The Devil's Armor

Rating:
Summary: even better than it's predecessor [no spoilers]
Review: I originally became interested in "The Devil's Armor" prior to knowledge of the first novel in the series "The Eyes of God" but luckily didn't read them out of sequence. I am very pleased with the wait, finding the writing descriptive with well-paced dialog and action. The accomplishments of the characters are practical and the battles are described successfully.

The story continues one year following "The Eyes of God" novel and builds on the secondary and other minor characters brilliantly. Lukien, the Bronze Knight of Liiria, continues as a tortured soul without his love Cassandra. Gilwyn Toms has grown into a responsible young man at Jador while Baron Glass struggles with the knowledge of a homeland invasion. Also the reader will learn more about the Inhuman relation with the Akari magic, which is amazing given the unique powers granted an individual.

I found the few spelling errors (mostly incorrect words) a mild nuisance in the last quarter of the book. A detailed map of the significant terrains would have been useful. A definite improvement and a great read to any fan of the fantasy genre.

Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: The Devil's Armor..
Review: King Lorn the Wicked, once king of Norvor, must flee his kingdom with his physically challenged daughter, Poppy. After Jazanna Carr, the Diamond Queen, buys Lorn's own nobles, causing Lorn to lose the people he once trusted, Lorn leaves his kingdom in secrecy, eventually traveling with a group of people to Grimhold. Lorn hopes the magic at "Mount Believer" will cure his infant child, Poppy.

Prince Aztar, the "ruler" of the desert, has set out on a personal vendetta to cleanse the desert of the impure "Seekers". Liiria's own champion, Lukien, and a team of Jadori warriors, are the only thing fighting the murderous monster Aztar. With the help of The Eye of God, Lukien, is impassable, so he devots all his time to fighting to save as many "Seekers" as he can.

In Grimhold, Baron Thorin Glass, is fighting his own battles. The evil Akari, Khaldris, which resides in the Devil's Armor, is calling out to the Baron. Glass is also tormented, with the promise Jazzana Carr gave to conquer his land, and kill his family. Feeling weak and powerless, the once noble Baron turns to theft. No longer fighting Khaldris, Glass slips down to the bowels of Grimhold, putting the evil armor on piece by piece. Feeling a renewed vigor, Glass makes haste for Liiria, to take control and bring order back. It is up to his dear friend Lukien, to convince the Baron to see the error of his ways, before the evil Khaldris can gain total dominince.

John Marco, with his vast military knowledge, has once again brought Liiria and the surrouning countries back to life. Bringing life to his characters, only in a way he can do, John Marco continues to amaze and captivate his fans with his passionate writing, and devotion. If you have not read "The Devil's Armor," you can expect a thriller that combines swordplay with magic in a totally new way.

Rating:
Summary: When the Armor Makes the Man
Review: The Devil's Armor is the second novel in the Akari Spirits series, following The Eyes of God. In the previous volume, Trager has killed Kahan Kadar of Jador. Later, when King Akeela seems about to free the captured Lukien, Trager also killed Akeela and blamed Lukien. Then Trager led his army of 1200 men against Grimhold, where Lukien baited him into fighting a duel to the death. After Lukien won, the Lirian army is allowed to leave Grimhold and Jador. Lukien was saved from dying of his wounds by one of the Eyes of God and stayed in Grimhold as its protector.

In this novel, Lukien and his Jadori warriors are greatly overworked in protecting the Seekers who have come for the healing said to be available at Mount Believer, their name for Grimhold. Gilwyn has been chosen by White-eye to be her regent in Jador. Minikin is overwhelmed with pleas of healing for the Seekers and their children, but there are not enough Akari spirits for all who need them.

Prince Aztar has created a principality in the Desert of Tears. He sees the Seekers as defilement of his desert and has his men kill all that they can find. Since Lukien is protecting these Seekers, Aztar puts a high price on his head.

King Lorn of Norvor has been betrayed by his subjects and trapped in the castle with his deaf and almost blind daughter Poppy. Nevertheless, he manages to escape with Poppy and flees to Liria. In Koth, he meets a group of Seekers, learns about Mount Believer, and sees a way to heal Poppy. He leads the group toward Jador, but not without difficulty, especially in Dreel.

Jazana Carr has conquered all of Norvor with the fall of Carlion and the flight of Lorn. Now she is determined to conquer Liria and to punish the family of Baron Glass, her former lover and betrayer. She leaves Norvor behind and gathers her troops at the borders of Liria.

Baron Glass has begun to wonder about the family he has left behind in Liria. Thoughts of the invincible Devil's Armor are beginning to haunt his mind during the day. Moreover, Kahldris, the spirit within the armor, is starting to speak to him in the night.

This novel expands the story of the extinct Akari people who built Grimhold. The spirits within the Eyes of God are onstage more in this novel and we are introduced to Kahldris, the mighty general of the Akari, who now inhabits the Devil's Armor. All the Akari spirits, except Kahldris, have repented their hubris and have tried to make amends through helping the Inhumans within Grimhold. Kahldris, however, is still following his own agenda, which bodes ill for any others in his power.

We also learn more about the Inhumans, the deformed, defective and dying persons who now house Akari spirits. Gilwyn has a club foot and hand and is just now learning to communicate with Ruana, his Akari spirit. Meriel has been badly scarred from a fire as a child and is now dissatisfied with her Akari spirit. White-eye is now the Kahana of Jador, but can't stand full sunlight even with the help of her Akari spirit. Lukien is being kept alive by Amaraz, the spirit in his Eye of God, but the Akari will not even talk to him.

Although I have named this series after the Akari spirits who figure so prominently, this name is not sanctioned by the author. In fact, he has chosen not to provide a name at this time. Thus, my name for this series is merely a label of convenience and signifies nothing of the series itself.

Highly recommended for Marco fans and for anyone else who enjoys epic tales of swords and sorcery with good characterization and byzantine complexity.

Rating:
Summary: When the Armor Makes the Man
Review: The Devil's Armor is the second novel in the Akari Spirits series, following The Eyes of God. In the previous volume, Trager has killed Kahan Kadar of Jador. Later, when King Akeela seems about to free the captured Lukien, Trager also killed Akeela and blamed Lukien. Then Trager led his army of 1200 men against Grimhold, where Lukien baited him into fighting a duel to the death. After Lukien won, the Lirian army is allowed to leave Grimhold and Jador. Lukien was saved from dying of his wounds by one of the Eyes of God and stayed in Grimhold as its protector.

In this novel, Lukien and his Jadori warriors are greatly overworked in protecting the Seekers who have come for the healing said to be available at Mount Believer, their name for Grimhold. Gilwyn has been chosen by White-eye to be her regent in Jador. Minikin is overwhelmed with pleas of healing for the Seekers and their children, but there are not enough Akari spirits for all who need them.

Prince Aztar has created a principality in the Desert of Tears. He sees the Seekers as defilement of his desert and has his men kill all that they can find. Since Lukien is protecting these Seekers, Aztar puts a high price on his head.

King Lorn of Norvor has been betrayed by his subjects and trapped in the castle with his deaf and almost blind daughter Poppy. Nevertheless, he manages to escape with Poppy and flees to Liria. In Koth, he meets a group of Seekers, learns about Mount Believer, and sees a way to heal Poppy. He leads the group toward Jador, but not without difficulty, especially in Dreel.

Jazana Carr has conquered all of Norvor with the fall of Carlion and the flight of Lorn. Now she is determined to conquer Liria and to punish the family of Baron Glass, her former lover and betrayer. She leaves Norvor behind and gathers her troops at the borders of Liria.

Baron Glass has begun to wonder about the family he has left behind in Liria. Thoughts of the invincible Devil's Armor are beginning to haunt his mind during the day. Moreover, Kahldris, the spirit within the armor, is starting to speak to him in the night.

This novel expands the story of the extinct Akari people who built Grimhold. The spirits within the Eyes of God are onstage more in this novel and we are introduced to Kahldris, the mighty general of the Akari, who now inhabits the Devil's Armor. All the Akari spirits, except Kahldris, have repented their hubris and have tried to make amends through helping the Inhumans within Grimhold. Kahldris, however, is still following his own agenda, which bodes ill for any others in his power.

We also learn more about the Inhumans, the deformed, defective and dying persons who now house Akari spirits. Gilwyn has a club foot and hand and is just now learning to communicate with Ruana, his Akari spirit. Meriel has been badly scarred from a fire as a child and is now dissatisfied with her Akari spirit. White-eye is now the Kahana of Jador, but can't stand full sunlight even with the help of her Akari spirit. Lukien is being kept alive by Amaraz, the spirit in his Eye of God, but the Akari will not even talk to him.

Although I have named this series after the Akari spirits who figure so prominently, this name is not sanctioned by the author. In fact, he has chosen not to provide a name at this time. Thus, my name for this series is merely a label of convenience and signifies nothing of the series itself.

Highly recommended for Marco fans and for anyone else who enjoys epic tales of swords and sorcery with good characterization and byzantine complexity.

Rating:
Summary: superb sword and sorcery
Review: The diamond queen Jazana Carr defeats King Lorn of Norvor when his loyal nobles accept payment for betraying him. The monarch and his physically impaired infant daughter escapes. They join travelers heading to the magical fortress of Grimhold in Jador. He hopes to find sanctuary there but also prays that the mystical Akari will ease the pain in his heart and Poppy's physical ailments.

The kingdom of Liiria's greatest champion Lukien feels guilt over the betrayal of the dead king Akeela. Lukien, linked to the Akari essence Amaraz that he wears around his neck in an amulet guards Grimhold and Jado with his life since the Akari made him invulnerable and immortal.

Also at Grimhold is Baron Thorin Glass of the once powerful Liirian Empire. Following the Jador massacre, he stayed on hoping to find peace from his inner demons. He knows that his former lover Queen Jazanna will invade Liira in revenge for leaving her brokenhearted. He feels helpless until he finds a suit of black armor in an weapons stronghold containing the angry essence of the Akiri Kahldris . Once he dons the garb, he leaves the stronghold intending to make the kingdoms in the north in his image unless Lukien can stop him.

The key element to THE DEVIL'S ARMOR is that the entire ensemble except perhaps Kahldris (the jury is still deliberating about him) is not pure malevolent beings. Though the prime players cause good people to die especially in battle, they also perform acts of kindness. John Marco uses his cast like a chess grandmaster moving his players about the board with dexterity so that the audience receives an action-packed thriller that is essentially character driven and brings to minds the work of the sword and sorcery novels of Terry Brooks.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: superb sword and sorcery
Review: The diamond queen Jazana Carr defeats King Lorn of Norvor when his loyal nobles accept payment for betraying him. The monarch and his physically impaired infant daughter escapes. They join travelers heading to the magical fortress of Grimhold in Jador. He hopes to find sanctuary there but also prays that the mystical Akari will ease the pain in his heart and Poppy's physical ailments.

The kingdom of Liiria's greatest champion Lukien feels guilt over the betrayal of the dead king Akeela. Lukien, linked to the Akari essence Amaraz that he wears around his neck in an amulet guards Grimhold and Jado with his life since the Akari made him invulnerable and immortal.

Also at Grimhold is Baron Thorin Glass of the once powerful Liirian Empire. Following the Jador massacre, he stayed on hoping to find peace from his inner demons. He knows that his former lover Queen Jazanna will invade Liira in revenge for leaving her brokenhearted. He feels helpless until he finds a suit of black armor in an weapons stronghold containing the angry essence of the Akiri Kahldris . Once he dons the garb, he leaves the stronghold intending to make the kingdoms in the north in his image unless Lukien can stop him.

The key element to THE DEVIL'S ARMOR is that the entire ensemble except perhaps Kahldris (the jury is still deliberating about him) is not pure malevolent beings. Though the prime players cause good people to die especially in battle, they also perform acts of kindness. John Marco uses his cast like a chess grandmaster moving his players about the board with dexterity so that the audience receives an action-packed thriller that is essentially character driven and brings to minds the work of the sword and sorcery novels of Terry Brooks.

Harriet Klausner