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The Traitor Son Cycle #5
The Fall of Dragons
The blood-thirsty, epic Traitor Son Cycle comes to its gripping conclusion in this fifth and final book.
In the climax of the Traitor Son Cycle, the allied armies of the Wild and the Kingdoms of men and women must face Ash for control of the gates to the hermetical universe, and for control of their own destinies. But exhaustion, treachery and time may all prove deadlier enemies.
In Alba, Queen Desiderata struggles to rebuild her kingdom wrecked by a year of civil war, even as the Autumn battles are fought in the west. In the Terra Antica, The Red Knight attempts to force his unwilling allies to finish the Necromancer instead of each other.
But as the last battle nears, The Red Knight makes a horrifying discovery...all of this fighting may have happened before.
In the climax of the Traitor Son Cycle, the allied armies of the Wild and the Kingdoms of men and women must face Ash for control of the gates to the hermetical universe, and for control of their own destinies. But exhaustion, treachery and time may all prove deadlier enemies.
In Alba, Queen Desiderata struggles to rebuild her kingdom wrecked by a year of civil war, even as the Autumn battles are fought in the west. In the Terra Antica, The Red Knight attempts to force his unwilling allies to finish the Necromancer instead of each other.
But as the last battle nears, The Red Knight makes a horrifying discovery...all of this fighting may have happened before.
656 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2017
About the author
Miles Cameron
24 books2,565 followersMiles Cameron is an author, a re-enactor, an outdoors expert and a weapons specialist. He lives, works and writes in Toronto, where he lives with his family. This is his debut fantasy novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
February 20, 2018
Another amazing book in this series, and a stunning conclusion to the story. The Fall of Dragons wraps up The Traitor Son Cycle which will be added to my top 10 favorite fantasy series of all time. I rated only 2 books in this series 5 stars, and book 2 only got 3 stars. So, I'm sure your wondering how I can put this in my top 10. Well, this series had everything I love about fantasy and it was done extremely well throughout the series as a whole. The characters are well thought out and complex, there are a variety of interesting beasties, a unique magic system, plenty of action that kept me thoroughly entertained, and of course
DRAGONS
.
The story picks up right after the events in A Plague of Swords. The unified campaign of several nations and various led by The Red Knight, Gabriel Muriens, are spread out fighting several battles in key areas of this world. Everything has to go perfect for them to win this war, and Gabriel has gambled everything on their knowledge of an upcoming event that only happens every 10,000 years. As the rush begins to the final stand, Gabriel and his allies discover new revelations that could help or hinder them in the battle to come.
Mr. Cameron does an excellent job with this final book. The storyline is kept fresh and exciting. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, something would happen that made me second guess myself. The POV's deviate from long to short sections helping to mix things up. I personally enjoyed the shorter sections, but they did keep me up later at night than I had intended. I would see the next character's section was only a couple of pages, then the next, then the next. You understand what I'm saying. So, beware or you may get sucked into this too.
As I said in my review of the previous book, it is unusual to have a character driven story that also has a strong plot. Of course, that does not change in this book, but the characters almost always win the day for me and that is no different with this series. Gabriel, Bad Tom, Sauce, Ser Michael, Harmodius, and many many more. Gabriel, as many of you can guess, is the MC, but each of these sub-characters had their time to shine. For me, no one shined more than my man, Bad Tom. He was brutal, funny, honorable, with a tell it like it is attitude, and an endless supply of witty remarks. I would love to see him get his own stand-a-lone book or a set of short stories.
I could go on a lot longer, but I don't want to give too much away. I tend to ramble when I have really enjoyed a book/series. This was exhilarating fantasy adventure that I would advise all fantasy enthusiast to read. It is full of memorable characters, plenty of excitement, a host of twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. If you decide to take this journey, I only hope you had as much fun as I did.
5 stars *****
The story picks up right after the events in A Plague of Swords. The unified campaign of several nations and various led by The Red Knight, Gabriel Muriens, are spread out fighting several battles in key areas of this world. Everything has to go perfect for them to win this war, and Gabriel has gambled everything on their knowledge of an upcoming event that only happens every 10,000 years. As the rush begins to the final stand, Gabriel and his allies discover new revelations that could help or hinder them in the battle to come.
"Thrones are not won in throne rooms, nor do faint hearts ever win fair gentlemen."
Mr. Cameron does an excellent job with this final book. The storyline is kept fresh and exciting. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, something would happen that made me second guess myself. The POV's deviate from long to short sections helping to mix things up. I personally enjoyed the shorter sections, but they did keep me up later at night than I had intended. I would see the next character's section was only a couple of pages, then the next, then the next. You understand what I'm saying. So, beware or you may get sucked into this too.
As I said in my review of the previous book, it is unusual to have a character driven story that also has a strong plot. Of course, that does not change in this book, but the characters almost always win the day for me and that is no different with this series. Gabriel, Bad Tom, Sauce, Ser Michael, Harmodius, and many many more. Gabriel, as many of you can guess, is the MC, but each of these sub-characters had their time to shine. For me, no one shined more than my man, Bad Tom. He was brutal, funny, honorable, with a tell it like it is attitude, and an endless supply of witty remarks. I would love to see him get his own stand-a-lone book or a set of short stories.
Mortimir narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"
Tom grinned. "Never, lad. Because the difference between us is that if I wanted you dead, I won't mention it. I'll just make you dead."
I could go on a lot longer, but I don't want to give too much away. I tend to ramble when I have really enjoyed a book/series. This was exhilarating fantasy adventure that I would advise all fantasy enthusiast to read. It is full of memorable characters, plenty of excitement, a host of twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. If you decide to take this journey, I only hope you had as much fun as I did.
"Because some stories end, and other stories begin; and even as it is foolish to forget the past, so it is foolish to cling to it."
5 stars *****
January 28, 2018
Not quite full 5⭐️. But this is the last book in a series and I love Miles/Christian Cameron.
It took me a while to collect my thoughts... I felt a bit torn in my opinion when I read the book. On one hand, it is incredibly messy (particularly part 1): a dazzling kaleidoscope of characters, plot lines, adversaries, conflicts, enemies, allies... It is genuinely hard to stay on the same page with the author. On the other hand, Miles Cameron clearly cares deeply about his characters, the world and the background historical setting (circa XIV CE) - and you get charmed away as well as a reader. You cannot miss the author's love that drips off the book pages like the honey of a honeycomb. He is also an incredibly informed author. His attention to detail and ability to immerse you in the environment of his story is absolutely superlative...
Still, there are some issues that rattled my experience a little (I wonder if you feel the same):
1. The entire book felt a bit like a conclusion of an epic level D&D campaign. With characters flexing the muscle of their Lv20 powers and no breaks on the epicness any longer apply.
2. Same as with D&D campaign, apart from the main plot-line, there is a hive of mini-subplots and unresolved conflicts that assault the attention of the reader. This also makes a reader feel like a newcomer to a party where everyone knows each other and go many years back. So it feels like you are missing out on all the inside banter (and that is even after reading the prequel books).
3. Whilst you are drowning in the buzz of misc minor characters, some of the main movers and shakers often will disappear without much notice. It is impossible to give examples without spoilers, but let's just say some main characters die and the pace of the story does allow the news to sink in properly. So it feels like a letdown.
4. There is a general feeling of a rush throughout the book. It is clear that the author is trying to wrap up the story - but sometimes it achieved through shortcuts. And even though the resolutions are often rather clever - they still feel a bit undercooked in terms of build up or their import.
Speaking of the overall series: I loved book 1 - The Red Knight (it is on my best of all time shelf), and I enjoyed books 2-5. Unfortunately, I never loved the sequels as much as Book 1.
Retrospectively, I just wish the author would merge the content of the last 4 books in just 2 (so that the whole series is a trilogy) and would trim out some side stories to focus on the core. Similar to the way his Chivalry series does it (see The Ill-Made Knight).
I also would love to read more fiction set in this world. Perhaps the author would consider a serialised novel, like his Tom Swan series (see Castillon)? I would definitely enjoy that!
Otherwise, thanks a lot, Miles Cameron! It was a pleasure to be on this journey with you.
It took me a while to collect my thoughts... I felt a bit torn in my opinion when I read the book. On one hand, it is incredibly messy (particularly part 1): a dazzling kaleidoscope of characters, plot lines, adversaries, conflicts, enemies, allies... It is genuinely hard to stay on the same page with the author. On the other hand, Miles Cameron clearly cares deeply about his characters, the world and the background historical setting (circa XIV CE) - and you get charmed away as well as a reader. You cannot miss the author's love that drips off the book pages like the honey of a honeycomb. He is also an incredibly informed author. His attention to detail and ability to immerse you in the environment of his story is absolutely superlative...
Still, there are some issues that rattled my experience a little (I wonder if you feel the same):
1. The entire book felt a bit like a conclusion of an epic level D&D campaign. With characters flexing the muscle of their Lv20 powers and no breaks on the epicness any longer apply.
2. Same as with D&D campaign, apart from the main plot-line, there is a hive of mini-subplots and unresolved conflicts that assault the attention of the reader. This also makes a reader feel like a newcomer to a party where everyone knows each other and go many years back. So it feels like you are missing out on all the inside banter (and that is even after reading the prequel books).
3. Whilst you are drowning in the buzz of misc minor characters, some of the main movers and shakers often will disappear without much notice. It is impossible to give examples without spoilers, but let's just say some main characters die and the pace of the story does allow the news to sink in properly. So it feels like a letdown.
4. There is a general feeling of a rush throughout the book. It is clear that the author is trying to wrap up the story - but sometimes it achieved through shortcuts. And even though the resolutions are often rather clever - they still feel a bit undercooked in terms of build up or their import.
Speaking of the overall series: I loved book 1 - The Red Knight (it is on my best of all time shelf), and I enjoyed books 2-5. Unfortunately, I never loved the sequels as much as Book 1.
Retrospectively, I just wish the author would merge the content of the last 4 books in just 2 (so that the whole series is a trilogy) and would trim out some side stories to focus on the core. Similar to the way his Chivalry series does it (see The Ill-Made Knight).
I also would love to read more fiction set in this world. Perhaps the author would consider a serialised novel, like his Tom Swan series (see Castillon)? I would definitely enjoy that!
Otherwise, thanks a lot, Miles Cameron! It was a pleasure to be on this journey with you.
July 12, 2020
I am genuinely sad to have finished The Fall of Dragons. I will miss these characters that have been masterfully crafted over 5 books by Miles Cameron. The final entry in the Traitor Son Cycle was blood-thirsty and intensely epic.
“What makes men so dangerous is that we are too stupid to know when we are beaten.”
Reading the final book of a series with characters you have grown to love, hate and care about is always quite nerve wracking. You think to yourself how can the author pull together all of the different strands, give a memorable end to the series and wrap it all up? Well you don’t need to worry here, as the author Miles Cameron does a fantastic job.
This deep in the series we know just what our protagonists are up against. And it ain’t pretty. It’s downright scary. There is a growing intensity of dread throughout this book, where some little victories make you feeling worried about what’s coming next. There are deaths - many deaths, and many strands really are pulled together satisfyingly.
"Thrones are not won in throne rooms, nor do faint hearts ever win fair gentlemen."
As you should expect, there are battles. Massive battles that were blood-pumping and gut-wrenchingly savage, with characters at their full powers causing destruction and carnage all over the place.
There were also quiet, intimate moments, between friends, between lovers, between enemies and they all enhanced this read of The Fall of Dragons even more so.
“How does it come, Majesty, that with the fate of the world in the balance, the hands shaping the defence of humanity are such rogues?”
I have loved my reading of the Traitor Son Cycle. After reading now all of Mr Cameron’s fantasy books, I am left thinking - what is next?! I for one am excited to see where we go next.
“Because some stories end, and other stories begin; and even as it is foolish to forget the past, so it is foolish to cling to it.”
5/5 - an immensely thrilling and enjoyable final book. Miles Cameron ends the series with a crash of battle, the clang of plate armour and the tears of many. What a fantastic series.
“What makes men so dangerous is that we are too stupid to know when we are beaten.”
Reading the final book of a series with characters you have grown to love, hate and care about is always quite nerve wracking. You think to yourself how can the author pull together all of the different strands, give a memorable end to the series and wrap it all up? Well you don’t need to worry here, as the author Miles Cameron does a fantastic job.
This deep in the series we know just what our protagonists are up against. And it ain’t pretty. It’s downright scary. There is a growing intensity of dread throughout this book, where some little victories make you feeling worried about what’s coming next. There are deaths - many deaths, and many strands really are pulled together satisfyingly.
"Thrones are not won in throne rooms, nor do faint hearts ever win fair gentlemen."
As you should expect, there are battles. Massive battles that were blood-pumping and gut-wrenchingly savage, with characters at their full powers causing destruction and carnage all over the place.
There were also quiet, intimate moments, between friends, between lovers, between enemies and they all enhanced this read of The Fall of Dragons even more so.
“How does it come, Majesty, that with the fate of the world in the balance, the hands shaping the defence of humanity are such rogues?”
I have loved my reading of the Traitor Son Cycle. After reading now all of Mr Cameron’s fantasy books, I am left thinking - what is next?! I for one am excited to see where we go next.
“Because some stories end, and other stories begin; and even as it is foolish to forget the past, so it is foolish to cling to it.”
5/5 - an immensely thrilling and enjoyable final book. Miles Cameron ends the series with a crash of battle, the clang of plate armour and the tears of many. What a fantastic series.
June 14, 2023
What a finale! I was excited to get back into this fantastical world and find out what the final battle would entail. I don't read that many epic fantasy but this series has opened my eyes to what I might be missing.
I got closer to some of the characters in this book especially Looks-at-Cloud I thought they were such a well written character and I loved every chapter they were in. The relationships have already been built by time we get to the last instalment and it's just a joy to read about them flow. The characters have split up into dynamic teams and it works so well - it allows the reader to spend time with individuals and for the tactics of war to play out.
The Red Knights realisation that life will never be as simple as it was when he was just a knight is so sobering and takes us right back to the first book. There are moments of lyrical writing again in this book mixed in nicely with epic battle scenes. I was so scared for my favourite characters I felt like so far they had got of pretty lightly but I was sure it was all about to change.
The battle scenes in this book are really something else, they aren't just thought out to every last detail but they are also built up really well and executed to absolute perfection. Due to the amount of battles ongoing this book is fast paced even though it's a fairly chunky one. The idea that war has no end, that man and beast will keep on fighting and the wheel keeps on turning is a daunting one. I have spaced out reading this series over five months and I was sad to see it end.
I can't get over the last 100 or so pages, it wasn't just extremely emotional watching all our characters reunite and fight but there were moments I had goosebumps all over reading the battle scenes. This book had an absolutely astonishing ending and I am going to be thinking about it for a long time. I would re-read this series even though it is so big because the pay-off was well worth it.
I got closer to some of the characters in this book especially Looks-at-Cloud I thought they were such a well written character and I loved every chapter they were in. The relationships have already been built by time we get to the last instalment and it's just a joy to read about them flow. The characters have split up into dynamic teams and it works so well - it allows the reader to spend time with individuals and for the tactics of war to play out.
The Red Knights realisation that life will never be as simple as it was when he was just a knight is so sobering and takes us right back to the first book. There are moments of lyrical writing again in this book mixed in nicely with epic battle scenes. I was so scared for my favourite characters I felt like so far they had got of pretty lightly but I was sure it was all about to change.
The battle scenes in this book are really something else, they aren't just thought out to every last detail but they are also built up really well and executed to absolute perfection. Due to the amount of battles ongoing this book is fast paced even though it's a fairly chunky one. The idea that war has no end, that man and beast will keep on fighting and the wheel keeps on turning is a daunting one. I have spaced out reading this series over five months and I was sad to see it end.
I can't get over the last 100 or so pages, it wasn't just extremely emotional watching all our characters reunite and fight but there were moments I had goosebumps all over reading the battle scenes. This book had an absolutely astonishing ending and I am going to be thinking about it for a long time. I would re-read this series even though it is so big because the pay-off was well worth it.
November 21, 2017
FIVE EASY STARS!
What a grand finale that truly was.
You like epic battles in your epic fantasy? Do not fear, this book - this series - ends with the biggest of bangs and the most battles I've read in one book. Battles, both running and static, hermetical and in the real. Large and small, multiple and, truly and honestly, one big one that's split between areas and armies and allies and foes; factions and companies and species and... worlds!
Battles (incredible battles) aside - let's face it, if you've read the series thus far, you know how well Cameron does medieval and magical battles - the story progression of the many characters come to some happy, sad, surprising and heartwarming endings. There's losses galore and there're characters that come into their own. It seriously wrapped up very well indeed considering the huge and varied cast.
Magic? LOTS! This book takes it to another level. The power, the visual displays and mind rending combat sequences between gargantuan foes of hermetical powers unbound.
It's how our world could have been should magic have been involved. And dragons. And other such beasties and powers and - shudders - worms that take control of your body and - shudders again - well, I'll let you find out just how far they go, or rather how far Cameron goes describing it all in this book. Very visceral and visual.
As usual, I'm rambling on here, because I enjoyed it so much and felt like it wrapped it up so well. Very satisfying end. Read it. Enjoy it. Talk about it!
JP
What a grand finale that truly was.
You like epic battles in your epic fantasy? Do not fear, this book - this series - ends with the biggest of bangs and the most battles I've read in one book. Battles, both running and static, hermetical and in the real. Large and small, multiple and, truly and honestly, one big one that's split between areas and armies and allies and foes; factions and companies and species and... worlds!
Battles (incredible battles) aside - let's face it, if you've read the series thus far, you know how well Cameron does medieval and magical battles - the story progression of the many characters come to some happy, sad, surprising and heartwarming endings. There's losses galore and there're characters that come into their own. It seriously wrapped up very well indeed considering the huge and varied cast.
