Although I only gave 3 stars to the previous part Dochter van het keizerrijk, this book is definitely worth 4 stars. Maybe even 5, but that's something I rarely do. It was a thick book (on my e-reader settings, it came out to over 700 pages) with a plot that, in my opinion, could have been more concise. The pace of the book was reasonable, although it sometimes seemed to drag on. Some names were difficult to remember. Frequently, I found myself asking 'who is that again'.

I have trouble empathizing with female main characters, but in the case of Mara, that was not the case. There was a lot of romance in the book, especially between Kevin and Mara.

A nice ending. On to the 3rd part of this trilogy Vrouwe van het keizerrijk.

3.5 Stars

Servant of the Empire carried forward the Riftwar spinoff series that commenced with Daughter of the Empire. It presented yet another engaging and multifaceted adventure set within the distinct Tsurani world.

Mara, having once again become the Ruling Lady of her house, has endured the initial assault from rival houses. However, there are perpetually more menaces lurking on the horizon. This time, the threat might not only obliterate her but also her entire household.

Picking up precisely where the first book concluded, Servant of the Empire offered an abundance of the elements that made the first installment so enjoyable. A unique culture, intense political intrigue, captivating and distinctive characters - all manner of great stuff. We were granted a more in-depth look at the Tsurani world, which I relished, as it expanded an already captivating setting. Additionally, there were numerous events that intertwined with the original Riftwar series, and as a passionate fan of those books, it was a great deal of fun to witness.

Despite all the positives, I found myself enjoying this one slightly less than the first. This book was considerably longer, and at times, the political machinations began to feel a touch repetitive. There was also a prominent romance element that I didn't particularly care for. Although the Tsurani culture is wonderfully unique, there are occasions when the attitudes towards slavery and the devaluation of human life are concerning. This final frustration was actually addressed to some extent through developments in the book, but it still remained a minor drawback.

Nevertheless, it was still an entertaining and well-written book, and I am eager to see how the final volume in the trilogy brings the story to a conclusion.

I truly believe that the second book in this trilogy outshines the first. Perhaps it is because I have become accustomed to the characters and the initial worldbuilding that took place on the other side of the pond, or rather, on the other side of the universe through the Rift from the previous Rifwar books. However, I don't think that's the main reason.

This book is far more solid than the last one. It places greater emphasis on Kevin from the other side, delves deeper into the slavery issue, and presents a significant amount of war-related content that enriches the politics and solidifies the House.

Moreover, there is the whole concept of smiting one's enemies in every conceivable way, even conserving enough energy for mercy, which is not accepted, allowing her to destroy with impunity. It's really quite enjoyable. I'm completely ready to breeze through the third book in this trilogy.

I can't wait to see how the story unfolds and what new adventures and challenges await the characters. The trilogy has been captivating so far, and I have high hopes for the final installment.

3.5 Stars

I found myself in a slump while reading the first book, Daughter of the Empire. I simply wasn't invested in the events that were unfolding. However, this second book managed to draw me in, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first 500 pages more than I did in the first book. But then, things took a turn. I didn't like the way the antagonist's characterization changed. After all the build-up and anticipation in the beginning, I was really looking forward to a battle of wits, but I was left disappointed.

Moreover, in the second half of the book, we don't actually get to see the planning process. The protagonist just has an idea, and then we see the event play out and how each character reacts. This style didn't really appeal to me. I'm hoping that the third book will be more to my liking and will offer a more engaging and satisfying reading experience.

This statement truly holds a great deal of truth. The second installment is every bit as good as the first one.

From the very beginning, this series has managed to capture my attention and keep me hooked. Each episode is filled with excitement, drama, and engaging storylines that leave me eagerly anticipating the next one.

So far, this series will undoubtedly go down as one of my favorites. It has all the elements that I look for in a great show - strong characters, a captivating plot, and excellent production values.

I can't wait to see what the future holds for this series and I'm sure that it will continue to impress and entertain me for many more episodes to come.

In the first book of this trilogy, our beloved Mara didn't succeed very well. However, in this second one, things become even more difficult as stronger opponents enter the game and take the situation into their hands, launching their attacks. Besides the political games, our heroine also learns some other games better, which also bring their own problems. Meanwhile, coming into contact with the culture on the other side of the rift, she questions all those things that she considered as givens at that time.

