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Anteros #2
Битката за Ориса
Капитан Рейли Емили Антеро произхожда от уважавано търговско семейство, сред чиито членове са един отдавна мъртъв магьосник и един знаменит пътешественик – брат й Амалрик. Последният е съвсем жив и продължава да разказва невероятните истории за пътешествието си до легендарното Далечно царство. Да си Антеро не е лесно, защото всички очакват от теб чудеса...
Но Рейли не дава пукната пара за магията и магьосниците, още по-малко за пътешествията, особено по море. Тя е войник и командир на елитната Маранонска гвардия, съставена изцяло от жени. Гвардията е свикнала да печели битки, но не и срещу завистливи мъже, които коват интриги, за да отстранят жените воини от пътя си. Рейли се оказва натоварена с командването на самоубийствена мисия – морско пътешествие по следите на зъл и могъщ магьосник, последния властелин на Ликантия, който е избягал с тайната на зловещо заклинание, което може да унищожи цивилизацията.
И така Рейли Антеро и нейните гвардейки потеглят на морско приключение с неизвестен край. Предстои им отчаяна гонитба във водите на великото Западно море, отвъд варварското пристанище Джейпур, отвъд Тигровия залив и дори отвъд Лимонения бряг, чак до огнените рифове, които бележат края на света... и отвъд тях, в места, за които не се споменава дори в легендите.
Но Рейли не дава пукната пара за магията и магьосниците, още по-малко за пътешествията, особено по море. Тя е войник и командир на елитната Маранонска гвардия, съставена изцяло от жени. Гвардията е свикнала да печели битки, но не и срещу завистливи мъже, които коват интриги, за да отстранят жените воини от пътя си. Рейли се оказва натоварена с командването на самоубийствена мисия – морско пътешествие по следите на зъл и могъщ магьосник, последния властелин на Ликантия, който е избягал с тайната на зловещо заклинание, което може да унищожи цивилизацията.
И така Рейли Антеро и нейните гвардейки потеглят на морско приключение с неизвестен край. Предстои им отчаяна гонитба във водите на великото Западно море, отвъд варварското пристанище Джейпур, отвъд Тигровия залив и дори отвъд Лимонения бряг, чак до огнените рифове, които бележат края на света... и отвъд тях, в места, за които не се споменава дори в легендите.
624 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
3 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Allan Cole
80 books65 followersAllan Cole was an American author and television writer, who wrote or co-wrote nearly thirty books.The son of a CIA operative, Cole was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. He collaborated with Chris Bunch on the Sten science fiction series, as well the Far Kingdoms Series, and the historical novels, A Reckoning For Kings and Daughter Of Liberty.
He co-authored a non-fiction book A Cop's Life with his uncle, Thomas Grubb; and a fantasy novel Lords Of Terror with Russian author Nick Perumov.His solo books include the fantasy novels that make up the Timura Trilogy and the thrillers, Dying Good and Drowned Hopes.
He sold more than a hundred television episodes, including ones for Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, The Incredible Hulk, Dinosaucers, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Magnum, P.I., Werewolf, and Walker, Texas Ranger.
He was also a Los Angeles newspaper editor and investigative reporter for 14 years.
Cole was married to Chris Bunch's sister, Kathryn. He died of cancer in Boca Raton, Florida, aged 75, on March 29, 2019.
He co-authored a non-fiction book A Cop's Life with his uncle, Thomas Grubb; and a fantasy novel Lords Of Terror with Russian author Nick Perumov.His solo books include the fantasy novels that make up the Timura Trilogy and the thrillers, Dying Good and Drowned Hopes.
He sold more than a hundred television episodes, including ones for Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, The Incredible Hulk, Dinosaucers, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Magnum, P.I., Werewolf, and Walker, Texas Ranger.
He was also a Los Angeles newspaper editor and investigative reporter for 14 years.
