Sara P. (sarap) - reviewed on 7/30/2010 + 32 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

I wanted to review this book to provide some perspective on this book in the context of all 3 books that make up this trilogy. Some reviewers have stated that they did not continue with the series. The second and third books are vastly different from Empress and completely change the context and understanding of the first book.

The trilogy itself is the story of the rulers of two lands ... Mijak and Ethrea, the completely different political and religious systems that they have evolved, and the war that they eventually fight.

Empress concentrates only on Hekat, who becomes the Empress of Mijak. The second book concentrates 98% on Rhian, a princess of Ethrea. The third book concentrates on the war between the countries, mostly from the perspective of Rhian and others in Ethrea.

I thought Empress was very interesting as a study of how evil looks from the inside, and how religious fervor makes certain actions seem OK. (You don't really understand this perspective completely until you read books 2 and 3 and you gain additional information about Mijak which is not known to Hekat in the first book.)

No matter how you feel about the first book, I strongly recommend at least picking up the second book and giving it a try before you give up on the series, as the different perspective in the second and third books radically changes the understanding of the first book.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details