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Twilight Reign #4
The Ragged Man
Continuing the powerful epic that started with THE STORMCALLER; the Lord Isak is dead, his armies and entire tribe in disarray. It falls to King Emin to continue the war alone, and the Menin are only too happy to meet his challenge. In Byora, Ruhen is developing his 'Saviour' persona. The Harlequins start preaching in his name and many of the pilgrims who flock to him are recruited to be 'Children', disciples who spread Ruhen's message. All over the Land people are starting to see Ruhen as the answer to their troubles. A showdown is battle lines are finally drawn and the atrocities quickly mount. The spectre of the Great War looms, but in this age the Gods cannot and will not come to King Emin's aid. With the peoples of the Land turning against Emin and his few remaining allies, their only chance for survival lies in the hands of a dead man.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
22 people are currently reading
824 people want to read
About the author
Tom Lloyd
47 books444 followersTom Lloyd was born in 1979 and showed almost no interest in writing until the age of eighteen. I blame the teachers myself.
Nevertheless he did eventually find himself with a long summer to spare before university, and decided to start a novel when it was suggested he get a job to pass the time. This tells you much of what there is to know about him. The rest can be derived from the fact that he first had the idea of writing a book to annoy a schoolfriend by getting published before him.
No, honestly; he's actually that shallow.
It was swiftly apparent that this was not the quick route to fame and fortune that he’d hoped for. The first sign of this was the realisation that being good at writing was required, but he managed to surprise everyone by not giving up on something he didn’t show immediate promise in.
Studying Politics and International Relations at Southampton University had very little appreciable effect on him, beyond giving him a couple of ideas for future novels, but that was largely due to spending most of those three years in London shacked up with the god-daughter of an Asian dictator. Upon leaving university he decided – along with what seemed like half of all other graduates, some of whom had had the temerity to study English – that doing “book stuff” sounded like a fun alternative to working out what sort of job he wanted to do. There was also the intriguing suggestion of literary talent being passed on by some osmosis-like process. As a result of a little work experience at Simon and Schuster - combined with some shameless flirting with the HR manager - he got a job as an editorial assistant on the Scribner list, which allowed him to mistype letters to a whole host of talented writers.
Certain luminary examples there made it clear that before he became a fantasy editor he was going to have to spend several years iron-cladding his liver. Towards this goal, he decamped to the A M Heath Literary Agency by way of Random House, which was silly because walking down Longacre would have been a lot quicker, to work in foreign rights while also freelancing for writersservices.com and constantly revising what was slowly becoming The Stormcaller.
A three year litany of madcap adventures in the crazy world of agenting ensued, but it would be far too time-consuming to detail any of that so suffice to say that his hangover cleared sufficiently one morning in 2004 for him to realise that he wasn’t quite so bad at writing now. Maybe there was something to this osmosis thing after all - although if that’s true Katie Fforde and Dave Hill might get a surprise at the effect they’d had.
Securing the services of John Richard Parker at MBA Literary Agents proved a surprisingly painless experience – despite being previously rejected by one of John’s colleagues, which just goes to show how persistent one has to be – and soon he was sat in the office of Jo Fletcher at Gollancz trying to persuade her how much of a geek he was. After four years as contracts manager at Blake Friedmann Literary Agency he decided he didn't like other authors that much so he swapped his dark corner of Camden for one at Atlantic Books where it quickly became apparent that he prefers winning arguments to scruples.
Writing part-time, also known as watching loads more TV, he also manages to play a little sport in between trips to the pub and battering his next book - into a semblance of shape.
http://tomlloyd.livejournal.com/ http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?...
Nevertheless he did eventually find himself with a long summer to spare before university, and decided to start a novel when it was suggested he get a job to pass the time. This tells you much of what there is to know about him. The rest can be derived from the fact that he first had the idea of writing a book to annoy a schoolfriend by getting published before him.
No, honestly; he's actually that shallow.
It was swiftly apparent that this was not the quick route to fame and fortune that he’d hoped for. The first sign of this was the realisation that being good at writing was required, but he managed to surprise everyone by not giving up on something he didn’t show immediate promise in.
Studying Politics and International Relations at Southampton University had very little appreciable effect on him, beyond giving him a couple of ideas for future novels, but that was largely due to spending most of those three years in London shacked up with the god-daughter of an Asian dictator. Upon leaving university he decided – along with what seemed like half of all other graduates, some of whom had had the temerity to study English – that doing “book stuff” sounded like a fun alternative to working out what sort of job he wanted to do. There was also the intriguing suggestion of literary talent being passed on by some osmosis-like process. As a result of a little work experience at Simon and Schuster - combined with some shameless flirting with the HR manager - he got a job as an editorial assistant on the Scribner list, which allowed him to mistype letters to a whole host of talented writers.
Certain luminary examples there made it clear that before he became a fantasy editor he was going to have to spend several years iron-cladding his liver. Towards this goal, he decamped to the A M Heath Literary Agency by way of Random House, which was silly because walking down Longacre would have been a lot quicker, to work in foreign rights while also freelancing for writersservices.com and constantly revising what was slowly becoming The Stormcaller.
A three year litany of madcap adventures in the crazy world of agenting ensued, but it would be far too time-consuming to detail any of that so suffice to say that his hangover cleared sufficiently one morning in 2004 for him to realise that he wasn’t quite so bad at writing now. Maybe there was something to this osmosis thing after all - although if that’s true Katie Fforde and Dave Hill might get a surprise at the effect they’d had.
Securing the services of John Richard Parker at MBA Literary Agents proved a surprisingly painless experience – despite being previously rejected by one of John’s colleagues, which just goes to show how persistent one has to be – and soon he was sat in the office of Jo Fletcher at Gollancz trying to persuade her how much of a geek he was. After four years as contracts manager at Blake Friedmann Literary Agency he decided he didn't like other authors that much so he swapped his dark corner of Camden for one at Atlantic Books where it quickly became apparent that he prefers winning arguments to scruples.
Writing part-time, also known as watching loads more TV, he also manages to play a little sport in between trips to the pub and battering his next book - into a semblance of shape.
http://tomlloyd.livejournal.com/ http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?...
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 12, 2011
I felt about the same with this book as I did with the last one. This series has so much unused potential that it drives me crazy! The setting is potentially awesome, so many of the characters are set up to be really interesting (if they ever did anything noteworthy), and the plot crawls when it could tear away from the rest of the crowd and be miles ahead. But it doesn't. Instead it's just okay.
It needs more explanation of the important stuff and way less of what is just fluff. I don't know what more to say about it. See my reviews of the other books in the series, I guess.
I also don't know why I keep reading the series. I keep hoping in vain that the author's style will suddenly change to suit me better. Maybe that's what it comes down to--a great idea and set up, but an author's style that is simply not what I look for or find completely satisfying.
It needs more explanation of the important stuff and way less of what is just fluff. I don't know what more to say about it. See my reviews of the other books in the series, I guess.
I also don't know why I keep reading the series. I keep hoping in vain that the author's style will suddenly change to suit me better. Maybe that's what it comes down to--a great idea and set up, but an author's style that is simply not what I look for or find completely satisfying.
June 2, 2025
4.25*
Amazing.. but too many characters I loved died in this book....
Amazing.. but too many characters I loved died in this book....
April 27, 2011
Lloyd continues his detailed action filled format where powerful yet flawed 'anti-heroes' stalk the pages leaving the reader constantly shifting alliances.
The Ragged Man takes up immediately after the shattering conclusion of The Grave Thief. The 'What has gone before', and invaluable opening to all Lloyd's novels. As in the previous novels, Lloyd spins a complex web of intregue that captures the reader within there own ideas and assumptions, before jerking the strands together in the final pages to reveal his jaw dropping conclusion.
Fans of the earlier books will be thrilled with this latest instalment in the Twilight Reign.
The Ragged Man takes up immediately after the shattering conclusion of The Grave Thief. The 'What has gone before', and invaluable opening to all Lloyd's novels. As in the previous novels, Lloyd spins a complex web of intregue that captures the reader within there own ideas and assumptions, before jerking the strands together in the final pages to reveal his jaw dropping conclusion.
Fans of the earlier books will be thrilled with this latest instalment in the Twilight Reign.
April 27, 2012
This epic continues with a narrowing to only 6 or 7 plots flowing through the series. Lloyd paints a confusing picture in his world that manages at each turn to throw another unexpected twist into the fold. None of them seem to have been done simply to throw another wrench in the system either. Each twist by the end starts adding a little clarity to what is happening in the world. While finally I can say I know who some of the good and the bad are, I as of yet only have theories as to how some plot points would be tied up in what promises to be the final chapter of the Twilight Reign.
August 29, 2010
Best in the series so far!
December 22, 2011
Great book - very well written; I read the last half in less than a day. I simply could not stop. Can't wait till the Dusk Watchman comes out!
May 9, 2021
This fourth book in the series starts where the third one ended: the chaos after lord Isak has been killed in the battle at Byora. The spectre of the Great War looming, and battle lines are being drawn. Beside still loving Isak’s character, I’m ever more intrigued by and liking Mihn. “Whatever is asked shall be done. Whatever cannot be asked of another will be done. Whatever should not be asked of another, it will be done.” Of all tangled fates, his is without a doubt the most interesting.
I was rather shocked by one twist in fate a little beyond the middle of the book, and was heartbroken to learn that one happy ending wasn't meant to be. Those that have read the book probably know what I'm talking about , but if not, I would just recommend you start reading the book and be shocked alongside me.
I’m glad to have persevered and continued this series, beside all the battles and gore not wholly being my thing, for which each book that I read the more excited and curious I become to the ending. I truly can’t wait to start The Dusk Watchman, and will likely start it the very next day. I think anyone who's made it this far into the The Twilight Reign series is sure to love this book, especially considering the cliff-hanger that was left in the ending of the Grave Thief.
To end this review I will add one last quote I rather enjoyed: “The normal troops were sizing up their new comrades, trying to keep an eye on the more obvious threats—all except Daken, who appeared to be basking happily in their unhappy attention.” Basking happily in unhappy attention got to be my favourite attitude of a character within this book.
I was rather shocked by one twist in fate a little beyond the middle of the book, and was heartbroken to learn that one happy ending wasn't meant to be. Those that have read the book probably know what I'm talking about , but if not, I would just recommend you start reading the book and be shocked alongside me.
I’m glad to have persevered and continued this series, beside all the battles and gore not wholly being my thing, for which each book that I read the more excited and curious I become to the ending. I truly can’t wait to start The Dusk Watchman, and will likely start it the very next day. I think anyone who's made it this far into the The Twilight Reign series is sure to love this book, especially considering the cliff-hanger that was left in the ending of the Grave Thief.
To end this review I will add one last quote I rather enjoyed: “The normal troops were sizing up their new comrades, trying to keep an eye on the more obvious threats—all except Daken, who appeared to be basking happily in their unhappy attention.” Basking happily in unhappy attention got to be my favourite attitude of a character within this book.
January 3, 2020
Alright. Bit fast paced, could have done with an extra hundred pages or so maybe. Fun series nowt special
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
April 6, 2021
The Land is almost clean of all there foes. It only misses one that is the biggest threat ever. In the next one it will be the end.
August 9, 2014
"The Ragged Man" is book four of Tom Lloyd "The Twilight Reign" series. It is also, by far, the best book of the series so far. The action in "The Ragged Man" picks up much faster than the previous three, and manages to hold the momentum all the way through. While "The Grave Thief" was slow to get going, as was "The Twilight Herald", book two, "The Ragged Man" thankfully does not suffer from that pitfall. Making the read much easier and a lot more fun.
In this installment of the series we finally get to see King Emnin's and Lord Styrax's war come to a head with what appears to be a resounding finality. A finality that is a payoff worth the time and effort to get to. Leaving book five, "The Dusk Watchmen", as something to really look forward to.
As always, Lloyd is excellent in writing battle scenes. He also has a remarkable talent for describing magic as it happens and coming up with creative magic spells. He also does a terrific job of creating relationships between characters that the reader can easily become invested in. However, he is not above tearing said relationships asunder if the story dictates that should happen.
"The Ragged Man" is an excellent addition to "The Twilight Reign". The story really picks the whole series up a notch. If "The Dusk Watchmen" can close the series out with a finality that brings a satisfying end then this series will have been well worth it. Book five will determine whether or not this series achieves the greatness it can or mere mediocrity. Judging by the previous four, I think greatness is definitely in Tom Lloyd's future.
In this installment of the series we finally get to see King Emnin's and Lord Styrax's war come to a head with what appears to be a resounding finality. A finality that is a payoff worth the time and effort to get to. Leaving book five, "The Dusk Watchmen", as something to really look forward to.
As always, Lloyd is excellent in writing battle scenes. He also has a remarkable talent for describing magic as it happens and coming up with creative magic spells. He also does a terrific job of creating relationships between characters that the reader can easily become invested in. However, he is not above tearing said relationships asunder if the story dictates that should happen.
"The Ragged Man" is an excellent addition to "The Twilight Reign". The story really picks the whole series up a notch. If "The Dusk Watchmen" can close the series out with a finality that brings a satisfying end then this series will have been well worth it. Book five will determine whether or not this series achieves the greatness it can or mere mediocrity. Judging by the previous four, I think greatness is definitely in Tom Lloyd's future.
September 15, 2016
Amazing book! Especially since I was given it out of the blue. I had not heard of this series before, but after reading this book I ant to start at the beginning! The characters, world building and whole premise of th series is phenomenal to grasp. Only sorry I had not read the first 3.
This review is short and sweet so I can leave a full one after reading the books in order.
This review is short and sweet so I can leave a full one after reading the books in order.
October 2, 2014
"Grave Thief" was the book that took the series from "this may have some promise" to "hey, this is actually pretty good" territory. "Ragged Man" makes that go to "Damn, this is good!"
Reasons for this, at least for me? Well, for starters--even LESS Isak. And at this pint, the naive Mary-Sue from bks 1+2 who was to be "THE CHOSEN ONE" has been thoroughly subverted. Isak gets a lot better as a character the less Lloyd makes him talk and learn. On top of this, the focus shifts away from Isak--at this point he firmly enters the parameters of a plot device, and quite obviously ceases to be the character the reader's supposed to emphasize with. Other much-better written, much more rounded characters steal the spotlight--and the series is far better off from this.
In addition, lloyd maintains the good pacing he found in "Grave Thief". The action is spread throughout the book, and not limited to a slow buildup to one massive explosion of action and plot development--the biggest weakness that plagued "Twilight Herald". Much like "Grave Thief", in "Ragged Man" Lloyd does a much better job maintaining the reader's focus, while telling a story that continues to extend the scope of the tale he's trying to tell. This all builds up to a satisfyingly "epic" conclusion and segues nicely into foreshadowing the final set of massive showdowns that are to take place in the last volume.
Reasons for this, at least for me? Well, for starters--even LESS Isak. And at this pint, the naive Mary-Sue from bks 1+2 who was to be "THE CHOSEN ONE" has been thoroughly subverted. Isak gets a lot better as a character the less Lloyd makes him talk and learn. On top of this, the focus shifts away from Isak--at this point he firmly enters the parameters of a plot device, and quite obviously ceases to be the character the reader's supposed to emphasize with. Other much-better written, much more rounded characters steal the spotlight--and the series is far better off from this.
In addition, lloyd maintains the good pacing he found in "Grave Thief". The action is spread throughout the book, and not limited to a slow buildup to one massive explosion of action and plot development--the biggest weakness that plagued "Twilight Herald". Much like "Grave Thief", in "Ragged Man" Lloyd does a much better job maintaining the reader's focus, while telling a story that continues to extend the scope of the tale he's trying to tell. This all builds up to a satisfyingly "epic" conclusion and segues nicely into foreshadowing the final set of massive showdowns that are to take place in the last volume.
February 10, 2017
Drsné, kruté, temné. Styrax ako živelná sila je nezastaviteľný so svojou obrou armádou a zrovnáva so zemou všetko, čo sa mu nepodvolí. Kráľ Emin je posledná možnosť, ako ho zastaviť a tak sa začínajú prípravy na poslednú veľkú bitku. Napriek tomu zostáva ešte dosť príbehových línií otvorených a ich rozuzlenie čaká v poslednom diele série.
October 6, 2011
So much potential - and most of it wasted. Instead of focusing on a handful of characters in-depth, the author uses dozens of them and barely touches upon them, mostly he just introduces them and hints at their greatness only to kill them off or let them fall aside, forgotten - General Lahk's twin brother? Also, it felt like there were chunks of the book missing: in one chapter, Doranei and his men were surrounded and facing certain annihilation, several chapters later, he was all safe and sound, attending his king a kingdom away - what happened? How was he saved?
I really like most of the characters - Isak Stormcaller, Mihn, king Emin, Vesna, Legana, even Kastan Styrax. But four books in, I still feel like I don't really know any of them...
I really like most of the characters - Isak Stormcaller, Mihn, king Emin, Vesna, Legana, even Kastan Styrax. But four books in, I still feel like I don't really know any of them...
March 2, 2015
In some areas the plot progressed more than I though, in some areas less than I thought it would in this book of the series. The book did leave some things open for the next one, but not too many for my taste and the plot wasn't cut at a cliché like end, how I almost expected it to do, so it was a positive surprise on the last pages, that the plot was not cut like that, not only and exclusively to make you buy the next book, but at a point where it was appropriate.
There are some decisions of the characters, which I don't understand yet. I hope they'll be explained during the next book.
There are some decisions of the characters, which I don't understand yet. I hope they'll be explained during the next book.
January 30, 2017
This. This book shows what Tom Lloyd is capable of.
For me, it's lost the spiky petulance that marred the first three books and the series gains a whole new layer of flavour.
I love that the pace is has slowed down a bit, enough that we can get to know the characters more. This book reveals more about motivations of most of the parties and delivers a much more intense story as a result.
I'm really looking forward to the Dusk Watchman.
For me, it's lost the spiky petulance that marred the first three books and the series gains a whole new layer of flavour.
I love that the pace is has slowed down a bit, enough that we can get to know the characters more. This book reveals more about motivations of most of the parties and delivers a much more intense story as a result.
I'm really looking forward to the Dusk Watchman.
June 13, 2011
This great series continues. I definitely enjoyed it and all the spectacle/violence was turned up a notch, but I felt there was less tension and excitement than in the previous two books. And the big climax fell kind of flat I felt. So all in all a good continuation of the series, but not at the same really high standard as the previous two.
March 12, 2016
Myslím, že táto séria doteraz nemala hluché miesto, ale štvrtý diel bol zatiaľ jednoznačne najlepší. Autor sa poučil z úspešných fantasy sérií, má pomerne invenčné nápady. Opisné pasáže sú pomerne dynamické a akčné, príbehové línie sa pomerne pekne zbiehajú. Svojich hrdinov ani čitateľov nešetrí, ani ich sústredenie a pamäť :-).
July 28, 2018
Epic in every sense. While reading other reviews on this series I have read complaints that the world is Too big, the story to complicated but I didn't find that and the same reviewers seem to change their mind as the story continues and forms into one of the great epics of our time. I WANT TO SEE THIS AS A FILM.. please
January 6, 2014
Builds the main story up nicely, in preparation for the final volume and provides a conclusion to a number of story-threads. Some of the secondary characters feel a little short-changed, but hard to imagine how they could get more story-time without adding more pages/books.
January 9, 2012
Once more a fantastic book. Am really enjoying this series and can't wait for the next instalment.
September 28, 2012
I wasn't expecting the end at all. It was a real page turner, once I started it almost pained me to put the book down.
April 3, 2014
Pretty epic stuff, one of the major plot lines comes to a conclusion in this book; Just have to see how the rest of it all comes together in the final book.
August 29, 2015
Wooooooo, Gods, I can't Believe it !!! I seriously love this one now.
April 18, 2017
Another excellent addition to the Twilight Reign series, Lloyd mingles twisted plots with heart-pounding action. He is definitely one of grimdark's shining lights. Or should that be darkest voids?
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews