615 books
—
3,287 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Tyrant's Law (The Dagger and the Coin, #3)” as Want to Read:
The Tyrant's Law
(The Dagger and the Coin #3)
by
The great war cannot be stopped.
The tyrant Geder Palliako had led his nation to war, but every victory has called forth another conflict. Now the greater war spreads out before him, and he is bent on bringing peace. No matter how many people he has to kill to do it.
Cithrin bel Sarcour, rogue banker of the Medean Bank, has returned to the fold. Her apprenticeship has plac ...more
The tyrant Geder Palliako had led his nation to war, but every victory has called forth another conflict. Now the greater war spreads out before him, and he is bent on bringing peace. No matter how many people he has to kill to do it.
Cithrin bel Sarcour, rogue banker of the Medean Bank, has returned to the fold. Her apprenticeship has plac ...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 497 pages
Published
May 14th 2013
by Orbit
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
The Tyrant's Law,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of The Tyrant's Law (The Dagger and the Coin, #3)

There’s no doubt for me that this was another great read, but I also have to admit that I didn’t enjoy this one as much as The King’s Blood.
The Tyrant’s Law is the third book in The Dagger and the Coin series by Daniel Abraham. This means that I’m halfway through the series now. The Tyrant’s Law did feel like it’s inflicted with the middle book of a series syndrome. The story in The Tyrant’s Law ...more
“Knowing something another man wanted to know was a kind of power. Maybe the best kind.”
The Tyrant’s Law is the third book in The Dagger and the Coin series by Daniel Abraham. This means that I’m halfway through the series now. The Tyrant’s Law did feel like it’s inflicted with the middle book of a series syndrome. The story in The Tyrant’s Law ...more

I'm going to go with 3 for something that rubbed me wrong. And no, don't ask 😊
...more

“How can we win against a mistaken belief?”
If you are looking for a fantasy series to binge read, The Dagger and the Coin is a perfect choice: it is not too long (5 volumes), already finished and has all the classic fantasy hallmarks. I gobbled The Tyrant’s Law within a day and I am hungry for more.
I have said it many times already, but contemporary fantasy, being dominated by cocky adolescents, suffers a shortage of mature protagonists. Now, this does not concern males so much (because the seas ...more
If you are looking for a fantasy series to binge read, The Dagger and the Coin is a perfect choice: it is not too long (5 volumes), already finished and has all the classic fantasy hallmarks. I gobbled The Tyrant’s Law within a day and I am hungry for more.
I have said it many times already, but contemporary fantasy, being dominated by cocky adolescents, suffers a shortage of mature protagonists. Now, this does not concern males so much (because the seas ...more

I enjoyed this book quite a bit despite the fact that not much happened. Well, that’s not strictly true… there were a lot of moving parts within the characters – internal revelations and forming convictions. There was just less focus on the external mechanisms (until maybe the last 10%). I can’t put my finger on exactly why Abraham’s exploration of character absorbs me so completely, but he has once again managed to capture my attention.
The characters really are the selling points of this series ...more
The characters really are the selling points of this series ...more

4.5 stars.
I think for the first time, my system of having 4 books on the go at once let me down..that plus a busy week at work, meant that I read the first half of the book a couple of short chapters at a time. This meant I couldn't get into it as fast as I did with the previous volumes and so I presumed this book wasn't as good.
Thankfully I was really wrong. The second half of this book I read almost in one go and it was great. The ending was fabulous and I can't wait to read the next book.
Thi ...more
I think for the first time, my system of having 4 books on the go at once let me down..that plus a busy week at work, meant that I read the first half of the book a couple of short chapters at a time. This meant I couldn't get into it as fast as I did with the previous volumes and so I presumed this book wasn't as good.
Thankfully I was really wrong. The second half of this book I read almost in one go and it was great. The ending was fabulous and I can't wait to read the next book.
Thi ...more

Each of these books has gotten a little bit better. The tension a little tauter. From the beginning the writing, world and characters have been excellent. Now the action is starting to accelerate. Every character given a cliffhanger, a purpose and something to fear. And then there's that one word ending in the final scene which was epic. The first two were 4*'s and this one is close to a 5.
...more

