What do you think?
Rate this book
Best Laid Plans #2
The Fifth Empire of Man
The Fifth Empire of Man is the second book in Rob J. Hayes' piratical fantasy series, Best Laid Plans.
The Pirate Isles are united under Drake Morrass’ flag, but the war has only just begun. There’s still a long way to go before he’s able to call himself King.
The Five Kingdoms and Sarth have assembled a fleet of ships unlike any the world has ever seen and they intend to purge the Pirate Isles once and for all.
Meanwhile, Elaina Black is securing herself powerful allies and the forces those allies can spare. She’s set her course on the throne, either by Drake’s side or over his dead body.
The Pirate Isles are united under Drake Morrass’ flag, but the war has only just begun. There’s still a long way to go before he’s able to call himself King.
The Five Kingdoms and Sarth have assembled a fleet of ships unlike any the world has ever seen and they intend to purge the Pirate Isles once and for all.
Meanwhile, Elaina Black is securing herself powerful allies and the forces those allies can spare. She’s set her course on the throne, either by Drake’s side or over his dead body.
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
81 people are currently reading
878 people want to read
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
46 books1,928 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 12, 2018
A splendidly written conclusion to a duology. Oh, that’s right, I finished this in a day.
The Fifth Empire of Man is the second and the final book in the Best Laid Plans duoIogy and it’s even a greater installment in comparison to the first one. I enjoyed the first book but I have some reservations about it, this sequel kicked almost all of them off the ship.
The most significant differences between the first book and this one are its pacing. The first book was good but I never had a hard time putting the book down any time I want, even during the actions sequences I could put it down if I have some errands to do. This book though? It’s like the author abducted you into his ship called The Fifth Empire of Man and you simply have no way out until you reach your destination. This isn’t a book or series that’s groundbreaking for the genre, but it’s thrilling, exciting, at times humorous, and definitely, action-packed. Having read Robin Hobb’s entire series which featured close to zero action, this was the kind of book I need to read.
One of my critiques for the first book was that the characters felt like a carbon copy of pretty much any grimdark fantasy books, Hayes finally offers the revelations and backgrounds towards every major character that bring more complexity and unique personalities to each one of them. This ended up making each character’s motivation more logical and felt realistic. Without spoiling anything, I also would like to praise the larger scope of the world and the world-building, especially in a particular place that Keelin visited in the book. Drake didn’t actually play a lot of roles here but I’m totally okay with that, ever since the first book I tend to like reading Keelin’s and Elaina’s POV more anyway.
Now, I’ll be honest, I haven’t read a lot of pirate fantasy novels, Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch and Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb are two of the best one that I can remember, this book’s nautical battles are definitely up there in terms of quality. It was so awesome to see more of the pirates engaging in massive ships battles. Plus, combined with legendary creature and magic, I really enjoyed reading all the action sequences in the book.
Almost all my critiques of the previous book have vanished here, I think the only one left is that as I stated before, I still feel that if I’ve read Hayes main trilogy I definitely would enjoy this duology even more because I’m pretty sure that some of the characters or areas/cities that appeared in this book were a huge part of the main trilogy. Once again, the book was very well polished as I only spotted one typo and sentences were well structured.
The Fifth Empire of Man is proof that grimdark fantasy doesn’t have to be all dark, grotesque, or violent, but it can also be damn fun and entertaining. This may not be a book that goes into my favorites of all time shelves but I certainly had a blast with it. I totally recommend this duology for anyone who’s looking for a great grimdark/pirates fantasy or just simply a short series to read, I love gigantic series but once in a while I’d like to take a break with a shorter and fun series like this one. Now I’m off to get some rum and if I end up addicted to it, I’m blaming you, Hayes.
Series review:
Where Loyalties Lie: 3.5/5 stars
The Fifth Empire of Man: 4/5 stars
Best Laid Plans duology: 7.5/10 stars
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
The Fifth Empire of Man is the second and the final book in the Best Laid Plans duoIogy and it’s even a greater installment in comparison to the first one. I enjoyed the first book but I have some reservations about it, this sequel kicked almost all of them off the ship.
The most significant differences between the first book and this one are its pacing. The first book was good but I never had a hard time putting the book down any time I want, even during the actions sequences I could put it down if I have some errands to do. This book though? It’s like the author abducted you into his ship called The Fifth Empire of Man and you simply have no way out until you reach your destination. This isn’t a book or series that’s groundbreaking for the genre, but it’s thrilling, exciting, at times humorous, and definitely, action-packed. Having read Robin Hobb’s entire series which featured close to zero action, this was the kind of book I need to read.
One of my critiques for the first book was that the characters felt like a carbon copy of pretty much any grimdark fantasy books, Hayes finally offers the revelations and backgrounds towards every major character that bring more complexity and unique personalities to each one of them. This ended up making each character’s motivation more logical and felt realistic. Without spoiling anything, I also would like to praise the larger scope of the world and the world-building, especially in a particular place that Keelin visited in the book. Drake didn’t actually play a lot of roles here but I’m totally okay with that, ever since the first book I tend to like reading Keelin’s and Elaina’s POV more anyway.
Now, I’ll be honest, I haven’t read a lot of pirate fantasy novels, Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch and Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb are two of the best one that I can remember, this book’s nautical battles are definitely up there in terms of quality. It was so awesome to see more of the pirates engaging in massive ships battles. Plus, combined with legendary creature and magic, I really enjoyed reading all the action sequences in the book.
Almost all my critiques of the previous book have vanished here, I think the only one left is that as I stated before, I still feel that if I’ve read Hayes main trilogy I definitely would enjoy this duology even more because I’m pretty sure that some of the characters or areas/cities that appeared in this book were a huge part of the main trilogy. Once again, the book was very well polished as I only spotted one typo and sentences were well structured.
The Fifth Empire of Man is proof that grimdark fantasy doesn’t have to be all dark, grotesque, or violent, but it can also be damn fun and entertaining. This may not be a book that goes into my favorites of all time shelves but I certainly had a blast with it. I totally recommend this duology for anyone who’s looking for a great grimdark/pirates fantasy or just simply a short series to read, I love gigantic series but once in a while I’d like to take a break with a shorter and fun series like this one. Now I’m off to get some rum and if I end up addicted to it, I’m blaming you, Hayes.
Series review:
Where Loyalties Lie: 3.5/5 stars
The Fifth Empire of Man: 4/5 stars
Best Laid Plans duology: 7.5/10 stars
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
November 7, 2017
I received a review copy of The Fifth Empire of Man in exchange for an honest review. I'd like to thank Rob J. Hayes for his generosity. This is the second and final book in the Best Laid Plans duology. It continues the adventures experienced in Where Loyalties Lie which is a current semi-finalist in the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off competition.
This may very well be the best grimdark book I've ever read.
I couldn't wait to rejoin the often humorous, often gruesome piratical action with the Pirate King Drake Morrass, the gentleman pirate Keelin Stillwater, and formidable headstrong captain Elaina Black. I'd been looking forward to this for a while. The characters are the true standout element here. Within two relatively short fantasy tales, Hayes has created a depth and intrigue that rivals huge name authors with 4-plus book series'. One of my only negatives is that I wish this completed tale was longer. I'd have happily read 7 books in this world. A great number of side characters become engrossing, exciting, and fully-fleshed this time when they were mainly operating on the sidelines in the previous book. Notable mentions go to Captain T'Ruck and mage-like Nerine Tsokeil. The ensemble is amazingly original and enticing and each character has a defined past, present and (hopefully) a future. Hayes has sculptured all his players with expert fashion. Like much Grimdark, a few characters are scumbags and are only out for themselves, but everyone has motives, opinions or vendettas that drive them in sometimes strange and colourful directions.
The Fifth Empire of Man was exactly what my reading diet required. Complex, brutal and amazing featuring gigantic sea-battles, shadow demons, unspeakably grotesque Resident Evil-esque creatures, intricate magic and malevolent Gods. Hayes hypnotised me under his spell of this worlds awesomeness. This book still utilises the 'Point of Ship' perspective which is Hayes' sneaky way of using any point of veiw character perspective he wishes to entice drama and keep the tale flowing as fluently as possible. For the first time in the duology we are witness to a point of view from one of the enemy vessels. This aids to manufacture an engrossing, 360-degrees and 3d atmosphere building up to the inevitable epic confrontation. There are so many standout set-pieces throughout. Stilllwater, the best sword in the Pirate Isles crosses paths with his brother, arguably the greatest swordfighter in the world. We find out about Drake's hidden past experiences at the hand of the enchantingly manipulative Drurr. Also, exploits divulge interesting details regarding Kebble's seeming immortality.
