Rent apart for the last couple of hundred years, the kingdom remains split between the antagonistic duchies of Harcia and Clemens. With many trying to cement peace, ambition and the avarice for glory and a crown will be decided not through language, but at the point of a sword...

The Falcon Throne (2014. 674 Pages) is the first book in the Tarnished Throne series, written by Karen Miller. Although my copy contained Dramatis Personae, which helped keep track of the large cast, there was no map. The final edition will have one, which should help with keeping tabs on the geographical locations.

Miller has trod a similar part to George R.R. Martin in creating a world, where magic exists, but remains on the periphery. At the forefront of Miller's book is the Machiavellian politics of both courts and by jumping between characters, Miller allows the reader to experience good men inevitably going to their doom.

Initially, I didn’t think that I was going to enjoy reading this book; it has the usual faux medieval setting with the addition of slightly arcane language to further enhance the oldie worldly feel. I suppose this was meant to ground the reader into the medieval setting, but if this was the case why not use the almost impenetrable language of Chaucer. Pushing through the first chapters the book settles into a wonderful set of character studies, setting up the two Duchies for seemingly inevitable war. Behind the intricate motives and machinations, a long forgotten hand manipulates events for his own ends.

In the Duchy of Harcia, Duke Aimery is struggling with the fact that his heir, Blafre, is a boorish bully who would like nothing more than to go to war with neighbouring Clemen. Although he is an unpleasant fellow, he is not without his reasons as the two Duchies have been at loggerheads for more than two hundred years. His brother and the object of their father’s affection, Grefin would make a better Duke, but Grefin is blinded by brotherly love to just how much of a threat to peace Blafre is.

In neighbouring Clemens, Duke Harald finds his reign summarily terminated and the country passing into the kinder hands of his cousin Roric. Roric, like Grefin, is substantially a good man, probably too good to survive the various court intrigues. And while he tries to do the best for his country a murder in the Marches commands the attention of both Duchies, creating an arena for change, both good and evil.

It depends what you are looking for in a book, personally, whilst not a great fan of fantasy as a genre, I have enjoyed both the magical creations of Tolkien and the dramatised fictional history of Martin, Falcon very much falls into the latter category. Here, Miller draws her characters very well and though the book may lack much in the way of action. Engaging with and following the story is akin to watching a slow car crash. Even the people with only the best intention make fundamental mistakes, often making matters worse.

This is no Thrones rip off, but stands on its own in the political fantasy sub-genre. Miller already has a substantial body of work behind her and her writing just seems to get better and better. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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Charles Packer