Review of Sons of Empire

Post by **Rajnee Varma** » 06 Sep 2023, 05:27

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sons of Empire" by Chandler McGrew.]

4 out of 5 stars

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Sons of Empire by Chandler McGrew is the first book in the World of Empires series. It is a war story set in an imaginary world of magic and science. There is the old Altmage magic and the new generation of technomages. Lord Keryl Raymos is assassinated in a dark alley, but the master assassin Caltris not only spares the woman and her child present with Raymos but also saves and protects them for four years from other assassins. Lord Raymos's son, Finn, a cavalry lieutenant, favours new strategies of war and takes matters into his own hands when the old methods prove disastrous to his men. His friend, Trastan, wanted to be a mage but was sent to Destrin Randalle to be trained as a warrior, where he fell in love with one of Destrin's concubines. Caltris, Finn, and Trastan appear to have no connection until they are brought to the war zone. As the story progresses, the different cultural backgrounds, the conflicts between various tribes and their faiths, the enmity between the empires, and the ambition to rule over the whole land come into play. And then there are the men of the mysterious Council of Five.

I particularly liked the fact that the author has kept the use of magic limited and shown it in the light of logic and science. It is a story with a complex plot, and it features many characters and their stories. Old magic consists of clairvoyance, belief in a prophet, potions and elixirs, and the ability to revive the dead. The new magic depends on science and scientific experiments resulting in explosives and machinery, along with other practices like mind molding. The conflict between the two divides the populace into believers and infidels. The descriptions of the war, life in the desert, the skills of assassins, and the demographics of the land are amazing and keep the reader fascinated.

Caltris is a mysterious character who, in spite of being a trained master assassin, is not heartless. I enjoyed the book, but I wish the female characters were given more depth. Their roles are insignificant and do not contribute much to the story. Overall, this is a good story that illustrates love, ambition, and perseverance. The writing style is good, but the editing is not. The book contains too many errors to ignore. My rating for it is 4 out of 5 stars.

It is a fascinating story of war, and lovers of magic and fantasy will enjoy it. I would recommend it to people who like to read war stories with strong characters in a magical world and are willing to complete the series.

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Sons of Empire
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Auora Khanal · Post by **Auora Khanal** » 07 Sep 2023, 08:37

This novel is a fantastic traditional epic fantasy and I think the trilogy could become one of the classics of our genre.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 09 Sep 2023, 14:28

The idea of magic as a science is interesting and a war between different philosophies in the use of magic is intriguing, so I really hope that the author does proper proofreading to avoid distractions while reading it. I'd be interested in a series of this kind if the editing is good. Thank you for your great review!

Cara Wilding · Post by **Cara Wilding** » 09 Sep 2023, 16:24

I enjoyed your review of Chandler McGrew's Sons of Empire. It sounds like a fun read in a genre I enjoy. It's nice to read the first book in a series. The concept and conflict involved with using old and new magic are unique and make a compelling reason to get this one. Thanks for a thorough review!

Dalhatu Usu · Post by **Dalhatu Usu** » 13 Sep 2023, 04:42

This sure looks to me like a series anyone will enjoy. I can already relate the novel to similar ones I've read and some movies along the same themes. Very detailed review here. Well done.

RutvikPatel · Post by **RutvikPatel** » 17 Sep 2023, 06:30

"Sons of Empire" offers a complex plot blending old magic with new scientific approaches in a war-torn, imaginative world. The story's depth shines through its intricate descriptions, characters, and cultural conflicts. While the mysterious assassin Caltris stands out, female character development could be improved. Despite editing issues, it's an engaging read for fantasy and war enthusiasts.