Servant of the Empire is an outstanding, political, and extensive sequel to the remarkable Daughter of the Empire.

If you watched my recent video on my booktube channel, you'd know I was hospitalized for two weeks. During that trying time, three books saved my sanity, and Servant of the Empire was one of them. I've expressed my love for Daughter of the Empire, and I approached this sequel with excitement and a hint of caution, fearing disappointment from overly high expectations. So, is it better than Daughter of the Empire? I'd say it's just as good. Servant of the Empire is a much larger novel compared to its predecessor, nearly 900 pages long. While some readers may think it's too long, I was thoroughly impressed.

The story picks up about a year after the events of the previous novel and follows Mara Acoma as she continues her battle with the Minwanabi clan. Mara is no longer a novice in the brutal Game of Council; she's now an expert. However, her path to victory is far from easy. Due to various circumstances and oppositions, Mara's journey in this novel is filled with hardships. The themes still center around honor, freedom, loyalty, love, and faith, but there's a significant and believable change.

In the first novel, we saw the characters' extreme dedication to upholding their honor and words. But in this novel, the authors make things more interesting by having the characters question the traditions they've followed for so long. What if these traditions were used to mask greed and ambition? What if honor was a justification for hatred and violence? These are thought-provoking and relatable questions that I loved reading about.

I've seen reviews claiming there's a love triangle in this novel, but I disagree. Mara is one of my favorite heroines in the fantasy genre, and my admiration for her grew after reading this novel. While romance is a part of the story, it's not the main focus. The dilemma Mara faces is more complex than a simple love triangle. It's clear who she would choose if she didn't have any responsibilities, and the authors did a great job using her relationship with Kevin to develop her character.

In addition to Kevin, there are many other supporting characters who enhance Mara's characterizations. I loved every scene with Arakasi, Keyoke, and Nacoya. Their relationships with Mara felt genuine, and their characterizations were excellent. The prose is accessible and flows well, and there are many powerful passages that I wish I could share without spoiling the story.

Similar to Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire is filled with bloody political conflicts, but this sequel also features a few battle-heavy chapters that were a pleasant surprise. The authors handle tension and its release well, not only through swordfights but also through tactics and espionage. The villain, Tasaio, is diabolical and terrifying. If you've read The Magician, you'll recognize Milamber. While it's not necessary to have read The Magician to enjoy this one, it adds an extra layer of depth to see Milamber's actions from the perspective of other characters.

Servant of the Empire is a superb, pulse-pounding political and emotional installment that retains all the greatness of its predecessor. I can't believe it took me this long to discover this trilogy. I'm looking forward to reading the final book, Mistress of the Empire, next month. I'm curious how the trilogy will end, as the ending of this novel was already quite conclusive. Finally, I want to thank Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts for writing this amazing trilogy. It truly helped me during a difficult time.

4.5/5

Intricate intrigues and bloody feuds, intertwined with doses of humor. The ending was a bit overemphasized, but I hadn't had this much fun with a book in a long time.

The story was filled with complex plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and motives. The author's use of humor added a lighthearted touch to the otherwise dark and intense narrative.

Despite the somewhat overdone ending, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a refreshing change from the typical novels I usually pick up. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and entertaining read.

I really enjoyed the ending. It was truly satisfying.

However, I can't ignore the fact that it took me almost a month to read something that, in all fairness, should have taken me at most a week to finish.

The middle part of the story really dragged on, and the pacing was, to be honest, a bit chaotic for me. It definitely didn't help that I started reading this right after "DotE (Daughter of the Empire)", which has twice as much action in half the page number.

I'm not a fan of the romance in this book.

But I do love Mara's scheming.

I will be picking up the final book soon, but I need to think carefully about how and what I'm going to rate this one because right now, I'm really conflicted.

On one hand, the ending was great, but on the other hand, the pacing issues and my lack of enthusiasm for the romance have left me a bit unsure.

I guess I'll have to see how I feel after reading the final installment before making a decision on the rating.

A really strong follow-up to 'Daughter Of The Empire', this installment truly captivates. I have an intense love for Mara. She is an amazingly strong female character, and it's wonderful that she takes center stage.

Even though she experiences moments of weakness when it comes to Kevin, this only serves to make her more realistic.

Talking of Kevin, I have a great affection for his character as well. However, I was saddened by the way things ended for both of them. Although I couldn't envision how it could have concluded differently. I truly wish they had bestowed upon him another name. There is nothing about the name Kevin that sounds sexy or brave; it simply didn't seem to suit him. I'm also sorry if you happen to be reading this and your name is Kevin. Awkward.

I really relished the plot, or perhaps I should say the numerous plots that were in play during the Game of Council. I would highly recommend this series thus far. I'm eagerly looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, anticipating what exciting twists and turns it will bring.

This is an absolutely incredible book, and it surpasses the first one by a significant margin.

It delves deeper into the political intrigue that was introduced in the first installment, ratcheting up the stakes to new heights. Additionally, it offers a wealth more of action, with several thrilling battle scenes and a couple of nail-biting assassination attempts.

Moreover, there is a substantial amount of romance in this book. Mara simply can't seem to contain herself when she's in the presence of Kevin.

The fact that these books were released prior to Game of Thrones is truly remarkable. This series is highly likely to secure a place in my top 10 all-time favorites.

Even if you had an aversion to Magician, I wholeheartedly urge you to give this one a try. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

Nowhere near the level of the first book, but still a pretty damn good continuation.

It is undeniable that this installment does not quite reach the heights of its predecessor. However, it manages to maintain a certain charm and excitement that makes it a worthy follow-up.

The story continues to unfold in an engaging manner, with new characters and plot twists that keep the reader hooked. While it may not have the same impact as the first book, it still offers an enjoyable reading experience.

The author has done a decent job of building on the foundation laid in the first book and creating a world that feels both familiar and fresh.

Full review to come.

Overall, despite its shortcomings, this continuation is still a pretty damn good addition to the series and one that fans will surely appreciate.

Chyba troszkę się jednak cieszę, że nie porzucam szybko serii. Sądzę, że to, co mi przeszkadzało w pierwszym tomie, jest w pewnym stopniu i tutaj. Jednakże, to, co się dzieje w tej książce i jak dużo bardziej Mara jest wrzucona lub sama się wrzuca w ogień politycznych intryg, dość mocno zaćmiewa te problemy. Chociaż jeden dość mocno mi przeszkodził tutaj.

Powód? Straszne oparcie na farcie i głupocie danej frakcji jednocześnie. Daje przykład taki bezspoilerowy. Dana frakcja tak sobie trochę zapomina, że coś, co każdy robi innym rodziną, może się im wydarzyć. Przez co mogą być w lekkiej dupie, i to się dzieje. ALE(!) na szczęście druga frakcja jest jeszcze głupsza. Nie tylko wypuszcza z rąk kłębek informacji, który im się może naprawdę przydać, ale również podaje mu WIĘCEJ informacji. (Why the fuck would you even do that, LMAO?). To mogą bardzo pomóc tej pierwszej frakcji. Nie tylko to, ten dany kłębek informacji jakimś cudem odnajduje grupkę ludzi, która jest z nim sprzymierzona. ALE żeby jeszcze do tego dołożyć małą cegiełkę, jeśli chodzi o powiększenie absurdalnego farta, wymawia pewne słowa, które w całym królestwie znaczenie zna ilość osób, którą można policzyć na jednej dłoni.

Jestem w stanie przymknąć oko na takie rzeczy w książkach. Ale gdy książka skupia się głównie na różnorakich intrygach politycznych, ciężko jest tego oka nie mieć otwartego na tego typu rzeczy. Wiem, że to taka przypierdolka, ale jednak ten moment jest wystarczająco ważny, bym miał z nim zgrzyty.

Kolejnym małym minusem jest to, jak autorzy przedstawiają nam zagrożenie lub inteligencje naszych antagonistów. Są one za bardzo nadmuchane, zwłaszcza ta inteligencja.

Za to przeczytałem, że minusem jest trójkąt miłosny w tej książce. Moja odpowiedź na taką krytykę? Czy czytaliśmy te same książki? Nie wiem, może znam inną definicję "trójkąta miłosnego". Bo to, co tutaj widziałem, nawet nie było blisko mojej definicji. Ba, jak już, to według mnie był on dobrze poprowadzony. Zwłaszcza romans między naszymi gołąbkami. Pierwszym co mi przyszło do głowy to pewna relacja między postaciami w Shogun pana Clavella, tylko odwrócona o 180 stopni.

Sama postać Mary naprawdę może się podobać, a jej zmiana z upływem czasu jest widoczna coraz to bardziej i bardziej.

Za dużo pierdolingu tutaj już nabazgroliłem. Werdykt? Book good.

The dialogue between the two characters presented an interesting but rather concerning situation. Mara's description of her slave lover, who is tall, with broad shoulders, red gold hair, and striking blue eyes, yet disrespects her in public, and her decision to have his baby and pass it off as Hokanu's, shows a lack of moral judgment. Hokanu, on the other hand, is described as 5'10", with dark skin, up-tilted black eyes, and a slender build. He is rich and important, which Mara seems to think will ensure a good life for the baby. However, the narrator's response of "Yeah, uh genius" indicates a certain level of sarcasm and disappointment. Overall, the actions and decisions of the characters, especially Mara, made the narrator lose respect for the main character and many secondary characters as well. This sequel, in the narrator's opinion, did not live up to the promise of the first book, leading to a DNF (Did Not Finish) at 90%.

All in all, it was a good read.

However, I had to struggle from time to time with the overly 'over the top' prose.

The author's writing style was at times a bit too flamboyant and excessive for my taste.

While the story itself was engaging and interesting, the elaborate and bombastic language sometimes detracted from the overall enjoyment.

I found myself having to wade through paragraphs of flowery descriptions and convoluted sentences to get to the heart of the matter.

Nevertheless, there were also moments when the prose added a certain charm and elegance to the narrative.

It was a bit of a love-hate relationship with the writing, but in the end, I still managed to appreciate the book for its other qualities.

Despite the challenges posed by the prose, it was still a worthwhile read that left me with some food for thought.

For a largely political fantasy, Servant of the Empire had too few shades of grey. It seemed that the story adhered too closely to the traditional good versus bad dichotomy.

The villains were so blatantly bad that it was almost jarring. Their actions left no room for interpretation or sympathy.

Moreover, the shrewd and cunning lord did not always make sound decisions, which further detracted from the believability of the narrative.

As I read, I noticed that the descriptions and actions in the novel did not always align, which bothered me significantly.

The point of views (POVs) of the villains only added to my aversion. I have seen this technique executed much better in other works, where adding a second POV can enhance the suspense.

However, in this novel, it did not have the same effect.

Compared to the first instalment, I missed the sense of high stakes. But upon reflection, I realized that the first book was mainly driven by the intense emotions of Mara, the main POV character.

And in this regard, the author-duo once again excelled.

Their ability to convey Mara's emotions was truly remarkable.

Sure, the purchase of the slaves at the beginning of the story did not seem entirely logical, and I quickly feared the outcome, which unfortunately came to pass.

But as I mentioned earlier, the authors' strength lies in their portrayal of emotions, and my perception of the story took a 360° turn.

I simply could not get enough of Mara and Kevin .

This was a masterstroke, as the novel aims to challenge traditional norms and customs.

I also appreciated the two racial perspectives that often clashed but ultimately benefited the empire.

The ending was a bit melancholy I already miss Kevin , and I am uncertain what the next instalment will bring.

Nevertheless, I am confident that it will evoke strong emotions in me, which is a significant aspect of a good book.

I rate this book 3.5 stars. While I enjoyed it slightly less than the first one due to the reasons mentioned earlier, it does not diminish my overall enjoyment or my eagerness to continue exploring this captivating world.

I found the first volume much more extraordinary than this second volume.

The first volume seemed to have a certain charm and allure that was lacking in the second. It had a unique storyline that kept me engaged from start to finish. The characters were well-developed and their relationships added depth to the narrative.

In contrast, the second volume felt a bit flat. The plot didn't have the same excitement and the characters didn't seem to grow or change as much. It was almost as if the author had run out of ideas or was just going through the motions.

However, I will say that the second volume did have some redeeming qualities. The writing was still good and there were a few moments that made me smile. But overall, it just didn't live up to the expectations set by the first volume.

I'm still hopeful that the author will be able to bring the series back to its former glory in future volumes. Maybe there are some big surprises in store that will make me forget about the shortcomings of the second volume. Only time will tell.