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Maradaine #3
The Imposters of Aventil
Summer and the Grand Tournament of High Colleges have come to the University of Maradaine. If the heat and the crowds weren't enough to bring the campus and the neighborhood of Aventil to a boiling point, rumors that The Thorn is on the warpath—killing the last of the Red Rabbits—is enough to tip all of Maradaine into the fire.
Except Veranix Calbert, magic student at the University, is The Thorn, and he's not the one viciously hunting the Red Rabbits. Veranix has his hands full with his share of responsibilities for the Tournament, and as The Thorn he’s been trying to find the source of the mind-destroying effitte being sold on campus. He’s as confused as anyone about the rumors.
When The Thorn imposter publicly attacks the local Aventil constables, the Constabulary bring in their own special investigators: Inspectors Minox Welling and Satrine Rainey from the Maradaine Grand Inspectors Unit. Can Veranix find out who the imposter is and stop him before Welling and Rainey arrest him for the imposter’s crimes?
Except Veranix Calbert, magic student at the University, is The Thorn, and he's not the one viciously hunting the Red Rabbits. Veranix has his hands full with his share of responsibilities for the Tournament, and as The Thorn he’s been trying to find the source of the mind-destroying effitte being sold on campus. He’s as confused as anyone about the rumors.
When The Thorn imposter publicly attacks the local Aventil constables, the Constabulary bring in their own special investigators: Inspectors Minox Welling and Satrine Rainey from the Maradaine Grand Inspectors Unit. Can Veranix find out who the imposter is and stop him before Welling and Rainey arrest him for the imposter’s crimes?
389 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 3, 2017
18 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Marshall Ryan Maresca
23 books340 followersMarshall Ryan Maresca is a fantasy and science-fiction writer, author of sixteen novels, most of which are part of the Maradaine Saga: Four braided series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the exotic city called Maradaine. He is also the author of the standalone dieselpunk fantasy, The Velocity of Revolution. He is a four-time Hugo finalist as the co-host of the podcast Worldbuilding for Masochists, and has been a playwright, an actor and an amateur chef. He lives in Austin, Texas with his family.
For more information, visit Marshall’s website at www.mrmaresca.com.
For more information, visit Marshall’s website at www.mrmaresca.com.
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October 7, 2017
Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2017/0...
3.5/5 stars
Imposters of Aventil carries forward with the fun and excitement I’ve come to expect from the Maradaine series. The Thorn has a habit of getting himself in compromising positions sometimes, and bending (OK, maybe breaking) the law to suit his end purpose fighting the drug trade. But in this, he finds himself the suspect in cases he has nothing to do with. There is an imposter who is using the guise of the Thorn while stirring up trouble with both the constabulary, but also the gangs. Effate also appears to have made its way onto campus. Both of these things make Veranix’s work as the Thorn considerably more dangerous, but also motivates him. Like he needed more motivation to fight the effate drug trade!
Previously I have said that I think Maresca’s series could be read independently and in any order. I mean, I guess you still could, but with this book I would no longer recommend it. This may be the third book in the Maradaine series, but it prominently features Minox and Satrine from the Constabulary series and knowing their background makes this book feel more complete and satisfying. For example, the Constabulary series provides the reader with Minox’s history as an uncircled mage and how that plays in the constabulary as well as what that means within this world historically. This is not absolutely critical for this book, there is enough information there to get an idea of what the reader needs to know, but having read the Constabulary series adds a good amount of character depth and understanding as to how the world works and why Minox’s status as an uncircled mage is so significant.
This one was better for me than the constabulary ones, perhaps just because the detective aspect is not my favorite in general. And to be clear, I did still enjoy the Constabulary books, just not as much as Holver Alley Crew or the Maradaine books series. As for negatives, there were some aspects of this book that just felt a bit more fabricated and coincidental than I typically prefer, and I found myself having to shore up my willing suspension of disbelief.
That said, I also felt like this book played on the strengths of the two series (Maradaine and Constabulary). It had the team work and camaraderie (and vigilante-ism) that I enjoy in Maradaine, and brought it together with the duo of Minox and Satrine. I always enjoyed that powerful team that is made up of two outcasts within their department and I really enjoy Veranix and his friends as they try to hand out their own form of justice. The combination was interesting because the Veranix is obviously on the wrong side of the law even if his heart is in the right, so the introduction of a the law enforcing team of Minox and Satrine made you wonder how things would work as the two sets of characters are at odds with one another.
As it turned out, I really did like the mix of the characters from the different series, its fun seeing them cross paths. With the resolution of this series, I can see where Maresca could be headed for the next project, and I am definitely intrigued. This may be the end of one trilogy, but it does feel like it could be the start of something else and I look forward to seeing what is to come.
3.5/5 stars
Imposters of Aventil carries forward with the fun and excitement I’ve come to expect from the Maradaine series. The Thorn has a habit of getting himself in compromising positions sometimes, and bending (OK, maybe breaking) the law to suit his end purpose fighting the drug trade. But in this, he finds himself the suspect in cases he has nothing to do with. There is an imposter who is using the guise of the Thorn while stirring up trouble with both the constabulary, but also the gangs. Effate also appears to have made its way onto campus. Both of these things make Veranix’s work as the Thorn considerably more dangerous, but also motivates him. Like he needed more motivation to fight the effate drug trade!
Previously I have said that I think Maresca’s series could be read independently and in any order. I mean, I guess you still could, but with this book I would no longer recommend it. This may be the third book in the Maradaine series, but it prominently features Minox and Satrine from the Constabulary series and knowing their background makes this book feel more complete and satisfying. For example, the Constabulary series provides the reader with Minox’s history as an uncircled mage and how that plays in the constabulary as well as what that means within this world historically. This is not absolutely critical for this book, there is enough information there to get an idea of what the reader needs to know, but having read the Constabulary series adds a good amount of character depth and understanding as to how the world works and why Minox’s status as an uncircled mage is so significant.
