Warlord by Jennifer Fallon. Review by S.K. Slevinski

In the third and final installment of her Wolfblade prequel trilogy, Jennifer Fallon delivers on reader expectations by offering a well-plotted conclusion that—true to form—doesn't neglect character development.

Warlord picks up as Marla Wolfblade's children have come of age into a world of inter-kingdom intrigue and impending conflict. Her son Damin Wolfblade, heir to the throne of Hythria, is twenty-five and ready to assume the powers of his promised office. But power does not come without responsibility, and he must prove capable at war and politics to survive turbulent times. While Fardohnyah threatens invasion from outside Hythrian borders, Damin must also face potential threat from inside his kingdom—allowing warlords from rival families to come to power could leave his inheritance in jeopardy.

Fallon provides fans with precisely what they're looking for, and so if you've been following along in the Wolfblade trilogy and/or the Hythrun Chronicles you will get the reliably engaging tale you've grown to expect from Fallon. For those who haven't read Fallon yet, this book serves as more proof of what all her books have to recommend them. First is her steadfast treatment of stories in trilogy form—no never-ending series fiction here. You get an epic fantasy on a grand scale tied up neatly in three books. And yet, Fallon retains a remarkable ability to make each book readable from the beginning for new readers. No worries if you haven't read the previous books, Fallon's storytelling lets you pick up right here, right now. Finally, Fallon persists in offering epic political fantasy that prizes character development and resists falling into the "big evil villain" trap. All her characters are just characters, not good or evil, but people with motivations and flaws.

Jennifer Fallon keeps producing engaging fantasy epics in a form that is both grand enough to scratch the "epic" itch but compact enough to deliver a worthy conclusion without letting the story get out of hand.

S.K. Slevinski is senior editor for ARWZ Literary Magazine and a long time reader of alternative reality fiction. She is currently a graduate student, specializing in folklore.

Buy the Cover? (7/15)
07/15/2010

Author: Violanthe Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:55 pm Look at the following cover. Imagine that you have only the cover and the information it provides (including images, title and author name) to decide whether to buy this (or any) book. Would you buy this book having looked... read more

Favorite Setting
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Buy the Cover? (7/6)
07/06/2010

Author: Violanthe Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:01 pm Look at the following cover. Imagine that you have only the cover and the information it provides (including images, title and author name) to decide whether to buy this (or any) book. Would you buy this book having looked... read more

The Price you Pay
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Buy the Cover? (6/23)
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Author: Violanthe Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 4:17 pm Look at the following cover. Imagine that you have only the cover and the information it provides (including images, title and author name) to decide whether to buy this (or any) book. Would you buy this book having looked... read more

Do you go to your library?
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Buy the Cover? (6/22)
06/22/2010

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06/17/2010

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Buy the Cover? (6/17)
06/17/2010

Author: Violanthe Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 3:26 pm Look at the following cover. Imagine that you have only the cover and the information it provides (including images, title and author name) to decide whether to buy this (or any) book. Would you buy this book having looked... read more

Covers you Remember
06/14/2010

Author: Violanthe Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 12:59 pm What book covers stick out in your mind? Do you have a favorite book from the past whose cover you found particularly striking? Do you remember first seeing the cover of a now-favorite book as you first glimpsed it in the... read more

Buy the Cover? (6/14)
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Author: Violanthe Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 12:57 pm Look at the following cover. Imagine that you have only the cover and the information it provides (including images, title and author name) to decide whether to buy this (or any) book. Would you buy this book having looked... read more

Author Nationality
06/14/2010

Author: Violanthe Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 12:55 pm Well, of course we are all bound to read more of authors who speak our own languages. It's harder to come across others who write in different languages simply because the middle man of translator is necessary. A book has to... read more

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Buy the Cover? (5/10)
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Author: Violanthe Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 1:02 pm Look at the following cover. Imagine that you have only the cover and the information it provides (including images, title and author name) to decide whether to buy this (or any) book. Would you buy this book having looked... read more

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