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Chrysathamere Trilogy #1
Marilia, the Warlord
Formerly published under the title "Marilia, the Bastard."
Born the bastard daughter of a painted lady, Marilia was told she would live out her days within the walls of her mother’s brothel, a companion for the rich men of Tyrace. But after a terrible betrayal, Marilia’s world turns upside down. With the help of her twin brother, Annuweth, she flees the only home she’s ever known in search of the one man who can offer her a chance at a better life–the Emperor of Navessea’s greatest general, a friend of her deceased father.
What follows is a journey spanning years, from the streets of the desert city of Tyracium to the splendor of the emperor’s keep and the wind-swept, wild island of Svartennos. Along the way, Marilia discovers, for the first time, the gift she has for strategy and warfare—a world that is forbidden to girls like her
When the empire is threatened by a foreign invasion, the defense of Navessea is left in the hands of a cruel and arrogant general no match for the empire's enemy. With the fate of her new home and her family hanging in the balance, Marilia swears to use all her courage and cunning to do whatever she can to help repel the invasion—if she can convince anyone to follow her.
The struggle that follows will test her to her core and lead her back to the past she thought she had escaped. Facing treachery within her own ranks as well as a devious enemy commander, Marilia will need all the help she can get, even if it means doing something her brother may never forgive—making a deal with the man who murdered her father.
Inspired by The Song of Achilles and Ender’s Game, Marilia, the Warlord is a blend of the epic and the personal, a story of romance, envy, the rivalry between brother and sister, and one woman’s painful discovery that her childhood dreams weren’t quite what she imagined.
Born the bastard daughter of a painted lady, Marilia was told she would live out her days within the walls of her mother’s brothel, a companion for the rich men of Tyrace. But after a terrible betrayal, Marilia’s world turns upside down. With the help of her twin brother, Annuweth, she flees the only home she’s ever known in search of the one man who can offer her a chance at a better life–the Emperor of Navessea’s greatest general, a friend of her deceased father.
What follows is a journey spanning years, from the streets of the desert city of Tyracium to the splendor of the emperor’s keep and the wind-swept, wild island of Svartennos. Along the way, Marilia discovers, for the first time, the gift she has for strategy and warfare—a world that is forbidden to girls like her
When the empire is threatened by a foreign invasion, the defense of Navessea is left in the hands of a cruel and arrogant general no match for the empire's enemy. With the fate of her new home and her family hanging in the balance, Marilia swears to use all her courage and cunning to do whatever she can to help repel the invasion—if she can convince anyone to follow her.
The struggle that follows will test her to her core and lead her back to the past she thought she had escaped. Facing treachery within her own ranks as well as a devious enemy commander, Marilia will need all the help she can get, even if it means doing something her brother may never forgive—making a deal with the man who murdered her father.
Inspired by The Song of Achilles and Ender’s Game, Marilia, the Warlord is a blend of the epic and the personal, a story of romance, envy, the rivalry between brother and sister, and one woman’s painful discovery that her childhood dreams weren’t quite what she imagined.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2020
235 people are currently reading
870 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Cole
4 books105 followersAfter being bombarded with one too many school motivational posters, I decided to “shoot for the moon” by pursuing a risky double-major in creative writing and history on the assumption that the worst-case scenario would be landing among the stars. I instead landed in long-term unemployment—and unpaid internships, let’s not forget the unpaid internships—in small-town Ohio.
Eventually, I began making more financially sound life choices and now work as an attorney in the public sector while continuing to write on the side.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
August 20, 2020
This was a good fantasy adventure. I’m a big fan of fantasy stories about women who become knights, or command armies, something that women in these books have to overcome all odds to do. Authors like Elizabeth Moon and Tamora Pierce are perfect examples of writing these kinds of books that I love to read. When I stumbled upon this book, the first in a trilogy with that type of storyline, I knew I had to read this. I’m really glad I did since this was super entertaining. It does have a few bumps so I can’t give it 5 stars like I hoped but I really enjoyed this.
While I would call this YA fantasy, it is pretty violent and graphic at times. This seems more to me like a book for adults but as someone who doesn’t have kids I’m not the best judge. The story starts when the main character is about 10 and it goes until she is 19, I think? Her age gets a little muddled as the story goes on. I will mention some trigger warnings next. There is a forced kiss of a child from an adult. There is talk of rape but nothing that happens on screen so to say. Plus, there is a lot of death and of all sorts of violent scenes. This book is about sword fighting, duels, and of course big battles scenes.
As most of you know I usually read lesfic. I can’t really give this that tag, but I would put the LGBTQ+ tag on this. The main character appears to be a lesbian but I don’t think she even really understands yet. She had a big crush when she was younger but was married off at the age of 17. While she liked her husband she was not in love with him. There is one quick M/F sex scene, which was not comfortable to read about, but she was married off so you knew it was going to happen. Later in the book I believed that she was falling in love with her best friend, but we will have to wait for the next book to find out more.
While there were a few periods in the mains life that the book slowed down a bit, for a pretty epic fantasy book I thought it was overall a fast paced read. This book hooked me in instantly and I could not really stop reading. I had to put the book down to eat dinner and I found myself just thinking about the story wanting to get back to it. Once the second half of the book hits with all the battles, this book with its almost 500 pages just flies by.
As much as I really enjoyed this it did have a few bumps. I felt like most of the characters could have used a little more depth. While I felt very connected to the main character, this book felt very plot driven. I wanted to know more about the characters and this world. This world has giant bugs, crabs the size of horses, and even fish scarier than sharks. I wanted to know more about these things, I wanted some adventures that made you understand this world more. Another issue is that there were a lot of names of people and places to remember. A few people had multiple names, like nicknames, so it made it even harder to keep everyone straight. If some of these characters had been built up a bit better, I think I could have kept better track of who’s who. Since this was the first book in the series and it needed a lot of set-up, I’m hoping book two let us dive into some of these people and places more.
I really like these kinds of fantasy books so I was very entertained. I would recommend this one to fantasy fans. While this is a trilogy, this book left off in a good stopping place with no cliffhangers which I really appreciate. Book 2 comes out in a few days and while I’m not in a rush to read it, I liked where this book ended and I am content, I will absolutely be reading book 2 in the future.
P.S. I don’t know how much longer this sale will continue but this book if FREE right now on Amazon (that is how I got a copy myself). I think that’s great since you can take a chance on this and if this book is not for you, you only loose a little time.
While I would call this YA fantasy, it is pretty violent and graphic at times. This seems more to me like a book for adults but as someone who doesn’t have kids I’m not the best judge. The story starts when the main character is about 10 and it goes until she is 19, I think? Her age gets a little muddled as the story goes on. I will mention some trigger warnings next. There is a forced kiss of a child from an adult. There is talk of rape but nothing that happens on screen so to say. Plus, there is a lot of death and of all sorts of violent scenes. This book is about sword fighting, duels, and of course big battles scenes.
As most of you know I usually read lesfic. I can’t really give this that tag, but I would put the LGBTQ+ tag on this. The main character appears to be a lesbian but I don’t think she even really understands yet. She had a big crush when she was younger but was married off at the age of 17. While she liked her husband she was not in love with him. There is one quick M/F sex scene, which was not comfortable to read about, but she was married off so you knew it was going to happen. Later in the book I believed that she was falling in love with her best friend, but we will have to wait for the next book to find out more.
While there were a few periods in the mains life that the book slowed down a bit, for a pretty epic fantasy book I thought it was overall a fast paced read. This book hooked me in instantly and I could not really stop reading. I had to put the book down to eat dinner and I found myself just thinking about the story wanting to get back to it. Once the second half of the book hits with all the battles, this book with its almost 500 pages just flies by.
As much as I really enjoyed this it did have a few bumps. I felt like most of the characters could have used a little more depth. While I felt very connected to the main character, this book felt very plot driven. I wanted to know more about the characters and this world. This world has giant bugs, crabs the size of horses, and even fish scarier than sharks. I wanted to know more about these things, I wanted some adventures that made you understand this world more. Another issue is that there were a lot of names of people and places to remember. A few people had multiple names, like nicknames, so it made it even harder to keep everyone straight. If some of these characters had been built up a bit better, I think I could have kept better track of who’s who. Since this was the first book in the series and it needed a lot of set-up, I’m hoping book two let us dive into some of these people and places more.
I really like these kinds of fantasy books so I was very entertained. I would recommend this one to fantasy fans. While this is a trilogy, this book left off in a good stopping place with no cliffhangers which I really appreciate. Book 2 comes out in a few days and while I’m not in a rush to read it, I liked where this book ended and I am content, I will absolutely be reading book 2 in the future.
P.S. I don’t know how much longer this sale will continue but this book if FREE right now on Amazon (that is how I got a copy myself). I think that’s great since you can take a chance on this and if this book is not for you, you only loose a little time.
March 8, 2021
Kind of a harder book to review, there were many things I loved and enjoyed in the book and quite a few things that were grating or annoying.
Cole does a great job with the characters in this book the development, the growth, the personalities and faults. Our heroine is no perfect cookie cutter hero. She has her faults, her mistakes, and her bursts of emotions like any human has. Same goes for the other main characters which I appreciated.
It's obvious to me as a tabletop wargamer/board gamer the board/strategy games presented in the book were not an afterthought by Cole they were well and logically thought to the point I would hazard a guess that Cole has experience playing war/board games.
The fighting and strategies were all very sound; being excellently described. The strategies that were formed and explained were plausible and while not without risk were not also portrayed as just as the perfect God mode insight that the characters couldn't have possessed in the world.