Magic? LOTS! This book takes it to another level. The power, the visual displays and mind rending combat sequences between gargantuan foes of hermetical powers unbound.
It's how our world could have been should magic have been involved. And dragons. And other such beasties and powers and - shudders - worms that take control of your body and - shudders again - well, I'll let you find out just how far they go, or rather how far Cameron goes describing it all in this book. Very visceral and visual.
As usual, I'm rambling on here, because I enjoyed it so much and felt like it wrapped it up so well. Very satisfying end. Read it. Enjoy it. Talk about it!
JP
November 15, 2017
Spectacular conclusion to the series!! Book 5 proved to be just as amazing as I had hoped.
When I think back on the first book, I immediately remember what a challenge it was to keep people and places straight, how quickly pov’s changed and how very little I felt for the characters at the time. There were kingdoms at odds with kingdoms, humans at odds with animals and the many fantastical creatures, and a magic system that wasn’t fully understood yet. Every corner of this world was beginning to feel the touch of an insidious plan. Meaning we were getting the perspective of a dozen or more kingdoms, clans, broods, packs, tribes, etc. in order to lay the foundation for the rest of the story. It was a challenge, but a commendable beginning to a complex and fantastic journey...I know. I’m supposed to be reviewing The Fall of Dragons, but this series came so far over the last 5 books it’s hard not to note the weaknesses of the very first (which, by the way, I still gave 5 stars)
The culmination of all the long battles, moving of armies, building of alliances, exploration and development of magical talents, and discovery of the foe(s) and their machinations all meet here to bring a truly entertaining and fascinating conclusion.
As with previous books the battle sequences are heavily detailed, brutal and bloody. All the more excellent for the fact that some of the characters’ magical talents have increased exponentially. Battles are fought not only with good ‘ol fashioned hand to hand combat, but with more focus on the availability of potent masters of hermetical talent. Which means…awesomeness ensues. We’ve seen the magic in action before, but not like this. The pulse pounding battles and strong, yet limited magic being used in interesting new capacities makes for some very exciting scenes.
Those damn loveable rogues. Over the course of five books I came to enjoy and look forward to many of the characters. Their loves and losses, failures and triumphs, and in some instances deaths tugged on my emotions. From the first book it was difficult to imagine feeling much for many in this huge cast. Though we never become very intimate with any one character for too long there are moments of heroism, feats of strength and courage, tender scenes of love and the agony of loss, defeat, doubt and hopelessness, and even some humor that bring them closer. Each book does a better job than the previous one of focusing on pov’s and providing moments of insight. By the end there are more and more of those moments. And while it doesn’t seem too important to focus so heavily on the emotional connection to characters I enjoy a book more when it has them.
So in order to avoid spoiling any cool details, I'll just finish by saying this has been an impressive debut fantasy series for the author, and an excellent conclusion. With the use of familiar historical and fantasy elements he’s created a unique, complex story that not only delivers mystery, but rich detail, vivid battles of combat and magic, and villains as well as destinations of epic proportions. And it seems that he may have even left himself wiggle room to revisit this world again. In which case, I would gladly love to see what else awaits...Because when some stories end, other's begin.Highly recommend!!
When I think back on the first book, I immediately remember what a challenge it was to keep people and places straight, how quickly pov’s changed and how very little I felt for the characters at the time. There were kingdoms at odds with kingdoms, humans at odds with animals and the many fantastical creatures, and a magic system that wasn’t fully understood yet. Every corner of this world was beginning to feel the touch of an insidious plan. Meaning we were getting the perspective of a dozen or more kingdoms, clans, broods, packs, tribes, etc. in order to lay the foundation for the rest of the story. It was a challenge, but a commendable beginning to a complex and fantastic journey...I know. I’m supposed to be reviewing The Fall of Dragons, but this series came so far over the last 5 books it’s hard not to note the weaknesses of the very first (which, by the way, I still gave 5 stars)
The culmination of all the long battles, moving of armies, building of alliances, exploration and development of magical talents, and discovery of the foe(s) and their machinations all meet here to bring a truly entertaining and fascinating conclusion.
As with previous books the battle sequences are heavily detailed, brutal and bloody. All the more excellent for the fact that some of the characters’ magical talents have increased exponentially. Battles are fought not only with good ‘ol fashioned hand to hand combat, but with more focus on the availability of potent masters of hermetical talent. Which means…awesomeness ensues. We’ve seen the magic in action before, but not like this. The pulse pounding battles and strong, yet limited magic being used in interesting new capacities makes for some very exciting scenes.
How does it come, Majesty, that with the fate of the world in the balance, the hands shaping the defence of humanity are such rogues?
Those damn loveable rogues. Over the course of five books I came to enjoy and look forward to many of the characters. Their loves and losses, failures and triumphs, and in some instances deaths tugged on my emotions. From the first book it was difficult to imagine feeling much for many in this huge cast. Though we never become very intimate with any one character for too long there are moments of heroism, feats of strength and courage, tender scenes of love and the agony of loss, defeat, doubt and hopelessness, and even some humor that bring them closer. Each book does a better job than the previous one of focusing on pov’s and providing moments of insight. By the end there are more and more of those moments. And while it doesn’t seem too important to focus so heavily on the emotional connection to characters I enjoy a book more when it has them.
So in order to avoid spoiling any cool details, I'll just finish by saying this has been an impressive debut fantasy series for the author, and an excellent conclusion. With the use of familiar historical and fantasy elements he’s created a unique, complex story that not only delivers mystery, but rich detail, vivid battles of combat and magic, and villains as well as destinations of epic proportions. And it seems that he may have even left himself wiggle room to revisit this world again. In which case, I would gladly love to see what else awaits...Because when some stories end, other's begin.Highly recommend!!
August 27, 2019
This series is inventive, deep, riveting, and has beautifully written characters. The tactics and research are impeccable, the build is not predictable, and I've never seen a male author write better female characters, ever. Even better for an extended series, the books don't end on cliffhangers, but reach a satisfying conclusion with each volume. It also hit my preference for magic that felt more mythic and metaphysical than some of modern fantasy's penchant for dry systems and playbook rules. Edges, war without flinching, and high stakes aplenty, but without the black plunge into nihilism. If you like a story that expands as it goes, and doesn't flinch from nuance and complexity, this one's highly recommended. I loved this series from start to finish, and wish there were more that rise to the challenge of epic stakes with no prisoners taken.
November 16, 2017
I hate to say it, but reading this one was a bit of a slog - and maybe that was intentional - but by the end, I felt every bit exhausted as Gabriel and his army.
I think this book suffers from two major problems - I will call them the Robert Jordan problem and the Naruto problem.
For the Robert Jordan (of the Wheel of Time fame) problem - it's just too many characters. I'm sure the author knows and loves each one. For me, I really struggled to remember (and in many cases, just couldn't). People died and I couldn't even remember if they were important in past books or had just been added to be killed off for this one. Granted, I know that's an epic fantasy thing, and if you're the kind of person who reads and re-reads books like this and enjoys that sort of thing, you'll enjoy this one in much the same way. For me, I want to remember who I'm reading about and why I like them (or not).
The Naruto problem is a bit trickier - it's a notable flaw in the otherwise excellent anime - there's a ton of build up to a big boss at the season finale - only for it to be revealed he was never the big boss - which just really feels anticlimactic. Or maybe he was a boss, but not a big boss. It's a problem that happens when you keep "powering up" your characters - the original villain just isn't enough, so you keep adding newer tougher villains to keep up with your new tougher characters and having lengthier and lengthier fight sequences.
Finally, three minor complaints - the author's love for medieval swordsmanship really shows, but I just don't know the Latin names of ancient medieval sword techniques - and I'm not going to interrupt reading a story to google what they refer to - which really did ruin a number of battle scenes for me.
As in the last book, I found his attempt at gender neutral pronouns tedious - writing "his/her" is not proper English. Don't care about having a transgender character or not, but I do care about using English pronouns. Those just broke up the flow - and hir just looks like a typo. As in the last book, this just breaks up the story for me and really impedes the willing suspension of disbelief. I'm aware that there's an series of attempts to create them right now, but they have not passed into established usage and instead look very strange and simply do not fit grammatically.
Finally, there was simply no falling action - or maybe, more accurately, this entire book was falling action - but the fates of the surviving characters are basically just "and they all went home to rebuild."
I find myself decidedly meh on this book - not really where you want to be at the end of a series. Ah well, can't win them all.
I think this book suffers from two major problems - I will call them the Robert Jordan problem and the Naruto problem.
For the Robert Jordan (of the Wheel of Time fame) problem - it's just too many characters. I'm sure the author knows and loves each one. For me, I really struggled to remember (and in many cases, just couldn't). People died and I couldn't even remember if they were important in past books or had just been added to be killed off for this one. Granted, I know that's an epic fantasy thing, and if you're the kind of person who reads and re-reads books like this and enjoys that sort of thing, you'll enjoy this one in much the same way. For me, I want to remember who I'm reading about and why I like them (or not).