This one was better for me than the constabulary ones, perhaps just because the detective aspect is not my favorite in general. And to be clear, I did still enjoy the Constabulary books, just not as much as Holver Alley Crew or the Maradaine books series. As for negatives, there were some aspects of this book that just felt a bit more fabricated and coincidental than I typically prefer, and I found myself having to shore up my willing suspension of disbelief.
That said, I also felt like this book played on the strengths of the two series (Maradaine and Constabulary). It had the team work and camaraderie (and vigilante-ism) that I enjoy in Maradaine, and brought it together with the duo of Minox and Satrine. I always enjoyed that powerful team that is made up of two outcasts within their department and I really enjoy Veranix and his friends as they try to hand out their own form of justice. The combination was interesting because the Veranix is obviously on the wrong side of the law even if his heart is in the right, so the introduction of a the law enforcing team of Minox and Satrine made you wonder how things would work as the two sets of characters are at odds with one another.
As it turned out, I really did like the mix of the characters from the different series, its fun seeing them cross paths. With the resolution of this series, I can see where Maresca could be headed for the next project, and I am definitely intrigued. This may be the end of one trilogy, but it does feel like it could be the start of something else and I look forward to seeing what is to come.
July 27, 2017
*copy from Netgalley ine xchange for a review*
The Imposters of Aventil is the third in Marshall Ryan Maresca’s “Maradaine” sequence of novels. The author has also written several other series in the same universe – and if you’ve been following those, there’s some crossover here.
Aventil is one of the districts in the city of Maradaine. In comparison to others that we’ve seen in previous books, it’s rather prosperous. There’s a university, packed out with a large number of well-heeled students – aspiring lawyers, magnates of tomorrow, and the occasional wizard. The streets are fairly clean, and if the money of the University is one reason, another in is because Aventil’s crime is organised, but also fractured. There are several different street gangs, all with their fingers in separate pieces of Aventil territory, and each with their own history and grudges with each other. That said, they all deeply resent intrusion into that territory from the outside – and will band together to savage interlopers. They’re insulated by a police force which is more lethargic than actively corrupt –unwilling to rock the boat, start trouble, or indeed finish it. Aventil is, in its way, thriving – money moves and everyone has an interest in a stable neighbourhood, and as a result it has a cosmopolitan and socially active feel. This is especially true of the University, which sees wonderfully insular, with its own politics and problems, looking out on the rest of the neighbourhood from a bubble of privilege you can almost see rising off the page.
The characters…well, there’s the infamous Thorn, of course, and his gang of merry followers. Then there’s Inspector’s Rainey and Welling, brought in to investigate murders, and trying to chase down the Thorn. Alongside them, there’s our connection to the Aventil street gangs, who also happens to be tied to the Thorn. Also a small horde of side characters. I think my only complaint here is that given the smorgasbord of characters present, we don’t get to spend a lot of time with all of them. It’s great seeing the crossover between different aspects of Maresca’s worlds, but I think we could have done with a text twice the size to give them all room to breathe.
Still, the characterisation is solid – especially for Minox and Welling, whose cool competence, and incisive intelligence mixes well with troubled consciences and icy pragmatism. Those two pretty much own any page that they’re on. The Thorn and his gang, on the other hand – well, I need to go back to the earlier books to really get the context of their relationships, I think. But coming to it fresh, there’s a sense of history missing; I was able to get a sense of what tied the characters together, and it all worked, but I suspect that the deeper context from previous books would have helped immensely. Still, they each get their moments to shine. There’s a sequence that felt reminiscent of fight club halfway through the book which really shaped one of the Thorn’s accomplices for me, for example – in their reaction to danger and courage in the face of adversity. They also have a sense of privilege which seems to gradually deflate as the story goes on – as the stakes rise, and they run afoul of meddling inspectors.
They’re joined by our eyes in the gangs. This one was easier to come to without the context, really – a lone actor, of sorts. He’s a man struggling with old loyalties and old curses; an internal monologue turns these over for the reader, with a genuine voice, and a tone that seems tired of the life that’s led this far. There’s loyalty and bravery there as well, and a sense that the centre can not hold. It’s a stark contrast to the Inspector’s view of the criminal fraternity of Aventil as thugs and menaces – noting that there are costs and consequences, that gang work is violent and sometimes ugly, but not stripping away the essential humanity beneath. This is one whom I’d follow again – to see where he ends up, if nothing else
All of these characters are thrown together in a melting pot, as the Thorn appears to go on something of a murder spree. Execept of course that he hasn’t, as far as he knows. Maresca has form in this area – a slow burning plot, with investigations, discoveries, false leads and revelations, leading to an explosive conclusion. He doesn’t disappoint this time either. I was turning pages to work out exactly what was going on, trying to understand what drove the murders, who was behind them and why – and then, as that started to gel together, kept turning pages to see what would happen next. It’s a sharply observed investigative thriller, this one, in a mature and well crafted fantasy world.
Is it worth reading? I suspect if you’re new to Maradaine, you might want to go back to the start of this series, or to the start of Rainey and Welling’s adventures; it works as a standalone, but definitely benefits from exposure to the rest of the series. If you’re already a follower of the Thorn, I’d say pick this one up.
The Imposters of Aventil is the third in Marshall Ryan Maresca’s “Maradaine” sequence of novels. The author has also written several other series in the same universe – and if you’ve been following those, there’s some crossover here.
