I think that fans of The Silk & Steel Saga have noticed that the author combines fluently traditional fantasy storytelling, violence, brutality, romance and sexuality - this combination makes this book a modern fantasy book.
When I finished reading this book, the first words that came to my mind were: "Wow! What a book!". I liked the first two books very much, but I have to say that The Skeleton King is a damn good fantasy book and it's even better and more entertaining than the previous books. It seems that this series just keeps on getting better and better with each new book, because the author keeps the story flowing and takes time to develop the characters. I can hardly wait to read what happens in the fourth book, The Poison Priestess.
The Skeleton King is an exciting, fresh, brutal and addictive fantasy book, which offers lots of entertainment and surprises for fans of epic fantasy literature. If you like entertaining epic fantasy, I'm sure that you'll like this book.
This book is excellent and fantastic entertainment!
March 7, 2017
Fantastic Book!
This book drew me in to it's storyline. This book is one of best stories I have read in a long time. This story is extremely well crafted. The author has masterfully crafted this book in powerful and thrilling detail, with out becoming bogged down. I can not wait to read the next book in this series. It is a story that rivals, in my mind, authors such as Laurell K. Hamilton, Nora Roberts, and J.R. Ward. I can not wait to read the next book in this series.
This book drew me in to it's storyline. This book is one of best stories I have read in a long time. This story is extremely well crafted. The author has masterfully crafted this book in powerful and thrilling detail, with out becoming bogged down. I can not wait to read the next book in this series. It is a story that rivals, in my mind, authors such as Laurell K. Hamilton, Nora Roberts, and J.R. Ward. I can not wait to read the next book in this series.
September 10, 2018
10/5
Ms Azinger continues to enthrall her readers in this 3rd installment of the Silk & Steel Saga.
The battle scenes are MAGNIFICENT, along the grand scale of the Battle of Isengard and Return of the King (I don't believe I'm overstating her narrative skills by placing her almost on a par with Tolkien) and there are NO happily-ever-after moments.
Again, I had to keep putting the book to one side just to get my breath back, and there is a nasty and very unexpected twist.
I could rave about this book for the next hour and not repeat myself once; do yourself a favour and READ THIS SERIES!!!!
Ms Azinger continues to enthrall her readers in this 3rd installment of the Silk & Steel Saga.
The battle scenes are MAGNIFICENT, along the grand scale of the Battle of Isengard and Return of the King (I don't believe I'm overstating her narrative skills by placing her almost on a par with Tolkien) and there are NO happily-ever-after moments.
Again, I had to keep putting the book to one side just to get my breath back, and there is a nasty and very unexpected twist.
I could rave about this book for the next hour and not repeat myself once; do yourself a favour and READ THIS SERIES!!!!
July 26, 2012
Although I very much enjoyed the first two novels in this series they cannot compare to the enthusiasm I feel about this third book in the series! The characters are really coming into their prime in this part of the story, the story is on FIRE and of course it focuses on my favorite characters that she has introduced thus far. I am a HUGE fan of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series and have to say that Karen Azinger's Katherine is about the best female hero I have read since Kahlen. The villain the Mordant is deliciously evil, terrifying and just plain, well EVIL and she has crafted him to be rather unique in his darkness. The world of Ehrde is so beautifully created it holds its own in each novel as we discover more and more of the world. If you haven't started the series DO IT! It just keeps getting better and better. Very much looking forward to the next installment!
August 4, 2012
The twists and turns in the plot are shattering. I was gripped from the beginning. The evil characters are unique, very subtle and compelling, crafty and wise in the art of twisting others. They are so well crafted that it is hard to see how the good can prevail. I have no idea how Azinger will be able to unravel the complexity she has created. But so far, every book has kept accelerating the pace and the tension. What a great writer. She makes it effortless to enter the world of Erdhe and become enmeshed in the environs. Thanks for giving us these books.
September 27, 2012
I have loved the Silk and Steel saga so far. The Skeleton King is my new favorite out of the 3 books. Each book keeps getting better and better.
The Skeleton King is fast and hits with a bang from the beginning on to the end. Surprises left and right. Karen really draws you into the Characters of this book. She evokes the feelings and emotions of the reader in this book, wrapping you up into the story. The daunting tasks and journeys that they go through really were page turners!
The personalities really take off and evolve during this book.
Love love love!!!
The Skeleton King is fast and hits with a bang from the beginning on to the end. Surprises left and right. Karen really draws you into the Characters of this book. She evokes the feelings and emotions of the reader in this book, wrapping you up into the story. The daunting tasks and journeys that they go through really were page turners!
