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The Fire Sacraments #2
Sidewinders
Two brothers flee an army of fanatics across a vast and magical desert in this white-knuckle sequel to Master Assassins from Robert V.S. Redick, author of The Red Wolf Conspiracy.
The worst of rivals, the closest of friends, the two most wanted men in a war-torn world: Kandri and Mektu Hinjuman have cheated death so often it’s begun to feel like a way of life. But nothing has prepared them for the danger and enchantment of the Ravenous Lands. This sprawling, lethal desert is the brothers’ last hope, for they have killed the favorite son of Her Radiance the Prophet, and her death-priests and magical servants are hunting them day and night.
But there are dangers even within their caravan. Some of their fellow travelers worship the Prophet in secret. Others, including Mektu, have become obsessed with a bejeweled dagger that seems to afflict its owners with madness or death.
At stake is far more than the lives of two runaway soldiers. Kandri is carrying an encoded cure for the World Plague, a disease that has raged for centuries—while far from the desert, certain criminals have learned just how lucrative a plague can be. Are they using the Prophet, or being used by her? Who, in this game of shadows, can Kandri trust?
He knows one thing, however: they must reach Kasralys, great and beautiful fortress-city of the east. Only there can the precious cure be deciphered. Only there can Kandri seek word of the lover who vanished one night without a trace.
But Kasralys, never conquered in 3,000 years, is about to face its greatest siege in history.
The worst of rivals, the closest of friends, the two most wanted men in a war-torn world: Kandri and Mektu Hinjuman have cheated death so often it’s begun to feel like a way of life. But nothing has prepared them for the danger and enchantment of the Ravenous Lands. This sprawling, lethal desert is the brothers’ last hope, for they have killed the favorite son of Her Radiance the Prophet, and her death-priests and magical servants are hunting them day and night.
But there are dangers even within their caravan. Some of their fellow travelers worship the Prophet in secret. Others, including Mektu, have become obsessed with a bejeweled dagger that seems to afflict its owners with madness or death.
At stake is far more than the lives of two runaway soldiers. Kandri is carrying an encoded cure for the World Plague, a disease that has raged for centuries—while far from the desert, certain criminals have learned just how lucrative a plague can be. Are they using the Prophet, or being used by her? Who, in this game of shadows, can Kandri trust?
He knows one thing, however: they must reach Kasralys, great and beautiful fortress-city of the east. Only there can the precious cure be deciphered. Only there can Kandri seek word of the lover who vanished one night without a trace.
But Kasralys, never conquered in 3,000 years, is about to face its greatest siege in history.
672 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2021
46 people are currently reading
2150 people want to read
About the author
Robert V.S. Redick
13 books746 followersRobert V.S. Redick is the author of Master Assassins and Sidewinders (July 2021), the first two novels in The Fire Sacraments epic fantasy series. Master Assassins (2018) was a finalist for the European Booknest Award for Best Novel, and was featured on numerous Best of the Year lists. Patrick Rothfuss said of it, "I like this book so much I wish I could have written it, but deep down I know I couldn't have written it so well."
Robert is also the author of the Chathrand Voyage Quartet (The Red Wolf Conspiracy and sequels), among the most beloved and critically acclaimed epic fantasy series of recent years. He is a former instructor in the Stonecoast and University of Nevada Reno MFA programs.
Redick is also an environmental justice consultant, and has lived and worked in Indonesia, Argentina, Colombia and many other countries. He and his partner, Dr. Kiran Asher, pick wild blueberries in Western Massachusetts.
Robert is also the author of the Chathrand Voyage Quartet (The Red Wolf Conspiracy and sequels), among the most beloved and critically acclaimed epic fantasy series of recent years. He is a former instructor in the Stonecoast and University of Nevada Reno MFA programs.
Redick is also an environmental justice consultant, and has lived and worked in Indonesia, Argentina, Colombia and many other countries. He and his partner, Dr. Kiran Asher, pick wild blueberries in Western Massachusetts.
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June 9, 2025
Book 1, Master Assassins, was one of the top 2 or 3 books I've read in the past decade, so this book had a LOT to live up to. And it did a fantastic job - I pity the next book I read having to struggle out of the shadow of this tome!
It was an immediate joy to be back with Redick's prose. He writes exactly how I'd like to, but does a significantly better job of it. His imagination and world-building are world class but it's with characters that he truly shines. The two brothers, our so-called assassins, continue to be under the microscope but there is a large cast of characters and two other points of view added to Kandri's own. Redick brings characters to life with deceptive ease and offers up a great variety, illuminating them with subtle skill through their interactions.
Sidewinders is several things. Front and centre it's the story of crossing a vast desert whilst being pursued by enemies. Not an endless trudge across dunes, but a highly varied and interesting and lethal desert. The caravan in which the two brother journey contains a mix of factions and no end of twistiness ensues. A desert crossing sounds as if it would have difficulty filling nearly 700 pages, but it barely fits between the covers. Moreover we get two windows onto the trouble into which they are heading at the end of their journey should they make it.
Redick manages to generate a wonderfully George-Martinesque sense of scale and complexity to his world without needing anything like the same page-space and number of point of view characters. And in this vastness his two brothers really do feel at once both specks of dust and the fulcrum on which the world may shift.
There's excitement, monsters both spine-chilling and intriguing, a real sense of danger, touches of humour, and a degree of hand to hand combat. What shone through to me was the feeling of realness running through the core characters - highly imperfect but infinitely human. The story by no means beats you over the head with any messages but it seemed to me to repeatedly show the value of kindness.
To my mind Master Assassins is a hugely under appreciated book. It's the way of the world that book 2s rarely change a series' fortunes, but this one really should. Redick has built something magnificent here and I'm very excited to see how it will all end.
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It was an immediate joy to be back with Redick's prose. He writes exactly how I'd like to, but does a significantly better job of it. His imagination and world-building are world class but it's with characters that he truly shines. The two brothers, our so-called assassins, continue to be under the microscope but there is a large cast of characters and two other points of view added to Kandri's own. Redick brings characters to life with deceptive ease and offers up a great variety, illuminating them with subtle skill through their interactions.
Sidewinders is several things. Front and centre it's the story of crossing a vast desert whilst being pursued by enemies. Not an endless trudge across dunes, but a highly varied and interesting and lethal desert. The caravan in which the two brother journey contains a mix of factions and no end of twistiness ensues. A desert crossing sounds as if it would have difficulty filling nearly 700 pages, but it barely fits between the covers. Moreover we get two windows onto the trouble into which they are heading at the end of their journey should they make it.
Redick manages to generate a wonderfully George-Martinesque sense of scale and complexity to his world without needing anything like the same page-space and number of point of view characters. And in this vastness his two brothers really do feel at once both specks of dust and the fulcrum on which the world may shift.
There's excitement, monsters both spine-chilling and intriguing, a real sense of danger, touches of humour, and a degree of hand to hand combat. What shone through to me was the feeling of realness running through the core characters - highly imperfect but infinitely human. The story by no means beats you over the head with any messages but it seemed to me to repeatedly show the value of kindness.
To my mind Master Assassins is a hugely under appreciated book. It's the way of the world that book 2s rarely change a series' fortunes, but this one really should. Redick has built something magnificent here and I'm very excited to see how it will all end.
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Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
August 8, 2021
I'm so glad this book is finally out!
It's a huge hulking sequel to a big book, and it's quite uneven in parts. There's a note at the start that this book should be able to stand on its own for new readers, but I disagree. I think you really need the first book to understand enough. Here's why:
There are too many characters in most scenes, and I kept losing track of who was around or why. Huge twists are spoiled in odd throwaway scenes, so that when we later get to the twist, it just seems like a recap. I didn't feel very close to any of the pov characters. A few of them were invented for specific scenes, only to vanish. I kept wondering what this book would look like with a much tighter focus on Kandri, instead of branching off across the world into political intrigue that mostly felt like a set for the next book.
But it did something right because dang if I didn't keep reading! There are some good monsters and threats. There's some fascinating thing going on with the moon. A few of the landscape descriptions made me pause in appreciation and go back to read them again. I'm intrigued by the mysteries of the yatras and the outworlders and the huge larger world of the book.
A quick word on the covid connections: the description of this book made me worried this would be too focused on the plague situation. I can't handle any plague/covid/sicklit right now. I am happy to report that while the plague is referenced a lot and is an important part of the world, it stays distant and didn't trigger me at all. So if you're worried like I was, be assured that it's okay to read this.
I hope we get the next book soon!
It's a huge hulking sequel to a big book, and it's quite uneven in parts. There's a note at the start that this book should be able to stand on its own for new readers, but I disagree. I think you really need the first book to understand enough. Here's why:
There are too many characters in most scenes, and I kept losing track of who was around or why. Huge twists are spoiled in odd throwaway scenes, so that when we later get to the twist, it just seems like a recap. I didn't feel very close to any of the pov characters. A few of them were invented for specific scenes, only to vanish. I kept wondering what this book would look like with a much tighter focus on Kandri, instead of branching off across the world into political intrigue that mostly felt like a set for the next book.
But it did something right because dang if I didn't keep reading! There are some good monsters and threats. There's some fascinating thing going on with the moon. A few of the landscape descriptions made me pause in appreciation and go back to read them again. I'm intrigued by the mysteries of the yatras and the outworlders and the huge larger world of the book.
A quick word on the covid connections: the description of this book made me worried this would be too focused on the plague situation. I can't handle any plague/covid/sicklit right now. I am happy to report that while the plague is referenced a lot and is an important part of the world, it stays distant and didn't trigger me at all. So if you're worried like I was, be assured that it's okay to read this.
I hope we get the next book soon!
June 28, 2021
Oh my god, what an unbelievable sequel. If you guys still haven't tried out the Fire Sacraments Trilogy, you really need to (starting with Master Assassins, the first book!). The characters, the world, the plot–everything is so well done and incredibly developed and it just makes me want more constantly. I am already wanting to re-read this book because it needs much more time to digest and be appreciated.
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
I read Master Assassins, the first book in the Fire Sacraments trilogy, as an eARC from NetGalley back in 2018 and I immediately fell in love with Redick’s prose, characters, setting–pretty much everything about that book. It has remained one of my favorite books and I’d been counting down the days until we got the sequel, Sidewinders, ever since I put it down. I didn’t mind that wait at all because the end result was even better than I could have imagined. As a quick note, this review will not contain spoilers for Sidewinders, and I will do my best to stay away from major spoilers from Master Assassins, but since this is a review for the sequel, there will probably be minor spoilers for Master Assassins.