Aventil is one of the districts in the city of Maradaine. In comparison to others that we’ve seen in previous books, it’s rather prosperous. There’s a university, packed out with a large number of well-heeled students – aspiring lawyers, magnates of tomorrow, and the occasional wizard. The streets are fairly clean, and if the money of the University is one reason, another in is because Aventil’s crime is organised, but also fractured. There are several different street gangs, all with their fingers in separate pieces of Aventil territory, and each with their own history and grudges with each other. That said, they all deeply resent intrusion into that territory from the outside – and will band together to savage interlopers. They’re insulated by a police force which is more lethargic than actively corrupt –unwilling to rock the boat, start trouble, or indeed finish it. Aventil is, in its way, thriving – money moves and everyone has an interest in a stable neighbourhood, and as a result it has a cosmopolitan and socially active feel. This is especially true of the University, which sees wonderfully insular, with its own politics and problems, looking out on the rest of the neighbourhood from a bubble of privilege you can almost see rising off the page.
The characters…well, there’s the infamous Thorn, of course, and his gang of merry followers. Then there’s Inspector’s Rainey and Welling, brought in to investigate murders, and trying to chase down the Thorn. Alongside them, there’s our connection to the Aventil street gangs, who also happens to be tied to the Thorn. Also a small horde of side characters. I think my only complaint here is that given the smorgasbord of characters present, we don’t get to spend a lot of time with all of them. It’s great seeing the crossover between different aspects of Maresca’s worlds, but I think we could have done with a text twice the size to give them all room to breathe.
Still, the characterisation is solid – especially for Minox and Welling, whose cool competence, and incisive intelligence mixes well with troubled consciences and icy pragmatism. Those two pretty much own any page that they’re on. The Thorn and his gang, on the other hand – well, I need to go back to the earlier books to really get the context of their relationships, I think. But coming to it fresh, there’s a sense of history missing; I was able to get a sense of what tied the characters together, and it all worked, but I suspect that the deeper context from previous books would have helped immensely. Still, they each get their moments to shine. There’s a sequence that felt reminiscent of fight club halfway through the book which really shaped one of the Thorn’s accomplices for me, for example – in their reaction to danger and courage in the face of adversity. They also have a sense of privilege which seems to gradually deflate as the story goes on – as the stakes rise, and they run afoul of meddling inspectors.
They’re joined by our eyes in the gangs. This one was easier to come to without the context, really – a lone actor, of sorts. He’s a man struggling with old loyalties and old curses; an internal monologue turns these over for the reader, with a genuine voice, and a tone that seems tired of the life that’s led this far. There’s loyalty and bravery there as well, and a sense that the centre can not hold. It’s a stark contrast to the Inspector’s view of the criminal fraternity of Aventil as thugs and menaces – noting that there are costs and consequences, that gang work is violent and sometimes ugly, but not stripping away the essential humanity beneath. This is one whom I’d follow again – to see where he ends up, if nothing else
All of these characters are thrown together in a melting pot, as the Thorn appears to go on something of a murder spree. Execept of course that he hasn’t, as far as he knows. Maresca has form in this area – a slow burning plot, with investigations, discoveries, false leads and revelations, leading to an explosive conclusion. He doesn’t disappoint this time either. I was turning pages to work out exactly what was going on, trying to understand what drove the murders, who was behind them and why – and then, as that started to gel together, kept turning pages to see what would happen next. It’s a sharply observed investigative thriller, this one, in a mature and well crafted fantasy world.
Is it worth reading? I suspect if you’re new to Maradaine, you might want to go back to the start of this series, or to the start of Rainey and Welling’s adventures; it works as a standalone, but definitely benefits from exposure to the rest of the series. If you’re already a follower of the Thorn, I’d say pick this one up.
November 4, 2017
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Imposters of Aventil, by author Marshall Ryan Maresca, is the third installment in the Maradaine series. This is a story that surrounds a yearly event called The Grand Tournament of the High Colleges. Protagonist Veranix Calbert leads a double life. By day he's a magic student at the University of Maradine. By night he is the crime fighting superhero known as The Thorn.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Imposters of Aventil, by author Marshall Ryan Maresca, is the third installment in the Maradaine series. This is a story that surrounds a yearly event called The Grand Tournament of the High Colleges. Protagonist Veranix Calbert leads a double life. By day he's a magic student at the University of Maradine. By night he is the crime fighting superhero known as The Thorn.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
August 15, 2025
Number of pages this book would have had if at least some people in it had braincells: 100
Number of pages this book would have if people in it actually talked to each other: 20
Number of pages this book actually has: 380
Number of pages this book would have if people in it actually talked to each other: 20
Number of pages this book actually has: 380
November 1, 2017
4.5 Stars
Well here it is - the first official Maradaine cross-over novel! This was set up to happen perfectly – An Import of Intrigue resulted in the development of the Grand Inspector’s Unit which allowed Inspectors Welling and Rainey to go outside their usual jurisdiction when a Thorn imposter perpetrated an attack on several Aventil officers. The cross-over was well executed, with Veranix and his crew taking center stage as they should and our favorite Inspector duo playing a delightful supporting role. It was so great to finally have characters from both books meet and interact! *fangirling excessively* It also didn’t feel cheesy like all the crossovers in the DC tv universe do…
One of my favorite parts about The Imposters of Aventil is that the whole fiasco is occurring during the biggest collegiate sporting event ever. It’s basically the university Olympics – students and fans from all over have come to participate and the atmosphere is one of a ceaseless drunken revel. It sounds like it would be such a fun event! Veranix of course ends up involved in everything– he performs during the opening ceremony, coaches the U of M tetchball team, AND tries to keep up with his alternate life. Poor guy is stretched so thin you can practically see through him.
There’s really a ton of stuff going on in this book when you look past the main plot. There’s turmoil amongst the gangs since the Red Rabbits were demolished, Colin is on the bad side of the bosses of the Rose Street Princes, a new drug has made its way onto campus, and the Aventil Constabulary has its own heap of nonsense and lackadaisical attitude. There’s always several significant subplots going on in MRM’s books, but I think this is the first time it’s really stood out to me as I read it. I get really into stories and zoom through them without a great deal of thought and things like this don’t usually stand out to me until I reflect upon it afterwards. I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the details either, which is a credit to the author’s writing skills.
Every single one of the Maradaine books have been adventurous, fun reads that leave me with a sunnier disposition by the end. I honestly wish I knew more people (in person) that read fantasy because I would foist these books at them in a heartbeat! I would recommend reading them in publication order so you can get the max effect and avoid any potential spoilers, however minor they may be, but it’s not required or anything. I think these would be particularly appealing to those younger readers who are beginning to venture out of the YA genre and into “adult” fantasy because they do have a fast paced, action packed storyline, relatable characters, and even a smidgen of love interest in the Maradaine series. I realize I always end up talking about the all the series together, but The Imposters of Aventil in particular was a great story and made more exceptional by how well the character cross-over was handled. Can’t wait for the next one!
Well here it is - the first official Maradaine cross-over novel! This was set up to happen perfectly – An Import of Intrigue resulted in the development of the Grand Inspector’s Unit which allowed Inspectors Welling and Rainey to go outside their usual jurisdiction when a Thorn imposter perpetrated an attack on several Aventil officers. The cross-over was well executed, with Veranix and his crew taking center stage as they should and our favorite Inspector duo playing a delightful supporting role. It was so great to finally have characters from both books meet and interact! *fangirling excessively* It also didn’t feel cheesy like all the crossovers in the DC tv universe do…
One of my favorite parts about The Imposters of Aventil is that the whole fiasco is occurring during the biggest collegiate sporting event ever. It’s basically the university Olympics – students and fans from all over have come to participate and the atmosphere is one of a ceaseless drunken revel. It sounds like it would be such a fun event! Veranix of course ends up involved in everything– he performs during the opening ceremony, coaches the U of M tetchball team, AND tries to keep up with his alternate life. Poor guy is stretched so thin you can practically see through him.
There’s really a ton of stuff going on in this book when you look past the main plot. There’s turmoil amongst the gangs since the Red Rabbits were demolished, Colin is on the bad side of the bosses of the Rose Street Princes, a new drug has made its way onto campus, and the Aventil Constabulary has its own heap of nonsense and lackadaisical attitude. There’s always several significant subplots going on in MRM’s books, but I think this is the first time it’s really stood out to me as I read it. I get really into stories and zoom through them without a great deal of thought and things like this don’t usually stand out to me until I reflect upon it afterwards. I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the details either, which is a credit to the author’s writing skills.
Every single one of the Maradaine books have been adventurous, fun reads that leave me with a sunnier disposition by the end. I honestly wish I knew more people (in person) that read fantasy because I would foist these books at them in a heartbeat! I would recommend reading them in publication order so you can get the max effect and avoid any potential spoilers, however minor they may be, but it’s not required or anything. I think these would be particularly appealing to those younger readers who are beginning to venture out of the YA genre and into “adult” fantasy because they do have a fast paced, action packed storyline, relatable characters, and even a smidgen of love interest in the Maradaine series. I realize I always end up talking about the all the series together, but The Imposters of Aventil in particular was a great story and made more exceptional by how well the character cross-over was handled. Can’t wait for the next one!
October 11, 2017
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Imposters of Aventil is the third in a trilogy-tie in in the world of Maradaine by Marshall Ryan Maresca on Penguin's DAW imprint.
High fantasy world, young ensemble cast, mystery and mayhem. It might be formulaic, but it's great going down, easily digestible and keeps everyone coming back for more. The action is nonstop and well written.
It fits in the slot left by 'what happened next' to Harry and co, but honestly, Mr. Maresca is a better writer than J.K. Rowling was (at least at the beginning of her career). He's a gifted storyteller and has the technical chops to write snappy dialogue and action which doesn't fall flat.
Take a bunch of college kids at a local magical+ university, add one vigilante trainee mage outsider (the Thorn) with a heap of past history on a quest to take down the local drug pusher kingpin, toss in a lookalike bad guy running around killing people to everyone up in arms and hunting the Thorn, and stir in a pair of semi-scary FBI equivalents who are VERY interested in sorting out the fallout before the smoke clears.
I enjoyed the heck out of this novel. I read it as a standalone, and did follow everything which was going on (another technical coup to the author) without any trouble. I read the other books in the series as a follow-up and do recommend reading them in order if possible. The series fill in a great deal of detail and nuance for one another. Reading the follow ups, I had a fair number of 'aha!' moments.
The book is a hefty 400 pages, but the action and plotting pulled me along. It was a fun, undemanding, well written fantasy, thoroughly enjoyable.
Four stars, nonstop action, magic and excitement.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
The Imposters of Aventil is the third in a trilogy-tie in in the world of Maradaine by Marshall Ryan Maresca on Penguin's DAW imprint.
High fantasy world, young ensemble cast, mystery and mayhem. It might be formulaic, but it's great going down, easily digestible and keeps everyone coming back for more. The action is nonstop and well written.
It fits in the slot left by 'what happened next' to Harry and co, but honestly, Mr. Maresca is a better writer than J.K. Rowling was (at least at the beginning of her career). He's a gifted storyteller and has the technical chops to write snappy dialogue and action which doesn't fall flat.
Take a bunch of college kids at a local magical+ university, add one vigilante trainee mage outsider (the Thorn) with a heap of past history on a quest to take down the local drug pusher kingpin, toss in a lookalike bad guy running around killing people to everyone up in arms and hunting the Thorn, and stir in a pair of semi-scary FBI equivalents who are VERY interested in sorting out the fallout before the smoke clears.
I enjoyed the heck out of this novel. I read it as a standalone, and did follow everything which was going on (another technical coup to the author) without any trouble. I read the other books in the series as a follow-up and do recommend reading them in order if possible. The series fill in a great deal of detail and nuance for one another. Reading the follow ups, I had a fair number of 'aha!' moments.
The book is a hefty 400 pages, but the action and plotting pulled me along. It was a fun, undemanding, well written fantasy, thoroughly enjoyable.
