The Falcon Throne

Australian fantasist Miller (Kingmaker) opens her Tarnished Crown epic fantasy series with this elaborate tale of ambitious aristocrats whose capacity to inflict harm is as great as their sense of entitlement. The lands of Harcia and Clemen share a border and a long history of mutual distrust. In Clemen, Duke Harold’s egregious offenses provoke fellow Clemen Roric to depose him, but the good intentions of the usurper are sadly undermined by his inability to recognize when he’s offending those he depends on. In Harcia, disgraced heir Balfre is canny enough to play a long game to win the position and power to which he feels entitled—and his ambitions include the Harcian conquest of the troubled Clemens. Few know that Harold’s son is alive and plotting against Roric, and none suspect that the ancient mage Salimbene and his network of scheming (and unfortunately exoticized) witches are orchestrating the spiral into chaos. Despite some flaws, the story is complex and engrossing; fans of George R.R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie should particularly take note.[em] (Sept.) [/em]