I enjoyed the mix of Greek and Eastern mythologies and titles in the world building. The nods here and there along with our characters having faults and being prone to rash displays of emotion and acting without thinking again I felt was a nod to the Greek stories of ancient times.
The story itself was serviceable and even with those faults of our characters never really in doubt sadly. Some twists and turns along the way but nothing that made me just go "WHOA!".
The actual physical world described was rather plain and boring nothing really stood out and just seemed like general fantasy fare.
The biggest annoyance was the fact that no less forty times is the act of a character biting or chewing their own lip mentioned. Cole relied way too much on this physical attribute for my tastes.
All that being said I'm cautiously optimistic about the 2nd title which I received as an ARC. I'm hoping that with what Cole has learned and gleaned from the first book, the origin story of rags to glory out of the way will open up the plot potential to some real twists and tension of not knowing how things will go.
Cole does a great job with the characters in this book the development, the growth, the personalities and faults. Our heroine is no perfect cookie cutter hero. She has her faults, her mistakes, and her bursts of emotions like any human has. Same goes for the other main characters which I appreciated.
It's obvious to me as a tabletop wargamer/board gamer the board/strategy games presented in the book were not an afterthought by Cole they were well and logically thought to the point I would hazard a guess that Cole has experience playing war/board games.
The fighting and strategies were all very sound; being excellently described. The strategies that were formed and explained were plausible and while not without risk were not also portrayed as just as the perfect God mode insight that the characters couldn't have possessed in the world.
I enjoyed the mix of Greek and Eastern mythologies and titles in the world building. The nods here and there along with our characters having faults and being prone to rash displays of emotion and acting without thinking again I felt was a nod to the Greek stories of ancient times.
The story itself was serviceable and even with those faults of our characters never really in doubt sadly. Some twists and turns along the way but nothing that made me just go "WHOA!".
The actual physical world described was rather plain and boring nothing really stood out and just seemed like general fantasy fare.
The biggest annoyance was the fact that no less forty times is the act of a character biting or chewing their own lip mentioned. Cole relied way too much on this physical attribute for my tastes.
All that being said I'm cautiously optimistic about the 2nd title which I received as an ARC. I'm hoping that with what Cole has learned and gleaned from the first book, the origin story of rags to glory out of the way will open up the plot potential to some real twists and tension of not knowing how things will go.
August 16, 2020
I enjoyed this book a lot and I loved Marilia even though she was also annoying at some point. The writing was great; I could immediately picture the world Marilia is living in and it was like I could feel and smell it while reading. I found the water-script idea very interesting and also loved that the sexuality and feminism was included in such a natural way that it never disturbed the story or the reading experience.
To be honest, the first half of the book, I felt like this was going to be one of the generic fantasy stories: Nice to read, similar characters (a bastard girl rising to command all) with some action and so on. But I have been wrong and I read the last half up to the last page in just one sitting. I was surprised by how much I cared for the characters in the end and how human Marilia was. She is not the typical heroic girl character I experienced from other books. It was not just about fame, victory and romance but more about her development and life choices. Honestly at some point, it was driving me nuts how she behaved but the characters around her and the story was built so well around her that it felt natural.
I wished the beginning of the book would have been as amazing as the last half. Also, the book was too loaded with many ideas and characters which somehow didn't connect to anything later. Maybe I should continue reading the second and third of the trilogy and hope to see Princess Petrea again, bond more to Prefect Karthtag-Kag and others, and get to know more about the cultures of the world.
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
To be honest, the first half of the book, I felt like this was going to be one of the generic fantasy stories: Nice to read, similar characters (a bastard girl rising to command all) with some action and so on. But I have been wrong and I read the last half up to the last page in just one sitting. I was surprised by how much I cared for the characters in the end and how human Marilia was. She is not the typical heroic girl character I experienced from other books. It was not just about fame, victory and romance but more about her development and life choices. Honestly at some point, it was driving me nuts how she behaved but the characters around her and the story was built so well around her that it felt natural.
I wished the beginning of the book would have been as amazing as the last half. Also, the book was too loaded with many ideas and characters which somehow didn't connect to anything later. Maybe I should continue reading the second and third of the trilogy and hope to see Princess Petrea again, bond more to Prefect Karthtag-Kag and others, and get to know more about the cultures of the world.
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
August 14, 2020
We open with a bang. Marilia is a grown woman with a dead husband, and she is about to face death by a charging army.
Then from the prologue we cut to chapter one, and Marilia is a child, pampered and observant and too clever for her own good. We watch as she tackles loss, as she runs with her brother from everything she’s ever known, as she adjusts to life in a foreign land, then learns to find her place in a society that doesn’t fit.
I love stories like this. Stories about girls who are clever but awkward in appearance, girls who are too bold for the men around them, girls who are too daring for their oppressive society. And I loved Marilia: her temper, her resolve, her wit, and her quiet strength.
The writing was melodic and flowing, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The culture and characters were introduced quickly and intelligently. There was never a point where it felt as is if the author was overexplaining or talking down, things (places, languages, etc) just existed, and we as readers were existing in the story with them.
The sapphic aspect of this novel was a complete surprise. Marilia’s attraction to women was simple, true, and beautifully woven throughout the narrative in a way that felt honest, rather than performative.
Her relationship with her brother was interesting, definitely. I didn’t grow as fond of him as I did Marilia, but I did like their almost antagonistic bond... he is handed acclaim that she would have earned tenfold, if she were a man. Her bitterness and jealousy is understandable. Seeing her face down this issue and rise above it was super damn satisfying.
Now I’ve never read a book published on Amazon Kindle, so this is a first. A very positive first. I enjoyed this so much that I read it in one sitting, never mind the headache raging in my temples! A million recommendations. My eyes will definitely be open for the sequel novels.
Then from the prologue we cut to chapter one, and Marilia is a child, pampered and observant and too clever for her own good. We watch as she tackles loss, as she runs with her brother from everything she’s ever known, as she adjusts to life in a foreign land, then learns to find her place in a society that doesn’t fit.
I love stories like this. Stories about girls who are clever but awkward in appearance, girls who are too bold for the men around them, girls who are too daring for their oppressive society. And I loved Marilia: her temper, her resolve, her wit, and her quiet strength.
The writing was melodic and flowing, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The culture and characters were introduced quickly and intelligently. There was never a point where it felt as is if the author was overexplaining or talking down, things (places, languages, etc) just existed, and we as readers were existing in the story with them.
The sapphic aspect of this novel was a complete surprise. Marilia’s attraction to women was simple, true, and beautifully woven throughout the narrative in a way that felt honest, rather than performative.
Her relationship with her brother was interesting, definitely. I didn’t grow as fond of him as I did Marilia, but I did like their almost antagonistic bond... he is handed acclaim that she would have earned tenfold, if she were a man. Her bitterness and jealousy is understandable. Seeing her face down this issue and rise above it was super damn satisfying.
Now I’ve never read a book published on Amazon Kindle, so this is a first. A very positive first. I enjoyed this so much that I read it in one sitting, never mind the headache raging in my temples! A million recommendations. My eyes will definitely be open for the sequel novels.
August 7, 2020
Very interesting fantasy story.
Marila’s story has been etched very well. She starts life with very little and she goes on to question the very society around her.
Her fights with her twin brother bring out exactly how vulnerable she is, in the world that she lives in.
With that, she manages to fight back and find out how strong she is and she is able to handle the situation around her.
The pacing of the story seemed slow at times. But the author had built a beautiful world and takes time to make the readers understand it.
Overall the characters and the premise was strong and were woven together beautifully well. Enjoyed it.
Marila’s story has been etched very well. She starts life with very little and she goes on to question the very society around her.
Her fights with her twin brother bring out exactly how vulnerable she is, in the world that she lives in.
With that, she manages to fight back and find out how strong she is and she is able to handle the situation around her.
The pacing of the story seemed slow at times. But the author had built a beautiful world and takes time to make the readers understand it.
Overall the characters and the premise was strong and were woven together beautifully well. Enjoyed it.
December 30, 2020
Okay, this is a tough one for me to review because I felt like there are a lot of pros and cons to the story here. The majority of my struggles with fully loving this are centered around all the world and character build up in the first half of the book and a general annoyance with almost every character at some point during the story.
What is Marilia, the Warlord about:
Marilia and her twin bother, Annuweth, are living with their mother at a brothel in the country of Tyrace. This is the start of a story which takes place over several years (and countries) and is told from the perspective of the very clever, Marilia. From the twins time in Tyrace, to their journey with their adopted father to Svartennos, to marriage and war in Navessea, and beyond. Marilia becomes the cunning and clever warlord her country needs.
What I liked:
In a general sense, I did like a lot of the main characters. Yes, their communication styles with one another and general personal drama was both extremely frustrating and annoying at times, but I can chop some of that up to their young ages, all the difficult situations they find themselves in, and the general historical/cultural limitations placed on them. These flaws did make the characters feel a little more real in the long run. We also got to know Marilia and Annuweth pretty well in this story considering the in-depth time the author spent building up their past. I have some cons with the twin's development, as well, but I can't say that the build up didn't give me a pretty solid idea of why they are the way they are.
Beyond the characters, I got super into the story around the halfway point. The story from there became much more interesting to me and more on par with my expectations of what the book would be. It was faster and just had more actual things happening which was a nice change of pace. It was just really fun to me from that point on.
What I didn't like so much:
To be honest, the first half was just so freaking slow and repetitive. I understand the need to build the characters up and give readers an understanding of both Marilia and Annuweth. I didn't completely hate all of that build up or think that it shouldn't have been there, but it could have been done a little better. A good chunk of the first 45% could have been condensed and still given a great idea of who the twins are.