"Come!" she cried, her voice filling the darkness. "Gather near, my friends, or if you are faint of heart, move on. For our tale is one of grand adventure. Love, war, betrayal, and vengeance shall spill out now upon these boards, and I warn you not all that are good end well. Not all that are evil are punished" Clara felt her throat growing thick, her heart beating faster. The words seemed like a threat. Or worse, a promise. "Come close, my friends, and know that in our tale as in the world, an ...more

Executive Summary: Probably my favorite book of the series so far. It just keeps getting better.
Audio book: Once again another great performance by Pete Bradbury, making this a great series to do in audio.
Full Review
So in book two of a three book series, it's easy to suffer from "middle book syndrome". So with this being the middle book of five book series, I wondered if that would be the case here. I'm happy to report that it's not. This book is easily my favorite so far.
Once again Mr. Abra ...more
Audio book: Once again another great performance by Pete Bradbury, making this a great series to do in audio.
Full Review
So in book two of a three book series, it's easy to suffer from "middle book syndrome". So with this being the middle book of five book series, I wondered if that would be the case here. I'm happy to report that it's not. This book is easily my favorite so far.
Once again Mr. Abra ...more

Picking up right where “The King’s Blood” left off, The Tyrant’s Law continues the tale of Cithrin, Marcus Wester, Kit, Geder and Clara. This was by far the weakest entry in The Dagger and the Coin series, and I was a little shocked due to the fact that I enjoyed the first two books so much.
Geder steals the show for the third consecutive time with this entry and there is no doubt that he is destined to become the villain of the series. His chapters were my favorite throughout the book and Abra ...more
Geder steals the show for the third consecutive time with this entry and there is no doubt that he is destined to become the villain of the series. His chapters were my favorite throughout the book and Abra ...more

I thought the first half of this book was uncharacteristically slow for a series that's moved on with such a steady rhythm, but the second half was a happy return to pace.
Marcus and Kit are marching off to find a weapon capable of killing the Spider Goddess with a plan to visit the temple of the cult to use it. Cithrin begins her apprenticeship in the city of Suddupal which is bang in the middle of Geder's insane warpath. That fits in well, because Cithrin's apprenticeship is clearly not to be i ...more
Marcus and Kit are marching off to find a weapon capable of killing the Spider Goddess with a plan to visit the temple of the cult to use it. Cithrin begins her apprenticeship in the city of Suddupal which is bang in the middle of Geder's insane warpath. That fits in well, because Cithrin's apprenticeship is clearly not to be i ...more

This book was a little bit slower than the others, and in truth I don't think a whole lot happened until the final 100 pages. Even still, I love the characters and the story here, and I want more! I want to know what's going to happen next.
For a lot of the book, there was a lot of build-up for things that were in the works, but when they happened they happened so fast that it was a bit of a let-down. That, until the final part, where everything culminates into a terrific plot with enough twists ...more
For a lot of the book, there was a lot of build-up for things that were in the works, but when they happened they happened so fast that it was a bit of a let-down. That, until the final part, where everything culminates into a terrific plot with enough twists ...more

This is a very good book, third in a very good quintology, with very good POV characters across the board, very good writing, all very good.
Was it good?
Very.
This is what attempting to review the mid-book in a series brings me to.
It flows wonderfully from the previous volumes. Cithrin arrives in Suddapal to begin her agreed apprenticeship for the Medean bank, and finds herself in a very different kind of branch. War threatens her new temporary home, as regent Palliako Geder continues his petulant ...more
Was it good?
Very.
This is what attempting to review the mid-book in a series brings me to.
It flows wonderfully from the previous volumes. Cithrin arrives in Suddapal to begin her agreed apprenticeship for the Medean bank, and finds herself in a very different kind of branch. War threatens her new temporary home, as regent Palliako Geder continues his petulant ...more