Four stars, nonstop action, magic and excitement.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
October 23, 2017
A rather fun and feisty book that brings to end the 1st arc of the Thorn in a rather satisfying way even as it builds onto something bigger for the rest of the series
Books 1 and 2 were rather fun while adding nothing new & my fear was that book 3 would be rather similar. Well, it was total fun and action packed and involved a lot of crazy no-win-abandon-all-hope situations but what is does really well is put our characters in situations that are potentially status quo upenders.
Book 3 picks up with a grand tournament at the University that gives Veranix very little time to pursue his nocturnal activities as the Thorn. However, the presence of outside students at the University leads to a proliferation of the drug that Veranix has sworn to stamp out even as someone pretending to be the Thorn decides to spur up a gang rivalry as well as attacking the cops - ensuring that the Thorn now as a bullseye painted on him. Maresca also introduces characters from his other Constabulary series who are roped in to arrest the Thorn. To top it all up, the Deadly Birds, the assassin group, from the previous book have developed a keen interest in him. And there are rumblings about a greater continental war in the offing. All of this makes this a very packed book and it reflects. There isnt a dull moment as things keep on happening.
While the book is decidedly YA-ish in terms of the plotting, the body count and action make it less so. Thorn gets bashed up quite a bit, his street prince cousin Colin gets even more so - his standing among the local gangs questioned, esp about his loyalty. The introduction of the Constabulary is quite smooth and even if you havent read the other series (like me), you are able to follow these 2 characters quite well. It will be quite intriguing to see where the series goes after this. Count me in on that journey
Books 1 and 2 were rather fun while adding nothing new & my fear was that book 3 would be rather similar. Well, it was total fun and action packed and involved a lot of crazy no-win-abandon-all-hope situations but what is does really well is put our characters in situations that are potentially status quo upenders.
Book 3 picks up with a grand tournament at the University that gives Veranix very little time to pursue his nocturnal activities as the Thorn. However, the presence of outside students at the University leads to a proliferation of the drug that Veranix has sworn to stamp out even as someone pretending to be the Thorn decides to spur up a gang rivalry as well as attacking the cops - ensuring that the Thorn now as a bullseye painted on him. Maresca also introduces characters from his other Constabulary series who are roped in to arrest the Thorn. To top it all up, the Deadly Birds, the assassin group, from the previous book have developed a keen interest in him. And there are rumblings about a greater continental war in the offing. All of this makes this a very packed book and it reflects. There isnt a dull moment as things keep on happening.
While the book is decidedly YA-ish in terms of the plotting, the body count and action make it less so. Thorn gets bashed up quite a bit, his street prince cousin Colin gets even more so - his standing among the local gangs questioned, esp about his loyalty. The introduction of the Constabulary is quite smooth and even if you havent read the other series (like me), you are able to follow these 2 characters quite well. It will be quite intriguing to see where the series goes after this. Count me in on that journey
September 21, 2017
I can see why those who haven't read the previous books might be a little put off by this book-it had a lot going on. However, if you_have_ read the previous books, this is delightful.
I usually explain the series as Marvel heroes in a fantasy world. Veranix is Spiderman (Batman, Library Journal, really? He'd have to brood more for that), the Maradaine Constabulary is sort of Sherlock Holmes and Watson in a fantasy world, and the Streets of Maradaine is Ant-Man all over. They're light and fluffy without being silly and thoroughly enjoyable.
My one minor quibble with this book is that I wanted _more_ of each of the characters we've grown to love. Every time we dealt with the Constabulary I wanted more Veranix and vice versa. This was an interesting book, but I look forward to more books going back to focusing on one set of characters at a time!
I usually explain the series as Marvel heroes in a fantasy world. Veranix is Spiderman (Batman, Library Journal, really? He'd have to brood more for that), the Maradaine Constabulary is sort of Sherlock Holmes and Watson in a fantasy world, and the Streets of Maradaine is Ant-Man all over. They're light and fluffy without being silly and thoroughly enjoyable.
My one minor quibble with this book is that I wanted _more_ of each of the characters we've grown to love. Every time we dealt with the Constabulary I wanted more Veranix and vice versa. This was an interesting book, but I look forward to more books going back to focusing on one set of characters at a time!
July 29, 2018
A very solid four stars. The whole series is well done and worth reading. This one has some sadness in it though-that comes on suddenly and happens almost too fast. The ending seemed a bit way out too. A cliche-ish plot point having to do with a prof's reaction. Yet the world is very imaginative and Marshall keeps the world steady. The plot runs along fine. The descriptions are well done. The action scenes are great. There is a contrast here on how you can react to a bad situation and it fits well. All of the variety of characters stay in character.
Despite my criticisms I enjoyed it and will get the next one and I recommend it heartily. Get the first 2 before this one however. You really need to know what happens in those books.
Despite my criticisms I enjoyed it and will get the next one and I recommend it heartily. Get the first 2 before this one however. You really need to know what happens in those books.
October 13, 2017
Finally two series crossed over, and it was done right. Minox and Satrine fit nicely in Thorns part of Maradaine and there weren't any forced interactions. I like that Minox figured out who.Thorn is and that he gave Veranix all the info he had on Fenmere. It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes up and if Veranix will show up in Minox and Satrines novel, he could be thhe one to teach Minox about magic.
Colins part of the story was also interesting and I'm looking forward to finding out what he'll do now that he's not a Prince anymore.
This is still an entertaining and intriguing world and I can't wait for more.
Colins part of the story was also interesting and I'm looking forward to finding out what he'll do now that he's not a Prince anymore.
This is still an entertaining and intriguing world and I can't wait for more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2017
Maresca seriously hit the next level on all accounts with this one. He currently has three series going on in the same city so it makes sense when they overlap it would be in the original series. And it seems like there's a greater arc that involves all three series, so I guess yay? This was a fun book, fast, very troubled vigilante fighting a battle that the authorities won't or can't handle with the help of a few trusted friends. Throw in some gang politics and a bit of a kicking ass and taking names by a female detective with a mage partner.
October 18, 2017
Sehr schöner dritter Teil, vor allem wegen des Crossovers mit den Inspektoren Rainey und Welling aus der Parallelreihe. weiterhin klare Leseempfehlung, wenn man eine schnell weg lesbare Fantasygeschichte mit starken Anlehnungen an Superheldenmotive lesen möchte.
November 22, 2020
4/5
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Très sympa ce tome !
Alors pour ce qui est l’intrigue on suit donc Veranix notre héros. Celui ci, depuis le tome 1 joue les justiciers sous le nom de The Thorn (l’épine) équipé d’un manteau et d’une corde magiques qui lui donnent la possibilité de traverse la ville ni vu ni connu par les toits. Son but est de lutter contre une drogue appelée effite qui a tué sa mère. Veranix est aussi un mage. Il est actuellement à l’université de magie de Maradaine sous une fausse identité.
Ça c’est le contexte de base de la série. Véranix s’attaque principalement à Fenmere, qui est le fournisseur en effite de toute la ville. Leurs confrontation ont causé de nombreux problèmes dans les tomes précédents, car le trafiquant n’hésite pas à impliquer du monde pour lutter contre The Thorn.
Dans ce tome ci on est l’été, durant la période la plus chaude. L’université de Maradaine accueille pendant les vacances les jeux inter université. Elle est donc remplie à raz bord d’étudiants étrangers venu spécifiquement pour la compétition.
Fenmere est absent, il profite de l’été pour aller visiter d’autres lieux et faire avancer ses affaires. Mais ses lieutenants, restés sur place, veulent taper un grand coup en son absence pour l’impressionner.
L’un d’eux a une idée géniale : mettre la ville dans le chaos en payant un acrobate pour se faire passer pour The Thorn et en profiter pour attaquer tout les rivaux de Fenmere.
C’est très pratique car ça fait d’une pierre deux coup, d’un coté ça met tout les policiers de la ville à la poursuite de The Torn (qui donc n’aura pas le temps d’attaquer leurs affaires) mais aussi faire le vide dans les autres gangs concourants de la ville.
Bref, le chaos.
Véranix va très vite se retrouver avec toute la ville à sa poursuite, et peu de moyen de prouver qu’il n’est pas coupable des crimes du faux Thorn. Et pour couronner le tout, il semble qu’il n’y a pas qu’une seul faux Thorn, ceux ci semblent se multiplier … Tirer le vrai du faux ne va pas être facile.
U des faux Thorn ayant assassiné des policiers, des vrai enquêteurs sont envoyés sur place. C’est donc la qu’on retrouve le duo de The Maradaine Constabulary (une série qui se déroule dans le même univers). On les suit aussi comme personnages principaux dans ce tome et c’est un plaisir.
C’est d’autant plus important pour l’intrigue principale car si vous vous souvenez (enfin, même si vous ne vous en souvenez pas, puisque je vais le dire) un des membres du duo, Minox est un mage non enregistré. Une partie de l’enquête se déroulant à l’université de Maradaine, il ne va pas échapper au professeurs qu’il est un mage et qu’il n’appartient à aucun cercle …
Du coup les choses vont se compliquer pour lui et j’ai vraiment hâte d’en savoir plus dans les tomes suivants ! En effet il se trouve que le fait qu’il soit mage non enregistrer a été une des sources de problèmes importants dans les tomes précédents. Il n’a jamais reçu de formation sur son don, ce qui le rend très dangereux car il ne sait pas le maîtriser.
J’ai vraiment aimé l’inclusion de Minox et Welling dans ce tome, ils apportent un plus à l’ensemble car ils réalisent assez rapidement le vrai problème. Ils viennent d’une autre partie de la capitale donc ils ont un œil neuf sur l’ensemble de la situation. Ils ne se laissent pas influencés par ce que la police locale pense de l’affaire en cours. Leurs découvertes sont logiques et bien amenée avec les indices qu’ils récoltent.
Après ce n’est pas un tome qui leur est pleinement consacré, ce qui fait qu’on est loin de la profondeur des enquêtes précédentes. Mais ça ne m’a pas dérangé car on connaissait déjà les tenants et les aboutissants ici vu qu’on suivait bien sur Veranix pendant la majorité du temps.
J’ai passé un excellent moment dans ce tome et c’est toujours un plaisir de suivre ces personnages.
https://delivreenlivres.home.blog/202...
Très sympa ce tome !
Alors pour ce qui est l’intrigue on suit donc Veranix notre héros. Celui ci, depuis le tome 1 joue les justiciers sous le nom de The Thorn (l’épine) équipé d’un manteau et d’une corde magiques qui lui donnent la possibilité de traverse la ville ni vu ni connu par les toits. Son but est de lutter contre une drogue appelée effite qui a tué sa mère. Veranix est aussi un mage. Il est actuellement à l’université de magie de Maradaine sous une fausse identité.
Ça c’est le contexte de base de la série. Véranix s’attaque principalement à Fenmere, qui est le fournisseur en effite de toute la ville. Leurs confrontation ont causé de nombreux problèmes dans les tomes précédents, car le trafiquant n’hésite pas à impliquer du monde pour lutter contre The Thorn.
Dans ce tome ci on est l’été, durant la période la plus chaude. L’université de Maradaine accueille pendant les vacances les jeux inter université. Elle est donc remplie à raz bord d’étudiants étrangers venu spécifiquement pour la compétition.
Fenmere est absent, il profite de l’été pour aller visiter d’autres lieux et faire avancer ses affaires. Mais ses lieutenants, restés sur place, veulent taper un grand coup en son absence pour l’impressionner.
