Malice Recap

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Malice***

PLEASE NOTE: If you're reading this recap prior to starting Valor (or Valour depending on your book version), I encourage you to read the cast of characters at the beginning of Valor. It will re-familiarize you with character names & places. Many of us also study the map at the beginning of the book to help us keep track of the geographical location in the story.

Malice is the first book in The Faithful and The Fallen series.

In this book we are introduced several POV's and central characters. This book is where the first rumors and movements of the coming God-War begin. There are signs in the forms of a solar eclipse, the return of mythical creatures, and an increase in giant activity.

The rulers of the various kingdoms in the Banished Lands must decide if they will fight on the side of The Bright Star, avatar of Elyon and the Ben-Elim or The Black Sun, avatar of Asroth and his Kadoshim.

Corban & Cywen are sister and brother who live in Dun Carreg of Arden with their parents Thannon and Gwenith. Thannon is a blacksmith and a hotheaded brawler that loves his family very much. Gwenith is the nurturing mother who is well loved and respected by her children.

Cywen is a trainee to Gar, the stablemaster at Dun Carreg. She loves horses and is a fighter on behalf of those she loves. She is also an insufferable snoop and one of Corban's fiercest allies.

Corban, through a childish prank, became apprenticed to Brina, the quick-witted, sharp tongued healer of Dun Carreg. She has a crow named Craf who is annoying and too smart for his own good, but gifted with magic and a valuable scout.

Gar has also taken Corban under his wing to train him in the sword dance, teach him to discipline his emotions, and more. Gar is a mysterious character at this point with a murky past. He's the strong and silent type.

Evnis is another central character from Ardan. He's a nasty sort who has become embittered over time by his thirst for power, his grief over family losses, and his association with dark magical forces. He is at odds with Brenin (King of Ardan) and Corban several times over the course of the story.

Nathair is a power hungry prince who seeks to unite all of the kingdoms in The Banished Lands as one empire entirely under his control. He believe himself to be the Bright Star and seeks to fulfill his destiny through the capture of the startsone artifacts. He has aligned himself with a pirate clan, a mysterious magician, and a giant. Nathair and his father disagreed on these alliances and Nathair slew him.

Veradis is Nathair's most trusted ally and ardent supporter. He is an honorable young man seeking to prove himself in the wake of his father's dismissal.

In this first volume we are introduced to a large cast of characters & their various rivalries. These rivalries will continue to play out in the future installments as the characters choose sides in the God-War and attempt to gain power and allies. In addition, there is the emergence of the giant clans as they attempt to recapture their lands.

There are multiple battles, several of which introduce us to the idea of the shield wall - Nathair's brilliant new military tactic.

Malice wraps up with an epic battle scene that is a result of the maneuverings of Rhinn & Evnis. Queen Rhin has taken advantage of the rumors of the God-War to strike against neighboring kingdoms in an attempt to expand her holdings. She creates a rivalry between two kings which results in the death of King Brenin, Thannon (Corban's father), and many more.

Nathair is at Dun Carreg at the time searching for Meical (the counselor to Nathair's father). King Brenin refuses to reveal Meical's whereabouts, so Nathair stands by and allows Brenin's people to be slaughtered.

Corban, Dath (Corban's best friend) Gwenith, Gar, Brina, and a few others escape from Dun Carreg via underground tunnels. Cywen is separated from the group as she battles the traitorous Connall.

***PLEASE NOTE: This is a VERY brief re-cap of events in Malice. I encourage other readers to comment on this post and add additional relevant details. However, I'm hoping that this will jog the memory of those joining us further into the read-a-long.

[Cass]

Thank you so much Frankie! I jumped in to the readathon with Valor so I definitely appreciate the recap of all the characters. There are many many times where I've had to go to the glossary of characters while reading, but I think now that I'm halfway through I can keep them all straight...haha