Summary of my feelings:
Overall, I thought the book was really solid. I enjoyed the ultimate direction the story went and the world Morgan Cole has built. The characters are flawed, realistic, and well-developed. The first half of the book was definitely slow going, but there was a lot of character and world building smooshed in there. I'm excited to see what the sequel, Empire of Jackals, has in store!
I would like to give a big thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an e-copy of Marilia, the Warlord in exchange for an honest review.
What is Marilia, the Warlord about:
Marilia and her twin bother, Annuweth, are living with their mother at a brothel in the country of Tyrace. This is the start of a story which takes place over several years (and countries) and is told from the perspective of the very clever, Marilia. From the twins time in Tyrace, to their journey with their adopted father to Svartennos, to marriage and war in Navessea, and beyond. Marilia becomes the cunning and clever warlord her country needs.
What I liked:
In a general sense, I did like a lot of the main characters. Yes, their communication styles with one another and general personal drama was both extremely frustrating and annoying at times, but I can chop some of that up to their young ages, all the difficult situations they find themselves in, and the general historical/cultural limitations placed on them. These flaws did make the characters feel a little more real in the long run. We also got to know Marilia and Annuweth pretty well in this story considering the in-depth time the author spent building up their past. I have some cons with the twin's development, as well, but I can't say that the build up didn't give me a pretty solid idea of why they are the way they are.
Beyond the characters, I got super into the story around the halfway point. The story from there became much more interesting to me and more on par with my expectations of what the book would be. It was faster and just had more actual things happening which was a nice change of pace. It was just really fun to me from that point on.
What I didn't like so much:
To be honest, the first half was just so freaking slow and repetitive. I understand the need to build the characters up and give readers an understanding of both Marilia and Annuweth. I didn't completely hate all of that build up or think that it shouldn't have been there, but it could have been done a little better. A good chunk of the first 45% could have been condensed and still given a great idea of who the twins are.
Summary of my feelings:
Overall, I thought the book was really solid. I enjoyed the ultimate direction the story went and the world Morgan Cole has built. The characters are flawed, realistic, and well-developed. The first half of the book was definitely slow going, but there was a lot of character and world building smooshed in there. I'm excited to see what the sequel, Empire of Jackals, has in store!
I would like to give a big thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an e-copy of Marilia, the Warlord in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2020
This was pretty effing epic!
Marilia's too good to her brother, I can't believe she gave him credit for her ideas. Fingers crossed there's some loving between Marilia and Camilline in the next book!
Marilia's too good to her brother, I can't believe she gave him credit for her ideas. Fingers crossed there's some loving between Marilia and Camilline in the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
I must confess, this purchase was made purely by cover and title, and luckily the book didn't disappoint!
While not a perfect book, I really enjoyed Marilia, the Warlord right from the start. At first it seemed to maybe be a young adult book, but it quickly turned into a coming of age story that definitely is geared toward adults. There's plenty of violence, gore, murder, and some off the page rape as well.
Marilia and her brother start our in a "pillow house" as the kids of a "painted lady". They are very close to each other, when their mother dies they flee together and start a whole new life and adventure.
From there on their relationship gets more complicated, as Annuweth gets all the martial arts training, while Marilia is getting prepared to becoming a lady and being married off. Only problem is Marilia having more interest and a way better grasp on military strategies than her brother...
This basic conflict isn't the main driver of the plot, but it keeps surfacing, and I thought it was really well handled all the way through the book. I've always loved siblings or family bonds in fantasy, and this definitely scratched my itch!
While some of the side characters could have used a little bit more depth, I really enjoyed the character growth and arc Marilia and the people around her go through.
The first half of the book is a lot slower than the second half, were all the actual war is happening, but I found the world and culture really intriguing, so was never bored. While it isn't expressly said, the world to me had a distinct eastern flavour, while still being easy to understand and follow.
I am not at all skilled at, or interesting in, tactics or military strategies, so at times it got a little bit too long for my liking, but it all felt rather realistic. If you enjoy this side of a story, you'll probably love the book even more than I did.
I wish there was a bit more about the world, as the bits and pieces we get to glimpse were really interesting, but the focus of the book is so narrowed on Marilia and the war the setting around her is rather sketched than a fully painted scene you feel you can walk into.
While not a perfect book, I really enjoyed Marilia, the Warlord right from the start. At first it seemed to maybe be a young adult book, but it quickly turned into a coming of age story that definitely is geared toward adults. There's plenty of violence, gore, murder, and some off the page rape as well.
Marilia and her brother start our in a "pillow house" as the kids of a "painted lady". They are very close to each other, when their mother dies they flee together and start a whole new life and adventure.
From there on their relationship gets more complicated, as Annuweth gets all the martial arts training, while Marilia is getting prepared to becoming a lady and being married off. Only problem is Marilia having more interest and a way better grasp on military strategies than her brother...
This basic conflict isn't the main driver of the plot, but it keeps surfacing, and I thought it was really well handled all the way through the book. I've always loved siblings or family bonds in fantasy, and this definitely scratched my itch!
While some of the side characters could have used a little bit more depth, I really enjoyed the character growth and arc Marilia and the people around her go through.
The first half of the book is a lot slower than the second half, were all the actual war is happening, but I found the world and culture really intriguing, so was never bored. While it isn't expressly said, the world to me had a distinct eastern flavour, while still being easy to understand and follow.
I am not at all skilled at, or interesting in, tactics or military strategies, so at times it got a little bit too long for my liking, but it all felt rather realistic. If you enjoy this side of a story, you'll probably love the book even more than I did.
I wish there was a bit more about the world, as the bits and pieces we get to glimpse were really interesting, but the focus of the book is so narrowed on Marilia and the war the setting around her is rather sketched than a fully painted scene you feel you can walk into.
March 16, 2023
Just getting started
It seems as though this story is just getting good. Against all odds again and again is Marilia achieving the impossible. What does she do? You will have to read to find out. I throughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next.
It seems as though this story is just getting good. Against all odds again and again is Marilia achieving the impossible. What does she do? You will have to read to find out. I throughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next.
June 29, 2020
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
This was an amazing read.
The journey we go on with Marilia is unique in its simplicity and heart wrenching through the layers of the characters and their flaws and development.
I would highly recommend this book.
This was an amazing read.
The journey we go on with Marilia is unique in its simplicity and heart wrenching through the layers of the characters and their flaws and development.
I would highly recommend this book.
September 4, 2020
I enjoyed this but not as much as I wanted to, I felt there was far too much emphasis on world building and information thrown at you to create the story set up, than actually getting on with the story and characters, the characters didn’t feel particularly strongly developed. Confusing at times but the plot when it finally arrives is full of action and adventure, I just wish it had gotten to this point sooner
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
August 6, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
You can read all of my reviews at NerdGirlLovesBooks.
I really enjoyed this YA Fantasy book about a low-born girl with a gift for battle strategy that propels herself and her twin brother into a better life and better roles in the kingdom.
Nine year old Marilia and her twin brother Annuweth are bastards that live in a brothel with their prostitute mother. After a series of events they are forced to leave the only home they've known and seek out the friend of their deceased father, a general of the Emperor. He takes them into his home and cares for them as his own children, tutoring and training them to be nobles in the empire. Despite being a girl, Marilia convinces her adoptive father to train her in warfare and strategy and eventually learns to fight with a sword. She is especially gift in battle strategies, much to the chagrin of her brother, who wants nothing more than to serve in the military and rise to the rank of general.
Eventually Marilia must marry and moves to an island with her husband's family. Before Marilia can settle into her marriage, the empire is attacked. The leader of their army is captured and the forces are left in the hands of an inept commander. Marilia convinces the Council to let her lead the military, but although her battle plans are solid, she must face treachery in her own ranks, a formidable enemy, and rivalry with her brother.
This is a very easy, quick read and did not seem like it was 482 pages long. The story caught my attention right away and I was hooked. I really liked Marilia and appreciated her character growth throughout the book. Even though she was anxious and full of doubts, she pushed through it and gained much needed confidence in herself. I understood the rivalry between her and her twin brother and it was hard to see the once close twins at odds with each other. The interactions with her husband's sister were very sweet and it was great to see how that relationship progressed.
The downside to this book was the lack of details in most of the substantive matters. Rather than going into details and being descriptive, the author would just say something like "Marilia knew her plan would work and discussed it with the advisors" or "the battle went according to plan and was successful". The author didn't use those exact words, but that was the gist of it. I thought this was lazy and really took away from the book, especially considering the whole point of it is that a young girl can be smart, cunning and good at battle strategy and warfare - yay Girl Power.
I also thought the problems she faced with the troops was a bit contrived. The author didn't build enough tension for the problems to seem as big of a deal to warrant Marilia's reaction. Again, the author took the lazy way out and "told" us, rather than "showed" us. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the book and these issues didn't detract too much from my enjoyment.
If you're looking for a fun, easy YA Fantasy read, I recommend you read this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
You can read all of my reviews at NerdGirlLovesBooks.
I really enjoyed this YA Fantasy book about a low-born girl with a gift for battle strategy that propels herself and her twin brother into a better life and better roles in the kingdom.
Nine year old Marilia and her twin brother Annuweth are bastards that live in a brothel with their prostitute mother. After a series of events they are forced to leave the only home they've known and seek out the friend of their deceased father, a general of the Emperor. He takes them into his home and cares for them as his own children, tutoring and training them to be nobles in the empire. Despite being a girl, Marilia convinces her adoptive father to train her in warfare and strategy and eventually learns to fight with a sword. She is especially gift in battle strategies, much to the chagrin of her brother, who wants nothing more than to serve in the military and rise to the rank of general.