L’un d’eux a une idée géniale : mettre la ville dans le chaos en payant un acrobate pour se faire passer pour The Thorn et en profiter pour attaquer tout les rivaux de Fenmere.
C’est très pratique car ça fait d’une pierre deux coup, d’un coté ça met tout les policiers de la ville à la poursuite de The Torn (qui donc n’aura pas le temps d’attaquer leurs affaires) mais aussi faire le vide dans les autres gangs concourants de la ville.
Bref, le chaos.
Véranix va très vite se retrouver avec toute la ville à sa poursuite, et peu de moyen de prouver qu’il n’est pas coupable des crimes du faux Thorn. Et pour couronner le tout, il semble qu’il n’y a pas qu’une seul faux Thorn, ceux ci semblent se multiplier … Tirer le vrai du faux ne va pas être facile.
U des faux Thorn ayant assassiné des policiers, des vrai enquêteurs sont envoyés sur place. C’est donc la qu’on retrouve le duo de The Maradaine Constabulary (une série qui se déroule dans le même univers). On les suit aussi comme personnages principaux dans ce tome et c’est un plaisir.
C’est d’autant plus important pour l’intrigue principale car si vous vous souvenez (enfin, même si vous ne vous en souvenez pas, puisque je vais le dire) un des membres du duo, Minox est un mage non enregistré. Une partie de l’enquête se déroulant à l’université de Maradaine, il ne va pas échapper au professeurs qu’il est un mage et qu’il n’appartient à aucun cercle …
Du coup les choses vont se compliquer pour lui et j’ai vraiment hâte d’en savoir plus dans les tomes suivants ! En effet il se trouve que le fait qu’il soit mage non enregistrer a été une des sources de problèmes importants dans les tomes précédents. Il n’a jamais reçu de formation sur son don, ce qui le rend très dangereux car il ne sait pas le maîtriser.
J’ai vraiment aimé l’inclusion de Minox et Welling dans ce tome, ils apportent un plus à l’ensemble car ils réalisent assez rapidement le vrai problème. Ils viennent d’une autre partie de la capitale donc ils ont un œil neuf sur l’ensemble de la situation. Ils ne se laissent pas influencés par ce que la police locale pense de l’affaire en cours. Leurs découvertes sont logiques et bien amenée avec les indices qu’ils récoltent.
Après ce n’est pas un tome qui leur est pleinement consacré, ce qui fait qu’on est loin de la profondeur des enquêtes précédentes. Mais ça ne m’a pas dérangé car on connaissait déjà les tenants et les aboutissants ici vu qu’on suivait bien sur Veranix pendant la majorité du temps.
J’ai passé un excellent moment dans ce tome et c’est toujours un plaisir de suivre ces personnages.
September 29, 2024
Perhaps I should have started with the first Thorn book, but having read a couple of other Maradaine books I thought I’d be OK with this one, however it’s probably not a great entry point for the Thorn books. There were a lot of secondary characters that I didn’t know as well as the author expected me to. I really like Marshall Ryan Maresca’s writing in general. I loved The Holver Alley Crew, and I’d read one of the Maradaine Constabulary books which featured Minox Welling and Satrine Rainey, who reappear here, so I wasn’t entirely in the dark. It’s a bit slow to get going and all the minor characters get viewpoint scenes, which I found distracted me. Veranix Calvert is the Thorn – a vigilante sworn to crack a drug ring. When two unconnected imposters (which I always thought was spelled impostors, but apparently both are correct) suddenly appear on the streets of Aventil, leaving death in their wake, the Thorn suddenly becomes the focus of police attention. Enter Welling and Rainey. Veranix is split between the drug problem and the double-impostor problem. The pace picks up towards the end and there was a good finale and a nice wrap-up.
September 9, 2018
I suspect this involves a crossover with one of the author's other series, as Satrine Rainey and Minox Welling make an appearance.
It's summer holidays for Veranix, and the other schools have come to his school in aTriwizard Tournament series of inter-collegiate games. Veranix and his gang discover that the students are being drugged. In the meantime, two other impostor Thorns make an appearance, both murdering innocent folk. Veranix must now rush to clear Thorn's name.
Happily, Veranix succeeds at this attempt.
I thought the major development was Colin There's also hints of a new professor coming in to the school - but that's left for the next book.
It's summer holidays for Veranix, and the other schools have come to his school in a
Happily, Veranix succeeds at this attempt.
I thought the major development was Colin There's also hints of a new professor coming in to the school - but that's left for the next book.
May 29, 2018
In this, the third book of the "Thorn" series and the approximate midpoint of the whole Maradaine sequence overall, we readers are finally treated to a significant overlap between the characters and plotlines of all of the preceding books. Although the writing tends towards workmanlike or even a little clunky at times, Maresca does a great job pulling the many plot and character threads together. With a cast of characters this large and still expanding, some are inevitably shortchanged on page time, but one gets the sense that one's favorites may have further chances to shine.
I think I devoured this book faster than all the Maradaine books so far, and I am excited to see what comes next.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
I think I devoured this book faster than all the Maradaine books so far, and I am excited to see what comes next.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
August 1, 2018
ATTN: VERY VAGUE SPOILERS. SO VAGUE THAT ITS NOT WORTH USING GOODREADS SPOILER OPTION.
The more I think about this book the more I think about the chapter from the Imposter's POV. Where Maresca drew parallels between him and Veranix. That would have been fine if he would have taken it further and explored those parallels. But he didn't and there isn't much room to do a lot with those parallel's in future books. I feel like he only wrote that chapter to flesh out the Imposter's reasoning for why he was doing what he was doing. Otherwise, I loved this book so much!!!
The more I think about this book the more I think about the chapter from the Imposter's POV. Where Maresca drew parallels between him and Veranix. That would have been fine if he would have taken it further and explored those parallels. But he didn't and there isn't much room to do a lot with those parallel's in future books. I feel like he only wrote that chapter to flesh out the Imposter's reasoning for why he was doing what he was doing. Otherwise, I loved this book so much!!!