The Fifth Empire of Man is amazing. Intricate with stunning dialogue. Expertly edited (I noticed one tiny mistake in these 400-pages). It's surely only a matter of time before one of the big-5 fantasy publishers knocks on Hayes' door. In my mind, Hayes does grimdark better than Abercrombie with characters just as memorable. Be one of the cool kids who reads this series before it gets popular because I guarantee it will. Oh yeah, it's about pirates, mate!
This may very well be the best grimdark book I've ever read.
I couldn't wait to rejoin the often humorous, often gruesome piratical action with the Pirate King Drake Morrass, the gentleman pirate Keelin Stillwater, and formidable headstrong captain Elaina Black. I'd been looking forward to this for a while. The characters are the true standout element here. Within two relatively short fantasy tales, Hayes has created a depth and intrigue that rivals huge name authors with 4-plus book series'. One of my only negatives is that I wish this completed tale was longer. I'd have happily read 7 books in this world. A great number of side characters become engrossing, exciting, and fully-fleshed this time when they were mainly operating on the sidelines in the previous book. Notable mentions go to Captain T'Ruck and mage-like Nerine Tsokeil. The ensemble is amazingly original and enticing and each character has a defined past, present and (hopefully) a future. Hayes has sculptured all his players with expert fashion. Like much Grimdark, a few characters are scumbags and are only out for themselves, but everyone has motives, opinions or vendettas that drive them in sometimes strange and colourful directions.
The Fifth Empire of Man was exactly what my reading diet required. Complex, brutal and amazing featuring gigantic sea-battles, shadow demons, unspeakably grotesque Resident Evil-esque creatures, intricate magic and malevolent Gods. Hayes hypnotised me under his spell of this worlds awesomeness. This book still utilises the 'Point of Ship' perspective which is Hayes' sneaky way of using any point of veiw character perspective he wishes to entice drama and keep the tale flowing as fluently as possible. For the first time in the duology we are witness to a point of view from one of the enemy vessels. This aids to manufacture an engrossing, 360-degrees and 3d atmosphere building up to the inevitable epic confrontation. There are so many standout set-pieces throughout. Stilllwater, the best sword in the Pirate Isles crosses paths with his brother, arguably the greatest swordfighter in the world. We find out about Drake's hidden past experiences at the hand of the enchantingly manipulative Drurr. Also, exploits divulge interesting details regarding Kebble's seeming immortality.
The Fifth Empire of Man is amazing. Intricate with stunning dialogue. Expertly edited (I noticed one tiny mistake in these 400-pages). It's surely only a matter of time before one of the big-5 fantasy publishers knocks on Hayes' door. In my mind, Hayes does grimdark better than Abercrombie with characters just as memorable. Be one of the cool kids who reads this series before it gets popular because I guarantee it will. Oh yeah, it's about pirates, mate!
January 28, 2020
Rob Hayes has taken the modern swashbuckling pirate adventure to new heights.
The Fifth Empire of Man builds upon the events and characters in the first book, and takes the story to a whole new level. The story begins right after the events in book 1, Where Loyalties Lie. As the tension builds towards an all-out war with Sarth and The Five Kingdoms, it becomes obvious the pirates will need allies. Captain Elaina Black is sent on a mission to acquire the allies needed. At the same time Captain Keelin Stillwater sees a chance to seek his long awaited revenge for his young sister. The two will embark on their own journeys that eventually lead to a romping adventure in a long lost city plagued with spirits that have their own agenda and deadly intentions.
I was glad to see Captain T’ruck Kahn got more page time in this installment. He was an intriguing character in the first book, and really needed his own storyline. Needless to say his chapters had plenty of action and some dark humor which are almost always a great combination. Captain Drake Morass is still key to everything going on, but his character did take a bit of a back seat to other events and characters. Although, who knows what Rob has in store for future books in this universe.
Rob’s decision to expand the story outside of the Pirate Isles broadened the scope of this series and added another layer to the world building. Don’t get me wrong! The Pirate Isles are an entertaining place to read about. But, Rob did a great job of creating a story that continues to grow and build momentum as you keep reading. It was interesting to travel to these new cities, meet new characters, and get to see how their governments and ruling systems play key roles in the story. I wouldn't mind seeing a book or series based on the city of Larkos. Their ruling system was interesting and was one of my favorite sections of the story.
The Fifth Empire of Man is a faced paced adventure with battles, magic, backstabbing, hidden agendas, and a couple of crazy twists. There are a lot of elements in the story that made this work for me on almost every level. I really hope Rob has plans to continue writing more books in this universe. The writing, world building, and character development continue to improve in each new installment. Any readers who enjoy pirate adventures, dipped in fantasy elements, with a great cast of characters need look no further.
Actual Rating: 4.25 stars ****
The Fifth Empire of Man builds upon the events and characters in the first book, and takes the story to a whole new level. The story begins right after the events in book 1, Where Loyalties Lie. As the tension builds towards an all-out war with Sarth and The Five Kingdoms, it becomes obvious the pirates will need allies. Captain Elaina Black is sent on a mission to acquire the allies needed. At the same time Captain Keelin Stillwater sees a chance to seek his long awaited revenge for his young sister. The two will embark on their own journeys that eventually lead to a romping adventure in a long lost city plagued with spirits that have their own agenda and deadly intentions.
“Growing up with nothing makes some men desire little, others it makes desire everything.”
I was glad to see Captain T’ruck Kahn got more page time in this installment. He was an intriguing character in the first book, and really needed his own storyline. Needless to say his chapters had plenty of action and some dark humor which are almost always a great combination. Captain Drake Morass is still key to everything going on, but his character did take a bit of a back seat to other events and characters. Although, who knows what Rob has in store for future books in this universe.
Rob’s decision to expand the story outside of the Pirate Isles broadened the scope of this series and added another layer to the world building. Don’t get me wrong! The Pirate Isles are an entertaining place to read about. But, Rob did a great job of creating a story that continues to grow and build momentum as you keep reading. It was interesting to travel to these new cities, meet new characters, and get to see how their governments and ruling systems play key roles in the story. I wouldn't mind seeing a book or series based on the city of Larkos. Their ruling system was interesting and was one of my favorite sections of the story.
"See, the thing about good news is that it travels fast, faster indeed than should really be possible. Why, I could hear some good news and bear it here more expediently than any other, and yet somehow the word of that news would still outdistance me. "Bad news, on the other hand, likes to hide and wait. It likely made it here a good few days ago, where it's been waiting for me to deliver it just because it hates to be its own bearer."
The Fifth Empire of Man is a faced paced adventure with battles, magic, backstabbing, hidden agendas, and a couple of crazy twists. There are a lot of elements in the story that made this work for me on almost every level. I really hope Rob has plans to continue writing more books in this universe. The writing, world building, and character development continue to improve in each new installment. Any readers who enjoy pirate adventures, dipped in fantasy elements, with a great cast of characters need look no further.
Actual Rating: 4.25 stars ****
September 12, 2017
Full review now posted!
Original review can be found at Booknest.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. While I appreciate the gift, the giving of it in no way influenced my view of the book.
I try to be kind of stingy with my 5 star reviews. Now, I don’t always succeed at this, but my 5 star reviews tend to be reserved for books that move me in some way, be that through character development or plot or the prose itself, books that make me nostalgic, or books by authors that I adore. So, in order to get 5 full stars from me (unless it’s a classic novel, which I rate differently), a book needs to either be deep and philosophical, have gorgeous prose, bring me back to my childhood, or be written by someone that I’ve loved for years. Very seldom do I give a book 5 stars just because it entertained me and kept me reading late into the night, but that’s exactly what I’m doing here.
I really enjoyed the first half of this duology, Where Loyalties Lie. It introduced interesting characters, unique locals, and a magic system intriguing in its mystery. The main reason I accepted the ARC request was because PIRATES. I love pirates so much. I have a road sign pointing toward Tortuga in my living room. Pirate stories aren’t something I could just read nonstop, but it’s a niche I heartily enjoy on occasion. That is, when I can find one that works for me, one that’s actually well-written and compelling without feeling cliche. And Where Loyalties Lie worked for me. It was engaging and fun and exciting, and it always felt original. It was a solidly good book.
But Hayes upped his game in the second half of his duology. The Fifth Empire of Man is one of the best follow-up books I’ve ever read. I couldn’t put it down. It made me gasp and laugh out loud and tense up as I read, which I’m pretty sure is the best compliment a reader can give an author. It was just so darn entertaining, and the brevity of the chapters made it hard not to decide to read just one more when you really needed to put it down to eat or sleep or do laundry or walk your dog or help your sister-in-law with your new niece. The rest of my life suffered just a little until I finished this book, which is unusual for me. That addictive readability is why this book earned 5 stars from me. That and the fact that some of the writing choices that Hayes made in Where Loyalties Lie either weren’t present or weren’t noticeable to me. (Also, no brutal rape scene! Yay!)
Hayes yet again told the story from varying perspectives, each falling under the heading of whichever ship they called home. And once again those main perspectives were: Captain Drake Morrass, the wily and charming instigator of a rebellion, set on seeing himself in a crown; Arbiter Beck, Drake’s lovely and confusing and scarily badass partner; Captain T’ruck Khan, still obsessed with the adage that bigger is better; Captain Keelin Stillwater, a better man than he thinks but with a past that haunts him; and Captain Elaina Black, daughter of the most dreaded pirate in the Isles and hellbent on carving a name for herself outside of that relationship. But there are other characters whose perspectives we get on occasion, though they’re still linked with the ships of their captains.
The scope of the story felt larger than that of its predecessor, and that broadening of scope worked marvelously well. There were new locales that were weird and lovely and honestly terrifying. We learn a little more about the vast and varied magic running like veins beneath the surface of Hayes’ world and are exposed to creatures beautiful and wild and deadly that are imbued with or spawned from that magic. I was completely caught up in this world, and I really enjoyed my stay.
And then there’s the battles on the open sea. You haven’t lived until you read about someone sword fighting with a severed arm, let me tell you. I have a hard time staying engaged in battle scenes, but these were fun. Even in the midst of carnage, I was just so entertained. The variety of perspectives helped, as well. I do have to say, there was a plot twist that caught me completely off-guard, and I’m still surprised by it as I type this review.
One last thing I really want to applaud Hayes for is how well he wrote strong women. There were a handful of women in the book who were very central to the plot, and they were all strong and honestly kind of scary. Beck and Elaina are both awesome, but my favorite was actually a supporting character, Lady Tsokei. She’s one of the scariest, coolest women who ever boarded a ship. I would love more of her story.
All of the above gushing boils down to this: Rob J. Hayes has crafted one of the most entertaining duologies I’ve ever read in Where Loyalties Lie and The Fifth Empire of Man. This is not a tome littered with lovely prose. It’s not deep. It’s not a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. That’s not the type of story he set out to write. And I’m thankful. Sometimes you just need to read something fun and action-packed that will keep you reading late into the night, long after your eyes should have closed. That’s exactly what Hayes produced here. If you like your fun littered with pirates and carnage and more than a little vulgarity, I can’t recommend this duo enough.
Thanks for giving me such a swashbuckling adventure, Hayes. It was a wild ride.
Original review can be found at Booknest.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. While I appreciate the gift, the giving of it in no way influenced my view of the book.
I try to be kind of stingy with my 5 star reviews. Now, I don’t always succeed at this, but my 5 star reviews tend to be reserved for books that move me in some way, be that through character development or plot or the prose itself, books that make me nostalgic, or books by authors that I adore. So, in order to get 5 full stars from me (unless it’s a classic novel, which I rate differently), a book needs to either be deep and philosophical, have gorgeous prose, bring me back to my childhood, or be written by someone that I’ve loved for years. Very seldom do I give a book 5 stars just because it entertained me and kept me reading late into the night, but that’s exactly what I’m doing here.
I really enjoyed the first half of this duology, Where Loyalties Lie. It introduced interesting characters, unique locals, and a magic system intriguing in its mystery. The main reason I accepted the ARC request was because PIRATES. I love pirates so much. I have a road sign pointing toward Tortuga in my living room. Pirate stories aren’t something I could just read nonstop, but it’s a niche I heartily enjoy on occasion. That is, when I can find one that works for me, one that’s actually well-written and compelling without feeling cliche. And Where Loyalties Lie worked for me. It was engaging and fun and exciting, and it always felt original. It was a solidly good book.
But Hayes upped his game in the second half of his duology. The Fifth Empire of Man is one of the best follow-up books I’ve ever read. I couldn’t put it down. It made me gasp and laugh out loud and tense up as I read, which I’m pretty sure is the best compliment a reader can give an author. It was just so darn entertaining, and the brevity of the chapters made it hard not to decide to read just one more when you really needed to put it down to eat or sleep or do laundry or walk your dog or help your sister-in-law with your new niece. The rest of my life suffered just a little until I finished this book, which is unusual for me. That addictive readability is why this book earned 5 stars from me. That and the fact that some of the writing choices that Hayes made in Where Loyalties Lie either weren’t present or weren’t noticeable to me. (Also, no brutal rape scene! Yay!)
Hayes yet again told the story from varying perspectives, each falling under the heading of whichever ship they called home. And once again those main perspectives were: Captain Drake Morrass, the wily and charming instigator of a rebellion, set on seeing himself in a crown; Arbiter Beck, Drake’s lovely and confusing and scarily badass partner; Captain T’ruck Khan, still obsessed with the adage that bigger is better; Captain Keelin Stillwater, a better man than he thinks but with a past that haunts him; and Captain Elaina Black, daughter of the most dreaded pirate in the Isles and hellbent on carving a name for herself outside of that relationship. But there are other characters whose perspectives we get on occasion, though they’re still linked with the ships of their captains.
The scope of the story felt larger than that of its predecessor, and that broadening of scope worked marvelously well. There were new locales that were weird and lovely and honestly terrifying. We learn a little more about the vast and varied magic running like veins beneath the surface of Hayes’ world and are exposed to creatures beautiful and wild and deadly that are imbued with or spawned from that magic. I was completely caught up in this world, and I really enjoyed my stay.
And then there’s the battles on the open sea. You haven’t lived until you read about someone sword fighting with a severed arm, let me tell you. I have a hard time staying engaged in battle scenes, but these were fun. Even in the midst of carnage, I was just so entertained. The variety of perspectives helped, as well. I do have to say, there was a plot twist that caught me completely off-guard, and I’m still surprised by it as I type this review.
One last thing I really want to applaud Hayes for is how well he wrote strong women. There were a handful of women in the book who were very central to the plot, and they were all strong and honestly kind of scary. Beck and Elaina are both awesome, but my favorite was actually a supporting character, Lady Tsokei. She’s one of the scariest, coolest women who ever boarded a ship. I would love more of her story.
All of the above gushing boils down to this: Rob J. Hayes has crafted one of the most entertaining duologies I’ve ever read in Where Loyalties Lie and The Fifth Empire of Man. This is not a tome littered with lovely prose. It’s not deep. It’s not a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. That’s not the type of story he set out to write. And I’m thankful. Sometimes you just need to read something fun and action-packed that will keep you reading late into the night, long after your eyes should have closed. That’s exactly what Hayes produced here. If you like your fun littered with pirates and carnage and more than a little vulgarity, I can’t recommend this duo enough.
Thanks for giving me such a swashbuckling adventure, Hayes. It was a wild ride.
March 9, 2018
Another very solid continuation (and in fact conclusion) to this series and it's a story I really enjoyed. I do hope that we see more from these characters and this world in future series (and there is certainly room for this at the end of the events) but I felt that the book ended on a solid ending and we had lots of things tied up.
This once more follows the captains, Elaina, Stillwater, Tanner and Drake. We're following them as they try to unite the pirates under a common home and goal, against the guards who try to squash them down. Each character has their own reasons for wanting this, and it's quite unusual to get pirates to work together, but they are a combined force to be reckoned with and with them all in the picture it's possible they may just do it...
We get some more lady-power in this book and also more magic compared to the first one, and these were both good things in my opinion. I found learning more about both these characters and the magic meant I was more into the story as a whole, and I found it a fast-paced exciting read which picked straight back up from the ending of the first.
Overall, another great pirate-y adventure and a story and world I really liked. A solid 4*s from me :)
This once more follows the captains, Elaina, Stillwater, Tanner and Drake. We're following them as they try to unite the pirates under a common home and goal, against the guards who try to squash them down. Each character has their own reasons for wanting this, and it's quite unusual to get pirates to work together, but they are a combined force to be reckoned with and with them all in the picture it's possible they may just do it...
We get some more lady-power in this book and also more magic compared to the first one, and these were both good things in my opinion. I found learning more about both these characters and the magic meant I was more into the story as a whole, and I found it a fast-paced exciting read which picked straight back up from the ending of the first.
