I would like to thank Nazia from Orbit for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Orbit

Out – 25th June

Price- £8.99 paperback £5.99 Kindle

AS AN EMPIRE DIES, THREE WARRIORS WILL RISE. THEY MUST RIDE THE STORM OR DROWN IN ITS BLOOD.

The kingdom of Kisia is divided, held together only by the will of the god-emperor. When an act of betrayal shatters an alliance with the neighbouring land of Chiltae, all that has been won comes crashing down.

Now, as the fires of war spread, a warrior, an assassin and a princess must chase their ambitions, no matter the cost.

War built the Kisian Empire. And now war will tear it down.

When we talk an epic fantasy tale, we get a chance to go truly large in scale – the fate of the world or empires will hang on the decisions of a few people. Ways of life will alter. Changing the world is something everyone wants but the costs of change can be unexpected and painful– just look at our own world. It doesn’t mean change is always a bad thing just that it will never be comfortable. In Devin Madson’s sizzling debut novel We Ride The Storm a giant empire is about to be hit by a series of unexpected events that put three individuals in the heart of a looming giant conflict.

The tale is set in the Kisian Empire which has been relatively stable for a few decades under its military focused God-Emperor Kin. But recently on the borders with its fractious neighbour Chiltae there have been many attacks and the incursions are worsening. We first meet Miko Kin’s stepdaughter who is working to get her twin brother Tanaka finally acknowledged by Kin as heir (both twins are the children of Kin’s predecessor and rival). But this is a court where assassinations and betrayals are considered standard tools of court and anyone can lose their head. Then we meet Rah the exiled leader of a band of Levanti warriors who had refused to follow orders in their steppes like land. Lost and starving the group cross into the hands of the Chiltaen army and some former allies of Rah. But his people’s way of life; especially the removal of heads from the bodies of the dead to release the soul, is now viewed as primitive and they are seen as a tool rather than a partnership. Last but not least we meet sometimes courtesan and sometimes assassin Cassandra in Chiltae – addicted to a particular drug to soothe a strange force that talks to her in her head,, she is hired to bring home the head of her next target. All three are about to be plunged into a conflict of empires

I found this a hugely refreshing epic fantasy tale. We get three fascinating individual voices in the story narrating their own tales. Miko offers a story of courtroom intrigue and danger. Although only a young woman despite the nature of a sexist court she is hugely strategic in nature and keen to weigh up allies and enemies. She is learning very quickly about power and that failure can be fatal. Despite all this she comes across as someone keen to do the right thing or people and it’s a really interesting dynamic that builds up with her step-father Kin who perhaps is aware of her potential in ways Miko has never imagined. I loved the way Madson pulls the threads of the court and the conflicts of Chiltae in a very personal story and that made me really appreciate the high stakes. And at a certain point we move from court to full blown revolutions and battles (which is never a bad thing!).

Rah’s tale is much that of a soldier on the ground and interestingly while again battles are important there is something more interesting being done here looking at the idea of a soldier with honour. Although an exile from home Madson creates here a culture where Rah as the group’s leader is responsible for everyone and each decision, he makes has consequences for his troops. Once absorbed into the Chiltaen invasion force he finds an old Levanti friend Gideon and their story is about compromises and exceeding the limits. This part of the story is often the most violent and there are scenes of rape and brutal warfare but with Rah we have someone questioning those in charge and trying to do the best for his own squad. You get really concerned for how much longer this noble man can push against the ambitions and prejudices of others.

Cassandra’s tale is possibly the most mysterious. An assassin with a growing reputation for interesting deaths and yet she comes across as more of a person completely lost. A terrible past and a secret she is very reluctant to share about herself she is strangely compelling. Her story helps us explore the Chiltaen world and its own rulers and plans but it also introduces some magical and strange factors that hint a lot more is about to descend onto these warring factions than even they know. Cassandra is also strangely amoral and ends up being bounced between powerful people to be used as a tool, but she does have her own agenda and the mystery about her is absolutely intriguing!

What really impresses me in this is how well these tales complement and support each other. Madson can move through all three and pace them so each character has a very satisfactory arc of their own and we see the larger game they are all part of. For those who love action and battles we get scintillating fighting and tactics including some very impressive land battles that make you appreciate the strengths of the Lavanti and their horses (and there is clearly a link to a famous Mongolian horde in there too). While those who love character and court intrigues will find an equally impressive group of factions working with and against one another (and changing between the two). That Madson achieves this in both is a hallmark of a great approach to writing.

Finally, it is so refreshing to have a slightly different landscape to play with. The empire does feel Asian-inspired but with other cultures being mixed in and yet never feels as if it is playing to stereotypes Madson manages to create texture and history that we see how this Empire has got into the state it is in and aware of its older secrets. But I’m pleased to say while somethings get revealed there is still quite a bit to uncover in the future volumes.

This is a read you very quickly get caught up in and that pace drives you through as the characters have a great story for each one to ply out. By the end they are all in very different places to when we met them and there is a lot more, we want to know. A hugely impressive debut and I am very much looking forward to more adventures from Madson in the future.