We encounter much more action, then, and much more emotion, with the authors choosing to speed up things a little to reach a finale where the complex political game brings shocking changes that reflect a particularly significant event in Japanese history. Of course, this acceleration doesn't deprive the book of all those virtues that I appreciated in the first part. So after the excellent start, the continuation is proportional and my rating is proportional as well.

Everything Mara did was with the intention of advancing her position in the Game of the Council, which was the very core of Tsurani politics. Her unwavering goal was the survival and strengthening of House Acoma. Both her rivals and friends had come to realize that the once inexperienced young girl had now developed into a talented player in this deadly game.

Part of her strategy involved purchasing slaves, specifically Midkemians captured from the barbarian world. Among them, a certain tall, bronzed, and red-haired barbarian named Kevin seemed to present her with an entirely new way of perceiving the world.

I adored how the Midkemians provided a fresh perspective that challenged Mara's own values, giving her an edge over her peers in spotting opportunities and plots that she might otherwise have overlooked. Kevin also served as the rational voice of the reader, questioning certain practices and codes in Mara's world. Perhaps the ordinariness of the name Kevin added to this enjoyment, almost like a sly wink from the authors.

Mara undoubtedly suffered from the Oedipal complex. However, while this might typically repel me, the classical fantasy setting, the alien world, and the cultural differences made it seem almost inevitable given her circumstances. Mara also began to understand that love, sex, and desire could be more than just a woman's bargaining chips in the Game of the Council.

Witnessing Mara mature from the fragile 17-year-old temple novice into a widowed woman with a son and numerous estates under her care as she continued to grow and thrive was truly captivating, beautiful, and empowering. 'Although of late we have all seen this delicate blossom show thorns.'

Bookstagram

*** 3.1 STARS ***

Words: 258,499

This installment in the Empire series is slightly worse than the previous one. The writing is good, yet, similar to Daughter of the Empire, Servant is rather boring. I found myself not caring about any of the characters at all. It gives the impression of being a book that focuses too much on the characters rather than having an engaging plot.

I must admit that it was nice to see Pug make an appearance. However, this only made me long for reading the Riftwar Saga instead of this.

I will still read the final book as I am really eager to continue the Riftwar Cycle after the Empire trilogy. Hopefully, the remaining books will be of a higher quality and more enjoyable to read.

Spannende fantasy is always captivating, especially when it features a woman in the lead role. It continues to bring a sense of freshness and novelty. However, the only drawback is that everything seems to be going smoothly and all the plans appear to be working without a hitch. This lack of conflict can sometimes make the story feel a bit too predictable. Nevertheless, it is still extremely enjoyable reading material. The vivid descriptions and imaginative world-building draw the reader in and keep them engaged from start to finish. The female protagonist adds an interesting dimension to the story, with her unique perspective and abilities. Overall, despite the minor flaw, this fantasy novel is a great choice for anyone looking for an entertaining and engaging read.

I'm truly loving this second trilogy in the Riftwar Saga.

It serves as a great followup to Daughter of the Empire. Although it might be a bit on the long side, it doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment.

The story has been captivating, drawing me in with its rich world-building and engaging characters.

I find myself constantly eager to turn the page and discover what lies ahead.

I can barely wait to continue with the last installment of this trilogy.

I'm sure it will be just as exciting and fulfilling as the previous books.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the story concludes and how all the loose ends are tied up.

Overall, this second trilogy has been a great addition to the Riftwar Saga, and I highly recommend it to all fans of the series.

I have this strange feeling that I really shouldn't like this series as much as I actually do. But, you know, I just can't seem to help it, even though there are a lot of things about Mara that I don't really agree with.

In this particular book, it's quite astonishing how sometimes just a turn of a page can mean that years have passed. The length of time that elapses in such a short space is truly crazy.

Mara takes a rather unexpected step in this book by taking a slave lover. And here's the thing, I felt like the author might have run out of really interesting names because the slave is called Kevin. Yes, that's right, Kevin. It seems that Kevin comes from a world that is a lot more similar to our normal world than one might expect.

I really struggled to keep up with all the different factions that Mara talks about in this book. There's the whole game of council, the emperor, the warlords, and the magicians. It just wasn't clear to me at all who wanted to do what and what each individual plot was.

But, as always, Mara manages to come out on top. And now, I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series to see what adventures and challenges she'll face next.

Wow!

I had initially thought that I liked the first book in this series. However, after reading this one, I have to say that I loved it.

I have an absolute affinity for Mara. I feel as if I truly know her, and at times, I even find myself wishing that I could be her!