Overall, another great pirate-y adventure and a story and world I really liked. A solid 4*s from me :)
December 14, 2017
The Fifth Empire of Man is a brilliant sequel to the fast paced thriller started in Where Loyalties Lie.
Captain Drake Morass is close to achieving his dream of a free and united Pirate Isles. However, the main cards in this dangerous game are in the possession of two of his lieutenants. A toss of the dice, and the game changes.... Can the fragile unity be maintained in the face of endless betrayals?
The book is even better than its prequel. The writing is just as fast paced, but even with more character development. More truths and more secrets are revealed, putting the entire plot in a whole new mysterious and dangerous light. The attention shift from the main character to other characters makes a few losses at the end of the book easier to bear.
The fighting is hats off badass! The descriptions of sex is just as vivid as the gruesome literary pictures of broken skulls, disemboweled soldiers, hamstrung men and women and decapitated men lying in pools of blood and gore.
The main theme of the series, loyalty, is once again on display here, in all its different shades. The gradual altering and development of key characters allows for more choices, and subsequently a wider range of consequences...
I look forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
Captain Drake Morass is close to achieving his dream of a free and united Pirate Isles. However, the main cards in this dangerous game are in the possession of two of his lieutenants. A toss of the dice, and the game changes.... Can the fragile unity be maintained in the face of endless betrayals?
The book is even better than its prequel. The writing is just as fast paced, but even with more character development. More truths and more secrets are revealed, putting the entire plot in a whole new mysterious and dangerous light. The attention shift from the main character to other characters makes a few losses at the end of the book easier to bear.
The fighting is hats off badass! The descriptions of sex is just as vivid as the gruesome literary pictures of broken skulls, disemboweled soldiers, hamstrung men and women and decapitated men lying in pools of blood and gore.
The main theme of the series, loyalty, is once again on display here, in all its different shades. The gradual altering and development of key characters allows for more choices, and subsequently a wider range of consequences...
I look forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
October 7, 2017
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
The Fifth Empire of Man is the sequel to Rob J. Hayes grimdark pirate tale Where Loyalties Lie, and it continues the ferocious nautical adventures, dousing the pages with blood, battle, and cutthroat action!
Drake Morass is now the “king” of a fledgling pirate kingdom, but how long will it remain? With a a huge armada set to attack the new realm, survival seems a slim hope. But even this coming crisis pales in comparison with his most immediate problem, for, you see, Drake has made promises he can't keep and probably never intended to keep, and now he has to keep a close eye on his “trusted” lieutenants since he knows it is probably only a matter of time before one turns on him.
Topping Drake’s list of potential traitors is Keelin Stillwater. This gentleman pirate (I’m stealing that description from C.T. Phipps, because – well, it was a damn good description.) views himself as a true leader, who attempts to be fair in his dealings and take care of those under him. His natural ability making him a key concern for Drake, because the pirate king knows if Keelin turns against him others will join his cause.
Nearly equal to Keelin atop the “watch list” is the pirate Elaina Black, who has been breed to be the most vicious pirate to ever sail the seas. She is cunning, nasty, and has the respect of those she commands. Hell, with her on again off again relationship with Keelin, she might also be able to prod him to turn or gain his help if she decided to take over. Both equally possible in Drake’s eyes.
What comes out of this delicate situation is tons of killing, loads of cutthroat intrigue, an intense nautical battle, and even some piratical romance. All of it told in a fast paced style, which keeps the surprises (Oh, there are lots of surprises. No character safe from brutal death!) coming at a blistering pace, as piratical mayhem rules all from first page to last.
But, alas, nothing is perfect, and neither is The Fifth Empire of Man – though the issues I’m going to raise might merely be my personal tastes rather than true deficiencies.
First, this was a much darker, bloody, and violent book than its predecessor. A fact which took me by surprise, since I felt Where Loyalties Lie was fairly grim. Don’t take this to mean I’m in any way suggesting these elements were handled inexpertly or were out of place in the narrative, because I’m not. I truly believe Mr. Hayes set out to craft a realistic portrayal of vicious pirates, and he did so in fine fashion, but at times the depth of the grimdark here did bother me.
Second, the fight scenes (especially the huge naval battle) were too difficult for me to follow. There was just so much going on that I got lost and had to go back and reread whole sections to keep everything straight in my head. Certainly, the sort of chaotic fighting and events portrayed were completely realistic and accurately captured the nature of a battle at sea, yet I wished it would have been a bit more focused.
Lastly, I found myself missing Drake. Yeah, he is a sociopath, a liar, a vile sack of shit, but he was pretty damn interesting to follow in book one. This time he played a lesser role in the story, and I felt that the book suffered a bit from a lack of Drake.
Overall, The Fifth Empire of Man is a very good conclusion to a grimdark pirate series. It is exciting, violent, bloody, and filled with nautical scum who would kill their own mother if it suited their needs. Fans of grimdark will probably love this duology best, but I feel comfortable recommending this book/series to everyone who has an interest in what real pirates looked and acted like, not those Hollywood fop versions most of us have seen far too many times.
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank him for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
The Fifth Empire of Man is the sequel to Rob J. Hayes grimdark pirate tale Where Loyalties Lie, and it continues the ferocious nautical adventures, dousing the pages with blood, battle, and cutthroat action!
Drake Morass is now the “king” of a fledgling pirate kingdom, but how long will it remain? With a a huge armada set to attack the new realm, survival seems a slim hope. But even this coming crisis pales in comparison with his most immediate problem, for, you see, Drake has made promises he can't keep and probably never intended to keep, and now he has to keep a close eye on his “trusted” lieutenants since he knows it is probably only a matter of time before one turns on him.
Topping Drake’s list of potential traitors is Keelin Stillwater. This gentleman pirate (I’m stealing that description from C.T. Phipps, because – well, it was a damn good description.) views himself as a true leader, who attempts to be fair in his dealings and take care of those under him. His natural ability making him a key concern for Drake, because the pirate king knows if Keelin turns against him others will join his cause.
Nearly equal to Keelin atop the “watch list” is the pirate Elaina Black, who has been breed to be the most vicious pirate to ever sail the seas. She is cunning, nasty, and has the respect of those she commands. Hell, with her on again off again relationship with Keelin, she might also be able to prod him to turn or gain his help if she decided to take over. Both equally possible in Drake’s eyes.
What comes out of this delicate situation is tons of killing, loads of cutthroat intrigue, an intense nautical battle, and even some piratical romance. All of it told in a fast paced style, which keeps the surprises (Oh, there are lots of surprises. No character safe from brutal death!) coming at a blistering pace, as piratical mayhem rules all from first page to last.
But, alas, nothing is perfect, and neither is The Fifth Empire of Man – though the issues I’m going to raise might merely be my personal tastes rather than true deficiencies.
First, this was a much darker, bloody, and violent book than its predecessor. A fact which took me by surprise, since I felt Where Loyalties Lie was fairly grim. Don’t take this to mean I’m in any way suggesting these elements were handled inexpertly or were out of place in the narrative, because I’m not. I truly believe Mr. Hayes set out to craft a realistic portrayal of vicious pirates, and he did so in fine fashion, but at times the depth of the grimdark here did bother me.
Second, the fight scenes (especially the huge naval battle) were too difficult for me to follow. There was just so much going on that I got lost and had to go back and reread whole sections to keep everything straight in my head. Certainly, the sort of chaotic fighting and events portrayed were completely realistic and accurately captured the nature of a battle at sea, yet I wished it would have been a bit more focused.
Lastly, I found myself missing Drake. Yeah, he is a sociopath, a liar, a vile sack of shit, but he was pretty damn interesting to follow in book one. This time he played a lesser role in the story, and I felt that the book suffered a bit from a lack of Drake.
Overall, The Fifth Empire of Man is a very good conclusion to a grimdark pirate series. It is exciting, violent, bloody, and filled with nautical scum who would kill their own mother if it suited their needs. Fans of grimdark will probably love this duology best, but I feel comfortable recommending this book/series to everyone who has an interest in what real pirates looked and acted like, not those Hollywood fop versions most of us have seen far too many times.
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank him for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
January 23, 2018
4.5 / 5 stars
NOTE: This review contains light plot spoilers from part one of this duology, “Where Loyalties Lie”.
Power ain’t what ya reckon it to be. Don’t mean yea get to do what ya want all the time; means ya gotta do what every other fucker wants. Much better bein’ the knife in the darkness than waitin’ fer it ta come for you.