Full review originally over at Fantasy Book Critic (with analysis by Liviu)
ANALYSIS: I would be lying if I didn't mention that this book was heavily anticipated by lots of book bloggers, including me. Daniel Abraham since the start of this series has become more and more of a fantasy writing star. His debut series had established his writing credentials but with the Dagger And The Coin series he has really established himself as an epic fantasy writer. This series is a proper visitation of med ...more

this is really good so far - expands very well the universe
a choice early quote with persons removed though it's easily guessed who is talking with whom; fantasy version of science clashing with religion...
“That can’t be right, can it?” **** said.
***** raised querying eyebrows.
“The three-year fire,” **** explained. “A fire that went on that long would have left a layer of ash all over the world. And there are cities that stood where they are now since before the dragons fell.”
“If it must be, it ...more
a choice early quote with persons removed though it's easily guessed who is talking with whom; fantasy version of science clashing with religion...
“That can’t be right, can it?” **** said.
***** raised querying eyebrows.
“The three-year fire,” **** explained. “A fire that went on that long would have left a layer of ash all over the world. And there are cities that stood where they are now since before the dragons fell.”
“If it must be, it ...more

Yet another great installment of THE DAGGER AND THE COIN. I didn't like this one as much as it's predecessors though. The story is getting a little bogged down and muddled in this book.
There have been many comparisons to A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. I don't really see it. I couldn't really put my finger on it before but after three books I get it. These books lack the elegance of ASOIF. The world and the characters and these books seem clunky and over done. There are mother fucking thirteen races! Ha ...more
There have been many comparisons to A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. I don't really see it. I couldn't really put my finger on it before but after three books I get it. These books lack the elegance of ASOIF. The world and the characters and these books seem clunky and over done. There are mother fucking thirteen races! Ha ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

70% of my reading experience is me screaming DIE GEDER DIE

Random opinions I have about this series:
-The spider priests' power to distinguish truth from lies is actually the ability to tell if someone is believes what they are saying is the truth
-Clara is my favorite. She reminds me a little of Sansa Stark: thrown out of her element, but adapts and thrives
-organized religion (which is different from spirituality) is portrayed as a scam
-Geder is a whiny incel ("HoW daRE yOu LaUgH aT Me????") and a ...more

Random opinions I have about this series:
-The spider priests' power to distinguish truth from lies is actually the ability to tell if someone is believes what they are saying is the truth
-Clara is my favorite. She reminds me a little of Sansa Stark: thrown out of her element, but adapts and thrives
-organized religion (which is different from spirituality) is portrayed as a scam
-Geder is a whiny incel ("HoW daRE yOu LaUgH aT Me????") and a ...more

The Review Can Also Be Found Here, in its preferred format: http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/07/...
“A Wonderful read. Three Books in, Daniel Abraham’s Epic Fantasy series is just as compelling as his and Ty Frank’s The Expanse. Easily one of the highlights of 2013.” ~The Founding Fields
Another year, another Daniel Abraham fantasy novel, another James SA Corey Novel. In the past three years, all books have managed to make it onto my Best of… lists, and it looks like this year is going to be ...more
“A Wonderful read. Three Books in, Daniel Abraham’s Epic Fantasy series is just as compelling as his and Ty Frank’s The Expanse. Easily one of the highlights of 2013.” ~The Founding Fields
Another year, another Daniel Abraham fantasy novel, another James SA Corey Novel. In the past three years, all books have managed to make it onto my Best of… lists, and it looks like this year is going to be ...more

This is the third volume of the Dagger and Coin Quintet, the difficult middle book - the one that drags the weight of two books’ worth of previous history, that also has to begin arranging all the pieces for the endgame and still has to make sense by itself. It should be an impossible task, an experience as dense and heavy and glutinous as treacle. Yet it flows like cream, tastes like chocolate and slips down just as easily. Abraham’s prose is a joy to read, elegant and spare, every word in its
...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

We continue with the viewpoints of Marcus, Cithrin, Clara, and Geder.
Clara is trying to find her feet as a "loyal traitor". There was a lot of interior change on her part, but I frankly found her thread the least interesting of our POV characters. She is trying out baby steps of manipulation and revolution. I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic, but I suppose that drama is not Clara's thing. I wonder if she's an answer to Caitlin in GOT. Caitlin tried to brew a revolution and was bad at ...more
Clara is trying to find her feet as a "loyal traitor". There was a lot of interior change on her part, but I frankly found her thread the least interesting of our POV characters. She is trying out baby steps of manipulation and revolution. I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic, but I suppose that drama is not Clara's thing. I wonder if she's an answer to Caitlin in GOT. Caitlin tried to brew a revolution and was bad at ...more

