Reviews - Sarah Ash's Tears of Artamon Trilogy

[Drachir]

Just finished reading the Tears of Artamon Trilogy by Sarah Ash. It consists of Lord of Snow and Shadows, Prisoner of the Iron Tower, and the Children of the Serpent Gate.

The series centres around a young man called Garvril Ander who discovers he is the lost prince of a barbaric kingdom guarded by a demon-possessed king. As the heir to that kingdom Gavril is forced to take his place as the guardian, just in time to face an invasion by the ambitious Eugene, ruler of the neighbouring kingdom of Theilen.

The three books are extremely well-crafted, and populated with interesting and varied characters all of whom the author manages to make interesting. The story features a princess froced to marry against her will; a peasant girl in love with demonic lord, but possessed with a unique gift of her own; a ruthless monarch bent on reuniting an ancient kingdom at the expense of subjugating his enemies. The are also numerous other characters. All are very well developed and the author manages to make all of them very believable and interesting as she swirches from one to the other.

One of the more interesting aspects of the books is the kingdoms Ms Ash uses in her story. They are clearly based on the 17th century kingdoms of Russia, Sweden, France, and Ukraine.

If you like books with numerous complex and intriguing characters, a complex plotline, and the fantasy elements of alchemy and demonic possession you will like this series. Especially as it ends with a strong hint of more to come in Ms Ash's next series of books.