I Read Books: Hidden Warrior

Hidden Warrior

At the end of The Bone-Dolls Twin Tobin has learned his destiny is to be queen of Skala. In the way is King Erius and his son Korin. Tobin is part of Korin’s company of Companions, the young nobles and their squires who are being groomed to help him rule in war and peace. And Tobin is honourable and wishes no harm on them.

They’re eager to go to war but as the only heir Korin is kept safe at home, training. There’s some intrigue at court, and Tobin’s guardian, threatening him, is killed by the ghost of his brother. The court magician Niryn’s plans become a bit clearer – he too has had the visions of the queen, but thinks that he has the last female heir. Tobin and pals start training some of the girls. Tobin finds himself awkward, now understanding why he’s not like the other boys but not feeling like a girl at all.

In the meantime the persecution of wizards leads to Arkoniel and Iya giving shelter for some at Tobin’s childhood home. There they swap spells and learn from each other in a more systematic way, the start of the flowering of magic they saw in their visions. Having been involved in the killing of Tobin’s brother to keep him safe the two of them now have regrets and seek redemption by saving others.

Then the king comes home, the war having ended in an uneasy truce. There’s still unrest and plague in the land. Korin has been feasting and gambling and especially trying to get his paramours pregnant so he can go to war if he has an heir. He succeeds, too late. No prince of Skala can get married unblooded so they go out to deal with some bandits near the place Ki’s family (Tobin’s squire) are. Tobin does fine but Korin makes bad mistakes and freezes up when they’re attacked and it all goes wrong.

It's covered up. But then things come to a head with plague ravaging the land and a surprise Plenimarian attack – Tobin will have to reveal himself – herself – to fight it off.

Read This: A fine sequel, expanding and deepening on The Bone Doll’s Twin
Don’t Read This: Having committed a terrible crime in the first volume, some characters pay for it but neither justice nor remorse are high on the agenda