A certain amount of middle-volumitis here, as characters undertake a couple of loooong physical or maturational journeys that could have been cut down considerable. Still, the main plot moves along at least a little, Geder gets easier to despise, Clara is wresting the role of main female character away from Cithrin, and (though he's not on stage all that much) Yardem Hane is becoming more of a Player than Marcus Wester. Though there's a nice major development at the end, I think this series is s
...more

This book has really got me anticipating the next one. The story kind of dragged out in the middle, but things got rolling the last 100 pages. I have to say if I didn't already have the next book ready to start I would be pretty upset with myself.
As war begins to spread the priests of the spider goddess are sinking their claws deeper into the future of this world. Kit and Marcus are on a journey to find an object that will help them fight against the spreading darkness. Cithrin has become an app ...more
As war begins to spread the priests of the spider goddess are sinking their claws deeper into the future of this world. Kit and Marcus are on a journey to find an object that will help them fight against the spreading darkness. Cithrin has become an app ...more

Third instalment of the 'Dagger and the Coin' series, and it does not disappoint. High points: Geder, who continues to be an absolutely fascinating monster, a man who you can almost sympathise with, until out of nowhere he makes the most appalling moves as if they were unremarkable. And Clara, who really grows into herself in this book - gaining a kind of freedom unknown to her before losing it all again, in the service of her goals. Really, we get too few characters like either of these in fant
...more

The series just keeps on, moving through a fascinating world with many races and a little magic. You get a little better view of some of the other races but the characters are still mainly "FirstBlood", i.e., regular humans. Not as much action in this story but still exciting. 4 Stars
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Play Book Tag: Tyrant's Law 5 stars | 3 | 9 | Dec 18, 2021 04:10PM | |
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Tyrant's Law [Dec 15, 2018] | 55 | 39 | Dec 19, 2018 06:06AM | |
Fantasy Buddy Reads: The Tyrant's Law | 36 | 20 | Nov 08, 2016 01:14PM | |
The Not a Book Cl...: TTL: Section 4: 9th Cithrin - Entr’acte (Full Spoilers) | 4 | 15 | Sep 21, 2015 06:42AM | |
The Not a Book Cl...: TTL: Section 3: 6th Marcus - 8th Geder | 4 | 11 | Sep 21, 2015 06:39AM | |
The Not a Book Cl...: TTL: Section 2: 3rd Marcus - 5th Cithrin | 3 | 9 | Sep 20, 2015 03:39AM | |
The Not a Book Cl...: TTL: Section 1: Prologue - 3rd Geder | 7 | 12 | Sep 19, 2015 05:45PM |
Daniel James Abraham, pen names M.L.N. Hanover and James S.A. Corey, is an American novelist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and television producer. He is best known as the author of
The Long Price Quartet
and
The Dagger and the Coin
fantasy series, and with Ty Franck, as the co-author of
The Expanse
series of science fiction novels, written under the joint pseudonym James S.A. Co
...more
Other books in the series
The Dagger and the Coin
(5 books)
Related Articles
Now that we’re halfway through the year, it’s time to check in on the 2022 Goodreads Reading Challenge, our rigorous annual initiative for book...
184 likes · 46 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“The weapon is poison,' Kit said. 'I believe that the cause we carry it in is just, but that will not protect you. It is not only death to those whose skin it cuts; it holds a deeper violence within it. If you carry it-just that, carry it and nothing more-the poison will still affect you. In time, you will grow ill from it, and eventually, inevitably, it will kill you.'
'It's a sword, Kit,' Marcus said, lifting the green scabbard from it's place. They're all like that.”
—
14 likes
'It's a sword, Kit,' Marcus said, lifting the green scabbard from it's place. They're all like that.”
“There is great nobility in ordinary people. The world disappoints us all, and the ways we change our own stories to survive that disappointment are beautiful and tragic and hilarious. On balance, I find much more to admire about humanity than to despise.”
—
8 likes
More quotes…