The Naruto problem is a bit trickier - it's a notable flaw in the otherwise excellent anime - there's a ton of build up to a big boss at the season finale - only for it to be revealed he was never the big boss - which just really feels anticlimactic. Or maybe he was a boss, but not a big boss. It's a problem that happens when you keep "powering up" your characters - the original villain just isn't enough, so you keep adding newer tougher villains to keep up with your new tougher characters and having lengthier and lengthier fight sequences.
Finally, three minor complaints - the author's love for medieval swordsmanship really shows, but I just don't know the Latin names of ancient medieval sword techniques - and I'm not going to interrupt reading a story to google what they refer to - which really did ruin a number of battle scenes for me.
As in the last book, I found his attempt at gender neutral pronouns tedious - writing "his/her" is not proper English. Don't care about having a transgender character or not, but I do care about using English pronouns. Those just broke up the flow - and hir just looks like a typo. As in the last book, this just breaks up the story for me and really impedes the willing suspension of disbelief. I'm aware that there's an series of attempts to create them right now, but they have not passed into established usage and instead look very strange and simply do not fit grammatically.
Finally, there was simply no falling action - or maybe, more accurately, this entire book was falling action - but the fates of the surviving characters are basically just "and they all went home to rebuild."
I find myself decidedly meh on this book - not really where you want to be at the end of a series. Ah well, can't win them all.
November 30, 2017
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
When you come to the last book in a series it’s very hard to write up an overview of the plot contained in the pages. Especially if you don’t want to give away any spoilers and inadvertently ruin either the book or the series on a whole and as such, I’m merely going to offer my own thoughts and overview on the book rather than going into any overt detail..
The Traitor Son Cycle began with The Red Knight, followed by The Fell Sword, The Dread Wyrm, A Plague of Swords and now with The Fall of Dragons it ends……..
For it’s vast cast of characters, Gabriel Muriens, the Red Knight, the Captain, the Red Duke of Thrake and the Emperor of Man, his casa, the company and his various armies The Fall of Dragons is an arduous slog, it’s a relentless trek of plots, plans, never-ending fighting, small skirmishes and large battles all strewn across a multitude of locations against a variety of foes as The Alliance wage war on numerous fronts in an attempt to overcome overwhelming odds and defeat the Odine and Ash and his marauding horde.
For the readers, what you have is simply a fantastic climax to one of the best modern fantasy series out there.
Over the course of the previous four books in The Traitor Son Cycle Cameron has woven an impressive tapestry of story, characters and their arcs and The Fall of Dragons is the culmination of everything that has gone on before, it’s the endgame.
There’s so much to love about this book and I can’t fault it. For me, it’s the perfect storm, top quality storytelling and pacing that features action (lots and lots and lots of action) with a whole cast of memorable characters (the banter and camaraderie between the core groups are outstanding) all blended and merged together in an exquisite way to form the quintessential rousing read that takes you through a range of emotions whilst reading. From the first page to the last you will be pulled in and engaged by the story that Cameron is telling with each page offering you something that will keep you coming back for more before finally, you are hit with the gut punch poignant ending that will give both have you cheering and give you the feels.
Gabriel Muriens, his brothers Gavin and Aneas, Desiderata, Blanche, Ser Alison/Sauce, Ser Thomas Lachlan/Bad Tom, Toby, Mortirmir, Francis Atcourt and Michael along with a plethora of others are all characters that you have come to know, care about and root for. You want them to survive, you want them to endure the hardships that Cameron throws at them (time and time again) and you have to keep reading and turning the pages as you need to know what happens! Alas, it’s fantasy, it’s the last book in the series, we know not everyone will survive, it’s a given that there will be deaths galore along the way and Cameron isn’t scared to wield the ghiavarina on his characters.
The magic system (which is well thought out and also awesome) is well implemented by Cameron often playing a large role in the plans, protection and fighting and is used to devastating effect when unleashed.
There’s lots of action in The Fall of Dragons, LOTS! Luckily, Cameron is an accomplished writer who manages to bring his battle scenes to brutal and visceral life.
When you come to the final book in a series it’s always with a slight sense of melancholy. You have followed the story and the characters from the very beginning and now you are reaching the conclusion. Yes, the author might revisit the world in future series and we might also get some short stories focusing on certain characters but you will never again be able to look forward to the ‘next‘ book being released and the series that you have come to love having spent hours and hours and pages and pages reading and becoming invested in will sadly, all be over. You also have to ask yourself was the expenditure worth it?! For The Traitor Son Cycle the answer is emphatically, hell yes it was worth it!
The previous book (A Plague of Swords) was my least favourite in the series. It was by no means a ‘bad‘ book and I thoroughly enjoyed it (it even made my Top Ten Books of the Year for 2016 list). It just failed, for me personally to live up to the lofty heights of the other three books but with The Fall of Dragons, Cameron reaches the pinnacle, saving the best for last and delivers the standout of the series.
The Traitor Son Cycle is top tier fantasy at it’s finest and Cameron deserves to be acknowledged as one of the great modern fantasy writers. Read it!
On a side note: You often see people asking for recommendations for fantasy series and authors because they’ve watched Game of Thrones and subsequently read the ASOIAF series by George RR Martin and want to read more in a similar vein. The Traitor Son Cycle fully deserves to stand on its own merits but at the same time, it along with The Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne also fits the bill as a fantasy series that fans of ASOIAF will immensely enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
When you come to the last book in a series it’s very hard to write up an overview of the plot contained in the pages. Especially if you don’t want to give away any spoilers and inadvertently ruin either the book or the series on a whole and as such, I’m merely going to offer my own thoughts and overview on the book rather than going into any overt detail..
The Traitor Son Cycle began with The Red Knight, followed by The Fell Sword, The Dread Wyrm, A Plague of Swords and now with The Fall of Dragons it ends……..
For it’s vast cast of characters, Gabriel Muriens, the Red Knight, the Captain, the Red Duke of Thrake and the Emperor of Man, his casa, the company and his various armies The Fall of Dragons is an arduous slog, it’s a relentless trek of plots, plans, never-ending fighting, small skirmishes and large battles all strewn across a multitude of locations against a variety of foes as The Alliance wage war on numerous fronts in an attempt to overcome overwhelming odds and defeat the Odine and Ash and his marauding horde.
For the readers, what you have is simply a fantastic climax to one of the best modern fantasy series out there.
Over the course of the previous four books in The Traitor Son Cycle Cameron has woven an impressive tapestry of story, characters and their arcs and The Fall of Dragons is the culmination of everything that has gone on before, it’s the endgame.
There’s so much to love about this book and I can’t fault it. For me, it’s the perfect storm, top quality storytelling and pacing that features action (lots and lots and lots of action) with a whole cast of memorable characters (the banter and camaraderie between the core groups are outstanding) all blended and merged together in an exquisite way to form the quintessential rousing read that takes you through a range of emotions whilst reading. From the first page to the last you will be pulled in and engaged by the story that Cameron is telling with each page offering you something that will keep you coming back for more before finally, you are hit with the gut punch poignant ending that will give both have you cheering and give you the feels.
Gabriel Muriens, his brothers Gavin and Aneas, Desiderata, Blanche, Ser Alison/Sauce, Ser Thomas Lachlan/Bad Tom, Toby, Mortirmir, Francis Atcourt and Michael along with a plethora of others are all characters that you have come to know, care about and root for. You want them to survive, you want them to endure the hardships that Cameron throws at them (time and time again) and you have to keep reading and turning the pages as you need to know what happens! Alas, it’s fantasy, it’s the last book in the series, we know not everyone will survive, it’s a given that there will be deaths galore along the way and Cameron isn’t scared to wield the ghiavarina on his characters.
The magic system (which is well thought out and also awesome) is well implemented by Cameron often playing a large role in the plans, protection and fighting and is used to devastating effect when unleashed.
There’s lots of action in The Fall of Dragons, LOTS! Luckily, Cameron is an accomplished writer who manages to bring his battle scenes to brutal and visceral life.
When you come to the final book in a series it’s always with a slight sense of melancholy. You have followed the story and the characters from the very beginning and now you are reaching the conclusion. Yes, the author might revisit the world in future series and we might also get some short stories focusing on certain characters but you will never again be able to look forward to the ‘next‘ book being released and the series that you have come to love having spent hours and hours and pages and pages reading and becoming invested in will sadly, all be over. You also have to ask yourself was the expenditure worth it?! For The Traitor Son Cycle the answer is emphatically, hell yes it was worth it!
The previous book (A Plague of Swords) was my least favourite in the series. It was by no means a ‘bad‘ book and I thoroughly enjoyed it (it even made my Top Ten Books of the Year for 2016 list). It just failed, for me personally to live up to the lofty heights of the other three books but with The Fall of Dragons, Cameron reaches the pinnacle, saving the best for last and delivers the standout of the series.
The Traitor Son Cycle is top tier fantasy at it’s finest and Cameron deserves to be acknowledged as one of the great modern fantasy writers. Read it!
On a side note: You often see people asking for recommendations for fantasy series and authors because they’ve watched Game of Thrones and subsequently read the ASOIAF series by George RR Martin and want to read more in a similar vein. The Traitor Son Cycle fully deserves to stand on its own merits but at the same time, it along with The Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne also fits the bill as a fantasy series that fans of ASOIAF will immensely enjoy.
October 23, 2017
A brilliant finale to what has become one of my favourite book series of the fantasy genre.
I came home to dear old Blighty from a funeral in Ireland, my mood dark and my immune system battered after what I can only describe as the most violent cold I've ever had. As I changed into my pajamas and got ready to just flake out, my doorbell rang. Cursing, I hobbled downstairs and opened the door with irritation lining every crevice on my face (it was 11pm) to be greeted by my lovely smiling neighbour holding out a parcel they'd taken in for me. In between feeling ill and mortified that my neighbour nearly got the full brunt of my temper, I was also ecstatic that the book I had been waiting months for had arrived. And the wait was totally worth it.
I only read the first book in this series about 9 months ago, and utterly compelled, I read the following 3 in quick succession. Which is testament to Miles Cameron's writing really. These are hefty books with dozens upon dozens of characters, most of whom feel vital to the story in their own unique way. Gradually, the pace is gathered, and by this, the climax to the series, things are going along at a breakneck speed. Within 20 pages you'll find yourself panting along with some of the characters, wondering what on earth this brilliant writer has in store for you next.
I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I'm writing this review for two reasons; the first being that I want to urge anyone who has any interest in the fantasy genre whatsoever to give these books a try, as they really are a breath taking read. The second reason, is that I just wanted to sing the praises of Miles Cameron, and thank him for bringing such a wonderful world to life in his writing. This genre has been dominated by Game of Thrones in recent years, and yet it is these books that have left such a strong mark on me. I feel like I've learnt from some of the characters things I'll take with me through life itself now, and that's a beautiful thing indeed.
Bravo Mr Cameron, may you reap the rewards of the hard work that so clearly went into writing this majestic series.
I came home to dear old Blighty from a funeral in Ireland, my mood dark and my immune system battered after what I can only describe as the most violent cold I've ever had. As I changed into my pajamas and got ready to just flake out, my doorbell rang. Cursing, I hobbled downstairs and opened the door with irritation lining every crevice on my face (it was 11pm) to be greeted by my lovely smiling neighbour holding out a parcel they'd taken in for me. In between feeling ill and mortified that my neighbour nearly got the full brunt of my temper, I was also ecstatic that the book I had been waiting months for had arrived. And the wait was totally worth it.
I only read the first book in this series about 9 months ago, and utterly compelled, I read the following 3 in quick succession. Which is testament to Miles Cameron's writing really. These are hefty books with dozens upon dozens of characters, most of whom feel vital to the story in their own unique way. Gradually, the pace is gathered, and by this, the climax to the series, things are going along at a breakneck speed. Within 20 pages you'll find yourself panting along with some of the characters, wondering what on earth this brilliant writer has in store for you next.
I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I'm writing this review for two reasons; the first being that I want to urge anyone who has any interest in the fantasy genre whatsoever to give these books a try, as they really are a breath taking read. The second reason, is that I just wanted to sing the praises of Miles Cameron, and thank him for bringing such a wonderful world to life in his writing. This genre has been dominated by Game of Thrones in recent years, and yet it is these books that have left such a strong mark on me. I feel like I've learnt from some of the characters things I'll take with me through life itself now, and that's a beautiful thing indeed.
Bravo Mr Cameron, may you reap the rewards of the hard work that so clearly went into writing this majestic series.
November 10, 2017
A fantastic end to a fantastic series. That left me with only two thoughts:
- Is the Traitor Son cycle one of the best fantasy series I have ever read? A resounding yes, its probably in my top three.
- Is Miles Cameron the best fantasy writer of his generation? Again, probably yes. He has a better grasp of the scale of military and political machinations than R. Scott Bakker, as a good a grasp of characterization and pace as Joe Abercrombie, the sly sense of humor of Scott Lynch and the pure writing power of Robin Hobb. He is a giant among authors, and the fact he excels at fantasy and historical fiction alike adds to the proof.
- Is the Traitor Son cycle one of the best fantasy series I have ever read? A resounding yes, its probably in my top three.
- Is Miles Cameron the best fantasy writer of his generation? Again, probably yes. He has a better grasp of the scale of military and political machinations than R. Scott Bakker, as a good a grasp of characterization and pace as Joe Abercrombie, the sly sense of humor of Scott Lynch and the pure writing power of Robin Hobb. He is a giant among authors, and the fact he excels at fantasy and historical fiction alike adds to the proof.
December 26, 2018
Yeah, well... it's not bad, all right. The issue here is, after reading "The Red Knight" and the two following installments, this and "A Plague of Swords" turned out to be kind of a letdown.
"The Red Knight" was really a special book to me, the worldbuilding and the setting in that novel were really something that stood out. And then the characters, wow, all of them were absolutely brilliant. Besides, the story itself was actually different: a war between men & the Wild (Nature). Also, nobody really can tell with absolute certainty what sort of being the main villain actually is but, as the story progresses, he turns out to be a shape-shifting, cunning, sneaky and supernatural bastard whose thirst for power has no boundaries.
That being said, I guess my hopes were a bit too high. Mind you, "The Fall of Dragons" isn't a bad book, not one bit, it's superbly and very professionally written; it's just that, after all that happened in the first three books of the series, the story sort of fell flat on me as it resolved in the most classic of all fantasy tropes: .
Last but not least, I missed that bipolar bastard Jean de Vrailly. I honestly did. Oh boy, did that twat make a difference in the story; i mean...
So, overall, three disappointed stars.
Next.
"The Red Knight" was really a special book to me, the worldbuilding and the setting in that novel were really something that stood out. And then the characters, wow, all of them were absolutely brilliant. Besides, the story itself was actually different: a war between men & the Wild (Nature). Also, nobody really can tell with absolute certainty what sort of being the main villain actually is but, as the story progresses, he turns out to be a shape-shifting, cunning, sneaky and supernatural bastard whose thirst for power has no boundaries.
That being said, I guess my hopes were a bit too high. Mind you, "The Fall of Dragons" isn't a bad book, not one bit, it's superbly and very professionally written; it's just that, after all that happened in the first three books of the series, the story sort of fell flat on me as it resolved in the most classic of all fantasy tropes: .
Last but not least, I missed that bipolar bastard Jean de Vrailly. I honestly did. Oh boy, did that twat make a difference in the story; i mean...
So, overall, three disappointed stars.
Next.
August 3, 2019
4 Stars
A frenetic conclusion to an outstanding series.
The Fall of Dragons is the climax of all the various storylines presented throughout the series. Every character, every separate plot thread, every kingdom and race and faction come together in one titanic final battle. Gabriel and his now numerous allies against Ash, the Odine, and whatever other factions attempt to seize control of the gates controlling passage between the spheres.
There is so much going on in this book, it’s at times almost overwhelming. The action is nonstop from beginning to end. The end, when it comes, is almost too brief a resolution to everything that’s come before. It’s hard to say much in the last book of a series without spoiling some part of the plot, so I’ll just say that this was another excellent book in an excellent series, but I was a touch disappointed at what seemed to be an almost abrupt end.
I highly recommend this series, for a number of reasons:
-The writing is excellent. The author has written a number of historical fiction books and his expertise shows.
-The characters are numerous, real, and compelling.
-The setting is unique and interesting. The alternate Europe/Christianity aspect threw me off at first but I soon got on board. The world is dangerous and beautiful and filled with fascinating creatures.
-The combat is uniquely written as the author is a genuine medieval weapons expert.
-The magic system is also very different and interesting. As the series moved on I felt that some of the characters became a bit overpowered, but that’s purely a personal preference.
-It’s dark and gritty without ever becoming too bleak like some of the fantasy that’s currently popular.
-It’s complete. No interminable wait for the author to finish the series.
A frenetic conclusion to an outstanding series.
The Fall of Dragons is the climax of all the various storylines presented throughout the series. Every character, every separate plot thread, every kingdom and race and faction come together in one titanic final battle. Gabriel and his now numerous allies against Ash, the Odine, and whatever other factions attempt to seize control of the gates controlling passage between the spheres.
There is so much going on in this book, it’s at times almost overwhelming. The action is nonstop from beginning to end. The end, when it comes, is almost too brief a resolution to everything that’s come before. It’s hard to say much in the last book of a series without spoiling some part of the plot, so I’ll just say that this was another excellent book in an excellent series, but I was a touch disappointed at what seemed to be an almost abrupt end.
I highly recommend this series, for a number of reasons:
-The writing is excellent. The author has written a number of historical fiction books and his expertise shows.
