Title: Lord of the Shadows Series: Second Sons #3
Author: Jennifer Fallon
Published: June 1, 2004
Genre(s): Fantasy
Page Count: 592
Rating:
Summary from Goodreads:Darkness threatens Ranadon again in the form of an eclipse. The Goddess wants to give the people of Ranadon a sign - and only Dirk Provin can interpret it. To do so, Dirk has systematically betrayed his one-time allies to join his most hated enemies. Now, with neither side trusting him, Dirk sets his own devious plot in motion. Senet’s Crippled Prince, Misha, has found unexpected and tenuous sanctuary among the Baenlanders of Mil. To secure their trust, he offers them the one thing they cannot refuse.
Meanwhile, Alenor, Queen of Dhevyn, betrayed by her husband, Kirsh, and Tia Veran, deceived by Dirk, set out for revenge and to finally free their people at any cost. As the second sons and the rest of their generation pursue different paths to survival and freedom, they discover that the will of the Goddess - and of men - works in mysterious ways. And as Dirk’s old enemies join with new ones, his attempt to save Ranadon may cost him his friends, his love...and his life.
It is a sad and unfortunate fact that the vast majority of series I’ve read have ended on a sour or disappointing note. It’s partly the reason I dislike series so much. The good news is that Jennifer Fallon is an anomaly in the trend. I love her Second Sons Trilogy with a love that is more than love, and Lord of the Shadows was just about perfect. If you like courtly intrigue and political fantasy as much as I do, this is not at all a series to pass up. I mean it.
Basically, Lord of the Shadows is the culmination of events that were put into motion at the beginning. The various factions, powers, and entities that swirl around in the series are laying all their cards on the table and it’s about to get ugly. At the center of it all is Dirk Provin, who’s probably one of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever encountered, and who certainly stands out as a top-of-the-list favorite.
I’ve talked about Dirk before, but Fallon has truly created something amazing with his character. He’s cold, logical, calculating, and far-thinking. He’s always two steps ahead of the game, and when he’s surprised, Dirk can still salvage a situation on the spot. Watching him pull strings and manage an entire planet was beyond thrilling. And, since Fallon herself describes Dirk better than I can, let’s do that.
“It just seems so unfair…”
“It is unfair,” Dirk agreed. “It’s also the only intelligent thing to do.”
And that, Tia thought, was the whole reason Dirk was standing here now. Because it was the intelligent thing to do. Not the noble thing; not even the right thing. Just the intelligent thing.
Honestly, Dirk is the important piece in Lord of the Shadows. The book wouldn’t exist without him, and while the other characters are also amazing and interesting, the real protagonist is Dirk. Probably if you don’t like him or aren’t fascinated by his endless machinations and schemes, this series won’t work for you.
Beyond that, Jennifer Fallon is an excellent writer. Her books are long, but they’re very, very readable. The world she’s created is realistic and makes sense. The people are flawed and varied. The story is crafted in a way that keeps you flipping pages, on edge to see what happens next. Even when Dirk’s big plan is launched and there’s 150 pages left to wrap up the series, I wasn’t unduly bored or irritated that the climax had come so soon. Fallon doesn’t waste time or use unnecessary pages in Lord of the Shadows, and that makes all the difference in a 500+ page novel.
I loved Lord of the Shadows. I loved it a lot. Really, I loved the entire series. It’s one of the few I’ve read that flawless from beginning to end. I urge any and all fantasy readers to consider picking this novel up. This was such a great read, from beginning to end.
