The Traitor: Book Three of the Covenant of Steel

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Let me tell you something, oh my wayward cub.” Her voice became an urgent hiss as she leaned closer. “The sum of what I’ve learned about lords, ladies, and all others who claim nobility in this realm: it’s all shit, and they know it. Titles mean nothing. Blood and kinship mean nothing. There are three things that matter in this realm: coin, land, and the ability to summon soldiers to fight those who would seek to take the first two from you. Everything else is a farce played by folk born into their role or come late to the stage, like me and you. Your divinely ordained bitch may have the most complex role of all. But it’s still just that, Alwyn, an act, even if she doesn’t know she’s playing.”The writing is quite engaging and the world-building gets much better as the plot unfolds from book one up until this conclusion, while the characterizations are also painted on well and blend with their respective plot threads. The pacing and seemingly endless plot twists are executed with a masterful touch of expertise and a flair for the dramatic.

Words have power," I agreed with a shrug, "Especially when you write them down. As for lies, I learned long ago that you can only really sell them to a willingly gulled audience."This second instalment solely follows Alwyn’s perspective. I enjoyed the second half much more than the first.

And another layer of that is the fact Alwyn is recounting and thus many things are clearer to him in hindsight and foreshadow his main conflict from this book. I was waiting for so long for Alwyn's shift,and when it finally happened, it turned into a straight-forward epic fantasy quest with a singular goal, a soap-opera addition to the story and some fine battle scenes and magical shenanigans. Would there be any point to it, if I did?” I asked her. “For I fancy hating you would be like hating the rain or the wind. You simply are.”So mired in their own ambition and deceit they proceed through life possessed of the comforting delusion that all others are cast in the same mould, My amusement at the princess's limited mind and singular misjudgement was muted by the knowledge that, in many ways, I wished her to be right. It is inarguable that my life, an This book had a battle-heavy focus and Ryan really excelled in making his scenes of action understandable and readable. I was never lost in what was occurring and this was, in part, due to the vivid depictions and, also, how both sides of any skirmish were portrayed. If you pay careful attention, you may see the patterns Ryan weaves with his other stories and books. Mayhap you’ll notice past histories, or future possibilities. The Pariah and The Martyr were so good, I expect most readers who’ve finished the first two to read The Traitor.

I think anything I would say becomes spoilers in one way or another for those who didn't read this book or the entire series. Evadine Courlain, the Risen Martyr- in her divine-spirited wisdom- decided that she is to become the Ascendant Queen, the new ruler of Albermaine. The only thing standing in her way is Princess Regent Lorraine, who rules in stead of her underage son, Alfric and his infant betrothed Lady Ducinda Cohlsair. And Alwyn, Evadine's Spymaster, most trusted adviser and now, her lover, would use all of his skills to deliver her the throne whether it's fighting, strategizing or negotiating for support with Albermaine Lords. Overall, definitely recommend as I do every book of Ryan's I have read and I'm really, really hoping that the ending is a cliffhanger for the next book! In terms of action scenes and pacing this was, of course, excellent. The battle scenes were well written as usual and I'm really glad that Ryan decided to not make these protracted engagements given how the story progresses. By this point Evadine is so freaking evil that I feel like having her win even one battle or even the appearance of her winning one battle would have been way too much.

Alwyn Scribe was never meant to be a soldier. A thief? Yes. A scribe? Certainly. But a soldier, well, this becomes his nightmare!