The Lascar's Dagger

The Forsaken Lands

By: Glenda Larke

Narrated by: Will Damron

Length: 19 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Faith will not save him.

Saker appears to be a simple priest, but in truth he's a spy for the head of his faith. Wounded in the line of duty by a Lascar sailor's blade, the weapon seems to follow him home. Unable to discard it, nor the sense of responsibility it brings, Saker can only follow its lead.

The dagger puts Saker on a journey to distant shores, on a path that will reveal terrible secrets about the empire, about the people he serves, and destroy the life he knows. The Lascar's dagger demands a price, and that price will be paid in blood.

©2015 Glenda Larke (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Magic, religion, and the spice trade combine in this intriguing series launch... This is an absorbing political fantasy that bodes well for the rest of the series." ( Publishers Weekly)

Spy - Priest - Swordman

I am not sure why but this book feeling like (at least to me) "The Curse of Chalion" by Lois McMaster Bujold. I am not totally sure why but it does.

The story is actually a story with characters that are under the authors control;that are developed and are distinct. The characters see the world differently - the author actually make this part of the plot, have different weakness and feel complete. A young man in his 30s - self conference (maybe a little too much); a world weary woman; a late teen far from home and his culture.

The "magic" I think is most where I get the feel of Chalion from in this book. It brushes with God swooping in but it works.

This isn't a book of war; of the end of the world or of DOOM but rather excitement on a scale that is believable. There is evil to be fought but it wants control not the death of the world.

Wil Damron gives a strong Narration - I would buy another book he read.

Lacking

I'm writing this review because I plan to return the book and I'm not able to review afterwards. I found this book difficult to listen to. It started very slowly and although after a bit it picked up I found other things I didn't like. Now have caution - I'll be putting in some spoilers here - you have been warned. My main issue was with Saker and princess Mathilde. I spent the whole start of the "relationship" thinking what an idiot he was and then after he was arrested calling him even more of an idiot for being so naive. I have no idea how he can be a spy and be so blind to another person's nature. Really he didn't seem to be a very good spy in a multitude of ways. I also found Mathilde's actions very manipulative and childish because although I sympathized with her predicament she wasn't able to see past the fact that the same thing happened to other women all the time and she was willing to bring anyone down with her to avoid it. The story had potential, truly it did and from the reviews it's clear that many liked it very much, but it wasn't for me. I simply can't bear idiocy from a character and the story had too much of it.

Good story line

This story deviates a little from the norm with the love angle and the daggers intentions still a mystery. I wanted a little more action.

It starts out slow, but then draws you in...

This is a great book! It took a while to fully engage me, but it was worth the wait. It just got better and better and the end of the story left me wanting more...so many cliffhangers at the end of the book. I enjoyed the storyso much that I already have the second book downloaded and I'm going to start listening to it as soon as I finish this review. The narrator was excellent! This will be one of the books that I'll listen to again sometime. It has an interesting magic system, but if your looking for witches or wizards you won't find them here, but this story certainly has a magic system that is very unique, and refreshing.

Unfortunate

The Lascar's Dagger is one of that books that is well written and has an interesting scenario but that I could barely force myself to finish.

Hearing the excerpt and what amounts to the first chapter , I expected action and intrigue but both falls flat almost immediately. Don't do that mistake, if you want action this is not your book but closer to the Lackey's Valdemar series.

That would be great - I enjoy those - but neither the mystery nor the characters can carry this story. The characters start out interesting but any depth they hint at first falls flat and then turned to annoyance. Now that is probably at least partially on purpose but leaves me without someone to root for.

The story itself feels flat as well as the interesting world, scenario and turns suffer from a weak drive, some tell don't show of things and in particular too much detail that has no relevance. E.g. the royal secret death squad gets introduce and is the reason our heroes have to flee but we barely get to see them instead here just generic talk.

Long story short, this is a well written book with a good scenario,, which might be enough to carry you through.