I will say straightaway that I am a fan of Simon Turney. He is, above all, a story teller, and his books, whether set in the world of Rome, or the later Ottoman empire are above all, great stories. His Tales of Empire series is a little different. The books are set in an imagined past, allowing him full control over the situation and the narrative. The settings are all vaguely relatable, but he is free to ignore historical constraints, and set his imagination free.
This book is the sixth in the series, and takes place largely in the Indian sub-continent, at a time when India was divided into countless small states. Aram is one of these local rulers. His people are constantly under threat from the Jade Empire to the east – obviously based around China. After being bled dry by tribute demands, the Jade Empire finally sweeps into their lands, overwhelming them, and every other state in its path.
The story follows the adventures of Aram’s three sons – Jai, Dev and Ravi – as they take different paths in response to the invaders. The story really takes off when the empire to the west – loosely based on the Eastern Roman Empire – takes more than a passing interest in events in India. Add to that a mysterious power emerging in the north, and the scene is set for a lot of twists and turns.
There are several strong characters in this story, and it is something of an ensemble piece. At different times, it is easy to empathise with several of them. It is not a story of good and bad, black and white, although there are several heroes to cheer, and villains to boo!
There is conflict around family and loyalty, around keeping tradition and moving forward. The main site of military conflict becomes a sinkhole, sucking more and more men into it, forcing the empires to denude their forces elsewhere. This in turn leads to potential internal unrest in both empires.
But overall, its just a damned good story, with some surprises; not least, the ending. Once again, the author has produced a great read; if you haven’t read any of this series, I would highly recommend them. They can be read independently, as there is little or no connection between each book. But why not start at the beginning? After all, it is a very good place to start!
This is a review of the Canelo 2017 Kindle edition.
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