The Warrior’s Bond

The Warrior’s Bond (2001) Juliet E. McKenna

The fourth installment in the Einarinn series, The Warrior’s Bond switches back to Ryshad’s point of view, and occurs at approximately the same time as the previous book, The Gambler’s Fortune.

As far as my enjoyment of the story, this book had one major failing. Politics.

Ryshad has returned to House of D’Olbriot and is serving by assisting Temar D’Alsennin as he returns to the mainland for the first time since being reawakened after his long, enchanted sleep. Temar must navigate the political waters in a land that has changed beyond his recognition.

Although the machinations of what was happening back at court are important to the story, I just didn’t find it as interesting to read about. Politics may be important, but it’s not necessarily exciting. And the final fight seemed tacked on, almost as an apology for the fact that this book staring a swordsman involved very little sword work.

However, the characters are still interesting, and Temar is growing and taking responsibility for his colony and those he must care for. And I like the way that Ryshad is caught between his oath to D’Olbriot and his duties to Temar.

I realize that the events of this book are important to the storyline, but I just don’t find them as interesting as the intrigue that Livak is involved in, in the previous book. That doesn’t make this a bad book, just not one that particularly fascinated me.

I am hoping that the final book has lots of actions and adventure, and a little less politics.

And finally, I hate the cover of this book. I can’t stand it when the artist decides to depict one of the last stinking scenes in the book on the cover. Gah.
Rating: 6/10

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