Cole was married to Chris Bunch's sister, Kathryn. He died of cancer in Boca Raton, Florida, aged 75, on March 29, 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 10, 2008
The best book I've ever read. But then, I was young. As far as fantasy goes, I can't imagine anyone could ever want more. Militant lesbians and fantasy is generally a winning combination.
May 3, 2020
And so, dear reader of reviews, my journey into revisiting cheesy ’90s epic fantasy that I may or may not have read as a kid continues. Last year I dipped into
The Far Kingdoms
to keep myself company with a broken elbow. This year, with a pandemic stalking close, I decided it was time to return to that universe with The Warrior’s Tale. Allan Cole and Chris Burch place Rali Antero in the narrator hot seat.
Several years have passed since Amalric Antero returned from finding the Far Kingdoms. Orissa prospers, but it is also on the verge of war. Rali Antero leads her all-female Maranon Guard into battle against the Lycanthians alongside the regular Orissan army. What should have been simple cleanup—chase down and dispatch the last Archon of Lycanth—turns into a years’ long quest worthy of Homer’s Odyssey. Along the way, Rali will fight pirates, wizards, demons, and her own internal turmoil. Is she a warrior? A wizard? Something else?
Some praise for this book: for the 1990s, it’s progressive in terms of sexuality. Rali is openly lesbian, and there’s no hint of disapproval from the authors or titillation. Granted, she is still a lesbian written from the perspective of two dudes, so take this praise with the large shaker of table salt that accompanies it. But it really is nice that the hero of this book isn’t some burly white dude warrior, and it is very amusing that Burch and Cole reward Rali with the kind of scenes we might expect from such a protagonist: she gets the love-making, the praise for her prowess, and to butt heads with the less savoury leaders of the mercenaries and other groups she must align herself with. Yes, there’s a fair amount of, “It’s tough being a woman in a man’s world” to the book, and that might start to sound repetitive after a while. Also, the cringey sexytimes descriptions do not stop in this book just because Rali et al boink their own sex.
That’s what all the different battle sequences are for.
This is an adventure tale, and it lives up to that promise. Rali & Co. lurch from one scrape to the next, yet Burch and Cole remember to give us enough time to breathe between each chapter. Along the way, Rali develops as a character. At the beginning of the book, she perceives her responsibilities very narrowly: she is the commander of the Maranon Guard, and she is responsible for the lives and honour of her women. As the journey to find the Archon, and then to return to Orissa, continues, Rali realizes she has to widen her perspective. She must take into consideration the entire ramshackle fleet under her command, and she needs to use everything at her disposal—that includes magic, and also guile. Rali at the beginning is merely a soldier; by the end, she is truly a warrior.
The structure of the story might start to feel repetitive, but I consider it reassuring. As with the first book, there isn’t much here if you’re hoping for a fantasy novel that shakes up the status quo. There are glimpses of something greater—towards the end, Rali meditates on how power corrupts and how the Archon’s attempts to elude death mean he must constantly expand his appetite for power. These are themes and ideas better explored in other fantasy series. Similarly, some of the episodes in this story are a little predictable, like the whole debacle with the Sarzana. There is a methodical and therefore mediocre quality to the plotting here, and it’s nothing to write home about.
This series continues to be the kind of tonic I like in my ’90s fantasy revisit. It’s not going to surprise you, but it won’t disappoint either.
My reviews of the Anteros series:
← The Far Kingdoms
Several years have passed since Amalric Antero returned from finding the Far Kingdoms. Orissa prospers, but it is also on the verge of war. Rali Antero leads her all-female Maranon Guard into battle against the Lycanthians alongside the regular Orissan army. What should have been simple cleanup—chase down and dispatch the last Archon of Lycanth—turns into a years’ long quest worthy of Homer’s Odyssey. Along the way, Rali will fight pirates, wizards, demons, and her own internal turmoil. Is she a warrior? A wizard? Something else?
