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A recurring theme of noble prince and nefarious kings, Cormac probably isn't sure if he hates power-hungry royalty more, or the new faith. Seeing the Roman's preferred choice of torture and death being adopted by the new faith, he can't understand that death has no hold on the new faith, and can only bolster it's weight.

Though not fully unexpected, things take a darker turn in book three, where a family slowly unravels, elitists show their alien narcissism, and the willingness of the lower caste to hurt each other is all too savage.

Book Three sees a seasoned veteran and a green recruit butt heads in a humorous way but play off each other's strengths in what some would consider a suicide mission of great proportions. Questionable or not, you can't keep a good man down when action is needed.

Beowulf. The mightiest man on earth. Arch-warrior. The strength of 30 in the grip of each hand.

The empire strikes back... actually, it struck first. An array of warriors facing a formidable foe, I can envision Book 2 as a comic series with the proper artist.

Who can you trust if not an earth-magic apothecary? Maybe a daughter of Epona? I know not but it's a reasonably wild ride thus far.

Love is in the air but threat after threat comes at the dwindling crew. Still, berserker rage and warrior hearts abound.

In part 2, healing from an accident that claimed his lover, Paul is an unorthodox quirky archaeologist with an insight into ancient Egyptian culture that is way more advanced than the common world speculates. Still, ancient funerary masks and rings spark memories of a time long passed.

Humorously at times, this is a journey of one man who has many vows to keep: a fight to the death with the son of a slain champion, a fight to the death with a chosen misnomer of a feminist goddess, a fight with a coming dark god, a fight with handsy flesh-eaters, and fight to the death (sorta) with a horse... which is probably a literal example of the Feast of Bones.

In A Promise to Glory, Paeter is faced with the choice of renouncing his employer and joining a Lion regiment or going to meet the Maker that he hasn't been too keen to be educated on. Either way, he will be tested by Commander and God alike.

Adrian Cole is presenting a strict and rigid society civilized by ambition and education, tainted by the decadent and debaucherous shadows of humanity, while also slowing time down for a peaceful and secret grove where one can absorb the silence of God, and bask in Creation all around.

Paraphrased from Book One: The folly of prideful kings is a mysterious cause for men to survive and die for, as the only testament left for future generations are ruinous fragments of forgotten kings or forsaken deities. Relatable are the warriors and their camaraderie.

Ten Chapters in you'bye found out that when the V.A. doesn't take care of their veterans like they should, there might be a broker that could use their military skills and cold personas to shake up the shadows. No characters to emulate but a grimey thrill so far.

After the Introduction and section 1 dedicated to strictly dragons, it seems like a semi-humorous testament of human institutions through the theme of mythological creatures that are misunderstood and mistreated, dying out due to those vile humans.

Magic comes in interesting forms but wit certainly helps overcome the grim environment.

Immediately thrown into a maelstrom of violence, the son of Art is quite the brooder when things are calm until he once again is forced into the fray of battle. What cold go wrong or right at this point? Introducing a wild lover.

Part 1: Introduced to the tyranny of Khem with Kush banding tribes together to overrun Khem, dark sorcery casts a soul through time and a love triangle dictates whether tyranny will win or not.

Book 1: Socrates hears about whether elder days are harder or more free and at peace from youthful passions, debates if the just man is still just against the unjust man, and weathers an enraged Thrasymachus in debate about injustice being more painful than justice in a ruling state.

In a Call to.Arms, friendly ancient wisdom would encourage the leading of lions, to watch for vipers, and return to where the heart of victory rests.

Amazon labels this in the reading age of 12-18. I would disagree with that though I do believe my 12 and 15 year olds would enjoy this ... but this 44 year old probably enjoys it more. So far, and I project in the end, you can believe the other positive Reviews for what they say. "Another corpse for the Feast of Bones!" "

Fox & Animal Legends: with more humor and a fairy tale feel, usually involving a fox or badger or cat, and even a few tethered lovers among fireflies and butterflies.

Legends of the Sea: Fafhrd and Grey Mouser went to the wrong Sea King's Palace compared to Urashima's adventure. Sacrifice and survival overcome Tokoyo's grief, dumb Sankichi will make a legend out of the Cape of a Woman's Sword, suicide is sought but a great argument given against it in the Love of O Cho San, a wretchedly repentant 1,000-year-old awabi spirit makes amends, and the tears of a shark-man.

Ghost Stories & Supernatural Creatures: from vengeful spirits to restless ghosts, flesh-eating devils and confectioners corpses, some myths have a moral lesson while some play out like a pantheon Greek god tragedy: no purpose but to be dramatic.