Eventually Marilia must marry and moves to an island with her husband's family. Before Marilia can settle into her marriage, the empire is attacked. The leader of their army is captured and the forces are left in the hands of an inept commander. Marilia convinces the Council to let her lead the military, but although her battle plans are solid, she must face treachery in her own ranks, a formidable enemy, and rivalry with her brother.
This is a very easy, quick read and did not seem like it was 482 pages long. The story caught my attention right away and I was hooked. I really liked Marilia and appreciated her character growth throughout the book. Even though she was anxious and full of doubts, she pushed through it and gained much needed confidence in herself. I understood the rivalry between her and her twin brother and it was hard to see the once close twins at odds with each other. The interactions with her husband's sister were very sweet and it was great to see how that relationship progressed.
The downside to this book was the lack of details in most of the substantive matters. Rather than going into details and being descriptive, the author would just say something like "Marilia knew her plan would work and discussed it with the advisors" or "the battle went according to plan and was successful". The author didn't use those exact words, but that was the gist of it. I thought this was lazy and really took away from the book, especially considering the whole point of it is that a young girl can be smart, cunning and good at battle strategy and warfare - yay Girl Power.
I also thought the problems she faced with the troops was a bit contrived. The author didn't build enough tension for the problems to seem as big of a deal to warrant Marilia's reaction. Again, the author took the lazy way out and "told" us, rather than "showed" us. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the book and these issues didn't detract too much from my enjoyment.
If you're looking for a fun, easy YA Fantasy read, I recommend you read this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2020
Marilia: The Warlord by Morgan Cole is the 1st book in the series The Chrysthamere Trilogy and also my first book by author Morgan Cole (pen name.)
The first thing I'd like to mention about this amazing book is that it is full of life, willpower and strength! This book really got me out of my self-pitying reverie (related to some medical issues) and made me feel like myself again. And I am sure it was all possible only because of the main character, Marilia. She is just so full of life, courageous and willing to do anything in order to achieve her goals. Her relationship with her twin brother was not only portrayed well but felt very realistic as the author showed not only the good but also the bad that is an inevitable part of every relationship.
The secondary characters were all good too. But what I liked most after the characterisation was the world-building - it was brilliant! The writing is really good and presents the plot in a really good way, having a great flow to it which made this book an easy read.
If you are a fantasy lover then you must read this book! I highly recommend it to all YA and fantasy lovers.
You can also read this review on The Reading Bud
The first thing I'd like to mention about this amazing book is that it is full of life, willpower and strength! This book really got me out of my self-pitying reverie (related to some medical issues) and made me feel like myself again. And I am sure it was all possible only because of the main character, Marilia. She is just so full of life, courageous and willing to do anything in order to achieve her goals. Her relationship with her twin brother was not only portrayed well but felt very realistic as the author showed not only the good but also the bad that is an inevitable part of every relationship.
The secondary characters were all good too. But what I liked most after the characterisation was the world-building - it was brilliant! The writing is really good and presents the plot in a really good way, having a great flow to it which made this book an easy read.
If you are a fantasy lover then you must read this book! I highly recommend it to all YA and fantasy lovers.
You can also read this review on The Reading Bud
January 7, 2021
2021 Re-read: Still stands up as a proper coming of age epic saga that's more grown up that your average Not Like The Other Girls story. You know this story, but the detail is amazing. My eyes did glaze over a little at all the long explanations of complex war manoeuvres and those names/minimal description things still throw me, but there's something compelling about the depth of the writing.
-----------------------
If I had to sum up the themes of this book as succinctly as possible I'd say this: war, and simmering feminist resentment.
No, wait, hear me out. This isn't your #woke #feminist #hashtag take on fantasy that so many authors have tried in recent years. It's quieter, subtler, and generally more old school in the way it tackles the issues. This is a fantasy of complex characters who tackle modern issues without feeling like they were transposed from our world with our modern sensibilities to fuel their moral outrage. I'm reminded of Karen Miller and earlier fantasy authors of the 90s (only less prone to pulpy over-the-top prose and/or dialects).
In the book, we follow a young girl named Marilia. She and he twin brother Annuweth were born to a "painted lady", fathered by so foreign noble or other who they dream will one day come back and spirit them away to a life of luxury. Their childhood is spent in the brothel where they work and learn about the way the world is. Yet when one kind client teaches Marilia a game of strategy, she realises she could be destined for greater things... If only she had been born male. She has the mind of a great strategist, the soul of a great general. Chance, luck and courage combine to give the children a way out, a way to the land of their father where there may be opportunity amidst adversity. She could become what she was always meant to be: a legend.
Can I just say that I'm outraged that this book was turned down by traditional publication because it features the ageing of a character from 9 year old girl to 19 year old woman? Apparently this made it not "Young Adult" - which, if you read the book, you'll know it really isn't. It's a low fantasy with an emphasis on war and self discovery. Yes, mature readers in the young adult demographic may like it (there's some swearing and some on-screen sex that's not overly descriptive) but to me it seemed like just... a story set in a fantasy world. It's not full of dumbed-down philosophy or hormonal hysterics; there's some seriously twisted politics and Art Of War stuff going on here.
Not all of Marilia's story centres on the nitty-gritty of war, but when it does those battles are turbulent, choreographed chaos. From muddy battlefields to navel warfare, duplicitous manoeuvrers to personal duels, they are realistic even if sometimes things do go a little conveniently. Don't take that the wrong way; as I said earlier this is no YA where every victory is blithely assured. There's gore, though the descriptions are somewhat more poetic than the visceral sort of thing you'd get in grimdark.
Characters are sophisticated in their realisation, defined by their relationships to Marilia. There's no romance as such, although feelings do come into it and sometimes left me wondering if I'd read too much in to interactions (trusting the reader to be intelligent enough to work things out without spelling them out? Shocking!) The LGBT themes are addressed quietly, not made into a big "thing" in the way so much modern fiction insists upon doing just to show off inclusive credentials. Her push/pull relationships bring the personal drama as she wrestles with her own pride as well as that of the (mostly male) cast around her. Whether it's rivalry with brother Annuweth, seeking affection from Karthtag-Kal, looking for belonging with husband Kanediel, or finding kinship with Camilline; every part of her story is about finding her place in the world.
The only things that got me confused were early on, during Marilia's childhood, there are unannounced time-skips. One chapter she's nine, the next she's twelve; she just arrives in a new place, then she's been there for 5 months. I also couldn't always keep up with the many fantasy names and reasons for why the kingdoms hated each other, but it's easy enough to just go with it. There are a lot of characters and ranks to remember, but it's worth keeping in mind only the core few are important. The world building is gorgeous but strange; the names sometimes sound a bit Greco-Roman, but the setting itself of seems very inspired by the Far East. But while I couldn't always picture things from the descriptions, the writing gave you strong impressions of places and characters.
Overall an utterly astoundingly polished fantasy read, one that does no deserve to be lumped with being "not Young Adult enough" as a reason to be ignored. Either the author has a very good editor or is master of self-editing, because to this layman reader it is a professional job that is so rare in indie published books. A good story is good regardless of narrow-minded marketers, and this one would sit perfectly alongside published authors in the fantasy section of any book store.
-I received a free ARC of this ebook in an anonymous giveaway. I choose to review it because I can (and it amazed the socks off me)-
-----------------------
If I had to sum up the themes of this book as succinctly as possible I'd say this: war, and simmering feminist resentment.
No, wait, hear me out. This isn't your #woke #feminist #hashtag take on fantasy that so many authors have tried in recent years. It's quieter, subtler, and generally more old school in the way it tackles the issues. This is a fantasy of complex characters who tackle modern issues without feeling like they were transposed from our world with our modern sensibilities to fuel their moral outrage. I'm reminded of Karen Miller and earlier fantasy authors of the 90s (only less prone to pulpy over-the-top prose and/or dialects).
In the book, we follow a young girl named Marilia. She and he twin brother Annuweth were born to a "painted lady", fathered by so foreign noble or other who they dream will one day come back and spirit them away to a life of luxury. Their childhood is spent in the brothel where they work and learn about the way the world is. Yet when one kind client teaches Marilia a game of strategy, she realises she could be destined for greater things... If only she had been born male. She has the mind of a great strategist, the soul of a great general. Chance, luck and courage combine to give the children a way out, a way to the land of their father where there may be opportunity amidst adversity. She could become what she was always meant to be: a legend.
Can I just say that I'm outraged that this book was turned down by traditional publication because it features the ageing of a character from 9 year old girl to 19 year old woman? Apparently this made it not "Young Adult" - which, if you read the book, you'll know it really isn't. It's a low fantasy with an emphasis on war and self discovery. Yes, mature readers in the young adult demographic may like it (there's some swearing and some on-screen sex that's not overly descriptive) but to me it seemed like just... a story set in a fantasy world. It's not full of dumbed-down philosophy or hormonal hysterics; there's some seriously twisted politics and Art Of War stuff going on here.
Not all of Marilia's story centres on the nitty-gritty of war, but when it does those battles are turbulent, choreographed chaos. From muddy battlefields to navel warfare, duplicitous manoeuvrers to personal duels, they are realistic even if sometimes things do go a little conveniently. Don't take that the wrong way; as I said earlier this is no YA where every victory is blithely assured. There's gore, though the descriptions are somewhat more poetic than the visceral sort of thing you'd get in grimdark.
