Veil of the Deserters: Bloodsounder’s Arc, Book 2

Capt. Braylar Killcoin and his army are summoned by Emperor Cynead back to the snake pit of the imperial court. They have no choice but to obey, abandoning hard-won gains in mid-campaign. Between them and their destination are lands filled with overt enemies and treacherous allies. Surviving the journey will require cunning and well-timed violence, with little space for mercy or common decency. Worse, winning their home is no surety of safety. This gritty sequel to Scourge of the Betrayer (2013) begins in media res and moves swiftly toward a cliffhanger; readers fond of ongoing, episodic fiction won’t mind the lack of closure. Salyards makes energetic use of familiar tropes, from the band of jaded, cynical ruffians who follow the captain to the backstabbing courtiers; he provides a reliable dose of grimdark fantasy, albeit without tremendous originality. [em](July) [/em]