-The characters are numerous, real, and compelling.
-The setting is unique and interesting. The alternate Europe/Christianity aspect threw me off at first but I soon got on board. The world is dangerous and beautiful and filled with fascinating creatures.
-The combat is uniquely written as the author is a genuine medieval weapons expert.
-The magic system is also very different and interesting. As the series moved on I felt that some of the characters became a bit overpowered, but that’s purely a personal preference.
-It’s dark and gritty without ever becoming too bleak like some of the fantasy that’s currently popular.
-It’s complete. No interminable wait for the author to finish the series.
January 13, 2023
The Fall of Dragons marks the culmination of the Traitor Son Cycle. Picking up where A Plague of Swords left off, Miles Cameron has crafted a true epic, with each book seamlessly transitioning into the next.
Miles Cameron, a renowned historical scholar, is an expert when it comes to the intricacies of a medieval setting. He skillfully combines the political functions of the era, the weapons used by soldiers, the strategies employed by armies, and other relevant factors to create an enthralling narrative. Moreover, he artfully weaves fantastical creatures and magic into the real-world elements, producing an incredible story that is as much about the characters as it is about the events that shape them and the world they inhabit.
There is so much going on throughout this book. Armies are engaged in a global conflict, and the point of view shifts between the various battles. Cameron appears to have refined this aspect of his writing as the series progressed. Some chapters are brief, while others are more expansive; some events require more detail than others. By the end, very few loose ends remain; the subplots are tied up as neatly as the main conflict. Everything feels incredibly realistic; people, both allies and enemies, perish as the war hurtles towards its conclusion.
Compared to the other books, particularly A Plague of Swords, The Fall of Dragons feels fast-paced and, despite the sheer level of activity, it is made abundantly clear that this is merely a fragment of a much larger story. Wars of this magnitude have occurred in the past, and if the survivors and their progeny are not vigilant, it could happen again. Nevertheless, despite this sense of a greater history, the narrative never feels incomplete. While this is a mere chapter in the world's history, it is The Red Knight's story. And just as his story began with the actions of others, who knows what new tales will emerge from his legacy?
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Miles Cameron, a renowned historical scholar, is an expert when it comes to the intricacies of a medieval setting. He skillfully combines the political functions of the era, the weapons used by soldiers, the strategies employed by armies, and other relevant factors to create an enthralling narrative. Moreover, he artfully weaves fantastical creatures and magic into the real-world elements, producing an incredible story that is as much about the characters as it is about the events that shape them and the world they inhabit.
There is so much going on throughout this book. Armies are engaged in a global conflict, and the point of view shifts between the various battles. Cameron appears to have refined this aspect of his writing as the series progressed. Some chapters are brief, while others are more expansive; some events require more detail than others. By the end, very few loose ends remain; the subplots are tied up as neatly as the main conflict. Everything feels incredibly realistic; people, both allies and enemies, perish as the war hurtles towards its conclusion.
Compared to the other books, particularly A Plague of Swords, The Fall of Dragons feels fast-paced and, despite the sheer level of activity, it is made abundantly clear that this is merely a fragment of a much larger story. Wars of this magnitude have occurred in the past, and if the survivors and their progeny are not vigilant, it could happen again. Nevertheless, despite this sense of a greater history, the narrative never feels incomplete. While this is a mere chapter in the world's history, it is The Red Knight's story. And just as his story began with the actions of others, who knows what new tales will emerge from his legacy?
Ratings:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 18, 2017
Simply flawless.
There is little need for a long summary in review of this novel and the Traitor Son series. No flowery words of glowing praise will adequately describe the joy I felt reading to the end. The work speaks for itself. It is quite simply a masterpiece.
There is little need for a long summary in review of this novel and the Traitor Son series. No flowery words of glowing praise will adequately describe the joy I felt reading to the end. The work speaks for itself. It is quite simply a masterpiece.
November 21, 2018
Not sure why I hadn't already marked this as read, or reviewed. Alas, for now, the review will have to follow (needless to say, I loved it! And the series as a whole!)...
August 4, 2017
Review
The Traitor Son Cycle has been Miles Cameron’s fantasy debut, with so many amazing Historical fiction titles written and read by many proving the quality and power of his writing, for me this was always going to be a case of how good can this get, how can it compare to the many accomplished fantasy series out there, how will the plot cope with the freedom beyond the structure of history?
Full review: https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
The Traitor Son Cycle has been Miles Cameron’s fantasy debut, with so many amazing Historical fiction titles written and read by many proving the quality and power of his writing, for me this was always going to be a case of how good can this get, how can it compare to the many accomplished fantasy series out there, how will the plot cope with the freedom beyond the structure of history?
Full review: https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
November 11, 2017
This is actually my least favorite of the series, I'm not a battle girl and this book is mainly that as is necessary, but this series is just soooo good. I will miss the characters.
November 28, 2017
A satisfying end to one of the best fantasy series out-there.
Excellent job Mister Cameron.
Excellent job Mister Cameron.
October 31, 2017
I am second to no one in my love of epic fantasy. Sure, I love those slim paperback sword and sorcery novels from the 70s. But I still view a great epic fantasy series as the pinnacle of all of speculative fantasy. But epic fantasy is a big commitment. I was in elementary school when I started reading The Wheel of Time. By the time I finished it, I was a practicing lawyer. So far be it from me to complain if you ask (1) is the series finished and (2) does it stick the landing (I’m looking at you, Death Gate Cycle)? Back to the topic at hand, the answers to those two questions in regard to The Traitor Son Cycle are (1) yes and (2) h___ yes.
The Fall of Dragons is fabulous, and it cements The Traitor Son Cycle as one of my all-time favorite fantasy series.
The Traitor Son Cycle is not Fantasy 101. The Red Knight is a fairly conventional siege story, but Cameron spins it into something much more complex in the later books. And even in the first book, Cameron introduces a host of POV characters and minor plotlines. The full import of those characters and plotlines in some cases only becomes fully apparent in The Fall of Dragons. That greatly increased my enjoyment of this book and raised my already high estimation of the series. It also makes me want to re-read the entire thing.
Those of you who haven’t read the entire thing are in for a treat. (You haven’t!? Go read it now! If you aren’t yet convinced, I will try to keep this review light on spoilers for both this book and the series as a whole.) The one thing I struggled with reading The Fall of Dragons was all the details I had forgotten over the course of the last year. I did catch up well before the bulk of the book had passed though, and a glossary of characters in the back was invaluable (less helpful were the maps).
As I already mentioned, the minor characters and plotlines whose true importance is revealed are a highlight. Two POV characters in particular are worth emphasizing. Morgon Mortirmir has been a secondary character since book 2, but I only really began to appreciate him in this book. Not just the role he plays in the story, but as a character—an arrogant, socially awkward teenager who possesses immense power. The other is Ash, the primary nemesis in the series. Cameron does an incredible job of getting in head of a creature so inhuman, powerful, and immortal that it struggles to understand humans at all.
Cameron does NOT mess around with The Fall of Dragons. We are treated to several big battles and crazy action right from the get-go. The battles have always been the highlight of The Traitor Son Cycle, and Cameron doesn’t let up in the slightest in the final volume. But the real highlight is Gabriel’s army’s trek through the Gates. I won’t give any spoilers, but damn. Stuff gets weird. And Cameron painstakingly builds the suspense. Gawin (and Aneas and the Abbey at Lissen Carak) are doomed if Gabriel can’t get there in time, and Cameron spends much of the book showing how desperate their straits are. Thus pushing back the trek itself. And once the Gate is open? Cameron cuts away again. It is a master class in story structure.
There is a lot going on here. I will limit myself to mentioning a few things. Master Smyth’s long game is revealed. We finally figure out what was going on with the Patriarch, and it is well worth the wait. How do you top an undead dragon? You’ll see. Other fantasy stories lavish attention on the feasts. Cameron is much more concerned with whatever it is hot to drink that morning. Cameron is a man who knows how sleeping outside in the cold and wet can turn drinking rotgut instant coffee into a transcendental experience. Trekking through the Wild plays a significant role. Cameron talked about how hard it is to travel off-trail in a blog post a while back. At least Gawin and Aneas don’t have to deal with any laurel hells.
Now, if you will excuse me, I need to make some hippocras and start a re-read.
5 of 5 Stars (book).
5 of 5 Stars (series).
Disclosure: Orbit was kind enough to send me a review copy (at my request).
The Fall of Dragons is fabulous, and it cements The Traitor Son Cycle as one of my all-time favorite fantasy series.
The Traitor Son Cycle is not Fantasy 101. The Red Knight is a fairly conventional siege story, but Cameron spins it into something much more complex in the later books. And even in the first book, Cameron introduces a host of POV characters and minor plotlines. The full import of those characters and plotlines in some cases only becomes fully apparent in The Fall of Dragons. That greatly increased my enjoyment of this book and raised my already high estimation of the series. It also makes me want to re-read the entire thing.
