When both of her commanding officers are killed in action fighting the migrating Baimoi barbarians, young and inexperienced Mira is unexpectedly promoted to the troop captain. She manages to bring the rest of her soldiers back to the main camp, where she’s ignored by every other superior due to her low social standing. Until, that it, the shadowy League for the Restoration of Rutik intervenes and gives her a mandate and budget – as long as she does what they want her to do. Meanwhile, Arion, the Crown Prince of Tarsus and their legendary Rangers are trying to work out if the Rutik really are planning on attacking their city. They’re gathering their strength and intelligence while still trying to remain strong for their subjects. The only question isn’t if the Rutik will try and besiege their land for their own greed, but when.
Conqueror’s City is a rich telling of siege warfare, friendships, discrimination and morality. Porter has woven a vibrant world, strong in its own mythology. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from his world’s historical records, leading the reader into believing that these places are real, and the events truly happened. It’s always something I particularly enjoy when reading new novels; it adds a gravitas to the work which draws me in completely.
One thing that Porter has done well, is that he has loosely based the different tribes and nations of his world of Asfáleia from real historic tribes – mainly from the Grecko/Romano era’s of our own history. I think it’s what lands Conqueror’s City that edge of realism; you can almost imagine that this is a prehistoric Europe, from before the islands of Great Britain and Ireland fractured away from the mainland. However I did find the narrative to be somewhat long-winded for what was pretty much a battle story. As much as the characters were engaging, I didn’t really fall in love with them as I have with other similar books I’ve read. Perhaps if Conquerer’s City was a few thousand words shorter, it would have been more palatable.
S. A.
First published on Reedsy Discovery as part of their ARC program. You can read the original review here.
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