The Traitor: Book Three of the Covenant of Steel

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I do feel like the ending was slightly a let down as it leaves you on a bit of a teaser, a bit of a cliffhanger. Not something you necessarily want at the end of a trilogy. The author did a spectacular job of making us understand the perspectives of both sides fighting. This felt real due to how neither was never wholly good or bad. Each individual had their own demands, their own reasons to fight how and for who they did, and as much to lose and gain as those they opposed. It felt like a fair portrayal was always granted and the reader was allowed unrestricted access to all that was occurring because of this. I would like to thank Netgalley, Orbit and Anthony Ryan for an advanced copy of The Martyr. All opinions are my own. Masterful… Ryan’s thoughtful characterizations and complex plotting are on clear display… Sends the series out on a high note.’– Publishers Weekly Starred Review of The Traitor.

The Traitor the third and final book in The Covenant of Steel trilogy (book description to come), is now available in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. I would like to thank Netgalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Anthony Ryan for an advanced copy of The Traitor. All opinions are my own. As the kingdom braces itself for one final battle, Alwyn’s conscience fights its own war with his heart. Now, more than ever, he must decide whose side he’s really on. Alwyn Scribe was never meant to be a soldier. A thief? Yes. A scribe? Certainly. But a soldier, well, this becomes his nightmare! I am Captain Alwyn Scribe of the Covenant Company, I have fought the worst battles, faced the worst foes. Still, it took some effort to take that first step into the dark, and only marginally less to take the second."In this “gritty, heart-pounding” (John Gwynne) conclusion to the New York Times bestselling fantasy trilogy, The Covenant of Steel, Alwyn must make a difficult decide between his heart and his morals as he prepares for his final battle. Honestly this book did not go the way I expected it to at all. And I'm really glad it didn't because I think, I hope that because of the completely out of left field plot twists there will be a book four and as this series has rapidly became my favorite of Ryan's I'm 100% for it! Would there be any point to it, if I did?” I asked her. “For I fancy hating you would be like hating the rain or the wind. You simply are.” The story is always Alwyn’s. A lowly forest bandit whose talents cause him to rise high in a world that has never cared for him. He has a great voice and through his eyes, we see chaos unfold. The story isn’t in a rush though, and as such Anthony Ryan is able to ratchet up the tension chapter by chapter. Alwyn Scribe is still at Lady Evadine’s side as protector and adviser. Aside from her cult-like following, most, including the Crown, believe Lady Evadine and her prophetical visions of the coming of the Second Scourge to be a fraud. So, in a bid to get rid of her, King Tomas sends Lady Evadine and her company on what he believes is a hopeless mission of putting down a rebellion in the Duchy of Alundia. As war threatens to erupt, Alwyn will have to harness his skills as a soldier and, once again, don his outlaw hat.

What would it be like if David Gemmell wrote Crime and Punishment on a dark realism theme?! I may have an Idea! This sweeping and brilliant military fantasy abounds with gritty siege warfare, witty writing, and the continuation of the overall story of Alwyn Scribe. Starting where the first book ends Alwyn finds himself thrust into bigger battles and more significant stakes as the Lady Evadines company is brought to quench a rebellion in the south and stop the religious persecution and genocide occurring there. When a message appears on the onboard computer – Proceeding to Point A – the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming. She was always mad. We just didn't see it. Or perhaps we were mad too and sanity dawned only when we beheld what she is."Throughout the book, Alwyn is facing moral and ethical questions and is constantly trying to figure out what the right thing is to do. His heart and mind are split in different directions, but he is always trying to make the right decision. It seems that the author has learned his lesson, and the new series maintains my interest in the characters and in the worldbuilding much better in the case of Alwyn. So, yes, we can see Alwyn is shaping into that important person of legends, but the best thing about this is that Ryan made a point of showing that as much as he appears natural, he can still be outsmarted in every aspect by those with more experience and knowledge and has a lot more to learn.

When I was reading The Pariah, I noticed that each Part of the story was preluded by a quote 'from the Pretender's account to Sir Alwyn Scribe'. And I kept asking myself: Ryan’s thoughtful characterizations and complex plotting are on clear display, enhanced by his evocative prose. This sends the series out on a high note."— Publishers Weekly(starred review) It’s always hard to review a book 3 of a series. How can you talk about it without giving spoilers to books 1 & 2? You can’t, is the answer.

There’s a handy summary of the events from the first book, plus a character list to help refresh the reader’s memory. The tale of Alwyn starts with The Pariah, as a name can talk this was exactly what it is, then we company The Martyr, and I still wonder at what happened to The Traitor. I also felt like book 1 had a lot of interesting themes around religion, religious fervour and fanaticism but this book didn't really add anything new or interesting to those themes despite there being so much potential. It was sacrificed in place of battle scenes and action, which if that is your preference you will probably really like this book however I much prefer interesting philosophical and religious themes to action. Overall, I loved this book. This book was everything I was hoping for and looking forward to for the past year. It ended in a bittersweet way, but it left me content.