Name: Jenna Kathleen's review of Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards
Item: Chains of the Heretic
Rating: 5
Author: Jenna Kathleen

Jeff Salyards

Men are more easily broken than myths. Emperor Cynead has usurped command of the Memoridons—Tower-controlled memory witches—and consolidated his reign over the Syldoonian Empire. After escaping the capital city of Sunwrack, Captain Braylar Killcoin and his Jackal company evade pursuit across Urglovia, tasked with reaching deposed emperor Thumarr and helping him recapture the throne. Braylar’s sister, Soffjian, rejoins the Jackals and reveals that Commander Darzaak promised her freedom if she agreed to aid them in breaking Cynead’s grip on the other Memoridons and ousting him. Imperial forces attempt to intercept Braylar’s company before they can reach Thumarr. The Jackals fight through Cynead’s battalions but find themselves trapped along the Godveil. Outmaneuvered and outnumbered, Braylar gambles on some obscure passages that Arki has translated and uses his cursed flail, Bloodsounder, to part the Godveil, leading the Jackals to the other side. There, they encounter the ruins of human civilization, but they also learn that the Deserters who abandoned humanity a millennium ago and created the Veil in their wake are still very much alive. But are they gods? Demons? Monsters? What Braylar, Soffjian, Arki, and the Jackals discover beyond the Godveil will shake an empire, reshape a map, and irrevocably alter the course of history.

Bloodsounder's Arc Book Three

Chains of the Heretic

Jenna Kathleen

Five plaguing stars for Chains of the Heretic.

I originally read Scourge of the Betrayer as a group read and it was really great. In fact, it was awesome enough to continue with the second and now here I am, reviewing the final book of the series. That in itself is an accomplishment for those of you who know I give up on series pretty easily. However, that's not all. The first two books of Bloodsounder's Arc were good. Solid 4 stars for both, but this last book was just epic. You can really see the world expand and the writing bring you on the journey right there with the characters.

Arki is hilarious and clumsy as always which is such great comic relief as we battle...well, literally everything and everyone. The humour in this book is often laugh-out-loud funny whenever the soldiers interact with Arki and also with each other. That was definitely something that was showcased in this book more than the first two and there was a lot of character development, especially with Mulldoos and Vendurro, as well as a great addition to the company, Rudgi.

Two characters I thought I would be disappointed about, but instead was pleasantly surprised: (view spoiler)[ Soffjian and Skeelana. It was just way too convenient that all of the sudden Braylar and Soffjian were totally aligned and the only bad thing about Soffjian was what people said about her. She played her role well and I was almost fooled into believing she and Braylar were on the same side. Very happy about her deception, as horrible as that sounds. Same goes for Skeelana, even though her role in this book was much smaller (hide spoiler)].

The ending was just about as perfect as it could possibly be. I was actually worried because about 3/4 through the book, I could just not see how it could end in such a short time, but so much happened in that last quarter. Another thing about the ending: I think if everything wrapped up all nicely with a bow, it really wouldn't fit the rest of the series and wouldn't seem realistic, so as sad as it was, I think it totally hit the mark.

Thanks Jeff for joining our buddy read and writing such a fantastic series! I'm looking forward to reading whatever you put out next. Plaguing well done.

Jenna Kathleen &
Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards

Reviews

Join the club

Jenna Kathleen &Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards

Reviews

Join the club

Jenna Kathleen &
Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards