5 out of 5 stars
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King Amren charges Catrin with treason. She had intercepted his attempt to kill her Roman lover, Marcellus. Catrin swears fealty to Amren; however, he banishes her. Marcellus is hated by Decimus' soldiers for allowing Catrin to flee. Lucius was ordered by Emperor Tiberius to withdraw, but he had planned to invade Britannia. Marrock attacks Marcellus in wolf form, but Catrin’s essence intervenes and causes Marrock severe wounds. Marrock gathers help and attacks Decimus and Trystan during a prisoner exchange. He chases Trystan, who attempts to warn Amren during a marriage ceremony. The deadly attack pits both sides against each other, and war will force Catrin’s ultimate decision to affect everyone’s fate.
Linnea Tanner increases the overwhelming suspense in Dagger’s Destiny. In the second book of the Curse of The Clansmen and Kings series, it is clear King Amren has become desperate. Marrock’s character becomes more threatening, and he isn’t shy about showing his disdain for Marcellus and King Amren’s family. I found the mystery of Catrin’s visions perplexing. She was just as baffled by them. I felt sorry for poor Ferrex since he remains loyal to Catrin despite her mistreatment. She should have been thankful for Ferrex saving her from certain death. If he had not taken on her training, King Amren could have beheaded her as he had Rhan.
There is never a dull moment in the entire book. The execution of the transitions between the myriad of characters is flawless. The vivid depiction of the scenery allowed me to become immersed in the story. I could imagine peering over a ridge at the unsuspecting soldiers and hearing the thundering of hooves as the cavalry raced toward the invaders. Marrock disgusted me with his brutality; he seems to enjoy inflicting pain upon innocent people. The plot in this book is unpredictable, and I struggled to decide who sided with Marrock. I didn’t know if Lucius helped Marrock or if he was pursuing his goal of ruling Britannia. He had no problem with sacrificing Marcellus as a reason for his invasion.
I have nothing negative to say about this mythical fantasy book. I commend Tanner’s ability to blend history and Celtic mythology into the story. She includes a list of characters in a glossary. There is mention of Roman characters like Augustus and Mark Antony, which increases understanding of why Lucius wanted recognition from Emperor Tiberius.
Dagger’s Destiny's editing is flawless. Therefore, I am awarding this book a score of five out of five stars. The well-developed characters, intriguing plot, and unpredictable events deserve a perfect score.
I recommend mature readers for this book. There is some profanity, detailed violence, and sexual themes that are inappropriate for younger readers. Anyone sensitive to reading details of rape and multiple murders involving children may want to skip this book.
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Dagger's Destiny
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