Characters are sophisticated in their realisation, defined by their relationships to Marilia. There's no romance as such, although feelings do come into it and sometimes left me wondering if I'd read too much in to interactions (trusting the reader to be intelligent enough to work things out without spelling them out? Shocking!) The LGBT themes are addressed quietly, not made into a big "thing" in the way so much modern fiction insists upon doing just to show off inclusive credentials. Her push/pull relationships bring the personal drama as she wrestles with her own pride as well as that of the (mostly male) cast around her. Whether it's rivalry with brother Annuweth, seeking affection from Karthtag-Kal, looking for belonging with husband Kanediel, or finding kinship with Camilline; every part of her story is about finding her place in the world.
The only things that got me confused were early on, during Marilia's childhood, there are unannounced time-skips. One chapter she's nine, the next she's twelve; she just arrives in a new place, then she's been there for 5 months. I also couldn't always keep up with the many fantasy names and reasons for why the kingdoms hated each other, but it's easy enough to just go with it. There are a lot of characters and ranks to remember, but it's worth keeping in mind only the core few are important. The world building is gorgeous but strange; the names sometimes sound a bit Greco-Roman, but the setting itself of seems very inspired by the Far East. But while I couldn't always picture things from the descriptions, the writing gave you strong impressions of places and characters.
Overall an utterly astoundingly polished fantasy read, one that does no deserve to be lumped with being "not Young Adult enough" as a reason to be ignored. Either the author has a very good editor or is master of self-editing, because to this layman reader it is a professional job that is so rare in indie published books. A good story is good regardless of narrow-minded marketers, and this one would sit perfectly alongside published authors in the fantasy section of any book store.
-I received a free ARC of this ebook in an anonymous giveaway. I choose to review it because I can (and it amazed the socks off me)-
February 9, 2020
Marilia - strong-willed, erudite and fallible. Cole has delivered a heroine so humbly human I found pleasure in reading fantasy again.
Marilia’s entire story is one of struggle, defiance and vulnerability. Not once is her trajectory predictable. She is not invincible. She is frustrating at times in her quarrels with Annuweth (her twin brother), brave in her love for Kanadiel and Camilline and empowered in her push to be who she desires to be in the face of the world’s beliefs and principles, in the face of Karthtag-Kal’s wishes.
Cole finds just the right pace - slow enough to feel the world he has created unfold around you, yet quick enough for Marilia to be catapulted into life’s challenges; catapulting the reader into each stage of our heroine’s life and the small and vast battles she must face.
The characterisation is phenomenal too. I could imagine the wind through Camilline’s hair or the way she would look on horseback, I could imagine Catarina’s grace or the Graver’s brutality outlined on his face. The anger and love raging between Marilia and Annuweth was also compelling to read. Cole captures humanity in words as raw as they are beautiful.
This story also goes beyond cliché tropes of good versus evil. Cole moves with the fantasy genre as it begins to explore the complexity of human nature. At times there is no saviour or victor. Sometimes even when victory is taken, it leaves a sour taste.
Nor does Cole attempt to force upon you the fact Marilia is female and more attracted to women than she is men. The novel is progressive because these things are fact, not gratuitous additions hoping to rein in a new audience. Cole writes with honesty and dynamism. Who Marilia is, who she loves and what she fights for could be said for anyone. Cole has created a character who many will champion, many will see as a role model, as a representation of themselves but most importantly Cole has written about a human being straining against societal norms, finding their place in the world, no matter who they are - and this is to be applauded.
Marilia’s entire story is one of struggle, defiance and vulnerability. Not once is her trajectory predictable. She is not invincible. She is frustrating at times in her quarrels with Annuweth (her twin brother), brave in her love for Kanadiel and Camilline and empowered in her push to be who she desires to be in the face of the world’s beliefs and principles, in the face of Karthtag-Kal’s wishes.
Cole finds just the right pace - slow enough to feel the world he has created unfold around you, yet quick enough for Marilia to be catapulted into life’s challenges; catapulting the reader into each stage of our heroine’s life and the small and vast battles she must face.
The characterisation is phenomenal too. I could imagine the wind through Camilline’s hair or the way she would look on horseback, I could imagine Catarina’s grace or the Graver’s brutality outlined on his face. The anger and love raging between Marilia and Annuweth was also compelling to read. Cole captures humanity in words as raw as they are beautiful.
This story also goes beyond cliché tropes of good versus evil. Cole moves with the fantasy genre as it begins to explore the complexity of human nature. At times there is no saviour or victor. Sometimes even when victory is taken, it leaves a sour taste.
Nor does Cole attempt to force upon you the fact Marilia is female and more attracted to women than she is men. The novel is progressive because these things are fact, not gratuitous additions hoping to rein in a new audience. Cole writes with honesty and dynamism. Who Marilia is, who she loves and what she fights for could be said for anyone. Cole has created a character who many will champion, many will see as a role model, as a representation of themselves but most importantly Cole has written about a human being straining against societal norms, finding their place in the world, no matter who they are - and this is to be applauded.
January 23, 2020
I quite enjoyed this. I often find myself drawn to more independently published fantasy, and I think it's because I get more than just the action of a fantasy. I get a "human" element, and this was no different. I appreciated hearing the doubts and worries of Marilia, the protagonist. She wasn't magic, she wasn't powered, she was human who made mistakes, had to rally, and deal with the consequences of the mistakes.
Some relationships seemed like they were rushed over and I wished they could have been sussed out more, but as I believe this is a trilogy, it's possible I just need to be patient.
I did have some questions about the time line - as we learned about Marilia's past, I found myself trying to remember how old she was. In some ways she was described as young, but for that age her emotional intelligence was quite high. And at times it seemed like she was older than her twin.
Marilia's relationship with 'Weth, her twin was something I wished we could have seen more. I didn't necessarily see the early bond, nor did I see a build-up to the blowout that comes mid-book.
The universe was built quite interesting. It reminded me of a mix of Greek, Egypt, and then of course the author's imagination. I never once thought I'd read a book that had insects as being more than just pests, but it worked, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wanted to see pictures.
Overall, despite the moments I wished for, I thought it was a great fantasy novel.
I recieved an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some relationships seemed like they were rushed over and I wished they could have been sussed out more, but as I believe this is a trilogy, it's possible I just need to be patient.
I did have some questions about the time line - as we learned about Marilia's past, I found myself trying to remember how old she was. In some ways she was described as young, but for that age her emotional intelligence was quite high. And at times it seemed like she was older than her twin.
Marilia's relationship with 'Weth, her twin was something I wished we could have seen more. I didn't necessarily see the early bond, nor did I see a build-up to the blowout that comes mid-book.
The universe was built quite interesting. It reminded me of a mix of Greek, Egypt, and then of course the author's imagination. I never once thought I'd read a book that had insects as being more than just pests, but it worked, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wanted to see pictures.
Overall, despite the moments I wished for, I thought it was a great fantasy novel.
I recieved an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 28, 2020
Marilia was born in a pillow house and assumed that she would become a pillow woman just like her mother. However, her luck was about to change when she and her twin brother are rescued and adopted by a friend of their fathers. Little does Marilia realize that her warrior instincts might just play a vital part in saving her home lands when war spreads through the empire.
What more is there to love about this story? I found Marilia to be a thoroughly developed character with a lot of backbone but also with moments of weakness and softness. Marilia isn’t magical or blessed with otherworldly powers, but she has a was of rising above even after she makes a mistake. I instantly fell in love with her character and watching her grow up throughout the story.
There were a handful of antagonists throughout the story, which really kept the plot moving at a good pace and ensure that the storyline never got boring. I loved how this particular book wrapped up, though it left you itching to find out what happens to Marilia next! I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next installment of this series!!
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions*
What more is there to love about this story? I found Marilia to be a thoroughly developed character with a lot of backbone but also with moments of weakness and softness. Marilia isn’t magical or blessed with otherworldly powers, but she has a was of rising above even after she makes a mistake. I instantly fell in love with her character and watching her grow up throughout the story.
There were a handful of antagonists throughout the story, which really kept the plot moving at a good pace and ensure that the storyline never got boring. I loved how this particular book wrapped up, though it left you itching to find out what happens to Marilia next! I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next installment of this series!!
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions*
August 13, 2020
Long on Promise🔪🐎⛵, Short on Delivery
ADULT Fantasy Historical Romance💕 and Adventure🔪💀.
This book started out great! It's the story of a young woman and her brother raised in a brothel, not knowing for years who their father was. They live in a medieval fantasy world with lots of fighting💪 and sword fights🔪, sea voyages⛵, etc.
The problem is, their first adventures after they leave the brothel turn into a long, slow, torturous slough through the life of Marilia💃💋🔪, who remakes herself into a leader and warrior🔪 after The death of her husband.
The book just doesn't deliver on what could have been a great adventure. For me, the writing was dry and slow 🐌, emotionless.
ARC Provided by Book📚 Sirens💃 and Amazon Free
Opinions Expressed here are entirely my own.
ADULT Fantasy Historical Romance💕 and Adventure🔪💀.
This book started out great! It's the story of a young woman and her brother raised in a brothel, not knowing for years who their father was. They live in a medieval fantasy world with lots of fighting💪 and sword fights🔪, sea voyages⛵, etc.
The problem is, their first adventures after they leave the brothel turn into a long, slow, torturous slough through the life of Marilia💃💋🔪, who remakes herself into a leader and warrior🔪 after The death of her husband.
The book just doesn't deliver on what could have been a great adventure. For me, the writing was dry and slow 🐌, emotionless.
ARC Provided by Book📚 Sirens💃 and Amazon Free
Opinions Expressed here are entirely my own.
March 28, 2021
(I received a free e-copy in return for an honest review)
Marilia, the bastard daughter of a painted lady, lives in the brothel where her mother works with her twin brother Annuweth. She has no future to anticipate other than being a whore herself, her brother a mine worker or pit fighter. But after a betrayal by one of the few people she thought she could trust, she flees with her brother to the one person who may be able to help – a good friend of the twins’ dead father, the prefect of a foreign country.
From there Marilia’s life markedly changes; in her adopted father’s house she has to learn an entirely new way of life that includes lessons in literacy, needlework and water-painting. It’s playing Sharavayn that reveals Marilia’s talents: she’s a natural strategist in a world where women aren’t permitted to have anything to do with war.
This may sounds like several other YA books you’ve come across, but I found it to be refreshingly different. For one thing, the world is decidedly unique. As well as the clearly strange animals with unfamiliar names such as the giant insects, the yoba, even the usual fantasy fare of soldiers in armour in given a twist as the swords are of crystalline stone, the armour fashioned of yoba-shells. Arguably, may also be one of the weaker points of the book, as I would’ve like to learn more about the world, but then I’m the kind of person who could quite happily read three pages of description about a land, so this may be enough for others.
I also liked most of the characters. Marilia herself was as determined and stubborn a heroine as you could hope to meet, but thankfully was not one of the over-powered young ladies who seem to be rapidly becoming the norm in YA. Yes, she has a strategic mind and a few lessons in swordplay, but doesn’t follow the usual trope of her being the ‘best ever (insert job title here)’ while in her teens. She can’t out-fight experienced knights, nor do all her decisions turn out to be for the best; these flaws made her more realistic to me as a character; I may not have always liked her, but I enjoyed reading about her adventures. She also seems to be attracted by other girls, although she’s young enough to be confused about her feelings; I imagine we’ll see some resolution about her confused crush in the next book – or at least I hope we well.
The book ends with Marillia still only about 21 (I think? I may have the chronology somewhat confused) so there’s still plenty to read about in the sequel.
I really enjoyed it, and apologise to the author for leaving this book on my TBR pile for so long; when I finally sat down to read it, I think I tore through it in two days – which doesn’t often happen with electronic books. I recommend it, particularly to those of you who like YA novels with strong female leads.
Marilia, the bastard daughter of a painted lady, lives in the brothel where her mother works with her twin brother Annuweth. She has no future to anticipate other than being a whore herself, her brother a mine worker or pit fighter. But after a betrayal by one of the few people she thought she could trust, she flees with her brother to the one person who may be able to help – a good friend of the twins’ dead father, the prefect of a foreign country.
From there Marilia’s life markedly changes; in her adopted father’s house she has to learn an entirely new way of life that includes lessons in literacy, needlework and water-painting. It’s playing Sharavayn that reveals Marilia’s talents: she’s a natural strategist in a world where women aren’t permitted to have anything to do with war.
This may sounds like several other YA books you’ve come across, but I found it to be refreshingly different. For one thing, the world is decidedly unique. As well as the clearly strange animals with unfamiliar names such as the giant insects, the yoba, even the usual fantasy fare of soldiers in armour in given a twist as the swords are of crystalline stone, the armour fashioned of yoba-shells. Arguably, may also be one of the weaker points of the book, as I would’ve like to learn more about the world, but then I’m the kind of person who could quite happily read three pages of description about a land, so this may be enough for others.
I also liked most of the characters. Marilia herself was as determined and stubborn a heroine as you could hope to meet, but thankfully was not one of the over-powered young ladies who seem to be rapidly becoming the norm in YA. Yes, she has a strategic mind and a few lessons in swordplay, but doesn’t follow the usual trope of her being the ‘best ever (insert job title here)’ while in her teens. She can’t out-fight experienced knights, nor do all her decisions turn out to be for the best; these flaws made her more realistic to me as a character; I may not have always liked her, but I enjoyed reading about her adventures. She also seems to be attracted by other girls, although she’s young enough to be confused about her feelings; I imagine we’ll see some resolution about her confused crush in the next book – or at least I hope we well.
The book ends with Marillia still only about 21 (I think? I may have the chronology somewhat confused) so there’s still plenty to read about in the sequel.
I really enjoyed it, and apologise to the author for leaving this book on my TBR pile for so long; when I finally sat down to read it, I think I tore through it in two days – which doesn’t often happen with electronic books. I recommend it, particularly to those of you who like YA novels with strong female leads.
November 23, 2020
She closed her eyes, let the world around her fall away, let the noise of the camp fade to a distant murmur like a river. She forgot the taste of the smoke, the bite of fear in her chest.
It was just her and the Tyracians, trapped in their game-the only game that mattered.
Life or death.
Winner take all.
I'm a huge sucker for epic fantasies filled with battles and wars. Add a female protagonist on top of that, I'm pretty much set.
Starting off with a captivating prologue, we follow the protagonist right from when she is a 9 year old kid. Marilia and her twin brother, Annuweth growing up in a 'Pillow House' afraid of being tied down to the place, to her roles, to what she was expected to be.
We follow her through out the 10 or so years of life to see her become 'The Warlord'.
Overall, this was a very interesting world to dive into, with an interesting story. The world building was extensive (maybe a bit too much at times?) with all the descriptions and the history drawing you into it completely. You get the feel of the places the story is taking place in.
The characters were fascinating as well. Each and every one of them with lots of depth and personality, most of them in the gray side of morality. Makes you quite unsure who you're rooting for. And that goes for the MC as well. Sometimes you are cheering for them with all your heart and othet times you want to just smack them upside the head. The only downside was that I really struggled to connect with any if them. However much I tried, they remained distant.
I would think it's not easy to consistently hold the interest of the reader when the plot extends over such a huge timline. And occasionally, it shows. At certain points you feel overwhelmed with all the information you are getting. Most of it quite important to the storyline, but difficult to get through all the same, seeming very dry. But for the most part, it managed to captivate my attention, making me eager to know how it'd all turn out.
Also, let me just say, leave your expectations for a romance in this book at the door. You will not get it. But the lack of it done really well, in my opinion. The sexuality of the MC was weaved in subtly so it contributes to storyline rather than take you away from it.
I'm very excited to see how it goes from here in the sequel. Hoping to see more interactions with Annuweth, 'cause as important as he was to the plot, we understood very little about him in this one.
"What prophecy?" Marilia asked.
"That someday, when the island is in peril... on the brink of destruction or some such thing, I can't remember the exact words... the spirit of Svartana will return in the form of another, to lead our people to victory and save our island."
** I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. **
It was just her and the Tyracians, trapped in their game-the only game that mattered.
Life or death.
Winner take all.
I'm a huge sucker for epic fantasies filled with battles and wars. Add a female protagonist on top of that, I'm pretty much set.
Starting off with a captivating prologue, we follow the protagonist right from when she is a 9 year old kid. Marilia and her twin brother, Annuweth growing up in a 'Pillow House' afraid of being tied down to the place, to her roles, to what she was expected to be.
We follow her through out the 10 or so years of life to see her become 'The Warlord'.
Overall, this was a very interesting world to dive into, with an interesting story. The world building was extensive (maybe a bit too much at times?) with all the descriptions and the history drawing you into it completely. You get the feel of the places the story is taking place in.
The characters were fascinating as well. Each and every one of them with lots of depth and personality, most of them in the gray side of morality. Makes you quite unsure who you're rooting for. And that goes for the MC as well. Sometimes you are cheering for them with all your heart and othet times you want to just smack them upside the head. The only downside was that I really struggled to connect with any if them. However much I tried, they remained distant.
I would think it's not easy to consistently hold the interest of the reader when the plot extends over such a huge timline. And occasionally, it shows. At certain points you feel overwhelmed with all the information you are getting. Most of it quite important to the storyline, but difficult to get through all the same, seeming very dry. But for the most part, it managed to captivate my attention, making me eager to know how it'd all turn out.
Also, let me just say, leave your expectations for a romance in this book at the door. You will not get it. But the lack of it done really well, in my opinion. The sexuality of the MC was weaved in subtly so it contributes to storyline rather than take you away from it.
I'm very excited to see how it goes from here in the sequel. Hoping to see more interactions with Annuweth, 'cause as important as he was to the plot, we understood very little about him in this one.
"What prophecy?" Marilia asked.
"That someday, when the island is in peril... on the brink of destruction or some such thing, I can't remember the exact words... the spirit of Svartana will return in the form of another, to lead our people to victory and save our island."
** I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. **
August 29, 2020
People often say ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ but even then, that’s exactly what we do. And the cover of this book is so magnificent that I couldn’t help but pick it up. But one thing, I will tell fellow readers is that Do NOT judge THIS book from its first sentence.
“Please, help me. I don’t know what to do.” This is how the book begins and I know what you’re thinking. A weak female character who is unable to think of anything for themselves and always needs someone’s “support”? Nope. Nothing like that at all. Marilia is a strong woman with a dead husband whose life is in immediate danger. As such, it is entirely human to be completely clueless at the time. But she doesn’t remain so throughout the book.
She is defiant to what society expects of her. She is a bastard daughter of a foreign nobleman and a prostitute but her character is complex and human. Her interactions with her brother and the mistakes she makes show that she isn’t the cliché strong female protagonist who slays kingdoms without facing any hardships because of some extraordinary power or her clever ways. This entire book depicts how difficult life can be and what consequences there are of misjudging people and making the wrong choices. Since, it is a YA Fantasy novel, you can expect a lot of action and plot twists but the uniqueness of this book is in its character-building.