The personalities really take off and evolve during this book.
Love love love!!!
August 3, 2014
Definitely well worth reading. This book concentrates and a few of the main characters in the north of the world, following the Mordant to his lair. The tale is less complex with fewer characters, but there's a lot going on. There's a good mix of magic, used in a sparing way that keeps you guessing and wanting more. The plot hums along nicely with enough twists and unexpected surprises to keep you guessing. I much preferred this to Game of Thrones as it has all the intrigue but with a much clearer plot line. An excellent read.
November 6, 2016
Fantastic story, continuing to take hold and not let go. The plot and characters feel real, the action is riveting and you never know what the evil Mordant is going to do next. Continuing to be one of the best fantasy series' I've ever read, but I had to go with 4 stars since this one bogged down a bit with the group of heroes traveling to different locations and interacting with different races and folks that seemed to be filler. It's a minor gripe and just my personal preference. Read these books, you won't be sorry...Great way to spend an afternoon!
May 27, 2012
Wow!! This is the third book by Azinger and it just keeps getting better and better!! I enjoy the different points of view and seeing the point of view of "evil" as well as "good". Can't wait for the next book. If you haven't read this series, you are in for a treat!!
April 9, 2015
Wow. Another great book in this series. My complaints about the first book have gone away, with Duncan becoming a believable character. I care what happens to him...finally!
Kath is deep, rich, and believable.
On to book 4!
Kath is deep, rich, and believable.
On to book 4!
November 1, 2017
Very good
I'm loving this series. It keeps me up at night and doesn't flag. Didn't see the ending coming though and I hope the character is resurrected some how. I would recommend it to anyone.
I'm loving this series. It keeps me up at night and doesn't flag. Didn't see the ending coming though and I hope the character is resurrected some how. I would recommend it to anyone.
January 28, 2025
Another solid entry in the series. Things are looking dark for the heroes
August 9, 2012
Full Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: This is the third book in the Silk and Steel saga by Karen Azinger, The first two books showcased a high fantasy world and a large cast of characters that have filled the pages so far. At the end of the second book, unrest and evil have spread to almost every corner of the lands of Erdhe. This book opens with war threatening to erupt in several kingdoms of Erdhe. The action now focuses on the northern part of the country shown on the map, and is symbolic as the start of the saga originated from there as well.
In this book, Kath the Imp and her group are travelling to a region, which is not only dangerous but also has been known to be quite morbid. The Mordant has taken a new soul for his entertainment and his plans to bring pain and suffering further bear fruition. The plot features Kath, the Knight Marshal and the Mordant for a majority of the tale and this pretty much gives the reader an indication of the events in the book.
The book again showcases Karen Azinger’s strengths, which is a fast paced storyline, plot twists and characterization. The story of course is a grim one and the author doesn’t shy away from the violence or dark nature of the events. The author has been hinting at certain things in the past two books and it’s in this middle volume of the series that many character and plot arcs are finally being revealed to the reader. This highlights some serious plotting on the author’s part and kudos to her on it. The characterization is top notch as ever as this time we get more than an intense look into the mind of the Mordant who is as evil as they come but fascinating and equally gruesome to read about. The author has to be lauded for not making him a two-dimensional villain.
The Skeleton King’s biggest fallacy is its predictability and its inability to separate itself from its genre setting. The predictability factor comes in the direction of the story, which for most fantasy fans is not hard to guess and therefore does not hold anything new for them. Most fantasy stories always have some of the genre’s underpinnings but every author tries their best to give the plot his/her own twist. This however doesn't work quite so well in this case as the storyline while exciting doesn't gain much points for originality.
The Skeleton King is a good book and it’s a good continuation of the Silk and Steel saga. For fans of the previous two books, this is a terrific third volume and they will definitely enjoy its plot and scope. For general fantasy fans, this might not be the place to start, begin with the Steel Queen to enjoy a high classical fantasy quest book.
February 5, 2015
These books offer nothing "new" in the fantasy realm... but they are extremely well written and very entertaining. I'm somewhat of a snob when it comes to fantasy, and even though at times this feels a little "vanilla", I can't put the books down. Some interesting twists, and a good amount of action keeps you turning the pages. I would recommend these books for sure.
March 31, 2014
It was a good book, and I really enjoy the series.......but Duncan deserved better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2015
Another excellent book in the series. Not sure what to really say about it. Things happen, new characters are added, the quest to defeat the evil dark lord continues. On to the next one.
March 7, 2015
So good!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews