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Rating: 
Summary: Great fantasy
Review: In the Kingdom of Avornis, two monarchs sit on the diamond throne; King Lanius has royal blood running through his veins while King Grus is a commoner who seized power when the young ruler's mother tried to kill him through sorcery. King Grus forced Lanius to marry his daughter to further consolidate his base of power and to keep the young monarch on a very short leash. Both men want what is best for the realm so when the Banished One gains dominion over one of the city-states of Chernagor, King Grus gathers his armies to topple the ruler who worships the Banished One.The army of Avornis breaks off its northern attack of the Nishevetz to confront the threat of the nomadic Menteshe who worship the Banished One; who have the magical artifact the Scepter of Mercy that rightfully belongs to the Kings of Avornis. The Mentshe have invaded the southern portion of the realm. Kings Grus and king Lanius want them out before they turn the people into mindless thralls. Book two of THE SCEPTER OF MERCY is an entertaining sword and sorcery novel that gives equal attention to the characters as it does to the action scenes. The relationships between the two kings evolve over the years so that one is accepting of the other. The magical duels between good and evil sorcerers are very colorful and imaginative but it is the not so mundane skirmishes that are fascinating because they are so detailed the audience can imagine being in the midst of the battlefield. Dan Chernenko's star is on the rise. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Bogged Down in Chernagor
Review: The Chernagor Pirates is the second novel in The Scepter of Mercy series, following The Bastard King. In the previous volume, King Dagipert of Thervingia died and his son preferred peace and prayer to war; the years of Therving invasions have ended. Of course, soon thereafter hundreds of thralls cross over the Stura River to Avornis under the orders of the Banished One, but they just mill around and none of the wizards know why. King Grus had family problems, especially when Estrilda discovered that he had been having an affair with the witch Alca. To appease his wife, Grus banished Alca from the city. Not much later, some of the thralls got lose and tried to kill Estrilda. Grus saved her life and Estrilda soon forgave him for his extramarital affair. Grus also had problems with his son Ortalis, who has a sadistic streak. He had been abusing the maid servants, despite some heavy punishments. Grus decided to marry off Ortalis to some suitable lady to calm him down. However, when Grus suggested to Lepturus, King Lanius' chief bodyguard, that he might betroth his daughter to Ortalis, the offer was firmly rejected. Lepturus chose to be exiled to the Maze rather than have his daughter marry Ortalis. In this novel, Grus begins to suspect problems among the Chernagors and consults with Lanius. Soon thereafter, a delegation comes from the Chernagor city-state of Nishevatz, requesting assistance in putting down a rebellion against Prince Vsevolod lead by his son, Prince Vasilko. Prince Vsevolod has evidence that the Banished One is assisting the rebels. Grus rides out with the Avornan army to help put down the rebellion, but, as they near the city-state, Grus finds that the Chernagors have started without him. While Grus is assaulting Chernagor fortifications, Lanius receives the ambassador of Prince Ulash of Yozgat, a Menteshe lord and vassal of the Banished One. Lanius wins a battle of insults and then learns that Prince Ulash wants his thralls back. Lanius refuses and the ambassador threatens war as he departs. Grus lays siege to Nishevatz. He tries to sneak men in the city using a hidden tunnel, but the defenders ambush them. He tries a direct assault on the walls and is repulsed. Then an army of Chernagors from another city-state appears and charges the Avornan lines. The Avornans defeat that group as well as a sally from the city, but Grus decides that he doesn't have enough men to take the city and returns to Avornis. In this story, Grus tries several times to retake Nishevatz, but various problems interfere with his plans. Among other things, the Chernagors raid the coast and rivers of Avornis. Then the Menteshe invade again. Although Lanius stills wishes that he was sole king, he starts to cooperate in active ways with Grus, including exiling a baron to the Maze for violation of the land grabbing laws while Grus is tied up in Chernagor. However, Lanius has learned the joys of extramarital affairs and is about to learn that kings can hide little from the gossip mill. At least Grus won't be able to take the high moral ground when he finds out. Aside from the extramarital affairs, both Grus and Lanius have been doing well in keeping Avornis free from the Banished One. The dethroned god has become even more angry as they resist his efforts. Both Grus and Lanius are thinking more often about the Scepter of Mercy. Highly recommended for Chernenko fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of realistic intrigue and naval/military actions within a fantasy setting. -Arthur W. Jordin
Rating:
Summary: Bogged Down in Chernagor
Review: The Chernagor Pirates is the second novel in The Scepter of Mercy series, following The Bastard King. In the previous volume, King Dagipert of Thervingia died and his son preferred peace and prayer to war; the years of Therving invasions have ended. Of course, soon thereafter hundreds of thralls cross over the Stura River to Avornis under the orders of the Banished One, but they just mill around and none of the wizards know why. King Grus had family problems, especially when Estrilda discovered that he had been having an affair with the witch Alca. To appease his wife, Grus banished Alca from the city. Not much later, some of the thralls got lose and tried to kill Estrilda. Grus saved her life and Estrilda soon forgave him for his extramarital affair. Grus also had problems with his son Ortalis, who has a sadistic streak. He had been abusing the maid servants, despite some heavy punishments. Grus decided to marry off Ortalis to some suitable lady to calm him down. However, when Grus suggested to Lepturus, King Lanius' chief bodyguard, that he might betroth his daughter to Ortalis, the offer was firmly rejected. Lepturus chose to be exiled to the Maze rather than have his daughter marry Ortalis. In this novel, Grus begins to suspect problems among the Chernagors and consults with Lanius. Soon thereafter, a delegation comes from the Chernagor city-state of Nishevatz, requesting assistance in putting down a rebellion against Prince Vsevolod lead by his son, Prince Vasilko. Prince Vsevolod has evidence that the Banished One is assisting the rebels. Grus rides out with the Avornan army to help put down the rebellion, but, as they near the city-state, Grus finds that the Chernagors have started without him. While Grus is assaulting Chernagor fortifications, Lanius receives the ambassador of Prince Ulash of Yozgat, a Menteshe lord and vassal of the Banished One. Lanius wins a battle of insults and then learns that Prince Ulash wants his thralls back. Lanius refuses and the ambassador threatens war as he departs. Grus lays siege to Nishevatz. He tries to sneak men in the city using a hidden tunnel, but the defenders ambush them. He tries a direct assault on the walls and is repulsed. Then an army of Chernagors from another city-state appears and charges the Avornan lines. The Avornans defeat that group as well as a sally from the city, but Grus decides that he doesn't have enough men to take the city and returns to Avornis. In this story, Grus tries several times to retake Nishevatz, but various problems interfere with his plans. Among other things, the Chernagors raid the coast and rivers of Avornis. Then the Menteshe invade again. Although Lanius stills wishes that he was sole king, he starts to cooperate in active ways with Grus, including exiling a baron to the Maze for violation of the land grabbing laws while Grus is tied up in Chernagor. However, Lanius has learned the joys of extramarital affairs and is about to learn that kings can hide little from the gossip mill. At least Grus won't be able to take the high moral ground when he finds out. Aside from the extramarital affairs, both Grus and Lanius have been doing well in keeping Avornis free from the Banished One. The dethroned god has become even more angry as they resist his efforts. Both Grus and Lanius are thinking more often about the Scepter of Mercy. Highly recommended for Chernenko fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of realistic intrigue and naval/military actions within a fantasy setting. -Arthur W. Jordin
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