Those of you who haven’t read the entire thing are in for a treat. (You haven’t!? Go read it now! If you aren’t yet convinced, I will try to keep this review light on spoilers for both this book and the series as a whole.) The one thing I struggled with reading The Fall of Dragons was all the details I had forgotten over the course of the last year. I did catch up well before the bulk of the book had passed though, and a glossary of characters in the back was invaluable (less helpful were the maps).
As I already mentioned, the minor characters and plotlines whose true importance is revealed are a highlight. Two POV characters in particular are worth emphasizing. Morgon Mortirmir has been a secondary character since book 2, but I only really began to appreciate him in this book. Not just the role he plays in the story, but as a character—an arrogant, socially awkward teenager who possesses immense power. The other is Ash, the primary nemesis in the series. Cameron does an incredible job of getting in head of a creature so inhuman, powerful, and immortal that it struggles to understand humans at all.
Cameron does NOT mess around with The Fall of Dragons. We are treated to several big battles and crazy action right from the get-go. The battles have always been the highlight of The Traitor Son Cycle, and Cameron doesn’t let up in the slightest in the final volume. But the real highlight is Gabriel’s army’s trek through the Gates. I won’t give any spoilers, but damn. Stuff gets weird. And Cameron painstakingly builds the suspense. Gawin (and Aneas and the Abbey at Lissen Carak) are doomed if Gabriel can’t get there in time, and Cameron spends much of the book showing how desperate their straits are. Thus pushing back the trek itself. And once the Gate is open? Cameron cuts away again. It is a master class in story structure.
There is a lot going on here. I will limit myself to mentioning a few things. Master Smyth’s long game is revealed. We finally figure out what was going on with the Patriarch, and it is well worth the wait. How do you top an undead dragon? You’ll see. Other fantasy stories lavish attention on the feasts. Cameron is much more concerned with whatever it is hot to drink that morning. Cameron is a man who knows how sleeping outside in the cold and wet can turn drinking rotgut instant coffee into a transcendental experience. Trekking through the Wild plays a significant role. Cameron talked about how hard it is to travel off-trail in a blog post a while back. At least Gawin and Aneas don’t have to deal with any laurel hells.
Now, if you will excuse me, I need to make some hippocras and start a re-read.
5 of 5 Stars (book).
5 of 5 Stars (series).
Disclosure: Orbit was kind enough to send me a review copy (at my request).
October 30, 2017
A worthy end to an fantastic series that in many ways is one of the best fantasy series being written and published in the last few years. It is a satisfying end to what began in the Red Knight and brings the various plotlines and characters to a brilliant if sometimes bitter-sweet ending. It is a flawless continuation of the previous books and if you liked those you will love this book.
Indeed my one big problem with this book is more a problem with the general development of what role magic played in the world/warfare in the whole series (especially starting with book 3( since I sometimes felt it marginalised most of the cast/characters and was simply not as enjoyable to read as the non-magic scenes.
Indeed my one big problem with this book is more a problem with the general development of what role magic played in the world/warfare in the whole series (especially starting with book 3( since I sometimes felt it marginalised most of the cast/characters and was simply not as enjoyable to read as the non-magic scenes.
December 12, 2017
This was a good ending to a fabulous series. I was impressed by some of the Lovecraftian elements, but, in some moments, I felt that the novel needed to be shorten by some of it`s actions.
I wasn`t very happy with the ending, but I guess that it was hinted all along the novel, that the thing will happen. So it really happens!
In this last book, some of the povs from the previous book, very interesting ones, were almost forgotten, some of them, tragically died, so...Not so happy about this aspect...
But, overall, it very much deserves the reading and made me to love this series more.
And I can conclude that this writer deserves to be, with this series, in my top three best fantasy read this year.
I wasn`t very happy with the ending, but I guess that it was hinted all along the novel, that the thing will happen. So it really happens!
In this last book, some of the povs from the previous book, very interesting ones, were almost forgotten, some of them, tragically died, so...Not so happy about this aspect...
But, overall, it very much deserves the reading and made me to love this series more.
And I can conclude that this writer deserves to be, with this series, in my top three best fantasy read this year.
May 15, 2020
What a ride. I'm genuinely sad this series is over.
December 12, 2017
5 unequivocal stars!
And so we reach the end of this epic (in every sense of the word) series. It has been a long, but incredibly exciting road, and I find I do not regret a single page.
The series is not without its criticisms. I’ve seen and heard people talk about its level of detail when describing arms and armour, its use of real-world religions, how many tropes it explores, and even how it uses chivalric terminology.
Now, to me, these are all valid objections, but only as subjective observations, and If I might speak up in defence of these issues I would observe that the level of detail helped me understand the warfare in which Miles’ characters found themselves in. Indeed, I now know what a baselard is and how it is used.
I have a decent enough knowledge of Christianity and that understanding saved me having to wrap my head around a created religion.
When it comes to tropes I think we all love them provided they are done well, and in this I think they were executed in fresh and exciting ways. How would you use draconids to aid you in logistics? Ever thought about it? How would Alexander have utilised the air if he could???? And that is just one of the interesting questions this series brings.
As to the correct terminology Miles’ goes to great lengths to give us accurate information, and that, whichever way you slice it, is just great worldbuilding. Some of you may, and will disagree, but for all of you there are others who will agree with me, and that is why this series has enjoyed such a great reception.
Thinking of Alexander the Great with dragons is a good way to think of this book in that we have a great battle commander taking on the world so to speak. From the first page you are thrown into an empire at war. The prologue is packed with more action than most trilogies. THE PROLOGUE! And what I especially love is how Miles’ uses every possible advantage and exploits every possible weakness in battles that would incorporate warriors, creatures of the wild, mages, and of course, dragons. To my mind Miles/Christian is unmatched in his ability to portray large scale battles in fiction. He manages to put you in the thick of the hell, the confusion, the onslaught, without making you feel lost.
If we excuse the action for just a moment we can address some of this book’s other fantastic aspects. Bonds of brotherhood are near on every page, some of which we have seen strengthening since book one, and it only makes those moments of peril that bit more intense. I cared about these people, creatures, and their fate was of some considerable concern to me. One theme of this book that resonated with me, especially when you consider our modern cultural climate, is tolerance. And perhaps more than that, a complete shift in the consensus outlook towards a race (the wild and vice versa) who were once viewed with fear and loathing through a mere lack of true understanding and accepted handed down tradition (Father tells son that something is bad — son grows up believing something is bad). So, to see two beings standing shoulder to shoulder who in book one or two would have been fighting each other gave me a little glimmer of hope (and was awesome to read!).
The Fall of Dragons is an action packed conclusion to one the strongest fantasy epics ever written. If, reading this, you find yourself tempted to pick it up, I beg you, give in to temptation! Buy the whole series and write off a few weeks so you can immerse yourself in this cruel and beautiful world. You will not regret it!
And so we reach the end of this epic (in every sense of the word) series. It has been a long, but incredibly exciting road, and I find I do not regret a single page.
The series is not without its criticisms. I’ve seen and heard people talk about its level of detail when describing arms and armour, its use of real-world religions, how many tropes it explores, and even how it uses chivalric terminology.
Now, to me, these are all valid objections, but only as subjective observations, and If I might speak up in defence of these issues I would observe that the level of detail helped me understand the warfare in which Miles’ characters found themselves in. Indeed, I now know what a baselard is and how it is used.
I have a decent enough knowledge of Christianity and that understanding saved me having to wrap my head around a created religion.
When it comes to tropes I think we all love them provided they are done well, and in this I think they were executed in fresh and exciting ways. How would you use draconids to aid you in logistics? Ever thought about it? How would Alexander have utilised the air if he could???? And that is just one of the interesting questions this series brings.
As to the correct terminology Miles’ goes to great lengths to give us accurate information, and that, whichever way you slice it, is just great worldbuilding. Some of you may, and will disagree, but for all of you there are others who will agree with me, and that is why this series has enjoyed such a great reception.
Thinking of Alexander the Great with dragons is a good way to think of this book in that we have a great battle commander taking on the world so to speak. From the first page you are thrown into an empire at war. The prologue is packed with more action than most trilogies. THE PROLOGUE! And what I especially love is how Miles’ uses every possible advantage and exploits every possible weakness in battles that would incorporate warriors, creatures of the wild, mages, and of course, dragons. To my mind Miles/Christian is unmatched in his ability to portray large scale battles in fiction. He manages to put you in the thick of the hell, the confusion, the onslaught, without making you feel lost.
If we excuse the action for just a moment we can address some of this book’s other fantastic aspects. Bonds of brotherhood are near on every page, some of which we have seen strengthening since book one, and it only makes those moments of peril that bit more intense. I cared about these people, creatures, and their fate was of some considerable concern to me. One theme of this book that resonated with me, especially when you consider our modern cultural climate, is tolerance. And perhaps more than that, a complete shift in the consensus outlook towards a race (the wild and vice versa) who were once viewed with fear and loathing through a mere lack of true understanding and accepted handed down tradition (Father tells son that something is bad — son grows up believing something is bad). So, to see two beings standing shoulder to shoulder who in book one or two would have been fighting each other gave me a little glimmer of hope (and was awesome to read!).