Sidewinders picks up pretty much right where we left in Master Assassins with our two beloved brothers making their way through the death-filled desert of Urrath on their journey to Kasralys to deliver a potentially world-altering document. Of course, this trip is nearly constantly beset by hordes of various entities wanting to kill them and it takes a level of determination and bravery (or perhaps simply desperation, if we're being honest) that I can hardly fathom for them to continue on with their journey.
The Fire Sacraments trilogy has plot bursting from its seems, as well as plenty of action and world-building to accompany, but it remains an incredibly character driven story. All of the characters shine so much in their own unique ways and it’s the smallest mannerisms and behavioral traits that really bring them to life. These characters are all very flawed as well, and I love that Redick really seems to call attention to that. For instance, the men are rather problematic at times in how they treat women, something that Redick has discussed before, and within the story those actions are challenged, especially actions that have been ingrained as firm notions in their heads regarding many of their previously held perceptions and ideas. Redick also works with these ideas in regards to how characters interact with those different from themselves and the world around them.
We once again follow a main POV from Kandri, and he remains a character that I find endlessly compelling. Kandri is the more stable of the two brothers and is technically the one I’d consider more logical and, well, not so crazy (although that could definitely be up for debate at more than a few moments). He is relatable in ways both positive and negative, the former because we can see where his struggles and motivations come from and are able to understand those, but also bad because of some less positive actions he undertakes or ways in which he treats his brother at times, and I think those are some darker elements we can all see in ourselves when we are feeling desperate and at our wit’s end. The way Redick conveys Kandri's emotion was so visceral, as well–I could feel his exasperation with his brother, Mektu, his deep, raw, unexplainable terror at the sheer thought and sight of the white child following him, and I could feel his sense of complete and utter despair at what to do at times and knowing that his options for survival were so limited and brutal.
Then there’s Mektu, who remains the same enigmatic, annoying, and frustratingly compelling figure that he was in Master Assassins. He is, at times, reprehensible, repugnant, bull-(and thick-)headed, always saying the exact wrong things.. but there’s also something about him that invokes a sense of.. compassion, perhaps? There are times when I want to reach through these pages and strangle him, but there are also times when he does something insanely genius and I want to hug him or regard him with a bit more respect than I previously did (before he does something stupid to make me regret that feeling). I am not sure exactly where or how Redick is going to conclude Mektu’s story or in what capacity it will take place, but I am helplessly invested in it and can’t wait to find out.
In addition to Kandri and Mektu, we are joined by a stunning cast of characters that add so much flavor and depth to this world. There’s Chindilan, my favorite uncle, Eshett, Talupeke, the elusive memory of Ariquina, and a ton of new characters that we meet as Kandri and Mektu join a new caravan to get through the desert, which is also often joined or interrupted by a variety of new and interesting characters. And because we have so many different groups interacting with the caravan and elsewhere, we get interesting dynamics across the characters and groups. Some may hate each other and want to kill each other, some hate and tolerate, some don’t care at all, etc., but the common thread is that everyone is simply unfailingly human–that, and the ever-present feeling that you can’t really trust anyone in this book to do what you might expect.
Outside of the characters, this book also opens up the world in a large way, one of which being an introduction to new POV characters, one featuring someone in Kasralys itself, preparing for an imminent invasion of the city. The second POV is from a retired general who is the one preparing to invade Kasralys. I loved these two new perspectives for a variety of reasons, the largest one being that it opened the world and allowed us to catch a glimpse of what life is like for those outside of Kandri and Mektu’s experiences. The other reason I appreciated these two character POVs in particular is because it allowed us to see both sides of a brewing conflict and understand what exactly may be happening and why, and also to make us feel more unsure about how to feel about everything. I loved the way that Redick incorporated these two new perspectives so seamlessly, as I felt a little unsure at first about being dragged away from Kandri’s narrative, but soon found myself enjoying these new chapters and the insights and expanded world-building that they brought.
Redick maintains the use of a very literary fantasy style, which, outside of the plot, characters, etc., is what I find the most captivating thing about these books. The writing is beautiful and effortless, providing plenty of description and narrative about what’s happening, but also withholding just enough so as not to overwhelm and to set up a framework that allows for the reader to make their own thoughts and explore the world and story in their own way. Redick utilizes plenty of classic tropes, but in such a way that I almost don’t recognize them at first or where they're played with in such a unique way that they are fresh and exciting.
He also employs plenty of dry humor and irony, both of which are things that I think have really cemented my personal ties to this book; when things are horrible and times are difficult, it’s sometimes the most morbid thoughts or words that bring this weird relief int he sense that this is still our life and we are in this together, even though we may have gut-churning anxiety or dread at what is happening around us and what may be to come. Does that make sense? Similarly, some of the things that Mektu does are absolutely absurd and truly not at all funny...but they still sometimes act as this sort of weird comic relief in a comic horror sense where all the characters know he’s awful, but they (and us readers!) can connect over that and just think, “ah, yes, that’s Mektu for you,” and continue on.
Much of Sidewinders continues the seemingly endless desert travel as in Master Assassins, but if you think traveling in a desert sounds boring, trust me when I say that there’s plenty of action going on in this desert to keep you busy. Desert settings are some of my favorite, so I appreciated that we got to spend more time on this journey, especially since we got to see so many more new lands and people to continue expanding the world. I think one of my favorite components of a kind is how the desert and the caravan act as two singular forces, where the desert is the overarching enemy that everyone must battle and make it through, regardless of their means or motivation, and the caravan itself carries many people from different walks of life that don’t always share the same viewpoints or motivations, which naturally leads to distrust, discord, and a lot of unpredictable actions.
This desert is honestly just like a huge sandbox of horror with horrifying creatures and hostile enemies that seem to be waiting for our characters at every corner. I find myself constantly struggling to see how the characters will navigate some of the most dangerous or terrifying obstacles and horrible things that come across them, but Redick writes and plots in such a masterful way that I don’t know why I ever worry or try to figure things out myself. The twists are endless, but done so in a way that feels purposeful for the plot and not just included for some shock value, and I really love being able to read a book and genuinely be unsure about what’s next–there’s just something really exciting and comforting and terrifying about that, and I love it.
The war themes that I mentioned being present in Master Assassins are also present in this book, as well as so many more. I think Sidewinders really added to the established themes and focused in on ideas of sanity and insanity and mental health in some forms, such as being unsure if you can really trust your own mind or the minds of others, and this fit so well with the general theme and nature of this book.
As I've mentioned, the world and plot of the Fire Sacraments trilogy continues to expand in Sidewinders in momentous ways that I could never have predicted. You might think you might have an idea of what the plot is or where it’s going, but no, trust me: you don’t. There’s always more to this world and these characters, as well as side journeys and obstacle that pop up and change the course in irreversible ways. You will want to speed through this and keep turning the pages, but this book is full of so much nuance and careful writing that you can’t really speed through it; it requires thought and a need to savor the story and prose. But rest assured, this is not a hard book to read and you’ll finish it before you know it (and then be sad that it’s over).
Overall, I probably don't need to say this, but I've given Sidewinders a well-deserved 5+++ stars. I cannot wait for the final book in the trilogy, but I am also sad to think that it will be over so I'll sit and wait patiently for as long as needed because I know that it will be an incredible ending. I already want to re-read Sidewinders so I can soak everything up more.
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
I read Master Assassins, the first book in the Fire Sacraments trilogy, as an eARC from NetGalley back in 2018 and I immediately fell in love with Redick’s prose, characters, setting–pretty much everything about that book. It has remained one of my favorite books and I’d been counting down the days until we got the sequel, Sidewinders, ever since I put it down. I didn’t mind that wait at all because the end result was even better than I could have imagined. As a quick note, this review will not contain spoilers for Sidewinders, and I will do my best to stay away from major spoilers from Master Assassins, but since this is a review for the sequel, there will probably be minor spoilers for Master Assassins.
Sidewinders picks up pretty much right where we left in Master Assassins with our two beloved brothers making their way through the death-filled desert of Urrath on their journey to Kasralys to deliver a potentially world-altering document. Of course, this trip is nearly constantly beset by hordes of various entities wanting to kill them and it takes a level of determination and bravery (or perhaps simply desperation, if we're being honest) that I can hardly fathom for them to continue on with their journey.
The Fire Sacraments trilogy has plot bursting from its seems, as well as plenty of action and world-building to accompany, but it remains an incredibly character driven story. All of the characters shine so much in their own unique ways and it’s the smallest mannerisms and behavioral traits that really bring them to life. These characters are all very flawed as well, and I love that Redick really seems to call attention to that. For instance, the men are rather problematic at times in how they treat women, something that Redick has discussed before, and within the story those actions are challenged, especially actions that have been ingrained as firm notions in their heads regarding many of their previously held perceptions and ideas. Redick also works with these ideas in regards to how characters interact with those different from themselves and the world around them.
We once again follow a main POV from Kandri, and he remains a character that I find endlessly compelling. Kandri is the more stable of the two brothers and is technically the one I’d consider more logical and, well, not so crazy (although that could definitely be up for debate at more than a few moments). He is relatable in ways both positive and negative, the former because we can see where his struggles and motivations come from and are able to understand those, but also bad because of some less positive actions he undertakes or ways in which he treats his brother at times, and I think those are some darker elements we can all see in ourselves when we are feeling desperate and at our wit’s end. The way Redick conveys Kandri's emotion was so visceral, as well–I could feel his exasperation with his brother, Mektu, his deep, raw, unexplainable terror at the sheer thought and sight of the white child following him, and I could feel his sense of complete and utter despair at what to do at times and knowing that his options for survival were so limited and brutal.
Then there’s Mektu, who remains the same enigmatic, annoying, and frustratingly compelling figure that he was in Master Assassins. He is, at times, reprehensible, repugnant, bull-(and thick-)headed, always saying the exact wrong things.. but there’s also something about him that invokes a sense of.. compassion, perhaps? There are times when I want to reach through these pages and strangle him, but there are also times when he does something insanely genius and I want to hug him or regard him with a bit more respect than I previously did (before he does something stupid to make me regret that feeling). I am not sure exactly where or how Redick is going to conclude Mektu’s story or in what capacity it will take place, but I am helplessly invested in it and can’t wait to find out.
