THE IKESSAR FALCON
Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from the publisher and Caffeine Book Tours as part of my participation in their tour.
The Bitch Queen returns in The Ikessar Falcon, the action-packed sequel to K. S. Villoso’s acclaimed fantasy debut, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro.
Abandoned by her people, Queen Talyien’s quest takes a turn for the worse as she stumbles upon a plot deeper and more sinister than she could have ever imagined, one that will displace her king and see her son dead. The road home beckons, strewn with a tangled web of deceit and unimaginable horrors – creatures from the dark, mad dragons and men with hearts hungry for power.
To save her land, Talyien must confront the myth others have built around her: Warlord Yeshin’s daughter, symbol of peace, warrior and queen and everything she could never be.
The price for failure is steep. Her friends are few. And a nation carved by a murderer can only be destined for war.
Author: K.S. Villoso
Publisher: Orbit Books
Publication date: 24 September 2020
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
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MY THOUGHTS
“Rivers of blood, everywhere you walk. Now do you understand?”
Since The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, grief and loss has followed Queen Talyien at every turn. You’d think that in The Ikessar Falcon we might be able to catch a break, but no. There’s no time to breathe when you’re the bitch queen of Jin-Sayeng.
If there’s anything I regret about reading this book, it’s why I haven’t read this book earlier. Personally, while I think first reactions are the best way to capture your true feelings about it, sometimes you just need to give it another read to really articulate what those feelings are. And that’s how I feel about The Ikessar Falcon.
But first thing’s first, let’s talk about the relationships of these characters and how carefully crafted they are.
THE CHARACTERS
As we all know at this point, I always adore a good character voice. But what I barely touched throughout my reviews is how much of a sucker I am for well-developed relationships.
It’s these instances that make you think–make you feel what the main character feels about the other.
In Tali’s case, she finds herself surrounded by the men she cares deeply about. Rayyel, Agos, and Khine. All of which are so terribly complicated that you can’t just point them towards an archetype and expect them to fit perfectly. Whenever something happens to these men, you can sympathize with the turmoil Tali feels because you too have grown attached.
And it’s not just these men, it applies to all the characters Tali encounters. You feel for their loss, their grief, and worse of all, their betrayal.
If anything, it was definitely difficult to trust anyone who was newly introduced in this book. You just can’t help but doubt their actions or the fact that things are going to go horribly wrong.
As I read the book, I couldn’t help but be on guard. I felt like I was tiptoeing through a minefield, scared that one misstep would cost a life. And if that’s how I felt as an outsider looking in, imagine how Tali felt as she’s constantly reminded, constantly held responsible over the lives she holds over.
It doesn’t help when all she has as an inner voice is the whispers of Warlord Yeshin mocking her every move.
THE PLOT AND THE WRITING
Without giving away too much, all I can say is that I had to take in between acts to collect myself, breathe, and clear my head. It really reels you in, keeps you hooked for several hours, and doesn’t give you a break.
Just when you thought things are calming down, oop, you thought wrong.
K.S. Villoso’s writing is just absolutely spectacular. It’s compelling and convincing that you kind of trigger your own adrenalin rush just by reading through the action scenes. You can feel the danger everywhere you go and it’s just, whew. No words can explain the heart palpitations and the deep breaths I have to take every once in a while.
MY VERDICT?
I give this, without a doubt in my mind, 5 out of 5 stars. It’s well crafted, the story is action packed and fast paced, and if long war epics are your thing, then you’re in for a real treat!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
K.S. Villoso was born in a dank hospital on an afternoon in Albay, Philippines, and things have generally been okay since then. After spending most of her childhood in a slum area in Taguig (where she dodged death-defying traffic, ate questionable food, and fell into open-pit sewers more often than one ought to), she and her family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, where they spent the better part of two decades trying to chase the North American Dream. She is now living amidst the forest and mountains with her family, children, and dogs in Anmore, BC.
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Ysa, not Bella. 