The Fall of Dragons is an action packed conclusion to one the strongest fantasy epics ever written. If, reading this, you find yourself tempted to pick it up, I beg you, give in to temptation! Buy the whole series and write off a few weeks so you can immerse yourself in this cruel and beautiful world. You will not regret it!
November 9, 2017
The fifth and final volume of the Traitor's Son Cycle.
Can this book be read as a standalone? Which to me makes a good entry into a series. Yes it can and you will be hard pushed to find a more (fantasy) action packed story. However to get the most from this book. I would recommend, that you read the other books in the series first. This will give a much more broader understanding of what is going on amidst all the chaos.
The first part (prologue) carries more action than a lot of other complete novels and that's just warming up. As the book unfolds and pace quickens it becomes plain that the main focus of the book and to wit the series is to defeat a god-like almost all powerful dragon called Ashe. Where Cameron excels is in the details he puts in to this and the other books in the series. Not just the arms and armor, as anyone can research that, but fine detail as such giving his characters another level. (Spoiler alert) Two scenes that highlight this is one where the main Character and another are sparring/fencing and he comments that one of the fighters hates "Doubling" where both hit at the same time. As in reality both would be dead. Another is where a very powerful magic user is almost seduced by power after discovering a different way to use said power to horrific effect (bad Morgon,off to bed with no supper for you). As mentioned there is action aplenty and not every battle ends in victory with all the main characters coming through unscathed. As the writer seems to decide who lives and dies in the story at random, which is no bad thing as surviving battles is a matter of luck more than anything else. There are some surprising deaths (no one is safe..)
The final climatic battle has twists and turns some expected as if you pay attention when reading it you expect them and others not so. By the end its a bit of a roller coaster as Cameron ties up loose ends, leaving things pretty much neatly finished. I hope we get to visit the company, Gabriel, Bad Tom, Sauce, Ghost, Cully, Micheal,Toby, Morgon, Suki and the rest one more time.
After reading it all I can say is using the Gryphon Ariosto is "Tired boss..." Yes the Gryphon is back and as wonderful as ever
Can this book be read as a standalone? Which to me makes a good entry into a series. Yes it can and you will be hard pushed to find a more (fantasy) action packed story. However to get the most from this book. I would recommend, that you read the other books in the series first. This will give a much more broader understanding of what is going on amidst all the chaos.
The first part (prologue) carries more action than a lot of other complete novels and that's just warming up. As the book unfolds and pace quickens it becomes plain that the main focus of the book and to wit the series is to defeat a god-like almost all powerful dragon called Ashe. Where Cameron excels is in the details he puts in to this and the other books in the series. Not just the arms and armor, as anyone can research that, but fine detail as such giving his characters another level. (Spoiler alert) Two scenes that highlight this is one where the main Character and another are sparring/fencing and he comments that one of the fighters hates "Doubling" where both hit at the same time. As in reality both would be dead. Another is where a very powerful magic user is almost seduced by power after discovering a different way to use said power to horrific effect (bad Morgon,off to bed with no supper for you). As mentioned there is action aplenty and not every battle ends in victory with all the main characters coming through unscathed. As the writer seems to decide who lives and dies in the story at random, which is no bad thing as surviving battles is a matter of luck more than anything else. There are some surprising deaths (no one is safe..)
The final climatic battle has twists and turns some expected as if you pay attention when reading it you expect them and others not so. By the end its a bit of a roller coaster as Cameron ties up loose ends, leaving things pretty much neatly finished. I hope we get to visit the company, Gabriel, Bad Tom, Sauce, Ghost, Cully, Micheal,Toby, Morgon, Suki and the rest one more time.
After reading it all I can say is using the Gryphon Ariosto is "Tired boss..." Yes the Gryphon is back and as wonderful as ever
December 4, 2017
5 stars are very rare for me. Very. This earned it. It's the end of an epic fantasy series. The world is wonderfully filled in, with mixes of Christian, Celtic, and European folklore, as well as many original characters and concepts.
The war against Ash has been building since the first book. Now, it's all out, ugly, fighting, as allies and enemies clash in the final fight, winner takes the world. Or worlds, possibly. Gabriel, the Red Knight, has created an impressive alliance of friends and traditional foes, as they fight the enslaved, the twisted, and the just evil. Gabriel has a desperate plan, with a lot of moving pieces. He needs to win a race across terra incognita to position his forces, while other leaders face an array of threats.
This is war, ugly and sweeping. Not everyone will survive. Characters that have lasted the whole series don't make it to the last page. Be warned. The armies are massive, and their dead would fill many graveyards.
I salute Miles Cameron for creating a fantastic world, and for knowing when to stop. This was a climactic battle with horrible losses. Some get their happy endings, some their final rewards. There was no good way to go forward from here. This is a beautiful series. I can't recommend reading it, beginning to end, enough.
I'll give him the best compliment I know: I'm a writer. I wish I'd written this.
Phenomenal series, rich world, realistic combat, nicely detailed magic, this has it all. And one of the best final sentences I've read:
Because when some stories end, others begin.
The war against Ash has been building since the first book. Now, it's all out, ugly, fighting, as allies and enemies clash in the final fight, winner takes the world. Or worlds, possibly. Gabriel, the Red Knight, has created an impressive alliance of friends and traditional foes, as they fight the enslaved, the twisted, and the just evil. Gabriel has a desperate plan, with a lot of moving pieces. He needs to win a race across terra incognita to position his forces, while other leaders face an array of threats.
This is war, ugly and sweeping. Not everyone will survive. Characters that have lasted the whole series don't make it to the last page. Be warned. The armies are massive, and their dead would fill many graveyards.
I salute Miles Cameron for creating a fantastic world, and for knowing when to stop. This was a climactic battle with horrible losses. Some get their happy endings, some their final rewards. There was no good way to go forward from here. This is a beautiful series. I can't recommend reading it, beginning to end, enough.
I'll give him the best compliment I know: I'm a writer. I wish I'd written this.
Phenomenal series, rich world, realistic combat, nicely detailed magic, this has it all. And one of the best final sentences I've read:
Because when some stories end, others begin.
December 20, 2018
What a fantastic finish!!! Action packed! Battle after battle after battle but in a good way, I didn’t feel any battle fatigue like I usually do when action sequences take hundreds of pages.
I absolutely loved this series in its entirety, which is super rare for me. I started it without any expectations and ended up thoroughly enjoying it all the way through. I was also delighted to find out that the author is a well known historical fiction writer and a real life outdoor and weapons expert. One of my favorites this year.
Highly Recommend if you like knights in shining armor, dragons, creatures, magic, and battles.
I absolutely loved this series in its entirety, which is super rare for me. I started it without any expectations and ended up thoroughly enjoying it all the way through. I was also delighted to find out that the author is a well known historical fiction writer and a real life outdoor and weapons expert. One of my favorites this year.
Highly Recommend if you like knights in shining armor, dragons, creatures, magic, and battles.
November 16, 2017
There's a part of me that feels like this book was a frenetic mess that could have used a more heavy-handed editor, but it's not a big enough part to spoil it.
*Edit: The more I think about it the more I remember how confused I was through about a 1/3 of the story, so 4 Stars.
Oh, and there is a glossary of characters at the back of the book if you need refreshers. I wish I had known that before I was halfway through; it would have alleviated a lot of confusion since the cast of characters is vast.
*Edit: The more I think about it the more I remember how confused I was through about a 1/3 of the story, so 4 Stars.
Oh, and there is a glossary of characters at the back of the book if you need refreshers. I wish I had known that before I was halfway through; it would have alleviated a lot of confusion since the cast of characters is vast.
October 18, 2018
2.5/5 stars
DNF @ 65 percent
I've kept this book in my currently reading shelf for a long time in the hope that I would one day finish it. That was wishful thinking on my part. I just felt so bad about falling off a series on the last book. This book was just boring, non of my favorite characters were getting any screen time so, consequentially, I didn't really care what was happening to them or care about the story.
That said I still think you should read this series because clearly my opinion about this book is in the minority and I really did enjoy the other books in this series.
DNF @ 65 percent
I've kept this book in my currently reading shelf for a long time in the hope that I would one day finish it. That was wishful thinking on my part. I just felt so bad about falling off a series on the last book. This book was just boring, non of my favorite characters were getting any screen time so, consequentially, I didn't really care what was happening to them or care about the story.
That said I still think you should read this series because clearly my opinion about this book is in the minority and I really did enjoy the other books in this series.
February 14, 2018
A satisfying conclusion, though not as satisfying as I had hoped. It had all the good things from the previous books, but ultimately some very interesting character arcs got short changed for the sake of grand, epic fight scenes.
Look for a full review soon on the new review site Epic Fantasy Fanatics.
Look for a full review soon on the new review site Epic Fantasy Fanatics.
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