In addition to Kandri and Mektu, we are joined by a stunning cast of characters that add so much flavor and depth to this world. There’s Chindilan, my favorite uncle, Eshett, Talupeke, the elusive memory of Ariquina, and a ton of new characters that we meet as Kandri and Mektu join a new caravan to get through the desert, which is also often joined or interrupted by a variety of new and interesting characters. And because we have so many different groups interacting with the caravan and elsewhere, we get interesting dynamics across the characters and groups. Some may hate each other and want to kill each other, some hate and tolerate, some don’t care at all, etc., but the common thread is that everyone is simply unfailingly human–that, and the ever-present feeling that you can’t really trust anyone in this book to do what you might expect.
Outside of the characters, this book also opens up the world in a large way, one of which being an introduction to new POV characters, one featuring someone in Kasralys itself, preparing for an imminent invasion of the city. The second POV is from a retired general who is the one preparing to invade Kasralys. I loved these two new perspectives for a variety of reasons, the largest one being that it opened the world and allowed us to catch a glimpse of what life is like for those outside of Kandri and Mektu’s experiences. The other reason I appreciated these two character POVs in particular is because it allowed us to see both sides of a brewing conflict and understand what exactly may be happening and why, and also to make us feel more unsure about how to feel about everything. I loved the way that Redick incorporated these two new perspectives so seamlessly, as I felt a little unsure at first about being dragged away from Kandri’s narrative, but soon found myself enjoying these new chapters and the insights and expanded world-building that they brought.
Redick maintains the use of a very literary fantasy style, which, outside of the plot, characters, etc., is what I find the most captivating thing about these books. The writing is beautiful and effortless, providing plenty of description and narrative about what’s happening, but also withholding just enough so as not to overwhelm and to set up a framework that allows for the reader to make their own thoughts and explore the world and story in their own way. Redick utilizes plenty of classic tropes, but in such a way that I almost don’t recognize them at first or where they're played with in such a unique way that they are fresh and exciting.
He also employs plenty of dry humor and irony, both of which are things that I think have really cemented my personal ties to this book; when things are horrible and times are difficult, it’s sometimes the most morbid thoughts or words that bring this weird relief int he sense that this is still our life and we are in this together, even though we may have gut-churning anxiety or dread at what is happening around us and what may be to come. Does that make sense? Similarly, some of the things that Mektu does are absolutely absurd and truly not at all funny...but they still sometimes act as this sort of weird comic relief in a comic horror sense where all the characters know he’s awful, but they (and us readers!) can connect over that and just think, “ah, yes, that’s Mektu for you,” and continue on.
Much of Sidewinders continues the seemingly endless desert travel as in Master Assassins, but if you think traveling in a desert sounds boring, trust me when I say that there’s plenty of action going on in this desert to keep you busy. Desert settings are some of my favorite, so I appreciated that we got to spend more time on this journey, especially since we got to see so many more new lands and people to continue expanding the world. I think one of my favorite components of a kind is how the desert and the caravan act as two singular forces, where the desert is the overarching enemy that everyone must battle and make it through, regardless of their means or motivation, and the caravan itself carries many people from different walks of life that don’t always share the same viewpoints or motivations, which naturally leads to distrust, discord, and a lot of unpredictable actions.
This desert is honestly just like a huge sandbox of horror with horrifying creatures and hostile enemies that seem to be waiting for our characters at every corner. I find myself constantly struggling to see how the characters will navigate some of the most dangerous or terrifying obstacles and horrible things that come across them, but Redick writes and plots in such a masterful way that I don’t know why I ever worry or try to figure things out myself. The twists are endless, but done so in a way that feels purposeful for the plot and not just included for some shock value, and I really love being able to read a book and genuinely be unsure about what’s next–there’s just something really exciting and comforting and terrifying about that, and I love it.
The war themes that I mentioned being present in Master Assassins are also present in this book, as well as so many more. I think Sidewinders really added to the established themes and focused in on ideas of sanity and insanity and mental health in some forms, such as being unsure if you can really trust your own mind or the minds of others, and this fit so well with the general theme and nature of this book.
As I've mentioned, the world and plot of the Fire Sacraments trilogy continues to expand in Sidewinders in momentous ways that I could never have predicted. You might think you might have an idea of what the plot is or where it’s going, but no, trust me: you don’t. There’s always more to this world and these characters, as well as side journeys and obstacle that pop up and change the course in irreversible ways. You will want to speed through this and keep turning the pages, but this book is full of so much nuance and careful writing that you can’t really speed through it; it requires thought and a need to savor the story and prose. But rest assured, this is not a hard book to read and you’ll finish it before you know it (and then be sad that it’s over).
Overall, I probably don't need to say this, but I've given Sidewinders a well-deserved 5+++ stars. I cannot wait for the final book in the trilogy, but I am also sad to think that it will be over so I'll sit and wait patiently for as long as needed because I know that it will be an incredible ending. I already want to re-read Sidewinders so I can soak everything up more.
October 29, 2021
One of the books I had high expectations of this year and it easily fulfilled them. The continuation of the excellent Master Assassins, this being #2 in the trilogy.
It’s an excellent epic fantasy adventure. The two brothers, the accidental assassins, remain the core of the story and a perilous journey is the central thread of the plot here. The journey is a mix of wonders and horrors, as they flee the mad Prophet and her army and try to bring a critical secret to a past acquaintance. This love-hate sibling relationship was a big feature of #1 and is here too; Mektu often frustrates so much with his impulsive, maddening behaviour but Kandri too has his dark secrets despite his sensible facade. The company in which they travel also contains some excellent characters, a good cross section of this continent in turmoil. I quite liked that a ‘demon’ possessing a character gets some short ‘interludes’ of his own! Light touch, but important, magical/supernatural occurrences. A poignant section on life as a refugee.
In this volume we’re also introduced to some new characters, across the other side of the continent, particularly an ageing general turned almost pacifist after a distinguished career, and a clever chancellor unaware of dramatic impending events. Plus a couple of really nasty bits of work linked to the general. The brothers still dominate the storyline but the new characters allow us to see that the problems in this continent are not confined to the brothers homeland.
I had one problem though, not related to the plot and it’s my most regular issue with almost all fantasy series, and that’s whether there’s enough of a summary of the story from previous volumes. There is a paragraph in the introduction which is useful but not enough for me. This is a very rich world and I kept bumping into mentions of past events or characters introduced in #1 that I’d just forgotten. The author is excellent at reintroducing them without using a crude ‘info dump’ approach but all the same I somehow couldn’t stop thinking ‘s**t, another thing I’ve forgotten’ in the three years since I read #1.
Spoiler, to be avoided if you’ve not read volume 1 but maybe an aide memoire if you have
I’m afraid that when one reads 170 or more other books between volumes in a series then these details from earlier volumes can often be forgotten, and I couldn’t easily find an online summary to remind me, though some online ‘spoiler rich’ reviews of #1 which I consulted early on did help. With the current Abercrombie series, for example, I found a detailed summary of a preceding volume on his website - though again I’d question ‘why not in his book’?!
But with that rant relevant to virtually all fantasy series aired then I’d highly commend this series. Better characterisations than you’ll find in most modern epic fantasy, very good story telling technique, simply done (virtually no timeline jumping here!). Traditional epic in many ways but with a really rich fantasy world and fine characters. Five stars for all this.
An excellent holiday read, but just find a brief refresher for the plot in the preceding volume…
It’s an excellent epic fantasy adventure. The two brothers, the accidental assassins, remain the core of the story and a perilous journey is the central thread of the plot here. The journey is a mix of wonders and horrors, as they flee the mad Prophet and her army and try to bring a critical secret to a past acquaintance. This love-hate sibling relationship was a big feature of #1 and is here too; Mektu often frustrates so much with his impulsive, maddening behaviour but Kandri too has his dark secrets despite his sensible facade. The company in which they travel also contains some excellent characters, a good cross section of this continent in turmoil. I quite liked that a ‘demon’ possessing a character gets some short ‘interludes’ of his own! Light touch, but important, magical/supernatural occurrences. A poignant section on life as a refugee.
In this volume we’re also introduced to some new characters, across the other side of the continent, particularly an ageing general turned almost pacifist after a distinguished career, and a clever chancellor unaware of dramatic impending events. Plus a couple of really nasty bits of work linked to the general. The brothers still dominate the storyline but the new characters allow us to see that the problems in this continent are not confined to the brothers homeland.
I had one problem though, not related to the plot and it’s my most regular issue with almost all fantasy series, and that’s whether there’s enough of a summary of the story from previous volumes. There is a paragraph in the introduction which is useful but not enough for me. This is a very rich world and I kept bumping into mentions of past events or characters introduced in #1 that I’d just forgotten. The author is excellent at reintroducing them without using a crude ‘info dump’ approach but all the same I somehow couldn’t stop thinking ‘s**t, another thing I’ve forgotten’ in the three years since I read #1.
Spoiler, to be avoided if you’ve not read volume 1 but maybe an aide memoire if you have
I’m afraid that when one reads 170 or more other books between volumes in a series then these details from earlier volumes can often be forgotten, and I couldn’t easily find an online summary to remind me, though some online ‘spoiler rich’ reviews of #1 which I consulted early on did help. With the current Abercrombie series, for example, I found a detailed summary of a preceding volume on his website - though again I’d question ‘why not in his book’?!
But with that rant relevant to virtually all fantasy series aired then I’d highly commend this series. Better characterisations than you’ll find in most modern epic fantasy, very good story telling technique, simply done (virtually no timeline jumping here!). Traditional epic in many ways but with a really rich fantasy world and fine characters. Five stars for all this.
An excellent holiday read, but just find a brief refresher for the plot in the preceding volume…
May 4, 2021
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Sidewinders is the highly anticipated sequel in the Fire Sacrament series. This novel has been at the top of my TBR for the past 3 years as Robert V.S Redick has led my every roaming imagination astray. The author has a way of drawing you in with his words and you are left in awe at the lore, worldbuilding, and infinite possibilities to come. Sidewinders is a triumph in every single way to its predecessor and one of the riches worlds you can find in the fantasy genre today. This will be a spoiler free review but I will be touching upon events from book 1.
Revisiting the desert lands of Urrath is the equivalent of rediscovering a long lost passion. You remember the basics and know how to get started with the realization that there is so much more to discover. Our two main protagonist of Mektu and Kandri are still on the run from the Prophets death-priest after Kandri caused the death of her favorite son. They have joined a caravan destined for the holy city of Kasralys, where Kandri must deliver his encoded message containing a cure for the plague. Also in Kasralys is Kandri’s long lost love from his childhood and the factions around Urrath are looking for any possible advantage . The Prophet has spies everywhere in Urrath, including the caravan Mektu and Kandri have joined. No one can be trusted especially Mektu who seems to have been infected by the demonic Yatra and the lives of the brothers rests on the edge of a jeweled blade.
Along with the brothers, we get to revisit similar characters from the previous novel including: Eshett the prostitute, Talupeke the warrior, and uncle Chindilan the blacksmith. If you remember from book 1, the story was told from the perspective of Kandri both in the present and past. In Sidewinders, we are introduced to multiple POV perspectives all in different parts of the world and it was a welcome addition to the character list. We get a perspective from the city of Kasralys and how they are preparing for an invasion for outside forces. We get another perspective from a retired general on the invading forces side and why they wish to conquer the fortified city. Finally, we get a first hand look into the workings of the Prophets camp and we see her ultimate desires. Not only for revenge against the two brothers but also for her plans regarding the rest of the continent. Each chapter is a different layer of brick that just keeps building and growing in size and wonder. The implications continue to evolve and change the further along you get into the story. Your perspective will completely change upon reading the final chapter, leaving you wanting the finale to quench your ever wanting thirst for answers. One final fun tidbit is the introduction interlude sections in multiple chapters and they are a amazing to read from a character you will never expect!
Sidewinders is a slow-burn, epic worldbuilding type of novel that you must take your time to enjoy like a glass of fine wine. The writing style is descriptive and beautiful without being overly complex. You will feel lost in its wonder. For those worried about not remembering much about Master Assassins’ need not worry in the least. The first few chapters are riddled with paragraphs describing past events and I was caught up in no time. Once you get caught in the weeds of Sidewinders, Robert V.S Redick will not let you up for a breath until the end.
I would say that you may need to be in the mood for a slower book like this and if you are looking for intense action in every chapter, then this book won’t be for you. The characters will shine and grow if you can take you time to see your investment come to fruition. I can’t recommend this series enough and for those whom have never read a book by the talented Robert V.S Redick, you are missing out on something truly special. Don’t just take my word for it and find out for yourselves.
Cheers!
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Sidewinders is the highly anticipated sequel in the Fire Sacrament series. This novel has been at the top of my TBR for the past 3 years as Robert V.S Redick has led my every roaming imagination astray. The author has a way of drawing you in with his words and you are left in awe at the lore, worldbuilding, and infinite possibilities to come. Sidewinders is a triumph in every single way to its predecessor and one of the riches worlds you can find in the fantasy genre today. This will be a spoiler free review but I will be touching upon events from book 1.
Revisiting the desert lands of Urrath is the equivalent of rediscovering a long lost passion. You remember the basics and know how to get started with the realization that there is so much more to discover. Our two main protagonist of Mektu and Kandri are still on the run from the Prophets death-priest after Kandri caused the death of her favorite son. They have joined a caravan destined for the holy city of Kasralys, where Kandri must deliver his encoded message containing a cure for the plague. Also in Kasralys is Kandri’s long lost love from his childhood and the factions around Urrath are looking for any possible advantage . The Prophet has spies everywhere in Urrath, including the caravan Mektu and Kandri have joined. No one can be trusted especially Mektu who seems to have been infected by the demonic Yatra and the lives of the brothers rests on the edge of a jeweled blade.
Along with the brothers, we get to revisit similar characters from the previous novel including: Eshett the prostitute, Talupeke the warrior, and uncle Chindilan the blacksmith. If you remember from book 1, the story was told from the perspective of Kandri both in the present and past. In Sidewinders, we are introduced to multiple POV perspectives all in different parts of the world and it was a welcome addition to the character list. We get a perspective from the city of Kasralys and how they are preparing for an invasion for outside forces. We get another perspective from a retired general on the invading forces side and why they wish to conquer the fortified city. Finally, we get a first hand look into the workings of the Prophets camp and we see her ultimate desires. Not only for revenge against the two brothers but also for her plans regarding the rest of the continent. Each chapter is a different layer of brick that just keeps building and growing in size and wonder. The implications continue to evolve and change the further along you get into the story. Your perspective will completely change upon reading the final chapter, leaving you wanting the finale to quench your ever wanting thirst for answers. One final fun tidbit is the introduction interlude sections in multiple chapters and they are a amazing to read from a character you will never expect!
Sidewinders is a slow-burn, epic worldbuilding type of novel that you must take your time to enjoy like a glass of fine wine. The writing style is descriptive and beautiful without being overly complex. You will feel lost in its wonder. For those worried about not remembering much about Master Assassins’ need not worry in the least. The first few chapters are riddled with paragraphs describing past events and I was caught up in no time. Once you get caught in the weeds of Sidewinders, Robert V.S Redick will not let you up for a breath until the end.
I would say that you may need to be in the mood for a slower book like this and if you are looking for intense action in every chapter, then this book won’t be for you. The characters will shine and grow if you can take you time to see your investment come to fruition. I can’t recommend this series enough and for those whom have never read a book by the talented Robert V.S Redick, you are missing out on something truly special. Don’t just take my word for it and find out for yourselves.
Cheers!
March 20, 2022
“Don’t waste water,” she said. “Keep your hands off things you’re ignorant about. Then you might live to see something beautiful. Out here there’s nine hundred kinds of death for every fool who thinks he can make the crossing. You people call these the Ravenous Lands. That’s the one things about them you get right.”
The Sumuridath Jal, the Ravenous Lands, cover more than half of the continent of Urrath, but even this deadly ground may not be enough to hide brothers Kandri and Mektu Hinjuman from the wrath of the Prophet. The young men have been on the run since the beginning of the first volume in the series, when they accidentally/on purpose kill one of the Prophet’s sons. No one in the army could believe they are simply a couple of grunts who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, so they are now infamously known all over Urrath as Master Assassins hired by the Prophet’s enemies, to be killed on sight by anyone who wants to avoid the Prophet’s wrath. In desperation, Kandri and Mektu join a rare caravan that attempts to cross the entire Sumuridath Jal, but they have stirred a rattlesnake nest in the first book and many more secret agents are planning to make sure they never reach their destination than the brothers are aware of.
Neither Kandri nor his brother nor their Uncle Chindilan could ever go home. They could only run, evading as many of the Prophet’s servants as they could and killing the rest. The desert in its soul-swallowing vastness might yet save them, if they could lose their pursuers here, and emerge alive on its far shores.
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I liked this second volume of the Fire Sacraments series even better that the first book. The author tried to make each episode self-contained, a sort of stand-alone within a larger story-arc, and in this he is decidedly successful, given my vague recollection of events from “Master Assassins” . The desert setting is responsible for much of my enthusiasm, since this second book is basically a journey across some of the deadliest environments in any fantasy novel. The elements and the wildlife are as dangerous to the fellowship as the humans and demons who chase after the brothers Hinjuman.
While the series is action oriented and filled with adrenaline rush inducing battles, I must emphasize the fine balance the author manages to achieve between character development, world-building and plot complexity. There’s even space for a bit of humour to relieve the tension.
As characters go, most of the story is told from the perspective of Kandri, the brother I assigned to the role of Paladin in the economy of the series. Kandri is righteous and tries his best to do the honourable thing for others: he carries an important letter that might contain the cure for the deadly Plague that has led to the quarantine of the whole continent of Urrath from the Outer World Kingdoms. He tries to get back to his village sweetheart, now a medic in the town of Kasralys, on the other side of Sumuridath Jal. Most of all, Kandri tries to protect his brother Mektu from the consequences of a hot-headed rashness and a selfish nature.
Yes, he is often savage, childish, crude. But sometimes he is inspired, and the source of that inspiration is part of the great and beautiful mystery that draws me to human beings. Your Ariqina would call it the ‘spark’. All Urrath knows it as the Sacrament, the cup filled at the Well of Fire, the drink that should mean death but instead means vision, transcendence, change. All these glories may be found in noxious Mektu. Nor should they ever be denied.
Mektu is without a doubt a foolish young man who constantly gets in trouble and has an apettite for far-flung conspiracy theories, not to mention jealousy at his brother’s success with women. Most of the Hinjuman troubles can be traced back to one injurious word or one thoughtless action by Mektu, yet even a fool may be right on occasion. Somebody is definitely out to kill the brothers, no matter the costs.
The world-building, mostly desert emptiness with the occasional fill-in chapter in the city of Kasralys or in the kingdom of Sholupur, is memorable, to say the least. Mr. Reddick is the closest I have come to the sense of wonder and the thrill of exploration from the current generation of fantasy writers that first attracted me to the genre with the epics of J R R Tolkien, Robert Jordan or Tad Williams. Adrian Tchaikovsky and Brandon Sanderson may be as entertaining and as fast-paced, but there is something special for me in the way mr. Reddick fills his Sumuridath Jal with fantastic beasts, ancient ruins of monumental proportions and mysterious supernatural elementals.
Regarding plot: the first book was straightforward – a chase for survival against deadly enemies. The times of darkness are announced not only by the arrival of the rogue satellite that will cause earthquakes and hurricanes and madness, but also by the rise of the Prophet – a woman originating from the same village as the Hinjuman boys who leads an army of fanatics against the neighbouring nations.
The stakes of the game are raised now with a complex political game that brings in on the chessboard the former empire that controlled Urrath and is nor reduced to the mountain fortress of their capital city Kasralys and the rising nation of Sholupur who plans its own revenge against Kasrajis.
“You slip through death’s buttery fingers, every blessed time. The pit, the Wasp, the Rasanga. You’re like a pair of Gods-damned sidewinder rattlers, that’s what you are. You should have died when the heavens flung fire down on us.
The title of the novel is easily explained by this exclamation from the caravan’s master, himself surprised by the brothers ability to survive impossible odds. Yet there are more fast, slippery, impossible to catch bastards in Uratth than meet the eye. One of them is nicknamed Eyelash Thruko, a secret agent who has been spotted both in the army camp of the Prophet, in the magnificent if decadent palace of Kasralys and in the dungeons for political prisoners of Sholupur. This man has his own secret agenda, and may be the deadliest rattlesnake of all.