The narration of the book is quite descriptive and one can easily picture the world and its dynamics. But the cherry on the cake, for me, remained Marilla. I love reading such books about girls who are fierce and clever, who do not take shit from anyone but who are also vulnerable and human. There’s no harm in showing the weak moments even when you are showing a strong female character.
But she isn’t the only character I focused upon while reading the book. The writing is so strong when it comes to portraying various nuances that makes each character unique that I could imagine an aura surrounding Camilline or Graver. I could feel the emotions transmitted by Cole and these characters became real from their interactions. I have read enough YA novels to know that this is a book I would definitely recommend to my friends.
“Please, help me. I don’t know what to do.” This is how the book begins and I know what you’re thinking. A weak female character who is unable to think of anything for themselves and always needs someone’s “support”? Nope. Nothing like that at all. Marilia is a strong woman with a dead husband whose life is in immediate danger. As such, it is entirely human to be completely clueless at the time. But she doesn’t remain so throughout the book.
She is defiant to what society expects of her. She is a bastard daughter of a foreign nobleman and a prostitute but her character is complex and human. Her interactions with her brother and the mistakes she makes show that she isn’t the cliché strong female protagonist who slays kingdoms without facing any hardships because of some extraordinary power or her clever ways. This entire book depicts how difficult life can be and what consequences there are of misjudging people and making the wrong choices. Since, it is a YA Fantasy novel, you can expect a lot of action and plot twists but the uniqueness of this book is in its character-building.
The narration of the book is quite descriptive and one can easily picture the world and its dynamics. But the cherry on the cake, for me, remained Marilla. I love reading such books about girls who are fierce and clever, who do not take shit from anyone but who are also vulnerable and human. There’s no harm in showing the weak moments even when you are showing a strong female character.
But she isn’t the only character I focused upon while reading the book. The writing is so strong when it comes to portraying various nuances that makes each character unique that I could imagine an aura surrounding Camilline or Graver. I could feel the emotions transmitted by Cole and these characters became real from their interactions. I have read enough YA novels to know that this is a book I would definitely recommend to my friends.
September 7, 2020
Marilia The Warlord
This story follows Marilia as she grows from child to early adulthood. She is born the bastard child to a prostitute. They are called painted ladies. As she soon learns girl children of painted ladies become painted ladies. Something she understandable wants no part of. Through the passing of her mother, things in her life start to escalate quickly. The guiding hand of the gods is strong in her life and she and her brother are adopted by their deceased father’s best friend. They are taken to another land to become the children of that nobleman. We follow Marilia as the fates lead her to her destiny. She is able to overcome gender stereotypes and become a beloved warlord on her own right.
After reading some other reviews I feel like I’m in the minority because I enjoyed the first part of the book and liked it less in the second half. I think my main problem was I really didn’t relate to Marilia’s feelings. I just didn’t like her a lot either. I thought she was selfish and sometimes uncaring to the feelings of those she cares about most. It was all about her and what it takes to become great. I don’t mean to say she doesn’t care for those around her. Only that she doesn’t seem to think about how others are affected until things blow up in her face. I thought things would become super exciting once she proved herself in that first battle but for me, the story started to really drag. The fight at the end was very exciting but it was a real struggle for me to get to that part.
A few things to note. This borders more on the adult side than YA. There is talk of rape, sex scenes, and forced kissing on a child.
I want to thank Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows Marilia as she grows from child to early adulthood. She is born the bastard child to a prostitute. They are called painted ladies. As she soon learns girl children of painted ladies become painted ladies. Something she understandable wants no part of. Through the passing of her mother, things in her life start to escalate quickly. The guiding hand of the gods is strong in her life and she and her brother are adopted by their deceased father’s best friend. They are taken to another land to become the children of that nobleman. We follow Marilia as the fates lead her to her destiny. She is able to overcome gender stereotypes and become a beloved warlord on her own right.
After reading some other reviews I feel like I’m in the minority because I enjoyed the first part of the book and liked it less in the second half. I think my main problem was I really didn’t relate to Marilia’s feelings. I just didn’t like her a lot either. I thought she was selfish and sometimes uncaring to the feelings of those she cares about most. It was all about her and what it takes to become great. I don’t mean to say she doesn’t care for those around her. Only that she doesn’t seem to think about how others are affected until things blow up in her face. I thought things would become super exciting once she proved herself in that first battle but for me, the story started to really drag. The fight at the end was very exciting but it was a real struggle for me to get to that part.
A few things to note. This borders more on the adult side than YA. There is talk of rape, sex scenes, and forced kissing on a child.
I want to thank Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2020
Reviewer’s Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I am not one to judge a book by its cover, but I will admit that upon seeing the book cover of "Marilia, the Bastard", I felt immediately compelled to read it. This feeling only amplified when I read the synopsis, which (unlike some) is an accurate summary of the plot that potential readers can rely on to decide whether or not to begin the journey into the fantasy world Morgan Cole created.
As both the title and the synopsis suggests, this book stretches across multiple themes/genres: coming of age, historical, fantasy, military fiction, etc. It is also written similar to a biography, following the life of Marilia from a young age through her teenage/young adult years. In that sense, do keep in mind that there is a timeline in the story, but it is not difficult to follow overall.
The book as a whole is well-written, with worldbuilding and character development for all of the characters we regularly see, not just Marilia. I also loved that there was a sense of feminism and female empowerment in terms of Marilia opposing the traditional patriarchal society; in fact, I think the author wrote this aspect rather nicely as it was not blatantly aggressive. I also really appreciated two other aspects of the story: (1) Morgan Cole did not shy away from the battle scenes as I have seen many authors do, and (2) there were hints of a certain character questioning their sexuality, something I appreciate since the majority of mainstream publications configure to heteronormative standards.
I did give this book 4 stars instead of 5 as I feel like there is something missing. However, I unfortunately cannot put my finger on what that something is. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to seeing what comes next from this author.
I am not one to judge a book by its cover, but I will admit that upon seeing the book cover of "Marilia, the Bastard", I felt immediately compelled to read it. This feeling only amplified when I read the synopsis, which (unlike some) is an accurate summary of the plot that potential readers can rely on to decide whether or not to begin the journey into the fantasy world Morgan Cole created.
As both the title and the synopsis suggests, this book stretches across multiple themes/genres: coming of age, historical, fantasy, military fiction, etc. It is also written similar to a biography, following the life of Marilia from a young age through her teenage/young adult years. In that sense, do keep in mind that there is a timeline in the story, but it is not difficult to follow overall.
The book as a whole is well-written, with worldbuilding and character development for all of the characters we regularly see, not just Marilia. I also loved that there was a sense of feminism and female empowerment in terms of Marilia opposing the traditional patriarchal society; in fact, I think the author wrote this aspect rather nicely as it was not blatantly aggressive. I also really appreciated two other aspects of the story: (1) Morgan Cole did not shy away from the battle scenes as I have seen many authors do, and (2) there were hints of a certain character questioning their sexuality, something I appreciate since the majority of mainstream publications configure to heteronormative standards.
I did give this book 4 stars instead of 5 as I feel like there is something missing. However, I unfortunately cannot put my finger on what that something is. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to seeing what comes next from this author.
February 24, 2020
4.5 stars rounded down
Recommended for fans of strong female characters who aren’t tropes, LGBTQ representation, intricate battle depictions.
Marilia, the Bastard is a story of a girl who refuses to accept the role society imposes upon her and seeks her own destiny, for better or for worse. Starting out as the bastard daughter of a foreign nobleman and a Tyracean prostitute, Marilia finds herself in the company of nobility, royalty, and military alike as her future unfolds before her.
Marilia, the Bastard’s strength lies in its complex characters. There are no stock villains or heroes here; Marilia frequently misjudges others and makes mistakes which have dire consequences not easily undone. People and their motivations are complicated, and the author does a good job of portraying the shades of grey.
The atmosphere and setting are fine; at a base level it’s easy to understand that the world is composed of different nation states with uncertain alliances and uneasy truces, but the political situation is not as interesting or dynamic as Kushiel’s Dart, for example.
The greatest area for improvement in is in the language. While easy to read and understand, I never felt challenged nor surprised by the author’s turn of phrase. Early on, Marilia is a small child, and she spoke and thought better than most child characters portrayed by inexperienced authors (who tend to overly simplify the child’s dialogue and thoughts), but overall the language did not move me.
Pacing was good; the novel is fairly short but moved the characters along through their development and the plot well.
I received a free Advance Reader Copy through BookSirens. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Recommended for fans of strong female characters who aren’t tropes, LGBTQ representation, intricate battle depictions.
Marilia, the Bastard is a story of a girl who refuses to accept the role society imposes upon her and seeks her own destiny, for better or for worse. Starting out as the bastard daughter of a foreign nobleman and a Tyracean prostitute, Marilia finds herself in the company of nobility, royalty, and military alike as her future unfolds before her.
Marilia, the Bastard’s strength lies in its complex characters. There are no stock villains or heroes here; Marilia frequently misjudges others and makes mistakes which have dire consequences not easily undone. People and their motivations are complicated, and the author does a good job of portraying the shades of grey.
The atmosphere and setting are fine; at a base level it’s easy to understand that the world is composed of different nation states with uncertain alliances and uneasy truces, but the political situation is not as interesting or dynamic as Kushiel’s Dart, for example.
The greatest area for improvement in is in the language. While easy to read and understand, I never felt challenged nor surprised by the author’s turn of phrase. Early on, Marilia is a small child, and she spoke and thought better than most child characters portrayed by inexperienced authors (who tend to overly simplify the child’s dialogue and thoughts), but overall the language did not move me.
Pacing was good; the novel is fairly short but moved the characters along through their development and the plot well.