Some praise for this book: for the 1990s, it’s progressive in terms of sexuality. Rali is openly lesbian, and there’s no hint of disapproval from the authors or titillation. Granted, she is still a lesbian written from the perspective of two dudes, so take this praise with the large shaker of table salt that accompanies it. But it really is nice that the hero of this book isn’t some burly white dude warrior, and it is very amusing that Burch and Cole reward Rali with the kind of scenes we might expect from such a protagonist: she gets the love-making, the praise for her prowess, and to butt heads with the less savoury leaders of the mercenaries and other groups she must align herself with. Yes, there’s a fair amount of, “It’s tough being a woman in a man’s world” to the book, and that might start to sound repetitive after a while. Also, the cringey sexytimes descriptions do not stop in this book just because Rali et al boink their own sex.
That’s what all the different battle sequences are for.
This is an adventure tale, and it lives up to that promise. Rali & Co. lurch from one scrape to the next, yet Burch and Cole remember to give us enough time to breathe between each chapter. Along the way, Rali develops as a character. At the beginning of the book, she perceives her responsibilities very narrowly: she is the commander of the Maranon Guard, and she is responsible for the lives and honour of her women. As the journey to find the Archon, and then to return to Orissa, continues, Rali realizes she has to widen her perspective. She must take into consideration the entire ramshackle fleet under her command, and she needs to use everything at her disposal—that includes magic, and also guile. Rali at the beginning is merely a soldier; by the end, she is truly a warrior.
The structure of the story might start to feel repetitive, but I consider it reassuring. As with the first book, there isn’t much here if you’re hoping for a fantasy novel that shakes up the status quo. There are glimpses of something greater—towards the end, Rali meditates on how power corrupts and how the Archon’s attempts to elude death mean he must constantly expand his appetite for power. These are themes and ideas better explored in other fantasy series. Similarly, some of the episodes in this story are a little predictable, like the whole debacle with the Sarzana. There is a methodical and therefore mediocre quality to the plotting here, and it’s nothing to write home about.
This series continues to be the kind of tonic I like in my ’90s fantasy revisit. It’s not going to surprise you, but it won’t disappoint either.
My reviews of the Anteros series:
← The Far Kingdoms
January 6, 2013
Overall great book. I liked the first one in the series slightly better, thought this one had a few slow spots and a slightly overpowering "woman is equal" theme. Nothing against that, it just got a little repetitive. Let the deeds of the character imply that, don't flat out write it over and over! Definitely worth the read if you liked the first one.
July 4, 2013
Прекрасна книга! Харесах първата част от трилогията, но тук положението стана много по сериозно, много по-мащабно и приключенията не стихваха! Надявам се с третата книга това да се надгради!
А края беше хубав... надявам се всеки, не само жените, да се борят за това което искат да са!
А края беше хубав... надявам се всеки, не само жените, да се борят за това което искат да са!
August 28, 2014
After Rali who? Give me another such heroine in High Fantasy world.
Detailed review after second reading.
Detailed review after second reading.
April 12, 2012
And the story of the Anteros goes on! I loved the female (and lesbian!) perspective in a traditional fantasy environment. As entertaining as #1, if not more!
November 8, 2015
An excellent stand alone tale. I might seek out the previous books in the series and see how they are.
September 7, 2023
I believe this is the longest book I've ever read. If not, it's the longest book I've read in quite a while. I didn't mind the length tho because I just wanted to keep reading more and more. I became so immersed in the world I never wanted to leave. I won't go into much detail because I don't want to spoil anything, but you will fall in love with all of the characters. So much so that you might actually shed tears when some die (I'll admit it I cried a few times reading this). If a book can make me feel such strong emotions it deserves an A+. If I could give it 6 stars, I would.
If you feel comfortable reading a book this long, go for it! You won't regret it!
If you feel comfortable reading a book this long, go for it! You won't regret it!
July 2, 2019
See my drag queen video review at: https://youtu.be/iGc9Aive4b8
The Warrior's Tale is the best lesbian high fantasy written by a pair of straight men!