I’ve said before, regarding speculative fiction, that the more we talk about fantastic kingdoms or far out planets, the more we try to reflect on current issues and on trends from a global perspective. The Fire Sacraments is centered on a pandemic, a killing illness that originates in Urrath but is less virulent there than in the Outer Kingdoms. These Kingdoms enforce a total quarantine on Urrath and permit only a small number of doctors to visit in order to study the Plague. The chase after the brothers Hinjuman may have more to do with the Plague that with the anger of the Prophet, which is itself hard to ignore or dismiss. This assertion of mine of the relationship between the real and the imaginary worlds is better expressed in the author’s own words.
Like Urrath our own world is plague-ridden, and the deadliest of these plagues are racism, prejudice, and belligerent nationalism. This book is dedicated to those who reach across borders, who cut fences and clasp hands, undeterred by the fanatics and the fearful.
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Without a host, we yatras are corks on the psychic seas. For a matter of seconds, perhaps a minute at most, we can fight the current, hold our position, paddle furiously in place. And then exhaustion claims us, and we drift. Months, years may pass before we wash into the harbor of another soul.
I haven’t said much about the use of magic and prophecy in the series, something of a staple in most fantasy epics. From this perspective, ‘The Fire Sacraments’ belongs in the low intensity magic systems, where human skill and human free-will trump finger-snapping firebolts. There is a supernatural angle, but is is more subtly deployed than the usual heavy-handed presence of world-shaterring spells. The expected cataclysm has an astronomical explanation.
The ‘yatras’ are bodyless entities of chaos that should be immediately familiar to readers of Lois McMaster Bujold’s “Land of Five Gods” series. They can inhabit a human host or a magic jewel that is cursed or enchanted to imprison such a demon. A yatra may be benevolent towards its human host or malefic. Mektu Hinjuman has been long suspected to play host to such a yatra, as is the bejewelled dagger that he has stolen from the Prophet.
Free-will is an even more interesting proposition, one that flies against the majority of fantasy epics, who rely too much in my opinion on prophecy and predestination. Mektu and Kandri and their company will eventually survive the crossing of the Ravenous Lands by luck and the skin of their teeth, not because some fickle God has decided to play with His toys a little longer.
Happenstance, indeed. Why should that thought make you bitter, when the world contains all life’s mystery and possibility and promise, along with its fragility, its doom? Could you live with the alternative – with inescapable purpose, a role you had no choice but to perform? Of course not. You’d howl. You’d chafe at that bit until your gums bled, and if you found no way to spit it out, you’d run mad. All the same you lament, rend your hair and clothes, cry out to the Gods in indignation at your wondrous mortal freedom. It is one of the strangest qualities of the human mind, this hunger for a play script, this craving for a Master Plan.
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All of these observations add up to a lot of elements that come right in the story, and that is without adding into the equation the polished and evocative prose of mr. Reddick who is not content with writing intense action and complex plot lines, but has a keen eye for beauty and for insightful commentary. All of it makes me real keen to see the third (and as promised, final) book in the series published as soon as possible.
The common folk have it right, sir: the Darsunuk, the time of Madness, is upon us. But in the oldest tales the Darsunuk is not simply an unfortunate moment. It is the prelude to the Darthrod-Dnn, the Sunken Time, when order and reason perish outright, and the light of learning dims, and all the glories of Urrath end in the stomachs of jackals and ghouls.
The Prophet rampant, and the Pilgrim Moon waxing bright. The Time of Madness, dawning. I fear it is very close to the dawn.
Still, rejoice while you can. Life is the aria sung by the universe in defiance of solitude, and you have won a round for life.
May 1, 2021
This book took me back to being 14, reading under the covers with a flashlight, and living fully within a fictional world. When I was young many books would give me this feeling, but now (perhaps I am more discriminating) very few do. This was one of them. It's a long book (654 pages). I finished it in 3 days and would have finished it in 2 if the kids hadn't shown up. :) It's incredibly exciting and intense, with amazing characters. Mektu is one of my favorite characters of all time.
I've read 50 books in the last year, including many Hugo and Booker Prize winners and nominees. I have them ranked on my shelf by the degree to which they pulled me through the narrative. The first book in The Fire Sacraments series, Master Assassins, was #1 in this ranking. Now it has to share the #1 spot with Sidewinders. I think the reason these books are so compelling to me is that, like thrillers, I'm kept at the edge of my seat as to what will happen to beloved characters in dire straits, and like literary novels, I'm excited to take on board the next delectable sentence.
I've read 50 books in the last year, including many Hugo and Booker Prize winners and nominees. I have them ranked on my shelf by the degree to which they pulled me through the narrative. The first book in The Fire Sacraments series, Master Assassins, was #1 in this ranking. Now it has to share the #1 spot with Sidewinders. I think the reason these books are so compelling to me is that, like thrillers, I'm kept at the edge of my seat as to what will happen to beloved characters in dire straits, and like literary novels, I'm excited to take on board the next delectable sentence.
March 12, 2021
An excellent follow up to Master Assassins. Everything that made the first one so good is continued here. A gruelling journey across a seemingly endless desert fraught with unending perils. Gripping from start to finish. I loved it as much as its predecessor and I can't wait for the finale.
August 2, 2021
Incredible!!!!!
Its been a long time since a book made me feel this exhilarated and full of anticipation for the next book. The series is probably gonna be lodged in my top 3 when its finished. But I give the first 2 books 10/10.
Well paced, excellent prose and even more excellent characters along with a world full of mysteries with incredible hints thrown here and their. I fell in love with Kandri and Mektu's journey and I hope you would too!
Highly Recommended (CANT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH!!!!!)
Its been a long time since a book made me feel this exhilarated and full of anticipation for the next book. The series is probably gonna be lodged in my top 3 when its finished. But I give the first 2 books 10/10.
Well paced, excellent prose and even more excellent characters along with a world full of mysteries with incredible hints thrown here and their. I fell in love with Kandri and Mektu's journey and I hope you would too!
Highly Recommended (CANT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH!!!!!)
June 22, 2021
This book, although 654 pages in length, had me hooked throughout its entirety, and that’s coming from me, a 14 year old with a short attention span. I thought that this book was written very well and the plot was incredibly interesting. There was never a dull moment and it wasn’t predictable. As someone who normally doesn’t gravitate towards the suspense and fantasy genres, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it!
September 26, 2021
4.5/5
The sequel to the superb Master Assassins is finally here after years of waiting and Redick proves once again he has a penchant for superb storytelling and even tops the previous entry by expanding the scope of the story and the characters within.
Kandri and Mektu remain the focus, brothers that spend equal time squabbling, joking, and caring for one another. It is some of the best fantasy writing between siblings I've seen and, considering I have a younger brother, can speak to the accuracy of how the relationship is depicted.
New vistas are realized, new cultures introduced, new creatures, and new dynamics...this book is stuffed to the brim with classic fantasy tropes and trappings but is fresh due to the setting (Middle Eastern flavor) and set up (there seems to be an external modern environment). Redick can also deftly shift gears from action to intimacy or mystery to horror.
All the new is never outdone by the beautiful writing: clever turns of phrase, believable dialog and interactions, and prose that is gorgeous and evocative. It's hard to believe a novel of this scope can juggle so many threads without losing great writing ability and skill.
Now. I. Just. Have. To. Wait. For. The. Next. One.
The sequel to the superb Master Assassins is finally here after years of waiting and Redick proves once again he has a penchant for superb storytelling and even tops the previous entry by expanding the scope of the story and the characters within.
Kandri and Mektu remain the focus, brothers that spend equal time squabbling, joking, and caring for one another. It is some of the best fantasy writing between siblings I've seen and, considering I have a younger brother, can speak to the accuracy of how the relationship is depicted.
New vistas are realized, new cultures introduced, new creatures, and new dynamics...this book is stuffed to the brim with classic fantasy tropes and trappings but is fresh due to the setting (Middle Eastern flavor) and set up (there seems to be an external modern environment). Redick can also deftly shift gears from action to intimacy or mystery to horror.
All the new is never outdone by the beautiful writing: clever turns of phrase, believable dialog and interactions, and prose that is gorgeous and evocative. It's hard to believe a novel of this scope can juggle so many threads without losing great writing ability and skill.
Now. I. Just. Have. To. Wait. For. The. Next. One.
July 30, 2021
An absolutely brilliant book. It’s a shame that this series is not getting the level of exposure that it deserves.
June 23, 2021
This book is a unputdownable rollercoaster ride of marvellous adventures, always surprising as Redick's seemingly boundless supply of creative ideas continues to set up spell-binding confrontations, chases and balancing acts and their unexpected escalations or resolutions. All of this is combined with a careful painting of a fantastic world, with its own history, stories and credible characters, politics and feuds. While the adventure aspect continues from the equally spell-binding first novel in the series (Assassins), the new world-building opens up a whole new vista on Urrath, the continent where the story sets, and even beyond. I can only most highly recommend this book for utmost yet intelligent entertainment. To all those who haven't read the first part: you are in for a treat - you can read both novels in a row. I also want to point out that the book series (conceived of course well before 2020) sets in a quarantine - although a continent-wide - which readers since the real-world lockdowns began can suddenly relate to a lot more than before.
July 9, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Talos for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I feel I need to give some background on my journey with this series, due in part to strongly believing I was a much nicer reviewer when I read and reviewed book 1.
I came across Master Assassins on bookoutlet about 2 years ago for $2 and thought “hey the premise sounds really good”, two brothers who hate each other are accused of murdering the prophets favorite son and now have to work together while on the run” it took a whole year before I finally read Master Assassins and while I gave it a 4 star review I look back on that and realize I was being very generous seeing as how I had a lot of issues with certain parts in the storytelling. I was still getting my feet wet with reviewing and I was so scared of hurting authors feelings. And while I’m not going to start hurting feelings now, as I know there is a way to be constructive with feedback, I am going to be more honest and not sweep things under the rug that really bothered me about Sidewinders.
Sidewinders is split into 3 parts, and to start with, I would have loved if the chapters where shorter, because man were some of them long and took forever to get through. I’m a chapter reader so I don’t stop until I get to the end of a chapter so when I read a chapter for an hour and half that’s just to much for me. Part 1 and part 3 were my least liked parts, especially part 1, part 2 being the most interesting.
I applaud Redick for wanting to expand his world-building and to do that he included more POVs from people in new locations, sadly I just did not care for this approach. What I liked about the first book was it followed Kandri and Mektu and them discovering the world and the world building unfolding around them. Redick brought in so many new locations that it was overwhelming. So many names and places and people just everywhere. The Prophet had one chapter in this whole book and then she was only ever mentioned in passing, why was this done? She was a huge drawing point for me in the first book. I understand why so much attention was put on the city that wants to attack Kasralys (I think, I had a lot of trouble keeping the locations names straight because there were so many) there is a goal to make the story more than just a hunt, but the hunt is what drew me into the story not a war. While Kandri and a Mektu and their caravan was being followed I wanted to see more of the Rasanga, the white child anything related to The Prophet, but I felt it fell by the wayside, with the internal fighting within the caravan and the expanding story to include a war.
A lot of the first part dealt with new POV characters who had zero draw for me, and in the POV I cared about involving Kandri and Mektu ended up being aggravating. It mostly dealt with Kandri wanting to run off and sleep with Eshett every freaking chance he got, and it frankly that got old fast. It took the whole entire part one for her to leave the group (which was shortly lived unfortunately). Once Eshett was removed I felt like more action finally picked up in Kandri and Mektu’s povs got better.
Part two was the most entertaining but it’s not without its faults. They spend majority of the book crossing the desert and run into a lot of road blocks and enemies so there was action and fight scenes which were very entertaining. There was a stretch to create tension at one point (not that the need to stretch was needed as everyone in this caravan basically hated each other) but one in particular left me feeling very uncomfortable. Redick wanted us to know how evil and bad a male character was by having him for two pages threaten to rape any of the female soldiers of the caravan and that he wouldn’t be able to be held accountable for his actions because of “urges” Redick then tries to make the reader feel it will be okay by having everyone glance at Talupéké and think “oh she is so crazy it won’t happen she will kill him before he gets a chance to even try”. This could have been cut entirely as it was never mentioned upon again, I’m not saying I wanted a rape to happen but Redick gave the illusion that at some point an attempt would be made and we would get to see Talupéké prevent it, it never happens so we never get to see Talupéké do anything, so for me this entire scene was just unnecessary. The first major shock death happens in this part too and I’ll talk about that more in a moment. While going through the desert there was more lore added and some of it interesting others not so much and a good chunk confusing. Lots of new enemies a few old and some creatures as well so all around lots going on. I was disappointed that we did not get to witness a Sidewinder, since the title of the book and all, but I do get its more in relation to the boys being “sidewinders” it was just disappointing.
Now the Deaths, oh lord this book had a lot of death in it but I’m sorry when shock value death is the only device used it does nothing for the story. Every major death was just written in a manner that it was suppose to create shock for the reader, “oh no he was savagely eaten by a monster, oh no he committed suicide, oh no she sank into the sand, oh no he was speared in the back WHILE giving important secret information about one of the main characters” it was all constant shock, shock, shock, that it actually didn’t create any shock at all. I was at one point really hoping Kandri would die, and if it had happened it probably would have been the highlight of the story for me. I had no care at all who died and had zero feelings when it happened. If there was some softer quieter deaths thrown in maybe I would have felt something but I didn’t. I just figure everyone will die at some point in a totally “shocking” manner.
Part 3 was when I honestly stated skimming paragraphs and skipping chapters. It also when looking back I probably should have just DNF’d the book as by they then I was burnt out, bored and annoyed but I was holding out hope that the prophet would become present again, or even one of her sons.
Now as for the characters to start with I do not like a single character in this story. I barley liked anyone in the first as well, but this installment just proved to me that I was never going to care about any of them. Now I had interest in wanting to know certain character arcs because the ideas behind them were interesting. The biggest character I had an interesting in seeing his story play out was Mektu. Mektu is brash, rude, crude, crazy, gross, and everything else you can think of. But his story involved a Yatra, a demon possession ghost, and a mattoglin he just couldn’t keep his hands off. Was he really crazy? Was he really possessed? Was it both? I wanted to know. We get the answer albeit it is confusing as hell to follow. But overall I feel like nothing new was really done with his part and I was honestly annoyed with the outcome over the Yatra and him thing, it was a part of his story arc that just felt like it was ripped from him and given to someone else.
Kandri, wow I can’t explain how much I still heavily hate this guy. Everything happens to him, he is such a special little snowflake, every part of the story is just all about him and how it connects to him, he even managed to take the best part of Mektu’s story arc and now its his (or was I’m not sure I skipped a lot of part 3), plus every women he meets apparently wants to jump in his pants. The worst thing about this is that he still for the whole book talks about how important Ariqina is to him and how she is the greatest love of his life and how he will find her, yet none of this stops him from sleeping with Eshett. Maybe I’m different but if a guy says I’m his whole world and then sleeps with some other woman I would not want anything to do with that guy, and while we still haven’t met Ariqina I would hope she would turn him down. He is constantly keeping secrets and then wonders why him and brother fight, like frankly I too would have left him to go my own way.
Talupéké, oh my poor girl, how you got shafted in this installment. So many times it was mentioned how she was fierce and maybe a little psycho and crazy when it came to fighting, but oh how we never got to see it. We get to see her get her teethed punched in, and we get to see her have a softer more vulnerable side, but man where was the girl from the first book. So much praise yet no sustenance to follow through with it.
The yatra interludes where so confusing, for the longest time I had no idea who it was in, how many there were, who they were talking to, how they were talking and so much more. They just popped up and sometimes their whole interlude was just confusing to understand. Those are the only characters I had an inkling of an interest in and this installment made it even less so.
One of the positives I have is for the animals of this world that Redick created. They were fascinating although a few were kind of confusing to either understand or envision. I do wish there were some we actually got to see but what we did get was interesting, especially when they made it out of the desert, and into the forest. The creatures in that forest where fascinating.
The last thing I have to complain about was the whole “being gay is bad” bit, like as an author you can create anything in your world and you choose to include this, come on.
To end this out, this is going to be where my journey with The Fire Sacraments come to an end. There is nothing of interest for me anymore, and that saddens me as I had originally looked past a lot of stuff because certain elements were just so enticing, unfortunately this installment didn’t create that same pull
I feel I need to give some background on my journey with this series, due in part to strongly believing I was a much nicer reviewer when I read and reviewed book 1.
I came across Master Assassins on bookoutlet about 2 years ago for $2 and thought “hey the premise sounds really good”, two brothers who hate each other are accused of murdering the prophets favorite son and now have to work together while on the run” it took a whole year before I finally read Master Assassins and while I gave it a 4 star review I look back on that and realize I was being very generous seeing as how I had a lot of issues with certain parts in the storytelling. I was still getting my feet wet with reviewing and I was so scared of hurting authors feelings. And while I’m not going to start hurting feelings now, as I know there is a way to be constructive with feedback, I am going to be more honest and not sweep things under the rug that really bothered me about Sidewinders.
Sidewinders is split into 3 parts, and to start with, I would have loved if the chapters where shorter, because man were some of them long and took forever to get through. I’m a chapter reader so I don’t stop until I get to the end of a chapter so when I read a chapter for an hour and half that’s just to much for me. Part 1 and part 3 were my least liked parts, especially part 1, part 2 being the most interesting.
I applaud Redick for wanting to expand his world-building and to do that he included more POVs from people in new locations, sadly I just did not care for this approach. What I liked about the first book was it followed Kandri and Mektu and them discovering the world and the world building unfolding around them. Redick brought in so many new locations that it was overwhelming. So many names and places and people just everywhere. The Prophet had one chapter in this whole book and then she was only ever mentioned in passing, why was this done? She was a huge drawing point for me in the first book. I understand why so much attention was put on the city that wants to attack Kasralys (I think, I had a lot of trouble keeping the locations names straight because there were so many) there is a goal to make the story more than just a hunt, but the hunt is what drew me into the story not a war. While Kandri and a Mektu and their caravan was being followed I wanted to see more of the Rasanga, the white child anything related to The Prophet, but I felt it fell by the wayside, with the internal fighting within the caravan and the expanding story to include a war.
A lot of the first part dealt with new POV characters who had zero draw for me, and in the POV I cared about involving Kandri and Mektu ended up being aggravating. It mostly dealt with Kandri wanting to run off and sleep with Eshett every freaking chance he got, and it frankly that got old fast. It took the whole entire part one for her to leave the group (which was shortly lived unfortunately). Once Eshett was removed I felt like more action finally picked up in Kandri and Mektu’s povs got better.
Part two was the most entertaining but it’s not without its faults. They spend majority of the book crossing the desert and run into a lot of road blocks and enemies so there was action and fight scenes which were very entertaining. There was a stretch to create tension at one point (not that the need to stretch was needed as everyone in this caravan basically hated each other) but one in particular left me feeling very uncomfortable. Redick wanted us to know how evil and bad a male character was by having him for two pages threaten to rape any of the female soldiers of the caravan and that he wouldn’t be able to be held accountable for his actions because of “urges” Redick then tries to make the reader feel it will be okay by having everyone glance at Talupéké and think “oh she is so crazy it won’t happen she will kill him before he gets a chance to even try”. This could have been cut entirely as it was never mentioned upon again, I’m not saying I wanted a rape to happen but Redick gave the illusion that at some point an attempt would be made and we would get to see Talupéké prevent it, it never happens so we never get to see Talupéké do anything, so for me this entire scene was just unnecessary. The first major shock death happens in this part too and I’ll talk about that more in a moment. While going through the desert there was more lore added and some of it interesting others not so much and a good chunk confusing. Lots of new enemies a few old and some creatures as well so all around lots going on. I was disappointed that we did not get to witness a Sidewinder, since the title of the book and all, but I do get its more in relation to the boys being “sidewinders” it was just disappointing.
Now the Deaths, oh lord this book had a lot of death in it but I’m sorry when shock value death is the only device used it does nothing for the story. Every major death was just written in a manner that it was suppose to create shock for the reader, “oh no he was savagely eaten by a monster, oh no he committed suicide, oh no she sank into the sand, oh no he was speared in the back WHILE giving important secret information about one of the main characters” it was all constant shock, shock, shock, that it actually didn’t create any shock at all. I was at one point really hoping Kandri would die, and if it had happened it probably would have been the highlight of the story for me. I had no care at all who died and had zero feelings when it happened. If there was some softer quieter deaths thrown in maybe I would have felt something but I didn’t. I just figure everyone will die at some point in a totally “shocking” manner.
Part 3 was when I honestly stated skimming paragraphs and skipping chapters. It also when looking back I probably should have just DNF’d the book as by they then I was burnt out, bored and annoyed but I was holding out hope that the prophet would become present again, or even one of her sons.
Now as for the characters to start with I do not like a single character in this story. I barley liked anyone in the first as well, but this installment just proved to me that I was never going to care about any of them. Now I had interest in wanting to know certain character arcs because the ideas behind them were interesting. The biggest character I had an interesting in seeing his story play out was Mektu. Mektu is brash, rude, crude, crazy, gross, and everything else you can think of. But his story involved a Yatra, a demon possession ghost, and a mattoglin he just couldn’t keep his hands off. Was he really crazy? Was he really possessed? Was it both? I wanted to know. We get the answer albeit it is confusing as hell to follow. But overall I feel like nothing new was really done with his part and I was honestly annoyed with the outcome over the Yatra and him thing, it was a part of his story arc that just felt like it was ripped from him and given to someone else.
Kandri, wow I can’t explain how much I still heavily hate this guy. Everything happens to him, he is such a special little snowflake, every part of the story is just all about him and how it connects to him, he even managed to take the best part of Mektu’s story arc and now its his (or was I’m not sure I skipped a lot of part 3), plus every women he meets apparently wants to jump in his pants. The worst thing about this is that he still for the whole book talks about how important Ariqina is to him and how she is the greatest love of his life and how he will find her, yet none of this stops him from sleeping with Eshett. Maybe I’m different but if a guy says I’m his whole world and then sleeps with some other woman I would not want anything to do with that guy, and while we still haven’t met Ariqina I would hope she would turn him down. He is constantly keeping secrets and then wonders why him and brother fight, like frankly I too would have left him to go my own way.
Talupéké, oh my poor girl, how you got shafted in this installment. So many times it was mentioned how she was fierce and maybe a little psycho and crazy when it came to fighting, but oh how we never got to see it. We get to see her get her teethed punched in, and we get to see her have a softer more vulnerable side, but man where was the girl from the first book. So much praise yet no sustenance to follow through with it.
The yatra interludes where so confusing, for the longest time I had no idea who it was in, how many there were, who they were talking to, how they were talking and so much more. They just popped up and sometimes their whole interlude was just confusing to understand. Those are the only characters I had an inkling of an interest in and this installment made it even less so.
One of the positives I have is for the animals of this world that Redick created. They were fascinating although a few were kind of confusing to either understand or envision. I do wish there were some we actually got to see but what we did get was interesting, especially when they made it out of the desert, and into the forest. The creatures in that forest where fascinating.
The last thing I have to complain about was the whole “being gay is bad” bit, like as an author you can create anything in your world and you choose to include this, come on.
To end this out, this is going to be where my journey with The Fire Sacraments come to an end. There is nothing of interest for me anymore, and that saddens me as I had originally looked past a lot of stuff because certain elements were just so enticing, unfortunately this installment didn’t create that same pull
July 18, 2021
The continuing saga of two brothers who thought to be assassins who genuinely are not, who are on the run through the desert, what else could go wrong for these two brothers. We get a saga of a book to find out, and this book doesn’t disappoint like the first book. You’re sucked in by the premise of the story and all that unfolds as you are pulled along for the ride. The author has a vivid imagination, and it shows on every page of this story. The story is far from predictable and keeps you engaged in every aspect of the story. I am eager for the third and final book in the fire sacraments series.
June 13, 2021
I’ve been waiting for this since finishing Master Assassins -- Sidewinders is everything I was looking forward to, and more. Redick gives us an intricately-constructed world, vividly alive, full of wonders as well as horrors and peopled with characters you’ll take into your heart, especially the brothers Kandri and Mektu, and their difficult, often angry, and, for Kandri, ever-frustrating relationship. It’s full of relentless action and deep mystery, desperate journeys from danger into danger, treachery, friends and allies loyal to the death, and plots revealed within plots. Just as vitally, the writing itself is beautiful -- never a false note, every word ringing true.
To go into a bit more detail: the relationship between Kandri and Mektu that appealed so much to me from the start seems to be getting more complex as we find out more about the past. I love Mektu, but I'd hate to have to be the one trying to ride herd on him. There are some great new characters introduced, as the scope of the action broadens to take in more of the continent. The retired general Agathar of Sholupur, an honourable man forced back into the service of a vicious king, is one, and Kosuda, the Chancellor of the impregnable city of Kasralys -- who has a close and so far mysterious alliance with some intelligent wolves -- another. Sholupur and Kasralys are being manoeuvred into war; the brothers are heading to Kadralys carrying a document that may change the fate of not only the continent but the world, and even more enemies, some of whom they know nothing about, are after them. Bring on book III ...
To go into a bit more detail: the relationship between Kandri and Mektu that appealed so much to me from the start seems to be getting more complex as we find out more about the past. I love Mektu, but I'd hate to have to be the one trying to ride herd on him. There are some great new characters introduced, as the scope of the action broadens to take in more of the continent. The retired general Agathar of Sholupur, an honourable man forced back into the service of a vicious king, is one, and Kosuda, the Chancellor of the impregnable city of Kasralys -- who has a close and so far mysterious alliance with some intelligent wolves -- another. Sholupur and Kasralys are being manoeuvred into war; the brothers are heading to Kadralys carrying a document that may change the fate of not only the continent but the world, and even more enemies, some of whom they know nothing about, are after them. Bring on book III ...
June 9, 2022
What a brilliant sequel. A massive, epic desert journey and new viewpoints to flesh out this diverse world. I love the mysterious magic and unique world that Redick has created here- it feels different from just about anything else I have read. The two main brother characters continue to entertain and fascinate. Easy 5 stars.
November 12, 2021
I would give this book 6 stars if I could. Master Assassins was excellent, and as soon as I finished reading it, I started it’s sequel without delay. Redick has truly created an extraordinary world and fascinating characters. I am looking forward to the final novel!
June 5, 2021
Sidewinders has it all- humor, betrayal, secret family histories, sword fights, mystics, demons & saviors. Nearly everyone has at least one hidden agenda. The scope & complexity of the world-building is astounding, but it's the characters that really drew me in. Everyone is written so clearly, their voices shine individually. The tension starts immediately, and no one ever feels safe. How fun is that?
I loved Master Assassins, but seeing glimpses of the greater world in Sidewinders shows me how much danger the brother’s Kandri & Mektu are actually in. They are the eye of the hurricane.
There is a quality in Robert V.S. Redick’s novels that reminds me some of Alexandre Dumas. Sidewinders is definitely one of the best Adventure stories I have ever read, and I’m eagerly awaiting book 3: Siege
I loved Master Assassins, but seeing glimpses of the greater world in Sidewinders shows me how much danger the brother’s Kandri & Mektu are actually in. They are the eye of the hurricane.
There is a quality in Robert V.S. Redick’s novels that reminds me some of Alexandre Dumas. Sidewinders is definitely one of the best Adventure stories I have ever read, and I’m eagerly awaiting book 3: Siege
May 21, 2021
This is engaging, with plenty of action and interesting characters. I also enjoy the unpredictability of the story. The author has a lot of imagination, and writes well. Recommended to those seeking a pretty intense tale.
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
June 30, 2021
After getting drawn in by the amazing characters and fantastic world of Robert V.S. Redick’s Master Assassins, the first book in The Fire Sacraments trilogy, I couldn’t wait for the sequel Sidewinders. Now that I’ve read it, I’m going back to the beginning to read both again, so I’ll be extra ready for the final volume!
Sidewinders adds many threads to this epic story and twists them into a tightrope its protagonists must cross, from one gorgeous and perilous land to another, and another. Having impulsively killed (as he committed an unspeakable abuse) the corrupt son of their zealous leader, the Prophet of Orthodox Revelation, and made off with a priceless and cursed jewel-encrusted knife, brothers Kandri and Mektu continue their desperate flight with a caravan of camel drivers across a hostile desert towards the eastern realm of Kasraj. Along the way, they are relentlessly pursued by the Prophet’s elite forces and a White Child, a demonic projection of the Prophet herself, endowed with the power to summon and direct evil beings and kill an elephant with just the touch of her finger. But their mission is not simply to escape: Kandri bears a letter holding a cure for the plague that has kept the entire continent of Urrath in lockdown from the outside world for centuries. In the course of the tale – enlaced with love stories and punctuated by spirit possessions, attacks by fabulously alien creatures and the most venally banal of traitors, and rescues by unexpected and delightful shapeshifters – we become aware of a nefarious plot by some who would profit from perpetuating the plague…
If we look hard for them, we can find echoes of our real world. Though intriguing, these are mostly coincidental; the plague that was first described in Master Assassins, though possibly prophetic, predates our current pandemic, after all. Following a genocidal attack on refugees by enraged common Kasraji folk, others intervene, leading one to reflect “One’s [the Kasraj that welcomes and protects] the country we long to inhabit, and some days we get lucky enough to see. The other’s the country that will rise like bile if we ignore it, leave it to fester, pretend it does not exist.” OK, so this may sound familiar as we emerge from years of […], but Redick certainly does not hammer it in: no, his fantasy world is so far removed from our own that we can truly escape in it for a time, to enjoy an experience so far from our reality that we get a real vacation from it – and a long one at that! By the same token, this writer’s imagination is so original that we do not find ourselves comparing this and that to other fantasy worlds we’ve come across. It’s truly new and spectacularly different: like (but of course completely unlike) his first series The Chathrand Voyage Quartet, Redick regales us with views of thoroughly exotic social and ecological landscapes, the likes of which are as rare as new places or species to discover, arising from a unique artistic vision.
Another great facet of Sidewinders is discovering the world of Urrath alongside the main protagonists, who are also gradually becoming aware of their own evolving reality. We are often confused for a time, as they are, because things are never quite as they first seem in this intricate, both stark and lush, even byzantine tale. As they move through a world of complexities, their sensitivities grow and they become more tolerant and understanding, making room for ever more divergent human (and semi-human) natures. As they travel further from the homophobic world they come from, the Chiloto brothers, who are, after all, more lovers than fighters, evolve and learn to respect what was taboo in the world of Orthodox Revelation they have left behind.
Now, some reviews have noted that Redick’s writing is quite literary, so people who appreciate good writing will appreciate these books. While this may be true (and sure, I might be biased – I love Robert and have read all his books) I’d say his writing style is clear and simple. It’s the story that’s complex, but that should appeal to anyone who likes a really good yarn. The title Sidewinders, I found as I read, is descriptive, not only of the main characters, but of the entire story. As the caravan of misfits, heroes, and adventurers winds across the desert sands, our (and their) understanding of what’s happening continuously changes. Even the backstory shifts. People are not who we thought they were, not even who they thought they were.
Now, as I wait for the third and final book, I also wish some great producer would come along and bring this story to life as an epic movie (or even better, TV) series. It’s a great read, but I also want to see all the beauty and drama and horror of Redick’s world in “real” life. He describes it in such vivid detail as to make it already cinematic. There’s already enough there to keep fantasy audiences busy for several years, and to fill a glaring hole that’s been sitting there now for, oh, at least a few years. I want that White Child to stare at me from the silver screen and strike holy terror into my heart.
Sidewinders adds many threads to this epic story and twists them into a tightrope its protagonists must cross, from one gorgeous and perilous land to another, and another. Having impulsively killed (as he committed an unspeakable abuse) the corrupt son of their zealous leader, the Prophet of Orthodox Revelation, and made off with a priceless and cursed jewel-encrusted knife, brothers Kandri and Mektu continue their desperate flight with a caravan of camel drivers across a hostile desert towards the eastern realm of Kasraj. Along the way, they are relentlessly pursued by the Prophet’s elite forces and a White Child, a demonic projection of the Prophet herself, endowed with the power to summon and direct evil beings and kill an elephant with just the touch of her finger. But their mission is not simply to escape: Kandri bears a letter holding a cure for the plague that has kept the entire continent of Urrath in lockdown from the outside world for centuries. In the course of the tale – enlaced with love stories and punctuated by spirit possessions, attacks by fabulously alien creatures and the most venally banal of traitors, and rescues by unexpected and delightful shapeshifters – we become aware of a nefarious plot by some who would profit from perpetuating the plague…
If we look hard for them, we can find echoes of our real world. Though intriguing, these are mostly coincidental; the plague that was first described in Master Assassins, though possibly prophetic, predates our current pandemic, after all. Following a genocidal attack on refugees by enraged common Kasraji folk, others intervene, leading one to reflect “One’s [the Kasraj that welcomes and protects] the country we long to inhabit, and some days we get lucky enough to see. The other’s the country that will rise like bile if we ignore it, leave it to fester, pretend it does not exist.” OK, so this may sound familiar as we emerge from years of […], but Redick certainly does not hammer it in: no, his fantasy world is so far removed from our own that we can truly escape in it for a time, to enjoy an experience so far from our reality that we get a real vacation from it – and a long one at that! By the same token, this writer’s imagination is so original that we do not find ourselves comparing this and that to other fantasy worlds we’ve come across. It’s truly new and spectacularly different: like (but of course completely unlike) his first series The Chathrand Voyage Quartet, Redick regales us with views of thoroughly exotic social and ecological landscapes, the likes of which are as rare as new places or species to discover, arising from a unique artistic vision.
Another great facet of Sidewinders is discovering the world of Urrath alongside the main protagonists, who are also gradually becoming aware of their own evolving reality. We are often confused for a time, as they are, because things are never quite as they first seem in this intricate, both stark and lush, even byzantine tale. As they move through a world of complexities, their sensitivities grow and they become more tolerant and understanding, making room for ever more divergent human (and semi-human) natures. As they travel further from the homophobic world they come from, the Chiloto brothers, who are, after all, more lovers than fighters, evolve and learn to respect what was taboo in the world of Orthodox Revelation they have left behind.
Now, some reviews have noted that Redick’s writing is quite literary, so people who appreciate good writing will appreciate these books. While this may be true (and sure, I might be biased – I love Robert and have read all his books) I’d say his writing style is clear and simple. It’s the story that’s complex, but that should appeal to anyone who likes a really good yarn. The title Sidewinders, I found as I read, is descriptive, not only of the main characters, but of the entire story. As the caravan of misfits, heroes, and adventurers winds across the desert sands, our (and their) understanding of what’s happening continuously changes. Even the backstory shifts. People are not who we thought they were, not even who they thought they were.
Now, as I wait for the third and final book, I also wish some great producer would come along and bring this story to life as an epic movie (or even better, TV) series. It’s a great read, but I also want to see all the beauty and drama and horror of Redick’s world in “real” life. He describes it in such vivid detail as to make it already cinematic. There’s already enough there to keep fantasy audiences busy for several years, and to fill a glaring hole that’s been sitting there now for, oh, at least a few years. I want that White Child to stare at me from the silver screen and strike holy terror into my heart.
July 16, 2021
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“Sidewinders” is a brilliant continuation to “Master Assassins,” and in some ways, I enjoyed this book more than the first one.
This book was a mammoth one with 650+ pages, but I never noticed the time fly by. When I started reading the story, I thought it wouldn’t be as good as the first one because most of it takes place while the characters travel across the deserts of Urrath. However, SO many things happen in the story which you don’t expect.
Some moments made me be at the edge of my seat, like when the Prophet summons a White Child who catches their scent. Another memorable moment is all the drama over the mattoglin in the latter half of the tale. I was wondering how Kandri would continue his mission carrying the cure of the plague. Moreover, it was interesting to see the similarities in nuances of the epidemic and how it resonates with the current pandemic and lockdown we are facing.
The characters are just as charismatic from the previous book, and I admired something about all of them. Moreover, I felt that the author did a great job in maturing the characters from the first story. Mektu is still my favorite character in the series, but I thought we didn’t see as much of him as in the previous book. We also have new characters like Kosuda, Spalak, and Ifimar Jód, who add nicely to the large cast. There are many shocking revelations on the character’s pasts that I did not expect either. Also, the story concludes in an exciting manner that makes you look forward to the next book.
Overall, I liked “Sidewinders” more than the first book, which made me appreciate the series even more.
September 23, 2021
You better not die before you finish this😉
Bigger and bolder than master assassin but with the same heart and beauty.
More characters, kandri and mektu surprised quite a bit, but although at the start I didn't think I was going to like her, chancellor kosuda quickly became a favourite character. So many twists and turns I don't know what to say without giving too much away but I heartily recommend this
Bigger and bolder than master assassin but with the same heart and beauty.
More characters, kandri and mektu surprised quite a bit, but although at the start I didn't think I was going to like her, chancellor kosuda quickly became a favourite character. So many twists and turns I don't know what to say without giving too much away but I heartily recommend this
October 19, 2021
Second book is even better
Read
July 13, 2021This was one of those books that I just had to take one look at to know that I would love it. But first off make sure you read the first one as this is the second book in the Fire Sacrements trilogy. Sidewinders honest has just that perfect style of writing that draws you in keeps you invested.
Ok, this is a thic book, and if you know me you know that I love a good thic book. And there is plenty of adventure and action in this book to keep you invested and interested. Even if you find your mind stray the second that happens you’ll be pulled right back in. Which is something I find thic books sometimes have an issue doing but especially this genre, as it tends towards the more narrative windy style.
I really enjoyed this one and I fully expected to enjoy it going in. Which, honestly, both haven’t always been coming true lately so this was a nice surprise!
You can view my full review & giveaway on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
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Ok, this is a thic book, and if you know me you know that I love a good thic book. And there is plenty of adventure and action in this book to keep you invested and interested. Even if you find your mind stray the second that happens you’ll be pulled right back in. Which is something I find thic books sometimes have an issue doing but especially this genre, as it tends towards the more narrative windy style.
I really enjoyed this one and I fully expected to enjoy it going in. Which, honestly, both haven’t always been coming true lately so this was a nice surprise!
You can view my full review & giveaway on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
August 2, 2021
Worth it
The wait for this one was well worth it. Unbelievable how this story really opened up from a couple of characters leaving their homeland to multiple storylines and many, many more miles Geographicly . we get insight into three different parts of the country ( four if you count what lives in the desert). Then there's the dead gods,ancient stories and very clever turn of events. The characters are fantastic, alot of rough and tumble ,a few evil ones and many more in between. The ending was a bit of a let down but the story is engulfing and kept the pages turning.
The wait for this one was well worth it. Unbelievable how this story really opened up from a couple of characters leaving their homeland to multiple storylines and many, many more miles Geographicly . we get insight into three different parts of the country ( four if you count what lives in the desert). Then there's the dead gods,ancient stories and very clever turn of events. The characters are fantastic, alot of rough and tumble ,a few evil ones and many more in between. The ending was a bit of a let down but the story is engulfing and kept the pages turning.
July 10, 2025
RTC - What a find this series is. And oh how much I look forward to the conclusion at some point!
And about this book itself I find it incredible how this 100% commits into being the middle-book.
And what I mean by that is how incredibly it works for the reason of specifically being that; the second book.
Everything I was hoping for, everything I long for in a desert Fantasy.
And wow how incredibly this is written and told.
And about this book itself I find it incredible how this 100% commits into being the middle-book.
And what I mean by that is how incredibly it works for the reason of specifically being that; the second book.
Everything I was hoping for, everything I long for in a desert Fantasy.
And wow how incredibly this is written and told.
September 3, 2025
Wow… this book blew me away. I’m so thankful to have been able to find this series out of nowhere. This book has firmly cemented the fire sacraments as one of my favourite fantasy series of all time.
October 31, 2021
Really an great book, with and great story. Great dialog and writing. The characters feels real. Remind me of Robin hobb writing. Some of the suspense chapters are really great. "The Slaughter Clowns, dessert, great Wall ruins, spiders" my god, great writing 😁😁
The best fantasy book I have read since Hod King by Bancroft.
The best fantasy book I have read since Hod King by Bancroft.
September 25, 2021
I forgot just how much I enjoyed the first book until I got into this one.
I’m a sucker for a desert fantasy, and this has to be one of the best that I’ve read.
Fingers crossed the final book is just as good when it comes out and I’ll definitely have a new favourite series.
I’m a sucker for a desert fantasy, and this has to be one of the best that I’ve read.
Fingers crossed the final book is just as good when it comes out and I’ll definitely have a new favourite series.
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