The Obsidian Empire by Mark T Barnes and Book Blog Walkers: Weekly Check-in Sept 12 2014

This challenge is organized by Felicia over at the Geeky Blogger's Book Blog

Saturday I can't remember, can have been only 30 min cos I had the flu
Sunday 5 km bike and 30 min walk
Monday 5 km bike and 40 min walk
Tuesday 5 km bike, and 15 min walk (12 hour workday  :( )
Wednesday 5 km bike, and 1 hour zumba class
Thursday 5 km bike, and 30 min walk
Friday 10 km bike and 1 hour yoga class

Should be from Saturday

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Warrior-mage Indris grows weary in his failed attempts to thwart the political machinations of Corajidin, and faces the possibility of imprisonment upon his return to his homeland. Moreover, Indris’s desire for Corajidin’s daughter, Mari, is strong. Can he choose between his duty and his desire…and at what cost?

Left alienated from her House, Mari is torn between the opposing forces of her family and her country—especially now that she’s been offered the position of Knight-Colonel of the Feyassin, the elite royal guards whose legacy reaches back to the days of the Awakened Empire. As the tensions rise, she must decide if her future is with Indris, with her family, or in a direction not yet foreseen.

As he awaits trial for his crimes, Corajidin confronts the good and evil within himself. Does he seek redemption for his cruel deeds, or does he indebt himself further to the enigmatic forces that have promised him success, and granted him a reprieve from death? What is more important: his ambition, regaining the love stolen from him, or his soul?

My thoughts:

I am a bit torn when it comes to this review. I struggled with the book, it did not keep my attention. For that it was only ok. BUT the world building is just so rich. Mythology, politics, culture, fighting, everything is just so interesting. I do love the world. The story stagnated though.

Idris is still being good. Mari is still thinking her dad is bad, but not doing anything about it. Corajidin is still being bad and wanting to take over everything. The leaders are still being idiots and should have Corajidin executed, but money can buy anything and everyone.

Ok lots happened, and nothing happened. People talked, thought about things, went back and forth. Accused each other of things they had not done. Fought. And then witches came. The end.

Something was missing, something that made me enthralled with book 1 (even if if it took two turns to finish it). But here I never became that enthralled, frankly I felt disappointed.

Conclusion:

So the book was ok, the world was good. The world saves the rating, deserving? Maybe not. As it did not make me want to read more. A rating of the heart, not the mind.

Edit:

1 day later. I changed my mind. Yes the world was good, but the mindless reading I did, no. Have to rate it just ok.

Cover

good

Paperback, 438 pages
Published October 15th 2013 by 47North
Echoes of Empire #2
Fantasy
Library