by Brian Staveley
480 pages
4/5
In The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley, the emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods.
Kaden, the heir to the Unhewn Throne, has spent eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery, learning the enigmatic discipline of monks devoted to the Blank God. Their rituals hold the key to an ancient power he must master before it's too late.
An ocean away, Valyn endures the brutal training of the Kettral, elite soldiers who fly into battle on gigantic black hawks. But before he can set out to save Kaden, Valyn must survive one horrific final test.
At the heart of the empire, Minister Adare, elevated to her station by one of the emperor's final acts, is determined to prove herself to her people. But Adare also believes she knows who murdered her father, and she will stop at nothing―and risk everything―to see that justice is meted out.
The pacing of this book was a little rough at the beginning, but it straightened itself out about midway through. It follows three main characters, who are siblings, but not evenly. The two brothers definitely get more page time, but the story is written in such a way that I feel the sister is going to blow up in the second book - which I'm all for. Her character arc in this one was small, but important.
Overall, 4/5 for the slow start. But I've already ordered the second book and can't wait to read it.
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