One straight from the ‘let’s make up a bunch of unpronounceable names’ school of fantasy writing. But on the positive side it was a light fairly enjoyable read and even with it being the 8th book in the series I didn’t feel lost and was able to follow the central plot and action. BUT on reflection this was a tale so full of backstory and exposition that if you took those away and think about the central through line, then you realize that nothing actually happened other than an army moved from one campsite to another! ( )

I've never been quite able to make sense of these books. They are about the adventures of Bili the Axe, a warrior lord in a far future, post-apocalyptic eastern USA. This book, like others relive a past adventure in his life, which while very busy, just seemed to consist of a long sequence of battle after battle. The author's fondness for pseudo-Greek names and titles doesn't help either. ( )

One of the better Horseclans novels. Adams works chiefly serve to goad me into trying to write a better piece of post-Apocalyptic, no gunpowder fiction. ( )