August 18, 2019
glad I didn't need to read the two previous books to understand this one, as I was more interested in the crossover with the constables of Maradaine so really I started out reading this one for Minox and Satrine. By end I could acknowledge that this was a fun book and I enjoyed reading about Vee and his friends. I don't feel like reading the rest of his series, but I had fun with this one and will probably pick up other crossover books that the author feels like doing.
November 22, 2017
I'm very fond of crossovers, and this was a really good one. I loved the interaction between Veranix and Minox.
November 30, 2017
This is the book we been waiting for, the one that brings the Thorn together with Satrine and Minox. It didn't disappoint.
October 7, 2019
A satisfying conclusion to the first trilogy set in Maradaine, but certainly leaving things wide-open for more. This series has gotten better as the cast has expanded and the final book in this trilogy keeps that strength. Veranix is a fine lead, but he's both more interesting and given more depth when he has people to talk to, and the world he inhabits comes alive when there's a fully-realized cast of friends, acquaintances and cohorts for him to bounce off of, and it's equally good when they start getting their own side plots and agency.
Maresca has a done a nice job in building out a city that feels lived in (although the made-up sports in this book probably aren't quite as interesting and clever as he thinks they are) and it helps keep the plot moving forward. This one is fairly clever, tying back to the other two books well, while still being accessible to a new reader. Even the crossover with one of his other Maradaine series isn't out of place or problematic, but just adds another level of flavor for those reading the lot, while still open for newbies.
Very enjoyable fantasy series. I'd say Maresca is competing well in the Salvatore terrain, and without the D&D label to back him up. Looking forward to more.
Maresca has a done a nice job in building out a city that feels lived in (although the made-up sports in this book probably aren't quite as interesting and clever as he thinks they are) and it helps keep the plot moving forward. This one is fairly clever, tying back to the other two books well, while still being accessible to a new reader. Even the crossover with one of his other Maradaine series isn't out of place or problematic, but just adds another level of flavor for those reading the lot, while still open for newbies.
Very enjoyable fantasy series. I'd say Maresca is competing well in the Salvatore terrain, and without the D&D label to back him up. Looking forward to more.
December 18, 2022
is this really a trilogy?
like, story's still good even if it was too easy to put down and not pick up for weeks or months
the progression of things since the previous books works really well
but that ending?
I have questions
and confusion
like, if it wasn't a trilogy, this would be fine
but it is? apparently? from what I see here?
wtf
should probably not give it 4 starts but . . . ugh, idk
like, story's still good even if it was too easy to put down and not pick up for weeks or months
the progression of things since the previous books works really well
but that ending?
I have questions
and confusion
like, if it wasn't a trilogy, this would be fine
but it is? apparently? from what I see here?
wtf
should probably not give it 4 starts but . . . ugh, idk
July 2, 2021
I have found a new author to love! This book is fun, exciting, thrilling and so much more! I have to go get the rest of this author's work so I can read it all! I want another in this series as well, if you are reading this, mister author, please!
December 31, 2021
I really am enjoying how the tie in for the different story lines are coming together. I love the Thorn story line of a kind of Oliver Twist era Batman with magic. Fun, unique, and great characters. Looking forward to the getting the next ones from the library.
July 11, 2023
Very Good
September 25, 2024
The crossover here of protagonists from other parts of Maradaine was enjoyable. Once I got about a quarter of the way in I couldn't put it down.
May 1, 2018
The story here is enjoyable as with all of the books in this series but this series is suffering from what I'm internally calling the "comic book" problem.
Maresca has created so many spin-off storylines centered around Maradine and involved almost all of them in this book. I had read all of the Maradine and Maradine Constabulary books but I still felt like there were references I wasn't getting. That personally frustrates me even though it didn't really make the story less followable.
This is still primarily a Thorn book despite the presence of the other books' characters, but weaving everyone else in I think sacrifices some character development in some areas. It's also clear that several other plotlines are being set up by the events in this book, and I found myself less interested in them.
So this book wasn't a bad read but I'm not really interested in following the series further.
Maresca has created so many spin-off storylines centered around Maradine and involved almost all of them in this book. I had read all of the Maradine and Maradine Constabulary books but I still felt like there were references I wasn't getting. That personally frustrates me even though it didn't really make the story less followable.
This is still primarily a Thorn book despite the presence of the other books' characters, but weaving everyone else in I think sacrifices some character development in some areas. It's also clear that several other plotlines are being set up by the events in this book, and I found myself less interested in them.
So this book wasn't a bad read but I'm not really interested in following the series further.
October 26, 2017
Marshall Ryan Maresca fantasy tales take place in the city of Maradaine. Veranix Calbert is a university student of magic by day and The Thorn at night, using his magic to rout drug pushers from his part of the city. Satrine Rainey, the only woman cop and her magic using-partner, Minox Welling, are inspectors in another part of the city. They are called to the university area because The Imposters of Aventil (paper from DAW) have killed cops while dressed as the Thorn. The university is the host of a massive athletic contest and drug vials have been appearing on the campus. I love both of these series and was excited to find the characters I’ve grown to love working both at cross and together. I can only hope that Mr. Maresca plans more of these intersections. I really love his world and the fun stories he tells.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press
October 10, 2018
While I enjoyed this third book in the Maradaine series, it got a little too Harry Potter-like for me, complete with intricate ball-on-field games and professors getting in the way of saving the world. I felt like the academy characters were not as well developed as in the previous two books. My favorite characters were police officers Minox Welling and Satrine Rainey, main characters in Maresca's related series, The Maradaine Constabulary. I did enjoy the continuation of the Deadly Birds, acrobatic female assassins, and I also thought the magic parts pretty well done. The problems of Veronix' cousin, the Rose Street Prince Colin, no longer the golden boy of his gang, were also well done and form a large part of the novel.
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