JH Lillevik

Mazarkis Williams’ second book in the trilogy Tower and Knife delves deeper into the Ceranic Empire and the cultures surrounding it.

If you have not read the first book, you should stop here and read my review of The Emperor’s Knife, because a lot of the story will be spoiled for you if you continue. Now that the warning is out of the way, I will get started.

The story picks up about 8 months after The Emperor’s Knife and Sarmin is now the Emperor and married to the windreader, Mesema. The Pattern Master is dead and the hold on his Carried has been broken. Many of the Carriers, now called the Many, have started working within the Palace. Grada, the Carrier who tried to kill Sarmin, is in the employment of the Emperor and they still share a rather intimate bond. Mesema is pregnant and on the verge of giving birth to Beyon’s offspring. Only Sarmin and Mesema knows this and Sarmin is hoping that Mesema gives birth to a girl, as that will not cause chaos in the Empire. Sarmin’s Army has also been let loose on the areas near Yrkmir and the god Morgyrk is growing in popularity, but there greatest threat is the growing nothingness that seems to be centered around Beyon’s tomb.

I was really looking forward to continue the journey through Mazarkis’ universe and I was not disappointed.He gives you a small glimpse of the deep conspiracy of the Empire in each chapter and nothing is as it seems. He surprises and delights, so you are kept on the edge of your seat. You feel for the characters and I really felt for both Mesema and Srmin througout the book. All Sarmin seems to want is to keep his Empire together and at peace, but everywhere he looks there are people working against him. No wonder he feels like he cannot trust to many around him. I highly recommend the book and I look forward to read book 3.