The more powerful you are, the less people you can trust. This adage has never been more apparent than in Rob J. Hayes’ thrilling conclusion to his Best Laid Plans pirate fantasy duology, “The Fifth Empire of Man.” Seeds planted early in the story have finally borne fruit, addressing themes of loyalty, betrayal, familial trust, and the attempted birth of a nation.
While the majority of “Where Loyalties Lie” took place out on the open seas, Hayes wisely trades water for land this time around, placing the widening cast of pirate anti-heroes in cities across Sarth and the Five Kingdoms. We spend much more time with Elaina as she is finally ready to leave her father’s shadow and stake a claim to power on her own. It was great fun to watch Elaina play an unconventional political game and keep her enemies off guard, while trying to stay one step ahead of her unpredictable and deadly family. Across the isles, T’ruck ended the last book captured and facing the gallows pole, and his story is as violent and thrilling as any other. Back in New Sev’relain, Captain Drake and Captain Keelin strive to bring their settlement into legitimacy, while defending the infant city from foreign invasion. Morass’s story takes a bit of a back seat for most of the book, though we do spend more time with the mysterious Arbiter Beck, and learn more about what drives her. You can safely bet that it involves heavy gunplay, magic, and a high body count. We also finally learn more about Keelin’s past, and some promises he made in the first book come to fruition. The fulfillment of Keelin’s lifelong thirst for vengeance leads to a thrilling and horrific quest that’s one part “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and one part “Indiana Jones on bad ayahuasca.” While this adventure feels like its own self-contained novella, it sets of a series of events that races through the end of the story and doesn’t yield until the book is concluded.
This is a well-polished book, showing off Hayes’ strength at writing convincing dialogue that put me right in the midst of these bloody bastard pirates. A couple of the problems I found with the first book were still somewhat apparent -- I didn’t completely agree with how one of the retribution arcs was handled, as one guilty party was outright ignored – but the tightening of all of the plot threads was handled with style and aplomb. Make no mistake, these books are exciting reads: vivid and detailed battles, ever-escalating stakes, deadly beasties and ancient long-dead horrors, sharp dialogue, and sharper swords. There’s enough world-building that hints at something much larger in store, and I’m looking forward to being swept up into whatever storm of a story Hayes conjures up next.
Book passage on this wholly satisfying, high-seas adventure.
NOTE: This review contains light plot spoilers from part one of this duology, “Where Loyalties Lie”.
Power ain’t what ya reckon it to be. Don’t mean yea get to do what ya want all the time; means ya gotta do what every other fucker wants. Much better bein’ the knife in the darkness than waitin’ fer it ta come for you.
The more powerful you are, the less people you can trust. This adage has never been more apparent than in Rob J. Hayes’ thrilling conclusion to his Best Laid Plans pirate fantasy duology, “The Fifth Empire of Man.” Seeds planted early in the story have finally borne fruit, addressing themes of loyalty, betrayal, familial trust, and the attempted birth of a nation.
While the majority of “Where Loyalties Lie” took place out on the open seas, Hayes wisely trades water for land this time around, placing the widening cast of pirate anti-heroes in cities across Sarth and the Five Kingdoms. We spend much more time with Elaina as she is finally ready to leave her father’s shadow and stake a claim to power on her own. It was great fun to watch Elaina play an unconventional political game and keep her enemies off guard, while trying to stay one step ahead of her unpredictable and deadly family. Across the isles, T’ruck ended the last book captured and facing the gallows pole, and his story is as violent and thrilling as any other. Back in New Sev’relain, Captain Drake and Captain Keelin strive to bring their settlement into legitimacy, while defending the infant city from foreign invasion. Morass’s story takes a bit of a back seat for most of the book, though we do spend more time with the mysterious Arbiter Beck, and learn more about what drives her. You can safely bet that it involves heavy gunplay, magic, and a high body count. We also finally learn more about Keelin’s past, and some promises he made in the first book come to fruition. The fulfillment of Keelin’s lifelong thirst for vengeance leads to a thrilling and horrific quest that’s one part “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and one part “Indiana Jones on bad ayahuasca.” While this adventure feels like its own self-contained novella, it sets of a series of events that races through the end of the story and doesn’t yield until the book is concluded.
This is a well-polished book, showing off Hayes’ strength at writing convincing dialogue that put me right in the midst of these bloody bastard pirates. A couple of the problems I found with the first book were still somewhat apparent -- I didn’t completely agree with how one of the retribution arcs was handled, as one guilty party was outright ignored – but the tightening of all of the plot threads was handled with style and aplomb. Make no mistake, these books are exciting reads: vivid and detailed battles, ever-escalating stakes, deadly beasties and ancient long-dead horrors, sharp dialogue, and sharper swords. There’s enough world-building that hints at something much larger in store, and I’m looking forward to being swept up into whatever storm of a story Hayes conjures up next.
Book passage on this wholly satisfying, high-seas adventure.
December 29, 2017
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Fifth Empire Of Man as far as fantasy book titles go is a terrific title. It is the concluding volume to the Best Laid Plans duology and a story that is epic in every sense of the word. I was lucky to be able to read this story in its draft form and I can safely say that the final version is something that will readers’ slack jawed at the very least. A warning though for readers who haven’t read Where Loyalties Lie, the book’s blurb might be a little spoilerific so you might want to avoid this review if you don’t like things spoiled even a little bit.
We begin with the immediate events of Where Loyalties Lie wherein Drake has been pronounced king of the pirates with Tanner Black’s support. However the support is tentative with the caveat that Drake has to take Elaina Black as his consort. Drake is certainly chafing at that but he has his mind on the final prize. On the other hand, Elaina Black has been sent by her father to gather support and when we last saw her, she had just reached Chade. Within the city, she meets a few fan favorite characters from the preceding trilogy and it was fun to see their interactions. The start of this book also references events in Chade and I believe this book runs concurrently with the events that will be featured in 2018’s City Of Kings.
Elaina’s journey is only beginning though as she will also have to travel to Larkos and therein lies the rub as she tries to do the impossible. Keelin Stillwater had a huge hand to play in the events which played out in the climax of Where Loyalties Lie. Drake’s belief in him proved strong in the end but for him the ultimate prize is all about revenge. That’s the one thing that’s been his main focus even amidst all the changes and he’s perhaps closer than he’s ever been. We are also reunited with T’ruck Khan and his crew as they find themselves in an impossible bind. Amidst his crew we get to meet a new character, Nerine Tsokei who is a character that I would love to read more of. Lastly there’s Beck who while in the background has perhaps the most crucial role and Kebble Salt also gets a POV wherein we learn all about his backstory.
The Fifth Empire Of Man is a book that takes the baton from its predecessor and amps them up even more. Firstly as is the case with the previous book & the preceding trilogy, characterization is the most prominent highlights of Rob J. Hayes’ writing and in this book, we are given a whole array of awesome characters. While Where Loyalties Lies focused on Drake Morass & Kellin Stillwater squarely, it also introduced Elaina Black, T’ruck Khan, & Arbiter Beck. This concluding volume gives them bigger roles and also gives a POV turn to newer fascinating characters such as Lady Tsokei & Kebble Salt. In fact it could even be argued that this is Elaina’s book as her arc easily eclipses that of Drake Morass.
Drake has always been the central focus of this duology and it’s his ambition which has fueled almost all the events however this duology easily could have been Elaina’s story and the second volume goes a long way in proving that. We not only get a swashbuckling pirate story but we get to see four fantastic character POVs. First Drake is ever present with his scheming and secrets, then there’s Keelin and then Elaina & lastly T’ruck Khan as well. These four pirate captains are what power the story to its exciting conclusion but the biggest stage is set for Elaina. She is a Black and is Tanner’s true daughter, she’s intelligent, brave, bloodthirsty but calculating and is perhaps the only character who sees Drake for what he is. For those complaining about strong female characters, look no further than Elaina Black. She’s a complex, bloody pirate who will have readers in the palm of her hand and rooting for her no matter what.
Keelin on the other hand suffers a bit in this volume. His thirst for revenge takes a backseat in this volume as he finds amidst a love triangle of sorts (keep in mind this is Rob J. Hayes after all). So there’s no smoldering looks, waxed chests, etc. but simply characters who get entangled with each other and it was fun to read after all. Lastly the best part to Keelin’s arc is a family reunion of sorts which I believe was a highlight for me. This is due to this character being mentioned in The Ties That Bind trilogy in relation to Jezzet. T’Ruck is T’Ruck and in this book, we get to see what a leviathan of a warrior he is and also the secret behind his crew’s prowess is revealed in a very, very bloody manner.
