We have betrayals, shifting loyalties, unlikely friendships, and even love. Both play a huge part in nearly all the societies, and as more factions emerge from the shadows we see how much more complex the situation can get.Īs things heat up, the net tightens and gradually we are starting to see events converge, bringing the various players closer together. Nations and their diverse populations are woven into an intricate web of magic and religion, which are two sides of the same coin.
It’s another reason why this world feels so alive, with all its elements working in tune with one another. And yet, despite of the sheer scale of it, David Hair manages to make his characters and their stories feel deeply intimate and personal. Amusing as this is, Ramon’s point of view also gives readers a boots-on-the-ground view of looming war.Įverything and everyone is connected, the vast distances between the some of the characters and the spheres of conflict notwithstanding. Some comic relief is also provided by Alaron’s former classmate Ramon, whose storyline involves him running a pyramid scheme, all while his legion marches towards battle. Polar opposites in political sides and backgrounds, both nevertheless come to realize they may have a common enemy in Gurvon Gyle, the empire’s spymaster. Several more story arcs run in tandem, including the one which follows Ramita’s former lover Kazim, who ends up with the mercenary Elena Anborn after a botched attack on Emperor Constant’s pureblood mages. Little does she know, Meiros is dead, leaving his pregnant widow Ramita on the run from his killers. Cymbellea, who believes she knows the best use for the Scytale, has taken it with the intention of delivering it to Antonin Meiros, the most powerful mage in the world.
A very powerful and valuable artifact called the Scytale of Corineus has slipped through Emperor Constant’s fingers, and he has tasked his inquisitors to scour the world searching for the ones who have absconded with it.Įnter Alaron Mercer, a failed mage who had the Scytale in his hands, then lost it to the girl of his dreams who stole the artifact along with his heart. Rondion legions and the Inquisition’s windships waste no time storming their way across Antiopia, but very few know of a troubling secret eating at the heart of their empire. The last two Moontides have involved lofty ambitions and crusades of conquest, and this one is no different. In this sequel, the Moontide is at hand and the mighty Leviathan Bridge now stands open, creating a corridor between the two continents Yuros and Antiopia, which are normally separated by a vast ocean. And I knew we were going to be heading right into the action with book two. The first book may have been slightly encumbered by a lengthy introduction and a slow build-up as Hair established the players and set the stage, but it all culminated into one explosive climax and conclusion.
#Moontide quartet characters series
This series has grown on me, as I stated in my review of the preceding volume, Mage’s Blood. However, I jumped into The Scarlet Tides with no reservations whatsoever. Middle books of a series can also be mighty tricky I’ve had enough disappointing experiences with sequels myself, which makes me understand why some readers would be nervous when approaching them. These books take place across two huge continents following about half a dozen characters of different creeds and cultures, with the alliances and conflicts that arise between nations forming the basis for multiple threads of the story and driving the plot forward.
David Hair goes well beyond simply describing the different peoples and places - what he’s created here actually feels like a living, breathing system. I’ve never come across a fantasy series with such a comprehensive and detailed approach to world-building. Needless to say, the maps became indispensable to me while I was reading. Open up The Scarlet Tides and the first things you’ll see are several gorgeously illustrated maps depicting the world of the Moontide Quartet. Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (UK: October 24, 2013, US: October 7, 2014) Book Review: The Scarlet Tides by David Hair
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