I received a free Advance Reader Copy through BookSirens. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 17, 2024
Marilia begins her life as a prostitute's daughter, and although things get better from there, she's always treated as lesser because of where she was born and also her gender. She is adopted by a powerful military man, and she receives a very ladylike education before her marriage. But war comes, and Marilia will have to defy expectations to become the warlord she's named as in the title.
I love Marilia, and I think this is a clever concept. It was also really uncomfortable at times, which isn't quite what I was in the mood for today. I hate books where the protagonist, and by virtue of empathy, the reader, end up feeling helpless and humiliated. This book has a lot of that. I don't think I'll be reading the sequel, but I would definitely recommend it to folks who like feminist twists to their otherwise sad fantasy war stories.
I love Marilia, and I think this is a clever concept. It was also really uncomfortable at times, which isn't quite what I was in the mood for today. I hate books where the protagonist, and by virtue of empathy, the reader, end up feeling helpless and humiliated. This book has a lot of that. I don't think I'll be reading the sequel, but I would definitely recommend it to folks who like feminist twists to their otherwise sad fantasy war stories.
Read
October 9, 2020Decided that if I haven’t picked it back up by now, I probably won’t ever. The pacing just didn’t grab me, as much as I wanted to continue because I do like the characters, it just isn’t for me.
October 2, 2022
2.25 stars
RTC
RTC
February 8, 2021
Firstly, huge thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I do love a strong female protagonist in my fantasy novels and this novel definitely delivered on that front! Although fantasy novels are one of my preferred genres, I do have a bit of a complicated relationship with fantasy novels (which will have to be the subject of another post!). So, whilst I was drawn in by the description of this novel, I was also a little apprehensive. However, I quickly realised my worries were unfounded.
Marilia, The Warlord centres around the life of Marilia who is raised with her brother Annuweth in a ‘pillow house’, which is where they think they will spend the rest of their lives… Until their world is turned upside down. Now, in a foreign place with their new found family, the siblings have to find their new places in this world. However, Marilia soon discovers that the place she sees for herself is not the same as what everyone else thinks is best for her.
Straight away I just loved Marilia. She was a brilliant protagonist and it was great seeing her grow up throughout the novel. The fact that she has a brother too allows you to see how they both develop and how unique their personalities are, which was a really nice touch with the book. I found myself getting angry on Marilia’s behalf when she was told that she couldn’t do certain things because she is a girl, regardless of whether she was better at something than her brother. However, despite Marilia being excellent with strategy and very sharp I enjoyed that you also saw her struggle with things. You’re reminded that she isn’t perfect and she is still young. In addition to Marilia, I think the rest of the characters were also well developed. I particularly liked Ben Espeleos and his family. Although, sometimes a character will disappear or not mentioned for a while which made them sometimes feel like an after thought. However, this is the first in a trilogy so it is likely that they will come back in the other installments.
For the most part I think the pacing was really well done in the novel and you see the characters in each new setting long enough for them to really make an impression on you. I also liked how the novel didn’t just stick to one or two places as it gave a better idea of how big this world is, especially as this is the first novel set here. By having the novel in three parts the story felt very focused, not only did you have a clear idea on what was going on but you were shown the key parts of their lives that shaped Marilia and Annuweth. I thought the battle sequences were also well written and easy to follow, which is something I sometimes struggle the most with when it comes to fantasy novels!
As you can see, I really enjoyed this novel! Whilst this novel does work well as a stand-alone, I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series as I really want to spend some more time with these characters! This book is currently free on kindle, so you have no excuse not to give this novel a read!
I do love a strong female protagonist in my fantasy novels and this novel definitely delivered on that front! Although fantasy novels are one of my preferred genres, I do have a bit of a complicated relationship with fantasy novels (which will have to be the subject of another post!). So, whilst I was drawn in by the description of this novel, I was also a little apprehensive. However, I quickly realised my worries were unfounded.
Marilia, The Warlord centres around the life of Marilia who is raised with her brother Annuweth in a ‘pillow house’, which is where they think they will spend the rest of their lives… Until their world is turned upside down. Now, in a foreign place with their new found family, the siblings have to find their new places in this world. However, Marilia soon discovers that the place she sees for herself is not the same as what everyone else thinks is best for her.
Straight away I just loved Marilia. She was a brilliant protagonist and it was great seeing her grow up throughout the novel. The fact that she has a brother too allows you to see how they both develop and how unique their personalities are, which was a really nice touch with the book. I found myself getting angry on Marilia’s behalf when she was told that she couldn’t do certain things because she is a girl, regardless of whether she was better at something than her brother. However, despite Marilia being excellent with strategy and very sharp I enjoyed that you also saw her struggle with things. You’re reminded that she isn’t perfect and she is still young. In addition to Marilia, I think the rest of the characters were also well developed. I particularly liked Ben Espeleos and his family. Although, sometimes a character will disappear or not mentioned for a while which made them sometimes feel like an after thought. However, this is the first in a trilogy so it is likely that they will come back in the other installments.
For the most part I think the pacing was really well done in the novel and you see the characters in each new setting long enough for them to really make an impression on you. I also liked how the novel didn’t just stick to one or two places as it gave a better idea of how big this world is, especially as this is the first novel set here. By having the novel in three parts the story felt very focused, not only did you have a clear idea on what was going on but you were shown the key parts of their lives that shaped Marilia and Annuweth. I thought the battle sequences were also well written and easy to follow, which is something I sometimes struggle the most with when it comes to fantasy novels!
As you can see, I really enjoyed this novel! Whilst this novel does work well as a stand-alone, I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series as I really want to spend some more time with these characters! This book is currently free on kindle, so you have no excuse not to give this novel a read!
September 3, 2020
I do love a strong female protagonist in my fantasy novels and this novel definitely delivered on that front! Although fantasy novels are one of my preferred genres, I do have a bit of a complicated relationship with fantasy novels (which will have to be the subject of another post!). So, whilst I was drawn in by the description of this novel, I was also a little apprehensive. However, I quickly realised my worries were unfounded.
Marilia, The Warlord centres around the life of Marilia who is raised with her brother Annuweth in a ‘pillow house’, which is where they think they will spend the rest of their lives... Until their world is turned upside down. Now, in a foreign place with their newfound family, the siblings have to find their new places in this world. However, Marilia soon discovers that the place she sees for herself is not the same as what everyone else thinks is best for her.
Straight away I just loved Marilia. She was a brilliant protagonist and it was great seeing her grow up throughout the novel. The fact that she has a brother too allows you to see how they both develop and how unique their personalities are, which was a really nice touch with the book. I found myself getting angry on Marilia’s behalf when she was told that she couldn’t do certain things because she is a girl, regardless of whether she was better at something than her brother. However, despite Marilia being excellent with strategy and very sharp I enjoyed that you also saw her struggle with things. You’re reminded that she isn’t perfect and she is still young. In addition to Marilia, I think the rest of the characters were also well developed. I particularly liked Ben Espeleos and his family. Although, sometimes a character will disappear or not mentioned for a while which made them sometimes feel like an afterthought. However, this is the first in a trilogy so it is likely that they will come back in the other installments.
For the most part I think the pacing was really well done in the novel and you see the characters in each new setting long enough for them to really make an impression on you. I also liked how the novel didn’t just stick to one or two places as it gave a better idea of how big this world is, especially as this is the first novel set here. By having the novel in three parts the story felt very focused, not only did you have a clear idea on what was going on but you were shown the key parts of their lives that shaped Marilia and Annuweth. I thought the battle sequences were also well written and easy to follow, which is something I sometimes struggle the most with when it comes to fantasy novels!
As you can see, I really enjoyed this novel! Whilst this novel does work well as a stand-alone, I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series as I really want to spend some more time with these characters! This book is currently free on kindle, so you have no excuse not to give this novel a read!
Marilia, The Warlord centres around the life of Marilia who is raised with her brother Annuweth in a ‘pillow house’, which is where they think they will spend the rest of their lives... Until their world is turned upside down. Now, in a foreign place with their newfound family, the siblings have to find their new places in this world. However, Marilia soon discovers that the place she sees for herself is not the same as what everyone else thinks is best for her.
Straight away I just loved Marilia. She was a brilliant protagonist and it was great seeing her grow up throughout the novel. The fact that she has a brother too allows you to see how they both develop and how unique their personalities are, which was a really nice touch with the book. I found myself getting angry on Marilia’s behalf when she was told that she couldn’t do certain things because she is a girl, regardless of whether she was better at something than her brother. However, despite Marilia being excellent with strategy and very sharp I enjoyed that you also saw her struggle with things. You’re reminded that she isn’t perfect and she is still young. In addition to Marilia, I think the rest of the characters were also well developed. I particularly liked Ben Espeleos and his family. Although, sometimes a character will disappear or not mentioned for a while which made them sometimes feel like an afterthought. However, this is the first in a trilogy so it is likely that they will come back in the other installments.
For the most part I think the pacing was really well done in the novel and you see the characters in each new setting long enough for them to really make an impression on you. I also liked how the novel didn’t just stick to one or two places as it gave a better idea of how big this world is, especially as this is the first novel set here. By having the novel in three parts the story felt very focused, not only did you have a clear idea on what was going on but you were shown the key parts of their lives that shaped Marilia and Annuweth. I thought the battle sequences were also well written and easy to follow, which is something I sometimes struggle the most with when it comes to fantasy novels!
As you can see, I really enjoyed this novel! Whilst this novel does work well as a stand-alone, I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series as I really want to spend some more time with these characters! This book is currently free on kindle, so you have no excuse not to give this novel a read!
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