In her debut solo novel, Stella Gemmell, coauthor of the “powerful” (Booklist) conclusion to David Gemmell’s Troy series, weaves a dark epic fantasy about a war-torn civilization and the immortal emperor who has it clutched in his evil grasp.
The City is ancient, layers upon layers. Once a thriving metropolis, it has sprawled beyond its bounds, inciting endless wars with neighboring tribes and creating a barren wasteland of what was once green and productive.
In the center of the City lives the emperor. Few have ever seen him, but those who have recall a man in his prime, though he should be very old. Some grimly speculate that he is no longer human, if he ever was. A small number have come to the desperate conclusion that the only way to stop the war is to end the emperor’s unnaturally long life.
From the mazelike sewers below the City, where the poor struggle to stay alive in the dark, to the blood-soaked fields of battle, where few heroes manage to endure the never-ending siege, the rebels pin their hopes on one man—Shuskara. The emperor’s former general, he was betrayed long ago and is believed to be dead. But, under different aliases, he has survived, forsaking his City and hiding from his immortal foe. Now the time has come for him to engage in one final battle to free the City from the creature who dwells at its heart, pulling the strings that keep the land drenched in gore.
**
From Booklist
Stella Gemmell, who finished husband David’s historical novel Troy after he died in 2006, offers up an intriguing solo effort. Set in an eternally-at-war ancient city, the novel features a quintet of disparate characters: Fell Lee, a warrior with seriously conflicted loyalties; Indaro, daughter of one of the City’s powerful families; Bartellus, a legendary military commander who was forced into hiding in the City’s sewers; and Elija and Emly, a young brother and sister who have spent years living in the sewers. Some people believe the only way to stop the never-ending war the City has been fighting is to kill the allegedly immortal emperor, but will this free the City or plunge it once and for all into chaos? Having constructed a richly detailed world full of vividly drawn characters, Gemmell sets up a number of puzzles for the reader to solve—including whether the book is set in an alternate past, or a far-flung future—and as we move through the sprawling story, the pieces begin to fall into place. Although a sequel is not mandatory (the book can work as a stand-alone), one would be most welcome. --David Pitt
Review
Praise for Stella Gemmell and *Troy: Fall of Kings*
“[Stella Gemmell] worked from her husband’s half-finished draft and notes seamlessly to finish this last, powerful title in the saga.”—School Library Journal
“A rousing conclusion.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Strong characterizations and sturdy plotting evoke the horror of the conflict, and the story’s mythic power.”—Publishers Weekly
“A grand epic adventure.”—SFcrowsnest
“Hard to put down…Too few authors bring their readers into the story, which is not a problem here.”—SFRevu
“An epic tale of heroism, violence, betrayal, redemption, honour, loyalty, love, and sacrifice.”—Geek Syndicate
“Stella Gemmell’s work…is so seamlessly woven into the whole that there’s no telling where David’s writing ends and hers begins.”—SF Reviews.net
Description:
In her debut solo novel, Stella Gemmell, coauthor of the “powerful” (Booklist) conclusion to David Gemmell’s Troy series, weaves a dark epic fantasy about a war-torn civilization and the immortal emperor who has it clutched in his evil grasp.
The City is ancient, layers upon layers. Once a thriving metropolis, it has sprawled beyond its bounds, inciting endless wars with neighboring tribes and creating a barren wasteland of what was once green and productive.
In the center of the City lives the emperor. Few have ever seen him, but those who have recall a man in his prime, though he should be very old. Some grimly speculate that he is no longer human, if he ever was. A small number have come to the desperate conclusion that the only way to stop the war is to end the emperor’s unnaturally long life.
From the mazelike sewers below the City, where the poor struggle to stay alive in the dark, to the blood-soaked fields of battle, where few heroes manage to endure the never-ending siege, the rebels pin their hopes on one man—Shuskara. The emperor’s former general, he was betrayed long ago and is believed to be dead. But, under different aliases, he has survived, forsaking his City and hiding from his immortal foe. Now the time has come for him to engage in one final battle to free the City from the creature who dwells at its heart, pulling the strings that keep the land drenched in gore.
**
From Booklist
Stella Gemmell, who finished husband David’s historical novel Troy after he died in 2006, offers up an intriguing solo effort. Set in an eternally-at-war ancient city, the novel features a quintet of disparate characters: Fell Lee, a warrior with seriously conflicted loyalties; Indaro, daughter of one of the City’s powerful families; Bartellus, a legendary military commander who was forced into hiding in the City’s sewers; and Elija and Emly, a young brother and sister who have spent years living in the sewers. Some people believe the only way to stop the never-ending war the City has been fighting is to kill the allegedly immortal emperor, but will this free the City or plunge it once and for all into chaos? Having constructed a richly detailed world full of vividly drawn characters, Gemmell sets up a number of puzzles for the reader to solve—including whether the book is set in an alternate past, or a far-flung future—and as we move through the sprawling story, the pieces begin to fall into place. Although a sequel is not mandatory (the book can work as a stand-alone), one would be most welcome. --David Pitt
Review
Praise for Stella Gemmell and *Troy: Fall of Kings*
“[Stella Gemmell] worked from her husband’s half-finished draft and notes seamlessly to finish this last, powerful title in the saga.”—School Library Journal
“A rousing conclusion.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Strong characterizations and sturdy plotting evoke the horror of the conflict, and the story’s mythic power.”—Publishers Weekly
“A grand epic adventure.”—SFcrowsnest
“Hard to put down…Too few authors bring their readers into the story, which is not a problem here.”—SFRevu
“An epic tale of heroism, violence, betrayal, redemption, honour, loyalty, love, and sacrifice.”—Geek Syndicate
“Stella Gemmell’s work…is so seamlessly woven into the whole that there’s no telling where David’s writing ends and hers begins.”—SF Reviews.net