Talon of the Silver Hawk, from a mountain people called the Orisini, becomes the last known survivor of an attack staged by fighters under the orders of Kaspar, Duke of Olasko. The reasons for this genocide appear to be for convenience, yet we later learn there is darker intent behind it. Talon becomes an agent of the Conclave of Shadows, a group dedicated to fighting evil, headed by the famed magician Pug. At the end of the second book, King of Foxes, we see Talon oust Kaspar from power, yet spares his life. Instead of sending him to a dungeon, a magician transports Kaspar to Novindus, an island on the other side of the world, leaving Kaspar with nothing but his wits to survive this harsh and inhospitable place.
So this is is where Exile's Return picks up, with Kaspar literally fighting for his life from page one against a group of warriors. The tale really picks up when he encounters three men from his side of the world who show him a strange suit of armor. From the instant he touches it, Kaspar is put under a strange strange spell which takes the four men on an ominous journey. While it seems a little convoluted, it does finally pick up the thread of the Conclave of Shadows series, tying it in and giving you a wider understanding of the whole story...it just takes a while to figure out.
While the book covers mostly the travels of Kaspar in the physical sense, it's really covering the travels of his heart and soul, as it is clearly a story of redemption, turning a ruthless dictator into a more humbled, compassionate man who understands and grieves for the actions of his past.
So this is is where Exile's Return picks up, with Kaspar literally fighting for his life from page one against a group of warriors. The tale really picks up when he encounters three men from his side of the world who show him a strange suit of armor. From the instant he touches it, Kaspar is put under a strange strange spell which takes the four men on an ominous journey. While it seems a little convoluted, it does finally pick up the thread of the Conclave of Shadows series, tying it in and giving you a wider understanding of the whole story...it just takes a while to figure out.
While the book covers mostly the travels of Kaspar in the physical sense, it's really covering the travels of his heart and soul, as it is clearly a story of redemption, turning a ruthless dictator into a more humbled, compassionate man who understands and grieves for the actions of his past.
Secret societies, grand plots, great magic, even discussions with the gods, this book has it all! I thoroughly recommend the book, and as the title of this review suggests, it's a difficult book to put down once you start.
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