The Traitor: Book Three of the Covenant of Steel

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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 tale of Alwyn Scribe, outlaw, murderer, sometime knight and, I like to think, scholar of some renown, would have been told." 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. A man who isn't truly a king stands ready to greet a woman who isn't truly a Martyr, I mused, wondering if all noteworthy moments in history might in fact comprise a grand, mendacious pantomime. I stared at him, baffled but also fearful, refusing to prompt him further, but he told me anyway. Evadine, he said, serves the Malecite.”The first glimpse of the divide between Alwyn and Evadine is a scroll setting forth the true story of her healing by a Caerith witch, meaning she was never as claimed a Risen Martyr. The second is the child she is carrying, who she claims was created by divine conception. Alwyn is declared a traitor fir he is at the heart of the truth of these things, but she cannot bear to kill him as she still loves him. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review. However, I admittedly did find myself skimming as I am not too fond of battle heavy books. Especially when it comes to book three of wars done in the name of nobles, royalty, and religion. He also assumes the role of military strategist and Ryan, to my delight, wrote not one, but two sieges in this novel. The one in The Wolf's Call still remains my favourite, but I love how he writes them, so I flew through fight scenes. Masterful… Ryan’s thoughtful characterizations and complex plotting are on clear display… Sends the series out on a high note.’– Publishers Weekly Starred Review ofThe Traitor.

Anthony Ryan is a Scottish writer of fantasy and science fiction, best known for his books about Vaelin Al Sorna, which started in 2013 with Blood Song. He worked as a full-time researcher before switching to full-time writing. He currently lives in London, England. He has a degree in Medieval History. Fantastic writing, an amazing world, a plot that won't quit, and an unforgettable character . . . Anthony Ryan is one of the best epic fantasy authors out there' Bookworm Blues The Scarlet Zigguratis an exciting prequel adventure to the highly acclaimed Seven Swordsseries from New York Timesbestselling author Anthony Ryan.In terms of genre, this is very much low fantasy. The world feels like the dark ages in Europe. Joan of Arc inspires the story. So does Robin Hood (don’t be expecting any men in tights though). The kingdoms are restless, constantly at war, or agitating. And the religion – which worships the seraphile, has a strong hold on the people and the monarchy. The truth is people only want to know one thing. Did it get the ending right? Did the story carry you through to the end? Alwyn has his doubts about what Evadine is doing. Her certainty is zealous, but there’s a cruelty to it that he fears does not have wholly natural means. He questions her decisions and realises that he is going to have to turn traitor. Yet he realises that the child he and Evadine have had together is going to be important in some way.

The Traitor is the final book in Anthony Ryan’s epic fantasy trilogy Covenant of Steel. Sir Alwyn Scribe, confidant, spymaster and now lover to the Living Martyr Evadine Courlain, must contend with his growing realization that he has been blinded by love and devotion to Evadine. And the time has come for him to make a choice to fight for the woman he loves or to fight for what is right. Yet Evadine is not the woman Alwyn once knew. As puritanical fury increasingly replaces her benevolent faith, Alwyn begins to question what her true motives really are.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. In terms of action scenes and pacing this was, of course, excellent. The battle scenes were well written as usual and I'm really glad that Ryan decided to not make these protracted engagements given how the story progresses. By this point Evadine is so freaking evil that I feel like having her win even one battle or even the appearance of her winning one battle would have been way too much.

The answer is, yes, it did. The ending was excellent. The story was unexpected. Tense. Magical. Dark.

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The growl of affirmation from the crowd made it clear that, once again, the Anointed Lady’s words had found their mark. I have learned in subsequent years that it is far easier to rouse people to hate than it is to love, a lesson I think Evadine learned at a far earlier age.” Unfortunately, this book was a major let down for me. The previous installments had great world building, political intrigue, complex character motivations; all of that seems to be missing in this book. There is the rare exceptionally well written scene (like when Alwyn meets with one of the lords they are wooing to their cause and they have a great talk filled with subtle insinuations) but on the whole, most of the book seems very contrived. Alwyn sees all these terrible signs that Evadine is becoming a terrible tyrant but he ignores them and justifies it (in his recollection) because he LOVES her..... ugghh.... So, on the surface Covenant of Steel is the story of how Alwyn, the outlaw from Shavine Forest became Alwyn the Scribe, one of the key figure in the rise of Evadine Courlaine and her march to the throne. But in reality, this story boils down to this: The last tale of Alwyn Scribe is now beyond vengeance, many are not here anymore to see what he's going to do, at heart, he is still an outlaw and, among outlaws, betrayal has but one punishment.