The Lascar's Dagger

December 23, 2013
Magic, religion, and the spice trade combine in this intriguing series launch from fantasist Larke (the Stormlord trilogy). Saker Rampion, spy and cleric, is sent to the royal court as spiritual adviser to the future king. He stumbles across a religious conspiracy that threatens both his nation and his faith. When he is sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit, only magic-wielding royal handmaiden Sorrel Redwing can save him. Plot twists that in other hands might feel predictable have a sense of solid inevitability. As the slow-burning plot unfolds, Larke's attention to detail and worldbuilding come into their own, and a complex web of political machinations is gradually revealed. Densely plotted without being convoluted, this is an absorbing political fantasy that bodes well for the rest of the series.

March 15, 2014

Spy and cleric Saker Rampion is eavesdropping on some powerful merchants discussing contraband they have smuggled from the exotic spice islands, but he's not alone. A Lascar native to those islands is also watching the group, and when the two clash, Saker ends up in possession of the Lascar's dagger--a weapon that will change Saker's destiny. Meanwhile, amid rumors of religious strife in nearby Ardrone, the head of Saker's religious order sends him to be the spiritual adviser to the heirs to Ardrone's throne. Saker makes a terrible mistake, and only the aid of a palace handmaiden with a magical talent will save him from execution. VERDICT Australian Larke ("The Stormlord Trilogy") creates a rich world filled with political and religious conflict. The wonderfully flawed characters and a nuanced battle of good versus evil make this series opener a solid bet for fantasy fans.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.