This concluding volume also doubles up on the naval battles, magical revelations and a climax twist worthy of GRRM. Oh the sea battles in this one, there are so quite a few and each of them is spectacular to say the least. The action in this volume never lets up and when the action slows down a bit, we are treated to secrets (Drake’s main one, the Drurr), world history (Larkos’s founding, the problem with witches & their magical dealings) and character interactions. All in all this book had me flipping pages as fast as I could to get to the end to see how it all goes down and it’s right before the end, that the author pulls the rug rather brilliantly under the readers. I will say watch out for the epilogue as it is a shocker and perhaps a clue to what lies ahead in the First Earth Saga (I believe this is Rob Hayes’ version of end credits scenes wherein the entire plot of the story is upended and we get an idea about the next story.)
This book for me didn’t have any drawbacks and was a complete winner. While the first book is a SPFBO 2017 finalist, I hope the other judges and readers read this volume as well to see how amazing a storyteller Rob J. Hayes is.
CONCLUSION: The Fifth Empire Of Man has a unique title and certainly the story to herald itself as one of the best books (if not the BEST) of 2017. I dare you to read it and not be enthralled by this dark story of feuding pirates. I certainly was and will continue to spread the word about the wonderful gem that is the Best Laid Plans duology.
September 26, 2017
THE FIFTH EMPIRE OF MAN is the Warhammer 40K-esque titled novel about a very different sort of subject: pirates! It is the sequel to Rob J. Hayes incredible work WHERE LOYALTIES LIE that follows fantasy conman and pirate Drake Morass in his attempt to forge a pirate kingdom from the disunited thieves of the Pirate Isles. Rather than do a trilogy like his TIES THAT BIND series, Rob J. Hayes brings things to a complete close in only two books. I'm kind of sad about that because as much as I hate Drake Morass, it's a love to hate relationship and I would have enjoyed another book about his contemptible scheming alongside his more likable cohorts.
The premise of the sequel is Drake Morass has managed to successfully get the beginnings of his kingdom together. Unfortunately, the cracks are starting to show already as he got them together on promises he could never hope to keep. Drake intends to force the various kingdoms of the world to acknowledge his new realm but first they need allies and to also defeat the mammoth navy being assembled to destroy the fledgling nation.
The biggest threat to Drake's new kingdom may be closer to home, though, as the book makes no secret of the fact both of his lieutenants are better qualified to be king than him. Keelin Stillwater the world's only actual gentleman pirate knows politics, diplomacy, and possesses a great sense of leadership as well as nobless obligation. Elaina Black is a superior pirate all round and commands the genuine respect as well as loyalty of those around her. Both of them have enemies which Drake might well be willing to throw under the bus to achieve his dream with.
Despite my focusing on the politics of the book in said description, this is actually a multigenre novel with romance and an Indiana Jones/Pirates of the Caribbean-esque section where they explore strange ruins that wouldn't be out of place in one of Robert E. Howard's works. Rob J. Hayes manages to make it all fit and really creates a wonderful epic fantasy that feels simultaneously grounded as well as grandiose.
I think it says how much I love this book that in a story based around pirates, undead, politics, and murder, I actually really enjoyed the love triangle between Keelin, Aime, and Elaina most. It's a realistic romance with the fact Keelin wants to be with the steady and dependable Aime but he's actually a terrible match for her. He's a lot darker person than he gives himself credit for and would fit better with Elaina but has insulted her by trying to leave her for someone he finds "respectable." That's something the pirate princess won't forget, particularly when Drake wants her to be his pirate queen.
The action in the book is great with people dying in various horrible but exciting ways. There's also the wonderful "big huge naval battle" that easily blows away the ones in the most recent pirate movies. Black Sails the television show had several such battles where good, bad, and indifferent characters die all around the heroes but this one ups them. No one comes out unscathed at the end and some of the deaths surprised me.
This is an incredible book and fantasy fans should check it out. From the beginning to the end, this is a series which entertains as well as impresses. Rob J. Hayes should mentioned with Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, and even George Martin or Rothfuss.
10/10
The premise of the sequel is Drake Morass has managed to successfully get the beginnings of his kingdom together. Unfortunately, the cracks are starting to show already as he got them together on promises he could never hope to keep. Drake intends to force the various kingdoms of the world to acknowledge his new realm but first they need allies and to also defeat the mammoth navy being assembled to destroy the fledgling nation.
The biggest threat to Drake's new kingdom may be closer to home, though, as the book makes no secret of the fact both of his lieutenants are better qualified to be king than him. Keelin Stillwater the world's only actual gentleman pirate knows politics, diplomacy, and possesses a great sense of leadership as well as nobless obligation. Elaina Black is a superior pirate all round and commands the genuine respect as well as loyalty of those around her. Both of them have enemies which Drake might well be willing to throw under the bus to achieve his dream with.
Despite my focusing on the politics of the book in said description, this is actually a multigenre novel with romance and an Indiana Jones/Pirates of the Caribbean-esque section where they explore strange ruins that wouldn't be out of place in one of Robert E. Howard's works. Rob J. Hayes manages to make it all fit and really creates a wonderful epic fantasy that feels simultaneously grounded as well as grandiose.
I think it says how much I love this book that in a story based around pirates, undead, politics, and murder, I actually really enjoyed the love triangle between Keelin, Aime, and Elaina most. It's a realistic romance with the fact Keelin wants to be with the steady and dependable Aime but he's actually a terrible match for her. He's a lot darker person than he gives himself credit for and would fit better with Elaina but has insulted her by trying to leave her for someone he finds "respectable." That's something the pirate princess won't forget, particularly when Drake wants her to be his pirate queen.
The action in the book is great with people dying in various horrible but exciting ways. There's also the wonderful "big huge naval battle" that easily blows away the ones in the most recent pirate movies. Black Sails the television show had several such battles where good, bad, and indifferent characters die all around the heroes but this one ups them. No one comes out unscathed at the end and some of the deaths surprised me.
This is an incredible book and fantasy fans should check it out. From the beginning to the end, this is a series which entertains as well as impresses. Rob J. Hayes should mentioned with Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, and even George Martin or Rothfuss.
10/10
December 31, 2017
I'm a little late to the Rob Hayes party, but I'm definitely a fan.
September 26, 2017
I am writing a full review hopefully finish that today. but as it is launch day I just want to say this book is fucking fantastic! I gave book one 5 stars and this one is even better. Do yourself a favor and check out this series.
March 16, 2018
Full review is here, on my blog!
ARR!!! I really did enjoy the first book in this series, so I did by best to get to the second one as soon as I could. Many a day passed, and finally, the day I could get there came upon me. And there was much rejoicing. Pirate adventures are abound in this volume, just as in the one before it. I really love the characters in this series. Really, really love them. Almost all of them, anyway. Tanner Black can still go eat a dick, but whatever.
Elaina had some really interesting adventures in this one, and I liked where those went, and how her story turned out. Mainly, I love me some Drake Morrass. Oh man, he is one of my favorite characters ever, now. Though, Keelin Stillwater is pretty awesome, too. He and Drake made this little duology a fantastic read, all told, but I think I can say I liked this book better than the first.
Every book that I’ve read by Rob Hayes has been a rollicking adventure of thievery and shenanigans and I am excited to read even more of his work now. Really, anyone who knows me knows how much I love me some shenanigans, especially if it involves throwing F-bombs around like it’s going out of style. Furthermore, Rob Hayes has a certain style of writing that I just seem to really like. Understandably, this means that I am definitely, definitely going to read more of his books. Certainly The Ties That Bind, the other series that Drake Morrass was in! Keelin might even be in it too, who knows (I doubt it, but I can hope)!
Everyone who likes pirates and cussing in their fantasy books should read this series. Right now. Seriously!!!!!
:D
ARR!!! I really did enjoy the first book in this series, so I did by best to get to the second one as soon as I could. Many a day passed, and finally, the day I could get there came upon me. And there was much rejoicing. Pirate adventures are abound in this volume, just as in the one before it. I really love the characters in this series. Really, really love them. Almost all of them, anyway. Tanner Black can still go eat a dick, but whatever.
Elaina had some really interesting adventures in this one, and I liked where those went, and how her story turned out. Mainly, I love me some Drake Morrass. Oh man, he is one of my favorite characters ever, now. Though, Keelin Stillwater is pretty awesome, too. He and Drake made this little duology a fantastic read, all told, but I think I can say I liked this book better than the first.
Every book that I’ve read by Rob Hayes has been a rollicking adventure of thievery and shenanigans and I am excited to read even more of his work now. Really, anyone who knows me knows how much I love me some shenanigans, especially if it involves throwing F-bombs around like it’s going out of style. Furthermore, Rob Hayes has a certain style of writing that I just seem to really like. Understandably, this means that I am definitely, definitely going to read more of his books. Certainly The Ties That Bind, the other series that Drake Morrass was in! Keelin might even be in it too, who knows (I doubt it, but I can hope)!
Everyone who likes pirates and cussing in their fantasy books should read this series. Right now. Seriously!!!!!
:D
November 7, 2017
Awwww. Seriously awwwww. A further fast paced continuation with more betrayals bloodshed and ship smashing. Fun stuff, for a enjoyable quick read, with the pace dictating detail.
October 4, 2017
The Pirate Isles are united under Drake Morrass’ flag, but the war has only just begun. There’s still a long way to go before he’s able to call himself King.
I immensely enjoyed Where Loyalties Lie - first installment of Best Laid Plans duology. It’s one of my favorite SPFBO2017 books (among 24 I read so far). I preordered sequel and once it was released, I decided to alter my reading plans and find out as soon as possible what fates awaited my favorite pirates.
Drake Morrass was my favorite character in WLL. He’s a scum, sure. But he also has charisma and, besides, I like sociopathic characters. In TFEOM Drake tries to forge a pirate kingdom. Not an easy task given his potential followers are all thieves, murderers and worse.
There’s one more problem. The Five Kingdoms and Sarth have assembled a fleet of ships unlike any the world has ever seen, and they intend to purge the Pirate Isles once and for all.
While the first book had some humorous elements, the sequel is much more violent, bloody and grim. Drake gets less attention as the story focuses on Elaine Black, Keelin Stillwater and T’Rack Khan. Truth be told I don’t particularly enjoy Keelin. He lacks Drake charisma and even though his actions are fueled by the need for revenge he’s a bit flat to me. Happily other characters, especially T’Rack Khan and Elaina are more than cool. I especially like T’Rack. He’s an unstoppable war machine, especially with the help of Nerine Tsokei who unleashes some damn dark powers.
We get a lot of Elaina Black. That’s good. I have a weakness for strong and clever woman, even those with a short temper. Elaina becomes a very important figure in the book.
The pacing is very fast, it rarely slows down. The book is filled with visual descriptions of fights and naval battles. Blood is spilled, body parts float around and some of them are used to kill others. Dark magic is unleashed, hundreds of people die or become physically and/or emotionally crippled. There’s a bit of politics and intrigue but mostly we’re lead from one action scene to the other. Important characters die. Some in a shocking way.
It’s great and entertaining book I didn’t want to put down. It’s not perfect. Some battle scenes were too chaotic to my taste, there were some spelling errors (I spotted just a few) and the final naval battle was slightly too long. It’s, however, a personal opinion – I’m not a fan of epic battles. I’m pretty sure others will love it. Personally, I think that Where Loyalties lie is a better book. It’s more character driven and richer. I’m not satisfied with the conclusion of some arcs and I mourn at least two characters. Having me mourning fictional characters proves Rob J.Hayes is good at what he does and the guy can be sure I’ll buy his next series.
Also, the ending suggests we may meet some of the characters in the future and at least one of them will play an important role in a fight much bigger and important than this for Pirate Isles.
In summary – Best Laid Plans is my favorite pirate series ever. It’s entertaining and engaging. It’s exciting. It has plenty of great and unique ideas. The pacing is excellent. I highly encourage you to read it. I never particularly enjoyed pirates and now I consider getting myself an eye-patch.
I immensely enjoyed Where Loyalties Lie - first installment of Best Laid Plans duology. It’s one of my favorite SPFBO2017 books (among 24 I read so far). I preordered sequel and once it was released, I decided to alter my reading plans and find out as soon as possible what fates awaited my favorite pirates.
Drake Morrass was my favorite character in WLL. He’s a scum, sure. But he also has charisma and, besides, I like sociopathic characters. In TFEOM Drake tries to forge a pirate kingdom. Not an easy task given his potential followers are all thieves, murderers and worse.
There’s one more problem. The Five Kingdoms and Sarth have assembled a fleet of ships unlike any the world has ever seen, and they intend to purge the Pirate Isles once and for all.
While the first book had some humorous elements, the sequel is much more violent, bloody and grim. Drake gets less attention as the story focuses on Elaine Black, Keelin Stillwater and T’Rack Khan. Truth be told I don’t particularly enjoy Keelin. He lacks Drake charisma and even though his actions are fueled by the need for revenge he’s a bit flat to me. Happily other characters, especially T’Rack Khan and Elaina are more than cool. I especially like T’Rack. He’s an unstoppable war machine, especially with the help of Nerine Tsokei who unleashes some damn dark powers.
We get a lot of Elaina Black. That’s good. I have a weakness for strong and clever woman, even those with a short temper. Elaina becomes a very important figure in the book.
The pacing is very fast, it rarely slows down. The book is filled with visual descriptions of fights and naval battles. Blood is spilled, body parts float around and some of them are used to kill others. Dark magic is unleashed, hundreds of people die or become physically and/or emotionally crippled. There’s a bit of politics and intrigue but mostly we’re lead from one action scene to the other. Important characters die. Some in a shocking way.
It’s great and entertaining book I didn’t want to put down. It’s not perfect. Some battle scenes were too chaotic to my taste, there were some spelling errors (I spotted just a few) and the final naval battle was slightly too long. It’s, however, a personal opinion – I’m not a fan of epic battles. I’m pretty sure others will love it. Personally, I think that Where Loyalties lie is a better book. It’s more character driven and richer. I’m not satisfied with the conclusion of some arcs and I mourn at least two characters. Having me mourning fictional characters proves Rob J.Hayes is good at what he does and the guy can be sure I’ll buy his next series.
Also, the ending suggests we may meet some of the characters in the future and at least one of them will play an important role in a fight much bigger and important than this for Pirate Isles.
In summary – Best Laid Plans is my favorite pirate series ever. It’s entertaining and engaging. It’s exciting. It has plenty of great and unique ideas. The pacing is excellent. I highly encourage you to read it. I never particularly enjoyed pirates and now I consider getting myself an eye-patch.
February 28, 2018
Your favorite pirate captains from Where Loyalties Lie are back, as well as the vile ones you hate! Drake, Elaina, Keelin, and Tanner continue their efforts to save the Pirate Isles from obliteration.
While Drake and Tanner fortify local resources, Elaina and Keelin sail separate ways to rally allies in other regions. Things don't go quite as expected, and what's a pirate journey without a detour quest for ancient, hidden treasure?
This book was extremely difficult to put down and I often ignored sleep and other assorted responsibilities for the sake of reading further. I sunk into this sequel easily and felt fully immersed in the experience.
The final sea battle is intense, with plenty of nail-biting moments and unexpected reveals. The start of the battle loudly proclaims that no character is safe, leaving the reader on edge through the entire sequence.
I knew what I wanted for the characters and I wasn't sure if they'd be able to get there, but it ended exactly right. I'm so satisfied with everything thrown at them and how they stumbled through it. I was pleasantly surprised by how many complex threads the author resolved in this relatively short series. The story brings a wonderful sense of closure topped off with an unexpected lead into what I'm guessing is a future series to come.
If you're looking for an exciting pirate war adventure with traitors, explosions, and heart, this duology is a must!
While Drake and Tanner fortify local resources, Elaina and Keelin sail separate ways to rally allies in other regions. Things don't go quite as expected, and what's a pirate journey without a detour quest for ancient, hidden treasure?
This book was extremely difficult to put down and I often ignored sleep and other assorted responsibilities for the sake of reading further. I sunk into this sequel easily and felt fully immersed in the experience.
The final sea battle is intense, with plenty of nail-biting moments and unexpected reveals. The start of the battle loudly proclaims that no character is safe, leaving the reader on edge through the entire sequence.
I knew what I wanted for the characters and I wasn't sure if they'd be able to get there, but it ended exactly right. I'm so satisfied with everything thrown at them and how they stumbled through it. I was pleasantly surprised by how many complex threads the author resolved in this relatively short series. The story brings a wonderful sense of closure topped off with an unexpected lead into what I'm guessing is a future series to come.
If you're looking for an exciting pirate war adventure with traitors, explosions, and heart, this duology is a must!
December 13, 2018
I enjoyed The Fifth Empire of Man just as much as I enjoyed Where Loyalties Lie. Rob J. Hayes wraps up this duology with an epic ending that delivers on everything I hoped it would. If you're in the mood for some grimdark pirate adventures (with humour) you should read these books.
I really don't enjoy writing reviews but I know how important they are to support authors. Hence my very short reviews.
I really don't enjoy writing reviews but I know how important they are to support authors. Hence my very short reviews.
March 29, 2018
4.5 Stars rounded up.
Man did this short series end with a bang. I really enjoyed the first one and hoped the second would be a good follow up. I was not disappointed. The story never slowed down from where the first one took left off. The style of hoping around the different characters viewpoints only added to the already gripping story. LOVED the characters. I love Elaina Black. If only i were a pirate :P Great progression throughtout the book. The world was constantly captivating. This last installement for the series visited a bunch of new places all interesting and engaging. I would of liked a more structured magic system but it wasnt so bad to where magic just appeared when characters needed it all time or anything like that. I something i both loved and hated is you knew the character but you didnt know everything about them which is different from what i normally read. I need to find out if there is more in this universe but if not Im definitely adding another book from Hayes to my reading list.
Man did this short series end with a bang. I really enjoyed the first one and hoped the second would be a good follow up. I was not disappointed. The story never slowed down from where the first one took left off. The style of hoping around the different characters viewpoints only added to the already gripping story. LOVED the characters. I love Elaina Black. If only i were a pirate :P Great progression throughtout the book. The world was constantly captivating. This last installement for the series visited a bunch of new places all interesting and engaging. I would of liked a more structured magic system but it wasnt so bad to where magic just appeared when characters needed it all time or anything like that. I something i both loved and hated is you knew the character but you didnt know everything about them which is different from what i normally read. I need to find out if there is more in this universe but if not Im definitely adding another book from Hayes to my reading list.
March 12, 2018
Pirates, hidden treasure, spirit infested jungles, pirates, rum, whoring, cutlasses, pirates, traitors, idealists, mad bastards, pirates, battles, ships, a place to call home. Oh yes, don't forget the pirates!
April 24, 2020
Another stunning, exceptional entry into the ever expanding world of Rob Hayes as he continues to excel at seamlessly expanding worldbuilding, without pause or hesitation into creating a truly epic series. Devastating betrayals, losses, and expansive second chances truly define the turbulence of the times detailed in this series. The characters, heroes, heroines, and monsters alike display unrelenting commitment to succeed and defy all odds, these traits are a trademark of this series by Rob J Hayes. I am a fan, highly recommend and thoroughly enjoy these books. Work well done, ...well met, Rob J Hayes.
February 13, 2018
A satisfying culmination of the story from the first book. Makes me want to go back and check out some of his earlier novels that I believe are set in the same world.
October 18, 2017
Great book,series
Wow that was good. Super vivid, some battles easily and grandly imagined..really loved this last book,even more than the first which was really good..there's nothing like pirates! I guess the easiest way to describe it is if Sid Meier ate a toxic amount of opium, and his resulting coma-dream was somehow recorded.
Yeah that's all confusing I'm sure, fighting urge to arrogantly curse the world and run away to the sea, but please at least take away what's written in the heading.. that these books by this author, and his other stuff, rank among the best IMO.
Wow that was good. Super vivid, some battles easily and grandly imagined..really loved this last book,even more than the first which was really good..there's nothing like pirates! I guess the easiest way to describe it is if Sid Meier ate a toxic amount of opium, and his resulting coma-dream was somehow recorded.
Yeah that's all confusing I'm sure, fighting urge to arrogantly curse the world and run away to the sea, but please at least take away what's written in the heading.. that these books by this author, and his other stuff, rank among the best IMO.
March 1, 2018
4.5
This is a solid followup to Where Loyalties Lie. It delves further into the magic and expands the politics of the world, but maintains a focus on what really makes this duology enjoyable; the characters. Each captain is entertaining in their own way, as is their crew.
Once again, pour a stiff drink, turn up the Alestorm, and annoy everyone around you by talking like a pirate while you read this.
This is a solid followup to Where Loyalties Lie. It delves further into the magic and expands the politics of the world, but maintains a focus on what really makes this duology enjoyable; the characters. Each captain is entertaining in their own way, as is their crew.
Once again, pour a stiff drink, turn up the Alestorm, and annoy everyone around you by talking like a pirate while you read this.
November 16, 2024
Drive. Action. Fighting. Vengeance. Betrayal. Blood. Death. Black humour. Exellent characters. Magic. Live dialogs. More action. More blood. And much, much more deaths.
And pirates!
Yeah, "The Fifth Empire of Man" (and whole dilogy "Best Laid Plans") is like whirlpool driving you into bloody madness, and when you'll come up (if you could come up), you could only shake off and say: "WOW, I want more!".
It'd be better to read "The Ties that Bind" trylogy before reading this books, to make impressions more complete, but that's not nessesary.
You want good grimdark book? Look no further. Here it is.
And pirates!
Yeah, "The Fifth Empire of Man" (and whole dilogy "Best Laid Plans") is like whirlpool driving you into bloody madness, and when you'll come up (if you could come up), you could only shake off and say: "WOW, I want more!".
It'd be better to read "The Ties that Bind" trylogy before reading this books, to make impressions more complete, but that's not nessesary.
You want good grimdark book? Look no further. Here it is.
October 3, 2017
Loved it
For only two books, Mr. Hayes sure packs a lot of story. Plenty of action to be had, from simple sword fighting to major sea battles. There will definitely be something of interest for you. The plot is solid that flows along at an amazing pace. What definitely sucks you in and keeps you interested are the characters. Love them or not the characters are very interesting and engaging.
For only two books, Mr. Hayes sure packs a lot of story. Plenty of action to be had, from simple sword fighting to major sea battles. There will definitely be something of interest for you. The plot is solid that flows along at an amazing pace. What definitely sucks you in and keeps you interested are the characters. Love them or not the characters are very interesting and engaging.
December 2, 2017
A fantastic piratical adventure and one of the best, two book series I have ever read. The book kicks off much like Where Loyalties Lie and is a high octane swashbuckling, nautical battling, sea faring, whoring good time. There are plenty of soft of philosophical moments between the shed loads of action and its a very entertaining read. Highly recommend the best laid plans series.
June 17, 2018
Okay so this was a whole lot of fun, even better than the previous. I feel a little bit cheated that we won't be hanging out on New Sevrelain anymore, but oh well, further adventures await!
January 11, 2018
Rob J Hayes is quickly becoming the spiritual successor of Joe Abercrombie's First Law series. While Abercrombie hasnt visited that world in some time, Hayes through his works (admittedly in his own worlds) has quietly made a name for himself
What is really amazing is how he has crafted this wonderfully tight pirate-based duology with a host of characters who are suitably anti-heroes for most of it and still one ends up rooting for them. While Drake doesnt get as much space as he does in the previous book, he still remains an supremely selfish, enigmatic and resourceful character. Keelin Stillwater gets a fair amount of space and his character and growth is depicted quite well. His motivations of revenge examined well and how it pans out is almost Last Jedi-ish subversive. Elaina Black playing all sides gets her chance to really shine and doesnt let circumstances stop her at all. Tanner Black is well Tanner Black. Kebble is a truly tragic character and it was interesting to see his journey through the book, working around his curse while tapping into its benefits
The book examines a lot of angles - human angles, characteristics and motivations and supplements it with some frantic sea-faring action as well as swordplay. Basically a book that has it all with interesting set up and hints for the next series set in this world. Rob J Hayes is definitely going places if he keeps this up. Fantastic
What is really amazing is how he has crafted this wonderfully tight pirate-based duology with a host of characters who are suitably anti-heroes for most of it and still one ends up rooting for them. While Drake doesnt get as much space as he does in the previous book, he still remains an supremely selfish, enigmatic and resourceful character. Keelin Stillwater gets a fair amount of space and his character and growth is depicted quite well. His motivations of revenge examined well and how it pans out is almost Last Jedi-ish subversive. Elaina Black playing all sides gets her chance to really shine and doesnt let circumstances stop her at all. Tanner Black is well Tanner Black. Kebble is a truly tragic character and it was interesting to see his journey through the book, working around his curse while tapping into its benefits
The book examines a lot of angles - human angles, characteristics and motivations and supplements it with some frantic sea-faring action as well as swordplay. Basically a book that has it all with interesting set up and hints for the next series set in this world. Rob J Hayes is definitely going places if he keeps this up. Fantastic
November 16, 2017
Wow. Outstanding. I really loved this series and hope Rob J. Hayes revisits this world again because I want some more Elaina Black. Damn, she was awesome!
January 9, 2018
I liked this one even better than the first! It was action packed, had a couple of twists to keep me on my toes, and a great ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews