Django Wexler

"The Deputies-General has precarious control of the city, but it is led by a zealot who sees traitors in every shadow. Executions have become a grim public spectacle. The new queen, Raesinia Orboan, finds herself nearly powerless as the government tightens its grip and assassins threaten her life. But she did not help free the country from one sort of tyranny to see it fall into another. Placing her trust with the steadfast soldier Marcus D'Ivoire, she sets out to turn the tide of history"--

The Price of Valor

Sheila

I'm a little frustrated that IRL events conspired to prevent me from marathoning this book, because it is simply the best instalment YET. All the military action from the first book, combined with some of the political machinations of the second book, sprinkled with a liberal dose of character development & new secondary characters has left me begging for more! I'm bitter that I have to wait for book 4, because I don't think there's another flint lock fantasy series that will engage my imagination as much as The Shadow Campaigns.

Marcus d'Ivoire is still on the sidelines in this book, still struggling with his inner White Knight but managing to pull off some great feats with the help of Queen Raesinia and friends in disguise. SO MANY brilliant secondary female characters are introduced in this book! I'm still irritated that Jane is still a factor in this story, & it seems that she will end up being a rather important factor in the plot for the last 2 books, because I'm no fan of her ESPECIALLY her relationship with Winter (who deserves so much better tbh) Then again, Jane does bring an emotional complexity to the plot that I can appreciate. There's only one decent Winter x Bobby moment in this book & it's all the way at the end :( 

This book also features some brilliant moments of how it feels whenever women get mansplained to, that I wish I could quote without spoilers. 

I WANT BOOK 4 NOW GDI UUGOJSFBJAL LWJHFVIO

Jenna Kathleen

I finally got my guillotine in the form of a "merciful" spike to the heart!

The action of The Price of Valour starts much faster than the second book and we are right away thrown into the action. I loved that we got the best of both settings of book one and two: a military campaign led by the ever mysterious Janus, and political conflict with Raesinia and Marcus forming a fantastic partnership.

I hated Jane. I was really hoping (view spoiler)[she would die in this book, but of course, she lives another day to drag Winter down (hide spoiler)]. However, I'm pretty sure Jane is supposed to be a dislikable character and at least she serves a purpose; Winter's evolving relationship with Jane made for some great character development in Winter. Jane doesn't make it easy for her to choose between her two lives and it creates some great inner conflict in Winter.

I was happy to see Bobby and Feor again and Cyte and Abby were also wonderful characters yet again. Wexler spent the first two books building up his character cast and in this third book, there was a lot of great character development in minor characters as well as in the main characters.

Another thing that was shown a lot more was the naath and The Thousand Names which was awesome. (view spoiler)[ The last fight scene between Winter's crew and the Penitent Damned was sweet - we finally got to see Infernivore in action for the first time since the temple (hide spoiler)].

I'm still not sure of Janus' end game, but he is looking more and more sketchy all the time... You can't help but love him!

In the wake of the Kingâe(tm)s death, war has come to Vordan. The new queen, Raesinia, is nearly powerless as the government tightens its grip and assassins threaten her life. Together with Marcus Dâe(tm)Ivoire, she sets out to turn the tide of history. But as all the powers of the continent rise against Vordan, Janus bet Vhalnich and Winter Ihernglass face a bloody battle against enemies not just armed with muskets and cannon, but dark priests of an ancient order, wielding forbidden magic.

The Shadow Campaign

The Price of Valour

Dan Peterson

Tetiana Bilokin

In the wake of the King's death, war has come to Vordan. The new queen, Raesinia, is nearly powerless as the government tightens its grip and assassins threaten her life. Together with Marcus D'Ivoire, she sets out to turn the tide of history. But as all the powers of the continent rise against Vordan, Janus bet Vhalnich and Winter Ihernglass face a bloody battle against enemies not just armed with muskets and cannon, but dark priests of an ancient order, wielding forbidden magic.

The Price of Valor

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