Poison was only the beginning…. The deadly siege of Silasta woke the ancient spirits, and now the city-state must find its place in this new world of magic. But people and politics are always treacherous, and it will take all of Jovan and Kalina’s skills as proofer and spy to save their country when witches and assassins turn their sights to domination.
Sam Hawke’s much anticipated follow up to City Of Lies does not disappoint- Diving back into the action some time after the events of its predecessor, we find a much changed city. But underneath the rebuilding lies political turmoil and an unknown enemy, subtle and insidious, undermining progress in every way.
I loved this again. The world building is truly extraordinary, in Hollow Empire the author expands that outwards, creating a wider understanding of the differing cultures that sets the scene perfectly before oh so many things start going wrong. We get alternating events between Jovan and Kalina, as well as poisoning updates that over time create a real feeling for the unfolding drama. The many many layers of narrative build over the course of the book, heading towards an edge of the seat finale.
The writing is beautiful. So much detail both in character and setting, never losing sight of the goal and genuinely addictive. In Hollow Empire you have fantasy, political thriller, mystery and hints of romance. It encompasses the best of all reading worlds and is both evocative and intelligent- with an added dose of page turning quality that will see its 500+ pages fly by if you let them.
Highly recommended.
You can purchase Hollow Empire (Bantam Press) Here.
Happy Reading!