The Warrior's Tale is the best lesbian high fantasy written by a pair of straight men!
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
April 19, 2023
A book about a troop of lesbian soldiers written by two men has no right to be this engaging, and yet here we are.
Is it very male gaze-y? Yes.
Does it embody so many lesbian stereotypes believed by straight men? Yes.
Multiple examples of Men Write Women Badly? Still yes. (The makeup scene comes to mind.)
Is it still a ridiculously fun adventure story with twists and turns to the plot? Also yes.
This book employs a number of my favorite tropes and it executes them well. I love Rali as the narrator here - one of very few books I absolutely love in first person point of view and one that wouldn't work without it. I love her slow acceptance that although she is a soldier first and foremost, she is also capable of magic. I love seeing her learn new skills and come to find a new vocation. I even had a good time with her brief relationships.
If one goes into this book with the caveat and understanding that there is some pervasive unpleasantness simply because it's two men writing lesbians in the late 20th century with all that's implied by the social climate of the time, there is a very engaging story at its heart. The world-building as Rali and the rest of the crew are lost in unknown climates and countries is exciting, the ongoing fight against the Archons provides a framework for the rest of the plot, and the characters feel distinct and human.
There are three other books in this series, none of which I enjoyed even a quarter as much as this one. Ignore them. This one is fantastic and I love it no matter how many times I read it.
Is it very male gaze-y? Yes.
Does it embody so many lesbian stereotypes believed by straight men? Yes.
Multiple examples of Men Write Women Badly? Still yes. (The makeup scene comes to mind.)
Is it still a ridiculously fun adventure story with twists and turns to the plot? Also yes.
This book employs a number of my favorite tropes and it executes them well. I love Rali as the narrator here - one of very few books I absolutely love in first person point of view and one that wouldn't work without it. I love her slow acceptance that although she is a soldier first and foremost, she is also capable of magic. I love seeing her learn new skills and come to find a new vocation. I even had a good time with her brief relationships.
If one goes into this book with the caveat and understanding that there is some pervasive unpleasantness simply because it's two men writing lesbians in the late 20th century with all that's implied by the social climate of the time, there is a very engaging story at its heart. The world-building as Rali and the rest of the crew are lost in unknown climates and countries is exciting, the ongoing fight against the Archons provides a framework for the rest of the plot, and the characters feel distinct and human.
There are three other books in this series, none of which I enjoyed even a quarter as much as this one. Ignore them. This one is fantastic and I love it no matter how many times I read it.
November 17, 2014
This is the sequel to the 1994 book, The Far Kingdoms, which I have not read. I didn't even realize that there was a prequel until I started to put this review together, so it stands alone well.
The Warrior's Tale is set in a world similar to Classical Greece crossed with standard fantasy themes. The protagonist is Captain Rali Emilie Antero, commander of the Maranon Guards of the city of Orissa. This is a unit of elite warrior women, who are required to swear never to sleep with men. There might be some celibate guardswomen, but the ones we encounter all seem to be lesbians.
The sexual orientation of the women is rather rammed down the reader's throat. The first chapter is almost a caricature of "why men suck", describing the culture as basically misogynistic. Despite how the city views women, the Maranon Guards are the city's most elite warriors, usually kept close to home as a showpiece. I contend that you can't have this both ways: if they're elite troops, they have to have been in combat somewhere. And if the culture is so misogynistic, why would they even allow women soldiers, much less require them to swear off heterosexuality? Captain Rali herself is a caricature of a swaggering, misandrist, butch lesbian. *I'm* a lesbian and a feminist, and this was offending me, I can hardly imagine what male readers will think.
The city is at war with a rival town, Lycanth. Everyone gets to go fight, except the wimmyn warriors. Rali bitches about this a lot. However, the Maranon Guards disembowel a raging demon in front of the entire city, and are they are awarded a "place of honor" in the upcoming battle with Lycanth. Them mean ol' men still don't let the girls play, and Rali's unit has a good idea for how to breach the city. The local commander won't approve it, and Rali threatens to go over his head and smear the general's name. He grudgingly allows them to assault the city. The Maranon Guards swing into action (literally, on ropes) and voilá! Lycanon is defeated.
There's a hitch, of course. One of the big nasty magic users (known as Archons) has fled the fall of the city and has a doomsday weapon. Since Rali pissed in the general's Post Toasties, guess who gets sent after the missing magic worker and told not to return until he's dead? More bitching and whining about how them men have it in for the girls.
If you can get to this point, the rest of the book is a fairly standard fantasy novel with an Odyssey-like episodic journey in which the guardswomen and the ship's crew meet and overcome various enemies and fail wandering monster checks. As we're getting to the high point of the tale, Rali manages to get involved in a sweaty romance with a local princess, with no chemistry between them, and no real reason explaining this sticky passion except "lesbians".
The book isn't good enough for me to want to buy the prequel or to read it again.
The Warrior's Tale is set in a world similar to Classical Greece crossed with standard fantasy themes. The protagonist is Captain Rali Emilie Antero, commander of the Maranon Guards of the city of Orissa. This is a unit of elite warrior women, who are required to swear never to sleep with men. There might be some celibate guardswomen, but the ones we encounter all seem to be lesbians.
The sexual orientation of the women is rather rammed down the reader's throat. The first chapter is almost a caricature of "why men suck", describing the culture as basically misogynistic. Despite how the city views women, the Maranon Guards are the city's most elite warriors, usually kept close to home as a showpiece. I contend that you can't have this both ways: if they're elite troops, they have to have been in combat somewhere. And if the culture is so misogynistic, why would they even allow women soldiers, much less require them to swear off heterosexuality? Captain Rali herself is a caricature of a swaggering, misandrist, butch lesbian. *I'm* a lesbian and a feminist, and this was offending me, I can hardly imagine what male readers will think.
The city is at war with a rival town, Lycanth. Everyone gets to go fight, except the wimmyn warriors. Rali bitches about this a lot. However, the Maranon Guards disembowel a raging demon in front of the entire city, and are they are awarded a "place of honor" in the upcoming battle with Lycanth. Them mean ol' men still don't let the girls play, and Rali's unit has a good idea for how to breach the city. The local commander won't approve it, and Rali threatens to go over his head and smear the general's name. He grudgingly allows them to assault the city. The Maranon Guards swing into action (literally, on ropes) and voilá! Lycanon is defeated.
There's a hitch, of course. One of the big nasty magic users (known as Archons) has fled the fall of the city and has a doomsday weapon. Since Rali pissed in the general's Post Toasties, guess who gets sent after the missing magic worker and told not to return until he's dead? More bitching and whining about how them men have it in for the girls.
If you can get to this point, the rest of the book is a fairly standard fantasy novel with an Odyssey-like episodic journey in which the guardswomen and the ship's crew meet and overcome various enemies and fail wandering monster checks. As we're getting to the high point of the tale, Rali manages to get involved in a sweaty romance with a local princess, with no chemistry between them, and no real reason explaining this sticky passion except "lesbians".
The book isn't good enough for me to want to buy the prequel or to read it again.
Read
September 26, 2016This is the second book in the series about the family of Antero. This time the main character is captain maraninchi guard Rali Emilie Antero. She lives in a country where a woman created only for family and love. She has to prove her worth as a warrior, and later as witches. In his adventure Rali waiting loss, victory, failure, love, betrayal, deception, hope.
The book is full of adventures, battles, the clash of interests, a struggle of masculine and feminine, magic and witchcraft, the history.
The book is full of adventures, battles, the clash of interests, a struggle of masculine and feminine, magic and witchcraft, the history.
January 16, 2025
Epic. A+
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews